Horror Crush: Kate McNeil

Time for another horror crush, this time it's the beautiful Kate McNeil. Kate was born on Aug. 17, 1959 (making her 55) in Philly, PA. She began her career in the soap opera As the World Turns, but as always, I'm gonna talk about her horror movies.

She plays the lead role Katey in the cult favorite slasher flick The House on Sorority Row. I am gravely embarrassed in admitting that I have never seen that movie. I did however see, own, and love, the sort of remake Sorority Row. Anyway, the movie has a strong fan following and is critically praised. With all of this being said, one of these days I really do need to give it a look. What I can say, however, is that she looks truly stunning as a brunette.

But, it's her role in George Romero's somewhat underrated Monkey Shines, that inspired me to write this. This is the tale of a paraplegic who gets a helper monkey, only to discover that they have developed a weird and deadly psychic bond, thank to an experiment. McNeil plays Melanie who trains monkeys to help the handicapped. Our lead, crazy monkey, Ella, does not take kindly to Melania getting between her and our hero. McNeil is very likable in her role, and gives a great and highly believable performance. In fact, all of the acting is quite excellent in a movie that is really only marred by a lame, and forced shock scare that occurs towards the end and by being a bit overlong.

I've always had a soft spot for this one, and I recently upgraded my old MGM DVD to the Scream Factory blu-ray which is excellent, of course. Back, when I first saw it on VHS, as a kid, I developed quite the crush on the truly beautiful Ms. McNeil. Her blonder hair and blue eyes were very indicative of what was my ideal woman was back then. While, my versions of the ideal woman have changed over the course of my life, there is no denying that she is a complete stunner. And, still is, as is evident by her new interview on the blu-ray extra features.

One more thing, is worth mentioning, and that is her sex scene in the film. It's a very hot and, yet, genuinely tender and loving scene, that adds heart and feels like it wasn't just thrown in for the sake of showing her tits. That doesn't take away from the sexiness of it all, though. In fact, is is erotic enough that it made my list of the 10 Best Sex Scenes in Horror Movies, a couple of years ago. I also must admit, that as a kid this scene was a "personal" favorite of mine, if you know what I mean!

McNeil also appeared in the seventh season of The X-Files for the episode "Theef". I seen it, of course, but I haven't watched it since it first aired on TV. As such, I can't comment more on it. Regardless, McNeil is fully representative of the ideal American girl next door beauty, and one that fittingly gets added to this site's ever growing batch of horror crushes!

Hey, I would love to know, are you guys enjoying my horror crushes? Are you happy that this is becoming a more consistent feature on here? Leave me a reply, I would love to know your thoughts! 

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Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead

 

Title: Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (Original title: Wyrmwood)
Director: Kiah Roache-Turner
Writer: Kiah Roache-Turner and Tristan Roache-Turner
Cast: Jay Gallagher, Bianca Bradey, Leon Burchill, Luke McKenzie, Yure Covich, Keith Agius, Catherine Terracini
Year: 2014
Min: 98

Barry's (Jay Gallahger) world gets torn apart in the midst of the zombie apocalypse. His wife and little daughter turn into flesh eating zombies, and he has to deal with them. Meanwhile, his sister Brooke (Bianca Bradley) is kidnapped and experimented on. As, he goes looking for her, he finds and befriends fellow survivor Benny (Leon Burchill). Together they are eventually joined by a few survivors as they discover that zombie blood can be used as fuel for a car. Can they get to Brooke in time and just what the fuck has the mad doctor done to her?!

Australian action/ horror flick Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead has been described as Mad Max meets Dawn of the Dead, but that ain't just hype. Nope, this awesome ass kicker is that and a whole lot more! It is the single best zombie movie since Shaun of the Dead, and one of the most original movies of it's kind in countless of ages. Fun, gory, wild, and action packed, director and co-writer Kiah Roache-Turner keeps things at full-fucking throttle. From beginning to end this one never lets up and always entertains.

The action scenes are thrilling and the gore easily registers a 10 on the splatter-meter. They include exploding heads, gory squibs, axe hackings, flesh eating, immolation, amputation, and more. The make-up FX are expertly done by Nicolle Adrichem. The zombies look really cool, and personally speaking, I love the fact they scream when they attack. The costume and vehicle design are most excellent, and helps it to wear it's Mad Max inspiration proudly on it's bloody, leather sleeves. On side note, these characters would make killer action figures! Someone get on that shit, right now!


Also, excellent is the acting. The cast is wonderful and do a great job carrying the story. Jay Gallagher makes for such a likeable hero, that it is easy to cheer him, and his companion who is played so well by Leon Burchill. Bianca Bradey gives one of the most fun and kick ass performances in a horror film this year, as our awesome heroine Brooke. Her character is destined to join the ranks of badass heroines in horror film history like Ripley from the Aliens franchise or Selene from the Underworld films. Plus, she is an absolute stunner, and a new addition to my horror crush list. The rest of cast also give fine supporting performances.

Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead has a lot to live up in just it's mere concept, but it more than deftly does that. In fact, it exceeded even my high expectations. It manages to do so much in the admit ably overdone zombie sub-genre and manages to feel fresh and inspired because of that. 53 minutes into this movie, and I saw what was essentially more entertaining, fun, and original than five fucking seasons of The Walking Dead could ever dream being. In fact, it is thus far the best horror film of this year and is already in my top 3 overall movies of 2015. Available cheap on blu-ray or DVD and easily accessible via NetFlix, there is simply no fucking excuse for you not to see it. I give this destined to be a modern classic, my absolute, highest possible recommendation! 

**** out of ****

 

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3 Quickie Horror Reviews for 8/10/15

It's been a year since I did one of these multi and mini horror review posts. With me having watched a couple of genre films for the first time, this felt like the right time to do so.

ALL REVIEWS OUT OF 4 STARS

Don't Look Now- This wonderfully acted, expertly directed horror flick from director Nicolas Roeg tells the tale of a couple grieving over the accidental death of their daughter. The wife (the lovely Julie Christie) talks with two sisters, one them blind and psychic who says the daughter talks to her. The hubby (Donald Sutherland) does not believe in such things. But, he is haunted by visions of a girl in a red raincoat hood similar to the one their daughter died. All in the meantime, in Venice, Italy (where the couple now resides) someone is murdering women.
The acting is amazing and Roeg spins a compelling story with some of the finest editing in any film. The ending is one of the finest in the history of horror. Quite horror at it's very best and most stylish.

Though, I heard about this classic movie before, I had never seen it until I blind bought the excellent Criterion blu-ray. This gets my highest possible recommendation and is rightfully recognized as one of the best British horror movies ever made. 
****

C.H.U.D.- Flesh-eating mutants who come out of manholes and live in the NYC sewers and kill people. A cop (Christopher Curry) and a dude (Daniel Stern of Home Alone fame) who runs a soup-kitchen team up to discover what the fuck is going on and ultimately stop the monsters.
A state coverup of toxic waste and radiation adds a nice layer socio-commentary to a fun monster movie that doesn't take itself to seriously. It's got a great cast (including a cameo by John Goodman!). Stern is particularly good delivering the best lines.
This cult favorite moves at a good pace and the FX while not the greatest are still cool and fun a sort B-movie of way. In fact it feels like a 50s B-movie meets an 80s gore flick by way of old-school NYC. 

Note, the DVD version is supposedly the real and preferred cut of the film, but I saw the R-rated theatrical cut on El Rey. Either way if you like I have made the mistake of never seeing the movie that has become a cult favorite and even mentioned on The Simpsons and The Flash, as it's acronym meaning- Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellars, you need to change that and see it now!
***1/2

The Gift- Blumhouse moves away from their usual teen horror ghost flicks, for this mature thriller about a couple (Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall) who run into an old high school acquaintance (Joel Edgerton who also directed it) of the hubby. He begins to give them gifts and visit them, but hubby is creeped out by him. Meanwhile, we learn that something happened between the two guys in high school. And, now it's coming back to haunt hubby.
A slow buildup of tension is expertly handled by Edgerton who really comes up with some nailbiting moments. Not a horror movie, but more intense than most released this year, The Gift is the finest thriller of the year. The acting is excellent here, with very complex characters. The gorgeous Hall provides us with the moral center and heart of the movie. And, then there is that ending!
You need to see this one before anyone ruins it for you!
***1/2

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Hot Asian Girl of the Month: Angela Zhou

This month's Hot Asian Girl of the Month is lovely actress Angela Zhou.

The beautiful Ms. Zhou has been in various TV shows and movies, but it's her current role on the excellent AMC western Hell on Wheels where I first saw her.
SPOILER- On it she plays a woman named Mei, a woman pretending to be a man by the name of Fong so that she can work on the railroad. When it was revealed I was like "Holy shit! He's actually a hot chick! Damn!"

Clearly, Ms. Zhou doesn't look like a dude in real life. Otherwise she wouldn't be Hot Asian Girl of the Month, now would she? So kudos to the guys behind the camera to be able to pull it off! And, thank you for giving me my pick for August 2015's Hot Asian Girl of the Month!

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MIA MALKOVA & CARTER CRUISE LEAD A-LIST CAST IN MILE HIGH MEDIA’S ‘GIRLS KISSING GIRLS 17’

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