Sony Pictures' Horror/Comedy 'Freaks Of Nature' Comes To Select Theaters October 30

Vampires, Zombies and Humans Oh My

On Friday, October 30, moviegoers across the country will have to take on zombies, vampires, aliens, and more as they get their first chance to see Sony Pictures Entertainment's hilarious horror/comedy Freaks of Nature in a special engagement.

In Freaks of Nature, we welcome you to Dillford, where three days ago, everything was peaceful and business as usual: the vampires were at the top of the social order, the zombies were at the bottom, and the humans were getting along in the middle. But this delicate balance was ripped apart when the alien apocalypse arrived in Dillford and put an end to all the harmony. Now it's humans vs. vampires vs. zombies in all-out, blood-sucking, brain-eating, vamp-staking mortal combat – and all of them are on the run from the aliens. It is up to three teenagers – one human, one vampire, and one zombie – to team up, figure out how to get rid of the interplanetary visitors, and try to restore order to this "normal" little town.

Commenting on the announcement, Matt Tolmach, the film's producer, said, "I'm so excited for audiences to experience Freaks of Nature. We're so proud of this amazing cast -- Nic, Mackenzie, and Josh, along with Denis Leary, Bob Odenkirk, Keegan-Michael Key, Ed Westwick, Vanessa Hudgens, Patton Oswalt, and Ian Roberts. It's hilarious and terrifying -- a perfect Halloween movie."

Freaks of Nature is directed by Robbie Pickering, written by Oren Uziel, and produced by Matt Tolmach, and stars Nicholas Braun,Mackenzie Davis (who can be seen on screen in the hit film "The Martian"), and Josh Fadem.

For more information, visit "Freaks of Nature" on Facebook.

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AMC Brings Fans 'The Walking Dead' Mega Sunday Event on November 1st

AMC BRINGS FANS “THE WALKING DEAD MEGA SUNDAY” EVENT ON NOVEMBER 1ST AT 9:00 P.M. ET/PT

VIEWERS WHO TUNE IN FOR AN ALL-NEW EXTENDED 90-MINUTE EPISODE OF “THE WALKING DEAD,” WILL SEE THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE TRAILER FOR AMC’S MUCH ANTICIPATED SERIES, “PREACHER,” PLUS THE TELEVISION PREMIERE OF THE TRAILER FOR “INTO THE BADLANDS”

AMC is bringing fans “The Walking Dead Mega Sunday” event on November 1st at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. During the all-new extended 90-minute episode of “The Walking Dead,” AMC will air the world premiere of the trailer for AMC’s upcoming, highly anticipated series “Preacher,” as well as the television premiere of the “Into the Badlands” trailer.

In this all-new episode of “The Walking Dead,” “Here’s Not Here,” written by Scott M. Gimple and directed by Stephen Williams, the survivors must ask themselves who can be trusted, and better yet, can they change? Critics continue to praise the series, including Verne Gay of Newsday, who calls it “exceptional.”

Based on the twisted and popular ‘90s comic book franchise of the same name, “Preacher,” created by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, is the story of Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper) a conflicted Preacher in a small Texas town who is inhabited by a mysterious entity that allows him to develop a highly unconventional power. Jesse, his ex-girlfriend, Tulip (Ruth Negga), and an Irish vampire named Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun) embark on a journey to, literally, find God. The Sony Pictures Television and AMC Studios co-production was developed for television by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg (“This Is the End,” “Superbad,” “Neighbors”) and showrunner Sam Catlin (“Breaking Bad”). The series is set to premiere mid-2016.

“Into the Badlands” tells the story of a ruthless, well-trained warrior named Sunny (Daniel Wu) and a young boy named M.K. (Aramis Knight) who embark on a spiritual journey across a dangerous land. From AMC Studios, the six-part series is created by executive producers/showrunners/writers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (“Shanghai Noon,” “Smallville”), and executive produced by Oscar®-nominated producers Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg (“Pulp Fiction,” “Contagion”), director David Dobkin (“Wedding Crashers,” “Shanghai Nights”), fight director Stephen Fung (“Tai Chi Zero”) and Daniel Wu (“Tai Chi Zero”). AMC’s martial arts drama premieres on Sunday, November 15th at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on AMC.

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Super Zero - Short Film Review - Midnight Protocol

Badass Journey Into Zombie Awesomeness

Running Time: 15:49
Production: USA/2014
Sound: 5.1 Surround Sound
Aspect Ratio: 2:40
Shooting Format: Red 4K
Language: English

Filmmakers:

Written and Directed by Mitch Cohen

Produced by Alex Moran, Bryan Hwang and Devon Byers 

Cinematography by Conor O’Brien 

Production Design by Patric Levy 

Edited by Daniel Myers 

Original Music by Justin Bell


Starring:

Umberto Celisano, Giselle Gilbert, Al Bernstein, Tyler Whte with Bobak Ferdowsi and “MoHawk Guy” as Himself

Synopsis:

When Josh Hershberg, a 20 year old introverted geek culture lover is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, he believes he isn’t special and has nothing to offer the world. However, on the day he decides to kill himself and end it all, a vessel carrying the first sample of liquid water discovered on Mars crashes to Earth on re-entry sparking the Zombie Apocalypse. 

