“Scream Park” DVD (director: Cary Hill)

Mediocre slasher with Ogre and Pinhead

Another ultra-low budget horror flick with an affinity for the classic 80s slashers here, featuring a couple of notable cast members. Unfortunately, there’s little else here worthy of mention. The premise is simple — a failing amusement park owner decides to create a “media sensation” by hiring insane redneck thugs to commit murders at the park. The park’s teen employees, enjoying a night of drinking and partying, end up being hunted, one-by-one, by the maniacs (one played by an often-masked Ogre from Skinny Puppy).

Not much else to say here, aside from a memorable appearance by Doug Bradley (Pinhead from “Hellraiser”). The usual grisly killings are here, alongside some mediocre acting, and a bit of nudity (the appealingly busty Kailey Marie Harris drops some wondrous double-D bombs), but overall this one just falls flat (unintentional pun), not distinguishing itself from a thousand others just like it.

“Scream Park” isn’t terrible, but it is unremarkable and fairly pedestrian. Serious slasher fans could do worse, but casual horror geeks can take it or leave it in good conscience.

Wild Eye Releasing

Paul Barker - "Fix This!" CD

Packaged with the Ministry "FIX" documentary film, or available as a download on it's own, this solo work by the longtime Ministry bassist, programmer, and co-producer is a breath of fresh air. Not to mention it features well-done collaborations with past Ministry members who were long ago estranged from the band due to tensions, egos, drug addictions, or some combination of the aforementioned. We get Barker collaborating with old friends like Ogre and Chris Connelly, plus a remix by Maynard Keenan's Puscifer, and an appearance by Barker's post-punk band, USSA. Beginning with the surprisingly commercial rock track "Victory", featuring teen actress Taylor Momsen, the album then diverts itself with "reSpite", a creepy collab with Ogre (and Skinny Puppy producer Mark Walk). "Heavy Water" is a moody and cinematic track that uses Chris Connelly's Scottish baritone to great effect, and his other track, the epic "Evangelical Sound Barrier", begs for further work from the duo. And although "Fix This!!!" ends with some less-impressive mixes and tracks using samples of Ministry's "Psalm 69", the success of the first 8 cuts are enough the recommend this strong and heavy release of post-industrial rock from one of the masters. More, please! Gigantic Pictures

Ministry - "FIX" DVD

This long-awaited DVD is less a documentary of Ministry's 1996 "Sphinctour" as it is a character study of Al Jourgensen and his serious drug addictions. Painting the sometimes-genius frontman as a paranoid "rock star" whose attitude and excess is legendary, even among his fellow junkies and musician friends, 'FIX" shows what fame and money (and indulgence) can do to an intelligent, thinking, and conscientious individual. Peppering the backstage/off-stage insanity with plenty of live clips (which sound great) helps this presentation, as do the large amount of interviews with past Ministry members (namely Paul Barker, Rey Washam, Louis Svitek, and Ogre), friends, tourmates and collaborators (David Yow, Trent Reznor, Jello Biafra, Maynard Keenan, and Buzz Osborne), and other hangers-on (Jonathan Davis? The babbling nonsense of Casey Chaos of Amen? What?). Anyway, aside from the many talking heads speaking of Al's addictions, we get very little insight into Ministry's history or the other members' lives. Al is the centerpiece here, and it's not a flattering portrait. Perhaps a must-see for serious Ministry fans, but casual fans will have no interest in seeing this messy side of a once-world class band. (Gigantic Pictures)

"2001 Maniacs: Field Of Screams" DVD (director: Tim Sullivan)

Carrying on a theme began in 1964 with Herschell Gordon Lewis' extraordinary "Two Thousand Maniacs" (and continued with Sullivan's debut, "2001 Maniacs"), this semi-sequel squanders fine performances by Bill Moseley and Lin Shaye (Granny) via a terrible script, awful acting, and crappy effects.

Notable for little more than an appearance by Skinny Puppy frontman Kevin "Ogre" Ogilvie, "Field Of Screams" basically amounts to a hack-take on buffoonish MTV-style teen stars (blatantly patterned after Paris Hilton) who end up interacting with the down-home backwoods Southern folks of Pleasant Valley. Who, of course, happen to be vile killers and cannibals. You already know the rest, and you've seen it done with more flair and charisma. Sure, there are some sick deaths (often tongue-in-cheek) and some off-color jokes, and some touches of breast action, but nothing here adds up.

Truly, this one was a pain to sit through. Steer clear. (First Look Studios)

"Fix - The Ministry Movie"

This is one I'm looking very forward to purchasing as soon as it's out...newest trailer up first:

various artists - "Godhead - Non-Stop Ride" CD

On this 2004 release, Jason Miller of nth-generation industrial rockers Godhead mixes together (and that's putting it loosely) a selection of mostly re-hashed cuts from the catalog of recycling masters Cleocraptra Records. It's not so much a showcase of the artists' top songs, but more-or-less a commercial/promo for Cleo's waning back catalogue of covers albums and licensees. A solid (if unremarkable) track by Funker Vogt ('Narayan') opens things with aplomb, but what follows shortly thereafter is a subpar effort by the normally talented Haujobb ('Smack My Bitch Up' - yes, that one), who did this track for quick cash, I'm convinced, as it seems to be a throwaway that displays none of the complexity and texture that Mr. Meier (cheers, Daniel!) is capable of. Beyond that, there's a lot of very average songs by X Marks The Pedwalk ('I See You'), VNV Nation's technofied Front 242 cover ('DMSO'), a brief snippet of the mighty Pig's 'Rope', a short edit of Ogre and Mark Walk's cover of Madonna's 'Borderline', 80's one-hit wonders Sigue Sigue Sputnik doing KMFDM's 'Virus', some Razed In Black, Pigface, Die Krupps, etc. You get the picture. The whole glorious mess ends with Godhead themselves covering 3 classic 80's goth-rock staples, with some pretty horrendous results. 'Bela Lugosi's Dead', 'Fascination Street', and 'This Corrosion' are rendered pale shadows (appropriate, I suppose) of their former glory. Wow. I am really seriously disappointed. (Cleopatra)

Godhead site

"Repo! The Genetic Opera"

Thought I'd give some space/time to helping promote this new horror/sci-fi/musical with some rather interesting musical ties. It's playing in select cities (not national distribution as yet), but watch for it on DVD in the coming months. The film features Alexa Vega, Paul Sorvino, Bill Moseley (Texas Chainsaw Massacre II, Rob Zombie's movies), Paris Hilton, Ogre (of Skinny Puppy), Sarah Brightman, Anthony Stewart-Head (of Buffy fame), and others. It's directed by Darren Bousman, who's probably best-known for directing several of the 'Saw' movies. The soundtrack includes contributions from folks like Eric Powell (of 16Volt), Joseph Bishara (Drown), Poe, Rich Patrick (Filter), Melora Creager (Rasputina), and members of bands like Jane's Addiction, Bauhaus/Love & Rockets, Slipknot, Guns 'N Roses, Rob Zombie's band, and others.

official website with more info

And here's the official theatrical trailer: