Painkiller (2014)

Body Horror is a interesting sub-genre for me.  Just seeing someone going through horrifying changes in their body can be frightening.  Especially since they have no control over it.  Painkiller, a short directed by Jeremiah Kipp and written by Jerry Janda,  takes that sub-genre into a interesting place.
 Painkiller is a short film, about two scientist  (both who are couples) who try to create a organism,to help people with a terminal disease.  What this organism does is make the pain less enduring by feeding off  from the pain.  The girlfriend volunteers to have the organism implanted in her.  Of course the special effects in this scene is very well done.  After that, they finally test out this new type of painkiller, which was very harsh to see.  Sadly, the girlfriend would later be addicted to pain.  She would do anything for someone to hurt her, even attack people so they can retaliate on her.  Tired of hurting his girlfriend, the boyfriend tries to look for some professionals to bring the pain for the girlfiend.
The opening scene with Thomas Mendolia and Jerry Janda was great.  There was a nice flow when both were doing their dialogues.  And Kelly Rae LeGault did a nice job of portraying someone who's going through a terrible change in her body.  Kipp did a great job in bringing Janda's script to life.  And with Jeffrey S. Gould as DP also made Painkiller look really nice.
I do have to say that some people may not fancy the ending to much.  As shocking as it is, it did make me want to know more about Jerry Janda's character.  I can enjoy doing a open interpretation of the ending, but I don't think that it will do it justice.  Only because only Jerry Janda knows what's in the head of the man in the suit.  But overall, it's pretty good fora short film.  The special features includes the trailer and their crowd funding video, which gives a little about what Painkiller is about.  If you want to purchase the DVD or rent it for $1, then please check out www.painkillerfilm.com.

Today Is The Day - "Animal Mother" (2014)

Today Is The Day's last album, "Pain Is A Warning", was a really good rock record.  Almost had a AC/DC feel to it.  Pretty much had me thinking if they're going with this direction on the new album, or do something different.  With "Animal Mother, there's a bit of "Pain", but also has some early stuff in the mix.
The opening title track is a perfect example.  Just like in "Expectations Exceed Reality", Steve Austin whispers before going full force.  Definitely a worthy TITD opening track.  "Outlaw (acoustic)" also has that "Pain Is A Warning" sound.  There single, "Masada", is a great track to give a idea what to expect from "Animal Mother.  But I am a huge fan of "Godcrutch" and "Heathen".  And the closing track, "Boodwood", almost sounds like a Radiohead song.  That's a song that took me off guard.  I did not expect a song like that on a TITD album.  Huge kudos for that.
Even though "Animal Mother" isn't "Willpower" or "In The Eyes of God", but it's still a heavy record.  One thing for sure is that I enjoyed this than the last two release.  It's awesome to see that Southern Lord put this album out.  Now I can't wait to see what Steve Austin and Co. will do in the next album.  Austin still sounds badarse and he really got a good rhythm section to back him up.  "Animal Mother" gets a good "5 Hitlers Punched in the Face".

To purchase "Animal Mother", visit these links

http://southernlord.com/bands/view/today-is-the-day

http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Mother-Today-Is-Day/dp/B00MNCW04M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414722583&sr=8-1&keywords=today+is+the+day+animal+mother

In Her Skin (2009)

Most thrillers that are based on a true story, I tend to stay away.  Just the thought that what I'm watching actually happened, pretty much disturbs me.  I pretty much have to be in a right mood to watch a movie like In Her Skin 

The story takes place in Melbourne, Australia, in 1999.  Michael Barber (Guy Pearce) is waiting in the train station for his daughter, Rachel (Kate Bell), who is taking dancing lessons out of town.  Michael noticed that his daughter hasn't arrived, so he calls his wife, Elizabeth (Miranda Otto).  Wondering where Rachel is, Elizabeth starts calling Rachel's boyfriend and friends.  When they notice that Rachel still hasn't showed up, the Barbers really start to worry.  They try to report it to the police, but they believe that Rachel just ran away.  Later, Rachel's boyfriend calls back and tell  Elizabeth that Rachel was taking a job, but didn't know where.  All that he knows is that job was offered from an old friend of Rachel's.  Sadly, the Barbers don't know who.

Now we are in the second part and are introduced to Caroline (Ruth Bradley).  We see her in the Barber's house, babysitting their kids.  She's typing a letter to her dad (Sam Neill), who walked out on the family a while ago.  Caroline is dealing with a mental issue, which caused a lot of problems with her parents.  She cusses at her mom.  There's a scene where she bumps her brother while going down stairs.  And then rips the letters to her dad and lit them on fire in the trash bin.  We then see a scene where Caroline is all grown up.  She has a office job and her own little pad.  While at lunch, she's having lunch with her co-workers and sees Rachel and her boyfriend making out.  It seems that Caroline is jealous of Rachel.  Rachel is pretty and skinny, while Caroline tells herself she's fat and ugly.  While back at her apartment (after having some mental breakdown), Caroline comes up with a plan to bring Rachel to her place and end her "so-called" perfect life.

And now we're at the final act.  In this one, we get to know Rachel a little bit.  Rachel is a dancer with a good looking boyfriend and a couple of friends.  Pretty much Rachel is someone that is liked by many.  While walking around town, she tells her boyfriend about a job, but she can't tell much about it.  Only that it's for some research for a friend.  Rachel and Caroline finally meet up and go to the apartment.  Caroline offers Rachel a drink and asked her to relax and close her eyes for the research.  And then the horrible thing happens, which was terrible to see.  Especially seeing Rachel's parents turning the town upside down to find her.  Only to know that Rachel was murdered.  

We see Michael and Elizabeth Barber again, this time they meet a detective who is willing to help find Rachel.  The detective was able to find Rachel after getting access to her cell phone records.  Which of course will lead him to Caroline's place.  Sadly the detective had to be the bearer of bad news to the Barber family.

"In Her Skin" is a movie that can be any parents worst nightmare.  Especially seeing that the crime was done by someone they've trusted.  I find Ruth Bradley's portrayal of Caroline to be very disturbing.  It was great seeing Sam Neill, since I haven't seen him in movies that much.  The only problem I have with the movie is the very end of the film.  The song that was playing during Rachel's funeral seemed too upbeat.  And the scene in the prison yard, with Caroline being happy, just didn't felt right.  But it really is a good flick.  If you're familiar with the case or are into true crimes, then check it out.  It's a well made flick.

Hellbeard - "DARK/LIGHT E.P." (2014)

Hellbeard are back.  And what a fuck'n e.p. they put out.  Ever since I heard "Black Snail" on youtube, I've been waiting on some new Hellbeard.  Their first album, "Scarecrow" was a solid album.  And with Dark/Light, they take their sound to a whole other level.

Dark/Light features 3 track, which are the best and heaviest songs that Hellbeard have played.  Once the first track, "Maiden of Mercy", starts to play, you knew that this is going to be a totally different Hellbeard.  The one thing that I like about this song is during the middle, they play a really nice doom riff, which then goes to something more ambient.  "Light" is probably my favorite.  When I hear this song, there's a "Time & Grace" feel to it.  And of course I loved those tribal-esque drum beats during the end of the track.  And then we have "River's End" to finish up.  Has a nice 90's hardcore metal riff and then a sweet guitar solo.

The production was well done.  The vocals have gotten very intense from the last album.  Great guitar work and of course the rhythm section sound great.  I would have loved to hear a studio version of "Black Snail",  But after hearing the new e.p., I really don't know how it will fit.  For sure this is a whole new Hellbeard.  And this new Hellbeard makes me want to punch Hitler even harder.  A awesome e.p. if you enjoy post-metal, sludge, and doom.

To purchase Dark/Light, go to https://hellbeard.bandcamp.com/album/dark-light

Girlflesh - "Nudes" (2014)

When I heard the name Girlflesh, the first thing that comes to mind is a female version of Godflesh.  Sort of how Gallhammer are seen as a a female version of Hellhammer.  Even though Girlflesh have a electronic sound, Girlflesh is nothing like Godflesh.  

Roxxie Wallace is the mastermind behind Girlflesh.  And I have to say that this Aussie sure knows how to create some killer beats.  Everything that I love about experimental/electronics are on her album, "Nudes".  From trip hop to dark ambient, "Nudes" is quite the musical experience.

Another thing I like about "Nudes" are the song titles.  "Bass-Moi" sounds like a play-on-word of the French film "Baise-Moi".  And Lilya 4-Ever comes to mind when I saw the song,"Ennui 4EVA".  But "Gore Habit" is the most creative song title I've ever heard.  And probably my favorite.

It's nice to see another musical artist from Australia, since I really don't hear many bands from Australia.  Or at least introduced to any Australian bands.  Only a few.  I know back when Roadrunner had that SignMeTo page, there were some cool Australian bands there.  But lost contact from them when the site was shutdown.  Anyhoo, if you enjoy some electronics, then "Nudes" by Girlflesh might be the album for you.  These sick beats gets "5 Hitlers Punched in the Face".

To purchase "Nudes" got to https://officialgirlflesh.bandcamp.com/album/nudes

Tusk (2014)

Kevin Smith, who most people have known him as the "Clerks Guy" or "Silent Bob", has finally made his second horror film, Tusk.  If you ever hear his podcast that he does with his friend/producer, Scott Mosier, then you've probably heard the story he told about a ad he read on a website called Gumtree.  In the ad, someone was looking for a lodger to live with him.  The rent is free, but the lodger has to dress up as a walrus for two hours a day.  And on that episode of Smodcast, Kevin and Scott started pitching the idea of a walrus movie.  Even though Kevin had already finish the script for Clerks III, he was willing to hold it so he can do a walrus movie.  He asked his fans to go on Twitter and hashtag walrus yes, if his fans wanted him to make the movie, or hashtag walrus no, if they don't.  The people have spoken and said "#WalrusYes".  Therefore, Kevin Smith made his walrus movie called Tusk.  And it was pretty fucked up.

The movie is about a bloke name Wallace Bryton (Justin Long), who does a podcast with his friend, Teddy Craft (Haley Joel Osment), called "The Not-See Party".  In this podcast, Wallace goes around to interview people who are strange and/or interesting, then comes back and tell Teddy all about it.  In one of the episodes, they find a video on youtube, where a dude cuts his leg off with a sword.  The guys, who is referred to as "The Kill Bill Kid" reaches out to Wallace to do a interview.  So Wallace plans a trip to Canada and visit the Kill Bill Kid.  Wallace's girlfriend, Ally (Genesis Rodriguez), is against it because she doesn't want him to ridicule the poor guy.

So Wallace arrives to Winnipeg and goes to the house where the Kill Bill Kid lives.  Sadly, Wallace finds out that the kid died.  He goes to a bar and calls Teddy to tell him all about it.  And since Wallace needs something for the show, he plans to stay for a while and hopes to find someone who's a bit out there.  When he goes to drain the lizard, he sees a ad in the bathroom wall, about a guy named Howard Howe (Michael Parks) looking for a lodger, pretty much similar to the Gumtree ad.  So Wallace goes out to find Howard Howe, and do an interview with him for the podcast.  When Wallace goes to Howe's place, he finds him in a wheelchair, all alone and very harmless.  Like your typical old man.  Howard goes on to tell Wallace the story about how he was saved by a walrus  As Howard continues to tell the story, Wallace passes out and we find out that his tea was drugged.  When he wakes up, he finds himself in a wheelchair.  Howe tells him that he was bitten by a spider.  But Wallace knew he was bullshitting him.  In the dinner scene, Howard tells Wallace his plan to turn him into a walrus.  While trying to get some sleep, Wallace hears his phone.  He tries to look for it, and when he does, he sees it's Ally trying to call him.  He tries to call her back, but ends up leaving a voice mail.  Sadly, Mr. Howe catches him and knocks him out.

Back home, Ally and Teddy haven't heard from Wallace for a long time.  One morning, Ally went to check her voicemail and heard Wallace's message.  She tells Teddy about it and they go to Canada to look for Wallace.  They visit Detective Frank Garmin (Ralph Garman), and have him listen to the voicemail.  The detective wasn't sure what to make of it, but he referred Ally and Teddy to a investigator name Guy LaPointe (Johnny Depp).  LaPointe tells Ally and Teddy about a case two years prior and that the person who captured Wallace, may be the person that LePointe is after.

As Guy, Teddy, and Ally go and search for Wallace, we see the transformation and it looks really fucked up. Maybe silly and goofy, too, but it still looks fucked up.  And seeing Howe training Wallace to be a walrus is pretty disturbing.  And just seeing Wallace in that suit is very depressing.  Because now we know there's no coming back.  And when I saw the fight seen, it looks pretty funny, but felt so wrong.  And hearing Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" playing in the background, made it a bit darker.  Of course Ally and Teddy find Wallace, and I don't need to go any further.

If you're a fan of Smodcast, then you'll enjoy the references, which you've probably heard in the podcast.  They mention the brown recluse spider.  Red, White, but never Blue.  The Gimli Slider.  And if you listen to Hollywood Babble-On, Wallace has the "Hollywood Helpers" theme song as a ringtone.  

I also enjoyed Michael Parks performance in Tusk.  And to me, Howard Howe seems more mental than Abin Cooper from Red State.  There's a scene with Parks and Depp which I found to be hilarious.  And also made me a fan of the Guy LaPointe character.

So if you found the trailer to be interesting, then go check it out.  Of course don't take it too seriously.  It's about a man turning another man into a walrus.  It's suppose to be silly.  Really glad Kevin Smith made this, because I don't know if anyone else will.  And if you enjoyed this, then also check out "The Island of Dr. Moreau" and "Sssssss".  Both are crazy films.

#WalrusFuckYeah

p.s.  If you enjoyed Guy Lapointe, there's a little extra after the credits.

The Sacrament (2013)

Ti West is a director that you're either gonna love or hate.  Some people complain about how he takes to long and that it starts to get boring.  Others enjoy the slow burn style because once the horror starts, it does leave an impact.  In "House of the Devil", when they showed the Grandma, it really scared the shit out of me because I didn't expect something so hideous.  Especially since the movie was very slow.  "The Innkeepers" was bit of a challenge.  But I did enjoyed Sara Paxton's character.  So fuck'n adorable.  Now with "The Sacrament", Ti West was able to keep me interested in the story til the big horrifying ending.  By now, everyone should know that this movie was inspired by the Jonestown Massacre.  And pretty much Ti West does do a re-telling of that event, but made it look like a VICE travel guide/investigative report.

The movie is about a fashion photographer from VICE named Patrick who receives a letter about his sister, Caroline.  Caroline is a recovering drug addict who went to live in a little community in Mississippi.  The letter tells Patrick that the community that Caroline was living at moved out of the country.  Patrick showed the letter to his co-worker, Sam, who is a reporter for VICE, and Sam decides to go look for Patrick's sister and do a investigative report.  They bring Jake, their cameraman, and off they go to find Caroline.

When the VICE team arrive, they are confronted by two men with rifles.  Patrick tells them that they were invited by his sister and the men then gives them a ride to the compound.  Finally they arrive at the compound called Eden Parish.  Caroline welcomes the VICE team when she sees that the guards wouldn't let Patrick in.  Once they go in there, they see a community of people just living their lives.  Caroline explains how a man they call "Father" pretty much started this community.  Sam ask Caroline if he can get a interview with "Father" and she tells him that she'll try.  Patrick goes off with his sister and Sam and Jake are left behind and start going around interviewing some of the people who live there and asking them how they got here.  They interview a lot of people who seemed very happy and give lots of praises to "Father".  Sam and Jake feel a bit off about Eden Parish.  But since the people there seemed happy, they had no problems with it.  But then they meet a little girl named Savannah and her mother who seem to be scared and not happy like the others living in Eden Parish.

Sam finally gets the interview with "Father", but it is conducted in front of the congregation.  Sam asked "Father" a few questions, but "Father" seemed to dodge the questions and begins asking about Sam's wife and his unborn child.  Sam was disappointed  that he couldn't ask "Father" all of his questions.  And of course was creeped out when "Father" mentioned Sam's wife.  Savannah then shows up and gives Sam a little note.  He opens the note and starts to get worried.  He shows Jake the note and it reads "Please Help Us".  Later they go back to their cabin and someone bangs at their door and takes off.  Sam and Jake go outside and find Savannah and her mother, with other members of the congregation, begging Sam and Jake to get them out of Eden Perish.  This really starts to concern Sam and Jake as it seems that Eden Parish isn't the happy place that "Father" claims it to be.

Finally, the next morning, Sam and Jake see that there are a bunch of people outside yelling.  They go out and see that some of the members are trying to leave and some of the guards and Caroline are trying to keep everything under control.  They find Patrick, who explains to them that some of the members want to go with the VICE team, but that there wasn't any room for all of them in the helicopter.  And if you're familiar with the incident in Jonestown, then you might know what happens next.  But still check it out.

So far, this is Ti West's best film.  And with Eli Roth producing the film, they really did their best to make the movie very interesting.  There are images that shocked and made me sad.  I was very informed about the Jonestown Massacre, so I know what to expect.  But I have to give a lot of credit to Gene Jones for portraying the cult leader, "Father".  If you're expecting gore, then you'll be disappointed.  But the movie can be very disturbing.  So if you want to check out a film about a cult, then I recommend "The Sacrament" by Ti West.