Serial: Amoral Uprising

Directed by K.M. Jamison, Serial: Amoral Uprising is the start of something truly captivating. Running at 58 minutes, Serial is an introduction into the life and psychosis of serial killer Trenton Wade Bracks. Taking inspiration from films like Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer and Maniac- Bracks seems to be a product of several disturbing and notorious real life serial killers. The film is just an introduction into what will be a full feature length film to be filmed sometime in 2010.

The back story of Trenton isn't anything new- and rightly so as the majority of serial killers have a horrendous past- but I became more and more nervous as I saw gaping similarities to my least favorite trailer trash, abused serial killer- Rob Zombie's Michael Myers. But thank goodness that things didn't quite fall into that same route! The character of Trenton may be- if you can believe it more complex and intriguing than the one that Zombie creates. I say this because we don't see Bracks suddenly snap and go on a mass killing spree of every member of his household- nor do we see him torture animals. Rather- we only see the events that most likely led up to Brack's future problems. We aren't shoved this shitty explanation- things are missing but it isn't detrimental to the plot because it keeps us interested and makes us wonder what happened to Trenton between then and the scenes at the end of the film.

I will say that the scenes involving the mother do at times seem to be stretched. Her lines consist a lot of times of-repeats and her overall look can be distracting- I get that she's a coke head with some serious issues of her own but the scene in the basement was a little much perhaps. I did enjoy how that scene mirrors the ending one however so I guess I can't really knock it.

As I said before there is an entire decade where we have no idea what happened to Trenton. In that time his father has been murdered and his mother is in prison- yet Trenton suddenly turns out to be this suave and studly man with a desire to inflict pain and suffering on others. Some parts get a little dodgy in this area- and somehow all of the characters start looking the same- but the complexities of Trenton continue to arise. I still don't entirely understand how things came to escalate so quickly but I'm excited to understand more. Needless to say- I am very eager to see the rest of this project unfold and to get a more detailed and deeper look into Trenton Wade Bracks' life.

There is some decent gore, acting, and shots in this movie but it is overall a more building kind of film. Trenton isn't a machete wielding serial killer- rather he is a product of truth, an honest and brutal serial killer that isn't a huge stretch from past incidences that have actually happened. There is a genuine darkness that Jamison creates with this short film- and his ability to make you invested in a character as dark and messed up as Trenton is, is pretty unbelievable. Go here to check out the film's blog and here for the website, to learn more about the project and to see how it develops.

SERIAL: Amoral Uprising Trailer from Vicious Malicious on Vimeo.

Night of the Comet: A True 80s Masterpiece.

I guess it's safe to say that comet's are really never a good thing. In fact if one approaches it's best to lock yourself in some kind of steel enclosed room just to be safe. Night of the Comet addresses these dangers and proves that although civilization has ended- you can still have fun.

I'm surprised that Night of the Comet wasn't included in more holiday horror posts- as the movie takes place during Christmas- and the whole comet party- wait until midnight thing is very reminiscent of that little thing called New Years. Anyways this particular comet's tail will be passing through the earth- an event which presumably hasn't happened since the extinction of the dinosaurs- all the more reason to party. We meet Regina (Reg) an employee at a movie theater who's life goal is to make sure all high scores on the arcade game belong to her. After a night of projection room sex- Regina and her boyfriend part ways. Regina goes back to the arcade game...

.................

Success!

And her boyfriend goes outside- where he's struck with a wrench and eaten by a zombie. After being locked out of the movie theater Regina notices that there are a lot of clothes on the ground in the shape of where a person would be- only now filled with a strange red dust.

Foreshadowing?

Regina doesn't seem to be too worried and goes around back to find a wrench covered in blood next to her boyfriends keys. Again- not worried at all, Regina finds the zombie- punches him out and rides the motorcycle out of there. After finding no human life at all- cars idled at stop lights and more and more clothes and red dust Regina finally realizes that something must be wrong. Upon returning home Reg finds her sister Sam decked out for Pep Squad practice and seemingly unharmed. Turns out- if you spent the night in a steel structure you are safe- but as it so happens everyone was out celebrating the comet's arrival! So bad luck there.

Reg and Sam meet Hector- a steamy one- and also the title character in Eating Raoul- then send out a message via radio- which is picked up by a group of government scientists. What will become of the three survivors? And what is up with this zombie talk?

So as it turns out- this movie is pretty 80's-tastic! I love it. Sure they may only be like 2 and a half zombies in the entire thing- but the overall premise is very intriguing- and the constant shots of all those clothes and red dust actually did make me feel a little uneasy.

Sure it's a little depressing-suddenly having no family and no real sense of life or whatever- but these people know how to have fun- and dare I say it- girls just wanna have fun? Cyndi Lauper was right- even when the world is ending- the girls head to the mall and get their shopping in- while blasting the aforementioned song. But in all seriousness I really enjoyed this movie. Although I think my DVD may have been damaged or something because I looked away for 2 seconds- and I really thought the scientists were just aliens trying to harvest humans for their blood? Maybe I got all mixed up with Daybreakers or something but anyways they are just scientists- and not very smart ones at that. Helpful hint: When you are staying safe inside your comet proof bunker- make sure you close those vents- you ninnies!

So anyways if you are ever feeling depressed by the likes of I Am Legend or 2012, or what have you- pop this one in and dance along to all those fearsome 80's jams. Plus the script is absolutely fabulous! The effects could have been better but who cares it's a fun movie and it doesn't seem to get a lot of credit these days. Reg is probably my favorite ass kicking female lead in any movie- and Sam- although at times annoying is the perfect sidekick. Oh and- Audrey is also from Eating Raoul isn't that wacky?! If you haven't seen Eating Raoul watch that too.

Umm what else. Oh! Favorite moments include: The first thing Sam envisions herself doing after realizing that civilization is over? Donning a cheesy prom dress, driving a car and drinking a beer at the same time! Target practice on the car-"Dad would have gotten us Uzis"- the face off between Sam and her stepmother in the beginning- AMAZING. Telling the kids that the laughing gas will take them to the North Pole- and Reg's reaction of disgust. Plus lots more.

Sure I expected more of a zombies taking over the world type of deal- but whatever I was still entertained and loving every minute of it. Plus the lead is none other than the girl from Weekend at Bernie's so you have to watch it now! Oh and PS What the shit is this about?

You don't fool me scary clown from Pee-Wee's Big Adventure dressed in different clothing!!!

You're still just as scary and stop haunting my dreams.

Dawn of the Dead: Mannequins; the Unsung Heroes of the Mall.

I've never been a huge fan of zombie films- well I enjoy them I just wouldn't call myself an aficionado. My knowledge on zombie films is limited so I'm by no means an expert but I do find that zombie films carry with them one of the most thought provoking themes or motifs or issues or whatever the hell they are called these days. As I've said before in my Night of the Living Dead review, zombies are us- and we are pitted against a less attractive, less desirable form of ourselves in hopes of staying alive. This "other side" is seldom talked about or named but extremely dangerous and underrated in it's possibilities of destruction. Ok ok you got me I'm just talking gibberish. What I really mean to say is that zombies are probably the most interesting bad guys in any horror movie period.

Dawn of the Dead picks up more or less where Night of the Living Dead left off-ignore the slight change in decade. The epidemic has spread- we find that larger cities are having a harder time dealing with the outbreak- you know more people more confined spaces sort of thing. We meet 4 characters who have fled from their homelands and after an unsuccessful getaway to Canada, find themselves holed up in a shopping mall. This is their story. *SVU music*

I love Dawn of the Dead because every single thing that the characters do while in the mall is pretty much exactly what I would do. I really couldn't think of a better place to be- which of course has to do with that whole consumerism thing but whatever I like my consumer goods so stuff it. The idea of the zombie returning to the mall because it is a piece of their past life that will never go away is hilarious and sort of disturbing at the same time. I love how the mall basically goes on with it's everyday life despite the zombie outbreak. Shopper's alerts, elevator music, it's all so delightful! It's kind of a nice cheery way to get Ben's death out of your head from Night of the Living Dead. Sure there is an impending doom pounding on each of the character's heads- but at least they can play tennis!

Tom Savini's makeup effects are unconquerable- I love the screwdriver in the ear, the knife chop on the face, the zombies ripping apart that motorcyclist and just the overall look of the zombies. Although Tom may not have been pleased with the blue color the zombies turned out to be I can pretty much say that I completely dig it. I love that each zombie has a personality and a look. My favorite zombie will always be the Hare Krishna zombie

Isn't he just a delight? Which than of course begs the important question; who's your favorite zombie? Actually I'd have to give an honorable mention to the baseball zombie because he seems to still have some emotional bonds intact which I can understand- I mean who wants to get bit by a zombie while playing baseball? Nobody.

But what I'm really here to talk about today is the supporting members of the cast that many of you may have forgotten. I'm talking of course about the mannequins. As much as I hate those Old Navy commercials, they have taught us that mannequins may have a soul or a heart after all. So it is my belief that the mannequins were probably treated pretty poorly and did not receive any benefits or compensations for their roles. Even the zombie extras got 20 bucks and t-shirt- but all the mannequins got was a change of clothes and maybe a limb screwed back on- if that! Most of them probably got thrown in the trash actually...pity pity. So I've put together a nice compilation of the unsung heroes, the mannequins of the mall.

Whoops that's not a mannequin- it's Francine! The resemblance is pretty remarkable though. It's cool... whenever I'm bored I dress up as a trashy hooker too- no worries.

Well that's that- and now I hope you pay more attention to their screen time- which they have an awful lot of....probably something to do with the juxtaposition of zombies- or undead humans against mannequins- or fake humans made to be desirable versions of ourselves- or SOMETHING who knows.

Other things to ruminate on; the kick ass character of Francine- who worried me in the beginning but really grew on me- thank goodness for the women's movement (move over Barbra). How creepy and unsettling that scene in the tenement at the beginning is...the basement with the zombies- some still wrapped in sheets or body bags and bah- possibly one of the more creepier scenes I've ever seen. I guess there are grocery stores in malls now? Sweet. The possible alternate ending of both Peter and Francine's suicide and how that changes our overall perspective of the film. And finally my personal favorite- the very obvious fact that the real threat is ourselves. The motorcyclists are way scarier and more devastating than those pesky zombies. And plus they ruined EVERYTHING.

Buy Dawn of the Dead at Horror Movie Empire