Say it…Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice and a Sequel will Appear!

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! It seems so far that the rumors are coming true and our favorite ghost with the most will come to theaters once again in a sequel.

This sequel has been in the works since the early 1990s, and it has been on and off many times. We have been told that this will not be a “remake” or a “re-envision” of the film. It WILL be a continuation of the story, character and plot of the original film’s title ghost.

David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith will be the team to bring this film from the 80s Graveyard to the new generation of Fright Freaks to enjoy. They also have assured everyone that it will also have that distinctive Tim Burton style, since Seth has recently worked with Burton on the “Dark Shadows” film starring one of his right hand actors, Johnny Depp.

Found in the pages of Hollywood lore, it has been said that some of the sequel names were as cheesy as a 1990s sequel could get with some listed as “Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian”. All we can say, is thank God that’s not the case now!

I am curious as to how our good friend over at Retroist.com will take this, but the original was a classic. The music, characters and more have remained as Tim Burton’s distinct style, and also sets the mood for family friendly fun classic Halloween Goth Fun.

The original cast was Michael Keaton, who played the title character, Betelguese, Alex Baldwin and Geena Davis, Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones and Winona Ryder.

Over the years toys have been popular and also recently on the Rotting Flesh Radio Facebook Page we posted a ‘Cracked’ Magazine from the 80s poking fun at the movie from our closet of goodies we never threw away.

Overall, I am down for a Beetlejuice revival if it is done right and ONLY if Keaton is returning to his role. If and when that happens, let’s do this. But until then, let’s release the beast…BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE!!!

Monstermatt’s Bad Monster Jokes Vol. 1: Gets Release Date

Book publisher Pill Hill Press, is pleased to announce an official scheduled release for “Monstermatt’s Bad Monster Jokes Vol.1″, written by Monstermatt Patterson, illustrated by Kyle Kaczmarczyk, with an introduction by Joe Moe and an afterword by Pat Tantalo, for their non-fiction imprint, WestNeb Books.

WestNebBooks acquired the book from it’s previous publisher, during a brief and successful run,with both critics and readers alike. Some changes have been made to the book, including some added content.

“Monstermatt’s Bad Monster Jokes Vol.1″ is a self described collection of over 400 badjokes, rancid rhymes, putrid puns and sophomoric song parodies, with illustrations, focused on horror films, monsters, sci-fi, superheroes and some popculture for good measure.

According to Pill Hill Press and WestNeb Books editor Jessy Marie Roberts, September 21st, 2011 is the scheduled release for Volume 1. Just in time for Halloween! Volumes 2 and 3 are currently being written with no release dates yet for the follow up editions.

Monstermatt has written over one thousand bad monsterjokes and this first volume gives you a sizeable introduction to the humor that resides within. The marriage of the jokes to Kyle Kaczmarczyk’s insightful illustrations are what has fans waiting for more!

What can readers expect?
Bad jokes like:

Does the 666 on Damien Thorne’s scalp mean he’s the Devil?

No, it’s his “Credit Score”!

——

Why was The Wolfman mad at his H.M.O.?

They wouldn’t pay for his “flea dip”!

——

Where does H.P.Lovecraft like to shop?

Bed, Bath & “From Beyond”!

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What coffee drink does The Phantom of the Opera like?

La lalalalalala, latte!

——

Sophomoric song parody lyrics like:

“My Zombie Valentine”
“Intestines”
“Monsters in the Night”

And many, many more…

According to duo the book is acting as an introduction to the horror genre for newcomers while entertaining those already familiar with it. Jokes and illustrations about Frankenstein and Dracula to jokes about “The Manitou” and “Basket Case” even “The Human Centipede” are turning many a newcomer into a horror buff. The duo has heard feedback from readers that watched “Dead Snow” and some other notable films due to the book.

The jokes and song parodies have been used on horror podcasts like:

RueMorgue Radio
Screamwave Podcast
Rotting Flesh Radio
Tomb TV with Tomb Dragomir

And more. This has helped to build a growing following of Maniacs(fans).

