Tales from Parts Unknown Press Release

Reviewers interested in seeing the film please contact drgangrene@hotmail.com

Nashville, TN (09.24.2020) Red Headed Revolution in association with Shackle Island Studios and Dunn & Dunn Productions is kicking off the Halloween season with a new horror anthology film -Tales from Parts Unknown.

Tales from Parts Unknown is a feature-length anthology film presenting four tales of terror directed by Cameron McCasland and hosted by the Physician of Fright, Dr. Gangrene (Nashville, TN horror host Dr. Gangrene, played by Larry Underwood). The pair share the writing credits on the screenplay with the title of the film derived from Underwood's short story collection of the same name, in which one of the stories originated. 

Underwood & McCasland are bringing their long-standing brand of horror to the drive-in screens for the first time after multiple collaborations on television including the Emmy nominated Green with Dr. Gangrene PSA series, the half-hour Dr. Gangrene Presents, the made for TV movieThe Dreadful Hallowgreen Special, and the freshly produced Dr. Gangrene’s Cinetarium, which currently is airing its second season on the NECAT Network.

Two of the stories, Tailypo and The Prisoner of Perdition, toured film festivals, racking up over 50 awards and nominations including the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Short Film and an Emmy nomination. They are presented along with two never before seen shorts (Retrieval Service and The Rider) and a wrap-around story.

In addition to Underwood appearing as Dr. Gangrene, the movie stars David Chattam (Star Trek: Picard), Wynn Reichert (Masterminds), Rebecca Lines (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It), John Wells (Legends & Lies) Lee Vervoort (The Walking Dead), Kenneth Garner (Still the King), Wendy Keeling (Clown College), and Rusty James (Haven).

Tales from Parts Unknown will premiere during the Creepy Cruise-In at the Georgetown Drive-in in Georgetown, Indiana on October 3rd, and select drive-ins and special engagements in the following weeks. The event will be hosted by Dr. Gangrene in person with a classic car show and giveaways. For more information check out drgangrene.com

FREE short story for Election Day

I wrote this one a while back, and since it's Election Day today I just couldn't pass up posting it here.

And if you enjoy it, and haven't picked up a copy of my TALES FROM PARTS UNKNOWN collection, now is the perfect time!

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Igor, Egor and Ygor

 

“I tell ya,” said Igor, raising his glass of blood and tonic, “the worst part of it is the total lack of respect.”

“No kidding,” said Egor, slapping the table for effect. “You’d think they might show a little appreciation from time to time, but no. It’s always, ‘Egor, get this. Egor, fetch that. Egor, you idiot!’ I tell ya, it’s enough to give a guy a complex.”

A third man limped over from the bar carrying fresh drinks.  “You think you have it bad, my master won’t even let me play my flute anymore.” Ygor rubbed his twisted neck as he spoke.  “It’s the one thing I truly enjoy in life, besides torturing villagers and playing with fire, that is, and he won’t even let me have that simple pleasure.”

Igor adjusted his hood and nodded. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I almost couldn’t get off work to make it here this year. I ask for one week a year, just one week. And that’s the week she has to try and take over the world. Sheesh. Fortunately the atomic reactor won’t ship till next week, otherwise I’d still be slaving away underground building another doomsday device.”

Egor shot a quick glance to either side to see if anyone was listening. The far end of the lounge featured a bar with an array of misshapen and grotesque figures seated on stools in front of it. A four-armed bartender served them drinks.  Above the bar hung a banner that read, “143^rd Annual Henchmen Convention.”

He lowered his voice to a near-whisper. “Say, let me ask you guys something. Just between us lackeys. You ever screw up on purpose?”

Ygor looked shocked. “What? Why, that would be against union code, you know that. I could lose my privileges for something like that.” He winked at the dwarf as he popped a handful of grub worms into his mouth.

Igor scratched his hump as he spoke. “I’m not ashamed to admit it. I screw up all the time. Maybe it isn’t technically on purpose, but let’s just say I could probably be a bit more careful. But come on, a guy’s gotta pass the time somehow, right? The Transylvanian nights are cold and lonely in those drafty dungeons.”

He noticed a blonde in a lab coat a few tables over. She looked up and their eyes locked. He raised an eyebrow and flashed a toothless grin. She quickly looked away, annoyed.

“I do it on purpose, I admit it,” said Egor. The candle in the center of their table flickered, dripping scarlet wax onto the skull beneath it. “But my master deserves it. He’s a slave driver. And the worst part of it? He never takes my suggestions. I’m no greenhorn; I’ve been doing this for almost a century.” He thumped his chest for emphasis. “I’m a pro, and he should respect that. There are plenty of other mad scientists out there that would appreciate my talents. I’ve had interest from headhunters.”

Ygor nodded in agreement. “I know what you mean. Just last week, a witch doctor in Borneo inquired about my services.”

Igor looked at the other two men, and shook his head. “You know, I think we’re all forgetting why we became henchmen in the first place. Yeah, maybe it’s a tough job, but at least we’re a part of something special, making a difference. We have steady jobs, with decent pay and benefits. And most importantly we’re carrying on the time-honored tradition passed down by our ancestors.”

He looked up and gestured toward the corner of the room. “Besides, no matter how bad our bosses may be, no matter how wicked, cruel, heartless, or despicable the treatment, it could always be worse.”

The other henchmen turned to see what he was looking at. Mounted on the wall was a television. Onscreen, a man in a crisply pressed suit waved to an enthusiastic crowd, a leering smile plastered on his face. Words scrolled across the bottom of the screen announcing the latest election results.

“Even I can’t work for an overlord that evil,” Igor said with a shudder.

 

Dr. Gangrene's Tales from Parts Unknown

"Reads like a literary Tales from the Crypt" - RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE

Available now through AMAZON.COM - Dr. Gangrene's Tales from Parts Unknown, a new collection of horror stories introduced by the fiendish Dr. Gangrene and penned by his alter-ego, Larry Underwood. Here's what some of the critics have to say:

"Reads like a literary Tales from the Crypt" - RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE

"From the crossroad of inspiration and obsession to the furthest reaches of the Weird Wild West these tales will engage... and terrify."- Harold Sipe, Author of SCREAMLAND

"The wonderful thing about all Larry's work is its "visual" texture. I literally felt like I was "reading" episodes from some classic anthology program like The Twilight Zone or Ray Bradbury's Theatre."- Michael Smith, MIKE'S FILM TALK

"Larry Underwood delivers the goods with this horror story collection! When it comes to giving you chills, the Doctor [Gangrene] is in!"- Dan Johnson, Editor of CEMETERY PLOTS

"Larry Underwood continues to find ways to shock, delight, and ultimately entertain us with his unique and terrifying vision. A classic monster fan if there ever was one, Larry's stories harken back to the days of pulp comics, where evil lurks behind every crooked oak tree. There's a little bit of something for everyone in these collected works, and I highly encourage you to read them all behind the safety of four walls... because you never know what exists just beyond..." - Kurt Larson, STAY COOL GEEK podcast

Get you copy now at AMAZON.com  - available in both print and ebook format.