Night of the Living Dead 40th Anniv. Ed. DVD
Current mood: pleased
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

So, yet another edition of Night of the Living Dead is hitting the market, this one in honor of the film's 40th anniversary.  Since Dread Central's Uncle Creepy (who writes most of our reviews of the bigger DVD releases) is actually on the disc (more about that later), the task of reviewing it fell to me.  I have to admit I haven't been so intimidated by the prospect of critiquing a DVD since I volunteered to tackle the Twin Peaks Definitive Gold Box Edition.  We're talking about a bona fide classic here!

Nonetheless, I soldiered on and think that, all in all, I did justice to the legacy that Night has produced.  And speaking of "doing justice," the No. 1 reason to double (or triple or quadruple) dip and pick up this latest version of Night is the awesome documentary One for the Fire that was filmed specifically for it.  The production team did "an exemplary job of not only paying tribute to the film's cast and crew but also getting the major players to provide so many behind-the-scene stories, tidbits, and anecdotes that viewers feel like they are 'there' in the moment right along with them. ... First-time producer/director Chris Roe and company have crafted a beautiful, respectful homage to this landmark film that works as a perfect companion piece."  One for the Fire has its own MySpace page here-- be sure to drop by and befriend them. 

As for UC's appearance in the "Legacy" segment of the doc, this Woman feels he provides one of the Top 3 "most engaging anecdotes" (not that I'm the least bit prejudiced or anything ). 

The bottom line?  "Film -- even better than any of the previous incarnations thanks to modern technology's ability to give it its best look and sound yet. Extras -- a bit repetitive with other releases, but the new interview with Romero and One for the Fire propel this edition into must-have territory." 

If you're hesitant about buying one more copy when you already have a shelf-full of the prior versions, drop by the site and check out my full review. 

10:42 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Farewell to a Legend
Current mood: nostalgic
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

Growing up, one of my very most favorite films was The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming.  It was funny, it was timely, and it introduced me to a man whose career I would follow for the rest of my life:  John Phillip Law.  He was without a doubt the most gorgeous man I'd ever seen up to that point.  There's a reason he was cast to play The Love Machine!

Mr. Law passed away earlier this week at the age of 70, still as handsome as ever.  Just wanted to pay tribute to the man, the actor, the legend.  RIP JPL!

1:04 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Shed Your Skin and Let’s Get Started
Current mood: blissful
Category: Music

Although more often than not I use this space to discuss the latest horror happening, today I get to talk about my real No. 1 love: music. Specifically the music of a little band called Pearl Jam and their charismatic lead singer Eddie Vedder. Earlier this week the Creepster and I had the good fortune to catch the last two shows of Eddie's solo tour of the West Coast. The venue was the gorgeous, historic Spreckels Theatre in Downtown San Diego, and we couldn't have asked for a better setting.

The first show was on Tuesday, the 15th, and it was hard to contain our excitement as we entered Spreckels. Sure, I'd been keeping up with the setlists of the earlier shows, but still, we were in San Diego, and everyone knows what a soft spot Eddie has for this town. No telling what he had in store for us. But first up was opening act Liam Finn, about whom we knew next to nothing other than that he's Neil's son. The first song was sort of so-so, leaving us wondering what the guy was all about, but by about the middle of the next one, we were hooked. He's totally unique and, along with his sidekick Eliza-Jane, proved to be one of the best opening acts I've ever seen. He's a truly brilliant artiste with a bright future. Seriously, this kid is the real deal; check him out if you have a chance.

Then it was time for the main event. The lights dimmed, and a really strange version of Elderly Woman came over the speakers. As the crowd gradually realized what it was and started singing along, Ed sauntered out, waved, and added his voice to ours. The chills began. First up was Walking the Cow, which I'd never heard live before. Around the Bend, one of my faves from No Code, was next. Ed warned us all that he was a bit depressed ... well, maybe not depressed ... more like hung over from a late night of partying with old friends. At first we were a little worried that his condition might affect his performance, but if anything, it enhanced it. He was simultaneously loose and fired up, the perfect combination of emotions for a guy like Ed. He told numerous stories, talked back to those idiots in the crowd who couldn't contain themselves from yelling out song requests, and sounded simply amazing. The power and conviction in his voice are unparalleled, and we were truly blessed to be a part of if.

He did songs from Into the Wild, a few PJ songs (both rare and familiar), and numerous covers. Steve & I talk about going to Pearl Jam shows as being our version of religion, and (in a weird bit of irony since the Pope hit our shores the same day) watching Eddie was like attending High Mass. It's impossible not to be moved by the experience. Some of the highlights were Man of the Hour (I can't help but think of my dad during that song, and the tears flowed freely), Driftin', Masters of War (talk about nailing it!), Porch, Arc (still feel the shivers from that one!), and Hard Sun. His stories were both heartfelt and hilarious. And the "Barry White" song had us all rolling in the aisles. My checks were hurting from laughing so much. It was going to be hard, if not unlikely, for him to top that performance on Night 2.

I dragged myself to work the next day, all the while wondering what was in for store for us that night. We got to Spreckels a little later since we already had our tickets and didn't have to do the will call thing. Our seats were a few rows closer to the stage (not that there's a bad seat to be had there) and more to the right. We were almost alongside the box seats, which were filled with people who looked to be Ed's local family and friends. As we entered, Liam was just getting started, and if possible, he and EJ kicked even more ass that night. The guy was ON FIRE! And EJ matched him note for note. She's the exact kind of entertainer I've dreamed of being. It was one of the most genuine, organic, thrilling performances you could ever see. I can't sing Liam's praises enough. We're talking major talent.

Then it was time to wait for Ed. The anticipation was almost unbearable. But then he was onstage (no Elderly Woman intro this time), and we were off. To say he was in a different frame of mind than the previous night would be an understatement. It was almost like he was pissed off at us all, and the tension was thick. He almost immediately started lambasting the people who were yelling things out between songs, and while I certainly agreed with his sentiments, he did take it a step too far by bringing up those who died at Roskilde. Way to kill the mood, Ed! But as someone else said on one of the PJ message boards, "That's Ed... he is real and real people sometimes don't say the right thing in every situation. You take the good with the bad... but the realness is a lot of why the good moments are so special ... so it works out." Amen. They don't get much more real than our Ed.

After about half an hour everyone started to relax a bit, but the chit-chat between songs was much less than the night before. He did talk about some specific San Diego memories but seemed almost ... I don't know ... nervous or something. As if he was working really hard to make sure everything was perfect. He noticeably didn't smoke and was self-censoring himself, apologizing for swearing a few times. The songs still sounded great, but what the hell was up? Talk about a 180 from the night before. It wasn't long before we figured it out. Mom was in the house! Yes, Mrs. Vedder herself was in one of the boxes next to us, and Ed was beaming when he introduced her and asked the audience to help him wish her a happy birthday. Talk about a "moment"! We all stood up and paid tribute to the woman who raised our beloved icon. She waved to the crowd, and it was obvious how moved both she and Ed were by the outpouring of love, admiration, and support. He sang Dylan's Forever Young to her, wiping away a tear or two when he was done. It was once in a lifetime, and we felt very privileged to be there for it.

After that things lightened up considerably. He brought out the adorable Emile Hirsch from Into the Wild and serenaded him with a comical song about Sean Penn. He charmed everyone with a little ditty called I Used to Work in Chicago, and he and Liam blew the doors off the place with their duet of Throw Your Arms Around Me. He reprised his Barry White routine from the 15th but turned it into a political rant against Bush and his dealings with Lucifer. I could try to explain it, but it really was one of those "had to be there" things. He split the crowd into male and female, leading us in a sing-along to Let My Love Open the Door, and wowed all the old-time fans by intro-ing No More with a snippet from the Bad Radio song Believe You Me. Talk about remembering your roots!

I think a lot of people were hoping for a big finale with some guest stars, but I was 100% happy that he closed out the show with just Liam, Eliza-Jane, and Emile backing him up on Hard Sun. After all, it was the Eddie Vedder show, and that's who I paid to see. And boy, oh boy, did I get my money's worth. Thank you, Ed, for the songs, the memories, and the passion with which you brought them to us. April 15th and 16th, 2008, are two days I definitely won't soon forget!

