Review: Snapshot reviews 25

Black Sheep (Icon, 2007)
Stars: Nathan Meister, Danielle Mason, Peter Feeney
Written and directed by Jonathan King
Oddball Kiwi horror/comedy about a wayward genetic engineering experiment on a New Zealand farm that creates a flock of bloodthirsty sheep. King captures the over the top gore and comedy styling of an early Peter Jackson film with blood-drenched attacks, superb creatures (created by Jackson’s Weta Workshop) and eccentric characters. Destined to become a cult “B” grade classic.
Horrorscope rating: four stars

7eventy 5ive (AI, 2007)
Stars: Ruter Hauer, Brian Hooks, Antwon Tanner
Written and directed by Brian Hooks and Deon Taylor
Routine slasher about a group of college seniors picked off by a crazed maniac after a phone prank goes wrong. Offers a few thrills and a B grade 1980s vibe, but suffers from clichéd characters, an unoriginal plot and an obvious twist ending.
Horrorscope rating: Two stars

The Tripper (2007)
Stars: Jason Mewes, Josh Hammond
Written by David Arquett and Joe Harris
Directed by David Arquett
Entertaining slasher about a killer in a Ronald Reagan mask that hunts down hippies at an outdoor music festival. A psychodelic blend of drugs, music and carnage; this plays things straight and offers some genuine thrills despite it’s somewhat clichéd cast (Mewes as a drug addict). A worthy directorial debut from Arquett.
Horrorscope rating: Three stars

Vacancy (2007)
Stars: Luke Wilson, Kate Beckensale.
Written by Mark L. Smith
Directed byNimrod Antal
Tense, gripping thriller about a troubled couple who find themselves the targets for a snuff film at an isolated motel. The effective use of a single setting, a first rate script and top performances by Wilson and Beckensale make this a surprising gem.
Horrorscope rating: Four stars

Nailed (20th Century, 2006)
Stars: Charles Porter, Sam Saprong
Written by Spephen McAnena
Directed by Adrian O'Connell
Slow moving, mediocre psychological horror about a pair of thugs who end up in a decrepit house with a voodoo magic man after a thwarted drug deal. Lacks any tension and only really rambles along until reaching a sub-standard climax. Worth a watch only as a last resort.
Horrorscope rating: one star

Creepshow 3 (21st Century, 2007)
Stars: A.J Bowen, Kris Allen
Written and directed by Ana Clavall and James Glenn Dudelson
The third instalment in the anthology series brings more 50s EC comics style horror stories to the screen. Of the five short films presented only the nasty Rachel the Call Girl and comically gruesome story about a rocket scientists mail order bride are worth a watch. Easily the weakest of the series to date.
Horrorscope rating: Two stars

Snoop Dogg’s Hood of Horrors (Force, 2007)
Stars: Snoop Dogg, Ernie Hudson, Richard Gant
Written by Jacob Hair
Directed by Stacy Title
Snoop Dogg presents a trilogy of urban horror tales in this impressive Tales from the Darkside style series of cautionary tales. Set to a backdrop of gangster rap it offers an abundance of blood and gore for those prepared to look past the clichéd characters and “hood” speak. The second story about a redneck who tries to kill off his Dad’s old army buddies to claim an inheritance is the pick of the bunch, but all three tales have their merits.
Horrorscope rating: three stars

Wind Chill (Sony, 2007)
Stars: Emily Blunt, Ashton Holmes
Written by Joe Gangemi
Directed by Gregory Jacobs
Tense and moody ghost story about a pair of college students who face off against an evil presence when their car is ran off the road during a snow storm. A strong performance by Blunt and a sharpish script make this a fun watch even if it does tread predictable territory.
Horrorscope rating: three stars

News: Australian Dark Fantasy & Horror 2007 edition

Following a hiatus in 2007, Brimstone Press is proud to announce the release of the second volume in its 'year's best' anthology series: Australian Dark Fantasy & Horror 2007 edition, edited by Angela Challis.

ADFH 2007 is a limited edition B-format trade paperback and will only be available for purchase from the Brimstone Press website (click on the Books link) and selected specialty stores in Australia. Pre-orders can be made immediately, with the book expected to ship in mid-January.

As with the first volume, the cover art is by renowned Spanish artist Luis Royo.

The anthology includes the very best horror and dark fantasy stories by Australians published in 2006, including several award-winners and nominees. Stephen Dedman, Margo Lanagan, Terry Dowling, Robert Hood, Simon Brown, and Jay Caselberg are just some of the standout authors collected in this volume. Included in the 2007 edition is an exhaustive overview of Australian horror publishing in 2006 that serves as an introduction to the fiction. The anthology also includes appendices of Australian genre fiction awards and Australian horror resources.

The full table of contents includes:
"Surrender 1: Rope Artist" by Deborah Biancotti
"Tarans" by Simon Brown
"The Sidpa Bardo" by Nathan Burrage
"Empties" by Jay Caselberg
"Finding the Words" by Steven Cavanagh
"The Garden Shed Pact" by Shane Jiraiya Cummings
"Dead of Winter" by Stephen Dedman
"Cheat Light" by Terry Dowling
"The Red Priest's Vigil" by Dirk Flinthart
"Father Father" by Paul Haines
"In the Service of the Flesh" by Robert Hood
"Under Hell, Over Heaven" by Margo Lanagan
"Hieronymus Boche" by Chris Lawson
"Cold" by Kirstyn McDermott
"Pain Threshold" by Jason Nahrung
"The Bat's Boudoir" by Kyla Ward
"Iron Shirt" by Susan Wardle
"Ache" by David Witteveen


Source: Brimstone Press

News: Writers of the Future success for AHWA Member Sonia Helbig

Sonia Helbig's dark science fiction story Crown of Thorns has won 2nd place in the Writers of the Future 2007 4th Quarter competition! Crown of Thorns is a story Sonia developed with mentor Stephen Dedman, as part of the AHWA Mentor program in early 2007.

The L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest is an international competition designed to discover new writers of science fiction and fantasy. Established in 1983 by L. Ron Hubbard expressly for the aspiring writer, Writers of the Future has become the most respected and significant forum for new talent in all aspects of speculative fiction. The Writers of the Future Award has also earned its place alongside the Hugo and Nebula awards in the triad of speculative fiction's most prestigious acknowledgements of literary excellence.

Sonia found the AHWA Mentor program to be a true breakthrough for her writing, as she explains. "I couldn't have done it without Stephen Dedman's feedback and editorial advice and his awesome encouragement. I'd recommend the mentorship program to anyone, and especially Stephen. I've not only learned a lot but now have got something great to show for it. My story will be printed next year and I'll be off to the US for workshops! I'm over the moon!"

For more information on Sonia's win and experience as a mentoree, visit Sonia's livejournal.

Details of the AHWA Mentor Program for 2008 are available at www.australianhorror.com

Source: Marty Young, AHWA President

News: AntipodeanSF #115

Issue 115 of AntipodeanSF is now available for your enjoyment on the web, with the usual mix of flash fiction and reviews.

This month's flash stories are:

• The 32 Paths by Nathan Burrage
• Close Encounter by Richard Pitaniello
• Just Your Type by Joan Malpass
• The Favour by Lynton Haggett
• CRT by Shaun A. Saunders
• The Barbeque Stopper by Simon P. King
• Entropy by David Kernot
• The Boardriders and Windsurfers by Des Rogers
• Good Home Wanted by Matthew Wallace
• Back Memory by Theutes

Meanwhile, in E-Scapes Sue Clennell joins Liz Williams in Bloodmind and ponders the difference between good killers and bad killers. Nuke undergoes a shocking experience with Charlaine Harris in Grave Surprise, and lets Adam Roberts parody the good Doctor in Dr Whom.

Source: Nuke, Editor - AntipodeanSF

News: AHWA Christmas Temptations

The AHWA has a special Christmas give-away to entice more souls into the fire - er, we mean to encourage new people to join...

All new AHWA members approved during December and January will go into the draw to win a 1-year subscription to Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest. There has never been a better time to join!

Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest issue eleven features fiction from Gary A. Braunbeck, Daniel Keohane, Jennifer Pelland, Geoffrey Girard, Stefani Nellen, Samuel Tinianow, and Sara King. In the preceding 10 issues, Apex has published fiction by the like of Gary A Braunbeck, Cherie Priest, William F. Nolan, Tom Piccirilli, Ben Bova, Bryn Sparks, James P. Hogan, and Shane Jiraiya Cummings.

The Australian Horror Writers Association (AHWA) is a non-profit organisation that formed as a way of providing a unified voice and a sense of community for Australian (and NZ) writers of horror/dark fiction, while furthering the development and evolution of this genre within Australia. AHWA aims to become the focal point and first point of reference for Australian writers and fans of the dark side of literature, and to improve the acceptance and understanding of what horror is to a wider audience.

AHWA Membership costs $25 ($15 initial joining fee, $10 annual membership fee). You don't need to live in Australia to apply, but you do need to be an Australian or New Zealand citizens/permanent resident. Full details on how to join can be found here.

Source: Marty Young, AHWA - President

News: International Publisher Backs 2008 Aurealis Awards

Orbit, the science fiction and fantasy imprint of the Little, Brown Book Group, part of Hachette Livre Australia, is backing the success of Australian authors by becoming a major sponsor of the 2008 Aurealis Awards.

Orbit is delighted to support the awards, which recognise the best Australian writers of science fiction, fantasy and horror.

“Hachette is ramping up its support of the local speculative fiction market with the development of the Orbit imprint in Australia,” said Matt Hoy, Little, Brown’s sales and marketing director.

“By partnering with organisations like Fantastic Queensland and the Aurealis Awards we are supporting local talent and highlighting the wonderful writers right here in our own country,” he said.

“Orbit is establishing its place in the Australian speculative fiction community and our support of the Awards is an important part of that.”

“The Aurealis Awards are a major event on the science fiction and fantasy calendar attended by writers, publishers, editors, industry professionals and members of the public from around Australia, and Orbit is proud to be associated with them.”

Fantastic Queensland’s Damon Cavalchini said Orbit’s sponsorship of the Aurealis Awards showed a commitment to the long term future of genre publishing in Australia.

Mr Cavalchini said the Aurealis Awards offer professional development opportunities for writers with the Gala Ceremony followed by a day of workshops and seminars for short-listed authors and others.

“Orbit want to be here for the long haul and by sponsoring events such as the Aurealis Awards they are not only celebrating existing authors but are helping to develop the local industry as well,” he said.

“Orbit’s involvement highlights their commitment to providing dedicated support for Australian writers and their role in offering Australian authors the chance to be published locally.”

Award winners will be announced at the Aurealis Awards Gala Ceremony on Saturday, 26 January 2008 at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts in Queensland.

Anyone interested in attending the Awards’ ceremony next January, should visit the website for further information or to book their place at the event: www.aurealisawards.com.


Source: Nicola Pitt at Little, Brown publicity

News: Voiceworks Call For Submissions

Express Media are seeking submissions for Voiceworks issue #72.

Deadline Sunday 20 January 2007

The theme is HARVEST, but theme isn’t everything. Remember the Voiceworks motto:

• themed work: good
• good work: better
• good themed work: BEST
  

WORD LIMIT
3000

RATES OF PAY
$100 per published article

Further CONTRIBUTOR GUIDELINES can be found at on the How to Submit page on the Express Media website.

AGE LIMIT
Voiceworks receives funding to publish the work of under 25-year-olds.

Email Ryan Paine with any questions, pitches or brilliant ideas.


Source: Ryan Paine – Voiceworks Editor

News: Infinitas Newsletter December 2007

The Infinitas Newsletter - published by Infinitas Bookshop - is now available for December 2007 at www.infinitas.com.au. Peruse for news, new books and book reviews. Readers are invited to join in online discussions at: www.infinitas.com.au/forums

Source: Tim, Infinitas Bookshop

Review: Wild Zero (Japan)

Wild Zero is the high octane, cult rock ’n’ roll horror from Japan’s Takeuchi Tetsuro. Staring punk-rock band Guitar Wolf and Yoshiyuki Morishita (Ring, Kill Bill vol 1) it was first released in Japan in 2000 and is available in Australia for the first time through Madman Entertainment.

Wild Zero is a trashy, over-the-top rock ’n’ roll zombie road movie in the vein of cult production company Troma. While never reaching the glorious horridness and gross out humour that accompanies a Troma release, Wild Zero holds its own charms for fans of the absurd and “so bad it’s cool” brand of filmmaking.

Starring cult Japanese punk band Guitar Wolf it tells the story of Ace, an obsessed rock fan who together with his musical heroes must fight off an alien invasion that turns people into flesh-eating zombies. Told with a silly, over-the-top brand of humour and a nonsensical plot, the film plays out like an extended rock film clip inter-cutting wild, zombie attacks with electric concert performances by the band. Off stage the member’s performances are wooden at best - suggesting their casting was based on a way to secure a cheap punk soundtrack more than a talented cast - but their emotionless acting works as a perfect counter balance for the over-the-top nature of the supporting cast.

