31 Horror Movies in 31 Days: Day 29-30

Day 29-30 of my Horror Film Marathon

October 29, 2010
Amityville II: The Possession (1982)

Surprisingly, I have never seen any of the Amityville sequels.  So today, I streamed this one on Netflix.  The story in Amityville II actually pre-dates the first film.  The Montelli family move into the Amityville house and for a few hours, everyone is happy.  Then the weird stuff starts to happen...  mirrors fall off the wall, crucifixes get covered up, the older brother becomes possessed and seduces his sister, etc.  It wasn't too bad.  It got a little bit carried away at the end, but oh well.  It is what it is... and it was a fun movie to watch.

Interesting trivia:
1.  On the wall in Sonny's room hangs a Rocky poster.  Sonny's dad is portrayed by Burt Young, who was in the Rocky movies as Paulie
2.  The movie was filmed almost entirely in a studio in Mexico
3.  James Olson, who plays a priest in Amityville II, also was a priest on the TV show Little House On The Prairie



October 30, 2010
30 Days Of Night (2007)

I love this movie.  I've seen it probably 10 times and I never get tired of it.  A small Alaskan town goes dark for 30 days each year... so what better place for thirsty vampires to hunt their prey!  Buy this movie, you'll love it!

Interesting trivia:
1.  The film was shot entirely in New Zealand in 70 days
2.  The language that the vampires speak was created for the film with the help of a professor of linguistics in New Zealand

31 Horror Movies in 31 Days: Day 24-28

Day 24-28 of my Horror Film Marathon

October 24, 2010
Killer Pad (2008)

Three guys move into a cool house in the Hollywood Hills.  They are soon visited by three evil hotties and some strange things start to happen.  Directed by Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger!!!), Killer Pad is a pretty silly movie.  Entertaining, but pretty ridiculous and funny.


October 25, 2010
Pet Sematary (1989)

I've seen this movie many times.  It's actually the first Stephen King book that I read years ago.  I'm sure you've seen it too, but just in case.... there is a cemetery where you can bury dead things and the next day they aren't dead anymore.  Cool movie with Fred Gwynne from The Munsters.

Cool trivia:
1.  Stephen King makes his cameo as the minister at the funeral.
2.  George A. Romero (Night Of The Living Dead) was originally set to be the director, but dropped out when the filming was delayed.
3.  Seven cats were used for the role of Church.  They were each trained to do a different task.


October 26, 2010
The Strangers (2008)

This is one of the best horror films I've seen in a long time.  I saw it at the theatre when it came out and it is a genuinely freaky movie.  A young couple are staying at a house in an isolated location and three masked people terrorize them.  The Strangers will keep you on the edge of your seat, as they say.  Be sure to watch it at night with all of the lights off!  Highly recommended.



October 27, 2010
Carnosaur (1993)

A geneticist, played by Diane Ladd, wants to take revenge on the human race by breeding dinosaurs to kill off the people of the world.  A totally rad movie.  Just take a look at the cover.


Interesting trivia:
1.  A miniature, remote-controlled puppet was used for filming the T. Rex in his acting debut
2.  The same year that Diane Ladd was in Carnosaur, her daughter - Laura Dern - was in Jurassic Park
3.  Ned Bellamy, who plays the role of Fallon, was in one of my favorite films, Ed Wood.  He played the chiropractor-turned-actor, Tom Mason


October 28, 2010
Blackenstein (1973)

A few weeks ago, I opened my mailbox and this movie was staring me in the face - sent by my friend Ron in Florida (builder of the Rozznet and Audra websites).  Check out the tagline of this gem:  To Stop This Mutha Takes One Bad Brutha.

Here's the story:  Eddie loses all of his limbs in Vietnam.  His girlfriend (Winifred) enlists the help of a Nobel Prize-winning doctor (Dr. Stein - get it?) to inject him with some special DNA and gives him his limbs back.  The doctor's assistant (Malcolm) falls in love with the girlfriend and is mad when she denies him.  Malcolm substitutes the good DNA with the bad DNA and Eddie turns into a killing machine.

This movie cracked me up.  Eddie/Blackenstein always manages to catch his victim, even when he's moving at the speed of 28.8 dial up internet.  Although it was kind of bad at times, I actually enjoyed Blackenstein.

100 of the Best Cover Songs of All Time - Part 5 of 5

Welcome to Part 5 of our selections for some of the Best Cover Songs of All Time. Turn on the radio, or walk into any bar / club / coffee shop in any town and you are sure to hear a musician covering a song by another artist. This list collects some of the absolute best ones out there. As an added bonus, there' a playlist at the bottom of the page that compiles the cover version and original - back to back - so that you can compare / contrast the uniqueness between the two. If you missed the previous parts, you can start at the beginning here. If you'd like to share some of your favorites, please do so in the comments section.

Jane's Addiction - Sympathy for the Devil

Album:  Jane's Addiction (1987); titled 'Sympathy'

The original:  The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet (1968)

Neil Diamond - Mr. Bojangles
Album:  Touching You, Touching Me (1969)
The original:  Jerry Jeff Walker (1968)

The Beach Boys - Sloop John B

Album:  Pet Sounds (1966)

The original:  Traditional West Indies Folk Song, covered by various people before 1966 including Kingston Trio (1958) and Johnny Cash (1959)

Elliott Smith - Trouble

Album:  Thumbsucker Soundtrack (2005)

The original:  Cat Stevens - Mona Bone Jakon (1970)

Susanna Hoffs & Matthew Sweet - Different Drum

Album:  Under The Covers, Vol. 1 (2006)

The original:  Written by Mike Nesmith, first recorded by The Greenbriar Boys (1966)

Nico - The End

Album:  The End (1974)

The original:  The Doors (1967)

Guns N' Roses - Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Album:  Use Your Illusion II (1991)

The original:  Bob Dylan - Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (1973)

The Bangles - September Gurls

Album:  Different Light (1986)

The original:  Big Star - Radio City (1974)

The Lemonheads - Layin' Up with Linda

Album:  Varshons (2009)

The original:  GG Allin (1993)

Steve Earle - Pancho and Lefty

Album:  Townes (2009)

The original:  Townes Van Zandt - The Late Great Townes Van Zandt (1972)

The Black Crowes - Hard to Handle

Album:  Shake Your Money Maker (1990)

The original:  Otis Redding (1968)

Pet Shop Boys - Where the Streets Have No Name (Can't Take My Eyes Off of You)

Album:  How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously [single] (1991), compiled on Discography

The original:  U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987) / Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You written by Bob Crewe and made famous by Frankie Vallie (1967)

Human Drama - Heroin

Album:  14,384 Days Later (1996)

The original:  The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

Placebo - Daddy Cool

Album:  Sleeping With Ghosts [bonus disc] (2003), Covers

The original:  Boney M - Take The Heat Off Me (1976)

Mark Kozelek - Rock 'N' Roll Singer

Album:  Little Drummer Boy [Live] (2006)

The original:  AC/DC - T.N.T. (1975), then on High Voltage (1976)

David Bowie - It Ain't Easy
Album:  The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
The original:  Ron Davies - Silent Song Through the Land (1970)

Bauhaus - Third Uncle
Album:  The Sky's Gone Out (1982)
The original:  Brian Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy (1974)

Big Star - Femme Fatale
Album:  Third/Sister Lovers (1978) original, Keep An Eye On The Sky [demo version] (2009)
The original:  The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

Morrissey - Cosmic Dancer (live)
Album:  My Early Burglary Years (1998)
The original:  T. Rex - Electric Warrior (1971)

Audra - Walked In Line
Album:  Love's Shattered Pride: Tribute to Joy Division / New Order (2005)
The original:  Joy Division (1978), compiled on Warsaw and Still (1981)

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100 of the Best Cover Songs of All Time - Part 4 of 5

Welcome to Part 4 of our selections for some of the Best Cover Songs of All Time. Turn on the radio, or walk into any bar / club / coffee shop in any town and you are sure to hear a musician covering a song by another artist. This list collects some of the best ones out there. As an added bonus, there's a playlist at the bottom of the page that compiles the cover version and original - back to back - so that you can compare / contrast the uniqueness between the two. There's a link for the subsequent parts at the bottom - if you missed the previous parts, start at the beginning here. If you'd like to share some of your favorites, please do so in the comments section.

Pixies - Head On
Album: Trompe Le Monde (1991)
The original: The Jesus & Mary Chain - Automatic (1989)

The The - Your Cheatin' Heart
Album: Hanky Panky (1994)
The original: Written & recorded by Hank Williams (September 1952); released as single shorty after his death (January 1953)

Nirvana - Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam
Album: MTV Unplugged in New York (1994)
The original: The Vaselines - Dying for It EP (1987); a parody of an old children's song

Tracey Ullman - They Don't Know
Album: You Broke My Heart In Seventeen Places (1983)
The original: Written by Kirsty MacColl; released as non-album single (1979) and compiled on Galore (1995)

Roxy Music - Jealous Guy
Album: Released as non-album single (1981); compiled on Street Life: 20 Great Hits (1986)
The original: John Lennon - Imagine (1971)

Blondie - The Tide is High
Album: Autoamerican (1980)
The original: Written by John Holt of The Paragons as a single (1967); appeared on the album On the Beach (1967)

Justin Sullivan (of New Model Army) - Masters of War
Album: Tales of the Road: Justin Sullivan and Friends (2004)
The original: Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963)

David Bowie - God Only Knows
Album: Tonight (1984)
The original: The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966)

Rozz Williams & Gitane DeMone - In Every Dream Home a Heartache
Album: Dream Home Heartache (1995)
The original: Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure (1973)

Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds
Album: Released as non-album single (1969); compiled on The Number One Hits (1987)
The original: Written and released as single by Mark James (1968)

AFI - Don't Change
Album: Released as b-side to Miss Murder single (2006); included on some editions of thhe album Decemberunderground (2006)
The original: INXS - Shabooh Shoobah (1982)

The Lemonheads - Beautiful
Album: Varshons (2009)
The original: Written by Linda Perry; first released by Christina Aguilera on the album Stripped (2002)

The Sundays - Wild Horses
Album: Blind (1992)
The original: The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers (1971); first released version was by The Flying Burrito Brothers on the album Burrito Deluxe (1970); read more about the song's history on Part 2

REM - Superman
Album: Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)
The original: The Clique - s/t (1969)

Luna - Sweet Child o' Mine
Album: The Days of Our Nights (1999)
The original: Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)

Dinosaur Jr. - Just Like Heaven
Album: Released as non-album single (1989); compiled on Ear-Bleeding Country: The Best of Dinosaur Jr. (2001)
The original: The Cure - Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me (1987)

The Byrds - You're Still on My Mind
Album: Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968); featuring Gram Parsons on vocals
The original: Luke McDaniel as Jeff Daniels (1959); compiled on Daddy-O-Rock (The Rock and Country Sides of Luke McDaniel) (1996)

Morrissey - A Song from Under the Floorboards
Album: Released as b-side to The Youngest was the Most Loved single (2006)
The original: Magazine - The Correct Use of Soap (1980)

Rammstein - Stripped
Album: For The Masses Depeche Mode tribute album (1998); also as non-album single
The original: Depeche Mode - Black Celebration (1986)

The Beatles - Twist and Shout
Album: Please Please Me (1963)
The original: Written by Phil Medley & Bert Berns; first recorded and released as single by The Top Notes (1961)

Part 5

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