Greetings, all. Ambush Bug here with another AICN HORROR: ZOMBIES & SHARKS column. We’ve got the first of a seven part dissection of the new A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET BluRay, an influential sci fi gem, a twisted import, two descents into madness, and a pair of killer Easter Bunny films just in time for the holiday! But before we check out those…there’s this!
Talented artist Daniel Crosier and good friend of AICN HORROR has a Kickstarter campaign for his comic SHOW DEVILS which stars real life unique and freaky people The Enigma and Serana Rose in comic book adventures. It’s definitely one of those projects worth checking out, so support Daniel here on his Kickstarter page so that more people can check out SHOW DEVILS! Check out the trailer below!

Readers of this column know I love all things Bigfoot, so of course, if a Kickstarter campaign is started for a new Bigfoot film, I’ve got to pass the word on to all of you. This one is a horror comedy called STOMPING GROUND. Here’s the official synopsis: STOMPING GROUND can best be described as a “scary relationship comedy about love and Bigfoot hunting.” It tells the story of Ben and Annie, a couple living in Chicago, on a weekend trip to Annie's small North Carolina hometown. At the local bar they run into Paul, an old friend of Annie's, and Ben learns something he never knew about his girlfriend: She believes in Bigfoot. In fact, she and her friends used to "hunt" for the creature when they were kids. Before Ben knows it, he's off on an impromptu Squatchin' trip deep in the Carolina backwoods. Amidst the Squatch calls, campfire stories and beers, Ben quickly realizes that Paul may have an ulterior motive in bringing Annie to the woods. And something else out here seems to be after her as well. Everyone but Ben thinks its Bigfoot. But it can't be, can it? After all, Bigfoot isn't real... Directed by Dan Riesser, STOMPING GROUND can be supported by clicking on this Kickstarter page! And check out the promo video here.
Another cool flick on the horizon is MK OUTLIER, which leans more towards sci fi, but still looks damn cool. Find out more about this really cool looking Australian flick here and look for more on this cool film here on AICN HORROR as the release date closes in!
On with the horror reviews!
(Click title to go directly to the feature)
Book Review: THE VAMPIRE COMBAT MANUAL (2012)
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET COLLECTION Retro-review Part 1: A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)
Retro-Review: FUTUREWORLD (1976)
ANIMUS (2012)
DEAD IN FRANCE (2012)
BAD MEAT (2011)
PETER ROTTENTAIL (2004)
EASTER CASKET (2012)
And finally…Nick Gillespie’s THE FINAL BOY

THE VAMPIRE COMBAT MANUAL (2012)
Writer: Roger MaFind out more about this film here
Reviewer: by Ambush Bug
If it ain’t zombies that’s going to take over the world, it’s vampires. Roger Ma knows this and you will too after you read THE VAMPIRE COMBAT MANUAL, the newest book in Ma’s fantastic series of books serving as a helpful how to survive guide should the world come to an end by infestation of supernatural creatures. Just as Ma did with zombies in THE ZOMBIE COMBAT MANUAL, he provides more than enough information for anyone to keep kicking despite the fact that the rest of the world hasn’t.

My favorite chapters are in the beginning as Ma debunks misconceptions of vampirism basing them on popular cultures’ (mostly movies) depiction of vamps. Accuracy depends on how cool the movie is, of course. Vamps don’t sparkle. But I do especially love the chapter called “Vampires Love Being Undead.”

The thing about THE VAMPIRE COMBAT MANUAL that makes it most fun to read is that by following a lot of the techniques given in this book, you learn quite a bit about self help, physical and mental preparation, and self defense. The book is a serious tool in making one able to defend themselves and while it takes it to an absurd level in terms of what all this preparation could be used upon, I could see one following the rules laid out in this book and coming out a much more confident, healthier, and stronger person.
So whether you’re afraid of running into Vlad Tepes himself or just wanting to protect yourself from TWILIGHT fans in line at the theater to see THE HOST this weekend, you would do yourself some good to bone up on the techniques Ma lays out in THE VAMPIRE COMBAT MANUAL.


