casasugar Home Tour!

I'm humbled to be featured as one of the Editor's Picks in casasugar. There are a few new pieces in my home, so it's a little different than what you've seen.

Big thanks to Angela Swinderman Elias for the feature, and to Kassie Borreson for her beautiful images!

To take see a complete slideshow of the tour, click here.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Book Review : The Bighead by Edward Lee

Jesus, where to begin with a novel like THE BIGHEAD....

Anyone who's dabbled in the fetid, murky waters of author, 'Edward Lee' will generally know what to expect with this one.The man is not celebrated for his sense of restraint. In fact, of all the modern generation of underground horror writers, Lee is perhaps the most notorious. His deeply alarming imagination and total lack of respect for literary censorship has seen him produce some of the most disgusting and morally reprehensible works of all time; the sort of shit that would give Marquis De Sade a case of the flaccid Williams.

A brief history for the uninitiated...

Lee could be considered part of the second wave of horror that began in earnest with the late, great Richard Laymon and his pals. A form of literary horror that came to be termed, 'Splatterpunk'. In this most infamous of genres, nothing is left to the imagination. Theres an unspoken contract between writer and reader that the work will most probably be upsetting, will definitely be violent in content and graphic in the extreme, and on rare occasions, may leave you questioning your worth as a human being. You may come to regard yourself as something of a pervert for enjoying this stuff.

Without stroking my own chain, I must state that I have read a huge number of the books that have grown from this artistic ideal. Laymon, Keene, Ketchum, Smith, Little and many more have reshaped the way I think of horror fiction. Stephen King and the like seem like kids stuff these days. Literally. Their work feels like a rights of passage before you get to the really fun stuff. I love King, Koontz and chums, but I prefer a harder kind of horror.

Edward Lee is as hard as it gets. He's a man gifted with a rare sense of the grotesque, yet one bolstered by a vision that is often grandiose and epic in scope. In CITY INFERNAL and its sequels, he envisioned hell as a city; too vast to truly comprehend and filled with terrors and tortures that make the christian hell look like Disneyland. Also of note, he's a man with an undying love for the works of H.P.Lovecraft, and like many of his peers, he often dives headfirst into the mythos created by the great man, while taking it further...much, much further. These are fine tools to have in your armory if your heading out into the world as a horror author. Lee sits at the top of the pile.

I've read a great deal of his work, and going into THE BIGHEAD I thought I knew what to expect. But with this charming little tome, the man goes above and beyond anything I've ever come across in the genre, by far. THE BIGHEAD is the single most demented, disgusting and unforgivable piece of exploitation fiction to ever break free unrestrained from the human psyche. Suffice to say, I loved it.

It's the only novel I can recall with which I've stated to myself, that,  'I ain't reading one more page of this sickening filth!', only to throw the book down, stare at it in disgust for a few minutes, then pick the fucker back up and start reading again. When a piece of art can disgust and attract me simultaneously to its dark dementia, I have to hold it in respect.

I wont give away any of the countless scenes of unthinkable perversions in this book, but I will say that it is guaranteed to shock even the most hardened reader. Its balls are huge, the attention to detail is sick-bag-on-standby stuff, and the relentlessness of the darkness that pervades the tale is exhausting, but its just so damn well written that you cant let it go.

Herein ye shall find a giant mutated hillbilly/monster, (who's sexual and culinary habits are unspeakable even in this here Hotel), a pair of demonic Nun's sent from the pits of hell to habitually torture and rape, a helpless priest in the most vile ways ever written, a sex-addict who can't get enough junk in her trunk, two moonshine trading serial killers who know no limits, a self mutilator who goes to ridiculous extremes, and behind and surrounding it all, a dark, demonic mystery as to who the 'Bighead' is, and  how this disparate group of fuck-ups, psycho's and devils all relate. Its sheer brilliance.

The gore, of course, is often almost unbearable, and takes up a huge chunk of the narrative, but its all for a purpose which will not become clear lest the reader mans up and trudges along till the climax. Hell, Its not like the journey ain't fun. Its so sick and twisted that its often laugh out loud. Hopefully, your not taking this stuff too seriously. The explicit violence is smartly balanced with a sly, degenerate wit that manages to make the whole thing not only bearable, but hugely enjoyable. There are so many twists and turns here, in what seems to be a simple tale, that your left in no doubt by the novels heartless, darkly humorous finale, that what you just suffered through was a work of unmitigated genius. Were this nothing other than extreme gore and violence, it would simply lay claim to the most disgusting horror book ever written. A sort of 'Snuff Novel', if you will. But with Lee's precision storytelling, a deeply involving mystery, and some fascinating and perfectly realized characters, the whole thing becomes nothing less than a classic of its time.

Most wont be able to handle Edward Lee's THE BIGHEAD. Its his most repulsive work, after all, and that's no small feat considering the mans other tales. Though in many ways, its his most accomplished work also, and boasts his most memorable characters, and scenes, (oh, how I wish those scenes were less fucking memorable).

Those of you who take up the gauntlet and manage to read the damn thing will most likely feel ashamed of yourselves for doing so. Questions will arise in your soul as to what the fuck you were thinking. You may have to make some form of atonement for enjoying such a perverted work of the devil. You may pray for salvation for your rotten eternal spirit.

But when all is said and done, and you somehow convince yourself once again that your a good and moral person, the chances are you'll find yourself looking up at your bookshelf, seeing that damn disgusting book sat atop your pile, and without knowing, a smile will bloom on your face. You made it out in one piece.

Perhaps you'll make it out just fine the second time, too...

10 CRACKHEAD BLOWJOBS out of 10

The Best Taco in Grand Rapids

A former drive-thru on Division is now the home of the best taco in GR.

My wife and I conducted our own little taco challenge this past Saturday by visiting 6 taco joints in the Grand Rapids area. All six are undeniably authentic and worth the side trip from one's suburban home. Of the six, Taqueria San Jose on Division avenue is the hands down favorite.

Taqueria San Jose gives an ample amount of cilantro (versus lettuce). Its salsa and roasted pepper combination are deadly delicious. For $1.75, how can you go wrong?

Menu at Taqueria San Jose

The taco stand inside La Mexicana grocery store on Division

La Mexicana Taco

Best bang for your buck...Tacos El Cunado on Grandville

Menu board at Tacos El Cunado

The friendly taco chef at El Cunado

Carne Asada taco at El Cunada

$1 taco at Cancun on Grandville avenue

You can't beat the price

The very popular taco at Tacos El Caporal

Tacos El Caporal on 28th Street in Wyoming

Inside El Granjero on Bridge and Lane

I love the burritos at El Granjero, however, the tacos are equally good.

Review : Dark Shadows (2012)

Director:

Tim Burton

Writers:

Seth Grahame-Smith (screenplay), John August (story), and 2 more credits �

Stars:

Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Eva Green

An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection. 

First of all...what the hell is it with Tim Burton and remakes?

The man used to knock out some interesting and original films. Sure, he's always had a problem from a storytelling point of view, but from a aesthetic standpoint, his films were the very definition of quirky. The stamp of his artistry was all over them, top to toe, and even when they fell flat in the plot department, the visual flair and the dedication to 'the weird' made them must see movies.

Compare EDWARD SCISSORHANDS to CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY...there is no comparison. One is a unique and heartfelt take on isolation, filtered through a fairytale gothicism that's damned near irresistible, and the other is an overblown, rehash of a stone cold classic, which replaces the magic of its central character with a creepy as hell, Micheal Jackson mutation that's more likely to strike soul freezing terror into children than entrance them. Its like the man got so far in his career and decided, 'you know what, I'm tired of standing for something. I think I'll just remake/re-imagine every damn thing that comes my way'...

