Five Kick Ass Final Girls Of The 1970s

So far so good, in this series I have outlined the women of horror, that have kicked some major big bad evil killer butt from the 1980s to the 2000's and since it has been a while i thought that it might be kind of fun to do the 1970s!

Now the truth is, is over the decades there have been a ton of amazingly talented women that have taken on some of horror movies worse villains, and so it was hard to cull it down to 5, but here is what I believe them to be:

At number 5: Kyle Richards (Eaten Alive).

Kyle Richards as seen in, 'Halloween' (1978). 

Kyle Richards... Now you might not think it... I mean last I heard, Kyle Richards has mostly been doing reality tv these days, but when she was a kid, she did a lot of horror movies, and in each one... (At least the ones that I have seen,) she has last to the end of each one of them... And thus I think she definitely deserves a place!

For more information on Kyle Richards, please check out these scene from: Eaten Alive (1977):

At number 4: Linda Bliar (The Exorcist).

Linda Blair in, 'The Exorcist' (1973)!

Now let's be honest here, The Exorcist is one of the most famous horror movies of all time, and with Linda Blair having starred in the first two, she definitely deserves her place in this listing of 5 kick ass final girls of the 1970s!

For more information on her work, please check out these trailers for: The Exorcist (1973) & Exorcist 2: The Heretic (1977):

With number 3 we have: Marilyn Burns (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre).

Marilyn Burns as, 'Sally Hardesty' in one of the most famous scenes in horror movie history in, 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre'!

Marilyn Burns... Now I am sad to say that this amazing talent, who really did a majorly awesome job of being a final girl in the 7os, as well as having maintained a role in horror movies ever since, has past away earlier this year, but if you haven't seen her work, you should, she totally rocks in just about everything she did!

For more information on Marilyn Burns, please check out this trailer for: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974):

Next up on the block, at number 2: Sigourney Weaver (Ghostbusters).

Sigourney Weaver in, 'Alien' (1979)!

Sigourney Weaver, her role in the Alien movie series has been truly prolific, and after having been in 2 prolific Science Fiction series (the Alien movie series, and the Ghostbuster movie series,) she is definitely one that is worth mentioning for her role in helping bring the Alien movie series to the world in 1979!

For more information on Sigourney Weaver, please enjoy this trailer for: Alien (1979):

And finally, at number 1: Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween).

Jamie Lee Curtis as: 'Laurie Strode' in, 'Halloween' (1978)! 

For Jamie Lee Curtis, I am mentioning her here, because besides the fact that she helped create a series that to the day is still beloved by fans all over the world, her work in the horror movie world in both the 70s and 80s was truly remarkable!

For more information on Jamie Lee Curtis, please enjoy this trailer for: Halloween (1978):

The truth is, is there are a ton more, but I would personally say that these girls truly kicked some bad boy butt (or some monster butt)!

Counter Culture Songs Of The 60s And 70s, Possible Themes For Writing Modern Horror Movies

This guy is a real killer musician!

Rather or not you are a writer, have you ever listened to a song that inspires you to write script of some sort? Rather it be a movie script or a manuscript (book)?  If so, you rock!

Being a professional writer for more then a few years now, I have found inspiration in all sorts and kind of ways! Some times when it comes to something as simple as thinking up a fun title, and then crafting a story around it! But there is a way to do so that just dawned on me recently... That being using songs to write movies! Or, well in the context of this blog, using music to inspire one to write a horror movie!

An unfortunate, yet valid example of this is, 'Charles Manson'... Ok so maybe Charles Manson never got published... He may not have ever even written anything (I suspect that if he has written a biography, that it was probably actually ghost written...) But the reason why I use this as an example is because unfortunately he found inspiration from The Beatles song, 'Helter Skelter', and where as I do find all of that to be absolutely disgusting... A great song, I think can truly inspire some one to write a great movie!

The right song can inspire some one to write a great horror movie!

In my opinion, a great place to start would be to listen to some of the awesome counter-culture music of the 60s and 70s, such bands as: Iron Butterfly, or Led Zepplin, or Black Sabbath, and that is just to name a few!

I mean have you ever sat and watched one of the older horror movies, (like, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974),) and just thought that this movie thematically seems kind of similar to say: 'The psychedelic nature of Iron Butterfly's (In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida)', or say: 'Black Sabbath's (Iron Man) or maybe it is just something as simple as wondering if perhaps this movie was inspired by a particular song...

If you haven't thought with that concept in mind, check out one of these older horror movies and really look at it from the musical concept, I think you will find it to be most illuminating, and may actually be a source of inspiration for your next project!

The Many Faces Of, 'Leatherface' And The Men Who Played Him

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] 'Leatherface' with his family as they are about to sit down for dinner in, 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre'![/caption]

Believe it or not, with the exception of Freddy Krueger (who has uptil the recent remake has been played by: Robert Englund), and Norman Bates, (who til it's remake had always been played by: Anthony Perklins,) most long standing horror movie villains have been played by several different actors.

A good example of this is, 'Kane Hodder' (Hatchet)... Now Kane Hodder had up until recently been kind of universally recognized as the actor who played, 'Jason Voorhees' in the, 'Friday The 13th' movies... The only thing is, is that he didn't start playing the role till around part 7, and there were at least a couple of actors who played the role before him, and played them after him!

Well I got to thinking that you guys might enjoy a look back at the many looks of ,'Leatherface' over the years, (another role that has been played by many actors,) and the actors that played him!

So with out further adieu:

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974): Gunnar Hansen as, 'Leatherface':

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Gunnar Hansen played the role of, 'Leatherface' first, when he did, 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' (1974)![/caption]

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986): Bill Johnson as, 'Leatherface':

[caption id="attachment_2953" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Bill Johnson would go on to take over the role in 1986's, ' The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2'[/caption]

Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 (1990): R.A. Mihailoff as, 'Leatherface':

[caption id="attachment_2954" align="aligncenter" width="640"] R.A. Mihailoff would go on to be the first person to play the role in the 90s with, 'Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3' (1990)[/caption]

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994): Robert Jacks as, 'Leatherface':

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="416"] Robert Jacks would be the final person to play the role in the 90s, having taken over for, 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation' (1994)[/caption]

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) & The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006): Andrew Bryniarski as, 'Leatherface':

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="442"] Andrew Bryniarski would not only go on to be the first person to play the role in the new millennium, but he would be the first person in the history of the franchise to have played the role more then once![/caption]

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D (2013): Dan Yeager as, 'Leatherface':

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="543"] To date... Dan Yeager is the most recent person to take over the role, but not only has he taken over the role, but in my opinion, helped bring the original series back to prominence, what with helping reboot the original franchise![/caption]

In the end, this series is pretty awesome, and if you are like me, then you are really looking forward to what comes next!

Carrie (1974) - Stephen King - Book Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

Before I got in to the written works of Stephen King, I started off watching the movies that were based on the books that he has written... One of my favorite movies that was made based on his novels is the mini-series movie, The Stand (1994)!

This movie has what I would say is some of the greatest actors of the 80s and early 90s in it it, including: Rob Lowe (St. Elmo's Fire), Gary Sinise (Apollo 13th) & Molly Ringwald (The Breakfast Club), and that is to name a few... Included in the fact that this movie had a great cast, it also had an amazingly fun story that showed civilization as it collapsed, and the final battle between good vs. evil, and how the survivors would have control of the Earth!

The reason that I mention this is the fact that there is another movie that was based on Stephen King's first novel, that I ended up really liking as well, that movie being, Carrie (1976)!

This movie not only had an amazing cast, but it also  had an awesomely fun story that told of how Carrie White (Played by: Sissy Spacek in the movie)... A high school girl that is an out cast by everyone in her school, and the rest of the town... Due to her crazy religious zealot of a mother (played by: Piper Laurie in the movie)... All of the kids in the town and pick on her, and generally speaking... her life is absolutely horrible!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Carrie White with one of the few people in the world that seems to like her![/caption]

What everyone doesn't know is that Carrie White has certain special powers... But they will... Oh boy will they!

You see one of her fellow students feels bad for a prank that all of her friends played on Carrie, and decides to give her a night that she will never forget when she gets her boyfriend to take Carrie to the prom... Well there is another student that wants to get even with Carrie... And in the end the student body and the rest of the town will never forget the name, 'Carrie White' forever!

In the end, the book tells the same story... But takes a fascinating look at a committee that has been brought together by the government to investigate what happened, and to talk to the survivors of the night Carrie went to the prom!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="182"] This was one of Stephen King's first novels![/caption]

In the end, this novel is an interesting fun one that works well taking place both in the present and in the past... And if you read it, I think you might find that you really like it as well!

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D & Star Trek... Two Great Examples Of Movie Series Rebooted

That's right folks, these 2 movies, both being almost polar opposites of each other really got it right!

What do I mean by this? Well before I go in to this, let me give you a little background in to why these series ultimately really did need to be rebooted... Starting with, 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' would go on to live in the hearts and minds of horror fans all over the world forever![/caption]

Now this movie series started off with the ultra popular classic, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre  (1974)... A movie that was directed by Tobe Hooper (Eaten Alive)... Now this movie would go on to live in the hearts and minds of true horror fans, and would spawn a few sequels, and a remake series...

The problem is, is that like all great horror franchises, the production company allowed the series to degenerate in to unbearable campyness... That was until, Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994)... This movie was so bad that they went in to full on remake mode!

Well the truth is, is the remakes truly did do the series some justice, and kind of rubbed off some of the stank that came with, Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation... The problem though, is that for some reason, the studio decided not really to follow through the remake series very well, because directly after the first remake movie, they decided to do the pre-quel... Well both were good... It just sucked to see them end so quickly!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Leatherface as a girl... Really?[/caption]

And then came, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D (2013) rather or not you liked this movie or not, there is one area that I found not only to be extremely bad ass, but in a way, this movie could have stunk otherwise (It didn't), but having this element being apart of the movie, just made it all worth while!

That being just how well they rebooted the series!

What I mean by that, is that they essentially cut out the original series sequels, and started this movie as if it was a sequel to the Tobe Hooper classic original... But not only did they do that, and do that well, but they also did something that I don't remember ever seeing in any movie, that was done right, but have always wanted to see it, and see it done right, and that is to see the after math of the events from the previous horror movie!

There are many other reasons to see this movie, but the truth is, is these 2 I think are 2 of the better reasons!

[caption id="attachment_2622" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Star Trek (2009)... A great example of a classic series being properly rebooted for the next generation![/caption]

As far as Star Trek (2009) goes, I can go on and on about that movie, but the truth is, is that I liked the way they rebooted the series for that movie as well (essentially they gradually and comfortably refocused the story by changing events in the main story line, so that the original story can be told with a fresh perspective, and the truth is, I found that cool, considering that the original story was running out of wiggle room, and Paramount at the time had a moratorium on anything Star Trek, after, 'Enterprise' and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) bombed...)

In the end, there is a lot of other great reasons to check out these 2 films, and if you would like information on that, then I would recommend checking the reviews that are on this site... Otherwise, please enjoy these trailers for both movies!

http://youtu.be/SyJszxnJydA

http://youtu.be/AKqFfkassgo

5 Classic Horror Movie For The Fright Fan Home Alone On Christmas 2013

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="470"] This Santa Clause will give you a lot more then a, 'lump of coal' if you are naughty during Christmas![/caption]

Last year when I first started Hellinspace, I thought that I would start up a blog to help those in need for Christmas... Last year I mentioned 5 Science Fiction movies that I still believe would work really nicely for the Holidays (For more information, please click, 'Here')... Well now I thought one of the Blogs that I would do this year for Christmas would for, '5 Classic Horror Movies For The Fright Fan Home Alone On Christmas 2013'...

Admittedly... Horror movies generally are not something that one would recommend for a fun & festive holiday that is generally meant for mirth and merriment... Well the truth is, I think the old saying: 'Different Stroke For Different Blokes' definitely applies here!

What I mean by that, (and this is for those non-fright fiends that maybe looking for a good gift for the fright fans in their lives...) But horror movies generally truly do have some great horror movies that have been released that are geared around Christmas... And if you are a fan of horror (or are just looking for a solid Christmas present for one), then check this out... I think you might like it!

Number 5: Silent Night (2012).

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="535"] Silent Night... A new entry, but one that deserves its time to shine![/caption]

For more information on this movie, please enjoy this trailer for: Silent Night (2012):

http://youtu.be/RhLw3GmHQqA

Number 4: Jack Frost (1997).

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] This Snowman wants to play...[/caption]

For more information on this movie, please enjoy this trailer for: Jack Frost (1997):

http://youtu.be/ev0NkYfkgYE

Number 3: Silent Night Deadly Night 2 (1987).

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Hey... It is the Anti-Fred Claus![/caption]

For more information on this movie, please enjoy this trailer for: Silent Night Deadly Night 2 (1987):

http://youtu.be/61l1jc4PXao

Number 2: Christmas Evil (1980).

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="340"] Look mommy, I got a kitchen knife for Christmas![/caption]

For more information on this movie, please enjoy this trailer for: Christmas Evil (1980):

http://youtu.be/_uAMtjDXXhs

Number 1: Black Christmas (1974).

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] I reckon this guy is bringing them some, 'Yule Tide Fear' this Christmas![/caption]

For more information on this movie, please enjoy this trailer for: Black Christmas (1974):

http://youtu.be/4gNdplqmCcQ

There are a ton of great Holiday horror movies out there, but for this year, I do believe that this is a good lot of movies, with some old, and some new, but hopefully there is something for everyone on this list, and I hope this'll help... And hey, from the Hellinspace team, to all you fright fiends out there, Merry Christmas!

Hell Yes, 70s Horror Movies Are Still Relevant

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] 'Pluto' (Michael Berryman) with, 'Brenda Carter' (Susan Lanier) in this scene from the classic 70s horror movie, 'The Hills Have Eyes' (1977).[/caption]

The short answer is... 'Hell Yes!' Of course 70s horror movies are still strongly relevant to the new generation! I mean a world that has for the most part not only forgotten the trailblazers of any genre during the silent era, pretty much all the way up to the classics that helped define a lot of modern movies... Hell Yes 70s horror movies are still relevant!

If horror is to survive and not drown in the soup of over rebooting or remaking of the genre (essentially just putting a newer face and untested (and I hate to say it), but at least some of the time disinterested talent to try and re-create the mastery and artistic vision of the trail blazers like, 'Alfred Hitchcock', 'John Carpenter' or any of the other true masters of horror...) We as the fans of the true classics have a duty to remind this new generation of horror fans that before, movies like, Tobe Hooper's truly classic horror movie, A Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) was being remade in 2003, that there was a classic little horror masterpiece that no one wanted to give the time of day to (so much so that during production of the movie, at least one time they had to close down production of the film for lack of funding!)

[caption id="attachment_2023" align="aligncenter" width="471"] Leatherface both from the 1974 version as well as 2013 version.[/caption]

Now before I go on I should probably say this, there are a some decent enough horror movie remakes, as well as originals that are coming out in the modern day (there is at least one remake, believe it or not that I would say is even better then the original... Shocking but true!) All I am saying though is that in an age where CGI has slowly taken over the horror genre, and where remakes seem to be mostly taking over, and the horror movies of the 70s that I believe are what helped make the genre what it had been for so long loosing their power, that some one has to stand up and say, 'Hell Yes 70s Horror Movies Are Still Relevant!'

In the end, I guess what I am really trying to say folks is to remember the classics that made 70s horror great, and don't forget to pass them on to the next generation, and keep these awesome classics alive for the next generation to enjoy... So stand up with me and say, 'Hell Yes 70s Horror Movies Are Still Relevant'.

Here is just a few classic trailers to wet your whistle with:

http://youtu.be/FS5hvqyeKfI

http://youtu.be/deJWUkiS42U

http://youtu.be/fYhceVkQGUk

Ed Gein... Movies He Inspired!

Unless you are an extreme horror movie fan or some one who does research on serial killers, then I doubt you would have heard of Ed Gein...

Well first of Ed Gein is one of the worst serial killers there is, yet he is also one of the most prolific serial killers in history... Why is that? Well besides the fact that he murdered only 2 people, and besides the fact that Ed Gein was more or less obsessed with his mother, he was also known to have made furniture and what not out of human body parts, as well as also having been known to have started making a woman costume out of human skin, to arrange some strange rituals... And yet he was a nice guy that lived as a hermit out in the middle of no where... Sound familiar?

It should, you see, one of the biggest contributions that Ed Gein contributed to the world, is what he contributed to the horror movie genre!

[caption id="attachment_1415" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Ed Gein, after the truth about hos gruesome life came to be known![/caption]

The first of these movies is, Psycho (1960), you see this movie was based on the book by author Robert Bloch who based his story mostly on Ed Gein's case, in that Psycho told the story of a reclusive young man by the name of, 'Norman Bates', who lived out at his mostly empty Motel, and who was obsessed with his overly possessive mother, and how after he kills a woman one night, the world that he had created for himself, had started spiraling out of control!

[caption id="attachment_1416" align="aligncenter" width="597"] Anthony Perkins as, 'Norman Bates' in Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 masterpiece, 'Psycho' (1960)[/caption]

The next one that I thought that I would mention here is, Three On A Meathook (1974). Now this is another movie that is loosely based on the story of Ed Gein, with the exception that it appears that the mother is no longer in the picture, and the father appears to become obsessed with the son, when the son starts pulling away!

[caption id="attachment_1417" align="aligncenter" width="600"] A scene from, Three On A Meat Hook (1974)![/caption]

And another one that I thought that I would mention here (One of the first movies that maybe the first most closest adaptions of the old Ed Gein story), a movie that I found to be a lot of fun, (and if you are huge B Horror fan I think you might to), that movie is, Deranged: Confessions Of A Necrophile (1974). This movie tells the story about how after the death of the mother that he loved so dearly, that this old hermit farmer, becomes a grave robber and murderer, and even goes so far to try and keep and preserve his mother's corpse!

[caption id="attachment_1418" align="aligncenter" width="600"] This guy is taking the term, 'getting a new look,' a little to far!'[/caption]

The next movie that I thought that I would say is more closely based on the story of Ed Gein is not so much a movie as it is a character in a movie, and that is the character of, 'Jame (Buffalo Bill) Gumb' (Played by: Ted Levine) from the award winning movie, Silence Of The Lambs (1991), a movie which has FBI trainee, 'Clarice Starling' (Played by: Jodie Foster) and how she enlisted the help of a captured serial killer in an effort to capture a serial killer by the name of, 'Buffalo Bill' a loner, that is kidnapping women in an effort to make a woman suit out of the women that he has murdered... And has gotten the FBI's attention when his latest kidnapping victim is the daughter of U.S. Senator!

[caption id="attachment_1419" align="aligncenter" width="604"] Ted Levine as, 'Jame (Buffalo Bill) Gumb' in, 'Silence Of The Lambs' (1991)![/caption]

The last one that I wanted to mention here is, Ed Gein: D.D.S. (2013). Now this movie hasn't been released yet, but this movie will tell the story of how a witches coven will resurrect Ed Gein using an old haunted dental chair that had been taken from the Hospital that he spent the last years of his life at.

[caption id="attachment_1421" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Ed Gein will be resurescted later this year to have some more fun in, 'Ed Gein: D.D.S.' (2013)[/caption]

And then of course there are the movies that are actually bio-pics of Ed Gein and his story, included in this is:

1. Ed Gein (2000), a movie which stars, Steve Railsback (Disturbing Behavior) as Gein.

2. Ed Gein: The Ghoul Of Plainfield (2004) a documentary on Gein himself.

3. Ed Gein: The Butcher Of Plainfield (2007) a horror movie that stars, Kane Hodder (Jason X)

4. Ed Gein: The Musical (2010) a movie which stars Dan Davies (West Of The Thunder)

The last area that I thought that I would mention here are just a few movies that took some element of Ed Gein and what he did for their film:

1. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) used Gein as the inspiration for, 'Leatherface', as well as the fact that Leatherface and his creepy family are on a creepy out of the way farm that is decorated with furniture that was made from Human remains.

2. Motel Hell (1980), used the whole creepy killer farmer element that lives almost entirely out in the middle of no where, and kills people!

3. Maniac (1980) a movie that used the fact that the killer in this movie had an abusive mother, and that is why he kills women he deemed, 'un-clean'.

4. Ed And His Dead Mother (1993) in this movie the lead character who is mourning the loss of his mother that he has lived his entire life with, dies and ultimately he has brought back to life!

5. Roadkill: The Last Days of John Martin (1994) tells the story of a crazy meat carver who lives on a farm by himself and goes out and kills people with car trouble for food... He also has an ornamental dead head.

6. House Of 1,000 Corpse (2003), now I suspect that when Rob Zombie was making this film, that he utilized the fact that Ed Gein would dress up in a woman suit and would dance in bizarre rituals at night as inspiration in this movie for the moment in the movie when the family dresses up (in real costumes) to sacrifice the remaining people that they had captured to, 'Doctor Satan'!

http://youtu.be/y9klJA1JMbM

http://youtu.be/04kk_XHyTvk

http://youtu.be/nSNJmvxNs80

http://youtu.be/lQKs169Sl0I

http://youtu.be/OzNOwnizMmg

http://youtu.be/nrhyZTNYdrU

http://youtu.be/mt9dFlDiC6k

http://youtu.be/Vs3981DoINw

http://youtu.be/k4AR3BgaCdA

http://youtu.be/btGEvamuaA4