Director Seth Breedlove Explores the Folklore Behind MOMO: THE MISSOURI MONSTER in New Film!

A NEW INDEPENDENT FEATURE DRAGS MISSOURI'S VERSION OF BIGFOOT INTO THE SPOTLIGHT! "MOMO" COMES TO DVD & VOD ON SEPTEMBER 20TH!

Growing up, I was a big monster movie fan (still am!) which of course led me down the path of believing in, and studying, cryptids like The Loch-Ness Monster, Bigfoot, Mothman, etc. While I don't put much stock in those legends any longer (but still secretly hold out a hope that we'll find living dinosaurs hiding somewhere in the world!) it's still fun to learn more about the folktales about hairy humanoids lurking in the wilds!

Synopsis: The year was 1972 and the place was a tiny, quaint, riverfront town called Louisiana, Missouri. On a warm summer evening, two local kids saw a creature in their own backyard holding a dead dog. Before you could say the word "Bigfoot," local media and police officials had pounced on the story. Overnight Louisiana became "monster central" with creature seekers and monster hunters combing the woods to look for "the thing" that the newspapers had dubbed "MOMO."

One particular family was at the center of this whirlwind of activity and as the Missouri Monster sightings began to increase, so did the negative impact on the Harrisons. In 1975, a film crew set out to tell an over-the-top, filmic version of the MOMO sightings. Due to one reason or another, this should-have-been-cult-classic was never released. Until now.

Additional Info: Small Town Monsters, the production company behind last year's best-selling documentary ON THE TRAIL OF BIGFOOT, proudly presents MOMO: THE MISSOURI MONSTER, which seeks to tell the true, and truly strange story of the Missouri Monster. The hair-covered, three-toed monstrosity was said to have prowled the forests of Star Hill, near Louisiana, Missouri during the summer of 1972 where it was spotted by terrified citizens for weeks!

The case gained national media attention during the '70s and remains one of the largest tourist draws for the tiny town on the banks of the Mississippi River. The latest release from Small Town Monsters and director Seth Breedlove, MOMO: THE MISSOURI MONSTER is told in both narrative and documentary form.

The narrative sections appear as a lost b-movie from the 1970s, inspired by Breedlove's lifelong fascination with grindhouse movies and creature features. The horror film depicts the widely accepted details of the MOMO legend and is eventually contradicted and corrected by the actual survivors who lived through the events. Breedlove describes MOMO: The Missouri Monster as "RASHOMON meets THE CREATURE FROM BLACK LAKE or THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK."

The film stars Adam Duggan and Sara Heddleston, as well as Animal Planet's Cliff Barackman and James "Bobo" Fay with special appearances by Janet Jay and Elizabeth Saint (Ghosts of Shepardstown).

Stills & Trailer:
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MOMO: THE MISSOURI MONSTER (read my review HERE) comes to DVD and Video On Demand on September 20, 2019! The DVD currently sells for $14.99 and comes with a nearly hour-long behind-the-scenes featurette as an extra! You can currently order a copy from SMALL TOWN MONSTERS' ONLINE STORE, and will be able to procure the DVD and watch instantly on AMAZON as well!

Now Available on DVD: It's Rebels Vs. Religion Vs. Zombies in Israel Luna's DEAD DON'T DIE IN DALLAS!

TRANNIES BATTLE THE UNDEAD IN DIRECTOR ISRAEL LUNA'S LATEST FEATURE-LENGTH MOVIE!

DEAD DON'T DIE IN DALLAS' long journey toward distribution is finally over! Shot across various cities in Texas over the course seventeen days back in 2013, the film was originally titled KICKING ZOMBIE ASS FOR JESUS and was stuck in limbo until its completion in 2017. And now, after six years (!!!) Israel Luna's long-awaited companion piece to his 2010 cult classic, TICKED-OFF TRANNIES WITH KNIVES has finally arrived on DVD!

Synopsis: After a miracle pill intended to cure all infectious diseases, turns the people who took it into flesh-craving mutant zombies, transgender hairdresser Beth-Anne Fetterman (Willam Belli - A STAR IS BORN) battles for survival against a transphobic preacher in post-apocalyptic West Texas!

Additional Info: An openly gay filmmaker, Israel Luna made the film as a creative response to the homophobic and transphobic messages made by religious people over time. While covering religion and other topics, Israel says the film isn’t “pro-gay” or “anti-religion” and that it’s a movie for everyone.

Along with William Belli, DEAD DON'T DIE IN TEXAS also stars Krystal Summers (TICKED-OFF TRANNIES WITH KNIVES), Richard Curtain (FRIGHT FLICK), Tom Zembrod (FROM THE DARK), Adam Kitchen (The Ex-Box), and introducing Angel Martinez as Philomena the “tough-as-nails lesbian with a shotgun.” (Martinez who at the time was lesbian has since transitioned into a male.)

Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 91 minutes | Region 1
Video - 480p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - ?

Extras:

• None.

DEAD DON'T DIE IN TEXAS just arrived on DVD from Mill Creek Entertainment and should cost between $18 - $30. You can pick it up now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, or directly from MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT. If that's a bit too rich for your blood, but you still want to see this film (and support indie film in the process) Luna's zombie epic is also available to rent or buy digitally at AMAZON!

Evil Has Never Been So Comfy: KILLER SOFA is Coming to DVD and Video on Demand This October!

A POSSESSED RECLINER MAULS A CAST OF KIWIS IN THIS UPCOMING HIGH OCTANE PICTURES RELEASE!

I've seen movies with man-eating beds, sentient killer cars, a killer fridge, murderous elevators, possessed murder-lamps, roaming tires that cause people's heads to explode, and even one film where evil electricity that attempts to bump off Joey Lawrence, so it was only a matter of time before KILLER SOFA became a reality! High Octane Pictures is releasing this New Zealand fright flick some time in October, meaning we can all enjoy this "Sofa King Crazy" movie in the thick of the Halloween season! I can't wait to see this!

Synopsis: Francesca always attracted weirdos. When one of her stalkers is found dead, she looks for comfort from her best friend, Maxi. Meanwhile, Maxi’s grandfather, Jack, a disgraced Rabbi, comes across a reclining chair containing a Dybbuk inside. Jack and his voodoo sorceress partner try to find out where the recliner has been delivered while exploring Jack’s newfound gift for communicating with the other world. Meanwhile the reclining chair becomes enchanted by Francesca and starts committing crimes of passion.

Stills & Trailer:
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KILLER SOFA's official release date has yet to be announced so expect further updates about this film as we receive more information Vault Dwellers!

Some Things Shouldn't Be Found in Alex DiVincenzo's THE MISPLACED!

THE DIRECTOR OF "BE US," "ROOT OF ALL EVIL," AND "TROUSER SNAKE" DELIVERS ANOTHER COOL HORROR SHORT!

About three years ago I watched Alex DiVincenzo's THE HORRORS OF AUTOCORRECT and I got a huge kick out of it! Now Alex is back (after several more successful genre shorts) with THE MISPLACED, in which a young woman discovers why things have been going missing around the house.

I liked Alex's concept for this short film, and he builds some great tension during its short running time. But as unnerving as the little twist at the end is, I felt like it was lacking something. It's good, but didn't quite deliver that "gotcha!" moment that you expect at the end of most horror tales. My nitpicking aside, THE MISPLACED is definitely worth a look, so be sure to give it a shot if you've got four minutes to kill!


Additional Info: THE MISPLACED was directed, co-written, and edited by Alex DiVincenzo, whose previous effort, BE US, is currently nominated for Best Short Film at the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards.

Jamie Lyn Bagley and co-writer T.J. Frizzi star in the film, which packs a chilling premise into a mere four minutes. It premiered to a sold-out audience at the 2018 Boston Underground Film Festival.

"I find horror to be most effective when it invades the home," explains DiVincenzo, "so I drew inspiration from films I love that embrace that atmosphere, like John Carpenter's Halloween and The Strangers, to tell what I hope to be a similarly unsettling story."

THE MISPLACED is the latest genre short from DiVincenzo and Lockbridge Productions, whose previous work includes THE HORRORS OF AUTOCORRECT (distributed by Eli Roth’s Crypt TV), CYBERSHOCK 1999 (distributed by Troma Entertainment), and the 48 Hour Film Project winner ROOT OF ALL EVIL.

To keep up with Alex DiVincenzo's future projects, be sure to follow Lockbridge Productions on Facebook, and subscribe to their YouTube Channel!

Brace Yourselves for a FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3 Parody: CAMP DEATH 3 IN 2D is Coming!

