Since 1968's "Night of the Living Dead," Pittsburgh and environs has been burned into the brains of horror movie fans in one way -- this is zombie country.
This week, they'll have to make room for a phantom-like, gas mask-wearing psychopath coal miner named Harry Warden, who perforates people with a pickaxe.
Today, "My Bloody Valentine 3D" -- shot last year in Kittanning, Ford City, Bethel, Tarentum, Oakmont and other area locations -- opens nationwide.
The creepiest scenes, of course, are the underground ones -- shot primarily at Tour-Ed Coal Mine & Museum in Tarentum. Bob Black, Tour-Ed's general manager, was invited to the film's world premiere last week at Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
"I thought it was excellent," Black says. "My wife loved it, which surprised me -- though, a couple times, she had only one eye open. It's certainly not for young kids. The director (Patrick Lussier) said at the opening, 'It's all about how many ways you can kill someone with a pick.'
The film stars Jensen Ackles ("Supernatural"), Jaime King ("Gary Unmarried," "The Spirit") and Pittsburgh-based actors Tom Atkins and Bingo O'Malley.
Lionsgate Entertainment chose Pittsburgh for the film largely because of Pennsylvania's film-production tax credit, and an existing relationship with the Pittsburgh Film Office.
"Lionsgate wanted to make Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania a long-term home for them," says Dawn Keezer, director of the Pittsburgh Film Office. "Two years ago, when we did 'Kill Point,' that was the beginning of our relationship with Lionsgate. This is the third project we've done with them, and they've got several more features planned. They're looking at building a long-term relationship with us. So that's how we got 'My Bloody Valentine.'
The production also shot a few scenes at Logansport Mine in Bethel, Sprankle's Neighborhood Market in Kittanning and the Ford City municipal building.
"My Bloody Valentine 3D" is a remake of a 1981 movie, originally shot in Canada. It's the first of a number of new 3D films coming to screens this year. Next up are "Under the Sea 3D" opening Feb. 13 and "Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience" in late February.
