Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Dream Reaper (Screener Review)

The Greatest Rock n Roll band ever, Dream Reaper, must defend their awesomeness against a force from the nether realm so ridiculous that you have to see it to believe it!
This movie is gross, offensive, cheap...and I loved it! The guys from HackMovies.com even tell ya their movies look shitty, but thats half the fun! This horror comedy is, while not the best movie from the Hack crew (more reviews coming soon), is funny as hell in it's obsceneness and will leave you thinking WTF did I just watch? Director and writer Kevin Strange plays the lead singer and a soon as you see him on screen, you know what your in for! So If your looking for a film that doesn't take itself to seriously and is a good time (and a lot of jacking off doesn't offend you) check this film out HERE!

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Maniac on the Loose (Screener Review)

A patient described as "extremely dangerous" has escaped from the local psychiatric hospital. Fearing that he'll lose his job if word gets out, the head of the hospital, Dr. Fraklin Grimm desperately attempts to cover up the escape. Meanwhile there is a maniac on the loose.
This indie film was just a fun film to watch. For such a low budget movie, it was well written, well shot, and the acting wasn't to bad. The character of the doctor was funny and even though he caused all this, you still gotta love him! As with all the Big Biting Big production's films I've watched, the ending is shocking, twisted, and you definitely won't see it coming (I literally stared at my tv and was like wtf?). The only thing I didn't like about the film was that the ending's twist was a little too complex and I had to rewind it a couple times to figure out what I missed (kinda like a few of the SAW movies) but overall, I really liked this film and encourage you to check it out HERE!

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Contact (Short Film Review)

A young woman and her lover take a strange, mystical drug -- and the trip leads them down a road fraught with psychological terror, gore, mayhem and madness...
This is probably one of the best independent short films I've seen in a while. Directed by Jeremiah Kipp, this black and white film is visually stunning and beautiful. The way it was shot and the lack of spoken dialog give it a surreal atmosphere and leaves the weight of the film on the actor's performances, and they carried the film very well. The story is well written and will probably make you think twice the next time you feel like getting high! This macabre short is absolutely worth watching, and can be watched for free (yes, free!) HERE.

Cyber Scream Queen of the Day: Sarah James

It's time for our special Women In Horror Month posts, The Cyber Scream Queen of the Day! The Woman you see highlighted this day and every day this month deserves the recognition for their outstanding achievements in online horror writing.

Name: Sarah James
Blog: Scare Sarah
Bio: I’ve been in to the scary stuff since I was a kid, watching Doctor Who and the like on TV, reading ghost stories. I was about 11 when me and some friends watched Childs Play 3 and Waxworks on a sleepover. Disgraceful, I know. Where were our parents?! Since then I’ve found my passion for horror films grow and I’ll watch anything from your tackiest teen slasher to your creepiest Japanese-girl-with-long-black-hair-all-over-her-face movie.
My blog, Scare Sarah is still very young but it is gradually creeping out of from under its dusty floorboard with more scares to come in 2010. I’m all for sharing the horror enthusiasm and encourage my readers to tell me what gives them the creeps. Girls like being scared too!

Cyber Scream Queen of the Day: Ms Harker

It's time for our special Women In Horror Month posts, The Cyber Scream Queen of the Day! The Woman you see highlighted this day and every day this month deserves the recognition for their outstanding achievements in online horror writing.

Name: Ms Harker
Blog: Musings Across A Continuum
Bio: Ms Harker is a horror enthusiast, blogger would be horror writer and professional bleeding heart. With a penchant for all things fanged, she takes particular delight in the supernatural side of the genre and prefers her horror with a little raunch on the side. Ms Harker enjoys horror in all its formats film, television, books however has a soft spot for graphic novels. Her blog Musings Across a Continuum reflects her love for the gothic side of horror, where ladies wore delightful art deco gowns and clutched at their pearls as the monster approached!

Cyber Scream Queen of the Day: Nicole Raymond

It's time for our special Women In Horror Month posts, The Cyber Scream Queen of the Day! The Woman you see highlighted this day and every day this month deserves the recognition for their outstanding achievements in online horror writing.

Name: Nicole Raymond
Blog: Gruesome Details
Bio: Gruesome Details is a horror-related blog, focusing primarily on horror films but also focusing on horror in television and in novels. Horror is much more than morally questionable teens and unstoppable killers in the woods. “Walk this way” as we explore the ever popular horror spoof, and let’s learn how to survive a horror film. At Gruesome Details, we will identify the overlapping horror sub-genres, including exploitation, slasher, and psychological thriller, before delving into horror fiction where the images and sounds are conceived in your mind.
The name is Nicole Raymond (NMRaymond) and I am a horror enthusiast, primarily versed in horror films but certainly not all of the vast titles in the genre. Horror was something I avoided as a child, frightened by the mere music that contained haunting and eerie melodies that accompanied the genre. Not to sound pathetic, but horror was terrifying to me during my childhood. However, a love of gore and mystery is in my blood: my grandmother and my father have enjoyed horror since as long as I could remember. Embracing horror was inevitable for me, I just never imagined how much I would love the genre once I embraced that dark and twisted part of me.
Readers need only know that everything that I write on my horror blog is my personal opinion and that I enjoy inputting comedic relief and puns throughout to bring out my kooky sense of humor. I really just want to share my experiences in the horror genre, whether or not readers agree with my personal opinion. I just want my voice to be heard in this community, and I have felt nothing but welcomed since I arrived in the horror blogosphere. And I would be interested in being suggested titles in the horror genre, specifically novels and short stories, because my horror library is short in that department.

Cyber Scream Queen of the Day: Erin Lashley

It's time for our special Women In Horror Month posts, The Cyber Scream Queen of the Day! The Woman you see highlighted this day and every day this month deserves the recognition for their outstanding achievements in online horror writing.

Name: Erin Lashley
Blog: In It For The Kills
Bio: I started In It For the Kills to figure out why I watch so many horror films. I was only an occasional horror movie viewer until around my 32nd birthday, although I have been interested in celebrity death details, ghosts, psychic phenomena and cemeteries as long as I can remember. One minute I was one of those people who couldn't watch a horror movie alone and would have to cover my eyes often; the next I was watching them every night. My "thesis" of sorts and the meaning of the blog's name was that we talk about atmosphere, shots, effects, acting, plot, etc., but what if all we really care about is gnarly sequences of people dying in nasty ways? In my case, I think I might be taking out aggression by watching the movies.
I spend some of the time posting very self-indulgent mini papers (which would have garnered Cs in college English) on the symbolism in the films I watch. These posts are not so popular, which is really no surprise. I promised myself I would not be just another site making fun of crappy movies. Unfortunately, my favorite sites are all the ones where people make fun of stuff so I've veered in that direction anyway. The posts with more humor, particularly when lists are involved, seem to be the most popular. I know that I genuinely like some pretty crappy movies and it is hard not to mock them.
Sometimes I miss the 80s style of filmmaking which was not ironic until Heathers came along. But I'm a Gen-Xer, and we seem to have taken 'liking stuff because it sucks" to a new level. Now popular culture can't seem to go back. I think recent horror movies that are too smart and self-aware may not hold up. For example, have you watched Scream lately? The self-referential aspects of that one definitely didn't age well. Probably my favorite horror movie of all time is Poltergeist. That movie had its funny parts but when the shit came down they played it straight.
Because "they" are not making the films I like as much anymore, it leads me to think my next step will be writing horror short stories. Maybe if they are any good my husband, an indie filmmaker who writes screenplays, can adapt some of them. What I'd really like to do is write creative non fiction with a horror theme. I've always had the most success with previous blogs when I tell modified stories about my own life, but I live in a small town and I'd rather not get sued or murdered for something I've written. It means a lot to me when anyone is affected by something I've written, but this blog is only read by other horror bloggers. It's nice to make art for its own sake, but I have a B.A. in English I've never profited from and I'm not getting any younger or more wealthy at this point. I'd really like to expand into something more people will read i.e. something someone will pay me for. I know that some people make waaaaaay too much money for their art. I would be happy with 30-50k a year for making stuff up.
I don't see In It For the Kills dying anytime soon, but at this time it is my only writing project and it should be more of a side project. I'll do it as long as it's fun.

Cyber Scream Queen of the Day: Andre Dumas

It's time for our special Women In Horror Month posts, The Cyber Scream Queen of the Day! The Woman you see highlighted this day and every day this month deserves the recognition for their outstanding achievements in online horror writing.

