The Future

People always say
Look to the future
It hasn't happened yet
And anything is possible
But I know what my future hold
Disappointment and tears
Because that's how you always make me feel

I feel so invisible
But when you do see me
You only see my bad qualities
And point out all my flaws
I want you to understand
That with good comes bad
But in the end
I'm always who I am

The future is supposed to be bright
Full of wonder
Full of dreams
But my future is something I dread
Wondering if I'll live to see tomorrow
Wondering if it's all worth it
Because that's how you make me feel

Yes I drop subtle hints
Afraid to say what I'm thinking
We don't speak like we use to
Why can't we return to the past
The past made me feel special
Like I was worthy of your time
My present makes me depressed
And thinking of the future
Makes me sick to my stomach

I feel like you don't care
I feel like everything I do
Isn't good enough for you
That all the time and energy I use
Should have been put to a better use
The future is tomorrow
And now all I can say
Is I hope it's happier and brighter
Then it is today

Horror Movies: The Rule Of Three

When it comes to horror movie franchises it seems that studios have the theory that more films equals more dollars.  But that's not really the case.

Like all genres, the horror community is spurned by the fans.  What fans want to see is the ultimate driving force behind horror movie franchises.  But when does the franchise go from being top notch to ending up as a direct to DVD?

I'd like to call it The Rule Of Three.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY did exceptionally well at the box office because there was nothing like it available at the time.  Same applied to SAW.  They were both unique concepts that played with the mind of the audiences, creating panic and fear from the comfort of a local cinema.  Studio executives looked at it as a money making machine and began spitting out sequels every year, thus lessening the quality of the film, the scares and diminishing the audience capacity.  Did they learn nothing from FRIDAY THE 13TH?

This is where The Rule Of Three comes into play.  Imagine you're a horror writer/director/producer.  You've just discovered an amazing story and have been green lighted by the studio to turn into a feature film.  Your horror movie is suddenly all anyone is talking about and all that talk is generating the big bucks.  Now it's time to decide if you're going to cash in on a sequel or not.

My theory is if a horror movie makes a large enough profit and fans are demanding a second film, then go for it.  The demand is high and people can't wait to see what happens next.  This is the part that most franchises fault with.  Your sequel has to measure up to the same standards as the original movie.  If a sequel can stand on it's own and still be considered a fantastic film, like PSYCHO II, then you have a success.  If not, then it's time to end the series there.

If you manage to score a sequel that can stand on it's own, and it generates enough interest, money and discussion, then it's time to look at a possibility of doing another film.  This time, the third film has to out do the two that came before it while still being able to stand independently and keeping in touch with the already established storyline.

Let's look at the I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER series.  The first film came out in 1997 and did reasonably well.  The first sequel, I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, carried on in 1998 and kept some of the original cast (Freddie Prinze Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt and Muse Watson as The Fisherman).  But I bet you didn't know that in 2006 there was an attempt to revive the series with I'LL ALWAYS KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER.  Now, I don't have an issue with seeing The Fisherman return and when I first heard about the film, I was a little excited.  It had almost been eight years since Julie and Ray had survived so revisiting them would have been an interesting concept.  Sadly, no one else thought like I did.  Rather then bringing back Freddie, Jennifer and Muse, I'LL ALWAYS KNOW took a different route, using the story of The Fisherman fueled by revenge as nothing more then an urban legend.  Not surprisingly, this film went straight to video and didn't round out the series the way a true sequel would have.  The same thing can be said about the URBAN LEGEND series.  URBAN LEGENDS: FINAL CUT was a decent enough sequel because it stood on it's own but still had a slight tie back to the original film.  URBAN LEGENDS: BLOODY MARY, like I'LL ALWAYS KNOW, disregarded everything that came before it and consequently didn't make as much as what the first two did.  Is it a good film on its own?  Not really.  So rather then being called part of the series, I'LL ALWAYS KNOW and URBAN LEGENDS: BLOODY MARY are simply just bad movies.

I'm not the only horror fan that sticks by this formula.  When I asked my Twitter followers "When should horror movie franchises call it quits?  When is enough, enough?" 90% of people who responded answered with "After part three."  One person even went as far to say "By the end of the third film most of the interest has gone.  We only go back for parts 4, 5, 6....12, 13 because we're hooked on the killer.  Someone like Jason or Freddy broke the horror mold and true fans will follow them regardless of how bad the movie is."

So what's your opinion?  Do you believe in the Horror Movie Rule Of Three?  When should horror movie franchises call it quits?  

The Bucket List

In life we all have things we want to achieve before we die.  So I decided to make my list publicly known.  Some of these are possibly never going to happen, others are just for fun and some are my life long dreams.  What's on your bucket list?

1) I would like to see my books available online and in stores

2) I would like to see one of my short stories turned into a 30 minute mini movie

3) I would to get married

4) I would like to start my own business (horror orientated of course)

5) I would like to pat a tiger

6) I would like to be at the MCG in the last week of September to watch my mighty Richmond Tigers win the grand final

7) I would like to live overseas for a year

8) I would like to have a massive 30th birthday party

9) I would like to own my own home

10) I would like to spend more time doing charity work

11) I would like to conquer my fear of heights and bungee jump

12) I would like to direct one of my short stories into a 30 minute mini movie

13) I would like to swim with dolphins

14) I would like to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef

15) I would like to go back to school and study psychology

16) I would like to star in one of my short story movie adaptations (return to my acting roots)

17) I would like to see one of my novels become a full-length feature movie

18) I would like to have three children; a boy and two girls

19) I would like to reunite with my high school friends

20) I would like to spend the night in a haunted house and live stream it to the internet

