Mar 262012
 


The historic Portage Theater is currently threatened by the potential purchase of the building it is in by a church. The church proposes to convert the theater into their worship space, remove the marquee, alter the auditorium, and eliminate the storefronts and half the apartments for offices and classrooms.

There will be a public meeting about this challenge to our community on Monday, March 26th at 7:00 PM at the Portage Theater, 4050 N Milwaukee. More information at 45th Ward alderman John Arena’s website.

Can’t make it out to the community meeting?

Click the link below to see how you can help take action and help us save this amazing place!

Feb 292012
 

Join us for a night of films and fun featuring Spook Show Entertainment!! All proceeds from this event will be added to the Spook Show Entertainment 5 Film Campaign! (See Details Of Campaign At: www.indiegogo.com/spook-show-entertainment)

Films Confirmed:

 

Come Out And Show Your Support For

Spook Show Entertainment!

Films Showing:

Headline News (www.facebook.com/headlinenewsmovie)
Headline News Behind The Scenes Featurette (World Premier!)
On A Dark & Stormy Night (Multi-Award Winning Film!!)
I Hunt Ghosts (www.ihuntghosts.net)
Illusions Fate – “The Dying Anthem” (Music Video World Premier!!)
What They Say – Teaser Trailer

Special Performance by Illusions Fate! (www.illusionsfate.com)

CHECK OUT A SNEAK PEAK OF THE NEW MUSIC VIDEO!

Special Guests:

Willy Adkins (Spook Show Ent.)
Jason Sullivan (Spook Show Ent.)
Heather Dorff (Award winning actress / star of “What They Say”)
Michael Kleen (Author of the short story that inspired “Headline News”)
Justin R. Romine (Director of “What They Say”)
Kelsey Zukowski (Actress in “What The Say” & Director of “The Hazed”)
Tina Renee Grace (Actress in “What They Say” & Star of “The Hazed”)
Michael Schmid (Actor “Roy” in Headline News)
And More To Be Announced Soon!

THE HOUSE CAFE – 263 EAST LINCOLN HWY – DEKALB IL 60115

WWW.THEHOUSECAFE.NET

ALL AGES!!! –  $5 MIN DONATION – PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE SSE 5 FILM CAMPAIGN

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE 5 FILM CAMPAIGN!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE!!!

Feb 292012
 

Join us for a night of films and fun featuring Spook Show Entertainment!! All proceeds from this event will be added to the Spook Show Entertainment 5 Film Campaign! (See Details Of Campaign At: www.indiegogo.com/spook-show-entertainment)

Films Confirmed:

 

Come Out And Show Your Support For

Spook Show Entertainment!

Films Showing:

Headline News (www.facebook.com/headlinenewsmovie)
Headline News Behind The Scenes Featurette (World Premier!)
On A Dark & Stormy Night (Multi-Award Winning Film!!)
I Hunt Ghosts (www.ihuntghosts.net)
Illusions Fate – “The Dying Anthem” (Music Video World Premier!!)
What They Say – Teaser Trailer

Special Performance by Illusions Fate! (www.illusionsfate.com)

CHECK OUT A SNEAK PEAK OF THE NEW MUSIC VIDEO!

Special Guests:

Willy Adkins (Spook Show Ent.)
Jason Sullivan (Spook Show Ent.)
Heather Dorff (Award winning actress / star of “What They Say”)
Michael Kleen (Author of the short story that inspired “Headline News”)
Justin R. Romine (Director of “What They Say”)
Kelsey Zukowski (Actress in “What The Say” & Director of “The Hazed”)
Tina Renee Grace (Actress in “What They Say” & Star of “The Hazed”)
Michael Schmid (Actor “Roy” in Headline News)
And More To Be Announced Soon!

THE HOUSE CAFE – 263 EAST LINCOLN HWY – DEKALB IL 60115

WWW.THEHOUSECAFE.NET

ALL AGES!!! –  $5 MIN DONATION – PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE SSE 5 FILM CAMPAIGN

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE 5 FILM CAMPAIGN!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE!!!

Aug 282011
 

2011 CHFF Official Film Selections

On A Dark And Stormy Night

On A Dark And Stormy Night

Andrew (Aaron Massey) is afraid that his girlfriend Roxanne (Anna Ward) will report to the police a terrible crime Andrew committed Halloween night. Andrew’s friend, Gray (Juan Riedinger) has one solution to keep her quiet–kill her. Gray brutally kills Roxanne, and while figuring out what to do with her body, four other friends arrive. Gray successfully hides Roxanne’s corpse…but soon he becomes suspicious of everyone–a murder spree is soon out of control at the hands of a now psychopathic Gray and the bodies begin to pile up–on a dark and stormy night.

Submitted By:
Ezequiel Martinez
Genre:
Horror
Michael Morlock’s Supernatural World

Michael Morlock’s Supernatural World

Boomstick Productions presents a very funny and timely “mockumentary” from writer/director John Wesley Norton,  staring the intrepid Michael Morlock, paranormal researcher, historian, filmmaker and self-avowed party boy. Follow Michael as he investigates supernatural events around the globe, from the famous lake of Loch Ness in Scotland, to the less famous but no less interesting strip club across town. This full length feature film is full of thrills, chills, and enough belly laughs to wake the dead! Ghosts, Vampires, Zombies, Michael takes them all on in this super charged, super funny, supernatural comedy. Michael Morlock, when danger calls…he let’s it go to voicemail!

Submitted By:
John Wesley Norton – Boomstick Films
Genre:
Horror / Sci-fi / Comedy
Compulsion

Compulsion

Compulsion” is the story of Curtis (Christopher Stapleton), a gleefully sadistic serial killer who preys on young women, follows Leslie (Mimi Michaels) home one night and terrorizes her only to discover he may have bitten off more than he can chew. An unexpected game of cat and mouse ensues, culminating in a violent conclusion. However, the situation takes an even more sinister turn when Special Agent Randolph (Treva Etienne) and Special Agent Blake (William Walton) show up and assume jurisdiction from the local authorities to preserve their own hidden agenda.

Submitted By:
Christopher Stapleton
Genre:
Horror
Headline News

Headline News

Gerald Brown, a news reporter from the east coast finds himself stuck in a small town community starving for big city news, but finds himself continuously disappointed and annoyed. Then one day Gerald and Karen Jacobs, a journalist in training are sent to Woodbridge Community College to do a story about a cave fungus discovered by the knowledgeable Professor Alfred Zimmerman. What they find is much more then they expect! Find out what the days Headline News in this suspense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Submitted By:
Willy Adkins / Spook Show Entertainment
Genre:
Horror / Suspence / Comedy
What They Say

What They Say

They thought she had the perfect life; wealthy and privileged, an honor student with her whole life mapped out. What they didn’t know was what lied inside of her; pain and anguish; tearing at her until there was nothing left. Lost and alone, the young women (Heather Dorff), finds solace in the form of a glistening blade, splitting her skin deeply. Her self-indulgent mother and obnoxious sister (Kelsey Zukowski), are completely oblivious to her inner-turmoil. She has long since become numb to the world around her, getting that sensual release, as the razor cuts deeper, watching the blood drip, is all that matters. As soon as the last drop falls, the calm is stripped away from her with it. How far will she go to silence the hunger that now consumes her? Will she be able to regain control of her life, body, and sanity?

Evil lies within. How long will it stay there?

Submitted By:
Heather Dorff
Genre:
Thriller / Horror
Afraid of Sunrise

Afraid of Sunrise

After years of fighting, vampires and humans come to a truce-with the vamps getting the short end of the stick. Relegated to second class citizens, they are forced to live in ghettos and microchipped to track their movements. Adding insult to injury, they also must get their blood from specially sanctioned government blood banks.

Although the Hunters have officially disbanded, Jonathan Sloan and his small crew of ex-Hunters track down “illegals” trying to uncover a conspiracy of a vampire cabal that plans on overthrowing the government and returning the vampires back to their former glory.

Jonathan must also come to grips with his past and decide where his loyalties lie in dealing with his feelings for Perrey, the love of his life.. a vampire.

When nature takes over, love is not enough.

Submitted By:
Andy Schatner
Genre:
Action / Drama
Vamperifica

Vamperifica

“Vamperifica” is the story of Carmen McCoy, a flamboyant, twenty-something, sometime student at a small community college, who wants nothing more than to hang out with his best friend Tracy, be in a musical production at school, and maybe, one day, be a star. Instead, he discovers that for him, destiny has something else in store — he is the reincarnation of the 200 year old vampire king, Raven.
Now, Carmen must choose between his friends and that destiny.
“Vamperifica” is a mix of comedy and tenderness, drama and action, friendship and isolation, even a musical number! But it is also a story of the disenfranchised, and a dream of empowerment for all those who have felt as if they have been left behind. It is the story of all of us who have ever been told that we are somehow broken, and the triumph of the spirit when we stand tall and proclaim, “No We Are Not!”.

Submitted By:
Kenneth Greenblatt / Blood River Productions
Genre:
Comedy, Horror, Cult, Supernatural
INCUBATOR

INCUBATOR

A young man wakes up in a motel bathtub full of ice, only to find his problems have just begun.

Submitted By:
Jimmy Weber / Pretty People Pictures
Genre:
Horror, Cult
BETANIA

BETANIA

Serena is a doctor in a city hospital. Her life is quite and systemic until the day she has a call from Betania The priest of this small village where Serena was born, tells her that his grandpa has passed away. Serena moves to Betania in a symbolic journey that makes her emotive side came out. Serena realizes that in this village some died people come back to ‘life’ apparently will-less. Also Serena has this ‘gift’ of a second chance with her grandpa but she cant manage this until the final emotive breakdown

Submitted By:
Andrea Giomaro
Genre:
Horror
15:2

15:2

Emergency Medical Technicians Kevin and Leslie are about to learn that some patients would rather stay dead.

Submitted By:
Brennan Parks
Genre:
Comedy, Horror
KNIFEPOINT

KNIFEPOINT

On Christmas Eve, two sisters sharing a Venice apartment discover their home is the final target of a brutal gang of home invaders. Abbie and her wheelchair-bound sister Michele are forced to put aside their personal differences in order to survive an all-night onslaught of violence when their loft complex is systematically robbed, raped, and ransacked by a group of vicious criminals led by Jess and his sadistic sister Lorraine.

Submitted By:
Jed Strahm
Genre:
Horror, Thriller, Crime, Cult
The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue

The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue

The tenants are moving out, no one is drinking in the bar, the pets are disappearing, and now the two worst landlords in Chicago have to deal whatever it is that’s lurking in the basement. ‘The Moleman of Belmont Avenue’ is a new horror/comedy in the spirit of ‘Shaun of The Dead’ that features performances from horror icon Robert Englund and a cast of brilliant comedic actors from Chicago’s famed Second City.

Submitted By:
Mike Bradecich / Big Tree Productions
Genre:
Comedy, Horror
Red Ice

Red Ice

Set in San Francisco, RED ICE is the story of Evan, an overworked software engineer, who recently reconciled with his dying mother who, unbeknownst to him, fell under the spell of a murderous demon when Evan was young. Raised in foster care, Evan has emerged as a lonely, drug-addicted adult, whose only solace lies in his flute music. When he and his boss, Bob, cut corners on the software testing of a new military flight control system, the consequences are devastating, and summon the return of the old demon, who offers Evan a devilish deal to save himself — and the girl he loves.

Submitted By:
Ralph Hyver
Genre:
Horror, Thriller, Supernatural
Absentia

Absentia

Tricia’s husband has been missing for seven years. Her younger sister Callie comes to live with her as the pressure mounts to finally declare him ‘dead in absentia.’ Tricia is reluctant, always holding out hope, but Callie is practical and wants her to move on. As Tricia sifts through the wreckage and tries to move on with her life, Callie finds herself drawn to an ominous tunnel near the house. As she begins to link it to other mysterious disappearances, it becomes clear that his presumed death might be anything but ‘natural.’ It seems that the ancient force at work in the tunnel might have set its sights on Callie and Tricia … and that Tricia’s husband might be suffering a fate far worse than death in its grasp.

Submitted By:
Mike Flanagan / Back2One Productions
Genre:
Horror, Supernatural
Paranormal Calamity

Paranormal Calamity

What happens when an average suburban home is built atop the charred remains of a 1970′s brothel? What do you do when lusty spirits invade your quiet, no nonsense life? Paranormal Calamity! Starring Larry Thomas (Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi) Charlene Tilton (Dallas) Michael Wexler, Jennifer Schmidt and James Vallo

Submitted By:
John Westley Norton / Boomstick Films
Genre:
Comedy, Horror, Supernatural
Ashes

Ashes

Doctor Andrew Stanton is on the verge of the greatest scientific advancement of our time, an actual cure for AIDS. But when he injects his formula into a dying young boy, who has been infected with an unknown bacterium, it is the perfect storm of nature and science. The boy dies, but not before infecting Andrew with an aggressive new strain of bacteria that begins to consume his body and enrage his mind with a need for human flesh.

Submitted By:
Elias Matar / 2 Red Rabbit Films
Genre:
Drama, Horror, Thriller
Murderabilia

Murderabilia

Murderabilia follows an obsessive collector as he endeavors to track down a specific artifact related to a killing from the late 90′s. The journey begins with the face-to-face interview of the convicted murderer. The inmate recounts for the collector the specifics of his crime in vivid detail. Stoked by this narrative, the collector seeks out a reclusive online murderabilia vendor that claims to be in possession of the sought-after artifact. The collector meets with the zealous vendor, who offers him not only the artifact, but also a prize of much greater significance.

Submitted By:
Ryan Roy
Genre:
Horror, Crime, Cult
CRY

CRY

CRY

Submitted By:
Ezequiel Martinez
Genre:
Horror
Blackstone

Blackstone

BLACKSTONE follows the story of one man’s investigation of the gruesome and ritualistic murder of a family, as he tries to piece the fateful night together through two separate accounts. As the horrific details of the event are unveiled by the only surviving victim, and a convicted accomplice begins to reveal her motives, the man soon realizes the case may be bigger and more twisted than he ever thought possible.

Starring J.K. Simmons, Sasha Grey, and Emily Graham-Handley.

Submitted By:
Ian Wallace / A2A Productions LLC
Genre:
Horror, Thriller
A Chance in Hell

A Chance in Hell

Set against the drab backdrop of World War II Germany, A Chance in Hell centers around a group of American soldiers who come across a secret Nazi facility where the malevolent Dr. Bucher has been performing experiments on concentration camp victims in an attempt to perfect a super soldier for his fuhrer’s army. Facing a hoard of blood-thirsty creatures around every corner and low on ammo, the GIs quickly realize they don’t stand a chance in Hell!

Submitted By:
Tony Wash / Scotchworthy Productions, Inc.
Genre:
Horror, War
The Cabin at Claw Lake

The Cabin at Claw Lake

More than 50 years ago, a little girl survives a near-drowning as she canoes on a remote northwoods lake with her father, seeing him drown in the process. Forced to survive in the wild, starving nearly to death, this little girl learns to fend for herself while living like an animal off the land. Decades later, two unsuspecting couples vacationing in a remote rental cabin on the shores of Claw Lake, enter a realm where unusual and grisly killings of hikers and canoeists–seemingly by wild animals–have been puzzling the authorities for years. Disregarding warnings of bears and mountain lions by a local sheriff, the couples soon discover their idea of ‘roughing it in the woods’ is far from what they envisioned in the city they left behind, when a vicious, ghostly creature appears from the woods and begins to stalk them. Is it a wild animal like a cougar, a wolf, or a bear that’s hunting them? Is it the axe-wielding crazy camper inhabiting the shoreline, seen by the couples as they are boating on the lake? Or perhaps a more sinister presence stalks them at their Cabin on Claw Lake? Their late-night party soon turns horrific as one by one, the northwoods vacationers disappear. Filmed entirely in Voyageur’s National Park in Crane Lake, Minnesota.

Submitted By:
Coulter Mitchell / Protozoan Productions
Genre:
Horror
RITUAL

RITUAL

A beautiful and mysterious woman returns home to a castle, while a curious young boy ventures in and around her residence, only to be pulled further into a tangled web of horrors while meeting several interesting and bizarre characters along the way.

Submitted By:
Andre Noe
Genre:
Horror, Erotic, Supernatural
Blood Sisters

Blood Sisters

Woman waits for her killer to arrive. But after she is murdered by him, she sets out to avenge her death.

Submitted By:
Cary Anderson
Genre:
Horror
Get Off My Porch

Get Off My Porch

A man, home alone, is terrorized by girl scouts selling him “delicious” cookies. The film is directed by Kansas filmmaker, Patrick Rea. Music by Harry Manfredini (Friday the 13th). Shot entirely in Shawnee and Lawrence, Kansas.

Submitted By:
Patrick Rea / SenoReality Pictures
Genre:
Comedy, Horror
Homework

Homework

When under achieving teen Becca is left alone in her high-rise apartment to do her homework, she gets an unwanted visitor. She then takes it upon herself to try and dispatch of him, using what she has learned from her Chemistry assignment.

Submitted By:
Richard Reiter / 13 Tigers Productions
Genre:
Horror, Thriller
Fitness Class Zombie

Fitness Class Zombie

This super short, super intense stop motion animation illustrates how to lose weight the UNDEAD way!

Aug 282011
 

2011 CHFF Official Film Selections

On A Dark And Stormy Night

On A Dark And Stormy Night

Andrew (Aaron Massey) is afraid that his girlfriend Roxanne (Anna Ward) will report to the police a terrible crime Andrew committed Halloween night. Andrew’s friend, Gray (Juan Riedinger) has one solution to keep her quiet–kill her. Gray brutally kills Roxanne, and while figuring out what to do with her body, four other friends arrive. Gray successfully hides Roxanne’s corpse…but soon he becomes suspicious of everyone–a murder spree is soon out of control at the hands of a now psychopathic Gray and the bodies begin to pile up–on a dark and stormy night.

Submitted By:
Ezequiel Martinez
Genre:
Horror
Michael Morlock’s Supernatural World

Michael Morlock’s Supernatural World

Boomstick Productions presents a very funny and timely “mockumentary” from writer/director John Wesley Norton,  staring the intrepid Michael Morlock, paranormal researcher, historian, filmmaker and self-avowed party boy. Follow Michael as he investigates supernatural events around the globe, from the famous lake of Loch Ness in Scotland, to the less famous but no less interesting strip club across town. This full length feature film is full of thrills, chills, and enough belly laughs to wake the dead! Ghosts, Vampires, Zombies, Michael takes them all on in this super charged, super funny, supernatural comedy. Michael Morlock, when danger calls…he let’s it go to voicemail!

