Sex and Guns (again)

Just in case you've come here looking for the link to the Sex and Guns scene from Shoot 'Em Up, you'll find it here:

Hellraiser

Demon to some. Angel to others.

The horror countdown ends with Clive Barker's brilliant shocker, Hellraiser. Someone on IMDB commented that "this is one of the sickest and most depraved horror films of its time, and I love every minute of it." I quite agree.

Here is a brief synopsis:

A man finds he is given more than he bargains for when he solves the puzzle of the Lament Configuration - a doorway to hell. But his ex-lover has found a way of bringing him back, and his niece, Kirsty Lawrence, finds herself bargaining with the Cenobites--angels to some, demons to others--whose greatest pleasure is the greatest pain. (source)

Sex and Guns

Clive Owen Wednesday is back with a bang. Literally. For anyone who hasn't seen Shoot 'Em Up, I'm providing a link below to the famous (or should I say infamous?) Sex and Guns scene with Monica Bellucci. Let's just say, Mr. Owen knows how to take care of business.

This scene is pretty graphic. You've been warned.

Oh, and turn up your speakers for the full effect.

Clicky

Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later

Trick or Treat. Kill or Die. It's That Time of Year Again.

I was never a huge fan of the Halloween movies, but I saw Halloween H20: 20 Years Later when it first came out back in 1998, and I really enjoyed it. The storyline is more a classic thriller than horror (although there is plenty of blood). Here’s a brief synopsis from IMDB:

Laurie Strode is now the head mistress at a prestigious private school, which is attended by her 17 year-old son. On the 20th anniversary of the events that occurred in Halloween I, Laurie begins having nightmares, flashbacks, and visions of her evil brother, Michael Myers, coming to kill her. Myers shows up at the school on Halloween night, setting the stage for a "final" battle between Myers and Strode.

Bedroom Window

As a Halloween treat (their words, not mine!), eHarlequin.com is re-running one of my past serials, Bedroom Window through October 31.

This is my homage to Rear Window. And, yes, I do have a thing for Alfred Hitchcock. And doesn't this bit of news fit nicely in my Alfred Hitchcock tribute week?

Hitchcock's Blondes

Alfred Hitchcock once said, "You know why I favor sophisticated blondes in my films? We're after the drawing-room type, the real ladies, who become whores once they're in the bedroom....Because sex should not be advertised....Because without the element of surprise the scenes become meaningless. There's no possibility to discover sex."

Exactly.

Hitchcock's obsession with cool blondes began in the 1940s and reached a climax with the troubled, secretive women of Psycho (1960) and Marnie (1964).

Here's a look at the most famous of Hitchcock's Blondes:

Music by Bat for Lashes

The Gate

Pray it's not too late!

My horror countdown continues with The Gate, a really cool 80s movie with Stephen Dorf as a young kid.

A horde of nasty, pint-sized demons is inadvertently released from a hole in a suburban backyard. What follows is a classic battle between good and evil as the three kids struggle to overcome a nightmarish hell that is literally taking over the Earth.

"Good eeevening."

It’s Alfred Hitchcock week here at Blasphemous Rumours, and the latest news/speculation from Hollywood is that Anthony Hopkins has been tapped to play Hitch in a biopic about the legendary director. There’s talk of Helen Mirren stepping into the role of Hitchcock's wife and lifelong creative collaborator, Alma Reville, but that casting is unconfirmed. According to Cinematical, Alfred Hitchcock Presents will be written and directed by Ryan Murphy (Nip/Tuck).

Let’s talk about the Psycho shower scene, one of the most famous scenes in movie history. Such a chilling, brutal scene and yet the knife is never seen penetrating the victim. The real horror is in what is perceived to happen and not what is shown on the screen. I think thriller writers can learn a lesson here. Less is sometimes a whole lot more.

Psycho shower scene: Beware!

Nightbreed

The countdown of terror continues with Nightbreed.

Come meet the dead of night.

A community of mutant outcasts of varying types and abilities attempts to escape the attentions of a psychotic serial killer and redneck vigilantes with the help of a brooding young man who discovers them. Based on the novel "Cabal" by Clive Barker.

Jeepers Creepers

With only five shopping days left to find a costume, let’s do a countdown to Halloween with our favorite horror movies.

For me, it’s not Halloween without seeing Jeepers Creepers 1 or 2 and preferably both. Around my house, I’m a party of one when it comes to these movies, but for some reason, they frighten the bejebus out of me every time. A winged demon that eats body parts to regenerate itself...how is that not scary? And awesome!

The body dumping scene in the first film is truly one of the creepiest ever.

Here is the opening scene of Jeepers Creepers 2. Watch it if you dare.

Blond Bond Here to Stay (and I couldn't be happier)

Ha! How appropriate that I posted that interview with Daniel Craig this morning. Just in from MI6: According to trade paper The Hollywood Reporter, James Bond star Daniel Craig has extended his contract to play 007 for four new films following his record-breaking debut in "Casino Royale" (2006).

This news, if true, makes me very happy as Craig's performance in Casino Royale brought me back to the Bond franchise, which I'd all but given up on. Give a clicky for my take on that film.

Check him out here with Catherine Tate in a Comic Relief spot:

News

I’ve decided to make Fridays news/gossip day. This is where I’ll keep you informed about what’s happening in the writing world. Agreed, not as much fun as Clive Owen Wednesdays, but I do want to keep my readers up-to-date on works in progress and so forth.

On Monday, I submitted a three-page premise for a new thriller to my editor and she loved it. Whew! The story is pretty dark and creepy so I was a little concerned, but turns out that’s what she loved about it. And here is my agent’s take: “Just read the synopsis and am fighting the urge to jump from my chair and shake the heebie jeebies from my body. This is SCARY!!” Just the reaction I wanted. Yea!

In my spare time (hahahahahaha), I’ve been working on what I thought was a first-person mystery series set in Austin, Texas, but the first book has morphed into an urban thriller about voyeurism inspired by three legendary films—Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954), Michael Powell's Peeping Tom (1962), and Michelangelo Antonioni's Blow-Up (1966). Here is my one-sentence summary: “An insomniac writer searching for inspiration exploits a young filmmaker’s new voyeuristic pastime.”

As I reported last time, The Devil’s Footprints is in production and will hit the bookshelves on March 1, 2008. I’ve been collaborating on a trailer with the powerhouse duo of Lucas Amann (filmmaker) and Leanne Amann (my advertising guru), and we’re really hoping to come up with something special. I’ll keep you posted during production, maybe even have some snippets I can put up.

Texas Ransom, my next Intrigue, will be out in January.

And just because all this business stuff is a little boring, check out Jonathan Ross's interview with Daniel Craig promoting Casino Royale. So cute.

The New 24 Trailer

This just in...the new 24 trailer is up and it looks awesome. According to Pop Candy, the trailer is being broadcast live from Times Square in New York. Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe) is scheduled to make a special appearance. The season premiere airs Jan. 13 at 8 ET.

Here's the link. GO THERE NOW!!!

Is this a good excuse to run the Jack and Tony Wacky Burgers video? I think it is.

Stiff

I’m writing about a character who works in a funeral home so I’ve been researching dead bodies for a while now. By far, the most engrossing (gross!) resource I’ve run across is Mary Roach’s Stiff (The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers). She has another book called Spook, which “tackles the afterlife” and I’m looking forward to that one, too.

Here is the first paragraph of Stiff and it’s a doozy:

The way I see it, being dead is not terribly far off from being on a cruise ship. Most of your time is spent lying on your back. The brain has shut down. The flesh begins to soften. Nothing much new happens, and nothing is expected of you.

The book gets even better from there.

In keeping with the spirit, I give you Dead Man's Party:

Now Smell This

What better way to get over hump day than a little Clive love? Here is what Lancôme had to say about their spokesman:

Mysteriously hypnotic and resolutely masculine, Clive Owen was definitely the perfect choice to embody Lancôme’s new fragrance for men Hypnôse Homme and new anti-aging skin care range Lancôme Men.

Who am I to argue? As someone commented on YouTube, the man could sell garbage bags and make it sexy.

Bloodsuckers

I have to say, I'm liking the looks of the new vampire movie, 30 Days of Night. After all the metrosexual, angst-ridden vampires of the past several years, I'm ready for some badass, soulless bloodsuckers.

In no particular order, here is my top ten list of cool, creepy, campy vampire films:

From Dusk til Dawn—One night is all that stands between them and freedom. But it's going to be a hell of a night.

A high octane vampire bloodbath with one of the best 'snake' dances I've ever seen.

The Lost Boys—Sleep all day. Party all night. Never grow old. Never die. It's fun to be a vampire.

Vampires never looked so good.

Nosferatu—The unsettling story of a vampire "who is not darkly attractive, but corpselike and ghastly."

Haunting.

Near Dark—Fear Sundown.

Vampires in the midwest and music by Tangerine Dream. Now that is just plain cool.

Martin—He could be the boy next door....

George Remero's take on vampires in Pittsburg. "A shocking, thoughtful reworking of the vampire myth set in a dying American steel town."

Salem's Lot—A small town is infested with vampires.

Stephen King's book is one of the scariest I've ever read. The made-for-TV movie doesn't come close, but it's still pretty good.

Shadow of the Vampire—"Max Schreck's performance in the classic film Nosferatu has become legendary. What if the reason he was so good is that he really was a vampire?"

Willem Dafoe is freaky in this movie. Well, okay, he's always pretty freaky.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer—Homework. Cheerleading practice. Killing vampires. No one said high school would be easy.

What can I say, I'm a sucker for campy movies.

Bram Stoker's Dracula—Love Never Dies.

A Gothic horror spectacular. Plus, it's got Gary Oldman. What's not to like?

The Hunger—Nothing Human Loves Forever.

Stylish and atmospheric, this Goth lesbian/vampire story had a lot to do with the aforementioned angsty, metro-sexual trend in vampirism. I loved it anyway.

What's A Girl To Do?

Love this video! Check out the band's website. So cool.

News

Just got back from a readers' luncheon in Baton Rouge sponsored by HeartLA. Five hours there and five hours back for a three-hour event but it was worth it. The reader support was fabulous! Thanks, HeartLA!

The big, BIG news...my next thriller, The Devil's Footprints, is finished and in production. It'll be in stores March, 2008. A trailer is already in the works, so stayed tuned.

George Clooney's Martini

I'm not a big George Clooney fan, but I love this commercial!