The Sacramento Ballet can never be accused of élitism.  Not when it dresses up as zombies and arranges a "Thriller" flashmob dance and encourages everyone to join in! Last week we attended a 'performance rehearsal' at the Sac Ballet studios for the work-in-progress of the upcoming performance of 'Dracula'.  The news is that it looks great! - Lots of exposed necks and flashing fangs and swirling velvet capes, even if Vincent Price won't be in it. Smart patrons have already got their tickets booked (we have). Spooky haloween-themed fun, but without the high fructrose corn syrup! But, after the rehearsal, there was a rehearsal of another kind  - As the audience filed out, another group was

If you're like a lot of people, Halloween is your favorite holiday, and what better way to get your Halloween week off to a rousing start than to see one of the goriest movies about Zombies ever made.  Lucio Fulci's 1979 classic, "Zombie," is making its way to the big screen at The Crest Theatre for two screenings, Friday and Saturday, 21 - 22 October at Midnight. When a young women travels to a remote tropical island in search of her missing father, all hell breaks loose when she and her companions find that a strange epidemic is causing the dead to walk…with an insatiable hunger for human flesh! This Undead classic features some of the most shocking scenes in horror cinema…don’t miss it

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

Several hundred zombie enthusiasts gathered at Roseville’s Royer Park to get makeup done and receive instructions before invading Vernon Street. This was Roseville’s first ever Zombie Walk. Dozens of people who participated in July’s Second Saturday Zombie Walk made their way to Roseville. Joshua Cox arranged the event via Facebook and was on hand to help apply makeup to participants. Several gallons off “blood” were used to help zombies ready themselves for the walk. Besides corn syrup and red food coloring, used to emulate blood, several zombies brought items to help with makeup including sponges, cotton balls, food coloring, liquid latex, white school glue and other materials. Se

A mob of the living dead invaded downtown Sacramento Saturday night. The annual Zombie Walk started at Sub-Q and ended at the Crest Theatre, where the zombies mingled with K Street’s club- and restaurant-goers in between munching brains. The 2011 Trash Film Orgy season kicked off its six-week run of sleazy, gory, trashy movies with “Return of the Living Dead,” a tale of punk rockers, zombies and punk rock zombies. As zombies and Trash fans entered the Crest’s lobby, they were greeted by a variety of interesting characters and sights to see. Guests could browse movie posters, horror and sci-fi DVDs and zombie comics. There were also games in the spirit of the zombie flick, such as “Pin th

  Night of a Thousand Pumpkins in Folsom had plenty of participants. Carved pumpkins lined both sides of Sutter Street and as darkness came, candle lit pumpkins decorated the streets. A judging panel walked around and voted for their favorite pumpkins in various categories. I was attracted to the event by mention of the evening including a Zombie Train coming into Folsom’s Sutter Street rail stop. An evening of fun events was planned. Pumpkins lined Sutter Street but participants continued to bring their carved sculptures and placed them where there was room. Families walked around and patronized businesses that were open. Many of the Sutter Street shops brought in customers to their st

Zombie enthusiasts are gearing up for the first-ever "Zombie Train" on Friday - a flashmob on Sacramento Light Rail, capped off by Tainted Love at the Powerhouse Pub. Folsom is hosting its annual "Night of 1,000 Pumpkins" on October 29, in which they are soliciting the public's help to bring 1,000 jack-o-lanterns to its historic Sutter Street. At 7:23 PM, a trainful of brain-eating zombies is expected to arrive in search or brains and beer. All Zombie enthusiasts are encouraged to come, as well as anyone interested in attending the bar crawl, though organizers ask that the zombies not eat the children. It is unknown how many zombies will show up, though organizers are hopeful that up to 1

Celebrating Halloween is now a month-long occasion. Here are some spooky activities to get your skin crawling and set your nerves on end all the way through the 31st. All events are in Sacramento, unless noted otherwise. Trash Film Orgy Halloween 2010 Crest Theatre, 1013 K St. Oct. 31: 8 p.m. (doors open) 9 p.m. (show begins) All seats cost $10 ($1 discount for those wearing costumes) Ages 18 and older only More information: www.trashfilmorgy.com or call 916-44-CREST Trash Film Orgy presents “Heavy Metal Halloween” at the Crest Theatre. Live bloody stage shows, audience participation, games and costume contests will accompany a showing of the 1986 film “Trick or Treat,” featuring cameo

Zombies staggeirng down midtown last night brought to life the six-week Trash Film Orgy at the Crest Theatre. Here's some of the bullet-riddled, blood-drenched, brain-damaged zombies:  For information about the Trash Film Orgy:www.thecrest.com/calendar/expand.cfm  SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

The living dead will wander through Second Saturday crowds in downtown Sacramento this weekend. Zombies of all ages and decomposition will be present for the 2010 Zombie Walk. The Zombie Walk is a commencing event for the 10th annual Trash Film Orgy film festival, which begins this Saturday. TFO runs through Aug. 14 with showings every Saturday at midnight and a special showing on Halloween. "Our first few years were some of our biggest Zombie Walks," TFO Producer Christy Savage said. "And then we stopped doing them for a while. Then there was a big resurgence all over the world, so we started doing them again. This will definitely be our biggest one." Cities including Seattle, Denver a

Shock and terror will overcome visitors to Fear Overload. Men carrying chainsaws, bloody zombies, masked figures and decapitated limbs are everywhere. People never know where or when they will be attacked. Fear Overload wants them to stay and play awhile, compared with most haunted houses that push people through as fast as possible by scaring from behind. Visitors to the ravaged chemical plant will be approached by killers from all angles. They'll even be trapped in rooms and forced to figure out how to get away, escaping certain death, according to owner Dave Polanco. Rooms are filled with dead bodies, spilled neon-colored chemicals and blood-spattered walls. One corridor features a

Trash Film Orgy Saturdays, Midnight (doors open at 11:30pm), July 8th – August 15th Crest Theatre By Tony Sheppard Capitol Weekly As well known to the veteran loyal fans (many of whom routinely wear zombie makeup) as it is completely unknown to more formal film festival goers, the Trash Film Orgy (TFO) opens its 9th season this Saturday, at midnight at the Crest. Every week of the season, TFO showcases a cult or B-movie offering with audience participation, in the form of competitive loud witty banter during the movie, not just permitted but encouraged. I asked TFO Co-Producer Christy Savage a few questions about the concept and this season’s lineup: Tony: Could you explain the basic c