The Woman in Black Directed by James Watkins Daniel Radcliffe has made nine theatrical movies in the last decade and eight of them have been episodes in the “Harry Potter” saga. So it’s hardly surprising that when he first appears onscreen in “The Woman in Black,” you find yourself expecting his Hogwarts sidekicks to show up, or a wand to appear in his hand (not helped by an early train journey). But that slight disorientation passes and he turns in a fairly solid performance as the young father who has been sent by his London firm to settle the paperwork of a dead woman who lived in a fabulously spooky house on the far side of a remote tidal causeway. Outside of the “Potter” films, he’

Blood and Thrills and Chills, Oh My! - The Sacramento Horror Scene Through A Friend Of The Genre Adhorroration [ad-horror-ey-shun] – noun 1.A fervent and devoted love of horror. 2.The act of paying honor and homage to horror. 3.The only term to describe my personal love for horror, thanks to the Sacramento Horror scene. I've loved horror since I was a teenager (unless you count that peek at “Nightmare On Elm Street” that I was privy to as a child). Sure, I was enthralled with “Ghostbusters” when I was little, and even the nightmares couldn't dissuade me from watching it again. I wasn't allowed to watch scary movies as a kid, so I was actually a late bloomer when it comes to one of my

There is a new independent production company in town, Zombie House Pictures. Founded by Sacramentans Geoff Foley, Josh Pierson, and Lodi native Tom Presler, ZHP came together through a mutual love of horror movies and all things zombie. Presler and Foley are also the co-founders of the non-profit organization, the Zombie Club, based in Lodi, California. The Zombie Club focuses on community outreach, charity fundraising, and yeah, all things zombie. Zombie House Pictures is the film production arm of the Zombie Club and they're currently in production on a new web series called Diary of a Dead Man that has been shooting here in Sacramento since the beginning of September. Locations have

The third night of the 12 annual Sacramento Film & Music Festival brings a solid lineup of three narrative feature films to the Crest historic main screen.  The first of these, "Face to Face," is an Australian drama that can only be seen at film festivals and which isn't even scheduled to open theatrically in Australia until next month.  "Face to Face" is reminiscent of the classic film "12 Angry Men," with the action moved from a jury room to a mediation session.  Ten people and a mediator meet to discuss an employment dispute, but it soon becomes apparent that there is far more at stake and more shared history than one young man's rash actions.  The screenplay was adapted from a stage p

Halloween came early last weekend when armies of zombies, stormtroopers and hundreds of civilian fanboys and fangirls joined Lando Calrissian, Jason Voorhees and Howard the Duck for a celebration of all things dark and bloodiful at the two-day Sacramento Sci-Fi/Horror Show. For some attendees – many of whom came dressed to the Plan Nines – the draws were the special screenings of sci-fi and horror films. For others it was a chance to bypass the dozens of vendors hawking everything from phasers to fine art for a chance to nab a vintage Hallmark “Star Trek” ornament for a song at Saturday’s auction (with proceeds benefitting Loaves & Fishes’ Mustard Seed School). For most, however, the week

Movies on a Big Screen will host the first live broadcast taping of “Cinema Insomnia” Saturday. Fans can watch the “1960’s mess” horror film that is “The Undertaker and His Pals” at the Guild Theater, located at 2828 35th St in Sacramento, as horror host Mr. Lobo — a television personality and actor— provides comic relief in between segments. Movies on the Big Screen is an ongoing film festival, said Robert McKeown who helped start it in September 2006. They show films every week at the historic Guild in various genres including cult classics, documentaries and independent films. Cinema Insomnia is a television series that shows horror films. This is the first time MOBS is teaming up wit

As Halloween looms over us like a full moon on a blustery autumn eve, we find ourselves in the mood to curl up in front of our favorite slasher film for a healthy dose of murder and mayhem. But if you dare to leave the comforts of home and celebrate the seasonal bloodlust with likeminded souls, the Sacramento Horror Film Festival is here to provide the scares. Now in its third year, the four-day event will be sure to fill your every dark desire. “The city of Sacramento didn't have anything resembling a horror film festival," said Tim Meunier, founder and festival director. "And with my past experience I decided it was time to give the city what I felt it needed. I grew tired of going out

Organizers of the annual Trash Film Orgy, now in its ninth year, have just announced their 2009 summer schedule for July through August at the Crest Theatre in Downtown Sacramento. The festival, "bringing you the best in 35mm exploitation and cult cinema," will start on July 11 with the camp classic "Flash Gordon," and follow up with five more mostly-obscure films of the midnight movie variety. The shows will be hosted by the festival's original host, Francois Fly. The screenings will also feature a variety of other activities, including "live bloody stage shows," costume contests and audience participation. These folks go all-in. What follows is the schedule for the 2009 Trash Film Orgy

Disclaimer: the contributor of this and his wife run Movies on a Big Screen, Sacramento’s weekly screening series of documentaries, general independent film, classics and cult titles. The following is blatant self-promotion of a MOBS event and the local filmmakers involved. The living dead recently took over Sacramento’s Movies on a Big Screen building and local filmmakers just happened to be there to capture the nightmare.The result? A film entitled “Dead Exit.”   About Dead Exit: The reanimated infestation has reached a crisis point, overwhelming both local law enforcement and federal agencies. Designated evacuation and quarantine sites, known as "green zones," were developed to pro