Archives

All posts by kiwidust

The amazing IFLScience brings us a amazingly interesting, deeply disturbing story, “The crab-castrating parasite that zombifies its prey“. There’s a barnacle that infiltrates the body of mild-mannered crabs, grows inside them in horrible ways, pops out just long enough to castrate them. It also changes the crab’s behavior drastically forcing it to protect the barnacle’s young and forego eating.

This one area where real-life is vastly more interesting than Hollywood. Where the movies have continually focused on variations of the zombie dead of “Night of the Live Dead” or zombie infected of “28 Days Later” there’s very little digging into the very rich of vein of parasitic infection. Gamers, at least, have last year’s amazing blockbuster “The Last of Us“, but movie goers have yet to get much of that sweet, sweet, parasitic love.

Bernie Wrightson's Frankenstein - CopyContinuing with our celebration of Frankenstein’s Monster as an honorary zombie we, of course, must start with the source material itself. The first edition of Mary Shelly’s seminal novel was published in 1818. It wasn’t until the second edition, however, that the author’s name would actually appear on the book (after which many of the negative reviews would focus on her gender rather than the material). The novel faced mixed reviews upon release, but caught the public imagination and was popularized across Europe through theatrical adaptations.

The absolute best version of the novel is via Bernie Wrightson’s Frankstein, first published in 1983. Wrightson, a comic legend, is best known as co-creator of the beloved character, Swamp Thing, and for the definitive illustrated editions of many Stephen King novels such as “The Stand” and “Cycle of the Werewolf”. “Frankenstein” was a labor of love for him and is widely considered the definitive visualization of Shelly’s work.

The staggering, obsessive, level of detail in his pen-and-ink work is obvious and gets much of the deserved praise. It’s an amazing technical achievement that forces you to reexamine your ideas about the limits of human ability. Wrightson’s real genius, in my opinion, is his attention to the literary detail, however. Every other artist, writer, director or actor that has ever worked with the story has adapted Shelly’s work into their own visions. While this can be successful, and we’ll explore some of those variations in the coming weeks, Wrightson joyfully incorporated Shelly’s original vision into every aspect of his work.

As you read through the edition you’ll linger for long minutes over the illustrations that so perfectly reflect the unfolding story. This is Shelly’s Frankenstein brought to visual life via Wrightson’s art. He lavished his attention and skill on bringing her Frankenstein to life rather than one inspired by her. In 2012 Wrightson began work on his personal vision of the Frankenstein story in “Frankenstein: Alive, Alive“, a sequel that continues Shelly’s story. It’s just as amazing as you’d expect it to be.

Marian Call, Songs of the Month and SinglesWhen we reviewed “Zombie Cheerleading Camp” for Boiled Eggs and Brain Eaters 2014 we… were not kind. It sucked. Sorry. However I’ve recently learned that the theme song for the movie, “We’re Out for Blood“, was commissioned from one of my very favorite people, Marian Call!

I wondered how I missed this as we watched the movie, but my family reminded me that I spent the first few minutes of the actual movie ranting about the terrible PowerPoint comic-book thing that preceded the actual movie. Admittedly, my loss, but I still blame the movie.

You can, and should, buy the song – and all her others, which sound nothing like this one, but are all amazing and worth twice the pennies at any price – at her Bandcamp page!

IMDB, Detention of the Dead“Detention of the Dead” on IMDB

Comedy/Horror – 2012 – 90 Minutes

This was our fourth selection for Boiled Eggs and Brain Eaters 2014. Literally 95% of the mentions made of this movie compare it to “The Breakfast Club“. Maybe more. It doesn’t really deserve the comparison. Oh, it’s like exactly like it, it just doesn’t really deserve to be compared to it.

There’s some “kids” (I say “kids” because the average age of the actors has got to be in the mid-thirties) who are stuck in detention. There are six of them cut directly from the cheapest, simplest cardboard that could be found. There’s a goth, a nerd, a stoner, a cheerleader, a jock and… another jock. Not really clear on the thinking there.

Anyway they’re all fine, but the rest of the school has caught, as my grandmother might say, “the zombie”. There’s really no explanation. They run around trying  not to be eaten while half-assedly exploring their differences in some of the most clichéd ways possible. Hey, there’s even a love triangle! A really, terribly depressing love triangle.

On the plus side, the effects were actually pretty good. Well, except for that one horrifyingly bad muppet-zombie-rat-thing. That wasn’t good. The acting isn’t half-bad; most of the problems there come from the casting.  The jokes are easy, at least, if not particularly funny. You like fart jokes? This has got them! Personally, I’m not a huge fan.

It wasn’t that great, but hell: it wasn’t that bad either. It was also, oddly, the third movie of BEBE 2014 that featured a stoner getting a zombie high. Does that say more than it should about the kind of people making zombie movies these days?

FrankenberryThe debate on whether Frankenstein’s creature is a zombie has raged for years. One of the problems with the debate is that there are so many completely different incarnations to consider. Sometimes the creature is a reanimated corpse; sometimes an amalgam of many. Sometimes it’s a violent, mindless brute; sometimes an erudite, sorrowful soul. Sometimes it’s just a man who can die again; sometimes an immortal with horrifying strength. Sometimes well-meaning but misunderstood; sometimes evil to the core.

So, I’m going to allow Frankenstein’s unholy spawn into the ranks of zombies, if only in an honorary sense. Hell folks, if Kermit the Frog can get an honorary doctorate, I can say Frankenstein’s monster is a zombie. Besides, I’m well into the second year of “Zombie of the Week” and am running out of ideas.

So, I’ll be spending the next few weeks running down some of my very favorite Frankenstein monsters. Who better to start with than the one who started it all? The archetypal example of the breed? The most famous one of all… Frankenberry!

I’m sorry. That was immature. I promise that I’ll be serious next time.

Game of Thrones, Wight, s02e10The world of “Game of Thrones” may be more about dragons, swords and incredibly stunted social and technological development (really, 8,000 years of history and nobody has decided that there must be something better than chamber pots?), but it has its zombies too. Sort of. We’ve never been sticklers for definitions around here.

When a White Walker, a monstrous race from the Lands of Always Winter (Mr Martin writes good books but is really bad at naming places), kills somebody they sometimes return as bestial wights. Like zombies they’re kind of slow, kind of stupid and kind of indestructible. Unlike zombies they really don’t mind taking a shot to the brain: they can only be killed by fire.

So, as the show winds down its fourth season, we celebrate reanimating the dead and making them do your dirty work. Admit it: if you could, you probably would.

The Walking Dead, GarWe continue our comparisons of Walking Dead: the Comic to Walking Dead: the TV Show. We’re probably getting into spoiler territory here, but dammit, the comic is 10 years old. People die in it; like all the time.

Here’s GAR. He’s from the fifth issue of “The Walking Dead”, from February 2004, written by Robert Kirkman and drawn by Tony Moore.

GAR was so worried about dating again. He had only lost his wife a short while earlier; she having taken a hatchet to the face just a few months prior. His friends all told him to “get back on the horse,” but was he ready? He wasn’t the kind of guy that women were normally attracted to. His left eye socket was full of clotted blood and puss. Ever since he coughed up his epiglottis, he had noticeable problem breath. He was bald. What woman would want him?

Amy was young, vibrant and beautiful. She was maybe half his age and totally out of his league. Could she love a former man like him? Would she be able to see past his faults into man he knew could be with her? He had only one move to try; if he could find the courage to use it.

He tore out her throat with his teeth.

The connection was electric; she responded instantly! “YEARGH,” she shouted! She shouted, “YEARGH” for him – it almost made his heart beat again! Then Shane shot him in the face.

IMDB, Rise of the Zombies“Rise of the Zombies” on IMDB

Horror – 2012 – 89 Minutes

This was our third selection for Boiled Eggs and Brain Eaters 2014. It wasn’t good. It was, in fact, so not good that I needed to watch it again. I literally could not remember enough about it to start this review.

The only thing they did right was plastering Danny Trejo [IMDB] on the box. That’s honestly the only reason we, and I assume others, watched the movie. Seeing Levar Burton’s [IMDB] name was just icing on the cake. Of course neither one of them really stars (although Burton’s comes much closer than Trejo) and most of the time is spent in other locations with other people.

That’s one of the biggest problems with the movie: it sets up the trite, but still potentially interesting, idea of people riding out the zombie apocalypse on Alcatraz island. It’s a perfect place, really, if you could stock it. An empty super-max prison on an island; what’s not to like?  Apparently, something, because we spend almost no time there. Instead the story splits into several confusing threads and ping-pongs between them in a frantic attempt to keep it all straight.

There are a few moments where interesting things actually happen, but they’re scattered and completely overwhelmed by the schlock. Burton’s thread revolves around the science of zombies and is probably the most successful overall, but is hamstrung by the terrible script. It forces him to do ridiculously silly things that completely undermine everything else. A few other moments come close to working only to fall apart.

I won’t begrudge anybody an easy paycheck, but the cast deserves better. It’s as formulaic as they come and poorly executed to boot. Watch something good again before you waste your time on this.

The Walking Dead, Deer ZombieWe continue our comparisons of Walking Dead: the Comic to Walking Dead: the TV Show. Bear with us.

In the comic version Rick and Shane come across a zombie eating a deer carcass and soberly discuss whether or not the meat would be any good should they take it. They decide not to risk it and stoically dispatch the zombie.

The TV version is a little more dramatic and combines several scenes from the comic with the introduction of eventual fan-favorite, Daryl Dixon. After hearing Carl screaming, Rick, Shane and several others run to his aid. They find our featured shambler gorging himself on sweet, sweet venison. The group starts beating him, ineffectively, in a graphic display of their inexperience. Dale finally delivers a decapitating blow with an ax.

Emerging from the bushes, Daryl spooks the group. He’d been tracking the wounded, and now wasted, deer. Like a force of nature he moves through the scene chattering incessantly. He finally chastises the group for leaving Deer Zombie’s head alive as he puts a bolt through it. It’s a near perfect introduction. In his initial 30 seconds on camera we see nearly facet of his character. He’s gruff and tactless, but also concerned about the group and willing to listen. He’s devoted to his brother. He’s incredibly resourceful, but lacks social tools.

One of the reasons that Daryl has become so beloved is that his character has grown, but not changed, over the course of the show. Where other characters have has massive shifts in behavior and motivation, Daryl is a rock. Thank you, Deer Zombie, for introducing us to him!

IMDB, Zombie Cheerleading Camp“Zombie Cheerleading Camp” on IMDB

Comedy/Horror – 2007 – 85 Minutes

This was our second selection for Boiled Eggs and Brain Eaters 2014. It was a tough one.

The movie starts with a horrible little comic-strip, slide-show thing. Set to cliched public-domain “monster music” it wordlessly gives the audience the hackneyed back-story.  Nazi’s made zombies, U.S. soldiers took the formula home and buried it and, finally, a curious squirrel dove into it. It was coarse, ugly, poorly-done and, as bad as it was, so very much more interesting than the actual movie. Imagine, to illustrate, if the entire story of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” was condensed into a terrible five-minute PowerPoint presentation and the actual movie was all about janitors in in the warehouse where they stored the Ark.

The idea, of course, was to do an 80’s-style teenage romp. The ingredients are pretty simple: a bunch of hot teens, a despicable authority figure with a comically inept toadie and a place. The absolute worst version of all of these are collected and then zombies, which have become a kind of universal condiment for bad movies, are tossed in. The villainous authority figure, the camp’s trainer, is totally forgettable. Her toadie/son is the most insulting and humorless version of the traditional gay stereotype. The camp is… a camp. I guess some things you really can’t screw up.

The 20- and 30-something “hot teens” are each assigned a single personality trait; each more annoying than the last. The movie really wants to be a low-budget teenage romp but it doesn’t have the budget for it. Instead it seems to have blackmailed one poor actress, out of eight or nine, to carry all of the nudity in the film. While she’s admittedly hot enough, her scenes feel forced, out-of-place and terribly, terribly sad.

When the highlight of your movie is a ridiculous two-minute fist-fight between a man and a non-animated, stuffed squirrel you may want to rethink your plans. Completionist genre fans with absolutely no other choices  might want to give this a try. Everybody else should steer clear.