Story wise, the film cuts between too many points of view, randomly introducing a series of characters before - in some cases - killing them off in the very next scene, but it has a wacky kind of appeal that keeps you watching even though you know you probably shouldn’t.

Wild Zero defines the notion cult following and is a film that will leave viewers divided. Many will wonder why they even bothered, but those who cut it a little slack and appreciate it for what it is (a no apologies, rock-driven gore fest) will be completely sucked in by every morsal of its trashy goodness.

The DVD release includes a drinking game, music video, the original theatrical trailer and a stills gallery.

News: King and Koontz

On the Borders Bookstore website, they invite various Authors, Musicians, and Movie Makers (basically artists in all respects) to share a list of personal favorite books, music, movies and other forms of creativity. We thought you might enjoy being privy to what two of the worlds most popular horror novelists came up with:

Stephen King and Dean Koontz

Source: Hellnotes

News: ACT Writing and Publishing Awards & ACT Writers' Centre’s Annual Christmas Party

All members and friends of the ACT Writers' Centre - and entrants in the writing awards - are invited to the announcement by the Chief Minister, Mr John Stanhope, of the ACT Writing and Publishing Awards. The event doubles as the ACT Writers' Centre’s Annual Christmas Party.

	Thursday, December 13, 2007
	5:30pm - 8:00pm
	Bogong Theatre at Gorman House
	Ainslie Ave, Braddon
	Canberra, Australia

Refreshments and wines from Mount Majura Vineyard will be supplied.

After the party at 7pm, you are welcome to stay for Hal Judge's multi-media book launch of Someone Forgot to Tell the Fish plus DJ Mario Gordon.

Source: ACT Writers' Centre

News: Orbit & Queensland Writers' Centre Announce New Manuscript Development Program

Have you got a half-finished manuscript tucked away in a drawer? Or perhaps you've written the next paramormal romance set to rival Laurell K. Hamilton? Well finish them and dust them off, because there is an amazing opportunity coming your way!

Now that Orbit, one of the leading publishers of SF, has set up camp in Australia (as an imprint of Hachette Livre Australia) they are looking for talented writers of speculative fiction. To unearth these unknowns Orbit, in conjunction with the Queensland Writers' Centre, is announcing an exciting new manuscript development program. Ten people from around Australia will be given the opportunity to take part in a 5 day writers' retreat with industry professionals.

The application details are available as a PDF download - so click away and then get writing!


Source: Nicola Pitt, Publicist - Little, Brown & Orbit - Hachette Livre Australia

News: 'Wake In Fright' Showing At Screen Sect

To round out the year, Screen Sect have a VERY EXCITING treat, in the form of this rarely-seen classic of Australian cinema - Wake In Fright. Directed by Ted Kotcheff (whose eclectic CV includes First Blood and Weekend At Bernie’s), this is the story of a mild-mannered schoolteacher who arrives in the outback town of Bundanyabba, and runs afoul of the local brand of ‘hospitality’.

Regarded as one of the greatest Australian films ever made, Wake In Fright is akin to a home-grown Deliverance.

WAKE IN FRIGHT (1971)

Directed by Ted Kotcheff

	Monday, December 17, 2007
	7:00pm - 10:00pm
	Bar Open (Upstairs)
	317 Brunswick Street
	Fitzroy, VIC, Australia

Source: Adam Kyle Spellicy

News: Focus On Asia & Dario Argento At ACME

The latest talent to emerge from Italy's famous filmmaking family, discover the work of actor, director and international 'It Girl' Asia Argento, screening alongside signature classics by her horror maestro father.

Fri 7 - Sun 16 December 2007

Full $13 Concession $10
Six Session Pass: $60 Full $48 Concession

Curated by Roberta Ciabarra. Read the program notes.

Listen to Julie Rigg's interview with Asia Argento on Radio National.

Extensive details of the full program are available online at the ACME website.

Source: Australian Centre For The Moving Image

News: Murky Depths #2

Murky Depths: The Quarterly Anthology of Graphically Dark Speculative Fiction Issue #2, has just been released.

Although MD's mix of horror and sci-fi isn't unique, the blend of illustrated prose and comic strips are. With high production values, first impressions are of a graphic novel, but it is packed with short stories, poems, strips, and articles. Imagine! FX magazine described it as "a new book-cum-magazine with echoes of the great 1950s US horror and sci-fi comics."

Murky Depths is certainly leading the field in this genre-crossover, and is sticking a finger up at the established book and magazine categories of the publishing world's distribution companies. They're plain flummoxed!

You can find out more about Murky Depths at their website, where you can order your copy now.


Source: Terry Martin, Publishing Editor/Art Director

Review: Hunters Moon – David Devereux

Hunters Moon is the debut novel from UK author David Devereux and is published through London imprint Gollanncz. In his day job Devereux works as a senior field officer for the paranormal protection and consulting agency Athandor. So it’s no surprise that his novel follows similar themes.

Hunters Moon is the fresh, fast-paced paranormal spy novel from UK author David Devereux. Following the line of his real life occupation as a excorcist for a paranormal protection agency, the book follows the story of Jack – a highly trained magician and hit man for a top secret British intelligence agency designed to protect the country from supernatural threats. When the agency learns of a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister from a coven of sex-driven witches, it is up to Jack, along with his rookie partner to infiltrate and stop the group.

Written with an obvious passion and an infectious energy, Hunters Moon reads like a supernatural James Bond novel. The character Jack, while obviously much more cynical and malicious in his ways, maintains a certain air of confident charm displayed by the 007 agent and the plot – though magical in tone – carries the fast past twists and turns of a well-developed spy thriller.

The supernatural elements – present through various, detailed sex rites and sudden bursts of gruesome violence – give the story a unique edge, but it is the spy element and the wonderfully crafted character of Jack that keep you hooked till the final page.

Devereux shows some common first time author errors; loading his flashbacks and conversations full of unnecessary exposition, and taking too much time tying up loose ends once the climax is reached; but it is exciting action sequences and the fondness we develop for Jack that make us want to continue on when he receives his next assignment.

Hunters Moon serves as a good introduction to what could easily become a successful and rewarding supernatural spy series with plenty of scope to delve further into the paranormal elements. I guess now only book sales will tell us whether we get to see where that next red envelope will lead.

News: A Night of Horror - Tonight!

Tonight (Saturday, December 1), 8:30pm at the Chauvel Cinema Paddington, A Night of Horror is programming a special screening that you definitely do not want to miss!

Thanks to the good folks at Possible Worlds (Sydney’s Canadian Film Festival), A Night of Horror are able to bring to you the most terrifying short horror films coming out of Canada today. And, put quite simply, you are never going to get the opportunity see these films in cinemas anywhere else in Australia!

Also, for your ticket price - (Full-price: $15.50 | concession: $12.50 | seniors/pensioners: $9.00) - you get entry into the Zombie Ball after party, immediately following the screening. This includes free alchohol, snacks, costume and trivia prizes (including bucket loads of Masters of Horror II box sets and other new horror releases thanks to our good friends at Starz Home Entertainment), and a couple of fantastic DJs spinning scary tunes all night!

Remember that Canada is the land that gave us David Cronenberg (one of the greatest genre directors period) as well as a cornocopia of classic horror films, including, among dozens of others, Black Christmas, Prom Night, The Changeling, and Ginger Snaps. It also spawned Rue Morgue magazine, arguably the most insightful and worthwhile horror magazine being published on the planet today. For whatever reason, Canadians just seem to have an original insight into horror, and this line-up of short films comes from some of the future masters of the genre. Indeed, discovering some of these filmmakers is akin to seeing a Cronenberg film for the first time. Yes, they are that good.

Show your support for Sydney’s Canadian Film Festival by coming to this special event: its organisers have gone out of their way to facilitate this screening (they even gave these films the festival’s top play spot: 8:30pm on a Saturday night)! In the realm of mainstream festivals (ie. non-underground, and non-genre specific fests) this is almost unheard of. So come along: support horror, support the people who support horror, and not only will you have a fantastic cinema experience you’ll also be encouraging a thriving screen culture that plays the sort of films that horror fans love.

Tickets on sale now, online at: www.chauvelcinema.net.au

Or in person tonight at the Chauvel box-office. The Chauvel is located in Paddington, on the corner of Oxford Street and Oatley Road.

To see the full line-up of films visit: www.anightofhorror.com/canada.htm

Source: Dean Bertram