THE TAINT available on Blu-ray + SCIENCE TEAM now in production!

This is old news (since the Blu-ray came out on March 12th of this year) but Drew Bolduc's THE TAINT has been picked up by Troma and given a nice 2-disc Blu-ray release. I reviewed the film a while back (read it HERE) and reveled in its ridiculous plot, over the top violence, and parodical view of misogyny. (The film has been attacked for its questionable content, but trust me folks, its only a boundary-pushing spoof, not a representation of the filmmakers' views on women.)

THE TAINT Blu-ray comes with a DVD of the film and is packed with some cool extras, including:

* Director's Commentary
* Cast Commentary
* Behind The Scenes Slideshow
* Deleted Scenes
* Introduction By Lloyd Kaufman
* Tromatic Extras

You can grab yourself a copy over at Amazon.com by clicking HERE.

In other Drew Bolduc news, the star/director of THE TAINT is working on a new film called SCIENCE TEAM. The production is set to begin in June in Richmond, Virginia with the aid of pledges obtained from their IndieGoGo campaign, (CLICK HERE to help fund it!) and it looks like they are really going to try and push the envelope this time around.

ABOUT SCIENCE TEAM:
We are Science Team. We need your help. We have lasers.

Science Team is a national organization whose main purpose is to maintain interstellar peace and protect America from the many alien threats that seek to destroy us.

We need your help to recruit more members to fight alongside us. We must build a super scientific alliance and raise funds to combat a giant sessile alien menace with telepathic powers capable of doing this:

Science Team must eliminate this evil extraterrestrial threat at all costs. We must proceed with extreme caution. People will die horrible and disgusting deaths. Inner and extraterrestrial demons will be engaged. Cool-looking technology will be used. People's minds will be blown out of their heads. 

Remember to bring your mind protectors.

Check out the SCIENCE TEAM promo below and, once again, please consider lending these guys some financial aid to get this insane film made!

Science Team Promo from Drew Bolduc on Vimeo.

HATE CRIME NOW AVAILABLE ON VOD + MUSE NOW IN PRODUCTION!

Just got some press release action from indie producer/screenwriter/director James Cullen Bressack about his latest film HATE CRIME (read my review HERE) getting a global VOD release, and some new about a new indie horror flick he's producing called MUSE. Read on for more details:

HATE CRIME GETS GLOBAL VIDEO ON DEMAND DISTRIBUTION; FINDS A DISTRIBUTOR!

HATE CRIME is now available WORLDWIDE on VOD exclusively on http://www.psykikjunkypictures.com . And when we say WORLD WIDE we mean WORLD WIDE! That's right ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE EVERYWHERE can watch the film now! Many have been patiently waiting to see the film Hate Crime for months now. Well the wait is OFFICIALLY OVER!!!!

IT IS AVAILABLE NOW ON VOD WORLD WIDE at this link: http://psykikjunkypictures.com/ for $6.66 but you better hurry because it will only be available for 1 month before it gets taken down off of VOD for its DVD/BLU release in AUGUST through UNEARTHED! TIME TO UNLEASH THE BEAST!

If you've been curious about this film (and it is hard not to be, what with all the good press and reviews, plus the refusal of some theaters to play the movie at several film festivals) this is your chance to see what all the hoopla is about. While I can't sit here and tell you that it is a great movie that you'll want to watch over and over again, I can say that it is a more than competently made visceral cinematic experience. There's actually a few scenes in this home invasion / found footage flick that made yours truly squirm a bit, and I'm a jaded horror fan that's "seen it all before," so maybe that'll be enough reason for you to give HATE CRIME a look!

Next up on James Cullen Bressack's plate is an indie horror film he's producing called MUSE. Directed by Nick Palumbo (another controversial indie filmmaker), the film follows a young actress' decent into murder and madness. Here's more info via the press release:

MUSE NOW IN PRE-PRODUCTION
Fright Flix Productions and controversial cult filmmaker Nick Palumbo have begun pre-production on "MUSE," a psychological horror film starring Samantha Mion in her film debut. Co-starring Patrick Scott Lewis ("Zodiac"), as an irascible thespian. MUSE is written, and directed by Palumbo and produced by Nick and David Palumbo along with cult filmmaker James Cullen Bressack ("Hate Crime"). Director of Photography is David Newbert ("Marfa Girl"). Principal photography begins on April 15 in Los Angeles, California. The announcement was made today by Fright Fix Productions' President Nick Palumbo.

"I'm very excited to return to set with my follow up to 'MURDER-SET-PIECES,'" said Palumbo. 'MUSE' is something very different from me. The subject is extremely relevant. The film is a character study of a sociopathic young woman, and how loneliness and isolation pushes her further into the abyss. I believe it's a feeling many actors have experienced and will surely relate to. With our incredibly talented production team, we are confident we'll give thriller/horror fans something to talk about as we offer an unflinching look at the dark side of the entertainment industry."

"Nick is one of the very few American filmmakers that isn't afraid to lay it all on the line and make a confrontational film," said Bressack. "His dark and visceral style is unparalleled within the genre."

MUSE is a brutally honest and chilling story of a young actress (Mion), descending into homicidal madness. Both shocking and controversial, the film is told from her point of view, as we follow her dark odyssey through modern day Los Angeles.

MUSE is written and directed by Nick Palumbo, produced by Nick and David Palumbo and James Cullen Bressack through their Fright Flix banner.

