Horror Crush: Brooke Butler

The summer heat is in full effect, and I am about to turn up the temperature even further with the latest addition to Horror Crushes: blonde beauty, Brooke Butler!

Butler was born on January 27, 1989 in Woodinville, Washington. She would eventually go on to pop on some TV shows and did some shorts, before appearing in the first movie that I saw her in Lucky McKee and Chris Siverston's All Cheerleaders Die (2013). One of my favorite horror flicks of the last couple of years, I've already watched it a couple of times, already. This tale of hot high school cheerleaders coming back to life after an accident is fun, sexy, gory, smart, and funny. The solid script is further augmented by the unknown cast's excellent acting.

One of four sexy zombies, Butler plays bubbly and sexy, and now undead, cheerleader Tracy Bingham. Butler is super likable in the role and a lot of fun to watch. She manages to be funny, sympathetic, and sexy as fucking hell! She looks great in her undies and, of course, her cheerleader outfit. And, it is very important to note that she has an ass to freaking die for!

 

She also has a hot lesbian make-out session and, a little later, tryst with gorgeous lead Caitlin Stasey. While, it feature no nudity, both moments are super sexy and actually work well within the film's plot, making it more than just pointless or cheap exploitation. They are handled with a deft and mature manner by it's directing duo. But, then McKee has always been great at writing and showcasing female characters.

Unfortunately, that is the only movie, that I have ever seen her in. As I did research for this article I found that she had done two other horror movies. As always, if any of you have seen them, comment below with your thoughts. The first of those is 2015's The Sand. The plot description of something living in the beach sand and killing people reminds me of 80's Jaws rip-off Blood Beach. This flick does feature Butler in her bikini, as well as, one of my favorite favorite centerfolds, Nikki Leigh, nude. So, that has to be worth something right?

At the time of this writing, the last horror movie she appeared in was last year's The Remains. It seems to be a ghost/ possession story. Those can types of movies can be questionable in quality. But, Butler is second billed, so it might be worth seeing, right?

 

Butler is absolutely gorgeous. She has the blonde that everyone and anyone would fall in love with look down to a natural science. Her gorgeous face, sexy lips, beautiful eyes, hot body, and truly spectacular butt are what dreams are made of. But, she also has solid acting chops. She is underrated and needs to be talked about more, especially by us, horror fans. As such, here is hopping this write-up will cause some talking and get her more love from all of you. And, with that all being said, I proudly induct Brooke Butler into Horror Crushes!

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The 10 Best Movies of 2014

What a year for movies this has been, especially for geekcentric films!! There were so many quality horror and sci-fi movies that got released, from the low budget to big studio films. Marvel continues to produce some of the finest genre films out there, as two of their best movies make this list and rank among the finest superhero films, ever. As a horror and comic-book fan, I found a couple of movies to obsesses over, in particular the ones that made this list. But, in the end, you will see that the best film of the year, isn't a genre film, but... well just read on.

10. All Cheerleaders Die- This sexy, gory, fun, and funny horror comedy has everything I want in a movie and more. Lucky McKee, this time teaming up with co-writer and co-director Chris Siverston, strikes gold again. For more of my thoughts on it, here is my review of it: http://themastergio.blogspot.com/2014/09/all-cheerleaders-die.html







9. Return to 'Nuke Em High Vol. 1- The next flick on my list is also a horror-comedy. And, it is even gorier and funnier than the aforementioned one. In fact, it is Troma's finest movie in a long time and, to me, the best comedy of the year. Of course, I dislike most comedies, but you get my drift. Here is my full review of this one: http://themastergio.blogspot.com/2014/01/return-to-nuke-em-high-volume-1-2013.html






8. The Babadook- The single scariest film of the year is this chilling and, actually quite moving, horror flick from Australia. It's that countries best release, IMHO, in ages. Featuring flawless performances from its two leads Essie Davis and little Noah Wiseman, it really manages to make you run a gauntlet of emotions, not unlike their characters. Writer/ director Jennifer Kent builds tension slowly but steadily, all the while never leaving the heart of it. Some have complained about the ending, but if you go into this looking for a monster movie, I suggest you go else. Instead prepare for the most nerve shredding psychological horror movie in recent memory.



7. Veronica Mars: The Movie- The first non-horror movie on this list is this excellent continuation of one of my favorite TV shows of all time. Here is proof that fandom can get a movie made. What started as pipedream, grew into maniac fan support (Lord knows, I tweeted for it to be made many a times), and eventually, a successful Kick Starter campaign which ended up funding the movie. It is a pure delight for fellow fans of the intelligent and sometimes underrated TV show. I was having massive marshmallow-gasms through out the whole the movie. As, with the show, the writing is fun and smart and the acting is great. The gorgeous Kristen Bell is just so awesome in this role, that it just reminded me why I used to have the biggest crush on her. And, this movie just brought back my obsession with the show. I don't know if non-fans of the series will love it as much, but they should still find it to be a solid, well acted, and excellently written mystery/ thriller.

6. Captain America: The Winter Solider- Leave it to Marvel to improve on the solid first film and make a sequel that may well be the one of the best, if not the best (it's hard to choose between this one and The Dark Knight) superhero sequel, ever made. The movie plays like a jacked up spy thriller, with ass kicking and thrilling action scenes galore. In the Winter Solider, we also have Marvel's best villain in a movie, since Loki. The script has a few moments of predictability (mostly doing with the survival of a certain character), but such flaws are out weighed by it's stronger suits like the dissolving of S.H.I.E.L.D. Shit, it even succeeded in making Falcon be cool and a total badass!  



5. Starry Eyes- Like the first movie on this list, this is another tag team horror flick, though this one is played nerve shredding and serious. But, let us not mince any further words here, this is the year's best horror film, a bloody, smart, and wholly captivating movie of pure intensity. My full review is here: http://themastergio.blogspot.com/2014/12/starry-eyes-2014-review.html







4. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes- This another sequel that totally tops it's original. While, the first film, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, is a solid sci-fi movie, this takes that one and just tramples it. It gives us one of the finest and smartest science fiction sequels ever. The flawless FX mix perfectly with an intelligent and thought provoking script, one that in ways most big budget, studio genre films can't even dream of being. Andy Serkis and Toby Kebbell, both give amazing performances as the two opposing apes.





3. The Raid 2- This might just be the year of the superior sequel. But, this movie had the hardest movie to beat in its original. The first movie was one of the best martial arts movies, ever made. A brutal ass kicker if ever there was one. And, when I saw how long this one was, I became concerned with how much fun it would be. But, in the end my concerns were utterly destroyed. Here is a movie that despite its length, just works. The plot is enthralling and sucks you in, and the action scenes are jaw dropping and utterly brutal. Some of the most vicious gore of the year is featured here, far surpassing many a horror film. By the time it was over my adrenaline was on overdrive. No doubt about, this is the badass motherfucker of the year!


2. Guardians of the Galaxy- Who would have thought the second best movie of the year, and the second best Marvel (or any other superhero) movie ever would be based on D level superheroes. A fun script, lively acting, and wonderfully imaginative film making gave us one of the best sci-fi movies in many a moon. In some ways, this is a modern day Star Wars coupled with a superhero movie. So fucking good is it that it makes a fuckin racoon with a machine gun and living tree creature, with limited vocabulary, the best heroic characters in any movie released this year. Think about that for a minute! From the opening scene to the final scene featuring one of the oddest Marvel heroes, this fucker was the very definition of spectacularly made fun. And, it was one movie that I didn't think anyone could top until I saw...

1. Gone Girl- My fucking God, what a fucking movie!!! David Fincher's second best movie (Seven remains his masterpiece) is a jaw droppng ingeniously twisted mystery/ thriller. It has what is without a shadow of a doubt the script of the year, as Gillian Flynn adopts her own novel of the same name. It never fails to shock and surprise, yet totally hold your attention. The acting from everyone is perfect, in fact, Ben Affleck gives his best performance ever. But, in the end, it's the beautiful Rosamund Pike who is just the very definition of amazing. She is actress of the year, here, kiddies. Who would have thought that one of the most beautiful Bond girls, who was in the worst Bond film, ever (Die Another Day) had it in her to bring it to this level of perfection? I have since become obsessed with this film. I can't stop thinking about it. But, to say anything more would ruin it. All, I can say is see this: if you have not seen this fucker, see it as soon as you can. And, heed my words, this is true cinematic perfection. 

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All Cheerleaders Die

 

Title: All Cheerleaders Die
Writers/ Directors: Lucky McKee and Chris Siverston
Cast: Caitlin Stasey, Sianoa Smit-McPhee, Brooke Butler, Tom Williamson, Amanda Grace Cooper,
Reanin Johannink

Alexis (Felisha Cooper) dies in a cheerleader accident and her childhood friend, the beautiful Maddy (Caitlin Stasey), decides to join the squad. Especially, after having found out that Alexis' star football playing boyfriend Terry (Tom Williamson) has wasted no time and is now dating gorgeous cheerleader Tracey (Brooke Butler). She sets out to break them up. She tells Tracey of Terry's cheating ways with her and even seduces Tracey herself. They even have a lesbian tryst.

But, soon things turn deadly. Tracey confronts Terry, who proves that he is a sleazebag. He hits her. This enrages the other three girls (another cheerleader, her sister who is the team mascot, and Maddy, herself). They drive off angered, with Terry and his football team/ friends giving them chase. The car is forced off the road and crashes into a river. Maddy's ex-girlfriend, beautiful Wiccan/ goth babe Leena (Siaona Smit-McPhee) uses her magic to reanimate them. But, soon two problems reveal themselves: one- the two sisters have switched bodies by accident and two- the girls need blood to heal themselves and quench their thirst. They form a family, of sorts, and the next day they are back in school. This leads to the displeasure ofTerry and some of his crew. And, Terry soon reveals himself to be a truly evil bastard. 

All Cheerleaders Die is actually a remake of a video that McKee shot some years back. While, I never seen that film, this is an excellent film, that ranks as one of the most fun and sexy horror flicks of the year. While, the movie is filled with exploitative subject matter: hot babes, nudity, cheerleaders, lesbians, etc, these elements actually are well handled and add to the fun of the film. In lesser hands this movie would probably have been mostly stupid and insulting, as well as being just a simpleminded skin and gorefest providing nothing more.

But, thanks to  strong directing and a lively script that is not the case. As is with much of his work McKee, with added help this time around from co-writer/ co-director Siverston, is able to create strong female characters, that are much more than just pretty faces and hot bodies. He has a real understanding of women. In most films, the cheerleaders would have been written as bitchy or stupid or both. Here, they are all likeable and all believable. The story may not be ground breaking, but somehow it still manages to feel somewhat fresh. This is definitely due to it being handled in a manner that is always entertaining. And, while the movie is undeniably funny, it does not shy away from heavy subject matter like abusive relationships and rape. Kudos for being able to this so well.

It also helps that the whole cast is excellent. That the women happen to be breathtaking is just an added bonus. I was most in love with Stasey, who is my new horror crush. Butler and Smit-McPhee also took my breath away, as did Amanda Grace Cooper and Reanin Johannink, as the two sisters. Meanwhile, Williamson makes for a truly despicable villain, one whose death you will be cheering (pun not intended) on to happen.

The movie with it's use of gothy, sexy witch babe, lesbians, and, of course, cheerleaders, seems
tailor made for me. It's handling of these fetishistic themes coupled with the beautiful cast make for a very eye pleasing experience. There some great shots of the beautiful cast, and even nudity in the form of the stunning Johannik. Butler not only gives us some lesbian love, but she has one of the most memorable scenes walking across the street in just her undies. She has an ass to die for! 


It also has some nice gore, with stabbings, bitings, bludgeonings, and more. The make-up FX by Kevin Carter are really quite good. There is some CGI, but it's well done and used appropriately.  All of these postive factors comes together to add to a really suspenseful and edge of your seat climax. The ending is fun, too, and a little unexpected.

All Cheerleaders Die is a great example of how to do a horror-comedy. It'll make laugh and you will have a blast watching it. But, it also knows when to take the horror seriously. McKee is one of my favorite directors in the genre, as with films his best work, The Woman, May, and his episode of Masters of Horror: Sick Girl, he proves that he knows how to write some of the best female characters in the entire genre. It has everything that you could ask for in a horror film (lesbians, gore, babes, zombies, cheerleaders, sexy goth/ witch chick) in the confines of a smart and highly entertaining script. It all add up to a movie that I give my highest possible recommendation. It's streaming on NetFlix so see it now!

**** out of ****

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