Welcome to Day 21 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Month of Horror Showcase. Every day during the month of October, we will have a horror related interview and/or film review for your fright-filled reading pleasure! The set up will be the same as usual, but the topics will be far more terrifying. Enjoy!
“In a sleepy southern town, the Larkin family suffers a terrible tragedy. Now the Larkin’s are about to endure another: Traffic lights blink an eerie warning, a ghostly visage prowls in the streets, and graves erupt from the local cemetery in an implacable march of terror . . . And beneath the murky surface of the river, a shifting, almost human shape slowly takes form to seek a terrible vengeance.” – Rotten Tomatoes
Oh damn, have I got a great film to tell you all about on this lovely Splatterday! I’m talking about Cold Moon. For anyone needing a nice bit of modern suspense storytelling in their lives, this is the film for you. It hits all of the elements one could ever want in a crime-driven horror film. It is a brilliant and original story from one of the creators of such classic, yet more comedy driven, horror films like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Beetlejuice, the great Michael McDowell. But there is little joking around happening in Cold Moon. This is a film that means business. And business is damn good, my friends.
As I have stated in the past about other horror projects, a great cast can make all the difference. And Cold Moon definitely has a cast that is work admiring. Josh Stewart gives a brilliant portrayal of a downright conflicted psychopath. With his straight up dashing good looks and southern drawl, he absolutely murders it (pun intended) in this film! And of course, you have the legendary Christopher Lloyd, who appears to be portraying the severely aged and less hilarious character he gave the world in the legendary teen comedy Camp Nowhere. It is as though the acid of Dennis Van Welker’s sorted past got the best of him. Basically, Mr. Lloyd is as brilliant as you would expect and was a delight in this film. And how could we forget the brilliant Rachel Brooke Smith who is a shining star in the making and Mr. “Big Brain on Brad” himself, Frank Whaley, who were absolutely brilliant in their own right.
I seriously can not recommend Cold Moon enough, Folks. This is a brilliant story with a dynamite cast and just the right types of scares you want in a thriller. Seriously, you are going to want to see this one!
Welcome to Day 15 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Month of Horror Showcase. Every day during the month of October, we will have a horror related interview and/or film review for your fright-filled reading pleasure! The set up will be the same as usual, but the topics will be far more terrifying. Enjoy!
“Exorcism is still a fact of contemporary life. Every year, more and more people claim that their illnesses are caused by demonic possession.
Father Cataldo is a veteran, one of the most sought-after exorcists in Sicily. Every Tuesday, many believers follow his mass of liberation, searching for a cure for some adversity for which there does not seem to be a label or a remedy.
The Catholic Church reacts to this crisis by nominating priests as exorcists in increasing numbers and by organizing training courses for them. In order to respond to the rising number of requests for deliverance from evil, all French dioceses have installed at least one exorcist. In Spain, the archdiocese of Madrid is desperately trying to fill seven additional positions.
In Rome and Milan alone, the number of exorcists has grown from six to 12, and the Church has set up an emergency call center.
In the US, the number of exorcists has increased tenfold over the last few years.” – Uncork’d Entertainment
I have to kick this one off by saying that this really isn’t technically a “horror film” of any kind. But, it may actually be one of the most horrifying things I have ever seen. And I don’t mean the production of the film itself. No, that is fantastic. Deliver Us is definitely a brilliantly timed piece of art if nothing else. It is a wonderful documentary that moves swimmingly through the confusion of what exactly the hell is going on. I honestly never thought I would say this, but for a documentary about exorcisms, they do manage to have a little bit of fun with it and show a bit of light heartedness. This is all true. But seriously folks…what the fuck!
As a traditional Pacific Northwest bred kid, I am not a believer of any sort of faith. But, I tend to have great respect for religious types who do it correctly. The ones who preach love and forgiveness, and yada yada yada, whatever makes me sound the most pretentious. Anyway, whilst watching Deliver Us, I had a whole hell of a time trying to decipher what I was watching. I didn’t realize it was a documentary at first. I seriously thought I was watching a Blair Witch meets Borat type of situation. But, I was quickly drawn to realize I was mistaken.