One month later, the world has gone to hell and Josh has set off to wander through the madness alone. He stumbles upon his crush, her cousin and a wayward pizza party clown trying to find their way to safety. In the middle of a sudden Zombie attack, the three learn that Josh is immune to being a target of the undead due to his rare illness. Josh, using his comic-book/gaming/movie knowledge and engineering expertise crafts Zombie killing weapons and heroically saves the lives of his compatriots earning him a place in their ragtag group. 

In the process, Josh discovers, once and for all, you may not know what makes you special, but your time will come. And perhaps, when the biggest epic fail ever to happen to civilization triggers the rising of the dead to kill the living, one may find that there is a zombie assassin in all of us.


Review:

Well, "Super Zero" certainly does bring a fresh idea to the table, which doesn't seem to happen often anymore. Let me say that the fifteen minutes flew by and it didn't feel like I was watching a short film at all. This was like watching the opening scene of a major motion picture. When it was over I exclaimed out loud in disappointment, "oh man." This was really fun and way too short. I want to watch a feature length version. Now. I don't think there was anything I did not like about "Super Zero." There were some pretty cool special effects shots, a big action scene and funny moments to boot. I thought the actors did a fine job and liked the professional look of "Super Zero" along with the creative filming. Mitch Cohen and the rest of the cast and crew did a terrific job and I and many others I am sure, can't wait to see more.

RATING: [ 4.5 / 5 ]


Be sure to watch "Super Zero" on Youtube. Also check out "Super Zero" on Facebook.



DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

Like millions of others I am endlessly fascinated by fiction that not only encourages you to believe in a character, but also asks you to believe in a world that is not your own. From other planets, to other times, to other laws of nature; as long as it promises something deeper or more fantastic, I am on board for that journey. Based on real science or just pure imagination, if it holds true to its own ideals and respects its own inventions, my willingness and desire to believe in what I see and experience remains enthusiastic and uncompromised. 

However, as a fan of sci-fi/comic-book/gaming culture there has always been something that I never thought was accurately represented…me. Characters seem to be either larger than life, stereotypical caricatures, or gifted with powers that make them utterly unrelatable. Why can’t people and situations be unworldly as well as honest, or ridiculously absurd yet remotely plausible? Where are the real people in all this great fantasy? 

That was my goal in creating Super Zero; celebrate the average, the eccentric, the powerless, and put them into a universe that can become anything, but is grounded in authentic spirit. Find the humanity in imagination, and let characters behave and act like actual people, regardless of how utterly unbelievable the situation is. 

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. I just want those people to be interesting and those places to be awesome.


KEY FILMMAKERS

Writer/Directer 

Mitch Cohen

With a background as a writer and commercial director for numerous independent film/TV and advertising companies, Mitch specializes in “geek culture” and has worked as a Creative Director on many high profile video game ad campaigns such as Borderlands, Batman Arkham City and Spec Ops. Mitch’s neo-noir short film Peter’s Price played at many high profile festivals and garnered a worldwide distribution deal through Shorts International. Mitch’s creative voice combines his love for old cinema with his passion for pop culture and draws from diverse influences to create stories that take truly original perspectives.

Producer 

Devon Byers

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Devon’s parents spark for loving film inspired him to study film at both the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the American Film Institute, where he received his MFA in Producing. Devon has able to produce over 15 short films that screened all over the world including Dream in the Dark, which screened before a special viewing of J.J. Abrams’ Super 8 hosted by Paramount. His most recent short film Jonestown recently won the Jury Prize at the Colorado International Film Festival.


Producer 

Alex Moran 

Alex graduated from the American Film Institute with an MFA in Producing. Prior to attending graduate school in Los Angeles, she earned a BA in English with a Film Studies minor from Gettysburg College. She also studied film, literature, and classics at King’s College in London. Alex produced three short films during her first year at AFI, before producing her thesis film, Revenge Against the Mop Bucket Mastermind.

Producer 

Bryan Hwang

 

Bryan was born in Seoul, South Korea but was raised in Ohio and California. He attended the University of California, Irvine and received a Bachelor in Arts for Film and Media Studies. Upon graduation, Bryan worked as a music video director and producer for an independent record label in the San Francisco Bay Area for up and coming electro-hip hop artists. Bryan then attended the American Film Institute and graduated with an MFA in Producing before starting production company, Midnight Protocol Films with Devon Byers and Alex Moran.

Cinematographer
Connor O’Brien

As a former professional skater, Connor he has been around cameras most of his life. After years of working as a commercial editor, Connor realized his true passion was cinematography. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from CSULB, majoring in film production with an emphasis in cinematography and then received an MFA in Cinematography at the prestigious American Film Institute. His photographic ideas are always motivated by, and stem from, the narrative. He has lensed projects for such clients as: Lexus, Toyota, AT&T, Cisco, Sprint, Dairy Queen, UFC, and many NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL teams. He is experienced in a wide array of formats, including 35mm, 16mm and digital capture.International Film Festival.

Production Designer 
Patrick Levy 

Patrick Levy began life as a tadpole in a small coastal Georgia estuary (an old bootlegging town) just north of the Florida border, 5 minutes by river, 15 by land. His early obsessions include skateboards, photography, punk music, and motors. After studying film at Columbia College in Chicago, he soon moved into the art department, and was the Art Director of South of Heaven.  This experience led to the decision to study the trades up-close. Patrick worked in wood shops for six years refining his skills before attending the American Film Institute for one year in the Production Design program. 


Editor 
Daniel Myers 

Daniel is a film and video editor with an education in Philosophy, with a specific focus on Aesthetics, from the University of Washington. He was born and raised in Seattle WA. Besides editing, Daniel is a motion graphics designer and a film director; having directed one narrative feature and several short films before coming to Los Angeles to study at the American Film Institute Conservatory in 2011. In 2012 he was the recipient of the Mookie Jam foundation Grant, and his most recent short film NiNi was a recipient of the DGA Jury Award in 2014. 


Composer 
Justin Bell 

Justin is a graduate of the USC Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television Program, where he had the unique opportunity to meet with and study under industry professionals, and to collaborate with filmmakers from the well-known USC School of Cinematic Arts. Through the program he studied under Christopher Young (Spider-Man 3), Garry Schyman (Bioshock 1 and 2), Joel McNeely (Dark Angel), and Patrick Kirst (Sex and the City), among others. His recent work includes music arrangement, programming, and orchestrating for Cloud Atlas, Wolf Creek 2, The Newsroom, I, Frankenstein, and the upcoming Wachowski series, Sense8.

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Extras Revealed for The Garbage Pail Kids Movie Blu-ray from Scream Factory

Final List of Extras Revealed for the 80's Blast From the Past

Scream Factory has announced their final list of special features for their upcoming Collector's Edition Blu-ray release of the cult classic, "The Garbage Pail Kids Movie." The Blu-ray is scheduled to be released on December 8, 2015.

• NEW The Effects of the Garbage Pail Kids Movie – interviews with special makeup effects creator John Carl Buechler and makeup effects artist Gino Crognale
• NEW On the Set – an interview with first assistant director Thomas A. Irvine 
• NEW The Artful Dodger – an interview with actor Mackenzie Astin
• NEW The Kids Aren’t All Right – interviews with Garbage Pail Kids actors Arturo Gil (Windy Winston) and Kevin Thompson (Ali Gator)
• Theatrical Trailer

You can pre-order directly from the Scream Factory website and receive a FREE Limited-edition 18” x 24” poster of the newly-illustrated artwork. You can also order using the Amazon link below.


Synopsis:
It Doesn't Get Any Grosser Than This… Especially in High-Definition!

Your favorite grime bandits come to life with all the farts, snot and vomit you can take in this hilarious film full of "gross-out humor" (The New York Times). Based on the wildly popular and irreverent trading cards, The Garbage Pail Kids® Movie stars Mackenzie Astin (Iron Will, Wyatt Earp) as a perfectly nice teenager who discovers the Kids...to his great disgust!

When Dodger (Astin) accidentally releases the Kids from their magical trash can prison, all smell breaks loose. Despite their offensive personal habits – and attitude problems – Dodger soon becomes fond of the Kids. But when Messy Tessie, Foul Phil, Valerie Vomit and the whole misfit crew join his fight against thuggish bullies, their efforts just might land them behind bars at the State Home for the Ugly!

This grossly entertaining cult classic features great makeup effects by John Carl Buechler (Troll, Dolls, Ghoulies) and co-stars Phil Fondacaro (Troll, Ghoulies II), Katie Barberi (Ferris Bueller's Day Off) and singer/songwriter Anthony Newley (Doctor Dolittle).

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The Horror Network - DVD Review - Wild Eye Releasing

Five Tales of the Macabre

Released by: Wild Eye Releasing
Release Date: October 27, 2015
Production Year: 2013
Region Code: 0 
Running Time: 1:24:35
Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0
Video: NTSC Anamorphic Widescreen 
Subtitles: None


THE FILMS - [ 3 / 5 ]:

Serial killers, ghostly phone calls, inner demons, otherworldly monsters and creepy stalkers collide in this frightening anthology. Five of horror's most promising new directing talents join forces to pay homage to classic horror like "Creepshow," "Tales From the Crypt," "V/H/S" and "The ABCs of Death," and weave an unforgettable, disturbing tapestry of terror. 

I am a fan of anthologies. They offer the viewer a variety of stories which can be perfect if you have a short attention span or are limited in time but want to watch something. You can just pop in the film and at least watch one story. Also, if one particular part isn't to your liking, hopefully the next part is, which is much better than sitting through a feature length film you aren't enjoying. Today I have the pleasure of sitting down to watch "The Horror Network" which features five tales of the macabre, and being close to Halloween makes it even more fitting. Without spoiling any of the stories, here are the basics.


"3:00 AM" [ 2 / 5 ]

Our first story is about Georgia (Charlotte Armstrong) who has been receiving unusual, possibly prank phone calls at 3:00 AM. We learn a bit about this as she speaks with her friend Izzy (Rachael Groom) oh the phone. Georgia begins to hear odd noises outside and seeing as she lives alone out in the countryside, the solitude doesn't help her fears. Georgia soon learns that phone calls aren't the only thing she has to worry about. "3:00 AM" was directed by Lee Matthews. 


"Edward" [ 2.5 / 5 ]

In "Edward," we meet Hal (Nick Frangione) who is having an evening session with his therapist, Dr. Aleksey (Artem Mishin). Hal is troubled, to say the least. He has trouble sleeping and actually, he seems to be afraid of going to sleep. Hal also has problems with his overbearing mother. Oh and he has questions regarding good and evil and questions his doctor about split personalities, which leads to a debate between the two. Both men will learn something and both will be changed forever by the end of the night. "Edward" was directed by Joseph Graham.


"The Quiet" [ 4 / 5 ]

"The Quiet" centers on Alice (Jenni-Lea Finch), a young girl who is mostly deaf but is able to somewhat hear thanks to her hearing aid. She is on the school bus being ridiculed by a couple of rude girls while she is trying to ask her mother via test message if she is going to pick her up at the bus stop. As luck would have it, Alice accidentally leaves her cell phone on the school bus and to make matters worse, a blue van driven by a strange man keeps appearing. Alice ends up running for her life and things go from bad to worse in this eerie little film. "The Quiet" was directed by Lee Matthews and was easily my favorite of the five films included.


"Merry Little Christmas" [ 3.5 / 5 ]

Here we find Miguel (Jan Cornet) visiting his cousin Christina (Macarena Gómez) and aunt Lola (Blanca Rivera). Miguel shows Christina a message on his cell phone which immediately upsets her as she denies whatever the message claims. From there, Christina recalls horrific events from her childhood and we see how those events have affected her family. This story was quite brutal and sad. "Merry Little Christmas" is far from merry and was directed by Manuel Marin.


"The Deviant One" [ 3 / 5 ]

In this tale we meet a man (Brian Dorton) who obviously has some sort of mental disorder. He also happens to be as the title suggests, a deviant. First the deviant commits a heinous act outside his house. Then he invites a stranger in for a drink and things really get freaky. Then to top it all off, the deviant goes about his business, including going to work, as though nothing has happened. The man who played the deviant, Brian Dorton, also directed this depraved segment.

AUDIO - [ 3.5 / 5 ]:

"The Horror Network" comes with a Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track. I thought the sound quality was fine for all of the shorts. At times, the sound effects in the first story were a bit jarring but I believe that was intentional. Just beware, you may not want to have your volume up too loud for that story. Otherwise, there was a good balance in the audio on the DVD. I didn't encounter any problems with the audio.

VIDEO - [ 3.5 / 5 ]:

"The Horror Network" arrives on DVD courtesy of Wild Eye Releasing. The film is presented in NTSC anamorphic widescreen. The video quality for the DVD is pretty good. When you have multiple films, you're going to have different techniques used in the filming process. In "The Quiet' for example, the colors look brilliant with excellent contrast. Overall, the films look above average and have a fair amount of detail in close up shots. Viewers should be pleased with the quality.

SPECIAL FEATURES - [ 1 / 5 ]:

Extended Scene: The Deviant One (10:40) - Here there is dialogue present during the film. Also, there's an extended bath tub scene.

Image Gallery (0:37)

Original Trailer (1:09)

Trailers: Includes trailers for 8 films.


IN CONCLUSION:

A good, five story anthology with something for everyone. With the DVD coming out on October 27th, it is just in time for Halloween, although horror films are great any day of the year. The DVD has good audio and video quality. If you like anthologies, you should give this one a look.


OVERALL: [ 3 / 5 ]

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Caesar & Otto's Paranormal Halloween coming to DVD and VOD

Latest Saga of Horror's Unluckiest Half-Brothers

Caesar & Otto are back with their latest cinematic misadventure. In anticipation of the Halloween DVD release, the hapless half-brothers have debuted a new clip featuring B-movie legend Brinke Stevens (Nightmare Sisters, Teenage Exorcist) in a nod to The Shining. Written and directed by Dave Campfield (Caesar), Paranormal Halloween stars cult icons Stevens, Tiffany Shepis, Vernon Wells, Felissa Rose, Deron Miller, Sean Whalen, Andre Gower and Debbie Rochon.

These heroes of the low-budget silver screen join Campfield, Paul Chomicki (Otto), Ken MacFarlane, Samantha Barrios, Avi Garg and Shawn C. Phillips in a hilarious homage to "Insidious," "The Conjuring," "Amityville Horror," "Sinister," "Paranormal Activity" and more.

Synopsis:
It's Halloween Eve and Caesar and Otto find themselves housesitting for the world's most unpopular Governor, Jerry Grayson (MacFarlane). But after a series of ghostly visions, strange phenomenon and a demonic possession, the half-brothers call upon renowned exorcist Father Jason Stieger to help put a stop to this new nightmare. But in this house, nothing is what it seems and everyone is fair game for the mysterious forces at work.

The DVD release of "Caesar and Otto's Paranormal Halloween" will exclusively include two feature length commentaries with director Dave Campfield, cast and crew, The Son of Piggyzilla shorts trilogy, a tribute to Robert Z'Dar, trailers and other videos.

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Bloody Knuckles - Blu-ray Review - Artsploitation Films

Bloody Knuckles is two fistfuls of fun!

Released by: Artsploitation Films
Release Date: October 27, 2015
Production Year: 2014
Region Code: A
Running Time: 1:22:48
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 / Dolby Digital 5.1 / Dolby 2.0 Stereo
Video: 1080p (1.78:1 Aspect Ratio)
Subtitles: English, Spanish


THE FILM - [ 4 / 5 ]:

Travis, an underground comic book artist with a penchant for obscene caricatures, upsets a Chinatown crime lord who responds by cutting off the young man’s hand. As a despondent, drunken Travis wallows in post-severed hand depression, his decomposing limb returns to life and is determined to exact revenge. Soon, Travis and his mischievous appendage join forces with a masked S&M superhero to rid the city of evil. Filmmaker Matt O.’s debut feature strips Canada of its “land of nice” image with this deliriously offensive, gory, and happily un-PC horror-comedy!

