Outdoor clothing and essentials gear store REI has gotten into the Halloween spirit by offering pamphlets and classes on what to do in case of a potential zombie outbreak. While most of the information in the pamphlets seems rather useless and more like a sales pitch, and the seminars probably more of the same, it is comforting to see big companies getting into the Halloween spirit. Other companies should take note.

REI Zombie Preparedness Class Schedule:

Thursday, 10/18: Huntington Beach, Calif. (full)

Sunday, 10/21: Fresno, Calif.

Tuesday, 10/23: Olympia, Wash.

Wednesday, 10/24: Northville, Mich. (full)

Thursday, 10/25: Saratoga, Calif.; Carle Place, N.Y.; Yonkers, N.Y.; Troy, Mich. (full); Greenville, S.C., (full); San Antonio, Tex. (full);

Friday, 10/26: Bloomington, Minn. (full)

Monday, 10/29: Bozeman, Mont.; Berkeley, Calif.; Conshohocken, Penn.; Paramus, N.J.; Houston, Tex.; Santa Fe, N.M.; Roseville, Minn. (full)

Tuesday, 10/30: Las Vegas (Boca Park), Nev.; San Carlos, Calif.; Asheville, N.C.; Madison, Wisc.; St. Louis, Mo.; Denver, Colo.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Sacramento, Calif.; Stockton, Calif.; Settler’s Ridge, Penn.; Marlton, N.J. (full); Bend, Ore. (full); Henderson, Nev. (full); Spokane, Wash. (full); West Hartford, Conn. (full); Pittsburgh, Penn. (full); Ann Arbor, Mich. (full)

Wednesday, 10/31: Rockville, Md.; Tempe, Ariz.; Tustin, Calif.; Paradise Valley, Ariz.; Medford, Ore.; Santa Barbara, Calif.

Thursday, 11/1: Issaquah, Wash.; Maple Grove, Minn.

Thursday, 11/8: Seattle, Wash.

Like This Article? Share It!

Hide Sites

Source: Dread Central

The executive producer and creator of the Halloween films, Irwin Yablans, is releasing his first book, The Man Who Created Halloween, just in time for the yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31st.

The full title is The Man Who Created Halloween: How a Bit of Desperation and Inspiration Gave Birth to the Movie that Changed Hollywood, and it’s chock-full of insider info from Yablans, who is known for his work in the horror film industry. He produced films that include Halloween (1978), Roller Boogie (1979), Nocturna: Granddaughter of Dracula (1979), Halloween II (1981), Hell Night (1981), Blood Beach (1981), and Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982).

SYNOPSIS:

The Man Who Created Halloween is the fascinating story of one man’s improbable journey from the tenements of Brooklyn’s Williamsburg to fame and fortune in Hollywood. It is also a chronicle of the shifting winds of change from the old studio system to the emergence of a new breed of independent producers and filmmakers. Replete with fascinating first-hand anecdotes, The Man Who Created Halloween shows us that tumultuous era thru the eyes of famed producer and film executive Irwin Yablans.

Yablans’ career encompasses the entire gamut of motion picture experience from his early years at Warner Brothers to sales chief at Paramount and Orion Pictures, culminating with the start of his own company, Compass International Pictures. But his story is much more. It is a tale of the determination and perseverance that enabled him to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles in a rough and tumble business.

Told in his own words, this candid, no holds barred autobiography finally relates the truth about how the iconic film Halloween came into being. The discovery of John Carpenter and Yablans’ relationship with Moustapha Akkad and Joseph Wolf are discussed in never revealed before detail. Written with humor and fidelity to the truth, The Man Who Created Halloween is an essential addition to any movie lore library as well as an inspirational example of the possibilities for any man who will not be denied.

Like This Article? Share It!

Hide Sites

Source: Laughing Squid

Bloody Moon Wall Murals are a line of blood-themed photo wallpaper murals created by online interior design store PIXERS. The murals come in several gory designs including Bloody Splash, Bloody Hands, Blood Splatter, Bloody Spots and more.

From their press release (as found on Freshome):

This is the story about murder and sweet dresses, about knives and bubbles, about red blood and black nights. The story about mysterious interiors with walls stained with blood. If you have ever seen the Roman Polanski’s movie Bitter Moon from 1992, you will realize the reason and the source of inspiration for this title. Ecstatic love, then abandonment and revenge sweet as honey – are crucial for the story. Although, there is no bloodshed in this movie, there is an incredible energy makes experiencing this kind of extreme emotions appealing…

And one of my favorites, Blood Splatter across wooden panels…

Like This Article? Share It!

Hide Sites

Seriously folks, a company by the name of OpticsPlanet has created a $24,000 zombie survival kit titled Z.E.R.O. Zombie Extermination, Research & Operations kit which has just about everything you’d need to survive the coming Zombie Apocalypse…except…you know…guns, or weapons. It is, however, the ultimate zombie killing accessory kit for the truly prepared.

From the OpticsPlanet site:

Imagine: You half-hear a low, guttural sound from outside as you lay sleeping. You figure it’s just your stomach after too much delicious Mexican food… but a sudden thud on the outside wall of the house shakes you from a peaceful slumber. Deep within the primal centers of your brain, you realize the dead have risen to claim our once-peaceful realm. What do you do? What do you need? The dead have risen, and they’ve returned as something different. Those you were once closest to now hunger for your flesh, and possibly the Mexican food you had for dinner.

There is no room for error when dealing with the undead. Our Z.E.R.O. (Zombie Extermination, Research and Operations) Kit takes into account all the different aspects of surviving the looming zombie apocalypse. When the undead hordes rise from their shallow graves to wreak havoc on all decent civilization, you’ll need to both fight back (Extermination), and find a cure (Research).

Always be prepared. In the new zombie world you can be king of the hill, or the tastiest treat in town.

Like This Article? Share It!

Hide Sites

Source: Shock Till You Drop

AMC is rewarding those who arrive at San Diego Comic-Con dressed like a zombie.  If you’ve got a costume prepared, be sure to swing by The Walking Dead booth because you’ll score an exclusive Comic-Con collector’s card featuring Danai Gurira’s “Michonne” from THE WALKING DEAD season 3. Friday is the day you’ll want to pay attention to if you’re a fan of the series. THE WALKING DEAD cast and crew are going to be hitting HALL H in a big way!

Looks pretty bitchin’. I remember those old horror trading cards. I had a shoebox full of ‘em until my mother decided to…well, that’s another story…

Like This Article? Share It!

Hide Sites

Source: Shock Till You Drop

When Anchor Bay Entertainment brings THE WALKING DEAD season 2 to Blu-ray on August 28th, fans will be able to purchase the collection in a zombie head and we’ve got a look at this pretty killer package. A unique and very limited edition, the zombie head case is created and designed by McFarlane Toys. The 4-Disc sets will contain all 13 episodes of the second season and will be loaded with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, featurettes and audio commentaries.

Oh yeah, this one is going to be lookin’ good on my shelf. Check out the first look of the special edition below, and click on the pic for a hi-def version of all the gory detail!

Like This Article? Share It!

Hide Sites

Source: Think Geek

 From the demented fiends over at THINK GEEK:

“Yes, Newt. Mommy was wrong. There really are monsters, and here’s one you can cuddle up with!”

Straight from your friends at Better Worlds Toys(TM), a division of the Weyland-Yutani corporation, comes the rebirth of a classic plush replica. That’s right, once more you can know the pleasure of owning your very own Aliens Chestburster without the parasitic infestation or the resulting xenomorphic carnage!

Ok, so maybe there isn’t a Better Worlds Toys(TM) but if Weyland-Yutani had a toy division we’re betting that’s what it would be called. However, the Chestburster Plush is 100% real and ready to cuddle up with you!

The Chestburster Plush is an officially licensed 20th Century Fox 1:1 scale replica of the original nymph-stage Xenomorph. Constructed of smooth velour that matches the color of the original design, the plush measures 48″ in length. Inside, a wire runs from the head to the tail, allowing you to pose the Chestbuster just the way you want it. It can even stand up on its own! Arms, teeth and inner jaws are all finely detailed. You’ll feel like you have an actual film prop.

Product Specifications

• 1:1 scale plush replica of the original Aliens Chestburster
• Officially licensed by 20th Century Fox
• 48″ long from head to tail
• Wire channel inside allows for lifelike posing

Behold: THE MAYHEM!

Like This Article? Share It!

Hide Sites

Almost a month ago, we here at Backwoods Horror told you THE BOOGENS was finally arriving on DVD/Blu-ray on August 7, featuring a newly mastered HD widescreen transfer from an archival 35mm print, with audio commentary by director James L. Conway, star Rebecca Balding and screenwriter David O’Malley (who wrote the script with THE HIDDEN’s Bob Hunt, a.k.a. Jim Kouf). Retail prices are $24.95 for the DVD and $29.95 for the Blu-ray. Now we finally have the OFFICIAL home video release box art for the film. Check it out!

I couldn’t be happier that they’re deciding to go with the old poster art for the cover. I sorely miss art like this on DVD/Blu-ray covers, art that harkens back to a happier time when, in the 80′s, I’d go to the local mom ‘n pop video store and drool over the latest horror releases, sometimes picking this one or that due to the fantastic box art alone.

In case you’ve never heard of THE BOOGENS, here’s a brief, BRIEF, synopsis:

THE BOOGENS takes place in the wintry mountain town of Silver City where a town falls prey to tentacled beasts from the deep when a formerly condemned silver mine is re-opened.

Like This Article? Share It!

Hide Sites

Need that special something for the zombie fan in your life who has everything? Well, you’re in luck as the clever boils ‘n ghouls over at Neatorama have created a line of zombie-themed gadgets under their LINE OF THE DEAD banner. Included are such handy undead implements as a zombie hand bottle opener, zombie finger letter openers (also handy for stabbing shambling zombies in the brain if necessary), undead Christmas ornaments and more. Head on over to the Neatorama Zombie Shop for more necro-necessities.

Like This Article? Share It!

Hide Sites