Check out the trailer for the upcoming zombie film, THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS

  It's been a while since I've seen a really good new zombie film.   It looks like we will be seeing a new great addition to the zombie film with Director Colm McCarthy's new film, THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS.   The film was adapted from the novel of the same name by Mike Carey.   Here is the basic plot synopsis from the film's production company's website: 

  The near future; humanity has been decimated by a virus that turns it's victims into flesh eating "hungries".   Only a small group of children are immune.  They still crave human flesh, but they can think and feel, making them vital in finding a cure.  
  At an army base, these children are subjected to experiments by biologist Dr. Caldwell, under the guard of Sergeant Parks.  But one little girl, Melanie, stands out.  She's inquisitive, imaginative, and loves her favorite teacher Miss Justineau.
  When the base falls, Melanie escapes with Miss Justineau, Sergeant Parks, and Dr. Caldwell.  Melanie embarks on a journey to discover the world, what she is, and ultimately decide both her own future and that of the human race.


  I just watched the trailer and I think this looks like it could be an instant classic.  Take a look at the trailer and let me know what you think!





  THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS will be released by Warner Brothers on September 9th in the U.K.   No U.S. release date has been set yet.

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, June 28th, 2016

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that came out today, 6/28:

*  CIRCUS OF FEAR / FIVE GOLDEN DRAGONS Double Feature [Blu-ray]
*  THE GIRL IN THE PHOTGRAPHS  [DVD]
*  HOTEL INFERNO  [DVD]
*  RETURN OF THE KILLER TOMATOES [Blu-ray]
*  SHARK EXORCIST   [DVD]

Blu-ray Review: VENOM (1981)

VENOM
Directed by  Piers Haggard
Distributed by Blue Underground

  Tonight's review is of another film I had always heard about, but somehow had never got around to seeing.  The film is called VENOM, and it's a fun mix of creature feature and kidnapping/heist film. 
Here is the basic plot courtesy of the Blue Underground website:

   It was supposed to be the perfect crime: the sexy maid (Susan George of STRAW DOGS), a psychotic chauffeur (Oliver Reed of THE BROOD) and an international terrorist (the legendary Klaus Kinski) kidnap a wealthy ten-year-old boy from his elegant London townhouse. But they didn't count on a murdered cop, a desperate hostage siege, and one very unexpected houseguest: a furious Black Mamba, the most lethal and aggressive snake known to nature. It can attack from ten feet away. Its bite brings excruciating death. And it is on the loose. Now, terror knows no antidote... and the ultimate in slithering mayhem is VENOM.
   Sterling Hayden (THE KILLING), Nicol Williamson (EXCALIBUR) and Sarah Miles (BLOW-UP) co-star in this gripping suspense thriller based on the novel by best-selling author Alan Scholefield and directed by Piers Haggard (THE BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW). VENOM has been newly transferred in 2K High Definition from its negative and features some very real - and extremely deadly - Black Mambas!

  I went into this thinking it was just another run of the mill creature feature, this time featuring a snake.  It's actually a much smarter film than that, with the snake being just part of the main plot.  The main part of the film focuses on the kidnapping of the young boy, and the police stakeout of the house they are holding up in.  While it would have been a pretty good heist film on it's own, why not through a killer snake into the mix!   I have to admit, it made this kidnapping film a lot more interesting!   You never know where the snake is going to be or strike next, which put some extra intensity into the already thrilling film. 

  Some people might go into this film hoping for more of a gory creature feature, so just realize what you are going into and I think you will enjoy this one.  I was definitely a big fan of this movie.  It probably would not be taken seriously if made today, but this is classic 80's cinema at it's best.  The acting was great and the remastered 2K High Definition transfer looks amazing for a film that is 35 years old! 

  VENOM is available now on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and features the following special features:

*  Audio Commentary with Director Piers Haggard
*  Theatrical Trailer
*  TeaserTrailer
*  TV Spots
*  Poster & Still Gallery
*  BONUS Collectable Booklet featuring new writing by Fangoria Editor Michael Gingold


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

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, June 21st, 2016

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's coming out tomorrow, 6/21:

*  THE CRUSH  [Blu-ray]
*  DARK AMAZON
*  DARK AWAKENING [DVD]
*  DEAD IN TOMBSTONE  [Blu-ray]
*  THE MIDNIGHT AFFAIR  [DVD]
*  MODEL FOR MURDER:  THE CENTERFOLD KILLER  [DVD]
*  ROLLERCOASTER  [Blu-ray]
*  THE WAVE  [Blu-ray & DVD]

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, June 14th, 2016

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's coming out tomorrow, 6/14:

* 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE  [DVD & BD]
*  BLOOD ON THE REEL  [DVD]
*  CANNIBAL ATTACK:  REAL CANNIBALS IN AMERICA  [DVD]
*  CRIMSON  [BD]
*  GROSSHOUSE  [DVD]
*  JAWS 2  [BD]
*  JAWS 3  [BD]
*  JAWS 4:  THE REVENGE  [BD]
*  JEEPERS CREEPERS  [BD]
*  JEEPERS CREEPERS 2  [BD]
*  RABID DOGS  [BD]
*  SENSORIA  [DVD]
*  SORCERESS  [DVD & BD]
*  UNSTABLE  [DVD]

Do you know the story about D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's lost "Nightmare on My Street" video?

 I don't know how I didn't know about this, but apparently  all copies of the original video for the song "Nightmare on My Street" by D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince was forced to be destroyed by New Line Cinema.    I had never heard about this before, so I apologize if I am bringing you common knowledge.  

  I heard the song today for the first time in years and thought it would be fun to post about it on my blog and post the video for everyone to enjoy.   Well, that was easier said than done,  because as soon as I started by search for the video it was nowhere to be found.  There are lost of fan-made videos for the song, but the original video seems to be lost forever!

  Apparently the music label didn't get permission to use Freddy Krueger's name/image, so New Line Cinema sued and the case was settled out of court, with one of the stipulations being that all copies of the video be destroyed.  Now that wouldn't work in today's internet age....there would be copies out there to find for sure, but this came out back in 1988, so there is no evidence of the video left at all, which is very sad.  I remember it being a very fun video, and the actor that portrayed Freddy was pretty good if recall correctly.

 So, my challenge to everyone reading this is to find a copy of this video!  Someone has to have an old VHS recording of it somewhere!   If you find a link to a copy of this video, please let me know.  Until then, here is the audio of the song so you can at least listen to it if you haven't heard it in a while.  It's a really fun song!

Blu-ray Review: SYMPTOMS (1974)

SYMPTOMS
Directed by José Ramón Larraz
Distributed by Mondo Macabro / CAV Distributing

  One of my favorite film labels is Mondo Macabro.  They have some of the best releases out there...most of which are very obscure films you might have never heard of before being released by Mondo.   Such is the case with one of their newest releases, SYMPTOMS.  I had never heard or seen anything of this film before getting this new Blu-ray.  I knew nothing about it going in, which is a good thing in my opinion.   Here is the basic plot of the film courtesy of the CAV Distributing website:

  A dark and haunting study in psychological horror, Symptoms takes us deep into the twisted mind of a damaged girl.
  Helen, who lives alone, invites her new friend Anne to stay with her in a lonely house, lost in the English countryside. The house, the woods that surround it and the figures fleetingly glimpsed through its windows, all seem imbued with a deep sense of mystery. Helen appears to be hiding a secret and the more Anne tries to uncover it, the deeper she is pulled into its dark heart.
  Symptoms was the official UK entry to the Cannes film festival in 1974 and was highly praised at the time. Subsequently the film sank into obscurity and was recently listed as one of the UK’s top 75 “lost films”. This release, taken from the original negative and fully restored, brings this quiet masterpiece back into view, where it can now be appreciated as one of the most under rated films of the 1970s.

  I have to start out by warning you that this is a very slow moving film.  It is not action packed by any means, and there is no gore or real violence.  SYMPTOMS is a very different horror film, one that a lot of people might not be used to.  It's more of an artsy, atmospheric film.  It is very eerie and moody, and just gives you a tense feeling throughout the entire film.  While I am usually blown away with most of Mondo Macabro's releases, I am on the fence with this one.  I didn't dislike it by any means, but it was definitely not one of my favorite films that they have released.  It's somewhere in the middle for me.

  Now, I do have to say that the special features that Mondo has included on this release is reason enough to own the Blu-ray.  The documentary on director Jose Larraz was very entertaining and informative, which was great considering I knew very little about this director before viewing this doc.    Check it out for yourself and see what you think.

SYMPTOMS is out now from Mondo Macabro and CAV Distributing and contains the following special features:

*  On Vampyres and Other Symptoms - documentary about Jose Larraz directed by Celia Novis;
*  Eurotika! - documentary about director Jose Larraz
*  Interview with Angela Pleasence
*  Interview with Lorna Heilbron.
*  Interview with editor Brian Smedley-Aston
*  Mondo Macabro previews
*  Specially commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx


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

 

Pre-order Shout Factory's upcoming THE THING [Deluxe Limited Edition] Blu-ray!

 

 It was just announced that Shout Factory is releasing a limited edition Blu-ray of John Carpenter's THE THING!  Right now you can get the website exclusive Deluxe Edition which features a 2nd slip case with alternative cover art and two posters featuring the new cover art.  This set is limited to only 1,500 copies!  You can pre-order your copy now by clicking HERE.

  Shout Factory has done an amazing job with this release.  It includes tons of special features including"

*  NEW 2K Scan Of The Interpositive Supervised And Approved By Director Of Photography Dean Cundey
*  NEW 4.1 Audio Mix Created From The Original 70MM Six Track Dolby Stereo Soundtrack
*  NEW Audio Commentary With Director Of Photography Dean Cundey
*  Audio Commentary By Director John Carpenter And Actor Kurt Russell
*  NEW The Men Of Outpost 31 – Interviews With Keith David, Thomas Waites, Peter Maloney And More…
*  NEW Assembling And Assimilation – An Interview With Editor Todd Ramsay
*  NEW Behind The Chameleon – Interviews With Visual Effects Artists Peter Kuran And Susan Turner, Special Make-up Effects Artist Rob Burman And Brian Wade And More…
*  NEW Sounds From The Cold – Interviews With Supervising Sound Editor David Lewis Yewdall And Special Sound Effects Designer Alan Howarth
*  NEW Between The Lines – An Interview With Novelization Author Alan Dean Foster
*  John Carpenter's The Thing: Terror Takes Shape – A Documentary On The Making Of THE THING Featuring Interviews With John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, Special Effects Make-up Designer Rob Bottin, Matte Artist Albert Whitlock And More! (80 minutes – SD)
*  Outtakes (5 minutes – SD)
*  Vintage Featurettes From The Electronic Press Kit Featuring Interviews With John Carpenter, Kurt Russell And Rob Bottin (12 minutes – SD)
*  Vintage Featurettes – The Making Of A Chilling Tale And The Making Of THE THING (1982 – 14 minutes – SD)
*  Vintage Product Reel – Contains A Promotional Condensed Version Of The Film With Additional Footage Not In The Film (19 minutes – SD)
*  Vintage Behind-The-Scenes Footage (2 minutes – SD)
*  Annotated Production Archive – Production Art And Storyboards, Location Scouting, Special Make-up Effects, Post Production (48 minutes – SD)
*  Network TV Broadcast Version Of THE THING (92 minutes – SD)
*  Teaser Trailer
*  Theatrical Trailers (U.S. And German)
*  TV Spots
*  Radio Spots
*  Still Gallery (Behind-The-Scenes Photos, Posters And Lobby Cards)
*  And Still More To Be Added!

 That is quite a list!  I'm sure a regular version will be available at some point, but I'd grab  a copy of this limited edition set while you can!

Get ready for a new Horror film label, REEL GORE RELEASING!

   
















   Horror fans will be happy to hear about a brand new Horror movie releasing label coming soon called REEL GORE RELEASING!   This sounds like we are in store for some amazing releases from this new label.  Read all the details in the press release below:

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NEW LABEL LAUNCH: REEL GORE RELEASING

 Los Angeles, CA (June 2016) 

For immediate release. Cult Epics founder Nico B and film producer Steve Aquilina will be launching a new horror label REEL GORE RELEASING as of August 2016, distributed thru CAV (home of Cult Epics, Synapse, Grindhouse) in North America. With the recent success of the horror films of Jorg Buttgereit (Nekromantik) and Angst, Nico B teamed up with Steve Aquilina from 8-Films to launch a new label for newly produced gore horror films to premiere on video and digital. The first three films are VIOLENT SHIT – THE MOVIE (August 2016), a bigger budget revamp of the cult-schlock-gore classics from the 80s, shot in Italy featuring a soundtrack by Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin; followed by MASKS (September 2016), German giallo gore feast from the director Andreas Marschall (Tears of Kali, German Angst), and the return to directing of Luigi Cozzi (Contamination) with BLOOD ON MELIES’ MOON (October 2016) with guest appearances by Dario Argento & Lamberto Bava. For more info see www.reelgorereleasing.com and join us for updates at www.facebook.com/reelgorereleasing and www.twitter.com/reelgoremovies

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  Be sure to like the Facebook page and follow them on Twitter for updates!   I'll also try to bring you any updates I can here on the 4H blog!

Blu-ray Review: SORCERESS (1995)

SORCERESS
Directed by Jim Wynorski
Distributed by  Synapse Films / CAV Distributing

  I love coming across a horror movie I have never seen or even heard about.   I like to think I'm "in the know" on most horror films, but I find out everyday there are films that have just missed me somehow.  This is one of those films.  Synapse Films has released the 1995 film SORCERESS to DVD and Blu-ray.   Here is the basic plot synopsis from the Synapse Films website:

  Larry Barnes (Larry Poindexter) is on the fast track to a partnership in a prestigious law firm, and his sexy witch wife Erica (Julie Strain, HEAVY METAL 2000) will do anything to keep her husband happy. But Erica makes a fatal mistake when she tries to kill Larry’s main competition for the partnership, Howard Reynolds (Edward Albert, GALAXY OF TERROR). With Howard now crippled for life from Erica’s dark magic, his wife Amelia (Linda Blair, THE EXORCIST) plots her revenge. Using witchcraft and a mystical medallion, Amelia tries to destroy everyone and everything in Larry’s life!
  All the pleasures of the flesh and malevolence of black magic collide in this newly remastered and uncensored version of Jim Wynorski’s SORCERESS (aka TEMPTRESS). Presented for the first time ever from a new 2K scan of the original uncut film element, this release features sex scene footage and additional nudity removed from the original release.

  I had no clue what to expect going into this film. What I got was a fun film full of witchcraft and tons of nudity.  What else would you expect from a film like this?!   This film feels like a typical 80's horror film.  I actually find it hard to believe it was made in 1995.  I would more easily believe this was made in 1985.  Everything about this film screamed 1980's to me, especially the hair and wardrobes of some of the main actors and actresses.
 
  Speaking of the actresses, this movie has some of the most beautiful actresses you will see in a film, and pretty much every single one of them has a nude scene (or multiple nude scenes) throughout the film.  I normally don't mention much about the nudity in films, but this film just had so much of it that a review would not be complete without mentioning it.  It basically feels like you're watching a movie on Cinemax or some other pay channel late at night. This is definitely not a film you want the kids around while watching!

  Other than the nudity, the film was actually pretty tame by today's standards in term of violence/gore. Most violence comes from people being shot, and there is no real gore to speak of in this film.

  While some may be disappointed in the gore/scare factor, or lack thereof,  I think everyone would have to admit they enjoyed watching this film.  If you haven't seen it yet, check it out for sure.  

  SORCERESS will be released on June 14th from Synapse Films and CAV Distributing.


CLICK HERE to pre-order the DVD
CLICK HERE to pre-order the Blu-ray