Competition: Win Infection on DVD

Infection is out on DVD on the 20th of April and to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 5 DVDs to give away

Synopsis:
Sarah Prescott is the last known survivor of a Modern Plague that wiped out a small town on 09 September 2009. Sixty years later, she engages the help of a reporter to unlock the secret of a government conspiracy...

09/09/09

A meteorite has crashed into a small town, bringing with it dozens of small worm-like creatures that work their way into human hosts and take over their bodies. Anyone who stands in their way is killed.

Fortunately for the town, a small band of heroes decide to stand up to the threat and they set out to find a way to end this madness once and for all while saving as many of the hosts as possible.

Win This:
Infection [DVD]

Competition Closed

Competition: Win Beneath on DVD

Beneath is out on DVD on the 20th of April and to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 DVDs to give away

Synopsis:
A crew of coal miners becomes trapped 600 feet below ground after a disastrous collapse. As the air grows more toxic and time runs out, they slowly descend into madness and begin to turn on one another. Inspired by true events.

Studio: Arrow Films

DVD Release Date: 20 April 2015

Director
Ben Ketai

Cast:
Brent Briscoe
Kurt Caceres
Eric Etebari
Jeff Fahey

Win This:
Beneath [DVD]

Competition Closed

Trailer:

Full Movie (USA Only) - The Sender (1982) - From The Paramount Vault

A psychiatrist attempts to help a patient who turns his darkest thoughts into terrifying realities.

From the Hitchcock genre of psychological thrillers comes The Sender. A suicidal mental patient, The Sender (Zeljko Ivanek) turns his horrific nightmares into reality by choosing receivers for his demented thoughts from the local hospital. The first of his receivers is his psychiatrist (Kathryn Harrold) who attempts to save the Sender from himself. But can she save him? Or will he continue to torment and destroy a whole hospital with his sinister thoughts of mystery, mayhem and murder? This terrifying chiller is for everyone who never dreamed nightmares could be so frightening, so believable, so real.

Full Movie (USA Only) - Circle Of Eight (2009) - From The Paramount Vault

After witnessing grim deaths, a tenant joins forces with her neighbor to uncover the building’s secrets.

Jessica moves into a loft on the eighth floor of a Los Angeles apartment building called The Dante. The other tenants all seem friendly at first, but when she starts witnessing horrible deaths, she must team up with her neighbor Evan to solve the mystery.

Interview with Christopher Golden by David Kempf

Christopher Golden (born July 15, 1967) is an American author of horror, fantasy, and suspense novels for adults and teens.

Golden was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. He is a graduate of Tufts University. As well as novels, Golden has also written comic books and video games and co-written the online animated series Ghosts of Albion with actress/writer/director Amber Benson. He co-created and co-writes the Dark Horse Comics series Baltimore with Mike Mignola. He wrote the introduction to the now collectible 200-only copies slipcased edition of Joe Hill's book of short stories titled 20th Century Ghosts. He has also edited numerous horror and dark fantasy fiction anthologies.

Interview with Christopher Golden by David Kempf


When did you first become interested in writing?

CG: I started writing around the 8th grade but didn’t write a real short story until I was in high school. Even then, I had it in my head to go to film school eventually. Regular college first, then graduate school for film. But I took creative writing classes all through college and during my senior year, I started my first novel…and never looked back.


How did you get involved in fantasy/horror?

CG:  It’s in my DNA. I’ve loved horror and fantasy for as long as I can remember, from the comics and books I read as a kid to Kolchak: The Night Stalker reruns and The Twilight Zone on TV.  It was always the weird and fantastical and scary stuff that got me excited. It’s just where my heart lives.


How did you make this a full time job?

CG:  In 1992, I found an agent who submitted the first 125 pages and an outline of that same novel I’d started during my senior year in college, and she sold it to Ginjer Buchanan, who was then at ACE/Berkley in the U.S.  That novel was OF SAINTS AND SHADOWS.  It wasn’t enough money for me to quit my job…but I quit my job anyway.  I was already married but we had no mortgage yet and no kids and my wife was incredibly supportive.  I did a lot of pop culture journalism on the side, wrote some comics, and we made do.  The first year, I think I made about $14,000 as a writer.

You have obviously built a strong professional reputation for writing YA fiction. Do you think your YA fiction also appeals to adult readers?

CG:  Well, actually, I haven’t had a YA published in several years.  The last one was probably WHEN ROSE WAKES.  All of my recent work has been in adult fiction, like SNOWBLIND, TIN MEN, and the books I’ve done with Mike Mignola, like JOE GOLEM AND THE DROWNING CITY.


Why do you think horror and fantasy books remain so popular?

CG:  Imagination will always be our escape from the harsh realities of our lives.  Fantasy explores the reaches of imagination.  And horror lets us explore the great questions of life and death and our worst fears in the safety of words on a page, in a book we can close any time those questions become too much.


You've won several awards. Does one stick out as your favorite?

CG:  I won the Bram Stoker Award for my first book, a non-fiction volume of essays that I edited called CUT!: HORROR WRITERS ON HORROR FILM, back in 1992.  That was a lovely way to start a career.


You're very politically outspoken. Are you ever afraid alienating your conservative fans might impact your writing career?

CG:  It worries me, yes…but never enough for me to stop fighting for the things I believe in.


What are your favorite horror books?

CG:  The list changes all the time, but Stephen King’s THE STAND is always on top of the list.  There are other Kings on there too, of course, especially SALEM’S LOT.  Some others include SHADOWLAND by Peter Straub, Clive Barker’s BOOKS OF BLOOD collections, Tim Lebbon’s famous novella, WHITE, and THE TOOTH FAIRY by Graham Joyce.  For classic horror, THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE by Shirley Jackson is a favorite.  More recently, I’d recommend Robert Shearman’s stunning short story collection REMEMBER WHY YOU FEAR ME.
         

What are some of your favorite horror movies?

CG:  Many of the usual suspects are on there—THE EXORCIST, THE THING (both the Carpenter and the Hawks versions), HALLOWEEN, NEAR DARK, THE RING, THE DESCENT, SESSION 9.  Last night I saw the movie IT FOLLOWS and I would definitely add that to the list.


What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as an author?

CG:  I’ve been a full-time writer for more than twenty years and have been able to provide for my family through my writing.  Nothing’s more important to me than that.
           

Do you have any advice for new writers?

CG:  You know if you’re any good at it.  You do.  If you’re not, you can try to get better or you can hang it up, but don’t be one of those people who points fingers and claims that they’re somehow being cheated out of the career they deserve.  No matter who you are, there are a thousand better writers who are not having the careers they actually DO deserve.  On the other hand, if you ARE good at it, keep going.  Don’t stop.  Get better.  If you can write for money and have the rare luck to make a living at it, count your blessings every day.  But if you love it and you’re good at it, keep going, no matter what.


What are your current projects?

CG:  My new novel, TIN MEN, is a near-future SF thriller that will be out in June from Headline in the UK and my comics series BALTIMORE, which I do with Mike Mignola and artist Peter Bergting, is out regularly from Dark Horse Comics.  My next horror novel, DEAD RINGERS, will be out this fall.

Links:
http://www.christophergolden.com
http://christophergolden.blogspot.co.uk

Selected Amazon Links:
Tin Men
King of Hell (Shadow Saga 6)
Sons of Anarchy: Bratva
Dead Ringers

Film News (UK): Apocalypse season hits Horror Channel

The end is nigh on Horror Channel, as Saturday nights in April are taken over by rabid cannibals, zombie humanoids, mutant insects a deadly plague and monsters in the mist – in an Apocalypse Season which focuses on a world-ending selection of catastrophic classics.

Watch promo below:

Introduced by a zombie-busting Emily Booth (pictured left), fans of the genre will be treated to the UK TV premiere of the Canadian seat-edged shocker THE DAY (Sat 11 April, 10.50pm), the Network premiere of Robert Rodriguez’s zombie exploitation epic PLANET TERROR (Sat 18 April, 10.50pm) and the network premiere of monster survival thriller THE MIST (Sat 4th April, 22.50pm), which is based on Stephen King’s novella.

Plus there is Stephen King’s mini-series THE STAND, starring Gary Sinise and Molly Ringwald, which airs on Sat 4 April to Sat 24 April at 9pm. Completing the season Is DAMNATION ALLEY.

Horror Channel’s favourite queen of screams, Emily Booth, is also set to star in a post-apocalyptic horror thriller, SHED OF THE DEAD, directed by Drew Cullingham,  which will shoot later on in the year.

Emily said today: “I've always loved those bleak bold films that explore mankind's own destruction - it's a very potent theme so I'm really looking forward to our new Apocalypse season and more importantly introducing such amazing films like Planet Terror and The Day from a genuine ex RAF military base! Plus, I'm going to be appearing in a new UK zombie apocalypse film, but do I survive? Watch this space”.

TV: Sky 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138 | Freeview
www.horrorchannel.co.uk | @horror_channel

FILM NEWS: Russell Friedenberg’s horror thriller WIND WALKERS in line for Autumn 2015 release

Acclaimed director Russell Friedenberg’s latest feature, WIND WALKERS, has completed post and is primed for an Autumn 2015 release in both the US and UK.

To highlight the news, the producers have released some first-look teaser stills and a blazing new trailer.


A group of friends and family descend into the swamp lands of the Everglades for their annual hunting trip, only to discover that they are the ones being hunted. A malevolent entity is tracking them and they begin to realise that one of their party, Sean (Zane Holtz), may be possessed by something he has brought home from a tour of duty in the Middle East – a demon of war so horrible and deadly that even he is unaware of its devilish presence.

Or are they facing something even more unspeakable?  Is a legendary Native American curse about to unleash its dreadful legacy? Has the mysterious Wind Walker beast, thirsting for colonial revenge, returned to claim more souls?

With no place to run, the group, starved and consumed with fear, must make a final stand – before madness and murderous mayhem consumes them all…


Writer/Director Friedenberg, who also has a starring role in the film, reveals: '“The experience of making Wind Walkers was incredibly rewarding and ridiculously difficult. The Everglades aren’t meant for humans. We shouldn’t have been there, and everything that lives there does it’s damndest to remind you of that. What thrives in the Everglades are things with cold blood, and all of them crave warm blood - namely yours”.

Apart from Holtz, who is currently starring as Richie Gecko in the Robert Rodriguez TV series From Dusk Till Dawn, the film also stars Glen Powell, Kiowa Gordon, Philip Burke, Castille Landon, Russell Friedenberg, Johnny Sequoyah and Christopher Kriesa with J. LaRose and Rudy Youngblood.

The film is a TriCoast Worldwide, Iron Circle Pictures and Sweet Tomato Films Presentation, in association with Ricou Browning Productions.

Written and Directed by Russell Friedenberg. Director of Photography, Harrison Sanborn. Executive Producers: J.B. Jones & Thomas E. Kelly Jr. Producers: Dori Sperko, Heather Rae, Ricou Browning Jr. & Elayne Schneiderman Schmidt

Useful links:
Website: www.windwalkersmovie.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wind-Walkers/403921876455597
Twitter:@WindWalkersMov

GEHENNA … Where Death Lives - indie horror campaign - live now on kickstarter

CAVES, CORPSES, NIGHTMARES, & TERRORS FILL DEBUT HORROR FEATURE BY EFFECTS MASTER

HIROSHI KATAGIRI ASSEMBLES WORLD-CLASS PRACTICAL EFFECTS TEAM AND PROMISES TO SCARE AUDIENCE TO WHERE DEATH LIVES

GEHENNA … Where Death Lives - indie horror campaign - live now on kickstarter

LOS ANGELES, CA (March, 2015) – Hiroshi Katagiri is a long time special effects artist making a bold jump to producing and directing his first-ever feature film, an indie horror film called GEHENNA … Where Death Lives. Large parts of Hollywood’s practical effects community, impressed with the script and fans of his talent, have come aboard to support him. Katagiri promises “a film that fans of quality indie horror will love and respect.”

Katagiri was born in Japan, loved film as a child. He moved to the US at 18 and found success as a primary artist at Stan Winston Studios, mastering the art of sculpture and character creation on films by Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park, A.I., and War of the Worlds), Rob Marshal, Guillermo del Toro, Sam Raimi, and others. Additional big-budget film credits include The Wolverine, Pirates of the Caribbean, Alien v Predator Requiem, Cabin in the Woods, and The Hunger Games; TV credits include The X-Files where he was part of an Emmy Award winning team. He most loves the horror genre, and has written and directed several acclaimed horror shorts. For Karagiri, directing his own feature film is the next logical step.

GEHENNA … Where Death Lives tells a story of 4 people scouting resort locations in Saipan, a remote Pacific island. At one location, they find a hidden cave-like structure which they decide to explore. Soon they realize it’s a long-abandoned Japanese military installation dating back to WW2. They encounter dried up corpses – a dark omen, then shockingly - a living, deformed man. After an explosion, the corpses disappear, and they are sealed inside. Concern becomes fear, and fear becomes terror. Each of the group has strange visions borne of private secrets, and their realities blur. They try to use smarts, find clues, and try to reason it through. But as the secrets of the cave unfold, reality distorts still further. So too does the distinction between life and death, bringing the film to a shocking conclusion.

“Gehenna - Where Death Lives will not rely on gratuitous violence, gore and torture”, says Katagiri. “We use elements which make any film great - excellent story line, believable characters, talented cast, and amazing practical effects. Our characters are placed in a predicament, which grows and worsens. Worry and concern turn to dread, panic, and terror. But I think the test for my success will be if viewers care so much about the characters that they find themselves in the film, and their heart beat accelerates. This makes the viewers immersed, which causes true horror that will scare the heck out of you.”

“I absolutely loved the script, and the reliance on practical effects”, adds Mike Elizalde, President of leading industry effects house Spectral Motion. “So I am firmly committed to the project both for my company and for myself as an artist.”

Legendary effects master Steve Wang – who already created a full-sized “creepy dummy” featured on Kickstarter, along with top concept artist Kouji Tajima, Katagiri’s longtime friend and fine artist Joey Orosco, plus the multi-talented Tim Gore, and A-list artist/painter Neil Winn add to the powerhouse effects team, and … the lithe and legendary Doug Jones (who played “The Silver Surfer”) is aboard to play “The Creepy Old Man”.

“I spent years on this script and was very careful to think it through,” adds Katagiri. “Gehenna is biblical term for horribly evil place, and Saipan was site of heaviest fighting of WWII. To keep my independent vision for this film, I have come to Kickstarter.” 

Katagiri launched his Kickstarter campaign in late February. He is offering Rewards ranging from a copy of the film, to t-shirts and posters, sculptures and props from the film, even a chance to have Katagiri himself sculpt your face.

Katagiri splits his time between Los Angeles and Japan. He is available for interviews. His kickstarter project is live at http://kck.st/1BQw9PM

You can also follow the project on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/gehennamovie

Full Movie (USA Only) - The Deadly Bees - (1967) - From The Paramount Vault

The sound of bees on a summer afternoon conjures up a peaceful picture to ‘pop singer’ Vicky Robbins when she arrives at the Hargrove Farm on Sea Gull Island. Suffering from overwork and the aftermath of a severe breakdown, she has come to find peace and rest. Despite the taciturn greeting by Ralph Hargrove and Mrs. Hargrove, Vicky is delighted by the tranquility of the scene. Hargrove, a spare time beekeeper, appears devoted to his hives, and occasionally to Doris Hawkins, the daughter of the local publican. Mrs. Hargrove, disinterested in her husband, seems only concerned about her pet dog, Tess.

Interview with D. Jonathan Brudie By David Kempf

D. Jonathan Brudie is a talented horror writer with a great debut book Dribs n. Drabs. He loves all things horror including books and films. Brudie wants to remain an independent voice in dark fiction and his debut book is remarkably unique. It was a great pleasure to interview him about the dark fiction genre.

Interview with D. Jonathan Brudie By David Kempf

Tell us how you became involved in all writing horror?

I’ve always enjoyed things having to do with horror. I grew up on old movies and TV and have always turned to the scary stuff. As a young teen I started out writing scripts for horror/ splatter types of short films that I would come up with. The idea was that someday I’d get to make them into movies. I still do the same thing today. My writing is very much influenced by my love of filmmaking.

Did you enjoy horror movies and dark fiction during your childhood?

Oh yes, and I have to thank my Mother for that. She was a big part of the reason why I gravitated into the horror genre. I read a lot of books too. It’s funny the way that you never forget the first great book you ever read. Mine was ‘The House with a Clock in Its Walls”, by John Bellairs.

What inspired you to write Dribs n Drabs?

Some of the stories and poetry in “Dribs…” are older things I had written and one’s that seemed to have great potential for being revised or overhauled. Plus I wanted to get some of my new work out there. I figured, what would be better than a compilation for these things. ‘Dribs n Drabs’ is the first book in a potential series of anthologies.

How is this book different from other dark fiction books?

I would like to think that it is my style of writing that sets it apart, and also the subject matter. My whole objective was to present stories that were original and frightening, the type of things that would stick in your mind.

What does Dribs n Drabs mean?

Well, by definition, it means ‘Bits and pieces’… This is exactly what it is. Short, unrelated stories sprinkled with dark poetry…

This is a pretty scary book. How scary did you intend it be?

Although I was looking to make it frightening I guess my other intention was to be unsettling and disturbing. Even though I love a good scare and creepy atmosphere, I also love to mess with the readers head…

You have a remarkably unique cover. How did you come up with concept?

Believe it or not the face on the cover was a photograph I took at a museum… There was a collection of large ornate drinking steins and this is the picture of one that I thought looked particularly sinister. Devil like too… I figured that it was a great representation of the dark, and twisted evil that lurked between the pages…

What do think of the current trends in self-publishing especially as it pertains to e-books?

Personally I feel that the market is getting too flooded with self published books…It is rather frustrating because so many great books end up slipping through the cracks and becoming lost in the crowd…
I think that eBooks are a great way of getting your work out there quickly and cheaply, however, it comes at the expense of really bonding with the reader. I believe that physical books are far more personable…

Tell us about your earliest inspirations.

One of my earliest inspirations was The Twilight Zone. That show got me into thinking about writing bizarre and eerie stories, and really encouraged me to channel energy into writing. Rod Serling was an fantastic writer and could tell a story (in just a few pages) that would certainly stick with you… Honestly though I learned from all of those types of shows, Tales From The Darkside, The Outer Limits and Night Gallery, to name a few…

What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment as an artist so far?

That’s really hard to say because I am active in a few different art forms. I write, I make films, and I am also a graphic artist… I’ve been proud of stuff I’ve done from all of these things. However, when it comes to writing, ‘Dribs n Drabs’ is a real high point for me. It made me happy to let a couple of my older stories finally see the light of day…

Name some of your favorite books.

Night Shift (Stephen King), Psycho (Robert Bloch), I Am Legend (Richard Matheson), and anything Poe or Lovecraft… So many more…

Name some of your favorite films.

My current top ten, in no particular order:

Night, Dawn, Day of the Dead, Watchmen, The Dark Knight, The Gore Gore Girls, Eraserhead, The Invisible Ghost, Without Warning, and Theater Of Blood…

Name some of your favorite plays.

The Phantom of the Opera and Spamalot were definitely my favorites…

Why do you think horror books and movies and books remain popular?

It’s the escapism mainly. So many people want to immerse themselves in other realities and faraway places. Anything but the here and now. The horror genre (whether film or books) does that in a way that is unique. I feel that we vicariously need to subject ourselves to terrifying things in order to somehow prove that we could do it… People who love horror are very drawn to the films or books that are going to affect us the most… I’ve also noticed that the more unstable the world situation becomes the more we turn to horror. In doing so it releases a pressure cooker of tension…

What are your latest projects?

I’m currently working on a feature length anthology movie called “Five Steps To The Grave”, which will showcase a handful of great filmmakers and their short films… As for writing, I’m setting aside time to complete my novel “Cold Logic”. It is (at its core) a murder mystery, the likes of which you’ve never read before… 

I’ve also been busy lately promoting my short film “Ocular”, which I’ve recently released to the public via Amazon Instant Video, and which also had the fortune of being selected as the ‘Best Short Shock’ at the Shock Stock Film Festival in London, Ontario last year…

Please in your own words write a paragraph about yourself & your work.

I’m compelled to create art and I seriously enjoy the entire process of doing so. I do it because of my need to be recognized, which is the same desire I have to creep people out, maybe even shock them. It is my hope that my work gets more attention and that people really dig what I’m writing, filming, etc. I’m happy to have a small but extremely supportive group of fans that really keep me going, and regardless of what happens next, I’m sincerely grateful for that…

Contact links and further info:

Author D. Jonathan Brudie (official facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/djonathanbrudie

David Brudie IMDb
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5322092

Dribs n Drabs (@ Amazon)
http://www.amazon.com/Dribs-Drabs-D-Jonathan-Brudie/dp/1499272413/