Recently, the Rue Crew was invited to visit the Body Worlds exhibit that’s currently on here in Toronto, at the Ontario Science Centre. We’re big fans of Body Worlds and the way in which it marries the artistic and the scientific in order to help us learn about our bodies and, of course, explore our natural morbid curiosities about death and dying. They even allowed me to take exclusive shots (normally there is no photography permitted) in the exhibit, so we could show you what you’re in for.

You’ll see some of those pics below, but first I also want to point out that Centre is hosting a sketch night, which is amazing, not just if you’re an artist interested in, um, boning, up on your anatomy, but want reference material for any artwork or special effects involving the human body coming apart. Imagine how accurate the zombie disemboweling in your indie movie could be if you knew for sure how much sheep intestines to use or where to put the fake the lungs. Har har…

More details:

Inside the Body Worlds exhibition, you will have the opportunity to sketch the exhibit, along with live models. This is an evening of anatomy and art. As an added bonus, we will have instructors at each model station to share their expertise. Join colleagues from the world of art for the Ontario Science Centre’s

Phone: 416-696-1000 and quote promo code XXXX

And now some pictures from Body Worlds…

“Ed Harley, you need more bran in your diet!”

(Thanks, Angie!)

“New research suggests we may be able to erase traumatic memories.”

The holiday season is over, the tree taken down, knotted Christmas lights return to their basement dwellings and those damned carols have finally ceased to make our ears bleed and tempers flare. That doesn’t make this gingerbread house (err, church?) any less cool, though. Nicholas Daley and friends made this zombie apocalypse interpreted through ginger bread and sweets for an office competition. Check out the link for more pictures and the shocking conclusion of the contest.

Seriously, how cool is this?

http://www.geekdo.com/t474706/lhread/ast-night-on-earth-gingerbread-house

Here.

Tom Bagley, artist extraordinaire and the man behind the band Forbidden Dimension, created this holiday illustration of “Santapede.” I highly approve.

The folks at Cineaste magazine sent me a complimentary copy of their latest issue because its main features are on contemporary horror movies. Among the topics are kids in horror (hence Let the Right One In on the cover), vampires, torture porn and infection.
If you’re unfamiliar with Cineaste, it’s an academic style of film magazine that offers features, reviews, interviews and some pretty heady analysis, often focusing on the political aspect of cinema. Like Rue Morgue, it’s an independent publication (based out of New York City), but it has been around since 1967. It’s not the most visually appealing publication, and the Cineaste website is pretty hurtin’, but content-wise it’s very thoughtful and thorough. I read through the horror content in the latest issue and, although I didn’t learn a lot of new things about trends in the genre, I enjoyed seeing some of those major trends laid out and examined in terms of what they mean. For example, The Battle Inside: Infection and the Modern Horror Film, by Richard Harland Smith, traces how the depiction of infection has evolved since Night of the Living Dead to reflect the times, and covers, not just zombies, but vampires, demons (Fallen) and ghosts (e.g. Ringu).
As Smith says:

Because Romero and Russo refused to fix a definitive cause for the epidemic of Night of the Living Dead (radiation from a returning space probe is bandied about as a probable catalyst), one wonders which way this infection is traveling—from the ground up or the other way around? And precisely who is infecting whom? The implication is that the sins of the living, their pettiness, their bitterness, their rejection of spontaneity in favor of habit, have driven the deceased to an eternal, shambling unrest.

So, if you’re really into that type of genre analysis, give it a look and turn yourself into an even bigger horror nerd.

Spanish horror icon Paul Naschy has died at the age of 75, after battling cancer. Here’s a 2007 pic of him and our friend Shade Rupe, who met the legend in Spain. He describes the actor/writer/director/producer as “super nice.” You can learn more about Paul Naschy here.

Here’s why, dammit!

Below are all the deets, sent courtesy our favourite rogue, Mr. Rusty Nails, who put all this together. If you are considering heading to the Windy City for Terror in the Aisles 3, I urge ya to go, go, GO! Fred Dekker and Ed Sanchez are very cool, very interesting dudes. And how often do you get to see Black Christmas on the big screen? Not to mention, Treevenge is one of the greatest horror shorts ever made. If you’ve always wanted to see a Christmas tree kill a baby, well, Santa comes early for you this year.

TERROR IN THE AISLES 3

Co-Presented by Rue Morgue Magazine

BUY TICKETS NOW AT:
www.brownpapertickets.com

December 5, 2009

Tickets are $12 - Pay once - Come and go
as you please.

Portage Theater
4050 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
1.773.736.4050

Doors open at 7pm.

8pm - NIGHT OF THE CREEPS (director’s cut)
with director FRED DEKKER in Person!

10pm - BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (10 year anniversary!)
with director EDUARDO SANCHEZ in Person!
Hear about the film that influenced Paranormal Activity and
how it made film history.

Midnight - BLACK CHRISTMAS (The original - on film!)
(Bob Clark’s seminal 70’s atmospheric masterpiece!)

Short films include:
TREEVENGE (A Chilling Tale of Christmas Gone Wrong!)
CHEMICAL 12-D

Also - Music by My Damn Butterfly & Modern Day Rippers!!
Vendor tables, vintage movie, trailers, prizes, auction for Vital Bridges
(www.vitalbridges.org) surprises and more!!!

For more info go to:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54060464995
www.myspace.com/moviesidefilmfestival
www.portagetheater.org

Films and guests are subject to change. The are no
refunds for the show.

Enjoy…