Image Entertainment recently announced the upcoming Blu-Ray release of "Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy". The film features exclusive interviews with over 100 key cast and crew from every Nightmare, including creator Wes Craven and Robert Englund (“Freddy Krueger”).

Special Features on the Blu-Ray includes, Extended Interviews, First Look: Heather Langenkamp's "I Am Nancy", For the Love of the Glove, Fred Heads: The Ultimate Freddy Fans, Horror's Hallowed Grounds: Return to Elm Street, Freddy vs. The Angry Video Game Nerd, Expanding the Video Game Universe: Freddy in Comic Books and Novels, The Music of the Nightmare: Conversations with Composers and Songwriters, Elm Street's Poster Boy: The Art of Matthew Joseph Peak, A Nightmare on Elm Street in 10 Minutes and Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy Teaser Trailer. "Nightmare on Elm Street" "Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy" hits blu-ray on 1/21/2014.

Press Release:

Image Entertainment, an RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE) brand, announces Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy,a “shockumentary” highlighting the horrifying history of Freddy Krueger, on Blu-ray for the very first time.

Featuring exclusive interviews with over 100 key cast and crew from every Nightmare, including creator Wes Craven and Robert Englund (“Freddy Krueger”), Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy will be available as a 2-Disc Collector’s Edition Blu-ray January 21, 2014 for an SRP of $29.98.

Murderer. Dream Demon. The bastard son of a hundred maniacs. Any way you slice it, there can only be one man – one monster – who epitomizes those words: Freddy Krueger. For decades, he has slashed his way through the dreams of countless youngsters and shows no signs of ever resting in peace. A Nightmare on Elm Street star Heather Langenkamp is your dream guide in this thrilling “shockumentary” that takes you deeper into Freddy’s realm than ever before, featuring exciting clips, never-before-seen photos, behind-the-scenes footage, conceptual art, publicity materials and exclusive interviews with over 100 key cast and crew from every Nightmare, including Wes Craven, Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Jack Sholder, Mark Patton, Kim Myers, Chuck Russell, Jennifer Rubin, Renny Harlin, Lisa Wilcox, Tuesday Knight, Stephen Hopkins, Kelly Jo Minter, Rachel Talalay, Lisa Zane, Alice Cooper, Patrick Lussier, Miko Hughes, Monica Keena, Brendan Fletcher, Ronny Yu and many more. So get ready for Freddy in the definitive account of modern cinema’s eternal bogeyman and what has been called the most frightening and imaginative horror franchise in motion picture history!

Numerous Special Features Also Included

· Extended Interviews

· First Look: Heather Langenkamp's "I Am Nancy"

· For the Love of the Glove

· Fred Heads: The Ultimate Freddy Fans

· Horror's Hallowed Grounds: Return to Elm Street

· Freddy vs. The Angry Video Game Nerd

· Expanding the Video Game Universe: Freddy in Comic Books and Novels

· The Music of the Nightmare: Conversations with Composers and Songwriters

· Elm Street's Poster Boy: The Art of Matthew Joseph Peak

· A Nightmare on Elm Street in 10 Minutes

· Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy Teaser Trailer

Level 33 Entertainment recently send us over information for their upcoming DVD release of "The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue". The film is an official selection of 18 International Film Festivals and winner of the “Best Horror Comedy” Award at the Chicago Horror Film Festival. The upcoming film also features appearances from Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street) and Tim Kazurinsky (“Saturday Night Live”). "The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue hits DVD and VOD on 9/10.

Press Release:

Level 33 Entertainment is excited to announce the release of the award-winning horror/comedy feature film THE MOLE MAN OF BELMONT AVENUE. An official selection of 18 International Film Festivals and winner of the “Best Horror Comedy” Award at the Chicago Horror Film Festival, THE MOLE MAN OF BELMONT AVENUE will have a multi-platform release on September 10th including DVD and Digital VOD platforms including iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, PlayStation and XBOX available for rental (check platforms for pricing) or purchase at an SRP of $14.99.

Written and directed by Mike Bradecich and John LaFlamboy, THE MOLE MAN OF BELMONT AVENUE was shot on location in Chicago, IL. Starring Bradecich and LaFlamboy as the Mugg Brothers and featuring supporting performances by Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street) and Tim Kazurinsky (“Saturday Night Live”), MOLE MAN is a movie that Fangoria Magazine has called “…the perfect comedy horror (film).”

Two years ago, the Mugg Brothers, who have never worked a day in their lives, inherited a brownstone apartment building. In that short time, their slacker ways have run the building into the ground. Tenants are moving out, no one drinks at the bar downstairs, and the building's pets are going missing. If all that isn't enough to make them sit up and take notice, they soon discover a mysterious creature is hiding in the basement and trying to eat every living thing in the building one by one!

The Woodhaven Production Company recently send us over information that "Inkubus" has been picked up for distribution. Screen Media Film has picked up the rights to the film and plan on releasing to the film to VOD and DVD sometime in the first quarter in 2012. Don't forget that "Inkubus" will have a limited theatrical release starting on October 28th in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, and California.

For more information on this film, you can visit The Woodhaven Production Company at:http://www.woodhavenfilms.com.

Press Release:

The Woodhaven Production Company announced today that Screen Media Films has acquired U.S. and Canadian rights to Chad A. Verdi's horror film Inkubus. The film will be theatrically released on October 28, 2011 and then distributed on VOD and ancillary first quarter 2012.

Inkubus, which tells the story of a skeleton crew working the final shift of a closing police station, was penned by Carl Dupre of Hellraiser: Hellseeker and Hellraiser: Hellworld, and Glenn Ciano (Infected) who also directed Inkubus. In the film, the night takes a gruesome turn when a demon named Inkubus (Robert Englund) calmly walks in with the severed head of a murdered girl. He allows himself to be restrained and begins to confess his litany of crimes, but it soon becomes clear he has only come to the station to spill more blood. The officers unlucky enough to be present are fated to participate in and witness Inkubus' crowning achievement of murder and mayhem.

The deal was brokered with Kevin Iwashina of Preferred Content, Suzanne Blech, President, Screen Media Films and David T. Fannon, Executive Vice President, Screen Media Ventures.

Producer and CEO of The Woodhaven Production Company Chad A. Verdi stated, "I am very pleased that my film is in the hands of such a high quality company like SMF; they are the real deal and know how to deliver a film to the marketplace. Inkubus now has the opportunity to be seen by millions of people through the SMF Video On Demand Program." Verdi went on to say, "We are all very proud of this film. Being able to get a theatrical release and seeing Inkubus on the big screen is truly mind blowing."

Blech stated, "We look forward to working with Chad Verdi and his team in bringing one of the horror greatest icons of all time, Mr. Robert Englund, back in a franchise-ready story."

Inkubus will be released into theaters on October 28, 2011 throughout the country, with locations in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, and California. For theater information and a showing near you, please visit our website at:http://www.woodhavenfilms.com.

Welcome to The Independent Film Corner. Jay Lee is a director and writer from California. He is an up and coming horror director, who burst on to the horror scene in 2006 with the very entertaining horror film, “The Slaughter” which was a hit on the festival circuit. Today, he’s here to talk about his latest horror film “Zombie Strippers!” which stars Adult film star Jenna Jamerson and horror legend, Robert Englund.

Tell my readers about yourself and what made you want to go into directing?

Well, I am one of those rare oddities in Los Angeles – a native. My parents were novelists so I grew up in a very creative atmosphere. When I was very young my mother took me to see a re-release of Fantasia in the theaters, for the dinosaurs. I remember holding a red ticket stub in my hand. The things I saw that day blew me away, the colors, the motion, the stories, for two hours NOTHING was impossible. After the movie my hand was red – the ticket stub had dissolved in my palm. From that point on, which was pretty much my whole life, all I ever wanted to do was make movies.

I was going through the official website and imdb.com, when researching for this interview, I noticed that your sister, Angela Lee is the producer for this film. Give me a perspective of what it's like to work with a family member on set?

She’s my older sister, and the good thing is she supports me as if I were a little brother, being that I am. There’s also no issue of trust or backstabbing or personality conflicts that I have seen split companies apart, we’ve gone through that already at home as kids. The bad thing is that she’s my older sister, so if I don’t do what she tells me she’ll beat me up.

Tell my readers about your latest film, Zombie Strippers!, and how came up with the film's unique title?

We were making “The Slaughter” which we were catering towards being a shamelessly marketable horror film, hitting all the clichés and stereotypes. So I made a joke “at least we’re not making something like Zombie Strippers.” I got a laugh. But then it hit me like a ton of bricks – why not make Zombie Strippers? The title sells itself, it would be fun, and being that absurd and low-brow we could hide a fair amount of social commentary like we used to in our non-horror films. So I based the script on classic French absurdist literature, specifically Ionesco’s Rhinoceros which is a commentary on the dangers of conformity, something I find strikingly relevant right now, but coated it with enough zombies, gore, nudity and humor to make it more than anything just a good time.

I noticed, in your first film "The Slaughter" (which is available on Lionsgate) that the film went for more of a straight horror approach, in scare value. What made you want to go, the grindhouse route, for this film?

Actually there’s been a big misunderstanding. “The Slaughter” was made to be more or less a campy tongue in cheek parody of “bad horror movies.” We DO like to think of it as a comedy, just done straight up with a good dose of suspense, eeriness and horror with respect to the genre. When the film was advertised at the film festivals as a comedy we did very well, great audience response, we even won a few awards. When Lionsgate marketed the film as straight horror the film didn’t go over so well. People thought it was a bad movie, when it is, just an intentional parody of bad horror movies. Zombie Strippers was geared to fix some of that misunderstanding by making sure NO ONE could mistake this film as a serious film. Funny thing was that of all people who did take it too seriously were our producing partners and the studio who at one point had their own cut of the film trying to make it a “kick-ass zombie movie.” It didn’t work. So the grindhouse tone was more or less restored, some of the humor and political commentary put back (but not all) and now it’s the movie it is today.

One of the things that is done very effectively, you takes shots at the current President of the United States and the religious right, to name a few. What made you want to focus on those elements in the film's subplots?

I just very much would like to make relevant films, films with a message, challenging films, offensive films to shake things up and maybe some day important films. I try to put some subtext in everything I do. The political and social commentary of Zombie Strippers was instrumental in conceiving the film.

The film features a very good cast that horror fans will love, including adult-film superstar Jenna Jameson and Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street). How did both Jameson and Englund agree to be aboard on the project and what was it like to work with each of them?

Well, with Jenna it was Angela who somehow got the script to her. Jenna read it, saw three things she wanted to do - horror, comedy and a political statement. So she agreed to do the film. Then when we had “Zombie Strippers!” starring Jenna Jameson Sony saw the dollar signs and picked up the project. It was then we went out to horror icons for the Ian role. Our stunt coordinator had just worked with Robert and got the script to him on a personal level, and shortly after he was on board too. Both are total pros. They were there to get the job done and not make any problems doing it. They were behind the project 100% and gave it their all. Robert is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. He spent many days sitting with the other actors and extras regaling them with tales. Both Robert and Jenna didn’t need much direction at all, being who they are, but they were always very open and respectful whenever I did have direction for them. It was a joy to work with both of them.

What is your favorite Jenna Jameson and Robert Englund story on the set?

With Jenna it was the day we shot her big dance number. She didn’t want to choreograph anything and we just talked about something that needed to be mindboggling sexy yet twisted and unnerving. So we just set up two cameras and let her do her thing. She improvised her dance three times. Most of the people in the room had never seen anything like that in their lives before, including me. She was graceful, horrifying, unnerving and sexy as hell. For me I’m sure it was something akin to George Lucas hearing the Star Wars theme for the first time. I knew no matter how bad I screwed the rest of the film up we had a hit on our hands. My favorite Robert story was the last shot we did of him for the film was at the end of one of our longest nights, it was probably pushin 4 A.M., everyone was tired and grumpy, and Robert had to do a face-slide through Blavatski’s blown-up remains. 2 takes of Robert diving and sliding face first in guts across a hard stage. He then stood up covered in blood and latex and said “What, and quit show business?” And he was wrapped him for the film. But that was Robert in a nutshell, positive and nothing but support. Thanks, Robert. You’re the best.

Also, most of the cast who are in this film, including Jessica Custodio, Penny Drake, and Carmit Levite, to name a few were also in your first feature film, "The Slaughter". When casting this film, what made you want to use, most of these actors again, for this project?

They paid me cash. Not really. “The Slaughter” was a no-budget film and the cast busted their ass for free to make that film happen. We used “The Slaughter” as a calling card to get “Zombie Strippers” off the ground, so not only was it just the right thing to do to bring everyone with us, we actually wanted to. We’ve stayed very close friends with that group of very talented people and will work with them again and again.

You also did the film's cinematography, along with the writing and directing of this film. Why did you do your own cinematography and what made you want to use a music video style approach, when shooting the film?

I shot the film myself mainly because I’m cheap. Seriously. Personally I love doing it. So I did it for cheap. Free, you might say. It also saves a lot of time for me not having to explain what I need to another DP, and on a shoot as fast and furious as Zombie Strippers was that helped get a lot more accomplished. I think you could say some of the dance sequences came off music video style, each dance was stylized visually and conceptually to match the characters. Roxy Saint’s dance was very music video because she’s a rock n roll star, and the style fit her character best.

Zombie Strippers! was released back in March theatrically in limited release and video on demand from Columbia Pictures and Stage 6 Entertainment. Tell me how Columbia Picture became involved in your project to the point that they decided to give the film a limited release and what was the mood over at your production company Scream HQ, when you and team heard the news that they were giving the film, a limited release?

Sony Pictures paid for the film, and ultimately owns it. During the time of going back and forth with my and the studio’s cuts of the film we screened the versions a few times at the studio. There were many at the studio very eager to see the film and would sit in the screenings. Someone from marketing must have been in one of those screenings and saw the potential for the film. We were all ready for a straight to DVD release, had recorded the commentary and everything, when we got the word of the theatrical release. We were stunned, then crazy with excitement, then quickly overwhelmed by the hype and pressure. But all in all it was an amazing experience.

Tell my readers about the DVD extras that my readers can expect when it hits stores, on October 28th.

The Unrated DVD has more gore than the theatrical release. I was able to include extended versions of many of the scenes, mainly containing more humor and political satire, and a couple deleted scenes. I think the film makes more sense with those available. There are two making of videos, one about the film, the other about the make-up. There’s a commentary by myself, Robert, Jenna and comedian Joey Median who plays Paco. Since the film was inspired by and parodies a lot of French existentialism, the Blu-Ray has a trivia track where those references will be pointed out. But for all who watched the film on TV the DVD will be the wide-screen 2:35 aspect ratio, make sure you take a look at it the way it was intended to be, it looks MUCH better.

After having the dishonor of watching horror remakes, such as, "The Eye" and "One Missed Call" (aka, One and a half Missed Hours of my life. Had to throw that punchline in there, since it's true). Your film was a refreshing relief to all that dreadful crap, as I had fun watching this film. What is your opinion of the horror genre, as the endless remakes that seem likely to continue?

Well, the thing about the re-make is it’s all about the business. Some call it “built in audience,” some “laziness,” some “lack of creativity.” But the fact of the matter is is the studios are run by accountants now, so the numbers are what matters, be it a remake of Halloween or Get Smart. Now all that is good for the film industry, films need to make money. But more often than not a purely business venture can loose the creative and artistic venture of the original film. That is not always the case as there has been some re-makes I’ve actually really liked. Well… two, to be exact. I am very happy you liked my film. But I’m hoping that that’s a reflection on me as a filmmaker, and if I was to do a remake I’d do just as good a job. Hopefully.

Are there any current projects that you're working that you want to share with my readers?

Right now we’re developing a serious horror film with Roxy Saint, who played Lilith in Zombie Strippers. We have a slate of films ready to go, more horror-comedy and more straight-up horror, and as soon as this actor’s strike is resolved hopefully we’ll hit the ground running. You can keep updated at screamHQ.com if you like.

Is there any advice that you would give to any director, looking to make his/her own film?

Yes. Do it yourself. Just get whatever you can together and make the damn movie yourself. But then remember the days of being discovered overnight are on hiatus right now. So individual films are stepping stones towards a career. It may take a few. You may not make a whole lot of money, if any, for a while. But don’t give up, just keep making them, and punch your way through this wall of marketing and catalogs and accounting that is the film industry today. Someone will notice you and your work.

Mr. Lee, I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk about your recent film "Zombie Strippers!", which hits DVD stores tomorrow, from Columbia Pictures.

You can read my review of Zombie Strippers at: http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/06/reviews-from-horror-chamber-diary-of.html

On the next edition of The independent Film Corner, I will be talking to an up and coming scream queen in the independent horror film scene, Elske McCain.

Until then, my name is Anthony Thurber. Have a good day.

Welcome to Reviews from the Horror Chamber. I am your chamber keeper, Anthony Thurber. Love to rant, but I have three big movies this week to review, so on to the reviews.


Diary of the Dead
Director: George A. Romero
Stars: Joshua Close, Michelle Morgan, Scott Wentworth
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Dimension Extreme
Running Time: 95 Mins
Review Rating: 5 Stars
Official Website: http://www.myspace.com/diaryofthedead

Diary of the Dead is the latest film in the zombie saga from director George Romero. The film is about a group of filmmakers who are shooting a student film in the middle of the woods. Everything is going fine until they hear the news that there are zombies are terrorizing people everywhere to the point that nowhere is safe. The director of the student film starts to become obsessed with documenting all the events that are taking place. Along with his crew, they try find a place of safety, as the zombies have returned to walk the earth and it’s all there to be documented.

After watching this film, I can clearly say that one of the true masters of horror is back and better than ever. This film also serves proof that if you let your director that can direct without any interference, the product of the film will be great, like this film.

Diary of the Dead is truly one of the year’s best films both horror wise and in general this year. Writer/Director George A. Romero truly directed a cult classic here. One of the things that I personally liked about this was the fact he focused on a lot of things with the current events going on today and integrating it into the story. His direction was great. I liked how Romero uses different types of filming methods like the hand held cams, surveillance footage, and fake news footage to describe and to capture the action on film. It helps the plot of a story that you’ve seen before become original, all of a sudden. His direction of the actors was very good. Romero makes sure that his actors come off as frighten and scared in front of the camera. It helps add to the hysteria that is taking place around them. Also, Romero was also good in the tone in which the narration dialogue was delivered. It helps add to the gloom and doom atmosphere that this movie is projecting. The lead performance from Michelle Morgan was very good. Her performance comes off like Sara Connor like, especially in the narration of the film.

Romero’s screenplay focuses on the various issues that help bring the darkness to this film. He does a great job integrating the issues that haunt this country today. Romero covers everything from Katrina, the media and everyone’s obsession of documenting everything on camera and then posting themselves on the Internet like on youtube and myspace. Also, he takes shots on George Bush and Texas alike, as one of the characters in the film is from that state. While amidst on trying to focus these issues, he also does a good job developing the filmmaker’s obsession with trying to get everything on film. Romero’s shows how his obsession is losing touch with his girlfriend and his friends through out the film, as the project has taken over his life to the point he’s just a passer by who stops and observers the chaos. Also, I liked how the story is told through the character’ filmmaker’s girlfriend instead of the filmmaker. It brings another person’s view to the events that were occurring in the film and it makes the view of the film compelling.

Diary of the Dead is truly a cult classic that can be added into the legacy of one of the greatest horror filmmakers ever, George A. Romero.

One Missed Call
Year: 2008
Director: Eric Valette
Stars: Shannyn Sossamon, Edward Burns, Megan Good
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Studio: Warner Brothers
Running Time: 87 Mins
Review Rating: Zero Stars

(Please take this Review as a Public Service Announcement)

Well, I gave you’ people a list of films to choose from, in which I would review the winning film. Here are the results, in last place with no votes is the remake to April Fools Day (thankfully I’m glad, because that was probably going to suck anyway). In fourth was Teeth with one vote. There was a tie for second as both Botched (which I’ll review next week and Zombie Strippers (which is in this edition as I couldn’t turn down a film with that title) received two votes. So that means you guys have chosen and decided to torture me with One Missed Call as the film that received the most votes with three.

One Missed Call is a remake of 2003 Japanese film called Chakushin Ari. The film is about several teens that are starting to receive mysterious phone calls from a mysterious source. In these phone calls, the calls themselves include some mysterious details that include the date, time, and the details in the way they die. A psychology student (Shannyn Sossamon) and a detective (Edward Burns (yes that Edward Burns that burst on to the scene with the Brother’s McMullen)) must find out the causes of these strange deaths as one of them has received that mysterious phone call that might put both of their lives in jeopardy.

First off, I would like to know the three people who asked for me to review the film, so that I could ask them if they wanted me to review it so I could rip it up to shreds. Because if that's what you wanted me to do, then you got it. One Missed Call should be One and a Half Missed Hours of My Life because this film has no logic and is un-releasable. This film is one of the WORST FILMS IN THE HISTORY OF MODERN CINEMA and it’s also the first to receive the dreaded Zero Stars. Director Eric Valette should have his fucking head examined because according to the film’s trivia on IMDB.com he has never seen the original and had instructed the film’s cast not to see it either. Hello, this is a remake; the original is supposed to be used as a tool so it can help the actors in their preparation. His direction of the actors was horrible as the actors made their character uninteresting and very boring and yes that’s on the director. So fuck you Eric Valette for directing a piece of shit. Also why the fuck is Edward Burns doing in this film. Isn’t there any other independent projects that he could act or direct instead of doing this piece of shit. For fuck sakes, you were in such high profile movies like 15 Minutes and recently in 27 Dresses. Why are you associated with this film?

The screenplay is even worse. I have five words for the writer Andrew Kalan’s screenplay for this piece of crap. Dreadfully Awful and Worst Screenplay EVER. This is the guy that wrote the screenplay to A Shock to the System back in 1990 and wrote the books Don’t Say A Word and True Crime? Hello, did you forget to write a coherent story because there is none here, without an attempt to write one. Kalan also doesn’t spend time getting to know any of the characters, as once you get to meet them they end up getting killed off five minutes later. He also neglects spending any time trying to develop a backstory, as he only spends and I quote “one minute on the backstory before he has kill off his first character two minutes later that’s just there to get killed off." And Mr. Kalan your film had no suspense what so ever, as all the character deaths were unsuspenseful and very predictable. Before I end this fucking review, I just want to say that the last ten minutes of the film is the worst ending to a horror film ever. It was very anti-climactic and very boring. So fuck you Andrew Kalan for writing this piece of crap.

Before I end this review Eric Valette and Andrew Kalan, you guys both owe me $3.99, the price of the on-demand rental, because I should be refunded for watching this trash. You can contact me at anthonythurber@filmarcade.net. Please pay me and I hope to never see you two near a film again because One Missed Call is one of the worst films of all time. It’s simply just fucking piece of un-releasable crap. [Editor's note: Which explains why it was the first film released in 2008, eh?]

Zombie Strippers
Year: 2008

Director: Jay Lee

Stars: Robert Englund, Jenna Jamerson, Roxy Saint

MPAA Rating: R

Studio: Sony Pictures / Scream HQ

Running Time: 94 Mins

Review Rating: 5 Stars
Official Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/zombiestrippers

Yes, I’m not kidding. There is actually a movie that was just recently released in theaters and currently playing On Demand with the title and I quote Zombie Strippers! It’s the follow-up film from director Jay Lee, who directed The Slaughter (which I recommend, you check from Lionsgate) back in 2006. The film takes place in the not so distant future where a virus gets released into an ultra-conservative state, where the town’s underground strip club is run by a slimy owner (Robert Engund). Soon the virus starts spreading into his strip club where it turns the beautiful women into super zombie stripers. Soon the women and the employees, who work at the strip-club must try and fend off these zombies before they end up getting infected and joining these super zombie strippers (sorry about that, had to say one time). Hopefully this film will be better than I tried to make it, in the plot synopsis. Oh, by the way Adult Film superstar Jenna Jamerson co-headlines this film with Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Behind the Mask).

Check your brain at the door because Zombie Strippers is great grindhouse fun. This is one of those films that I had very little interest going, but enjoyed this film for what it was worth Writer/ Director Jay Lee does it again, as this was very fun to watch. He does a great job with the direction and the screenplay, as they were both were very good. Lee does a good job keeping the action moving with good special effects and good camera movement. The acting is this was good considering the material here, as this felt like one of those exploitation horror films with humor added in.

The screenplay was very good here. Lee does a great job spoofing the current political climate here, as it takes shots at a lot of thing including the current president, corporate greed and the stupidity of our government. He added some very surprising good humor, as they were funny and helped make this film fun. Also, the thing that surprised me most was film. I was actually a little surprised that happened because it the fact; Lee spends developing the story before the fun and cheesiness kicks into this showed me that amidst the fun that goes with grindhouse films like these, you still can develop an effective story because it was at least a good fifteen minutes or more before we actually get into the strip club.

I hope there’s an unrated version for this film, as Zombie Strippers will make want to hang out with these girls, as it blood curling effects and hot luscious babes.

If you’re a filmmaker and interested in having your horror film reviewed in the horror chamber, you can reach the Chamber Keeper himself at horrorchamber@filmarcade.net or if you have any film in any genres that you want Film Arcade to review, send us an email at screeners@filmarcade.net.

Also, don’t forget to add the official myspace home of Reviews From the Horror Chamber at http://www.myspace.com/reviewsfromthehorchamber.

I’ll be back next Sunday with a new edition containing my reviews of Botched and Timber Falls. Until then, have a frightening day.

DIRECTED BY

Rachel Talaly

STARRING

Robert Englund - Freddy Krueger

Lisa Zane - Maggie Burroughs

Shon Gleenblatt - John Doe

Lezlie Deane - Tracy

Yaphet Kotto - Doc

Breckin Meyer - Spencer

Ricky Dean Logan - Carlos

0.5 Howls Outta 4

Don't ever believe the word "Final" is a horror movie's title. The word is not in a horror franchise's vocabulary and should not be taken seriously. You can't kill off a horror icon, no matter how hard you try. Jason Voorhees had two "Final" films. Michael Myers died more times than I can count. And Freddy Krueger had his chance in DREAM WARRIORS, but was unfortunately resurrected in order to star in three films that only tarnished his legend rather than make it shine brighter.

While THE DREAM MASTER was a huge success, it turned the once-scary Freddy into a comic one-liner machine. While people enjoyed that for a while, Freddy got overexposed and lost his lustre. That was no more evident in the box office failure that was THE DREAM CHILD. Freddy lost his appeal, as he was no longer cool or scary anymore. New Line, knowing that the cow they were milking was drying up, decided to finally get rid of Freddy once and for all. You'd think they would have enough respect to ask Wes Craven to come back and let him finish his creation once and for all.

BZZZZZZZZZ!!! WRONG ANSWER!!

Instead, New Line hired the NIGHTMARE's franchise production manager to direct the film and screenwriters that probably couldn't even pen a 22-minute POWER RANGERS episode to end the franchise by closing the Krueger mythos. And that's how FREDDY'S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE was born. As far as I'm concerned, this is the one time where an abortion would have been greatly appreciated.

PLOT

Apparently, Freddy Krueger murdered all the Springwood children within 10 years [it's actually 18, but who's counting?] but one (Shon Gleenblatt). This teenager is on a plane trying to escape Springwood, but ends up falling asleep and getting sucked out of the plane. He wakes up at his house, only to look out the window and see Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) flying on a broom dressed like the Wicked Witch of the West and even spouting lines like her. Freddy somehow manages to teleport this kid into a horrible neighborhood so he can bring more souls to him. The kid wakes up with amnesia and is taken to a teen shelter.

He meets his psychiatrist Maggie (Lisa Zane), who tries to help the cleverly named "John Doe" [note sarcasm], realizing that they both share the same dream about some water tower. Maggie decides to take John Doe to Springwood, along with three other teenagers who were hiding in the back seat of their van, since she realizes that's where the water tower is. They end up stranded at a fair where only crazy adults [and Tom Arnold and Roseanne Barr] are having fun. Maggie takes John Doe around Springfield, realizing that Freddy had a child that was taken away from him, becoming the catalyst for the Springwood Murders that Freddy fried like bacon on a Saturday morning. While they do that, the other teenagers end up at an abandoned house that happens to be the same house Nancy Thompson used to live in. The two male teens (Breckin Meyer and Ricky Dean Logan) fall asleep and succumb to Freddy in two of the idiotic dreams ever.

Maggie takes the surviving teens back to the shelter, where she teams up with Dream Guru, Doc (Yaphet Kotto), to destroy Freddy once and for all. But Doc reminds Maggie that she can only defeat Freddy in reality and she must use 3-D glasses to lure him out of dream-land. In the biggest 3-D confrontation of all time, Maggie and Freddy battle each other to the death as three serpent-like dream demons root Freddy on.

If this makes sense to you, can I have whatever you're smoking?

REVIEW

I have three words for FREDDY'S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE:

WHAT THE FUCK!?

I hated this film when I last saw it in 1991, but watching it again 17 years later almost made me want to commit dream suicide! This film is TERRIBLE. What was the point of this film? Is this really the way you wanted your most bankable star [until THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, that is] to go out, New Line? This wasn't serious. This couldn't be serious. Not only is FREDDY'S DEAD a big fuck you to Wes Craven and anyone who was involved in this franchise previously, but a big fuck you to the fans as well. Someone get a body bag, because this film is D.O.A.

I honestly don't know where to start with this film. There are so many horrible things about it that I'm honestly not sure what was the worst thing about FREDDY'S DEAD. I guess if I had to pick one, it would be the words typed onto paper that New Line called a screenplay/script. I refuse to call it one. I don't believe a bunch of grown-ups came together to write whatever this was and believe it was actually good. They would have to be crazy. Even Britney Spears would probably point and laugh at them. Nothing about the film's narrative makes any lick of sense. The characters are all terrible. The dialogue is worse than the dialogue in most pornographic films. It's an abomination to all the hard work Wes Craven excelled at in the original A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. What a slap in the face if I ever saw one. The fact that I would rather watch HALLOWEEN 5 [at least the story makes sense THERE] than this just disgusts me.

You wanna know how bad the story to this film is? There's no continuity in this film whatsoever. Freddy can only kill kids in Springwood? He can't branch out without his daughter? Then what was the point of the Alice Johnson character in THE DREAM MASTER and THE DREAM CHILD? Also, how in the hell does Freddy have the power to teleport people into different towns while they're dreaming? I don't remember Freddy ever doing that. And really...it took TEN years for Freddy to kill all the Springwood teens? Um, it's 18 dumbass. Parts 1 and 2 are a 5 year stretch. Add 1 each for Parts 3-5 and then add 10 for this one. That's EIGHTEEN! Great job doing your research there, writers!

I also have a problem with Freddy's motivations. Every film claimed that Freddy murdered all the Springwood teens as revenge for their parents killing him. Now it's because they took his daughter from him!? And he's killing to make them lose their children as well!? Now I have no problem with Freddy having family or even this second motivation. But when you tell us something else for five films, I think it's a good idea to stick with what worked! Sure, horror movies change their continuity all the time. But they had good reasons for it. HALLOWEEN H20 deleted the Jamie Lloyd storyline because it got to the point where it didn't even make sense anymore. Plus people wanted to forget about it anyway so it actually benefited H20. JASON GOES TO HELL had no choice. Paramount owned the rights to the earlier films and mythos. New Line had to recreate the franchise from scratch. But this...this is no excuse. You only confuse your main audience by doing stuff like this. And boy, not only was I confused, but bored as well. Another family member is the key to destroying the monster. How fuckin' original. I've never seen THAT one before...

And the characters...oh, the characters...how I wanted ALL of them to die horrible, painful demises. None of them were appealing whatsoever. Again, we get stereotypes that are not even GOOD stereotypes. We get the authority figure. We get the stoner. We get the deaf Latino kid. We get the tough chick who could kick Jesse from FREDDY'S REVENGE's ass. We get the kid with amnesia [Harry Osborn he ain't]. And we get the token black dude. Except for the somewhat likeable deaf kid, the rest of them were a waste of my time. Especially that tough chick. Boy, was she was her period or what? She's the worst teen ever in any NIGHTMARE film. And since I wanted Freddy to slash her to bits, she lived to see another day. Of fuckin' course. I like bitches but this bitch took it too far for me. Go kickbox your way out of my memory!

And then there's Freddy Krueger himself. My, how the mighty have fallen. You remember when Freddy was scary in the original? Or when Freddy was cool in THE DREAM WARRIORS? Or when Freddy was funny in THE DREAM MASTER? Well none of those Freddy's are here. But his broken shell is! What was once a beloved horror icon is nothing but a pathetic joke and spoof of himself in FREDDY'S DEAD. I don't know how Robert Englund manages to keep a straight face through it all. Either he's a fantastic actor, or that paycheck was so large that it would make anyone believe this film is the bomb! Oh believe me, it's a bomb alright! But seriously, Freddy is, like the title says, dead here. He does cartwheels. He rides brooms. He plays fuckin' video games. He trips out on drugs. He spouts one-liners that not even Carrot Top would touch. It's really sad what New Line did to this character when Craven wasn't around to make sure he was handled properly. It actually pisses me off because it's such a sign of disrespect for everyone involved and the people paying to see Freddy do his thing. How it got this far, I'll never know.

I think the only good parts of the story are the origin scenes for Freddy. They're actually quite interesting to watch and it makes you wish that this film would have been just a prequel. I think many Krueger fans would like to know more about Freddy's history as a child and what led him to become a child molester and killer. I know Englund wanted to really badly produce an origin film, but the reboot was issued instead. Sad, we may never get to see what Freddy was like in the past. I think it would make a much better film than this one for sure.

The direction by Rachel Talaly, who was the production manager on most of the NIGHTMARE films, should have known better than to direct this. She's not horrible but nothing about the visuals stand out either. Instead of directing this film as a horror movie, she treats it like it's a Saturday Morning cartoon. People bouncing all over the place. Cartoonish cutouts like those Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner cartoons when Freddy tosses John Doe back into Springwood. Bad acting and people acting like they don't know what they're really doing in front of the camera. It's total camp, which is what the NIGHTMARE franchise isn't supposed to be! How do you take serious issues like incest, child abuse, being deaf, drugs, and murder and have the balls to make these issues comical? I'm supposed to laugh when a father wants his daughter to please him? Or when Freddy messes with the deaf kid because he can't hear? It's terrible. Talaly should not be handling subject matter of this level at all. Even FRIDAY THE 13TH films had more respect for their disabled characters, and that's saying something! It figures Talaly would later direct the equally as horrible TANK GIRL. It couldn't have happened to a more horrible director.

And the SFX by Dream Quest are really bad. The video game dream sequence was just retarded, I'm sorry. I pretty much shake my head in disappointment the entire length of the damn thing. The WIZARD OF OZ tribute also makes my eyes roll. Just a really dumb dream. And that 3-D sequence just reeks of desperation. The fact that most of it doesn't even work is pretty sad. Did the final confrontation really need to be in three dimensions? I'll give New Line credit for actually keeping the sequence in tact for their DVD releases [thank God for that box set]. If only Paramount would do the same for the much better FRIDAY THE 13TH 3-D, I'd be very happy. I did enjoy the deaf kid's head exploding though. While cruel, the dream was still pretty cool in my book. Considering the rest of the film, it was obviously a fluke moment.

The acting is terrible here. Robert Englund is the star and he deserves all the credit in the world for trying all he can with what New Line gave the Krueger character in this shitfest. He is Freddy Krueger, in good times and in bad, until a remake does them part. Lisa Zane as Maggie was just horrible to the point where I actually started to laugh whenever she would say or do something. She had like one single face the entire time, and then go on screaming fits that we neither believable or well-portrayed. I think my favorite part is actually when Spencer dies after the video game dream and she tries to act like she's concerned, when it really looks like she's constipated. What a big step down from Heather Langenkamp and Lisa Wilcox. Even the dude that played Jesse in FREDDY'S REVENGE was better than this bitch. Breckin Meyer was okay in his first film role as Spencer. He's done much better and funnier stuff than this, especially if compare CLUELESS and ROAD TRIP to this film. Lezlie Deane as Tracy should never act in a film again. I hated her character to the point where I couldn't distinguish between Deane from Tracy. What a grating performance. Shon Gleenblatt and Yaphet Kotto were just there for me. And the cameos by Roseanne, Tom Arnold, Johnny Depp, and Alice Cooper weren't really needed and I'm sure none of them put this film on their resumes. Well, maybe Tom Arnold. He could use a job. Nice seeing Alice Cooper though.

The best part of the film is the actual end credits, where you see clips of all the memorable moments in the first six parts of the NIGHTMARE franchise. It just makes you wish you were watching those other films again rather than this crap. If I had seen only the end credits, I would have definitely given FREDDY'S DEAD a perfect rating. Too bad it was surrounded by liquid shit. And that kind of shit is impossible to scoop up.

THINGS I'VE LEARNED WHILE WISHING I HAD WATCHED JAWS 3-D INSTEAD

1. An old broad was ejected out of a plane. I had the same idea for my DVD while watching this film.

2. John Doe literally rolled down a hill for a minute. Gee, what kind of bullshit time filler is this? Even Jack and Jill are rolling their eyes at it!

3. John Doe wanted Coke - the drink. I think the filmmakers, while producing this film, wanted and got Coke as well - the drug.

4. Breckin Meyer got lost driving in a circle around Springwood. When it comes to directions or great film choices, Meyer is totally CLUELESS.

5. The deaf kid, Carlos, got Q-Tip'd from one ear to the other. From what I heard, it was pretty much nothing.

6. Johnny Depp got killed by Freddy twice in one franchise. So that's WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE?

7. Freddy put himself inside his daughter. Talk about keeping it in the family...

8. Tracy's dad liked to put himself into his daughter. I sense a pattern...

9. Maggie can bring Freddy out with the use of 3-D glasses. She should have just shown Freddy AMITYVILLE 3-D. That would scare anyone out of a dream.

10. Alice Cooper played Freddy's dad. He must have taken the role for Billion Dollar Babies. I wouldn't have done it for any less.

THE FINAL HOWL

After reading a quote by Nietzsche at the beginning, followed by Freddy's "Welcome To Prime Time, Bitch!" quote a second later, I knew I was in for some WTF? torture with FREDDY'S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE. This film is an embarassment to every other NIGHTMARE film that came before it and came after it. No imaginative dream sequences. No scary villains. Bad actors saying even worse dialogue. Not even a decent plot that makes sense. You sure this isn't a comedy? Because this film doesn't deserve the distinction of calling itself "horror". Thankfully, Wes Craven would come back and save Freddy from this piece of celluoid shit three years later with the light years better, NEW NIGHTMARE.

FREDDY'S DEAD, I'm using my Nintendo Power Glove and sending you right into the WTF? Vault to torture your fellow WTF? abominations. But you don't have to kiss my ass. I'll save that for the upcoming remake. The Vault has a special spot for that one.

I'm sure you all know about the dreadful remake of the horror classic "A Nightmare on Elm Street," but I think that even the naysayers can at least say "that this is good news."

FilmArcade's buddies over at HorrorYearbook.com have just got off the phone with Robert Englund. When HYB asked if what he said about not appearing in the remake playing the character that made him famous is true, he replied:

"The decision isn’t mine, They haven’t talked to me so I figure that they are going with a whole different interpretation and a different cast. If I was approached it would be a challenge but sure, yeah. But it sounds to me that they want to reinterpret it.”

I'm sure that everyone around the globe, while the remake still gets my panties into a bunch, are sighing that there may be some guy up there that truly loves me and hates Michael Bay. That's the guy I would like to meet and shake their hand.