Saturday, April 30, 2011

HYMNS FROM THE HOUSE OF HORROR VOL. 2

Leave it to those twisted freaks at RUE MORGUE to come up with yet another mind-melting compilation of music from the dark side. Introduced by shock rock jock Tomb Dragomir, the second volume of the very popular HYMNS FROM THE HOUSE OF HORROR is now ready to download at the RUE MORGUE website. Warp on over there by clicking on the image on the sidebar to the right -- and get ready to have your eardrums splattered against the inside of your pathetic skull, measly mortal!

Friday, April 29, 2011

BUY HERE! UNDYING MONSTERS #1


Now available is the fearsome first ever item up for sale at MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD! For this monster-ous occasion UNDYING MONSTERS #1, a the brand-new, fangtastic publication from the fevered mind of Editor and Publisher Dave Davey, is being offered for purchase. Here are this issue's frightful features:

   - NIGHT OF THE DEMON
   - CURSE OF THE FACELESS MAN
   - PAUL BLAISDELL: MONSTER MAKER
   - WHEN SMALL BECOMES TALL: WHEN NATURE GOES WILD
   - WE DIED LAUGHING: TOPPS 1959 FUNNY MONSTERS CARDS
   - PLUS: DIGITAL SCREAMS, BRAIN BUSTERS, & MORE!

Now, for a limited time, you can purchase this great 'zine in a special LIMITED EDITION BONUS PACK, available only here at MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD. Here's what you get:

1. One brand-new, undead . . . er, unread copy of UNDYING MONSTERS #1 ($9.95)

2. One out-of-print, collector's copy of HELLBOY: THE CORPSE, the special, limited edition Dark Horse comic story that the first HELLBOY movie was based on (valued up to $4.00)

3. One collectible Universal Monsters of the Silver Screen Trading Card that also doubles as a great bookmark! (valued up to $1.00)

All this for the SUPER SPECIAL PRICE OF ONLY $14.95 US (includes shipping)



But wait! That's not all! Included in each order of this LIMITED EDITION BONUS PACK is a coupon for FREE shipping (a $4.95 value) on your next order here at the MONSTER MAIL ORDER page.

So, what are you waiting for, monster lover? Just click HERE to go to the MONSTER MAIL ORDER page. Then select the convenient "BUY NOW" button and your order will be packaged and shipped within 48 hours right to your haunted house.

NOTE: THIS OFFER IS VALID ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. INTERNATIONAL ORDERS ARE NOT CURRENTLY BEING ACCEPTED. Secure payment is through PayPal. All magazines are bagged and boarded to retain freshness!

Remember, this is a limited time offer! It ain't gonna last forever!

[A portion of all proceeds go to the "Chiropractors for Quasimodo" fund]

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

MAKE-UP ARTIST NO. 5


I was 13 years old in 1968 when PLANET OF THE APES premiered. While some older, more sophisticated science-fiction fans scoffed at the movie, complaining of a predictable ending or Charlton Heston’s wooden acting, I loved it! To this day, it is one my favorite films.

The images of the film remain vibrant in my brain: the desolation and loneliness the astronauts encounter upon landing, the shock of seeing apes hunting the humans, the markers surrounding the Forbidden Zone. The underlying social commentary of the virtual caste system of the apes, with each type of animal allowed only certain types of jobs seemed so cutting-edge to my teen-aged mind. And the ending blew me away.


And the thing that made it all seem so real is that the apes were characters and individuals, not just actors in monkey suits. The audience could see the actors’ expressions through the heavy make-up. This could not have been done using masks. The man who made the magic was John Chambers. Without his make-up artistry, POTA would have been just a movie with a bunch of guys in monkey suits. The make-up he and his team designed allowed the actors to act, their expressions to show, and the audience to believe. How revolutionary this development was may be difficult to convey to a generation raised on computer effects, but it was huge in its day.



While digging through stacks of old magazines at a used bookstore last week, I happened upon a copy of MAKE-UP ARTIST #5 from 1997 which paid tribute to John Chambers. It contains some moving remembrances of him written by such make-up stars as Michael Westmore, Rick Baker, Dick Smith, Matthew Mungle, Tom Burman, and Mike McCracken. They tell a tale of a man who was more than just a pioneer in his field, but also an excellent mentor and great friend. He was also a humanitarian who got his start building prosthetics for veterans. The tributes in the magazine are accompanied by some great behind-the-scenes photos, some of which are reprinted here. For us Lovecraft fans, John Goodwin wrote an excellent two page story on the creation by Chambers and sculptor Chris Mueller of a monster for the “Pickman’s Model” episode of NIGHT GALLERY.


In addition to the Chambers articles, MUA 5 has some other excellent material. A back-stage look at the Academy Award contest for the year has a wonderful color photo of Ron Perlman from ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU. In an interview, Matthew Mungle details the secrets of age make-up, with some great photos of James Woods being made-up for GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI.

It is interesting to me to see how MAKE-UP ARTIST has evolved. I had never read the magazine until the issue featuring THE WATCHMEN film. John has written about several recent issues during his first year (congratulations, my friend!) of the MMW blog. The John Chambers issue (#5) is thinner than the more recent incarnations—fifty pages plus covers, but it is packed with great information and insights. And no wonder, as Editor Michael Key states in the “Editor’s Notes”, the magazine is written and compiled by working make-up artists, not professional writers. It is a labor of love. That love for the craft and each other truly shows through in the Chambers tributes.

Guest post by: DOUG


Monday, April 25, 2011

BEASTS FROM THE BRAIN OF BLAISDELL

This Pre-Painted Resin Statue Stands 14" Tall and includes a display base with the movie title sculpted into it, raising the total height of the piece to a very impressive 15.75" tall. This will really stand out in your collection. It comes packaged in a beautiful full color box, partially replicating the original (and highly sought after) movie poster. The box alone is a substantial display piece at 18" tall, 13" across and 6.5" deep. Each side of the box is adorned with either a picture of the statue, stills from the movie (2) or best of all, an image of Paul Blaisdell and Bob Burns, along with a synopsis of the movie and Paul Schiola's thoughts on producing the statue. Retail price: $79.99. Ships May 10.



WAREHOUSE FIND! Effects master Paul Blaisdell created this monsters in one week for Beast With A Million Eyes. This 11" tall PRE-PAINTED statue comes ready to display, included is a full color package, only 100pcs were ever made of this item and we found some for our Monsters In Motion customers.

Size - 11" tall, 12" wide and 10" deep

Material - Resin Parts - an amazing 17!

Consists of base, body incl space suit, head, 2 arms, 2 wings, 2 antennae, 2 face claws, 2 manacles, 2 chains with connectors, alien gemstone (for his suit) and a nameplate. Retail Price $89.99. Ships May 10.

[SOURCE: EYBALL NEWSLETTER]

MONSTER CARD MONDAY



















EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS! CREATURE FEATURE CARD STICKER!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

PIRANHA PARTY GIRLS

What do you get when you mix one part Corman production remake, one part nasty, hungry critters, and one part vicarious Girls Gone Wild video? PIRANHA 3D, of course! And the party's still rocking as the film nears $100 million in combined box office and DVD sales.

Since we last mentioned that PIRANHA had received RUE MORGUE magazine's top honors for "Best Guilty Pleasure" and "Goriest Scene" among horror films of 2010, HORRORHOUND mag has also given the nod by awarding it "Best Movie (Sequel/Remake)" and "Best Gore Scene" in their Best of 2010 Voting Results.


HORRORHOUND voted PIRANHA in two of it's "Best Of" categories for 2010.

The original PIRANHA was covered in RUE MORGUE #103

And it's no small wonder that it received the highest gore scores. PIRANHA has become legendary for it's reputed use of 7,500 gallons of blood that was dumped into Lake Paradise. And that's not including the mulitude of ripped up and chewed body parts!




Also noteworthy is Director Alexandre Aja's skillful use of the beach babe motif (after all, what beach monster movie is worth a darn without 'em?), evidenced by such sun-drenched lovelies as Kelly Brook (Danni), Riley Steele (Christy), and Jessica Szohr (Kelly). And let's not forget mature minxes Dina Meyer and Elizabeth Shue, who still ain't lookin' so bad, either. One of the most talked about scenes on the street is the underwater sequence with Kelly Brook and Riley Steele. They also stir up the margueritas with a hot little dance number.

Kelly Brook. One mermaid you'd be nuts to throw back in.

A rare shot in the movie of Kelly Brook fully clothed. Well, almost.






Babes born to dance. The shameless sequence from the film.

PIRANHA 3D has done so well and created such a media buzz, especially in our favorite monster mags as well as the 'Net, that a sequel is planned for release this fall. The title? PIRANHA 3DD. Clever, boys!


 

 
 
The . . . end of the party?


Brought to you by:



Friday, April 22, 2011

DEBBY AYU: HORROR HOTTIE, INDONESIAN STYLE


Largely overlooked by the current monster magazine press is a film that promises to be a pretty good little Indonesian gore-fest called JENGLOT PANTAI SELATAN (a.k.a. BEACH CREATURE, DEMON OF SOUTH BEACH). While it has it's obvious inspiration from Alexandre Asa's PIRANHA, I'm sure it will have it's own character as so many Asian horror movies do.



One of the up-and-coming stars in the film is an attractive Indonesian girl by the name of Debby Ayu. Debby Ayu Novitasari Agustine was born on August 7, 1988, in Bandar Lampung (Lampung City), known as the gateway to Sumatra. Like any 22-year old young woman, Miss Ayu's favorite hobby is -- are you ready? -- shopping. She also likes surfing the 'Net.



Debby has already been in a handful of films and a number of promo photoshoots. It's easy to see why Debby Ayu is gaining more and more exposure. Let's hope that we can see more of her and her co-stars on a Region 1 DVD disc sometime soon!













FANGORIA NO. 301


On those albeit rare occasions when friends or co-workers ask about my favorite authors, Richard Matheson is always on the list. Whether the format is TV (Twilight Zone), novels, (Hell House, I Am Legend), or short stories (The Shock collections), his writing almost never disappoints. It was due in large measure to Mr. Matheson (as well as Rod Serling) that I learned at an early age to watch TV credits for the writer’s name. I knew that if Richard Matheson wrote an episode, I would enjoy it. So, the moment I saw the cover of FANGORIA 301—featuring Matheson’s name and the TZ fortune telling machine--on the MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD blog, I knew it was an issue I had to have.

Editor Chris Alexander conducts an excellent interview with Mr. Matheson and writes a great introduction to it. He balances the discussion between the old and the new, ranging seamlessly from Twilight Zone to the Corman/Poe movies to Matheson’s newest novel, Other Kingdoms, just published by Tor. Chris does not shy away from asking about some potentially touchy subjects, either: bad adaptations of Matheson’s stories, “silly” stories (JAWS 3-D is mentioned), poor casting choices, and writing at an advanced age. I am glad there are pros like Mr. Alexander to talk to legends like Richard Matheson. If I had the chance to interview him, I would probably go all fanboy and not be able to put two coherent sentences together. A good selection of photos fleshes out the article.



Speaking of legends, William F. Nolan is also interviewed in this issue. I hope to heck that I am half as sharp and productive in my 80’s as Matheson and Nolan are in theirs.

A bounty of werewolf and shapeshifter articles stalks the reader of this issue. Michael Gingold writes about RED RIDING HOOD in a story that makes me upset that I missed the film in its brief stay in the local movie theaters. The comments he elicits from director Catherine Hardwicke make me think there is a lot more to this film than the trailer showed me. Thank heavens we are in the DVD age, and I can probably see the film in the not too distant future.



WOLFEN is one of my favorite modern monster movies, so it’s no surprise that I enjoyed “Wolfen: A Political Animal”, an interview of director Michael Wadleigh conducted by Michael Doyle. The dreaded phrase “to be continued” appears way too early, however. Multi-issue articles generally irritate me, but I will watch for part two, since I do like this film. Doyle also contributes what is apparently the final interview of James Cummins’s (BONEYARD) life, and it is well worth reading.

Since I generally prefer the classic horror film to the blood/gore/slasher variety, FANGORIA is not usually the first monster magazine I reach for at the newsstand. But I have to say that issue 301 is a real gem. In addition to the subjects mentioned above, there is a great preview of BLACK DEATH, a story on DRIVE ANGRY (with a sidebar on haunted car movies!), and helpful DVD and book reviews.



Don’t fret, slasher fans! There is plenty of the blood and gore which put the “gore” in FANGORIA. BEREAVEMENT receives the “Seal of Approval” in a discussion of the underlying emotional themes of the prequel to MALEVOLENT. Linnea Quiqley looks back on her career as a modern “scream queen.” Fango goes international with a profile of the south of the border flesh eaters of WE ARE WHAT WE ARE and an interview with EMBODIMENT OF EVIL’S Jose Mojica Marins.

Dare I say that the magazine is “rounded out” by a survey of Jim Wynorski’s films featuring double-D damsels in distress?

Guest-Post written by: Doug