Review of Jennifer Campbell's Short Film Hike!

As I mentioned in my interview with director Jennifer Campbell, I think one of the reasons why I instantly took such a liking to Hike, is the fact that it is without a doubt the kind of short I could totally see myself making!!  I mean, whenever I'm out and about walking, be it through the woods, or along the beach, or up in the hills...I always picture myself finding body parts...or a completely whole dead body!!  Sick I know, but I can't help myself, haha.  My mind just drifts off...and that's usually where it drifts to...limbs amongst the driftwood!! ;) 

With its stunning location and superb direction, what I appreciate most about Hike is how simple...yet wonderfully effective it is at the same time. It beautifully conveys the perfect image of some of the true horrors that are actually out there. As a girl with a total serial killer fascination, this is horror at its more shocking and perverse because it's so real!! 

Hike is the perfect example of the ultimate male monster. The one that blends into society. The one who despite all they may have, still needs that power play that comes from victimising a woman. One who is either physically unable to fight back, or one who has been so mentally abused, that they don't have the inner strength in them left to fight!! 

These are the men that everyone is always so shocked when they hear about some of the atrocities they have committed. They are the friendly neighbour, your kids scout leader, the boy next door...the kind of guy who we wouldn't even contemplate a danger when they ask us to go out for a hike in the woods! The best serial killers are usually the ones that blend in with society. And in the case of someone like Ted Bundy, they also happen to be some of the worst when it comes to the level and extent of violence committed!!

When describing Hike, Vancouver based director Jennifer Campbell had this to say - 

“Hike is about violence against women, being silenced and ultimately being victimized because someone is bigger, stronger and able to overpower.”

We live in a society where violence against women is shockingly high, and a lot of it is precisely down to this mindset.  Men need to show just how big and strong they are, and just how easily they can hurt their partners...or mothers, sisters, daughters...granmothers!!  

Shorts such as Hike are such an eye opener in that they remind us that whilst we may feel safe and secure in our day to day lifestyle...you never know what kind of evil may be lurking just round the corner!!  It is for this very reason that it is important for women to be self aware, and able to know that there is always someone they can turn to for help.  

I've said this before, and I'll say it again...I think the reason that women appreciate horror so much, and just why they're so good at making it, is that the levels of violence and rape against women, it's so much higher than anything against men.  Hell, childbirth is enough to give any woman an appreciation of horror, haha.  All joking aside though, I think it's wonderful that there are women out there such as Jennifer Campbell, who are making films like Hike, who are conveying the word about such topics, but in a way that opens insightful debate and understanding.  Not in a, "shove it down your throat" kind of way.  I'd just like to add on a separate note, that it's also quite appropriate that all of the funds from the Have a Heart for Horror Cook Book, a cook book filled with recipes and art from various female figures working within horror today (including yours truly!!), are going to Project Get Safe.  This is a non-profit corporation dedicated to preventing real life horrors such as victims of abuse, domestic violence, teen youth shelters, halfway houses.

Check out the trailer for Hike below and keep up with the news from Jennifer Campbell and her production company Whitebowl Productions at the Official Site and Facebook page.  

I would also just like to say I've edited this to say Congratulations to JC for her award for Best Women Director in the Shorts Category at the PollyGrind Film Festival in Las Vegas.  With shit loads of films showing over a massive 17 days, this is truly a well deserved honor for Miss Campbell.  So YAY....Go Jen!! :) 

Ooh, and it also took the award for most Over the Top Special FX at this year's Stiletto Film Festival as well.  The FX that it is referring to is one that when watching the Sons of Anarchy Season 5 finale, it made me giggle and think of Hike!!  BWAH! ;) 

So yes, expect great things to come from this fellow JC, who not only shares my first name...she also shares the initial of my second name...woooo, creep~tastic!!!  Bwahahahaha. :)

The Last Post by Axelle Carolyn - Review

The Last Post is one of the most beautifully stunning pieces of work I have ever seen. With its haunting melancholy and pitch perfect performances, it's impossible not to feel emotionally connected to it and drawn completely in. The thought of dying alone is always a sad one, we reflect upon our lives and think of all of the people we've connected to that have been and gone. The ones who even though we only knew for a relative short period of time, they made such an impact on our lives and helped turn us into the person we are today. And although the years have passed by and a life apart has been led, you still feel a connection to them, and know that someday you will see them again. Be that in life...or death.

The three performances in The Last Post are all in their own way, exceptional! Jean Marsh as the old lady Colette is wonderful, the emotion that she conveys whilst telling her story, the great sadness in her eyes and that feeling of tremendous loss...this is the mark of a truly great actress. The supporting cast of Kimberley Nixon as the Nurse and Darren Bransford as the soldier, such subtle performances yet so effective.

The Last Post is such a terrific first attempt at a short by Axelle, she has a raw talent for attention to detail and for bringing out the subtle beauty of her actors performances. She is most definitely a woman to watch and I can't wait for her to move on to feature projects!

In a way, The Last Post almost reminds me of Titanic when Rose is reliving those magical few weeks before the wretched iceberg got in the way! And say what you want about my love of Titanic (and The Winslet, haha), but it's that sadness of knowing that Rose only knew Jack for such a minute period of time, and even though she went on to live her own life after his death, he was still the greatest love of her life! And yes, I cry at Titanic! I have no problem admitting that, haha. ;) And like Titanic, The Last Post also had my eyes welling up with tears. 

And ooh lastly, a super squeeeee...when going to IMDb to get a link for her name I saw that not only was Jean in Return to Oz and Willow...she was also in Frenzy, woot woot! Hitchcock nerd~gasm to the max! :D

Jennifer's Bodies February 2012 - Working in Association with the Dundee University Film Society with a Fellow Horror Chick! YAY!

Okay so this February's Jennifer's Bodies, I am so psyched to announce that I am working alongside the Dundee University Student Film Society!  :)  Now as if this wasn't cool enough, the main chick~a~roo in charge of the society, is a fellow kick ass horror gal!  Florence is also a fellow Horror Blogger Alliance chick, and when I went to post a reply to a blog post she had done, I saw a post from another horror chickzilla, The Real Queen of Horror!  Aaaah, what a small world we live in!  What other genre of film are you gonna find yourself bumping into others online so much as with horror?  Florence is wonderfully kooky with a wicked taste in film and a great sense of humour, and I urge you to check out her blog, A blog by your new friend: Florence NOW! :D

Jennifer's Bodies will be taking place on Sunday 26th February in the Tower Building at Dundee University.  You can find more information over at my Jennifer's Bodies page, including the full line up and tickets etc.  All of the money raised I am donating to a fellow woman in horror to go towards her 1 year old boy's medical bills for an operation to rectify his Craniosynostosis.  

BEST. CHATROOM. TALK. EVER. Viggo Mortensen just answered my quesssstion! Bwahahaha!

Right so anyone who has ever spent more than about 5 seconds with me, haha, will know how much I freakin' LOVE Viggo Mortensen!  He is without a doubt not only one of the greatest actors of his generation, he is easily one of the greatest and most iconic actors of all time!  I mean, he's ARAGORN for stalky pants sake!!!  One of the greatest loves of my life...and a man I WANT TO BE!!!  Haha. 

So yesss, when yesterday I found out that my dear darling partner in crime from when I worked at Vue Cinema in Plymouth had got the chance to interview him, I was beyond psyched!  The Mox and I bonded over a love of Lord of the Rings and all things geeky so this is pretty fucking epic!  With his work as BBC Radio Devon's film critic, he's interviewed some pretty cool people...this is definitely the one that has me squeeee'ing more than I usually do...I was almost speechless when I first found out!  And for me, we all know how much of a "WTF!?" moment that is, haha.  Anyhoo, totally psyched for him, as I was falling to sleep last night I was busy thinking of questions I'd love to ask Viggo, as a true Stalkypantsasaurus would do, right?  :)

And then....da, daaa, daaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh...I sign on to Twitter to post a link to my Parent's blog and see a Tweet from Empire saying Viggo was in the building and was live in the chat room!  Wheeee, wooop, doo daaah dooop!  So obviously my stalky pants self has to ask some questions.  Now my first question was one regarding working with Sean Penn on his directorial debut, The Indian Runner, one of my favourite films of all time.  And then the stupid thing crashed!  *insert MAJOR arrrrgh*  Anyhoo, I refreshed it and it wouldn't let me see if it had actually posted, or if he'd answered.  I'll get to check that out when the transcript is released later.  

(Pictured below - Viggo in The Indian Runner)

Sooo, I then ask him my next question, one I've been wanting to ask him for well over a decade...

You have done two Hitchcock remakes, as a massive Hitchcock fan I think you would have been amazing working with him, you have that classic and timeless vibe about you! Would you have liked to worked with Hitchcock back in the day and is there any of his films in particular you wish you had been in back then? :)

(Pictured above - Viggo as Sam Loomis in Psycho remake)

And zee answer from the amazing man himself...

I may be mistaken, but my understanding is that he was loath to allow actors to do much thinking for themselves, so I don't know that i would have been that comfortable working for him. However, given his track record, and were he still alive, it would be hard to pass up the opportunity to find out for myself what being directed by him would be like.

(Pictured above - Viggo as David Shaw in A Perfect Murder, the re-imagining of Dial M For Murder)

Sooo, there you have it!  I now have my answer!  Thank you Empire, heehee.  

And I can not wait to hear The Mox's interview with him, I shall be sure to linky all y'all Viggo lovers to it, bwahahahaha.  

And now to get back to the work I was actually supposed to be doing before I got distracted...but for the most worthwhile skiving moment EVER!!!  Muchos looooove to the Viggo!  And now back to writing like an actual grown up, totally non-fangirl (HA!) writer!  :D

(Pictured above - Viggo in Fresh Horses, in the small role that got him the part in The Indian Runner!)

The full transcript is up now, you can check it out at the Empire site! :D

Sons of Anarchy Returns to 5 USA in the UK Tonight - Season 4 Premier at 10pm!

Alrighty...it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that Sons of Anarchy is a show that I love dearly.  In fact, I love it so much, I'd happily rate it just below The X Files and on equals with LOST as one of my single most favourite shows of all time!  And coming from me, that is a MAJOR nerd~tastic nod!  The fact that this show is nothing to do with aliens or time travel, nor does it have any other Mulder~ific traits...it is just downright fucking awesome!!!  Amazing storytelling, superb acting, some of the greatest characters I've ever seen, action, violence and most of all, heart! <3  You care for these characters, like a lot!  ;)

So with Season 4 starting tonight on 5 USA, I thought what better reason to do a "YOU MUST WATCH THIS SHOW!" rant!  Soooo, first of all, check out the Seasons 1-3 catch up video below...just to get you ready.....

  

.....and now check out some of the previews for Season 4!  These are the FX ones, for some reason I cannot find the 5 USA trailer, which sucks as it's really good!

Now I'm not the kind of person to get obsessed with crap, not in the slightest.  If you disagree then we can arrange a date for a punch up at a later date, haha.  When I love something as much as I do SONS, you know there has gotta be something special about it!  And randomly speaking of punch ups, if you like some good old violence then check out the video below, haha.  I think Jax wins with the amount of people who have been on the other end of his fist.  Although Gemma probably wins for most badass hit, when she whacks Cherry in the face with a skateboard!

Being the cheat that I am, I've actually seen Season 4 already, I love this show waaaaaaaaay too much to have waited for it to be aired in the UK, haha.  In fact, here's a blog I did when the show was actually first back on in the States and the opening scene was sneaked online, heehee.  It is freakin' awesome and I can't geek out over it enough, bwahahaha!!!  But yeah, I did cheat and I'm glad I did.  That still doesn't make me not totally excited for it airing in the UK tonight though!  Any excuse, haha.  Series creator Kurt Sutter (below in his character of Otto) is on the top of his game and I cannot wait to see where he takes my boys next!

Now even SONS fans in the UK have probably heard that one major thing is missing this season, and I'm not even talking about a person....I'm talking about Jax's HAIR!!!  Now when I first saw a pic of him minus the hair, it was a case of aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh...however, within a millisecond (lol) I had grown to like it...and then love it!  And I have to admit, I did love Charlie Hunnam's reasons for doing so.  Check out his thoughts at the link below! :)

Before you get some Season 4 goodness though my peeps in the UK, if you've not checked out the APPISODES then I'd definitely recommend it.  They fill you in on some of the things that have went on between the end of Season 3 and the start of Season 4!  The one entitled PAYPHONE is definitely a much needed watch, even if it makes me go EEEEEEEEE and not in a good way, haha.  A lot of what happens in the first episode is to do with what happens in this Appisode!  So check it out, NOW! :D

A really cute moment when Tara visits Jax in prison and brings their new son Thomas with her.  And Gemma of course, haha.  

Get some basketball on yo! :D

Another pivotal moment that happens when the boys are in jail that plays a BIG part in Season 4!

Now don't just take my word for SAMCRO's awesomeness, listen to some of my favourite ladies too! :D  And also please take a moment to check out their websites as well.  :)

"It's a sexy, gritty, non-soap opera...soap opera. :-)  Well, and there's the delicious Jax whom you want all to yourself but don't mind sharing with the female leads because they are tough amazing chicks!"  

Jennifer Pasquill - The Clumsy Eater

"Great writing and great acting!  Violent, harsh and sexy in all the right places.  Strong female characters and strong male characters combine to make it three dimentional.  The stories take their time and the actors actually get to act!  Also one other thought, it can be so funny!!!!  Dark humour at its best!"   

Jennifer Campbell - Director of HIKE

"Speaking as a girl who does NOT want to bang Jax Teller (lol), I can safely say Sons of Anarchy is a show that appeals to everyone.  It has nail-biting tension, gut-wrenching drama, and ass-kicking action.  It's hard to pick a favorite character because they are all so awesome.  And for women who are doubtful, there's always the eye candy or the very strong, well-written female roles.  Gemma alone is probably TV's greatest woman.  You know a show is good when it has me screaming at the television one episode (Nooo!  Don't you touch her!!") and wiping away tears the next episode.  Oh, and I forgot to mention - EPIC FUCKING SOUNDTRACK." 

Heather Seebach - Viewer Discretion Advised

 Speaking of the EPIC FUCKING SOUNDTRACK, the other day I did a blog that featured songs from the show as well as other videos I'd found on YouTube that are SAMCRO perfect!  If you've got a moment then please do check them out!  I especially LOVE the Placebo version of Running Up That Hill...in fact, I'm totally obsessed with it right now, haha.  

Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy these videos and links and I hope you enjoy tonights premier my fellow UK peeperooo's!  Season 4 is possibly the best season so far and the episode HANDS not only has my favourite preview of the season, it is also possibly my favourite episode!  If you've already watched Season 4 and not seen this preview then check it out...and if you're a spoiler whore, I do apologise for making it so easy for you to see such an awesome spoiler, haha!  It's just TOO GOOD not to share, lol! :D

And ooh, sneak peek spoiler pic from Season 4 opener! <3  Look how adorable Jax and Tara are! :)

Enjoy fellow Jax~lings and SAMCRO lovers! <3

Sons of Anarchy - Some of My Favourite Songs From the Show AND Video Dedications to Awesome Songs!

Okay, so I've been meaning to do a Sons of Anarchy blog for a while, I've got a few things that I have written and stuff but until then, I decided to share my favourite Sons of Anarchy related music video's.  Some are music from the show, others video's clipped together to different music...all of them however have the same thing in common...Miss Morleysaurus thinks they're fucking aswesome!!!! :)

Sooo, first up, the Season 4 finale...as per usual, they got it bang on!  This cover of House of the Rising Sun by The White Buffalo and The Forest Rangers.  I love SAMCRO's houseband The Forest Rangers.  The music they have done throughout the four seasons has been amazing, as have they guys they've worked with.  They are one big part of the show, and it wouldn't be the same show without them.  As for the song, it was like it was written especially for Jax, at that very moment. <3

Okay, next is a video I came across whilst procrastinating on YouTube one day...as I'm sure we all do.  It was this day that led me downloading all of the SoA EP's from iTunes.  For those buying the album that has just been released, I think that all of the EP stuff is on there, and then obviously you get House of the Rising Sun as well.  Anyhoo, I came across this next video...having vaguely heard of the band before I though, woot, a kind a heavy rock/metal band with Sons videoage, I can dig that!  I ended up fucking loving this song, and then buying it of course, haha.  

And lol, as this one comes right next in my YouTube favourites list and you know what, I actually prefer this to the original Eminem music video...and that featured a LOST HOBBIT...and Megan Fox!  I think the fact that it's all Jax and Tara, and it's such a well put together video of my favourite TV couple since Kate and Sawyer...or Sawyer and Juliet...that would be a better comparison actually.  You know, drop dead gorgeous scruffy rarrrrrrrrrr bad boy...and the doctor.  Man I miss LOST!!!  Like, really badly!!!!  Anyhoo, argh...Jax and Tara in Eminem's Love the Way You Lie. :)

Another end of season belter of a track is the Season 3 finale with Battleme's cover of Hey Hey, My My...amazing, AMAZING cover!

During Season 3 whilst the boys were in Ireland, a song called Alesund was played by a band called Sun Kil Moon.  Instantly I was in love, everything about it was perfect, and the scene is one of the single most beautiful scenes in TV history.  Not to add spoilers for those who haven't seen it but it's when Jax is following the couple, if you have watched it, you will know what scene I'm talking about.  The band have actually had a number of tracks played throughout the seasons, including the pilot, but this was the one that really got me! <3

And lastly for now, a song I just cannot help but keep listening to over and over and over again, and with this Sons related video, it's all the more perfect! <3

Hope enjoyed these, I know I sure as hell do! :D

  

Happy Day of Jason, My Beautiful Mutated Favourite Boyfriend!

Okay so in the spirit of Friday the 13th, the day of my beloved Jason Voorhees, the beautiful mutated Mummy's boy, whos maggot infested face just makes me want to give him lots of squishy huggles, I thought I'd give you a BLAAAAAAAGH post of some of my favourite Jason moments and my random Voorhees loving rants!  :D

First of all, I LOVE ALL of the Jason movies...well apart from Jason Goes to Hell which is a bit poo...even if it does have X from The X Files in it, it's just a bit lame.  Even Jason Takes Manhattan, despite the fact I hate EVERYONE in the freakin' movie...well except Jason and the dog, I still think it's an awesome movie.  You've got super cute Jason moments, such as when he's climbing up to the ship when it's leaving saying "I LIIIIIIIVVVVE!!!".  

Ooh, and the bit in NYC when he shows his displeasure to the punk kids with their beatbox.  

And when he's drowning in the sewers being all cute and "Mommy, help me!".  He is lovely.  With the Julius death you have one of my favourite deaths, I mean what's cooler than punching some dudes head off and it rolling into a dumpster!?!  

AAAAND, when Jason first gets to Manhattan and sees the hockey mask on the billboard, bwahahahaha, SUPER cuteness! <3  I mean look at him, isn't he so cute!?! :D

Anyhoo, I does not care what the haters say, it's a fun film, yup yup yup!  They all are!  Even Jason X!  Say what you like about Jason X but Todd Farmer had it right.  The film is stupid amounts of fun, and not only does it have the best death EVER with the liquid nitrogen death...it also has the total boner~gasm of a tribute to another of the best ever Jason deaths, the sleeping bag death.  This was a film made by a horror fan who likes to have fun, for other horror fans who like to have fun...end of!

Woot, GO Jason... slam them bitches! ;)

Anyhoo, Jason X was a great precursor to all of the awesomeness that Todd Farmer was to inflict on the world with his 3D films, in fact, in my humble opinion, Todd Farmer is the BEST when it comes to 3D movies...say what you want but that man has an eye for all of the good things about 3D, and less of the utter shite that can also be spewed from it!!! :D

This is of course me babbling about the Jason's that most people won't admit to liking to, I always feel the need to defend them.  Thankfully unlike other people, I have no concern with admitting to liking such awesome films, haha.  

Now when it comes to original Jason movies, Part 2 is my all time favourite.  Amy Steel is an absolute doll and Ginny is my favourite Friday the 13th chick...which meant that when I got to interview her it was a horror girls dream! <3

And look at little sock puppet Jason with his cute little bag mask! :)

Friday the 13th Part 3 continues the Jason awesomeness with my 2nd favourite Jason chick and the fact that its in 3D makes it all the more awesome.  Haha.  I remember a while back where I saw it on TV and was like, why does it look so funny?  Turned out it was in 3D.  Haha.  Yeah, I felt like a right spazz!  And I looked like one as well when I got out a pair of 3D glasses from a Scarecrow Batman comic to watch it, haha.  

So yesss, we get a lotta good deaths in episode 3...AND Jason gets his mask!  From Shelly, one of the most annoying characters in the series...but he does give Jason his mask so you gotta give him some credit! :)

Now even though I'm all about my final girls kicking my boyfriends butt...Tommy Jarvis in Part 4, played by Corey Feldman, he is definitely a favourite.  Tommy is fucking awesome.  End of.  Even in Part 5 and 6.  Not as much as in Part 4 but certainly a challenge of awesomeness.  

The other amazing thing about Part 4...CRISPIN FREAKIN' GLOVER!!!  Now if you don't LOVE Crispin Glover there is clearly something wrong with you, the guy is a fucking legend and his part in Friday the 13th most definitely accentuates that.  

Ooh, now I know I mentioned the original sleeping bag death before in Part 7 as being a favourite, so is the death of Sheriff Garris in Part 6...total spine snapping awesomeness! :)

At the end of the day, Jason is one bad ass mother fucker...nothing can kill his sexy maggot ridden ass, and y'all know it bitches!  These wenches might think they can kill my baby but at the end of the day.....

JASON LIIIIIIIIIVES!!!!!! :D

And he looks god dammmmned sexy whilst doing so, bwahahahahaha!!! ;) <3