This shit is actually happening people. Whether you believe in the power of a God above or not, this shit is actually happening. For the lack of a better word, people have “psyched” themselves out enough to believe that they actually have had demons enter their bodies, and they require the relinquishment of a priest in order to rid themselves of such evil. And even if you think this sounds like absolute bollocks, just truly think about the power of the human psyche, and realize that it is absolutely possible to find yourself in this same scenario. To believe in something so damn much that you soon find yourself in utter hysteria, and then find the only way to calm the reaction is to continuously return to such hysteria as several subjects of this film did? That is absolutely maddening!
I really have to say that everyone should check out this film. Whether you are a professional zealot or a devout atheist, this is a film you are going to love. For the latter, please think of this film as an amazingly portrayal of the power of the human exploit. This is a film that attempts and succeeds to portray the power of the human emotion to be provoked at a moment’s notice. And whether you believe that emotion is brought upon by the belief in a higher being, it is seriously fascinating to ponder about either way.
Welcome to Day 14 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Month of Horror Showcase. Every day during the month of October, we will have a horror related interview and/or film review for your fright-filled reading pleasure! The set up will be the same as usual, but the topics will be far more terrifying. Enjoy!
“The notorious and disgraced circus master, Balthazar Kane, invites an unsuspecting group of social media stars to the revival of his Circus Kane by promising $250,000 to any of them who can make it through the night. Kane’s true plan quickly proves to be far more sinister as the contestants realize more than money is on the line. The group must fight for their lives to escape Kane’s demented house of horrors. ” – October Coast PR
Hey folks! So we are doing something a tad bit different here. As you can tell, it is Saturday, which is of course a rarity for us as of lately. But, we have so much amazing content to share with you fine folks for our Month of Horror, that it has become necessary for us to work on Saturday. Which is totally worth it, I might add.
Also, today is sort of a combo for you fine readers. We are here to talk about the amazing film Circus Kane, which is first of all a truly brilliant modern cinematic experience. But we also have a few quick words form the film’s director, Christopher Olen Ray. So we are combing a great film showcase with a great interview. You lucky son of a saints!
Circus Kane is a wonderful film with a terrifying premise that is as visually stimulating as it is horrifying. Tim Abell does an absolutely incredible job as the partially titled character Balthazar Kane. He will honestly freak you the hell out to no end. And performances from Jonathan Lipnicki and newcomer Victoria Konefal are an absolute stand out. I will personally state here and now, that Circus Kane is the absolute perfect film for those of you who absolutely adore horror films but are feeling a bit trapped by the modern realm of terror cinema. If you are looking for something truly unique and exciting to check out in this wonderful month of all things frightening, I seriously can not recommend this brilliant film enough.
So that is my plug for this amazing film that you can see now on VOD and other streaming platforms. I also have to say that it is absolutely incredible that this is a truly fucked up tale, but also happens to feature not only the adorable little kid from Jerry Maguire, but also Scut Farkus from A Christmas Story (1/3 of the writing team, Zack Ward.) I usually tend to leave this type of thing out of the intros, but I was laughing so damn hard when I figured this out that I feel a bit compelled to let you all know. Because I have to be honest with you all. And with that, here are some words from the film’s director Christopher Olen Ray.
Tell us about the latest film.
Circus Kane is about performer Balthazar Kane, who comes back for one last hooray. He creates a house of scares, tricks and traps for a set of new unexpected horror fans. Offering them $250k to survive his new house of haunts.
And on the VOD channels, what category would you suggest it be placed under?
This should definitely be Horror. There is a little bit of light hearted comedy in it but that is definitely the under tone. The blood puts it into more of Horror.
Though I assume everyone was a pleasure, Is there anyone on the cast and crew you particularly enjoyed working with?
There are a few. Tim Abell is always a pleasure to work with. His work as Kane is amazing. Johnathan Lipnicki was another person that just made my job easy. All in all the cast did a great job and fed off each other well.
What are you most proud of about the movie?
The look. We wanted to make the film have its own look. Myself, the DP Alexander Yellen and The Production Designer Fernando Valdez worked hand in hand to get that accomplished. We decided in the beginning to use as much practical as we could. So all the footage they are watching on the TVs is actually playing as they watch. Just one area.
Was there ever a moment on the film when it became ‘work’ to you – or is it always fun? Maybe a bit of both?
NOPE- I loved every minute of it. Even when things got rough, there is still no place I would rather be.
We’re about to enter the ‘scariest’ month of the year – are you into spooky movies?
HELL YEAH!!! Since I was little my family would watch more horror films in October. Didn’t really mean much since we liked them all the time. As a kid I couldn’t finish Evil Dead. For some reason the bit where he pulls the stick out of his leg still sticks with me.
Who might your favourite horror monster icon be?
I am a huge Universal Monster fan. I have all of them tattooed on me but if I have to choose one. The creature
What does Halloween mean to you?
The one time of the year I am fit in a little bit more. My house and office are Halloween everyday all year long.
Did you ever participate in dress-ups? Remember who you dressed as?
Yup. I have been many different thing over the years. My favourite was the Jack Nicholson Joker. I think there is a picture of me on my Facebook page in this look.
Have you a go-to movie around Halloween?
Original Halloween and Corman’s Little Shop of Horrors.
Do you think your movie works for Halloween, too?
I do. Since every room has a different theme and I think we relate to a lot of different fears through out.
Welcome to Day 8 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Month of Horror Showcase. Every day during the month of October, we will have a horror related interview and/or film review for your fright-filled reading pleasure! The set up will be the same as usual, but the topics will be far more terrifying. Enjoy!
“Somewhere in the depths of space, aliens are watching the earth and planning their attack. Unaware of the impending danger, the locals of a sleepy English village are preparing for their summer festival. The aliens launch their offensive by mutating the local rabbit population, and when the furry demons are released, the body count starts to pile up as blood, guts, and fur flies in all directions as the humans fight off the alien threat.” – October Coast PR
It is hard not to initially draw comparisons to the work of Edgar Wright when trying to describe the fun I had watching this silly film. It seems like a very American and uninformed descriptor, but I honestly can’t think of a better one. While I hate to draw such a comparison because it seems so obvious, I can with complete honesty say that if you are a fan of Wright, you are going to love Cute Little Buggers.
With that thought though, please keep in mind that this is a low-budget horror comedy that has done an amazing job with the resources it had available. While the film can be visually confusing, it is definitely a very well written film based around a truly insane premise. It’s just fucking FUN, people! Aliens? Rabbits? Gratuitous nudity? What is there not to love here? Yes, director Tony Jopia is not exactly creating this generation of The Exorcist or The Shining, but he has created a fun little film that should be enjoyed for the absurdity of it all. This truly is a brilliant film that will take you out of reality for a short while and will make you let your proverbial hair down and enjoy yourself. It is like the comparison that legendary comedian Ian Karmel would make: “Some times I want mexican food, and sometimes I want Taco Bell.” I think that pretty much sums it up.
Cute Little Buggers is also loaded with some great talent. Gary Martin is extremely impressive as the cleverly named Randy Rocksoff. I have always been a fan of Martin’s voice over work on projects like The Never Ending Story III and the Dennis the Menace animated series, so it was great to see him live and in action. And the legendary scream queen herself, Dani Thompson, gives us another wonderful performance that needs to be acknowledged.
Overall, I highly recommend this film as a wonderful experience to laugh with and to change the way you look at what I once considered to be the most adorable animal on the planet. Check it out!
Oh yeah, and there are piss filled Super Soakers. So yeah, it’s a fucking win!
Welcome to Day 1 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Month of Horror Showcase. Every day during the month of October, we will have a horror related interview and/or film review for your fright-filled reading pleasure! The set up will be the same as usual, but the topics will be far more terrifying. Enjoy!