"Bloody Knuckles" is two fistfuls of fun that features a great blend of horror and comedy. I am already looking forward to future films from director Matt O'Mahoney. 2015 has been a great year for horror fans with all the top-notch non-Hollywood films that have come out. 

The film at its core, is about censorship. Although if you haphazardly watch the film it might just come across as being yet another horror-comedy. But there's more to it than that. It doesn't get too soapbox preachy though. Instead we have some delicious over-the-top scenes of carnage with a side of comedy and let me say, that is one tasty meal. If you like a dash or sometimes a heaping amount of inappropriate humor along with your horror, then you're in luck. 

AUDIO - [ 4 / 5 ]:

"Bloody Knuckles" offers viewers three English audio options. You have your pick of DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Stereo 2.0 tracks. The audio for the film sounded very good. The Blu-ray maintains a terrific balance between the films dialogue, sound effects and music. Volume levels were consistent through the duration of the movie. I did not encounter any problems with the audio such as pops or dropouts. English and Spanish subtitles are also included.

VIDEO - [ 4 / 5 ]:

"Blood Knuckles" crawls its way on to Blu-ray thanks to Artsploitation Films. The film is presented in 1080p with a 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio. The video quality of the film looks great. Colors are strong and rich in appearance. Black levels in the film look great and really stand out in some of the characters clothing. Skin tones have a natural look. There is a fine amount of detail present as well. I did not notice any negative issues with the picture quality of the Blu-ray. 

SPECIAL FEATURES - [ 4 / 5 ]:

Audio Commentary with director Matt O'Mahoney: Mr. O'Mahoney does a good job talking about the production of the film including the budget, cast, shooting locations and props used in the movie. He shares some interesting behind the scenes information throughout the commentary regarding the cast and crew as well as points of interest related to what is transpiring in the film at the time.

Deleted Scenes:

• Scene 1 (:27) - Looks to have been trimmed from the opening of the film, showing photocopies of the comic pages being made.
• Scene 2 (1:30) - This features an exchange between Travis and Raphie after Travis has lost his hand.
• Scene 3 (:45) - This scene shows Amy showing up to visit Travis, post-hand, but he basically blows her off.

Interviews:

• A Hate Letter To Censorship: Matt Garrett Interviews Matt O. (7:08) - Mr. O'Mahoney is asked about some of his previous short films as well as "Bloody Knuckles."
• Matt O. Visits Diabolik DVD (5:43) - Matt O visits the home of Diabolik DVD and learns about its origins. A pretty cool look inside the store, so to speak. 
• Defending the Undefendable: A Conversation with Robin Bougie, Creator of Cinema Sewer (8:39) - Matt O. interviews Mr. Bougie about the origins of Cinema Sewer. They also discuss cases of censorship over the years. 
• VHS is Happiness: An Interview with Lunchmeat (4:31) - Matt O. interviews Josh from Lunchmeat Magazine. Josh explains that Lunchmeat Magazine is a print and online magazine that helps support the VHS format. Viewers even get tips on how you can try to clean mold off of a VHS tape.

Short Films by Matt O'Mahoney:

• Adjust Tracking (5:10) - A good short that shows why parents shouldn't try to stop their kids from watching horror movies. Okay, not exactly. But I like looking at it from that perspective.
• Electric Fence (17:42) - The story of a man who has an unfortunate run in with a prostitute and ends up being a transplant recipient. Afterwards, he begins to have disturbing new urges that he is not comfortable with.

Trailer (1:51)

Also Available: Trailers for "Children of the Night," "Horsehead," and "Cub."


IN CONCLUSION:

Another very pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed "Bloody Knuckles" and the thanks go to the cast and crew of the film as well as Artsploitation Films for the wonderful Blu-ray they have released. The film looks and sounds great and includes a number of quality special features like the director's commentary as well as two of his short films. I highly recommend this release. 


OVERALL - [ 4 / 5 ]



   

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'Axe' and 'Kidnapped Coed' Double Feature Blu-ray Coming from Severin Films

Severin Films Details Their Upcoming Double Feature Blu-ray

Severin Films has announced details on their upcoming double feature Blu-ray of Frederick R. Friedel's "Axe" and "Kidnapped Coed." The Blu-ray set is scheduled to be released on December 8, 2015.

In the mid-1970s, writer/producer/director/actor Frederick R. Friedel went to North Carolina to film a pair of enigmatic yet startling low-budget thrillers – AXE and KIDNAPPED CO-ED – only to see them both presumed lost to shady dealings, sudden tragedies, moral outrage and drive-in oblivion. 

In AXE, depraved killers on the run hold a young woman and her invalid grandfather hostage in an isolated farmhouse. 

In KIDNAPPED CO-ED, the teenage daughter of a wealthy family forms a perverse relationship with her abductor. 

Once thought doomed to drive-in obscurity, fans and grindhouse historians have begun to compare Freidel’s films to those of David Lynch and Terrence Malick, and now the complete story behind this strange journey can finally be told. Severin Films is proud to present both features restored from their original negatives, plus BLOODY BROTHERS, Friedel’s recut of the two features as one twisted crime epic called BLOODY BROTHERS, and loaded with exclusive bonus features that reveal the startling saga behind the casts, crews, disastrous fate and surprising rediscovery of these nearly forgotten grindhouse/arthouse classics – the ultimate look at one of the most fascinating sagas in indie exploitation history!

• AXE features a new 2k transfer from Original Negative
• Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Frederick R. Friedel, Production Manager Philip Smoot, Makeup Artist Worth Keeter & PA Richard W. Helms
• KIDNAPPED COED features a new 2k transfer from Original Negative
• Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Frederick R. Friedel, Production Manager Philip Smoot & Makeup Artist Worth Keeter
• BLOODY BROTHERS feature, conformed from new transfers
• Audio Commentary with “Nightmare USA” Author Stephen Thrower
• At Last… Total Terror! – The Incredible True Story of AXE & KIDNAPPED COED (61 mins.)
• Moose Magic – The George Newman Shaw & John Willhelm Story (38 mins)
• Stephen Thrower on AXE & KIDNAPPED COED (10 mins)
• Trailers, TV Spots & Radio Spots
• Special Limited 2 Disc Edition comes with Audio CD of the first ever release of AXE & KIDNAPPED COED Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Plus Bonus Tracks By Soundtrack Composers George Newman Shaw & John Willhelm

 

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The Death of April - DVD Review - MVD Entertainment

The Past is Coming to Haunt Her

Released by: MVD Entertainment
Release Date: October 27, 2015
Production Year: 2012
Region Code: 0
Running Time: 1:26:04
Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0
Video: NTSC (1.78:1 Aspect Ratio)
Subtitles: None


THE FILM - [ 2 / 5 ]:

19-year-old college sophomore Meagan Mullen (Katarina Hughes) moves into a townhouse and keeps in touch with her friends and family through a video blog. As her entries (and her life) become more complex, dark and emotional, unexplained paranormal occurrences begin to happen in her room: and the camera captures it all. Told primarily from the point of view of an ordinary wireless webcam, "The Death of April" documents the unsettling activity in an otherwise average girl's bedroom - and the mysteries that surround it.
The film was written and directed by Ruben Rodriguez. "The Death of April" stars Katarina Hughes, Stephanie Domini, Amy Rutledge, Chelsea Clark, Adam Lowder and RayMartell Moore.

"The Death of April" is akin to the found footage style of films, with the film primarily being seen through the video camera of Meagan. There are interviews with family members and others sprinkled throughout. The film showed potential however it did not fully deliver. If I had to compare it to another film it would be "Paranormal Activity" but with less activity. I thought Katarina Hughes did a good job as Meagan, considering most of the scenes in the film revolved solely around her.

AUDIO - [ 3.5 / 5 ]:

The DVD comes with an English Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track. I thought the audio quality was fairly good considering the video quality portion of "Meagan's camera" did not come off looking particularly good. So that was a pleasant surprise. I did not notice any issues with the sound other than a few moments where the noises were intentional as a result of the way it was recorded.

VIDEO - [ 3 / 5 ]:

"The Death of April" comes to DVD thanks to ITN Distribution and MVD Entertainment. The film is in NTSC widescreen with a 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio. The video portion of the film has two distinct levels of quality. The portion viewed through Meagan's camera is clearly inferior to the interview scenes as you can see if you compare the first two screenshots above. In the interviews, there is a fair amount of detail present and the image looks quite good. The colors look good for the most part and skin tones look fine. 

SPECIAL FEATURES - [ 0.5 / 5]:

The only extra included on the DVD is a trailer for the film.

Trailer (0:59)


IN CONCLUSION:

"The Death of April" showed potential but was unfortunately, disappointing. The DVD does feature good audio and video quality. 


OVERALL: [ 2 / 5 ]

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Final List of Extras Announced for Scream Factory's Blu-ray of 'The Car'

Is it a Phantom, a Demon or the Devil Himself?

Fasten your seat belts for the terrifying thrill ride that has become a cult classic! 1977's "The Car" will be coming to Blu-ray in the U.S. & North America for the first time on December 15th, 2015. 

"The Car" was directed by Elliot Silverstein and stars James Brolin, Kathleen Lloyd, John Marley, Ronny Cox and Elizabeth Thompson.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• NEW “Mystery Of The Car” – An Interview With Producer/Director Elliot Silverstein
• NEW “The Navajo Connection” – An Interview With Actress Geraldine Keams
• NEW “Just Like Riding A Bike” - An Interview With Actress Melody Thomas Scott
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spot & Radio Spots
• Still Gallery

Synopsis:
A murderous car wreaks havoc on a small Western town in this thriller that has gone on to achieve a small degree of cult status in spite of its own silliness. After a pair of bikers and a horn-playing hitchhiker are viciously mowed down, local police realize they have a motoring maniac on their hands.


You can pre-order directly from Scream Factory and receive a FREE Limited-edition 18” x 24” poster of the newly-illustrated artwork, from Amazon via the link below or any other online retailer.




WARNING: The trailer does contain spoilers.

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Kino Lorber is Bringing 'The Magnetic Monster' to Blu-ray

Cosmic Frankenstein Terrorizes Earth!

Kino Lorber has announced plans to bring the 1953 sci-fi monster film "The Magnetic Monster" to Blu-ray. The film was co-written and directed by Curt Siodmak and stars Richard Carlson, King Donovan, Jean Byron and Leo Britt.

There is no information on special features yet and no release date has been set. More information to come as we receive it.

Synopsis (from wikipedia):
A pair of agents from the Office of Scientific Investigation (OSI) are sent to investigate a local appliance store, where all of the clocks have stopped at the same time, and metal items in the store have been magnetized. The source of this is traced to an office located directly above the store, where scientific equipment is found, along with a dead body. There are also signs of radioactivity, but the cause of the difficulties itself is clearly no longer in the room, or the immediate area.

Investigation and request for citizen input eventually lead to an airline flight carrying a scientist, Dr. Howard Denker, who has developed signs of radiation sickness related to something in a heavy briefcase he carries and clutches irrationally. Before dying, he confesses to have been experimenting with an artificial radioactive isotope, serranium, which he had bombarded with alpha particles for 200 hours (8 days and 8 hours). Unfortunately, his so-far microscopic creation has taken on a life of its own: it must absorb energy from its surroundings every 11 hours, and in the process doubles in size and mass each time, releasing deadly radiation and incredibly intense magnetic energy.

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'Vincent Price Collection 3' Coming to Blu-ray from Scream Factory

A 3rd Round of Vincent Price Titles Are Coming

Scream Factory announced earlier today that they plan to bring "The Vincent Price Collection Volume III" to Blu-ray sometime in the first half of 2016. 

The films in this set will include "Master of the World" (1961), "Tower of London" (1962), "Diary of a Madman" (1963), "Cry of the Banshee" (1970) and "An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe" (1970).

Stay tuned for more details (when to pre-order, artwork, etc.) before the end of the year. And if you haven't done so already, pick up "The Vincent Price Collection Volume II" -- which is now on sale at its lowest "price" at screamshocktober.com. Below are links to the first two collections from Amazon. Note that the first collection is now OOP, hence the higher price.


   

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80's Slasher Throwback 'The Final Girls' is Coming to Blu-ray

An Amazing Throwback to the 80's

The film is currently available in select cities and VOD and Digital HD since October 9th, but "The Final Girls" will be coming to Blu-ray from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on December 3, 2015.


SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Cast & Crew Commentary
• Writers' Commentary
• Alternate Endings with Optional Director's Commentary
• Deleted and Extended Scenes with Optional Director's Commentary
• Pre-visualization: Bringing Scenes to Life
• Progression of Visual Effects
• Director's Production Notes

Synopsis:
Max Cartwright (Taissa Farmiga), a high school senior, is mysteriously transported with her friends into a 1980's horror film that starred Max's mother, Amanda (Malin Åkerman), a celebrated scream queen. Trapped inside the movie, Max finds herself reunited with her mom, who she lost in real life. Together with Max's friends, they must fend off the camp counselors' raging hormones, battle a deranged machete-wielding killer, and find a way to escape the movie and make it back home.

The film stars Taissa Farmiga, Malin Akerman, Alexander Ludwig, Nina Dobrev, Alia Shawkat, Thomas Middleditch, Adam Devine, Tory N. Thompson and Angela Trimbur. The film was directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson.

The films Facebook page.


 

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Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key - Blu-ray Review - Arrow Video

Sergio Martino's giallo has come to Blu-ray

Released by: Arrow Video
Release Date: October 27, 2015 (US) / October 19, 2015 (UK)
Production Year: 1972
Region Code: A & B / 1 & 2 (DVD)
Running Time: 1:36:43
Audio: Italian DTS-HD MA Mono / English DTS-HD MA Mono
Video: 1080p (1.85:1 Aspect Ratio)
Subtitles: English


THE FILM [ 3.5 / 5 ]:

*This Blu-ray is part of the 2-film Blu-ray/DVD set "Edgar Allan Poe's Black Cats: Two Adaptations By Sergio Martino & Lucio Fulci."

Edgar Allan Poe’s celebrated story The Black Cat has provided the inspiration for numerous films over the years. But few adaptations are as stylish as those offered up by the twin Italian titans of terror, Sergio Martino and Lucio Fulci.In Martino’s classic giallo, "Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key," teacher Oliviero (Luigi Pistilli, A Bay of Blood) finds himself under suspicion for murder when one of his students – and mistress – is found brutally murdered. As more bodies start to pile up, the arrival of Oliviero’s attractive niece (Edwige Fenech, "Five Dolls for an August Moon," "All the Colours of the Dark") brings with it complications of its own.

"Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key" is an interesting film with a strange and long title, which happens to come from an earlier Martino giallo, "The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh." That film too, featured the always lovely Edwige Fenech. In the case of "Your Vice..." you may find yourself wondering, who exactly is killing who? Looks can be deceiving and things aren't always as they appear. The characters don't know who to trust and with good reason.

AUDIO - [ 4.5 / 5 ]:

"Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key" comes with two audio options in the form of Italian and English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono tracks. English subtitles are also included. Just like the other film in the set, "The Black Cat," from the Main Menu you are asked which version of the film you would like to view, English or Italian. The audio sounded great. The dialogue, sound effects and Bruno Nicolai's score were balanced nicely throughout the film. For the English language version, the dialogue was clear and easy to understand. The Italian language version sounded excellent as well.

VIDEO - [ 4.5 / 5 ]:

"Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key" comes to Blu-ray thanks to Arrow Video via a brand new 2K restoration from the films original negative. The film looks beautiful. I have been anxiously waiting to see how the film looks in high definition and Arrow Video did not disappoint. The colors look strong and realistic in appearance. Skin tones look natural and the contrast levels look great. Black levels look spot on as well. There is a thin layer of film grain present throughout and a few times it does become heavier in darker scenes, but it is nothing distracting and most people expect that. Please note the screenshots used in the review were not taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

SPECIAL FEATURES - [ 4.5 / 5 ]:

Through the Keyhole: An Interview with Sergio Martino (34:42) - A fascinating interview in which Mr. Martino talks fondly of cast members Edwige Fenech, Anita Strindberg and Luigi Pistilli whose life ended tragically. Sergio Martino talks about the music used in the film, several of his other movies and a big scene that takes place toward the end of the film. I believe this was the first time I have seen an interview with Mr. Martino, so this was a real treat and a joy to watch. (with English subtitles)

Unveiling the Vice (23:07) - This is a making-of restrospective that features interviews with Sergio Martino, star Edwige Fenech and screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi. Sergio Martino talks about some of his films including "Torso" and "Your Vice..." as well as shooting locations. Edwige Fenech recalls being served egg and onion sandwiches and omelettes while filming. She also talks about a conversation with Quentin Tarantino on her film roles. Ernesto Gastaldi discusses his writing the screenplay and importance of structure in writing and sometimes feeling the need to outdo ones self when writing many films. (with English subtitles)

Dolls of Flesh and Blood (29:04 ) - Michael Mackenzie discusses Sergio Martino's contributions to the giallo genre. A spoiler warning is given as some key plot points are discussed for several Sergio Martino films. This is a comprehensive featurette and very well done. 

The Strange Vices of Ms. Fenech (29:42)  - Justin Harries discusses the career of Edwige Fenech. A must watch for fans of, in my opinion, the most beautiful woman to appear on film in the horror genre. Mr. Harries also talks about the giallo genre and its origins.

Eli Roth on Your Vice (9:17) - Eli Roth talks about "Your Vice.." and briefly touches on giallo and early POV style slasher films. 

Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin.


IN CONCLUSION:

Arrow Video does a terrific job once again. It's very satisfying watching films you enjoy on Blu-ray and better yet when they are of high quality. The audio and video presentation are great and there are over two hours of interviews included as well. I highly recommend the "Black Cats" set.

As mentioned earlier, this Blu-ray is part of the 2-film (4-disc) Blu-ray/DVD set "Edgar Allan Poe's Black Cats: Two Adaptations By Sergio Martino & Lucio Fulci." The other film in the set is Lucio Fulci's "The Black Cat" which we reviewed here. That set also includes an 80 page perfect-bound book featuring new writing on the films, Poe's original story and more, illustrated with archive stills and posters.


OVERALL: [ 4 / 5 ]


 

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Deep Dark (2015) Film Review - Uncork'd Entertainment

Glory Glory Holelujah!

Hermann, a failed sculptor, is about to kill himself when he finds a strange, talking hole in the wall. The creature in the hole (Denise Poirier, the voice of ÆON FLUX) has the power to fulfill his wildest dreams, but things go horribly wrong and when the killing starts, Hermann is thrust into the worst nightmare of his life. Deep Dark is a twisted tale warning you to be careful what you wish for, because it just might get you.

Now I went into this movie with no clue what I was letting myself in for, all I knew of the movie was probably the greatest tagline I've ever seen on a movie poster. "This Ain't No Glory Hole", and how right they were! This movie is a strange one, when it starts it has a feeling of Henenlotter's works (Basket Case is the first that came to mind), but as it progresses it becomes it's own entity. This isn't your usual teeny bopper horror, there is something deep, dark and intelligent about the script and the way it is executed, which is a nice change of pace from the regular bunch of "copying the last big hit" horror movies. What I would like to give a special credit for with this movie is the direction from Michael Medaglia. It is a beautiful looking movie, stunningly shot and looks alot more than what I imagine the budget of the movie was. The acting is absolutely believable and well performed throughout (which considering the absurdity of the script at times is amazing). The true star of the movie for me is Denise Poirier who plays The Hole. Denise's voice is haunting, warm and yet contains hints of darkness that you never quite know what she is going to do next.

Now let's move onto our "hero" of the piece, Hermann Haig who is played by Sean McGrath. Sean plays this role very well and in a very likable manner, once again with the movie's trademark style of making you think "is he as nice as he seems? Is he an innocent in this? Or Is he a bit of a prick?" (More on pricks later). Hermann is plunged into a world that no-one would ever suspect, a failed artist looking for a break, rents a room with a talking hole in the wall. As someone who has frequented many DJ's homes over my young years this isn't too unusual, but in the context of the movie it is very odd. This sultry and beautiful voice treats Hermann in a way that is very reminiscent of Audrey II in Little Shop Of Horrors, offering him the world but at a cost.

Now Hermann is a red blooded male, there is a talking sexy voice in a hole in the wall, so yes the inevitable does happen at some point (if you don't know what I mean go to your local public convenience and inquire about it), the result leaving you on edge unsure of what could possibly happen. I won't ruin it for you but I was sitting there prepared for the worst! The movie also contains lots of very very dark humor, the occasional throwaway line here and there that if you are in a particular frame of mind will give you a little cheeky titter to yourself.

To wrap things up here, Deep Dark is what it says in the title, the movie is Deep Dark, the humor is Deep Dark, and whatever or whoever is lurking in that wall is definitely Deep and Dark. The movie is beautifully shot and stunning to look at, it's deeply engrossing and highly intelligent for a movie of this kind. Deep Dark may not win an Oscar but it definitely has all the markings of a future cult classic.

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