Submitted By:
John Wesley Norton – Boomstick Films
Genre:
Horror / Sci-fi / Comedy
Compulsion

Compulsion

Compulsion” is the story of Curtis (Christopher Stapleton), a gleefully sadistic serial killer who preys on young women, follows Leslie (Mimi Michaels) home one night and terrorizes her only to discover he may have bitten off more than he can chew. An unexpected game of cat and mouse ensues, culminating in a violent conclusion. However, the situation takes an even more sinister turn when Special Agent Randolph (Treva Etienne) and Special Agent Blake (William Walton) show up and assume jurisdiction from the local authorities to preserve their own hidden agenda.

Submitted By:
Christopher Stapleton
Genre:
Horror
Headline News

Headline News

Gerald Brown, a news reporter from the east coast finds himself stuck in a small town community starving for big city news, but finds himself continuously disappointed and annoyed. Then one day Gerald and Karen Jacobs, a journalist in training are sent to Woodbridge Community College to do a story about a cave fungus discovered by the knowledgeable Professor Alfred Zimmerman. What they find is much more then they expect! Find out what the days Headline News in this suspense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Submitted By:
Willy Adkins / Spook Show Entertainment
Genre:
Horror / Suspence / Comedy
What They Say

What They Say

They thought she had the perfect life; wealthy and privileged, an honor student with her whole life mapped out. What they didn’t know was what lied inside of her; pain and anguish; tearing at her until there was nothing left. Lost and alone, the young women (Heather Dorff), finds solace in the form of a glistening blade, splitting her skin deeply. Her self-indulgent mother and obnoxious sister (Kelsey Zukowski), are completely oblivious to her inner-turmoil. She has long since become numb to the world around her, getting that sensual release, as the razor cuts deeper, watching the blood drip, is all that matters. As soon as the last drop falls, the calm is stripped away from her with it. How far will she go to silence the hunger that now consumes her? Will she be able to regain control of her life, body, and sanity?

Evil lies within. How long will it stay there?

Submitted By:
Heather Dorff
Genre:
Thriller / Horror
Afraid of Sunrise

Afraid of Sunrise

After years of fighting, vampires and humans come to a truce-with the vamps getting the short end of the stick. Relegated to second class citizens, they are forced to live in ghettos and microchipped to track their movements. Adding insult to injury, they also must get their blood from specially sanctioned government blood banks.

Although the Hunters have officially disbanded, Jonathan Sloan and his small crew of ex-Hunters track down “illegals” trying to uncover a conspiracy of a vampire cabal that plans on overthrowing the government and returning the vampires back to their former glory.

Jonathan must also come to grips with his past and decide where his loyalties lie in dealing with his feelings for Perrey, the love of his life.. a vampire.

When nature takes over, love is not enough.

Submitted By:
Andy Schatner
Genre:
Action / Drama
Vamperifica

Vamperifica

“Vamperifica” is the story of Carmen McCoy, a flamboyant, twenty-something, sometime student at a small community college, who wants nothing more than to hang out with his best friend Tracy, be in a musical production at school, and maybe, one day, be a star. Instead, he discovers that for him, destiny has something else in store — he is the reincarnation of the 200 year old vampire king, Raven.
Now, Carmen must choose between his friends and that destiny.
“Vamperifica” is a mix of comedy and tenderness, drama and action, friendship and isolation, even a musical number! But it is also a story of the disenfranchised, and a dream of empowerment for all those who have felt as if they have been left behind. It is the story of all of us who have ever been told that we are somehow broken, and the triumph of the spirit when we stand tall and proclaim, “No We Are Not!”.

Submitted By:
Kenneth Greenblatt / Blood River Productions
Genre:
Comedy, Horror, Cult, Supernatural
INCUBATOR

INCUBATOR

A young man wakes up in a motel bathtub full of ice, only to find his problems have just begun.

Submitted By:
Jimmy Weber / Pretty People Pictures
Genre:
Horror, Cult
BETANIA

BETANIA

Serena is a doctor in a city hospital. Her life is quite and systemic until the day she has a call from Betania The priest of this small village where Serena was born, tells her that his grandpa has passed away. Serena moves to Betania in a symbolic journey that makes her emotive side came out. Serena realizes that in this village some died people come back to ‘life’ apparently will-less. Also Serena has this ‘gift’ of a second chance with her grandpa but she cant manage this until the final emotive breakdown

Submitted By:
Andrea Giomaro
Genre:
Horror
15:2

15:2

Emergency Medical Technicians Kevin and Leslie are about to learn that some patients would rather stay dead.

Submitted By:
Brennan Parks
Genre:
Comedy, Horror
KNIFEPOINT

KNIFEPOINT

On Christmas Eve, two sisters sharing a Venice apartment discover their home is the final target of a brutal gang of home invaders. Abbie and her wheelchair-bound sister Michele are forced to put aside their personal differences in order to survive an all-night onslaught of violence when their loft complex is systematically robbed, raped, and ransacked by a group of vicious criminals led by Jess and his sadistic sister Lorraine.

Submitted By:
Jed Strahm
Genre:
Horror, Thriller, Crime, Cult
The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue

The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue

The tenants are moving out, no one is drinking in the bar, the pets are disappearing, and now the two worst landlords in Chicago have to deal whatever it is that’s lurking in the basement. ‘The Moleman of Belmont Avenue’ is a new horror/comedy in the spirit of ‘Shaun of The Dead’ that features performances from horror icon Robert Englund and a cast of brilliant comedic actors from Chicago’s famed Second City.

Submitted By:
Mike Bradecich / Big Tree Productions
Genre:
Comedy, Horror
Red Ice

Red Ice

Set in San Francisco, RED ICE is the story of Evan, an overworked software engineer, who recently reconciled with his dying mother who, unbeknownst to him, fell under the spell of a murderous demon when Evan was young. Raised in foster care, Evan has emerged as a lonely, drug-addicted adult, whose only solace lies in his flute music. When he and his boss, Bob, cut corners on the software testing of a new military flight control system, the consequences are devastating, and summon the return of the old demon, who offers Evan a devilish deal to save himself — and the girl he loves.