For more information please visit: http://www.musethemovie.com/
Please join our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/musefilm

This sounds like it will be interesting; I'll definitely be keeping tabs on MUSE as the production ventures onward to completion and release.

Quickie Review: Sins of the Dragon (2012)

It's been a while since I've delved into the world of low-budget filmmaking, and I have to admit, a lot has changed over the years. I recall getting VHS tapes of shot-on-video horror films in the mail just over a decade ago. (Showing my age a bit.) Then the VHS tapes were replaced by DVDs (and DVD-Rs), and then Blu-ray discs, but now it seems digital streaming and downloading  is beginning to reign supreme. And it's just not the format that's changing; it's the quality of the productions too!

With film going digital and the equipment to make films being super affordable these days, the kids of yesteryear that shot homemade kung-fu flicks in their backyard with a bulky VHS camcorder, have been replaced with young aspiring filmmakers armed with handycams and digital editing equipment! It's a startling change and definitely one for the better in my opinion.

Which leads me to SINS OF THE DRAGON, a cool kung-fu throwback that pays homage to classic Shaw Bros. fare. Filmed entirely in the woods with a small cast, (much like Ryuhei Kitamura's breakout film VERSUS), SINS OF THE DRAGON is an obvious labor of love for editor/co-star/director/writer Joey Corpora, that often belies it's miniscule budget.

The film begins when the main villain Caligo (the half-hockey-masked swordsman in the film's poster) kills one of the "Four Dragons," aging martial arts masters that were blessed with supernatural powers. By killing them, Caligo gains their powers and becomes an even more potent assassin. However, Caligo's thirst for power has gained him a stalwart foe, namely young Cunri. (Who kind of resembles Ken from Capcom's Street Fighter games now that I think of it.) Cunri was a child when Caligo wiped out his village and murdered his family, causing the orphaned child to take up martial arts training in his quest for revenge.

Joining Cunri on his journey is his war-fan wielding pal Kaia, who is far less bloodthirsty, but more than capable of taking care of herself. Along the way they battle Caligo's numerous, yet mainly useless ninjas (i.e. cannon fodder), and an odd trio of idiotic comic-relief bandits that enjoy eating piss and beans. (Yeah, I'm still scratching my head over that one. Hahaha.) The film eventually boils down to a ninja massacre that leads  to the final showdown between Cunri and Caligo, where truths are revealed, old wounds are healed, and new ones are opened.

SINS OF THE DRAGON runs just under a half-hour, though I've got the feeling that it used to be a bit longer. (Note: According to Joey Corpora, the original cut was at roughly 53 minutes, but was edited down for film festival screenings.) Most of the story is quickly told through exposition (you never get to see Caligo attack Cunri's village or battle it out with two of the other "Four Dragons"), which means that most of the film is made up of kung-fu action! The bulk of the fight choreography in this flick is very well done, with the stars pulling off some crazy moves and stunts. Though there are a few moments where the actors hesitate a bit before delivering a blow, the majority of the fight choreography is fast-paced and almost seamless. (A lot of this is due in part to the editing, which is top notch.)

Kaia and Cunri are about to put a hurtin' on some ninjas!

There is a lot to like in SINS OF THE DRAGON, but there's one glaring thing that didn't quite work for me: The three bandits that capture Kaia. I understand that they are there to a.) provide some laughs and b.) provide a moment where Cunri and Kaia make amends after an argument, but they stall the movie as soon as they show up on the screen. I didn't find them particularly funny, and though they manage to capture Kaia,  I could see her easily escaping from them without Cunri's aid. Truthfully I think it would have made more sense for her to be captured by Caligo and his minions, which would have given our hero even more reason to seek out and destroy his arch-nemesis. Seeing as how the film was heavily trimmed for festival screenings (including scenes where Cunri crosses paths with Sozen), I'm kind of surprised that the halfwit bandits survived the cut; their presence is totally unnecessary.

Despite my misgivings about said characters, I have to say that this is a solid little action flick that rises above its meager budget. (At times it feels like you're watching a demo reel for some up and coming martial artists, but that is no way a bad thing. Just look at Tony Jaa in ONG-BAK; that movie kicks some serious ass but is essentially a glorified demo reel for the rising martial arts star.) SINS OF THE DRAGON runs at a brisk pace, showcases some awesome kung-fu action, and pays tribute to the Shaw Bros.' films of yore with awesomely cheesy sound effects and watery arterial spray! It's an impressive start for first-time director Joey Corpora, and I very much look forward to seeing what else he and his companions pull off in the future, especially if they scrape together a much larger budget.

I enjoyed SINS OF THE DRAGON and gladly give it:

THREE AND-A-HALF 'RADS'

For more info about SINS OF THE DRAGON, visit the Platypus Underground website, and check out the film's IMDB page! And while you're at it, give the trailer a look-see below!

Indie Film Roundup: 2 VHS docs, Wolf Cop, and Fist of Jesus!

I've recently discovered several new indie films that are in various stages of production (mostly by accident; God Bless the internet!), and I think you'll all be psyched about each one of them. We've got two VHS documentaries, and two horror-comedies that will have you waxing nostalgic and cheering for more gory hijinks! First up is a completed VHS documentary called REWIND THIS!


Featuring interviews with Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman, Full Moon's Charles Band, and various directors and VHS fans/collectors, REWIND THIS! takes a look at the rise and fall of the VHS tape, and its continued popularity despite being a "dead format." It looks quite interesting and just made its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival, which ends this weekend. No word on a DVD (or VHS?) release date yet, but to keep up on what's new with the film and to learn more about it, be sure to visit its official site at www.rewindthismovie.com!

But REWIND THIS! is not alone folks, for this is another, much smaller budgeted documentary in the works called ADJUST YOUR TRACKING, that takes another look at the world of the VHS tape, and the people that still collect them. Scroll down a bit for the bitchin' poster and the teaser trailer. CLICK HERE to visit the official site and learn more about this upcoming documentary!

This makes me pine for my old VCR! So cool!

Continuing on, its time to look at some new indie films that blend Horror, gore, and comedy together. First up is WOLF COP, the tale of a drunken cop named Lou Garou (HA!) who ends up becoming a drunken lycanthropic police officer! The filmmakers have created a hilariously awesome concept trailer and are currently battling it out with other indie hopefuls on CineCoup to earn a million bucks to make WOLF COP a reality. Check out the concept trailer below, then head over to the main website (www.wolfcop.com) to find out how you can help get this flick made!


Finally, I need to give some love to the most insane indie film project I've come across in a while. Imagine if Jesus Christ himself, while bringing Lazarus back to life, accidentally screwed up and created the first ever zombie plague on Earth. And hey, what if Jesus (and Judas) battled the undead hordes to save humanity?! That is the concept for FIST OF JESUS (a.k.a. ONCE UPON A TIME IN JERUSALEM).

A short film by collaborators/co-directors David Muñoz & Adrián Cardona is currently up on Youtube, and they are attempting to pull together funds to create a feature-length version. Check out the FIST OF JESUS short below (these gents are all from Spain, so keep that in mind when you are assailed by English subtitles), then head on over to the official site (www.fistofjesus.com) for production updates and to help donate to the completion of a movie that can only be described as "The Greatest Story Ever Told" meets "Dead-Alive!" Enjoy!


HAHAHAHA! Extra points for the random inclusion of ZOMBIE COWBOYS! This really looks awesome; I hope they pull together the funds to make the feature-length version.

Oh, and since we're currently on the topic of the epic tag-team of David Muñoz & Adrián Cardona, here is their short film BRUTAL RELAX, which features aquatic man-eating zombie creatures paying the price for ruining the relaxation attempts of a violently insane gentleman named Mr. Olivares. Needless to say... THIS. IS. AWESOME!

Now in pre-production: TALES OF DRACULA!

TALES OF DRACULA is a new independent film featuring three classic cinematic movie monsters: Dracula, The Wolfman, and Frankenstein's Monster! Intended to be a throwback to the classic monster movies created by Universal and Hammer Films, TALES OF DRACULA will deliver the typical genre elements, but brings a few new things to the table in regards to its mon-stars.

Originally intended to be a short film/pilot in the same vein as TALES OF FRANKENSTEIN, the original script, written by actor/producer/monster suit actor Joe DeMuro, has since been beefed up considerably by author/classic horror fan Dwight Kemper.

Along with special makeup f/x by the talented Ronald Chamberlain (who created the title monster in DEMON MESSENGER), this looks to be a good ole-fashioned monster romp made by classic horror fans, for classic horror fans. (And to answer your main questions, yes the film will be shot in black and white!)

Currently, the only thing missing from this winning combination is a complete cast. The producers are looking for a few good men (and women) to fill in some roles, particularly that of DRACULA. With that said, if you have any acting experience and live in Northeast, PA/The Southern Tier of NY, why not drop by the next casting call for TALES OF DRACULA? Full details for said casting call can be found below:

I've been following this film from its inception and I have to say that I have high hopes for it. The second draft of the script (which I just polished off) is fun and definitely has that old Universal feel, and there's a lot of talent behind the cameras on this project. Once the cast is nailed down, TALES OF DRACULA is set to go into production hopefully by the end of March. In the meantime, LIKE THE FILM'S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE to get updates and see behind the scenes photos!

TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS 2 - DVD ARTWORK, RELEASE DATE, & T-SHIRT!

Click to enlarge bloody cleavage.

I recently received a press release from James Cullen Bressack (director of MY PURE JOY and HATE CRIME) about his recent production of TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS 2, an indie horror anthology that boasts "Six Sick and Twisted Tales of Terror." It's coming out on DVD in a few months and should be a real treat for fans of ultra low-budget horror flicks!

Synopsis:
From Executive Producers James Cullen Bressack (My Pure Joy, HATE CRIME) and Jarret Cohen at Psykik Junky Pictures and directors Doug Waugh, Shawn C. Phillips, and Alex Powers, comes the second installment in the TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS ANTHOLOGY series starring Penthouse Pet Veronica Ricci (Bloody Mary 3D) Shawn C. Phillips (Don & Murph), James Cullen Bressack, Nick Clarck (Hate Crime) Joseph Frantz (CKY & VIVA LA BAM), and Miles Dougal (Detroit Rock City & Chillerama).

Sexy, sinful horror host Mona Screamalot (Penthouse Pet Veronica Ricci) and her crazy backwoods family invite you to take a seat on the couch as they serve up six sick short films from their secret stash of horror trash. Featuring the work of emerging genre directors, this is a bloody and brain-numbing buffet of the bizarre.

TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS 2 hits DVD on April 23rd, for the low low price of $9.99, and you can PRE-ORDER IT AT AMAZON.COM right now! Also available is a cool TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS 2 t-shirt courtesy of Fast Custom Shirts. It's $14.99 and can be purchased HERE.

For more info, updates, and some behind the scenes photos from the film, be sure to visit the OFFICIAL TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS 2 FACEBOOK PAGE!

To get a taste of what to expect, take a glimpse at the teaser trailer below:

First details and poster for James Cullen Bressack's TO JENNIFER.

That thar poster to the left (click on it for the full size) is for James Cullen Bressack's next film, TO JENNIFER. Bressack, as you may recall has previously directed MY PURE JOY and HATE CRIME (read my review HERE), and returns to the found footage sub-genre with his latest cinematic journey into madness.

Synopsis:
Joey suspects his girlfriend of two years, Jennifer, is cheating on him. He is so convinced that he enlists the help of his cousin Steven to create a Video Dairy of his attempt to catch her in the act as well as to document the heartbreak she is putting him through. He intends to give this tape to her after catching her, in an attempt to make her feel guilty.

Additional Info:
James Cullen Bressack makes a surprising return to the found footage sub-genre after his last film HATE CRIME, which was also a found footage film that met much critical acclaim and received many awards. He promises his new film, To Jennifer, will offer something different for the genre. This will be the first feature film in history to be Shot, Edited, and Distributed all on the Iphone 5.

Details at this point are scarce but Bressack promises the entire film will be available directly to your phone. "We are working in conjunction with some great companies to deliver the first film directly tailored to mobile devices." Bressack states. The film stars Chuck Pappas, Jody Barton (Hate Crime), James Cullen Bressack, among others and features a cameo from American Mary's Tristan Risk. The film is being produced by James Cullen Bressack, Chuck Pappas, and Jarret Cohen under the Psykik Junky Pictures umbrella.

I'm totally digging the poster; it's simplistic but so damned effective. And I have to admit that I'm curious to see the final product after it is shot, edited, and distributed via an IPhone 5. After seeing HATE CRIME, I have a feeling that this next Bressack film may be less controversial, but just as vicious. Bring it on man!

Two new reviews at the Vault: HATE CRIME & LADY OF THE DARK: GENESIS OF THE SERPENT VAMPIRE

HAPPY (early) VALENTINE'S DAY B-MOVIE FANS! As a gift to you (sort of) may I present two new capsule reviews at the Vault! First up is guest writer Kenny Barnwell's review for LADY OF THE DARK: GENESIS OF THE SERPENT VAMPIRE, a rather terrible-sounding artsy indie vampire flick, in which a women gets bitten by a vampiric snake, only to become  a man-hating bloodsucker herself.

Next up is my review for James Cullen Bressack's HATE CRIME, a found footage/home invasion flick that showed me that I am NOT the jaded Horror fan I thought I was. The film is brutal, disturbing, and a painstakingly created faux snuff film that is definitely not for the faint of heart!

Next up on the chopping block will be SOUL VENGEANCE, a 70's blaxsploitation flick where the main character uses his superhuman penis to avenge himself. It sounds like pure gold, but if what I heard is true, I'm about to suffer.... a lot.


Is it me, or does the narrator sound like a young Morgan Freeman?

I'm also working a retrospective article about my experiences at The Hudson Horror Show, a new INDIE FILMS YOU SHOULD BE STOKED FOR article, and of course, a smattering of new blog posts.

Stay tuned for more new content here at the Vault! And be sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

HATE CRIME synopsis, trailer, and posters.

HATE CRIME is a film that's flown under my radar up until I received a press release from its director, James Cullen Bressack. This home invasion/found footage flick has been making its rounds at festivals, and creating some waves. Apparently, it is so controversial that the film was nearly banned in the UK, and is currently having trouble finding distribution, so don't plan on seeing it just yet, unless it is scheduled at a film fest.

The Synopsis:
"A Jewish family, just arrived in a new neighborhood, are recording their youngest son's birthday celebrations on video when their home is suddenly invaded by a bunch of crystal-meth-crazed neo-nazi lunatics… "

More About the Film and Director:
"Fans have eagerly awaited release details on HATE CRIME, although there are still none yet we do have some posters for the film!

Attached are 5 official posters for the critically acclaimed AWARD WINNING found footage home invasion film HATE CRIME. This is the second feature film by 20 year old James Cullen Bressack, his first being the Amazon horror best seller MY PURE JOY which was released last year. Despite its name, Hate Crime is a labor of love from a dedicated group of people looking to make something different. Hate Crime is a violent, realistic portrayal of one of our worst nightmares, being attacked in our home. The movie has been extremely well received by over 80+ reviewers, including some of the biggest reviewers in the horror film community.

This film has fought a lot of controversy due to it's extreme content, almost being banned in the UK, being pulled off the screens at festivals before even showing, due to content and theatre management not willing to show the movie the festival booked, and has faced some trouble finding distribution since the shooting in CT.

We actually lost a distribution deal that was on the table due to that horrible tragedy. As Sinfullcelluloid.com put it: "...the film has won several awards and has a strong following. It has over 80 great reviews and no distribution. They even had an offer hold off the table the last minute." for the full article about HATE CRIME's shocking distribution woes please visit: SinfulCellulloid.com"

I'm personally not a huge fan of the found footage genre, and truthfully, I haven't seen many home invasion flicks, so this isn't something I'd actively seek out. Perhaps the trailer will change my mind?


