Dollar Bin Horror's Women in Horror Month Finale: Rhonny Reaper's Top 15 Chicks in Horror Flicks!

Good morning reaplings. Today is the last day of Women in Horror Month and all throughout the month, I've shared with you some of my favorite femme fatals of the horror blogosphere. Well today, I'm sharing with you my favorite ladies of the big screen, the women who make horror films oh so good. So without further ado, here are my picks for the top 15 chicks in horror flicks!

#15 Cherry Darling - This chick packs the heat, both physically and literally!

#14 Tiffany - I freaking love Jennifer Tilly, and how can you not love the bride of our favorite killer doll, Chucky?

#13 Mary Shaw - This was my nickname in high school for my doll collection. I can empathize with poor old Mary.

#12 Mrs. Lovett - Although it probably should have done the opposite, every time I heard Mrs. Lovett sing "Try the Priest", I wanted a beef pot pie.

#11 Laurie Strode - The original Final girl. And I thought my big brother could be an ass sometimes....

#10 The Bride of Frankenstein - The reason I love her so much is because she didn't even have to speak to be memorable!

#9 Sidney Prescott - Im just jealous she got to sleep with Billy before I could....damn you Sidney, damn you!

#8 Nancy Thompson - The first slasher girl to actually think and make a plan to beat the bad guy (too bad I was still rooting for Freddy).

#7 Elvira, Mistress of the Dark - My favorite horror hostess, this woman built an empire in the 80's that's still going strong today. This woman is my hero!

#6 Clarice Starling - Any woman who can come face to face with Hannibal and Buffalo Bill without becoming a meal or a new suit is alright in my book.

#5 Carrie White - Finally someone got back at those assholes in high school that picked on everyone else to get there kicks! Go Carrie!

#4 Ellen Ripley - This woman is pure badass. She oozes with toughness. I wouldn't wanna meet her in a bar fight!

#3 Annie Wilkes - Misery is one of my all time favorite flicks. Annie is the perfect balance of craziness and charm. She sure knows how to make a house guest feel welcome!

#2 Baby Firefly - All this badass girl wanted was some Tutti Fucking Fruitti...oh yeah, and to kill you.

#1 Amanda Young - This poster girl for Stockholm Syndrome is probably the most memorable face in the whole SAW franchise. From the head trap, to the transformation into Jigsaw's right hand gal, this is one girly you shouldn't mess with.

Well there you have it, My big finale to the amazingly fantastic Women in Horror Month. I hope you all enjoyed and I hope we can do this again Next year!

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Duncan's Diary: Birth of a Serial Killer (Book Review and Interview)

Duncan is in the throes of a mid-life crisis and searching for his own identity. His problems seem no different than other men facing the same issues, but as he struggles through a divorce and the challenges of co-parenting his children, Duncan soon realizes that he feels complete inside only when he begins to secretly explore a world of torture and death-a world that only he controls. Suddenly, Duncan's life is no longer normal at all. As Duncan deals with his newfound guilty pleasure of destruction and wickedness, his diary entries reflect a roller coaster psychological journey. Duncan grapples with the ramifications of what he is becoming, but at the same time, graphically describes the deaths of several of his victims. Clearly a man caught between his morals and an evil calling, Duncan leads a seemingly typical life during the day, but in the dark of night becomes a monster. Only one man suspects what Duncan is capable of-his best friend, Sudhir, a detective in the Palo Alto Police Department. Despite Duncan's cries for help penned on the pages of his diary, he becomes a master at hiding his transformation from "the guy next door" to a masterful serial killer.

This is one of my favorite books I ever reviewed here on DBH. It is so graphic and detailed in describing the scenes of murder, rape, and the cleaning of the bodies that I have to remind you this is a work of fiction. The emotions in this book are like a roller coaster, from the euphoria describe by Duncan as he lets his aggressions out, to the pain and fear of the victims he lets it out on. The relationship with his ex wife reminded me of my parent's divorce, and the murders reminded me of the recent murders committed by Anthony Sowell here in Cleveland, so I became very emotionally attached to this book. The way it was written, it just felt so real and really creeped me the hell out! The ending shocked me a little, but then you think back to the little hints left here and there about the fate of Duncan, and you just sit there thinking "I shoulda saw that". This is a great book and I highly recommend it!

The author, Christopher C. Payne, graciously sat down to answer a few questions for all of you reaplings out there!

Q: What inspired you to write this book?

A: I was on match.com, spending all this time writing e-mails. One day I thought, if I am going to write to strangers, why not write a book. I sat down at my computer, attempted a few different roads and the book evolved. No whiteboard, no path, just letting the character and story develop as it did. I had never written anything before in my life. Nobody believes that story, but it is too funny and oh so true.

Q: How did you get into the mindset to write such a graphic, descriptive novel?

A: OMG, this is not really me. I had no idea it would even turn into a horror story. The character literally hijacked the theme, plot and it took off. If you asked me 18 months ago if I could even write anything like this I would have said no. I have no idea where it came from but the character's disintegration came about as a natural path.

Q: Do you follow the stories of other serial killers such as Manson or Bundy?

A: No, I honestly don't. I have heard of them and read a story here and there but I don't spend much time following them. I was more interested in showing a character's evolution and this specific character just happened to evolve into a serial killer. I can't even tell you where he will go in the next book because I honestly don't know.

Q: What other projects are you working on and where can we learn more?

A: I am currently working on a book that delves into the relationship between a father and a teenage daughter who is lost within herself. She is struggling with drugs and alcohol in the midst of her parents divorce. It is a gut wrenching tragic story that I guarantee will have most people bawling as they get to the end. I hope to finish it in the next few weeks and work on getting it published. After this project is complete I will immediately begin the sequel to Duncan's Diary. I chose to wait on the second book simply because the first one was so draining to write. I had not idea the realistic depiction of a sadistic character would be so hard to portray.
You can always follow my rantings on JournalStone.com which is my website or jump on my facebook account, duncan carl-moron. The book can be purchased on Amazon.com, just click HERE

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - After Life (Book Review and Interview)

Since the seventh grade, Alex, a retail slave, has secretly been in love with his best friend, Morgan, a web cartoonist. Amidst these distanced and inhibited lives, Alex and Morgan are suddenly faced with the literal end of the world. Corpses around the globe begin to hunger for the flesh of the living, and society crumbles quickly under the shock of the attacks. With the animated dead filling the streets, Morgan has no choice but to hide in Alex's apartment. While death is waiting outside the apartment every hour of the day, the two friends force themselves to rethink every social rule and emotional response in order to keep their sanity. Both of them will ultimately decide whether they should struggle to hold onto the life that they lost, or adapt to the change. In a world where only the numb can survive, Alex and Morgan must face their true feelings for the first time. Love, blood, and the undead.

I really liked this book. For the most part it was well written, say a few minor points where the story got a little chaotic, but it is a zombie novel after all. My favorite part of the book is the build of up the relationship between Alex and Morgan. It's starts off slow, but then after you get into the book a bit, you start to feel for the two and get emotional every time they start to get close or grow further apart. I got so into it, I yelled at my computer screen while reading a scene towards the middle where he rejects a sexual advance for her (idiot!). But of course, there are plenty of zombies and blood to go around for all you horror loving fiends out there. The scenes describing the zombies are graphic, gory, and just plain fun to read! So if you love zombies and a good love story, I encourage you to check out After Life! (Just don't get too emotionally attached and start yelling at the book, you'll just look crazy...)


The author, Jaron Knuth, took the time to answer a few questions, so enjoy!

Q: What inspired you to write a zombie novel?

A: The easy answer is George Romero, but I really feel like zombies continue to encompass and symbolize the new fears of each generation. Whether the analogy is racism, the mindlessness of consumerism, the spread of mutated viruses and biological attacks, or the dangers of communism/terrorism and the spreading fear that even your neighbor could be one of these evil people, zombies are a great symbol for our culture.
My own love of zombies probably stems from the post-apocalyptic/survivalist environment in which many of these stories find themselves. There is that romanticized idea that you don't need to be a special forces soldier or a martial arts master to survive in a zombie apocalypse. Just be smart and you could survive. That's an attractive idea.
Plus, describing the gore of eating flesh is just plain fun as a writer.

Q: Could you tell us a bit about the process of writing the book?

A: It took about two months from writing the first page to the publication of the first edition, but I mentally worked out the story for months (years?) before I touched finger to keyboard. Once I started, I was writing full time, at least seven hours a day, usually at the same time of day. I need that kind of structure in order to be productive. For me, waiting for inspiration is a great form of procrastination.
Since the release of the book, I have continued the editing process. Being a self-publisher, I think one of the benefits I have is the ability to release updated text based on reader feedback. These versions included corrections on grammar, punctuation, and even a few sentence rewrites for clarity. Perfection is impossible, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop pursuing it.

Q: The book has a lot of emotional and love themes in it, could you tell what inspired the relationship in the book?

A: While the details of the love story stem from some very personal experiences, I think the basic story is very relatable. Most people have experienced some form of unrequited love, hid the love they feel from someone out of fear, or had a seemingly endless relationship come to a screeching halt.
While the plot of the book is definitely about zombies -- and is full of horror, action, blood, and gore -- the theme of the story comes from that feeling people get when a girlfriend or boyfriend breaks up with them, they get a divorce, or even when a loved one dies. At the time it feels like the end of the world. Your life was a certain way and you just can't imagine it changing. The memories of these people from your past may continue to shamble down the streets, moaning, but eventually you adapt. Slowly you move on and accept your new reality.

Q: Where can we learn more about you, the book, and your upcoming projects?

A: You can find a Facebook fan page for my books by searching for Jaron Lee Knuth, and I am also on Twitter @jaronleeknuth. My books are available on Amazon.com ( bit.ly/jaronleeknuth ) in both print and Kindle versions, with the kindle version priced at only 99 cents. Other ebook formats can be found on Smashwords.com. ( bit.ly/jaronleeknuthebook )

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Dawning (Screener Review and Interview)

Dawning is the story of a brother and sister who decide to visit there father and stepmother at there house in the woods. Strange things start to happen. They begin to here things, the family dog is found with a huge wound, and a crazed man enters the house, saying "It" killed his girlfriend.
This movie is a one of the best indie films I've seen. It reminds me a lot of The Strangers in the way that it creeps you out, but leaves you asking "What just happened?" It doesn't rely on gore, but on the build up of suspense and the story itself, which leaves it very vulnerable to to the viewer. But the film overcomes this because the story is genuinely good and the build up of suspense keeps you hooked till the end. It's very well shot and the acting is really good. As I said before, one of the best indie films I've seen, so please check out Dawning.

I had the honor of sitting down with director and writer Gregg Holtgrewe to talk about the film.

Q: How did you come up with the concept for Dawning?

A: Dawning originated out of my love for horror and drama. I kept wondering why horror didn't affect me the same way as when something bad happens to someone in a drama...and vice versa, I wondered why drama couldn't be more horrifying...and in the end, to me, nothing is more horrifying than not being able to communicate and trust the people who are closest to you. So I set out to try and make a film which combined the elements I like best in both genres. This was a difficult process as it's a lot easier to just throw in some teenage kids, maybe a girl in a tank-top to cater to some sort of sexual interest and fill it with new and exciting kill scenes...but this wasn't the kind of horror films which affected me as a child...look at The Exorcist, Amytiville, Jaws, Alien, The Shining, Evil Dead, Halloween, The Thing, Texas Chainsaw, Silence of the Lambs and even Signs, etc, etc...they rely so much more on real characters and atmosphere and tension. These films are the best of the bunch and I wanted to try and follow in their footsteps. Lastly, I spent a lot of time looking at the way films were trending (which has been more and more porno-like) and I wanted to reverse the trend, which maybe is a bit too big for my little film but that was the purpose.

Q: A lot of independent films I've seen rely on gore, yours doesn't. Was it difficult to rely more on the atmosphere and build-up?

A: Very true, that's a great point. Like I pointed out above, relying on atmosphere and the build is very, very tricky because you want to sustain the audience but at the same time you don't want to lose them. Because of this dilemma I thought the best way to approach the film would be to try and create tension in almost every single scene so the audience can just feel the tension oozing out of, not only what the characters are saying and doing, but also what isn't being said or done as well. Ultimately, what's scary about gore? Sure, I don't want to be cut up by a killer or eaten by a creature but like Kubrick explores in Paths of Glory, it's not death we're afraid of, but how we die...and in "Dawning" I wanted to take the idea of death and use it as a metaphor...as a society we're so obsessed with answers (as if there can be any with death) and what happened? Why did they die? You know, the reality is, that's all just a lot of talk and show in order to appease people's natural inclination to fear death...when in reality our death is the only truth we may ultimately know. In "Dawning" I purposefully kept things from having answers so by the end of the film, the only potential truth may be in the last line of the film. Sorry, I ramble and get off topic sometimes. I hope these are answering your questions.

Q: Could you tell us what it was like to make this film on such a short budget?

A: Sure. It's been one of the most grueling and exciting films I've ever done. We started shooting in 2006 and I scrapped all the footage, went back to shoot in 2007 with a new crew and shot extra footage in 2008 and 2009. If you go back to 2004 when I first made 'Dawning' for $800 on weekends, it's been six of the craziest years of my life. A lot of favors, a lot of hard work on everyone's end and mainly, a lot of dedication, not only from myself, but the cast (which has been beyond great) and the producers as well. Over the film it was important I found ways to quicken the shoot while also making quick (and hopefully smart) decisions about what should or shouldn't be omitted. When a storm comes and knocks power out for almost a day, your shooting schedule gets crazy and you just have to move with the winds and make sure, no matter what compromises have been made, that you continue to see the film through to the end...only compromising on what won't hurt the overall content.

Q: Where can people find out more about the film ad upcoming projects?

A: People can find out more info by going to a few different sites. The film's main site is www.dawningthemovie.com - my personal site is www.wholecrue.wordpress.com and we also have a Facebook, Myspace and Twitter page...just look for Dawning the Movie. We also have a few screenings coming up in April (one festival, one theatrical booking) and we'll hopefully keep getting the film out there with the help of blogs like yours and Planet of Terror, etc...Thanks for the questions and good luck with your site!

Cool Spanish Short Film to Check Out

I recently got an email about this really cool short film from Mexico. It was made by Eduardo Trujillo and I just wanted to share it with all of you. The film is called "Caminando al reves" (translated "Walking Backwards") and you can find more info at http://chuletafilms.blogspot.com/ (Site needs translating, but it's pretty cool)!

What's coming up on Dollar Bin Horror

Hey my little reaplings, it's Rhonny Reaper here, and I just wanna let you guys know about whats gonna be going on and whats coming up around here.

• Fist off, I'll be doing some interviews and reviews on some screeners and books. Just to name a few, some of the screeners are "Dawning", "Colonel Kill Motherfuckers" (and a few more from HackMovies.com), "Dead Hooker in a Trunk", and "Tony". Some of the books are "After Life", "Duncan's Diary: Birth of a Serial Killer" and a little bit later "Kings of the Dead".
• I will also be doing a review of a webseries style story and poems from http://www.darktomorrow.net/. I have read a bit of it already and It looks promising.
• Im working on a pretty long list of my favorite chicks in horror flicks as a Finale to our Women in Horror Month Celebration here on DBH, so look out for that!
• And I will finally get back to my usual Dollar Bin films and book posts and hope to post more Splurges and Kisses and Disses posts, which got positive responses from you reaplings when I first started them, so they shall be back!

Well thats what will be goin on around here. Im looking forward to all your feedback and hope you enjoy! And a small reminder that DBH has been nominated for a prestigious Rondo Award!!! So if you have a few moments to spare, please vote for Dollar Bin Horror as "Best Horror Blog"! Details on how and the complete ballot can be found HERE

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Dead Shit (Screener Review)

Dead Shit follows the exploits of Nixon and Hogan. Two unemployed, haplyess stoners who somehow keep finding themselves on the recieving end of a serious supernatural fuckstorm! In The Talisman of tikinaya our two lovable thugs somehow find themselves in the middle of some kind of zombie apocalypse, but all is not as it seems. There's some heinous magic afoot, and before long, Nixon and Hogan are asshole deep in a plot so thick with twist and turns, your eyeballs will turn backwards and fall the fuck right out of your bitch-face!
Who doesn't love the combination of zombies and stoners? This is probably the funniest and my favorite of all the flicks sent to me by Hack Movies. I mean it has it all, weed, World of Warcraft, sex with a zombie (which is NOT recommended!). Pretty much, it's a funny ass zombie flick made by a group of Juggalos that will probably offend the faint of heart, so watch with caution and enjoy!

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Goatsucker (Screener Review)

Capitalizing on the rash of sightings of a legendary creature called El Chupacabra (Spanish for "The Goatsucker"), a tourist hiking company creates a Goatsucker hiking tour. The pleasant hike turns into a nightmare when disturbing events cause the group to suspect the Goatsucker may be more than just a legend.
This is probably my favorite of the 3 screeners from Big Biting Pig productions that I have reviewed here. It's well shot, the acting ain't to shabby, and the story is well written. It has all the elements of a good horror film with comic relief in just the right places. It also has the Big Biting Pig film's signature, a huge twist at the end that you won't see coming. It's a wonderful indie film that is worth checking out HERE.

HOLY SHIT! Dollar Bin Horror has been nominated for a Rondo Hatton Award!!!!

This has got to be one of the biggest honors I have ever had in the time this blog has been here. I found out bout some of my favorite sites and blogs through the Rondos and I cannot believe that my little ole blog has been nominated! I mean, just to be nominated is a honor! So please, if you have a moment to spare, PLEASE vote for Dollar Bin Horror in this years Rondo awards, the ballot and email address to send your votes can be found by clicking the image below.

*ADDITION* DBH has also been named as one of the 3 winners of the Bloody Disgusting Horror Blog Awards voted on by YOU the readers! THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH! Click HERE to see the other winners and All the AMAZING nominees!!!

Because it MUST be said...

Usually I just have the poll on the side bar just for fun and to see what everyone likes but um...yeah this kinda shocked me! You see, I'm a HUGE Backstreet boys fan (don't shoot me) and have bee made fun of forever, so now I have proof that I'm not the only complete dork in the universe :) So in honor of all those who voted for BSB, I present to you the winning video! For those who didn't, well you might not wanna scroll down any further. And for those of you who have never seen it....where the hell where you in the 90's!?!





Vezi mai multe video din Muzica

Cyber Scream Queen of the Day: Jodie Palmer

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: Jodie Palmer
Site: Dead Lantern
Bio: My name is Jodie (aka Explodey Jo) and I'm from the UK. I got into horror podcasts and blogs when I started listening to the Splattercast about three years ago. I got in touch with the Splatter guys via their forum, and soon became a regular. I appeared on the show twice (the X-Files special and the Women in Horror episode) and began posting to their blog and review section. My main project is a series of reviews of the Video Nasty movies of the 1980s. I plan to watch them all, but some of them are proving hard to track down, especially the fully uncut versions.
My horror tastes are varied. I like most types of horror film, and am slowly getting to see a lot of older ones. My favourites include Alien, Aliens, The Exorcist, Grindhouse, Cape Fear (both versions), The Burning, and At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul. Recent gems I've been lucky enough to see include The Haunting (original), Let the right one in, Hatchet, and Evil Dead Trap.

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Zomblog (Book review and Interview)

Zomblog tells the story of the human race's fall from grace after a zombie outbreak for the viewpoint of one man's blog. It is filled with his stories of survival, of his tragedy, and of both the great support people can have for each other in times of tragedy, or the complete loss of humanity people can have towards each other in a time of chaos.
I love the blog style format of the book because it makes it easier for the reader to read. You ca read the whole thing at once (which the book is so good, I don't see how you couldn't) or read it in short bursts, like a real blog. The story itself is well written and makes you feel every emotion possible, sorrow, hope, disgust, its all there. TW Brown has created a great new zombie novel that I highly recommend to all you zombie loving horror fans out there, so check out Zomblog, I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

Mr. TW Brown was also nice enough to sit down for a chat about the book!

Q: Where did you come up with the idea of a book composed of Blog entries from a viewpoint of a man surviving a Zombie outbreak?

A: The answer is not very romantic. It was really just a warm up exercise that I used to shake the rust off. I had been planning a different project but didn't feel ready to undertake the task. The short blog entry format allowed me to write in short bursts. The subject matter was easy because it's a genre that I've loved for decades.

Q: What films, books, or blogs inspired you?

A: First and foremost it would have to be Romero's Dawn on the Dead. Beyond that I really hadn't delved too deeply in the written zombie fiction genre until Wellington's Monster Island. After that it was Briane Keene's the Rising and City of the Dead... Then I found Permuted Press and it was better than stumbling into a candy store.

Q: What other projects are you working on?

A: I just had what I consider one of my best pieces of work published by Living Dead Press Book of the Dead 3 Dead and Rotting titled Daddy's Little Girl. I actually have a lot going on right now. I am currently working on Zomblog 2 to come out in December, a new novel Dead: The Ugly Beginning to come out in May and Dead 2 to come out next May. I am Also working on an anthology titled Eye Witness and I am accepting submissions for this at www.maydecemberpublications.com. Additionally I'm trying to improve my short story skills for some anthologies by library of the Living Dead Press and Permuted Press.

Q: Where can people find the book and information on new projects?

A: You can find the book at Amazon.com. Additionally they can check out what I've got going on at www.maydecemberpublications.com. It will always be the most current update on whatever project I'm involved in. You can also follow me on Twitter @maydecpub and find me on myspace and facebook as well as Authornation, fictionpress.com,and fanfiction.com