DefTone Pictures Upcoming Film "A Grim Becoming" - PRESS RELEASE

DefTone Pictures Studios signs Brandon Williams to play lead role of Raphael in A Grim Becoming

DefTone Pictures Studios Inc continues to put Buffalo, New York on the map with their film productions. Currently in preproduction is their next feature film: a horror comedy entitled A Grim Becoming. Directed by Adam R Steigert (Ombis 2013) and written by Janeen Avery, Christopher Brechtel, Mark Mendola and Adam R Steigert.

DefTone Pictures Studios Inc’s search to find the actor to portray the lead character of Raphael is over. Raphael is a young, bitter executive who is on the verge of losing a multimillion dollar architectural when a sudden death in his family forces him to return to his home town of Metzburgh. With the role of Raphael depending a lot on an actor’s physical abilities, casting the role was a challenge. DefTone is proud to announce that Brandon Williams has signed on to play the role of Raphael. Brandon is an actor that can hold his own with his comedic abilities and he should take the character of Raphael to a new level.

The official theatrical teaser trailer is set to be released May 2013 and will feature a sneak-peek look at the character of “Death” who goes by the more human name of Magoo. A Grim Becoming stars Brandon Williams, Britt Griffith, Devanny Pinn, Bill Oberst Jr., Michael Sciabarrasi, Jessica Cameron, Melantha Blackthorne, Lynn Lowry, Patrick Mallette, Valerie Lynn Hanna, Melyssa Jade, Mike Sarcinelli, Christopher Brechtel and Aryn Fitzgerald.

DefTone Pictures Studios Inc begins principal photography on A Grim Becoming starting June 1st, 2013. The film has a tentative release date of June 21, 2014.

Two 70's Classics Restored and Uncut on Blu Ray

HOUSE ON STRAW HILL & THE HOUSE OF SEVEN CORPSES
Two ‘70s Horror Classics Restored & Uncut In HD

6/11 Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Releases Packed with Exclusive Special Features from Severin Films!


LOS ANGELES, CA, March 29th, 2013 – Severin Films have announced the long awaited June 11th Blu-ray + DVD combo US debut release of the controversial shocker HOUSE ON STRAW HILL and the creepy classic THE HOUSE OF SEVEN CORPSES.

HOUSE ON STRAW HILL: Banned in Britain as a Video Nasty for thirty years! A shockingly violent and erotic tale of seduction, brutality and revenge. Cult movie icon Udo Kier (MARK OF THE DEVIL, FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN) stars as a successful novelist suffering from writer’s block, who rents a country cottage with his wife (British 70s sex sensation Fiona Richmond) in the hope of finding inspiration. But the arrival of a sensual secretary, played by Linda Hayden (BLOOD ON SATAN’S CLAW, TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA) sets in motion a chain of events that culminate in an unrestrained explosion of sex and savagery. Film elements were long thought lost or destroyed on this sleazy gem but the original camera negative was unearthed in a barn in rural England and painstakingly restored for this first official uncut release anywhere in the world. Director commentary and cast and crew interviews will round out the package.


THE HOUSE OF SEVEN CORPSES: “Eight graves! Seven bodies!” screamed the ads, “One killer... and he's already dead!” Hollywood legends John Ireland (RED RIVER, SATAN’S CHEERLEADERS), John Carradine (THE GRAPES OF WRATH, VAMPIRE HOOKERS) and Howard Hughes’ paramour Faith Domergue (CULT OF THE COBRA,THIS ISLAND EARTH) star in this much-loved ‘70s shocker about a film crew shooting an occult drama in a sinister manor with its own grisly history of family bloodshed. Previously released with often badly cropped, censored and muddy transfers, the film will finally be available in HD, transferred from original vault materials and featuring an exclusive archive interview with legendary horror icon Carradine (a DVD/Blu-Ray first as far as we’re aware) and a revealing new audio commentary with Co-Producer Gary Kent & Film Historian Lars Nilsen.


Severin Films was formed in 2006 with offices in Los Angeles and London. Their 80 plus strong movie catalogue includes works from iconic euro-cult directors Lucio Fulci, Jess Franco and Walerian Borowczyck, the all-star War classicTHE WILD GEESE, the unrated Director’s Cut of Just Jaeckin’s GWENDOLINE, Richard Stanley’s cyber-punk hit HARDWARE, Enzo Castellari’s original action classic INGLORIOUS BASTARDS, Oscar®-nominee Patrice Leconte’s THE HAIRDRESSER’S HUSBAND, the midnight movie sensation BIRDEMIC – SHOCK & TERROR, the historical battle epic ZULU DAWN, Eugenio Martin’s restored HORROR EXPRESS, and Alejandro Jodorowsky’s internationally acclaimedSANTA SANGRE. In 2011 they produced the horror anthology feature THE THEATRE BIZARRE.


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HOUSE ON STRAW HILL

1985 • 84 minutes • Color • 1.77:1, 16x9 • SRP $29.95 • 1 DVD, 1 BLU RAY

THE HOUSE OF SEVEN CORPSES

1973 • 91 minutes • Color • 1.85:1, 16x9 • SRP $29.95 • 1 DVD, 1 BLU RAY

Diabolique Issue 15: The Dark Side of Rock N Roll

Our Rock and Horror issue of Diabolique takes you on a journey through the spectacle and madness of music-related horror entertainment. From the first time a musician put on a scary costume to perform on stage to the destructive and violent backlash from "Polite Society," we reveal the scathing facts about your favorite rockers. Including exclusive interviews with Rob Zombie, Kirk Hammett, and with a special focus on Skinny Puppy's Kevin "Ogre" Ogilvie, Diabolique's latest and greatest issue provides you with as much spine-rattling entertainment as you can take! Also featured in this issue are a rare exclusive interview with famous Korean genre filmmaker Chan-wook Park (Stoker, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance), a review of the new screenwriting book by Dan O'Bannon (Alien, Return of the Living Dead), the ethereal and frightening images of artist Jim Cummins (aka "I, Braineater"), and much much more! Click Here to purchase!

Inside this issue:
A BEAUTIFUL PARK TWISTED FANTASY
Chan-wook Park clarifies a few things about his new film Stoker
THEY SOLD THEIR SOULS FOR ROCK N’ ROLL
Almost a century’s worth of singers who scare us while they croon
FILM REVIEW
Rob Zombie bewitches audiences with The Lords of Salem
DEVIL’S MUSIC
Where the real horror is at: violent conservative backlash to taboo topics
BOOK REVIEW
A look at Dan O’Bannon’s new book on screenwriting
TOO MUCH RED
Psychological horror stories vs. splatter filmmaking
ART OF DARKNESS: JIM CUMMINS
Featured artist Jim Cummins tells Diabolique about the art scene in Vancouver
KIRK HAMMETT: TOO MUCH HORROR BUSINESS
Metallica’s guitarist invites us into HIS horror pages
ON THE CUTTING EDGE: CAREFUL, IT BITES…
Skinny Puppy’s Ogre reveals several of his many faces
THE SOUND OF FEAR
Some sound frequencies can cause hallucinations and madness…

RagNBone Productions Releases Trailer and Music Video for House on the Wrong Side of the Tracks

Ragnbone Productions of Youngstown, Ohio will soon be releasing their first feature film House on the Wrong Side of the Tracks. The group has a combined 30 years of television production and over 20 years of local film making.

House stars Amanda Baker, Alec Drake, Eric Sopko, Tom Smith, Brittiani McNeil Ketcham.  It was written by Arthur Leo Collins and Mike Petrucci, produced by Keith Boron and directed by Arthur Leo Collins.

Synopsis:  
Three low-life punks set out with a video camera for a night of violent thrill seeking.  They take a seemingly helpless couple captive in their home where they brutalize and torture them.  Everything looks hopeless . . . until their son comes home.

Trailer: 


Music Video:


They have launched an Indiegogo campaign to help with the DVD distribution and promotional products. If you'd like to help out, click here to visit their campaign home.

They've got quite a busy schedule ahead of them for the year, in May they will begin production in Parkersburg West Virginia of a remake and a re-imagining of the classic Bela Lugosi film White Zombie. In August they'll begin shooting found footage film The Massacre at Skullfork Hill in Marietta, Ohio. And they are also working on a documentary about local band Tara's Fire, called The Death March.

Look for updates as they become available! 

Supernatural Drama "The Remembrance" Explores Life After Death

PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 2nd 2013: Director/Writer Brandon Taylor and Hollow Tree Films LLC create a lucid perspective on the intertwined cycle of life and death in the supernatural, character-driven drama THE REMEMBRANCE.

Watch the trailer here.

A man, Nate, is drawn towards helping others, entangled in the lives he has unwillingly affected. As the lines between life and death become increasingly blurred, the search for who and what he is takes precedence.

THE REMEMBRANCE is the third feature film produced by Melissa Sherry and the first for Angelique Bucciero. It is Michael Sherry’s third feature film he has lensed. Brandon Taylor, Michael Sherry, Anthony DiMichele, and Danielle Sinopoli also serve as producers. It is the feature film debut of director/writer Brandon Taylor. 

Gabryal Rabinowitz, Michelle Jones, Douglas Saint James and Cassandra Dailey lead the cast; Felicia Revero, Tim Hackney, Karen Guilliams, Joseph Janvoic and Matt Stein co-star.

An experimental production spanning over eighteen months took place entirely within the Pocono region in northeastern Pennsylvania.

“This film is about the ‘what-if’ scenario we’re all so scared to talk about,” said director Brandon Taylor. “It’s more than asking questions, more than wondering what could have been. There are millions of people who would do anything to have five more minutes with someone they lost. I should know. I’m one of them.”

Follow The Remembrance on Facebook, Twitter and IMDB.

Cassandra Dailey in a scene from THE REMEMBRANCE. Photo by Alyssa Meadows, Lost in Meadows Photography

Director Brandon Taylor with script supervisor Katie Dembesky watching the monitor during filming of THE REMEMBRANCE. Photo by Arline Rasely.

Director Brandon Taylor speaking with Felicia Revero and Gabryal Rabinowitz from THE REMEMBRANCE. Photo by Alyssa Meadows, Lost in Meadows Photography.

Michelle Jones in a scene from THE REMEMBRANCE. Photo by Alyssa Meadows, Lost in Meadows Photography.

Felicia Revero in a scene from THE REMEMBRANCE. Photo by Alyssa Meadows, Lost in Meadows Photography.

Gabryal Rabinowitz in a scene from THE REMEMBRANCE. Photo by Alyssa Meadows, Lost in Meadows photography.

Gabryal Rabinowitz and Margaret Ball in a scene from THE REMEMBRANCE. Photo by Alyssa Meadows, Lost in Meadows Photography.

Truth or Dare Releases Teaser Trailer, Cast and Indiegogo Campaign

Today is a big news day for Jessica Cameron’s directorial debut “Truth or Dare.” Their IndieGoGo campaign has launched, their teaser trailer has been released, and the production has announced 5 of their 7 leads in this ensemble cast. Indie Scream Queens Devanny Pinn & Heather Dorff will be joining Jessica as the three leading ladies. Jessica has worked with Devanny and Heather but this will be the first project where all three ladies will be sharing the screen together. Brandon Van Vliet and Ryan Kiser have been announced along with Jared Degado and Marv Blauvelt from Muscle Wolf Productions.

“Truth or Dare” is about 6 college kids who find internet stardom when they make “Truth or Dare” videos with a violent twist. It is all fun and games until their number one fan decides he wants to play...

Here is the teaser trailer that was launched today:



Jessica comment regarding the trailer:

“We chose to do a teaser to show fans the tone and type of film that we are going to create with their help. This film is inspired from all the conversations I’ve had with fans about what they want and also from my love of the horror genre. One of my favorite things about this project is that it goes to so many of the dark places that people fear. We tried to capture that with our teaser.”

Actress Devanny Pinn is known for roles in such films as the award-winning “The Black Dahlia Haunting,” “ViViD,” and the sci-fi thriller “Area 51 Confidential” (available now at Wal-Mart) which she also co-wrote.

Heather Dorff is a Chicago-based actress who got her start with the award winning “What They Say” which she starred in, narrated, produced, and wrote. She is also known for the John Wesley Norton film “Drifted” as well as Brian Troxell’s “Intrusive Behavior” which she co-starred in with fellow actress Jessica Cameron.

Heather had this to say about “Truth or Dare:”

“I am extremely excited to be a part of “Truth or Dare.” I had the pleasure of working with Jessica on a film recently and saw that she is an amazing actress. I’m sure she is going to be an amazing director as well. This film is one of the most gruesome scripts I’ve ever read and I’m excited for the new challenges it will present to me as an actress!”

Jessica, along with her producers Jonathan Higgins and Buz Wallick, have launched their IndieGoGo campaign to secure additional financing. Their Facebook fan page is updated daily so please “like” it on Facebook and follow the team on Twitter (links have been provided below):

Truth or Dare
Imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2762738/?ref_=fn_al_tt_5
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruthOrDareTheMovie?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FilmTruthOrDare

Jessica Cameron
Imdb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2781723/?ref_=sr_1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ActressJessicaCameron?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaCameron_

Devanny Pinn
Imbd: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1922788/?ref_=sr_1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devannypinnonline?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DevannyPinn

Heather Dorff
Imdb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3940718/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actressheatherdorff?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SerenityRising

Brandon Van Vliet
Imdb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3783827/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RestrainingHollywood?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RestHollywood

Ryan Kiser
Imdb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3067547/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kiser.ryan?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryanmkiser

Jonathan Higgins
Imdb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5562722/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.higgins.3766
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WriterJHiggins

Buz Wallick
Imdb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3107188/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buzdanger?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BuzDanger

April Fool's Day 1986 - REVIEW

What would an April Fool's Day be without a few practical jokes and watching none other than April Fools Day.  Paramount put together a young but fairly talented cast for this slasher film.  Notably Amy Steel from Friday the 13th Part 2.  I know I know it's hard to believe I am reviewing a Slasher film from the 80's.

Muffy St John (Deborah Foreman) is hosting a weekend getaway at her remote family home with a group of selected friends.  The only way to get to this location is by fairy.  It's April fools day and the practical jokes are running rampid on the fairy but soon go too far.  Skip (Griffin O'Neal) and Arch (Thomas F Wilson) are playing a game of stretch (a game were you throw a knife and have to stretch from your position to pick it up, also called Pivot) and Arch is tired of loosing and does not want to play anymore.  Skip wants one more game and tosses him the knife.  Arch wants none of it and throws the knife back with force, stabbing Skip in the stomach and falling overboard.  A dock hand Buck (Mike Nomad) and one of the guests Rob (Ken Olandt) jump in after him but soon realize this is a prank and it was not real.  Everyone gets out of the water except for Buck who stays to tie the fairy on the dock but he does not get it done in time and he is struck by the boat brutally mangling his face.

He is rushed to the mainland while the Constaple tells the group to stay put at Muffy's house.  This is only the start of a long weekend for Muffy's friends.  It will be a weekend they will never forget!

The first time that I saw this movie I was only about 8 years old.  I loved it the first time I saw it.  Back then I did not really know why i liked it, I just did.  Now there are so many things that stand out to me in this movie, namely the soundtrack. The creepy soundtrack is fantastic especially the opening music.  The opening really sets the tone for the rest of the movie and the other composed music for the film.

So many good young actors and actresses appear in this cast : Amy Steel from Friday the 13th part 2, Deborah Foreman who had been in the teen flicks Valley Girl and Real Genius, and also Thomas Wilson who played Biff in the Back to the Future movies.

 There are others but the ones listed above are the most known ones to this point in 1986.  Being a huge Friday the 13th fan Amy Steel is of course one of my favorite final girls and in this one she has another great performance as the final girl.  Always playing a very clever and tough character.

I did read on IMDB that there was an alternate ending that was filmed for this.  It dissapoints me they did not keep the original ending after having read what actually was meant to happen at the end.  The ending is still pretty clever though.  Paramount took a chance on this movie because it's not a slasher that all fans of the genre will enjoy.  Mainly the reason being the lack of blood and the fact that all the deaths occur off screen.  The surprise ending and how corny and awesome the movie is does make up for it though.  Stay Twisted everyone!