Dimension's Horrible Podcast #8 - "Thanksgiving is Atrocious &...Lonely"

Dimension's Horrible Podcast #8 

 "Thanksgiving is Atrocious &...Lonely"

This week on the show, Rob goes it alone, without Big Sal helping guide him through the zombie infested airwaves. Armed only with a microphone and heading into darkness...hold my hand?

Dimension discusses the Spanish Found Footage film, Atrocious from 2010, plus he delivers the Horror news and dvd releases. It's a short episode, but still full of Horror goodness. Visit http://www.robdimension.com/ for more details.

On behalf of Sal and Rob - Happy Thanksgiving!!

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The Poughkeepsie Tapes reviewed - "Hey Mom...look what I found!!"

The Poughkeepsie Tapes

Reviewed by: Rob Dimension

I have been waiting to see this one for a while now, I felt it delivered. Being stuck in the unreleasable hell of Hollywood, I am really lost as to why they would fear the release of this film. It certainly is not a film that is too shocking or too brutal….it just adds another twist to the lost/found footage angle. I like to think of myself as a connoisseur of Faux-snuff films....after all, I have sat threw all of August Underground trilogy, watched The Murder Collection and countless others from the sub genre of Horror.

Plot Synopsis - In September 2001 the Poughkeepsie Police Dept. discovered over 800 video tapes that contained horrific and brutal images uncovering the story of one of America's most disturbing serial killers to date.

 

This film follows the before and after events of a sadistic, brutal killer who abducts children to adult females in the Poughkeepsie, NY area. Playing brutal, demoralizing games before ending each victim’s life, This madman increasing his toying with Police and see's how far he can push the envelope. Our killer has one particular victim that you see more of, her name is Cheryl Dempsey. I actually felt for this character, such a great role she plays. Even through the end of this film you really witness REAL affects of abduction and torture.

The mixture of Police, Doctors and Eye Witnesses footage are a great mix to add to this story. The found footage is very grainy and uneasy to watch at times, simply due to the mind games he plays. Preying on children is a touchy area, they do this perfect. The special effects are few and far between, but what they show…works. It comes across more real than many of the same simply because of how the family members describe the fear….to me this is what REAL horror really is. Imagine your 8 yr old daughter playing out front of your house and this guy takes her….simply because he can.

If anything, my opinion is that this film brings real life into the mix. More like something you would watch as a docu-drama or on an episode of Law and Order SVU. The killer is found out near the end as someone you would trust, which makes this subject even worse. I hope this film see’s a release sooner or later, as of now, still, it has no official date of release is scheduled. 

In the modern world, a world where the news is the most terrifying thing on TV, the Poughkeepsie Tapes works. It works because we all have heard a story similar to this one, we have all witnessed the after effects…we all pray that this never happens to us. No one wants to have the last memories of their image left on a VHS tape, found in some scum bags closet.

The Shaky Camera - is this the scariest?

 The Shaky Camera style

why so scary?

by : Rob Dimension

The whole shaky camera footage (Point of view) has been around for sometime now, Cannibal Holocaust was my 1st Horror film to give me that point of view and it's made what I was watching, believable. Looking back at said footage, after 30 + years it has lost it's affect (at least for me), but I still enjoy what Ruggero Deodato did for the evolution of modern cinema. While the first half of the film, you see what leads up to the bitter demise, all captured on "Found footage".

The Last Broadcast, was a movie that made me take notice in 1998, since I grew up near the Pine Barrens and was always fascinated by the Jersey Devil. This film also used the Shaky Camera style and it is still looked at today, as the beginning of the Point of View camera angle. While Stefan Avalos and Lance Weiler aren't really EVER given any credit, these guys kick started this genre form.

The Blair Witch Project is the mother of all of the shaky cam style films, for me. Many claim that The Last Broadcast was the blueprint for the Blair Witch, but the Blair Witch really made everyone stand up and take note. They took what the Last Broadcast did and ran with it.

My opinion on the Blair Witch Project - Let's keep in mind, this film debuted back in 1999 and this was pre-internet hype era. The Blair Witch Project had the hype...they had the crazy stories surrounding the event. The actors were nowhere to be found, probably because they were unknowns anyways. It was believable. When you would go to their site, it came off more like a search and rescue than a site promoting a film.


When I went to see this in the theater, it was unlike anything I had ever seen. It was rough, gritty and the story was believable (notice that word - BELIEVABLE). Was it hard pressed to think that 3 students headed into the woods alone? No. Was it far-fetched to think that they could get lost? No. Was it highly unlikely that they could stumble upon something super-natural? Of course not. It all made simple sense. The biggest selling factor for me.....they never showed the Witch. You envisioned what the witch looked like. I felt the actors emotion, their anger, their fear. It came off very real.

I was, and still am a fan of the Blair Witch Project. They are the biggest reason, at least in my opinion as to why looking through the lenses of the camera, getting to see what they see...is still effective. The simple use of dialogue to educate the viewer with passing comments, that seem natural. Fearing what we do not know.


Other popular titles to check out - [REC]* 1 & 2, do yourself the biggest favor, watch the original Spanish versions. These, by far, out class and out scare the American version.

I know a lot of people dislike Cloverfield, but parts of me enjoyed it. I think simply because I am sure a fan of Giant Monster films and JJ Abrams kind of gave me that, in a sense. 

These are just some examples, but with Paranormal Activity 2 coming out, will you make the trip out to see this? I will........just make sure you bring plenty of Dramamine.