Feb 07 2012

Tuesday uEtsy: More Everything

Tuesday uEtsy

[For those who are searching for unique horror items, one can’t beat Etsy.com. Each Tuesday, Gravedigger’s Local 16 aims to highlight one seller. If you’re looking to spruce up your look, redecorate your sanctorum or get a gift for that special something in your life, Etsy.com is your place for spooky econo.]

M.E. – More Everything
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MoreEverything

Caught sight of a hitchhiker taking advantage of the warmer weather for this time of year, dressed in a lighter coat with a pair of jeans. There was a bag down by his boots. There was no crudely marked sign telling where he intended to go. We don’t know if he was still there by time of this writing. Perhaps he caught a ride out of Leathbridge, having finished up his business after arriving. No one spoke of him but we haven’t asked anyone. Perhaps we’ll know more why he was here in the coming weeks.

Until then, you have better things, more IMPORTANT things to take care of. You have to buy things from M.E. – More Everything.

Punk Logic Undead Girl Fangirl T Shirt hand screenprinted FREE SHIPPING

Sometimes, you got to advertise the goods. “If you got it, flaunt it,” is the saying. And perhaps, it’s time to show off that you’re a proud, non-living entity identifying as gender female in this world. So, here you go. Direct communication is the best and that’s a lesson M.E. understands all too well. Purchase this shirt and send a telepathic TWEET to the central cortex of THE WORLD.

Vampire Stake Through the Heart – Hand-Carved Wooden Stake and Carnelian Sterling Silver Choker

Next week is Valentine’s Day. It doesn’t matter if you believe in it or not; it matters If the person you’re currently romantically involved with BELIEVES in it or not. Sometimes, roses don’t cut it (hint: roses usually cut it. Always send flowers, guys. Even if your lady protests, send flowers. And not just on Valentine’s day. If you’re in a steady relationship of more than five months, you can’t let three or four months go by without sending flowers.)

Ahem.

Sometimes, flowers don’t cut it (really, three times a year at least—)AND SOMETIMES you have to get them a piece of your heart, even if there’s a stake through it. Like this piece from M.E., you’ll be able to offer up a chunk of your most vital organ and present it with a sharpened piece of wood to pierce it. Cupid couldn’t have done it better.

Punk Logic Girlie Zombie Horde T Shirt hand screenprinted FREE SHIPPING

Make sure you’re never alone by taking a flesh-hungry mob with you wherever you go. Privacy is overrated and a shrinking luxury. Might as well go naked if they keep taking your clothes away, sock by sock, inch by fabric inch. Of course, you don’t have to go naked right now. In fact, we suggest you don’t. Instead, purchase this shirt and wear it. Make a statement. A statement that you will rather sick a horde of zombies than go naked.

 

Black Satin Ribbon Frankenstein Monster Choker FREE SHIPPING

If your lady is less in favor of stakes and more in favor of necks, here’s a lovely accessory that will catch the attention of any bloodsucker/suitor that may pass her way. Hopefully, you’re not the jealous type. Jealously clashes this time of year. Red and Green don’t go well together. That’s why Freddy’s sweater was those colors – it’s a pain on the eyes. M.E. knows this. That’s why they chose an elegant color to match the clasp on this choker. Trust them. They know what they’re doing.

Moonlight and Embers Fine Art Abstract Photograph Matted 5×7 Original FREE SHIPPING

M.E. doesn’t just offer clothing and jewelry. There is a line of vivid photography available for purchase. With this doomsday winter of warmth and cold striking different parts of the continental Unites States (and elsewhere in this wonderful, wicked world) it might be time to get some art in your life before it comes to an end. And it will come to an end. Enjoy it while you can.

You can find M.E. on Facebook under the Underculture Unlimited heading (www.facebook.com/ucunlimited ). This is their fan page for the shop, their blog, and everything else. As a note, “we give away something free with every 20th like (we’ll draw a name from the last 20).”

Find them on twitter: Sara is @mamasamess and Bryan is @odd_papa. Our Blog: www.blakowblog.com. we’ll be sure to link to the feature this week as well. And there’s Pinterest. Find them on mamasamess

 

 

Feb 03 2012

Strange Trip: FRANKENSTEIN (1931)

Frankenstein
IMDB

 

Seeing Frankenstein is akin to seeing The Godfather, listening to The Beatles or seeing Hamlet on the stage. These are all the pieces of art that you’re TOLD are great that the priority to actually ENGAGE them is diminished. As a mental deviant, the ‘classics’ were always ‘uncool’ to me. The guy repping the Beatles in High School was as much as part of THE ESTABLISHMENT that it felt kind of dumb to fall in line. I always liked to champion those who don’t have a lot of people backing them up. It’s less “rooting for the underdog” and more “fighting for the freaks.”

With that said, I had not seen Frankenstein until a week and a half ago. Did I hate it? No. Is it great? Yes. Would someone who enjoys slashers like it? Don’t know but probably not.

It’s not a slow film, by any stretch. The pacing was refreshing but I can see how anyone under the age of 35 might get bored by it. It’s easy to follow. It’s beautifully shot. But the engagement is only skin deep. Mentally, we’re well acquainted with the idea of “a monster that isn’t pure evil” or “the good people are really doing bad things.” This is a common trope in comic books, cartoon shows and video games. However, eighty years ago, I can see how the portrayal of The Creature was somewhat innovating.

