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Scared Shitless is a hilarious tribute to the Alien franchise. When a resident of an apartment complex accidentally unleashes a strange-looking leech into the sewer system, chaos erupts in ways that go beyond the typical single-location horror formula. While it recalls the frantic energy of Evil Dead: Arise, the film also channels the streetwise vibe of Attack the Block, albeit with a distinctly Canadian twist. And like most films that premiered the previous year at Fantasia Film Festival, it’s now available to stream, or should I say scream?

In tone and aesthetic, the Ghoulies influence feels stronger than The Blob. Written by Brandon Cohen and directed by Vivieno Caldinelli, the narrative reminds us that some of the scariest threats lurk just beneath our feet. Unlike creature features, where monsters simply leap out to snap at whatever’s nearby, this story also centers on a father-and-son duo attempting to save the residents from the sewer-dwelling menace.

Continue reading “On Halloween, There Is No Need To Be Scared Shitless When The Loo Isn’t Clogged Up!”

Steve Kostanski and Frankie — **Frankie Freako is available to purchase on Amazon USA.**

Steve Kostanski always loved the magic that film offered at an early age, and when he was creating stop motion films in the garage, little would he know it would lead to a career in the special effects industry. While some people think of him as part of the Astron-6 collective, where they create 80s-centric, no-budget, mixed-genre movies, they have done independent works too, like this filmmaker has with Freddie Freako, to realise they’re a tight group says it all. His name is also there in The Void and Manborg, where he has co-director credit.

His efforts are to be commended since he loves the medium; he watched shows like Mega Movie Magic (1997-2004) on Discovery Channel to learn how film effects were created back then. And on that fateful day where he and his buddies saw Army of Darkness, he knew what he would do for the rest of his life!

“That was when it really clicked,” said Kostanski, as I interviewed him via Zoom. “For me, it seemed like they were normal guys having fun goofing around; except somehow it became accessible. What they made stopped being this nebulous idea from Hollywood and that led to me to seriously want to make it in the film industry.

Continue reading “[Interview] Steve Kostanski on Frankie Freako and The Love for Makeup FX!”