Felissa Rose
Monster Reviews: Ugly Sweater Party 2018
Ugly Sweater Party is a 2018 Christmas themed horror film, written and directed by Aaron Mento. It stars Felissa Rose, Sean Whalen, Charles Chudabala, Hunter Johnson, Kevin Caliber, Berna Roberts, Lara Jean, Jennifer Nangle and Gregory Blair.
All hell breaks loose at an ugly sweater party when one of the party goers becomes possessed by an evil ugly Christmas sweater. This film is crass, vulgar and straight up sick. It’s everything a Christmas horror film should be. It’s like a live version of A Charlie Brown Christmas, on Acid.
Never has there been a Christmas film more appalling or ridiculous, than Ugly Sweater Party. It’s a disgusting, hilarious, one of a kind film that definitely doesn’t hold back. The film starts off strange and gets even weirder with each passing minute. Upon first hearing about this film, you’re inclined to think it’s about a house party equipped with an ugly sweater theme. However, that was not the case at all. It’s mainly based at an outdoor camping lodge and is not the usual “party” one would expect.
Ugly Sweater Party is a completely insane ride. There are plenty of hiccups and mistakes throughout the film and at times you’re left wondering what the hell you’re even watching. However, it does a stellar job at holding one’s attention, despite the lack of understanding what is actually going on. One of the problems with this film, is the lack thereof when it comes to the Christmas theme. Aside from the aforementioned Ugly Sweaters and a few sparse lights and decorations that appear to be homemade, there’s not much else tying the film to the holiday. There’s also a metal band thrown in, which doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. It was if they needed some filler and decided to add a musical scene which does not bode well with the rest of the movie. Another part of contention is with the ugly sweaters used in the film. While they were indeed Ugly, they are not a version the majority of people are used to seeing. In fact, a few of the cast weren’t even wearing actual sweaters in the film. Which doesn’t make a lot of sense, being that is the main allure and plot of the film.
Ugly Sweater a Party is extremely bloody and offensive, and there are some seriously brutal kill scenes that warm the heart. The blood and gore are pretty much the best thing about the entire film. The camerawork and editing were beautifully executed, which added to the enjoyment of the watch, and the soundtrack contributed to the overall fun factor. The casting was one of the best things about the film. With some experienced horror veterans/icons attached, it gave the film more credence and instantly garnered a secured fan base. And they managed to land a few big names to add to their talented cast. The independent acting was phenomenal. The legendary slasher icon, actress Felissa Rose, was brilliant as Mrs. Mandix (the wife and co-owner of Camp Mandix). She was absolutely perfect in that role. Another great performance came from the legendary horror actor, Sean Whalen, as Declan Rains. Whalen’s character is the deceased serial killer whose spirit possesses the ugly Christmas sweater, causing anyone who dons the sweater to murder and kill anything in their path. Whalen was creepy as hell and gave yet another worthy horror performance.
The main duo of Charles Chudabala and Hunter Johnson, who played Cliff and Jody, paired great together. They seem to have a realistic friendship and did a fantastic job as best friends and roommates. Their brotherhood shown through clearly and they were one of the best things about the film. Overall I give the film 1 out of 3 scratches for its high entertainment value and insane overall concept. So, If you’re searching for some new horror to add to your holiday watch list, Ugly Sweater Party is the perfect addition. It’s definitely not for everyone and will surely make some people sick. However, for those of us who can stomach the insanity of this film, it’s the just present we’ve been waiting for.
Lilith Movie Review-House Of Tortured Souls
Lilith- The independent horror film directed by Alex T. Hwang, is one of the most anticipated anthologies of all time that will leave you wanting to view it over and over again. The performances in this film are beyond chilling and have some recognizable faces with stars such as: Felissa Rose (Krampus: The devil returns 2016, Sleepaway Camp 1983), Jenn Nangle (Malvolia Queen of screams 2017-2018, Slit 2017), Charles Chudabala (Ugly Sweater Party 2018 Irrational Fear 2017), Michael Wainwright (Altar 2016, Lamb Feed 2016) Thomas Haley (Fear the walking dead 2015,Thirteen 2013) Devanny Pinn (House of Manson 2014,The Black Dahlia Haunting 2012) Vernon Wells (Mad Max 1981, Weird Science 1985), and Brialynn Massie (Serena Waits 2018, Rvth: Genesis 2018)
Let’s start with a brief history lesson for those who may not be familiar with Lilith. Lilith is a figure in Jewish mythology, and often seen as the demon of the night. A very dangerous demon if I may add, one that’s sexually lawless.
There is not just one Lilith in this film, the women are all Lilith. For they punish men against the indiscretions against women. The beginning briefly starts off with Felissa Rose’s Lilith. During the whole movie it cuts back and forth to segments with Felissa’s Lilith along with Detective Carson (Thomas Haley) and Father Murphy(Michael Wainwright). Father Murphy seems to not have as much faith in ridding Lilith where Detective Carson is on his last straw of doing everything in his power to go after and rid Lilith after losing his daughter Brooke (Brialynn Massie) to her.
The first part of the movie shows Detective Carson’s teenage daughter Brooke (Massie) going through a secret affair with her teacher. Everything was going smooth until she found out she was pregnant. With Brooke in a panic like any teenager would be, she goes right to her teacher with the news. He loses his composure on a fragile teenager to where she leaves uncontrollably sobbing and ends up taking her own life. Her friends including one who had a huge crush on her, decide to take matters into their own hands by trying to blackmail the teacher with the pregnancy test. Their plan was cut short with Lilith making her appearance and ending them in a no mercy killing spree, all equally bloody, with Massie’s performance exquisite and chilling in how she was portraying a teenager scorned.
The second part brings us to the amazing Jenn Nangle portraying Lilith. It cuts to her being a caretaker to a gentleman named Phillip (Vernon Wells). This part of the segment was not just to watch Jenn’s character take care of and make Phillip lunch, it was the revenge aspect of her coming by to drag him to hell and he very well knew it. He knew all too well as to why she was there, she even beared a resemblance to his late wife. The chemistry between Jenn and Vernon play off of each other well and like always, Jenn brings the humor and charm to this segment before it turning into a well deserved bloodbath.
And now my friends is on to part three. You get introduced to Darren and Madison (Emily Coupe). They are both seemingly going through a bit of a tough time especially with Darren being s sex addict, so Madison decides to leave. It doesn’t take long for Darren to rebound quickly, and here arrives Lilith. No time was wasted into engaging into sexual activities and with Lilith and the demon tying up Darren and we all eventually know how this is going to end for him.
Part four, ends with the serial killer. A man named Frank stops to help a young woman who’s car broke down on the side of the road. With her trusting the man, he ends up pushing her into his car and taking her back to the bathroom at his house. You can clearly tell that this is not his first rodeo in luring victims back to where he wants them. We end up finding out, that like most serial killers, they end up having a kind of obsession, fetish you if will. In Frank’s case, it ends up being a shoe fetish… yes, feet! In the midst of carrying on with his murder, the doorbell rings (buzz kill). We see Lilith (Devanny Pinn) who apparently went for a drive after a supposed fight with the boyfriend unleash her wrath after Frank tries to use her being vulnerable as the perfect opportunity to offer her a simple cup of coffee with a drug in it. Devanny’s performance is outstanding.
With my breakdown of this movie in four parts, I really don’t want to spoil the whole of how it ends. I took this movie in a whole different light and Alex T. Hwang along with the writers and the actors did a superb job portraying Lilith. This is one horror film you do not want to miss out on, so keep an eye out my fellow horror fans to catch it on Amazon, Itunes and googleplay on December 25th!
The Crossing Review- House Of Tortured Souls
I had the privilege to have been asked to review Thomas Haley’s short film The Crossing and it was the best 15 minutes of viewing pleasure that I have experienced leaving me wanting more of it.
The Crossing which stars Felissa Rose, Brooklyn Haley, and Charles Chudabala—brings you to the urban legend of a bride who willingly sacrificed herself by the train tracks after a tragic car crash that left her new husband dead. Now anytime any couples cross the tracks, she preys on them because who wants to see another couple strive in happiness?
Thomas Haley saw potential in using a woman’s suffering of a loss in turns to get her revenge of other people’s happiness, not caring that it will not bring her husband back. As a viewer, it caught my attention of seeing a woman scorned from a chance of pure happiness, because let’s be honest, who hasn’t felt that sense of pure jealousy seeing those around you have what you don’t have. Especially with it being taken away so fast in a blink of an eye.
This short film dragged me into wanting more. It had the proper amount of not just gore but you felt for her every step of the way. You can clearly tell Thomas Haley and the cast had put every ounce of dedication into this short film and I can’t wait for everyone to have the chance to view it as well.
Death House Announces DVD Release Date
This morning, co-writer (along with the late Gunnar Hansen) and director B. Harrison Smith, gave the news that fans have been anticipating. Death House finally has a release date for DVD. The DVD drops December 11, 2018. Cleopatra Entertainment, will announce the VOD release on another date.
Released in select theaters this past winter, fans have been on edge waiting for this announcement. The film tells the tale of Agents Novak and Boone and their virtual tour of Death House, an experimental prison. The film stars Kane Hodder, Felissa Rose, Dee Wallace, Sean Whalen, Sid Haig and many more horror icons. I reviewed Death House in February.
The VOD release date is slated to drop before December, but that is also the norm for many films. Cleopatra Entertainment is expected to issue a press release in the next few days. Keep watching House of Tortured Souls for information on this. While December 11th cannot come soon enough, we are however excited we have the release date for at least the DVD and fans have begun the countdown!
What’s Hot on the Indie and Straight to DVD/VOD Scene?
Here’s a quick look at what’s hot in the Indie horror and more lesser known horror scene in the coming months, as it is set to erupt with DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD releases for fans.
On August 7th we have already seen the releases of films like the dramatic horror film MARROWBONE with Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things), a Bluray release of Dante Tomescelli’s 1999 film DESECRATION, the dramatic fantasy thriller WILDING (starring Liv Tyler), FLORA a thrilling sci-fi film about the discovery of a deadly bacteria, Canada’s own occultist gem PYEWACKET (starring The Walking Dead’s Laurie Holden), a film called DEADSHACK (starring Lauren Holly), and the creepy looking GEHENNA: WHERE DEATH LIVES (featuring both Doug Jones and Lance Henriksen). Finally, yesterday we got the long-anticipated new piece of Stephen Biro’s series of horror films – AMERICAN GUINEA PIG: THE SONG OF SOLOMON – starring the likes of horror alumni such as Jessica Cameron and Jim Van Bebber.
HERE’S A LIST OF WHATS TO COME BY THE NEW YEAR:
AUGUST 14th
AUGUST 17th
AUGUST 24th
AUGUST 28th
AUGUST 31st
SEPTEMBER 28th
OCTOBER 9th
OCTOBER 23rd
OCTOBER 26th

OCTOBER 31st
NOVEMBER 13th

DECEMBER 8th

HONORABLE MENTION

HoTS Review: To Hell & Back: The Kane Hodder Story
Horror fans know the name Kane Hodder. Many also know the story of his burning accident. This past Friday, the highly anticipated film on Hodder’s life was released. To Hell And Back tells the story of Hodder’s life.
The horror icon and author Michael Aloisi released Unmasked, an autobiography of Kane Hodder in 2011. It was in that book that readers discovered how events unfolded on that fateful July 13th in 1977. For years, Hodder told those who asked several versions of the incident. The book and documentary reveal in detail the actual event and photos. It’s no coincidence that director Derek Dennis Herbert chose July 13, 2018, as the release date this year. A Friday The 13th on the anniversary of the accident that nearly took Kane Hodder’s life seemed appropriate.
On to the film itself, which is fantastic by the way. The film has interviews which include: Robert Englund, Bruce Campbell, Cassandra Peterson, Adam Green, Felissa Rose, Harrison Smith, Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Michael Aloisi and Kane’s family, just to name a few.
Kane then describes growing up and talks about the bullying he experienced as a child. He then speaks on how that incident led him to not believe in his own self-worth. Kane and close friend Steve Nappe discuss their 40 plus year friendship that began on the island known as Kwaj. Kane visits the hospital and doctor that he credits for saving his life after his accident. For the first time, fans see Kane Hodder become emotional when discussing aspects of his life. Viewers also hear friends in the industry speak at lengths how Kane Hodder became the ambassador for the horror movie with his appearances and sense of humor.
The movie is a perfect compliment to those who have read the book, however, it explores deeper into the psyche of the man credited with more on-screen kills than anyone in history. Those who have met Kane will be reminded of their encounters. For those who still consider meeting the icon a bucket list item, the movie fuels that fire.
Overall Grade: A+
Joe Bob Briggs’ Last Drive In Mutants Crash Shudder
Ever since it was announced in June that Joe Bob Briggs would be on Shudder, the countdown was on. Briggs would be live on Shudder on June 13th for a 24-hour marathon. Fast forward to Friday the 13th, and the inevitable happened, The Last Drive-In crashed Shudder.
The event began Friday night and right off the bat, users were not able to see the opening film, Tourist Trap. Joe Bob’s social media team were quick to give updates on what was going on. Shudder and team Joe Bob worked tirelessly to fix the issues. The problem came with an easy diagnosis. Not even Shudder could anticipate how many Mutants (Joe Bob fans) still loved the drive-in host.
To Shudder’s credit, they developed a game plan. Initially, the thought process was that this event would be available to view only during the 1st showing. There was talk that if the viewership was high, Shudder would air it on demand. The mutants responded by crashing the site for well over an hour (and in some cases more). Shudder made some quick decisions to appease their viewers. Shudder sent the following Tweets:
So fans that missed out on Shudder, can see the marathon on other VOD platforms. The marathon ended on Saturday night, and Shudder wasted no time making the marathon available.
The films are available to watch on Shudder right now in 13 episodes. Each episode is one of the 13 films with the commentary from Briggs during the breaks. The 13 films are as follows: Tourist Trap, Sleepaway Camp, Rabid, The Prowler, Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama, Daughters of Darkness, Blood Feast, Basket Case, Re-Animator, Demons, Legend of Boggy Creek, Hellraiser and Pieces.
As for how the event went…it was amazing, to say the least. I was able to watch a good amount of the marathon and flashed back to a time during the 80s and 90s. I was immediately in my living room from when I was a kid and relived many Saturday nights. Briggs’ commentary had me in tears from laughing. A favorite part of the marathon came with the second film. The film was Sleepaway Camp and during the breaks, Joe Bob was joined by none other than Felissa Rose. If Shudder wanted to find a comedy duo, they may have just done that.
Joe Bob introduced each film with his famous Drive-In Totals. He also gave background on the film, actors, and crew. It felt like a classic Joe Bob Briggs show and fans were excited to see the Drive-In Totals.
The last surprise from Shudder was that periodically, a promo video aired. Shudder mixed several testimonials from fans and aired the video.
.@therealjoebob asked his fans to tell us what he means to them, and we loved everything you had to say! ❤
Make sure not to miss JOE BOB'S LAST DRIVE-IN this Friday at 9 PM ET on Shudder! pic.twitter.com/u8u51tx3E2
— Shudder (@shudder) July 11, 2018
If this was indeed the last drive-in show for Joe Bob Briggs, it was a fun ride. He delivered on the one-liners and informed as well as entertained. The lineup was solid, the mail girl was entertaining and “cosplayed” several movie characters.
Grades:
Execution by Shudder: B
Execution by Joe Bob: A+
Overall: A
CON REVIEW: Mad Monster Party 2018 (Carolinas) Charlotte
Last weekend Mad Monster returned to the Queen City of Charlotte, NC. Their lineup included Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund, Jen and Sylvia Soska, Felissa Rose, KISS Co-Founder Peter Criss, Alex Vincent, Christine Elise, Tuesday Knight, Amanda Wyss, R.A. Mihailoff, and many more. Thousands of fans from several States flocked to the Hilton to meet their favorite stars, take advantage of the photo ops (done with amazing backgrounds by Prints Charmn), watch movies in the 7th Annual Mad Monster Film Festival and get to see a 10 minute clip of the upcoming film Death House, introduced by co-writer and director Harrison Smith during the Death House Q&A with Smith, Felissa Rose, and R.A. Mihailoff.
Okay, let’s get this out of the way. Like any event that attracts thousands of people into one venue, there are going to be speed bumps. Not everyone is going to be happy. There has yet to be a convention, sporting event or any large gathering where every single person went home completely satisfied. Robert Englund is a huge icon in this genre (easily top five over the last four decades) and him attending a show is not a common occurrence. He is a massive draw. Robert is also very gracious to his fans and enjoys sharing a few words and memories with them. He appreciates the fans coming to see him, so his line doesn’t move as if you were scanning two items in the express lane of the grocery store. It can take some time. Many fans were in line for quite some time.
Both Friday and Saturday, the line had more fans than could be accommodated and something had to be done. Credit the staff at Mad Monster for coming up with quick adjustments. They had a system where the fans that remained in line received a number based on where they were in line. Was it perfect? Of course not. Was it the best option? It was the only option. The staff knew that people were going to be upset but came up with a solution with their limited options. It could have been easy to say “that’s it for tonight, please try again tomorrow”. That was not what they did and they handled the issue the only way to make as many people as happy as possible.
Sunday, a light rail (train) knocked out the power for everything in the vicinity of the venue, including the hotel itself. This caused a delay in allowing fans into the show. The power was eventually restored and the show went on, business as usual.
Now that the hiccups are out of the way, let’s talk about the positive aspects. The celebs engaged and enjoyed talking to the fans, there were plenty of vendors for fans to shop from and the panels were informative. For me, one of the highlights of the weekend was the R.I.P. (Mad Monster’s VIP) Party on Saturday night. It was more of a moderate social gathering than a party. The RIPs along with the celebs that attended all gathered to celebrate. Saturday was Tuesday Knight’s birthday and everyone sang and had cake. The RIPs, STIFFS (volunteers), and celebs at the party mingled and shared stories til past midnight. It was a relaxing way to spend the evening after a busy and packed house on Saturday.
The show ended on Sunday and despite the hiccups, the show went off with success. The staff at Mad Monster deserve commendation for how they pulled through. Despite being short-handed (the flu has been nasty and caused several volunteers to have to miss the show) several worked double and triple shifts to ensure there was enough coverage on the floor. They also had to deal with the power issues on Sunday, photo ops selling out in advance and long lines for Robert Englund and Peter Criss. The team was able to power through and make sure as many fans left with amazing memories.
Overall I grade this show a B+.
Next up for Mad Monster is their annual Phoenix, AZ, show July 13-15, 2018.
INTERVIEWS: Felissa Rose & Harrison Smith at Mad Monster Party
Crypt Keeper Clint here with the first of my two articles on Mad Monster Party (Carolinas), which as held February 16 – 18, 2018. I will keep this introduction brief, but I had the great fortune to interview two amazing individuals – Felissa Rose and Harrison Smith. Check out their interviews below and be sure to subscribe to House of Tortured Souls on YouTube.
Also, watch for my review of Mad Monster Party coming up in the next couple of days.
Crypt Keeper Clint Interviews Felissa Rose at Mad Monster Party (Carolinas)
We talk Sleepaway Camp (1983), No Solicitors (2015), Victor Crowley (2017), Family Possessions (2016), and much more.
Crypt Keeper Clint Interviews Writer/Director Harrison Smith at Mad Monster Party (Carolinas)
We talk life, the universe, Death House, and Gunnar Hansen.
WiHM: Felissa Rose
Outside of the horror world, most people won’t know the name Felissa Rose, but in 1983, a 13-year-old girl playing the role of Angela introduced herself to the genre. What’s extremely impressive about Felissa’s role in the now cult classic Sleepaway Camp is that she was so memorable while hardly speaking. The character Angela rarely spoke throughout the film and sucked viewers into the story with her facial expressions. She makes you really feel for the character until you find out that young Angela is actually Peter, Angela’s brother, who was “killed” in a boating accident 8 years prior. 2018 celebrates the 35th anniversary of this iconic film and the launch of a brilliant career.
Felissa has been a mainstay in the horror genre over the past three and a half decades. She has also been a frequent guest at various horror conventions around the US. Known for her bubbly personality, posing making the “Sleepaway Camp Face”, and her ability to remember names and past interactions with her fans, Felissa is very popular at these shows and leaves her fans old and new with memorable experiences.
The last calendar year has been one of – if not the – best year yet for this iconic actress. Felissa has several new films that have been released in the last month or will be in the coming weeks to include No Solicitors (a film shot in 2015, but released last month on DVD, where she also served as Producer) where she plays ill-fated Pricilla. Victor Crowley (the surprise fourth installment of the Hatchet series), she plays the role of Kathleen. And in the upcoming film Death House (theatrical release of February 23rd), Felissa plays the role of Dr. Angela Freeman (and also filling the role of Associate Producer). Felissa has been certainly busy over the past several months as these are three of the nearly two dozen projects she has already or is in the process of completing.
Felissa’s next convention appearance will be next weekend in the Queen City of Charlotte, NC, for Mad Monster Party Carolina. She is celebrating both the 35th Anniversary of Sleepaway Camp and the newly released Victor Crowley. She is also promoting the upcoming release of Death House, which some of us lucky fans were privileged to see during convention viewings last year. Thousands more are eagerly awaiting to see the film on February 23, 2018.
So please join me in congratulating this amazing woman on her accomplishments both past and those yet to come.
You can check out what Felissa is working on next by visiting her on the Internet at:
Let’s wish Felissa Rose a very HAPPY Women in Horror Month!
Screw Calgon…Crowley Take Me Away
As a loyal member of the Hatchet Army, I have been counting down the days for the VOD/Blu-ray release of Victor Crowley. This is the fourth installment of the Hatchet series from the sick mind of Adam Green (love you, Adam). That day is finally here, and I couldn’t have been happier when I got home and had this baby waiting for me. Thank you, Amazon.
Let’s talk synopsis… In my own words: Greedy survivor with brilliant manager crashed in swamp with misfit crew while wannabe director is busy stirring up old demons. Queue puns, ham acting, and lots and lots of GORE.
Yep, those are the makings of a great movie, so let’s get started.
I put this bad boy in tonight (fresh from the Amazon package), popped a Feisty Cherry Diet Coke, and was on my way. And I could not have been happier. The humor and ham right from the get-go warmed my heart. It was great to see good ol’ Hatchet Face again brought back to life by Kane Hodder. Then everyone’s favorite coward/hero Andrew Yong (Parry Shen). It was like a family reunion: wonderful familiar faces and then a few cousins you were not as familiar with that you get to know.
Young aspiring director, boyfriend, and her friend (Laura Ortiz from The Hills Have Eyes (2006)) travel to Louisiana to pitch an idea for a movie about the Honey Swamp Massacre to Andrew Yong. Keep going and you see the beautiful Felissa Rose, as the brassy publicist/manager to Andrew Yong. Felissa is best known for her role as the young Angela in Sleepaway Camp, Death House, and a slew of other bloody good Indie horror. She was brilliant as Kathleen and, at the risk of hurting Kane’s feelings, she kind of stole the show at first. After convincing Andrew to go back to the swamp for an exclusive interview (with who ends up being his ex-wife talk show host) on site, they board a plane to the bayou and introduce the new crew of misfits, one being the talented Tiffany Shepis as Casey, the on-screen love of Austin (Brian Quinn). Casey will have you almost in tears at one point if you have any heart at all. It is an interesting addition to the horror of the film.
After everyone gets to the swamp, the real fun begins. The director and her so-called team now include a tour guide who is really an actor according to him. This guy… you will love this guy – Dillon – portrayed by the wonderful David Sheridan. Yes, the same David Sheridan who we all loved as Doofy in Scary Movie. Once they all meet up, heads start to roll, and it couldn’t be more beautiful. You could tell that the entire cast had a freaking blast on this film.
The use of practical effects over CGI has always been one of the reasons I adore these films. The blood and brains and appendages look great and just a bit over the top… in good ol’ Hatchet fashion. And, just when you think after three Hatchet movies that you have seen it all, they show you some kills that just make your jaw drop. Don’t make any plans to have spaghetti or hamburgers when you put this movie on unless you have a strong constitution.
Be sure watch this all the way through. I won’t give anything away but sometimes it pays to sit through the credits. Just ask any Marvel fan.
Overall, this a strong addition to an already excellent franchise. With a great combination of an 80s camp film and the bloody gore we all want, I would say this is my second favorite of the series with the first being the original. Just can’t beat a classic. Adam Green and his crew have put together a hell of a movie, and I suggest that any Hatchet Army member out there take the ride. You won’t be disappointed, but make sure to keep your hands and feet in at all times.
Tech Aspects (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
- Cast Commentary — Writer/Director Adam Green and Actors Parry Shen, Laura Ortiz and Dave Sheridan
- Technical Commentary — Writer/Director Adam Green, Cinematographer Jan Michael Losada, Editor Matt Latham, and Make up FX Artist Robert Pendergraft
- Raising the Dead — Again Interview with Adam Green
- Behind the Scenes
- Trailer/Teaser
Happy Nightmares!
ZombieGurl
INTERVIEW: Brooke Lewis (2017)
One of the Hardest Working Women in the Business
-Scream Queen, Amazing Actress, Author-
Brooke Lewis: You know I did five films with god rest his soul Charles Durning, yes I used to dine with the man. Adults really get it, Oscar-nominated for Dog Day Afternoon, When a Stranger Calls, Tootsie–Charles Durning. I mean are you kidding me? I have worked with Michael Pare: Eddie and the Cruisers, Streets of Fire, and The Philadelphia Experiment, he’s my friend. The legendary Billy Dee Williams: Mahogany, Star Wars: Episode V-The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. I am not sure if the younger generation understands the magnitude of that. When I was a young girl, I was in high school and I was obsessed with Candyman and then I found out I was going to be starring next to Tony Todd, someone has got to be kidding me! I was so scared to be going on set but he is so great! The celebrity and fame have never changed him, he has done so much acting, even on Broadway. Tony is really more than meets the eye. Its crazy, I have gotten to work with both Costas and Loius Mandylor. Saw for Costas and My Big Fat Greek Wedding” for Louis.The thing is that they are just brilliant actors. One of my dearest kindred spirits is The Hills Have Eyes’ Suze Lanier-Bramlett. She is like my soul sister. She was Bambi on Welcome Back Kotter, you know Barbarino’s girlfriend. We sit and talk about yesteryears, her life as an actress, being young and in Hollywood vs my experience and it is so scary. I don’t know if the younger generation of moviegoers will be able to distinguish between real stars of that era vs Youtube sensations with no real acting chops.You cant just get together with a few friends and spill ketchup on your boobs film it on your phone, dub yourself a Scream Queen and call it horror. Horror fans are way too intelligent for that. To know and understand the careers of people like Charles Durning or Billy Dee Williams or Margaret Colin and Larry Hankin from Home Alone may be out of their purview.
BL: I embrace being a Scream Queen. I earned it! I am very proud to be on any lists where the greats like Jamie Lee Curtis, Adrienne Barbeau, and Dee Wallace along with the newer generation like my girls Felissa Rose and Debbie Rochon and the list goes on and on. As far as acting in horror, anything I have done in the horror genre is by choice. I am committed to a certain standard. People come up to me and are like but you did a film like Slime City Massacre? Yes, I did and thank you very much it won me the 2010 Golden Cobb award!
Debbie Rochon – Slime City Massacre
Victoria Maurette – Bulletface
Kristina Klebe – Zone of The Dead
April Monique Burrill – Chainsaw Sally
Brooke Lewis – Slime City Massacre
BL: What do I get cast in usually in the mainstream? Hooker, stripper, because I have big boobs and big hair and I wear high heels because I am short so naturally…the hairstylist, the guidette, which I love and that’s how Ms. Vampy was born. I looked at the body of my biggest work and at that point in time, ten years ago it was mobster movies, it was comedy, big hair and guidette roles that I used to play like in Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding where I got my start on Broadway which I love, then add horror to the mix. It came to me that this had never been done before and it is a lot of what my horror fans embrace about me. And I thought why not? Ms. Vampy is a Brooklyn, big-haired vampire guidette with a heart of gold. On the teen talk show, we talk about everything from the LGBTQ community, to racism, to sexism, to bullies and it was very important to me to get this done. It needs to be made and I will not stop till it is done correctly. She is from the Vamprelli crime family, killing people and drinking blood is declasse so she eats everything else that is red. So everything needs the suspension of reality because she has a heart of gold and tons of positive messages. She’s my alter-ego. She talks about everything that I have experienced in my life. Also there is the teen smash hit TV/talk show/web series Ms. Vampy’s Tween Tawk, Teen Tawk & In Between Tawk, which won the Honolulu Film Awards 2012 SILVER LEI AWARD, the coveted 18th Annual Communicator Awards (2012) AWARD OF DISTINCTION for Social Responsibility and Los Angeles Film Awards May 2017 INSPIRING WOMAN IN A FILM AWARD .
Brooke Lewis on the web:
Death House Gets Updated Release
Big news in the horror world regarding the highly-anticipated film Death House. A press release was shared yesterday stating:
For those who have been living under a tombstone, this is an all-star packed horror thriller feature from director B. Harrison Smith. Co-written by the late (but not forgotten) Gunnar Hansen, Death House is being called “The Expendables of Horror”. It will feature some huge names from horror, including Kane Hodder, Dee Wallace, Sid Haig, Michael Berryman, Tony Todd, Felissa Rose, and more. Like a lot more.
INTERVIEW: Death House (2018) Director Harrison Smith
“The Only Way Out… Is Down”
I had the great privilege of interviewing the superb director Harrison Smith on his newest film Death House. Before I get into that, let me tell you a little bit about the film.
There is a Fed-Max subterranean government prison that holds humanities worst criminals known as the Death House. It serves as a medical, psychological, and parapsychological research center aimed at eradicating evil. Two federal agents are granted a tour of the center. While on the tour, the unthinkable happens. There is a power outage that releases all of the prisoners, and the agents must fight their way through all of the horror and violence to try to survive. They soon discover that they are being herded down to the lowest depths of the facility. In those depths are a group of supernatural evil beings known as The Five Evils and they may be the agents’ only chance at salvation.
The movie sounds and looks amazing but before I go on I just wanted to say that the media and many articles have labeled the movie, “The Horror Movie genre of The Expendables“. I have to disagree with that. If it were The Expendables we would have a movie with Freddy vs Jason vs Michael vs et. al. Which, to some, may sound interesting but it would lack any substance. The stars in this movie are so much more than their individual roles that they have portrayed, they are true actors who excel at their craft. Let me tell you some of them:
Adrienne Barbeau: Escape From N.Y., Creepshow, Swamp Thing, The Fog
Kane Hodder: Jason Voorhees in some of the Friday the 13th films and Victor Crowley from The Hatchet films
Dee Wallace: The Howling, Cujo, The Frighteners
Michael Berryman: The Hills Have Eyes, The Devils Rejects
Barbara Crampton: Re-Animator, From Beyond, You’re Next
Sid Haig: The Devils Rejects, House of 1000 Corpses, Kill Bill
Tony Todd: Candyman, Hatchet, Final Destination
Bill Moseley: The Devils Rejects, Rob Zombie’s Halloween
Vernon Wells: The Road Warrior, Weird Science
Lindsay Hartley: Nightmare Nurse
Cody Longo: Piranha 3D, Nashville
Cortney Palm: The Dark Tapes
Felissa Rose: Sleepaway Camp
Vincent Ward: The Walking Dead
Whew, that is a LOT of talent in one film!

Holmesburg Prison in Philadelphia, PA. The place had a built-in horror film setting, full of dark history and eerie vibes. It really acts as a functioning character in the film.
IMDb provided a great quote:
And like Harrison told me, he was writing in a local bar when the ad for Jurassic World came on and it hit him that this movie was “Assault on Precinct 13 meets Jurassic World without the dinosaurs”. So… great actors along with an exciting script and skilled direction. Then throw in stupefying makeup and effects by the Roy Knyrim (Sinister 2) and SOTA FX, and a soundtrack by John Avarese that sets the perfect ambiance. We will finally get what we paid for at the box office!
House of Tortured Souls: My first question for Harrison was why the horror genre?
Harrison Smith: My first film, The Fields, was based on what really happened to me when I lived and grew up with my grandparents on their farm. The farm came under attack for a short period of time by an unseen presence. We never understood what caused it and we never understood what ended it, so I had personal experience. But also my grandmother and I used to watch horror movies and the old horror TV show Dr. Shock who hosted Saturday morning shows like Scream-In, Horror Theater, and Mad Theater. The movies were captivating. I loved finding out there was a sequel to Frankenstein and that he didn’t die in the burning windmill. There were more like Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man that continued on the story of Lon Chaney. Like when they killed Lon Chaney in the original Wolfman I was like, “Why? He was a nice man, he didn’t want to be The Wolf Man“. I loved it. They were like Saturday morning soap operas. I loved them as a kid, but that time is gone. That is why I like Tom Holland’s Fright Night. I was watching in the summer of ’85 and knew it was a Valentine to an era that was quickly fading and disappearing. At that time, the threat was coming from cable television and the home video revolution, so Peter Vincent was this aging icon of an era long gone trying to stay relevant. Tom Holland got it, and Fright Night works on many levels. So horror movies, for me, were a real escape from the actually really scary shit that happened to me.
HoTS: Then I asked him about the abundance of horror movies and shows seem to be throwing back to the ’80s. Movies like It Follows and The House of the Devil and shows like Stranger Things all reflect that age in horror, and Death House has many actors from that era. Why do you think it is a niche we all still enjoy?
HS: Director and actor Eli Roth said that the have-sex-and-die concept behind many of the ’80s slasher films was not as relevant today because millennials look at it and don’t get it. There was a study reported by the L.A. Times in an article by Melissa Batchelor Warnke saying that the millennial generation is the least sexually active, so that concept does not translate well. But at the time when Friday the 13th came around, it was a perfect storm of both liberal and conservative values. We had a very conservative administration with Reagan and yet, at the same time, we were known as the party generation. It was a weird flux of things coming together. So Friday the 13th had fun and parties with lots of boobs and tons of gore but with a moral lesson. See what happens when you fuck in the woods? Jason was like a walking STD. So the ’80s made us nostalgic for the ’50s, and now we look back to the ’80s. We are nostalgic for when we grew up. That is why, when making Death House, we always remembered that we were handling peoples memories and that is very important. The new generation gets to fall in love with it like we did. And with regards to the actors in Death House, they were all smart enough to choose great directors and projects that were just starting out, and their careers flourished from those collaborations so they are all still relevant today.

Kane Hodder arriving on the Death House set pictured with Harrison (dressed as an extra for the ward scene). The guy over his shoulder is producer Rick Finkelstein.
HoTS: I did some research on Holmesburg Prison, where you decided to film the movie. Some extremely monstrous things went on there. Any ghosts try to break into acting for the film?
HS: No, I did not experience anything myself. There were a few reports of the cameras acting wonky, but it was really cold there which probably contributed to that. The place itself was perfect for the mood though. There is a great book called Acres of Skin: Human Experiments At Holmesberg Prison 1998 by Allen Hornblum that tells all about the medical experiments and tortures that went on inside the prison. It really lent itself to what we were shooting. I remember when they gave us a tour and brought us into the warden’s office where he had his throat slit. Nothing paranormal happened but everyone was in tune with what had happened there. Dee Wallace said that it was sometimes overwhelming knowing that you were walking by cells where so much abject misery and torture had taken place. It is a building built on misery.
Harrison also wanted to make sure and give a shout out to the administration and the City of Philadelphia and especially the Philadelphia Police Department, who were more than gracious and just all-around wonderful people.
HoTS: My next question for Harrison was, as a director, what directors influence his work?
HS: Growing up, John Carpenter: Halloween, The Thing, They Live and Tommy Lee Wallace: IT, Halloween III, Fright Night II were major influences on me because they were accessible to me. I used to read Fangoria Magazine all the time and got a subscription to it. I used to read and devour the interviews and not just because of the pictures and oh! there making a sequel to Halloween and I want to see the blood and gore. They did an interview with John Carpenter and he talked about how he made movies and about finding a good crew and sticking with them. And I noticed for the first decade of John’s career he used a lot of the same people in front and behind the camera and that really made an impact on me because Carpenter was very much the founder of the guerilla film movement — that you get a camera, you go out there, and you shoot. That’s what you do, and that really inspired me as a filmmaker. I had a Super 8 silent Kodak camera, and I was learning. I was learning from those interviews in Fangoria and got a really strong base of knowledge. So if you look at my catalog of work so far, you will see many of the same faces. And if you read the credits, you will see a lot of the same names return time and time again. I bring them back because it is like putting the band back together, so to speak, which works for me because it becomes like production shorthand. I would also say Tom Holland of Fright Night and Psycho II fame was another influence because Psycho II made a big impact on me because of the script. I think it is one of the greatest sequels ever made and is very underrated. I wanted to hate it, but 30 minutes into the film I just fell in love with it. When it was over I walked out, called my family to let them know I would be late and went in to see it again. My film Camp Dread is a tip of the hat to Tom Holland. It was more like Psycho II than Friday the 13th.
HoTS: What is the theme for Death House?
HS: The whole pretext of Death House is evil is evil and good is good, but do they need each other? Because when you try to eradicate evil you are, at most, canceling out good as well. There is no need for good if there’s no need for evil. Bill Mosely has a great line in the film, “True evil is nothingness”. That is true hell. If we were to remove the Holocaust from history we would need a litmus test. Dee Wallace’s and Barbara Crampton’s characters think what they are doing is good. Look at the Nazis during the Holocaust. They didn’t think what they were doing was evil. Dee is like Nurse Ratched. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest as a social horror film was a snake pit. Louise Fletcher played it so well because there are real nurses like that. That is the banality of evil. How a modicum of power gives rise to abuse of said power. Are The Five Evils in Death House really evil compared to Dee’s character or Nurse Ratched? They aren’t Cenobites they are regular people like you run into in everyday life. How many times in your own life might you have come into contact with real killers? The Five Evils are normal looking people.

Death House – The Five Evils: Vincent Ward, Vernon Wells, Bill Moseley, Lindsay Hartley, Michael Berryman.
The original script for Death House was penned by the incredible Gunnar Hansen, who is best known for playing the mentally-impaired cannibal Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Gunnar left us on November 7th, 2015, from pancreatic cancer. His agent, Michael Eisenstadt, brought producers Rick Finkelstein and Steven Chase of Entertainment Factory to the screening of Zombie Killers: Elephant’s Graveyard to meet Harrison. Another writer had taken a stab at rewriting the script, but it turned into Texas Chainsaw meets Friday the 13th meets Saw, but that was not what Gunnar wanted. He did not want torture porn but a high concept horror film. Gunnar liked what Harrison did with it, so Harrison finished writing and then directed it. The actors were all there for their friend Gunnar and with Harrison collaborating with Gunnar before his death, I like to think of this as a love letter to an amazing man and actor that we lost too soon.
I was extremely honored to speak with Harrison Smith and pick his brain. To read more on Death House, I have included some links that come straight from the horse’s mouth. Harrison Smith’s Road To Death House articles.
I cannot even begin to express how excited I am to see this film. It has already won the audience choice award along with best feature film from the Central Florida Film Festival (CENFLO). MPAA said it was gritty, claustrophobic and a hell of a lot of fun. Harrison said it is like a roller coaster ride through a funhouse, and Kane Hodder said it was his favorite film he has worked on. So horror fans get ready for the ride of your life!
I have also included a link to a petition if you want Death House to come to a Regal Cinema near you. It is going to major theaters but I would like to see it in all of them.
So, from myself and the family at House of Tortured Souls, thank you again to the great Harrison Smith and everyone involved with Death House! And just remember readers… “Hell isn’t a word…it’s a sentence.”