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Watch: Award-Winning Horror Short ‘Here There Be Monsters’

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Here There Be Monsters Horror Short

Australian horror is home to some creepy little creature features. When the entire country is full of animals that are probably trying to kill you, you’re bound to find some inspiration in nature. And then there’s the fantastic “fear thy neighbor” films that prove just how scary some people can be. In Here There Be Monsters — an Australian horror short — we’re introduced to these top two types of terror; the villains we know, and the creatures we don’t.

After incessant bullying on the bus ride home, a young girl falls asleep and ends up trapped inside the school bus at the empty depot. Her frustration quickly turns to dread when she sees something lurking in the vast dark yard – something big – and Elki’s going to have to summon up every piece of courage she didn’t know she had if she’s going to survive the night.

Here There Be Monsters is free of dialogue, which makes the sound and music so very important. Erin McKimm does an incredible job with such a simple musical theme that’s woven throughout the short. It’s heartbreaking and honest, and communicates volumes of emotion alongside Savannah Foran-McDaniel’s delicate yet powerful performance as Elki.

As you watch the opening sequence — Elki being bullied on a school bus — you want nothing more than to throw your arms around her in a gesture of support and protection. It’s a brief snapshot of Elki’s life, but it’s effective in communicating a deep level of pain. Foran-McDaniel is commanding as the short’s lead and focus, drawing the audience along with her as we feel her fear and frustration.

The short showcases a satisfying practical monster design, which was designed, built, and operated by the team at Steve Boyle FX. The monster’s spine-tingling sound was born from the vocal skills of world famous beat boxer Tom Thum and engineered by sound designer Pete Christie. The result is a real down-to-earth terror that could feasibly crawl right out of the Australian muck (from whence it ostensibly came).

The film has played at 50+ festivals around the world, including Sitges, Hollyshorts, Screamfest and many more genre favorites, winning multiple awards along the way. Writer/director Drew MacDonald describes it as “something of a throwback creature feature mixed with a contemporary story about bullying”. But Here There Be Monsters is not just a cool creature feature, it carries a weight through its theme, focusing on the transference of anger.

There’s a complexity that runs through the short’s approach to bullying, demonstrating the cycles of anger and fear we fall into. MacDonald airs the dirty laundry of the bully’s situation in just a few seconds, offering a balanced and humbling angle to a once abhorrent character. The final moments are impactful, daring the audience to find the monster on screen.

You can watch the full Here There Be Monsters film on YouTube below, courtesy of Alter.

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Watch ‘The Burning’ At The Location Where It Was Filmed

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Fangoria is reporting that fans of the 1981 slasher The Burning will be able to have a screening of the film at the location where it was filmed. The movie is set at Camp Blackfoot which is actually the Stonehaven Nature Preserve in Ransomville, New York.

This ticketed event will take place on August 3. Guests will be able to take a tour of the grounds as well as enjoy some campfire snacks along with the screening of The Burning.

The Burning

The film came out in the early ’80s when teen slashers were being churned out in magnum force. Thanks to Sean S. Cunningham’s Friday the 13th, filmmakers wanted to get in on the low-budget, high-profit movie market and a casket load of these types of films were produced, some better than others.

The Burning is one of the good ones, mostly because of the special effects from Tom Savini who had just come off of his groundbreaking work on Dawn of the Dead and Friday the 13th. He declined to do the sequel because of its illogical premise and instead signed on to do this movie. Also, a young Jason Alexander who would later go on to play George in Seinfeld is a featured player.

Because of its practical gore, The Burning had to be heavily edited before it received an R-rating. The MPAA was under the thumb of protest groups and political bigwigs to censor violent films at the time because slashers were just so graphic and detailed in their gore.

Tickets are $50, and if you want a special t-shirt, that will cost you another $25, You can get all the information by visiting the On Set Cinema webpage.

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‘Longlegs’ Creepy “Part 2” Teaser Appears on Instagram

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Longlegs

Neon Films released an Insta-teaser for their horror film Longlegs today. Titled Dirty: Part 2, the clip only furthers the mystery of what we are in for when this movie is finally released on July 12.

The official logline is: FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes unexpected turns, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again.

Directed by former actor Oz Perkins who also gave us The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Gretel & Hansel, Longlegs is already creating buzz with its moody images and cryptic hints. The film is rated R for bloody violence, and disturbing images.

Longlegs stars Nicolas Cage, Maika Monroe, and Alicia Witt.

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Exclusive Sneak Peek: Eli Roth and Crypt TV’s VR Series ‘The Faceless Lady’ Episode Five

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Eli Roth (Cabin Fever) and Crypt TV are knocking it out of the park with their new VR show, The Faceless Lady. For those unaware, this is the first fully scripted VR horror show on the market.

Even for masters of horror like Eli Roth and Crypt TV, this is a monumental undertaking. However, if I trust anyone to change the way that we experience horror, it would be these two legends.

The Faceless Lady

Ripped from the pages of Irish folklore, The Faceless Lady tells the story of a tragic spirit cursed to wander the halls of her castle for all of eternity. However, when three young couples are invited to the castle for a series of games, their fates may soon change.

So far, the story has provided horror fans with a gripping game of life or death that doesn’t look as if it will slow down in episode five. Luckily, we have an exclusive clip that may be able to satiate your appetites until the new premiere.

Airing on 4/25 at 5pmPT/8pmET, episode five follows our final three contestants in this wicked game. As the stakes are raised ever higher, will Ella be able to fully awaken her connection with Lady Margaret?

The faceless lady

The newest episode can be found on Meta Quest TV. If you haven’t already, follow this link to subscribe to the series. Make sure to check out the new clip below.

Eli Roth Present’s THE FACELESS LADY S1E5 Clip: THE DUEL – YouTube

To view in the highest resolution, adjust the quality settings in the bottom right corner of the clip.

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