Mainstream Horror Goes a Little Gay...

Just in time for the Halloween season, there's a new film debuting this month. Well, technically, it's four films, each from the mind of a notable director of twisted scary movies. Dubbed Chillerama, it's most certainly not for the faint of heart or anyone with a distaste for the somewhat perverse. But if you're fine with porn stars, killer sperm, Hitler, and zombie spoofs, then it just might be up your alley. And the first film happens to be more than just a little gay-friendly.

Somewhere between the fictional worlds of Grease and Twilight, I Was a Teenage Werebear fits in quite neatly. In this musical comedy takes lycanthropy in a whole different direction. Set in the 1960s, it's the story of closeted teenager Ricky (Sean Paul Lockhart, a.k.a. Brent Corrigan) who runs into a rebellious gang who turn into a leather daddy "werebears" (one played by Ron Jeremy) when turned on by other guys. I'm serious. I kid you not. Don't believe me? Check out the trailer:


Now I have to give kudos to Sean for being one of the first porn stars to successfully make a leap from adult films to regular cinema. (Some of you might remember him as the merman from Another Gay Sequel.) While the other films sound just as weirdly amusing, I'll confess I'm slightly disappointed in one of them. And that would be The Diary of Anne Frankenstein. It's not because of the storyline (a comedic version of Hitler trying to create the perfect human killing machine); it's because when I first heard about it, I thought it was a different Diary of Anne Frankenstein. Unlike the one in Chillerama, the off-Broadway play of the same name seems a lot more hilarious. I just wish I had seen it when it was playing, but at least there's the video interview for Under the Pink Carpet:


That would've made this a truly must-see movie in my eyes! Still, I'm sure this film won't disappoint. You can catch the world premiere this coming week on Thursday, September 15th, at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Other dates are being added to the official website as they are arranged. I'm sure such a risque film might not necessarily make it to a theater near you, but you can always wait for it to come out on DVD and watch it later.

Return of the Dead Guy...

Hollywood is filled with stories of death. There is a long-standing history of tragedy on stage and screen. And with it comes ghostly tales from the earliest days to modern times. Yet not every strange story is of the dead and famous. Sometimes it's the celebrities themselves who encounter things that go bump in the night. Even gay ones.

This was certainly true for actor Carrie Fisher, known best as 'Princess Leia' from the original Star Wars Trilogy. A close gay friend, republican operative Robert Gregory Stevens, visited her in February 2005. He enjoyed a good party and was quite fond of recreational drug use, something Fisher had battled in her past. He slept in her bed, allowing his female assistant to have the guest room of Fisher's beautiful old home in Beverly Hills. On the night of February 25, he returned very late and the two fell asleep after midnight. Bruce Cohen arrived early the following day to take Carrie to tango lessons. To her horror, Stevens had passed away in the night. She woke up beside the corpse of her friend.

Being carted away by the coroner was not the final exit of Stevens from Fisher's home. His death sparked a string of strange phenomena in her home leading her to believe his ghost remained behind. There were footsteps and light switches with minds of their own. The activity gave her another breakdown. Drugs seemed to be her only escape. After some time, the paranormal activity ceased, though Fisher can't be sure he has left for good.

Carrie went on Celebrity Ghost Stories during its first season to tell her story. Her experience is followed by a few other noteworthy people: gay cult filmmaker John Waters and Golden Girls star Rue McClanahan. Here's the full episode. Carrie Fisher's story is first. Immediately after it is Waters and his childhood experience.

Psychic Kid Has Two Mommies...

I know I'm terrible. I've been neglecting the lesbians out there so much on my blog. It hasn't been intentional. You know how us gay men can be: thinking with parts of our anatomy below the neck, prone to emotional outbursts, a bit self-centered and shallow. It's a wonder you can tolerate us sometimes. But I have some good news! I've found some things you might be amused by, starting with a movie just in time for the Halloween season!

Imagine the little boy from Sixth Sense was actually a girl. And imagine she was being raised by lesbians. Now, toss in a crazed psychic scientist and some gore and a kidnapping/murder plot. What do you get? An interesting horror movie released last year by Lead Balloon Pictures. Written and directed by Brian Feeney, The Echo Game is a horror thriller centered around a young girl with supernatural abilities. Her mother April (played by Alisha Seaton) and her partner Casey (Jeannie Bolet) receive a letter from Rachel, a former lover thought to have been dead for 10 years. The important message sparks a chain of events involving a psychotic scientist who wants to steal the little girl's powers.

Although the child's parents are a same-sex couple, Feeney makes sure not to place too much emphasis on it. It's crafted in the style of those great 80s slasher flicks most of us remember and grew up watching so prepare yourself for plenty of gratuitous nudity and gallons of fake blood. Become a fan on Facebook or check it out on the big screen on October 25th at Spooky Movie 2010: The 5th Annual Washington, D.C. International Horror Film Festival! Hopefully it'll be released on DVD in the near future!

Watch the trailer:

Where Gay Art Meets the Paranormal...

Art is one of the trickiest subjects to clearly define. What one person sees as art can easily be seen as vulgar, junk, or absurd by an observer. Yet it comes in many forms. Personally I view art in a wide range and admire many forms of artistry. And when this creativity turns its scope toward the supernatural, it piques my curiosity even more. Paranormal themes fit quite easily into artistic pursuits since they tend to involve some imagination and vision on the part of the creator. And every once in a while, they cross boundaries with overtly sexual themes.

I never did let the Puritanical views of most of my fellow citizens cloud my openness to explore these arenas. I can admire anything that is well-crafted, from most innocent to what some people might find frighteningly disturbing. There are always exceptions. (I just can't bring myself to consider most John Waters camp movies as anything remotely appealing and artistic.) But today I'm going to share with you some of the interesting things I've stumbled across with very adult themes and a good amount of talent (even if it's not what everyone sees as such) and originality.

You've been warned...

What's New and Unusual...

So much has been happening, both in my life and worldwide, and I haven't had much chance to compose a long update here for quite some time. I thought about writing several individual posts on the various things but thought it best to condense it all into another "news in brief" moment for today. As for my own personal life, well... that major upheaval is best likened to the plate tectonic movements in the past several weeks. Major, major changes are happening too quickly at times. But once the dust settles, I'll give a more thorough update on those matters. For now, I'll focus on what's been going on while I've been asleep at the wheel of my blog.

Last week, director Tim Burton made the not-so-shocking admission that he does believe in the paranormal. Burton has had a few brushed with the unexplained and believes many people have had unusual experiences, yet they often don't discuss it or do their best to ignore it. He also mentioned that he finds cemeteries "peaceful" instead of creepy. As for his work, word was also announced concerning his newest venture. Plans are being discussed to turn Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (authored by Seth Grahame-Smith of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies fame) into a feature film. The new book follows the former present into his fictitious secret life pursuing blood drinkers. While the tale is odd it's quite well-crafted, not deviating from real history too far to make it absurd.

There is other book news to report as well. Stacy Horn's wonderful book Unbelievable: Investigations into Ghosts, Poltergeists, Telepathy, and Other Unseen Phenomena, from the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory telling about the history of parapsychology at the Rhine Research Center has been released in paperback. While I still prefer the hard-bound editions of books for my own shelf (when they're actually available) it's nice to have the option of paying less in our current economy.

Some Massachusetts residents are up in arms over maple syrup. In at least three cemeteries both in and around Lancaster, maple trees were found with sap buckets hanging off. The culprits weren't zealous manufacturers but Lancaster Cub Scout Pack 9, who was given permission to tap maples for a special project. The town officials, however, were unaware that cemetery trees would be targeted. Perhaps it sounds a bit creepy, but I would think it a harmless act. People might even pay more for the spooky syrup! It's not the only time anyone realized that a quiet spot such as a cemetery would be superb for undisturbed sap harvesting. In Quebec, a Google Earth view revealed similar sap buckets at a Sutton cemetery.

Finally from the southern hemisphere, selling spooks has once again made the headlines. A woman in Christchurch, New Zealand auctioned off two bottles containing "ghosts" on Trademe. The spirits, said to be those of a little girl and an old man, were "captured" during an exorcism and placed in bottles of holy water, presumably to keep them fresh? After their containment on July 15, 2009 no further activity was reported in the house. The glassed ghosts sold for nearly $2000.

Paranormal Fiction Leads to True Lesbian Love...

Normally, I'm not a major fan of audio books, or even digital books for that matter. But for once, I've actually been looking into listening to my first audio book... and it ended up being a very educational experience.

for years now, I've been a big fan of author Daniel Hecht. And had it not been for his email to me years ago when he was starting his Cree Black thriller series, I probably wouldn't have known his name. But they are wonderful reads, all about a female paranormal investigator with some psychic ability solving interesting mysteries with supernatural ties. His last book, Bones of the Barbary Coast, was excellent (and I still need to get the hardcover to add to my shelf) so I decided to look his books up in the audio listings. There it was... read by one Anna Fields. It turns out she's a well-known name in the world of audio books. And it gets even more interesting.

Barbary Coast was released in the summer of 2006. In December, tragedy struck in Seattle. On the 14th, a flash flood struck the area and an actress by the name of Kate Fleming was trapped in her basement recording studio after part of the foundation collapsed. Fleming also recorded for audio books, under the name--you guessed it--Anna Fields. Her partner of nine years, Charlene Strong, was helpless to stop her death. And even now, she is haunted by the tragedy... and turned her plight into a film.

Strong has become known in the past few years as a champion for same-sex partner rights. It was never her intention, but after the untimely death of her partner Fleming at only 41, she found herself in the public eye. Through her actions, Washington State passed legislation for Domestic Partnership rights. The documentary For My Wife chronicles her story, from grieving widow to activist.

I can't help but wonder if Barbary Coast was one of her final projects. If you've ever read the book, you'll note some interesting irony between these two stories. If not, I highly recommend it. Here I set out simply to glance through an audio version of one of my favorite paranormal-themed fiction books... and ended up learning a lot more than I bargained for.

Dragged into a World of Lycanthropy...

Many of us remember that rather interesting scene from An American Werewolf in London where Hollywood magic met full nudity, watching a man transform into a hairy beast while sprawled out naked on the floor. Perhaps a few of us found it strangely sexy on some amusing level, while others were intrigued by the thought that we could change our outward appearance in such a drastic way (if only in our imaginations). The werewolf remains an iconic image from classic movie horrors. Even modern audiences still thrill over vampires, ghosts,... and now the lycanthrope.

From Joe Johnston (director of Jumanji, The Rocketeer, and Jurrasic Park III) and writers Andrew Kevin Walker (who wrote the screenplays for Sleepy Hollow and Se7en) and David Self (The Haunting) comes a new remake of The Wolfman, due for release in theatres this week. At first glance, the film does seem to have a certain Tim Burton quality to it which might be caused by the music (written by my personal favorite composer Danny Elfman).

There is quite an impressive cast for Wolfman... and one in particular may be of special interest to you, dear readers. Some of you might recognize Hugo Weaving from The Matrix while I prefer to remember him as "Felicia Jollygoodfellow" in the gay Australian flick The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. It seems all three lead actors from the film have gone on to bigger and better things. Movie fanatics may recognize another cast member from Priscilla (Terence Stamp, who played the transsexual "Bernadette") from his role as the butler in Disney's The Haunted Mansion.

Though I'm afraid Wolfman fails to bring out any cross-dressing creatures, the image might give a few moviegoers something interesting to imagine while seeing Hugo on the big screen. Without further adieu, I bring you the official movie trailer:

Ghosts and Goblins Get Down and Dirty...

Everywhere you look these days, paranormal and supernatural themes are quite popular. Some of the most talked about books and movies feature ghosts or vampires. Even on television, the inundation of witchcraft, hauntings, and monsters is extremely obvious. As a society, we love the mysterious, the unknown, and the surreal. And it reflects in everything... including subjects of a more adult nature.

Yes, believe it or not, even pornography has crossed over into these supernatural realms in the past few years.

