Sunday 30 December 2012

Kill Your Television (2012) (Short)



 





Directed by Shawn Kelley

Written by Shawn Kelley

Stars: Kelli Anderson, Austin Bosley, Clifton Bobb, Erin Ishii, Richard Shwartz, Melanie Zapelli, Vermonica Matthews, Thomas Bailey.









I was really pleased to be contacted by filmmaker Shawn Kelley regarding checking out his new horror short. I have seen a lot of great shorts over the course of 2012 so I was looking forward to what Shawns very interestingly titled film had to offer.

The plot concerns young Molly, a feisty little lady, well played by Kelli Anderson, let down by her boyfriend. Forced to spend the night alone, Molly resigns herself to the couch with some horror movies. Soon after a male friend turns up who Molly clearly finds irritating (a nice turn by Austin Bosley) warning her of her homes macabre history and how she is putting herself in grave danger by spending her evening the way she is! The following events pit Molly against the dark forces haunting her home building to a great little climax with a bit of grue thrown in for good measure.

There are lots of really nice horror touches throughout Kill Your Television. There's the sound effects offered by Wes Cravens hugely successful Scream playing on Molly's television, the creepy wind up toys on the living room table and a wonderful scene with Molly finding her visiting 'friend' outside her front door, under a blanket which provides the aforementioned bit of bloodshed.

An entertaining little horror short which takes the female alone at home scenario and gives it a macabre little twist. I thoroughly enjoyed Kill Your Television. Check out the films official Facebook site right HERE!

Wednesday 19 December 2012

The Download Horror (2012)

(Online Screener Copy)

Directed by Jim Hickey

Produced by Robin Mitchell and Keith Bradley

Stars: Sandra Darnell, Trine Theilen, Celine Cateland, Nina Kwok, Sarah Delaney and Stephen Boyd.

Well....here is one of the more original films I have had the pleasure of seeing this year. Firstly I wanted to say many thanks to producer Robin Mitchell for sending me a link to watch The Download Horror for review. Due to correspondance with Robin other the film I was able to find out some interesting facts about how it all came about and how it ended up with the unique sellling point it now has, in its final version.

What we, the viewers are seeing, is a cheesy old horror flick named Sacrificed, supplied to a pair of Scottish pals courtesy of someone named Big Al. Our horror enthusiasts Dougie and Robbo, keep us entertained throughout the running time of Sacrificed as they joke, banter, commentate and generally have the type of conversations that many of us have while watching a movie of a similar ilk. It's this originality which really impressed me as it kind of takes the best of what you love in a cheapie horror film and then gives it another layer by sharing in Dougie and Robbo's enjoyment (or lack of) of the same film.

Now, interestingly enough Sacrificed is a movie made several years prior by producer Keith Bradley and although it wasn't a film that Keith was 100% happy with, the potential was still very much there. Therefore the idea was hatched to present Sacrificed in the format you will see it now and as another interesting little fact, Keith Bradley actually provides one of the voice overs we hear throughout.

As well as the great comedy rife throughout the film thanks to Dougie and Robbo's input, the horror movie within the movie really isn't half bad. It has a great atmospheric set; you really can't go wrong with a big creepy house in a film like this lets be honest. Great attention to detail ensures that classic horror movie cliches such as shrouds of fog puts audiences further in the place of a good old fashioned demonic possession/slice and dice flick. There is also some satisfying moments of gore and let's face it, this and having a good laugh makes up the bulk of what we are looking for in such a film.

I had a great time with The Download Horror and would also like to thank fellow horror blogger Char Hardin for bringing it to my attention. If you want to see it too - here is your chance! Head on other to Distrify and rent or buy your very own copy of the film to enjoy from the comfort of your living room. Join Dougie and Robbo this Christmas and get downloading some horror!


Tuesday 18 December 2012

Blood Brothers (2012) (Short)






Directed by Steve Goltz

Written by Kevin Sommerfield

Stars: Matty Dorschner, Mike Goltz, Hannah Herdt and Hannah Hitzman

Release: Self distributed DVD available here !








The fantastic guys over at Slasher Studios follow up Popularity Killer and Teddy with something fresh and new, avoiding the slice and dice sub genre of previous (although brilliant) efforts.

With new film Blood Brothers, the home invasion scenario is taken by the horns and gives fans a suspense filled, action packed and blood soaked good time and bear in mind this is all within its miniscule running time!

The plot of the tale is simple; Michael (Mike Goltz) and Lindsay (Hannah Hitzman) are rolling in to their picture perfect home after celebrating five years of marriage. Sadly for this couple who have it all, they have some visitors (Matty Dorschner and Hannah Herdt) waiting for them and things are about to get very nasty, very quickly. Secrets as we know, generally dont stay buried forever and as these begin to spill out, Blood Brothers heads towards a very grim conclusion indeed.

I thought all the actors did a great job in the film and it was excellent to see Hannah Herdt play a totally different character to the one she played in Popularity Killer. However biggest props must go to both Matty Dorschner and Mike Goltz who steal the show as the warring male leads - brilliant stuff and captivating performances.

Another well made, well written, horror short outing from Slasher Studios who are fast becoming a name to reckon with in the independent film world. These guys havent got the fan base they have racked up for nothing let me tell you.

Follow the link above to grab your very own copy of Blood Brothers and also Slasher Studios other films! Also if the thought of a feature film from these guys excites you as much as it does me then head on over here to find out more about DONT GO TO THE REUNION...and how YOU can help make it happen!

Monday 17 December 2012

Dead of Knight (2009)





 




(Screener Copy)

Directed by Joe Grisaffi

Written by Joe Grisaffi and Emilo Iasiello

Stars: Jerin Julia, Brandon Hearnsberger, Christie Guidry, Dimitri Kouzas, Sara Gaston, Dan Braverman










Big thanks to film maker Joe Grisaffi for agreeing to send me a screener of his homicidal Knight slasher flick - Dead of Knight. I have been anticipating this movie for quite some time so I am over the moon to report that its a super fun, brilliantly made and EXCELLENTLY acted good time.

The plot of the film concerns young Marla, a girl battling through lifes pressures such as a boyfriend insisting on her to sleep with him. She is also severely affected by her mothers death and this is something she continually struggles to deal with. To add a further difficulty to her life, an ancient evil has been unleashed nearby and soon a killer hidden by a knight costume begins to take out her friends and others who cross his path one by bloody one!

