Curandero : Dawn of the Demon - UK DVD review

Mexican horror film “Curandero : Dawn of the Demon” is released to UK DVD this week and was fortunate enough to get an advanced look at the disc.

 

Set in Mexico, Carlos (Carlos  Gallardo, a regular in Robert Rodriguez films) is the son of a spiritual medium, known as a Curandero, who many people seem to think also has his fathers “powers”. But Carlos is in fact a sceptic, who doesn’t buy into any of this spiritual nonsense and spends most of his time debunking local superstitions.

 

A young detective, Magdelana Garcia, comes to visit him, looking for his father saying she needs his help to spiritually purify the police station. A brutal drug lord, Castenada (Gabriel Pingarron) who’s heavily into black magic, escaped from there days earlier and the police are scared to go back inside until it’s been cleansed.

 

Though he thinks they’re being superstitious fools, he agrees to go through the motions just so he can get them back to work. However, when a rather demonic looking Castenada, who only he can see, pays him a visit in the police station he is forced to reconsider his sceptical position.

 

Seems Castenada wants Detective Garcia for some reason and only Carlos is able to prevent him from getting his hands on her and so the scene is set for a bizarre showdown of sorts of evil spirits vs good. Scripted by Robert Rodriguez (From Dusk till Dawn, Sin City), this one was originally filmed back in 2005 and was produced by Mirimax films, but got stuck in post-production hell whilst the studios were in turmoil. But has thankfully seen light of day thanks to Lionsgate films.

 

Filmed by Eduardo Rodriguez (no relation to Robert), the film blends elements of Mexican superstition and witchcraft against a backdrop of Mexicos drug problems and police corruption, which produces some interesting results (think “Constantine” crossed with “Miami Vice”, but set in Mexico). There’s some good gore and some interesting demonic imagery, but the film’s lows budget and odd pacing do count against it. It is however an interesting new take on various themes that have featured before, and fans of Robert Rodriguez other movies will undoubtedly want to check it out, so my verdict is give it a go!

 

The film can be viewed either in its original Spanish language with optional English subs, or in dubbed English. An audio commentary track with director Eduardo Rodriguez and Director of Photography Jaime Reynoso (in English) is also included on the disc.

 

The film is out on UK DVD now from Lionsgate.

 

View the trailer on YouTube

 

Buy the DVD at Amazon.co.uk

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost at "The World's End".

Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright have unveiled the new poster for their upcoming horror/sci-fi comedy film "The Worlds End" (think, "Shaun of the Dead" crossed with "Invasion of the Body Snatchers").

 

The film is due in UK cinemas 19th July.

 

 

 

View the trailer on YouTube.

This June on The Horror Channel (UK).

Ryan Andrews’ tasty horror thriller ELFIE HOPKINS, starring Jaime & Ray Winstone (on screen for the first time together), makes its TV debut on Sat June 27, 22:55, courtesy of Horror Channel.

 

A twisted tale of cannibalism set in a British rural hunting village, ELFIE HOPKINS  stars Jaime Winstone as wannabe detective Elfie Hopkins, whose life changes when a mysterious family moves into her sleepy neighbourhood.

 

Elfie’s appetite for gumshoe excitement is soon matched by the strange and exotic appetites of the sinister Gammons. But will anyone other than best friend Dylan Parker (ANEURIN BARNARD) and local butcher (RAY WINSTONE) believe her before their homeland turns into a cannibal holocaust!

 

Plus, there are UK TV premieres of three films that are part of the Friday night double-bills that make up the GRINDHOUSE SEASON.(June 7 – June 28) - DEAR GOD NO!, (billed with THE EXTERMINATOR); BARE BEHIND BARS (billed with BAD BIOLOGY and MONSTRO! (billed with 99 WOMEN) The fourth double-bill is NUDE NUNS WITH BIG GUNS, paired with channel favourite THE BEYOND. Welcome to B-Movie heaven – and hell…

 

June also sees the network premieres of three not-to-be-missed zombie films, George Romero’s classic DAY OF THE DEAD (June 29), the third in his seminal zombie trilogy, Adam Gierasch’s sexy crowd-pleaser NIGHT OF THE DEMONS (June 9) and the all-out Dutch zombie gore-comedy KILL ZOMBIE! (June 16).

 

TV: Sky 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138

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Apartment 1303 comes to UK disc this June.

Koch Media got in touch to tell us about their new horror movie "Apartment 1303", which comes to UK DVD and Blu-Ray this June.

Having grown up under the controlling grip of her fame-hungry mother, played by the excellent Rebecca De Mornay, Janet Slate (Julianne Michelle) takes the opportunity to move into what looks to be a great high-rise apartment in downtown Detroit.

 

Despite the strange neighbours and the depraved building superintendent, Janet unpacks her things and celebrates her new freedom, only to wake in the morning with strange bruises on her neck. Determined not to return to her mother’s home, Janet stays in the apartment in spite of a series of inexplicable chilling encounters, until one night her boyfriend Mark finds her in the middle of the street, fallen from the balcony thirteen stories above.

Refusing to accept the investigators conclusion of suicide, Janet’s sister Lara (Mischa Barton) becomes determined to reveal the truth behind her death. On learning the tragic story of the first tenants, Janet soon discovers the terrible reality of what happens in Apartment 1303...
 

