Blu-ray Review: DINNER WITH LEATHERFACE (2024)

 

DINNER WITH LEATHERFACE

Written & Directed by:  Michael Kallio

Distributed by:  Anchor Bay Entertainment  / MVD Entertainment

  I had the honor of meeting Gunnar Hansen many years ago at Texas Frightmare Weekend, the annual Horror Movie Convention I attend each year in the Dallas area.   He was a very kind, soft spoken man, and I remember thinking how crazy it was that he was the actor that portrayed the character of Leatherface in the 1974 film, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE.    He was so kind and polite, and made time for all his fans lined up to see him.   This is a documentary about Mr. Hansen, as told through first hand accounts of actors and crew that worked with him over the years. 

Here is a brief description of the film from IMDb.com:

Documentary about Gunnar Hansen, the actor who portrayed Leatherface in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974). Friends, colleagues, filmmakers, and fellow actors share personal stories and discuss the dichotomy between the maniacal chainsaw-wielding character he played on-screen and the very intelligent, creative, soft-spoken man he actually was in real life.

 I love horror movie documentaries, and this was a great one to get the honor of reviewing.   DINNER WITH LEATHERFACE touches briefly on Mr. Hansen's background with him being born in Reykjavik, Iceland, and then moving to the U.S. at the age of 5.   He went to the University of Texas an majored in English and Mathematics.  He worked as a computer operator right out of college and took the role in THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE just to make some extra money during the summer.   I'm sure he thought he'd go right back to his computer operator job, but little did he know the film would be such a hit and would lead him down the road of movie making!   I often wonder while filming if any of the cast/crew had any idea just what exactly they were creating.   THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE is my favorite horror film of all time, and is widely considered one of the best horror films ever made.   It still holds up today, and is just as scary when I watch it now as it was the first time I saw it.   This is undoubtedly largely due to Mr. Hansen's amazing portrayal of Leatherface!

 As I mentioned before, this is basically a set of interviews from some actors and filmmakers that worked directly with Mr. Hansen and they just recount the times they shared with him.  You can tell from all the interviews that he made a deep impact on everyone he worked with.  He was truly loved by all!   

  Interviewees include  Barbara Crampton, Bruce Campbell, Edwin Neal, Kane Hodder, Felissa Rose, Michelle Bauer, Tiffany Shepis, Debbie Rochon, Fred Olen Ray, Betsy Baker, Allen Danziger, Kim Henkel, William Vail, and many more!   

 This was a very touching tribute to Gunner Hansen and is a must see for all his fans!

DINNER WITH LEATHERFACE is available now from Anchor Bay Entertainment and contains the following Special Features:

 *  Audio commentary with writer/director Michael Kallio and editor Josh Wagner

 

 *  Extended Interview with filmmaker and historian MIchael Felsher

 *  Extended interview with fimmaker Jeff Burr

 

 *  Convention Chat with actress Danielle Harris

 

 *  Southern Hospitality Trailer - 2022 Remastered, Recut, HD

 *  Tales of Gunner Hansen

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-Ray

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

Blu-ray Review: LOST AFTER DARK (2014)

LOST AFTER DARK
Directed by Ian Kessner
Distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment

  If you are a fan of slasher films, I have a feeling you would agree that the best slasher flicks came out back in the 1980's.  Apparently director Ian Kessner  realizes this as well, as he has turned back the clock and made his very own 1980's slasher film!   Here is the basic plot of LOST AFTER DARK courtesy of the Anchor Bay website:

  Spring Ball, 1984.  Adrienne (Kendra Timmins, Midnight Sun, "Wingin' It"), a straight-A student, joins her quarterback crush Sean (Justin Kelly, Maps To The Stars, Big Muddy) and some friends in sneaking out of their high school dance for some unsupervised mayhem.  The teens' party plans hit a snag when they run out of gas on a deserted road.  They head out on foot and discover a rundown farmhouse where they hope to find help, but instead find themselves at the mercy of Junior Joad (Mark Wiebe, Sweet Karma), a cannibal killer from an urban legend. After the brutal murder of one of their friends, the group's quest for help becomes one of survival. Will anyone survive the night?

  If you think they don't make good slasher films these days, think again.  I for one am getting very bored with all the possession and paranormal horror films that have been dominating the horror genre for the last few years.  I miss the good 'ol slasher films from my childhood growing up in the 80's.    Luckily, thanks to LOST AFTER DARK you can re-visit the glory days of the slasher film.  

  The filmmakers did a remarkable job getting the 80's feel to the film.   I loved all the clothes, the hair, and even the girl on the bus playing with the Rubik's Cube!   I also liked the slight grainy look to the film, reminding you of the days of watching films at the theater that were not presented in a crisp, digital display.  But, don't think that the 80's setting and look is just a gimmick for this film.  The film itself is a very smart and stylish slasher flick, with some great kills and gore.  It would have stood on it's own as a great slasher film even if set in modern times.  I think the throwback to the 80's just added one more element of fun for this film.

  One thing to note for sure was the acting.  I thought most all of the actors did a great job. I especially liked seeing Robert Patrick  as the tough guy principle.  

  I highly recommend this one.  LOST AFTER DARK is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Anchor Bay Entertainment.


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

Blu-ray Review: MUCK (2015)

MUCK
Written & Directed by Steve Wolsh
Distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment

  Wow!  That is all I can say after watching the film MUCK.  I had heard nothing about this film going into it, so I had no clue what to expect.  This film blew me away and had me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning.   Here is the basic plot from the Anchor Bay website:

  This throwback horror film just raised the hacked-up bar: Horror legend Kane Hodder andPlayboy Playmate of the Year 2012 Jaclyn Swedberg star in this scary, sexy, indie shocker that joins a group of friends just as they emerge from the thick, murky darkness of the marshes tattered, bloody, and lucky to be alive. But they will soon find out that the lucky ones are already dead. Muck is packed with old-school gore effects and brutal stunts, without any CGI or apologies. Lachlan Buchanan (“Pretty Little Liars”) co-stars in writer/director Steve Wolsh’s searing directorial debut that unfolds like a blood-stained love letter to horror fanatics everywhere!

  I am going to go on record that MUCK is one of the best horror films in that last 10 years.  I honestly can't remember when I enjoyed a movie this much.  I have nothing but good things to say about this one.   What really amazes me is that this is the directorial debut of Steve Wolsh.  Mr. Wolsh has set the bar extremely high for his next films! 

  The acting in this movie is superb.  There is not a single bad actor in the entire film, which is pretty rare to find these days.   Most everyone in this film were actors I had never seen nor heard of before (other thane Kane Hodder, of course, that actually had a very small role).  I think we will be seeing a lot more of everyone involved in this film. 

  Another great thing about this film were the effects.  Everything was practical effects, no CGI at all which is the way all horror movies should be in my opinion!  

  Also, as dark, scary, and gory as this film is....it also contains tons of humor.  Lots of tongue-in-cheek humor and horror movie clichés. A lot of times when you try to mix real horror with humor, you don't get good results.  With this film, though, the filmmakers created a perfect blend of humor and horror.   The movie has a SCREAM like vibe to it with all the horror movie references and clichés, but on a much darker level.  Think SCREAM if it was actually scary and a real horror film more than the comedy than it is. 

  I highly recommend MUCK to all horror fans.   This is one  that you need to stop what you're doing and go get your hands on a copy of this immediately.   MUCK is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Anchor Bay Entertainment. 


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
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Blu-ray Review: THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON

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

  There is really not much I have to say about THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 4.  If you are a fan of the show, you have seen the episodes by now.   But, even if you've seen all the episodes of Season 4, you will want to pick up the DVD/Blu-ray release of THE WALKING DEAD Season 4 from Anchor Bay for sure!

 First off, this is one of the greatest TV shows ever made.  I truly believe that.  Watching this show is like watching one of the best zombie movies you will ever see every Sunday night.  You will want to have these on DVD or Blu-ray so you can revisit this show someday when it is eventually off the air.   This is one show you will want to show your kids someday. 

  Second off, you will want to get this box set for all the great special features!  Anchor Bay always does a great job with THE WALKING DEAD season releases, and Season 4 is no exception.   This set is packed with Featurettes including:

*  Inside The Walking Dead
*  The Making of  THE WALKING DEAD
*  Drawing Inspiration
*  Hershel
*  The Governor Is Back
*  Society, Science, & Survival
*  Inside KNB EFX
*  A Journey Back To Brutality

Also included are Audio Commentaries on Episodes 1, 5, 9, 12, &14 and Extended Episodes for episodes 9, 14, & 16 as well as Deleted Scenes!

  New episodes of THE WALKING DEAD start Sunday night, October 12th at 9/8 Central.


CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

Blu-ray review: THE DEAD 2

THE DEAD 2
Written & Directed by:  Howard J. Ford and Jonathan Ford
Distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment

  Three years ago I wrote a review of the Ford Brothers zombie film, THE DEAD.  You can read that review here.  THE DEAD was one of the best zombie films I have ever seen.  I loved every second of that film.   I was very excited to hear that they were making a sequel.   As you know, most sequels are never as good as the original film, but I am happy to report that THE DEAD 2 is just as good as the first.   In fact, it is almost a carbon copy of the first film, with different characters in a different location, but as good as the first film was, I was fine with "more of the same". 
Here is the basic plot of the film from the film's official press release:

A ship docks fresh from Somalia which contains one infected worker that passes unnoticed into the very heart of India’s overpopulated bustling streets, setting off an unstoppable chain of events. Meanwhile, American turbine engineer Nicholas Burton (Joseph Millson, Casino Royale) is working in the stark yet tranquil Indian countryside when he receives a call from his love Ishani (Meenu), a local girl who lives on the outskirts of the slums of Mumbai and who has hidden their relationship from her tradition-minded father. She reveals she is now pregnant and scared for her life as chaos and terror have taken ahold of the cities as the dead return to life and attack the living.  Nicholas has to battle his way across their 300 mile landscape filled with flesh-eating – and infectious – undead.  With the help of young street kid Javed (Anand Goyal), he has to rely on his wits and sheer brute force to try and save them all, as the clock ticks off the minutes before the last flight out of a living hell...