PLANET OF THE APES...sweet zombie Jesus, does anyone know what was going on there? How about ALICE IN WONDERLAND, a visually stunning film that was as empty and and directionless and a reality TV 'personality'. What the hell happened to real artistry?

The same can be said for Burton's muse, one Mr Johnny Depp. Here's and actor who can disappear inside almost any role, and he seems to have eschewed painting real characters for these over-egged caricatures. Seems like Burton and Depp have some sort of symbiosis going on, and their outsider vibes match well, but give it a damn rest already. Work with other people. Express yourselves in new ways. Your artists for gods sake, try and act the part.

Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate a lot of what these guys have done, but it seems they've been having a good old circle jerk for the past ten years. Both need to split the hell up and go home to their wives. Have a look at their peers and what they're doing, and forgot about all this emo shit that no one over sixteen gives a hot damn about.

Rant over...

Now, onto DARK SHADOWS, yet another remake for the Burton/Depp show. This time based on a very much overlooked yet wonderful TV show from the dim and distant past. The show was sombre, serious and pitch black, so one could only wonder in fear and trepidation what Burton would come up with from such respected source material. Me...I was none too enthusiastic, to say the least. With all things Burton though, I had to take a look. After all, he grew up on Hammer Horror and is a huge Vincent Price fan...in many ways, we're kin.

Burton's film is about as far removed from the source material as you can travel, and is essentially only DARK SHADOWS, as we knew it, in subject matter and name. The tone, the characters, the atmosphere and the depth that made the show such a winner are all replaced by a comic, fish-out-of-water special effects showcase that goes for laughs and visual wonder over any meaningful storytelling. This is not the DARK SHADOWS so many grew up with and love dearly, (including Depp and Burton, I believe). At all. And its in this distancing from the original material that it somehow manages to charm and entertain...

Much like the recent remake of FRIGHT NIGHT, this is a film that can easily be viewed on its own terms. Its no more an adaptation of the source than those godawful TWILIGHT movies are an adaptation of NOSFERATU. This is Burton grooving to his own thing, flaws and all, and somehow it doesn't drive you to madness. At least not in my case.

Like that other vampire remake I mentioned, I quickly came to regard this as bding an original work that shared a name with something special that came before, and in viewing the film through that prism, it becomes something of a charmer. It has little plot, zero character depth and none of the depth and gravitas that came before, and yet I found myself not caring. I got on board with the zany, freewheeling vibe and found myself enjoying the ride.

DARK SHADOWS is, essentially, plot-wise at least, a variation on CROCODILE DUNDEE and its ilk. Depp's bloodsucking lead is the foil for all the jokes, many of which land squarely, as his character Barnabus wakes up outside his own time and has to try and fit in. He's really rather good in the role. Its obvious the guys enjoying himself, and while his usual gurning, taken aback shtick is present and correct, it doesn't hurt the character here. In fact, this is the only character Depp has played in years that I've been able to enjoy on any level. Its still a surface-only performance, but its a whole lot of fun. His Lugosi style mannerisms are spot-on, and his higher-than-though bravado garners a lot of laughs. You find yourself rooting for the guy. Something I never again expected from Depp.

He's backed up by an absolutely stellar cast including Michelle Pfieffer, and the stunning Eva Green, of CASINO ROYALE fame. Not to mention Chloe Moretz, hot off playing yet another vampire in the quite excellent remake of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, Jackie Earl Haley of WATCHMEN infamy, Burtons wife Helena Bonham Carter, TRAINSPOTTING'S Jonny Lee Miller, and best of the bunch, the mighty Christopher Lee in a fleeting yet fun cameo.

The script, sadly, doesn't allow for any character development, but every single cast member is game, and all are hugely entertaining in their roles. Wise to Burton's tone, they all play it camp, (none more than Depp), and manage to win over the audience through sheer force of frivolity. I'd happily spend more time with this fucked up family in future films. 

The other strong point of the film is, unsurprisingly, the visuals. DARK SHADOWS looks utterly beautiful from frame one. Its Burton's finest vision since his love letter to Hammer, SLEEPY HOLLOW, and for horror fans, the film is an delight for the eyes and the imagination. Repeated viewings are a prerequisite to really soak up the vast Gothic canvas Burton is working with here. He blends old world romanticism with 60's pop psychedelia to create an aural palette that is completely enchanting. Other than PROMETHEUS and THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, this is the perhaps the best looking film of the year.

DARK SHADOWS may have nothing to say, and go to very few places in terms of storytelling, but its a beautiful, often funny, and lighthearted ride into Burton's skewed worldview. In short, it works. Its NOT the show its based on, and if you go in expecting a respectful reworking, your done for. Go in looking for a dark comedy with some great performances and a spellbinding visual flair, however, and your gonna have some good times. Forget about it's occasionally uneven tone and its total lack of meaning, and its one dimensional character's, and just have fun.

Seems that by removing himself from the source material, Burton has rediscovered what made his name in the first place. This is his best film since BIG FISH, and if he holds onto his re-found mojo in the future, he may be able to reclaim his throne as the king of quirkiness and leave behind him the pseudo-emo reputation he's unwittingly taken on these last few years. Good luck to him. Oh, and as for Johnny Depp, the boy done good. Here's to hoping he goes onto take on some meatier roles that challenge him as an artist.

Go in with an open mind, and forget that its supposed to be a remake of the classic show, and you may just enjoy yourself. The original still stands untouched, and perhaps this will draw a younger generation to its wonders. That cant be all bad, can it?

7.5 SUPER-HOT WITCHES OUT OF 10

Review : Silent House (2011)

Directors:

Chris Kentis, Laura Lau

Writers:

Gustavo Hern�ndez (film "La casa muda"), Laura Lau (screenplay)

Stars:

Elizabeth Olsen, Adam Trese and Eric Sheffer Stevens
 
Trapped inside her family's lakeside retreat, a young woman finds she is unable to contact the outside world as events become increasingly ominous in and around the house

I never caught the original SILENT HOUSE, and in truth, I had no real desire to catch this American remake. For one thing, a remake so soon after the original always feels like an insult to audiences intelligence to me, (yes, we can read subtitles; just release the original work), and as the films whole 'hype', if you will, was based around the fact that it is filmed, or at least appears to be filmed, in one continuous take. In short, its a gimmick, and to be quite frank, i couldn't give a good fuck about gimmickry, in any form, (unless William Castle is behind it). I'm interested in story, plot development, atmosphere and character. Without those things all fitted in place, bravado camerawork and directorial flourish really doesn't appeal to me. The story is God, if you will. SILENT HOUSE, in concept, sounds, (and is), pretty familiar ground. At its core, its essentially a home invasion movie, with an undercurrent on supernatural mystery to sweeten the taste. I dig these films, but they have to bring something fresh to the table. MOTHERS DAY, INSIDE, IL'S/THEM......now those are home invasion movies.

In truth, the 'one-shot-movie' thing feels like a chore to me. There are some masterful works out there that use the technique, and it goes without saying that Hitchcock's ROPE is a masterclass in the form, but lets be honest, there are very few Hitchcock's in this old world, and if one were to spring up, would he really be directing a remake of a recent film? Add to this the fact that these films are rarely completed in one shot, and the initial attraction is sedated even moreso. There are many editing tricks that can pull the wool over the audiences eyes, (HALLOWEEN'S celebrated extended opening shot from Myers' perspective is, in fact, three separate shots cleverly edited, and ROPE has few too, believe it or not). That said, the shots in these films are significantly long ones, and are very impressive, just not impressive enough to trump story, as is the case here. So, SILENT HOUSE remained on my 'who gives a rats ass' list since its original inception.

So, fuck the gimmickry. What works?

The one thing that changed my mind on all the above and actually got my ass in the seat for this one,  was my viewing of another film starring this films lead, Elizabeth Olsen, called MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE. Her performance in that film was so strong, so layered and so dynamic that I was willing to overlook any trepidation and dive on in. It doesn't hurt that shes incredibly sexy either.

