Tag: Horror

Putting the Jigsaw together in Rasputin: Voice of the Dragon #3, A Review

The tides of the occult war is coming together very nicely in Rasputin: Voice of the Dragon #3. To see Dark Horse Comics put this title out twice in December is because of how the holidays are falling into place in this Gregorian calendar.

RasputinBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

*Spoiler Alert

The tides of the occult war is coming together very nicely in Rasputin: Voice of the Dragon #3. To see Dark Horse Comics put this title out twice in December is because of how the holidays are falling into place in this Gregorian calendar. This issue comes packed to let readers see how the conflict will come to head. Both sides are after the same thing. The question is who will get the secrets to reanimation first.

Issue four will not be till February. This issue comes out after Boxing day; the only punches being delivered are in waiting for this mad monk to deliver a blow to show which side is going to win.

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At Dark Horse Comics, Good Ol’ Mr. Higgins Comes Home, An Excerpt & Review

3001524By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Mike Mignola and I have one big thing in common. Our love of ghosts and monsters started at an early age. He read Dracula and I saw the classic Bela Lugosi film. Although we were at different ages when we were exposed to this work interpreted across different mediums, the fact this creator and I have a love for Victorian age supernatural style drama says a lot about what we like to examine the most. For me, whether that’s with a cinematic product like an early attempt with CGI with Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) to Sweeny Todd (2007), not many products exist in this sub-genre of horror films unless I want to consider Hammer Film’s work a highlight of the period.

His work, Mr. Higgins Comes Home, is a one-shot which beautifully depicts the attitudes common in this age and plays with a slowly creeping fear of the unknown. If the people from this age are not ready to challenge it, then a lot of the mysteries will still remain behind locked doors — like with what Count Golga has planned for Walpurgis, the Devil’s own night. This time is when witches and warlocks gather. The fact such an event actually exists in European tradition makes me believe this author did his research, or he knows a lot more about the occult than he can let on in a singular world where Hellboy exists in. Technically, the festivities fall on the night of April 30th and into the early hours of May 1st. This tradition is considered a second Halloween in certain parts of Europe.

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“It’s Very Deep & Groovy” When Launch Pad Theatre Dances to E.A. Poe’s Red Death

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Show times:
October 20, 21, 27, 28 at 7:00pm and 9:00pm
October 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 at 8:00pm

Tickets available via www.thecastle.ca or call 250-592-5323 to book.
This show will also return for 2018 during the same month. Interested? Consider making a trip to Victoria, BC to experience Halloween 2018 like never before.

Launch Pad Theatre‘s adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe‘s best known stories into one work is not wrapped under the masque of, but with the approach of the Red Death. This seminal work is also the title of this production. It acts as a container for other narratives as audiences are treated to a partial tour of the historic Craigdarroch Castle located in Victoria, BC. A few new areas are used so the hosts of this gathering — Prospero (David Radford), Virginia (Christina Patterson), Christopher (Jared Gowen), Elizabeth (Diana Nielsen) and Vincent (Trevor Hinton) — can divert everyone from the chaos outside. Instead of the gothic, this take is set in the 70’s at the height of the disco craze.

Life in this palace is pretty groovy. Prospero tells us why we have all gathered and to prevent discord from happening, folks are broken up into smaller groups so the party can continue in other chambers. Here and away from their leader’s prying ears, personal stories are shared and they are from the master of the macabre’s library of works. Three out of the eight tales will get heard in one night. As for which of them will be known depends on the colour-coded key folks get to choose before the start of the show.

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Full Moon Musings on Puppet Master: Axis Termination, Legacy & Laserblast

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By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Hardcore fans are most likely hoping Charles Band’s latest film, Puppet Master: Axis Termination is not spelling out the end of his franchise. This subset of movies brings the pulp-era adventures to completion, perhaps leading into the first movie of the series. There can be more made, as there’s an approximate gap of 40 something years before Puppet Master (it takes place 1989 while the Axis films are during WWII), as the little ones need to find their way home to Bodega Bay Inn. Only time will tell if this producer/director will feel inclined to make more, or is cutting them loose for other filmmakers tell their tale.

With this film, Blade and gang are trading masters yet again. Danny and his girlfriend are not at the helm. Instead, the nefarious Dr. Ivan (George Appleby) gets to be in charge. He needs the boys to help thwart the plans of Gerde Ernst (Tonya Kay) and Krabke (Kevin Scott Allen). These Nazi antagonists have a foothold in Southern California and the war this group of Allies and Nazis are waging is an occult one. Their mission is to discover the key to reanimation. To create a new tiny sized army is the goal, but can either do it?

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Crowdfunding a Stay at Twilight Hotel, the Comic Book

TWILIGHT HOTEL PAGE COVER.jpgBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

I loved riding the Tower of Terror many years back at Disneyland’s California Adventure and always adored the story developed for it. Sadly, that closed down earlier this year and thankfully, the other parks with this attraction are unaffected. However, I often wondered if there would ever be another product that would “borrow” upon this experience. Whether that’s with a new ride, comic book or a movie, perhaps a brand new take on this trope is what’s needed. I’m fairly certain this idea is not what creators Ra X, Michael Aryn, Darrell Smith and Shawn Smith had in mind, but I can dream. After all, isn’t that where some of the best nightmares come from?

Their product, Twilight Hotel, is a four issue comic book anthology which will eventually get a theatrical treatment. This team is seeking crowdfunding to increase the print run of issue one and finish the next. They also have high hopes to get it realized into cinema and I suspect, also gauge how much interest there is for their concept.

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Puppet Master: Axis Termination Arrives Sept 15th, A “War Toys” Review

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By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Before watching Puppet Master: Axis Termination, getting caught up is a must! It will help those who have not seen the films in a while to make sense out of the introduction, and remember who the major players are for this conclusion to this trilogy.

Although many years have passed in the real world (the last film was released in 2012), the wait for the conclusion to this subset of films is worthwhile. Crowdfunding was required to help get this final chapter off the ground. Charles Band wrote and directed this piece. His pulp style narrative is tinged with a taste for the mystic arts. I became a die-hard fan of this series because of the loose Ancient Egyptian connections. The god Sutekh (Set) holds the secrets to the reanimation process which gives life to Blade and his team. Of course, the Nazis want it! This connection may well come into play with the conclusion. However, “War Toys” is part one and it’s a 30 minute tease. This segment will release September 15th, with the next pieces to come on the 22nd and 29th.

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