Friday 19 November 2010

The Hike stars at Brum Memorabilia Show



Don't know much about this film, which sounds suspiciously like a remash of The Descent (not that that would be a bad thing, necessarily)...

Cast and crew from new British horror movie The Hike will be attending the Winter Memorabilia Show at Birmingham's NEC this weekend, show organisers have announced. Director Rupert Bryan and The Hike�s stars will be holding promotional signings and on-stage Q&A panels on both days of Memorabilia, as well as showing exclusive footage of the upcoming film.

Starring Tamer Hassan (Dead Man Running; Clash of the Titans), Barbara Nedeljakova (Hostel; Pimp), Zara Phythian; Ben Loyd Holmes (Torchwood; Bones), Stephanie Siadatan, Jemma Bolt, Lisa Maria Long, Daniel Caren and Dominic LeMoignan, The Hike follows an all female hiking expedition that takes a turn for the worse when the girls find they are not alone in the woods.

"The Hike is a very emotional story, with really strong characters," said director Rupert Bryan. "In one way, it's a thriller that is very much about the chase and the kill, but on another level it is a story of realism. The film is set in a situation we could all find ourselves in, with people we all might know."

For more information about The Hike and the Memorabilia show, please visit:

www.memorabilia.co.uk

I wanted to go to the Memorabilia Show this weekend but won't be able to make it. Could someone say hello to Valerie Leon from me? I don't know her, but say hello anyway.

Saturday 6 November 2010

bhf site back up

Two quick things - firstly, the bhf site is back up and running. Secondly, this is a test to make sure i can blog from my new phone! Which could usher in a new era on the site...
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Wednesday 3 November 2010

Website down

Sorry if you're a regular user... the BHF website is currently down. Mainly cos I haven't paid the bill, so the automated system has kicked in. I've contacted the guy in charge, and the money's waiting, so hopefully we'll be up and running again soon!

Monday 25 October 2010

Burke and Hare, new clip

Still haven't quite made up my mind about this, but I do have to say that this clip at least made me chuckle. It is a bit like John Landis has just discovered Carry On films, though...
(Thanks to Movieweb for publishing it first)

Saturday 23 October 2010

Vote now for Dead Of Night!

Following its recent list of the best horror films of all time, which put Psycho at number one but did, in fairness, also include a shit-load of BHFs, you can now vote on what YOU think is actually the best 'un. Now, I don't want to sway your opinion, but why not vote for Dead Of Night? Go on.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/poll/2010/oct/22/horror-films-poll

Should've gone to Specsavers?


And so to esteemed online publication contactlenses.co.uk, which has taken a typically vapid story from the Mirror listing "the greatest vampires of all time", snipped out a bit about Chris Lee in Dracula (1958), and made a press release about it.
How Lee wearing a pair of red contact lenses for a film part more than 50 years ago is supposed to help the cause of contact lenses now is anyone's guess, but you can read it here: http://contactlenses.co.uk/contactlensesnews/article37567/contact-lenses-helped-make-dracula-great.html?catid=5&pageNo=1

Bear Scary director is a killer B

As part of a Halloween horror night in London where they'll be showing post modern US classic Scream, long-time BHF blog favourite Dan Brownlie's short films will be making appearance as support features. Or as he puts it: "Oh my god, I've actually done it, my films are running as a B movie!!!!!"
You can find out more here: http://screamsociety.eventbrite.com/
Of course, as all Brit horror aficionados know, that effectively means that his films are as good as The Wicker Man, which itself was a supporting feature way back in the early 70s, yet is now regarded as "The Citizen Kane Of Horror Movies" (by whom I'm not too sure, but it is now set down in law that if you mention TWM, you have to say this).

And to whet your appetites, here's Dan's latest micro horror, which certainly gave me the willies...

Burke and Hare in comic form

Myebook - Burke and Hare - click here to open my ebook

What-ho. With the release of Pegg n' Serkis's less than wildly anticipated version of Flesh And The Fiends on the way, I thought I'd promote this graphic novel on the subject...

Sunday 17 October 2010

Jane Merrow at the Fantastic Films Fest in Manchester

Hi, I attended this weekend's films do in Manchester on Saturday, where I got the opportunity to meet Norman J Warren (Satan's Slave, Inseminoid etc), Francoise Pascal (Incense For The Damned, Burke and Hare) and Jim Groom (Revenge Of Billy The Kid). There were others there but sadly I was on a very tight schedule, however I did get the chance to sit in on a Q&A session with Jane Merrow, 60s starlet who featured in Night Of The Big Heat and Hands Of The Ripper amongst many others. And this was the one opportunity I got to whip my camera out, so here's some pics of the still very glamorous Jane being lightly grilled by Hammer aficionado Wayne Kinsey...
(Apologies for the shit quality of the pics)




Wednesday 13 October 2010

Sunday 3 October 2010

3 Cases Of Murder on DVD - hoo-bloody-ray



One of my absolute faves, the spine-chilling Three Cases Of Murder, gets a DVD release in the UK on October 11. I urge you all to go out and buy your copy...
And read the review here: http://britishhorrorfilms.co.uk/threecasesofmurder.shtml

Tuesday 28 September 2010

Video nasties back on the radar?



One of the main influences on the British Horror Films website was a book I bought back in the late 20th century which went, film-by-film, through the video nasties phenomenon. As a child of the 70s I had lived through the whole thing, although as a middle class child with no appetite (at the time) for watching anything stronger than Doctor Who, (and also with parents who steadfastly refused to buy a video recorder), I'd not really seen any of them. The whole thing fascinated me, though, even into my late 20s. So despite still not having seen any of the films, I picked up a copy of John Martin's Seduction of the Gullible: The Truth Behind the Video Nasty Scandal and was immediately hooked by its sideways look at what were basically a bunch of shit films, grouped together by an over-enthusiastic police system and villified by an equally stupid national press as depraved and corrupt.
Martin was intelligent and thorough - he had obviously watched all of the films and enjoyed them on a level I could completely understand - not as a rabid "hur hur his head exploded!" idiot, but as an astonished outsider looking in. And that's the approach I tried to take when I first set up the BHF. I hope that's come across, it certainly doesn't seem to have done the traffic figures any harm!
Aaaaaaaaanyway, that brings us quite neatly to the reason why I started this post in the first place. There's a new DVD out, which like Martin's book, attempts to give an insight into the "video nasties" furore as a whole, as well as showing us all just what a bunch of nondescript wastes of celluloid most of those films actually were (with a few exceptions).
The DVDs not only show us the trailers for the films in all their sleazy glory, they also interview some of the people involved in making modern British horror films, who were influenced by the whole thing. So there is a link to British horror films, honest!
(Only one British film made it onto the list - Expose. Watch it and you'll begin to have an inkling how random their selection process actually was).
Here's the blurb:
Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide – out on DVD Oct 18, 2010. RRP: £24.99

Prepare to be corrupted and depraved once more as Nucleus Films releases the definitive guide to the Video Nasties phenomenon - one of the most extraordinary and scandalous eras in the history of British film.

For the first time ever on DVD, all 72 films that fell foul of the Director of Public Prosecutions are trailer-featured with specially filmed intros for each title in a lavish three-disc collector’s edition box-set, alongside a brand new documentary - VIDEO NASTIES: MORAL PANIC, CENSORSHIP AND VIDEOTAPE, directed by Jake (‘Doghouse’) West.

Producer Marc Morris, co-author of ‘Art of the Nasty’ and ‘Shock Horror: Astounding Artwork from the Video Nasty Era’ comments: “Hopefully, every true movie fan will want this in their collection”..

Disc One presents the 39 titles that were successfully prosecuted in UK courts and deemed liable to deprave and corrupt. These included: ‘Absurd’, ‘Cannibal Holocaust’, ‘The Driller Killer’, ‘I Spit on Your Grave’, ‘Nightmares in a Damaged Brain’, ‘Snuff’ & ‘Zombie Flesh-Eaters’.

Disc Two presents the 33 titles that were initially banned, but then subsequently acquitted and removed from the DPP's list. These included:
‘Death Trap’, ‘Deep River Savages’, ‘The Evil Dead’, ‘Human Experiments’, ‘The Toolbox Murders’ & Zombie Creeping Flesh

Both discs can be viewed either as a non-stop trailer show, or with newly-filmed introductions from a wide range of acclaimed media academics and notable genre journalists. Each disc is preceded by a brief introduction by cult horror presenter Emily Booth.

Disc Three This era-defining documentary features reflective interviews with filmmakers Neil Marshall (‘The Descent’, ‘Doomsday’) and Christopher Smith (‘Severance’, ‘Black Death’ as well as charting the heroic stand taken by journalist/author Martin Barker, who single-handedly came out in protest against what he saw as the erosion of civil liberties. There are also revealing interviews with the MP Graham Bright and Geoffrey Robertson QC, as well as rare archive footage featuring James Ferman (director of the BBFC 1975-1999) & Mary Whitehouse. Taking in the explosion of home video, the introduction of draconian censorship measures, hysterical press campaigns and the birth of many careers born in blood and videotape, West’s cannily piercing and topical documentary also reflects on the influence this peculiar era still exerts on us today.

The documentary was screened at this year’s Film4 FrightFest, midst the controversy of A SERBIAN FILM and the remake of I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE being subjected to stringent cuts by the BBFC. A timely warning perhaps

Extras include a gallery of original video company idents and extensive gallery of lurid cover art for every video nasty.

Your can buy the film here:



And here's a link to the book which started it all for me, something I whole-heartedly recommend you buy...

Wednesday 22 September 2010

New Pinhead

This

apparently, is the new face of everyone's favourite nutcase with nails in his bonce, Pinhead. Stephan Smith Collins (for tis he) will take over from Doug Bradley for the ninth (ninth!) Hellraiser film, due to be filmed and forgotten about any day now. Apparently Bradley has had enough of playing the baddie in what can only be described as increasingly shitter (more shit?) sequels. And apparently (again) the makers, Dimension Films, are not worrying too much about raising the bar with the next one, as the word is that they are only churning out yet another film so they can keep the rights to the franchise whilst they try to get a remake of the original sorted out...

Thursday 16 September 2010

Halloween Horrorthon in the Midlands


With Halloween coming up, I'm bound to start getting besieged by all manner of crap about "the holidays" from well meaning American people who fail to understand that we just don't DO Halloween over here.
That said, this looks like a rather splendid way to spend the day...
On Sunday, October 31st, there's a Hammer Horrorthon taking place at the Blotts County Club, Nottingham. Films on show will be Dracula, Plague Of The Zombies, Frankenstein Created Woman and The Devil Rides Out, with a slap-up feed to boot. It all sounds ace, and well worth the £37.50 for anyone in the general area.
You can find out more here:
http://www.filmsceneuk.com/Hammer

And just as a footnote, isn't that a bloody gorgeous poster? I've not seen it before.

Tuesday 14 September 2010

Too scary for festivals? Take your Pixel...



The above is the trailer for new low budget Brit horror Pixel, which has (apparently) been deemed "too scary" for recent film festivals. Considering that they're busy showing stuff like A Serbian Film and The Human Centipede (two films which beg the question "why?") I find that statement a tad hard to believe, but I will admit that there's something unsettling about the trailer...

How do I know about this? Because the guy behind it, Jeff Angel, wrote me the following email...

Please let me introduce myself my name is Jeffrey Angel and I am a Horror film fanatic and I have just made a 46min Horror film entitled PIXEL that (so far) no festival will show as they are too chickenshit. If I had made a film with Zombies being decapitated or entrails flailing that's cool but if I attempt to make an "adult," not in the tits & ass sense (I wish) horror flick dealing with dark, human themes everybody starts to get uncomfortable. I love the more psychological horror films and am a Carpenter, Polanski, Reeves, Jaques Tourneur acolyte and I would really appreciate your support in help publisizing our trailer. If enough people show an interest then I am going to upload the whole Horror movie this Halloween so everybody can have a free Horror film on me, but be warned ... people who have seen it have said
"... a film I really wish I could get out of my head" and "nihilistic to the point of causing depression" so it looks like I did something right then.

We have a brilliant black male lead actor and I hope that, in some way, this going against type (especially in Horror) might help break the stereotypical (de rigueur) chopper fodder black guy / gal actor seen all too frequently in Horror films (you just know they are going to "get it" in the first reel.)

You are the first person I have written to (uploaded trailer just now) as I am a big fan of the site. Best wishes Jeff "Pariah / why does everybody hate me?" Angel.

Shout, Shout, let it all out



Top-notch Brit chiller and all-round mental wonky noise-fest The Shout gets a welcome public airing this weekend in Bracknell, Berks on a new 35mm print. Details below...

(By the way, I don't mean that you're all berks. It's a place. Next to Twatshire, I believe)


Unconscious England: An evening of music and film celebrating weird Britain

Featuring a rare showing of the cult British horror film The Shout, staring Alan Bates, John Hurt and Susanna York.

Playing live in the evening are Moon Wiring Club with their blend of Hauntological beats and strange ephemera, plunderphonical and very English musings with Dolly Dolly and Position Normal�s found sounds and wonky collages. DJ accompaniment will be provided by The Outer Church (Joseph Stannard � The Wire Magazine).

5pm till late

Link to tickets: http://www.southhillpark.org.uk/perfdetail.jsp?pageURL=%2Fperfslst.jsp&pageParams=eventtypeid%3D11%26eventtype%3DMusic&id=10297&dt=18+Sep&dy=Sat&tm=5.00pm&range=all&eventtype=Music&eventtypeid=11

Google maps to help with directions: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=0,0,15701429589349772317&fb=1&hq=south+hill+park&hnear=Reading+RG1&gl=uk&daddr=Bracknell+RG12+7PA&geocode=17919767789566167307,51.393728,-0.749830&ei=iu6NTJP4OMbO4Ab6q6X_Cg&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=directions-to&resnum=2&ved=0CBYQngIwAQ

Travel details: http://www.southhillpark.org.uk/aboutUsTravel.jsp

Let Me In at the BFI

Hammer's will-this-finally-mean-the-bloody-company-is-back-in-the-big-league remake of Let The Right One in will be screened at the forthcoming BFI London Film Festival, which has, I'm assured, a strong selection of horror and sci fi films. Good news, then.

Here's the full details:


The 54th BFI London Film Festival is delighted to announce that this year’s programme includes a strong selection of HORROR AND SCI-FI films. This is part of a worldwide selection of 197 features and 112 shorts from 67 countries. The 54th BFI London Film Festival, in association with American Express, runs from October 13 – October 28.

Horror and Sci-Fi FEATURES:

End of Animal: Dir, Jo Sung-Hee - Maybe the most striking debut in Korean film history, this pocket-sized apocalypse shows the day when electricity disappears and the road becomes a dog-eat-dog world.

KABOOM: Dir, Gregg Araki - An ‘old school Gregg Araki movie’, Kaboom is smart, sexy and so much fun…

MARS: Dir, Geoff Marslett - An inventive slice of slacker sci-fi packed with wit and ideas.

LET ME IN: Dir, Matt Reeves - A shy young boy realises his new friend might not be the innocent she first appears in this atmospheric and ultramodern vampire tale.

RARE EXPORTS: Dir, Jalmari Helander - Santa Claus is coming to town, but spreading Christmas cheer is not at the top of his list...

WOMB: Dir, Benedek Fliegauf - Eva Green and Matt Smith star in an usual love story, exquisitely designed and photographed.


Horror and Sci-Fi SHORTS:

All Flowers in Time: Dir, Jonathan Caouette – An evil signal broadcast by Dutch TV convinces young boys and girls that they can shape-shift into other people – and monsters.


Cosmic Alchemy: Dir, Lawrence Jordan - A voyage in the celestial realm, out beyond consciousness, steered by amaster of mystical transformation. Wondrous visions are charted on star maps from the Harmonia Macrocosmica to a spellbinding drone track by John Davis.

Bit: Dir, Jonathan Kable - Keep your eyes on the road…

Half Hearted: Dir, Max McGill - Mike wakes up from a big night out with more to worry about than a nasty hangover. A lot more.

the Legend of Beaver Dam: Dir, Jerome Sable - A ghostly tale around the campfire awakens an evil monster. It’s up to nerdy Danny Zigwitz to be the hero and save his fellow campers!

Mary Last Seen: dir, Sean Durkin - A young couple embark on a road trip to a beautiful and peaceful place. But a series of strange events occur on their journey, and it becomes clear that their relationship is not what it seems; and their destination is not what was promised.

Vlog: Dir, Yariv Barel and Mor Kaplansky - A teenage girl, equipped with her handy-cam, quietly leaves her sleeping family and abusive home.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON ALL THESE TITLES AND THE FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAMME, PLEASE GO TO: www.bfi.org.uk/lff

Short film makers... why not submit them to Scary Or Die?

After all, what have you got to lose? Unless they kill you if your film isn't scary enough...

Hang on, that's a fucking brilliant idea for a film. Where's me pen?


Scary or Die Entertainment is proud to announce the launch of their new website dedicated to supporting fellow filmmakers and their fans in the horror community. We are launching scaryordie.com on September 28th with our 1st annual HORROR SHORT FILM FESTIVAL.

Just go to scaryordie.com to register and submit your short horror film.

All movies submitted BEFORE midnight, September 21st would be eligible. Then, for the next two weeks, votes will be counted and the top three vote getters will receive the POPULAR VOTE AWARD. All filmed *submitted will be judged by you, the fans. The most votes, wins! It’s that simple.

Additionally, a panel of known industry vets will be voting for their top three video selections for a SPECIAL JURY AWARD. Hosted by Ivonna Cadaver and Spooky Dan Walker, the award ceremony will be held in Los Angeles in mid October and will be streamed around the world LIVE on scaryordie.com. All winning videos will screen at the ceremony.

For the launch, we are waiving the submission fee…that’s right, IT’S FREE…the first one is on us but hurry! Time is running out if you want to be considered for one of the great prizes.

Prizes will include, a FREE WEEKEND at a world famous HORROR FILM BOOT CAMP in Los Angeles and other prizes from well known manufacturers that every filmmaker will love, plus your video will première online at THE destination horror website in world!

Additionally all winning videos will be screened live during the SCARY OR DIE launch party in Los Angeles, CA

About the Site
In addition to up to the minute horror news, live streaming events, social network and contests, this site is a place where independent filmmakers can upload their horror shorts, have them rated by viewers and get international exposure from fans around the world.

FILMAKERS will see how the fans respond to their material in REAL TIME. Horror fans will vote on the short and then that short will be placed accordingly on the site. Truly a ground floor opportunity for filmmakers to get their hard work seen and rated by millions. This site will provide exposure to fans, fellow filmmakers, horror celebrities and studio executives and it’s all FREE!

A Horror Democracy!
Immediately after our initial launch, SCARY OR DIE ENTERTAINMENT will be streaming original content both in episodic series form and feature films…ALL WIITHOUT A STUDIO ADGENDA!

Just go to SCARY OR DIE and upload…it’s that easy. And stay tuned for more horror news as we get closer to the SEPTEMBER 28TH LAUNCH DATE!

SCARYORDIE.com


*Submitted films must be 30 minutes or less. There are no restrictions if it has played or is going to play in any other film festival…we want as many people in the world as possible to see your work!

It's the motion picture event of your generation, apparently



Love 'em or hate 'em, there's no denying that the Harry Potter films have kept the industry alive in this country (not to mention enabling our collection of razzled old thesps the opportunity to get their rounds in at the bar). The last one's soon to arrive apparently, and of course, it's "darker than any of the ones that have gone before" (copyright every Harry Potter film that has gone before). I gave up with them years ago, being a grown man. But I did read all of the books. And I can't for the life of me remember what happened in the last one. I'm sure all the fans can, though... which begs the question why would they want to sit through two films to find out what they already know? Still, what do I know, I'm a cynical old tosser.

Brit director's "psycho-sexual thriller" gets US release



Word reaches me of a new horror thriller by Brit director Simon Rumley which is due for a multi-platform release in the good ol' US of A (where it was shot). The blurb about Red White & Blue is below, but the questions is, will it be Red Shite & Blue, or Red White & Woo-Hoo? I dunno.


On 23rd Sept 2010 Simon Rumley’s RED WHITE & BLUE is set to be released theatrically in the United States – plus simultaneously screened at FantasticFest and made available nationwide via video-on-demand.
One of the hits of this year’s Film4 FrightFest. Rumley’s red-hot, hard-edged psycho-sexual thriller RED WHITE & BLUE, which has garnered rave reviews, will be shown in movie theatres across North America from Sept 23, including Austin (Texas), Houston, New York, LA and Philadelphia. At the same time, in a deal brokered by distributor IFC Films in partnership with FantasticFest, it will also be available in over 40 million homes via VOD on the same day it receives its screening at Fantastic Fest (23 Sept).
Simon Rumley commented, "FantasticFest's a very important festival for me since it was where my last film The Living and The Dead won its first bunch of awards. Ever since I've have loved Austin - so much so that I went there to shoot Red White & Blue. It was a truly superb experience to be able to continue my relationship with FantasticFest in this way. Moreover, I know that screening the film through IFC, who have championed some of the most exciting films of recent years, will allow it to reach what I hope will be an appreciative and large audience."
The deal for RED WHITE & BLUE was negotiated by IFC Films SVP of Acquisitions and Productions Arianna Bocco and Travis Stevens of Celluloid Nightmares. 
RED WHITE & BLUE stars Amanda, Noah Taylor and Marc Senter. Taut and uncompromising, it has already been compared to the works of such disparate filmmakers as Michael Haneke and Sam Peckinpah. The film, which had its world premiere in January 2010 at Rotterdam, was directed by Siom Rumley and produced by Rumley and Bob Portal, and executive produced by Tim League, Judy Lipsey, Doug Abbott, and Adam Goldworm.  It is the first film from Celluloid Nightmares, a new partnership between Paris-based Celluloid Dreams and Los Angeles-based XYZ Films. 
“Rumley is one of the most important and intelligent British filmmakers working today – and Red White & Blue finds real, harrowing, politically resonant horror in places where no-one else is looking” (Anton Bitel, Empire Online)

Tuesday 7 September 2010

Tam Lin at Filmbar 70



Check out this lovely little specially made promo for an ultra-rare showing of Roddy McDowell's popsy-filled folk ballad borderline horror tale Tam Lin, showing at Filmbar 70 in London on September 22.

More details here:

http://www.filmbar70.com/

If only I could get to London...

Asphyx and Sorcerers remake... WTF?

Horror site Dread Central has the rather unlikely news that Jonathan Sothcott is busy setting up remakes of two old (I hesitate to use the word "classic") Brit horrors... The Asphyx and The Sorcerers.

Even more chilling is the news that Ian Ogilvy's role in the latter is to be played by none other than Danny Dyer.

Christ.

Monday 6 September 2010

Splintered - n-eye-ce picture...

The above is a still from new low budget Brit horror Splintered - looks remarkably similar to a scene from low budget Brit horror Satan's Slave, don'tcha-think?

You can read the Grauniad's review of the newer film here...

Et voila


Here's a French poster for the forthcoming Hammer production Let Me In (story from Horror Movies.ca here: French Let Me In Poster - HorrorMovies.ca

Sunday 5 September 2010

The Wicker Tree – Teaser Trailer



Website Filmshaft has a teaser trailer up for the long-mooted sequel to The Wicker Man... ooh, tasty.

Tuesday 31 August 2010

The Dead - more footage

Sorry about the rush jobs tonight... more info about the soon-to-arrive Brit flick The Dead...


In this exclusive new episode on the set of the Ford Brother’s ‘The Dead’, Producer/Director Howard J Ford struggles to hold together the shoot in Africa with the added challenges of police corruption, sacrificial killings and the distinct possibility the production itself may have been cursed!

Howard says ‘It’s hard to explain how tough it was trying to keep the production going and keep spirits up when everything that could have gone wrong does, and everyone around you seems to be either sick or in danger of disease or death – some of the things we had to go through to bring this film to audiences I hope never has to be repeated by any living soul… We truly stared death in the face and it was,sometimes, a very dark and lonely place…’

View clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-mT8zSG6bo

Bear Scary - new stuff

Bit short of time, but here's some info from Dan Brownlie, producer of some excellent small films:

This one is called 'Something under the bed is drooling'. I paired up the same mother and son from Bear Scary so it's almost like weird thing just happen to this family, and was actually shot in the same place and even used some of the same props.

The reason why it looks different is because the place got completly refurbished after we stopped shooting Bear Scary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMtbn8Aq2gY

This one is an advert for a cereal box that's featured in a couple of my films. The box was originally created for another film and the advert was the punch line, but it over shadowed the film so much we left it as it is.
Though it does appear on the end of Don't Know Jack on the gorezone movie massacre dvd out next month.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjrFVYtf-0s

Wednesday 25 August 2010

Bring classic horror films back to the BBC!

Please sign this petition... even if you DON'T pay the licence fee...

Gatiss to give us more horror on BBC4

I like the look of this:
Good old Mark. Always the best of the LOG, and basically living the cool-but-nerdy dream. And by the look of that photo of him on the linked page, my twin!

BBC News - Former Isle of Man prison stars in horror film

BBC News - Former Isle of Man prison stars in horror film
Laudible, but I do have to worry about any film that calls itself "Slasher House". however interesting and clever it might actually be, that title's hardly going to attract the non-horror fans, is it?

Sunday 22 August 2010

Shrieking Sixties finally gets official publication


Darrell Buxton's glorious tome The Shrieking Sixties - featuring reviews of BHFs by members of the British Horror Films forum, including moi - has now been published. Find out more here...
http://www.amazon.com/Shrieking-Sixties-British-Horror-Films/dp/1936168065/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1282506173&sr=8-1

Casting the Runes on DVD

This is a little-known gem which I was bought a couple of years ago and am now recommending to yous lot... the recommendation is not for the main feature which is, frankly, a bit of a clunking modern day retelling of an MR James classic (done much better in the peerless Night Of The Demon), but for the DVD extra, which is a really scary version of Mr Humphreys' Inheritance done for schools. Nice. And cheap, too...


Ghost Story - one left!



Now, I don't know what it's like, but I've heard it's very good - and apparently Amazon only have one copy left on DVD (so someone must like it). Penelope "Good Life" Keith, Barbara "Village Of The Damned" Shelley and Marianne "likes chocolate bars" Faithfull together at last? What's NOT to like?

Friday 13 August 2010

Hey, yaa... trailer for Outkast. Sorry... Outcast


New trailer for the film Outcast, starring James Nesbitt, Kate Dickey and (hello) Karen Gillan...

New interview with Robin Hardy


The chap behind The Wicker Man and new filum The Wicker Tree has been interviewed by Filmshaft, and you can read the whole thing here.

Monster, Monster

More info about the District 9 - ish Brit horror, Monsters has emerged, including a new poster (above) and new trailer (below).

Maiden hail Hammer

Of course, it's no surprise really, but in a new interview with The Daily Mail, Iron Maiden have re-iterated their love for Hammer films and Christopher Lee. You really have got to love 'em, haven't you?

Friday 6 August 2010

Hammer head honcho hails Harry, hetcetera


Hammer impressario Simon Oakes has been interviewed by Empire magazine, during which he talks about the future ahead for the company... hmmm. Legend Of The Seven Golden Vampires.

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=28564

Monday 26 July 2010

Don't Know Jack Première


Brit micro budget horror Don't Know Jack (click link for original post and trailer) will be showing on Thursday 29th July at the Kino open mike night (see www.kinolondon.com for full details). The photo is of star Sophia Disgrace.

Frightfest E-zine now live as from a week ago (oops)

This one got lost amongst all the spam in my inbox...
Going live from the 16th July, FrightFest launches its keenly-anticipated bi-monthly E-zine with an in-depth interview (video & text) with the director of A SERBIAN FILM - possibly the most controversial film of the year. Spasojevic reveals the real reasons he made the film so divisive.

There are also candid interviews with scare-meister Eli Roth and the GHOST STORIES fear-team Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson.

Plus there’s plenty more – trailers, podcasts, gossip, reviews and…whatever happened to COLIN director Marc Price?

Editor Ian Rattray commented: “After celebrating 10 years as the nation’s No.1 Horror & Fantasy festival we felt it was the right time to launch such a venture. I'm very proud of what we’ve all achieved so far. May it long continue”.

For your free copy (live from Friday) go to:
http://www.frightfest.co.uk/frightfestezineg.html

Save Bray Studios! Plans up tomorrow


Iconic home of Hammer films Bray studios is set for demolition, and the plans for what could replace it will go up tomorrow. Full details here, as sent to me by Robert Simpson, the guy behind the Facebook campaign to save them:
Subject: Studio plans Exhibition - 27 July 2010
Dear all,

Thank you all so much for your continued support for the Save Bray campaign. A special thanks to all of you bloggers who have been scribbling away and helping to spread the word. Please continue to do so, and feel free to post a link to your blog entries on the wall for the group.

Curiously, I haven't seen a single voice in praise of the plans to demolish Bray Studios yet... I would be very surprised if there isn't at least one representative of the management keeping an eye on this group - so why even they haven't posted yet is beyond me. Please, engage, interact, discuss... explain why Bray has to be pulled down... if you can?

There is a distinct lack of information in the public domain about the plans, and word has reached me that much information is being held back in the local area, so it is vital this campaign is taken to as wide an audience as possible. If you run a website, blog, or are in the media industry and would like to cover the story, please do so. I have prepared a summary document for news editors which I have started to distribute too, though ultimately what spin you choose to take is up to you. I'll post a revised version of the facts as we know them on http://www.facebook.com/l/fa649VCqVt-e239xrwy2Vgd2SjA;www.savebraystudios.com later today. It may serve as a useful reminder of what the group is about.

I've been approached by another party interested in taking over the studio as a going concern, so unless this is what the current management are secretly hoping would happen, plans are very foolish indeed.

I'd be interested to know if any of you have actually been able to make contact with the Bray management recently. Everyone I have spoken to so far has only got as far as security, who claim to know nothing.

Next Tuesday between 3 and 8pm, Bray Studios have advertised a public exhibition of their plans in the studio. I would encourage every one of you that can to make it to the studio complex. Reports I'm getting suggest the leaflet has had very little distribution and they may not have expected details to leak to us. So if we can, lets descend en masse. I'm planning to travel across the UK for the exhibition and to get the picture first hand.

If you want to wear appropriately themed clothing, then please do. It would be good if we can get the media interest in this, and you may help to create a picture opportunity. Bring signs and banners if you must. I'm going as open-mindedly as possible, and would genuinely like to engage with the developers. Non-aggressively. Politely. In the spirit we should all adopt.

I've already heard from a few people who are making international trips in support of this. Thank you to them and everyone else.

This is a matter of national heritage and importance, so please do make the effort.

Meanwhile, if you are a member of the press please do get in touch. BBC Radio Berkshire covered the story yesterday in their breakfast show with Andrew Peach, and some of the local press are following it up. We'd like national and international coverage too. Rue Morgue should be featuring the campaign in the newest issue...

Oh, and you might like to take a note of some of the stories getting posted on the group wall. Memories of employees of the company, links to blogs, and my latest find - a declaration from 1999 that Bray would be safe until 2014 at the earliest... Ha!

Hopefully see some of you on Tuesday. The battle is just getting started I think...

Robert

Catch catch the horror taxi, I fell in love with a video nasty...


Now, if you, like me, enjoy the dubious delights of the so-called "video nasties", that bunch of variable horror films the government saw fit to lump together as a "type of film" back in the early 80s, then you might enjoy this... a new documentary about the whole sorry phenomenon. I mean, have you ever seen any of these things? There are a couple of genuinely horrible ones I grant you, but in the main they're as schlocky and daft as any other horror film. Bizarre. And it seems that half of them ended up on the list just because they had the word "Don't" in the title. What a shame they didn't see fit to ban "Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead", or... erm, some other shit film with the word "Don't" in the title. Anyway, here's some info...
Keep repeating, it's only a movie....
Christopher Smith & Andy Nyman both feature is first teaser trailer of VIDEO NASTIES: MORAL PANIC, CENSORSHIP & VIDEOTAPE
Jake West's doc to be screened at Film4 FrightFest and then released as part of VIDEO NASTIES: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE, a 3-disc box set out on Oct 11.

Making The Dead (ooh, sounds a bit like "Waking The Dead", ah, please yourselves)


Must be the week for sneak previews of Brit films that don't look very British... anyhoo, here's a little documentary that's just been released about how Brit brothers Howard and Jonathan Ford had a completely crap time shooting their Africa based zombie movie The Dead.

Monsters trailer


This is the trailer for low budget monster pic Monsters, directed by Brit Gareth Edwards (didn't he used to play rugby?) and apparently a proper UK film, although the trailer doesn't do anything to suggest this.
It does look rather good, though, in a Cloverfield-y kind of way...

Friday 23 July 2010

Let Me In... rather fab poster

You know, when I first heard about the "new" "Hammer" film Let Me In I was cynical... but the new poster, as unveiled at Comic Con and featured on the Dread Central website, might have done something to assuage that view, being, as it is, rather fab.
How great would it be if this Hammer business turns out to be rather good, and everyone can forget about Beyond The Rave?

Sometimes, BHF references crop up in the strangest places...


Now, we all know of my deep and abiding love for Dead Of Night, the 1940s black and white shocker about a bunch of people trying to outscare each other with their tales of the supernatural. Sometimes I think I'm banging a lone drum, then you read a review of new film Inception which mentions the film... in the Bangkok Post, of all things.
Truly this is a very small world these days.
The Post is talking about dreams in films and says this:
Going back in time, the dream premise of the 1945 British horror anthology film Dead of Night feels as untenable as that of Inception until the end when its frame story explodes into a bona fide Expressionist nightmare.
Too true, too true...

Lemon entry, my dear readers


The hype over the new BBC Sherlock Holmes show appears to have reached as far as the west coast of the good ol' US of A, with the California Chronicle doing a little article about the previous encumbents, including one Christopher Lee and one Peter Cushing.
But whither A Study In Terror? Eh? Eh?

I have to say that here at BHF towers we're reasonably excited about the new Holmes (well, as excited as we ever get about modern television). Sherlock Holmes! Written by Stephen "Doctor Who" Moffat and Mark "League Of Gentlemen" Gatiss! Starring potential Doctor Who Benedict Cumberbatch! How can it fail? Oh yeah, it's got interminable tosser Martin Freeman in it. Still, you can't have everything. Come back Jude Law, all is forgiven.

Monday 19 July 2010

Stabilizer showing at Filmbar - flyer

Here's the flyer promoting that film wot I told you about last week - not Brit horror, but I will promote any endeavours run by people who love The Living Dead At The Manchester Morgue, so there.

Further to that bring back horror to the telly post...


Just realised that I didn't exactly give a great deal of detail in the post t'other day about bringing back those old horror double bills to terrestrial telly. You can find out more about this laudable (if unlikely) campaign on their Facebook page here. Funnily enough, I noticed that after I'd publicised their little campaign on Saturday, there was Dr Terror's House Of Horrors in the listings. So they do still get an airing, occasionally (usually with a certain amount of ironic timing as well, by the look of it).

British horror back from the dead! Again! Yawn.


Methinks there's going to be a lot more of this in the coming months, as Hammer cranks up its publicity machine and lazy hacks continue to bang a drum which for some reason starts with 28 Days Later and Dog Soldiers from blummin years ago, and makes out that they are part of a resurgence in British horror now. How does that work, exactly?

Radcliffe the next Cush?


Apparently, everyone's favourite boy wizard (it says here) Harry Potter, or to use his proper monicker, Daniel Radcliffe, has been snapped up by Hammer to star in their forthcoming production of Susan Hill's The Woman in Black.
So, there you go. As news goes, it's hardly astounding (actor to be in film shock), but it's definitely news, of that there's no doubt.
And you wouldn't believe how much of him I saw when I Googled his name (unless, of course, you Google it yourself). Blimey, at his age I wouldn't have let anyone see me in my undies, let alone "tackle out".

Saturday 17 July 2010

Get classic horror back on the Beeb


Sultry BHF website fan and genre star Emily Booth has lent her voice to a web campaign to get old filums back on the box. And let's face it, there has been a bit of a lack of them over recent years, when you think about it.
You can sign up here...

Saturday 10 July 2010

New site now launched... no problems noticed (so far)

So, there y'go. Goodbye bubbly old site, hello feature-packed (but bubble-light) new one. Let me know what you think...

Friday 9 July 2010

Main site being updated... please bear with us

I'm updating the main site at the mo and it could take a while, it being quite a hefty old bird. If the pages look a bit tonto, it should all sort itself out in a few minutes. If it doesn't, here's a picture of Maddy Smith to calm you down...
There there... you feel better already, don't you?

Ah, Euro trash. That's "Euro trash", not "Eurotrash" that old excuse to see fat naked Germans on the telly


The Grauniad has today published a little featurette on two favourites of mine - Lizard In A Woman's Skin and The Living Dead At The Manchester Morgue. Neither are technically Brit horrors, but both were filmed in Blighty so they almost qualify...
But whither Deviation? Eh? Eh?
You can read the article here.





Psychomania special edition DVD on the horizon


We all know it, we all love it. That's a given. But it might FINALLY be the time to give up that treasured DVD-R you burned off BBC2 all those years ago (no? Just me then) cos finally, Psychomania is getting the proper "Special Edition" treatment.
Not sure if this'll be a Region 1 or 2 thing (I'm thinking Region 1, with a Region 2 release later on) but it's not a moment too soon. Undead bikers on the rampage in the Home Counties, you've got to think it's the greatest.
Here's the official details:
The grooviest zombie biker movie of them all is being exhumed and, after years of shoddy bootlegs and sub-par presentations, is getting the Special Edition treatment from Severin. Psychomania stars Beryl Reed (Beast in the Cellar) and, in his last performance, George Sanders (Village of the Damned), who perfect a formula to return from the grave via some sort of satanic toad worship. Said formula is then used by young Tommy and his biker gang, The Living Dead, who, after offing themselves in a variety of creative ways, free-wheel back from the dead to wreak havoc on a small English town.

This uber-black British horror-comedy (which has one of the greatest and most original soundtracks of its era) was a staple of late night TV for years but has never been seen like this thanks to a stunning new high definition transfer. Recent interviews were shot in London with stars Nicky Henson, Mary Larkin, Denis Gilmore, Roy Holder, and Rocky Taylor while soundtrack composer John Cameron (Kes, Jack The Ripper) and ‘Riding Free’ crooner Harvey Andrews not only reminisced but treated us to renditions of their otherworldly work on the film. Also on the extras slate is an intro from Fangoria editor-in-chief Chris Alexander.

This will be yet another amazing Severin restoration that any fan of 70s horror should not be without.

Wednesday 7 July 2010

Now THAT'S a woman


The fabulous Filmbar70 are holding another screening, following the success of Living Dead At The Manchester Morgue. It's not a Brit horror, but on the plus side they did send me a link to the above, which is their tribute to the rather wonderful Edwige Fenech.
You can find out more about lovely Edwige, and see their tribute to star of vaguely British horror Living Dead... Ray Lovelock, on their YouTube channel.
Ah, Edwige...

Ahem. Aaaaaaaanyway, the next film being shown at the Filmbar will be The Stabilizer, which I doubt is a film about some bloke attaching extra wheels to his Raleigh Chopper so he can learn to ride it (although it would be fun if it was). It's happening on the evening of July 21 at Roxy Bar & Screen, 128-132 Borough High Street, London Bridge.

Tuesday 6 July 2010

Facebook a-go-go

The BHF site has its own Facebook page now at http://www.facebook.com/pages/British-Horror-Films/122020271176253. Just thought I'd let you know...

Film4 Frightfest announces festival of frights

Ah, Film4. That rather wonderful thing that gives us a bit of cutting edge cinema and then bungs a load of rare delights onto our Freeview boxes in the middle of a weekday afternoon. Gotta love 'em. And they also do the Fright Fest, a London based festival which is now 11 years old. Here's the gen...
Controversy, carnage, cannibalism, cutting-edge chills and a clutch of classy special guests await the thousands of fans who will descend on the Empire Cinema in London’s Leicester Square for the annual Film4 FrightFest, now in its eleventh horrifying year.



FrightFest has a tight grip on your fear…

From Thurs 26 August to Monday 30 August the UK’s top event for horror fans will unveil 36 films in two screens. Empire 1 will house the main event while ‘FrightFest Discovery’ will play in Empire 4. There are a record-breaking fourteen countries represented across five continents and there are nine world premieres and a record twenty UK or European premieres.

This year there are eight British films in the main programme (another record) including MONSTERS, Gareth Edwards’ sensational post-Apocalyptic debut, The Ford Brothers’ Cannes-hyped African Zombie flick THE DEAD and Johannes Roberts F – in which a school gets a lesson in horror! Other home-grown titles are DEAD CERT (East-End gangsters meet Eastern European vampires), ISLE OF DOGS (nasty gangland horror), Paul Andrew Williams’ harrowing CHERRY TREE LANE and werewolf thriller 13HRS. Plus, Jake West will be presenting his in-depth documentary VIDEO NASTIES: MORAL PANIC, CENSORSHIP AND VIDEOTAPE, which will be followed by a Q & A panel discussion.

The Q & A with director Srdjan Spasojevic should be rather lively as FrightFest is screening the UK premiere of his hot button movie, A SERBIAN FILM. Not far behind in the controversy stakes is the unrated remake of I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE, which will receive its European premiere. Other high-voltage shockers include Simon Rumley’s harrowing psycho-sexual drama RED WHITE & BLUE, the taut horror western RED HILL (with ‘True Blood’ star Ryan Kwanten), the visceral pulse-setter PRIMAL, Robert Lieberman’s twisty thriller THE TORTURED, and stylishly sick Aussie pic THE LOVED ONES.

There’s plenty of bodies on the menu in WE ARE WHAT WE ARE, acclaimed at Cannes as “the Mexican ‘Let The Right One In’” and meal-times get the Gallic touch in Franck Richard’s dark debut feature THE PACK. There’s a body-count of a different kind in KABOOM, as the ‘Mysterious Skin’, director Gregg Araki serves up a wildly sexy and surreal experience.

2010 sees the welcome return of high-calibre Asian fare and three to savour are DREAM HOME, (‘Friday 13th’ meets ‘Location, Location, Location’ Hong Kong style), the beguiling BEDEVILLED, from new South Korean kid on the block Jang Cheol-soo and the high-kicking, splatter-fest, ALIEN VS NINJA.

This year, in partnership with Total Film Magazine, the festival celebrates the career of a living legend – our first ‘Total Icon’ - TOBE HOOPER. As well as showing Hooper’s 1974 masterpiece THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE we will be unveiling his rarely seen, restored and re-mastered 1969 debut EGGSHELLS. In the UK for the first time in 18 years, Hooper will be interviewed on stage by Jamie Graham, deputy editor of Total Film Magazine.

As previously announced Adam Green’s HATCHET II will open the festival and Daniel Stamm’s THE LAST EXORCISM will bring the curtain down. Adam will be attending alongside the main cast – Danielle Harris, Kane Hodder & Tony Todd. Daniel will be attending, alongside producer Eli Roth, Other directors & talent currently confirmed to attend include: Simon Rumley, Johannes Roberts, Gareth Edwards, Tammi Sutton, Jake West, Joe Lynch, Howard T Ford, David Blyth, Srdjan Spasojevic, Paul Andrew Williams, Andy Nyman, Barbara Nedeljakova, Craig Fairbrass, Steven Berkoff, Martin Kemp, Gary Kemp, Isabella Calthorpe, Gemma Atkinson, James Nesbitt, Karen Gillan, Billy Murray, Bruno Forzani & Helene Cattet.

FrightFest Discovery is back by popular demand, where nine new films will be screening including the European premiere of controversial Kiwi-shocker WOUND, directed by David Blyth. There are also UK premieres for serial-killer-themed CHRISTOPHER ROTH directed by ‘Switchblade Romance’ cinematographer Maxime Alexandre, supernatural cult shocker FINALE and OUTCAST, a gripping nomadic tale starring James Nesbitt. There is also the chance to see the artful masterpiece AMER - especially selected for those who were unable to see it at FrightFest Glasgow earlier this year.

Finally, welcome to ANDY NYMAN’S QUIZ FROM HELL, hosted by DEAD SET & GHOST STORIES actor Andy Nyman. This is a chance to pit your wits in a mind-bending and inter-active test of horror knowledge. But if that doesn’t appeal, don’t worry. There’s plenty else going on - special guest appearances, Q & A’s, sneak previews, an international short film showcase (to be announced shortly), signings, competition prizes and give-aways – all of which goes to make up the unique experience that fans across the world have come and made their own.

Alan Jones, joint director of FrightFest comments: "The Film4 FrightFest line-up  this year is stronger, pioneering and more relevant to our core followers than ever before. With the Hollywood mindset focused on safe bets and creative bankruptcy, we've gone back to the roots of what true horror fantasy should be about - exploring daring ideas with innovation using new conjugations of shock from new exciting talent.  There's something for everyone in Film4 FrightFest 2010, if you dare to look".

Julia Wrigley, Head of Film4 Channel, said: “We are delighted to once again be the headline sponsor, and we are also looking forward to our ‘FrightFest’ season on the channel, with a great line-up of past festival favourites, genre classics and premieres”.

To book tickets call 08 714 714 714 or go online to: www.empirecinemas.co.uk

Festival passes: £150 Day Passes: From £24-£50 Single tickets: £11

For full programme & timetable log onto www.frightfest.co.uk

Monday 5 July 2010

Hammer's next one... hmm, not very Hammerish...


I'm sure it's going to be very good, given the source material and the talent involved, but the much-trumpeted next release connected with Hammer doesn't seem very, well, Hammerish.
Let Me In is the British language remake of the Euro shocker Let The Right One In. It's American, with an American director and an American setting. The trailer does say Hammer at the beginning, but that's about it. Hardly Curse Of Frankenstein, but then again, I dunno what I was expecting. It's got to be better than Beyond The Rave, anyway.

New BHF "harks back to good old days of Hammer etc" (oh-oh)


New Brit chiller Psychosis is being marketed as a new film which harks back to them old psycho dramas Hammer did in the 60s. Hmm. Not sure the world is ready for any more of those. Anyway, here's the blurb...

Psychosis is a new British horror flick that harks back to the glorious era of Hammer and Amicus productions. Released in the UK on 19th July on DVD and Blu-ray, it stars Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel alumni, Charisma Carpenter, Paul Sculfor, Ricci Harnett and Justin Hawkins.

Carpenter plays an American crime novelist retreating to an isolated country manor with her husband, David (Paul Sculfor). Once there, she intends to settle down and finish her latest book, but things take a turn for the sinister and she finds herself in the middle of some peculiar goings-on. Filled with frights, freaks and unfolding weirdness. Psychosis is a journey into a nightmare from which there might be no return.

Guardian points out "new wave" of Brit horrors


The Guardian has published a longish feature on the latest resurgence of the British Horror Film, mentioning Dog Soldiers, 28 Days Later and Shaun Of The Dead (yawn) but going on to flag a fair few new 'uns.
You can read it here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/jun/10/horror-films-british-realism-gritty

Black Death... another triumph for Smith?


Well, the critics are having a look at Black Death, the latest BHF from Christopher Smith, who brought us the repellent Creep, the actually-quite-funny Severance and the rather brilliant Triangle. Smith is carving out a name for himself as a bit of a Brit horror auteur... long may he continue, I say. Here's a review which likens Black Death to Witchfinder General and even (gasp) Ingmar Bergman...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/7818948/Black-Death-film-review.html
And while we're on the subject, when did El Beanio start looking so old?

Wednesday 2 June 2010

James Corden admits his BHF was shit... still no word on Gavin and Stacey, Horne and Corden, anything else he's been in, etc

Diet dodging "funny" man James Corden has been talking about how his recent film Lesbian Vampire Killers was a bit of a career low. Him and his slightly more talented mate (and LVK co-star) Matt Horne have been doing the rounds this week, Horne saying that Corden is too busy to work with him at the mo. That's a shame, eh? Or is it just me?

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Paella horror hits London

Not-really-Brit-horror-but-I-don't-give-a-shit work of genius The Living Dead At The Manchester Morgue will be shown in all its gruesome gutsiness at the Filmbar in London on June 16. I only wish I could go...
You can find out more at their website.

Ooh, Hammer horror comic strips


Whilst I was "researching" (eg nicking) a picture to illustrate the recent post about the Legend Of The Seven Golden Vampires CD, I came across this website, which publishes a few of those old Hammer comic strips from the 70s, none of which I've ever seen before. And rather accomplished they are, too...
The ones available for you to peruse at your leisure are:
Legend Of The Seven Golden Vampires
The Reptile
The Quatermass X-periment
And there are others.
Now, who says this blog is a pointless waste of mine and your time?

Hammer Horror! Dragon Thrills! The First Kung Fu Horror Spectacular! Shit Acting! Little Script To Speak Of! All on CD!




The far more entertaining than it should be Hammer fag-end Dracula spectacular without Chris Lee in it Legend Of The Seven Golden Vampires always had one thing going for it... a really rather good soundtrack, and completely awesome specially narrated story album voiced by star and all-round good egg Peter Cushing. And come June 7 you can hear it for yourself on CD thanks to a company called BuySoundTrax, which I'm sure isn't as dodgy as it sounds.

Here's the Gen, straight from the hooved animal's vocal chords...

BUYSOUNDTRAX Records will be releasing LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES. The soundtrack features music composed by James Bernard for the 1974 horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker (THE VAMPIRE LOVERS, QUATERMASS AND THE PIT), starring Peter Cushing as Van Helsing, Julie Ege, David Chiang, Robin Stewart, Shen Chan and John Forbes-Robertson.

In THE LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES, Hammer’s ninth and final Dracula film, Count Dracula rises from the grave in 1804 Transylvania and assumes the form of his Chinese disciple, Kah. A century later, Professor Van Helsing (Cushing) is in Chungking, lecturing a group of cynical students about the legend of Ping Keui, a small village terrorized by vampires wearing golden masks. Hsi Cheng, one of his students, takes the story seriously and begs Van Helsing for help in defeating the monsters. Van Helsing joins his son, Leland, a wealthy widow, Vanessa Buren (Ege) and Hsi Cheng on an expedition to Ping Keui. They travel with Hsi Cheng’s five brothers and one sister, all martial artists, to challenge Kah and meet their fate in Ping Keui.

For THE LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES, legendary Hammer Films collaborated with the equally legendary Shaw Brothers in Hong Kong to create a fascinating hybrid of both horror and martial arts genres. To score the film, the Shaw Brothers originally intended to score the film as they would their other kung fu films, using stock music licensed from music libraries or liberally lifted from already available soundtracks. Hammer’s production executive, Michael Carreras, thankfully insisted on an original score by James Bernard, the composer most associated with Dracula at the time through his music for the other Dracula films produced by Hammer. For THE LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES, Bernard composed one of his most engaging scores, blending his recognizable style with elements of traditional Chinese music.

BUYSOUNDTRAX Records presents this premiere release of the original motion picture soundtrack to THE LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES along with the contents of a 2 sided storyteller album released in 1974 of the story of THE LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES, narrated by Peter Cushing himself, both newly mastered by Digital Outland. THE LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES features music composed by James Bernard and arranged and conducted by Philip Martell and is presented by BUYSOUNDTRAX Records continuing in the tradition of our incredible series of soundtracks from the Hammer vaults. THE LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES is a limited edition of 1000 units.

Release Date: June 7th 2010

http://buysoundtrax.stores.yahoo.net/leof7govaors.html
 You can read my review here.

And the first Hammer on Blu-Ray is...

...Paranoiac, for fuck's sake.
Still, it's certainly a well-made thriller, if nothing else, and the crisp black and white cinematography should look mighty fine on HD, one supposes. Here's Olly Reed doing what he did best, in said filum...
You can read my somewhat sparse review here, and find out more about the new R2 Blu-Ray release here.

Thursday 20 May 2010

New Brit horror - Spiderhole


They're coming thick and fast at the moment, aren't they? Here's another heads-up on a BHF coming your way later in the year...
UK distributor Soda Pictures has snapped all rights to British horror Spiderhole for the UK and Ireland.

The horror, written and directed by Daniel Simpson, follows four art students whose utopian ideal of living as squatters turns into a nightmare when they discover their apparently abandoned mansion is concealing a hidden terror.

Spiderhole features a cast of up-and-coming British talent, including Emma Griffiths Malin (The Hole) and Reuben-Henry Biggs (Starter For Ten) and will be released in cinemas Autumn 2010.
That sounds original, eh? Let's hope there's a bit more to it than that... Reasonable excuse to show the above picture of Ms Griffiths Malin, anyway.

Tuesday 18 May 2010

Here's 1... Back2Hell, in 3d, 4 you. Gimme 5!

Now here's a thing... Jacob Marley has posted news of a new Brit(ish) horror on the BHF board with a cast which will be of interest to anyone who's reading...

Los Angeles based Fantastic Films International, recently announced the cast for the 3D stereoscopic, live action film Back2Hell, which is part of a multi-picture deal with U.K.-based production outfit House of Fear.

Principal photography for Back2Hell recently began with a cast that includes Michael Madsen (Kill Bill I & II, Reservoir Dogs), Bai Ling (The Crow, Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow, Star Wars III), Lysette Anthony (Krull, Husband’s & Wives, Look Who’s Talking Now), Patrick Bergin (Sleeping With The Enemy, Patriot Games, Lawnmower Man 2), Oliver Tobias (The Stud, Arabian Adventure, King Arthur), Sylvester McCoy (7th Doctor in Doctor Who, Dracula), Dudley Sutton (The Devils, Football Factory, Lovejoy), Robin Askwith (Confessions series, U571, Britannia Hospital), Colin Baker (Doctor Who, Young Indiana Jones ), Robert Llewelyn (Red Dwarf, MirrorMask ), and Christopher Lee (Dracula, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings) as the Narrator.

Back2Hell is described as a 3D gothic tale of legendary occultist Alistair Crowley with a touch of HP Lovecraft. It is the final installment of the Raven Series which began with Evil Calls.

House of Fear is also in post production on Eldorado, the first British movie shot in 3D and in pre-production on two other live action 3D films, including Wolfman in 3D and a comic book fantasy titled Watchmen of Hellgate.
Now, call me an old cynic, but is this ever going to get made? Answers on a postcard, please...

Monday 17 May 2010

Shrieking Sixties book launch in Derby - this Friday

Brit horror aficionado par excellence and all-round good egg Darrell Buxton (pictured above, with his mum) is launching his latest opus, The Shrieking Sixties, with a shindig at Derby's QUAD (which I'm assuming is a cinema of some sort). Now, this book is ace - I know this because not only are some of my reviews in it, but I've got a copy.
Darrell will be doing a Q and A and then introducing top Hammer devil-athon The Devil Rides Out on the big screen. And (ahem) I will be there, lurking in the background. Providing I can find the place. And Derby.
Why not go along, buy a copy of the book, treat yourself to some genuinely good 60s Brit cinema, and have a chat?
The details, courtesy of the QUAD itself:
On Friday 21st May at 8:30pm we are going to have a very special event featuring a Q and A with Darrell followed by an introduction to the classic Hammer film The Devil Rides Out by the man himself.
See you there!

Panic Button set to mushroom (button? mushroom? Ah, please yourselves)


Terrified about Social Networking? I am. If only because today at work one of the silly bints I work with accessed Facebook through her iPhone and showed everyone a load of photos of me from 20 years ago. Excruciating. And somewhat my own fault.
But that fear of online networking is soon to be played upon in Brit horror / thriller Panic Button, one of those "everyone send us a quid and we'll make a film eventually" productions we're all so keen on.
The story runs thus:
“Four young people win a trip of a lifetime to New York, courtesy of their favorite social-networking-website – All2gethr.com. As they board the private jet, they are asked to relinquish their mobile phones and take part in the in-flight entertainment – a new online gaming experience.

But this is no ordinary game. Trapped at 30,000 feet, they are forced to play for their lives and the lives of their loved ones by an invisible captor, who seems to know all their most intimate secrets.

With no escape and no one to trust, they are about to learn that putting your life on-line can have deadly offline consequences …”

Producer John Shackleton: “It is our intention that the situations and moral implications portrayed within the film will strike a chord with parents, young people and most users of internet technologies. It is sure to spark discussion amongst viewers by presenting a message that may even cause them to reassess their own online behaviour.”

Chris Crow ('Devil's Bridge' - nope? Me neither) is directing (from original screenplay by Frazer Lee), John Shackleton is producing for Movie Mogul Films.

You can find out more about the film, and how you can bung 'em a bit of cash (probably), at:
http://www.panicbuttonmovie.com

And while you're at it, get all post modern here:
http://www.all2gethr.com

Or just go a bit ironic (given the film's raison d'etre) here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=208800284215&ref=ts