"Let us Prey" - review from the Mayhem Horror Festival

Brian O'Malley's "Let us Prey" is another film I caught whilst attending The Mayhem Horror festival on Thursday October 30th (see my review of the other film “The Editor”). Set in a remote Scottish village, the film stars Pollyanna Macintosh (The Woman) as WPC Heggie, a fresh faced recruit, who’s just started at the towns police station on the night shift.

 

On her way into work on her first night, she apprehends a joy rider, who knocked over an old man. Yet strangely, the body appears to have vanished when they look round.

 

Having booked him in at the station, we quickly get the impression that the towns constabulary are not the nicest of folk. The officer in charge, Sgt MacReady (Douglass Russell – A Lonely Place to Die) is a gruff, old school copper, who likes to beat manners into unruly detainees.

 

The 2 other officers on shift that night, PC Warnock and WPC Mundie (played by “Outpost III”’s Bryan Larkin and “The Outcast”’s Hanna Stanbridge) are a seedy pair who seem more interested in pounding each other in the back of their patrol car than pounding the beat.

 

Anyway, they later find the old man (played by “Game of Thrones” Liam Cunningham) wandering the streets in a daze and bring him into the station, which is when things start to get weird. The local doctor comes to check him out, but then tries to attack him. Sticking them both in the holding cells, it seems the old man knows that everyone at the station, prisoners and policemen alike, are harbouring a very dark secret. Fate has brought them all together for a reason this night and their sins are all about to find them out.

 

Directed by newcomer Brian O’Malley, the film is a very weird supernatural tale which goes to show that karma can be a right bitch, as well as putting a whole new shine on the phrase “All Coppers are B*****ds”. In which we find these particular upholders of the law are arguably worse offenders than the people they arrest.

 

Overall, I was very impressed with this film. Which features a solid cast and proves to be an effective little chiller. It was certainly well received by the others at the festival, so I would definitely recommend seeking this one out when it comes to disc.

 

For more info visit http://www.letuspreymovie.com/

 

 

The Best Ways To Survive A Real Purge

Get off the streets, lock the doors and prepare for the return of "The Purge: Anarchy" coming to Blu-ray and DVD on 17th November. 

 

"The Purge: Anarchy" sees the mayhem of the purge, where one night a year, all crime including murder is legal.  While some purge for kicks, and some purge for revenge, some just like to try to survive.  To celebrate the Blu-ray and DVD release here’s a guide on the best ways to survive a ‘real purge’...Will you #SurviveTheNight?

Stay Alert

 

Stay alert. Even for the non-participant, being alert and vigilant is a necessity. Only when we are prepared and self-sustained can we truly enjoy The Purge.

 

Get Provisions

 

 

Be prepared with plenty of food and drinks. Not only will this keep you from unnecessary travel on Purge night, it will make for a comfortable and enjoyable viewing of the events.

 

Hide

 

Cover up and keep away from windows as they are an easy portal to danger. Upper-level windows, though less dangerous than those on the ground level, should still be safely covered and avoided.

 

 

Defend Your Home

 

 

Protect your home. Even if you cannot afford a top-level security system, you can take steps to make your home safer. Try a basic barricade at your stairwell and remain either below in the basement or safely above on the upper floors.  Always have a backup plan for your escape, and do what you have to do to ensure your own survival.

 

Fight

 

 

Establish yourself as a psychotic violent presence in your neighbourhood, someone not to be trifled with, and who is feared by all.  In essence, live like every day is Purge day.
  

 

Run

 

 

If you get caught driving around and the Purge starts to happen, RUN!   Go to the nearest corner shop and find a weapon of some kind and make your way home.  As a last ditch, if you are ever caught out in the open, cover yourself with blood and take a really long nap.

 

"The Purge: Anarchy" is released on Blu-ray and DVD from 17th November from Universal Pictures (UK). A box-set including both The Purge and The Purge: Anarchy will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on the same date.

Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk

Buy the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk

Buy the UK DVD double pack from Amazon.co.uk

Buy the UK BD double pack from Amazon.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell making "Evil Dead" TV series

OK, for those of you who haven't already heard the news, it seems Bruce Campbell will be returning as Ash, but this time on the small screen, for a new TV series entitled "Ash Vs The Evil Dead".

 

The show has been ordered by the Starz TV network in the US, and will comprise of 10 half-hour episodes. Sam Raimi is writing and directing the pilot episode and will be producing the rest of the series, alongside fellow "Evil Dead" stalwart Robert Tappert.

 

Its been over 20 years since Bruce Campbell last appeared as Ash (not counting the guest appearance in that awful remake from the other year), back in 1993's "Army of Darkness", Raimi's third film in the Evil Dead series.

 

The new show will see Ash, some years later, back in his old job, squaring off against another set of deadites when evil comes to call on him once again (I'm assuming this follows on from the theatrical ending of "Army of Darkness", as opposed to the post-apocalyptic ending from the directors cut version).

 

The film is set to premiere on the Starz network in the US sometime in 2015. News on if and when this will be screened in the UK will be published when it becomes available.

 

 

"The Editor" - a review from the Mayhem Film Festival

On Thursday the 30th of October I attended the opening night of the Mayhem Horror Film festival at the Broadway Cinema in Nottingham to see, amongst other films, “The Editor” by infamous production crew ‘Astron-6’

 

The show had opened with a selection of their earlier short films which included, amongst other shorts, “Bio-Cop”, a bizarre cross between “The Incredible Melting Man” and “Manic Cop”. “Inferno of the Dead”, in which the zombies from “Nights of Terror” (Burial Ground) turn out to be pretty lousy flatmates, “Cool Guys”, a piss-take of those 80s beach movies and “Goreblade”, a Hercules/Xena type spoof.

 

Having been given a taste of what was to come, it was onto the main feature. “The Editor”.  Which was basically a send up of those Italian Giallos (crime thrillers) from the 70’s and early 80s.

 

The film revolves around a Franco Nero lookalike, Rey Ciso (Adam Brooks), who was once an award winning film editor. But has since been forced to take menial work on low budget films, after an unfortunate accident in the editing room left him with a prosthetic wooden hand, which has severely hampered his editing abilities.

 

Unfortunately, it seems people in the cast and crew of the latest film he’s working on are getting bumped off by a knife wielding maniac and the bungling policeman in charge, detective Porfiry (Matthew Kennedy) thinks it’s him.

 

However, it seems Porfiry is a complete idiot who’s too incompetent to catch a cold and only got promoted to detective because his wife, who also happens to be one of the actresses in the film, happens to be the daughter of the police chief.

 

Meanwhile, the killer continues to hack and slash his way through the film crew, as Porfiry tries desperately to pin it on Ciso, whilst the other cast members only seem to care if this sudden loss of lead actors means their roles will be expanded.

 

Done in the style of those old Italian horror films, particularly those of Dario Argento, the film is part parody and part homage, featuring intentionally bad dubbing, ludicrous plot twists and tons of references to other movies, such as “The Beyond”, “New York Ripper” and even “Hitch Hike”. Which also features tracks by noted genre composer Claudio Simonetti and a guest appearance by Eurohorror regular Udo Kier, who has a small role as a doctor.

 

If you’re a fan of Italian cinema, you’ll undoubtedly love this, which plays like a Troma version of Tenebrae and went down an absolute storm at the festival. However, younger horror fans who’s knowledge of horror extends solely to the Paranormal Activity films and the likes of Saw, probably won’t get the humour.

 

This one is currently doing the rounds on the festival circuit, so if you get chance to see this with an audience, go check it out. Their earlier short films are also currently available on DVD in the US, which I would also advise checking out, for you to get a feel of what you’re in for!

Buy the Astron-6 short film collection at Amazon.com

You can see the Q&A session with the film makers that followed the screening on YouTube.

For more about "The Editor" and other films by Astron-6, visit http://www.astron-6.com/

For more about the Mayhem Festival, Nottingham visit them on Twitter and Facebook

"Iron Sky 2 : The Coming Race" - Teaser trailer and poster released.

The people who gave us Iron Sky have just unveiled a new teaser trailer for their proposed sequel "The Coming Race".

 

They are currently looking to secure funds from a crowd sourcing campaign on Indigogo to get the rest of the film shot. Check out the links below...

 

 

For more info, and to get involved in the crowdfunding campaign, visit their Indiegogo page

 

Also be sure to visit their official Website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

 

 

"The Editor" - film makers live Q&A

Filmed at the Mayhem Festival on Thu 30/11/14, Adam Brooks, Conor Sweeney and Matt Kennedy of production company Astron-6 discuss their latest film "The Editor", following its screening at the festival, along with some of their earlier short films...



 

For more info about this film, and their other features, visit their official Website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

 

 

 

 

Don't forget - UK Zombie Film Festival Nov 15 - Leicester

 

On Saturday Novemeber 15th, the 8th "UK Festival of Zombie Culture" will be taking place at the Pheonix Arts cinema in Leicester.

 

Also known as the "Day of the Undead", the festival boasts 13 hours of zombie movie mayhem, and much more.

 

Films announced so far include...

 

Theatre of the Dead (2014 - Austrailia)
Bombshell Bloodbath (2014 - US)
Go Goa Gone (2013 - Hindi)
I Survived A Zombie Holocaust (2014 - New Zealand)
Juan of the Dead (2011 - Cuba)

 

Other activities and events taking place during the festival..

 

•Special guest stars
•The Arcade of the Dead – Retro Zombie Games to die for
•Best dressed Zombie Award – Come Dressed to Impress
•Zombie Killing Challenge – Kill the Undead on a Cinema Screen
•Make Up Artists
•Zombie Authors – Signing books and talking zombies
•Goodie Bags – 1st 200 people through the door get lucky
•Horror Traders – Late Halloween or Early Xmas presents!
•Spot Prizes, giveaways, themed food & drink

 

Previous years have sold out, so be quick!

 

Tickets are just £25 from the Phoenix website

 

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