Memories Of A Legend: Saying Goodbye To George Romero

News broke earlier today that George A. Romero, the creator of the modern zombie with his timeless film Night Of The Living Dead, passed away at the age of 77 from lung cancer. That news not only hit me hard but it hit the entire horror community hard. I didn't need to take a look at my Facebook feed which was filled with friends, acquaintances and people I only know as an picture of someone that isn't them on a computer screen sharing their memories and feelings about Mr. Romero's passing, all very similar to the same memories and feelings that I have.

George Romero seemingly broke ground with each new film he made for a time and was never short on poignant and important commentary within his films. His films were not only means of entertainment, which they were, or means to scare you, which they did, but they were intended to make the viewer to take a step back and come out with a better version of themselves. From casting a black man in the lead in Night Of The Living Dead to commenting on the frightening power of addiction in Martin, to the commentary on consumerism and capitalism in Dawn Of The Dead. It is an injustice that Romero's films are rarely looked at beyond being horror films, even if they're considered "great" horror films, there is a stigma to horror where it is viewed as less of an art form. That is a great injustice to George Romero who is an artist in the truest sense of the word. He refused the standard studio system of filmmaking for many of his films even if it meant a smaller budget and tighter production.

I had my first chance to meet George Romero about a decade ago, forgive me if I don't remember exactly which year it was, at a horror convention called Horrorfind Weekend. This particular event was being held in College Park, Maryland a bit outside of Washington D.C. but I saw he had a line that was about half an hour long so I decided to come back later in the day. Later in the day the line was significantly longer and I was tired so I said to myself "next time". I regretted not waiting in that half hour line for years as that wait really isn't too bad at a horror convention for an absolute legend of the genre. That regret would follow me for years as I had a couple more opportunities to meet the man but this time at a more popular and busy show which had lines extending 2 or 3 hours. I decided not to wait in those lines either. Then a few years ago a rumor circulated that Mr. Romero was retiring from the convention circuit due to problems with his hand that made signing autographs difficult. I was lucky though because shortly after that announcement he was actually being announced for more appearances and in October 2015 George was signing at Monster Mania Convention just a short 20 minute drive from me in Hunt Valley, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore. I finally got to meet George and picked a poster of Martin, my favorite of his films and a film that is vastyl underrated and overlooked in his filmography. George was incredibly friendly and warm, and my choice of poster brought a smile to his face and we talked about Martin briefly. He mentioned how much he loved making it and that he doesn't get to sign too many autographs for it. And now less than two years later he's passed away having lived 77 years filled with creativity, love, and art but I will miss him. I will miss hearing of new projects that he's working on that may or may not ever come to fruition (please let Road Of The Dead happen now as one last Romero hurrah) and I'll miss seeing his genuine smile and huge signature glasses in all of the pictures he takes with fans.


                                                       George and I

Cinema has lost a legend today and not just horror. George Romero's importance to the art form of movie making transcends genre and it is a crime that his legacy was not more widely regarded outside of the horror community while he was alive. Horror fans certainly let him know how important he was though and he definitely felt that love. If you've ever heard the saying "Don't meet your heroes" ignore that. Sure, some of them might let you down but if I listened to that, or if I kept procrastinating I would never have met George Romero and I would have cheated myself of a moment and memory I cherish. Let them know you appreciate their work and the genuine ones will make it worth your time. George did.

I wish I could say something more poignant or gripping or important but I didn't know the man personally. Our meeting was made up of no more than two minutes among a long line of people that would have a similar meeting with him but if this is to be my lasting tribute to an important film maker that I am a shameless fan of than I'm glad to share my memories of the man and briefly discuss  the importance of his contributions. Now go watch Martin, for George.

                                             George A. Romero 1940-2017

THE DARK TAPES (2017) (DVD Review - Epic Pictures)

USA/2016
Directed By: Michael McQuown, Vincent J. Guastini
Written By: Michael McQuown
Starring: Cortney Palm, Brittany Underwood, Aral Gibble
Color/98 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: Available Now

The Film
THE DARK TAPES is a found footage anthology film based around the idea of proving the existence of creatures that we can only see during our REM sleep cycle, when we're at our deepest sleep. This segment is called "To Catch A Demon" and serves as the main wraparound for the film and something we come back to intermittently between segments. The story itself isn't incredibly long and really didn't need to be broken up but I can see and understand why they used it as a tool as such. I think the best parts of this segment are at the end when they finally show the goods we've been waiting for. Up until the appearance of these creatures it's feels quite pedestrian and familiar.

"The Hunters And The Hunted" is the first solo story to play out entirely in one shot and it was something that left me wanting more. The story starts out with a newly married couple facing strange things in their new home. Doors slamming, furniture shifting, physical encounters with these seemingly paranormal inhabitants. Call in the paranormal investigators and we're all set up for the painfully cliche Paranormal Activity style jump scare snooze fest. And then the story spins a most welcomed 180 and drastically turns the whole thing on its head. Without spoiling it I can say it not only saved the segment but left me wanting more of it. I think this was something that could be used as a set up for a feature length film using this story. It's flawed but I really liked where it ended up.

"Cam Girls" is next and sets up a pair of attractive roommates who run a sexy webcam show for money. They decide to give Gerry, a frequent viewer and all around nice, but very shy guy, a free show. This ends up feeling longer than it is and ends up being quite predictable and aside from one interesting moment in the background I think was a bit of a waste, despite some solid acting. This leads us to the final segment "Amanda's Revenge" which I think is the best production from start to finish as a totally enclosed product. The acting and characters drive this one as we are finally given characters to care about and they're well rounded and very likable. Amanda is forced to deal with strange unseen forces that torment her at night after a very traumatic event at a party. This helps Amanda unlock the deeper and greater powers of her mind but could also prove the existence of some beings that she'd rather not see. The effects in this one get a bit bonkers at the end and I really enjoyed it. This is another entry that could have benefited from a longer runtime and budget to give those effects a stronger presence and look less processed.

Found footage films remain a staple in the horror genre because they require less in the way of crew and equipment in most cases. They can be made cheaper than traditional films and even using lower quality equipment can easily be worked in to the story itself and remain believable. The sub genre has seen its ups and downs since its inception but the entries into the sub genre of late tend to be stale retreads that are far from exciting and new. THE DARK TAPES may not shy away from many of the found footage tropes but it does try to play with some of them in ways that we don't often see and even if it was an uneven film with ideas that were better than their execution it was nice to see something different out of a found footage film.

The Audio & Video
Epic Pictures releases THE DARK TAPES with a nice looking and sounding DVD. The anamorphic widescreen transfer has deep black levels of which there are many, a strong color palette and a solid overall sharpness and clarity. The 5.1 surround audio mix comes through loud and clear with no background noise or damage. Levels are steady throughout.

The Extras
Special features include being able to individually select a tape to watch and the original trailer.

The Bottom Line
THE DARK TAPES is a noble attempt at making a better found footage horror film that I don't think lives up to its potential. I recommend the film to found footage addicts as I think there's a lot they'll like either way.

THE DARK TAPES is available HERE

Comet TV July Giveaway and "Godzilla Get-down"! (Contest Closed)

Another month and another awesome lineup (and giveaway!) from the fine folks at Comet TV - check out the info below for the schedule and how to enter to win the cool prize pack. 

I hope you’re feeling Con-tastic because it’s July and you know what that means… It’s Convention season!

To celebrate the madness and fun of convention season, we’ve put together an awesome Con Survival Kit! It’s the perfect thing to get you prepared to tackle any convention! Whether you’re heading down to the madness of San Diego, checking out the Disney adventures in Anaheim, or just getting ready for the multitudes of conventions this summer our Con Survival Kit will get you prepared for anything.

The Con Survival Kit includes:

1 Limited Edition Comet Cosplay Shirt - It doesn’t matter if you dress up as an out of this world creature or just head down to your favorite convention in street attire, our limited edition Comet Cosplay shirt will help you make a statement.

1 Comet 2GB USB Lanyard - You need something to hold your badge in place, heck it might have taken blood sweat and tears to get it! This isn’t just an ordinary lanyard though, it’s also a 2GB USB drive, perfect for holding music, photos and anything else you can fit on there!

1 Collapsable Flexi Water Bottle - I… Crave… Water… You know you’re going to be practically parched running from panel to panel but fear not! We have the perfect flexi bottle to keep you safe and hydrated. Ah… It makes you feel better already doesn’t it?

2 Granola Bars - Look, we all need a little bit of a pick me up right? We have a couple bars to keep your inner Godzilla at bay and a smile on your face!

Also, don’t forget about The Godzilla Get Down airing on Comet TV in July! Some rip roaring Godzilla Goodness is about to take over Comet TV!

Check out the full list and the embeddable gifs to share below. If you don’t mind mentioning it in your giveaway post and include some of the embeddable assets that would be awesome!

TO ENTER

1. Email celluloidterror@yahoo.com and include your full name and address

2. Tell me your favorite movie from Comet TV’s Godzilla Get-Down lineup shown belown

3. Tell me your favorite thing about going to conventions

Giveaway open to the U.S. 

Winner will be selected on July 28! 

About COMET TV - July 2017

GODZILLA GET DOWN has arrived! In one of our BIGGEST programming events ever, COMET will be airing two classic Godzilla movies back-to-back every single Saturday in July.

Rodan (1956) 

Saturday, July 8 at 10P/9C

Godzilla: King of Monsters (1956) 

Saturday, July 8 at MIDNIGHT/11C

Mothra VS. Godzilla (1964) 

Saturday, July 15 at 10P/9C

Ghidorrah: Three Headed Monster (1964) 

Saturday, July 15 at MIDNIGHT/11C

Godzilla VS. Monster Zero (1964) 

Saturday, July 22 at 10P/9C

Godzillas Revenge (All Monsters Attack) (1969) 

Saturday, July 22 at MIDNIGHT/11C

Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975) 

Saturday, July 29 at 10P/9C

Gojira (1954) 

Saturday, July 29 at MIDNIGHT/11C

----------------

Soylent Green (1973) 

Friday, July 14 at 8P/7C 

Saturday, July 15 at 8P/7C 

Sunday, July 23 at 4P/3C 

Friday, July 28 at 10P/9C

Marooned (1969) 

Friday, July 7 at 8P/7C 

Saturday, July 8 at 7P/6C 

Sunday, July 16 at 4P/3C 

Monday, July 24 at 6P/5C

Rain of Fire (AKA Holocaust 2000) (1977) 

Friday, July 21 at 8P/7C 

Saturday, July 22 at 8P/7C 

Wednesday, July 26 at 6P/5C 

Sunday, July 30 at 4P/3C

Sometimes They Come Back (1991) 

Friday, July 28 at 8P/7C 

Saturday, July 29 at 8P/7C 

Sunday, July 30, at 2P/1C

Killing Ground LA Premiere Pics

KILLING GROUND recently had its LA premiere in a very cool outdoor screening with appearances from the cast and crew. Below are a few shots from the event.

SYFY Films To Relesae REALIVE

SYFY FILMS RELEASES ‘REALIVE’ 

In Theaters September 29 and on VOD and Digital HD October 3

NEW YORK, NY – July 12, 2017 – Syfy Films today announces the release of the upcoming sci-fi film REALIVE, in theaters on September 29 and on VOD and Digital HD on October 3.  The film is written and directed by Mateo Gil (“Vanilla Sky,” “The Sea Inside”). The cast includes Tom Hughes (“About Time,” “London Town”), Charlotte Le Bon (“The Walk,” “The Hundred-Foot Journey”), Oona Chaplin (“Taboo,” “Game of Thrones”) and Barry Ward (“The Fall,” “The Journey,”). REALIVE premiered at the 2016 Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal followed by official selections of the FrightFest Film Festival in the U.K. and Sitges International Film Festival in Spain.

In REALIVE, Marc Jarvis (Tom Hughes) is diagnosed with a disease and given a short time to live. Unable to accept his own end, he decides to freeze his body. 60 years later, in the year 2084, he becomes the first cryogenically frozen man to be revived in history. Marc discovers a startling future, but the biggest surprise is that his past has accompanied him in unexpected ways.

REALIVE is produced by Ibon Cormenzana and Ignasi Estapé of Arcadia Motion Pictures, in coproduction with Jérôme Vidal of Noodles. Marina Fuentes of Dreamcatchers acted as associate producer. 

For more information on the film, please visit https://www.facebook.com/RealiveMovie/

About Syfy

SYFY is a global, multiplatform media brand that gives science fiction fans of all kinds a universe to call home. Celebrating the genre in all its forms, SYFY super-serves passionate fans with original science fiction, fantasy, paranormal and superhero programming, live event coverage and imaginative digital and social content. The brand is powered by SYFY Wire (www.syfywire.com), the premier portal for breaking genre news, insight and commentary. SYFY is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

NURSE SHERRI - Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray Review

USA/1978
Directed By: Al Adamson
Written By: Michael Bockman, Greg Tittinger, Al Adamson
Starring: Jill Jacobson, Marilyn Joi, Geoffrey Land
Color/88 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: June 27, 2017
Blu-ray/DVD

The Film
Al Adamson made his name directing B-movies and is arguably exploitation royalty. NURSE SHERRI doesn't have the catchy title that some of his earlier pictures had like Psycho A-Go-Go or Satan's Sadists but it definitely delivers the goods. Essentially taking two genres and smashing them together for better or worse, NURSE SHERRI takes the sex appeal of the Nurse film tapping in to a common fantasy of being taken care of by a sexy, scantily clad nurse and like a bad car crash hits it head on with the demonic possession horror film.

Jill Jacobson stars as the titular character who has been possessed by a crazed preacher that has died in a surgery he did not want and now plans on revenge against everyone involved through the body of Sherri. The possession occurs when a cheesy green essence creeps under her bedroom door and overcomes her, turning her slowly in to a knife wielding maniac that attempts to attack patients and her coworkers until they try to save her with an old magic ritual.

NURSE SHERRI is a film that has a rocky history as it was filmed then went through significant reshoots to add subplots and spice things up, released theatrically but never in a truly complete form until now. It's a wild ride that will have you scratching your head as often as you clap or cheer in approval of the madness. There's a handful of scenes that are actually really well done including a fantastic car chase. More movies need demonic car chases. Al Adamson was not a super stylish director but he got his movies made and usually with competency. NURSE SHERRI has solid perforamnces, especially from the lead nurses Jill Jacobson and Marilyn Joi who is tasked with being much of the sex appeal of the film. She fills that role amply.

NURSE SHERRI isn't what comes to mind when you think of an artistic film or what you typically would call a "good" film but good lord it is entertaining and ends strong - I dare you to try and get Jill Jacobson's eyes out of your head after you see the meat cleaver scene - They'll haunt you for days with pure insanity.

The Audio & Video
Vinegar Syndrome delivers the Blu-ray debut of NURSE SHERRI in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that has been taken from a new 2K scan. Before the film is a disclaimer explaining the state of the film elements and it's production that was originally shot in 16mm with re-shoots using 35mm. The 16mm scenes were then blown up to 35mm for theatrical presentation. What this means to the viewer is a fluctuation in picture quality and graininess. The 16mm scenes are a softer and grainier than the 35mm scenes. Overall the picture quality is decent, but there is damage and age related wear and tear that keeps this film from looking pristine. Colors are generally good, with crisp whites and deep blacks. Detail is strong in the better looking scenes but drops off a bit during the softer sequences. A DTS-HDMA Mono Mix handles the English audio which has optional SDH Subtitles available and it sounds good. The mix is loud and clear with no fluctuations in volume and no background noise, or damage such as hissing, popping or crackling. The dialogue and score compliment each other and it is altogether pleasing to the ear.

The Extras
-Audio Commentary with producer Sam Sherman
-"Nurses Confessions" - Featurette with interviews from Jill Jacobson and Marilyn Joi
-Alternate "exploitation" version of the film (DVD only)
-Then And Now Locations Featurette
-Promotional Still Gallery
-Original Trailers
-Reversible Artwork

The Bottom Line
Sexy nurses, demonic possession, meat cleavers and pitchforks, and boobs and car chases all add up to exploitation madness. NURSE SHERRI is a mess of a film but an absolute blast to watch.

NURSE SHERRI is available HERE

DEATH LINE (Raw Meat) - Blue Underground Blu-ray Review

UK/1972
Directed By: Gary Sherman
Written By: Gary Sherman, Ceri Jones
Starring: Donald Pleasance, Norman Rossington, David Ladd
Color/87 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: June 27, 2017
Blu-ray/DVD

The Film
When a rash of people have disappeared in the London Underground a Scotland Yard Inspector (Donald Pleasance) must investigate the case where he has a suspicious eye toward an American student studying abroad but eventually learns that a group of workers may have survived a tunnel collapse in the 1890s surviving for generations off the flesh of their own dead until now when hunger has driven them to the surface.

From the moment the bassy, baritone groove kicks in over the opening credits you're immediately aware that DEATH LINE isn't going to be a typical horror film. It has a personality all its own from the dark comedy that Donald Pleasance brings in a brilliant performance, to the cold, uninviting subway tunnels and the bellowing calls of "Mind the doors" that are haunting and quite frankly unnerving, DEATH LINE has different tones and vibes that don't always work together, but they come together and compliment each other nicely.

Director Gary Sherman helms an almost entirely British production and makes a film that feels distinctly of its country, surprisingly. It's a bit dry in it's delivery in a way that so many British productions are. That's not a bad thing either. It plays the story straight, with only Pleasance's character and rivalry with Christopher Lee's character who plays a MI5 Intelligence Agent in a lone scene that he plays almost entirely straight to the camera and is incredibly snotty and perfect in it. His backhanded suggestion that Pleasance goes back to planting pot on suspects before he becomes a missing person himself leaves a lasting impression for Lee's lone moment in the film.

Gary Sherman wouldn't return to the directors chair on a feature film for almost a decade after DEATH LINE when he'd return with a film that has a lot of similarities in pacing and delivery, Dead And Buried, which is severely underrated among horror fans. It is the pacing in DEATH LINE that I think stops it from being an a true classic. It is very much a display of Pleasance's antics and snarky attitude through much of the picture with a few horrific moments sprinkled throughout until the climax. Those sparse moments are quite good however and there is a seven minute tracking shot in the tunnels among the dead and dying tunnel dwellers who suffer from plague, emaciation and countless other ailments that is a masterful sequence. The skill that this scene took cannot be overlooked or underestimated. This was years before Steadicam and it is simply perfect in execution and helps bring a sense of humanity and empathy to the tunnel dwellers. Hugh Armstrong portrayed the male tunnel dweller and was both tragic and nightmare fuel.

DEATH LINE was released in the US as RAW MEAT which is what I always knew the film to be. I don't think either title is much better than the other but I think the US artwork is a stroke of maniacal brilliance. It is eye catching, striking and bizarre while the standard artwork that you see pictured on this blu-ray release is more in line with the stark, cold tone of the film. No matter which title or poster is used I believe DEATH LINE has been lost in the shuffle over the years, never quite gaining the popularity or acclaim it is deserving of.

The Audio & Video
Blue Underground has given DEATH LINE  a brand new 2K restoration and transfer which looks fantastic! The 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer has a warm, naturalistic color palette. The picture is sharp with great levels of detail that allows everything from clothing to the special effects makeup look exceptional. The image is clean with virtually no noticeable dirt or debris and skin tones looks lifelike and not at all waxy. An English DTS-HD Mono track is the lone audio option which takes the original mix and brings it to HD quality and it sounds excellent. There's no drop outs, distortions or background noise. The mix allows the dialogue to come through clear while the soundtrack comes in powerful when needed.

Please Note: Screen grabs do NOT represent Blu-ray quality.

The Extras
Blue Underground has put together a nice selection of special features for this release including:

-Audio Commentary with co-writer/director Gary Sherman, producer Paul Maslansky, and assistant director Lewis More O'Ferrall
-"Tales From The Tube" - Interview with Gary Sherman and executive producers Jay Kanter and Alan Ladd Jr.
-"From The Depths" - Interview with star David Ladd and producer Paul Maslansky
-"Mind The Doors" - Interview with star Hugh Armstrong
-Theatrical trailers
-TV and Radio Spots
-Poster and Still gallery
-Booklet with new writing by Michael Gingold and Christopher Gullo

The Bottom Line
DEATH LINE has been a bit overlooked for years but hopefully no longer! This new Blu-ray is the perfect way for new fans to discover the film. If you haven't seen it now is the time to educate yourself with this Blu-ray that has blown me away.

DEATH LINE is available HERE