Evil Streets (1998) – a look in the rearview mirror

The Downfall of Johnny Garrett

Evil Streets (1998) – SOV movie – The Downfall of Johnny Garrett

From 1996 to 1998, I had worked on a horror anthology film project titled, Evil Streets. The film consisted of 3 short story segments in the urban horror genre.

One segment was written by me and directed by Terry Wickham. It was adapted from my story of the same name, The Downfall of Johnny Garrett.

Terry recently asked if I’d like to write an overview of the movie segment for his blog. Terry has been active in the past few years directing short films such as, Hair of the Dog and Washington Road (for which he won awards).

Terry had directed another segment in the film titled, Stalk. The third segment was written and directed by Joseph F. Parda, titled Zamota’s Mistress. It was released in spring 1998 with a premier at the Chiller Horror Convention and dates at the Malverne Theater, NY. It was produced directly to VHS and sold by mail order for two years following.

Terry is currently directing a new anthology film, The Devil’s Five.

Check out the Making of…Johnny Garrett overview at Terry’s website:
http://wordpress.mantaraypictures.com/2015/03/23/the-downfall- of-johnny-garrett/

 

Beavers! by Joseph F. Parda – Book review

Beavers! by Joseph F. Parda
Midnight Bookshop

I began reading Beavers! with some enthusiasm, enjoying the B-horror flick style of the cover artwork. Let me say, I was pleased that the story contained within the pages perfectly matched the mood of the cover art. Too many times I have picked up a novel because of the cover and discovered something quite different inside.

This is the first novel by Joseph F. Parda but seems to be written by an experienced novelist. The story cruises along at a break-neck pace that keeps the reader turning pages, wanting to devour all the gory details. What many of you may find interesting is that Joe Parda is an experienced writer, having produced and directed indie horror films for over 20 years. With titles such as ‘5 Dead on a Crimson Canvas’, Guilty Pleasures, and the horror anthology, Evil Streets (which included a segment written by me), he had paid his dues honing his craft of story telling. His films were very art-house in style and avant-garde, in such a way that I’ll admit, for most of them I didn’t even understand the plot. So I was shocked and delighted to discover Beavers! to be mainstream story-telling. It oozes Roger Corman, has a simple premise and is pure, fun horror entertainment. It is loaded with comedic ironies, well-defined characters, and plenty of violent endings at the hands, and buck teeth, of our furry little friends.

There are plenty of innuendos to keep a smirk on the reader’s face including a whole chapter on a singing sensation and teen heart-throb star, Justin Beaver, whose punky-gangsta attitude leads to an untimely demise by the chomping, chattering teeth of his namesake. If you just read that one chapter alone, it would be worth the price of the book, enjoyably funny! The tale has a true hero in Gary, a single father who lost his wife on an expedition to Mount Everest. Taking some time off to spend with his son, camping at Beaver Falls, the two are thrown into extraordinary circumstances as a new aggressive species of beaver stakes its claim to the land of its forefathers. Shades of The Birds, Food of the Gods, and Night of the Lepus are woven through the story-line, but are counterbalanced with innuendos and campy horror fun.

If you’re looking for a fast paced, fun and entertaining horror novel to sink your teeth into, look no further. Beavers! is a Damn good read!

Purchase it now for: Amazon Kindle

For other formats visit the website: The Midnight Bookshop 

Joseph F Parda