“Eight years ago, Father Colin Hampstead oversaw an aborted exorcism that resulted in the gruesome death of seventeen-year-old Jewel Grant, in rural Louisiana. The deceased girl’s older sister, Kayleigh, grew immediately attached to Hampstead and sought him out, at first for grief counseling and then, for much more.
Eight years later, Hampstead has left the priesthood and become a celebrated fiction writer, specializing in stories about the occult, and he and Kayleigh, now his wife, have a beautiful daughter and run a well-known bed and breakfast in Savannah, GA. When the couple agrees to host a wedding for one of Colin’s college friends, what begins as a Big Chill-type reunion turns into something much more macabre, as the seemingly omnipresent ghost of her dead sister Jewel compels Kayleigh to engage in bizarre, destructive behaviors that endanger the lives of both her friends and herself.” – October Coast PR
I will be the first to admit that I went into Demons with the thought that I was simply going to be viewing yet another depiction of the same sort of thing we have all seen many times before. Exorcism and the world of horror go together like Nutella and bananas. It is a common theme. But seldom do the creators behind such a project manage to come up with some truly unique and/or original. That is one reason I was pleasantly surprised that this film came through with just that. Demons is not just a film about war waged with Satan inside of a human’s body. Sure there are actual demons involved in the film and show up regularly, but there is also the struggle of the more proverbial and non-physical demons. The demons of the past can be some of the most struggle filled demons of all, and this film provides a brilliant take on uncovering and unearthing both types of demons. It is a power struggle between not just Satan, but an understanding of what traumatic events that have occurred in the character’s past. Seriously folks, if you have been skipping out on “exorcism” movies over the years due to lack of originality, I honestly cannot stress just how different Demons truly is, and in a very positive way.
One of the most compelling aspects of Demons, beyond Miles Doleac’s wonderful storytelling and tantalizing visuals, was just how wonderfully casted this film was! I will be the first to admit that beyond the occasional appearance of Gary Grubbs, I wasn’t all too familiar with most of the cast. But I will be damned if I didn’t end of becoming a great fan of some pretty amazing performers. While every performance was brilliant in its own right, a huge shout out has to go to Kristina Emerson and especially to Lindsay Anne Williams, both of which absolutely crushed in their respected roles, and the latter being one of the finest performances in a suspense film that I have seen in a whole lot of years. As many regular horror viewers know, a truly great story is important in this genre. But without the right people to help visualize the tale, sometimes it just won’t work. But with a cast as good as this one, it was simply destined to achieve greatness.
Demons will be select theaters and VOD on October 6th.
Check out this trailer from the Bloody Disgusting YouTube Page:
“Nidhi Jha, 15, from Benares, India dreams of becoming one of thousands to pass the Super 30 exam, which will enable her to have free preparatory education and fulfill her dreams of attending engineering school. Deegii Batjargal, 11, from Ulan-Batar, Mongolia practices her contortionist-training daily, in the hopes of being accepted by an elite circus school in Singapore. Tom Ssekabira, 19, from rural Uganda, works hard in Queen Elizabeth National Park to become a ranger, with hopes of graduating to protect local endangered chimpanzee groups from poachers. Albert Ensasi Gonzalez Monteagudo, 11, from Cuba is determined to chase his dream of attending Havana Sport Academy and becoming and Olympic boxer.
These intimate true stories show the dreams of youth and the power of education to help a new international generation of children from poor backgrounds change their lives through hard work and perseverance.”
Oh damn, people. Do we have one for the old heart strings today. This incredible film is a very special one that I would definitely recommend for anyone who needs to be reminded about just how precious our lives truly are. And if you’re anything like me, you may realize that whatever ambition you have, most likely pails in comparison to what these 4 kids are striving to become. It is absolutely incredible to watch these young people work towards something they dream of. And what is even more compelling, is that some of them aren’t searching for anything that spectacular. They just want to make it! They just want to make it out of their current situation and be great. Their ambition is admirable to say the least. Especially when I can’t seem to peel myself away from a few episodes of Z Nation or playing Fallout 4 to try to write something.
The Great Day is a film that is as inspiring as it is beautiful. Filmmaker Pascal Plisson brings us an extremely fascinating true tale to the big screen that is truly not to be missed. I simply cannot recommend this gem of a film enough. In an attempt to not cause too many spoilers, I just have to say that the ending of the film is going to make you smile. And what more could you want from a film?
Find The Great Day on VOD Nationwide on Tuesday, October 10 on all major platforms including iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Microsoft, Vudu, Comcast, Charter, Cox, Vimeo, and various other cable operators.
I just have to kick things off here by clearly stating that this a film that absolutely does everything CORRECTLY! And unfortunately, for me to truly demonstrate this point, there will be spoilers. There will be spoilers. There will be spoilers. Have I effectively gotten through to you? There will be spoilers. Okay, let’s begin.
I was initially drawn to this film based solely on presence of the two top billed performers. Collette Wolf has always been amazing in my mind ever since I first saw her amazing interactions with Patton Oswalt in Observe and Report almost a decade ago. It was comedic genius, and I have been dying to see her able to take on a leading role. And obviously, she crushes it to be purely minimalist about it. And then there is Sam Huntington, who I feel as though I have grown up with over the last 20 years. In fact, His first three films were all released when I was between the ages of 12 and 16. And all three of them came out at exactly the right age that I could relate to them the most. For those of you who are not up to speed, this films (in order) were Jungle 2 Jungle, Detroit Rock City, and Not Another Teen Movie. Three solid, yet very different, films that were all bettered by Sam’s involvement.
So yes, with two brilliant lead stars in this film, I definitely knew it wasn’t going to be horrible. The premise is also very noteworthy. The direct and some-what campy visualization of what it would look like if roles were reversed is brilliant concept, no matter how we land with said visualization. In this case it is a magic mirror. Sure. Why the hell no? It is a great way to go right to the story, which is what is most important.
Now, as of yet, I may not have really spoiled anything for you fine readers. But here it comes. Are you ready…..okay, here we go……THIS IS NOT A ROMCOM!!! I can not tell you just how wonderful this is to me. I seriously thought it was coming for quite a ways through the film. I had this terrible suspicion that while writer/director Michael Cross was giving us a lovely little film about women’s empowerment, he was surely going to have to cave in and make these two lead roles fall in love with each other and live happily ever after, thus negating the empowerment element that was so prominent. But it doesn’t happen!! It seriously wasn’t even an issue, I was actually left feeling pretty dumb for not believing it could be done. This just isn’t something that happens people!
Now look, I have nothing against a good romantic comedy, if that is what it is supposed to be about. But a film like Second Nature wasn’t about romance, it is a hilarious film that addresses seriously real issues through comedy. And Cross made the absolutely perfect decision to not let the film turn in that direction. This very fact alone makes me truly admire the film, and makes me want to tell all of my more open minded friend.
So, with that point in mind, there is still even more to love about this project. The storyline is on point, and the writing is absolutely genius. And will could gush of the dreamboats that are Collette and Sam, it would be remiss of me if I didn’t mention a few others that really blew me away. People, please be on the look out for Riley Shanahan. He was absolutely fantastic in this film, and has one of the most brilliant “embarrassing in your underwear” scenes I have ever seen. Honestly, I would love to get the behind the scenes take on what it was like to shoot that scene. I was literally howling with laughter at this beautiful bit of awkwardness. And I can’t forget about Carollani Sandberg, who is somebody I will definitely be on the look out for in the future, as she gave the finest emulation of what the film’s “role reversal” would truly be like.
So get out there and see Second Nature, folks! It is a gem of a film with a very important message!
Theatrically, the film is scheduled to open in theaters on September 8 (beginning with Ark Lodge Cinemas, Seattle). It will also play at the Catalina Film Festival (Sep 27-October 1) and Ellensburg Film Festival (October 6-8).
Second Nature will also be available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, Blu-ray and DVD on September 19.
“Veteran AIP genre star Larry Bishop (son of famed Rat Packer Joey Bishop) directs and stars in this gritty revenge tale concerning a biker gang that rallies to avenge the violent murder of a fellow gang member. An homage to such classic biker films as ChromeandHot Leather and Angel Unchained, Hell Ride was conceived when director Bishop was invited to Quentin Tarantino’s home to view a print of The Savage Seven. Upon realizing that there hadn’t been a true biker film in years, the pair quickly contacted Bob Weinstein and conspired to produce a lean and mean two-wheeled revenge flick that would more than make up for lost time.” – Rotten Tomatoes
Today’s Sunday Matinee is for a film that both new and old readers are sure to appreciate. It is easily one of the finest genre pieces of the last twenty years, especially if that genre you adore is classic biker films. This is just about as god damned good as it gets. The film’s director, writer, producer, and lead star is known other than genre legend Larry Bishop, who we were fortunate enough to get some words from last July. The film also features one of favorite interviewees (can’t believe it has almost been 4 years!) of all time, the wonderful actress, Laura Cayoutte, who was also an associate producer on the film and is somebody I have personally dubbed as the Queen of NOLA. And as you may expect if you are recognized an uncommon theme here at the Sunday Matinee series, we will soon be featuring yet ANOTHER wonderful member of the Hell Ride team. Only not this week, but in coming weeks. SPOILER ALERT: She is an amazing actress from the film, and she is pictured below next to a smiling Michael Madsen. And we are so excited to share it with you! With that, your homework is the watch Hell Ride, if you have failed miserably to do so already. Which is absolutely unacceptable.
Hell Ride also features legendary performances from two brilliant actors that have sadly left us. I am obviously speaking of the great David Carradine and Dennis Hopper. Both of which gave dynamite performances in roles that were written so beautifully, almost any one could have done them. But when you have legends like Carradine and Hopper involved, you are going go get brilliance. There are few guarantees in life, but exceptional performances form the likes of these cats is one you could always count on. And while we are speaking of legends, one that is still with us and was wonderful in this film is definitely the great Michael Madsen, who is always phenomenal. In fact, I would say Madsen gave one of his best performances of all time, aligned with his work on Kill Bill Vol. 2 and Donnie Brasco.
And I will be damned if this isn’t just an amazing film to look at. It is a brilliantly written and directed film obviously, because Larry Bishop is genius to say the least. But it would be absolutely senseless not to note that cinematographer Scott Kevan did an absolutely brilliant job!
Seriously folks, there is absolutely nothing to hate about this film. Critics tended to be assholes about the film with some serious biased assumptions and unfair judgements. But, this is a film you are either going to enjoy a great amount, or you just aren’t going to understand or care about. Which is fine. Different art forms appeal to different people. I’m just saying that if Hell Ride is a film that appeals to you, you are a person who would probably appeal to me. Because it is an all around wonderful film with a lovely cast and beautiful premise that the world should enjoy. Even if your just looking for a bit of nostalgia in your life, you are going to absolutely adore this brilliant piece of cinema!
Check out this trailer for the film courtesy of The Weinstein Company:
“The film, evoking Peter Greenways’ aesthetics, follows the daily life of Eva (played by Ukrainian model Aliyah Galyatadnova), a seventeen year old girl who suffers from a condition of constant nose bleeds, and the difficulties as well as benefits it presents her with in this confusing stage of her life.”
Being young can feel like a truly futile and painful existence at times. Most of know this, and hopefully most of us have moved on into the more adult like futile and extremely painful existence. Being a young person who doesn’t feel like they have been cut from the same cloth as “normal” people, can truly be a metaphorical constant nosebleed.
And that is exactly what New York-based director Gigi Ben Artzi has excellent portrayed in his second 16mm short film that is E.W.A. This is a film that evokes oh so common feelings of strength amongst the irregular humans of the world, especially during their youth. Aliyah Galyatadnova’s consistent nosebleeds are obviously just a physical manifestation of what too many people are feeling internally.
Aliyah’s brilliant performance is without a doubt the finest part of E.W.A., closely followed by the beautiful cinematography through a 16mm filter. And I would love to be on record by stating that if this film isn’t the best live action short film of the year, it is certainly one of the most important live action short films of 2017. I find this easy to pronounce.
And aren’t fine readers so damned lucky, that you can check out the entire film right here, right now. That is right! You don’t even have to move yourself off of Trainwreck’d Society to watch E.W.A. Check it out below, and I am certain you are going to be wanting to check out previous works from director Gigi Ben Arts. If not, well, you’re probably missing the point!
“Picking up several years after the events of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Lieutenant Lefty Enright (Dennis Hopper) is on the trail of Leatherface (Bill Johnson) and the rest of the Sawyer family for killing his niece and nephew years earlier. He has tracked them to a small town in Texas, where they have come across the path of a local DJ, known as Stretch (Caroline Williams). She accidentally records them killing two college boys that called into her station and turns the tape over to Lefty. He encourages her to play it in on the air, but this attracts the attention of Leatherface and his brother Chop Top (Bill Moseley), who come to pay their respects. Stretch convinces Leatherface to spare her life, but they kidnap her coworker (Lou Perryman) after badly beating him. She follows them to their home, an abandoned carnival above ground and a cavernous, maze-like horror-show below ground. Lefty shows up with a few chainsaws to save Stretch’s skin and get revenge.” – Diabolique Magazine
So, I was planning to skip over this week’s Sunday Matinee, due to time restraints and other commitments, as well as the fact that I have not watched anything new in the last couple of weeks and wasn’t sure what to write about. And then I heard some of the saddest news of 2017. It has been a truly shitty year for the world of horror, all on the cusp of our forthcoming Month of Horror here at Trainwreck’d Society. In less than a 12 month period, we lost two of the biggest pioneers of the industry. Earlier this year, George A. Romero, the man who originally gave us the fear of the undead returning passed away. And most recently, amongst the chaos and excitement of some sort of multi-million dollar punching match, we lost the man who brought us the most terrifying film of all time to be centered around cannibalism and inhumane torture in the heart of “middle of nowhere land”. Yes, the great Tobe Hooper has left us today and our hearts are being ripped apart by metaphorical chainsaws.
While Hooper’s film Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a seminal classic in the world of horror and film in general, I have always held a soft spot for the film’s sequel that was released a baker’s dozen years later, simply entitled Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. I have always been a huge fan of the more camp like atmosphere in the world of horror. Especially when it is done correctly. And never before, and since, has the melding of camp and suspense been done so eloquently and beautifully as it was in this amazing sequel. There is just so much to love about this story.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 features some of the greatest performances the world of horror has ever known. Legendary scream queen and dramatic actress Caroline Williams is an amazing strong female lead with a gut-wrenching scream, and the return of Jim Siedow from the original film is a brilliant touch for all the die hard fans out there. But, the most impressive combination of terrifying characters is easily the appearance of one of the most frightening characters in so many different forms of horror, the great Bill Mosely, and the strange chance to actually root for legendary and dearly departed Dennis Hopper.
I simply cannot say enough great things about this damn movie. Of course, it is never going got be critically accepted as a classic compared to the series’s origin film, but die hard fans of horror know that this film is a classic, and I believe that is what Mr. Hooper would have really wanted. Rarely does a horror film hold all of the delightful elements that are possible. There is shock, terror, gore, comedy, and outlandishness, all boxed together perfectly in a truly entertaining hour and half. And in my opinion, this is what makes Texas Chainsaw Massacre not only a brilliant horror film, but a cinematic masterpiece in general. It is also another brilliant testament to the genius of the great Tobe Hooper that will be severely missed.
And with that I just want to say goodnight to father of Leatherface, the bringer of the Poltergeist, and one of the greatest writers and filmmakers of this generation and any one before.
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