MATT FRAMES' MICRO-BUDGET PARODY OF "FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3" WILL BEGIN TOURING FESTIVALS SOON!

Amid the constant stream of press releases and spam e-mails that reach the Vault's inbox, there lurks correspondences and greetings from multiple indie filmmakers from across the globe. While I do try my best to answer back and help them spread the word about their films, it is a daunting task! But the reward is that films I would have otherwise been unaware of are brought to my attention, like CAMP DEATH 3 IN 2D!

The brainchild of Canadian filmmaker Matt Frames, CAMP DEATH 3 IN 2D is a low-budget (i.e. $35,000) Horror-Comedy that pokes fun at (arguably) one of the greatest 3D Horror films of all time! (Having seen it in legit 3D twice on the big screen, I can vouch for its awesomeness!) CAMP DEATH 3 IN 2D is making its big debut at the Requiem FearFest in Montreal (which kicked off yesterday), followed by screenings at other film festivals as the months tick by. There's word yet on a DVD, Blu-ray, or digital release at this time, so be on the look out for updates once I have more information!

Film Synopsis: Camp Crystal Meph has reopened but the curse of killer Johann Van Damme continues. Camp 'Death' has been given a new life as rehab center for mentally ill adults yet an unseen evil begins to murder campers and staff alike. Has Johann risen from the grave or is this the work of a copycat?

Stills & Trailer:
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For more details about this film, and to find out where CAMP DEATH 3 IN 2D will be screening, be sure to follow their Facebook page! Stay tuned for more updates about this movie Vault Dwellers!

Garrett Elmer Needs YOUR Help to Turn His Cult Classic Short RODENTIA into a Feature-Length Film!

KILLER MUTANT RATS ARE JUST A FEW CLICKS AWAY! PLEASE DONATE TO THE INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN FOR "RODENTIA!"

I've always been a sucker for films featuring killer rodents Vault Dwellers: BEN, WILLARD, THE FOOD OF THE GODS, GNAW: FOOD OF THE GODS PART 2, RATS: NIGHT OF TERROR, DEADLY EYES, NIGHT OF THE LEPUS, THE KILLER SHREWS, and everything in between have always held a special place in my heart. So it is with great excitement, that I announce that a new film in the "raging rodent" sub-genre is currently in pre-production: RODENTIA!

RODENTIA began life as an entry into Spokane's 50-Hour Slam Film Festival back in 2002, where entrants must create and submit a three-to-six minute short within fifty hours! Garrett Elmer and friends took part, and ended up winning the "Twitter Award," and had their short broadcasted on local television, allowing RODENTIA to build itself a devoted cult following! And now, these guys are taking the next logical step and expanding their tale of science gone wrong into a feature-length production! That's where you and I come into the picture Vault Dwellers!

Check out the full cut of the original RODENTIA to get a feel for what the bigger-budgeted "remake" might be like.

Film Synopsis: RODENTIA tells the story of three young men having a "bummer summer," until a failed lab experiment is poured into the local river. As their lazy Independence Day drips by, the guys become increasingly aware of something wrong in the woods. It's a Summer they'll never forget...

About the Production: RODENTIA is the latest film from Make Out With Us Productions, a talented group of local artists. Our previous films have screened across the world and were met with critical acclaim. With over six years of collaborating, we're ready to jump into our next creative endeavor that will be our most ambitious to date.

Producers Rachel Baker and Kendra Ann Sherrill will overlook production, and filmmaker Adam Gaulke will be pulling double duty in front and behind the camera. Our beautiful cast includes Adam, Logan Burke, Edward Casto and Cameron Gorman. Cameron, a skilled musician known for projects Pop Goddess Athena and Rollerboy, will also be composing the film's score.


Costs & Perks: The crowdfunding campaign for RODENTIA has about a month to go (as of 09/22/2018) and ANY financial aid you can render would be greatly appreciated! Funds from this campaign will be spent across a variety of departments, including production design, wardrobe, special effects, camera, grip/electric, craft services, and transportation. These are crucial to making the film's world come to life. Funding will also allow them to bring RODENTIA to film festivals. Anything over the budget goal will be distributed across the production.

Those that contribute will receive an excellent variety of perks. Everything from personal postcards, film credit, the soundtrack on cassette tape, a physical copy of the script signed by the cast and crew, invitations to the wrap party and premiere, and much more! Not only do they want you to have cool perks, they want you to personally be a part of RODENTIA!

