This cover of the Ramones masterpiece was played during the end credits of the 2019 remake of the "Pet Sematary" movie. It's a great cover, in that Starcrawler has unquestionably made this song their own, but you can still feel the spirit of the Ramones hovering in the background.
FYI, Starcrawler is spending this October touring the American West and Midwest. Click here for their schedule; if they're going to be near you, maybe you should see if there are still tickets to the show!
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
31 Nights of Halloween: Suggestion Box
If you live in an apartment or condo, you know how nice it can be to have responsive management and maintainance staff. You also know how annoying it can be to have busybodies who stick their nose in everyone's business. Both of these everyday situations form the foundation of this neat little slice of domestic horror.
Suggestion Box (2016)
Starring: Nikyah Christie and Dale Christie
Director: Tarrell Christie
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
31 Nights of Halloween: Larry
It's the time of year when the Terror Titans blog shambles from the grave to bring you short films to help get in you in the mood for the Big Night of ghosts and creepy-crawlies! Welcome to the 31 Nights of Halloween!
Our first offering will be especially relatable if you work the night shift, alone, and in an isolated spot. It's a nicely staged little horror morsel.
Larry (2017)
Starring: Joe Calarco
Director: Jacob Chase
Rating: Six of Ten Stars
Our first offering will be especially relatable if you work the night shift, alone, and in an isolated spot. It's a nicely staged little horror morsel.
Larry (2017)
Starring: Joe Calarco
Director: Jacob Chase
Rating: Six of Ten Stars
Tuneful Tuesday: Pet Sematary by the Ramones
Like a beloved pet put to rest in a cursed Indian Burial Ground, Terror Titans returns frightfully to life every October for the 31 Nights of Halloween. In addition to the daily short films you've come to expect, we'll be featuring a version of "Pet Semetary" for your listening enjoyment every other day.
The original version of "Pet Semetary" was written and performed by the Ramones, and it is one of their greatest, yet most underappreciated, tunes. It was recorded in 1989 and it was inspired by the Stephen King story of the same name, and used to promote the original film adaptation of it. The song had a nice music video--this was during the final days of MTV actually being focused on music--and we're kicking our Pet Semetary marathon series off with that. (The song as ultimately included on the Brain Drain album.
The original version of "Pet Semetary" was written and performed by the Ramones, and it is one of their greatest, yet most underappreciated, tunes. It was recorded in 1989 and it was inspired by the Stephen King story of the same name, and used to promote the original film adaptation of it. The song had a nice music video--this was during the final days of MTV actually being focused on music--and we're kicking our Pet Semetary marathon series off with that. (The song as ultimately included on the Brain Drain album.
Monday, September 30, 2019
Another 31 Nights of Halloween!
Terror Titans shambles back from the grave tomorrow night for the 5th annual 31 Nights of Halloween short film festival. Stop by every night in October for a morsel of horror designed to get you in the mood for the Big Night on the 31st! (There may also be a few surprise film reviews for old time's sake!)
Every day at 4:44pm (Pacific Time, in the U.S.) there will be at least one new post here until Halloween. Some days, there will be several! And if you want even more Halloweenish content, swing by the Shades of Gray blog for horror line-art every Wednesday, as well as reviews of a spooky film or two.
Every day at 4:44pm (Pacific Time, in the U.S.) there will be at least one new post here until Halloween. Some days, there will be several! And if you want even more Halloweenish content, swing by the Shades of Gray blog for horror line-art every Wednesday, as well as reviews of a spooky film or two.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Getting ready for the 31 Nights of Halloween
The annual month-long Halloween short film celebration is about to kick off here at Terror Titans, and here's a little terror morsel to get you warmed up (even if it's set on a cold, wintery night). There will be a short film appearing here every day from October 1st through October 31st at 4:44pm (Pacific Time), all intended to spread the Halloween Spirits far and wide across the land.
The Whistle (2017)
Starring: Julian Glunz
Director: Klaus Quirin
Rating: Six of Ten Stars
"The Whistle" is the first in a series of short films featuring the same monster. If you do nothing else to get yourself in mood for Halloween this year, you must come back here on the evenings of October 13 and October 27 to see the rest of this saga!
