Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola @michaeljepstein - Tumblr Blog

Here I will follow up my Q and A I posted with my review of Blood of the Tribades the most original vampire flick I’ve seen in quite awhile.

I received this movie from Horror Pack a monthly subscription box where you get 4 random horror Blu Rays a month.

I was pleasantly surprised with this one. Especially since in recent history vampire films have been ran into the ground.

Plot wise we are introduced in a opening monologue to a conflict between the men and women of the town. The monologue is intense and is told by the films main antagonist Grando, the shot is right up close to his face and sets the tone of religious fervor which will be present throughout the film. Basically the men of the town have come down with a sickness which they attribute to the women vampires not drinking of the blood of Bathor (their deity) and the fact the women are laying with each other. Now the women just want to live their lives but it becomes apparent that Grando and his church of Bathor won’t let that be, especially when some women outsiders come into town and shake things up.

This movie is beautiful in every way. My first reaction was amazement when the film opened with a beautiful woman taking a bath…..It must be said its a very classy nude scene. The amazed part comes from how much this film looked like a Hammer film. The woman in the tub is dispatched by one of the men with a crossbow revealing she’s a vampire. The fangs look very much like those of the 70s “lesbian” vampire flicks and the blood is that amazing brilliant red made famous by European Hammer horror films.

The cast is decent I felt everyone, even the small roles tried to flesh out their characters. Everyone was a very original character even the “lackeys”

The locations and cinematography in this movie are wonderful. It’s amazing what they pulled off with the budget and the locations they filmed in. There is a few shots that are so beautiful it’s worth watching the whole movie for it. The movie feels timeless and ethereal.

The costumes I felt were great, especially the men’s cult of Bathor wardrobe. The women all wear very lovely Victorian clothing. The costumes definitely play a huge part in the symbolism and storytelling in the film.

The music is definitely a character in this film. It ranges from beautiful ethereal classical music to intense forboding and then to campy fun.

There is a fair amount of blood in this film, not alot of gore, but there are some intense torture scenes. A eyeball scene was featured and God only knows nothing gets a cringe like eye damage.

There is a fair amount of nudity in this film both male and female surprisingly. The nudity both appealing and not played a part in the film and did not feel overly gratuitous.

Overall I think it’s a great movie with great potential for a rewatching, in fact I watched the making of feature directly after finishing the movie, which I don’t do often. At a hour twentyish the movie goes by pretty quick but doesn’t feel rushed. There are a few negatives to the movie but nothing that isn’t superficial or that can’t be chocked up to budget constraints.

In closing I appreciate the social commentary in this film and how it’s balanced out with campy fun, nudity, blood and beautiful cinematography. I’d say check this movie out especially if you are sick of the Hollywood norm. I think Michael Epstein and Sophia Cacciola could go on to make some great films in the future they are talented and very interactive with their fans.

quetzalcoatlustastic

HorrorPack Blu-Rays: March (Part One)

HorrorPack is a subscription movie service that will deliver four horror DVDs or blu-rays to your home once a month. I recently subscribed, and my yearly Halloween tradition has gotten me so that whenever I watch horror movies, I want to blog about them in some capacity. These are two of the four movies I received under the blu-ray plan this month. The other two, The Order and Psychotica, will get write-ups once I’ve watched them.

Blood Of The Tribades. Full disclosure: I know the writers/directors of this film, Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein, through their involvement in the Boston music scene. There was practically a whole subgenre of exploitation movies featuring lesbian vampires in the 70’s, with the most famous practitioner being French director Jean Rollin, and this film is intended as both a tribute to and a subversion of those movies. The only Rollin movie I’ve seen so far is Fascination, which doesn’t technically feature vampires but uses a lot of the same tropes and visual style seen in Blood Of The Tribades. The subversion is that the typical film of this style is centered on female characters but primarily geared towards males, while Blood Of The Tribades has much of the same mix of violence and sensuality but uses it in the context of what’s ultimately a feminist, anti-patriarchal message. 4/5.

Stung. In general, the device of “killer animals” has been used a lot in deliberately campy films (e.g. Zombeavers, Sharknado) to mixed effect: This is definitely a self-aware tribute to films like Piranha, and comically sends up some of the clichés of horror films, but part of its strength is that it hearkens back to the cheap thrills of b-movies without deliberately trying to be “so bad its good”. The two lead characters are surprisingly likeable, and I’m also a big fan of the effects: The initial swarm of wasps is all computer generated, but once people start being stung by the wasps and becoming giant wasp people themselves, the effects are largely practical, which feels of a piece with eighties b-movies and leads to the kind of gross, visceral details that you can’t always get with cg effects. 3.5/5

Cinephiles take note! The Boston Underground Film Festival lands this week in Harvard Square! Grab tix now! #BUFF19 http://thndr.me/4iUiE8

nightmarishconjurings

Jay Kay Interviews Chris Hallock of the Boston Underground Film Festival

A fixture of the Boston horror community in journalism, an acclaimed screen writing and the programmer of the renowned Boston Underground Film Festivals’s “Homegrown Horror” short film block, we are proud to get some time here on “Nightmare Conjurings” with the talented mind of Chris Hallock discussing BUFF18, “Diabolique” Magazine and much more in horror!

Jay Kay: Chris, it is always great to speak with you about horror, film, and the Boston film community. Three years is a chunk of one’s life and time. How much has the three years meant to you writing, creating stories and working with the Boston Underground Film Festival (BUFF) coming this March 23-27 at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, MA?

Chris Hallock: Jay, it’s always wonderful to you about horror and life in general! Three years is a huge portion of time, but at the same time, it feels like it’s gone by in a flash. I’m always engaged in something at any given time, whether helping out with a film fest, a film shoot, or some other project. I like to stay busy, and the past three years have been especially fulfilling on those fronts.

JK: The “Homegrown Horror” block has been a showcase for some of the best, brightest and most infamous filmmakers in the New England horror community. Talk about how important this block is as well as the impact of it on you and how much it meant to you before you started to curate it.

CH: I have the privilege of working with the Boston Underground Film Festival to give a platform to our native artists, and I’m incredibly proud of how the “Homegrown Horror” block has grown during that time. My hope is that in addition to sharing some great films, the program encourages others to pick up a camera and make their own films. I think it’s important to share in the communal experience and be inspired by these creators sitting right next to you. I know it inspires me!

JK: Tell me about how you finally oversaw the selections of the “Homegrown Horror” shorts and what does it mean to you to have this responsibility? Talk about giving the news to the filmmakers that they are a part of this block and BUFF.

CH: I’ve always admired the team behind BUFF, and was ecstatic when approached by Nicole McControversy, the Director of Programming, about adding a local block. It means the world to have the responsibility because art and storytelling is so rich in our region, and film is an effective and affecting way of experiencing it. I generally spend the year looking for unique films in festivals, local screenings, social media, fundraising campaigns - I follow everything that time allows. I reach out personally to individual filmmakers to check out the films, and compile a list of everything regardless if it will work for the festival or not. It’s a thrill to offer a spot in the festival to budding filmmakers and witness their enthusiastic response in return.

JK: What does this year’s block of shorts contain and does each year raise the bar with overall quality of film on every level?

CH: The bar is absolutely rising each year. The quality of work blows me away, and I have to make tough decisions when it comes to cutting a potential film. I’m working under a time constraint (about 75 minutes) or I’d happily include more films. I’ll also suggest films as potential pairs for feature films when I find something appropriate. We like to have a local presence outside of this one specific block. We have a few alumni returning with films including Andrea Wolanin’s “Cleaning House”, Alex DiVincenzo’s “Tourser Snake”, and Corey Norman’s adaptation of Stephen King’s “Suffer the Little Children.” We also welcome newcomers Coco Roy (Don’t Drink the Devil’s Blood) and Jarett Blinkhorn (They’re Closing In) among some other incredibly talented folks.

