Starblood by Carmilla Voiez - A delectable tale of horror.

Carmilla Voiez

I want to be upfront about this review straight away. The fact that Carmilla lives only about 20 miles along the Moray Firth coast in Scotland from me, that she is a Goth, has seemingly excellent musical tastes and, best of all, writes horror novels, has absolutely no influence on my opinion of her book. Nope, not at all.

Actually, I am being very serious. As always, the opinions when it comes to reviews are honest and entirely my own.

Though there is the intention to do a face to face interview as a follow up to this review, Camilla and I haven't actually met as yet. If memory serves me correctly, our paths crossed via a book discussion group on Facebook (naturally, a group mostly involving the horror genre). It was through this that Camilla asked me to review her book in my blog. It was only after agreeing to that and then doing some legalised stalking on Facebook that I realised how geographically close we are. 

Carmilla Voiez resides in in Banff, in the North East of Scotland. She is currently putting the finishing touches to the final instalment of the Starblood trilogy and is also planning world domination for the Sisterhood of Feminazi Splatter Goth - more of which later in this piece.

Starblood tells the story of a circle of friends and acquaintances including Satori (Steve) and Star (Sarah) who inhabit the Goth subculture in a southern city in England. Torn apart by his obsessive love for Star , Satori, who has a knowledge of magic, accidentally unleashes the demon Lilith after producing a spell that he hoped would win back Star. 

This demon, in the words of the author to me, is "mad, bad and very very dangerous"….. so much so that clearly things are not going to go well for those that inspire the wrath of Lilith - and believe me she has a LOT of wrath. 

In fact Lilith soon decides to wreak her own particular brand of sexual and murderous havoc and instigates a horrific chain of events amongst the interconnected group of people in the story. Meanwhile, Satori realises that he must devise a way of sending the demon back to hell. 

The story makes for an often brutal (both psychologically and physically) journey. We see characters and plot evolve before our very eyes, until we eventually move away from the seedy nightclub culture to my part of the world in Scotland where we witness a final, desperate conclusion to the story.

Yes, at face value, Starblood is a heady and rich mixture of horror and erotica - and both of those genre's are written beautifully. The horror is suitably graphic and brutal at times, the erotic scenes too are wonderfully described.

However, it is also a story about flawed individuals who at face value may seem arrogant and superficial, but underneath are simply trying to make sense of the unravelling chaos and confusion that soon surrounds them as Lilith and her world of devious, and deviant turmoil slowly envelops them. Starblood is a wonderful read - I finished it in a day, which for me, traditionally a slow reader, is almost unheard of.

However, don't just take my word for it. Carmilla recently won the author of the year award from Horror fans asylum. 

The thing that I perhaps enjoyed most from the experience of reading Starblood was the way that Carmilla seems to have taken a number of 'commonalities' in some traditional horror and simply reverses them. Foremost in this subversion of horror rules is the role of men and women. Take for instance my two favourite characters, Satori and Lilith. Satori is in some ways the traditional stereotyped female character - vain, superficial and lacking in a degree of common sense. He thinks that he is in control, but in reality he is the victim of practices and actions that he simply doesn't understand. 

Lilith is simply delicious, acting as the driving force and instigator of the violence that ensues  - her actions are, amoral, powerful, lustful and vengeful. And she does it all with more than a touch of panache. I may be just a little bit smitten.

Carmilla clearly wants to write about, and comment upon, the roles of females in contemporary society and showing that through a strong powerful (both physically and sexually) female character, those issues can be brought to a wider audience. Carmilla and her Sisterhood of Feminazi Splatter Goth's aim seems to be a wish to remove some of those traditional horror cliches', particularly sexual ones - 'The first nubile young teen to have sex is always the first to die', a prime case in point. This new genre of horror, Feminaze splatter Goth, will take some of this cliches and shove them down your throat - sometimes quite deliciously literally as seen in this story …..

This may unsettle some more of the 'traditionalist' followers of horror that like to see their 'scream queens' go through the requisite range of decibel cries for help - instead we witness the females being the violent and sexual aggressors whilst the males for the most part are the victims (though not always)……. well as Lilith herself would say to those people raising an eyebrow to this horror subversion …..

" You want power and glory…..I see through you, into the black heart beating pointlessly in your skinny chest. You are nothing, good for nothing."

There is a quite wonderful video that has been produced to accompany the Starblood trilogy, with a quite delicious musical background too - the link can be found HERE.

The second book in the trilogy -  Psychonaut, is available now both in the traditional ( and best) format and on kindle, HERE

"Satori is caught between two worlds. There is something he needs in one, but the other keeps drawing him back. However, he is in love and he isn’t going to let a little thing like death get in his way. To reach his goal, he must face unimaginable horrors, not least of which is his true self.

Star’s tortured and broken body awaits Satori, but does she really need him to save her? His rival, a rage-filled young woman, grows more powerful and becomes as twisted as the ribbons in her hair while the demon, Lilith, draws each of them inexorably towards her. Who will survive the coming battle?"  (Description taken from http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AZ8B1OQ ) 

Book 3 in the series- Black Sun,  will be out in September of 2013.  

For more information on Carmilla and her work you can view her website at   http://www.carmillavoiez.com.

In loving appreciation of 'The Time Machine' (1960)

I decided this week to take a break from championing all things independent sci-fi & horror filming to talk about another one of the many loves of my science-fiction life. I think like many children, I chanced upon the works of H.G.Wells through some wondrous movie adaptations before ever reading his books; The first men on the Moon, The Island of lost souls, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man…… and this beauty, my favourite of them all; The Time Machine.

The movie holds a special place in my sci-fi affections for two reasons. Firstly, it seems to have served as a much needed 'crutch' to lean upon in times of emotional uncertainty. For some reason, it has always been one of my 'go to' films where I could be certain that it would either soothe, inspire or provoke whatever emotions needed to be provoked at that particular time. I'm not sure why other films that I love with equal measure aren't on that 'go to' list, while this has one pride of place on that list……….hmmmm, maybe this blog entry will serve as yet another much needed self-indulgent analysis of yours truly :-).

This masterpiece was made in 1960 and directed by the excellent George Pal, who had not only already directed the first H.G Wells adaptation of The War of the Worlds, but was also responsible for a notable body of work with perhaps most famously, the wonderful When Worlds Collide.

OK lads, but size isn't everything you know...…

The story begins at the very beginning of the 20th century as a group of well-to-do individuals meet at the house of a certain George Wells ( see what they did there?), who has asked them to attend his dinner party. However, George isn't yet present so, in accordance with his prior wishes, they begin without him. Not before long, a clearly stressed and exhausted George stumbles into the dining room and so begins to recount a quite remarkable tale of time travel and adventure. 

Only a week before he had tried to persuade his friends that he had mastered the the problem of time travel, even to the point of showing off his time machine. The problem was that his friends didn't exactly take him seriously, both on the notion of time travel, but also on the little fact that his time machine was, well, little. It measured only a few centimetres high and when he set it to travel in time and it disappears, they mock him believing it to be nothing more than a cheap parlour trick- poor George.

And not a flux capacitor in sight…..

Undeterred, our idealistic hero, who is disillusioned with modern industrial society that seems hell bent on destroying itself, decides to use the larger version he has already built to travel to the future. George finds himself roaming in time through London via two world wars until the year 1966 when nuclear holocaust is finally on the way to destroying humanity. Trapped by the consequences of global catastrophe he has to travel to the far distant future - to the year 802,701 to be exact. Here the world is divided between the surface-dwelling, simple, and without exception, good-looking Eloi and the hideous, underground, Eloi eating, nasty looking Morlocks. Soon, he meets Wenna (Yvette Mimieux) one of the Eloi people and confronts the Morlocks - It's not exactly yippie Kai yay from this moment on, but let's say George kicks some arse.

