Saturday 29 March 2014

Mother's Day special review - "Time Walker" (1982)

Checkout this special "Mothers Day" review on my YouTube channel, the 1982 alien-mummy pic "Time Walker"...
 


Visit my YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/DarkAngel182


Outpost 3 : Rise of the Spetsnaz - DVD review

I'd really enjoyed the first 2 “Outpost” films, so when I was given the opportunity to review an advance copy of the latest instalment, “Outpost 3 : Rise of the Spetsnaz”, I eagerly jumped at the chance.
 
Now the first thing that surprised me is that the plot for this doesn’t actually follow straight on from the previous film. As this third outing is a prequel, which attempts to fill in some of the back story behind the series.
 
Set in 1944, towards the end of WW2. The story is told from the perspective of a group of Russian Special Forces operatives, lead by an officer named Dolokhov (played by “Battleground’s” Bryan Larkin).
 
After discovering the Nazis have a secret base somewhere in the forest, the group set up an ambush and proceed to start wiping out the supply convoys travelling to the base.
 
Unfortunately, the group soon find themselves overpowered and taken back to the Nazi’s bunker, where the evil SS officer Strasser (Michael McKell of TVs “Emmerdale” and “Doctors” fame) has been performing bizarre experiments, in the hopes turning his troops into unstoppable super-soldiers.
 
But it seems the experiments have strange side effects, and so Dolokhov and the remainder of his unit find themselves not only having to fight their way past the armed guards, but also hoardes of undead nazi zombies as they attempt to break out of the complex and escape.
 
Directed by Kieran Parker, who produced the previous 2 films, “Outpost 3” is a hugely enjoyable, action packed, gore fest. With a lot of fun action scenes and lashings of blood and violence. If you liked the previous movies, you should enjoy this.
 
The screener copy I was sent didn’t contain any extras, so I have no idea if the release version will contain any supplemental material or will be bare bones.
 
“Outpost 3 : Rise of the Spetsnaz” is released to UK DVD Monday the 31st March from eOne.
 
View the trailer on YouTube.
 
Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk

Friday 28 March 2014

Phantasm 5 trailer hits the web

It was 35 years ago this very week that the original "Phantasm" was released to cinemas in the US, a story about grave robbing tall men, killer dwarves, and deadly flying spheres.

So it seems appriopriate to announce that series creator Don Coscarelli has finally confirmed that a fifth film is going to be released in the near future.

Entitled "Phantasm 5 : Raveger", the film has already been completed, having been filmed in secret over the last 2 years and re-unites series regulars Reggie Bannister and Michael Baldwin with Angus Scrimm.

The film has been directed this time by David Hartman, a long time collaborator with Corscarelli, who also co-wrote the script with him.

No release date has been confirmed yet, but in the meantime checkout the trailer below...





 

Hatchet 3 comes to UK DVD (finally)!!!

UK horror fans, the wait is almost over, as "Hatchet 3" finally arrives on UK DVD March 31st.
 
BJ McDonnell directs the third instalment in this series of slasher horror movies starring Kane Hodder as a bayou-dwelling serial killer. After Marybeth (Danielle Harris)'s parents were brutally murdered by the hatchet-wielding Victor Crowley (Hodder) she became consumed with the need to avenge their deaths.
 
Continuing on from the end of 'Hatchet 2' (2010) which saw her blow the killer's head off with a shotgun, Marybeth has since been arrested for the murders of the numerous other bodies found at the swamp. Being under the impression that they have their killer, the police are reluctant to believe her claims of a curse that enables Crowley to respawn after being killed. Can she finally convince them of Crowley's existence before he strikes again?
 
The film is released to UK DVD from Metrodome. No news of what extras are to be included on the disc (if any).
 
Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk
 
 

Ice Soldiers - May 5th

A new kind of Cold War begins in the sci-fi action thriller ICE SOLDIERS, unleashing on May 5th on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
 
Buried beneath the Arctic ice since the Cold War, genetically modified Soviet soldiers have been rediscovered, reactivated and are ready to unleash devastating destruction. They are cold-blooded killing machines with super-human strength and one man, a scientist who has been searching for them his entire life, will try to stop the carnage before they complete their terrifying, top-secret mission.
 
Dominic Purcell (Blade 3, TV’s “Prison Break”), Michael Ironside (Starship Troopers) and Adam Beach (Cowboys & Aliens) star in this pulse-pounding, action-packed thriller.
 
No news on what extras will be included on the disc (if any).
 
Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk
 
Buy the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk


Countess Dracula comes to US Blu-Ray

Hammer films "Countess Dracula" is being released to a double play BD/DVD combo pack in the US this May.
 
The beautiful Ingrid Pitt (The Wicker Man, Where Eagles Dare) stars as Elisabeth Nádasdy, an aging Hungarian Countess who discovers she can reverse her aging by bathing in the blood of young women.  While in her youthful state, the Countess falls for the handsome Lt. Imre Toth (Sandor Elès), and impersonates her own daughter to win his affections. Soon, girls in the village go missing… kidnapped and murdered by the Countess and her steward, Julie (Patience Collier) to satiate her horrifying bloodlust. Can Elisabeth live a life of deception with her grotesque lust for blood to stay eternally young, or will her ghoulish secret finally be revealed? Co-starring Nigel Green (Jason and the Argonauts, Zulu).
 
Considered “one of the more underrated films from the latter days of the Hammer Films dynasty“ (Don Guarisco, Allmovie.com), Countess Dracula is based on the real-life Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Bathory, a woman accused of torturing and murdering more than 600 girls.

  Special Features:
• Audio commentary with actress Ingrid Pitt, director Peter Sasdy, screenwriter Jeremy Paul and author Jonathan Sothcott
• Immortal Countess: The Cinematic Life of Ingrid Pitt Featurette
• Vintage audio Interview with Ingrid Pitt
• Theatrical Trailer
• Still Gallery
• Reversible Cover Artwork


The film is released May 6th from Synapse films.

Buy the US BD/DVD combo pack from Amazon.com


Thursday 27 March 2014

Edge of Tomorow - trailer

Checkout the trailer to "Edge of Tomorow", the dark sci-fi thriller from Warner Bros, which stars Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt and Bill Paxton.



The film is released to UK cinemas May 30th.

For more info visit the official Facebook and Twitter pages.

Blue Ruin - Trailer and poster released.

Picturehouse Entertainment have just released the poster artwork and trailer for their new revenge thriller "Blue Ruin"...
 
 
 
Dwight Evans is a mysterious outsider whose quiet life on the margins is turned upside down when he returns to his childhood home to carry out an act of vengeance. Proving himself an amateur assassin, he winds up in a brutal fight to protect his estranged family.
 
BLUE RUIN is a classic American revenge story that won the FIPRESCI Prize in the Directors’ Fortnight program at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.
 
View the trailer on YouTube.
 
For more info visit the official Facebook and Twitter pages.
 
 

Girls and Corpses Vol 8 - Out Now!!!!

Welcome to HELL week at ALPHA BETA DIE and what could be better than HOT SEXY sorority girls canoodling with COLD ROTTING fraternity corpses in their dorm rooms? It's also SPRINGTIME For HITLER with a dozen UNPUBLISHED HISTORIC photos of Adolf Hitler.

Our cover features Australian supermodel GiGi ALLENS with Cuban Sin-sation JASMINE CARO in cap & gowns (and little else). MERLE ALLIN of The Murder Junkies talks about his controversial punk rock brother GG ALLIN. 
 
Also, featuring 3 freaky artists: PEACH MOMOKO, JUSTIN AERNI & ROBERT DAVID ELLWOOD. 3 killer Metal bands: CARNIFEX, DREAMING DEAD and NERVOSA. And four deadly authors: JEFF KILMA (The Dead Janitors Club), DAVID MENASCHE (The Priority List), SCOT SOTHERN (Curb Service) and PAUL KOUDOUNARIS (Heavenly Bodies).
 
Introducing coed IVY FERGUSON and sexy G&C alum LYNN POPS in a Graduation Dead cemetery spread with the 'big corpse on campus' at The University of Embalming. We examine Deadly Hazing Rituals and revisit killer college horror film clas-sicks: The Dorm That Dripped Blood, The House on Sorority Row, Final Exam, Splatter University and Graduation Day. This is also a historical issue with a dozen never before published of HITLER photos! Also, a SEXY Sorority Panty Raid and PIllow Fight with ANA FOX, HOLLY GAZELEY and JIN N TONIC.  We study Deadly Hazing Rituals, meet the Class of GCU and revisit killer College Horror Film Classicks.

So, order this educational issue before you flunk out! Click now to order: http://girlsandcorpses.com/store/index.html
 

 

Saturday 22 March 2014

White of the Eye - UK BD/DVD review

Arrow films have added obscure thriller “White of the Eye” to their release schedule, and as always were kind enough to send me a copy to review.
 
Taking place in Arizona, this 1987 murder/mystery film revolves around Paul White (David Keith – Officer and a Gentleman), a hi-fi specialist, who earns a living installing custom sound systems for wealthy clients.
 
However, a string of grisly murders that happen to coincide with some of the remote towns he’s visited recently, arouses the suspicions of a certain Detective Mendoza (Art Evans – Die Hard 2), who also notices his truck has the same tyre tread patterns as ones found at the scene.
 
But with nothing else to go on, he has no other reason to suspect him. But we soon find out that Paul isn’t exactly pure as the driven snow. Turns out he’s been having an affair with some of his clients, which his wife Joan (Cathy Moriarty – Raging Bull) happens to know about, despite him trying to keep it a secret from her.
 
To make matters more interesting, it seems Joan’s ex-boyfriend Mike (Alan Rosenberg – Righteous Kill), has just got out of jail and is working close to town and he and Paul have a bit of “history” so to speak.
 
With no other leads, and more bodies piling up. Detective Mendoza’s attention becomes focussed back on Paul once more. But despite him having an apparent alibi for the most recent killing, Joan begins to suspect that the police might actually be onto something and that her husband isn’t the person she thinks he is…
 
Adapted from Margaret Tracey’s book “Mrs White” and directed by British film maker Donald Cammel (Demon Seed), the film was rather reminiscent of an Italian Giallo thriller. Owing to the way the camera lingers on the graphic murders, and the way you never quite see the killers face. Plus there’s bizarre plot twists, superfluous characters thrown in as red herrings and the surreal use of sound and visuals in places.
 
This is a fairly obscure film, which not many people will probably have heard of, but Arrow have once again pushed the boat out in terms of providing special features.
 
Included on the disc are..
 
Audio commentary track. – Sam Umland, the author of Donald Cammel’s biography, provides a rather “clinical” running commentary, analysing the technical aspects of the film and pointing out differences between the shooting script and the original novel.
 
The Ultimate Performance. – A 73 minute documentary produced by the BBC about director Donald Camell, originally shown in 1998, following his death
 
The Argument  - short film shot by the director in 1972, which comes with an optional commentary by Sam Umland.
 
Into the White – interview with director of photography Larry McConkey, who discusses the making of the movie.
 
Deleted scenes – a couple of deleted scenes from the film with audio commentary by Donald Cammel’s biographer Sam Umland.
 
Bleach Bypass sequence – A look at the flashback footage used in the film without the grainy special effects.
 
And lastly there’s an alternate intro credits sequence.

The case also contains a collectors booklet, featuring stills and artwork from the film, along with linear notes by Brad Stevens. However, the pictures contain major plot spoilers, so don't read the book till after you've watched the film.
 
A great selection of supplemental material, though I would have also liked to have seen a theatrical trailer included on the discs, but not to worry.
 
Whilst the film might not “quite” fit into the horror category, but I’m sure a lot of horror fans will want to check this one out, owing to its graphic nature and visual style. Which again, was rather reminiscent of some of Argento’s earlier work.
 
The film is being released on a dual format BD & DVD combo pack, available in both a standard case and limited edition Steelbook and will be released March 31st
 
Buy the UK BD/DVD combo pack from Amazon.co.uk
 
Buy the UK BD/DVD Steelbook combo pack from Amazon.co.uk


 

Thursday 20 March 2014

Torture - teaser trailer

Checkout the teaser trailer for "Tortured", which is currently filiming in Essex from Silent Studios.



For more information on this, and other Silent Studio productions, visit the following official links... Website | Facebook | Twitter

Horror Channel (UK) to show classic "Dr Who" episodes.

Fans of Doctor Who are set to find the TARDIS materialising at a new location this Easter as a selection of the Time Lord’s classic adventures in space and time start screening on Horror Channel. The UK’s prime home for fans of horror, fantasy and sci-fi has completed a deal with BBC Worldwide to broadcast 30 adventures from the Classic series which ran 1963 to 1989 featuring the first seven Doctors, starting with William Hartnell and concluding with Sylvester McCoy.

This specially curated season give fans old and new a chance to get re-acquainted with favourite companions Jamie McCrimmon, Jo Grant and Sarah Jane Smith, rogue Time Lords such as The Master, Omega and The Rani and all those iconic monsters including Daleks, Cybermen, Sea Devils and Ice Warriors.
 
Launching on Friday 18th April (Good Friday) the season begins with the very first story An Unearthly Child, starring William Hartnell as the Doctor. It then leads into a special WHO ON HORROR weekend - a classic marathon featuring one story from each of the Doctors across the Easter weekend. There will then be weekday double-bills in daytime and evening slots with stories shown in chronological order starting on Easter Monday 21st April. Horror Channel is screening some of the most memorable adventures that the show produced including The Mind Robber, The Daemons, Genesis Of The Daleks, The Talons Of Weng Chiang, The Caves Of Androzani, Attack Of The Cybermen and The Curse Of Fenric.
 
Many emphasise the horror elements of the programme from the first scary moments the Daleks appeared, to encounters with giant spiders and maggots, and even battles with Mary Whitehouse over the violent content of the show during Tom Baker’s era. 

The classic Doctor Who series complements the growing segment of cult television series available on the channel. Wonder Woman, Xena: Warrior Princess, New Twilight Zone, Star Trek and The Invaders fill the daytime schedule, reflecting the expansion of the channel acquisitions into the fantasy, adventure, and science fiction genres. Doctor Who will have been the first taste of frightening television for many Horror Channel viewers, and following on from the show’s record-breaking 50th anniversary celebrations last year, they will now have the opportunity to relive those terrifying moments and exciting cliff-hangers again.

Do not miss an episode starting April 18th.
 
TV: Sky 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138
 
 

"Leviathan" - Hellraiser Documentary

"Leviathan: The Making of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser 2" completed it’s UK studio shoots this week with a great day interviewing Third assistant director, Rupert Ryle-Hidges, Beverly Pond-Jones, Make up Effects and Simon Sayce who’s main contribution to the production was the design and creation of the icon puzzle box, the Lament Configuration.
 
Simon was kind enough to show us some amazing treats including high resolution scans of the original designs, original layouts for the mechanical design and the first brass etching produced for the screen used boxes, though still in pristine condition and never used.
 
He also explained to us the proper method for making the boxes, something few outside the production know and he showed us some of the hidden meaning in the box designs, but you’ll have to watch the documentary yourself to find out what they are.
 
It has been an amazing journey so far for the whole team. Having had the chance to meet the people behind this classic film, including Doug Bradley, Kenneth Cranham and Geoff Portas to name but a few.
 
The documentary moves into the next stage in a few weeks with the team beginning its US phase of production to interview, amongst other, Tony Randall and pf course the man himself, Clive Barker.
 
“I’m so keen to meet Clive and get a chance to speak with him, not just for the documentary, which at the end of the day is exploring his creation, so needs his voice to make it complete but also as a film maker myself, meeting some one who is so creative and talented and achieved such great things, is a genuine thrill and honour” Says Director K. John McDonagh.
 
Pencilled for an Autumn release worldwide, Leviathan has been going great guns since day one and hopes are high that this will give the fans of Hellraiser something they’ve never seen before.

For more info visit the sites Facebook page



Wednesday 19 March 2014

The Murder Bag - Tony Parsons new novel

Author Tony Parsons has unveiled his new novel "The Murder Bag", which is due to hit UK bookshelves on May the 8th.
 
Twenty years ago seven rich, privileged students became friends at their exclusive private school, Potter's Field. Now they have started dying in the most violent way imaginable.
 
Detective Max Wolfe has recently arrived in the Homicide division of London's West End Central, 27 Savile Row.
 
Soon he is following the bloody trail from the backstreets and bright lights of the city, to the darkest corners of the internet and all the way to the corridors of power.
 
As the bodies pile up, Max finds the killer's reach getting closer to everything - and everyone - he loves.
 
Soon he is fighting not only for justice, but for his own life...
View the trailer on YouTube.
 
Visit the Author on Twitter.

Buy the book from Amazon.co.uk

Apocalypse Kiss - US DVD review

Dark sci-fi/detective film “Apocalypse Kiss” comes to US DVD this April and I was very kindly sent an advance screener to take a look at and review.
 
Set in a dysotopian future, in a world filled with pollution and where giant factories tower over the landscapes (think “Blade Runner”, but without the budget), the film follows a couple of girls, Katia and Gladys, who survive by seducing seedy rich people, then murdering them.
 
Unfortunately for them, their actions attract the attention of high class serial killer Adrian (D C Douglas), who works as a high flying Computer systems analyist during the day, but goes around murdering people during the evening (think, poor-mans “American Psycho”) and he is not best pleased that his killings are being under reported in the news, in favour of the killings being committed by the 2 girls.
 
In the middle of all this, you have a gruff, chain smoking detective, Jerry Hipple (Tom Detrik), who’s trying to track down the killers, but isn’t having much luck. Much to the chagrin of his captain, played by cult movie actor Tom Atkins. So whilst Detective Hipple attempts to apprehend Adrian, Adrian is going after the girls as he’s fed up with them stealing his spotlight in the media.
 
Sort of a difficult film to describe, for the most part its done in the style of a 1950s detective movie, but obviously set in the future. For me the film was a bit hit and miss, whilst the concept of a futuristic “film noir” style movie was an interesting one, the films method of storytelling seemed a bit off. The story with the 2 girls and their antics is really more of a secondary plot, whilst the main thrust of the film is about Detective Hipple and his attempts to track down Adrian, but these 2 plot lines are initially presented the other way round, creating a bit of confusion as the film got going.
 
Also, whilst it was good to see veteran horror actor Tom Atkins in this, as well as fellow horror B-movie star Michael Berryman, who has a brief role as the Horn company CEO, and Troma President Lloyd Kauffman, who appears as the President of the United States. The acting by the rest of the cast is very much a z-grade affair, plus was it really necessary to see Leo Wylder’s character Plex strutting around naked at the start of the film? Whilst I’m sure that audiences at the festivals must have found this hilarious, it had me wanting to reach for the off switch.
 
Now, it should be born in mind that this is a low budget movie, so its not fair to compare it mainstream Hollywood films. I think the director more or less achieved what he set out to do in creating a futuristic detective film, and I found the majority of the film watchable. So if low budget sci-fi films are your thing, you might want to check this out.
 
The screener version I was sent did not contain any extras, however the DVD release should contain the following…
 
- Making of Featurette
- Behind-the-scenes featurette by Lloyd Kaufman
- Cast/Crew Audio Commentary
- Fake Commercials from the Future
 
The film Is released to US DVD April 8th from Midnight releasing,
 
View the trailer on YouTube
 
Buy the US DVD from Amazon.com
 
 

Under the Skin - New Featurette

Checkout this new behind the scenes featurette for "Under the Skin", starring Scarlett Johanson, which is out at selected UK cinemas now.



Visit the Official Website

Trollhunter's Andre Øvredal tackles "Enormous" adaptation

The pilot episode of Enormous, a live-action web series adapted from Tim Daniel and Mehdi Cheggour's comic of the same name, will debut on Machinima this Thursday, March 20th.
 
The effort is scripted by André Øvredal, writer-director of the 2010 international hit Trollhunter, and directed by BenDavid Grabinski. Watch the trailer now on YouTube.
 
Ceren Lee stars as Ellen, a mother who scavenges a post-apocalyptic world in search of missing children before something ... bigger finds them. The cast also includes Steve Braun (Wrong Turn 2), Erica Gimpel (Veronica Mars), Joe Swanberg (Drinking Buddies), Todd Farmer (My Bloody Valentine) and Simon Barrett (You're Next).
 
The web series is only the beginning of an exciting future for Enormous. The former Image Comics title will follow up with new issues beginning in June, published by 215 Ink.
 
"215 Ink had the courage and foresight to accept Enormous as it was originally conceived," says Daniel. "They also clearly understood the work Prime Universe Films, Pure Imagination Studios and Machinima were doing to bring the adaption to fruition. 215 Ink gave Enormous a home and a new life. To all independent creators this is a notion worth strongly pursuing. Go where you’re wanted. When you think about your options, think bigger."

To be notified when the short film premieres on March 20th and when new issues hit shelves in June, like Enormous on Facebook.
 
 
 
 

"THE EVIL WITHIN" comes to US DVD and VOD May 6

Batten down the hatches, as "The Evil Within" wants out, in the undeniably stunning new horror film from acclaimed Australian filmmaker Richard Gray (Blinder, The Lookalike).
 
When a group of friends travel up to a cabin, located deep within the forest, they find themselves stalked by an unknown evil. Shortly after arriving, they stumble across a abandoned mine and decide to explore the dark and mysterious tunnels. As the group hikes deeper inside, they make a shocking discovery that quickly turns their excitement into fear. Hunted by a mysterious force, the group must work together to escape the mine alive. 
 
MTV Movie Award Winner Briana Evigan (Step Up 2 : The Streets, S.Darko), Julianna Guill (Friday the 13th), Alex Meraz (The Twilight Saga) and Joseph Cross (Lincoln) star. 
The Evil Within, hits US DVD and VOD May 6, 2014 from Phase 4 Films.
 
Buy the US DVD from Amazon.com
 
 

Black Water Vampires - March 24th

Vampires invade the 'found-footage' sub-genre in this slick, atmospheric horror, which comes to UK DVD on 24 March from Image Entertainment.
 
Checkout the trailer below...
 


Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk



Friday 14 March 2014

"The Machine" - UK DVD/BD review

Anchor Bay will be releasing Caradog James’s dark sci-fi thriller “The Machine” to DVD and BD here in the UK this month and they very kindly sent me a review disc to take a look at. I didn’t really know too much about the film prior to watching, but as the film began was actually pleasantly surprised.

Set in the not too distant future, at a military research facility. Scientist Vincent McCarthy (played by former Bond villain Toby Stephens), is trying to perfect an artificial intelligence program, that will give brain damaged soldiers a second chance at life.


Soldiers suffering from severe brain trauma are given chip implants, which keeps them alive, but leaves them unable to think, or feel any emotions. But Vincent hopes his research will help them to become Human again. Though his real interest, is that he's hoping he'll also be able to use the software to help his terminally ill daughter.

American scientist Ava (Caity Lotz - "The Pact") is brought in to help, as they think her software might hold the key. But when she realises that something sinister is going on at the facility, she is killed under very suspicious circumstances. Leaving Vincent to try and carry on her work.

Building a prototype robot programmed with Ava's software, which looks uncannily like her, it quickly begins to adapt and learn, as well as taking on human characteristics. But the scientist in charge, Thomson (Dennis Lawson, who "Star Wars" fans will recognise from his role of Wedge Antilles in the original trilogy) isn't interested in a conscientious robot, as he wants an automated killing machine that will obey his commands. So he proceeds to conduct his own tests, whilst Vincent is out of the facility.

But Thomson isn't the only one who's got his own agenda going, and some of the implanted soldiers may not be quite as unfeeling or as unthinking as we were lead to believe...

A difficult sort of film to categorise, I'd say it's more of a sci-fi thriller. It's certainly not a horror movie or an action film as such. In many ways it came across like a feature length
BBC drama, with most of the film focussing on Vincent's research work and the machine, as it slowly becomes self aware. Things do kick up a gear near the end when Thomson tries to reprogram the machine and the shit hits the fan as the implanted soldiers mount a take over, but for the most part the film is what I would call a "slow burner".

Usually I go for films that are fairly fast paced or action packed. In this case I think it was the atmosphere that hooked me. There was this brooding malevolence that seemed to permeate the entire film, as you know something sinister is going on in the background, either with the how Thomson is treating the wounded veterans that Vincent and the others are supposedly trying to "help" or with the implanted soldiers, who exchange strange glances with each other and talk in incomprehensible binary talk, and you just know that something is going to kick off at some point, but you don't know what until it finally happens.

Obviously, the subjects of how much of a person can you replace with machinery before they actually become one and at what point does artificial intelligence become "alive" are subjects that have been dealt with many times before in fiction, but I found this story particularly compelling.

It's well shot, making good use of visuals and the film's dark atmosphere is emphasised by composer Tom Raybould's haunting electronic score, which reminded me of "Blade Runner", "Hardware" and some of those other downbeat films, where the future really isn't looking so bright.

Of course, whether you'll like this depends on your love of sci-fi dramas. If you're looking for another "Terminator", or "Robocop", you won't get it here. However, if you're looking for an interesting sci-fi tale, this one comes highly recommended and is already looking at scoring very highly on my list of top ten films of 2014.


The review disc I was sent did not contain any extras, however I have been reliably informed that the release copies will contain some special features. So if and when I find out what is included I will amend the review accordingly.
 
"The Machine" is released to UK DVD and BD March 31, from Anchor Bay Entertainment.
 
Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk
 
Buy the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk
 
 

Thursday 13 March 2014

Bates Motel re-opens in April on the Universal Channel (UK)

Returning to UK screens this April on the Universal channel, Bates Motel. Following the first season’s dramatic cliff hanger, the action returns exactly where the gripping Season One finale left off – at Miss Watson’s house.
 
Season Two is even bigger and more dramatic than the first, as White Pine Bay becomes a more dangerous place. As Norman’s black outs continue, with no knowledge of what happens during them, intrigue builds as to his awareness of his own self. Dylan finds himself in the middle of cross fire in a deadly war between two families, and Norma worries about the future of the motel. At the centre of it all, the relationship between Norma and Norman continues to unfold as ever more complex and complicated.
 
Inspired by the 1960s film, Bates Motel takes a contemporary look into Norman Bates’ teenage years and delves into the complicated relationship between Norman and his mother, Norma. Imagining the dark and twisted backstory to Psycho, the series reveals how Norman’s psyche unravels and the events that helped shape the infamous serial killer.
 
With Season 2 returning exactly where Season 1 leaves the action, don’t miss your chance to catch Bates Motel from the beginning on the 10th -14th March on the Universal channel (UK).

For more info visit the Universal Channel website.

Wednesday 12 March 2014

No Reasons - Set Visit

On Tuesday the 11th of March, I had the pleasure of visiting one of the filming locations for Spencer Hawken's new film "No Reasons", which was filming in Romford, Greater London.
 
The movie itself is a very dark, crime, horror, thriller type drama, about a family who's daughter goes missing, and a private investigator's attempts to track her down, which delves into the seedy underbelly of London's criminal underworld.
 
Anyway, I had a very interesting day. Got some great behind the scenes footage for an upcoming feature I'm hoping to post to my YouTube channel. Met actor Daniel Peacock, and also got to appear in a scene, playing a drug dealer. High point of the day was definitely getting a kiss from the wonderful Lucinda Rhodes, who's producing and starring in the feature.
 
The film should hopefully be out later this year, more info when it becomes available. A big thankyou to Spencer and Lucinda for making me feel welcome on set, and also for feeding me and plying me with cups of tea throughout the day and thanks to Daniel Peacock for being such an all round awesome dude. Anyway, here's a few set photos I took. Keep a look out for my forthcoming behind the scenes video.
 


 
 
You can find out more about "No Reasons" on the official Facebook Page.
 
Also, checkout Hawken/Rhodes productions on Twitter.
 
 
 

Under the Skin - New clip revealed!

Studio Canal have just released a new clip from their forthcoming film "Under the Skin" starring Scarlett Johansson.



The film is released to selected UK cinemas March 14th




From Dusk till Dawn the TV series NOW on Netflix UK!

You've undoubtedly already heard about the new TV series of "From Dusk till Dawn", which is premiering in the US on the El-Ray network. Well for those of you in the UK itching to see this one, it's now available on Netflix in the UK & Eire.
 
 
 
Visit Netflix at http://www.netflix.co.uk/
 
 

Saturday 8 March 2014

"White of the Eye" comes to UK disc from Arrow

Arrow Video is excited to announce the UK Dual Format Blu-ray + DVD and Steelbook release of the 1987 British thriller, White of the Eye, which will be making its worldwide Blu-ray debut, and UK DVD debut from 31st March 2014.
 
 Described by the distinguished critic David Thomson as “one of the great secret works in cinema”, White of the Eye is one of the most bizarre and unforgettable thrillers ever made.
 
A serial killer is on the loose in and around the small community of Globe, Arizona, and housewife Joan White (Cathy Moriarty) gradually comes to suspect that her opera-loving hi-fi engineer husband Paul (David Keith) might know more than he’s letting on…
 
So far so familiar, but in the hands of British visionary Donald Cammell (who wrote and co-directed Performance with Nicolas Roeg), the film becomes a dazzling kaleidoscope of images and ideas, spanning everything from Apache folklore, desert landscapes and stylish murder set-pieces that recall Dario Argento to a painfully vivid dissection of the emotional fissures undermining a modern marriage. It’s all set to an equally eclectic score co-written by Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason.
 
Featuring a bumper crop of bonus features such as documentary 'Donald Cammell: The Ultimate Performance' (1998), Donald Cammell’s short film, The Argument, an audio commentary by Donald Cammell's biographer Sam Umland, deleted scenes, original opening credits and the theatrical trailer.

Special Features
- Feature-length (73-minute) documentary, 'Donald Cammell: The Ultimate Performance' (1998)
- Commentary by Donald Cammell's biographer Sam Umland
- Donald Cammell's short The Argument (1972) with an optional commentary by Sam Umland
- Into the White - an interview with co-cinematographer and Steadicam wizard Larry McConkey
- Deleted scenes, with an optional commentary by Sam Umland
- Flashback scenes before the bleach bypass process was applied
- Original opening credits featuring John Diehl, an actor cut from the final film
- Theatrical trailer

The case also features reversible sleeve artwork, with original and newly commissioned art by Nathanael Marsh and also contains a special collector’s booklet, featuring new writing on the film by Brad Stevens and Sam Umland.

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

Buy the UK BD/DVD Steelbook at Amazon.co.uk





"House of Good and Evil" clip

New clips released from the forthcoming horror "House of Good and Evil"...



More clips can be viewed on YouTube at...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLHw_LcHTsE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSL8OWjB0Ug

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4Z3JLSe5wk

The film is released to US DVD April 1st and is available to order from Amazon.com

New image from "Let the Right One In" stage production

The producers of the stage version of "Let the Right One In" have just released the following image from their production.


 
The critically-acclaimed South Bank Sky Arts award-winning production will transfer to London’s West End on 26 March for a strictly limited season.
 
Based on the Swedish novel and cult-hit film by John Ajvide Lindqvist, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN will be the first show to play the recently refurbished and re-opened Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.
 
The production marks the National Theatre of Scotland’s West End debut, and follows the show’s sell out success at the Royal Court Theatre.
 
For more info and to book tickets visit the Apollo Theatre Website.

 

Rotary Tower Records presents "Archivio Giallo Volume One"

Horror themed record label "Rotary Tower Records" recently got in touch to tell us about their new release "Archivio Giallo - Volume One" by Giallo's Flame.
 
Ron Graham, aka Giallos Flame, is a man immersed in the sights and sounds of vintage horror films with a particular penchant for Italian Giallo. However, this multi-instrumentalist traverses genres. His music would sound equally at home in Napoli's Quartiere Spagnoli circa 1972 as on the streets of New York in the early 80's.
 
He spans hard-hitting psych rock, break-driven funk and synth-heavy ambient atmospheres that usually share a dark, brooding theme in common.
 
Over the past decade he has produced an acclaimed catalogue most of which was self released in limited numbers and has since become unavailable. Now, Graham steps out of the shadows and delves deep into his archive to compile three volumes of Archivio Giallo.
 
The first volume focuses on Graham's synth-heavy productions. The scene is set by the analog pulse of the opening track and what follows is a profusion of beat-driven, bass-heavy grooves and psyched-out soundscapes that form a cohesive soundtrack that seduces the listener into the night.
 
The tracks featured in the Archivio Giallo series have been remastered from the dusty tapes in the Giallo vaults bringing the sound of the past into the future.
 
The next transmission of terror in the Archivio Giallo series will be Volume Two in June.
 
This 15 track compilation, along with other Rotary Tower releases, can be downloaded from the Rotary Tower Records website
 
 
 

Thursday 6 March 2014

"Blue Ruin" - in selected UK cinemas May 2nd.

Dwight Evans (Macon Blair) is a mysterious outsider whose quiet life on the margins is turned upside down when he returns to his childhood home to carry out an act of vengeance. Proving himself an amateur assassin, he winds up in a brutal fight to protect his estranged family.
 
BLUE RUIN is a classic American revenge story that won the FIPRESCI Prize in the Directors’ Fortnight program at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and is released to selected UK cinemas May 2nd. Checkout the trailer below...



For more info, visit the official Facebook and Twitter pages.


 

The Axeman cometh to US DVD

Some of horror's most prominent Scream Queens come together for the razor-sharp fright flick "Axeman", available across the US & Canada on DVD and VOD starting May 6th, 2014.
 
A group of Twenty-somethings get more than they bargained for when they go on Vacation to the aptly named 'Cutter's Creek', only to come up against an axe-wielding local legend.
 
Tiffany Shepis, Brinke Stevens, Elissa Dowling and Jamie Bernadette join former NBA star Scot Pollard in Joston Theney's blood-stained love letter to classic slasher movies.
 
Axeman will be available on all major and minor US Cable VOD channels as well as major internet platforms including iTunes, Amazon Instant, Vudu, Google Play, Xbox Video, Sony Entertainment Network, and more, beginning May 6 through Midnight Releasing.
 
View the trailer on YouTube.
 
No news yet on when this will be available in the UK.

 

VMI acquires James Cullen Bressack's Thai horror "PERNICIOUS".

Vantage Media International (VMI) has acquired the worldwide rights to the much buzzed about horror title "Pernicious".

Ciara Hanna (Power Rangers), Jackie Moore (100 Ghost Street) and Emmy-nominated Emily O’Brien (Young and the Restless) star in the film directed by James Cullen Bressack ("To Jennifer", "Hate Crime" and "13/13/13").

In the vein of "Hostel" and "The Grudge", "Pernicious" follows the plight of three American beauties whose dream summer adventure in Thailand quickly turns into a nightmare when they unleash the spirit of a murdered child with only one thing on her mind...revenge.

“VMI is thrilled to acquire the worldwide rights to Pernicious and to further diversify our slate with such an intriguing and beautifully shot feature film,” said Relis.  “We look forward to sharing Pernicious with an eager global audience.”

“We are proud that Pernicious was one of the first films to be produced under the newly formed Benetone Hillin Entertainment banner,” said Hillin referring to the recent merging of Hillin Entertainment USA and Benetone Films, the largest foreign film production company in Thailand.  “The film reflects the high quality, universally marketable feature films shot in breathtaking and unique locations that BHE is committed to producing.  We are excited that Pernicious is now in the extremely capable hands of VMI.”

The film will be released to disc and on-demand shortly.

 




"Apocalypse Kiss" - coming to US DVD

The highly-anticipated new film from Christian Grillo (Deer Crossing), "Apocalypse Kiss" will be available to rent, buy or stream online in the US from April 8, 2014.
 
Adrian, a serial killer with O.C.D. fights for his place in the media while two nomadic lesbians are getting the credit for his murders. Meanwhile, the world as they know it is about to come to an end.
 
The film,  featuring a who's who of the horror and science-fiction world including Tom Atkins (My Bloody Valentine 3D, Halloween III), Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes) and D.C Douglas (CHUD),  meshes a unique and stylish film noir template - parallel to Robert Rodriguez's Sin City with explosive, thrilling action.
 
Buy the US DVD from Amazon.com
 
 

 

Wednesday 5 March 2014

Special Screening of "In Fear" at the Prince Charles Cinema London.

"IN FEAR" is released to UK DVD & Blu-ray on the 10th MARCH and to celebrate, StudioCanal (in partnership with TOTAL FILM magazine) is hosting a special screening event at The Prince Charles Cinema.
 
Fans have one last chance to watch this tense psychological horror on the big screen, taking place at 6.30pm on Monday 10th March, and will also be treated to an exclusive Q&A with the Director Jeremy Lovering – hosted by TOTAL FILM’s Editor-at-Large Jamie Graham.

The film stars Iain De Caestecker (Filth) and Alice Englert (Beautiful Creatures) as a young couple fighting to make it through the night when they find themselves trapped in a maze of country roads.
 
With only their vehicle for protection, Tom (De Caestecker) and Lucy (Englert) become terrorised by an unseen tormentor hell-bent on exploiting their worst fears. Driving, lost and tormented in the night, primal fears of the dark and the unknown give way to fear that you have let the evil in, or that it is already there.
 
Also starring Allen Leech (Downton Abbey), IN FEAR is directed by Jeremy Lovering (Sherlock) and produced by Nira Park (Shaun of the Dead, The World’s End, Sightseers).
 
Tickets are limited – so to get yours visit THE PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA website.
 
 
Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk
 
Buy the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk