A & E

Their movie, "Gone the Way of the Flesh," came out all right, said Jason Martinko, 27, and Jordan McMillen, 23.

From the city where George A. Romero's zombies famously roamed, these Braddock Hills roommates are the new generation of shoe-string horror filmmakers.

It took three years and $700 (spent mostly on props from Wal-Mart), but their one-hour slasher flick is made, and ready to debut tonight at the Rex Theatre on East Carson Street on the South Side.

Both said the movie started as way to gain notice for their band, The Jason Martinko Revue, a rockabilly quintet.

But now, the pair is signed with Troma Entertainment, a label synonymous with low-budget shock cinema. Troma will distribute their "Flesh."

Trib p.m. talked with the first-time horror directors this week at Katerbean in Regent Square, about their odyssey in making the film and their interest in "gore" cinema.

Trib p.m.: How did you guys end up making "Gone the Way of the Flesh"?

Jason Martinko: At the time, I was obsessed by the films of Herschell Gordon Lewis, who had made the movie "Blood Feast." And we were just watching these horror movies every day. And we just decided to make our own.

Trib p.m.: Who is that?

Martinko: He's considered to be the "Godfather of Gore." He made the first actual slasher movie in the '60s.

Trib p.m.: And is gore kind of its own thing?

Martinko: Yeah, it's a sub-genre of horror where the main thing is the slasher.

Trib p.m.: What got you into gore?

Martinko: I grew up just reading monster magazines that my grandfather had collected, and just always, as a child, loved horror.

Jordan McMillen: I don't know where I got it. I just always used to draw gory pictures when I was in junior high...

Trib p.m.: Did anyone tell you not to do that?

McMillen: Yeah, (laughing) all the time. I used to actually get counseled because of the pictures that I drew.

Trib p.m.: Do you think there is a place -- a big place for gore in pop culture?

Martinko: We found there is tight community of people (here) that stick together, who we are able to contact and will watch our film, and really take us in, and respect us.

Trib p.m.: How is the Pittsburgh community?

McMillen: Awesome.

Martinko: Great, for what we are doing.

Trib p.m.: People are really into gore here?

McMillen: For horror, and gore, this place is better than Hollywood.

Martinko: Tom Savini (horror special effects and makeup artist), George Romero are from here. Cameron Romero (George Romero's son) is making a movie around here. This place is awesome.

Trib p.m.: Is there something about Pittsburgh, and living here, that just makes you think of outlandish violence?

(Laughter)

McMillen: Yes.

Martinko: Seems to be.

Trib p.m.: Why is that?

McMillen: Not enough chicks (laughing).

Trib p.m.: How about you, Jason?

Martinko: I think it's because it's so cold here during the winters. I think it just makes everybody mad all year.

Trib p.m.: Let's talk about the movie. What's the plot?

Martinko: Basically our band is playing around town, and underage girls are sneaking out and coming to the shows in the bars, and a mysterious killer is abducting them and mutilating them after each performance.

McMillen: The main character is a strung-out detective ... who is struggling to find the killer, while also trying to overcome numerous addictions.

Trib p.m.: Where was it filmed?

Martinko: All around the city, all around the bars we play at every week.

Trib p.m.: What did you guys use for blood?

McMillen: A bunch of different stuff. We used a mix of Karo syrup. We used strawberry, and chocolate syrup to give it that dark effect.

Trib p.m.: Was there anything that was really hard?

McMillen: The only thing I think was really hard was running around Homewood Cemetery at like 3 in the morning with a half-naked girl running around, and that little camcorder, and a flashlight. That was pretty difficult. It was pitch black. We had to run around backward and not hit any gravestones, and try to still keep the light on the girl running.

Trib p.m.: What do your parents think of the movie?

McMillen: They really don't like it. (Laughing) They won't even watch it. I think (my mom) wanted me to go to college, instead of making pornographic horror.

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