As you can imagine, I've watched a lot of micro-budget horror movies. Generally speaking, you have to watch these films with a forgiving eye; they might have amateurish camera work, poor sound, weak acting, or all of the above. Last week I gave a very favorable review to HOUSE OF HORRORS: THE MOVIE, a supernatural slasher film set in one of Buffalo's most elaborate haunt attractions. The film is notable for its stylish cinematography, professional audio, and superior editing, and is now available for $14.95. I was staggered to learn that it had cost less than $2,000; I had imagined a figure ten times higher. The credit for this achievement goes to Daniel Monroe, who conceived, wrote, ... (more…)

Somewhere in Buffalo, a bald headed man with size 15 shoes roams the rust belt. Is it the mass murderer GORE? Bigfoot? John Candy's ghost? No, it's just John Renna, an actor and special make-up effects artist who has had his hand in many of the low budget horror films streaming out of the Queen City. I posted Renna's GORE gallery several months ago, and now that the flick is about to become available on DVD, I thought it was time to let the big man have his say. You can also see him in "action" in several segments of SLIME CITY SURVIVOR.


John, tell me what horror films inspired you growing up, and why you've chosen to pursue a career in acting and special make-up effects.

As a ... (more…)

I first met Michael O'Hear at the second annual (but apparently last) Rotten Jack's Creep Show in Buffalo. I knew him to be a local actor and filmmaker who had appeared in some Red Scream Films and Emil J. Novak (BANSHEE) productions. A short time later, he gave my book CHEAP SCARES! Low Budget Horror Filmmakers Share Their Secrets a rave review on Horrornews.net, so the guy clearly knows what he's talking about! When it came time for me to begin pre-production on SLIME CITY MASSACRE, I knew I needed a local contact familiar with the acting community to serve as my casting director, so I offered him the position. Later, I cast him in the role of "Roman" (originally essayed by Dennis ... (more…)

Adam Steigert and Stef Wlosinski on the set of GORE.

Last week I interviewed Adam Steigert, the co-writer, co-director, co-producer, and editor of GORE, an independent horror film produced in the Buffalo, New York area which is having its world premiere on October 10th, and will the be available on DVD from DefToneStudiosPictures . I mentioned that I was impressed by the performance of an actress in the film, Stephanie Wlosinski, and was surprised to discover that Stef was Adam's collaborator on script, direction and production. Female horror directors are few and far between, so I wasted no time in tracking down this newcomer to the gore score.

First, as a way of context, I vaguely ... (more…)

Now that I'm a volunteer editor here at Fear Zone, I'd like to plug my side business, Greg Lamberson's Creative Horror Film Services. I offer screenplay critiques, production consultations, screenwriting for hire, and even ghostwriting services, all tailored to independent filmmakers - independent horror filmmakers.

Pick up any number of publishing, screenwriting, or film production magazines and you'll see scores of individuals who offer similar services, but none who specialize in horror entertainment... except me.

So who the hell am I to use Fear Zone's valuable cyber space to offer myself up as some sort of expert? Well, for one thing, I'm on the internet so I must know what I'm ... (more…)

I was saddened to learn of filmmaker Robert Ginty's death from cancer last week, at the age of 60. Ginty was a familiar face to me when I was growing up, as one of the fighter plane pilots on the Robert Conrad TV series BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP, as "Anderson" in the first season of THE PAPER CHASE (in the role played by Edward Hermann in the excellent film version), and as Bruce Dern's uniformed sidekick in COMING HOME (how strange to think of right wing wacko John Voight's 70s ouvre as a gigolo in MIDNIGHT COWBOY, a liberal minded teacher in CONRACK, a pacifist in DELIVERANCE, and as an anti-war paraplegiac Vietnam vet in this Hal Ashby directed flick).

But Ginty achieved his greatest notoriety ... (more…)

For decades, George Romero was closely associated with his home town of Pittsburgh, where he shot all of his best films: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, MARTIN, DAWN OF THE DEAD, the mine sequences of DAY OF THE DEAD, and even MONKEYSHINES. In 2000, he switched locales to Toronto, Canada, for BRUISER. Apparently he had such a great experience on that oft maligned production that he moved to Toronto lock, stock and barrel, and that's where he shot LAND OF THE DEAD and DIARY OF THE DEAD.

In any case, last week Romero made it official: he became a citizen of Canada, land of green hills, untouched forestry, deep snow - and universal health care. The switch is understandable (especially given the ... (more…)

A few years ago, at Rue Morgue's Festival of Fear, I met screenwriter and comic book scripter Joseph O'Brien. My wife and I had just watched ROBOCOP: PRIME DIRECTIVES, a four part mini-series which O'Brien had written that ran on the Sci-Fi Channel, and considered ourselves fans. As it turned out, Joe had reviewed my work in the early days of Rue Morgue, and had written, or was in the process of writing, a comic book mini-series set between CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES and BATTLE FOIR THE PLANET OF THE APES. Can you say "fan-atic"? O'Brien's epic, action packed tale out-aped a similar storyline that Marvel Comics published in its black & white POTA mag decades ago. Impressed with ... (more…)

This spring I attended the 2009 Texas Frightmare Weekend horror conference in Dallas, Texas where I was lucky enough to run into one of my favorite indie directors, Anthony Brownrigg. In between signings and panels, he sat down with me to discuss the further developments of his previous films, as well as some exciting news on a "top secret" new project that is in development.

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So how has your experience been with Texas Frightmare so far?


Well, it has been a lot of fun. There is a lot of great filmmakers here and a lot of great films coming out. The Texas film scene is growing very quickly and there is a lot of talent here and I'm here to support it.


You weren't here screening anything ... (more…)

In this gallery zone, Western New York Special Make-up Effects artist John Renna emulates the great Lopn Chaney, designing the appliances for and starring as the title role in GORE, an indie horror flick currently shooting in Buffalo, New York.

"John Renna IS Gore!"

Renna is also acting in a second Buffalo feature, BORN TO DIE, written and directed by Jason Mager and starring Jennifer Bihl, Rod Durick and Michael O'Hear. Robert Lingle serves as Director of Photography. (more…)