I'm Getting Published!

A little while back, I entered a short fiction contest. The Undead Nation (ran by authors Alan Gandy and Cal Miller) were looking for zombie stories for an anthology with all proceeds going to Breast Cancer Research. Today, they announced the winners and....I'M IN!!!!!! I feel like doing backflips (but I won't because I can't)! I simply want to say thank you for choosing "Rebecca" to be a part of this great cause. The book is due out in August and I hope you all can pick up a copy and help out a great cause!

Here's a list of all the amazing winners!

The Undead Nation Short Fiction Contest Winners:
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Ryan Clarke- I Will Let The Warm Blood Drive My Thoughts
Gordon Hayes- Gumdrop City
Rhonny Kachur- Rebecca (ME!)
Drew McKay- The Eye in the Mirrors
Tracey Mitchell- Silver Moon
Audy Mytron- Entire Journal
Lyle Perez-Tinics- Dement
Jenna Pitman- I am Become Death
Christina Rause- A Walk Deferred
Holly K. Wood- Decapoda Animusicide
Opal Zushaquon- The Blighted Legacy of Nicanor Lavan

The Crypticon Seattle Contest Winner:
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Erik Tavares- Wocka Wocka Bridge

and the Creators on The Undead Nation:
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Alan R. Gandy- Satan's Cadaver
Calvin A. L. Miller II- Cold Blood: The End

Right now, I'm working on a story for an upcoming Christmas Zombie anthology I told you about in an earlier post (CLICK HERE TO SEE) that's also for charity, So wish me luck!!!!

Animals starring Marc Blucas (Buffy) and Naveen Andrews (Lost) - Dollar Bin Film

By: Brandon Sites (http://www.bigdaddyhorrorreviews.com/) New Release - $1/night via Redbox.

Based on the book by Craig Spector and John Skipp, Animals which just arrived to DVD in June, finds a female shapeshifter (Nicki Aycox) trying to start over again with a small town down on his luck construction worker(Marc Blucas), but her bloody past is about to catch up with her.

The script, while intruging, is never fully fleshed out. Instead the focus is put on the cast and several sex scenes. The sex scenes definately bring the heat as most of the leads are shown in various stages of undress getting hot and heavy. What makes these scenes work is the cast has sexual chemistry. The cast is far better then the material deserves lifting up what is probably a D list film and making it quite entertaining. Marc Blucas from the TV series Buffy, The Vampire Slayer is competent, but nothing more. Nicki Aycox makes for a tempting object of sexual desire knowing how to work her body, toss her hair, and moan at all the right times. Eva Amurri, Susan Sarandon's daughter and co-star of Californication, actually manages to bring substance to a grossly underwritten role. The standout of the bunch however is Naveen Andrews from the TV series Lost. He brings a snakey kind of charm to his role balancing that with just the right amount of menace. He manges to make his villian quite appealing. The special effects are pretty cheesey, but thank goodness there is only a limited amount of those. A few scenes definately stand out as they are done with energy and vigor. The best sequence involves the film's villian Andrews approaching a rude store clerk and having to dispose of her in the store's cooler. Haven't we all at some point wanted to do something to that annoying store clerk and this scene plays up to that perfectly. Too bad the rest of the material in the script wasn't as clever. All in all, watchable and entertaining with some energetic scenes making this passable. Recommanded viewing, but just barely.

It's the "It's July Forth so Let's Celebrate with Fucking Zombies" Contest!

Just a little while back, I had the pleasure of reviewing the wonderful book Voyeur Dead by Alan Gandy. It's a zombie book with a unique story line and amazing photos. Well Alan has been kind enough to give one lucky DBH reader the chance to win a autographed copy!


So what do you need to do to win? Simply leave a comment with your favorite quote from a Zombie movie! Include your name and email in the comment so that If your chosen, I can get in contact with you (no name, no email, no entry!). The winner will be randomly selected on Wednesday, July 14th. That's it! So good luck and good BRAINNNNZZZZ!!!!

Horror for a Cause: The Undead That Saved Christmas

Are you an aspiring horror writer looking for some exposure? Do you want to support an amazing cause? Well, Lyle Perez of awesome horror blog Undead in the Head has just the opportunity for you! He is working on putting together an anthology of short horror stories and comics surrounding Christmas and Zombies! Lyle was nice enough to sit down with me and answer a few questions about this amazing project.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for the book?

A: It just came to one morning while I was at work. I wanted to do something meaningful for the first book that will have my name on the cover. I love Christmas, not so much the gift getting but the feel the holiday gives. When Christmas music was playing all month long in my office, I was the only one who loved it. I am also a huge fan of zombies. I thought about doing a Christmas themed anthology a while back but never had the drive for it. It was when I remembered the foster kids I donated to last year. That is when I got the idea to do a Christmas themed anthology and all the proceeds will go to buy the foster children gifts this holiday season. I was trying to think of a name when the Grinch came to mind. I said to myself “The Grinch That Stole Christmas” then I said “The Undead That Stole Christmas” when finally I thought in my head ‘No it’s for foster kids’ then The Undead That Saved Christmas popped in my head. After that I just went with that titled. I mean it fits the charity and theme of the anthology perfectly, no?

Q: Why did you choose the charity you chose?

A: Last year I was sitting at work when I got a mass e-mail from a co-worker. The email said that Hugs Foster Family Agency was in need of help for the holiday season. Attached was a huge list of children names and their top three Christmas gift wishes. I scrolled up and down the list reading the children’s wishes and it touched my heart. It never accrued to me that there were so many kids in need, kids that didn’t have parents who would give them a great Christmas. I donated to the Hugs and I thought about the kids faces when they open their gifts on Christmas. Later I overheard my co-worker say that even though a lot of us helped, some kids didn’t get anything. That broke my heart and I kept thinking that maybe if I would have donated more, then everyone could have gotten something. This year though, with the help of everyone contributing, we can use our skills to help give these kids a wonderful Christmas.

Q: What are you looking for in submissions?

A: Well, I am looking for short stories ranging 3,000 – 10,000 words. The stories must have a mix of Christmas and zombie themes. I tell everyone who asks to think; sleigh bells, red and green M&M’s, Santa, Paul McCartney’s song “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time” and then add zombies. I have recently been having a lot of interest from comic artists. They asked is I would consider comics, I said, why not? Comics should range 15-35 pages in length and please keep the illustrations in black and white. Color prints will cost more and I don’t want to take away any proceeds from the foster children. If I can keep the cost at a minimal that would be best. I have to work fast in order to get this anthology out on or before October 1, 2010 so submissions will close on August 20, 2010. Royalties are paid monthly so in order to get as much money as possible I’d like to get the anthology out as soon as possible. I would also like to thank S. G. Browne the author of Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament for offering his time and writing an introduction for the anthology.

Q: Why Zombies?

A: Zombies have been a big part of my life since the late 1990’s. It all started with Resident Evil 2 and since then I have been hooked. I love the idea of a zombie; a monster that’s sole purpose is to find you and eat you. To make matters worse, it can be your mom, your dad, your uncle, Sally Jo from down the street, basically anyone. The thought about something being so familiar but yet so foreign terrifies me. Someone once told me to write what you know. I know zombies so that is why I spend a lot of my time writing about them.

Q: Where can we learn more?

A: You can learn more information about this project by going to http://www.undeadinthehead.com/p/call-for-submissions.html If you are a Facebook user please Like the anthology page. It can be found at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Undead-That-Saved-Christmas/109038099145573?ref=mf. I do daily updates on the progress of the anthology on the Facebook page. Very soon I will be starting an indiegogo.com fund raising account for anyone who would like to donate. There will also be a chance for you to get your name on a thank you page in the anthology. More information can be found on the FB page. If you would like to contact me directly my e-mail is UndeadChristmas@yahoo.com. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me and thanks to everyone for their support.

***This project is amazing and really touches my heart. I know from personal experience what it's like to need help around Christmas time. Charities like the Salvation Army and the Red Cross has had to help my family in the past with food, shelter, and Christmas presents. So please support this cause. I know that I will be writing a story for this cause and if you want to write a story, write your heart out. If not, please buy the book and sticker when they come out (visit the links above for more info). The kids at the Hugs Foster Family Agency deserve a Merry Christmas this year.***

The Crazies - Splurge of the Week

By: Brandon Sites ( http://www.bigdaddyhorrorreviews.com/ )

Remake of the 1973 George A. Romero film could have just as easily been another Michael Bay remake with it's slick production values and solid acting, but just like the remakes Bay puts out this one is seriously lacking in originality and creativity. It's bland, by the numbers stuff. Another small town finds themselves at the center of a virus that is turning the residents into crazed killers. The military comes in to contain the virus even if that means killing everyone. Comes off as a cross between 28 Days Later and the George A. Romero zombies, but their is nothing new for these zombies to do then just run or drag about killing one victim after another. Mr. Romero always finds some new innovation for his creatures to engage in, a quality lacking here. And when it comes time for the film's main characters to fight off these monsters, every movement is telegraphed well in advance. A character is token by surprise by a crazy. Crazy and character struggle. Crazy manages to get a few licks in. Main character turns the tables. The roles are reversed, crazy is now winning the fight. Crazy is about to kill main character. Out of nowhere another main character shows up to blast the crazy to death with shotgun blasts. The obvious quality to these sequences removes a lot of the film's suspense. Then there is the main characters themselves, they aren't really all that smart or resourceful. They just happen to always be saved by someone else at the last min. At the end of the day, we know about this much about these characters, their profession and that one of them is carrying a child. When you can't becomes involved with the film's proceedings because there is no suspense and when there is no involvement with the characters, what exactly is the point? Who cares about anything that happens in the film? This is one time when it is best to not splurge and hold onto those $20 hard earned dollars!

And the Winner is....

RK! You were randomly chosen as the winner of one of the GORGEOUS rings by The Zombie Boutique!!! Look out for a message telling you how to send her your addy info ;) For those of you who didn't win, don't worry, these rings are only $13 and there are plenty other kick ass things to pick up at The Zombie Boutique, so click HERE to see all the awesomeness!!! I'm working on the next contest so look for it soon!

Dollar Bin Film:Saw VI

By Eric Polk of http://anotherdescentinto.blogspot.com/
I've often equated the Saw franchise with Nightmare on Elm Street. By that, I mean an original idea that has been milked until even the cow's spirit is mooing. I had no expectations with the latest incarnation featuring Jigsaw and his latest traps. Afterall, I didn't care much for V and I was ready to take my own saw to this movie. For now, I can put it back in critic's toolbox.

Saw VI begins rather politically enough, two predatory lenders wake up with harnesses attached to their heads. The game involves tipping a scale with some part of their body in order to live. From there, old friend Lieutenant Hoffman is called to the scene when Peter Straham's(from IV and V) fingerprints are found at the scene. It is also discovered that Lindsey Perez is still alive despite what happened in IV.

Jill Tuck, Jigsaw's former wife, meets with the lieutenant at her clinic to inform him he's taking over the game. This is where a slimy health insurance exec comes into play. After informing a policy holder a discrepancy was found in his application thus cancelling the policy, eventually ending in the holder's death, insurance guy is kidnapped and his tests begin.

Meanwhile, Hoffman is informed abnormalities were found in Straham's fingerprints and that the scrambled voice from the Seth Baxter(murder of Hoffman's sister) did not match Jigsaw's.

The movie's confluence merges when the sister of insurance boy and the mother and son of the dead policy holder are found locked in cage. This while Hoffman(fresh from performing a cover-up) discovers in the observation a letter written to blackmail Jigsaw's daughter.

The climax is rather gory, hard-hitting, and touching in a peculiar sort of way. The strengths of this film lay in, of course, the graphic horror scenes and the slimy insurance exec. What doesn't work is the seemingly never-ending flashbacks that really make you dizzy after awhile. As far as where to put this movie in the Saw pantheon, it is much better than V. It has a topical message without being too overly preachy. The door isn't quite as open for a seven(though I did discover there will be come October) as it has in previous films. All in all, not a bad effort for the franchise.
8.5/10

Killer Party - Dollar Bin Film

By: Brandon Sites ( http://www.bigdaddyhorrorreviews.com/ )

Troubled horror production from MGM/UA was onto something when it tried to mix several different horror sub-genres into one film. Too bad the results don't gel or form a cohesive tone/style. Opens up with a great music video from White Sister titled April. Films shifts into a coming of age drama with some cheesy bits of comedy about the trials of sorority life complete with hideous 80's fashion, badly dated soundtrack selections and some nudity for good measure. During this segment we are introduced to three friends who are all townies pledging the same sorority house. One of them has a unique gift for special effects. So the president of the sorority gets the bright idea to hold the annual April Fool's party at a long dormant house that is rumored to be haunted. Turns out such ubran legend is indeed very true as the various partygoers are murdered in a number of ways by someone in an old rusty scuba outfit.