Submitted By:
Ralph Hyver
Genre:
Horror, Thriller, Supernatural
Absentia

Absentia

Tricia’s husband has been missing for seven years. Her younger sister Callie comes to live with her as the pressure mounts to finally declare him ‘dead in absentia.’ Tricia is reluctant, always holding out hope, but Callie is practical and wants her to move on. As Tricia sifts through the wreckage and tries to move on with her life, Callie finds herself drawn to an ominous tunnel near the house. As she begins to link it to other mysterious disappearances, it becomes clear that his presumed death might be anything but ‘natural.’ It seems that the ancient force at work in the tunnel might have set its sights on Callie and Tricia … and that Tricia’s husband might be suffering a fate far worse than death in its grasp.

Submitted By:
Mike Flanagan / Back2One Productions
Genre:
Horror, Supernatural
Paranormal Calamity

Paranormal Calamity

What happens when an average suburban home is built atop the charred remains of a 1970′s brothel? What do you do when lusty spirits invade your quiet, no nonsense life? Paranormal Calamity! Starring Larry Thomas (Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi) Charlene Tilton (Dallas) Michael Wexler, Jennifer Schmidt and James Vallo

Submitted By:
John Westley Norton / Boomstick Films
Genre:
Comedy, Horror, Supernatural
Ashes

Ashes

Doctor Andrew Stanton is on the verge of the greatest scientific advancement of our time, an actual cure for AIDS. But when he injects his formula into a dying young boy, who has been infected with an unknown bacterium, it is the perfect storm of nature and science. The boy dies, but not before infecting Andrew with an aggressive new strain of bacteria that begins to consume his body and enrage his mind with a need for human flesh.

Submitted By:
Elias Matar / 2 Red Rabbit Films
Genre:
Drama, Horror, Thriller
Murderabilia

Murderabilia

Murderabilia follows an obsessive collector as he endeavors to track down a specific artifact related to a killing from the late 90′s. The journey begins with the face-to-face interview of the convicted murderer. The inmate recounts for the collector the specifics of his crime in vivid detail. Stoked by this narrative, the collector seeks out a reclusive online murderabilia vendor that claims to be in possession of the sought-after artifact. The collector meets with the zealous vendor, who offers him not only the artifact, but also a prize of much greater significance.

Submitted By:
Ryan Roy
Genre:
Horror, Crime, Cult
CRY

CRY

CRY

Submitted By:
Ezequiel Martinez
Genre:
Horror
Blackstone

Blackstone

BLACKSTONE follows the story of one man’s investigation of the gruesome and ritualistic murder of a family, as he tries to piece the fateful night together through two separate accounts. As the horrific details of the event are unveiled by the only surviving victim, and a convicted accomplice begins to reveal her motives, the man soon realizes the case may be bigger and more twisted than he ever thought possible.

Starring J.K. Simmons, Sasha Grey, and Emily Graham-Handley.

Submitted By:
Ian Wallace / A2A Productions LLC
Genre:
Horror, Thriller
A Chance in Hell

A Chance in Hell

Set against the drab backdrop of World War II Germany, A Chance in Hell centers around a group of American soldiers who come across a secret Nazi facility where the malevolent Dr. Bucher has been performing experiments on concentration camp victims in an attempt to perfect a super soldier for his fuhrer’s army. Facing a hoard of blood-thirsty creatures around every corner and low on ammo, the GIs quickly realize they don’t stand a chance in Hell!

Submitted By:
Tony Wash / Scotchworthy Productions, Inc.
Genre:
Horror, War
The Cabin at Claw Lake

The Cabin at Claw Lake

More than 50 years ago, a little girl survives a near-drowning as she canoes on a remote northwoods lake with her father, seeing him drown in the process. Forced to survive in the wild, starving nearly to death, this little girl learns to fend for herself while living like an animal off the land. Decades later, two unsuspecting couples vacationing in a remote rental cabin on the shores of Claw Lake, enter a realm where unusual and grisly killings of hikers and canoeists–seemingly by wild animals–have been puzzling the authorities for years. Disregarding warnings of bears and mountain lions by a local sheriff, the couples soon discover their idea of ‘roughing it in the woods’ is far from what they envisioned in the city they left behind, when a vicious, ghostly creature appears from the woods and begins to stalk them. Is it a wild animal like a cougar, a wolf, or a bear that’s hunting them? Is it the axe-wielding crazy camper inhabiting the shoreline, seen by the couples as they are boating on the lake? Or perhaps a more sinister presence stalks them at their Cabin on Claw Lake? Their late-night party soon turns horrific as one by one, the northwoods vacationers disappear. Filmed entirely in Voyageur’s National Park in Crane Lake, Minnesota.

Submitted By:
Coulter Mitchell / Protozoan Productions
Genre:
Horror
RITUAL

RITUAL

A beautiful and mysterious woman returns home to a castle, while a curious young boy ventures in and around her residence, only to be pulled further into a tangled web of horrors while meeting several interesting and bizarre characters along the way.

Submitted By:
Andre Noe
Genre:
Horror, Erotic, Supernatural
Blood Sisters

Blood Sisters

Woman waits for her killer to arrive. But after she is murdered by him, she sets out to avenge her death.

Submitted By:
Cary Anderson
Genre:
Horror
Get Off My Porch

Get Off My Porch

A man, home alone, is terrorized by girl scouts selling him “delicious” cookies. The film is directed by Kansas filmmaker, Patrick Rea. Music by Harry Manfredini (Friday the 13th). Shot entirely in Shawnee and Lawrence, Kansas.

Submitted By:
Patrick Rea / SenoReality Pictures
Genre:
Comedy, Horror
Homework

Homework

When under achieving teen Becca is left alone in her high-rise apartment to do her homework, she gets an unwanted visitor. She then takes it upon herself to try and dispatch of him, using what she has learned from her Chemistry assignment.

Submitted By:
Richard Reiter / 13 Tigers Productions
Genre:
Horror, Thriller
Fitness Class Zombie

Fitness Class Zombie

This super short, super intense stop motion animation illustrates how to lose weight the UNDEAD way!

Aug 282011
 

2011 CHFF Official Film Selections

On A Dark And Stormy Night

On A Dark And Stormy Night

Andrew (Aaron Massey) is afraid that his girlfriend Roxanne (Anna Ward) will report to the police a terrible crime Andrew committed Halloween night. Andrew’s friend, Gray (Juan Riedinger) has one solution to keep her quiet–kill her. Gray brutally kills Roxanne, and while figuring out what to do with her body, four other friends arrive. Gray successfully hides Roxanne’s corpse…but soon he becomes suspicious of everyone–a murder spree is soon out of control at the hands of a now psychopathic Gray and the bodies begin to pile up–on a dark and stormy night.

Submitted By:
Ezequiel Martinez
Genre:
Horror
Michael Morlock’s Supernatural World

Michael Morlock’s Supernatural World

Boomstick Productions presents a very funny and timely “mockumentary” from writer/director John Wesley Norton,  staring the intrepid Michael Morlock, paranormal researcher, historian, filmmaker and self-avowed party boy. Follow Michael as he investigates supernatural events around the globe, from the famous lake of Loch Ness in Scotland, to the less famous but no less interesting strip club across town. This full length feature film is full of thrills, chills, and enough belly laughs to wake the dead! Ghosts, Vampires, Zombies, Michael takes them all on in this super charged, super funny, supernatural comedy. Michael Morlock, when danger calls…he let’s it go to voicemail!

Submitted By:
John Wesley Norton – Boomstick Films
Genre:
Horror / Sci-fi / Comedy
Compulsion

Compulsion

Compulsion” is the story of Curtis (Christopher Stapleton), a gleefully sadistic serial killer who preys on young women, follows Leslie (Mimi Michaels) home one night and terrorizes her only to discover he may have bitten off more than he can chew. An unexpected game of cat and mouse ensues, culminating in a violent conclusion. However, the situation takes an even more sinister turn when Special Agent Randolph (Treva Etienne) and Special Agent Blake (William Walton) show up and assume jurisdiction from the local authorities to preserve their own hidden agenda.

Submitted By:
Christopher Stapleton
Genre:
Horror
Headline News

Headline News

Gerald Brown, a news reporter from the east coast finds himself stuck in a small town community starving for big city news, but finds himself continuously disappointed and annoyed. Then one day Gerald and Karen Jacobs, a journalist in training are sent to Woodbridge Community College to do a story about a cave fungus discovered by the knowledgeable Professor Alfred Zimmerman. What they find is much more then they expect! Find out what the days Headline News in this suspense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Submitted By:
Willy Adkins / Spook Show Entertainment
Genre:
Horror / Suspence / Comedy
What They Say

What They Say

They thought she had the perfect life; wealthy and privileged, an honor student with her whole life mapped out. What they didn’t know was what lied inside of her; pain and anguish; tearing at her until there was nothing left. Lost and alone, the young women (Heather Dorff), finds solace in the form of a glistening blade, splitting her skin deeply. Her self-indulgent mother and obnoxious sister (Kelsey Zukowski), are completely oblivious to her inner-turmoil. She has long since become numb to the world around her, getting that sensual release, as the razor cuts deeper, watching the blood drip, is all that matters. As soon as the last drop falls, the calm is stripped away from her with it. How far will she go to silence the hunger that now consumes her? Will she be able to regain control of her life, body, and sanity?

Evil lies within. How long will it stay there?

Submitted By:
Heather Dorff
Genre:
Thriller / Horror
Afraid of Sunrise

Afraid of Sunrise

After years of fighting, vampires and humans come to a truce-with the vamps getting the short end of the stick. Relegated to second class citizens, they are forced to live in ghettos and microchipped to track their movements. Adding insult to injury, they also must get their blood from specially sanctioned government blood banks.

Although the Hunters have officially disbanded, Jonathan Sloan and his small crew of ex-Hunters track down “illegals” trying to uncover a conspiracy of a vampire cabal that plans on overthrowing the government and returning the vampires back to their former glory.

Jonathan must also come to grips with his past and decide where his loyalties lie in dealing with his feelings for Perrey, the love of his life.. a vampire.

When nature takes over, love is not enough.

Submitted By:
Andy Schatner
Genre:
Action / Drama
Vamperifica

Vamperifica

“Vamperifica” is the story of Carmen McCoy, a flamboyant, twenty-something, sometime student at a small community college, who wants nothing more than to hang out with his best friend Tracy, be in a musical production at school, and maybe, one day, be a star. Instead, he discovers that for him, destiny has something else in store — he is the reincarnation of the 200 year old vampire king, Raven.
Now, Carmen must choose between his friends and that destiny.
“Vamperifica” is a mix of comedy and tenderness, drama and action, friendship and isolation, even a musical number! But it is also a story of the disenfranchised, and a dream of empowerment for all those who have felt as if they have been left behind. It is the story of all of us who have ever been told that we are somehow broken, and the triumph of the spirit when we stand tall and proclaim, “No We Are Not!”.

Submitted By:
Kenneth Greenblatt / Blood River Productions
Genre:
Comedy, Horror, Cult, Supernatural
INCUBATOR

INCUBATOR

A young man wakes up in a motel bathtub full of ice, only to find his problems have just begun.

Submitted By:
Jimmy Weber / Pretty People Pictures
Genre:
Horror, Cult
BETANIA

BETANIA

Serena is a doctor in a city hospital. Her life is quite and systemic until the day she has a call from Betania The priest of this small village where Serena was born, tells her that his grandpa has passed away. Serena moves to Betania in a symbolic journey that makes her emotive side came out. Serena realizes that in this village some died people come back to ‘life’ apparently will-less. Also Serena has this ‘gift’ of a second chance with her grandpa but she cant manage this until the final emotive breakdown

Submitted By:
Andrea Giomaro
Genre:
Horror
15:2

15:2

Emergency Medical Technicians Kevin and Leslie are about to learn that some patients would rather stay dead.

Submitted By:
Brennan Parks
Genre:
Comedy, Horror
KNIFEPOINT

KNIFEPOINT

On Christmas Eve, two sisters sharing a Venice apartment discover their home is the final target of a brutal gang of home invaders. Abbie and her wheelchair-bound sister Michele are forced to put aside their personal differences in order to survive an all-night onslaught of violence when their loft complex is systematically robbed, raped, and ransacked by a group of vicious criminals led by Jess and his sadistic sister Lorraine.

