Because of the holiday, I’m taking a break from posting until Monday, January 3rd.

Hope you have a great, safe New Year!

MSB

Killjoy 3
Directed by John Lechago
Courtesy of Full Moon Entertainment
Released: 2010

I think I have a new favorite sub-genre of horror: demonic clown movies.

Now, longtime followers of my blog are probably wondering why I’m reviewing the third movie in the Killjoy series without doing the first two beforehand. The answer is simple: I can’t seem to find the first two. They’ve both been in my Netflix Saved queue for a while but there’s been no-go on an arrival date. Plus my local Hastings does not have them either. So, since the fine folks at Full Moon Entertainment were kind enough to send this one to me, I decided to give Killjoy 3 a go and hope I could follow what was going on.

And I’m sure glad I did because this film is A LOT of fun.

If you’re not familiar with Killjoy, he is a demon of vengeance that has, for a reason I’m not sure of, taken on the form of a clown. Well, a demon-clown anyway, as he’s got sharp teeth and horns. The specific plot for Killjoy 3, though, is this courtesy of imdb.com:

The demon clown Killjoy is resurrected once again, but this time he is not given the name of his victim and is trapped back in his own realm. Using a magic mirror, he lures four unsuspecting college students into his realm where he can have his macabre fun! A mysterious man returns and we finally discover who Killjoy’s true target is!

One of the main reasons I enjoyed this film so much is because of actor Trent Haaga, who plays the titular character, Killjoy. With a sadistic, deadpan punch, Haaga brings Killjoy to horrifying yet comedic life and seems to dwell comfortably within the demonic clown’s skin. In short, Haaga was born to play this part, and I have to wonder if I would have enjoyed the film as much were someone else behind the face-paint.

Adding to this is Haaga’s excellent supporting cast, who portray a motley crew of lower demons also posing as clowns. The most notable for me is scream-queen Victoria De Mare, who plays Killjoy’s psycho-succubus girlfriend, Batty Boop. De Mare brings a unique wit to her character and also appears to embrace the fiendishness of her inner-monster as she tortures her victims with sensuality. It’s also of interest to note that, as far as I can tell, she is completely nude throughout the whole movie and covered only in paint.

But while the movie is very entertaining and fun to watch, it does have a couple of flaws. The run-time is only 78 minutes, which is a shame because the plot could use more detail. I was left wondering about a couple of unanswered questions as the credits rolled, but that could possibly be because I didn’t watch the first two films. Also, for as good as the demonic clown effects are, the gore (which is very minimal) leaves a lot to be desired. All we basically get to see is a bit of blood and an infused Siamese-twin on the body of an adult man.

Overall though, I really enjoyed Killjoy 3 and am glad I now have it in my DVD collection. It has opened my eyes to a new class of horror films (I guess ‘It’ sorta did back in 1990, but that one could have been better) and is the reason I’m going to double my efforts to track down Killjoy 1 and 2. If you like your horror with a touch of goofy comedy, definitely give this film a look.

MSB

I’ve got something special for you today.

I recently reviewed the film ‘Damned by Dawn’ and, if you will remember, I loved it. If you don’t remember, then here’s a link to the review. Well, I like the film so much that I asked Writer/Producer/Director Brett Anstey if he would agree to a brief interview, and he said he would be glad to do so. Below is our discussion.

First of all, tell me about yourself. Where are you from originally? What got you interested in movies? Any hobbies, aside from film? Anything else that you want people to know about you?
I was born & bred in Melbourne, Australia. As a 6 year old my Dad took me to see a double bill of Sinbad And The Eye Of The Tiger and Godzilla vs Megalon, and those two films really blew me away. Then the following day we went to see Star Wars which had just opened. So from that one weekend, I became obsessed with monsters and movies! A few years later, when I was 13, I bought my first Super 8 camera and I started making stop-motion monster films & dabbling in make-up FX. And like all kids reading Cinemagic & Fangoria, I went through a gore faze by shooting Friday the 13th-inspired shorts, trying to out-do Savini!

‘Damned by Dawn’ is your first full-length motion picture. How did working on it differ from the short film (Atomic Spitballs)?
The only difference was the extra stamina required to get the film completed. Apart from that, there really were no differences to speak of. Many of the same challenges were faced, mostly to do with lack of resources & the ambitious nature of each project.

What was the inspiration behind this film? Did you create the myth that it is based upon, or is that an actual legend?
Once we decided to make a horror film, I started looking through my research files for a suitable antagonist. And I came across some research I’d done a few years earlier on Banshees. Back tracking a little – when I was kid I watched the Disney film Darby O’Gill & The Little People. In that film there was a sequence that featured a Banshee. And it really creeped me out. The idea and concept of a Banshee, as well as the imagery depicted in Darby O’Gill left a huge impression. It scared the crap out of me. So as I mentioned, I eventually did some research into Banshees and Irish mythology and discovered there are a number of different interpretations of Banshees. Then as we were plotting the film we pinched a little from this myth and that myth, but still trying to stay true to the folklore.

Do you have any plans to visit the ‘Damned by Dawn’ universe again, as in a sequel or prequel?
Possibly, but not in the foreseeable future. There’s a bunch of other film ideas I’d like to explore before revisiting the DBD universe, but never say never!

As for the characters in the film, are they based on actual people in real life?
The short answer is not really. There are some aspects of certain characters that are loosely based on a friend or family member. But for the most part, the characters in the film are just “made up”.

Can you give me some insight into your next project?
There’s a number of projects on the cards, but primarily there’s an adventure-sci fi-horror comedy. A true rollercoaster ride which has been an absolute hoot to write & develop. If the moons align then we hope to make it our next film.

Brett, thank you so much for your time.

Check out the Damned by Dawn website here.

MSB

We here at Shattered Ravings are very thankful to have you as a reader. We appreciate your loyalty to this blog and hope you will continue to follow us in 2011.

We are however taking a few days off to spend time with our loved ones for the holidays. We will resume posting again next week, probably on Tuesday, December 28th.

So until then, Merry Christmas!!

MSB

It is, without a doubt, the best comedy on TV today.

But I have to wonder what was going on with the candy bit on last week’s episode. When Sheldon talks about Milk Duds, he manuevers his point into a jab, aimed at a cast-mate. But was it also a product plug?

What are your thoughts?

MSB

This is $5 off the regular price, so jump on this special offer now!!

The DVD features the Widescreen version of the film, along with 5.1 Surround Sound.

Clink on the link below to order (this is the distribution company for the film):

7-7-10 Store

Predators
Directed by Nimrod Antal
Courtesy of Troublemaker Studios
Released: 2010

Man, I love a good science-fiction thriller, especially when it’s an addition to a franchise I already like AND it involves one of my favorite directors/producers.

I guess with a plug like that, you can already see the direction this review is taking.

Predators is the latest installment of the Predator franchise, the third film in the series but a somewhat direct follow-up to the 1987 Schwarzenegger film Predator. (Predator 2 in its own right was a good movie, but didn’t have much to do with either of these two films). If you’re not familiar with the plot of Predators, here it is, courtesy of imdb.com:

Chosen for their ability to kill without conscience, a group of killers, some trained and some who are not, must endeavor the alien race of predators that have set out to target them as prey. Dropped into the vast jungle of a distant world, these human predators must learn just who or what they are up against, and that their ability, knowledge and wits are tested to the limits in the battle of survival of kill or be killed.

I have to admit: I was a bit worried as to whether or not Adrien Brody could pull off the lead in an action movie. I mean, he’s a great actor in my opinion, but let’s face it – he doesn’t necessarily have that action-star demeanor. But after seeing him in Splice, I was hopeful that he could do it.

And, luckily, I was not disappointed. Brody beefed up for his role as Royce, an ex-Special Forces mercenary who assumes command of the rag-tag band of killers on the Predator planet. I’m not sure how much weight and muscle he put on for this film, but he definitely looks like an action star now.

In fact, the whole cast does a superb job in the film. Topher Grace (who fans will remember from That 70’s Show) even stands out as the wimpy, whiny doctor, Edwin. And I’m always glad to see Danny Trejo on screen, especially when he’s playing a bad-ass. What’s more, the legendary Derek Mears (who has played Jason Vorhees) is in the cast as well, portraying the head Predator.

As far as the film itself goes, I love everything about it. The story is well-written, fast-paced and never sluggish. I especially like the heart-racing opening scene…it certainly grabbed me, pulled me into the movie, and then never let go. The cinematography is excellent and, as if we would accept anything less, the special effects are top-notch.

While some might say the storyline has some familiar points in it (i.e. a lone man going up against a lone Predator), the similarities end there. Predators is a well done, stand alone film that definitely deserves a sequel (hint hint, Troublemaker Studios). The film also deserves a spot on your DVD shelf. It certainly earned one from me.

MSB

D4
Directed by Darrin Dickerson
Courtesy of Seven-7-Ten
Released: 2010

D4 is another film that I heard about months ago and have been dying to see. I wasn’t aware that I was getting a screener for it in the mail either, so it was an excellent surprise to find in my mailbox to say the least.

The plot for D4, per imdb.com, is this:

D4 follows a team of special ops mercenaries on a mission to rescue a kidnapped kid believed to be held in an abandoned government facility. Hired by the boy’s mother, a wealthy doctor with high reaching influence, all seems to be an easy job. But as things unfold, what was meant to be a simple search and rescue turns into a fight for survival.

This film is probably the best science-fiction thriller I have seen in 2010. That is a bold statement to make, too, given the number of films I’ve watched this year. But I stand by that belief whole-heartedly.

From the writing to the cinematography to the special effects to the acting, D4 delivers on all levels. It is a tight, adrenaline-fueled film that kept me in suspense the majority of the time. And the twists at the end…wow…I never saw them coming. Even my wife, who is not a fan of the genre at all, watched the movie in its entirety and then commented about how much she enjoyed it after it was over.

One of the best attributes of this film is that it never stops taking itself seriously. It doesn’t succumb into eye-rolling one-liners that can sometimes accompany films of this nature. Instead, it grabs you in a choke-hold of drama and then force-feeds you intensity until the credits roll (and even then, the movie’s not over…be sure and check out the END of the end, past the credits…wink wink).

