New Years.....zombies....?
Happy new Year!!!
Eat lots!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
A CGI Version of "Night of the Living Dead"
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Jesse Corti, Danielle Harris, Bill Moseley, Joe Pilato, Alona Tal and Cornell Womack are lending their voices to "Night of the Living Dead: Origins," the 3D CGI reimagining of the George A. Romero zombie classic.The story again follows a group of humans trying to stay alive during a zombie attack. Newcomer Zebediah de Soto is directing.
Corti ("Heroes") is voicing a news reporter, and Harris ("Halloween II") plays a woman forced to come to grips with er family's absence.
Moseley ("Carnivale") is reprising the role he portrayed in a 1990 live-action remake, "Living Dead": a Wall Street type with an expense-account attitude.
Pilato, who appeared in 1978's "Dawn of the Dead," is voicing Harry Cooper, a blue-collar worker who lives for his injured daughter, and Tal ("Supernatural") voices his wife, Helen, who blames her husband for all the ills of the world. Womack ("Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen") is cast as a no-nonsense New York cop.
De Soto said some of the casting is "a nod to Romero fans. Horror is a genre, and zombie movies are a subgenre that people have been following for years and years."
De Soto, whose background is in the commercials world, said he grew up in a household where his mother forbade him to watch television, fearing it would lead to smoking and drinking. When he finally saw his first horror movie, Romero's "Night of the Living Dead," it made such an impression on him that it created an obsession.
"When you're not allowed to watch TV and then you see this movie where this broadcaster speaks about this (zombie) disaster, it translated as so real to me," he said.
De Soto noted that nearly all zombie movies end up in an enclosed environment, be it a house or a mall, and he aims to change that. He's counting on the CGI technology that he and his New Golden Digital effects company are developing.
Friday, November 13, 2009
The 20 Weirdest Zombie Movies Ever Made
Since George Romero brought us Night of the Living Dead in 1968, film makers have been fascinated by Zombies (and so have we). Hundreds of movies since have taken the idea of decomposing, undead parasites intent on taking a bite out of the public and run with it. Some of them are really good, like Michele Soavi’s Dellamorte Dellamore (Cemetery Man). Some of them are really bad, Zombi 4 and Mulva fall into that camp. Some Zombie movies, however, are just weird. Really weird.
We’ve compiled a list of 20 of the weirdest Zombie movies we could find. These movies take the Zombie phenomenon and bend it to create something entirely different.
Let’s start with a control.
Hell of the Living Dead (1980)
Hell of the Living Dead is a Italian Zombie flick directed by Bruno Mattei. We included it on this list not because it’s particularly weird, but because it’s really normal for a Zombie movie. Four Commandos are sent into Papua New Guinea to investigate something or another. As it turns out, what they find out is that the dead are walking again. Much of the rest of the film involves them running around, shooting things as slow-moving, gray-faced Zombies try to eat everyone. There is the requisite car escape, kitschy 80s soundtrack and super-science gone wrong. Honestly, there were dozens of movies just like this that might seem odd if you didn’t know that this is how it was supposed to work. Take a look at the trailer above because things just get weirder from here.
Also known as: Virus, Night of the Zombies, Zombie Creeping Flesh.
The Astro Zombies (1968)
The Astro Zombies was directed by Ted Mikels. It starts off innocently enough, a super scientist wants to create a race of super-human monsters (who doesn’t?) How does he do this? Well, he gets a bunch of people who have been murdered, stitches Lucha Libre masks on their faces and sends them out to kill every woman in town to create more fuel for his evil experiments. This attracts attention from the CIA and Varla from Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, who apparently has a thing for Mexican wrestlers.
There are machete’s and torture, toy robots and a lot of screaming to round things out.
Battlefield Baseball (Jigoku kôshien, 2003)
Yudai Yamaguchi’s Battlefield Baseball is an insane mish-mash martial arts film, sports flick and horror movie. Mostly though, it’s completely incoherent.
The story revolves around a baseball rivalry between Seido High School and Gedo High School, who happen to be a team of Zombies famous for their unique style of play, “fighting baseball.” They win by maiming, torturing and otherwise killing the opposing team. Lots of the early scenes of the movie involve watching increasingly ludicrous and often hilarious baseball related deaths. The rest of the story involves trips to the afterlife, super-powered pitchers, caged baseball players and just about every cliche you might expect out of a bizarre, Japanese multi-genre epic.
If there is a lesson you can draw from all of this, it goes something like this: Never play Baseball against a team of Zombies.
The Beyond (1981)
Lucio Fulci’s, The Beyond wasn’t even originally a Zombie movie. He wanted to make a haunted house film, but as it turns out Zombies put butts in seats so his distribution company had him rewrite the script to include the shamblers. That’s not why this movie made the list though. The Beyond is fantastically difficult to understand movie, by design. Fulci is on record as saying, “My idea was to make an absolute film, with all the horrors of the world. It’s a plotless film, there’s no logic to it, just a succession of images.”
He’s right. Whether you are killing Warlocks with lime, opening the gates of hell or talking to creepy blind women, The Beyond feels a lot more like a highly polished art film than a testosterone-fueled Zombie epic. It’s a must watch for Fulci fans.
American Zombie (2007)
American Zombie is really not all that weird. It made it onto the list because it tells the story of Zombies from a wildly different angle. You see, in the world of American Zombie, a good percentage of those who are turned into the undead come back as “high-functioning zombies.” Which is to say, they look and sounds like regular people except for a bit of rotting.
It’s a story of two film makers who are are trying to learn more about Zombie society, and the dark secrets they uncover. It’s fun, interesting and a definite must see for the Zombie completest.
Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town (1989)
Alright, enough with the art house flicks, time for some shlock. Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town wins our award for title that best explains the premise of the movie. It’s the story of a all-female motorcycle gang named the “Cycle-Sluts” who come to a town (Zariah) that is being overrun by Zombies. Zombies that have been created by, what else, a mad scientist.
There is dynamite, leather, a dwarf and a young Billy Bob Thorton to round out the explosions and decapitations that fill this Troma epic.
Linnea Quigley Horror Workout
Linnea Quigley is best known as the “scream queen” from movies like Return of the Living Dead and Nightmare on Elm Street 4. She has starred in dozens of B-grade horror flicks and is on of the seminal actresses of the genre. She is a film producer and the author of two books, Chainsaw and I’m Screaming as Fast as I Can.
She also made a workout video.
A workout video with Zombies.
Bio-Zombie (1998)
This is Hong Kong director Wilson Yip’s loving reimagining of George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. Along with being ridiculously campy, it made the list because the Zombies in this movie are created by, wait for it . . .
Sodas tainted with Iraqi bio-weapons.
The dialogue is great, the dubbing is better and everything is shot like they forgot to remove the blue-filter from the lens.
The Horror of Party Beach (1964)
The Horror of Party Beach holds the distinction of being the second Zombie musical ever created. It tells the story of a couple who go to the beach, only to be attacked by something that looks like Aquaman’s creepy Uncle.
It also has radioactive waste, The Del-Aires, a biker gang love story and did I mention that it was a musical?
Made in 1964 by Del Tenney this movie has just about everything you’d want of you’re a big shot scientist just looking for some kicks.
Flesh Eating Mothers (1988)
This is a movie about a town full of two-timing mothers who all catch a venereal disease that turns them into cannibals. Yes, that is the plot.
Most of the movie is about the mother’s trying to eat their children, and the children trying to cure their them by injecting the antidote into their rear ends.
I really can’t explain the sheer majesty of the movie better than that.
Die You Zombie Bastards! (2005)
We reward movies that revel in their unmitigated cheapness. This is one of those movies. My brain would hurt too much trying to explain the plot, so I’ll rattle off what it has in it:
Serial Killer Superhero, Radioactive Green Zombie Vixens, ninjas, super villains, a zombietron and…You know, just watch the trailer.
A word of warning, it might be a wee bit NSFW.
Hard Rock Zombies (1984)
“I want to hold your hand…”
Hard Rock Zombies is about a group of rockers who end up dying at the hands of Adolf Hilter. They are brought back from the grave as Zombies to take their revenge on the group that kills them.
The supporting cast includes Eva Braun, who is a werewolf, a pair of midgets (one of whom eats himself by the end of the movie), and a really strange girl named Cassie who helps to bring them back from the dead.
It’s shot a little like a music video, except with more Nazi monsters.
Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror (1981)
At first you might be wondering what’s so strange about Andrea Bianchi’s Burial Ground. The trailer opens like any good Zombie film, with a decomposing corpse eating a bearded guy who seems to have forgotten how to run away. If you don’t pay attention, you’ll miss the family in the movie that drives the story.
Take a look at their ten year old son.
Take a close look.
As it turns out, that “ten year old” boy was actually Peter Bark, a dwarf who happened to be in his early 30s at the time of filming. If this isn’t enough, a good part of the story revolves around the incestuous relationship between the son and the mother.
To be honest, the Zombies in this movie are the least weird part about it.
The Children (1980)
This is a movie about radioactive Zombie children who dissolve their parents through hugs. I refuse to say anything else about it.
The Dead Undead (2009)
On first blush you might think you’re watching a Vampire movie, but let me assure you that you are not. This is the story of a group of relatively peaceful Vampires, who have been infected (through super science I’m sure) and turned into zombie-vampires who mindlessly feed on… You get the picture.
It’s campy but not overtly so, what really sells the flick is the group of Vampire commandos sent in to clean up the zombie-vampire menace. That and the confusion of trying to figure out what in the world a zombie-vampire is.
The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies (1964)
Remember when I said that Horror of Party Beach was the second Zombie musical ever made. Well, meet the first. TISCWSLBMZ also held the distinction of having the longest title in movie history up until that point.
We’ve entered art film territory again. This is a movie about gypsies and carnivals and zombies that occasionally look like mimes. There is also a ten minute long dream sequence thrown in that is likely give the easily confused aneurysms.
This is one of Ray Steckler’s finest works and it was finished for the low, low price of $38,000. It’s a must see for fans of zero budget film making.
Braindead (1992)
Before Peter Jackson brought us the Lord of the Rings, he made really interesting, low(er)-budget flicks like Braindead. It’s about the Sumatran Rat-Monkey and the love between a man, a shopkeepers daughter and his mother.
If you have ever seen Bad Taste or any of Peter Jackson’s other early work, you’ll have a feeling for where things go from here. Over the top gore, slapstick humor and all around craziness.
The Dead Next Door (1989)
The Dead Next Door is a Sam Raimi film which he made it under the pseudonym, “The Master Cylinder.” We included it for two reasons. The first is that we love Sam Raimi (of Evil Dead fame). He has a way of combining horror with comedy that improves both genres immensely.
The second is that this is the first and only film we reviewed that has a Zombie loving cult bent on helping the undead kill us all.
Night Of The Creeps (1986)
Alien leeches are released and attack college students. Picked for the list because not enough people understand the importance of combining alien super science with Zombies. Until they do, Night of the Creeps will have a special place in my heart.
Planet Terror (2007)
A little more mainstream than everything else we’ve shown this go, but when you have a Grindhouse inspired movie with Rose McGowen killing zombies with a machine gun strapped to her stump — it’s pretty hard not to.
Redneck Zombie (1987)
Redneck Zombies holds the distinction of being one of the first movies to be shot entirely on VHS. That’s right, it’s more or less a home movie picked up by the people at Troma and released to the public. Since then, there have been plenty of other similar films made but none that were quite like Redneck Zombies.
As for the plot, it’s about a drum that held radioactive waste finding its way to a group of rednecks. They then use it as a tub to make moonshine. The rest, as they say, is about 90 minutes.
We’ve compiled a list of 20 of the weirdest Zombie movies we could find. These movies take the Zombie phenomenon and bend it to create something entirely different.
Let’s start with a control.
Hell of the Living Dead (1980)
Hell of the Living Dead is a Italian Zombie flick directed by Bruno Mattei. We included it on this list not because it’s particularly weird, but because it’s really normal for a Zombie movie. Four Commandos are sent into Papua New Guinea to investigate something or another. As it turns out, what they find out is that the dead are walking again. Much of the rest of the film involves them running around, shooting things as slow-moving, gray-faced Zombies try to eat everyone. There is the requisite car escape, kitschy 80s soundtrack and super-science gone wrong. Honestly, there were dozens of movies just like this that might seem odd if you didn’t know that this is how it was supposed to work. Take a look at the trailer above because things just get weirder from here.
Also known as: Virus, Night of the Zombies, Zombie Creeping Flesh.
The Astro Zombies (1968)
The Astro Zombies was directed by Ted Mikels. It starts off innocently enough, a super scientist wants to create a race of super-human monsters (who doesn’t?) How does he do this? Well, he gets a bunch of people who have been murdered, stitches Lucha Libre masks on their faces and sends them out to kill every woman in town to create more fuel for his evil experiments. This attracts attention from the CIA and Varla from Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, who apparently has a thing for Mexican wrestlers.
There are machete’s and torture, toy robots and a lot of screaming to round things out.
Battlefield Baseball (Jigoku kôshien, 2003)
Yudai Yamaguchi’s Battlefield Baseball is an insane mish-mash martial arts film, sports flick and horror movie. Mostly though, it’s completely incoherent.
The story revolves around a baseball rivalry between Seido High School and Gedo High School, who happen to be a team of Zombies famous for their unique style of play, “fighting baseball.” They win by maiming, torturing and otherwise killing the opposing team. Lots of the early scenes of the movie involve watching increasingly ludicrous and often hilarious baseball related deaths. The rest of the story involves trips to the afterlife, super-powered pitchers, caged baseball players and just about every cliche you might expect out of a bizarre, Japanese multi-genre epic.
If there is a lesson you can draw from all of this, it goes something like this: Never play Baseball against a team of Zombies.
The Beyond (1981)
Lucio Fulci’s, The Beyond wasn’t even originally a Zombie movie. He wanted to make a haunted house film, but as it turns out Zombies put butts in seats so his distribution company had him rewrite the script to include the shamblers. That’s not why this movie made the list though. The Beyond is fantastically difficult to understand movie, by design. Fulci is on record as saying, “My idea was to make an absolute film, with all the horrors of the world. It’s a plotless film, there’s no logic to it, just a succession of images.”
He’s right. Whether you are killing Warlocks with lime, opening the gates of hell or talking to creepy blind women, The Beyond feels a lot more like a highly polished art film than a testosterone-fueled Zombie epic. It’s a must watch for Fulci fans.
American Zombie (2007)
American Zombie is really not all that weird. It made it onto the list because it tells the story of Zombies from a wildly different angle. You see, in the world of American Zombie, a good percentage of those who are turned into the undead come back as “high-functioning zombies.” Which is to say, they look and sounds like regular people except for a bit of rotting.
It’s a story of two film makers who are are trying to learn more about Zombie society, and the dark secrets they uncover. It’s fun, interesting and a definite must see for the Zombie completest.
Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town (1989)
Alright, enough with the art house flicks, time for some shlock. Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town wins our award for title that best explains the premise of the movie. It’s the story of a all-female motorcycle gang named the “Cycle-Sluts” who come to a town (Zariah) that is being overrun by Zombies. Zombies that have been created by, what else, a mad scientist.
There is dynamite, leather, a dwarf and a young Billy Bob Thorton to round out the explosions and decapitations that fill this Troma epic.
Linnea Quigley Horror Workout
Linnea Quigley is best known as the “scream queen” from movies like Return of the Living Dead and Nightmare on Elm Street 4. She has starred in dozens of B-grade horror flicks and is on of the seminal actresses of the genre. She is a film producer and the author of two books, Chainsaw and I’m Screaming as Fast as I Can.
She also made a workout video.
A workout video with Zombies.
Bio-Zombie (1998)
This is Hong Kong director Wilson Yip’s loving reimagining of George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. Along with being ridiculously campy, it made the list because the Zombies in this movie are created by, wait for it . . .
Sodas tainted with Iraqi bio-weapons.
The dialogue is great, the dubbing is better and everything is shot like they forgot to remove the blue-filter from the lens.
The Horror of Party Beach (1964)
The Horror of Party Beach holds the distinction of being the second Zombie musical ever created. It tells the story of a couple who go to the beach, only to be attacked by something that looks like Aquaman’s creepy Uncle.
It also has radioactive waste, The Del-Aires, a biker gang love story and did I mention that it was a musical?
Made in 1964 by Del Tenney this movie has just about everything you’d want of you’re a big shot scientist just looking for some kicks.
Flesh Eating Mothers (1988)
This is a movie about a town full of two-timing mothers who all catch a venereal disease that turns them into cannibals. Yes, that is the plot.
Most of the movie is about the mother’s trying to eat their children, and the children trying to cure their them by injecting the antidote into their rear ends.
I really can’t explain the sheer majesty of the movie better than that.
Die You Zombie Bastards! (2005)
We reward movies that revel in their unmitigated cheapness. This is one of those movies. My brain would hurt too much trying to explain the plot, so I’ll rattle off what it has in it:
Serial Killer Superhero, Radioactive Green Zombie Vixens, ninjas, super villains, a zombietron and…You know, just watch the trailer.
A word of warning, it might be a wee bit NSFW.
Hard Rock Zombies (1984)
“I want to hold your hand…”
Hard Rock Zombies is about a group of rockers who end up dying at the hands of Adolf Hilter. They are brought back from the grave as Zombies to take their revenge on the group that kills them.
The supporting cast includes Eva Braun, who is a werewolf, a pair of midgets (one of whom eats himself by the end of the movie), and a really strange girl named Cassie who helps to bring them back from the dead.
It’s shot a little like a music video, except with more Nazi monsters.
Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror (1981)
At first you might be wondering what’s so strange about Andrea Bianchi’s Burial Ground. The trailer opens like any good Zombie film, with a decomposing corpse eating a bearded guy who seems to have forgotten how to run away. If you don’t pay attention, you’ll miss the family in the movie that drives the story.
Take a look at their ten year old son.
Take a close look.
As it turns out, that “ten year old” boy was actually Peter Bark, a dwarf who happened to be in his early 30s at the time of filming. If this isn’t enough, a good part of the story revolves around the incestuous relationship between the son and the mother.
To be honest, the Zombies in this movie are the least weird part about it.
The Children (1980)
This is a movie about radioactive Zombie children who dissolve their parents through hugs. I refuse to say anything else about it.
The Dead Undead (2009)
On first blush you might think you’re watching a Vampire movie, but let me assure you that you are not. This is the story of a group of relatively peaceful Vampires, who have been infected (through super science I’m sure) and turned into zombie-vampires who mindlessly feed on… You get the picture.
It’s campy but not overtly so, what really sells the flick is the group of Vampire commandos sent in to clean up the zombie-vampire menace. That and the confusion of trying to figure out what in the world a zombie-vampire is.
The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies (1964)
Remember when I said that Horror of Party Beach was the second Zombie musical ever made. Well, meet the first. TISCWSLBMZ also held the distinction of having the longest title in movie history up until that point.
We’ve entered art film territory again. This is a movie about gypsies and carnivals and zombies that occasionally look like mimes. There is also a ten minute long dream sequence thrown in that is likely give the easily confused aneurysms.
This is one of Ray Steckler’s finest works and it was finished for the low, low price of $38,000. It’s a must see for fans of zero budget film making.
Braindead (1992)
Before Peter Jackson brought us the Lord of the Rings, he made really interesting, low(er)-budget flicks like Braindead. It’s about the Sumatran Rat-Monkey and the love between a man, a shopkeepers daughter and his mother.
If you have ever seen Bad Taste or any of Peter Jackson’s other early work, you’ll have a feeling for where things go from here. Over the top gore, slapstick humor and all around craziness.
The Dead Next Door (1989)
The Dead Next Door is a Sam Raimi film which he made it under the pseudonym, “The Master Cylinder.” We included it for two reasons. The first is that we love Sam Raimi (of Evil Dead fame). He has a way of combining horror with comedy that improves both genres immensely.
The second is that this is the first and only film we reviewed that has a Zombie loving cult bent on helping the undead kill us all.
Night Of The Creeps (1986)
Alien leeches are released and attack college students. Picked for the list because not enough people understand the importance of combining alien super science with Zombies. Until they do, Night of the Creeps will have a special place in my heart.
Planet Terror (2007)
A little more mainstream than everything else we’ve shown this go, but when you have a Grindhouse inspired movie with Rose McGowen killing zombies with a machine gun strapped to her stump — it’s pretty hard not to.
Redneck Zombie (1987)
Redneck Zombies holds the distinction of being one of the first movies to be shot entirely on VHS. That’s right, it’s more or less a home movie picked up by the people at Troma and released to the public. Since then, there have been plenty of other similar films made but none that were quite like Redneck Zombies.
As for the plot, it’s about a drum that held radioactive waste finding its way to a group of rednecks. They then use it as a tub to make moonshine. The rest, as they say, is about 90 minutes.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Construction signs warn of Zombies
by Shannon Wolfson
AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin drivers making their morning commute were in for a surprise when two road signs on a busy stretch of road were taken over by hackers. The signs near the intersection of Lamar and Martin Luther King boulevards usually warn drivers about upcoming construction, but Monday morning they warned of "zombies ahead."
"I thought it was pretty funny," said University of Texas sophomore Jane Shin, who saw the signs while driving down Lamar Bouelvard with friends Sunday night. "We wondered who did it."
The City of Austin does not own the signs, but they are responsible for the message. The contractor on the construction project owns the signs. A city spokesperson said the hacked messages were only up for a few hours, until the construction project manager saw them during his morning commute and immediately ordered them to be changed back.
"Even though this may seem amusing to a lot of people, this is really serious, and it is a crime," said Austin Public Works spokesperson Sara Hartley. "And you can be indicted for it, and we want to make sure our traffic on the roadways stays safe."
Hartley said though it was a locked sign, the padlock for it was cut. Signs such as these have a computer inside that is password-protected.
"And so they had to break in and hack into the computer to do it, so they were pretty determined," said Hartley.
This crime is a class C misdemeanor in Texas, and Hartley said it endangers the public.
"The big problem is public safety," said Hartley. "Those signs are out there to help our traffic on the roadway to stay safe and to know what's coming up."
KXAN Austin News cameras caught many drivers slowing down to read the signs as they approached. Some read, "Zombies ahead! Run for your lives!"
Hartley said the city will discuss more secure safety measures with the manufacturer of the signs.
Speculation among the tech-savvy on the Internet is that the signs were inspired by the video game Call of Duty 5, World at War, which is the top game in the country right now and features "nazi zombies," or an upcoming movie about zombies called "Dead Snow" (an official selection at Sundance '09). There are also several online sites that teach people how to break into these construction signs.
Do you believe in zombies? Do you have a zombie escape plan? Let us know what you think about zombies by participating in our message board .
[Editor's note: the link appears to be down for the message board. Will keep you updated. Gotta say though-- had a good chuckle.]
AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin drivers making their morning commute were in for a surprise when two road signs on a busy stretch of road were taken over by hackers. The signs near the intersection of Lamar and Martin Luther King boulevards usually warn drivers about upcoming construction, but Monday morning they warned of "zombies ahead."
"I thought it was pretty funny," said University of Texas sophomore Jane Shin, who saw the signs while driving down Lamar Bouelvard with friends Sunday night. "We wondered who did it."
The City of Austin does not own the signs, but they are responsible for the message. The contractor on the construction project owns the signs. A city spokesperson said the hacked messages were only up for a few hours, until the construction project manager saw them during his morning commute and immediately ordered them to be changed back.
"Even though this may seem amusing to a lot of people, this is really serious, and it is a crime," said Austin Public Works spokesperson Sara Hartley. "And you can be indicted for it, and we want to make sure our traffic on the roadways stays safe."
Hartley said though it was a locked sign, the padlock for it was cut. Signs such as these have a computer inside that is password-protected.
"And so they had to break in and hack into the computer to do it, so they were pretty determined," said Hartley.
This crime is a class C misdemeanor in Texas, and Hartley said it endangers the public.
"The big problem is public safety," said Hartley. "Those signs are out there to help our traffic on the roadway to stay safe and to know what's coming up."
KXAN Austin News cameras caught many drivers slowing down to read the signs as they approached. Some read, "Zombies ahead! Run for your lives!"
Hartley said the city will discuss more secure safety measures with the manufacturer of the signs.
Speculation among the tech-savvy on the Internet is that the signs were inspired by the video game Call of Duty 5, World at War, which is the top game in the country right now and features "nazi zombies," or an upcoming movie about zombies called "Dead Snow" (an official selection at Sundance '09). There are also several online sites that teach people how to break into these construction signs.
Do you believe in zombies? Do you have a zombie escape plan? Let us know what you think about zombies by participating in our message board .
[Editor's note: the link appears to be down for the message board. Will keep you updated. Gotta say though-- had a good chuckle.]
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency - Graphic Novel Review
Written by David Hine, illustrated by Roy Allan Martinez, Painted by Kinsun Loh & Jerry Choo --
Based on the website fvsa.org -- created by Richard S. Dargan.
Artwork is state of the art--dark and goddamn creepy. The story could be ripped from the headlines in the New York Times (in an alternate universe that you and I would never want to live in-- but one that is closer to our's than any of us would care to admit).
Vampires and zombies were once a reality-- a pestilence that we stamped out -- with much effort and casualties.
But what if the authorities were wrong? What if they really were not completely destroyed-- and they just got smarter-- what if they adapted? What if they look like the goth chick that danced next to you at the thrash metal rock club last Friday night?
Beautiful artwork from Roy Martinez, Kinsun Loh and Jerry Choo.
We got a good look at this new graphic novel, and we think it's got legs. I've run it by some of my harshest critics, and they've all come back with two thumbs up. There's enough back-story to carry this a long way, and I have to say, I'm already liking the characters-- Landra... her brother... I want to know where they're going and I've already found myself invested in their welfare and future-- a sign of good writing. We're looking forward to the next issue. I highly recommend you hop on board David Hine's crazy-ass train-- I'm already hooked! Style and story... vampires and zombies-- awesome!
Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency goes on sale Oct 28th!
For Immediate ReleaseUPDATE!
RADICAL’S FVZA #1 SELLS OUT PRIOR TO RELEASE
October 27, 2009, Los Angeles – Radical Publishing is proud to announce that the first printing of FVZA: Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency #1, from writer David Hine (Spider-Man: Noir, Battle for the Cowl: Arkham Asylum) and illustrator Roy Allan Martinez (Son of M), has sold out at the distributor level prior to its release in the direct market.
Shipping with two covers, one by John Bolton and the other by Clint Langley, fans looking forward to purchase FVZA: Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency #1 are encouraged to contact their local comic store and reserve their copy prior to release. Visit www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you. FVZA is the most recent Radical title to implement the initiative of “Bigger Books! Bigger Value!” with 64 pages for a $4.99 price point. Radical is still reviewing whether to offer a second printing based on incoming reorders.
Based on the popular website FVZA.org, created by Richard S. Dargan, FVZA: Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency chronicles a world where a deadly disease, representing a new threat of global terrorism, transforms innocent victims into Zombies and a long dormant government task force is called into action: The Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency. Throughout history, from the Civil War to World War II, the FVZA protected humanity from the blood-sucking and flesh-eating hordes -- until a cure was discovered that sent the undead to their graves. When a new incurable strain of the virus ravages a small town in America, Agent Landra Pecos must call upon her lethal skills to eradicate the threat. But as Landra delves deeper into her investigation of the undead menace, she uncovers shocking secrets that will forever change her family, her world and her life.
“We’re thrilled at the response to FVZA and the continued support of the fans and retailers,” said Radical President and Publisher Barry Levine. “David’s work is absolutely top-notch and we couldn’t be happier with the story he has crafted. With FVZA, we continue to bring the level of quality that fans find synonymous with the Radical brand.”
Fans who may be unable to find a copy at their local comic store will also have a chance to win a free copy of FVZA: Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency #1 by entering the “Are You Infected?” contest sponsored by Radical and EerieTube.com. Three winners will take home a copy of the sold-out issue along with other amazing prizes by submitting a photo of themselves as the infected undead by October 31st. More details can be found at www.EerieTube.com/contest.html.
About Radical Publishing
Radical Publishing is founded by Barry Levine (producer for Hercules, Caliber, Freedom Formula, Shrapnel, Abattoir, Oblivion and executive producer for the in-development Rex Mundi movie for Warner Bros., written by Jim Uhls and starring Johnny Depp) and entrepreneur Jesse Berger (executive producer for Hercules, Caliber, Freedom Formula, Shrapnel, Abattoir and Oblivion).
For their quality and excellence in 2008, retailers voted Radical Publishing the Gem Award for “Best New Publisher of the Year” from Diamond Comic Distributors. Radical brings the best writing, storytelling and fully painted cover and interior art to the global comic book market, from prominent international talents such as Yoshitaka Amano, John Bolton, Luis Royo, Jim Steranko, Steve Pugh, Warren Ellis, Arthur Suydam, Steve Niles, Jimmy Palmiotti, Flint Dille, Marko Djurdjevic, Ian Edginton, David Hine, Rick Remender, Joseph Kosinski, Nick Percival, Steve Moore, Sam Sarkar, Stjepan Sejic, Dave Wilkins, Tomm Coker, Clayton Crain, Bill Sienkiewicz, Nick Sagan, Clint Langley, Nick Simmons, Patrick Reilly, Weta Workshop, Zombie Studios and many more.
Radical Publishing currently has production deals with Spyglass Entertainment, Peter Berg’s Film 44 and Radical Pictures for Hercules; Johnny Depp's Infinitum Nihil and Radical Pictures for Caliber; and New Regency, Bryan Singer’s Bad Hat Harry Productions and Radical Pictures for Freedom Formula.
For further information, contact:
Gianluca Glazer
Director of Marketing
Radical Publishing
(323) 874-4400
gianluca@radicalcomics.com
www.radicalcomics.com
Friday, October 16, 2009
You don’t need braaaaains to join the Zombie Walk
by Karen Bliss (Metro Canada)
This Saturday is about the only time screaming and running in the other direction is not necessary if you happen to come across thousands of people covered in blood, some with sharp instruments lodged in their head and body. Fear not, it’s the 7th Annual Toronto Zombie Walk, a movement that has spread globally.
“I hate how they confine all the zombies to the sidewalk. Zombies don’t walk on sidewalks!” bemoans founder and organizer Thea Munster with a laugh.
But try explaining that to our men in blue when an estimated 3,000 people show up to The Pit in Trinity Bellwoods Park (bordered by Queen St. W. and Dundas St. W) at 3:30 p.m. all ghouled out in fake blood and other zombie accoutrements, and embark on a walk through the city that ends at Bathurst and Bloor, a.k.a. The Dead End.
“I guess it stops traffic,” Munster admits. “The police have been pretty good. They let me get up to the third or fourth Walk where we were getting 600 people, and then they said, ‘We’ve got to work together on this.’ Last year, with 3,000 zombies, the walk took like five hours because everyone had to stay on the friggin’ sidewalk. I guess it will be the same this year.”
There was also a little matter last year of some unruly brainless zombies thinking it was a good idea to bust into a funeral home — and there were three ceremonies going on. “I had to put out a big apology,” says Munster. “So that was not good. We’re not allowed to go by a funeral home again.”
For the most part, though, The Toronto Zombie Walk is harmless fun. Halloween supplier Creeped Out provides free fake blood for those who don’t keep a vat at home and you can get splattered by volunteers right before the walk begins. And Resident Evil: The Dark Side Chronicles is setting up a makeup tent at noon — get there early.
Munster says people from all walks of death are welcome to walk, even zombie spawn. “I’d say we get about 50 kids between the ages of 5 and 8, and some in strollers as well. It’s incredible. It’s definitely a family event.”
Friday, September 25, 2009
Zombie Outbreak - Call for Entries
Oh yes, it's time once again for the most brutal, blood drenched, underground independent horror you can find on the big screen.
Horror Society is proud to announce the Call For Entries for...
Zombie Outbreak - with special guest Lloyd Kaufman and a Chicago Premiere Screening of POULTRYGEIST in glorious 35mm.
8 hours of nothing but Zombie Films.
This time around it’s Zombie Outbreak. It’s a 8-hour marathon of nothing but Zombie Films.
Everyone loves a good zombie flick and we want to see what you got. Send us your zombie films, shorts, documentary, or music video featuring the walking dead!
Horror Society is bringing you film festivals every 3 months in the City of Chicago, and on November 14th we will be bringing you a flesh eating filled 8 hours of Independent Underground Horror.
Submission is simple and real cheap. We understand that indie filmmakers are doing these films for the love of filmmaking and not always for the money. Some of you break the bank, and max out your credit cards to make these films, so we keep the submission fees real cheap so you have the chance to get your films screened like they should be seen.
Fees are only $20 for a short, and $25 for a feature length film. We want your films to be seen by the people that will appreciate them. No early submission discounts, or late submission fees either. Simple and easy, like it should be.
Your film submission must be received no later than October 14th, 2009. No late entries.
So if you think your film has what it takes to be a part of the Zombie Madness, then submit it now! This festival will feature 8 hours of brain eating film fun, a zombie makeup contest, vendors, special guests, Q&A's, giveaways, and more!
More information at the website:
http://www.horrorsociety.com/festivals
Mitchell Wells (Festival Director)
admin@horrorsociety.com
Ph. 773-706-9836
Horror Society is proud to announce the Call For Entries for...
Zombie Outbreak - with special guest Lloyd Kaufman and a Chicago Premiere Screening of POULTRYGEIST in glorious 35mm.
8 hours of nothing but Zombie Films.
This time around it’s Zombie Outbreak. It’s a 8-hour marathon of nothing but Zombie Films.
Everyone loves a good zombie flick and we want to see what you got. Send us your zombie films, shorts, documentary, or music video featuring the walking dead!
Horror Society is bringing you film festivals every 3 months in the City of Chicago, and on November 14th we will be bringing you a flesh eating filled 8 hours of Independent Underground Horror.
Submission is simple and real cheap. We understand that indie filmmakers are doing these films for the love of filmmaking and not always for the money. Some of you break the bank, and max out your credit cards to make these films, so we keep the submission fees real cheap so you have the chance to get your films screened like they should be seen.
Fees are only $20 for a short, and $25 for a feature length film. We want your films to be seen by the people that will appreciate them. No early submission discounts, or late submission fees either. Simple and easy, like it should be.
Your film submission must be received no later than October 14th, 2009. No late entries.
So if you think your film has what it takes to be a part of the Zombie Madness, then submit it now! This festival will feature 8 hours of brain eating film fun, a zombie makeup contest, vendors, special guests, Q&A's, giveaways, and more!
More information at the website:
http://www.horrorsociety.com/festivals
Mitchell Wells (Festival Director)
admin@horrorsociety.com
Ph. 773-706-9836
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