Continue reading

Feb 02 2012

A Handful of Dirt: Brian J. Orlowski of DRAWN OF THE DEAD

A Handful of Dirt

A Handful of Dirt asks a person five questions they wouldn’t normally expect or receive in any other credible interview.

 
In consulting the Serendipiter Bag o’InquiryTM, we pose a series of questions to come up with a bit of knowledge unknown before – a handful of dirt.

 

 

Considered a prodigy in his early years, Brian J. Orlowski set out immediately to disprove that moniker in great success. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, Brian became a stand-up comic (actually fairly good) and performed over a hundred times across the north New Jersey area.

Brian has been a graphic artist, technical artist, comic book colorist, multimedia specialist and eked out a certificate from the prestigious Joe Kubert School of Cartooning and Graphic Arts. He is a regular contributor to Girls & Corpses magazine and several other publications suffering from a lack of public awareness.

Brian’s first book, Strange Guts: American Septic, a collection of over 100 single-panel cartoons is available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. It is the Far Side meets the Evil Dead. Gory, gruesome and goofy. “Strange Guts is a red-blooded horror fan’s answer to Peanuts, replacing the cute dog with explosively funny gore. I love it.” Andrea Amanda Albin, Bloody-Disgusting.com

He lives at home with his large, stinky dog, Abigail, and antisocial cat, Buddy. Every year Brian travels to the arctic to participate in the running of the lemmings. He is currently taking an online skydiving course.

 

Which comic book character would you do unscrupulous things in order to write/draw professionally?

If you asked me years ago I would’ve said Spider-Man. He was the greatest thing in the world to me as a kid. Now, I’d kill to have my own zombie series, like the Walking Dead. Not only are the undead fun to read and look at, they’re cool to draw. There’s no limit on deterioration, damage and gore. The messier the better. Plus, drawing dead people eating living people is just plain fun. Now I’m hungry. I like bacon. Bacon and dead people. But not both for food. Well, not normally.

What is a movie you like that would shock people if they found out that it was one of your favorites?

I think my taste in movies and my DVD/Blu-ray collection is pretty standard. 99% horror. I guess the 1% that would surprise anyone would be that I like digital animation movies. Ice Age, The Incredibles, Up. I have a bunch. I dig them. They make me feel young. Which is very hard to do. I think that the fact that I really like The Three Amigos would surprise peeps. Plain, stupid, fun. Kind of like me. 80’s comedy dreck like Spies Like Us and Funny Farm is a good way to kill a few hours and brain cells. But then again, so is vodka.

Being that you’re crazy rich and just crazy, you’ve decided to have an all day film festival at your theater – what are the movies you show?

If I’m the only one attending then it would be non-stop porn. But if I have to invite the general public it would obviously be a horror-athon. I’d start it with real classics like The Blob, Them and Night of the Living Dead. Move up to the 70’s with Halloween and Dawn of the Dead. Have to get The Thing in there. Evil Dead II, Aliens. Probably end on Shaun of the Dead. That movie is still tops on my list. If I included all my favorites, then the festival would take days. But I’d really rather have some Vivid movies in 3D on the big screen. And plenty of Kleenex on hand (pun intended).

What single piece (editor’s note: in this case, artwork wise. Bonus: please link if available) do you think is the best representation of your talent and personality as a creative mind?

I’m pretty tough on myself. I don’t think I’m a great artist. I draw well enough to get the job done. I think I’m more of a humorist. If I could actually get onto paper what was in my head I’d be serving time in an institution somewhere. Again. You can’t make me go back! No more pills! But if I had to choose what I’m probably happiest with then there’s Creepy Gene and my most appreciated gag is Achieved the Impossible . I think my Photoshop pieces make me the happiest ( http://www.drawnofthedead.com/photoshop.htm).

What was the best book you read within the last year?

Aside from my own? I mean, really, my book is fantastic! But kidding aside, I’ve read a lot in the past year. I thought What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz was one of his better books. The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett was pretty spectacular as a fantasy/horror combo. Several of Tim Dorsey’s books, I totally dig his frantic, ADHD writing style and violent humor. The best, and it’s an oldie, was I actually read Clive Barker’s novella of Hellraiser for the first time. It was phenomenal; the man’s language is unbeatable. But then again, Clive never created cartoons like I do. How do you spell narcissist? Which is almost an anagram of antichrist. Odd how that is.

 

 

Jan 31 2012

Full Moon’s Grindhouse Collection

Full Moon has seen fit to release ten titles from Charles Band’s early days: Auditions, The Best of Sex and Violence, Dreamaniac, Famous T&A, Filmgore, Mutant Hunt, Necropolis, Savage Island, White Slave and Zombiethon. The reason why this collection of both theatrical and direct-to-video release is labeled “Grindhouse” will be revealed later, but first here’s a look at three of the films:

It's a good thing I'm no longer sick of zombies...

Zombiethon is a collection of clips from Zombie, Zombie Lake, Oasis of the Zombies, Fear, The Invisible Dead, A Virgin Among The Living Dead and The Astro-Zombies interspersed with original sequences featuring zombies chasing people into a zombie-filled theater playing the clips. The back cover mentions White Zombie, but no clips from that are present in this (or the original VHS version). The seemingly unrestored VHS quality transfer admittedly does help capture the “Grindhouse” look of the films, although the fulscreen transfer doesn’t. There’s some print damage and the occasional shifting colors, but it’s definitely watchable. While it mostly shows condensed “only the best parts” (and thus chock-full of spoilers) versions of the films (reminding this reviewer of 8mm releases by both Castle and Ken films), there is one point where only a single lengthy clip from A Virgin Among The Living Dead (aka Christine, Princess of Eroticism) is shown. I think that’s for the best, as the film does start to drag by that point and the film in question is easily the worst zombie film I’ve ever seen.

The original zombie effects, created by Joe Reader and Dr. David Lady, are neat-looking and appropriately match the film’s somewhat comedic tone. I particularly liked the armored cyborg zombie. Zombiethon does cheat at times, as Fear (aka Murder Syndrome) only has a single shot of a zombie and The Invisible Dead (aka Dr. Orloff’s Invisible Monster) doesn’t actually feature any zombies, only an invisible gorilla! Otherwise, Zombiethon is a fun way to spend a little over an hour.

Continue reading

Jan 31 2012

Tuesday uEtsy: The Art of Chuck Hodi

Tuesday uEtsy

[For those who are searching for unique horror items, one can’t beat Etsy.com. Each Tuesday, Gravedigger’s Local 16 aims to highlight one seller. If you’re looking to spruce up your look, redecorate your sanctorum or get a gift for that special something in your life, Etsy.com is your place for spooky econo.]

The Art of Chuck Hodi
http://www.etsy.com/shop/chuckhodi

 

Print 5×7″ – Wolfman

The art of Chuck Hodi sticks with you long afer you stopped viewing th epiece, in similar fashion to car wrecks and most religious experiences. There’s something about this artwork that is both equal parts amazing and creepy that can’t be easily shaken.

A master of reproducing the famous monsters of filmland, Hodi has a great knack for producing some really sick original pieces. There’s something about the man’s sense of humor that might get him locked up someday. But, until then, let us enjoy his work.

Print 8×10″ – Vincent Price – Horror Vintage Halloween Gothic Spooky Creepy Hollywood Monster Creature

Throughout his etsy store, you’ll find pieces that feature some of the stage and screen’s stars (and scars) such as the maestro Price, pictured here. From Ted Bundy to Pee Wee Herman, Huch Hodi has someone waiting for you to be hung up on your wall.

The Androgynous Ant – Original Drawing

Some of his originals are pretty demented. We don’t toss that word around lightly. Seriously, there’s something rather bizarre about pieces like this one, the Adrogynous Ant. It might get you in trouble with the law or your significant other when you purchase this but maybe you’re that type of an outlaw mind. We dare you.

Print 8×10″ – Elvira – 80s

Sometimes, Hodi’s art style really prestens a subject in a light that is excellent. This picture of the 80’s horror host, Elvira, maintains the woman’s sexiness as well as the punk rock/new wave style that she exibitted when she first came out on the scene. It’s very wild, and Hodi’s paintbrush was able to catch that feeling.

Print 11×14″ – Edgar Allan Poe

Similarly, the business of Hodi’s lines with this portrait of Poe shows a disturbed and busy mind, caught up in a thought process that produced a collection of classic literature of the macabre. Of course, it could also just be how Poe is disappointed with Baltimore’s failing at the recent playoffs – either way.


Print 8×10″ – Couple

Valentine’s day is coming up. That’s all what we’re saying on that.

 

You can see all of Chuck Hodi’s paintings at his Etsy store. And you’ll see us again, next week, when we return with another edition of Tuesday uEtsy.

Jan 30 2012

Killer Eye: Halloween Haunt

Eye Yi Yi!

It was supposed to be a night of spooky fun. Jenna had invited her friends over to help set up her family’s annual haunted house and watch movies. But a combination of occult forces from her mother’s working crystal ball and some of her pals dancing suggestively in front of said ball have somehow brought one of the haunt’s props, a replica of the titular character from Full Moon’s The Killer Eye, to life. Now the girls are hunted down one by one, with the eye alternately attempting to impregnate or kill them. Can they resist the living movie monster or is the planet doomed to be a real horror flick?

I must admit, I was very surprised to see The Killer Eye get a sequel. As far as I’m concerned, it was an embarrassingly cheap movie from the time when Full Moon was suffering from serious financial woes that (in my experience) was best known by many for how the box art recycled themes from the Wizard Video release of Headless Eyes. Truth be told, I suspect that the sequel was made to take advantage of the Eye’s power to mind control/arouse women into removing their clothes, given how the cast is made of entirely of beautiful women and there’s wall-to-wall nudity. I found it interesting how the Killer Eye prop looked more realistic before it came to life. In all fairness though, the living eye prop from this film was light years ahead of the one used in the original (which can be seen countless times due to use of clips from the original playing on a TV). While several spooky haunted house props feature prominently on the cover art, they were thankfully not brought to the life in the film itself. The film also has tons of blatant injokes and plugs for Full Moon films, like the characters discussing Evil Bong and characters donning masks of Killjoy and the Gingerdead Man! That all said, it’s definitely a better movie than the original.

Full Moon’s DVD presents the film in a beautiful widescreen transfer, aside from the occasionally shimmering in the background at times. The audio is clear and while there are chapter stops, there is sadly no chapter selection menu. This could be a player issue, but I found that hitting “Root Menu” on my remote did not work properly at any point on the DVD. As the film is just barely over an hour long, Full Moon has seen fit to cram in a big selection of extras. In addition to the ad for hauntedcasinos.com at the beginning, there’s the Grindhouse Promo Trailer, Far Out Youtube Videos and Full Moon trailers. The Grindhouse Promo is a roughly three minute trailer for Full Moon’s Grindhouse Collection, which features ten films from Charles Band’s past. The fullscreen clips are all windowboxed and are of old VHS quality. I found it interesting how, in addition to pointing out when celebrities appeared in the films (usually prior to “making it”), they saw fit to put black bars over the nude scenes. Given that this was not the case in the releases themselves (and not the case in the main feature), it seems like an odd decision.

The “Far Out Youtube Videos” consist of A Cult Influence, My Super Ex Grudge, The Raven and Roid Rage. The first film packs tons of information (along with cool artwork and film clips) into its just under 10 minute running time. The mini-documentary’s narrator analyzes just what makes a film a cult film by interviewing everyone from the owners of places like the Hyaena Gallery and Eddie Brant’s Saturday Matinee, but also people involved in the cult film business. Although shot on video, the quality is very nice (save for a few instances). Sadly, the film is obviously cropped to appear widescreen.

My Super Ex Grudge is a hilarious parody of Ju-on: The Grudge wherein a man pays the price for dumping Kayako. It packs a lot into its five minute runtime, including a must-see end credit sequence and references to various female horror icons. It’s also SOV, but not obnoxiously so. The Raven and Roid Rage are fairly quick trailers for two upcoming films, with the amazingly awesome ad for the story of a killer hemarroid being my favorite of the two.

The trailers are for Killer Eye: Halloween Haunt, Evil Bong 3: The Wrath of Bong, The Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver, Killjoy 3, Puppet Master: Axis of Evil and Skull Heads. All of said trailers are widescreen and of good quality. Interestingly enough, the trailer for the main program seems to indicate that the killer eye is from the 8th dimension (as was the case in the original film), rather than some mystical force imitating the movie monster.

I’ve felt for some time that Full Moon has switched its target audience from older movie fans to a younger male demographic and this film has confirmed that to me. The overt references to smoking weed and the female nudity that make up most of the plot made this very clear to me. Don’t get me wrong, Full Moon does still support other viewers, it just seems to me that they’ve change. One last thought: When you get right down to it, it’s simply ridiculous that an eyeball-looking creature would be sexually attracted to human women. It’s like a human being going to another dimension and wanting to impregnate some Lovecraftian monstrosity with little human beings for eyes.

Special thanks to Full Moon Features for the review copy!

Jan 28 2012

Help Us Secure A Rondo Awards Nomination!

You might remember how we asked our readers to help nominate us so that we could get on the The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards ballot a few months back. Since then, we have gotten a nomination for 6’+ as Best Horror Audio and one of our writers has put in a nomination for Gravedigger’s Local 16 as Best Blog and seconded the 6’+ nomination. Yeah, it seem we were mistaken in our previous belief that such a thing was against the rules.

So, if you haven’t already, please do us (and yourself) a huge favor by signing up for membership at the Classic Horror Film Board and post your seconding of the about nominations here. The more we get, the better chances we’ll have of getting on the ballot. Besides, you’ll also be a part of a really cool place to discuss classic horror films!

Jan 27 2012

6’+ Episode 22 is up!

To quote the description given at the new listing:

“Ah, the CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT! They make such beautiful music. Wait – no.They’re cold! And they’re hungry! It’s winter and it’s time to get hairy with all the WEREWOLVES. We’ve got tons for you. What is a metric ton of werewolf, you ask? Good questions.

Debuting this episode is the Monstermatt Minute. We spruced up the GdL16 recap as well. All of this comes with music from The Young Werewolves, Nox Arcana, Koffin Kats and more!”

You can find all episodes of 6’+ over at the official site as well as on iTunes. We’re also on Facebook and Twitter.

Jan 26 2012

A Handful Of Dirt: THE UNDERTAKER of HauntedHotsauce.com

A Handful of Dirt

A Handful of Dirt asks a person five questions they wouldn’t normally expect or receive in any other credible interview.

 

In consulting the Serendipiter Bag o’InquiryTM, we pose a series of questions to come up with a bit of knowledge unknown before – a handful of dirt.

 

 

Would you buy food products from this man? Of course, you would. The Undertaker of HauntedHotsauce.com has “combined flesh-eating zombies with spicy food products to create zombie themed hot sauce for your Halloween party or other creepy event!” The world of hotsauce is weird on its own; the Undertaker and HauntedHotsauce only exemplifies how strange it can get.

Check out all the products available over at www.HauntedHotsauce.com

 

What was the last book that had a strong (negative or positive) affect on your life?
I don’t have the patience to read long novels so I read short scary stories and how-to books instead. The last book I read was “How To Haunt Your House: Book 2” by Shawn and Lynne Mitchell. As a result, my Halloween home haunt, “Moonlit Hill Cemetery”, came out Fang-tastic!! I might also recommend “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” by Alvin Schwartz, illustrated by Stephen Gammell.

How did you come into following your particular calling in life (editor’s note: in this case, Haunted Hot Sauce?)

I have an October birthday and went to Disney’s Haunted Mansion when I was an impressionable 6 years old so I’ve always had a love for Halloween and all things creepy! I’ve also always had a taste for hot sauce and spicy foods! Combining these things seemed only natural to me. I learned to make the kinds of hot sauces that I like, gave them creepy names, designed creepy labels for them and sealed them inside little coffins! Haunted Hot Sauce was born! (or “unearthed” as it were) I created my first prototype “hot sauce bottle in a coffin”, popped it up on ebay and it sold for $80.00! I knew I’d hit a nerve with zombie-loving hot sauce aficionados like myself!

What is an influence on your current work/upcoming work that people would be surprised to find out?

Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein of Misfits fame contacted me a couple years ago wanting to do a sauce. Doyle’s MADE IN HELL Hot Sauce was the excellent result of that collaboration! Keep an “eyeball out” for a new sauce by Haunted Hot Sauce’s Undertaker and Doyle coming soon!

Which music group/performer would you enjoy seeing chased by rabid wolves?

I would love to see Puff Daddy or P. Diddy or Dip Shitty or whatever that talent less, cocky f*#& calls himself, being chased into the forest by rabid wolves, while dragging a 10 pound lucky ham!

What would the Devil serve you for breakfast in Hell?

I would start with a couple extra-spicy Bloody Marys, their glasses rimmed with a mixture of salt and coarse ground black pepper, garnished with celery, green olives, a cocktail shrimp and a pepperoncini pepper! For breakfast I’d have a seafood omelette consisting of crabmeat, crawfish tails, sharp cheddar cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes and diced jalapeno peppers, smothered in Haunted Hot Sauce of course! Breakfast would then continue into the afternoon with some ice cold beers, served Chelada style with salt and lime!

 

 

Jan 25 2012

Evil Bong 3: The Wrath of Bong

Made with genuine Namekian shins!

Alister, Bachman, Bret and Larnell really thought they had seen the last of any evil talking bongs after their last adventure. But although they drifted apart as a group, the arrival of a meteor containing an evil space bong will soon reunite them. After spiriting off two of their friends and announcing its plans for global domination, those remaining are forced to team up with an unexpected ally to stop this sinister invasion: The original Evil Bong!

Although seeing the rest of the film has improved my attitude towards the film since I reviewed the 22 minute preview disc, much of my original criticisms still hold true. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the film. Although I think the last horror comedy from Full Moon I reviewed was funnier, this runs a very close second. But when you have “bad day for night shots,” scenes were you can see the tops of the set not connecting with the ceiling and other such flubs, it’s hard to tell if they’re intentional jokes or embarrassing errors. While the film does try to explain why the “bong planet” sets are so cheap looking, the “they’re trying to create an environment to placate the human mind” explanation doesn’t seem to hold water. Nothing changes when various people come to the planet and while I appreciate the parts of the planet with extra props and black light effects, it still felt like things could have been much better realized. It also strains credibility that anyone from the past two films could have seen the space bong and not immediately realize that trouble was brewing. But, on the plus side, a lot of the jokes worked and the actions intended to take advantage of the original 3D showing weren’t nearly as obnoxious as I thought they would. One such example is the character Nurse Hookah, whose pantomiming the dialogue said by her employer grew on me and never felt forced.

I should note that the Pre-Release Road Show Exclusive Edition I’m reviewing removed the prompts for using the Sniff-o-Rama card (which is not included) and the widescreen transfer, while beautiful, is not in 3D. While there are chapter stops, there is no chapter selection menu and the only extra is the trailer. The audio, aside for a few times the music was softer than I would have preferred, is very good.

Unless you’re a hardcore fan of the series, I recommend renting this first before deciding to purchase it. Although it is possible to enjoy the film without seeing the previous two films, I suspect that viewing them beforehand makes for a smoother viewing experience. Only time will tell if the same can be said for the film announced at the end, Evil Bong vs. The Killa Crack Pipe…

Special thanks to Full Moon Features for the review copy!

Jan 24 2012

This morning’s contest Update

You should head on over to our twitter feed. A contest had been on since this morning’s Tuesday uEtsy article went up. You still have time tho enter to win a piece of jewelry from FreakBang and Sparkling Bag Candy.

Jan 24 2012

Tuesday uEtsy: Freak Bang of Sparkling Bag Candy

Tuesday uEtsy

[For those who are searching for unique horror items, one can’t beat Etsy.com. Each Tuesday, Gravedigger’s Local 16 aims to highlight one seller. If you’re looking to spruce up your look, redecorate your sanctorum or get a gift for that special something in your life, Etsy.com is your place for spooky econo.]

Freak Bang of Sparkling Candy Bag
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SparklingBagCandy

Monster Hair Clip

Family. It’s a strange word that has taken on a greater meaning than the kin you share a bloodline with. The Leathbridge family included the Anglo-Saxon clan members but a great deal of the indigenous people who assisted Cole Leathbridge’s first outpost party were soon adopted under his family’s powerful shadow once the trading took off. When a lot of rowdy traders got out of hand and left a poor native boy scarred and limping, Leathbridge proved that family is a bond of blood, even if that blood is that shed by an avenging hand.

Family has a strange power in this town. Milo and Eva have settled, finding their own places after a short stint of living with their sister, the fortune teller, Madam Lady Ulster.

“Her real name is Nora,” Eva once said, snidely, to Hector one day after a particularly vocal fight between the two Ulster sisters.  Even though they can go at it like feral demon cats, you can still see the two younger siblings visit their eldest sister at least twice, every week. Family is a strange connection.

How you find your family is up to you. You could be adopted. You could discover them as your next door neighbors. You could be more connected with coworkers than cousins. It’s all up to who holds that power over you, who you let have that connection to you.

It’s with this in mind that we feature this week’s Tuesday uEtsy. Freak Bang is the designer of the Sparkling Bag Candy collective whose art coincides best with our spooky feel here at Gravedigger’s Local 16. The whole Sparkling Bag Candy collective is a collection of artists united under a particular aesthetic.

Taken from their bio, you’ll find that “…[Sparkling Bag Candy’s] jewelry and purses… reflect[s] a zany desire for whimsical geekery and often outrageous debauchery…Sparkling Bag Candy is an Etsy Collective of 6 uber fun, up and coming designers who keep their thinking caps on while keeping a hyper focused eye on the pulse of Tokyo and Japanese based fashionistas and how its sweet spirited fun relates to reviving and celebrating the jewelry and accessory choices worldwide.”

That’s something we can get behind.

 Warlock Claw Necklace 

This piece is creepy as hell and twice as cool. It takes a certain type of person to pull off a Warlock Claw Necklace these days. If you haunt the turnstyles of those “alternative” franchise stores at your local mall but found the selection lacking, maybe you’re ready for something of this magnitude.

Be careful, though. Something tells us that claw might not hold much good fortune if you mistreat it. If you keep it hidden in a second-hand jewelry box or hanging idly on a crooked nail in your bedroom wall, you might see that it’s not where you left it. It’ll be on your desk and when you go to put it back, it’s gone. It’s now on your neck. It’s telling you things. You’re somewhat smarter, stronger now. You feel afraid but also happy. THIS NECKLACE – IT WILL KILL YOU IF YOU MISTREAT IT is what we’re trying to say.

 

Electric Guitar Necklace Zombie Rocker Skull Skeleton 

Do you know why rock and the dead have been so closely tied together? You should look that up.

Seriously, if you don’t have the ambition of the Sparkling Bag Candy/Whammo Glamo collective, you’re missing something in your life. They’re managing a business in this crazy economy and making it flourish as more and more peple come out of the woodwork to celebrate their quirky, zany freak sides. The designers at SBG/WG – they have guts. Skeletons don’t have guts. You do, though.

After you go and get a library card (if you don’t already have one, you should) you will KNOW you have the guts to research while wearing this electric guitar skeleton necklace as a totem, inspiring you to expand your life this year before you’re struck down by the evil that comes with rock and roll. Our recommendation? Try ‘Spider’s Kiss’ by Harlan Ellison. It’s a good start.

 

Fire Clown Necklace

Yes, everyone hates clowns. Can we get over it now? Good. We’re over the hate. Clowns, they’re creepy but c’mon. That’s part of the fun. Clowns will always be a source of fear and hated, but that’s to our benefit. Pennywise, Killjoy, Killer Klowns From Outer Space, Sweet-Tooth – all are icons in horror. Even Cap’n Spaulding, if not just for the fact that it’s Sid Haig. Perhaps you’re a clown fanatic. Perhaps you went as Pogo the Clown for Halloween, just to mess with your parent’s heads (and alert the authorities?) Maybe you have a tattoo of Bozo on your chest or your favorite flavor is cotton candy. Or, perhaps, and this is a long shot, you just like setting things on fire? Then this is for you.

Skeleton Coffin Earrings

There will come a time in your life where there will be a situation that calls for Skeleton Coffin Earrings. It’s going to be a strange occurrence and you’re not going to really remember any of it once it’s over. Colors will look different and food will taste stronger, more intense, than you ever remembered it being.

For better or for worse, you better be prepared. When the situation happens – AND IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN – you’re going to be thankful that you have these. Without them, you might make it through the whole ordeal but you’ll lose a lot of what you could have saved IF you only had these earrings. Trust us on this one.

 

Horror Mystery Gift Box Grab Bag

No, you can’t purchase the Lady Gaga look-alike (don’t we wish we could?) No, while the comely lass with the attractive ass entices you to look, you can’t touch. You CAN, however, purchase a this Gift Box Grab Bag. For twenty-five dollars, you get multiples pieces shipped to you. What will they be? Does it matter? You’ve seen the high quality that we’ve showcased on this Spotlight. A single piece alone is worth twenty five dollars and you’re getting more than two! How economically wonderful IS THAT?

And you have a great surprie. You won’t know until you open up the expertly packaged present that arrives at your doorstep. A perfect gift, of both economic and fashion interests. And you haven’t received anything in the mail until you get a package from SPG, who roll out the red carpet with each order. Half the fun is in the packaging and those wild minds at Sparkling Bag Candy, those Whammo Glammo shazammos are on to it. They’re not just cutting edge, they’re sharp than sharp can be!

You can find Freak Bang and all the designers (Star Tulle, Berkshire Forest, Mr. Roboto’s Beads, and Flair Weather) all at Sparkling Bag Candy on Etsy, at whamo-glamodotcom.blogspot.com, at www.sparklingbagcandy.tumblr.com, on Facebook (Here) and Twitter (@freakbangdotcom).

Get spooky, get sparkling. And once you’re done, get back here next week for another Tuesday uEtsy.

 

 

Jan 23 2012

Vampire Kids

Vampire Kids is rather bizarre 1991 horror comedy (with more comedy than horror). The premise is that a tour group gets stranded on a deserted island that has an abandoned WWII Japanese outpost on it (and Chinese hopping vampires). Said outpost has a vampirized Japanese general entombed in a wall, who gets partially free when one of the castaways takes a diamond that was being used to seal in the vampire’s power. For reasons that are never really delved into, the general is able to control a bunch of little hopping vampires and sends them out in order to get blood for him so he can get enough power to break free from the wall.

Their first attempt fails because a bunch of the castaways ate “poisonous tomatoes” that made them temporarily blind and insane with rage, leading to a bizarre sequence in which they chase and beat the hell out of the vampire kids. Think 28 Days Later with a low budget and high insanity. The other attempts fail mostly because none of the kids want to suck any blood for some unexplained reason. Meanwhile, the general manages to get some blood…

If you feel like importing a DVD of this, keep in mind that the movie focuses on the on the castaways and comedy than it does on the hopping vampires. I know there are people out there who can’t stand bizarre Hong Kong comedies and I suspect that if you fall into that category, then you’ll hate this movie. I’m a bit of a special case since I get more humor out of the fact that certain jokes were attempted (Like, say, a woman with big breasts getting dropped face-first on the beach and leaving two giant holes in the ground when she gets picked up), rather than finding humor in the joke itself. It’s far from being a masterpiece, but it might be worth your while if you can find a copy that doesn’t cost much.

The widescreen (probably non anamorphic) DVD by Mei Ah looks pretty good; judging by the print quality, I’m guessing that this was a direct port of the transfer used for their prior laserdisc release of the movie. You get your choice of Cantonese or Mandarin soundtracks, optional “Traditional”, “Simplified”, and “English” subtitles, and a “databank” that includes a film synopsis (the same one that’s on the DVD case) and a credits list. I should point out that the English subtitles aren’t translated very well and sometimes lapse into “Engrish” or “flubtitles.” Of course, this only enhanced the humor value for me. For more information about Chinese hopping vampires, please visit this thread at the Latarnia forums (which in turn spawned this review).

Happy Chinese New Year!

Jan 22 2012

Puppet Master: Axis of Evil

We're baaaaaaack!

Flashing back to the beginning of the original Puppet Master, we see two Nazis enter the Bodega Bay Inn in 1939. Their mission? To capture Andre Toulon in order to obtain his method of bringing puppets to life. Toulon manages to foil them by taking his own life and hiding his puppets. However, said puppets are discovered by the owner’s injured nephew and he ends up running into the Nazis again. You see, said Nazis are meeting up with some Japanese contacts hiding in Chinatown in order to destroy a nearby manufacturing plant and one of them is posing as an American worker at said plant (where Danny’s girlfriend works). After discovering the secret of bringing the puppets to life, Danny’s attempt at monitoring the Axis forces accidentally results in the Nazis learning of Toulon’s creations. After killing his family and kidnapping his girlfriend to lure him out, Danny prepares for the fight of his life. Although not eligible for military service, he does have command of one of the most lethal armies around: Blade, Tunneler and the rest of Toulon’s creations.

After the poorly-received Puppet Master: The Legacy and (the apparently non-canon) Puppet Master vs. Demonic Toys, Full Moon was clearly trying to recreate what made Puppet Master III such a hit. David DeCoteau was tapped to direct, the film was set during World War II and a new puppet was going to be introduced. Sadly, the resulting film is only of interest to the most diehard of diehard fans of the series and has an infuriating Pirates of the Caribbean II-style non-ending. I wanted to love this movie, I really did. But sadly, the end product made that impossible.

Why? Well, besides the terrible acting there’s the cheap sets, (mostly) terrible puppet effects and awful writing. For example, how can Danny immediately find a secret hiding place the Nazis were unaware of and why doesn’t he revive all of the puppets he finds? Oh, and his choice of puppet when he needs to do a little surveillance/attack mission? Jester. Although I’m a fan of that character, it should be obvious that he rarely does anything combat-related and is the wrong choice for the job. Then again, considering that Danny immediately deduced a puppet was alive when it moved (rather than assume it’s a vintage automaton), I probably shouldn’t expect intelligent decisions from him. I also found it hilarious that a leech that’s been chewed up can instantly kill someone. Aside for few shots of Blade that live up to standard set by the original series, most of the puppets seem a bit “off.” I know the series will never be quite the same without David Allen, but come on! The new puppet, Ninja, is pretty bland for the most part and, in my opinion, looks like he’s made from Crayola Model Magic. While the attempt to tie the film with the events of the first is pretty cool, the film stock doesn’t quite match and I foresee more continuity errors being spawned as a result of this.

While the audio was fine, there were some visual issues with the widescreen transfer that may or may not be due to the player I was using. Most of the scenes had a subdued color scheme and seemed a bit saturated at times. It was jarring to see the traditional glowing green fluid that animates the puppets appearing as a dull yellow (although it looked normal in the trailers shown on other Full Moon DVDs I’ve reviewed). While the image was clear, it often made certain flaws worse. I really shouldn’t be able to point out the uneven globs of makeup on a character’s face or count all the fold marks on a flag decorating a wall.

Thankfully, there’s a nice selection of extras. First is “The Making of Evil,” a collection of 13 videos showing the film being made in China. Originally shown on Youtube, these informative videos clock in at well over an hour in total. That said, I prefer the similar videos showcased in Killjoy 3. Next is “No Strings Attached,” the behind-the-scenes featurette from the original release of Puppet Master. For a more in-depth look at this segment, please see my review of the first movie. Finally, there’s trailers for every canon installment of the franchise, which makes the lack of similar extras on the Subspecies Blu-Ray even more puzzling. I should note that, according to this, the special features are “not 1080i resolution, but 480p” resolution.

So, unless you’re planning on a Mystery Science Theater 3000-style commentary session with friends or are a series completist, I advise you to stick with the classic Puppet Master films. If you absolutely must own it, then I recommend the release that bundles it with the first film, along with some other goodies. Here’s hoping that any future installments will be a major improvement.

Special thanks to Full Moon Features for the review copy!

Jan 19 2012

A Handful of Dirt: Rev. Jay Leal

A Handful of Dirt

A Handful of Dirt asks a person five questions they wouldn’t normally expect or receive in any other credible interview.

 

In consulting the Serendipiter Bag o’InquiryTM, we pose a series of questions to come up with a bit of knowledge unknown before – a handful of dirt.

 

Reverend Leal came to Nasvhille by way of San Diego, CA. He was the director of the hit web based music show BalconyTV Nashville, but has just recently parted with the show to focus on shooting, directing and producing his latest project, Skeleton CrüeTV.

Leal founded and established his production company/studio Rebel Rev. Productions with partner, fiance and “Hostess of Horror” Cali Ford as well as a Horror/Tattoo “lifestyle” called Skeleton Crüe Clothing. Rev. Jay Leal is a true Reverend, Fully accredited with Credentials recognized in all 50 states. Available For Weddings!

 

What is the worst thing you’ve ever done while inside a car?
I can think of one night in Fort Lauderdale FL…. but most of the really bad stuff happened outside of the car while I was driving. I guess technically I was “inside” the car during the whole ordeal.. and most of the blood did end up inside the car too… I’m just going to go with not using my turn signal.

Who would you least likely to see receive a prime time television show?
Jerry Seinfeld, hands down.

What is a part of your town (location, store, restaurant) that you think is under-appreciated?
It’s a toss up between the alley behind Layla’s Bluegrass Inn, where they hold the money knife fights ever Tuesday night or Rick’s Comic City… I don’t know.

What’s a movie do you think needs a sequel?
I’d love to see a sequel to Titanic.

If you weren’t in a band right now, which band do you wish you were in (and what would you play?)
I’m going to go with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and I would be that dancing guy.

 

Jan 18 2012

SOPA 2012

Today (January 18th, 2012) is when a coordinated effort by most of the major web sites and services (Google, Wikipedia, The Oatmeal) have ‘gone black’ in protest of  H.R. 3261 or ‘Stop Online Piracy Act.’ We’re not going black because, honestly, it requires more CSS scripting than what I currently know.

I personally oppose SOPA and the Senate bill PROTECT IP/PIPA or S. 968 because we currently have legislation on the books that counteracts piracy and that both SOPA and PROTECT IP/PIPA are draconian, broad strokes of power that will, in the wrong hands of zealous enforcers, fuck up the internet.

We here at Gravedigger’s Local 16 (and our podcast, 6’+) are proponents of Intellectual Property Rights. We support the idea that if you make the work, you should be credited and that no one should steal your creative property. We also believe that if you put in the time and effort to make something, you deserve the fair credit.

Similarly, as you can tell from Weird Jon’s many posts, we also support the idea of there being a Public Domain. While we respect creative rights and intellectual property protection, we can’t support any kind of efforts that limit artistic expression. If someone wants to utilize Frankenstein or Dracula as a symbol of runaway legislation or greed-motivated lobbyists in an artistic statement, they shouldn’t be fined or prevented by the Shelley or Stoker estates since both creators have been dead in the ground for over a century. “Art as a commodity” should have a shelf life, where “art as expression” is timeless.

SOPA and PIPA are on the side of “art as a commodity” in an alarming way. While they are in the good intention of stopping illegal action, the wording of both pieces of legislation are frighteningly broad, granting powers that will interfere with search engines and take down websites without due process. Both pieces, SOPA in particular (since PIPA has been put on hold thanks to Senator Ron Wyden) are threats to the Internet AS WE KNOW IT. 

Of course, the Internet is always going to change. That’s what makes it great. Fifteen years ago, we were using 56k modems to log into AOL and CompuServe networks. Today, your cell phone is faster than your 1996-era computer and there’s a wireless network on the bus you take to school. Acts like SOPA and PROTECT IP look to restrict growth to where progression is reduced to a standstill.

I personally want to see Net Neutrality enforced, so I’m not opposed to all legislation in regards to the Internet. I don’t want to see the Internet Provider companies divvying up service and reducing access to sites THEY decree to be ‘lesser’ anymore than I want the government to automatically, without due process, shut down sites that THEY decree to be ‘illegal.’ A balance between “regulation” and “free” is best and SOPA aims to tip the scales.

What can you do? I’m jaded so the idea of going to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, filling out my information and sending a form letter to my congressional representatives seems pointless to me. But I did it this morning, anyway. It seems pointless but pointless actions are better than no action at all. Plus, I got to call Charlie Rangel a motherfucker so there’s some joy in that.

SOPA and PIPA are bad legislation and if you don’t want to see the Internet get fucked up, sent some kind of correspondence (write, call) your Congressional reps. That is all.

 

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