Zombie Outbreak

Zombies In Chicago Are Always A Good Time

An 8 hour zombie film fest in Chicago with most of my horror friends and fanatics in attendance- you know I was going to show up. The usuals were all there, aside from the obvious (Mitch, his wife, and Kristin from Horror Society) I was also able to meet up with Bryan, Dan, Rick, as well as Erin and Rus. What could possibly be better? Well having the ever scrumptious BJC of Day of the Woman as my arm candy probably helped.

The line up
It started off with a short entitled, The Basement. An absolutely hilarious flick with some unexpected and over the top humor that I couldn’t help but enjoy. For those who have seen it I ask you- the next time you run into a rat problem are you planning on buying a gun to deal with it? I know I am!

Fleshbeast was the second film that was up. It was also 30 minutes of my life that I will never be able to get back. Ever. You can’t just say it was one part or another that I couldn’t enjoy in the film, it really was everything. The most depressing part? The way it STARTED actually made it look like it could be interesting. Had they kept the off look that they had throughout the entire film to just the introduction it could have been an interesting dream sequence way to film it. As they kept the look throughout the entire film- combined with bad audio and even worse acting? Ouch. Just ouch. I really hope Mitch picked it just to screw with the audience. Mitch, why? WHY?!

Another short was next, this one entitled- Chemical 12-D. I actually recently received access to view this for review up at Buy Zombie, but knowing I’d have a chance to see it on the big screen I’ve been putting it off. I’m going to say I cannot wait until these guys are able to put something together that is a full length feature. While being a short there wasn’t much time to properly do character development the combination of special effects, great plot, and a shock ending- it was well worth seeing. I’m sure I’ll be able to get a few review up this coming week and really hope they get credit for doing such an amazing film.

Colin, just as the first time I had seen it was an amazing little zombie film. I did end up missing about half of it this time around as when I went out for a drink I got a little sidetracked by Bryan with some side conversations on horror and him enlightening me that Mondays at Music Box were now showing movies on the cheap. (Sadly I got distracted and missed being able to see House of the Devil on the big screen with him and Dan yesterday.)

Pathogen is a zombie film that was created, written, and directed by a 12 year old. While parts of the movie may have fallen apart or been nitpicked usually, keeping that in mind this really is an amazing work of art. It actually did have a solid plot with a great way to introduce how the zombie outbreak occurs. There is a little ‘spiritual’ twist in the forms of dreams and a patient zero symptom that was done to perfection. If you’re looking for something highly polished this isn’t a film for you. If you’re looking for the first film by a director to watch how she grows in talent? This is clearly worth checking out. We have someone here who can possibly become a great horror director if she keeps interested and sticks to it.

Zombie Girl: The Documentary was… actually missed. Brittney and I were out talking to Bryan, Dan, and a few other people and we apparently missed the movie call. Had no idea that time had flown by so much until what must have been 40 minutes in so… Missed seeing that on the big screen. However seeing it already probably made that to be not too big of a deal.

The night ended up with what the majority of us were there for, a large screen showing of the classic itself- Return of the Living dead. I’ve been such a fan of this movie for so many years that being able to see it, on the big screen, in the company of 100′s of horror fanatics who all wanted to see it just as much was really just one of those great experiences that happen in Chicago. I had an absolute blast and can’t wait until the next Horror Society fest this December!