Hello there fellow movie collectors (and hoarders)! This week has a handful of worthy titles that you NEED to own, but for the most part, you can hang on to your hard-earned cash. (Unless you're a... shudder.... TWILIGHT fan). Some highlights include: The long out of print JOSHUA TREE makes its Blu-ray debut, Redemption Films delivers remastered Blu-rays of ZOMBIE LAKE and OASIS OF THE ZOMBIES, and the underground cult classic SAMURAI COP (with MANIAC COP's Robert Z'dar) gets the Special Edition DVD treatment from Cinema Epoch. Here's the full lineup of what's new:
NEW TO DVD & BLU-RAY 500 Mph Storm Girls Against Boys Joshua Tree (DVD/Blu-ray combo) Oasis of the Zombies: Remastered Edition She Devil (Olive Films) Silent Hill: Revelation 3D (3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVD/digital copy) Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (Extended Edition) Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 Zombie Lake: Remastered Edition
NEW TO DVD Bio-Slime Celia: Child of Terror Crawl (Bloody Disgusting Selects) Gerber Syndrome The House That Dripped Blood (Henstooth Video release) Kiss the Abyss Lady Ninja: Reflections of Darkness The Loneliest Planet Mad Bull 34 Man From Shaolin MindScans Monster From Bikini Beach Nobody Gets Out Alive Red Tears Samurai Cop (Special Edition) Suzune Genesis Total Retribution Zombie Massacre: Army of the Dead
NEW MULTI-FILM COLLECTIONS ON DVD Midnight Horror Show: Master Collection Contains: Bane, Nina: Crazy Suicide Girl, Crowbar: The Killings of Wendell Graves, The Defiled, Lady of the Dark: Rise of the Serpent Vampire, One Hour to Die: You Have All Been Poisoned, and Fast Zombies with Guns.
Paranormal Haunting: Ultimate Collection Contains: Paranormal Haunting: Curse of the Blue Moon Inn, The Stone: No Soul Unturned, Wildman of Kentucky, Mystery of Panther Rock, Greenways Farm: Journey into the Heart of England's Most Haunted Farm, The Ram Inn: Journey into the Heart of England's Most Haunted Inn, and Strange is Normal: The Amazing Life of Colin Wilson.
Ultimate Zombie Feast Volume One Contains: Zombies and Cigarettes, Plague, Bitten, Arise, Not Even Death, Fear of the Living Dead, Kidz, ZomBeer, and The Book of Zombies.
TALES OF DRACULA is a new independent film featuring three classic cinematic movie monsters: Dracula, The Wolfman, and Frankenstein's Monster! Intended to be a throwback to the classic monster movies created by Universal and Hammer Films, TALES OF DRACULA will deliver the typical genre elements, but brings a few new things to the table in regards to its mon-stars.
Originally intended to be a short film/pilot in the same vein as TALES OF FRANKENSTEIN, the original script, written by actor/producer/monster suit actor Joe DeMuro, has since been beefed up considerably by author/classic horror fan Dwight Kemper.
Along with special makeup f/x by the talented Ronald Chamberlain (who created the title monster in DEMON MESSENGER), this looks to be a good ole-fashioned monster romp made by classic horror fans, for classic horror fans. (And to answer your main questions, yes the film will be shot in black and white!)
Currently, the only thing missing from this winning combination is a complete cast. The producers are looking for a few good men (and women) to fill in some roles, particularly that of DRACULA. With that said, if you have any acting experience and live in Northeast, PA/The Southern Tier of NY, why not drop by the next casting call for TALES OF DRACULA? Full details for said casting call can be found below:
I've been following this film from its inception and I have to say that I have high hopes for it. The second draft of the script (which I just polished off) is fun and definitely has that old Universal feel, and there's a lot of talent behind the cameras on this project. Once the cast is nailed down, TALES OF DRACULA is set to go into production hopefully by the end of March. In the meantime, LIKE THE FILM'S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE to get updates and see behind the scenes photos!
The Vault is Presentin' and Representin' at the next Hudson Horror Show!
IT'S COMING! HUDSON HORROR SHOW VII IS COMING! REJOICE! On Saturday, June 8th at high noon, enter the Silver Cinemas and barrage your eyeballs with a comedy of terrors! Yours truly is sponsoring/introducing the Shaw Bros. sci-fi classic INFRA-MAN, a guilty pleasure of film critic Roger Ebert who (rightfully) called it "Audacious and Berserk!"
INFRA-MAN is complete insanity and a whole lotta fun! Thrill as stuntmen in bad monster suits engage in spectacularly choreographed kung-fu battles! Cheer as Infra-Man pulls a new power out of his bionic ass every ten minutes! Giggle yourself silly as a large blue humanoid made out of Play-Doh carries out the evil plans of PRINCESS DRAGON MOM! This film is worth the admission price alone and will have you trying to mimic Infra-Man's crazy sound effects days after you've seen it!
Also included for the meager $26.00 ticket are screenings of ARMY OF DARKNESS, which just recently celebrated its 20th year of existence, and TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE PART 2!
ARMY is a slapstick medieval fantasy adventure featuring Bruce Campbell as the hapless ASHLEY J. WILLIAMS. Turned insane by demonic forces and sucked through a time tunnel into medieval England, Ash must pull himself together and find a way back home. His only chance is the Necronomicon, the Book of the Dead. Ash must retrieve it after reciting some magic words, but naturally he botches things and soon an army of skeletons, led by his undead twin, rises up and marches after the loud braggart from the future. It's a great "crowd movie" full of memorable one-liners, great music, and lots of old school f/x! HAIL TO THE KING BABY!
TCM2 is a dark comedy featuring your fave Texas Chainsaw Massacre characters doing what they do best: Killing folks, hacking them up, and turning them into award winning chili! I'm not personally a huge fan of this sequel, but it does have its moments: Bill Moseley's Chop Top is an extremely memorable character, and how can you forget the epic chainsaw duel between a crazed Dennis Hopper (I AM THE LORD OF THE HARVEST!) and Leatherface?
There will be two other films screened at the show but they have yet to be announced, and as always, there will be vendors, contests with cool prizes, and kick-ass 35mm trailer reels that will roll before each movie in the film fest! Tickets are on sale now, so get them quick because this show WILL SELL OUT! If you pre-order your tickets on PayPal the cost is $26.00. If you show up at the door, you'll only have to pay another four bucks, but if you don't arrive early you may not get in!
The show is four months away, but June will be here before you know it! So plan ahead, scrape together some cash to buy collectibles, artwork, and movies from the vendors that attend, and GET THOSE TICKETS EARLY!
FRIGHT-RAGS continues to bring the awesome with three new t-shirt designs inspired by CREEPSHOW, HIGH TENSION, and SLAUGHTER HIGH! On top of that, they have temporarily brought six classic designs back from the dead, have a good selection of shirts on clearance (select shirts are 35% off - CLICK HERE!) and (surprisingly) still have some leftovers from their Limited Edition release of THE THING! (A damned beautiful shirt that really SHOULD be a poster design methinks.) There's something for everyone over at Fright-Rags HQ; hopefully you have some spare cash, or a credit card that isn't yet maxed, so you can revel in the glory of some Fright-Rags tees! Check out the newest designs below:
Did you know: The movie High Tension has nothing to do with high-tension wires?
Ever notice that the word SLAUGHTER contains LAUGHTER?
The Raid: Roach-demption
Each shirt is $21.95 and comes in all sizes (S - 5XL) and would look insanely awesome on YOU! Don't actually see anything you like here? Well there may be some cool new designs coming in March that you'll just have to have! There are hints at: A LEPRECHAUN-themed tee (just in time for St. Paddy's Day), an APRIL FOOL'S DAY tee, a FREDDY VS. JASON (limited edition) tee, a new CHRISTINE t-shirt design, and a few other goodies.
This is all conjecture on my part based off of an e-mail received from the Fright-Rags mailing list, so when I get official details, I'll type up a quick post and confirm (or discredit) my guesses! I'm pretty damned sure I'm right on, though I am perplexed by the "we're going on a tour of destruction with the ultimate band of killers" portion of the MARCH MADNESS teaser.... Band of killers? Could they have an original design featuring all of our fave slasher villains in a rock group? I guess we'll all find out soon enough!
I recently received a press release from James Cullen Bressack (director of MY PURE JOY and HATE CRIME) about his recent production of TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS 2, an indie horror anthology that boasts "Six Sick and Twisted Tales of Terror." It's coming out on DVD in a few months and should be a real treat for fans of ultra low-budget horror flicks!
Synopsis: From Executive Producers James Cullen Bressack (My Pure Joy, HATE CRIME) and Jarret Cohen at Psykik Junky Pictures and directors Doug Waugh, Shawn C. Phillips, and Alex Powers, comes the second installment in the TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS ANTHOLOGY series starring Penthouse Pet Veronica Ricci (Bloody Mary 3D) Shawn C. Phillips (Don & Murph), James Cullen Bressack, Nick Clarck (Hate Crime) Joseph Frantz (CKY & VIVA LA BAM), and Miles Dougal (Detroit Rock City & Chillerama).
Sexy, sinful horror host Mona Screamalot (Penthouse Pet Veronica Ricci) and her crazy backwoods family invite you to take a seat on the couch as they serve up six sick short films from their secret stash of horror trash. Featuring the work of emerging genre directors, this is a bloody and brain-numbing buffet of the bizarre.
TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS 2 hits DVD on April 23rd, for the low low price of $9.99, and you can PRE-ORDER IT AT AMAZON.COM right now! Also available is a cool TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS 2 t-shirt courtesy of Fast Custom Shirts. It's $14.99 and can be purchased HERE.
This is one of those weekends where you can take a break from the cinema as there isn't much out there worth spending ten+ dollars on. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson delivers another hardcore PG-13 action film that is supposedly based on a true story, and a new PG-13 supernatural/alien abduction type flick looks to make a tiny dent in the weekend box office. (I'm guessing it'll debut in the top five, probably at number two or three. Then again, every new Horror/thriller this year has debuted at number one in the box office, so DARK SKIES may be a surprise hit.)
So here's your first choice if you're really bored and want to take in a flick. "The Rock" goes after some drug dealers to save his kid from getting the proverbial book thrown at him for "unknowingly" delivering some drugs. To save his son from ten years in the pen, "The Rock" agrees to infiltrate a drug cartel and help the feds make arrests. This of course leads to DRAMA, EXPLOSIONS, HEARTFELT YELLING, ANGRY YELLING, and GUNFIGHTS! If anything, it looks like a solid rental; check out the trailer below and judge for yourself:
The other latest theatrical release is DARK SKIES, the tale of a family that is experiencing all sorts of strange phenomena, like legions of suicidal birds, the sudden appearance of strange tattoos, horrifying yawning, and uncontrollable head-banging. It seems like they are trying to push this as a supernatural thriller, but it's clearly an alien abduction movie. Haven't made up my mind about it, but if I do watch it, I'll be renting the DVD five months from now. Behold the trailer:
If you see either flick, feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts. Were they good? Bad? Worth a rental later on down the road? Let us all know!
Got a trio of new trailers to show off to you guys and gals today! First up is THE SILENCE, an upcoming murder mystery/thriller (check out the new HD trailer here):
Synopsis: The Silence begins 23 years ago on a hot summer day, when a young girl named Pia is brutally murdered in a field of wheat. Now, on the exact same date in the present, 13-year-old Sinikka is missing, her bicycle abandoned in the same spot. As Krischan, the retired investigator of the unresolved case, and his younger colleague David struggle to solve the mystery of these parallel crimes, Sinikka’s distraught parents are trapped in an agonizing period of waiting and uncertainty. Meanwhile, their daughter’s fate rips open old wounds in the heart of Pia’s mother, who is visited by an unexpected guest with an eerie connection to her daughter. The unrelenting summer heat lies over the quaint family homes like a bell jar and behind closed doors, worlds begin to fall apart.
In his strikingly commanding debut feature The Silence, Swiss-born Baran bo Odar adapts Jan Costin Wagner’s bestselling novel with his own unmistakable signature. Mesmerizing performances by top European actors - headed by Ulrich Thomsen (The Celebration, Brothers), Sebastian Blomberg (The Baader Meinhof Complex), Katrin Sass (Good Bye, Lenin!) and Burghart Klaussner (The White Ribbon, The Edukators) - enrich this intense drama far beyond the crime genre.
THE SILENCE will hit limited theaters on March 8th.
Next up is the trailer for 6 SOULS, a new psychological/supernatural thriller starring Julianne Moore and Jonathon Rhys Meyers (view the new HD trailer here):
Synopsis: After the death of her husband, Dr. Cara Harding's (Julianne Moore) faith in God has been shaken, but not her belief in science. In an attempt to open her up to accepting unexplainable psychiatric theories, her father introduces her to Adam, a patient with multiple personalities who takes on some of the physical characteristics of his other personalities. Cara quickly discovers that Adam’s other personalities are murder victims and the more she finds out about him and his past, the closer she and her loved ones are to becoming murder victims themselves.
This looks pretty decent; kind of reminds me of IDENITTY. 6 SOULS will be available On Demand on March 1st, and in theaters on April 5th.
Finally, I've got a new red band trailer here for KISS OF THE DAMNED, a racy vampire romance with blood, boobs, and sex:
I'm pretty sure I caught a glimpse of a vampiric ménage à trois in there somewhere... which means this is the MUST SEE FILM OF THE YEAR!
KISS OF THE DAMNED comes to On Demand services on March 28th, and gets a limited theatrical run starting May 3rd.
Just got a press release from Magnolia Pictures about a new film they have procured for North American distribution. Prior to this, they released a little Norwegian mockumentary you may have heard of called TROLL HUNTER (under their Magnet Releasing arm), so you can bet I'm totally ready to check out a flick that involves the Norse end of days scenario. Here's more info about the film:
US distributor Magnolia has acquired the Norwegian action-adventure film RAGNAROK from TrustNordisk.
Magnolia concluded the deal based on a 3-minute promo shown during the European Film Market in Berlin. The deal was negotiated between SVP of Acquisitions Dori Begley and Director of Acquisitions Peter van Steemburg from Magnolia and CEO Rikke Ennis and Head of Sales Susan Wendt from TrustNordisk.
"We are very excited about RAGNAROK, which has all the makings of a terrific action adventure. We are especially pleased to be working with our friends at TrustNordisk again to bring more great Scandinavian cinema to US audiences”, says President of Magnolia Pictures, Eamonn Bowles.
“I can’t recall having seen an action adventure film of this standard and production value coming out of Scandinavia. I am thrilled to have a partner like Magnolia aboard and can’t wait to present the film to the American audiences”, says Rikke Ennis, CEO at TrustNordisk.
Magnolia has previously released successful Norwegian films such as the thriller HEADHUNTERS (2011), based on the book by Jo Nesbø and TROLL HUNTER (2010). Lately Magnolia also acquired the rights for the upcoming Norwegian thriller PIONEER from TrustNordisk.
Norwegian Production Company Fantefilm which also produced THE COLD PREY-trilogy (2006, 2008, 2010) and ESCAPE (2012) is behind the upcoming large scale action-adventure film which stars actor Pål Sverre Hagen (KON-TIKI, 2012) as an archeologist obsessed with the Oseberg Viking ship. Convinced that the Oseberg ship contains the answer to the mystery of Ragnarok, the end of days in Norse mythology he mounts an expedition to “No Man’s Land” between Norway and Russia, which holds a secret more terrifying than he could possibly imagine.
Directed by Mikkel Sandemose (COLD PREY – THE BEGINNING, 2010) RAGNAROK is produced by Martin Sundland and Are Heidenstrøm for Fantefilm Fiksjon in co-production with Film i Väst, H. Aschehoug & Co, Ghost VFX and Tre Vänner with support from The Norwegian Film Institute, Nordic Film & TV Fund, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, The Swedish Film Institute, the MEDIA programme of the European Union and i2i Audiovisual.
Domestic distribution is handled by Nordisk Film with domestic release set for October 2013. TrustNordisk handles international sales.
The film is in the early stages of post-production, so there's no trailer or poster yet, and the Facebook page for the film was just started up this past Tuesday so that's pretty empty too. Even the IMDB page is light on details, except for the cast & crew of course. I'll be posting more info on this film as it is released. In the meantime, don your battle helms, reinforce your shields, sharpen your axes and swords, and prepare for RAGNAROK!
Ouch! This week is going to hurt... your bank accounts. Winter is coming (well, it's here already...) but Season Two of GAME OF THRONES is now here! Also, Scream Factory delivers the goods with a trio of must have Blu-ray/DVD combo releases, and Olive Films puts out some cult classics in bare bones (and kind of overpriced) Blu-ray editions. And if that weren't enough, there's a slew of direct-to-dvd releases that just might catch your eye. Let's take a look at what you can spend your tax returns on this week:
NEW TO DVD & BLU-RAY Atlas Shrugged II: The Strike Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome (Unrated) Game of Thrones: The Complete Second Season Innocent Bystanders Seeds of Destruction Sinister Sushi Girl
NEW TO BLU-RAY Shutterbug The Terminator (Remastered Edition)
NEW TO DVD 4 Assassins Attack of the Herbals Bath Salt Zombies Bikini Bloodbath Shakespeare Bullet Explosion The Complete Adventures of Flash Gordon Cool as Hell Dead Genesis Demon Exorcism: The Devil Inside Maxwell Bastas Exploitation Double Feature: Black Cobra Woman/Super Bitch Factory Fangoria Presents: AXED Haunted Dollhouse Hollow I Love You to Death Lake Noir Lake Placid: The Final Chapter Mary Mary Bloody Mary (3D & 2D) The Mooring New Order Riddle Snow Shark Timekeeper Virgin Murders Zodiac America - The Super Master
NEW FROM SCREAM FACTORY The Nest (Blu-ray/DVD combo) Prison: Collector's Edition (Blu-ray/DVD combo) Terrorvision/The Video Dead (Double Feature Blu-ray/DVD combo)
NEW FROM OLIVE FILMS Highlander 2: Renegade Version (DVD & Blu-ray) The Monster Squad (DVD & Blu-ray) Night of the Demons 2 (DVD & Blu-ray) The Running Man (DVD & Blu-ray)
DVD BOXED SETS AND COLLECTIONS Grindhouse Triple Feature: Satan's Sex Party Contains: Madame Satan, Sex and the Single Vampire, and The Devil's Handmaidens.
The Witchouse Trilogy Contains: Witchouse, Witchouse II: Blood Coven, and Witchhouse III: Demon Fire.
The Zombie Horror Collection Contains: Horror Hotel, Night Of The Living Dead, Crypt Of Horror, and The Hills Have Eyes.
I'm a sucker for a good creature feature or monster movie, and some of the better ones have been coming from overseas lately, so you can imagine how interested I am in seeing STORAGE 24!
Synopsis: London is in chaos. A military cargo plane has crashed leaving its highly classified contents strewn across the city. Completely unaware London is in lockdown, Charlie (Noel Clarke) and Shelley (Antonia Campbell-Hughes), accompanied by best friends Mark (Colin O’Donoghue) and Nikki (Laura Haddock), are at Storage 24 dividing up their possessions after a recent break-up. Suddenly, the power goes off. Trapped in a dark maze of endless corridors, a mystery predator is hunting them one by one. In a place designed to keep things in, how do you get out?
The DVD and Blu-ray for STORAGE 24 will both be available on March 12th, and will be chock full o' extras including:
-- Feature Commentary -- Creature Development Featurette -- Production Design & Costume Featurette -- Music & Sound Design Featurette -- On Set Featurette -- Video Blogs -- A Day In the Life Of: Clarke & O’Donoghue -- Scene Commentaries -- Deleted Scenes -- Photo Gallery
Now let's give the trailer a quick look and see what we can see....
Despite being a modern "Alien" rip-off and using the "Prometheus scream" in the trailer, I'm pretty game to check out STORAGE 24, if only to get a better look at the film's mon-star. It's big, it's mean, and it looks like it can bite someone's head off without breaking a sweat! Sign me up!
If you've got about fifteen minutes, then allow me to show you how to waste that time. Below are three new Youtube vids that should have most of you b-movie fans salivating. The first is a trailer for Newt Wallen's MIDNIGHT SHOW. The film is a love letter to cult, grindhouse, and trash cinema, and features a strange night out at the movies for a young couple, who will experience a barrage of trailers for non-existent films like RUGMUNCHER, ATTACK OF THE ROBOT NAZI, HER TIME OF THE MONTH, and other hilarious throwbacks to exploitation cinema! Check it out below:
For a closer look at some of the fake trailers, and a little history on the inception of MIDNIGHT SHOW, check out this new episode of UNDERBELLY:
Finally, Youtube sensation Mike Diva (a.k.a. Mike Dahlquist) teamed up with GrindHouseFlix.com and came up with a really kick-ass dubstep music video that utilizes footage, dialogue, and sound effects from fifty different grindhouse/exploitation flicks! Next to Diva's dubstep tribute to Macho Man Randy Savage, this is probably one of the greatest videos to ever exist on the internet. Watch it now!
How AWESOME was that?! Cool enough to watch again?! Was just thinking that myself.... [hits play on video for the tenth time]
This week's theatrical offerings include a new animated sci-fi/comedy, a new entry in a tired(?) action franchise, and the flagship film of a new franchise aimed at women (and tweens). There's something for everyone, so let's take a look at what you take your significant other (and kids) to see this weekend.
A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD Bruce Willis returns as John McClane. But this time, it's not Christmas, none of Hans Gruber's family is involved, William Sadler's not around to do naked tai-chi, there's no ridiculous battles with fighter jets, and now his secret agent son is tossed into the mix. Reviews have been venomous towards this new installment in the continuing (DIE HARD 6 has been confirmed) franchise, but I'm still psyched to see it.
YIPPIE KI YAY MOTHER RUSSIA INDEED!
BEAUTIFUL CREATURES With TWILIGHT finished (for the time being... shudder) it is time for another love story involving supernatural beings to take the throne. Cue BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, which features a love story involving a girl that's coming of age and about to become either a good witch or a bad one. It's a tweener CGI-fest that at the very least looks more interesting than the constantly staring/emotionally abusive vampires from the TWILIGHT "saga."
How about the girl gets really annoyed with the witches (errr.... casters) on both sides trying to turn her to good or evil, and just wipes them all out, then takes her own life? Bam! Series is over, let's move on! What's that? The books don't end that way and you want to milk this for all it is worth? Shit.... alright.... FINE! Have it your way Hollywood!
ESCAPE FROM EARTH No, sadly it isn't a sequel to ESCAPE FROM L.A., but a new animated film from Weinstein company. When extraterrestrial hero Scorch Supernova attempts to rescue an alien being from Earth, he's captured by an evil, misguided military, leaving only his brother and a ragtag group of incarcerated alien creatures in charge of saving the day. It's nothing we haven't seen before and should be a cute timewaster for your kids.
I like how it's all cutesy and goofy even though the main villain wants to commit multiple holocausts in space!
So that's what you have to look forward to in cinemas this weekend folks! If you see any of these flicks, feel free to share your thoughts below in the comments section, or over at Facebook or Twitter!
Yes, you read that headline correctly: Hulu is streaming a ton (all?) of the Criterion Collection for absolutely free! CLICK HERE to start browsing and streaming right now!
I'm not a huge fan of Criterion Collection, but I respect the fact that every DVD or Blu-ray they release is a labor of love. They put a lot of work, time, and money into restoring films that most of us haven't heard of, or didn't even realize existed. While their vast catalog boasts mainly foreign dramas, they do have a good selection of cult favorites, scif- classics, and cinematic oddities from other lands.
Here is a list of Criterion flicks (in no particular order) that you may want to scope out: CHRONOS EQUINOX THE X FROM OUTER SPACE THE ATOMIC SUBMARINE ERASERHEAD THE ZATOICHI SERIES HANZO THE RAZOR GOKU: BODY SNATCHER FROM HELL HAUSU (a.k.a. HOUSE) FIRST MAN INTO SPACE WORLD ON A WIRE THE BLOB FIEND WITHOUT A FACE THE CARS THAT ATE PARIS PRINCESS FROM THE MOON EATING RAOUL THE SEVENTH SEAL SOLARIS
Also there is a f*ckton of classic samurai flicks available, so if that's your thing, you'll be in samurai heaven (minus the whole need to commit harakiri)!
The hand-painted poster to the left is the cool retro-style one-sheet for the upcoming vampire romance KISS OF THE DAMNED. I kind of dig it; it's like a throwback to the Hammer Horror era, or at the very least looks like something that would grace a Criterion Collection DVD cover. Here's a little more info about the film:
Synopsis: Beautiful vampire Djuna (Josephine de La Baume) tries to resist the advances of the handsome, human screenwriter Paolo (Milo Ventimiglia), but eventually gives in to their passion. When her troublemaker sister Mimi (Roxane Mesquida) unexpectedly comes to visit, Djuna's love story is threatened, and the whole vampire community becomes endangered...
KISS OF THE DAMNED was written and directed by Xan Cassavetes, and stars Josephine de la Baume, Milo Ventimiglia, Roxane Mesquida, Anna Mouglalis, Michael Rapaport, and Riley Keough.
KISS OF THE DAMNED will be available on iTunes/On Demand March 28, 2013, and in theaters May 3, 2013, and is being distributed by Magnet Releasing. For more information about the film, visit the official site, or like its official Facebook page.
I couldn't find an official trailer, so here's a clip from the film featuring plenty of DAMNED KISSING!
Though he's been relegated to making various low-budget killer animal/nature runs amok films, Tibor Takács will forever hold a place in my heart for directing THE GATE. Even though he made an awful sequel to that classic, and worked on several failed TV series, and various low budget atrocities.... I can't hate the man that terrorized a young Stephen Dorff with pint-sized demons.
Now Tibor is back with an all new giant spider, 3D CGI-fest, aptly named SPIDERS! Here's the dirt on this upcoming creature feature:
"Millennium Entertainment announces the upcoming 3D + 2D Blu-ray, DVD and VOD release of SPIDERS for March 12, 2013. The film was released theatrically and on Premium VOD February 8, 2013. The Sci-Fi Horror stars Patrick Muldoon, Christa Campbell and Sydney Sweeney and will be available on 3D + 2D Blu-ray at an SRP of $34.99 and DVD + Digital Copy at an SRP of $29.99.
SPIDERS centers on mutant spiders that fall to earth from a disabled Soviet space station. With New York City threatened to be overrun, it's up to transit supervisor Jason Cole and health inspector Rachel Cole to save their daughter and prevent the colossal Queen Spider from uniting with her eggs and creating an army of massive killer spiders."
Ooohhh..... that's where.
Hahahaha. I love how a "transit supervisor" and "city health inspector" are the spider-stopping heroes of this film. Do they single-handedly save the day and crush the spider menace, or do they declare martial law and lead the military in a life or death battle against the arachnid invaders from space? Regardless, I'm all over this. I'm a sucker for any movie involving giant creatures attacking a metropolitan city, so this is a surefire rental for yours truly. (Truthfully, they had me at the poster, which kind of rips off the classic Ripley/Newt "ALIENS" poster. See what I mean? ----->)
SPIDERS has already had a limited theatrical release and hit Video on Demand services this past Friday. (Watch it instantly on Amazon.com for $6.99!) The DVD (which will be 2D and come with a digital copy) and the Blu-ray (which will contain both the 2D and 3D versions of the film), hit retailers (and e-tailers) on March 12th!
For more info about the movie, visit its IMDB page HERE. To pre-order the DVD from Amazon.com ($14.99), CLICK HERE. To pre-order the Blu-ray from Amazon.com ($19.99), CLICK HERE.
Before you make your final decision on renting or buying this flick, check out the trailer below:
I received a press release in my inbox this past weekend from David Pruett, the festival director for the Dark Carnival Film Festival. David and company are looking for indie filmmakers to submit their films (short or feature-length) to be screened at the fest, and have announced a new venue as well. Here's the lowdown on what has been called one of the "13 Film Fests to Die For:"
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls – join us August 30-31, 2013 in Columbus, Indiana for the Greatest Show Unearthed! Founded more than seven years ago, the Dark Carnival International Film Festival strives to be the premier event for screening the best independent horror, sci-fi, and dark fantasy films. Our mission is to put fans and filmmakers first and present fantastic films from the four corners of the globe. Many of the movies at Dark Carnival have been picked up for distribution by major players in the industry, and our event has provided numerous networking opportunities for visiting filmmakers who have traveled from as far as Spain, the UK, Toronto, New York and LA.
Since 2007, Dark Carnival has screened nearly 200 films from more than a dozen countries all over the world, and from almost every state in the US. In the past seven years we have gained a reputation as a festival that values indie filmmakers and that loves genre films as something much more than a business niche. As a result, we’ve gained the attention of some of the most highly regarded publications, film distributors, and sponsors including Avid, R2 Entertainment, Diabolique Magazine, HorrorHound Magazine, GeekTyrant, and Final Draft. The festival has also been featured multiple times in MovieMaker Magazine, which recognized Dark Carnival as one of the “13 Horror Film Fests to Die For” (Fall 2011) and one of the top “25 Film Fests Worth the Entry Fee” (Fall 2009)
New Venue While other similar film festivals often screen their movies in hotel conference rooms, from the very beginning we’ve been proud to showcase festival films in some amazing theater venues. During our first six years, Dark Carnival was held at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, a restored, 1930s era movie-house. For 2013, we’re excited to move to our new location – the historic Crump Theater in downtown Columbus, Indiana. Originally opened in 1889, the Crump is the oldest theater in the state - and is also recognized as one of the most haunted places in the midwest. The Crump began its own restoration project in 2001, and since then has hosted a variety of shows and events, including benefits for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in Japan, as well a live performance by John Mellencamp.
Call For Entries The Dark Carnival International Film Festival is currently accepting submissions for 2013 and festival organizers are looking for original, cutting edge independent films in the horror, fantasy and sci-fi genres. Both short and feature-length films are accepted, as well as documentaries, animation, experimental, music videos, and trailers. The early-bird deadline for submission is June 30, 2013. (Filmmakers should visit www.darkcarnivalfilmfest.com for more information.) The Dark Carnival International Film Festival is a different show every year. Screenings showcase a mix of 25-30 short and feature films. Events have included outdoor drive-in film screenings, filmmaking seminars, panel discussions, VIP award banquets, and filmmaker Q&A.
The festival has also offered a variety of after-hour events, including costume contests, dance parties, carnival sideshows, horror hosts, burlesque dancers, live fire shows and more! 2013 promises to be a special year for the event. This year’s festival theme will take advantage of the Crump Theater’s spooky reputation as a favorite location for ghost hunters from around the country, and festival organizers are hard at work planning our best show yet! Festival passes go on sale spring 2013, and a limited number of vendor tables are available. Visit www.DarkCarnivalFilmFest.com for more details.
FRIGHT-RAGS' LIMITED EDITION NEAR DARK TEE (AND HOODIE) GOES ON SALE AT 10:00 PM (EST) TONIGHT! You'll have until 10:00 AM (EST) Monday morning to pre-order yourself one of these gorgeous shirts before they are gone! Shirts come in all sizes (Small to 5X for men; Small to 2X for women) and will cost $25.95; the hoodies (Small to 3X) will run at $45.95.
Also, I have to post this teaser for the next awesome t-shirt design that FRIGHT-RAGS is putting out in the near future. (Most likely around April Fool's Day.....) Do you recognize it?
Yep, I'm pretty sure I just heard thousands of SLAUGHTER HIGH fans scream with joy all at once!
That thar poster to the left (click on it for the full size) is for James Cullen Bressack's next film, TO JENNIFER. Bressack, as you may recall has previously directed MY PURE JOY and HATE CRIME (read my review HERE), and returns to the found footage sub-genre with his latest cinematic journey into madness.
Synopsis: Joey suspects his girlfriend of two years, Jennifer, is cheating on him. He is so convinced that he enlists the help of his cousin Steven to create a Video Dairy of his attempt to catch her in the act as well as to document the heartbreak she is putting him through. He intends to give this tape to her after catching her, in an attempt to make her feel guilty.
Additional Info: James Cullen Bressack makes a surprising return to the found footage sub-genre after his last film HATE CRIME, which was also a found footage film that met much critical acclaim and received many awards. He promises his new film, To Jennifer, will offer something different for the genre. This will be the first feature film in history to be Shot, Edited, and Distributed all on the Iphone 5.
Details at this point are scarce but Bressack promises the entire film will be available directly to your phone. "We are working in conjunction with some great companies to deliver the first film directly tailored to mobile devices." Bressack states. The film stars Chuck Pappas, Jody Barton (Hate Crime), James Cullen Bressack, among others and features a cameo from American Mary's Tristan Risk. The film is being produced by James Cullen Bressack, Chuck Pappas, and Jarret Cohen under the Psykik Junky Pictures umbrella.
I'm totally digging the poster; it's simplistic but so damned effective. And I have to admit that I'm curious to see the final product after it is shot, edited, and distributed via an IPhone 5. After seeing HATE CRIME, I have a feeling that this next Bressack film may be less controversial, but just as vicious. Bring it on man!
On May 21st, YOU can own CAPTAIN AMERICA on Blu-ray, thanks to those magnificent bastards at SHOUT! FACTORY! Previously available on DVD, this Blu-ray will feature better picture and audio (well, no duh!) and have a few extras. And for only $10 - $12, Albert Pyun's rubber-eared first avenger flick is most definitely worth it.
Synopsis: Long ago, Steve Rogers (Matt Salinger) was a true American hero, a brave super soldier created by scientists to help the Allied Forces fight for freedom in World War II. But during a battle with the sinister Red Skull (Scott Paulin), he was lost, entombed in ice. Decades later, his body has been found and revived and Steve must again don the mantle of Captain America to help save the President of the United States (Ronny Cox) — and the world — from his arch-nemesis once and for all.
Press Release: Steve Rogers happens to be the best candidate out of six hundred volunteers. He has the power to save millions. Only he could defeat a superhuman madman. But saving the world let him trapped in an icy grave until fate released him to finish a battle that started decades ago. Now an evil genius in on the verge of global domination and only Captain America can stop him! On May 21, 2013, Shout! Factory will unleash the long-awaited 1990 action sci-fi movie classic CAPTAIN AMERICA, starring Matt Salinger (What Dreams May Come), Ronny Cox (Total Recall, RoboCop), Ned Beatty (Toy Story 3, Superman), Darren McGavin (The X-Files), Michael Nouri (NCIS, Damages) and Scott Paulin (Castle, JAG), in a special Collector’s Edition Blu-ray.
Available for the first time on Blu-ray, CAPTAIN AMERICA COLLECTOR’S EDITION features a widescreen movie presentation in astonishing high-definition and insightful new interview with director Albert Pyun and actor Matt Salinger. This is a must-have for movie collectors, comic book enthusiasts and young aspiring heroes to complete their pop culture library!
You can pre-order the Captain America Blu-ray HERE at Amazon.com for the low, low price of $10.48! I know I'll be picking it up because I have a soft spot for this b-movie version of Cap, even if he is kind of a wuss. (The paragon of human strength, virtue, and democracy fakes being carsick twice in order to steal a vehicle!)
HAPPY (early) VALENTINE'S DAY B-MOVIE FANS! As a gift to you (sort of) may I present two new capsule reviews at the Vault! First up is guest writer Kenny Barnwell's review for LADY OF THE DARK: GENESIS OF THE SERPENT VAMPIRE, a rather terrible-sounding artsy indie vampire flick, in which a women gets bitten by a vampiric snake, only to become a man-hating bloodsucker herself.
Next up is my review for James Cullen Bressack's HATE CRIME, a found footage/home invasion flick that showed me that I am NOT the jaded Horror fan I thought I was. The film is brutal, disturbing, and a painstakingly created faux snuff film that is definitely not for the faint of heart!
Next up on the chopping block will be SOUL VENGEANCE, a 70's blaxsploitation flick where the main character uses his superhuman penis to avenge himself. It sounds like pure gold, but if what I heard is true, I'm about to suffer.... a lot.
Is it me, or does the narrator sound like a young Morgan Freeman?
I'm also working a retrospective article about my experiences at The Hudson Horror Show, a new INDIE FILMS YOU SHOULD BE STOKED FOR article, and of course, a smattering of new blog posts.
Stay tuned for more new content here at the Vault! And be sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook!
Starting at NOON on Wednesday, February 13th, and ending at NOON on Monday, February 18th, you can get 50% off almost everything being sold at FullMoonDirect.com! There's not a full list of what will be half-price at the moment, but you can most likely expect all DVDs, Blu-rays, boxed sets, and probably posters, toys, t-shirts, and replicas.
I should also note that if you share the above image on Facebook, you'll be entered to win any boxed set of your choice, signed by Charles Band! If I win, (and I most likely won't, haha) I'm either grabbing the Puppet Master Blu-ray trilogy, or picking up one of the Full Moon Classics sets.
Also, I'm a little late on reporting this, but Charles Band announced a few days ago, that a bunch of mint condition Wizard Video boxes were discovered in one of Full Moon's warehouses. Let me reiterate that part: The BOXES for thirty-six Wizard Video VHS titles were discovered. Determined to turn lemons into lemonade, Charles, who still has the masters for each VHS title, is going to duplicate video tapes to put into each Wizard Video big box.
Each original VHS big box will be numbered and signed by Charles Band, and will contain a duplicated VHS copy of the film. Four titles are being released a month, for the next nine months, and will be going for about fifty bucks apiece. For more details, check out the Full Moon vidcast below:
I myself used to be a big VHS collector and had maybe half a dozen flicks in oversized boxes, but I've either sold them or given them away, and for that I am now kicking myself. The only big box/clamshells I have left (that I can think of) are for "Exterminator 2" (with MARIO VAN PEEBLES!) and "Exterminators from the Year 3000."
While some have complained about the price, especially considering the fact the boxes (though in great condition) lack the original VHS tape, this is still a really cool collectible, and once they are gone, they are gone for good. So keep an eye out for the first batch of Wizard Video VHS tapes, which go on sale TOMORROW, at www.wizardvideocollection.com!
Hope you saved some money because this week is chock full of cool stuff. James Bond rules the roost this week with the release of SKYFALL and numerous classic 007 adventures onto Blu-ray; RZA's kung-fu epic THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS also makes its home video debut; Redemption Films gives us Euro-horror fans four remastered classics on Blu-ray. Read on to see what's new this week!
NEW TO DVD & BLU-RAY The Man With the Iron Fists Mimesis Rise of the Zombies Silent Hill: Revelation Skyfall The Thieves
NEW TO DVD The Beast Beneath Chanbara Beauty: Movie Vortex Come Get Me Croczilla Doomsday County New Fist of the North Star: Complete Collection Purge Sleepy Eyes of Death: Collector's Set 3 Smiley To Know a Jedi
BOND COLLECTIONS ON DVD Pierce Brosnan Ultimate 007 Collection: Goldeneye / The World is Not Enough / Die Another Day
Roger Moore Ultimate 007 Collection Vol. 1: Live and Let Die / Man with the Golden Gun / The Spy Who Loved Me
Roger Moore Ultimate 007 Collection Vol. 2: Moonraker / For Your Eyes Only / Octopussy
BOND ON BLU-RAY Diamonds are Forever Goldeneye The Living Daylights Octopussy On Her Majesty's Secret Service Quantum of Solace / Casino Royale The Spy Who Loved Me Tomorrow Never Dies You Only Live Twice
REDEMPTION FILMS' REMASTERED BLU-RAYS The Comeback: Remastered Edition Die Screaming, Marianne: Remastered Edition House of Whipcord: Remastered Edition Schizo: Remastered Edition
CULT DVD COLLECTIONS 8-Film Contemporary Cult Classics: From Dusk Till Dawn / Immortality / The Reflecting Skin / Subspecies / The Faculty / The Prophecy / Dracula 2000 / Castle Freak
10-Film Cult Classics Vol. 2: Beowulf / Seedpeople / The Ape Man / Attack of the Giant Leeches / Creature From the Haunted Sea / The Ape / The Wasp Woman / Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory / The She-Beast / The Killer Shrews The Euro-Sleaze Collection: The Sister of Ursula / The Sinful Dwarf / The Girl from Vondel Park
TONIGHT ONLY! If you are going to be in, or around the Scranton, PA area, you can catch MST3K creator Joel Hodgson's one man show RIFFING MYSELF at the Scranton Cultural Center! Tickets are $30.00 if you want to join the pre-show meet & greet with Joel himself (@6PM), or $18.00 for general admission. The program kicks off at 7:00 PM.
So what is this whole RIFFING MYSELF show you may be wondering? Well, Joel will sit up on stage and regale the audience with tales of his childhood, the creation of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and his eventual departure from the show he loved so much.
The second portion of the program will be a Q&A session with the audience, and will be followed up with a screening of the 1983 classic "The Pod People." Directed by the now deceased Juan Piquer Simón (SLUGS), this film appeared in Season 3: Episode 3 of Mystery Science Theater. (Which was the FIRST episode I had ever laid eyes on as a youngster!)
I'm iffy on the details about the screening, but I've heard that either it's the actual episode, or that it is the uncut version of the film and Joel (and the audience) will be riffing on it live! Either way, I am ready to rock and roll! If you attend, maybe I'll see you there! But get there a bit early because parking in Scranton can be a real b*tch!
For those who can't attend, the best I can do is share my experiences with you a new blog post tomorrow. Until I get around to doing that, please enjoy the POD PEOPLE episode of MST3K:
For more info on Joel Hodgson, and updates on his future appearances (his next solo act after Scranton, PA is in Seattle, Washington on March 8th!) visit his official site at www.joelhodgson.com!
I never became too familiar with the work of Cynthia Rothrock, which is a shame because she's starred in some pretty off the wall martial arts extravaganzas. (Case in point, UNDEFEATABLE, which has one of the craziest climaxes I've ever seen a movie. CLICK HERE to enjoy the poetic insanity of it.)
Now, at the age of 55, Cynthia is still looking pretty darned good and keeping busy in the film industry. Which brings me to BADASS SHOWDOWN....
Synopsis:
Cynthia Rothrock made a name for herself first as the undefeated middleweight World Karate Champion in Forms & Weapons for five consecutive years, then as the lead femme fatale in over 50 movies starting with 24 Hours to Midnight, the cult favorite Above the Law and the Sally Field hit thriller Eye for an Eye. Now the iron lady and her trademark Scorpion Kick are kickboxing their way to the screen in Badass Showdown, arriving on DVD and VOD April 2, 2013.
Uber MMA fighter manager Ivy Reed (Rothrock) is unique as a woman in a male-dominated field. Her determination to win leads her to use a special formula to find her champion fighters. Though her trainer Jimmy (Josh Griego) doesn’t see eye to eye with her, he nevertheless works with her current crop of auditioning fighters to see if any of them are worthy of being managed by the Kickboxing world’s most decorated female warrior.
Badass Showdown pays homage to the plethora of action features headlined by Rothrock throughout the late 1980s and 90s. One of a very few in her field, she became a mainstay in martial arts cinema thanks to her roles on television’s Hercules: The Legend Continues, The Dukes of Hazard Reunion, and multiple movie franchises like Lady Dragon, Martial Law, Rage and Honor, Fast Getaway, Tiger Claws, and China O’Brien. Now kicking ass for a new generation, Rothrock headlines a cast of muscle bound up-and-comers like Ryan Greco (Nickelodeon’s Victorious), Kip Canyon (Puppet Master: Axis Rising) and Brandon Schinaman (Party Like the Rich and Famous).
Rothrock and her teammates will strike April 2, 2013 on DVD and through major Video on Demand networks like Amazon VOD, Time Warner, iTunes, Vudu.com, Xbox, AT&T Uverse, Verizon Fios, Comcast, Cox, Brighthouse, Insight, Cablevision, Charter, Sony Playstation, DISH VOD and DIRECT TV.
Hmmm... sounds interesting, though it would appear that Cynthia isn't going to be doing any of the fighting in this one. Let's take a look at the trailer and see what's what:
..... Uh.... there's something a bit off here.... The film seems... I dunno... a bit... homoerotic? Here, let me do a quick search on IMDB....
Ah ha! This film IS homoerotic and intentionally so, because it was directed by David DeCouteau! Mystery solved! So with that knowledge in hand, I will probably skip out on this one, but if you're a DeCouteau or Rothrock fan, then give this piece o' cinema a look. Once again, BADASS SHOWDOWN will be available on DVD and VOD on April 2nd!
Sorry gang, but there's absolutely no new genre flicks for us b/cult movie fans this week. With that said, you CAN see Jason Bateman engage in fisticuffs with a plump ginger that stole his identity and rang up some huge credit card charges, or watch Rooney Mara get all sexy with Channing Tatum while Jude Law gets sued by Catherine Zeta Jones... I think, OR you could relive the homoeroticism of TOP GUN in 3D! Truthfully, out of the three choices, I'd go with shirtless dudes playing volleyball on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
Here's some trailers to help you make up your mind.... to see something from last week, like WARM BODIES or BULLET TO THE HEAD:
Is it me, or does that woman (Melissa McCarthy) kind of look like a really chubby Reba McEntire?
You think this much sex, violence, and intrigue occurs any time a new drug is about to hit market? I'd like to think so.
Aside from the handful of moments that take place up in the sky in fighter jets, what's the point of making this a 3D film again?
So yeah, it's a crap week at the movies (though I have actually heard good things about Soderbergh's SIDE EFFECTS), but fear not, for next week brings us a big dumb action extravaganza! Yippie Ki Yay Mother Russia indeed!
Starting TONIGHT at the ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE in WINCHESTER, VA, you can experience the fun and thrills of the ZOM-BEE FREAK-END HORROR FESTIVAL! This event, which is celebrating the launch of ZOM-BEE TV, is going on all weekend and kicks off at 6PM tonight! It's $40.00 for a weekend pass into ALL events (or you can swing in for a night and buy a movie ticket if any are available), which includes movie screenings, Q&A sessions, live music, video game challenges, and more!
For more info, you can visit the official Freak-End website HERE. For the full festival lineup, scroll down a tad.
Schedule of Events (Subject to change)
Friday. February 8 6 pm – 7:30 pm – ZOM-BEE CARNIVAL. Meet the hosts from Zom-Bee TV play games for prizes.
7:30 pm - Monster Energy Drink Presents PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE in HECKLEVISION! Watch the classic film and text your taunts for all to see on the big screen!
9 pm – WORLD PREMIERE of MIDGET ZOMBIE TAKEOVER Followed by Q&A with director Glenn Bergoettz.
11:30 pm – KUNG FU DYKES Live! Live music from costumed techno-thrash band Kung Fu Dykes. Watch a World Premiere of a new White Label Lounge episode featuring Kung Fu Dykes and Skeletonwitch before the band takes the stage.
12 Midnight – LOVE BITES MONSTER BALLAD SING-ALONG: Sing-along to videos from bands like Cinderella, Poison, Bon Jovi, and more! Complete with live mics and lighters so you can be a part of the teased-hair action.
Saturday Feb 9 FESTIVAL PASS EXCLUSIVE: 10 am – NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: An early morning screening of the classic film with Bloody Mary specials.
12:30 pm - BRAIN BRUNCH with DAWN OF THE DEAD: The original Romero classic with nasty food specials, introduced by Jim Krut, the legendary "helicopter zombie" from the film!
FESTIVAL PASS EXCLUSIVE: 2:30 pm – Zombie Apocalypse Vodka presents HORROR SHORTS: Featuring a new short called THE DUMP from writers at Fangoria, OTHER, the world premiere of a trailer for an upcoming film from Zom-Bee co-founder and director Dale Jackson, and more surprises.
3:45 pm – Mr. Lobo Presents RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD: The ‘80s zombie favorite back on the big screen with live appearance from Mr. Lobo.
6:15 pm – Drafthouse FilmsTHE ABC’S OF DEATH: An ambitious 26-part anthology that showcases death in all its vicious wonder and brutal beauty. Watch the movie at the Freakend a full month before its wide theatrical release.
8:45 pm - Prosthetic Records Presents HORROR REMIX: LOVE World Premiere with live set from STELLA ON FIRE! Edited versions of VHS-era horror movies, hosted by sock puppets.
11:30 pm - Fangoria Entertainment Presents ZOM-PROM with DIXIEFILTH Live! Live music followed by a screening of Lucio Fulci’s CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD. Includes costume contest for prizes.
Sunday Feb 10 11:30 am - Press Start Video Games presents: CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II ZOMBIE CHALLENGE FINALS.
1:30 pm - TROLL 2. We finish the weekend with a classic that is a special kind of awful which has nothing at all to do with the first TROLL! With a live farewell from the Zom-Bee hosts.
I should note that this is the world-premiere of director Glenn Bergoettz' MIDGET ZOMBIE TAKEOVER, which will feature a bit more footage than the official DVD release. I just received my screener for this movie, and Glenn's two other feature films, TO DIE IS HARD and THE WORST MOVIE EVER!, so expect some new reviews to be popping up on the site in the very near future! As stated above in the festival schedule, Glenn will be there to do some Q&A about his latest film, so be sure to stick around after the screening!
If you get to attend this film fest, feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below! I'd love to know what I'm missing out on this weekend!
All I have to say about SUSHI GIRL is.... Whoa! The cast for this film is quite simply insane, and features Tony Todd, Noah Hathaway (Atreyu from "Neverending Story" is all growed up!), Mark Hamill, Sonny Chiba, Danny Trejo, Michael Biehn, Jeff Fahey, and James Duval.
Synopsis: Fish has spent six years in jail. Six years alone. Six years keeping his mouth shut about the robbery, about the other men involved. The night he is released, the four men he protected with silence celebrate his freedom with a congratulatory dinner.
The meal is a lavish array of sushi, served off the naked body of a beautiful young woman. The sushi girl seems cationic, trained to ignore everything in the room, even if things become dangerous. Sure enough, the four unwieldy thieves can’t help but open old wounds in an attempt to find their missing loot.
Along with the amazing cast, the film boasts some kick-ass posters and a pretty cool trailer. Check it out below:
SUSHI GIRL hits DVD & Blu-ray on February 19th and will be jammed with extras including:
• Filmmaker Commentary with Kern Saxton, Destin Pfaff, Neal Fischer and Suren M. Seron • Cast Commentary with Tony Todd, James Duval, Noah Hathaway, Andy Mackenzie, David Dastmalchian, Destin Pfaff and Kern Saxton • Sushi Girl: A Documentary • Alternate Scenes • Outtakes • Fake TV Commercials á la Sushi Girl • Producer's Diaries • Sushi Girl Music Video: Victories and Consequences by Send the Sages • Cast and Crew Interviews at the International Premiere • Poster & Promotional Image Gallery • Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery • Storyboards • Trailers
Note that these are all the Blu-ray extras; the DVD shares MOST of them as well, but not all. Blu-ray exclusives include cast & crew interviews, the Sushi Girl music video, and the Producer's Diaries.
Pre-order the Blu-ray HERE. Pre-order the DVD HERE. Visit the official site HERE.
Not sure if I'll be buying this one, but I'm most definitely going to give it a rental when it comes out. Adult Atreyu being brutally tortured just sounds like a lot of fun.... plus it doesn't hurt that a naked woman covered in food will be in the movie for the majority of the running time.
Europa Report features NON-STOP SOLAR PANEL ACTION!
Up until now, I've never even heard of EUROPA REPORT, a new sci-fi film featuring Sharlto Copley (DISTRICT 9 and THE A-TEAM). The film follows a team of astronauts that make a trip to the titular moon of Jupiter and uh... stuff happens! Here's the lowdown on the film and its distributor:
The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today that they’ve acquired US rights to EUROPA REPORT, a groundbreaking science fiction film starring Sharlto Copley (District 9), about the exploration of Jupiter’s moon, Europa. EUROPA REPORT marks Copley's first return to science fiction since the 2009 blockbuster District 9, as well as the English language debut of director Sebastián Cordero, who once again worked with two longtime collaborators, Academy Award winning Production Designer Eugenio Caballero (Pan's Labyrinth, The Impossible) and Director of Photography Enrique Chediak (127 Hours).
The film was written by Philip Gelatt and produced by Wayfare Entertainment's Ben Browning. Executive Producers were Wayfare's Michael Maher and Jeremy Kipp Walker. The film features music by Bear McCreary (Battlestar Galactica, The Walking Dead). The film was financed by Wayfare Entertainment and China's Sil Metropole. A unique blend of documentary, alternative history and science fiction thriller, EUROPA REPORT follows a contemporary mission to Jupiter's moon Europa, to investigate the possible existence of alien life within our solar system.
Developed in close collaboration with NASA, JPL, SpaceX and other leaders in the scientific community, the film imagines the next step in manned space exploration and is based on recent scientific discoveries and theories. “EUROPA REPORT is an exceptionally smart, thrilling film that will be a revelation for space enthusiasts and science fiction fans alike,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “Its nuanced attention to scientific detail lends it an exciting quality that elevates it above the usual genre fare.”
"Sebastián has made a unique and challenging film that looks and feels epic despite being contained, and we're confident has the potential to get into the zeitgeist. We also think it is a great example of the genre-bending films that Magnolia has had such success with, and we look forward to working with them again" said Browning. Magnolia secured the rights over several other distributors in out of market bidding, believing the film perfectly calibrated for its distribution model.
They will release the film later this year. The deal was negotiated by Magnolia’s SVP of Acquisitions Dori Begley and Director of Acquisitions Peter Van Steemburg with CAA on behalf of the filmmakers. Sierra-Affinity's Nick Meyer is handling international rights and will be screening the film at the European Film Market in Berlin.
You know, the movie could be really interesting, but Magnolia's president makes it sound like pretentious crap. It'll be a "revelation" for space enthusiasts and sci-fi fans? It has nuanced attention to detail? It's "genre-bending?" Will be part of the zeitgeist?! (i.e. spirit of the age or spirit of the time) Quit trying to impress me with your fancy words sir, and try and SELL me on this movie. As it stands, it looks like just another "we're traveling to a distant planet/moon looking for alien life.... OH SHIT WE FOUND IT! AHHHHH!" type of movie. And it appears to be another "found footage" movie as well if the teaser trailer is any indication:
Aside from the presence of Sharlto Copley, there's not much here to get me pumped for EUROPA REPORT, unless there's a randomly awesome cameo by 80's rock group Europe somewhere in the movie. Think about that for a minute: How awesome would it be if Sharlto Copley and friends arrived on Europa, and were greeted by a weird, alien hair-metal band that started belting out "The Final Countdown?" That my friends, would be cinematic perfection.
When I'm not at my day job, or taking the woman out to a movie, or sitting in front of the computer and working on the Vault, or blogging, or working on a new Riff Bros. commentary, I'm usually in front of the TV, nestled into "the comfy couch" and enjoying something on the boob tube. The number of movies I watch can get dizzying, and trying to list all the recent ones I've seen here would take too long. Therefore, you can follow the films I watch at LETTERBOXD, a cool (and relatively) new social media site that allows you to keep a movie diary, and share reviews with friends and followers.
When it comes to TV shows though, not all of them show up when typed into Letterboxd's search engine. Because of this, I'm going to share my current TV watchlist with you, as well as the show's I'm eager to start watching again. (I HATE mid-season finales, don't you?!)
What I'm currently watching:
RED DWARF I recently became acquainted with this BBC sci-fi/sitcom after finding it on NetFlix. The show takes place on a mostly abandoned space mining vessel called the Red Dwarf. Due to a freak radiation leak, the entire crew was wiped out, except for David Lister, who was stuck "in stasis" during the crisis. Three million years later, he strolls out of stasis, only to find that his only companions are the holographic projection of his overbearing (and idiotic) boss, and the goofy A.I. that runs the ship.
The first season is a bit rough going but the writers and cast really hit their stride in seasons two and three. Eventually new characters are introduced, including the hilarious Cat (a humanoid that evolved over the eons from a cat that Lister had hidden aboard the ship) and Kryten, a servant android who gets all emotional about everything. Together they all have adventures involving time travel, alternate realities, and shape-shifting monsters that feed on emotions! It's a fun show and I've been slowly working my way through the entire series. I just completed season three and I'm eager to begin season four asap!
FACE OFF SyFy's super cool reality show/makeup f/x competition that rounds up young makeup artists from all walks of life and age groups. Each week, they are given a tough task to pull off within three days (or sometimes only a few hours), and their work is voted on by a panel of judges, usually made up of Glenn Hetrick, Ve Neill, and Patrick Tatapoulos (or sometimes Neville Page). I've missed the first three seasons (I've been catching up though), but season four has me hooked. Thus far, it looks like Anthony Kosar is going to walk away with the $100,000 prize money, and I'm cool with that. He's a really nice guy, super talented, and he def has a leg up on the other contestants, seeing as how he interned with THE Stan Winston on several films!
THE FOLLOWING Kevin Bacon stars as former FBI agent Ryan Hardy, who gained some fame (but lost favor with his employers) when he took down the infamous serial killer (and Edgar Allen Poe enthusiast) Joe Carroll (James Purefoy). Years after his harrowing ordeal that left him with a pacemaker, Ryan is called back into action when Carroll escapes from prison, forcing him toonce again face the charismatic madman. But Carroll is not alone. It turns out that while he was in prison, he built himself up a pretty big cult following of people who revere him, and gladly do his twisted bidding. Can Ryan and the FBI stop Carroll's following?!
The first two episodes got me curious and I'm eager to see how the rest of season one pans out. While the story is nothing entirely new (think "Silence of the Lambs," but if Hannibal Lecter didn't eat people, had a fixation on human eyes, and was a real ladykiller in every sense of the word), but it boasts a strong cast and has thus far kept things relatively interesting (and surprisingly violent).
SUPERNATURAL When I first heard about this show, I wrote it off immediately as some sort of horror-themed drivel aimed at teenage girls. Years later, I'm a diehard viewer of the show andeagerly await each new episode. The whole "Stop the Apocalypse" story arc that covered the first five seasons was pretty awesome, but things have faltered a bit since then. The creators went back to doing a "creature of the week" style show for season six, and though it had some cool moments, it was a total mess overall. (Way to build up a new villain, then kill her off when she finally makes her appearance.) Season seven was an improvement because a new threat against humanity arose that the Winchesters have never faced before: The Leviathans! It would seem that at this point, Sam and Dean NEED an arch-nemesis, or things get too stale.
Season eight has been a mixed bag, but has remained fairly interesting (though admittedly the latest LARPing episode left something to be desired). I'm curious to see if the boys manage to accomplish their current mission which could very well end the entire show! (Ok, maybe not the entire show, but it'd result in never seeing two of the more interesting secondary characters ever again.) Regardless of the outcome, I'm pretty certain that "Supernatural" will continue on at least one more season, and I'm cool with that.
Upcoming / returning TV programs that I'll be watching:
THE WALKING DEAD Love it or hate it, you have to admit that it is still pretty cool that a post-apocalyptic zombie TV series exists. Season three's mid-season finale left us with a big cliffhanger: Will Darryl and Merle escape from the Governor's clutches?! Will they make it back to the prison?! Will an all out war break out between the two nearby human factions?! Guess we'll find out IN FIVE DAYS!
SOUTH PARK There was a time in my life where I loved South Park dearly. Then I "grew up" and stopped watching for a few years, until I recently "rediscovered" it and began watching again. Pulling stuff straight from newspaper headlines, and using anything that's hot in popular culture, the show (whose episodes are written, animated, edited, and approved for broadcast all within six days)remains fresh, and pushes the envelope every time. As of my writing this, it appears that "South Park" has been approved for SEASON 17, which will start up in.... SEPTEMBER?! DAMMIT!
GAME OF THRONES I've read all the books; I've purchased Season One on Blu-ray; I have Season Two on Pre-Order! I LOVE THIS SHOW! Season three kicks off on March 31st on HBO and will cover the first half of George R.R. Martin's "A Storm of Swords." For the uninitiated, things begin to get really bloody in Westeros as the "War of the Five Kings" rages on. Alliances will be broken, characters you love (and in some cases love to hate) will violently shuffle off this mortal coil, and it'll probably leave us all on a huge cliffhanger that will have us all shouting at our TVs!
So what movies or TV (or web) shows have you been watching lately; what's got you hooked? Comment below, or share your viewing habits with me on Twitter, or over at the Vault's Facebook page!
Hey everyone! If you were looking to put your movie-collecting/hoarding on hold for a week, well this is the time to do it. Here are the slim genre pickings on DVD, Blu-ray, and VHS(?!) this week:
NEW TO DVD & BLU-RAY Bigfoot: The Lost Coast Tapes Casshern Sins: The Complete Series (S.A.V.E.)
"NEW" TO DVD Bela Lugosi - Scared to Death Collection (10 DVD set) Contains: White Zombie, The Death Kiss, The Whispering Shadow, Chandu on Magic Island, The Mysterious Mr. Wong, Murder by Television, Shadow of Chinatown, The Phantom Creeps, The Devil Bat, Invisible Ghost, The Gorilla, Spooks Run Wild, Black Dragons, The Corpse Vanishes, Bowery at Midnight, The Ape Man, Ghosts on the Loose, One Body Too Many, Scared to Death, and Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla.
