The zombie is one of underground horror's most beloved beasts. The flesh eating dead have spawned some of the most outrageous and gruesome stories in the horror canon. Below I've listed some of my favorites in the genre, in no particular order...
George A. Romero's "Dead" series- The standard by which all zombie movies are measured, Romero mixes sociopolitical commentary in with some of the most gruesome scenes committed to celluloid. 1968's "Night of the Living Dead", 1978's "Dawn of the Dead", 1985's "Day of the Dead", and 2005's "Land of the Dead" are must-have's for any ghoul fan. This year will bring the sixth Dead film, "Diary of the Dead"
"The Walking Dead" comic series- Robert Kirkman's stark, black and white series finely walks the line between soap opera and gore. The characters are fully developed and complex, and the post-apocolyptic world he's created is utterly riveting.
"Return of the Living Dead" film- Dan O'Bannon re-writes the Romero formula as a genre comedy. Some of this film is absolutely hysterical (zombies radioing for "more cops").
"Zombie" film- Lucio Fulci's hardcore masterpiece takes the torch from the Romero films and ups the gore quotient (this film was actually marketed as a sequel to "Dawn of the Dead" in Europe). This film contains the infamous "zombie vs. shark" scene.
"The Serpent and the Rainbow" film- A more realistic, if surreal, take on the voodoo zombie by horror master Wes Craven. The images in this film are disturbing, none more so than acutal footage of people skewering their cheeks with needles and eating glass.
"Dead Alive" film- Before "Lord of the Rings", Peter Jackson was best known for his visceral horror-comedies, none more than this one. Possibly the bloodiest film ever made, it is also one of the funniest. The zombie baby in the park scene is worth the price of admission alone.
Evil Dead film series- Sam Raimi, like Jackson, is now known for his blockbuster Spider-Man films, but he got his start with these acclaimed indie gorefests. 1981's "Evil Dead", 1987's "Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn", and 1993's "Army of Darkness" are now certified cult classics, and, while not zombie films specifically, they do contain some grisly living-dead action.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Album
So, I'm probably not going to finish that album for RPM 08. But the music bug has bitten me again, and I have a great idea for a project that I can do all by myself. I'm excited about it...
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Article on Comebacks
Here's an article I submitted to a web journal about celebrity comeback predictions for 2008.
Have you ever wondered what happens to celebrities when their star fades? The fame game is notoriously fickle, and the celebrity revolving door can have you on the cover of the tabloids one week, and at the end of the sentence “whatever happened to…” the next. Yet every year there seems to be a handful of fallen stars who, by hard work or sheer, dumb luck, return to the spotlight, sometimes wiser for their journey, sometimes just hungry for a second taste. Pop culture loves a comeback story.
Comeback predictions are a tricky business. The American public has a rebellious, independent spirit, and tastemakers and celebrity pundits are, more often than not, dead wrong about the way the entertainment winds blow. Our celebrity history is littered with unexpected resurgences from one-hot stars that no one saw coming. Think John Travolta after his Oscar-nominated work in “Pulp Fiction”, or Kylie Minogue on the heels of “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” becoming the biggest song of 2002. Remember Donny Osmond returning to the charts with “Soldier of Love” in the early 90’s? The best comebacks are the ones that catch us unaware, showing us someone we thought we knew so well in a new light, or reminding us why we loved them in the first place.
Now we sit at a new year, and with a nod to the precarious nature of the task at hand, here are some predictions for who’s due for a re-match with fame in 2008:
Justine Bateman- With the resurgence of brother Jason’s career and a much talked about turn on his cult hit sitcom “Arrested Development”, this is a plum year for the former Mallory Keaton to stage a comeback. Maybe a clever, well-written cable sitcom a la “Sex and the City”, or a supporting role in an ensemble piece, like her recent work on “Men In Trees”.
Whitney Houston- With her train-wreck marriage and (alleged) drug habit behind her, the diva is poised to take the charts back from the children who’ve come in her wake. She should take a note from the comeback of her one-time duet partner Mariah Carey and shoot for a collaboration with a hot, young producer. A great song is all she’d need to drive that reality show right out of our minds and put the attention right back where it belongs, on that glorious voice.
Joshua Jackson- Not much has been heard from this “Dawson’s Creek” dreamboat since the show ended its run in 2003, but Jackson was recently rumored to be in the running for the lead role of Irwin ‘Fletch’ Fletcher in the long awaited “Fletch Lives”, stepping into the role made famous by Chevy Chase. Jackson could re-invent himself as a movie funnyman, casting off his teen idol past and winning a legion of new fans.
Ricki Lake- With a new documentary about natural childbirth on the way, and a new comedy series on tap, the one time princess of “oh no you didn’t” daytime talk could reclaim her public this year. A reunion with gross-out comedy king John Waters, who discovered Lake for his 1988 film “Hairspray”, could bring lots of attention to her new projects.
Britney Spears- What could be said about Miss Spears that hasn’t already been written. Allegations of drug use and mental illness, loss of visitation with her children, beating up cars with umbrellas, the past year has been a bad one for the pop singer. The sole highlight was her music; she scored a number one single with “Gimme More” and her “Blackout” album was well-reviewed. A sober, coherent Spears could shock the world and prove the skeptics wrong with a tour or even another record, putting attention back on her work and not on her antics.
Bill Clinton- With his wife making a historic run at the White House, Bill has come out of semi-retirement and is on the campaign trail, reminding us that he is probably the most skillful politician in American history. Despite his reputation for, um, overindulgences, the former President is still very well-liked by voters and will likely be out in force over the election year, campaigning for another trip to Pennsylvania Avenue, this time as First Husband.
So, like most of you, I’m anxious to see what awaits us in 2008. The possibilities are endless; who will be big, who will fall from grace, and who will scratch their way back into the limelight from obscurity. If the past is any indication, whoever it is, it will make a great story.
Have you ever wondered what happens to celebrities when their star fades? The fame game is notoriously fickle, and the celebrity revolving door can have you on the cover of the tabloids one week, and at the end of the sentence “whatever happened to…” the next. Yet every year there seems to be a handful of fallen stars who, by hard work or sheer, dumb luck, return to the spotlight, sometimes wiser for their journey, sometimes just hungry for a second taste. Pop culture loves a comeback story.
Comeback predictions are a tricky business. The American public has a rebellious, independent spirit, and tastemakers and celebrity pundits are, more often than not, dead wrong about the way the entertainment winds blow. Our celebrity history is littered with unexpected resurgences from one-hot stars that no one saw coming. Think John Travolta after his Oscar-nominated work in “Pulp Fiction”, or Kylie Minogue on the heels of “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” becoming the biggest song of 2002. Remember Donny Osmond returning to the charts with “Soldier of Love” in the early 90’s? The best comebacks are the ones that catch us unaware, showing us someone we thought we knew so well in a new light, or reminding us why we loved them in the first place.
Now we sit at a new year, and with a nod to the precarious nature of the task at hand, here are some predictions for who’s due for a re-match with fame in 2008:
Justine Bateman- With the resurgence of brother Jason’s career and a much talked about turn on his cult hit sitcom “Arrested Development”, this is a plum year for the former Mallory Keaton to stage a comeback. Maybe a clever, well-written cable sitcom a la “Sex and the City”, or a supporting role in an ensemble piece, like her recent work on “Men In Trees”.
Whitney Houston- With her train-wreck marriage and (alleged) drug habit behind her, the diva is poised to take the charts back from the children who’ve come in her wake. She should take a note from the comeback of her one-time duet partner Mariah Carey and shoot for a collaboration with a hot, young producer. A great song is all she’d need to drive that reality show right out of our minds and put the attention right back where it belongs, on that glorious voice.
Joshua Jackson- Not much has been heard from this “Dawson’s Creek” dreamboat since the show ended its run in 2003, but Jackson was recently rumored to be in the running for the lead role of Irwin ‘Fletch’ Fletcher in the long awaited “Fletch Lives”, stepping into the role made famous by Chevy Chase. Jackson could re-invent himself as a movie funnyman, casting off his teen idol past and winning a legion of new fans.
Ricki Lake- With a new documentary about natural childbirth on the way, and a new comedy series on tap, the one time princess of “oh no you didn’t” daytime talk could reclaim her public this year. A reunion with gross-out comedy king John Waters, who discovered Lake for his 1988 film “Hairspray”, could bring lots of attention to her new projects.
Britney Spears- What could be said about Miss Spears that hasn’t already been written. Allegations of drug use and mental illness, loss of visitation with her children, beating up cars with umbrellas, the past year has been a bad one for the pop singer. The sole highlight was her music; she scored a number one single with “Gimme More” and her “Blackout” album was well-reviewed. A sober, coherent Spears could shock the world and prove the skeptics wrong with a tour or even another record, putting attention back on her work and not on her antics.
Bill Clinton- With his wife making a historic run at the White House, Bill has come out of semi-retirement and is on the campaign trail, reminding us that he is probably the most skillful politician in American history. Despite his reputation for, um, overindulgences, the former President is still very well-liked by voters and will likely be out in force over the election year, campaigning for another trip to Pennsylvania Avenue, this time as First Husband.
So, like most of you, I’m anxious to see what awaits us in 2008. The possibilities are endless; who will be big, who will fall from grace, and who will scratch their way back into the limelight from obscurity. If the past is any indication, whoever it is, it will make a great story.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The Weird
So, everyone I know is having weird/bad stuff happen to them right now. I wonder if I'm bad luck! Seriously, I even read a bunch of horoscopes today for people I know and it was all negative. I'm not usually one to get caught up in this kind of stuff, but it seems bizarre that all these random, unexplained disasters are happening to all these people who are otherwise unrelated. I'm gonna be a hippie tonight and chant for cleansing energy for all my friends.
Started working out again this AM, and I'm committing myself to at least 30 mins every morning. Keep me honest!
XO- B
Started working out again this AM, and I'm committing myself to at least 30 mins every morning. Keep me honest!
XO- B
Friday, January 25, 2008
One down...
Finished "Cola Wars" yesterday, that's 4 stories for the collection totally done. Next up is "Blackbirds", which I have no idea about yet. I'm actually doing some research about colonial justice for this one. That's right, a period piece. It's got burnt witches, zombies, all the good stuff.
I have 2 more ideas for stories that I hope I can get down quickly. I'm going to try to put myself on a one-story-a-week deadline after February. I've committed myself to making an album (!!!???) in February, so all the writing I'll be doing is lyrics, probably bad ones.
In music news, I'm re-discovering Nina Gordon's "Bleeding Heart Graffiti". If you haven't heard of it (and you probably haven't, thanks to commercial radio), it's good rainy day music.
I have 2 more ideas for stories that I hope I can get down quickly. I'm going to try to put myself on a one-story-a-week deadline after February. I've committed myself to making an album (!!!???) in February, so all the writing I'll be doing is lyrics, probably bad ones.
In music news, I'm re-discovering Nina Gordon's "Bleeding Heart Graffiti". If you haven't heard of it (and you probably haven't, thanks to commercial radio), it's good rainy day music.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Album
So, I think I'm going to sign up for RPM 08, where you record an album during the month of February. Anyone want to help?
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