I noticed that Lloyd Kaufman's Poultrygeist (subtitled Night of the Chicken Dead) has finally emerged in theaters (currently playing on 1 screen). Kaufman is the president of Troma, a production company and distributor that has survived as an indie for over 30 years, mainly due to salesmanship. By any count, they have been responsible for at least 150 movies, and Kaufman himself has over 200 on his resume. Anyone who has ever frequented a video store has probably come across titles like Blondes Have More Guns (1995), Cannibal! The Musical (1996), Chopper Chicks in Zombietown (1991), Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV (2000) (and, indeed, the entire Toxic Avenger series), Class of Nuke 'Em High (1986), Femme Fontaine: Killer Babe for the C.I.A. (1994), Killer Condom (1996), A Nymphoid Barbarian in Dinosaur Hell (1991), Rabid Grannies (1988), Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. (1991), Surf Nazis Must Die! (1987) and Tromeo and Juliet (1996). They have also distributed such nuggets as Brian De Palma's The Wedding Party (1969), Samuel Fuller's Shark! (1969) and Dario Argento's The Stendhal Syndrome (1996).

Ever notice how you'll often see articles about how "horror is making a comeback!" -- yet you never really see many pieces entitled "Boy, horror is quite unpopular these days!"? That's because there will always be a market for high-end kick-ass horror movies ... at least until something like I Know What You Did Last Summer Part 7: Still Somewhat Aware or a lame-o remake of Prom Night comes along and tosses a bucket of water onto the campfire for a few months.

Every year or two yields a "breakout" hit, be it an indie like Saw or The Blair Witch Project or a teen-friendly multiplexer like The Ring, The Grudge, or ... The Brush. But it seems that the popularity of horror flicks has comes as big shock to the people over at the Cannes Film Festival. The fest itself offers only a small sampling of horror flicks (the Pang Brothers' Re-Cycle is one of 'em), but the surrounding film markets are absolutely crammed with slasher tales, ghost stories, and monster mashes.

This particular Hollywood Reporter piece should make for a fun read if you're a horror geek. The appeal of the genre is, once again, given a fresh spotlight, plus it has some solid interview bites from William (The Exorcist) Friedkin and David (The Fly) Cronenberg. Plus if you act now you just might get the early word on titles like The Living Hell, The Quick and the Undead, and Poultrygeist.

You want the scoop on upcoming horror flicks that deserve some love? Remember these titles: Isolation, Evil Aliens, Reeker, Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, and the unbelievable ass-kickage known as The Descent.