Frightmare!

Pardon my offlineitude, but I was busy dodging zombies and ducking psycho-slashers at Texas Frightmare Weekend. 72 hours of back to back horror flicks, memorabilia, moments with the stars, filmmaking tips (Texas has a thriving film industry, in case you didn't know that) and lots of other cool stuff. I mean it was horror film groupie heaven. This is me with the car from Christine. They wouldn't let you lie down in front of it and try to crawl away for some reason (security, maybe).

Saturday morning there was an outbreak of zombified corpses shuffling through Irving and muttering, "BRAAAAAAAINS!!" A number of colorful costumes were in the offing including these two very realistic-looking ghostbusters:

And of course there were horror movies, which was what I went there to see in the first place. I did not know this, but apparently films shown at film festivals are only very rarely optioned for distribution - which means the festival may be the only place you get to see it, unless you buy the DVD from the director/producer. Where possible I'm including a link for where to buy or view the flick or to find out more about it. Many of these are made in Texas by Texans, and a lot of love (and money) goes into them. Anyway, check 'em out.

The Retelling - A murder mystery with ghosts. What could possibly go wrong? Charlie and his family are visiting his ailing, blind grandfather for the summer, and there seem to be ghosts around the house--or are there? Three stars. Check this one out if you can find it.

Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchett. High school kids try to rouse the ghost of a mass murderer from her grave on the anniversary of her death. What could possibly go wrong? Yet I surprised the heck out of myself by really liking this one. Slasher films are not my cuppa at all, but this one was funny, scary, sexy and genuinely sad in some places. Four stars. Definitely check this one out.

Sweatshop - Friends set up a rave at an abandoned sweatshop that just happens to be crawling with cannibalistic beings and a big helmeted guy who looks way too much like Pyramid Head from the Silent Hill series not to at least be an homage. What could possibly go wrong? Half a star to this one - it's basically a splatter film set to bad techno music - but if you like that sort of thing, go for it.

Curious Stories, Crooked Images - Three short films by director Rodrigo Gudino. The first one was by far the best; a man and his psychiatrist explore why he's so afraid to go into his own attic. The second one ran like a bad after-school special and deserves to be forgotten; the third one, in which a photo changes the longer you look at it, is creepy and unnerving to say the least. Three stars for the whole deal; drop No. Two and it's definitely four stars.

The Final - Filmed in Dallas! A group of kids who were outcasts in high school lure the popular kids who caused them such grief into a private party of torture, murder and psychological horror. What could possibly go wrong? Plenty. Nice homage to Audition in there, though, and while it wasn't my favorite, it certainly had some good lines. Three stars.

Spirit Camp - Think Friday the Thirteenth meets Bring it On. A group of high school cheerleaders go on their annual retreat at a camp where a psycho-slasher once roamed the woods. What could possibly go wrong? Another one I surprised myself by liking. It's silly and a bit ridiculous but still genuinely scary in places. Four stars. Check it out.

Before I sign off, here's one more pic - me with a couple of iconic baddies from horror films past. What an awesome weekend. Can't wait until next year!