Dark View Haunted Attraction Is Coming!

Nothing can keep The Goucher Haunted Hotel down. This Toronto, Ohio haunt is rising from the ashes after going up in flames in 2014. It's being renamed Dark View Haunted Attraction and it promises to be a more mature experience. There will be a new location and multiple attractions that take place inside and outside. We'll keep you up to date as more information comes in.

For more information on Dark View Haunted Attraction, please visit www.darkviewhaunt.com.

Dreadland Haunted Woods Closes!

Dreadland Haunted Woods in Sardinia, Ohio will be closing forever because of zoning issues. They're limited in when they can open, what they can build, where they can build etc. City Blood hopes they are able to open down the road. They will be missed.

Fright Manor Sneak Preview Event!

Fright Manor in Indianapolis, IN will be open June 26th and 27th from 7:30 pm - 10 pm. Tickets are only $10 and you're sure to have the fright of your life. Their monsters are ready and will you survive? For more information, please visit www.frightmanor.com.

Damien Reaper's MHC Experience!

Read about Damien Reaper's experience at Midwest Haunters Convention 2015 in Columbus, Ohio. Click here for the article.

Get Ready For MHC 2015!

The annual Midwest Haunters Convention in Columbus, Ohio is this week (May 29-31). Enjoy everything from a haunted trade show floor to haunt tours, seminars, contests, workshops and more. The most anticipated event at MHC is of course the Masquerade Party which is great for those who love to take pictures of living breathing monsters and for those who like to dress up. Tickets are only $10 for the trade show floor and prices vary on everything else.

For more information, please visit www.midwesthauntersconvention.com.

St. Rita Haunted House Looking For New Location!

St. Rita Haunted House is in the process of finding a new location. Proceeds will continue to benefit St. Rita School for the Deaf. This year will be St.Rita's 40th year of fear. We look forward to seeing what the new St. Rita Haunted House will be like.

Click here for more information.

Midnight Syndicate Christmas CD!

CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 12, 2015 - Midnight Syndicate has announced that their eighteenth album will have a Christmas and Winter Solstice theme.  “I think there's a rule that after a band's been around for ‘x’ years they are required to produce a Christmas album.  So, that's how we got here,” joked Edward Douglas. “In all seriousness though, a Yuletide-themed Midnight Syndicate album is something our fans have been asking us for since we began; this album will not disappoint them.”

“I will say that this album has been particularly challenging because we're taking songs that are SO familiar and that have been treated in so many different ways throughout the years and trying to make them uniquely our own,” added Gavin Goszka. “We don't want to make yet another Christmas album - we really want it to stand on its own as something truly original. We hope that it will evoke the spirit of the Yuletide season while also reflecting our ongoing musical style and vision.”

Content-wise, the album will be a mix of new material and twists on classics. “I'd describe most of the covers on the album as being reinvented, rather than simply adapted,” said Goszka. “I've found myself approaching this material with a very wide palette and a limited sense of allegiance to convention. That being said, it still has to make sense in some way and stay grounded in the familiar. I think we're stretching our creative wings more than ever here, but there's still a consistency and overall purpose to it.”  “The original songs have been a lot of fun to work on,” added Douglas. “I think the fans are in for a lot of pleasant surprises.”

Fans will not have to wait until Christmas for this present.  Midnight Syndicate will be exhibiting at DragonCon in Atlanta this year on Labor Day weekend (September 4-7) and plans to have the CD available at the show.

Midnight Syndicate Live!  update: In October of 2014, Midnight Syndicate Live! debuted at Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends  event.  From the audience response to the critical reception to record-breaking attendance numbers, the show was an overwhelming success.   Although the band will be using 2015 to focus on the new album, plans for a return of  Midnight Syndicate Live! in 2016 are already underway. “The success of the inaugural run of Midnight Syndicate Live! has ensured that live Midnight Syndicate shows will be a permanent part of our plans going forward,” said Douglas.

Midnight Syndicate official website - www.MidnightSyndicate.com
Facebook - www.Facebook.com/MidnightSyndicate
Twitter - www.Twitter.com/midsyndicate
YouTube - www.youtube.com/midsyndicate

It Follows: "Retro Horror In The Modern Age"

Director: David Robert Mitchell

Runtime: 100 min

Rating: R

One of the year's most anticipated horror movies is called “It Follows”. You'll either love it or you'll hate it. I for one am a big fan of this soon to be cult classic. The story is one you've heard before. Girl meets boy, boy infects girl with curse after they've had wild passionate sex.

Maikia Monroe plays Jay Height, a naive young girl who has a bit of a dilemma. An evil entity won't leave her alone since she had sex with her dreamy boyfriend. This demonic spirit takes on many forms. It's an old woman, a 7 foot tall man, a nude dude, a naked chick, you name it. The only way she can get rid of the curse is if she has sex with some unfortunate soul. It's a twisted game of hot potato where the loser is haunted by some messed up individuals.

It Follows takes place in Detroit, Michigan. The shots of dilapidated buildings, stained walls and prostitutes really adds to the depressing feel of the movie. The neighborhood resembles a ghost town since you rarely see other people outside of their homes. It's a broken down version of Haddonfield, Illinois from the original Halloween. There's always a feeling of dread. You're running out of time before “It” gets you.

It's hard to tell what time period It Follows takes place in. Black and white TVs are the norm and teens use e readers shaped like sea shells. The kids in this small town have parents, but you rarely see them. They have to rely on each other if they want to survive. The music is haunting and plays homage to movies of the 1980's. The cinematography is superb and takes movie goers on a wild ride. You'll feel like you're the evil creature following these teens.

"This iconic scene shows Jay getting ready for her big date."

The soundtrack plays a big part of what makes It Follows unique. Disasterpiece has done a wonderful job capturing the mood of this film. So, please make sure the theater has a good sound system where you can feel the beat of the synthesizer. It Follows is a unique horror movie that comes along once in a while. Imitators are sure to pop up in the future to capitalize on its success.

This is a unique take on the modern horror movie. It's a throwback to the late 70's and early 80's, but feels fresh and new. It does have its faults though. The supporting characters fall flat with the exception of Paul played by Keir Gilchrist. The ending leaves a lot to be desired and had me asking for more. 

This isn't an overly gory film, but there are some nasty scenes. My only gripe about the gore is that a few scenes rely too heavily on CGI blood which makes an otherwise beautiful film feel cheap at times. But if you're tired of the same ole cliche horror movie then you're going to have a spooky good time watching “It Follows”. This isn't your run of the mill paranormal tale. It sticks with you long after the credits roll.

Score: 7.5/10

www.itfollowsfilm.com

This review was written by Noah Wullkotte of City Blood (www.ohioshaunted.com)