Monday, 30 November 2015

"The Gift" - out now on Digital HD

Lionsgate UK Presents Joel Edgerton's brilliant and chilling The Gift out now on Digital HD and Blu-ray and DVD December 7th, perfect for Christmas gifting ideas...
 
Simon (Jason Bateman; Horrible Bosses, TV’s Arrested Development) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall; Transcendence, Iron Man 3, The Prestige) are a young married couple whose life is going just as planned until a chance encounter with an acquaintance from Simon’s high school sends their world into a harrowing tailspin.
 
Simon doesn’t recognize Gordo (Joel Edgerton) at first, but after a series of uninvited encounters and mysterious gifts, a horrifying secret from the past is uncovered. As Robyn learns the unsettling truth about what happened between Simon and Gordo, her world unravels and she starts to ask the question: how well do we really know the people closest to us?
 
Allison Tolman (TV’s Fargo) also stars in this chilling feature directorial debut from acclaimed actor and writer Joel Edgerton (The Great Gatsby, Zero Dark Thirty, Warrior) who produces alongside Jason Blum of Blumhouse (Sinister, Insidious, The Purge).
 
Special Features:
·Karma For Bullies
·The Darker Side of Jason Bateman
·Deleted Scenes
·Alternate Ending (Blu-ray exclusive)

The Gift is available on Digital HD now and Blu-ray & DVD from December 7th
 
Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk
 
Pre-order the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk
 


THE WALKING DEAD SERIES 5 LTD EDITION BLU-RAY

This year’s long awaited limited edition box set of THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH is NOW available for pre-order. THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON Blu-ray™ Limited Edition has become a highly anticipated annual tradition for The Walking Dead fans the world over. entertainment One is releasing the box set on December 14th, but those keen to ensure they get their hands on one of the few available copies can pre-order their copy now. It’s guaranteed to be the most gory gift this Christmas.
 
 
 
As with previous limited editions, McFarlane Toys has once again created a striking, must-own packaging concept. This year’s Limited Edition features an “asphalt” walker, one of the many unforgettable images that has made the series a global phenomenon. Handsomely crafted and intricately detailed, the figurine is based on the original walker designed by award-winning SFX make-up Supervisor and Executive Producer, Greg Nicotero.
 
Previous Walking Dead Limited Edition releases include the “Governor’s Walker Head Tank” (Series 3) and the “Tree Walker” (Series 4). This Series “Asphalt Walker” edition is available to preorder now exclusively through eOne Direct on Rakuten.co.uk/ and on Ebay.
 
Bonus Features on the Blu-ray include:

• Audio commentaries featuring Showrunner/Executive Producer/Writer Scott M. Gimple, Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd, Executive Producer Tom Luse, Executive Producer/Special Effects Make-Up Supervisor /Director Greg Nicotero, Director Julius Ramsay; Actors Lauren Cohan, Chad L. Coleman, Michael Cudlitz, Sonequa Martin-Green, Danai Gurira, Alanna Masterson, Melissa McBride, Josh McDermitt, Norman Reedus, Christian Serratos and Steven Yeun.
• Deleted Scenes
• Inside “The Walking Dead”
• The Making of “The Walking Dead”
• The Making of Alexandria
• Beth’s Journey
• Bob’s Journey
• Noah’s Journey
• Tyreese’s Journey
• A Day in the Life of Michael Cudlitz
• A Day in the Life of Josh McDermitt
• Rotters in the Flesh
 
THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON cast also includes Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, Chandler Riggs, Melissa McBride, Chad L. Coleman, Sonequa Martin-Green, Lawrence Gilliard, Jr., Michael Cudlitz, Emily Kinney, Alanna Masterson, Christian Serratos, Josh McDermitt and Andrew J. West.

New stills released from sci-fi thriller "AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS"

The producers of recently-wrapped sci-fi thriller AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS, directed by Johnny Kevorkian, have released more images and announced the participation of Red Rock Entertainment and Premiere Picture (John Carpenter's 'The Ward'), who have climbed on board as key investors as the film goes into post-production.
 
Check out these stills from the film.
 



 
Recently shot at GSP Studios in York, the story revolves around the Milgram family, who have gathered to celebrate Christmas, only to find a mysterious black substance has surrounded their house. Something monumental is clearly happening right outside their door, but what exactly - an industrial accident, a terrorist attack, nuclear war?  Descending into terrified arguments, they turn on the television, desperate for any information. On screen a message glows ominously: 'Stay Indoors and Await Further Instructions”….
 
 

Thursday, 26 November 2015

New UK poster and trailer for 'PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES'

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES is a fresh twist on Jane Austen's widely celebrated novel. A mysterious plague has fallen upon 19th century England, the land is overrun with the undead and feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is a master of martial arts and weaponry. Casting aside personal and social prejudices, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy must unite on the blood-soaked battlefield to rid the country of the zombie menace and discover their true love for one another.
 
 
 

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES will be released by Lionsgate UK in cinemas across the UK & Ireland on Friday 11th February 2016.

 

"KRAMPUS" - In UK Cinemas Dec 4th

Legendary Pictures’ "KRAMPUS" a darkly festive tale of a yuletide ghoul, reveals an irreverently twisted side to the holiday. 
 
When his dysfunctional family clashes over the holidays, young Max (Emjay Anthony) is disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas.  Little does he know, this lack of festive spirit has unleashed the wrath of Krampus: a demonic force of ancient evil intent on punishing non-believers. 
 
All hell breaks loose as beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own, laying siege to the fractured family’s home and forcing them to fight for each other if they hope to survive. 
 
The horror-comedy also stars Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Allison Tolman, Conchata Ferrell, Stefania Lavie Owen and Krista Stadler.
 
Krampus and his mischievous underlings have been created by the combined efforts of Weta Workshop and Weta Digital, both renowned for their epic work on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies and King Kong, among many others. 
 
Written and directed by Michael Dougherty (Trick ’r Treat), "KRAMPUS" is co-written by Zach Shields and Todd Casey and produced by Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni, Alex Garcia and Dougherty.  The film will be released by Universal Pictures. 
 
 
"KRAMPUS" hits UK cinemas Dec 4th
 
 
 

Tuesday, 24 November 2015

Horror Channel (UK) reveals 4 UK premieres for Dec.

Friday nights on Horror Channel get bloody this December as the UK’s only dedicated TV destination for horror fans, ushers in four UK TV premieres for December, including a Christmas Day offering of Steven C. Miller’s demented Santa slasher SILENT NIGHT, which stars Malcolm McDowell and Jaime King.
 
 
 The other knuckle-whitening premieres are Kaare Andrew’s CABIN FEVER 3: PATIENT ZERO, Todd Levin’s home-invasion chiller STATIC and John Geddes much admired Zombie film EXIT HUMANITY, with Brian Cox and Bill Mosely. Plus, the Boxing Day film is the Network Premiere of Steven Spielberg’s heart-pounding road-chase thriller DUEL.
 
Full details:
 
Fri 4 Dec @ 22.45pm – CABIN FEVER 3: PATIENT ZERO (2014) *UK TV Premiere
A group of friends planned the perfect vacation in the Caribbean, but when they head ashore to explore a remote island, their ultimate bachelor weekend devolves into their worst nightmare. After an ill-fated swim in contaminated water, they stumble upon a seemingly abandoned research facility where a deadly, flesh-eating virus has been unleashed. Directed by reputed comic book artist Kaare Andrews and starring Sean Astin, Currie Graham and Ryan Donowho
 
Fri 11 Dec @ 9pm – STATIC (2012) *UK TV Premiere
Grieving writer Jonathan (Milo Ventimiglia) and his wife Addie (Sarah Shahi) have moved to an isolated village to get over the death of their three-year-old son. Relying on work and alcohol to get over the tragedy, they're surprised to find a terrified young woman (Sarah Paxton) on their doorstep one night. She claims she's been chased a gang of masked men... but there's more to her than meets the eye. Directed by Todd Levin, this is a worthy addition to the home invasion genre.
 
Fri 18 Dec @ 9pm – EXIT HUMANITY (2011) *UK TV Premiere
Returning home after surviving the horrors of the American Civil War, Edward Young (Mark Gibson) enjoys only the briefest amount of happiness with his family before tragedy strikes. His farmland is overtaken by a swarm of the living dead costing him his wife and child. As he hunts for his missing son, Edward struggles with his own sanity, his fate and the future of mankind as he begins his personal journey encountering a power crazed madman, General Williams (Bill Moseley). Narrated by Brian Cox.
 
Fri 25 Dec @ 10.55pm – SILENT NIGHT (2012) *UK TV Premiere
A remake of the horror classic Silent Night, Deadly Night, Malcolm McDowell and Jaime King star as a small-town sheriff and deputy on the hunt for a murderous Santa Claus terrorising their community on Christmas Eve. But with the streets full of Santas for the annual Christmas parade, the killer is hiding in plain sight. He's made his list and the naughty are going to pay with their lives. It’s also loosely based on the real life Covina massacre of 2008.
 
Sat 26 Dec @ 6.40pm – DUEL (1971) *Network Premiere
Duel was Steven Spielberg’s second full length feature and the one that ignited his career. Based on a true short story and originally aired as a TV film, it follows (quite literally) salesman David Mann (Dennis Weaver), as he drives cross-country. He encounters a tanker driven by an unseen driver and unable to escape the demonic big rig, David finds himself in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the monstrous truck. When the pursuit escalates to deadly levels, David must summon his inner warrior and turn the tables on his tormentor.
 
TV: Sky 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138 / Freeview 70

Monday, 23 November 2015

CRYING WOLF premiering on US VOD in December

A blood moon rises this December when director Tony Jopia’s goosebump-stirring  horror-comedy "Crying Wolf" premieres on VOD.

 A “fun, fast paced werewolf romp” (Dread World) Crying Wolf  tells the story of strange and weird goings on in a little English village called Deddington. The gruesome death of local girl Charlotte by a rabid monster causes alarm and revulsion - before desperate reporters, crazy detectives and revenge-seeking hunters descend on the scene!
 
Legendary scream queen Caroline Munro (Maniac), Joe Egan (Sherlock Holmes) and Kristofer Dayne (Rush) star in what critics say is “a refreshingly funny movie with plenty of slapstick gore and some nice genre in-jokes” (Spooky Isles).
 
Crying Wolf is released in the US Dec 12 from Uncork’d Entertainment.
 
View the trailer on You Tube
 
 

Wednesday, 18 November 2015

Franco's "Bloody Moon" comes to UK BD

Severin films are set to release Jess Franco's infamous "Bloody Moon" to UK BD this December.
 
As the ‘body count’ genre stabbed its way into audiences hearts in the early 80’s, EuroTrash auteur Jess Franco was asked to create his own saga of slaughtered schoolgirls complete with gratuitous nudity, graphic violence and gory set pieces.
 
But just when you thought you’d seen it all, Franco shocked the world by delivering surprising style, genuine suspense and a cavalcade of depravity that includes incest, voyeurism and roller disco.
 
The luscious Olivia Pascal of VANESSA fame stars in this twisted thriller that was long banned as a Video Nasty in the UK, yet is now presented uncut and uncensored – including the complete ‘stone mill power saw’ sequence – for the first time ever on Blu-Ray!
 
FORMAT: BLU-RAY
RELEASE DATE: 07 December 2015
 
Newly remastered HD presentation of the feature in its original 1.66:1 aspect ratio
 
Special Features:
Franco’s Moon: featurette with director Jess Franco
Theatrical trailer
 
Pre-order the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk
 
 




The Gift comes to UK Digital and DVD/BD

Lionsgate UK Proudly Presents Joel Edgerton's brilliant and chilling The Gift on Digital HD November 30th and Blu-ray and DVD December 7th. From the producer of Whiplash and The Purge, comes this Summer’s surprise hit horror-thriller and critical favourite.
 
Simon (Jason Bateman; Horrible Bosses, TV’s Arrested Development) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall; Transcendence, Iron Man 3, The Prestige) are a young married couple whose life is going just as planned until a chance encounter with an acquaintance from Simon’s high school sends their world into a harrowing tailspin.
 
Simon doesn’t recognize Gordo (Joel Edgerton) at first, but after a series of uninvited encounters and mysterious gifts, a horrifying secret from the past is uncovered. As Robyn learns the unsettling truth about what happened between Simon and Gordo, her world unravels and she starts to ask the question: how well do we really know the people closest to us?
 
Allison Tolman (TV’s Fargo) also stars in this chilling feature directorial debut from acclaimed actor and writer Joel Edgerton (Zero Dark Thirty, Warrior) who produces alongside Jason Blum of Blumhouse (Whiplash, The Purge).
 
Special Features:
-Karma For Bullies
-The Darker Side of Jason Bateman
-Deleted Scenes
-Alternate Ending (Blu-ray exclusive)
 
Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk
 
Pre-order the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

"Victor Frankenstein" - Of Monsters and Men' - Official HD Featurette

Twentieth Century Fox presents a brand new featurette for Victor Frankenstein, starring James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe. This fresh take on Mary Shelley's classic story is brought to you by director Paul McGuigan (Gangster #1, Push, Sherlock) and is written by Max Landis (Chronicle).
 

 
Victor Frankenstein will be released in cinemas in the UK on 3rd December
 


HUDSON HORROR SHOW 12 - Line up announced.

One for my US site visitors, particularly those in the New York area.
 
It’s back, Hudson Horror Show, the biggest and baddest retro horror film festival in the Hudson Valley return for its twelfth all day 12 hour movie marathon! Hudson Horror Show #12 will be taking place on Saturday December 12th, 2015 at the Silver Cinemas South Hills 8 in Poughkeepsie, NY (USA).

We are thrilled that we are still at Silver Cinemas/South Hills 8 and we have added a second theater! The same program will run in both rooms, just in a different order.  One theater is already sold out, with seats in the other room going fast. 
 
Get your tickets now!  Tickets are just $33.00 in advance for six full length movies and tons of classic trailers, ALL off vintage 35mm film! If any tickets remain, they will be available, day of show for $38.00 each, cash only. We haven’t sold tickets at the door in a few years, so don’t wait on buying those tickets.

If you haven’t heard, our lineup for show #12 (taking place on 12/12 – see what we did there) is absolutely phenomenal! 

Directed by Aussie great Brian Trenchard Smith and starring Stunt Man Grant Page and cult heavy metal rockers Sorcery, your brain will absolutely melt when you witness the carnage and cacophony that is STUNT ROCK!

Starring the greatest eyebrows in cinema history (owned by Stuart Whitman) our friends at Vinegar Syndrome will be presenting the latest acquisition to their film library, the Mexican horror movie mash up that is DEMONOID – MESSENGER OF DEATH!

We’ve of course got the dreaded MYSTERY MOVIE!!  We might actually announce the title in advance, or maybe we’ll ditch that idea and go for something ultra obscure.  Want to know what we are playing?  Buy a ticket and find out!

We then kick it into overdrive with a triple threat of headliners!  We’ve got Jason Voorhees' debut as an unstoppable killing machine, FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2!  This is presented by the unstoppable movie watching machine, Jordan Garren of the B Movie Film Vault! 

The granddaddy of them all is of course, John Carpenter’s Halloween.  Well we are pleased to screen the amazing sequel, HALLOWEEN II, which is far gorier than its predecessor and features the best looking cast of victims of any slasher film ever.  As if that wasn’t enough, we bring it home with the action packed urban assault of THE WARRIORS!!

Besides the movies we will have vendors selling toys, t-shirts, posters and all sorts of cool horror related merchandise. Tickets are NOT needed to shop at our vendor’s area; tickets are ONLY needed to watch the movies. Tickets are on sale now at www.hudsonhorror.com

If you are interested in being a vendor, or have a question, shoot us an email at chris@hudsonhorror.com. We will see you on December 12th, 2015 for Hudson Horror Show #12!  Tickets on sale now at www.hudsonhorror.com
 
 

"BLOOD RAGE" AVAILABLE ON UK DVD & BD 23 NOV

Arrow Video is thrilled to announce the release of an almost-forgotten retro 80s slasher pic "Blood Rage", presented here for the first time as a brand-new 2K restoration of the “hard” home video version.
 
This new and exciting release will feature a host of bonus content and most impressively not one, but three versions of the film – Blood Rage, the original home video version, Nightmare at Shadow Woods, the theatrical re-cut, and an alternate “composite” cut combining footage from both versions. This new dual format Blu-ray and DVD will be released on 23rd November 2015.
 
Synopsis
What do you get if you combine Thanksgiving, American TV star Louise Lasser (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman), killer 80s synths and some of the most gruesome special effects in all of slasher history courtesy of Ed (Terminator 2) French. Why, it’s Blood Rage of course!
 
Twins Todd and Terry seem like sweet boys that is, until one of them takes an axe to face of a fellow patron at the local drive-in. Todd is blamed for the bloody crime and institutionalised, whilst twin brother Terry goes free. Ten years later and, as the family gathers around the table for a Thanksgiving meal, the news comes in that Todd has escaped. But has the real killer in fact been in their midst all along? One thing’s for sure, there will be blood and rage!
 
Shot in 1983 but not released until 1987, Blood Rage (re-cut and shown in theatres as Nightmare at Shadow Woods) is a gloriously gruesome slice of 80s slasher heaven now lovingly restored (in 3 versions no less!) from original vault elements for its first ever official home video release.
 
Special Features
3-DISC DIRECTOR-APPROVED LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
Three versions of the film – Blood Rage, the original home video version, Nightmare at Shadow Woods, the theatrical re-cut, and an alternate “composite” cut combining footage from both versions
Original Stereo 2.0 sound (Uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Marc Schoenbach
Fully-illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Joseph A. Ziemba, author of BLEEDING SKULL! A 1980s Trash-Horror Odyssey

BLU-RAY DISC 1 & DVD – BLOOD RAGE
Brand new 2K restoration of the “hard” home video version, transferred from the camera negative and featuring the original title card Slasher
Audio commentary with director John Grissmer
Both Sides of the Camera – an interview with producer/actress Marianne Kanter
Double Jeopardy – an interview with actor Mark Soper
Jeez, Louise! – an interview with actress Louise Lasser
Man Behind the Mayhem – an interview with special make-up effects creator Ed French
Three Minutes with Ted Raimi – an interview with actor Ted Raimi
Return to Shadow Woods – featurette revisiting the original locations in Jacksonville, Florida
Alternate opening titles
Motion still gallery featuring rare behind-the-scenes make-up photos

BLU-RAY DISC 2 – NIGHTMARE AT SHADOW WOODS [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE]
Nightmare at Shadow Woods – the re-edited 1987 theatrical cut featuring footage not seen in the Blood Rage home video version
Alternate composite cut of the feature combining footage from the home video and theatrical versions
Never-before-seen outtakes
 
Order the UK 3-disc set from Amazon.co.uk
 
 

Sunday, 15 November 2015

"Sharknado 3 : Oh Hell No" comes to UK DVD this month

The third instalment of the cult series, which sees nature’s two deadliest forces – the shark and the tornado – come together once again. Expect big laughs, plenty of gore and a host of hilarious cameos in this brilliant and bonkers B-movie which is currently out on Digital Download and finally comes to DVD this month.

When Fin (Ian Ziering) and April (Tara Reid) head to Florida, they are quickly warned of trouble ahead as the Sunshine State is overcome with strong winds and a dangerous tumult of rain. Suddenly, the pair find themselves in the midst of a terrifying and ruthless Sharknado, but it’s just the beginning...

As the sharks tear up the coast and head towards Washington D.C. Fin and April realise time is running out for them to warn the capital, stop the Sharknado for the third time and save the President of the United States from a brutal fate!
 
Featuring appearances from David Hasselhoff, Bo Derek, Frankie Muniz, Jerry Springer and even Penn and Teller, "Sharknado 3 : Oh Hell No!"  is already available on UK Digital Download and finally comes to UK DVD 23rd Nov.
 
Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk
 
 

Friday, 13 November 2015

Celebrate "Friday the 13th" with merch from Electric Zombie

2015 is a rare year in which horror fans are blessed with three Friday the 13ths. Pop culture brand Electric Zombie celebrated the first two with new merchandise, and you better believe they weren't going to let today's date pass them by without another drop. The latest line features shirts, posters and pins - some new designs, some old favorites - dedicated to the various incarnations of Jason Voorhees.
 

 
There are several shirts in stock: "Lurker," a bloody tribute to the machete-wielding killer, available on standard tees and baseball shirts; "0013," a James Bond-inspired design, which comes in both standard and glow-in-the-dark Powerglove variants; and "Manhattan,"  an all-over print of a red-and-blue hockey mask in homage to the Jason Takes Manhattan poster.

The line includes two posters. The first is dedicated to the original Friday the 13th. Adopting a vintage '80s style, the print makes reference to some of the classic film's most memorable characters and moments. The second poster comes from the franchise's sixth installment, Jason Lives, and is made to look like a gritty Japanese import.
 
Powerglove Pinhead is a 1" glow-in-the-dark enamel pin featuring the distinct 8-bit coloring of Jason's mask. Electric Zombie has also restocked the popular Dead Heads. Available in both classic and Powerglove versions, these Madballs-inspired rubber heads feature removable resin masks.
 
"This is the third Friday the 13th this year - holy smokes!" exclaims Electric Zombie owner Kyle Crawford. "I didn’t want to do a crazy Jason overkill, so I thought I would spice it up with a little bit of old and a little bit of new and a little bit of new-old."

The Friday the 13th collection is on sale now at TheElectricZombie.com.
 
Apparel from Electric Zombie's Halloween line - including products inspired by Trick 'r Treat, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween III, Are You Afraid of the Dark, The Monster Squad and more - is still available as well.

*Aaaaaaaah!* comes to DVD/Blu-ray this Jan.

The most eccentric and radical film of recent years, Steve Oram's "Aaaaaaaah!" is coming to DVD and BD this January.
 
Alpha Male Smith and his Beta, Keith, move to take over a local community. They hook up with restless Female, Denise, igniting a deadly feud in which emotions run high and deep-seated grudges resurface amongst the tribe.
 
Are we not men? Or are we simply beasts? Get ready for the most unusual celluloid primal scream - an anarchic, hilarious, disturbing and touching look at the human condition. Recently nominated for the Discovery Award at the British Independent Film Awards, Aaaaaaah! makes you want to look away, and carry on watching at the same time. is a film that needs to be seen and heard.
 
You’ll either love it, or hate it, either way we can absolutely say, you won’t see or have seen anything like it. Funny, moving and shocking  - this one isn’t for the faint of heart.
 
Starring...
Toyah Willcox - Secret Diary of a Call Girl
Noel Fielding - The IT Crowd, The Mighty Boosh, Nathan Barley
Julian Rhind Tutt - The Hour, Green Wing, Lucy, Notting Hill
Tom Meeten - Paddington, Sightseers
Julian Barratt - The Mighty Boosh, Being Human, Nathan Barley
 
The film is already out on VOD and Download. The DVD and Blu-ray come packed with fantastic Extras including an insightful audio commentary with Steve Oram, the man with the vision.
 
Special Features:
 
Audio commentary with Steve Oram
 
Carolla Cooks - Carolla Cooks is a 10 min version of the cooking show you see at the beginning of the film with Shelley Longworth.
 
PUB! - Pub is the full 5 min version of the sitcom that the characters are watching at the end of the film. Stars Tony Way and Alice Lowe

The Cast Speaks
The DVD and BD are released Jan 16th and will be available to pre-order shortly.



"Sleepaway Camp" screening with Cast & Crew at ARENA CINEMA HOLLYWOOD Nov 28

One for my US site visitors, if you're in the vicinity of Hollywood on Nov 28.
 
ARENA CINEMA HOLLYWOOD'S  CLASSIC ‘CAMPFIRE HORROR’ SERIES RETURNS NOVEMBER 28TH, CURATED BY HORROR DIRECTOR JAMES CULLEN BRESSACK WITH A SPECIAL SCREENING OF SLEEPAWAY CAMP

Mixer and reception before screening.

Q&A With Actors FELISSA ROSE, JONATHAN TIERSTAN and TOM VAN DELL after screening
 
moderated by James Cullen Bressack.

Sleepaway Camp. Written and directed by Robert Hiltzik. Produced by Jerry Silva and Michele Tatosian. From United Film Distribution Company. Color, 1983, USA, 84 minutes, rated R. Horror. Starring Mike Kellin, Felissa Rose, Jonathan Tierston, Karen Fields, Christopher Collet and Katherine Kamhi. After a horrible boating accident kills her family, Angela, a shy and sullen young girl, moves in with her eccentric aunt Martha, alongside her protective cousin Ricky. One summer, Martha sends the kids to Camp Arawak. Soon after their arrival, a series of bizarre and increasingly violent accidents begins to claim the lives of various campers. Who is the twisted individual behind these murders?

Admission: $12 each feature.  Information: (323) 306-0676. Online ticketing: http://www.arenascreen.com
 
At Arena Cinema Hollywood, 1625 N. Las Palmas Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028. Discounted parking is available with validation at lots adjacent to the venue and across the street.

Arrow to release "Nekromantik 2" special edition BD/DVD combo

Arrow Video is thrilled to announce the UK Blu-ray and DVD release of the notorious sequel to the underground shocker Nekromantik. Jörg Buttgereit’s "Neckromantik 2" arrives in time for Christmas on 23rd November 2015.
 
One of 2015’s most anticipated Arrow Video releases, "Nekromantik 2" makes its home video debut in the UK as an exclusive 3-disc digipak featuring Blu-ray, DVD and CD Soundtrack. This exclusive set will be limited to a run of only 3000 copies only and comes with a set of 5 x exclusive ‘Polaroid’ postcards and a 100-page book, alongside a wealth of extra features.
 
This 3-disc set comes loaded with exclusive director-approved content including the main feature "Nekromantik 2" (1991) and will feature brand new extras especially produced for this release, chief among them, the documentary Masters of Life and Death, alongside new audio commentaries and introductions from director Buttgereit and other key members of the cast and crew including Monika M. Further details listed below.
 
Synopsis
 
Monika isn’t like other young women. She shares her small flat with Rob, a recently disinterred corpse which serves as the object of her affections. But then she meets good-natured Mark, and soon finds herself torn between the prospect of a ‘normal’ life with a living, breathing partner and her overwhelming desire for her rotting bed-fellow.
 
Once prosecuted in its native Germany for “glorifying violence”, Jörg Buttgereit’s follow-up to his ground-breaking Nekromantik is just as shocking as its reputation would suggest. But it’s also a profoundly moving (if decidedly twisted) love story, and a thought-provoking meditation on death – that most mysterious aspect of the human condition.
 
Special Features
 
3-DISC DIRECTOR-APPROVED LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
 
· New High Definition transfer approved by director Jörg Buttgereit
· High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
· Original Stereo 2.0 audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)
· Optional English subtitles
· Limited Edition packaging featuring new artwork by Gilles Vranckx
· Individually-numbered #/3,000 Certificate
· Set of 5 exclusive “polaroid” postcards
· Soundtrack CD
· Limited Edition 100-page book
 
DISC 1 [BLU-RAY] & DISC 2 [DVD] – NEKROMANTIK 2
 
·Audio commentary with Buttgereit, co-writer Franz Rodenkirchen and actors Monika M. and Mark Reeder
·Introduction to the film with Buttgereit, Reeder, Monika M. and producer Manfred Jelinski
·Masters of Life and Death – a brand new documentary looking at the film’s production and release history, featuring interviews with Buttgereit, Reeder, Monika M. and Jelinski
·City of the Loving Dead – a walking tour of some of the original Berlin locations with Reeder and Jelinski
·Necropolis: Jörg Buttgereit’s Berlin – film scholar Dr. Marcus Stiglegger on the significance of the German capital as the backdrop for Nekromantik 2
·The Making of Nekromantik 2 – vintage documentary viewable with two different audio tracks: an English track comprising audio interviews with Buttgereit, Rodenkirchen and Monika M., and a German track featuring radio interviews with Buttgereit and Rodenkirchen, with optional English subtitles
·Nekro Waltz: The Music of Nekromantik 2 – Reeder discusses his work on the film’s score
·Outtakes Reel
·Nekromantik 2 Livekonzert – footage from the 20th anniversary Nekromantik 2 concert, with Monika M. and friends performing the live score
·Nekromantik 2 Livekonzert – the complete 20-track audio recording of the concert [BD/DVD-ROM content]
· Two Buttgereit short films: Bloody Excess in the Leader’s Bunker (Blutige Exzesse im Führerbunker, 1982) and A Moment of Silence at the Grave of Ed Gein (2012)
· Two Buttgereit-directed music videos: ‘Rise Up’ by Die Krupps (1997), starring Monika M., and ‘Die Frau in der Musik’ by Stereo Total (2007)
· Complete collection of Buttgereit feature film trailers
· Extensive image gallery
 
DISC 3 [CD] – NEKROMANTIK 2 SOUNDTRACK – LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE
 
· 24-track CD featuring the complete Nekromantik 2 score
 
100-PAGE BOOK– ‘ANATOMY OF DESIRE’ – LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE
 
· Exclusive perfect-bound book featuring new writing from Electric Sheep editor Virginie Sélavy, writer Kier-La Janisse and others, as well as a new translation of the article submitted to the German government as part of the Nekromantik 2 prosecution case, all illustrated with new artwork and original archive stills

Pre-order the BD/DVD combo pack from Amazon.co.uk


Celebrate 30 years of "Day of the Dead" with new Fright-Rags collection

30 years ago, George A. Romero unleashed the darkest day of horror the world has ever known: "Day of the Dead". Fright-Rags is honouring the zombie classic with a collection of exclusive apparel.
 





The line includes five new shirts. Steve Holliday, Francis Minoza, Chris Lovell, Paul Shipper and Dave Moscati each offer a distinct take on the film's iconic imagery. Several designs prominently feature fan-favorite zombie Bub, among of other ghouls.

The "Day of the Dead" collection is available now. All five designs are in stock (in both unisex and girls shirts) and ready to ship, but quantities are limited and may sell out.

Order these designs at Fright-Rags.com
 
Fans who missed out on Fright-Rags' recent Trick 'r Treat collection will be pleased to know that reprints are currently available for pre-order

 

Monday, 9 November 2015

VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN - Brand New Clip

Twentieth Century Fox is pleased to present a brand new clip for the release of Victor Frankenstein.
 
 
 
Starring James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe, this fresh take on Mary Shelley's classic story is brought to you by director Paul McGuigan (Gangster #1, Push, Sherlock) and is written by Max Landis (Chronicle).
 
Victor Frankenstein will be released in UK cinemas on December 3rd.
 
 

Gunnar Hansen - The original "Leatherface" - RIP

It is with a heavy heart that we report that Gunnar Hansen, the man who played the chainsaw wielding killer Leatherface in Tobe Hoopers seminal 1974 slasher “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” passed away this weekend, aged 68.
 
 
Originally from Iceland , he spent most of his life growing up in Texas when his family relocated to the US during the 1950s. During his time at University he got involved with theatre work, so when he heard about a movie being shot in Austin during the summer of 1973, decided to go to the auditions. His height and stature saw him landing the iconic role of the films main killer “Leatherface”, a retarded, cannibal who wore masks of human flesh and enjoyed butchering teenagers, that passed by his family’s remote farmhouse.
 
The film was considered so shocking by UK censors, the film was banned from general release at the cinema and on video until 1999, some 25 years later. Only finally seeing the light of day when the previous chief censor, James Ferman, finally retired.
 
Hansen’s role lead to him appearing in a string of B-movies over the years, eager to cash in on his status as a cult horror icon, including Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, Hellblock 13, Murder Set Pieces and Chainsaw Sally. He did not reprise his role in any of the original Chainsaw sequels, owing to the film makers reluctance to pay reasonable rates for the gruelling work involved in the role. However, he did appear in 2013s Texas Chainsaw 3D, a belated alternate sequel to the original 74 film, in which he played another family member of the murderous chainsaw clan.
 
Despite numerous film offers, he chose to concentrate on a career in writing. Working on magazines, authoring books and doing screenplays. However, to horror fans everywhere he will always be remembered as the original Leatherface, and was a regular on the convention circuit.
 
He died Nov 7th at his home in Maine after losing his battle with pancreatic cancer.
 
RIP Leatherface, and thanks for the movies.
 
 

Friday, 6 November 2015

Arrow Video announces "American Horror Project"

Arrow Video is pleased to announce the "American Horror Project", a new series of box-sets which sees a variety of rarely seen and long-forgotten cult horror films being restored and returned from obscurity and risk of being lost forever due to fragility of original film material.
 
 
American Horror Project will ensure that these unique slices of the American Nightmare are brought back into the public consciousness and preserved for all to enjoy in brand new High Definition transfers from the best surviving elements.
 
The first volume of the series will be released Feb 22nd (UK) and 23rd (US) 2016, with Arrow Video committed to bringing these lesser-known efforts of US genre cinema back into the limelight where they belong.
 
Volume I of this series presents three tales of violence and madness from the 1970s. "Malatesta’s Carnival of Blood" (Christopher Speeth, 1973) sees a family arrive at a creepy, dilapidated fairground in search of their missing daughter, only to find themselves at the mercy of cannibalistic ghouls lurking beneath the park. Meanwhile, "The Witch Who Came from the Sea" (Matt Cimber, 1976), stars Mollie Perkins (The Diary of Anne Frank) as a young woman whose bizarre and violent fantasies start to bleed into reality – literally. Lastly, every parent’s worst nightmare comes true in "The Premonition" (Robert Allen Schnitzer, 1976), a tale of psychic terror in which five-year-old Janie is snatched away by a strange woman claiming to be her long-lost mother.
 
Newly remastered from the best surviving elements and contextualised with brand new supplementary material, with American Horror Project we can re-evaluate an alternative history of American horror and film heritage.
 
American Horror Project is a story of the unsung heroes of American horror cinema – films from the USA’s golden age of terror which, for a multitude reasons, have either slipped through the cracks or never gained the recognition they so richly deserve. Films that aren’t mentioned by movie fans in the same hushed tones of reverence as The Exorcist or Halloween – but are every bit as bold, bloody and bizarre as their more famous counterparts.
 
In much the same way that Stephen Thrower’s landmark study NIGHTMARE USA told an alternative history of the independent horror film during the 1970s and 80s, Arrow’s Horror Project aims to shine a light on a number of innovative and provocative films made during this period that for whatever reason, have been allowed to languish, under-appreciated and waiting to be rediscovered.
 
The majority of these films haven’t been seen for many years, and none of them will have ever been remastered for Blu-ray before. In some cases, they will have only been available on VHS!
 
So for every one of our titles, we’ll be restoring these films from scratch, seeking out the best existing source elements and (whenever possible) involving the original filmmakers to ensure that the films can be seen at the highest quality and in most historically accurate presentations possible. In many cases this may mean extensive detective work and piecing the films back together from a number of separate elements, given the lack of care that some of these titles suffered back in the day. Most of these films will never appear pristine, but viewed in the context of the Horror Project, will reflect their own unique production and distribution histories in a way that they’ve never been afforded before.
 
Visit Arrow Video on the web...
 

"The Stranger" - UK DVD review

The Eli Roth produced horror “The Stranger”, from director Guillermo Amoedo (Aftershock, The Green Inferno) is out on VOD and DVD this month.

A mysterious stranger (Cristobal Tapia Montt) drifts into a small Canadian town, looking for a girl named Anna. However, he is promptly set about by a group of thugs, who beat him senseless. As one of the thugs happens to be the son of a local police lieutenant (Luis Gnecco), and believing the man to be dead, his father helps them cover up the crime.

But when the body goes missing, and the three thugs end up either dead, or hospitalised, the following night. The corrupt cop suspects a local graffiti artist (Nicolas Duran), who witnessed the earlier beating, may have had something to do with this.
 
But when the Stranger then intervenes in a confrontation between the cop and the young lad, we discover not only is he alive and well, despite being close to death the previous night, but also appears impervious to gunfire. As the cop quickly finds out…

Seems there’s something in his blood that allows him to heal quickly, which is of particular interest to the corrupt cop, whose son is in hospital. So the young lad and his mother quickly find themselves embroiled in his personal vendetta as he attempts to track him down and either kill him or catch him.

This one is a bit of a slow burner, being more of a dark drama than anything. But is also a strangely compelling tale in which you’re never quite sure what the deal is with the main character and how he seems almost impossible to kill, which makes the film all the more intriguing. Things kick up a gear towards the end, when we find being infected with the strangers blood has dire ramifications and we discover what it is about him that makes him so unique, but I’m not going to spoil the mystery for you.

The film is out on UK VOD now, with a UK DVD to follow on the 16th. The screener copy I viewed did not contain any supplemental material and no news if there will be any additional features included on the DVD.
 
View the trailer on YouTube
 
Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk

 

Thursday, 5 November 2015

Steve Oram's "Aaaaaaaah"! nominated for BIFA

Steve Oram's "Aaaaaaaah!" has been nominated for the Discovery Award at this year's British Independent Film Awards.
 
Alpha male Smith and his Beta, Keith, move to take over a local community. They hook up with restless Female, Denise, igniting a deadly feud in which emotions run high and deep-seated grudges resurface amongst the tribe. Are we not men? Or are we simply beasts?
 
Steve Oram, actor/writer of Sightseers and Kill List fame, stars in his long-awaited directorial debut feature with a host of his friends. Get ready for the most unusual celluloid primal scream - an anarchistic, hilarious, disturbing and touching look at the human condition.
 
I caught this one at the Mayhem film festival earlier this year and can say, it's certainly one of the weirdest films I've seen this year. You can read my review of it, and other films screened that day, HERE. And there's a Q&A with Steve Oram available on my YouTube channel HERE
 
"Aaaaaaaah!" is currently available on Digital HD from the FrightFest Presents label
 
For a full list of BIFA nominations please visit https://www.bifa.film/awards/nominations