It was inevitable! Now is the time in Zombie Grrlz Podcast history where we attempt to take on the Scream franchise. Rachel, Sarah and Matilda attempt this this lofty goal, which we meet to varying degrees of success. Mostly we just laugh at the styles of the ’90s, confess our allegiance to Gale Weathers and lament the very existence of Scream 3.

In this episode we also discuss the Evil Dead remake, the TV miniseries Top of the Lake and the (kinda racist) season two and three of The Walking Dead.

Stay tuned for the outtakes to hear Rachel’s cat sexually assault the linens, Matilda relays the shocking danger of traveling with knitters, Sarah shares the tale of the “inappropriate licker” and Rachel draws a firm line the sexy-time sand.

Feast your ears on the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Episode 28!

Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there, why not leave a review?  <–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.

We LOVE feedback and questions, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com
or
Leave us a voice mail, we encourage—nay we DEMAND—drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6-Z-GRRLZ!

Happy Women In Horror Month! To celebrate this joyous time of year we are taking a close look at the works of Jen and Sylvia Soska with reviews of Dead Hooker in a Trunk and American Mary.

In this episode we talk forcible castration, voluntary female circumcision, body modification, goat love and magically healing arms—and generally geek out on the Twisted Twins filmography. Seriously, these two are the filmmakers to watch!

Plus, we discuss the totally under-appreciated and unbelievably awesome Dredd 3D,  the visually stunning BBC thriller Utopia, why Explodey Jo dug The Divide (hint she’s a sicko) and Draculas—both upper and lower case “D.”

Stay tuned to the outtakes to hear what we sound like before the coffee kicks in, eight-legged horror stories from around the globe and how Rachel almost broke the internet.

Come get your ears exploited here with Zombie Grrlz Podcast 27!

Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there, why not leave a review on iTunes?  <–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.

We LOVE feedback and questions, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com
or
Leave us a voice mail, we encourage—nay we DEMAND—drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6-Z-GRRLZ!

Hey there good lookin’ it’s been a while since we last spoke… but hey here I am and I’ve got fun news. FirsT, The Zombie Grrlz hiatus is ova! That’s right, starting this weekend (2/24) new episodes of the Zombie Grrlz will be coming your way!

Secondly—And even more instantly gratifying… check out the latest episode of the always awesome world famous Splattercast, guest starring yours truly! The fellas and I discuss horror of a presidential nature with recaps of The Washingtonians, The Tripper and Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. Also we discuss the merits of facial hair, feline suffrage and one Splattercaster’s penchant for burrito enemas—yeah I’m not to sure what that means either Check it out in all its glory here! And if you like what you hear drop the dudes over at Dead Lantern a email and let em know!

xoxox
Rachel

PS HAPPY WOMEN IN HORROR RECOGNITION MONTH, Ladies!!

So, this is pretty exciting! The latest episode of the oh-so-fabulous Explodey Files is now up featuring most of the ZG crew! Ariel and I joined Sarah and Jo for a discussion of Home. The result: whatever the opposite of “classing up the place” is, we did that! Needless to say F-bombs, inbreeding chat and sexy British accents abound!

Check out the deets from Dead Lantern below:

“We are joined by Rachel and Ariel from ZombieGrrlz.com and Joanna from TheColonelMustard.com to discuss a highlight from season 4. We celebrate reaching the minor milestone of 75 episodes by discussing the wonderfully dark and gruesome ‘Home’, and plans for the female answer to The Motherfuckin’ Round Table of Man: “The Mammary Lounge”.

Stay tuned to hear a short (spoiler heavy) discussion on Game of Thrones, and a stinger that features the rest of us having some fun at Rachel’s expense. Download ‘Home’

We’re baaack! Since we had so much fun talking about all things Ripley in the previous episode we thought we’d have another go at one of our favorite horror (adjacent) leading ladies, Agent Clarice Starling!

We talk cannibalism (obvs), transgender representation in films, death by curling iron in the lady parts and childhood FBI aspirations.

Plus, we discuss the now cancelled The River (ooops, that’ll teach me to lag so long in editing the episode), discover Rachel’s super power (which she happily abuses) and  discover the word that is (practically) the most fun you can have with your mouth.

Stay tuned to the outtakes to hear a spontaneous nicotine fit occur in real time, learn of Rachel’s secret plushy passion and Explodey Jo gives us the behind the scenes goods on her interview with William B. Davis aka The Cigarette Smoking Man!

Come get feministy with us on the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 26!

Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there, why not leave a review on iTunes?  <–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.

We LOVE feedback and questions, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com
or
Leave us a voice mail, we encourage—nay we DEMAND—drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6-Z-GRRLZ!

By: Rachel Shatto

So it’s official, Gary Ross has dropped out of the Hunger Games sequel. So now harried Lionsgate studio execs have begun scouring the globe for the next director to pick up the dystopian mantle for Catching Fire. Well according to an anonymous insider who has leaked it to The LA Times the boys’ club brain trust has formulated their shortlist of directors to replace Ross. In the running is Canadian director David Cronenberg and Mexican directors Alfonso Cuaron and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu plus four or five unnamed directors—all dudes.

After my initial “oooh David Cronenberg” Pavlovian response (A History of Violence is among my all time favorite films) it struck me that there was nary a lady on this list. Which isn’t unexpected. That’s not to say its shouldn’t be directed by a man, but still awfully discouraging considering that for the films is based on a best-selling trilogy written by a woman, told through the perspective of a young women and marketed to women (although fellas are of course welcome to enjoy them, too), not one woman filmmaker is even being considered for the directors chair. Unless of course it’s actually the penis that does the literal directing. If that’s the case I humbly withdraw my complaint.

For the sake of this post lets assume the camera doesn’t actually have to be nestled upon a scrotum for it to start capturing moving pictures. Here is my Uteruses before Duderuses (thank you Leslie Knope) list of lensing ladies who could and should have made the short list.

Kathryn Bigelow
Ok this one is pretty obvious choice, Kathryn Bigelow took home the Best Directing Oscar in 2009 for The Hurt Locker and has plenty of action films under her belt to boot (Blue Steel, Point Break, Strange Days). Plus the she helmed the cult favorite horror film Near Dark. Clearly, capturing action and pathos are not a problem for Bigelow. However, she won her token Academy Award so we can neatly tuck her away. Don’t you know that sexism in the film industry is solved people! Move along, nothing to see here (nothing with boobs behind the camera that is).

Lexi Alexander
Perhaps my personal front runner for the job is Lexi Alexander, this lady director (and skilled martial artist, seriously look it up, she’s bad ass) blew me away with her football hooligans centered drama Green Street Hooligans. But it was her big action debut Punisher: War Zone that earned her a spot on this list. Say what you will about this gloriously gory comic book adaptation, in all its parkour and rocket-launching glory, it was a damn fine looking film and jam packed with action. Plus, Alexander isn’t afraid to throw around the red stuff and the Hunger Games could do with a bit more splatter the second time around, I say!

Catherine Hardwicke
Twilight sucked, I think we can all agree to that, but stay with me for a moment. Its suckatude did not spring from any failing on director Catherine Hardwicke’s part; that’s all down to the source material which is and will forever be epically terrible. However, it’s also the best film in the franchise thanks to Hardwicke’s lemonade out of lemons approach. Of the films it’s the best looking, most atmospheric. And she even managed to eke out a inkling of emotion from her leads! Now imagine for a moment what someone capable of that Sisyphean feat could do with the likes of the magnificent Jennifer Lawrence. It would be breathtaking. Also, not for nothing that $191.4 million dollars box office return is nothing to sniff at.

Jennifer Lynch
Jennifer Lynch is a bit of a dark horse pick. Daughter of the famous director David Lynch and author of Laura Palmer’s Diary (which my mother banned me from reading and which I immediately purchased and kept secreted under my mattress for late night flashlight-facilitated reading) makes this list not for Boxing Helena (wow, just wow) or Hisss (which I haven’t seen) but for Surveillance. This gripping serial killer focused film is told out of sequence and features the best and most terrifying performance of French Stewart’s life. OK on second thought maybe Lynch isn’t the gal for Catching Fire. But Surveillance is seriously awesome and you should totally see it.

Antonia Bird
Have you seen Ravenous? You know, the man vs man vs nature, cannibalistic film set in a desolate snowy outpost? Nuff said, but I’ll continue anyway. Antonia Bird, the woman behind the camera of this film as well as the British crime drama Face in addition to Mad Love which features a mentally unstable Drew Barrymore and her romantic road trip with Chris O’Donnell. Take those three movies, shake ‘em up and what have you got, something looking a lot like Catching Fire. I’m just sayin’.

Jen and Sylvia Soska
Hell, if Peter Jackson can go from Bad Taste to Lord of the Rings or Cronenberg can go from Shivers to quite possibly Catching Fire why can’t the ladies behind the underground gory fave Dead Hooker in a Trunk have a crack at the Hunger Games sequel. I don’t know about you but I’d totally see that movie.

See Lionsgate execs, was it really that hard?… Hey I’m talking to you… Excuse me but I’m up here. Le sigh, yes they are natural.

We talk space horror, Freud, bad French accents, the shame of Ron Pearlman, wandering uteri, intergalactic body fluids and why Sigourney Weaver is a feminist icon.

Plus, we forever strike Resurrection from Alien canon. Yep, it’s official, Alien 4 is out. Sorry, Joss.

Stay tuned to the outtakes to hear us taking in the horror that is xenomorph genitals, rape-y alien fan art and Rachel telling the worst joke in Alien history.

Come get feministy with us on the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Episode 25!

Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there, why not leave a review on iTunes?  <–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.

We LOVE feedback and questions, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com
or
Leave us a voice mail, we encourage—nay we DEMAND—drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6-Z-GRRLZ!

At last! We’re back for episode 24. Rachel, Sarah and Explodey Jo wax nostalgic on what 2011 (an otherwise craptastic year) brought us on the silver screen and TV. We talk: Game of Thrones, American Horror Story, Dexter, the life sucking joy of Skyrim, creepy 8-bit spiders, we uncover Explodey’s (not so) secret facial hair lust, and why some times a bad touch can be good times — and a whole lot more. Plus, we take a look forward to what diabolical delights await us in 2012.

Be sure to stay tuned to the outtakes to find out which ZG will be breaking their neck very soon and to hear us continue our (lack of) feminist excellence by quoting our fave quote from The Signal.

Come reminisce with us in Zombie Grrlz Podcast Episode 24!

Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there, why not leave a review on iTunes?  <–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.

We LOVE feedback and questions, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com
or
Leave us a voice mail, we encourage—nay we DEMAND—drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6-Z-GRRLZ!

]]> http://zombiegrrlz.com/2012/01/podcast-episode-24-2011-in-review/feed/ 0 yesAt last! We&#8217;re back for episode 24. Rachel, Sarah and Explodey Jo wax nostalgic on what 2011 (an otherwise craptastic year) brought us on the silver screen and TV. We talk: Game of Thrones, American Horror Story, Dexter, the life sucking joy of SkyrZombieGrrlz.comAt last! We&#8217;re back for episode 24. Rachel, Sarah and Explodey Jo wax nostalgic on what 2011 (an otherwise craptastic year) brought us on the silver screen and TV. We talk: Game of Thrones, American Horror Story, Dexter, the life sucking joy of Skyrim, creepy 8-bit spiders, we uncover Explodey&#8217;s (not so) secret facial hair [...]horror,movies,womenhttp://www.zombiegrrlz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Episode24.mp3 http://zombiegrrlz.com/2011/12/hey-guess-what-were-crafty/ http://zombiegrrlz.com/2011/12/hey-guess-what-were-crafty/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:49:39 +0000 ZombieGrrlz.com http://zombiegrrlz.com/?p=1492

Looking for some diabolical bling? Check out our new etsy store! etsy.com/shop/TheZombieGrrlz

There are a number of reasons that the “creepy house” film is such an enduring sub-genre of horror, they are relateable to audiences, budget-friendly for indie filmmakers and when done right, are effective as hell. But for a single location, spooky house film to work it’s all about building the atmosphere, isolation helps, but a good sound mix is essential. Match eerie music, sinister thuds with lots of doors, shadowy nooks and crannies you’re on the right track. And if you can throw in some ominous set dressing like animal skulls, dust cobwebs and miscellaneous unidentifiable things floating in jam jars you’ve got yourself a winner — as evidenced by The Silent House. The first two thirds of this Uruguayan import absolutely nails the atmosphere. As a result the film has garnered a fair amount of buzz both for its effective chills and for being a the first professionally shot, single take horror film. And mostly it’s deserved the acolades however, while the first two thirds are all claustrophobia, mystery and menacing bumps in the night, the final act, well… that’s another story.

Directed by Gustavo Hernández, The Silent House is allegedly is inspired by real events that took place in a small Uruguayan village in the 1940s and focuses on Laura a young woman who has met up with her father at an out of the way house which the two intend to begin repairing the following day in order to sell. As they settle in for the night Laura begins hearing a loud thudding sound, that at first seems to be coming from outside and then later from the floor above. Laura convinces her father to investigate upstairs while she waits below, when he doesn’t return after what sounds to be a vicious attack. Laura finds herself locked inside the house and what follows is a game of cat and mouse between Laura and the mysterious inhabitants of the house.

From a cinematic perspective The Silent House is a stunning achievement, clocking in at 86 minutes the film is made up of a single shot. Using mirrors and clever blocking the director is able to achieve a number of different prospectives simultaneously without having to call cut. Half the fun of the film is watching the ingenious ways the director is able to mimic a classically created film with a single take method. The other half is the genuinely suspenseful exploration of the house that Laura undertakes in an effort to find the house key that will allow her to escape the house. Working against her is the house itself, which looks like a cross between an episode of Hoarders and Leatherface’s South American vacation home.

There’s no question that this portion of the film is scary, boasting a number of heart stopping jump scares that are brutally effective and one prolonged scene involving the flash from a Polaroid camera that is gasp-inducing. Had the film continued on this trajectory The Silent House would likely have been near the top of my Best of 2011 List, however a third act plot-twist, sadly, turns this genuinely frightening hunt-and-stalk experience into a muddled psycho-sexual mess.

*** SPOILERS START ***

After briefly facing off with her would-be killer Laura manages to escape the house and begins running to safety, where she sees in a pool of light created by a street lamp a female child, that could have been plucked from a Grudge film. This vision is interrupted by an approaching car, and behind the wheel is an older man who Laura recognizes as her undefined acquaintance Nestor who insists on taking her back to the house to investigate. Laura initially resists returning only to be separated from Nestor once back in the house, leaving her to take up her investigation again where she unveils a nursery and a room full of sexy-time Polaroids of her and other young women getting frisky with Nestor and her father.

This is there the film well and truly goes off the rails and we discover our survivor girl is a in literary terms an “unreliable narrator” who driven mad by the murder of her child and is now reaping revenge on the men who likely fathered (it’s implied but not totally clear if she had a sexual relationship with both men, or just Nestor) and then killed her child.

While on paper this twist might seem to work, lets face it women driven mad over the loss of a child is pretty low hanging fruit –  plus, it’s cheap blow to our survivor girl. What began as an excellent stalker vs survivor thriller becomes a rape revenge film, but without the faintest hint of empowerment that the exploitation sub-genre boasts. Because Laura is only aware of her actions in brief moments of clarity, there is no sense that she is making the conscious decisions of a victim turned avenger, rather she is just a madwoman broken by the men who victimized her. By making her the unwitting villain it demonizes a victim of incest rather than galvanizing the audience behind her. A very disappointing conclusion to what was initially a well executed premise.

*** SPOILERS END ***

Though far from perfect, The Silent House, is worth a watch if only to marvel at the skillful manipulation of the single take format. Florencia Colucci’s turn as Laura is all the more impressive for the fact that she only had a single opportunity to express her terror, and she does so believably throughout the running time. This ability to emote under unconventional circumstances combined with her resourcefulness in avoiding and ultimately taking on her “stalker” makes for excellent survivor girl, that frankly deserved a much better resolution. For fans of the claustrophobic hunt and stalk film we recommend Burning Bright as an example of this type of film done right, top to bottom.

Score 3 out of 5

By: Zombie Grrl

We’ve made no secret of our deep and passionate love affair with the Aliens franchise here at Zombie Grrlz HQ. Alien blasting, chest-tearing, space horror with a kickass female lead — that paved the way for the modern female action hero — is pretty much definition of “up our alley.”

So, it’s with bloodthirsty and bated breath that we’ve awaited the long in development (hell) release of Aliens: Colonial Marines and finally today we got our first look! Gearbox released the footage originally shown at E3 for us lowly non-convention-attending folks to dig on — and from the looks of this demo footage, we are going to be handsomely rewarded with all manner of fan service and hot, bloody xenomorph perforating action! So yeah, we’re totally there day one.

However, there is one thing that’s got us worried, that hand wrapped around the pulse rifle is looking awfully… well… dude-like, leading us to wonder if the greatest female led action franchise of all time has been has been butched up in the game. Yes, we realize it’s a new story, not a remake of the movies.. but come on, not only does the hand looking manly, but there is nary a lady marine to be seen so we may be down a Ripley and a Vasquez — unacceptable! With female action heroes of this caliber being so few and far between, excising the action heroine role is huge bummer and a blatantly missed opportunity to balance some of the massive gender inequality in video games.

On the upside, how about those power loaders? And the sounds of pulse rifles mingling with the screams of marines half down an alien gullet. Ahhh, it gives this ZG the tingles!

So here’s hoping that when Aliens: Colonial Marines hit’s shelves in Spring 2012 that we ladies can get in on the fun of what looks to be a seriously kickass title! Viva Ripley!

Dig on the footage below:

The Zombie Grrlz are once again looking to expand our ranks, and this time we’re looking for horror loving volunteers (both women and feminist identified dudes) who want to write horror reviews and features.

We’re specifically looking for people who can write reviews, short news stories and creative horror features. Our only requirements are that you are able to contribute regularly, have a passion for horror, a great personality and can at least muddle your way through WordPress.

So, if you’ve got blood lust and a need to share your opinions with the world in equal measure, drop me a line at rachel@zombiegrrlz.com and tell me about yourself — and please include a sample article.

Oh wow, where to begin? We really swing for the fences on this one.

In episode 23 Rachel, Summer, Ariel, Sarah, Matilda and Explodey Jo talk intergalactic, murderous loogies, deadly date rape, Bill Moseley’s aggressive eyebrows, juvenile delinquents and the awesomeness of Shawnee Smith—with our review the fantastic remake of The Blob. We also debate the hotness (or lack there of) of vampire sex, Rachel does several bad accents, one ZG shares how The Blob helped shape her sexuality and since we’re oh-so-fancy, we talk popular (apocalyptic) fiction.

Along with all the other goodies you’ve come to expect (including what is probably our best voice mail ever), Sarah introduces a new segment: the Netflix streaming anti-pick. She takes one for the team to help you dodge the myriad of crapstastic horror bullets that await you in the depths of the Netflix. She’s just that cool.

Plus, stay tuned for the outtakes to hear Explodey Jo make cussing sound cultured, listen to Rachel get vindicated as well as confessing to lite breaking and entering (not really) and Sarah’s expert opinion on Summer’s infamous…ahem…duo.

Quickly digest and devour the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Episode 23!

Or, better yet, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there, why not leave a review on iTunes?  <–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.

We LOVE feedback and questions, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com
or
Leave us a voice mail, we encourage—nay we DEMAND—drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6-Z-GRRLZ!

Rachel, Ariel, Explodey Jo and Sarah host this very special podcast slumber party spectacular—and you’re invited!

We managed to pull ourselves away from braiding eachother’s hair and practicing french kissing on our hands just long enough to to have a verbal pillowfight over the quasi-feminist ’80s slasher The Slumber Party Massacre, the pleasure of white trash beer and geek out over Game of Thrones.

Plus, stay tuned to the outtakes to hear Rachel put off the looming robot uprising for another day by conquering Skype, Jodie’s general disappointment in our rinky dink operation and find out the truth of how Sarah became yet another glitter on eye violence statistic (hint: nekkid ladies).

We double dog dare you to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Episode 22!

Or, better yet, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there, why not leave a review on iTunes?  <–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.

We LOVE feedback and questions, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com
or
Leave us a voice mail, we encourage—nay we DEMAND—drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6 Z GRRLZ!

While people have their gripes about the first season of The Walking Dead, some justified (the female characters get short shrift) and some not so fair (it’s boring and derivative) the overwhelming response from horror fans has been: BRING IT ON. Needless to say, you can count me amongst those who are chomping at the bit for second go ’round of gut chomping, head pick axing and post-apocalyptic action.

Lori Grimes aka Grumpy McBuzzkill

This new trailer for season two, isn’t helping my impatience either. If the trailer is any indication, season two is looking to be another nail biter. From Shane being chased down by a pack of zombies, to the scene of them scrambling under dead cars in hopes of hiding from approaching horde…epic! I can’t wait to see it all unfold in a few months.

But that being said, my enthusiasm is somewhat tempered by one ongoing problem: things are still looking grim for our lady survivors this time around. We have wifey/probably Shane’s baby-mama Lori Grimes still looking hard, bitter and weak—and utterly superfluous. I know we’re suposed to care that she’s struggling with her infidelity and (spoiler alert) being preggers—but shes just so completely unlikable I can’t bring myself to care—not even for Rick’s sake. And while admittedly the source material isn’t much kinder to the character I really hoped when they cast actor Sarah Wayne Calles she would infuse a little more charisma into Lori—and a lot less nagging and negativity—but them’s the breaks, I guess.

Now that's what we're talkin' about

However, the character that I was really holding out the most hope for was Andrea. In the comics Andrea’s a crack shot and is seen as a major asset to the group. But so far we’ve only had hints of  her potential strength—standing up to Carol’s abusive hillbilly husband and popping a cap in her zombified sisters head—but then in the finale the writers seemed to betray the character with a sudden bout of suicidal tendencies. Granted she did just off her baby sister, but with the total vacuum of strong female characters in the series it was a bit of a slap in the face to see the one with the most potential come unglued.  And sadly it looks like she’s still boo hooing about being alive in season two. Plus, there’s a precedent here, actor Laurie Holden, played the female hero type in Silent Hill and I can’t help but hope we see her capitalize on her ability to project strength, courage and resourcefulness and leave the broken woman act behind—pronto. And can somebody please give the  girl a gun, some leather pants… and maybe a proclivity for smoking cigars—sorry, I do realize not everyone can be Starbuck, really, I do—but come on us female fans need a character to invest in, too.

You 'ain't ready for this.. actually yeah, we are.

Speaking of poplar zombie killing ladies, the word is we wont be seeing Michonne any time soon, either. If the first series needed anything they needed Michonne to show up, with jawless, armless zombies in tow and and armed with a samurai sword. But then, really what series wouldn’t be improved by adding that scenario, am I right?

The Walking Dead has succeeded in so many ways. Its brought the source material to life in a hauntingly believable way. Visually the cast is spot on and the characters they’ve tweaked or done away with has for the most part been successful. And the gore, well it’s glorious. Now they just need tune up those female characters, give us something to sink our teeth into (pun intended). Someone who doesn’t buckle under pressure, repeatedly make dumb nonsensical choices or do nothing but nag and kvetch (yeah Lori I’m looking at you)—and who doesn’t just seem like filler (Carol/Jacqui/Emma, now I’m looking at you).

But all in all, and despite my rant about the disappointing girlie side of the The Walking Dead,  for the horror fan in me the October return cannot come fast enough. From all indications from this season two preview, audiences are in for a terrifying ride. TV is proving to be a thrilling medium for horror, between The Walking Dead, Supernatural and Dexter the fall is looking like a pretty sweet time to be a horror fan.

Check out the trailer for season 2 of the Walking Dead below (like you haven’t already watched it 5 times).

I can’t believe it took us so long to to get around to this undead punkrock masterpiece, but in Episode 21 we are finally taking on Return of the Living Dead—and fighting epic hangovers to boot!

Joining Summer, Ariel, Sarah and I and making their Zombie Grrlz debuts are Explodey Jo who brings the British thunder all the way from the UK and, representing thug life in Oakland, Calif. is Matilda — aka Crematoria Steinem — whose mortuary and ’80s pop culture knowledge make for an episode that’s 100 percent less bullshit than our usual fare.

We also unveil our hangover cures, denounce rubber merkins and give away the secret of my Star Wars-themed (and guaranteed to get you naked-wasted) recipe for Calrissian Cooler.

Stay tuned for the outtakes for the epic Summer-led “unfuckening,” tales of Japanese toilet seats and general hangoveredness.

Show notes: Check out the Linnea Quigley undead fitness video that Matilda so kindly unearthed from the darkest and most ironic corner of YouTube:

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 21!

Or, better yet, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there, why not leave a review on iTunes?  <–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.

We LOVE feedback and questions, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com
or
Leave us a voice mail, we encourage—nay we DEMAND—drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6 Z GRRLZ!

Plus, we talk homoerotic slashers, marfanism, necrophilia, troll hunting and the vampire apocalypse courtesy of Stake Land. We’re also super juiced to introduce the first of several new Zombie Grrlz, Sarah aka Coffeemug!

Stay tuned for the outtakes for tales in micronapping, gold bikinis and hot podcaster on microphone action!

Heads up, the audio quality is a bit to dodgy to start off, but hang in there — it gets better, pinky promise.

Please to enjoy, the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 20!

Or, better yet, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there, why not leave a review on iTunes?  <–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.

We LOVE feedback, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com

or

Leave us a voice mail, we encourage—nay we DEMAND—drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6 Z GRRLZ!

Movies About Girls Podcast Episode 108

Another ball-gasmically awesome episode of the internet’s wildest party awaits you!

Tonight, the gang takes on 1999′s hair-raising Freeway II: Confessions of a Trick Baby. It’s about puking and murder. Also it’s a fairy tale. Also it’s got Vince Gallo in a dress. And everybody’s favorite crazy girl, Natasha Lyonne!

Plus:  the top 5 bottom 5 DVDs of the week, weird news, Songs about Girls, Hits from Hell, and lots more!

I had an absolute blast! So, be sure to check it out to hear the debut of my AMAZING intro song, find out what movie I once walked out of the theater during (hint it was rated X), strip club shenanigans and the last time I played dress up.

]]> http://zombiegrrlz.com/2011/05/zgs-representing-on-the-movies-about-girls-podcast/feed/ 3 http://zombiegrrlz.com/2011/04/ladies-the-zombie-grrl-army-wants-you/ http://zombiegrrlz.com/2011/04/ladies-the-zombie-grrl-army-wants-you/#comments Wed, 13 Apr 2011 07:15:48 +0000 ZombieGrrlz.com http://zombiegrrlz.com/?p=1257 After nearly 20 episodes of the Zombie Grrlz podcast we are looking to add some new blood!

We’re looking for saucy, opinionated, funny, horror obsessed ladies who aren’t afraid of the F-word (hint: it’s not fuck).

So, ask yourself: Do your girlfriends look at you crazy when you rattle off George A. Romero’s filmography (even the bad ones), declare Bruce Campbell  hotter than Brad Pitt (and duh, he so is) and skipped Sex in the City 2 to catch the new Saw film—plus,  have a couple hours to kill every couple of weeks. Then email me now, because you’re our kinda gal! (rachel@zombiegrrlz.com)

We’re ready to take the Zombie Grrlz to the next level, so if that sounds exciting to you, hit me up! The only thing we require is that you have access to skype and taste for gore.

Did you really think we were gone forever? Back by popular demand, we rise from the semi dead for episode 19! In this episode Ariel and I are hot for vamp action in the Arctic Circle with 30 Days of Night and its not-so-hot sequel, 30 Days of Night: Dark Days. We discuss what it is about those bloodsuckers that stands the test of time and why we need more vamp flicks like this pronto!

Plus, we also get some fantastic feedback and I get taken to school by one of our listeners, Ariel keeps it classy and we kick off our new homework segment with reviews of The Last House on the Left (1972) and Frankenstein (1935). And as always, don’t forget to stay tuned for the outtakes to hear me bust a sad white girl rhyme and fend off a feline who’s getting a little too fresh.

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 19!

Or, better yet, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there why not leave a review on iTunes <–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.

We LOVE feedback, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com

or

Leave us a voice mail, we encourage—nay we DEMAND—drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6 Z GRRLZ!

God knows I love me some Fallout. I’m currently about 90 hours into Fallout: New Vegas and still totally hooked. But it takes a super fan to put together a fan video like the one below, “Nuka Break”—which happens to be probably the best fan video I’ve seen to date, ever.

Anyone who’s spent some time in the wasteland should get a kick out of all the little touches and details—like the vault boy animated intro, the NCR flag and sound effects sampled from the game.

Am I the only one who after watching this totally wants a Fallout TV series. It could make a seriously kick ass black comedy or a Firefly-style show.

OK enough geeking out… check it out and geek out with me.

Vaginas, can’t live with ‘em… can’t survive an attacking one—apparently.

In episode 18 Summer, Ariel, our fabulous guest host Lisa and I get deep (see what I did there… sigh…yes, I am ashamed of myself for that one) into lady parts horror and castration fear discussing the 2007 vagina dentata spectacular Teeth and David Cronenberg’s Vampire-Zombie-Armpit-Vagina-Phallus epic, Rabid.

Episode 18 also sees the return of the news segment, now lead by the Last Grrl, and back by popular demand (and by popular demand I mean me) is video game talk with guest host Randiskull! Plus, the girls and I discuss why Cronenberg films feel like a bad touch, the uncanny valley (no seriously, we do, that’s not another bad vag joke I promise) and call out Hollywood for turning all our actors into the freaks from Escape from L.A. Plus, stay tuned for the outtakes to find out why partying with Lisa is not for the squeamish and what Summer wants for her birthday (hint: it involves a box and Justin Timberlake).

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 18! (click on “download” to … download!)

Or, better yet, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there why not leave a review on iTunes <–No seriously, it’s awesome, you should totally do it.

We LOVE feedback, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com

or

Leave us a voice mail—we encourage drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6 Z GRRLZ!

From Horrorphilia.net:

“We’re back with our latest and greatest episode yet. This show is jammed packed with talk of  killer clowns, pedophilia, rainbows, rubik’s cube and a few more surprises. Oh yeah with the help of a few ladies from the ZombieGrrlz Podcast we also manage to slur, I mean review some clown movies. Its our first killer clown episode and we review such treats such as Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Stephen King’s It, Drive Thru, and the controversial Clownhouse. All this plus you get to hear more of Chuck’s Sexy voice, Homey D Clown, Joe Pesci, and an important PSA. An epic episode you dont want to miss. Listen here on the blog or download from iTunes or go to our podomatic page.”

We had an amazing time with the guys…and it had nothing to do with the (several) too many cocktails we imbibed on the show… ahem…

But seriously these guys are great, if you aren’t already listening to the Horrorphilia Podcast show you should be!

We love us some Jennifer Carpenter round these parts, and in Episode 17 we celebrate her stunning breakthrough role as the demon possessed in The Exorcism of Emily Rose! (FYI: The premiere of season 5 of Dexter *cannot* come fast enough!) And do battle with the newly unleashed (and surprisingly divisive) The Last Exorcism, a mockumentry supernatural thriller in theaters now. 

Summer tries to steer us off topic with some Jersey Shore talk, we all lose our minds in anticipation of The Walking Dead, we debate Shyamalan situation and Ariel confesses her shameful love of the American remake of a Japanese classic that’s so bad even its mother wouldn’t love it.

Plus, you can hear our harrowing tales of parking lot creepozoids, Rachel’s insatiable cinematic blood lust and why Summer may actually be possessed…zoinks!

And stay tuned for the outtakes to hear our phone call with the undead who shares with us the highlights of his vacation in the Tragic…er…Magic Kingdom

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 17 (Right-click and “Save Link As…” to download)

Or, better yet, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there why not leave a review on iTunes

We LOVE feedback, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com

or

Leave us a voice mail—we encourage drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6 Z GRRLZ!

We reviewed it back in episode 14 of the podcast and all had a really good time with it. So you should check it out too—and pronto!

Heres the synopsis: Outpost Doom is an old-school throwback to horror of the ’40s and ’50s involving a group of people trapped inside of a barn as they are hunted by a tentacle monster…and something just as sinister within!

Check out this bonkers video of Deejay (of Splattercast fame) explaining why you need to own a copy!

Outpost Doom is available now at Deadlantern.com here. Support indie filmmakers!

P.S. WTF is a Barn Harder??? If you know, we demand the recipe!

From all the ZG’s Happy Friday the 13th… go get your Jason movie marathon on, post haste!!

And we’re back! Not even conflicting schedules, technical challenges or even actual childbirth (congrats to new zombie mom Brianne! And our newest and littlest… and, OK, cutest zombie grrl, Daisy!) couldn’t keep us away forever!

And what better way to get back into the podcasting groove than with a discussion of lady horror at its finest? In episode 16 all the girls return to talk about the suffocatingly claustrophobic critterfest, The Descent and its craptastic (in more way than one) sequel, The Descent 2. We kick the show off with some great debate about the I Spit on Your Grave remake but somehow end up talking poo… sigh…what can I say, there’s really something for everyone this time around.

Stay tuned for the outtakes to find out my dirty secret and to hear Summer talk shit about my cat (how dare you!)

Oh and here’s the Optimus Prime crane we discuss in the show, just Autobot’n it up out in the S.F. Bay…

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 16 (Right-click and “Save Link As…” to download)

Or, better yet, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! And while you’re there why not leave a review on iTunes

We LOVE feedback, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com

or

Leave us a voice mail—we encourage drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6 Z GRRLZ!

This summer’s box office line up looks promising for women in film of the ass-kicking variety. From Michelle Rodriguez in the Machete trailer (looking how she always has in my fantasies) decked out in heavy artillery, leather and an eye patch, to the next chapter in the Resident Evil series, which is right around the corner and looking to be packed with all manner of badass female action. To Salt, the Angelina Jolie helmed actioner cleaning up at the box office this week, it’s almost too much excitement for my lady brains to take.

So, I thought it was the perfect time to reflect on some of my favorite tough girl moments in horror and horror adjacent genres. Whether is getting justice, revenge, kicking ass or just some good old fashioned daring-do,  these are 15 moments of sheer lady baddassery that make you sit up and say, “fuck yeah!” Check out 15 of my favorites after the break.

**Warning lots of major (kick ass) spoilers ahead**

#15 Kelly Goes Upside Some Zombie Dome in Dead Set

British zombie export Dead Set features a scrappy, gravelly voiced Jamie Winstone as Kelly and some of the finest zombie gore in recent memory. Taking place on the set of the Big Brother series, things really heat up when a brains-starved zombie gets on set, and it’s left up to survivor girl Kelly to give us a delightful demonstration of what happens when fire extinguisher meets cranium … repeatedly. Spoiler alert: Brains ‘effing everywhere. Say it with me: Fuck yeah!

#14 Ellen Page Has Steady Hands and a Cold Heart in Hard Candy

Scream all you like baby toucher, Juno ain’t hearing it. Hard Candy is a great little thriller that keeps you on your toes, stellar acting, spot on writing and all that good stuff. Oh and did I mention it has a castration scene? Sure if you’ve seen one dude get the chop you’ve pretty much seen ‘em all, am I right? But what makes this such a standout is little Miss Page’s cool as ice demeanor when letting the “could be” pedophile know there’s no way out of getting the snip.

#13 Community Pool Justice in Let the Right One In

Let the Right One In is a fantastic vampire flick from Norway that did two things: reinvigorated the flagging vampire sub-genre and roundly told the Twilight Saga to suck it. (See what I did there? Yep, me clever). But it’s also a beautiful story of loneliness, isolation and finding companionship. Plus, some lovely gore, a pack of seriously pissed-off felines and a singular moment in a community pool. You see, Oskar has been having a rough time, and is the object of ridicule and bullying — that is until the bullies get their comeuppance, courtesy of one powerfully undead munchkin, Eli the transgender vamp. Subtle and vicious, this is one fuck yeah that’s well earned.

#12 Leeloo Takes Out a Pack of Intergalactic Baddies in The Fifth Element

While “love” may officially be the fifth element, as far as were concerned its badassery, Leeloo’s badassery to be precise. When “the perfect being” finds herself surrounded by a pack of revenge driven Mangalores in the divas quarters on the uber luxury Fhloston Paradise cruise ship (yeah, I’ve seen this movie a few times…stop judging me) she has no choice but to go all intergalactic on their asses, the result: lots of beat down and a fuck yeah moment, in space.

#11 Shoshanna’s Reign of Fire in Inglorious Basterds

History revisionist masterpiece Inglorious Basterds’ opening scene leaves little Shoshanna orphaned when Nazi soldiers massacre her family hiding below the floor boards. Escaping with only her life she bides her time until she can seek revenge against the party who wronged her. And wow, has revenge ever tasted sweeter then when Shoshanna exacted her fiery plan setting the theater ablaze with all the Nazi bigwigs trapped inside? Even the Fuhrer himself felt her toasty vengeance. Historically accurate? Not so much, but a fuck yeah moment, you betcha.

#10 Cherry Darling Gets a New Toy in Planet Terror

Rose McGowen may lose a leg in Robert Rodriguez’ zombie grindhouse gorefest, but we gain the most memorable prosthetic limb in movie history. Employing dance movies gained in her former stripper pole laden day job, Ms. Darling stylishly dispatches both undead baddies and some seriously uncool soldiers. It simultaneously stretches the limits of our imagination and of awesomeness in general.

#9 Zoe Bell Plays Chicken with Stuntman Mike

Real life badass stunt woman Zoe Bell struts her stuff as a “ships mast” on the hood of a 1970 Dodge Challenger in a nail biter chase scene in Death Proof. But when psychopath Stuntman Mike shows up and ruins their fun by ramming the car and just generally being a sociopathic douche nozzle that’s when things really get interesting. When Zoe, hanging on to the hood by the skin of her teeth, still has moxie to kick at his car, you just gotta say fuck yeah.

#8 Lisbeth Salander’s Inky Justice in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

If you haven’t seen the Swedish thriller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, you should — it’s awesome. Also, you shouldn’t watch this video because it’s singularly badass in a revenge driven wraith sort of way, and I don’t want to ruin it for you. However, for those who have seen the movie, they know how brutal the sexual violence is in the film is and how revolting her court appointed perv.. er.. guardian is, and how fantastic it is to see her give him his due at the pointy end of a tattoo gun … and a dildo. Fuck yeah.

#7 The Bride Does Massive Ocular Damage in Kill Bill 2

Even with the Crazy 88 blood bath, the cranial trim she dealt O-Ren Ishii and the smack down she unleashed on Go Go Yubari, nothing can compare to the trailer park sword fight rumble between Beatrix and Elle Driver in Kill Bill Vol 2. Fresh from her premature burial Beatrix goes toe to toe with her old rival in an no holds barred brawl, culminating in the eyeball snatch heard ’round the world. This is  a moment in cinema that leaves your jaw on the floor and your blood pumping. Fuck yeah.

#6 Vanessa Lutz Gets Slap Happy in Freeway

Wanna know the quickest way to slapped upside the head? Suggest that Vanessa Lutz (Reese Witherspoon) was born to hook. Officer Douchbag learns this one the hard way when he implies that maybe Vanessa is just doing what “came natural.” I may not be down with the racist language, but you better believe I can get behind this ass kickin’. Bad cop, no doughnut. Fuck yeah.

#5 Alabama Worley vs Tony Soprano in True Romance‘s Battle el Baño

Never underestimate a hooker with a heart of gold and toilet tank lid. Alabama (Patricia Arquette) takes a pummeling from mafia goon James Gandolfini but turns the tables and dishes out a savage beating. Employing everything from shampoo to a corkscrew, it will go down in the annuals of the finest cinematic beat downs. Sure it’s brutal, and a little hard to watch, but Alabama’s such a feisty little scrapper I dare you to try and not cheer her on as she unloads the shotgun into Gandolfini, then goes to work on his corpse. A morbid fuck yeah.

#4 Trinity defies physics in The Matrix

Sure you’ve seen it a billionty times since and it’s been parodied within and inch of its life but think back to the first time that you saw a vinyl clad Trinity open a can of bullet time whoop ass, I’m willing to bet there were two little words screaming in your head, fuck yeah. Forget Neo, Trinity is the one.

#3 Sarah Connor’s One Hand Shotgun Rack in Terminator 2

OK, who didn’t swoon just a little bit when Mz. Connor busted out this über butch one-handed move? How much do I love that the ultimate fuck yeah moment in this series of testosterone-fests comes courtesy of its lady lead? A whole lot. Looks like those prison workouts really did the trick. The T-1000 never stood a chance against this much badassery. Let’s all think about Linda Hamilton’s magnificent biceps while the video rolls.

#2 Ripley Goes Womano-a-Womano with the Queen in Aliens

Intergalactic, inter-species mechanized alien smack down in space? Yes please. It doesn’t get a whole lot more fuck yeah inducing than the final battle between Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and the big bad mama xenomorph at the end of Aliens. In a movie that’s packed with back to back kick ass lady moments (from both Ripley and colonial marine Vasquez), singling this one out says a lot about its ability to work me up in to fuck yeah frenzy. Viva la Ripley.

#1 Hit Girl Gives a Gunkata Lesson in Kick-Ass

Oh dear, hands to pearls, the controversy, the scandal, a brutally violent child in a hyper violent comic book movie. Yep, that’s right — we’re talking about Hit Girl (played by 11-year-old Chloe Moretz), Kick-Ass’s most lethal-ist kiddo. While her C-bomb dropping, badguy stomping antics may have sent middle aged white men into an uproar (I mean, my goodness, she didn’t even have the courtesy of being nice and safe, a.k.a. sexualized and palatable) but many a feminist hit the ceiling with giddy, blood-soaked glee. Hell, she even managed to make Nicolas Cage cool again — briefly. And while every moment she’s on screen is pretty fantastic, it’s the infamous “Hit Girl and the hallway of death and dismemberment” that takes the fuck yeah cake. This pint sized punisher is a sociopath after my own heart. Take one part feisty femme, add some heavy artillery, plenty of blood and put it to a song by the Runaways and I’m in badass bitch heaven. We need a Hit Girl movie and we need it NOW!

Did I forget your favorite female fuck yeah moment? Lemme know in the comments.

Equal parts drama, mystery and horror potboiler, Lake Mungo is a mockumentary styled film about the Palmer family, who is struck by tragedy, when daughter Alice drowns on a family vacation and the subsequent supernatural fallout.

The story unfolds through a series of interviews with family, Alice’s friends and even a psychic the family calls in when it becomes clear that something paranormal is happening in their home. Along with video footage from a variety of sources including handycams, a phone camera the film also presents some very unsettling photographs. All of these elements come together to paint a portrait of grief stricken family, a girl who was perhaps not exactly what she seemed and tell a damn good–if a bit melancholy–ghost story.

Presumed dead, Alice is soon discovered to have drowned, and the grieving family is left to move on however, it’s not that simple. Soon after her body is found evidence of a haunting begins to manifest in the family home. Noises, visions of an apparition and finally photographic evidence all point to a restless spirit.

While at first glance the plot is fairly straightforward, like any good true crime documentary nothing is as simple as it seems on its surface. The film does an excellent job of throwing a number unexpected curve balls the audience’s way, all leading up to a final reveal that creeps under your skin and is, in a word, haunting.

The effectiveness of the tale comes down to the skillful execution of all involved, from writer/director Joel Anderson, to the sound editing that deftly uses both soundtrack and eerie white noise that subtly nudges you toward the edge of your seat throughout its running time. Most importantly, the actors (who improvised most of their lines) skillfully portray grieving friends and family, with equal parts frankness and poignancy. It’s this above all else that allows the audience to buy into the story and get wrapped up in the mystery. This is due in part to the cast’s virtually unknown status (at least here in North America) as well as their impressive acting chops, and it allows us to suspend our disbelief. (Contrary to the similar effort made by 2009’s The Fourth Kind that missed on both counts.)

Lake Mungo could just as easily be classified as a drama with supernatural elements (especially by genre fans with more hard core tastes) particularly when judged for its lack of gore and jump scares (because you can never have enough of those *sarcasm*). However, by the time the credits roll the unrelenting atmosphere and otherworldly visuals gradually foster a growing sense of unease which allows for the final reveal to pay off in a way that only a scare earned by slowly and meticulously ratcheting up the tension can.

While I seem to be universally praising the film, it is not without flaws. In the final act there is a bit of a metaphysical connection made between two characters, in an effort to tie up the final loose strings and bring the story full circle, that seems a bit tacked on and out of place in a story that is at its best when left somewhat ambiguous. There are also a few brief moments when the supporting interviewees (and Alice herself) struggle a bit, not so much so as to pull you out of the film but when placed side by side with the stronger performances of the Palmer family stand out as a weaker part in a generally well-acted film.

Despite a few minor gripes the film is surprising DVD gem. Lake Mungo will no doubt leave gore hounds and those looking for intense, overt scares cold. But for fans of atmospheric slow burning ghost stories punctuated with eerie visuals, Lake Mungo is a haunting winner.

Score 4 out of 5

By Zombie Grrl

Splice is a film you have to sit back and mediate on to really form an opinion, if you go just by gut reaction you’re missing the point.

When trailer first premiered, Splice appeared to be just a technologically advanced rock ‘n’ roll reboot of Species, fortunately the trailers were intentionally misleading.  Where Species was a sci-fi action affair Splice, in comparison, is a slowly paced psychological sci-fi potboiler.

Written and directed by Vincenzo Natali (Cube) and executive produced by Joel Silver and Guillermo Del Toro, Splice stars Sarah Polley (Dawn of the Dead) and Adrien Brody (pretty much every genre flick this summer) as Elsa Cast and Clive Nicoli, rock stars of genome splicing.  You know they are the coolest kids in the lab because not only do they “do science” to the sounds of metal and punk tunes, they wear subversive hipster-y clothing, are on the cover of Wired and swagger through the R&D headquarters like it’s Studio 54 for nerds—I kid, I kid—because despite these (mildly annoying) affectations Elsa and Clive are actually pretty likeable characters. Partners both in both the lab and in the romantic sense, the film opens with the two successfully creating “Fred” an genetically spliced blob-like critter that produces a very important protien that can be synthesized for its medicinal properties, for livestock.

Eager to parlay this success into developing another organism with human medicinal applications, they are ready to throw some human DNA into the mix, however the corporation footing the bill decides that it’s more important to monetize the advancements they’ve already made then further their research. This however, does not stop Elsa and Clive from moving forward with their project, albeit in secret. Which is how they come to create Dren, an animal/human chimera, played by French actor Delphine Chanéac and created by some pretty incredible CGI.

So far this all sounds like standard sci-fi fare, however what sets this film apart is where it goes next, rather then having Dren grow into a sexbomb in heat à la Species, or escape into the walls and start picking off the unsuspecting scientists one-by-one, Clive and Elsa instead become caretakers for Dren gradually growing attached (in increasingly unhealthy ways) to the beautiful and unpredictable—and yes, deadly creature. As the lines between right and wrong steadily blur things take an unexpected and fairly disturbing turn.

To go into more of the plot would require delving into spoiler territory, which I won’t as Splice is well worth plunking down your $9.50 at the theater. Its an original, thought provoking, well-acted, dark little flick that is decidedly anti-summer blockbuster.

After much consideration I’ve decided, I really enjoyed Splice and you should too.

Score 3.5 out of 5

By Zombie Grrl

I think it goes without saying that we here at Zombie Grrlz headquarters are anticipating the AMC/Frank Darabont live action adaptation of  Robert Kirkman’s incredible comic series, The Walking Dead with baited undead breath ever since it was announced last September. And now we finally have some goodies to sink our teeth into (see what I did there?). Below is a video of Monsignor Darabont—A zombie geek after my own heart—talking zambies, post apocalyptic survival and best of all offering sneak peeks into character designs (which look amazing).  For more stills check out AMC’s Walking Dead Blog.

Paranormal Activity is the kind of movie that creeps into your subconscious.

**SPOILER ALERT**

When I first watched this supernatural thriller with a group of horror-loving friends (including Rachel, of course), I didn’t find it particularly scary. The film documents the day-to-day life of a young couple that has recently moved in together. As day turns to night, however, it becomes apparent that Demon makes three, and the boyfriend attempts to record the demonic activity, setting up a camera to film them while they sleep.

There were a couple of moments while watching the film when I jumped, but overall I felt assured that the line between reality and fantasy would remain intact, despite the realness of the film’s DIY camcorder style.

Then I was alone, in bed.

My mind couldn’t help flashing back to the scene where a ghostly presence enters the main couple’s room and drags the girl out of bed. She wasn’t even safe with her boyfriend right next to her! What chance could I have, on this particular stormy San Franciscan night, when my significant other happened to not be around?

Sure, I live in a studio apartment—so it’s not like there are vast rooms for unnatural entities to hide in. It’s not scary like a house is. The paper-thin walls usually assure me that there is some other human toiling away into the wee hours, whether they are typing on the computer, having sex or, as in the case of my upstairs neighbors, using their damned sewing machine.

And yet.

For some reason on this particular night my complex was quiet. As I scanned the room with my tired eyes I pulled my comforter up over my arms, careful not to leave any extremities available for evil spirits to grasp.

“Maybe I should put some baby powder on the floor, so that I can see if a demon-thingy makes inhuman footprints on the floor, like in the movie,” I thought, brain-addled by lack of sleep. “Nah. I don’t even own baby powder. Plus, I’ve heard that talc is bad for your lungs.”

I tried to push down images of a black floaty being hovering around my bed, but try as I might I couldn’t quite shake it. The minutes seemed to pass like hours, and my eyes started playing tricks on me in the dark.

Finally, I reached out and switched on the light—quickly, in order to evade the deathly grasp of the cold, dead fingers that inevitably were waiting for me in the darkness.

There was nothing there—but the damage was done. I kept the light on for the rest of the night, and eventually sleep overtook me.

It’s been a few weeks since I watched Paranormal Activity, and luckily my sleep cycles have returned to normal. If you are looking to be traumatized for life, this isn’t the movie for you—but its level of creepiness should not be taken lightly. In an era of torture porn, it is refreshing in its reliance on the psychological aspects of terror.

If you love scary movies, you need to check this one out.

Score: 4 out of 5

Zombie Grrl out!

In episode 15 Summer, Ariel and I take on the infamous Basketcase series. We decided to do this episode marathon style, watching Basketcase, Basketcase II and Basketcase III back, to back, to gag inducing back, only taking breaks to record while the trauma was still fresh, and to fetch more beer. Needless to say there was plenty of drinking and Meatwad copulation talk.

We read some awesome listener mail (oh Explodey Jo will you just marry us already?), get pumped over the trailers for a few upcoming horror flicks and completely forget about videogame talk…oops!

Stay tuned for the outtakes to hear a snoring canine, Ariel’s shameful confession and witness a near zombie grrl death experience.

Brace your ears, they aren’t ready for “What’s in the Basket!”… you may need something to help steel yourself, we suggest Zombo.com.

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 15! Or better yet subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!

We LOVE feedback, so send us an email to Rachel@zombiegrrlz.com

or

Leave us a voice mail—we encourage drunk dialing! 1 (678) 6 Z GRRLZ!

The (award winning) ladies of undead podcasting are back, and this time we’ve finally managed to get our hands and eyeballs on the Dead Lantern magnum opus Outpost Doom! We give our thoughts on the flick and the emerging talent behind it. We also manage to get the lead actor’s name wrong—for the record, it’s Jeremy, not Braden. Oopsie!

We talk with none other than Ax Wound zine maven and Women in Horror Month founder (and our new No. 1 girlie crush) Hannah Neurotica, who chats us up about the new annual February genre-lady lovefest (WIHM), reclaiming the term scream queen and all manner horror related feminist-y sorts of things.

Randiskull steps in and gives me an excuse to geek-out over Heavy Rain (which, incidentally, is fucking fantastic), Plants vs. Zombies and, fresh from his hands-on of Alan Wake, spills the deets on this promising horror title.

Stay tuned for the outtakes to hear about Summer’s ladies room shanking near-miss, some political shenanigan-ery and the gravitational pull of Vinnie Barbarino‘s colossal follicle-free dome.

Oh, and happy St. Patty’s!!

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 14!  Or better yet subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!

P.S. Leave us a voice mail and make us feel cool! 1 (678) 6 Z GRRLZ!

Reviewed by: Zombie Grrl

Greek mythology, has always piqued my imagination, and as a kid I couldn’t get enough of films like Clash of the Titans and Jason and the Argonauts. So really getting into the God of War series, with its mythical beasts, fantastical settings and tragic antihero Kratos, the Ghost of Sparta, was hardly a stretch. However, despite my obvious fangirl proclivities I am happy to say there is still no question that God of War III is a stellar game that will thrill fans of the series and newcomers alike (although I highly recommend playing through the previous three games, GOW, GOW II and Chains of Olympus, as there are a number of references as well of the motivations of the characters that will be lost to the uninitiated.)

GOW III picks up immediately following the cliffhanger at the end of GOW II with Kratos making his way up to Mount Olympus atop a titan, to seek revenge against Zeus. Awaiting him are a number of ill-fated gods, heroes and mythical baddies. In keeping with the series tradition the game opens with an epic battle, with Kratos taking on his first of many divine foes. However, the scale of this battle makes the fight with the hydra that kicks off the first game laughable in retrospect, the camera pulls way back to show a how massive the size of the battle is only to sweep back in and exploit every bit of the flying viscera–which there is no shortage of in this game.

The game itself is absolutely beautiful. The demo was impressive but it appears that a lot of polishing has happened since it premiered back at E3. The lighting has been vastly improved and much attention has been given to the smallest of details both in the characters as well as  the settings—which are breathtaking  (just take a look at the images in the gallery below to see what I mean, those photos aren’t from pre-rendered cut scenes, they’re game play–actual game play). The set pieces inspire a sense of wonder and the action scenes are sweeping, epic and vicious. In fact, the level of brutality hinted at in the demo does little to prepare you for the unflinching sadism of the boss battles spread throughout the game. At times it’s cruel, barbaric and–well–gross. But it’s always, really freakin’ cool.

The gameplay itself is very much like the previous games, a button-mashing murderous extravaganza with Kratos wielding a number of chained weapons. Speaking of which, in previous games the secondary weapons were just that, often superfluous and weak in comparison to the basic blades. But in this game for the first time they are the equal of the blades and frequently stronger and more useful weapons—so you aren’t just maxing them out for the trophy. This is due in no small part to that the fact that your magic is connected to them, in addition to their specialized, and impressively powerful special moves (for example your Blades of Exile summon an undead Spartan army, which kick all manner of mythological ass).

There are a few puzzles, found throughout the game, none too challenging but all are very clever and make good use of their surroundings (in fact one particularly ingenious puzzle is your surroundings). And there are a number of timed sequence scenes throughout your adventures. The game designers did something really smart around these sequences, rather than have the prompts appear arbitrarily on screen they pop up on the edge that correlates to their position on the controller, allowing you to take in the command peripherally and keep your eyes firmly fixed on the thrilling action taking place on screen—which believe me, you don’t want to miss. All the franchise stand-bys are here, including the obligatory sex mini-game, as well as a clever little nod to the poor long-suffering sea captain.

One thing that has seemed to change quite a bit since the series began is Kratos himself, any moral ambiguity that he possessed in the previous games is thrown completely out the window with this third installment. His cruelty and lust for vengeance knows no bounds and it is not a stretch to call the character a villain. Anyone who stands in his way is doomed, but it’s his complete lack of compassion for even those not in his way but merely in the vicinity of his path that drives home this fact. He’s come a long dark way from the Kratos in the first game that tried in vain to save a group of women being killed by monsters. There is no trace of chivalry left in this game, in fact he leaves a (bare breasted because in this game is there any way for a woman to be?) women to be ripped in half, simply for his convenience. Yeah, he’s a bad, bad dude, but still how can you not help but like Kratos?

Part of his charm has to be thanks to the incredible voice acting work of TC Carson who brings both a ferocity and vulnerability to the character. The rest of voice cast is impressive as well, boasting genre favorites like Clancy Brown, Malcolm McDowell, Adrienne Barbeau, Linda Hunt, Rip Torn and Kevin Sorbo–all lending their talents and gravitas to the game. (There is also a special thank you to Elijah Wood in the credits, for what I’m not sure, but if someone out there does, let me know!)

Clocking in at about 10 hours, the game is an effective and satisfying wrap up of the trilogy. However, I suspect, regardless of the games tagline “In the End, There Will be Only Chaos” this is not the last we’ve seen of the Ghost of Sparta. There were a few easter eggs in the closing scenes’ dialog and one post-credits extra that seem to support that–and I for one am hopeful. GOW III is a standout in a fading genre (third person, single player), it’s a throwback yet full of innovation. It is iconic, thrilling and breathtaking and is the game PlayStation 3 was built for.

Score: 5 out of 5

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Dead Lantern’s 3rd Annual Splatcademy Awards have been harvested for your listening pleasure at Deadlantern.com! There’s all manner of podcast-y goodness, with all your favorite podcasts presenting a variety of horror related awards….and a message from Joe Bob Briggs, winner of this years Splatcademy Lifetime Achievement Award!

This year we present, Best Achievement in Breasts (that’s right, more Zombie Grrl boob talk)… and are even nominated for Best Horror Podcast (Not Named The Splattercast) so cross your fingers along with us! And go get your download on now!

xoxo
The ZGs

Canadian native Neve Cambell rocketed to stardom by playing angsty teen Julia Salinger on Party of Five starting in 1994, but she first landed on horror fans radar two years later with her role in 1996’s The Craft—the so bad it’s good—film about a group of high school outcasts turned revenge-seeking witches.

This same year Campbell would cement her place in horror movie history playing Sidney Prescott in the now iconic satirical slasher film Scream, a role she would reprise twice more.

Although Campbell has only been in four horror movies to date, her contribution to the genre can’t be ignored. As Sidney Prescott, Campbell kicked the masked slayer’s ass in film after film proving that modern day Scream Queens fight back. While your first inclination is to run from a knife wielding maniac, women in horror are given more of a chance to defend themselves in movies today, no longer just the beautiful, screaming, helpless victims, who had to wait to be rescued by a man.

The Scream trilogy shows the evolution of the Sidney Prescott character from a virginal, innocent girl next door type, to a strong, independent woman. She goes from being the naive teen who can’t believe her boyfriend might be a killer to an independent minded college student and finally to an ass-kicking modern horror heroine who stops hiding and starts fighting back and it is Campbell’s acting that sells this growth to the audience.

While Fay Wray and Evelyn Ankers played mostly defenseless victims, dependent on their leading men to rescue them, modern female horror stars are saving the day. Yes, there are always other characters in the movie to help defeat the killer, but today’s heroines think on their feet and defend themselves—a much welcomed change.

While at times she has made bad choices in movies (Three to Tango with Mathew Perry—need I say more?) Campbell is always worth the watch, whether she’s playing a sex kitten, a ballet dancer or an ass kicking Scream Queen. And we can’t wait to see what she does with the Sidney Prescott character in the upcoming Scream 4.

Genre Cred: The Craft (1996), Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000).

At a time when Bella Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr. and Boris Karloff were taking over the silver screen for Universal Studios, Evelyn Ankers was staring opposite them. But while the men playing the monsters are still household names, few remember those of the leading ladies who screamed their hearts out for audiences across the country.

What Fay Wray was to audiences in the 1930s, Ankers was in the 1940s. Between 1936 and 1950 she made over 50 films, including over a dozen horror flicks. She earned the title “The Queen of the Screamers” because of the sheer number of horror films she starred in and because of her ability to let out blood curtailing screams on cue—a talent I wouldn’t mind having.

In the early days of horror the genre power house Universal Studios produced some of the most iconic monster movies ever created, including films featuring Frankenstein’s monster, the Invisible Man, the Mummy, Dracula and the Wolf Man. Ankers played the leading lady in many of these, and while the screaming characters she played wouldn’t be considered feminist icons, she made a living in a male dominated industry (especially at that time) for over a decade—which is pretty cool.

Ankers acted with all the greats of the genre and although she was competing for screen time against frightening monsters covered in awesome early special effects makeup, she held her own. When Ankers is on screen you can’t help but watch her. After getting her start as a horror heroine in the Abbott and Costello horror comedy Hold that Ghost, Ankers went on to star in The Wolf Man, The Ghost of Frankenstein, Son of Dracula, The Invisible Man’s Revenge and a slew of other memorable titles.

My father grew up watching the Universal monster movies and he passed his love of them on to me, helping to shape my childhood and my obsession with horror and because of this Ankers and her costars hold a special place in my heart.

While she may be a bit of a mystery to most, Ankers screamed her way to top billing along side horror royalty, playing a huge role in many genre films and for that she has earned a place among the rest of our Diabolical Dames.

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Genre Cred: Hold that Ghost (1941), The Wolf Man (1941), The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942), Captive Wild Woman (1943), Son of Dracula (1943), The Mad Ghoul (1943), Jungle Woman (1944), The Invisible Man’s Revenge (1944), Weird Woman (1944), The Frozen Ghost (1945), Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942) and The Pearl of Death (1942)

Most of horror fans are familiar with actor/director Angela Bettis for her turn as the titular, tragic homicidal wierdo in May, Lucky Mckee’s 2002 gem.

The role won her a cult following and her ability to imbue even the most painfully awkward characters with an undeniable likability that makes it impossible not to root for her even when she is getting stabby with the scissors makes Bettis a unique and welcome addition to the genre. She’s and oddbodkin and we love her!

Bettis has starred in a number of genre titles including the the 2002 TV remake of the Stephen King’s Carrie, playing the title role of Carrie White. She appeared in one of the best of the Masters of Horror episodes, Sick Girl, in which Bettis plays an unlucky in love entomologist who stumbles upon and equally awkward girl and the two fall in love despite the interference a big, hostile, nasty lookin’ bug. And headlined Tobe Hooper’s Tool box Murders (2004), among others.

But Bettis’ skills are not limited to being in front of  the camera, she is a film producer and director, as well. In 2006 she reunited with McKee for the film Roman, however in this case the two swapped places with McKee acting and Bettis behind the lens. The result was a moody, disturbing tale about tragedy driven by loneliness. It’s a great companion piece to May.

Yesterday it was announced that Bettis and McKee would be teaming up again, this time adding notorious horror writer Jack Ketchum to the mix with the  Ketchum penned, Offspring: The Woman. The film is sequel to 2009′s film Offspring, which is based on a novel by Ketchum. According Fangoria, “The story centers on the title character, the last member left alive of the savage cannibal clan that terrorized a Maine town (to be played by returning actress Pollyanna McIntosh). As she roams the woods, she is stalked by a local hunter and family man named Christopher Cleek, who believes he can capture and “civilize” her. Bettis will play Christopher’s wife Belle.”

Genre Cred: Bless the Child (2000), May (2002), Carrie (TV remake, 2002), Toolbox Murders (2003), The Circle (2005), Masters of Horror: Sick Girl (2006), The Woods (2006), Roman (Director, 2006), Scar (2007), Wicked Lake (2008), Tamora Gamble (In Production, 2010), Offspring: The Woman (In Development)

Despite having been originally published in 1976, Interview With a Vampire had made a comeback—most likely because the film had begun production—so it was displayed prominently at our local bookstore. I happily scooped up a copy.

I was expecting something along the lines of another age-appropriate risque romp à la Vampire Diaries, instead  what I got was a supernatural gothic, full of historical fiction and sexual overtones—that I was just old enough to know I really didn’t understand. And of course, plenty of vampire on tasty human action. That’s the thing about Rice’s novel, even when she isn’t writing erotica a repressed deviant sexuality is almost palpable in the prose—and not in the dry humping abstinence porn Twilight kind of way (pick up a copy of her Sleeping Beauty series if you don’t know what I mean, yikes!).

I devoured the series (see what I did there?), swept away in the story, intrigued by the characters and mythology. And most of all I was enraptured by the settings from, a New Orleans shrouded in mystery and voodoo magic, to its depiction of 18th century France, with its Grand Guignol inspired, Théâtre des Vampires.

Rice didn’t limit her horror lit contributions to the undead, she also wrote the equally engrossing Mayfair Witches series, which chronicled several generations of the New Orleanian Mayfair family and thier connection to the demon Lasher. The series co-existed in the Vampire Chronicles universe and many characters made appearances in both.

Since becoming the premier modern gothic maven, her work has spanned the entertaiment mediums. Her work has been adapted in to movies, (Interview, Queen of the Damned), TV (Feast of All Saints), theater (Lestat) and music (Korn, Cradle of Filth, Atreyu and even Sting) and even comics.

Her name instantly conjures up visions of sprawling gloomy mansions, witches, demons and lusty vampires. A high-profile female horror fan is a rare thing, and Rice successfully pushes the likes of King, Koontz and McCammon to the side and has left an indelible mark on the horror genre. She expanded the mythos of the vampire genre and created a character in Lestat that is every bit as iconic as The Count, himself. Also, she validated my budding goth tendencies and taught me the word “preternatural” which is pretty much the most pretentious word, ever.

You couldn’t exist in the ’80s without knowing her name–Jamie Lee Curtis. She took over movie theaters in 1978 with John Carpenter’s classic boogeyman tale Halloween and spent the next few years staring in a slew of memorable slasher flicks. The last girl in nearly every movie she stared in, Curtis embodies the ’80s Scream Queen and made a distinct contribution to the genre.

Born a horror movie legacy, Curtis is the daughter of Janet Leigh (Day 6) who was made famous by her role in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. Though Curtis is obviously not the first Scream Queen, she resurrected the title and gave it a tougher edge. No longer the helpless, screaming beauty who has to be rescued by a man (think Fay Wray in King Kong), Curtis played strong female protagonists who kicked ass and survived to tell the tale.

In her break out role as Laurie Strode in Halloween, Curtis used her intellect and strength  to survive Michael Meyer’s reign of terror. Yes, she ran and hid every chance she got, but when she had to she fought back using anything she could get her hands on – knives, knitting needles, even a wire hanger (ouch). Curtis’ tough, girl next door portrayal of Strobe marked a refreshing change from the very un-feminist depiction of women in older genre films.

Curtis continued to wipe the floor with Michael in three subsequent Halloween installments and in Halloween H2O Laurie Strode finally listened to my plea to cut off Michael’s head (yes, I take full credit because I had been shouting “just chop off his head already!” at the TV during each of the previous films). Too bad we discover in the next movie [Spoiler Alert] that it was actually an innocent paramedic she killed not the un-killable maniac.

It was Halloween that catapulted her to horror movie stardom, but Curtis went on to star in Prom Night, Terror Train and John Carpenter’s The Fog all in 1980, cementing her Scream Queen status. Neither Prom Night nor Terror Train was critically acclaimed, but they have become cult classics and are well worth the watch both for Curtis’ performances and the bad ‘80s hair. Aquanet, polyester prom dresses and a killer on a train–what’s not to like?

Although today’s youth may remember her more for her stint as spokeswoman for Activia yogurt and costar in the Lindsay Lohan vehicle Freaky Friday than as Laurie Strode, she will always be an ass kicking addition to the genre in my mind.

Halloween (1978), John Carpenter’s The Fog (1980), Prom Night (1980), Terror Train (1980), Halloween II (1981), Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later (1998), Virus (1999) and Halloween: Resurrection (2002)

[Jennifer Carpenter is one bad-ass diabolical dame. In fact we love her so much that Summer and I had to write this piece together. Plus, she is one of Summer’s favorite women we are profiling this month!]

When we started researching Carpenter for this post, we were surprised to find there was very little about the actor online, just your basics: a resume, who she’s married to, what she wore to which award ceremony and a few misinformed entries about her being the daughter of iconic master of horror John Carpenter (for the record, she’s not). So, as you can imagine that made our job more challenging and at first we found it frustrating. But then we realized just how refreshing this lack of readily available personal information really is.

In an age of frenzied paparazzi, nipple slip-dedicated websites and blind items-aggedon, for nearly everything online about an attractive a high-profile actor to be based on their body of work is a testament to Carpenter and her incredible talent and that’s pretty exciting.

Carpenter begun studying acting during high school, at the Walden Theater and then went on to go to college at Julliard School in New York City. She made her Broadway debut in The Crucible alongside Laura Linney and Liam Neeson. She followed this up with a series of small parts in films like D.E.B.S., White Chicks and Lethal Eviction.

In 2005 Carpenter had a breakthrough performance in The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

A film loosely based on the real life story and subsequent court case of Anneliese Michel a German woman who when medical and psychiatric care for her diagnosed schizophrenia and epilepsy failed appealed to the Catholic church for an exorcism and ultimately died of malnutrition and dehydration while under their care.

This is when we first saw Carpenter and we were instant fans. She rocks in this movie she did such a good job appearing possessed particularly with her grotesque body contortions—which she did almost completely without CGI. There are plenty of possession movies and usually the actors are cheesy and the movie is painful (Linda Blair is an obvious exception). But, we were so terrified throughout the whole film, and after it was over Summer was scared for months—no joke—months!

And she wasn’t alone, while the movie itself only garnered mixed reviews, Carpenter for her role as Emily Rose won a MTV Movie Award for Best Frightened Performance, a Hollywood Life Breakthrough Award and at the 2006 Scream Awards was named “Breakout Performer.”

But she didn’t stop there. Next Carpenter moved to the small screen in 2006 in Showtime’s original series Dexter. She plays the role Detective Debra Morgan, sister of the series’ title character serial killer and blood analyst Dexter Morgan (played by her real-life husband Michael C. Hall).

If you haven’t seen Dexter you should be ashamed of yourself, it’s a must see, put it on your Netflix queue now… go ahead… we’ll wait.

In her role as Debra, Carpenter has created one of the most captivating complex and likable characters on TV and earned her a SAG nod and Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her mixture of bravado and vulnerability make her fascinating and watching her come into her own and grow into a seriously skilled detective has been thrilling to watch, both as a fan of the series and as female consumer of pop-culture.

In 2008 she returned to the big screen in the [REC] remake, Quarantine. Although we weren’t a huge fans of the movie (Terrorists? Rabies? Seriously?) we are a huge fans of Carpenter’s work in the film. Let’s face it, she made that movie! Her acting of course was awesome and her ability to combine girl next door approachability and a gift for pulling off melodrama in a way that it’s both honest and aching makes it impossible for you not to go the ride with her whenever she is on screen.

Carpenter is a scream queen, yes, but one in keeping with founder of Women in Horror Month Hannah Neurotica’s new definition of the word, “‘Scream Queens” who scream out with our artistic and creative abilities; qualities other then how we look.” That’s not to say that Carpenter isn’t stunning, because she is. It’s just that her appearance comes second to her skill as an artist, and that’s pretty freakin’ cool.

Genre Cred: Lethal Eviction (2005), Dexter (2006), Quarantine (2008), The Factory (2011)

As one of Hitch’s infamous blondes, Janet Leigh earned a place in the horror movie hall of fame playing thieving Marion Crane opposite the crazed Anthony Perkins in Psycho. And while this was her only major contribution to the genre, this performance earns her a place next to the rest of our Diabolical Dames—the rest are just icing on the cake.

When I first saw Leigh in Psycho at age 6, I was terrified for her and was horrified when she met her grisly fate. Since then I have watched the movie countless times and this past Thursday I had the opportunity to see the film on the big screen for the first time. I was amazed by how much more I was affected by the film in that setting. I knew that Leigh would be killed in the shower and that it was really Norman Bates dressed as his mother doing the deed, but still, I was on the edge of my seat—along with the rest of the audience.

Obviously Alfred Hitchcock has a lot to do with this, but it is Leigh’s acting that gives the scene credibility. One of the most Impressive things about Leigh’s role in the film is that she is killed off a third of the way through and yet she is remembered as though she were a last girl.

As Marion Crane, Leigh was an independent and self-assured woman with a sexuality that was more real than the usual scream queen fare. In an ahead of its time sex scene, where she was scantily clad in a pointy bra and slip (because nothing says sexy more than cone shaped boobs!), Leigh showed 1960s audiences a confident and alluring women, more than just big hair, screams and bouncing breasts. (The fact that Anne Heche played this role in the remake is a true travesty. And why the director decided to update it by having Heche butt naked (gag) I will never understand.)

Leigh has made a few more recent contributions to the genre along side her scream queen daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later and in John Carpenter’s The Fog. And although neither of these movies is anywhere near the caliber of Psycho (especially Halloween H2O – not the series best moment), Leigh still acted her heart out.

Genre Cred: Psycho (1960), Deadly Dream (1971), Night of the Lepus (1972), Ghost Story (1973), John Carpenter’s The Fog (1980), Tales of the Unexpected (1982), The Twilight Zone (1989), Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later (1998)

Mary Lambert began her directorial career making music videos, but we can imagine at least some of the artists she had to work with were pretty horrifying. She was behind many of Madonna’s iconic videos, including “Like a Virgin,” “Material Girl” and “Like a Prayer,” but has also been brought in by various other acts, such as Chris Isaak, Sting, Janet Jackson and even Mötley Crüe!

So, what is she doing on our lists of Diabolical Dames?

Mary Lambert is also an accomplished horror director, who made her debut in the genre with one of my very favorite fright flicks, 1989′s Pet Semetary, based on the novel by master horror author Stephen King. How she managed to get the little boy (Miko Hughes) who played Gage to be so convincingly evil, I don’t know—”First I play with mommy, Then Judd came—We had an awful good time—now I want to pay with you!” Shudder!

Lambert’s made multiple flicks since, and her next, a vampire western called High Midnight, is due this year. After that comes Hydrophobia, which is also planned for 2010. It’s about a killer zombie mermaid played by Asian actress Bai Ling and it’s … in 3-D! I sense a ZG double feature!

Genre Cred: Pet Semetary (1989), Tales from the Crypt episode “Collection Completed” (1989), Pet Semetary II (1992), Face of Evil (1996), Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge (2001), Urban Legends: Bloody Mary (2006), The Attic (2008), The Dark Path Chronicles (2008), High Midnight (in production) and Hydrophobia (in development)

There was no way we could celebrate 28 Days of Diabolical Dames without including the star of what I consider to be the scariest movie ever. Linda Blair was only 14 when she was cast as Regan MacNeil in the 1974 classic The Exorcist. She wasn’t the director’s first choice (he even considered casting a dwarf to play the demon-possessed child, since no parents would let their kids be involved!) but it’s impossible to imagine the the movie without her in it. Even an actor twice her age probably wouldn’t have been able to pull off what she did — it was truly frightening. Although she didn’t actually provide the deep, demonic voice heard in the film. That was added later by another dame, a famous radio actress named Mercedes McCambridge.

In its 1993 “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Heroes and Villains,” The American Film Institute ranked Blair’s Reagan MacNeil as the #9 movie villain of all time. In my opinion, she’s at the top, and her acting in this one film is enough of a reason for her to be on our list!

But Blair’s career didn’t end with The Exorcist. She of course went on to reprise her role in The Exorcist II and has, over the years, appeared in numerous genre films, including Stranger in our House, Hell Night, Bad Blood and Dead Asleep. She’s appeared in many other non-horror projects for film and television since she first shocked the world with her spinning, puking head, but she’s always going to be one of us! (Even if she lampooned Reagan in the 1990 send-up of The Exorcist, Repossessed!) Blair most recently appeared on an episode of the TV series Supernatural. Also, even though she wasn’t credited, Blair played a reporter in the original Scream — look for her!

Genre Cred: The Excorcist (1973) , The Excorcist II: the Heretic (1977) , Stranger in our House (1978), Hell Night (1981), Bad Blood (1989), Repossessed (1990), Dead Asleep (1990) and one episode of Supernatural (2006).

– Lady Succubus

By Zombie Grrl

If you listen to the Zombie Grrlz podcast regularly then you knew this one was coming!

With only one horror title under her belt, it may seem to some like I am jumping the gun by including her in our list of women who have contributed to horror–but I disagree (obviously). I am not ashamed to say it, I am a Diablo Cody fangirl. So, I am amazed  by how often when her name comes up I find myself forced on to the defensive, trying to push back against the unfathomable backlash against her. For some reason her success really gets under people’s skin, and the failure of Jennifer’s Body at the box office had the blogosphere and many a horror fan buzzing with a schadenfreude-fueled glee. What’s with all the hate people?

Any time we have a high profile female screenwriter it’s reason to celebrate, but in the case of Diablo Cody we have one that not only makes waves in the mainstream but doesn’t turn her back on genre films. As a fan of horror I feel a kinship to Cody, shes a horror geek who has time and time again confessed her love of the genre, and despite the pummeling she received for the under-appreciated Jennifer’s Body she has made clear her plans to return to horror.

In the past I’ve talked a lot about  Jennifer’s Body, so I wont delve too deeply into the film here, if you want my full thoughts go back and listen to Episode 11,  but the at the very least Jennifer’s Body is so much more then your average PG-13 throwaway flick like Prom Night or One Missed Call, created soley to numb the mind and fleece teenage boys and girls of their hard earned milk money. It’s an allegory for the real life horror of teen female relationships, it’s about horizontal hostility, the stuggle for power and of how friendship can be at once, tender and toxic. These are all real life horrors, these are all things I, and many, many women I know lived through–demonic possession and bloodlust aside. But by using metaphor, humor, Karo syrup and Red Dye No. 9 she created a story that spoke to all that painful reality in a way that only one with first hand knowledge of that particular brand of cruelty could. And in the same year that saw films like Deadgirl, Donkey Punch and the Last House on the Left remake hit screens it was a fresh breath of feminist air.

Her unique voice, clear and clever, self aware and self deprecating and a gift for successfully mating the affected kitsch of hipster lingo with of modern slang–makes her the natural heir to the likes John Hughes, Joss Whedon and Kevin Williamson.

Oh, and she’s a geeky fangirl, too. Come on, how can you not love her just a little bit after seeing her geek out over the Generalissimo? Diablo rules, Excelsior!

Genre Cred: Jennifer’s Body (2009), Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament (in development)

No list of women’s contribution to the horror genre would be complete without giving a nod to the original “Queen of Scream,” Fay Wray.

Before Peter Jackson had them ice skating in Central Park (tragic directorial mistake), the giant ape was in love with Wray who played Ann Darrow in the original King Kong.

Wray first graced the silver screen during the silent movie era, but it was the talkies that truly made her famous.

As the gorgeous blond whose feminine wiles captured the heart of a massive gorilla, Wray belted out screams earning her a place in horror movie history as the very first Scream Queen.

And although Wray spent most of the film as a helpless victim, more apt to use her vocal cords than her wits or physical strength, she braved the open sea unsure of her destination, for a chance to be famous –and that takes guts.

Up against an ape that could scale the empire state building, Wray only screamed until help arrived, but she paved the way for future leading ladies and luckily women have since gone on to kick ass in horror movies giving the moniker of Scream Queen a more modern, updated definition.

King Kong was the only big horror movie Wray was ever in though she did star in a few lesser known early entries into the genre, including Doctor x, The Vampire Bat, Mystery of the Wax Museum and The Most Dangerous Game.

Wray’s career never again reached the heights she attained while on top of the Empire State Building with Kong, but she will always be remembered for this contribution to horror movie history.

Genre Cred: Doctor X (1932), The Most Dangerous Game (1932), The Vampire Bat (1933), Mystery of the wAx Museum (1933), King Kong (1933), The Clairvoyant (1934), Black Moon (1934), Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1958)

In a word, Buffy. With just that single role Sarah Michelle Gellar would have earned a spot on our list of Diabolical Dames, but add to that her turns in I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scream 2 and she becomes a bona fide ’90s scream queen, and one well worth celebrating.

Gellar returned to horror in the ’00s just as the J-horror remake trend crested, in The Grudge and the Grudge 2. She also popped up in straight to DVD genre titles like and The Return and Southland Tales.

But let’s talk more about Buffy, shall we? Long before Twilight (oh excuse me, I mean, the Twilight Saga—snore) came along to rot tender female tween brains (with its horrifying depiction of an abusive relationship as the ideal romance yeech! Don’t even get me started) we had a vampire franchise worth celebrating: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Acerbic, clever and tough as nails, Buffy Summers was the ultimate suburban heroine. We believed it when Buffy completely dominated all manner of beasties, we bought her teenage angst in the face of grownup responsibility and sacrifice and we even went along for the ride when she waxed romantic with the occasional undead dude. While some of the credit for the character must go to the series creator (and genius) Joss Whedon, Gellar embodied Buffy and sold the stylized dialog in a way that that brought her to life and succeeded in creating not only a beloved fictional protagonist, but an iconic third-wave feminist character, as well.

If Sigourney Weaver blazed the trail for bad ass female heroines, Geller made it modern. And where as Weaver was the every man, Gellar was the every girl. And in a time where riot grrrl fury was being watered-down, packaged and sold at Target (thanks a lot Spice Girls) Gellar created a feminst pop culture touchstone from which a real message of female empowerment could be gleaned.

Plus, she she could totally kick Cullen’s emo crybaby ass, see:

Genre Cred: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Scream 2 (1997), Angel (1999), Scooby-Doo (2002), Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004), The Grudge (2004), Southland Tales (2006), The Grudge 2 (2006), The Return (2006), Possession (2009)

No discussion in women’s contribution to horror is complete without taking a look at Sigourney Weaver, the grand dame of bad ass bitches. Weaver’s turn as the Xenomorph decimating Ellen Ripley in the Alien franchise set the gold standard for female action heroes, and her subsequent roles in genre films have endeared her to the fangirl masses. An Academy Award nominated and Golden Globe Award winning actor, Weaver has continued to embrace genre films throughout her stellar 30-year career, returning time and time again to star in horror, thriller and sci-fi films.

Weaver kicked off her film career with the 1979 sci-fi classic Alien, as warrant officer Ellen Ripley, aboard the ill-fated Nostromo. Having come upon a derelict ship, the crew investigate and discover a blood-thirsty alien which makes it’s way aboard the Nostromo via a facehugger and swiftly lays waste to the rest of the crew leaving only Ripley to face it down. In her role as  the iconic Ripley (a character who’s reprisal in the 1986 sequel Aliens garnered her an Oscar nod), Weaver demonstrated an intellect and physicality that made her both a feminist icon and put to shame former shrinking violet scream queens the likes of Laurie Strode and Sally Hardesty.

In 1984 she starred alongside comic legends Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray in the much beloved Ghostbusters franchise (OK the much beloved Ghostbusters and lesser-so sequel) as Murray’s love interest and sometimes “Gate Keeper” Dana Barrett. The statuesque no-nonsense Barrett was the perfect foil for Murray’s disarmingly sleezy Peter Venkman.

In the ’90s and ’00s she continued to appear in genre favorites including Copycat, the made for TV film Snow White: A Tale of Terror (for which Weaver received both a SAG and Emmy nod), M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village and two more entries in the Alien franchise.

And it of course has to be mentioned that Weaver lent her distinctive velvety voice to an episode of the fantastic animated sci-fi brilliance known as Futurama. In the episode “Love and Rocket” Bender takes up with the Planet Express ship when it is given a new femme fatale voice (Weaver)—homicidal intergalactic hilarity ensues.

At 60 she continues to make frequent appearances in genre films, including this year’s sci-fi epic Avatar, for which Weaver did all of her own motion capture, as well as the upcoming Simon Pegg and Nick Frost joint, a sci-fi comedy entitled Paul. Not to mention a certain—much anticipated and hyped—reunion with her Bustin’ buddies.

This cinematic trailblazer blasted her way through the horror-film glass ceiling, carving out a place in the genre for heroines of the ass kicking variety—and to this day there is nothing like the scene in Aliens that finds Ripley going to fisticuffs in a loader with mama-alien to work me up into a girl-power fervor. It proves that in space no one can hear you scream—but they sure as hell can hear an extraterrestrial get bitch slapped!

Genre Cred: Alien (1979), Ghostbusters (1984), Aliens (1986), Ghostbusters II (1989), Alien3 (1992), Copycat (1995), Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997), Alien: Resurrection (1997), Galaxy Quest (1999), Futurama (2002), The Village (2004), Avatar (2009), Paul (2010), Ghostbusters III (2012)

]]> http://zombiegrrlz.com/2010/02/28-days-of-diabolical-dames-sigourney-weaver-day-1/feed/ 3 http://zombiegrrlz.com/2010/01/women-in-horror-month-you-betta-recognize/ http://zombiegrrlz.com/2010/01/women-in-horror-month-you-betta-recognize/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:44:25 +0000 ZombieGrrlz.com http://zombiegrrlz.com/?p=653 If you haven’t gotten the memo (or are my friend on Facebook) February is Women in Horror Month! Yep that’s right it’s time to celebrate the ladies and their myriad contributions to horror.

So to celebrate our new favorite holiday—that’s right move over Wookiee Life Day you have been usurped—we’re going to take a look at one woman every day of the month of February who has made a contribution to horror, and more specifically that has made an impact in the Zombie Grrlz love of the genre.

In the words of The Women in Horror Month founder (and my new favorite lady Hannah Neurotica) “a lot of Women love horror in very personal and passionate ways and are not wanting to be ‘Horror Babe of the Month.’ We are writers, directors, producers, artists, eery musicians, creepy doll makers, FX artists. We are audience!” So we Zombie Grrlz are aching to give our fellow “horror-oines” some some love!

You can offer your support by leaving comments about he women we profile, leaving us messages about the women you love and those who may have gone unrecognized for far too long on our voice mail 1 (678) 6-ZGRRLZ…. and most importantly by spreading the word!

To find out more about other events being held this month visit the Women in Horror Month’s event page to read about blood drives, film fests and more! And check out our friend Rhonny Reapers blog Dollar Bin Horror, as she profiles the Internet women of horror by profiling a Virtual Scream queen every day of the month.

Also, stay tuned for our interview with Hannah Neurotica, the founder of Women in Horror Month and the femme fatale behind the excellent Ax Wound zine, in episode 14 coming next week.

Viva la Spooky Ladies,
The Zombie Grrlz

Our Surprise Voicemail!

Yep that’s right our lame little podcast got a Splatcademy Award nod! Seriously, I mean it when I say we are super amazed and just happy to be nominated….. by the way the polls open Feb. 1 at Deadlantern.com, you know what the right thing to do is.

Panderingly Yours,
The Zombie Grrlz

Joining me for unlucky episode 13 (and I do mean unlucky, this episode was freakin’ cursed) is the always fabulous Brianne and Summer. We offer up  our list of our favorite genre flicks in 2009 (Yes I realize it’s the 25th—timeliness is for suckers).

We go waaaaay down und’a and talk kiwi horror with reviews of The Ugly and Dead Alive. In video game talk Randiskull and I go medieval on the Dante’s Inferno demo. And to close out the show we have a Zombie Grrlz first, an interview!

If you haven’t already heard, February is Women in Horror Month, so you know us Zombie Grrlz are getting excited. We have lots of great things planned for Feb. but we’re getting an early start celebrating with an interview with a fellow female horror-ophile  Rhonny Reaper from Dollar Bin Horror!

Stay tuned for the outtakes for an exciting announcement about one of our podcasters, more inappropriate touching and some shameless listener love… that’s right, WE LOVE YOU!!!

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 13! Or better yet—so you never miss a mumble—subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!!

Throw another brain on tha barbie,
Zombie Grrl

P.S. Leave us a voice mail and make us feel cool! 1 (678) 6 Z GRRLZ!

OMG, OMG, Oh. My. God. AMC has green lit a Walking Dead series based on the the incredible comic. For those who haven’t checked out the comic before, it kicks off 28 Days Later style with the protagonist awaking after the Zombie Apocalypse has devoured most of the populace and civilization appears to have collapsed. It’s full of incredible set pieces, complex and fascinating characters, cannibalism, madness, murder and plenty o’ delicious undead gore.

As if that weren’t enough to work me up into a fangirl lather, to make things even better Frank Darabont (The Mist) is at the helm, which all but guarantees that this is going to make from some pretty Zombie-tacular viewing.  Check out C.H.U.D.’s full story here and geek-out along with me!

— Zombie Grrl

Be sure to check out all the rest of his amazing artwork and listen to his podcast the Tupacast at Ctupa.com … I haven’t heard it yet… but I’m pretty sure it’s, like, the coolest thing ever!

Animatedly Yours,
Zombie Grrl

We review festival faves Grace and Deadgirl and bemoan the misguided shelving of the recently liberated Trick ‘r Treat. We get some kickass listener mail and even… wait for it… our first audio feedback!

Randiskull joins us to talk Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, Dante’s Inferno and Nazi zombies for your iPhone. Plus all our usual ramblings, now in extra epic proportions!

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 12! Or better yet—so you never miss a mumble—subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!!

Brace yourself,
Zombie Grrl

When I got an extra code I thought it only fair that I share the wealth with one of my favorite peeps, i.e. our listeners! The demo does not disappoint, its chockablock with all the demons, critters and mythical beasts you could hope for, Cranky Kratos aka The Ghost of Sparta  is back and again is a whirling dervish of  flaming swords, and the gore, oh baby, it’s dialed up to 11! Evisceration, Decapitation… But enough swooning…

For our very first Zombie Grrlz contest, we are giving away a free God of War III demo code to one lucky listener!!

To Enter:

Leave us a message on our brand new voice mail at (678) 6 ZGRRLZ and tell us which horror director you’d like to see adapt the God of War franchise into a feature film! (Bonus points for the best Kratos casting.) And we will pick the best answer!

To enter you must have: a phone, a working knowledge of the English language and a PS3 (unless you’re winning it for a more PS3 endowed loved one!)

All entries are due by Midnight on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009.

Good luck!

By the gods, I can’t wait to hear what you all come up with!!
Zombie Grrl

Bet you never thought you’d hear our voices again (and who knows, after this episode you may wish you hadn’t)  but we are back and  watch out, we’ve got our feminist dander up! We delve into female-centric horror: the high school edition, with a discussion of Heathers, Ginger Snaps and the inexplicably maligned Jennifer’s Body. We also talk Nightmare on Elm Street remake, I go dreamy-eyed over Diablo Cody (can you blame me?) and share our personal tales of teenage-girl horror. Randiskull joins us to talk about (not-so) Brutal Legend, Borderlands and—you guessed it—Left 4 Dead 2. And best of all Summer is wasted in the second half—and I mean naked wasted—too bad its all audio huh!

Enough text. Time to get your download on, and assault those eardrums!

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 11! Or better yet—so you never miss a mumble—subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!!

Let the undead-aggedon commence,
Zombie Grrl

This weekend I ventured deep into the terrifying land of socialized medicine, maple syrup and Tim Horton doughnuts to chat with none other then the infamous Kings Town Ted from the kickass Horroretc Podcast. Ted and I take on the evil empire—Twilight! And I try to sell Ted on Buffy and True Blood, to varying degrees of failure.

Sick of my voice? No worries, Stephen from JAFMP reviews Mad Dog Morgan and Ted and Doug (rightfully) gush over Zombieland and Trick ‘r Treat.

Check out the episode here… Why? Because it’s awesome.

xoxo,
Zombie Grrl

P.S. And stay tuned for Episode 11 of the Zombie Grrlz Podcast, later this week!!

We share our favorite zombie films, debate zombie types, Lorenzo Lamas’ inexplicable ponytail in Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus and Randiskull offers up his Top 10 Zombie Games of all time (Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ? Yup, it’s on there). We also review the shaky cam disappointment The Zombie Diaries and read some awesome, overdue listener mail.

So, without further shambleage…

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 10! (direct link) Or better yet—subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!!

Graveyard Flavored Besos,
Zombie Grrl

We also discuss the Poltergeist remake, the new trailer for the intriguingly blasphemous Legion and Ariel persists in baffling me with her desire to see Rob Zombie’s Halloween 2.

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 09! (direct link) Or better yet- subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!!

Zombie Grrl

P.S. We apologize for the audio quality in the first half, its the last in the aural clusterfuck series… ah well.

However, when I found this Twilight-Buffy remix I  thought to myself, “yep, this is the version I would plunk down my hard earned cash for.”

My favorite bit–where she shooves Mr. Pointy where the Sun makes sparklies!

xoxo,
ZG

Yeah, us either.

But we got past it and are back for episode 08, which is packed to its undead gills with content–and of course plenty of our patented off-topic ramble-y nonsense! Summer a.k.a. Lady Succubus and I tuck into (and thoroughly spoil) the twistacular progeny from hell film, Orphan. We also discuss the celluloid travesty and wasted opportunity that is The Mutant Chronicles. We head to the trailer park to discuss upcoming horror flicks and I gush over the alien invasion movie with a message, District 9–I mean who can resist a delicious prawn? Yum!

In our customary segments we go global this week with our listener mail (from our favorite hottie crumpet Dead Lantern’s Explodey Jo), I get excited over the new horror movie trend prequel-aggedon and Randiskull joins us to talk Cursed Mountain, Left 4 Dead DLC and Ju-on!

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 08! Or better yet- subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!!

Legions of zombified kisses,
Zombie Grrl

P.S. As promised, here is the link I mention in the episode (SPOILER WARNING: for those avoiding spoilers of Orphan’s twist DO  NOT) click here!

Soooo looks like the Zombie Apocalypse is indeed nigh—however, it has arrived in cake form!

This tasty appendage, which appeared on my doorstep today, actually came from the twisted folks at EA to hype their upcoming game, God of War III Dante’s Inferno. But the the Zombie Grrl in me just can’t help but see it as omen of the impending undead pandemic. Ready your shotguns and katanas people! And grab a fork—MMMM!

~ZG

Check out a bigger version after the break

This chocolate and peanut butter moment is brought to you by one Mr. Conan O’Brien…. please to enjoy: Bill Shatner does Palin.

And really, with this much rotting flesh just begging to be atomized, how can you not?

Check out the gallery below to luxuriate in the images of “Swamp Fever,” the second campaign out of five in the game to be revealed. This level takes place deep in the swamp where, from the looks of things, you’ll be taking on everything undead from  mudmen coming out of the—erm—mud, zombies literally hangin’ from the trees and be introduced to the hillbilly queen of the zombie nation: The Spitter, a new Special Infected. I don’t know what’s hotter, the prego belly or the pippy braids… HAWT!

Anticipatingly Yours,
Zombie Grrl

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

[Source: Joystiq]

Summer and I catch up with all the horror we’ve been watching, talk swine flu, read all kinds of kick ass mail and wrap up Drag Me to Hell. This episode also marks the first time we make good on our website promise and review a book, Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s excellent The Strain. Randiskull joins us for video game talk and gives up the goods on Doom for the iPhone and Left 4 Dead 2. I on the other hand have multiple nerdgasms over Fallout 3′s fantastic DLC and fresh from my hands-on at Sega spill over the upcoming kick ass “stylish action” game by the creator of Devil May Cry–Bayonetta.

Also returning for her second episode is Brianne the Reanimatress!! She and I dissect the ghost-tacular A Haunting in Connecticut. Brianne also manages to commit a few felonies as we go completely off track… yeah it’s just that kind of episode, folks. Be sure to stay tuned for the outtakes to hear Summer give her best sexbomb voice and find out why the Dead Lantern crew are the new Sex and the City gals.

So sit back, relax and enjoy the Frankenstein-y goodness! Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 07! Or better yet- subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!!

Hordes of Undead Smooches,
Zombie Grrl

P.S. Right now Monster Ark is on my TV on mute… interestingly enough it pretty much has the same level of quality as this episode… perhaps that means we can get a gig on the “SyFy” channel.

P.P.S. We recorded this on July 4, so it is wicked out of date… you have been warned

While I continue to edit the unplanned magnum opus of rambleyness that is episode 07 of the Zombie Grrlz podcast (coming soon–I swear) I took some time to chat with my cyber amigos over at Dead Lantern… I got the honor of guest starring on Episode #139 of the world famous Splattercast. The gang and I talked Rape/Revenge ’70s exploitation.  The subject was grim but I still had a total blast!

As expected Jeff was a fan, Mat was intellectual, with an impressively comprehensive knowledge of all things rape/revenge, Steve was roused from apathy just long enough to be disgusted, Deejay was inappropriate (and drunk) and T.J. … well… just listen for yourself.

~Zombie Grrl

In the meantime, they have released the box art for the DVD/Blu-ray (which I snagged from dreadcentral.com). The first one is a bit weak sauce, but I am diggin’ the second one’s cheesy straight to video style.

So am I alone in getting excited over this? Or are you excited to finally get a peek at this highly anticipated flick?

~ZG

Coming off Transformers 2 and all of the teeth grindingly ignorant comments Ms. Fox (alleged Ferrari washing extraordinaire) has made to the press recently, this movie had kind of fallen off my radar—on principle. But one peek at this red band trailer and my principles and moral outrage were out the door…I was in—hook, line and sucker. It looks like Night of the Demons, meets Prom Night II, meets Juno—with a meta twist. And best of all it looks like it’s going to be fun. Now maybe it’s just lingering jollies from the fabulousness of Drag Me To Hell but this may just have some potential

Here’s hopin’ but like I said I am probably going to regret putting this in writing… le sigh.

In the meantime please to enjoy…

After an unplanned and lengthy hiatus, the undead ladies of horror podcasting are back!

This week The Last Grrl and I take listener Newty’s wise advice and tackle the kick-ass skin crawler, Splinter! (box cutter amputation.. yum!)

Producer Randiskull gives up the goods from E3 and I go bonkers while he talks about his hands-on with God of War III (the lucky bastard) and thrills us with his description of the goretastic “zipper technology!”

Ariel and I go all fangrrl-on-crack over the Sam Raimi masterpiece (that’s right I said, “masterpiece”) Drag Me to Hell (swoon!) and I unleash the patented “Rachel Rage” and pwn all the horror fans who didn’t see it in the theater! Shame on you! For penance I sentence you to watch a triple feature of Pulse (the American remake), Twilight and Prom Night!

On a much happier note, we get some killer fan mail from our favorite veteran listeners and a few fabulous noobs! And are excited to give a shout-out to our newest podcast homies, Slackers Ate My Neighbors, lead by none other then the infamous Teen Idol!

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 06! Or better yet- subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!!

As always, if you like what you hear—or wanna tell us we suck zombie ass—shoot us an email, and we will read it on the podcast!

Hugs, kisses and please send more paramedics!
Zombie Grrl

The Zombie Grrlz Nation grows again this week, with our newest member Brianne a.k.a. The Reanimatress! Also, back by popular demand Ariel a.k.a. The Last Grrl returns to the Zombie Grrlz Podcast to lend her expertise as we discuss the baddest bitches in horror!

We also ramble about the return of True Blood, District 9’s trailer and get excited over the Spanish short film Mamá. We get some great fan mail from listener (and future podcaster) Teen Idol and discuss relationship free passes, courtesy of FZR. Our very own producer Randiskull gives us an *Exclusive* scoop on a popular horror videogame franchise. And stay tuned for the outtakes to find out my shameful secret “celebrity” claim to fame!

Please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast 05! Or better yet- subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!!

And remember, if you like what you hear, have a suggestion or want to hear your brilliant words read on the podcast send us an email, and we will read it—even the mean ones.

Sticky undead kisses,
Zombie Grrl

This week our very own Lady Succubus is back!

Ms. Summer gives up the lowdown on the cheesetastic flicks she’s caught since we’ve last seen her, explains why zombies and stripping just don’t mix and why were-sheep are hilarious! I ramble like an idiot, as if it was a million degrees in the house and we had to keep the AC off because it is loud as a bastard on wheels… which it was. Then we get down to the nitty gritty and talk Dead Set, the five part British zombie miniseries that rocked our undead worlds, we read some more awesome fan mail and give our streaming Netflix Pick of the Week!

Please to enjoy the Podcast Episode 04. Or better yet- subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!!

And remember, if you like what you hear, have a suggestion or just think our show sucks send us an email, and we will read it (even the mean ones) on our next podcast!

Sticky undead kisses,
Zombie Grrl

Podcast Episode 04

Ariel and I talk about what we really find scary (aside from Glenn Beck) read some awesome fan mail, do lots of video game talk with our fresh from G.D.C. guest star Randiskull. Then we review the amazing killer rugrat flick, The Children and I unveil my shameful secret guilty pleasure with this week’s Instant Queue Netflix Pick (they really should be paying me for all this promotion).

So without further ado–please to enjoy the Podcast Episode 03. Or better yet- subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!!

And remember, if you like what you hear, have a suggestion or just think our show sucks send us an email, and I promise this time, sexy-time-Summer will read it on our next podcast!

Diabolically Yours,

Zombie Grrl

This week Summer and I try a little structure… to er.. mixed results (or maybe it was just all the beer). We review a suprisingly good flick with a weak sauce name, Alien Raiders. Talk government population control conspiracy theories and hot pink shotguns.  I wax geek-tastic over The Watchmen, Wondercon and Resident Evil 5. And we make our first streaming Netflix pick!

So without further ado–please to enjoy the Zombie Grrlz Podcast Episode 2. Or better yet- subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!! 

And if you like what you hear (or even if you don’t) send us an email, and Summer will read it on our next podcast, with that sexbomb voice of hers!

Oh and speaking of commentary, we got a mention from our boyz over at The Real Sleepy Cast in their latest episode, No.71, so if you haven’t already checked them out be sure to go give them a listen, it’s the guiltiest pleasure on teh Internetz!

Smooches,

Zombie Grrl

So last night, after playing a little Resident Evil 5 (which by the way kicks so much ass I am getting foot pains) I logged on my computer to check my email one last time before heading off to tempurpedic heaven, when I saw that our lil ol podcast had a couple of new comments.

Much to my surprised fangrrl delight they were from the guys at my favorite horror podcast Dead Lantern’s Splattercast, and my new favorite raunchtastic popculture podcast The Real Sleepy cast … giving us props!

Needless to say much squealing ensued!

Considering that we just got this thing up and running it was very cool and

encouraging to get notes from two veteran podcasts, especially ones that we

Zombie Grrlz totally dig.

So we are returning the favor… The Zombie Grrlz commands you to go check out the DeadLantern.com’s Splattercast and FZRandRonin.com’s The Real Sleepy cast, post haste!! Andele, andele, rapido rapido ?

Go give them love, because they clearly have great taste

Cheers!

Zombie Grrl

Kicking off the weekly podcast the Grrlz chat about the inundation of remakes, [Rec] vs. Quarantine and review the Dead Birds quasi sequel Red Sands….Be sure to stay tuned after the outro for outtakes including Summer aka Lady Succubus’ musical debut!

Click here: Official ZombieGrrlz Podcast Episode 1 or subscribe on

P.S. As this is our very first podcast – ever – so we are completely wingin’ it… feedback is totally welcome… but please be kind!