About David Gordon Green and Horror Movies...

Now that it has been commented online that David Gordon Green will be directing "Splatter Sisters", you might also want to know that among his filmography is the remake of none other than Dario Argento's "Suspiria", catalogued as one of the scariest movies of all times.

Original poster art of the 1977 version

You might recall the hit "Pineapple Express", a completely different genre, which was also directed by Gordon Green. The remake of the Italian horror film will be produced along with Natalie Portman, who will play the leading role and is listed as a producer.

Curiously, Asia Argento, the daughter of Dario Argento has participated with Marilyn Manson a couple of times, directing the highly controversial video of 2003, (s) AINT, which was banned in some countries like the US. Manson also starred with Argento in "The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things" from 2004 in a smaller role which wasn't that distant from the approach of "Splatter Sisters".

DVD cover for "The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things" 

Marilyn Manson and Evan to Star In "Splatter Sisters"

Earlier we ´fished´out from Manson´s My Space this bloody little picture:


It was quoted

after my shoot with Adam Lough (the Carter). Inspirational work for his film, The Splatter Sisters.

According to Variety.com:

Veteran producer Edward R. Pressman and filmmaker David Gordon Green are teaming to produce Adam Bhala Lough's retro slasher film "Splatter Sisters," with Marilyn Manson and Evan Rachel Wood attached to star.
Film, penned by Lough, is the first in a planned franchise and is a sexploitation-serial-killer-slasher-road-movie circa 1989.

Lough ("Bomb the System") reckons "Splatter Sisters" could create a subgenre, which he calls "Skinemax Cinema," based on the direct-to-cable movies of his childhood.

Green ("Pineapple Express," "Your Highness") said while Lough's film is inspired by the horror classics of the 1980s, it has a fresh spin that raises the bar.

"This is a role Marilyn Manson was born to play, and with Evan Rachel Wood bringing dramatic gravity to the ensemble, I have no doubt this will take the horror genre to a new level," Green said.

"Splatter Sisters" was announced in Cannes. Pressman is at the fest for the world preem of 20th Century Fox's "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps." He is one of the producers of helmer Oliver Stone's sequel.

"Lough's unique talent and energy will make 'Splatter Sisters' a very special and markedly commercial film," Pressman said. "I've always been attracted to smart movies about killers made by directors with a real vision,"

Wood last starred on the bigscreen in Woody Allen's "Whatever Works," which was released in 2009.

Awesome finding good friends thanks Msstma!

click here for more info @ Variety.com

WOW Unraveled

Torture-production-orientation film created in a very different time. First used to write the song WoW, circa 2008

(MM, 2010)

So is this really a new video that Marilyn Manson was trying to show us, or something to keep us entertained while we wait for his new album?

The truth is; yes and no. See, this film footage was just used as inspirational material to write the song back in 2008. So let's take a look at this evidence to see how far we can go.

THE SONG

The track emphasizes the use of the word "wow" and wears it out as much as possible. However what Manson might have meant to say is that is not the traditional expression we use everyday when we seem amazed.

Below are other synonyms for WOW



at the end, the concept "torture" is implied, and here's another reason why:

There’s a word that’s like you
Because it can be a noun, a verb, a exclamation, or the thing I say

(from WoW, the High End of Low)

Again "WOW" is extended to other possible definitions. One of Manson's favorite movie directors, Gaspar Noe came out with a film in 2002 named "Irreversible".The film also uses extremely low-frequency sound during the opening twenty to thirty minutes to create a state of disorientation and unease in the audience, including the nine minute rape scene. This could also match the sound of this song.

it doesn't matter how many times I say it, it never gets old...

(from WoW, the High End of Low)

The word "wow" is also known in grammar as a palindrome, words that are spelled the same both forwards and backwards. Curiously, exceptional or gifted people play with palindromes, this reminds me of the movie "Little Man Tate" starring Jodie Foster where this is shown.

Take a look at this example that begins and ends with "W"

"Won't I panic in a pit now"

When the word is physically inverted it spells "MOM". Also, Manson had this word tattooed into one of his wrists.

Psychological torture in a few words.

THE VIDEO

That fascinating part about this clip are the multiple visual references. I instantly remembered while watching Evan twirling the strap in her dress in a very naive mood the image of Elizabeth Short in the Black Dahlia.

Manson already did several 'tribute' paintings to the actress who was inmortalized by her gruesome murder and not her films. In the evidence found at the scene of the crime her cheeks were slit to resemble a bigger smile, (also known as the Glasgow Smile)and you can see it the smeared lipstick in the "WOW" video.

Mia Kirshner as Elizabeth Short, nicknamed "The Black Dahlia".

You might also want to know that the movie of "The Black Dahlia" from 2006 opens with what appears to be a screen test for newcomer Elizabeth Short who apparently seeks fortune and fame in los Angeles. Here you can observe she has a sort of girly, innocent posing.

THE VEREDICT

Over the past month on April 2, 2010,Manson was mentioned in Perou's secret diary to have used other films as inspirational material for his album such as Werner Herzog's "The Bad Lieutenant".

So what's for the future M? Don't keep us waiting too long "or else" and I quote we'll grow impatient...in the meantime treat yourselves with these great movies:

The Black Dahlia, 2006, by Brian de Palma.

The Bad Lieutenant, 1993, by Werner Herzog.

WATCH WOW NOW

http://bit.ly/a9n5Cw

Gottfried Helnwein Mentions Phantasmagoria Film Project

Now that some of you "news hungry" Manson fans have grown more curious about the future of his abandonded film project from 2004 "Phantasmagoria: the Visions of Lewis Carroll", here's another link from another artist, Gotfried Helnwein.

Not much detail is mentioned, but he is listed as a character, Evil Physician who is the man in the surgical mask from some of the trailer scenes.

Helnwein is concerned primarily with psychological and sociological anxiety, historical issues and political topics. As a result of this, his work is often considered provocative and controversial

FOR INFO @ Gottfried Helnwein's website

HUMAN CENTIPEDE, the horror...

So Human Centipede? Yes, we all know Manson LOVES watching films of all sorts looking out for inspiration, yet we doubt that this is the case.

The horror flick came out in 2009 starring Dieter Laser, Ashley C. Williams, Ashlynn Yennie, and Akihiro Kitamura, and directed by Tom Six. It tells the story of a crazed doctor who surgically joins three victims together, mouth to anus, to form a 'human centipede'. The film won several awards at horror film festivals but received mixed reviews from critics.

A sequel, titled The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) has been planned for theaters in 2011, with filming starting in London in June 2010. Full Sequence will supposedly include a centipede composed of twelve individuals. Tom Six has stated that the first film in effect will serve to get audiences used to the idea of a human centipede, preparing them for the idea of a much more graphic and disturbing sequel."

Tom Six has claimed that he is developing ideas for a third part, but wants to see what will happen with the second part first.

(source: Wikipedia)

OTHER ANALOGIES:

A fascinating thing that I stumbled upon is this illustration obtained from the Phoenixmasonry Masonic Museum, which describes a rather amusing costume called the Human Centipede or 'Nightmare'. It was a part of a catalog from a company in the 1930's called The Moulin Brothers and Co. based on Greenville, Illinois and sold rather peculiar arts and crafts. Wouldn't surprise us if magician Rudy Coby knew about this stuff since it looks so vaudevillian.

Symbolic References:

The centipede is a creepy crawler that's nothing but poisonous and uncanny. However it has different connotations in other cultures. Some see it as a sign of good luck.

In dreams...

To see a centipede in your dream, suggests that you are letting your fears and doubts hinder you from making progress and achieving your goals. You need to stop thinking negative thoughts.

Another crawler that comes to mind is none other than the Caterpillar from Disney's "Alice In Wonderland". Though it's not an actual centipede, it's curious why it's sort of antropomorphic. This might have come its habit of smoking the hookah while composing poetry in the air and its obscure reference to Indian and Arabian culture.

Knowing all these things, do you think Manson wants to adopt the 'friendly' centipede as part of his new imagery?

A scene from the movie "Human Centipede" taken by Rudy Coby.

Movie posters for "Human Centipede"

The Human Centipede or Nightmare costume, from the Moulin Brothers and Co. Catalog

The humanized Caterpillar (I am "exaketededly" three inches high, and it is a very good height indeed!)

15 Good (goddam) Reasons To Believe That Eat Me,Drink Me,The High End of Low and the Untitled Album Are a New Trilogy

WARNING: What you´re about to read is no way considered a spoiler for Marilyn Manson´s next album (because we don´t even have a clue what it will sound or look like). So this is why we came up with 15 good and goddam reasons that will lead us to believe at least that the last two records are tied by several circumstances and if it´s meant to be a trilogy then we already know what to expect; Enjoy!

1. The use of the spiral heart and the Cross of Lorraine.





Around the time the infamous Celebritarian Corporation was conceived (an elite of artists founded by MM) the symbol of the Cross of Lorraine was chosen and reshaped to resemble two symmetrical horizontal lines. This worked well to represent the dychotomy that has become somewhat of a trademark on MM's work.