I debated for a long time whether to touch on the subject here at Spooked! I've always tried to keep subjects humorous yet not too risqué. But in all honesty, we tend to be very sexual beings and at the same time, you can't help but laugh sometimes as these films. So now, I'd like to take a moment to finally give those of you who enjoy such things a little interesting insight into the world where porn meets the paranormal. And for those of you who wish not to subject yourself to such material, feel free to stop reading now and skip along to a different post.

Continue Reading...

Beware the Oompa Loompas!!

What if that world of "pure imagination" were really a sick, twisted, dark place filled not with candies and chocolates, but with gore, brutality, and horror? Well, for all of you who thought that Willy Wonka really was a few apples short of a bushel, writer Eric Appel brings you a strange twist on the old tale of Charlie Bucket. His movie trailer for Gobstopper mixes comedy with terror. And best of all, it stars one of my all-time favorite actors... Christopher Lloyd!!

Who else could pull off that uncomfortably-creepy character with just the right comedic timing? (Sorry, Gene Wilder... deal with it. lol)

Sadly, the film isn't real. But what a shame! Here's the "trailer' for Gobstopper, via Funny or Die:

Gobstopper Trailer

And now... I bit you all adieu for a few days as I take care of some offline affairs. Thanks, Fred, for telling me about this gem of a video. I'll be doing my best to add a little humor in your life now, since you need it the most.

Cannes You Vote for Voodoo?

Normally, when browsing websites, I don't pay too much attention for people asking for votes for much of anything. But when I noticed this short film trying to make it to the Cannes Film Festival (and the dead-eyed dolls), I had to watch, click, and pass it along.

This pin-pricking animated short was filmed by Joaquin Baldwin, originally from Paraguay and currently residing in California (though he did stay for a while in Ohio for college, so I'll consider him a semi-sort-of-local artist). I have chanced across him online a few times, but never had the pleasure of talking to him directly. Which is a shame. He's very good... and the sort of person I think would be great to spend a conversation with. Besides, I have a few personal thoughts on a few possible hidden meanings/subtle nuances which have crossed my mind.

Check out the video, Sebastian's Voodoo, below and click on it to go to the YouTube site where each vote through May 20th counts!

Where Reality and Cinema Diverge...

Last weekend, I went with some friends to see A Haunting in Connecticut, as part of an outing with Western Reserve Paranormal. Honestly, even after recovering from the shock of the $9.00 ticket, my hopes weren't too high that the film would be stupendous. From my experience, movies "based on real events" often end up being more fiction than non-fiction.

I can't go on endlessly about what a fantastic film it was. In my opinion (and I'm by no means some professional critic, nor anywhere near as bitter as most of those people), it was decent. By that, I mean I didn't walk away overly disappointed. It was better than the trainwreck I expected. It's not worthy of an Oscar, but it wasn't a waste of celluloid. Sure, it was very predictable and contrived in parts. Truth was stretched to incredible bounds to tell an enthusiastic, entertaining story. But that's Hollywood.

I have a difficult time dissing directors, filmmakers, and screenwriters simply because I understand the level of work going into a project. So, I have nothing negative to say about the overall product. They did a fair job on turning a true story into something screen-worthy. It won't be making my Top Ten Film list, but it's not lining my trash bin, either. I'd consider buying the DVD, which says enough that I thought it was crafted well. And I'm a sucker for Special Features that dig into the behind-the-scenes work and true story behind the film. If it has those things, I'll be in line for a copy for sure.

Before you criticize the film's expectable scares and altered reality, realize that to tell a story, even true events must be twisted to follow a plot line. Most movies follow a formula not because writers lack creativity, but because we expect films to be done in a certain manner. Anything else is avant garde. To propel a storyline, characters have to be created, changed, and fiddled with. A beginning and end must be formed, with the climactic scene being the pivot point. It's part of the storytelling process that has existed in human consciousness for thousands of years.

For anyone interested in creepy movies, I say it's worth at least a rental. But if you're a history lover like I am, set aside reality for a few hours and just enjoy the ride.

Strange, But True News...

It's been a while, but here are some news snippets from the past few months collecting dust in my bookmarks. About time I did this again!

The Fork-Bending Truth...

Think the movie Push with its government psychics is a bunch of Hollywood hocus pocus? Think again. Retired Colonel John Alexander recently spoke to Maxim about his experiences with psychokinesis behind closed US Intelligence doors. His experiences made a believer out of him, though they aren't as spectacular as movie special effects. It's enough to make you want to concentrate on your cutlery.

It's Called a 'Wake' for a Reason...

Back in December, Gregory & Carr Funerals in Sydney came up with a new way to attract business. Customers purchasing pre-paid services were entered into a drawing to win an espresso machine. Coffee does tend to bring people together. Just ask any of the hundreds of coffee shops across the globe. But prizes for dying? Too bad the recipient won't have the pleasure of enjoying the brew.

Fairy Troubles...

Petersfield may not have a chance to celebrate mythology this spring. Some council members worry that the event, geared toward children to raise funds for Rainbow Trust, might promote "occult activities". Sorry, kids, we know you're gravely ill but we can't have these metaphysical displays of imagination influencing adults.

Paging Dr. Venkman...

Dan Ackroyd has let the cat out of the bag. Plans are underway for a cast reunion of Ghostbusters for a third film. According to the actor, the script is in the works with filming expected to begin this fall. Akroyd himself is a believer in the paranormal. Let's hope they don't ruin it... maybe they can give George Bush a cameo as "the ghost of Homeand Security".

It's Not Polite to Stare...

A Detroit casino billboard has people talking... and a few unnerved. The advertisement, depicting a pair of gold-colored eyes staring down from a black background shook up a few people, and has one reverend crying "Satan". "It looks like a demon glaring at you," stated Rev. James Smith of Romulus, "nobody with kids in their car should be forced to look at that. No Christian should." It's awful pompous to think the devil would find anything worth having in Detroit these days.

Who Would Jesus Arrest?

The NYPD is facing legal action for placing an officer on desk duty in 2006. And rightfully so, since Dominic Maglione's only offense is seeing a demon and promoting the "word of God". he was hospitalized in 2006 for starving himself "because he was too busy praying". Maglione, an evangelist proclaiming himself "godlike", underwent psychological examination and was found to be bipolar, obsessive-compulsive, and suffering from "hyperreligiosity". I'd say these neurotic behaviors make him fit in quite well on the New York's police force.

Dragging It Out...

It's another slow week for my blog. Conversely, it's a good week for writing elsewhere. I'm pounding out as much as I can again and putting major dents in my book workload. There is quite a lot to get through today and more planned throughout this week. If I keep going at this pace, I should be able to breathe a sigh of relief by Friday.

Last weekend was fun, exhausting, and interesting. Saturday night's trip to Union Station was more interesting than usual. Logo was there filming for a program involving drag queens, though we missed whatever minutely interesting moments there might have been. Instead, we left for the Cedar Lee Theater in Coventry for the midnight showing of Clue. By then I was a bit exhausted, but I did get my second wind for long enough to enjoy the show. Sunday, I spent having a mini movie marathon at home, watching David DeCoteau B movies and trying to stay awake through them all.

But now it's back to the research and writing. So much to do, so little time...

Not So Resolute...

It's time again to make those New Year's resolutions. So, what are mine? Well, I'm not bothering with it this year. Why? I always thought they were pointless. We make our resolutions, start off January full-force working at them, and by summer they're a distant memory. Don't get me wrong; we have the best of intentions. But life carries on. So few of us keep to our resolutions, I would rather not kid myself.

This year will be another year of great change for me. I have things to accomplish and things to look forward to. Some friends who drifted by the wayside will stay in the shadows this year. People come and go in our lives at different times so I understand the cycles. Yet other friends who have been long absent will be returning. It's a trade-off: some fade while others re-emerge. I'll accept it for what it is: an evolutionary process.

I've taken a few breaks from research to amuse myself with reading and films. So many sad lives. As I watched the commentary for The Bad Seed, I was frustrated by the lack of knowledge behind the film. Neither commentator knew about the author of the novel on which it was based, William March. He died two years before the film was made. And the interesting tidbit behind knowing how loved this film is by gay men? March, the author, was gay. He also thought the book was crap. Of all his works, it was the one he wasn't proud of. Yet it's what he is remembered for. How ironic.

Yet that's the writer's curse. We judge our work and the critics (and audiences) have an entirely different view.

It only reinforces how unpredictable life really is. People we believe will be around forever aren't. Things we do that we believe matter most don't. Insignificant things end up having great meaning.

Life is a game of Russian roulette.

So to those of you planning out resolutions, remember that nothing ever works out exactly according to plan. Life can't be scheduled for the proceeding year. Don't beat yourself up if that list goes unheeded. Set your sights on goals, but be willing to be a little flexible...

A Half Century of Science Fiction...

Sunday marked a milestone which passed me by entirely. It was the 45th anniversary of the British scifi series Doctor Who.

On the day following John F. Kennedy's assassination, November 23, 1963, the first episode of Doctor Who hit the airwaves. Through its many seasons, spinoffs, and incarnations, it has remained a popular story. It follows the adventures of "the Doctor", a time-traveling alien "time lord" on his journeys throughout time and space, correcting injustices and exploring frontiers in a less-than-reliable archaic time machine known as the TARDIS.

On an interesting side note, the show is featured in one of my favorite movies. In several scenes of Get Real, the lead character's father is watching old episodes. A Doctor Who clock is proudly displayed on the wall and he is dressed as a Cyberman (one of the Doctor's adversaries) as he prepares to attend a convention. On another interesting note, the lead actor (Ben Silverstone) is older than me... by only six days.

The show has seen 751 aired episodes since the 1960s and is featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running scifi series in history. Ten separate actors have been cast in the main role over the decades, including Peter Davison ('Tristan' from All Creatures Great and Small) and the most current, David Tennant.

This show marked my first indoctrination into scifi only a few years ago and quickly became a favorite. Its mix of real history, bizarre creatures, philosophical undercurrents, and quirky humor add to its unique charm.

So, happy belated birthday, Doctor Who. Here's to hoping for many more years of fantastical oddities...

Zombies Need Love Too...

Anyone who knows me knows of my penchant for the odd and macabre. It even eclipses my love of good film. Perhaps it comes from years of researching death and disasters. Yet when the two subjects are combined, you generally have my undivided attention.

Gore isn't typically my taste. But in some settings, you simply can't avoid it. Zombies, for example. An undead corpse is bound to have a certain level of grotesqueness. Besides, they're not exactly carrot-munching vegans.

From the warped mind of Bruce LaBruce comes a film most of you may not have even heard of, released this year: Otto; or Up With Dead People. Once again, I have a chance to mention gay zombies.

It's the tale of a zombie named Otto with a bad case of amnesia. He makes his way to Berlin, ends up in an independent film, and slowly begins remembering his former life... and his boyfriend. As is often the case with German film, it is quite dark and unusual. I'm not quite sure how to label this creation, though avant garde is quite close.

There is some humor to be found in its poetry if you have as demented of a mind as I do. Check out the trailer, if you dare...


Note: This is the edited trailer, since there have been attempts to censor it on YouTube.

The XXX Files...

You may know David Duchovny as Fox Mulder, one of the two FBI agents from the television series X Files. The movie came out this summer with an apathetic fanfare. Now, Duchovny, 48, has followed the footsteps of so many other Hollywood stars and entered rehab.

But he's not an alcoholic or cocaine junkie. Duchovny has a sex addiction.

In an ironic twist, this year Duchovny won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of a sex-addicted struggling writer on Californication. Sometimes, life imitates art.

Duchovny is asking for people to respect his privacy at this time. It has been a difficult time for him, his wife Téa Leoni, and their two children.

Back in 1998, Leoni squashed rumors of her husband's high libido. "David was accused of being a sex addict," she said. "Which I always found very exciting. And then I found out it wasn't true."

Apparently, I Want to Believe turned into 'the truth is out there'.