Irwin Keyes: Wrestlemaniac ’s Reigning Grind House Father! By Brian Kirst

In many a genre fan’s book, character actor Irwin Keyes is a legend. From his first appearances in films like The Warriors and Friday the 13th (as the busboy in Robbi Morgan’s diner scene) to Grind House epics like Chained Heat and The Exterminator ("I was eaten alive by hundreds of rats in the film!") to current gruesome fare like House of 1000 Corpses ("We shot all the Spaulding stuff over a 2 week sandstorm in the desert") and the just released, balls out enjoyable Wrestlemaniac ("We got lucky"), Keyes has had quite the amazing career. It’s no wonder that his initial influences include "Laurel and Hardy, Bogie, the Three Stooges, John Wayne- I am a fan of the movies".

Thankfully, in the return, the movie makers themselves have long been fans of Keyes’ unique blend of menace and dramatic humor. This is something the surprisingly soulful Keyes is truly grateful for. In fact, he seems almost unable to contain his enthusiasm over his venerated co-stars ("The wonderful Elizabeth Taylor!!") or life in general ("The secret to success in life is to never say no!").

Of course when asked what one of his favorite parts of filming Wrestlemaniac was and he’ll admit that, while keeping totally in character, he especially enjoyed watching the posterior charms of his young female co-stars.

Honesty, humor and a resume to make any horror hound’s tail jump, Irwin Keyes is definitely living the life! Do him a favor and watch Wrestlemaniac (a film he is justifiably proud of) as soon as possible, then pay him a visit at www.irwinkeyes.com and let him know what you think.

Review By AngryPrincess

At first glance I thought this androgynous like creature was a man in woman’s digs but I was wrong Johnny Sunshine is definitely a female and she likes the kill fuck. Johnny might be a female but she kills like a man. She can kick some major ass and will if you fuck with her. In Johnny’s world reality TV is the in thing. Well wait a minute, I guess it is in our world as well.

Johnny goes out and selects her victims brings them back and tortures them right before she fucks then murders them. She needs the hot warm blood spurting all over her face and bodt to become extremely aroused, hey we all have fetishes right? Max seems to be the king of the city and he will not hesitate to watch you be maimed and killed.

This movie made my stomach turn a few times but never enough to turn away. If you are of a subtle nature this movie will whip you senseless and leave you lying in a quivering heap on the floor. It was way bloodier and twisted than I thought it would be, which was an added bonus. In the world we live in today loves conflict and brutality and this flick has both.

Somewhere in the back of your mind tells you that Johnny Sunshine has some severe mental problems that allow her to want and need these kills. Can this woman survive in such a holocaustic environment over run by evil? Do you like to watch? If so then this is certainly on your side of the fence. Reality bites, stabs, and fucks some major shit up while you the viewer tries to get a grip.

http://www.myspace.com/johnnysunshinemovie

We have a new contest thanks to Nerdoh.com!!

You can win this custom "Andy’s Gun Shop" T-Shirt from our friends over at Nerdoh.com. They offer cult and horror t-shirts of superb quality, so all you have to do is answer me one question…

What is the name of the mall from "Dawn of the Dead" 2004 version?

Just email me with the answer and I will enter you in the contest and pick a name randomly very soon.

Head over to the contest page HERE to enter!!

Nature Morte. 2008. Redemption. Reviewed by Brian Kirst

Like Salvador Dali on methamphetamines, director Paul Burrows brings his Nature Morte to dripping, breathing life. He presents a visually kinetic ride with sweeping artistry, the classic elements of giallo productions and a fascinating corollary to the Denzel Washington horror-thriller Fallen.

After famed artist John Stephenson kills himself in Marseilles, his biographer Oliver Davenport travels to Thailand where another artist, whom paints exactly like Stephenson, has been discovered. Hoping to prove his book’s authenticity, Davenport instead finds himself drawn into a murderously seductive web by crazed artist Lec and his lover Blanche.

Despite its low budget, Burrows fills this production with mood and texture. The blood spill is structured -reserved exclusively for the most meaningful moments. But when the red stuff is sprayed, it is done with a slashing madness that is almost shocking.

Burrows also guides actors Troy McFadden (Davenport) and Laurent Guyon (whose Lec is a pure portrait of frenzied psychosis) to dramatic heights. Yet, it is with his female players that Burrows works the most magic. Each female on display is lovingly and exotically photographed. In fact, Burrows seemingly seeks to redefine the feminine mystique with all the bewitching energy he is able to bring to play. As Blanche, Carole Derrien registers with power and force. But ultimately several supporting characters prove themselves to be even more beguiling than Derrien. Cover girl Michelle Esclapez (Asylum Night) brings a saucy delight to her wandering whore Livia while Lydia Morgan’s Polly charms with sass and vitality. It is Morrigan Hel’s delicious Elizabeth Dahlia who steals the show here, though. Her erotic porcelain doll features and determined sexuality linger in one’s mind long after the final frames of Burrow’s compelling Nature Morte have faded from view.

Some artists thrive when their personal relationships are suffering. Rapper Eminem is a great example. Some of his best material was written when he was fighting with his wife or mother. The same can be said about Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix, who often writes full albums about relationship problems even though he’s been married for 12 years. Filmmaker Shane Ryan, whose world premiere of “Amateur Porn Star Killer 2” coincides with Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors in Los Angeles, can relate.

Both “Amateur Porn Star Killer,” which he co-wrote and starred in with Michiko Jimenez, and its sequel, which he co-wrote and starred in with former stripper Kai Lanette, were made in the mist of ugly romantic breakups.“When I made the first film I had just been dumped, I was depressed and I decided ‘What the hell, I’ll make a movie. If I do it in one night with no money, I got nothing to lose,’” Ryan told www.PollyStaffle.com.

Ironically, the character Michiko played ended up resembling the girl Shane had just broken up with. “She was shy, didn’t have much to say, but was hiding something,” Ryan said. “What’s weird is I didn’t tell Michiko to act that way and they didn’t even know each other.” The faux snuff film was made for just $45 and followed Ryan’s character Brandon picking up a young girl from the street, taking her to a hotel, and then raping and killing her on camera. Three years later the film had a couple of midnight screenings and was distributed on DVD by Cinema Epoch.

The company soon hoped Ryan had a few more “APSK” movies in him. Lucky for them another relationship of Ryan’s was near its end. “We had been on and off for a while, but this time it felt off for sure,” Ryan said. “I was depressed again and thought, ‘What the hell? I’ll make another movie. A sequel. I can do it in one night. I got nothing to lose.’ Plus, I figured I had a guarantee of getting it out there.”

Ryan didn’t want to remake or water down his first film as most sequels do. So he started by intentionally trying to find a different kind of victim. “I wanted her to be a much more promiscuous girl,” Ryan said. “Stronger, more experienced with a bit of an attitude, but not a bitch. More like the type who would be considered one of the guys. A cool girl. A fighter. But I don’t think I really knew what I was looking for until Kai came on board. That was who she was in real life and we decided to just have her play off of that.”

And again, looking back, Brandon’s latest victim ended up resembling the girl who had just broken Ryan’s heart in real life. Kai had never met his new ex-girlfriend. “These coincidences about the victims mirroring the relationships I had just been in didn’t even cross my mind until just recently,” Ryan said. “Some might think that this means these films are my revenge fantasies, but I insist it’s nothing like that. They are both amazing girls who I don’t have any regrets with, which is why both breakups were very difficult.”

But Ryan’s personal frustrations definitely fueled his project, which would explain how a guy Kai describes as “a total sweetheart” can play such an evil character. It might also explain why both films have such bleak views of the world. “I’m just venting,” Ryan said. “I have so many fucking thoughts that clog my mind that they just force their way out.”

“Amateur Porn Star Killer 2” is Ryan’s latest vent. The filmmaker takes what he did with the first film, adds to it, ups the ante and flies in the face of his original concept. This time there’s more violence as Brandon has many more victims. The sex is more graphic, veering into pornographic, but as Ryan has said it’s “about ten percent sex and only three percent goes past R-rated and into the porn category.” The sequel also explores the criminological background of his character.

The project is also extremely experimental on the level of Justin Paul Ritter’s “KatieBird*Certifiable Crazy Person.” “APSK 2,” which cost even less than the first with a budget of just $20, is filled with lots of editing tricks and atmospheric music. The end result is a piece of cinematic art that works on many levels. The movie can stand alone and works as a great sequel. It’s also is an experience that makes you question entertainment and the whole voyeuristic, sexual and hateful climate that our country is in right now. It also works as a cautionary tale like the first film that shows how easy girls can get into domestic violence, sexually exploitive and rape situations, and how once in those situations how easily they can become deadly. Unlike a film like George Romero’s “Diary of the Dead,” however, Ryan’s film is not at all preachy.

“I’m just painting a picture,” said Ryan when asked if his film had any specific message he hopes the film conveys. “If people can take something away from that picture that can make them think more about something that should be thought about, make them take action on something they should act on, or if they can just appreciate the picture as the art they came out to look at, then there it is.”

It’s also a picture that doesn’t fit perfectly into any single category. It’s part arthouse, part erotic thriller, part reality televsion/mocumentary, part grindhouse and part torture porn. Ryan is hopeful the film doesn’t get lost among viewers with some finding it too horror or porn oriented, and others feeling its too experimental and not bloody enough.

“Many seem to get it, but I’ve already taken some flack from a few people,” Ryan said. “Some say I’ve actually made a porno and they talk down about my choice to be graphic with it. It’s just bullshit American attitude. I don’t understand why it’s all right to blow a girl’s brains out, but we can’t show her private area up close.”

The young director and actor has absolutely no background in the adult business. In fact, his resume includes work as an extra in family friendly and PG-13 projects like “That’s So Raven,” “Bad News Bears” and “Drillbit Taylor.” So why did he decided to take the plunge that may have some calling his movie triple-X trash? Ryan said it’s all about what’s best for the movie.

“In the first film, the girl was more mysterious, so the sex was more mysterious,” Ryan said. “I felt this victim is more bold, so the film should be more bold. Plus, I figured when you cross that line it really helps even more to capture the realism of the situation. Even though you know it’s a fake snuff film, you can feel the reality of what’s happening.”

Review by AngryPrincess

Crazy split screens introduce us to Clay’s demented stake out to the chosen one, the one that was brought to him by his own hands. It was interesting to watch how he picked his victims. Once you are touched- your fucked and there is no turning back. Clay is an introverted type of guy that just wants someone to treat him like son while embracing him as a whole.

Clay’s father is so hateful towards him and it is sad. He dismisses him like a piece of trash and then goes and befriends his neighbor’s young daughter and treats her like a little princess. He knows that she is having a rough time right now at home but still their is something strange within those friendship walls. Will Clay’s father’s heart ever come around again or will it remain black as coal?

Clay always would go to his home and look at the mini neighborhood he has built with different clay figures. Some are being bullied, some are having sex, and some are killing others. He interacts thru this like a child playing with Barbie’s but instead they are clay. Sometime’s you can see that he doubts his kill idea’s but never enough not to go thru with it.

Will Clay ever be one who fits in? Can’t he find solace in some form of a relationship with anyone? Or will he forever be a misfit in his father’s eyes leading him to the inevitable broken heart? Pick up Clay and find out the answers to these important questions as well as a look into a broken spirited boy who has no one to love him, or to tell him his is worthy of life so he doesn’t need to takes others.

Website

Nathan Witte: Gutterballs’ Heroic God of Gore. By Brian Kirst

Long hours, little sleep, caloric breakfasts and lots and lots of blood! Such is the experience of making a low budget horror film - especially if you’re Nathan Witte and the lead in director Ryan Nicholson’s follow-up to his flesh peeling Live Feed, Gutterballs.

But such toiling is worth it if you’re getting maximum exposure as the hero of a film with one unique and crazy killer. Gutterballs, scheduled for release on April 29th, features a sadistic psycho (who creatively kills at least 13 by Witte’s count) whose inventive disguise is a brilliantly altered, highly functional bowling bag. Considering the attention that such a pedigreed killer might bring this project, it is lucky that Witte, a gregarious and personable celebrity guest at February 2008’s Fangoria Convention in Chicago, is a fan of the horror genre.

If you ask him about his beginnings, though, you’ll discover that his first influence was the comic energy of Will Smith, not the snazzy killings of Robert Englund’s seminal Freddy. In fact, Witte has recently had a chance to act upon on those "Fresh Prince" imaginings. He has recently finished developing and filming a sketch comedy show, FineLine. With that project undergoing its first screening and Gutterballs’ imminent release, Witte is definitely a man on the rise. He is thrilled "to be getting paid to do what I love. Acting with new people and new crew is always exciting and that’s one of the many reasons why I enjoy what I do."

But, Witte may already be growing tired of tickling the funny bone. When asked what type of role he’d like to play, his answer is a serial killer in a suspense film. (Al Pacino, beware! Your 88 Minutes may truly be up!) With the talent and drive of someone like Nathan, this answer is not truly a surprise though. "I think it would be fun to explore the possibilities of having different characters in one individual," he says. Hopefully, Gutterballs‘ slickly brilliant Nicholson or another inventive director will someday give Witte (and by proxy, us) that chance!

Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror. Dimension. 1998. Reviewed by Brian Kirst.

Genre films of the mid to late 1990’s have an undeniable ascetic of their very own. Like certain periods of art, they can be often be categorized by the knowledgeable viewer without detailed information of the product at hand. Defined by decent (though low-end) budgets, these films are often filled with casts of faded superstars, solid working class actors and major up and comers. Their horror, often supervised by committee and/or concerned executives, is middle of the road (not too mild or too extreme) and often contains nonsensical (or far too simplistic) resolutions to the situations at hand. They are never grand art (or even particularly good films for that matter), but their charms are multiple for the nondiscriminatory or for those simply waxing nostalgic.

1998’s Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror is a perfect example of this 90’s phenomenon. A group of acquaintances on their way to dispose of the ashes of a recently deceased friend, find themselves in Stephen King influenced small town America. Yep, the young followers of "He Who Walks Behind the Rows" are at it again and before they are through, death and destruction will reign once more!

The fact that this "Redenbacher opus" is written and directed by the established Ethan Wiley (creator of the recent Brutal and many other slap-dash, entertaining horror epics) probably helps with its enjoyability. There are some nicely done slicing and dicings along with an appropriately sick confrontation between one of leads and two of the bloodthirsty children that culminates in a gigantic car explosion. The heroine’s ultimate escape is head scratching, but her young antagonist (a forceful Adam Wylie) is deservingly creepy and obnoxious. Most importantly there is a gut spewing confrontation between genre stalwarts Fred Williamson and David Carradine that is worth the rental price alone.

Future star watchers will be pleased to discover Eva Mendes as the bizarrely named Kir. Her performance is fairly effective, but top acting honors go to Alexis Arquette (Bride of Chucky) playing against type as a thwarted (albeit sarcastic) romantic loser and future soap stud Greg Vaughn as another hopelessly heartsick refuge with the name of Tyrus. (The bizarre names of the leads actually outweigh the antiquated handles of the kids in this one.) Frank Zappa fans will delight in son Ahmet Zappa’s rambunctious performance as Lazlo and in daughter Diva Zappa’s ferocious take on the maniacal ‘drill girl’. Ahmet also gets the Janet Leigh prize for being one of the first characters to go! Even Kane Hodder shows up in a fairly lengthy cameo as the local bartender.

Of course a Children of the Corn movie isn’t complete without the rumblings of a sequel (and at least two more followed this one). Wiley provides the sequel ending that all are eagerly anticipating and he even scores the services of veteran actress Season Hubley (Vice Squad, Escape from New York, Stepfather 3) to help deliver this one home with a punch.

Here is your chance to enter and win a Blue Ray Disc Player and a copy of One Missed Call!!

You’ve heard of this flick right? The one where you can hear your own death before you die.

Now you can enter to win yourself a copy of the movie, or be the grand prize winner (just got a picture of the Bozo Show in my head), so head over to the address below and enter!!

http://www.onemissedcallmovie.com/

One Missed Call Sweepstakes

Review by AngryPrincess

The Drowned might of panned out slow and methodically but it did have you guessing your judgment of what is really going on. It reminded me of Let’s Scare Jessica To Death with the lake that was supposed to be filled with all the stolen souls that the deviant dead town priest pulls in there with him. This is the town’s urban legend, myth or whatever you’d to call it.

Kate’s grand mother passes away and she heads out to the house by the lake to sort thru the left over belongings and will try and decide if she wants to stay there permanently. She brings her white cat named Ghost to keep her company. As Kate starts to pull sheets of of the covered furniture she slowly starts finding evidence that old Grammy was into some sort of magic.

I loved the harp music playing in the background. It just really fit into the movie for me and it really makes it sound magical. Could Kate be imaging things or is the bad luck surrounding her legit? Her nightmares grow dark and she becomes frantic after her cat Ghost goes missing. The only thing this poor woman has is now gone and I think that is what aides in her situation.

if your the type of person that likes to take things slow than this is perfect for you. But if your the kid who on Christmas morning that is done ripping open gifts before your sibling even starts you might want to move on to the next rental. Did I enjoy this flick? Totally! I was afraid at first that I wouldn’t be able to sit thru it without fidgeting but I did and with ease!

Interview by AngryPrincess

Were you always into scary things or did you grow into it?

As long as I can recall, I’ve been strongly attracted to darker things in life. I had a pet rubber skeleton named "Skelly" when I was two. I did a performance of Thriller in my second grade class. I grew up reading the old Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark… Books about ghoulish special effects, the occult, witchcraft, Halloween, and how to haunt your house always grabbed my attention! I rented every horror film my video store carried, snuck downstairs at night to watch scary movies on cable… Ha ha, I guess I was born a goth girl!

Albino Farm is in post production, can you tell us a little about the film? 

It’s based loosely on Missouri folklore surrounding the infamous Spring Lawn farm. Four college students are traveling through the Ozarks when they stumble upon "us" and terror ensues.

Do you believe in ghosts?

I want to believe in them, though honestly, I am a skeptic! Maybe I’ll get over that one day. I love the adrenaline rush of being scared and anything that is metaphysical or unexplainable by science is both creepy and fascinating to me. When I was little, I had an imaginary friend named Mary. Perhaps she was a ghost?

What’s your favorite horror movie and why? 

I could never narrow it down to one favorite since I love so many, but I do have a soft spot for European horror films of the 1970s. Of course, cheesy flicks with terrible acting and awful special effects are so much fun to watch!

What is your favorite flower?

Hydrangea, roses, belladonna, and more! I also love crafting, cooking, gardening, Martha Stewart and the like. I dream of having an old house on farm land and being a sexy, Suzy Homemaker. Both of my parents worked all the time so I never had security or felt safe at home while growing up. That’s probably why I am obsessed… My little sister jokes that I am an old granny in a young person’s body.

If you could be anyone in the world who would you be?

Me- only thinner, richer, more famous and with a smaller nose.

Are you into politics at all?

Yes, but I keep that aspect of my life mostly private. I will admit that I am becoming more environmentally obsessed and green friendly with each day.

What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween! But I love all holidays because it’s fun to be crafty, celebrate and feel connected to others. There is such a great energy involved during the holidays and I am a sucker for tradition.

Are you looking forward to any projects in the near future?

I am in negotiations with four feature length films that I am hoping will be finished this year. Please visit my website for lots of goodies and updates http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2696999/

http://www.BiancaBarnett.com

http://www.myspace.com/biancaabel

Win yourself a free movie ticket to the theatrical premiere of “Amateur Porn Star Killer 2”!

http://alteregocinema.com/Features/AMATEUR2.html

Trailer:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xOI8djB-I

Send an email over to amateurpornstarkiller@yahoo.com with the subject “Free Ticket” and we’ll announce the winners on or about Monday, April 21. Prizes also include free APSK movie posters and more! Please do not enter unless you plan on being in Los Angeles that weekend (same weekend as Fango!).

Showing April 25 and 26 (Friday and Saturday), Midnight, Laemmle’s Sunset 5 in West Hollywood.
http://laemmle.com/viewmovie.php?mid936

If you win you’re welcome to choose either night.

Best of luck!
Alter Ego Cinema
Contact: alteregocinema@yahoo.com

‘Dying Breed’ will premiere on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at 10:00pm.

Jody Dwyer’s brutal feature film debut mines Australia’s past as a British penal colony and the legendary true story of Alexander Pearce, an escaped convict known as "The Pieman," who claimed to have survived by eating his fellow escapees. Naturalist Nina (Mirrah Foulkes) is determined to prove the existence of the Tasmanian tiger-previously thought to be extinct-and vindicate her sister’s death, which happened eight years earlier in the wilds of western Tasmania.

Shot in Pearce’s picturesque former stomping ground (that’s the actual Pieman River they’re crossing), an area where sightings of the mysterious tiger continue to this day, Dying Breed is fraught with bone-rattling suspense and uncompromising gore. Dwyer is able to balance the bizarre character traits of the local townsfolk with intense action without going off course, taking us down a terrifying path full of our most primal fears.

Sat, Apr 26, 10:00PM
Village East Cinema 1

Sun, Apr 27, 11:00PM
Village East Cinema 7

Mon, Apr 28, 10:30PM
AMC 19th St. East Theater 1

Fri, May 02, 11:59PM
AMC 19th St. East Theater 1

Sat, May 03, 12:30AM
AMC Village VII Theater 4

Ticket info: Phone: 646.502.5296
Toll free: 866.941.FEST (3378)
Email: boxoffice@tribecafilmfestival.org

Price: $15.00

For more information, please visit www.dyingbreed.com.au

Elvira better watch out, Melissa Bacelar is a new Scream Queen on the loose and she is a movie making machine. Not only does she act and model now she has her own horror show which she co hosts with her pet zombie Z. Stinky Z might not speak but watch out or you’ll end up in the stew!

Each episode features an opening horror short starring a hot babe getting involved in some blood and gore. There are also interviews with horror talent, and all guests are tortured in whatever way Miss Melissa likes. Whether it be by sawing off a foot or putting you in that Electric chair.

Clips from horror films are reviewed, and then there’s HorrorBull where guest SFX makeup moguls show what gore is made of. Then there’s Heidi Martinuzzi, their ghoul on the street who hits up premiers and other horror events and reports back to you guys about what is going on out there in Horror land!

It was a fun watch and I really think Melissa Bacelar will soon be a well known household name as the new super talented scream queen. So all you boils and ghouls need to head over to The Scream Show now, I guarantee you’ll go back for seconds!

http://www.thescreamshow.com

If you go down to the woods today - you might come face to face with blood-spattered zombies infected with avian flu. But don’t panic. Fortunately they are not part of an apocalyptic disaster but actors starring in a horror film.

And Leamington-based company Green Manalishi Productions is heading up the low-budget but highly ambitious project.

Filming has been taking place for several weeks in woods just outside the village of Wroxton, Banbury and cast and crew will also visit Leamington’s Binswood Avenue to film laboratory scenes on-location in Binswood Hall.

The feature-length ‘modern day’ horror film tells the story of two groups of people who come into contact with avian flu after a wild animal smuggler brings a rare bird into the country from the far East.

Actress Lorraine Pilkington, who has starred in Human Traffic and Monarch of the Glen, RSC actor James Chalmers and Remy Bennett (Tony’s granddaughter) are among those taking part….

More Here