Elizabeth Bathory – Far from old and Friel

If you’re a horror fan or have an interest in history you’ve most likely heard of Elizabeth Bathory. There’s been many films that incorporates the legend including Countess Dracula (1970) to recent teen supernatural slasher Stay Alive (2006). I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see a version that had originally cast Bond Girl baddie Famke Janssen as Báthory... Replaced by Brit chick talent, London Boulevards Anna Friel.

This story follows the rise and fall of one of history’s most prolific serial killers, Countess Báthory who supposedly bathed in virgins blood to stay youthful.

This is a comprehensive fictionalised TV version directed and written by Juraj Jakubisko with mixed production values in both tone and atmosphere. The setting is fantastic and breathtaking, however, the exterior scenes lack the Gothic feel that the interiors have.

As a TV film, in several parts, the Monks narration and involvement arguably fits, however, as a film it may have benefited from the omission of the character entirely. You’ll also either love or hate the involvement of painter Caravaggio. Historical inaccuracies aside and the unnecessary humour injected usually by the monk, this incarnation of the legend is very interesting and adds food for thought to the tale of Báthory. In addition, it gives an interesting portrayal of politics,religion and royalty.

Anna Friel is fantastic as the miss-judged Erzsébet Báthory and gives a wonderful performance, full of range and emotional depth. It’s not all out horror, a possible nod to Ingrid Pitt in Countess Dracula. Co-Star Karel Roden is on top form as Juraj Thurzo and Vincent Regan is notable. The supporting cast do just that. The principle characters have strong motivations for their actions and the morale choices are at times shades of grey.

It’s not without its faults but there’s a handful of interesting dream and hallucination sequences and enough twists on the tale to keep you watching. This coupled with some fine locations, costumes and performances makes Bathory worth your time.

Provocative promo’s for Vampire novel Blood Hunger & Zombie horror Dead Pulse

Their first bite will be your last (Aiden Ashley)

Take a look at the latest provocative promo’s for the vampire novel Blood Hunger and the zombie horror Dead Pulse.

BLOOD HUNGER –
An explorer makes a discovery in Romania, dubbed the ‘Ice Prince’ find it is significant enough to put him and his girlfriend Lucia Ferrara in the media spotlight. Iliana and her sister’s journey to the United Kingdom, news that the ‘Ice Prince’ had been discovered ceases their many years of blood abstinence and they unleash a bloodthirsty terror on humankind leaving a trail of death from London to the Welsh countryside.

An age of blood abstinence ends… (Karlie Montana)

From the fall of the vampire and the Dracul brothers in medieval Europe to their return in the present day. Prepare yourself, their first bite will be your last!

Vampires want roses too (Amy Reid)

A definitive and fresh reinvention of the vampire legend. Inspired by the spirit of Bram Stoker’s novel ‘Dracula’, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s novella ‘Carmilla’, ‘Hammer Horror’s’ film series and cult horror ‘The Hunger’.

DEAD PULSE

The dead have returned to life… 

Being dead no longer means the end… (Jayme Langford)

The world’s focus is on the city of Ravenswood and the once idyllic town of Farmore as platoons and scattered survivors fight the hordes of the dead, unbeknownst one of them holds the key to end the undead’s reign of mayhem.

Across the city at a body disposal plant a small group take shifts on the ‘death watch’. Their hopes hinge on the soldiers of Farmore to rescue them. But with no contact for months, no food and surrounded by the dead, have they got what it takes to survive?

Just eat me (Karlie Montana)

With death at their door, only time can tell…

The author of ‘Blood Hunger’, A. M. Esmonde re-imagines his often imitated ‘The Breathing Dead’ novella in his latest George A. Romero and Lucio Fulci inspired zombie horror adventure, Dead Pulse.

With kind permission from cutting edge adult erotic photograph site Juliland.com with the legendary photographers Helmut Newton,Chris Von Wagenheim and Richard Avery.

Heroines. Why Lucia Ferrara is no Bella Swan, Buffy or Mina Harker.

What have Underworld, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Van Helsing got in common? No not girl power. Answer: Heroines.Where does Lucia Ferrara fit in this feisty bunch amongst a love struck teenager similar to Twilight’s Bella Swan? Kick-ass characters like Buffy, Selene and Anna Valerious. A damsel in distress, Wilhelmina “Mina” Harker as in the tradition of Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel. Lucia is like none of the above…

What she has got in common is that she’s a fictional character, a heroine who finds herself in an extraordinary and dangerous situations faced with deadly choices. She’s an everyday woman, just like you. No super powers, no desire to become a vampire, no longing to marry Jonathan Harker. She pouts and snorts when she laughs. Her problems are balancing her work, health, friends, relationships, men and family.

Trading in Zumba, aerobics classes every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday for something a little tougher like Kalaripayat or sparing sessions, she likes to keep herself in shape. Despite being beautiful, with the looks of her mother (who she tragically lost to cancer) and celebrities Alyssa Milano and Mila Kunis, she still feels self-conscience and insecure about herself.

Lucia Grace Ferrara went to a public school and then Goldsmith University, London picking up a BA (Hons) in English and American Literature. After the death of her father she has only his friend and her godfather Robert Morgan to look out for her and her boyfriend Max to rely on. However, this is her greatest flaw thinking she needs a man in her life to make her feel strong,(a replacement for her deceased father?).

That said, her life changes when Max makes a find that puts him on the cover of  the tabloids and she gets an unwanted slice of fame. She meets a captivating, woman named Iliana in a museum and soon Lucia is drawn into a world of mystery and deception. It’s it not long after this ‘chance’ encounter that she is implicated in a murder and has Adrian Michaels a D.I contacting her to be questioned. Little does she know that a frozen body her mountaineering boyfriend has discovered is linked to this enigmatic woman and she instinctively knows that something is not quite right.

Encounters at the museums, several invitations, a masque ball, an outdoor music show and lavish dinners entwined with death, mutation and infatuation and she finds herself in a web of deceit within a rabbit hole.And her life is turned upside down when she meets a man named Stellan.

Lucia is given an old book which gives her an insight to who’s body has been found and who this woman may really be. Soon she finds herself questioning her sanity and decisions as these strangers offer so much and ask for so little. Before long she is forced to go head to head with Iliana, her sisters and even Stellan. It increasing becomes difficult to remove herself from the dreamlike, perilous, situations and locations she finds herself in.

There are endless actresses that would make the perfect Lucia Ferrara, personally I like the idea of Jaime Murray, but casting direction was never my forté,  who would you chose?

Are there any elements of  Bella, Selene or Mina in Lucia, that’s for the reader of Blood Hunger to decide. One thing is for sure, Lucia maybe the most unlikely of characters to have ever faced and uncovered real evil…

Blood Hunger is out now.

Audiobook on iTunes

Terminus the film is out now!

The spin off film to my novel Blood Hunger has just been released – Directed and written by the great talent Sean Parsons.

Below is the Terminus Trailer:

You can now watch Terminus on Video On Demand click here

Sorry UK and the rest of the world, like Baby Ruth candy* it’s only available in the USA

*(citation needed)

So what is the vampire action drama Terminus about…

Ellicott City, a condemned paper mill, home of Anushka – a vampire assassin haunted by self-imposed isolation. Her vow to never feed on humans is tried when a chance meeting tests her resolve. Her first bite could be your last!

Visit the IMDB Terminus page

Horror is Such a Disgrace!

Self confessed horror fan, alternative model Sophia Disgrace is causing a stir with her latest photo shoot.

My horror presenter socked it to shocked passers-by as she took to the streets of London with a deathly ‘Snow White’ look.

Some of Ben Westwood’s (son of designer Vivienne) pictures capture Sophia latest look perfectly.

Look out for Sophia on the next Breathing Dead show or watch her on youtube!

The Terminuis Trailer

Watch the 1st and exclusive trailer for Terminus from Innerface films. The film is based on A.M.Esmonde’s Blood Hunger novel

Terminus Trailer

Terminus trailer from Sean Parsons on Vimeo.

The Breathing Dead show episode 3

Watch The Breathing Dead Show Episode 3

Review of Zombie Strippers the movie and the novel Creed by James Herbert

With Holli (pictured)

Hot Vampire Photo Shoot

Check out the Vampire Photo shoot!
Beware it’s a little bloody

TERMINUS VAMPIRE FILM CLIPS

Exclusive, Clips on wordpress! Two Previews of  Terminus Coming soon from Innerface Films Directed by Sean Parsons, Starring Katherine DuBois. Visit: http://www.terminusfilm.co.cc http://www.innerfacefilms.com Written by Sean Parsons losely based on an A.M. Esmonde Breathing Dead Novel.

Exclusive! Terminus Preview Clip

Exclusive! Terminus Preview Clip

Check this out! The latest clip from Blood Hunger Terminus!
This intelligent action vampire film is imminent from Innerface Films…

• CLICK HERE
  It looks fantastic, we can wait to sink out teeth into the full version!