Category Archives: movie news

World Horror Convention 2012 Film Festival Schedule

Posted on by
Reply

Remember I said ‘On Edge‘ is playing WHC 2012? Well, the full film festival schedule has been released by the organizers, who have put together an amazing line-up of cinematic horrors old and new.

‘On Edge’, starring Doug Bradley (Hellraiser), Charley Boorman (The Emerald Forest) and Beth Murray, based on the short story by Christopher Fowler (Spanky, Hell Train) with cinematography by Alan Stewart (Sherlock Holmes) and special FX by Bob Keen (Hellraiser), screens in the International Horror Shorts selection on Friday March 30th, 3pm.

Entry to the film festival is free to anyone attending WHC 2012, and separate tickets are available for all screenings for those wishing to take in a few movies outside of the main event.

If you’re in Salt Lake City this weekend, be sure to check out the films. It is an honor to be part of such a cool line-up.

Here are the full details, courtesy of the WHC 2012 website: http://www.whc2012.org/filmfestival.html

Here is the film festival schedule for WHC 2012. We will be featuring entries from filmmakers across the U.S. as well as England and Australia, with a special emphasis on locally made (Utah) films. The festival will also serve as the world premiere location for “Down the Road” starring Clint Howard, and “Abraham vs. Zombies” from The Asylum. With the exception of “Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies” all films will be screened in the Blue Spruce Room:

Film Festival ~ Screening Schedule

Thursday, March 29th

4:00 p.m. “The Bake Street Haunting” (feature film)

6:00 p.m. “Down the Road” (feature film)

Friday, March 30th

1:00 p.m. “Bite Nite” (feature film)

3:00 p.m. International Horror Shorts, featuring “Alistair,” “On Edge,” “Love Bug,” and “Night of the Little Dead”

4:00 p.m. Viscera Film Festival Shorts, featuring 10 horror films from women filmmakers

5:00 p.m. John Skipp Screening, featuring “Stay at Home Dad” and “Rose: Fetching Danny” with filmmaker Q&A

6:00 p.m. “Ground Zero” (feature film) with filmmaker Q&A

Saturday, March 31st

12:00 p.m. “Disembodied” (short) and “Disembodied 2” (feature film) with filmmaker Q&A.

2:00 p.m. Favorite Shorts, featuring “Skye,” “Seance,” and three films from Killship Productions: “Living With Zombies,” “Ben Whitman Hears Voices,” and “Offing Adolf” with filmmaker Q&A

3:00 p.m. Best of Utah Shorts, featuring “Monstrosity,” “4,” “Capital Punishment,” and “Doppelganger” with filmmaker Q&A

4:30 p.m. “The Jar” (short) with filmmaker Q&A

5:00 p.m. “An Evening with My Comatose Mother” with filmmaker Q&A

6:00 p.m. Best of Utah Shorts 2, featuring the premiere of a zombie music video from Amorous, “Amendment,” “Serum X,” “All Night Laundry,” and “The Brink” with filmmaker Q&A

10:30 p.m. “Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies” (feature film)

Sunday, April 1st

12:00 p.m. Best Feature Film

2:00 p.m. Best Short Films

3:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony

4:00 p.m. 2012 WHC Film Festival Ends

if music be the food of fear… panic on!

Posted on by
1

I always write to music. Almost certainly my weapon of choice will be a film soundtrack or lush instrumental soundscape. Rarely music with lyrics as they’re oftentimes too distracting. I have a number of playlists that allow me to key into the emotional feeling and atmosphere of a particular project, which can be very useful when working on novel edits or screenplay rewrites for the umpteenth time. I guess it’s like using music as a form of self-hypnosis, fast-tracking the subconscious mind into a certain place, a particular narrative universe.

No surprise then that when I was commissioned by the film’s producers to write the Panic Button movie novel, I reached for the rough mixes of the movie’s soundtrack kindly sent to me by composer Mark Rutherford. The music has everything I needed to put myself back on Deppart Airlines Flight D-665 and into the heads of Jo, Max, Dave, Gwen and the Alligator himself (a very scary place to be, I assure you!)

