Despite being a commercial failure upon its initial release, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is still growing strong. Although ostensibly causing developer Troika Games to go under several months later and containing a notorious amount of bugs, the game was well liked by critics and continues to have a faithful cult following. One of the things Bloodlines is best known for is its writing. With such a large cast of highly memorable characters, it’s easy to see the reason. Which NPCs really drew you in or repelled you? Read on for a tentative top ten of Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines Characters.
5 Interesting Facts About Hellraiser
The Hellraiser movie is an icon and “classic” of the genre. It was written and directed by Clive Barker (his directorial debut), a legend himself, who also wrote the novella that the movie is based upon, called “Hellbound Heart”.
It is known that the money invested to make the movie was around 1 million dollars. And that it grossed an astounding 15 million at the box office. But there are also some things which are less known about it that only serve to increase its mystique and will probably intrigue most readers. Of these, 5 interesting facts about Hellraiser will be discussed in the following lines.
1. Fortunate or unfortunate location?
Due to the relatively small budget it had (compared to other major productions), the producers couldn’t opt to build a set especially for shooting “Hellraiser”, so instead they had to work with an already built house. But their organizational problems didn’t end here. The only viable option they ended up with (meaning the affordable cost) was a house in which, reportedly … a suicide had just taken place. Talk about inspiration for the actors, right?
2. The fine red line of vulgarity
Those who’ve seen “Hellraiser” (and those who surely will soon, right?), will know that it features a LOT of violence and gruesome images. Including but not limited to: skinned yet still alive characters, pin-cushioned yet still alive characters etc. And Clive Barker mentioned that he had planned even MORE gruesome scenes that the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) kindly requested he take out and probably burn forever. But, that’s not where they drew the line. They went further and instructed Mr. Barker that the movie, which features a sex scene as well, which sex scene included several hearty thrusts (as is to be expected), could only have two consecutive thrusts. Two was okay. Three, however meant it was vulgar filth and it would get the X rating. You have to admire the machine like precision of the quantification process. Some people are surely amazed that the answer was not given in decimals. Say… 2.73 thrusts would be more to the mark. Also, one wonders: if Clive Barker would have been more of a troll and just had like… 20 sequences of 1 or 2 thrusts interspersed randomly throughout the film, would that have been OK with the MPAA?
3. “What shall we call it?”
The title of the film was initially supposed to be the same as the novella, “Hellbound Heart”. But that didn’t sit well with the producers who were of the opinion that it sounded more like a romantic novel than a horror movie, so they asked Clive Barker for another one. Their opinion was duly noted and Clive came with the (dead-pan) suggestion “Sadomasochist From Beyond The Grave”. You can almost hear the sarcasm pouring out. Thankfully, “Hellraiser” was chosen as the final version.
4. Pinhead troubles
The most emblematic character in the movie is that of the Cenobite leader, nicknamed “Pinhead” by fans. But his name in the script and the original novel was just “the lead Cenobite”. And Clive Barker hated the nickname, which is why he gave him the name of “Hell Priest” in later novels.
There were other problems with the character as well. The prosthetics and make-up for the lead Cenobite took 6 hours to apply. And Doug Bradley, the actor who played him, later confessed having difficulties in hitting his marks while wearing the costume because of the contact lenses that made it hard for him to see. Not to mention the skirts he had to wear which he was constantly afraid of tripping over.
5. Inspiration in the little things
Oliver Smith, the actor who played Frank the Monster had a habit of smoking cigar after cigar on set when not filming, even while in costume. Clive Barker noticed this and instead of kicking him out as a fire hazard and just overall bad health related manners, he thought that a skinless man smoking is a pretty cool image for a horror movie and decided to implement this in the film.
The 8 Best Horror Games of All Time
If you thought Horror Movies were gruesome, you definitely had no idea how terrifying a horror video game can be. Game lovers have always loved to test different games, but not all of them are for the faint of heart. Whereas movies show you a story that cannot be controlled, horror video-games are an entirely different story. This time you are the one running away from starving zombies, creeping about in the shadows or simply skulking on dark hallways. For those in search of a thrill, from the comfort of their couch, we give 10 bloody and truly scary video horror games: (this list was arranged according to personal preference)
8. Thief: Deadly Shadows
Thief is one of my favorite video-games of all times. The impending release of its sequel, brilliant story-line and interesting protagonist have sparked a nostalgia that is difficult to contain. But aside from the positive features of the game, there is also a darker side that needs to be mentioned. It is not called Thief for nothing. Your primary objective is to creep through the shadows, steal stuff, and asassinate anyone that gets in your way. There is one particular mission that made me truly afraid: the Orphenage one. This was a chapter worthy of a horror movie. Not only do you have to enter an abbandoned orphenage that is teeming with undead, but if you ever get the great idea of stabbing one of them you will be surprised by the fact that they come back to life, even after you have subdued them. In addition to these the creepy sound effects and movies will make you want to turn off your speakers as soon as possible.
