Principal Photography Begins for The Pick-Axe Murders III

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FIRST WEEK OF WINTER FILMS is proud to announce that principal photography on their latest film is about to get underway at the end of August. Writer/Director Jeremy Sumrall (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2877519/, star of SWEATSHOP, writer/director of POSSUM WALK, and the award-winning short film STAY WITH ME) is ready to deliver a slasher opus full of “...boobs and blood: two great tastes that taste great together!”

Dubbed THE PICK-AXE MURDERS PART III: THE FINAL CHAPTER (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2614814/), this movie sprang forth from an idea Sumrall began working on about six years ago, even before he starred as the masked killer "THE BEAST" in SWEATSHOP. “I had the idea to do a slasher sequel to a film that never existed, as if it was made in the slasher heyday of the 80s, and just languished in video purgatory on a dusty shelf somewhere, but I got sidetracked when the idea for POSSUM WALK won out instead, so that became my first feature as a writer/director, and then I produced JACOB with Odyssee Pictures, so the script for PICK-AXE just sort of lay stagnant for a while. It wasn't until my good friend Marc Schoenbach of Sadist Art Designs (http://sadistart.blogspot.com/) mocked up a teaser poster for it that the ideas – and blood – really started flowing”.

Set in the late 80s, THE PICK-AXE MURDERS revolves around the story of ALEX BLACK, a serial killer believed to be the son of Satan himself, which would explain how he keeps coming back again and again. “I didn't set out to reinvent the wheel or anything. It's a slasher flick, not an art house film. It's just my love letter to the films I grew up on.” The killer stalks a group of teenagers on a road trip to see their favorite hair metal band play a farewell show in a small town.

Not merely content with doing another “no-budget Weekend Warrior” movie, Sumrall reached out to several genre vets to bring his screenplay to life. “After casting several amazing Texas-based actors to play the main group of teenagers,” Sumrall says, “I realized I was onto something special. So, I looked into casting 'Horror Icons'.” Leading the charge is SCREAM QUEEN LEGEND TIFFANY SHEPIS playing the role of ADRIENNE, a woman who “...has dealt with Alex Black before, and it's left her with more than a few scars – emotional as well as physical”. Joining her as small town lawman SHERIFF MATHEWS is none other than A. MICHAEL BALDWIN, who horror nerds no doubt will recognize from his role as Mike in the Phantasm films. “Casting Michael Baldwin and Tiffany Shepis is a dream come true. I've been very fortunate in my horror career to work with people I've been a fan of, and this is certainly got to be the coolest thing to happen to me. I mean, my movie will have one of the only women who actually DESERVES the title 'SCREAM QUEEN' standing alongside someone who has gone toe-to-toe with THE TALL MAN!”

In addition to Shepis and Baldwin, TNA wrestler HERNANDEZ has joined the cast as VICTOR, and SiriusXM personality (and writer for the Howard Stern Show) SAL GOVERNALE has joined as LOU.

For the bloodthirsty, Sumrall also has a surprise in store. “We actually filmed the opening scene a couple of months ago. We've shown it in public to a couple of trusted groups, and we've gotten a great response from it. The natural next step is to unleash the opening scene to the horror public, so we're going to be posting it online very soon, just to whet everyone's appetites.. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for details on how you can see it!”

If you want more information on the film, or how to view the opening scene, visit www.facebook.com/pickaxemovie, or the production company's website at www.firstweekofwinterfilms.com.

Jacob 2011 - REVIEW by Scott Shoyer with Anything Horror

Here’s a film I’ve been waiting to see since I first heard about it at the 2011 Texas Frightmare Weekend. So when I saw JACOB made the line-up of screeners at this year’s TFW, it pretty much shot to the top of my “must-see” list. JACOB is written, directed, and stars Larry Wade Carrell, a Texas indie horror filmmaker who is part of what I like to call the Dallas-Austin horror connection. This is a group of really talented horror filmmakers, actors, f/x artists, etc ... who all help each other out and work on each other’s films. There’s no competitiveness or pettiness; it’s a bunch of talented people who love horror and who love making horror films, helping each other out. This time they all came together to support Larry Wade Carrell and JACOB.

JACOB is told from the present-day perspective of the sheriff, Billy (Carrell). The story that unfolds from his flashback is one of tragedy, domestic violence, murder, and bloody carnage. Jacob is the oldest son of Edith and Lawrence Kell (Krystn Caldwell and Michael Biehn, respectively). Even at a young age there was something obviously wrong with Jacob. Autism, a form of retardation, or something along those lines afflicted little Jacob. We first meet Jacob, though, in his early twenties and he’s a menacing looking guy who has pretty much retreated inside himself and only responds to his sister, Sissy (Grace Powell). Jacob loves his little sister and would never do her any harm ... and God forbid if anyone else were to harm her!! We learn through flashbacks within the flashback that Jacob’s dad (Biehn) died in a very dramatic and violent fashion and now Otis (also played by Carrell) has stepped in as step dad to these kids. Only problem is Otis is a violent drunk who gets rather punchy after a few drinks. One night after a day-long binge, Otis kills Sissy and sets Jacob off on a long night of bloody, savage vengeance. Throw in a subplot about a cursed book that adds in an interesting supernatural element, and you’ve got yourself a story!!

JACOB is, for sure, a slow burn movie. Carrell takes his time setting up the characters and setting the stage for the bloody and violent final act. Otis couldn’t be a more disgusting, despicable, and deplorable human being, beating his wife and always ready to raise a hand at his step kids. He’s out every day getting shit-faced, trying to pick up anything with two legs, a hole, and a heartbeat while his wife is busting her ass at the local diner. Carrell does a pretty nice job in the role of Otis. He plays Otis with a certain level of restraint and only occasionally lets the role get away from him. There’s a few times where Carrell’s Otis overacts, but in all he does a nice job.

Unfortunately some of the other cast members don’t fare as well. The mother, Edith (Caldwell), overacts most of her time on camera and comes across as one of the lesser experienced in the cast. She doesn’t always look comfortable on film and this comes through in her performance. On the other hand, Grace Powell (Sissy) does a nice job in her role as the younger sister of Jacob. This is her first feature-length film and she pulls off her role like a seasoned pro. Powell has an inherent innocence that shines through but also manages to convey a sense of strength beyond her years, not having led an easy life with an abusive step father and mentally crippled older brother.

Carrell really shines with the way he developed the tension in JACOB. You know from the opening scenes that the story is going to end in violence and blood, and Carrell takes his time creating a tension-rich tone to get us there. The tension begins with the actions of one asshole step father and Carrell manipulates and increases the intensity of the tension as the film unfolds. The addition of the mysterious book, which ends up playing more than a marginal part in the motivations of some of the actors, could have come off gimmicky, but Carrell expertly handled this element. He didn’t over-explain it or drive it in the ground, but left it as one of the mysterious aspects in the film. This worked for me.

No doubt, though, the film gets really fun once Jacob goes on his killing spree. Carrell doesn’t leave too much to the imagination as we watch Jacob literally tear people apart, bury sharp objects in them, and in general go ‘medieval on their asses.’ The special f/x are really well done and will satisfy your blood lust that you’ve come to expect from the indie horror scene here in Texas.

JACOB is another film made by a collaborative of Texas filmmakers and actors who love horror films. Texas filmmakers like Stacy Davidson (director of SWEATSHOP, my review) and Jeremy Sumrall (director of POSSUM WALK) came together to help Carrell put his vision on film, and the passion Carrell has for filmmaking shines through. JACOB is a solid full-length feature debut that only suffers from a few pacing problems and some inconsistent acting. But people who love slow burn flicks with explosive endings will appreciate what Carrell does with the story here ... and gore hounds will be rewarded as well. JACOB is worth checking out.

My Summary:
Director: Larry Wade Carrell (writer and actor)
Plot: 3 out of 5 stars
Gore: 7.5 out of 10 skulls
Zombie Mayhem: 0 out of 5 brains
Reviewed by Scott Shoyer (Anything Horror) from the Texas Frightmare Weekend 2012

Possum Walk 2010 - REVIEW

When I started this site back in March I never thought it would be anything more than me just throwing out my opinion of films. I never expected much out of it except the joy of writing. I sure never thought anyone else would read it so imagine my surprise when I'm asked to cover the premiere of a film. I've been to film festivals and horror conventions but never "invited" to watch and review a film. I was giddy (well as giddy as I get) with excitement. But of course knowing myself like I do my excitement was short lived. I tend to NOT have a filter and I'm honest to a fault at times... I knowingly admit this... so after I got over giddy, my second thought was "Oh God, what if I don't like it? Then what do I do?" I've been reamed by filmmakers on occasion for being too honest. I don't set out to hurt anyone's feelings or purposely bash someone's film I just do......... me.

In small towns like Possum Walk, secrets can be hard to keep. For Faith Carpenter (Maggie Conwell) her secret could be downright deadly: She’s pregnant…and a virgin. Her father, (Parrish Randall) a local preacher with dark, violent secrets of his own-tightens his grip on her driving a wedge between them. But both of them will have to put aside their differences to deal with the darkest secret Possum Walk has ever known... a serial killer who has chosen the little town to be his bloodiest venue yet.

Normally I don't expect much from the cast of a small budget film... maybe I've been watching the wrong films... but I was pleasently surprised. The two main characters Conwell and Indie veteran Randall gave solid performances. I just recently found this whole "Texas Indie Film" thing but I'm quickly becoming a fan of Randall. He's definitely a chameleon when it comes to his roles. Tyler Tackett, who could easily pass for a young Jonathan Cherry, had a pretty challenging role considering he'd only done two other films prior to Possum Walk but he handled himself nicely. Andrew Sensenig and Victoria Lane weren't really given much to do until the end but pulled it off well. Jennifer Peebles cracked me up. Yes, her dialogue was a little cliche and cheesy at times but she brought such life to the character that I didn't really even care about the dialogue. That wedding scene was fucking hilarious!

I know where writer/director Jeremy Sumrall was going with this film. I'm just not quite sure if it ever got there. I had a hard time figuring out what the true focus of the film was suppose to be. Was it the pregnant virgin or the inner turmoil of the preacher man himself or how about the serial killer? Sometimes there can be so much information thrown at you at once that it becomes overwhelming. To steal a line from a colleague - I think it suffered a bit of an identity crisis.

Robert Luke did find some great small town locations that were perfect as a back drop. Being from a town where everybody knows everybody I can say with first hand knowledge that the atmosphere they created was pretty spot on. The scene where Kristen Hall is walking down the road and you can see nothing but empty fields was one of the best shots in the entire film.

One thing I just didn't get, and it's possible that it went right over my head, was the slasher aspect of the film. There was never really any explanation of why the killer was killing. Did he/she do it just for the fun or was there some ulterior motive behind it? Given that I know who the killer is, it's easy to assume that he/she does it just for shits and giggles but it's just too hard to say for sure. I think expanding on the pregnant virgin and crazy preacher daddy story (leaving out the slasher part) would've made for a more cohesive film. All in all, I thought it was a good effort on their part. Would I watch it again, probably not but it's at the very least entertaining. The effects were good for the budget they had to work with. There was lots of blood which bodes well for a Gore Whore like myself. I applaud the work of everyone involved, I know it's not an easy thing to do. It was obvious that everyone involved with the project put their best foot forward and worked really hard. I definitely look forward to seeing what the Possum Walk family does next!