The trailer mainly consists of ballyhoo... it doesn't offer up a solid reason for me to want to see the film. If anything, it is pretty much saying "WE DARE YOU TO SIT THROUGH THE FULL 73 MINUTES OF THIS MOVIE!" I've glanced around, and many of the reviews are positive (even the people who didn't like this movie have good things to say), so even though it doesn't seem like my cup of tea, if the opportunity presented itself, I'd give HATE CRIME a shot.

Finally, here are the posters that were just released for the film...

For more info about HATE CRIME visit the film's IMDB page, and be sure to like its Facebook page as well!

VOICES FROM THE GRAVE teaser trailer released!

I was nearly done emptying out my inbox of all the press releases, movie news, and other assorted fun stuff I get (e.g. offers for penile enhancement, breast enhancement, prescription drugs, porn, etc.), when I came across a press release concerning a new indie Horror anthology that is nearing completion, called VOICES FROM THE GRAVE.

Here's a quick synopsis:

"From master horror writer Gary Brandner, author of 'The Howling', and filmmakers Richard Stoudt and Laurence Holloway comes a relentlessly harrowing film experience. A trio of horrors that will make your flesh creep and your heart palpitate.

Deadly spirits, vengeful and maliciously spiteful give fuel to these tales of supernatural terrors. 'Invitation', based on a short story by Gary Brandner, tells the tale of loser Len Krager, who attends a party he'll never forget!

A vengeful spirit exacts revenge in the tale 'All Hallows' Eve'! An exercise in suspense and atmosphere. Robert Mundy doesn't celebrate Halloween since the accidental death of his brother on Halloween night. But this Halloween night, vengeance will rise and seek retribution.

Ghostly road hazards endanger a used car owner in the turbo-charged yarn 'Repossessed', a spine tingling 'vehicle' for absolute fright. Jeff purchases a killer car for a killer deal... unfortunately, the car really is a killer! A true exercise in style and terror, 'Voices from The Grave' will thrill and chill even the most jaded horror fan!"

It will thrill and chill even the most jaded horror fan?! That's some pretty big talk; I hope they can actually back that claim up! Let's take a gander at the newly released teaser trailer and see what "Voices from the Grave" has to offer.


Well, that was more of a highlight reel than a trailer, but I liked a lot of what I saw. Some of the effects work and camera angles/shots were pretty impressive! I'd definitely like to check this movie out, however at the moment, the film is still in production. It seems that principal photography and even the editing are pretty much done; all that's left is to finish work on the audio (foley and ADR) and put a soundtrack together!

I'll keep you all posted about a future DVD release date for "Voices." Until then you can visit the film's IMDB page for more info on the cast and crew, OR you can get further updates on the production by liking the Voices from the Grave Facebook Page!

This Spring, beware of THE SCREAM MACHINE!

I recently received a press release from filmmaker Walter Ruether about his new Horror anthology, entitled "Scream Machine." Taking a cue from last year's surprise hit "V/H/S," Ruether's "Scream Machine" features five tales of terror that exist on various video tapes that are popped into a cursed VCR!

Here's the synopsis of the film:

FIVE OF THE DEADLIEST TALES EVER TOLD ON AN OLD HAUNTED VCR CALLED SCREAM MACHINE. (**OFFICIAL SELECTION PHOENIX COMIC CON 2012!**)

A battered and mysterious VCR... A bevy of lethal videotapes... These are the building blocks of horror in "SCREAM MACHINE." A mind blowing descent into madness and death. Five shocking vignettes, designed to take your sanity and devour your soul! Mild curiosity leads to severe consequences when a couple rents a supposedly cursed video cassette recorder. An urban legend renowned for leaving a trail of agonizing and torturous death. Unbelieving, they take the plunge... And another legend is horrifyingly born.

Do you dare give fate a winning hand, and test yourself against the hellish consequences of the SCREAM MACHINE?

Insert Cassette Press Play...DIE!

USA PREMIERE MAY 2013 PHOENIX COMIC CON-USA DVD RELEASE WITH WORLDWIDE MULTI MEDIA... SPRING 2013!

For additional information on the cast and director, visit the Scream Machine IMDB page. To keep up to date on the movie and its eventual Spring release, be sure to like the Scream Machine Facebook page.

What's that? Your curiosity is still not sated and you want to see some pics and a trailer? Well ask and you shall receive:


For a production that only cost around ten grand, that's some pretty impressive makeup f/x and gore. But you know, I kind of wish that this movie had some more eye candy. Like, oh say.... a smoking hot redhead dressed in a nurse's outfit or something....

Yeah! That's exactly what I was talking about!

Hooray! It's as if Walter Ruether's read my mind and put this gal into the movie just for me. I can't wait to see how she figures into things! I'm sure things will totally go her way; what's the worst that can happen to an attractive woman in a nurse's outfit in a Horror film?

NOOOO! My hopes and dreams have been crushed!

Casting Call for TALES OF DRACULA!

Hear ye, hear ye! Audition for TALES OF DRACULA on July 21st!

My pal Joe DeMuro (co-producer and creature suit actor from The Demon Messenger) is currently putting together a really cool independent film called TALES OF DRACULA.

Mainly inspired by Universal's cadre of classic monsters, this hour-long homage will will feature Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, and a cameo appearance by a Wolfman! The script is ready to go, the sets are being built, and makeup f/x guru Ron Chamberlain (who studied under Dick Smith!) is on board to create the monsters.

All that's really left now is to pull together a cast! If you think you've got what it takes, there will be a casting call on Saturday, July 21st at the Comfort Inn, on Front Street in Binghamton, NY. Auditions begin at 8:30 AM and end at 1:00 PM! Along with eight extras, Joe is looking for six actors to make up the main cast of characters. Below is a list of roles that are currently up for grabs in this production:

Click to enlarge.

So be sure to mark July 21st on your calendars, and break a leg! (Not literally.) Once the cast is finalized "Tales of Dracula" will go into production soon after. Shooting is scheduled to begin in late August during weekends.

For more information about the film and/or the casting call, drop me a line at vault_master@bmoviefilmvault.com and I'll fill you in. If I am unable to answer your inquiries, I'll pass them on to Joe and he will touch base with you.

Good luck!

UPDATE: The production has added BRUCE GREIG to the team to do some matte paintings and backdrops for "Tales of Dracula." Bruce, a New Zealand native, does a lot of work for Hollywood productions, including: "King Kong," "The Lord of the Rings Trilogy," "10,000 B.C.," and most recently "The Hobbit!" How freakin' cool is that?! 

Create a Kaiju Contest + Go See Cabin in the Woods + new article at the Vault!

Not too long ago, I issues a statement at the Vault's Facebook page that I would do a big contest if I hit 1,000 likes. In almost no time at all, people clicked on enough "like" buttons to surpass that milestone. So now, it is up to me to deliver on that promise. Therefore, because I happened to be glancing at one of the numerous items in my Godzilla collection at the time, I am having a CREATE A KAIJU CONTEST at the Vault!

WIN ME!

Design your own original giant monster! Create it, name it, write up a quick story about its origins, strengths, powers, and weaknesses, and then send it to vault_master@bmoviefilmvault.com! You can draw your monster, paint it, use photoshop, build a costume and film it, use legos or clay, create it with computer animation, or whatever else you can come up with. The sky is the limit in regards to how you make your monster and present it to me. Creativity is key here!

The grand prize for creating the ultimate daikaiju? An awesome Godzilla prize pack featuring: Classic Media's "8" film GODZILLA COLLECTION on DVD, which contains Gojira, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Godzilla Raids Again, Mothra vs. Godzilla, Ghidrah: The Three-Headed Monster, Invasion of the Astro Monster, Godzilla's Revenge, and Terror of Mechagodzilla! Along with that, you'll get a cool Godzilla t-shirt (size of your choice), a bad-ass Bandai Godzilla figure, and I may even toss in a Godzilla comic book to sweeten the deal!

And if you don't win the big prize, don't fret too much as there will prizes for TWO runners-up, who will each walk away with their heads held high and a new Godzilla DVD in their hands! The contest is officially a go, so start sending in your entries ASAP! The deadline for entries is May 19th at midnight; winners will be picked and announced the following day!

Good luck fellow Godzilla fans, and may the best kaiju creator win! (Note: Also be sure to include your name, mailing address, and t-shirt size along with your entry.)

Alright, with that out of the way, I want all of you reading this to do me a huge favor: go see "Cabin in the Woods!" This is the coolest, freshest, and most interesting Horror film to come out in a very long time and it is getting its butt kicked in the box office. Despite the fact that hundreds of critics and horror fans have loved and praised it, "Cabin" has only managed to hit the number three spot in the box office top ten (a mere three-million less than "The 3 Stooges").

Therefore, since "The Hunger Games" is starting to wind down in popularity, and because NOTHING good is coming out this week, I beseech all of you cult, b-film, and horror movie fans to hit the theaters this week(end) and see "Cabin in the Woods." It's funny, it's cool, and if you go into it without spoilers, you will have a blast trying to figure out what the Hell is going on. It is a guaranteed good time at the movies!

If we all pull together and lift this movie up to number two, or even better, number one in the box office, studios will have no choice but to take notice and rethink their continued idiotic strategy of making watered-down PG-13 junk. I've already seen it twice and wouldn't mind a third go round; let's send Hollywood a message!

Finally, I've posted a new article here at the Vault featuring six incredible independent films that you should be completely stoked to see. It's a good, varied list featuring a new horror anthology that boasts 26 directors, a feature-length "mix-tape" full of fake cult movie trailers, a new hipster slasher flick, a comedic horror/LARPing/fantasy film, a Space-Nazi sci-fi epic, and a highly anticipated sequel to one of the greatest indie film franchises of all time. Ladies and gentleman, I present to you six more INDIE FILMS YOU SHOULD BE STOKED FOR (VOLUME III)!

That's it for today, but expect a few new reviews to pop up on the site very soon. And don't forget that I'm still giving away a few DVDs all this month  including a limited edition DVD of "Dead in Love" which is signed by the director and cast, plus both of the original "Hills Have Eyes" movies on DVD. Full details for winning those can be found in this blog post.

Win tickets to the premiere of THE DEMON MESSENGER + The winners of the MY BLOODY VALENTINE GIVEAWAY!

Hey all! Yeah I know... long time no post. I've been busy, and tired, and sick, and sick and tired of being sick and tired. But now I'm back to bring you good tidings. First, I would like to announce that I have TWO TICKETS to give away for the world premiere of THE DEMON MESSENGER, a new indie monster movie that was filmed in and around the Southern Tier of NY / Northeastern PA. I got to catch a sneak peek of it this past Saturday and I gotta say, few micro-budget films can boast a monster as impressive as the one featured in this movie.

