Hammer Glamour book

Okay, so I don't need an excuse to publish yet another photo of my favourite film woman of all time, the simply wonderful Maddie Smith. SO, here's yet another picture of the simply wonderful Maddie Smith, boobs fairly heaving to be free from that frankly equally superb dress. 

This top-notch pic adorns the cover of a new(ish, bear with me, I've got a hefty backlog of "news" to deal with here) book about the women who graced Hammer's films in the 60s ad 70s. Frankly, I'd be happy with a book about Ms Smith alone, but seeing as she only made a couple of films for the company, it would be quite a slim tome. Anyhoo, here's some more pics from the book to whet your appetite... I think a review would probably be superfluous, especially considering I haven't read the thing.

Okay, here's a review of what I think it's probably like:

"Blimey. You don't get many of those to the pound! Phwooarr! Look at that! Strewth, etc"

BHF contributor's new book

Paul A Freeman, erstwhile contributor to the soon-to-have-a-third-one-out-honest BHF Books Of Horror, has only gone and got his own novel published! Details below, in Paul's own words...

Well, my horror book's finally out in paperback. The awesomely titled 'Robin Hood and Friar Tuck: Zombie Killers - A Canterbury Tale by Paul A. Freeman' is available from Amazon, see below:

This link to Coscom Entertainment should have further details:

http://coscomentertainment.com/robinhoodzombies.html

Although the story was originally 'The Monk's Second Tale', myself and the publisher decided that a less mundane and academic sounding title for a Chaucerian horror escapade was needed. This was especially so when I discovered that a new Robin Hood film, with Russell Crowe, is scheduled for release early next year.

Vampyres soundtrack

The soundtrack for Brit lesbo-vamp gore fest Vampyres has been available for a while now, but thought I'd give it a bit of a plug. If your thing is attractive women in big velvet coats wandering around foggy graveyards, or having your throat ripped out by naked popsies, then you could do worse than tracking down the DVD. If you'd prefer to be serenaded by the music from the film whilst driving around dreaming of attractive women in big velvet coats wandering around foggy graveyards, or having your throat ripped out by naked popsies, then why not buy the CD?

CDSML 8464

James Clarke

The Wildcats of St. Trinian’s (1980) & Vampyres (1974)

Original Film Soundtracks

This Vocalion release contains the first ever commercial issue of James Clarke’s scores for the films ‘The Wildcats of St. Trinian’s’ (1980) and ‘Vampyres’ (1974). Both soundtracks blend funk and jazz with orchestral scoring and feature the talents of many of Britain’s leading session musicians of the 1970s, including Alan Parker (guitar), Les Hurdle and Frank Clarke (bass guitar), Harold Fisher and Chris Karan (drums), John Taylor and Alan Hawkshaw (keyboards) plus the musical direction of Frank Barber (‘Wildcats’) and Syd Dale (‘Vampyres’). Highlights from the ‘Wildcats’ score include the sophisticated, Fender Rhodes led disco-funk of Girls’ Disco, the easy listening grooves of Swimming Sequence, the cheeky charm of Harry’s Strut (Flash Harry) and Work Apace, the latter an absolutely gorgeous reworking of Malcolm Arnold’s St. Trinian’s School Song. 1974’s ‘Vampyres’ is probably best described as ‘erotic horror’, a torrid tale of two modern-day bisexual female vampires whose bloodlust is matched only by their voracious sexual appetite. James Clarke’s score evokes an atmosphere of unease, menace and dark, sexual tension, perfectly in keeping with the film itself. These qualities are particularly in evidence in Main Titles, blending driving rhythms with Alan Parker’s horrific ‘fuzz’ guitar, and The Legend of the House and The Big Woodland, each of which feature, in parts, intimate harmonies tinged with a sense of foreboding. Stalking is in the best tradition of horror movie music, opening with a ‘stab’ chord and punctuated throughout by the razor-sharp sound of Alan Parker’s ‘fuzz’ guitar, ominous timpani rolls and creepy, tremulando strings. Bisexual female vampires and their prey have never been better depicted in music! The accompanying booklet contains insightful liner notes written by James Clarke and Oliver Lomax, plus rare film stills and original film poster artwork. Remastered from the original analogue stereo tapes. First time on CD.

 You can buy the CD direct from:
http://www.duttonvocalion.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=CDSML8464

The Vampires Of Bloody Island

Oops, another late heads-up, but you might want to check out this new indie Brit flick, available on DVD right now...
Not my words, but below is some blurb.

So what is this independent British vampire film, starring a bunch of unknown actors, that's been stirring up such feeling amongst the public, while still as yet largely under the radar of the industry press?

'The Vampires of Bloody Island' is a comedy horror story which harks back to the style and nostalgia of the British Hammer vampire movies of the 1970's. Filled to it's rotting rafters with creepy comical characters and plenty of exploding vampires, it's a laugh-packed send up of every vampire film you've ever loved.
"We've really taken the whole nostalgic Hammer Studios style of vampire film, with that charmingly English creepy feel, and piled on lashes of humour and special effects." Describes Allin. "The result is a really funny film filled with creepy characters and stunning locations that people want to watch again and again!"

The Scream Magazine calls it "A real cult classic", Dark Nights Magazine calls it "Genuinely hilarious and tremendous fun" while British Film magazine says the film is "set to tantalise fans of horror and comedy alike."

The NTSC DVD will be available on Feb 1st. Join the mailing list to be amongst the first to get it, and at a discount!

You can see the trailer for 'The Vampires of Bloody Island', buy the DVD right now on multi-region PAL, and join the thousands of people receiving newsletters, all from the Weird World of Wibbell website at www.wibbell.co.uk

Dark Hollow concept art

A selection of concept art for the upcoming feature film adaptation of horror writer Brian Keene's novel Dark Hollow (http://tinyurl.com/dj2fb5) has been posted on Brian's website: http://www.briankeene.com/?p=3215

"After two miscarriages, writer Adam Shay's marriage is on the rocks.  On a walk through local woods rumored to be haunted, Adam come across a strange sight: a statue of a half-man, half-goat creature, a satyr from ancient legends, that comes to life before his eyes.

Soon, all the women in town begin disappearing, summoned to the woods by the satyr's hypnotic piping. When Adam gathers the menfolk to hunt down the satyr and save the women, what they uncover is an unholy evil bent on protecting itself and spreading its seed..."

Paul Campion (www.paulcampion.com), an award winning short filmmaker and former visual effects artist on film such as Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia,  will direct from a script by writer Paul Finch Finch (www.blakefriedmann.co.uk/filmClients/_221/), with Elisabeth Pinto (Eel Girl, Rare Books and Manuscripts) producing.

Shane Rangi (Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings -www.imdb.com/name/nm1432313/) attached to play the role of the evil satyr Hylinus, with Andrea Clarke (Dog Soldiers) attached as Casting Director.

The production is aiming for a spring/early summer shoot, 2010, taking place in Bromley & Kent, England, with Richard Bluck (Black Sheep, Lord of the Rings) attached as Director of Photography.

And exhibit "A" is... "Exhibit A"

Just going back through my e-mails I found one about this bleak-sounding film...

Exhibit A – Now available on DVD

Sometimes it’s not the bumps in the night or the zombies that are the scariest things on film or in life.

Sometimes the scariest thing is other people.

Exhibit A, Best UK Feature winner at the Raindance Film Festival and 3x British Independent Film Award nominee (Best Achievement in Production, Most Promising Newcomer (Bradley Cole), The Raindance Award), is now available to buy on Collector's Edition DVD from www.exhibitathemovie.com.

Exhibit A tells the timely story of a normal family disintegrating under financial pressure, eventually driven to the unimaginable. All is not as it seems as the King family go about their day-to-day lives oblivious of the horror to come. Dad Andy (Bradley Cole) is nursing a secret that ultimately leads to terrible consequences for them all. We witness these chilling events unfold through daughter Judith’s (Brittany Ashworth) video camera, which subsequently becomes Exhibit A. The film is inspired by the many men in real life who are known to their neighbours as devoted husbands and fathers, but for unknowable reasons suddenly decide to take drastic action to protect their loved ones.

In Exhibit A we learn that "true horror" is other people… So dim the lights, bolt your door and get ready for an experience that won't leave you the same person.

Written and directed by Dom Rotheroe (My Brother Tom, A Sarajevo Diary) and produced by Darren Bender (The Hamburg Cell), the film is a co-production between Bigger Pictures and Warp Films (Dead Man’s Shoes, This is England) and has left a trail of stunned audiences at festivals all over the world.

The film received support from the Screen Yorkshire and Screen East Production Fund.

Sounds like a laugh-a-minute, eh?

Valhalla Rising - sneak peak

Blimey. For anyone who ever wanted to watch Scottish men beating the shit out of each other but didn't fancy hanging around outside a Glasgae chipshop on a Freedee Neet, here's Valhalla Rising, which will let you do it in the comfort of a nice chair in a dark room... to say this trailer is brutal would be an understatement by some degree. You have been warned...

Here's a synopsis:

For years, One-Eye, a mute warrior of supernatural strenght, has been held prisoner by the chieftain Barde. Aided by a boy, Are, he kills his captor and together they escape, beginning a journey into the heart of darkness. On their flight, One-Eye and Are board a Viking vessel but the ship is soon engulfed by an endless fog that first disintegrates as they sight an unknown land. As the new land reveals its secrets and the Vikings meet a ghastly fate, One-Eye discovers his true self.