Redrum is Murder Spelt Backwards Contest - Win Blu Ray Copy of Room 237

***If you'd like to skip my rantings, which consists of the first three paragraphs in this post, scroll below to go straight to rules and details of the contest.

Recently I purchased a copy of Room 237 on Blu Ray by mistake. I wanted the DVD as I'm really interested in seeing the documentary that reads between the lines (and then some, from what I've heard) about Kubricks horror classic but picked up the Blu Ray by accident. When I went to return it to store I was denied. Their reasons being that it was first off brand new and they didn't accept returns on new films and also because I opened it out of the package. They gave me two options, switch it out for the DVD or sell it back to them for eight bucks (a really take it up the ass deal, excuse my language, considering I purchased it from them for three times that worth). The DVD sounds like the appealing option right? If only Netflix didn't put it up the day after I bought it. Now I'd like to watch it before I decide if I want to add it to my collection. Since I'm just indecisive like that.

So I'm left with this useless Blu Ray copy as I don't own a Blu Ray. I could sell it to another trades store but its rather out of my way and I may not get much more for it. I could sell it online but again at most I could gain ten dollars more in profit than what they offered to me. And since I'm feeling generous and it massive horror movie watching month and I'd like to stick it to that DVD store I purchased it from with Karma I've decided it'll have better use in the hands of one of my readers. But I'm not just going to give it away, that would be absurd. So contest time.

In the past the contests on this blog have more or less failed with my first gaining all of four entries and my last generating a single entry with the winning recipient never claiming his prize. I'm not really sure how to go about fixing this problem. I've used Promote Horror in the past to help get the word out but still I'm rather unlucky when it comes to this aspect of the blogging community. Maybe my contests aren't all that appealing or maybe the prizes have been less than motivating. I hope this time I see at least more than four entries as the prize is good and the contest fairly simple.

CONTEST RULES AND OTHER STUFF YOU NEED TO KNOW: 

- Write a review for the 1980's classic horror film The Shining.
- Review will be judged by me and winner will be picked from the content and strength of the review.
-There's no good or bad opinion, love or hate the film it will be based on how well your point is argued and how adequately you present your opinion.
- Indifferent to length. It can range from a single sentence to an essay, but I'm much rather prefer something in the middle such as three to four paragraphs.
- You have until October 30th to submit you review.
- Submit ALL reviews to bleedingdead22@yahoo.com with the subject line Room 237 Contest or Shining Contest, or something of the likes. Just please don't leave it blank.

WHAT YOU GET FOR BEING AWESOME AND WINNING:

- Brand New Room 237 Blu Ray.
- Your review posted on my site on Halloween as a special guest review.
- A chance to promote your own site to gain traffic.

The Purge Contest - Raise Your Hand for a Creepy Mask

Universal's The Purge will open nationwide in theaters tomorrow and in order to prepare you for the twelve hours of terror I'm hosting a contest. I was supplied with a giveaway package from Universal, via PartnersHub, to give away to one of my readers.

The contest is fairly simple and requires two parts:

1) Click on the Survive the Night app below and take the quiz to find out if you'd make it on Purge night, then share the results with me in the comment section.

2) Also in the comment section name the scariest home invasion scene you believe to exist in cinema. Leave the film name, a small description of the scene, and a small explanation as to why it's scary.

What do you stand to win? A tee-shirt and a your own mask for Purge night.

Rules, Guidelines, Comments:

- By home I don't mean its limited to a physical house. Scenes involving campers, hotel rooms, etc are all welcome.

- By small I mean one to three sentences, I'm not looking for an essay.

- While I am hosting for I am not an affiliate of Universal so while naming a scene from the film The Purge is allowed it does not guarantee you a win.

-  Repeats are inevitable and you may list a film someone has already mentioned.

- Winner is decided by me based on how well you've backed your pick and if you've included all the requirements.

- Contest deadline: Sunday, June 16th. Winner will be announced the following day.

Good luck!

Night Whisper Lane - Horror Game Review & Mini Contest

I was asked a few weeks ago by Emanouel Pontikakis to review his game, Night Whisper Lane, for the app store. As it was with my Book Spine review I'm not much of a game reviewer but I agreed as it is a horror game and I'm always happy help. But I'm just inferring here that I'm not a game reviewer so please be gentle. How good this review will be is a matter of how well I can evaluate an app game for my IPhone.

Night Whisper Lane is a horror survival game in which your trapped inside a house that is littered with assorted objects that you need to find in order to escape. The game, developed by EPX Games, is a rather difficult play as random clicking is not always tolerated. Be mindful of the areas you going looking into for items as bombs, snakes, and other surprises await the button happy type player. This makes the game play a bit more careful and causes you to think more as where things will be hidden before you go tapping every surface of your screen. However your also impervious for the most part as dying just brings you back to the previous place you were, so there's not too much harm. 

The graphics for the app are pretty good, of course not the most realistic of details but fairly developed, especially considering the graphics of the past horror survival games I've played. The added touch of blood and nightmarish scenarios where you can get your head guillotined by a window are the horrors to the game story, as people turn up dead along the way. My only negatives with the game is I'd would of liked more of a response after clicking on an area, sometimes it'll show text and other times nothing. Night Whisper Lane is worth a purchase, it's creepy, fun, and will keep you occupied for a while, I have yet to beat the first scenario and there is more being released soon. Three half stars out of five. 

I do have a confession to make, I'm pretty bad at horror survival games. I'm confident that I'll survive the zombie Apocalypse, at least for a while that is, and I could give you a walk through of how to survive a slasher film but when it comes to finding items in a creepy location I'm just bad. I usually die, lets mention that, in the first moment I step in the house. I'm susceptible to booby traps as I'm a button masher. 

As it is though, I have a surprise for you. Little did you know when you clicked on this that not only is this a review but a chance to get the game for free. Yes, free. I have 20 promo codes to offer IPhone users who are interested in Night Whisper Lane. But atlas I cannot just give them out to you as that'd be too easy. But don't worry it's not too difficult to get a code. All I'm looking for is a comment in which you give me the name of a horror game, and the system in which you can play it on. This includes everything from old school NES to app games, etc. The only requirement is it must be horror and no repeats. So please read the comments above hand to make sure yours isn't already posted. The first 20 different games gets a promo code. Pretty simple right. Also please leave your email or twitter account so I can send you the code. If you not comfortable with leaving it in the comment section you can also email me at bleedingdead22@yahoo.com. 

Obscure Horror Film Contest Winner

INSERT: If you don't care for my justification and would like to skip my ramblings which are longer than any of my reviews I'd recommend scrolling down right before the the picture of The Perfect House DVD to see the winner. Who's name and winning film is in bold. 

I was apprehensive towards participating in this DVD giveaway because I honestly didn't believe that anyone would enter. That was basically a truth come Tuesday when the contest had been up for twenty four hours and not a single pending comment waiting for me. However, with the biggest help from a few twitter people and one of my favorite filmmaker friends, Skip Shea, I was able to get the contest out. Mostly though I feel a lot of people found it from PromoteHorror.com which is an amazing site every blogger/horror fan needs to follow as it gives you updates on all scales of horror. In films, books, contests, and blogs.

When I started the contest I didn't put much thought into how I was going to judge this by obscurity as I mean it could be different things to different people. To avoid controversy over the word were going to use the fourth definition from the merriam-webster.com online dictionary which says that Obscure means relatively unknown. Fair enough? It dividends into how obscure this is. This process is also absurdly difficult for only four films but how else can I make it fair? Basically there's four categories of how Obscure a film is and I rate them based on the information I get via IMDB and maybe Wikipedia, but I don't trust that latter all too much.

First Level - Casual Movie Obscure
This applies to everyone and there moms. The normal average movie goer who sees the big films in theaters and watches the mindless spew, horror or non. In this category most any slightly unknown or not-nominated-for-a-Oscar-Indie film would be considered 'obscure'. People who consider Trick 'r Treat Obscure.

Second Level - Casual Horror Obscure
This is for the very casual fans who's filmography has expanded about as far as Halloween and anything they watch as of recently. Those who like the genre but are not heavy addicts. They've seen the Final Destination films and all the big name slashers back in the day but probably haven't seen Maniac, which would register as Obscure to them.

Third Level - Genre Lover Obscure
This applies to genre lovers like myself but those who are still knee deep in obscure film watching. They've seen Cannibal Holocaust and a few seventies exploitation flicks like Blood Splattered Bride. They also watch foreign films but their list is still fairly low. They likely have heard of a lot of weird films but haven't seen them all. It takes a bit more effort to find an Obscure film for them to watch but not impossible.

Fourth Level - Tarantino Obscure
This is for the avid Obscure horror film watchers who seek out Obscure horror on a daily basis. They go into those weird shops that sell VHS and Records and the guy behind the counter kind of looks like the guy from Titanic in the smiley face shirt. They're knowledge is endless like Tarantino's and they've seen the shit that is too grotesque for the most normal psyche. Basically the only thing they haven't seen is a few illegal films that they are trying to get their hands on and anything short of a snuff film. This is the obscurity that's likely too difficult for me to even reference a film.

The Stone Tape (1972)

~The film cannot be found on Netflix, at all.
~ UK based film
~ Made for TV British Horror film
~ Full wikipedia page

Rating: Third Level Obscure, the film seems fairly unknown for the most part but has had a lot of positive reception to those who've seen it. It's not available on Netflix and there's no one I recognized in the film. However the Wikipedia page has an entire category that discusses it's cultural significance which makes me hesitant whether it's actually a little known cult favorite. Really good recommendation and a definite competitor.

The Sentinel (1977)

~ I've heard of this before.
~ Chris Sarandon, Burgess Meredith, Ava Gardener, and John Carradine are second level and third level recognizable names.
~ Christopher Walken
~ #46 on Bravo's Scariest Movie Moments

Rating: Second Level Obscure, mostly because as I have heard of it before and so have a lot of horror fans that I know of. Not a bad recommendation though and a interesting movie that I can watch on Netflix.

The Horror Show aka House III (1989)

~ Available on Netflix
~ Lance Henriksen, an obscure horror film actor of some sort but not an obscure actor, or we could just say that he likes to star in really bad horror films that never get a following because they suck. But not back then so I believe it's invalid.
~ Movies that go by two names are always a good thing
~ Sean S. Cunningham is a producer
~ Also known as La Casa 7, making it an Evil Dead sequel
~  Not officially part of the House series as it has no plot relation to the prior two films

Rating: Third Level Obscure, I wasn't sure about this one as I've passed House III so many times on Netflix Instant Watch that it clouds my judgement of whether it's widely known or not. The bigger horror names behind it make me weary of such a rating but the three different names and tie ins to two franchises that have nothing to do with the film itself always suggest a low budget shove under the rug film. I'd say it's a fair enough genre lover obscure but only just barely makes it.

Something Evil (1972)

~ Little known Steven Spielberg directed horror film
~ No Netflix
~ Made for TV
~ Can't buy it on Amazon

Rating: Third Level Obscure, this one was pretty clear as there really isn't much on the film. Spielberg as a director makes me question the film's obscurity but with a IMDB and Wikipedia page so small it really does make me wonder how many people have seen it. Often when talking about Spielberg's horror films the references are Jaws, Duel, and Jurassic Park. But with a 5.8 rating on IMDB it may not be because little know of it, but rather because it's not good and not referenced for that matter. I may be over-analyzing this, but still something to think about.

The reasoning as to why Something Evil and The Stone Tape aren't on Netflix might be because they are made for TV films but still, they give off a more positive feeling in being obscure based on the limitations in being able to see them than the other two recommendations. But the fact you can't even buy Something Evil on amazon makes it seem rather obscure, that I may have to resort to a VHS copy on Ebay just to watch the film. Never mind that, I just looked and I can't even buy it on Ebay. I'm torn between the two. The Stone Tape feels the furthest away from anything I've ever heard of but why haven't I heard of Spielberg's early horror film, and is it even possible to watch? This is giving me a headache.

But I have to pick a winner...

I'm giving it to Ronald Oliver who recommend Something Evil.

This was really hard and if I hadn't of already promised two DVD's in the other contest I'd of given one also to Jay who recommended The Stone Tape, just because they were so close. Ultimately though it came down to the fact that Something Evil is entirely out of print which makes it really obscure, especially for a Spielberg film. Now it's just a matter of being able to find the film and watch it.

Thank you to all those who entered, it made me life a little better. I'll probably at some point or another watch all the recommended films as they all managed to be obscure and intriguing. If you still want a copy of the DVD there's a couple ways to go about it. The first is click the banner above this post to purchase a DVD of the film or as it is available for digital download.

The other way is entering my second contest. I'm giving away two DVD's so your chances are even better. Actually outstanding as like last time no one has yet to enter. Here is the official contest page. But a quick summary, all you have to do is write a mini review of the film Black Sabbath and send it to me. It is due Tuesday August Seventh and a I'll also promote the blog/site/twitter account of anyone who enters. So you win a little bit either way.

Thanks again for all the entrants and for all the support.

Three Stories...Two DVD's

The Perfect House Getaway (or as it really is The Perfect House DVD contest) has officially ended with four contributions. I'll be reviewing the films over the next few days to see which one is the most obscure. I'll of course justify my reasoning and the winner will be announced either tomorrow or Thursday.

I have two more DVD's to giveaway though that does not mean two more contests. That means one more contest with two possible winners. This contest is a little more difficult and I'll give you a two week deadline to submit so that you have more time.

As I used you last time to help me find a new TD review, I shall use you this time for my own personal reviews. If you are a follower to my blog you'll notice a good solid three months without a review posted, if your not I'll update you and say I haven't posted a review in three months. Not including the Horror Shorts. This is due to a lack of energy and time to watch and write a review weekly. I'm aiming for an August re-start but we'll see. 

Anyways the contest isn't too complicated. Since The Perfect House is an anthology film and it is the reason this contest even exist the contest is to write a mini review for one of my favorite Italian horror anthology films, Black Sabbath. Before everyone panics the review no where near needs to be as long as mine are and you don't have to follow my format (summary, plot/horror, acting/cinematography, misc stuff/closing). Simply I want a micro review of each story in the film (for those who haven't seen it there is three).

Here are the rules:

~ A micro review of the film Black Sabbath

~ The review must address all three short stories in the film, "The Wurdalak", "The Drop of Water", and "The Telephone", as well as a mention of Boris Karlof as the host.

~ Minimum of one paragraph (lets say seven sentences) and a maximum of three (so no more than twenty one sentences total)

~ The review format is entirely up to you

~ You don't have to love the film or hate it to win

~ You don't have to be a follower of my blog to contribute

~ The film review is due Tuesday August 7th

Send your review to my email address at bleedingdead22@yahoo.com with the the subject being Black Sabbath Micro Review. As I mentioned in the rules you don't have to like the film to win, if you hate it that's fine. My judgement of the review will not be how much you agree with me on the film but how well your review is written and such. So basically it's an English contest. But with two winners so it's not too bad if your the only two that enter.

Also there's a bonus prize...for everyone who participates. I'll post your Micro reviews on my blog with a link to your site or blog or twitter. Therefore even in doing the work and not winning you'll have at the least a link for those who did read the review and did like it. You get more followers and I have an excuse to be lazy for the next two weeks, I believe it works out fair. And don't stress too much on the technical merit of your review, I'm not an editor and half my stuff is a grammatical holocaust so don't worry that much. The most important part is likely the voice and in how you present your opinion. 

The Perfect House DVD Contest

Before anyone freaks out don't worry that Advertisement won't be up there long. I'm just going to run it through the three to four weeks of contest that I'm having and it's basically there for those of you who are interested in purchasing a copy of the DVD if you don't win one of the three free copies I have to give away.

Speaking of which, as of this moment no one has yet to enter, which is not good. You still got a good five days to enter and as I said at this moment even if you recommended me Insidious your chances of winning are awesome with the overall lack of participation in this contest.

To refresh your memory here's the contest:

~ Recommend me an Obscure Haunted House film for my TD reviews
~ Leave your film in the comment section
~ One film per person
~ Don't have to be a follower on my blog to enter
~ The contest ends Monday July 23rd

The contest is easy. Maybe some of the hesitation is that I'm giving away an Independent film that none of you have seen. While I don't have review right at this moment (it's coming) the two I've seen on IMDB tell you to see it, as well as the review on BrutalAsHell.com, which of course isn't past mentioning is flaws but encourages you to support indie filmmakers. And in this case you don't even have to do anything...you can support them for free.

Remember you may contact me at Bleedingdead22@yahoo.com if you have any questions or want to submit your film recommendation that way it works too. You may also do it on twitter account.

The Perfect House Getaway

I'm doing a DVD giveaway. I know the title says Getaway but dammit I cannot afford to send myself on vacation let alone you. I apologize. Anyways, I was contacted last week by Mona Elyafi at ILDK Media to participate in a DVD giveaway for the film The Perfect House.

"Written/Produced by Kris Hulbert and Co-directed by the latter and Randy Kent, "The Perfect House" retraces the horrific history of a seemingly perfect house via three separate tales of horror skillfully bound together by one principal frame plot and one central character: the (perfect) house. Each of the three short stories  - "The Storm", "Chi-ken" and "Dinner Guest" - about previous home owners are inspired by the genre's most famous time periods."

I have three DVD's to giveaway and there is no such catch or anything. These DVD's were simply given to me for this purpose only and I have no intent of trying to earn money off you in such way. It's simply a contest. To be honest I'm not sure how this gonna work seeing how I have only forty one (new one today!) followers and less than half that in comments. Therefore if any of you are even reading is beyond me but we can give it a shot.


The contest is simple. As you know I'm a Retro Reviewer for Truly Disturbing. Often part of my struggle at getting a review on that site is my lack of good Retro films to review. Of course I watch old horror movies on a daily basis but I don't want to post just anything. And some of the stuff I've been posting recently has seemed at little to 'known' for what I originally intended. The first DVD will go to the person who finds me the most Obscure Haunted House film, in honor of the film in title. I likely won't have time to watch all the films (that is if anyone even enters) therefore the IMDB page better be convincing at the obscurity to the film. For example if you were to recommend something like Ghoulies don't get your hopes at winning, but when you whip out something like DeathBed: The Bed that Eats than you have a better chance at getting a free DVD.


The rules:


 - One film recommendation per person.
 - If two people recommend the same film the person who leaves the comment first gets it.
 - Leave your film in the comment section below. 
 - You don't have to be a follower on my blog to win.
 - You have until next Monday to enter. 


This contest looks pretty crappy doesn't it, and it's obvious that I'm using you as a pawn to do my job. But you can get over it because your getting a free DVD for it. This is the first of three contests and I'm hoping they get more difficult as they go along but we'll see. Also look out for a review of the film in a few weeks from now. If you have any questions you can contact me at bleedingdead22@yahoo.com.