Joe Estevez news: Bunyan trailer + New Joe Estevez book coming next week!

Joe Estevez, best known by most as the titular villain in SOULTAKER (which is best known for its debut on Mystery Science Theater 3000 - watch the full episode HERE), has had an insanely prolific career in film and TV. And thank the b-movie gods, he is still going strong. In 2012 alone, Joe has over a dozen screen credits in various low-budget features, including... what?! No freakin' way?! Looks like Joe has teamed up with Dan "Grizzly Adams" Haggerty in the direct-to-DVD(?) horror outing, BUNYAN! Troubled teens are taken out on a camping trip, only to run afoul of the axe-wielding giant of American folklore and legend. (No word on whether or not Babe the blue ox will be appearing in this.)

It looks fun (and a bit hokey) and the effects are topnotch, which makes sense because the film is directed by Gary Jones, who has done special effects and makeup in various films including "Mosquito" and "Army of Darkness." Check out the trailer and get excited! "Bunyan" will chop its way into our collective hearts sometime in 2013!


Even cooler than this, is the new book that is coming out on May 31st ($14.95 on Amazon.com if you pre-order it) called JOE ESTEVEZ: WIPING OFF THE "SHEEN." This short read (it is only 146 pages long) contains Joe's thoughts on MST3K, some fun anecdotes, and a glimpse into the world of independent cinema. The book also contains an introduction by Dr. Scott Shaw (aka the Director of "Toad Warrior!"), forewords by the authors (Chris Watson and Brad Paulson), and a short story written by "the man" himself, Joe Estevez. Again the book will be hitting retailers next week on May 31st and... hey... what's this on the back cover?!

Wait a minute..... MY name is Jordan Garren.....

Imagine my surprise when I was chatting it up with author Chris Watson online tonight and he notified me that I was quoted on the back of this book. I didn't believe him at first, so I went to Amazon and zoomed in on the back cover. My mind was blown; I had to share it with the world! And speaking of sharing, I have pre-ordered this book and should have it in my hands next Saturday. Expect a review for it as soon as I finish reading it!


That's all for now folks, but stay tuned for I'm gearing up to get some writing (and recording) done! Expect new content on the Vault this weekend!

Charitable auctions for victims of "Camp Blood" have commenced!

Roughly a year ago, a gent named John Gray told the world that he was having the ultimate Friday the 13th convention with EVERYONE from EVERY MOVIE in attendance. Long story short, Mr. Gray took a lot of money, from a lot of people, and the highly anticipated "Camp Blood" con never happened. Some conventions accepted the "Camp Blood" tickets, but most folks were just plain ripped off and never received a refund. Needless to say... it was a bad situation. Here's a news report about the whole debacle:

Fast forward to today and there's now an attempt to recoup some money to help pay back some of John Gray's victims. Various sources (including yours truly) have chipped in DVDs, collectibles, and a slew of autographed items for bidding. All the money gathered from these charitable auctions will go towards reimbursing the useless tickets that so many people had purchased for the Camp Blood convention that never was. CLICK HERE to see what's up for grabs and be sure to either share the link or start the bidding! Thanks in advance fellow Horror and b-movie fans! Also a huge thank you to Fright-Rags' very own Kristy Jett for pulling these auctions together. I think this very well could put her in the running for sainthood. :-D

Create a Kaiju contest ends next week! ENTER NOW!

Hey all, the CREATE A KAIJU CONTEST is still going on. Once again, to enter all you need do is create your own giant monster. Design it, name it, come up with its strengths and weaknesses, then send it in to me to win some fabulous GODZILLA PRIZES.... prizes..... prizes..... prizes....

Up for grabs is nearly $100.00 worth of Godzilla goodness including: Classic Media's Godzilla Collection, which includes: Gojira/Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Godzilla Raids Again, Mothra vs. Godzilla, Invasion of the Astro Monsters, Ghidrah: The Three-Headed Monster, Godzilla's Revenge, and Terror of Mechagodzilla. Each disc has two versions of each film and cool extras! Also included in the prize pack are a t-shirt of your choice (send in your shirt size with your entry), a cool Godzilla action figure, and a trade paperback of IDW's amazing mini-series, GODZILLA: GANGSTERS AND GOLIATHS!

As for the creation of you monster, it must be an original concept you came up with and you can bring it to life in any way possible. Draw it, paint it, animate it, use legos, modeling clay, or even design a costume. I've extended the contest until the end of the month, and thus far I only have TWO ENTRIES. So if you like to wait until the last minute, now is the time folks! Don't be shy and certainly don't think you won't have a chance to win! Some folks may be better artists than others, but it will be sheer creativity that wins the day here.

The CREATE A KAIJU CONTEST ends on Wednesday, May 30th at midnight (EST) and the winner(s) will be announced the following day! So get to work fellow monster movie fans; show me what you can come up with and do it fast, because May 30th will be here before you know it! E-mail your entry (or a link to your entry) to vault_master@bmoviefilmvault.com and cross your fingers! There's no age limit here, kids and adults are all welcome to enter, and I WILL ship internationally!

Note: I know coming up with an original creature is tough so... here's a bit of help. Supposedly, (this is more urban legend than fact) Gojira (Godzilla's ahm... birth name haha) is not only the result of slapping the Japanese words for Gorilla and Whale together, but was also the nickname for an obese stagehand on the Toho lot. This has been "myth busted" in recent years, but my point is, if you're stuck trying to come up with a creature, slap two different animals together OR use a person (preferably someone you don't like I guess? Hahaha) to serve as the base for your giant monster. Not get going and WOW ME with your awesome creature creations!

GO GO GODZILLA FANS!

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.

New capsule reviews at The Vault: el monstro del mar and The Demon Messenger!

Finally, there's fresh new content at the Vault! There's now two, count 'em TWO, new capsule reviews in the Vault archives for your reading pleasure. The first is from our new contributor Kenny Barnwell, for the indie creature feature EL MONSTRO DEL MAR. Shot in Australia, this ode to the films of Russ Meyer and Roger Corman features a trio of "murderous vixens" who end up battling against a tentacled terror from the deep!

Next up is THE DEMON MESSENGER, a locally shot monster movie featuring hippies and societal commentary about hydro-fracking. And it has people driving and talking... and walking and talking in the woods. OH YEAH! I almost forgot, it also has a totally bad-ass monster that belies the film's small budget! The film is premiering at the Art Mission Theater in Binghamton, NY next Friday (the 13th)! If you want to see it, click here for details on how to win two tickets! Hurry because the Friday the 13th is fast approaching!

More new content and contests coming up as the weeks continue so stay tuned b-movie fans!

More contests and giveaways at the Vault + Salt City Horror Fest!

Ok, before I get into the good stuff, I'd like to announce the first recipients of the dubious honor of "winning" March's "HORROR MOVIE EMP-TY HANDED" giveaway. Out of the (thus far) thirteen people who have sent me their invoices, the following two will be getting a Blue Underground Blu-ray in the mail. :: draws name from favorite NY Giants coffee mug :: Our first "winner" is... MICHAEL HADDOCK! You didn't seem to be too picky Mike, so out of the films on your invoice I selected Fulci's ZOMBIE! Enjoy!

The second "winner" for my HME-inspired giveaway is... :: draws another name from the NY Giants mug of destiny :: JEREMY SLATE! Jeremy, much like myself at the moment, is out of money and movies, as he missed the 45-day PayPal dispute window. Well Jeremy, hope you enjoy the new copy of NIGHT TRAIN MURDERS that I'm sending your way bud!

That's it for March; next month I'll be getting some more Blue Underground Blu-rays out to other random "contestants" in this giveaway. If you haven't gotten me your unfulfilled invoice, you have until April 6th to do so. After that, each month I'll randomly cycle through the names on my list, until each person gets a Blu-ray in their hands. That's right; there are no losers in this competition folks. The only downside is that some people will have to wait longer than others.

Moving on then..... here are two contests for everyone to jump in on during the month of April. But don't expect me to just GIVE this stuff away; you've gotta do a little work to earn your prize!

The first item up for grabs is a DVD of "DEAD IN LOVE," an indie love story involving two ghosts. From the back of the box: "Two friends, who happen to be ghosts, go in search of a girl they liked in high school. When one of them gets the chance to be with her, he has to do it in the body of an awkward nerd. Their lives will change forever in this heartfelt low budget comedy."

I've heard great things about this film, and would love to keep it for myself... especially since it is signed by Writer/Director Chris Watson and the cast! Want to win this signed, limited edition (#37 of 100) DVD? Well here's how!

Send an e-mail to vault_master@bmoviefilmvault.com with DEAD IN LOVE DVD in the subject line. In the body of the e-mail, include your full mailing address, and in a few lines (or paragraphs if you're into sending long-winded e-mails) tell me what you would do if you were a ghost. Would you seek out your long-lost love? Play pranks on people? Do some hardcore haunting? Be a total pervert? Tell me; and have fun with it! The person with the funniest and/or most imaginative entry gets this DVD! Contest will end on April 29th; winner will be announced on the 30th!

For those of you who do NOT want a mushy supernatural romantic comedy, I present to you an alternative: You can win BOTH of the original "The Hills Have Eyes" movies on DVD! Both discs are in mint condition (Part 2 has never been watched) and they can be all yours!

To win these two movies, drop me an e-mail at vault_master@bmoviefilmvault.com with HILLS HAVE EYES DVDS in the subject line. Include your name and mailing address (natch) and, since the films both star Michael Berryman, tell me about your favorite Michael Berryman role/scene/moment from any of the films he has starred in. Personally, I totally dig the guy in the first live-action "Guyver" film as Lisker. He goes from goofy to menacing in mere seconds and the practical effects in that movie rock my world! Now that you know what you must do, get your entries in by April 29th; I'll randomly choose a winner on the 30th!

Also, I'm still giving away two tickets to see THE DEMON MESSENGER on Friday, April 13th. It will be premiering at the Art Mission Theater in Binghamton, NY at 7:30 PM, and the cast, crew, and monster-suit maker Ron Chamberlain will all be attending as well. As stated in my previous post, all you've gotta do to win these tickets is e-mail me (vault_master@bmoviefilmvault.com) with a quick note about your fave Bigfoot and/or demon movie! It's quick, simple, and you've only got until April 6th to get your paws on these tickets! Hit me up ASAP before you miss out on this unique opportunity!

Finally, before I call it a night, I just want to do a quick shout out about the upcoming SALT CITY HORROR FEST! I heard about this show when I attended The Hudson Horror Show in Poughkeepsie, NY last December, and I am ready to rock n' roll! The event takes place at the Palace Theater on Saturday, April 14th and kicks off around noon! There will be food, beer (for the 21-and-over crowd), vendors, and an amazing lineup of EIGHT Horror films including:

The Bride of Frankenstein
Creature from the Black Lagoon (in 3-D!)
Tremors
Troll Hunter
Popcorn
Army of Darkness
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
Last House on Dead End Street

All films will be featured in glorious 35mm, with Tremors and Last House... boasting remastered prints! I'm getting giddy just thinking about it! Tickets are currently on sale for $15.00, so pre-order now (CLICK HERE for info) to reserve your seat and 3-D glasses!

Also, for anyone in the area on that weekend, Horror Movie Empire will be vending at this film festival and will be giving out refunds to anyone who has an invoice for items they have not yet received. Don't come down and try to pound the guy into dust, but do show up if you want your cash or movies that he owes you. Then when you get that unpleasant business out of the way, you can chill out with fellow Horror fans and watch eight awesome flicks with a cold beer in your hand! I'll be attending (as will Bill from Radiation-Scarred Reviews) so maybe I'll see you there!

That's all the news that's fit to print at the moment, but stay tuned for new reviews (like the one posted on the site yesterday for EL MONSTRO DEL MAR), b-movie news, and more as we MARCH into APRIL! (Zing!)

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!