 

  I have read some reviews of this film with complaints that this film was too similar to the first.  As I stated before that is true, but my answer to that is that I didn't want the first movie to end. It was just that good.  So for me, I had no problem with this sequel being like the first film.  I think that is why so many sequels don't work, because the filmmakers try to be drastically different in their approach to the second film.   Sticking with what worked the first time seems to work, an example that comes to mind is EVIL DEAD 2.   That was a film that was better than the original, but was basically a remake of the first film. 

 

  If you saw THE DEAD, then you know exactly what to expect from THE DEAD 2.   It is more of the best zombie mayhem you will see in most zombie movies these days.    The story is simple, yet interesting enough to keep you entertained the entire running time.  The cinematography of this film is amazing as well.  Just like the first film which took place in Africa, the scenery in this film now set in India was breathtaking at times.   Great camera angles and camerawork are a nice addition to what is already a great film.

 

  THE DEAD 2 is available now on DVD and Blu-ray.  I highly recommend you check this one out!  Special Features include:

 

*  Deleted Scenes

*  The Making of THE DEAD 2

 

 

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blu-ray Review: RETURN TO NUKE 'EM HIGH: VOLUME 1

RETURN TO NUKE 'EM HIGH:  VOLUME 1
Directed by Lloyd Kaufman
Distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment

  I can't tell you how happy I am to have seen this film.  I grew up loving Troma movies, they were great back in the 80s and 90's.   But there haven't been any good original Troma movies in quite some time in my opinion.  Troma hasn't put out on original movie in years.  Now they put out tons of DVD's each year, but they are just films that Troma has bought the rights to distribute....they aren't true Troma made films.   I grew up loving the TOXIC AVENGER films and films like SGT. KABUKIMAN N.Y.P.D.  I was extremely excited back in 2006 when a new Troma film was coming out.  That film was POULTRYGEIST:  NIGHT OF THE CHICKEN DEAD.   As excited as I was, I was a little let down by the film....it just didn't live up to the Troma standard I was used to.  Well, Troma is back with RETURN TO NUKE 'EM HIGH:  VOLUME 1, and I am proud to say that this is exactly what a Troma movie should be.  This feels like a Troma movie straight out of the 1980s when Troma was in it's prime.   Here is the plot synopsis from the RTNH official website:

  Quentin Tarantino has been a fan and friend of Troma for years, and when he made Kill Bill in two volumes to create an “Event Film,” Lloyd Kaufman took note. “Michael Herz and I decided that to mark Troma’s 40th year we, too, would produce an ‘Event Film’ in two volumes just like Quentin did,” says Kaufman, “except slightly less lavish in the budget area.” Return to Nuke ‘Em High: Vol. 1 & 2, directed by Lloyd Kaufman, is a hilarious, thoughtful sci-fi “Event Film” with themes ripped straight from today’s headlines: the contamination and degradation of the world’s food supply, rampant bullying, and LGBTQ love triumphing over prejudice and violence. The film, a revisiting of Troma’s 1986 Class of Nuke ‘Em High is in the same vein as other classics such as Class of 1984, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, and Carrie, but seen through the unique vision of Lloyd Kaufman and the Troma Team. Welcome to Tromaville High School where, unfortunately, the glee club has mutated into a vicious gang of Cretins. Chrissy and Lauren, two innocent lesbian lovers, must fight not only the Cretins, mutants and monsters but also the evil Tromorganic Foodstuffs Conglomerate. Can they and Kevin the Wonder Duck save Tromaville High School and the world?

  I honestly don't remember the last time I had this much fun watching a Troma film.  This movie had everything you would expect from a Troma film and more.  One great thing about this movie was the humor.  While some jokes did fall a little flat, most were laugh out loud hilarious.  The movie was well written and paced perfectly.  There were never any slow or dull moments throughout the film's run time. All the great Troma characters and stereotypes were present, but also present were some great young actresses who played the leads of Chrissy and Lauren.  I expect to see much more from these two actresses in the future.  Oh, and I couldn't do a review of a Troma horror film without mentioning the crazy, over-the-top gore. There is plenty of that on hand here, so gore hounds will not be disappointed!

  RETURN TO NUKE 'EM HIGH:  VOLUME 1 will be available on DVD and Blu-ray on March 18th from Anchor Bay Entertainment.  Special features include the following:

·         Audio Commentary with Actors Zac Amico, Clay von Carlowitz, Catherine Corcoran, Stuart Kiczek and Asta Parades;

·         Audio Commentary with Writer/Producer/Director Lloyd Kaufman, Producer Justin A. Martell, Executive Producer Matt Manjourides, Associate Producer Regina Katz and Writer Travis Campbell;

·         Casting Conundrum;

·         Pre-Production Hell with Mein-Kauf (Man);

·         Special (Ed) Effects;

·         Cell-U-Lloyd Kaufman: 40 Years of TROMAtising The World;

·         “Architects of Fear – Edison Device” Music Video

·         Return To Nuke ‘Em High, Vol. 2 trailer 

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

Blu-ray Review: ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE (2006)

 
ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE
Directed by Jonathan Levine
Distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment

  This is one film that I have been looking forward to seeing for years.   I heard about this movie years ago, and periodically there would be news of a DVD release date, but that date would come and go and the release kept being delayed.  Finally, ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE has been released by the great folks at Anchor Bay Entertainment!   I am happy to say, it was worth the wait!  This was one of the most enjoyable horror films I have seen this year!  Here is the basic plot of the film from the Anchor Bay website:

  Amber Heard (Machete Kills) stars as Mandy Lane, an untouchable Texas high-school beauty who is invited by her classmates to a weekend getaway at a secluded ranch. But as the sun goes down and the party rages on, the festivities take a disturbing turn. And for lovely Mandy Lane, a night of endless horror has just begun. Anson Mount (“Hell On Wheels”), Whitney Able (Monsters) and Michael Welch (The Twilight Saga) co-star in this acclaimed and controversial shocker from director Jonathan Levine (Warm Bodies).

  As I said before, this film was definitely worth the wait.  I really enjoyed this film for a number of reasons.  The main thing I loved about this film was the style of it.  It was shot very well and in a cool style, with some different scene fades, and some other shots I am not used to in a horror film.  It's hard for me to really describe, but you will see what I mean about the shooting style when you see it. 

  Another great thing about this film is the acting.  I thought it was done very well with not a weak actor in the group.   The story is one we have seen before  (kids go to a camp/cabin/whatever and get picked off one by one), but this film managed to bring a nice twist to this overly done plot theme.   I can't say I didn't see it coming, and you will most definitely figure out who the killer is before it is revealed, but there is still a nice twist at the end that you probably wont see coming.  

  I highly recommend this film for any fan of slasher flicks.  ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Anchor Bay Films, and includes Feature Commentary with Director Jonathan Levine.


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

Blu-ray review: THE LORDS OF SALEM

    
THE LORDS OF SALEM
Written & Directed by Rob Zombie
Distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment

 I know I am a little late on this review, but better late than never I guess.  THE LORDS OF SALEM is Rob Zombie's latest film which opened back in April of this year in limited theaters.  I didn't think I was going to be able to see this film in the theater, because it was not playing in any theaters around me at the time of it's release.  But a few weeks later, the next city over started playing it so I was able to go see it.   This film had been really hyped up, and being a huge fan of Rob Zombie's previous films, I was super excited to see this film.  Here is the basic plot of the film from the Anchor Bay website:

  It has been called “disturbing” (Los Angeles Times), “nerve-shattering” (Chicago Reader) and “Rob Zombie’s masterpiece” (Loudwire.com). From the nightmare mind of writer/director Rob Zombie comes the terrifying story of Salem, Massachusetts radio DJ Heidi LaRoc (Sheri Moon Zombie of THE DEVIL’S REJECTS) who receives a mysterious record labeled “a gift from The Lords”. But when Heidi plays the disc, its bizarre sounds will trigger visions of the town’s depraved past, release the darkness within her own damaged soul, and unleash the long-awaited vengeance of Satan himself. Bruce Davison (WILLARD) and a coven of genre legends co-star in this stunning witchcraft shocker that Beyond Hollywood calls “a full-on piece of satanic madness…

 I have to admit, when seeing the film in the theater, I was not blown away like I expected to be.  I didn't hate the film either, it seems as though I was just sort of on the fence about this one.  From reading other reviews it seems like you either loved it or hated it.  I was just indifferent to it upon first viewing.  I remember leaving the theater confused, and perplexed, wondering exactly what I had just seen.
 The film had it's pros and cons, and upon second viewing with the Anchor Bay Blu-ray release, I was able to find more pros than cons the second time around.   The movie was more enjoyable to me the second time around, maybe because I knew what to expect and I wasn't expecting a masterpiece like I was upon my first viewing.  I have to say that the acting in this film was excellent, especially from the seasoned veterans such as Bruce Davison, Dee Wallace, Meg Foster, and Patricia Quinn.  The film was also extremely good visually.  There are some very creepy visuals and a very good used of color in this film, reminiscent of the way color was used in Dario Argento's Three Mothers trilogy.

If you saw this film in the theater and felt a bit let down, I encourage you to give it a second viewing on home video.  THE LORDS OF SALEM is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Anchor Bay Entertainment.

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: THE BLACK WATERS OF ECHO'S POND

THE BLACK WATERS OF ECHO'S POND
Directed by Gabriel Bologna
Distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment

  It feels like it's been a while since my last film review!  With the packing, and moving, and then unpacking, and then the death of my old computer, I guess it has been a while since my last review post.  Well, I am happy to say I am starting back up with a good one!   The film is THE BLACK WATERS OF ECHO'S POND.  Here is the basic plot of the film from the Anchor Bay website:

  During a Turkish archaeological dig early last century, an ancient board game said to have entertained demons was unearthed. Now nearly 90 years later, a group of vacationing friends – including a cynic (Danielle Harris of HALLOWEEN), a rich jerk (James Duval DONNIEof  DARKO), a slutty starlet (Mircea Monroe of “Hart Of Dixie”), a jock (Nick Menell of FRIDAY THE 13TH) and prudish twin sisters (Electra & Elise Avellan of GRINDHOUSE) – discover the game hidden in an old house on a remote Maine island. And with a roll of the dice, their darkest secrets will unleash all the greed, jealously and lusts of Hell itself. Richard Tyson (BLACK HAWK DOWN) and Robert Patrick (TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY) co-star in this gory shocker that Horror.com calls “good ol’ fashioned horror movie fun!”

 This was a very fun film, but I do have to admit it is slow at times.  Stick with it though, because the ending is pretty brutal and contains a very cool plot twist.  The acting is mediocre, although Danielle Harris does a great job as always, and there is just something about the Avellan twins that I love, so they are always fun to watch.  
  The effects in this film are very good, and I am happy to report there is quite a bit of blood and gore in this movie, including an awesome chainsaw scene at the end! 
  Check this one out if you get the chance.  THE BLACK WATERS OF ECHO'S POND is available now on DVD and Blu-ray and includes an Alternate Opening  as the only special feature.


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

Blu-ray Review: BATTLE ROYALE: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION

  

BATTLE ROYALE: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
Directed by:  Kinji Fukasaku
Distributed by:  Anchor Bay Entertainment

 
 FINALLY!!   That is what I screamed when I heard that Anchor Bay was releasing BATTLE ROYALE 1 & 2 for the first time ever in North America!    If you have never seen these films, do yourself a favor and do so asap!   I had seen BATTLE ROYALE a couple of years ago, but I had never seen BATTLE ROYALE II:  REQUIEM until I watched it as part of the awesome complete collection set Anchor Bay has released. 

 The timing of this release is perfect, and intentional of course, due to the theatrical release of THE HUNGER GAMES, which a lot of people feel is a rip-off of BATTLE ROYALE.  I have not seen THE HUNGER GAMES yet, so I can't make that accusation, although the plots do sound very similar.

 BATTLE ROYALE is a about a Japanese society that has seen an increase in juvenile crime and over population.  To take care of both issues, the government has created Battle Royale, an annual game in which a random 9th grade class is selected to participate.  The rules are simple, kill or be killed.  The kids are taken to an island and are given a map and a weapon of some sort. They are to kill each other off any way they can until there is only one student left, who is declared the winner.

 This is one of my favorite Japanese films of all time.  It is beautifully shot with the island providing some very nice scenery.   The subject matter is pretty crazy and seeing kids kill kids is very unsettling and caused quite a stir upon the films initial release.   The acting in the film is very good from all involved, and I especially love how the teacher that runs the game delivers some of his lines.
The movie has some very violent scenes, especially those involving collars worn around the contestant's necks.  There are certain "danger zones" on the island and if you are in one of these danger zones at certain times, then the collar explodes, as does the wearer's neck!  The provides some excellent gore for sure.

BATTLE ROYALE II:  REQUIEM is a much different film than the first, but just as good I think in a different way.   The plot is similar to the first, except the government has changed the rules.  Now instead of killing each other, the kids must find and kill a terrorist living on an island intent on overthrowing the government and killing all adults for making the kids kill each other in the first film.
I won't tell you who the terrorist is as I don't want to give anything away if you haven't seen the first film.

BATTLE ROYALE II is more like a war movie than the first film.  In fact, it reminded me of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN but with kids at some points.   My buddy Scott from The Shattered Ravings blog compared it to BLACK HAWK DOWN which I can definitely see as well.   As with most any war film, BR2 is very bloody and action packed.  This is a great sequel and continues the story perfectly.   The basic concept from the first film is still there, but it is different enough where it doesn't feel like they made it for no reason other than make more money based on the recognizable BATTLE ROYALE title. 

BATTLE ROYALE:  THE COMPLETE COLLECTION is available now, along with a single disc version of just the first film on DVD or Blu-ray.    I highly suggest you get the complete collection, though, as you will definitely want to check out part 2.  Also, the complete collection comes with a 4th disc full of the following special features:


*  Audition & Rehearsal Footage
*  Special Effects Comparison Featurette
*  The Making of Battle Royale
*  Original Theatrical Trailer
*  Basketball Scene Rehearsals
*  Special Edition TV Spot
*  Behind-The-Scenes Featurette
*  Battle Royale Press Conference
*  TV Spot: Tarantino Version
*  Tokyo International Film Festival 2000
*  Filming On-Set
*  Battle Royale Documentary
*  Instructional Video: Birthday Version

This is must own DVD/Blu-ray set in my opinion.   Get your hands on a copy of this one as
soon as possible!

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for BATTLE ROYALE
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for BATTLE ROYALE II:  REQUIEM
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray or DVD


 

Blu-ray Review: THE DEAD (2010)

  
THE DEAD
Written and Directed by: The Ford Brothers
(Howard J. Ford, Jonathan Ford)
Distributed by:  Anchor Bay Entertainment

Last October, I reviewed a zombie film called, THE DEAD  (see review here),   At that time the film was in a limited theatrical run, but now the film is finally out on DVD an Blu-ray thanks to the fine folks at Anchor Bay Entertainment.  For those not familiar with THE DEAD, here is the basic plot from the film's official website:
 
An American mercenary, the sole survivor of a plane crash, has to run the gauntlet across Africa, battling with the living dead. Joining forces with a local military man, desperately searching for his son amongst the chaos, they fight together to survive, in the first Zombie Road-Movie set against the stunning backdrop of Africa.
 
At the time of my original review, I stated that this was "the perfect zombie film".   After seeing the film on Blu-ray, I stand by that statement and have now put this film in the ranks of the early Romero zombie films.   I can't say enough about this film.  If you have not seen this film, do yourself a favor and do so.   I won't say too much more about it, since you can just read my original review, but if you are going to see just one zombie movie this year, make it this one.   Even with a second viewing of the film,  it still got to me and drew me in.  The zombies are ultra realistic looking and there are lots of them all throughout the film.  

Special features include:

* Filmmaker's Commentary With Howard J. Ford And Jon Ford
* Unearthing THE DEAD:  Behind The Scenes
* Deleted Scenes

THE DEAD was released this week to DVD & Blu-ray so it is available now.  This is one you will want to add to your collection for sure.
 
CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: THE WALKIND DEAD (3-Disc Special Edition)

A while back I reviewed the Blu-ray set of  THE WALKING DEAD:  THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON.  You can see that review here.  That was a great Blu-ray set with tons of special features, but now the great folks at Anchor Bay have released this 3-Disc Special Edition of THE WALKING DEAD!  This is by far one of the greatest shows ever shown on TV in my opinion.  Each week it is like watching a short film rather than a TV show.  The production value is so much better than most shows and the acting and story lines are excellent. 

If you are not familiar with this show, this would be a great way to get introduced to it.  Pick up the 3 Disc Special Edition and watch all the episodes back to back, commercial free!   While the show itself is the main draw here, the best part about this set is the awesome special features.  Brand new bonus features on this set include the following:


* Pilot Episode:  The Black & White Version
* Audio Commentaries On All 6 Episodes
* We Are THE WALKING DEAD
* Bring Out The Dead:  KNB And The Art Of Making Zombies
* Digital Decay:  The VFX Of THE WALKING DEAD
* No More Room In Hell:  The Walking Dead Phenomenon
* Adapting The Dead
* Killer Conversations:  Frank Darabont & Greg Nicotero

These special features take you further into the show and are a lot of fun.  I especially enjoyed the "Bring Out The Dead" feature.  I love zombie make up and this show has some of the best ever put on film or TV.   The effects are very well done and it is a lot of fun to see how the make up artist bring these zombies to life...er, so to speak.

I also loved the "We Are The Walking Dead" which chronicles the daily shooting of the show and includes some great behind the scenes stuff and some wonderful zombie audition footage...it is funny seeing an entire room of people there to audition try to walk around like zombies in order to land a role on the show.    This is stuff you normally don't get to see with shows and it is really fun to watch. 

All the special features from the first DVD and Blu-ray release are on this new set as well as the new ones mentioned above.   I would do yourself a favor and pick up this new set, even if you have the older DVD set.  These new special features are worth the prince of the set alone! 


CLICK HERE to watch a trailer for the show
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to purchase the 3 Disc Special Edition Blu-ray
CLICK HERE to purchase the 3 Disc Special Edition DVD
CLICK HERE to visit the show's official AMC website

DVD Review: BEREAVEMENT (2010)

BEREAVEMENT
Written & Directed by:  Stevan Mena
Distributed by: Anchor Bay Entertainment

I watched the film BEREAVEMENT last night and all I can say is....WOW!   This movie is intense!  I had no clue what to expect from this film.  I knew nothing about it and had not even seen a trailer for it.  I went into it after just reading the DVD back cover to be honest, I wasn't expecting much.  I expected this to be another run of the mill, straight to DVD killer flicks, just like all the rest.  Well I was put in my place last night by this film.  BEREAVEMENT made me eat those words and proved that a film doesn't have to a be a huge blockbuster in the theater to be a good..no, GREAT horror film! Before I go any further, here is the basic plot from the Anchor Bay website:
 
In 1989, a 6-year-old boy is lured into the vehicle of a stranger. The stranger is a serial killer with a tendency of butchering teenage girls. In the basement of a rural Pennsylvania slaughterhouse, he will teach the boy everything he knows. Five years later, teen Allison (Alexandria Daddario of Hall Pass) comes to live with her uncle (Michael Biehn of The Terminator) following her parents’ death. In time, she will discover the boy and his madman mentor. And they will all be plunged into an unimaginable evil from which there may be no escape. Nolan Gerard Funk (Deadgirl), Brett Rickaby (The Crazies), Valentina de Angelis (“Gossip Girl”) and John Savage (The Deer Hunter) co-star in this graphic and acclaimed shocker from writer/director Stevan Mena about family, torment, and the nightmare absolution that is BEREAVEMENT.

The movie starts off strong and never lets go.   The acting in this film is amazing, especially from all the girls who are tied up and tortured by the crazed madman.  Their screams of terror sound frighteningly real and they remarkably convey a felling of helplessness and fright.   You really feel for these girls, as the torture scenes are very graphic and extremely well done, even down to the sound effects of knives ripping through clothing and flesh.   One scene in particular was when the killer caught a girl who was trying to escape and when he did, he put her on a huge meat hook...but he hung here there by putting the hook through her lower thigh area, thus making her hang upside down while squirming and shrieking in pain.  This scene was so well done, that I literally squirmed in my seat and looked away for a few seconds just to catch my breath.  Most things don't bother me too much, as I know they are fake, but the way this was done with such realism, it made me squirm for sure.  And please don't this is another "torture" film like HOSTEL, or the SAW films.  While the film does have an element of that, BEREAVEMENT is much more than that.  There is much more substance to this film than just the torture and killing.
The movie is scary for sure, but more than anything it is very disturbing.  The fact that the killer kidnapped this 6 year old boy to teach him the "tricks of the trade" is very disturbing, and seeing the boy have to witness these brutal murders brought a sinking feeling to my stomach.   The fact that this could all actually happen makes it that much worse to me.  Slasher flicks usually don't bother me, as they are so absurd we know they could never happen, but this could happen.  This HAS happened. People kidnap and people kill....and being thrown in to such a tremendously realistic view of these real life horrors was very effective.

Writer/Director Stevan Mena has created what should be considered one of the finest modern day horror films, at least in this reviewer's opinion.   Oh, and I haven't even mentioned the ending....that is something you will have to see for yourself, but was one of the best parts of the film for sure.

Beautifully shot and well crafted overall, this is a must have for all you horror fans. Do not miss this one.  BEREAVEMENT is out now on DVD and Blu-ray and contains the following special features:

* Audio Commentary with Writer/Producer/Director Stevan Mena
* The Making of Bereavement
* First Look:  On the Set
* Deleted Scenes
* Theatrical Trailer
* TV Spot
* Still Montage
* Screenplay (DVD-ROM)


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

   

DVD Review: DINOCROC VS. SUPERGATOR (2010)

DINOCROC VS. SUPERGATOR
Directed by:  Jim Wynorski
Distributed by:  Anchor Bay Entertainment

Anchor Bay brings us another of  SyFy's animal mix up movies with DINOCROC VS. SUPERGATOR.    This is another film in the likes of SHARKTOPUS and DINOSHARK that was produced by Roger Corman.   Here is the plot from the Anchor Bay website:


They were created deep within the secret island laboratories of an unscrupulous biotech corporation and grown to horrific proportions...until they both escaped. Bullets won’t stop them. Explosives only make them meaner. And their ravenous reptile appetites for scientists, tourists, S.W.A.T. teams and swimsuit models have only just begun. Now an undercover investigator, a sexy Fish & Game officer, and a cold-blooded swamp hunter known only as ‘The Cajun’ are all in pursuit of the scaly beasts that can outrun SUVs, crush buses, and snack on sleazy producers in hot tubs. But when these monster lizards ultimately meet in battle, will mankind be the defeated species? David Carradine (Kill Bill, Death Race 2000) – in one of his final performances – stars in this epic Syfy smash about the bone-crunching, body-chomping, earth-trembling smackdown of Dinocroc Vs. Supergator!

 If you liked SHARKTOPUS and DINOSHARK, then I don't see any way you would not like DINOCROC VS. SUPERGATOR.   These are all basically the same movie, just with different creatures, and this film is different in that we dont' have any sharks in site.  Now were are dealing with gators and crocs that have been genetically engineered and have grown to massive size.   With the shark movies, you were at least safe if you stayed away from the water, but with these creatures, you are not safe anywhere...land or water. 

 The acting in this film is well....lets face it.  It is just not that good.  In fact, in some instances it is just awful.  But are you really watching this film for the acting?  No.  We watch these types of films for one thing and one thing only, and that is to see the creatures eat people.  Simple enough.  I do have to mention that there is one bright spot when it comes to the acting, and that is of course the legendary David Carradine.  He is not in the film much, but in the few scenes he is in, he brings a huge sense of genre credibility to the film.   It looks like this was one of the the last few films Mr. Carradine did before his untimely death in 2009.

 Now, on to the good part....the creatures eating people!  I think this film had a much higher body count than SHARKTOPUS or DINOCROC...I am not 100% sure on that, so don't quote me, but it definitely felt that way to me.   There was one scene in particular where a woman is literally bitten in half by one of the creatures. It was very well done and very effective.

 If you are a fan of the creature features, you will definitely want to check this one out.  Special features on the DVD include the  trailer and an Audio Commentary with Executive Producer Roger Corman and Director Jim Wynorski (A.K.A.  Jay Andrews).  DINOCROC VS. SUPERGATOR was released on DVD and Blu-ray this past Tuesday, 7/12, so is available now!



CLICK HERE to visit the official website of the film and watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD or Blu-ray



CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Anchor Bay Entertainment

Blu-Ray review: THE WALKING DEAD -THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (TV, 2010)

THE WALKING DEAD

Created by Frank Darabont

For those that don't know, THE WALKING DEAD is a direct adaptation of the ongoing comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman.   I was never a reader of this comic, but knew about it, and was super excited to hear that it was being made into a TV show.  There haven't been many zombie themed TV shows, and being a huge fan of zombies, I couldn't wait once I heard this show was being made. It seems like we had to wait a long time from the first announcement of the show until the actual night of the series debut, but when the show finally debuted last Halloween night, we all knew that the wait was well worth it and we were treated to one of the best hours on TV that I can ever remember.  The show turned out to be extremely popular and immediately became the most watched drama series in cable's history among Adults 18-49 with 3.5 million viewers!  If you haven't seen this show yet, check out the awesome DVD and Blu-ray of the first season which is being released this Tuesday, March 8th by Anchor Bay Entertainment.  You will see what Entertainment Weekly described as "The Best New Show on TV", and that says a lot, coming from a magazine that has never been too big on the horror genre.  Before I go any further, let me give you the show's basic plot synopsis from the Anchor Bay website:

After waking from a coma in an abandoned hospital, police officer Rick Grimes finds the world he knew gone - ravaged by a zombie epidemic of apocalyptic proportions. Nearby, on the outskirts of Atlanta, a small encampment struggles to survive as 'the dead' stalk them at every turn. Can Rick and the others hold onto their humanity as they fight to live in this terrifying new world? And, amidst dire conditions and personal rivalries, will they ultimately survive one another?

The series was created by Frank Darabont, the director of such great drama films such as THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and THE GREEN MILE.  So right from the start you know you are getting a quality product.   Each episode is much bigger than a regular TV show....the production value makes each episode feel like an hour long film rather than a TV episode. 

The show grabs a hold of you the first first episode and never lets go.  I was hooked right from the start.  The scene of Sheriff Grimes walking through the abandoned hospital and coming across a gory, half composed yet still alive body, I knew we were in for a huge treat. Episode 1 hooks you in and introduces you to the main, base characters, yet new characters pop up all throughout the season which keeps things fresh and opens the door for many new future story lines.
 

One of my favorite scenes occurs early in the series, in episode 2.  Rick and Glen need to get to another building, but a horde of zombies blocks their way. They figure out that if they act (and smell) like one of the dead, or undead, then the zombies won't be attracted to them.  They find a zombie, attack him, and begin hacking him up with an axe.  Rick and Glen then put on rubber gloves and rain jackets, and cover their jackets in the corpse's putrid blood and guts.  The pair is then able to walk through the crowd of zombies unnoticed, yet when everything seems to be going fine, it starts to rain, washing off the blood and guts and leaving Rick and Glen in a vulnerable situation.

 

Along with the obvious horror aspect, every episode is also packed full of action and drama.  One moment I found to be very moving, yet disturbing, is when a man and his son are barricaded in their home.  The wife/mother has been turned and keeps coming back to the house, out of instinct or just out of habit.  The scene where the father has to decide what to do with the woman is very touching, as he has such deep love for her still, he battles within himself, knowing he should pull the trigger and put her out of this lifetime sentence of walking the earth in an undead state.  But then having to actually pull the trigger on someone you love is not that easy, obviously. 

 

The acting in this show is excellent, but the main thing that I love about this show is the zombie makeup and effects.  These are some of the best zombies you will see, better than most zombie movies.  What is also great about this show is even those that aren't big fans of zombies and horror in general will like this show.  My wife does not like blood and gore, or much horror at all, but she got hooked just as bad as I did with this show.  The show is much more than horror. It is a horror based drama, with great character development and some character story lines that don't revolve directly around the zombies.  There is something in this show for everyone to enjoy. 

 

The DVD and Blu-ray being released this coming Tuesday, March 8th by Anchor Bay.  This is one show you will definitely want to add to your DVD collection.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include:

* Making of THE WALKING DEAD Featurette
* Indside THE WAKING DEAD: Epidodes 1-6 Featurette
* A Sneak Peak With Robert Kirkman
* Behind the Scenes Zombie Make-up Tips
* Convention Panel with Producers
* THE WALKING DEAD Trailer
* Extra Footage including deleted scenes and On Set Footage with Robert Kirkman and starts Andrew Lincoln and Steven Yeun

CLICK HERE to watch a trailer for the show

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

CLICK HERE to visit the show's official AMC website

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Anchor Bay Entertainment