Halloween 3D gets a release date

There was a time when news of another Halloween film would have filled me with a dark kind of joy. Given that Halloween 3D is supposed to be a continuation of the story Rob Zombie ended in his Halloween 2 and will contain the component of three extra dollars, I'm less than jazzed.

Empireonline.com is reporting that the film is slated for an Oct. 28, 2012 release. No word yet on if director Patrick (My Bloody Valentine 3D and Drive Angry) Lussier and screenwriter Todd Farmer are still involved. The two were attached to the project a year or so ago but moved on to Drive Angry instead.

The plot, according to Lussier talking to MTV last year, picks up right after Zombie's Halloween 2 and strips the character back to his John Carpenter roots, whatever that means. And again, what's the point given Zombie's interpretation was finished.

This project stinks of pure greed on the part of the producers and studio, Dimension Films. I love the Halloween series, but feel Carpenter's and Zombie's stories have been told. Leave it alone.

But you know, if it does get made, I will be compelled to watch it like a moth drawn into the light.

Next on the chopping block: 100 Feet and Babysitter Wanted

When a filmmaker named John Carpenter screened his first horror movie, Halloween, for a young studio executive at 20th. Century Fox he did so without the music. She bluntly told Carpenter his film wasn't scary, that it didn't work. So the director and composer set out to "save it" with music. The score he composed, and the chilling film he made, have become fixtures in popular culture.

Tonight, on a special episode of Film Reviews From the Basement, The X's own Rev. Steve of Do Not Touch This Amp joins us for a discussion on movie soundtracks and their transition from being accompanying music to a big moneymaking business. It's a segment no film or music fan will want to miss. And yes, there will songs.

But we are review show, and that means Shawn and I have a couple of reviews for your listening pleasure. First up is the haunted house spookfest 100 Feet starring former Bond babe Famke Janseen and John Fallon of Arrow In the Head. Then we turn the executioner's axe on the little-seen slasher film Babysitter Wanted. How do these two under-the-radar genre films stack up? Stick with us!

So set your radio dial to 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops at 10 p.m. PST or log on to www.thex.ca and get ready for an hour of radio that will blow your ear hole! Trust me, it's a lot more fun than I just made it sound!!

And now some previews of coming attractions:

100 Feet

Babysitter Wanted

Zombie heads to Salem for his next film

The shock rocker film turds unfairly pissed on for his remake of Halloween is almost ready to get back behind the cameras.

Rob Zombie told The List his next film, The Lords of Salem, should begin pre-production in March with a planned production start scheduled for June.

The film, based on his original script, follows a DJ in Salem, Mass., who unwittingly unleashes a horde of demons when she plays a cursed record. Ten bucks says the demons could have something to do with all those witches burned at the stake in that state.

I've dug pretty much everything Zombie has done film wise and enjoy most of his music. We in The Basement will give the movie a view when it eventually hits theatres.

International teaser for Chromeskull: Laid to Rest 2 is here

Just a quick update on this Thursday eve as the international teaser for Robert Hall's Laid to Rest follow up Chromeskull arrives on the net.

We've talked about the slasher sequel here and are excited to get a peek at the gory goings on in this trailer. Laid to Rest had some of the best kills ever staged in a horror film and, judging from the images presented below, Hall intends to up his game.

The film stars Thomas Dekker, Brian Austin Green, Christopher Nelson, and Danielle Harris. No word yet on when this bad boy hits theatres.

Jason and Shawn review: Satan's Little Helper and The Girl Who Played With Fire

Satan's Little Helper

Jason: Six years is a bitch of a wait to watch a movie, but finally getting to see Jeff Lieberman's low budget horror-satire made this movie geek very happy. Satan's Little Helper is a perfect companion piece to Carpenter's Halloween and Trick r Treat for a late October film festival. Granted, the film is hampered a bit by it's budget, but the ride is still a fun one. On the one hand, the film is a cautionary tale about detached, video-game playing youth. On the other, it's a creepy story about a nameless serial killer going on a murder spree in a small American town . . . with a twist! And we never learn who or why! A Good rating from me!

Shawn: Wow. This movie was neat. For the low budget, it was damn well worth the watch. This features a bunch of phenomenal Halloween costumes throughout, including a wickedly creepy Satan outfit worn by the killer. The kid, who ends up being the killer's little helper, deserved a punch here and there for falling under the villain's wing so easily, but he was also eerily likable at points as well. The film had a lot of potential that wasn't quite realized. I enjoyed the watch, but I doubt I would watch it again. This rates a Bad for me.

The Girl Who Played With Fire

Jason: A worthy sequel that can't quite live up its exceptional predecessor. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a sharp, unique and fascinating mystery. The Girl Who Played With Fire is a more standard thriller with an incomplete ending and a mystery that isn't as engaging. The film also falters by not giving its two leads any screen time together. That said, Played With Fire still has a lot to like. It's exceptionally well made and acted and features a believable take on journalism. It's a good ride, but a bit more pedestrian after the excellence of part one. Another Good for me this week.

Shawn: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is my most hated movie of all time. This is slightly better than that. I admire how well made and acted it is. This just isn't my kind of movie. They added some action which is fine, but I still feel like I wasted two hours of my life. It would also have been easier to watch had it been dubbed in English. Having to read along to the movie made a tough experience even tougher! It's not as Ugly as the first, but it's still Ugly.

Next on the chopping block: Satan's Little Helper and The Girl Who Played With Fire

A Halloween-themed horror film might seem like an odd choice to kick off tonight's episode, but the holiday is a Basement favourite and the movie, Satan's Little Helper, has been on the to-do list for quite some time.

Jeff Lieberman's dark horror/comedy premiered at a number of film festivals in 2004 before heading straight-to-DVD in 2005. Even then, it's not an easy flick to find. But we in The Basement have done so, and will share our thoughts with you some time between 10 and 11 p.m. this eve.

Then there's the sequel to the international movie and book sensation The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Jason loved that film (and book) and Shawn hated it, calling the movie one of the worst he's ever seen. How does The Girl Who Played With Fire stack up? Stick with us!

We're also going to bring back our Top Five segment, this time talking about the five most unnecessary love scenes in movie history. As is usually the case in The Basement, the subject is open to interpretation.

Throw in some music by artists new and practiced, and the latest movie news, and you've got yourself a radio show. Join us tonight at 10 p.m. PST at 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops or head online at the same Bat Time.Who said it's not cool to stay in on a Friday night? We didn't.

And now some previews of coming attractions:

Satan's Little Helper (sorry for the video quality)



The Girl Who Played With Fire

Plot details revealed for Lionsgate's Dibbuk Box

Last week we wrote on this blog that Lionsgate's next big (they hope) Halloween horror franchise Dibbuk Box would go toe-to-toe with Paranormal Activity 3 but made no mention of what it was about. That's because no one was really sure of the plot, or what a dibbuk box actually is.

Some plot details are starting to emerge, as is word that the film is based on true events. Which, in Hollywood speak, means dibbuk boxes are real. And they are. A dibbuk box is a wine cabinet.

The folks over at Blood Disgusting are reporting that the Ole Bornedal-directed horror film will follow Clyde Breneck and his 10-year-old daughter, Em, who purchase the antique box at a yard sale (apparently, in the real-life story, it was bought on Ebay). Em accidentally releases an ancient spirit from the box that wants to devour her. Clyde must team up with his ex-wife to put an end to the curse.

The story sounds more BS to me than most of the stuff on Fox News. But it does have some potential as a horror film. Given the number of horror movies based on true events one would think ghosts and goblins are running rampant in the streets. Maybe it's a big government cover up? Nah. The government would never cover anything up.

And, just to satiate your curiosity, here's a link to the alleged true story! We aim to entertain and inform here in The Basement.

Penned by Juliet Snowden & Stiles White, Lionsgate wants this in theaters by Oct. 28, 2011.

Chatting with ghosts: The Basement interviews William Castle

Halloween is our favourite holiday here in The Basement, and we've got something special planned for our Oct. 29 episode to celebrate.

With the help of psychic and frequent Basement contributor Mike S., and the marvels of modern Facebook technology, Shawn and I are going to conduct a live online and onair interview with the spirit of famous Hollywood film director, producer and actor William Castle.

Yes, Castle is back from beyond the grave and he's willing to take some time out from overseeing the collaborative horror novel Scare It Forward (which yours truly is taking part in) to answer some questions about his life, career and the movies he made.

Castle may be best known for his gimmicks. For example, The Tingler (1959) was about a docile creature that lives in the spinal cord, is activated by fright, and can only be destroyed by screaming. In the film's finale, one of the creatures removed from the spine of a mute woman is let loose in a movie theatre. Some seats in theatres showing the Tingler were equipped with larger versions of hand-held joy buzzers that were attached to the underside of the seats. When the Tingler in the film attacked the audience, the buzzers were activated as a voice encouraged the real audience to scream for their lives.
  
We're going to open a discussion section on our Facebook page at about 10 p.m. PST on Oct. 29. Our conversation with Castle, who has regained the ability to type but not to speak, will begin in that section soon after. Those who want to listen can tune in live at 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops or www.thex.ca. If you want to watch the discussion unfold, or even have a question to ask, stop by our Facebook page.

Shawn and I are very excited about this interview, a Basement first. And we encourage everyone to stop by Scare It Forward, give it a read, and leave a comment or two.

And don't forget to tune in next week for reviews of Case 39, The Road and our discussion on era flops circa 1985!

Chromeskull returns in Laid to Rest II

Robert Hall's Laid to Rest was one of those under-the-radar horror films that kicked some serious ass. Now Bloody Disgusting is reporting that Hall is bringing his brutal would-be-horror icon back for another go-around.

Chromeskull: Laid to Rest II begins filming Nov. 1. Hall penned the script with producing partner Kevin Bocarde. Hall, Bocarde and Chang Tseng are producing the film under their Dry County Entertainment banner. 

Returning for the sequel are original Laid to Rest stars Thomas Dekker (A Nightmare on Elm Street) and Nick Principe, who once again dons the familiar mask of Chromeskull. Although casting is still underway, the film already boasts a line-up of stars including Brian Austin Green (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 90210), Michael Biehn (Aliens, The Victim), Christopher Nelson (Kill Bill: Volume 1, The Tripper), Jennifer Blanc (Bereavement, The Victim) and Danielle Harris (Halloween, Stakeland, Hatchet 2).

Writer/director Robert Hall introduced Chromeskull, the mysterious and relentless killer who hunts down young women and records their grisly demises while donning a silver skull mask and video camera, in 2009. And while it may have seemed like Chromeskull was dead at the end of the first film, every horror fan knows evil never dies.

Shawn and I really dug Laid to Rest, which has some of the best kills ever put on film, and highly recommend it to horror fans. We await the sequel!!

New horror franchise planned with Costume

The boys at Bloody Disgusting report that offers are being made on a new horror screenplay from writer Carter (Dead Asleep, Near Death) Blanchard titled Costume, with the hope of launching a new horror icon and franchise. 

The premise takes a somewhat fresh spin on the cliched concept of an unstoppable movie killer: a costume makes the rounds on Halloween night, possessing whomever puts it on. Actually, that does sound pretty cool. Kill one wearer, and the evil can still live on. Unless you burn the costume I guess.


In my opinion, moviedom NEEDS this. The Saw franchise has run out of steam and all Hollywood seems capable of doing is recycling horror icons from the 1980s. Hopefully a major studio will pick up the script and we'll see a decent big-budget horror series back on the big screen. Then again, Hollywood can't seem to do anything right, so hopefully an independent will pick this up instead.


Here's a preview for a Halloween-themed horror franchise that Hollywood screwed the pooch on:

Want Rob and Kristen Carved on Your Pumpkin?

If the answer is yes, you're in luck. Here is the official Twilight stencil for your pumpkin.



source

-By Jen

How to Become Jane for Halloween

Wanna be Volturi kick butt vampire girl Jane for Halloween? Check out this video on the how-to's of Jane's makeup!



-By Jen

You Can Be Edward Cullen for Halloween?

TwiFans.com spotted this wig at a costume store. The Halloween wig (and person pictured) seems to look like they are trying to copy someone? Maybe someone with a certain pea coat? Edward Cullen, no?