DVD Review: VAMPYRES (2015)

VAMPYRES
Directed by Víctor Matellano
Distributed by Artsploitation Films

  I am a big fan of the 1974 film VAMPYRES, so I was super excited when I saw this remake/re-imaging of the film was coming out this month on DVD.  I hadn't seen the original in years, but I remember loving the creepy, atmospheric imagery of the film.   While the remake doesn't quite match up in terms of the imagery, it's a pretty satisfying film, that makes up for it in an increased amount of blood and gore.   Here is a brief synopsis of the film, courtesy of the Artsploitation website:

In 1974, an English horror film titled VAMPYRES, written and directed by José Ramón Larraz Gil , premiered to an unsuspecting world. Soon, it became a cult horror sensation because of its sensuality, its gruesomeness and its twisted atmosphere. This new version keeps those graphic elements and the twisted atmosphere, but includes more action, more horror and more gore in telling the story of two vamps that “live” in a dark manor where they bring men with the promise of sex orgies that ultimately become blood orgies.

  As mentioned, this film is basically just re-vamped version of the original, but almost every aspect is increased here, especially the blood and gore.  The gore is amazing in this film and includes some of the best throat slashing effects I have seen in quite some time.   One scene in particular that was both gory and just downright creepy was an Elizabeth Bathory inspired scene of our two female vampires in a bathtub, bathing in the blood of a woman with a slashed throat stringed up above.  This was a gruesome scene and was a highlight of the film for me.

  One thing that will probably be noticed by most is the acting.  I have to admit it's pretty bad overall, but lets be honest, we're not watching a film about lesbian vampires for the quality of acting.   We're watching for the nudity and gore, and we get ample amounts of both.  If Jess Franco were alive today, I feel like this is a movie he would have made.  That should tell you what to expect from this one.
 
  VAMPYRES is a fun watch for sure, and I highly recommend it to all fans of the vampire genre.  The DVD is available this coming Tuesday, October 18th and contains the following special features:

*  Interview with Caroline Munroe
*  The Making of Vampyres Featurette
*  Artsploitation Film Trailer


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

Blu-ray Review: OBSERVANCE (2015)

OBSERVANCE
Directed by  Joseph Sims-Dennett
Distributed by Artsploitation Films / CAV Distribution

  I love coming across a movie to review that I know nothing about.   Such was the case with OBSERVANCE, an eerie psychological thriller from first time director Joseph Sims-Dennett.   I had not even heard of this film when it showed up in my mailbox for review.  I like going into films without expecting anything.   Before I get to whether I think it's a good movie or not, here's the basic plot from the Artsploitation website:

  Atmospherically creepy and visually unnerving, Australia’s Joseph Sims-Dennett’s startling feature film debut follows Parker, a young man in the grip of grief following the death of his young son, his marriage on the rocks and nearing bankruptcy, but who reluctantly returns to work as a private investigator. His assignment it to observe a woman from an abandoned apartment, and as her watches bizarre happenings surrounding her, he slowly becomes aware that the derelict building he is in has a dark presence which slowly threatens to consume him. A frightening horror tale of a man spiraling into madness and reminiscent of Roman Polanski’s THE TENANT, Hitchcock’s REAR WINDOW, and the works of David Cronenberg and David Lynch.  

  Ok...now that's a lot of fancy names to be throwing around there.  Davd Cronenberg, David Lynch, Polanski, and Hitchcock?   Ok, let's not get ahead of ourselves here.    I say that jokingly, as I know what they mean in terms of the film being similar to the works of those directors, I just wouldn't put this film up in the ranks of their work.    The film is good, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't great which is what I consider the works of those directors mentioned above. 

  I'm really on the fence with this one....it got critical acclaim from the film fests that it showed at, so lots of people really like it.   I thought it was just ok.   It had some great scenes for sure, my favorite being when Parker goes into the woman's home to plant the microphones and she comes home, trapping him in the house trying to find a way out without her seeing him.   This was a very tense part of the film and one I found most enjoyable.  

  The apartment he was watching the woman from is very creepy, and seems to start to affect him personally, from bodily wounds randomly showing up, to him puking a dark black bile like substance.   But, for all these great scenes, there are also some very slow lagging times in the film where it feels like not much is happening.   Also, I would have like to have known why he was hired to watch this woman to begin with....who is she and what is so special about her?  Maybe that's just supposed to be part of the mystery of this film.  

  In terms of technical aspects, the movie is shot very well with some beautiful scenes, and I also noticed the sound, which I tend not to notice in a lot of films.  The cinematographer and sound editors did a remarkable job for sure.

  As always, I urge you to check out the film and decide for yourself, some of you will really like this one I'm sure.  As for me, I might give it a watch again in the future to see if I get more enjoyment out of it the 2nd time.   