Based on the Japanese horror film of the same name, "Apartment 1303" is being released through Koch Media and will be available from 3rd June on 3D/2D Blu-ray, DVD and VOD. No news on what extras will be included on the discs (if any).

View the trailer on YouTube

Buy the UK DVD at Amazon.co.uk (2D)

Buy the UK BD at Amazon.co.uk (2D & 3D)

 

 

 

 

 

Texas Chainsaw - UK DVD/BD review

Texas Chainsaw, the latest in the ever disjointed saga of Texas Chainsaw Massacre films, comes to UK disc May 21st and Lionsgate were nice enough to send me over a copy to take a look at.

 

Flashing back to the events of the 1974 original, showing the escape of Sally Hardesty from the Sawyer household, the Sheriff goes to confront the Sawyer clan, who have enlisted the help of their extended family (which features a few familiar faces in different roles) to defend the property. But just as it looks like they're about to give themselves up, an angry vigilante mob descends on the place and burns it to the ground.

 

Flashing forward to the present day and young Heather Miller (Alexandra Daddario), has just discovered she had a Grandmother she never knew about and that she's just inherited her rather large estate. Heading out to the property with her boyfriend Ryan (played by singer Trey Songz) and a few friends, they settle down for weekend of partying, not realising that the house, and indeed her family history, is harbouring a very dark secret.

 

Yes, there's an unexpected guest in the house, who's been hiding there for a number of years, and there's no prizes for guessing what happens next, as Leatherface makes an appearance and pretty soon, teens are getting sliced and diced all over the place in graphic detail.

 

Whilst the film does take a few liberties with the time elapsed between the original and this, If you enjoy watching madmen with chainsaws carving up teenagers, then you can't really go wrong and it was kind of interesting seeing a number of familiar faces in different roles (or even the same roles in some cases). It was also fun to see the film taking a few shots at the SAW franchise as well.

 

Originally released to cinemas in 3D, Lionsgate are releasing the film on 3D Blu-Ray as well as on 2D Blu-Ray and DVD for those who have yet to invest in a 3D TV. I was sent the standard DVD to review, but to be honest the film doesn't really lose anything from not being in 3D.

 

Extras on the disc are exactly the same for each release, which includes

 

-Audio commentary with Director John Luessenhop and actor Dan Yeager

-Audio commentary with Producer Carl Mazzocone and Filmaker Tobe Hooper

-Audio commentary with original Chainsaw stars Bill Mosely, Gunnar Hansen, Marilyn Burns and John Dugan

-Texas Chainsaw Legacy - Cast and crew members old and new discuss the original 74 film

-Ressurecting the saw - making of feature

-The old Homestead - a look at how they recreated the original house for the film

-Casting Terror - Behind the scenes interviews with the cast of the film

-Leatherface 2013 - Interview with Dan Yeager, the new Leatherface.

-Lights Camera Massacre - The crew discuss how they shot the film in 3D

-It's in the Meat - Special effects feature looking at how they did the gore

-5 Minute Massacres - Behind the scenes footage of how they shot all the death scenes

-Alternate opening - A slightly different take on the scene where the Sheriff confronts the Sawyers

 

A nice selection of extras, was slightly dissapointed that they didn't include a theatrical trailer though, as I always enjoy those.

 

Anyway, the film hits UK video shelves 27th May courtesy of Lionsgate films

 

Buy the UK DVD at Amazon.co.uk

Buy the UK BD at Amazon.co.uk

Buy the UK 3D BD at Amazon.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Horror Show - Video on Demand service launches (UK)

 

THE HORROR SHOW, launching on 14th June, is the only UK video on demand destination created for, and curated by horror fans. It’s the primary destination for horror fans to stream and/or download horror films, from the latest releases to classic and cult titles.

 

Current titles include the critically-acclaimed cult film EXCISION, THE TALL MAN starring Jessica Biel and the HUMAN CENTIPEDE films, as well as restored classics like WHO CAN KILL A CHILD? and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and cult favourites such as DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, and a world exclusive- the award-winning supernatural horror THE CASEBOOK OF EDDIE BREWER available exclusively through THE HORROR SHOW.

 

In addition, THE HORROR SHOW has the exclusive ‘SHORT STACK’ – a package 10 short horror  films – including the award-winning HIM INDOORS, starring The League of Gentleman’s Reece Shearsmith – available for 99p, less than 10p per film!

  

More films are being added weekly and all films are compatible with the most popular browsers and smartphones.

 

THE HORROR SHOW will officially launch in the UK on Friday June 14th, following a launch event at the Prince Charles Cinema in London on Thursday June 13th.

 

For more info visit http://www.thehorrorshow.tv

The Dead 2 : Cannes Trailer

The Ford Brothers, who were the duo behind 2011's African zombie film "The Dead" have put togethor a trailer for thier new film "The Dead 2 : India" for screening at the Cannes Film Festival.

 

"The Dead 2" is the first-ever International production of a zombie film shot in India and follows the story of American engineer Nicholas Burton (JOSEPH MILLSON) in a race against time to reach his pregnant girlfriend Ishani Sharma (MEENU). Burton enlists the help of an orphan street kid Javed (ANAND GOYAL) and together they make a perilous 300 mile journey across deadly landscapes as a zombie apocalypse threatens to engulf the entire nation

 

The film is currently in post production and will hopefully be released later this year. Checkout the trailer on YouTube below...