News Flash for the New Year!

The news bulletin that Charles Craig (the newscaster in the original Night of the Living Dead) reads here he had written a few minutes before, after chatting with me for about 20 minutes on a slow morning at the 2010 Horror Realm con. Not only did it amuse me, but he was gracious enough to let me record it. A really nice guy.

A favorite Christmas video

Lady Gaga has nothing on Grace Jones, the original Alluring Diva From Another World Where They Don't Dress Like Us. And thanks to my friend Holly Goyle, I've found a clip from Peewee's Playhouse Christmas Special with Grace spreading Christmas cheer with her siren sound.



It's mercifully brief. As someone working in the world o' retail, hearing the same 20 Christmas recordings over and over nigh unto absurdity and insanity, I'm grateful when a Christmas song doesn't overstay its welcome.

And I say that as someone as someone who recently went caroling. (Really!) Fortunately the carol-ees were a bit short-sighted, and my appearance, truncated as it is, didn't frighten them!

Hell Bus IS BACK!

Jolly Holly and me, by golly!

Holly Goyle's HELL BUS blog is back after a time-out due to an injury and Halloween season commitments, and I'm very happy about this. Holly not only posts cool stuff at her devilish depot, but she is one of the organizers every year of a popular haunt in New Albany, Indiana near Louisville, Ky, the Haunted Culbertson Mansion. Proceeds go to restoration/preservation for the historic Mansion and its grounds and carriage. Often, she appeared as a seven-foot-plus gargoyle lurking in the shadows within the haunt.

You can see her as a gargoyle in her newest post, "How I Spent My Summer Vacation." Reading it, you'll see it was a class assignment from "The School of Hard Knocks."

This past spring I sprung a surprise on hellacious Holly--she and her husband Dan got a visit from the Voodoo Queen and I. You can tell a lot about a person from their home! Here are pics from inside her lovely abode (You'll see why Jame and I think so much of the terrible two.) :


Here's video I took of Holly explaining the final 'gag' in the Halloween tour of the Culbertson Mansion and Carriage House, where customers had to climb into a coffin at the end.

The video's sideways because, hey, I'm only a severed head with an appalling lack of balance. (Besides, I like imagining people tilting like their heads like dogs hearing an odd noise as they watch it!)



Holly reminds me of the reformed Scrooge at the end of A Christmas Carol, except in her case, she knows hows to keep Halloween in her heart all the year 'round!

Angels We Have Heard While High

In a sequel to last year's immensely popular "Do You Hear What I Hear?", the Bowen Beer Bottle has posted a new video of their rendition of "Angels We Have Heard On High":




Related link: "O Christmas Tree" played on beer bottles by the Grolsch Swingtop Philharmonic Orchestra

Synchro-- what?

A definition from Merriam-Webster's Online: "Synchronicity: the coincidental occurrence of events...that seem related."

So I'm feeling a bit blue and battling insomnia in a house with just me in it, 'cause my Voodoo Queen's still gone to Florida caring for an ill family member -- been nearly two months now. And I start looking over my recent blog posts to see if there's any typos to correct or tweaks to make--yeah, I was REALLY BORED--and I read this quote , "It might be a good idea for you to wear pants." Of course, I laughed, like I did the first time I read it.

And then I went to read old posts I hadn't seen yet at some of my favorite blogs. FIRST thing I hit was this video at the Frog on the Pumpkin:



Which led me to discover THIS, my new VERY FAVORITE VIDEO (Caution-- the lyrics are NSFW!):


It's got everything: Intoxication! Lyrics about a curse! The devil and that ol' demon alcohol! And the mellifluous sounds of accordion, trombone, pennywhistle and Irish war drum!

THEN I read this in an e-mail from a friend--

"As we get older we sometimes begin to doubt our ability to "make a difference" in the world. It is at these times that our hopes are boosted by the remarkable achievements of other "seniors" who have found the courage to take on challenges that would make many of us wither. Harold Schlumberg is such a person.


I've often been asked, 'What do you old folks do now that you're retired'? Well... I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background, and one of the things I enjoy most is converting beer, wine, Scotch, and margaritas into urine.

"Harold should be an inspiration to all of us."

See? Synchronicity!

Hafta share this late Christmas gift!

This video, just posted elsewhere on the net is an 8 minute condensed version of Dicken's immortal "A Christmas Carol," as assembled by my friend Craig Wichman and edited by Jay Stern. I just had to re-share it here:

Seen here as Ebeneezer Scrooge--from various film and television adaptations--are Sir Seymour Hicks, Reginald Owen, Alastair Sim, Basil Rathbone, Frederic March, Mr. Magoo (as voiced by Jim Backus), Albert Finney, Michael Caine, Patrick Stewart and Kelsey Grammer.

I've always loved this sometimes dark, sometimes sad, sometimes spooky holiday tale. And this condensed Christmas Carol is no humbug!

Do You Hear What I Beer?

A carol as played by two-fisted drinkers on bottles of ale:



A festive video for the alcoholiday...

"Firelight": If only!

If only the Twilight books and films were about Frankensteinian creations!

Here's a clever parody by Saturday Night Live:



My thanks to the great blog Monster Land for bringing this short to my attention!

Web of Love

Scopitones were the "music videos" of their day. Thanks to "Creeping Bride" at the Classic Horror Film Board, I have seen my newest favorite Scopitone! It's actress Joi Lansing singing "Web of Love"!

Take it away, Joi!

VISIT THE BEST HAUNTED ATTRACTION THIS YEAR!

No matter where you live, YOU can visit the nation's premier haunted attraction--and travel through time!--by watching the online film BOB BURNS' HOLLYWOOD HALLOWEEN (click here.) I promise you, you will be AMAZED and THRILLED at what you see and hear! What actor and prop collector Bob Burns and his wife Kathy were able to pull off at their home over several years is mind-boggling. It's all wonderful, but I really was on the edge of my seat with delight for episodes 3, 4, and 5.

I absolutely, thoroughly, without any reservation recommend this fun, fun documentary as the Best haunted attraction video for Halloween for this year--or any year!


Directed by Lindsey Keith Jackson. Image from the website, from a design by John O' Connor Designs N Creations.

Susan Boyle Caught Lying?

Singing sensation Susan Boyle, the surprise hit of YouTube, has impressed millions with her angelic voice. She says she's never been kissed! Well, that turn's out to be not quite true. Below is a photo of one man who kissed her, one John P. Fulcrum of Bath-On-The Beach, England, dug up by our tireless staff here at TDSH. (The photo was dug up, not Mr. Fulcrum.)

Writes Mr. Fulcrum, "I smooched her smack on the gob on a date twenty years ago. She'd taught me it's what's on the inside that counts. I know I'm handsome, but no one had made me feel wanted for my mind, until she came along, lord luv 'er!"

Thanks for setting the record straight, Mr. Fulcrum! Your complementary Drunken Severed Head martini glass is on its way!

Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated

'Art is dead... yeah, it's all messed up.'

Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated is a mass collaborative artistic re-envisioning of George A. Romero's 1968 cult classic, Night of the Living Dead. International artists and animators were invited to select scenes from the film and reinvent them through their artwork. Their varied works are organized and curated into an art show hung in the time line of this cult classic film. It's now officially in post production and set for release in December!

Official Site : http://www.notldr.com

Trailer 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMbosVn_ZDc
Trailer 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4RE_VIYjSY
Trailer 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeUn6CiJtVk

Mass Interview: http://www.fatally-yours.com/interviews/night-of-the-living-dead-reanimated-artist-mass-interview

Official Selections:
Revenant Film Festival [USA] (2009)
The Mayhem Horror Film Festival [England] (2009)
Hellberta's Horror Festival [Canada] (2009)

"A stunning collaborative work of art, done for and by horror fans."
– Sarah Jahier (Fatally Yours)

"Being that I know a thing or two about what it takes to be a Romero zombie, this project has had me pretty damned excited."
– Uncle Creepy (Dread Central)

"It's a great collaborative endeavor that shows a total love for the source film."
- Arya Ponto (Just Press Play)

"Night of the Living Dead has seen many incarnations over the years, and this next one may be one of the most creative."
- (Fangoria)

Help get FEARnet back on cable!

Some bad news came horror fans recently: FEARnet has been dropped by Time/Warner and and Bright House Cable. Viewers will no longer have on-demand access to the channel in their homes --- such as an uncut Midnight Meat Train, Phantasm, Army of Darkness, and the 5 unaired episodes of Fear Itself.

A Facebook petition to bring the channel back already has over 4,000 fans. Here is the link to join: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=69861819689

Check out this new video urging fans to stand up and fight to get FEARnet returned: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea7cqYWoTWo&feature=channel_page

In addition, a new giveaway has just launched on the Facebook petition page. The first 25 fans to upload video messages to the Facebook group telling Time Warner why they want FEARnet back will receive free FEARnet stuff – hoodies, t-shirts, and messenger bags!

For more info about the current status of the situation, visit the following link: http://www.fearnet.com/news/b15380_4000_fans_united_news_from_fight_get.html

For more info about how YOU can get in touch directly with your cable provider to let them know how you feel-- and see a list of upcoming content on FEARnet, check out the following link: http://www.fearnet.com/news/b15240_help_get_fearnet_back_on_time_warner.html

Fight for fright!

Me want mask!

Watch this video about the new release of Verne Langdon's 1972 "Neanderthal" mask, and you'll want to be a cave man! Recommended by TDSH. Buy one and scare your friends! Perfect for watching FOX news in!

Causing a Forrest fire!

Joe Moe, Forry Ackerman's friend, aide, and in his last years, care-taker, has posted his own article (with video) on the recent FJA tribute! I recommend it enthusiastically. Now at Dread Central--

Joe Moe: Horrorwood Babbles on! Death Makes a Horror-day: The Forrest J. Ackerman Tribute

Porn that isn't pornographic?

Thanks to the site Found on the Web, I've just seen a hilarious ad from the Italian fashion firm Diesel. It's a video montage that takes porn clips and seemingly makes them "safe for work" by overlaying (pun intended) cartoon animation on top of the naughty bits. What's implied is definitely NSFW, but IS very funny. For immature mature audiences.

(It's an old post at FOTW, but hey -- as a severed head I can't get around fast.)

See "Safe for Work XXX" here.

Deja vu!

Watch this video-- and then tonight's Presidential Debate. You'll think you've seen it before, and right here at TDSH!

The Caribou Hunter Meets A Strange Brain!

Veep candied-date Gov. Sarah Palin debated VP canned-dead-date Allen's Brain last week!

Read the transcript HERE.


And see news coverage on my come-from-behind status as a candidate at the video found here.

Fewdio's latest!

What's FEWDIO, you ask? Weh-heh-hell, I'll tell you!

Fewdio Entertainment is a group of five guys who've worked in show biz as screenwriters, directors, actors, and producers, and who are making short horror films together. Exploring alternative avenues of distribution to get their horror films seen, they're rapidly creating buzz at horror websites, blogs, and forums with their sometimes horrifying, sometimes twistedly funny flicks. The Drunken Severed Head is going to be keeping tabs on this interesting bunch, and you will want to, too. This month, their web site debuted, (it's the web's first all-horror-shorts site) and I recommend you take a peep at it.

They describe FEWDIO as "a sinister entity that brings your darkest nightmares to life in rapid bursts of story and film which feed on your terror, horror, and grief." They leave out the fact that some of their films have a dark and inside-out sense of humor, but they do.

Previously I wrotten -- I've wroted -- I posted about them, and their first film The Easter Bunny Is Eating My Candy, (a gory gag film) here.

Ladies, and gentlemen, the latest odd offering from the frightening folk of FEWDIO:



Audio interview clips with the men of Fewdio can be found at the excellent site Dead Harvey, which reports on independent horror filmmaking. Check it out!

Two independent film makers

This is Geno McGahee:

This is Andre Perkowski:


Amateur, independent film-making has no more industrious or ambitious proponents than these two forefinger-pointing guys. (I'm tempted to say "compulsive.") They approach making films from different perspectives-- Geno makes serious horror films ( he is a self-described "horror nut") and Andre makes comedy horror/sci-fi/genre films.

McGahee's Evil Awakening is now available at Amazon; a review of the film can be seen at this website. He will be releasing his Rise of the Scarecrows later this year. A review of that film can be seen here.

Perkowski's short films, and previews of his feature-length films, can be seen at www.youtube.com/terminalpictures. Andre's recommendations: "Try KINDERHOOK: THE RISE AND FALL OF MARTIN VAN BUREN as told through Jim Kelly with an afro and a katana. LIVINGSTON! the true story of the Louisiana Purchase with Charles Bronson... and some odd little commercials with Trace Beaulieu of Cinematic Titantic and MST3K doing cameo voiceovers... with TOTAL RECALL (REHEARSED) - a dazzling and horrible adaptation by one man oozing with actability."

