Ghost

“There Will be Sangre!

Being Latino myself, I’m a fan of the Latin horror-based website given that there are not many sites like it. Thanks to Edwin Pagan that is no longer the case.

The Latino and Spanish communities have a lot to offer in terms of horror and the macabre and what better place to showcase those various attributes and provide coverage than Latin Horror. I was thrilled to see their new promo that makes me want to just go out there and do some filming! Check out their promo below:

For more info on Latin Horror, check out their website at www.LatinHorror.com

LATIN HORROR (LH) is the first English-language website dedicated to the genre of Latin horror and features the leading Latin/Spanish/International “dark creative expressionists” working in film, theater, music, photography, illustration, graphic novels, “dark art” novelas, comic books, literature, and games—from the seasoned masters—to the up-and-coming Latin horrorphile whose work is grounded in horror, the macabre, and gothic arts.

… cried the zombie baby.

Finally, aside from some photographs on the web, we get a sneak peak at the upcoming horror Rec 3: Genesis! Being that it’s a teaser, it’s a little hard to say on whether or not it will be good but judging by this sneak peak and the track record of its predecessors, I’d say that it’s going to be a good one:

Where did this come from? Who knows, but definitely seems legit and a little different than the previous two in that, well, we’re taken back in time. Also, does anyone remember Bloody Mary? Ladies and gentlemen, Paranormal Activity 3:

Say it isn’t so!

SO! Wish I can say it wasn’t, but Bruce Campbell himself has confirmed the news in a Tweet in response to a question of whether or not to believe the long time rumors of another installment in the series. His response, in classic Campbell fashion, “Believe in the remake, dawg! The project is real. In the works. Cool as hell. Scary as hell.”

Dread Central was able to get a hold of a press release that confirms the green-light towards production of an Evil Dead remake:

From the Press Release:
Sam Raimi and original producing partners Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell (who also starred in the original franchise) are gearing up to remake their cult sensation THE EVIL DEAD through their long standing Ghost House Pictures partnership. Raimi and Tapert were such instant fans of Fede Alvarez’s short film “Panic Attack” that they set up a blind deal with the filmmaker and through that process have attached Fede Alvarez to write and direct the film. Alvarez wrote the script with Rodo Sayagues. Academy Award® winning screenwriter Diablo Cody is currently doing revisions on the draft. Ghost House is committed to renewing the franchise and has the film on the fast track.

Raimi, Tapert and Campbell will serve as producers. Ghost House Pictures partners Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane will executive produce. Nicole Brown and J.R. Young will oversee the project for Ghost House. Lionsgate will handle international sales on the film.

The three producing partners commented, “We are committed to making this movie and are inspired by the enduring popularity and enthusiasm for the ‘Evil Dead’ series. We can’t wait to scare a new generation of moviegoers using filmmaking techniques that were not available to us thirty years ago as well as Fede bringing a fresh eye to the film’s original elements.”

Raimi wrote, directed and, along with Tapert and Campbell, produced the original horror classic THE EVIL DEAD that tells the story of five twenty-something friends who become holed up in a remote cabin where they discover a Book Of The Dead. An archaeologist’s tape recording reveals that the ancient text was discovered among the Khandarian ruins of a Sumerian civilization. Playing the taped incantations, the youths unwittingly summon up dormant demons living in the nearby woods, which possess the youngsters in succession until only one is left intact to fight for survival. THE EVIL DEAD spawned a franchise with the equally successful installments EVIL DEAD II and ARMY OF DARKNESS.

The good thing thus far is that Sam Raimi and Campbell will be involved in the project… that’s the good news. The bad news is that Raimi is not set to direct the film nor is Bruce Campbell to star in it but rather they are tagged on as producers! YIKES! According to the film’s director, Bruce will be making a brief cameo towards the film’s conclusion (sucks). Federico “Fede” Alvarez has been blessed/cursed to direct this new installment in the franchise which he claims to be a “quasi”-remake in an interview with El Pais. And by “quasi” I can only assume that there will be differences made from the original, specifically, as Alvarez explains that he, “will change the characters and some story details, while keeping the basic outline of friends who are beleaguered by demons in a cabin alone.” (Source – Bleeding Cool) In that case, why make an Evil Dead remake and not just a new movie in and of itself? Why not make a fourth installment instead a re-hash of the cult classic? Oy ve! (slaps forehead)

In the El Pais  article, Alvarez is quoted as saying:

“Tenemos claro los errores que no hay que cometer. Como somos fans de la original sabemos en qué lugar vamos a ofender a los que también son fanáticos y en qué no los vamos a molestar, pero no podemos hacer una película solo para ellos”.

Which pretty much translates to:

“We are clear on the errors that shouldn’t be made. As we are fans of the original, we know where we’re going to offend those who are also fanatics and also understand what’s not going to bother them, but we cannot make a movie just for them.”

In his own words, we see that Alvarez and company are not really making this movie for the fans but rather for the masses which is probably an early indication that they may be targeting a clear-cut demographic, wait for it, the tweens! Of course, this is just mere speculation on my part and I could be way off, but judging from the onslaught of remakes and sequels as of late I wouldn’t be surprised. And being a fan of the Evil Dead series, this is a far scarier thought than any of the movies combined!

The notion of a fourth installment into the series excited me, but a remake, well that just pisses me off!

HADDONFIELD, IL – In a fit of rage mental ward escapee, Michael Myers, lunged at a panel of judges where a local spelling bee competition for degenerates was taking place in Haddonfield High. The 54 year-old went ballistic when he understood that the word he was being asked to spell was “whore”, (W-H-O-R-E), which ignited thoughts of his deceased mother. Of course, the word was not “whore” but “horror” (H-O-R-R-O-R). Unfortunately for both Mr. Myers, and the judges, his hearing was obscured by the closed and probably rotted mask. Unfortunate for Michael because he lost his fifth straight spelling bee competition and unfortunate for the judges, well, because they’re dead.

Realizing his mistake, Mikey Myers did right by spelling the correct word then walking away in shame.

Oh, the Jack O’ Lantern! We all know it very well and get overly excited for that time of the year when we can exert all of our frustrations by piercing the sharp end of a knife through the soft flesh of a pumpkin and carving ourselves a good ol’ face. But, who is this Jack? When I was a kid, I remember reading a very brief story concerning the famed Jack who had a hollow pumpkin named after him. Certainly he must have been a very scary person to have been honored with being named after something that makes several appearances on a night of ghouls and goblins, Halloween. The story, according to a child’s version of Encyclopedia Britannica, stated that Jack was an Irish man who once roamed the earth as a prankster and drunkard. When he died, he was refused access through the gates of Heaven for his malice and cunning ways. The Devil did not even allow him to enter Hell for having been himself a victim of Jack’s treachery and pranks. Being denied of both Heaven and Hell, Jack was left to roam the earth in darkness with his lantern so that it may light his path.

It wasn’t until years later with the advent of the personal computer (PC) that I was able to dig a little deeper into the origin of the Jack O’ Lantern. Although there are many variations of the story, the similarities between these tales are pretty common. The term Jack O’ Lantern or “Jack of the Lantern” first appeared in print in 1750 and referred to a night watchman or a man carrying a lantern. Before appearing on print, the term was used to describe a strange light flickering over the swamps of Ireland. Whenever an attempt was made at approaching this light, it seemed to move further away and was always out of reach. The mysterious occurrence is also known as will o’ the wisp and ignis fatuus, Gaelic for foolish fire. A turnip was also used prior to the infamous carved pumpkin. Because of the Irish Potato Famine in the mid-1800′s in Ireland, country-folk immigrated to the Americas where pumpkins were more readily available than turnips as well as easier to carve into. Along with the Irish, came their beliefs, traditions and folklore as well as their use of the Jack O’ Lantern.  The renowned term reaches far back into Irish folklore with a story of a drunkard named Stingy Jack.

One Halloween night, Jack, who was an Irish blacksmith, was found where he usually frequented; the local pub. He was known to be a heavy drinker and this night was no exception. Halloween would be the night that Satan would come to collect Jack’s soul. Soon enough, the Devil entered the pub. He engaged in mild conversation with Jack before revealing to him the nature of his visit. Jack asked to finish his drink before taking his life and the Devil agreed. Using this opportunity to stall, Jack used his cleverness and wit and challenged the Devil into proving himself. Jack asked the Devil to prove his powers by turning into a coin to pay for his drinks. The Devil scoffed at the child’s play and turned himself into a shiny, gold coin. Jack grabbed the coin and pocketed it into a bag that contained a silver cross (another story says that Jack had a scar in his hands in the shape of a cross that prevented the Devil from transforming back). Rendering the Devil powerless at the mercy of a cross, Jack bargained with the Devil and made him promise to return after a year (10 years in another account) so that Jack may have enough time to repent for his sins and be allowed into heaven. Again, the Devil agreed and left Jack in the pub where he continued to drink.

Another account states that Jack somehow managed to trick the Devil into climbing an apple tree so that he may enjoy the fresh, juicy apples that were at the top. The Devil climbed and when he was near the top Jack carved a cross into the bark of the tree preventing the Devil from climbing back down. Jack seized the moment to bargain with the Devil and removed the carving only after he made the Devil promise to never return for his soul. A deal was made.

There is even one account that combines both stories where the Devil leaves Jack at the pub and returns 10 years later to claim his soul. It is here where Jack prompts the Devil to climb the tree and upon fooling him makes the Devil promise to never take his soul. Years later Jack would die of his own accord and was rejected from the gates of Heaven and, being true his word, the Devil would not take Jack’s soul thus preventing him entrance into Hell.

“But where will I go?” Asked a fearful Jack. Being that it was dark, Jack pleaded with Satan to grant him some light so that he may find his way through the darkness.

The Devil pulled out a lump of coal and ignited it with flames. “To where you came from,” the Devil responded.

He tossed it to Jack where he placed it inside a turnip he was eating and made the lonely journey away from the gates of Hell and into the darkness.

In the end, it is the Devil who had the last laugh in both accounts. Jack was doomed to roam the earth for all eternity. It is this spirit of Stingy Jack that the people of Ireland have dubbed Jack O’ Lantern. It is believed that spirits were free to roam the Earth on Halloween and the tradition of leaving food and snacks near their doors and windows to appease the spirits and restless souls began. The tradition of carving scary faces into pumpkins also stemmed from those not wanting to be visited by Stingy Jack and other ghosts, hoping that the ghastly faces carved would frighten them away.

So, this Halloween don’t forget to light up your Jack O’ Lantern and place it near your door or window, or else you’ll be getting a late night visitor from your trusty pal Stingy Jack!

Seance is award winning short horror about three people, who are trying to find the fortune of a deceased baroness through a spiritualistic seance. But things will go a bit differently than they planned.

Director/Writer: Robin Kasparik

Based on a true story and a run time of 78 minutes, shot entirely using a Canon Mark II DSLR. It is also said to be shot in real time, but, shooting on a Canon Mark II, that is very doubtful. Still, sounds very impressive! Let’s see how long it takes for Hollywood to stick its nose into this one! Really looking forward to this one!

Plot:

Laura (Florencia Colucci) and her father ( Gustavo Alonso) settle down in a cottage which seems to be off the beaten track in order to update it since its owner ( Abel Tripaldi) will soon put the house on sale. They will spend the night there in order to start the repairs the following morning. Everything seems to go on smoothly until Laura hears a sound that comes from outside and gets louder and louder in the upper floor of the house. Wilson goes up to see what is going on while she remains downstairs on her own waiting for her father to come down. The plot is based on a true story that happened some time ago in a small village in Uruguay . “ La Casa Muda ” focuses on the last seventy four minutes, second by second, when Laura intends to leave the house which hides an obscure secret and she hopes to leave unharmed.

Ready for more night-vision clips and scared-audience reactions? Feast your eyes, for the teaser trailer for Paranormal Activity is here: