Army of Darkness/Reanimator (One Shot)

Well, well, well, well, well. Ash Williams and Herbert West meet again in an issue where Ash is thrown back in time to meet the good doctor digging up graves and up to his old tricks (including replacing Ash's hand). It's a fun story, Ash doesn't seem to remember West at first but, he soon does as they're stuck in the 1920s together. Oh, what that evil book won't do to our hero/chosen one. Ash goes to helping Herbert dig up the freshest bodies he can find and, all the gory fun happens and unfolds in a way you expect it to. The art by Randy Valiente is top notch and the writing by Mark Rahner is light and fun as you can tell this release was done with Halloween in mind while keeping in mind fans of both franchisees giving us what we want and what we expect. As well, included in the book is the Reanimator comic (#0) from 2005 I believe? Doesn't matter! It's hard to find and it's a good read itself. If you're looking for some light reading, with some fun and some laughs, check out this new release, you'll be glad you did!

Daredevil (#32)

Well, some of you may wonder why I'm reviewing a Daredevil comic here on a horror related review site but, this is the beginning of a storyline with MONSTERS! :D So, lets get you caught up in the happenings of ol' horn head. Ready? Lets begin! Okay so, Foggy has cancer, Matt's life has been screwed with by Bullseye who didn't die and now the Jester, with help from the Serpents are trying to ruin Daredevil and New York. Okay? Good! So, with Foggy's assistance, they find that the Serpents have occult ties and, after talking with Doctor Strange, decides to follow up with the doc's friend and find out more about this book and occult ties. What it leads to is people in Kentucky chasing down a group of monsters, Daredevil thinks something else, tries to stop the villagers with torches, sees the monsters, gets the f out and is shot. Then there is a picture for the next issue that mentions that good old Dr. Frankenstein is making an appearance.  Samnee's art is great and Waid's writing is superb! I mean, there is so many ways to go with the story that I'm chomping at the bit to see where it is headed as Mark Waid's run has been amazing so far! :)

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

This, is the new novel by Stephen King that we have been waiting for now for years! The sequel to his classic The Shining. Now, some of you remember the The Shining from the classic 1980 Stanley Kubrick film which is disowned by King (as the movie didn't focus all that much on alcoholism like the book did which was an important element to the novel) while, some people like my sister, remember the book more so then the movie. Either way, this is a great sequel to The Shining no matter how you remember it! Starting just after the conclusion and the demise of the Overlook Hotel, we catch up with Dick, Dan and his mom Wendy as the ghostie people from the hotel decide to follow Dan and his mom while Dick teaches him how to lock up those bad memories for good. Fast forward to Dan hitting the bottom of the barrel with his alcoholism and a scene that plays over and over in his head before he sobers up with the help of AA and joins as hospice in....wait for it....New Hampshire (thought I was going to say Maine eh?) where he works and is known as Doctor Sleep for what he does his patients. Enter a child named Abra Stone with a shining as powerful as Dan (more so now that he is older) and the student becomes the teacher as they battle other people with the shining who like to take the essence or "steam" as they call it to gain immortality. Everything builds slowly and nicely as an old character beloved by all joins a whole host of new characters in this story that, in the end, comes full circle for everyone that is involved including a shocking revel. As well, if King's track record of just about everything that he writes seems to be made into a movie....this would be a welcome to sequel in film as well as in print! Or this could just be wishful thinking on my part but, give Danny Lloyd a call and see what he is doing anyway.

Hotel Transylvania (2012)

Ever wonder what our beloved Universal Monsters do on vacation? Well luckily we now have that answer with Hotel Transylvania. Last year, there was a run of family friendly horror movies and this was another one and it was a funny release. The movie focuses on good ol' Frankie, the Invisible Man, the Wolf Man, The Mummy, Dracula and his daughter Mavis. These monsters are looking for a safe haven from the horrible humans who are out to hurt the monsters, or so they think...oh! And don't forget the miniature teenage romance between daughter and human who decides to enter the hotel. This is a kid's movie with plenty for adults to laugh at. As well, this is a great introduction for youngsters before you pull out those classic Universal Monster movies. By the way, the best part of the movie has to be when Dracula sees Twilight and utters "this is how we are represented?". So go through the haunted forest, through the cemetery full of the living dead and enter the hotel....the zombies will take care of you and the laughs are plenty for the full 90 minutes. As well, this is a great way to distract the little ghouls from tarrying up the place on your watch.

Nothing Left to Fear (2013)

So, you've seen every possession movie you say? Well, let me present to you the first offering from Slash's (famous guitarist from Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, Slash's Snakepit, Solo...this could go on forever really) new company Slasher Films, and produced by him as well, Nothing Left to Fear. This movie is inspired by the legend of Stull, Kansas...it's apparently one of seven gates of hell and it is so evil that the Pope himself will not fly over it....seems like the perfect setting. The movie stars a young family, moving across the country so that their father can be the new pastor of said town. Even though it looks like the perfect little place something seems....off. It begins with the eldest daughter having nightmares, then a tooth in a cake is found by the younger sister, two teenagers with a crush on each other and oh! A sacrifice to bring forth a demon to shut the door....may all hell break loose. There is even a little of the Old Testament thrown in there with the sheep blood on the doors. All in all, this movie is entertaining, starts off slow with some cheap jumps but it picks up. You soon find out why this town is off and why you shouldn't live there. The effects are amazing! The demon, the victims...it's done so very well. So, yea, not bad but not the The Exorcist. It is a very well done movie with vibrant colours as we must be careful not to let the darkness take the light.

The Loved Ones (2009)

This is a movie that I was finally able to track down after almost a couple of years of searching and, after hearing so much about it, I finally found it in a Walmart (weird I know!). All I can say is BITCHES BE CRAZY! Well, the woman all in pink and listening to pop music in this one is (nice switch for once!). Here we have a metal loving teen, has a girlfriend and the crazy "normal" girl has a crush on him and asks him out to the end of school dance but gets rejected....begin the prom from hell! I mean, this movie has awesome torture scenes, demented woman, weird dad, hot women, cannibalism, killer metal music, pissed off principle, wicked camera angles....what more can you want? Oh! The story itself is pretty awesome as well! Taking what they usually do, make the outsider the victim, and the story unfolds from there. No plot holes and everything gets tied up nicely in a little over 80 minutes...not a second wasted. Not your average movie as this shocker from Down Under will have you on the edge of your seat with a giant smile on your face and thankful that your prom wasn't like his!

ParaNorman (2012)

Are you looking for that perfect movie to put on while you are watching the little ghouls or, when you want to feel like a little ghoul yourself? Well, check out ParaNorman; it will have you smiling from beginning to end. I mean, this movie is funny! It will have you laughing at the jokes as it takes everything we love about zombies, witches and ghosts, throws in a "weird" kid and you have the basic premise of the movie. I mean, you'll love Norman....he's just a monster kid like all of us but, he can see and talk to all the ghosts of the town. Soon, all things go to hell when the past comes back to haunt the little town and it's up to Norman, his only friend, sister, friend's brother who sister has a crush on and the school bully to save the day (just your normal everyday horror group) when a ritual that has kept to sleeping "witch" wasn't preformed right and she wakes up....and she is not pleasant after such a long sleep. He later gets help from his parents and, after an epic sequence, all is well. This movie is something enjoyable for people of all ages and will have you smiling and laughing from beginning to end. Also, like any kids movies, there are plenty for adults to laugh at. And if you die from all the laughter, just come back and haunt Norman like everyone else does!

CryptozoicMan (Issue 1 of 4)

So, I will preface this by saying that I am a huge Kevin Smith fan and, was thus drawn to the show Comic Book Men. When this idea was pitched on the show, I was excited! I mean, it sounded sooooooooooo cool! And now, issue one has dropped. This issue I liked but, haven't been sold on it just yet. There is some confusion about who is who, why he looks like that, what happened to his daughter and who the hell is this pig man!? Hopefully these will be cleared all up in the 3 remaining issues. Other then that, Brian Johnson perfectly sets this mystery and confusion with well chosen words while Walter Flanagan's art is top notch! The monsters and the CryptozoicMan look awesome! Also, with Kevin's name behind it, I feel they could of gone to a big name like DC or Marvel but I am glad they went with Dynamite instead...keeping it indie gives you the freedom to go way out of bounds if needed....especially for a story like this. If some of this confusion can be cleared up, and it looks like in issue 2 it is headed that way, it will be a good mini series.

Harley Poe - Pagan Holiday

This is a band that I discovered while reading the awesome Rue Morgue magazine and, I don't know what it was that drew me to that review but, I've been a fan since. Acoustically creating these songs where they place themselves in the monsters as opposed to just retelling the story of a movie musically as if reading from the back of a cover, these guys are truly original. Their new release Pagan Holiday contains 4 originals, 2 covers and some awesome artwork. A smart name for an album (if you don't get it, you really need to go on Wikipedia or something for a quick history lesson!) and songs that will have you singing along to in no time. Standouts include the Pumpkinhead inspired (and soundbites included!) "Vengeance the Demon/Close the Door/Outcrowd" which begins with some fast paced electric work that immediately grabs your attention before it goes back to the acoustics we all know, "Gorehound" which outlines why we love the movies that we do and will become an anthem/instant classic among fans (especially those who like to drink RED RUM), the brilliant cover of John Carpenter's "Halloween Theme" (which also includes soundbites from the classic 1978 film), "Pagan Holiday: Part 1: A Celebration, Part 2: Dormant and Part 3: Revenge" which features some great story telling and a pretty insane acoustic cover of the Rolling Stones classic "Paint it, Black". This new release will please old fans while drawing new fans to the band as this is just a great release by a great band!

Calabrese - Born with a Scorpion's Touch

Wow! The brothers Calabrese have done it again delivering 11 booming tracks to spin this Hallows Eve. From the hard hitting beginning of "American Rebel Death Riders" to "There is an Evil Inside" the boys take what they have done in the past and build upon it. After this fifth release, who knows where their music is headed next. Although this may not be their best record to date (that distinction belongs to Traveling Vampire) this is a solid release! Great songs mixed with great soundbites from movies that can only come from the school of White/Rob Zombie. Standouts include "Born with a Scorpion's Touch", "Loner at Heart", "Danger", "Ride with the Living Dead", "Mindwarp", "Only the Dead Know my Name", "I Ride Alone" and "There is an Evil Inside". In the end, if you're not a fan, this release will fly over your head or win you over (your choice) but, if you are, there is plenty to make you smile and wahoooooooo on!

The Lords of Salem (2013)

Let me preface this by saying that I am a huge Rob Zombie fan. From his films to his music to his comics, the man is nuts! House of a 1000 Corpses was gory, nonsense fun and it's sequel was just as gory but more story driven. His Halloween movies were not that bad....the originals still being far superior and too much studio intervention had a lot to do with how those movies turned out and El Superbeasto was a cartoon that can only be conceived by his mind. Now, taken from the title of, but totally unrelated to the song found on Educated Horses, we have The Lords of Salem....and this is his best film to date! A slow burner that begins with a witch's coven takes on a life of its own. There is some gore but, for the most part, in a world dominated by torture porn this is a slow burning movie. Everything slowly unfolds into a well told story that relays more on "what the hell was that" or "what did I just see?" moments then cheap thrills and tons of blood. This story is based on revenge inspired by the history of the Salem witch trials and what happens if, some of the people murdered and accused, if they were actually witches. Check out this movie and, for some, sleep may be difficult while for others multiple viewings is recommended in order to fully understand and grasp what is going on. This one was really well done. 

