The Crook’s countdown hopefully rekindled plenty of memories of late night grade school sleepovers and smoked out trips to the theater in high school. Perhaps it inspired some of you to hit up the horror section at your local video store (or browse the depths of Netflix if you’re like me). Since it’s impossible to avoid overlooking at least a few forgotten films, here are ten more films (in no particular order) that I suggest taking the time to watch.

10. The Sentinel (1977)
An old roommate of mine was obsessed with this film, so when I finally sat down to watch it I quickly understood his fascination. The Sentinel is filled with trippy cinematography and off the wall dialogue, giving it an edge over the typical Catholicism driven story of good versus evil. “Black and white cat, black and white cake!”

9. The Funhouse (1981)
While it’s not as legendary as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre II, Tobe Hooper’s The Funhouse is another excellent example of the twisted ability to warp a macabre story of murder and mayhem into a comedic piece of cult cinema. I’ve always thought carnies were a little on the creepy side, but nothing compares to the freakshow that a group of high school kids come across while trying to get their kicks after hours in a funhouse.

8. Videodrome (1983)
James Woods, Debbie Harry and David Cronenberg… do I really need to say anything else? While I know that should totaly be enough to warrant renting (or better yet buying) this flick, the story and visual effects totally kick ass. I love movies that confront technology with a cynical twist, especially when they manage to maintain a relevant edge after 25 years. Videodrome is no exception to this.

7. Re-Animator ( 1985)
Stuart Gordon’s adaptation of the H.P. Lovecraft classic is a comical take on the deceased and the idea of taking your obsessions too far. This movie has just about anything you could ask for in an 80s flick: Creepy weirdos, headless corpses, hot tits, angry dads, dead cats… Seriously, don’t sleep on this one.

6. Bad Ronald (1974)
You could say this is sort of a favorite amongst some of us here at Mishka. I remember seeing this movie on TV as a kid, and always being fascinated by the campyness and general absurdity of it. Imagine a socially awkward weirdo living in a hidden closet while being secretly cared for by his mom. That’s Bad Ronald. Love him or hate him, it is what it is.

5. Invaders From Mars (1986)
This is another one of those movies I saw on TV while growing up and remembered as being stranger than it was scary. Tobe Hooper directed this remake of the 1950s classic that involves an alien invasion that threatens to disrupt a small town. The aliens have these seriously grody boils on the back of their necks which always grossed me out as a kid, and it totally rules that the film plots a child protaganist against the villainous teacher. School sucks!

4. Castle Freak (1995)
Once again, Stuart Gordon adapts an H.P. Lovecraft story, only this time it involves a crotchless freak that inhabits a castle. Castle Freak stars both Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton who had already appeared in Gordon’s Re-Animator. The couple move into the castle, where they eventually learn an abomination has been locked up, waiting to wreak havoc. If the film’s cast wasn’t enough to capture your interest, then perhaps a hooker getting her tit gnawed off by the freak will force you to queue this gem up on Netflix.

3. C.H.U.D. (1984)
Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers? An underground sect living in the sewers of New York City? Flesh eating toxic mutants that feed on the homeless? Yes, yes and yes. This cult classic has plagued the realm of horror films for over two decades, accumulating a growing fan base that can’t get enough of this films amazing acronym based title and it’s irresistible plot surrounding a mysterious society of mutated humans that feed on NYC’s unfortunate.

2. Tremors (1990)
Desert dwelling rednecks and giant worms made Tremors an early Nineties staple. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Kevin Bacon starred in this gem and it’s no coincidence that he wasn’t in the sequel. Fred Ward rules as a gun toting rebel handyman, while Michael Gross and Reba McEntire play a couple of hardcore survivalists. As the tagline claimed, it was the “monster movie that broke new ground!”

1. Hard Rock Zombies (1985)
Even though it’s not a Troma video, Hard Rock Zombies totally plays out like one. I originally rented this movie on the basis of it’s title, after all, how can you go wrong with a bunch of undead metal heads. However, I bought this movie because not only does it have a hard rock zombies, but it also has an entire absurd Nazi subplot involving human experimentation and Hitler’s secret escape to California!

Like I initially mentioned, the Crook suggested a ton of awesome flicks that I myself would’ve mentioned. If you’ve got the time (and are a total horror buff), then check out all of these films. However, if you’re like us and are lucky enough to have one or two free nights a week, then simply make sure that you absolutely see these gems: Event Horizon, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Dead Alive, The Thing, The Serpent and The Rainbow, The People Under the Stairs, House and Street Trash.

Curtis May found the inspiration for his pumpkin carving at the end of
his wrists. “It’s right in front of me,” May said Saturday afternoon
as his knife sliced through the orange skin of a pumpkin at least 2
feet in diameter. May was creating a pair of “hoping hands” as his
entry in the pumpkin carving competition at Pumpkinfest 2007.

Sorry, I got this in an email or I would provide a link…

Well here we are, my top 10 Horror movies deserving more attention, fans and accolades! I hope you’ve enjoyed the list and it prompted you to rent or netflix one or a few of the movies on this list! Head here for the start of the list, and the criteria in creating it.

10) Ginger Snaps (2000)
Two young suburban sisters must cope with a werewolf bite and all the changes that start occurring in the bitten sister’s body. This film, like Teen Wolf, uses werewolf transformation as a metaphor for puberty, or–more specifically, here–menstruation. It’s as charming, and clever as Teen Wolf in exploring the sudden changes the teens are facing, just not as comedic in it’s delivery. Ginger Snaps is also a lot like May (no. 12), in that it explores teen girl angst and alienation (a la Heathers and Jawbreaker) in the guise of a horror movie. The acting by the sisters (Emily Perkins & Katherine Isabelle) is so on point as angsty teen goth girls, that for that reason alone, it is worth seeing this film if you’re into goth girls, I guess. Ginger Snaps also spawned two other worthwhile sequels, and to me, is one of the best werewolf movies ever made.

9) Night of the Creeps (1986)
When alien slugs descends upon Earth and begins turning everyone in town into zombies on the night of the big dance, four teens must not only defend a sorority house, but also keep their libidos in check! Fred Drekker’s (Monster Squad, House – no. 23) directorial debut is an excellent one. This was one of my favorite movies growing up and is a zombie movie in much of the same tradition as Return of the Living Dead. It’s a very funny movie that never takes itself too seriously and features great effects. I have no doubt this movie would today be mentioned in the same breath as Return of the Living Dead, if only it was still in print! Legal difficulties have made this should-be classic unavailable.

8) Bloodsucking Freaks (1976)
Sardu & his midget assistant Ralphus run a sadomasochistic torture theatre show that is the talk of NYC! The audience thinks it’s just amazing trickery, but actually it’s all real torture! This movie is a beyond-warped comedic film that takes shock and exploitation to a new level of depravity. I don’t think 10 minutes goes by without some sort of demeaning scene to the female captives! They are used as toilets, dinner tables, anything imaginable along with being tortured to death on stage. Thankfully, the film does not take itself seriously whatsoever. It also basically kicked off the direction and style Lloyd Kaufman would later make his own through Troma, and Eli Roth would so wonderfully employ in Hostel. It’s a very influential film that every horror fan must see!

7) Mother’s Day (1980)
On Mother’s Day, three female hikers soon discover they’re not alone in the woods. And, unfortunately for them, their new-found friends will do anything (to them) to impress their mother! I think I’ve mentioned Lloyd Kaufman’s name countless times in the course of this list (and there will be more times before I’m done!), but this gem is written and directed by his lesser-known brother, Charlie. Charlie’s directing doesn’t steer far from his brother’s style, humor, effects, and subject matter. Being in the shadow of such a prolific and revered director as Lloyd is an unfortunate turn in terms of this film’s ability to gain a wider recognition, but Mother’s Day is every bit as good, weird, gory, funny and shocking as Lloyd’s Class of Nuke ‘Em High, Toxic Avenger, and Troma’s War.

6) Brainscan (1994)
A horror junkie searching for the next thrill finds one in the form of a new, terrifyingly realistic video game known as Brainscan! I’m sure you’ve probably passed this movie at the video store and just saw it as another blunder in Eddie Furlong’s career between T2 and Pecker, like Pet Sematary II (no. 21). Well, if you did, you’d be very, very wrong! Brainscan is what I’d like to think Paul Verhoeven (Total Recall, Robocop, Starship Troopers, and Showgirls) would make if he made a horror movie. Now, I’m not sure if director John Flynn and writers Andrew Kevin Walker & Brian Owens intentionally set out to follow in Verhoeven’s footsteps by exploiting cliches, camp, and over-the-top ridiculousness in an attempt to satire the very film they were making, or if the acting, script, and directing in this movie just kind of came together the way it did. I’d like to think everything is intentional, because it’s just so perfectly calculated not to be! And since Andrew Kevin Walker is also responsible for scripting such films as Se7en and 8mm, and Michael (Eddie Furlong) is a gore hound, I have to think that every little cheesy, clichéd nuance in this tale is completely intentional. And don’t get me started on the teenage metal-head absurdity that is Trixter, the villain of the film. Brainscan is definitely the Showgirls of horror films, and if I have to explain what that means to you, then this film’s devices might just go over your head.

5) Tromeo & Juliet (1996)
Lo and behold, another Lloyd Kaufman mention! Much like how Romeo & Juliet is viewed as a Shakespeare masterpiece, Tromeo & Juliet is a Troma masterpiece. While this movie is credited to Lloyd Kaufman, his then protégé James L. Gunn was actually behind the directing chair most of the time, and the results are just amazing. Truly the greatest film adaptation of Romeo & Juliet ever made. In large part because of the penis monster…

4) Cabin Fever (2002)
Five college students spend a weekend retreat at a cabin, which soon turns deadly and gross when a flesh-eating virus starts making the rounds in the secluded country community. Eli Roth made a name for himself with Hostel, but Cabin Fever, his directorial debut, is every bit as good! I have no doubt in my mind that Roth is the heir apparent to Raimi’s legacy. No one today works comedic timing and gore the same way Roth does. He’s a great director, a great writer, and also very good at casting his films (an often-ignored talent). While it was released to good reviews, Cabin Fever didn’t do much at the box office and later was overshadowed by Hostel. Do yourself a favor and rent this movie if you’re a fan of Raimi, Jackson, and Hefenlotter.

3) Martin (1977)
Is Martin a vampire, or just crazy? This is a forgotten classic from George Romero, and his best attempt at fusing a comedic tone into his style (Creepshow being another great example). Martin is a brilliant film that showcases Romero’s directorial genius. Even if you’re not a fan of Romero’s other work (The Dead series, Monkey Shines, etc., etc.), you should see Martin. It’s a unique film that deserves much more attention, and is very different from any of Romero’s other movies.

2) Street Trash (1987)
A case of forgotten hooch in a liquor store cellar begins turning the local wino community into colorful sludge. This film is as humorous as it is weird. It’s truly an amazing film. The kind of skill J. Michael Muro demonstrated in Street Trash should have put this director on the fast track to mega-stardom like Sam Raimi and Peter Jackson. His style, execution, and skill with effects are on par with any of them. But this is the only film Muro would ever direct. I forget where, but I read that Muro became very religious not long after Street Trash, His priorities changed and he just never pursued directing again. I’m not sure if that is true or not but he has since gone on to become a celebrated camera man, working on big production movies, but one salivates to think what any of those hits might have been like if he was in the director’s seat rather than behind the camera.

1) Maniac (1980)
Here we go… number 1! And what a number 1 it is. When people talk about great slasher flicks, movies like Friday the 13th, Halloween, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre always come up. But the original Black Christmas (1974) only occasionally, even though it helped define the genre and was carbon copied by Halloween. But what is even more surprising, Maniac never comes up, even though it is hands-down the greatest slasher film ever made! I suppose not having a costumed, horrific or supernatural killer is what keeps Manaic’s fame at where it currently is, which is a shame considering that Frank Zito is a much more terrifying, depraved and realistic character than Jason or Michael Myers could ever hope to be. No movie makes NYC seem as scary and grimy as Maniac, and no slasher movie goes into the mind of the slasher as effectively. Terrific effects from Tom Savini, excellent directing by William Lustig (who would later create the Bruce Campbell-led Maniac Cop and it’s many sequels minus Campbell), and an amazing lead performance by Joe Spinell (R.I.P.). Spinell a character actor who’s face would be familiar to any fan of 70s crime, action and mafia flicks took this rare opportunity to play a lead role and really delivered. Maniac is Friday the 13th meets Psycho. It’s fantastic, and criminally slept on, so please - if you are a self-respecting fan of horror, go out and rent this film, you won’t be disappointed!

Happy Halloween!

Time for some 3am videos, thank me later.

And this one takes the cake. I can’t embed it, so you have to click here to see it…

We’re really getting into the thick of it now! 20-11, some of my absolute favorite movies of all time here. Enjoy and again if you need a refresher on the criteria for making this list go here. Now on to the list!

20) Masters of Horror: Cigarette Burns (2006)
Ok, so this isn’t a movie, it’s an episode of a TV series, but it’s totally a stand-alone, self-contained story, so I’m considering it here as an hour-long film. The story focuses on the hunt for a print of a rare film that is said to contain very strong and mysterious properties. It’s probably the best thing John Carpenter has done in almost 20 years, and it’s up there with some of his best work. Showtime’s Masters of Horror series set the bar so high with this episode, that almost everything before and after has been disappointing. This is such a great story, executed perfectly by a true Master of Horror.

19) Dog Soldiers (2002)
A British military squad on a field exercise in Scotland find themselves surrounded by a pack of hungry werewolves. Pretty simple premise, right? Right! This movie’s as basic as it gets. It’s just a great survival film, with great acting, action, and direction. (And the first 30 minutes really remind me of Predator!) Director Neil Marshall got acclaim last year with Descent, which was widely viewed as the best horror movie of the year. In my opinion, Dog Soldiers is far more superior.

18) From Beyond (1986)
Experiments by scientists to activate a sixth sense in the human brain go horribly wrong, freeing malignant creatures from the 4th dimension… with some horrific and sexy results! Stuart Gordon is one of horror’s most underrated directors. He’s best known for the cult favorite series Re-Animator and, but Gordon has directed many other great horror yarns. He always brings a fantastic sense of humor to all of his work, along with super gory effects, and erotic undercurrents.

17) Inferno (1980)
Any self-respecting fan of horror acknowledges Suspiria as a defining moment in horror cinema, and Dario Argento as one of horror’s all-time great directors. So it’s a shame that the sequel to Susperia is not as widely acknowledged. Granted, Argento isn’t reinventing the wheel here and he sticks very much to the same story and formula of Suspiria, but it’s still spooky as hell, with some of the most beautifully directed horror scenes ever! It’s a worthy and excellent companion to Suspiria. (One only hopes that La Terza Madre, the third installment in the series due out later this year, is just as worthy.)

16) The Tenant (1976)
With all of his character flaws, I think it’s pretty easy to forget that Roman Polanski was a great director with some excellent horror movies in his catalog. The Tenant is an excellent psychological thriller that was pretty thoroughly panned upon its release. When the story begins, housing has become so scarce in Berlin that even the apartment of a woman who has recently jumped to her death becomes a prized catch to a young man named Trelkovsky. He moves in, but soon the paranoia over what exactly caused her to jump sets in! Polanski casts himself in the lead, and what we get is a wonderful amalgam of Hitchcockian suspense, Argento’s use of mood, color, and lighting, and Polanski’s own sense wit and humor.

15) Slither (2006)
This movie features James L. Gunn, a former Lloyd Kaufman protégé, in his first credited directorial debut. (Gunn is also the man responsible for scripting the excellent Dawn of the Dead–no. 46–remake.) Slither is your basic tale of alien slugs who descend on a town’s population, turning them into zombies and obese larvae incubators! The effects are top notch, and so is the very heavy-handed humor (which is to be expected from this former Troma talent). This film received some glowing reviews when it came out, but then just kind of got forgotten. If you’re a fan of Eli Roth (Hostel) or the Evil Dead series, do yourself a favor and rent this.

14) Brain Damage (1988)
Drug addiction can be a real fucking bitch when your pusher is a one-foot parasitic slug with a taste for brains! This is a gross, and humorous tale about the perils of drug addiction. Frank Henenlotter, like Stuart Gordon (From Beyond–no. 18), is one of horror’s most under-acclaimed directors. The man is a genius, who, like Scorsese, has a real knack for capturing the grimy, gritty beauty that was New York City in the 80’s. While he definitely has a very strong following for his Basket Case trilogy and Frankenhooker, Henenlotter should be admired as much as Sam Raimi for his awesome vision in both slapstick and horror. Besides the above mentioned movies, Brain Damage is Henenlotter’s only other film. This is probably a good reason why he still toils as only a perennial cult favorite, but word has it that he is set to release a new movie with the help of fellow gore hound (and under-appreciated rapper) R.A. the Rugged Man.

13) Mod Fuck Explosion (1994)
Mod Fuck Explosion really isn’t a horror movie, but it’s just so fucking bizarre I can’t think of any other place to classify it (though it definitely fits the category of “cult”). The film is West Side Story meets Doom Generation meets a Guitar Wolf album meets Quadrophenia meets… you get the picture. This is like the best Troma film that Troma never made, and it’s a shame director Jon Moritsugu hasn’t done anything since 2002’s Scumrock. Thankfully, this was released on DVD last year, because believe you me, if it wasn’t, you’d have had a hell of a time tracking a copy down!

12) May (2002)
Imagine Carrie told via Heathers or Jawbreaker, and viola, you have Lucky McKee’s May. May is a very well-paced psychological thriller with all the warm fuzziness that romantic comedies give you in allowing you to root for the underdog. May is about a traumatized young woman’s desperate attempts to connect with anyone besides her dolls. It’s really quirky, endearing, and very twisted. Like Eli Roth, Neil Marshall & James L. Gunn, Lucky McKee is one of the preeminent modern horror directors and I can’t wait to see what his next film is! Though I’m pretty sure given his track record there will no doubt be a lesbian love story/scene of some sort in it, somewhere!

11) Nekromantik (1987)
As I’m sure you can guess by its title, this film is indeed about necrophilia, so I’m really not surprised why it hasn’t received wider recognition! I’m also pretty certain this film was not only out of print until just this past year, but banned in many countries. Add to the fact that it’s in German, and black and white, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see why it’s number 11 on this list. A young couple enjoy making love with a corpse, but when Robert loses his job cleaning up crime and accident scenes, he loses the ability to bring in fresh bodies for their hellish orgies. His girlfriend Betty leaves him (taking the corpse, of course), leading him down a spiral of despair that leads to his eventual demise. Despite its horrific premise and very disturbing imagery, Nekromantik is shot and directed like an art film rather than a horror flick. This makes the subject matter more objective and easier to take in. Like Cemetery Man (no. 31), this movie is very existential, but it replaces the humor with despair. Also, keep an eye out for the terrific erotic/slasher mini-movie that Robert goes to see in a German grindhouse during his search for new meaning in his life.

Tomorrow in honor of Halloween we will conclude this list with my Top Ten and hopefully some other Top Tens from other Bloglin contributors!

57 Bianchi Pista Concept
Truativ Omnium 170 Pista Cranks
Paul High Flange Hubs to Velocity Deep V Rims [Tae Fatlace decal on front]
Miche Supertype Seatpost to Selle Turbo Saddle
Thomson x4 Stem to Black Risers
MKS Pedals to Toshi Double Straps
Shear Track sex

I’m all about southern hardcore. I grew up with it and will support the good bands for as long as I’m still into the music. My favorite Hardcore band from NC is Between the Buried and Me. These guys have been in some of the most influential hardcore bands of my generation; from Prayer for Cleansing, to From Here On. Every time they come into town, I’ll go to their show and heckle them from the moshpit.

Everyone thinks that hardcore kids are tough all the time, well this video from my boy Wes proves them wrong.

Only two more parts to go! Need to know the criteria for making this list? Follow this link!

30) Night of the Demons (1988)
In this movie, a cast of miscreant teens celebrate Halloween in a spooky abandoned funeral parlor. As per usual, the Goth girl performs a séance, which unleashes a malevolent demon. This demon possesses her and her BFF… and the slaughter ensues! Night of the Demon is one of those movies where everything wrong with it comes together to make it so very right. Bad acting, silly dialogue, gratuitous sex, interesting gore, and best of all, an interpretive dance to Bauhaus’ “Stigmata Martyr”. It’s campy, and way more funny than actually scary. Definitely for fans of Troll 2 and The Ghoulies!

29) Wishmaster (1997)
Wishmaster is one of those movies I’m sure you’ve seen at the video store and wondered how (and when) it managed to spawn three sequels of itself. It obviously has a following (but who’s following it, you might not have been sure). The character of Wishmaster is an evil genie trying to ply his three wishes on any poor soul who’ll take them, which will allow him to gain human form. Now, I’m sure you’ve seen enough Twilight Zones or Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horrors to know never to take a genie up on his offer… your wishes never quite turn out how you wish them! Wishmaster (and all the sequels) are excellent watches, if only for the gory and humorous results of all the misguided wishes. That, and the hilarious acting, and of course Robert Englund!


28) People Under the Stairs (1991)
What starts off as an urban horror movie (a genre very popular in the early 90’s) quickly shifts gears into a comedic and campy tale of a seriously dysfunctional family, their creepy house, it’s trapped inhabitants and one poor kid’s attempt to escape its clutches with some gold coins! Wes Craven casts Big Ed Hurley (Everett McGill) and Nadine Hurley (Wendy Robie) of Twin Peaks fame as the demented Ma & Pa. Not really so much scary as just weird, demented and amusing.

27) Vault of Horror (1973)
Amicus made lots of these anthology films in the 70’s. All have the same basic premise: 4 or 5 men meet or are trapped somewhere, and each begins recounting a tale of horror that somehow relates to them. Tales from the Crypt and The Torture Garden are Amicus’ two most well known of these, but Vault of Horror is my absolute favorite! Vampires, dismemberment, a painter with a voodoo curse! It’s a shame that this style of horror movie seems to have died out. These movies were always enjoyable, because no tale would last longer than 15-20 minutes, so if one sucked, it didn’t kill the whole movie! The best part about Vault of Horror is that the DVD also comes packaged with the excellent Tales from the Crypt!

26) Once Bitten (1985)
Before Jim Carrey was on In Living Color and a mega star, he acted in this little comedic gem about a vampire countess (Lauren Hutton) who requires the blood of virgins to stay young. And the next virgin she needs, of course, is the bumbling Jim Carey! It’s way more comedic then horrific, but I’m going to fudge the lines here because it’s about vampires. This film has kind of been forgotten, but it merged two things perfectly that the 80’s did so well: the sexual comedy and the horror flick.

25) Cube (1997)
Cube must have had one of the smallest budgets ever for ANY movie! Every set is basically the same set with different lighting: a small four-wall cell. The basic premise is that people wake up alone in these cells, with no clue why they’re there. Escaping from one cell only leads to another cell. Eventually they discover that there are other people trapped, too, but they don’t know what their relation is to each other. And some of the cells are booby-trapped! (The Saw series seems to have tried to take a lot from this movie.) Cube is a terrific conceptual film that appreciates the mystery it creates. More often than not, films ruin themselves when they remove the curtain on the big secret or twist, but The Cube never does that. You keep wondering even when the movie ends.

24) TerrorVision (1986)
TerrorVision is exactly why we have lists like this! Prolly (one of my fellow Bloglins) has been going off about this movie for a year now. I had no clue what he was talking about until I saw a clip and it all came rushing back from childhood. An alien race begins beaming down their trash as an energy signal, which eventually hits a family’s satellite dish. Soon the family has their very own trash monster to deal with. This is movie is trashy, campy overkill and, unfortunately, not in print on DVD.

23) House (1986)
A Vietnam vet/Author’s psycho trip out of the jungle and into a haunted house where his son disappeared! House is up there with Evil Dead 2 and Dead-Alive (No. 50) in combining horror with comedy. Excellent gore, directing and comedic timing. From writer Fred Drekker, who also wrote and directed the cult favorite Monster Squad as well as another film you’ll have to wait for until we hit the top 10!

22) The Gate (1987)
With the help of some Black Metal, two kids help release an ungodly evil from a hole in their backyard. We’ve borrowed so heavily and blatantly from this film, we should offer it a job at Mishka. One of my all-time favorite movies starring a young Stephen Dorff and an army of 2 foot tall stop-motion demons! This movie was definatly geared towards a younger audience, but it holds up well and is just as enjoyable because of it’s camp value as an a adult.

21) Pet Sematary II (1992)
Man, was this movie ever panned when it came out! (It still is!) I guess that’s kind of to be expected, considering it followed the excellent and scary Pet Sematary. But much like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s sequel, the follow-up here went in a totally different direction that I felt just went over the top and over too many people’s heads. Eddie Furlong stars in this beyond absurd, satirical, and campy sequel to one of horror’s truly creepy films. Spoofing the first movie in the second installment is probably not the best way to create a franchise, but… If you’re looking to be creeped out, rent the popular original… but those looking for some laughs and something along the lines of Lost Boys, please go here.

Stay tuned tomorrow for part IV, No. 20-11. And maybe, just maybe someone else will chip in with a companion list!

I am floored by this. I cannot wait to go to it!

Via Supertouch

“The Beast Within” art designed by Halloween’s favorite son, Pushead…

We’d like to proudly announce the official Supertouch Halloween art show, “The Beast Within,” curated by Jamie O’Shea, opening October 31st at the East Village’s SHOWROOM NYC GALLERY in conjunction with Tristan Eaton’s Thunderdog Studios. Featuring introspective monster art reflecting the participant’s personal demons (hence the title), the show features new & original work by over 65 artists including Pushead, Phil Frost, Stephan Jay Rayon (Hysteric Glamour), Doze Green, Eric White, Ron English, Louie Cordero, Tristan Eaton, Andy Cruz/House Industries, Mars-1, Steve Bliss, Shepard Fairey, D*Face, REAS (Todd James), Travis Louie, Rhode Montijo, Friends With You, Nathan Cabrera, Tim Biskup, Eric Elms, Kelsey Brookes, Jim Woodring, Mark Dean Veca, Erik Foss, Gary Baseman, Slick, Nathan Jurevicius, James Jean, Usugrow, Glenn Barr, Mike Moon, Gomez Bueno, Pete Fowler, Rick Griffin, Nate Van Dyke, Stanley Mouse, Andrew Brandou, Makoto Kobiyashi, Miran Kim, Peter Taylor, Scott Campbell, Jordin Isip, Melinda Beck, Joel Dugan, Jeff Soto, Elizabeth Huey, Jacaeber Kastor, Mark Smith, Carl Dunn, Junko Mizuno, Mike Sutfin, Rich Jacobs, Taylor McKimens, WK Interact, 123 Klan, Filth, Calma, and many more. Lots of surprises are in store, including limited-edition merchandise like the Pushead-designed shirt (produced by 10 Deep) shown below. New York City’s the best place on Earth to spend Halloween and “The Beast Within” is the best place to spend your hard-earned dough on some amazing artwork. Don’t be late, first come, first severed…

Check out Congorock’s new Autumn Mix straight up hype from Milan.

Make sure to check his blog to keep up with his productions and dates around the country.

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Relatively recent (?) mix from dj duo M.A.N.D.Y. destroying the walls of Fabric, London. (check out record and flyer designs, really great)

Mark your calendars for their NYC invasion, November 10th at Studio B!

Brought to you by the good people of CUT!

Here we go with part II of my list, In Need of a Cult: Top 50 Movies Deserving More Fans! If you need a refresher on what it’s all about then just keep scrolling down or follow this link.

40) Night of the Comet (1984)
A comet passing over earth leaves all who see it turned to dust, and those not in a bomb shelter zombies! It’s Valley Girl meets Return of the Living Dead. This movie used to be an HBO staple (along with The Wraith and The Legend of Billy Jean). Not particularly gory or scary movie, but it is quirky and endearing.

39) Final Destination (2000)
You can’t cheat death, EVER! This is the first of one of the few decent horror franchises of the past decade. Although it was marketed primarily to a teenage audience, this film isn’t the kind of fluff you’d expect from that. It has a clever premise, creative and awesomely executed kill scenes, and just the right amount of camp mixed with good directing. All three installments are adrenaline fixes (with Final Destination 2 featuring one of the sickest opening car crash sequences ever!) , but the first installment, with it’s teen alienation back drop still takes the cake for me.


38) Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)
Part faux documentary/part slasher movie, Behind the Mask pretends Freddy, Jason, and Michael Myers are all real killers. Leslie Vernon strives to join in their footsteps as the next great slasher. This movie is a deconstructionist slasher/comedy, and does a great comedic job of embracing the clichés and directorial devices all slasher movies employ. Terrific casting (Robert Englund, Zelda Rubenstein) and plenty of little Easter eggs for horror junkies to catch in the background. The last third of the movie breaks the documentary style and becomes a traditional slasher flick. The only major flaw, I felt, was the movie’s total lack of gore. Considering how over the top it is elsewhere, I expected some insane kill scenes, but they are very mundane and have almost no blood. Still, it’s a great film in the tradition of Scream.

37) High Tension AKA Haute Tension (2005)
This is another excellent French film. High Tension is a non-stop rush of energy that’s excellently directed and acted. Its grittiness reminds me a lot of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The gore is extreme and very believably executed. The movie never drags and keeps an impressively high pace from the second it gets going.

36) Terror Firmer (1999)
Terror Firmer is one of Troma’s more recent in-house productions, directed by (and starring) Lloyd Kaufman. Whenever Lloyd is in the director’s seat, you know a movie will not disappoint! All the gore, sex, extreme violence, and recycled car crash scenes you expect from Troma are here. It’s the harrowing story of a film crew and their blind director’s attempt to “make some art”… with a serial killer loose on set! Rumor has it the film was made with only a 300k budget! Troma always knows how to stretch a dollar!

35) The Serpent & The Rainbow (1988)
It’s understandable that in catalog as large and with so many classics, some of his great movies will get forgotten over time, but this is Wes Craven’s excellent take on a zombie flick. Set in Haiti, the story focuses on an anthropologist’s hunt to find real zombies… of Voodoo! Craven restrains himself from peppering this movie with all the camp that he is known for, and just delivers a very creepy, serious tale of horror.

34) Prince of Darkness (1987)
It’s one of my favorites from John Carpenter! Unlike The Thing (No. 48), Prince of Darkness hasn’t been gaining appreciation–it’s falling further into oblivion as just another movie in this prolific director’s catalog. The end-of-days theme in horror isn’t new, but I always loved the way Carpenter presented it here. A team of scientists and theologists are sent to investigate the contents of a mysterious cylinder found in an abandoned church that belonged to a sacred cult. Upon arriving, they are greeted with strange dreams of impending doom, homeless zombies gathering at the church’s fences, and supernatural equations from the church’s previous occupants. Like Event Horizon (No. 41), Prince of Darkness amplifies its creepiness through the use of great sets, and doles out the camp in the way only John Carpenter can.

33) Return of the Living Dead II (1988)
The original Return of the Living Dead goes down in the annuls as one of the greatest zombie flicks ever made. Its gore, effects, and comedy are second to none, and it has punk rockers and a great soundtrack to boot! But what about its sequel? Like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (no. 44), this film gets so eclipsed by the first installment that sometimes one forgets it even existed. Return of the Living Dead II, however, doesn’t stray far from the excellent formula set up in the first movie. Just more quality zombies, gore, and comedy!

32) Phantasm II (1988)
“BOOOOOOY!!!” Phantasm is one of my favorite horror franchises, the Tall Man is among my favorite horror monsters, and the balls… what can you not love about the balls!? The basic premise of this movie concerns outerworldly morticians harvesting dead bodies to become midget servants in their own dimension. While many people have heard of Phantasm, not many of them have actually ever seen it. Of those who have, not many have seen any of the sequels beyond the classic first installment from the 70’s. This sequel was made over a decade after the original and picks up right where the first part left off. Darker in tone and stronger in story (and definitely benefiting from the 10+ years of special effects advancements), this sequel is even better than the original. Unfortunately, due to legal battles over who owns the rights, Phantasm II has never made it onto DVD. This, of course, only further hinders this unique movie–and its entire franchise–from the acclaim it deserves. Perhaps, with rumors of Phantasm V being in pre-production, the Tall Man and his balls will finally get the attention they deserve!

31) Cemetery Man (1996)
Rupert Everett stars as an impotent caretaker of a cemetery where the dead rise each evening. Every night, he must quickly put them back in their place. Cemetery Man is more than just a zombie movie. While it takes style and delivery cues from Evil Dead and Dead-Alive (no. 50), Cemetery Man is more an avant-garde, absurdist fable. The film is often as funny as it is existential.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part III

This Halloween, I decided to make a list of horror movies (or what I have loosely classified as such) that deserve larger fan bases than they currently have. Please don’t confuse this list as “The Best Horror Movies Ever Made” or even “50 of the Greatest Cult Classics” … it is not. These movies (well, most of them) haven’t even amassed the minutest of cult followings yet, which is why I wanted to make this list. All of the above are great movies, especially if you’re a fan of anything that’s labeled horror, shock cinema, cult, or a B-movie. Over the next 5 days, I will be counting down my “50 Movies in Search of a Cult Following.” If it inspires just one person to rent one of these movies–and if that person enjoys it and then spreads the word–I will be more than content. But more importantly, I like doing stupid lists like this, and this list is a window into everything we’re about! As the list progresses from 50 down to one, you may notice the movies getting more and more obscure.

So what factors contribute to a film making this list? Well, I used a few basic guidelines (some of which I slightly fudged when I felt I should or could). Besides a movie being either one that I thoroughly enjoyed or one that rubbed off on me in some way, it had to meet one of the following criteria:
1) A film that was overshadowed by either the rest of its director’s catalog or a more popular work. Or a film that was part of a series in which it was overshadowed by either the original or a more popular film in the series.

2) A film that, when first released, started gaining a following, but now has lost it due to being long out-of-print. Or it has been in- and out-of-print so sporadically in its lifetime that it could never nurture or maintain any kind of momentum in building a following.

3) A film whose budget, distribution, or studio push was either small, lacking, mismanaged, misdirected, or just non-existent (i.e., poorly marketed).

4) A film whose release saw heavy box office and rental competition, and somehow it just fell by the wayside.

5) A film that was widely criticized as too campy (poor acting, silly dialog, cliched, etc, etc). Some films are so heavy-handed in their approach to camp that the actual merits and qualities of the film can get lost unless the viewer knows what to look for (sort of like a classical musician viewing all punk rock as “simply cacophonous”).

6) A film that needed to age a bit before its genius could be understood.

7) A film that just wasn’t made to appeal to large audiences.

Anyway, enough talk from me. On to the list:

50) Dead-Alive (1992)
I’m putting this movie at 50 because it isn’t that unknown and already has a pretty healthy following. However, I felt compelled to include this film here because it should be as acclaimed and beloved as Evil Dead 2, and it simply isn’t! I’m not sure why Dead-Alive never reached the pop culture pinnacle that was bestowed on Evil Dead 2, but this film is just as deserving. Unfortunately, at this point, Peter Jackson’s directorial career is going to be forever intertwined with the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. This perfect little gory gem will forever remain a footnote.

49) A Nightmare on Elm St. 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)
To be honest, this is not the best scripted or directed of the A Nightmare on Elm St. films (Parts 1, 3 and 4 in that order being heads and shoulders above the rest), or even horror movies in general. So why is it here? Because when you look at it like I do, as an after school special about one boy coping with his homosexuality, it becomes quite a different (and hilarious) movie. A Nightmare on Elm Street II had little involvement from Wes Craven and basically threw out a lot of the mythos established in the first movie (that was also cemented in later chapters) to present a cautionary tale in the guise of a Slasher flick of a boy trying to cope with his deep dark secret (i.e., Freddy/his homosexuality). Plus, the locker room shower-kill scene is classic.

48) The Thing (1982)
Any true John Carpenter fan will acknowledge this film as one of his classics at this point. But upon it’s release the movie was panned and bombed at the box office. It’s been a slow going 20 plus years for people to come around and see this film for the classic it truly is. As I said it’s taken some time for people to see the light on this film, but it still deserves way more devotees and accolades.

47) The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001)
Takashi Miike is better known in the U.S. for his excellent Audition, and the popular (and vastly over-rated) Ichi the Killer. However, Happiness of the Katakuris, to me, is Miike at his best. It is nothing like any of his other flicks, because it combines musicals, comedy, zombies, crime drama, and romance all into one pot. Anyone who is a fan of early Sam Raimi (the Evil Deads, Darkman), Peter Jackson (Dead-Alive, Bad Taste, The Frighteners), or any Troma film will absolutely love this movie.

46) Dawn of the Dead (2004)
SACRALIDGE! Look, nothing is ever going to top the original Dawn of the Dead, but I feel this movie never got a fair shake from people who actually enjoy horror/zombie flicks. It did alright at the box office, and I’m sure there is a legion of teenage kids and uninformed people walking around thinking this is the only Dawn of the Dead, but I also know there is a whole slew of other people out there who were all “Why tamper with what isn’t broken!?” and who therefore chose to skip this remake. Well guess what, this remake is an excellent update on the original and a worthy inclusion on any list chronicling great zombie flicks–right alongside the Romero originals.

45) Frailty (2001)
This movie got some strongly positive reviews from critics when it came out, but the studio never marketed the film correctly or towards the right crowd. It was just marketed as if it was some James L. Patterson (Along Came a Spider) type thriller. So this movie just kind of wasted away into the F section of most video stores, only to be rented by those who swoon for Matthew McConaughey. On first glance, it looks exactly like what it was marketed as… a cheap thriller novel adaptation starring McConaughey and Bill Paxton (who also directed it). But it’s actually a very well-crafted and paced psychological horror/thriller about a serial killer. And like so many of the movies on this list, it never takes itself too seriously, doling out large handfuls of camp into all of its “twists.”

44) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre part 2 (1986)
Made long after the original, this movie received a collective “Huh!?” when it was released. I get the feeling Tobe Hooper knew there was no way to match his original masterpiece, so he took things in another direction altogether. Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 amps up the camp, gore, and comedy to a level all its own, and does this really well. These are, of course, things the original never had nor needed. It’s a shame this movie gets forgotten behind Hooper’s original and that it got such a bad rap from people expecting another gritty horror flick.

43) Suicide Club (2002)
To me, Japanese horror is very hit or miss. Most of the films that start out great tend to fall apart towards the middle, and their collapse is usually colossal. However, Suicide Club is so absurd in its premise (though, for some reason seems totally plausible in Japan) and delivery that the film manages to stay tight throughout its entirety. It’s kind of hard to tell if all of the absurdity is intentional or just a perfect storm of elements, but in the end, it makes for a very weird film centered around high school students who giddily enjoy committing mass suicide.

42) Man Bites Dog (1992)
This is a spoof of reality TV before there even WAS reality TV. The point of the film is a bit clichéd (media encourages violence), but it’s the execution and acting that make this film so great. It’s a faux documentary that follows around a charming serial killer, who then manages to involve the film crew in his dirty deeds. It’s French, sometimes disturbing, and often hilarious.

41) Event Horizon (1997)
Event Horizon was marketed as a sci-fi movie upon its release, but it’s really just a classic tale of horror set on a spaceship. Its premise, like that of Man Bites Dog (No. 42), is nothing new. A ship goes missing, the crew is never heard from again, 7 years later the ship mysteriously returns, and now another crew is sent to investigate. But its how the film is directed and shot that make it so good. Event Horizon has some of the creepiest sets and most gruesomely gorgeous kill scenes that I’ve seen. These are truncated by stabs of camp at just the right time and length. The last 15 minutes are kind of a mess, but this is a creepy and enjoyable film any horror fan should see… alone and in the dark.

Head to Netflix or a video store and stay tuned tomorrow for Part II (40-31) of my list!

LOLZ

I’ll be in attendance.

Gimme Metal Art Show and Party @ KCDC Skateshop! (Oct 27 – Nov 11)

Curated by Dennis McNett 60 artists, 3 bands, 12 Pro skaters tearing up a halfpipe and mayhem.
Sponsored by Creature, Vox, and Independent.
Beverages by Zygo Vodka

Artists Participating (You may notice a few Mishka stalwarts in the mix): Sean Starwars, Martin Mazorra, Alice Helander, Mike Houston, Putrid, Maya Hayuk, Ghost, FA-Q, Eli Quinters, Toyo, Tom Huck, The Amazing Hancock Bothers, Bill McRight, Florence Gidez, Stryder, Mark Parrish, Wrona, Danielle Spradley, Jessica Herrera, Jesse Jones, Bryan Condra, Michael Alan, Blairwear tm, Damara Kaminecki, Maxim Ryazansky, Rezeon Scum, Pat Bronowicki, J. Pereira, Eliza Cutler, Frank Russo,Martina Secondo Russo, Caitlin Perkins, Joseph Valesquez, Alex Heir, Stefanie Bridges, Ali Gallagher, Jon Bocksel, Tamara Waite-Santibanez, Scott Meyers, Miss Soozee Q, Bryce Ward, Lindsay Staidig, Laura Kvistad, Kevin Golden, Derrick Riley, JJ Veronis, Walter Sassard, Pat Bronowicki, A.J. Nordhagen, Todd Seelie, Tobin Yelland, Michael Nirenberg, Rachel Domm, Sabrina Mansouri, Zac Shavrick, Julian C. Duron, Kirsten Flaherty, Dennis McNett and more …..

With musical performance by Dethrace, Bloodhorse, Smell Uv Death

Saturday, October 27th 8pm-Midnight. Bands at 9p
@ KCDC: North 11 & Wythe
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
L Train to Bedford Ave.

Iron Maiden - Can I Play With Madness?