Octoberfest Five: 5 Fab Men of Current Horror TV

The Creature - PENNY DREADFUL

While there are a plethora of really interesting characters on Showtime's ode to Victorian horror literature, when pressed I would have to choose the mournful and melancholy - yet extremely dangerous - John Clare, a.k.a. The Creature (Rory Kinnear).  His torturous existence by the hands of Dr Frankenstein has brought him nothing but confusion, sadness, and hardship.  Fitting into the world when you are essentially a monster has not been easy for our Mr. Clare, but there have been wonderful "normal" moments, particularly when he ound a friend in Miss Ives, reciting poetry and commiserating together about the cards they have been dealt.  The clarity of his anguish is ever-present, which makes his character one of the most intriguing and magnetic on television today, regardless of genre.

Bennet Drake - RIPPER STREET

Ripper Street is the one show you're not watching, but should be.  Set just a year or so after the Jack the Ripper case, it surrounds detectives working the Whitechapel beat, trying to deal with the sordid and horrific memories of the Ripper while attempting to keep up with the current state of dismal life in Victorian London.  With impressive performances from its three male leads, it was tough to choose one to highlight. But I feel the layers of Detective Inspector Bennet Drake (Jerome Flynn) make him the most interesting character of the lot.  As a former street thug who boxed his way into paying his rent and was married to a former prostitute,  he was devastated when his wife died.  Hence he rededicated himself to his career and tries to be the voice of reason of the three partners.  But sometimes that fails him and he has to take matters into his own, rough hands.  Falling in love again has helped steer him back on track, and his promotion in H Division has finally found him peace. He really is one to watch.

Daryl Dixon - THE WALKING DEAD

I'd be remiss if I forgot Daryl, and though he seems like a really obvious choice, I have to give credit where credit is due.  Daryl somehow ended up being the heart of TWD.  Fans adore him, enough to threaten anarchy if he were to be killed off.  With his trusty crossbow on his back, Daryl started out being a nasty redneck unsure of whether or not he wanted to fall in with the group and stick together. But once his brother Merle is killed off by zombies, he starts to come out of his shell and becomes a vital member of the core assembly of misfits fighting the walking dead.  These last few seasons we have witnessed true emotion from Daryl, as he grew close to Beth and lost her, and his almost inevitable relationship with Carol unfolds.  Brutal when he has to be, mysterious when he needs to be, and dependable - always.  For me, it's true when they say "If Daryl dies, we riot!"

Norman Bates - BATES MOTEL

I simply can't believe how much this show has grown on me in the last few years.  Psycho is one of my favorite movies (sitting at #2 with me and going nowhere soon), and Norman Bates is my favorite character in horror, hands down, so to expect a lot from another series plucked from Robert Bloch's masterpiece novel is asking quite a bit.  But the casting in this show is sublime.  Freddy Highmore as Norman is a revelation.  At this point of the series, he has everything down - the straight-backed walk, the nervous laugh, the stuttering speech, the uptight and agitated personality...and now he is morphing right into Anthony Perkins, with the last few episodes being his best yet.  When he does things like peeking into one of the motel rooms as someone takes a shower, hanging out in the basement perfecting his taxidermy, or when he gets up and makes blueberry pancakes at the ass-crack of dawn - in his mother's housecoat...he is Norman personified.  And I can't wait to see what's next!!

Tate Langdon/Kit Walker/Kyle Spencer/Jimmy Darling/James March
AMERICAN HORROR STORY

It may be a secret, but I'm letting the cat out of the bag.  I love Evan Peters. From the first season with the show playing a tormented and eventually homicidal teenager to his most recent turn on the Freak Show incarnation as "lobster-hands" Jimmy Darling, he transforms himself into someone different. Someone who always seems to have a heart of gold.  Even when he shoots up his high school in Murder House, he is still able to find love with the young Violet Harmon and shows an affectionate, yet melancholy side to his persona.  It's hard not to fall for the young Peters, able to warp into totally diverse characters and charm his way into our hearts. Even though he is seemingly playing a version of a monster in each season, you can't take your eyes off him in every scene - he's magnetic.  I can't wait to see how all the colors of his personality shine in AHS: Hotel.

TV Heats Up With Horror: Coming Attractions Autumn 2013

~ by Marie Robinson

I don’t know if it is just me, but it seems like there are a lot more horror series on at one time than ever before. Which is excellent for us! Here’s the scoop on some of the upcoming October television programs that are shot with a darker lens…

THE WALKING DEAD
This immensely popular, critically acclaimed zombie-thriller series returns this October for its fourth season on AMC. Based on a graphic novel, The Walking Dead has received insane amounts of success, including multiple award nominations and even a possible spin-off. There will be two new cast members joining the ranks this season—Christian Serratos (Twilight Saga) will be playing Rosita Espinosa, and Larry Gilliard Jr. (The Wire) will be playing Bob Stookey.
In anticipation of the upcoming season AMC has released several clips and still from episodes to come, as well as some teasers, promo posters, and glances behind the scenes. You can find most of this stuff by heading to The Walking Dead’s page on AMC’s website, HERE.

And here's a sneak peak:

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN
This October FX’s American Horror Story is returning for its third season. One of the things that sets AHS apart is that each season has it’s own individual storyline, and although a handful of the actors repeat (Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe), their characters change. The upcoming season is called Coven and focuses on a school for witches set in New Orleans.
American Horror Story is known for their innovative and breathtaking promotions, in teaser and poster form. You can watch all the spooky teasers and clips HERE at FX, and LTV has been kind enough to gather all of the posters as well as some on-set shots; check that out HERE.

And the teaser:

SLEEPY HOLLOW
Two weeks ago FOX launched their brand new series Sleepy Hollow, starring Nicole Beharie and Tom Mison. The show finds Washington Irving’s classic tale set in the modern day, as Ichabod Crane (Mison) finds himself in the present to help save the world from its demise.

Off to a strong start, Sleepy Hollow airs Mondays at 8 p.m. Central.
 HERE  is the show’s official website where you can check out all the tidbits as she series progresses. If you are like me and have yet to begin watching, why not start with the promo below?

WITCHES OF EAST END
Lifetime’s new show, Witches of East End will premiere October 6th. The plot concerns a woman and her two daughters who are about to find out a nasty little trait they inherited from their elders—witchcraft! Based on a best-selling novel by Melissa de la Cruz, Witches of East End looks like an updated Charmed with a lot more sex appeal. I could get into it.
Check out photos and video clips at Lifetime’s website.

DRACULA
Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors) will star as Dracula in the new NBC series premiering October 25th. Other classic characters such as Mina and Van Helsing will also be on the show, which takes place in late 1800’s London, where the Count has come to exact revenge on those who made his life a living hell all those many years ago.

NBC’s website only has a few photos, but Bloody Disgusting posted an article with character sheets, a poster, and a promo. Check it out HERE.

WiHM: Our Favorite Female Roles In Horror, Day 7

Well, better late than never. Here's our final day of Favorite Female Roles in Horror!  Two of our favorites. Hope they are yours, as well.

Christine's pick

Laurie Holden - The Walking Dead

Genre fans should be pretty familiar by now with Laurie Holden's work.  She spent several seasons in the  memorable recurring part of  government informant Marita Covarrubias on The X-Files and co-starred in both Silent Hill (2006) and The Mist (2007).  But for me, she's really come into her own with her role as Andrea on The Walking Dead.

A civil-rights lawyer, Andrea has been on the show since the second episode and has shown us many sides to her personality. After her younger sister is bitten by a walker, Andrea holds her in her arms until she dies, then shoots her the moment she reanimates.  Soon after, Andrea decides to take her own life by staying on at the CDC when she knows the building is set to blow up.  Her friend Dale convinces her not to commit suicide, and though she's mentally exhausted by the whole experience, she becomes hardened and quickly evolves into one of the toughest people (male or female) on the show. 

When the group's safe haven farm house is overrun by walkers one night, Andrea is mistakenly thought of as dead, and the rest of the group leaves her behind.  She escapes into the woods and spends several days running and hiding out from walkers.  She meets a walker face to face and just as she is no-doubt seeing her life flash before her eyes she is rescued by Michonne, with whom she develops a tight bond.

Months later, the bond between the two tough women is put to the test when they end up at a community called Woodbury and Andrea starts a relationship with their leader - aptly known as The Governor. 

As of now on the series, Andrea's loyalties are tested when she realizes the group that left her behind at the farmhouse are indeed still alive, living right up the road at the prison, and that they have essentially become the enemy of her current lover.

Holden is a terrific actress and a crucial part of the cast of The Walking Dead.  She projects a very strong female persona, with guts and bravery that exceeds most of the others in the group.  It's awesome that there is such a spirited, female character on TWD, but even better that it is played by an actress with such formidable acting chops! 

Marie's pick:

Angela Bettis - May

I know this is my second post this week about a Lucky McKee film, but what can I say, I like the guy! This time I’ll be talking about his 2002 film May and, more specifically, star Angela Bettis.

Bettis plays titular character May, a girl who grew up isolated from everyone because of an eye patch covering her lazy eye. Her strange mother only added to this isolation by giving her a doll, telling her that this will be her best friend with the added advice, “If you can’t find a friend, make one.”

So May grows up talking to a doll, and boy, does it do wonders for her social skills. Although May tries in vain to make relationships with people who assure her that they enjoy “the weird”, May proves to be too strange for them and they push her away. After May’s porcelain friend Suzie is destroyed, she will go to any length to make her own friend.

Angela Bettis is extremely convincing as the strange and misunderstood May. You feel the sting of each prolonged awkward interaction, and the tension rising as she is denied by those who at first accepted her. Just like the glass encasing her silent friend Suzie, May begins to crack…

Angela Bettis is an established genre actress and isn’t afraid to take on challenging and unconventional roles, often those of emotionally disturbed women. In the same year she played May she was also Carrie White in the David Carson remake. She is also a favorite of director McKee; she’s featured in other films of his such as Sick Girl, The Woods, and The Woman.

In the film May’s sexuality isn’t necessarily defined by gender, but she does have a repressed bloodlust that she is desperate to indulge in. She thinks she finds the perfect match in her horror-obsessed crush Adam (Jeremy Sisto), but he’s not as hardcore as he seems, and gets disgusted when May tries to kiss his bleeding lips. Her other lover, Polly (Anna Farris), is willing to indulge in a little playtime, but only until it is too late, and May has cracked, and is looking to quench her thirst.

When all is said and done, May is just a lonely girl who was been alienated by her peers her entire life because of a physical different. The only person she can find understanding in is inanimate, and the people she chooses to give herself to just happen to be douche bags. In the end she will do anything to have a friend, so she uses her pent up frustration and sewing skills to make one.

On top of acting, Bettis also produces and directs film on occasion. In 2006 she directed Roman, a film written by Lucky McKee that is described by the pair as the reverse gender version of May. The roles of two are even reversed as Angela Bettis directs and McKee plays the lead role of a socially disturbed man who has an infatuation with a stranger. Bettis also directed a portion of the ambitious upcoming anthology, The ABC’s of Death.

Horror TV: The Future Looks Bright (and Bloody!)

Daryl (Norman Reedus) is proficient in taking out walkers on THE WALKING DEAD

There's never been a better time to be a horror fan  - or a more appropriate time to try to put out a new show in the horror genre. With the resounding success of such shows as Dexter, True Blood, and most recently American Horror Story and the wildly popular (and critically acclaimed) The Walking Dead, horror has proved it is very much alive and well and prospering on the small screen. In fact, The Walking Dead is averaging over 10 million viewers an episode - a feat unheard of for a cable television show, let alone a horror product. Even more impressive is that it is in contention to rival The Big Bang Theory as the top-rated scripted show. TWD is currently the number one show among 18-49 year olds. And it's not even on one of the big four networks.  Seriously, WHOA! And I know I'm not alone when I say this season has been its best yet!

The success of the aforementioned shows, as well as newer shows like the genre-bending Once Upon A Time, Grimm, and this season's 666 Park Avenue (just canceled, unfortunately) are making it more acceptable than ever to be a horror fan.
The teen rage shows such as The Vampire Diaries, this fall's newbie Beauty and the Beast, and the long-running Supernatural continue to guide new generations to appreciate horror and turn them into long-term fans.
And now, we have three new shows to look forward to in the near future that are nothing if not horror.

HANNIBAL (Mads Mikkelsen)  inspects the flatware.

HANNIBAL tries to draw new blood from the character of  Dr. Hannibal ("the cannibal") Lecter - whose character rose to fame under the sublime (and Oscar-winning) performance of Sir Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs. In the upcoming take on the story, the unstable doctor Lecter works closely with Special Agent Will Graham - a criminal profiler from the FBI.  Lecters special skill set will become an asset to Graham, though the two are bound to clash eventually when their personalities, as well as Lecter's other hobbies, come to light. Though I wouldn't want to have the unenviable task of attempting to bring life to such an iconic character as Hannibal, Mads Mikkelsen (the Danish actor who portrayed the crazy-cool, bleeding-eye villain in 2006's Casino Royale) has been cast as the serial killer shrink, and I'm on board with it, as Mads just reeks a creepy vibe.  Also cast is Hugh Dancy (aka Mr. Claire Danes), who is set to play Agent Graham, and Laurence Fishburne will portray Agent Jack Crawford. Looks interesting, to say the least.

Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga relax near the BATES MOTEL

In BATES MOTEL (A & E, 2013), we get yet another take on the life of Norman Bates and his dear mother.  Freddie Highmore (Finding Neverland, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory) will bring on the weird as Norman, and Vera Farmiga will star as his beloved mama, Norma. Billed as a prequel to the famous Hitchcock film, it has Norman as an awkward 16 year old who is having trouble adjusting to his new school (and his new town, apparently - as we discover when we meet the sheriff and his deputy who are keeping a close eye on Norman). Also in the picture will be Norman's older brother Dylan (Max Theriot), who apparently is a bit of a bad ass himself.  But I have my doubts he's as disturbed as our pal Norman is. As a rabid fan of Norman Bates, I will have to do a mental adjustment to accept anyone but Anthony Perkins as Norman. But I am wildly curious about this series and you can bet your butcher knife I'll be parked in front of the flat screen when this series premieres next fall. (Might get my shower out of the way beforehand, though...)

Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy star in THE FOLLOWING this January

And in THE FOLLOWING (Jan, 2013- FOX), Kevin Bacon stars as an FBI agent on the trail of a serial killer (James Purefoy, Rome) the likes of which the world has never seen before.  This baddie has discovered a way to reach out to other serial killers and - for lack of a better phrase - band them together to wreak collective havoc on the United States.  In my book, anything with Kevin Bacon in it is bound to be interesting, as I have enjoyed his many forays into the darker side of cinema - and now he's checking into the small screen.  Bacon's retired FBI profiler is brought in to try to find an escaped serial killer that he caught years ago.
This psychological thriller is getting a lot of advance buzz, and most of it seems to be on the positive side.
Bizarrely enough, it's brought to us by Kevin Williamson - more famous for his teen shows like Dawson's Creek and The Vampire Diaries. But I don't think I'm being too bold in saying that I have a feeling it's a long way off from those shows if Kevin Bacon is starring.  It also stars Shawn Ashmore (The Ruins, Frozen, Mother's Day) and Maggie Grace (LOST, Taken).

So, horror fans, get ready for some small screen horror, and in light of all the violence and gore that network shows like American Horror Story and in particular The Walking Dead get away with these days, we could be in for a real treat.

So...I love The Walking Dead...but zombies? Not so much.

First of all, I have to say that I am a huge fan of AMC's The Walking Dead. I think it's the best thing since sliced bread, I really do. I anxiously await Sunday evenings like I did this past summer when True Blood was on...

And I am certainly a big fan of a whole heaping handful of zombie movies. But....

True confession: I don't like zombies. At all. They are not my monster of choice. And I'm really trying to understand what compels people to love these foul creatures so much more than anything else. I also realize I'm in the minority here, but I feel like I have to speak my mind, so bear with me.

Zombies are gross.
They stink, they're ugly, they're basically brainless, they leak all kinds of bodily fluids, and they have poor fashion sense. So I don't get the weird obsession a lot of horror fans have with dressing up like disheveled, rotten zombies and hanging out at the mall, at any other time than Halloween, of course. You can get a pass in October in general I guess.

Maybe I'm just being a bitch about it, but sometimes I just want to say please stop making your face up into frightening visages and lumbering around mumbling "brains", okay?
You will never see me at a zombie walk. There, I've said it. Just isn't gonna happen, so don't ask. And I live near Pittsburgh, where zombies are sacred. I guess.

Everybody has their thing, I get that. But dead people who want to eat human flesh? Really? What is this obsession with eating flesh, body parts, brains, etc...? Are you people cannibals? Do you want to be?

Or is it just cool to imagine your guts being ripped out and eaten like spaghetti? Again I say: Really?

If you want to like zombies it's certainly your right, but it's my right to say I'm just tired of all the hoopla. I've read several articles and blog posts about people being sick of vampires and vampire movies, so I wanted to get in my two cents about my least favorite "monster".

When I'm watching a zombie flick, I do not feel akin to the zombie. I want the humans who are trying to obliterate them to succeed, and violently. I want the zombies' heads to be blown off so they shut their mouths and stop that damn moaning.
My favorite zombie moment is in the remake of Dawn of the Dead when Ana kills Steve. That was a woot woot moment if I've ever seen one. I want all the zombies to die. Again.

However, when I watch a movie about vampires or werewolves, heck - even serial killers for that matter, I can feel for them. They still seem human somehow. Probably because they still have thought process and I can relate to them.

But zombies? They're just chasing after you. They want to EAT you for heaven's sake!
In my mind, nothing could be more frightening than being eaten alive. I fear shark attacks, grizzly attacks, heck - I fear an attack from the pit bull down the street - so why would I not be scared shitless if I had some loathsome, brain-dead chap trying to bite off my damn arm?
Even if a vampire does his worst, biting your neck and sucking out all your blood - or even ripping your throat out - at least it's relatively quick. I don't want to witness my own death by watching someone rip out my liver.

You know what else? There are too many damn zombie movies. Just searching under the word 'zombie' on Netflix yields a vast array of choices: Zombieland, Zombie Strippers, Zombie Town, American Zombie, Zombie Holocaust, Zombie Lake, Tokyo Zombie, Zombie Campout, Zombie Honeymoon, Zombie Nation, I Zombie...and that's just under 'zombie' - don't even get me started on 'living dead'.
And yes, there are a ridiculous amount of vampire films as well, I'm not saying there aren't. Bad ones at that! Though I'm an avid vampire fan, I have no desire to see most of those crappy films about my fanged favorites, so I sure wouldn't check out the appalling conglomeration of zombie films either. The market is flooded with these damn things. Somebody needs to do something different, damn it! Stop making crappy zombie movies, I implore you.

So I guess I'm asking what everyone likes about zombies? Is it just a cool way to kill people in the movies, or is there something else there? Why the love for the unsightly undead? Do you actually love them? Want to have a relationship with them? I don't get it.

And why do you want to dress up like zombies (other than on Oct. 31st)? Because it is more socially acceptable to appear in public as a repulsive zombie than a hairy werewolf or fang-flashing vampire? And if that is the truth, I have to say, why??? Why on earth would that be any more acceptable?
And do you know how ridiculous you look? Yeah, I know - it's all in fun.
No difference to me, I still don't get it.

So... the reason I love The Walking Dead is because the story is just so compelling and people-oriented. You grow to care about the characters, not the zombies.
The depth of emotion portrayed in this television series is just staggering. It's no wonder the show was the biggest premiere in AMC's history, it was just phenomenal.
The special effects, especially the makeup, are stellar, and the acting is realistic and utterly first-rate.

But still... I'm not a fan of zombies. I love the show, but I want all the zombies to die. Most especially after they killed that horse in the premiere episode, I'm still reeling from that travesty!
Likewise, in Night of the Living Dead for example, I don't find myself hoping the zombie in the cemetery kills Barbra (though after her extended fit of hysteria, the thought does cross my mind), I'm hoping she gets away. Aren't we supposed to want that?

I won't say I HATE zombies, as that's a bit harsh. Because I enjoy (some) movies about zombies - and certainly The Walking Dead - but zombies are still disgusting, vile creatures that I dislike pretty much to my core.

There, now I feel better.