Take That haven't aged well by the year 802,701..

For those two of you in the world who haven't seen this movie, I won't give away the ending….well actually I will, kind of….. The film ends where we began, at the dinner party. It turns out that George has used the time machine to escape back to January 5, 1900 in time to meet his old friends for dinner and to tell them of his time travelling adventure. Naturally, they really don't believe a word of what he tells them and abruptly leave, with only his closest friend, Filby, showing some belief in his story. The very last scene of the movie sees George departing again in the time machine, but this time possibly forever. Filby and the housekeeper see that three books are unaccounted for from the library. It seems that George needs these three books for life with the Eloi and Wenna.  We are all are left to hypothesise which books were taken and why. Who says that Science fiction cannot be intelligent and thought provoking?

There is much debate amongst Wells aficionados in regard to the this, or any for that matter, adaptation of his books. Whilst it is true that this movie moves away at times from his often bleak dystopian story about how society was on a one way road to oblivion if steps weren't taken to change our way of thinking. At the same time the story contains a thinly veiled vilification of British class system. Yes, the movie deviates at times away from Well's vision, but it still retains enough both in plot and acting performance to retain some of the original story's premise and message. 

Not only that, the cinematography is sumptuous, as is the director Pal's eye for the meticulous detail of Victorian life and whilst the special effects may seem a little dated in some parts (as does the make-up of the Eloi) there is THAT sequence that still never fails to deliver an emotional punch. 

The scene shows George in the initial joy and excitement of travelling through the early years of the 20th century. Across the street from his time machine is a clothes shop, in the window of which is a mannequin. The time travel scene remains a triumph of filming to this day, with the shop window mannequin demonstrating a succession of fashion and style as the years fly by in seconds. The sequence is adorable, ingenious and effective in equal measures. This particular sequence, plus other equally inventive time-lapse scenes were enough to earn the best photography Oscar that year.

Originally, the film's producers wanted an established star for the lead role - David Niven to name but one, was muted at the time for the role. However, it was decided that a younger, more athletic actor was needed and the Australian actor Rod Taylor is simply magnificent in the role. It could be a disservice to Taylor in saying that he never

bettered himself as he enjoyed a rich and varied career as an actor. All I would say is that the mixture of action, sensitivity and humanity needed for what is a deceptively complex part was carried off with distinction by a fine actor.

However, for myself and many others,  the real star of the film is the time machine itself. It is a thing of genuine beauty.

I want this and I want this now...

MGM art director Bill Ferrari created the Machine, a sled-like design with a big, rotating vertical wheel behind the red plush seat, together with with a plethora of knobs and levers that is a attention to a detailers wet dream. It is a movie prop that has become an integral part of the wider entertainment history. Even those few that may never have seen the whole of this wonderful movie will recognise the truly beautiful design of the machine and from which film it comes from. It is a contraption that quite simply screams out Victorian Steampunk charm. 

If anyone was to give me a full size, half size or even mini-sized Time machine copy, I would love them forever.

15-05-08 - How to make an excellent short movie

In my last blog entry I wrote how Nikki Chatwin from the Nottingham-based company Sick Bunny Pictures had asked me to promote their latest venture into movie making, their 16 minute short horror flick, 15-05-08. 

Well today I received a sneak early look at the now finished product. I'll do my best to reduce any spoilers as it doesn't go on full release to youtube until Wednesday of this week. You know me, discreet is my middle name….well it isn't, but you know…..

What I will say is that I was surprised when I watched this for the first time today. "Why were you surprised Stuart?" I hear you ask. Well as i mentioned in my previous entry, 'found footage /hand held camera POV' movies such as Blair Witch etc aren't really my horror bag. So I experienced a fair amount of trepidation when Nikki sent me the movie today and asked me to give it a review - after all, my intention was to be honest, and i wasn't looking forward to telling all and sundry that I didn't like it. Well, I had absolutely no need to worry. This movie is something of a treat. 

Considering that we are only witnessing just over 16 minutes of movie time, a huge amount of emotional experience is packed into it. At first, when the group of friends in a very normal suburban house on a very normal suburban road witness a light going on in what they thought was the empty house across the road, they treat it as a bit of fun. It's all giggles and bad taste jokes at first. 

However, before we the viewer have time to realise it, the tension is being raised as the mood subtly  changes, not only amongst the group of friends in the film, but also at the same time for the rest of us watching . We all begin experiencing the same rising unsettling feeling that something isn't right, until the suspense and tension has been raised to such a level before we witness the final few moments of, well, terror. The ending is simply excellent.

I wish I had more time to write about this movie. I love my independent low budget productions, often even though the filming may not always be great and the acting may not always be exactly top notch. But these guys at Sick Bunny pictures may give indie movies a bad rep - for the camera work is excellent, as is the acting. To say this is a debut feature belies the quality of work behind , and in front of the camera. The delivery of the dialogue is natural and convincing from this group of players, almost to the point that I was wondering just how much of the dialogue was scripted or improvised.

This is a fine movie experience. If you like your suspense built upon suspense until you're hit full in the face with the finest of brutal film climaxes - then this is nearly 17 minutes of just what you ( and I it seems) like.

I really can't wait to see what the future holds for this company.

Part 2 of the current Independent Sci-fi and Horror movie scene.

The second part of the feature on some current film productions is a short entry on a Nottingham-based low budget horror company, Sick Bunny pictures, founded by brother duo Nikki and Jason Chatwin..

Nikki is the writer/director/camera having a background in art and film education making many short films prior to the sick bunny banner.  Jason's roles include editor/camera with a background in music.

The brothers are extremely passionate about film of all sort but with SBP they are are focused on their true passion of horror and exploitation films. As Nikki told me; "we at SB also believe that the horror community is so loyal the indie horror film makers that we are almost like a "family" so for their loyalty we will listen to our fans and bring them exactly what they want to see".

The newest release from Sick Bunny pictures is a short film called 15-05-08

5-05-08" is a 'found footage' slasher film and is intended to be the first in a series of short films. The film is due for official release May 15th ( see what they've done there?) which will be free to watch online. This will be followed with a DVD release at a later date.

The plot as I know it goes something like this. The story takes place on the 15th of May 2008 when a group of 4 young adults witness a break in at a neighbour's house, which they believed to be empty for the weekend. Being the type of nosey teenagers that would make Scooby Doo proud, the group continue to watch the neighbour's house recording it which their video camera as evidence……...

So that's as much as I know at the moment. Nikki has been quite understandably restrained in how much he could divulge about the proceedings. I'll be interested to see how the well trodden sub-genre of 'found footage films' is treated here and whether is brings anything new or fresh in it's approach. For every 'Blair Witch' and 'Cloverfield' there are a plethora of others that seem just formulaic pale imitations and I will be honest in saying that it hasn't really been my favourite style of film. However, there are many film goers out there who disagree with me, plus, if Nikki's passion and enthusiasm is anything to go by, I am more than willing to be converted on the 15th of May!

So what of the future for these sick Bunnies?….. Well the next few days there is a huge amount of last minute work and publicising taking place, with new clips and information being added to their Facebook page literally as I write this piece. 

After the DVD release of 15-05-08 they have a number of other ideas that they want play with, including a sequel to 15-05-08 called "untitled tape". There has been a hint of a production of a more traditional slasher movie, some plans for zombie films and sand intriguing plan for a more extreme topic called  "Tools of the trade" (a progression of a short promo that they have previously made). 

In addition to that, Nikki tells me that the most exciting thing about their future though is working with an extremely talented local effects company N-FX who will help bring the "Sick" to Sick Bunny Pictures. They can be found HERE

So all it leaves me to say is that in just a few days time, we'll find out just what happened to those pesky kids!

Trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FeRKlW_yiw

Sick Bunny Pictures can be found on;

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/SickBunnyPictures

Twitter: @SickBunnyPics

The current Independent Sci-fi and Horror movie scene…..

One of the unexpected joys that I've experienced since beginning this blog at the end of 2012 has been the completely unexpected outcome that anybody has wanted to read my self-indulgent ramblings. I was something of a nerd in my teens - when it was nowhere near as 'cool' to be nerdy or geeky as it is these days - and I find myself in my late forties and still a nerd at heart. And the great thing is, thanks to the social networking explosion, the Internet et al, there are many like-minded people out there. 

Another side effect of the fact that this blog hasn't been an unmitigated disaster has been my growing appreciation of the thriving independent movie scene around the world. I've always been wary of being one of the mainstream and perhaps my nerdiness and teenage immersion in all things science fiction and horror was something of a barrier against the bland beige ordinariness of mainstream existence. Don't get me wrong, when it comes to science fiction, fantasy and horror, just because it may be mainstream, that doesn't necessarily make it bad. I really don't want to jump on the "there's too much reliance on CGI and special effects' bandwagon. While there may be some truth to that viewpoint, there is still great mainstream sci-fi & horror being produced. And don't even get me started on the joys of The Hobbit and LOTR.

However, ever since I can remember, I've had a special place in my twisted little heart for the more independent of film productions; John Waters, Russ Meyer, John Carpenter to name but three have all born testament to the bravery, inspiration, creativity and sheer bloody-mindedness it must take to fight against the expectations of the movie establishment to get a 'lesser' low-budget piece of work not only completed, but accepted. For there is a view held by many that is less than charitable when it comes to opinions towards low-budget independent movies, especially low-budget science fiction or horror. I won't list the plethora of 'accusations' again that I often hear directed towards these sub-genres - it has a rather unhealthy effect on my heart rate. Besides which, many in the indie movie field probably couldn't give a flying toss about peoples opinions, they just want to create the best work that they can.

So I guess that its up to the likes of me to fight their corner - whether they like it or not! Last week my latest blog entry was the result of being lucky enough to have been in contact with the makers of 'Spidarlings', a soon to be released comedy/horror musical. For which their Facebook page will give you the latest information on their project.

This week I'm highlighting 2 productions; one science fiction one horror. The first of which is in pre-production, the second one was released towards the end of 2012.

Iron Cloud

By Nikodem Wojciechowski

This group of independent filmmakers from Poland are led by the writer and director Nikodem Wojciechowski. The team is in the early pre-production stages of a short film Science Fiction drama 'Iron Cloud' - the sci-fi drama which is now in pre-production phase. The film begins shooting in June / July of this year . 

A short while ago Niko contacted me and asked me if I would help spread the word about his upcoming science fiction production. As yet there are only a few details that I can share with you as Niko is understandably cautious in overdoing the amount of detail in regard to the plot and filming. So in the meantime we'll have to be satisfied with a few snippets of information for this soon to be filmed 30 minute long movie.

The film is set In a future of an unspecified date. Two brothers live in a poor, Eastern country which is ruled by corrupted caste of dignitaries.  It seems that life for the brothers has taken a turn for the worse after the younger brother gets beaten during an interrogation and the older one’s home destroyed by a police raid. The boy manages to arrange a plan of escape to an unnamed free, technologically advanced neighbouring country. There will be no return. He goes on this one-way trip with the older brother and his wife and daughters they manage to evade the soldiers and break trough the closed border. However, during the walk through  no-man’s land, when immigrants are so close to their dream goal, things get decidedly worse. Ultimately, the Technocratic West will welcome them with open arms and give them shelter but not exactly in a way they have always expected.

It will soon turn out that their new home - apparently a perfect place to live - is only a new version of prison which people build for one another.

Niko has told me that the inspiration and theme for the story are deeply rooted in the works of such science fiction luminaries such as Philip Dick and especially Stanislaw Lem. Writers who have also asked questions such as whether the physical elimination of violence, made possible by advanced nanotechnology, will result in a pure Utopian society? Or does the the nature of human behaviour mean that there results will be nothing more than dystopian?  

The Iron Cloud team doing some pre-production location work

The film is intended to be less reliant on the CGI infested mainstream of science fiction and intend to delve into the psychological and social existence of a futuristic society as Niko says;

"It’s all about deliberately showing fragments of our world, and building the effect of strangeness like Jean Luc Godard - by placing foreign objects (props or behaviour) in it."

The film won’t give clear answers, won’t moralise. It will leave room for interpretation.

The Facebook page link for Iron Cloud can be found here here

The very first  teaser trailer below doesn't give any information at all - except for the stunning piece of atmospheric music that accompanies the simple sound formation film. However, if the rest of the production is as half as effective and emotive as the music, I can't wait to see more!

The first teaser video for Iron Cloud

Behind The Cross (2012)

by Macabre Media

Behind the Cross - Trailer [HD] (2012)

BEHIND THE CROSS is a 38 minute long 2012 independent horror film from Finnish director Tomi Kerminen. I can safely say that it's like nothing I've seen for some time.

Tomi - looking far less mad than in his movie

It is a film that, when I watched it for the first time today, simply blew me away with its relentlessly aggressive assault on the senses. That assault still lingered after the second viewing and left me with more questions than answers - which is something all pieces of art should do.

It isn't easy viewing, and nor should it be. Some people, even those well versed in the horror genre, will find the visual aspect of the movie brutality upsetting. Not only that, it isn't straight forward step by step story telling - oh no, it jumps cunningly from point to point in the story. Not only does this give us a sense of the insanity of the main protagonist, it also serves to install in the viewer a true feeling of not being in control of what we are seeing. 

Beneath this brutal and unrelenting surface of the degradation, there are other things happening. Questions that Tomi Kerminen isn't at all afraid to ask us. But before I explore those questions, the story itself.

So how do I begin describing the plot? 

Essentially it is the story of Father Michael, who when we join him in the movie, is already well down the road on his personal journey into the depths of insanity. To say that he is having a crisis of faith would be something of an under-statement. 

It seems that a life that has been somewhat disturbed ( curtesy of some horrifying flashback episodes to his childhood) has now manifested itself beyond simple spiritual breakdown and become the literal definition of atrocity and horror. Father Michael's monstrous acts of violence and murderous depravity mirror his continuing ability to still find a psychotic link to his faith in the hope that god will still absolve him from the terrible sins he is committing.

So we have themes in this movie of sex, torture, insanity and religion. So no one to upset there then? Still not offended? Well ok then, as we also have scenes of a priest masturbating in his car, masturbating also to a shop mannequin, or him urinating over his still sleeping gimp. Jolly good. What is truly interesting about this film is the connection between the murderous mind go a madman and the world of his religious life. The film is rich in the symbolism of his faith and how it interacts with the priest's descent into insanity - this truly is a voyage into the ocean depths of a madman.

Yes it is brutal. Yes it is relentless in it's depiction of murder and madness. However there is also a genuine hint of the humour from Tomi and his approach to the subject matter. The humour my be on the black side, but it is humour nonetheless, and certainly not at the expense of the victims.

Tomi has described to me the style of his film as experimental, aggressive and even avant-garde. There is a definite nod to some of the masters and era's of horror - the influence of Tobe Hooper of The Texas Chainsaw massacre fame is certainly apparent. It is certainly all of those things, and more. It is beautifully shot, which together with the clever editing and lighting serves to continually unbalance and unsettle the viewer. Not only do we witness the priest's madness and depravity, we by virtue of the film's style, almost became part of the depravity itself.

It's not looking good for the Father….

 

I truly admire the risks that Tomi takes in producing a movie of this subject matter. Yes it is dealing with themes and actions that will offend many people. It is not for the faint hearted, nor is is for the closed-minded. For the movie is asking questions and it makes you think. But don't take my word for it, find it and watch it for yourself.

The Facebook page link for Behind The Cross can be found here.

SPIDARLINGS - A Horror Musical

I must admit to being immediately intrigued when I received a message to the Facebook  page for this blog from Rahel Kapsaski, the  artistic Director of Après Vague Productions informing me about the current production of their first Feature Film "Spidarlings". She kindly asked me if I would look at the trailer they had produced and if I liked it, would I write a few words about it on here.

Now, at this moment in time, the internet seems awash with independent productions of Science Fiction and horror, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. The ability to make such productions as been revolutionised by the advent of the Internet and Social media - it truly is an exciting time for those of us that yearn for something a little different, something a little less 'mainstream' within these genres that we love so much. ……. and boy do I love something a little different.

I envy the creativity and drive that it takes to produce work on what is often the most meagre of budgets and limited location opportunities.  That's not to say that mainstream horror for example should be disregarded in the belief that it has become too formulaic, there are numerous examples of productions that are still continuing to shine. We may not be in the golden age of horror of the 1970's any longer, but that doesn't mean there isn't anything out there worth paying attention to.

Sandra Samacá  (Director of photography)    

The people involved in 'small' independent ventures like these should demand our appreciation and attention. They are the true cutting edge of Science Fiction and Horror at this stage of the 21st Century and since starting this little blog of self-indulgence I've been lucky to have been involved in a small way with some excellent people doing the most excellent of works. 

So what is this Spidarlings?

Spidarlings is a Horror/Musical and a Tongue-in-cheek satire about the British Welfare system. The film, written and directed by Salem Kapsaki, set to songs and music by Jeff Kristian, is about to go into post production and will premier this summer at the DUFF ( Detroit Under ground Film Festival) and  Film 4 Frightfest - not bad eh? 

The movie is the story of Eden (played by Sophia Disgrace) and Matilda (Rahel Kapsaski)

And well, things just aren't going too rosy for the young couple who are near penniless and face being evicted by their landlord after falling disastrously behind with their rent. To make matters worse, no money is forthcoming from the social services, which is of little surprise as the girls have had a conscious lifelong fight against becoming one of society's normal people. 

However, living on the edge of society has come at a price. so much so that Matilda eventually has to settle for working at a local nightclub (the wonderfully named 'Juicy Girls'), and soon suffering the attentions of the men who pay to drink and talk with the girls of the club - she hates it. 

Could things get worse for the lovely couple? Erm, yes.

Could life get any weirder than it is already? Gloriously so.

 

For soon the female staff at  "Juicy Girls' start suffering hideous deaths at the hands of a sadistic serial killer, which is not a good thing. What is good is that as a consequence of the killings, a good deal of money comes into Matilda's hands. This turn of events doesn't please Eden, well that is until she is 'persuaded' to accept the newly acquired money with with a present of a tarantula spider ( the present of choice for all of us naturally). However, the arrival of the very 'special' Spider has profound effects on one and all!!

So I ask you to watch the trailer for the movie (see below). Put aside any pre-conceived notions that you may have about Independent Horror productions……. I ask you, just where can you go wrong with Horror, Drag Queens, Lesbians, a nightclub called 'Juicy Girls', mass murder and a very special Tarantula Spider called Rainer?! If that wasn't enough, there is also a guest appearance from the legendary director, Lloyd Kaufman of The Toxic Avenger fame….. well I'm sold. 

Lloyd Kaufman as Mr Banner with Sophia Disgrace and Rahel Kapsaski

One final thing, I implore you to listen to the film's title song by Two Russian Cowboys feat Cleo  Spider in love. I listened to it earlier today and it's completely addictive.

If you love your John Waters, Divine and The Cramps…… you will love this I hope. I can't wait for the full movie later in the year and hope to be talking to some of the film's contributors soon.

For more information on Spidarlings - their Facebook page is here.

The Trailer for Spidarlings