  OBSERVANCE is available now on DVD and Blu-ray and contains the following special features:

*  "A Preface to Observance"  (3-minute featurette)
*  Artsploitation Film Trailers


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

Blu-ray Review: BLOODY KNUCKLES (2014)

BLOODY KNUCKLES
Written & Directed by Matt O'Mahoney
Distributed by:  Artsploitation Films

  Very seldom can you mix horror with comedy and make a good film.  Good horror comedies are few and far between for me, but every now and then a film can mix the two elements just right and come away with a great film.  Luckily, writer/director Matt O'Mahoney has managed to do just that with the great comedy/horror film, BLOODY KNUCKLES.  Here is the basic plot courtesy of the Artsploitation Films website:

  Travis, an underground comic book artist with a penchant for obscene caricatures, upsets a Chinatown crime lord who responds by cutting off the young man’s hand. As a despondent, drunken Travis wallows in post-severed hand depression, his decomposing limb returns to life and is determined to exact revenge. Soon, Travis and his mischievous appendage join forces with a masked S&M superhero to rid the city of evil. Filmmaker Matt O.’s debut feature strips Canada of its “land of nice” image with this deliriously offensive, gory, and happily un-PC horror-comedy!

  Now I have to admit, some of the humor in this film is a bit childish and crass, but I admit I laughed out loud multiple times.   If you don't like crude humor, you will probably not like this film, but if you can appreciate some good rude humor (like I do), then this will be your type of film.   In addition to the humor, the horror aspect of this film is just as much in the forefront and is a huge part of what makes this movie so good for me.   There is some great effects and gore on display here, most of which look to be practical effects, which is always a plus in my opinion.  

  The film looks great, and I have a feeling it looks like a much bigger budget film that it probably was.   The film is shot and edited well, contains great camerawork and all the actors do a wonderful job.   This was a top notch production which is amazing considering this is writer/director Matt O'Mahoney's first feature length production!  I look forward to seeing more from this great filmmaker in the future!

  Check out BLOODY KNUCKLES if you get the chance.  It is a fun film and well worth your time (and money).   The DVD and Blu-ray are available now and contain the following special features:

*  Director's Commentary
*  Deleted Scenes
*  Short Films "Electric Fence" and "Adjust Tracking"
*  Featurettes


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

Blu-ray Review: CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT (2014)

CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT
Written & Directed by Iván Noel
Distributed by  Artsploitation Films

  Just when you think you have seen it all in a certain horror sub-genre, a film will come along like a breath of fresh air and totally rejuvenate the film's topic.   With CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT, the topic is vampires and this film does just that.   This is not your typical vampire film by any means.  This film focuses on children that have been turned into vampires.  Here is the synopsis from the Artsploitation Films website:

  A secluded colony of child vampires come under attack from vengeful villagers in this darkly funny horror tale by Argentinean filmmaker Ivan Noel. A journalist visits a secluded orphanage where children suffer from an unknown skin disease. She soon learns that they are in fact not children, but vampires aging from 4 to 120 years old and who have been bitten at an early age and forever remain in that physical state. They are led and protected by a strange and deeply religious ex-nurse whose destiny in life is to find these ‘lost souls’ and raise them in her sanctuary. Through religious teachings, nocturnal rituals and the occasional visit to local towns for fresh human blood, she keeps them safe  – that is until a cultish band of men from a nearby village plot to destroy the refuge. Now the children, headed by the 90-year-old grandson of Count Dracula, must defend their way of life.

  As I mentioned before, this is a very original take on the vampire film.  The film has a very unique and interesting story, with a nice plot twist along the way.  While the "children" look like kids, they are actually a variety of ages.  It is very interesting to see what looks like such young kids talk about adult things and engage in adult dialog with the journalist.   There really isn't  much blood and gore in this film, although it is really not needed.  This film focuses more on the vampires and this new society that they live in.   There are few instances of blood, but don't go into this expecting a vampire bloodbath!  Instead, enjoy the interesting story, and what I thought to be some wonderful acting from all those involved.   I highly recommend you check this one out.

  CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Artsploitation Films and includes the following special features:

*  Director's commentary
*  Making of featurette
*  Trailer


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

Blu-ray review: HORSEHEAD (2014)

HORSEHEAD
Directed by  Romain Basset
Distributed by  Artsploitation Films

  Wow.  This is a visually stunning film, and an amazing achievement in film making in my opinion.  I have to admit, though, I can't say I understand it 100%.  Heck, I'm about 50/50 on understanding this thing.  The film is called HORSEHEAD and it is a basically a nightmare shown on film.   Here is the basic plot synopsis from the Artsploitation Films website:

  Haunting and horrific, surreal and shocking, HORSEHEAD is a new horror-fantasy that pays tribute to the classic European shockers of Dario Argento and Mario Bava while also remaining a unique film with its own vision, delivering unforgettable images that both disturb and enchant. Director Romain Basset’s tale follows beautiful young Jessica (Lilly-Fleur Pointeaux) as she returns to her family’s countryside estate for her grandmother’s funeral. Haunted by recurring nightmares of a horse-headed monster, Jessica attempts to put her studies of “lucid dreaming” to good use, as she semi-consciously navigates through this dream landscape, trying to discover the secrets behind this sinister apparition. But Jessica must also cope with a hostile mother (The Beyond‘s Catriona MacColl), and the growing realization that the death of her grandmother was actually a suicide triggered by the woman’s past traumas and visions. HORSEHEAD is a feverish, ethereal journey through the world of nightmares.

  If you are a into visuals and symbolism, then this is definitely a film for you!  The film is shot beautifully with some amazing sets.   The acting is very good from everyone involved.   Like I mentioned above, I didn't understand a lot of this film, it's one I will need to watch a 2nd or even 3rd time to understand all the symbolism probably.  Even with the lack of understanding a lot of the film, that didn't take away any of the enjoyment factor whatsoever.  Basically, you can sit back watch and enjoy the visuals on display, some of which are beautiful, and some of which are downright terrifying.

  This is the first feature film from director Romain Basset, and is an amazing first effort in my opinion.  I can't wait to see what his future projects consist of!  This is a must see in my opinion. Check it out and let me know what you think.  If you've already seen the film, please leave a comment below and let us know what you thought of the film.
 
  HORSEHEAD is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Artsploitation Films.  Special features include the following:

*  Trailer
*  Inside Horsehead - The Making Of
*  Four Short Films


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

DVD Review: MEMORY OF THE DEAD

 
MEMORY OF THE DEAD
Directed by Valentín Javier Diment
Distributed by Artsploitation Films

  I have said it before and I will say it again...I LOVE foreign horror films!  There are so many great horror movies being made all over the world, you owe it to yourself to check out some of these great foreign films!  I just watched a film from Argentina called MEMORY OF THE DEAD.  This was a visually stunning film that was heavily influenced by some of the top names in horror.   Here is the basic plot synopsis from the Artsploitation website:

  A stylish supernatural shocker that has been a hit at film festivals around the world. Argentina’s Memory of the Dead boasts some terrifying FX setpieces bathed in a candy-colored visual palette that makes Mario Bava’s gothic classics look monochromatic by comparison. Following the sudden death of her husband, Alicia assembles all his friends at a vast country manor for a reading of his final letter. But Alicia also has other plans in mind – helping her husband return from the grave with a spell that will put all of the gathered guests in mortal danger. Scary, hysterical and packed with mind-boggling visuals, Memory of the Dead is the cinematic equivalent of a funhouse ride.

  I love the reference comparing this film to a funhouse ride.  That is spot on as there is something different going on with each person in the house...a different surprise around every corner!  There are some crazy death sequences in this film, and just some crazy visuals all throughout the film.   One thing I noticed from the beginning was the excellent camera work.  There are some very cool shots throughout the film, great camera angles and such.

  It's interesting that this film was compared to a Mario Bava film in the plot synopsis.  I can totally see that, but I can also see influences from Dario Argento  (use of color),  and most of all, Sam Raimi and the EVIL DEAD films.  There are a few scenes taken directly from the EVIL DEAD films, a nice homage for sure!

  Fans of gore will be thrilled by this film...there are some crazy gore effects in this film, some that truly made me cringe, and I don't get bothered by too much!

  I highly suggest you check out MEMORY OF THE DEAD.  The DVD is available now from Artsploitation Films.


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

DVD Review: HORROR STORIES (2012)

HORROR STORIES
Distributed by:  Artsploitation Films

  I am  a huge fan of foreign horror films, especially Asian horror.  I am also a huge fan of horror anthologies, so this South Korean horror anthology film had a lot going for it in my eyes before I ever watched it.  Luckily, upon actually watching the film, I was not disappointed in the least.  This is one of the better horror anthologies I have seen in a while!   Here is some info on the film from the Artsploitation Films website:


Horror anthologies might be everywhere these days, but the Korean entry Horror Stories raises the bar with four terrifying stories (and a nail-biting wraparound tale), each one chilling enough to be its own feature. If you thought this was going to be a tame collection of teen-friendly “ghost girl” stories – think again. Horror Stories goes right for the jugular with non-stop splatter, intense shocks and riveting suspense. A high school girl is abducted and forced by a psycho to tell him the scariest tales she knows.

• “Don’t Answer the Door” finds a little brother and sister home alone at night and under siege.
• “Endless Flight” has a serial killer escaping police custody in the middle of an otherwise empty flight.
• “Secret Recipe” serves up a wildly macabre fairy tale about two jealous stepsisters who take plastic surgery to nightmarish extremes.
• “Ambulance on the Death Zone” is a claustrophobic zombie shocker with a paramedic and a mother at a standoff over her possibly infected young daughter.

An international genre festival success from Sitges to Fantasia, this is one of the best Korean horror films in years and has been called “one of the scariest Asian horror anthologies of the 21st century” (horror-movies.ca).


HORROR STORIES is a must see for any horror fan in my opinion.  The production value is top notch and the acting in all 4 stories is superb.  I think the first and last story are my favorites by far, with the last story (“Ambulance on the Death Zone”) being my favorite.  This is a zombie film done in a very unique way, as most of the entire film takes place inside an ambulance.  The confined space of the ambulance really works well with this story and adds to the suspense.  

HORROR STORIES is available now on DVD and it includes the following Special Features:

*  Cast Interviews
*  12-page Collectible Booklet
*  Reversible Cover Art
*  Artsploitation Trailers


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