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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

After months of exploding computers I have finally – FINALLY – finished the TERRIFIER trilogy for Smash or Trash. What that means it that the lengthly, in detail retrospective analysis of Damien Leone’s ALL HALLOWS EVE and TERRIFIER are live, as well as the special bonus of two fantastic interviews from actors David Howard Thornton and Jenna Kanell. Enjoy, share a link to the page and make sure to leave a comment!

Greetings everyone! Well, I had three new reviews to put up to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the website… when both my computers decided to go completely belly up and die. Thanks computers!

So, while we wait while I completely rewrite all those reviews, here are some interview/review links to the much anticipated clown horror movie this year – TERRIFIER! We’ve had Killer Klowns From Outer Space, Pennywise from IT, Shivers the Clown from Fear of Clowns, now say hello again to Art the Clown from Terrifier. This and Blumhouse’ HALLOWEEN are sure to be the two HUGE horror hits of 2018!

TERRIFIER

Written, Directed and Edited by Damien Leone

Produced by Phil Falcone

Starring David Howard Thornton, Jenna Kanell, Catherine Corcoran, Samantha Scaffidi, Pooya Mohseni, Erick Zamora, Margaret Reed, Michael Leavy, Katie Maguire

TERRIFIER REVIEW/INTERVIEW LINKS

GHASTLY GRINNING,  HORRORFREAK NEWS,  BLOODY FLICKS, DECAY MAG.COM, INFERNAL CINEMA,  THIRTEENTH FLOOR,  MODERN HORRORS, HORROR SCREAMS VIDEO VAULT,  HORRORPEDIA, THE OVERLOOK THEATRE, DARK UNIVERSE, SCREAM HORROR MAGAZINE, REALM OF HORROR, FLY EAGLES FLY, KINDERTRAUMA, DAILY GRINDHOUSE, MODERN HORRORS, BLOODBATH & BEYOND, THE HORROR SHOW, HEARTY CRAYFISH, HORRIFYOU

Today Smash or Trash Independent Filmmaking celebrates it 10th Anniversary. Wow! What a fun roller coaster ride it has been! So many reviews and interviews of fantastic people in the indie film business. So many opportunities to be part of the independent film scene on both coasts! So many blessed experiences.

There are so many people to thank, that I really, really can’t name them here, cause I KNOW I will miss someone very important. I do want to thank my partners in crime Leanna Chamish and Mitch Klein, whom have helped me from the very beginning. Frank Lama for being an incredible producer and co host on the Smash or Trash television program. Les Bradley for his editing know how and friendship. I am very much in debt to these people. And for everyone else that has contributed to the website, you have my gratitude.

March has some great things in store for fans of indie films. I take an in-depth look into Damien Leone’s ALL HALLOW’S EVE and TERRIFIER. Plus I have some incredible interviews with two of the stars of TERRIFIER – David Howard Thornton and Jenna Kanell. Both are incredibly talented and super fun to talk to.

Also, I take a look at Joe Sherlock’s slasher THE BLOOD CREEK WOODSMAN. Joe has been a friend for years and it is great to see just how far he has come as a filmmaker.

Smash or Trash takes a look at Brad Twigg’s KILLER CAMPOUT as well. With tongue firmly in cheek, it’s a backwoods slasher romp with plenty of blood and some fun cameos from genre legends John Russo, Herschell Gorden Lewis and George Stover.

We also catch up with Lisa Mikitarian and how her LA screening of the indie comedy SPENT went.

And last but not least – with the weather getting nice again we go into overdrive with the upcoming filming of MY movie – MADHOUSE MANOR.

I am very proud that over the years on this site, we have branched out beyond the confines of just reviewing indie horror and sci fi. We have pushed that envelope and have covered indie dramas, rom coms, comedies, musicals and even westerns!

Here’s to another 10 years!

Robert Long

Smash or Trash Independent Filmmaking