Comic Statues & Busts: Bowen Zombie from Bowen Designs

A Bowen Designs Sculpt! From the days before the dawn of the Marvel Age comes Simon Garth... The Zombie! The Zombie was created in 1953 by Stan Lee and Bill Everett in the short story "Zombie!", which was published in Menace #5 (July 1953), an Atlas Comics pre-code horror anthology title. Cursed to wander the Earth as the living dead, Garth is supernaturally strong and able to heal mystically from physical injuries. Virtually mindless, Garth is held by the power of the Amulet of Damballah, and can be controlled by similar amulets. Painted and ready to display.

I'm not sure which 80s horror films were being referenced by House of the Devil, but they certainly weren't any of the good ones. While the slow build was a signature style of the 80s, it wasn't as slow as this. Luckily, I rented the DVD and ultimately skipped ahead after waiting about an hour for ANYTHING to happen. This film doesn't build suspense so much as it pretty much kills it entirely. While the retro 80s feel may seem terribly clever by its creators, this film gives classic 80s horror a bad name (though the style of the film leads me to believe the director confused the 70s with the 80s). The cheesy schlock is there, but the pacing and direction are all wrong. It's dull and predictable; the antithesis of suspense. I can only imagine the film is entertaining to those believing they are watching a loving tribute to 80s horror films, but only if they have never actually seen any good 80s horror films. After reading reviews of Ti West's Cabin Fever 2 and Trigger Man, I think it would be wise to add him to my list of directors to avoid.

Its title may make it sound like a low-grade would-be shocker, but writer-director Ti West's "The House of the Devil" marks itself from the beginning as an ideal horror movie for those who are unimpressed by contrived shocks or gratuitous gore but would like to see a film with somewhat believable situations and characters who (mostly) talk and act like real people. It's a rare attempt to take a decidedly sensationalistic subject and approach it in a naturalistic, relatively believable way (granted, "The Omen" took a somewhat similar tack about 35 years ago, but, well, this movie does it better), and West's efficient script and assured direction are enough to further distinguish this movie from the competition. The title and the opening graphics about Satanic cults leave little doubt as to what's coming, but the movie takes its time in revealing the particulars, and does so with a minimum of clunky exposition or backstory (it's not even clear until the very end whether there was any actual supernatural involvement in the film's events). In place of the all-too-common horror-movie trope of obnoxious dolts being picked off one at a time, viewers get a story that, at least until all hell breaks loose in the final act, should actually be pretty relatable for anyone who's ever been young and trapped in a hellish living situation with little means of escape.

Jocelin Donahue makes for a refreshingly normal horror-film protagonist as Samantha, a cute, vaguely tomboyish college sophomore desperate for some quick cash so she can escape from her oversexed roommate and rent her own apartment. A seemingly perfect opportunity arises in the form of a lucrative babysitting gig for the Ullmans, a couple seemingly eager to get out of the house to view the upcoming lunar eclipse, but as is so often the case in horror movies the job isn't what it seems. For one thing, her prospective employers turn out to be the epitome of creepiness, led by Tom Noonan as the imposing, secretive Mr. Ullman. Those who saw Noonan as the bizarre detective on the last two seasons of "Damages" will be familiar with his erratic movements and irregular speech patterns, and here they're combined with a patchy beard and ominous-looking cane to produce a character who manages to be frightening without doing much of anything. And Noonan's character may as well be Mr. Rogers compared to his wife (Mary Woronov), whose brief appearance in the early going is marked by an imperious stare and a demeanor creepy enough to send a less cash-strapped babysitter running for the hills. In the end, Noonan and Woronov both strike a near-perfect balance in their roles--they're spooky enough that viewers in on the story will know there's something up with them, but not so overtly menacing as to make it implausible that Samantha could believe they were merely weird rather than truly nefarious.

Once Samantha inevitably takes the job after some tough negotiations over the price, the movie settles in for an extended stretch devoted more to establishing an eerie atmosphere than to delivering any real scares (with one brief but very notable exception). While some will surely be bored by a middle section that consists largely of Samantha walking (and in one memorable scene, dancing) around the Ullmans' apparently empty dwelling, West does an admirable job of steadily ratcheting up the tension while capturing the inherent scariness of being alone in a spacious, isolated house. The movie does surrender a good deal of its carefully constructed air of mystery with its frenzied, nightmarish climax, but the conclusion is still made all the more effective by the slow buildup preceding it. Suitably, the violence is employed sparingly and almost entirely in the final 15 minutes, with what bloodshed does occur presented in a blunt, unflinching manner that goes well with West's overall minimalist approach.

Given the endless barrage of stupid-looking horror flicks landing in theaters, it's a shame this one didn't make much impact at the box office, but viewers who like their scares delivered intelligently should be sure to check it out. At about 90 minutes it doesn't stick around anywhere near long enough to get boring, and still manages to take its time getting its pieces in place before everything goes to hell (no pun intended). The typical pitfalls of horror cinema--cheap effects, flat characters, brainless dialogue, direction that treats subtlety as an unpardonable crime--are all very little in evidence here, making "The House of the Devil" the rare horror film that should appeal to both enthusiasts of the genre and those who typically avoid it. Injecting a measure of realism into the devil-movie template may seem like a thankless task, but fortunately West and co. turn out to be more than up to it.

The more I think about The House of the Devil, the more I realize what a remarkably clever movie it is. The story is set in the early 1980s, when many Americans were apparently disturbed by the proliferation of Satanic cults supposedly running rampant across the country. Taking his passion for classic horror a step further, writer/director/editor Ti West has painstakingly infused his film (I'm not exactly sure if it's an homage or period piece) with many nostalgic moments including his use of freeze-frame, choice of music, and some great genre faces of the era. House is the tale of a pretty young college student (Jocelin Donahue) who desperate for cash, accepts a babysitting job from a creepy old stranger (the always-wonderful Tom Noonan). Something's not quite right about him though as well as his family and his house, but we don't know exactly what's going on until the very end. This was a great intense and highly suspenseful film, Ti West did a tremendous job of recreating the era down to the most minute detail, from a Walkman the size of a brick to Farrah-feathered hair all the way to those red, waxy Enjoy Coke! fast food cups.

Even the grainy photography, muted palette, and the slight optical jitter of the opening titles are pitch-perfect. West only loses out on complete authenticity in one way, and that's...well, that The House of the Devil is much better than the other modern straight to video horror films that attempt to do the same.The restraint of The House of the Devil impresses me more than just about anything else about it. West's screenplay isn't overwritten or littered with witty dialogue. There aren't any awkward pop culture references to try to sell its early '80s setting. There aren't any cheap jump scares, to the point that someone could watch the overwhelming majority of the film and not clue in that it's a genre piece at all. The House of the Devil is stripped down to bare essentials -- one quietly charming, sympathetic girl stranded in a remote house, unaware how close to death she really is -- and that simplicity is an essential part of its strength. The House of the Devil very easily could have been a trainwreck. This is a movie after all, that revolves around a pretty college girl wandering around a house for something like fifty minutes straight. The first genuine jolt doesn't happen until the 35 minute mark, and it's another half-hour until anything that looks like it might pass for horror crops up. The House of the Devil is so exceptionally well-crafted and perfectly cast that it's eerie and unnerving even without much of anything happening. Ti West states in one of his audio commentaries on this disc that it's more of a mystery than a traditional horror flick, and that's very much the approach the film takes. Of course there's going to be an attack by some sort of Satanic cult -- otherwise, why would there be a card at the beginning that spouts off statistics about all that? but The House of the Devil is much more fascinated with the build-up than the inevitable release.

This is just a masterfully crafted film, horror or otherwise, on every level. It's a horror/suspense movie that could very easily be mistaken for something shot in 1982 yet never devolves into a caricature. The House of the Devil is engrossing and unnerving despite its minimal dialogue and disinterest in overt scares, there was some gore but it didn't start until the very end. The cinematography, sound design and especially the score are all outstanding. There's not a weak link or misstep anywhere along the line really. Viewers who are more used to the Saw sequels and desaturated shakycam flicks might be bored with it, but for those of us who grew up with atmospheric, suspenseful horror like The Changeling (a long-time favorite of mine and one of the touchstones pointed to in the extras). The House of the Devil really does look terrific on Blu-ray it opens up the mattes slightly to reveal an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, and the film and its extras fit comfortably on a single-layer Blu-ray disc. House also sport 16-bit, six-channel DTS-HD Master Audio, and it sounds incredible. Also included are a stereo PCM track and subtitles in English and Spanish. As for the extras, Ti West joins his star for a semi-serious audio commentary, then returns for a more irreverent track with producers Larry Fessenden and Peter Phok and sound designer Graham Reznick. Three deleted scenes are presented in high definition, totaling about seven minutes. "In The House of the Devil" is really just a lot of production footage edited together with no narration, 13-and-a-half minutes, in standard def. "Behind The House of the Devil" (five minutes, HD) is a more focused look behind the scenes, compiling interviews with the cast and director. this easily ranks as one of the most exceptional horror movies of recent memory. The House of the Devil also looks and sounds fantastic on Blu-ray, and both of its audio commentaries are essential listens and is a movie that screams out to be discovered. Highly Recommended!.

This movie is obviously low budget, but it's actually really impressive! The suspense builds throughout the movie, for a pretty decent ending. I am a horror movie junkie, and I really enjoyed it.

I thought this film was worth watching simply because it brings back that 80's horror genre feel. It is slow. I however enjoyed the story and acting was decent. Worth renting for sure :)

Something in the woods is growing tired of feeding on animals and is hungry for human flesh. Five girls at a defunct camp must band together and defend themselves from its attacks.

Ten Sundays Productions
Running Time: 18 min.
Color
1.78:1 Widescreen

Special Features
Audio Commentary Track 1: Writer/Director Paul Busetti
Audio Commentary Track 2: Bridget Devlin Burke, Co-Producer Ian Albetski, & Set Photographer Francis Abbey

This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Cannibal Cheerleader Camp may have only been about 18 minutes long, but I thought it was very enjoyable and interesting. Basically, five girls were relaxing at a summer home of some sort when a cannibalistic intruder disrupted their peace. Despite the length, I thought there was enough personality given to the girls so we had an idea as to who they were. The killer's identity remained unknown, but then that is the way it is in real life sometimes -- someone comes along and kills a person or persons and then gets away, with the police unable to figure out what happened and who did it. In this case, the viewer doesn't know who did it, either. Nice movie for what it was. It also had some nice lesbian shower action, for those who like that sort of thing.

Now anyone can be safe from the undead—at home, at work, or out on the town. Vampires have walked among us for thousands of years. These reanimated corpses survive by draining and consuming the blood of the living, and their threat to humanity cannot be ignored. Throughout the centuries, professors and peasants have offered their own vampire-fighting tips, but these were often old wives' tales, based more on superstition than on fact. Here, for the first time, is a comprehensive vampire-fighting guide for the twenty-first century.

In the tradition of bestsellers like The Zombie Survival Guide and The Zen of Zombie, The Vampire Survival Guide covers everything you need to know to protect yourself from vampires. Topics include the habits and routines of vampires, how to tell if somebody you know has become a vampire, how to protect yourself from attack, how to set traps, what to do if you must fight off multiple vampires, how to cleanse an entire town after devastating vampiric attacks, and much more. It confronts head-on the most terrifying situation of all—that of being bitten by a vampire—by providing the reader with numerous approaches, rooted in both science and medicine and religion, for fighting off blood-suckers before it is too late.

Vampires are found in every country in the world—not just in Eastern Europe and Sunnydale, California. With the human population expected to reach over 9 billion by the year 2050, confrontations between men, women, children, and vampires are increasingly inevitable. This guide is the human race's best hope. 25 color illustrations

If vampires truly existed, then wouldn't it make sense that someone would write a guide to assist in the war against these undead? That's the premise behind "The Vampire Survival Guide" by Scott Bowen, published by Skyhorse Publishing, the company also behind "The Zen of Zombie."

As a pure survival guide, this book covers everything necessary -- how to detect the undead, how to arm and defend yourself, and how to ensure you don't become infected and join their ranks (think of it as collected methodologies in part gleaned from various vampire books and movies). That's only a sampling of what you'll find inside, and such useful knowledge comes with a price. At 260 pages, some content does seem like filler; it could have been a much more enjoyable read at a slimmer 200 pages. It's a light-hearted attempt at a survival guide -- with vampires -- but much of the intended humor falls flat, especially within the sidebars answering practical questions about vampires and vampirism. Still, the additional "vampire fact" sidebars sprinkled throughout, all based on either traditional folklore or "real" vampires of history, help to spice up some of the less interesting chapters.

Written in easily-digestible sections with numerous illustrations, "The Vampire Survival Guide" isn't necessarily a page-turner, but still holds enough interest to start, put down, and then revisit on occasion to read a little more. Perfectly suited as a coffee-table book, or alongside holy water and wooden stakes as part of your vampire hunter's kit. -- Brad Middleton, vampyres.com

This book is funny because it treats the whole thing as seriously. They get a lot of their information about vampires right out of the legends and history, not from the movies. In other words they get most of it right, like when they point out that before the novel Dracula vampires had no problems with crosses and relics. The chapters are full of useful and fun information, like how to tell when somebody is becoming a vampire, what equipment to use, basic tactics for fighting vampires, how to make vampire traps and what supplies to collect.
Add some paranoid theories about the government and the Ronald Reagan robot, a few simple jokes here and there, and it is a must for anybody. Buy it and enjoy!

Im not sure about this only a few people reviewing this book, yet if they really didnt like it i say, why waste time writing a review for a book you disliked and move on with your life. However these few induviduals took time to respond....Is this because they want their opion heard or ARE THEY REALLY VAMPIRES IN DISGUISE!They dont want you to buy this book because they want you to stay unaware, and unsuspecting to their undying thirst for BLOOD, this way your easy to pick off,easy to enjoy..... Dont be tricked.

God! I've never read such an uninformative book in my life! To put it in layman's terms, THIS BOOK SUCKS (pun intended)! I could write a better book than this. Max Brooks would be ashamed at what his legacy has become since he wrote The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead. This book has no value whatsoever other than as a coffee table curiousity, nothing more. Vampires aren't going to take over the world, and none of this stuff is rooted in folklore at all. This is really a compilation of movie materials (a shotgun wouldn't even kill a Vampire unless loaded with silver or blessed buckshot). With very few exceptions, it isn't even funny. Don't waste your money.

The Vampire Survival Guide is brought to you by the same company that put out The Zen of Zombie: Better Living Through the Undead and even has the same attractive look to it with the semi-pliable white cover. In this 'humor' text you are supposed to learn how to deal with the inevitable vampire uprising, how to defend yourself, find shelter, form hunting parties, and kill vampires; taking for granted vampires exist. Unfortunately, the vampires aren't the only things that suck about this book. There's far too much double talk and redundancy of material. Also, for a book found in the Humor section of your bookstore (and it says HUMOR right on the cover) the attempts at comedy are few and far between and just not funny. There was a lot of potential for this book to be quite amusing but basically movie knowledge of vampires are totally swept away. Sidebars throughout the book consist of unfunny Random Questions and the interesting Vampire Facts blurbs about historical references to vampires (which raises the rating to two stars). I wanted to like this book but just couldn't and found it rather boring to read. Zen of the Zombie was far better and this vampire survival guide would have benefitted more if it had been more light hearted like Max Brooks' The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead.

Overall, great looking book with little meat inside. However, since this seems to be a genre series from this company, expect one about werewolves soon.