Back to
Blog Central

23rd April 2007
7th March 2008
20th February 2008
9th February 2008
30th January 2008
21st January 2008
18th January2008
 

The Horror! The Horror!

Right, apologies off the bat – it’s been far too long since I updated with a column. May was (and still is the busiest month of the year for me) and I know it’s no excuse but I simply dropped the ball on several front and this was one of them. However to make for it I present you with a bumper edition of ‘The Horror! The Horror!’

Since nothing I tell you about here will be good enough to beat the fancy news and postcards we keep receiving from France, i shall try to go as offbeat and unusual as possible – both old and new – who know perhaps your attention will be diverted on to this column long enough for my writings to make a small impact.

First up: trailer for something I’ve been waiting for a long time: ‘The Good, The Bad and The Weird’. After kast year’s ‘Sukiyaki Western Django’ , it was not inevitable that more westerns with a twist would follow and this one is a title for which I have been holding my breath for a long time. The film is a Korea western set in 1930 Manchuria following the three outlaws and their dealing with the Japanese and Chinese army and Russian Bandits. What’s even cooler is that one of the title character, ie Mr. Weird is played by none other than Kang-Ho Song who was the star of Frightfest favourite ‘The Host’ and Mr. Bad is played by none other than Byung-hun Lee, the dreamy lead actor of ‘A BitterSweet Life’ another Frightfest favourite! You can watch the trailer at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4fD0f5fDlk&feature=related and tell me are you just not EXCITED?!

I don’t know about you but I’ve been intrigued by Bryan Bertino’s new horror film starring Jason Speedman and Liv Tyler, The Stranger since I first heard discussed about a year ago. My initial reaction was that the film looked nothing more an average rip-off of French shocker Ils but as time went on and more details emerged, it started become something of a contender. Well, recently Rogue pictures have released some one sheets and I must say this one blew me away plus watch the trailer and tell me- what do you think?
Trailer here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=nCU0k_jbCUo

If the American can do it, so can the French dammit! Tv Horror Anthology Project is coming to France with ‘Terror Project 6’ a program very similar in format to the much loved and hated in equal measure ‘Masters Of Horrror’. For your viewing pleasure, I submit a teaser for the first episode: ‘Specialite Du Chef’. I bloody love it.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=34384439

And whilst we are on the subject of Tv anthologies has everyone watched the trailer for Mick Garris’s new one ‘Fear Itself’. Well if you haven’t , fret not for here it is:
http://www.g4tv.com/trailers/videos/21554/Trailer_Fear_Itself.html

The next film I’d like to talk about is Dead Of Night. No, luckily not a remake of the 1942 British classic but a Dylan Dog adaptation for the big screen by none other than Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles director Kevin Munroe. Now I don’t know how many of you love Italian horror comics but when I was a kid Dylan Dog was a huge hit: alongside one of Italian horrors , he was the twisted, warped here for my childhood. And to hear that an adaptation for the big screen is coming is enough to drive me into a frenzy: details are next to non-existent at the moment but more as I hear’em.

I know the reviews have been distinctly average but I still want to see what Jennifer Lynch comes up with Surveillance. The trailer looks fairly exciting and come on, it’s gotta be a step up from goddamn ‘Boxing Helena’. Trailer here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=QT2dy7WogTI

Oh and Prom Night? It’s awful. Actually it’s worse than awful. If you’re thinking of going to see it, take out the money y you’re going to spend and burn it. I guarantee you’ll have a better time. Here’s the trailer for a taste of what hell is in store for those brave or foolish enough to venture:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KVIPIgE3Fnc

I hope everyone saw SPL at least twice ‘cause here’s an unofficial sequel featuring pretty much the same cast and crew called Fatal Move. I have been waiting for a very, very long time to watch this and if you are avowed by the trailer below then I am highly disappointed:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TMgGE8sULAc

Also up is Kala possibly the most stylish looking Indonesian film that I have ever seen – the plotline reads like some sort of noir meets horror madness and the trailer only confirms that I was right to get excited about this. A nameless country is in a state of chaos as natural disasters, corruption, and street justice rise. Part of the people grow more violent, the other part hope for the arrival of a promised leader. A cop named Eros is investigating the case of five men who were burnt to death by mob after somebody screamed "thief" at them. A journalist named Janus is also covering the story. The two are quickly drawn into a labyrinth of mysteries and murders. Janus accidentally discovers a secret. But everyone he tells the secret to soon finds a terrible death. When Eros also finds out of it, they both know that one of them has to die, unless they can find the promised leader before the angel of death arrives. You can watch it here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=3cuqpwqwdxk

Let Logic and rationale begone – new Korean horror flick ‘The Devil’s Game’ might have the most ridiculous plot for a while : A struggling artist Hee-do is offered a million dollar to bet his life if he loses a game against a rich old man named No-shik who is dying from a terminal disease. The game is to dial any random number and tell whether it would be male or female who takes the call before the phone gets answered. Hee-do calls “Female” and No-shik “Male.” It turns out the call-answerer is a drag queen and Hee-do loses. After a month of a brain operation, No-shik wakes up in Hee-do’s body and Hee-do does in No-shik’s. With Hee-do’s young healthy body, No-shik is now the man of health and wealth, let alone romance with the clueless Hee-do’s fiancé. Meanwhile, No-shik’s ex-wife convinces the frustrated Hee-do to help her lay out a scheme to revenge upon No-shik by revealing the truth. However, the woman is found dead not long after in No-shik’s office building. Hee-do comes to another showdown with No-shik and makes the second bet that could return his lost body if he wins and could lose his memories about his fiancé to No-shik if he fails. Each calls out random numbers and waits for the voice to be heard. However the film does star Shin Ha-Kyun of Sympath For Mr Vengeance and the brilliant, mind-blowing Save The Green Planet. You can watch the trailer here and decide for yourself how insane it really looks and feels and sounds: http://youtube.com/watch?v=WOE2O9l9gok

And that’s it for now. I leave you with the promise of more regular updates from now on and less time spent apart.

As always I remain sincerely yours

Evrim ‘The Duke’ Ersoy

P.s. May 26th is Duke Mitchell’s special Vincent Price night. If you can make it, I promise you it will be a very special night paying tribute to someone who is possibly my favourite actor of all time. We will not be showing the usual horror stuff but have unearthed some very rare material for your enjoyment. The event is at Cross Kings, 126 York Way , King’s Cross. And it’s free. Do come. (Plus it’s done in honour of my birthday! There, a guilt trip! If you can’t come!)