The Evil Dead (Review)

REVIEW

The Evil Dead (1981)

Director: Sam Raimi

RATING:
5 / 5 zedheads
 

Right off the bat, I'm going to commit two serious sins of horror fandom.  First of all, I think The Evil Dead is a vastly superior film to Evil Dead 2. In fact, Evil Dead 2 kind of annoys me. Also, I have to admit that when I first saw the original Evil Dead, I thought it was complete shit.

Before you grab your pitchforks and torches, let me defend myself! Obviously, I don't continue to consider The Evil Dead as shit. It is, without a doubt, one of the best, one of the most shocking (for its time), and one of the most original American horror films ever released. It is an endearing classic of both horror and indie film making that continues to make audiences scream and wail in disgust. With all that being said, I hated The Evil Dead the first time I saw it.

This is where they put horror fans who don't like The Evil Dead

 My first experience with The Evil Dead was with a VHS copy of the film in the mid-1990s -- a VHS copy that was well past its prime The picture was as dark and murky as a swamp. It was so grainy the film stock could have been recycled fly paper. It was warped, warbling, and writhing with so many tracking problems the viewing experience was a nauseating ride of visual sea sickness. When the film was over, I was left with the feeling that I'd just wasted an afternoon on a badly lit, poorly shot, and shoddily produced shot-on-video piece of crap. For years I heard everyone talking about The Evil Dead as a classic of horror cinema, and all I could think was, "That grainy piece of crap with the ridiculous stop motion animation at the end?" Then, only a few years ago through Horror in the Hammer, I saw a screening of the The Evil Dead: Ultimate Collection from Anchor Bay. And I finally realized I had been unfairly maligning a classic for over a decade.

All dolled up with nowhere to go.

Despite its simple premise, it's easy to forget how original The Evil Dead is given its place in horror film history. Five college students (including the modern cult-celebrity Bruce Campbell) spend a weekend at an isolated cabin and accidentally awaken evil demons that posses and torment them. The only way to kill the undead possessed is to completely dismember their bodies. What follows is a simple and straightforward yet wonderful parade of gory violence in which the menace and the dread is achieved through very dynamic and atmospheric camera angles. Its semi-slasher elements and setting evoke Friday the 13th with more mature and likable "teen" victims while its evil demons evoke The Exorcist without its religious iconography or Christian trappings. This combination, brewed under Raimi's directorial eye and flair for the occasionally slapstick, produced a horror film that has never lost its edge. At the modern screening that re-acquainted me with The Evil Dead, new and old horror fans alike jumped in their seats, covered their eyes, and squealed and verbally expressed their dread at the gore to come. That night remains one of my favorite movie memories. Not only did I see The Evil Dead for the clear masterpiece that it is, but I got to share that experience with a crowd of like-minded people.

The VERY bad touch.

That's the way to watch The Evil Dead, in a theatre full of fans! And that's why SHOCK STOCK is hosting a screening of THE EVIL DEAD @ Rainbow Cinemas tomorrow at 9:30PM. Presented by Grindhouse Releasing, Vagrancy Films, and Grimbrothers, this screening of the new uncut print of THE EVIL DEAD will also be followed by a very special Q and A with the cast of Evil Dead: Ellen Sandweiss, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly, and Hal Delrich. Unfortunately, advance tickets are sold out, but a limited number of tickets will still be for sale at the Vagrancy Booth TODAY ONLY (Friday, Apr 29th).

Much has already been said by others about The Evil Dead, yet I've barely scratched the surface of what I feel makes the film so special. I feel a feature article is probably long-overdue. Regardless, take my word for it. If you are a latecomer to The Evil Dead, like me, you need to put away whatever modern horror remake tripe you have in your hand or are browsing on Netflix. Then run -- don't walk -- to get a copy of The Evil Dead. Strap in and experience a horror film that I guarantee will be scarier and more entertaining than almost anything produced in the last five years.

[REC] 3: Genesis Poster Weeps Blood

Yahoo! Spain posted the Spanish one-sheet for [REC] 3: GENESIS.

Paco Plaza is directing the prequel on his own while his previous directing-partner Jaume Balagueró is producing. The film started shooting this month.

Click here for my review of [REC] 2 here.

Or read my interview with PACO PLAZA here.

SHOCK STOCK -- Full Event Details Released

Two days until SHOCK STOCK, and the full events schedule has been released. Check it out and note the screening of indie zombie film Dead Genesis on Friday (read my review of the film right here).


FRIDAY APRIL 29th

4:00 pm - TOP SECRET SLEAZE 16mm FEATURE FILM hosted by Oscar Duke, VS.D. ( Vinegar Syndrome Doctor)

5:30 pm - TREEVENGE w / Hobo Q and A ( hosted by Grimbrother Jake )

6:30 pm - DEAD GENESIS (95 mins) Dir. Reese Eveneshen

8:15 pm - Terry Levene Speaks w / trailers

8:45 pm - SHORT SHOCK FILM FESTIVAL FINALISTS WITH VOTING

11pm - GRINDHOUSE GUSHER @ Rainbow Cinemas

2am - Rocco's Afterparty @ the 488

SATURDAY APRIL 30th

10:00 am - SATURDAY MORNING VINEGAR -- presented by the top secret sleaze

11:00 am - IF A TREE FALLS (80 mins) Dir. Philip Carrer

12:30 pm - Linnea Quigely Q and A ( hosted by James Bilo of Vagrancy Films)

1:15 pm - Feature Film followed by DVD taping of Q and A with Bill Zebub

3:15 pm - GORE EMPORIUM CONFESSIONAL (feturing Cloven Path Ministries)

4:00 pm - THOR - THE ROCK OPERA w/ Q and A with JON MIKL THOR ( hosted by Grimbrother Jake)

9:00 pm - THE EVIL DEAD @ Rainbow Cinema (cast Ellen Sandweiss, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly, and Hal Delrich in attendance)

10:00 pm - ROCKER SHOCKER @ The Brass performance by THOR w/ special guests THE SILVER SCREEMS. PRIZES, COSTUME CONTEST judged by LINNEA AND THOR

2:45 am- Rocco's All Girl Slumber Party @ The Garage behind the 488 (weekend pass only)

SUNDAY MAY 1st

11:15 am - SON OF EL TOPO - Q and A with ROBERT SKIPPER (hosted by Bilo)

12:00 pm - AND THEN I HELPED (95 mins) Dir. Michael MagGot

1:45 pm - ILSA AUCTION

2:00 pm - CONFESSIONS OF A SHE WOLF Q and A with DYANNE THORNE and HOWARD MAURER (hosted by Fangoria's Lianne Spiderbaby)

Zombie Nightmare (Review)

REVIEW

Zombie Nightmare (1986)

(Credited) Director: Jack Bravman

RATING:
1.5 / 5 zedheads




"Nightmare" is too strong of a nocturnal word to describe the sleepy level of terror in Zombie Nightmare. I'm thinking Zombie Nap or Zombie Daydream would be better titles. No, scratch that: Zombie Yawn.

Filmed in Montreal, Zombie Nightmare stars Canadian metal rocker and body builder Jon Mikl Thor as Tony Washington, a beefy but kind-hearted baseball player. As a child, Tony witnessed his father attempt to save a woman's life only to be stabbed and killed for his good deeds. Never the less, Tony has grown up to be just as self-sacrificing. Unfortunately, after beating up some robbers who try to knock over a grocery store, Tony is run down on the street by a reckless gang of teenagers. After a crazy voodoo women intervenes, Tony is resurrected as a zombie with a baseball bat and proceeds to kill his murderers, one-by-one. Slasher style.

Usually when zombies attack, it's their teeth around your neck and not their hands

I went into Zombie Nightmare for one reason. I could care less about seeing Adam West slumming it as the head of police. I really wasn't interested enough in seeing Tia Carrere in one of her first roles as a reckless teen. No, I wanted to see Jon Mikl Thor. I've become somewhat fascinated by Thor the Rock Warrior, best known for his starring role in Rock 'N' Roll Nightmare. Since hearing about his new project -- Thor: The Rock Opera -- that is screening at SHOCK STOCK this weekend, I wanted to catch up on the career of a man who produces some of my favorite guilty pleasure genres of music: glam metal. Thor, however, does not have much of a presence in this film. His role is small, and most of it is spent playing a dull zombie slasher stumbling around with a baseball bat. On the other hand, Thor is all over the soundtrack. Thor not only wrote much of the incidental music, performed by Thorkestra, but he also has a song on the soundtrack along with some noteworthy metal melodies like "Ace of Spades" by Motörhead.

Aside from its metal, Zombie Nightmare is quite boring cheese. All the actors are stilted and clumsy; even Adam West's charm is lost. Characters with ridiculous accents threaten to turn Zombie Nightmare into a comedy whereas its by-the-numbers slasher elements threaten to bury Zombie Nightmare's potentially interesting undead elements. The make up is decent, but none of the effects are especially interesting. It's just a dull, awkward movie occasionally punctuated with hilariously bad lines and production mistakes. Try to keep track of how many times Zombie Tony's hair changes length.

While you could go out and invest in the special edition DVD that was released in 2010, for your money I'd suggest seeing Zombie Nightmare the way I first saw it long ago: being mocked as a great episode of Mystery Science Theatre 3000.

INSERT BATMAN JOKE HERE

In fact, MS3K's ribbing of the film is more interesting than the film itself. The same can be said for the history of the film's production and its resulting trivia. For example, did you know that head teenage sociopath Jim is played by Shawn Levy, a man who has gone on to direct such comedies as Date Night and both Night at the Museum films? Then there's the matter of who actually directed Zombie Nightmare. Although ex-porn producer Jack Bravman is credited as the director, it seems that the credit (or should we say 'blame') belongs elsewhere. Read all about it at Canuxploitation's review and brief production history of Zombie Nightmare.

In short, Zombie Nightmare has little going for it. If not for being a Canadian horror oddity that was mocked on Mystery Science Theatre 3000, I probably wouldn't have given it much time at all.

It's everything I ever dreamed of....CALL OF THE DEAD

George Romero, Robert Englund, Danny Trejo, Sarah Michelle Geller, and Michael Rooker all star in the brand new map for Call of Duty: Black Ops called -- wait or it -- CALL OF THE DEAD.



This is a nerdgasm. The only reason I didn't post this sooner is I thought I was dreaming.

Although I doubt this music will be in the final game, this trailer is bound to give nerds a boner with its musical cues from the Grindhouse era of films, the original Dawn of the Dead, and Return of the Living Dead

The tragedy, however: I don't play or own any Call of Duty games. Is there any hope this could be released as its own game like Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare?

Trailer Tuesday: Habeas Corpus

Coming soon......?

DEAD GENESIS SCREENING @ SHOCK STOCK

As The Zed Word gears up for Shock Stock, we want to remind you that Shock Stock is screening DEAD GENESIS, the 4-zedhead rated film from director Reese Eveneshen that I called "one of the best independent zombie films I've ever seen." (read the full review)

 

DEAD GENESIS will be screening on Friday April 29th @ 6:30pm at this year's SHOCK STOCK Convention in London, Ontario. Now's your chance to see it for yourself!

SHOCK STOCK DETAILS

Dreadfully Ever After (Review)

REVIEW

Dreadfully Ever After (2011)

Steve Hockensmith

Quirk Books: 2011

RATING:
4 / 5 zedheads


While Seth Grahame-Smith began Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by adding his own passages to Jane Austen's classic novel, I can confidently say that the series now belongs to author Steve Hockensmith. With both his prequel Dawn of the Dreadfuls (review) and his new sequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies sequel titled Dreadfully Ever After, Hockensmith has elevated the series above the novelty of the literary mash up and established the novels as genuinely funny and worthy stories in their own right.

Without copying Austen's text or losing touch with the spirit of the characters Jane Austen created so long ago, Hockensmith still manages to give us everything we've come to expect from the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies series: flesh-hungry zombies, deadly ninjas, detailed gore, wry humour, exciting adventure, epic battles, and strong female characters. Surprisingly, however, Hockensmith outdoes himself in Dreadfully Ever After with a story that is unexpectedly lively and touching. My only disappointment with the novel is that the character of Elizabeth Bennet falls by the wayside over the course of the story, yet shifting the focus away form Elizabeth does allow Hockensmith to breathe a lot more life and care into neglected characters like her sisters Kitty and Mary. Within the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies world, characters like Kitty and Mary get more care and development than they got from Austen. And through these supporting characters, Hockensmith both expands the universe and the scope of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, all the while marrying Austen's original spirit of romance and irony with his own sense of humour and modern sensibilities.

After the events of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Elizabeth Bennet, the fearless zombie slayer, is now Elizabeth Darcy and reveling in her wedded bliss......although not quite. Despite her warrior heart compelling her to battle ninjas and eradicate the unmentionables (i.e. zombies) from England, the strict moral and gender codes of the Regency period have forced her to give up the sword. After all, the wife of a gentleman should not sully herself with such bloody and scandalous (that is, unwomanly) work. Her husband, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, soon begins to notice that Elizabeth's lust for life is fading, but before he can attempt to help her, things go from bad to worse.

Darcy is bitten by a zombie and infected with the plague! With Darcy trapped between Life and Death, Elizabeth must attempt to save his life by allying with her nemesis, Darcy's aunt – the manipulative ninja master and female warrior extraordinaire Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Lady Catharine, who takes every opportunity to degrade and humiliate Elizabeth, charges her with a scandalous mission: infiltrate high-society in London by assuming a false identity and then seducing the head of a mental hospital so she can steal his experimental cure for the zombie plague. In order to do so, she must compromise her integrity as a married woman and swallow her pride or lose Darcy forever to the unmentionable horde that plagues England. 

Zombie Mounties Celebrate Producer of 'SILENT HILL'

As a Canadian, there's nothing that invokes a stronger sense of pride in me than seeing ZOMBIE MOUNTIES. Oh Canada!

Zombie Mounties were on-hand last Saturday as well as other Canadian film celebrities to celebrate producer Don Carmody's work on 100 films (the milestone film being Resident Evil: Afterlife). Carmody is currently producing Silent Hill: Revelation in Canada.

Read the full story and see all the pictures over at FANGORIA

Dick Figures - Zombies & Shotguns (video)

What's worse than not being able to get a stubborn bag of chips open? Not being able to get that bag of chips open during the zombie apocalypse.




Dick Figures is an animated web series by Ed Skudder about two dysfunctional friends, Red and Blue, who make up for what they lack in smarts and sex appeal with a really long string of bad decisions.

See more Dick Figures (tee-hee).

SHOCK STOCK: LONDON, ONTARIO CANADA -- April 29th - May 1st 2011

Are you ready for convention that will give you a short, sharp SHOCK of exploitation and horror cinema?

The Zed Word: Zombie Blog and Screamwave Horror Podcast is gearing up to cover all the gore, sleaze, and exploitation of SHOCK STOCK -- London, Ontario's genre subculture weekend and VHS swap. APRIL 29th - MAY 1st 2011 at Centennial Hall.

SHOCK STOCK and the filthy folks at Vagrancy Films and GRIMBROTHERS Entertainment are preparing to bring you a one-stop-spot for all the exploitation, gore, and cinematic sleaze that film fans like you and I enjoy. The Zed Word and Screamwave will be on hand all weekend to report from the convention so raucous it was banned from The Hilton Hotel.

Not to mention a roster of pretty exciting guests including

• DYANNE THORNE (Ilsa: She Wolf of the SS) and HOWARD MAUER
• The cast of EVIL DEAD (Betsy Baker, Ellen Sandweiss, Theresa Tilly, and Hal Delrich)
• LINNEA QUIGLEY (Night of the Demons, Return of the Living Dead)
• JON MIKL THOR (Thor -- The Rock Opera, Rock 'N' Roll Nightmare, Zombie Nightmare)
• MOLLY DUNSWORTH and NICK BATEMAN (Hobo with a Shotgun)

And special events such as

• THE SHOCK STOCK VHS TAPE SWAP
• SHORT SHOCK FILM COMPETITION
• EVIL DEAD  SCREENING
• CONFESSIONS OF A SHE WOLF: An afternoon with Dyanne Thorne and Howard Maurer
• THOR - THE ROCK OPERA: World Premiere Sneak Preview Screening

All this plus your chance to check out vendors like The Butcher Shop, Black Fawn Films, Maggot Films, Grindhouse Releasing, Suspect Video, and more.

WEEKEND PASSES only $30.

Come join us! We'd love to see you there.

Spend your "Evenings in Quarantine" at The Zombie Opera: Live in Pittsburgh

Hello Pittsburgh readers! I hope you are planning to turn out in droves for "Evenings in Quarantine: The Zombie Opera" when it hits the stage May 6-7, 2011 at the Eddy Theater at Chatham University. You don't have your tickets yet? Then get your little butt over here and pick'em up.

Evenings in Quarantine: The Zombie Opera is a hybrid theatrical stage and film production by Artistic Directors Bonnie Bogovich and Elizabeth Rishel, featuring the talents of Film Director Barry Bogovich, Special Effects Make-up Designer Arvin Clay, and Director of Photography Edwin Huang.

Involving a cast of six people, a projected film runs throughout the entire show, as well as a prerecorded musical accompaniment track of instruments and choral vocals. In this opera, we acknowledge Pittsburgh’s role as the ‘birthplace of the zombie,’ and feature filmed locations from iconic parts of town.

We utilize local talent in the production, featuring volunteer extras from the community in our filmed segments, holding scheduled public previews, Q&A/Talkbacks, and seminar events in and throughout the Pittsburgh region.

The story follows three college friends, as they navigate through the infected streets of Pittsburgh, PA. Each character must take stock of their priorities as they grapple with the living dead and each other, on their way to a military-controlled safe zone.

If I could be there, I would be. Hope some of you at least get to check out the show.

For more information:

 http://www.thezombieopera.com/

Craig Gillespie Hired to Direct 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies'

Much like World War Z, the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies film project has had its fair share of shakeups. In the latest development, Lionsgate has hired director Craig Gillespie to helm the adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith's literary mashup that introduced zombies into the fiction of Jane Austen and spawned two original stories by Steven Hockensmith.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Natalie Portman is still producing the film adaptaion through her handsomecharlie films banner.

Well, I say, "La!" to the news. I very much look forward to seeing the Bennett sisters come alive on the big screen to fight the unruly dead of Regency England.

Trailer Tuesday: POISONED (Israeli Zombie Movie)

Today marks the first full day of Passover on the Jewish calendar, so why not celebrate with a look at what I think must be Israel's first Passover zombie movies: Poisoned.

Bino Aharonovitch is a legendary Israeli war hero. His son, Danny, is far from it. He does his national service as an assistant custodian in a remote base which serves as the home base of “Nachlieli” (the Wagtail) — one of the IDF’s elite units. He spends his days avoiding the violent soldiers and his OCD captain.

But on Passover night, the worst night for an Israeli custodian, his life is about to change. His high school crush, Maya (Orna Shifris), arrives to deliver vaccines to the fighters. She mistakes Danny for one of the fighters and shows interest in him for the first time. Danny keeps up the lie, but fate has different plans. The vaccine makes the elite troops turn into flesh-eating zombies who go on killing the rest of the soldiers in the base.

Danny, being the only one left uninfected, runs for his life — until he finds out that he isn’t the only survivor. Used to avoiding conflict, he now realizes that this time there is no escape.
Danny is going to have to utilize his only skills in order to save himself and his love — gardening skills!

Zombies, Ghosts, and Witches Reported to Police in Wales

If you live in the Wales, what do you do if you see a zombie? Or a ghost? Or a witch? You might call the police, but if you do, be aware that your call will be officially logged and tallied.

This we know as reported by the Western Telegraph. Police in Dyfed-Powys have responded to Freedom of Information (FoI) requests from the public asking, among other silly questions, how many supernatural creatures have been reported in the police in recent years.

According to the police, there have been 26 reports of ghosts and 11 reports of witches, but only two reports of zombies: one in 2008 and one in 2009.

So, rest easy Welsh readers. Your land seems to be virtually free of zombies....for now.

Cockneys vs. Zombies: Images Go Online

New pictures have hit the interwebs from the shoot of Cockneys vs. Zombies.

Until now, the only thing that was seriously piquing my interest about the latest currently-in-production zombie film out of the UK was that its script was worked on by writing talent from Doctor Who and the cast includes the always lovely and always desirable Michelle Ryan. Now, however, we have pictures that are wetting my appetite for gun play and zombie action in London.

  
 MORE PICTURES @ THE DAILY MAIL

Story Details

A horror-comedy about zombies that overrun London. The film is the story of two small time crooks fighting for survival after a Zombie outbreak in London. What do you do with 1m in stolen cash when everyone is dead?

It details the story of a group of bank robbers who unlock a 350-year old vault only to unleash an army of zombies.

Guns & Gardens Ep. 5 - The DIY Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide

I'm really digging the amount of time and effort Guns and Gardens put into their Zombie Survival projects and videos. Check out episode five for a look at how these survivors are keeping life popping in the zombie apocalypse.

Now Available: KINGS OF THE DEAD (Revised & Expanded) by Tony Faville

Friend of the blog, Tony Faville has joined the roster of fine zombie authors at Permuted Press with the release of his revised and expanded edition of KINGS OF THE DEAD, a journal of survival in the zombie post-apocalypse.

In my review of the novel's first, self-published edition, I noted that zombie fans wondering how they would fare in a zombie apocalypse should read Kings of the Dead. It was and remains fiction by a committed fan of zombie media. Kings of the Dead's new revised and expanded edition not only rocks a fantastic new book cover but also a much tighter, cleaner, and fluent narrative pace.

KINGS OF THE DEAD (Revised and Expanded) is available from Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Barnes and Noble, and Best Book Buys.

When the H1N1 “Swine Flu” virus mutates it begins to not only kill those who have received the vaccination, but also bring on the unthinkable: the dead reanimate.

Cole Helman and his friends are not only survival experts, they’ve spent hours discussing and preparing for just this event and quickly head to the hills before the cities become clogged with looting and riots. But the group knows all too well that the living dead are just the beginning of their problems, and they’ll eventually have to deal with the worst qualities of the living—desperation, greed, selfishness, and cruelty—in this new post-apocalyptic world. And a chance encounter at a secret military installation may reveal a conspiracy bigger than any of them had imagined…

Straight out of the apocalypse comes the chronicle of one small group and their experiences with life and death, survival and loss. In a world of the living dead, is one man capable of maintaining not only his community, but his own sanity?

"With Kings of the Dead, Tony Faville blurs the line between our real world and an apocalyptic nightmare world of zombies. And makes that fun. Kings of the Dead is wild and weird, dangerous and delightful!"

--Jonathan Maberry, author of Patient Zero and Rot & Ruin

"For every zombiphile who’s ever imagined how it might go down if the living dead came shambling into their world... they’re here!"

--David Dunwoody, author of Empire and Empire's End

Trailer Tuesday: Helldriver (Japanese zombie madness)

A Japanese alien-zombie film from the director of Tokyo Gore Police and Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl? What can we expect? Flower-horn-head-thing zombies. A chainsaw sword. In other words: crazy, gory bizness!

An alien-spawned, mysterious mist blankets the northern half of Japan, transforming those who inhale it into ravenous, flesh-eating zombies hell-bent on devouring the surviving human population. Plunged into chaos, Japan is torn in two— the southern half of the country, where the populace remains untouched by the deadly gas, lives behind a heavily-fortified wall, while the northern half is a lawless, zombie-infected wasteland. Political forces are locked in a stalemate over whether the living dead should remain protected as family members or exterminated like a plague. The economy withers away, and all hope seems lost for the people and the nation of Japan.


Hope arrives in the form of Kika (Yumiko Hara), a beautiful high school girl armed with a chainsaw sword powered by an artificial heart. Recruited by the government, Kika leads a ragtag group of desperados on a secret mission into the zombie-infected wilds to exterminate zombie queen Rikka (Eihi Shiina from AUDITION and TOKYO GORE POLICE) and put an end to the plague of the living dead. But the road is fraught with a thriving zombie culture that, with its own designs on the living half of Japan, refuses to lay down and die.

Wayne Robson (SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD) Dead at 65

You probably won't be as sad as I by this news, but it was announced on Tuesday that Canadian actor Wayne Robson died at age 65.

Wayne Robson (1946 - 2011) in Survival of the Dead

If you live in Canada, you get used to seeing the same Canadian actors pop up time and time again in TV and films. Robson was one of those steady Canadian players I'd often see. With his short stature, comedic timing, and distinctive voice, he was hard to miss even though he played mostly minor characters on film and TV.

Zombie fans may remember him from his minor role in George A. Romero's SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD. He played one of O'Flynn's men helping O'Flynn take advantage of those seeking passage to Plum Island. Robson, however, also appeared in several other horror/mystery/genre pictures such as Wrong Turn, Cube, and Dolores Claiborne, as well as the anthology spoof Really Weird Tales. On TV, he was no stranger to horror-themed Canadian productions, even ones that were more kid friendly or tongue-in-cheek. You might have seen him in several episodes of The Ray Bradbury Theatre, the "Crazy as a Soup Sandwich" episode of the 1980s Twilight Zone, the "There Was a Little Girl" episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, the "Bride of the Living Dummy" episode of Goosebumps, or in the made-for-TV horror anthology movie Mania.

Wayne Robson as the Old Man in Wrong Turn



Cryptozoic to Launch WALKING DEAD Trading Cards

Trading cards for movies were big when I was a kid, so I get a kick out of the fact that companies like Cryptozoic are still turning popculture properties into cards you can collect and trade with your friends.

Press Release

CRYPTOZOIC ENTERTAINMENT™ SECURES LICENSING RIGHTS FROM AMC TO LAUNCH THE WALKING DEAD TRADING CARDS


New York, NY/Irvine, CA 2011 – Cryptozoic Entertainment, famous for its World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, announced today that they have secured the rights from AMC to launch ”The Walking Dead” trading cards. The first release in the series covers the events of the first season and features a 72 card base set along with feature autographs and memorabilia from the popular show. The trading cards are available in retail locations coming this summer.
“Working on ‘The Walking Dead’ is very exciting for Cryptozoic! We’re huge fans of the show and we feel that it really lends itself to the trading card category,” said Scott Gaeta, COO at Cryptozoic. “‘The Walking Dead’ will receive the same premium treatment we are committed to providing to all our partners and fans.”

“AMC is a multi-platform content company and we're thrilled to be working with Cryptozoic as we usher in our newest platform, trading cards, celebrating the AMC original series ‘The Walking Dead,’” said Charlie Collier, president of AMC.

AMC’s “The Walking Dead” is based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. The series tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home. The comic goes on to explore the challenges of life in a world overrun by zombies who take a toll on the survivors, and sometimes the interpersonal conflicts present a greater danger to their continuing survival than the zombies that roam the country. Over time, the characters are changed by the constant exposure to death and some grow willing to do anything to survive. AMC’s “The Walking Dead” attracted 3.5 million adults in the 18-49 demo making it the most watched drama series in basic cable history for the demo. The series was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama.

Visit www.cryptozoic.com/tradingcards for the most up to date information on when “The Walking Dead” will invade a Hobby Store near you.


About AMC

AMC reigns as the only cable network in history to ever win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series three years in a row, as well as the Golden Globe® Award for Best Television Series - Drama for three consecutive years. Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade or creating acclaimed original programming, the AMC experience is an uncompromising celebration of great stories. AMC's original stories include the Emmy® Award-winning dramas Mad Men and Breaking Bad, and entertaining non-scripted programming such as AMC News. AMC further demonstrates its commitment to the art of storytelling with curated movie franchises like AMC Hollywood Icon and AMC Complete Collection. Available in more than 96 million homes (Source: Nielsen Media Research), AMC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, which includes sister networks IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv and Wedding Central. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile. AMC: Story Matters HereSM.

About Cryptozoic Entertainment

Cryptozoic Entertainment was founded in 2010 on the core principle of “fans first.” The Cryptozoic staff consists of fans who are dedicated to producing the highest quality product and community experience possible. Visit www.cryptozoic.com for additional product and event information.

©2011 Cryptozoic Entertainment. 16279 Laguna Canyon Road, Irvine, CA 92618. All Rights Reserved.

©2011 Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved. Icecrown is a trademark, and Warcraft, World of Warcraft and Blizzard Entertainment are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., in the U.S. and /or other countries. All other trademarks reference herein are the properties of their respective owners.

BE A ZOMBIE: Night of the Living Dead Live (September 2011)

I have exciting news about an upcoming stage adaptation of Night of the Living Dead that will be happening this summer in Hamilton, Ontario: the home of The Zed Word: Zombie Blog. And you can get involved!

This September, Nictophobia Films is mounting a theater production of Night of the Living Dead at The Citadel (28 Rebecca St.) that they promise will "bring the 1968 horror classic to the stage like you've never seen before!"

You can get involved: Nictophobia films is currently seeking volunteers in various positions as background zombies, stagehands, prop-makers, ushers, etc.

If you want to lend a hand or other severed limb to this exciting project, email Nictophobia at nightofthelivingdeadlive@nictophobiafilms.com

Tell them you heard about the show on The Zed Word: Zombie Blog!

The Zed Word will be following the production closely. Also keep your eye on Nictophobiafilms.com for further updates.

Phil Pattison of Nictophobia Films is also one of the directors behind the campy Canadian zombie film Vs. The Dead. You can READ MY REVIEW of the film which we screened in 2009 as part of Horror in the Hammer's "Night of the Independents" installment of Fright Night Theatre.

Trailer Tuesday: Stacy

In the near future, a zombie epidemic affects girl between the ages of 15 and 17.

Zombies and Union: Solidarity Beyond the Grave

I support Unions and I don't understand a lot of the anti-Union rhetoric out there. Sure, all human organizations can grow corrupt and lose their purpose, and Unions are not exempt from this human fault, but when Unions work they are an essential guarantee of worker's rights. This is what I know to be true, and the zombies seem to agree with me.

On Saturday, April 2nd, a Zombie Walk was organized in Madison, Wisconsin to protest Governor Scott Walker's decision to sign an anti-union bill.



Why use zombies to make a statement? As Brian Jacobson reports at Third Coast Digest, protesters were able to use the imagery of the zombie and its connection to stagnation and decay to express how they feel about the backwards, anti-union politics in Wisconsin. Jacobson observes that "zombie protesters carried signs expressing their displeasure with Governor Scott Walker’s policies. Sending their message in no uncertain terms, standouts included 'Even Zombies Are Active, Get Out And Vote April 5th', 'Walker: Turning The Working Class Into The Walking Dead'"

You can read all about the walk / protest at Third Coast Digest.

George A. Romero (1940 - 2011) [APRIL FOOLS]

BREAKING NEWS -- EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

Surrounded by family, loved ones, and former collaborators, legendary zombie and horror director George A. Romero passed away peacefully in his sleep last night at approximately 11:59pm. Romero was being treated at Toronto General Hospital for complications from H1Z1.

George A. Romero (1940-2011) 

Without George A. Romero, the modern horror landscape and zombie genre would be unrecognizable today. Credited as the father of the modern zombie genre, Romero's Night of the Living Dead (1968) revolutionized horror with its bleak themes, shocking gore, and independent success. Throughout his life, Romero continued to shape the zombie genre with social satires like Dawn of the Dead (1978), gore spectacles like Day of the Dead (1986), and big-budget studio pictures like Land of the Dead (2005) before returning to his independent roots when he moved to Canada to film the final zombie pictures of his life: Diary of the Dead (2007) and Survival of the Dead (2009). In 2009, George A. Romero accepted an award from the city of Toronto to celebrate his new status as a permanent residence in Canada and to celebrate his work in film and the horror genre.

Ironically, it was Romero's presence in Canada that contributed to his passing. Earlier this year while prepping his new zombie masterpiece Winter of the Dead, Romero contracted H1Z1, the Canadian strain of the mysterious solanum virus that continues to claim lives and perplex doctors world-wide. "George took it in stride," confides long time friend Bill Hinzman who was at Romero's side when he passed. "Despite his prognosis, George just wanted to keep working. Right up until the end, he was writing and scouting locations for Winter. He seemed more alive than ever."

Peter Grunwald, long-time producer of Romero's films, confirmed Romero held an upbeat mood in his final days: "George Romero has always had a rebel spirit, and he was never the kind of guy who would say, 'Pack it in; it's all over.' George loved his work  too much to quit. That's why none of us were surprised when he heard news that George got back up again"

At 12:00 am on April 1st, 2011, George A. Romero reanimated.

Zombie Romero (2011 -)

"I was told that one of the first things he did was grab for a camera," says Christine Forrest, Romero's ex-wife. "Well -- actually -- first he took a bite out of Russ Streiner's neck. Then he grabbed a camera before shambling out of the hospital."

Due to strict gun legislation in Canada and a deadlocked Parliamentary debate over the rights and freedoms of zombie citizens, security had no choice but to escort Zombie Romero out of the hospital and onto the streets without cranial destruction. "I couldn't do it even if ordered to," said one security guard who wished to remain anonymous. "I mean, he made fucking Monkey Shines, man. Monkey Shines! I love that shit."

What does the future hold for Zombie Romero on the cusp of the zombie epidemic that threatens to destroy us all?

"George was one of the best editors I ever met," says Bill Hinzeman. "It doesn't surprise me that the first thing he did was pick up where he left off. In all George's movies, didn't the dead go back to the things they remembered most? Some went to the mall. George, I guess, went back behind the camera."

Reports indicate that Zombie Romero has scrapped plans to produce Winter of the Dead and is instead helming a brand new project that promises to reinvent the zombie genre yet again. Breaking new ground, Zombie Romero has begun filming Night of the Living Living in which a small group of zombies are trapped in a farm house while agile humans threaten to destroy their brains. Bringing his eye for social criticism to bear, Zombie Romero plans to offer Night of the Living Living as his comment on the inherent lack of cooperation and focus among the zombie horde that proves more a threat to the undead than the humans who hunt them.

Will Zombie Romero's new film revolutionize the horror genre once again and galvanize a new undead fan base for the beloved director? Will fans mourn his passing yet continue to criticize his work as heavy-handed and complain he's just 'going through the motions' ?

Only time will tell. But one thing is for certain, you can't keep George A. Romero down.