Submitted By:
Jed Strahm
Genre:
Horror, Thriller, Crime, Cult
The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue

The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue

The tenants are moving out, no one is drinking in the bar, the pets are disappearing, and now the two worst landlords in Chicago have to deal whatever it is that’s lurking in the basement. ‘The Moleman of Belmont Avenue’ is a new horror/comedy in the spirit of ‘Shaun of The Dead’ that features performances from horror icon Robert Englund and a cast of brilliant comedic actors from Chicago’s famed Second City.

Submitted By:
Mike Bradecich / Big Tree Productions
Genre:
Comedy, Horror
Red Ice

Red Ice

Set in San Francisco, RED ICE is the story of Evan, an overworked software engineer, who recently reconciled with his dying mother who, unbeknownst to him, fell under the spell of a murderous demon when Evan was young. Raised in foster care, Evan has emerged as a lonely, drug-addicted adult, whose only solace lies in his flute music. When he and his boss, Bob, cut corners on the software testing of a new military flight control system, the consequences are devastating, and summon the return of the old demon, who offers Evan a devilish deal to save himself — and the girl he loves.

Submitted By:
Ralph Hyver
Genre:
Horror, Thriller, Supernatural
Absentia

Absentia

Tricia’s husband has been missing for seven years. Her younger sister Callie comes to live with her as the pressure mounts to finally declare him ‘dead in absentia.’ Tricia is reluctant, always holding out hope, but Callie is practical and wants her to move on. As Tricia sifts through the wreckage and tries to move on with her life, Callie finds herself drawn to an ominous tunnel near the house. As she begins to link it to other mysterious disappearances, it becomes clear that his presumed death might be anything but ‘natural.’ It seems that the ancient force at work in the tunnel might have set its sights on Callie and Tricia … and that Tricia’s husband might be suffering a fate far worse than death in its grasp.

Submitted By:
Mike Flanagan / Back2One Productions
Genre:
Horror, Supernatural
Paranormal Calamity

Paranormal Calamity

What happens when an average suburban home is built atop the charred remains of a 1970′s brothel? What do you do when lusty spirits invade your quiet, no nonsense life? Paranormal Calamity! Starring Larry Thomas (Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi) Charlene Tilton (Dallas) Michael Wexler, Jennifer Schmidt and James Vallo

Submitted By:
John Westley Norton / Boomstick Films
Genre:
Comedy, Horror, Supernatural
Ashes

Ashes

Doctor Andrew Stanton is on the verge of the greatest scientific advancement of our time, an actual cure for AIDS. But when he injects his formula into a dying young boy, who has been infected with an unknown bacterium, it is the perfect storm of nature and science. The boy dies, but not before infecting Andrew with an aggressive new strain of bacteria that begins to consume his body and enrage his mind with a need for human flesh.

Submitted By:
Elias Matar / 2 Red Rabbit Films
Genre:
Drama, Horror, Thriller
Murderabilia

Murderabilia

Murderabilia follows an obsessive collector as he endeavors to track down a specific artifact related to a killing from the late 90′s. The journey begins with the face-to-face interview of the convicted murderer. The inmate recounts for the collector the specifics of his crime in vivid detail. Stoked by this narrative, the collector seeks out a reclusive online murderabilia vendor that claims to be in possession of the sought-after artifact. The collector meets with the zealous vendor, who offers him not only the artifact, but also a prize of much greater significance.

Submitted By:
Ryan Roy
Genre:
Horror, Crime, Cult
CRY

CRY

CRY

Submitted By:
Ezequiel Martinez
Genre:
Horror
Blackstone

Blackstone

BLACKSTONE follows the story of one man’s investigation of the gruesome and ritualistic murder of a family, as he tries to piece the fateful night together through two separate accounts. As the horrific details of the event are unveiled by the only surviving victim, and a convicted accomplice begins to reveal her motives, the man soon realizes the case may be bigger and more twisted than he ever thought possible.

Starring J.K. Simmons, Sasha Grey, and Emily Graham-Handley.

Submitted By:
Ian Wallace / A2A Productions LLC
Genre:
Horror, Thriller
A Chance in Hell

A Chance in Hell

Set against the drab backdrop of World War II Germany, A Chance in Hell centers around a group of American soldiers who come across a secret Nazi facility where the malevolent Dr. Bucher has been performing experiments on concentration camp victims in an attempt to perfect a super soldier for his fuhrer’s army. Facing a hoard of blood-thirsty creatures around every corner and low on ammo, the GIs quickly realize they don’t stand a chance in Hell!

Submitted By:
Tony Wash / Scotchworthy Productions, Inc.
Genre:
Horror, War
The Cabin at Claw Lake

The Cabin at Claw Lake

More than 50 years ago, a little girl survives a near-drowning as she canoes on a remote northwoods lake with her father, seeing him drown in the process. Forced to survive in the wild, starving nearly to death, this little girl learns to fend for herself while living like an animal off the land. Decades later, two unsuspecting couples vacationing in a remote rental cabin on the shores of Claw Lake, enter a realm where unusual and grisly killings of hikers and canoeists–seemingly by wild animals–have been puzzling the authorities for years. Disregarding warnings of bears and mountain lions by a local sheriff, the couples soon discover their idea of ‘roughing it in the woods’ is far from what they envisioned in the city they left behind, when a vicious, ghostly creature appears from the woods and begins to stalk them. Is it a wild animal like a cougar, a wolf, or a bear that’s hunting them? Is it the axe-wielding crazy camper inhabiting the shoreline, seen by the couples as they are boating on the lake? Or perhaps a more sinister presence stalks them at their Cabin on Claw Lake? Their late-night party soon turns horrific as one by one, the northwoods vacationers disappear. Filmed entirely in Voyageur’s National Park in Crane Lake, Minnesota.

Submitted By:
Coulter Mitchell / Protozoan Productions
Genre:
Horror
RITUAL

RITUAL

A beautiful and mysterious woman returns home to a castle, while a curious young boy ventures in and around her residence, only to be pulled further into a tangled web of horrors while meeting several interesting and bizarre characters along the way.

Submitted By:
Andre Noe
Genre:
Horror, Erotic, Supernatural
Blood Sisters

Blood Sisters

Woman waits for her killer to arrive. But after she is murdered by him, she sets out to avenge her death.

Submitted By:
Cary Anderson
Genre:
Horror
Get Off My Porch

Get Off My Porch

A man, home alone, is terrorized by girl scouts selling him “delicious” cookies. The film is directed by Kansas filmmaker, Patrick Rea. Music by Harry Manfredini (Friday the 13th). Shot entirely in Shawnee and Lawrence, Kansas.

Submitted By:
Patrick Rea / SenoReality Pictures
Genre:
Comedy, Horror
Homework

Homework

When under achieving teen Becca is left alone in her high-rise apartment to do her homework, she gets an unwanted visitor. She then takes it upon herself to try and dispatch of him, using what she has learned from her Chemistry assignment.

Submitted By:
Richard Reiter / 13 Tigers Productions
Genre:
Horror, Thriller
Fitness Class Zombie

Fitness Class Zombie

This super short, super intense stop motion animation illustrates how to lose weight the UNDEAD way!

May 162011
 

The Poster features a sneak peak of actor Michael Wexler in a way the world has never seen him before, as the evil Doctor Ethan Campbell!!!  Headline News goes into production this weekend and wraps up in mid June.  The film is scheduled to world premier at the 2011 Chicago Horror Film Festival!  This film marks Willy Adkins’s debut as Director!

Feb 232011
 
Headline News

Headline News

Help Us Make Our Next Film!!!

“Headline News”

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR CAMPAIGN!!!

Headline News is a joint effort of 4 people to make a short story come to life on screen!  The world premier of this film is going to be part of the 2011 Chicago Horror Film Festival at The Portage Theater!  The film makers have known each other for several years and have had the urge to put together a project together for a very long time, and “Headline News” will be the first of several projects the team plans to take on.

Upon completion of the film, we intend to show it at as many festivals as possible.  We take pride in our work and have put a lot of effort into making this film something great!  We are currently casting the film, and of course getting the funds together to make it happen.  Looking further ahead, the 4 film makers are working on another film, a feature length also based on a story by author Michael Kleen.  When that project is completed, we plan to distribute the feature length film along with “Headline News” as a DVD extra.

Synopsis

Gerald Brown, a news reporter from the east coast finds himself stuck in a small town community starving for big city news, but finds himself continuously disappointed and annoyed. Then one day Gerald and Karen Jacobs, a journalist in training are sent to Woodbridge Community College to do a story about a cave fungus discovered by the knowledgeable Professor Alfred Zimmerman. What they find is much more then they expect! Find out what the days Headline News in this suspense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

About the film makers

This film is based on a short story called “Coed Terror in the Ivory Tower of Doom” by Michael Kleen.

Mr. Willy Adkins is the CEO of Spook Show Entertainment and a “jack of all trades” in the entertainment industry.  He is well know for his paranormal investigation ventures.  Willy founded The Illinois Ghost Hunters, The Paranormal Research Community & Afterlife Paranormal.  His paranormal ventures have taken him all over the country. Willy is also known for his life long passion of dark arts and photography.  He started taking photos under the name “Deviant Desires Photography“  15 years ago.  The name has grown to be internationally recognized.  Present day Willy is staying busy producing, writing and acting in independent film. His first film release, “I Hunt Ghosts” a documentary about ghost hunting is currently available on DVD.  He is currently working on a short film called “Headline News” that will mark his debut as a director.  Many people in the industry know Willy for his horror hosting experience as the character we call “Mr. Willy”.  Looking ahead Willy will be staring in a film bringing his “Mr. Willy” character to film called “Immortal Vengeance – The Chronicles of Mr. Willy“.  Willy also prides himself by helping other independent artists (both film and otherwise) get noticed for their art and efforts as producer / director of The Chicago Horror Film Festival & The Indy Horror Film Festival.  Whats next for Willy?  Well, at the speed he is working the sky is the limit!  More info about Willy Adkins on his official website: www.MrWillysLair.com or IMDb.

Deann Baker is a young up-and-coming filmmaker that’s about to graduate from Columbia with a bachelors in Film. She’s worked on a variety of films ranging from Main Stream (Public Enemy) to Independent (Portrait). Deann wears all kinds of hats when it comes to being in front and behind the camera. She just finished a supporting role in “And They Call it Puppy Love” as well as looking forward to starring in “Comcast! The Musical.” Beyond that she produces, assistant directs, sound mixes, writes, edits, and directs. She’s most recognized for her work as an original score composer for Cheese Muffins Productions. Currently she spends her days working at Comma Music/Particle Audio and as an editor for SGA and her nights are dedicated to writing the first draft of “Immortal Vengeance – The Chronicles of Mr. Willy.” She looks forward to Headline News as the mixture of passion and determination alone will give this film some life.

Jason Sullivan is the lead writer and casting director for “Headline News.”  Born and raised in Chicago’s western suburbs, Jason wrote his first script while in college, where he also worked briefly as a lighting tech. Both areas were far removed from any curriculum of study he was active in.  Since that time, Jason has completed various local screenwriting programs, and has contributed to 5 different full-length scripts.  Jason cites small budget films such as “Pi” “Memento” and “The Blair Witch Project” as influences that made him want to become active in film-making.  Outside of film-making, Jason works full-time as a financial analyst and plays bass guitar for a Chicago irish folk band.

Curtis Clegg – Bio Coming Soon

What We Need & What You Get

We are casting this film using donated time and talent, however we have many expenses to cover.  Location rentals, van rental, equipment and all of the same expenses as any other film production.  We will find a way to make this film no matter what, it comes with being very dedicated and serious about your projects.  We have set a goal of $1600 for Indiegogo, and an overall goal of $2000 to get this film to look the way we want it to.  Anything above and beyond will just give us the ability to help some of the talented people involved with gas to shoot locations and permit us to invest more into better effects for the film itself.  Every penny obtained for this film, will go into making it the best film we can possibly make for you to see.  Thank you in advance for helping us further our dreams, goals and art.

Other Ways You Can Help

PROMOTE!  Its more important then financing!  If nobody knows about the film, then thousands of dollars invested into a film don’t matter, because nobody will see it!  Please send people to our Facebook Page and to our production website www.SpookShowEntertainment.com!  We are still running casting calls for this film, and getting the right people in line to audition for the parts is a huge help as well!  But please, tell your friends, your family and even your enemies about what we do!

Finally outside of this film alone, please get out and see independent films!  It is a great network of people out there putting everything they have into making a “picture show” for you!  Get out and see these awesome movies by so many dedicated and talented individuals!

www.SpookShowEntertainment.com