This winters must have video games...

Now these are getting me all giddy with excitement. I mean really, who hates being a part of a fictional world war, or better yet, a Cajun-style Zombie outbreak. If these two titles are anything like their predecessors, then they'll seriously give us ALL something to look forward to this winter.

Left 4 Dead 2 (November 17, 2009)

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Gearing Up For Sundance 2009....

Now that a new week is upon us, I find myself trying to mentally and physically prepare for my grand return to the Sundance Film Festival 2009 in Park City, Utah. I have not attended this annual collection of Independent films since I made my Utah exodus in 2006. As you can imagine, I am more than excited to make my return. With two "fest rookie" friends at my side, Matt (NY) and Megan (LA) we are going to conquer a total of 7 screenings in 4 days. Since the festival is already well underway (has been on since Thurs. Jan. 15), we will be a little behind the buzz, which from my experience will be to our benefit.

Our indy film adventure begins on Wednesday, when we fly into Salt Lake City. Matt and I have the exact same layover in Las Vegas, and coincidentally will be on the same flight from Vegas to SLC. We couldn't have planned it better! Once we land we will meet up with Megan, somehow, some way and will head to my parents house in Park City (pictured right). We'll hit the sack and rest up for the next few days, which will be mad busy.

Our plan will be as follows, feel free to meet up with us at the following screenings:

Day 1 Thurs. Jan. 22:

8:30 am Peter & Vandy @ the Raquet Club. (Matt's Choice)3:15 pm Big Fan @ the Eccles Theatre. (Matt's Choice)
Day 2 Fri. Jan. 23:

6:00 pm Black Dynamite @ The Tower Theater, Salt Lake City (Kristian's Choice)



11:59 pm Død Snø (Dead Snow) @ The Egyptian Theater (Kristian's Choice)


Day 3 Sat. Jan. 24:

9:00 am Moon @ The Eccles Theatre (Kristian's Choice)


8:30 pm Shorts Program V @ Prospector Square Theater (Matt's Choice)

11:59 pm The Informers @ The Tower Theater, Salt Lake City (Kristian's Choice)



As you can see we have a lot to look forward to this year. Many of these films are already getting lots of critical acclaim. Some have already been picked up for distribution (Black Dynamite). Although, I must say that my Norwegian bias paired with my love for horror movies has made Dead Snow the must see film of the Festival for me this year. I will do my best to give my take on each of these flicks in blogs to come. Stay tuned and stay warm while we're freezing our asses off in Park City.

Zombies attack again, and speak Norwegian?

If you haven't figured it out by now, I am a HUGE fan of the Zombie film Genre. Several of my all-time favorite films are from that genre. Specifically, 28 Days Later..., number one on my "Zombie Film" list. Danny Boyle's unique twist on the genre, has set a new standard that has us fearing from highly contagious zombies that can run. The movie take place 28 days following a rabid outbreak of a virus, RAGE, that leaves all of London abandoned by humanity with packs of "infected" running loose.

The 2002 film was followed up with a so-so sequel, 28 Weeks Later... that didn't quite reach the expectations that were had by many, but still held to be entertaining. The sequel pits U.S. military forces in London trying to repopulate the city with evacuees, 7 moths (28 weeks) after the initial infection. Of course, things don't go as planned and infection breaks out again leading to the mass death of hundreds of military and civilian personnel.

Now the Internet is buzzing about a possible 3rd installment to the series. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what the title will be either, 28 Months Later... According to Arrow in the head news ‘28 Months Later’ will be directed by Paul Andrew Williams (The Cottage). No exact details have surfaced on the plot, but I think it is safe to assume that based on the end of "28 Weeks" the Rage virus will have spread to western Europe and possibly further. Stay tuned...

In other Zombie news, what do you get when you combine Nazis, my favorite genre of horror with my motherland, a cabin and a lot of snow? A little Independent Norwegian horror film called "Død Snø" translated "Dead Snow." Looks like an awesome premise, A group of Norwegian medical school students go camping at an isolated cabin in the dead of winter and when all seems safe zombies show up. You ask where is the twist, well, these zombies happen to be former Nazi soldiers that have been dead since WWII. It's not clear if they have been roaming the winter tundra since dubya dubya 2, or if they were mysteriously resurrected by a scientific experiment gone wrong. Check the trailer, I will find someway to see this movie, even if it means I have to stow away on a Norwegian Whaling ship to make the premiere.



Dead Snow comes to theaters in Norway on January 9, 2009.

Wanna keep the neighbor kids out of your yard?

It would be great fun to put several of these in the yard. The neighbors would think you are demented and would tell their kids to stay away for that very reason. Talk about a cheap security system and for $89.95 you can have a unholy zombie breaking out of you lawn too. Go ahead, replace your "Garden Gnome" with a "Yard Zombie."

George A. Romero not done yet...

The master of horror, George A. Romero is making a mighty return to a theater near you. George, who is widely known for pioneering the zombie genre, has another film coming to theaters in February. Romero's original classic, Night of the Living Dead (1968), raised the bar for horror film to a level that it had yet to see. Multiple films followed including, Dawn of the Dead(1978), Day of the Dead and the more recent, Land of the Dead. Clearly Mr. Romero knows zombie films and that isn't stopping him from trying something new. Check out the trailer below, you'll see what I'm talking about.

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I was able to screen this movie back on October 12th 2007 as part of the The Screamfest Horror Festival. I really enjoyed it, and it seemed like many of the festival goers felt the same way. It is a bit of a departure from his other films, but still very entertaining. If you are a fan of horror as I am, then Diary of the Dead is for you. It arrives in theaters February 15, 2008. Go check it out....