Life After Beth (2014) proves that a zombie romcom is a difficult proposition regardless of how fantastic the cast may be. Dane DeHaan, Aubrey Plaza, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon and Anna Kendrick cannot save this humorless, lifeless horror comedy from writer/director Jeff Baena. All the pieces are there, they just never assemble into a cohesive whole. Sad.
Afflicted (2013), on the other hand, proves how a well constructed story and a pair of leads with authentic bro-chemistry is capable of reinvigorating the found footage sub genre. Afflicted is the film no one knows about but everyone should. A terrific little film that has the grue-crew united in singing its praises. Check it out!
Dave shares the horror news of the week with bits about TV, film, comics, Blu-ray and home made you tube horror homage. Joseph Perry returns this week with more details from PiFan, the extraordinary fantasy film fest from South Korea.
Co-hosts Doc Rotten, Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr., Dave Dreher, Thomas Mariani and Vixen, the voice of reason, are back again this week to give you the best in horror as they recap, review and obliterate all that is horror this week! This week we announce that it is time to enter for a chance to win Anchor Bay’s The Walking Dead Season 4 Blu-Ray.
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Episode 73 – Life After Beth / Afflicted
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Life After Beth (2014)
Thomas sums it up best during the review, “this year’s biggest disappointment.” Life After Beth is ripe with promise: a great cast, a promising young director, an intriguing premise and a slick spin on horror, romance and comedy. It should be the zombie rom-com to define a decade. Instead, the chemistry never gels, the zombies never reach their potential and, the biggest crime, the comedy is never funny. Sigh.
Afflicted (2013)
The HNR grue-crew wear their found footage scars as they have endured an onslaught of horror films trying to capture the fire ignited by Paranormal Activity, REC and Cloverfield. Afflicted is one of the few films that get it right, a remarkable entry into the sub genre that spins a unique and often scary look at vampires and the horrors of the transformation from human to the undead. Derek Lee and Clif Prowse are pair of writers, directors and actors to keep an eye on. Recommended!
What Have You Been Watching: PiFan 2014 report from Joseph Perry
The Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival is a popular annual event in South Korea. Joining us from the festival floor is HNR fan turned man-on-the-street reported, Joseph Perry discussing four more films: Nymph from Serbia; Asmodexia from Spain; Baal’s Flowers from Italy; and, Whispers Behind the Wall from Germany.
Horror News of the Week for 08/18/2014
Dave Dreher shares the Horror News of the Week beginning with news across all mediums. On Television, NBC is bringing The Devil’s Advocate to the small screen. In comics, DC Comics is exploring horror themes in the Batman universe with Gotham by Midnight. Elijah Woods carries the film segment with his latest cinematic effort, Open Windows. On Blu-ray, Scream Factory is releasing their second volume of Vincent Price classics: House on Haunted Hill, The Raven and Dr. Phibes Rises Again. Finally, on the you tube front, Max Landis has recreated the iconic transformation scene from his father’s film American Werewolf in London with a tiny budget and a big imagination. Crazy!
Contest: Anchor Bay Blu-Ray giveaway of The Walking Dead Season 4
The Black Saint provides the trivia question for Anchor Bay’s Blu-Ray giveaway of The Walking Dead Season 4 coming out August 26, 2014. Anchor Bay is teaming up with Horror News Radio to give away two copies of the blu-ray release. Check out http://horrornewsradio.com/trivia-thewalkingdead for details. Contest ends midnight, August 24, 2014 and is open to US residents only. Good luck!
Doc Rotten: twitter @doc_rotten, letterboxd DocRotten
Dave Dreher: facebook drehershouseofhorrors, twitter @savinifan
Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr.: facebook theblacksainthnn, twitter @tbssaysyou, letterboxd TheBlackSaint
Thomas Mariani: twitter @notthewhostommy. , letterboxd SilentTom
Vixen: twitter @purevixen44
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Special thanks and a big shout out goes to the band Tear Out The Heart and Victory Records for allowing HorrorNews.Net to sample music from their single Undead Anthem for the podcast’s intro and outro theme music. Check them out and tell them The Official HorrorNews.Net Podcast sent you their way!
