Shock Waves [1977]:
proved to be a film of several firsts. It was the first of the "Nazi
zombie" films which has entered and stayed in the pop-culture
mainstream, firmly establishing itself as a fan favorite since its
premiere. It opened up the territory for other Nazi zombie pictures ,
including Zombie Lake (1981), The Treasure of the Living Dead (1982,
also known as Oasis of the Zombies), Hard Rock Zombies (1985), Horrors
of War (2006, aka Zombies of War), Outpost (2008) and Dead Snow (2009),
not to forget the highly-popular manga and its spin-off anime, Hellsing
(1997-2009).
First feature for director Ken
Wiederhorn, as well as composer Richard Einhorn. Wiederhorn's thesis
film at Columbia University, Manhattan Melody (1973), had previously won
the Student Academy Award for Best Dramatic Film in its inaugural year.
Shot on a shoestring budget, with the gracious participation of two
film heavyweights in Peter Cushing and John Carradine, It proved that
one didn't over-the-top effects or technical perfection to create a
movie of chilling psychological horror.
The Toy Soldiers [2014]:
Written/Directed by Erik Peter Carlson Starring Constance Brenneman,
Chandler Rylko, Najarra Townsend, Jeanette May, Nick Frangione, Samuel
Nolan, Thatcher Robinson, Megan Hensley, Andre Myers, Izzy Pollak, Kevin
Pinassi and Amelia Haberman.
On one evening in a decade of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, the
innocence of youth and family unravels. Five parallel coming-of-age
stories dramatize the stages of grief. A youthful mother in a custody
battle over her children, finds tranquility with the bottle. The abuse
of her ex-husband still haunts the children; a nineteen year old drug
addict, and his younger brother, a bullied closet homosexual.There's the
story of the dog; a teen who offers sexual favors to gain acceptance,
the challenged classmate who would do anything for her love, and the
redhead beauty, haunted by a secret, tragic past. These lives and others
will change forever on this final evening before their hangout, The Toy
Soldiers Roller Rink, closes its doors for the final time.
Jeremy [HBA Curator]
"There
is a Hell. This is worse." The thing that is on fire for me right now
is an upcoming horror movie: The Void. The creators of Manborg, Father's Day, and the "W is for Wish" segment of ABC's of Death 2 are working together again to bring us this agressively unsettling piece. If you don't know
anything about The Void, drop by the indiegogo page and take a gander.
The creators are running a campaign to fund the creature effects for the movie. Here is a creepy poster image for the film to whet your appetite, but be sure to check out the disturbing campaign trailer.
That's all for now. I'll see you in thirty, but until then, you've been warned.
Shock Waves [1977]:
proved to be a film of several firsts. It was the first of the "Nazi
zombie" films which has entered and stayed in the pop-culture
mainstream, firmly establishing itself as a fan favorite since its
premiere. It opened up the territory for other Nazi zombie pictures ,
including Zombie Lake (1981), The Treasure of the Living Dead (1982,
also known as Oasis of the Zombies), Hard Rock Zombies (1985), Horrors
of War (2006, aka Zombies of War), Outpost (2008) and Dead Snow (2009),
not to forget the highly-popular manga and its spin-off anime, Hellsing
(1997-2009).
