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05/23/05 Update

"White Noise" (review)

You may have heard about EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) on radio shows such as Art Bell's, or read about it in the pages of "The Weekly World News" or some other supermarket tabloid. For those not familiar with EVP, it is a supposed phenomenon whereby unexplained voices and spectral figures convey themselves through the static or "white noise" (what we used to call "TV snow") on a television or radio frequency where no signal is being broadcast. In the Universal Studios release White Noise, Michael Keaton portrays Jonathan Rivers, a man whose tragic life circumstances make him receptive to these messages from "the other side".

The film has a creepy tone, similar to many recent productions that have borrowed from the style of "The Ring." Dark and atmospheric, it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up at points, and ladles on equal measures of nail-biting tension and jump-in-your-chair surprises. Keaton's performance is a portrait of a rapid descent into morose obsession with the unknown, and a profile of the mindset that draws a grieving person to turn to the occult to deal with the death of a loved one. Without revealing too much, I must say that the ending seemed a bit sudden - or even rushed - a syndrome that has affected a lot of the recent crop of bigger budget suspense flicks. The deleted scenes on the DVD evidence that, perhaps, the wrap-up would have had a bigger "bang" had the final cut been allowed to play out just a bit longer.

The DVD, as mentioned above, has the usual deleted scenes included in the extras. Some unusual surprises are also tucked into the bonus features, such as footage of actual EVP sessions, interviews with experts in the field, and a how-to guide on conducting your own EVP experiments at home. Fascinating stuff that compliments and lends credence to the theme of the film.

White Noise hit your local video store on May 17th. Check it out! For more info or to purchase your copy online, go to www.whitenoisemovie.com.

Happy Horroring!

   Your ol' pal,

   Ghastlee

05/12/05 Update

Cartoonology, Indeed

Check out the first installment of James Richardson's "Cinema Insomnia" comic strip. Thanks, James!

04/05/05 Update

Nasty Nine Quiz

Tor wrote this, originally posted it at "Ed Wood's Holy Haven" and kindly gave us permission to repost it here. Thanks!

1. When Mr. Lobo seeks UFOs, during the "In Search Of Ancient Astronauts," episode, he instead finds a, what?

A. Yugo parts shop
B. Yogi fartin' pop
C. Swamp gas emanating from Miss Mittens' great-grandfather in the compost pile.
D. Howard Hughes' Little Black and Blue Book of Antiseptics and Aunty Skeptics
 

2. During Cinema Insomnia's exhibiting of Ingmar Bergman's "The Seventh Seal," what fantastic fare is presented, for the tiny tots, by Mr. Lobo?

A. Smorgas-Board Feet of Mountain Strawberries Fruit Rock and Roll Ups
B. Hörsenmilken
C. Midnight Sun Eels Delight
D. Black Dog Bile and Blood Bisque
 

3. Also in CI's "The Seventh Seal" episode Mr. Lobo specifically mentions that he loves a parade that has, what?

A. Plague ponies
B. Weightier whipping waifs
C. Incense swinging, poor man's Darth Vaders
D. A naked statue of Abraham Lincoln
 

4. Mr. Lobo has interviewed...

A. George M. Steal (a.k.a. The Animated Animal)
B. Mabel Roundtree (a.k.a. Macabre Mary)
C. Cassandra Peterson (a.k.a. Elvira)
D. Jonathan Henderson (a.k.a. The Blatherskite)
 

5. As Cinema Insomnia's "Bucket Of Blood" offering transpires, Mr. Lobo is forced into what unthinkable act he has never before engaged in?

A. Mr. Lobo must do Ouija work and channel Bert Parks' gallbladder
B. Mr. Lobo must work in a coffee shop
C. Mr. Lobo must work as a taffy-pullin' customs agent at the Roy Rogers' International Aqueduct of Peace and Grape Peeling Institute.
D. Mr. Lobo must work
 

6. One of Mr. Lobo's favorite venues is?

A. The Crest Theatre
B. Tor's Tomb
C. The Avalon Jewel Box
D. The Bijou Speakeasy
 

7. During Cinema Insomnia's Christmas Special, Mr. Lobo is accosted by a brutish ruffian who makes the accusation that Mr. Lobo dines upon, what?

A. Armpit hair
B. Pus pancakes
C. Lightly sweetened dandruff flakes
D. Buggers
 

8. The ruffian, from question 7, is?

A. Mr. Low Blow (Mr. Lobo's evil twin)
B. Woody Edwards (Ed Wood's evil twin)
C. A former highschool bully at Mr. Lobo's alma mater
D. Father F. Father (The defrocked renegade priest) [Guess what the "F." stands for]
 

9. Cinema Insomnia has a CD offering by which vile villain?

A. King Whatdaphook from Zombie Swamp
B. Ambassador Phantom from the planet Krankor
C. Commodore Ringo Wrongo from the island Singgo Songgo
D. Commander Slug Dumpling from the Pair of Ls ["Laverne & Shirley" never existed there, only "Laverne & Laverne"] parallel universe
 

(Quiz answers appear down by the bottom of this web page.)

09/17/04 Update

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD - LP soundtrack review

(by Dave Baker, courtesy of theMonsterclub.com)

This is the CLASSIC Zombie film that started a whole trend of flesh-eating movies, back in the late sixties and seventies. NOTLD was first released in 1968, a film by George Romero. I can remember as a kid seeing the scary trailer for it on late-night T.V. It would be a few years later before I actually saw the film, as I was considered too "young" to be admitted at the time. The film score, to this day, is one of the most creepy and atmospheric of our time and was composed by many various artists on what is called "library cues" - music which is generally used for commercial, industrial and low-budget films. [This music was also used in the "Clutch Cargo"-style Saturday Morning cartoon, "Space Angel"... which is part of the intermission of our "Prince of Space" episode. - Mr. Lobo]

Genre affectionados may recognize a number of musical cues as having appeared in THE HIDEOUS SUN DEMON, TEENAGERS FROM OUTER SPACE and TERROR FROM THE YEAR 5,000. Can you list any more? This album was released by Varese Sarabande Records in 1982 (STV 81151), and the front cover features a duo-tone color picture of the original movie poster. The back cover features 8 great black and white photos from the film. Liner notes are written by Scot W. Holton, and they tell us the story of how the musical selections were added and about the people involved in producing the film. Very interesting!

The sound bites include:

1. Driveway To The Cemetary ( Main Title )
2. At The Gravesite / Flight
3. Farmhouse / First Approach
4. Ghoulash ( J.R.'s Demise )
5. Boarding Up
6. First Radio Report
7. Boarding Up 2 / Discovery : Gun 'N Ammo
8. Cleaning House
9. First Advance
10. Discovery Of T.V.
11. Tom & Judy
12. Attempted Escape
13. Truck On Fire / Ben Attacks Harry
14. Beat 'Em Or Burn 'Em / Final Advance
15. Helen's Death / Dawn / Posse In The Fields / Ben Awakes
16. O.K. Vince / Funeral Pyre ( End Title )

What's cool about this soundtrack is that actual dialog from the film is included in various spots, which adds to your SCARY listening experience !!

This soundtrack IS STILL OUT THERE, on CD - so check my favorite web sites, www.buysoundtracks.com and www.creepyclassics.com or your local music store. (It also tends to show up at conventions around the country.)

This is one I HIGHLY RECOMMEND for your Horror Library !!

07/12/03 Update

Heady reading?

Articles have been added to a new "articles" web page. Or try the first CI Quiz, posted for your special edification.

Answers to Tor's "Nasty Nine Quiz":

1. A
2. B
3. D
4. C
5. B
6. A
7. D
8. C
9. B

    

email Mr. Lobo or Mr. Grill or Mr. Moon