Blu-ray Review: SNOW WHITE & THE HUNTSMAN (2012)

SNOW WHITE & THE HUNTSMAN
Directed by Rupert Sanders
Distributed by Universal Studios Home Entertainment

 I meant to check this film out when it hit theaters, but I never got the chance to see it.  While not a horror film by any means, it does have a few horror elements to it and is a very dark take on the classic fairytale.  For that reason, I am reviewing it on my blog.

 SNOW WHITE & THE HUNTSMAN stars Kristen Stewart as Snow White, Chris Hemsworth as the Huntsman, and Charlize Theron as the Evil Queen.  All the actors do a great job in this film, but what really takes center stage here is the visuals.   This film is stunning in terms of how it looks and the visual effects.  This is is especially true when watched on Blu-ray in 1080p High-Def.  This is one film that really needs to be seen in HD to really appreciate it.  If you are unfamiliar with this film, here is the basic synopsis from the film's official website:

  From the Producer of Alice in Wonderland comes a new vision that turns a legendary tale into an action-adventure epic. The evil Queen Ravenna (Academy Award® winner Charlize Theron) will rule forever if she can take the life of Snow White (Kristen Stewart), so she dispatches the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) to track her down. But the wicked ruler never imagined that the Huntsman would train the girl to become a brave warrior, skilled in the art of war.

  In terms of horror, there are some horror elements to it like I said....including giant troll monsters, an army of evil soldiers, and the aforementioned Queen herself.  The Evil Queen from this film makes the one from the animated version look like Mary Poppins.  The Evil Queen will stop at nothing to maintain her youthful appearance and beauty, even going so far as to physically suck the youth and beauty from young women.   This immediately ages the young women, sucking out their youth and turning them into frail old ladies, but in turn retains the Evil Queen's youth and beauty.

 Overall, I thought this was a good film.  While I did find it slow in some areas, it was still nice to look at from the visual effects standpoint.  It was also interesting to see how they filmmakers kept all the main components of the original Snow White story, but added their own take and modern twists to the tale. What is really impressive about the DVD/Blu-ray itself, is the amount of Bonus Features contained on the discs.  Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain the Theatrical Version (128 minutes) of the film, along with an Extended Version  (132 minutes).  The DVD and Blu-ray contain the following Bonus Features:

*  Extended Edition of the film
*  Feature Commentary with Director Rupert Sanders, Visual Effects Supervisor Cedric Nicolas-Troyan and Co-Editor Neil Smith
*  A New Legend is Born Beginning with the assembly an amazing international cast of renowned actors, we’ll take a step-by-step look at how this new take on the classic tale was brought to film. From the initial screen tests to the final frames of footage shot, this in-depth look at how this beloved story was transformed for today’s audiences will be as exiting an adventure as the film itself.


  The Blu-ray version also contains these additional Blu-ray exclusive Bonus Features:

*  SECOND SCREEN An interactive viewing experience that lets you control, interact with and explore Snow White & The Huntsman with your networked tablet of computer.       
*  BEHIND THE SCENES WITH FLICK VIEW Viewers get an all access look at the making of the film featuring interviews with cast and crew.
*  AROUND THE KINGDOM: 360° SET TOUR Explore the magical environments of Snow White and the Huntsman in a scrolling 360 panoramic view. (The Throne Room, the Mirror Room, the Village, Castle Courtyard, King Magnus’ Tents)
*  VIRTUAL FLIP BOOKS Graphics
*  CAST OF CHARACTERS Graphics
*  Includes UltraViolet and Digital Copy of Snow White & The Huntsman to watch anytime, anywhere
*  Reinventing the Fairytale This feature will explore how this timeless tale was given new life. Explore the vast amount of research, conceptualization and artwork that went into this film before the first frame of film was ever shot.
*  Citizens of the Kingdom:

• Fairest of them all: Snow White Kristen Taking on the title role of Snow White & The Huntsman, Kristen Stewart meets the challenge of reinventing the classic fairytale icon and updating her for a 21st Century audience. In a character that radiates both inner and outer beauty, Snow White must triumph over evil by leading an army, sword in hand.
• Deliciously Evil: Queen Ravenna Academy Award® winner, Charlize Theron has been known for completely transforming herself when she inhabits a role. Charlize will punctuate the piece throughout with comments about the challenge of portraying this stunningly flawed, deliciously evil character.
• The Hunstman As one of today’s hottest up and coming stars, Chris Hemsworth has embodied this anti-hero completely. In this piece, Chris talks about what it took to become the Huntsman and how he learned to inhabit this tortured, yet likable character.
• Motley Crew: The Dwarves Part amazing performance, part inspired casting and part digital magic, no one piece created the dwarves, but once revealed their story will be forever memorable.

*  The Magic of Snow White & the Huntsman With the vision of Snow White and the Huntsman Rupert Sanders wanted to redefine the world of Snow White into something living and breathing and then dying under the rule of Ravenna. An inside look into how the VFX team would create a realistic yet fantastical world unlike the movies have ever seen. Explore what it took to create the otherworldly elements that make Snow White and the Huntsman so unique:

• Mirror Man
• Shrinking of the Dwarves
• The Enchanted Forest
• Ravenna’s Dark Magic

*  Around the Kingdom: 360° Set Tour Explore the magical environments of Snow White and the Huntsman in a scrolling 360 panoramic view. (King Magnus’ Courtyard, The Village, Duke Hammond’s Castle Encampment, Queen )
*  pocketBLU™ Experience Blu-ray™ in an exciting new way with the pocket BLU™ app for iPad®, iPhone®, iPod® Touch, Android™, smartphones and tables, PC and Mac®.

• Advanced Virtual Remote and Keyboard Control Blu-ray™ features and communicate with ease.
• Video Timeline Instantly access any point in the film.
• Mobile-To-Go Transfer exclusive bonus features to your device to enjoy anytime, anywhere.
• Browse Titles Access a library of available titles and previews.
• BD-Live™ Access a library of available titles and previews.
• My Scenes Bookmark your favorite scenes and share.
• D-Box Motion enabled

SNOW WHITE & THE HUNTSMAN is available now on DVD and Blu-ray combo pack.


CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website and watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray combo pack (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy/Ultraviolet)

Blu-ray Review: THE WALKIND DEAD: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON

  
THE WALKING DEAD:  THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON
Distributed by:  Anchor Bay Entertainment

 Most anyone reading this blog should know about THE WALKING DEAD.  Weather you read the comic books or not, most all horror fans have found this show and all shout it's praise.  I rank it as one of the greatest shows  in television history.   It is not just a show about zombies, the zombie outbreak is merely the setting for the show.  The heart of this show is the characters and their interactions with each other.   
 The first season of THE WALKING DEAD was great, and I wasn't sure how that could be topped, but the 2nd season of THE WALKING DEAD far exceeded my expectations and blew me away.  Anchor Bay has released THE WALKING DEAD:  THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON on DVD and Blu-ray now, so if you missed any episode, you can go back and check them out, or even if you didn't miss any, you can go back and re-watch any of your favorites.
  The second season has Rick and the crew holding up at Herschel's farm house  and the first part of the season has them searching for Sophia who got away from the group in a beginning episode.  I don't think anyone can forget the episode where Sophia is finally found.  I certainly didn't see it coming, and it really effected me, more so than I can ever remember a television show having an effect on me.

 Season 3 of THE WALKING DEAD starts in just a couple of weeks   (Oct. 14th to be exact), so now is a great time to pick up the DVD or Blu-ray of Season 2 and revisit it if you have forgotten what all happened last season.  Both the DVD and Blu-ray are full of awesome Bonus Features.  In fact, even if you don't care about watching any of the episodes again, you will want to get this DVD / Blu-ray collection solely for the Bonus Features.  They include the following:

*  10 Featurettes including:  All The Guts Inside - Live Or Let Die - The Meat Of The Music - Fire On Set - The Ink Is Alive -The Sound Of The Effects - In The Dead Winter - You Could Make A Killing -She Will Fight -The Cast On Season 2 - Extras Wardrobe
* 6 Webisodes
* Audio Commentaries on Episodes 1, 7, 8, 11, and 13
* Deleted Scenes:  What Lies Ahead - Save The Last One - Secrets - Pretty Much Dead Already - Nebraska - Judge, Jury, Executioner - Better Angels - Beside The Dying Fire

  
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray
CLICK HERE to purchase the special edition Blu-ray (comes in a limited edition Zombie Statue created by McFarlane Toys and designed by Greg Nicotero!)

  

Do you know about Hollywoodiscalling.com ??

   I don't  know where I first read about this, but there is a website called Hollywood Is Calling where for less than $20 bucks, you can have a celebrity actually call you on the phone!  Or, for only $5, you can get your very own celebrity video email greeting!!  It looks like the live calls are mainly geared toward having the celebrities call and leave you a message on your answering machine or voice mail so you can brag to your friends that a celebrity called you.
  There are lots of celebrities on the site, and while most of these aren't your A-list actors, there are some very cool actors/actresses on here (Mr. Belding from Saved By The Bell anyone?) and even some great horror celebs! 

Current horror celebs include:

Andrew Bryniarski - Leatherface from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)"
Ari Lehman - Young Jason from "Friday The 13th"
Bill Johnson - Leatherface "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2"
Butch Patrick - Eddie from "The Munsters"
David Naughton - "American Werewolf in London"
Edwin Neal - The Hitchhiker from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"
Felissa Rose  - "Sleepaway Camp"
Kane Hodder  - Jason from "Friday The 13th VII-X"
Lar Park Lincoln - "Friday The 13th VII"
Sid Haig - "House of 1000 Corpses", "The Devil's Rejects"
Tony Todd - "Candyman"
Warrington Gillette - Jason from "Friday The 13th Part 2"


CLICK HERE to visit Hollywood Is Calling

DVD Review: STRIP MAHJONG: BATTLE ROYALE (20012)

 

STRIP MAHJONG:  BATTLE ROYALE
Directed by:  Mark P. Forever
Distributed by Danger After Dark / TLA Releasing

When I got the press release for a movie called STRIP MAHJONG:  BATTLE ROYALE, I just knew I had to check this one out.  I know nothing about the game of Mahjong, and it actually looks pretty boring...but Strip Mahjong?  Now that I will watch! Ha!

Here is the basic plot of the film from the official press release:

A handful of mysterious Japanese women take part in a deranged web show that makes them strip off their clothes when they lose a round of Mahjong. When there is nothing left to hide, the losers secrets are revealed and the nubile contestants must take their punishment. Can anyone survive, or keep their clothes on, in the dangerous game of "STRIP MAHJONG: BATTLE ROYALE?" Gleefully adding a risqué, wry twist to an ancient game of strategy, this erotic thriller delivers voyeuristic thrills with the friskiness of Seventies sexploitation flicks, providing titillating, strange and kinky gameplay at every turn!

 Ok, so I have to be completely honest.  As much as I wanted to love this movie, I found it to be just ok.  The movie was fun, but it was very slow in some parts and come to find out, even hot, naked, Japanese chicks get boring after a while...especially while they are just sitting around playing Mahjong!  There are some fun scenes, but the movie overall just lacked something.  The plot was very basic, with no real twists or surprises.  I think I was also expecting a little more in terms of horror.  The filmmakers could have amped up the violence and gore and could have really made this a fun film.  Like maybe after the girls loose all their clothes, if they loose again then they loose a finger, or a hand, or a whole arm.  Cue the over-the-top Japanese trademark arterial geysers!  See, now that would have been cool!!  Instead, we get a very toned down version that could be a PG-13 film if it weren't for the rampant nudity all throughout.   Although, if that is what you are looking for, then this is the film for you!

  Overall I enjoyed the film, but as I stated, I really think it could have been better.  It was made well and shot well, and I really liked the way it was shot like a game show.   STRIP MAHJONG: BATTLE ROYALE might not be for everyone, but fans of crazy Japanese cinema will want to check this out for sure.

CLICK HERE for a sneak peak of the film
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

Did you know SEARS Department Store has a website just for zombies?

  Apparently this is old news, but I am just finding out about this.  Apparently Sears launched a special campaign a while back in conjunction with a past Halloween season (not sure if it was for last Halloween or how long ago it was created) which features a website designed and geared toward zombies.  Yes, even the living dead want to be stylish and use craftsman tools!

 You can view the site in zombie language, or you can switch to English if you are not brushed up on your zombie talk.  This is pretty funny stuff.  Browse around and shop like a zombie!

CLICK HERE to visit Sears for Zombies

This week's Horror related DVD/Blu-ray releases: Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

     
 
Here are this week's horror/exploitation related DVDs and Blu-rays coming out 9/25:
(Click on a title to see a trailer for that film)

*  388 ARLETTA AVENUE
*  AFTER THE DAWN
*  AMERICAN HORROR STORY:  THE COMPLETE 1ST SEASON [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  ASYLUM BLACKOUT
*  THE BUCKS COUNTY MASSACRE
*  ELVIRA'S MOVIE MACABRE:  BLOODY MADNESS
*  EXIT 101:  THE HALLOWEEN PARTY MASSACRE
*  MANIAC  [Blu-ray]
*  PORKCHOP II:  RISE OF THE RIND
*  POST-MORTEM
*  PURIFICATION
*  READY OR NOT
*  STRIPPERS VS. WEREWOLVES  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  THE TALL MAN  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  TERROR IS A MAN
*  TERROR OF DRACULA
*  ZOMBIE [Blu-ray]
*  ZOMBIE BABIES

Blu-ray Review: THE LIVING DEAD GIRL (1982)

   
THE LIVING DEAD GIRL
Directed by Jean Rollin
Distributed by Kino Lorber, Inc.

 I am a huge fan of foreign horror, especially the Italian films like those of Lucio Fulci, and Dario Argento.  I have recently began really getting into French horror films, especially those of a filmmaker named Jean Rollin.   He has some very good films, full of great scenes that have a very creepy atmosphere to them.  Thanks to the great folks at Kino Lorber, and distributed through their Redemption Films label, we now have access to some of Jean Rollin's greatest films through their "Cinema of Jean Rollin" series.   I recently watched Rollin's THE LIVING DEAD GIRL, and this has been my favorite Rollin film so far.   Here is the basic plot synopsis from the Kino Lorber website:

  THE LIVING DEAD GIRL (La Morte Vivante) is the story of Catherine Valmont (Françoise Blanchard), a wealthy heiress dead before her time, who is accidentally reanimated when some unfortunate movers attempt to store drums of chemical waste in the neglected burial vaults below her uninhabited chateau. Rollin's "living dead girl" does everything that cinematic convention requires - she kills people, drinks human blood, devours human flesh - yet, for all this, we accept her as an innocent. Meanwhile, the effect that her resurrection has upon her childhood friend, Hélène (Marina Pierro), is infinitely more conscious, deliberate, and evil.

  Bloodier and more violent than his own tastes preferred, THE LIVING DEAD GIRL forced Rollin to work against the grain in his own preferred genre - and he transformed himself in the process. In the unsettling, bloody finale, Blanchard's performance was so intense, so extreme in its confused appetite, revulsion, and glee, the take was nearly interrupted out of concern for the actress's mental health. It's one of the most emotionally incendiary finales in horror film history.

 

  The first thing I noticed after starting this film was the beautiful picture quality on the Blu-ray version.   The film is from 1982, but it looks like it was shot today with the crystal clear picture.   The other thing I noticed about this film was the gore.   This film was much bloodier than the previous film's of Rollin's that I have seen.   There were some great gore effects, including a sickening throat chomping scene!    All of Rollin's usual things are here, including some great atmospheric scenery and some beautiful (and yes, a lot of the times topless) women. 

 

  Like a lot of Rollins films, the acting and dialog is a little cheesy at times, but it is not enough to ruin the film for you by any means.    If you are a fan of Rollin's films, you will definitely want to add this one to your collection.  If you are not familiar with Rollin's films, do yourself a favor and check this one out for sure, and check out all the other great Jean Rollin films available now through the Kino Lorber website.

 

  THE LIVING DEAD GIRL is available now on DVD and Blu-ray and contains the following special features:

 

*  Mastered in HD from the 35mm negative

*  French with optional English subtitles

*  Introduction from Jean Rollin

*  Four featurettes by Daniel Gouyette:

• "Jean-Pierre Bouyxou on La Morte Vivante"
• "The Living Dead Girl: The American Version"
• "Music by Philippe D'Aram"
• "When I Was Seventeen: An Homage to Benoit Lestang

*  Jean Rollin at Fantasia (2007, 36 min.)

*  Excerpt of an interview with Jean Rollin by Joshua T. Gravel

*  12-page booklet with an essay by Tim Lucas, editor of Video Watchdog

*  Original theatrical trailer

*  Original trailers of nine other Rollin films

 

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD or Blu-ray

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS - check out these great books from Titan Books

   
  If you are a fan of THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, which was released this week on DVD and Blu-ray, then you definitely need to check out a couple of books from Titan Books.   Most everyone is familiar with the movie by now.  Most people loved it, a few  (myself included) did not.   But I love horror books and to me, these books  (especially the Official Visual Companion), are even better than the film itself. 

 First off, there is THE CABIN IN THE WOODS:  THE OFFICIAL MOVIE NOVELIZATION by New York Times Bestselling Author, Tim Lebbon.    This is a small, mass-market size paperback that tells you the story of the film in the form of a novel.  The book is 304 pages.

 Next, there is THE CABIN IN THE WOODS:  THE OFFICIAL VISUAL COMPANION.   This is a large size paperback (8 1/2” x 10 7/8”), or what I would call a "coffee-table book".  This book is 176 pages and features  the complete screenplay of the film, interviews with the main cast members, and tons of awesome, full-color photos from the film.  This book also features a great chapter on on the making of the creatures and monsters from the film, including artist sketches and concept art.  I always find it interesting to see how an artist draws and envisions a creature, and then how it actually turns out on film.   You have to admit that the make-up and effects artists on this film are top notch and did an amazing job. This is an awesome book, full of great gory pics for all you gore hounds out there.  Some of the gore scenes were cut away quick in the film, so it is great to get to see them in full color in this book, where you can really get a good look at some of the scenes for as long as you want.

 If you are a fan of THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, you will want to check out these two books for sure.  Heck, even if you are not a fan of the movie, you will still love the Visual Companion book, I sure do!!  Titan Books continues to release some of the best movie related books out there, and they have hit another home run with these great books.


CLICK HERE to buy the paperback movie novelization
CLICK HERE to buy the official visual Companion
    

Check out the film PLAY DEAD, a film of the off-broadway live horror show!!

  Now this looks cool!  PLAY DEAD is a film of a live stage show of the same name.  The film is directed by Shade Rupe and Teller  (of the comedy/magic team Penn & Teller).   The film stars Teller and Todd Robbins in what looks to be one of the coolest stage shows ever!  For those that don't have a chance to see the live show, we can all experience it now thanks to this film!  Here is some basic info about the show from the official website of the film:

  Famed silent magician Teller (of Penn & Teller) and Coney Island showman Todd Robbins thrill a live audience with gory ghastly spectacles based on real-life killers and psychic pranksters in this film of their off-Broadway show PLAY DEAD, caught live at The Players Theatre on Manhattan's historic MacDougal street.
 "Play Dead" is inspired by the American spook show, an underground entertainment that thrived from the 1930s to the 1970s. It was quite an experience for fans of Grand Guignol, and we've been told we've done a fair job of conveying that onscreen. Expect brutal onstage beatings, nubile nudity, and chunks of the show performed in absolute darkness. Even the exit signs go off! Be welcome, and BEWARE!
  In the live show, the audience is frequently plunged into total darkness. For the film, we shot what went on in the dark in infrared, and, from time to time, we let filmgoers glimpse some of the secrets the live audience never got to see.

I would love to check out this live show.....I can't imagine how much fun it would be. But, this film looks like it will capture all the magic and mystique of the live show for all of us who don't have a chance to see it live.    The film premiered July 27th at the Fantasia International Film Festival.  Keep an eye on the website and join the mailing list to keep up to date on future screenings.  


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

DVD Review: THE WALKING DEAD GIRLS (2011)

-------------Review by contributing writer Scott Baker------------------


THE WALKING DEAD GIRLS
Directed by  Tyler Benjamin
Distributed by Cheezy Flicks

Wow...I guess it’s been a while since I’ve reviewed something for Hayes. Where have I been, you might ask? Well, quite a few places. But that is neither here nor there (or is it?). So on with the review!

This week’s film is THE WALKING DEAD GIRLS, a documentary that looks at the recent rise of zombie popularity in the U.S., as well as the macabre fascination with hot models doled up like the living dead. Are you interested yet? Of course you are. And I have to admit: this was a film that jumped off the shelf at me.

If you are not familiar with THE WALKING DEAD GIRLS, here is the plot synopsis courtesy of the Cheezy Flicks website:

 

The Walking Dead Girls is a behind-the-scenes look into zombie culture in the United States and the obsession into "Sexy Female Zombies". What is it about Zombie Bimbos or "Zimbies" that are starting to gain the worlds interest? Why are zombies now in mainstream culture and seen in advertising from JCPenny and Sears? With interviews with zombie master maker George Romero and cult movie star Bruce Campbell from ZomBcon 2010 and so much more. Also with a rare look into the making of a Zombie Pinup Calendar, behind the scenes of "Stripperland" The Walking Dead Girls is a sexy look into the zombie phenomenon created by George Romero that is 40 years in the making.

THE WALKING DEAD GIRLS is an interesting, albeit short, exposition into why zombies are so entertaining. Yet the film is lacking in certain areas. There’s no real depth here, no “fleshing out”, as it were. In its place are a series of semi-meaty interviews and behind-the-scenes snippets from a Zombie Pinup Calendar shoot.

 

The documentary starts with an interview of horror icon George Romero. I am a HUGE fan of Romero and am always interested to see him interviewed. Unfortunately, this one doesn’t really bring anything new to the table; the dialogue is familiar because I’ve seen him answer the same questions several times before during different interviews.

There are several other interviews in THE WALKING DEAD GIRLS as well, including visits with Bruce Campbell, Terry Alexander, John Amplas, Linnea Quigley, and more. Most of these interviews ask the same questions, and I suppose it is interesting to note the difference in the interviewees responses. I do have to mention that the woman doing the interviewing asks some very nonsensical questions of her guests, such as “What is your favorite food?” and “What kind of car do you drive?”.

The behind-the-scenes footage of the Zombie Pinup Calendar is pretty interesting though. It is cool to see the models before and after their transformations; not to mention seeing the sets on which the shoot take place. And the interviews with the models are, surprisingly enough, actually more interesting than those with the celebrities for the most part.

THE WALKING DEAD GIRLS, while somewhat entertaining, is not necessarily one that I’m recommending. If you’re looking for in-depth zombie commentary, I would steer clear. However if you’re interested in checking out the pinup girls, then definitely give it a look.

 

- MSB

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

This week's Horror related DVD/Blu-ray releases: Tuesday, September 18th, 2012

 

Here are this week's horror/exploitation related DVDs and Blu-rays coming out 9/18:
(Click on a title to see a trailer for that film)

*  BAIT 3D [DVD & 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVD combo pack]
*  BARRICADE:  DIRECTOR'S CUT
*  BLACK SUNDAY:  REMASTERD EDITION  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  THE CABIN IN THE WOODS [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  DRACULA BLOWS HIS COOL
*  HALLOWEEN II  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  HALLOWEEN III:  SEASON OF THE WITCH  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  HATCHET FOR THE HONEYMOON:  REMASTERED EDITION  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  MONSTER SQUAD:  THE COMPLETE SERIES  (1976)
*  NIGHT OF THE DEMONS [Blu--ray]
*  QUEEN OF THE DAMNED  [Blu-ray]
*  THE REVENANT
*  SUPERNATURAL: THE COMPLETE 7TH SEASON  [DVD & Blu-ray]

A look back at the FRIDAY THE 13th NES game...

  Making the post about the Mortal Kombat games yesterday got me thinking about how cool some horror related games could be.   I have gotten back into video games after getting an Xbox 360 last Christmas "for the kids". Ha!  I have played DEAD RISING, DEAD ISLAND, and the CALL OF DUTY ZOMBIE games, but where are our favorite Horror icons?  Where is a FRIDAY THE 13TH or NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET game...or a TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE game?  If they exist, I don't know about them.  In fact, the only FRIDAY THE 13TH game I remember was back on the original 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System.  If you never had a chance to play this game, you did not miss much. In fact, it is widely considered one of the worst NES games of all time. 

  Here is a short video showing you actual game-play from the game.  Basically you just walked around shooting zombies with stones or knives, and then going in cabins every now and then to defend the campers from Jason.   After doing that that a number of times, then you get to fight Jason in a fight to the finish!   Sounds exciting, huh?  Well it wasn't.  It was super boring and just dumb on many levels.  I remember it also being super hard and nearly impossible to actually get to the final battle with Jason. Watch some game play in the video below:



And then watch the video below to see the extremely anti-climatic ending.  It seems after making it this far and actually defeating Jason that you would get something a little better than this!





  I can't imagine why a new FRIDAY THE 13TH game has never been made for the new game systems.  With the graphics nowadays, you could make a really great game.  I envision a first person shooter where you search Camp Crystal Lake for weapons to kill Jason.   I think that could be a lot of fun, but until then, you can dust off that old NES and play this version, although I wouldn't recommend it!

Check out the Top 10 bloodiest fatalities from the MORTAL KOMBAT video game series!

 While talking on X-box live with my buddy Scott last night, who runs the awesome Shattered Ravings blog, he asked me if I ever played the Mortal Kombat games.  I have never been a fan of fighting games, mainly because they just seemed to repetitive and honestly...just too hard.   I never could figure out all the combinations of buttons to push to do the cool moves, so basically I just pushed random buttons and hoped for the best!   Needless to say, I didn't win very often. 
 Anyway, I always heard about all the great kills from the Mortal Kombat series, and he mentioned you could watch them on YouTube.  So, I checked it out, and some of these are extremely brutal!  Gaming site ScrewAttack.com has put together a great Top 10 list.  Check it out by clicking the link below and then comment and let me know your favorite of the list.  My favorite is DAiROU's move were he rips our your ribs, and then stabs you in the eyes with them!  Classic!


CLICK HERE to watch the Top 10 Mortal Kombat Fatalities

Check out the trailer for TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D

  This is probably one of my most anticipated films of the year for me.  I am a HUGE fan of Tobe Hooper's original classic, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE.   I love all the sequels  (yes, even part 3), and I love the recent remake and prequel.   The original film is probably my favorite horror movie of all time.  I have been waiting for a trailer for this newest instalment, and finally found it while browsing one of my favorite horror websites, Shock Till You Drop.
Here is the plot synopsis for the new film TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D, courtesy of the Shock Till You Drop website:

  Directed by John Luessenhop and starring Alexandra Daddario, Tania Raymonde, Trey Songz, Gunnar Hansen and many more, the horror project continues the legendary story of the homicidal Sawyer family, picking up where Tobe Hooper’s 1974 horror classic left off in Newt, Texas, where for decades people went missing without a trace. The townspeople long suspected the Sawyer family, owners of a local barbeque pit, were somehow responsible. Their suspicions were finally confirmed one hot summer day when a young woman escaped the Sawyer house following the brutal murders of her four friends. Word around the small town quickly spread, and a vigilante mob of enraged locals surrounded the Sawyer stronghold, burning it to the ground and killing every last member of the family – or so they thought.

Decades later and hundreds of miles away from the original massacre, a young woman named Heather learns that she has inherited a Texas estate from a grandmother she never knew she had. After embarking on a road trip with friends to uncover her roots, she finds she is the sole owner of a lavish, isolated Victorian mansion. But her newfound wealth comes at a price as she stumbles upon a horror that awaits her in the mansion’s dank cellars…     TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D is scheduled to hit theaters on January 4th, 2013.

CLICK HERE to watch the  trailer

Chucky is back!! THE CURSE OF CHUCKY is in production!

 I am still playing catch-up on all the horror news I missed while I was in Costa Rica for a couple of weeks, and one of the coolest things I have found was the announcement that a new CHILD'S PLAY/CHUCKY movie is being made!   That's right, THE CURSE OF CHUCKY has begun production!  Chucky is, of course, the killer Good Guy doll we first met back in 1988 with the release of CHILD'S PLAY.   The movie was a pretty big success and went on to spawn the sequels CHILDS'S PLAY 2, CHILD'S PLAY 3, BRIDE OF CHUCKY, and SEED OF CHUCKY.   I found out about this new film while browsing one of my favorite Horror sites, Dread Central. Here is the basic plot synopsis of THE CURSE OF CHUCKY  (or just CURSE OF CHUCKY as I have seen it on some listings), courtesy of the DreadCentral.com:

Nica (Fiona Dourif) is grieving over the gruesome suicide of her mother when her domineering older sister, Barb (Danielle Bisutti), arrives with her young family in tow to help settle their mother’s affairs. As the sisters butt heads over Nica’s plans for the future, Barb’s young daughter comforts herself with a grinning, red-haired talking doll named Chucky (voiced again by Brad Dourif) that recently arrived mysteriously in the mail. But as a string of brutal murders begins to terrorize the household, Nica suspects the doll may hold the key to the bloodshed. What she doesn’t know is that Chucky has a personal score to settle. He’s determined to finish a job he started more than 20 years earlier, and this time he’s going to see it through to the bloody and shocking end.

THE CURSE OF CHUCKY is filming now, and should be released sometime next year.  The film is begin directed by series creator, Don Mancini  (who also directed the last Chucky movie, SEED OF CHUCKY).  I will definitely be checking this one out, as I am a huge fan of the Chucky movies.  What about you?  Are you excited about this new project, or do you think Chucky has overstayed his welcome?  Let me know with a comment what you think about this!

This week's Horror related DVD/Blu-ray releases: Tuesday, September 11th, 2012

  










Here are this week's horror/exploitation related DVDs and Blu-rays coming out 9/11:
(Click on a title to see a trailer for that film)

*  BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW
*  THE BLACK HOUSE
*  BORN UNDEAD  [Blu-ray]
*  CHILLERS
*  THE DAY THE DEAD WALKED  [Blu-ray]
*  DEAD SOON
*  THE DEVIL INSIDE  [Blu-ray]
*  ENTRANCE
*  HAMMER HOUSE OF HORRORS:  THE COMPLETE SERIES
*  JEEPERS CREEPERS  [Blu-ray]
*  KILLER CLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE  [Blu-ray]
*  LAST BREATH
*  THE LOVED ONES
*  PARANORMAL ACTIVITY TRILOGY  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  PSYCHOTICA  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  RED EYE
*  ROSEWOOD LANE  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  SCARY OR DIE
*  THE SUICIDE SONG
*  THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2
*  THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:  THE COMPLETE 3RD SEASON [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  VILE
*  WHERE EVIL LIES
*  WITCHES, DEMONS, & MUTANTS - OH THE HORROR!

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD LIVE...coming to a stage near you!

 All of the sudden, a swarm of live stage shows are being created based on old, classic horror movies.  Most notable of late has been EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL, but there have also been live stage shows based on THE TOXIC AVENGER, RE-ANIMATOR, and THE EXORCIST.  Well, we can now add NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD to the list of movies getting their own stage show!
 Nictophobia Films is bringing George Romero's classic 1968 film to life  (or is it un-dead?) and to a stage starting in Canada and then touring throughout the United States.  The play is directed by Christopher Bond, the co-creator and co-director of the aforementioned EVIL DEAD:  THE MUSICAL.  Here is some info about the show from the official website, www.nightofthelivingdeadlive.com:

  "Nictophobia Films is bringing this cinematic masterpiece to the stage like you have never seen before.  Just like the film, the stage production will be done entirely in black and white, from the set design right to the actors.  The performance will also be interactive as live zombies walk through the aisles, making their way to the stage keeping the audience literally on the edge of their seats."

 This sounds like a lot of fun!  I would love to see this.  Right now, Nictophobia Films is in the process of raising money in order to take the show on a road tour.  They have an indiegogo campaign going on right now, with 52 days left at the time of this writing.  They are trying to raise $50,000 make this play happen.  If you can give anything, please do.  You can see a list of perks you will get with every donation level.  

  I hope this campaign is successful, I would love to see this stage play someday here in the U.S.!


CLICK HERE to visit the NOTLD LIVE indiegogo campaign site, where you can watch a video about this cool new stage show and donate.

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of NOTLD LIVE

DVD Review: 2-HEADED SHARK ATTACK (2012)

  
2-HEADED SHARK ATTACK
Directed by Christopher Ray
Distributed by The Asylum

 I have been impressed with the latest few films from The Asylum lately, and continue to be so with the release of 2-HEADED SHARK ATTACK!  Ok, I know what you are thinking...really?  Yes, really. I happen to love that title....probably because I love B-movies and this is an instant modern day B-movie.  Here is the very basic plot from The Asylum's website:

When a college educational ship is sunk by a mutated two-headed shark, the survivors escape to a deserted atoll. But when it starts flooding, the coeds are no longer safe from the double jaws of the monster.

  I might have to throw this into the category of so-bad-its-good....but either way, I can't help but admit that I enjoyed this film.  The film stars Carmen Electra, Charlie O'Connell  (Jerry O'Connell's brother) and Brooke Hogan  (Hulk Hogan's daughter).  I have to admit that the acting is not very good overall, but we know the real star of the show here is the shark, or actually the 2-headed shark!
Although, I do have to say that Brooke Hogan was actually not too bad as an actress, she did much better than I was expecting.

 As for the shark, well he (or she?) did a great job!  I was actually surprised with the shark effects, as many were practical effects which looked really good.   Now there were plenty of CG shark effects, and they look about as you would expect if you've seen any of the other Asylum or Scy-fy channel's crazy shark films.  They aren't awful, but they definitely look fake.  The practical effects  used with the shark actually looked really good and very realistic.  There is plenty of shark action in this film, and tons of great kills. 

 This is a fun movie that doesn't take itself seriously (with a title like that, how could it?), so you shouldn't take this one too seriously either.  Don't go in expecting the next JAWS...just expect to have fun and I think you will with this film. 

2-HEADED SHARK ATTACK is available now on DVD and contains the following special features:

*  The Making Of 2-Headed Shark Attack
*  Bloopers

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

 

I'm Back!! Expect new posts starting today!

  
 Thank you everyone for your patience while I was out the last couple of weeks.  I had a great time on vacation in beautiful Costa Rica!    I am back now, though, so expect regular posts again as normal from today on! 

 As a thank you for your patience, I will be doing a new giveaway within the next few days, so stay tuned for that.  BUT, have I got a deal for you!  Over at my buddy Scot Baker's blog, SHATTERED RAVINGS, you can enter a giveaway going on right now!  Scott is giving away a set of 2 Sci-Fi hardcover books, called Heaven’s Shadow & Heaven’s War by David S. Goyer and Michael Cassutt.   

 If you’re not familiar with either book, here is a plot synopsis of each courtesy of the Penguin Group USA website:

Heaven’s Shadow
Three years ago, an object one hundred miles across was spotted on a trajectory for Earth’s sun. Now, its journey is almost over. As it approaches, two competing manned vehicles race through almost half a million kilometers of space to reach it first. But when they both arrive on the entity, they learn that it has been sent toward Earth for a reason. An intelligent race is desperately attempting to communicate with our primitive species. And the message is: Help us.

Heaven’s War
When it first appeared, the astronomers named the asteroid Keanu. A Near Earth Object, from a distant constellation, it was headed directly toward our sun. But when we went to meet it, it turned out to be far more than a huge rock hurtling through space… The two teams of astronauts sent to explore Keanu discovered it is, in fact, a spacecraft, a giant ship with an alien crew. A ship that had headed to Earth with a mission and a message: Help Us. A brave new frontier beckons. But we are about to learn that it comes with a price… Without warning, the aliens transport small groups of humans from the competing scientific communities of Houston, Texas and Bangalore, India to the vast interior habitats of Keanu. Their first challenge is to survive. Their second; to discover why The Architects—the unknown, unseen aliens controlling the asteroid—brought them there. And soon a third emerges: they must find a way to take control of Keanu. Because the NEO is moving again—away from Earth. The Architects are headed home…


The contest over at SHATTERED RAVINGS ends on Sept. 22nd, 2012 at midnight (central time).
Hurry and enter soon!

CLICK HERE to visit the link to learn how you can win this set of awesome books!!