Monster Men #52: Talking and Touring THE WALKING DEAD

I am very excited about this episode of Monster Men. There is a lot going on. First of all, we have our buddy, Anthony Ventarola back on as a guest. Since the topic is The Walking Dead, we ask him to join us. Not only does he love the show and have a great perspective on it, but he has actually been to Georgia and visited many of the locations used in the show. He knows his stuff and is always fun to talk to.

Ant, Hunter and I discuss the state of The Walking Dead here at the season four hiatus. How have we liked the season so far? How does it compare to last season? What did we think of the big mid-season finale? What were some of our favorite moments… and favorite kills? What do we think will happen next to Rick, Carl, Daryl, Michonne, Carol, Tyreese, Maggie, Glen and the rest of the group?

 If you want to get your Walking Dead “Geek On”, you’ve come to the right place.

Anthony Ventarola's selfie in Woodbury.

After our discussion we have a very special treat for you. Anthony was kind enough to share video footage from his recent trip to Georgia where he visited several locations from season three of The Walking Dead, including Woodbury, the town where Morgan lived and the restaurant where Carl and Michonne risked their lives to recover a certain item that was important to Carl. It is very interesting and very cool. Be sure to stick around to the end of the show to see this segment.

One of the new things you’ll notice in this show is that we recorded it remotely rather than together in the same room. In the spirit of expanding what we do on Monster Men, we plan to have more guests on and this format makes it possible for us to schedule people at most any time and from most any location. It really will extend our reach and enable us to take the show to new heights. This was our first run at it and we are very excited to bring you an array of very interesting guests in the New Year.

What did you think of The Walking Dead this year? What do you think is coming next? Let us know!

  

What to Do During "The Walking Dead" Mid-Season Hiatus

WHAT??? No Walking Dead until February 2014? What are you gonna do?

Now that The Walking Dead as gone on its mid-season hiatus, you might be looking for some other zombie related entertainment to get you through the next couple of months. If you look online you’ll find hundreds of Top Ten Zombie Movie lists, but there are really only a few that you should seek out immediately.

Night of the Living Dead: This is pretty obvious, but if you go back and watch this again, you can see just how far the genre has come. There are actually two versions of this movie, and they are both worth watching. The original, black and white version is where George Romero gave birth to the modern version of the zombie and the notion that destroying the brain was the key to stopping them. The other version is the 1990 version that’s in color. While it may seem sacrilegious to remake a classic, this one is a pretty nice update of the original.  

28 Weeks Later.

28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later: Zombie purists sometimes argue that these are not zombie movies because the creatures are infected humans and not the undead. Whatever. These movies took the genre in a new direction and helped coin the phrase “fast zombies”. If you have watched The Walking Dead and then watch 28 Days Later, you’ll notice some similarities in Cillian Murphy’s introduction to the zombie epidemic to that of Rick Grimes. Remember, 28 Days Later came first.

Personally, I liked the sequel, 28 Weeks Later a little better than 28 Days Later. It’s a cool blend of horror and action… and to be honest, sometimes the second half of 28 Days Later loses me a bit. Plus of 28 Weeks Later has Jeremy Renner, Rose Byrne and Imogen Poots in it. That’s a pretty impressive cast.

The Return of the Living Dead: While 28 Days Later is often viewed as the movie that ushered in the era of the fast zombie, The Return of the Living Dead really is where it all started. These zombies not only run, but they talk too. And they are usually pretty funny when they do speak. You can also thank them for the now immortal zombie phrase, “Braaaaiiiins!”

The Return of the Living Dead

The Return of the Living Dead actually makes reference to Night of the Living Dead, and is loosely related to it. Michael Jackson’s Thriller video also owes this movie a tip of the cap.

One of the biggest differences between this movie and most other zombie films is that these don’t stop after you shoot them in the head. As a matter of fact, there is not much that actually can stop them, short of chopping them up and burning them. And that’s not such a good idea either. Watch the movie and you’ll see why.

The Return of the Living Dead is an 80’s classic that is funny, scary, unrelenting and a ton of fun.

Dawn of the Dead: This is the King Daddy of Zombie movies. Once again, there are two versions of this movie, and both are worth watching, but the 1978 original is one of the most important zombie movies of all time, and hands down my favorite.

Let's shoot some zombies. Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Every zombie movie, TV show and video game takes its inspiration from this movie. This was the movie that kicked zombie gore up ten notches. (Make that a hundred notches.) While Night of the Living Dead was a black and white film with minimal blood, Dawn of the Dead was a gore fest in living color. Mostly red.

Before there were shooter/zombie video games, there were the SWAT guys in Dawn of the Dead.

Then Zack Snyder, of 300, Watchmen and Man of Steel fame, remade Dawn of the Dead in 2004. While the original is a far superior movie, the remake was different enough to stand on its own. It was also faster paced and more suited to a modern audience. This movie cemented the term "fast zombies" as well.

The first 10 minutes of the new Dawn of the Dead are phenomenal. It’s one of the best opening sequences of a horror movie, in my opinion. Sarah Polley does a great job leading the cast in this film, but it’s Modern Family’s Ty Burrell who steals the show, playing the polar opposite of his famous role of the bumbling and lovable Phil Dunphey. Add a couple of cameos from cast members of the original, and you have a pretty good flick on your hands.

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Note: The original Day of The Dead is also worth a look. It completes Romero's initial Dead Trilogy and is probably his last zombie movie that was a must see.

Shaun of the Dead: This is a love letter to George Romero and a genuinely funny movie that also has some great horror elements to it. It takes it just seriously enough, but not too serious. It’s really the perfect blend. It stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, so you know it’s going to be good.

Out of all the movies on this list, this is the most re-watchable movie. I stop on it whenever it’s on. It’s also one of those real quotable movies. Once you’ve seen it, I guarantee you’ll find yourself saying “You’ve got red on you.”

Rammbock: Rammbock is a 2010 German zombie movie that was recommended to me by a friend and I found on Netflix. In a sea of mediocre and crappy zombie movies, Rammbock floats to the top as a true gem. It’s a small story of a man trapped in his apartment complex during a zombie outbreak. There is no fat on this movie. It keeps moving and keeps you on the entertained the whole time. I highly recommend it.

Rec: You might have seen Quarantine, the American remake of Rec. It’s a “found footage” style movie. (Rec is short for Record.) While Quarantine is a good movie and worth watching, you really want to watch the original Rec in Spanish. Rec is not only a great zombie movie, but it’s also one of the best found footage movies out there. I’m pretty sure you’ll love the last five minutes of this movie. And the sequel, Rec 2, is also worth seeking out. Rec 3 is also fun, while you are at it, but the first one is the must see movie.

In addition to seeing these movies, you might want to take this time to read The Walking Dead comic books. They are superior to the TV show, and like the show, the comics are not afraid to kill a regular character. The Governor in the comics made the list of Top 100 Comic Book Villains of all time and he is a pure monster compared to the TV version. One word of warning though, reading the comics will spoil many aspects of the show for you. They change things up quite a bit on the show, but you’ll have a better idea of where they are going once you have read the books.

I plan on rereading the entire comic series during this hiatus. It is always fun to revisit the books every so often.

I’d also recommend reading The Rising, City of the Dead and Dead Sea by Brian Keane. Keane is a modern master of horror and he has a slightly different take on zombies. The Rising is one of my favorite zombie books of all time and a fast read. You’ll be hooked after just a few pages. Everyone thinks of World War Z for zombie reading, but I would start with Brian Keane. Much better.

So there you have it. That should keep you entertained and happy until The Walking Dead returns in February. If you discover something new from this article, please let me know. Or if I left out something out that you’d like to share, please post a comment below. 

Happy Valentine's Day

I just wanted to take a moment and send some love to everyone who watches and supports the Monster Men video podcast. Thank you and we love ya.

I don't know what says "I love you" better than a Monster Men Zombie Valentine. It's an undying love. Have a great day. 

Monster Men: A lighthearted conversation about dark matters.
For some great horror talk, book and movie reviews along with ghosts, UFOs and anything else that goes bump in the night, check out the Monster Men Video Podcast hosted by me and horror author Hunter Shea. Episodes are posted here on Back in Jack and on Hunter's blog as well. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel; MonsterMen13.

Why WARM BODIES Might Just Work on Film

If you've been watching TV lately you must have seen the trailers for the new zombie romantic comedy WARM BODIES. I guess you could call it a Zom Rom Com.

WARM BODIES is a movie based on the novel by Isaac Marion, which is described as a "zombie romance" and is often dismissed as TWILIGHT with zombies. I had never heard of it until my Monster Men podcast partner Hunter Shea reviewed it way back on our third episode, a show dedicated to all things zombie. That was over a year ago. I have included a link to the video below so you can watch the episode. I'll spoil it a bit by telling you that Hunter loved the book. He also added that it essentially moved his wife to tears. Naturally, I was curious and anxious to read it myself.

Shortly thereafter, I read the book. It's definitely a different take on the zombie genre. The story revolves around a zombie known only as "R". He cant remember his entire name. Give him a break, after all he is dead. One day, during an attack on some teenagers, R eats the brain of a guy named Perry and begins to experience emotions for Perry's girlfriend, Julie. R ends up protecting Julie from the rest of his zombie cohorts and takes her back to his home at the airport. Slowly but surely, R continues to regain his humanity and a relationship blossoms between these two unlikely people. What follows is a story of forbidden love between a couple from different worlds, the living and the dead. And these two worlds to do not mix. 

If this all sounds a bit familiar, it's because WARM BODIES is not so much TWILIGHT with zombies, but rather ROMEO and JULIET with zombies. Just look at the two main character's names; R and Julie. 

(I know, I know... TWILIGHT is basically a take on ROMEO and JULIET with vampires. But WARM BODIES is much closer to Shakespeare's actual story.)

I have to admit, I was not as big a fan of the book as my podcast partner was, and to his credit, he is a published horror author and I am not. So he may know literature better than me. However, while I did not "love" the book, I did think it was a pretty good read and an interesting new direction to take the zombie genre. I mean really, how many more DAWN OF THE DEAD ripoffs do we need? If you are looking for something different in a zombie book, it's definitely worth a look.

Not long after I read the book I learned that a movie was in the works. I have to say, at first I did not think it was a good idea. A film version of this book seemed like an inevitable "TWILIGHT with zombies" if there ever was going to be one. Also, the idea of a zombie/human romance might work in a novel, but not everything translates from book to screen that well.

Then, after many months, a trailer finally came out. The first thing that struck me was that
Rob Corddry, from THE DAILY SHOW, OLD SCHOOL and HOT TUB TIME MACHINE, was cast as R's best friend, M. That was unexpected and a good sign. I am a big fan, but he's a funny guy and not one you'd think of for a romantic horror movie. My interest was officially peaked. Then I watched the trailer and I realized that the film was taking a more comedic approach to the material. I have to say, that's pretty smart, or as R might say, "That's using your braaaaaiiiins."

I don't think a serious approach to this adaptation would have worked. Particularly the "Bonies", who are the skeletal elders of the zombie hoards. Also, I just don't know if the general public would buy a zombie/human romance with a straight face. Edward in TWILIGHT may be a vampire, but he's handsome, charming, can talk and does not stink of death. I mean, does the typical movie going female really want to be intimate with a rotting corpse or James Dean with fangs? And does the typical movie going male want to see zombies being all lovey-dovey or does he want to see them eating the flesh of the living? But turn it into a comedy and you suddenly have a lot more leeway... and you'll attract a much larger audience. Girls get their romance (without the hardcore horror) and guys get to see a funny movie, with zombies, that counts as a chick flick for date night. It's a win/win.

This has made me more optimistic about seeing WARM BODIES on the silver screen. Hopefully it works, provides a lot of laughs and maybe even captures some of the spirit and heart of the book. Perhaps it could even join SHAUN OF THE DEAD, ZOMBIELAND and FIDO among the all-time great Zom Coms. I don't know if it will be that good, as the bar is set pretty high, but I am always rooting for a zombie movie to succeed. It's good for the genre and the future of movies of this kind in general. 

Plus, I love the fact we, the Monster Men, told you about this book long before it was on the radar. Not to say "We told you so.", but... we kinda did.

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Click here to see the Monster Men podcast episode with Warm Bodies book review. 

The Monster Men video podcast: A lighthearted conversation about dark topics. We cover horror movies, books, ghost stories, sci-fi and other spooky subjects with a sense of humor and a sense of the macabre. Co-hosted with horror author Hunter Shea. 

The Warm Bodies Trailer: (In theaters 2/1/13.)

The Halloween Fright Flick Frenzy Concludes

First of all, Happy Halloween! 

Okay, let’s wrap up the Halloween Fright Flick Frenzy with a look at what I watched in the home stretch of Terrortober.

Along with horror movies, I watched a lot of spooky TV shows like AMERICAN HORROR STORY, the Halloween episode of IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA and a couple of SIMPSONS Tree House of Horror episodes. What a blast. I am sad to see the month end.

SALEM'S LOT (1979). On Halloween I watched one of my favorites vampire movies. This movie did for bedroom windows what Jaws did to the beach. "Open the window. He commands it.” Love those vampire eyes. Sure, it might be a bit dated, but this is still a classic. Evil vamps that fear crosses; that’s how you do a vampire movie... and a Stephen Kind adaptation.



HALLOWEEN (1978): The original Michael Myers in the theater. Can't think of a better way to spend Halloween eve. Amazing. The atmosphere, suspense, scares and that music!!! A true classic. I think the scenes of The Shape stalking Laurie during the day may be the creepiest part of this movie.

HOCUS POCUS (1993): If you don't like HOCUS POCUS, then hand over your Halloween card now. Lot's of fun and a great version of I Put a Spell On You.



YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974): They showed one of my all-time favorites in IMAX. Incredible! Seeing it with a crowd was a blast and I noticed things I’ve never seen before. And Teri Garr on a giant screen was amazing.

RISE OF THE ZOMBIES (2012) A better-than-usual, cheesy SyFy flick w/ all-star cast of Levar Burton, Mariel Hemingway & Danny Trejo.  If you like these kind of movies, I am sure SyFy will show it a hundred more times.

REAL FEAR: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE MOVIES (2012): A fun little documentary, to see what the real story behind some horror movies might be. Good Terrortober viewing.

MOCKINGBIRD LANE (2012): NBC’s lame attempt to reboot The Munsters. Not zany enough for me.  Did not laugh once. Herman needs his inadvertent super strength and Grandpa needs to be wacky, not sinister. But Lilly is lovely.  I think a reboot of The Munsters would work better as a cartoon, like The Simpsons or Family Guy.

THE MIST (2007): Good flick that becomes great thanks to the best "holy crap" ending ever. And a few Walking Dead pals as a bonus.  Another one of the few good Stephen King movie adaptations.

Well, now that Halloween has come and gone, it’s time to look to the skies. Stay tuned this week for a new episode of Monster Men that is truly out of this world.

Monster Men Ep. 3: Talk of the Living Dead

The latest Monster Men video podcast is up. This time around, Hunter Shea and I talk about all things Zombie, including our favorite movies, books and shows. So barricade yourself in good and tight, and be sure you have plenty of food, water and weapons and join us for the Talk of the Living Dead.



Check out Hunter's blog at : www.huntershea.com