Indie
WORLD OF DEATH Ep. 170 – “Midnight Horror Show”
“It’s only claymation. It’s only claymation. It’s only claymation…”
These are the words that ring in the terror that unfolds in this week’s installment of World of Death! What better way to start off a short than with an homage to the late Wes Craven’s (RIP) The Last House on the Left?
Cragun Clayburn brings terror to us this week claymation style in Midnight Horror Show. There is nothing better than sitting down Halloween night with your overfilled bag of candy while enjoying a classic horror film after a long night of trick or treating as this father and son do. The carnage on screen is filtered with a VHS style effect that really drives home the concept of an old grainy horror flick, in addition to a wonderfully campy synth score. The monster on screen brutally tortures an unfortunate victim as gallons of claymation blood pour out onto the floor. The young child cowers in fear as his father watches the film with a smile. What’s funny is that the kid is actually dressed as the creature that is terrifying him on screen. I’m sure many horror fans who grew up with the genre can relate to being so terrified by something held so dear.
While the poor child continues to be traumatized by the gory creature feature, the unthinkable happens. As if straight out of the child’s own nightmare, the grotesque creatures pops out of the television screen reminiscent of The Ring! Watching the father and son both react to the creature is great fun and of course, the young kid quickly hides behind the couch. What happens next is some classic gut-ripping action that combined with the cute claymation, creates a delightfully twisted contrast.
The claymation work in this short is an incredible feat and it is clearly evident that the creators had a lot of fun conjuring this horrifying nightmare.
-Noah Levine
Zomboy Productionz
World of Death is the web series that fans of independent horror have been waiting for. Featuring short horror films from all over the globe created by the largest variety of talent that a collection has ever been able to boast, WOD provides plenty of blood, guts, screams and laughs for all fans of the macabre. And with episodes averaging around eight minutes in length, WOD is the perfect entertainment for a fan base constantly on the go. Watch it anywhere, at any time, for FREE! New episodes premiere every Wednesday at 10am CST.
WATCH HERE
Her House of Horrors, the horror division of Independent Production House WOMXNOGRAPHY, has launched its Bite Size Short Grant Program, ahead of its film festival Dollhouse of Horror, which will take place in March 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
The Bite Size Short Grant Program awards $2,000 film grants to female-identifying and queer horror filmmakers. Shorts must be able to be made for $2,000, with a minimum runtime of 8 minutes. Submissions are now open on Filmfreeway, and are being judged by a panel of horror lovers and content creators.
The 2024 Bite Size Short Grant Program judge lineup is as follows:
“James H. Carter II- A documentary director, film producer, podcaster, marketing specialist, and writer. James is the founder and co-owner of Creepy Kingdom. Creepy Kingdom was founded in 2011 and is a multimedia website, and production studio specializing in creepy content. Their primary focus lies at the intersection of childlike fantasy and the macabre, covering horror films, theme parks, haunts, and much more. Beyond their extensive media coverage, Creepy Kingdom hosts events, offers original merchandise, and engages in film production under the Creepy Kingdom Studios brand producing original films like “Foolish Mortals”, exploring Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” fan culture, and “Georgie”, featuring Tony Dakota from the original “It” miniseries.
“In addition to founding Creepy Kingdom, James has won awards for his documentary work, including the award-winning “Foolish Mortals,” which has earned him recognition. He has been featured on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween special.
“Ashleeta Beauchamp is the editor-in-chief of Peek-A-Boo! Magazine, a cheeky horror magazine created to uplift marginalized writers, artists, models and other creators within the horror community. She also runs The Halloween Coalition, a community group to provide support and marketing for horror and Halloween events around the Southern California area.
“Titeanya Rodríguez is a multi-hyphenate creative, and the founder and owner of HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, home of DOLLHOUSE OF HORROR and the horror division of WOMXNOGRAPHY. As a fellow storyteller and a self-proclaimed artivist, Titeanya’s mission is to create opportunities for women of color and queer women, across film, tv, sports, music, and beyond. She is also the creator of the BITE SIZE SHORT grant program.”
Winners will have a one-night theatrical screening at Regal Cinemas. Submissions Close April 8 at Midnight. Winners will be announced on May 27, 2024. Shorts must be shot and through post-production by June 30, 2024. The screening will take place on July 8, 2024, in Los Angeles, CA.
WOMXNOGRAPHY, HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, and Rodriguez are represented by Azhar PR, Granderson Des Rochers, and Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir.
To submit your short to the Bite Size Short Grant Program, go to the FilmFreeway link here.
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