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Pet Sematary by Xeros
To get you ready for the 31 Nights of Halloween, here's another great cover of the immortal Ramones song "Pet Sematary", itself inspired by the Stephen King novel and movie of the same name.
In early 2019, Xeros, a Springfield, MO-based hard rock band who incorporates a big, melodic style into their performances, turned their talents to covering the song. Their version captures what was great about the original even as they make "Pet Sematary" their own.
In early 2019, Xeros, a Springfield, MO-based hard rock band who incorporates a big, melodic style into their performances, turned their talents to covering the song. Their version captures what was great about the original even as they make "Pet Sematary" their own.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Pet Sematary by Mega5 Mu5ic
Then there was that time Mario buried Bowser in the Pet Sematary...
(It's almost surprising how good this version is... but they were working with some great material! There will be many more covers of the Ramones masterpiece "Pet Sematary" next month during the 31 Nights of Halloween, right here!)
(It's almost surprising how good this version is... but they were working with some great material! There will be many more covers of the Ramones masterpiece "Pet Sematary" next month during the 31 Nights of Halloween, right here!)
Friday, September 13, 2019
Pet Sematary by Top Cats
I launched my journey through "Pet Sematary" cover tunes in the hopes of finding a swing or a blues version. I have yet to find one, but this rockabilly cover from Top Cats comes close.., and it's pretty spectacular! I really love the guitar work on this one.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Pet Sematary by Bloody Mary
Terror Titans will come fully back to life in October for the annual 31 Nights of Halloween. In addition to the traditional short films, we'll be presenting covers of the great Ramones song Pet Sematary. Here's a the first cover to serve as a warm-up.
This version of 2009 version of "Pet Sematary" from Bloody Mary is somewhat crippled by the lead singer's heavy Italian accent, but otherwise it's a fresh, energetic and worthwhile take on the song. They truly took the song and made it their own.
(But, man, are these guys a goofy looking bunch...)
You can learn more about Bloody Mary at their official website.
This version of 2009 version of "Pet Sematary" from Bloody Mary is somewhat crippled by the lead singer's heavy Italian accent, but otherwise it's a fresh, energetic and worthwhile take on the song. They truly took the song and made it their own.
(But, man, are these guys a goofy looking bunch...)
You can learn more about Bloody Mary at their official website.
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Tartu: The Original Florida Man?
Death Curse of Tartu (1966)
Starring: Fred Pinero, Babbette Sherrill, Myara Christine and Gary Holtz
Director: William Grefe
Rating: Two of Ten Stars
An undead, shape-shifting Indian shaman takes gory revenge on a group of researchers that has disturbed his underground tomb (located deep in the Everglades swamp).
If you're looking for a movie that gets virtually nothing right, "Death Curse of Tartu" is the film for you. It's got bad actors delivering badly written lines, it's got bland cinematography, pathetic gore effects, some of the worst Foley work you'll see this side of silent movies, and so much inappropriate sound track music that you'll grow numb to it. (The director of the film apparently thought that dramatic music during scenes where nothing happens--such as shots of characters trekking through the bushes or someone making coffee at the campfire--would make the film more exciting). To perfect the awfulness of the film, every character is too dumb to ive, including the survivors of Tartu's wrath and even Tartu himself. There are few films that rely more on "Stupid Character Syndrome" to drag itself to its non-thrilling conclusion this one.
And then there's the fact that Tartu is buried in a bone-dry, sandstone cave that looks like it belongs in the American Southwest rather than a Florida swamp. It makes absolutely no sense and it destroys what little credibility the film had. (Even if such dry caves are possibly in a goopy swamp, it doesn't feel realistic... a thing that's important to achieve in films like this.)
The movie is also deadly dull for the first 35 or so minutes--as it's 12-15 minutes of real material padded with useless film of characters meandering about the swamp--but it picks up a bit when the main group of characters gets to the Everglades. Unfortunately, the padding problem only becomes slightly less severe, causing interesting and even borderline suspenseful parts of the movie to be separated with some of the most boring bits of film you'll ever sit through.
