New to SHUDDER UK in June

ARRIVING IN JUNE FROM AMC NETWORKS PREMIUM STREAMING SERVICE OF THRILLERS, SUSPENSE AND HORROR

Backed by AMC Networks, SHUDDER has a growing and dynamic selection of thrilling premieres and exclusives along with an impressive library of international and independent films, gripping TV series and Hollywood blockbuster favourites.

SHOW PIECES (Dir. Mitch Jenkins)
Exclusively on SHUDDER UK from 29th June

From the mind of legendary writer Alan Moore (creator of Watchmen, V For Vendetta and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) and acclaimed photographer and director Mitch Jenkins comes the multi-layered film anthology SHOW PIECES. 

Set in the town of Northampton, UK, SHOW PIECES is the first work by Alan Moore written specifically for the screen and the first work to explore the bizarre world and characters that frequent an otherworldly gentlemen's club. The five chapters of SHOW PIECES create a tapestry of madness, malevolence and murderous misdeeds, intersecting to form an original, occult noir thriller with Alan Moore himself appearing in character on screen.

PRIMAL SCREEN (Dir. Rodney Ascher)
Exclusively on SHUDDER UK from 8th June

Launching SHUDDER ORIGINALS, SHUDDER's new original programming slate, comes PRIMAL SCREEN, a chilling new horror documentary from genre favourite filmmaker Rodney Ascher (Room 237, The Nightmare). 

PRIMAL SCREEN explores how individuals are simultaneously attracted to and repelled by what scares them most. Rodney Ascher has created a singular hybrid of documentary and horror that explores the pop-culture artifacts that traumatized individuals in their youth and the effects it has had on their lives.

NOROI: THE CURSE (Dir. Kôji Shiraishi)
Exclusively on SHUDDER UK from 1st June

Paranormal expert and documentarian Masafumi Kobayashi sets his sights on uncovering the truth behind a string of seemingly unrelated paranormal incidents in NOROI: THE CURSE. Narratives twist and turn as Kobayashi and his cameraman Miyajima race to piece together one unusual death after another, only to be met with the same fate which they so fervently document, leaving only their footage behind.

Delving into the legend and ritualistic background of “Kagutaba”, Director Kôji Shiraishi (Sadako v Kayako) masterfully combines character storylines in a documentary format with suspenseful plot turns.

ALSO NEW TO SHUDDER

HOUSE OF A 1000 CORPSES

Rob Zombie's directorial debut takes its lead from horror classics such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and turns the madness up to eleven.

RIGOR MORTIS

Visually striking and at times as witty as it is creepy, Juno Mak's Hong Kong set horror is a brilliantly eclectic addition to the Asian supernatural genre. 

ROOM 237

The perfect documentary for horror obsessives everywhere as filmmaker Rodney Ascher takes a compelling look at the hidden messages, symbols, interpretations and theories behind Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining'

THE DEVIL'S BUSINESS

A straightforward job for two British hitmen takes a turn for the macabre in Sean Hogan's stylish, occult horror. 

DEAD SNOW 2

Bigger, bolder and in even more bad taste than its predecessor, Dead Snow 2 grabs once again for the funny bone and sticks its tongue firmly in its undead Nazi cheek!

THIRST

'Open Water.'.. without the water! A car crash leaves two young couples fighting for their lives in the scorching desert heat. 

THE EYE, THE EYE 2 & THE EYE 3

Seeing might not be believing in The Pang Brothers' supernatural chilling trilogy. Don't look away.

ANTIVIRAL

A queasy and fascinating examination of sick celebrities and obsessive fans in which director Brandon Cronenberg gets inside viewers heads as well as under their skin. 

THE BAY
A gruesome, effective and atmospheric eco-horror courtesy of the ever-eclectic Barry Levinson.

Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving fans of thrillers, suspense, and horror. Backed by AMC Networks, Shudder has a growing and dynamic selection of thrilling premieres, originals, and exclusives, which complement its impressive library of international and independent films, gripping TV series, and Hollywood blockbuster favorites. Shudder streams ad-free in the US, Canada, UK, and Ireland on the web, iOS, Android, Chromecast, Apple TV, and Roku for $4.99/month or $49.99 with an annual membership. To try Shudder commitment-free for 7 days, visit www.shudder.com.

 

PEELERS - the dead rise on US DVD and BD July 4th.

From Sevé Schelenz, director of Skew, comes the gooey, gory instant classic Peelers, on DVD and Blu-ray in the US this July.

Former baseball player Blue Jean Douglas (Wren Walker) is closing down her small-town strip club and leaving for good. But her plans are not so easily attained when a group of coal miners show up and with them a deadly contaminant. What starts out as a last hurrah for the infamous strip club, turns into a blood bath. 

With time running out, Blue Jean must step up to the plate to try and put a stop to the spread of destruction before it’s too late and she loses everything she holds dear.

Extras on both the DVD and Blu-ray disc include deleted scenes, featurettes - includiung 'behind the scenes', audio commentary, gag reel, trailers, digital comic and more!
 

Exclusive to Blu-ray, 'special effects' featurette, behind the scenes part 2, an additional commentary, and festival intro!

DVD Extras
Deleted Scenes (2:30)
"Getting A-Head" (10:03)
Gag Reel (4:00)
Behind The Scenes (13:18)
Script To Scene (3:48)
Teaser Trailer (0:45)
Theatrical Trailer (1:48)
Digital Comic Link to Website
Commentary x 1 - Director/Writer

Blu-ray Extras
All the above AND...
"Special Effects" (10:55)
Behind The Scenes Part 2 (15:48)
Festival Intro (0:45)
Additional Commentary x 1 - Actors/Director

Peelers, directed by Sevé Schelenz and written by Lisa DeVita, available on DVD and Blu-ray July 4 from Uncork’d Entertainment.

Peelers on DVD and Blu-ray July 4.

View the trailer on YouTube.

 

Announcing SHUDDER ORIGINALS with PRIMAL SCREEN

Today, AMC Networks’ Shudder announces its entry into original content. The premium streaming service, known for super-serving fans of thrillers, suspense and horror, is developing six new titles all of which will debut as “Shudder Originals”. The high-caliber original programming slate launches Thursday 8th June with a new horror documentary from genre favourite Rodney Ascher, titled PRIMAL SCREEN. Other upcoming Shudder Originals include a mystery series; a Ted Bundy-inspired scripted project; and a series based on an Emily Schultz novel, among many others.

As the first Shudder Original, PRIMAL SCREEN explores how individuals are simultaneously attracted to and repelled by what scares them most. Acclaimed filmmaker Rodney Ascher (Room 237, The Nightmare) has created a singular hybrid of documentary and horror that explores the pop-culture artifacts that traumatized individuals in their youth and the effects it has had on their lives.

“PRIMAL SCREEN is a gripping, unique horror documentary that’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen and we look forward to presenting it to our members as our first ‘Shudder Original,’” says Owen Shiflett, Vice President of Development for Shudder. ”At Shudder, we carefully select every new title added to our library to ensure we are giving our members something beyond what is expected. Expanding into original programming is a natural progression for us, and we’re proud to further enhance Shudder’s offering by bringing our members the vision of emerging and established storytellers who are pushing limits within genre entertainment.”

“Fear, obsession, and people’s attempts to understand these things are a particular focus of mine” explains Rodney Ascher, creator/director of PRIMAL SCREEN. “Shudder was a fantastic partner and they gave me the freedom to dive deep into this new rabbit hole. I’m thrilled to present Primal Screen on a streaming service that showcases an expansive collection of Mario Bava films, a wide selection of horror-documentaries and a great variety of thrilling entertainment.”

Shudder is developing the following projects which will complement its growing selection of exclusives and catalogue titles, including:

DEADWAX – A short form series about the hunt for a mysterious record that drives its owners mad... and kills anyone who dares to play it.  From Graham Reznick, co-writer of Until Dawn and director of I Can See You.
RIPRORE – In the heart of gangland Los Angeles, a gruesome discovery sparks a frenetic Homicide Investigation; but underneath the surface lurks a darkness that leads to the end of days. From by Sam Sheridan (former MMA fighter and Author of A FIGHTER’S HEART and THE DISASTER DIARIES) and with Patty Jenkins attached.
THE BLONDES – A woman treks to find the father of her unborn child, while navigating a world where blonde haired women could turn into rabid monsters at any moment. Based on the novel by Emily Schultz and executive Produced by J. Todd Harris, Marc Marcum and Branded Entertainment.
UNTITLED ARKASHA STEVENSON PROJECT – A serial killer series loosely based on Ted Bundy and his relationship with his long-time girlfriend, written and directed by Arkasha Stevenson (Pineapple).

In addition to its extensive catalogue of films and series, Shudder also provides a regular stream of exclusive new film and series releases. Recent exclusives include Alice Lowe’s critically acclaimed horror-comedy PREVENGE, popular J-Horror franchise mash-up SADAKO VS. KAYAKO, and the hit Swedish series JORDSKOTT.

Shudder’s commitment to the genre audience and its creators remains at the forefront of initiatives that extend beyond its library. This summer, Shudder kicks off the second annual Shudder Labs workshop in the U.S., which fosters connections amongst established creators with a new generation of innovative creators who will continue to shape and innovate the genre. This year’s workshop will be led by Masters-in-Residence Mike Flanagan (director, Ouija: Origin of Evil, Hush, the upcoming Stephen King adaptation Gerald’s Game) and Nick Antosca (screenwriter, Channel Zero, Hannibal, The Forest, and will be held June 11-15 at the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY.

For more info visit https://www.shudder.com/

Headshot - UK DVD review

Out on UK Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital this week from Arrow films, a man found left for dead, finds his past catching up with him in The Mo Brother’s extremely bloody action film "Headshot".

Set in Indonesia, a man (Iko Uwais - The Raid) is taken to hospital, after being found close to death. having been washed up on a beach, with a gunshot wound to his head. Nicknamed Ishmail by the hospital staff, he spends several months in a coma, before eventually recovering, although as he is unable to remember who he is.

But, no sooner is he back on his feet, he finds himself being hunted down by a ruthless crime boss and his gang of psychopaths. However, he also discovers he has somehow acquired a lot of very deadly skills, and a series of virtual non-stop shoot-outs and martial arts fights ensues.

Directed by the Mo Brothers (Killers, Macabre), “Headshot” is an action packed, brutally bloody violent thriller (including an absolutely outrageous prison break scene at the start). If you try to imagine what the Jason Bourne films would look like if John Woo had made them, that is Headshot.

I will say that I was a little confused by the language continually switching between Indonesian and English and perhaps the ending dragged on a little longer than it should. I was also a little disappointed that the DVD I was sent to review did not contain anything in the way of extra features, aside from a couple of trailers for other Arrow titles.

But the film is still one hell of a high octane thrill ride, if you liked The Raid, you’ll love this. So if you’re not bothered about supplemental features (or you prefer to watch this stuff on Netflix) you should definitely check this one out.

Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk

Buy the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk

 

 

Emilia Clarke stars in "Voice From The Stone" - Releasing August 2017

Games Of Thrones star Emilia Clarke plays a young nurse attempting to unravel sinister secrets in a Tuscan castle, in this tantalising mix of ghostly mystery classics The Others and The Woman In Black in "Voice From The Stone" which comes to UK DVD and Digital August.

In 1950s Tuscany, a determined young nurse and teacher, Verena, takes a job looking after Jakob, a young boy who has not spoken since his mother died. An expert at dealing with traumatised children, she tries to draw him out.

Encountering resistance from both Jakob’s father Klaus, and the boy himself, Verena digs deeper into the mystery of his silence, and discovers a dark family secret, hidden behind the walls of the family castle. She also finds herself irresistibly drawn towards Klaus, who sees something of his late wife in the beautiful nurse.

With it’s deliciously spooky setting - a shadowy, fog-laden castle in Tuscany - and a steadily building sense of dread, the film is layered with elements of Henry James’ The Turn Of The Screw and the gothic stories of Edgar Allan Poe, all combining into an unsettling chiller, with sensuous moments of eroticism, and with a wicked twist in its tail. 

Special DVD Features:

• Emilia Clarke on Voice From the Stone featurette
• Emilia on Verena featurette

• Emilia and Marton featurette

 "Voice From The Stone" is released to UK DVD and Digital this August.

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

 

GREMLIN! comes to US VOD July!

Emmy Award winning director, Ryan Bellgardt’s (Army of Frankenstein) highly anticipated creature feature Gremlin hits US VOD outlets from July 11 from Uncork’d Entertainment.

Godzilla meets The Ring in a thrilling, uniquely-scripted horror jaunt that boasts amazing computer-generated effects and from some of the best in the game. 

Adam receives a mysterious box from a relative containing a creature that will kill everyone he cares about. The only way to be rid of the curse is to give the box to someone he loves. 

As the ominous timer on the box counts down to its end, he can only imagine the horrors that await. Does he give the box away to save his family, or unleash a monster upon humanity? 

He can’t destroy it. He can’t escape it. He can only give it to someone he loves…

Adam Hampton, Kristy K. Boone, Catcher Stair, Katie Burgess, Mike Waugh, and Caleb Milby star in Gremlin, available at US VOD outlets from 11th July.

View the trailer...

 

 

ROGUE WARRIOR : ROBOT FIGHTER - New Images and trailer released.

Sony Distribution will release highly-anticipated science-fiction actioner Rogue Warrior : Robot Fighter, starring Tracey Birdsall and written and directed by Neil Johnson, into US theaters June 2.

Checkout these new images which have just been released...

A few decades from now… Sienna, a rebellious robot-fighting arms dealer, lives on a post-apocalyptic Earth. When the cities start to fall under the control of the A.I. Scourge, a hyper-weaponized robot army, Sienna decides to leave the Earth and journey to the centre of the galaxy, seeking a mythical weapon that can neutralize any form of A.I. 

Pursued by giant machines, Sienna loses everything she cares about in an effort to save the last vestiges of humanity in an A.I. controlled galaxy.

Starring alongside Birdsall are William Kircher (‘The Hobbit’’), Daz Crawford (‘’Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’’), Stephen Manley (‘’Star Trek III’’), and Marilyn Ghiggliotti (‘’Clerks’’). 

A US Blu-ray release of Rogue Warrior : Robot Fighter, exclusive to Walmart, is set for release on June 6.