BLOOD: Bloodthirsty Thursday deliver's a 'Hatchet' Triple Feature

OUTRAGEOUS AND CONTROVERSIAL HORROR TRILOGY PLAYS BACK-TO-BACK IN SATX

by

Bowie V. Ibarra

Kelly Warren Hammond and the boys and girls of Bloodthirsty Thursday brought the quality blood and gore to the silver screen again to Alamo Drafthouse Westlake in San Antonio, Texas.  The 'Hatchet' triple-feature screening was yet another fine example of the great fun BTT is bringing to the San Antonio horror scene.

The event was a fundraiser for 'Scares that Care'.  And proceeds from the tickets went to the organization that helps kids pay for their medical bills.

Fast Custom Shirts was there, and I was able to pick up a Victor Crowley tribute shirt.

Fans of the series will appreciate the fun and scares I had watching the movies for the first time on the big screen.  The kills were ridiculous.  The story was alright, and they built on the story for all three, which was kind of cool.  One of the highlights was watching Kane Hodder as the father of Victor Crowley, who eventually took on the role of the older Victor Crowley, the killer.  There was even a horror fan fantasy matchup with Kane against Derek Mears, who played Jason in the Friday the 13th remake.  Horror fans might know that Kane was Jason for many of the last flicks and was expected to earn the role, but lost it to Mears.

And Sid Haig has a hilarious cameo as well in the third one.

Check out the trailers here:

If you live in San Antonio and haven't gone to one of the Bloodthirsty Thursday Screenings, then get on it.  They're a lot of fun.

And if you like horror, pick up this recent horror title from ZBFbooks.com.  'Alamo Rising' is the story of a group of amateur ghost hunters who fall ass backwards into a dark conspiracy to unleash a curse on the Alamo that could destroy downtown SATX.  Get 'Alamo Rising' today in paperback or kindle today HERE.  Check out the trailer below.

 

 

 

BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the acclaimed 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press.  He earned a BFA in Acting and a MA in Theatre History from Texas State University.  His latest titles explore superhero themes, including 'Codename: La Lechusa', 'Room 26 and the Army of Xulhutdul', and 'Tejano Star and the Vengeance of Chaplain Skull'.  

 

Network with Bowie at his official website, ZBFbooks.com, the leader in Tex-Mexploitation literature.

FIGHTS/BLOOD - ZBFbooks.com takes in an Indiana Jones 'Action Pack' experience

'INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM' GETS THE ACTION PACK TREATMENT VIA DRAFTHOUSE CINEMA
by
Bowie V. Ibarra

I'd seen the Alamo Drafthouse offer up shows called 'Action Packs'.  And I've seen plenty of 'Quote-Alongs' being offered as well.  But I've never gone to any of them.

So when Drafthouse offered an 'Action Pack, Quote-Along' screening of 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom', I was wary.  I didn't know exactly how it would play out with one of my favorite movies of all time.  Would it be disrespectful of the movie?  Would it be totally obnoxious?  I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it, but I also didn't want to pass up on getting a chance to see a movie on the big screen that I hadn't seen since 1984.

I took the plunge, and I'm glad I did.

It turns out the 'Action Pack'-themed movie nights at Drafthouse are very similar to a 'Rocky Horror' style viewing.  You get little props to play with as the movie plays, there are actual in-house explosions (This one had a dude that blew up a confetti cannon during the opening fight scene at Club Obi Wan), and there was even someone spraying water on folks during the big finish over the chasm near Pankot Palace.

And in the end, I was probably the most obnoxious one there, as I knew plenty of lines from the movie.  Even though I went with the recommended lines that were displayed at the bottom of the screen every so often throughout the movie, I was encouraged to say all the lines I knew.  As long as I 'quoted along' and not 'quoted before'. 

Bottom line, if you really like a movie and have the chance to see it in a Drafthouse Action-Pack format, do it. It's a great fun experience that you should have.  They're doing another Action-Pack of 'Temple of Doom' in San Antonio.  Check out the details HERE.

Speaking of ancient magic, have you read ZBFbooks.com's latest title, 'Room 26 and the Army of Xulhutdul'?  It's the story of a young woman put in charge of a museum in San Antonio, Texas, only to discover a hidden room filled with magical relics.  You need to check it out in paperback or Kindle HERE today!

BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the combat sport series 'Pit Fighters' from ZBFbooks.com.  It's the adventures of several fighters from around the world who form a stable to compete in the early days of MMA competition.  You can pick them up today in paperback or Kindle HERE.

 

Network with Bowie and check out all his other cool books featuring zombies, blood, and fights at his official website, ZBFbooks.com today.

BLOOD: ZBFbooks.com checks out BloodThirsty Thursday's 'Demons' I and II

MONTHLY EVENT SCORES AGAIN WITH CLASSIC ITALIAN HORROR DOUBLE FEATURE
by
Bowie V. Ibarra

Horror fans in San Antonio, Texas, were treated yet again to another quality exhibition of two of Italy's finest horror titles:  Demons and Demons 2.  Bloodthirsty Thursday's montly horror movie screenings has sliced its way into the consciousness of the SATX Horror Community and for good reason.  Every month they bring quality horror to the big screen.  Yet again, this month was no exception.

I thought it was cool that they were able to procure a Demons replica movie poster.

And, naturally, my Catholic consciousness felt a little guilty when I saw on this day there was actually a screening of a movie called 'Son of God'.  What?  Really? 

 

Don't tell the Pope I went to see 'Demons' instead.

 

The flick was amazing, as usual.  The movie was not ridiculous as much as it was a surreal nightmare, as all Italian horror movies seem to be (see 'The Beyond', Zombi 3, Suspiria, etc.).

Here's the trailer for 'Demons'.  It's the story of two friends who were given two tickets to a movie by a mysterious figure.  It's just as wild as the trailer makes it out to be.

 

'Demons 2' is just as wild.  The Demon plague from the first movie has been cut off.  But they return through wildly supernatural means that modern horror movies have ripped off (The Ring, anybody?).

 

 

One of the funniest elements from the first movie was the soundtrack, featuring Rick Springfield, Go West, Billy Idol, and Accept to name a few.  You are going to crack up during the dirtbike demon fight with 'Fast as a Shark' in the background.

 

Getting to see these flicks back to back also treated us to an unexpected laugh as featured actors from the first film are recast in different roles in the second flick.

 

Fast Custom shirts was also in attendance again.  A company out of Corpus Christi, Texas, these guys put out affordable and cool shirts of various designs.  This time around, I picked up the Italian 'City of the Living Dead' shirt, and this commemorative 'Demons' tribute shirt.

 

 

All in all, it was another awesome night of beer, food, and horror with the Bloodthirsty Thursday crew.  Incidentally, it was the BTT sponsor's bday party as well.  Happy Bday, Kelly Warren Hammond.  Thanks for bringing a monthly horror movie party to SATX!

 

And if you like horror, pick up this recent horror title from ZBFbooks.com.  'Alamo Rising' is the story of a group of amateur ghost hunters who fall ass backwards into a dark conspiracy to unleash a curse on the Alamo that could destroy downtown SATX.  Get 'Alamo Rising' today in paperback or kindle today HERE.  Check out the trailer below.

 

 

 

BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the acclaimed 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press.  He earned a BFA in Acting and a MA in Theatre History from Texas State University.  His latest titles explore superhero themes, including 'Codename: La Lechusa', 'Room 26 and the Army of Xulhutdul', and 'Tejano Star and the Vengeance of Chaplain Skull'. 

 

Network with Bowie at his official website, ZBFbooks.com, the leader in Tex-Mexploitation literature.

BLOOD: Bizzare Riverwalk proposal frighteningly similar to 'Alamo Rising'

DOWNTOWN SATX LAND GRAB PLAYING OUT LIKE ZBFBOOKS SUPERNATURAL HORROR 'ALAMO RISING'
By
Bowie V. Ibarra

Well, I guess I'm not the only one.

 

So, I have to admit, when I saw on the news the other day that there were plans to reorganize downtown Alamo Plaza to lend it the reverence it once had and rightfully deserves, I was a little freaked out.

 

See, I wrote this supernatural horror book called 'Alamo Rising' (available in paperback and kindle) about a downtown businessman who has his land taken away from him by the city council.  The businessman happens to be a part of a secret society.  And even though he had 'brothers' on the city council, it wasn't enough to have the land taken away from him by another businessman.

 

So this guy goes about unleashing a curse placed on the Alamo during the actual battle that will bring death and devastation to downtown.

 

And now a similar story is actually playing out.

 

City council is planning what, to me, is a land grab for letting things get out of hand.  Check out this story.  And this one.  And even this.

 

Truth is, it sounds just like when Austin said, 'Oh, we want to take this land because its a great natural environment we don't want to squander and rare creatures' and they ended up selling off that land to the highest bidder and building apartments on it.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

 

So, as I mentioned before, I'm clearly not the only one that has seen downtown San Antonio become a tourist trap rife with overpriced drinks, rude t-shirt souvenir stands, and out-of-place 3-D virtual rides and dumb carnival style amusements.

 

Seriously?  This is what SATX has let downtown become?  The site of one of the worlds most legendary battles, where hundreds of Mexicans and Texans alike were killed in a battle that would give birth to this great state is now home for a John Cena wax statue and a 3-D Jungle Ride?  Their blood spilled on this sacred land where I can now buy a shirt that says, '1 Tequila, 2 Tequila, 3 Tequila, Floor', or 'F**k ya'll, I'm from Texas'?  This is how this city honors that battle?

 

So, I don't really have anything to compare this to.  I've never been to Gettysburg, or Pearl Harbor.  Does New Orleans have a place to honor the big battle that happened there?

 

I've got a fiver, though, that says there's not a 3-D House of Scares at Pearl Harbor, or a midway to sink baskets and win a confederate or union clad teddy bear at Gettysburg. 

 

Anyway, just like in 'Alamo Rising', folks in the city are wanting to redo Alamo Plaza.  For me, anytime city council wants something changed, someone is in their ear stuffing money in their pockets to get it done.  Look at the US congress, pushing the healthcare agenda by insurance companies, and eternal wars by the defense industry.  What always looks like doing 'good for the community' will always have an ulterior motive.

 

Now, I get the motive.  Those 3-D fun houses and place where I can make a wax cast of my hand have no place on such hallowed ground as Alamo Plaza.  But those folks that run those places need to make the changes themselves before the city takes their stuff and makes the changes themselves.

 

To be honest, I haven't seen the SATX city council like I did the ATX city council, who were a bunch of greedy, snide bastards.  And I sincerely believe this whole Alamo plaza thing is going to play out well.  I just sincerely hope when and if this land grab takes place, the city doesn't just build apartments in its place like Austin did.  There has been moves to bring apartments to downtown, and with a new HEB being built there, this wild speculation might not be such a stretch.

 

I just hope it doesn't play out like at the end of my book.  Ghosts haunting downtown and then at the end when...

 

Well, you're going to have to get the book here to find out what happens to the Alamo, downtown, and city council when everything falls apart.

 

BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the acclaimed 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press.  Born and raised in south Texas, Bowie calls his books 'Tex-Mexploitation' literature, as they reflect strong south Texas themes and settings, including 'Codename: La Lechusa' and 'Tejano Star and the Vengeance of Chaplain Skull'.  'Alamo Rising' is supernatural horror story in which a curse is unleashed on downtown San Antonio, and the unsuspecting ghost hunters who have to stop it.  It is available at Amazon.com in paperback and kindle.

 

Network with Bowie at his official website, ZBFbooks.com.

 

 



FIGHTS: NERD RAGE - Alamo City ComiCon a bush league cash grab

UNPROFESSIONAL SHYSTERS DUPE SOUTH TEXAS NERDS, DORKS, AND GEEKS
by
Bowie Ibarra

 

Take a look at the pic below.  This is the pic of close to a thousand some-odd folks who were turned away at the Alamo City ComiCon 2013.  I was in this line and waited three hours to be told they weren't letting anyone else in.  That also included folks who had bought their tickets because by 4pm that afternoon, they had violated the fire code.

Here's reasons why this con needs to be listed as one of the worst cons for customer service and organization and that came across as a big cash grab with no consideration for the folks that were hoping to attend.  Alfredo 'Apple' DeLaFuente (ACCC Pres), Roger Bustamante (ACCC Vice-Pres.), take note.

 

So, check this out.  Long line?  I get it.  It's a con.  It's been billed as 'The Biggest Pop Culture event' in San Antonio.  I could understand the line.

 

But if these scammers running this organization were professional, they could have 1) Been aware of the numbers of the presale tix, VIP, and such to know how many people they could let in.  Again, by the time I got near the ticket booth, the Fire Marshall had shut the show down because they let too many people into the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center (!).

2)  They could have communicated with the folks waiting hours in line better.  I watched as one lady came out near the ticket booth saying 'We're stopping ticket sales for one hour and not letting anyone else in'.  They did that because they were in violation of the fire code and had to let people leave.  But that was it.  The lady or no other volunteer went down that line that you see above of about 1k+ folks to tell them that fact, so those folks still stood there like idiots.

 

3)  So that's about the time some asshole came out to the front of the line, a representative from the convention, who started telling people we're not letting anybody in and we all could have avoided this had we bought our tickets online.

So this fat piece of shit basically told me, the dudes who had drove in from Midland, and everyone else in line, that it was OUR FAULT for waiting in line and not getting tickets even though I showed up two hours after the door had opened?  He basically came out and spit in our faces with no regard for the folks who had driven in, their families, or other children who also waited in line for this event, who were told they could buy tickets at the door.

Asshole's reply?  Buy your tickets for tomorrow now.

Again, this reply shows that the folks running this debacle had no consideration for the folks like myself who could only attend one day.  And what about the folks who drove in?  Tough shit.  Should have bought online.

What kind of fucking so-called professional organization treats folks like myself who were dumb enough to be ready to shell out $35 bucks for a chance to go into an event to spend even more money?  An organization that could give a shit about the people outside because they already made their money stuffing the small space they had rented (I thought they rented out the whole venue), which then denied people who HAD bought their tickets online from even going in.  That line was just as long.

So the 'should have bought your tickets online' argument doesn't hold water.  They were turned back, too, because organizers weren't concerned about counting the folks that came in but lining their own pockets.  There were enough volunteers with their thumbs up their asses that could have been there to do that.  But its hard to be led and told what needs to be done when their leadership is clueless.  That falls on the two volunteer coordinators, Stephanie Ramos and Robert Moreno, so I can't fault the volunteers for that.

But I'm not the only one.  Here's some gripes from the public Alamo City Comic Con Facebook page:

"For such a big turnout I was disppointed with the lack of volunteers outside directing the lines, no fliers being given out with list of events, more signs, bigger room for celebrity ally, it was all shoved into a small place, not enough concession stands, not enough Atms, Sapd should not have to be given info out....the list can go on. I've been to bigger cons that had their act together. This con has potential but needs better planning. Oh at price change from what is listed on your website not cool. Glad I didn't shell out big bucks for this event."

 

"This was the line of about 1000 people waiting to purchase tickets. The ticket stands were closed at the time but unless you were at the front of the line, you had no clue they were sold out. After this line was another like of about 500 people who had already purchased tickets including pre-orders online. These people (not photographed) were waiting to even get in the building. That line had been waiting at least an hour for more space to clear out. "Very disappointing that even if you had purchased a ticket ahead of time you couldn't go in. Being sold out is one thing, but waiting until you've reached capacity and then saying you won't let honor pre-purchased tickets is another matter."

"Being under-prepared and overwhelmed by the turn-out is one thing. Turning away people who have already purchased tickets is quite another. When you pre-purchase a ticket online there is an agreement with the event holder, and that agreement was broken for many people. If you try to purchase tickets to a sporting event online, they will stop selling them when they've reached capacity. That did not occur here. I believe that next year will be better after this fiasco, but that doesn't do anything for the people who have wasted time and money trying to participate and support this event.""I had a ticket, my 7yr old did not,I too stood in line at 1pm only to be told they were no longer selling tickets. After I had invested 3hrs of my day and a chance pick up a 5hr $100 gig. I couldn't attend because the look in my sons eyes when I told him we wouldn't be able to go in. So I took him to a local pizza place in full Ironman costume. Sad day for this father. Thanks for thinkin this shindig through."

"my opinion: great booths, good celebrities, good panels. BIG lack of organization. If you got cheapish tickets and didn't expect much, you were fine. But if you were VIP and promised things for months that just flat out didn't happen, you become the not so happy camper."


Look, don't get me wrong.  I want this event to succeed.  San Antonio deserves something fun like this to elevate itself from that 'Keep San Antonio Lame' moniker folks have given it.  This con is a fun event that this city needs to contrast against its blue-collar image of folks that only enjoy The Spurs and want to go out and drink every Friday night.

I also don't fault the folks that made it in and had a good time.  It was cool to see so many people having fun inside the venue and hearing about them meeting people and seeing all the fun costumes.

And I don't fault Apple and company for the endeavor.  It's a cash cow, we know, and their probably wiping their asses with all the money they made this weekend off of saps like me.  You sank lots of money into a multi-month slick promo campaign as if you were the next big thing, but ran it more like you were at the pulga off of Highway 90.  C'mon, man.  The whole promo campaign made it look like ya'll had your shit together, but it turned out to be a disorganized disappointment.

And I understand that in the end, my gripe is very much a '1st World Problem'.  It's all like, 'I got turned away at Alamo City ComiCon after waiting in line for three hours on my day off.  Now I have to drive back to my apartment in my new VW Bug with all this money in my pocket.'  Really, when you put it in perspective.

But next year, observe basics like fire code, head counts on pre-sale, head counts day of, and don't be afraid to let the people in line know what's going on instead of making them wait like dumb asses.  Show some respect to the people who are about to line your pockets.

But this con really needs to start planning for next year and clean up their act, and it starts with ACCC PR guy Fred Hernandez issuing some sort of statement acknowledging their mistakes and oversights and pledging to make it up to the thousand some-odd folks who were looking forward to the event, drove in from all around, and were ultimately treated like shit by their staff.

That is, if these folks haven't already hit the rails and we'll never hear from them again.

BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press.  He has written three superhero-inspired books, 'Codename: La Lechusa', 'Tejano Star and the Vengeance of Chaplain Skull', and 'Room 26 and the Army of Xulhutdul', which takes place in San Antonio, Texas.  His most recent title, 'Alamo Rising', is the story of an ancient curse unleashed on downtown San Antonio, Texas.  It is available in Kindle or paperback from Amazon.com today.

 

Bowie Ibarra earned a BFA in Acting and a Masters in Theatre History from Texas State University.  Network with Bowie at his official website, ZombieBloodFights.com.

 

(Very Little) BLOOD: REVIEW - 'The Conjuring' is solid ghost storytelling

THE LEGEND OF ED AND LORRAINE WARREN ON DISPLAY IN BIG SCREEN SPOOKY TALE
by
Bowie V. Ibarra

Many years ago, I read a book called 'The Haunted'.  It was probably the scariest book I've ever read since 'The Shining', mostly because it was the true account of the horror experience by the Smurl family and the help they received from the legendary Ed and Lorraine Warren.

That's why when I watched 'The Conjuring', I was pleasantly surprised to see that the protagonists were the dynamic duo of demonology themselves.

The movie starts off with a story of the cursed doll that is mentioned in the aforementioned book.  Before long, you get to see the spooky room where the Warren's keep the cursed objects they collected in their mission to help people, also mentioned in the book.

When the Warren's are enlisted to help the Perron family, who just moved into a beautiful country home, the Warren's discover the tragic history of the place and the source of the paranormal activity in the house.

The story itself is top notch, taking place in the 70s.  The costumes, cars, and setting was put together well for the time period, right down to a rotary phone!  And the acting across the board was phenomenal.  While not a bloody movie, the entire film is chock full of chills and legit frights as they deal with the escalating aggression from the ghosts.

'The Conjuring' is an outstanding movie with a great story and even greater performances from the cast that is completely ZombieBloodFights.com approved.

And if its a solid ghost story you are looking for, look no further than Alamo Rising, coming soon from ZombieBloodFights.com.  It's the story of an curse that was set down during the battle of the Alamo that is set in motion in modern times.  It's a ghost story of epic proportions.  Keep your eyes out for it by networking with author Bowie Ibarra at his official website ZombieBloodFights.com.

 

BOWIE VALERIANO IBARRA is the author of the noted 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press.  He's earned a BFA in Acting and a Masters in Theatre History.  Bowie currently resides in San Antonio, Texas.