The 2 rating I'm giving "Death Curse of Tartu" is perhaps too generous, but there were glimmers of life in the last 45 minutes of so. If the director and producer had been disciplined enough to make a film 68 minutes instead of 84 minutes, maybe the 2 would be fully deserved. Perhaps this might even be a 3.
"Death Curse of Tartu" was made available for the first time on DVD via a "Something Weird Video" Floria-themed double feature extravaganza. The second half of the double-bill isn't all that good either, but it looks like a masterpiece next to this one.
Starring: Fred Pinero, Babbette Sherrill, Myara Christine and Gary Holtz
Director: William Grefe
Rating: Two of Ten Stars
An undead, shape-shifting Indian shaman takes gory revenge on a group of researchers that has disturbed his underground tomb (located deep in the Everglades swamp).
If you're looking for a movie that gets virtually nothing right, "Death Curse of Tartu" is the film for you. It's got bad actors delivering badly written lines, it's got bland cinematography, pathetic gore effects, some of the worst Foley work you'll see this side of silent movies, and so much inappropriate sound track music that you'll grow numb to it. (The director of the film apparently thought that dramatic music during scenes where nothing happens--such as shots of characters trekking through the bushes or someone making coffee at the campfire--would make the film more exciting). To perfect the awfulness of the film, every character is too dumb to ive, including the survivors of Tartu's wrath and even Tartu himself. There are few films that rely more on "Stupid Character Syndrome" to drag itself to its non-thrilling conclusion this one.
And then there's the fact that Tartu is buried in a bone-dry, sandstone cave that looks like it belongs in the American Southwest rather than a Florida swamp. It makes absolutely no sense and it destroys what little credibility the film had. (Even if such dry caves are possibly in a goopy swamp, it doesn't feel realistic... a thing that's important to achieve in films like this.)
The movie is also deadly dull for the first 35 or so minutes--as it's 12-15 minutes of real material padded with useless film of characters meandering about the swamp--but it picks up a bit when the main group of characters gets to the Everglades. Unfortunately, the padding problem only becomes slightly less severe, causing interesting and even borderline suspenseful parts of the movie to be separated with some of the most boring bits of film you'll ever sit through.
The 2 rating I'm giving "Death Curse of Tartu" is perhaps too generous, but there were glimmers of life in the last 45 minutes of so. If the director and producer had been disciplined enough to make a film 68 minutes instead of 84 minutes, maybe the 2 would be fully deserved. Perhaps this might even be a 3.
"Death Curse of Tartu" was made available for the first time on DVD via a "Something Weird Video" Floria-themed double feature extravaganza. The second half of the double-bill isn't all that good either, but it looks like a masterpiece next to this one.
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Horror for the Holidays: Humbug!
With the Christmas Season in full swing, this seems like a good time to bring you some alternatives to the usual Chrimast Cheer.
Today's offering makes me realize how smart it is do just be nice back when someone wishes you "Merry Christmas" or otherwise tries to be all Christmas-y in your general direction. It doesn't cost anything to be nice and gracious after all... and who knows what the alternative might cost.
HUMBUG (2016)
Starring: Jessee Foudray and Milly Sanders
Directors:Matt Thiesen and Justin Lee
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
Today's offering makes me realize how smart it is do just be nice back when someone wishes you "Merry Christmas" or otherwise tries to be all Christmas-y in your general direction. It doesn't cost anything to be nice and gracious after all... and who knows what the alternative might cost.
HUMBUG (2016)
Starring: Jessee Foudray and Milly Sanders
Directors:Matt Thiesen and Justin Lee
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Looking for a cure for the Holiday Cheer?
Terror Titans stirs ever-so-briefly for the Holiday Season with the first of a few Christmas themed horror short films!
Elf on the Shelf (2017)
Starring: Whitney Moore and Connor McGee
Director: Gabe Younes
Rating: Six of Ten Stars
Elf on the Shelf (2017)
Starring: Whitney Moore and Connor McGee
Director: Gabe Younes
Rating: Six of Ten Stars
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