As the Emcee of Buffalo MonsterFest 2010, Monstermatt got a chance to field test his brand of humor-a mixture of Mad Magazine/Famous Monsters/Benny Hill/Borscht Belt Comedy finding that what produced groans from the audience felt delicious to him!

With Kaczmarczyk at the drawing pad, illustrating sight gags he knew they had something “ghoul” going on that could entertain, enlighten and grow on the reader.

Some notable names from the horror genre weigh in on the book:

“I wrote this blurb so Matt would stop the Pun-ishment.”

-Rodrigo Gudino, Rue Morgue Magazine

——

“I tried very hard to find anything remotely amusing or anything that might induce at least a chuckle from this ‘Joke Book’ but was unsuccessful. In fact it actually ‘scared’ me how corny it is and that is hard to do to me! At least you have the guts. Congrats!”

-Tony Moran, The Original Michael Myers (Halloween,1979)

——

“You can open any page of this book, read one line and feel intense pain throughout your entire body. I’m in awe.”

-Joe Bob Briggs, Drive-In Critic & Host of MonsterVision

——

Here’s what the Monsters themselves are saying about the book.

“Monstermatt’s jokes are Good! Bad Good! –Frankenstein’s Monster

“Monstermatt’s jokes are a pain in the neck”! –Dracula

Kyle Kaczmarczyk’s illustrations had me howling!! –The Wolfman

“As soon as we opened the book, we knew we’d have a double headache”! –The Thing with Two Heads

Critics also had something to say about the book:

“I laughed, I groaned, I shook my head in disbelief! I highly recommend this book!” – The Monster Librarian

——

“The book is purely enjoyable.” – Sonar 4 Landing Dock Reviews.

——

The book will be available at major online book retailers. For more information and updates, or to keep up with Kyle, Monstermatt and PillHillPress, follow them on Twitter at:

www.Twitter.com/zombieinkcomics
www.Twitter.com/1monstermatt
www.Twitter.com/pillhillpress

NBC Wants Home Haunters: The Untitled Haunted House Feature is Now Casting

Magic Stone Productions and Brainstorm Media announced that they have signed a deal to produce an Untitled Haunted House feature documentary for an NBC/Universal cable network. The production is currently accepting submissions for documentary cast here — www.homemadehaunt.com.

October 31 has been the target for mischief, monsters and – above all – FUN. This dedication to Halloween mayhem isn’t just carried out by costumed children and prank-crazed teens. The feature documentary will provide a fun and intimate look into the lives of devoted adults who go to fantastic and frightening lengths to create the ultimate homemade haunted house.

Magic Stone Productions is searching for passionate Halloween die-hards who live to scare through creating amateur haunts and would like to share their creations with the world. Casting and submission information can be found by visiting HomeMadeHaunt.com.

The Untitled Haunted House feature documentary is being produced by Meyer Shwarzstein of Brainstorm Media alongside Michael Stephenson and Lindsay Stephenson under their Magic Stone Productions banner. Long-time Magic Stone collaborators, Andrew Matthews, Katie Graham and Brad Klopman are also tapped for integral roles in the production. Screenwriter and Alamo Drafthouse film programmer Zack Carlson recently joined the Magic Stone team as a writer and associate producer. Michael Stephenson will direct.

About Magic Stone Productions
Magic Stone Productions, based in Los Angeles, is an award-winning film and TV production company co-founded by husband-and-wife duo Michael and Lindsay Stephenson. The Company recently produced the critically acclaimed feature documentary Best Worst Movie. Upcoming productions include Destroy, a fast-paced dark comedy written by Zack Carlson and Bryan Connolly, directed by Michael Stephenson alongside producers Lindsay Stephenson and Jennifer Roth (Black Swan; The Wrestler; The Details) and Zero Charisma, an independent comedy directed by Andrew Matthews and Katie Graham. To learn more visit www.MagicStoneProductions.com.

About Brainstorm Media
Brainstorm Media is the leading independent aggregator of feature films for Video on Demand and television in the United States. The company has an extensive library with recent films including The Joneses, Best Worst Movie and Scar 3D, the first film made available on VOD stereoscopically. Past and current clients include Lionsgate, Blockbuster, BMG, The Samuel Goldwyn Company, Magnolia Pictures, Roadside Attractions and more. The company also develops and produces feature films, documentaries and series. Brainstorm is currently in production on A Liar’s Autobiography, a 3D animated feature film based on the memoir of the late Monty Python member, Graham Chapman. For more information please visit www.brainmedia.net.

A Very Mogwai Christmas: One Last Christmas In July Wish

by: RFR Casket Crew Claymation Werewolf

I hope everyone out there in range of the Rotting Flesh Radio airwaves had a Morbidly Merry Christmas in July! I just wanted to take a moment to send one more fake Christmas post to bookend this special time of year…and what is Christmas without a little, tasteful commercialism! With that in mind, I bring you an advertisement for one of the most sought after gifts of 1984… The Mogwai

This Christmas if you really care…I mean if you care the least little bit about the people who do so much for you then you need to give them a gift they’ll remember all year! Not a pocket fisherman! Those fall apart…Not a smokeless Ash Tray, those don’t even work! And besides, that it really is just one more slap in the face to us smokers, isn’t it?! I mean really! YOU CAN’T SMOKE IN A RESTARAUNT! YOU CAN’T SMOKE IN THE OFFICE! YOU CAN’T SMOKE IN A BAR!! I MEAN A FREAKING BAR!! AND NOW THEY DON’T WANT SMOKE TO COME OUR OF YOUR ASHTRAY? IT’S AN ASHTRAY!!! IT IS AN ASHTRAY! I MEAN WHAT’S NEXT? NO SMOKING IN YOUR OWN HOME??? BETRAYING THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE?? BANNING EVERYTH….um…ahem…I apologize for that.

Anyway, this Christmas give the gift that will last and last…the gift that provides hours of entertainment; the gift that keeps on giving! Give the gift of the Mogwai!

The Mogwai is a small adorable creature that is sure to make an impression on anyone who receives it! You might think that being a cute fuzzy, adorable talking kitten-rabbit-elf beast might be enough but you would be wrong…oh so terribly wrong. If simply being irresistibly adorable was enough; I could be purchased, wrapped in a ribbon and given away as a Christmas present but that, my friends, has rarely ever happened. No this little monster thing has more than a few tricks up its sleeves! The real secret behind the gift potential of the Mogwai comes in it’s ‘extra features!’

You see, with a few secret unlock codes your simple country Mogwai can actually create more Mogwais, and not through some gross Mogwai mating or anything. No! Just like every important piece of technology, all you have to do is add water. We at Little Chinatown Shop Industries encourage you to create no more than 11 additional Mogwais per day! Any more than that will exceed the recommended fun limit!

And speaking of fun; let’s chat for a bit about the most fun feature of all. Your Mogwai, can actually transform from a basic model, into an advanced Mogwai or, as the kids call it, a ‘Gremlin’ This Gremlin is just as cute as a normal Mogwai but scalier, greener, more sinister and with much sharper claws and teeth. You do lose a little bit in the fluffy category but trust me you wont have time to think about it! The highly desirable, and not at all disastrous to civilization Gremlin can be achieved with simple Mogwai food. Here is the trick: simply feed your Mogwai after midnight! And that’s it. Wait until the clock strikes twelve and throw some Mogwai chow into the cage! If for whatever stupid reason you don’t want the Mogwai to become a Gremlin, it is safe to once again feed your pet at…um….actually we haven’t quite worked that out yet. It turns into a Gremlin if you feed it after midnight, but we’re not really sure when “after midnight” ends. But who cares? Once you have an army of Gremlins unleashed on your town, your hands will be full! With wackiness!*

Super advanced Mogwais such as Spider Mogwai, Genius Mogwai, Striped Mogwai, Electro Mogwai, Thunder-Punch Mogwai or Malibu Mogwai sold at an additional cost.

So trust me this hypothetical holiday season. No gift exchange will be complete without the greatest gift of all, a Mogwai! Even if Christmas has always brought up bad memories of some ridiculous and terrible tragic event from the past…this Christmas will be different! This Christmas, the machinery of all of those negative feelings will be sabotaged once and for all. Sabotaged by Gremlins!

And for a limited time, with the purchase of any Mogwai with Mogwai accessories you can also Sit Back, Relax, and ROT AWAY…and have a nice day!

*Warning: Gremlins not compatible with dogs, movie theatres, or wheelchair stair lifts!

Six Degrees of Hell with Corey Feldman Filming at the Hotel of Horror Haunted Attraction

So Deadites, with the Haunt Industry and Haunted Attractions comes something perfect for Hollywood Horror movies….the perfect set. It is already maintained, spooky, horrifying, and ready to shoot. This happens with many Haunted houses around the United States from the Rocky Point Haunted House, as read in RFR Casket Crew Hatterr99′s Post (READ IT HERE), to Netherworld and so on. Anyways it is happening again, this time with the 80s icon child actor and recent career revival actor Cory Feldman (The Lost Boys, Goonies).

Six Degrees of Hell is the all-new horror movie starting production and filming. It has been reported that it will be the scariest film of 2012 and we should be ready to be terrified.

The film’s synopsis reads: “Ever walk through one of those Halloween haunted attractions and wonder how real it all looked? What if it was? Six individuals are caught in a supernatural perfect storm that has come to claim one of them and tear apart the soul of a small town. Corey Feldman headlines a cast of veterans and newcomers in Six Degrees of Hell.”

The film is being shot once again at a Haunted Attraction that is a working event. This time at the Hotel of Horror in Saylorsburg, PA. It is proving to be the perfect backdrop for the film and really sets the tone and mood with the detail in the attraction and craftsmanship in all the haunt’s sets.

Recently new stills from the movie have emerged and there are clues to the movie, story and more hidden within each photo apparently. You decide on that one.

The film has a well rounded cast of Corey Feldman, Joe Raffa, Nicole Cinaglia and David Bonner with Joe Raffa directing and written by Harrison Smith. Overall I am not sure if it will be the “scariest film” of 2012, but it will most likely be a fun romp through some horror, haunt and fun. And also enjoying seeing one of our Haunt bretheren’s events featured in a film once more.

If you would like to find out more about the film you can visit them on the Official Facebook Page or at the www.SixDegreesMovie.com

“Think of Mr. Stay Puft.  He can’t hurt us, right??”

by: RFR Casket Crew Hatter99

Hello again fellow Deadites!  This weekend I decided to get my fix by queuing up a screen ode to a legendary Haunt.  It’s time to plummet into Hatter99′s SCREAMING Room.

Hat ON.

Rocky Point Haunted House.  I never had the pleasure of seeing this former Haunter’s Mecca in the flesh, as it shut its doors shortly after the 2006 Halloween season, before I entered the industry, but from what I’ve heard and read it was one hell of a house.  While I am a bit bummed that I didn’t get to experience this legendary attraction that veteran haunters discuss with a deeply-mysterious reverence, all is not lost.  Before it was dismantled, a group of filmmakers shot a nifty little flick there called House of Fears.  It’s not a documentary…No, they took it a step up on the Meter-O-Fun.  It’s a full-length, scripted horror film shot within the attraction about some teens who decide to have some fun inside the fictionalized “House of Fears” on an off-night.  

Little do they know that the owner of the haunt (played by real-life Rocky Point owner and Haunt Industry Queen Cydney Neil) has just imported an ancient relic as a prop, which brings your darkest fears (personified by the horrors within the attraction) to life.  You can probably guess where the plot goes from there, but if you’re expecting cheesy acting and dollar store scenery you’re dead wrong.  The acting and dialogue are surprisingly good, and the sets shot within the Rocky Point attraction itself are of course top-notch.  It’s also nice to watch a film that gives equal screen time to showcasing the haunt with its behind-the-scenes workings that will appeal to those interested in the industry alongside a nice helping of blood and scares.  For those who were able to experience the attraction before it closed, the film will serve as a fond remembrance.  For those of us who didn’t venture through its doors, the film provides an abridged but valuable glimpse into this spectral legend.  If you’re interested in haunted attractions and keen on some fun, I highly recommend it.  Plus, if you still subscribe to Netflix streaming after the recent pricing debacle, you can sit back, relax, rot away, and watch it instantly right now.  

Hat OFF.

Halloween Frolic Turns Deadly in CBS Film’s HELLFEST!

We can never have enough Halloween on television, in the movies or in our lives fright freaks. And with us longing for more and more haunt and halloween related content CBS Films has now officially announced that Chris Sey and William Penick’s Hellfest is coming soon!

HELLFEST is a story about how a night of Halloween fun and frolic can make a turn for the worse. The story revolves around America’s Premiere Theme Park when an actual Costumed Killer begins a rampage of slayings which many of the park guests think is all part of the Halloween Scary Illusion. It is here that true Halloween Terror will begin.

Chris and William have the script put down on paper and CBS Films has expressed much satisfaction in the project and is looking forward to its’ development. More details are set to come soon, but you can bet this Deadites, if you love Horror, Halloween and great Films, than this is going to fuel that love.

Sit Back, Relax and Rot Away…

The Case for the Evil Witch

by: RFR Casket Crew Claymation Werewolf

Hello fiends! Today we consider one of the greatest sources of bone chilling, spine tingling horror. Yes, hold on to your hats and glasses, I’ve come to you today to talk about Disney Feature Animation!

The folks at Disney have always been creative geniuses. However there is something in recent years that Disney has begun to value just as much, if not more than the actual properties they develop. You may not know this but Disney has started to take a look at the world of advertising! Yes you heard me correctly, the Magic Kingdom has begun (ever so slightly) to take an interest in the marketing of its characters and films. I know that up until now the house of Mouse has shunned commercialism in all its form, preferring to let their productions speak for themselves.

Now, since Disney is new to this marketing I want to take this opportunity to explore some areas they might want to focus on, so that sometime in the future they could become a really successful company. For starters, they seem to be aiming a lot of their advertising budget on kids. Now I seriously doubt that Disney’s particular brand of entertainment will ever catch on with our nation’s youth. Obviously thirty-something geeks should be the target audience…I mean, cartoons for kids? Give me a break. But if they do feel like they want to go after a children audience they are going about it all wrong. For instance look at the groups they have picked to be the “role models.” Don’t get me wrong, the idea of grouping their characters allows for easy marketing and themed parties, etc. It’s just that the groups they chose leave much to be desired. On one hand, they’ve got Princesses; spoiled helpless princesses. Now what self respecting child would want to group up to be rich respected royalty with hundreds of servants and an adoring public? To try to answer these hard hitting questions, Disney responded by introducing the “Fairy” line. Now, with the fairies Disney was getting closer to the right track. The leader of the fairies was Tinkerbell, who’s introduction into Disney films showed her to be a supernatural, manipulative and hot-headed being ultimately capable of murder. This is obviously a more suitable figure to look up to, unfortunately so few of us have the ability to become tiny, much less winged; and checking to see if clapping can bring us back from the brink of certain death doesn’t seem worth the risk. No. Fairies, while a nice try, does not cut it either. The character Disney should focus on, the characters that could really put the company on the map, the characters that both children and adults of all ages can no doubt look up to, are the evil witches.

The evil witch has long been a beloved figure in popular culture. Whether they are helping to feed lost children in the woods by creating incredible works of gingerbread construction, or building a young woman’s self confidence by placing real-world obstacles before her as she journeys through the land of oz. Evil witches have proven themselves to be noble, helpful and resourceful ladies. Disney has taken this art form and ran with it. So let us take a look at some of the wonderful witchy women of the Disney Universe.

Yzma – A wise and yes, I’ll say it, incredibly attractive master of magic…lover of animals, and respected mentor to her assistant Kronk.
Lady Tremaine- Perhaps one of the classiest of all the witches while not an official witch per-se; I would be willing to bet that if given the option of possessing awesome and dark powers she would use them (to do only the best things of course for her two…whoops, I mean three daughters)

Cruella DeVil – Also not in possession of traditional evil magic she does wield the evil magic known as fashion. And wield it she does! She proves that you can produce real artistic expression using anything you happen to have around.

Maleficent – Possibly the greatest of all evil witches! She can teach us all that if you really stick to a plan and never give up hope, in the end an innocent person will fall victim to your cruel and horrific curse. Plus, she can turn into a fire breathing dragon…what little girl doesn’t dream of that?!.

Evil Queen (Snow White) – Proof that unrivaled beauty and unfathomable wisdom can exist in one person. Master of disguise, genius detective and apple saleswoman extraordinaire. Did I mention that when she talks to her mirror, it talks back?

Ursula – Four words: Va va va voom! This full-figured big-hearted queen of the sea has more than a few tricks up her sleeves (all eight of them!) while she posses power than anyone would absolutely kill for, she never passes up a chance to help out those poor unfortunate souls out there…for a small price of course.

So there you have it…the greatest group of role models that we as a society could ever hope for. Intelligent, resourceful and possessing both inner AND out beauty. Disney just need to come to its senses and give those femme fatales the publicity they so richly deserve. And think of the parties! Candy apples, lever pulling contests, Lady Tremaine floor scrubbing lessons! Games of capture the puppies, and who stole the voice? There really is no end to the fun that could be had! So if Disney is reading this (and why wouldn’t they be?), give these evil witches a chance, and you just might be surprised. I am absolutely sure that together they will cast a monstrous, terrifying and nightmarish curse…of fun!

Until next time; Sit Back Relax and Rot Away!…and have a nice day.

Revelation Trail: Shooting Zombies on Film

by: RFR Casket Crew Unknown Scare Actor

Greetings Deadites,

Sunday, July 17, 2011. That is the day I got to be zombie. Not a haunt zombie, but a movie zombie. I spent the day in Kentucky, on the set of “Revelation Trail”, a different kind of zombie movie. This one is set in the old west. Check out the link

For those of you that have not been on a working movie set, let me tell you that parts of it got long and boring, but when we were shooting scenes it was fun. Everyone there was friendly and helpful. Candace in wardrobe made sure that we all had the correct costumes for the period and she even had to deal with a few of the difficult ones to fit, like myself. Makeup was done by team B.A.M., the makeup team behind the creature creation of the Dent Schoolhouse.

We had various extras doing different scenes, from closeup zombies biting at the camera, to dead bodies lying face down, to a group of zombies getting picked off one by one, by a marksman. And this was just one day of shooting!. The majority of principle filming is going through the end of the month, in several different locations around Kentucky.

I got to speak briefly with John, the director, and although there was no time to get an interview with him, he has told me that after things cool off in mid August, that he will sit down with me and we will have a long interview and perhaps get some more insight into his creative vision of a zombie outbreak.

On a personal level, I was very proud of the Unknown Scare-Actress, for not only was she in the same scene with me, but she was in a great close up shot that I hope they keep in the film. After we shot the scene, the director told me she did an awesome job!

Well Deadites, that’s it for now
So Sit Back, Relax and Rot Away…and check out Revelation Trail



CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TRAILER FOR REVELATION TRAIL

Universal to Reboot ‘The Wolfman’ Instead of Sequel

So Deadites, in the way of remakes we tend to look at them as a way to cash in or lack of creativity. Many remakes have made their way to us over the years and most recently in the horror genre with films like Night of the Demons, Fright Night, Last House on the Left and the…shall I even bring myself to say it…Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street. However you look at it remakes have been happening in hollywood since the early 40s. It will happen.

This brings us to the next way of hollywood…remake a film, then if it doesn’t do well, reboot it. Yes, the infamous word called a “reboot” is way for hollywood to start over again shortly after the recent remake. Look at Batman, Superman, now Spiderman and others. And this is also true for the Wolfman.

Universal is looking to “reboot” the Wolfman franchise once again. Now the recent remake wasn’t horrible, they feel it can be done better yet again. So instead of following the continuing story of Mr. Talbot, they will once again be looking at a remake, reboot, re-imagining, or like we like to call it….ran out of ideas new film.

Let’s cross our fingers nad hope it may be something to prove us wrong.