Thursday, January 21, 2010
Friday, August 21, 2009
LATIN HORROR's ON THE HORRIZON: THE WOLFMAN
Universal Pictures Releases Trailer; Cages Beast Until 2010
Back in February we reported with some delight that the website for the remake of The Wolfman had just gone live. The bigger part of the elation was that the project would be fronted by the multi-talented Benicio Del Toro in the leading role of Lawrence Talbot. At the time, we also promised to keep you in-the-loop on the ongoing status of this production. True to our word, we bring you some good news, albeit wrapped in a little bit of the bad stuff.
First the good news: Today Universal Pictures released the first full trailer for The Wolfman (view trailer HERE).
The Wolfman - Key Poster Art.
The remake, helmed by Joe Johnston, is directly based on the 1941 classic that starred Lon Chaney Jr. in the role of Talbot, a man who upon returning to his ancestral homeland is bitten and cursed by a werewolf. Part of the good news is that the trialer packs some stunning visuals by cinematographer Shelly Johnson and potentially frightful moments that evoke and pay homage to the original film while employing a trick or two from the modern scare tactic book. Even if you've never heard of the Wolfman (anything is possible), the trailer quickly sets up the folklore in just a few swift shots and soundbytes and sets you straight.
Another feather in the film's cap: special effects makeup master extraordinaire: Rick Baker, who has won a remarkable six Oscars ® for his work. 'Nuff said.
But aside from aesthetics, the prime question on the mind of every true fan of the classic is whether Del Toro can match - or surpass - the angst and foreboding that Chaney brought to the original. OR, if he'll bring something new to the role and make it his own. That is still to be seen (there's that tick again).
The production also boasts a star-studded cast that includes Academy Award-winner Anthony Hopkins, the ever-fantastic Hugo Weaving, and Golden Globe-winner Emily Blunt.
Now the silver bullet: Unfortunately, the suits at Universal Pictures giveth with one hand and taketh away with the other, and have put the half-man, half canine beast back in its cage - until 2010! This marks the fourth time the film's release date has been pushed back by UP. It was first scheduled to see the light of day this past Feb 13th, then bumped to April 3rd, then up to Nov. 6th.
The new release date is set for February 12th, just two days shy of Valentines Day. Is Universal seriously looking at releasing this pictures as a romantic drama? Not likely. Part of the decision, if one is to be believe Adam Fogelson, president of marketing and distribution for Universal, may be based on the fact that horror typically fares better at the box office during the first few month of the year rather than later in the year, say, for example, in November:
“We have seen just how enormous first quarter movies can be,” he said, citing the $215 million that studios generated on the February weekend this year, versus the $136 million that pics earned on the November date last year. [Variety]
But if that was the actual basis for their decision, then why not release it this past February 13th? (those exasperated HOWLS you hear are the thousands of fans who have been anticitpating this film for nearly a year now)
I've always said that horror fans are a loyal bunch. But they also have memories like elephants, industry-related blogs, fan sites with incredible viral capacities, and the purse strings. The folks at UP should be cautious not to bring out the monster in THEM, and risk bringing a curse (read backlash) upon their house... you f * * k with the beast, and you get the fangs!
SIDEBAR: As if to add salt to our already burning wounds, Universal has provided a widget that counts down the days until the film's new, new, new, new premiere date. Not excactly sure that reminding us how much more we have to wait until the film hits theaters is the best tactic right about now.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
LATIN HORROR FESTIVAL SPOTLIGHT: VAMPIRE-CON
MAJOR U.S. CITY LOSES BATTLE AGAINST VAMPIRES!
August 14th - 16th - Los Angeles
On August 14th a major milestone in humankind's history will reach critical mass: VAMPIRES WILL INVADE AND CAPTURE A MAJOR U.S. CITY! And if you are adverse to having the life sucked from your body, you might want to avoid the following zip-codes from August 14–16 (or, wear your best chastity scarf!): 90036 and 90028 (Los Angeles, CA). That, my friends, is Ground Zero for what is being billed as the world’s first full-out, fangs-in-your-face convention entirely devoted to Vamp-Pop culture. VAMPIRE-CON! [look for staff horrorphile Gary Deocampo's highlight reports from the field]
First off, let's clarify what Vampire-Con is not: a zombie walk. Rather, it's a family reunion of sorts for those other creatures of the night who have seen a marked renaissance of late in everything from graphic novels to major Hollywood movies. The convention boasts a fully stocked film festival, bloody curated panels, and sexy rave parties. I'm told there will be vampirerotic dancers - and a special performance by DJ XIAN (Christian Madrid) of LADEAD.com. I'd buy that for a dollar! Even tough this is the first year Vampire-Con comes into the light, the organizers have hit the floor running with an alluring print campaign, and six clever, high-grade value promos that are well worth a looky-look. [sample and link below]
The film fest kicks off on Friday, August 14th with three movies befitting the evening's theme "Bad Boys," hosted by author David J. Skal (V Is For Vampire: The A-Z Guide For Everything Undead). “Count Yorga, Vampire” (1970) will screen first at 7:30 PM in honor of star Robert Quarry, who passed away earlier this year. The 9:30 slot is occupied by cult favorite “The Lost Boys” (1987), starring Keifer Sutherland, Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Dianne Weist, Jason Patric and Jami Gertz. Cast members Jamison Newlander, Chance Michael Corbitt and others will appear in person to talk about the making of the film. Friday at midnight, Vampire-Con will unveil a WORLD PREMIERE sneak preview of “Midnight Son,” the new film from writer/director Scott Leberecht and executive producer Eduardo Sanchez, the visionary behind The Blair Witch Project! Members of the cast and filmmaking team are expected to be in attendance.
The theme for Saturday, August 15th's double feature is Lesbian Vampireotica, hosted by author Pam Keesey (Daughters Of Darkness: Lesbian Vampire Stories). The evening opens at 7:30 PM with the 1971 Roger Corman production “The Velvet Vampire,” starring Celeste Yarnall. Celeste will be attending the screening as well as joining the “Vampires & Sexuality” panel discussion on Sunday, August 16th! At 9:30 the film festival concludes with “The Hunger,” the stylish and steamy 1983 classic directed by Tony Scott and starring Susan Sarandon, David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve.
On Sunday evening, Music Box Theatre @ Fonda in Hollywood Fonda transforms into VAMPIRELLA’S ® BALL, a heart-pounding 21 & over danse macabre. Vampires and humans alike will experience the dark side of Los Angeles’ acclaimed underground vaudeville cirque “Lucent Dossier” and revel the night away to the blood-churning beats provided by DJ Gary Calamar, music supervisor of HBO’s TRUE BLOOD and host of KCRW’s The Open Road.
Vampire-Con is set to re-animate Vamp-Pop fans of all ages with a world-class convention that is sure to leave you drained of your daily societal woes.
Tickets are $15 for the Sunday day-walkers and $30 for Vampirella’s ® Ball. Film festival admission is $7 per night (cash only).
For more info about the festival:
And join the Vampire-Con group at FACEBOOK
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Introducing GARY "EL BOY" DEOCAMPO - LATIN HORROR's New Team Member
Dear LATIN HORRORphiles:
It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to the latest addition to the LATIN HORROR team, GARY "El Boy" DEOCAMPO.
And, NO, this WILL NOT be just another boy's club -- the "horror feminine/fan-girl" point-of-view will play a major role at LATIN HORROR (look for our next announcement, coming shortly).
You can read Gary's full bio at --
AND, please take a moment and help us welcome Gary aboard the LATIN HORROR staff by sending him your regards directly at : (and remember, be kind, Gary may be reviewing your next horror film!):
OR, you can post a message at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/garydeocampo
OR, Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/98469215
There will be SANGRE!
Edwin Pagan
Founder-In-Chief
LATIN HORROR
http://www.latinhorror.com
"The Official Publication of Latin Horrorphiles Everywhere"
It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to the latest addition to the LATIN HORROR team, GARY "El Boy" DEOCAMPO.
A life-long horror fan, Gary will cover the horror film festival, horror convention, and comic con circuits for LATIN HORROR, providing insightful profiles & reviews with his own original tongue-in-cheek, macabre, fan-boy style. Gary is part of our concerted effort of growing the LH team and expanding our reach to better serve the community - and niche - we are slowly but surely building. We are extremely exited about this small but significant step forward and promise many more surprises in the months and years to follow.
And, NO, this WILL NOT be just another boy's club -- the "horror feminine/fan-girl" point-of-view will play a major role at LATIN HORROR (look for our next announcement, coming shortly).
You can read Gary's full bio at --
AND, please take a moment and help us welcome Gary aboard the LATIN HORROR staff by sending him your regards directly at : (and remember, be kind, Gary may be reviewing your next horror film!):
OR, you can post a message at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/garydeocampo
OR, Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/98469215
There will be SANGRE!
Edwin Pagan
Founder-In-Chief
LATIN HORROR
http://www.latinhorror.com
"The Official Publication of Latin Horrorphiles Everywhere"
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
LATIN HORROR at NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL LATINO FILM FESTIVAL
ALIMANAS
Dir. Claus Groten | A woman guards a junkyard trailer loaded with medical supplies. A young boy, begging for food, breaks into her encampment, but she forces him back out into the terrifying world beyond. Then she realizes the mistake she's made. 15 min.
Thu, Jul 30 @ 5:00 PM
Sat, Aug 01 @ 2:00PM
SVA Theater - Screen 1
DEAD IN THE WATER
Marco Aguilar | A young couple attempting to survive a zombie outbreak, decide to travel by river to safety. But they soon learn that traveling by river has its perils and sometimes zombies aren't the only thing you have to worry about. 14 min.
Thu, Jul 30 @ 10:00 PM
SVA Theater - Screen 2
FRIGHT FLICK
Dir. Israel Luna | A second-rate film crew sets out to shoot the third in a trilogy of cheesy, tasteless horror movies. The schmuck-of-a-director maintains an active casting couch, the spineless producer never gets his due credit, the supporting actress keeps pouting that she should be the lead, and the rest of the crew is secretly making plans to shoot their own movies. On-the-set shenanigans turn scary when cast and crew members turn up as brutally murdered corpses...and everyone realizes they’re in a real-life horror movie. 103 min.
Fri, Jul 31 @ 10:30 PM
SVA Theater - Screen 2
MANSFIELD PARK
Dir. Samuel Benavides | In another realm, a creature exists in a horrific place known as "Mansfield Path." His only purpose and sole job is to extract, protect and then bury the souls of the dying. It is here where the evil souls are to be brought in and buried for eternity. 40 min.
Thu, Jul 30 @ 10:00 PM
SVA Theater - Screen 2
RHYME ANIMAL
Dir. Phil Roc | Backed by beats from DJ JUDAH, rising hip hop star SHIVA dominates the NYC freestyle scene, driving his nemesis (fading diva HEAVEN) into a competitive fury. After an MC battle, Heaven’s hype man is devoured by a shadowy figure. As more killings occur, a sinister climax with Heaven nears. Judah is forced to ask: are Shiva’s cannibalistic lyrics just an act… or is he really a serial killer? 22 min.
Sun, Aug 02 @ 5:15 PM
SVA Theater - Screen 1
Friday, July 24, 2009
ON THE HORRIZON: "SAW VI" Teaser/traier & Red Band Carousel Clip
In the midst of all the fanboy/fangirl frenzy taking place at this year's Comic Con International (July 23-26, 2009) in Diego, CA., LIONS GATE has officially released the trailer/teaser for the highly anticipated SAW VI (that's "6" for the roman numerically-challenged and franchise deficient).
It has also simultaneously put out an extended and uncut clip from the film that is much more in line with what we've come to expect from the mini-major that helped solidify the horror/splatter subset now referred to - both disparagingly and with affection - as "torture porn."
One obvious faux-pas that I see in LG's marketing strategy of "give them more" is that the message can get lost in the overwhelming nature that is the unsaid hallmark of these events. This is especially true given the current venue: Comic Con International is the largest gathering of it kind in the world, and with the hundreds of so-called groundbreaking announcements being launched in a three-day period, bite-size portions of information are easier to digest than large spoonfuls. Instead, the trailer/teaser should have been released weeks before Comic Con to whip up fan hype (like they really need it) as a setup for the main event: the reveal of the extended "Red Band - Carousel" Clip (which would have been exactly what the demented doctor ordered).
In all fairness to LG, they did attempt (barely) to get some pre-release "buzz" before the convention by releasing a motion poster for the film. But due to the dudish nature and flat design of the motion poster that left a great many scratching their heads and somewhat wanting, that push, needless to say, has worked against them as has been evidenced by the susequent blogaphere backlash. I called it "lame," others have called it worse.
BUT I think the extended clip gives us all hope that the franchise still has some steam left in its engine. The Carousel scene keeps us on the edge our seat and wanting to know who will weasel their way out of getting whacked, hacked, and restacked. Some serious tension here!
I'm still hoping, however, that the suits at LIONS GATE will take the time to throw us another bone or two with some meat on it to help whet our appetites before the film's wide October 23rd release.
BTW: It's worth noting, at least to my warped mind, that given the forward-thinking platitudes spoken by the unseen Jigsaw about healthcare and greed in the Carousel scene, that a new more "humane" hand is at work pulling the strings of the death games from behind the curtian: President Barack Obama. Sorry - I couldn't resist :)
Edwin Pagán, for Latin Horror
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