Sorry for the lack of posts this week....

 
  It's been a very busy week this past week, and the last few nights have been tied up with packing and preparing for the 10th annual TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND!!  I can't believe another year has past and it's time for the convention again!   I'll be back next week with more blog posts.

  If any of you are going to this year's TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND, leave me a comment and let me know! 

This week's Horror related DVD/Blu-ray releases: Tuesday, April 28th, 2015

Here are this week's horror related DVDs and Blu-rays that come out tomorrow, 4/28
(Click on a title to watch the trailer)


*  THE BARBER  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  THE BOY NEXT DOOR  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM  [Blu-ray]
*  GHOST STORY:  THE TURN OF THE SCREW
*  HUNTED
*  LORD OF THE FLIES  [DVD & Blu-ray]

CD Review: ROPE BURN by THE BLOODY JUG BAND

 
















  Here is a band that the majority of you have probably never heard of, but you should have.   The group is called THE BLOODY JUG band and they are an extremely talented group of musicians who make some excellent music!    The Bloody Jug Band consists of eight members: Cragmire Peace, Stormy Jean, Brian Shredder, Steevil, Bloody Rick Lane, Seth Funky, Bid Daddy Jerm and Baby Dingo.  They all play traditional Jug Band style instruments such as the washboard, washtub bass, mandolin, harmonica, and even the spoons! 

  Their new album is titled, ROPE BURN, and it is one of the few albums I own that I can put in and I actually listen to every single song on the album.  Most CD's have a few mediocre songs that you might skip past, but you will not have that issue with this one.  I can listen to this one from track 1 all the way to track 13 and then just let it repeat and start over.   Their sound is very southern Rockabilly, with a horror vibe thrown in one some tracks.   They say that some of their musical influences were Tom Waits, The Band, Johnny Cash, and others.  While listening to the CD, I also picked up hints of Hank III and The Raconteurs.  
  
  While Cragmire Peace sings most of the lead vocals, Stormy Jean takes lead on a couple of tracks, including my personal favorite, 13 Steps.  Having Stormy take over on some tracks is a nice change of pace and gives the band a completely different sound, and adds a little variety to the mix.  Speaking of variety, that is another reason I love this CD.  With a  lot of CDs,  the group's music sound the same for the most part.  With ROPE BURN, you get a nice mixture of sounds, from rocking Rockabilly tunes to slower Blues like sounds. 

  For fans of this type of music, I highly recommend ROPE BURN.   I will be purchasing THE BLOODY JUG BAND's first album soon as well, titled COFFIN' UP BLOOD.  If it's even half as good as ROPE BURN, I know I will be happy with it.    ROPER BURN is available now at group's official website.


CLICK HERE to visit the band's official website
CLICK HERE to visit the band's official Twitter Feed
CLICK HERE to visit the band's official Facebook page
CLICK HERE to check out the band's YouTube channel and watch music videos

This week's Horror related DVD/Blu-ray releases: Tuesday, April 21st, 2015

Here are this week's horror related DVDs and Blu-rays that come out tomorrow, 4/21
(Click on a title to watch the trailer)


*  ARACHNOQUAKE
*  AUTEUR
*  BEDLAM
*  BLOOD RITES
*  CHILLERS
*  DEEP IN THE DARKNESS  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK  [Blu-ray]
*  A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  GHOULIES / GHOULIES II  Double Feature   [Blu-ray]
*  JONAH LIVES
*  MANSION OF THE DOOMED
*  THE MOTHMAN CURSE
*  MY DEMON WITHIN
*  NOTHING SACRED
*  PETE WALKER COLLECTION: VOL. 2 
*  THE PIGMAN MURDERS
*  SNUFF:  A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT KILLING ON CAMERA
*  SORROW
*  TEN
*  TERRITORY 8
*  WAKE BEFORE I DIE
*  THE WALKING DECEASED

Blu-ray Review: SHOCK WAVES (1977)

SHOCK WAVES
Directed by:  Ken Wiederhorn
Distributed by:  Blue Underground

"Beneath The Living... Beyond The Dead... From The Depths of Hell's Ocean!"

  As much of a fan of zombie movies as I am, I am even more a fan of Nazi zombies.  There is something about these two evils that come together into one truly barbaric monster.  SHOCK WAVES is one of the earliest of the Nazi zombie sub-genre.  It is also one of my all time favorites as well.  Here is the synopsis of the SHOCK WAVES blu-ray courtesy of the Blue Underground website:

  In the dark days of World War II, the Nazi High Command ordered its scientists to create a top secret race of indestructible zombie storm troopers - un-living, unfeeling, unstoppable monstrosities that killed with their bare hands. They were known as The Death Corps. No member of this horrific SS unit was ever captured by the Allied Forces - and, somewhere off the coast of Florida, they have survived...
   Peter Cushing (STAR WARS), Brooke Adams (INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS) and John Carradine (THE BOOGEY MAN) star in this suspenseful and genuinely creepy shocker co-written and directed by Ken Wiederhorn (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART II). One of the great horror "sleepers" of the 1970s, SHOCK WAVES has been freshly transferred and fully restored in High Definition from the only known surviving materials!

  One thing you'll immediately notice with this film is the lack of gore.  Unlike a lot of the zombie films of this time period, this film does not rely heavily on the blood and gore.  In fact, most kills are very tame, especially by today's standards.  What the film lacks in gore is completely made up by the film's creepy vibe.  There is something about seeing these zombies rise from the water after being down there for who knows how long, that is very frightening.   The film is very atmospheric and is perfect viewing for a dark, rainy night.

  The new 1080 HD transfer looks extremely good, especially since the last time I watched this film was back on VHS!  The film is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and is an ALL REGIONS disc.

SHOCK WAVES is available now on Blu-ray from Blue Underground and contains the following special features:

* Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Ken Wiederhorn, Make-Up Designer Alan Ormsby and Filmmaker Fred Olen Ray
* Nazi Zombies On A Budget - Interview with Producer/Cinematographer Reuben Trane
* Notes For The Undead - Interview with Composer Richard Einhorn
* Sole Survivor - Interview with Star Brooke Adams
* From FLIPPER To SHOCK WAVES - Interview with Star Luke Halpin
* Theatrical Trailer
* TV Spot
* Radio Spots
* Poster & Still Gallery


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

THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE 3 is coming...

 



 



 

  This is the one we have been waiting on for a long time.   The final film of the HUMAN CENTIPEDE series is finally here.  The official title is THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE:  FINAL SEQUENCE and it looks like it is going to be the most outrageous entry of them all!  The film is set at a maximum security prison in the desert.   Apparently the inmates are the guinea pigs this time around, and are used to make the longest Human Centipede yet...500 people long! 

  The trailer is out now for your viewing pleasure.  The film has a tentative release date of May 22nd.  Give the trailer a watch if you haven't seen it yet and  let me know what you think.   


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

This week's Horror related DVD/Blu-ray releases: Tuesday, April 14th, 2015

Here are this week's horror related DVDs and Blu-rays that come out tomorrow, 4/14
(Click on a title to watch the trailer)


*  ALL THE DEVILS ALIENS
*  THE BABADOOK  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  CARRIE / CARRIE 2:  THE RAGE  [Blu-ray]
*  CLASS OF 1984 [Blu-ray]
*  ECHOS  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  ENTER THE DANGEROUS MIND  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  FROM THE DARK  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  JINN
*  LONG WEEKEND  [Blu-ray]
*  MAPS TO THE STARS  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  ROADSIDE
*  THE TALL MAN/THE RESIDENT Double Feature  [Blu-ray]
*  WOMAN IN BLACK 2  [DVD & Blu-ray]

Check out the traielr for the SHARKANSAS WOMEN'S PRISON MASSACRE

  Holy cow!  How the heck have I never heard of this film before!   I was born, raised, and still reside in Arkansas, yet I had no clue about this film until browsing one of my favorite horror sites, Dreadcentral.com.  The film is called SHARKANSAS WOMEN'S PRISON MASSACRE and it stars Dominique Swain and Traci Lords .   The film is directed by veteran horror director Jim Wynorski . Here is the basic plot from the Dreadcentral website: 

When a fracking mishap accidentally rips apart the earth’s crust, the resulting hole opens up a gaping underground waterway to a vast and mysterious ocean somewhere deep below. Instantly, giant prehistoric sharks begin wending their way upward toward a murky bog in the heart of the Arkansas Bayou. Unfortunately for a group of female prisoners on a work detail in the swamp, the deadly sharks attack without warning – pinning a hapless group of intended victims in a small deserted cabin in the heart of the wetlands. Death may be the only means of escape!

I don't know about you, but this sounds amazing to me!  It's listed as a TV movie, so I can only assume that this is a SyFy original, but I am not certain of that.  It's listed for release sometime in May.

In the meantime, CLICK HERE to check out the Dreadcentral article and watch the trailer for SHARKANSAS WOMEN'S PRISON MASSACRE

Blu-ray Review: LONG WEEKEND (1978)

LONG WEEKEND
Directed by:  Colin Eggleston
Distributed by Synapse Films / CAV Distributing

  I recently watched a film that was sent to me for review that I had never heard of before.  It's rare that I come across a film I've never heard of.  There are plenty that I haven't seen, but I at least know about, but this one I had never even heard of the title before.  The film was LONG WEEKEND which is a great revenge flick from 1978.  Instead unlike most revenge flicks, in this film it's animals that are getting revenge on humans! 
  Here's the basic plot from the Synapse Website:

 Attempting to resurrect their failing marriage, Peter (John Hargreaves, THE ODD ANGRY SHOT) and Marcia (Briony Behets) set out on a camping trip to a deserted stretch of the Australian coastline hoping a long weekend in the sunshine will help them patch their differences. They are a careless couple, littering the countryside with garbage, shooting guns and even driving away after wounding a kangaroo with their automobile. Their callous disregard for the environment soon becomes apparent when the animals start to seek vengeance. Marcia and Peter have proven themselves to be destroyers of nature. Will the animals allow them to leave or will they too be destroyed?

  This was a very fun film that I highly recommend.  It's not gory or even really that scary, in fact, it's quite tame by today's standards.  I'm sure it was quite shocking at the time of it's release, though. That being said, it's still a wonderful entertaining film.  The movie will make you think about how you treat nature, as this couple found out the hard way by being attacked by birds, dogs, snakes, and even an opossum!
 
  The new HD 1080p transfer looks great on this new blu-ray release.  Sometimes you would forget this film was shot in the 1970's if it weren't for the clothing and hair!

 LONG WEEKEND will be released April 14th on Blu-ray and will contain the following special features:

*  High-Definition 1080p Transfer Supervised by Synapse Films
*  Re-mastered DTS HD-MA 5.1 Surround Soundtrack
*  Audio Commentary from Producer Richard Brennan and Cinematographer Vincent Monton
*  Motion Still Gallery Featuring an Audio Interview with Actor John Hargreaves
*  Original Theatrical Trailer


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to pre-order the blu-ray

 

DVD/Blu-ray Review: RABID GRANNIES

RABID GRANNIES
Written & Directed by Emmanuel Kervyn
Distributed by  Troma Entertainment

  Here is a film a lot of you might not know about.   It's a rare gem from 1988 called RABID GRANNIES.   I had heard about this one a while back, but it flew completely under my radar back in '88 when it came out.   I think I first heard about this film just about 3 or 4 years ago!    Here is the plot of the film from the Troma website:

Grannies are the greatest. They bake pies, tell stories and take you to the zoo. They don't ask for an arm and a leg in return. THEY WANT YOUR WHOLE BODY! It's off to grandmother's house we go for Rabid Grannies, the blood-splattered tale of two little old ladies who open a surprise package from Hell. Out slithers a mysterious fog that turns the grannies into ghouls who can't wait to sink their dentures into human flesh. Luckily for them, they have a houseful of juicy guests. Unluckily for their guests, these bone-crunching battle-axes just can't get filled up. RABID GRANNIES, these biddies bite!

  If you are a fan of '80s horror films, this is not one to be missed.  I think the 80's are by far my favorite decade of horror films, followed closely by the '70s.    This film has a very '80s feel to it and reminded me at times of the great gore movie, BRAINDEAD / DEAD ALIVE.   One reason I love horror movies from the '80s is the practical effects.  These always look so much better than today's CGI special effects.  This film has tons of great makeup and practical gore effects.  In fact, with this newly released 'Producer's Cut' of the film, we get to see some of the gore that was cut from earlier releases!

  Now, I do have to warn you about the Blu-ray transfer of this film.  All the day time shots are washed out in a yellow color, like a sepia tone, while all the night shots are washed in a blue color.  I assumed that is just how the film was since it was so old, but thankfully Troma packaged this with a DVD as well, and the DVD color is just fine, without the yellow and blue tinting.   I'm not sure what happened with the transfer, but it is a shame it is like this.  As I stated, the DVD is perfectly fine, though, so I watched the DVD.

  RABID GRANNIES is an extremely fun film, and I highly recommend it!   RABID GRANNIES is available now on the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack from Troma Entertainment and contains the following special features:

*  HD transfer of the movie from original materials
*  Producer's Cut of the film
*  Deleted Scenes
*  Interviews
*  Trailers
*  and much more!


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack