When I came across Red Letter Media on YouTube I was hooked. Any he’s definitely deserved of a full blog post. So who the hell are Red Letter Media?

A few months ago, much of the geekier side of the movie world, made reference to a 70 minute review of Star Wars The Phantom Menace (TPM) that was an indepth review. Now given my feelings on TPM, thats is awful and the fact this chap was posting a 70 minute review many years after the movie’s release, much to my shame I skipped his review.

Until recently. I so it mentioned on a site yet again and though, “not this thing again”. However I had some time to kill so I have a look. What started as a brief look ended up being a 3 hour marathon of watching as much Red Letter Media movie reviews that I could! The chap has a wildly entertaining, geeky yet completely sensical (is that a word???) view of how movies and story telling work. However the key word here is entertaining. His reviews are WILDLY entertaining.

Granted Mike from Red Letter Media doesn’t have many reviews uploaded and the reviews centre on the Star Wars and Star Trek world predominantly but once you watch his reviews you’ll be dying to see whats next. Even Mike himself is feeling the pressure, which we get a taste of with some of the other comical video’s he has uploaded.

To visit Red Letter Media’s website, click here!

Brian Keenan
Brendan Pollard
Maria Dillon
Damien Holmes
Amber Power

E1 Entertainment Presents

‘The most frightening film of the year.
You will not sleep after watching this’
Nuts Magazine

After terrifying audiences with their nerve-shredding cult hit, [REC], acclaimed filmmakers Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza take fear to another level with the highly anticipated screamquel to the scariest camcorder horror since Blair Witch.

Only minutes have passed since the authorities lost contact with those trapped inside the virus-stricken apartment block, now completely sealed off from the outside world. Chaos reigns outside and a SWAT team, equipped with video cameras, has been sent in to try and control the situation. However, no one is prepared for the evil that awaits them and, once again, they must keep recording…no matter what!

FEAR IS REVISITED ON MAY 28TH 2010

For further information please contact:

KATE BOWE PR on 01 652 01 43:
maud@katebowepr.ie/niamh.regan@katebowepr.ie
Images – www.picselect.com

/PROMOTION

Ok now that the promotional bit is out of the way, lets get to the stuff you really want! Goodie bags! Ive a number of goodie bags up for grabs! You want to win one? Easy as eating cake. All you need to do is to email me with the name of your favourite horror movie and I will pick at random the lucky winners the day before the movie is released. Thats the 27th May! So get emailing, there are no wrong answers!!

I haven’t seen the movie yet but I’m a fan of the first one. Will post a review of this movie next week!

We all remember that film from 1973. Banned in Ireland from many years due to its content, the film had a stigma attached in many corners, curses, strange things going on set, people dying, and all that hokey pokey good stuff.

The Exorcist is one of my favourite films, something that many friends question. It wasn’t the fact of having studied film in college back in the day or written a piece about what the film represents as a piece of art that drew me to it. It was the fact that when I saw it, 16 years of age, it scared the pants off me. For the 122 minutes the film displayed on my TV, I was glued to my seat in a lather of sweat and white knuckles. I was alive for those 2 hours and William Friedkin ensured that I would remember that film for a long time.

Nowadays, with our desensitised view of the world the film is somewhat dated, as horror films have been permitted by censors to be more shocking that they were in the 70′s and of course, the film has been imitated and parodied regularly. But never recreated. Even John Boorman couldn’t bring his charm to it’s sequel (and interestinly enough, Boorman apparantely turned down the chance to direct the first film, as the story goes, because it was a nasty piece of work). The original novel’s writer, William Peter Blatty, tried his hand at directing the third film, which focussed moreso on a spate of killings with satanic overtones. While the film had its moments, it wasn’t a patch on the original. I’m not going to mention the 2 prequels at this point.

Cut to today, Eric asked me if I could help out with some of the logistically elements of the film so with my background in No Drama Theatre, I set about sourcing potential actors that would potentially meet his criteria. The film will centre around an exorcism of an Irish girl but rather than focus on the horror of the piece, the film will focus on the psychological aspect. A good decision in my opinion.

As part of my research for the project, I read a number of modern non fiction books on the subject material; The Rite; The Dark Sacrement and Hostage Of The Devil. The books brought me into a world that I have to admit, should really only reside on the top shelf of the horror section down at your local Xtravision. The books were fascinated but equally frightening. Unlike Friedkin’s movie, the books didn’t offer tales of spinning heads, mass disfigurations or mutations but instead offered an insight into the modern Catholic Church that appears to have been brushed under the carpet for a long time. But books are books so the production team set out to meet with Ireland’s leading Exorcist. A priest named Father Pat Collins. Fr. Collins was difficult to track down but he did agree to meet with the team and share his insight into his world. Fr. Collin’s tales and explanation as to what happens during an exorcism would make the hairs stand up on your neck. His stories mirrored many of the stories we read about in the books. He wasn’t a troubled man, he came across as a very strong man mentally and spiritually. Perhaps his experiences, as nasty as some of them were, offered him a renewed sense of faith. As William Peter Blatty once said, “God never talks. But the devil keeps advertising, Father. The devil does a lot of commercials.”

I should point out that Fr. Collins did not object to the project nor try dissuade the project from proceeding. He did however warn the team to thread carefully. Almost like your mother telling you to look in both directions before crossing the road. One thing that the research has shown is that the subject matter is distressing and regardless of what anyone’s religious beliefs are, it’s not a pleasant topic in any shape or form.

But the show must go on. Eric and his screen writer, Martin Robinson, are pressing ahead with writing the story and almost a whole production team is now in place. Some actors have been already been cast and there is a sense of excitment already building. Eric plans on showcasing the film in the film festivals, similar to Seer, and hopefully a distributor will pick up film at that point.

The film is yet untitled and shooting is planned for early summer. I hope to blog about it more as things move along.

Oh and to pre-empt the question that is always asked when movies like this are being made, “has anything strange happened yet?” Yes it has. But you’re not really going to believe me, are you?

Quite some time ago, I came across a chap called Antony Lane on twitter with the username @indywoodFILMS. Antony had set out to independently raise funds to make a feature film, “Invasion Of The Not Quite Dead”, which is a spin on the zombie movie genre. You might be saying, “Nothing new there” and would be forgiven for thinking that but when you dig deeper you realise that Antony, or should I say, AD Lane, is doing it a bit different than everyone else.

For a start, he’s really pushing the project as hard as he can. He’s not talking about it, he’s doing it. Through the power of Twitter and other social media sites, AD Lane, has managed to raise UK£16,340 (as of today) from 446 sponsors. And by sponsors, I mean regular people. That’s quite an achievement.

The concept is simple. On visiting the website, theindywoodproject.com you are given the option to take our a producer package. Their are producer packages that range from UK£10 to UK£500, each offering a number of unique perks such as signed DVD, posters, t-shirts and a chance to be a zombie on set for a day.

After following AD Lane’s progress for some time, I took out a producer package. I saw how much he wants this to work and how committed he is to it. But don’t just take my word on it, Jonathan Ross has also taken out a producer package and as you can see from the website, the project carries a number of celebrity endorsements.

So why am I only blogging about this now? Well the teaser trailer has just gone live on the web, giving a brief snapshot of what we can expect!

The teaser was shot on S16mm film on location at a small farm in Kent and stars horror veteran Leslie Simpson (Dog Soldiers, The Descent, Doomsday), Efisia Fele and Frank Jakeman. I’m looking forward to seeing how this project progresses!

Like what you see or even just a little bit curious as to what its all about?
For more information on how you can help the production of ‘INVASION OF THE NOT QUITE DEAD’ please visit: http://www.theindywoodproject.com or http://www.invasionofthedead.com

For real time updates you can add them on Twitter: @indywoodFILMS

The official facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Invasion-of-the-Not-Quite-Dead/16091146970

Contact writer/producer/director Antony Lane: adlane@indywood.co.uk

Anyway, its 2009 and Im all growed up. So to demonstrate my maturity, Im going to share my favourite of the “Christian Bale goes doo-lally on a film set” parodies I have found on the net. Those of you with your head in the sand who don’t know the background; Bale on the set of Terminator Salvation had a mickey fit with the Director of Photography during an intense emotional scene (making love to terminators? Its McG for God sake!) and the DoP was more interested in adjusting his lights. Or something. Anyway, enjoy!

In an interview with Variety magazine that they plan was to boot a franchise that he hoped would be around for “many years to come”. The film will be modernised, taking the action away from Vietnam and updating it with the Middle East. Scott also wants to dump the “campiness” of the TV show and bring to us a “fast paced” show that is “emotional, real and accessible as possible without cheesing it up.”

Co-creator of the original series Stephen J Cannell is also on board as a producer. Release date is June 2010.

I get very antsy at this time of year when if comes to what is advertised as “Oscar”movies or “feel good” movies. At this time of year those kind of movies are no different than drunken men in a Dublin pub on a Saturday night. Except instead of looking for the ride, they’re only after awards.

When Danny Boyle’s latest film was being tagged as a feel good movie and award worthy material, I was nervous. BUT it is Danny Boyle and he has demonstrated his mastery of story telling on screen. I gave it a look.

In summary, the film opens with a young man as a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, one question for hitting the jackpot. He is arrested for attempted fraud and the story then intercuts with his explanations as to how he knows the answer, which in essence translates to his life story.

The movie is being badly touted in the media. There are far better feel good movies out there. There is no melodrama here to warrant being called an “Oscar” movie. Instead, what we have is a fine example of film making, story telling and character development. The performances are top notch.

Oh and it has this girl…

An excellent film and it has given 2009 a nice start. Although things get remarkably worse if you go see Bride Wars afterward….