Never let it be said that Roger Corman couldn’t gift the world with some real stinkers, as far as films are concerned. 1957’s THE UNDEAD isn’t among his worst; it’s not even close to, say, CREATURE FROM THE HAUNTED SEA (anyone who thinks this one isn’t waaaaay worse than PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, I…
Samuel L. Jackson is a Vampire
It really struck me while recently viewing SPIRAL: FROM THE BOOK OF SAW (check out my review over at our sisters site DARKNESS.COM): Samuel L. Jackson must be one of the Undead. Yes, we all know that “black don’t crack”, but even so, there’s something unnatural at play where he is concerned. The man doesn’t…
The Old State Capital Building of Baton Rogue
I chatted at length with a really nice lady serving as docent during my recent visit to this historic structure, now a museum. After the initial reticence that is commonplace among employees where it comes to discussing ghosts—those working at most historic structures are, if not outright forbidden from broaching the subject, at least discouraged…
Trifectas
I got to thinking the other night, after a conversation with my lovely better half, about trifectas. Unholy trinities, if you will. Threesomes. Trois of terrors. There have been a few. Who were the first? Since we’re talking about cinematic titans of terror, here—well, *I* am; you might have been thinking literary titans (in which…
Movie Review: REEKER
There are good movies and bad movies. But then there are subcategories that are just as important when you’re trying to categorize a film. There are good good movies and bad good movies. What would be an example of a bad good movie? Any film critically lauded, with high production values, that is nonetheless boring…
Movie Review: THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT
I’m on the fence about this one—on the fence, that is, about whether this is the best one in the franchise, or whether that honor still goes to the second one. Parts two and three are neck-and-neck, for sure. THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT is the most Hollywood-ized of the three installments.…
My OTHER Favorite Zombie Movies (and the Use of Dead Names)
Last week, while writing about ARMY OF THE DEAD and commenting that it was now among my favorite zombie flicks, I proceeded to mention the other movies that occupy that elite eclectic grouping. Romero’s original Living Dead trilogy. Fulci’s ZOMBIE (aka ZOMBIE 2 aka ZOMBI aka ZOMBI 2). The ZOMBIELAND flicks. SHAUN OF THE DEAD…
THE CHOSEN Part Four: A GUIDED TOUR OF THE ABYSS, DISCOUNT PRICED Chapter 25
“Well, my name is Julian,” the man introduced himself, smiling. “And these men, think of them as a private peacekeeping force.” He stepped closer, inspecting the mask worn by the second woman. “Oh, my,” he said. “How long has she been trapped in this thing?” “Too long,” Gale said. “This must be removed at once.”…
A Visit to Transylvania…Louisiana, That Is
Too tiny to be an actual town, the little community of Transylvania, Louisiana has certainly embraced its unique name. When I visited, there was not a soul in sight. I kid you not. Not a soul. Could the fact that it was a sunny Sunday morning (the only sunny day I got to enjoy the…
The Curly-Haired Mummy of Baton Rouge
If you’re ever in town, make it a point to visit the Louisiana Art & Science Museum. It’s terrific. The star of the place, perhaps vying for the position with the tres impressive skull of the triceratops is the anonymous mummy of a young man of obvious rank, possessing unusual curly hair. (Unusual for an…