Friday, April 25, 2014

Top ten moments from Waxwork/Waxwork II

 Top ten moments from Waxwork/Waxwork II

I think it's pretty clear how much I love the two Waxwork movies. Back in 1988 and again in 1992 Anthony Hickox wrote and directed two bizarre and wonderful horror films that were beyond ahead of their time, and have become massive cult classics today! So here is my list of the top ten moments in both films.

10) "Foot notes and everything! You are an angel!"
One of my favorite scenes from the original has to be when Mark has his poor maid do his history paper for him. I just love the character of Mark Loftmore. He's rich, he smokes, he sleeps around, he reads comics, wants to drink coffee and yes...he's friends with the servants at his house. The best is how he's assigned to write a paper and instead of staying in to do so, he goes to the local Waxwork (BIG MISTAKE!) Well, when he returns his poor Spanish maid is having a nervous breakdown trying to write the paper. Love the line "My English...it's not so good." I guess Galligan ad-libbed the "Footnotes and everything!" line, and love the look on his face when he walks out reading the paper. Priceless. 

9) Frankenstein's mansion 
As soon as Mark and Sarah use the time compass, fly through a black hole, get attacked by a giant bat creature, have a flashback to Mark's childhood, and see a fetus...you know this movie is going to be a tad bit odd. The real fun begins when Mark and Sarah in part two first end up in Frankenstein's mansion. Love the looks for both Mark and Sarah. The best of course is when the monster in the basement breaks loose and goes after the doctor squeezing his head so hard his eyes, teeth, and even brain go flying towards Mark. The best of course is when Mark is trying to show Sarah that it's just like the first movie, if you tell the monster you don't believe in them they don't have any power. Well...very quickly it's revealed that's no longer the case. I love when Mark is being shaken like a rag doll and tell Sarah to forget everything he said and to just run.

8) Sarah gets whipped
Whenever I ask somebody about Waxwork, they ALWAYS remember this scene.  For many as children, this scene sorta confused us. Why did it seem that Sarah was enjoying being whipped by the Marquis De Sade? Hum, now we know...she was into some kinky shit! With a pretty impressive set, and of course an awesome bit part played by Hickox himself, this part is legendary. "Don't look so smug boy, we shall be meeting again." Whips have never looked so sexy!

7) Surrounded by knights
A huge reason why I love Waxwork II is the score. It really is catchy! The first movie's score is on I-Tunes, and yes I downloaded the entire thing. (Makes road trips even more awesome) But, a time that truly shines with the music is when Mark and Sarah are transported to the mid-evil times. The two of them are in the middle of the forest going back and forth bickering when suddenly a group of men on horses surround them. This scene was filmed very nicely, loved the horses pushing them and all closing in before WHACK! Galligan gets slugged right in the face. The first time I saw this I was very drunk and laughed like an idiot at that moment. In fact I still do. Love how the music picks up as poor Mark watches them carry Sarah away on the horses. Magical...

6) Werewolf massacre!
Another huge reason I fell in love with Waxwork was the very first segment where poor Tony goes after his lighter only to be transported to the middle of the woods. "Okay who put acid in my drink AGAIN China?" The transformation isn't exactly wonderful, but the final result is amazing. I also love the werewolf ripping the guy's head in half. Dana Ashbook, you amaze me!

5) Bruce Campbell/Drew Barrymore
In both Waxwork films there are tons of great actors and actresses that grace the screen. The two best cameos in the sequel have to be between Bruce Campbell and Drew Barrymore, both in black and white segments! First up Bruce appears along side with Zach in the Haunting segment. I seriously die every time the whole gag goes on with Zach tossing vinegar on his open chest, ribs and all. I love Zach trying to pick the little rocks and dust off his chest and attempting to read the passage to end the ghost. Pure comedy gold. The second is most likely the strangest and most awesome horror cameo of all time. At the time of Waxwork II Drew Barrymore was a very well known actress...but as we all know before her big comeback in 1996 with Scream she was suffering...a few bad habits. Who knows, maybe she needed the money. Nevertheless, I love seeing her non speaking and very brief part as a young sleeping girl in an old fashion vampire bit when Zach falls on the bed while sword fighting. I adore the moment when he tips his top hat at her and continues fighting. God, how about that for a Waxwork tattoo. Galligan and Barrymore...perfection. 

4) "Live my children, live!
There's a reason why it's called the Cabin Of The Woods for the 1980's! In the huge showdown at the end, Mr. Lincoln has collected his 18 victims and awakes them as poor Mark and Sarah try to escape. Slowly each killer and monster from each display slowly comes to life only to do battle with a rag tag team of elderly men! (Yep you're reading that right.) The fight goes on and on as one by one the monsters begin coming to life and doing battle with everyone. There's sword fighting, a dwarf gets eaten by a giant plant, a werewolf twists a man's head off, fire, and even wax!

3) Vampire blood bath
So many people remember Waxwork for this single scene. In fact I remember being floored the first time I watched it at the amount of gore that appeared on screen. Young China accidentally walks into the display where a handsome wax statue of a man is leaning against a set of stairs. Next thing she knows she's wandered into a massive castle wearing an evening gown with a group of guest at the dinner table waiting for her. The handsome man is the display sits at the head of the table alive and well and asks her to sit down. There China plays along as if it's a dinner party only to dine on some steak tar-tar which is much better with the red sauce. Afterwards she begins to suspect all isn't what it seems and when she tries to escape she finds herself in the basement where a man, claiming to be her fiance' lays strapped to a table with the flesh completely skinned from his leg right down to the bone (guess what they were eating at the dinner?) Here China learns that the castle is filled with vampires. Acting quickly she fights back as the dinner guests begin to attack one by one. The ending result is one of the bloodiest massacres of all time. Blood sprays everywhere and poor China's beautiful white dress is ruined!

2) Sword fighting across time
One of the best moments of Waxwork II has to be when Mark and the main villain Scarabis begin sword fighting to the death as Mark wears the time compass which causes the two of them to slowly walk into different dimensions. First the street alleyways of Jack the ripper, then a black and white hotel room where a Nosferatu looking vampire is about the prey on two young sleeping girls, a disco 70's mall with zombies, and even in Japan where a Godzilla monster is attacking! These are all great little nods to so many classic horror movies. I love when they finally come fighting back to the castle a strange metal robot comes walking in as well. The best is in the Godzilla part where Mark looks up and they do the horrible bad dubbing as he yells "Oh no!".

1) Graveyard barrier
There is a huge reason why this moment makes the #1 spot...it's my favorite! In fact anyone who is Facebook friends with me will see that my cover photo is of Mark trapped in the barrier from this very scene. In fact, two of the times I've met Zach Galligan I asked him to do the trapped in the barrier pose...which is pretty much just putting our hands up and looking shocked = Thank you Mr. Galligan for putting up with my bullshit. This scene is the best simply because it pays tribute to the classic black and white zombie film Night Of The Living Dead. Love when Mark stumbles in the graveyard only to find flesh eating zombies slowly chasing after him. It's also here a huge moment is revealed when Mark tries to leave the graveyard only to be stopped by walking into the barrier. Classic!

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Friday the 13th the series...again. Where's Curious Goods? Voorhees

 Friday the 13th the series...again. Where's Curious Goods?

So the news dropped today that Jason Voorhees will be next in line for the small screen with a brand new re-vamped idea for a television series. Yep, you heard right...their using the idea they knew 25 years ago wouldn't work and going ahead and doing it. 

Brilliant.

As many may know I'm sorta a huge fan of the ORIGINAL Friday the 13th the series, which lasted three seasons between the years 1987-1990. Fans even today debate on the subject on if this show was a great or terrible idea. I for one thought it was brilliant. By 1987 the film series was onto it's 7th film. The idea were slowly drying up as the 1980's slasher era began to die a slow and very painful death. Instead of doing a weekly show about Jason walking around Camp Crystal Lake killing teens, they producers decided to stray away from the slasher storyline and just cash in on the popular title and think of a whole new idea. I for one thought this was very clever and smart on their part. I mean honestly? If the movies were getting stale, what made them think 60 or 70 episodes of Jason doing the same thing he's been doing over and over and over again would have lasting power? Instead the idea of a antique store began, with an evil man who made a deal with the devil on putting deadly curses on every single object in the store. When the man backs out of his deal the devil gets even killing him, and leaving the store to be inherited to his niece and nephew who were very distant and had no idea what they were on the verge of stumbling upon. Shortly after getting the store, the two cousins Micki and Ryan decide to sell on the business along with all the objects inside in a fire sale. Shortly after most of the store is cleared out an old partner of their uncle named Jack returns to the store to warn them about the evil the object hold within them. Here they learn the horrible truth that these objects can't be destroyed and will continue murdering anyone who owns them. In this three season run this group joins together and begins to hunt to track down every single object before it's too late.

I'm a massive fan of this show and besides a few of the effects and fashion dating itself, this show was very ahead of it's time and even inspired such television as The X-Files, and Warehouse 13. With very likable actors,  brilliant directors like David Cronenberg, cool objects, and awesome setting, and some pretty mind blowing episodes...Friday the 13th the series has gained a huge fan following, even some who are huge fans of the films as well (just like me!). I know people still have a problem with it being called Friday the 13th the series even though it doesn't have anything to do with Jason, but what they needed was a fresh idea and it worked no matter what it ended up being called. In fact, I wish it had lasted more than three seasons.

WELL...


Due to such popular horror now gaining a few following with Hannibal, Bates Motel, and From Dusk Till Dawn, it would only be a matter of time that Friday the 13th would be next. 

After reading a few articles on it my feelings towards it are blah. I mean I really love Hannibal and Bates Motel because those movies can work as a TV series...Friday the 13th? Really?

I always felt the true show, the original show could have been re-vamped and told in modern times. I mean just think of the cursed objects they could do now! Instead, the idea is to use Jason and yes...Camp Crystal Lake.

Ehhh...

The only two ways I could see this sorta work are either going the Bates Motel route. This would show Pamela Voorhees and how the legacy of Camp Blood came to be. Flashbacks could show her upbringing in the area, how she got pregnant, gave birth to Jason, and ended up loosing him. I mean even the show could center about how tough it was raising a child in a small town with special needs and how badly she struggled, maybe even with mental illness herself (had she murdered before? Maybe...) Then maybe lead up to all those accidents/murders leading up to the original film. I couldn't see this lasting long, and it would be very annoying if it was told in modern day like Bates Motel, but hey...ya never know.


The second would be to follow Freddy's Nightmare's footsteps. Every episode has to do with something happening around the Camp Crystal Lake area. Murders, accidents, ect. I mean everything doesn't need to center around Jason but show that the town has more secrets and murders that we know about.

Still after heading about the ideas they are spitting out and the fact Jordu Schell being involved (will Jason get a foot job from somebody? - Ask me about this) I just have a very, very, very bad feeling.

Oh where is Curious Goods?


Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Best horror movies with witches

 Best horror movies with witches

Ever since the 3rd season of American Horror Story everyone is just crazy about witches. I for one find this annoying. Sorry guys, but there were bitches casting spells and taking names long before this. 

I just feel the effort has been gone lately when it comes to witches. Between American Horror Story and the 4th season of True Blood I fear people just don't understand how to tell a good old fashion story of witches these days...

(Side note - I hated Lords Of Salem but it made the list, great idea...terrible final result.)

Here's a brief list of some of my favorite movies featuring witches...

Suspiria

Warlock

Witches

The Worst Witch

The Craft

Lords Of Salem

The Blair Witch Project

The Witches Of Eastwick

Practical Magic 

Drag Me To Hell

Warlock The Armageddon

Midnight Offerings 

Night Of Dark Shadows

Pumpkinhead 

Pumpkinhead Ashes To Ashes

Teen Witch

The Kiss

The Midnight Hour 


Monday, April 21, 2014

Happy birthday Antonio Bay

 Happy birthday Antonio Bay

134 years old and still terrifying as ever!

April 21st is the anniversary of Antonio Bay, the small sea side town where John Carpenter's The Fog took place. The Fog was Carpenter and Hill's next big motion picture after their huge success of Halloween. The Fog is a classic tale of ghosts seeking revenge and creating complete chaos in this small little coastal village. 

I feel Carpenter honestly in his career made a movie pretty much based off every gene. Action, suspense, romance, tragedy, religion, politics, and even drama. With The Fog, this seems like those old ghost stories you hear about pirates going down with their ship, and returning from the grave seeking their treasure. Carpenter clearly used his love of older horror and spun a timeless tale that is not only visually stunning, but a movie that has such a simple overall idea that still holds up today. 

I remember renting this movie at the old general store that was up in NH where my parent's summer cottage was. This general store also had a small video store connected to it, and my biggest treat was being able to rent some horror movies to watch on our VCR there. In fact at this very cottage I watched John Carpenter's The Thing for the first time. I remember my mother and father had seen The Fog before and told me how great it was. Watching it with my sister, I still remember how at age 7 I was puzzled by Jamie Lee Curtis and Tom Atkins had a sleepover right after meeting (...)


Of course I fell in love with almost every aspect of this film. Carpenter's score was truly one of his best. In fact, I have this score on my iPod and always is so soothing to listen to whenever I'm on a road trip. 

I felt Hill and Carpenter were able to make such great films off such simple but very well written screenplays. If you think about it, how simple of a story the original Halloween is. A disturbed mental patient returns to his home town and goes on a rampage killing teenagers. In the Fog, spirits of a sunken ship return to a sea side town 100 years later and kill the decedents of the people responsible for their death. Both of these movies are complete and utter horror perfection. They are elegantly filmed, and still are just as scary as they were thirty or so years ago. 

I loved the opening quote by Poe, and the great opening of the old man telling the children of ghost story. In fact the whole first few scenes showing how at the stroke of midnight the whole town begins to go crazy. Loved all the car alarms going off, furniture movie by itself, and things crashing down and breaking. My favorite is when the priest is having a drink in the back room and how he gets up and a huge rock from the wall somehow gets loose and crashed down just where he was sitting seconds ago. Love the music blasting from the radio and the expression on his face. Still gives me chills today.

A big reason why my love for The Fog is so big is the cast. Carpenter seriously knew what he was doing when it came to choosing actors. This is the movie that made me get a huge school girl crush on Tom Atkins. Some girls liked boy bands or guys from Tiger Beat...I fell for Tom Atkins. He seriously is one of the most handsome actors ever in horror. In fact a year after this movie he returned with Carpenter for Escape From New York. And let me tell you...silver fox for sure.


Adrienne Barbeau aka ex- Mrs. John Carpenter looked beautiful as always. Stevie Wayne was a great character in this film as the single mother who works as a late night DJ. I always find radio DJ's fascinating. In fact the first book I wrote one of the main characters is a radio DJ who's station is an old barn silo. I guess you could say I took inspiration from the light house from this movie. 

With Hal Holbrook, Janet Leigh are two screen legends along with Leigh's daughter Jamie Lee Curtis Ms. scream queen who blew audiences away in Carpenter and Hill's last effort Halloween. This was one of many horror films Curtis made in the span of a few years early on in his career. This movie I find her the most likable and love how she sleeps with Atkins just shortly after meeting him. (can you blame her?) Not only was she stunning in this movie, I love the old school classic original artwork for the film with her pressing against the door. Looks like a poster for a hammer horror movie!

With some Carpenter regulars, the small town is nicely shaped and you can't help but like everyone. Loved the radio station of course and thought it was great it pretty much only played jazz and big band music. KAB, what a station!

Also the use of the fog. Such a simple idea but works so well. Loved the shot of it slowly coming into the radio station and Stevie watching it circle around her feet. Or when Curtis and Atkins are trying to speed around town in the truck escaping it. I mean how do you escape something that can be anywhere it wants? The creatures themselves when shown were great. The close up of the rotting green flesh with worms was amazing. Still, just the simple trick of using the glowing fog drifting around was great. This was not an expensive trick, but worked wonderfully. 


This is a movie that doesn't rely on sex or gore. It's a classic tale of ghosts returning from the grave but still packs a punch. One of my favorite shots are everyone leaving the church with the beautiful score playing and the little boy saying "It's going away." Stevie's warning over the radio, and of course the very last shot of the movie. By far one of the best endings to a Carpenter film ever.

The worst though was the remake that came out a few years ago. The moment I heard Fall Out Boy playing over the soundtrack my heart broke into a million pieces. This was a slap in the face, and just plain lazy filmmaking. As far as I know Carpenter was disgusted by the remake. Sorry, shitty cast, shitty CG. = Fail.

Still with a killer release from scream factory with breath taking new artwork, and the cast doing the convention circuits, The Fog is still a fan favorite. 

So Happy 21st everyone and remember...watch out for the fog!




Friday, April 18, 2014

Best religion based horror films

 Best religion based horror films
#1 rule in Stacy's book. Never bring up religion or politics. Sorry guys, it's just bad manners. Still, I do love to discuss horror movies that have strong religious undertones. In fact some of the best elegant horror movies out there have religion has a main factor. So here's my list of some of the best!~

The Possession

The Exorcist

The Omen III The Final Conflict

Rosemary's Baby

The Prophecy

Amityville II The Possession 

Frailty

REC2

Legion

The Unholy

The Exorcist III

The Stand

Prince Of Darkness

and... season 5 of Supernatural