Tag: art

BRAINVOYAGER

Posted on by NIKTO FOBIK in AMBIENT MUSIC, DREAMS, FIELD RECORDINGS, RADIO, synthesizers

 

We meet up with

Jos Verboven Also known as Brainvoyager. Both DJ and musician. Its always a pleasure to hear the use of Arps and amazing percussions I wanted to catch and see what makes him tick.Brainvoyager-Sunglasses-600x400

 

  1. What is your process when creating music; or is life the process that creates the music?

 

Photo: Lucien Kroon Fotografie

 

I just sit and start to jam. Sometimes I have a preconceived idea of the direction I want to go. But other than that, I just see what emerges…

 

  1. Your favorite instrument?

 

My software synths and the VST’s I use.

  1. What do you have in your arsenal, and could you make the greatest album with toy instruments? 

I don’t know what you mean with “toy instruments”. But here is my complete set-up:

Hardware

  • Custom build desktop PC (CPU: Intel® “Skylake-S” Core i7-6700K 4,0 GHz)
  • Crucial 32 GB DDR4-2400 “Ballistix Sport LT” Quad-Kit RAM
  • 1 Samsung 850 EVO 1 TB internal SSD
  • 3 Toshiba DT01ACA300, 3 TB internal HDD
  • 1 Seagate Expansion Desktop 4 TB external HDD
  • KORG Microkey 37 – midi controller keyboard
  • Alesis VI61 – midi controller keyboard
  • AKAI APC40 surface – midi controller
  • Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 external USB – audio controller
  • KRK Rokit 8 – studio monitors
  • MXL 770 – Condenser Microphone
  • Beyerdynamic DT770 – Pro headphones

 

Software

  • Operating system: Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
  • DAW (digitial audio workstation): Ableton Live Suite 9.7 (64-bit)
  • Ableton 50 gb sample library
  • iZotope Ozone 6 Advanced Mastering Suite

 

VST’s

  • ReFX Nexus 2 & Expansions (64-bit)
  • Arturia V Collection 4 (64-bit)
  • Omnisphere 2 Power Synth (Spectrasonics) & 55 gb sample library (64-bit)
  • Trillian Bass Module (Spectrasonics) & 35 gb sample library (64-bit)
  • Stylus RMX Groove Module (Spectrasonics) & 8 gb sample library (64-bit)

 

With this set-up, I have been able to create all my releases so far.

 

  1. True or false: animals will naturally talk to a certain capacity. And discuss why?

 

True. Animals too are living creatures that, to a certain extent, can communicate. They act much more instinctively than humans of course. Before humans start their communication, they can decide what to communicate, with what intonation to communicate and with what means to communicate. As far as I know animals start communication right away before considering all what humans are used to do, purely instinctively, merely based upon the current situation they are in.

 

  1. How well do you work with others? Or is electronic a solo centric genre?

 

I prefer to work alone. But I know many examples of musicians who collaborate with others. All is fine of course. The result is what counts. Electronic music can be created in collaboration with others very well, just like any other kind of music. What counts too, is that musicians must have fun, be it as a solo artist or in a band.

 

  1. Who is your dream collaboration?

I do not have one…

  1. Does spirituality play a part in your life?

Not at all. If you mean spirituality as in religion: not at all. I hate all religions since I strongly believe they only have brought thousands and thousands of massacres in our world in the past, today and that they will continue to do so in the future.

 

Besides that, I do not want to abide with a set of –in my eyes– stupid rules and rituals of a certain religion. I also hate the concept of believing in a supreme being that only exists in the minds of religious people. This all absolutely does not mean I hate people who believe and who are part of a religion!! It’s the religion itself I loathe. Everyone can do as he or she likes, since I believe that this is a basic right of every human being. In return, I want religious people to respect my basic right of being able to hate religions. But we all know that the latter is something that from the beginning of our world many religious people have sufficiently proven not being very good at. This kind of religious people I do loathe from the bottom of my heart.

  1. This is a great time to discuss any bucket list item or accomplishments in your career if you care to share?

 

I cannot think of any item now. So, I guess I do not have one…

 

 

  1. Despite music what are your many talents? What is your favorite video game?

 

I am good as an accountant at work, a job I like very much. Music is not a source of income for me, it does not have to be that either. For me it means a very relaxed way of creating my music, knowing that I do not necessarily have to make a lot of money out of it. But I would not mind if a track of mine would become a monster hit that makes me rich either. Lol…

 

I do not like video games, I never have had any interest in them and I do not think that will ever chance given my age…

 

 

  1. What are you currently working on what should the world be expecting from Jos?

 

I just released a track on the compilation album “History of the Universe” of the Legacy of Thought record label. Together with 16 other musicians we have created this awesome album. My track is meant to visualize the forming of our Sun. Hence its title “The Sun Forms”, a track of 19:55 minutes.

 

As a radio host, I present the weekly radio show “Electronic Fusion”. In August 2015, West Star Radio from the UK asked me if I would like to become a member of the West Star team and if I would like to do a weekly radio show. I said “Yes” and we agreed upon me doing a weekly show dedicated solely to electronic music. That’s how radio show “Electronic Fusion” was born. West Star Radio is an “all round” radio station. It doesn’t focus on a music genre. The station’s broadcasts vary between rock, pop, oldies, electronic and dance. The very first episode was broadcast on Friday 18 September 2015, on West Star Radio.

 

In March 2016, the Venezuelan radio station Electronic Music Radio started to broadcast “Electronic Fusion”. Electronic Music Radio is a radio station that broadcasts electronic music 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This station focuses mainly on the dance and trance genres in electronic music and aims mainly at the Latin American countries of South America.

 

In October 2016, the German radio station Modul303 started broadcasting “Electronic Fusion” too. Modul303 is a radio station that broadcasts electronic music 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Modul303 focuses more on the genres in electronic music I appreciate most; genres that always have a dominant place in “Electronic Fusion” since I have my “electronic roots” there.

 

“Electronic Fusion” does not only feature the world’s best-known artists and bands. The show highly encourages music submissions from electronic (indie) artists coming from all over the world.

On Saturday 5 August 2017 episode #100 was broadcast.

  1. Favorite shows, snacks and wind down ritual?

 

I like watching Game of Thrones a lot, same with watching Suits. I like to watch a movie every now and then. And I like listening to music, mainly electronic music.

LATEST ALBUM OUT NOW ON LEGACY OF THOUGHT RECORDS

 

 

 

 

Cover-History-of-the-Universe-Legacy-of-Thought-Label-Electronic-Music-of-Brainvoyager

ALL STAR MOTIVATOR

Posted on by NIKTO FOBIK in AMBIENT MUSIC, DREAMS, Uncategorized

ALLSTAR

Q&A with All Star Motivator

It is a great honor to interview a fellow knob tweaker and music producer DJ and work with the BBC

1.What is your process when creating music or is life the procress that creates the music

Most of my music just appears in my head without warning. If I can remember the tune or lyrics or bassline a few hours later I will sing it into a voice recorder that I carry with me everywhere. Later, I craft the idea in my small home studio and can easily spend

years changing bits here and there. I do have long breaks from music inbetween though, but the ideas just appear in my head.

3, YOUR FAVORITE INSTRUMENT

  My favourite instrument is the guitar, particularly the electric guitar. I play badly but love the rock sound you can make with a distortion pedal. I also now love the ukulele and mandolin too.

2.  WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR ARSENAL, AND COULD YOU MAKE THE GREATEST ALBUM WITH TOY INSTRUMENTS?

In my arsenal I do have some toy instruments! I bought a child’s harmonica and that is great fun. I think anything can create music as people have shown with industrial noises and field recordings. I also love my Pocket Operator pocket synths. Very good for composing on the go or when away from home. An album purely made of toy instruments sounds a fantastic project!

4. TRUE OR FALSE : ANIMALS WILL NATURALLY TALK TO A CERTAIN CAPACITY. AND DISCUSS WHY?

I am a cat lover. I like most animals but adore cats. We have 3 currently aged 14 and 1 (x2). They do speak definitely. Claudia, one of the 1 year olds, is very vocal and often cries and calls for her sister Tess and stops when she appears.

5. HOW WELL DO YOU WORK WITH OTHERS IS ELECTRONIC A SOLO CENTRIC GENRE?

I have collaborated with others on projects and it is interesting as people can take your compositions into a completely different direction. I’m not a control freak so I like that aspect. A lot of electronic artists do work alone though. I think that is just easier for most people.

6. WHO IS YOUR DREAM COLLABORATION?

I would love to work with Nick Cave or, sadly no longer with us, David Bowie. Fantastic musicians and songwriters.

7.  DOES SPIRITUALITY PLAY A PART IN YOUR LIFE

I am quite a spiritual person, but I am private about it. I think it is a personal thing. I strongly believe in treating others the way you want to be treated and trying to be the best person you can be. That is the basis of all religions in my opinion.

8. THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO DISCUSS ANY BUCKET LIST ITEM OR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN YOUR CAREER IF YOU CARE TO SHARE.

I was overjoyed in 2011 when 3 of my tracks were used on TV in the UK – 1 in a trailer, and 2 in dramas Hollyoaks and Skins. I still get a few royalties from those programmes and it made me very proud.

9. DESPITE MUSIC WHAT ARE YOUR MANY TALENTS? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VIDEO GAME

I would love to write a book one day or more poetry. Most of my poems end up as songs though. As for videogame, I used to love SSX Tricky on the PS2! Fantastic!

10. WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON WHAT SHOULD THE WORLD BE EXPECTING FROM James?

I am currently finishing 3 electro tracks that I have been working on for 2 years (I’m a slow worker!). I hope to get them on vinyl this year. That is my wildest dream. Me on vinyl. I am also working on a more ambient/electronica kind of idea too.

11. Favorite shows, snacks and wind down ritual?

We love all crime dramas. Criminal Minds, Midsomer Murders, NCIS, everything! Favourite snack has to be a slice of extra mature cheddar cheese! My wind down ritual is music. I use music to help alter and brighten my mood when things get dark for me. Music is everything.

http://smarturl.it/starbeyond

NIKTO FOBIK MAKES HIS DEBUT

Posted on by NIKTO FOBIK in AMBIENT MUSIC, art, AUTHORS, BOOKS, COMICS, DREAMS, DYSTOPIA, FANTASY, FIELD RECORDINGS, FILM, guitars, HISTORY, HORROR, METAL, MOON, MOVIES, MUSIC, Poetry, POLITICS, PSYCHEDELIC, PUNK, RADIO, SOUNDCLOUD, speculative fiction, synthesizers, TECHNO, TV, VIDEO GAMES

SPECULATIVE YAHTZEE WITH JONATHAN MABERRY

Posted on by NIKTO FOBIK in AUTHORS, BEARDS, BOOKS, COMICS, FANTASY, FILM, HORROR, MOVIES, TV

We ComiConverse With Jonathan Maberry

February 22nd, 2016 | by Craig Caudill
We ComiConverse With Jonathan Maberry

BOOKS
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ComiConverse contributor Craig Caudill brings the second installment of his series, Speculative Yahtzee. Today he interviews noted writer and eighth degree black belt, Jonathan Maberry.

CC: What novel changed your life, and who is your favorite author?

JONATHAN MABERRY: Richard Matheson gave me a signed first edition of I Am Legend when I was thirteen. A Christmas present. That book absolutely changed my life. It’s landmark in that it’s the first novel in which hard science is used to tell a horror story. And, also, having Matheson and Ray Bradbury as mentors when I was a teen was pretty amazing. Without I Am Legend I would never have become a science geek and would never have written the Joe Ledger series or most of my other science-based horror and thriller novels.

CC: Do you think Wonder woman is sexy, specifically Lynda Carter, and why?

JM: First, I was a Marvel kid, so Wonder Woman wasn’t on my radar until the TV show came on in 1975. I was seventeen. There is not one straight carbon-based male life form who was not in love with Lynda Carter. Anyone who denies it is lying.

CC: You are a super hero, what is your name, power, and costume? Who is your Arch Enemy?

JM: My super power is flight. I used to fantasize about it while sky-diving. (Luckily I’d come to my senses and pull the ripcord!). I would not, under any circumstances, wear skin-tight spandex. Trust me on this. My costume would be a baggy flight suit with cool insignias My enemy would be a villain called Flak who tried to shoot me down.

Special Ops


CC: What is your preference, cosplay or LARPing?

JM: Cosplay. I am a huge fan. I did a bit of it in the past, mostly in zombie crawls. I have friends who LARP, but I haven’t participated. So far.

CC: Can you name a trendy drink named after a superhero?

JM: Even though I’m a Marvel guy, I’m partial to a drink called The Dark Knight. Vodka, black raspberry liqueur, a lemon twist and served in a martini glass. Trendy yet very cool.

CC Who is your favorite villain?

JM: Doctor Doom, but written with subtlety and restrain. The way Lee and Kirby did him in the late sixties. An aristocrat, not a raving lunatic. I tried to capture that vibe in my Marvel miniseries DoomWar.

Jonathan-Maberry

CC: Are vampires ruined and not scary anymore or just played out?

JM: Vampires, like zombies and werewolves, can be comical but they can always be made scary again. Twilight made them romantic and Count Chockula made them funny, but books like The Strain and my own V-Wars series bring back old school badass vampires.

CC: Could we Co-exist with vampires in a True Blood scenario?

JM: Society will panic and people will flip out –for a while, but then things would settle down. What you’d have, tough, would be an immediate political battle between right and left wings. Always. No matter what the controversial issue is.

CC: Are you high on V right now? 

JM: Not anymore. It wears off. I bring myself down to earth with a nice, cold Dark Knight cocktail.

CC: Stephen Hawking has warned everyone not to interact with aliens. However if you suddenly meet one. what would you talk to him about?

JM: Logistics. How the hell did they travel so far and why the hell did they come here? They’re reasonable questions.

CC: Do you believe in Life on other worlds? 

Jonathan Mabery novelization of The Wolfman

JM: I do. But I don’t pretend to know what it’ll be like.

CC: Did you cry when E.T. Died?

JM: I did, and I’m man enough to admit it.

CC: Roger Moore or Sean Connery?

JM: Sean Connery. The Bond in the books was a cruel bastard. Roger Moore always seemed too genteel.

CC: Does working for Rotor-Rooter qualify anyone to be an expert on the paranormal?

JM: I should think so. There’s some very weird shit down there.

CC: Do you fear a zombie reality?

JM: No. But I do think that a plague scenario is more likely than is comfortable.

CC: If your significant other was a zombie would you let them eat you?

JM: Nope. I would be merciful but not suicidal.

CC: If someone you knew was made out of chocolate would you eat them?

JM: In a heartbeat. And pour some wine to go with it, because chocolate goes great with coffee. And enough wine would soothe my remorse for eating a friend.

CC: If there was an election now between Emperor Kang Vs Emperor Kodos who would you vote for?

JM: I’m Team Kodos all the way.

CC: Who would win in fight Sawyer from Lost or Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead?

JM: Daryl would cheat, so…him. He also takes a better punch than Sawyer.

CC Same question but the original Ricardo Montalban, Wrath of Kahn vs Benedict Cumberbatch in the Star Trek reboot?

JM: Ricardo was badass, but Cumberbatch was more restrained and calculating. So…Cumberbatch.

CC OK, True or False: There is only one Batman, Adam West?

JM: False. Sue me, but I have high expectations for Ben Affleck. The thing is, much as I enjoyed the old Batman show, I generally don’t like campy versions of super heroes. I like dark, edgy, and as realistic as the subject matter allows. It’s why I liked Christian Bale and why I will probably dig Affleck,

CC: Okay, Big Foot is now discovered he’s booked on your talk show, but everything he says is outdated, racist, sexist, and Homophobic…but he’s Big Foot. How would you handle this situation?

JM: I’d want to kick his hairy ass. Being a legendary monster doesn’t excuse that kind of behavior. Or, I might get him rocked on Dark Knight cocktails and try to talk sense to him.

CC: What superhero would you like to portray?

JM: Reed Richards or T’Challa (I know, bad casting choice, me being a white guy). Those are my two favorite heroes. Tough and smart.

CC: Big Foot, Chuck Norris and Danny Trejo are in a room. A brawl breaks out. Who is the last man standing when it’s over?

JM: I hate Chuck’s politics but he used to be a superb fighter. And I knew him. He’d kick Big Foot’s ass. Danny is great, but he’s an actor. Now, if the question was Chuck Norris or Machete…then, Machete, clearly.

.CC: Ok, seriously, the last question. How has moving changed your writing better worse and what surprises await your fans  

JM: I get to sit at my desk and watch whales and dolphins outside my window. That is a measure of what my writing career has done for me and my family. I grew up dirt poor in the inner city.

The 8th Joe Ledger book, Kill Switch, comes out in April. Other new releases include the anthologies I edited, The X-Files: The Truth is Out There, V-Wars: Night Terrors and Out of Tune Vol II. And my 2nd middle grade novel, The Nightsiders: Vault of Shadows, debuts in a few months. Plus my first board game just came out, V-Wars: A Game of Blood and Betrayal.

Jonathan Maberry edited Z-Files volume

Jonathan Maberry Essentials:

NY Times Bestseller and 5-time Bram Stoker Award winner

The Nightsiders Bk 1: The Orphan Army – Simon & Schuster

Rot & Ruin Series- Simon & Schuster

The Joe Ledger Thrillers-  now in development by Lone Tree Entertainment and Vintage Picture Company

Bad Blood – from Dark Horse Comics

X-FILES: a series of all-new anthologies  from IDW Publishing
V-WARS: IDW -anthology and comics; now in development for TV

Ghostwalkers – A Deadlands novel from TOR

Website & Blog: www.jonathanmaberry.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jonathanmaberry

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jonathanmaberry

IMDB: http://www.imdb.me/jonathanmaberry

CRIMSON PEAK REVIEW

Posted on by NIKTO FOBIK in FANTASY, FILM, HORROR, MOVIES, TV

Film Review: Crimson Peak

February 15th, 2016 | by Craig Caudill
Review of: Crimson Peak
Price:
Exciting
Reviewed by: Craig Caudill
Rating:
4
On February 15, 2016
Last modified:February 15, 2016

Summary:

Guillermo Del Toro’s latest film, Crimson Peak, is a horror film with thrills, twists, strong acting, and an exciting bloody conclusion. The cast is lead by a delightful Tom Hiddleston who is equal parts charming and creepy.

More Details

ComiConverse Contributor Craig Caudill reviews Guillermo Del Toro’s latest film, Crimson Peak.

My first reaction to viewing Guillermo Del Toro’s latest work, Crimson Peak, was that it was either the sequel to 28 Days or Devil’s Back Bone. Right now, I’m not sure. All I can say is, it’s a glorious blur. But the impression has left a mark on me to last a life time. After watching Del Toro’s latest supernatural thriller, I am reminded of the Simpsons episode where Montgomery C. Burns is itching to have a biopic film of himself. He tells Mr. Smithers “Get me Steven Spielberg.” Mr. Smithers reminds him that Spielberg would be unavailable. To which Mr. Burns says, “Fine, then get me his cheaper Mexican equivalent.” I’m paraphrasing here, but I think Mr. Burns would have been happy with the results if he hired Mr. Del Toro.

