THE WALKING DEAD S7 Premiere - Let the Complaining Start

Last night THE WALKING DEAD season 7 premiered to what will surely be record viewing numbers. Season 6 left us with a cliff-hanger that promised the brutal death of a Walking Dead cast member - an event that was taken straight from the pages of the comic it is based on. This death came at the hands of the show's latest villain, Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, a character that is once again taken from the comic). Many Walking Dead fans complained about the season 6 finale, and the fact they had to wait the entire summer to find out who gets killed. Many even boasted that they would never watch another episode (although I bet almost every one of them was glued to their sets when it aired at 8pm central last night).

This season's episode picked up right where last year's left off and although the event deviated somewhat from the comic (I won't go into details here because this blog, and my own personal philosophy, is 100% spoiler-free) it still delivered and was a fantastic piece of TV drama. I have to admit I have not read the comic, and actually think that probably works in my favor as I approach each episode fresh, able to enjoy it without comparing and contrasting it to the source material.

Once again, however, the complainers have come out of the woodwork, and I have to say this has gotten completely out of hand. Social media was immediately inundated with people spouting off about how upset they were at the episode, how they would never watch another episode, how the show was ruined, etc., etc. Enough already.

Even my own home town of Nashville's beloved alt-newspaper THE NASHVILLE SCENE joined in, as they unveiled a fluff piece online this afternoon by a writer named Amanda Haggard entitled "Dear THE WALKING DEAD, I'm Over You." In this article she gripes about how much she disliked the premiere and ends with the line: "TWD, I’m over you."

WHO CARES? It's complaining, and nothing more. The opinion of one person who, by her own admission, the show probably isn't for. No kidding! So stop watching already, end of story. I have to ask, why in the hell did The Scene bother to run this piece? Seriously, not a good look, Scene.

The truth of the matter is that last night's episode was full of drama, tension, fantastic special effects and delivered an event that will have repercussions for the characters the remainder of the show's run. But then, that's just my opinion.

Was it for everyone? Of course not. Nothing is. There are plenty of shows that I don't bother to watch because I know they aren't the sort of show I like. But then, I don't waste my time complaining about them, either. Unlike some members of the press, I have better things to write about.

Belcourt Theater 12 Hours of Terror RETURNS

This Saturday October 22, 2016, at the historic (and newly renovated) Belcourt theater in Nashville, TN, the 6th annual Halloween event continues with another 12 hour marathon. The website describes it as a marathon of monsters, murderers, mad scientists, myths, mayhem, masked unknowns and mysteries that span the decades and most known exhibition formats.


The fun starts at 10pm - get there early to catch a performance by Nashville spooky rockers The Boo Dudes. This is a must-see event for horror fans in the Middle TN area. The Belcourt staff always does an amazing job, and I will be introducing one of the movies myself during the night, HENRY, PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER.


You can read a recap of last year's event here. It is always a total blast and endurance test of celluloid chills.


General Admission: $20/$15 for Belcourt members. Tickets are going fast, so grab yours early

Here's a shot of the crowd lined up around the corner last year waiting for the doors to open!




So what movies are they showing? Well, you'll have to show up to see! But here's what information the Belcourt has released so far:

THE HOWLING

Joe Dante's 1981 lyncanthropic masterpiece.

HENRY PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER

4K 30th-anniversary restoration of John McNaughton's unsettling horror-crime film.

THE PIT, 1981

"A perverted young boy whose teddy bear tells him to throw people in a pit full of monsters."

And here's what local paper THE NASHVILLE SCENE said about the rest of the night:

We can't reveal any of the four remaining titles, but The Belcourt has these little hints for us:

1. "A very rare international supernatural thriller that you'll totally lose your head over"

2. "An under-appreciated gem of '80s paranoia"

3. "A film in anaglyph 3-D"

4. "An eye-popping finale"

Seasonal Scene faves Boo Dudes will rise from the grave to play a set, and there will be a special guest appearance from local legend Dr.  Gangrene. There's more — costume contest, giveaways, gimmicks — but by this point, I'm thinking you're already sold. Admission is $20, and $15 for Belcourt members. Get your hands on tickets at The Belcourt's site.

AGAIN, this is one you don't want to miss. Sat, Oct 22nd 10pm! See you there!

R.I.P. Ted V. Mikels

I was truly saddened to learn today that director Ted V. Mikels passed away. I had the pleasure of interviewing Ted in 2003 when he was in production for his film MARK OF THE ASTRO ZOMBIES, a follow up to his classic THE ASTRO ZOMBIES in 1968. He was so giving of his time and mailed me photos and memorabilia to use for the article. He later sent me a trailer reel that he cut together himself for me to use on my TV show, Chiller Cinema, and we stayed in touch over the years. A class act, all the way. I was really glad that he was able to keep working late in his career. Ted was a true maverick who made movies and lived his life his own way, outside the system. Here's to you, Ted. I will be firing up my CORPSE GRINDER tonight in your honor.

Dr. Black/Mr. Hyde - Don't Give Him No Sass...

The fear of the year is here!

I was recently invited by my buddy Rod Barnett to appear as a guest on his podcast THE BLOODY PIT. He didn’t have any specific topic in mind, and asked me if I had any particular film that I was interested in discussing.

Last summer I was a guest at the LONE WOLF FULL MOON TATTOO SHOW, and while there I ran across a tattoo vendor selling VHS tapes. I immediately scooped up a handful of them, and among the ones I grabbed was a big box clamshell of DR. BLACK/MR. HYDE. I had never seen this one before, so my son Luke and I watched it a couple of days later and loved it! I suggested this movie to Rod, who had never seen it before either, and he enthusiastically agreed.

Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde is a 1976 blaxploitation horror film loosely inspired by the novella, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. It is directed by William Crain, the man who also directed perhaps the best known blacksploitation movie of all time, BLACULA.

It stars Bernie Casey as Dr. Henry Pride, a man who, along with his research partner Dr. Worth (Rosalind Cash) is working on a cure for cirrhosis of the liver. Impatient to test on human subjects, Pride injects himself with the serum. However, it turns out his formula has certain side effects, as one can guess from the title of the movie. In this case it turns Pride into an angry white-skinned monster that sets out on a killing rampage, leaving a trail of dead pimps and hookers in the community.

It’s easy to dismiss a film like Dr. Black/Mr. Hyde as cheap exploitation trash, but this movie actually has a lot going for it. There are some serious themes woven throughout the ridiculous sci-fi plot, in particular addressing issues of race and class struggles, as well as medical ethicalities. It is a fun movie, and one I recommend. Watch for the podcast coming soon (I'll provide links here) where Rod and I delve deep into this film and uncover a lot of details about this movie and interesting tie-ins to other Hollywood films and actors.

In the meantime, here’s the trailer for Dr. Black/Mr. Hyde, one of the greatest trailers ever!

And you can watch the entire film on YouTube HERE

Dr. Gangrene in Rue Morgue Halloween issue (on noosestands now)!

I picked up the new Rue Morgue Magazine last night, the Halloween issue, and they have a great plug for my YouTube Channel in there, specifically mentioning my ongoing Vincent Price series! Thanks Rue Morgue, you rock!


And you can check out myYouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/drgangrene

Horror Hootenanny 13 a little over a week away!

Ok Fright Fans, the gory details have been nailed down and it's my pleasure to announce that this year we are bringing Canadian horror rock legends FORBIDDEN DIMENSION back to the US for DR. GANGRENE'S HORROR HOOTENANNY 13!! Saturday, October 1st at The End!

Joining them in the musical mayhem will be Nashville's own THE CREEPING CRUDS, and garage/surf rockers MUMMULA.





The action all takes place SATURDAY OCTOBER 1st at THE END in Nashville. So make plans now to kick off the Halloween season in style with Nashville's host with the most, Dr. Gangrene, The Creeping Cruds, Mummula, and Forbidden Dimension, and stay tuned for more updates and bloody details!!

So get those costumes ready fiends, Dr. Gangrene's Horror Hootenanny #13 is just a little over a week away! There will be prizes for the best costumes, and the overall winner gets a prize package that includes a $100 gift certificate to Lone Wolf Tattoo, trophy from Evil Pumpkins, a gift card from performance studio and more. One lucky winner will receive a mask from Uncanny Valley Productions. It all happens October 1st at THE END!!

New Forbidden Dimension CD!

Greetings Fright Fans!!


I have some great news to share today - Canada's premiere shock and roll band FORBIDDEN DIMENSION (this year's headliner at the Horror Hootenanny in October) have released a brand new album, and it's a behemoth!


The album features 40 SONGS ON 2 CDs including every 7" single and compilation contribution, PLUS two full sessions (from '94 and '02) - 27 of the tracks have NEVER APPEARED on CD or digitally before now! In addition 7 of the tracks have NEVER BEEN RELEASED!

It features a deluxe, full-color, 24-page booklet with heaps of previously unseen photos and artwork, plus an 18-page essay by Jackson Phibes chronicling 25 years of The Forbidden Dimension.

 It is all presented within a killer cover and Japanese-style OBI-strip designed by Tom Bagley.


This is a must have for Forbidden Dimension fans and fans of horror rock in general. Visit www.soundsescaping.com for all the details on how to get yours today!

Click the press release below to enlarge and find out even more frightening details...