April was born in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, where her fragile psyche was twisted into dark and eldritch shapes by fried rabbit, moonshine and Southern Baptist sermons. She studied filmmaking at the UNC School of the Arts (no, she doesn’t know Danny McBride, please stop asking) before sharing an apartment in New York City with six deranged parrots and a leather queen. April eventually returned to her native Tennessee, where she writes novels and scripts, freelances for a number of publications, co-organizes the Knoxville Horror Film Fest, and buys booze in mason jars from a guy named Doughbelly.
Here’s your chance to fight the good fight, Rue Morgue readers. Our pals over at Strange Kids Club have started a petition in hopes of convincing Hollywood to get off their asses and fund that Goon feature we’ve been hearing about for so long. It’s a worthy cause – the test footage, posted after the jump, is quite promising, and we all know that Frankie and the Goon deserve their turn on the silver screen. So fight your way through the Hobo Jungle, stomp some Chug-Heads and click here to sign the petition. And don’t forget to share it with your degenerate pals!
Jeff Lieberman, director of Blue Sunshine, Squirm, and the under-appreciated slasher flick Just Before Dawn, recently posted a never-before-heard recording of a session he did with Rod Serling back in 1972, when Lieberman directed the legendary Twilight Zone creator for an episode of The Art of Film. It’s extremely cool and worth your time to listen.
[Paul Counelis gave us some lip, so we sent him back to the Monster Kid Corner. Will he ever learn?]
One of my earliest cinematic memories is waking up on Sunday mornings to watch movies with my dad. Most of the time, they were early comedic offerings, such as the works of the great duos Abbott and Costello and Laurel and Hardy. One such Sunday, Bela Lugosi leered from our television screen in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, hypnotizing me (as well as Lou Costello) with something I had never really been exposed to before: horror.
[Welcome to Rue Morgue's newest column, Hell's Shelves. Novelist and journalist Alan Kelly will use his hard-won chunk of our unreal estate to explore the best in genre fiction, from the small-press to the experimental to the mainstream. In the first installment, Alan chats up Lauren Beukes, author of Moxyland and Zoo City.]
If South African writer Lauren Beukes hasn’t already attracted a cult following with her debut novel Moxyland, she is sure to score a big hit with her follow-up Zoo City. A book with all the hardboiled trappings of Mickey Spillane spliced with the deadly, ethereal edge of Caitlín R. Kiernan and the socio-political bent of Margaret Atwood, Zoo City is a genre-defying, post-modern gallimaufry of shamanism, spiritual familiars, guilt, redemption and social isolation, packaged with more than enough violent grit and eye-watering shocks to appeal to even the most jaded of horror aficionados.
The tenth annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards nominations are out now, and we’re very happy to announce that Rue Morgue is up for eight – count ‘em, eight — Rondos! That’s one more than last year, if you’re keeping score (we are). Thanks so much to the guys and ghouls who nominated us in the following categories:
Rue Morgue readers will be happy to hear that Frankenstein’s Army will soon be lurching its way into British theatres. Momentum Pictures, the UK distribution arm of Alliance Films, has picked up British rights to Richard Raaphorst’s much-anticipated feature debut, which began its un-life as an awesome pair of promo reels way back in 2004. The feature project, then titled Worst Case Scenario, was scrapped due to rights issues, but was resurrected a few years later as a prequel called Frankenstein’s Army (RM #90). The Dark Sky Films/XYZ Films/Pellicola co-production is currently shooting in Europe.
Think your hometown is set to remain un-pillaged and non-plundered during GWAR’s upcoming Spring “Return of the World Maggot” tour? Sorry to tell you this, but you might want to hold off on that sigh of relief. The band has just announced a second leg of the tour, thus allowing the intergalactic reprobates to assault thirteen US cities that previously thought they were off the hook.
The second severed leg of the tour will kick off on April 13 in San Antonio, where they’ll show Texas what it really means to be a red state, and wrap up April 28 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Tickets are on sale now for fan club members; everyone else can buy them on Friday, February 10.
Rue Morgue readers are no doubt familiar with the work of British photographer Sir Simon Marsden, who passed away on January 22 at the age of 63. Marsden was world-renowned for his eerie infrared photographs of famously haunted places, most notably the castles, graveyards and churches of Europe.
“I believe that another dimension, a spirit world, runs parallel to our own so-called ‘real’ world,” said Marsden on his website, “and that sometimes, when the conditions are right, we can see into and become part of this supernatural domain. The mystical quality of my photographs reflects this ancient order and they attempt to reveal what is eternal.”
[Ron McKenzie checks in with an update on today's Clive Barker scare. Close call, this...]
We came very close, this week, to losing one of the genre’s most respected and well-loved icons. Clive Barker, creator of Hellraiser and Candyman, was recently admitted to hospital with Toxic Shock Syndrome after unforeseen circumstances that arose during a routine dental visit. The result was a seven-day coma, with doctors fearing and expecting the worst. We are very glad to report that Mr. Barker has since come out of his coma and is recuperating. The news broke on Clive’s Twitter feed this morning, with an immediate and overwhelming response from concerned friends and followers:
We’re sad to hear about the passing of actor/filmmaker Bill Hinzman, who died of cancer last night. Bill was a true pioneer of the genre we love so much. As the first zombie to shamble onscreen in the original Night of the Living Dead, he practically forged the image of the modern zombie. Bill also served as the director of photography on Romero’s The Crazies; as a director, his credits included 1987’s The Majorettes and 1988’s Flesh Eater. You can read more about him here and here.
Bill was with us for 75 years. We wish he could have been with us for 75 more.
CFC is presenting a special screening of an episode of AMC’s The Walking Dead followed by an in-depth Q&A with executive producer Gale Anne Hurd, moderated by film critic Richard Crouse. From the press release:
“Hurd will speak to the making of this series, the process of adapting a popular graphic novel series as live action series, balancing expectations of the horror genre with those of a human drama in an award-winning and highly charged prime time show, as well the creative and producing challenges faced along the way.”
Sent to settle the affairs of a recently deceased widow in the decaying grounds of Eel Marsh House is middle-aged solicitor, Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe). Upon his arrival, Kipps finds himself seeing and hearing unexplained noises that nearly send him over the edge. It soon becomes clear that everyone in the town is keeping a deadly secret. Although the locals try to keep him from learning their tragic history, Kipps discovers that the house is haunted by the ghost of a woman whose appearances foreshadow a child’s death. Who is this woman? Watch the shocking mystery unfold in this new portrayal of the classic ghost story that will send chills down your spine.
No one, not even the children, are safe.
In theatres February 3.
Watch the EXCLUSIVE livestream of the black carpet premiere of The Woman in Black on the Alliance Films Facebook page this Thursday, January 26 at 6pm EST with special guest, Daniel Radcliffe.
In this supernatural thriller, Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a widowed lawyer whose grief has put his career in jeopardy, is sent to a remote village to sort out the affairs of a recently deceased eccentric. But upon his arrival, it soon becomes clear that everyone in the town is keeping a deadly secret. Although the townspeople try to keep Kipps from learning their tragic history, he soon discovers that the house belonging to his client is haunted by the ghost of a woman who is determined to find someone and something she lost…and no one, not even the children, are safe from her vengeance. Don’t miss Daniel Radcliffe in this new portrayal of a classic ghost story that will leave chills down your spine. In theatres February 3! Learn more on the movie’s official website. Watch the LIVE STREAM of the Woman in Black Toronto premiere at Scotiabank Theatre, on the Alliance Films Facebook page January 26 at 6 pm to see Daniel Radcliffe walking the Black Carpet!
The seventh installment of Little Terrors is upon us! The latest edition of the short film showcase, presented by Rue Morgue Magazine and Unstable Ground, goes down tomorrow night at Toronto’s newest rep cinema, The Projection Booth. Each month, Little Terrors brings you two full hours of the best genre-related short films, shown on the big screen. The films are followed by an in depth Q&A/meet & greet with some of the filmmakers. Also new this month: this will be a liquor licensed event!
Here’s your chance to fight the good fight, Rue Morgue readers. Our pals over at Strange Kids Club have started a petition in hopes of convincing Hollywood to get off their asses and fund that Goon feature we’ve been hearing about for so long. It’s a worthy cause – the test footage, posted after the jump, is quite promising, and we all know that Frankie and the Goon deserve their turn on the silver screen. So fight your way through the Hobo Jungle, stomp some Chug-Heads and click here to sign the petition. And don’t forget to share it with your degenerate pals!
[Paul Counelis gave us some lip, so we sent him back to the Monster Kid Corner. Will he ever learn?]
[Welcome to Rue Morgue's newest column, Hell's Shelves. Novelist and journalist Alan Kelly will use his hard-won chunk of our unreal estate to explore the best in genre fiction, from the small-press to the experimental to the mainstream. In the first installment, Alan chats up Lauren Beukes, author of Moxyland and Zoo City.]
The tenth annual 
Rue Morgue readers will be happy to hear that Frankenstein’s Army will soon be lurching its way into British theatres. Momentum Pictures, the UK distribution arm of Alliance Films, has picked up British rights to Richard Raaphorst’s much-anticipated feature debut, which began its un-life as an awesome pair of promo reels way back in 2004. The feature project, then titled Worst Case Scenario, was scrapped due to rights issues, but was resurrected a few years later as a prequel called Frankenstein’s Army (RM #90). The Dark Sky Films/XYZ Films/Pellicola co-production is currently shooting in Europe.
Think your hometown is set to remain un-pillaged and non-plundered during GWAR’s upcoming Spring “Return of the World Maggot” tour? Sorry to tell you this, but you might want to hold off on that sigh of relief. The band has just announced a second leg of the tour, thus allowing the intergalactic reprobates to assault thirteen US cities that previously thought they were off the hook.
Rue Morgue readers are no doubt familiar with the work of British photographer Sir Simon Marsden, who passed away on January 22 at the age of 63. Marsden was world-renowned for his eerie infrared photographs of famously haunted places, most notably the castles, graveyards and churches of Europe.
[Ron McKenzie checks in with an update on today's Clive Barker scare. Close call, this...]
We’re sad to hear about the passing of actor/filmmaker Bill Hinzman, who died of cancer last night. Bill was a true pioneer of the genre we love so much. As the first zombie to shamble onscreen in the original Night of the Living Dead, he practically forged the image of the modern zombie. Bill also served as the director of photography on Romero’s The Crazies; as a director, his credits included 1987’s The Majorettes and 1988’s Flesh Eater. You can read more about him 
CFC is presenting a special screening of an episode of AMC’s The Walking Dead followed by an in-depth Q&A with executive producer Gale Anne Hurd, moderated by film critic Richard Crouse. From the press release:
Sent to settle the affairs of a recently deceased widow in the decaying grounds of Eel Marsh House is middle-aged solicitor, Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe). Upon his arrival, Kipps finds himself seeing and hearing unexplained noises that nearly send him over the edge. It soon becomes clear that everyone in the town is keeping a deadly secret. Although the locals try to keep him from learning their tragic history, Kipps discovers that the house is haunted by the ghost of a woman whose appearances foreshadow a child’s death. Who is this woman? Watch the shocking mystery unfold in this new portrayal of the classic ghost story that will send chills down your spine.
In this supernatural thriller, Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a widowed lawyer whose grief has put his career in jeopardy, is sent to a remote village to sort out the affairs of a recently deceased eccentric. But upon his arrival, it soon becomes clear that everyone in the town is keeping a deadly secret. Although the townspeople try to keep Kipps from learning their tragic history, he soon discovers that the house belonging to his client is haunted by the ghost of a woman who is determined to find someone and something she lost…and no one, not even the children, are safe from her vengeance. Don’t miss Daniel Radcliffe in this new portrayal of a classic ghost story that will leave chills down your spine. In theatres February 3! Learn more on the movie’s 
The seventh installment of Little Terrors is upon us! The latest edition of the short film showcase, presented by Rue Morgue Magazine and Unstable Ground, goes down tomorrow night at Toronto’s newest rep cinema, The Projection Booth. Each month, Little Terrors brings you two full hours of the best genre-related short films, shown on the big screen. The films are followed by an in depth Q&A/meet & greet with some of the filmmakers. Also new this month: this will be a liquor licensed event!
