Vampire flick THE DEAD MATTER is rooted in good horror with classic actors

Posted September 22, 2012 at 11:24pm by Dave Harlequin

"The Dead Matter" screens at 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 at the historic Gem Theatre, Kannapolis, N.C. Tickets are $4 each.

By: Dave Harlequin

 In this era, it is truly rare to come across a quality horror film that is both original, as well as takes itself seriously. It seems most horror films these days have either resorted to the infamous “remake machine” for a quick buck, or have jumped on the “horror-comedy” bandwagon. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, I mean, I love a good horror-comedy once in awhile, but it just seems like most indie filmmakers have all-but given up on trying to produce true horror anymore. Perhaps this is to cater to the so-called “cult” market, perhaps it’s simply to compensate for lack of a workable budget. Whatever the case may be, it’s a real treat these days to see a quality horror film that actually delivers without all the horror-comedy filler... and this film does exactly that!

“The Dead Matter,” which is currently available from Midnight Syndicate Films, stars Andrew Divoff (“Wishmaster” and “Lost”), Jason Carter (“Babylon 5”), Sean Serino (“The Rage”) and horror icon Tom Savini (“Dawn of the Dead”, “From Dusk Till Dawn”, “Planet Terror”, etc.) A very impressive cast, particularly for an independent film, that really delivers excellent performances overall.

The story revolves around Gretchen (Serino), a grieving young woman obsessed with contacting her deceased brother. When she discovers a strange ancient relic (a scarab-shaped amulet which controls the dead,) she finds herself driven into a tangled, dark web of terror. Caught between two warring vampire lords (Divoff and Savini), each with their own sinister plans for the amulet, and a vampire-hunter (Carter) hell-bent on destroying it; Gretchen must come face-to-face with her greatest fears, and choose the fate of the powerful but dangerous amulet.

Directed by Edward Douglas (the mastermind behind the award-winning composers at ‘Midnight Syndicate’) and produced by Robert Kurtzman (legendary FX artist and creator of “From Dusk Till Dawn,”) “The Dead Matter” is a brilliantly crafted dark-fantasy horror that brings some much-needed credibility back to the genre. It features top-notch camera work, very good special effects, and an outstanding original soundtrack (composed entirely by Midnight Syndicate.)

The three-disc deluxe edition DVD is currently available through the official website (www.thedeadmatter.com,) as well as Amazon, Hot Topic, and various other stores/retail outlets nationwide. It features exclusive behind-the-scenes extras and commentary, interviews, two new music videos from Midnight Syndicate, the original motion picture soundtrack, the Midnight Syndicate “Greatest Hits” album, and much, much more. This one comes highly recommended, especially to anyone who’s been craving a new, quality, and most of all-original horror film.

If “Indie Horror 101” was a college course (and it should be)- this gets an A. -- 8.5/10

 Dave Harlequin is a professional freelance journalist and Editor in Chief of Stiff Magazine, a bi-monthly horror culture & entertainment publication available internationally in print/digital formats through Amazon Publishing/Graveyard Girls Entertainment. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for North Carolina’s Modern Film Fest, and is the Programming Coordinator for the annual multi-genre fandom convention MonsterCon in Greenville, SC. For more info on Dave and Stiff Magazine, please visit www.stiffmag.com