Δευτέρα 31 Δεκεμβρίου 2012

The Top Crossing Horror Movies in 2012


The first four best crossing horror movies of 2012.



Today is the last day of 2012 in few minutes New Zealand will be the first country to welcome the New Year. In 2012 is a milestone year for me, because I started blogging for my favorite interests and especially because I have started the Horror 2112 a small personal blog about Horror Movies and Fiction.

As final article of the year I would like to mention the best box office crossing Horror Movies of the year.

  1. Prometheus (Ridley Scott, 2012)



The film Prometheus is a prequel of the legendary film Alien (Ridley Scott, 1981) and tries to answer a fundamental question about the beginning of the Alien mythology. According to Box Office Mojo the film Prometheus crossed worldwide $ 402.486.687.

You can watch a trailer of the film "Prometheus" on youthube




You can read a full review of the film Prometheus on the relative Horror 2112 article (click here).     

  1. Paranormal Activity 4 (Ariel Schulman, Herry Joost, 2012)
 



The film “Paranormal Activity 4 is the fourth film of the Paranormal Activity mythology and actually the plot structure of the film is following the mythology after the Paranormal Activity II. The film follows the same style as found footage / cinema verite – documentary style.  According to Box Office Mojo the film Paranormal Activity 4 crossed worldwide $ 140.740.358.

You can watch a trailer of the film "Paranormal Activity 4" on youthube



You can read a full review of the film Paranormal Activity 4 4 on the relative Horror 2112 article (click here).      

  1. The Devil Inside (William Brent Bell, 2012)




The film “The Devil Inside” is a found footage / cinema verite – documentary style film with a strong paranormal spirit cause the villain was a demon.  Part of the film is shot in Vatican - Italy and it was a huge box office success by crossing worldwide $ 101.386.096.   

You can watch a trailer of the film "The Devil Inside" on youtube



You can read a full review of the film "The Devil Inside" 4 on the relative Horror 2112 article (click here).      

  1. Resident Evil (Paul W. Anderson,2012)




The film “Resident Evil” is based on the famous Video Game with the same name. The owner of the film franchise is the Japanese Video Games Company Copcom. The film “Resident Evil” has not received critics in favor but it has a very strong fan base and it crossed worldwide more than $ 221.810.879

You can watch a trailer of the film "Resident Evil" on youtube



You can read a full review of the film Resident Evil 4 on the relative Horror 2112 article (click here).      

Elias Stoikos


I need to mention that this article tries to provide information to reader using all the available data on the day of its publishing. New information and data for this subject and issue are published every day. It’s been highly recommended to the reader to search on Google for more information. World is moving searching is the driving force. Searching is the source of inspiration and the source of truth.  

Πέμπτη 20 Δεκεμβρίου 2012

Leatherface


Leatherface more than just a masked fictional and cinema villain




“The film you are about to see is an account of the tragedy which befell a group of five youths in particular Sally Hardestry and her invalid brother Franklin. It’s all the more tragic that they were young. But, had they lived very, very long lives..” 


Leatherface - The history of masks in art and ceremonies 

The masked villain as a main antagonist in fiction and generally in art is old but it was re introduced in American Independent Horror Cinema by Tobe Hopper in the milestone film “Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1973).  The Mask is not only an object to increase the value of a plot structure or an object to maximize the importance of a fictional or cinema character. In my opinion the mask in cinema is more than an object is a global symbol of unknown, a warning of danger and a sign of death.

The use of masks is also in rituals and ceremonies, is a very ancient human practice across the world. Also, masks were used in drama and psychotherapy. Masks used for their expressive power as a feature of masked performance both ritually and in a large number of theater traditions.

Masks play a key part within theater traditions and especially in non – western theater. They also continue to be ritual; force within contemporary theater. Masks used also in Ancient Greece and Rome. In contemporary theater masks and puppets incorporated into European theater by avant – garde artists from the turn of the ninetieth century.

Leatherface -  the background
 

Tobe Hooper the director, producer and co- writer of the film “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” was inspired by a chainsaw and he created one of the most successful horror film franchises ever. The film “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is based on a true crime case of Wisconsin grave ripper, body snatcher and cannibal Ed Gein. Before “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” Ed Geith case inspired the creation of Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece Psycho and two decades after the release of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” the same real crime case inspired the creation of another unforgettable villain Jame Gumb in the film The Silence of the Lambs.      
             

Leatherface – The fictional character



The original character Leatherface was introduced by Tobe Hooper in 1974 legendary independent Horror film “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”. The character is presented as a fat, ugly and antisocial man who works at the meat factory of the family. He kills cows for a living and also young teenagers.
At the initial film Leatherface appears as a killing machine who is under the complete control of his family he looks that he afraid the other members of his family and especially the elders.

 to be continued 

You can watch the trailer of Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Tobe Hooper, 1974) and see the initail Leatherface character    





Elias Stoikos

Relative Articles 



Resources 






I need to mention that this article tries to provide information to reader using all the available data on the day of its publishing. New information and data for this subject and issue are published every day. It’s been highly recommended to the reader to search on Google for more information. World is moving searching is the driving force. Searching is the source of inspiration and the source of truth.               



         

Τετάρτη 19 Δεκεμβρίου 2012

Silent Night (David Felber, 2011)


Silent Night is a significant short horror film




The film “Silent Night" was produced and directed by David Felber from “The Production Zone”, it’s a 2,53 minutes film with an unforgettable plot structure, excellent camera work, poetic photography and atmospheric soundtrack.

The film is based only on the amazing optical storytelling skills of David Felber and its dialogue free. According to Production Zone’s web site the film “Silent Night" has been shown at a number of Film Festivals worldwide (the Seoul International Extreme – Short Image & Film Festival, the Ancient City Con Festival in Florida and “Round Con” in South Carolina).

The Plot Structure of the film “Silent Night”


In the beginning, the film has a strong Christmas mood and a festive atmosphere. Silent night opens with a medium shot to a fireplace and then camera very cleverly moves back and reveals a great set decorated with candles, a Christmas tree and a happy couple. Then film changes shooting location and camera changes angle, on the set Christmas presents, greetings card and a girl aged 10 to 12 years turns off the light and sleeps. Fade out  

At 33rd second of the film camera fades in, exterior and point of view shot.  A human being or a creatures is walking outside of the house. The mood of the film changes there is no festive atmosphere audience is expecting the revelation of a crime action. We believe that a mysterious and weird person is walking outside of the house and there are possibilities the young girl to be in danger.  

At 40th second, the optical storytelling continues at girl’s room. Medium shot at the sleeping girl, she wakes up because of a weird sound. At 45th second, shooting location stairs, extreme close shot to the boots of a man who goes upstairs. The mood of film has changed complete, the audience is expecting from second to second an action of violence and terror.

At 51th second, the door of girl’s room opens and extreme close shot to the boots of the intruder as he walks in.  Then at 55th second of the film camera angle and shot type change again, point of view shot as the intruder is walking at girl’s bed.

Then follow the most critical shots of the film. We have a double twist in just a few second.

I will not write about the next shots!!! It’s an extreme short film, just 2 minutes and it’s an unforgettable work. It’s a great film and you deserve to watch it.




Cast of short horror film “Silent Night
 

As I have already mentioned “Silent Night” is a short film and the plot structure of the film is based on four characters.

At the opening scene, a man (Kevin Brown) kisses a woman (Gemma Head) and then a visitor (Alan Brent) visits a sleeping girl (Holly Messenger).

Also, I need to highlight the excellent work of Steven White as Director of Photography, the unforgettable lighting of Steven Jolly as Lighting Director and the successful editing of Gareth Harrison as Editor. Additionally, make up work of Paulina Szczepanska is very good and believable to audience.

The score of the film is one of the best in short films and with the amazing optical storytelling are responsible for the creation of the unique atmosphere and the change of film’s mood during the film. As well the production work of Silent Night is amazing, obviously the production team David Felber, Barbara Felber, Ryan Bloom and Lauren Felber had done an excellent work.

Silent Night publicity and media reception
 

Articles about Silent Night short horror film appeared in the Yorkshire Post, Yorkshire Evening Post, The Yorkshire Times, Yorkshire Business Network, The Business Desk, Leeds, Live it, Love it and North side Magazine and it was reviewed on blogs and websites as http://fistfullofboomstick89.blogspot.co.uk and Cinema Slasher.


Elias Stoikos

Resources


Great Short Horror Films            


I need to mention that this article tries to provide information to reader using all the available data on the day of its publishing. New information and data for this subject and issue are published every day. It’s been highly recommended to the reader to search on Google for more information. World is moving searching is the driving force. Searching is the source of inspiration and the source of truth.                 
                          




     

    

Σάββατο 8 Δεκεμβρίου 2012

Rosemary’s Babe (Roman Polanski, 1968)


Rosemary's Baby Roman Polanski’s masterpiece




Rosemary's Baby is considered among the most significant horror movies and the corn stone for satanic cinema. It was produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures and William Castle Enterprises in 1968. Rosemary’s Baby was directed and written by the first time Hollywood director Roman Polanski and the plot structure of the film is based on a Gothic bestseller book with the same name by Ira Levin. Rosemary’s Babe is among the horror blockbuster movies and among the few horror movies to win an Oscar

The plot structure of Rosemary's Baby




Rosemary’s Babe is a film about witchcraft and Satanism but the Satanist appear to audience as older characters and very friendly to audience. The plot structure is based on the revelation of a conspiracy against an innocent young woman, Rosemary, who has just married an actor Guy and they move to their new flat in New York. At the first minutes of the film Rosemary is very happy with her new neighbors and she is invited with her husband for a dinner by Minnie and Roman Castevet. During their dinner Rosemary tastes a chocolate pudding and after few minutes she feels dizzy and she sleeps.
She had a weird dream as she is surrounded by naked chanters and her husband changes shapes between a demonic and a human figure. Finally at the end of the dream she is rapped by a demon. Next morning Rosemary is covered with scratches and she needs to visit a doctor.
Rosemary starts to realize that her environment is not so friendly as it seems, she believes that there is something dangerous very well hidden behind the mask of politeness and friendliness. Rosemary learns she is pregnant but she is in pain and she starts loosing weight. The Castevets recommend to Rosemary Dr. Sapirstein who advise her to drink a herbal mixture and he tells Rosemary to not worry.
Hutch is former landlord and Rosemary’s friend, he visits her and he worries because the appearance of Rosemary. Hutch wants to see Rosemary again but he doesn’t show up at the appointment he is in coma. Rosemary is in pain and wants a second opinion from another doctor and wants to visit another doctor, but her husband Guy refuses to pay.
Few days later Rosemary learns that Hutch is dead at his funeral friends of Hutch give a book to her bought by Hutch. Rosemary reads the book and she discovers that Roman Catsevet her friendly old neighbor is the son of black magician Adrian Marcato and Rosemary believes that her husband participates in a coven of Magicians who want to sacrifice her babe. Here husband Guy destroys the book. Rosemary packs her bags and leaves she is heading to Dr. Sapirstein but she is suspicious about him and she changes her rout to Dr. Hill another doctor recommended by Rosemary but Dr. Hill calls Dr. Sapirstein and Guy who appear to drive her back to her apartment, she escapes but she is soon sedated.
Next day Dr. Sapirstein announces to Rosemary that her babe died but Rosemary doesn’t believe him. Later she finds the entire coven gathered around her babe in the flat of Castevets. Roman Catsevets announces to her that hers babe is the Devil’s son.

Deeper thoughts about Rosemary’s Baby plot structure




As I have already mention the film is based on the novel of Ira Levin which was a huge publishing success as the hardback stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for 41 weeks.

The main issues of the plot structure can be recognized as the discovery by the main female character of a betrayal. Everyone in her new life after marriage is a witch and her husband Guy betrayed her for fame and money and finally that her bay is Satan’s son.

Also, the main struggle and conflict in the film is developed around the struggle of Rosemary (main female character) to retain her sanity in an unfriendly, unknown and alien environment.

There is also an unanswered question left to audience to develop the Rosemary’s Babe mythology – Will Rosemary accept the child as her own?

The main persons behind the “Rosemary’s Baby” film



Roman Polanski wrote and directed the film which is based on Ira Levin’s novel. The film was produced by William Castle. Director of Photography was William A. Fraker, the production design was mad by Richard Sylbert, art director of the film is Joel Schiller and responsible for costumes was Athea Sylbert. The film was edited by Sam O’ Steen and Bob Wyman. The score of the film was composed by Krzysztof Komeda and the sound was recorded by Harold Lewis.

The cast of “Rosemary’s BabY”


Roman Polanski wanted to work with old Hollywood and friendly to audience actors and obviously many familiar faces were cast against type as an example I can mention the fact that Satanists were all played by friendly character actors a subversion of expectations.

Mia Farrow performs the part of Rosemary (the main female character) was elected by Roman Polanski because he was impressed by the star’s vulnerability and also she had the look of the “robust, healthy, all – American girl”. Mia Farrow after “Rosemary’s Baby” stared also in other horror pictures as “Blind Terror” (1971) and “Full Circle” (1977) and finally she joined Woody Allen’s repertory team.

Guy is the main male character initially Roman Polanski showed the script to Warren Beatty but he rejected the proposal. Robert Redford was interested but Paramount Studios had a different opinion, also Jack Nicholson was interested, but Roman Polanski believed that he was not so recognized band known to audience at the time of production and finally the actor and independent film director John Cassavetes suggested himself to the producer of the film William Castle and Roman Polanski agreed.

Beyond the main characters Ruth Gordon performs the part of Minnie Castevet, Sidney Blackmer performs the part of Roman Castevet, Maurice Evans performs the part of Hutch, Ralph Bellamy performs the part of Dr. Sapirstein, Angella Dorian performs the part of Terry, Patsy Kelly plays the part of Laura Louise, Elisha Cook performs the part of Mr Nicklas, Emmaline Henry plays the part of Elise Dunstan, Marianne Gordon performs the part of Joan Jellicoe and also in the film participate Philip Leeds, Charles Grodin, Hope Sumnmers, Wende Wagner, William Castle.

Cameo in the film “Rosemary’s Babe”


The producer of the film William Castle has a cameo as he appears outside of a phone booth and alarms Rosemary.  

The Production of the film “Rosemary’s babe”

 

Initially the film was scheduled for a 50 days shot both in New York and Los AngelesCalifornia. The main shots in New York took place in Bramford – New York and especially in Dakota apartment bloc a reputedly haunted place in big apple. It’s very interesting to highlight the fact that John Lennon was shot outside of this building on 1 December of 1980. The dream sequence and the opening sequence was shot on a watch at Play del Ray marina near Santa Monica California.  

The initial budget of the film was about $1,9 million but cause of four weeks delay it was finally finished four weeks over schedule and $ 400.000 over budget.

Roman Polanski preferred to retain some ambiguity in the film and to create a subjective focus on the film, audience watches the film and the entire story as seen through the eyes of Rosemary and it could have been a chain of only superficially sinister coincidences and a product of her feverish fantasies”.

The soundtrack of the “Roseamary’s Baby”


Krystof Komeda was a polish doctor who used to compose music in his spare time. Roman Polanski persuaded him to take up music and composing full time. Komeda wrote the scores for all movies of Roman Polanski up to Rosemary Baby except the film Repulsion.

The Release of Rosemary’s Baby


Rosemary Baby was a huge commercial success by crossing more that $ 30 million and became one of the most successful horror films ever. Also Rosemary’s baby is among the few horror films to win an Oscar for second female role to 71 years old Ruth Gordon who performed the part of Minnie Castevet.

Rumors about Rosemary’s babe


Anton La Vey founder of the Church of Satan circulated rumors by claiming that he was employed to perform the devil in the rape scene and as well to provide technical expertise and advice. La Vey’s claims collapsed when crew members deny his participation in the rape scene. Also, the composer of the film Komeda died in 1969 and according to rumors the production of the film was cursed. Later the producer of the film William Castle uremic poisoning and the murder Sharon Tate’s mother, according to rumors were results of the curse.

On the following video you can watch the trailer of the film “Rosemary’s Babe”



Elias Stoikos       
  
Relative Articles 
Resources  



I need to mention that this article tries to provide information to reader using all the available data on the day of its publishing. New information and data for this subject and issue are published every day. It’s been highly recommended to the reader to search on Google for more information. World is moving searching is the driving force. Searching is the source of inspiration and the source of truth.                    
                          
                      
                
             

Κυριακή 25 Νοεμβρίου 2012

Zombies archetype of horror Cinema


Zombies - From Haitian Folklore to Hollywood





ZombiesZombies are the only Cinema monsters without previous reference on horror literature. Only on a book about folklore research  “The Magic Island” (William Seabrook, Alexander King) we can find the first reference about Zombies as a believe among the Haitian islanders and rumors among the African slaves in Caribbean.   There are significant differences between the archetype of Hollywood zombies and Haitian folklore zombie.  Cinema presents Zombies as returned dead ready to conquer earth by expanding a disease. Hollywood zombies are unstoppable flesh eaters.  On the other hand according to Haitian tradition Zombies are not necessary dead  and they are not eat flesh they are weird human beings walking on night around cemeteries.  



After the release of the book “The Magic Island” theater was the first art to create an artistic project based on a Zombie concept. In 1932 took place the stage play “Zombie”. The same year cinema introduced the archetype of Zombies in film “The White Zombie” (Victor Helperin, 1932). The film “White Zombie” was produced on a minimal budget by using the already used in films Frankestein and Dracula sets and the available cast form Universal Studio (Bela Lugosi). The theme of the film is about a mad scientist (Muder Legendre) who used a special drug to turn the local citizens of an island into an army of Haitian Zombies. The film is excellent  and it achieved a huge commercial success.



Later in 1936 Halperin brothers tried to repeat the success of the film “White Zombie” by producing a sequel film with the title “"Revolt of the Zombies"”, the theme of the film is about the creation of a Zombie army in Cambodia. As result, the Helperin brothers created a new sub - genre, the military zombie sub genre. The film “The Revolt of the Zombies” was not a great commercial success as the initial film “White Zombie” but influenced the film industry and and the creativity. Later Jean Yarbrough in 1941 directed the film”King of the Zombies” and in 1943 Steve Sekely directed the film “Revenge of the Zombies” both films share the same theme mad Axis scientists trying to use zombies for world domination.



In 1941 Jacques Tourneur directs a masterpiece of horror cinema and in my opinion the best Zombie film ever “I walked with a zombie” by adding another aspect to Zombie mythology, the mental illness. The film “I walked with a Zombie” asks a question to audience “what if, the Zombie is a mental ill person.



After two decades Hammer Studios produced the film “The Plague of the Zombies” (John Gilling, 1949) the theme of the film is about the exploitation of cheap labor with poor white villagers turned into Zombies for use as labor slaves.




(to be continued)


Elias Stoikos

Relative Articles


I walked with a Zombie


I need to mention that this article tries to provide information to reader using all the available data on the day of its publishing. New information and data for this subject and issue are published every day. It’s been highly recommended to the reader to search on Google for more information. World is moving searching is the driving force. Searching is the source of inspiration and the source of truth.                    

Τρίτη 20 Νοεμβρίου 2012

The Curse of Cat People (Robert Wise, Gunther von Fitish 1944)


The Curse of the Cat People



"The beast woman stalks the night" , the sequel of Cat People initial film


After the success of the film Cat People (Jacques Tourneur, 1942) there was a huge interests from the audience for a sequel film. Two years after the release of Cat People in 1944 the legendary horror producer Val Lewton produces the sequel film with the title “The Curse of Cat People”.

Key persons behind the film “The Curse of the Cat People




The film “Curse of Cat People” is directed by Robert Wise and Gunther von Fitisch. The screenplay of the film was written by Dewitt Bodeen and Val Lewton. The plot structure of the film is based on a different story and there are no visible cat people on the film. 

Actually the film "Curse of the Cat people"is the directing debut of Robert Wise and Gunther Von Fitch. The marketing campaign of the film was developed around the slogan "The Black Menace Creeps Again".



The cast of the film "The Curse of the Cat People"


Simone Simon performs the part of Irena Reed (the dead wife of Oliver), Kent Smith plays the part of Kent Smith (the main male character) Jane Rardolph performs the part of Alice Reed the main female character. Also in the movieparticipate Ann Courter, Eve March, Julia Dean, Elizabeth Russell, Efraid Cage and Sir Lancelot. 



The Plot Structure of the film "The Ciurse of the Cat People"



The storyline of the film starts after the death of Irena (was the main female character in the initial film Cat People) her husband Oliver Reed (the main male character, the part played by Kent Smith) has married his former ex - worker Alice Moore (main female character the part is performed by Jane Radolph). The couple has already a six years old daughter, Amy.


Amy is not an ordinary child and she spends her time day dreaming and not have friends.One day Amy finds a photo of Irena.


On the following video you can watch the film trailer of the film "The Curse of the Cat People




Resources

The Curse oft the Cat People


I need to mention that this article tries to provide information to reader using all the available data on the day of its publishing. New information and data for this subject and issue are published every day. It’s been highly recommended to the reader to search on Google for more information. World is moving searching is the driving force. Searching is the source of inspiration and the source of truth.