Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time

Yes. I'm ready.

Shock Stock Hostage Crisis: Joel M. Reed Announces Sleazy New Movie

Last month, Joel M. Reed (director of Bloodsucking Freaks) took Shock Stock hostage to announce new sleaze film SNIFF

On Saturday, April 13th at Shock Stock 2013 in London, Ontario, attendees at the Q&A with Naomi Grossman (who played Pepper in American Horror Story: Asylum) found themselves confined against their will when Grossman's Q&A was interrupted by legendary sleaze director Joel M. Reed and experimental filmmaker Michael MagGot. Leading the way with a bullhorn, Shock Stock co-organizer Jake Grimbro unleashed Reed and MagGot upon the crowd and barred the exit while Reed and MagGot stormed the stage to announce that they will be collaborating on a new film called Sniff, which Reed calls "the most disgusting picture we could make."

Ryan O'Neil, Michael MagGot, Joel M. Reed, and Jesus MagGot give their putrid pitch

Sniff -- if it ever gets made -- will be directed by Michael MaGot from a script and concept by Reed. Inspired by the Victorian architecture of London, Ontario where Shock Stock took place, Reed claims to be interested in setting the film in London and shooting in the city. Horror in the Hammer sat down to talk with Reed to talk about Sniff, and he essentially outlined the entire plot of the film for us, but here's what you need to know without getting too deep into the dirty details:

Sniff is about an affluent asshole who hates to pay for anything, even sex. After becoming dissatisfied by frequenting even the cheapest of prostitutes, he discovers that gay men will pay him for sex. However, because he has such a rotten personality, he rubs the gay community the wrong way and they beat the shit out of him. After his beating, this disgusting excuse for a human being discovers that his olfactory senses have increased to the point that he can smell it when someone farts across the street. He develops a new pleasure in perverse scents and disgusting odors. After creeping around men's rooms in search of new and forbidden smells, he eventually finds himself recruited by a group called SNIFF, a secret society of olfactory freaks. They want him to help them find a fabled anus, the greatest asshole in the world -- a butthole called "Vesuvius."

Jake Grimbro prevents us from fleeing Joel M. Reed's putrid film pitch

Clearly the man who brought us Bloodsucking Freaks hasn't lost his touch for the ridiculously disgusting. Teaming up with Michael MagGot, how has made a name for himself through Maggot Films with mind-bending experimental films like And Then I Helped and sickening exploitation sleaze, Reed seemed genuinely excited by the idea of filming Sniff in London, Ontario. If the project gets off the ground, this will be Reed's first film script since 1981's Night of the Zombies.

Stay tuned as I pick through my notes and interviews from last month for more TALES FROM SHOCK STOCK.

Bad Lip Reading Makes 'The Walking Dead' Hilarious

If you don't subscribe to Bad Lip Reading on Youtube, you're missing some of the funniest pop culture videos out there. By purposely attempting to lip read movies, music videos, and TV clips and then re-dubbing them, they produce some pretty off-the-wall stuff. Recently, Bad Lip Reading decided to take a stab at The Walking Dead. The results are, perhaps, more entertaining than the show has been all three seasons.


I will never be able to look at The Governor the same way again.

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD LIVE -- Fresh & Funny Zombie Comedy

NIGHT OF THE LIVING 
DEAD LIVE (2013)

[Stage Production]

Director: Christopher Bond
Writers: Dale Boyer and Trevor Martin
Starring: Darryl Hinds, Mike "Nug" Nahgang, Dale Boyer, Trevor Martin, Gwynne Phillips, and Andrew Fleming

RATING:
4 / 5 zedheads



George A. Romero's classic zombie film leaps from the annals of film history and late night B-movie marathons and explodes onto the Toronto stage with fresh new life in the hilarious production NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD LIVE!  

They're still coming to get you, Barbara

Unlike the ghouls of the film, there's nothing brain-dead or lurching about this new production. No, sir! Night of the Living Dead Live is a nimble and hilarious take on the Romero classic that combines hardcore reverence for the original film with energetic, fresh, and funny new ideas. Incredibly respectful of the original material while exploiting the intentionally and unintentionally hilarious aspects of the film that have only grown sillier with time, Night of the Living Dead Live is pure entertainment for both hardcore zombie fans and general audiences alike. It's no wonder that Night of the Living Dead Live received the official seal of approval from George A. Romero himself.

Tom (Andrew Fleming) learns the virtues of proper window boarding

On April 26th, The Zed Word was on hand for the opening night of Night of the Living Dead Live, co-created by Christopher Harrison and Phil Pattison of Nictophobia Films with direction by Christopher Bond (Evil Dead: The Musical). Taking its cues from the original 1968 film, Night of the Living Dead Live is staged completely in monochrome black and white on an ingeniously versatile farm-house interior set. Night of the Living Dead Live is staged in two acts. In the first half, the show adheres to the major movements of the original film with just the right amount of spoof on the side.  It's not until the second act, however, when Night of the Living Dead Live really kicks into high-gear! If you are a fan of zombie movies, then the second act of the show is going to be like some wild fan-boy's dream come true.

Cellar Dweller: Mike "Nug" Nahrgang as Harry Cooper

Populated by Second City improv actors, the cast is spot-on and eerily pitch perfect in the first act. I've been back to see Night of the Living Dead Live a second time, and the cast remains tireless and enthusiastic on stage. Darryl Hinds sounds so much like Duane Jones as Ben it's spooky, while Mike "Nug" Nahgang as Harry and Gwynne Phillips as Barbara give delightfully exaggerated twists on the iconic roles they're gently spoofing. Dale Boyer, who also co-wrote the show, does double-duty as both Helen Cooper and Judy. Her Judy is particularly funny as an extremely self-aware caricature of Judith Riley's original laconic performance. With this impressive cast, Night of the Living Dead Live hits all the key beats and themes of the original film in an easy, breezy whirlwind tour of laughs and a few farcical PG-13 scares.

The production team: (back row): Cannibal Cam Schwarz, Christopher Bond, Christopher Harrison, Phil Pattison, Trevor Martin. (front row): Carlos Henriques, Russ Streiner, John Russo, Dale Boyer

I don't know how many times I've seen the original Night of the Living Dead. It's a classic that has been unceasingly -- and unfairly -- remade, ripped off, and parodied again and again. When I heard several years ago from our friends at Nictophobia Films that they would be mounting a stage adaptation, I was of course excited. But in the back of my mind there was always one nagging question: How do you make a classic like Night of the Living Dead fresh and entertaining on stage? Is there anything new to say about this film? While the first act of Night of the Living Dead Live certainly plays it close to home with some tongue-in-cheek asides, Night of the Living Dead Live soon reveals itself to be more than an adaptation. It's a devout and carefully crafted expansion of the beloved film with heaps of laughs along the way.

Night of the Living Dead Live runs though to May 19th at the Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto. Get your tickets at nightofthelivingdeadlive.com

The Mail Order Zombie Podcast Releases Its Final Episode

Today marks a sad day for zombie podcasting. Mail Order Zombie, a giant of the zombie podcasting community, has come to an end. Today, episode #205 of Mail Order Zombie was released, marking the show's final episode after a five year run.

Hosted by Derek M. Koch (aka. Brother D) and co-hosted by his wife Brenda, Mail Order Zombie debuted in January 2008. Initially conceived to cover direct-to-video zombie movies available through the mail by services such as Netflix, Mail Order Zombie soon grew to include all manner of zombie media including video games, theatrical films, and post-apocalyptic novels. Most famously, the show attracted a good-hearted community of fans affectionately known as the "MOZ family" who interacted with each other on the show and even contributed content to Mail Order Zombie. Such long-time MOZ regulars include Scott and Tracey of the Disney Indiana podcast and Wayne Kotke of Dead2Rights. 

As a fan and past contributor, The Zed Word bids MOZ a fond farewell and a big bucket of win for its astounding run as the leading zombie-news, interview, and review podcast. Thank you for teaching us how to stay loose and stay safe.