PART A of the 13th Day of my 13 Days of Halloween...which is Halloween Day and Eve itself!  Today, I offer you a short interview with Torontonian B-movie horror filmmaker Adam Thorn, who also reviews B-movies through Riot at the Movies. He has a couple review books on B and Bad movies, too: Riot at the Movies and The Big Bad Book of Bad Movies...(and don't forget to check out my Facebook Live promo for this post HERE)

Let's see the first bit of the interview on video, now, shall we?

I later interrogated Adam by the torture of email:

Regan: So first off, please tell me more about Personal Space Invader (1 & 2 — especially since you’re coming out with a Bluray with both films in one after Halloween). Also tell me more about your Puppet Master spoof movie, too, Moopet Pastor...

Adam: Both Personal Space Invader movies and Moopet Pastor were made off of a pun or silly joke made to friends who responded with "You should make a movie of that," and so I did. Not because the movie should be made just solely because I could.

Mistakes would happen and most of the script would be thrown out due to having a zero dollar budget or the skill level but often that helped create the comedy. Most of my humor writes itself. I won't ever claim it's all me. It is amazing what can be born right in front of your eyes when you have creative and funny friends to act and create with.

Aliens, Ghosts and little monsters are the things that I have always enjoyed watching and there for I need them in my movie, even when most of the movie is the human making low brow puns.

Regan: Where can people buy or see your films? I know Eyesore Cinema is one place!

Adam: So far all my movies are now available on YouTube under the Riot at the Movies page. For sometime I did have them available to download for a dollar charge and I do sell DVDs for those who want to hear my nonsense commentary tracks, but eventually I figured I'd just put them out there for free for everyone to enjoy.  People who are crazy enough to want an official DVD would have to contact me directly at this point or catch me at a random horror movie convention.

Mwah-ha-ha! It's the Day before Halloween, and Day 12 of my 13 Horrifically Silly Days of Halloween. Up for today, it's my guest Kelly Michael Stewart, Festival Director for the Blood in the Snow Film Festival! Watch my Facebook Live Promo for today's post HERE.

Apologies in advance for the sound quality - unfortunately our mic kept cutting in and out during the interviews. I did my best to include as much as I could, and I will also upload a transcript in the near future...

Just a few of the things that the Blood in the Snow Film Festival has to offer and that were discussed above:

Welcome back to the 2nd part of the Space Zombies 15th Anniversary Reunion, Day 11 of my 13 Horrifically Silly Days of Halloween blog series. Check out my Facebook Live promo for this post HERE!

A little more background on the feature film Space Zombies: 13 Months of Brain-Spinning Mayhem!:

Space Zombies: 13 Months of Brain-Spinning Mayhem! is a feature film shot on digital video that pays homage to B-Movies of the 50s, 60s and 70s – in particular the films of Edward D. Wood Jr.  Though unintentional, the idiosyncrasies and errors that go into these ‘terrible’ but endearing and highly enjoyable films have created a style and a cult following.  It was the filmmakers’ desire to delve deeper into this style through the making of a parody film that emulates B-Movies down to the last detail, but within a modern context, as if created today.  The result is a hilarious film study, both entertaining and enlightening.  There is a definite art to creating something ‘bad’, particularly if you are doing it on purpose!

Space Zombies: 13 Months of Brain-Spinning Mayhem! is the culmination of a trilogy of short films:  Space Zombies: Terror from the Sky!, Space Zombies II: Monsters Unleashed, Unabridged and Unplugged! and Space Zombies III: The Incredible Duel-Headed Cat Freak!  The feature aired on SPACE: The Imagination Station and Drive-In Classics in Canada between 2004 and 2007. The first episode appeared separately on SPACE, Drive-In Classics, and SCREAM between 2003 and 2006.

And now, let's rejoin some of the cast and crew as we reminisce about Space Zombies...

And here's an extra little treat - the Feline Interview video, one of the special features on the Space Zombies: 13 Months of Brain-Spinning Mayhem! DVD, along with short film, The Scary Bitch Project (check out the reunion for that short film HERE), Feline and English language tracks, Special FX video, outtakes and behind the scenes, and audio commentary.

AND DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS HORRIFICALLY SILLY DAY OF HALLOWEEN, WHICH WAS PART 1 OF THIS REUNION, AS WELL AS THE 12TH DAY, IN WHICH I INTERVIEW KELLY MICHAEL STEWART, FESTIVAL DIRECTOR OF THE BLOOD IN THE SNOW FILM FESTIVAL...

IF YOU HAVEN'T CHECKED IT OUT YET, YOU REALLY SHOULD WATCH PAUL GRATTON FROM DAY 6 OF MY SERIES. HE RAN DRIVE-IN CLASSICS, WHICH HELPED INSPIRE AND ALSO AIRED SPACE ZOMBIES...

Welcome to Day 11 of my 13 Horrifically Silly Days of Halloween! I've got another special blog post for you - the reunion of some of the cast and crew of my feature B-movie parody, Space Zombies: 13 Months of Brain-Spinning Mayhem! (which I've been flogging in several of the previous blog posts, as well as the novelette which is based on the movie)...and HERE's the Facebook Live promo for this post...

For those of you unfamiliar with the film, here is the official synopsis:
Even the sanest and kindest of men goes mad.  But what is it that drives him to insanity?  What you are about to read is a description of the circumstances under which one man, Veterinarian Dr. Vic McNaughton, goes horribly, horribly, and irretrievably mad…is it the aliens seeking human brains for snacks?  Zombies seeking to switch their brains with the brains of cats?  Monster toad beasts? Starfish mutations?  Dr. Vic and his staff experience all of these adventures, but it is the Space Zombies’ experiments switching the thought essences of Dr. Vic’s wife Betsy with those of his beloved cat Ju-Jube that eventually push him over the edge.  His solution is obvious – his wife and darling pet must be combined, but first he must test his theories on some other unsuspecting humans and cats.  What results is a truly terrifying travesty – a duel-headed cat freak that defies his master and embarks on a frightening rampage.  It is only through this cataclysmic event, along with the prodding of Vic’s staff and his friends, including the very Space Zombies who helped him create the two-headed creature in the first place, that finally snaps Vic out of his maniacal trance, and he begins to see the light.  Only when things are put right again – when minds and bodies are matched, does Dr. Vic’s world simmer to a sane temperature again.

And now, the reunion interview, Part 1:

I've been looking forward to this day VERY MUCH! My 15th wedding anniversary isn't until actual Halloween, Thursday October 31st, but today we celebrate 15 years by participating in the Monster Dash race and costume party.

I am a Zombie Bride and with my Zombie Bridesmaids at my side (thank you, thank you, thank you Simone and Kimmie!), we will take this 5k and costume party by storm! Not to say that I will be racing very quickly...this dress is quite the meringue (if I may use the term from Four Weddings and a Funeral), so my speed will be "walk."

Here's some photos as I get make-up done by my most artistic mother:

...and here's some of the first costume pics, with my Zombie Bridesmaid, Kimmie (whom you may recognize from The Scary Bitch Project/Day 4 Reunion!)...

I'm going to try and get some video up soon of my husband's team's costume, TETRIS! They won second place in the costume contest! I was a finalist!

And here's some photos of the Tetris group, including my husband, Kevin!

AND DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS HORRIFICALLY SILLY DAY OF HALLOWEEN, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, AS WELL AS THE 10TH DAY, IN WHICH I CELEBRATE THE 15th ANNIVERSARY OF SPACE ZOMBIES WITH SOME OF THE CAST AND CREW...15th for SPACE ZOMBIES, 15th FOR KEVIN AND I!

If you'd like your own copy of my very own feature film B-movie parody (including my short film parody, The Scary Bitch Project, in the special features) you can buy the DVD of my feature film, Space Zombies: 13 Months of Brain-Spinning Mayhem!

You can also buy or rent it through iTunes.

Day 8 of my 13 Horrifically Silly Days of Halloween is here and we're going strong! Next up is my guest Bern Euler Festival Director at the Canadian Film Fest, talking horror, horror-comedy, B-movie and all those things, but specifically Canadian...you can see my Facebook Live promo for Day 8 HERE...

From the Canadian Film Fest website:

THE CANADIAN FILM FEST IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEVOTED TO THE CELEBRATION, PROMOTION AND ADVANCEMENT OF CANADIAN FILMMAKING TALENT.
By exclusively featuring Canadian films, its goal is to provide filmmakers with valuable showcasing and networking opportunities and to offer the public homegrown productions to view and enjoy.
WHAT WE DO IN A CANUCKSHELL:

• The CFF is dedicated to supporting Canadian independent films and cultivating emerging and established filmmaking talent.
  
  
• In addition to film screenings over the course of five days at Cineplex’s Flagship Scotiabank Theatre, the CFF presents the CFF Industry Series with industry panelists, a masterclasses, a screenplay competition worth $10,000 and of course awesome parties.
  
  

Regan: Welcome to my 13 Horrifically Silly Days of Halloween, Bern! Tell me, has Canadian Film Fest ever programmed a horror comedy film or maybe even a B-movie?

Bern: We have many times programmed what horror and some genre fans would call B-movies. I look at them as I look at any movie we generally program: a lower-budgeted movie. The camp that’s usually associated with a low budget genre movie is just a plus for me as it is all about having fun within the genre. That’s why I love them. 

Regan: What about older B-movie style horrors, some that are funny on purpose, others, not so much…what are your favs and why?

Bern: Many, many favourites. I have a huge collection. Bruce Campbell in anything. Tons of Canadian gems, too many to mention. Genre fans tend to be more forgiving as long as the story is good and there’s lots of whatever the genre calls for like gore or lasers or spaceships or demons or laughs. I’m one of those people. 

Regan: Are there any more recent horror comedies or modern day B-movies you love and wish you had the opportunity to program into CFF? 

Bern: Tons of stuff the Toronto After Dark or Blood in the Snow festivals steal from my clutches. 

Regan: Ah, yes...I'm looking forward to interviewing the people involved with Toronto After Dark and Blood in the Snow next week -- thank you for recommending them to me. Last question, have you got a favourite Canadian horror-comedy film?

Bern: A Little Bit Zombie is really funny. We programmed that a while back. I saw that a couple of times before we screened it. So much ridiculous fun. 

Regan: Yes, that one's great! Thank you so much, Bern, for sharing your thoughts on this niche sub-genre with me today.

Here's a list of a few more Canadian-made horror-comedies (or horrors with an healthy sense of humour) and B-movies:

Welcome to Day 7 of these most ridiculous and gorey days of Halloween. Today we have Christian Laforet, author and publisher at Adventure Worlds Press. Check out my Facebook Live promo for this post right HERE...

From the Adventure Worlds Press website: Adventure Worlds Press releases fringe titles including Horror, Science Fiction, Short Story Collections, Anthologies, Graphic Novels, and more. Our vision is to create not only quality books and enjoyable reads, but to make them cool products as well. Founded in 2016, we are based in LaSalle, Ontario, Canada.

Regan: Welcome Christian! Tell me about some of your favourite horror stories/short stories, especially those that have an element of humour, published by Adventure Worlds Press?

Christian: The kind of horror I gravitate toward is of the slow burn variety. I love when a scary story takes time to grow and build tension and dread. There has been a trend of late, with horror fiction, to add in unnecessary action early because the story might be *gasp* too slow. If a novel or short story has to add in cheap scares (or jump scares, to use a film term) to be frightening, then it is a failure.

Mixing humor with horror is like walking a tightrope. Lean too much either way, and you fall right off. We at Adventure Worlds Press have not released much (read: almost anything) that mixes the two genres. However, there is a short story in the No Light Tomorrow collection that I think strikes that balance mentioned above quite nicely. Uninvited Guest by Ben Van Dongen is both very sinister in its implications and somewhat absurd in the reactions of the characters. Ben would argue—and since he wrote it, I guess he’s right—that the story is science fiction, but to me, it is absolutely a horror story.

Regan: I’d like to know about horror stories/novels you’ve written…what are the elements of humour (if any) — and have you written in another genre with a generous dollop of humour?

Christian: The great thing about both comedy and horror is that they tap the same primal, extreme reaction in our lizard brains. Basically, to make a person laugh or shudder is a special ability and usually if somebody is gifted enough to do one, they can do both. Case in point: Jordan Peele. As a comedian, he is hilarious. But recently, and to much acclaim, he has jumped over to the dark side, and has been dropping grade A horror on us all with his last two movies. Another great example was the incomparable Robin Williams. A man that could put a smile on almost any face, turned in several dark performances in movies like One Hour Photo and Insomnia.

I have to admit, I do not put a lot of humor in my own writing. It goes back to my own tastes. I appreciate a good horror/comedy, but it isn’t something I personally strive to create.

Another day of Halloween, another great guest and interview! Meet Paul Gratton, who ran many of the specialty channels for CHUM TV, including Space, Bravo! and, most importantly to me and my 13 Horrifically Silly Days of Halloween blog series, Drive-In Classics, home of the B-movie! Let's explore Paul's misspent youth, shall we?...and if you'd like to see my Facebook Live Promo for this "episode," click the Drive-In Classics logo below!

Here are some of the images I included in the video, plus a few I didn't...

Today is the 5th Day of a most silly and horrifying Halloween...today, my guest is Peter Donato, founder of the Monster Dash - a race for young and old, ghoul or goblin, here in Toronto (at the Science Centre!)...and here's the Facebook Live Promo I did for this post, in case you want to see that before you watch the interview below...

And here's a gallery of all the terrific photos from Monster Dashes past...

Today is the 4th Day of Halloween and I have something a bit different for you...the reunion of the cast and crew of the short parody film The Scary Bitch Project (which, if you haven't already guessed, is a parody of The Blair Witch Project, and was shot about a month after Blair Witch was released in Ontario). Check out my Facebook Live promoting this edition HERE.

Let's dive right into the reunion, shall we?

As promised...Jeff Hannaford's contribution by text (you can see a shot of what Jeff's referring to below during the end credits of The Scary Bitch Project, which I also included at the very end of the above reunion interview):

The best memory for me was the hilarious moment when we realized I was going to have to drive the vehicle, having never been behind the wheel of one. “How hard can it be? And it’s just going to be an empty parking lot.” Harder than I’d anticipated. And it wasn’t empty. Proud to say I did eventually get my drivers license, at age 36! (I’m a much better driver now... But don’t ask my wife).

And now, just for the Halloween season, I have a treat for you -- you can watch The Scary Bitch Project here, for free!  WARNING - COARSE LANGUAGE

And here's a few "precious memories" -- from a special background and history of the Scary Bitch (based on a similar post done by the people behind The Blair Witch Project), to the original VHS cover (when it was available in indie video stores such as Queen Video and Suspect Video), the Ryerson news article, a page from the original script, an original shot list, and listings of The Scary Bitch Project when it debuted on television on the Space Channel a number of years ago...

AND DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS HORRIFICALLY SILLY DAY OF HALLOWEEN, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, AS WELL AS THE 5TH DAY, IN WHICH I INTERVIEW THE FOUNDER OF THE MONSTER DASH, HERE IN TORONTO!