Quick Take

Crimson Peak worked on many levels. It was an edgy film complete with nods to silent era scene transitions, slightly steam punk gadgets, and optic photography wall projections. I often feel I’ve seen it all and read it all. In a world were production companies rely heavily on pop cultural referencing as a safety net or crutch, Del Toro handles his subject matter with more nuance. There is no Tarantino-esque dialog or endless references to Star Wars. In Crimson Peak, I feel as if he is creating his own frame of reference while drawing on the aesthetic of Jane Austin. Based on this film, I would love to see Del Toro’s take on a space opera like Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers. I feel he would maintain the old swash buckling of matinee theatre, with a modern twist rather than creating a hyper-CGI remake.

The Story

Mia Wasikowska as Edith Cushing in Crimson Peak, directed by Guillermo Del Toro.

Credit: Universal Pictures

Crimson Peak is about a young woman, Edith Cushing, who dreams one day of becoming a writer.  She is specifically interested in ghost stories and all thing that go bump in the night. In her dreams she is visited by a ghost, and throughout the whole movie. Which we shall find out later.

Unfortunately for Edith, she is a female writer in an era when many women writers were not taken seriously. Edith is discriminated against because of her penmanship, which is deemed too florid. Her next course of action is to switch to a typewriter.  Eventually, Edith finds herself being courted by a smooth British gentleman, Thomas Sharpe, played by Tom Hiddleston, best known for his turn as Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sharpe is visiting America with his sister to try and secure funding for a clay mining invention.

Soon after, we find Edith being wooed after her father’s passing. Though his death is ruled accidental, it comes after he refuses Thomas Sharpe and his sister Lucille money for the invention. Edith is whisked away by Thomas to England to live with him and his sister in a castle, which appears to ooze a red clay substance. I will refrain from going into too much detail here to avoid spoilers, however, I will say: spectral warnings, Thomas’ money troubles, his easy manner with women, and his (too?) close connection to his sister combine to create the foundation for the film’s bloody climax.

Charlie Hunnam: A Bit Out of Place

Charlie Hunnam, best known for his role as Jax in Sons of Anarchy, as Dr. Alan McMichael in Crimson Peak.

Credit: Universal Pictures

I also want to mention Charlie Hunnam, best know for his portrayal of Jax in Sons of Anarchy. Hunam portrays Edith’s childhood friend, Dr. Alan McMichael. While Hunnam is a fine actor, he does not seem to fit in the time period of the movie. Hunnam did not have an easy time making this film. He had already accepted the role in Crimson Peak when he was offered the lead in Fifty Shades of Grey. Part of the reason he left Fifty Shades was because he had already committed to Crimson Peak. Though I don’t feel he was right in this role, I loved his work on Sons of Anarchy and hope that he finds more work that suits him better.

Since I don’t want to spoil anything from this movie, which has more than a few twists and turns, I just want you to prepare yourself for a good flick. I was impressed with the steam punk gadgets and the fact that they didn’t feel like an overload. I particularly enjoyed the gramophone player and another device which played recorded journal entries of people important to the story.

Overall, this was a great film. I’m always excited to see what Del Toro is up to. I’ve read his Strain novels, which were awesome, and I can’t wait for the second season of that show. I will also be looking for his next projects, like the long awaited Carnival Row which will be coming out soon on Amazon. Based on how well Del Toro engaged with the texture of an era while retaining his fresh directorial perspective inCrimson Peak, I can’t wait to see what he does with Pinocchio. That should be very strange.

Craig Caudill is a contributor to ComicConverse. Follow him on twitter: @craigcaudill

Southbound Review

Posted on by NIKTO FOBIK in DREAMS, HORROR, speculative fiction, TV, Uncategorized
ComiConverse > Featured Users > Film Review: Southbound

Film Review: Southbound

February 20th, 2016 | by Craig Caudill

Horror anthology film Southbound is in theatres now, and Craig Caudill has ComiConverse’s review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Southbound. I think some of the collaborators worked on the film V/H/S. I remember V/H/S had one story that left a deep impression on me. I felt was filmed very well; it had a strange girl who turned out to be some sort of harpy or siren. She obsessed over one of the party goers, kept repeating “I love you, I love you” over and over. Until she ran off with him and took off flying this was all shot on cameras on his body, befitting the “found footage” genre. I intend to talk about this at great length in another article, but I thought it was very well done and a good moment of suspension of disbelief — it looked real. I loved the abduction caught on tape; it almost felt like a viral video, leaving me to wonder how they filmed that without CGI magic, and still maintain the feel of raw video footage. This is one of my fantasies, being kidnapped by a babe — who would complain?

Now Southbound belongs in the realm of the horror anthology genre. One could argue it’s a vast improvement on the V/H/S concept; this was much better. Much like The Grudge was the best adaptation from a Japanese story to an American story. There hasn’t really been a good short film horror anthology since Creepshow — and yet I’ve seen them all, despite my better judgement. This movie expertly crafted a group of short stories that blended into each other so wonderfully you might possibly, if you weren’t paying attention, think it was all one story that didn’t make sense. This film uses a team of directors and different casts. It’s always good to see Dana Gould in anything; he is so funny. I don’t have the space to do him justice.

southbound-14801-large

Things I Liked:

What was undoubtedly refreshing in this movie was the casting. Especially the female roles — now, yes, they were pretty, but in a realistic way. I actually thought they were actresses, instead the same old scenario of producer goes to a strip club and promises girl he’ll make her a star. Which is something that been pissing me off these last fifteen years. I’ve seen a lot of B movies so bad no one takes it seriously and it’s like bad joke. You see it on the actor’s faces and how they act. Back in the day, no matter how bad the movie was, the passion and seriousness the actors put into the film is what gives B movies their charm and lets you enjoy them.

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I liked the music by the Gifted. Now I can’t find their albums anywhere but I’m going to look hard to track down the sound track.

The Stories:

We begin with two men on the road at night, covered in blood, trying to get home. On the radio is some cheeseball 80’s retro synth which is music I love. As the credits begin to roll,  the music brings me back to Claudio Simonetti and Argento and Giallo Cinema. It was really a great opening. Perhaps a subtle triumph for the jaded. And for those who do not, know Giallo Cinema is Italian for Yellow Cinema, so named because many Italian directors would shoot with a yellow filter because it made colors look more intense — especially blood.

We find our two bloody protagonists making a stop in a diner. There is a subtle pop cultural reference that wasn’t rubbed in your face: the movie Carnival of Souls was casually playing on a small TV-VCR combo. It was a nice little touch. And I loved theTwilight Zone feel to the whole production; I loved how when one story ended it segued into another. Usually stories are interrupted with introductions and credits but this film went for a more fluid approach, which I applaud very much.

One thing that comes to mind: who is writer/director Radio Silence?

Could someone be pulling an Allen Smithee?

I casually surfed the net and to find they are a team of filmmakers. I need to learn more about these guys and this screams to me, interview. If possible?

I’ll try to make it happen.

One story sticks out the most. The one about Lucas, played by Mather Zickel, who appears to traveling home talking to his girlfriend going on about which dress she looks good in judging by cell phone photos. Now he’s wearing headphones to free his hands, but he’s distracted. Suddenly he hits a girl with a car, but I can’t spoil the how and why because that would ruin the story for other viewers. And I don’t want to do that — I want you to watch this movie. He then calls 911 who encourages him to get her to the hospital and the rest of the segment plays like a WTF moment. A seemingly nice guy trying to do the right thing in a world where most people would have driven off. It’s almost like he’s punished for doing the right thing.

He winds up taking her what turns out to be a Chernobyl-like hospital which is creepy as hell. I don’t want to ruin anything, but I can say I love how it all came full circle. It’s open-ended enough to explore the story further. Although V/H/S was more of a found-footage anthology, I felt this was tight like a well-crafted Mötörhead song — when it’s good, it’sreally good. This plays closer to Creepshow.

Check out Southbound when it plays in your town.

 

Craig Caudill is a Contributor to ComiConverse. Follow him on Twitter @craigcaudill.