It's been such a long time...

Hey friends,
Haven't posted anything lately due to a CRAZY big workload but I've been up to some pretty exciting things. First and foremost I am proud to announce that I will be working as a makeup artist on Joshua Hull's (Beverly Lane) new film Idiot Gore!
You can check out the press release and create-a-killer contest over at Dread Central . Its going to be a blast!

I also recently worked on a film by Nashville filmmaker Sanika Chirwa entitled Redemption. Here's a look at some of the makeup I did for that film!






so there's that. I'll be posting more regularly soon!

Halloween is Over...Sad Face

So another Halloween has come and gone and I find myself missing it already. I hope everyone had just as good a time as I did. I spent the night surrounded by my family and friends and got to peep The Walking Dead, Trick r Treat, Halloween and Creepshow. Pretty damn good night! Check out the pics below.

Gone Monster Making

Sorry that there haven't been any posts the last two days. I've been away at Monster Mountain making monsters! Take a look!

Halloween Memories I

I love Halloween and most all that's associated with it. A great deal of why I love the holiday is the personal nostalgia associated with it: Trick or Treating in 3 different neighborhoods, crazy costumes (yea, I was the Batmobile one year, so what?) getting sick on candy and:


The Great Bear Scare!!!!

This little animated ditty was one of the best parts of the holiday season. I dug it so much that my mom had to track down a VHS copy for the other 364 days of the year!

More closely resembling a slide show than a full on cartoon (due to the lack of "in-betweening") The Great Bear Scare follows the plight of the good bear folks of Bearbank who are about to be besieged by the ghoulish residents of Monster Mountain. All of the Bearbank residents are up in arms but suddenly, their savior comes on the horizon:


Ted E. Bear. Yep, can't make that up. Ol Ted thinks that everyone should just get along and embarks on a journey, up Monster Mountain, to allow the healing to begin between the bear folk and horror regs. Sure, this is all pretty cliche with the weak plot and un-bear-able bear puns (HA!) there is still a lot to love here.

The supporting Monster cast, led by ol' Drac himself


re a lot of fun and have some really entertaining dialog and while the "animation" is lacking, it is beautifully colored and some of the scenery is really great (Monster Mountain still looks B.A.). While it's not quite the caliber to be considered the Grinch's Halloween counterpart, the film has a lot of heart and is a treat for any Halloween fan, young and old.

You can check the flick out here
Interesting to note, Youtube lists the owner/user of the film as Lions Gate. Is it possible we'll see a updated version of the toon? My fingers are crossed for a cgi 3-D spectacular ala Monster vs Aliens!

Fun with M & M's

There is something very addicting about games where pictures stand for something else. I love trying to figure out puzzles like this and if they have a horror element? Well then I am 100% on board!

A few years ago, M&M's came out with a game like this where you have to find the 50 hidden horror movie titles in the pictures. I play this thing every year...is that sad? yeah, a little. But its a hell of a lot of fun too. So I figured I'd share it with everyone! Have fun and enjoy!

http://www.m-ms.com/us/fungames/games/50darkmovies/

Horror Shorts For The Halloween Spirit!

This season, my Halloween spirit was amped up mainly due to one thing...Horror shorts. From web series to music videos to annual entries, nothing has gotten me in the spirit this year like the following bites of horror. Check em out and get in the spirit!

Camera Obscura by Drew Daywalt

You can check out my interview with Drew about his series and career over at The Blood Sprayer but until then head over over to Daily Motion and peep one of the creepiest bits of horror I've ever seen!




A 20 part web series, Camera Obscura is the story of a girl who's grandfather, whom she was raised by, has recently died. While going through his things she discovers a strange camera and a demonic photo album. After burning the album she discovers that it was a prison for demons and she has unleashed them on the city. Now it is up to her to hunt them down and capture them all with her grandfather's camera.

With top notch special effects, a haunting score and great writing, Camera Obscura will haunt your dreams! Definitely one to get the creepy up in time for Halloween!


Adam Green's Annual Horror Shorts

Adam Green is quickly becoming my favorite director. Not just for the fact that he makes some pretty kick ass flicks but because every year for Halloween he releases a new horror short. This shorts usually employ the help of people he's worked with recently (Paul Solet last year and the Hatchet crew a few years ago) and it just fits so well. Below are two for you to enjoy! First is probably one of my favorite shorts EVER created "Jack Chop" and the second is this years new film, "Just Take One". Enjoy! Fahkin!







Thriller Mashup

I saw this posted on Shock Till You Drop the other day and I didn't expect much...I mean how many video mashups have you seen before that have been completely fucking lame. Well I figured I'd give this one a go and I'm glad I did. It single handedly put me in the Halloween mood. Employing a pretty extensive archive of horror flicks
(28 Days Later / 30 Days of Night / 1408 / Alien / An American Werewolf in London / The Amityville Horror / April Fools Day / Arachnophobia / Army of Darkness / The Birds / Black Christmas / Blow Out / Bram Stokers Dracula / Bride of Frankenstein / The Burning / Candyman / Carrie / The Changeling / Childs Play / Childs Play 2 / Christine / CHUD / Creepshow / Creepshow 2 / Dawn of the Dead / Dawn of the Dead (2004) / Dead Silence / Demons / Dracula / Dracula (1979) / The Evil Dead / Evil Dead 2 / The Exorcist / The Exorcist 3 / Exorcist: The Beginning / Fire in the Sky / The Fog / Frankenstein / Friday the 13th / Friday the 13th Part 2 / Friday the 13th Part 3 / Friday the 13th Part 4 / Friday the 13th Part 5 / Fright Night / The Funhouse / Ghostbusters / Ginger Snaps / Graveyard Shift / Gremlins / Gremlins 2 / Halloween / Halloween (2007) / Halloween 2 / Halloween 3 / Halloween 4 / The Hand / Hannibal / The Haunting (1999) / Hellraiser / The Hills Have Eyes (2006) / Horror of Dracula / The Howling / Howling 2 / I Know What You Did Last Summer / Innocent Blood / It / Jaws / Jaws 2 / Jeepers Creepers / Lake Placid / The Last House on the Left / The Lost Boys / Magic / Maximum Overdrive / The Messengers / The Mist / Near Dark / Night of the Demons / Night of the Living Dead / Nightbreed / Nightmare on Elm Street / Nightmare on Elm Street 3 / Nightmare on Elm Street 4 / Nightwatch (1998) / The Omen / The Others / The People Under the Stairs / Pet Sematary / Planet Terror / Poltergeist / Predator / Psycho / Psycho (1998) / Psycho 2 / Raiders of the Lost Ark / Relentless / Return of the Living Dead / The Ring / Rosemarys Baby / Salems Lot / Scanners / Scream / Scream 2 / Scream 3 / Session 9 / The Shining / The Silence of the Lambs / Silver Bullet / Sleepwalkers / Sleepy Hollow/ Suspiria / Tales from the Crypt / Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight / The Texas Chainsaw Massacre / Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) / They Live / The Thing / Tremors / Vacancy / Vampires / The Vanishing / Vault of Horror / Visiting Hours / When a Stranger Calls / When a Stranger Calls (2006) / Wolf / Wolf Creek / The Wolf Man / Wolfen / Wrong Turn)

This Mashup syncs with the music amazingly well...sometimes its downright eerie.



Season's Greetings

here's the short film that eventually gave birth to what I consider the greatest Halloween film ever, Trick r Treat. The thesis project of director Michael Dougherty, Greetings is a fun little animated short that recalls the mystique and danger of Trick or Treating by yourself...and the potential enemies you may encounter. We are even treated to the little sack-head that will become the mischievous Sam. If all these shorts don't put you in the mood for the season, perhaps its time to get back in the coffin till next year.

Treehouse of Horrors!

Growing up I looked forward to one thing on Television every Halloween season. While most kids my age dug on The Great Pumpkin, I wanted my t.v. terror a little more violent, a little more vulgar and a little more fun. That's why I couldn't wait for The newest installment of The Simpson's Treehouse of Horrors!


Over the years Treehouse of Horrors has gone from being clever horror parody and gory good times to episodes completely devoid of horror. There have been, however, 13 truly amazing segments that will forever remain some of my favorite moments in Halloween history. Let's take a look...

13.) King Homer (Treehouse of Horrors III)



King Homer is the Simpsonized version of King Kong in which Mr. Burns mounts an expedition to find and capture King Homer. This is a pretty straight forward parody with some really great one liners and sight gags and features a hilarious ending.

BEST MOMENT- King Homer eats Shirley Temple

BEST LINE- Mr. Burns:What do you think Smithers?
Smithers: I think Ladies and Sea-men don't mix
Mr. Burns: We know what you think.

12.) The HOMega Man (Treehouse of Horror VIII)


After Springfield is bombed by France (thanks Quimby) Homer emerges from a bomb shelter to find that everyone is dead...mostly. While dancing naked in the church Homer is discovered by a group of townspeople who have survived and become mutants and want to erase the past and start fresh. Meaning? Homer must die!
HOMega man is a great mix of classic twilight zone, Omega Man and I Am Legend and delivers a classic punch out ending.

BEST MOMENT- Homer knocks a dead, skeletal citizens head off and feels remorse

BEST LINE- Comic Book Guy: ooh...I've wasted my life.

11.) The Thing and I (Treehouse of Horror VII)


The Thing and I finds Homer and Marge acting suspiciously around the house which makes Bart and Lisa curious. Their curiosity leads them to the attic where they discover Hugo, Bart's conjoined twin brother who was separated from birth.
Dr. Hibbard and Hugo steal the show here and the segment definitely leaves you wanting to see more of the new family dynamic.

BEST MOMENT- Hugo sews a rat and pigeon together

BEST LINE-Homer Simpson: We think we saw Hugo at the airport, he was boarding a plane to Switzerland and...
[sees Hugo]
Homer Simpson: Oh.

10.) Clown Without Pity (Treehouse of Horror III)



Homer, forgetting Bart's Birthday, buys a cursed Krusty doll. Once home, the doll goes to great lengths to try and kill Homer.
This segment is a parody of the classic Twilight Zone episode, Living Doll and it improves on the source material in every way (no easy feat).

BEST MOMENT- Patti and Selma's expressions as Homer runs naked through the house

BEST LINE-Shopkeeper: [Homer has agreed to purchase a Krusty doll for Bart's birthday] Take this object, but beware it carries a terrible curse!
Homer: Ooh, that's bad.
Shopkeeper: But it comes with a free frogurt!
Homer: That's good.
Shopkeeper: The frogurt is also cursed.
Homer: That's bad.
Shopkeeper: But you get your choice of toppings.
Homer: That's good!
Shopkeeper: The toppings contain potassium benzoate.
[Homer looks puzzled]
Shopkeeper: ...That's bad.
Homer: Can I go now?

09.) Nightmare Cafeteria (Treehouse of Horror V)

After learning of the overpopulation within the school and the use of Grade F meat in the Cafeteria, Principal Skinner comes up with a solution...make tasty meals out of trouble students.
This segment stands out as being surprisingly gory and out there. Definitely a must see for any gore hound.

BEST MOMENT: Sloppy Jimbos

BEST LINE: Many dancing people, covered in blood, gore, and glop!/Just one sniff of that fog and you're inside out!/It's worse than that flesh-eating virus you've read about!/Vital organs, they are what we're dressed in, the family dog is eyeing Bart's intestine!/Happy Halloween!


08-06.) Treehouse of Horrors IV







Treehouse IV is brilliant. Each segment stands alone as exactly what the series should be and the only reason these aren't the top three, is because the don't gel well as a complete episode (even with the Bart Night Gallery interludes)

The Devil and Homer simpson has Homer looking to sell is soul for a donut. And who should show up? Well, Devil Flanders of course!
This episode is surprisingly complex and features some of the best Simpson's jokes period. Not to mention the plethora of cameo's from hell.

BEST MOMENT: See Frame

BEST LINE:Homer: Mmmm... forbidden donut.

Nightmare at 5 1/2 feet is another Twilight Zone re-do where Bart, after dreaming he dies in a bus crash, boards the bus for his daily ride to school. Once on, he sees a blue skinned Gremlin trying to wreck the bus on the outside. I love this episode because of the source material and it takes it one step further by riffing on the Twilight Zone movie in the final scenes.

BEST MOMENT- See frame

BEST LINE- Principal Skinner: Pull, Willie!
Groundskeeper Willie: I'm doin' all the pullin', you blouse-wearing poodle-walker!

Bart Simpson's Dracula capitalized on the then topical Copolla film. Springfield is besieged by apparent vampire attacks and Lisa suspects Mr. Burns. Upon being invited to Burns Castle for dinner, Lisa's fears are confirmed.
This episode deserves props for the design of Burns as Dracula and the out of left field ending

BEST MOMENT- The inexplicable Charlie Brown Chirstmas ending

BEST LINE-Lisa Simpson: Dad, this is blood!
Homer Simpson: Correction: FREE blood.

5.) The Raven (Treehouse of Horror)



The only segment on the countdown from the first episode, The Raven is a modern animated classic. The story follows Lisa reading the poem "The Raven" aloud with Homer in the roll of the narrator and Bart as the Raven.
This segment is classic slap stick and is surprising that such a riff on the raven hadn't happened before.

BEST MOMENT: tiny ravens flying around Homers head after a spill

BEST LINE: Quote the Raven: Eat my shorts

04.) Fly Vs. Fly (Treehouse of Horror VIII)



This classic take on both the original and remake of the Fly is spot on. Homer buys a set of telepods at a yard sale and Bart thinks he can cross breed himself with a fly becoming a super strong, flying, fly-boy. Instead what emerges is two Barts: One with Bart's head on the flys body and the other the reverse.
This episode features direct lifts from the source films (see moment) and is a really superb tribute. it also marks the end of the strictly horror themed Treehouses.

BEST MOMENT: Homer kisses the top of fly head Bart's head ala Geena Davis in The Fly, complete with slime trail (Gross!)

BEST LINE: Homer Simpson: Well, we were lucky this time. But it's all too clear that some things in this universe... aren't meant to be trifled with.
[Homer pulls up an axe]
Marge Simpson: Homer, what are you doing?
Homer Simpson: Something I should have done a long time ago.
[now turns on Bart with his axe]
Homer Simpson: I'll teach you to mess with my machine!
[Bart begins screaming and running while Homer chase him]
Homer Simpson: I'm gonna chop you good! That cost me 35 cents! You're just making it worse! I promise I won't hurt you!

3.) Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace (Treehouse of Horror VI)



A take on A Nightmare on Elm Street, we see Groundskeeper Willie seek revenge on the Springfield Elementary in true Freddy Fashion.
This segment is awesome due to the level of detail minded to pay tribute to the source material. From Willie's costume to the dream gags this segment rivals some of the later nightmare sequels...and certainly the remake.

BEST MOMENT: Willie's spirit sweeping up his own ashes

BEST LINE: Groundskeeper Willie: Glad to rake your acquaintance.

2.) The Shinning (Treehouse of Horror V)



The Simpsons find themselves going to the mountains to take care of Mr. Burns mansion during the winter. The rest that follows is very close to the Kubrick version of Shining (cleverly called the shinning here as "not to get sued!"). This episode hits every joke and has impeccable timing. The closing moments almost make you wish Kubrick had done the same thing.

BEST MOMENT: No T.V. and No Beer make Homer go something, something...

BEST LINE: Mr. Burns: Hmmm...that's odd. Usually the blood gets off at the second floor.

1.) Dial "Z" for Zombie (Treehouse of Horror III)



Dial Z for Zombie follows Bart and Lisa who go to the public library to find a spell to bring one of the snowballs back from the dead. What happens instead is Springfield's dead (which includes Shakespeare and Washington for some reason) back to life.
This episode is number one because it did a zombie story before it was cool to do zombie stories again. Not to mention it is one of the funniest Simpson's episodes ever.

BEST MOMENT/LINE: Bart: Dad! You Killed Zombie Flanders!
Homer: He was a zombie?

Well that's all folks! Check back tomorrow for day number 12!