Movie Review: The Christmas Season Massacre (2001)

It's Day 11 in the David Hayes 12 Days of Christmas Crap Review-a-Palooza and, thankfully, it is almost over. Almost like a Christmas miracle. Most definitely un-miraculous, though, is our entry for this Christmas Eve. Watching this film would turn Scrooge back into the awful miser he was before the ghostly visits. Watching this film would make George Bailey want to stay dead. Watching this film just sucks.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, the Head Cheese gave to me... hope, because there is only one day left.

Peer with me, folks, a scant ten years ago. Eric Stanze, he of the cutting edge independent horror (like Ice from the Sun and Scrapbook) decides to write and appear in a comedy. Right off the bat we know that this comedy will be irreverent, gory and, probably, a lot of fun. Two out of three is definitely bad. I nearly bought a bag of chestnuts to shove into my mouth and attempt suicide halfway through this film. Bear with me, true believers, as we delve into The Christmas Season Massacre.

Buy Christmas Season Massacre on DVD!

Movie Review: Ratline (2011)

First and foremost, I apologize for taking so long to get back to the site. Now, since that is out of the way, I’ve got another admission to make: I think I love Emily Haack. Don’t tell my wife (although she’ll probably read this) but, as an artist, I love Emily Haack. She is absolutely fearless in her decisions and brings a fierce, honest intensity to her roles. I think a great deal of her success (aesthetically) as an actor is her role as a filmmaker. The realism and, like I said earlier, intensity that she brings to her films (regardless of budget) makes her work stand out. When you’re dealing with an Eric Stanze production, though, intensity is required. I thoroughly enjoy Stanze’s work, beginning with Ice from the Sun through Deadwood Park (and even I Spit On Your Grave, I Piss On Your Corpse). The newest offering from Wicked Pixel, Ratline, continues the tradition. Although the story is a bit convoluted, and there were some obvious issues in the execution of such, Stanze and Haack are back for another kick ass, no holds barred exploitation gem complete with Nazis, lesbians, true love and wholesale murder. What more could anyone ask for?

Buy Ratline on VOD or rent Ratline on VOD!

The First Annual Cheesies - The Best of 2011

While many sites are running down their lists of best films of the year, as we did, we also thought it would be a great idea to acknowledge some specific accomplishments that we saw in 2011. For an explanation of the awards listed, please check out Podcast #29. Our complete list of Cheesies is below. First off, we get to the top blu-rays, DVDs and short films this year.

Best Blu-ray Releases in 2011

In A Glass Cage (Cult Epics)

The Blood Trilogy  (Something Weird Video/Image Entertainment)

Intruder (Synapse Films)

The Women in Cages Collection (Shout! Factory)

Deep Red (Blue Underground)

Funhouse (Arrow)

Zombie (Blue Underground)

The Exterminator (Synapse Films)

Battle Beyond The Stars (Shout! Factory)

Holy Mountain (Anchor Bay)

Movie Review: Stake Land (2010, Blu-ray)

Of all the sub-genres of horror, my least favorite has to be the "vampire" genre. Vampires just don't scare me. The sparkly bloodsuckers of the Twilight series haven’t helped things either. Near Dark is probably the last vampire film that I could actually call a horror film, but sadly, Near Dark is 24 years old. 24 years later, I'm balder, fatter and hungrier for a vampire film that isn't like the neutered shite I've been fed for so long. Might I have found the answer in Jim Mickle’s Stake Land?

Buy Stake Land Blu-ray, DVD or the 2-Disc Special Edition DVD

Interview: Eric Stanze

By James DePaolo

1. What was your childhood like?

As a kid, I didn't go through any tremendous hardship or suffer through any major tragedies - so I'm thankful for that. My family was not well-off financially, but we were not dirt poor either. There was always food on the table and presents under the tree - so again, I'm thankful. I was a very energetic and adventurous kid, inclined to ride my bike all over town or play wiffle ball until the sun went down more than I was inclined to sit quietly in my room all day.

Find Eric Stanze on Amazon.com