This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, January 31st

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 1/31:

*  AT MIDNIGHT I'll TAKE YOUR SOUL  [DVD]
*  BLOOD MANIA / POINT OF TERROR double feature [Vinegar Syndrome BD]
*  THE COFFIN JOE TRILOGY [DVD]
*  DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE  [Vinegar Syndrome BD]
*  LAIR OF THE WHITE WORM  [BD]
*  LOVE CAMP 7  [Blue Underground BD]
*  THIS NIGHT I'LL POSSESS YOUR CORPSE  [DVD]
*  PARENTS  [BD]
*  POLTERGEIST II  [Scream Factory BD]
*  POLTERGEIST III  [Scream Factory BD]
*  WAX MASK  [BD]

Blu-ray Review: DEATH RACE 2050 (2017)

DEATH RACE 2050
Directed by  G.J. Echternkamp
Distributed by:  Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

 Very seldom do I come across a sequel to a film that really captures the look, feel, and atmosphere of the original...especially a sequel that came out over 40 years after the original film.  That is just what DEATH RACE 2050 has succeeded in doing, though.

  Here is the basic plot from the Universal Home Entertainment website:

  Legendary filmmaking icon, Roger Corman, is back with his most outrageous film yet in this sensational, action-packed and darkly humorous reboot of the original Death Race 2000! It’s the year 2050 and America is controlled by an all-powerful corporate government ruled by The Chairman (Malcolm McDowell). The masses have been brainwashed with violent virtual-reality entertainment. The event of the year is the Death Race, in which a motley crew of violent drivers compete in a cross-country road race, scoring points for shamelessly running people over and driving each other off the road. The reigning champion and fan favorite, Frankenstein (Manu Bennett), who’s half-man half-machine, wants to take the crown, but his rebel spy co-pilot threatens his legacy.

 There is no doubt that this is a sequel to Roger Corman's DEATH RACE 2000.  It has the exact look of the original film with the crazy cars and even features the comically sped up footage of the race cars like the original film had.  The cars look about as futuristic as the ones in the original DEATH RACE 2000 which I found surprisingly satisfying.  The cars and the film overall have the exact same campy feel as the original film.

  The film also contains the awesome kills you would expect, including some that are pretty gory, like a guy getting sliced in half.  My only fault with this is most of the gore scenes are CGI, and don't look very realistic at all.   That doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the film, though, in fact it goes right along with the campiness of the rest of the film.

  Overall the acting in this film is excellent, with one of my favorite performances being that of the character, Perfectus, played by Burt Grinstead.   While at first I found the character somewhat annoying, he really grew on me and later became one of the highlights of the film for me.

  If you are a fan of Roger Corman's original DEATH RACE 2000, you should love this new film.   DEATH RACE 2050 is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Universal Home Entertainment and contains the following special features:

*  The Making of Roger Corman's DEATH RACE 2050
*  The Look of 2050
*  Cars!Cars!Cars!
*  Cast Car Tours
*  Deleted Scenes


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

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, January 24th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 1/24:

*  BLOOD RAGE  [Arrow BD]
*  INFERNO  [DVD & BD]
*  THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH  [DVD/BD Combo]
*  THE MONSTER  [DVD & BD]
*  WAIT UNTIL DARK  [BD]

Blu-ray Review: THE ORPHAN KILLER (2011)

THE ORPHAN KILLER
Written & Directed by  Matt Farnsworth
Distributed by Reel Gore Releasing

  I was happy to see that the fine folks over at Reel Gore Releasing got their hands on this film.  THE ORPHAN KILLER is well deserving of a wide release, and I really can't believe it's taken this long!  The film came out back in 2011, and I actually reviewed the film way back then after getting a screener copy direct from the director Matt Farnsworth.    I watched the film a few nights ago and it was every bit as good as I remember from seeing it 6 years ago.  I went back and read the review I did back then and it was spot on.  No need to say the same thing twice, so here is my review I did of the film from back in 2011 reprinted here with just a few small changes....enjoy!

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  If you haven't run across a mention of THE ORPHAN KILLER on facebook, I would be very surprised.  I have seen many horror fans talking about this film online (esp. on facebook) and I finally got a chance to see what everyone was talking about.  THE ORPHAN KILLER has been hyped up to be a "New Horror Icon"...well, I had  my doubts to be honest, that is a huge statement to live up to.  Luckily, I was not disappointed in any way and I have to agree that THE ORPHAN KILLER is here to stay, and could someday be seen along the likes of Jason, Freddy, and Leatherface when it comes to discussions about the greatest horror movie killers. Before I go any further, here is the basic plot synopsis from imdb.com:

The Orphan Killer is a tour de force murder flick that defies classification. It goes far beyond current trends in gore and breaks open a new suffering genre of horror. Marcus Miller is a serial murderer hellbent on teaching his estranged sister Audrey what it means to have family loyalty. His lessons are taught in massive doses of vulgar and unimaginable pain. Throughout her brutal torture we learn that Marcus is not the only Miller with Killer in the bloodline as Audrey proves to be a formidable adversary.

   Ok, lets get the technical aspects out of the way first.  The film was shot very well and looked crystal clear on my Blu-ray edition of the film.  The cinematography for this film is amazing for a lower budget film such as this.  The acting in this film was excellent as well, especially that of Diane Foster who plays Audrey.   She very convincingly portrays real terror while she is in her torture scenes.   

 The film is timed perfectly, and director Matt Farnsworth packs a lot of action into the film's quick 84 minute run time.   There are never any slow or dull moments in this film.  It is non stop brutal action from the time you hit play until the time the credits role.  The back story of the killer is explained nicely through a series of flashbacks to when Marcus and Audrey were kids in the orphanage. This was a cool way to see why Marcus is the killer he is today.

   Ok, now on to the good stuff....the plot synopsis tells you that the film "goes far beyond current trends in gore".  That my friends, is a major understatement.   The gore in this film is over the top and goes far beyond what we are used to seeing in today's "gore" films.   Some of these effects could make Tom Savini proud!  You will know what I am talking about when you see the machete to the face scene.....grisly, grotesque, and just amazingly well done.  The blood flows freely in this film, so you gore hounds will not be disappointed in any way!   
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  Well, there ya go!  I couldn't have said it better myself! Wait, nevermind!  Ha!   THE ORPHAN KILLER is available now from Reel Gore Releasing and includes the following special features:

*  BEHIND THE MURDER - Exclusive Video Diary
*  Teaser
*  Trailer
*  Music Clip
*  Slideshow


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

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, January 17th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 1/17:

*  24 HOURS TO DIE
*  BUBBA:  THE REDNECK WEREWOLF  [DVD]
*  DEATH RACE 2050  [DVD & BD]
*  THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN  [DVD/BD combo]
*  LAUNDRY MAN  [DVD & BD]
*  MOUNTAIN DEVIL  [DVD]
*  NORMAL  [DVD]
*  OUIJA:  ORIGIN OF EVIL  [DVD & BD]
*  REVENGE OF THE BLOOD BEAST  [BD]
*  SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II / III Double Feature [BD]
*  SNUFF TAPE ANTHOLOGY
*  SPACE CLOWN  [DVD]
*  TRAIN TO BUSAN  [DVD & BD]
*   WOLF HOUSE  [DVD]

Blu-ray Review: MARVELOUS MANDY (2016)

MARVELOUS MANDY
Dirtected by:   Chase Dudley           
Produced/Distributed by:  A Cut 2 The Chase Productions

  I always like checking out new independent horror films.  A lot of them can be somewhat of a letdown, but every now and then you can happen across one that is a true gem!  Such is the case with Director Chase Dudley's latest film, MARVELOUS MANDY!  Here is the basic plot from the film's imdb.com website:

  Down-on-his-luck single dad Harvey Fowler gets a much needed boost when he meets children's author Mandy Simpkins, author of the Marvelous Mandy storybooks that his daughter loves. Their beautifully vivacious relationship seems like it couldn't get any more perfect, until Harvey gains some disturbing insights into her fractured mental state. When cracks start to show through her dreamlike personality, Harvey learns who she really is- and just how vicious she'll become to maintain the illusion of her perfect life.

  So I need to start out by saying this isn't a true horror film, but more of a suspense/thriller.  Although there are a few bloody/gory scenes that rival anything you've seen in a horror film lately!
The movie is more of a dark "Fatal Attraction" type film, with the character of Harvey falling for what he thinks is an amazing woman, only to find out she is not the woman of his dreams as he first thought, but more like the woman of this nightmares!

  I have to admit, when I started the film and saw the running time of 145 minutes, I told myself one thing I will have to write in my review is how long it was and that it should have been edited down a bit and made a more typical 90 -100 minute film.  After watching the film in it's entirety,  I have to admit I was wrong.  The film did not seem that long at all to me while watching it, and it kept me thoroughly entertained the entire running time.   Now there were some slower parts, but they were important to building the character of Mandy so you really get to know who she is...or isn't.

  I mentioned the blood/gore above, so I know you horror fans are wondering about that, I don't want to give too much away, but there were a couple of scenes were the blood really flowed and looked extremely realistic.  

  MARVELOUS MANDY is a very smart, well-made thriller that I highly recommend.  It is low budget, so keep that in mind when watching.   My only complaint was the video quality of the film, as a better camera would have made for a crisper screen image, but the movie itself is very well done with a great story, great characters, and a great plot twist.   The acting overall is very good, but the character of Mandy (played by Paula Marcenaro Solinger) was especially well done I thought.  She could go from a fun, sweet, charming woman to a complete psychopath in a matter of minutes.  She showed quite the acting range in this film.  

  MARVELOUS MANDY is available now on Blu-ray.   I highly recommend this one!


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray from the film's website
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon.com

 

Watch the new trailer for THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS

 Entertainment Weekly recently posted an exclusive new trailer for the highly acclaimed upcoming zombie film, THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS.  If you have not seen the trailer yet, do yourself a favor and watch it now!  Here is the basic plot of the film from the film's imdb.com page:

  In a dystopian near future, humanity has been ravaged by a mysterious fungal disease. The afflicted are robbed of all free will and turned into flesh-eating 'hungries'. Humankind's only hope is a small group of hybrid children who crave human flesh but retain the ability to think and feel. The children go to school at an army base in rural Britain, where they're subjected to cruel experiments by Dr. Caroline Caldwell (Glenn Close). School teacher Helen Justineau (Gemma Arterton) grows particularly close to an exceptional girl named Melanie (Sennia Nanua), thus forming a special bond. But when the base is invaded, the trio escape with the assistance of Sgt. Eddie Parks (Paddy Considine) and embark on a perilous journey of survival, during which Melanie must come to terms with who she is.

 Per the EW article, The Girl with All the Gifts can be seen exclusively on DirecTV from Jan. 26. Saban Films will then premiere the film in theaters on Feb. 24, when it will also be released on demand.

CLICK HERE to go to the EW article and watch the trailer

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, January 10th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 1/10:

*  B.C. BUTCHER  [BD]
*  DEAD OF WINTER  [BD]
*  HONKY HOLOCAUST  [BD]
*  MURDERLUST [DVD]
*  THE SUMMONING  [BD]
*  THE SURVIVOR  [DVD & BD]
*  UNDER THE SHADOW  [DVD]

It's Paul Blart vs. Dawn of the Dead!!

  Ha!  I love when people take trailers to comedy films and re-mix them into horror trailers.  This time around the folks at Digital Spectrum Studios have mixed together scenes from PAUL BLART:  MALL COP with scenes from 2004's DAWN OF THE DEAD remake.   Looks like these zombies wouldn't stand a chance if they invaded Officer Blart's mall!  

Check out the trailer and let me know what you think!

Blu-ray Review: THE HILLS HAVE EYES (1977)

THE HILLS HAVE EYES
Written & Directed by Wes Craven
Distributed by Arrow Films / MVD Entertainment Group

  I have seen this film before, but it has been years!  I really didn't remember much about it, so I was excited to see that Arrow Video and MVD were releasing this one to Blu-ray.
It was a nice chance to check the film out again since it had been so long.   Here is the basic plot from the MVD website:

THE LUCKY ONES DIED FIRST... Horror master Wes Craven achieved critical and commercial success with the likes of Scream and A Nightmare on Elm Street - but for many genre fans, the director's seminal 1977 effort The Hills Have Eyes remains his masterpiece. Taking a detour whilst on route to Los Angeles, the Carter family run into trouble when their campervan breaks down in the middle of the desert. Stranded, the family find themselves at the mercy of a group of monstrous cannibals lurking in the surrounding hills. With their lives under threat, the Carters are forced to fight back by any means necessary. As grueling a viewing experience today as it was upon initial release, The Hills Have Eyes stands alongside the likes of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Night of the Living Dead as one of the defining moments in American horror cinema.

  Putting a film into the same ranks as THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is pretty bold, but I can honestly say that this film definitely deserves a spot right along side those films.  It is a true classic of horror cinema.   I'm sure most horror fans have seen this one, so I won't go into the film too much, but I have to brag on Arrow's release of this film.  

  The Blu-ray transfer is amazing on this new release.  The picture is extremely crisp/clear.   The addition of the alternate ending was a nice touch as well.   I forgot how intense this film is.  It is very brutal and has moments that are very shocking and suspenseful, especially when the group of cannibals steals the family's baby.  Michael Berryman plays one of the cannibals and was a perfect fit for this role.   This is one of Wes Craven's finest films for sure.   Definitely in my top 5 of his films.

  Most all of Arrow's blu's have great packaging, but THE HILLS HAS EYES gets the Deluxe box treatment complete with a 40 page book and foldout poster!  It is a beautiful set that is very deserving of a place in your collection.  This one is well worth the upgrade to Blu-ray if you have the original DVD.

THE HILLS HAVE EYES is available now from Arrow Video and MVD and is packed with tons of special features including the following:

*  Brand new 4K restoration from original film elements, supervised by producer Peter Locke
*  High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
*  Original mono audio
*  Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
*  6 Postcards
*  Reversible fold-out poster featuring new and original artwork
*  Limited edition booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Brad Stevens and a consideration of the Hills franchise by Ewan Cant, illustrated with original archive stills
*  Audio commentary with Wes Craven and Peter Locke
*  Looking Back on The Hills Have Eyes - making-of documentary featuring interviews with Craven, Locke, actors Michael Berryman, Dee Wallace, Janus Blythe, Robert Houston, Susan Lanier and director of photography Eric Saarinen
*  The Desert Sessions - brand new interview with composer Don Peake
*  Alternate ending, in HD for the first time
*  Trailers and TV Spots
*  Image Gallery
*  Original Screenplay (BD/DVD-ROM Content)
*  Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Paul Shipper
*  Limited to 10,000 units for the USA


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

 

 

 

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, January 3rd

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 1/3:

*  2 LAVA 2 LANTULA  [DVD]
*  AMERICAN BEAST  [DVD]
*  BLAIR WITCH  [DVD & DVD/BD combo]
*  OUIJA 3  [DVD]
*  ZOMBIE MASSACRE 2:  REICH OF THE DEAD  [DVD]