World’s First 5D Haunted Attraction Opens In Branson

From Vocus/PRWEB

Just in time for Halloween, Castle of Chaos in Branson, MO Merges State-of-the-Art 3D with Heart-Pounding Motion, Special Effects, Animatronics, and Gaming for the First Ever 5D Interactive Haunted Experience in the World.

Haunted house aficionados, video game buffs, and Branson tourists who are ready for a thrill will find a whole new kind of entertainment beginning this Halloween season. Castle of Chaos, a fright ride and battle game, is the newest attraction in Branson, MO and marks the world premiere of the 5D experience, it was announced by owner Kuvera Attractions.    

Castle of Chaos merges state-of-the-art 3D with heart-pounding motion, special effects, animatronics and gaming for the first-ever 5D interactive haunted experience in the world. Visitors enter an enormous castle to discover the fate of 1920s horror film star Carli Winepeg and her crew, who mysteriously disappeared while shooting the planned epic film Castle of Chaos. Once securely buckled into armchairs with 3D glasses on and pistols ready at their sides, guests are spun into Carli’s tortured world and forced to protect themselves from its terrifying inhabitants.

“Castle of Chaos is such an engrossing experience because it is the first ride in the world to incorporate so many multi-media and interactive technologies in one attraction,” says Tej Sundher, Kuvera Attractions Partner whose family also founded the world-famous Hollywood Wax Museum.

This 21st century haunted house combines the latest in 3D projection with surround sound, special effects, motion-based seats, and a shooting system that scores each member of the audience. The 24 seats are affixed to a five-ton rotating platform that has ten engines and achieves a top speed of 15 rpm. There are sequences that include total darkness, wind, water, smoke, and foul scents, among other effects. Each player racks up points, and the top five scorers are shown on the screen at the end of the ride.

Initial surveys have shown that guests absolutely love Castle of Chaos. “My favorite part was the bats flying out of the screen and over our heads,” wrote 46-year-old rider Don from Florence, KS. “Oh my gosh! The anticipation made me want to bite my nails, but I couldn’t because I was so busy shooting at everything,” said Lizette, age 17, of Waukesha, WI.

“Nearly 50 percent of riders get right back in line to try again,” says Sundher. “The competitive element appeals to all ages and is especially compelling to video game players who always want to improve their scores.”

Players can earn thousands of points shooting at targets including candles, cameras, bats, bugs, rats, and zombies. Items that are more difficult to hit are worth more points, and certain objects react when struck. For example, candles flare when they are hit, one bat flies out upon contact, and a jar releases a ghost when shot.   

Get info on-line at www.castleofchaosbranson.com.

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Resident Evil Afterlife Will be About Zombies and Stuff

By Nix – BeyondHollywood.com

Sony Screen Gems has released the official cast list and plot synopsis for the upcoming “Resident Evil: Afterlife” (via Dread Central), the fourth entry in the undead franchise, and guess what? It’ll star Alice (Milla Jovovich) and have zombies in it.

In a world ravaged by a virus infection, turning its victims into the Undead, Alice continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend. A new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead leads them to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands of Undead and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap.

Wentworth Miller of “Prison Break” fame, Norman Yeung and Kacey Barnfield will be joining returning castmembers Jovovich, Ali Larter, and Spencer Locke. Miller will play Chris Redfield, the brother of Larter’s Claire character, and a member of the S.T.A.R.S. Bravo team. Shawn Roberts will play Albert Wesker, a rogue company man with powers that rival Alice’s.

Paul W.S. Anderson returns to direct the first 3D installment in the franchise, which is set for a August 27, 2010 release.

Milla Jovovich

Ali Larter

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Zombie Physics: How to Avoid the Shambling Undead

By Mike Lucibella – FOX News

WASHINGTON — When Woody Harrelson escapes the living dead in “Zombieland,” a new movie opening this Friday, should he head for the hills or the mall? A recently published research paper suggests that he’s probably better off hiding in the mall to save his delicious brain.

The world is full of things that move in zombie-like fashion, such as particles flowing through a turbulent fluid or the unpredictable price changes of the stock market, so physicists seek insight into this behavior by creating so called “random walking” models.

Physicist Davide Cassi at the Università di Parma in Italy looked at how long an entity hiding in a complex structure could survive if being pursued by predatory random walkers. Cassi’s paper, recently published in the journal Physical Review E, is the first to describe a general principle of a prey’s likelihood to survive over time while hiding in an irregular structure.

Though the paper itself does not specifically refer to fleeing from zombies, it describes “the survival probability of immobile targets annihilated by random walkers.” The conclusions suggest that the people trapped in a mall in “Dawn of the Dead” may be better off than the folks stuck in a farmhouse in “Night of the Living Dead.”

Cassi found that the likelihood of survival when threatened by predatory random walkers is closely related to how complex the prey’s hideout is. The more twists and turns, the safer you’ll be. In structures that are highly complex and irregular, the chances of the predator coming into contact with its target shrinks down to almost zero.

Cassi formulates a model to describe the behavior of randomly moving particles as they travel through maze-like networks. He said that his work could apply to a wide variety of situations including the distribution of information through the internet and medicine spreading through the human body.”

There are a lot of applications of these results in a lot of fields of sciences,” Cassi said. “The most amazing field of applications of these results are in biology, biochemistry and other organisms.

“So remember, when the zombies come, flee to the biggest shopping mall you can find and remember that, using zombie movies as a guide, the undead often win.

This article was provided by Inside Science News Service, which is supported by the American Institute of Physics, a not-for-profit publisher of scientific journals.

Danielle Harris Cast in Night of the Living Dead

Danielle Harris

From Ryan Rotten – Shocktillyoudrop.com

2009. Not a bad year for Danielle Harris who spent an early part of it being stalked by Michael Myers again for Halloween II, then wandered through the vampire-riddled Stake Land. Next up, she’s taking on zombies in Night of the Living Dead: Origins.

The actress revealed what role she’s playing via her Twitter account this afternoon: “All you’re good luck wishes worked! Guess who’s gonna be Barbara?!”

Origins is a 3-D, CGI spin-off of the George A. Romero classic. Director Zebediah de Soto is delving in the backgrounds of the characters we know so well. When a Stranger Calls’ Simon West and Jib Polhemus are producing.

Venice screens 1st horror flick since Jekyll/Hyde

By Sherri Jennings – AP

Venice, Italy — George Romero swears his latest zombie installment isn’t a horror-filled commentary on America’s military entanglements in Iraq or Afghanistan.

“George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead” is more a broad, global commentary on enmity and discrimination of every kind, Romero told reporters Wednesday after screening the film at the Venice Film Festival.

The film, Romero’s sixth in the zombie franchise, is the first horror film in competition at the Lido since the festival’s debut, when Rouben Maumolian’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” opened the 1932 edition, Venice artistic director Marco Mueller said.

In the movie, Romero’s flesh-eating zombies are set against the backdrop of a warring world in which two feuding families disagree on how to dispose of the dead: One clan opts to kill them off indiscriminately while the other chains them up to “keep them among us.” A band of AWOL soldiers arrive on Plum Island, off the eastern U.S. coast, hoping to find paradise but find that life there is all too similar to the war they left behind.

“Zombie films are always a vehicle to talk about something that happens in the present time,” Romero told reporters. While no specific war inspired it, a host of current conflicts — from Northern Ireland to the Middle East — were all influences, Romero said.

“Discrimination, racial discrimination, religious discrimination and tribalism of any kind,” he said. “I wasn’t looking at Iraq and saying ‘Oh, let’s make a movie about that,’” he said.

“It’s more about what’s underlying man’s inability to forget enmity,” he said. “They’re enemies even long after they’ve forgotten what started the conflict in the first place.”

Some of Romero’s previous “Dead” movies explored the Vietnam War, racism, consumerism, militarism and class differences.

Romero’s 1968′s classic “Night of the Living Dead” launched the franchise; he followed up with, among others, the 1979 “Dawn of the Living Dead” and the star-filled 2005 box office flop, “Land of the Dead.”

“I don’t know how many more there will be,” Romero said. “It’s a practical reality. I think I would prefer it if they were farther apart.” But he said his financial backers frequently want him to do another if the latest one does well financially.

“I think if I were trying to make serious films about some of these topics I wouldn’t be able to,” he said. “So it’s great to be able to bring the zombies and talk about social issues and have fun at the same time.”

Romero’s new zombie picture is deathly fun

By Ray Bennett – Hollywood Reporter

 George A. Romero’s latest zombie fest, “Survival of the Dead,” is a polished, fast-moving, entertaining picture whose mainstream success will depend on audiences’ tolerance of its tendency to become an abattoir of extreme carnage.

Zombie aficionados will feast on the inventive and often funny ways that the genre king — with the help of special effects makeup artist Francois Dagenais and visual effects supervisor Colin Davies — contrives to show heads exploding and bodies being blown apart.

GoreMaster George A. Romero

True to the form with savvy cultural points, clever wit and a nice twist on what might happen to the newly deceased, “Dead” should make a tidy box office killing.

Romero keeps his script simple and direct. The world is in crisis, with 53 million people dying each year but refusing to stay dead. The deadheads, as they’re now called, feed on live humans, who then become deadheads. And so on.

On Plum Island off the coast of Delaware, two Irish families, the O’Flynns and the Muldoons, are continuing their lifelong feud by disagreeing on how zombies should be treated. Rascally O’Flynn (Kenneth Welsh) is all for blowing them to pieces, no matter that they were once members of the family. Stern Muldoon (Richard Fitzpatrick) believes they should be chained up and held to await the development of a cure.

As the film opens, the feud has exploded, and Muldoon puts O’Flynn onto a boat to return to the mainland. There, meanwhile, a small band of soldiers led by Sarge (Alan Van Sprang) has turned outlaw, robbing others to stay supplied with food and ammunition and reducing deadheads to dead bodies whenever they encounter them.

They are seeking a relative safe haven, and through a quick series of events, they end up going to Plum Island with the exiled, vengeful O’Flynn in tow, little knowing that besides having deadheads to worry about they are now heading into a violent turf war.

Made in Canada with a Canadian cast, the film is expert in all areas, with Sprang a plausible leader and Welsh and Fitzpatrick old hands as the two faces of Irish charm. The mayhem includes heads responding explosively to the effects of fire extinguishers, flares and blades, besides the usual assault weapons. It’s surprisingly good fun.

Zombieland Poster!

A new poster for the upcoming horror-comedy Zombieland is now online, courtesy of the folks over at Coming Soon. The film, the feature directorial debut of Ruben Fleischer, opens in October and stars Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Amber Heard and Abigail Breslin.

In the film, two men have found a way to survive a world overrun by zombies. Columbus (Eisenberg) is a big wuss — but when you’re afraid of being eaten by zombies, fear can keep you alive. Tallahassee (Harrelson) is an AK-totin’, zombie-slayin’ badass whose single determination is to get the last Twinkie on earth. As they join forces with Wichita (Stone) and Little Rock (Breslin), who have also found unique ways to survive the zombie mayhem, they will have to determine which is worse: relying on each other or succumbing to the zombies.

Vampire Film Festival Looking For Submissions and Votes

The New Orleans Vampire Film Festival is open for business and looking for film submissions as well as your votes on a Vampire Trailer Contest set up on YouTube.

Those interested in submitting their films can do so until September 16, 2009. It’s not just vampires that the festival is featuring; also welcome are zombies, werewolves, witches, and ghosts. Films of all lengths are invited, especially those that emphasize the grotesque, mysterious, or desolate.

In addition, the festival is holding a trailer contest on its own YouTube channel. Interested participants can vote on their favorite trailers, which will be shown at the festival.

The film festival is scheduled for New Orleans on October 23rd through 26th, 2009. For additional and up-to-date information, including details on film submissions, visit the official Vampire Film Festival website.

Frank Darabont circles Zombies

By CYNTHIA LITTLETON – Variety.com

AMC is venturing into zombie-drama territory with multi-hyphenate Frank Darabont.

Cabler is close to finalizing one of the richest development deals ever with Darabont to write and direct a series adaptation of the Image Comics graphic novel series “The Walking Dead,” penned by Robert Kirkman. Gale Anne Hurd of Valhalla Pictures and David Alpert of Circle of Confusion are also on board to exec produce.

Frank Darabont

Project is set among a group of zombie survivors of an apocalypse who are led by a police officer, Rick Grimes, in search of a safe place to live. Numerous editions of the “Walking Dead” graphic novels have been published since 2003.

Joel Stillerman, AMC’s senior veep of programming, production and original content, said the project appealed to the cabler because of “the quality of the storytelling” in Kirkman’s work. The series will stay faithful to the tone of the original novels, he said.

“This is not about zombies popping out of closets,” Stillerman said. “This is a story about survival, and the dynamics of what happens when a group is forced to survive under these circumstances. The world (in ‘Walking Dead’) is portrayed in a smart, sophisticated way.”

Stillerman noted that the cabler’s annual “Fear Fest” movie showcase around Halloween is one of AMC’s most popular programming events of the year.

“We’ve got an audience that loves this kind of material,” he said.

Darabont and Hurd pitched the project to AMC and several other outlets. There is no studio attached yet. The duo’s involvement made the project a must-have for the cabler, Stillerman said.

“These are two world-class filmmakers who are also brilliant storytellers with experience in the fantasy genre,” he said.

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‘America’s Best Haunts Names Top Thrill Attractions for 2009′

12 haunts honored as eerie elite for best scare tactics in U.S.

 Houston, TX (PRWEB) August 6, 2009 — The fear facts are in. America’s Best Haunts, the nation’s eminent authority on thrill attractions, has released the official list of top haunts for 2009.
As professionals of the scare, America’s Best Haunt (http://www.americasbesthaunts.com) evaluated haunted attractions from coast to coast to select 12 of the best of the best to wear its coveted seal. Utilizing a panel of thrill park industry experts, top haunts from across the U.S. were thoroughly analyzed before being honored as one of this year’s eerie elite. Each attraction was judged on creepy criteria including special effects, marketing, consumer value, design, actor ability, fear factor and safety.

In 2008, more than 26 million Americans flocked to haunted attractions, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). Haunts have ratcheted up the fright factor with animatronics and digital sound mixed with the traditional “fear in your face” scare tactics. With Halloween consumer spending growing to nearly $6 billion last year (NRF), thrill-seekers continue to want more and are willing to pay for it. Thrill attraction ticket prices across America reportedly now range from $15 to $65. “The haunt business is a boon to the economy as Halloween bridges the gap between back-to-school and holiday season sales,” said Steve Kopelman of America’s Best Haunts. “Our team of haunt experts takes their jobs seriously when it comes to naming America’s best. Haunted attractions that wear our stamp of approval provide sophisticated fright fans with Hollywood-style design, acting, production and more.”

The America’s Best Haunts 2009 top thrill attractions include:

Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary (Philadelphia, PA)
Billed as a haunted house inside a state prison, this lost world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers stands behind the Eastern State Penitentiary’s massive 30-foot high walls. This is home to Terror Behind the Walls, ranked the “Number 1 Haunted House in the U.S.” by AOL City Guide, and labeled “perfect for Halloween” by the New York Times. http://www.TerrorBehindTheWalls.com

Bennett’s Curse (Baltimore, MD)
Featuring the Legendary House of the Vampyres, Bennett’s Curse is the only medieval vampire knight themed haunted house in the world. Original scenes, enthusiastic actors, and state of the art special effects combine to create an unforgettable experience that will keep you screaming for more. http://www.bennettscurse.com

Screampark (Lexington, KY) New Comer of the Year
Kentucky’s largest fear factory features three terrifying attractions, live events and more maniacal monsters than you care to meet under one roof. Screampark brings detailed sets, nightmarish monsters and high-tech scares to the “Heart of the Bluegrass”. http://www.scarylexington.com

The Terror Test (Lumberton, MS)
Mississippi’s largest haunted attraction includes Hollywood movie quality props, realistic sets, state of the art special effects and authentic costumes. Horror hounds will experience three eerie attractions under one roof that will frighten even the bravest of souls. http://www.terrortest.com

The 13th Door (Denver, CO)
What begins as an informative tour of a local historical site soon turns into terror as you are swept through time to relive the horrors of the famed Barrington Hotel Massacre. As events unfold, you soon learn that your only path of escape is through a mysterious 13th Door. Chased from one gruesome scene to the next, you quickly discover that your life is in very real jeopardy. http://www.13Door.com

ScreamWorld (Houston, TX)
Since 1989, ScreamWorld has been the premier home for horror in Houston with three haunted houses, an outdoor maze, a cemetery, and roaming creepy characters. Continually named Houston’s No. 1 Haunted Attraction by both the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Press, ScreamWorld provides the most mayhem for the money to its 30,000 annual guests. http://www.ScreamWorld.com

Nightmare New England (Litchfield, NH)
This year, New England’s legendary Spookyworld joins Nightmare New England to forge one of the largest and most terrifying Halloween Scream Parks in the country. The scale and variety of this mega-park offers something to thrill even the boldest of Halloween fanatics. Nightmare New England and Spookyworld feature seven terrifying haunted attractions and a “Monster Midway” where dozens of freakish characters freely roam the grounds and lurk around every corner. http://www.nightmarenewengland.com

Woods of Terror (Greensboro, NC)
What began as a mere haunted trail 18 years ago, is now one of the leading and top ranked haunted attractions in the U.S. Today, a staggering 20,000 visitors a year – young and old, from near and far – pay to roam 20 acres of pure terror while seeking the thrill of the ultimate adrenaline rush: fear. http://www.woodsofterror.com

Thrillvania (Terrell, TX)                                    
Located 20 miles east of Dallas, Thrillvania is one of the most decorated haunted attractions in the world. With 50 acres encompassing eight attractions, a midway and a haunted store, Thrillvania frightens more than 20,000 “victims” each year. The cornerstone of this fear farm is Verdun Manor, a two-story haunted house originally designed by Disney Imagineers and said to boast more props per square foot than any other haunt in the country. http://www.Thrillvania.com

The Terrorfest (Columbus, OH)
Formerly the critically-acclaimed “House of Nightmares” haunted house, The Terrorfest has had fear facelift. With a new, more terrorizing theme, diabolically-detailed sets, state of the art effects and a core of more than 60 dedicated actors, The Terrorfest is destined to bring a new level of haunting excellence to the Columbus brewery district. http://www.TheTerrorFest.com

The House of Horrors and Haunted Catacombs (Buffalo, NY)
Known for scaring the yell out of you, The House of Horrors has zombies, demons, vampires, psycho killers, and the living dead creeping around every corner. Celebrating its 17th season, the Haunted Catacombs guarantees fear-in-your-face special effects, amazing animations, and Hollywood-style sets that will have make your jaw drop and your heart race. http://www.thehouseofhorrors.com

Terror on the Fox (Greenbay, WI)
The terror continues at Wisconsin’s premier thrill attraction as it celebrates its 13th season. With four haunts from an asylum to the pitch-dark void, the torment is pure torture. Terror on the Fox is sure to put you on the edge when you discover you are virtually trapped inside yourself. http://www.terroronthefox.com

About America’s Best Haunts:
Established in 2006, Americas Best Haunts is the only expert resource of its kind, identifying the most superior haunted attractions in the country for today’s discerning fright lovers.