CLICK HERE to visit the IndieGoGo page now and make a much-appreciated pledge. And if for some reason you aren't too keen on making a donation, please be sure to share Garrett's campaign around! For continued updates on the film's progress, be sure to follow RODENTIA on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter!

Thanksgiving Dinner Gets a Little Hairy in Indie Horror-Comedy GRANDMA WEREWOLF!

ZACHARY WILL'S DEBUT FEATURE PITS A DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY AGAINST THEIR LYCANTHROPIC GRANDMOTHER!

While a large portion of our time here at the News Vault is dedicated to reporting on physical media (i.e. DVD & Blu-ray releases), we do try to sprinkle in news about upcoming films as well - especially independent films that fall into genres that are part of our wheelhouse.

Speaking of which, today we'd like to shine a spotlight on a new micro-budget Horror-Comedy from a young director named Zachary Will. After two successful Kickstarter campaigns, Zachary put together a production crew, assembled a cast, and shot his first feature-length film at his family's cabin. GRANDMA WEREWOLF won "Best Picture (Under $25,000)" at the International New York Film Festival, and is scheduled for numerous theatrical screenings in late October, and early November.

Synopsis: When a dysfunctional family goes to their recently widowed grandmother’s cabin for Thanksgiving, they find out their grandma is actually a werewolf. They must work together, steal a silver sword, and learn magic to stop their werewolf grandmother from causing mayhem.

About the Director: Though this is Zachary Will’s first feature film, he has plenty of experience behind the camera, having directed over 50 short films, including an award-winning documentary. Zach received a Bachelor of Science from Full Sail University, where he wrote the first draft of GRANDMA WEREWOLF. After graduating, he moved to Atlanta, GA to pursue his film career. Prior to the project, Zach worked on TV shows for an Emmy award winning production company and on corporate projects for WebMD, Home Depot, Sears, Bloomberg, Sears, the Atlanta Braves, and more.

Stills & Trailer:
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GRANDMA WEREWOLF is currently scheduled for theatrical screenings at several venues late next month (CLICK HERE for listings), with a possible DVD (and digital) release date in November. For more information about GRANDMA WEREWOLF be sure to visit the Official Site and follow the film on Facebook and Twitter!

Todd "Killer" Wolfson's First Feature Film is Going to be BATSH!T Insane!

JUST BURIED PRODUCTIONS' NEW FEATURE-LENGTH FILM, "BATSH!T" NEEDS YOUR HELP!

About year ago, I did an Indie Filmmaker Spotlight piece on Todd Wolfson, who was just finishing up work on his third low-budget horror short, SPONGE. Todd's now stepping up his game and doing a feature film called BATSH!T, which was heavily inspired by EVIL DEAD II, BEETLEJUICE, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, THE SHINING, LOST HIGHWAY, and other movies that helped usher in his deep-seated love for the Horror genre.

Synopsis: Felix is just an ordinary guy that's down on his luck. Shortly after losing his job, a typical trip to the pharmacy results in Felix accidentally dosing himself with a powerful hallucinogen. Unable to differentiate between fantasy and reality, he is about to go on a very strange trip! BATSH!T follows Felix's experiences as he interacts with his uncontrollable hallucinations over the course of forty-eight hours, both at home, and within the confines of Trundle Manor.

Crowdfunding Campaign Info: BATSH!T creator Todd Wolfson is currently trying to raise $2,500 with a GoFundMe campaign. Those funds will go towards special effects, make-up, props, catering, editing, and various BATSH!T-related perks! Rewards include: Screen credits, BATSH!T postcards, baseball caps, tickets to the film's premiere, a role in the film, posters, BATSH!T wine, and more! If you're interested in donating, CLICK HERE and be sure to share the campaign link on social media! To get a taste of what BATSH!T will be like, take a peek at the new teaser below.


If you liked what you saw, then definitely consider donating a few bucks to help Todd Wolfson and his crew complete the film! Visit BATSH!T's Official Facebook Page for behind-the-scenes photos, and continued updates on the film's status! Also be sure to subscribe to Todd's YouTube Channel and watch his previous short films!

We'll be keeping a close eye on this independent production Vault Dwellers, so stay tuned for further updates as BATSH!T is eventually completed and released!