The story is excellent, as I mentioned, with a couple of nice twists thrown in. Visually, the cinematography is perfect, with the widescreen aspect capturing much of the beautiful Tennessee scenery onscreen. Even the special effects leave nothing to be desired, although it does appear that a couple of blood-spatter shots are actually CG instead of real liquid. This is NOT a problem however, for the production team does an excellent job of integrating the CG into the live action.

But what surprises me the most about D4 is the acting. It is superb, even though the majority of the cast members are relatively unknowns. Director Darrin Dickerson has a lead role and does a stellar job in front of the camera as well as behind it. And I have to give a special recognition to beautiful actress Jaimee Gray Simon, who plays the sharp-shooter Snipe. She does an amazing job with her role as the sole female on the team. Lastly, I can’t leave out ‘Big’ Mike Ulm, who plays The Beast. This guy is beyond huge, a massive bodybuilder WHO CAN ACTUALLY ACT! I am still impressed with that. When I first saw the cover, I wasn’t sure what to expect with him…but wow.

I can’t say enough good things about D4. It is one of the few movies that actually surpassed my expectations. I can’t wait to see what writer/director Darrin Dickerson has in store for us in the future.

MSB

Have you heard the heartwarming story of the little girl who was being bullied about her love for Star Wars, but then got huge Internet support after the story was made public? (Incidentally, if you don’t think this is heartwarming, then you’re an idiot).

Read it here, courtesy of Yahoo.com:

Bullied 7-Year Old Star Wars Fan

All I have to say is, Katie, you’re an awesome little girl! First, for being a fan of one of the most legendary franchises of all time, and second for trying to be you instead of someone else. (Yes, folks, I do realize she asked for a different water bottle so she wouldn’t be teased, but she’s 7-years old for Pete’s sake!)

I’m also impressed that such an outpouring of fan support sprang up behind her. ESPECIALLY when I read that the cast of Star Wars: The Clone Wars took notice and sent her stuff. HOW COOL IS THAT?

I hope this story is an inspiration for anyone out there who is afraid to be who they really are.

MSB

Frozen
Directed by Adam Green
Courtesy of Anchor Bay Films
Released: 2010

I absolutely love and respect non-traditional horror movies. I mean, how can you not? With all of the sequel and copycat films available to watch, it is beyond refreshing when a filmmaker comes along with an original concept (or even an original take on an existing genre, for that matter). Writer/director Adam Green gives us a unique, edge-of-your-seat thriller that pulls no punches when it comes to intensity.

The basic plot of Frozen is this, courtesy of imdb.com:

In Mount Holliston, snowboarders Dan Walker, his girlfriend Parker O’Neil and his best friend Joe Lynch don’t have enough money to buy cable car tickets. Parker bribes Jason, an employee of the skiing station, with one hundred dollars. When the system is nearing closure, they force Jason to let them have the last pass. However, Jason needs to resolve a problem and his colleague misunderstands his instructions and stops the cable car, and the trio of snowboarders gets stranded on the chairlift on the top of the mountain. When they see that the lights of the ski resort had been turned off, they need to make a choice: leave the chairlift or freeze to death.

The only thing the above synopsis omits is the fact that their chairlift has stopped about forty feet above the ground…which means if they jump out of the chairlift, they risk breaking their legs or necks in the fall.

This might seem like a ‘ho-hum’ premise in some aspects, and honestly, I was a little unsure of what to expect before I watched this film. Before I put it in my DVD player, I kept thinking, “Really? That’s it? Three people stranded on a chairlift?” Sounds a little anti-climactic, right?

Wrong, my friends…dead wrong. Frozen is one of the best thrillers I’ve seen this year, and certainly one of the most original. Although I wouldn’t go so far as to call this ‘horror’ per se, it will still make your heart race and even make you cringe in a couple of places.

The production team put a lot of effort into this film, even going so far as to film it on-location at an actual ski resort. That’s right…there are no sound-stages here, kids! This is the real deal! The cast and crew all suffers in the cold together…which is one reason why the realism in this film is unparalleled.

The acting talent is also superb, with the three leads played by faces you might recognize, but might not. Actress Emma Bell has been in a couple of films, including Hatchet, but she also plays Amy on AMC’s hit show The Walking Dead. And Shawn Ashmore was the love-torn Iceman in the X-Men films, while Kevin Zegers has been doing TV and movies since he was 6 years-old. The chemistry between these three in Frozen is excellent.

I will spill the beans a bit and tell you that there are a couple of absolutely tragic scenes in the movie, and they are gut-wrenching. I found myself feeling actually sorry for the characters and even saddened by how a couple of things end up. Don’t go into this film with expectations of sunshine and happiness…you definitely won’t get it.

Frozen is an excellent film in all aspects and a true feather in Anchor Bay’s cap. I am glad that filmmakers like Adam Green are willing to take chances on new things and I hope he continues that trend. Check this one out soon…it’s a fitting way to overcome the wintertime blahs.

MSB