Todd And The Book Of Pure Evil

Since I posted a blog about Holliston, I've been thinking of other shows that I enjoy which I think other schmoes would too. There's quite a few that I thought of, but one show forced its way to the top of my list.

Todd And The Book Of Pure Evil.

The plot is fairly simple. A weed smoking, heavy metal loving teenager accidently unleashes the Book of Pure Evil upon Crowley High School. Alongside his best friend, the girl of his dreams(who wants nothing to do with him sexually), a nerdy girl outcast(who's actually really friggin' cute) and Jimmy the sage like janitor team up to try to stop the Book from destroying the world.

Does it sound a little bit like Buffy? Sure. Is as silly as the premise sounds? Yep. Should you even check it out? Oh fuck yes!

Now I'll admit, when I first started seeing trailers for it from FEARnet, it sounded really damn contrived. I almost wrote it off entirely. But I gave it a shot and I'm a better man for it.

You see, there is a lot that separates this show from its similar-themed brethren.

First, the music. This is an unabashed tribute to metal. If you even have a passing interest in the musical genre, you will get a kick out the music choices throughout the series. Bands such as Danzig, Children of Bodom and Blackguard all contribute to the show. But not just that, it's a heavy metal fantasy in a sense. There is a lot of nods to the musical genre's horror roots.

Secondly, this show is hilarious. The scripting is full of quotable lines, but I'll be the first to say that a lot of the humor is juvenile. There is plenty of dick, weed and masturbation jokes spread throughout the series. It isn't high art. But that's okay, because the jokes actually land when they are supposed to. If you don't laugh at least once through an episode, well then I'd question your sense of humor.

Honestly, there is a Troma-esque quality to this show. The gore and other special effects aren't high brow and aren't supposed to be. It adds to the overall flavor of the show. It uses puppetry to great effect and it adds to the humor. If you get a kick out of low budget schlock, you will love this.

Where else will you see Todd fight a giant evil dick that turns people to stone and talks to him then tries to squeeze him tighter than an anaconda? And no, the dick isn't Todd's.

Thirdly and most importantly, the characters are memorable. Todd may be a complete idiot. He may be a burnout. He may be the worst possible person for the job. But damn it he's likeable! All of the other characters are just as memorable. But in particular I love Atticus Murphy Jr., the evil guidance councilor that is completely inept and Jimmy, the janitor who helps guide Todd to be the man he needs to be.

The fact that Jimmy is so memorable is because he's played by Jason Mewes. Mewes is the only name that most people will recognize, but he's also a relatively minor character in the scheme of things. He never goes over the top and into full on "Jay" mode but he's still Jason Mewes. He fits the show perfectly.

If you like Troma-esque schlock, weed and stoner jokes, heavy metal, or just plain silliness, then this is the show for you. It's first two seasons are available on Netflix Instant, so it's easy to check out for yourself.

Unfortunately, the show was cancelled before we got to reach the conclusion, but the show has been sort of saved by the fans. The creators started an Indiegogo to create an animated feature to finish out the series with all the cast returning. It HAS met it's goal, but the more it makes the more likely they will go live action again. I honestly hope that happens, but regardless if it doesn't I am looking forward to seeing how it all concludes.

See it.

Mood: Chillin'

Pat Hatfreet at 06:37 PM May 23

Ok thanks! I'll look on Netflix! I'm in Canada though, hope it's there also!

Rebellion_Reborn at 08:05 PM May 23

It's actually a Canadian show! lol

Pat Hatfreet at 12:56 PM May 24

Ok cool! Unfortunately, I just checked my Netflix and it's not there...

Read all 7 comments >>

Holliston

I've been a fan of Holliston since it debuted last year and I really believe that it is a series that I would love to see more horror fans dig into. It's got a ton of horror nods but not overly so. Really, the stories and the jokes are the big stars of the show. And yes, there are some fantastic gross out gags.

From the mind of Adam Green, Holliston is a traditional-style sitcom made for horror fans. Green himself stars as Adam in this show, alongside his buddy and fellow horror director Joe Lynch playing his roommate/best buddy Joe.

The rest of the cast is an interesting ensemble. Laura Ortiz plays Laura(see a pattern here?), Joe's sweet yet disturbingly semi-psychotic girlfriend. She steals every scene she is in. Corri English plays(I bet you can't guess) Corri, Laura's best friend and Adam's former girlfriend who he's still in love with.

Rounding out the rest of the cast is Dee Snyder(Twisted Sister) as Lance Rocket, Adam and Joe's boss at the studio they work at that makes cheap local ads for businesses and puts out Adam and Joe's local horror host show(these need to make a fucking comeback!). Lance is a heavy over-exaggeration of Dee Snyder's own onstage persona. The results are an over the top rock god wannabe that is as hilarious as you would think.

And finally, Oderus Urungus(lead singer for GWAR) plays Oderus Urungus. He's pretty much the same guy except he's Adam's imaginary friend that lives in his closet and gives him the worst possible advice ever. Seriously, one tidbit of advice involves a dead cat.

If this sounds silly and stupid, that's because it is and that's the point.

Despite the absurd premise, this is definitely a show to watch. The characters all have incredible chemistry, due to the fact that they all are very close friends in reality. The situations they get into during the overarching plot(to make their horror movie, SHINPADS a reality) are hilarious and actually based on real life events from Adam Green's life.

Hell, the overarching plot is eerily similar to the real story of how Hatchet was made.

There are plenty of gross out gags that will make you cringe and laugh. I don't want to spoil too much, but there is an episode that Adam and Joe spend in the tub together that is just hilariously disturbing.

Lot's of horror celebs cameo in this, such as John Landis, Danielle Harris, Kane Hodder and Bill Moseley. Though most of the cameos are pretty minor, they are still appreciated by this schmoe.

The best one more than that though and is also in my favorite episode. I'll just say this: Tony Todd. Trust me, you have to see this.

Honestly, this show has really gripped me. It's fun and great to watch with a few beers and friends. It's definitely something you don't have to take too seriously like The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones.

Honestly, I can't wait until Season 2 debuts on June 5th. You can catch it on FEARnet On Demand if you have it with your cable provider or various websites if you don't. I highly recommend checking it out if you can. It will make you laugh when you really need one.

Mood: Chillin'

timmyd at 05:08 PM May 10

I've caught a few episodes , and I agree it's groovy stuff .

Rebellion_Reborn at 05:35 PM May 10

Glad I'm not the only schmoe that enjoys it.

WalkAway's Challenge 5/10

Go to Google images and type in the name of your MFC celebrity bf/gf and post the very first image. (include these rules in the post so others know what's going on).

Mood: Chillin'

Johnboy16 at 12:12 PM May 10

A fine choice, adorably sexy

WalkAway at 02:50 PM May 10

Love her eyes

timmyd at 04:52 PM May 10

great choice , groovy pic !!

Read all 5 comments >>

4/12/13

I'm warning you all now this will not be a happy blog post. But it will be movie related. You've been warned.

I was woken up a couple minutes after 1 AM this morning by a phone call from my mother. After fighting harder than anyone I've ever known for the past couple months, my father succumbed to his cancer and passed away.

I haven't been to sleep since.

Now, before I get into what I want to say, let me say that this blog post is not about sympathy or anything like that. While I truly appreciate it from you good schmoes, I want to post something that tells about how he helped form the movie fan that I am today. A monument for him, albeit a small one.

When I was a kid way back in the 1980's, my dad and I had a bond that really cemented itself with movies. As a little kid, he'd watch movies like the Rambo series, Predator, Godzilla, the Universal Monsters, Aliens and such with me. For some of them, you could make the argument that I was far too young to be watching them. I asked him while I was visiting my family just why he let me watch those movies with him.

"I wanted you to know the difference between what's real and what's a movie. So that you wouldn't be scared of what you see in a movie. And everyone should watch Rambo."

And looking back, he was right. And boy did it ever have an impact on me.

As I grew older, he'd introduce me to other movies such as The Evil Dead(technically I discovered it on my own, but he allowed me to watch it), the Friday the 13th series, Halloween and The Thing. From that point on, I knew that I wanted to make the things I saw on screen happen. And he encouraged it.

He'd buy me books on how to make stuff like fake blood and latex masks and we would work on them together in the garage. It was our own crazy hobby. My mom always thought we were nuts, especially around Halloween. But I'll tell you what. I always had the best costume for Halloween and our house was always the best decorated. Bar none.

In my senior year in high school, I enlisted for the Army and as a former Green Beret, he couldn't of been prouder. After my enlistment ended, I came home for a few weeks to decide what I wanted to do. I still had the love of makeup effects in my system and he knew it. While I was reading the current copy of Fangoria at the time, I saw an advertisement for Tom Savini's make up school.

I approached him and asked what he thought of me going there to really learn it. This was his response.

"You can go to college for underwater basket weaving for all I care. As long as it's what you want to do, do it."

We laughed and sure enough, I enrolled.

Cut to a few years ago. I had been working in a warehouse because I couldn't find regular work doing the makeup. I had a gig(which I still do) in October for a local Haunted House attraction, but that wasn't going to pay the bills. Then Run For Your Lives popped up in Indy.

I asked my dad if I should apply. You got to understand, it was a big risk on my part. It was an unknown at the time. My warehouse gig had plenty of job security but was boring as hell. This may not work out but it was what I always wanted to do.

His advice? "You mean to tell me you did all that hard work and you are scared to fucking use it? Grow some balls and do it!"

So I applied for the position and I got it. Today, Run For Your Lives is quite large with locations all across the country. I haven't been happier in my life. And it's because he gave me the kick in the ass that I needed, when I needed it.

Thank you, Dad. I wouldn't be half the man I am today were it not for you.

Rest in peace, Pops.

Mood: Sad

HTX0811 at 10:42 AM Apr 13

Much condolences to you. Your dad sounds like a great person from what I've read here. Sorry to hear this news.

Rebellion_Reborn at 12:56 AM Apr 14

Thank you everyone. Your words do help, believe me. It's going to take time and I realize that. But all of you are making it easier.

Terminal_83 at 01:49 AM Apr 14

Man I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what you're going through. If you need a shoulder, I'm here.

Read all 25 comments >>

Reflections on Roger Ebert

So like everyone else I just heard the news of Roger Ebert's passing. It's impossible to deny the man's impact on cinema as we know it. I wanted to take a moment and reflect on what the man has meant to me over the years.

I have had a love/hate relationship with the man and his opinions for around 20 years or so, give or take a year. I still remember watching episodes of Siskel and Ebert At The Movies when I was younger. As a kid, he used to rub me wrong way. A lot of the movies I loved(and still love) he absolutely loathed. For the longest time, the man was on my shit list.

Look up a lot of his reviews of '80's horror movies, in particular the Friday the 13th series and you'll see why I had a lot of issues with the man. For the longest time, it seemed like he just hated most of the movies I personally loved. His abrasive style of reviewing didn't help matters much.

At first.

As I grew older and wiser, I started seeing movies in a different light. They weren't just entertainment, they were an art form. As my knowledge grew over the years, so did my attitude change about the man.

Now don't get me wrong. I still don't agree with a lot of his reviews. But I learned you can't just assume your opinion is a universal truth from him, in a sense. I started to think that as much as his reviews of movies bothered me, maybe my opinions bothered other people. It was the first time I started thinking about how I wanted to present my opinions.

After that point, I saw his reviews in a different light. I started focusing on why he had those opinions, not just that he had them. And I had to give the devil his due. Even if we didn't agree, his reviews(for the most part) were well thought out. I still didn't like him, but he had over time earned a bit of respect from me.

Oh, and his whole argument that video games aren't art is still one of the biggest piles of horseshit I've ever read in my life. Just saying.

I sincerely hope he rests in peace and my heart goes out to his loved ones that he's left behind. And I'd like to thank him too. He really had a part in turning me into the movie fan I am today, even if I still think he was a bit of an ornery bastard.

RIP Roger Ebert.

Mood: Chillin'

MrsData at 05:54 PM Apr 04

I appreciate how honest, nuanced, and thoughtful this blog was, Rebel. May he rest in peace.

HTX0811 at 12:32 AM Apr 05

I loved Ebert but I understand where you're coming from. I got to catch an old episode he did on slasher movies where Siskel and Ebert talked about how bad they were and asked how could people pay money for them. I'll admit I wasn't the biggest horror movie fan growing up but it's a genre that people love and I'm fine with whatever horror movies are out there even if I don't like them. I'm relatively new to horror movies so I haven't seen a whole bunch. Those movies have an audience and that was one of those times I thought he was out of touch with what was going on at the time, which was back in the early 1980s where this episode took place. I understand he might not enjoy them but he has to understand that those movies have a fan base and even if he doesn't enjoy them, that doesn't mean they're not worth seeing. Also, I read a review about Barry Lyndon, a movie that he loved but I wasn't crazy for. In the review, he mentioned how great the movie was and how impossible it is for anyone not to enjoy it. That kind of bugged me and came off as closeminded.

But he did turn me on to a lot of great movies. He was very determined about making sure that even smallest movies got attention. I was in high school when I discovered Ebert and the shows he did with Siskel and Roeper. Once I started watching them, I was inmediately hooked. I went through a really pretentious phase in high school where I was only seeing movies in the theater as long as Ebert or Siskel or Roeper recommended them. Anything wasn't as good. I was impressed by how eloquent he could be in his reviews because I didn't think movies could loved the way he loved movies. It sucks that he's gone and the film world is less wonderful because of his passing.

Great blog and I'm sorry if I made this too long for you to read. lol. I just felt this all needed to be said.

Rebellion_Reborn at 04:47 PM Apr 07

Thanks for the comments about this blog. I was trying to be respectful of the man but I didn't want to have it come across like I loved the man like many do. I just wanted to be honest. Still, the man left his mark on every movie fan, love him or hate him.

An Introduction To The JoBlo Monday Night TV Chat

That's right, The JoBlo Sunday Night Movie Chat is expanding! I came up with the idea awhile ago but finally broached the regulars of the chat about it last week. Since everybody seemed onboard, I asked JoBlo about it. The boss was all for it. Schmoe created, schmoe approved more or less!

So here's how it's gonna work.

1. Starting today and continuing next week, we will be exclusively chatting about the final two episodes of The Walking Dead. Excited about last night's episode? Can't wait to talk about it with other schmoes and avoid spoiling it for someone that hasn't seen it? This will be the place for you to come and do that!

2. In two weeks, after TWD's season finale, we will be changing formats a bit. It will be a bit more open. What I mean about that is that we will be talking about a few popular shows of the week. Popular shows like HIMYM, Justified, GoT and such will be discussed. We will take a poll in the chat to see what people want to talk about first. From then we will discuss that show's episode for awhile(i.e. however long it takes) and then I will move us to another show of the week.

3. There will be special chats for shows such as Star Trek, Lost, Buffy/Angel, Firefly, etc. These will occur more in the summer, since most TV shows seasons have ended. To keep it simple for everyone, we will discuss 1 season at a time. For example, let's say OldKingClancy hadn't seen Lost. It would be much easier on him to fit in 1 season of Lost in a week than it would be the entire series. People have lives other than TV and I respect that.

4. Right now, the chat will start at 7pm EST just like the JoBlo Sunday Night Movie Chat. That time is tentative though. I may move it to start at 6pm EST. Let me know what you prefer!

5. Same rules apply as the Movie Chat. Don't be a dick. I really don't want to have to boot anyone from the chat but I will swing the banhammer if people can't be respectful of others. This is supposed to be FUN!

6. If somebody would like to create a banner for the chat, I'd love that! Send me a PM and I'll give you the specs I need!

That's it folks! Remember, the chat starts TONIGHT to discuss the awesome penultimate episode of THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 3!

Mood: Chillin'

Bondgirl at 07:33 PM Mar 25

It is great that everyone at certain times can discuss show and get to join in l think you have made a wonderful effort in broading content l feel we really have a lovely area here at MFC

jekupka at 10:52 PM Mar 25

7pm EST is only 4pm PST. Kinda screwin' the West Coast. Not that I've been a part of any chat, yet. Just thought I'd throw that out there. I like to keep all parties happy and all.

MrsData at 05:29 AM Mar 26

^Ideally, Rebel would love to make everyone happy but any time he chooses will always be inconvenient for some schmoes. If it was later, it still wouldn't work for schmoes in the UK and the time zones beyond theirs because it would be late night when they're sleeping or early morning/afternoon when they're in school or working. It's not just the overseas folks, North America schmoes are most likely watching shows @ 9 & 10 PM (US Eastern) and Rebel also has to consider his work and personal schedule as well. Please don't get mad at me for writing this. Rebel put real thought into what time would be convenient during the last chat with the regulars there (myself included).

Read all 5 comments >>

A fun little pic of myself and my two youngest nieces

The baby is Whitney. The 5 year old at my hip is Cadence. This past week was my first time meeting them. Well, I met Cadence when she was a baby but this was the first time she will remember meeting me. She didn't poop on my brother's foot this time though.

Mood: Chillin'

MrsData at 07:59 PM Mar 12

So sweet!

Rebellion_Reborn at 08:03 PM Mar 12

Thanks! I had a lot of fun with them. Those little girls stole my heart.

HTX0811 at 02:46 AM Mar 13

Nice picture!

Read all 7 comments >>

The Next Two Weeks

As I said in a status update a few moments ago, after this Sunday's Oscar Chat I won't be holding another JoBlo Sunday Night Movie Chat the next two weeks. I feel I owe each and every one of you that attends the Chat an explanation. Well, here it is.

On Tuesday, February 19th I finally got myself my first iPhone. Yeah, I bragged about it a little bit on here. But the first call I received on it was one of the worst I've ever had to deal with in my entire life.

My mother called me to tell me that my dad had been rushed to the hospital because he was having issues with his equilibrium. He was falling down flat on his face and couldn't do anything about it. Well, they found the reason why.

They found a tumor in my dad's brain. It's too far advanced for the doctors to do anything but make him as comfortable as possible. Basically, he's going to die. Soon. But that isn't the worst of it.

The worst part, is my mother is a wreck. She needs somebody to help her through this. I have a brother and two sisters that live in the same town, but I'm the oldest. I have to take care of her. It's my responsibility.

So MFC, I'm really sorry for the break but I'm sure you understand. I'll be catching my flight on Monday afternoon and won't be back until two weeks later.

I'll still be on here this weekend(most likely very, VERY liquored up, so don't hold anything against me for that) a good bit. The Oscar Chat is still going to happen as planned and last until the Oscars are over. And I want it to be a fun time, so if you are attending please don't bring anything up about my personal issue. I don't want my problem to bring the chat down.

Thanks for understanding. I love MFC.

Mood: Sad

Rebellion_Reborn at 06:13 AM Feb 24

Thank you everyone. I can't even begin to tell you all just how much your kind words mean to me. I honestly don't think I could get through this without you all.

Thank you. I love you all.

Terminal_83 at 12:01 PM Feb 24

You'll be in my thoughts, man. If you need anything PM me.

klinteastwood at 08:11 AM Feb 28

im not much for praying, but my prayers go out to you and your family..keep your head up and stay strong

Read all 24 comments >>

Why I decided to hold a chat for The Walking Dead

Yes, I know The Walking Dead isn't a movie. And yes, I know it's called The JoBlo Sunday Night Movie Chat. Judging on names alone, I should never hold a chat about The Walking Dead. While I can tell you this won't be a common thing, this has needed to happen for a long time.

The JoBlo Sunday Night Movie Chat began in October 2011. To be precise, it began on the same day that The Walking Dead premiered. That's crazy to think about, but it's true. And ever since that first chat, we've always ended the chat just in time for The Walking Dead. So you can say, in a sense, The Walking Dead has helped forge The JoBlo Sunday Night Movie Chat into what it is.

But beyond sentimental reasons for your's truly, this is a show that truly has film level production values. Anyone that has seen a single episode of The Walking Dead can attest to that fact. From the actors, to the scripts. From the set design to the lighting. From the cinematography to the SFX work of Greg Nicotero. Everything about this just screams top shelf.

The final fact that caused me to talk to JoBlo about running this chat was several comments from MrsData the past few weeks in the chat. Anytime something even remotely Walking Dead-related popped up in the chat, she would get all excited for The Walking Dead's return.

I knew it wasn't just her but it was the first time I really saw a palpable excitement during the chat before the show had even returned. I know how MFC gets during The Walking Dead season and the fact that people were already on edge waiting for it's return was the turning point. So I decided to bring the idea to JoBlo.

He was all for it. It honestly made me think why we hadn't done it before. Well, better late than never I suppose. So honestly, there are a bunch of reasons why I'm holding this chat beyond what I just wrote. The show means a lot to me for a lot of reasons. Just like it does to all of you. All of this adds up to the ultimate reason.

I did it for MFC. I did it because we fucking deserve a chat about it. And it's about fucking time.

February 10th can't come soon enough.

Mood: Chillin'

Rebellion_Reborn at 11:01 PM Jan 30

I'm positive there will be a lot of that in the chat itself. There always is even when the movie we are talking about has jack shit to do with TWD!

MrsData at 08:52 AM Jan 31

Aww, thanks for mentioning me! And this was a solid blog too. I cannot wait! Damn you super bowl and unlike OKC I'm not from across the pond lol

Rebellion_Reborn at 09:16 PM Feb 01

Well, it's how it happened. So there is that. And thank you!

I'd care more for the SB if my Colts were in it lol.

Read all 6 comments >>

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Review

Before I begin this review I have to say this. I am a HUGE Halo fan. I've been a fan since 2001, when the series(and it's offshoots) began. I will die a Halo fan. However, I'm willing to put my Halo fandom aside for the sake of this review. There will be references to the game, but I can't avoid that. Just a heads up.

Flat out, this movie has amazed me. It was released weekly in 2012 on youtube to help build up for Halo 4's release. Let me tell you, this may be the best advertisement for a game I have ever seen.

This isn't a simple ad. Hell no. This is actually a full out movie. It runs for about 90 minutes and has one hell of a production value for a series that originally run on youtube. Trust me, this is a movie. And it's been released on blu-ray/dvd, so that pretty much backs me up on that.

I'm not going to get into the whole HALO story, as that would take a LONG time. I will say this though... it fucking NAILS IT. This is probably the best adaptation of a video game to a movie that I've ever seen. It's not without some slight problems, but for the most part, this is a seriously awesome movie.

I'm going to ignore the beginning of the movie, because if you haven't played the games you really wouldn't get it. But from there, you have a story about military academy students that leads into the true HALO story. Trust me, it's awesome.

A group of young cadets are hard training, with one cadet in particular having trouble with the fact that they would have to fight insurrectionists. His squad's ordeal dealing with him and his problem with who he is supposed to be fighting against takes the center stage through the first half of the movie. The guy, Tom Lasky, doesn't want to fight against them. But then, all hell breaks loose.

Unbeknownst to them, humanity has been under attack by a collective of alien races known as The Covenant. For those that haven't played the games, this is the enemy that you fight against throughout the games. And they are fucking nasty as hell. Well, as he is having a moment with a cute British enlistee, it just so happens that the Covenant feels its a great time to attack this planet he's on.

And attack they do! Man, the visual effects are fucking awesome! This is seriously something far above what you would expect from youtube. This is actually a movie. They hide the problem of a low budget(in comparison to an actual Hollywood movie that is) amazingly well. It's actually a hell of a lot of fun to watch!

Once Master Chief shows up, all hell breaks loose. The action set pieces and the costume design is up there with the best in Hollywood and actually helps prove that a HALO movie IS possible. Seriously, this is fucking gorgeous.

The acting is great across the board, though nothing spectacular. Dan Cudmore(Colossus from the X-Men movies) was fantastic as Master Chief, pulling off the action scenes and the more intimate scenes perfectly.

The music is fantastic, done by Neil Davidge. He was the same guy who did the music for Halo 4. It hit all the right emotions and hit the vibe for the Halo universe perfectly.

My biggest problem? Too much slo-mo. Seriously, they overdid it at times. But really, that's more a minor concern than anything else.

Overall, this is something that everyone can enjoy. It's an intimate tale in the HALO universe that has a tone of nods for the fans, but welcomes newcomers as well. I highly recommend it.

9 out of 10 plasma grenades.

Mood: Chillin'

joeyc5 at 01:26 AM Jan 05

great review I was surprised by HALO 4:FUD as well there was some truly gripping moments in this web-series! I hope they make more! BTW the cute British chick is Anna Poppwell from the Naria movies haha

elmariachi01 at 08:30 PM Jan 06

Good to know. Big halo fan too since the original. I love the first few novel tie-ins too.
I picked this up a few weeks back on a blind buy but haven't checked it out yet. I'll move it up on my ever growing stack of DVDs to watch

HorrorHound Weekend Wrap-Up

I'm gonna start off this blog by saying that unfortunately, I have no pictures to share. My camera crapped out on me after the last HorrorHound Weekend in September. I did however get a professional photo op with Jamie Lee Curtis though. That, was fucking awesome. Already got it framed on my wall.

This HorrorHound Weekend was a very special event. It was put together very quickly because of one guest. Jamie Lee Curtis. She has never done a horror convention before and was had stated from the very beginning that she never would again. It made this event all the more special. What is even better, she wasn't doing this for money. All the money she made from the event was being donated to a Children's Hospital in L.A.

I didn't get to meet her until today, but MAN was the wait worth it! She was incredibly friendly to everyone. The couple in front of me in line went with their small child who was wearing a Michael Myers mask. The kid was very shy and wouldn't say anything to her, though she tried hard to get the kid to talk to her. So she addressed the crowd that the kid was so talented and wasn't breaking character! She said if the kid tilted his head slightly she would freak out. And he did! It was such a sweet moment. Curtis then lead the crowd in a standing ovation for the shy boy. I'll never forget that for as long as I live.

When I met her she was very friendly and funny. I walked up to her and she asked me, "How the hell are you gonna top that buddy?" I replied, "I'm not even going to try!" She laughed at that and then signed my Blu-Ray copy of Halloween for me. Definitely a fantastic experience.

The majority of the rest of the guests were all tied to Curtis. They had as many people from Halloween and Halloween II as they could get. They even got Nick Castle, the ORIGINAL Shape! He RARELY does cons so it was a treat to get his autograph and meet him. Really cool dude. Same could be said for Tommy Lee Wallace(Myers in the closet attack scene, creator of the mask, director of H3), Charles Cyphers(Sheriff Brackett), Dick Warlock(Myers in Halloween II), Nancy Stevens, Lance Guest, and the rest of the hospital staff that attended.

Also attending were Tom Atkins and Adrienne Barbeau from The Fog. Atkins ALWAYS kicks ass at these cons and loves the hell out of his fans. Barbeau was an absolute sweetheart. She's also STILL quite a lovely lady.

For anyone that follows ThatGuyWithTheGlasses, The Cinema Snob had a booth and was selling his new movie(which is quite funny). He was a cool dude and I had a lot of fun talking with him. I also gave him a copy of Dear God No! because that kind of trashy exploitation is right up his alley and I had an extra copy.

And finally, another highlight for me came from another vendor. None other than B Movie Scream Queen Debbie Rochon! She was all kinds of awesome and a very funny woman.

So in total, this con was a blast even if it was much smaller than usual. The guests were all great, the swag in the vendors hall made my wallet cry, and seeing fellow horror fans from across the country is always a hell of a lot of fun. Should you ever get the chance to attend a con like this, don't hesitate. It's an awesome experience.

Mood: Happy

WalkAway at 07:29 PM Nov 18

I loved reading this, nice to know those celebs are awesome

Rebellion_Reborn at 08:04 PM Nov 18

Me too timmyd! Glad you liked the blog WalkAway. It was a hell of a lot of fun and I still can't stop smiling!

SuperMarcey at 05:25 PM Nov 20

Wheres the scanned photo?

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HorrorHound Weekend Thoughts, Sept 2012

I know I say this a lot, but I really can't get enough of these conventions. They are my favorite thing about living in Indianapolis. This past weekend was definitely one to remember.

The first thing that I've got to mention was it was the first time I met a fellow schmoe in person. Razgriz21 was an awesome dude to meet and share the experience of the con with. Together, we met a lot of awesome horror fans from across the country as well as some really amazing horror celebrities. Cheers, Razgriz21!

Speaking of horror celebrities, none of the ones we met can top Timothy Balme for me. I'm a massive fan of Dead Alive(or Brain Dead, to those of you outside the US). To finally meet the star was a dream come true. Dude was a class act. He was extremely friendly and genuinely glad to finally appear at an American convention. Yes, this was his first ever US con appearance. He was easily my favorite celebrity I met this weekend.

Michael Biehn was also a very classy guy. I felt for the guy, as he was obviously exhausted. The man took the redeye to get here and had to leave Saturday night, but he took the time to meet and talk to every one of his fans as well as take pictures with them. The man lives up to the legend. I'll definitely be picking up THE VICTIM when it comes out this month.

Meet Elvira, IN COSTUME, was a fucking treat. She is still a very beautiful woman and funny as hell. My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is that she didn't allow photography at her booth with her. Most horror celebs allow it, but at this con there were several that didn't. Oh well. At least I got to hear her make a joke about causing me to hit puberty. Classy as always.

Lance Henrikson also didn't allow photography, but I didn't mind that as much. The man is a living legend. He treated everyone amazingly well and had a pretty good line most of the time. It was definitely a treat to meet the man.

All of the other celebs I met were kind and a lot of fun, but to save time and space I'll just say I had no disappointments.

One thing I love about HorrorHound Weekend is they have a MaskFest event. It's like two cons at once. The masks and various props I saw were all amazingly well made. This event always blows me away.

Oh, and I got to ride a giant zombie rocking horse. That's right. A GIANT ZOMBIE ROCKING HORSE! It was glorious.

I picked up quite a bit of swag, which is always a great thing about these cons. The merchandise vendors really were out of this world. My favorite thing I picked up? A Dead Alive t shirt that has "I kick ass for the Lord!" on the back of it. Fucking sweet.

All in all, it was one hell of a weekend. Between getting to meet razgriz21 and the celebs, the masks and their makers, and a myriad of horror fans from across the country, I can't recommend events like these enough. Seriously, if you get the chance to attend one of these, DO IT!

Now I am just waiting until HorrorHound Weekend in November for their HALLOWEEN reunion and the chance to FINALLY meet Jaime Lee Curtis.

Mood: Chillin'

WalkAway at 08:14 PM Sep 11

This sounds like an awesome time, I'm so jealous of you!

Rebellion_Reborn at 08:14 PM Sep 11

Jeffrey Combs is a hell of a guy to meet Yosh! When i met him last year, he was a very nice and classy man!

And yes, Indy gets the best Cons. Though the entire area gets great ones too. Ohio, Kentucky, and Chicago get some awesome ones.

Rebellion_Reborn at 08:16 PM Sep 11

Well don't be too jealous WalkAway, you are next on my list!

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Days Of The Dead: Post Con Thoughts Part 2

One of the things I love about horror conventions is the swag. The vendor's room was cornucopia of amazing horror movies, bootlegs, posters, artwork, t-shirts, masks, props, and general memorabilia. I picked up quite a bit of amazing stuff from there. In particular I'm happy to say I found a copy of the Halloween 6 Producer's Cut. Been waiting for a long, long time to finally see this.

Another thing I love about these cons are the fact that it's a fantastic way to dive into Independent horror movies. Indy horror is one of the best places to find some great horror that isn't a remake. I personally discovered a few gems in this convention. I'm a big fan of The Collective series and the makers of the series debuted Vol. 4 at the event. I highly suggest you check these out if given the chance.

Perhaps my favorite Indy movie I found was DEAR GOD NO! It's in the vein of the classic grindhouse/exploitation movies of the 70's and boy does it not disappoint. Granted, if you aren't into those sort of movies, do bother with this movie because I doubt you will like it. Here's the synopsis for those that are interested.

A vicious gang of murdering and raping bikers, The Impalers, invade a home after a bloody shoot out at a strip club. Humiliation, rape, and murder follow, but there is something in the basement and in the woods... Sasquatch!

Yeah, if that doesn't sound interesting to you, don't worry about the movie. If it does, well then I say go ahead and see it. They screened it at the con and it was a wild ride. The makers and stars of the movie were there and did a Q/A afterwards. These guys and gals know what kind of movie they made and had a lot of fun with it. Very cool people.

The costume contest and the tattoo contest were a lot of fun. There were quite a few talented people attending, some of which I posted pics of. No doubt, it was a great time, even if we were hitting temperatures of 106 degrees all weekend.

To save the best for last, some friends of mine had something very special planned for the event. A zombie wedding. That's right, some friends of mine actually got married at the event and they wanted it to be a zombie themed wedding. I made them all up for the event(all the pictures were for the bride and groom, sorry I don't have any though they may be popping up online soon.) and it was hands down the greatest wedding I've ever been a part of.

Now, if I had to nitpick, here are my problems with the con. There were some serious cancellations that really sucked, but that's to be expected at any con. The fact that Danny Trejo cancelled was particularly disappointing.

Also, the venue needs to be moved to a bigger place. There was around 4,000 attendees and body heat in a relatively small place was not so fun. Granted, this is a great problem for the convention promoters to have.

All in all, I had a blast this weekend. It was a fantastic time that everyone had a lot of fun with. Should you get the chance to attend a horror con, I'd highly recommend it. It's like a bloody Christmas come early!

The next con I'm attending will be HorrorHound Weekend Indy in September. It's featuring Terminator, Aliens, Land of the Dead, and Monster Squad reunions. That one will be amazing!

Mood: Happy

Rebellion_Reborn at 10:45 PM Jul 10

Oh really? Yeah, I'd been wanting it for years man. But that's okay, I actually own a copy now which really is awesome.

Don't you worry about Michael Biehn man. Trust me.

horrorfan23 at 12:04 AM Jul 11

Murderers and rapists vs Sasquatch. Sounds like my thing.

Rebellion_Reborn at 12:41 AM Jul 11

I think you'd LOVE it horrorfan.

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Days Of The Dead: Post Con Thoughts Part 1

It took me a couple of days to rest up after this weekend(thanks to my formerly busted A/C), but now I'm feeling great and ready to spit out my thoughts of the weekend.

As most of you are aware, I'm hugely into the horror convention circuit. For a massive horror fan such as myself, these conventions are like Mecca. People of all walks of life turn up at these occasions and everyone is accepted simply as a horror fan. The atmosphere is fantastic. This weekend was no different.

Days of The Dead is a new convention that began last year(here in Indy, I was there too). This was only the third one they have put together and let me tell you it was MILES better than the first one last year. From the planning of the event to the fact that there weren't any bastards pulling the fire alarms(which shut off the A/C last year), I'd say it was a 300% improvement. That's not to say it was perfect(I'll get to that later), but it was a fantastic experience overall.

Let's start with the guests. This year's crop of guests was a fantastic lineup that featured some very rare appearances. The big headliners of Roddy Piper, Ace Frehley, and John Waters were all very cool, but it was the Texas Chainsaw Massacre reunion that was the big draw for me. Literally every actor from the first movie that is still alive were here as well several guests from other TCM movies. This was a dream come true for me and all of them were incredibly friendly and welcoming.

There quite a few other guests that weren't from some sort of theme that were amazing to meet as well. I'm not going to rattle off all of them, but I do want to mention a few who gave me an awesome experience. In particular, Felissa Rose from SLEEPAWAY CAMP stood out to me. Let me tell you, if you ever get the chance to meet her, DO IT! She's still quite beautiful, but it's her personality that struck a chord with me. If you spend any time with her at all, I guarantee you will laugh a lot. She was so friendly and funny! And very, very feisty and flirtatious. You know the picture I posted of me with her? That's actually the second one I got with her. During the first one, she grabbed my ass during it to get a reaction out of me and it ruined the pic. Funny as hell though!

Ari Lehman also stands out as one of the most awesome experiences. I told him how he is my favorite Jason and he laughed and asked why. So I told him the simple fact. "You are the only Jason that nobody saw coming." Seriously, that was one of the greatest jump scares of all time. We chatted for about a half hour about horror movies, music and cons. Hell, he even gave me the scoop that in November(it's since been announced online) that HorrorHound Weekend is having a SECOND con in Indy in November that will feature none other than JAIME LEIGH CURTIS in her FIRST AND ONLY horror convention appearance. That alone was fucking awesome of him, but he also hooked me up with a cd from his band FIRST JASON. And it's pretty damn badass!

Laurence Harvey(Human Centipede 2) was very sweet and frigging tiny! But seriously, he was very, very nice and was a big hit with his fans. He also led the con to create the world's largest human centipede. Seriously, it was about 250 people, including some celebrities!

Oh, and Ian Whyte(the giant that ripped off Michael Fassbender's head in Prometheus) was really damn cool. And GOOD GOD IS HE TALL!!! I'm not kidding, the guy has to be around 7' 4" at LEAST! I've met the Big Show and he wasn't as tall as this guy. Very friendly and grateful for his fans.

The events were some great experiences. I attended a massive barbecue with everyone from the TCM movies that were there(including Bill Moseley and Tom Savini). The food was fantastic and everyone was having a great time. By the end of it, it devolved into a massive food fight!

I also attended a horror themed burlesque show which was definitely quite the experience. You've never seen sexier vampires, zombies, ghouls, and chainsaw killers than this!

There was a special live Riff Track presentation of DEAD HEAT featuring Brad Thacker as the lead riffer. If you haven't seen him perform stand up, you really should the guy is hilarious and a big horror fan.

Part 2 coming up in a few minutes!

Mood: Happy

For The Fallen

Forgive me if this blog seems a little scatterbrained. My thoughts and emotions get the better of me every Memorial Day, but I felt the need to write something about the holiday.

As most of you know, I'm a combat veteran. So Memorial Day holds a special place in my heart. Yes, I love to barbecue and drink on Memorial Day. I love to watch war movies. But there is so much more to this day than all of that for me.

I also attend local Memorial Day services and plant flags on the graves of local fallen soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen. I always speak to my father for at least an hour(another combat veteran). And make sure to pop into my local VFW and listen to old soldiers' stories.

And personally, I encourage others to do the same.

You see, even though I've seen more than my share of my brother in arms die in combat, I know I don't have the worst of it. The families and friends of those who have fallen, the civilians that can do little but to hope and pray for their loved ones abroad... They have it the worst of all.

For those out there that have lost loved ones due to combat, you will always have my sympathy. And more than anything, I hope you find the strength to overcome your loss and honor their memories, their sacrifices.

This is for the fallen. You may be gone but you will never be forgotten.

Mood: Chillin'

Invidtus at 06:56 PM May 28

good stuff man-

Righteous_faustus at 09:43 PM May 28

Well said, dude.

MrsData at 08:18 AM May 29

Perfectly written!

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