I asked Perkowski about how his feature films came to be (they are close in spirit to Ed Wood's films, if Ed Wood had the smarts to send up his own material.) Perkowski replied:

"Back when I was 22 I over-earnestly (barely) pulled off two feature films based on Edward D. Wood Jr. pulp novels and old screenplays: DEVIL GIRLS and THE VAMPIRE'S TOMB - shot on Super-8, 16mm, Video, with acres of stock footage and scrupulous dedication to the angora-ed one. Recently through acts of dark alchemy I've assembled them into a viewable form after noticing 9th generation bootlegs floating around of a rough cut of the first film."

After corresponding a bit with both filmmakers, I decided to put a matching set of questions to both. Here's their answers-- Geno McGahee starts first.

TDSH: Why do you make low budget films?

GM: I make low budget films basically because I don't have many other options. I have a love of film and I'm a writer and when you put those together, it's a natural to combine the two. My love of horror and low budget horror films made me think that I could probably put something together and after years of doing skits, I made the decision to do a full length horror film called Evil Awakening. I hope that I will not be doing low budget films infinitely. I think that I have learned a lot on the job and have improved enough to hopefully turn some heads. I'm on my third film now, Scary Tales, and it's a step up from my other ones, Evil Awakening and Rise of the Scarecrows, although I would still match those two against ANY other film in this genre, let alone the low budget films.

AP: It's a horrible compulsion best explained by a competent psychologist, anything out of my mouth might be self-serving gibberish. I feel compelled to, the movies I want to watch are short in supply so I try to fill the gaps where I can with these shambling celluloid messes. Its very fun to gear up in small groups and fight a short-lived melodramatic "war" where death isn't particularly likely and the worst you can expect is credit card debt and a malfunctioning squib blowing a hole in your chest and embedding melted plastic in your skin.

TDSH: The film(s) that most inspired what you've done?

GM: I'll begin with Don Dohler and his best movie Galaxy Invader. When I saw that, I saw that it was possible to entertain without a lot of money. Obviously, you cannot look at Evil Awakening and not see some influence of the films like Friday the 13th and Madman. Basically, the 1980's slasher films were my influence initially, but now I think that I'm growing as a filmmaker and it's becoming more complex and more influenced by the great gritty films of the 1970's, which was the best time for film, period.

AP: Eraserhead, The World's Greatest Sinner, Wild Guitar, the Kuchar brothers, John Cassavetes stuff - particularly Husbands and Opening Night, Vileness Fats, all of John Waters' 16mm epics, the Firesign Theatre's peculiar little productions, and a huge clamshell 1980s VHS box labeled "Mafia Vs. Ninja" with very little Mafia and inept "Ninja" with holes badly cut into their masks interacting with stock footage in an attempt at summoning guys with paste-on Hitler moustaches to do their dirty work.

TDSH: Who's the audience for your films?

GM: OK, let's cut out the elderly right away. [GM's films are heavily laced with profanity--Max] They are not going to be my fans, but I think that it's safe to say that my audience will mostly be males from 18 to 40 or so, but I'm hoping that others will see what I see. In fact, the very talented writer Polly Frost had some very kind words for Evil Awakening and women are not the target audience...but then again, women love blood and violence too and I think that if the story is good, they could even look beyond the gore and profanity.

AP: I'd love to know. Send details to: Deadbeat Filmmakers of America with SASE and precise measurements and food allergies. Who watches these things? I make them for myself and my friends but that's stretching the truth a bit to make my friends feel better. I make them for myself and desperately hope a few other folks might get a hollow chuckle here and there out of my over-ambitious folly. The YouTube hits swing from 12 (yes, TWELVE) to 22 thousand. One of them got over 30k but I think its just due to folks seeking Asian torture porn or something rather than threadbare old political satire.

I barely ever attempted to get screenings or distribution over the past decade, if it did happen it was almost by accident. I suppose I thought I needed some time to simmer and boil to develop a more original aroma and sick flavor to my stuff. I'm hoping they are fully marinated now in my bile and resentments and are ready for meager audiences to devour during insomnia spells. Who do you think would be the audience for these, Max? And have they gotten help yet?

TDSH: Described something that surprised you (good or bad) while making your films? How did working on the cheap affect shooting?

GM: Something that surprised me (bad) was when I was filming Evil Awakening at my Aunt's house. Well, she shares property with her sister inlaw that doesn't have too many years on me, and she got really bitchy with me and said she didn't want me around her property. I was baffled but I had permission and wasn't on her property. That's when she kicked in with the racial comments because I had a bunch of black guys with me. I guess this woman, Christine, was using that property for her KKK meeting that night and she wasn't going to have time to prepare. What an idiot! Good surprises was just the enthusiasm of some of the team and when they sing my praises. To hear that is something that surprises me. The positive press across the board were pleasant surprises because many can't look beyond the budget to see the heart and the story. I think that an entertaining film is a good film.

Having nearly a zero budget really hurts shooting because of the people. Some have work and some don't care or they don't take it seriously and don't give a good performance intentionally. We've also had others that have seemed to want to sabotage the film by giving me their word that they would be there to film and then never show up and never answer their phone. Frustrating stuff, but you get what you paid for I guess. So, if I had my way, I'd have a budget and paid actors that have to be there to make money, and it'll happen.

AP: Working on the cheap limits everything, overrides taste and good judgment, and makes you rely on coffee and instinct to get you through obstacles and potential temper tantrums. The pressure and pathetic-ness often gives way to grim diamonds in your crappy movie charcoal, moments of inspiration where everything clicks and the cardboard works miracles. That's the hope, anyway. The reality can make you cry yourself to sleep now and again.

TDSH: Name a recent independent, low budget film someone else has made that you recommend.

GM: Can I recommend a couple? I'm a big fan of the Campbell Brothers and their work and they just came out with Poison Sweethearts, a great and funny anthology. These guys are fantastic and I'd also mention I Dream of Dracula by Jim Haggerty. He's got so much grit and ambition that I have to mention him. He is on his way and the Campbell Brothers are already there...the people just need to realize it.

AP: Guy Maddin's MY WINNIPEG is gorgeous, hilarious, and deserves more eyeballs and endless enthusiasm. He's a mad genius and I'm filled with jealousy and awe at the magic he can work with beloved Tri-X Super-8 and 16mm. Canada needs to get its act together and make him some kind of saint and give him whatever he needs to keep making films. I would eat icy terrified horseflesh for months to work on one of his productions but am worried I'd end up plotting to seal his soul in amber or some such in a misguided bid to rule the world.

TDSH: What question didn't I ask that you want to be asked, and what's the answer?

GM: Max, I have never been asked a question like this before, so let me thing [sic]. Hmmmmm.... OK, I guess I would ask myself what are my future plans? Is that OK?

My future plans are to make one movie a year and hope for the best. I'm very pleased that I have a distributor and that my films are given the chance to get me out to the masses and that in and of itself is a great thing. I am hoping that Evil Awakening will sell like crazy and the word of mouth will sell it enough to create a demand for a sequel. I don't think that there is another movie like Evil Awakening and certain scenes will be talked about by many, I think. With all of that Asian remake crap and the American remake crap and the continued watering down of horror, I think that I have the perfect opportunity to make some noise and win over the horror fans. I'm here for them and I'm one of them and critic or not, what they say means something to me. Of course I'm hoping that they love it and demand a sequel and action figures and all that, but if they hate it, then that's fine too. Just give it a chance and if you do and still don't enjoy it, then you're entitled to your opinion. Just remember that it's only good if you like it. Film and music are very subjective and I have a thick skin, unless it's really bad and that's when I trace their IP and find them.

AP: Surely watching my atrocities raise many more questions than answers. Questions of sanity. Questions of judgment. Questions of not knowing what to say here and desperately filling space...

TDSH: Bonus question: Is watching your films made better with a few drinks first?

GM: Are you trying to tell me something (laughing)? I guess they must be if you are asking this. Sure, why not? I do think that people can enjoy them sober. I guess this point is subjective too. Some may like my films while drunk more...I never took that poll.

AP: A light concussion or high fever works very well, failing that one should pursue extreme sleep deprivation for optimal states of exploitation receptivity. If you're not willing to go to such extremes, a decent amount of drink and/or illegal diet supplements can do in a pinch. Just make sure you get your alchemy right to avoid unsettling after-effects and don't say your parents didn't warn you... because they did, you ungrateful little shit.