Archive Page 2

75th Birthday Boy Don Dohler

Cult legend Don Dohler would have celebrated his 75th birthday this past January. The genius behind such works as The Alien Factor, Fiend, Nightbeast, Blood Massacre, Stakes, Dead Hunt, and Crawler. he inspired such people as Tom Sullivan (The Evil Dead) and Tom Savini (Day of the Dead) during his illustrious career. He is loved and missed by his Family, Friends, and Fans. We raise a toast to Don Dohler!

Damien Leone’s creation Art the Clown

Filmmaker Damien Leone is a busy man. He’s ended up having a successful slasher hit with his 2016 movie TERRIFIER (starring David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown). This January 29th the young man turned 37. Let’s hope he took a minute out of editing TERRIFIER 2 to eat some birthday cake. Happy birthday Damien! Looks like you have your own party clown!

Bad Movie Night discusses STAKES

What the bloody hell? I’m doing an update? Yes, 2020 was one hell of a bust for everyone. I did do some Youtube videos (more on that later). It is a new year, and we are going to get vaccinated, and we will get back to normal. So let’s get some independent film news out there! First off – as you can see above – the Bad Movie Night guys talk about Timewarp Films 2002 production STAKES. Produced by Don Dohler and directed by Joe Ripple, it is a story of two parallel worlds battling an army of Vampires. The movie stars genre legend George Stover as the ass kicking rogue priest and Scream Queen Leanna Chamish as the evil Vampire Queen. The Bad Movie Night dudes kind of take the piss out of the film from time to time in their review, but by the end they loved it and strongly recommend this indie cult flick. Check out the video. Just don’t check out any videos by Obscura Lupa. Her reviews are forced, unfunny and she has no talent.

Madman Majestro is on Youtube!

While I didn’t get a whole lot done on the website last year, my alter ego got videos made! Madman Majestro of the Madhouse Manor has been doing indie movie reviews on Youtube as well as hosting a Tuesday night KAST party where he shows cool genre movies and chats with his live audience. This video above is all about the cool friggin’ swag that can be gotten from the Madhouse Manor. Check it out!

Lil’ Maddy Majestro from superfan Tammy Bradburn

Speaking of Madman Majestro, I’ve been receiving some really cool gifts from fans! The first thing I got was a fun cartoon of Majestro from Director Chris LaMartina – it’s up on the fridge! Tammy Bradburn sent me a knitted voodoo plushie of myself, which is adorable. She also did an incredible horror-themed cross-stitch for me! Both will be on the show soon! Thanks everybody!

Fanex saluted the incredible Forry Ackerman

Prolific publishers Gary and Sue Svehla held a Fanex convention back in 2001 and saluted the legendary sci fi and horror icon – Forry Ackerman – at their awards ceremony. Fanzine publishers and editors from around the United States gathered to honor Forry for his lifetime of dedication to his craft. A ton of familiar faces tell tales out of school about everybody’s favorite “Ackerman.” The video is introduced by Leanna Chamish.

Actor/Writer Steve Rifkin

Fowl Players Radio gives Actor/Writer Steve Rifkin the VIP treatment in talking to him about his indie film career. Check out this fantastic interview!

MORE COMING SOON!

I’ve been approached about the website recently. I must admit that I haven’t posted one damn article or review this year. I have posted some Youtube videos – to be fair.


When my Dad was murdered in January 2020, it took a lot of my energy and drive out of me. Covid 19 compounding on top of that, and several friends dying have made this a miserable year.


We got Timewarp Film’s CRAWLER done, but are dealing with the nightmare that is distribution. I’ve been in the business a long time and know it’s an all around screw job and that you make no money at it.


It’s hard to ask for help, because Smash or Trash is a unique website. I try to remain professional but still have a sense of fun. I rarely drop F Bombs on the site and try to find the good in a low budget movie (as well as pointing out where they can be improved). It’s hard to get unpaid help that doesn’t want to just sandblast the movies they are reviewing. That’s not why I’m here for. I’d probably have a bigger audience if I just beat the shit out of a movie, but there are countless mean-spirited youtube channels and websites that do that. I’m here to try to encourage filmmakers to get better – no matter what their budget.


I keep the site going because it is a place that pays tribute to Don Dohler as well as Tim Davis, both sadly gone. Of course in his lifetime as an early filmmaker, Don’s movies got the holy crap kicked out of them for being “backyard spectacles.” Never mind that his films got better and more professional as time went on; people wanted to put him in a box and keep him there. Makes me sick. I try to show that he was much more than that.


So I’m trying to get back to updating the website at least a few times before the end of the year. There are some indie movies being made that look really good. Yes, I mostly focus on horror and sci-fi, but I have posted about indie comedies, westerns and dramas as well.


So let’s see what happens. This can be a very unrewarding existence, as I get very little feedback for a lot of effort put in. But I’m still here to try to help filmmakers make the best movie they can on meager means.
– Rob Long

Damien Leone has an independent movie hit on his hands – TERRIFIER. A world wide hit and a favorite on Netflix. It has also made Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) a horror house-hold name. Now there is an IndieGoGo campaign launched to get TERRIFIER 2 shooting the Fall of 2019. It promises to be bigger, badder and bloodier. I just pledged toward it, and now so can you. There are great perks for those that contribute to this horror franchise. Help get this Bad Boy off the ground! Here is the INDIEGOGO link.

BECOME A PATREON PATRON!

Our new intro video

Bloody hell, where have we been!?! Well, life got in the way (as usual) I got myself a full time job (finally). So, can I FINALLY get back to doing content? YES! There is SO much going on that I have not been able to get to – but that all changes NOW.

WE ARE NOW ON PATREON!!!!! Now you can become a subscriber and a patron and get some neat perks for doing so. We here at Smash or Trash have a ton of ideas and a ton of content that hasn’t been released. The plan is to upload video content once a week (to YouTube), and upload blog content every two weeks. With an influx of steady monthly donations we can get the interviews, the reviews and the how-to articles up faster and on a regular schedule. Get on over to our PATREON page and check out the perks. Thanks in advance for helping us creative indies!

Testing 1, 2, 3…

I did a really quick test with the homemade green screen I built. I’ll be doing a how-to video on how I made it as a stand alone backdrop and the materials and steps that were taken. Just… TONS of content and videos coming soon, Soon, SOON! We’re excited and hope you are TOO!

A very special shout out to Jon Cross of the After Movie Diner podcast for being out very 1st PATREON supporter! Thanks Jon!

HAPPY 2019!

Chris LaMartina – Director of WNUF

Happy New Year from Smash or Trash! I’m a little behind on this upcoming announcement, so I’m trying to make up for lost time.

Back in 2013, I had the honor of have a lead role in Chris LaMartina and Jimmy George’s cult classic found footage film WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL. The film was based on a news broadcast from 1987, and was hailed everywhere from the New York Times to NPR. I of course played the dashing, courageous priest who tragically gave his own life to save the lives of others.

But I digress. Present day and Chris wants to do a sequel set in the 1990s and has set up a GOFUNDME page for it! There will be some favorite characters coming back, it will probably feature really bad music and fashions (this is the 1990s we’re talking about) and surprises that only the twisted mind of LaMartina can provide.

So I am asking you – yes you, dear reader – to go to the project’s GOFUNDME page and give what you can so this movie can get off the drawing board and into production! There are some fantastic perks listed for the different pledge tiers. The money will go towards costumes, makeup, props, locations, stock footage – you know – everything that will make this film awesome!

So go and pledge at the link HERE. As of this posting there is less than 30 days left in the campaign, so don’t delay! Have a fantastic 2019, and stay creative!

MEMORIAM TO SYN DEVIL

We here at Smash or Trash are saddened to hear of the passing of indie actress and model Syn DeVil. To learn more, please got to our tribute page HERE.

I’m a couple days late (due to work) but I didn’t forget about honoring Don Dohler. As of December 2nd, Don has been gone from us for 12 years. Taken from family, friends and fans far too soon, Don’s legacy lives on in his movies, his teachings, and his decency.

So let’s take a moment to say “Hi Don. We appreciate you and miss you.” Look over some articles in an old Cinemagic magazine. Watch one of his classic movies. Bask in the knowledge that he has helped make such movies as the Evil Dead and Dawn of the Dead possible. Know that he started the career of J.J. Abrams.

Rest In Peace, Don. Thank you for everything.

A belated happy birthday to friend of the site – the incredibly talented actor David Howard Thornton. He of course is the star of the movie TERRIFIER (playing Art the Clown). He is also superb as the Joker in a web series. He celebrated his birthday November 30th and we wish him the best!

I’ve actually posted two new reviews! The first being James Ian Mair’s THE MAKER OF MONSTERS. It stars genre legends George Stover and Leanna Chamish. The movie is along the lines of the 1957 film THE UNEARTHLY. You can find out what I thought about it HERE. 

Also I have given an indepthed report on Kevin Kangas’ new movie TERRORTORY II. The sequel is even better than the first installment! Find out all the details HERE.

Due to a recent move and a change in jobs there hasn’t been time to do much lately. However things are settling down and I have big plans for the site in 2019. Stay tuned…

 

So this 2018 – what can you say about it? Well I lost my possessions in a flood and just lost my job. While trying to piece my life back together I thought I’d try to do an update. Yes, it has been a while hasn’t it?

So first up I did a new review for an indie dramedy called FISHBOWL CALIFORNIA. To find out my thoughts on it, the link is HERE.

Trying to stay on a course of reviewing indie films that are not just horror or sci-fi, I checked out a movie called LIMITS TO AMBITION because one of the leads is my buddy Leanna Chamish. The plot is about a German immigrant that comes to the USA, has sexual doubts and anxiety with his male best friend. He starts dating a gal that may or may not be a man. There is also a serial killer thrown in the mix.

There will not be a formal review of this film as I found it boring. It is too long, poorly lit, poorly edited, and the lead male actor has a derpy, pouty look on his face the entire movie. Avoid.

Filmmaker Kevin Kangas is at it again with the sequel to his previous movie. Welcome to TERRORTORY II.

Actors Frederick Cowie and Richard Cutting return from the first film. Ali Lukowski, Stormi Maya and George Stover join the cast for one of the horror segments.

Kangas takes the audience back into the cursed woods for more frights and delights. He is currently in post production for the movie, and talks of there being a Fall premiere. Stay tuned…

Filmmaker James Ian Mair came into the Baltimore area to work with local celebrities George Stover and Leanna Chamish. Talking to the actors the shoot went well. Looking forward to seeing the finished product!

Filmmaker Wayne Shipley is in post production on his 3rd Western titled “Bill Tighman and the Outlaws.” It stars Robert Carradine and Lana Woods, as well as East Coast favorites George Stover, Richard Cutting, Brian St. August, Lee Doll and Leanna Chamish.