The horror genre is most notable for its ability to make us squirm in our seats, jump out of our skins, and despite the victim not being able to hear our helpful hints, we never fail to yell, “RUN!!” at the screen. There’s a sense of helplessness the viewer experiences as the victim makes all the wrong choices, never quite grasping the peril they’re in, until it’s too late. Finally, our shouts will no longer be in vain, but rather contribute to how the movie unfolds.

13^th Street has developed a new way for movie-goers to experience the horror genre with their film Last Call.  The first of its kind, Last Call invites the in-coming audience to enter their cell phone numbers into a speed dial database. At a certain point in the film, the victim makes a call for help, only that call rings an audience member’s phone. The selected audience member, then, tells the victim whether they should go up the stairs, or down, help another in need or get the heck outta dodge, making each viewing of the movie a unique experience.

The concept is new and exciting, but brings several questions to mind. First of all, it seems like it would be quite fun for the selected audience member, but would it really be all that enjoyable for the rest of the viewers who didn’t get the call? Secondly, what if the selected audience member makes all of the wrong decisions, or worse, all of the right decisions? It could make for a pretty uneventful movie. Lastly, how long is the victim going to keep you on the phone; those minutes aren’t free, you know?

All in all, you have to give 13^th Street some credit for taking an original concept and making it into a reality. As for how successful interactive movies will be is debatable. After all, it’s bad enough that people talk on their phones during movies, but are we really going to start encouraging it? I say, let the victim fail on their own. It’s what we all want anyway, right?

What do you think?

Was it just me, or was anyone else that was surprised at the lack of statues taken away by Team Avatar.  Avatar won only three Oscars:  for visual effects (was there any doubt), and cinematography,  as well as art direction. But somehow I expected more, and apparently, by all the buzz, so did a lot of other people.

Some speculated that the Academy wanted to “show” Cameron that his highest-grossing movie of all times can be taken down by the least-expensive movie to ever be nominated – wrong.

Some speculated that the Academy wanted to finally give the “Best Directing” award to a woman – please – do we have to play the gender card?

In my opinion, there are two strong reasons why Avatar didn’t win more awards: Animated characters and Sci-fi. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s finally October, my favorite month of all! It’s the time of year when the sun turns to gold, shadows stretch across all surfaces, and dry leaves begin their dance along the roadside. With Halloween just around the corner it’s the perfect time to get those cameras rolling and shoot some zombies.

White Zombie, starring Bela Lugosi, marked the emergence of our interest in the living-dead and their insatiable hunger for the living. With Zombieland currently at the top of the box office, and grossing $25 million in its first weekend, there’s sure to be an onslaught of zombie movies in the days to come. Read the rest of this entry »