Tuesday 28 December 2021

LAST NIGHT IN SOHO - Coming to Disc and Digital January

From the acclaimed director of fan-favourites such as Baby Driver, Shaun of the Dead and The World’s End comes the “Captivating” (Daily Mail) tribute to 1960s London, LAST NIGHT IN SOHO, available to own for the first time on Digital January 17, 2022 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD January 31, 2022 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. 

LAST NIGHT IN SOHO is filled to the brim with thrills, suspense and a love of classic film and music in every frame. Own the cinematic masterpiece for the first time, alongside exclusive bonus content, including never-before-seen deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes content and feature commentaries exploring the intoxicating nostalgia, flair and suspense. 

In Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller, Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie - Jojo Rabbit, Old), an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s, where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy - Emma, “The Queen’s Gambit”). But the glamour is not all it appears to be, and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker. 

The “Deliciously Twisted” (Observer) masterpiece is directed by Edgar Wright, and stars Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith (The Crown, Doctor Who) and Michael Ajao (Attack the Block, Silent Witness). The film is co-written by Edgar Wright and Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917).

BONUS FEATURES on DIGITAL (iTunes)   

-FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER EDGAR WRIGHT, EDITOR PAUL MACHLISS AND COMPOSER STEVE PRICE
-FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER EDGAR WRIGHT AND CO-WRITER KRISTY WILSON-CAIRNS
-MAKING OF FEATURETTES
-MEET ELOISE – An in-depth look at the character of Eloise and the challenges that star Thomasin McKenzie faced while bringing her to life.
-DREAMING OF SANDIE – A closer look at the characters of Sandie and Jack and why Anya Taylor-Joy and Matt Smith were the perfect actors to embody the essence of the time period.
-ON THE STREETS OF SOHO – The cast and crew discuss the importance of shooting on location in Soho and the complexity of transforming the city streets back in time.
-DELETED SCENES
-ANIMATICS
--FIRST DREAM
--SHADOW MEN
--MURDER  
--FINAL CONFRONTATION
-EXTRAS  
--HAIR & MAKEUP TESTS
--LIGHTING & VFX TESTS
--WIDE ANGLE WITNESS CAM
--ACTON TOWN HALL STEADICAM REHEARSAL
--“DOWNTOWN” MUSIC VIDEO
--TRAILERS 

BONUS FEATURES on 4K UHD, BLU-RAY: 

-MAKING OF FEATURETTES
-MEET ELOISE – An in-depth look at the character of Eloise and the challenges that star Thomasin McKenzie faced while bringing her to life.
-DREAMING OF SANDIE – A closer look at the characters of Sandie and Jack and why Anya Taylor-Joy and Matt Smith were the perfect actors to embody the essence of the time period.
-SMOKE AND MIRRORS – The cast and crew break down how lighting, makeup, special effects, and creative camerawork came together to create a collision between the present day and 1960's time periods.
-ON THE STREETS OF SOHO – The cast and crew discuss the importance of shooting on location in Soho and the complexity of transforming the city streets back in time.
-TIME TRAVELLING – A look into how the music, costume design, and production design of the film work together to immerse the audience into the world of 1960's Soho.
-DELETED SCENES
-ANIMATICS
-- FIRST DREAM
-- SHADOW MEN
-- MURDER  
-- FINAL CONFRONTATION
-EXTRAS  
-- HAIR & MAKEUP TESTS
-- LIGHTING & VFX TESTS
-- WIDE ANGLE WITNESS CAM
-- ACTON TOWN HALL STEADICAM REHEARSAL
-- “DOWNTOWN” MUSIC VIDEO
-- TRAILERS
-FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER EDGAR WRIGHT, EDITOR PAUL MACHLISS AND COMPOSER STEVE PRICE
-FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER EDGAR WRIGHT AND CO-WRITER KRISTY WILSON-CAIRNS 

BONUS FEATURES on DVD:  

- FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER EDGAR WRIGHT, EDITOR PAUL MACHLISS AND COMPOSER STEVE PRICE
- FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER EDGAR WRIGHT AND CO-WRITER KRISTY WILSON-CAIRNS
- MAKING OF FEATURETTES
- MEET ELOISE – An in-depth look at the character of Eloise and the challenges that star Thomasin McKenzie faced while bringing her to life.
-DELETED SCENES
-ANIMATICS
-- FIRST DREAM
-- SHADOW MEN
-- MURDER  
-- FINAL CONFRONTATION
-EXTRAS  
-- HAIR & MAKEUP TESTS
-- LIGHTING & VFX TESTS
-- WIDE ANGLE WITNESS CAM
-- ACTON TOWN HALL STEADICAM REHEARSAL
-- “DOWNTOWN” MUSIC VIDEO 

Pre-order the 4K UHD from Amazon.co.uk

Pre-order the BD from Amazon.co.uk

Pre-order the DVD from Amazon.co.uk

 


Saturday 25 December 2021

A GOD WITHOUT A UNIVERSE, SATAN CLAUS and FOLIES MEURTIERES available from TetroVideo.

The disturbing drama/horror film A GOD WITHOUT A UNIVERSE (2015) by Kasper Juhl, the Christmas slasher/horror film  SATAN CLAUS (1996) by Massimiliano Cerchi and the french slasher film FOLIES MEURTIERESs directed by Antoine Pellissier in 1984 are now available on DVD via TetroVideo.

A GOD WITHOUT A UNIVERSE comes in a limited and numbered Digipack edition of 100 copies (Slipcase + DVD + Card) with english, french and italian subs.

SATAN CLAUS and FOLIES MEURTIERES instead are the last two films of the Tetro Underground collection and are available in a Standard edition (vintage looking Slipcase + black amaray + DVD) and in a Silver Limited Plus numbered edition (vintage looking Slipcase + transparent amaray + reversible sleeve + DVD + 1 collector's card).

In particular, the SATAN CLAUS limited edition comes with a Christmas card signed by Massimiliano Cerchi.

Written and directed by Kasper Juhl (Madness of Many, Your Flesh Your Curse), A GOD WITHOUT A UNIVERSE (aka Gudsforladt) is a violent and disturbing drama/horror film about alcohol, drugs, crime and sexual deviations.


The story centers on Mia and Anders, two siblings who are trying to cope with their brutal past, as their inner beast is leading them on a path to destruction.

Johannes Nymark, Anne Sofie Adelsparre, Peter Aude, Mads Knarreborg, Peter Aude, Tommas Capion, Ann Hjort and Joachim Knop star.

SATAN CLAUS is a Christmas-themed horror film written by Simonetta Mostarda and directed by Massimiliano Cerchi (Insane, The House of Evil, Mayday) about a cruel and merciless Santa Claus.


The story, in fact, takes place the night before Christmas, when a serial killer dressed in a Santa Claus suit stalks the streets of New York looking for blood. It seems this madman is building the perfect Christmas tree and adorning it with parts of his victims. It's up to an actor, his police officer girlfriend and a vodoo woman to stop him.

Robert Cummins, Jodie Rafty, Robert Hector, Barie Snider, Lauretta Ali, Daisy Vel, John Romanelli, Roy Ashton and Crystal Herold star.

FOLIES MEURTIERES instead is a slasher/gore film written and directed by Antoine Pellissier (Maleficia). Shot on Super 8  in the early 80s in France, this film is 52-minutes of a psycho who kills without mercy.


The film is a tribute to Torso (Sergio Martino), Maniac (William Lustig) and A Bay of Blood (Mario Bava).

Synopsis: a crazed killer wanders around killing several young women with various weapons. Is there a motive for these crimes or is it purely for the joy of killing?

Magali Bernard, Elisabeth Carou, Mireille Duruisseaud, Carole Chapus, Samya El Alaoui, Jean-Pierre Fonzes and Marie-Pierre Fosse star.

To purchase these and other titles visit TetroVideo

Thursday 23 December 2021

Horror Channel ushers in New Year with zombie invasions

January weekends on Horror Channel are invaded by the undead with the UK TV premiere of Lin Oeding’s newly-flavoured zombie horror-comedy OFFICE UPRISING, and the two highly acclaimed Zombie apocalypse road movies – STAKE LAND, receiving its Channel premiere, and the sequel THE STAKELANDER, enjoying a UK TV premiere. 

Plus, there are channel premieres for the bone-chilling THE WRETCHED, directed by The Pierce Brothers, Sam Raimi’s classic EVIL DEAD 2, once again starring the demon battling Brue Campbell and the original Dolph Lundgrem / Jean-Claude Van Damme futuristic thriller  UNIVERSAL SOLDIER. 

Full film details in transmission order.

 Saturday 8 January @ 22:25 – UNIVERSAL SOLDIER (1992) *Channel Premiere 


Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren play embattled Vietnam soldiers who killed each other in combat and are revived 25 years later as semi-android "UniSols" in a high-tech army of the near future. This popular science fiction thriller, directed by master of disaster Roland Emerich, hits home with energetic action sequences and explosive tough guy performances from its two powerhouse leads.

Sunday 9 January @ 21:00 – OFFICE UPRISING (2018) *UK TV Premiere 


Desmond, an underachiever working at a major weapons manufacturing firm finds that his co-workers have been “weaponized” by Zolt, a new energy drink designed for the military. He must then set off to rescue his one true love from an office building full of psychotic zombie co-workers armed with tomorrow’s deadliest tech

Saturday 15 January @ 21:00 – STAKE LAND (2010) *Channel Premiere



America has fallen. A vampiric scourge sweeps the nation, turning brother on brother and parent on child as the blood-hungry beasts take deeper and deeper hold upon the land. It’s hard for the survivors to know whether to be more afraid of the creatures themselves or the violent religious groups that have sprung up in response, but there is clearly only one choice: fight or die. This is where we find Martin (Connor Paolo), a young man traveling with only his taciturn mentor – a hardened fighter known simply as Mister – as protection against this blasted earth in search of the rumoured safe haven of New Eden. 


Saturday 22 January @ 21:00 – THE STAKELANDER (2016) *UK TV Premiere


When his home in New Eden is destroyed by a revitalized Brotherhood and its new Vampire leader, Martin finds himself alone in the badlands of America. Roaming the wilderness of a steadily decaying country, Martin searches for the one man who can help him exact revenge - his mentor, the legendary vampire hunter Mister. Once reunited, they prepare to confront the ravenous Brotherhood and its monstrous overlord. But it’ll take more than the two of them to battle this terrifying new threat, and with the future of humanity hanging in the balance, the stakes are higher than ever before.

Sunday 23 January @ 21:00 – THE WRETCHED (2019) * Channel Premier.


A defiant teenage boy, struggling with his parent's imminent divorce, faces off with a thousand year-old witch, who is living beneath the skin of and posing as the woman next door. Directed by The Pierce Brothers (Deadheads, the film enjoyed a run of five consecutive weeks at the top of the US box office.


Saturday 29 January @ 21:00 – EVIL DEAD 2 (1997) *Channel Premiere
 


In this sequel of the original cult classic, Bruce Campbell again stars as brawny wise guy Ash, as he and a group of people are trapped in a cabin while ancient evil lurks outside and threatens a fate worse than death. Can Ash save the day, or will his dead girlfriend come back to cause more trouble? Director Sam Raimi once more gleefully stomps on the entrails of good taste with his unique blend of black humour and horror.

TV: Sky 317 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 70 / Freesat 138
Website: http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/horrorchannel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/horror_channel




Werewolves, Robocop and Frankenstein - Coming March from Arrow Video

Arrow Video’s March lineup includes a magnificent UHD release of a true 1980s horror masterpiece, a Verhoeven sci-fi as you’ve never seen it before, the Blu-ray debut of KaizĂ´ Hayashi’s homage to silent cinema, and an outstanding presentation of a big budget Branagh and De Niro gothic.
 
The releases will come in Arrow Video’s lavish packaging, with beautiful new restorations of the films, commentaries and unseen behind-the-scenes featurettes, as well as booklets and art cards, collectable SteelBook editions, fantastic new artwork, and much more!
 

AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON - Limited Edition UHD Blu-ray
 

American tourists David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne) are savaged by an unidentified vicious animal whilst hiking on the Yorkshire Moors. David awakes in a London hospital to find his friend dead and his life in disarray. Retiring to the home of a beautiful nurse (Jenny Agutter, Walkabout) to recuperate, he soon experiences disturbing changes to his mind and body, undergoing a full-moon transformation that will unleash terror on the streets of the capital...
 
An American Werewolf in London had audiences howling with laughter and recoiling in terror upon its cinema release. Landis’ film has gone on to become one of the most important horror films of its decade, rightly lauded for its masterful set-pieces, uniquely unsettling atmosphere and Rick Baker’s truly ground-breaking, Oscar-winning special make-up effects. Now newly restored and presented with an abundance of extra features, this big beast of horror can be devoured as never before...
 
4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• Brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films from the original camera negative
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original uncompressed 1.0 mono and optional 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio commentary by Beware the Moon filmmaker Paul Davis
• Audio commentary by actors David Naughton and Griffin Dunne
• Mark of The Beast: The Legacy of the Universal Werewolf, a feature-length documentary by filmmaker Daniel Griffith, featuring interviews with John Landis, David Naughton, Joe Dante and more
• An American Filmmaker in London, an interview with John Landis in which he reflects on British cinema and his time working in Britain
• I Think He’s a Jew: The Werewolf’s Secret, a video essay by filmmaker Jon Spira (Elstree 1976) about how Landis’ film explores Jewish identity
• The Werewolf’s Call, Corin Hardy, director of The Hallow and The Nun, chats with writer Simon Ward about their formative experiences with Landis’ film
• Wares of the Wolf, a featurette in which SFX artist Dan Martin and Tim Lawes of Prop Store look at some of the original costumes and special effects artefacts from the film
• Beware the Moon, Paul Davis’ acclaimed, feature-length exploration of Landis’ film which boasts extensive cast and crew interviews
• An American Werewolf in Bob’s Basement and Causing a Disturbance: Piccadilly Revisited, two 2008 featurettes filmed by Paul Davis
• Making An American Werewolf in London, a short archival featurette on the film’s production
• An Interview with John Landis, a lengthy archival interview with the director about the film
• Make-up Artist Rick Baker on An American Werewolf in London, the legendary make-up artist discusses his work on the film
• I Walked with a Werewolf, an archival interview with Rick Baker about Universal horror and its legacy of Wolfman films
• Casting of the Hand, archival footage from Rick Baker’s workshop showing the casting of David Naughton’s hand
• Outtakes
• Storyboards featurette
• Original trailer and teaser plus TV and radio spots
• Extensive image gallery featuring over 200 stills, posters and other ephemera
• Reversible sleeve featuring original poster art and artwork by Graham Humphreys
• Double-sided fold-out poster
• Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproductions
• Limited edition 60-page, perfect-bound book featuring new writing by Craig Ian Mann and Simon Ward, archival articles and original reviews

Pre-order the UK UHD release from Amazon.co.uk

ROBOCOP - On Limited Edition UHD


Taking place in Detroit in the not-too-distant future. Heroic cop Alex Murphy (Peter Weller, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai) is gunned down in the line of duty, only to be resurrected as RoboCop – a cybernetic mix of spare human parts and Motor City steel, and the latest defense against crime designed by the all-powerful OCP Corporation. As RoboCop’s memories of his former life as Murphy resurface, only his ex-partner (Nancy Allen, Dressed To Kill) stands beside him to fight against the vicious thugs responsible for his death, as well as a nefarious top-level OCP executive orchestrating the chaos from above.

Unsurpassably thrilling, unexpectedly moving and unforgettably hilarious in equal measure, the future of law enforcement is back in a definitive 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation packed with hours of bonus features and exclusive collectable packaging.

4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative by MGM, transferred in 2013 and approved by director Paul Verhoeven
• Newly commissioned artwork by Paul Shipper
• Director’s Cut and Theatrical Cut of the film on two 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ discs with Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless stereo and four-channel mixes plus DTS-HD MA 5.1 and Dolby Atmos surround sound options on both cuts
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing on both cuts
• Six collector’s postcards (Limited Edition exclusive)
• Double-sided fold-out poster (Limited Edition exclusive)
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork (Limited Edition exclusive)
• 80-page Limited Edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Omar Ahmed, Christopher Griffiths and Henry Blyth, a 1987 Fangoria interview with Rob Bottin, and archive publicity materials (some contents exclusive to Limited Edition)

DISC ONE – DIRECTOR’S CUT

• Commentary by director Paul Verhoeven, executive producer Jon Davison and co-writer Ed Neumeier (originally recorded for the Theatrical Cut and re-edited in 2014 for the Director’s Cut)
• Commentary by film historian Paul M. Sammon
• Commentary by fans Christopher Griffiths, Gary Smart and Eastwood Allen
• The Future of Law Enforcement: Creating RoboCop, an interview with co-writer Michael Miner
• RoboTalk, a conversation between co-writer Ed Neumeier and filmmakers David Birke (writer of Elle) and Nicholas McCarthy (director of Orion Pictures’ The Prodigy)
• Truth of Character, an interview with star Nancy Allen on her role as Lewis
• Casting Old Detroit, an interview with casting director Julie Selzer on how the film’s ensemble cast was assembled
• Connecting the Shots, an interview with second unit director and frequent Verhoeven collaborator Mark Goldblatt
• Analog, a featurette focusing on the special photographic effects, including new interviews with Peter Kuran and Kevin Kutchaver
• More Man Than Machine: Composing RoboCop, a tribute to composer Basil Poledouris featuring film music experts Jeff Bond, Lukas Kendall, Daniel Schweiger and Robert Townson
• RoboProps, a tour of super-fan Julien Dumont’s collection of original props and memorabilia
• 2012 Q&A with the Filmmakers, a panel discussion featuring Verhoeven, Davison, Neumeier, Miner, Allen, star Peter Weller and animator Phil Tippett
• RoboCop: Creating A Legend, Villains of Old Detroit, Special Effects: Then & Now, three archive featurettes from 2007 featuring interviews with cast and crew
• Paul Verhoeven Easter Egg
• Four deleted scenes
• The Boardroom: Storyboard with Commentary by Phil Tippett
• Director’s Cut Production Footage, raw dailies from the filming of the unrated gore scenes, presented in 4K (SDR)
• Two theatrical trailers and three TV spots
• Extensive image galleries

DISC TWO – THEATRICAL CUT

• Commentary by director Paul Verhoeven, executive producer Jon Davison and co-writer Ed Neumeier (originally recorded for Theatrical version of the film)
• Two Isolated Score tracks (Composer’s Original Score and Final Theatrical Mix)
• Edited-for-television version of the film, featuring alternate dubs, takes and edits of several scenes (95 mins, SD only)
• Split screen comparisons between the Director’s Cut and Theatrical Cut, and the Theatrical Cut and edited-for-TV version
• RoboCop: Edited for Television, a compilation of alternate scenes from two edited-for-television versions, including outtakes newly transferred in HD from recently unearthed 35mm elements

Pre-order the UK UHD release from Amazon.co.uk

MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN - On UHD Blu-ray

At the turn of the 19th century, visionary scientist Victor Frankenstein (Kenneth Branagh) embarks on an obsessive quest to conquer the mysteries of human mortality. But his hubristic bid to create life out of death goes hideously wrong, and succeeds only in begetting a deformed monster (Robert De Niro). Horrified by what he has wrought, the scientist attempts to destroy his creation, but fails. Rejected by his creator and shunned by the world of man, the tormented creature swears vengeance against Frankenstein and his family. As the monster begins to enact his murderous revenge, Victor must face a terrible reckoning with the tragic consequences of attempting to play God.

Mary Shelley's seminal novel is one of the most adapted books of all time, and this retelling faithfully goes back to the original source, lushly transforming the story's twin themes of love and death into a darkly operatic gothic romance. Unlike many versions of Shelley's novel, Branagh's adaptation understands that Frankenstein's misbegotten creation is as pitiable as he is monstrous, and never loses sight of the human tragedy lying at the core of its horrific tale. Filled with sweeping, atmospheric visuals and powerfully emotional performances from an award-winning ensemble of acting talent, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein stands as a landmark interpretation of this enduring masterpiece.

4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

• New 4K restoration from the original camera negatives by Sony Pictures Entertainment
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original uncompressed stereo audio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary by film historians Michael Brooke and Johnny Mains
• Brand new interview with composer Patrick Doyle
• Brand new interview with costume designer James Acheson
• Brand new interview with make-up designer Daniel Parker
• Mary Shelley and The Creation of a Monster, a brand new documentary featurette on the origins and evolution of the Frankenstein story, featuring Gothic specialists David Pirie, Jonathan Rigby and Stephen Volk
• Dissecting Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a brand new featurette with David Pirie, Jonathan Rigby and Stephen Volk on the differences between the novel and Kenneth Branagh’s screen adaptation
• Frankenstein: A Liberal Adaptation from Mrs. Shelley’s Famous Story for Edison Production (1910): The first screen adaptation of Shelley’s story in a 2K restoration by the Library of Congress, with music by Donald Sosin
• Original trailers
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Laz Marquez

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Jon Towlson and Amy C. Chambers

Pre-order the UK UHD release from Amazon.co.uk

 

 

Monday 13 December 2021

Horror sequel THE JACK IN THE BOX: AWAKENING - unleashed 3rd Jan

A killer clown is on the rampage in knockout chiller THE JACK IN THE BOX: AWAKENING, released on DVD & Digital 3rd January 2022 by 4Digital Media.

Move over Pennywise - creepy clown The Jack’s back, and this time he’s here to slay - in the sequel to the 2019 horror favourite The Jack in the Box. This time round The Jack makes a dreadful deal with a dying woman to ensure he gets his six victims. 

SYNOPSIS:
Terminally ill heiress Olga Marsdale acquires a mysterious gothic box containing a captured demon - Jack.  The powerful entity within makes a deadly deal with Olga and her devoted son Edgar - deliver six victims to Jack and Olga will live. They trap several unsuspecting victims for him within the vast crumbling mansion - but can they deliver all six before it's too late? Or will Amy, the young and innocent woman recently hired to look after the estate turn out to be more than a match for both the family... and The Jack?

Mixing elements of Hellraiser and Killjoy with The Conjuring universe, and featuring outstanding creature design, shocks a-plenty and some fantastically spooky locations, this a cracking standalone sequel in what promises to be a long-running and popular horror franchise. 

Written and directed by Lawrence Fowler, the creator of the original film, it stars Matt McClure (Penny Dreadful), Nicola Wright (Devil Djinn), and James Swanton (Host, The Banishing) as The Jack.

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








 

VAN HELSING - Final series and complete collection, coming to Disc and Digital January

Dazzler Media presents hit fantasy-horror series VAN HELSING, the final season and The Complete Collection boxset, both coming to Blu-ray, DVD and Download-to-Own from 10th January. 

VAN HELSING has become one of the most exciting and entertaining fantasy-horror shows of recent times, combining brutal action with compelling storytelling and memorable characters. Inspired by the Helsing graphic novel series, the show has gone on to earn a loyal fan following worldwide.

Following an event referred to as “The Rising”, vampires now dominate the world. Vanessa Van Helsing (Kelly Overton, True Blood, Legends), the great-great-great-grand daughter of vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing, is resurrected to lead the surviving humans in their struggle against the vampires.

Van Helsing The Complete Collection features all 65 episodes, including the eagerly awaited fifth and final series. 

Pre-Order the Series 5 BD Box Set from Amazon.co.uk

Pre-Order the Series 5 DVD Box Set from Amazon.co.uk

Pre-Order the Complete Collection BD Box-Set from Amazon.co.uk

Pre-Order the Complete Collection DVD Box-Set from Amazon.co.uk


 






December releases from TetroVideo available for pre-order on Goredrome

THE GIRL WITH THE CUTTER, GOLGOTA and JACK THE ST. RIPPER from TetroVideo available for pre-order on Goredrome

Distributed by TetroVideo, the slasher film JACK THE ST. RIPPER (USA, Italy - 2017) by George Nevada and the extreme films THE GIRL WITH THE CUTTER and GOLGOTA (Spain - 2021) Directed by Mikel Balerdi are coming in a limited DVD pack edition (Slipcase + DVD + Card) in December.


Exceptionally, for a limited time only, these new TetroVideo titles will be available for pre-order starting from December 6th via Goredrome Horror Store (and not on the TetroVideo official website as usual), the new online store with exclusive discounts, tons of horror/extreme films, books and horror gadgets.

On this occasion, XXX Dark Web and House of Flesh Mannequins will be back in stock with a new amaray edition that will be available on Goredrome.

Written by Domiziano Cristopharo (Nightmare Symphony) and directed by George Nevada (Scarecrowd), JACK THE ST. RIPPER is a slasher film about a stripper boy played by Alexio Cohen.

JACK THE ST. RIPPER is a homage to the giallo genre, in particular to the Dario Argento filmography and also to the cult film Carrie (1976) by Brian De Palma.

Synopsis: a dance group of male strippers are brutally murdered one by one by a masked killer wearing black leather gloves.

Alexio Cohen, Cleverson Rodrigues (P.O.E. 4: The Black Cat), Chiara Pavoni (Xpiation), Francesco Giannotti, Mark Thompson Ashworth, Frances Williams, Antony Ferry (Scarecrowd) and Gabrielle Bergere star.

JACK THE ST. RIPPER DVD Bonus Features: Jack The St. Ripper (Cinema Version); Bloopers; Backstage; Alexio Cohen hot gallery; Original Trailer.

Best known for his feature debut Larva Mental, Mikel Balerdi is back with the double feature of THE GIRL WITH THE CUTTER and GOLGOTA. 

THE GIRL WITH THE CUTTER (51 min.) is an experimental art film and it’s inspired by a true story.

Cofi Valduvieux plays a tormented woman who battles the urge to cut herself. She spends her time fighting voices, having visions of a demonic version of herself and trying to figure out the best way to harm herself. With her mental suffering mounting, things start to escalate.

Golgota (26 min.) is a film about extreme body art with a very pronounced sexual component. The film is told through a series of title cards per hour. It’s 6 hours in the life of Wendy, a woman with multiple paraphilias and who has no limits.

THE GIRL WITH THE CUTTER and GOLGOTA DVD Bonus Features: GOLGOTA; THE GIRL WITH THE CUTTER (Original Version); Interview with Wendy; Interview with Mikel Balerdi; The Girl with the Cutter Trailer; Golgota Trailer.

Pre-order these at... https://www.goredrome.com

Checkout other TetroVideo titles at... https://tetrovideo.com


Director Paul Hyett talks about HOWL, SEASONING HOUSE and the Importance of story telling.

As AVOD film site W4Free unleashes bloodthirsty Werewolf movie HOWL, director Paul Hyett reflects on the importance of story-telling, the career effects of the pandemic and what horror films have caught his eye lately.

Q: Looking back on the production of HOWL, what stands out for you in terms of the directorial experience?

It was a real learning experience with the sheer number of VFX shots. And what I can do on set to make the VFX guys workload easier, for example, getting practical plate shots. Also, working on a green screen set. I think that’s what made it stand out to me, the pure logistical way of filming on a train set build, on a green screen set with hundreds of visual effects and tying everything together so it works.

Q: HOWL was your second feature as director, following the dark and controversial THE SEASONING HOUSE. What was behind the decision to make such a distinct genre shift?

I already knew the producers Ed King and Martin Gentles from actually being up for the job of making the werewolf prosthetics and suits. At the same time the original director left, they had watched THE SEASONING HOUSE as opening film at FrightFest 2012, so they asked to think about taking over the directorial reins, which I jumped at the chance to.

Q: Would you like to make another Werewolf inspired movie?

If a good werewolf script came along I would definitely think about it. When I read a script, for me it’s all about story and characters.


Q: HOWL, like THE SEASONING HOUSE, THE CONVENT (HERETIKS) and PERIPHERAL, have all received world premieres at FrightFest. What is it about the festival that makes it so important to launch your films there?

My relationship with Frightfest goes back nearly two decades. It feels like my extended family. I think it’s the best way to introduce your film to the world. The audiences are smart as well as supportive. I think the coverage is important, its hard to get your film out there and noticed. Frightfest is a natural springboard. And the support is so well appreciated. And also you have a really fun time there!


Q: Even though you’re a master of visual effects, you’ve gone on record as saying that the most important aspect of filmmaking for you in the storytelling. Can you elaborate?

Above all the visual effects, practical effects, CGI, the most important part is the storytelling, the narrative structure, the characters. Everything else comes second. You have to be invested in the characters, you need to be immersed in the story, otherwise no matter what you do visually, you won’t care, it will just feel flat. If you care about a character which is killed, then it stimulates an emotional reaction in you. The effect itself will feel a lot more powerful with those emotions.

Q: We hear you were about to make another film when the pandemic broke. What can you tell us?

I was in Cape Cod, doing recces for a film called ‘UNNATURAL SELECTION, a kind of John Carpenter / Stephen King, New England type vibe. We were looking for locations and about to start casting. The pandemic really put us into a hiatus. But we’re working on getting it restarted.

Q: Has the continuing lockdown restrictions affected or influenced your creative process?

It’s certainly made me disciplined about working at my desk at home. In lockdown there were no real distractions, you couldn’t go anywhere, do anything, so you might as well just sit and work. Writing, concept designing, developing. Otherwise you can go mad, you need a focus, a reason to get up. For people on furlough, at home, without work to do must have been really hard. I’m lucky, anyone that can work from home is lucky.


Q: Have any horror films caught your eye this year?

I really enjoyed ARMY OF THE DEAD, it was actually what it said on the tin. Intense fun, ultra gore and zombie tigers, what more could you want?

Q: Have you ventured back into a cinema yet?

Yes once! To see the new ‘The Conjuring’ movie..

Q: Any future plans you can tell us?

I’m still trying to get UNNATURAL SELECTION up as well as developing THE BLACK SITE with Grimmfest films. Also, I have just partnered with a producer on another project, a horror set in New Orleans. Soon to be announced!

You can watch HOWL free of charge on www.w4free.com

Friday 3 December 2021

THE LAST THING MARY SAW - Coming to SHUDDER January.

Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thrillers and the supernatural, has confirmed the release of its latest Shudder Original, THE LAST THING MARY SAW. Following the film's success at FrightFest and Fantasia Festival this year, the period horror will premiere exclusively on Shudder on 20th January 2022.


The film stars Rory Culkin (Waco, Halston), Stefanie Scott (Insidious: Chapter 3) and Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan) and is written and directed by Edoardo Vitaletti, who makes his feature length film debut.
 
Southold, New York, 1843: Young Mary (Scott), blood trickling from behind the blindfold tied around her eyes, is interrogated about the events surrounding her grandmother’s death. As the story jumps back in time, we witness Mary, raised in a repressively religious household, finding fleeting happiness in the arms of Eleanor (Fuhrman), the home’s maid. 

Her family, who believe they are seeing, speaking, and acting on God’s behalf, view the girls’ relationship as an abomination, to be dealt with as severely as possible. The couple attempt to carry on in secret, but someone is always watching, or listening, and the wages of perceived sin threaten to become death, with the tension only heightened by the arrival of an enigmatic stranger (Culkin) and the revelation of greater forces at work.

The film was produced by Isen Robbins and Aimee Schoof of Intrinsic Value Films, Harrison Allen and Madeleine Schumacher of Arachnid Films, Stephen Tedeschi and Executive Produced by Scoop Wasserstein.

THE LAST THING MARY SAW will be available on SHUDDER from 20th January 2022

AMC Networks’ Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering horror, thrillers and the supernatural. Shudder’s expanding library of film, TV series, and originals is available on most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. For a 7-day, risk-free trial, visit www.shudder.com.




 

 

New horror short film STAY PRETTY, NO PITY - available on YouTube

Tokyo Bay Films is excited to present STAY PRETTY, NO PITY, which is available to watch on YouTube.
 
If a ghost shows herself to you in the mirror and asks: "Do you want to stay pretty?" What would your answer be?
 
STAY PRETTY, NO PITY is a short film that tells the story of Lucy (Maria Ozawa) who fled an abusive relationship and took refuge with her new roommate. Things take a turn for the worst when a ghost appears and shows her seemingly random images. Lucy has three days to decipher the clues of these visions and discover the ghost's intentions.
 
STAY PRETTY, NO PITY is a spooky extension of the ancient Japanese folklore tale of Oiwa Yotsuya (Yotsuya Kaidan). The original tale followed a samurai who after murdering his wife after she became deformed was haunted by her spirit until he became insane and killed himself.
 
Now hundreds of years later, Yotsuya is back! She is punishing ugly characters by recruiting the pretty, starting with Lucy.
 
STAY PRETTY, NO PITY is available to watch on YouTube now here: https://bit.ly/3Eh653b




 

Chilling short film LOS HUESOS (THE BONES) comes to MUBI

MUBI, the global curated film streaming service and theatrical distributor, is pleased to announce that the award-winning short film LOS HUESOS (THE BONES), directed by Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña, will be available to watch exclusively on MUBI globally from December 8 2021.

With LOS HUESOS (THE BONES), directing duo LeĂłn and Cociña (The Wolf House) bring a ghostly, fictitious account of the world’s first stop-motion animated film, channeling the transformative political energy of today’s Chile.

Produced by Lucas Engel (My Tender Matador), and executive produced by Ari Aster (Midsommar, Hereditary) alongside Adam Butterfield and Engel, with an original score by violinist Tim Fain, the film documents a ritual performed by a girl using human corpses and invoking the spirits of two damned Secretaries of State–central figures in the construction of an authoritarian and oligarchic Chile. It has been met with critical acclaim, winning the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film at this year’s Venice Film Festival and the Critics’ Award for Best Official Selection Short Film at the Sitges Film Festival.

Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña are a Chilean artistic duo created in 2007. Their solo and collective work has been shown internationally in individual and group exhibitions, in film and audiovisual festivals and in art Biennials, being part of several collections in different countries, and having exhibited at the Venice Biennale (Italy), Guggenheim Museum (New York), Whitechapel Gallery (London) and at the Video and Media Arts Biennial (National Museum of Fine Arts).

Their cinematographic work has been recognized worldwide by critics and the public. Their first feature film "The Wolf House" premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, won the Best Film Award at the Annecy Film Festival, among many other awards, and was considered by the IGN site as one of the 10 Best Animated Films of history.

In 2021, León & Cociña were included in Variety/Nickelodeon’s 10 Animators to watch list. 

LOS HUESOS (THE BONES) will be available exclusively on MUBI globally from December 8, 2021.


 


STAGEFRIGHT comes to UK Blu-ray and Digital, 27 Dec from Shameless Films

Combining graphic, blood-splattered set pieces with his trademark wit and filmmaking elegance, Michele Soavi's (Dellamorte Dellamore, The Sect, The Church), STAGEFRIGHT is unleashed in a new 4K restoration.

When a masked killer infiltrates a group of actors rehearsing overnight in an isolated theatre, the stage is set for carnage! Featuring an abundance of over-the-top kills and spills, shot with Soavi's typical style, marvel at the mayhem as the iconic chainsaw wielding ‘Owl Man’, delivers a blood-soaked performance for the ages.

From one of the masters of Italian horror, STAGEFRIGHT is at the pinnacle of 80s slashers. Michele Soavi was schooled by Dario Argento and Terry Gilliam and his beloved first feature can now finally be seen as intended, with this edition further benefiting from the Director's colour grading and framing indications given during a candid interview filmed exclusively for this release.  

SPECIAL FEATURES
- New 4K restoration
- 'Staging the Fright' - Interview with director Michele Soavi
- 'The Theatre of Blood' - Interview with actor Giovanni Lombardo Radice
- 'The Last Performance' - Interview with actor David Brandon
- New subtitles
- Hard-of-Hearing Closed Captions

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

 


New UK Poster for PETROV'S FLU revealed

SOVEREIGN is proud to announce the release of controversial Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov’s Cannes prize-winner, the sci-fi drama PETROV'S FLU, on February 11th 2022 in UK cinemas.


A deadpan, hallucinatory romp through post-Soviet Russia, based on the novel The Petrovs In and Around the Flu by Alexey Salnikov, the film details a surreal and fantastic day in the life of a comic book artist and his family. It won the prestigious CTS Artist award at this year’s Cannes Film festival, for Vladislav Opelyants' virtuoso cinematography and was nominated for the Palme d’Or. The film was also selected to play in the ‘Dare’ section of this year’s BFI London Film Festival.

Director Serebrennikov’s film The Student (2016) competed for the Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival and went on to win the Francois Chalais prize. His previous film, Leto (2018) was part of the main Competition at Cannes and was awarded the ‘personal Palme d’Or’ by Le Figaro magazine. He wrote Petrov’s Flu while he was under house arrest in Russia.

The result is a very crazy, very Russian and an extremely violent and unique experience that is in turns shocking and disturbing, explicit, touching and visually stunning, appealing to fans of everything from sci-fi, action to provocative arthouse. A weird, wild ride into a dark night of the soul, featuring random acts of insanity, aliens, erotically-charged demonic librarians, a pair of singing dentures and the perils of public transport - imagine Terry Gilliam and Gasper Noe collaborating to update a Gogol short story and you’re halfway there.

Synopsis:
With the city in the throes of a flu epidemic, the Petrov family struggles through yet another day in a country where the past is never past, the present is a booze-fueled, icy fever dream of violence and tenderness, and where - beneath layers of the ordinary - things turn out to be quite extraordinary.

PETROV’S FLU WILL BE RELEASED IN UK CINEMAS ON 11 FEBRUARY 2022

 

 

A very strange stay awaits at the HOTEL POSEIDON on Arrow, January.

On January 3rd 2022, the essential, alternative streaming service ARROW premieres HOTEL POSEIDON, the debut feature from Belgian writer/director Stefan Lerous. 
 

Imagine David Lynch filming at the Overlook from The Shining, with interior decoration akin to the Hotel Earle from Barton Fink, and you’ve got HOTEL POSEIDON - a seriously run down, and extremely strange place where nightmares and reality collide. The last thing you’ll have is a relaxing stay - but it’ll certainly be a memorable one...
 
An unconventional story, bordering on the surreal and at times the fantastic, the film eschews conventional narrative rules in favor of the enigmatic internal logic of a nightmare. As curious characters occupy the rooms and corridors of the hotel, we find ourselves in a dream-like universe infused with grotesque surrealism: a style imprinted on the Belgian artistic DNA. 
 
Synopsis:
A day in the life of reluctant hotel owner Dave – a man troubled by nightmares, his neighbor, his friends and love.Dave’s existence is hopeless. His days and nights blend into each other as he wanders vacantly through the halls of the Abandoned and dilapidated Hotel Poseidon, which he inherited from his deceased father. When a young woman knocks on the hotel’s door looking for a room, while Dave’s best friend wants to throw a party in the backroom, and a recurring dream haunts him, a surreal and grisly ordeal is set in motion.
 

HOTEL POSEIDON was produced and financed by the Belgian theater company  Abattoir FermĂ©, a well-established name in theater circles, often lauded for its far-out visual fantasy and the cinematic quality of its stage plays. It seemed like only a matter of time (and the right circumstances) before they would venture into producing a full-length feature film.
 
ARROW’s exclusive presentation of HOTEL POSEIDON will include a Q&A between Cub director Jonas Govaerts and HOTEL POSEIDON writer/director Stefan Lernous; an audio commentary by Lernous; Deleted scene, one-take party scene and the rehearsal footage of that scene; Fantasia Q&A with Lernous and Justine Smith; a special Intro for the  ARROW release of the film.
 
Watch HOTEL POSEIDON first: head to ARROW and start your 30-day free trial. Available on the following Apps/devices: Xbox, Roku (all Roku sticks, boxes, devices, etc), Apple TV; iOS devices, Android TV and mobile devices, Fire TV (all Amazon Fire TV Sticks, boxes, etc), and on all web browsers at www.ARROW-Player.com.

Subscriptions are available for £4.99 monthly or £49.99 annually

Horror Channel premieres zombie musical ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE on Xmas Day

There is a Xmas Day treat in store for genre fans, with the Horror Channel premiere of ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE, a pure gore delight with a mental, maniacal and magical edge. John McPhail’s infectious zombie musical stars Ella Hunt, Mark Benton and Paul Kaye.

Sat 25 Dec @ 21:00 – ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE (2017) *Channel Premiere


Anna is looking forward to the end of high school. But while her widowed father dreams of university, she has other plans – jet-setting around the world to experience life before settling down. Suddenly a zombie apocalypse threatens her sleepy Scottish town, forcing Anna and friends to struggle, slash and sing their way to survival, facing the living dead in a desperate race to reach their loved ones. SHAUN OF THE DEAD gets FOOTLOOSE with HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL in a pure gore delight with a toe-tapping beat.

TV: Sky 317 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 70 / Freesat 138
Website: http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/horrorchannel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/horror_channel

PUPPET KILLER – A Review

Having watched Director Lisa Ovies feature film debut, PUPPET KILLER, which has just been released to Digital outlets, I think I can safely say this is undoubtedly one of the most bizarre comedy horrors released this year.

The film essentially revolves around “teenager” Jamie, as played by Aleks Paunovic (War of the Planet of the Apes, TV's Van Helsing, Snowpiercer). A horror film addict, who has for years been plagued by nightmares of his favourite childhood toy puppet coming alive and killing his stepmother, who dissapeared one night when he was young.

With the Christmas Holidays coming up, he and a group of his “teenage” friends (not one of which looks a day under 35), head on out to his family's old cabin in the woods for a week of partying. But it isn't too long before they realise something's amiss.

It starts when they discover his old favourite childhood toy, a plush pink glove puppet named Simon, down in the cellar. Shortly afterwards, some of his friends start to go missing, whilst others claim to have seen Simon moving about on his own,though they put this down to Jamie larking about.

Could Simon really have a life of his own, or is it that Jamie is off his meds?

Boasting some inventive kills whilst parodying numerous slasher movies, this is a thoroughly silly film, that doesn't even try to conceal the fact the leads are way too old to be teenagers (indeed, lead Aleks Paunovic is older than the actor playing his father). Although everything is played straight, and it certainly doesn't hold back on the gore.

Of course, treading a thin line between horror and comedy, this film might not be to all tastes, but if you're in the mood for some good gory sillyness, it's definitely worth watching. 

PUPPET KILLER is available now on all major Digital Download platforms.

View the trailer on YouTube.