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SLASHED! Is The Summer Camp Slasher Musical We Never Knew We Needed

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The horror genre and the stage go hand-in-hand. From FAUST to THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA to LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS to RE-ANIMATOR: THE MUSICAL and beyond, the theater is the perfect place to experience terrors in both dialogue and song. But who could ever expect a musical version of a summer camp slasher movie? That’s exactly what SLASHED! THE MUSICAL delivers with a seriously catchy soundtrack, genre savvy, great cast, and more!

Photo Credit: Ama Lea

SLASHED! is set during the peak golden age of slasher movies, particularly those set at summer camps in particular, 1983. Camp Freedom, or Camp “Doom” as it’s become infamously known, is being re-opened. Again. The camp has had it’s share of troubles and massacres since Lil’ Peetie Jergins (Played by Sean Keller, who also did the show’s music/lyrics/writing) died in a wayward bonfire while his counselors were off having sex and now “the curse of the ghost of the kid who died because everyone was fucking”  haunts the sleepaway camp’s history… and literally! Looney Lucy (Fayna Sanchez), the slasher staple crazy harbinger that nobody listens to, warns the audience and everyone within earshot that you’re all going to die… in a rousing musical number! All before we’re introduced to our cast of victims- I mean,characters. Including Blaine (Curt Bonnem) and Theresa (Clarke Wolfe) the camp administrators that want to revitalize the campsite and their failing marriage.

And what would an 80’s summer camp be without a bunch of rowdy, horny, beer swilling, pot smoking counselors? There’s the TV sitcom obsessed Shelly,  (Mary O’Neil) complete with DALLAS t-shirt/MORK AND MINDY suspenders. The aerobics and boy crazy Joyce (Elissa Wagner). The fit and usually shirtless Andy (Acquah Dansoh). And the timid and virginal Todd (Timothy Nathan Kopacz). Once the danger is revealed, the group comes upon the all-around badass, Paige (Kristyn Chalker) who has her own secret agenda for being at Camp Doom.

 

The show works on all levels. For genre fans, it’s everything we could love about a musical version of a slasher movie. With many jokes and easter eggs to 80’s horror and pop culture in general dropped in the dialogue. Such as Blaine reflecting on his child-hood ‘Sleepaway Camp’ where a camper went nuts and killed people. But he can’t remember if it was a boy or a girl… The character archetypes are on point, from “Looney Lucy” acting as stupendous stand-in for FRIDAY THE 13th’s “Crazy Ralph” to our prominent killer, Lil’ Peetie Jergins having elements of Jason, Cropsy, Madman Marz, and more camper boogeymen. And unlike usually mute masked murderers, Peetie has got some seriously good pipes! Singing about his tragic death and the plight of being unable to stop people from indulging in their sinful vices- no matter how many he kills. And without spoiling too much, the story manages to find all sorts of ways to reflect on the genre and turn it upside down. The most upfront prominent of which being Todd being the male virgin of the tale rather than a girl.

The soundtrack being a major highlight of the show and with awesome performances all around. Capturing the aesthetic of 80’s pop and the haunting scores of slasher films along with peppy and incredibly catchy lyrics. In particular, the main theme of Camp Doom will leave you singing “You’re all gonna die” to yourself over and over! The run-time is only at 45 minutes, but they still manage to cram as much horror humor, song sequences, and dismemberments as possible.

The musical is ending its sold out run with Hollywood Fringe by June 23rd, BUT you’ll still have the chance to see this cross-genre trip to the 80’s as SLASHED! will have a special performance on Sunday, July 30th at the Midsummer Scream convention in Los Angeles with time and details TBD. So keep your eyes out and head on!

So, if you have the chance to spend the night at Camp Doom, I would highly recommend watching this throwback of fun!

SLASHED! THE MUSICAL’s soundtrack is available to listen right now for free here on Band Camp!

(Feature Image Photo Credit: Ama Lea)

 

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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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