Eggshells

I can't say what's on my mind
Because I'm afraid of what you'll say
You've got me walking around on eggshells
And now the time has come
I hold my tongue
Afraid to speak
Because everything I say
Somehow comes back to haunt me

When did things get like this?
When did I have to watch what I did
And what I said
Scared that you'll use it against me later on

We use to be so open
Talking about anything
Now things are so tense
That one false move could be my last
You no longer use my nickname
Instead just opting to say "Hi"
No "Baby, honey or lovely" follows
Makes me feel like I'm so alone

Now I feel like I can't say
Exactly what's on my mind
Because it'll start a fight
I'm walking on eggshells

Why can't we be like a movie?
A romantic comedy where everything works out
Instead of laying doubts
We live happily ever after
I don't want what I say today
To come back to haunt me tomorrow
I don't want to find out that
You've simply replaced me

You've got me walking on eggshells
Afraid to speak my mind
Because everything I say
Comes back to haunt me someday

Place Your Bets: Michael Myers Vs. Michael Myers

No, I haven’t gone completely insane.  But this was a challenge I just had to tackle head on.

He is the epitome of evil.  He is a horror icon.  He is a legendary killer.  He is the boogeyman.  And now, he goes head to head with himself in an all out war.  The original Michael Myers from 1978 Vs. the remake Michael Myers from 2007, in a bloody battle where winner kills all.

I’ve never been shy when stating that Michael Myers is my favourite horror movie villain.  He’s elusive, guarded and above all, pure evil.  And that’s just the original version.  Team him with the remake version and quite frankly, there won’t be a dry seat in the house.

So if this ultimate boogeyman was to verse himself, which version would come out on top and crown this victory?  The 1978 original vs. the 2007 remake. 

Let’s get ready to rumble.

Let’s begin with the outlines to both stories.  According to the original movie, Michael Myers was just six years old when he brutally killed his sister on Halloween night in 1963.  Judging from his parent’s appearance as well as his sister, Michael came from a middle class family.  No rhyme or reason was given for the sudden attack and he spent fifteen years locked away at Smith’s Grove Sanitarium. 

At the ripe old age of twenty-one, Michael escapes on October 30, 1978.  The following night, fifteen years after the death of his older sister, he slays three people.  A mechanic’s body was found later, upping the body count to just four.  The reason for his killings are unclear, however he seemed to be stalking Laurie Strode.  (It is bought to our attention in the second movie made in 1981 that Laurie was Michael’s baby sister)  The film ends with Michael being shot at by Dr. Loomis and falling over a two-story balcony.  As Loomis looks over the balcony, Michael has vanished.

In the remake, things are a little different.  Michael was more unhinged.  Michael was the second of three children to Deborah Myers and an unidentified father.  He was rather anti-social and soon developed an interest in harming small animals, lacking empathy for his victims.  His family was dysfunctional, yet Michael displayed a love for his baby sister who he had nicknamed Boo. 

At the age of ten, Michael snapped, killing a classmate from his school on Halloween.  That night he brutally murdered his mother’s boyfriend, his older sister’s boyfriend and his older sister, Judith.

He is then sent to Smith’s Grove Sanitarium where he spends the next seventeen years of his life.  During that time, his mother commits suicide and his baby sister is adopted by a local Haddonfield family.  Then Michael decides to stage a breakout.  Not too sure of the official body count from the Sanitarium, however it’s safe to assume that he didn’t leave anyone who worked there alive.  He then murders a trucker not long after his escape from Smith’s Grove, stealing his clothing.  It’s unclear how Michael learned of Laurie’s (Boo) whereabouts, but that doesn’t stop the slaying.  He murders seven more people, including two police officers, Laurie’s adopted parents plus her friend Lynda in cold blood.  His methods are brutal and he uses his strength and height to his advantage.

So, who would win?  Let’s look at the stats.

Original Michael Myers was played by Nick Castle for the most part.  Nick provided Michael with the ticks we’ve come to know and love.  The head tilt, the ability to appear out of the darkness and the famous slow, stalking walk.  Tony Moran was the unmasked Michael Myers, installing more fear into the audience with just a brief glance at his face.  There were also times when John Carpenter and Debra Hill became Michael for fleeting moments.  But for the purpose of this article, Nick Castle is our man.

In the remake, Tyler Mane was the grown up version of Michael while Daeg Faerch was the child version.  For the purpose of this article, my focus for the remake Michael is on Tyler Mane.

Height:  Nick Castle is 5’10 while Tyler Mane stands tall (no pun intended) at 6’9.
Body Count:  Nick’s version had a body count of four while Tyler’s version was responsible for the massacre at Smith’s Grove Sanitarium, the death of a trucker as well as seven others. 
Storyline:  The original film won fans over with the lack of blood, the tense soundtrack and the amazing characters.  The remake won fans with blood, guts and gore.

On paper, the choice is obvious.  The remake version of Michael Myers is hands down more brutal, more terrifying and way more vicious.  His ability to slay numerous people with ease and without remorse was gut-wrenching to watch.  He left a massive bruise on the neck of Lynda after strangling her with his bare hand.  Not hands, but hand.  There is no disputing that he was the more violent and therefore the one that you don’t really want to mess with.

But then again, if it weren’t for the original Michael Myers, the remake version wouldn’t exist.  And the original was described as “purely and simply evil.” 

Winner: Original Michael Myers.

Whether you agree with my outcome or not, one thing is for certain.  This will be a bloody and epic battle.  Winner does indeed kill all.