RARE HORROR GEMS WITH JEFF SANDERS!
I wanted to recommend horror films this Halloween that you may not have seen. The horror genre has been rich from the beginning with strange and fun titles. So many have been overlooked or just plain forgotten. These are the titles I want to focus on in this column. Look into that creepy old mansion keyhole, open the box, and taste the deliciousness of the horror movies that you may have missed.
I SELL THE DEAD (R)
Review by Jeff Sanders
Dig That Fog… It’s Real Gone, A Film Love Letter to EC Comics and Hammer Horror.
Glenn McQuaid’s feature debut is one of the best horror pieces to come out post 2000. It is a gleefully macabre reminder of the horror comic, and the irreverence they transpired. The film is an atmospheric, twisted morality tale full of ghouls, vampires, zombies and a special visitor for good measure. The setting: A grey, rumbling European plague infested village filled with wenches, thugs, thieves and generally unsavory types, fitted with wet cobblestone roads, mossy cemeteries, thriving funeral homes, a dingy watering hole, and fog you can set your watch to. Featuring a cast of genre vets including Larry Fessenden (in a rare lead performance, which is too bad, because he is a fabulous actor), Ron Perlman, and the late Angus Scrimm (what a wonderful actor), this pulpy celluloid illustration has all its pieces in the right place.
The story starts off with the decapitation of Willy Grimes (Fessenden), a grave robber who spits and snarls until his final breath. His partner, Arthur (LOTR’s Dominic Monaghan), is still awaiting his execution. He is allowed a final discussion with an imposing priest, Father Duffy (Perlman), who wants to use his life story as a cautionary tale for his members. With the help of some drink (and to possibly buy some time), Arthur begins to speak about he and Willy’s ghastly business and the strangest things to have ever happened to them. What follows are several twisted and humorous tales about the business of being a ghoul for hire, which all leads up to a great mind-boggling wrap around.
To give away much more about this playful film would be an injustice. McQuaid’s movie is much too fun to be summarized in words. Like a comic book, much of the entertainment is in looking at the macabre images and watching the devious antics play out. The movie is full of atmosphere, twists, and lots of death. Sometimes they stay dead, sometimes they don’t. That makes it hard, when your business is death, but ’round these parts, you deal with what life has dealt ya.
I recommend you pick this movie up immediately! The Blu-Ray comes with a free comic book. Just saying…
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If you love I SELL THE DEAD, sink your teeth into the sweet EC meat that are these titles as well:
TALES FROM BEYOND THE PALE – Radio horror dramas from Glass Eye Pix.
TALES FROM THE CRYPT/VAULT OF HORROR/ THE HAUNT OF FEAR – Comic Series that can still be purchased in anthology compilations.
TALES FROM THE CRYPT – TV Series
Pretty much any horror film with TALES FROM in the title. Also:
TALES THAT WITNESS MADNESS – Feature
THE GORGON – Feature
THE GHOUL – Feature
And pretty much any HAMMER HORROR Film.
MORE RARE HORROR GEMS WITH JEFF SANDERS TO COME!
