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Zone Horror (and other satellite channels)

Started by Famous Mortimer, June 16, 2009, 10:25:21 PM

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Famous Mortimer

I love Zone Horror. It's like there's an endless supply of cheap, straight-to-DVD horror and sci-fi films that never seem to be shown anywhere else. It's like it exists in its own world, where Uwe Boll is an auteur and all you need to make a film is the name of a scary monster and maybe a weird weather condition.

So, any other fans of the tat that Zone Horror provides? I recommend "Bloodsuckers Anonymous", a cool little indie comedy which has got vampires in it. Or, do you have a favourite satellite / cable channel which seems to show things that no other channel bothers with?

Feralkid

Movies 24 - the most shizoid movie channel ever.  From noon to 6pm it's non-stop Lifetime movie of the week trash in which women deal with abusive husbands, or cancer.  Or cancer and abusive husbands.   But after 9pm it's non-stop erotic thrillers and softcore crap - Emmanuelle in Space being one of the better titles.

I also have a weakness for E!   Well specifically their program Girls of the Playboy mansion.   I think its supposed to be a bitch fest for gals, whacking fodder for the lads and a synergistic promotional tool for Hefner and his publishing empire.   In actuality it's all a bit strange and sad. 

Now neither Hef nor his mansion are strangers to our screens.  Between Ruby Wax documentaries, films like the House Bunny and cameo appearances in things like Entourage I could probably sketch an architectural schematic of the Grotto from memory.     

Here however Hef seems sort of tired and weary of it all.   The gals themselves are none too bright, though Hef's main squeeze here Holly seems to be sharper than she dare let on.  And whilst everyone's insiting that it's fun, fun fun to live with Hef in Hedonismville clues to the contrary keep popping up.  The Mansion support staff often seems grumpy and strange, as if serving out a court order.  The deference to Hef has a disturbing cult like vibe to it.  Whilst the fading dreams of the older gals have a poignant quality, one which the programme makers often underline in subtle but cruel fashion.

In a recent episode Bridget (Pushing 30 and still not a centerfold, despite having hardnoured that ambition she was a child...) was seen lamenting her lot as she checked her e-mail.  One shot was framed so we saw the words "Log in Expired" in large type on her monitor...   Which surely can't be accidental.   

alan nagsworth

I used to love Zone Horror when I was living with my parents. If I owned a TV (cue An tSaoi striking me down for my condescending boasting) I would frequent that channel still. I remember watching Matt Stone and Trey Parker's 'Cannibal! The Musical' for the first time on Zone Horror. Instant win.

Quote from: Feralkid on June 16, 2009, 10:49:15 PM
Movies 24

Heehee, True Movies is also a classic.

VegaLA

Which Channal used to show movies from Michael Wingrove's Redemption label where the Editor from Darkside magazine would host a show about horror films ? Eileen Daly would squirm around with some other chick before announcing the title of the movie about to show. I think it was one of the softcore channals because my Dad questioned why I wanted to subscribe to it.

Mr Colossal

 I havent loitered on it for a good few months, but from memory, its only ever been about a quarter as good as Bravo when it had 'the horror channel' tagline, or the sci-fi channel, back when that was good.    Occasionally you catch the odd good film on there  (I think the last I watched was Pervert! which may have been last year)- but their schedule appears to be seemingly random, and 9 out of 10 times i've flicked it on in the past few years- its either been some shit student film that looked like some american high-school media project, or some kind of Anne Rice inspired buffy-esque vampire series.  And I  HATE  buffy.       


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I have no idea who runs the channel, and just how big their budget is, but if you could collate everything I find tedious and uninspiring about the horror genre and project that into one derivative, legacy-pissing chore of a channel- the horror channel, as it was when I last flicked over, would be it.   It's a pity because I would welcome something that seemed genuinely interested in cataloguing and showcasing rare and underappreciated cinema from the past five or more decades, maybe in collaberation with some specialist labels and known enthusiasts, but my personal experience is that 90% of its output is tawdry piss.



That outTHERE programme with that emily booth on channel 5, for example- I bet one series  of that managed to turn more people onto niche markets than a whole YEAR of the horror channel.   They used to have a really informative site which linked to a a shop where you could buy most of the DVD's featured too, as I can remember discovering a few things that way.  Made with love that were...  Which is just an insight of what's possible. Unfortunately, for me, the horror channel remains something of the final destination of my channel flicking, rather than the final verdict on the genre I would like it to be.   




But then again, lots of people liked buffy...




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