MO' BAIT: The GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY
July 18th 2007 01:52
It is the winter of our discontent. Horror movies are being churned out faster than you can say twoallhumanpattiesspecialsauc elettucecheesepicklesonionson aseasmeseedbun! Never have I been privy – and not so privy – to so many horror movie productions. And yet, previous few actually have any bite. Sure, they bark a bit, some even wag their goddamn tails, but when it comes to the crunch, it ain’t human bone being splintered, it’s the movie’s backbone collapsing: sigh, another hyped, shite horror flick.
Here are a five horror productions in various stages of completion, all single worded titles (there’s something intrinsically alluring about a horror with a single word title), a couple with great promise, a couple of possible gobblers, and one that just grunts “Chomp!”
Bug (2006)
Directed by William Friedkin.
Written by Tracy Letts, adapted from her own hit off-Broadway play. Having escaped her abusive ex-husband Goss (Harry Connick Jr.) and recently released from state prison, Agnes (Ashley Judd), a lonely waitress with a tragic past, moves into a sleazy, run-down motel. Her lesbian co-worker R.C (Lynn Collins) introduces her to Gulf War veteran Peter (the superb Michael Shannon), a peculiar, paranoid drifter, and they begin a tentative romance. Agnes’s reality begins to shift and disintegrate as she experiences a claustrophobic nightmare that involves a mental and physical infestation of bugs. With a director and female star that’ve made some great movies and some not-so-great ones, this troubled movie's distribution means it doesn’t look likely to hit the big screens down under.
Here's the trailer:
Fido (2006)
Directed by Andrew Currie.
Timmy Robinson's best friend in the whole wide world is a six-foot tall rotting zombie named Fido (Billy Connelly). But when Fido eats the next-door neighbor, mom (Carrie Ann Moss) and dad (Dylan Baker) hit the roof, and Timmy has to go to the ends of the earth to keep Fido a part of the family. A boy-and-his-dog movie for grown ups Fido will rip your heart out. The next Shaun of the Dead (2004), perhaps? This raucous comedy has been playing numerous festivals to much acclaim. No release date for down under has been announced, no doubt another DVD release.
Here's the trailer:
Skinwalkers (2006)
Directed by James Isaac.
Two packs of werewolves, divided by principles, are signaled by the moon of the coming of an ancient prophecy. Timothy, a boy raised by a protective family, approaches his 13th birthday, unaware this marks the time of his transformation into a half-blood lycanthrope. Timothy's power will put him in danger, for there are werewolves who wish to kill him and preserve their way of life. Sensational looking poster art and a promising cast (Elias Koteas and Rhona Mitra), but the director is responsible for Jason X (2001), the last and arguably the worst installment of the Friday the 13th series. Stan Winston’s Studio is mentioned amongst the special make-up effects team, but word on the cyber-street is that this doesn’t bite, it sucks, big time.
Here's the trailer:
Catacombs (2007)
Written and directed by Tomm Coker & David Elliot
On her first trip to Paris, a young woman (Shannyn Sossamon) hits a rave party in the “catacombs”, the 200-mile labyrinth of limestone tunnels under the city that's lined with the remains of 7 million people (true!) Separated from her friends, she becomes convinced that someone or something is chasing her. Coker is a comic book artist having worked on Marvel and DC characters. This is their debut feature, with the producers of the Saw series, and sounds darkly promising, but could end up a mediocre “stalk’n’slasher” on a supernatural tip, with a pounding electronic dance beat. Pop rebel Pink co-stars addinig some real bite and colour.
Here's the trailer:
Rogue (2007)
Written and directed by Greg McLean. An idyllic wildlife cruise disintegrates into terror when a party of tourists, including a cynical American travel writer, is stalked by a massive man-eating crocodile. This is McLean’s follow up to the critically successful Wolf Creek (2005) and stars Rahda Mitchell, Sam Worthington, and John “head on a stick” Jarrett. The Weinsten brothers are executive producers. A huge special effects team is on board including WETA digital, as well as elaborate animatronic work. Shot in the Northern Territory and Victoria. I have massive expectations for this rather uninspired premise, it better be as intense and scary as Wolf Creek, or there’ll be hell to pay. This is scheduled for a late August release in Australia.
Here's the trailer:
Here are a five horror productions in various stages of completion, all single worded titles (there’s something intrinsically alluring about a horror with a single word title), a couple with great promise, a couple of possible gobblers, and one that just grunts “Chomp!”
Directed by William Friedkin.
Written by Tracy Letts, adapted from her own hit off-Broadway play. Having escaped her abusive ex-husband Goss (Harry Connick Jr.) and recently released from state prison, Agnes (Ashley Judd), a lonely waitress with a tragic past, moves into a sleazy, run-down motel. Her lesbian co-worker R.C (Lynn Collins) introduces her to Gulf War veteran Peter (the superb Michael Shannon), a peculiar, paranoid drifter, and they begin a tentative romance. Agnes’s reality begins to shift and disintegrate as she experiences a claustrophobic nightmare that involves a mental and physical infestation of bugs. With a director and female star that’ve made some great movies and some not-so-great ones, this troubled movie's distribution means it doesn’t look likely to hit the big screens down under.
Here's the trailer:
Directed by Andrew Currie.
Timmy Robinson's best friend in the whole wide world is a six-foot tall rotting zombie named Fido (Billy Connelly). But when Fido eats the next-door neighbor, mom (Carrie Ann Moss) and dad (Dylan Baker) hit the roof, and Timmy has to go to the ends of the earth to keep Fido a part of the family. A boy-and-his-dog movie for grown ups Fido will rip your heart out. The next Shaun of the Dead (2004), perhaps? This raucous comedy has been playing numerous festivals to much acclaim. No release date for down under has been announced, no doubt another DVD release.
Here's the trailer:
Directed by James Isaac.
Two packs of werewolves, divided by principles, are signaled by the moon of the coming of an ancient prophecy. Timothy, a boy raised by a protective family, approaches his 13th birthday, unaware this marks the time of his transformation into a half-blood lycanthrope. Timothy's power will put him in danger, for there are werewolves who wish to kill him and preserve their way of life. Sensational looking poster art and a promising cast (Elias Koteas and Rhona Mitra), but the director is responsible for Jason X (2001), the last and arguably the worst installment of the Friday the 13th series. Stan Winston’s Studio is mentioned amongst the special make-up effects team, but word on the cyber-street is that this doesn’t bite, it sucks, big time.
Here's the trailer:
Written and directed by Tomm Coker & David Elliot
On her first trip to Paris, a young woman (Shannyn Sossamon) hits a rave party in the “catacombs”, the 200-mile labyrinth of limestone tunnels under the city that's lined with the remains of 7 million people (true!) Separated from her friends, she becomes convinced that someone or something is chasing her. Coker is a comic book artist having worked on Marvel and DC characters. This is their debut feature, with the producers of the Saw series, and sounds darkly promising, but could end up a mediocre “stalk’n’slasher” on a supernatural tip, with a pounding electronic dance beat. Pop rebel Pink co-stars addinig some real bite and colour.
Here's the trailer:
Written and directed by Greg McLean. An idyllic wildlife cruise disintegrates into terror when a party of tourists, including a cynical American travel writer, is stalked by a massive man-eating crocodile. This is McLean’s follow up to the critically successful Wolf Creek (2005) and stars Rahda Mitchell, Sam Worthington, and John “head on a stick” Jarrett. The Weinsten brothers are executive producers. A huge special effects team is on board including WETA digital, as well as elaborate animatronic work. Shot in the Northern Territory and Victoria. I have massive expectations for this rather uninspired premise, it better be as intense and scary as Wolf Creek, or there’ll be hell to pay. This is scheduled for a late August release in Australia.
Here's the trailer:
| 82 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Who will be eaten Bingo is a great game to play in these films.
Guess the order of eating then tick it off if you are correct.
Comment by Terry
MysTerry's Mansion
Theatre of the mind
If Fido is anywhere near as funny as Shaun of the Dead (the preview is hilarious) I will be in the front row.
Skin Walkers....Nice to know Jason Behr found work after Roswell.
Catacombs...inspired by true events...which were probably just the fact of the exsistance of the catacombs.
Rogue...every summer we need a good Alligator/Crocodile/Shark/mix ed hybrid of the three movie...looks like we have a contender.
Great reviews, always a pleasure to read your stuff.
Hurdy Gur
Terry
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Damo, always a hoot.
Terry, I was actually referring to the skeletons pelow Paris, whether or not they have raves down there I don't know for sure ... I sure wouldn't want to be munching on any disco biscuits with that element of death surrounding me! LOL
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
looks like an interesting crop..gonna give Bug a wide berth though...
Great review as always,
Take care,
Nick
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Catacombs sounds like an irritating rave/horror fusion.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Ashley, Carrie-Ann, Rhona, Shannyn, Radha ... Hell, nothing to sneeze at!
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
interesting, as a good movie buddy of mine saw it recently and said it was dreadful .... now i'm very curious, as i'm a big werewolf fan, and i love the poster art and title ... but hey ...