A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET COLLECTION: A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)
Directed by Wes CravenWritten by Wes Craven
Starring Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp, Robert Englund, John Saxon, Amanda Wyss, Jsu Garcia, Ronee Blakley, Charles Fleischer, Lin Shaye
Find this film on Netflix here! Retro-reviewed by Ambush Bug
It’s always difficult to review the classics. It’s not that there’s nothing to say about them, it’s just that there’s been so much said about them that I feel I’m not saying anything new about it. I guess what I can do is talk about the first time I saw A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET and see where that trip back down memory lane takes me.

Immediately, we were bombarded with the opening sequence which told us all we needed to know as a grumbling and heavy breathing man in the shadows constructs a heinous clawed glove in a filthy workshop near a furnace. While there was no dialog, this montage of construction and moans set the tone that this was the beginning of something special.

Though a lot of the acting in this film is pretty awful (even the then-unknown Johnny Depp comes off as pretty cardboard), the performances were pretty memorable. But we look past that because Robert Englund’s nightmare boogey man is so damn good here and the dream sequences are the stuff of the darkest recesses of our imaginations. While later outings got bigger and more effects driven, Craven relied on (most likely due to budget) subtle horrors such as a bloody body bag with a moaning person in it, stretched out arms that extend past that of a normal human’s should, sliced off fingers, and a phone with a tongue that immediately became iconic.

I don’t plan on explaining the first time I saw every movie in this newly released BluRay collection as I focus on one installment of the series after another over the next few weeks, but maybe this trip to yesteryear will prompt others to share the first time they saw A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. It was definitely a memorable experience for me and my brother on our feet cheering Nancy on as she battled Freddy in the closing moments. This BluRay is basically a rerelease of the Best Buy version, but still, rewatching this I was amazed at how clean and clear this transfer is. Next week we delve into the first sequel, FREDDY’s REVENGE. See you then.

FUTUREWORLD (1976)
Directed by Richard T. HeffronWritten by Mayo Simon, George Schenck
Starring Peter Fonda, Blythe Danner, Arthur Hill, Yul Brynner, John P. Ryan, Stuart Margolin
Retro-reviewed by Ambush Bug
Though I haven’t seen WESTWORLD in quite a long time and can’t speak for it, I was amazed at how many sci fi concepts were used in this sequel to the robot hit from 1972. Shades of JURASSIC PARK, TERMINATOR, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS and more rear their head in this film about a pair of journalists asked to come and report on the newly reopened Futureworld Amusement Park, where you are immersed into a past or future society. Of course, things go horribly, horribly wrong.

The film cheats a bit by indicating that Yul Brynner reprises his role as the robot gunman from WESTWORLD. He appears in a dream sequence which shows how freaky Danner’s character is as she imagines dancing and getting it on with the robot killer. Brynner appears for about two minutes here and his appearance doesn’t really add much to the plot.

All in all, FUTUREWORLD is a worthy follow-up to WESTWORLD, and most likely served as inspiration to some of your favorite sci fi films.

ANIMUS (2012)
Directed by Quin DavisWritten by Quin Davis
Starring John Bernath, Megan Davis, Caitlin Singer, J.A. Cuffs Bratten, Brandon Lee Pittman, Tiffany Ann B., Trinidad Amaya, Joan Schumacher, Gregory Sweet
Find out more about this film here!
Reviewed by Ambush Bug
Though I’m getting a bit tired of the number of films I’ve seen following a band of ghost hunters in an abandoned hospital, ANIMUS proves that it still can be a pretty effective hook to hang a movie on. Though those who like to delve deep in theme and symbolism might say the inundation of abandoned building flicks might suggest a common theme of the turmoil of our current health care situation, I think it’s more accurate to point out that filming these types of films are cheap and in today’s sad times, you can’t throw a dirty syringe without hitting an abandoned hospital. Grab a camera and a few actors, and BAM! MOVIE!

What makes this film stand out is the brutal nature of the psycho killer himself. It takes a while for him to make his move, but once the leprous man-monster starts pummeling, it actually is quite scary. The actor in the full body makeup is pretty heinous, and I hesitate to say that because this guy either looks like that or the makeup is that good. Either way, when he starts barreling through the hallways ripping these investigators to pieces, it’s a sight to be seen.

So while you might be very familiar with the premise of ANIMUS, it does what it does in an entertaining and pretty horrific manner. You aren’t going to find brand new themes here, but the film is of a better quality than most in this genre, which goes for the cheap in more instances than just location.

BAD MEAT (2011)
Directed by Lulu JarmenWritten by Paul Gerstenberger
Starring Dave Franco, Elisabeth Harnois, Mark Pellegrino, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tahj Mowry, Monique Ganderton, Joe Dinicol, Aaron Berg, Marcus Shultz, Samantha Hill, Aaron Merke
Reviewed by Ambush Bug
With a title like BAD MEAT, you know you’re in for a pretty gross time, but I don’t think I was prepared for what happened when I pressed play on this filthy little gem. Now, there are some films that make a ton of sense from start to finish. I like and respect those. Most of the time, I like to know where I’m going in a story and what to expect and following the well-tread path is commendable. Then there are films like BAD MEAT which seemingly have no real destination planned, and just throw one bugnuts concept at you after another and like EVIL DEAD II, MOTEL HELL, and others in that ilk, there’s a place for that in the annals of good horror as well.

The results are pretty amazing, as the perverse counselors vomit their guts out only to rise mindless and hungry for kid brains. While up to the food poisoning scene, there was enough perverse sex, Nazi fetishism, voyeurism, and just plain torture and abuse for any old movie; adding the mindless vomiting cannibal angle takes it to a whole new level of gruesome. Still in fetish sex gear, two counselors barrel through the hallways after the clueless kids, while the kids have to deal with the fact that the they themselves are fucked up too as one likes to set fires, another is claustrophobic, and another likes to operate and take apart living and dead things.

The film is bookended by a nonsensical piece of a person wrapped from head to toe in bandages. Though we don’t know who it is under there, we are given hints and the film seems to want to tell us who it is, but the ending comes rather abruptly and you never do find out, which will prove for some exasperated “Whatthefuck”s during the closing credits. Still, for the level of craziness and energy that oozes and spews from every scene, I have to give it up to this grossout bit of madness. I don’t know if this is supposed to be intentionally bad or is just bad, but BAD MEAT is the right side of crazy for me to get behind it.

DEAD IN FRANCE (2012)
Directed by Kris McManusWritten by Brian A. Levine, Kris McManus
Starring Celia Muir, Darren Bransford, Lee Cheney, Kate Loustau, Brian A. Levine, James Privett, Richard Raynesford, Tom Geoffrey
Find out more about this film here and on Facebook here
Reviewed by Ambush Bug
Because this is an English film set in Europe, I think the first comparison one would adhere to DEAD IN FRANCE would be that of Guy Richie’s work, but while there is a lot of hitmanning and gun play in this little pretzeline gun heist flick, in terms of gore and humor, I’d say it has more akin to Peter Jackson’s BAD TASTE and DEAD ALIVE. Still, whether you choose to compare DEAD IN FRANCE with gangster films or horror, it fits in with either of them well and turns out to be a hidden treasure if you go in with an open mind and no expectations.

Full of gory scenes of gunplay and some hilarious scenes of bumbled crime, DEAD IN FRANCE is definitely going to please fans of LOCK, STOCK, & TWO SMOKING BARRELS, SNATCH, and SEXY BEAST, but the amount of red stuff spilt in this film and the comedic way it is spilled will remind you more of the slapstick manner by which SHOOT EM UP and DRIVE ANGRY handled their humor and gore. Either way, fans of crime and gore are going to eat this one up.

With a cast full of folks with great comedic timing and some fantastic slap-stickery going on throughout, this may lean more towards the gangster genre and will please any die hard guns and gangs fan. But what makes this film comfortable in this column set to the horror vibe is the sheer amount of blood and gore shed in DEAD IN FRANCE. Trust me, it’s not your typical film, but it’s a good one and well worth checking out.

PETER ROTTENTAIL (2004)
Directed by John Polonia, Mark PoloniaWritten by John Oak Dalton, John Polonia
Starring Brice Kennedy, Dave Fife, John Polonia as Peter Rottentail!
Reviewed by Ambush Bug
When I happened upon this disk gathering dust at a Horror Convention I went to last fall, I asked the dealer “How bad is this?”, to which he replied “pretty bad”, to which I replied “SOLD!”, knowing I needed something bunny-related for this year’s Easter AICN HORROR column. So it sat and sat and sat on my “To View” pile, and I almost forgot about it as Easter snuck up on us this year. But watch PETER ROTTENTAIL I did, and I survived the experience.

With PETER ROTTENTAIL, the torture comes in pretty amateur filmmaking, bad acting, and an uninspired killer. A failed magician makes a deal with a HELLRAISER-like bum with mystical powers to pull off the best magic act ever, resulting in him going nuts at a kid’s party consisting of two kids and a parent. Years later, those kids are all grown up and still haunted by the murderous magician.

If you are really desperate for some Easter mayhem, you might find a laugh or two from PETER ROTTENTAIL, but this low budgeter isn’t going to please many.

EASTER CASKET (2013)
Directed by Dustin MillsWritten by Dustin Mills
Starring Josh Eal, Erin R. Ryan, Brandon Salkil, Allison Fitzgerald
Find out more about this film here and on Facebook here
Reviewed by Ambush Bug
One thing you can always count on in a Dustin Mills film is that you’re going to see a lot of boobs. There’ll be a fucked up FEEBLES-like puppet or two. And the level of insanity is usually cranked to 14. Churning out films faster than I can watch them, Mills already has an impressive lineup of grossout comedy horror films under his belt with ZOMBIE A-HOLE (reviewed here), THE PUPPET MONSTER MASSACRE (reviewed here), NIGHT OF THE TENTACLES (reviewed here), and most recently, and my most favorite BATH SALT ZOMBIES (reviewed here). Mills is at it again, this time taking on modern religion with EASTER CASKET, a film that drops this week just in time to watch after you find that last Easter egg in the back yard.

Mills continues his own special brand of lunacy, casting a hand puppet as the Easter Bunny, Peter Cottontail. But this time, Cottontail has an agenda to combat the Catholic Church who decides that the pagan rituals of coloring and hiding eggs, giving Easter Baskets, and adoring a magical bunny should be abolished in favor of focusing on the death and rebirth of Christ. Cottontail ain’t having it and strikes out on a holy Jihad, wiping out nuns and priests in sacrilegious fashions.

If any of the above lunacy made you giggle in the slightest, then you are the right person for EASTER CASKET. It’s absurd, it’s tasteless, and Mills is becoming one of my favorite underground directors combining some pretty ingenious computer animation with real life comedy and of course boobs and blood. Some of the acting is a bit wooden and over the top, but it fits the low fi mood of the whole thing, so it only adds to the charm instead of degrades it. If you’re a fan of laughing when most folks are gasping and don’t mind low budget horror (remember, at one time, such cult favorites you drool over like THE HILLS HAVE EYES and EVIL DEAD were once considered this), I think EASTER CASKET and any of the offbeat horrors Dustin Mills has to offer is something you’re not going to want to miss.
And finally…here’s a pretty effective little shock and scare short from Nick Gillespie called THE FINAL BOY. With a lot of mood and style, this little number packs quite a punch in just a few minutes. Enjoy!
See ya next week, folks!




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