JK: Talk about the minds behind BUFF - Nicole McControversy, Kevin Monahan, and Bryan McKay.

CH: I’ve not met a more dedicated group than that trio. They truly agonize over every detail when it comes to putting that festival together. I’m talking about everything from the quality of film selections to the unique parties to the artwork used in branding and promoting. I can be excessively nerdy and obsessive when it comes to this stuff, and its tremendous working with like minds who work so tirelessly, yet so joyously.

JK: What does this year’s edition of BUFF have for the fans and what are you looking forward to? How enjoyable is it to see the dysfunctional family at BUFF and network?

CH: As with most festivals, there’s so much going on and never enough time to spend with everyone, but I’m always thrilled to see the dysfunctional family, even if it’s just to share a smile across the room or a fist bump during karaoke.

JK: The “Homegrown Horror” block is one of the best attended blocks during the long weekend, it is a favorite to many, maybe only rivaled by the Saturday Morning cartoons… talk about the crowd that attends. How did this block affect you as a member of that crowd before taking over the programming and now after you have?

CH: Homegrown Horror is pretty much my baby and I’ve been doing it since the inception in 2013, so I don’t have the context of seeing it outside of that. However, I still sit in the audience because even though I’ve watched each film multiple times, I still enjoy the big screen experience. I especially love gauging the crowd reactions. I like to call them the BUFF rowdies, and they’re usually a boisterous bunch.

JK: On a very positive note, how is writing for Diabolique with “FRIGHT FROM THE FRING” going and your acclaimed screen writing?

CH: I love the column because it allows me to bring to light films that may not be on the radars of a lot of fans. The focus is “movies that reside on the outskirts of the multiplex,” so it can be any independent film on a festival run, limited distribution in small theaters, streaming online…I like to keep on top of these things anyway, and appreciate having an outlet for it in the pages of Diabolique.

As far as creative output, director Chris Esper is finishing up a dark comedy I wrote called “A Very Proper Man,” and my frequent collaborator Izzy Lee (Postpartum, A Favor) and I are trying to hammer out a feature script. I’m helping on the production end of a few other projects, Porcelain Dalya’s “Calling in Demon” and Farah Rose’s “Rapture.”

JK: Where can they find out more about the programming for BUFF?

CH: The best place to find out about BUFF is the website bostonunderground.org or follow us on our social media spots on Facebook and Twitter.

JK: Thanks so much Chris! Look forward to seeing you at the Boston Underground Film Festival at the Brattle Theater March 23-27!

famousmonsters

Revoltin' Reviews: DARLING, BLOOD OF THE TRIBADES, INSANE, SEVEN DORMS OF DEATH, and More!

I don’t know what the hell is in the air, but suddenly e’ery Tom, Dick (heh), and Scary has sent me fright flicks by the dozens… #shutupstupiditsfreemovies DARLING • RELEASE DATE: In Theaters April 1st • WRITTEN BY: Mickey Keating • DIRECTED BY: Mickey Keating • STARRING: Lauren Ashley Carter, Brian Morvant, Sean Young, Larry…

Revoltin’ Reviews: DARLING, BLOOD OF THE TRIBADES, INSANE, SEVEN DORMS OF DEATH, and More! was originally published on Famous Monsters

anjimile-deactivated20200303

On the Overwhelming Whiteness of the Boston Music Scene

The Boston indie rock scene is overwhelmingly white. If you’re reading this and this is the first time the aforementioned sentiment has ever crossed your mind, you’re probably white. I’ve been playing live music in Boston for about 4 years now. Back in 2013 I had the privilege of playing a few gigs with a good friend of mine who is also a ridiculously funkadocious bass player. Like myself, he is black. In total, I think we played about 7 or 8 shows together. On two seperate occasions, at the conclusion of two different shows, we were asked by two different booking agents if we were related. “Because you look similar,” they said. The bass player and I do not look alike. We both have big toothy smiles. We’re both awesome musicians. We’re both black. But we do NOT look alike. I don’t think that either of these promoters had ever even seen a local indie rock band with 2 black musicians before. So why is the Boston indie rock scene so white? As Pitchfork recently pointed out in an eloquent article, indie rock in general is overwhelmingly white. I’d extend that sentiment to rock music in general. Additionally, Boston is extremely segregated and that level of segregation extends to the local music scene. If I could count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen 4-piece indie bands comprised of 4 white guys in t-shirts, I would have to surgically attach about 50 more fingers to that hand. The promoters are white, the bands are white, the fans are white. Everyone is white. It’s a statistical fact that 75% of white Americans don’t have any non-white friends. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2014/08/25/three-quarters-of-whites-dont-have-any-non-white-friends/) So, statistically it makes sense that a group of white bros would form an all white band, invite all of their white friends to their white shows and have a big white party. So, what’s the problem with that? The problem is, white people aren’t the only race of humans that listen to or create indie rock. As a black musician, whenever I book shows I make a point to look for bands comprised of women, queer people and people of color because these demographics are embarassingly underrepresented in the Boston indie music scene. So, what are we supposed to do about the overwhelming whiteness of the Boston indie music scene? Honestly, I don’t know. At the very least, I believe it starts with awareness and critical analysis. Is your band comprised exclusively of cis white men? Is your band comprised exclusively of white people? Is your fanbase primarily white? Are your shows essentially a sea of white people? The first step to dismantling racism and oppression is recognizing its existence. The next time you’re at a show, take a moment to examine the racial diversity of the crowd, because it says a lot about the band and it says a lot about the scene. There aren’t enough people of color in the Boston indie rock scene, and that is a problem.

famousmonsters

Frightful Five: 5 Questions with BLOOD OF THE TRIBADES Directors Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein

Let me tell ya, creeps, there’s a new fright flick headin’ our way that looks like it’s all set to drench our eyeballs in that good ol’ Hammer horror vibe (with a nice layer of Rollin and Franco as well), courtesy o’ die-rectors Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein… and waddaya know, look who’s chained—I mean, just walked into the Crypt o’ XIII totally of their own volition?

Famous Monsters. Give us the deadly details on your new fright flick BLOOD OF THE TRIBADES!

Sophia Cacciola. BLOOD OF THE TRIBADES is our revival of early 1970s vampire films. The world hit a real twelve-month peak with all of the following movies released in 1971: LUST FOR A VAMPIRE, TWINS OF EVIL, COUNTESS DRACULA, DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS, THE SHIVER OF THE VAMPIRES, REQUIEM FOR A VAMPIRE, and VAMPYROS LESBOS. We’ve been in a tumbling, art-lesbian vampire decline since. So, in order to celebrate 45 years of the genre’s lethargy and coffin hibernation, we thought it would be great to make BLOOD OF THE TRIBADES!

For this film, we have created a vampire world in which the great vampire Bathor turned an entire village, stuck around long enough to teach them to survive, and then promised to return in 2000 years after conquering the rest of the continent. The only problem with this plan is that the vampires, although immortal, have only a limited capacity for memory. As time passes, they forget their utopian society and led by the totalitarian zealot Grando, become paranoid, superstitious fundamentalists, splitting their society by race and gender lines and seeking to destroy those who are deemed sinful. Long-forgotten lovers Élisabeth and Fantine find that, with the help of those who were banished in the past, it is their fate to piece together the past and help preserve the little that remains before Bathor’s impending return.

FM. You like gettin’ your sociopolitics chocolate all up in your blood n’ guts peanut butter. How do you approach such a feat, and what are the challenges?

Michael J. Epstein. We sort of think that it isn’t worth making a movie if you don’t have anything to express. So, the storytelling always starts from a place of conveying ideas that we hope are useful to our viewers. It’s naturally how we write stories. Neither of us is really into realism or drama, so we’ve always latched on to the higher-concept ideas and have enjoyed relating with the characters as they navigate those kinds of metaphor-driven worlds.

We grew up on exploitation, horror, and Sci-Fi films that were always finding ways to tackle sociopolitical issues, push boundaries on content, and most of all just tell interesting stories about interesting characters who would never have a voice in mainstream films. We hope to continue in that tradition. And while there is some great work going on now, far too much low-budget filmmaking is focused on making cheaper versions of mainstream film.

Of course, the most challenging part of filmmaking is always matching the resources with the ambitions. We’ve learned to work within our very limited financial boundaries and enjoy the freedom to tell exactly the story we want to tell.

FM. What fright flicks have inspired you the most?

SC. For this particular film, we were excited to blend the surrealist, image-driven vampire and quasi-vampire films of Jean Rollin, and to a lesser degree Jess Franco, with the great theatrical performances in those early 70s Hammer films. We thought it would be really fun to mix those two types of things that have probably not ever spent time in a room together. It’s hard to say, but we may have been sent down this path by weird dreams that transpired the night after watching the TWINS OF EVIL/DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS double feature at our local Boston-area favorite, the Brattle Theatre.

FM. Do you have another flick lined up after this one, and can ya drop any hints about it?

MJE. We are always in early pre-production on a handful of movies on different scales, waiting to see which project gets the green light. With that caveat in mind, the very strong leader for us at the moment is a horror/Sci-Fi film called ALBATROSS about a couple with one child who are torn apart by an accident and use inter-dimensional travel to try and reunite. Although that sounds like it could be a cheery romantic drama, things don’t go particularly well on this quest, and our plan right now involves a lot of disturbing, practical body-horror type work. The story was at least somewhat inspired by a birdlike, demonic-looking stain in our bathtub. Pareidolia isn’t always paranoia.

FM. Where can the fiends keep up with your horror biz?

SC. [Our] Website, Facebook and Twitter. We’re also at http://launchover.com, http://sophiacacciola.com, and http://michaeljepstein.com. And our email lists are at http://www.mikeandsophia.com/2010/07/join-our-mailing-lists.html.

Thanks you crazy creepies! I guess I can loosen those restraints now… err I mean, follow me on Facebook and Twitter!

Frightful Five: 5 Questions with BLOOD OF THE TRIBADES Directors Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein was originally published on Famous Monsters

horrornews

Being a horror fan who was born and raised in the UK, Hammer will always have a special place in my heart. So hearing that a new film will pay homage to them certainly makes me smile.

Blood of the Tribades will tell the story of an immortal clan of vampires, who, having long forgotten their promise to create a utopian society, are led by a dictator into ruin and despair.

It will be the third and most ambitious film from the directing duo, and it has every right to be awesome. Contribute here to remind the world that there’s more to vampires than shirtless teenagers.

The post Blood of the Tribades Raising Funds on Kickstarter appeared first on Dread Central.

Get all your horror news on http://ift.tt/ksbaVb

meth

This is a very cool project by very cool people. Highly recommended for the horror fans out there. I’m a backer, I’m not just saying that.

horrornews

Being a horror fan who was born and raised in the UK, Hammer will always have a special place in my heart. So hearing that a new film will pay homage to them certainly makes me smile.

Blood of the Tribades will tell the story of an immortal clan of vampires, who, having long forgotten their promise to create a utopian society, are led by a dictator into ruin and despair.

The post Blood of the Tribades Raising Funds on Kickstarter appeared first on Dread Central.

Get all your horror news on http://ift.tt/ksbaVb

meth

This is a very cool project by very cool people. Highly recommended for the horror fans out there. I’m a backer, I’m not just saying that.

Visit the post for more.

horrornews

Being a horror fan who was born and raised in the UK, Hammer will always have a special place in my heart. So hearing that a new film will pay homage to them certainly makes me smile.

Blood of the Tribades will tell the story of an immortal clan of vampires, who, having long forgotten their promise to create a utopian society, are led by a dictator into ruin and despair.

The post Blood of the Tribades Raising Funds on Kickstarter appeared first on Dread Central.

Get all your horror news on http://ift.tt/ksbaVb

From the Beyond Con is very happy to announce that we have selected “MAGNETIC” as an official selection. "MAGNETIC" In 7 days, Earth will have its atmosphere ripped away by a powerful coronal mass ...

preferenciamusical

Listen/purchase: Volume One by The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library

modernhorrors

BrinkVision releases Murder Mystery TEN

Independent film distribution company, BrinkVision has released the critically acclaimed retro murder mystery TEN on VOD and Limited. Ten stars an all female cast, and is directed by the film making team of Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein. Ten has been called by critics entertaining, intellectual, and bold. What do an actress, a religious zealot, a renegade, a coed, a model, a singer, a medium, a real-estate investor, a historian, and a doctor have in common? None of them is who they seem. Yet, the fate of the entire world may rest in their hands.

If the trailer looks interesting make sure you visit Amazon to purchase the movie. There is also an exclusive signed book/DVD combo limited to 50 copies that you can get at BrinkVision’s official website. BrinkVision is an independent company so make sure you support em.

Plot Synopsis

Ten women find themselves in a vacant mansion on Spektor Island in December, 1972. Each believes she’s traveled to the house on business, but they all agree that something seems strange. For one thing, the entire house is full of pictures and statues of pigs. The women all come from drastically different walks of life. None of them would have chosen to spend the night together in such an eerie place, but the last ferry for the mainland has just left, and a terrible storm is rolling in. Trying to make the best of an unpleasant situation, they raid the mansion’s wine cellar and throw a party. As the night creeps on, however, it becomes clear that someone–or something–has lied to get them in the house. It’s not long before someone mentions that Spektor Island is supposed to be haunted. Of course, no one in the house believes in ghosts. At least, not until the first murder. What do an actress, a religious zealot, a renegade, a coed, a model, a singer, a medium, a real-estate investor, a historian, and a doctor have in common? None of them is who they seem. Yet, the fate of the entire world may rest in their hands.

The post BrinkVision releases Murder Mystery TEN appeared first on Modern Horrors.

from http://ift.tt/1KEAEx5

austin-runner47

Horror-Mystery Ten Gets VOD & DVD Release

The Agatha Christie-inspired horror-mystery TEN will be hitting VOD and a special edition DVD on April 21, 2015. TEN is directed by Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein, is written by Cacciola, Epstein, Sarah Wait Zaranek, and Jade Sylvan, and stars Jade Sylvan, Molly Carlisle, Molly DeVon, Karin Webb, Kerri Lynch, Leah Principe, Rachel Leah Blumenthal, Susannah Plaster, and Porcelain Dalya.…

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engine18

Seeking RV/Mobile Trailer!

Do you or a family member have a RV/mobile trailer in decent condition that you can spare? We, i.e. Katherine Bergeron and E. Stephen Frederick, are seeking a RV/mobile trailer that we can live in on the Torrent Engine 18 grounds until the upstairs of Torrent Engine 18 is practical to live in.

Ideally, we want a RV/mobile trailer on extended loan, or gifted outright. We may be able to do a nonprofit tax write-off for you. Or if the price is low enough, we might be able to purchase. Email us at [email protected] to talk more.

Since Torrent Engine 18 is already a huge project, we’re looking for an RV/mobile trailer that is basically in move-in condition (i.e. not another complicated project).

By gifting/loaning us an RV/mobile trailer, you are allowing us to put more of our time, energy, and money towards the firehouse. With lower overhead and better access to the firehouse, we can get repairs done faster and bring you more Torrent Engine 18 events.

austin-runner47

Horror-Mystery Ten Gets VOD & DVD Release

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