Here They Are...Your 2012 Looney Award Winners!!!

2012 was an amazing year for Asylum movies, a year in which we saw more films than ever, and the level of quality rose to new peaks. As such, this year also saw a record number of Looney votes pour in from all over the world. So, without further adieu, here they are, your 2012 Looney Award Winners for Excellence in Asylum Films:

Best Actor

  Bill Oberst Jr., Abraham Lincoln vs Zombies

Best Actress

Heather Hemmens, Rise of the Zombies

Best Supporting Actor

Christopher Karl Johnson, Nazis at the Center of the Earth

Best Supporting Actress

Monet Mazur, Adopting Terror

Best Performance by a Non-Human

The 2-Headed Shark, 2-Headed Shark Attack

Best Cinematography

Alexander Yellen, Grimm's Snow White

Best Score

Chris Ridenhour, Nazis at the Center of the Earth

Best Visual Effects

Nazis at the Center of the Earth

Best Screenplay

Karl T. Hirsch (story), J. Lauren Proctor (story), 

and Richard Schenkman (screenplay), Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies

Best Asylum Moment of the Year

Zombie Baby Stomp, Rise of the Zombies 

Best Director

Joseph J. Lawson, Nazis at the Center of the Earth

Best Picture

Nazis at the Center of the Earth 

That's a mighty fine crop of winners; interesting that the three films with multiple wins all feature zombies. 

Congratulations to all, thanks to the voters domestic and foreign for making this the biggest Loonies yet, and of course thanks to The Asylum for the fun flicks! Bring on 2013!

RISE OF THE ZOMBIES Stills and Trailer!

The next flick bowing from the fine folks at The Asylum is Rise of the Zombies, set to premiere on the SyFy network Saturday, October 27th at 9 p.m., just in time for the holiest of holidays, Halloween.

And to whet our appetite, the studio has released these photo stills, and this trailer for the flick. Looks to be a gory good time.

The film was written by Keith Allan (writer/director on 11/11/11) and first-time scribe Delondra Williams, and directed by Nick Lyons, who helmed last year's super-spectacular Zombie Apocalypse. Stars include LeVar Burton (Roots, Star Trek The Next Generation), Mariel Hemingway (Manhattan, Star 80), Heather Hemmens (3 Musketeers), Jon Kondelik (Amityville Haunting, Haunting of Whaley House,Super Cyclone, Golden Winter, upcoming 12/12/12), Ethan Suplee (My Name is Earl, Butterfly Effect) and, oh yeah, Danny Fucking Trejo.

This one's sure to be one of the best Asylum flicks to date, so be sure to shackle yourself to a couch on Saturday, October 27th at 9 p.m., when Rise of the Zombies debuts on - where else? - SyFy.

 

observation notes: 3 Musketeers

It isn't often we get a straight-up action film - no mutated creatures, no sci-fi elements, no natural or unnatural disasters, just a good, old-fashioned, explosive shoot-em-up - from The Asylum; Ballistica they only distributed, and other than that you got The 9/11 Commission Report, last year's Airline Disaster and this year's 200MPH. But that's exactly what you get with 3 Musketeers, the studio's modern adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' seminal adventure novel, written by Edward DeRuiter and directed by Cole S. McKay, the man responsible for 200MPH.

Released to coincide with the major-studio 3D revamp (which incidentally bombed), in The Asylum's version, Musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis are thrust into the modern era, portrayed as an elite squad of international spies. When they're framed for an atrocity they did not commit, it sets in motion a chain of events meant to conclude with the assassination of the President of the United States. It's up to Alexandra D'Artagnan, a junior NSA officer, to draw the Musketeers out of hiding and enlist their help in thwarting this dastardly plot. 

And what a plot it is. All in all, 3 Musketeers is a pretty rad political-action flick with wry comedic dashes, explosive, astounding VFX and suspense in spades. In addition to solid scripting and pulse-racing direction, it's the cast that really works to make this one a success.

Our heroes are comprised of actors Xin (Athos), Michele Boyd (Aramis) and Keith Allan (Porthos), while Heather Hemmens plays newbie agent D'Artagnan. Xin was picked for the part primarily, I would imagine, because of his status as one of the world's foremost urban ninjas; if I'm honest, I was expecting some spectacular martial arts and some less-than-spectacular acting from him, but, happily, I was wrong. Xin is certainly an adrenaline-rush just to watch, but he is also sly, stoic and commanding; guy brought his A-game, all-around. 

Michele Boyd's Aramis is vicious grace personified, sleek, sultry and lethal. As the squad's youngest member, she is also its most passionate, thus perhaps its most dangerous. Her beauty is a weapon she wields with a confidence and stern sincerity beyond her years. 

Actors Xin and Heather Hemmens

Heather Hemmens character has a uniqueness to it, as not only is she trying to thwart said dastardly plot, she's also trying to prove herself to the Musketeers. As such, Hemmens occupies the role as intelligently aggressive, respectfully ambitious, impulsive and pure of heart. She's also a certified grade-A badass, the very definition of a strong woman and acted with tangible aplomb. 

And Keith Allan turns in an energetic performance as the squad's resident tech-genius, a wise-cracking, snarky and delightfully sarcastic character, the strongest of the film. Allan provides tension, relatability and most important, levity.

The film also boasts outstanding supporting roles filled by the likes of Alan Rachins ("L.A. Law, Dharma & Greg") as The Cardinal, the cold, zealous, megalomaniacal mastermind behind it all, David Chokachi ("Baywatch," Born Bad) as a consummate soldier living under his own ideals of loyalty, Steven Williams ("21 Jump Street," "Supernatural") as the former agent who gets this conspiracy rolling, the ever-present Gerald Webb as a trusting NSA agent and even a cameo from horror-legend Kane Hodder - 3-time Jason Vorhees and hella prolific actor/stuntman - as the torture-dealing Dr. Kim.

The VFX are practically a character all their own, heightening the suspense and thrills at every opportunity. There are aerial sequences galore, and they're nail-bitingly phenomenal, as well as explosions all sizes, and not once did I lose myself in the CGI - everything was real and seamless and the augmentation to story it was meant to be. 

Seriously, this one never gives you a chance to catch your breath. The action starts  in the first minute and rarely lets up: there are air strikes, fire-fights, more hand-to-hand combat sequences than you can shake a stick at and stellar free-running martial-arts displays from one of the form's foremost practitioners. When the action does briefly recede, there's an intense and intelligent political thriller running underneath, a riveting rivulet of intrigue that keeps your heart excitedly palpitating between explosions. This is a credit to screenwriter Ed DeRuiter. This was DeRuiter's first script for the studio, but he also wrote the story for 2 Headed Shark Attack, which I wrote the script for, so I can tell you first-hand dude's the real deal. I'm not sure there's ever been an Asylum script quite so lively as 3 Musketeers.


Director McKay applies the same fast-paced, thrill-inducing storytelling skills he showed us in 200MPH, but on a much, much grander scale here. And what was rad with car chases is RAD with all the stuff going on here. His use of quick cuts, handheld cameras, shifting perspectives within scenes etc., really fuels the film's addictively frenetic atmosphere. And whoever was in charge of the fight choreography gets an especial tip of my hat: there were fists, guns, grenades, choppers, jets, missiles and - yes - even swords, and each conflict was more spectacular than the last.


All in all then, I say this is a fine effort from all involved, and one of the better - if not the best to date - straight-up action films The Asylum has delivered. It's got action, intrigue, suspense, PG-13 sexuality, quips, kills, guns, chase scenes, deceptions aplenty and frequent blossoms of fire; what more do you want?

3 Musketeers on DVD Today!!!

That's right, my fellow faithfully-committed, today's the days our inner action heroes have been waiting for, the DVD release of The Asylum's take on one of the greatest adventure stories ever told, Alexandre Dumas' 3 Musketeers. 

 
In The Asylum's version, of course - conceived by debut screenwriter Edward DeRuiter and directed by Cole McKay of 200MPH renown - the swords have been exchanged for automatic weapons and the swashbuckling grace switched out for free-running mixed martial arts. Expect rad fight sequences, thrilling chases and crazy explosions, enacted brilliantly by Heather Hemmens, Xin, Michele Boyd, Alan Rachins, David Chokachi and more. I'm still waiting to get my hands on a copy, but the second I do, I'll post my thoughts.

In the meantime, run, don't walk, to your local independent video store, or Netflix, and procure your copy of this sure-to-be action classic post haste!!!

inmate profile: Heather Hemmens

Continuing Committed's spotlight on the creative talent behind The Asylum's next release, 3 Musketeers - on DVD October 25, 2011 - we turn now to another of the titular heroes, D'Artagnan, as portrayed by the lovely and talented Heather Hemmens.

Heather Hemmens was one of those kids born with stars in their eyes, so much so that upon graduation from high school, she hopped on a California-bound bus and set out for L.A., like so many other small-town girls before her. The difference? Ms. Hemmens has mad skills to back up that bold ambition, and almost immediately she began landing small roles in film and television - Dukes of Hazzard, Glory Road, a couple of the "CSIs" - before landing her first regular gig in 2009 on the CW's cheerleading soap opera "Hellcats," on which she played "Alice Verdura" for 21 episodes.

I've actually seen an episode or three of "Hellcats" - no reason - so can personally attest to Ms. Hemmens on-screen presence, which is a combination of beauty, spark and intelligence, a fiesty, fiery personality, the kind you don't give shit to cuz you know she won't take it. In other words, a badass, making her the perfect choice for a musketeer. 

See for yourself Ms. Hemmens commanding personality when 3 Musketeers - directed by Cole S. McKay from a script by Edward DeRuiter - drops on DVD October 25th.

outside the walls: October DVD Releases

I recognize that not all great films are made exclusively by The Asylum and that, in fact, there's a whole world of film outside these walls, some of which might actually interest Asylum fans - when they're not watching or re-watching Asylum films, of course. And, being as I'm only looking out for your viewing well-being, here's a peek at some other DVD releases this month which might satiate you between Asylum releases. But remember, as always, Sweet n' Low ain't sugar.

OCTOBER 4

A Haunting in Salem (!!!!!!!!!)


written by H. Perry Horton (me)
directed by Shane Van Dyke


starring Bill Oberst Jr., Courtney Abbiatti, Jenna Stone, Nicholas Harsin, Gerald Webb, Carey Van Dyke

Fast Five

featuring Geoff Webb (I Am Omega, 6 Guns, dir. of upcoming Amittyville Haunting)

Isolation





 

Moby Dick

Phase 7

Scream 4

SnowBeast











OCTOBER 11

Arena

Blood Curse

The Child's Eye

Devil's Playground

The Hillside Stranglings

The Inner Room

Root of Evil

Swamp Shark 

dir. by G.E. Furst (100 Million B.C.)

VLOG








 









Zombie Diaries 2










OCTOBER 18

Attack the Block

Beware

Freerunner

Hellraiser: Revelations

starring Jay Gillespie (#1 Cheerleader Camp, 2010 Moby Dick)

The Howling Reborn

Red State











OCTOBER 25

3 Musketeers

written by Edward DeRuiter
directed by Cole S. McKay


starring Heather Hemmens, Xin, Michelle Boyd, Alan Rachin, David Chokachi

Captain America: The First Avenger

Mothman

Rare Exports











 

3 Musketeers Gets a Trailer!!!

Well, that was a quick hiatus for me, but deservedly-interrupted by the release today of the trailer for The Asylum's take on Alexandre Dumas' classic adventure tale 3 Musketeers. The film - written by Ed DeRuiter and directed by Cole S. McKay - looks to be AWESOME. I've said it more than once this year and no doubt I'll say it a couple times more, but Asylum features have gotten a serious upgrade, FX-wise, and I say that as someone who has always loved their FX. But this new stuff, especially the aerial FX and action sequences shown in this trailer are outstanding and totally do their job of getting me pumped for the film.

3 Musketeers stars Heather Hemmens, Xin, Alan Rachins, Keith Allan, Michelle Boyd and David Chokachi, and hits the streets in DVD form on the 25th of October. 

Now, back to card-counting... 

First Details of 3 Musketeers! UPDATED w/ Pic!

Busy Asylum day today - the first details have emerged concerning The Asylum's upcoming 3 Musketeers adaptation, and man are they awesome. Directing the film will be Cole S. McKay, fresh off the helm of 200MPH, and he'll be working off a script by actor-turned-scribe/swell-guy Ed Deruiter (The Surge, Battle of Los Angeles). A look at the synopsis, available on the film's Asylum page.

"Alexandra D'Artagnan, junior NSA officer, uncovers a plot to assassinate the President of the United States and enlists the help of three infamous international spies to stop the threat."

Announced cast members include Heather Hemmens (Glory Road, "Hellcats"), Alan Rachins ("L.A. Law," "Dharma & Greg"), Keith Allan, Michele Boyd (Battle of Los Angeles, "The Guild"), and David Chokachi ("Baywatch") making a return to The Asylum after his role in Born Bad. 


And courtesy of Michele Boyd's Twitter feed, here's the first on-set pic from the film, with Ms. Boyd as musketeer Aramis. Baller.

The street date on this one isn't until October, the 18th, to be precise, and from the looks of things, The Asylum's really pulling out the stops on this one. Get ready for an action spectacular this fall, and as always, whenever there's more info, you'll find it here!