Animosity - A novel of the Horror Dad Apocalypse by James Newman

So you want to read something truly frightening?  James Newman is a very very good writer, this I know.  His upcoming novel ANIMOSITY had a very intriguing premise and I jumped at the chance to take an early read thanks to the folks at Necessary Evil Press.  I've enjoyed everything I've read of the authors work, and I must admit a bit shamefacedly that I'm way behind. My days of expensive fiction purchasing are long gone and they haven't returned with the departing of diapers from my budget, so I was very much interested to see how he was doing.  You can now order the book by going to the website!!

Animosity is truly amazing. It works as a thriller. It works as a horror novel. And it works as a supersonic kick in the ass to those of us that put our love all things chilly and willy out in the public eye.  Someday I'll have to talk about the time a woman at my son's Pre-K saddled up to my wife and conspiratorially mentioned "So... I googled your husband and was reading his blog."
That is the core of my response to Animosity.

Andrew Holland writes horror novels. The kind I love. Trashy and violent with lurid titles and all that good stuff. But as we join him in this first person narrative we like him because he is a pretty average guy.  I didn't love him, but I liked him a lot because he is a father that obviously cares for his daughter very much while coping with a divorce that has left him more than a little bit bitter.  Hard at work on a new novel, his life takes a twist that he probably wouldn't have put in the plot outline of his life. That twist would trouble a normal person in a normal community. Poinsettia Lane is a normal community enough community but given what Andrew does for work, and in some ways his own identifying of himself amongst his neighbors and how he relates to them, things will never be the same again. The novel opens with this.

Ten minutes ago I killed three of my neighbors.

That can't be good. So, normal enough guy with a (too me) normal enough job, one I'd very much like actually, is going about his business with his dog Norman one morning.  Ho hum. He discovers a dead body. Of a little girl...violated and destroyed.  A devastating moment for anyone surely.  And from the get go the perceptions of his work, and a supposed fascination with the morbid and horrific, gets him in to trouble.  Trouble with the cops that is easily enough dispelled because they deal in facts.  Not so easy with the rest of the neighborhood...a group of average people in crisis and draped in a feeling of the danger of those CSI shows, and horror books, coming home to roost on their street.  Fear and paranoia spread like wildfire as Holland becomes the center point not of a real investigation, but of a media blitz that implies he may have something to do with the murder.
Life is hard enough without this... for every character in the book.  But what will snap first? Andrew Holland or those who look at him now with different eyes.  Friends become sinister when they see you as a sinister friend I'd say.
As the situation worsens the veneer of fame is removed and his neighbors, and friends, fears are exposed as thinking of the author as not so much special, but as someone to watch.  It goes from bad to worse to hell on earth before long and bodies fall. No matter who lives or dies, everyone on Poinsettia Lane is about to stare straight into the worst part of themselves.  When you can't control yourself anymore.
I'd be lame and work out a tagline for the title, but you know the book is called Animosity, I'm sure you can see where I'm going.

What is interesting and unique about the novel is not so much the thriller or horror aspects, though both work well. I cringed in some points, shook my head in others and got so engrossed in the story of one man under siege for loving something he had held dear since childhood that I sat up late in to the evenings and finished the novel sitting in my car and barely making an appointment because I had just "4 more pages....AAAAAH!!"  This sucked me in, spat me out, ate me again and then regurgitated my sensibilities because Newman avoids the twists and turns that we Horror fans love so much. And that is for the better.  But it was the situation that really nailed me in the forehead.

Have you been Googled by someone you know?  What do they really think?  I know, for me, that I'm not particularly worried about that. Never have been.  I'm proud to love my entertainment and creative side with a vigor usually reserved for those that lift massive weight on Strongman shows.  But...what would someone think of me if they were to see what I was enjoying so much?  This blog has Gore Flicks, Ajita Wilson films like Black Deep Throat (not porn by the way), Casual (un)Dress Friday and other... well...Alfonso Brescia oddities all over it.  I love them, I enjoy them and I am thrilled to share them with the world-over 700 times on this blog alone!
But if I think that what happens in the new James Newman novel ANIMOSITY can't happen...well, I think we all know that people don't necessarily see things the way we, kind readers, do.  And that is great, I'll read their blogs to learn about them.  But would I be surprised if I needed to seperate the man, the father, the husband, from the blogger for someone. Not at all.
If you clicked those links above, they are in your internet history now...would you want to have to explain your love of CROSS MISSION?  Don't worry, I will do it with a smile!

Animosity is a great novel from a very very good writer, it will be available in a limited edition which I'd suggest anyone to grab.  Bug Necessary Evil Press and get a paperback edition in to all of our hands as well!

Check out the trailer right now!

CineMoment of the Day! The birth of MARK GREGORY!

 

I am astonished that every man, woman and child has not been issued a copy of the awesome ADAMO ED EVA-La prima storia d'amore!  THIS is cinema worth seeking out.  I'll write a review, but anyone that loves oddball stars of Eurotrash Cinema will dig the opening of the film as the world is created and a giant placenta is torn open and out comes TRASH himself, Mark Gregory!  Enjoy this little recap as Adam is born and the story of the world begins. What follows this is...incredible and bizarre and wonderful.  Perhaps the strangest "bible" story of all!

Director's Cut of CYBORG found...and you can watch SOME of it now!

How exciting! Albert Pyun is ready to unleash his directors cut of CYBORG!  Unearthed from a box on VHS, this is a chance to see one of the Pyuniversaly loved classics as the director intended...well, at least as of his final cut.  You want in, mail curnanpictures@gmail.com today. Now.
CRANK IT UP!

CYBORG - DIRECTOR'S CUT - FIRST 3:40 from Albert Pyun on Vimeo.

The Heap ushers in the weekend!

A New DVD Company - Attackafant Entertainment

I've known Fred Anderson for some time, and if ever there was a true film fan (and filmmaker) he would be it.  Now he has his own label and not one, but TWO releases coming from his new venture, Attackafant Entertainment! 
And they are IFD films.  And they are KILLER ELEPHANTS and...sit down...THUNDER OF GIGANTIC SERPENT!!

Support this guy...he deserves it and can you ever have enough Official IFD in your collection? I think not.  Press release right here...and go check out Fred's blog!

I’m kinda late here in the biz, just when everything is dying and we’re leaving DVD to VOD and similar stuff. But you know, I had to do it. I had to at least once try it, mostly because I want to see some of my favorite obscure movies on non-bootleg DVDs.

So let me introduce to you, ATTACKAFANT ENTERTAINMENT. And it’s possible to write with small letters too ;)

What I miss on the DVD-market is weird Asian movies, odd exploitation from Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong and so on. We’re not talking the normal martial arts flicks, we’re talking trashier stuff, wilder stuff. Mondo Macabro, one of the best companies in the biz, has released some amazing Asian stuff – but I don’t even want to compare myself with them. I’m in a much more primitive league.

I bought the rights to two movies, and those two might be the only titles I release… we’ll see what happen. Here they are…

The Killer Elephants (Thailand, 1976)
One of my favorites, this ultra-cheap and ultra-entertaining action movie with superstar-hunk Sombat Metanee will blow your mind when it comes to trashy action. The concept with the movie is that one of the gangs has trained killer-elephants who stomps, crushes and causes havoc to the poor suckers that meet them! You can read my review here. The knocked-out-by-elephant-dick-scene is a classic ;)

Thunder of Gigantic Serpent (Taiwan/Hong Kong,1988)
Yes, Joseph Lao’s cut & paste classic finally out on DVD! For this movie Joseph Lai and Godfrey Ho used footage from a Taiwanese monstermovie, King of Snake, and edited it together with new footage with legendary Pierre Kirby. No Ninjas, but a lot of monster action (Moslar!!!), a terrible cute kid and not always fitting-footage with western actors running around. What’s there not to love?

These versions where prepared for the international video market in the Eighties, so they are in fullscreen and with English dubbing. I’m using digibeta masters directly from Joseph Lai. For The Killer Elephants I MIGHT also include a widescreen version, sourced from a German VHS tape. Because of the cost I will make these on DVD-R, professionally manufactured in a factory. You won’t see any difference from a normal DVD. I will try to include some extras, but more on that later.

I bought the rights for Scandinavia, so the plan is to have at least Swedish subtitles. I’m sure there won’t be any problems for you outside Scandinavia to buy them from some store that ships internationally. I'm just a small business, nothing big and fancy, doing this to be able to see my favorite movies out on disc.

Yeah, that’s it. Check back for more info about release dates, new homepage, coverart, specs and of course screenshots.

Please spread the word about Attackafant Entertaiment and I would be very happy :)

/Fred

THE HEAP battles on!!

Eagle Original Adventures Volume 1--Preorder NOW!

It is coming! And from one of my favorite publishers, MOONSTONE!  However, I've noticed a few odd things. It is vital that a certain, extremely realistic, threshold be passed for pre-orders for the book to be printed.  There are a few links such as WESTFIELD COMICS and HEAVY INK that are offering it.  However, some of the big companies such as Mile High Comics and MyComicShop.com do NOT have it on site.  Stranger still, there is no mention of it on Moonstone's own page!  The pre-order is underway and it is Diamond code MAR111192.  Order it at your local shop by number, or ask your favorite online retailer for it by name and code.  Do it now...I promise you will not be disappointed by this volume. It collects the first 6 issues of the original series and contains a few nifty bonus items from the Vokes archives!!  And there is my favorite Skull Faced Avatar of Agression, DEATH'S HEAD / DEATH'S DARK ANGEL...right there on the cover. 

Be sure to let retailers know you want EAGLE.  Because I've seen some of the new material, and this will pave the way for you getting to gawk at the Kung Fu and Mystic Magic of Vokes all the sooner!

The son of YOR!!

I had no idea about this...is there anyone that can provide more insight in to this book. Anything involving YOR is for me!

The Heap meets THE IRON DUKE OF GALICIA