As the body count rises and Marla loses more of her loved ones, she must pull out all the stops to end the amoured reign of terror that is making a beeline directly for her. Throw in a hard arsed detective also out for the killers blood and you have yourself the perfect Friday night horror flick.

As I mentioned before, Dead of Knight has some great acting. Jerin Julia is highly impressive as our lead gal Marla. She plays the sweet yet feisty heroine with some genuine acting chops and I am very excited to see more from this girl. In fact the female presence in this movie is impressive over all; I adored Christie Guidry as the spunky and straight talking best friend Cynthia and Sara Gaston damn near steals the show as the acerbic and quick witted Detective Waters.

Another thing I really got on board with with this film is how it made you care about the characters. The death scene of one of the characters toward the end really got to me purely because I liked them so much and the pained expression on their face while they are dying was actually quite genuinely horrific. Don't get me wrong though, most of the gore is just played for the fun factor and there are lot of cringe inducing moments that will just make you laugh (ahem lopped off arms...)

The production values on the film are also top notch and so impressive for a movie made on a minuscule budget. The sound is clear and audible and to top it off a great score compliments the action perfectly. I'm more than excited to see more from Joe Grisaffi in his upcoming work as he clearly knows how to turn a small budget to his absolute benefit.

Check out the Dead of Knight official Facebook site for more information and keep a close eye out on when you can get to see the film!

Friday 7 December 2012

HACKED IN THE HEAD TALKS TO WHITNEY QUINLAN

I recently got the chance to have a few words with actress Whitney Quinlan, star of upcoming Chris Morrissey murder mystery Heavy Makeup! Whitney plays the movies comic relief, Nikki and from what Whitney tells me she looks set to be a very fun part of the film. Read on for the full interview and enjoy!


Hacked in the Head: Hi Whitney! Thank you so much for interviewing with Hacked in the Head! .Film-maker Chris Morrissey put me in touch and has informed me that with you star in
his upcoming thriller Heavy Makeup? How has filming the movie been going?

Whitney: Hey! Thank you for this opportunity! We recently finished filming so right now the film is in editing phase. I love this movie! It was so much fun to film, awesome script, great characters and actors, and the best part is the fact most of us actors don't know the ending of the movie! Crazy huh?

HitH: I love that very fact Whitney it must really add to the excitement! I understand you play the role of ‘Nikki’ in the film. I feel bad for asking as I know you can’t give too much aware BUT…is there anything you can tell readers about Nikki and her role amidst all the mayhem?

Whitney: Nikki, she definitely is the comic relief through out the film. Funny one liners and selfish remarks constantly. She was fun to play her part, i think people will enjoy her role in the flim.

HitH: She sounds like my kind of character! I have alsohad the honour on interviewing both Jessica Velle and Share Cherrie for the site, both great gals. What was it like working together? I understand Jessica plays the best friend of Nikki in the film?

Whitney: they are talented women, us three had great chemistry on set especially me and Jessica. It was my first time working with jess and we hit it off right away. As for Share, i work with her on another project. However she is more behind the scenes on that project, so being able to act with her was a fun change!

HitH: On a related note how was it working with Chris Morrissey? He’s a really great guy who I hope goes far with his films!

Whitney: Again, like Share, i have worked with Chris before on this web series im in called, Beverly Hills Ghost Club. He was the camera man so having him film me in the movie, everything was really comfortable. Joking around just having a great time. He is a great director!

HitH: Since you mentioned Beverley Hills Ghost Club.. could you elaborate on your role in the show and what it’s all about?

Whitney: Well actually it is a web series, which plays on YouTube, Firstruntv.com, and our website, beverlyhillsghostclub.com. It was such a fun show! The show is about my sister, two of our friends, and me that visit haunted locations, and try to hunt ghost. We have been to some creepy places, I absolutely love it! I love scary things, so both Heavy Makeup and BHGC are right up my alley.

HitH: Excellent will be checking out the website!

When did the love for acting come about for you Whitney? Was it from an early age or something you just kind of fell into and in love with?

Whitney: Acting for me has always been something I love. I am always making people laugh and have always been kind of out there. I have been in a few plays throughout the years, but noticed I like being in front of the camera. I was voted Class Clown my senior year, haha now look at me!

HitH: What are some of your favourite all time movies? Do you like horror in general and if so what are some of your all time faves?

Whitney: Ask any of my close friends they will tell you and I am horror nut!!! Holy cow, honestly the only shows I record on TV are either scary ones, the food network, or dateline murder mystery shows. I don’t know what it is but I love the feeling of being scared or surprised! I have too many favourite movies, movie nut over here... but to name a few: The Strangers, Seven, Coraline, and The Professional... man just typing those few, so many more came to mind!

HitH: Do you have anything new in the pipeline for after Heavy Makeup wraps? We would love to hear all about it!

Whitney: I was actually told the other day that I will be working with Chris again on another project! I don’t know much about that yet but I can’t wait! I also have a crap ton of ideas for scenes in movies or even little shorts I would love to make happen eventually!

HitH: Thats great news cannot wait to hear more!
Finally Whitney is there anything else you wish to tell readers about yourself? Very best of luck in finishing Heavy Makeup and can’t wait to see you in it!

Whitney: Thank you for this opportunity Mark! I am really excited for Heavy Makeup to come out! It should be a great movie! I hope everyone likes my humour in it!

Thank you SO much Whitney! Stay in touch and good luck with everything!

Silent Night Bloody Night - The Homecoming (2012)

(Screener Copy)

Directed by James Plumb

Written by Andrew Jones and James Plumb

Stars: Mel Stevens, Alan Humphreys, Philip Harvey Rosemary Smith and Adrienne King as 'The Stranger' 

Release: UK DVD March 4 2013, courtesy of 101 films



I have been excited to see James Plumbs re-imagining/remake of Silent Night Bloody Night for some time now so many thanks to 101 Films for allowing me to screen a copy in advance of its official DVD release!

