Is this how you deal with annoying relatives or guests who overstay their welcome?
If so, be aware that murder is illegal, bodies are hard to dispose of... and that we know someone who can offer you a better option! We're proud to announce a another sponsor who makes it possible for the Shades of Gray team to bring you all the great content you find here!
Check out this sort ad, visit their shop, or give them a call! See if they can't improve YOUR life!
A good cover tune is one where the performer captures the essence of the song. A great cover tune is one where the artist captures the essence of the song and makes it their own in every way.
Singer Zella Day has recorded a cover of Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train" that is not only great, it's FANTASTIC. What's more, it is supported by a great video that is equally effective in capturing the essence of "Crazy Train." (The only, very nitpicky complaint that I can even think to mount is that maybe it should have taken place in a train car rather than the back of an open-topped car.)
Yello is duo who've been making wild electronica for more than 40 years. At this point, they're like the cool grandpas we wish we all had... AND they dress their ages!
It's a shame they've been lost in the void between the universes as they followed their buddy Stephen Strange into the Multiverse of Madness.
California-based musical duo slenderbodies says that they are hoping to inspire change in the world through their dreamy, poppy tunes. Check out the "official visualizer" for their single "smilin'" and let us know if you think they might succeed! (We enjoyed the curious peppiness of the song and weirdness of the video... and we hope you will, too!)
smilin' (2022) Starring: Alyssa Rose Directors: Max Vehuni and Benji Cormack
Here's an excellent R&B song, with a music video that's part Rocky/sports documentary spoof, part performance video, and all fun! All-in-all, it's a great way to get the blood flowing for another work week!
Survivor (2021) Starring: Nathaniel Rateliff, Rachel Matthews, Joey Pope, Luke Mossman, and Charles Martin Director: Brantley Gutierrez
Your Time is Up! (2021) Starring: Nhan La Director: Leon Truong Rating: Six of Ten Stars
A young woman (La) has a fateful encounter with Death.
Our month-long Halloween celebration may have come to an end yesterday, but this tidbit of horror felt like it belonged on the Day of the Dead... so the spookiness continues!
According to notes from writer/director Leon Truong, "Your Time is Up!" was made first and foremost as an exercise in creating a film that captured the look and feel of a silent movie. While he wisely didn't attempt to dress up actress Nahn La as if it was 1919, he did reach the stated goal of this project by using lighting and special effects techniques similar to what filmmakers in the silent era had access to and then manipulating the resulting footage digitally in post-production.
We continue our celebration of Halloween on this Musical Monday with another amazing video for a version of Camille Saint-Saens immortal "Danse Macabre" that is equally amazing! (It's what the dancing dead could play if they used each other as instruments!)
Slow Danse with the Dead makes a second appearance during the 2022 Halloween festivities with the video for "Say Goodbye". We almost held this to be the final post for the line-up on the 31st, but we decided we'd share it to show that even the Shades of Gray Back-Up Easter Bunnies appear to be getting in on the Halloween action.
In all seriousness, this lead single off Slow Danse with the Dead's recent EP, Strangers in the Dark, is supported by a neat video. Both in, and the song, are worth your time... and will help spark that Halloween Spirit! Click and enjoy the dark vibes!
We're one week away from the Big Night--Halloween--so here's a song and video that's equal parts pretty and spooky... so you can get your week started in a pleasant way but still keep the Halloween Spirit building!
We struck a gothic tone with Anne Hathaway yesterday... and we continue it with today's spooky short film!
Tale of the Deaf (2021) Starring: Husky and Anton Adasinsky
Director: Philip Yuryev
Rating: Nine of Ten Stars
A mysterious illusionist and organ grinder (Adasinsky) enters a shabby tavern where he takes to the stage to entertain a crowd who just abused the previous performer (Husky).
"Tale of the Deaf" is a fabulous Russian short film that was originally produced as part of an effort to spotlight popular musicians (in this case, a rapper named Husky) in mini-fright films for the Russian counterpart to YouTube. I can't speak to any other entries in the series, but this one soars far and above its gimmicky origins and rises to the level of horror movie greats. If you enjoy those classic, gothic-horror flavored films from the 1920s and early 1930s (and even some of the Hammer Film flicks from the late 1950s), you're going to get a big kick out of this one.
Almost everything about this film is perfect. From the expert use of light and shadow to make maximum use of the black-and-white format (and resulting in visuals that bring to mind the best work of filmmakers like James Whale, Tod Browning, and Benjamin Christensen), the elaborate tavern set, and a collection of background characters that are deftly given depth with some very brief, but well thought-out, touches.
The only reason that this is not a Ten-star film is that there's a bit of the ending that doesn't seem like it fits with what happened earlier in the film. It fits in over all, it's perfect in a twisted poetic justice sense, but I found myself wondering how it was happening.
(By the way, if you happen to be a DM who runs games using the Ravenloft setting, you REALLY need to watch "Tale of the Deaf". There's a wealth of inspiration to be had from it!)
Slow Danse with the Dead is the name of a darkwave solo project by Albuquerque-based singer/songwriter/musician Johnny Ray. "Death Upon Your Eyes" is the lead single from his Lost and Alonealbum, and the video for it tells the story of a spell-battle between witches and has a vibe that put me in mind of the great RKO horror flicks from the 1940s and black-and-white supernatural chillers from early 1960s. The music isn't bad... but the video is excellent!
Check it out... I'm sure you will find it to be great viewing as we build toward the Big Night on October 31st!
What if B-movie maestro Charles Band (the creator of many oddball doll-driven horror films) was to write and direct a music video? Well, we're pretty sure it would turn like something like the one for "Talking to Myself" by the Linda Lindas.
Talking to Myself (2022) Starring: The Linda Lindas Director: Ryan Baxley Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
Steps (2022) Starring: Mori Christian and Kris Cummins Director: Russell Miller Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
A woman (Christian) movies into her just-purchased house, only to discover that the previous owner has left something behind...
"Steps" is a expertly paced and well-filmed haunted house tale. It mostly avoids the jump scares that so many creators of short films (and long-form horror films, too, for that matter) rely so heavily on. What we get here is good old-fashioned tension building through escalating weirdness
The only non-nitpicky complaint I can voice about this film is also a compliment: As the film ended, I wanted to know more. More about the main character, more about the house she purchased, more about the person who sold it to her, more about the previous owner/inhabitants... just more. Generally, stories like this that don't have the slightest hint as to why the supernatural events of the film are happening bother me. I generally feel like there should be some slight hint as to why this curse is upon a particular place or is happening to a particular person. There are some exceptions, though, like what we have here--a film so engaging that it sparks my imagination and causes me to make up the greater story surrounding it. That, in turn, makes me wish that I could know the REAL story beyond the edges of the story we are told.
But why don't you take a few minutes to check out "Steps"? Even if you aren't as impressed with it as I was, I think you'll agree that it's an excellent short film, as well as a great way to boost the Halloween Spirit!
Tuneful Tuesdays are usually something you find exclusively at our sister blog Terror Titans during the 31 Nights of Halloween. BUT! We're pulling out all the stops this year for the month of October here at Shades of Gray, so we're bringing you some chilling tunes on Tuesdays, in addition to our standard Musical Mondays, until Halloween arrives.
We're kicking off the creepy music festival with "Skeleton Dance" from the Hamburg-based darkwave singer/songwriter known as DARK. While you're watching this stylish video and grooving to the dark-trance, you may be wondering where the skeletons are at. Well, there's one in almost every shot--even if it's covered in fleshy bits and wearing ridiculously high platform boots.
If you like your dancing skeletons not wearing their Halloween costumes, you should check out this post, as well as this one.
If you need someone to score your horror film, maybe you need to reach out to Michael Vuckovac, the fellow who wrote and performed today's great track, "The Ghosts of Salem". He also directed the very moody video. (He has released music and performed under various names, but his most recent efforts have been presented as Michael's Statements.)
You can enjoy more of Michael Vuckovac's music and videos on his YouTube channel. We'll also be spotlighting one or two more of his efforts here and over at our sister blog Terror Titans, as this year's 31 Nights of Halloween unfold!
... we have a student film that we found in the deep recesses of YouTube. It's interesting visually, if a little underlit/underexposed in many of the shots. But it being too dark for its own good is not why we're scratching our heads by the time it's over.
We THINK we know what's being represented in this short, artsy film, but we're not sure. How about you take a few minutes and let us know what YOU think the film is about/is representing. (Maybe we'll add our thoughts in the comments, but we want to hear what others have to say first. If you have ideas, please share! We know you're out there...)
Antonym (2021)
Starring: Mia and Lillian Director: Lucas Manuel-Scheibe Rating: Six of Ten Stars
A favorite roleplaying game of mine was Cyberpunk 2020, with its "day after tomorrow" setting where the world had crumbled under the weight of a pandemic, government corruption, and corporate greed. I greatly enjoyed running my campaign in the setting, which incorporated some low-key supernatural elements, plus space aliens, in addition to the gritty sci-fi aspects already present.
I mention this, because this video for a single off Bad Omen's 2022 album, "The Death of Peace of Mind", captures the mood I was going for in the sessions of that campaign, as well as visually making me nostalgic for that game and my version of the world it took place in.
It's also a fantastic song with perfectly timed transitions between creepily mellow and savagely metal. So perfectly Cyberpunk!
Austin-based rock band takes us on a walk in the wilderness of Texas in the video for the second single from their latest album, Lucifer on the Sofa. Or do they? See for yourself by watching this nicely done video while enjoying a catchy tune with interesting lyrics!
.jpg)
.jpg)