Of course, the central performance is as on-point as anyone who's seen Olsen's previous work would expect. Shes fantastic, (even given the sparsity of her character on script), and portrays terror more effectively than almost anyone I can think of besides that gal from THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE, or Nicole Kidman. Much like Nicole Kidman elevated the material in THE OTHERS, so Olsen takes a run-of-the-mill horror formula and injects it with real heart and authenticity. She saves the movie, and makes it a worthwhile watch if only to witness a star on the rise.

The film has a truckload of atmosphere too. Its genuinely creepy in its first two acts, and Directors, Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, make great use of his very limited, (though self imposed), box of tricks by using shadow and setting to maximum advantage. There are also some clever and effective nods to classics of old, including THE HAUNTING, (no, not the one with that guy from TAKEN). The set, (and setting) is suitably 'Gothic Americana', and the ever present gloom does bring on the chills. Sadly, the dynamic duo are saddled with a script and a story that both lack inspiration, and it all falls apart about midway through.

Somewhere around the mid-mark, SILENT HOUSE starts to veer into some disastrously familiar territory, and it becomes real obvious that this spook-house has a few twists up its sleeve. The problem is, the twists will be instantly seen through by anyone with a working knowledge of horror, and once the true nature of the plot sinks in, the scares, atmosphere and dread that the film has so well established are usurped by the audiences sense of tried recognition. You'll see this one coming a mile off, and it hurts the film greatly. personally, I had a handle of how events would most likely turn out from the opening scenes, simply through paying attention to character behaviour. I had hoped it wouldn't go down the path it, and I did get caught up in the tense atmosphere for a while, but really, theres nothing new here.

SILENT HOUSE is a film that absolutely walks the line in terms of quality. It boasts some impressive technical work, a brilliant lead performance, and some pretty unsettling scares early on, but it's balls drop off in the latter stages and it becomes little more that a familiar trip down Hollywood lane. Perhaps the original is sharper, though the plot was old long before the Uraguayan version, so I'm not holding out.

Hearty goodness and tiresome nonsense in equal measure. Its gotta be a.....

5 CREEPY FUCKING UNCLES out of 10

(Authors note : You wanna see a really excellent film with a purdy gal trapped in a big, boarded up house and running for her sweet life? Watch BURNING BRIGHT. It has a tiger....)

New Arrivals at Paris Hotel Boutique!

With brisk mornings, cooler days, and leaves changing color, Paris Hotel Boutique offers you our latest finds to capture the mood of this beautiful autumn season.

Several new items are being showcased for the first time!

Some highlights include:

• Antique Mercury Glass Apothecary Jars
• Italian Florentine Footed Jewelry Box
• Vintage Portrait Paintings
• Victorian Ivory Brooches
• Vintage Etched Glass Lamps
• Lots of Hotel Silver and much more!

Click here to see our new arrivals!



images: Kassie Borreson, Haus Frau Fotografie

Full Moon, Wild Mushroom Tea and a Man Named Bomba

Bomba Shack in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, is home to insane Full Moon parties, wild mushroom tea, souvenir undergarments, an ever expanding array of hurricane memorabilia and the ever charismatic owner -  Bomba. I don't think I've ever been to a wilder Full Moon party in the world than this surfside shack. 

New York's The Great Performer

Matthew Silver - NYC's The Great Performer

Every New Yorker knows of Matthew Silver. Unlike Times Square's The Naked Cowboy, Matthew Silver is actually entertaining. He is a little bit on the whacko side - but in his body suit, pink bra, black fanny pack and pet plastic reindeer, his act is actually worth the few minutes of attention. 

My daughter Margaux and I were in NYC to check out possible NYU dorms for her first year when we stumbled upon The Great Entertainer in Astor Place. Check him out next time you're in the city (he is normally in Union Square). To find out more, visit his website: Man In A White Dress.