Author: David Edward Johnson

A bit about me :: My name is David Johnson. I'm a senior creative with over 20 years of experience. I am currently serving as the Director of User Experience and Product Design at Inmar. Previously, I have served as the Global Digital Creative Director for Whole Foods Market, several agencies at the VP level and co-owned my own agency in New York for seven years. I love genre film, a full range of music, art, kung fu, TM, design, good food and a great joke. I'm based in Austin, Texas and addicted to BBQ.

MUSIC :: A HORROR FAN’S RUNNING PLAYLIST — PART IV — THE VAMPIRE EDITION

This is the fourth installment in a continuing series calling out songs that should be in every horror fan’s running (or exercise) playlist. For this edition, it’s about those blood-sucking “children of the night,” our vampire friends. I’m reaching past some of the more obvious vampire fare here for something hopefully a bit more unexpected.

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On with the dark tuneage.  ::

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10

“Omerta / The Vampire Lanois (Instrumental)” — The Afghan Whigs

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Most underrated band of the 90s — The Afghan Whigs. This is from their brilliantly produced and composed swan song album release, “1965.” If any band could capture the swagger of the modern sense of the vampire, this band is it. Usually, I shun that modern view of the “sexy” vampire for something more “undead,” but there is an incredible self-awareness in Afghan songs that feels almost sociopathic at times and befits the mindset of one who feeds on humans. I love these guys.

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11

“Walcott” — Vampire Weekend

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This band takes its name from a college summer film project that frontman Koenig worked on after watching an 80’s vampire film. This song is another nod to that horror project directly, and it’s fun as all get-out. The film was to tell the story of a man named “Walcott” that was traveling to a small Cape Cod town to warn the mayor that vampires were attacking the U.S. You can see a bit of that in the lyrics :: “Lobster’s claw is sharp as knives / Evil feasts on human lives / The Holy Roman Empire roots for you…” This is an awesome tempo song, so pick up the pace!

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12

“Dracula from Houston” — Butthole Surfers

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This one is just a goof, but nothing keeps me going on a run more than a good laugh. I suppose vampires can come from anywhere, so why not Houston? From the album “Weird Revolution.” Put your fist in the air and laugh this one out.

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Get out there and do it (he says more for his own benefit than anything)!

Here’s PART I.

Here’s PART II.

Here’s PART III.

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LITERATURE :: REVIEW… “BURIED DREAMS: INSIDE THE MIND OF A SERIAL KILLER” BY TIM CAHILL

From Tim Cahill’s “Buried Dreams” ::

“I ain’t into that,” the man says in the boy’s whining voice, “I ain’t good at that…”

“You do it right, maybe I’ll take the cuffs off.”

At Menard, John Wayne Gacy fumbles with the catch of his pants, then lets them drop around his ankles. On the outside, he wore sheer briefs, almost panties, in various colors. Now he is wearing prison-issue shorts, and under them is the hint of an erection. He glances down at himself.

This, he seems to be saying, is the proof. Here, between my legs, is the truth. I am Jack; I am the one who lives in John’s mind. I am out now and I make no apologies. I have no regrets, I feel no remorse. All those things goody-goody John consistently denied — all the atrocities, the very worst of them — really happened. I am Jack and Jack did it all. See my proud proof. Yes, I played the cop; yes, I hurt the boys; yes, I forced them to perform sex acts; and then, yes, I hurt them again and again and again. The proof that this, finally, is the way it all happened, the hard evidence of my sincerity is here. See, here!

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“Buried Dreams” is harrowing. Plain and simple.

The original publisher’s book description from 1986 sums it up this way ::

This account examines the case of John Wayne Gacy, a successful and respected member of the community who cheered up sick children in hospital dressed as a clown, but who was also one of the most prolific serial killers in criminal history. Inside his scrupulously tidy suburban home, in 1978 police found the remains of 29 teenaged boys, all brutally tortured, violated and strangled. The author explores the complex personality, compulsions, inadequacies and torments of a profoundly disturbed human being.

In my review of “The Killer Inside Me,” I mentioned that it’s fascinating for me to see what makes a killer tick; to explore how their sociopathy or psychopathy manifests itself. It’s directly connected to my love of horror and with true crime books like this, the reality of the story makes it all the more horrifying. Cahill gives us that glimpse in a truly unique way.

The book explores Gacy’s experiences largely from Gacy’s own viewpoint. The detail and immediacy of this approach gives the book its strength, but it was no easy task for the author to complete this piece. Cahill said this of the experience of writing the book, “My first book was called ‘Buried Dreams,’ about a serial-killer, which was probably about ten years ahead of the serial-killer curve. It was a national bestseller, but it was three years of living in the sewer of this guy’s mind.”

As difficult as that three year slog through Gacy’s mind must have been for Cahill, it pays off in spades for the reader as we take that trip with the author in “Buried Dreams,” experiencing first-hand the truly chilling center of Gacy’s dysfunctional mind.

Some have leveled criticism that this “from the horse’s mouth” approach engenders affinity or gives too much of a soapbox to the killer himself. I fundamentally disagree with this. At no point in the read did I ever feel a sense of sympathy for Gacy, nor did I feel that Cahill was asking for it for his subject. Often times, the most damming way to present a subject like a serial killer is from his or her own perspective, knowing that we, the readers, understand the deeply disturbed mind at work in someone like Gacy. Cahill keeps handing Gacy more rope throughout the book, aware that he will hang himself. He does and it’s captivating to watch through these pages.

“Buried Dreams” is filled with grim scenes demonstrating Gacy’s bizarre pathology. They are deftly delineated with penetrating detail, transporting the reader. To that end, it is especially worth noting the chapters centered around Gacy’s prison re-enactment of a crime with a young teen. The above quote kicking this review off is from that section of the book. It is a truly unforgettable scene and, for me, forms one of the most wrenching and frighteningly fascinating passages in any book I have experienced.

NOT for the feint-of-heart, “Buried Dreams” really does take us into the twisted mind of John Wayne Gacy in a very primary way — a must-read for those that are ready for that dark journey.

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RATING ………………. 4.5 STARS

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ART :: ROGER CORMAN AND EDGAR ALLAN POE… PART I

I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Roger Corman, the living hollywood legend, in 2011 in a unique live opportunity as a part of “Vincentennial,” a month-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Vincent Price here in St. Louis. The Corman event I attended was part of a two-night event at the Hi-Pointe, a local art house theatre with real history. I attended a screening of “Masque of the Red Death” and Corman followed the film with live musings about his career at large with some specific focus on his genre films. His long-running relationship with Vincent Price and his reputation as a Hollywood maverick / icon brought him to the celebration as a featured speaker.

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It was really an amazing experience. Corman himself is the person that we all wish Hollywood was filled with — honest, talented, fun, hip and real with true talent. His stories were fascinating.

As someone who has directed over 55 films and produced more than 385, Corman’s influence is unmistakable. Many of today’s legendary directors got their start working for Corman, including Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, Peter Bogdanovich, Armondo Linus Acosta, Paul Bartel, Jonathan Demme, Donald G. Jackson, Gale Anne Hurd, Carl Colpaert, Joe Dante, James Cameron, John Sayles, Monte Hellman, George Armitage, Jonathan Kaplan, George Hickenlooper, Curtis Hanson, Jack Hill, Robert Towne, Michael Venzor and Timur Bekmambetov. So many legendary actors that we consider masters today got their break in Corman projects including Jack Nicholson, Peter Fonda, Bruce Dern, Michael McDonald, Dennis Hopper, Talia Shire, Sandra Bullock, and Robert De Niro.

Most importantly for this site, he has helped make many of the horror films we most associate with the cult side of the genre. “Monster from the Ocean Floor,” “Attack of the Crab Monsters,” “The Undead,” “The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent,” “A Bucket of Blood,” “The Little Shop of Horrors,” “Tower of London,” “X,” “Dementia 13,” “The Dunwich Horror,”  “Death Race 2000,” “Piranha,” “Galaxy of Terror” and “Frankenstein Unbound” are just a few of the cult classics Corman helped to make.

As a tribute to Mr. Corman and all he has done for both lovers of film and lovers of horror, I am creating a series of new posters dedicated to the eight emblematic films of the “Poe Cycle.” For Part I, I have created the posters for the first two films in the series,  “House of Usher” (1960), “The Pit and the Pendulum” (1961). Keep watching for the remaining 6 posters.

Mr. Corman, on the VERY off-chance that you see this, THANK YOU for all you have done for film and horror-lovers everywhere.

The Posters — I and II ::

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ART :: HELP A BROTHER OUT… PLEASE VOTE FOR ME ON THREADLESS!

Building on today’s post about horror films ready to drop yet this year… I wanted to reach out with a request here at “The Strange, Far Places.”

I would be VERY grateful if you would vote for my submission to the Threadless “You’re Next” t-shirt design competition.

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Here’s what Threadless says about this design challenge ::

Revered as one of the sharpest and most horrifying films in years, You’re Next reimagines the home invasion horror genre in a fresh, twisted light. When the Davison clan retreats to a remote vacation home in the woods, their family reunion takes a grisly turn. A team of ax-wielding, animal-masked psychopaths begins hunting down family members one by one, and the body count quickly rises until an unexpected houseguest fights back.

We’re stoked for this sure-to-be stellar summer slasher flick, described by reviewers as a mashup of Scream, Die Hard, and Home Alone. And we want you to take inspiration from its chilling creatures for your next design.

We challenge you to make a killer tee inspired by masked maniacs. Pull from the delightfully dark animal imagery of the masked mugs below, or imagine a dysfunctional family get-together gone gruesome. We encourage you to use imagery from the film, but we’ll also welcome any macabre masked madmen. Just steer clear of established baddies like Jason or Michael Myers.

Here are my thoughts on my design from the entry page ::

What makes “You’re Next” so cool to me is that it turns the home invasion slasher genre on its head. I love the creative twist there and that’s what I wanted this design to explore. I’m also a freak for depth of field and the interplay of positive and negative space. I think it makes for a really iconic and striking look.

Annnnd… here is the design ::

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THANK YOU!

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FILM :: 3 HORROR FILMS TO WATCH FOR YET IN 2013

2013 has actually been a really interesting year for horror films. The genre is on a great trajectory.

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Here are three films yet to drop in 2013 that show a ton of promise.

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01

“YOU’RE NEXT”

RELEASE :: August 23, 2013

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LIONSGATE SAYS :: “One of the smartest and most terrifying films in years, YOU’RE NEXT reinvents the genre by putting a fresh twist on home-invasion horror. When a gang of masked, ax-wielding murderers descend upon the Davison family reunion, the hapless victims seem trapped…until an unlikely guest of the family proves to be the most talented killer of all.”

MY TAKE :: For me, this is easily the genre film I am most looking forward to this year. I think it gives us so much to love — creativity, pulse-pounding carnage, Adam Wingard at the helm (“Home Sick,” “VHS,” “VHS2” and “Pop Skull”) and some really beautiful cinematography by up-and-coming new talent Andrew Droz Palermo.

The best two things to happen to the horror genre in the past 10 years are real style and true creativity. It existed in the genre, but a select few were doing it right. Filmmakers like these gents are bringing that to the forefront. Wingard’s creativity has been recognized with his previous releases. It makes a difference because as viewers exposed to a wider range of content than ever before, we’re very ready to watch really different stories told in interesting ways. From a style standpoint, take a peek at the shots in this music video shot by Palermo ::

Apart from their definite style, there’s a wonderful intimacy in the shots. That is so perfect for a horror project like this as it draws us in that much more. It creates those subtle emotional connections that make the best horror films work so well (think “Rosemary’s Baby”).

Watch for this one, all!

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02

“HORNS”

RELEASE :: October 11, 2013

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(Thanks to EW for the pic!)

MANDALAY PICTURES SAYS :: “A love story driven by horror, mystery and vengeance, follows edgy twenty-six-year-old Ig Perrish who awakens from a night of hard drinking to find devil horns sprouting from his own head. As the horns grow, Ig realizes that they enable him to hear the inner thoughts and darkest temptations of those around him — a nifty tool in solving and avenging his late girlfriend’s murder.”

MY TAKE :: Daniel Radcliffe continues to redefine his career after “Harry.” This may move him the furthest. With a cult-like following for the source material from Joe Hill (Stephen King’s Son), and Alexandre Aja directing (“Piranha” and High Tension”) this has a ton of potential to be really fun.

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03

“CARRIE”

RELEASE :: October 18, 2013

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SONY PICTURES SAYS :: “A reimagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White (Chloë Grace Moretz), a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother (Julianne Moore), who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom. Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King, Carrie is directed by Kimberly Peirce with a screenplay by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.”

MY TAKE :: Normally, this sort of project makes me want to run away screaming. Remember 2002’s “Rollerball?”… SACRILIGE! Major ugh! And there is absolutely NO question that the original was a true crossover classic. Spacek and Laurie were just amazing, creating truly memorable characters out of the Stephen King book. HOWEVER, a lot of very interesting choices have been made for this version. Chloë Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore are two of those great choices. Annnd, an interesting selection on direction for the project… Kimberly Pierce of “Boys Don’t Cry” fame. This has the promise of capturing some of that emotional resonance that we feel with the original and that’s really the point.

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MUSIC :: THE ROOTS OF HORROR ROCK PART III… THE MISFITS

The Misfits. One of the true pillars of the horror rock genre. Many consider them the progenitors of the genre, though they were definitely preceded by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Alice Cooper as we have explored. But this in NO WAY detracts from their contribution to the scene. Though those artists may have led the way, The Misfits MADE the scene in many ways. Their fusion of the dark themes of horror and the nihilistic punch of punk is a match made in heaven that still seems progressively retro today.

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Formed in 1977 in New Jersey by Glenn Danzig, The Misfits took what was happening in the American punk scene and brought their love of horror to it, creating a theatrical approach that made them unique among their early peers. Their image was built with a mix of makeup, memorable hair, great branding and horror imagery surrounding them. The songs formed the bedrock for this image though, leveraging grade B horror themes. Titles like “Vampira,” “Halloween,” “London Dungeon,” “Horror Business,” and “Night of the Living Dead” and a self-formed label named “Plan 9 Records” for the Ed Wood sci-fi horror classic “Plan 9 From Outer Space” showed this love for the genre at large.

As a creative professional with a focus on design who helps create brands every day, I can think of few bands EVER who did a more successful job of creating a visual icon to represent the band than The Misfits. Their “Fiend” symbol and typography for “The Misfits” is instantly recognizable and anchored the band’s visual identity in a truly iconic way. The symbol was based on a poster for the 1946 serial “The Crimson Ghost.” It first appeared on the single for “Horror Business.” Here is the original image that inspired the mark ::

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Their appeal is not all theatrics and image, though. Not even close. The songs themselves were milestones among the American punk scene. Though the band’s finest work was their early output with Danzig still on board, the 90’s re-formed band carried forward the sound in a solid way. Listen to the anthemic growl and horror thematics ::

Here is the band live in a 1983 performance ::

Represent The Misfits, inventors of “Horror Punk!”

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FILM :: REVIEW… DAHMER (2002)

Another review from the world of dark cinema.

With each review, I am also sharing minimalist movie posters I have created for every film after watching it. (More on my film poster project at large, here. )

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FILM :: DAHMER
YEAR :: 2002
DIRECTOR :: David Jacobson

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The real-life terrors of Jeffrey Dahmer’s bizarre, cannibalistic psycho-sexual murders are almost too horrific to comprehend. We have all heard so much about the gore involved in the case that it would be tempting to go “Hostel” with a film like this.

Director David Jacobson makes a different choice. He eschews the “severed head in the icebox” styled tale for something more psychological. It makes the film more of a mood piece in an interesting way. We see Dahmer working up to his first kill, intercut with encounters with specific victims. The non-linear storytelling adds interest while the intimacy in the encounters, juxtaposed with Dahmer’s psychopathic detachment brings tension and drama.

The real star of the show here is Jeremy Renner in the title role. His Dahmer provides some real creeps through subtlety and nuance. VERY well acted. No caricature here, just true acting talent portraying the terrible manipulations of the psychotic mind. It’s a tough role to embody, but Renner does so with realism and pathology. Artel Great and Dion Basco play a duo of the killer’s intended victims with real emotion and empathy. The rest of the cast is quite solid as well.

The beef I have is that the film stops a bit short. Though I applaud Jacobson’s desire to create something that focused on more than the gore in this story, it does leave the viewer feeling a little unfulfilled. The film would have benefitted from a GLIMPSE, just a glimpse, of how far Dahmer went eventually when his psychotic fantasies became reality.

In all, a very well-acted psycho drama about one of the darkest real-life examples of a human predator with very solid cinematography. For those interested in serial killers or true crime psychodrama, this is definitely something to catch. Renner fans should NOT miss this one, either.

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RATING ………………. 3.5 STARS

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MUSIC :: A HORROR FAN’S RUNNING PLAYLIST — PART III — THE CLASSICS

This is the third installment in a continuing series calling out songs that should be in every horror fan’s running (or exercise) playlist. For this edition, it’s about the classics. I’m returning the the days of my youth and three songs that pay homage to the monster classics that I cut my teeth on.

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On with the dark tuneage.  ::

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07

“Godzilla” — Blue Oyster Cult

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As a youngster, I spent many Saturday afternoons in the darkened Riviera Theater on Lake Avenue in Rochester, NY watching monster matinees that featured everyone’s favorite Tokyo-destroying / defending nightmare Godzilla. I loved those afternoons. That’s just one of the reasons I love this song. BOC was at the height of their powers with this funky novelty piece; just an awesome tune. Maybe that’s why bands like Fu Manchu, The Smashing Pumpkins and Racer X have covered it. Imagine yourself running from the great Godzilla’s earth-shaking footfalls for an extra kick to the workout.

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08

“Frankenstein” — The Edgar Winter Group

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This early 70’s jazz-influenced rocker is an awesome take on bringing Mary Shelley’s gothic monster to life and Edgar Winter himself looks like something out of a dark fantasy. From the album “The Only Come Out at Night.” Feel the electricity!

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“Werewolves of London” — Warren Zevon

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10 years ago this month, we lost a true genius in the world of Rock and Roll with the passing of Warren Zevon. Though he battled his own demons and at times his songwriting suffered, when he was “on,” few could touch him (“Desperadoes Under the Eaves” is a simply FLAWLESS composition with some of the best lyrics ever written.) “Werewolves of London” is the song he is best known for and it’s no secret why. The undeniably catchy piano progression that the song is built around anchors a delightfully morbid tale that juxtaposes suave werewolves in everyday situations with their victims, mutilated and torn asunder. Annnnd… A mention of the great Lon Chaney of “London After Midnight” (plus countless others) and “The Wolf Man” himself, Lon Chaney Jr. Pure fun!

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Get out there and do it (he says more for his own benefit than anything)!

Here’s PART I.

Here’s PART II.

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FILM :: REVIEWS… THE BLOODSUCKER LEADS THE DANCE (1975)… BENEATH LOCH NESS (2002)… CABIN IN THE WOODS (2012)… DARK SHADOWS (2012)

To follow up on my first film review post and this one: I’m taking these first three posts to catch up with reviews of what I have watched so far in 2013 from the world of horror. Whether older films through a more mature pair of eyes or new movies from the genre, I’ll be capturing it all here moving forward.

With each review, I am also sharing minimalist movie posters I have created for every film after watching it. (More on my film poster project at large, here. )

Here are four more I have watched in 2013 so far… This catches me up…

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FILM :: THE BLOODSUCKER LEADS THE DANCE
YEAR :: 1975
DIRECTOR :: Alfredo Rizzo

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Ummmm… Yeah… What can I say? This was bad. Like really bad. Simply awful writing, terrible dubs, wooden performances and thoroughly confusing plot all add up to one abominable film. Even a bevy of really gorgeous 70’s italian ingenues regularly au naturel in classic gothic settings throughout the movie can’t save this one. Films like this CAN be funny in how bad they are. There CAN be a charm to it. This film… Nope.

Want a taste? Just check out the trailer. It really gives a sense of the godawful experience this is.

WARNING… NSFW… 70s LESBIAN NUDITY!!!

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1685194521/

UGH! What a shambles.
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RATING ………………. 0.5 STARS

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FILM :: BENEATH LOCH NESS
YEAR :: 2002
DIRECTOR :: Chuck Comisky

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I am a lover of all things cryptozoological. I always have been, even since the days of my youth. I think it’s the possibility of finding real-life “monsters” in the world around us that intrigues. A sort of a repudiation of the rational and a belief in something greater.

Unfortunately, this film captures none of that.

When a member of a scientific / reality TV expedition to Loch Ness dies in a “mysterious” diving accident, the legendarily unorthodox and ruggedly good looking expedition leader Blay comes to  handle things personally. More odd happenings and strange attacks plague the Loch.  Can Blay and his team succeed against a highlands “locals only” mentality and their fears to solve the riddle of the Loch? Do we care?

Unfortunately not. Nothing MAKES us care, here.

I LOVE a good monster movie in the classic sense and especially one with a crypto bent, but this sucker is flat, flat, flat. The script simply stinks and Comisky’s direction is totally uninspired. The actors have poor material to work with, but their performances do nothing to help us find any emotional resonance. It’s like everyone was aiming for a TV-quality movie from the 80’s and they still fell short.

I wouldn’t spend any time on this one. It reeks like bad haggis. If you’re searching for something in the Loch with more of a soul, go for 2007’s “The Water Horse.” That one isn’t perfect either and it’s somewhat geared for kids, but it’s damn good comparatively. That’s a far better bet than this sinker.

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RATING ………………. 0.5 STARS

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FILM :: CABIN IN THE WOODS
YEAR :: 2012
DIRECTOR :: Drew Goddard

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FINALLY… Something different.

AWESOME concept with this one. I won’t share too much as almost anything would act as a spoiler. I think the summary on IMDB is a solid “interest piquer” ::

Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin in the woods, where they get more than they bargained for. Together, they must discover the truth behind the cabin in the woods.

At first glance this would seem to be another de rigueur young, sexy sleepaway slasher pic. BUT, this film couldn’t be farther from that. Creative, self-aware and genuinely fun, writers Josh Whedon and Drew Goddard (who also directs) give us so much more in “Cabin.”. In the process, the film both uses and lampoons horror genre clichés a la Wes Craven at his best, shifting the viewer’s perspective and giving us a laugh.

The cast is spot on, giving us sexy thrills, harrowing screams and classic horror bravado in turns. They evoke just enough pathos that we wince when the writers remind us we’re watching a horror movie by showing us just how disposable they are.

This is a great film for genre-heads and non-horror fans alike. It’s that good. Don’t miss it.

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RATING ………………. 4.5 STARS

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FILM :: DARK SHADOWS
YEAR :: 2012
DIRECTOR :: Tim Burton

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I am SUPER TEMPTED to give this a one word review…

“Oops.”

But I love so much of Tim Burton’s other work that I think the film deserves a few more words to explain why.

It’s SUCH a shame that is is such a fail. There was so much to work with: truly classic source material, a very solid cast, a real budget, Tim Burton’s eye. But all of that just wasn’t enough to overcome a terribly weak script. Really, this is a perfect example of why there has to be some substance behind the style. Without deft, truly meaty writing, images (even the most compelling), fall flat.

I did want to give the movie SOME points for style. It is, at times, quite stylish: Great soundtrack, very nice cinematography, fun style nods to the original “Dark Shadows.” But even these have their detractors as they ultimately serve a flawed master in the story.

It’s worth a watch if you’re a die hard fan, but I feel that your time is MUCH better served by simply watching the original series.

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RATING ………………. 2.5 STARS

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Again, this catches me up. Stay tuned for more moving forward!

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ART :: LES EDWARDS, PAINTER OF HORROR

For the past 35 years, Les Edwards has given horror fans some truly spine-chilling images. He is a true leader within the genre. His ability to capture the personality of his subjects in a painterly way is only outpaced by his skill rendering textures. Look at those fabrics! Look at that hair and those skin surfaces!  Join me in tribute to this painter of nightmares.

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MUSIC :: THE ROOTS OF HORROR ROCK PART II… ALICE COOPER

How can you follow Screamin’ Jay Hawkins? Really, there’s only one cat cool enough to take the stage RIGHT after… The great Alice Cooper.

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Neé Vincent Damon Furnier, in Detroit Michigan in 1948, this artist took the beginnings of horror rock from Screamin’ Jay and opened the doors wide.

Throughout his six decades in the music business, Alice Cooper has done an incalculable service for horror rockers and for the horror genre itself. With a stage show that includes guillotines, prop blood, real boa constrictors, electric chairs, MORE prop blood and baby dolls, how could we not pay homage to this man? Rolling Stone has referred to him as “the world’s most beloved heavy metal entertainer” and I have to agree.

Check this out. Still awe-inspiring after decades!

(Thanks to Fulton Pub for the AWESOME live vid.)

