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Horror Short, Tailypo, is Fearfully Charming

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Over the last couple of years, I have become a big fan of short form horror films.  Like a great short story and its novel counterpart, the form allows for a chilling tale to be told, generally in under a half hour, that encompasses everything a feature length film offers in a fraction of the time.  It’s not an easy feat when one considers everything that must be accomplished in that brief period of time.  Most shorts seem to go for the jump scare or a big shock to get its point across.  There is nothing wrong with this and I enjoy them as much as any other, but every once in a blue moon, a horror short comes along that manages to captivate and intrigue the imagination.  Cameron McCasland’s new short film, Tailypo, manages to do just that.

McCasland went way back into the folklore of the Appalachian Mountains to bring us the tale of an old man and his faithful dog who happen upon something not so natural in the woods outside their cabin.  The old man is hungry and game has been scarce.  His eyesight is failing him so when he sees something wandering about in the woods, he fires at the creature hoping for a decent meal.  He and the dog scramble forward to see what they’ve bagged, only to find a tail lying on the ground.  He examines it and decides there is enough meat on the tail to make a stew and heads back to his cabin. As night closes in, he and his dog enjoy the stew and settle in to bed, not knowing that the creature is coming back for his tail and will have it one way or another.

tailypo2

As I said before, this is an old tale from the Appalachian region of the United States but one the managed to travel to a campfire in Texas when I was a boy.  I remember it scaring me to death and I couldn’t help but imagine the voice in the night as Tailypo looked for his missing tail.  McCasland’s film stays true to the legend.  Tailypo is described variously as a cat or dog like creature with glowing eyes and razor sharp teeth.  It’s certainly not a creature you want to piss off.

That’s not the only throw back to this film, however.  There is a certain “Tales from the Crypt” feel to the story and the way that it is filmed.  I half expected the Cryptkeeper to show up to finish out the tale after its explosive ending and I mean that in the best possible way.  As the credits rolled by at the end, I was filled with a feeling of nostalgia.  Too many of these stories no longer get passed on and that, as my mother would say,  is a crying shame.

Tailypo will be releasing soon and making its way to computer screens and film festivals near you in no time, and this is what I encourage you to do.  Get your kids, nieces, nephews, (anyone over the age of say 8) together.  Build a blanket fort.  Tell a few ghost stories, and then turn on Tailypo just before turning the lights out for bed.  Then sneak back in and whisper, “Tailypo, tailypo…who has my tailypo” and watch them come unglued.  It’s what we did when we were kids and that needs to be passed on to the next generation.

 

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Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

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The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

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lizzie borden house

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

Inside the Lizzie Borden House

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

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’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

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28 years later

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.

28 Days Later

The original film followed Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to find that London is currently dealing with a zombie outbreak.

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