Name: Andre Dumas
Blog: The Horror Digest
Bio: I've been into horror movies ever since I discovered the beauty of Killer Klowns From Outer Space at the age of 5. From that point on- horror movies became a sort of roller coaster type of entertainment for me. I was terrified to watch them but I just HAD to do it- and afterwards I was exhilarated and completely pumped about what I had just seen.
I began the Horror Digest in July 09 and ever since then have been spitting out reviews like crazy. I review pretty much everything but the horror that really warms my heart- are the more artful and meaningful films. I have a longtime obsession with beautiful blood on film, poetic voice overs and creepy songs- things that I think can really make a film. I firmly believe in the idea of a terrible beauty- things that are so terrifying but still represented in a way that makes them truly memorable. In my reviews I concentrate on the elements of the film that stick with us to the grave. Those moments in horror movies that you will always somehow picture when you are alone in a dark room and terrified by your own shadow.
My goal as a blogger is to expose readers not only to movies they have never seen- but also to allow them to see a movie in a very different light than they have before. Writing has always been my passion and hopefully a little sass, mixed with some horror knowledge and just overall coolness will lead The Horror Digest to bigger and better things.

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Z.E.O. A Zombie's Guide to Getting A(Head) in Business

I was a huge fan of Scott's when he first put out The Zen of Zombie (if you haven't checked it out, please do), a "self help" book that teaches you how to live better by living zombie. With his new book, Z.E.O., he helps us learn how the awesomeness that is being a zombie can help us get to the top of the corporate ladder. He kindly sent me the book for review here on DBH.
First off is the content of the book itself. It's separated into two sections: Business Tactics of a Zombie and a Quarterly guide to becoming a Z.E.O. in one year.
The first section has many smaller sections detailing everything from time management and taking initiative to how to be like Tiger Woods (see interview below)! It's well written and funny as hell. He even goes through the, well known in other "self help" books, 48 Laws of Power and shows you how zombies inspired them.
The Second section gives you a step by step guide of what to do each quarter of a work year to get to the top in that short amount of time. Although some of what the book suggest actually sounds like it might work, in not sure if demanding to be C.E.O., no matter how much you've help improve the company, is gonna work for ya. But none the less, It's entertaining and not meat to be taken seriously (another reason I like this book).
Lastly is the artwork. I have read other reviews that thought it was too amateur, but I thought they worked well with the humorous nature of the book. If the pictures were to realistic, It wouldn't have went with the funny feel to the book. Plus I just like the way they look.
Overall, I would recommend this book to all zombie fans and those who want to get a head in the job the have now, a new job there just starting, or even use a zombie's business sense help run a successful horror blog!

Scott was also kind enough to sit down for a little chat about the book and upcoming projects.

Q: What got you into Zombies?

A: I've always liked horror-- I grew up reading H.P. Lovecraft, and he's still my favorite author-- but in college, I really got specifically into zombies. My most formative encounters were with Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and King of the Zombies.

Q: How did you come up with the concept of "Self Help" books that teach you the wonders of being like a Zombie?

A: My mother is a social worker who has foisted self-help books upon me since childhood. I have grown to be healthily skeptical of them. When I sat down to write a comedic zombie book, the idea of satirizing the self-help genre was one of the first that came to me.

Q: I differ from other reviews I've read; I love the artwork in the book! Could you tell a bit about the illustrator?

A: Sure. My illustrator is named Adam Bozarth. He works on staff for my publisher, Skyhorse Publishing. I've only met him once (at the book launch party Skyhorse did for The Zen of Zombie in New York City), but he was a super-cool dude. Here's an interview with Adam on YouTube where he talks about working on The Zen of Zombie and other books: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=774kqcxT0r8

Q: One of my favorite chapters in the book is how not to be a "Tiger". With the recent events concerning Tiger Woods and...well his "wood", would you like to add anything advice to wanna be Zombies out there?

A: When I picked on Tiger in Z.E.O., I was really picking on the boorish, uninspired authors who write "inspirational" business books based on the accomplishments of pro athletes. These books make no sense to me. Probably, the sensationalization of Tiger's marital infidelity just means that these same writers will now look to different athletes as prompts when writing their lousy, nonsensical business books. But I still really like the Tiger Woods chapter in Z.E.O. (I'm glad you did, too) and I think it still stands up as funny, even though it doesn't include his sex scandal.

Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming projects and where we can learn more?

A: Sure. I have two more zombie humor books--The Art of Zombie Warfare and The Code of Zombie Piracy-- coming out later this year. Both will be published by Skyhorse, and both will feature more excellent illustrations by the talented Adam Bozarth. I have also recently completed a zombie novel that my agent is shopping, and I hope to have good news about that very soon. If your readers want to learn more, I write a blog about zombies at http://scottkenemore.wordpress.com/