Music from The Walking Dead: Episode 0608 :From Start To Finish

As this is our final post of the year, this seemed fitting. We here are fans of The Walking Dead, the show certainly has it's flaws and questionable writing at times, but we can't but help be entertained and invested in the journey of Rick Grimes, Carl, Glenn, Maggie, Carol, Daryl and the rest of the crew. Recently the show aired it's midseason finale, which many (myself included) was a bit lackluster and had what I feel is possibly one of the dumbest moments of the series. Let me not get started on that handing over the guns to a psychotic murderous person with a knife thing.

Jessie is cool and really good looking but her kids are just the absolute worst.

Still, it wasn't all bad. It did have a few cool zombie scenes and it provided us with this absolutely beautiful piece of music. In the final scene as Rick and co. attempt to make their way through the heard using that good ole walker gut poncho tactic, things start to slow down, the majority of the sound drops out and in comes this haunting combination of piano and synth goodness that is easily one of the most moving pieces of scoring found on the show. I have been thinking about it since I had seen it and it's impact during this scene elevated it greatly. I only wish Ron and Sam's dumbasses weren't in it to damper it. I did some searching and have finally come across it. As we end one year and begin another, this music seems perfect to reflect on what this year brought us good and bad, and what lies ahead. Credit must be given to the talented Bear McCeary who composed this killer piece of work. So give it a listen and hopefully it inspires you to take advantage of life in 2016 or at the very least steer clear of some Walkers and hope the mid-season premiere delivers the same way this epic tune did.

Best Horror films of 2015

So as 2015 comes to a close, we must all assess what this year was to us? Personally for me it was a year of ups and downs. Some very low lows and some absolutely fantastic highs. The horror films of the year seemed to follow that same pattern. There were quite a few horror films that were released this year, however they seemed to be more misses than hits. I also noticed that some of them really divided audiences. We definitely had debates and discussions about what was good and what wasn't, so lets just get down to it, shall we?

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS

I almost left this off the list this year, not because I didn't like it, but because I actually forgot it came out this year since I saw it in theaters in it's initial limited release. Special thanks to Ryan Turek for the reminder, because I would have been extra pissed at myself if I didn't include this one. What We Do in the Shadows is first and foremost a comedy, a brilliant and hilarious comedy. Still, it is also a vampire movie and one of the best I have seen. The documentary styled story of 4 vampire roommates and their newly turned "friend" sets the stage for a film that respects the vampire stories and myths that have come before and manages to show just how inconvenient being a vampire can actually be. The cast are all brilliant, it would be hard to choose a favorite here as Clement, Waititi, Brugh and the rest of the bunch are all at their best, with their comedic timing being impeccable. There is plenty of blood shed in this film that help it fall in the horror genre and it is simply genius the way it infuses vampire lore from different time periods, and laugh out loud comedy all into one amazing package. 

As a huge fan of Flight of the Conchords I was excited to see this film and so glad I got to see it in a packed theater as the crowds obvious enjoyment of it made it that much more of an enjoyable experience. I will say it isn't for everyone and the understated humor will go over a lot of peoples heads and the A.D.D. viewers will undoubtedly miss some of the funnier and subtle jokes when they aren't paying attention. This is the first of THREE horror comedies we have on our list this year, which says something about the quality of serious horror films released this year. What We Do in the Shadows is a must see for vampire and horror fans. 

THE FINAL GIRLS 

I would classify the Final Girls as a horror comedy, which generally are not my thing, but this one is more than just your run of the mill horror comedy. This film is a passionate love letter to Friday the 13th, The Burning and other camp slashers of the 80's. We unfortunately did not have a chance to review it at the time we saw it, but we did make sure to spread the word. 

The Final Girls tells the story of a group of friends who end up inside a fictional 80's camp slasher and have to figure out how to make it home while trying to survive the attacks by the hulking masked, machete wielding, Jason Voorhees homage, Billy Murphy. That is about all I really want to give away for those that haven't seen it.  

Director Todd Strauss-Schulson delivers stylish and vibrant visuals that make the film jump off of the screen. He truly delivers one of the most beautiful looking films we have seen this year and we look forward to seeing what he does next. The films score by 

Full of laughs (many of which, expertly delivered by Workaholics Adam Devine), the Final Girls is still at it's core a story about a mother and her daughter, and it is this story that injects the film with a great deal of heart, that will certainly cause some viewers to tear and choke up. Much credit must be given to Taissa Farmiga and Malin Ackerman, who anchor the entire film with their heartfelt performances. 

While many will say it's not a full on horror film, and shouldn't be on this list, particularly with it's PG-13 rating. The Final Girls is just a really well put together film and quite possibly in a sense, the best Friday the 13th film made in years. If that is not worthy of year end, best of horror list. I don't know what is. 

KRAMPUS

We reviewed Krampus (<--- click there to read it) earlier this month and we liked it a lot. It was not a perfect film by any means, but it did enough right to get on this list. An original horror film in wide release in theaters featuring a bevy of practical monster effects is always a reason to rejoice for us horror fans. What Krampus may have lacked in pacing and some story elements, it more than made up for with it's atmosphere and creature carnage. Director Michael Dougherty has crafted a holiday film that will surely become a an annual Christmas watch the same way Trick 'r Treat became for Halloween. Like The Final Girls, Krampus is another PG-13 entry on the list, a rating that will have some gorehounds crying foul, however don't let the rating dissuade you. Krampus delivers enough mayhem and terror to be classified as a horror film, while having that same charm and sense of humor as Trick 'r Treat that will still make it a fun and entertaining watch for most of the family.

LAST SHIFT

Last Shift was probably the surprise of the year for me. I knew absolutely nothing about it as it snuck under my radar and I opted to just go in blind without so much as a trailer watch. What followed was a simple yet effectively creepy tale of a rookie police officer Jessica Loren on her first night on the job, in an empty police department on it's final night of operation. As you can imagine, things go bad as Jessica begins to encounter strange and horrific occurrences as the night goes on. 

In our review for the film (which you can read here ) I likened it to the type of horror and storytelling found in the best of the Silent Hill video games. Which is about the highest praise I can give something given that I hold those in high esteem as some of the greatest horror experiences available. Much of director Anthony DiBlasi's film hinges on the performance of it's lead Juliana Harkavy. The rest of the small cast deliver solid performances, but Harkavy is especially up to the task and delivers a well balanced, believable performance while carrying the majority of the film on her shoulders.  With a lesser talent this role could have crippled the film, and it would have failed, but she holds everything together. Much needs to be said about DiBlasi's restrained approach to the direction, as the film unfolds and the horror escalates, it never feels cheesy or laughable, the serious tone is kept throughout and just as with the lead actress, with a lesser talent in the directors chair the film could have stumbled greatly. 

While this years crop of horror was in my opinion not the strongest, Last Shift would have ended up high on our list no matter it's company, it's a strong and serious horror film, that plays up the creepy imagery and gives us something a fresh as well with the police horror angle. Last Shift is also proof again that going into a horror movie knowing nothing about it can easily yield the best results. It must also be noted that the consensus from friends and people on social media seem to be mostly positive. Which is no small feat, but well deserved. 

OUR HORROR FILM OF THE YEAR : IT FOLLOWS

Well, here it is. Our 2015 horror film of the year. IT FOLLOWS. One of the most divisive horror films I can remember in recent years. It Follows split audiences down the middle, those that loved it and those that hated it. I have heard all the complaints and reasons from the "Hate it" camp and I could not disagree more.

 It Follows (which we reviewed here ) for us, was akin to watching someones nightmare unfold on screen. The overwhelming sense of dread that permeates the film is just one part of that. It Follows explores death and the realization of ones own mortality through the eyes of a group of teenagers (played to realistic perfection by Maika Monroe and the rest of her fellow castmates). It Follows doesn't rely on gore for its horror but rather a restrained sense of impending doom and an underlying creepiness throughout, capped off with what has to be considered the horror score of the year by Disasterpiece. The camera work here by director David Robert Mitchell is superb and has a vibe reminiscent of the original Halloween, particularly the opening scene. I don't want to simply rehash our review for the film so I will end by saying that It Follows landed it's spot as our horror film of the year because it delivered everything we hoped for when we sat down in the theater. A creepy, haunting film that was well directed, acted and scored. Everyone is entitled to their opinions on what a horror movie should be, and we hope and wish for more to be like It Follows. Maybe next year, 

Honorable Mentions:

ASH VS THE EVIL DEAD

I don't think anyone really held out hope for a new Ash-centric Evil Dead movie after the release (and lackluster fan response to 2013's  Evil Dead remake/reboot film. While I happened to enjoy it quite a bit upon that first viewing, and loved the look of it, it simply wasn't the Evil Dead without Ash. I have never been a big Army of Darkness fan as I prefer Evil Dead 1 and 2, but was happy and surprised to see that Ash was actually returning to the Evil Dead franchise. Of course I didn't think it would be any good. So after I watched the first episode, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it and how much "Old Ash" worked. It was as good a sequel that we could have hoped for and every time I watch an episode I find myself thinking "I can't believe I am watching an Evil Dead TV series and it's good." The show manages to keep all the trademarks of the films and the humor more often than not is spot on. There are a few weak spots here and there and not every episode has been great, but they have all been entertaining and seeing Ash back in action is really just a great deal of fun. While granted, it is a TV show and not a film, I think most Evil Dead and Ash fans will agree this is a legitimate sequel to the Evil Dead franchise and it is a satisfying one at that! That is something I don't think anyone would have expected a year ago and makes it deserving of being on this list without a doubt.   

WE ARE STILL HERE

We Are Still Here was a film I was really hoping to love when I sat down to watch it. I didn't watch any trailers (and as usual I was glad I didn't) and I was just anticipating it based on the poster alone. In the end I ended up thinking it was only okay after my initial watch. I couldn't put my finger on why it didn't necessarily connect with it initially, but I do remember having somewhat of an issue with the performances, as something just felt off to me. With more time to think about it I opted to give it another watch and found I enjoyed it much more on my second viewing with most things coming together for me. It is in fact a classy old fashioned ghost story that takes it's time setting up it's brutally impressive payoff. This is one of those instances where perhaps I hoped for something else and didn't get what I wanted initially. Ultimately though, director Ted Goeghegan and his cast that includes horror regulars Barbara Crampton and Larry Fessenden put together one of the better genre entries of this past year. It may not be for everyone, especially those with a shorter attention span, still it's worthy of a look as I think most horror fans will find something to like about it. 

INSIDIOUS CHAPTER 3

Insidious chapter 3 was not everything I had hoped it would be prior to seeing it, but it did enough things right to warrant this honorable mention. I was actually very much into it 2/3 of the way through it, then it kind of veered off into the Elise doing hand to hand combat with ghosts stuff I didn't care for in the previous installment and that kind of took me out of it. Still for much of it's early running time I found it to be quite an effective horror film. It was obvious that there was a lot of love put into it by director Leigh Whannell, his cast and his crew, who got the most out of their budget. That went a long way for me to focus more on the positives of the film. Granted for those that don't care for the series this one probably won't change any opinions on it, still, Whannell crafts some genuinely cool and inventive sequences throughout and Insidious Chapter 3 ended up being a story worth telling after all.  

CREEP

A late entry to this list, but still deserving. As a fan of Mark Duplass I was interested in seeing what he could do here, as I mostly associate him with his character Pete on FX's Fantasy Football Comedy The League. So I as usual went in knowing little to nothing about it and was caught off guard by it being a documentary styled found footage flick. This worked well though as the set up calls for it and explains why everything is being filmed in the first place. To be totally honest, about 1/3 of the way through Creep, I was saying to myself  "This is dumb" yet I also noticed that as the film proceeded on I became more and more on edge. The tension and suspense was all there and that meant the film was doing it's job. Duplass plays the titular creep to perfection and the entire film keeps you guessing as to what he will do next. Everyone who has seen the film knows about peachfuzz, Duplass characters werewolf mask, which I bring up because even though I knew it was coming the second "peachfuzz" reveal is chilling. Creep is an effective little film that won't be for everyone, especially the anti-found footage crowd, but for those who can give it a chance, they may find it to be a frighteningly uneasy watch. 

EX MACHINA

The only reason Ex Machina is not in the actual best of list and only an honorable mention is because for me while it certainly has some horrific aspects, it is first and foremost a sci fi film. So with that being said, it is a fantastic sci fi film that features brilliant performances by all 3 of it's lead actors who are all at the top of their game here. Particularly Alicia Vikander who is a revelation here. The production design coupled with Alex Garlands razor sharp direction all led to a very personal and quaint story about god complex and the age old questions about the dangers of Artificial Intelligence. Ex Machina is a must watch. 

Review: ALIEN 1/4 scale figure by NECA

It is not an overstatement to say Alien is a masterpiece.  Ridley Scott's seminal sci fi horror film is a work of art and it owes a great deal to it's titular creature designed by H.R. Giger. It is without a doubt in my opinion the greatest movie monster ever created. We have seen plenty of movies with aliens, yet none feel quite as frightening, fully realized and extraterrestrial as the Xenomorph. It has been 36 years since the original Alien film was released and no creature seen since (aside from it's buddy the Predator) has had the cultural impact or longevity as Giger's creation.  

Alien has spawned countless merchandise throughout the years. From Kenner's original 1979 Alien figure, to their full blown toy line in 1992. Aliens have always been well represented on collector's shelves. More recently highly detailed incarnations have been available from the likes of McFarlane, Hot Toys and of course the current license holder NECA. 

NECA has done an outstanding job with the license paying extra attention to detail and releasing versions and characters never before seen. Their latest and in my opinion most impressive thus far (along with their recent Alien Queen release of course) is this revamped version of their 1/4 scale original Alien commonly known to fans as "Big Chap." I initially missed out on the original release from a few years ago, but upon seeing the newest versions promo photos, I knew I wouldn't miss out on this one. How does it stack up in hand? Lets take a look.

packaged promo photo from NECA

In hand photo of production item .

Now as great as the promo photos looked the moment I removed it from its shipping container I was even more impressed. Right off the bat the first thing that struck me was the beautiful paint application done to the figure. In the right light it looks like a Giger painting come to life. Upon removing it from it's packagine, you realize how mammoth this thing is. The Alien features all the usual multiple points of articulation, including the jaw which opens to reveal the patented "inner mouth" which also extends outward when desired. It stands at 22 inches tall as opposed to the usual 18 inches 1/4 human figures generally reach, Making it an accurate height in comparison. 

One thing of note for anyone interested in purchasing one of these. There are two different versions out there. The variant being all tied to the mouth. Some like the ones in the NECA promotional figures have the tranluscent lip more closed. Others like the one I received (and prefer) have the lip a bit more curled. The coinciding inner mouth as well is different in each of these with one have a closed mouth and the other open (as you can see in my photos.)

As collectors, we have to decide for ourselves what an item is worth and if it is a good representation of the character you are a fan of. In this size, the Alien comes with a higher price tag but at price tag of approximately $100.00 it is still decidedly more affordable and a great value than many of the other Alien collectibles out there. Many of them aren't nearly as impressive as this is. 

Alien standing with NECA Classic Predator figure.

There aren't really any negative things to say about this piece. Truthfully it is my favorite Alien collectible I own and a must have for fans. I can say though that I have an issue with a very loose knee joint that I have already contacted customer service about replacing, but that happens from time to time on mass produced items and NECA is generally very good about helping in that area. I cannot stop taking photos of it, as you can see it looks great and movie accurate in low light but holds up and looks great in bright lighting as well. NECA has done a fine job of providing fans the opportunity to add a new revamped version of the Xenomorph to their collections and while the price may be understandably too high for some, the quality and value is certainly there. It is a centerpiece type of item that should be grabbed while it is still at retail as it will undoubtedly climb in price  and value soon enough. 

 Check out some more of our photos to help you make the decision on whether or not you want one of these guys taking up residence in your home. 

to sboltonjr " Thanks for the Alien game and the concern, yes those emails were really me haha !"

Review : Neca's Ultimate Jason Voorhees figure

Jason Voorhees is no stranger to being immortalized in plastic. Throughout the years there have been a slew of Jason figures of varying degrees of quality readily available to fans and collectors alike. I myself can trace back the beginnings of my current collecting habits to one fateful day in 1998 at a Spencer's Gifts store in the mall, where I first laid eyes upon a Jason figure from the very first Movie Maniacs series from McFarlane toys. I was majorly impressed with the sculpting detail put into the piece. It was something I had never seen before in an action figure. At the time I wasn't really a collector per say, but I figured, well this would be cool to have on a shelf somewhere since my name is Jason, and I was a fan of the character and horror films in general. Fast forward to 2015 (yikes, that was 17 years ago) and horror collectors (myself included) have a new go to company for their fix, NECA. 

NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association) burst onto the action figure scene in 2002 (or so my quick Google search would leave me to believe). One of the first figures they released which quickly helped make a name for themselves was an 18 inch Jason figure from Friday the 13th part 7. This was something fans of McFarlane's movie maniacs line were clamoring for for years to go along with their Freddy, Michael Myers and Leatherface figures. NECA delivered (along with a long thought to be impossible 18 inch Pinhead figure as well) and from there on never looked back, producing various versions of Jason throughout the years. From the Freddy vs Jason version to the now extremely popular NES Friday the 13th Game inspired 8-Bit Jason. Now they have released the newest and possibly best Jason figure for your collection, Ultimate Jason Voorhees. 

Based on his appearance in the 6th Friday the 13th film "Jason Lives" this version is part of the current Ultimate line from NECA that features definitive versions of iconic characters. They have already released Freddy Krueger, Leatherface and Terminator's T-800. I can safely say Jason is another welcome addition to the series. 

Part of the appeal of the Ultimate line is undoubtedly the packaging. NECA has done a really nice job of designing these thus far, utilizing the always preferred original one sheet poster imagery for the front flap of the box, which opens up to display the figure and all it's accessories. 

As you can see above, the figure comes fully articulated along with a nice stash of accessories. The only thing I would have liked to be included here that isn't is an interchangeable open left hand, but that is a minor quibble. I have read some people state the mask is a bit too narrow and based on some stills from the film, I am inclined to agree, however overall it still looks good and certainly does the job. I especially love the inclusion of the tombstone and fence post. Things like that are what make the Ultimate line extra fun for die hard fans. 

I was really happy they decided to go with this particular version of Jason, as Jason Lives is definitely one of the high points in the series and the look hasn't gotten enough attention when it comes to the merchandise front. It's is an interesting design as it's the first appearance of "zombie Jason" but not the full on rotted look from the following film. One thing to note is that the mask does not have actual eye holes. It is simply painted black where the eye holes would be, whether or not this was done to replicate the fact that in the film the eyes were covered with a black mesh to hide the actors eyes or not is up for debate and something I may ask NECA about. If the covered holes bother you, they can easily be drilled out to make way for the man behind the mask. I initially thought that it would bother me, but upon receiving him, I didn't give it a second thought. The overall paint apps on the figure are very well done and neat. No smudging or bleeding and all the colors are vibrant with the right amount of wash applied to bring out the details of the sculpt. This also helps replicate the appropriate dirt and grit on this clothing, particularly on his gloves. This guy stands out nicely when placed next to other Jason figures, (something I would have illustrated here if I wasn't too lazy to dig out the others I own) and he also looks fresh when surrounded by his other boogeymen brethren. 

Overall this figure is one of NECA's coolest to date and certainly one of the best Jason figures ever made. A few minor nitpicks shouldn't be enough to deter anyone from picking this one up. It is an ideal Jason figure for collectors and casual fans alike. The avid collectors should be happy to add this latest Jason figure to their collection, while a casual consumer, at the price point of only about 22 bucks can add a highly detailed version of this iconic character to their shelf or desk or even under the Christmas tree. NECA has done it again here and shown that the Ultimate line once again lives up to it's name. 

Check out a few more photos we snapped of this badass figure below that should help you decide if it is worth your hard earned moolah.

Review: Krampus

Krampus is the second film from Trick 'r Treat creator and director Michael Dougherty. Given the fact that Dougherty (and Legendary pictures) placed presedence over the highly anticipated (and requested) sequel to Trick 'r Treat  many were hoping it would be worth the wait. For the most part it was, while by no means perfect in the way many (myself included) perceived his ode to Halloween. Krampus still brings enough to the table to deliver an enjoyable horror comedy that should become regular viewing around Christmas time from now on.

Krampus has a pretty straight forward story that plays out a lot like a horror version of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Complete with David Koechner who plays Uncle Howard, doing his best Cousin Eddie impression. The story revolves around young Max who increasingly has the desire to hold on to the feeling of Christmas's past (Don't we all!) and he is doing his best to keep the spirit of the season alive until the aforementioned Uncle and his less than desirable family show up to spend the next few days with Max, his parents (played by Adam Scott and Toni Collette) and his German Grandmother Omi. If you have seen Christmas Vacation (or any other family get together film) you have seen this set up. As a result of the ensuing chaos, Max becomes disenchanted with Santa and the spirit of Christmas, going so far as to denounce it in a fit of rage, this results in the title characters arrival in the snowy town the film is set in. Things then go from bad to worse.

Without spoiling the film, what elevates the almost too familiar material is undoubtedly the outstanding effects work on display throughout. Krampus is first and foremost a monster movie, full of incredible practical effects work that bring all sorts of Christmas themed horrors to life. It is a wonderful thing to see a film like this hit theaters and one of the reasons I would absolutely recommend it. It is an original film that more often then not would probably end up VOD and straight to blu ray as studios just do not take chances on films like this these days. The title character himself is a fantastic creature and his introductory scene (my favorite in the film) is exhilarating. There are a few missteps here though, Sorely underutilized creepy snowmen (how were these not used for more?) and some evil gingerbread men that probably could have looked a bit cooler. Still these are just nitpicks and as far as creature stuff goes, you will be hard pressed to find cooler stuff this year in a film.

The direction is for the most part up to par with Trick 'r Treat and Dougherty's strong visual sense is once again on display here. The frozen neighborhood and an excellent stop motion flashback sequence are just two of the highlights in a film where production design is king. I do wish however the story and script had been a bit tighter as it is unfortunately the movies weak link. It tends to drag a bit somewhere in the middle right after the Krampus introduction and the film pays the price for it, also for a movie about Christmas and monsters which pays plenty of homage to one of the great Christmas monster films of all time in Gremlins, there was a very noticeable and unfortunate lack of kids vs monster stuff here, with mostly the parents relegated to combat versus the creatures invading the home. The story was supposed to be centered around Max and to have him take out or at least encounter a few of the monsters on his own early on would have gone a long way to filling out some of the issues with the script I had. There were also some missed opportunities throughout to truly capitalize on the subject matter of the film and bring in some additional carnage playing up the frozen isolated locale. Again I know the film was relatively low budget at approximately on 15 million, so there were limitations and Dougherty does his best to get the most of his budget. Can't help but think that those snowmen were originally part of something much more elaborate.

In the end Krampus delivers enough creature action and horror with a pg-13 rating attached to appease the majority of it's audience. Trick 'r Treat fans should be familiar with the tone and non Trick 'r Treat fans may want to stay away as I always feel it was TrT's tone that they can't jive with.
the performances are all well played in spite of being handcuffed to family quarrel movie cliche'd characters (which I do believe was definitely on purpose given how the film wears it's inspirations and homages on it's sleeve) It is clear Dougherty believes in his vision and treats everything with love  and care here and that goes a long way. While I personally would have liked a few things tweaked or expanded upon, you will be hard pressed to find a cooler looking Christmas horror flick, let alone one you can enjoy on the big screen. Go check it out and support original horror films when they hit the theaters!

You can also listen to and order the Krampus score from Waxwork records below.

and order some new Krampus gear from our friends over at Fright Rags here