I urge you to download the official soundtrack, available now on iTunes. It is (as it was for me during writing) the perfect accompaniment to the movie novel, currently flying high at #1 on Amazon’s horror and thriller charts.

Unhappy listening,
Frazer x

Panic Button: Uptown Top Ranking

Posted on by
1

source: IMDb Pro Movie Meter (Nov 15 2011)

News just in that Panic Button is currently ranked #31 on IMDb. Up 46,038% in popularity this week!

Some context – that’s higher global ranking than the likes of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and Captain America: The First Avenger (dig: those: colons!).

That is a big deal for everyone involved, well done to the entire team!

A request – if you liked the movie, please take a moment to click thru & give the film a quick rating/review. It will make a big difference to a little indie picture, thank you. (if you hated the movie please go and have a nice cup of tea and a sit down instead…) 😀

The Lamplighters: news digest!

Posted on by
Reply

Wow, what a week it’s been for The Lamplighters!

The ebook held the #1 spot in Samhain Publishing’s Horror Bestsellers for 10 days since its release on November 1st.

The first review of The Lamplighters came in and it’s a goody!

I did a guest blog about all things Lamplighters at The Top Shelf, my thanks to Misty Rayburn:
http://www.the-top-shelf.com/?p=2404

Then, my publisher Samhain got in touch and informed me I was “voted a close 2nd to Ramsey Campbell in their favorite horror author election.” I had no idea! Thanks to all the kind readers who voted, and am looking forward to cosying up in my Samhain Horror hoodie while working on my next book 🙂

"*model not included" dammit. she looks like she could keep a feller cosy!

And hey, if you’d like to win a Samhain Book Voucher worth $5 to spend on The Lamplighters or any other title, just ‘like’ this Facebook page. Go there now and do it folks. The winner will be drawn at random on November 13th.

Last but not least, a 2-page ad for the Samhain Horror line appeared in HorrorHound #32, go here to see a snapshot in all its glory.

What’s next? Well, the movie novelization of ‘Panic Button‘ (out now on UK DVD/Blu-ray to tons of great reviews) is coming soon, and I am working on book #3 along with new feature film projects. Yup, as the freezing English fog draws in, that hoodie is gonna be very handy!

‘Til next slime, take scare my f(r)iends.

Panic at the AFM

Posted on by
Reply

Here’s wishing the Panic Button production team lots of sales ops at the American Film Market where the movie screens today.

Check out the movie’s official site for this and other screening details, and a new poster created especially for the AFM:

Still on topic, the folks over at the Panic Button’s Facebook just posted this photo, which made me smile:

Smell the fear! Panic Button production team check out the novelisation.

Yes folks, the proof copy of the Panic Button movie novelization has arrived at their offices! More about the book soon, meantime I urge you to check out viral site All2gethr.com for some social networking satire and a few treats and surprises. All2gethr.com could well become your alternative to that other well-known social networking site, which is allegedly under threat from hacking group ‘Anonymous’. Hmmm, wonder who ‘Anonymous’ might be? And are they on Google+….?

Meantime, Panic Button releases on DVD and Bluray in the UK via CineBritannia, November 7th. It will be available as VOD on Sky Movies Box Office from Nov 7th.

For more info about Panic Button, check out my new page dedicated to the movie and forthcoming novel.

Countdown to The Lamplighters: 5 days

Posted on by
Reply

Today’s Lamplighters countdown post is all about ‘Simone’, a short horror film with… bite.

I wrote the screenplay, originally entitled ‘Hair of the Dog’, a few years back with a view to shooting it in London someday. Those plans never came to fruition (for further details on that, check out the print edition of ‘Urbane and Other Horror Tales).

The project was given a new lease of life when indie filmmakers 386 Films of Florida USA optioned the screenplay. Within just a few months, uber-prolific director Joops Fragale and producer Michael Long had adapted the screenplay, cast the film, assembled a killer crew – and shooting was underway.

Since its completion, the film has been very well received at film festivals, winning awards including Best Short (Audience Award) at Shockerfest, CA USA along the way, not to mention a raft of positive reviews. The finished film is almost double the length of my original screenplay, which focused mainly on the black comedy aspect of waking up with a hangover and not remembering what happened the night before. Joops and his team added a dark, melancholy love story to the mix and the end result is in my view a very unique and atmospheric movie.

Simone screens in London tonight at Crystal Palace Pictures‘ Halloween Special, opening for one of my very favourite movies of recent years, The Orphanage. If South London is a little far away from you, be sure to check out the 386 Films website for photos, reviews, an EPK, and those all-important DVDetails!

‘Til next slime, take scare.

Countdown to The Lamplighters: 6 days

Posted on by
Reply

check out On Edge at South African Horrorfest 2011!

Today’s Lamplighters Countdown post is all about the South African Horrorfest, which kicks off today at the eloquently named Labia Theatre in Cape Town.

This amazing festival has an embarrassment of treats on offer; everything from costume parties, live music, thru zombie walks and screenings of dozens of short films and features to give you goosebumps and set your teeth On Edge with fright.

Hee, that’s right trick or treaters, my own horror short ‘On Edge‘ screens on Thursday 4th November, along with dark delights including ‘The Theatre Bizarre’ and a prize draw that will see one lucky winner staggering away with 40+ DVDs.

‘On Edge‘ (adapted from the story by Christopher Fowler) stars Doug Bradley (perhaps best known as ‘Pinhead’ from the Hellraiser movies 1-8) and Charley Boorman (The Emerald Forest, Excalibur) and tells the wicked tale of impatient businessman Peter Thurlow (Boorman) who jumps the queue at the dentist’s surgery… and gets a little more than he bargained for when he meets enigmatic dentist Dr. Matthews (Bradley). The film has played festivals around the world and has garnered several awards along the way (including Best Horror Short, 1st Place at Dragon*Con USA 2009). Horrorfest marks the film’s South African debut.

If Cape Town is a little far away for your dental appointment, you can check out the film online and the DVD/VOD release is available at Amazon.com.

The South Africa Horrorfest runs 26 Oct-4 Nov and you can check out the full line-up at the official site, Facebook Group & Event Page and follow events via the festival’s Twitter.

Get your Panic on (Edge) this Hallowe’en!

Posted on by
Reply

A quick post to update you on the latest confirmed film festival & special gala screenings.

PANIC BUTTON:
28 October Abertoir Horror Double Bill (with Stalker), Aberystwyth
28 October Horrorthon, Dublin
03 November Horror & Fantasy Festival, San Sebastian
04 (with Q&A), 05, 08 November Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
for further details/times/updates, check: www.facebook.com/panicbuttonmovie

ON EDGE:
26 October-04 November South African Horrorfest, Cape Town
for further details/times/updates, check: www.horrorfest.info

See you at the movies!

Panic Button: Film4 Frightfest red carpet video & stonking Screen Daily review

Posted on by
Reply

Check out this cool video featuring interviews with the main cast & director of Panic Button at its Film4 Frightfest World Premiere. SPOILER ALERT: pretty major plot spoiler occurs around 8 mins into the video –

~*~

Pleased as punch to report that Screen Daily features a review of ‘Panic Button’ by ‘Anno Dracula’ and Empire Magazine scribe Kim Newman. The review will soon disappear behind the Screen Daily premium content paywall, but meantime you can catch it here.

“(Panic Button) addresses its subject effectively, and may prompt some viewers to moderate online habits, but works primarily as a solid horror-thriller” (Kim Newman, Screen Daily)

That’s a keeper of a quote – thanks Kim!

Check out the Comments in my previous post (scroll down) for a ton of other reviews, mostly very positive indeed.

And don’t forget, ‘Panic Button’ hits UK DVD & Blu-ray November 7th thru UK distributor Showbox Films.

~*~

Also in November, my horror novel ‘The Lamplighters‘ will be unleashed via Samhain Horror.

My next post will include news on the Samhain Publishing horror novels line, which launches October with works from Ramsey Campbell, Hunter Shea, Krist Rufty, Brian Moreland and others.

I will have a couple of cool Samhain Horror exclusives for you in the run up to the launch, so stay tuned on this blog and at The Lamplighters Facebook Page…

‘Til next slime, take scare!

Frightfest 2011: Panic Post-mortem

Posted on by
5

So here we are on the other side of the Panic Button world premiere at London’s Film4 Frightfest 2011. 

climbing the stairs to FrightFest 2011 – it all starts with the poster…
i mean the screenplay, yes the screenplay dammit!

My crazy schedule of late meant I could only duck in to Empire screen 1 to check out one other movie during the weekend. And anyone who knows me won’t be surprised that movie was ‘The Wicker Tree’, with Robin Hardy’s 70s original being something of a lifelong obsession of mine. The man himself gave the film a fantastic and funny intro, full of the camp humour one would expect from him. The film itself is a curious mash-up of bawdy comedy, religious diatribe & country evangelistic music that (unlike the original) never quite gelled for me. I did get goosebumps during a brief cameo from the one & only Christopher Lee, but even that felt shoehorned in for shareholder value. The eclectic movie was strengthened by a smashing performance from Honeysuckle Weeks as ‘Lolly’ – she delivered some killer lines and moments (“all the way to 7,” hehehe) and is definitely one to watch.

Oh Chriiist! Oh Jeeesus Chriiist!  – The Wicker Tree

A brief interval gave me the chance to catch up with some old friends & to make a few new ones, then it was time to head on in for the World Premiere of ‘Panic Button’. Frightfest founder (and erstwhile Panic Button supporter – thanks Alan your cheque is in the post!) Alan Jones and producer/co-writer John Shackleton introduced the movie to a packed auditorium. My thanks to John for giving me a shout out during his intro, I was touched (your cheque is in the post too!). It was fun seeing the film on huge screen with a full-on sound mix, amidst a crowd of likeminded horror fans. There was lots of applause, laughs (in all the ‘right’ places) & a palpable feeling of rising tension during the finale (either that or my Premiere trousers were on too tight). Mr Shackleton took to the stage again for a Q&A after the end credits rolled, accompanied by the main cast members and director Chris Crow. My favourite moment was when an audience member asked (in all seriousness) if the film would be used in schools as an educational tool about the dangers of social networking. “We might have to tone Michael Jibson’s dialogue down a bit,” came the reply (Michael plays pottymouthed ‘Dave’ in the film 🙂 

Panic Button Q&A:
L-R Chris Crow (director), Joshua Richards (Rupert Turner), Elen Rhys (Gwen),
Jack Gordon (Max), Scarlett Alice Johnson (Jo), John Shackleton (producer)

The Empire foyer afterwards was buzzing, and cast and crew took to the red carpet for a press junket of photo calls and interviews – you can see them shine in the Frightfest Day 3 report below (coupla mins in to the video). It was a pleasure to finally meet some of the cast members & to catch up with some of the production team – also to meet the lovely Louise of UK distributor Showbox & raise a glass with some FrightFest friends before hometime.


A slew of reviews has since appeared online, with people Tweeting, Blogging and Facebooking about the movie. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with a few naysayers out there (but you can’t please everybody). One negative Twitter response bemoaned the movie’s ‘unbelievable’ premise – i’d love to hear their thoughts on the premises for ‘Troll Hunter’, ‘Fright Night’ and of course… ‘The Wicker Tree’! Sorry, but I go to festivals like Frightfest year in, year out, expressly to see films with unbelievable premises – leave banal reality at home on the telly where it belongs. Rant over!


So, here are some of the post-FrightFest reviews for Panic Button. Positive or negative, huge thanks to the reviewers for taking the time to watch and comment on the film.

“A modern horror movie that is very much a product of our times. Just excellent.” (Adam Stephen Kelly, Screenjabber)