Film Review: Monsters

Film Review:Monsters

Written, Cinematographered and directed by Gareth Edwards in this low budget Sci-Fi thriller. A space probe crashes in Mexico with an alien life form that multiplies in great numbers which causes a panic in the Southern part of North America. A photojournalist is on a last minute errand to escort his boss's daughter around the alien infested hot zone but insteads ends up going through the infestation zone to find more than just another photograph to place in a magazine or newspaper. The creatures in the film resemble large octopus from the very depths of the ocean but instead from space. The special effects were great and the visual aspect of the film was very realistic. Most of the script in the film was improvised which impressed me and gave it a real time effect in the dialog. All of the extras where actual villagers in regular settings with no notice that they were being filmed. A very guerrilla style shot film to say the least. There's a few scenes in the film that kinda reminded me of other films such as Cloverfield when the monsters connected and showed only harm when they were just protecting their offspring from air raids and such. Other scenes pay homage to Jurassic Park and Jaws but you'll have to watch the film to find out. I found the film to be artistic and innovative in the style it was filmed. The film kept me at the edge of my seat in curiosity. I found this film overall brilliant and would recommend it.

3.5 out of 4 star rating.

Introducing: The Hex Dispensers

Introducing:Alex Cuervo of the Hex Dispensers

I remember listening to them practicing from my porch and been on a mission to find out who is this band that simply rocks out. I heard some of the songs in a friends car and found out who the Hex Dispensers were. An amazing band that plays amazing shows. One of my favorite bands currently and had the pleasure to share a few words with Alex from the band. They have a new album out called Winchester Mystery House.

How long has the Hex Dispensers been together and who are the members?

We had our first rehearsal on 06.06.06 (true!). The original lineup was Alyse (drums), Tom (guitar) and myself (guitar and vocals). Dave joined on bass about a year later.

Was the Europe Tour enjoyable and any thoughts about future touring? Where did the Hex Dispensers travel to?

Europe was fantastic! We were there for a month and played about 27 different cities in Germany (mostly), the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, and Denmark. Dave and Tom had been to Europe before, but Alyse and I had never been. It's a really cool and different way to travel - you see parts of it that tourists don't - which is pretty great. It would have been nice to see a little more touristy stuff like the Colosseum in Rome, but there's just no time. We did make it to the Tower of Pisa, the Vespa Museum, the Eiffel Tower, the Catacombs of Paris (whoa!), and the H.R. Giger Museum in Switzerland though. Plus the food was generally awesome so was the beer! We're hoping to go back again in the spring of 2010.

I really enjoy the cover art for your albums, has a cool theme, who does it?

Thanks! I did both LP covers, but Dave does a bunch of the designing too (he helped me nail down the composition on the Winchester cover). We're both artsy fartsy types.

How long did it take to finish Winchester Mystery House?

Well we recorded it all in a weekend at our friend Mark's house in Ft. Worth.

Did you have a concept behind the album from the get go or it just came together as songs came?

The album was named after we'd recorded everything. We'd made numerous unsuccessful attempts to write a song about Winchester Mystery House, so in the end we just used it as the album title. None of the songs on the album are actually about the house.

Which songs are you the most enjoyable to play from the past two albums?

The ones that are easiest to play are the most fun live. We're kind of burned out on a lot of the first record because we've been playing those songs for over 3 years now. We still like them, but it's nice to have a slightly bigger batch of songs to pick and choose from.

I noticed the Devo cover on the album, any other bands from back in the day that you find amazing or an influence?

We only listen to Devo, the Wipers, the Ramones and the Misfits. Occasionally the Marked Men and the Oblivians. I'm joking - there really are too many to mention.

What are some current local & non bands that you find enjoyable?

Locally, I'm enjoying the Young, Bottle Service, and the Cassingles a lot. Harlem and Woven Bones are good too. There's a lot of good bands in Austin - those are just the first ones that come to mind. As far as non-local goes, I've been listening to a lot of Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall, Davilla 666, Explosions in the Sky, and the Horrors (UK) lately.

How is it working with Alien Snatch records?

It's been great!

What are some of your favorite film and do you find them as an influence on your music with the Hex Dispensers?

The list is incredibly long. Off the top of my head I'd say the Shining, Delicatessen, the Nightmare Before Christmas, Fireworks (Hana-Bi), The Big Lebowski, Spider Baby, Blue Velvet, Frankenstein (the original), The City of Lost Children, Rushmore, Oldboy, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Kung Fu Hustle, Evil Dead 2, Let the Right One In. This summer, I really enjoyed District 9, Inglourious Basterds, and Drag Me To Hell. And yeah - a lot of the subject matter I write about is heavily influenced by science fiction, horror and fantasy stuff. I'm a perpetual 12 year old.

What’s your favorite film monster?

Boris Karloff as Frankenstein - without a doubt.