So much like the original, the film is centred on the creepy old Butler Mansion, a place where an awful tragedy occurred years before, causing the death of owner Wilfred Butler. The house is a bone of contention and almost an unhealthy obsession for many key members of the local town and when the chance to obtain it for themselves arises they are literally jumping at the chance. This opportunity comes in the form of young Jeffery Butler, who has been left the house by the deceased Wilfred Butler, looking to make a fast, cash in hand sale. As the sale starts to go through (so that the townsfolk can tear it down to be rid of it once and for all!) a string of hideous murders begins, all linked to the recent escape of very dangerous mental patient. This is cue for a number of twists and turns and a plethora of really nasty killings, the most brutal of which involves a car door, a chair (!) and spade. Writer James Plumb has really done 70/80s slasher fans proud with the brutality on display and I know gore fans are going to love this film!

The cast are generally all good in their roles with Mel Stevens as the Mayors daughter, Diane Adams, the definite stand out.I really look forward to seeing future roles from this girl as she has some genuinely authentic ‘scream queen’ qualities! I also enjoyed Tess Howard as local editor Rosemary Smith and Alan Humphreys as the ‘heir to horror’ Jeffrey Butler.

I also liked that there was more emphasis on the actual season the movie is taking place unlike the original. The haunting score really helps to put this across as well as lending an eerie atmosphere to proceedings. You should note that the movie is an indie, made on a low budget and therefore the fact that it is so professionally and stylishly shot should be commended.
All in all this movie is a good old fashioned British horror movie but done very much in the vein of all the slasher’s you used to (and probably still do) love .You will want to pick a copy of this bad boy up on its official DVD release date on March 4 2013! Oh and on the end credits there is a slight teaser of a follow up…….




Monday 3 December 2012

Zombie Cheerleading Camp (2007)


(Screener Copy)

Directed by Jon Fabris

Written by Jon Fabris

Stars:  Jamie Anne Brown, Chris White, Nicole Lewis, Jason Greene, Brandy Blackmon, Daniel Check, Terry Chandeline Nicole Westfall, Micah Shane Ballinger, Jaqueline Martini, Elyse Rodriguez, Abby MacDonald, Katie Pate, Pudge Phillips, Brittany Forbes

Release: Buy you own copy from the film official store HERE!








If its sheer ridiculous fun you are looking for then honestly you cannot go far wrong with Zombie Cheerleading Camp! Many thanks to first time writer, director, editor Jon Fabris (Jaf Productions) for sending me a copy for review!

The films plot is very simple- bunch of girls hit cheerleading camp only for the majority of them to get hit by a gnarly zombie virus. As the girls (and some guys) start to get sick, it's only a matter of time before they turn into ravenous, intestine hungry monsters. Here on out it is gore galore as throats are ripped and bitten open, bodies get pulled apart, chainsaws dissect zombies and a nasty little zombiefied squirrel makes its rounds!! If this all sounds a little (!) OTT to you then go find another movie to sink your teeth into but if you can take a fun, gory, silly movie exactly for what it is then go check out Zombie Cheerleading Camp.

Favourite scenes include aforementioned chainsaw separation, the squirrel attack which turns one hapless sap into a raving cannibal and pretty much any scene involving the snotty, drill sergeant bitch from hell camp instructor! I also really dug the nice little apocalyptic ending which shows viewers that maybe it's not just Cheerleading Camp that could be the death of you....

I very much look forward to hearing about what Jon has up his sleeve next and as soon as I get any details I will be sure to share them with you! In the meantime get yourself over to the official movie website and grab yourself a copy of the DVD. Done? 'Now there's a good zombie!'

Demon Dolls (1993)






Directed by Todd Jason Cook

Written by Todd Jason Cook and Lisa Cook

Stars: Todd Jason Cook, Lisa Cook, Rik Deskin, Joey Scarborough, Penny Spellman, Scott Spellman










I have ALWAYS wanted to see Demon Dolls - ever since I was a horror hungry 12/13 year old and saw that my dad had a VHS copy of it (I don't have a clue to this day how he came across it, where it went or where it is now, but I wanted to see it and he went gave it back to whomever it belonged to before I got the chance...grrrr!)

Anyways fast forward a good hundred years and the writer/director of the film, Todd Jason Cook, was kind enough to send me a copy for review - win! So what did I make of Demon Dolls all this time later? Well its different that's for sure! Very very different.

The plot involves a doll, possessed by an evil spirit, who has the power to imitate those it comes into contact with. The dolls resurrection is caused by an incantation and following this all manner of crazy stuff occurs relating to the doll and its peculiar abilities. I can honestly say Demon Dolls messed around with my expectations and there were several times I had to take it back a few scenes to double check I wasn't missing something! I must say that I very much enjoyed the films tongue in cheek nod nod wink wink ending - I thought it was great fun.

As with Todd Jason Cooks other SOV films of the 90s the gore quota is high and quite inventive. The lamp through mid section scene is a definate highlight and although its not gory the scene where the lead character Scott (Todd Jason Cook) pulls the doll from his mouth is awesome.

All in all despite how utterly bizarre Demon Dolls is you MUST check it out.I can honestly say you won't have seen ANYTHING quite like it. Head on over  HERE and HERE to find a copy for yourself and PLEASE check out Todds new film, the slasher/zombie movie hybrid Zombiefied as its certainly one of my favourite indie horrors of 2012!

Blood Slaughter Massacre - Mass Grave Pictures






Writer and Director Manny Serrano was kind enough to send me some promo material for Mass Grave Pictures upcoming indie slasher Blood Slaughter Massacre. The DVD I was sent included the full trailer for the movie as well as faux trailers for Blood Slaughter Massacre 1,2 and 3 AND a little teaser for BSM part 4! As an additional bonus you also get the faux commercial for the action figure of the killer that the actual movie is based around - a great promo package for the movie to come!

The movie, as will be in its final feature length form, concerns a Detective James Fincher, a man tormented by the murders occurring in the town of Havenwood. It seems a malevolent killer known as The Ripper is out to take out the female population of Havenwood and its up to Fincher to try to bring him down!

As far as the promo dvd is concerned, I had a lot of fun with it. The faux trailers for all three films are just great - real old school straight to VHS style advertisements for the fake series. You have cheesy voice overs, a nice creepy killer and teasers of the blood shed to come for the movies (if they were actually real of course). I can only bet these were amazing fun to make and shows very clearly that the guys over at Mass Grave Pictures know their slasher movies very well, not only that but they know their slasher sequels even better (the faux trailers for parts 2 and 3 are just fantastic).

As for the trailer for the official Blood Slaughter Massacre (coming soon) has made me very excited for the finished product. BSM looks like a fun, slightly creepy, blood bath of a good time and if these guys are as well versed in the slasher sub genre as I believe them to be then we horror fans are in for a real treat.

Finally the faux commercial for The Ripper action figure is a total and absolute hoot - you will really dig this I swear!!!

To view the faux trailers, the official trailer and to find out more about Mass Grave Pictures head on over to their website where you can also find out more about the team and their work.

Oh and by the way - Blood Slaughter Massacre part 3 is officially my favourite slasher film that hasn't been made!

Jacob (2011)

(Screener Copy courtesy of Odyssee pictures)

Directed by Larry Wade Carrell

Written by by Larry Wade Carrell

Stars: Dylan Horne, Grace Powell, Krystn Caldwell, Larry Wade Carrell, Leo D. Wheeler, Joe Grisaffi, Parish Randall, Jeremy James Douglas Norton, Kerry Beyer and Michael Biehn, 











Big big thanks to Larry Wade Carrell for sending me a copy of his indie horror film Jacob.I have heard a lot of great things about the movie in previous months so was very keen to see what was in store and and extremely pleased to say that Jacob is one of the absolutely finest horror films I have seen in a while.

Teenage Jacob Kell, played by Dylan Horne, is a supposedly gentle giant with a very simple mind who lives with his younger sister Sissy, life beaten mother Edith and monstrous stepfather Otis. Life is tough on the young Kell kids as Otis, a raving alcoholic and bully regularly beats and verbally abuses their mother.             There is a lot of input to this family's sad life from the local townsfolk and it is some of these interferences which help to contribute to the events which cause the violent climax of Jacob. Despite Jacobs mental condition he is extremely loving toward and protective of his young sister Sissy. It is a violent attack by Otis, when drunk, which causes the sad and premature death of Sissy unleashing a hidden rage in Jacob - and its the whole town who is in direct danger not just the man directly responsible....

Its then safe to say that the film gets gruesome. In fact it gets bat-shit crazy gruesome as Jacob wrecks a vicious revenge upon several members of the town as he mourns the loss of his sister. I don't want to spoil any of the kills in the film but will say that there are some fantastic methods of homicide employed by young Jacob and a few in particular may just make your jaw drop! In addition there is a mysterious supernatural angle to the plot which I don't want to spoil for any future viewers but I will say that it involves Jacob's real father, an extremely creepy house and a much deeper dimension to what could have been a simpler plot.

There are some excellent performances in the film: Krystn Caldwell invokes genuine sympathy in her role as Edith Kell, a lady so betrayed by life it is impossible not to feel sorry for her despite some truly questionable choices she makes. Both Dylan Horne and Grace Powell are fantastic in their respective roles of Jacob and Sissy. Dylan portrays the silent, lumbering Jacob with such skill that I truly felt I was watching a young man with severe mental issues. When Jacob turns murderous I felt Dylan Horne did an amazing job of switching his character from essentially harmless to frighteningly harmful in the blink of an eye. Don't get me wrong there are two or three earlier indications of the anger lying within Jacob earlier on in the film but I felt it so easy to believe that ultimately he couldn't harm a fly unless any harm coming to his sister or mother provoked him. Grace Powell damn near steals the show at certain points in the film with her bossy but caring attitude towards her brother. There are a couple of scenes that are simply touching and that's thanks to Grace's portrayal of young Sissy. On top of writing and directing the film, Larry Wade Carrell also plays two pivotal roles in the movie. Both roles are excellently acted, particularly when you consider one is the light, Deputy Billy and one is very much the dark, Billy's violent drunk bother Otis. I found it very easy to differentiate between the two contrasting roles which isn't always easy to do when the same actor is playing them so amazing job here!

The film is beautifully and atmospherically shot; scenes in which the aforementioned creepy home are featured are particularly well shot, adding a genuine atmosphere of dread to proceedings.

I HIGHLY recommend Jacob to everyone. The ending gave me hope that the journey Jacobs home town and possibly even Jacob himself is not yet over and that there is more to come in a potential sequel. I would be really excited for a follow up personally. Check out the films Facebook page HERE and keep in the loop regarding release details for the film as you will want to grab a copy as soon as its available!

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Bleeding Through (2012)

(Online Screener Copy)

by Henrique Couto

Written by Henrique Couto

Stars: Sandy Behre, Ruby LaRocca, Josh Lively, Zane Crosby, Henrique Couto, Justin Channell, Jason Pollock, George Hrab, Andrew N. Shearer, Countess Samela, Adam Dunhoff.










Bleeding Through is the latest feature film from indie filmmaker, actor and musician Henrique Couto and I would like to extend my thanks to the man himself for allowing me to review it for Hacked in the Head.

The film serves as Henrique’s first real foray into serious horror and I am pleased to say it’s a damn fine foray indeed. Imagine if you will a sad but engrossing and emotional drama which morphs effectively into a blood splattered horror movie in its final act a la Carrie (1976).

The overall plot involves young college student Lindsey (Sandy Behre) a girl shattered by the deaths of her parents in a car accident and further tormented by life in the form of some local bullies, a condescending boss and her slightly unsympathetic brother (Henrique Couto). Lindsay’s luck changes for the better when she meets the free spirited and fun Katie (Ruby LaRocca) and their budding friendship acts as a pleasantly emotional turn around to a rather bleak existence. Still I did compare this movie to Carrie so therefore you may not be surprised to know that this friendship isn't made to last and a final betrayal acts as the final straw and prompts Lindsay to end the life she has grown to find so insufferable.

If those people partly responsible for the deep depression wrought upon Lindsay think they are out of the woods with her passing they are horribly mistaken as the final act makes way for Lindsay’s brutal search for revenge – beyond the grave.

I really loved the supernatural angle of the plot. Henrique could have gone down the route of young Lindsay simply snapping beyond all salvation and embarking on a bloody killing spree but instead, Lindsay’s suicide added a nice curveball to proceedings and I felt this added far more meat to the plot. 

For gore fans there is quite a bit to enjoy in the final part of the film. Dead Lindsay is not the meek couch potato that alive Lindsay was and when it comes to inflicting pain on those that hurt her..well…she isn't backwards in coming forwards let’s just put that out there.

The acting was a huge plus point in Bleeding Through. I would say all characters do a good job but both girls, Sandy Behre and particularly Ruby LaRocca absolutely nail their roles. Sandy goes from a shy, withdrawn, sad young woman to a vengeful angel of death with professional ease. In fact Sandy's acting is so good, particularly in the first hour or so of the film that you actually share the pain she appears to experience in communicating and interacting with others. Ruby LaRoccas Katie on the other hand is a perfectly acted, vivacious and fun wildchild who may not be all that a good friend after all.

The film is also really well written; the dialogue is bleak at the best of times, but absolutely engaging, drawing you deeper into the plot as it motors towards its grim climax. Its also really well shot and I felt incorporating elements of home videos featuring Sandy's parents when they were alive was an excellent way to make audiences more involved in the plot and Sandy's sad plight.

I really enjoyed Bleeding Through and it I think it puts Henrique Couto out there as someone to really keep your eye on in independent cinema. You can preorder your very own copy of the film, released early next year right HERE and I strongly recommend you doing so.

Monday 19 November 2012

The Dummy (1995)


Directed by Dante Falconi

Written by Dante Falconi

Stars: Todd Jason Cook, Lisa Cook, Sabrina Cook, Bill DeWild, Harley Graves, Anthony Jones, Katrina Judkins, Cindy Larsen, Jim Larsen, Jerry McGhee, Brian Truitt, Angela Watkins.








The Dummy is a 1995 SOV effort from Todd Jason Cook, director and writer of previous cheapo horror efforts Evil Night and Demon Dolls. I LOVE me a killer doll horror flick so of course the thought of a crazed ventriloquist dummy had me excited!

The plot involves a pair of newlyweds, Chris and Laura, who make the grave error of insulting a fortune teller. Said fortunate teller exacts her revenge using the titular dummy, instructing it to kill anyone who has the misfortune of coming into contact with Chris and Laura and eventually taking them out themselves! One pissed off lady then!

The film turns into a total bloodbath as our friendly resident dummy starts hacking his way through all manner of luckless victims in his mission to eliminate the newlyweds. There is lots of fun grue and gore as people are stabbed, slashed and a whole lot worse (look out for the knife to mouth scene...)

Bottom line is that The Dummy is an ultra cheap movie so you can't go in expecting stellar acting, amazing sets and top notch special effects. What you will get however is a fun and bloody low budget horror flick with a brilliant little antagonist and, I have to say, an awesome little final scene. Safe to say this Dummy will NOT be beaten easily..... On top of that the film has a nifty giallo-esque score! Check over HERE and HERE to find a copy for yourself! A new late night low budget favourite of mine to have fun with, with a few beers!!

You may also be interested to know that Todd Jason Cook has recently released his zombie slasher hybrid Zombiefied which is a must see and reflects the direction that Todd is now taking with his mobvies now the good ole SOV days are behind him. I strongly recommend giving Zombiefied your time and you can grab a copy HERE.

Sunday 18 November 2012

Laughter (2012)

Screener Copy







Directed by Adam Dunning

Written by Adam Dunning

Stars: Rocky Petroziello, Kris Marconi, Sam Rovin, Erin Rovin, Shauna Farhad, Rebecca Henning, Tim Merli, Jessica Lindgren, Ian Anderson, Madison Caudullo, Melissa Simoson, Marc Colby Sr, Robert Storm, Christopher Weite, John Murray and Gruesome Hertzogg.





Big thanks to film maker Adam Dunning for sending me a screener copy of his second horror feature Laughter. Laughter is a fun, low budget slasher movie with a great benefit in having a vindictive clown as its killer.

The story involves a deeply unhappy young man named Joey who suffers both at the hands of his abusive father and the mean kids at school. Joey also has a, lets say obsession, with clowns as they are something he associates with his deceased mother. Concocting a silly prank with his two friends to scare some of the other kids at a party is the start of a far bigger nightmare and as is always the case in these types of films - the past always comes back to haunt you.

So the prank clearly doesn't go off as planned and results in a death which the other kids foolishly cover up. Fast forward six months and the guilty teens are now living an existence far removed from those they had planned for themselves. I guess that kind of guilt and remorse will do that to you! But that's only the beginning of their troubles as a grotesque clown soon makes his appearance and starts taking them out one by one, by one... Ok so you may have heard this all before. Personally I can take a slasher movie with the standard cover up/revenge scenario any old day so I'm happy. One thing, to its credit, that Laughter tries to do a bit differently is to include a few original death scenes which I really appreciate. Further good points are the films score which is really effective and I would even say haunting and some of the characters were really interesting. On top of all of that the clown costume is SCARY!

There are some not so good points about Laughter and I feel these are important to highlight as viewers who are not so well versed in the more lower budgeted movie may struggle. Firstly, there is a running sound issue meaning you have to adjust your volume quite a bit. This can prove a bit distracting although its not something that bothered me too much and did seem to improve toward the end. There are also some weaker performances and some very repetitive and unnatural dialogue in various parts of the movie.

That said, on the performances, there are some impressive ones also. I thought Rocky Petroziello as Joey did a superb job and wish there could have been more him as he played the tormented soul very well. Both Kris Marconi and Sam Rovin did a good job also as Joeys mischievous friends, Chris and Brian; brought back to earth with a bang after the events of the party. I also really enjoyed Erin Rovins performance as Kate, a sweet but slightly edgy girl and thought she came across as the most natural actress in the film.

All in all Laughter is a good time, with admittedly its flaws, that I would recommend checking out. It has a good story, some good performances and interesting characters and a few cool death scenes. I really look forward to seeing what Adam Dunning comes up with next as he clearly has a sound working knowledge of the knows the horror genre. If you want to find out even more about the film please check out my interview with Adam HERE!

Die Laughing - an interview with Adam Dunning


Independent film maker Adam Dunning was kind enough, not only to send me a copy of his new film horror flick Laughter for review but also to take the time to talk to me extensively about the film. Please read on for our a great interview with Adam who shares his insights on the film and lots of other stuff.  With Adams permission I have also included production stills, the official movie poster and some pics from the recent Laughter premiere, held on the 28 October!




Hacked in the Head: Hi Adam! Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. I have just had the chance to watch and review your feature length horror film Laughter which is the second independent horror film you have written and directed. Firstly can you tell us a little bit about both films and any influences behind them? I haven't yet gotten to see The Infected, but thanks to your kindness, I have now had the chance to enjoy Laughter.

Adam: Mark, I want to thank you for taking your time and reviewing LAUGHTER! I will also get a copy of the inFected to you, so you can see the difference between both films. Well both films are two different horror genres. Laughter is about a killer clown, where the inFected is about a zombie infected town. Influences on the films is just the love of the horror genre. When we watch horror films today its remakes after remakes, and I know we are all getting tired of classics being ruined. The independent world of film maker is a huge influence on any film. The best part about it is your getting actors, producers, writers, directors, editors and so to work on something because they love the genre, or love the field of film making. If I was to choose influences on the films itself I would have to say this about the inFected. Since the film is based on zombies and its a huge subject today, Romero is a reason I got into Zombie flicks and why a lot of people are making them is because of that guy. Romero would definitely be the biggest influence in while i chose a zombie flick. Then LAUGHTER i was influenced by my father when I wanted to write another film I was trying to thing of something that people are scared of. My father looked over and said do a clown movie! So I then looked into my DVD collection and saw "IT" and "Killer Clowns from outer Space" and those are my two favorite clown flicks and gave me some inspiration on how to write LAUGHTER.

HitH: Awesome I look forward to checking out inFected! Now Laughter is a fun slasher film with the distinct selling point of a very creepy looking killer clown. Where on earth did that costume come from?? The mask makes for one of the most volatile looking clowns I have ever seen. It's lucky I'm not as scared of clowns as I was as a child (I ruined a kids birthday party with my hysterical screaming when I was very young....)

Adam: The clown was a challenge to come up with a look to make the clown scary. I went to our local costume shop "Taney's Costume Shop" I was looking at mask and could not find anything I liked that made the clown. So the owner said hold on and let me show you this foam latex mask that I just got in. So we talked about it and once he held it up to his face and showed me how it moves with you face structure, I said that is it. So that is where the mask came from and then I went home and painted up the face and then had to order a few more incase one tore in areas. The costume that he wears was another challenge! I had a blue and yellow costume that did not fit the part once we shot the teaser trailer. So My fiance and her Aunt Jan and myself took a drive to a local fabric shop and looked for an hour or two for something. I went down one way and they went another and I came across this fabric buried under others that was just black and red and torn and bloody looking. I was thinking to myself "This is it". So we went looking for more of it and then found the other half and bought it real cheap I think fifteen dollars for the entire costume to make. So that is how the look of the clown begin which was made by my Fiance Aunt Jan that did an awesome job on it.



HitH: Well it was a job well done, I love the costume! I don't want to spoil anything for readers but there were a few interesting death scenes in Laughter. Did you set out making the movie with the intention on 'raising the bar' with the kills? I'm sure you are aware of how much slasher fans love their creative kills!.

Adam: I tried to set a bar limit on this for the death scenes. Its hard when there are so many out there and trying to come up with something new. There are a lot of cool deaths, and some deaths that are just quick and easy like a neck snapping "Spoiler right there but not a huge one!" Some deaths were tough to do, because when I wrote them it was easy to turn around and come up with something. When you are creating them it is way different because now you have to figure how the hell do i make this. The ones who enjoy Independent horror films I do think that they will love the death scenes in this movie.




HitH: Are you also able to talk about the budget for the film and any particular challenges you may have faced while making it?

Adam: The budget I will come right out and say was very low! We did indie gogo to raise money, a pasta dinner, and then money right out of pocket and the total budget was $3,500.00 to make the film. That was used for the make-up, the build of the shack, food, the costume and props, and anything else needed. Equipment I already had so nothing had to go into that. Challenges we had a few, like i said time was taken with the death scenes, the crime scene outside we has no lights so we were going to call it for the day, but we all turned our cars on and put the heads on to give us the lighting we needed. Which the scene still came out dark, but hey we did it! There were never really any hard challenges in this film, Everyone was great and came and did what they had to do! So for that to happen everything went a lot smoother during production.

HitH: How about the casting process for the film? Are there any memorable performances you want to share? I particularly enjoyed Erin Rovin's performance as Kate, I thought she came off extremely well.

Adam: The casting process for the film was different because I have never held a casting call before. The inFected was just all family and friends that made that film. Since the inFected was all a project to complete so i could Graduate from College. The process for the casting was fun, we got to meet a lot of new people and see all the talent that was in the area. A lot ask that question about memorable performances and its hard to answer. During the casting call, the actors got a few minutes to look over everything so didn't know what was going to happen. Everyone did a great job when reading and going over everything. During the casting there were a lot of funny moments that went on. The production side of performances everyone was good and did a great job pulling their character together. Also everyone talked with each other and said why don't you try this to make it better, or look that way when you say your line. So you can't pick one, because everyone did great and also helped one another make their performances better.






HitH: Thats great, you certainly can tell that the cast were working hard to bring their characters to the fore. Now you recently had your premiere of the film on the 28 October - great stuff. How did it all go? Were you pleased with the turn out and reception of the movie?

Adam: The premiere went well and was shocked with the turn out for the film. We had over two theaters sold out, plus some that couldn't make it because of the storm that came up that weekend. We had our backdrop with the sponsors, and the clown standing there to take pictures with, DVDS and poster to be sold. Then the film began and now I was like well in the next few hours we will find out what everyone thought of the film. Well we found out and they enjoyed the film, they were pleased to see someone from the area doing something like this, the storyline went quick and didn't drag much. So we were all pleased on the turn out and how the entire event went that night.




HitH: What's the overall plan for general release? Can horror fans expect to see laughter officially out on DVD by the end of the year or the start of next year? Also for anyone reading interested in buying a copy, do you have any copies from the first run left and if so how do people go about grabbing one?

Adam: We are not sure about being released yet to other theaters and stuff. We are working on trying to get it picked up right now! If anyone was to buy a copy we have them and they are ready to be shipped out. They are $15.00 a copy and have the film, features with over 2 hours of stuff and the soundtrack. They can contact me at dunnlacka@yahoo.com and then we will give them the information on how to get their copy.



HitH: Hear that folks? Get in touch with Adam now and grab a copy!

So I already know from a recent online interview that you are a horror fan Adam. Tell me a bit about your favourite horror films and also anything you don't particularly enjoy within the genre?

Adam: I don't like remakes in the horror genre because they away from the story and add in areas that ruin it more. Although there are areas of the remakes that I do like. My favorite horror film is the Halloween series, then texas chainsaw, freddy, jason and so on with the classics. I just like the story lines and the gore and acting that goes into making a horror film. To make a horror film is just fun and thats what all productions are for horror film makers. I just like all horror films and will keep on going to see them even if they are remakes.

HitH: Whats next for Adam Dunning? Could we see a Laughter sequel in the future or are you planning a different film for your next venture?

Adam: I am writing a sequel right now for LAUGHTER, I also wrote a sequel to the inFeceted, but not pleased with it so that got tossed aside. I am also talking with some one about a script, which I am not going to give a title away or who that person is, but it's a great story and if you were to read the script it puts you right into the story of it. So there are some areas of a sequel in the future and even other projects. Not sure on days or years that it will start production, but for now I am going to give LAUGHTER it's time to travel to the viewers who want to see it.

HitH: Sounds exciting and I cant wait to hear more in the future! Finally Adam - is there anything else you would like to tell readers or share with them?

Adam: Thank you to everyone that loves horror films! If not for you then we would not have a job or passion to make these films for you. Also any other film makers out there keep pushing to get yourself out there. I made a film with no big budget, and not big time equipment and made a successful film. So when anyone says you cant make it and can't do anything, thats not true you can do what you want and you can make that choice to succed. Hope you enjoy Laughter and hear back from you and your thoughts on it.

HitH: Adam thank you so much for talking to me and all the best with Laughter and your future work - stay in touch!



Thursday 15 November 2012

THE FACTORY DOORS ARE OPEN FOR BLOODY BUSINESS: AN INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN WOLFE AND DOLL FACTORY PRESS RELEASE!


Doll Factory, an upcoming killer toy flick written and directed by Stephen Wolfe, commenced principal Photography back in February 2012 and is now knee deep in Post Production. Great news for us horror fans who I am sure will be chomping at the bit for some new murderous doll action! Please read on for some more info on the film, some stills AND an exclusive interview with the man behind the mayhem himself, Stephen Wolfe!



“Doll Factory” is the story of a small town besieged by possessed killer baby dolls and the group of teenagers fighting for the souls of the townspeople.
“We’re excited to see it come to life,” said Wolfe, going on to say, “this story is a twisted, over the top horror comedy about a group of teenagers that inadvertently brings killer baby dolls to life.” “After reading the script for Doll Factory, I knew it had to be our next film,” said Andy Palmer, Executive Producer/’Melvin’, “and it made the perfect follow-up after Midnight Abyss.”


“Doll Factory” is a co-production between Fan Fiction Cinema, LLC and Barton Ct. Productions. The movie stars Justin Herman (Barton Police), Nicole Elliott (Abel’s Field), Andy Palmer (Midnight Abyss), Patrick Sane (Czech Beautiful) and Deke Anderson (Green Lantern). Practical Special FX, Visual FX and the Yegor character design are all being created by DWN Productions. JBD Designs is responsible for creating the titular dolls.




Hacked in the Head: Hi Stephen! Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. I have been excited about your upcoming horror film 'Doll Factory' since I first learnt of it. I love me a killer toy horror film so I wondered firstly what can fans expect from it?

Stephen Wolfe: Doll Factory is definitely a throwback to the heyday of 1970's/80's horror but played more as a campy horror/comedy. It's a fun little ride packed with plenty of blood, gore and doll mayhem!

HitH: What do you think you might bring to the table that differs from other movies in the animated doll sub genre?

SW: Well I think what makes Doll Factory stand out amongst other killer doll movies is that it doesn't restrict itself to just one thing. It really does branch off into many different directions which I think helps set it apart. From the over-the-top death scenes to the crazy characters in it, I feel there are elements that makes Doll Factory a truly unique and entertaining experience! 

HitH; That's awesome, over the top death scenes and crazy characters are the making of many a decent horror movie. I would also love to hear how the idea for Doll Factory came about and your main influences for the film?

SW: The idea behind Doll Factory was actually conjured up playing a horror themed video game with some friends of mine. The game featured a level called the Doll Factory where these creepy dolls would walk around like zombies and explode if you touched them. Well that's where the initial idea came from. It really was nothing more than a inside joke for awhile until I started playing with idea of making a fake trailer for it. I wanted to do it very 1970's grind house style and make it over the top and campy. Eventually I got to do it for a film class in college and it actually turned out to be a hit! So after awhile, the decision was made to turn the concept into a feature film. Doll Factory is heavily influenced from popular franchises like Evil Dead, Gremlins, Puppet Master and Child's Play.

HitH: Fantastic...and I will be looking into that game, I have never heard of it!!! Could you tell us a bit about the Doll Factory cast and what kind if characters we can expect to see?

SW: As mentioned earlier, Doll Factory is filled with crazy and over the cop characters ranging from a really funny cop duo to a grumpy old man that has a Santa Claus beard glued to his face because of a Halloween costume malfunction! This film was a great experience because I got to work with such a talented cast that really brought these characters to life in ways I never could of imagined!

HitH: Finally: how's post production coming along? Although its early days what kind of release plans do you have in mind?

SW: Post-Production is coming along great! We have a locked cut of the film and are now in the early stages of visual effects. In about a week or so we should be locking down a music composer and a post sound mixer for the project. We are currently looking to finish the film sometime towards the end of January!

HitH: That sounds great, what a rewarding way to kick off 2013! I see you also have several other projects under your belt. Would you like to tell fans a bit about your Psychological horror film Midnight Abyss? Also how about the segment you directed in Evil Deeds 2 'The Hermit'?

SW: Midnight Abyss was a micro budget feature film I did back in 2010. It started out as a short film but ended up being turned into a feature later on. It's a psychological horror about a kid that watches a scary vampire movie and begins thinking that the vampire is real and out to get him. It plays on that primal fear of imagining there's something after you, when in reality it's just your mind making up things. However, in Midnight Abyss, we kind of blurs the lines of what's real and what's make believe!

Evil Deeds 2 was a anthology horror film I collaborated on with filmmaker Matt Spease back in 2009. I shot the wraparound segment which involves a creepy old hermit who finds this young couple camping out in the middle of the woods and begins telling them the different short stories. We shot it over one night with nothing more than a man made fire and a MiniDV camera. It was interesting to do because Matt lives in a different state so I only shot the inserts for the young couple and he shot the inserts with Hermit and then spliced them all together.


HitH: What do you love most about working working in the film industry Stephen and similarly what are some if the downfalls?

SW: The core of my passion in filmmaking is and will always be telling stories. Ever since I was kid, drawing in my notebooks or playing with my action figures, I was always making up really elaborate stories. The other aspect I really enjoy is the collaboration with a team of people that specialize in all different fields behind and in front of the camera. To watch all these different elements come together to bring a vision to life is just indescribable! Of course there are tons of hazards with filmmaking, I mean it's a big gamble to begin with and nothing ever goes exactly how you plan it.


HitH: Is there any advice you give anyone out there interested in getting into filmmaking? Particularly within the independent horror genre?

SW: I would say just don't give up on it, it takes a lot of dedication and time but if you stick with it and are really passionate about it, you will see results...eventually! Just be sure to involve yourself with as many projects as you can and always make sure to learn from your mistakes. Also, connections are essential so make sure to network your ass off!

HitH: I would also love to know about your all time favourite horror movies? Also any you particularly don't enjoy?

SW: My favourite horror movies have and will always be the classic Universal monster films. Those were the films that made me fall in love with the genre. The first horror film I ever watched was the classic Frankenstein and I remember just being mesmerized by it! I love all sorts of horror films though, from the popular slasher franchises like Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street to really campy ones like Leprechaun. If I had to single out something that I don't really care for, it would be that wave of PG13 remakes that were really popular for awhile.

HitH: Ahem...'Prom Night' remake..ahem....Finally Stephen, is there anything further you want to share with fans about your work? And the very best of luck with Doll Factory!

SW: For anyone interested in keeping up to date with the progress of Doll Factory, be sure to add us on Facebook at facebook.com/dollfactorymovie. I'm also currently involved with a new creative blog called FanboyFilmmaker that is producing original genre-based content imbedded in pop culture. You can find more about that at FanboyFilmmaker.com or our Facebook page

Thank you Stephen for a great interview! Keep an eye out for more news on Doll Factory as I get it!



Wednesday 7 November 2012

Evil Night (1992)


Directed by Todd Jason Cook

Written by Todd Jason Cook

Stars: Todd Jason Cook, Holly Aeck, Joseph Fautinos, Spencer Trask, Penny Spellman, Scott Spellman, Lisa Cook, Cynthia Wilson, Mark Chavez, Rik Deskin, Alan Finney










Many thanks to filmmaker Todd Jason Cook (Zombiefied) for sending me copies of three of his older SOV horror flicks from the 90s for my watching and reviewing pleasure! I have always been interested in Todd's older films after hearing stuff about them in the past, old trailers and obviously from really enjoying Zombiefied!

Evil Night marks the earliest of the three efforts that Todd has shared with me and I had a heap of fun with it. It's extremely cheaply made (a main clue is SOV!) with some ropey acting and sometimes dodgy effects BUT its also a fun slasher movie with a sense of humour and an inventively cruel streak by way of some crazy kill scenes.

So the plot: Jimmy Fisher is the college nerd who is constantly subjected to the rich kids harassment. After a nasty prank results in Jimmy being injured he decides enough is enough and uses his expertise in science to create a telekinetic ability just perfect for killing his enemies in some of the more nasty but fun ways you can think of! (sounds far fetched? Yes? GOOD) Kills scenes wise we are talking exploding cigarettes and spiked hazing paddles here people! So it's kind of like Carrie on benefits but that's not a criticism - I love ultra cheap and ultra fun, it's precisely the reason I started this blog in the first place!

If you are looking for a trashy, gory and hilarious good time, you can't go far wrong with Evil Night. Check out the following link to see how you can grab your very own copy from Screamtime films and look out for my reviews of The Dummy and Demon Dolls coming very soon! If you know you dont have the patience for the lowest of low budget horror films then I advise staying away but...well its kinda your loss.
A true guilty pleasure.

Dead Mans Party (2011)



(Screener Copy)

Directed by Markus Baldwin

Written by Markus Baldwin and Julie Mitchell

Stars: Markus Baldwin, Richard Beatty, Adam Grimes, Jeremy Guskin, Carissa Costa, Carl Lundstrom, Julie Mitchell, Shon Little, Tatum Adair








Dead Mans Party marks a first for Hacked in the Head, in that its not really a horror film. It has the set up of one and is structured throughout as one but it never actually (purposefully mind you) delivers the serious chills and spills. Instead, Dead Mans Party is a painfully funny satire, poking fun at all of your standard horror flick cliches and scenarios and it works exceptionally well for it. That said the opening is fairly horrorific (keep that window closed!)...just dont expect that particular tone to remain.

The plot involves four friends and one newbie who return to a beach house they used to visit together when a now deceased friend was still with them. Unfortunately for our motley group of  pals, said dead dude is now living in the beach house and he intends to scare them off. A series of strange occurrences begins to alert the friends that they are 'not alone' and they must work together to figure out who or what is trying to mess with them - with hilarious results. Plus all is not what it seems.....

Firstly I want to say that the characters in this film are excellent. The five youngsters who all come together are varying in personality; from the side splittingly ditzy Sara (a fun performance by Carissa Costa) to the acerbic Jill (one liners delivered with skill and ease by Julie Mitchell) and the self concious/neurotic Zach (possibly my favourite performance by Adam Grimes). Watching these five interact and start to try to deal with the haunting at the beach house provides constant entertainment throughout and I dare anyone not to be amused in the slightest. (If you arent I would check for a pulse!)

However great actors playing funny characters need good material so I also want to commend the writing. The funny one liners just keep coming; Sara: 'I'm Sara'....Jill:  'Good for you' or 'Goodnight Johnny!'.....'Asshole!'....and lets not forgot 'Are.....you...bleeding...from...your...vagina?'.  Markus Baldwin obviously knows his comedy and I cannot wait to see more his work both as a director and a writer.

The film is really well made also, you can tell its an indie BUT its really well shot, the sound is perfect and the casting was absoutely spot on. I recommend Dead Mans Party for those of you who want to get a break from some of the more serious horror films and even the over the top gory yet fun ones. You can find more out about the film right HERE and I urge you to check it out when you can!