Flawed film in which almost all the scenes of violence were cut in order to achieve an R rating and it's all over the place in terms of storytelling. One min. it's a comedy, the next a drama, the next a haunted house film, the next a slasher, next a possession film, it even has a bit of zombies and just a dash of monster movie. It takes all of these various types of movies that fans love and form it into one entertaining movie. Sure, it could've been done a lot better, but it keeps things moving briskly, it rarely bores, and it's just one heck of a guilty pleasure. 100% fun all the way!

The entire movie is available for FREE via Youtube. I have enclosed the first 10 mins. below for your viewing pleasure.

Dammit Just go Download It Now!!!

If you haven't downloaded it yet, what's wrong with you!?! It's the debut CD from Chuck Conry from Zombies Don't Run Bitches! lmao Im not sure if it's pure genius, or pure stupidity, but I fucking LOVE it! Click the link and download the CD for FREE!
http://www.mediafire.com/?ezej0y2yjm2

***And to Chuck, if your reading this, how about a song bout a reaper ;) lol***

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Faith & The Undead by Benjamin Rogers (Book Review)

For eons, war has waged between Good and Evil in an everlasting battle for the souls of the human race. Interference became forbidden from either side to sway each of us in their direction. Unexplained happenings still occur to this day, making us wonder who is actually winning that eternal struggle. What happens when Satan gets tired of miracles and minor evil deeds? What happens when he decides the time is now for the final battle of right versus wrong? Or when he decides it's time to raise the stakes and form an army never before imagined to tip the scales in Evil's favor? Frank Payens roams the country in search of healing after many hard years of service in the Navy SEALS that left deep scars upon his soul. He finds The Home, a haven designed to help him cope with his past and facilitate his healing. A monastery of men and women that have dedicated their lives to the protection of freedoms and liberties. A group that has come together to heal and move forward in life. It doesn't take long for Frank to discover his new home isn't a run-of-the-mill monastery and that his life is going to take on new meaning as the war for souls has only just begun.

I found this book to be very unique and strangely entertaining. It's definitely a twist in the world of zombie stories that I've never seen before. The idea of mixing the Christian religion and Zombies seemed a bit difficult to pull off for me until I read this book and realized how well Rogers made it work. I'm not saying this is a book that will make you question what you believe (I'm a pagan btw) but I found how he intertwined the two concepts amazing. Man, of course, is caught in the middle and the ultimate battle of good and evil, God and Satan, is on like Donkey Kong! While it may use bits of Christianity, that doesn't mean there isn't some amazing Zombie action going on; fans of the undead will not be disappointed. The style of writing is also very strong. It almost feels as if you and the author are best buds and he's telling you this story in front of a fire. There are parts that it feels he over-explains thing, but for the most part the voice of the story is great and makes you wanna keep reading. The one thing I did notice was that the book could use some editing here and there. This is supposedly the first in the series, so I'm sure all the minor flaws will be improved in the next book, which I'm dying to read! This is definitely a book worth checking out and hell, take it to church! You just might be able to convert someone into a horror fan! You can pick up a copy HERE.

Five Dolla Holla - Mother's Boys

By: Brandon Sites ( http://www.bigdaddyhorrorreviews.com/ ) Big Daddy Horror Reviews

In the mid 90's Jamie Lee Curtis returned a bit closer to her horror / thriller roots with this film sporting a bizarre blond peroxide do. She stars as a mother who tries to manipulate and ultimately use violence to try to worm her way back into her kids lives after abandoning them for three years even though they have moved on and hubby has token a new gal pal. Competently made and acted on all levels. The production values and supporting performances all come across as rather forgettable. This is really a showcase for Jamie Lee to chew as much scenery as possible and chew away she does. She dominates every frame she is in as she gets naked in front of one of her children to show them a scar as the result of her pregency, as she self mutilates herself in the other woman's office during working hours to frame her, as she sets into motion a plot that involves her kid's holding hubby's mistress hostage! You name it, Curtis's character isn't afraid to try it to get back into the good graces of her children. If your a Jamie Lee fan you will be mesmerized as Curtis throws in everything she has except maybe the kitchen sink playing the villian here. It is an absolute thrill ride if you fell in love with her during her slasher heyday playing against type here. Others who aren't so enamored of her will find this film a less rewarding experience.