"You're Next" in UK cinemas TODAY!!!!!

Home invasion horror "You're Next" hits UK cinemas today (Aug 29), checkout the trailer below...

 

 

Michael Biehn is "Hidden in the Woods"

Director Patricio Valladares has released the first teaser image from his new film "Hidden in the Woods".

 

 

The film stars Michael Biehn (Aliens, Grindhouse : Planet Terror) and is a remake of the director's earlier Chilean film of the same name. This one is filming in texas, and whilst there's no official details of the plot yet, the original on which this is based, revolved around the plight of 2 sisters, who get fed up of their abusive father and have him jailed. Only to find out he had apparently got a stash of drugs hidden somewhere in the forest nearby and now their drug dealing uncle wants them back!

 

The film, which also stars William Forsythe (Devils Rejects, Halloween remake) is due for release next year.

"Fall of the House of Usher" - UK BD review

Classic Roger Corman film “Fall of the House of the Usher”, starring Vincent price, makes its UK Blu-Ray debut August 26^th courtesy of Arrow films, and they were kind enough to send me a review disc to take a look at.

 

Set in the early 1800s, young Philip Winthrope (Mark Damon) comes to visit his girlfriend Madeline Usher at her family’s estate, as he hopes to take her away and marry her.

 

He is somewhat surprised though, when he is greeted by her Brother Roderick (played by a rather youngish looking Vincent Price) who informs him that she is extremely unwell and virtually bedridden, despite being in perfect health when he last saw her only a couple of weeks before, and suggests that he return home.

 

Suspicious about why Roderick is trying to prevent him from seeing her, he insists on coming inside and seeing her for himself to find out what’s wrong.

 

Reluctantly allowing Philip to stay the night, Roderick, who himself is afflicted by a strange disease which causes hyper sensitivity to all his senses, informs him that their ill health is due to a family curse, which he believes has something to do with the decrepit old mansion they live in, which appears to be crumbling around them.

 

Though Philip is not convinced about the a curse and is quite adamant that he’ll be taking Madeline away with him in the morning, it seems that Roderick is determined to prevent her from leaving and will stop at nothing to keep them apart, no matter what…

 

Based on a short story by Edgar Allen Poe, this isn’t what I would call a “scary” film as such, being really more of an old fashioned “gothic” type of horror. Though it proved extremely popular with moviegoers back in the day and marked the start of a cycle of Poe adaptations that Corman and Price would work on.

 

As with all Arrow releases, the disc comes packed with special features, including..

 

Audio commentary track with Director Roger Corman.

“Legend to Legend” feature, in which fellow director Joe Dante (Gremlins) discusses his love for the film and about his time working with Roger Corman.

“The House is the Monster” feature, in which Gothic horror expert Johnathon Rigby, discusses the making of the film and the stream of Edgar Allen Poe films that followed in its wake

"Archival interview with Vincent Price", taken from a French TV show in 1986.

“Fragments of the House of Usher”,  a special documentary narrated by film maker and Critic David cairns, who compares the film to the original story.

And lastly the disc contains the original theatrical trailer.

 

The case also comes packaged with a collectors booklet, illustrated with pictures and stills from the film, containing linear notes by author and critic Tim Lucas and the sleeve contains reversible artwork featuring the original theatrical poster and newly commissioned work by Graham Humphries.

 

This is really a film that I would recommend to fans of older horror movies or fans of Vincent Price’s earlier works, as viewing this was more watching a period drama than a horror movie, so I doubt would hold much interest for people who only watch present day, mainstream Hollywood content. But if you liked films like “Masque of the Red Death” or “The Pit and the Pendulum”, then this one is for you.

 

The film is out on UK Blu-Ray now and is available in both a standard case and in a special limited edition Steelbook edition.

 

Buy the UK BD at Amazon.co.uk

Buy the UK BD Steelbook at Amazon.co.uk

"DEATH BY VHS" ON US DVD.

A battered and mysterious VCR...A bevy of lethal video- tapes... These are the building blocks of horror in "DEATH BY VHS".

A mind blowing descent into madness and death. Five shocking vignettes, designed to take your sanity and devour your soul!

Mild curiosity leads to severe consequences when a couple rents a supposedly cursed video cassette recorder. An urban legend renowned for leaving a trail of agonizing and torturous death. Unbelieving, they take the plunge... And another legend is horrifyingly born...

Do you dare give fate a winning hand, and test yourself against the hellish consequences of the VHS machine?

Insert Cassette Press Play...DIE!

 

Death by VHS is released to US DVD on 17th September.

 

View the trailer on YouTube.

 

Visit the Facebook page

 

Pre-order the DVD at Amazon.com

 

 

 

 

"Ghost Stories" returns to London's West End

The terrifying theatrical event - GHOST STORIES - is set to scare West End audiences more than ever before when it opens at London’s Arts Theatre from 13 February 2014.

 

Restaged and reimagined by THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN’S master of macabre, Jeremy Dyson, and Andy Nyman, co-creator and director of Derren Brown’s television and stage shows and star of DEAD SET, SEVERENCE and KICK ASS 2, GHOST STORIES mixes the very best of theatre with the intense buzz of a thrill-ride.

 

GHOST STORIES broke all box-office records at the Liverpool Playhouse and the Lyric Hammersmith before going on to scare over 130, 000 people in London’s West End.

 

Jeremy Dyson has won numerous awards as the co-writer of the hilariously bleak THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN; including a Perrier Award, BAFTA Award for Best Comedy and the Golden Rose of Montreux. The stage show he co-penned, A LOCAL SHOW FOR LOCAL PEOPLE, was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2002.

 

Andy Nyman is the award-winning co-writer and co-creator of the acclaimed TV productions DERREN BROWN – MIND CONTROL and TRICK OF THE MIND. He co-wrote and co-directed DERREN BROWN LIVE, AN EVENING OF WONDERS, ENIGMA and Derren's most recent live show – INFAMOUS. Andy also won the Best Entertainment Olivier Award in 2005 for SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES. Andy’s acting credits include Channel 4’s BAFTA nominated DEAD SET, the horror-comedy directed by Christopher Smith SEVERENCE and KICK ASS 2.

 

WARNING: PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT GHOST STORIES CONTAIN MOMENTS OF SEVERE SHOCK AND TENSION. THE SHOW IS UNSUITABLE FOR ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 15. WE STRONGLY ADVISE THAT THOSE OF A NERVOUS DISPOSITION TO THINK VERY SERIOUSLY BEFORE ATTENDING.

Tickets go on sale from 10am Wednesday 21 August 2013

 

VENUE: Arts Theatre, 6-7 Great Newport Street, London, WC2H 7JB

PERFORMANCE TIMES:

Tuesday – Friday at 8pm,

Saturday at 5pm and 8pm

Sunday at 4pm and 7pm

PRICES:

Previews – 13 to 27 February 2014 £10 off all ticket prices

Tuesday – Thursday: £39.50,  £35

Friday evening, Saturday matinee, Saturday evening: £45, £39

Sunday matinee, Sunday evening: £39.50, £35

GROUPS:

Tue – Thu and Sun performances only: 6+ £35 and 8+ £29.50

 

BOX OFFICE: 020 7836 8463

WEBSITE: www.ghoststoriestheshow.co.uk

 

 

September Scares on the UK Horror Channel.

Horror Channel’s UK TV premieres for September are two films that scored high on the terror-scale when they screened at FrightFest 2012. Dubbed ‘the Wicker Man for the Harry Brown generation’, COMMUNITY is a fine example of the growing trend in home-grown urban horror and THE INSIDE marks the impressive directorial debut of Irish actor Eoin Macken, who played Sir Gawaine in the hit BBC TV series ‘Merlin’.

 

Plus…Cabin Fever hits Horror Channel with the Network premieres of Eli Roth’s directorial debut CABIN FEVER and Ti West’s follow-up CABIN FEVER 2: SPRING FEVER...
 

Also, there is a double slice of Retro horror, courtesy of Hammer Horror: FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL, starring Peter Cushing, and cult classic CAPTAIN KRONOS: VAMPIRE HUNTER

 

22:50 Sat Sept 7 – COMMUNITY (2012) *UK TV PREMIERE

Two student filmmakers visit the notorious Draymen estate in the hope their proposed documentary will land them a lucrative career. But they quickly discover that the estate is a breeding ground for the darker side of society - which will present the students with material of unimaginable horror. Directed by Jason Ford and starring Elliott Jordan, Terry Bird, Ian Ralph & Oliver Stark.

 

22:45 Sat Sept 14 – THE INSIDE (2010) *UK TV PREMIERE

A group of girls celebrate one of their mates’ birthdays in an abandoned Dublin warehouse but things quickly go wrong when, first, they are terrorized by a group of violent vagrants and then have to cope with a far worse threat when they come under attack by a supernatural horror. Directed by Eoin Macken and starring Emmett Scanlan, Tereza Srbova, Karl Argue, Kellie Blaise and Siobhan Cullen.

 

22:55  Sat Sept 21 – CABIN FEVER (2002) NETWORK PREMIERE

Recoil in disgust, laugh out loud and be scared rigid by director Eli Roth's hardcore feature debut – a splatter-filled and expertly crafted bloodbath about the gut-wrenching devastation inflicted by a flesh-eating virus on a group of holidaying graduates. A love-letter to 70’s American horror, Roth’s entry into the genre’s premiere division stars Jordan Ladd, Rider Strong and James DeBello

 

22:50 Sat Sept 28 – CABIN FEVER 2: SPRING FEVER (2009) NETWORK PREMIERE

The flesh-eating virus that consumed a group of hapless college vacationers back in 2003 returns to crash a high school prom in director Ti West's gore-drenched sequel to the Eli Roth original. The Lost star Marc Senter joins a cast featuring Larry Fessenden, Giuseppe Andrews, Mark Borchart, and Rider Strong - who seems to have successfully sweated out his original case of Cabin Fever.

 

23:10  Fri Sept 6 – FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL (1973)  NETWORK PREMIERE

In the last of the Hammer Frankenstein films, the original mad doctor is back and plying God once more, this time hiding out in an insane asylum, so that he can continue his experiments with reanimating the dead. Directed by Hammer veteran  Terence Fisher, it stars Peter Cushing, in the title role, with Shane Briant, David Prowse, Madeline Smith and Caroline Munro. it was  director Fisher's last film.

 

22:55 Fri Sept 13 – CAPTAIN KRONOS - VAMPIRE HUNTER (1974) NETWORK TV PREMIERE

Considered one of the last great Hammer films, this swash-buckling vampire yarn, features a master swordsman, a former soldier and his hunchbacked assistant who hunt vampires, became a cult classic. Written and directed by Brian Clemens, it stars Horst Janson in the title role, along with John Carson, Shane Briant and Caroline Munro. It was originally the pilot for a planned television series.

 

TV: Sky 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138

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"American Horror Story : Asylum" comes to UK disc in September

Check into Briarcliff as the second terrifying slice of the Emmy-award winning anthology show "American Horror Story: Asylum" comes to Blu-Ray and DVD on this September from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

 

The year is 1964 as we’re introduced to the doctors and nuns who occupy the asylum alongside Nazis, mutants, innocents and serial killers who all make up the fabric of patients. These include Sister Jude (Emmy award-winner Jessica Lange - Cape Fear), Dr. Arthur Arden (James Cromwell - L.A. Confidential), Dr Oliver Thredson (Zachary Quinto - Star Trek) and Kit Walker (Evan Peters - X-Men: Days of Future Past), a patient assumed to be the notorious masked serial killer Bloodyface.

 

As journalist Lana Winters (Sarah Paulson - Martha, Marcy) visits Briarcliff intent on exposing its mistreatment of patients, she unearths unthinkable horrors that could end with her very own imprisonment.

 

Meanwhile, in the present day, two young adults visiting the now-derelict asylum are stalked by another incarnation of Bloodyface...

 

Asylum see’s cast returns from the brilliant Jessica Lange, Zachary Quinto, Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) and Dylan McDermott (Olympus Has Fallen) who are joined by new additions James Cromwell and Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love). There are also guest appearances from Ian McShane (Deadwood) and Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine, all who complete the stellar cast line up.

 

Authentically stylish and scary as hell, be sure to visit Briarcliff when "American Horror Story: Asylum" comes to Blu-ray and DVD on 23 September 2013 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.  Be warned: once you enter, you may find it impossible to leave.

 

Special features include...

 

● Deleted Scenes
● The Orderly featurette
● What is “American Horror Story: Asylum”?
● Welcome to Briarcliff Manor featurette
● The Creatures featurette

 

Buy the UK DVD at Amazon.co.uk

 

Buy the UK BD at Amazon.co.uk

 

Death Walks director gets funding for new projects!!!!

OK, you remember the other month I took part in the filming of the zombie movie "Death Walks", which is a zero budget production by first time director Spencer Hawken? Well despite the fact the film is still in production and hasn't even been finished yet, Spencer has already managed to secure 150Ks worth of funding for 2 more feature films, which will be developed over the next couple of years.

 

From the official press release...

 

Death Walks has been the talk of the horror world for the last two months, bringing it's creator Spencer Hawken to the attention of investors, having created a genuine zero budget movie.

Hawken vowed that Death Walks would be a true zero budget movie, with any contributions simply being donated in the form of expertise or product, no money would pass hands, and no money would be spent in it's creation. Among the many feats achieved as part of the arrangement was a stunning location, Romford's Mercury Mall, food from Subway, security from AEJ, and insurance care of Blufin. Hawken also managed to secure a quality cast, and crew that included cinematographers Marcus Uthup and Frazer Loveman, special effects guru's Cat Forsyth, Justin Becker and Leeane Hicks; as well as actors Lucinda Rhodes, Joanna Finata and Scott Mullins.

Now Hawken has achieved a double whammy, from the strength of Death Walks very unusual script, the script of No Reasons and the pitch of Road Rage he has managed to achieve funding to the tune of £150,000 from a consortium of investors both within and out of the film industry, keen to harness his raw talent.

Hawken said "No Reason's is likely to go into pre-production as early as November, and is the story of a missing girl and a terrible secret, while Road Rage will begin shooting Summer 2014 and will focus on a girl with a split personality and a penchant for killing, and the corrupt police who try to bring her to justice. Both movies have a fairly horrific sting in the tale, but will be very different to Death Walks."

Hawken was keen to point out that the investment was just the start, and that in order to achieve the intended vision, more money will need to be raised by a Kickstarter, although Hawken believes the films could be achieved on the budget's given, he want's no compromise to curb his very twisted vision.

Death Walks is currently near completion with a trailer due in time for Halloween, and the film to climb on the global festival circuit during 2014.

Checkout the Death Walks Facebook Page.

Also the Death Walks Twitter Feed.

"The Walking Dead" Series 3 comes to UK DVD, BD and in an excluse Zombie Tank box set.

Rick Grimes and his family of survivors must now face a brand new fear – the living - when "THE WALKING DEAD: The Complete Third Season" comes to DVD and Blu-ray on 30th September 2013.

 

With record breaking viewing figures around the world, the cultural phenomenon has gone from strength to strength with fans and critics alike agreeing that season 3 is the best yet with more gore, more action and a visceral intensity not seen before.

 

Andrew Lincoln once again returns as Rick Grimes who against all the odds has managed to steer his group towards relative safety, but now faces new challenges as he battles not only his own sanity but a very real new threat in the form of The Governor, played menacingly by British actor David Morrissey.

 

In the highly anticipated new season, Rick and his fellow survivors continue to seek refuge in a desolate and post-apocalyptic world and soon discover that there are greater forces to fear than just the walking dead. The struggle to survive has never been so perilous.

 

Packed with extra features, including deleted scenes, making of features and audio commentaries, "THE WALKING DEAD: The complete Season 3" will be available on DVD, Blu-ray, and in a  limited edition "Zombie Head Tank" Blu-Ray  box set (pictured left), which is available only through Amazon.co.uk, September 30th.

Pre-order the "Zombie Head" BD box set from Amazon.co.uk.

 

Pre-order the BD box set from Amazon.co.uk.

 

Pre-order the DVD box set from Amazon.co.uk.

 

 

 

"Haunted" - A Review!

Director Steven Smith, of Greenway Entertainment, recently got in touch to tell me about his new film “Haunted”, which should be out on DVD later this year, and asked me to take a look at it.

 

The film is actually about the events that took place on one of those Ghost Hunting reality TV shows (I’m sure we all remember that show with Yvette Fielding and Derek Acorah, well its kind-of like one of those) and primarily revolves around a group of people who have won a competition to join the film crew and take part in one of their paranormal investigations.

 

The subject of this episode was supposed to be about the various hauntings at an old railway museum, located on a remote former railway line, deep in the Essex countryside. The beginning of the film opens as the show would normally, with the presenter cheerfully informing us about the strange happenings that have taken place over the years, including strange noises of trains shunting about and strange figures that have been seen standing on the platform at night, despite the fact the line hasn’t operated in years.

 

But as filming for the evening begins, things take a sinister twist and the group soon wish they hadn’t won the chance to join the show, as unlike other programmes of this nature, they will end up catching something on camera and its not something they’re going to like...

 

It starts as the they glimpse someone lurking in the shadows on the camera’s nightvision lenses, a mysterious ghostly face appears at the window of one the carriages being investigated, frightening the crew half to death. The shows psychic medium has a break down, for real this time, and then the real bad stuff starts to happen…

 

Whilst the movie was competently shot, the film did seem a bit slow for my liking, and was basically like watching an extended episode of one of those “Most Haunted” type shows. I think the problem was there was not enough going on in the middle of the film. So if you like those sorts of reality shows, you should get a kick out of this one, if not then you might find this a touch slow.

 

However, be sure to keep watching as the credits roll as there’s some additional footage at the end which sheds more light on what actually happened that evening (har, har).

 

The film should be out on DVD later this year, more details about this release when they become available.

 

Greenway Entertainment are in independent production company based in Wickford Essex, which specialises in the production of low budget indie films. Other projects currently in production include “Tales of the Supernatural” starring Bruce payne and “The Jaahkin”. A “Haunting 2” is already in the pre-production phase.

 

For more info visit...

http://www.greenwayentertainment.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Greenway-Entertainment/103599386366718

The Body on UK DVD and BD.

"THE BODY", a sharp, claustrophobic thriller from the producers of "The Orphanage" and "Julia’s Eyes" is coming to UK DVD & Blu-ray in September.

Inspector Jaime is haunted by his own past which is dragged out of the shadows by the disappearance of a body from the morgue. On the case, Jaime must investigate how a corpse can vanish from its freezer without a trace, the only witness being a guard left in a coma cause by indescribable fear.

With his own nightmares driving him to despair, Jaime’s only suspect is the dead body’s widower, Alex, who maintains his innocence but struggles with inner demons that won’t remain hidden. With a body on the loose and strange phenomena occurring, Jaime and Alex are intertwined in a horror that will leave you cold…

 

Starring Belén Rueda (The Orphanage) as the titular Body, and directed by Oriol Paulo, the film gained rave reviews when it screened at last year’s London Film Festival and was also winner of the Best Screenplay at the Jameson International Film Festival 2013. Paulo is best known for his writing duties on the critically acclaimed Julia’s Eyes (2010) but here makes his feature-length directorial debut which firmly places him as one to watch.

The film comes to UK and BD on 9th September from Kaleidoscope entertainment and comes with a Making-of feature, a Behind the Scenes feature and a selection fo trailers as extras.

 

Buy the UK DVD at Amazon.co.uk

 

Buy the UK BD at Amazon.co.uk

 

 

Brian Cox Double Bill at The Custard Factory, Birmingham

On September 28th movie legend Brian Cox (Bourne Identity, Red 2, X Men 2, Manhunter and many more), will be the special guest at the 'Back To The Theatre' screening of "Manhunter" and "Trick 'r Treat" at The Custard Factory theatre, Birmingham.

 

Cox was the first actor to play Dr Hannibal Lecter in Micheal Mann's take on Thomas Harris' classic novel 'Red Dragon' (later remade with Anthony Hopkins as Lecter in 2002).

Brian Cox is truely an acting legend and will take part in an exclusive Q&A at the event in September.

 

BTTT aim to put Birmingham on the map for cult film events, already screening cult classics 'Return of the Living Dead' and 'Re-Animator' in February with guests Hollywood actor Don Calfa and UK movie poster artist Graham Humpreys and a screening of Clive Barker's horror classics 'Hellraiser' and 'Hellbound: Hellraiser II' in July with guests actors Kenneth Cranham, Simon Bamford, Nicholas Vince and makeup artist Geoff Portass.

The event takes place at the Custard Factory Theatre Birmingham.

Tickets for this event can be purchased from the BTTT website HERE.

"Shortcuts to Hell : Volume 1" - Anthology Released.

Movie Mogul, in association with FrightFest and Horror Channel, is to release an anthology of the 26 best short films from the 666 Short Cuts To Hell national talent search competition.

An essential collection of shorts for anyone serious about horror and the directors of tomorrow, "SHORTCUTS TO HELL: VOLUME 1" is available on iTunes and BlinkBox from August 23, 2013 – to coincide with the announcement of the winner of the competition at Film4 FrightFest.2013.

The winner will receive a cheque for £6,666 from the judging panel, which includes Tom Six, Paul Hyett & Emily Booth.

All of the films were made under the same six, gruelling restrictions. Filmmakers had to choose from one of six existing titles, make their film no more than three minutes long, spend no more than £666, harnessing no more than six cast, six crew, six lines of dialogue and just six hours of shooting time.

The results and creative interpretations of these restrictions vary considerably, but all provide compulsive and entertaining viewing.

"Shortcuts To Hell: Volume 1" is an exciting new platform, which clearly demonstrates the wealth of filmmaking talent there is on offer within UK shores.

View the trailer on YouTube.

"To Jennifer" - A Review

I was recently shown a screener copy of indie film maker James Cullen Bressack’s new film “To Jennifer”, which is the first film to be shot entirely on the iPhone 5 and is being released in the US in October.

 

I had recently watched his film “Hate Crime”, which was a competently shot home invasion movie, so was intrigued at how this one would compare.

 

The plot for this film centres around a young college student, Joey (Chuck Pappas), who receives a rather cryptic text message on his phone from his girlfriend Jennifer (Jessica Cameron), which appears to have been intended for someone else.

 

Believing that she’s cheating on him, he flies back home, hoping to catch her in the act and confront her. He’s accompanied by his cousin Steve (played by director James Cullen Bressack) who he’s asked to make a video documentary of their trip, showing the hurt she’s putting him through and the lengths they’re going to, to catch her out.

 

But despite Steve and some friends trying to put him off and cheer him up, things just seem to go from bad to worse for him. Culminating in his confrontation with Jennifer, where we learn their relationship might not be as conventional as we were originally lead to believe.

 

Much like "Hate Crime", the film is shot from a first person perspective, though in this case from the viewpoint of Joey and Steve’s iPhones. However, I was sadly left feeling distinctly under whelmed by this one.

 

A lot of the films running time is spent showing Joey and his friends just sat around talking, drinking and getting high and as such, there seemed to be these really long periods where nothing much happened. The film started to drag for me and I actually started fast forwarding in places.

 

The film does hint along the way at what the real problem is with Joey’s relationship, which only becomes evident during the films finale (which I won’t spoil for you). But whilst this was kind of clever, I felt the story was far too slow for my liking, and in conclusion, I’ll simply say this really wasn’t my ‘cup of tea’ at all.

 

The film is being released to US DVD and on VOD October 15^th. There is also an official APP for the iPhone 5, including the full film through APPLE and ZOOVISION, which will be released shortly as well.

 

You can pre-order the US DVD at Amazon.com  

 

 

 

"Insidious : Chapter 2" - trailer

Checkout the trailer for Insidious chapter 2, which hits UK cinemas onm the 13th September.

 

Visit the official website at http://www.insidiousch2.com/

New release date for "Crystal Lake Memories" documentary.

1428 Films, Panic Productions and Hutson Ranch Media have announced that the release date for "Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th" has been moved to Friday, September 13th, 2013. The documentary was originally slated for release on August 27th.

 

"Because of the scope of the show and in order to craft the best, most interesting and entertaining look at the films and TV series, it became necessary to give the post-production process a bit more time,” says producer Thommy Hutson. “Ultimately, though, we are thrilled with the show and can't wait for fans to get back to camp - and we think Mrs. Voorhees and Jason would be happy with the new date!"

 

"Having spent well over a year in production on Crystal Lake Memories, we wanted to take a little more time to give fans the definitive Friday the 13th documentary they've been waiting for," explains writer/director Daniel Farrands. "Not only were we able to line up a couple of last-minute interviews for our bonus disc and record a full filmmaker commentary track, it just made more sense to wait a couple of weeks and release Crystal Lake Memories on the ‘unlucky day’ it celebrates: Friday the 13th."

 

The three-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack of the documentary, which runs a staggering 400 minutes, can currently be pre-ordered exclusively via the film’s official website. An exclusive bonus disc containing approximately 4 hours of extended interview material will be included with orders placed on the website. After the soft release on September 13th, the film will be available to the general public on October 8th.

 

Corey Feldman (star of Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter) narrates Crystal Lake Memories, which features interviews with approximately 150 cast and crew members from all twelve Friday the 13th films and the syndicated television series, many of whom have never before appeared in on-camera interviews. Interview subjects include Kane Hodder, Robert Englund, Tom Savini, Danielle Panabaker, Sean S. Cunningham, Derek Mears, Betsy Palmer, Wes Craven, Robert Shaye, Alice Cooper and many more.

 

Crystal Lake Memories promises to be the definitive retrospective on the unstoppable Friday the 13th franchise. The film is written and directed by Farrands and produced by Hutson, who previously teamed up for the award-winning Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy.

 

Pre-order Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th now at www.CrystalLakeMemories.net

 

Arrow to release "Fall of the House of Usher" to UK BD.

Arrow Video is pleased to announce the UK Blu-ray & Steelbook debut of Roger Corman’s 1960s American horror classic THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER on Monday August 26th.

 

When exploitation maestro Corman hired Hollywood legend Vincent Price to star in his adaptation of a classic tale by Edgar Allan Poe, he set in motion a series of Poe-influenced movies that would redefine American cinema history.

 

When Philip Winthrop (Mark Damon) visits his fiancée Madeline Usher (Myrna Fahey) in her crumbling family mansion, her brother Roderick (Price) tries to talk him out of the wedding, explaining that the Usher family is cursed and that extending its bloodline will prolong the agony.

 

Madeline wants to elope with Philip, but neither of them can predict what ruthless lengths Roderick will go to in order to keep them apart.

 

Richard Matheson's intelligent, literate script is enhanced by Floyd Crosby's stylish widescreen cinematography, but it's Vincent Price's anguished conviction in one of his signature roles that makes the film so chillingly memorable over half a century on.

 
The special features included in this Arrow Video release are as follows:
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the feature, transferred and restored using the original film elements by MGM.
- Original uncompressed 2.0 Mono PCM Audio.
- Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
- Audio commentary with director and producer Roger Corman.
- Legend to Legend: An interview with director and former Corman apprentice Joe Dante.
- Interview with author and Gothic horror expert Jonathan Rigby.
- Fragments of the House of Usher: A Specially-commissioned video essay by critic and filmmaker David Cairns examining Corman’s film in relation to Poe’s story.
- Archival interview with Vincent Price.
- Original Trailer.
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys [Standard Release only].
- Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by author and critic Tim Lucas and an extract from Vincent Price’s long out of print autobiography, illustrated with original archive stills and posters.

Buy the UK BD at Amazon.co.uk

Buy the UK BD Steelbook at Amazon.co.uk


 

Creepshow comes to UK BD this October

One of the classic horror anthologies, Creepshow is the gloriously ghoulish collection of comic book tales served up by the masters of macabre Stephen King and George A.Romero. It finally makes its much-anticipated Blu-ray debut thanks to Second Sight Films.

Relish the family reunion and the murdered father who still wants his cake; the backwards farmer who discovers a meteorite with a life of its own; one husband’s vengeful plan that will leave his cheating wife and her lover up to their necks in it; another’s hope that the vicious occupant of a mysterious crate may be the answer to his nagging wife problem; and in the final gross-out tale a malicious millionaire with an insect phobia gets a scuttling surprise.

This classic slice of horror from 1982 features an all-star cast including Ted Danson, Leslie Neilsen, Ed Harris and Hal Holbrook and gets the high-definition treatment, along with a bumper offering of outstanding special features. It will be released on Blu-ray on 28 October 2013.

Creepshow is the most fun you’ll ever have being scared.

Special features:
• AUDIO COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR GEORGE A. ROMERO AND
SPECIAL MAKE-UP EFFECTS CREATOR TOM SAVINI
• AUDIO COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL
GORNICK, ACTOR JOHN AMPLAS, PROPERTY MASTER BRUCE ALAN
GREEN AND MAKE-UP EFFECTS ASSISTANT DARRYL FERRUCCI
• JUST DESSERTS: THE MAKING OF CREEPSHOW: A FEATURE LENGTH
DOCUMENTARY WITH CAST AND CREW
• BEHIND THE SCREAMS WITH TOM SAVINI
• DELETED SCENES
• TV SPOT, TRAILER, STILLS GALLERY

Pre-order the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk

Emily Booth to produce and star in "SELKIE"

Horror Channel presenter and actress Emily Booth steps behind the lens to make her first short film – SELKIE, a dark revenge fairytale, in which she also stars in the title role - as a beautiful and vengeful sea creature.

 

The plot, based on an ancient Celtic myth, sees Selkie enslaved to a drunken fisherman when he finds her shedded skin on the beach. Refusing to return her skin to her, the Selkie law of nature means she is now bound to him as his 'land wife' unable to return to her true form, and to the sea. Until one day, many years later, when she exacts her revenge and finally is able to transform back into her true form.

 

Emily assembled her own team for the project including concept artist Danny McMahon (who came up with the original drawings of the Selkie creature) and SFX artist Robbie Drake (Nightbreed, The Seasoning House)

 

Emily said today: “My aim is to create something truly unique and memorable, a dark and haunting adult fairytale, with a spectacular creature transformation sequence, all shot in Medieval locations. Yes it’s a challenge and will not be cheap which is why I’m using the innovative crowd funding site Kickstarter.”

….

To find out more and invest go to:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/569693974/selkie-a-haunting-adult-fairytale-inspired-by-celt

Graveyard Calling's - "Out Come the Bats".

Graveyard Calling Horror Records' third release "…and out come the bats" is going to be released on the 19th August.

The digital-only release is a compilation of 15 vampire/bat-themed tracks across a range of genres.

All profits are being donated to Bat World Sanctuary; the world's leading organisation in bat rehabilitation & care.

The compilation will be available to download 19th August from www.graveyardcalling.co.uk followed by iTunes, Amazon and most other digital music retailers.

Deranged comes to UK BD and DVD fully uncut!!!!

Arrow Video are pleased to announce the worldwide Blu-ray premiere of Alan Ormsby and Jeff Gillen’s disturbing cult-horror classic DERANGED on Monday 19th August in a dual edition BD/DVD combo pack.

 

Restored and fully uncut for the first time anywhere in the world, horror fans will finally be able to bear witness to the movie’s infamous ‘brain-scooping scene’ absent from the US release and the full "gutting" scene excised from the previous UK version in all their gory glory!

Real-life Wisconsin serial killer Ed Gein inspired many distinguished films, including Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, but none is quite as disturbing as DERANGED.

 

Roberts Blossom gives an alarmingly convincing performance as rural eccentric Ezra Cobb, whose mother's death unhinges him to the point where he not only lovingly preserves her corpse in the living room, but also goes out to find 'friends' to keep her company – not all of whom are dead when he finds them... Perversely, Ezra's more worried about what mother would say about his various activities than he is about the prospect of being found out. Indeed, like Gein, he's cheerfully open about his activities when visiting friends, but no-one believes him.

 

Like Carnival of Souls and The Honeymoon Killers, this is one of American horror cinema's great one-offs, an eerie, genuinely unsettling but also darkly comic experience.

 

In keeping with the high standards Arrow’s fanbase has come to expect, the deluxe dual edition of DERANGED will come loaded with special features and bonus material.

 

A full breakdown of the DERANGED special features is as follows:
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation available uncut for the first time.
- Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
- Audio commentary with special effects artist Tom Savini.
- Introduction to the film by Savini.
- Featurette – “A Blossoming Brilliance” – Scott Spiegel (Intruder, Evil Dead II) speaks about Deranged star Roberts Blossom and the lasting legacy of this gore-soaked gem.
- Featurette – “Ed Gein: From Murderer to Movies” – Laurence R. Harvey (The Human Centipede II) discusses the lurid legacy of the Wisconsin serial killer and the secrets of portraying a cinematic psychopath.
- Featurette – “The Wages of Sin” – Making of featurette comprising newly transferred 16mm production footage and an archive interview with director Jeff Gillen.
- Original Trailer
- Stills gallery
- Reversible sleeve feat. original & newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh.
- Collector’s booklet feat. new writing on the film by Stephen Thrower (author of Nightmare USA), an article from Rue Morgue on the legacy of Ed Gein, plus an archive interview with producer Bob Clark, illustrated with original archive stills and posters.

Buy the BD/DVD combo pack at Amazon.co.uk

 

Dark Feed on UK DVD

Checkout the trailer to "Dark Feed", the new horror from The Rasmussen Brothers, which has just hit UK DVD shelves courtesy of Anchor Bay.

 

Buy the UK DVD at Amazon.co.uk

Death Walks - Behind the scenes feature with Directors Q&A.

Checkout my latest YouTube video, a set report and directors Q&A on the set of "Death Walks"...

Checkout their Facebook page.

The Jaakhin in pre-production

Greenway Entertainment is pleased to announce that it's in pre-production on “The Jaakhin” a modern ghost story about an apparition that stakes a claim to a house in the beautiful British countryside. The filming is expected to begin in January 2014 for a 2015 release. Zane Casablanca is acting, as Executive Producer and the film will be shot on location in the United Kingdom. Steven M. Smith is directing his forth feature film from, his own screenplay.

 

Steven M. Smith said, “We are pleased to announce “The Jaakhin” is in pre-production for a 2014 start. “The Jaakhin” is a name given to a female ghost, in this case an extremely terrifying one. We will be filming on location in the United Kingdom and locations are being scouted as well as pre-production work being done. We expect to name an A-List actor in our lead role later this year and this film will be a new and interesting way of making horror movies and will deliver something fresh and bold.”

More info on the Official Website.

I Spit on Your Grave 2 - Frightfest World Premiere

Anchor Bay today announced that I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE 2, the sequel to the 2010 remake, will get its world premiere at this year’s Frightfest festival taking place at The EMPIRE cinema in London’s Leicester Square on the 25th August.

 

This very special festival cut has been over-seen by the producers specifically for Frightfest 2013 and will be the first time the film will be screened to audiences anywhere.

 

The highly anticipated horror sequel will then release in cinemas before coming to DVD & Blu-ray 7th October.

 

Promising British newcomer Jemma Dallender (Community) takes on the lead role, following in the footsteps of Camille Keaton, star of the 1978 original, and Sarah Butler in I Spit on Your Grave (2010).

 

Once again, Steven R. Monroe returns to the director’s chair for the sequel based on a script from SAW IV writer Thomas Fenton and the co-writer of the 2010 film Neil Elman.   Co-Stars Joe Absolom (Long Time Dead) and Mary Stockley round out the cast .

 

Meir Zarchi’s original became one of the most controversial films of all time and its 2010 remake became a critical and box office success. I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE 2 is certain to propel the franchise to new levels of fear.

**I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE 2**
Frightfest Festival
Empire cinema, Leicester Square
25th August 2013 @11:30pm

Visit the festival website at http://www.frightfest.co.uk/

Afraid of the Dark - Casting announced for new theatrical terror

 

Full casting has been confirmed for Afraid of the Dark, which will have its World Premiere in London this autumn, playing at The Charing Cross Theatre from 2 September – 26 October, with a press night on Wednesday 11 September.  Afraid of the Dark is a new brand of theatrical terror that paralyzes the audience with fear. Everyone is afraid of something. What scares you when the lights go out?

 

50’s Hollywood, A failing B-movie producer and his team struggle to find the next terrifying blockbuster. A mysterious stranger appears – blurring the line between nightmare and reality while worming his way into their minds, exploiting their very worst fears……

 

Charlie Anson (Doctor Who, Downton Abbey) will play ‘Roger Maxwell’ (a handsome and ambitious man whose charms have only gotten him so far) Rebecca Blackstone (Red Dwarf X) will play ‘Sandra Callaghan’ (smart, independent, and beautiful who has seen it all, especially when it comes to men …and with a very dark secret),

 

Julian Forsyth (Woman in Black - Stage Version) will play ‘Dr Henry Charlier’ (man of mystery), John Guerrasio (TV's  - Nixon's the One) will play ‘Julius Bernstein’ (an arrogant, pushy, demanding sonofabitch producer - think Louis B. Mayer) and Mark Rice-Oxley will play ‘Herschell Blank’ (nervy, offbeat and talented writer who is…stuck).

 

Afraid of the Dark will be directed by Olivier Award winner Ian Talbot and is produced by Maberry Theatricals, Morris Berchard, Steven M. Levy and Sean Sweeney.

 

The playwright has chosen to remain anonymous…for now…

 

NB: Afraid of the Dark is not suitable for children under 12, those of a nervous disposition or for those suffering with serious heart conditions.

 

The play will run from 2nd Sept - 26 Oct at...

 

Charing Cross Theatre
The Arches
Villiers Street
London
WC2N 6NL

 

Box Office: 08444 930 650

 

Visit the website at http://www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk

 

The Initiation - UK DVD review

Obscure 80s slasher movie “The Initiation” hits UK DVD shelves today (Monday August 5^th) courtesy of Arrow films Arrowdrome label and they were kind enough to send me a copy to take a look at.

 

The film stars Daphne Zuniga (The Fly 2) as young college student Kelly Fairchild, who’s plagued with nightmares about a traumatic childhood event, which had something to do with her father being attacked by a stranger during a house fire.

 

The college psychologist is unsure of what to make of things, but as we are soon to discover, it seems that the person in her nightmares might be all too real.

 

As part of her college initiation, she has to steal the keys to her wealthy father’s department store, where she and the other new sorority sisters must spend the night as part of their initiation. But it seems that dodging the security guard is going to be the least of their worries, as someone has decided to join their fraternity initiation and is now stalking to corridors.

 

Meanwhile her psychologist has done a little digging into her family history and discovers that not everyone in her family is who they seem and he has a pretty good idea about who the killer might be…

 

Originally released back in 1984, the film is one of the more obscure 80s slashers, which might have passed you by first time round. Whilst the plot is rather run of the mill, it does boast an extremely interesting cast, which includes former screen siren Vera Miles (Psycho), horror B movie actor Clu Gulager (Return of the Living Dead) and of course Daphne Zuniga, who previously starred  in “The Dorm that Dripped Blood” (AKA Pranks), and who went on to star in “The Fly 2” (though most will probably remember her from “Spaceballs”).

 

It is interesting to note that the film has a number of co-incidental similarities with Wes Craven’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street” which was released in the same year. Girl having nightmares, person with a badly burned face, people getting killed with a sharp claw like implement (except this is a gardening tool, not a razor glove), so not sure what to make of that. The film will no doubt appeal to fans of 80s slashers, though people who only like modern day horror films may not find it so appealing.

 

The DVD includes the theatrical trailer as an extra and the case includes a collectors booklet with linear notes on the film by Callum Waddel.

 

Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk