Describing themselves as "the UK's number one horror shock rockers", Al B Damned are just the ghouls to get next Friday's Halloween party at Club AntiChrist going - and organize horrific home entertainment for the lazy Saturday that's sure to follow. When SinZine suggested these scary movie buffs provide a playlist for the Halloween weekend, they devoted some time and thought to the task before eventually returning their selections with the note, "sorry its taken a few days, but the band have been spending most of the time arguing... favourite horror movies is a sure firestarter within Al. B. Damned". Now see if you agree with their choices!
ULTIMATE HALLOWEEN MOVIE
An obvious one to start off with then; it’s nearly All Hallows Eve and the horror category is simply stuffed with movies based around the holiday. But if we’re gonna watch just one this year, what would you say is the ultimate Halloween movie?
"We would have to say John Carpenter’s Halloween from 1978. It has to be the ultimate Halloween movie for some very good reasons. First of all... It’s called Halloween. Second... It’s set on Halloween. And thirdly... It Rocks!"
DARK 'N' SCARY DATE MOVIE
Next, we’re taking a ghoul to the drive-in and we wanna know - what’s the best dark ‘n’ scary date movie you can recommend to be sure this night ends in some nec-romance?
"The Blob... Cause bitches love Steve McQueen!"
BREAK-UP BLOOD 'N' BLUB-FEST
A few years down the line and it’s break-up time - what’s the finest flick for a horror fan to indulge in a massive tub of ice cream (or indulge fantasies about murdering the ex….) in front of?
"This one has to be American Psycho. The amount of times we’ve stood behind our ex’s with a nail gun just contemplating pulling the trigger is beyond belief... So this one just really hits home."
SICK FLICK TO GET THE GAG REFLEX GOING
Following on from ice cream… our next scenario is this; some fucker has been handing out carob and other low-cal snacks to unsuspecting trick or treaters! In a greedy rush to get that whole bucket o’ candy down we don’t realize until it’s too late, and now we really need a sick flick to induce vomiting - fast! What do you suggest?
"Cinderella, Little Mermaid, Snow White etc... Any girly, Princess, Singing, Dwarf Loving, Animal Touching, Fish Fantasy bullshit is enough to bring up our food. Although eating it all over again is pretty fun."
CHEESY PLEASURE
Moving on to another flavour of film - what’s Al B. Damned choice ‘cheesy pleasure‘ from the horror archives?
"Ed Wood’s Plan 9 From Outer Space!"
GREATEST INSPIRATION
The band’s image, show and videos clearly draw inspiration from across the whole history of horror. But if pushed / threatened with torture, which bit of cinema has had the greatest influence on your image and presentation?
"With regards to the image, we take influence from a wide variety of dark horrors. Our image has the goth, post apocalyptic, trashy, punk look of Near Dark, The Crow and The Lost Boys but our music is more tongue-in-cheek like the old B-Movies or modern classics like Brain Dead. Our heavier songs do have a touch of House Of 1000 Corpses and Saw."
PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR
Now, how about some psychological horror; what’s your favourite of those films where the fear is more in your mind than on the screen?
"It has to be one of the Asian horrors, like Ringu, Ju-on or Pi. We don’t know if it’s a cultural thing but these just seem to get in your head like none of the Western horrors seem to be able to do."
GREATEST GOREFEST
And on the flipside - greatest gorefest? When it’s all about the blood ‘n’ brains, what’s the best thing to watch?
"Classic 70’s and 80’s horror was a gold mine for seeing the blood and guts. Although the effects weren’t always the best, that seemed to be what made them even more visceral. With the addition of poorly lit scenes and terrible camera quality it just made it better. Movies like Hellraiser, Nightmare On Elm Street and Driller Killer should be your first stop for over the top fun and gore."
UNDERRATED GEM
The film which flew under the radar, but which you feel ought to be acclaimed as a classic.
"Return Of The Living Dead Part III. This film was amazing and so so so underrated. First of all your had Melinda Clarke playing a naked, undead, naked, glass perforated, naked, dominatrix-style, naked, pierced, naked, hot, naked, naked ... What was the question again?"
CHEAP THRILL - SCARY MOVIE ON A SHOESTRING
What about the best blood ‘n’ guts fest on a budget? Plenty of directors have 50p and a sick mind, but who has used these item to greatest effect?
"This question is a very difficult one and seems to be causing conflicts within the band... So our collective answer is: There are millions of great Video Nasties that were made on a budget and are spectacular in the gore department. Honourable mentions go to Driller Killer, Cannibal Holocaust, Zombie Flesh Eaters, The Evil Dead, I Spit On You Grave, House By The Cemetery... This could go on forever..."
HORNY HORROR / TORTURE, PORN
And finally, The One To Watch With The Sound Down. If we want only the sexiest of scream queens, what do you recommend we put on the screen?
"After:Life - throughout our childhood Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams was always hot and in our pre-pubescent days we just wanted to see Wednesday naked... Nowadays that would be morally wrong... But luckily for us she’s all grown up and spends about 90% of the movie After:Life... NAKED!!!"
Find out more about Al B Damned here: www.albdamned.com
And scroll down for their "So Far So Bad" video!