1:41 AM - 6 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

Salute to Supernatural Event Report
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

So the Creepster and I took off for LA this past weekend to cover the "Salute to Supernatural" for Dread Central.  We’re both big fans of the show and were really looking forward to meeting its creator, Eric Kripke, and of course Jensen and Jared.  It was a most excellent time.  A portion of my event report for the site follows:

A recurring theme of the weekend was the possibility of a "body switch" between Sam and Dean at some point in the future, and when the question was brought up to Jensen about how he would imitate Jared, he jumped up and brought down the house with a spot-on impersonation of emo-Sam. From the extras on the Supernatural DVD’s, it’s obvious how great these guys get along, but seeing them in person really emphasizes their camaraderie and affection for one another. We should all be so lucky as to work that closely day in and day out with someone we sincerely like.

After the boys left the stage and signed autographs for a good while, the convention wound down as Steve Carlson and Sandra McCoy (the Crossroads Demon and, as revealed this weekend, Jared’s fiancee) participated in the final panels of the day. Everyone I talked to had a wonderful time and left the "Salute to Supernatural" with some much cherished memories. I must include myself in that group as well. After all, what girl doesn’t want to be the middle of a Winchester Sandwich?

For the fully skinny on the event, click here.

10:19 AM - 4 Comments - 7 Kudos - Add Comment

My Picks for 2007’s Best & Worst in Horror
Current mood: energetic
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

Although it got off to an incredibly bad start, when it was all said and done, 2007 wasn't such an awful year for horror films.  Sure, the lows were incredibly unpleasant, but the highs were pretty magnificent.  In fact, limiting myself to only five top films turned out to be impossible.  Thus, this Woman's list is as follows:

1.  28 Weeks Later -  While some have accused the film of being too heavy-handed in its metaphorical references to the Iraq War and others didn't buy into the Robert Carlyle character's ability to track down his loved ones wherever they went, there wasn't another 2007 horror film that resonated so deeply with me.  I adored both Rose Byrne's and Jeremy Renner's characterizations of Scarlet and Doyle and rooted for them throughout.  The kids are a welcome anomaly in movies in that they are unannoying and highly sympathetic.  The night vision scenes leading up to the end of 28 Weeks are some of the most edge-of-your-seat, bite-off-your-nails I've ever seen.  Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's and DP Enrique Chediak's work here is brilliant and well deserving of the No. 1 spot.  A rare instance of a sequel surpassing its original, 28 Weeks Later is a film that will stick in your memory long after its credits have rolled. 

2.  Grindhouse -  The faux trailers alone make this a worthy entry on anyone's list, and I honestly can't remember having a more fun time at the theatre this past year than when watching the Rodriguez/Tarantino double bill of Planet Terror and Death Proof.  Yes, it's too bad more horror fans didn't get out there and show their support, and while a lot of blame can be placed on Dimension and the Weinsteins for their abysmally misguided marketing efforts, it truly is our own fault for not taking the bull by the horns and ensuring the Grindhouse experience got the box office numbers its creators and cast warranted.  But that's all moot as the DVD's have been available for quite some time.  If you haven't watched these two fabulous films in your own home and dug the hell out of them by now, then I just don't see how you can call yourself either (a) a horror fan or (b) a devotee of great films, and on top of that I probably don't want to know you since it's obvious we are of such vastly different mindsets.

3.  Bug - Forget about Blanchett, Knightley, Foster, Christie, and Jolie.  These five fine ladies may have been nominated by the Hollywood Foreign Press for best dramatic actress of 2007, but the award really belongs to Bug's Ashley Judd.  Is her raw and riveting, no holds barred portrayal of the lonely and obsessed Agnes White the only reason to see the film?  Absolutely not.  She is equally matched by her co-stars Michael Shannon and Harry Connick, Jr.  In addition, Bug marks the triumphant and welcome return to our genre by William Friedkin.  I was fortunate enough to see a stage version of the story prior to the film, and while some of the differences were to the detriment of the theatrical adaptation, it still packs a powerful punch and shouldn't be forgotten amidst the more mainstream offerings of 2007.

4.  Sweeney Todd - While we're on the subject of powerhouse, tour de force performances, the biggest surprise of 2007 for me was how absolutely perfectly matched Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter were as co-conspirators Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett in Tim Burton's masterful adaptation of this hit Broadway musical.  Of course, I had faith in the abilities of the holy triumvirate of Burton, Depp, and Carter to do the play justice and had also read all the glowing reviews (including the New York Times', which *gasp* used the "h" word not once, but twice); but I must admit even I was a bit taken aback by the sheer brutality of it all and can't remember when I've seen blood gushes look more bright red and lovely.  All the supporting cast is wonderful as well, and London has never looked so appropriately Goth and gloomy in both tone and texture.  Sweeney Todd is 2007's most gorgeous film and its most spiteful.  Considering I'm not typically a fan of revenge flicks, I'm surprised by how much I loved it, but loved it I did, and I'm utterly delighted to include it in my Top 5.

5.  The Mist and Sunshine (tie) -  This may seem like an odd pairing, but I see these two films as two sides of the same coin, that coin being the human emotion "hope."  The characters in the latter are full of it, whereas those in the former could definitely use a bigger helping of it to combat the despair that overwhelms them by the end of their journey.  Both movies are buoyed by a strong cast of characters who must deal with the very real possibility of the world as they know it ceasing to exist.  While The Mist tackles its subject matter on a more inherently human level (despite the presence of numerous monsters of various shapes and sizes), Sunshine takes us into deep space and the realm of metaphysics.  It detours rather distractingly into very much the same territory covered by Event Horizon somewhere around the 2/3 mark, but then it regains its way and has one of the best endings of any film of the past year.  As does The Mist I might add -- despite its polarization of just about everyone who saw it.  I thought the conflict it engendered was one of the best since M*A*S*H decided to kill off Henry Blake, which is why it's here on this list even if a few of the characters are poorly developed and some the CGI is substandard.  Both of these films overcome their shortcomings in such stellar fashion that I wholeheartedly recommend them as a perfect double-feature to enjoy this spring once they've each been released on DVD. 

Best of the Rest:  While my Top 5 list encompasses films that received wide theatrical releases, I can't ignore a few others that represent the best of their respective subgenres:

a.  Hands down the No. 1 indie feature and also the best damn ghost story I've seen in I don't know how long was director Oren Peli's debut Paranormal Activity.  Those of us here at Dread Central who have seen it can't sing its praises loud enough.  Suffice to say that if it comes to a film fest anywhere near you within driving distance, get in your car and see it.  I guarantee you won't be sorry.  I also guarantee you won't be able to sleep afterwards without a night light and your teddy bear. 

b.  The Best Zom-Com of 2007 award goes to Andrew Currie's bitingly charming Fido.  Carrie-Anne Moss, Billy Connolly, and Dylan Baker shine as inhabitants of an alternate 50's style universe in which zombies have become a sort of household pet.  This one's been out on DVD for a while now; if you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for? 

c.  As I mention every year when compiling my Best/Worst list, slashers are my least favorite subgenre since they've been done to death -- often very badly -- but this year there were two examples that managed to rise above the fray with a fun, fresh approach:  Hatchet, which gave us icons Kane Hodder, Tony Todd, AND Robert Englund in memorable roles along with a tasty sample of the big, bad Louisiana bayou, and Wrong Turn 2, which offered a reasonably likable group of mutant fodder led by consummate badass Henry Rollins and opened with an American Idol wannabe's evisceration.  Honestly, does it get better than that? 

d.  Lastly, in the "defies description" category we have Albert Pyun's cinéma-vérité and sci-fi/horror hybrid Invasion.  To answer the question I received after originally reviewing this film -- yes, that Albert Pyun!  It's far from perfect, but Invasion's ballsy approach of telling its entire story via a surveillance camera mounted on a police car resulted in (to quote my own review) one of the most compelling pieces of filmmaking I've seen in eons and cemented its position among the year's most innovative films. 

I also have to give a quick shout out to the best DVD boxset of the year -- Twin Peaks: The Definitive Gold Box Edition.  Whether you're a hardcore fan of the series or a newbie, you're bound to fall in love with this set.  It is indeed the embodiment of the word "definitive."

Now we come to the worst.  Rather than go into the type of detail lavished on my top choices, I'll limit my comments to just two or three sentences since that's all these shitfests deserve:

1.  The Invisible -  Talk about bait & switch!  The trailer looked promising, but the finished product was the biggest disappointment of the year.  It's everything the anti-PG13 crowd goes on and on about (for its polar opposite, check out Disturbia), and yes, I'm still in denial that David Goyer was in any way connected to it.  He has a lot to make up for. 

2.  The Hitcher -  As soon as I saw this abomination, I wrote on the spreadsheet I was keeping for 2007 films:  "Worst of the year so far."  Well, it would have kept that title had it not been for Sean Bean.  Only his presence was enough to elevate The Hitcher above The Invisible, but it still ranks as my No. 2 stinker.

3.  I Know Who Killed Me -  Thank the gods for that aforementioned spreadsheet; otherwise I would have no memory of most of the crap I endured last year.  Here's what I wrote for IKWKM:  "Horrendously bad; stripper who doesn't strip; Art Bell best part; poor Neal McDonough!"  Seriously, if a cameo by Art Bell is the best part of your movie, you are in sad, sad shape.  You can't even really blame Lohan -- her performance was equal to the level of the script she had to work with.  As for McDonough, if he didn't fire his agent after appearing in both The Hitcher and this stinker, then he doesn't deserve to work in Hollywood again! 

4.  The Hills Have Eyes 2 -  Why they even bothered with this sequel I'll never know.  The concept was a good one, but the end result was dull and boring and a completely wasted opportunity.  Nothing was memorable about either the humans or the mutants -- zero, nada, zilch.  I fell asleep in the theatre for about 20 minutes and didn't miss a thing. 

5.  Captivity -  I almost feel a little guilty for piling on the derision for this film, but it can't be helped.  Its headache-inducing music sealed the deal.  It's a shame, really.  The first 1/3 was actually decent; it looked good (thanks to DP Daniel Pearl) and had all the right gross-out elements for exploitation fans; but then it fell apart.  Acts 2 and 3 were horrendously bad and totally nonsensical, ruining all that had gone before. 

I won't beat any dead horses by recounting more of the duds of 2007.  Just think "February" and "Foy" -- that's all you need to know!  But I will say I absolutely do not understand all the venom directed at Rob Zombie's Halloween and AVP: Requiem.  I certainly wouldn't place either in my Top 5, but neither do I feel they belong in the Bottom 5, especially considering the other rubbish that befouled multiplexes last year.  They were, in a word, mediocre.  Nothing more and nothing less. 

And with that . . . Here's to a great 2008!  We're rooting for you!

To see what my cohorts in crime over at Dread Central picked for their best and worst, click here, and feel free to add your comments to those already there.

Currently playing : Rock Band Release date: 20 November, 2007

3:42 PM - 8 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

The Year in Drama
Current mood: productive
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

So, as the year winds down and I, and everyone I know, begin working on our lists of 2007's best/worst horror films, I started thinking about all the great films outside of the genre that were released this year.  Next to a spooky horror flick, nothing gets me going more than a really good drama -- one with rich characters, an interesting but still plausible storyline, and the opportunity for emotional involvement.  There are a few movies still to be released this year, but I honestly can't imagine anything topping my five favorites.  They are all destined to go down as classics as far as I'm concerned:

5.  Into the Wild - Terjerker of the Year award.  And a great soundtrack.
4.  Eastern Promises - Viggo and Cronenberg give Depp and Burton a run for their money as Couple of the Year.  They offer up a complex and compelling look at people and things we know are out there but don't often come in contact with. 
3.  Across the Universe - Nobody does this sort of stuff better than Taymor.  It's the one movie this year that had me anticipating the DVD well before the credits rolled.  It better be packing!  Kudos to the entire cast for getting it so right and making it sound so real.
2.  American Gangster - I didn't even want to see this.  But it hooked me right away, and I couldn't stop thinking about it for days.  Some of best performances of the year can be found in this film.  I'm still surprised at how much I liked it.  
1.  300 - What can I say?  I'm a Zack Snyder fangirl and a sucker for spectacle.  Pretentious or not, it's a cinematic work of art that has enough of a human heart to touch something deep within its audience.  The doomed Spartans' tale resonated with an impressive amount of today's movie-goers -- and obviously with me as well. The only film of 2007 that I saw twice in the theatre and could easily have seen again if there'd been more time. 

Currently listening : A Very Special Christmas By The Pretenders Release date: 25 October, 1990

2:54 AM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

An Auspicious Occasion
Current mood: devious

For one weekend, and one weekend only, I have changed my default photo!

What brought this about?  I've never in the whole time I've been online used a different avatar.  Why now and why in Simpson form of all things?  Truthfully, I'm not even that much of a Simpsons fan, but I would always watch it with one special friend now and again, and I'm feeling rather nostalgic these days.  Besides, it's Friday the 13th, and Creepy was so sweet to totally personalize it for me. 

And this one too: 

Ain't we just the cutest couple? 

Currently listening : Light Grenades By Incubus Release date: 28 November, 2006

9:00 PM - 3 Comments - 5 Kudos - Add Comment

For Your Viewing and Reading Pleasure
Current mood: enthralled
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

I've been very fortunate with regard to the materials I've had to review for Dread Central these past couple of weeks.  They couldn't have been more different from one another, and best of all, there wasn't one dud in the group!  I'm happy to recommend two movies and two books for your viewing and reading pleasure (click on the titles for the full reviews):

The Abandoned (DVD) -- A slow and steady portrayal of the awfulness that people do to one another. It is near flawlessly acted and beautifully framed and filmed. The Russian setting adds a somber tone and unfamiliar surroundings, increasing the tension toward the gripping climax. There is no happy Hollywood ending here. Instead we have one of finest damn ghost stories ever made.

Firefly (indie w/limited availability but very worthwhile if you can seek it out) -- The film is shot so well in a stark, spare style that despite the slow pacing and my near maddening inability to figure things out, I was completely captivated by it. This is due in huge part to the genius of Peter and Chris Marcy. They co-wrote the script and co-star; and Peter filmed, directed, scored, and edited it. Not only that, but they populated the remaining roles with some amazing actors, all of whom, judging by their IMDB credits, were first-times. How the Marcys were able to compile such an immense amount of talent on a shoestring budget out in the middle of nowhere (Firefly was filmed in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the dead of winter) with such an outstanding result is beyond me, but kudos to everyone involved.

Staci Layne Wilson's Animal Movies Guide (Book) -- Ms. Wilson fills a long neglected void in the movie trivia arena and doesn't skimp in the least. Her obvious enthusiasm for the project is contagious. The first third of the book is comprised of 90 complete reviews of films in which animals portray major characters split equally between theatrical and home video versions. There are also nearly 1,000 synopses and capsule reviews of animal films from practically the beginning of cinema itself all the way up to the present day.

Alan Draven's Bitternest (Book) -- Bitternest is a scarily timely tale that beautifully weaves its storylines together in a fast-paced, expertly written manner through the use of short chapters that keep the reader glued to the action and turning the pages as quickly as possible. It includes numerous passages of graphic violence and gore so that even the most hardened horror fan will remain engaged. Draven's descriptions are just long enough without becoming overbearing. . . For those of you who complain that vampires have become nothing more than mopey Goths who lay about wearing black leather and lace, whining about their condition, Bitternest provides just the antidote you are craving.

Currently listening : Carry On By Chris Cornell Release date: 05 June, 2007

6:58 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Whatever Blows Up Your Skirt!
Current mood: amused
Category: Life

So, I was at Wal-Mart yesterday evening after work picking up a few things when a security guard called after me, "Miss, Miss, can I speak with you for a minute?"  I was like, "Me? What's up?"  He looked very concerned and proceeded to tell me that some little Hispanic guy had just taken a picture under my skirt when I was bending over to grab a half gallon of milk.  He reassured me that they were in the process of apprehending the guy and seemed really worried that I was going to start screaming or something and make a big deal out of it.  But, really, what is the big deal?  I had underwear on (black of course) so there was nothing to see anyway.  I started laughing and told him, "No worries; I'm not freaked out or anything" and walked away to finish my shopping.  When I left the store -- in the pouring rain, damnit! -- there were a couple of cop cars in front, which I suppose should have made me feel better.  But honestly, I didn't feel much of anything other than amusement and a flashback to my good old Boston days when I got flashed pretty regularly on the street by weirdos.  In some small way I felt kind of flattered and figured the haircut I got the weekend before must have paid off!  I guess when you're my age, you take whatever attention you can get!    I do now kind of wish I'd seen the guy though -- just to be able to give him the evil eye, but in the end it doesn't really matter.  I'm sure the cops took real good care of him!

I know a lot of people probably wouldn't be quite as blase about it as me, but again, what really is the harm?  I was in a public place, nothing was actually done to me physically, and if the security guard hadn't alerted me to what happened, I never would have been the wiser.  Sure, I suppose in some sense I was violated, but I didn't really feel that way.  After all, I've definitely had much worse things happen to me than being a part of someone getting his jollies from seeing my covered crotch.  Like getting soaked walking to my car -- now that pissed me off! 

Currently reading : Bitternest By Alan Draven Release date: 12 April, 2007

8:14 AM - 7 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

Been a Busy Girl ... errr, Woman!
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

Just wrote up four! new reviews for Dread Central.  Click the links for more details.  Hope they help with your movie-going and/or DVD-buying decisions! 

Severance (definitely the best of the bunch) - "As you might expect, once we've gotten to know the players a bit and made our own choices of whom we want to see live and die, the carnage commences. The surrounding woods are rigged with bear traps, deep pits, and a few other choice tricks of the trade. The big fellow with the big knife that we saw in the film's opening sequence is back with a vengeance, and the viewer is treated to an array of eviscerations, amputations, and decapitations. The final act of Severance should satisfy even the most die-hard gorehound, but the film never dumbs it down or takes its audience for granted. It's smart and sharp every step of the way."  Look for this one May 18th; if it's not in your town, call your local theaters and demand it!

Disturbia - "If you are part of the crowd that's avoiding Disturbia because you think you've seen it all before, think again, head on over to the multiplex, and give it a shot. It may not be the best horror movie you'll see all year, but I'm willing to bet that if you let yourself get caught up in Kale (LaBeouf)'s plight, you'll stay engrossed and in a heightened state of suspense.  It proves a PG-13 film with a cast made up predominately of young adults that steers clear of gruesome effects and in-your-face violence can still be interesting and enjoyable."

Masters of Horror: "Family" - "Written by Brent (Frailty) Hanley, "Family" is a taut little tale about a truly crazed individual named Harold Thompson (Wendt) who lives in suburbia with his wife, Jane, and daughter, Sarah. As the story opens, Grandpa has just moved in. But the Thompsons aren't your typical family; instead they are the product of Harold's psychosis -- and his severe loneliness. You see, Jane, Sarah, and Gramps are the skeletons of people Harold has killed over the years; and before long Grandma will be coming home, too."  This entry is in my Top 3 Season 2 MOH episodes; don't overlook it!

Survival Quest - "Right off the bat I need to make it clear that Survival Quest isn't a bona fide horror film; but it was written and directed by genre legend Don Coscarelli, stars the much beloved Lance Henriksen, and offers up some pretty good suspense and violence (albeit late in the game and with minimal bloodshed). It also provides a glimpse into the early work of Paul Provenza, Dermot Mulroney, Mark Rolston, and Catherine Keener, who have all gone on to fame, fortune, dental work...  Hopefully this review and others like it will prevent its being overlooked and forgotten."

Currently listening : Disintegration By The Cure Release date: 01 May, 1989

6:09 AM - 4 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment