4.1 AAAH! ZOMBIES! (WASTING AWAY) (2007)

Aaah! Zombies! (Wasting Away) (2007)
Dir. Matthew & Sean Kohnen
USA

Matthew and Sean Kohnen have put together a very entertaining first film, and again, most of that boils down to raising enough money to actually realize their vision of a zombie comedy.  With talented actors and good equipment, they are able to make a script that at first seems like it might be just a one-note waste of time, into something really special.

I just wish they'd gone with the original name.  Wasting Away is a lot stronger than Aaah! Zombies!  The stupid name is part of why I've put off watching this film for so long.  I really wasn't expecting much with that name.

Anyway, the main story goes a little something like this:  A group of four friends are infected by a military-developed super-soldier formula that went horribly wrong.  What makes this one interesting is that our main characters, Tim (Michael Grant Terry), Cindy (Betsy Beutler), Mike (Matthew Davis), and Vanessa (Julianna Robinson), and their new comrade, Nick Steele (Colby French), are the zombies.  They just don't know it.

More below the break...

3.2 HIDE AND CREEP (2004)

Hide and Creep (2004)
Dir. Chuck Hartsell & Chance Shirley
USA

I'll be honest with you.  I went into this one expecting it to be anywhere from lame to awful.  It was advertised as "Even better than Shaun of the Dead" so I went in expecting the worst.  Because, you know, hyperbole like that doesn't do anyone any favors. 

But I am happy to say that I was completely wrong in my expectations.  This film was pretty damned entertaining.  And for a horror comedy, what more can you ask for?

Hide and Creep is a zombie comedy set in Alabama, made by Alabama film makers Chuck Hartsell and Chance Shirley, from a script by Shirley.  According to the film makers, this low-budget film came in at around $26,000, and while it is definitely low-budget, the money was very well-spent. 

So much so, in fact, that I am now dying to see their follow-up film, Interplanetary.  It's tagline is "Monsters.  Mayhem.  Mars."  For more info on that and their other projects, check out the Crewless Productions website.

But what about Hide and Creep?

Spoiler Shields Up!

3.1 EXHUMED (2003)

Exhumed (2003)
Dir. Brian Clement
Canada

Well, this is the first dud of the bunch this year, but it's not for lack of trying.  Writer/Director Brian Clement does everything right in what is probably the most adventurous film of this year's marathon.  However, the end result is a perfect example of one's eyes being bigger than one's stomach when it comes to low-budget film making.  It will still look good on his resume, though.

Exhumed tells its story in three parts.  The first is in medieval Japan, the second in 1940s America, and the third in a weird grab-bag apocalyptic future.  That, in itself, is an impressive attempt.  The stories are all linked in what is, ultimately, a time-travel narrative that, with more money, better actors, and someone who knows how to handle professional lighting, could have been amazing.

Hell, just someone on lighting duties would have made this much more enjoyable, as most of the film is underlit and at times its nearly impossible to tell what exactly was happening.  Which is too bad, because Clement obviously loves film and film making.  There are enough references to classic films in this one to write a book about, and the combining of three distinct genres into one overarching plot is a great idea.

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I think better lighting would have made me like the film.  As it is, I can't really recommend it as much more than a noble failure.

Although, just listening to the description of the film makes me want to see it remade, a la Evil Dead 2.

Spoilers ahead!

WALKING DEAD Season One Recap

As I type this, the DVD set of the first season of THE WALKING DEAD is on sale at Amazon for $9.99.  That's practically too cheap to pass up, even if you're only slightly interested in checking it out.

If anyone's curious, here's what I thought about the season, episode by episode:

1.1 "Days Gone Bye"

1.2 "Guts"

1.3 "Tell it to the Frogs"

1.4 "Vatos"

1.5 "Wildfire"

1.6 "TS-19"

2011 EASTER ZOMBIE MOVIE MARATHON IS ON HOLD

Tonight's viewing is canceled so that we may raise a glass and watch some classic Sarah Jane adventures.  And probably cry a little.

R.I.P. Elisabeth Sladen, 19th Apr 2011

The BBC Press Release.

It is with much sadness that we can announce Elisabeth Sladen, the much-loved actress best known for her role as Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who and CBBC's The Sarah Jane Adventures, passed away this morning. She was 63.

Lis first appeared as Sarah Jane in Doctor Who in 1973 alongside the Third Doctor Jon Pertwee and stayed for three and half seasons working alongside Jon and the Fourth Doctor Tom Baker. She returned to the role on numerous occasions over the years and, in 2007, was given her own spin-off series on CBBC - The Sarah Jane Adventures - where she would appear alongside new Doctors David Tennant and Matt Smith.

The Sarah Jane Adventures brought Lis a whole new generation of fans who grew up to love her alien-busting adventures. The series was hugely popular with fans young and old and won this year's RTS Award for best children's drama.

Controller of CBBC Damian Kavanagh said tonight: "I'm deeply saddened and shocked by the news of Lis' untimely death. Lis brought joy, excitement and a sense of wonder to her many fans in her role as Sarah Jane Smith. She was adored by our young audience and I know all of them will miss her as much as I will."

The creator of The Sarah Jane Adventures Russell T Davies said: "I absolutely loved Lis. She was funny and cheeky and clever and just simply wonderful. The universe was lucky to have Sarah Jane Smith; the world was lucky to have Lis."

Steven Moffat, Doctor Who's Lead Writer and Executive Producer said: "'Never meet your heroes' wise people say. They weren't thinking of Lis Sladen.

"Sarah Jane Smith was everybody's hero when I was younger, and as brave and funny and brilliant as people only ever are in stories. But many years later, when I met the real Sarah Jane - Lis Sladen herself - she was exactly as any child ever have wanted her to be. Kind and gentle and clever; and a ferociously talented actress, of course, but in that perfectly English unassuming way.

"There are a blessed few who can carry a whole television show on their talent and charisma - but I can't think of one other who's done it quite so politely. I once showed my son Joshua an old episode of Doctor Who, in which Lis appeared. "But that's Sarah Jane," he said, confused "In old Doctor Who. From years ago. How come she always look exactly the same?" It's not a comfort today, of course, but children will still be saying that fifty years from now."

Keith Jones, Director, BBC Cymru Wales, said: "The Sarah Jane Adventures has been one of the most successful children's programmes on television in recent years - and without Elisabeth Sladen it would not have happened. A brilliant presence on screen and on set, she brought the excitement and energy of the Doctor Who family of programmes, of which we are very proud at BBC Wales, to a whole new generation. She will be missed by all at BBC Wales who worked with her."

Roger Carey, who represented Lis for many years, said. "She was not just a client, but a dear friend. She was so positive about life and her natural energy was intoxicating. She couldn't believe her luck when her career was resurrected in her own series."

Lis had been suffering from cancer. She leaves behind a husband, actor Brian Miller, and her daughter, Sadie.

BBC press office 0208 576 1865

2.2 SHOCK WAVES (1977)

Shock Waves (1977)
Dir. Ken Wiederhorn
USA

I went into this one not expecting anything at all.  To be honest, I expected it to be awful.

But as the credits came up, I was reminded that Peter Cushing and John Carradine were both in the film.  So it couldn't be all bad, right?  Absolutely.

This film was co-written and directed by Ken Wiederhorn, who's credits aren't amazing, but does include Return of the Living Dead Part II (which he also wrote), which I enjoy more than anyone else I know.  He's also responsible for directing episodes of Freddy's Nightmares and 21 Jump Street. 

Along with Peter Cushing (who also played Grand Moff Tarkin in a little indie film that same year) and John Carradine (who will always be a favorite of mine for his role in Everything You Wanted To Know About Sex  * But Were Afraid To Ask), the film starred a young Brooke Adams, who would bust out the next year in Invasion of the Body Snatchers and also star in Terrence Malick's Days of Heaven and Cronenberg's The Dead Zone.

That's enough of a pedigree to catch my interest.  And as it turns out, this isn't half bad.

2.1 PSYCHOMANIA (aka THE DEATH WHEELERS) (1973)

Psychomania (aka The Death Wheelers) (1973)
Dir. Don Sharp
UK

This one had a bit of a slow start, but the ultimate payoff was pretty nicely executed.

Psychomania is a zombie film without any traditional zombies.  Instead, what we've got is a story about devil worshipers and a resurrection that is more about the will than anything else.  The film was directed by Don Sharp, director of The Face of Fu Manchu (1965), The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966), and a few Avengers (1968) episodes amongst other works.

Even though this is well beyond the time when the flesh-eating zombie had been introduced to horror culture, Psychomania is something more along the lines of traditional UK occult horror.  It's the sort of film where a guest appearance by Christopher Lee wouldn't be entirely unexpected.

The story centers on Tom Latham (Nicky Henson), the leader of the motorcycle gang The Living Dead.  Tom's mother made a deal with the devil years earlier, and although we never really get a real idea about just what that deal involved, by the end of the film we discover that Tom's fate is intricately tied to it.  But what about the zombies?

1.2 PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES (1965)

Planet of the Vampires (1965)
Dir. Mario Bava
Italy

The second half of Sunday night's double-feature was the classic, Planet of the Vampires, an Italian film based on the short story "One Night of 21 Hours" by Rafael J. Salvia.  This film was directed by the legend, Mario Bava, who is best known for the films Black Sunday (1960), Black Sabbath (1963), and one of my personal favorites, Danger: Diabolik (1968).

The film is another science fiction approach to the zombie genre, telling the story of the crews of two spaceships that have crash landed on a foreboding, unexplored planet, while attempting to investigate a mysterious repeating signal that may be a sign of intelligent life.  Oh, it's a sign all right.  The planet is inhabited by bodiless beings who can take over the bodies of the unconscious, or the dead.

And as you can probably guess, mostly they take over the dead.

So the title is a little misleading.  There are no vampires to be seen here.  It's all zombies, baby!

1.1 THE EARTH DIES SCREAMING (1965)

The Earth Dies Screaming (1965)
Dir. Terence Fisher
UK

The first film in the 2011 Easter Zombie Movie Marathon is a golden oldie from 1965.  We decided to go with a chronological order for this year's films, so as the week goes on we'll get closer and closer to the modern conception of what a zombie film is.

But for this first night, we're really dealing with a variation on the classic Voodoo zombie, only with a creepy British Sci-Fi twist.

Terence Fisher is probably best known as the man who almost single-handedly redefined modern UK horror with his run of classic Hammer Horror films, The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), Horror of Dracula (1958), The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), The Mummy (1959), The Curse of the Werewolf (1960), Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966), and many, many others.

In 1965 he directed The Earth Dies Screaming for Shepperton Studios in London and filmed in Surrey.

MONDO MARVEL #32: NOVEMBER 1964

We're back!

Mondo Marvel #32: November 1964 is live and running for your enjoyment!

TV ROUND-UP

Just a quick post to comment on some recent TV.

Sunday: 

BEING HUMAN (UK): After a weak and focus-free start, the return of Herrick has made this show good again.  The only show on TV about Vampires worth watching.  Season Finale this Sunday!

OUTCASTS (UK): Boring and almost entirely imagination-free.  Good actors wasted on weak plots and at time, painful scripting.  Season Finale this Sunday.  Finally.

Monday:

BEING HUMAN (US): Not as bad as I was afraid it was going to be.  Each week makes me groan, but I watch and find myself moderately engaged and satisfied.  Kind of limp and bloodless compared to the original.

STARGATE: UNIVERSE: Finally back for its last 10 episodes.  Already canceled, but well worth watching.  The characters are good, if a little too grounded in the mundane.  What I wouldn't give for a show with a basic scenario like this, but with insanely free imagination guiding it.

Tuesday:

LIGHTS OUT: Just when they introduce a character I can finally get behind and enjoy (Romeo), they drop him.  Lights Out, you are killing me with your borderline entertainment value.  This is the show, right behind Being Human (US) that I am least interested in watching each week, but watch anyway, and get some enjoyment out of.  The end result here is a little better than with Being Human.

Wednesday:

SYM-BIONIC TITAN: Best cartoon on television right now.  Genndy can do no wrong in my book.  It's rated PG, so we actually get death and destruction with repercussions and moral implications.  Last week's look at the coup on their home planet was fantastic.

JUSTIFIED: Gets better and better each week.  Boyd Crowder may be the best character on television at the moment.  His only rival is Walter Bishop on Fringe.  Boyd's the best "bad guy" though.  He's starting to rival Lost's Benjamin Linus in my affections.

FACE-OFF: Season Finale this week!  I'm loving this Top Chef with Make-up Effects Artists show.  I really hope enough people are watching that we get more.  Also love that the craft drama involved in designing and implementing the make-up effects are more centrally focused than the personal drama between the contestants.  In the end, anyway.

Thursday:

THE OFFICE: Regardless of what people say, this show still makes me laugh out loud every single week.

PARKS & RECREATION: Only comedy on television that I would actually miss if it were canceled.  So much funnier than any of the other Thursday night line-up.  Most of that crap I can't even watch.

THE MENTALIST: Always entertaining, if not all that smart.  Still love the dynamic between the characters, and Patrick Jane is the most appealing and unapologetic atheist on television.

Friday:

SUPERNATURAL: Season Six is just as good as any prior season.  Glad they did it.  It's gone until April, when we'll get our final push toward the season finale, and it is going to be mightily missed.  Hopefully, they'll do another season.  Don't see why they wouldn't at this point.  It's all good and still firing on all cylinders.  The most entertaining show I watch.

FRINGE: Tied with Justified for best show on television, in my humble opinion.  With Supernatural coming in at a very tight 1.5.  Every week, no matter what reality we're focusing on, Fringe brings great casting together with entertaining scripts and imaginative plots to make me giddy.  Walter is great.  I'm really hoping they plan on keeping Jorge Garcia around as Walter's late-night pot-smoking buddy.

Saturday:

Nothing.  Finally.

MONDO MARVEL #31: OCTOBER 1964

Yes, Mondo Marvel is back for another round of jibber-jabber obsessed with early Sixties Marvel comics.  You know what you're getting into.  No get into it!

F.O.O.M. (Flashbacks of Ol' Marvel) #21: "Shelved - Fantastic Four (1994)"

I watched The Fantastic Four so you don't have to.  Roger Corman produced it in 1994 for 1.4 million after the original budget called for 40 million.  If that doesn't explain just about everything wrong with this film, I don't know what does.

WHAT LOOKS GOOD #347: SO MUCH FOR BALANCE!

I'm back with another What Looks Good column, and it's all TV, Movies, and Music this week.  Oh, and I do mention a couple of comics, briefly at the end.

BREAKING DOWN (an original screenplay)

Please take some time from your busy schedules to read and comment on this Horror script that I've entered into Amazon Studios' scriptwriting competition.  All comments and discussion would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

MONDO MARVEL #30: SEPTEMBER 1964

It's Mondo Marvel time again!

F.O.O.M. (Flashbacks of Ol' Marvel) #20: "We Are Both Tragedies - Captain America (1990)"

Wherein I go back and re-evaluate what is generally considered one of the worst Marvel movies ever.  Seriously, it's not that bad, when all is said and done.  Here's the link: F.O.O.M.

WHAT LOOKS GOOD #344: A SORT OF BALANCE?

And here's this week's What Looks Good column!  Enjoy!

WHAT LOOKS GOOD #341: BACK TO THE GRIND

Oops.  Forgot to post a link to this What Looks Good column from a couple of weeks ago.