Cooper’s trademark look and makeup was inspired by the worlds of film and TV. He drew inspiration originally from Bette Davis in “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane.” Then, he saw “Barbarella.” Cooper said of the look, “When I saw Anita Pallenberg playing the Great Tyrant in that movie in 1968, wearing long black leather gloves with switchblades coming out of them, I thought, ‘That’s what Alice should look like.’ That, and a little bit of Emma Peel from ‘The Avengers.'”

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Here he is with the amazing Vincent Price and a song from “Welcome to My Nightmare.”

A legendary image built on horror.

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For all of these years, you have continued to entertain and shock us, Mr. Cooper. A boa’s embrace for all of the chills.

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FILM :: REVIEWS… THE RE-ANIMATOR (1985)… HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1986)… VAMP (1986)

To follow up on my first film review post: I’m taking these first posts to catch up with reviews of what I have watched so far in 2013 from the world of horror. Whether older films through a more mature pair of eyes or new movies from the genre, I’ll be capturing it all here moving forward.

With each review, I am also sharing minimalist movie posters I have created for every film after watching it. (More on my film poster project at large, here. )

Here are three more I have watched in 2013 so far…

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FILM :: RE-ANIMATOR
YEAR :: 1985
DIRECTOR :: Stuart Gordon

reanimator_horror

Where to start with this one? There is just so much awesomeness going on with this film — an HP Lovecraft story brought to life with absolute trash perfection.

This is a film about mad scientists, glowing secret formulas and reanimated body parts with anger issues. Really, it’s a perfect palette for director Stuart Gordon to play with and he handles it with just the right amount of reckless abandon. He treats the material with a deft blend of deadpan seriousness and hyperbolic craziness. The result is truly memorable with scene after scene of deliciously nutty drama soaked in blood, guts and adrenaline.

I absolutely love the cast on this film. Jeffrey Combs is flawless as Herbert West, the scientist with the formula and the grisly drive to raise the undead. David Gale plays the perfect foil to West as a perfectly evil rival scientist with a creeped-out sexual attraction to his colleague’s college daughter, the innocent but very sexy Barbara Crampton as Megan Halsey.  With Bruce Abbott as a reluctant partner to Herbert and lover to Megan and a fun supporting cast beyond.

The film with leave you in stitches and give you some unforgettable images to dream about afterwards. Buckle up. This is a wild ride.

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RATING ………………. 4.5 STARS

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FILM :: HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER
YEAR :: 1986
DIRECTOR :: John McNaughton

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Emotionally raw, brutally honest and indie in feel, “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer” is the real deal.

Made for just $125,000 with an independent cast from Chicago’s Organic Theater Company, founded (in a bit of Jungian synchronicity for this post), by “Re-Animator” director Stuart Gordon, the film takes a work-a-day approach to the subject, giving it a true sense of the real. McNaughton deserves very high praise for this treatment. Stunning.

It is this true sense that gives the film its power. It is a gray, drab, water-stained portrait of a drifter who kills remorselessly to assuage the boredom in his life. Everyone who is a fan of Anthony Hopkins’ campy portrayal of Hannibal Lechter needs to watch Michael Rooker’s powerful, dull embodiment of psychopathy here in the title role. No camp. No comic relief. No mercy.

He is supported brilliantly by Tom Towles as the ultra-creepy Ottis and Tracy Arnold as his Ottis’s hapless sister who is fascinated and attracted to Henry’s raw power. All of the performances here are honest and give the film undeniable emotional electricity.

Though years have passed since the film was made, it has not blunted in any way. It still gives us an unrelenting peek at the life of a true psychopath at work.

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RATING ………………. 4.5 STARS

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FILM :: VAMP
YEAR :: 1986
DIRECTOR :: Richard Wenk

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Holy 80’s. If this didn’t have the amazing Grace Jones in it, I would shudder to think of its value.

Goofy, sloppy, bad and only partially charmingly so, this film encapsulates the fun-but-scholcky side of the 80’s horror scene. This is part titillating (quite literally, I might add) frat-ready fantasy, part cornball comedy with a few plastic chills all wrapped up in the poor (think destitute) man’s version of Scorsese’s pitch perfect 1985 film “After Hours.”

Though it isn’t horror and unless you just want to glimpse the awesome Grace Jones at the height of her powers, just skip this and watch “After Hours.” You’ll be more frightened and a heck of a lot happier.

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RATING ………………. 1.5 STARS

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I will continue to post catch-up reviews as I march towards the new stuff. Stay tuned!

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