Frankenstein's Army (2013)

Wow! After watching this movie this is all I say! Starting off like a lost WW2 documentary and building from there in a found footage style (a style that I am not exactly a fan of but, when used right, can be awesome!) this movie has mutilations, monsters and burning nuns. In this movie, Victor's grandson takes the good doctor's work and adds machines creating an unstoppable army full of Nazi soldiers. It's gory, fascinating, twisted goodness! This movie will have you on the edge of your seat and this is one found footage movie done right....always guessing, showing what you need to see, building it up without giving away too much. Just when you think you've learned it all or, think you've seen it all, another twist is around the corner. If you're like me, and love good ol' Frankie, this monsters will have you in awe. I mean, they look amazing! I won't give away too much of the plot but trust me, you'll enjoy this...that, and the director should never have his head examined....this craziness is just what the doctor ordered.

The Mummula - What in the Weird?!

Indeed! This debut ep from Mummula is a fun release that never takes itself seriously, thankfully! Making the sounds that you hear in the movies you like come alive as evident from the instrumental "Mummula vs. the Moon Men" (how do you not love that title!?). I mean, it sounds like every cheesy horror movie sci-fi crossover that I love. Personal standouts include "Ed Woodn't", Seventh Guest" and the fun sounding "My Baby's Turnin' into a Wolfman"....which I find odd....especially since she'd be a wolfwoman...I think? But! It's in the title....and I can imagine the poor dude's face when his girl turns into a wolfMAN! In the end, check out this ep, this new band will be around and, if this release is any indication, we're in for more goody goodness.

Misfits - DeA.D. Alive!

Well, last year, Jerry Only and his band whom carries the name of the legendary pioneering horror punk band the Misfits released an album. Good on you! It wasn't that bad (better then most suspected!) but it was the Misfits worst album....especially compared to the Danzig and Graves era (listen to those albums if you doubt me) but, now live, he can play his own material instead of butchering those classic songs. Now, we have a live album where half of it is butchering Graves era songs and Danzig era songs are MIA. Only is not a great singer, if he got one it would be a different monster all together! Why is he only butchering Graves era songs? A lot more people know the Danzig era (as there are some who won't even acknowledge the existence of the 90s Misfits) but, nothing! Not one song! 6 of the 14 songs are from the 90s Misfits and 1 is a cover of the classic opening track from one of my favorite movies ever The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the best version besides the movie was done by Mister Monster. His voice is not suited for any of those songs...it just sounds odd and forced imo. The songs from The Devil's Rain don't sound that bad, they translate well and are suited to Only's voice. I mean, they were written by him/for him and thus will suit it better then the other songs in the band's discography. In closing, if you're a die hard who needs everything Misfits, you'll get it. If you're a casual fan or just getting into this legendary band, don't let this be your introduction!

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Illustrated by Jim Kay and Inspired by Siobhan Dowd

This book was initially picked up by my sister because form the cover to the description, it seemed like a Frankenstein book...and Lord knows how much I love Frankie! However, it is not...it is something much different. This novel written by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Jim Kay which is based on the ideas and characters by Siobhan Dowd for a book that she never started as she passed away before she could. It is the only book ever to win the Carnegie Medal for literature and the Kate Greenway Medal for it's illustrations....and rightfully so! The story of a boy who "calls" upon a monster while his mother is dying (you can assume what it is by reading it) in this beautiful tale of how real life is much scarier then any monster seen in any movie. In fact, the boy here is the true star, not the monster who works like a voice of reason teaching the boy to come to terms with his real fear and life in general. If you haven't already, pick up this book! Both the illustrations and the words are beautiful as they work together to tell this sad tale. This book may be aimed at teenagers or young adults but trust me when I say that, if you enjoy reading, you'll love this book! It may not be packed full of horror from the monster but, like I said before, real life is sometimes way scarier and way sadder then any horror movie!