While I was looking forward to a break from New York City's gloomy winter weather, wishing for bright skies and sunny rays of Texas warmth, instead I got mostly chills and an unfortunate bit of rain. Did the rain stop me from attending the Neighbors premiere though, getting you guys one of the first reviews? Hell no, what's a little hypothermia anyway! Did it stop the cast of From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series from continuing with my video interview at this year's South by Southwest festival - even though we were outside on a concert stage? Absolutely not! What's a little rain when there are vampire strippers to worry about!
I've been a supporter of the Insidious franchise since the very first trailer, and I truly believe Insidious: Chapter 2 was one of the best horror movies of 2013 (a sentiment not many of my fellow horror journalists agree with), so I geeked the hell out when I heard that I'd be talking to Leigh Whannell and Angus Sampson at South by Southwest this year. Promoting their new movie The Mule, Leigh and Angus were in great spirits, and while you'll be able to see my entire video interview shortly, I wanted to pass on some news about Insidious 3.
This week we have a very special edition of I'd Rather Be At The Movies, as we swap out Justine and throw in our editor in chief Matt Joseph, as well as Al Lowe, to discuss all things SXSW. The three of us are currently attending the festival and of course, we have tons of stories to share. From which films we're digging to celebrity run-ins and constantly being eluded by one particular We Got This Covered staff member, we have lots to tell you guys this week and we're happy to be changing things up a bit for episode 4 with two new co-hosts.
Amidst all the Doctor Who lovers preventing Karen Gillan from entering the Stateside theater at this year's South by Southwest festival, I'm the nerd who gets star-struck when producer Jason Blum walks in. What! I'm a business major, film critic, and a lover of horror - of course my hands are going to clam up when the dude behind Blumhouse Productions walks in to present his latest film Oculus. The truth is though, Jason wasn't as involved as usual here, so I need to give credit where credit is due - to Intrepid Pictures producer Trevor Macy and director Mike Flanagan. Adapting his own short film, Flanagan attacks show-burn horror through a mystical mirror with horrifying powers, building tension and executing a killer third act filled with ghouls, visual trickery, and a few scares that'll leave horror lovers with an elevated heart rate.
Sorority Party Massacre is a perfectly apt watch if it's 2AM, your remote is broken, you're too drunk to move, and you occasionally like a microbudget horror flick filled with hot sorority chicks.
Recording a podcast while working a daytime job is way harder to coordinate than I thought. How do I know this? Two weeks absolutely blew by without Justine and I getting together, thanks to the hustle and bustle of life, but since we started twitching from our podcasting withdrawal, I'd Rather Be At The Movies is back! You all missed us, right? Right?! Should I stop begging for your love now?
300: Rise Of An Empire is a brainless, gore obsessed sequel to Zack Snyder's already brutish original, lacking the honor and heroism that our Spartan warriors previously displayed.