Sunday 29 September 2013

"Rough House" - film and comic book series

Asylum Press and Pretend For Real Studios have released a trailer for their upcoming film and comic book preview pages for their latest horror franchise entitled "Rough House".

"Rough House" is a gritty, action-packed horror movie and comic book series that examines innocent victims thrown into a caged fighting match with deranged serial killers where they fight to the death. Combining the brutal ruckus of Fight Club, the twisted horror of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and draping it under a cloak of a government black ops conspiracy.

The story begins with an athletic young woman known only as “The Girl” who is kidnapped and thrown into a bizarre world of masked serial killers who torment their victims in brutal underground fights, backyard wrestling matches and deadly mixed martial arts bouts.  She soon proves herself able to hold her own in death matches against colorful masked killers with names like “Bone Job”, “Baby Fat, and “Skeeter the Devil Boy”. Once inside the Rough House ,“The Girl” uncovers dark secrets that possibly link her to a secret government program and to the fighters themselves. As “The Girl’s” psyche is worn down by brainwashing and psychotropic drugs, she becomes more and more of a stone cold killer herself. She must decide whether she will escape the Rough House or stay focused on her true target, the ringleader called “Big Daddy.”

Rough House is based on a story idea and trailer created by Mike L. Taylor of Pretend For Real Studios and a feature length screenplay written by Elizabeth J. Musgrave (Farmhouse, Darwin’s Pâté).

The project will be released as a digital first 4-issue comic book mini-series through Asylum Press and later in print as a graphic novel.

The Rough House trailer was directed by Mike L. Taylor based on a script by Elizabeth Fine and a story by Mike L. Taylor. 

"Rough House" the comic book will be available digitally on iPad, iPhone, Android, Kindle, Mac and PC via the following apps: Comixology, ComicsPlus, Graphicly, My Digital Comics, iBooks, DriveThruComics, and AVE Comics.

View the trailer on YouTube.

Checkout the "Rough House" Comic Preview Page


"House of Bad" - set for US DVD release this December

''House of Bad'', winner of the fan favorite award at this year's Big Bear Horro-Fi 2013 Film Festival, where it made its premiere, has been acquired by Osiris Entertainment.
 
Osiris has set the highly-anticipated home entertainment title for a US DVD release in December.
 
"House of Bad" has snared a conglomerate of early rave reviews, as well as been showered with praise by horror fans.  The pic features an electric mix of young up-and-coming stars including Sadie Katz, currently starring in "Chavez Cage of Glory", and "Jobs" co-star Clint Jung.  Heather L. Tyler (TVs "Dexter"), Cheryl Sands (TVs "Nip/Tuck") and Lisamarie Costabile (TVs "Rescue Me") are also part of the ensemble.


Written and directed by Jim Towns, "House of Bad" tells of three sisters on the run with a suitcase full of stolen drugs, yearning to break free from their sordid pasts. When the eldest sister Teig (Tyler) decides they’re going to hide out in their old, abandoned family house, its painful memories quickly become too real to fight off.  Unable to distinguish dreams from reality, this attempt at a new lease on life turns into a race for survive.

For more information on "House of Bad", tipped to be atop of many horror fans' Christmas wish lists this year, visit the film's official website at http://www.houseofbad.com

Pre-order the US DVD at Amazon.com

 

Saturday 28 September 2013

Lifeforce - a UK Blu-Ray review

I remember many years ago, back when I was in college. One of my chums came in with a video tape of a film he’d recorded off Sky Movies and asked if I wanted to borrow it. I asked what it was about and I recall him saying something about alien vampires and this naked girl wandering round, sucking people’s energy out of them.
 
It didn’t really sound like my sort of film, as back in those days I was more into action movies, but having been sold on prospect of female nudity, a requisite for any good film, I decided to give it a go.
 
The movie turned out to be “Lifeforce”. I can’t say as I had heard of it prior that, indeed, back in those days I didn’t even know who director Tobe Hooper was (much to my shame), so wasn’t sure what to expect. But as the film got going, I was actually pleasantly surprised. at just how good it was, and what great fun it turned out to be.
 
Well Arrow films have just added this one to their list of Blu-Ray titles, and is due to be released shortly and I was lucky enough to take a look at an advance copy to review.
 
Set in London, a joint US/European Space Shuttle mission bring back, what appears to be, 3 human looking aliens, 2 males and a female, that they discovered inside an alien spacecraft hidden in the tail of Haley’s Comet.
 
However, whilst the people at London’s space research centre are attempting to study them, the female (played by French actress Mathilda May) suddenly wakes up and, in a huge flash of light, drains the life force out of the unfortunate security officer, before escaping.
 
Attempting to examine the body of the dead guard, they suddenly discover they have a very serious problem on their hands, when the body suddenly sits bolt upright on the autopsy table and sucks the life force out of the doctor preparing to autopsy him. Yes it seems these creatures are some sort of “space vampires” and anyone they kill, becomes a vampire themselves, which need to feed every 2 hours in order to survive (and producing some spectacularly explosive results if they don’t).
 
With the girl on the loose and leaving a trail of shrivelled up corpses in her wake, they bring in SAS Colonel, Colin Caine (Peter Firth) to try and capture her. Aided by the only surviving member of the shuttle crew that brought the aliens back, Colonel Tom Carlsen (played by B-movie actor Steve Railsback), they attempt to find her before she turns any more people into these energy draining vampires.
 
But when London is suddenly placed under military quarantine, as a dearth of vampires swamp the city streets, draining each others Lifeforce, it becomes a race against time to try and find a way of stopping them before it spreads any further.
 
Based on the novel “Space Vampires” by Colin Wilson and adapted by noted screen writer Dan O’Bannon (Alien, Return of the Living Dead), the film is great fun, boasting plenty of action and some great special effects. The scenes in space being easily on par with “Alien” and the scenes of destruction during the vampire rampage in London were like a larger scale version of the chaos in Picadilly Circus from John Landis’s “American Werewolf in London”. There’s also plenty of gratuitous nudity from lead actress Mathilda May (Bonus)!!!!. 
 
Also starring, noted character actors Frank Finlay (Wild Geese) and Aubrey Morris (Clockwork Orange) as well as a pre-"Star Trek" Patrick Stewart in one of his early film roles. The film, sadly, wasn’t a commercial success when released to cinemas back in 1985, but found a new lease of life on home video and has since, quite rightly, gone on to become a cult classic.
 
This Blu-Ray release by Arrow films is a special 2-disc edition, containing 2 different versions of the film and a whole stack of special features.
 
Disc1 contains the Uncut European version of the film and features…
 
- 3x different audio commentary tracks, one with director Tobe Hooper, the other with visual effects artist doug smith and the final one with make up effects artist Nick Maley.
 
- An isolated music and special effects soundtrack.
 
- Cannon Fodder : The Making of Lifeforce, a 70 minute making of feature, featuring interviews with many of the production crew, including Director Tobe Hooper, and a few of the co-stars of the feature, including Nicholas Ball and  Aubrey Morris.
 
- Space Vampires in London, which is essentially an interview with Tobe Hooper about the making of the film, which runs about 10mins.
 
- Carlsen’s Curse, a 10 minute interview feature with Steve Railsback.
 
- Mathilda May : Dangerous Beauty, interview with lead actress Mathilda May, in which she discusses her many nude scenes, which runs approximately 15 minutes.
 
- 2x theatrical trailers, one from the US release by Tri-Star and one for the international release by Cannon.
 
Disc 2 contains the shorter US theatrical version.
 
Both discs contain optional sub-titles for the hard of hearing. The case also contains a collectors booklet featuring linear notes on the film by sci-fi expert Bill Warren and a text interview with visual effects artist John Dykestra, illustrated throughout with posters and stills and artwork from the film.
 
The film is available in a standard case, containing reversible artwork, or in a special limited edition “Steelbook” edition and will be released in the UK October 14th, in time for Halloween!!!
 
I've been a long time fan of this film and this is by far the best release of the movie to date. Making it a must for anyone looking to add this to their collection.

Buy the UK BD at Amazon.co.uk

Buy the UK BD Steelbook at Amazon.co.uk


Wednesday 25 September 2013

WALKING DEAD marathon exclusively at Picturehouse cinemas (UK)

THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON comes to DVD & Blu-Ray this Monday 30th September and to celebrate, eOne and Picturehouse Cinemas are hosting an incredible THE WALKING DEAD EXPERIENCE, or #BiteNight, on Saturday 5th October.

Are you Team Rick or Team Governor? No matter, all walk[er]s of life are welcome to Picturehouse’s exclusive The Walking Dead Experience where, for one night only, there will be a zombie dress-up competition, un-dead raffle and a marathon screening of the entire acclaimed first series of The Walking Dead.
 
There will also be gruesomely themed cocktails ('the Governor', anyone?), as well as a range of cinema snacks. Plus, there will be the chance to win money-can't-buy memorabilia, Picturehouse Memberships and complete seasons of The Walking Dead on DVD and Blu-ray.

To gain access, all fans have to do is purchase a Zombie Survival Kit for £15 (£12 Picturehouse Members, £13 Concessions) at the following Participating Picturehouse cinemas...
 
The Ritzy, Brixton, London at 9pm WEBSITE
Belmont Picturehouse, Aberdeen at 8pm WEBSITE
Duke's @ Komedia, Brighton at 11.30pm WEBSITE
The Cameo, Edinburgh at 10.30pm WEBSITE
Picturehouse at FACT, Liverpool at 9pm WEBSITE
 
 
Pre-order the BD box set from Amazon.co.uk.

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

"Divergent" - New Posters and Teaser trailer

Not quite sure if this qualifies as a "horror" in the strictest sense, but eOne Entertainment have just released two new teaser posters and a trailer for their new film DIVERGENT, the highly anticipated dystopian action-adventure based on the series of novels by Veronica Roth.



 
 
The film stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James and Kate Winslet, and will see a UK release in Spring 2014. 
 
 
 

Sunday 22 September 2013

Linda Hamilton suffers from "Bad Behavior"

"MISERY" meets "ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING" in the story of a teenage babysitter, trapped inside a suburban home, who is forced to go head-to-head with a psycho.
 
This nail-biting DVD Premiere stars Hallee Hirsh (TVs Grey's Anatomy) as Zoe, a teenager hired to babysit overnight for a seemingly perfect family. The only worry she has is avoiding the unwelcome advances of teen brothers Tyler and Jack.
 
Things go awry when Zoe suddenly finds herself in a bathroom groggy and confused with only the two youngest kids with her. While Tyler tries to explain how they got in there, an intruder attempts to break down the door. And when the parents fail to return, Zoe begins to realize that nothing is as it seems in the house, and that she isn’t the first babysitter to learn this lesson...
 
Ted McGinley ("Hope & Faith") and "Terminator" star Linda Hamilton also star.
 
The film is released to US DVD October 22nd.
 
View the trailer on YouTube.
 
Buy the US DVD from Amazon.com


Saturday 21 September 2013

Samurais Vs Zombies film raises $19,000 in just 2 days

Dallas King, winner of a 2012 Directors Guild of America Film Award, has announced his next feature film venture, "HOZON". A Sci-Fi, Horror film in the vein of Resident Evil, with a samurai and zombie twist. After a botched DNA splicing experiment, Mr. Hozon, CEO of a Japanese bio-medical company and an expert swordsman must lead his Board of Directors out of a contaminated lab and save his sick daughter's life. The story is rooted in true events, real science, and historical characters.
 
Dallas shot a “concept trailer” for the film to raise funding and interest for the project. The response from the industry has been tremendous, as Dallas has officially joined the distinguished list of Hollywood Directors sponsored by PANAVISION, a leading camera equipment company with recent films like The Dark Knight, The Avengers, and the upcoming World War Z. Panavision’s support for HOZON will add hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of production value to the project. ILLUMINATION DYNAMICS (an ARRI group Company) has also come on board to sponsor equipment for the film.
 
Dallas’ alma mater, THE UCLA SCHOOL OF THEATER FILM AND TELEVISION, has also officially sponsored the project with Camera, Equipment, Sound Stage, and Administrative support. The Cinema Make Up School is also a sponsor of the film, providing leading FX Make Up in a department led by FX Artist Wayne Anderson (Syfy’s Face Off). Thailand based Production Company, KANTANA LAB is sponsoring the film with full POST-PRODUCTION needs including sound, color and editing. Dallas' shooting style for Hozon will resemble classic action/sci-fi cult classics. Think Alien meets The Thing. Terror and dread are captured much better in the darkness and with real blood and monsters. Dallas states,
 
PRESS RELEASE
"This one's for the fans who love Samurais, Ninjas, and Zombies; they'll get to watch man versus beast, in a battle to the death." Dallas is coming of the momentum of his last sci-fi film project, MOST WANTED (
www.mostwantedfilm.com), which won 1st place for the 2012 DGA Film Awards and premiered at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Even with all the industry support for HOZON, the project still needs additional funding and what better way to secure that than on the crowd funding giant, KICKSTARTER. Producers Gerren Crochet and Fiorela Canaj (UCLA MFA Producers Program) have come on board the project and are asking for an additional $75,000 in crowd funding support. Rewards for donations rang from a Digital Copy of the Film to VIP Tickets to the Films Premier and even the chance to appear in the film as a zombie! This is the chance for audiences and fans to help support a truly independent film with a unique voice. The Kickstarter Campaign officially launched on September 17th, 2013 and has raised over $19,000 in 2 days!
 
GIRLS & CORPSES MAGAZINE, Editor, Robert Rhine has officially invested $10,000 into the campaign, making him the first Executive Producer from KICKSTARTER. Numerous sci-fi and horror fan sites have sponsored the project and HOZON is broadening its social media awareness with over 15,000 (and counting) fans on Facebook. HOZON will begin shooting in the Fall of 2013.
 
 
 

Elijah Wood's "Toad Road" to get limited US theatrical release

This October, Artsploitation Films, in association with Elijah Wood's genre-themed production company, SpectreVision  and Random Bench, will unleash the haunting and mesmerizing "Toad Road" via limited theatrical release. The film has been described as a hallucinatory and hypnotic odyssey through mutating realities, drug use, urban legends, and nightmares.
 
The story follows a young college student who befriends a group  of hard partying friends and finds herself drawn into the local legend of Toad Road—a pathway in the forest rumored to contain the seven gates that lead directly to Hell.

Toad Road displays a disturbing portrait of contemporary youth culture where the lines between perception and reality are blurred with often frightening results. Winning the  Best Director and Best Actor awards at the 2012 Fantasia International Film Festival and  Best Picture at the Lausanne Underground Film and Music Festival, director Jason Banker blends documentary footage with horror elements to create a cinematic experience like no other.

The film opens Friday, October 18th at the Arena Cinema in Los Angeles, and in New York at Cinema Village on Friday, October 25th.

In anticipation of the theatrical release, Artsploitation Films will unveil three exclusive teaser clips from Toad Road to press and media in the weeks to come, along with exclusive character posters for the film.

Fans and audiences outside of New York and Los Angeles are invited to bring "Toad Road" to their cities via Tugg.com, a innovative new platform that that gives audiences the power of choice in movie-going by bringing an on-demand experience to local theaters.

Artsploitation Films will be following up the theatrical release with a US DVD/VOD release on December 10th
 
Visit Toad Road on Tugg
 
Find Toad Road on Facebook
 
Find Toad Road on Twitter
 
Find Toad Road on Tumblr
 
 
 

 

We Are What We Are - New Trailer...

Checkout the trailer to the new gothic horror "We Are What We Are", starring Michael Parks (Django Unchained) and Bill Sage (American Psycho).
 
 


The film hits UK cinemas October 25th.

"Death Walks" Guiness Book of Records attempt.

Spencer Hawken's debut feature "Death Walks" has managed to achieve something few movies have ever managed, a  zero budget. Now it's creator is in the final stages of gaining a Guinness World Record for the attempt.

"Death Walks" began shooting on July 15th and consisted of a group of up to four-hundred individuals all giving their time for free, in order to achieve a common goal, and that was the thought that if you want to make a movie you can, mainly by just being incredibly nice to people.

Over 12 different shoots Spencer managed to get cast and crew together at absolutely no cost, to create a truly genuine zero budget movie. So now he plans to try and win the movie a Guinness Record for being the first movie to ever achieve such a feat.

Death Walks has already seen several parts of the Guinness application process, and it's makers very much have their eyes on the prize. If the film qualifies it will be the first time that such an award has been given, and obviously it would be a very hard accolade to beat. Their are a number of low budget movies out their including another zombie movie called Colin made several years ago.

Hopefully if "Death Walks" qualifies for the prize, it should know in early October once the shooting completes around 9am on September the 30th.

From the impressive Mercury Mall as a shooting location, through to Insurance Spencer has persuaded everyone he has spoken to to donate something to the cause.

"Essex and East London is jam packed with raw, cutting edge talent, but nobody seems to appreciate it. Death Walks is going to prove that you don't need lots of cash, and an address book of A-listers in order to pull off a great low budget feature."

Over the journey of "Death Walks" lifespan to date, the movie has received over £250,000 of press coverage, talking about the movie. From radio, press, glossy magazines, websites and a brief article on television Death Walks is getting everyone's attention. And for Spencer and his business partner Lucinda Rhodes this approach has paid dividends. The couple have managed to secure funding to create another two movies in the area, and have plans to put Romford, Brentwood and Essex truly on the map in the movie industry.

"You get little clusters of films in areas, but our goal is to create a new film location to get peoples attention You've had Elstree and Ealing why not Romford, or Brentwood. Essex and East London have everything, from epic industrial locations to beautiful countryside, what better a place to build a brand new jewel in the crown for the movie industry." Said Lucinda Rhodes who is now frantically putting the pieces together for new movie No Reasons which has already cast Daniel Peacock (Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves) and has a number of British icons in it's sights.

Hawken Rhodes will create two new movies in 2014 focusing on the story of a missing girl for "No Reason's" and a serial killer in "Road Rage". But it does not stop there, the Death Walks journey could create a legacy for others in the area, as should the film find a buyer fund will be created in the Mercury's name that will award sums of cash to low budget movies seeking out a bit of money to source locations or equipment.

In a final statement Spencer said "I honestly believe that by 2016 this little part of the world will have carved a little name for itself in the movie industry, and people like the "Welcome To Essex" crowd (another zombie film being shot nearby) and ourselves will be able to say we played a very big part of it."

For more info on "Death Walks", visit the official Facebook page



"Squirm" - UK BD/DVD review

Aaaaah “Squirm”, I remember the old video box cover for this film back in the 80s, showing some poor unfortunate female in the shower, getting covered in worms that were crawling out of the shower nozzle (Google “Squirm VHS” and it’ll bring up the cover I’m referring too).
 
So icky was this picture (and the fact I was only 12 at the time), that it was many, many years before I actually got around to watching it. Whereupon I discovered that the film was nowhere near as graphic as I had imagined it to be, and was actually rather good fun.
 
Well the film has just been given a new lease of life on Blu-Ray and DVD here in the UK, courtesy of Arrow films and, as always, they were kind enough to send me a copy to review.
 
Set in a small rural town in Georgia, a storm knocks out the power lines which fall on the ground and electrify the soil. Which has an adverse effect on local worm population.
 
New to town is young Mick (Don Scardino), who’s travelled down to visit his girlfriend Geri (Patricia Pearcy), a local farm girl. Unfortunately, when they come across a couple corpses on the neighbouring property, it leads them to make a shocking discovery.
 
Yes it seems, thanks to that recent jolt of electricity, the worms have turned and developed a taste for human flesh. Of course, the Sheriff doesn’t believe a word of it and takes an instant disliking to young Mick.
 
But as night falls and the worms go on the rampage, engulfing the town (in a hilariously cheesy scene where they just pour in through the windows and doors of the local bar), whilst Mick, Geri and her family struggle to stay out of harms way.
 
One of many ‘Nature on the rampage’ films that came out in the late 70s, following the wake of “Jaws”. Whilst not overly gory and in many cases unintentionally funny (and even intentionally funny in some places), the film, which marked the directorial debut of cult director Jeff Lieberman (Blue Sunshine, Just Before Dawn), and featured special effects from Rick Baker (American Werewolf in London), quickly achieved cult status and proved extremely popular on home video back in the 80s.
 
“Squirm” is released in a dual format combo-pack edition, which contains both the Blu-Ray and DVD versions of the film.
 
Extras on the discs include….
 
A feature length audio commentary track with director Jeff Lieberman, in which he discusses many of the films technical aspects, a couple of casting errors he made and his dislike of the show "Mystery Science Theatre 3000".
 
Theres a Q&A session recorded at a special screening of the film 2012 which runs about 24 minutes, in which director Jeff Lieberman and star Don Scardino field various fan questions about the movie.
 
“The Esotiric Auteur”, a 15 minute feature with horror critic Kim Newman where he discusses the career and films of the director, as well as star Don Scardino and effects artist Rick Baker.
 
And finally there’s the original US theatrical trailer.
 
The case also contains a collectors booklet featuring Linear notes on the film by horror critic Gary Pullin and a text interview with director Jeff Lieberman, illustrated with original archive stills and posters and the sleeve features reversible artwork.
 
Not a film to watch if you're repulsed by bugs and creepy crawlies, but if you love these cheesy sort of 'nature on the rampage' films then you should definitely enjoy this one. This is actually the first time the film has been released on disc in the UK and this release by Arrow films is of a brand new HD transfer approved by the director and is undoubtedly the best it has ever looked. So if you were thinking of adding this one to your collection then the Arrow disc is definitely the way to go.
 
Buy the UK BD/DVD combo pack at Amazon.co.uk
 
 
 

Thursday 19 September 2013

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 - UK BD spec-ed

Arrow Video is buzzed to announce the 3-disc limited edition UK Blu-ray release of Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. This 3-disc Blu-ray set will be available to own in the UK on 14th October and include re-mastered High Definition digital transfers of not one, but three Tobe Hooper movies. Alongside The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, the set will include both The Heisters (1965) and Eggshells (1970) which have now been fully restored. All three films will be included within the newly illustrated limited edition release which also includes a host of extra features.

In 1974, Tobe Hooper quite literally changed the face of horror with his landmark film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Although the hulking Leatherface and his trusty power tool left an indelible mark upon the cinematic landscape, it wouldn’t be until 1986 that the buzz came back… in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2!

Relocating the cannibalistic Sawyer clan to a cavernous, labyrinthine dwelling beneath an amusement park, Hooper’s deliciously demented sequel sees Leatherface and Co. continue their murderous exploits afresh. This time around, local DJ Stretch runs afoul of the Sawyers when she gets mixed up in the brutal slaying of two youngsters. Meanwhile Lieutenant ‘Lefty’ Enright is hell-bent on avenging the murder of his nephew Franklin who perished in the original massacre.
 
A cult classic in its own right, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 serves up a heady blend of gratuitous gore, socio-political critique and jet-black humour – whilst Dennis Hopper’s unhinged turn as Lefty needs to be seen to be believed! Whichever way you skin it, Leatherface’s second cinematic outing is an uncompromisingly delirious vision from one of the masters of horror.

3-Disc Limited Edition Set Features
• High Definition digital transfers of three Tobe Hooper films
• Original uncompressed audio tracks for all films
• Limited Edition Packaging, newly illustrated by Justin Erickson
• Individually Numbered #/10,000 Certificate
• Exclusive Limited Edition Extras

DISC 1 – THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation from a digital transfer supervised by Director of Photography Richard Kooris
• Original uncompressed Stereo 2.0 audio • Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio commentary with director and co-writer Tobe Hooper, moderated by David Gregory • Audio commentary with stars Bill Moseley, Caroline Williams and special-effects legend Tom Savini, moderated by Michael Felsher
• “It Runs in the Family” - A 6-part documentary looking at the genesis, making-of and enduring appeal of Hooper’s film, with interviews including star Bill Johnson, co-writer L. M. Kit Carson, Richard Kooris, Bill Moseley, Caroline Williams, Tom Savini, production designer Cary White and more!
• Alternate Opening sequence with different musical score
• Deleted scenes
• “Still Feelin’ the Buzz” - Interview with horror expert Stephen Thrower, author of Nightmare USA
• Cutting Moments with Bob Elmore – Interview with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2’s stuntman
• Gallery featuring never-before-published behind-the-scenes images
• Original Trailer

DISC 2 [BLU-RAY] & DISC 3 [DVD] – TOBE HOOPER’S EARLY WORKS – LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition (DVD) presentation of two of Tobe Hooper’s early works restored by Watchmaker Films with Tobe Hooper, available on home video for the first time in the world
• The Heisters (1965) - Tobe Hooper’s early short film restored in HD from original elements [10 mins]
• Eggshells (1970) - Tobe Hooper’s debut feature restored in HD from original elements [90 mins]
• Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio Commentary on Eggshells by Tobe Hooper
• In Conversation with Tobe Hooper - the legendary horror director speaks about his career from Eggshells to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
• Trailer Reel of all the major works by Tobe Hooper
 
100-PAGE BOOK – LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE
Exclusive perfect-bound book covering everything you wanted to know about Tobe Hooper, chainsaws and more! Featuring new writing on the director’s early works by Brad Stevens, an investigation of Tobe Hooper’s three-picture Cannon deal by Calum Waddell, new writing on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 by John Kenneth Muir, a look at the film’s long battle with the BBFC and an exclusive interview with Hooper by Stefan Jaworzyn, author of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Companion, rounded off with an appraisal of the highs and lows of the Texas Chainsaw franchise by Joel Harley, all illustrated with archive stills.
 
Pre-order the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday 18 September 2013

Chilean horror "Hidden in the Woods" comes to US DVD

The other week I posted about Michael Biehn starring in a remake of Chilean horror "Hidden in the Woods", well if you fancy checking out the original version, it will be out on US DVD on the 17th of this month.
 
From the press release...
 
One of the most controversial horror films ever to emerge from Latin America, "Hidden in the Woods" is 21st century grindhouse horror cinema at its most shocking.
 
Deep in the Chilean countryside, Ana and Anny live with their deformed brother and are subject to their father’s perverse and sadistic whims. After a dispute with the police leaves a wake of death and mutilation, they flee and find refuge in a remote cabin hidden from society. Meanwhile, a crime lord, convinced they have stolen the massive stash of drugs their father was hiding, sends a violent pack of thugs to find them.
 
Based on a bizarre true story and not for the faint of heart, "Hidden in the Woods" (currently being remade by actor Michael Biehn [The Terminator, Grindhouse] in the U.S.) features extreme violence, prostitution, sexual assault, buckets of blood and even cannibalism.
 
"Hidden in the Woods" tramples your way on DVD and VOD on Tuesday, Sept. 17 courtesy of Artsploitation films. For those craving their terror in HD, this descent into terror will be available via VHX at: http://www.hiddeninthewoodsfilms.com.
 
Fans buying this online, DRM free download will also have the option to access all the wonderfully grisly bonus features included on the DVD and a special, exclusively online bonus feature: Toro Loco, Patricio Valladares' raunchy and grimy grindhouse flick.
 
Special Features include:
• Behind the Scenes Featurette
• Director Patricio Valladares at Fantasia 2012
• 8-page Collector's Booklet
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible alternate cover

Buy the US DVD from Amazon.com



 

Saturday 14 September 2013

Wicker Man - 40th Anniversary Edition

STUDIOCANAL UK are proud to announce that they will be releasing the first ever full restoration of Robin Hardy’s cult classic THE WICKER MAN on DVD and Blu-ray for the first time, following a cinema reissue, in celebration of the 40th Anniversary.
 
STUDIOCANAL have been conducting an extensive worldwide search for film materials for THE WICKER MAN for the past year, including a public appeal to fans for clues as to the whereabouts of the missing original cut. Eventually a 35mm release print was found at Harvard Film Archives which director Robin Hardy has confirmed is the cut he had put together with distributors Abraxas in 1979 for the US release. This has been scanned at 4k and used to create the first ever full digital restoration of the film, with Robin Hardy's guidance.
 
Robin accepts that film materials for the fabled Long Version or “Director’s Cut” will probably now never be found. “Sadly, it seems as though this has been lost forever. However, I am delighted that a 1979 Abraxas print has been found as I also put together this cut myself, and it crucially restores the story order to that which I had originally intended. This version of The Wicker Man will (optimistically!) be known as The Final Cut.”
 
When asked whether this cut measures up to the fabled original, long version, Robin Hardy puts it most succinctly: “The film as I saw it in the editing suite the other day fulfills my vision of what it was intended to convey to the audience.“
 
SYNOPSIS
When a young girl mysteriously disappears on a remote Scottish island, devout Christian Police Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) travels there to investigate. He finds a close-knit and secretive pastoral community living on an island paradise, ruled over by mysterious Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee), with beliefs very much at odds with his puritanism. The islanders mock Howie's attempts to question them about the girl's disappearance, and put the very foundations of his faith to the test. He begins to fear that the fate of the girl could be linked to the islanders' failing crops and their belief that only a sacrifice of the highest order will change their luck. As May Day festivities intensify and the islanders' behaviour becomes more frenzied, Howie's quest to save the girl becomes a race against time…
 
Brilliantly scripted by Anthony Shaffer (Sleuth, Frenzy) and featuring a career-best performance by the legendary Christopher Lee, director Robin Hardy’s atmospheric use of location, unsettling imagery and haunting soundtrack gradually builds to one of the most terrifying and iconic climaxes in modern cinema.
 
Ltd 4 disc DVD edition & Ltd 3 disc BD edition to include:
 
The Final Cut
UK Theatrical Cut
The Director's Cut (seamless branching on BD only)
Audio Commentary
Making of Audio Commentary short film
Interview with Robin Hardy (new)
The Music of the Wicker Man featurette (new),
Worshipping The Wicker Man Featurette (new),
Restoration comparison (new),
Burnt Offering: The Cult of The Wicker Man
Interview with Christopher Lee & Robin Hardy (1979)
Original Soundtrack
Trailer

Buy the UK DVD at Amazon.co.uk

Buy the UK BD at Amazon.co.uk

Crawl gets UK TV Premiere on the Horror Channel

Horror Channel’s UK TV premieres for October is the multi-award winning Aussie cult hit CRAWL, which has screened in twenty countries world-wide and earned director Paul China the Best Director award at Screamfest. It will be broadcast on Saturday Oct 5, 11.00pm.
 
Claustrophobic heat and brooding tension seep from the screen in this character-driven hi-tone chiller set in an unknown rural town. Seedy bar owner Slim Walding hires a mysterious Croatian hit man to murder a local garage owner over a shady business deal gone bad. The crime is indeed carried out by the stone-faced stranger but a planned double-crossing backfires when an innocent waitress (Georgina Haig) becomes involved.
 
October also features the Horror Channel network premieres of two very contrasting films.
From Bernard Rose, the director of ‘Candyman’ comes PAPERHOUSE (1988), where fantasy and reality collide when a bed ridden 13 year old discovers whatever she draws in her sketchbook comes to life in her dreams. However, the young girls mind gives rise to powerful manifestations that aren’t always quite the innocent visions she had in mind. PAPERHOUSE broadcasts on Sat Oct 12, 10.55pm.
 
One studio that stands for independent film-making more than any other is Troma -  boasting 40 years of ‘reel’’ independence. One of their most famous movies is CLASS OF NUKE EM HIGH (1986). Troma have always hinted at political undercurrents in their films – in this case the evils of nuclear power - which conveniently fuels Troma’s Lloyd Kauffman’s obsession with slime and mutant monsters. Expect plenty of bad boys on big bikes. Broadcasts on Friday Oct 25, 11pm.
 
TV: Sky 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138
http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk | https://www.facebook.com/horrorchannel | http://www.twitter.com/horror_channel

Brian Cox at the Custard Factory Birmingham

In case you missed my previous posting about this, September sees Birmingham’s newest film event, Back To The Theatre, which brings classic cult films to the big screen, welcome the star of "X-Men 2", "The Ring" and "The Bourne Identity", Brian Cox to the Custard Factory.
 
His stage and screen pedigree is without question in a career which spans over 40 years, where he has played a wide mix of villains, heroes and comedy characters and it is an honour to have him here in Birmingham.
 
Back To The Theatre will be hosting a question and answer session with Brian, plus a chance for fans to get autographs and photographs with the man himself. We can also offer exclusive press interviews for a select number of media outlets, where they will be able to ask Brian about his Hollywood career.
 
The event also included the screening of two of Brian’s biggest films: “Trick ’R Treat” The critically acclaimed, award winning collection of scary Halloween stories from 2007. “Manhunter” directed by Michael Mann. Brian plays the part of the infamous Dr. Hannibal Lecktor in the characters first ever screen appearance.
 
Tickets are on sale and build on the success of our previous screenings at the Custard Factory over the last few months, another sell out is expected.

Saturday September 28th
The Custard Factory, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4AA.
Doors open at 4.00pm
Tickets: £20 each

For Tickets and More info visit:
http://www.backtothetheatre.com

Robocop - New Stills released

The trailer for the new "Robocop" film starring Joel Kinnaman (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Samuel L Jackson (Django Unchained, Avengers Assemble) hit the web last week, and now Studiocanal have just released a series of publicity stills from the film. Check them out below...




 

 
 
The films hits UK Cinemas Feb 2014. View the trailer on YouTube.
 
 

Friday 13 September 2013

"Insidious : Chapter 2" - In UK Cinemas TODAY!!!!!

It may be Friday the 13th today, but it's also the opening day for "Insidious : Chapter 2", here's the trailer...



Visit the Official Website.

Happy Friday the 13th

It's Jason Voorhees favourite day today, so here's a collection of trailers from the film series...



Thanks to YouTube user "Zbolt2" for compiling these.

Thursday 5 September 2013

An Arrow films release to make you "Squirm"!!!!

Arrow Video is pleased to announce the UK Blu-ray & DVD debut of Jeff Liebermann’s cult-horror classic SQUIRM on Monday 23rd September  in a special dual edition combo pack.
 
Lovingly restored for Blu-ray, a process approved by Lieberman himself, Arrow’s HD presentation of SQUIRM is uncut and comes loaded with special features and bonus material, including interchangeable artwork and exclusive writing on the film by UK horror aficionado Kim Newman.
 
One of the most original and entertaining of the revenge-of-nature films that characterised mid-1970s American horror, SQUIRM begins with a pylon being downed by a thunderstorm, sending millions of volts into the wet, conductive mud, giving its hundreds of thousands of wriggly inhabitants an insatiable hunger for human flesh.
 
Since the fallen power lines have also cut-off the electricity supply to Fly Creek, Georgia, its population could hardly be more vulnerable as the sun goes down... Houses can be barricaded against most intruders, but what happens when the things you’re trying to keep out are small enough to get into the water supply?
 
In his debut feature film, writer-director Jeff Lieberman (who also made the cult classics Blue Sunshine and Just Before Dawn) achieves a near-perfect blend of knowing wit and good old-fashioned scares, with Oscar-winning make-up genius Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London) on hand for some of the most memorably disgusting special effects ever committed to film.
 
This director-approved Blu-ray & DVD dual-edition release of SQUIRM includes the following special features and bonus material:

- Audio commentary with Jeff Lieberman.
- Filmed Live Q&A session with Jeff Lieberman and star Don Scardino from New York’s Anthology Film Archives (2012).
- The Esoteric Auteur - Kim Newman on Jeff Lieberman and Squirm.
- Original Trailer.
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin.
- Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Lee Gambin, author of Massacred by Mother Nature and an interview with Jeff Lieberman by Calum Waddell, illustrated with original archive stills and posters.


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

 

Wednesday 4 September 2013

I Spit on Your Grave 2 - coming to UK disc in October

Fresh after its World Premiere at this year’s FILM4 FRIGHTFEST, Anchor Bay UK have announced that I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE 2 will be released on DVD & Blu-ray 7th October 2013
 
The highly anticipated horror sequel stars promising British newcomer Jemma Dallender (Community), who 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.
 
Katie (a no-holds-barred performance by Jemma Dallender) has dreams of becoming a model in New York City. Unfortunately, the photos that worked in her small mid-western town aren’t cutting it in the Big Apple. Broke, and in desperate need to update her book, Katie calls a number from a tear-off flyer offering free photos.
 
But this innocent attempt to update her portfolio quickly turns into an unthinkable kidnapping nightmare where she’s ripped away from everyone and everything she knows. Beaten, battered, bruised, and left for dead, she miraculously survives to unleash a brand of brutal female driven vengeance that has come to define the franchise.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Buy the UK DVD at Amazon.co.uk

Buy the UK BD at Amazon.co.uk
 
 
 
 
 

Byzantium comes to UK DVD & BD

STUDIOCANAL are pleased to announce the DVD and Blu-ray release of the erotic fantasy horror BYZANTIUM on 23 September 2013.
 
Upon the wind swept shores of a desolate coastal town stands the Byzantium guesthouse. After years of being abandoned, its doors are about to be opened again by the predatory and seductive Clara (Gemma Arterton), who plans on turning the hotel into a brothel, and her young and introverted daughter Eleanor (Saoirse Ronan). But these mysterious women have a dark secret that goes back 200 years and is about to reach its ungodly and deathly climax.

Starring GEMMA ARTERTON (Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters), SAOIRSE RONAN (The Host) and directed by NEIL JORDAN (Interview With The Vampire). Byzantium is a new breed of horror which takes vampire mythology to a new level of modern terror as mother and daughter seduce and explore new ways to kill their victims!

Available Extras – DVD & Blu-Ray
- Interviews with Gemma Arterton, Saoirse Ronan and Neil Jordan
- Frightfest Cast and Crew Q&A
- Trailer


View the Trailer on YouTube

Buy the UK DVD at Amazon.co.uk

Buy the UK BD at Amazon.co.uk

There is also an exclusive BD steelbook available only from Zaavi.


Terra Patrick is the "Angel of Darkness".

Iconic adult star Tera Patrick is going mainstream in her second horror film, "Angel Of Darkness The Legend of Lillith". "More and more adult stars are making the transition to mainstream films and mostly horror," explains Robert "Corpsy" Rhine, who is also the Publisher of Girls and Corpses Magazine adding," Tera Patrick is a name that people know are interested in for producing horror films." 

TomCat Films is headed by sales and distribution veteran Ted Chalmers. He has been involved with the sales and distribution of such well-known films as THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE NEXT GENERATION, HELLRAISER, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, ONE FALSE MOVE, RE-ANIMATOR, BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR, SOCIETY and EVIL DEAD 2. Chalmers cast Patrick, Rhine and Hoffman and is going the Kickstarter route for additional financing. "The film is already financed and we have distribution but we are looking for some additional funds for special effects," explains Ted Chalmers, CEO of TomCat Films: http://tomcatfilmsllc.com/

Tera Patrick plays Mistress Selene: the assistant to Master Diablo (Rhine). The iconic and beautiful ex-adult star has a massive fan base. As the role of Selene, is she a flunky, the power behind the man, or maybe the puppet master?  Tera Patrick's Indonesian non-pornographic horror movie, Rintihan Kuntilanak Perawan (Moaning of Virgin Ghost) was Patrick's first foray into horror. Patrick's best selling memoir Sinner Takes All, was published by Penguin imprint Gotham Books

Robert "Corpsy" Rhine (Publisher/ "Deaditor-In-Chief" of Girls and Corpses Magazine) is excited to be playing the role of 'Diablo' in Angel of Darkness, "I am truly excited to be working again with TomCat Films following my roles in: Nazi Dawn, Snake Club: Revenge of The Snake Woman, Disaster Wars and Dracula's Sorority Sisters. Angel of Darkness is a killer script!"

Rachelle Nicole Hoffman (plays Lillith) is a Tattoo Model, and Piercing Artist from Phoenix Arizona. You might have seen her in Off Da Chain, Tattoo Flash or Pain Magazine. She is also the owner and operator of Ritual Addictions Tattoo in Glendale, Arizona.

David Ayres (FX Makeup) Credits: Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Hills Have Eyes (1977), Tourist Trap, Empire of Ants, and Suture. He was the maker of the iconic Halloween mask for Michael Myers.
 
For more info, visit the Kickstarter page.
 

Prisoners comes to UK cinemas this month.

YOUR CHILD IS MISSING. EVERY SECOND COUNTS. HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?
 
 
 
When his six year old daughter Anna goes missing along with her friend Joy, Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) faces every parent’s worst nightmare. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had been spotted earlier on the street. Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) is put in charge of the investigation and immediately arrests the driver of the RV, Alex Jones (Paul Dano), however a lack of physical evidence forces them to release him.
 
With the police pursuing different leads to no avail and his family life disintegrating, a desperate Keller decides to take matters into his own hands. But just how far will he go to save his daughter?
 
From acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve (INCENDIES) comes the intelligent crime thriller PRISONERS led by Hugh Jackman (LES MISERABLES) and Jake Gyllenhaal (ZODIAC) and featuring an all-star cast including Maria Bello (A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE), Terrence Howard (IRON MAN), Viola Davis (THE HELP) Paul Dano (LOOPER) and Melissa Leo (THE FIGHTER).
 
PRISONERS is in UK cinemas September 27.

View the trailer on YouTube.