The symbol was referenced from there on tons of times; in imagery and merchandise. However, rumor has it in the EMDM cover art there is a suspicious outline on the frames of the window that look like the cross. It's no secret as well that M wears the Lorraine ring most of the time.

The spiral heart was also created for the EMDM and used throughout the era. But in the High End of Low, you can still see it one of the pictures of the cover art as shown below.



Although it might not have been meant to stick until the very end in a way M still draws every single time he can.

2. The symbolism about blood and being bloodened









Back in EMDM had covered the eerie subject of vampirism (and no, it had NOTHING to do with Twilight) and blood was a constant symbol as in the first two videos , "Heart-Shaped Glasses" and "Putting Holes In Hapiness"

The mentions of this word continue on The High End of Low

"you're not crying, this is blood all over me." (Devour)

"they will all drown in our blood..." (Wight Spider)

"white cotton panties soaked and stained red..." (Into The Fire)

3. Key phrases: 6:19, here comes the Moon again, heart-shaped glasses, "high" and "low".







It's no secret that the presence of E introduced the entire concept of Lolita used for EMDM numerous times. However, very few people know the heart-shaped glasses are just part of the poster art and never inlcluded in any film version. But let's face it; they are still trendy (until we grow tired from them).

6:19 is referencing the song "If I Was Your Vampire" and apparently has no other meaning. But in this recent picture the number still haunts us, a possible sign?



The use of words like "high" and "low" have several can apply to a large number of concepts. In English slang it can mean the good times and the bad times, or when someone is extremely excited or depressed.

In the lyrics of Heart-Shaped Glasses this concept is used:

"that blue is getting me high getting me low..."

and in the song "High End of Low"

"we reached the high end of low..."

4. The sober ambients and tinted pictures

The photogrpahy style became more sober and minimalistic, using the shadow to literally flood the subject. You can see it here and in the stills of Phantasmagoria:






Notice how most of the time the females are surrounded by darkness, almost like ghostly figures, and in this recent one that's unoficiallly part of the new album.





Tinted pictures are used as well on High End of Low. As I covered earlier, the use of blue and red lighting is highly noticeable in EMDM and High End of Low as shown below.



5. Continuity between the new intro and "Running To the Edge of the World"

Last year we were given the chance to see "Running To The Edge of World" through MM's website (and was later unoficially distributed on You Tube), a somewhat soft snuff video which shouts "domestic violence" all over the place.

However, the new intro for MM's website revisits the idea, as if it were part 2...



6. Breakups, breakups and more breakups, or 'loss'...

wasn't EMDM's intro song "If I Was Your Vampire" referring to a relationship that ended, as in the lyrics below:

..."this is where it starts, this is were it will end, here comes the Moon again..."

7. The Phantom of the Paradise makeup and props (butcher's knife)

"The Phantom of the Paradise" is a 1974 musical film written and produced by Brian de Palma (director of such movies as "Scarface") an is considered somewhat of a mockery of many films, particularly the Phantom of the Opera.



8. The ghost of "Phantasmagoria" still lurking about...

So the movie was all about Alice anyway! The movie still doesn't have a release date but its style is used like in the pictures below.



Also, the masked "twins" appeared once in the MM's website intro a few years ago

9. The logo hasn't changed (yet)...

This is the design used in the High End of Low



This is the design we see now until further notice



10. The presence of ERW

Call it coinicidence but it wouldn't make any sense to sing "Heart-Shaped Glasses" or "Running To the Edge of the world" without her, not to mention that she 'unofficially' collaborates with photographs, such as these:



11. Inmortality, inlcuded in topics and symbols such as vampirism (EMDM), spiral, swastika and the tursaansydän...

Like it was described below the spiral in the heart design resembles ancient celtic symbols which stand for movement, evolution and eternity as shown here:



One of the origins of the swastika goes back to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism






Its Finnish parallel could be the tursaansydän or "heart of Tursas" which stands for good luck and is also one of MM's tats



Notice also that tursaansydän was used in Lappish shaman drums






12. Keywords such as "blue" and the concept behind it.

As I explained in earlier blogs, the use of the Blue Period concept seems latent now, but you can still notice it in this pic and the blue skull painting...



Also some other keywords have been used such as "ocean", "blue moon", "a planet inside", so go figure.



13. Handwriting and writings on the walls.

M's own handwriting was used for the art of EMDM and it continues to be seen in the walls of his 'room' in the High End of Low album art.



14. The version 'sooner than expected', as stated in a recent interview.

These were the exact words "I think people can expect the album out sooner than expected," said in an interview with Metal Hammer in December 2009 just as he had announced his departure from Interscope Records.

As mentioned in Metal Hammer: "We have recently been released from our contract with Interscope Records, so much creative control was limited in decisions reports, music videos, things like that.

So we started writing new songs while touring, just as David Bowie did (Aladdin Sane), I think people may expect a new album much sooner than expected. "

As for the sound are concerned, this is what he said in 2009, "yes, I think it would be more badass. I think that will be more romantic, perhaps. ... Auto abusive

Remember sequels of films like "Matrix Reloaded" and "Matrix Revolutions" and "Back to the Future II" and "Back to the Future III"?

The time between the sequel and the third part was not so long, nearly a year. So here we are a year later. The High End of Low announced on this month in 2009. You really can see this new material? ...

15. Possible signs found on "Running To The Edge of the World"





Suggesting a possible continuation, in the mentioned video Manson is closing a diary or journal. Since this is the most recent video it gives us the feeling that someting is about to end.

Are these actual signs of the third and final chapter?

Finding Alice; the Finished and Unfinished Tales

By now you may have felt the temptation to watch the latest version of "Alice In Wonderland" in its full 3D splendor, or you may have already watched it.

The "Alice" tales have been around ever since the 19th century. They were very exquisite and they still are, no to mention incredibly insane.

But let's face it; whether we like it or not you can't help the fact that both Wonderland and the Looking-Glass world are so full of oniric references despite the social and political criticism that are obviously known.

Alice takes a journey not to a fantastic world but to a dreamworld which sketches and distorts the darkest corners of her mind. Not that a seven-year old would be declared mentally ill because of the nature of these visions but almost everyone has had a bizarre experience when they go to sleep. It is here where we feel somewhat powerless if we don't know our inner selves too good and surrender to whatever comes our way.

While some movie directors have attempted to adapt "Alice" as it is, modeling their characters after the John Tenniel illustrations others have reinvented the concept and taken it to different levels using the same premise.

I'll not list all the adaptations out there but yes those that I consider commenting for its contribution to the Alice myth. So here we go down the rabbit hole...


- American Mc Gee's Alice (Videogame, Electronic Arts, 2000)



We get it. Alice is insane and now you can experience her madness and save her from herself. While they make us a huge favor to the author using the name Alice Liddell the rest of the plot involves her journey into recovery while being strapped to a bed. You won't want to attend this Mad Tea Party...

- Walt Disney's Alice In Wonderland (1951)(Film)



The heavy use of poetry and nursery rhymes could have been inspired Walt Disney to make a musical, colorful trip to Wonderland. Like Mr. Carroll, Mr. Disney was quite fond of Alice keeping in mind that the "Alice Comedies" were part of his earlier works, but it was until 1951 that this movie showed up after being revised again and again, including just Wonderland (apparently the Looking Glass world didn't seem appealing enough for Hollywood), the Queen of Hearts is all the queens put into one and a Cheshire Cat who sings the Jabberwocky song, (keeping in mind the purple kitty was never visited the Looking-Glass world to begin with)

Other than that it's a catchy adaptation, despite the bad reviews it got when it was first released mentioning the Alice stories were "americanized". Surrealism was still pretty hype back then and it is reflected in most of the scenes. Later on this would forever associate Alice with the psychedelic experiences, including the song "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane.

- "Alice In Wonderland" (1903) (Film).



Wow, this little girl got pretty far for a low-budget silent film. The scene where Alice goes through the door is well reproduced. This version could have also been a reference for the 1951 "Alice". However this version remains more faithful because the underrated character of the Duchess appears, as well as Frog.

- "Alice In Wonderland" (1949)(Film)



I want to see this film so badly for one reason; Disney prevented this movie from being released in the U.S. and got away with it.

The French-based film mostly used stop-motion animation for its Wonderland characters and live action. Despite the huge efforts to bring this version into the spotlight it hardly had any success. Ironically at the same time it was released Disney's version flopped.


- "Alice in Wonderland" (or What’s a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?) (1966)(Film)



Well, this was a fresh new twist to bring Alice into the 60's era and this one-hour animated special did some very clever crossovers of Hanna-Barbera characters, as well as revamping old ones like the Mad Hatter (it was a girl!)

The movie was released with a catchy soundtrack featuring Sammy Davis Jr. and Scatman Crothers (a.k.a the cook from "The Shining")

- "Fushigi no Kuni no Alice" (1983-1984)(anime series)



For the first time Alice became an and an anime (Japanese animation). The girl portrayed as Alice retired her blonde hair and blue dress. Ironically, the storyline remains faithful to the original books, also rescuing interesting characters like the Jabberwocky unlike the Disney movie where he is reduced to a local legend. Though it's not full of that twisted aura we crave about Alice it's very suitable for kids, not to mention cute.

- "Alice In Wonderland" (1985)



Yikes! where do I begin? First of all Alice feels horribly alone in this musicalized version even around the presence of her older sister. The rest of the plot is familar (white rabbit, rabbit hole, eat me, drink me and all that good stuff...)

The good and the bad thing is that it draws a very visible line between Wonderland and the Looking-Glass world and for the same reason it was aired in two episodes on TV and it´s longer than expected.

The cast was beyond wild; Sammy Davis Jr. as the Caterpillar? This was technically the second time he was involved in an "Alice" movie. Ringo Starr as the Mock Turtle? It would have made more sense if he were the Warlus quoting the famous Beatles song. Pat Morita as the Horse? I bet old Mr. Carroll never saw that one coming.

But this is not the scariest part...it's where Alice is face to face with the Jabberwocky all by herself on a big old house! Part of my many childhood traumas.

- "Alice" by Jan Svankmajer 1988



OMG! This is by far the absolutely most twisted and hard to digest version of Alice I've seen so far.

While the film is incredibly surreal you can't help the fact that the White Rabbit has worse mental issues than the Mad Hatter (eating his own stuffing?)

If you really want to go deeper into the rabbit hole you won't wanna miss this one.

- "The Looking-Glass Wars" (Novel Series)



An awesome retelling of the Alice. Frank Beddor takes Alice to an epic level renaming her Alyss and she is the princess of Wonderland fighting against Queen Redd. Hmm, I'm thinking this is a possible inspiration for Burton's "Alice In Wonderland" or a possible rip off?...

- "Alice" (2009)(TV Series)



This modern day adaptation of the craziest girl in literature featured a much older version of Alice. She´s all grown-up and is determined to find the love of her life, like most of do through the internet. She comes across Jack Chance, unknowing he is the son of the ever so evil Queen of Hearts and takes her into a painful journey into Wonderland, through a looking glass, not to mention that the White Rabbit is evil and that the March Hare is a homicidal maniac.

This new world however is controlled by extracting people´s emotions and reselling them on the Black Market (but I swear they´re not drugs)

Apparently the girl is not the original Alice but yes "The Alice of Legend", the one who is chosen to free the slaves of Wonderland with the Mad Hatter as her untrustworthy guide.

I don´t see how Alice was meant to be the reincarnation of Moses and lead her people into the promised land. Although the plot lacks at times originality it´s full of science-fiction, suspense and fair CGI effects (loved the Jabberwocky, just like the John Tenniel version)

- Gakuen Alice (manga and anime series)(2003)



Just when you think you had enough tea and unbirthday parties along comes "Alice Academy" (Gakuen Alice in japanese) with a surprisingly great contribution; it wasn´t just a clever little girl, it was a gift.

And these so-called "gifted" children are taken into a top secret institute to train their "alice" which is a supernatural power that can manifest in several disciplines. The story revolves around the close but not ambiguous relationship between Mika and Hotaru and their forthcoming adventures into the Academy.

Highlights: The currency they use within the school is measured in "rabbits" and they get paid the same way for being so outstanding!

- Rozen Maiden (manga and anime series, 2002)



Alice is a doll! No, literally. This is one of the sweetest at other times creepiest version I´ve seen mentioning Alice, even it´s protagonist Shinku vaguely reminds you of her.

Apparently for these living dolls their objective is to fight each other in order to become the Alice; the perfect doll.

Highlights: Rozen Maiden dolls move through dreamworlds while playing the Alice Game, so there is a Wonderland inside everyone.

- Eikyuu Alice Rondo (anime series)



Though it´s hard to digest as Mr. Carroll´s literature this fantastic version focuses more on magical girls fighting to collect the pages of what is presumed to be the lost book of Alice In Wonderland known as "The Eternal Alice". It makes some sense since it was rumored that there was a third book that remained unfinished in real life.

Highlights: Bunny girls.

- Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll (no release date)



There are no official trailers of this short film people. This is what Marilyn Manson was considering to be the most eerie, twisted, demented version of Alice you´ve ever seen, or you may not see.

The film doesn´t use the Alice books as a plot, it is said that is roughly inspired by the poem by Lewis Carroll "Phantasmagoria" featuring the actual author haunted by the spirit of Alice. The project is long overdue. Pity.

Highlights: Alice has an alter ego, hardly seen something like that.

I could go all night going from one rabbit hole into another, but this is the best stuff I gathered so far. For those of you who are die hard Alice fans these are some of many productions you can never miss.

I´m currently under production of my own version of Alice called "Mad". I´ll provide an individual blog soon.