Beer Review: Djinn’s Hellabrew

The Djinn’s Hellabrew is a unique beer developed by film actor Andrew Divoff, and named for his malevolent character in the first two Wishmaster movies.

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I first met Andrew at a charity event last year. What an all-around great guy! Andrew is a genuinely kind person who likes to “pay it forward” by fundraising for a variety of good causes. It was a delight to volunteer his second pour of his Hellabrew at the 6th Annual Lake Arrowhead Brewfest. Proceeds benefitted Operation Provider.

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I was fortunate enough to experience both the original Djinn’s Hellabrew (poured at Rock and Shock 2014 near Boston) and the new, modified recipe. While I found the original Hellabrew quite enjoyable, the heat from the habanero peppers could be too intense for some beer enthusiasts. The new beer (served on August 8, 2015) dialed back the heat somewhat, allowing more subtle flavors to come forward. The result is an unique Belgian strong golden ale with a mildly spicy aroma, Persian lime flavor, and a habanero finish that warms the throat, yet dissipates quickly enough to remain refreshing. This pleasantly complex ale can also be served as a “bloody beer” with the addition of a spicy Bloody Mary mix.

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The Hellabrew was a huge success with those in attendance, with many people coming back for multiple refills and stating that it was their favorite beer at the festival. Word of mouth generated so much interest that the kegs were tapped out an hour before the end of the Brewfest. Fingers crossed that this awesome beer gets widespread distribution soon. For information about future distribution of the Djinn’s Hellabrew and future pours, contact Three Marm Brewing, or contact Andrew at his Facebook page.

Horror movie devotional candles

I’ve neglected this blog for far too long, but am back to post some updates about film, horror conventions, and various artists.

To kick off the fun, an artist/filmmaker named Jason Toth has brilliantly combined my love of horror movies and glass-encased devotional candles. These are pure, kitchy fun, but I can also imagine some creative applications in chaos magick.

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Check out his eBay page here:

http://www.ebay.com/usr/totj199?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

Or his Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/jason.toth.338?fref=ts

 

A touch of SILK

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One highlight of 2014 was volunteering at Scream in the Dark film festival, where I first met my good friend Justin Beahm and watched his performance in Rob Himebaugh’s short film SILK. Audience reactions were priceless, by virtue of the film’s cringe-inducing portrayal of female body horror combined with arachnophobia. SILK additionally boasts solid performances, elegant cinematography, and nauseating special effects.

SILK can be watched in its entirety below, but be warned: the content is graphic.

https://vimeo.com/93234973

Movie Review: Come Back to Me (2014)

Paul Leyden’s film Come Back to Me is perhaps one of the most underrated films of 2014. Based on a book by Wrath James White, the film presents a refreshing twist on standard serial killer tropes. The key concept, which Wrath’s novel makes explicit from the prologue, is revealed fairly late in the film adaptation.

Sarah suffers amnesia, nightmares, and blackouts following a car accident. Her neighbor develops an intense, unhealthy interest in her, and she begins having recurring dreams of being murdered. Sarah seeks psychiatric treatment and counseling before ultimately deciding to install a hidden camera in her bedroom in hopes of gaining insight into her sleep disturbances.

Leyden’s screenplay give numerous clues to viewers before revealing the supernatural cause of Sarah’s plight, but even those guess the twist should appreciate the extraordinarily mean-spirited finale.

 

 
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