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Tales from the Grave (2003)
Best little horror flick!
Added to my viewing pleasure lately is this super sweet Creepshow-esquire flick called TALES FROM THE GRAVE. Albeit in vein of Tales from the Crypt I must say I enjoyed this more then most episodes of TFTC that I've seen. TALES FROM THE GRAVE definitely had a cooler host. Each tale is introduced by the old witch who lives in the cemetery....who foresees them all through her crystal ball.Tonight's viewing adventure begins with the tale of Crazy Gunderman.
Dobbs and Mike go off into the woods in search for Crazy Gunderman (David Anthony Hernandez) after he does some weird hoodoo voodoo type stuff in the street. Pissing the kids off one of them beats him up and leaves him in the street. Pretty much brushing it off crazy Gunderman gets up and the curse is on. Getting the bright idea in their heads they decide to head off into the woods to search for his domicile. Smart huh? Go looking for someone who just hexed your ass. I know, it sounds lame, but if they didn't we wouldn't have been given this cool flick to watch. Upon arriving at Gundermans they kill him and run off. Only they return back to his dwelling. Did they kill him?? Is this some kind of nightmare? Director Stephanie Beaton does a damn fine job of delivering those perfect scares at the best time. The acting lends their hand into the fold by delivering believable performances from top to bottom. A job well done all the way through.
Next we have the Hercaylac, a tale starring the illustrious Joe Estevez as Vinnie. Vinnie heads off to a remote location only to be tested of his own sanity. The Hercaylac was plain and simply one of the weirdest shorts I've ever seen. Excellent camera angles and a superb direction of odd images are just downright eerie. I'll have to say when the kite hit the window it scared the hell out of me, and that's not easily done. So for that I must give you kudos Mrs. Beaton. Just from watching the first two shorts in this collection I've felt this DVD is worth watching, but we do still have two more to watch, so let's see what else she offers up.
Now we have Lab Rats which deals with two scientists dropping two random people into a giant maze with one big ass rat and release them. In sort of a Planet of the Apes meets The Cube feel we're led down some creepy ass hallways with a mean ass wicked looking rat the size of a damn elephant. The special effects were miraculous which made Lab Rats pretty damn cool.
And sadly last we have The Billywack., a tale similar to that of the Chupa Cabra in Mexico or the Goat man down here in Texas.The Billywack is half man half beast that roams the woods in search for prey. Enter the woods and you'll be hunting for your life. I must say that this segment was pretty chilling to me, due to it bringing up old ghost stories my parents used to tell me in hopes of keeping me out of the woods as a child. Instilling a little bit of that fear I had as a child. Now because of this, I must go out in those damn woods and see if I'm lucky enough to see our Billywack. Needless to say I really dug this film, if only because it hits home. Nonetheless Beaton delivers once again.
All in all I thought this DVD as a whole was more then worth owning and I've actually watched it once more since writing this review. I've really enjoyed this chance to catch TALES FROM THE GRAVE and am happy to say I have part 2 sitting right next to me. I'll definitely let ya know how that one is. Until next time
stay away from the dark!!
Tales from the Grave, Volume 2: Happy Holidays (2005)
GREAT horror film, Favorite HORROR director!
Fresh off the heals of a very cool outing Stephanie Beaton has amazed us once again by offering up her latest TALES FFROM THE GRAVE 2: HAPPY HOLIDAYS. Luckily I was able to watch this one right after watching the first so I was pretty damn happy to see numerous themed shorts woven into a world of pain and fear. Taking the road of holidays past you, the viewer are in for a treat.
Here's something to ponder about Valentines Day. What an odd holiday. Sure cupid comes along and strikes you with his magical arrow and you fall in love with someone. But why the hearts being blood red? Seem Beaton plays of this scenario and introduces us to Hobart. Hobart is your typical scrawny nerd, yearning for acceptance in society. Only his ideas on how to achieve this are a little misguided. Hobart believes he is actually a vampire and holds a vampires ball at his house. Making his way through the crowd he introduces himself to each and all. All mocking him the entire time. No one would believe him until Seth pays a visit and shows them vampires do actually exist. Just not Hobart. Short and sweet this segment gets its point across. Nice ambers and a fitting musical score make this an enjoyable viewing.
As the holiday changes we look upon the lives of Tom and Edna. Tom has been obsessed with Leprechauns for as long as he can remember. He's hunted this mythical being for many, many years. So many years that now even his wife think him beyond the point of sanity. But it seems if Tom may have gotten that big break his searched for. He's found a Leprechaun. He bags it up and takes it back to his house. Once home he beats on it trying to gain power and wealth. That turns out to be a big mistake Leprechauns aren't little cuddly animals people
They'll mess you ass up and that's what he does.
The excellent little holiday called Halloween rolls into town and theirs a new horror themed museum opening on Halloween night. A group of punks take up the affair and make the tour. Finding it all a bit childish one of the group says they should come back after hours and have their own tour. Upon returning things go wrong as one can't keep his hands to himself and steals some of the artifacts, thus releasing the curse of an ancient evil mummy. With great mighty the summoned spirit shows no mercy as he scalps a few people and orally impales some with toothbrushes. Once again this was one of Stephanie's shorts I'd really like to see as a full length.
Up next we have a couple heading to her family's for Thanksgiving dinner. On their way their car breaks down on the dark rednecked road. A large goofy local rolls up and the freakiness begins. Taking them back to his family we soon learn this backwoods ass family is Marcy's family, and he's the main course. This was a really kick ass short..I so freakin loved this segment. Excellent , excellent storytelling." I'm gonna love ya a great deal more when I'm picking my teeth with your collarbone" Last in this fine collection is the tale of a couple heading off for the holidays to Grandpa and Grandma Patton's. But it's not only the old couple it's their retarded grandson, Leroy. As words and conversations escalde at the dinner table and Leroy's feeling are hurt the couple realize they're in for the worst night of their lives.
Stephanie Beaton is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors in the scene. Playing with the big boys and quite frankly kicking a ton of ass she's offering some very cool films. She's got a fresh new vision on the horror genre and I'm anxious to see what she does next. For those of you who would like to check out some of her stuff you can head over to her site of Razor Digital Entertainment, they carry most of her catalog. A must see folks
go check it out.