Anxiety Films, LLC

News From the Dark Side

Amanda By Night

March & April 2006

News from the Other Side:

Don Knotts – The Incredible Mr. Limpett died at the age of 82 on February 24th. A wonderful comedian, he will always be remembered as the bumbling but sweet natured Barney Fife on Andy Griffith and the worst dressed landlord in history on Three’s Company. Loved by all he will be missed greatly. His last appearance was on an episode of That 70s Show in 2005.

Darren McGavin – Darren was an icon, pure and simple. His performance as the grizzled Carl Kolchak in the Night Stalker TV Movies and short-lived series left an indelible mark in the world of Made for TV Horror. I took part in this wonderful tribute to his legacy and that’s all I can say.

Dennis Weaver – Dennis also made TV Movie history in the Steven Spielberg classic Duel. Although Dennis was probably most famous as the city living cowboy McLoud, he was also a staunch supporter of the environment and nature. A big-hearted hunk that was married for 60 years to Gerry Weaver, according to IMDb Gerry says, “He's been inspiring me since I was 17-years-old - we were married for 60 years - so I'm sure he will continue to do so." Weaver reports that Dennis' Institute Of Ecolonomics, the non-profit organization dedicated to finding positive, economically sound solutions for environmental problems, is "going strong with lots of projects." One of the institute's main focuses is a bio-diesel fuel program that the actor had started, with country singer Willie Nelson helping to promote it.

Wendie Jo Sperber- Wendie succumbed to breast cancer on November 29th, 2005 at the age of 46. A wonderful actress who is best known for playing the vivacious Amy on Bosom Buddies, Amy was also an activist who raised awareness and hope for women suffering from cancer worldwide. She founded weSPARK, an organization that counsels hundreds of women, men and children.

Jack Wild – HR Pufnstuf icon Jack Wild died at the age of 53. After a long struggle with mouth cancer, which impaired his ability to speak, Jack still showed a tremendous amount of spirit and strength. His last performance was in the indie feature Moussaka & Chips. Rest in Peace Jack.

Paul Karr – Character actor Paul Carr died on February 17th. A mainstay on Television, it was his role as Seago in the Claudia Jennings classic Truck Stop Women that fans of exploitation will remember him for. He also appeared in Ben, the horror TV Series and The Deadly Tower with Kurt Russell.

Mainstream Films that want to Be Indie News:

Lions Gate has made an official announcement that Saw III is a go. Look for it October 27th, 2006!

Check out the trailer for Silent Hill

Stuart Gordon’s classic From Beyond is being released in Hi-Def for Monsters HD! Look for it June 10th at 8pm (is that enough notice for you all?) just in time for its DVD release. YAY!

Simon West is re-teaming with Scream Gems to make a movie tentatively titled Vacancy. According to Fangoria, the movie is about a young married couple who become stranded at a remote motel and discovers that the place is a front for snuff moviemakers, who ensure that guests don’t check out. That actually sounds good!

Many of you have already heard that there is a prequel in the works for the Friday the 13th franchise. Yup, it’s true. The companies, Platinum Dunes and New Line Cinema are also responsible for making a Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel, which recently wrapped. As far as Friday is concerned, the director of the awful Darkness Falls is in talks to helm the project. And that’s all I can say without being offensive.

The controversial true crime film Karla (formerly known as Deadly) finally saw the light of day in Canadian theaters. Those of us who live just north of our favorite neighbors can catch a screening March 17th at the Cleveland International Film Festival. Look here for more dates as they are announced.

DVD Releases:

MARCH 7
DUMPSTER BABY (Troma)
THE HILLS HAVE EYES (UMD from Anchor Bay)
NEAR DARK (UMD from Anchor Bay)

MARCH 14
DEATH BECOMES THEM (Brain Damage/Razor Digital)
JUNGLE OF HORRORS (JUNGLE HOLOCAUST, EATEN ALIVE, MASSACRE IN DINOSAUR VALLEY; 3-disc set from Shriek Show/Media Blasters)
SPRING BREAK SHARK ATTACK (Paramount)

MARCH 21
HOUSE OF THE DEAD II (Lions Gate)
NIGHT CREATURES: THE FERAL MAN, GHOUL SCHOOL (Tempe)
SLASHER CINEMA (THE DEMON, CRAZE, THE GLOVE, MEMORIAL VALLEY MASSACRE; 2-disc set from Brentwood)
SNAKEMAN a.k.a. THE SNAKE KING (First Look)
TALES FROM THE CRYPT: The Complete Third Season (Warner Home Video)
MARCH 28
ASYLUM NIGH (York)
THE BLACK BELLY OF THE TARANTULA (Blue Underground)
CRAZED KILLERS: DAY OF THE AX, TOE TAGS, KILL THE SCREAM QUEEN (Pendulum Pictures)
DARK SHADOWS Collection 23 (MPI)
DON'T DELIVER US FROM EVIL (Mondo Macabro)
GODZILLA Monster Edition (Sony Pictures)
THE HORROR OF PARTY BEACH/CURSE OF THE LIVING CORPSE (Dark Sky Films)
THE INVISIBLE MAN First Season (Dark Sky)
JOEL M. REED'S BLOODBATH (Subversive)
LEFT BEHIND Collection (Sony Pictures)
MASTERS OF HORROR: CIGARETTE BURNS (Anchor Bay)
MASTERS OF HORROR: DREAMS IN THE WITCH-HOUSE (Anchor Bay)
PSYCHOMANIA a.k.a. VIOLENT MIDNIGHT (Dark Sky Films)
THE PYJAMA GIRL CASE (Blue Underground)
SNAKE WOMAN (SRS Cinema)
A SOUND OF THUNDER (Warner)
THE TRIANGLE MINISERIES (Lions Gate)

APRIL 4
ATTACK OF THE SABRETOOTH (Lions Gate)
KILL DEVIL (AsiaVision/UrbanVision/Ventura)
TERROR TALES VOLUME 4: FROM THE HOOD - BLACK VOODOO EXORCIST, DEVIL HUNTER (VideoAsia/Ventura)

APRIL 11
BLOODSTAINED BRIDE (Brain Damage)
GRIZZLY (Shriek Show/Media Blasters)
HOUSE OF WHIPCORD (Shriek Show/Media Blasters)
STAY (Fox)

APRIL 18
BAD DREAMS (Anchor Bay)
HOSTEL (Sony Pictures) also on UMD
VISITING HOURS (Anchor Bay)

APRIL 25
CREEPY COWBOYS: TOMBSTONE CANYON, RAWHIDE TERROR, VANISHING RIDERS, WILD HORSE PHANTOM (Retromedia/Image)
DAY OF THE ANIMALS (Shriek Show/Media Blasters)
DON'T GO NEAR THE PARK (Dark Sky Films)
MAGIC (Dark Sky Films)

The REAL Indie News:

I got this big scoop from Ed Polgardy, President of CinemaGraphix Entertainment: They just announced the publication of its inaugural project, the graphic novel suspense thriller The Night Driver, in partnership with comics publisher Moonstone Books, who plan to release a 99-cent, color, 16-page teaser comic in July, preceding the premier of a color, 96-page graphic novel in September.

According to Ed, “The Night Driver is the story of what happens when traveling salesman Hurdis Jones hits a mysterious stranger with his car, unleashing an escalating firestorm of paranoia, persecution, mystery, and grisly murder.”

CFO of CinemaGraphix, Darin Scott says “When you read a CGX book, we want you to feel compelled to grab a bucket of popcorn, some Red Vines, and a soda to go along with it”. Keep your eyes peeled here for more info as it comes!

And now back to our regularly scheduled program:

Lance Weiler (The Last Broadcast) has a new movie, Head Trauma, which is currently being prepped for festival screenings. This is the synopsis according to the website:
Head Trauma tells the story of George Walker, a drifter, who after a 20 year absence, has returned home to settle his grandmother’s estate. As if awakening from a long dream, he finds his childhood home condemned and littered with the remnants of squatters. In the midst of trying to save his past, George falls and strikes his head, triggering an onslaught of vivid nightmares and waking visions. As the horror intrudes on George’s reality, his conviction grows that someone or something is trying to kill him.
BV Entertainment's first feature, Kenneth J. Hall's horror/exploitation/comedy The Halfway House will premiere on the Showtime cable network channel Showtime Extreme, Wednesday, March 1, at 11:50 PM EST. This will be the first of five showings of the film's R-rated cut throughout the month.

Gallow Hills is hard at work making their new anthology Dust to Dust. Things are looking gruesome in this teaser trailer. Starring such beautiful icons as Lynn Lowry, Brinke Stevens, Felissa Rose, Debbie Rochon and are our own Heidi Martinuzzi, it’s looking pretty good from here!

Speaking of Brinke, ask her to be your friend on MySpace. Run by her good friend Michael Strider, this will be an invaluable source of information on the indefatigable actress and her projects. Won’t you join the gang?

I also got this news from the man himself, Vance Lincoln: Vance Lincoln Superstar, which is a spin off to 2005's tripped out independent filmmaking mockumentary: Actress Apocalypse is currently in development. The film is a collaboration between Greg G. Freeman and Richard R. Anasky and features the title character, Vance Lincoln, on twisted solo journey into the dark side of underground filmmaking. The film is a Shadowed Images vs Utopian Kaoz Production and it's expected to begin shooting late in 2006 in the Tampa, Florida area. For further info please contact:

shadowed_images@hotmail.com or utopian_kaoz@hotmail.com

Vance also wanted me to pass this along too: Utopian Kaoz Productions is currently in development for a feature film titled Fair. The film is being written and will be directed by Greg G. Freeman (Actress Apocalypse). Fair is a story that details the ultimate price of infidelity and will be shot in the Tampa, Florida area.

For further info please contact: utopian_kaoz@hotmail.com

Thanks Vance!

Can marriage be all that bad? It is according to the new movie Death By Engagement. Look for a much needed return to the screen from PJ Soles!

One of the best indies I’ve seen in awhile, The Blood-Stained Bride is getting its just dues on DVD. Look for it April 11th from Brain Damage Films.

Dark Winter Studios is working on a four part short illustrating desperation, sadness, death, redemption, and love. Their short film, Souled will be the first of the four and they are currently awaiting a release of the second to the site. You can watch Souled at the official website.

Sean Cain’s labor of love, Naked Beneath the Water is rolling along nicely. He wanted to pass along the link to the website for all the dirt. It’s screened at a couple of venues here in LA and is currently looking for a distributor. Sean also worked on Alien Holocaust, which he says was the most fun he’s had on a movie set. Check out Sean’s interview with Alien’s director, Jeff LeRoy.

The Gonzoriffic guys are at it again, with a new movie called Socks and Violence. Director Andrew Shearer says, “[It] stars Monica Puller ("Psychovixens") and Mitsu Mitchi (Dumpster Baby), in an estrogen-packed romantic comedy featuring blood, gunplay, demons and true love. And no men.” For those of you not familiar with this hilarious guerilla filmmaking, find out more about them on MySpace. Cannibal Sisters looks incredible!

Check out Peter Lambert’s film Becoming a Man, starring Joe Rubin and Melody Lee, which is hitting the festival circuits soon. It promises to be a return to the Grindhouse of old. Keep up with Peter at his DiamondCamp Films MySpace page and of course, keep checking here for updates!

I always save the best for last. Film State 51 is set to team up with the Godfather of Gore, Herschell Gordon Lewis, on not one but two new horror movies. Keep a gouged eye out for Herschell Gordon Lewis’ Grim Fairy Tales and Back in Blood: Revenge of the Gore Crazed Maniacs, which will feature characters created by Mr. Lewis.

Scary Screenings, Cool Events and other Terrifying Happenings around the Country:

Convention season is on! Submit a film, watch a film, or just buy a film at these following fests and cons:

It Came From Lake Michigan – October 20th-22nd

2006 World Horror Convention – May 11th-14th

International Horror and Sci Fi Film Fest – October 21st & 22nd

Mix & Mangle Mixer – Meets on a regular schedule in NYC. A great place to network and meet some really interesting horror lovers and filmmakers alike.

Screamfest 2006 – October 13th – 15th

Keep your eyes peeled for more upcoming fest and con info here.

This month’s Grindhouse Festival is sure to be blast. Check out Torso and What Have You Done to Solange on March 21st at 7:30 pm. Amanda By Night will be there, will you?

Get all the latest info on Fright Night HERE.

The Retro Minute :

The Mutilator

Any film brought to you by a company called OK Films just has to be, uh, OK, right? Well, if you talkin’ The Mutilator than you’re absolutely correct. A dream for slasher and gore fanatics, The Mutilator joyously splatters the red stuff all over the place and with a kind of glee we haven’t seen in a very long time.

The story has great promise. On his father’s birthday, a young boy decides to clean daddy’s shotguns while his mom bakes a cake. Dad leaves a shell in one rifle and bullet goes bang, slicing it’s way through a wall and through mother’s back. Dad comes home and goes a little over the bend (understandably so!). Some time passes and our young boy has turned into the curly haired Ed (Matt Mitler showing a bit more talent than the rest of the cast), who is now in college and preparing for a fictional holiday called Fall Break (!). He, his sweetheart and four other potential victims head to the placid shores of a North Carolina beach house owned by Ed’s Dad (Jack Chatham). Unbeknownst to the requisite six-pack, poppa is hiding out in the house, armed with several deadly weapons and murder on his mind. But not just plain ol’ boom-you’re-dead kinda murder, we’re talking all-out bloodshed.

The beauty of The Mutilator is that it doesn’t try to be more than what it is – a slasher flick. Full of blood and guts and one or two suspenseful scenes, it’s certainly not the greatest horror film to ever grace the screen but it is a nice attempt by Buddy Cooper to play things straight and abandon any self indulgence, which a few modern genre films could take a lesson on. And with great dialog like “I’m going to get high score in Video Machine,” how can one lose?

ARCHIVES

October 2005

August 2005

June 2005

May 2005

If you'd like your news to be posted here as well,
please send it to news@anxietyfilms.com.