Are DTV Horror films the way forward for the modern horror genre??

It has become a sad state of affairs recently; unfortunately I am not talking about the general election but rather the sorry state of the modern horror film (a little less important then politics but humour me, least it is less boring) particularly within the multiplexes. What with the endlessly rehashed remakes over the past 10 + years it has  all grown a bit stale for my liking, not to mention  for a few like minded individuals within my circle of horror fans. It seems as though not a month goes by that some studio has released a glossed over and infinitely more technically polished piece of remade trash, case in point May sees the release of the Nightmare on Elm Street re-imagining (seems remake is a dirty word for Hollywood execs) and like most modern horror has been panned by its die hard fan base. And rightly so in my opinion the reasons horror was enjoyable to watch in the first place was down to its raw, gritty and down right dirty feel of it all. No one watches a Fulci film to be intellectually stimulated or a Craven film to have our emotional heart strings tugged, but rather to be freaked out and feel a little sick at the use of practical FX.

So it makes me wonder after the onslaught of Hollywood remakes of trashy classics, has modern horror lost its way. In my eyes I believe it has and if any film is released into cinemas (such as the still fantastic REC) it gets a limited release and quickly pushed on to DVD, making people miss out on some truly terrifying treats, or subsequently released on DVD and in the cinema at the same time. But there seems to be something rather interesting with the straight to DVD releases, they are all really rather good.

It seems modern horror is finding a better audience once again within the home entertainment market, with people and fans more keen to shell out a few more quid to own the film (as opposed to paying a similar price at the cinema) and experiencing terror and a splatterific good time within the comfort of their own homes. Ti West’s House of the Devil was given a limited theatrical release within the UK, while at the same time was released directly on to DVD. It seems Hollywood has missed out on some very good talent here, as HotD is a fantastically slow paced 80’s horror throwback which is better then some of the films it makes references to. Nothing about the film feels rushed or glossed over, it is retro down to its core (everything from its 16mm film feel to its 80’s hand painted film poster) and because of this it feels as though it has been robbed of a decent theatrical release. But because of this it is; much like its 80’s horror roots, relying on word of mouth from fans and appreciators and deservedly so it is receiving praise and good sales because of its straight to DVD status.

George Romero is another good example of a director using old conventions and a subgenre which has a massive fan base to help capitalise on a films success, with the release of Survival of the Dead being released direct to DVD with a limited theatrical release. And again this is another DTV release which is better then his last theatrical effort (excluding the shoddy CGI parts). So just when I thought the modern horror genre was on its last legs with countless remakes and big budget studio films which become overblown and uninteresting, it becomes apparent that the new wave of horror is to be found on the local DVD shelf.

It seems that many of these films would find a limited market if released theatrically (at least from a studio perspective) but with it being released on to DVD it seems to find an accepting audience and loyal fans who except it with bloodied open arms, ready to squeeze the life out of it. Because of this I myself become more excited every time I find another newly released horror gem, which I instantly want to share with my close horror fiends (sorry friends). For instance I Sell the Dead a DTV horror comedy with Dominic Monahan and Ron Pearlman is an affable affair, full of cheap gore and dark humour, not to forget some fun performances and good direction.

So it seems horror legends (Campbell, Englund, Hooper, Romero etc) are doing the smart thing and playing to their fans wishes, so what if the gory glory days of when they released films in cinemas and pulled the punters in on late Friday nights is long gone. Let’s revel in the fact that good horror is still being made, if not directly seen by every tom dick and harry then at least by those that appreciate and accept the genre for what it is worth.

Looks like the new wave of modern horror is to be found in the sitting room with the lights turned off, let’s not shy away from it, embrace it and then others know, who needs overblown torture porn or glossy effects anyway.

VIVA LA HORROR REVOLUTION…..Sort of!

Gordons HP Sauce

“Who’s going to believe a talking head? Get a job in a sideshow”

It was one of those occurrences everyone has had, at least at one time or another, you have been out with friends catching up and generally getting highly inebriated , you laugh throw up, possibly drink some more which in turn leads to the inevitable zombie-stumble back to your home. Or the other kind of walk which involves a rocky-like motivational theme tune of your own composition as you force yourself to push threw along with motivational gibberish and promises of unhealthy and greasy foods to consume to help said trek (believe it or not this will have a point). This prominent feast of a meat-like substance (or substitute) which has on several occasions been an elegant and subtle dish of donner kebab with chilli sauce….yum…..which leads into yet more stumbling and eventual finding of your homes actual location. Tired and exhausted from the perilous journey you slump, onto the welcoming and worn in sofa….you switch on the television. Flicking through channel after channel, suddenly you hear a noise which catches your attuned drunken sense; you flick back a few channels and finally located the source of the noise, then BAM!!!  You see a woman scream and a shot of a man eyes bulge and explode all over her, she screams uttering the words “you killed him” (add European accent here for she was European)…the reply from a bespectacled man “No! I gave him life!”….credits a funky techo remix of Bernhard Hermans Psycho theme promising me further outlandish entertainment. This was my introduction to Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator (or the appropriate title “H P Lovecraft’s Re-Animator) and Jeffrey Combs characterisation of an iconic horror character….I was promised a ride I would not long forget.

What commenced was 87 minutes of pure unadulterated, un-pc gory brilliance, which among the many highlights included heads removed from torsos with garden shovels, disembodied heads seeking violent vengeance, zombies, evil black cats and a crazed doctor by the name of Herbert West…sobering up….I unsure if  what I had just witnessed was not just some drunken day dream….

I woke up the next morning furry tongued and dehydrated…..flashbacks of the previous nights images bled back into my swollen head. Was it a dream, an elaborated fantasy perhaps or was it real (or as realistic as a film can be anyway)….after a pint of water it becomes less clear….  my mind is unsure that it could be a bit of both….

Stuart Gordon’s 1985 camp horror classic Re-Animator has since been one of my favourite films…period, it really is amazing what you find during drunken nights. With the egocentric yet unusually affable character of Herbert West (although I suppose anti-hero would be more apt) this remains a campy yet gory, darkly funny and deliberately OTT piece of horror brilliance in every sense of the word.

Its hard not to love a film which contains so much energy and fun within its well packed running time, it is a brilliant example of a cinematic Grand-Guignol with the fake blood and horror  flowing  right off the screen. I would truly love to have seen such an experience on the big screen. This was absolutely a product of the 80s due to the high amount of latex make-up effects and synth score, it also still remains the best of the (so far) Herbert West trilogy.

To Be Continued…….

The Henenlotter Effect: Part 1

The Henenlotter Effect.

Part 1:

I recently bought the (quite frankly) cult classic Brain Damage by Frank Henenlotter, the king of modern day exploitation and it got me thinking that there really isn’t  that much in the way of articles or written info on Mr Henelotter, particularly since he went into semi-retired after Basket Case 3. So I thought I would show my appreciation for this crazed eccentric and un-pc film maker because as of last year he is finally back on the independent horror scene again with the gloriously distasteful (albeit in the best possible sense) “Bad Biology”.

My first introduction to Frank Henenlotter was with his first feature, the 42^nd street  classic (and possibly one of the last runs of exploitation films in the 80s) “Basket Case”, with crude stopmotion a highly downbeat ending  and the concept of brotherly love twisted on its head the film screamed cult classic to me. It felt (during my first viewing) like a dirty little secret, almost as though I was not supposed to watch it , I mean any film that centres around a man carrying  his deformed twin in a large wicker basket and known as the “Bradley Twins” (who are murdering the doctors that separated them), is not going to be a “normal” viewing experience.

The low budget and use of rundown grimy interiors just adds to the cheap appeal of the feature which contains a certain appeal through its crudeness and generally dark comic tone , due in part to the over the top violence. The particularly unperfected stopmotion to animate the deformed Belial in several instances (which Henenlotter admitted to not having the patience for) again adds to the low budget charm and for me includes something oddly compulsive as he goes on a killing rampage for vengeance. As high concept exploitation films go it’s a simplistic concept but one which works amazingly well within its limited budget, still remaining one of my all time favourite trashy horror classics.

It took Henenlotter 6 years before he released yet another cult classic this time with “Brain Damage” and in my opinion the best of his directing features (and certainly his most accomplished) there is no “difficult second feature” syndrome here. The story concerns that of Brian who, while ill in bed has an alien like slug attach its self to him, injecting Brian’s brain with a blue hallucinogenic fluid causing him to trip out and see bright lights. But like any kind of drug dealer Elmer (or Almer as he is revealed to be called) only allows Brian another hit if he takes Elmer for a “walk” or to correctly put it find hapless victims he can suck the brains out of while Brian trips the light fantastic. It isn’t long before Brian clocks on to his plan, but is he powerless to stop Elmer from taking Brains?

The film has an interesting take on drug addiction particularly concerning a campy horror film made in 1988, and even more interesting that Henenlotter decides to use the calming tones of veteran creature feature host John Zacherle for Elmer.

There is one truly glorious un-pc moment that generates more laughs then disgust (certainly is the case on repeat viewings), as it concerns Brian in a New York club under the influence of the blue fluid. He suddenly gets the attention a local clubber leading to a making out session, but with a difference just as she is about to give him a “happy ending” Elmer shoots out of his trousers and straight into her mouth causing her to go backwards and forwards as he eats her brain from inside.

The effect is amplified with the use of blood and slime make-up, some could see this in poor taste , but the effect is so funny to behold that in all seriousness it ultimately adds to the camp appeal of this particular B-movie , and shows what Henenlotter is best at…..Being gloriously and unequivocally the king of un-pc horror filmmaking.

All of this combined, together with a brief cameo by Dwayne Bradley and his mysterious wicker basket, make a fully campy horror gore classic seek it out and you might just enjoy it.

In part 2  I’ll be discussing :