Book Review: FASCINATION: THE CELLULOID DREAMS OF JEAN ROLLIN by David Hinds

 

FASCINATION:  THE CELLULOID DREAMS OF JEAN ROLLIN

Written by:  David Hinds

Published by:  Headpress Books

  If you are a fan of sleazy cinema, especially Vampire films, you probably know the name Jean Rollin.  This European director made his first short film in 1958 at the age of 20 years old, and directed films up until his death in 2010, with his 52nd and final film, Le Masque de la Meduse (The Mask Of Medusa).  I have seen quite a few of his films, but I had no idea he directed so many!   I probably won't have a chance to watch them all, but I can at least read about Rollin and all his films in this awesome reference book from Headpress Books.   

 FASCINATION:  THE CELLULOID DREAMS OF JEAN ROLLIN by David Hinds in a remarkably in-depth look into the career of Jean Rollin.  Here is a description of the book from the Headpress website:

  May 1968. Paris is awash with violence and public unrest. In a small cinema, where a surreal film is showing, another riot is taking place. Here, the enraged audience smashes up the auditorium, tear out the seats, and chase the film’s director onto the street. This is the premiere of Jean Rollin’s feature debut, The Rape of the Vampire.

An outsider of French cinema, Rollin’s films are unique and dreamlike. They offer tales of mystery and nostalgia, obsolescence and seductive female vampires with a thirst for blood and sex. It is a cinema at once strange, evocative and deeply personal.

Funding his own projects, Rollin defiantly made the films he wanted to make and in so doing created a fantastique genre unlike any other. The Nude Vampire, The Living Dead Girl and The Grapes of Death are among those films now celebrated as the work of an auteur, one who confounds preconceived notions of ‘Eurotrash’ cinema.
This book is devoted to the director and all his work, across all genres, including a nascent French hardcore pornographic film industry. Written with full co-operation from Jean Rollin, shortly before his death in 2010, it contains exclusive interviews and archive material.

 This book is one of my new favorites to add to my film book collection.  It starts off as a biography, including events that shaped his visions for his films, before changing over to a reference book and providing essays and descriptions about each of Rollin's films.    Nothing is left uncovered in this book.  It discusses all his more well known films, along with his lesser known ones, and films he directed under a couple of different names!  It also covers his foray into hardcore pornography films in the mid to late 70's, and then finishes up with info on his short films and some unfinished projects he had in the works.   The book also contains an in-depth interview the author did with Rollin at his Paris apartment back in 2005, as well as a bibliography (I didn't even know Rollins was an author himself until reading this book), and a filmography of all his films. 

 The real meat of this book is the essay section of each of his most well known films.   These are 6-7 page essays and descriptions of each film, full of great information and behind the scenes info on anything from funding issues to trouble with some of the actors and actresses.   Hinds really leaves nothing to the imagination and gives you more info than you probably ever thought you needed on these films.   

  A couple more things I have to mention is the actual book design itself.   It's not an oversized book like a lot of film books are.  It's just a tad bigger than a trade paperback, so it travels well.   It would be great for a plane or bus ride, although you might get some funny looks due to the awesome cover art!    The book also contains hundreds of pictures throughout the book from all of Rollin's films.  All the pics of the film scenes and poster art are very interesting. 

 If you are a fan of European horror cinema, and especially of Jean Rollin, this is a must have book to add to your collection!

CLICK HERE to purchase the book from Headpress Books

4K Ultra HD Review: ALICE, SWEET ALICE (1976)

 ALICE, SWEET ALICE

Directed by:  Alfred Sole

Distributed by:  Arrow Video / MVD Entertainment

 I love an old classic horror film.  I love slasher films.  I really love old classic slasher films that I have never seen before.   That's right, I am confessing that I call myself a horror movie buff, but I have never seen the 1976 film, ALICE, SWEET ALICE.   I have heard of it forever, but for some reason just had never sat down to watch it.  Well, that changed now with Arrow Video's new 4K UHD edition that just came out this week! 

Here is the plot synopsis from the Arrow Films website:

 A young Brooke Shields meets an untimely end in this religious-themed proto slasher par excellence from director Alfred Sole.

 On the day of her first communion, young Karen (Brooke Shields) is savagely murdered by an unknown assailant in a yellow rain mac and creepy translucent mask. But the nightmare is far from over - as the knife-wielding maniac strikes again and again, Karen's bereaved parents are forced to confront the possibility that Karen's wayward sister Alice might be the one behind the mask.

 Bearing influences from the likes of Hitchcock, the then-booming Italian giallo film and more specifically, Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now, Alice, Sweet Alice is an absolutely essential - if often overlooked - entry in the canon of 1970s American horror.

 This is a unique film, as it feels like a perfect blend of slasher and giallo films.   It was originally titled COMMUNION, but released theatrically as ALICE, SWEET ALICE.  It was then re-released under the new title, HOLY TERROR to play on the fact that new star Brooke Shields was in the film.   In fact, they even changed the opening credits to give her top billing, even though she was only in the film for about the first 10 minutes!    There is a special feature on this release that shows all three openings on split screen at the same time to compare, which was very interesting. 

 ALICE, SWEET ALICE was more than just a slasher film, as in most slashers you know who is doing the killing.  This movie was a great mystery as well, as we did not know who the killer was until it was reveled.  At least, I didn't figure it until it was reveled, which came as quite a shock to me.  I had a list of 2 or three people I thought it was, but I was very wrong!    

  If you are a fan of Arrow Video, you know that they are one of the best physical media companies around.   They have always been known for great releases with tons of great special features.  This release is no different, and this new 4K UHD version looks and sounds amazing!  It's always so interesting to me that they can make a movie that is almost 50 years old look so crisp and clean, like it was just filmed recently.   If you are fan of slashers, giallos, or just really good murder mysteries, do yourself a favor and check out this new release of ALICE, SWEET ALICE!  

  ALICE, SWEET ALICE is available now from Arrow Video and MVD Entertainment and contains the following special features:

• Brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films from the original camera negative
• 4K (2160p) Ultra HD presentations of three versions via seamless branching: Communion (original), Alice, Sweet Alice (theatrical) and Holy Terror (re-release)
• Original lossless mono audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary with Richard Harland Smith
• Archival audio commentary with co-writer/director Alfred Sole and editor M. Edward Salier
• First Communion: Alfred Sole Remembers Alice, Sweet Alice - director Alfred Sole looks back on his 1976 classic
• Alice on My Mind - a brand new interview with composer Stephen Lawrence
• In the Name of the Father
• brand new interview with actor Niles McMaster
• Sweet Memories: Dante Tomaselli on Alice, Sweet Alice - filmmaker Dante Tomaselli, cousin of Alfred Sole, discusses his longtime connection to the film
• Lost Childhood: The Locations of Alice, Sweet Alice
• a tour of the original Alice, Sweet Alice shooting locations hosted by author Michael Gingold
• Deleted scenes
• Split-screen version comparison
• Trailer and TV Spot
• Image gallery, including the original screenplay
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx
• Illustrated collectors booklet featuring new writing on the film by Michael Blyth

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K UHD Limited Edition set

4K ULTRA HD/BD Review: EVILENKO (2003)

 

EVILENKO

Written & Directed by:  David Grieco

Distributed by:  Unearthed Films / MVD Entertainment

 Serial killer movies are one of my favorite sub-genres of horror.   I love true crime stories, so was pretty intrigued when this one showed up for review.   EVILENKO is based on the book "The Communist That Ate Children" by David Grieco, who also wrote and directed this film.   That book, and this film, were based on the true story of serial killer Andrei Chikatilo.  Here is a bit about him from Wikipedia: 

  Andrei Romanovich Chikatilo was a Ukrainian-born Soviet serial killer nicknamed "the Butcher of Rostov", "the Rostov Ripper", and "the Red Ripper" who sexually assaulted, murdered, and mutilated at least fifty-two women and children between 1978 and 1990 in the Russian SSFR, the Ukranian SSR, and the Uzbek SSR.

  Chikatilo confessed to fifty-six murders; he was tried for fifty-three murders in April 1992. He was convicted and sentenced to death for fifty-two of these murders in October 1992, although the Supreme Court of Russia ruled in 1993 that insufficient evidence existed to prove his guilt in nine of those killings. Chikatilo was executed by gunshot in February 1994

 I had never heard of this serial killer before, and it got me thinking about how many serial killers there have probably been all over the world that we just don't know about here in the states.   We typically just know about all the U.S. serial killers, so it was interesting to hear about one that was completely new to me. 

 Here is a brief synopsis of the film from the Unearthed Films website:

Based on the shocking true story of the former Soviet Union's most notorious serial killer, this riveting, haunting film explores the mind of a true monster; a man who mutilated and devoured more than 50 children. For years, Andrei Evilenko (Malcolm McDowell, A Clockwork Orange, Gangster No. 1, TV's "Entourage") eluded the obsessive Detective Lesiev (Marton Csokas, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, xXx, Aeon Flux) and the psychiatric profiler Aron Richter (Ronald Pickup, The Chronicles of Narnia). Spurred on by his rabid fury at the gradual crumbling of his precious Soviet Union, Evilenko is a man who will live, die and kill as a communist. The haunting melodies of composer Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive) and writer-director David Grieco's stark imagination have created a portrait of a serial killer that will resound in the psyches of us all.

  Let me start by saying that EVILENKO will not be for everyone.   It will be triggering for some, especially those that have been in anyway affected by sexual abuse.  As you would expect from a film about a killer that preyed on small children, the film contains some unnerving subject matter. I will say, though, that most all of the killing are done off screen, with the viewer just seeing the aftermath of Evilenko's butcherings.   While Unearthed Films is known for it's more gorier releases,  this one does seem out of place for an Unearthed Films release, but I assume it is just the extreme subject matter that got this one picked up by them. 

 The film is shot well and wonderfully acted, especially by genre legend Malcolm McDowell who plays the title character/killer.   He does a wonderful job in this role, as he does in every role I have ever seen him in.   My one fault with this film is the pacing, as it does feel very slow and drawn out in parts.  The film has a running time of 111 minutes, which could have been trimmed down in my opinion. 

 The new 4K transfer is stunning, and is sure to be a huge leap from any previous release you might have seen. 

EVILENKO will be released on February 25th, but is available now for preorder.  The 4K/BD combo contains the following special features:

• 4K ULTRA HD + BLU-RAY | LIMITED COLLECTOR'S EDITION CONTENTS
• *  NEW 4K restoration of the original camera negative by Unearthed Films
• *  Blu-ray of the feature film and all new extras
• DISC ONE – FEATURE (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
• *  NEW 4K restoration of the original camera negative by Unearthed Films presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio in HDR
• *  NEW 2024 Commentary with writer/director David Grieco and actor Malcolm McDowell
• *  DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• *  Optional English SDH Subtitles
• DISC TWO – FEATURE & EXTRAS (BLU-RAY)
• *  NEW 4K restoration of the original camera negative by Unearthed Films presented in 1080p HD in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio
• *  NEW 2024 Commentary with writer/director David Grieco and actor Malcolm McDowell
• *  DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• *  Optional English SDH Subtitles
• *  An 81 minute cast and crew interview collection including writer/director David Grieco, actor Malcolm McDowell and composer Angelo Badalamenti
• *  'Evilenko Dossier: Andrei Chikatilo' A 27 minute look at the real-life basis for the character of Evilenko
• *  David Grieco and Malcolm McDowell on 'Evilenko' A 69 Minute interview from 2021
• *  Photo Gallery
• *  Original Trailer

 

CLICK HERE to pre-order the Blu-ray

CLICK HERE to pre-order the 4K HD/BD combo 

Blu-ray Review: DARK SANCTUARY: THE STORY OF THE CHURCH (2024)

 

DARK SANCTUARY:  THE STORY OF THE CHURCH

Directed by:  Timothy Stevens

Distributed by:  Cleopatra Films / MVD Entertainment

DARK SANCTUARY is a documentary film about a famous night club in Dallas, TX.  I'm going to be honest here....I had never heard of this film or of the night club that is the subject matter of this film.  When this showed up in my mailbox to review, I was a little disappointed.   A documentary about a night club did not sound like an entertaining 86 minutes of my life.   Well, I am not to proud to admit how wrong I was.   This just goes to show you that you can't judge a book  (or a movie), by it's cover.   What sounded like a dull documentary to me ended up being one of the most interesting documentaries I have watched in quite a while.   

Here is a description of the film from the MVD website:

DARK SANCTUARY is a feature-length documentary about the historic Dallas, TX Goth club - The Church.  Dark Sanctuary exposes the incredible, shocking history of one of the longest running goth clubs in the U.S. as well as the world-renowned artists who performed there.


Through interviews with world-famous music artists, local bands, and patrons, the film tells the story of the community that formed over nearly three decades of the legendary club's existence. The motto of The Church became 'Enter Without Prejudice' meaning no matter who you are, how you look, how you dress, your sexuality, your gender identity, the color of your skin, your body type, all are welcome and embraced at The Church.


Follow DJ in residence, Joe Virus, on his journey from aspiring musician to headlining the main stage for over 20 years and through the events of the global epidemic which lead to a neighborhood buyout from a multimillion-dollar real estate company, threatening to claim the beloved building at 2424 Swiss Avenue.


Just what will happen when the deep south's premiere goth club of nearly thirty years stands on the brink of being lost forever?

  The Church was what a club called The Lizard Lounge changed into on Sunday nights.  The location was at 2424 Swiss Ave in the Deep Ellum neighborhood of Dallas, TX.   The Church opened in 1994 and was the place for artists and "misfits" to gather with like minded people and enjoy some Electronic Dance Music and what would later become known as the "Goth" community.   The film is mainly told through The Church's resident DJ, DJ VIRUS  (Joe Gonzales), and it was very touching to see how much this club meant to him.   In fact, almost everyone that is interviewed about The Church gets choked up at some point while reminiscing about the club.  It just shows you how much of an effect this place had on it's regulars.  The film goes over the clubs entire timeline, from it's creation and all the special events that took place over the years and live music performances, to it's closing and eventual reopening 

  While the original location closed in 2020, The Church lives on today at a new club located at 4322 Elm St in Dallas.  It looks as though it never has recreated the true look and feel of the original location, though, in my opinion.   For those that went to The Church religiously,  this is a wonderful keepsake and memento of a place that meant so much to so many people, and is a must have film.  Even if you are like me, having never heard of The Church, this is still a wonderful film and honestly makes me a bit jealous that I never had a place like this to hang out.  The people here seem so sincere and accepting of everyone.   While some people might look at The Churchgoers as "weirdos" or "outcasts", I think they were just the opposite.  They are the people we should all strive to be like.  Loving people that let others be themselves and accepting of all lifestyles with no judgement or prejudice of any kind.  The Church truly seemed like an amazing place. 

  DARK SANCTUARY is available now on DVD and BD from MVD Entertainment and contains the following Special Features:

*  Trailer

*  Uncut Celebrity Interviews

* 2 music videos from the band Solemn Assembly 

CLICK HERE to watch the trialer

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

CLICK HERE to purchase the BLU-RAY

The 4H Blog is back from Holiday Break!

 

  Happy New Year!!!    Well, I wasn't planning on it, but I took quite a bit of a Holiday break from the 4H Blog!   The Holidays are a very busy time, with family get togethers and parties.  Also, my boys were home from college!  So, needless to say, I didn't find the time  (or make the time, I guess) to do much blogging!   

I did watch quite a few films during the break!   I won't go into too much detail, but I will give you a quick rundown of what I watched!  It wasn't all horror, but that was the majority, of course! 

THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE 3   (2015)

  I had seen the first 2 and liked them, but had heard so many negative things about this 3rd installment that I just kept putting of watching it.  Well, I finally broke down and watched it.  It wasn't as bad as people said, but it was definitely the worst installment of the trilogy.   Would I watch it again?   Probably not.  It was pretty bland compared to the other two, and the Human Centipede only made an appearance at the very end of the film.  Overall, a pretty pointless sequel. 

THE LICKERISH QUARTET  (1970)

  This is a weird one.  I read about it in one of the Grindhouse Movie groups I am in on Facebook.   I checked it out and I am glad I did!   It involves a couple (and for some reason their son) who watch a stag film.  They then go out for a night at the local carnival and they Husband and Wife see a carnival worker that looks eerily like the star of the film they just watched.  They invite her back to their home (which is a huge castle) and she ends up seducing all 3 of the castle's residents.  Sounds simple enough, but this is a very art house type film with some very interesting visuals and more to the story than what it looks like on the surface.   This is not one to watch with the kiddo's, of course, but I would recommend this one.  It was interesting enough that it actually kept me quite entertained. 

STARSHIP TROOPERS  (1997)

  This one is a fun Sci-Fi classic.  One of my boys mentioned that he had never seen it, so I watched it with him.  I forgot how fun this movie is!  It still holds up, including the visuals and effects.   

LORDS OF SALEM  (2012)

  This is one I saw in the theater when it first came out and I was really disappointed in it.  I think I was expecting another HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES or DEVILS REJECTS type film, so I was kind of let down.  Well, it's been 12 years since I first saw it, so I decided to give it another shot.  I am so glad I did!   I absolutely loved this film this time around.  It really goes to show you that sometimes you need to give movies you didn't like a 2nd chance.  The visuals in the film was excellent and the movie was genuinely creepy.   Give it a shot if you haven't seen it before, or give it a 2nd chance if you have seen it but didn't like it originally. 

EXTREME MOVIE  (2008)

  I waned a good laugh, and this film provided many.   Not a "good" movie by any means, but it was some dumb fun and worth a watch

CARNAGE PARK  (2016)

 This was an interesting one....I'm still trying to figure out this one.  I think I liked it.  I'm still trying to process everything.  What starts as a bank heist movie turns into a Turkey Shoot type of film, but there is more to it as well.   

INSEMINOID  (1981)

  Horrible film. Just awful.  They tried to make a knockoff ALIEN film, and failed miserably. Nothing happens.   Avoid this one at all cost!

FUGITIVE GILRS (1974)

 Another one to avoid.  I usually like women in prison type flicks, but this one was bad.   Very boring, and very slow in parts. I actually found myself nodding off several times during this film.

NIGHT OF THE CREEPS  (1986)

  A true classic!  One of my all time favorite horror movies. I put this one on every couple of years or so.  I never get tired of it.   Tom Atkins performance in this film is pure perfection!  If you haven't seen this one, do yourself a favor and check it out!

JOKER:  FOLIE A DEUX  (2024)

 I loved the first JOKER film. I was so excited when this one came out, but unfortunately I heard nothing but bad things about it.  For that reason, I didn't go see it in theaters.  Now that it is streaming on MAX, I decided "what the heck".   I turned it on and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.  Maybe it was because I had such low expectations for it, but I loved it.   It wasn't as good as the first one, and it is a completely type of film than the first one (which is probably why people didn't like it), but it was a great movie on it's own, and one I will be adding to my collection for sure!

THE RINGER  (2005)

 I like to mix in a comedy between my horror movies, and this one was a lot of fun.  It probably couldn't be made in today's world, and I don't think it's streaming anywhere, so you might have to find the DVD like I did.   It's a fun movie and ends up having a good message.   Lots of great quotable lines, it's a fun one that is worth a watch!

SUBSERVIENCE  (2024)

 I saved the best for last.  This is new new Megan Fox film on Netflix about AI robots gone wrong.  The AI robots gone wrong sub-genre is fast becoming one of my favorites.   This one was done extremely well and was extremely entertaining!  I can't recommend this one enough!!

Have you seen any of these films?   Leave me a comment about any you have seen and liked or disliked.  

I'll try to get back to reviewing some new releases soon!! Stay Tuned!

Blu-ray Review: VILLAGE OF DOOM (1983)

 

VILLAGE OF DOOM

Directed by:   Noboru Tanaka

Distributed by:  Unearthed Films / MVD Entertainment

 Unearthed Films is one of my favorite movie companies out there.  Not only do they release and distribute films that normally wouldn't get a release due to their extreme nature, they also produce their own extreme gore films!   Recently, Unearthed Films created a new line of films called Unearthed Classics.  These are older films that they are releasing that have either been long out of print, or maybe even the first time being released in the U.S.!    Today's review is from the Unearthed Classics line, and it is called VILLAGE OF DOOM.    The film is from 1983, and is one I had never heard of before arriving to me for review!  

 Here is a brief synopsis of the film from the Unearthed Films website:

A classic Japanese true crime story, Village of Doom is a chilling reenactment of the infamous Tsuyama Massacre, a revenge killing spree that occurred on the night of 21 May 1938 in the rural village of Kamo near Tsuyama in Okayama Prefecture. Mutsuo Toi, an emotionally distraught 21-year-old man who had been ostracized by his fellow villagers, went on a violent killing spree that took the lives of 30 people, including his own grandmother. Before finally killing himself, Toi visited his revenge upon the village using a shotgun, Japanese sword and axe. It remains the deadliest mass murder spree in Japanese history.

 The film is based on the true story of the Tsuyama Massacre, something I was not familiar with before this film.   Here is a brief description of the massacre from Wikipedia:

The Tsuyama massacre was a revenge spree killing that occurred on the night of 21 May 1938 in the rural village of Kamo close to Tsuyama in Okayama, Empire of Japan. Mutsuo Toi (都井 睦雄, Toi Mutsuo), a 21-year-old man, killed 30 people, including his grandmother, with a Browning shotgun, katana, and axe, and seriously injured three others before killing himself with the shotgun. It is the deadliest shooting by a lone gunman in Japanese history.

 I always find it so hard to believe that I have gone my whole life never even hearing about some films, especially when they are as good as this one.   I am in tons of horror movie groups on Facebook, and follow lots of horror movie fan accounts on Insta and X, yet somehow this is one that had just slipped by me.   I am not sure how this is not talked about more, because it is definitely worthy of discussion. 

 The film follows a 30ish year old man who lives with his grandmother.  He is a quiet, shy man who is very smart and dreams of being in the military to serve his country.   He is liked by all in his village, but is sometimes taken advantage of by his so called "friends".   This very normal, calm man is instantly changed when he goes to enlist in the military, but is refused due to an illness.   He has been diagnosed with the highly contagious Tuberculosis.   Word spreads quickly around his small town, and he is instantly discriminated against by all the people of his village.  He is also chastised for not serving his country in the military, through no fault of his own.    

 As time passes, this once quiet man get fed up with the way he is treated.   What starts as a minor annoyance grows into pure hatred as the build up of the way he is being treated boils up inside him.   He makes a plan to extract revenge upon his village.   He makes a map and plots out house to house the direction he will go.   He does this in the dead of night, to catch people off guard and while everyone is inside so the streets will be empty for him to navigate without being seen.    This creates some very cool visuals as he straps two flashlights to his head and around his chest, almost giving him the look of some homemade super hero, or I guess in this case, super villian, costume.   Prowling the night in his homemade get up looks very creepy.    He carries out his killing streak using a multitude of weapons including guns, swords, knives, and even an axe. 

 This was an excellent film, and quite topical with todays climate.  Seeing this nice, quiet, young man go from completely normal to a vicious killer was very disturbing.  The movie shows this in such a way that is so realistic, showing the very slow transition, making it so much more realistic and disturbing.   You can see how his transition was created, and you could see the exact exchanges that led to it.  It really makes you think that if we pay more attention to people and how they are treated, maybe we could tell when people are starting to transition to this way of thinking and could stop a something like this from happening in present day.  

I can't recommend VILLAGE OF DOOM enough.   It is a great film that is a must see for all extreme horror fans.   While there is a bit of gore, there is nothing overwhelming, but just the subject matter by itself and the violence our lead takes on innocent people is extreme enough. 

 VILLAGE OF DOOM is available now from Unearthed Films and includes the following Special Features:

• *  Audio commentary by Asian film experts Arne Venema and Mike Leeder
• *  Dark Asia with Megan: Case #57 Japan's Darkest Night, Tsuyama Massacre
• *  Promotional Gallery
• *  Theatrical Trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

CLICK HERE to purchase the BLU-RAY

Check out the 2024 Cyber Week Movie sale from MVD Entertainment!

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4K ULTRA HD Review: THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND (2020)

THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND
Written & Directed by:  Kevin McManus & Matthew McManus

Distributed by:  Synapse Films / MVD Entertainment

 I am always surprised when I get a screener in the mail to review, and I have never heard of the film.  Especially with newer films.   Such was the case when THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND showed up in my mailbox.   This film is one I had somehow missed.   I have never even heard a mention of it!   I was surprised to see that Synapse Films is who put this one out, as I associate them re-issues of older titles.  

 Before I get into the review, here is a brief synopsis of the film from the Synapse Films website:

  Something terrifying is happening off the coast of Block Island. A strange force is thriving, influencing residents and wildlife alike. Birds are dropping out of the sky and fish are mysteriously washing up on shore. As some residents are suffering from inexplicable emotional collapse, Harry Lynch (Chris Sheffield, The Stanford Prison Experiment) watches with dread as his father grows increasingly forgetful, confused and angry. Very, very angry! His sister Audry (Michaela McManus, Into the Grizzly Maze, TV’s The Orville), whose work in marine biology will soon prove invaluable, returns to town with her daughter and leads them all towards chilling revelations that will affect her family in unimaginable ways.

 Let me start off by saying this film will not be for everyone.   It is a bit of a slow burn, but it definitely kept me entertained the entire running time.  This was mainly because I could not figure out what was going on and wanted to find out!    I actually would not classify this as a horror film.  It's more of a dark mystery, suspense sort of film with a bit of a Sci-Fi element to it. 

 The film is about Harry, who is trying to figure out exactly what happened to his father, Tom.  A mysterious sound is causing some very strange things around the island, including mass fish kills and missing people.   Harry keeps seeing his deceased Dad throughout the film, and he seems to be trying to hint to Harry what is going on.   These scenes are very creepy, and it's hard to tell what is real and  what in in Harry's mind.  As the film goes on, we see Harry spiral down a road of madness, causing some major issues with his siblings who have all gathered to find out what happened to their Dad. 

 I'm still not sure I 100% understand this film, and I feel like what is happening and the sound the islanders are hearing is never fully explained.   That was my main issue with this film, as I wanted more of an explanation.  I understand though, that sometimes it's the fact that there is no explanation that makes it more terrifying.   

 The film only has a few scenes involving special effects, but they are very well done.  There is even a special feature on the disc that discusses making the effects on the small budget this film had. 

 The acting in this film is excellent and the cinematography is outstanding.  I love seeing the views of the open water, especially in this 4K Ultra HD edition.  The picture is crystal clear and looks amazing.  

  THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND is available now on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD, and contains the following Special Features:

• *  The 4K UHD release features a special limited edition slipcover featuring new art from Joel Robinson, while supplies last
• *  Original Trailer
• *  A Practical Apocalypse
• *  Finding the Cast
• *  Filming on the Water
• *  Special Effects on a Shoestring
• *  Los Angeles Behind-the-Scenes (Super 8mm)
• *  McManus Family Home Movies

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K Ultra HD

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray