Thursday, 17 October 2013

Arrow to release "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1978) on BD

Arrow Video is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated UK Blu-ray release of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978). The deluxe Blu-ray set will be available to own in the UK in a limited edition SteelBook showcasing the original poster artwork as well as a standard edition case with newly illustrated artwork. Both editions will be available on 18th November and come loaded with a selection of classic interviews, featurettes and newly created never-before-seen special features as well as an in-depth 52-page collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film and archives interviews with director Philip Kaufman and screenwriter W. D. Richter and more.

When health official Elizabeth Driscoll (Brooke Adams) notices that her lover has become strangely distant, this sets in train a series of shocking discoveries that sees both her and colleague Matthew Bennell (Donald Sutherland) fleeing for their lives to the sound of ear-piercing alien screams.

Remakes of great films are usually on a hiding to nothing, but Philip Kaufman’s brilliant update of the 1956 classic is a rare and memorable exception. Transposing the action to the heart of San Francisco allows Kaufman to retain all the suspense of Jack Finney’s original story while adding caustic social commentary about the selfishness of the 1970s “me generation” that remains all too relevant today.

But it’s a paranoid thriller first and foremost, based on one of the most psychologically terrifying of all premises – what happens when you can no longer trust not just the authorities but even your nearest and dearest?

Special Features
-High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the film
-Original uncompressed Stereo 2.0 audio / 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
-Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
-Audio commentary with director Philip Kaufman
-Discussing the Pod: A new panel conversation about ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ and invasion cinema featuring critic Kim Newman and filmmakers Ben Wheatley and Norman J. Warren
-Dissecting the Pod: A new interview with Kaufman biographer Annette Insdorf
-Writing the Pod: A new interview with Jack Seabrook, author of ‘Stealing through Time: On the Writings of Jack Finney’ about Finney’s original novel ‘The Body Snatchers’
-Re-Visitors from Outer Space: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Pod – a documentary on the making of the film featuring Philip Kaufman, Donald Sutherland, writer W.D. Richter and more
-The Man Behind the Scream: The Sound Effects Pod – a look at the film’s pioneering sound effects
-The Invasion Will Be Televised: The Cinematography Pod – cinematographer Michael Chapman (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull) discusses the look of and influences on the visual style of the film
-Practical Magic: The Special Effect Pod – A look at the creation of the special effects from the opening space sequence
-Original Theatrical Trailer
-Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh [Amaray version only]
-52-page collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic David Cairns, as well as re-prints of classic articles including contemporary interviews with Philip Kaufman and W.D. Richter, illustrated with original archive stills and posters.


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

Pre-order the UK BD Steelbook at Amazon.co.uk

Fantasm Documentary - First Clip online!!!

First preview clip from the forthcoming documentary "Fantasm" has hit the web, check it out below...


 
Fantasm will have its world premiere at the "Rock and Shock" horror festival in Worcester, MA (USA) this Saturday, October 19. It will also be screened at Philip H. Anselmo's Housecore Horror Film Festival in Austin, TX (USA) on October 25 and at Rhode Island Comic Con in Providence, RI (USA) on November 3.

Fantasm explores the bonds formed by the close-knit community of fans who attend horror conventions, with insight from such actors and filmmakers as Tom Atkins (Escape from New York), Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger), Joe Lynch (Wrong Turn 2), Richard Johnson (Zombie Flesh-Eaters) and more.

In addition to being one of the six conventions at which Fantasm was filmed, Rock and Shock had a profound influence on the documentary. "Rock and Shock was the first convention I went to as a kid," says director Kyle Kuchta. "And those experiences were the inspiration behind Fantasm. To be able to premiere the film there is an absolute honor."

The Rock and Shock premiere is presented by cult film webcast Outside the Cinema. Kuchta will in attendance to introduce the film, and he'll be at the Outside the Cinema booth all weekend. The 10th annual Rock and Shock horror convention features such distinguished guests as Robert Englund, Robert Patrick, Michael Rooker, Gunnar Hansen, Eric Roberts and more.

For more info, visit their Facebook page.


Tales of Light and Dark web series

Award winning filmmaker, Glen Baisley, best known for his horror movies (available on NetFlix and Amazon Instant Video) featuring Light & Dark Productions' staple villain, the Black Rose Killer, has turned his attention to the web to spin new tales of madness, murder and mayhem in a new anthology series entitled TALES OF LIGHT & DARK.

The first season will kick off this Halloween with a lighter tale entitled "Lolli Girl" that follows the misadventures of a young homeless British girl as she falls prey to the dangers of the street.

The tales will get darker as the series moves forward. "Open Call", this season's second episode, follows struggling actress, Mary David who yearns to be more than just an average housewife. Things suddenly shift into high gear when she is offered the role of a lifetime.

The third episode, "Truth, Justice and the American Way" finds Father Peter questioning his beliefs and values after he causes the tragic death of a young woman and is abducted by her lover.

"GeoKilling" rounds out the first season. A group of friends hike into the woods on a geocaching excursion. The treasure they discover at the end of their quest will change their lives forever.

All episodes will be available on the Light & Dark Productions website as well as VIMEO and other platforms to be announced. View the trailer here...
http://vimeo.com/lightanddark/tales

Beyond fact, beyond fiction there are TALES OF LIGHT & DARK. For more information about the series including photos and videos from upcoming episodes, visit...

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Hell No - The Sensible Horror Film!!!!!

Wouldn't it be interesting if just for ONCE, the people in horror films behaved like this...



Be sure to checkout Pixels Per Second's YouTube Channel.

Welcome to the Horror Show - Halloween Music

Independant UK horror music composer Sam Haynes "Welcome to the Horror Show" CD is out now, in time for Halloween.
 
The ultimate 18 track collection of atmospheric fear inducing halloween music for your haunts and parties. Inspired by 70s and 80s horror themes, but with an up to date sound for halloween haunts.
 
The CD is actually being used in several theme parks this year and has been featured on FEARnet's "31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN".
 
Available from all good music stores including Itunes, Amazon, Bandcamp and CDbaby.
 
 
If you download from the Bandcamp website, you can get 20% off the purchase price by entering the code HALLOWEEN. http://samhaynes1.bandcamp.com/
 

Day of the Undead : UK Zombie Film Festival - Films Announced!

The films have been announced for this years "Day of the Undead - UK Festival of Zombie Culture" film festival, which is taking place at the Phoenix Square Arts Cinema in Leicester on November 16th.
 
The Battery (2013) US. In a land ravaged by the undead, Ben and Mickey must learn to survive each other. The personalities of two former baseball players clash as they traverse the rural back roads of a post-plague New England teeming with the undead. When the men intercept a radio transmission from a seemingly thriving, protected community, Mickey will stop at nothing to find it, even though it is made perfectly clear that he is not welcome.

Meteletsa: Winter of the Dead (2012) Russia. Russian Winter is a terrible thing... especially if it arrives in mid-July. "Along the street a snowstorm sweeps, behind the snowstorm ... something ghastly creeps!" Faced with horrifyingly gripping news material, a dedicated cameraman, Vlad, captures the strange events on video as priest Father Michael gets out his trusty axe ... Out amidst the icy storm, something raises its hideous head - Russian zombies - senseless and merciless!

FIRST FESTIVAL SCREENING OF: Zombie Hood (2013) UK. Zombie Hood begins on the eve of a worldwide zombie outbreak with a small group of survivors escaping the city. After gathering in a nearby forest and with food being in short supply, the survivors must risk visiting populated areas in an effort to avoid starvation. With a child and an elderly man in tow and with the undead waiting at every turn, the group attempt to put aside their differences as they battle to survive a nightmare scenario.

WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING OF: Wasteland (2013) UK. The world has been reduced to a Wasteland, where survivors of a deadly virus that has turned people into the walking dead try and hide and keep a low profile, while carving out a living by scavenging for useful items left over from the previous world. We find Scott Miller, alone and waiting for his beloved Beth to return from London where she went in search of her family. Scott is still clinging to hope that there is a chance that the world can return to its previous state. That faith is continually shaken by events in this wild and dangerous world until Scott is forced to face his fears and decide whether he is to stay where he is or seek other survivors.

Stalled (2013) UK. It's Christmas Eve. A down-on-his-luck janitor is cleaning cubicle in an office block. Unfortunately for this forlorn floor-sweeper, he becomes trapped in the washroom the very second of the zombie apocalypse. Consistently hilarious, brilliantly executed, cleverly constructed and visually imaginative, director Christian James' remarkable comedy horror is THE EVIL DEAD meets PHONE BOOTH in a toilet.

PLUS, one final film, which will be announced soon...

Other activities include...

• The chance to vote in The Ultimate Zombie Short Film Competition
• Guest stars including David Moody, Adam Millard and Sean Page
• 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 – Make you look like your favourite cadaver
• Zombie Authors – Signing books and talking about zombies
• Goodie Bags – 1st 250 people through the door get lucky !!!
• Horror Traders – Get your late Halloween or Early Xmas presents
• Spot Prizes, giveaways, themed food & drink
• All of this for ONLY £25 for a full day pass...

All day passes can be purchased from the Pheonix cinema website.

Tickets for individual films can be purchased, subject to availability, from the box office on the day.



Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Circus of Horrors comes to London's West End and beyond....

18 years ago when the Circus of Horrors made its debut at the Glastonbury festival nobody believed it would last 18 weeks let alone 18 years. Now almost 2 decades later it has finally come of age & becomes the first circus to appear in a resident season in a West End Theatre for the last 100 years.

The last couple of years has seen the profile of The Circus of Horrors jump tremendously after storming into the finals of Britain's Got Talent & then appearing on various subsequent TV shows, The X Factor, The Slammer, Daybreak, Fairground Attractions, Who wants to be a Millionaire, Body Shockers & Fake Reaction. Combined with the release of the Dr Haze autobiography  Mud Blood & Glitter this has certainly made it an exciting time for The Circus of Horrors. The media profile is continuing with large editorials & images in almost every nation newspaper & a further appearance on This Morning & more pending TV shows including a Discovery Channel special.
 
The current tour starting in October and running to the end of March will see another giant leap for the show when it begin’s a series of dates at The Lyric theatre in London's West End,  a fitting way to celebrate 18 bloody years of Shock n’ Roll.
 
In addition to the London dates The Circus of Horrors will be engaging in a huge British tour, taking in around 100 venue’s in pretty well all of the UK’s major cities from Inverness to Truro.
 
The West End shows are particularly significant, taking the extreme to the mainstream without compromise & proof of how far the show has come. The latest incarnation ‘London after Midnight’ is inspired by the film of the same name. Set in plague ridden London & climaxing with the Great Fire of 1666.

The storey twists and turns with grisly murders and sensational shocks – all interwoven with some of the greatest and most bizarre circus acts on earth, sword swallowers, knife throwers, daredevil balancing acts, astounding aerialists, a dwarf strong man, hairculian hair hanging beauty, sinister sisters, gyrating & fire limboing acrobats, dislocating contortionist  & illusions designed by Simon Drake (Secret Cabaret) & much more.
 
Performed by an almighty cast with a forked tongue firmly in each cheek and the devil driver rock n’ roll of Dr Haze & The Interceptors from Hell.
 
The Circus of Horrors – London After Midnight is on tour throughout the UK
 
For tour dates & details go to http://www.circusofhorrors.co.uk

London
Lyric Theatre, Shaftsbury Ave
Every Monday from  28th October to 16th of December.
0844 4124661
http://www.nimaxtheatres.com

Circus of Horrors Halloween Spectacular:
Wookey Hole
Fri 25th & Sat 26th October 2013

01749 672243 http://www.wookey.co.uk

London
Lyric Theatre, Shaftsbury Ave
Mon 28th October
0844 4124661
http://www.nimaxtheatres.com

Leeds City Varieties
29th & 30th Oct 2013
01132430808
http://www.cityvarieties.co.uk/Online

Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Halloween - 31st Oct, 1st & 2nd Nov 2013
0871 222 9090
http://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/