The film debuts at the Art Mission Theater in Binghamton, NY on Friday, April 13th at 7:30 PM. Seating is limited so get there early and get your tickets... or save yourself the trouble and enter right now to win the aforementioned free pair of tix! Just send off a quick e-mail to vault_master@bmoviefilmvault.com with a short note about your favorite Bigfoot and/or demon movie, and you're entered. I'll choose a winner on April 6th and either mail you the tickets or give them to you in person at the film's premiere! (I'll leave that up to you!) For the full list of showtimes, check out the image below. (Click to enlarge.)

Ok, next order of duty is to salute the winners of my recent My Bloody Valentine Giveaway which ended this past Saturday. The grand prize, which consisted of a brand new super limited edition My Bloody Valentine t-shirt from Fright-Rags, an 11 x 14 photo still of Harry Warden, and both "My Bloody Valentine" movies was (the epically named) Jesse James Hennessy. He sent in a video he posted on Youtube that is just... plain... awesome. Here is his entry, entitled "Poetry is Torture:"



The first runner up was Mike MacConnell who turned in a cool drawing featuring two of his most beloved cinematic monsters. It wasn't technically a valentine to his favorite Horror characters, but a bit of love for Freddy and Frankenstein's Monster obviously went into this. Great job Mike; enjoy the "My Bloody Valentine" DVD! (Don't forget to watch it UNCUT!)

The second runner up was a man that seems to be able to win stuff from me on a frequent basis, and at this rate, he's going to need a bigger DVD rack. Chris Laycox (a.k.a. the enigmatic Chris L.) won me over with a well-written poem in honor of his favorite Horror film, and its resident monstrosity, Belial. Check it out:

What's in the basket? - By Chris L.
It's not Easter eggs or laundry,
nor tools or a severed head.
But if I knew what was in the basket,
I'd probably end up dead.
I really want to know,
there's some people who found out.
Doctor Liflander was first,
and his midsection was ripped out.
Harold Needleman got a visit,
he soon won't forget.
He tried to warn another,
but that night he paid his debt.
That poor little O'Donovan,
was greedy to say the least.
Went in to steal some money,
looked like he got killed by a beast.
A simple trip to the vet,
turned into a hellish place.
Veterinarian Doctor Kutter,
got 5 scalpels in her face.
I really want to know,
but I might end up in a casket.
Maybe I should stop asking... what's in the basket?

Great stuff Chris; your "My Bloody Valentine" DVD will be in the mail soon; hope your son enjoys it!

Well that's all I've got for now b-movie fans! Hurry up and enter to win those DEMON MESSENGER tickets, and prepare for more giveaways and (GASP!) new reviews! That's right, I have a new review for "The Demon Messenger" in the works (rough draft is nearly complete) plus I've gotten two new capsule reviews to post from the Vault's newest contributor, Kenny B. (Be sure to check out his other reviews over at Cinema Head Cheese!)

Stay tuned for more awesomeness, and don't forget to like the Vault on Facebook and follow me on Twitter!

Help indie film maker complete "CURSE OF THE PHANTOM SHADOW." Watch "KIDS GO TO THE WOODS... KIDS GET DEAD" free for a limited time!

I always do what I can for independent film makers who are either trying to promote their films, or find funding to complete their project. And speaking of which, I received an e-mail today from a one Mark Ross, who is currently working on a retro tribute to pulp heroes and classic serials called CURSE OF THE PHANTOM SHADOW. He has paid for most of the movie out of his own pocket, but he needs just a little more help to complete it. Mark is trying to raise $5,000 to finish his film and needs your help to get there.

Head on over to his Kickstarter page and pledge a dollar or more towards CURSE OF THE PHANTOM SHADOW. You'll need a credit card and you WON'T be charged unless he hits his goal. I know the economy is tough (believe me I know) but will donating a buck really put a dent in your bank account? Also, if you donate more ($25, $50, $100, etc.) you will get listed in the film's credits and get all sorts of cool goodies. I've said all I can, so let Mark and company try to convince you with some footage from their project:




I think it looks pretty damned cool and will gladly pledge some money towards it. And.... there. I pledged $25.00! Good luck Mark; hope you guys pull enough funds together!

Speaking of indie films, the folks behind KIDS GO TO THE WOODS... KIDS GET DEAD are showing their film for free over at their official website (for a limited time). CLICK HERE to watch this shot-on-digital-video Horror flick. If you like what you see, you can buy the DVD (with a bunch of extra features) for $8.99, or download it to keep for $3.99. CLICK HERE to purchase the film and support independent cinema!

Stay tuned for some actual new content at the Vault, and get ready because Halloween is now less than two weeks away! Blog ya later b-movie fans!

First blog post of 2011 + Updates galore!

Greetings all and welcome (belatedly) to the Year 2011! After months of taking a break from doing work on the Vault, I am back with a vengeance! First off, here is what's new:

• Though it never really took off, I've decided to continue to maintain the IT CAME FROM THE VAULT FORUM; I cleared out a bunch of old posts (and spam), and deleted (or combined) many of the boards and categories. Hopefully this makes the discussion boards a little more appealing, and maybe, just maybe they'll finally see some use. If you've been a frequent reader of the Vault and haven't joined the forums, please do so!
  
  
• I've added a new appendage to the B-Movie Film Vault called THE CASUAL GAMING BLOG. Along with fellow b-movie scribe Derek Miller (from BadMovieRealm.com), we have been posting gaming news, reviews, and articles since early December. Head on over and check it out won't you?
  
  
• The B-MOVIE FILM VAULT GENRE WATCH is back! CLICK HERE to read the latest blog post and keep up to date on all the cult-oriented films hitting store shelves, online retailers, and movie theaters! (Note: Nothing worthwhile in theaters this week; "Ernest Triple Feature," "Hey Vern, It's Ernest! - The Complete Series," and two new Roger Corman Cult Classics releases from Shout! Factory are the DVD highlights this week!)
  
  

• Two new reviews are up on the site. First up is a guest review from Holly "Hobgoblin" Tingey for BURIAL GROUND: THE NIGHTS OF TERROR! The second review is from yours truly and revels in the absurdity of Drew Bolduc and Dan Nelson's "bodily fluid-drenched indie masterpiece," THE TAINT.
  
  

• I'd like to take a moment to welcome another site into the growing B-Movie Film Vault Empire, namely RADIATION-SCARRED REVIEWS. This site is the brainchild of Bill Adcock, and is chock full of extremely well-written reviews for cult films. I am proud to be hosting this quality website and hope to conquer more of the web with Bill's help as the years tick by. If you haven't visited R-SR.com yet, then head over now to increase your knowledge of b-cinema!

My only problem at the moment is wondering... what the heck do I do with this here blog? At this stage in the game, I don't really need it to help promote new updates or share news (the forums and the Vault's OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE have that pretty much taken care of), and I prefer to host future articles on my own site so.... what ever will I do with this little chunk of the internet that I have staked a claim on? I have thought about deleting this blog, but that seems like such a waste. I guess it'll just sit here and collect dust until I can find some use for it. (Any suggestions would be more than welcome.)


That's everything for now b-movie fans; here's to a prosperous and eventful 2011!

New Capsule Review: Closed for the Season (2009)

For those of you that frequent the site (and blog), you may recall that I have just recently attended Monster Mania Con XIV and saw the world premiere of Jay Woelful's "Closed for the Season." I didn't go into too much detail about the film on my MM XIV blog posts, (with so much going on, I didn't really have the time) so I decided to take it upon myself to review the rough cut of the movie. "Closed for the Season" is a very surreal horror film and constantly messes with the expectations (and minds) of those who watch it. Keep an eye out for this cinematic oddity as it will be hitting DVD later this year.

Stay tuned for more review action as I attempt to put a dent in this stack of review screeners that has been building up on my desk!

New Capsule Review: The Wildman of Kentucky - The Mystery of Panther Rock (2008)

The first new review of the New Year is here, and it's for an amateurish documentary about the existence of Bigfoot and other natural phenomena in the Frazier Land of Kentucky. Check out my capsule review for The Wildman of Kentucky: The Mystery of Panther Rock!

Amidst the footage of the "Reality Team" traipsing about the spooky woods of the Frazier Lands at night and interviews with Bigfoot witnesses, we also get totally out-of-place hard rock music by "Freakhouse," and odd CGI "recreations" of Bigfoot appearances. However, the strangest thing in the entire two-hour running time is probably the CGI Indian dancing for Bigfoot amidst a sea of flames! (No I'm not kidding.)

I have about another five documentaries from Reality Entertainment to check out ranging from Sherlock Holmes, to Vikings, to Alice in Wonderland that I have yet to check out, but they are going to be on the backburner for a bit longer because I have a roundtable review (WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS!) to tackle, along with Robot Monster 3D which was chosen well over a month ago by readers in the last "Torture the Vault Master" poll.

Stay tuned for more b-movie goodness; blog ya later!

New Capsule Review: The Wild Man of the Navidad (2008)!

A mysterious creature terrorizes a rural Texan community in The Wild Man of the Navidad . This bastard child of The Legend of Boggy Creek and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is based on the (supposedly) true events as chronicled by a man named Dale S. Rogers, and was not nearly as entertaining as I had been led to believe by fellow online reviewers.



More new content is on the way including more reviews, a new podcast, and (hopefully) a holiday-themed top-ten list, so check back soon b-movie fans!

New capsule review for Gris Grimly's "Cannibal Flesh Riot!" (2007)

I make my triumphant return to reviewing films with a fresh (and rather lengthy) capsule review for Gris Grimly's "Cannibal Flesh Riot!" This half-hour short film revolves around two grave-robbing ghouls who end up biting off more than they can chew when their latest "dinner plans" go awry. Check out the trailer for "CFR!" below:



I hate to even promise this but... expect a lot more updates at the Vault and SOON. A large group of us b-movie webmasters are holding a roundtable next weekend with a focus on movies based on video games. Since I'm a glutton for punishment (and since anything else I would have picked was already taken), I decided to review the horrible big screen adaption of the classic "Double Dragon" video game, which stars Robert Patrick, Mark Dacascos, Scott Wolf, and Alyssa Milano.

After that's out of the way, I have a trio of screeners that I plan on reviewing, and after they are taken care of, the sky is the limit! I'm hoping to get a good number of reviews posted this month, whilst keeping the BMFV Genre Watch updated weekly, and I even hope to get a new podcast recorded and uploaded for your listening pleasure.

So stay tuned for lots of new stuff b-movie fans! Blog ya later!