Horror on TV: The Twilight Zone 2.7 “The Nick of Time”

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Along with starting each day of October with a horror film here at the Shattered Lens, we’re going to end each day with a horror-themed television show.

While I had previously caught a few episodes of the Twilight Zone during one of the annual holiday marathons on SyFy, I didn’t truly appreciate the show until I first exchanged e-mails with my friend in Australia, Mark. Among other things, Mark expressed a very eloquent appreciation for The Twilight Zone and that inspired me to watch quite a few episodes that have been uploaded to YouTube and Hulu. Along with being an essential piece of television history, the best episodes of the Twilight Zone remain watchable and entertaining 50 years after they were first broadcast.

Considering the esteemed place that the Twilight Zone continues to occupy in American culture, it seems appropriate to feature it during Horror Month here at the Shattered Lens.

We start things off with an episode that was originally broadcast on November 18th, 1960. The Nick of Time tells the story of what happens when two newlyweds stop off at a small town cafe and the superstitious husband (William Shatner) starts to play with a memorably creepy fortune telling machine. Now, I should warn you that, since this episode is not available on YouTube, I’m having to embed it from Hulu. That means that you’ll have to sit through a few commercials but it’s still a good episode.

Enjoy!

Horror Trailer: Dead Snow: Red vs. Dead

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Arleigh

Yes, this was a sequel that we did not see coming. The original film was a good enough piece of zombie horror that brought back some nostalgic feelings of that very obscure zombie subgenre called Nazi zombies. Dead Snow helped put Tommy Wirkola, it’s director, on the map since it earned him the gig to direct the highly-unappreciated Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. The kinetic, gory action from Dead Snow was highly evident in his first Hollywood offering.

Now, it looks like his time with the Nazi zombies (or are they zombie Nazis) wasn’t over as we now have the sequel that’s begun to play in the film festival circuit since the start of 2014. From the trailer shown it looks like Wirkola has turned the gory action past 10 and into 11 for this follow-up.

The comedy looks to be more in the forefront this time around as he introduces a trio of would-be America zombie hunters. What’s a European action horror-comedy be if it didn’t include bumbling, stereotypical Americans. I almost require that they be included in such films.

Dead Snow: Red vs. Dead still hasn’t been given a U.S. theatrical release. It may bypass the theaters in the U.S. altogether and just head straight for home video. Either way be on the look out for Nazi zombies in Tiger I tanks.

Horror On The Lens: The Hideous Sun Demon (dir by Robert Clarke and Tom Boutross)

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Hi there and welcome to October! This is our favorite time of the year here at the Shattered Lens because October is horror month. For the past three years, we have celebrated every October by reviewing and showing some of our favorite horror movies, shows, books, and music. That’s a tradition that I’m looking forward to helping to continue this year.

So, let’s start things off with the 1959 cult classic The Hideous Sun Demon. In The Hideous Sun Demon, a scientist named Gil (played by Robert Clarke, who also wrote and directed) is exposed to radiation. Perhaps not surprisingly, this does not turn out well for Gil. Now, whenever Gil is exposed to direct sunlight, he turns into a scaly and murderous monster. Struggling to control his new monstrous side and slowly losing his grip on his own sanity, Gil retreats to a seaside town where he spends most of his time sitting in the dark. He only emerges from his house at night and then only so he can go down to a bar and listen to the sultry Trudy sing a song. However, the sun always rises…

The Hideous Sun Demon may not be a great film but it’s perfect for a little Halloween fun. Robert Clarke is sympathetic in the lead role and, while the Sun Demon might just be a man in a rubber suit, that’s all just a part of the film’s charm.

So, let’s start October by pulling down the shades, blocking out the sun, and enjoying The Hideous Sun Demon!

Horror Song of the Day: Theme from The Fog (by John Carpenter)

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Arleigh

It’s that time of year again for the gang here at Through the Shattered Lens. October has become a sort of official month for the site with much of the posts and articles being related in some manner to all things horror (or close enough to it).

To start off 2014’s Horror Month here at Through the Shattered Lens I’ve chosen a wonderful and creepy piece of horror film music courtesy of the Master himself, John Carpenter.

It’s a great piece of atmospheric music that more than adds to the encroaching horror that is the film’s title. John Carpenter has done most of the soundtracks to his films and his use of electronic keyboards and synthesizers have become such a unique signature in all his films. The last couple years have seen a sort of revival for Carpenter’s type of electronic/synthesizer compositions. One recent film which made great use of this particular style was Jim Mickle’s Cold In July.

The theme to The Fog remains a favorite of horror fans and its influence on filmmakers today is a nice testament to well-earned classic status.