From Zombos' Closet

Paranormal Lockdown: Randolph County Infirmary and the Hinsdale House

Paranormal Lockdown: Hinsdale House will air on April 1 on the Destination America channel.

Continuing their 72 hour sleepovers in highly-trafficked haunted locales (with that traffic applying to both living and dead), Katrina Weidman and Nick Groff, along with cameraman Rob Saffi, pay two long visits to the Randolph County Infirmary and then the Hinsdale House.

At the Randolph County Infirmary they're joined by Grant Wilson, who is a pleasure to see in action. His approach is always low key and methodical. This episode's highlights are his brief appearance, Nick and Katrina's morning exercises, and Rob "red shirt" Saffi's not being bitten or attacked in any way. I'm disappointed Rob remains unscathed in both episodes. I'm sure Rob is happy though.

Not much else happens except for EVPs I'd want to listen more closely to, and jarring knocks that are always mysterious and unsettling. Looking at Ray's credits, he's held the camera for Ghost Adventures, Ghost Stalkers, and Ghost Stories, so by now he know's what he's getting himself in to. One strong point about Paranormal Lockdown is how we see glimpses of Ray filming and how the hosts acknowledge his presence. Time was you'd not disturb the sense of host-solitude unless the camera or sound person got bonked by a malicious entity (you may recall the incident involving the sound man getting suddenly knocked off his feet during one episode of Ghosthunters). 

I wasn't being sarcastic about Nick and Katrina's aforementioned morning exercises. By now I'm sure even you're wondering what they do to work out the body and mind kinks from staying onsite for 72 hours. And what does Rob do? Does he sleep in the van or rent a room? 

The Hinsdale House visit is disappointing--no concrete visual evidence is produced--and intriguing--everyone feels something not quite right when in the house or traversing the nearby woods. While personal impressions can be influenced in non-supernatural ways, when everyone feels the same way after entering the Hinsdale House, further investigation into both supernatural and natural causes is warranted. The house itself has the usual history you would expect for one associated with demons and hauntings. Left derelict at times, reluctantly inhabited at other times, the dreary house and its surroundings are picture perfect for local gossip to run wild.

What makes Hinsdale House receive a lot of attention by paranormal investigators and ghost tourists is its backstory of exorcism, Gregorian-like chanting supposedly heard in the woods around the house, and the depressing feeling of your energy being drained when you enter its rooms. In the 1970s the Warrens investigated the house. Tony Spera (noted as a religious demonologist), son-in-law to the Warrens, joins the hosts for a walk-through in the house and around the woods. Paul Kenyon (author of You Know They're Here), comes in to describe an experience he's had in the house.

A nightly walk in the woods has Nick hearing chanting and coyotes looking for their next meal. Me, I'd have left with Rob already. There's something not quite right with the Hinsdale House. Maybe it's its architecture and flies, or perhaps its location. I'm not sure I'd want to do a ghost tour there, but be my guest. 

London to Host First Drone Film Festival

Newsy Stuff for you...arrived by email, not drone...

London to Host The First Dedicated Drone Film Festival in May

London will play host to the first ever drone film festival later this Spring. The inaugural London Drone Film Festival will celebrate big screen projects made using drones as the emerging technology continues to change the face of the film industry. Drones have enabled Filmmakers to create spectacular shots that would have been either impossible or impractical before drone technology existed. Drone technology is now being quickly put to work in new and innovative ways by a host of cutting-edge filmmakers.

The London Drone Film festival will take place on Monday 23rd May at the Institute of Contemporary Art in London and will showcase the incredible work being done by filmmakers around the world using drone technology. Drones offer a safer, cheaper and more adaptable solution for capturing the perfect aerial shot than traditional methods. Recognised as a valuable tool in the story making process, drones create new avenues for filmmakers pursuing airborne shots.

Judging will take place in 10 categories, with the panel comprised of TV and film professionals as well as leaders in the technology field. With categories such as ‘still photography’, ‘extreme sports’, ‘landscape and architecture’ and ‘selfie’, the festival will recognise those pioneering new techniques and best adopting drone solutions to deliver entertainment and visual mastery to a range of audiences.

Applications are still open, with finalists announced next month, ready for the event in May. If you would like to enter a film into an award category or if you would like more information, visit the London Drone Film Festival website: www.londondronefilmfestival.com.

Tickets to the festival can be purchased by visiting www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-drone-film-festival-tickets-21838641966

The festival is more than just an awards ceremony and will bring together a host of industry professionals from a number of nations and specialties. In addition to offering a fantastic networking opportunity, the festival will also provide a forum for early adopters of aerial filming to discuss current trends and topics as well as future plans.

 

Superman (1978) Pressbook

At 30 pages, this pressbook for Superman is quite a flyer. The cast articles are plentiful and the tagline, "you will believe a man can fly," is a grabber. Seeing this movie in the theater for the first time was exhilarating.  

Superman II (1980) Movie Pressbook

For those of us who thrilled to the real Superman, who actually worked harder to save people rather than CGI-f-it-up the destruction and death quotient. Here' the movie pressbook for Superman II. Practical effects and all.  (If you want to view it in your comic book reader, Download Superman II Movie Pressbook .)

Mojin: the Lost Legend Hits DVD May 3rd

This news just in...if it's anything like Detective Dee: The Mystery of the Phantom Flame, I'm in!

Based on the #1 Bestselling series of novels and starring Shu Qi (The Assassin), Chen Kun (Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon), Angelababy (Tai Chi Hero), and Huang Bo (Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen), MOJIN: THE LOST LEGEND debuts on Blu-ray^™, DVD and Digital HD May 3 from Well Go USA Entertainment.

Directed by Wuershan (Painted Skin: The Resurrection), the action/adventure fantasy thriller follows three retired tomb raiders  lured back to their original vocation by a mysterious, businesswoman/cult leader who wants them to find the ancient tomb of a Mongolian princess. They eventually learn that what she really wants is to possess a famed artifact known as the Equinox Flower that allegedly has the power to raise the dead. Bonus materials include a making-of featurette and behind-the-scenes interviews with the Chen Kun and Huang Bo.

Synopsis:

Some people have a special gift. They’re able to travel between the realms of the Living and the Dead ... and Tomb Raiding can mean Big Business. Welcome to the world of the Mojin. MOJIN: THE LOST LEGEND pits a trio of legendary grave robbers against scholars, rivals, and the law – until an offer from a mysterious stranger tempts them into one last heist…an adventure that will test their skills, their friendship, and ultimately – their mortal souls.

 

The Hollywood Reporter says:

Demonstrating that China can produce a lavish, mindless fantasy epic as effectively as Hollywood, Wuershan's (Painted Skin: The Resurrection) adaptation of a novel from a best-selling series should prove a blockbuster in its native country. Receiving a day-and-date release in the United States, Mojin: The Lost Legend should also appeal to American audiences raised on a diet of Indiana Jones and Lara Croft. Heck, there are even zombies, because really, what's a lavish, mindless fantasy epic without them? 

The Blood on Satan's Claw (1971)

The 1970s saw a revival of devil worship and satanic shenanigans, usually with the good guys and gals losing badly. Here's the Mexican lobby card for Tigon produced The Blood on Satan's Claw. "In his 2010 BBC documentary series A History of Horror, writer and actor Mark Gatiss referred to the film as a prime example of a short-lived subgenre he called "folk horror", grouping it with 1968's Witchfinder General and 1973's The Wicker Man. The film was to be Patrick Wymark's last English language film, and was released three months after his death." (Wikipedia)

From the Earth to the Moon (1958) Mexican Lobby Card

Here's the vibrant, if somewhat nebulous in meaning, Mexican lobby card for From the Earth to the Moon movie from RKO and released through Warner Brothers. Location filming was done in Mexico.

Attack of the Clones Vinyl Soundtrack Record

Just got this press release...for you vinyl LP fans...

I Am Shark is thrilled that the 2xLP gatefold colored vinyl release of the original motion picture soundtrack to Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is out now and available for purchase at the I Am Shark online store.

 

Released for the first time ever as a stand alone vinyl album, the limited first pressing (Silver / Transparent Royal Mix) is almost sold out. 

 

Stream “Across The Stars (Love Theme from Attack Of The Clones)”

from the Star Wars Episode II Soundtrack on YouTube

 

"Across The Stars (Love Theme from Attack Of The Clones)"

Originally released alongside the movie in 2002, the original motion picture soundtrack to Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones’ 13-track score from legendary composer John Williams has been remastered to maximize the recording’s dynamic range. Continuing with I Am Shark’s innovative variant character color coordination, which saw the vinyl release of the Episode I soundtrack come in 5 different variations, the vinyl release of the Episode II soundtrack premieres fan favorite Jango Fett's own colored vinyl pressing (Silver / Transparent Royal Mix).

 

Aside from beautifully colored vinyl and the eye catching imagery featured on the gatefold packaging, there are hints of a hidden surprise included in this album.

 

I Am Shark will soon complete the soundtrack trilogy, following Episodes I  (Available Now), and II (Available Now) with the first ever stand alone vinyl pressings of the Star Wars Episodes III soundtrack in the coming months.

 

 

 

Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones - Track Listing

1. "Star Wars Main Title and Ambush on Coruscant" (3:46)

2. "Across the Stars (Love Theme from Attack of the Clones)" (5:33)

3. "Zam the Assassin and the Chase Through Coruscant" (11:07)

4. "Yoda and the Younglings" (3:55)

5. "Departing Coruscant" (1:44)

6. "Anakin and Padmé" (3:57)

7. "Jango's Escape" (3:48)

8. "The Meadow Picnic" (4:14)

9. "Bounty Hunter's Pursuit" (3:23)

10. “Return to Tatooine" (6:57)

11. "The Tusken Camp and the Homestead" (5:54)

12. "Love Pledge and the Arena" (8:29)

13. "Confrontation with Count Dooku and Finale" (10:45)

 

Paranormal Lockdown: Franklin Castle

Franklin Castle is known as the most haunted house in Ohio for good reason. It has all the elements for timeless specters to make their rounds down dark hallways and across empty rooms: there's the tragic history for the original tenants, the Tiedemann family, whose members died too quickly, leaving no heirs to inherit the house; there are those unsavory rumors of murder and other evils taking place within its walls; and there's that spotty record of ownership and vacancy stretching over the years, with each former tenant not wanting to stick around.

The walking tour through the house, alone, is enough to creep you out. Franklin Castle is a brooding, sad, silent place, not at all the type of abode you'd want as a bed and breakfast. Unless you counted on all your customers being paranormal types and into continental breakfasts with ghosts.

Previous tenants, the Romanos, are invited by for a brief chat with paranormal hosts Nick Groff and Katrina Weidman. The Romanos resist entering the house, and once they do, they leave early. Wikipedia's article on Franklin Castle hints at why the Romanos were not too keen on returning.

Another invitee is  John Tenney, a paranormal researcher, who gives us the backstory to the proceedings. He brings the emotional pull for the episode, and its focus, telling us about young Emma, apparently still playing in the house. The Romanos describe how, when they were kids living there, they would play with Emma, although she always refused to go outside or change her Victorian-styled clothes. 

Soon the batteries go dead and the audio goes screwy, and our hosts and Mr. Tenney decide to get some fresh air. So yes, you can see why paranormal investigators are drawn to places like this. A lot. And Mr. Groff and Ms. Weidman have three days worth of time to kill. I always wondered why Ghost Hunters would stay at a place for only a night. This show's twist of spending 72 hours onsite, combined with brisk editing and good camerawork, and two progressively sleepy hosts, is highly watchable even when nothing spooky is happening.

There are the usual personal impressions of feeling this way or that when entering rooms and one particular closet. An electronic spirit box is utilized and more EVPs are collected. Some interesting audio is captured, but still hard to verify beyond interpretation based on the timing and situation. Still, it's evidence to ponder.

Then Rob, the cameraman, once again sees something interesting and captures it. So I'm thinking Rob, who got bit in the Anderson Hotel episode, is a ghost-magnet and maybe they should get him to sleep in the middle of hallways as bait instead of Mr. Groff.

Which, come to think of it, is freaking crazy to begin with. Mr. Groff likes to make the 3am night shift a gamble by plopping his bedroll down in places no one in his right mind would want to spend much time in during the day, let alone the dead of night. Alone. In the dark. This time he sleeps in the middle of the basement while Ms. Weidman stays cozy with the spirit box a few floors above.

Ms. Weidman always seems to manage a saner and more comfortable sleeping spot. 

 

A courtesy screening of this episode was provided for this review. 

6th Old School Kung Fu Fest

Flash! This press release just in...

New York, NY, March 16, 2016 – The Old School Kung Fu Fest, a three-day barrage of the rarest, wildest, and most incredible classic martial arts and action movies is back for its 6th annual edition.

This year, we’re focusing on Golden Harvest, the studio that became Hong Kong’s leading purveyor of truly insane action cinema in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s.

Established in 1970 by Raymond Chow and Leonard Ho, Golden Harvest fast became a rival to Shaw Brothers with a string of blockbusters in the 1970s, and went on to became a dominant force in the Hong Kong film industry throughout the 80’s and 90’s, producing, financing, and distributing over 600 films across many genres. The studio has nurtured the talents of Bruce Lee, John Woo, Michael Hui, Stanley Kwan, Jimmy Wang Yu, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Angela Mao, and many others.

 

at The Metrograph

Ludlow Street (between Hester St. and Canal St. NYC)

www.metrograph.com

Friday, April 8

5:40pm - BIG BULLET (92min)

7:50pm - PEDICAB DRIVER (93min)

10:15pm - THE BLADE (104min)

Saturday, April 9

1:00pm - RUMBLE IN THE BRONX (103min)

3:15pm - ENTER THE DRAGON (110 min)

5:40pm - THE MAN FROM HONG KONG (103min)

8:45pm - A TERRA-COTTA WARRIOR (97min)

11:00pm - PEDICAB DRIVER (93min)

Sunday, April 10

1:00pm - THE BLADE (104min)

3:15pm - THE MAN FROM HONG KONG (103min)

5:30pm - RUMBLE IN THE BRONX (103min)

7:45pm - THE PRODIGAL SON (100min)

10:00pm - BIG BULLET (92min)

 

To celebrate Golden Harvest’s legacy, we have put together a program of some of the studio’s greatest martial arts and action films: we’ve got Bruce Lee’s funkadelic masterpiece Enter The Dragon (1973); the original One-Armed Swordsman (Jimmy Wang Yu) and the one-off James Bond (George Lazenby) going mano-a-mano in the car crashtastic The Man From Hong Kong (1975); Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao in martial arts action paradise with The Prodigal Son (1981); Sammo Hung directing and starring in Pedicab Driver (1989), the greatest achievement of his early career; Jackie Chan fighting a big yellow hovercraft in Rumble in the Bronx (1995); Tsui Hark’s feral swordplay movie The Blade (1996); and the last truly great Hong Kong cop film of the 90s, Big Bullet (1996). All the titles (except Prodigal Son) will be super-rare 35mm screenings!*

In other exciting news for fans of Hong Kong cinema, Warner Archive has begun to make Golden Harvest titles available as part of their manufacture on demand service. 16x9 widescreen DVDs in their original language with English captions can be ordered for the discerning film fan’s collection. Titles include A Terra-Cotta Warrior (1989), He's a Woman, She's a Man (1994), The Blade (1995), Pedicab Driver (1989), Blade of Fury (1993), Big Bullet (1996) and Downtown Torpedoes(1997) - and these few are just the beginning!

For information on how to order visit www.warnerarchive.com

The 6th Old School Kung Fu Fest is presented with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York, in association with Warner Archive.

We’re deeply grateful for the support of the Kenneth A. Cowin Foundation.

*The Prodigal Son will be screened on DCP.

King of the Congo (1952) Movie Pressbook

More jungle spectacle courtesy of Tony Rivers. He spotted these scans made by comic book fiend Bill Meugniot. This time, Buster Crabbe (Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon), takes a stab at it. Hold on to your loin cloth as the "Mighty Thunda" swings through the trees. Exciting poster art and lots of promotion can be found in the 12 pages of this pressbook, including a coloring page! 

Jungle Drums of Africa (1953) Mexican Lobby Card

A menacing inset scene and carefully arranged border illustration, along with an intriguing use of coloration, make this Mexican lobby card for Jungle Drums of Africa a perfect example of how movies depicted the Dark Continent in the 1950s: full of mystery and menace. Quick, what's the single theme every jungle movie from the 1940s to 1950s always seemed to peg its script on? My answer: outsiders pissing off the locals enough to cause much harm and mayhem. From comedies to jungle dramas, hapless visitors and belligerent natives were the usual payoffs. Not surprisingly, many horror movies follow this same theme.