7. Fatal Frame 2
Any horror movie that was ever conceived by Japanese people, was downright scary. Fatal Frame 2 is no exception. In this wonderful story, you have to play the role of Mio Amakura, who is accompanied by her sister Mayu, into the ‘Lost Village”, a place packed with tormented spirits of the dead. The only thing you can do to protect yourself is to use the Camera Obscura, a camera that dispels evel spirits, all from a first person perspective.
6. Slender (Man)
Slender has been the talk of the internet for the past couple of years. It is also one of the biggest indie games of 2012, which managed, through its gloomy atmosphere, and bizarre story-line, to freak out even the strongest of souls. It is definitely not recommended to the faint of heart. What basically happens during the game, is that you wonder through some creepy, eerie woods at midnight, in search of eight pages. Slenderman is always there, always watching, and you will probably have the feeling that he is always there, waiting to snatch you.
5. The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead game is vaguely similar to the original story, but it has a graphical style that imitates the grotesque look of its novel, only in a more sketchy manner. People who have enjoyed Back to the Future Fables and Jurassic Park, will also be excited about the number five in our horror games list, even if it’s very scary.
4. Resident Evil Remake
The first time I saw Resident Evil, I cried, curled up in a ball and hid under the blankets. The game is not very much different. Nevertheless, Resident Evil Remake is beautiful, even in its grotesqueness and scariness due to its incredible level of detail. Do you think Resident Evil is worthy of a number four in our horror movies list?
3. S.T.A.L.K.E.R, Shadow of Chernobyl
You’d think that running around a irradiated area in the world would be enough to scare anyone, but this indie horror gem has more to offer than you would think. Unsettling landscapes, weird-looking monsters, and nightmare after nightmare being thrown in your direction are only a few of the reasons why you should call for helm. This horror video-game portrays your character, who has limited means of survival, and you have to go up against mutated monsters. Sounds like fun.
2. Outlast
Without a doubt, one of the most psychotic, and terrifying horror games in the world, Outlast brings you face to face with a bunch of crazy inmates from a deserted asylum, a weird priest, and a great big mystery to solve. So what can you do when the s*** hits the fan and you wake up in the dark? Hide! Outlast is horrible, and we don’t recommend it to people who get scared easily.
1. Corpse party
If you think that 8-bit retro graphics can’t scare the living daylights out of you, think again. Do you know the legend of Herobrine? If you do then you are probably as terrified about the pixeled, yellow-shirt man as other people were. Corpse Party is yet another thrilling experience that happens in a haunted school, how fitting for a horror games example. The plotline is about 8 students who are transported to an alternate universe of spirits with unfinished agendas. Your mission is to gather info from rotting corpses. The 2d-retro rendering style and binaural 3D audio will drive even more horror in your bones.
Halloween: Murders of Michael Myers
The most spooky time of the year is Halloween. With witches, ghosts, and goblins, Halloween gives you the opportunity to be what you cannot be any other time of the year. Young Michael Myers chose to become a killer. Starting with his sister when he was six, Myers blazed a trail of death and destruction for over twenty years. The chilling and calculating way that he destroys the people in Haddington, Illinois shows he is what Dr. Sam Loomis calls “Pure Evil”. Michael escapes from a mental home to continue his murders after brutally stabbing his sister to death years before. Hiding in the shadows of the cold October days and nights, Michael makes sure no one is safe. With his death count at well over fifty, the ways he killed were endless. Here are some of his all time smash hits.
1. Judith Myers (Halloween)
Sweet Dreams: Best of Nightmare On Elm Street (Part 1)
Elm Street was a quiet little space nestled in the heart of Springfield, until Fred Krueger showed up. Krueger was a known child molester and killer who turned the town into a legend. The parents of the slain children gathered to destroy Krueger. The tortured and set him on fire, killing him in the process, but he returned. Not from the dead, he returned in the dreams of the kids in the town. He haunts and teases them, always controlling what they do as long as they are asleep. The kids in the neighborhood try to keep one another awake, whether it be coffee, staying with one another, or more sadistic was such as cutting themselves, their goal is to stay awake as much as possible. Freddy will get them in their sleep. His unique ways of murder is inventive yet effective. We are delving into the series and the most creative ways Freddy disposes of the teens living on Elm Street.