Stomping Ground (2014) - Film Review - Brink Vision

*** This review may contain cryptozoology spoilers ***

A young Chicago couple Ben and Annie return to Annie's small North Carolina hometown, bumping into some of her old friends they embark on an impromptu Bigfoot hunt which threatens their relationship and lives.

I love a good Bigfoot film, the ones though with blood and guts, there's been a spate of the recently, like shark films and creature features they're a minefield in terms of quality ranging from Eduardo Sánchez's Exists to (Syfy, enough said) Bigfoot. Director Dan Riesser's Stomping Ground, is a low budget surprisingly good traditionally shot Bigfoot film. While the camera work is a little rough in places, it benefits from an on location shoot. To drum up the film's saleability to horror hounds Evil Dead's Theresa Tilly appears very briefly. We get some dead bodies, a severed finger, a severed head and a pretty good Bigfoot costume (no rubbish CGI, hooray).

John Bobek's city boy Ben and Tarah DeSpain's Annie are strong enough to carry the film as their relationship is tested. For a low budget film the acting excels. Jeramy Blackford, is notable as Paul and gives performance (akin to Eric Balfour's Brad in Blackfoot Trail killer bear feature) as Annie's former boyfriend, which prompts some tension between him and Ben. Justin Giddings is amusing enough and plays local Bigfoot expert Jed. J. Michael Radtke's visual Bigfoot effects work better from behind and in the shadows, with the bright showdown stealing some impact and effect.

There's the expected Deliverance jokes and references to Wrong Turn, writers Riesser and Andrew Genser's script works best when it avoiding pop culture references, to their credit they give Annie enough back-story throughout without dropping everything in the first five minutes and the knocking, den building, hair and calls remind you it's a Bigfoot film. The extremely long build up struggles to hold attention with the Bigfoot segments coming late in the latter half of the third act. The ego-stroking, chest-beating competition between Ben and Paul gets a little repetitive objectifying Annie. Stomping Ground is more interesting when they're talking about local history, drinking moonshine, playing games and being attacked.

At 80 minutes it feels longer than it is, tonally Riesser's offering doesn't hold up comedy wise to be another Tucker and Dale versus Evil, there's also not enough Sasquatch focus and gory action set-ups to fully satisfy horror fans. That said, it's a commendable independent film effort and certainly worth checking out especially if you're a Bigfoot lover.

2/5

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Messiah of Evil (1973) - Film Review - V/M Productions

Arletty (Marianna Hill) arrives in a small, odd, creepy coastal town in California looking for her father and she quickly learns little is as it seems. 

 Before Romero's Dawn of the Dead and The Crazies, there was Dead People a.k.a Messiah of evil. Shot in 1971 the film was not released until 1973. Like H.P. Lovecraft's Dagon and The Wicker Man (1973), weird locals are hiding a horrific secret... In Messiah, the people of Point Dune worship the rise of a red moon as they become zombies. The storyline is disjointed, but this adds to the mystic, surreal and dreamlike quality of the film. Admittedly, it feels art house, there is some irregular editing and the score is very much of its time, but there's plenty to like about it. 

Kaufman's Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Dead & Buried (1981) and the aforementioned Dawn of the Dead clearly have taken a cue from Willard Huyck's jumbled but effective film. Especially the scene where slinky brunette Anitra Ford is pursued through a supermarket. There is also truly creepy scene again with Ford and an albino trucker, played by Bennie Robinson, who you'd think would have been in a lot more horror movies. If you liked Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)  and Night of the Living Dead there's some horror delight to be found here from the shocking first kill to the insane asylum ending.

Messiah of Evil oozes dread and suspense, it's a chilling 70's horror flick that despite its faults is a lot better than some of today's so called horrors.

3/5

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TLMEA (2016) - Film Review

During a drug raid a group of policemen find themselves trapped in a nightmare, the third zone of Dante's ninth circle of Hell.

I had the pleasure of viewing another German/English language screener personally from filmmaker Kevin Kopacka. Here the Austrian director offers another dark moody psychological visual 32 minute short. The preceding opening with a horrific story of the fate of a young boy which is followed by a flick though the sounds, voices and static of a radio station of 99.9, Kopacka's prequel to Hades - TLMEA is more street than its predecessor, following a sullen group of swat and undercover police (poliza). Blurred images, shadows on red, troubled sleep with unnatural lighting, flashy editing that cuts to the hyper real moments as the director takes us through on screen title cards beginning with segments subtitled Limbo and Lust.

TLMEA unfolds with the harsh reverberating, at times melodic music by Aiko Aiko as we go further into the subtitled levels and themes, Animosity, (Greed reflected on the TV), Malice, Heresy, Violence, level 1,2, 3 and so on; we seep into the Twin Peaks dreamlike mind of our chain smoking protagonist with a cancelled TV show, Johnny Arson, showing on the TV sets in scenes possibly reflecting society imitating art and sensationalising horror and vice-versa.

Amongst the array of unconventional yet wonderfully abstract coloured lighting (reminiscent of Revolver) there some great effects by Tim Scheidig as a character turns to ice (reflecting Dante's penalty for the damned) and we are introduced to more hallucinatory themes subtitled Fraud and later Treachery.

Time and effort has clearly been pumped into this production. The acting is first rate, the excellent Anna Heidegger appears briefly (reprising her Hades role). Author/producer H.K. DeWitt also appears. As with Kopacka's other work the narrative is up for interpretation, no doubt a mainstream interesting feature script awaits (wow, I'd love this team to option one of my novels). As a standalone mystery thriller short it may not have the nightmarish impact of Hades but as a companion piece they compliment and complete each other perfectly.

As mentioned running through the underbelly of the short is the nine circles of Hell (Dante's Inferno). These dreamlike nightlife images, have a contradicting visual clarity as our lead Cris Kotzen as Schweitzer unloads a gun bringing the state of mind to a close, Tolomea after 'Ptolomea', conjuring Minos (interestingly played by rapper/artist Ufo361).

If visually surreal rides are your thing, this is compulsory late night viewing.

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The Dead the Damned and the Darkness (2014) - Film Review - iDiC Entertainment

*** This review may contain zombie spoilers ***

A group of uninfected band together to escape the mutants to get to a coastal road.

After a wacky action packed opening, director Rene Perez delivers a low budget infection affair. Perez's heavy score is excellent when reminiscent of Euro splatter flicks and it harks back to Italian horror's when a woman's shirt (Raven Lexy) is ripped open exposing her breast. Writers Barry Massoni and Perez offer some interesting moments, mainly those involving a deaf character Stephanie, played notably by Iren Levy. Lead Robert Tweten with a practical and cool costume also deserves a mention.

Akin to Zombie Massacre's dead make up, the mutants also growl. Nevertheless, plenty of effort has gone into the production which is traditionally shot, its not another PoV or found footage movie. It's a zombie mash up, while not as well executed as Wyrmwood or as stylised as Bomshell Bloodbath, thankfully it's not as sleazy as Zombie 108 or Zombie Fight Club. Sadly, Perez links it to his 2011 predecessor Cowboys and Zombies a.k.a The Dead and the Damned in the latter half, jarringly taking the edge off this with some unnecessary flashbacks.

At times in the spirit of B exploitation flicks its better than anything made for the Syfy channel, zombie completest may get a kick out of this low budget offering.

2/5

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American Guinea Pig: Bloodshock (2015) – Limited Edition Blu-ray Review – Unearthed Films

Japan's Darkest Secret is America's Newest Nightmare

Blu-ray: BD-r (Limited to 300)
Released by: Unearthed Films
Release Date: January 2016
Production Year: 2015
Region Code: 1
Running Time: 1:38
Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0
Video: 1080p (1:85:1 Aspect Ratio)
Subtitles: None

The Film – [4/5]:

"Don't leave me." Piercing hand-scrawled pleas become a nauseating, yearning pulp of  hope, entwined in sickly codependency of the experimental test subjects in "Bloodshock", the second in a series of eight American Guinea Pig films. This installment is a demented love story that will "punch you in the soul" in the words of iconic visionary author and Executive Producer, Stephen Biro.

Actors, Dan Ellis and Lillian McKinney had their work cut out for them, as they had no lines in the entire film. Given this circumstance, they each needed to be overtly expressive to convey pain, anger, disdain, exhaustion and a whole gamut of emotions without relying on the crutch of dialogue. Both were in different places within the torture chain, and it's brilliantly moving how Lillian was able to dim the light behind her eyes and seemingly fall into the pit of despair where her character had just given up. This paired with Dan's tenacity and overwhelmingly realistic responses to the physical malfeasance will undoubtedly make you cringe repeatedly on the edge of your seat. Expect a pang of nausea when you reach Dan's foot scene. The greatest feat is the empathy you will feel for these nameless, voiceless characters. Although their situations are dire, Dan and Lillian's characters are relatable and you will care about them as people.   

To say this film is a social commentary is an understatement. You may question your views on love, relationships and even the death penalty by the end. This isn't just mindless blood and gore. Director, Marcus Koch, wants this film to haunt you, and he succeeds. You will continue pondering Bloodshock with each rewatch and you'll be eager to get your next fix from this dealer of the macabre.  

Audio – [5/5]:

With the overall lack of dialogue, sound becomes a character in itself. A menacing metronome clicks away repetitive and intensifying patterns, moaning bassy throbs pulse through dull pains and tension mounts as the torture escalates to a crescendo in a vivid Miike-esque symphony of eroticism and madness. Kristian Day, Gene Palubicki and Jimmy ScreamerClauz are seasoned musicians that brought the sound of "Bloodshock" to life. With eerie tones and background notes fluidly swirling your tympanic membranes and fueling this film we have undeniable proof that these three are a dream trio. 

Video – [4/5]:

Veteran director and SFX guru, Marcus Koch, helms this stunning visual assault that can only be considered art. Filmed in HD digital, a slight grainy effect was achieved to give the film a throwback stark realism that could easily parallel the early works of Richard Kern. As the film builds in intensity, the richness of the black hues give way to sepia tones, then sickly pale blood appears like the butcher paper bottom of an old ribeye, turning to the shocking blast of the crimson finale. Subtlety reigns as the viewer will not notice the transition until that bold ending.     

Most exciting is the growth of Marcus Koch as a director. Known for cult favorites like "Rot", "Fell" and "100 Tears", Marcus shows maturity and beauty in his filmmaking style. The cinematography brings a dimension that almost seems like Hitchcock at times. This is truly a gripping and intense film.  

Special Features – [4.5/5]:

In the Unearthed Films tradition, physical media is made with the collector in mind, and special features are plentiful and make it worth choosing physical media over a digital copy to gain access to these behind-the-scenes gems. 

The star of these is the "FX Preproduction of Bloodshock". Marcus Koch is a staunch believer in the authenticity of the facade, meaning he will never use real blood or organs to achieve an effect. With his team (Cat Bernier and Melanie Dean) at Oddtopsy Effects, he painstakingly builds each silicone piece to meticulously match human anatomy, with unprecedented time and research spent to achieve the appropriate texture, consistency and overall accuracy of the piece.  

You'll feel like you're kicking back and having a beer with old friends while listening to the "Commentary with Marcus Koch and Stephen Biro". Quirky stories from the set and the harrowing account of Marcus' near death experience while filming make this extra a must hear. Set pieces, symbolism and future plans are also discussed, making you an instant insider. 

Learn the origins of the American Guinea Pig series from inception and acquisition of the rights to the original Japanese Guinea Pig films on the "Interviews with Marcus Koch and Stephen Biro". Most interesting is each man's perspective on the film and their contributions to create the final masterpiece. 

The "Exclusive Stills Gallery" gives an insider's glance behind the scenes to make you feel like you were right there during the filming. Take a virtual macabre mini-vacation and check these out. And while you're at it, there are some really great trailers included of the latest and greatest Unearthed Films. 

Overall Rating – [4.5/5]:

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Sheep Skin (2013) - DVD Review - Unearthed Films

Sheep Skin... an indie horror film with some bite.

Released by: Unearthed Films and MVD Entertainment Group
Release Date: May 10, 2016 
Production Year: 2013
Region Code: 1
Running Time: 1:19:33
Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0
Video: NTSC (2.35:1 Aspect Ratio)
Subtitles: None

THE FILM - [ 3 / 5 ]:

'Sheep Skin' is a gritty and realistic take on the werewolf sub-genre. The film centers around a group of friends in a punk rock band, who kidnap a business man because they believe he is actually a werewolf hiding in plain sight. The group takes the man to a nearby warehouse, where they have one night to prove that their suspicions are true. As the night goes on, tensions mount and the group begins to question their own motives. Are they right about the man's true identity, or have they made a terrible and deadly mistake?

If you think the film is going to be a cheap and poorly made independent film, you would be wrong. No, not all of the acting is top-notch. But the majority of it is good. The film itself looks pretty good and while it retains a low budget feel, it comes off much better. I hadn't even watched a trailer for the film prior to watching it so I had no idea what I was in for. I hadn't even read a plot synopsis so I could just go in without any preconceived notions and I was pleasantly surprised by the film. I never felt bored or that the film was dragging on too much. It moved along at a decent pace with its under 80 minutes run time. 

'Sheep Skin' as the synopsis states, really does play out more like a realistic take on a werewolf film as opposed to what you generally see from nearly all films of the sub-genre. It isn't an action-heavy film but when present, the practical effects looked really good and were effective. The film has a little revenge aspect to it but there really isn't a huge opportunity to make use of it the way we normally see it played out.

Director/Writer Kurtis Spieler did a very good job in his directorial effort and I am looking forward to seeing what he comes up with next.

AUDIO - [ 3 / 5 ]:

The DVD features an English Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track. The track does an adequate job for what it is. It doesn't provide terrific ambiance in the film's various settings but with this sort of film, that might be expecting a bit much. The sound levels of the DVD were balanced fairly well even though there were occasions where the viewer might strain a little to hear the dialogue. 

VIDEO - [ 3 / 5 ]:

'Sheep Skin' comes to DVD thanks to Unearthed Films and MVD Entertainment Group. This DVD is NTSC Region 1 and the film is presented in the 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio. Overall the film looks good. There are times when the picture looks a bit noisy. Colors looked strong whether it was the clothing of a character or part of the surroundings. There was an average amount of detail present. The picture quality won't wow you but shouldn't leave you disappointed either. For a low budget independent film, it didn't have the "cheap" look that typically puts me off when trying to watch them. You can look at the screen captures provided and click to view them full size to get an idea for yourself. 

SPECIAL FEATURES - [ 4 / 5 ]:

Black and White Version of 'Sheep Skin' - Before the feature plays, a (1:53) intro by the director Kurtis Spieler plays where he explains the reason for this version of the film.

Audio Commentary - Director-Writer Kurtis Spieler and Producer Nicholas Papazoglou provide commentary for the feature. The pair discuss the film making process for 'Sheep Skin' and the troubles encountered along the way. They also provide some information about particular scenes as the movie plays. I thought it was an informative track and if you enjoyed the film, you'll probably like the commentary as well. The commentary track is only playable with the color version of the film.

Deleted Scene (3:18) An introduction first plays explains that it's more of an extended version of one of the warehouse scenes.

Behind the Scenes (11:04) - This mostly pertains to the werewolf effect.

Sheep Skin (2007 Short Film) (11:52)

Dick Punchers Music Video (2:49)

Trailer (1:03)



OVERALL RATING - [ 3 / 5 ]

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The Boy (2016) - Universal Pictures - Film Review

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

A Montana woman, Greta, gets a temporary job as a nanny and to her surprise is paid to look after a porcelain doll, which is treated like a living child by his parents.

Director William Brent Bell offers a creepy tale with plenty of shock scares. The typical British James Herbert-like setting of a large British aristocratic home with mature gardens adds to the sinister atmosphere. Lauren Cohan's performance is excellent as Greta. As things go bump in the night with objects seemingly moving around reminiscent of Child Play, Dolly Dearest and Annabel to name a few, Cohan sells the fear factor. Bell 's production is polished, aided by its sound design, Bear McCreary's score (who appears to be knocking them out in his sleep) and Brian Berdan's editing add to the pace and atmosphere throughout.

Written by Stacey Menear, Greta's back story and motivations are believable but it leads to a somewhat inevitable Cape Fear-esque appearance by Cole, Greta's ex, played by Ben Robson. Rupert Evans gives a great understated performance as as Malcolm thanks to Delay's dialogue. Still grieving for their son, both Jim Norton as Mr. Heelshire and Diana Hardcastle s Mrs. Heelshire are delightfully creepy and emulate the odd couple in Dolls (1987) as their intentions are tragically revealed. Notable are the scenes where Greta demonstrates Brahms' ability to move by himself to Malcolm and when Greta is locked in the attic by an unseen force.

Although the lath reveals the house is state-side and not British, the excellent interiors and grounds really sell it. As with my incessant mention of other films it covers a lot of horror tropes. Those familiar with Housebound (2014) and an array of others will see the twist coming a mile off. If anything the rushed and jarring reveal takes away the suspense and tension finely built by Bell in the first three quarters with a Halloween masked phantom closing. That said, to Bell's credit the ghoul remains masked retaining The Boy's mystery. But the star of the show is the Brahms doll, which is just plain unnerving.

Those with pediophobia may want to avoid this at all costs but for the rest of us it's a solid horror thriller that works best when its honing the psychological aspect and delivering jump scares.

3/5

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10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) - Film Review

*** This review contains spoilers! ***

After getting in a car accident, a woman is held in a shelter with two men.

Director Dan Trachtenberg offers a well directed solid suspense thriller, that borrows from Stephen King's Misery, War of the Worlds and of course Cloverfield in the closing. 10 Cloverfield Lane's minimal main cast are on fantastic form, notable are Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Gallagher Jr. but it's John Goodman who steals the show and is given more depth than the other characters.

What starts out as a seemingly typical torture kidnap thriller turns into something quite different. With the claustrophobic location of an underground bunker complete with air shafts, which Winstead has to worm her way through, it does have it tense moments. Loyality and trust themes builds the tension throughout thanks to Goodman's questionable character Howard. He gives a stellar performance with Bear McCreary's score adding to the edgy proceedings. With fine effects and some tight writing from Josh Campbell, Matt Stuecken and Damien Chazelle it works as a stand alone film as well as a 'side-quel' to J.J Abrams earlier 2008 outing. Clearly the small cast and few locations transparently function to warrant and somewhat set up a big budget third instalment. But don't expect any alien action until the latter half.

It's fast pace, unconventional story telling holds interest and makes it worth while viewing alone. Cloverfield fans will be pleased but those who aren't aware of the Cloverfield link may get more satisfaction from the alien twist ending and Howard's real intentions.

4/5

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R.O.T.O.R. (1987) - Film Review

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

A Dallas man is witness to the death of a cop and there's more to his story.

 With a video cover in the vain of the Vindicator, echoing The Wraith, The Terminator, Mad Max and Robocop, this low budget tail end of the 80s is like none of the above. Cullen Blaine's offering Robotic Officer Tactical Operation Research (R.O.T.O.R) has an informative title voice over, packed with exposition and flashback that adds very little to the proceedings. What it does have is a nostalgic soundtrack from synthesiser beats to some country music. It's also nicely framed.

 There's a robot which looks its just rolled out of Buck Rogers, and R.O.TO.R, correctly dubbed "a tin marionette," is like a stop motion endoskeleton with daft Punk shades. The dialogue is a pretentious and cheesy as it comes. Even when the motor bike patrol cops goes all Westworld/Hitcher stalker-ish it sadly remains one of the most uneventful films of 1987. Not even some toy robots or The Terminator P.O.V shots can help.

With Dallas' 80s fashion R.O.TO.R never lives up to or delivers on its premise of a directorate driven, judge and executioner super cop. It picks up briefly in the last half hour as leather clad, moustache sporting, ChiPs sunglasses cop takes on some locals and later blows up when his arms and legs are tied up. There's a little shock killing that amounts to nothing, with a twist ending that won't make you spill you coffee.

Despite its faults it's better filmed than 90 percent of the DTV films produced these days. Worth watching for nostalgic value only.

1/5

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) - Film Review

*** WARNING: This review may contain spoilers ***

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Thirty years after the second Death Star's destruction, Luke Skywalker, the last Jedi, has vanished. An unlikely group get drawn into search for the Jedi before the First Order, a successor to the fallen Galactic Empire find him first.

J.J. Abrams flourishingly takes over the reins from George Lucas for Disney. The production values, effects and music are outstanding with writers Lawrence Kasdan, Abrams and Michael Arndt successfully handing over the baton to the new characters without leaving the beloved ones behind. John Boyega's Finn has depth and is very likable, as too is Daisy Ridley who is simply outstanding and steals the show as Rey. Oscar Isaac's X Wing pilot Poe Dameron is memorable and somehow manages to encapsulate the look, swagger and feel of the original Star Wars spirit.

If I were to nit-pick the Andy Serkis' Supreme Leader Snoke hologram and the monsters hiding and attacking the Millennium Falcon as it hums back to life CGI is not without its problems. That said, it's doesn't distract from the overall great quality of the effects throughout, from the impressive practical and visual effects right down to jolting storms troopers, desert creatures, spaceship base interiors, sweeping planet topography and beyond. 

With droids housing information, space battles and giant weapons with weaknesses, yes, it's partly a rehash of the first film with a few welcomed twists and surprises but it's a really visual and emotional treat, with great sets, costumes, make-up and locations. The action set ups, shoot outs, spaceship dogfights and sabre duels are fantastically staged. There's plenty of Han Solo gunplay and humour on display.

The mix of new and old characters returning works and there's array of familiar faces and quality actors including Max von Sydow and a hidden Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma. Well loved characters, not just the likes of R2-D2, Han, Leia, Chewie and C-3PO but lesser known ones like Admiral Ackbar and Nien Nunb also return. As the rebels face another threat, bigger than the Deathstar it manages to remain engrossing and grittier than its predecessors.

There's the emotional loss of a main character and Mark Hamill's Luke screen time is fittingly limited which allows Ridley to shine throughout as she develops her skills along with droid BB-8. Adam Driver's misguided Vader obsessed Kylo Ren is interesting.

Overall, the young cast carry the beats you wanted and expected from a sequel to the original trilogy but it also excels as Abrams manages to fashion an atmosphere of his own while retaining the Star Wars feel and magic. The force is strong with this one. Highly recommended.

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Blood Rage (1987) - Blu-ray Review - Arrow Video

Watching Arrow Video's Blu-ray of 'Blood Rage' is like truly seeing the film for the first time.

Released by: Arrow Video
Release Date: November 24, 2015 (US) / November 23, 2015 (UK)
Production Year: 1987
Region Code: ALL 
Running Time: 1:22:19 (Disc 1 feature)
Audio: English LPCM 2.0 Stereo
Video: 1080p (1.85:1 Aspect Ratio) / NTSC (DVD)
Subtitles: English SDH


THE FILM: [ 3.5 / 5 ]

What do you get if you combine Thanksgiving, American TV star Louise Lasser (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman), killer 80's synths and some of the most gruesome special effects in all of slasher history courtesy of Ed (Terminator 2) French. Why, it’s "Blood Rage" of course!

Twins Todd and Terry seem like sweet boys that is, until one of them takes an axe to face of a fellow patron at the local drive-in. Todd is blamed for the bloody crime and institutionalized, whilst twin brother Terry goes free. Ten years later and, as the family gathers around the table for a Thanksgiving meal, the news comes in that Todd has escaped. But has the real killer in fact been in their midst all along? One thing’s for sure, there will be plenty of blood and rage!

Shot in 1983 but not released until 1987, "Blood Rage" (re-cut and shown in theaters as "Nightmare at Shadow Woods") is a gloriously gruesome slice of 80's slasher heaven now lovingly restored (in 3 versions no less) from original vault elements for its first ever official home video release.

For me "Blood Rage" was always a bit of a below average slasher. It was okay but not a film I enjoyed all that much. However, being able to see more of what is happening in the film has given me a renewed interest and fondness for "Blood Rage." 

As far as stand out actors in the film, I think that Mark Soper did a good job playing twins Todd and Terry. He gave a convincing performance making you believe you were watching two different actors. Louise Lasser made you feel for her as she goes from being happy not long after the ten years later part of the film to slowly losing her mind throughout the film after she receives some disturbing news. 

The film does not include to me, memorable characters but rather disposable characters which is typical with many slashers and I'm not really complaining. There are some memorable lines with a couple variations of "it's not cranberry sauce" which I find pretty entertaining. Make-up effects artist Ed French does a great job with the practical effects in "Blood Rage."  


NOTE: The Audio and Video scores and comments below are in reference to the uncut version of the film from Blu-ray Disc One.

AUDIO: [ 4.5 / 5 ]

"Blood Rage" has an English LPCM 2.0 Stereo audio track. The sound quality is excellent overall. The dialogue is clean and crisp. The sound effects are sharp and spot on. The great synth score by Richard Einhorn sounds very lively. The volume level was consistent throughout the film. I did not notice any issues with the audio such as hissing, pops or dropouts. All three versions of the film include optional English SDH subtitles.

VIDEO: [ 4.5 / 5 ]

"Blood Rage" slashes its way on to Blu-ray for the first time thanks to Arrow Video. All three versions of the film are presented in 1080p with a 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio thanks to a brand new 2k restoration from the original camera negative. I did not have any idea what the film looked like on the Blu-ray from Arrow Video prior to watching it today. I am only used to shoddy versions that you may find on Youtube and such. What a delightful surprise this turned out to be. The restoration that Arrow has done has breathed new life in to a once run of the mill slasher. The film itself looks amazing. It is so nice to be able to clearly see the handiwork of Ed French in the terrific death scenes. The colors are bold and look appropriate without being over-saturated. Skin tones look natural and contrast levels look fine. Film grain looks very good throughout and is heavier in some of the darker scenes although it was never to the point of being distracting or detrimental to the experience of watching the film. There is a welcomed amount of detail present in the film and in close up shots, even more fine detail to be found. I really would not have imagined that "Blood Rage" could look this good. If you want a glimpse of how good the film looks now, take a peek at the video at the bottom of the review. One minor glitch in the film and it appears in all three versions is a tiny greenish orb that appears in the upper left area of the screen which you can see around the 59:08 mark in the film when Terry and Artie arrive on the wooden foot bridge. Something funny is shortly after that at approximately 59:49 just behind Terry's back, someone appears to walk into the frame and then backs away when they realize they shouldn't be there. 


SPECIAL FEATURES: [ 5 / 5 ]

Blu-ray Disc One

Audio Commentary - This commentary track is moderated by Ewan Cant from Arrow Video and features John Grissmer, the director of "Blood Rage" and John Dalley, a co-owner of the film. Mr. Cant makes a solid effort to keep the conversation going but unfortunately John Grissmer often gives a brief response which results in a number of quiet lulls in the conversation. Mr. Grissmer does provide some interesting anecdotes regarding the film though concerning the cast and crew. John Dalley doesn't really contribute much to the conversation until just after the 57 minute mark when Ewan Cant asks him about the unauthorized release of the film and subsequent legal matter involving a few websites such as Amazon and Netflix. If you are a fan of the film, you may like this commentary but I don't imagine a casual viewer finding it all that interesting. Even though I didn't find it to be particularly good, I am thankful for its inclusion as I always enjoy hearing from the film makers and/or cast.

Double Jeopardy - An interview with Mark Soper (11:01) -  Mr. Soper talks about how he got his start in acting and also discusses his roles in the film including having a cheat sheet of each characters mannerisms because he would have to quickly change roles.  

Jeez, Louise! - An interview with Louise Lasser (10:21) - Miss Lasser discusses her early acting career including a few Woody Allen films and the tv series "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman." She too talks about her role in the film as well as the mental state of her character.  

Both Sides of the Camera - An interview with producer/actress Marianne Kanter (9:58) - She talks about the films production and reveals that she appears in the film due to the actress that was originally hired for the part did not show up for work. Miss Kanter also briefly mentions being a producer. She also discusses working with Louise Lasser and how director John Grissmer had at one point quit the film but later came back when Miss Kanter contacted him.  

Man Behind the Mayhem - An interview with special make-up effects creator Ed French (12:48) - Mr. French talks about how after reading an issue of Fangoria and seeing the effects from professionals such as Dick Smith, he became interested in the field and wanted to get in to the make-up effects business. Ed French discusses a few of the effects used in "Blood Rage." He briefly mentions his acting career and how after seeing the dailies for "Blood Rage," he decided that would be his last cameo in a film he was working on. Mr. French touches base on the multiple titles used for the film, cast members Louise Lasser and Mark Soper as well as other films and tv shows he has worked on in his illustrious career.

Three Minutes with Ted - An interview with actor Ted Raimi (3:18) - Ted shares a story about what led to him moving to New York and as he was about to give up on acting and move home, he got the part in "Blood Rage."

Return to Shadow Woods (5:36) - In this featurette, film historian Ed Tucker gives us a look at some of the original shooting locations used for the film in Jacksonville, Florida. Sadly, the drive-in theater used in the opening of the film has since been replaced with a Walmart. 

VHS Opening Titles (5:01) -  We you get to see part of the opening scene with the "Blood Rage" title card. 

Behind the Scenes Gallery (4:31) - A collection of stills from the production.



Blu-ray Disc Two [Limited Edition Exclusive]

Nightmare at Shadow Woods (1:19:27) - The following appears before playing this version of the film. "Blood Rage was re-edited and released theatrically in 1987 as Nightmare as Shadow Woods. Our presentation of this cut is comprised of the newly restored Blood Rage footage combined with unique footage transferred from the best available 35mm print element. Because if the significant variations in quality between the two elements used, the differences remain noticeable." 

Wow. It is easy to see how different this version will be by how gutted the opening scene is in terms of gore. Talk about severely edited. One swing of the axe and the camera cuts away to the woman running away from the car. We do get a glimpse of the mans face after the fact when the murder has been discovered. Next the film skips ahead and we have grown up Terry at the pool with his friends and meet the neighbor with the baby, Julie. Some gore still remains in some of the death scenes but much of it has been removed and there are some sudden cuts to the next scene that makes the film feel very clumsily edited and rather cheap. The audio and video quality was great on this version. The lower quality footage is easy to spot in some cases but it was nowhere near as jarring as some of the edited scenes that removed the violence. A nice addition to this terrific limited edition release by Arrow Video but I doubt I will revisit this version of the film.


Composite Cut (1:25:08) -  Before being able to play this version of the film, this appears on the menu screen. "An alternate composite cut of the feature combing footage from both the uncut and theatrical versions." 

I definitely preferred this version over "Nightmare at Shadow Woods" but I think I would stick to the uncut version on disc one. I really didn't find this or the uncut version to feel all too different. Then again I have spent my Thanksgiving watching "Blood Rage" and its special features all day. So this was my fourth time watching the film today, all three versions once plus disc one version with the commentary track. The added scenes in this version are nice to have but I honestly don't miss them in the uncut version since it's a slightly "leaner' beast of a slasher. 


Outtakes (26:39) - Before the outtakes play this disclaimer appears, "The following outtakes are presented mute as per the source material." We see a couple outtakes that involve Maddy arriving at The Craig Institute, both from her prospective as well as a patient outside the building. Next there are a few scenes involving a few characters in and around the swimming pool including Terry. We then see a couple takes at the tennis court followed by a several shots involving Terry and the couple having sex on the diving board of the pool as seen in the film. Next is a few shots of Terry and Karen followed by shots involving the bodies of the couple from the pool. 


Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Marc Schoenbach.

Fully-illustrated collectors booklet featuring new writing on the film by Joseph A. Ziemba, author of BLEEDING SKULL! A 1980s Trash-Horror Odyssey.



IN CONCLUSION:

This one can easily be summed up as, if you are a fan of the film at all, you need to get this Blu-ray because you will absolutely love it. If you are a slasher fan, you should order yourself the Blu-ray. It is not as widely known as other 80's slashers, but thanks to Arrow Video and their wonderful job on this new HD remaster, you can now see and appreciate the great kill scenes and gore that appears in the film. Along with the superior audio and video quality of the film, you have a total of three versions of the film to watch in the limited edition version, plus a surplus of features. No brainer. Buy the Blu-ray. The 3-Disc Set also includes a DVD of the uncut version of "Blood Rage."


OVERALL RATING: [ 4.5 / 5 ]


 


NOTE: The video below contains spoilers for the film. So watch at your own risk.

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Nightmare Code - DVD Review - MVD Entertainment Group

It Finds The Bug In You

Released by: MVD Entertainment Group
Release Date: November 24, 2015
Production Year: 2014
Region Code: ALL
Running Time: 1:29:00
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: NTSC Anamorphic Widescreen
Subtitles: None


THE FILM - [ 3 / 5 ]:

Nightmare Code is an independent sci-fi thriller about behavior recognition technology, behavior modification, 24/7 surveillance and artificial intelligence. Brett Desmond (Andrew J. West, "The Walking Dead"), brilliant young programmer with a troubled past, is brought to a tech start-up where the previous lead programmer went on a workplace murder/suicide rampage. With just a month to finish ROPER, the highly advanced behavior recognition program, and only a small testing crew remaining, Brett works and sleeps in the semi-abandoned office. But the deeper Brett delves into the code, the more his personality starts to warp like that of the dead programmer...and the more the code takes on a life of its own. Utilizing surveillance cameras, PC cams, video chat and eyeglass cam, for more than half the movie the viewer watches four images on the screen at once, like a surveillance monitor - but not always in sync, as if ROPER itself is telling us the story.

You can read our review of the film for more information regarding our thoughts and rating for "Nightmare Code."

AUDIO - [ 3.5 / 5 ]:

"Nightmare Code" features an English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. The audio track sounded good in my opinion. The surround sound was effective in certain scenes with my possible favorite being when Brett is running down the stairs in the quad-screen shot and it sounded like he was running around me. The dialogue was always clear and easy to understand. I thought the sound level was balanced through the film and the sound effects were never overwhelming in regards to the dialogue.

VIDEO - [ 3.5 / 5 ]:

"Nightmare Code" comes to DVD thanks to MVD Entertainment Group. The film has a bit of a unique look to it with the quad-screen display and many visual effects. For a low budget independent film, I found the video quality to be fairly good. Colors were represented well and look typically bold in appearance. Skin tones look okay for the most part but I imagine it is a lighting issue with the films shooting location. Some scenes feature a good amount of detail as well.  

SPECIAL FEATURES - [ 2.5 / 5 ]:

Audio Commentary - This track features director, producer and co-writer Mark Netter and actors Andrew J. West (Brett) and Mei Melançon (Nora). This was a great commentary track. I found it to be highly informative in regards to the production of the film thanks to Mark Netter and also entertaining. Director Mark Netter does most of the talking on the track with Andrew J. West and Mei Melançon both contributing more information as the commentary went on, adding personal stories from their scenes in the film. 

Characters (2:19) - A quick look at the characters in the film with brief comments by members of the cast and crew.

Technology & Fear (2:53) - Members of the cast and crew talk about how technology has evolved and how powerful it has become.

The Production (2:02) - This brief featurette includes comments from the cast and crew regarding the production of the film.

Indiegogo (0:31) - A short video that was used in the Indiegogo campaign for the film.

Trailer (1:52)


IN CONCLUSION:

An intriguing film and a nice DVD presentation that also offers some decent extras including a great commentary track. Throw in the low price of the DVD and well, if you enjoy sci-fi fantasy type films with a heavy dose of technology, you should check out  the "Nightmare Code" from MVD Entertainment Group. 


OVERALL: [ 3 / 5 ]

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Lilin's Brood (2015) - Film Review - Some Sirius Ship Productions

After hitting something in the road a news team find themselves visiting a brothel which may throw some light on their investigation. The W.H.I.S.T.L.E team's recovered footage will reveal their encounter.

Some Sirius Ship Productions were kind enough to share a screener with us of Lilin's Brood. Writer/directors Artii Smith and P.W. Simon (A.K.A Mansa Mojo Brothas) cleverly tap into the popular Jewish legend, a redressed favourite among modern occult followers. Lets face it the found footage genre has been done to death but it still has its place and fans. This includes interview like segments. To Smith and Simon's credit with the investigative news angle it gives their offering a palatable excuse as to why the cameras should still be rolling. There's sacrifice, seduction and although there's many dim and dark scenes it's a crisp piece of work, finely shot and staged that develops slowly with a  R.V, blood trails, torchlight and female flesh on display. 

The film features Martin Sensmeier, Maxine Goynes (who is quite naturalistic) and Melinda Milton. Actors Brent King, Martin Sensmeier and Arti Smith offer some comic relief and weight. Don't expect the recent Devil's Pass or Exists, it's a low budget thriller tale (and more interesting than many found footage films out there) with plenty of effort on display. The editing could arguably be tighter and some of the dialogue debatably delivered better but I'm not complaining - as without Lilin's Brood the world wouldn't have it's clever movie poster (you must check it out). 

Although the cinematic style is slightly worn there's plenty of mysterious atmosphere and a few jump scares thrown in to keep you watching. Overall, for those who like occult themed and found footage flicks Lilin's Brood is quirky enough to hold interest.

Rating 3 / 5

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Hades (2015) - Film Review - FDF Films & Crossbones Independent Films

A woman is trapped in a dream like state which appear to represent various stages of her relationship.

Watching films can sometimes be a dull experience, but occasionally the planets align and you get to view something quite stirring. Austrian director Kevin Kopacka offers a genuine haunting piece of art house film with a kitchen sink of camera tricks, sound design and lighting effects. Following a series of individual arresting sequences actor Anna Heidegger's organic beauty and fine performance really enchants as you journey through her nightmare. It has a universal standing as there's little, if any dialogue, its all about visuals and Kopacka delivers more treats in his experimental short than many features manage to do.

This Berlin made short film (just shy of fifteen minutes) unfolds like a Steven Berkoff play of uneasiness. Broken up by title cards Kopacka injects Giallo's horror and psychological thriller elements into his piece. He also throws in for good measure elements reminiscent of Kubrick's The Shining and a cross section of Lynch's work to name a few, successfully borrowing from the some of the best with lingering long corridors, locked doors, shadowy figures and silhouettes. Shots with glimpses of things that seemingly supernaturally move, notable are the eerie bed clothes. There's also the haunting stillness of faces, sunsets and hazy memories. 

Is it paramount that you analyse writer H.K. DeWitt's take on the five rivers of the realm of Hades and their symbolic meanings? Possibly, but it's not important, as Kopacka's Hades is about how it makes you feel with its unrelenting pressure and a sense of all-pervading paranoia and dread. The short is almost pure cinema and comes highly recommended. 

Rating: 4 / 5

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Die Die Delta PI (2013) - Film Review - Gatorblade Films

It's pledge week and all the girls of Delta Pi are rushing to die.

The mid eighties, a killer is on the lose and a sorority initiation involving silly-string goes wrong burning a girl to death. Cut to present day and the murders start again...

Directors Sean Donohue and Christopher Leto offer a love letter of sorts to the Slumber Party series and endless high-school massacre slasher films. Die Die Delta PI's eye catching cover art harks back to the 70s and early 80s hay days of slasher flicks. If choppy indie low budget slasher films float your boat this is for you. 

Donohue's story is another revenge slasher flick with a shock ending that you really don't need me to tell you about. Let's put some of the acting, continuity, sound and lighting design to one side for a moment, everyone are certainly trying their hardest. Opening in spring 1986 then shifting to present day it tries to equal its peers with the slasher sub-genre perfect ingredients: 1. A high body count and 2: Nudity (Roxy Vandiver fans will be pleased). However, due to its execution and budget restraints it never reaches the highs of the films it emulates. That said, it's packed with gratuitous T & A, paddle spanking, bikinis and plenty of fake claret as a hooded figure picks off (the varying acting talents of) the characters one by one. 

The cast include Christine Bell,  Olivia Blake as Marissa Chambers and the talents of Keisha Burchard and Madison Conradis to name a few. Some of the actors deliver writer Arturo Portillo's lines better than others. The clever casting of the 80s actors to there present day counterparts deserve a mention, actors Donna Parker and Bianca Allaine spring to mind, Shade Burnett's Katherine Jordan and Marcus Koch's inventive effects are notable.

While Donohue and Leto's offering is very rough around the edges, keep telling yourself this is a very low budget horror, there's some good editing, plenty of bras, boobs and blood. Probably best viewed with a lot of alcohol and a group of friends until the cops turn up just like in the film.

My generous rating is based on comparable films.

Rating: 3 out of 5

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