BLOOD: Review - Spooky chills in 'Devils in the Darkness'

SUPERB ACTING, BIZZARE SCRIPT HIGHLIGHT WELL DIRECTED SCI-FI CHILLER
by
Bowie V. Ibarra

ZBFbooks.com had the privilege of previewing a Michigan-produced independent chiller called 'Devils in the Darkness'.  As an avid supporter of the works of Joseph Scott Anthony, I was excited to see what the enthusiastic and skilled movie artisan had helped put together.  What I got was a quality spooky tale with a  sci-fi edge.  There's a line in the opening scene that is a great foreshadowing of the chills to come:  "It's just further out than I thought it was going to be."

You don't even know.

Check it out.

The story is about a newbie in-house nurse/provider named Mike Hill (played by David Gries) who is assigned to take care of an enigmatic shut-in named Stanton Pinborough (played by Joseph Scott Anthony - imdb).  The place he's staying is out in the sticks.  And on his drive there, he sees these strange shadows in the woods and around the house.

When he arrives, the provider assistant is running off, claiming the house will be his tomb.  He joins the lead provider at the house named Robin Bradbury (played by Lisa Mueller).  The two are able to keep tabs on Stanton through a baby monitor on the table, where the old man can be heard coughing, wheezing, and cussing through his strange affliction.  Stanton is holed up in his upstairs room next to a small homemade ballroom that he enjoyed dancing with his wife in.

Mike learns that Robin knew Stanton when she was a kid and experienced a bizarre episode at his house.  Mike then learns Stanton somehow lost his mind and became a hermit after his son mysteriously died at the age of 7.  His wife also died under mysterious circumstances.  The guy used to have a lot of money, too, but lost all of his fortune.

So, as the mysterious shadows begin to close in on the house, and Robin disappears, Mike discovers more clues to what is happening at the house.  He finally has to find the courage to meet Mr.

Pinborough for himself and get to the bottom of the strange happenings in and around his house.

Mike is not ready in the least for what he discovers.

The cast for the movie was outstanding.  David Gries and Lisa Mueller provide outstanding and natural performances.  The two actors were totally in each moment, and their skill in front of the camera was evident, with a  consistency unlike any other independent project.  David Gries provides a sensitive character that discovers a more assertive side to his character as the movie progresses.  Lisa Mueller sets the stage for David's character and the audience, building the mystery with her dialogue.  And Joseph Scott Anthony does an outstanding job as the lunatic they have to take care of, putting energy and a little madness in his performance.

Director Daniel Falicki was amazingly skilled as well at the helm.  You can tell Falicki used the best film and equipment for the production.  Landscapes were framed beautifully, as well as the faces and conversations inside the house for the dialogue-driven early part of the film.  Good camera angles and establishing shots were plentiful.  Falicki also had a hand in developing the story, which seemed to take cues from another tension-delivering sci-fi pic, 'Signs'.  And in true independent movie fashion, Falicki also plays a part as one of the mysterious creatures assaulting the house.

Though the film concentrates on dialogue to provide the growing mystery, there's plenty of unexpected chills throughout the film from Falicki.  There were many frightening 'hiding in plain sight' chills and a distinct building of tension from the moment Mike arrives on the property that culminates into his ultimate encounter with Stanton.  I couldn't help but feel tense and stressed as the movie moved forward, and that's good.  That building of tension and mystery is the movie's strength, and Falicki maximizes its efficiency.

To accentuate the already spooky atmosphere of the flick, Tom Ashton provides a great score that heightens the frights and builds the tension in each scene.  For an independent flick, it was actually a pretty good score.

The only marks I might put against the movie is the volume.  With such natural delivery from the characters, there were times throughout the movie that I could not hear or understand what the actors were saying.

'Devils in the Darkness' is an enjoyable and chilling story with a sci-fi edge.  The film is worth a look, with a bizarre story akin to 'The X-Files' and a cast of skilled actors that take it to the next level.  It's a great example of the quality independent film scene coming out of Michigan.  Find it and watch it when you get a chance.

BOWIE V. IBARRA earned a BFA in Acting and a Masters in Theatre History from Texas State University, and worked in the film and television industry for several years.  Bowie currently lives in San Antonio, Texas, writing tales filled with zombies, blood, fights, or all of the above.

His latest title, 'Sword of the Angel', is a story of a lucha libre legacy who is searching for answers to his future in the sport when the zombie apocalypse hits.  It is available in paperback or kindle HERE.

Network with Bowie and explore his library of written works at his official website, ZBFbooks.com.

FIGHTS: Review - 'Godzilla: Final Wars' was ready made for PacRim fans ten years before

GODZILLA IS LUCKY HE GOT TOP BILLING OVER DON FRYE
by
Bowie V. Ibarra

 

Listen to me, Godzilla: Final Wars was outstanding as it not only put together some of the greatest monsters to ever come out of Japan to fight Godzilla, but the one of the greatest monsters to come out of the good ol' US of A to fight Godzilla:  Don Frye.  Check this out.

 

So, Godzilla had been put down at the north pole by a young Don Frye, who was an airman in a giant fighting rocket.  He was the one that pulled the trigger that buried Godzilla under a mountain of ice.

 

So a few decades later, Don is the captain of his own fighting rocket ship, who takes down kaiju with reckless abandon.  He gets in trouble after a mission for the tactics he used to take down the flying fire serpent monster, Manda, and gets put in the brig.

 

Members of his team are mutants, who have elevated fighting ability to defend the earth.  But the monster Gigan is discovered, and a scientist notes that Gigan has the same mutant DNA as the human mutants.

 

A race of aliens arrives to earth, the Xilians, and attempt to covertly take over the earth using the planet's most diabolical monsters that had gone on a rampage.  When the plan is discovered, the monsters wreck shop on the earth.  Don Frye is freed from prison, and with the remaining humans, is the earth's only hope against the invading aliens.

 

Their plan:  Free Godzilla from his icy tomb to throw down with a huge lineup of monsters:  Anguirus, Ebirah, Gigan (who is an absolute mecha-terror in this one), Rodan, Hedorah the Smog Monster, Kamacuras, King Caesar, Kumonga, Godzilla 2000, and the powerful Monster X (Monster XX II), who makes its first appearance here.

 

When I say 'the story is actually pretty good', remember we're talking about a Godzilla movie here.  This isn't 'The English Patient', okay.  Just to make that clear.  It's a fun story of face/heels with high stakes and lots of monster action.

 

But what I appreciated the most, even over the monster action, was the cast.  Don Frye in a featured role, playing a military leader and putting his MMA training to good use in some of the final human on mutant fight scenes.

But he's not the only martial arts action here in the movie with legit street cred.  The legendary modern MMA fighter, Masakatsu Funaki is also featured in this movie.  And the son of the old school Kung-Fu Theatre flicks, Kane Koshugi, son of Sho Koshugi is also featured.  Hell, he's an action star in Japan.  Gary Goodridge even makes an cameo, as well as Kasayuki Fujita.

 

Bottom line, if you like Godzilla movies, you got to check this out.  You'll get an extra treat if you are familiar with some of the big names from MMA's early days.

 

Eat your heart out, Pacific Rim!

 

 

BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' Zombie horror series from Permuted Press.  His latest novel, 'Alamo Rising' is a supernatural horror story about a curse unleashed in San Antonio, Texas, and is available in Kindle or paperback here.

 

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

 

BLOOD: Review - 'Machete Kills' is a ridiculous action-packed ride

ABSURD ACTION/ADVENTURE SERIES BRINGS THE MAYHEM, LAUGHS
by
Bowie V. Ibarra

 

If you think 'Machete' was ridiculous and fun, wait until you see 'Machete Kills'.

The movie opens with Machete and his lover/partner-in-crimefighting Sartana (Jessica Alba) as they fight the Mexican cartels.  After a botched mission, Machete becomes embroiled in a chase to stop a renegade arms dealer from blowing up Washington, DC.  And the madness begins!
The film is filled with all sorts of Machete-style violent gags with the comic book style action director Rodriguez is known for.  And you can tell all the stars were having a good time.

Like his other movies, Rodriguez sets up the flick with a 'trailer' for the final movie in the Machete trilogy.  No spoilers here, but just know it is ridiculously hilarious.  And throughout the actual movie itself, he sets up the final movie, making 'Machete Kills' the 'Empire Strikes Back' of the Machete series.

You'll get what I'm saying when you watch it!

'Machete Kills' is outrageously fun and is a movie that is totally ZombieBloodFights.com approved.

And if you like outrageous Tex-Mexploitation style stories like 'Machete', check out these titles from ZBF.com, Tejano Star and the Vengeance of Reverend Skull and Codename: La Lechusa.  Get them today in paperback or kindle.

 

BOWIE V. IBARRA earned his BFA in Acting and MA in Theatre History from Texas State University.  Network with Bowie at his official website, ZombieBloodFights.com today.

ZOMBIES: REVIEW - Redeeming aspects of 'Land of the Dead'

OUR ZOMBIE LORD AND SAVIOR WOULD NEVER PUT OUT GARBAGE FOR OUR CONSUMPTION
by
Bowie V. Ibarra

I know, I know.  'Land of the Dead' did not fill out that special space in your black heart reserved for quality zombie horror.  With the lead Simon Baker mailing it in for one of the blandest Z-Day performances out there, I can understand why you might not have been able to connect with the movie or the story being told.  And let's not get started on that whole, 'They're just looking for a place to go, just like us' finish, okay?

Let's instead talk about the story told on that worthy piece of celluloid truly did put on display why George A. Romero is not only a z-day visionary, but our true Zombie Lord and Savior.  Putting Baker's uninspired performance aside, here's some reasons why 'Land of the Dead' might not compete with George's Holy Trinity of Zombie Horror, but is a solid 4th place in his subsequent releases to his zombie children he knows and loves so much.

1.  THE SUPPORTING CAST
Where Simon Baker failed to make a connection with you, take a look at how much fun the others were having in the film. 

ASIA ARGENTO, the legacy of Dario Argento, who worked with Goblin to produce the music to George's 'Dawn...' and went on to his own artsy-fartsy Euro horror movie fame, puts her heart into her performance.  Is it Acadamy Award nominee worthy?  Maybe not.  But you can tell her hearts in it.

DENNIS HOPPER, film legend who also played the Texas Ranger who took on Leatherface chainsaw for chainsaw in 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre part II', plays the evil bourgeois founder of Fiddler's Green, Kaufman.  He puts on a great performance as the evil capitalist that refuses to let the zombie apocalypse keep him from making his money.

JOHN LEGUIZAMO as Cholo, the hard-working Hispanic with the fiery temper who thinks he can work his way to a spot on Fiddler's Green by doing Kaufman's dirty work.  If there's one person who seems to be enjoying himself and can appreciate his spot on one of God's zombie movies, its Leguizamo, who is part of the fiery and emotional finish of the flick.

EUGENE CLARK as Big Daddy, the zombie that still has a piece of his humanity even in living-death, and leads a zombie revolt against the cruelty of Fiddler's Green.  With little to say but vocalization and body language, Clark puts in a tremendous performance in the tradition of Bub from 'Day...'.

Other members of the supporting cast were strong as well, including Dough Boy and Pretty Boy.  But the dude that really steals the show is ROBERT JOY, the dude that played Charlie.  Of all the cast, his performance was the strongest.

2.  DEAD RECKONING

True story.  The first name for 'Land...' was originally 'Dead Reckoning'.  Romero still included that name in the movie as the custom made zombie stomper 18-wheeler.  C'mon now.  You already know you've thought of having some kind of mechanized zombie death dealer in your apocalyptic dreams.  'Land...' delivers that machine in spades.

3.  99% BEFORE 99% WAS COOL

Our Lord has always made political statements in his movies, and this one is no different.  Made nearly seven years before the plummeting dollar reached new lows and the rise of the so-called 99%ers, George once again used zeds as a metaphor for the elite 'haves' doing whatever they want to do in spite of the 'have nots' that are used for their labor (Cholo and the Dead Reckoning crew) who get nothing but living in slums, fed bread and circuses to keep them distracted. 
Think about it:  Fiddler's Green was the 1%ers, the living were the middle class, working and struggling to make ends meet, and the zombies were the poor, completely taken advantage of by the 1% and slowly destroyed by their forces.  It's the zeds (poor), who outnumber the 1%ers (rich), who no longer have the opportunity of the middle class (living), who revolt against the 1%ers.  Even Cholo, having lost his opportunity to be with the rich after working so hard, who eventually joins the ranks of the zeds with its leader, Big Daddy, to destroy Kaufman.

4.  TOM SAVINI

Tom Savini makes a cameo appearance as a zombie, joining the revolt against the rich and attacking the living.

And speaking of Tom Savini..

5.  THE SPECIAL EFFECTS

The special effects are the best zday gore scenes since 'Day...', and for good reason.  The man carrying the Tom Savini special effects torch, Greg Nicotero, takes the special effects helm of this movie.  Granted with the craft skills of Savini, Nicotero takes the gore effects up a notch and puts it on bloody display throughout the movie.

And speaking of Greg Nicotero...

6.  GREG NICOTERO CUTS HIS OWN HEAD OFF

That's right.  The legacy of Tom Savini, who had his own head blown up by a shotgun wielding Joe Spinell in the original 'Maniac', is the 'Tollbridge Zombie' who has his head sheared off by the bridge.  That's right.  The special effects master of 'The Walking Dead' followed in the rich tradition of his master and staged his own death for film.

Fun Fact:  They never recovered that head from the river. 

7.  A TRIBUTE TO 'SERGEANT YORK'

Movie buffs might have recognized a salute to the old war movie from 1941 called 'Sergeant York' with Gary Cooper.  York licks his thumb to shine the front sight of his rifle before he shoots.  Charlie does the same.  And when he shoots the midget during the club melee, its also reminiscent of the Sergeant York turkey shoot scene.

So do you see now why 'Land of the Dead' is still worthy of being considered the number 4 movie of Romero's zombie horror library, while at the same time being a call for revolution?  I do.

But if you still need to get your fill of zombie horror, check out these titles from ZombieBloodFights.com.  They're chock full of great zombie horror and excellent story-telling.  Down the Road, Down the Road: On the Last Day, and Down the Road: The Fall of Austin.  Pick them up in paperback or Kindle today.

 

 

BOWIE V. IBARRA earned his BFA in Acting and MA in Theatre History from Texas State University.  Network with Bowie at his official website, ZombieBloodFights.com today.

 

(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.