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: DARK SANCTUARY: THE STORY OF THE CHURCH (2024)

 

DARK SANCTUARY:  THE STORY OF THE CHURCH

Directed by:  Timothy Stevens

Distributed by:  Cleopatra Films / MVD Entertainment

DARK SANCTUARY is a documentary film about a famous night club in Dallas, TX.  I'm going to be honest here....I had never heard of this film or of the night club that is the subject matter of this film.  When this showed up in my mailbox to review, I was a little disappointed.   A documentary about a night club did not sound like an entertaining 86 minutes of my life.   Well, I am not to proud to admit how wrong I was.   This just goes to show you that you can't judge a book  (or a movie), by it's cover.   What sounded like a dull documentary to me ended up being one of the most interesting documentaries I have watched in quite a while.   

Here is a description of the film from the MVD website:

DARK SANCTUARY is a feature-length documentary about the historic Dallas, TX Goth club - The Church.  Dark Sanctuary exposes the incredible, shocking history of one of the longest running goth clubs in the U.S. as well as the world-renowned artists who performed there.


Through interviews with world-famous music artists, local bands, and patrons, the film tells the story of the community that formed over nearly three decades of the legendary club's existence. The motto of The Church became 'Enter Without Prejudice' meaning no matter who you are, how you look, how you dress, your sexuality, your gender identity, the color of your skin, your body type, all are welcome and embraced at The Church.


Follow DJ in residence, Joe Virus, on his journey from aspiring musician to headlining the main stage for over 20 years and through the events of the global epidemic which lead to a neighborhood buyout from a multimillion-dollar real estate company, threatening to claim the beloved building at 2424 Swiss Avenue.


Just what will happen when the deep south's premiere goth club of nearly thirty years stands on the brink of being lost forever?

  The Church was what a club called The Lizard Lounge changed into on Sunday nights.  The location was at 2424 Swiss Ave in the Deep Ellum neighborhood of Dallas, TX.   The Church opened in 1994 and was the place for artists and "misfits" to gather with like minded people and enjoy some Electronic Dance Music and what would later become known as the "Goth" community.   The film is mainly told through The Church's resident DJ, DJ VIRUS  (Joe Gonzales), and it was very touching to see how much this club meant to him.   In fact, almost everyone that is interviewed about The Church gets choked up at some point while reminiscing about the club.  It just shows you how much of an effect this place had on it's regulars.  The film goes over the clubs entire timeline, from it's creation and all the special events that took place over the years and live music performances, to it's closing and eventual reopening 

  While the original location closed in 2020, The Church lives on today at a new club located at 4322 Elm St in Dallas.  It looks as though it never has recreated the true look and feel of the original location, though, in my opinion.   For those that went to The Church religiously,  this is a wonderful keepsake and memento of a place that meant so much to so many people, and is a must have film.  Even if you are like me, having never heard of The Church, this is still a wonderful film and honestly makes me a bit jealous that I never had a place like this to hang out.  The people here seem so sincere and accepting of everyone.   While some people might look at The Churchgoers as "weirdos" or "outcasts", I think they were just the opposite.  They are the people we should all strive to be like.  Loving people that let others be themselves and accepting of all lifestyles with no judgement or prejudice of any kind.  The Church truly seemed like an amazing place. 

  DARK SANCTUARY is available now on DVD and BD from MVD Entertainment and contains the following Special Features:

*  Trailer

*  Uncut Celebrity Interviews

* 2 music videos from the band Solemn Assembly 

CLICK HERE to watch the trialer

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

CLICK HERE to purchase the BLU-RAY

DVD Review: THE TRAIL OF DRACULA: FROM FOLKLORE TO SCREEN (2013)

THE TRAIL OF DRACULA
Written & Directed by  David Mitchell
Distributed by Intervision Pictures/Severin Films and CAV Distributing

  I am a big fan of horror documentaries, and this one will rank up near the top of the list of well made docs.   The subject is Dracula.  The film is THE TRAIL OF DRACULA:  FROM FOLKLORE TO SCREEN.    Here is the basic plot from the Severin/Intervision website:

  Diabolical. Seductive. Immortal. Vampires have been an icon of evil in folklore and popular culture for more than three centuries, yet only one name still personifies the ultimate aristocrat of bloodlust. Now join the world’s foremost experts on Dracula – including academics, authors and horror historians – as they explore the untold story of the Transylvanian Count, from the legend of Vlad The Impaler and Bram Stoker’s celebrated novel through its landmark stage productions and classic movie adaptations. It’s a crimson trail of twisted archival materials, startling film clips and rare interviews – featuring Bela Lugosi, John Carradine and Christopher Lee.

  While I thought this was going to be more of a doc about Dracula films, I found out that it focuses a lot more on the folklore and history of Dracula.  It was interesting to hear about the Dracula character from historians and then see how some of that translated over to film.   The film is paced very well, and while you could probably fill up hours and hours with info on Dracula, I thought the 63 minute running time was perfect.  It got to the point, and didn't have time for any slow or dull segments. 

  This is a great horror doc that I would highly recommend.   If documentaries really aren't your thing, then I would recommend buying this DVD based solely on one of the special features.  The DVD contains 94 minutes of Dracula movie trailers.   Almost any Dracula movie you can think of is presented here in this trailer compilation.  This alone is well worth the price of the DVD in my opinion.

 THE TRAIL OF DRACULA is available now on DVD from Intervision Pictures/CAV Distributing and contains the following Special Features:

*  All-New Feature Length Documentary THE TRAIL OF DRACULA

*  Over 90 Minutes of DRACULA Movie Trailers

*  Christopher Lee Reads Bram Stoker’s Dracula

*  Video Interview With Werner Herzog

*  Audio Interviews With Christopher Lee, Udo Kier, Alexander D’Arcy and Francis Lederer

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

Blu-ray Review: JUST DESSERTS: THE MAKING OF "CREEPSHOW" (2007)

JUST DESSERTS:  THE MAKING OF "CREEPSHOW"
Directed by  Michael Felsher
Distributed by  Synapse Films / CAV Distributing

  Rarely does a film's special feature get it's own HD Blu-ray release, but that is just what has happened with JUST DESSERTS:  THE MAKING OF "CREEPSHOW".   After watching it, you can see why.  This is no ordinary "special feature".  Clocking in at 90 minutes, it's a legit feature film itself, that just happens to be about the making of another film.    Here is the basic synopsis of the film from the Synapse Films website:

  In 1982, Author Stephen King and Director George A. Romero collaborated on a feature-film tribute to the controversial EC comics of the 1950s.  Told through five jolting tales of terror, CREEPSHOW has become a celebrated horror classic over the past three decades. With an all-star cast, and featuring groundbreaking special effects by genre legend Tom Savini, CREEPSHOW stands as a horrific and hilarious tribute to the stories that helped influence (and corrupt) a generation of writers and filmmakers.  Now the tales behind the creation of this chilling masterpiece can finally be told!
  Featuring rare behind-the-scenes footage and photographs, JUST DESSERTS: THE MAKING OF “CREEPSHOW” also contains over a dozen interviews, including George A. Romero, Tom Savini, Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins and many others.  These are the terrifying stories behind the film that promised you…“The Most Fun You’ll Ever Have…BEING SCARED!”

  CREEPSHOW has always been one of my favorite horror films of all times.  I love anthology style horror films, and no one has done it better than CREEPSHOW.   George Romero and Stephen King are two masterminds of horror, so a collaboration of those two is bound to be good.   Watching this documentary about the making of the film made me remember just how good CREEPSHOW really is.    I haven't seen it in years,  but after watching JUST DESSERTS, I am really wanting to watch CREEPSHOW again very soon! 

  I am a big fan of "making of" documentaries of horror films, and this is probably one of the greatest I have ever seen.   Other than the strange absence of Stephen King, everyone involved with the movie is on hand here to give you first hand accounts about their experience on the film.  My favorite interviewee was Tom Savini, the mastermind behind the effects of the film.  He is my all time favorite effects person, so seeing him on screen talking about this film was truly awesome.

  Along with the interviews, we get to see tons of behind the scenes photos and footage, along with scenes from CREEPSHOW.   The movie is broken up into segments, talking about each entry in the film, along with a beginning section explaining how the film came to be and the influence the old EC comics had on Romero and King, and on the film itself.   I was a huge fan of EC comics growing up, so that's one reason I always loved this film....it is like watching an old VAULT OF HORROR or TALES FROM THE CRYPT come to life onscreen.

  I cannot recommend JUST DESSERTS enough...it is a must have for any fan of CREEPSHOW.   The special edition Blu-ray is available now from Synapse Films and contains the following special features:

*  Audio Commentary with Director & Editor Michael Felsher
*  Audio Commentary featuring interviews with Actor John Amplas, Property Master Bruce Alan Miller, and Make-Up Effects Assistant Darryl Ferrucci
*  Creepshow Days – An interview with Director of Photography Director Michael Gornick
*  Extended Interview Segments with George A. Romero, Tom Savini, and Bernie Wrightson
*  Behind The Screams – A compilation of on-set video footage from Tom Savini
*  Horror’s Hallowed Grounds with Sean Clark
*  Scream Greats Volume One: Tom Savini, Master of Horror Effects with Optional Audio Commentary with Tom Savini
*  Vintage 1982 Evening Magazine Segment shot on the set of the film, featuring rare cast & crew interviews
*  Behind-The-Scenes of CREEPSHOW Photo Gallery



CLICK HERE to watch a clip of the film
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

DVD Review: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF CANNON FILMS (2014)

ELECTRIC BOOGALOO:  THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF CANNON FILMS
Written & Directed by  Mark Hartley
Distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

  If you watched a lot of VHS tapes back in the 1980's, there is no doubt you at some point ran across a Cannon Films tape.  Cannon was one of the most popular labels back in the height of the VHS popularity.  This new documentary, ELECTRIC BOOGALOO is a comprehensive look at the rise and fall of Cannon Films.  Here is a brief synopsis of the film from the Warner Brothers website:

  Director Mark Hartley takes us on a hilarious thrill ride through the masterworks of Yoram Globus and the late Menahem Golan, two movie-obsessed immigrant cousins who became Hollywood's ultimate gate-crashers. With hair-trigger randomness, these cousins of chaos churned out a breathtaking cavalcade of hits and misses, made movies out of posters, released a sequel before the original film, botched plots, bounced checks and burned careers - and in so doing, changed the way movies were made and marketed.

  Cannon Films was responsible for some great films back in the 1980's, including MISSING IN ACTION,  DEATH WISH 2,  SUPERMAN IV, THE LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN, LIFEFORCE, and CYBORG just name a few.  It was very interesting to see how they got the ideas for some of these movies, some of which were almost direct remakes of foreign films.   It was neat getting to see some trailers and clips from these old films, as well as hear about their production issues and problems told straight from the people that were involved.    I saw a lot of films I recognized, but also saw quite a few films I was unfamiliar with.  One of these was a Cannon Film called THE APPLE, which was supposed to be an epic Rock Opera.  Turns out it was a complete flop, but from the scenes showed in this movie, it looked to be one of those "so bad, it's good" type of films.  Needless to say I had to find a copy of this film!  I found a reasonably priced DVD of THE APPLE on ebay.  I can't wait to check it out! 

For a hint at what you will see in ELECTRIC BOOGALOO, check out these clips from the DVD courtesy of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment:

Clip #1
Clip #2
Clip #3
Clip #4
Clip #5


ELECTRIC BOOGALOO is available now on DVD from Warner Bros.  The DVD contains over 25 minutes of deleted scenes and over 30 minutes of trailers!

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

 
 

Help fund the upcoming EVIL DEAD fan documentary, HAIL TO THE DEADITES!

  Check out the indiegogo campaign for the upcoming documentary about EVIL DEAD fans called, HAIL TO THE DEADITES!  This film is being directed by Steve Villeneuve with Tom Sullivan, Danny Hicks and Patricia Tallman as associate producers.  The filmmakers are going to go all over the country and even the world to find the biggest EVIL DEAD fans to show you their memorabilia collections and hear their stories on how they fell in love with the EVIL DEAD films and why they are such big fans of the films. 

I think this sounds like a pretty cool project!  You can help fund this film now by going to the film's indiegogo page and choosing a contribution amount to help out.  There are contribution packages from as little as $10 up to $1000 with tons of great perks!  Any bit helps, so go help fund this awesome project!

CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website
CLICK HERE to visit and contribute to the indiegogo campaign

Check out the trailer for the horror convention documentary, FANTASM!

 A few days ago I did a blog post about an upcoming documentary about horror fans and horror conventions called, FANTASM.  The film was written & directed by Kyle Kuchta, and explores the bonds formed by horror movie fans at all the different horror conventions held all throughout the year.

  Well, somehow, I failed to realize that a trailer was already made for this film, so I didn't want to just not post the trailer, so I am doing another post about FANTASM tonight and introducing you to the trailer! 

  This looks like it is going to be a very interesting film.  I am extremely interested in this project, because I have been to a horror convention every year for the past 6 or 7 years.   I love the conventions and have seen the instant camaraderie and friendships form. So, check out the trailer and then look for a full review of FANTASM coming soon to this website!
 
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

Check out the upcoming horror fan documentary, FANTASM!

 
  I recently got an email containing a press release for the upcoming documentary, FANTASM.  The film was written & directed by Kyle Kuchta.

Here is some info about the film from the press release:

FANTASM explores the bonds formed by the close-knit community of fans who attend horror conventions.

In addition to a variety of devoted genre fans, Fantasm features insight from several popular horror actors and filmmakers, including Tom Atkins (Escape from New York), Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Amanda Wyss (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger), Joe Lynch (Wrong Turn 2) and more.

After being shot at six different conventions throughout the country, Fantasm is currently in post-production. "The film is being submitted to festivals and conventions," Kuchta elaborates. "We're really excited to be releasing it in the fall when the convention season and the horror community are thriving full-force."

  This sounds like a very cool project.   I have been to numerous horror conventions and have met a lot of great folks at them, so I know about the close-knit community of horror fans.  I don't know any other genre of film that has fans as passionate as the horror genre.  I think this will be a cool look into the fans of the horror community!

To keep up to date on news and info about the film, visit their official facebook page and twitter account.
 

Pre-order the awesome "Friday The 13TH" documentary, CRYSTAL LAKE MEMORIES: THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF FRIDAY THE 13TH

 
  FRIDAY THE 13TH is one of my all time favorite movie franchises.  Scratch that, it is my #1 favorite horror movie franchise!  I love everything about it, and Jason Voorhees has always been my favorite horror film villain.  Needless to say, I was super excited to read the press release about this new documentary,  CRYSTAL LAKE MEMORIES:  THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF FRIDAY THE 13TH.  The film is based on the book by the same title which is one of the most comprehensive books about a film franchise you will ever read.   I am thrilled about the news of this Blu-ray/DVD release! 
Here is the press release from the documentary's official website:

  LOS ANGELES, Ca., July 7, 2013—Panic Productions and Hutson Ranch Media have launched pre-orders for Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th on its official website. The documentary, inspired by Peter M. Bracke’s bestselling book of the same name, promises to be the definitive retrospective on the long-running Friday the 13th franchise.
  The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack showcases the extensive feature, which runs approximately 420 minutes. When purchased through the website, buyers will also receive a bonus DVD with nearly 4 hours of extended interview material. The film will be officially released on August 27, 2013 via 1428 Films with a list price of $29.95.
  Corey Feldman (star of Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter) narrates Crystal Lake Memories, which features interviews with approximately 150 cast and crew members from all twelve Friday the 13th films and the syndicated television series, many of whom have never before appeared in on-camera interviews. Interview subjects include Kane Hodder, Robert Englund, Tom Savini, Danielle Panabaker, Sean S. Cunningham, Derek Mears, Betsy Palmer, Wes Craven, Robert Shaye, Alice Cooper and many more.
  Crystal Lake Memories is written and directed by Daniel Farrands and produced by Thommy Hutson, who previously teamed up for the award-winning Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy.
"As lifelong fans, we couldn't let 2013 pass us by without giving Jason his due," explains Farrands. "I hope that Crystal Lake Memories will serve as a fitting tribute to one of this generation's most iconic bogeymen."
  "We're thrilled that we are able to bring all the incredible stories from the cast and crew to life, showcasing why the Friday the 13th franchise is still going strong decades later," adds Hutson. "It's a testament to the blood, sweat and tears that went into making summer camp, and eventually a hockey mask, both terrifying and fun."
  In the 33 years since the original Friday the 13th premiered in May of 1980, the slasher franchise has grown to include twelve feature films, a television series, novels, comic books, merchandise and memorabilia. In addition to staggering box office success, the films turned Jason Voorhees and his signature hockey mask into a pop culture icon. Now fans can get an in-depth look that spans the entire history from those involved.

  This is going to be a spectacular release.  The film comes in a 3 disc set (1 Blu-ray, 2 DVDs) with a run time of 420 minutes!  You are gonna get your money's worth with this set, as the price is only $29.95!  And...if you pre-order your Blu-ray/DVD set from the official website, you will get a bonus DVD packed with over 4 additional hours of bonus interviews!   Don't pass this opportunity up, pre-order your copy today!

CLICK HERE to visit the official website and pre-order the Blu-ray/DVD

DVD Review: THE G-STRING HORROR (2012)

THE G-STRING HORROR
Directed by Charles Webb
Distributed by Apprehensive Films

I just finished watching THE G-STRING HORROR, and this is quite an interesting film to say the least!  I mean, check out that cover....how could you not like this film based on that cover alone! HA!  What is good as the film lives up to that awesome cover and is quite entertaining.  Here is the basic plot of the film from the film's official website:

When a production company starts shooting a horror film in a 100 year old ... and actually haunted ... Sid Grauman built movie palace turned strip club in San Francisco, the 'inhabitants' revolt and take over the movie for their own purposes with bizarre and shocking results.

This film is very interesting in that it is shot in a documentary style, with interviews from the people around the strip club telling their stories of the weird, paranormal activity they have witnessed through the years at the club.   The acting is actually very good in this movie for the most part, something I was a little surprised at to be honest with you.   There are some very creepy visuals as well, mainly from the character of "Baby Doll" that leaves mutilated baby dolls all over the place.  Not sure why, but baby dolls have always creeped me out for some reason!  Also, the "Baby Doll" demon (as seen on the cover) is pretty creepy as well in this movie, good makeup/special effects!

I really wasn't expecting to much out of this but it is actually pretty well done, especially since this is the first film from this director.  Not a bad debut by any means!  I look forward to future films from Mr. Webb.

THE G-STRING HORROR will be available on DVD June 18th of this year and will be available at CD Universe, DVD Planet, Amazon, and many other retailers. You can also Pre-Order the DVD by clicking the link below.

Special Features on the DVD include the following:

*  GHOST ADVENTURES meets THE G-STRING HORROR -- Interviews with the cast members involved with Ghost Adventures investigation of G-string location
*  NATHASHA'S BODY -- Natasha Talonz gets a special effects body mold
*  DEBRA LAMB - PSYCHIC  -- Debra Lamb reads the Market Street Cinema
*  SCREAM BLOODY MURDER -- Behind the scenes look at Baby Doll's murder


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

Check out the upcoming documentary, THE JEFFREY DAHMER FILES...

 
  Most of my readers know I love zombies.  I love books about them, movies about them...whatever.  But what you might not know is that I am a huge fan of true crime.  I have always been fascinated by books and films about serial killers.  I guess they just amaze me in that I find it unbelievable that people could do the things they do.  Most of their stories sound like a movie, rather than real life.  It's not a coincidence that many of the greatest horror movies of all time were based on real life serial killers such as Ed Gein and Albert Fish, just to a name a few.  
  While the fictional films are great, I really enjoy documentaries about serial killers.  This is why I am very excited about a new film called, THE JEFFREY DAHMER FILES  (or simply, JEFF, as it is being called for the festival circuit).   Jeffrey Dahmer was a serial killer from the early 90's, and probably the most publicized that I remember hearing about in my lifetime.
  Here is a little bit about the film from the film's official website:

  In 1991 Jeffrey Dahmer was arrested in Milwaukee and sentenced to 957 years in prison for killing 17 people and dismembering their bodies. ‘Jeff’ explores the city of Milwaukee by meeting those surrounding Dahmer during and after his hidden spree. Recollections from Milwaukee Medical Examiner Jeffrey Jentzen, Police Detective Patrick Kennedy, and neighbor Pamela Bass are interwoven with archival footage and everyday scenes from Dahmer’s life, working collectively to disassemble the facade of an ordinary man leading an ordinary existence.

  This sounds like a very cool project and hopefully I will get to check it out soon.  If so, I will do a full review on the 4H blog for ya!   Until then, check out the film's website for more info.  THE JEFFREY DAHMER FILES is scheduled to open February 15 at select theaters in New York and will be available on most Cable and Satellite On Demand services.


CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website

DVD Review: FAN OF THE DEAD (2007)

-------------Review by contributing writer Scott Baker------------------
   
FAN OF THE DEAD
Distributed by:  Cheezy Flicks

  Let’s face it: to fans like me, George Romero is almost a deity. The man has an amazing imagination and his track record of films prove it. He is a myth, a legend, and a reality, all rolled into one. So when Hayes offered me this documentary to review, I knew it was right for me.

 

  If you’re not familiar with FAN OF THE DEAD, here is the plot synopsis courtesy of the Cheezy Flicks website:

 

  In 1968, George Romero traumatized a whole generation with his legendary and revolutionary "Night of the Living Dead", which truly marks the birth of modern horror movies. This movie was followed by the cult classic "Dawn of the Dead" in 1978 and the apocalyptical "Day of the Dead" in 1985 and Night of the Living Dead (1990). The George Romero trilogy became instant classics. With a worldwide community of fans, the phenomenon is not without evoking the Star Wars mania! Camera in hand, Nicolas Garreau crossed the Atlantic Ocean from France to realize his dream. Roaming the steep roads day and night of a sometimes lugubrious Pennsylvania countryside, he found the locations and people who made the Romero zombie trilogy come alive. This DVD contains exclusive interviews with cast and crew members and reveals all the filming locations of the trilogy including locations not known to the public, like the missile launch pad of "Day of the Dead" and the real basement used in "Night of the Living Dead - 1968", a guided tour of the mall with Ken Foree and others, along with extras and bonus footage.

 

  I was surprised to find out that this documentary was actually a French-made production. The narrator/director is Nicolas Garreau and this film is actually a compilation of video clips that he put together from a trip he made to the United States a few years back. But what makes Garreau’s trip unique is that he used it to visit several of the filming locations of Romero’s films.

 

  In addition to the DEAD films, Romero had other noted works, such as CREEPSHOW. Garreau visits several locations in the DEAD genre as well as a couple from CREEPSHOW as well. During each visit, he manages to squeeze in some history as well as notable facts for each location.

 

  Probably the best section of FAN OF THE DEAD for me was when Garreau visits the Pittsburgh Comic Convention and gets to interact with several of the stars of the original DAWN OF THE DEAD, including Ken Foree and David Early. He then gets to tag along with them as they visit the mall where much of the film was shot. The stars point out specific locations for scenes in the film and tell interesting stories about the shoot as well.

 

  Because it’s a documentary, there’s really nothing to note as far as cinematography, acting, or special effects go. But there is plenty of information crammed into this hour-long film. Give this one a look if you want to see one man’s pilgrimage to his zombie-Graceland. 

 

-MSB-

 

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

DVD Review: AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE and NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE, AND BLUE double feature

  
I recently had the chance to check out a great set of documentaries from Lorber Films.  This was a 2 disc set consisting of the films AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE and NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE, AND BLUE.  Here are they synopsis' for each film from imdb.com:

AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE:
This documentary explores the hidden history of the American Exploitation Film. The movie digs deep into this often overlooked category of U.S. cinema and unearths the shameless and occasionally shocking origins of this popular entertainment

NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE, AND BLUE:
An exploration of the appeal of horror films, with interviews of many legendary directors in the genre.

Well, that is a pretty straightforward synopsis, but that is really all you need to know.   These films are simple, but very detailed at the same time.  I love documentaries about film, especially horror films, and I have seen quite a few.  These two films are easily the best horror documentaries I have ever seen.  AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE deals with more of the exploitation films than the pure horror films, and contains interviews with some of the top names in the business including John Landis, Joe Dante, Fred Olen Ray, and Herschell Gordon Lewis.   NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE,  AND BLUE focus' more on the true horror film including all the mainstream, well known films, to some you might not of ever heard of.  I learned about a film called ONE DARK NIGHT that I have never even heard of before.  A scene from that film looked so good that I immediately went and bought a copy off of ebay.  I'm sure there might be some references to films you might not know about either.

One thing that really sets these films apart from other horror docs is the production value.  These movies look excellent with animated menus and stats when put up on screen.  Also, unlike some other horror docs that just talk about a film and maybe show you a screen shot of that film, both of these films actually show you footage and scenes from the films they are discussing.  This is a huge thing that has really bugged me in the past with some horror docs.  Talking about the films is good, but to actually see the scene they are discussing is a huge help.    

These film are so much fun, I especially liked NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE, AND BLUE because it was like seeing a "greatest hits" ,so to speak, of all my favorite horror films.    These are must have films in my opinion and while they are available separately, you can get them together in a double feature set that is a great value for these 2 excellent films.


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE, AND BLUE
CLICK HERE to purchase the double feature DVD

DVD Review: THE LIFE OF DEATH

 
 
THE LIFE OF DEATH
A Documentary by Kevin J. Lindenmuth

I recently had the chance to watch a great documentary called, THE LIFE OF DEATH by filmmaker, Kevin J. Lindenmuth and Brimstone Media Productions. The film is about a subject that most people don't want to talk about or deal with...the subject of death. Here is the basic premise of the film from the official website:

For most everyone (alive that is), death is something that looms far off on the horizon. And although it is an unavoidable reality the perception of it differs widely from person to person.
This documentary explores how death is perceived by an eclectic group of individuals who work in the media and how it influences (or not) how they go about their lives and their work. This includes such people as spiritual journalist David Crumm, Troma head honcho Lloyd Kaufman, Author/artist Bob Fingerman, authors Jack Ketchum (OFF SEASON) and Keith R.A. DeCandido, special effects artist Tom Sullivan (EVIL DEAD), filmmaker Scooter McCrae (SHATTER DEAD), professional Tarot Card reader Sasha Graham, "Scream Queens" Debbie Rochon and Caroline Munro (DR. PHIBES, MANIAC), along with a host of others.
Through serious, hilarious and poignant interviews, you will see how the concept of death has taken on a life of its own in the 21st Century.

I have to admit, I wasn't super excited about sitting down and watching a documentary about death.  I mean, this isn't the blood and gore type film I usually like to watch.  But I am glad I did.  This is an amazingly in-depth look into the death, or more specifically, how we as humans perceive death.

Through a number of excellent interviews with genre icons such as Lloyd Kaufman, Debbie Rochon, Tom Sullivan, Tony Timpone, and Jack Ketchum just to name a few, we get very personal answers to such questions as, "What do you think happens after you die?" and "How do you want to die?"

It is very interesting to hear all the different answers to the same questions....everyone has a different view or opinion of death, proving that we really know nothing about it.   Some of the personal stories  are very effective and are very touching and emotional. 

This documentary reminded me of a class I took in college called "Death and Dying".  It was an interesting class that made people open up and talk about this subject matter that most people usually try to avoid talking about .  It is not a fun subject at all, but it is a topic that is very important to understand and be able to discuss.  This film is a good way to open the doors to discussion about death.



CLICK HERE to visit the official website and watch clips of the film
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD on Amazon.com or

For an autographed copy by the producer/director send check or money order for $24.95 to: (includes shipping)

Brimstone Media Productions, LLC
7900 State Street
Brighton, MI 48116

DVD Review: CROPSEY (2010)

CROPSEY
Directed by:  Barbara Brancaccio and Joshua Zeman
Distributed by:  Breaking Glass Pictures

A few nights ago I watched one of the best documentaries I have ever seen.  That might seem like a bold statement, but that is no exaggeration.  The film is called CROPSEY,  a documentary about the legend of an escaped mental patient on Staten Island that kidnapped kids and killed them back in the 1980's.  Here is the official plot from the Breaking Glass Pictures website:

Growing up on Staten Island, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio had often heard the legend of ‘Cropsey.’ For the kids in their neighborhood, Cropsey was the escaped mental patient who lived in the old, abandoned Willowbrook Mental Institution and would come out at night to snatch children off the streets. Later as teenagers, the filmmakers assumed Cropsey was just an urban legend: a cautionary tale used to keep them out of those abandoned buildings. That all changed in the summer of 1987 when 12-year-old Jennifer Schweiger disappeared from their community.

Now as adults, Joshua and Barbara have returned to Staten Island to create "CROPSEY", a feature documentary that delves into the mystery behind Jennifer and four additional missing children.  The film also investigates Andre Rand, the real-life boogeyman linked to their disappearances.  Embarking on a mysterious journey into the underbelly of their forgotten bouough, these filmmakers uncover a reality that is more terrifying than any urban legend.

Let me start off by saying that I am a huge fan of True Crime stories and movies.  I have seen a lot of documentaries about serial killers but this one is by far my new favorite.  This film is as good as the PARADISE LOST  films  (The documentaries about the West Memphis 3...it you haven't seen these, they are a must watch!), if not even better.

The filmmakers do an excellent job giving you the back story on the alleged killer, Andre Rand, as well as the history of Staten Island.   The film is full of old, original news footage, both newspaper and news video clips of the Rand case.

The old Willowbrook Mental Hospital is the centerpiece here, and we get some back story on it as well.  They even show us a clip from an old expose on the Hospital (while it was still in use) by a then unknown Geraldo Rivera!  The filmmakers spared no expense in covering every aspect of this legend and more specifically, the Hospital itself.  They take the cameras with into the now abandoned Hospital and down into the tunnels underneath the Hospital, which connected all the different buildings on the Hospital's campus.  This is very creepy, especially after seeing the scenes of what happened in this Hospital years ago. Almost everyone originally involved with this case is interviewed for this film.  It was very interesting to see the original news footage and see the people back then and then see them present day and hear them talk about this case with such detail.  This case obviously effected these people and you can tell it is something they will never forget.    The filmmakers even get candid interviews with the the parents of almost all the victims.  This is very chilling to see how these folks are effected by this tragedy so many years later.  Interviews with Andre Rands friends and even his own sister are very interesting as well.  All that is missing is an interview with Rand himself, which the filmmakers tried very hard to get as we see. 

Part horror, part suspense, and part drama, this film has something for everyone.  Was Andre Rand actually the 'Cropsey' all the kids told stories about?  Or was Rand just an easy target who was set up by the real killer........meaning the real killer is still out there among us?  We may never know.


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

DVD Review: BEST WORST MOVIE (2009)

H
BEST WORSE MOVIE
Directed by: Michael Stephenson
Distributed by: NEWVIDEO

For those that don't know, BEST WORSE MOVIE is a documentary about what some consider to be the worst movie ever made, TROLL 2. If you have never seen TROLL 2, do yourself a favor and get a copy NOW. It is a horrible film, yet it is sooo much fun to watch, hence the title of this documentary, BEST WORSE MOVIE!! On a side note, TROLL 2 has absolutely nothing to do with the original TROLL film, but T2 director, Claudio Fragasso, just used the popularity of that film title to try to gain an instant audience for his TROLL 2.

I was going to review TROLL 2 a while back after watching it for the first time, but I just couldn't figure out how. I couldn't decide if I wanted to write a good review about a bad movie that was actually fun to watch, or write a bad review for it since it is such a bad movie, even though it is fun to watch. Needless to say, that review never got done. This review will be a no brainer, though. No matter what you think about TROLL 2, you will absolutely love BEST WORST MOVIE. This is quite possibly one of the greatest documentaries about a film I have ever seen. Here is a little about this film from the film's official website:

In 1989, a group of unknown Utah actors starred in what would be crowned the worst movie of all time: TROLL 2. After two decades of running from this cinematic disaster, the cast can no longer hide from the legion of followers that celebrate them for their ineptitude.

BEST WORST MOVIE, directed by TROLL 2’s once-disgraced child star, Michael Paul Stephenson, unravels the stories of these unforgettable real-life characters and the colorful army of devotees who continue to revel in the film’s perfectly flawed brilliance.

At the center of this celebrated documentary is the improbable story of a small-town Alabama dentist-turned-cult-movie-icon, and an Italian filmmaker who come to terms (or doesn’t) with his internationally revered cinematic failure.

BEST WORST MOVIE is an affectionate and intoxicatingly fun tribute to the single greatest bad movie ever made and the people responsible for unleashing it on the world. The result is a hilarious and tender offbeat journey that pays homage to lovers of bad movies and the people who make them, while investigating a deeper story about the strange nature of celebrity, the catharsis of redemption and the humanity that exists in making even the worst movie ever made.

As stated above, the person behind this brilliant film is none other than Michael Paul Stephenson, the child star from the film who played the son, Joshua, in TROLL 2. Stephenson did a remarkable job with this documentary, getting interviews with almost every single cast member from the film, including even some of the actors that played the trolls! He then rounds up everyone he can to have one big screening of the film with all cast/crew in attendance.

The film focuses mainly on actor George Hardy, who played the Dad in the film. He is a dentist in Alabama now and while he is far removed from the Hollywood acting scene, he still reminisces about his acting days. Mr. Hardy is a very outgoing, super friendly and funny guy, and really is the main factor in this film being so entertaining. George Hardy is very proud of his role in TROLL 2 and is able to embrace it and have fun with it now. Footage of him attending multiple TROLL 2 screenings and Horror conventions across the country is very entertaining.

Other memorable interviews include that of Don Packard, who played the creepy Drug Store owner in TROLL 2. Mr. Packard is a very interesting man and tells about how he was dealing with a bad mental illness at the time of the filming of TROLL 2. Also, the interview footage of director Claudio Fragasso is very interesting as well. Fragasso thinks a lot of his film and thinks the film itself is wonderful, but carried out poorly by the actors.

One of the the most interesting and moving interviews was that with actress Margo Prey, who played the Mom in the film. Mrs. Prey seems like a very troubled individual now with many issues at hand. She has distanced herself from the film and acting in general while she takes care of many of her issues, one of which is caring for her elderly mother who lives with her. Mrs. Prey is the only member of the main cast that director Stephenson can't convince to come to the screening, even after he and Hardy make a personal trip out to her house. This is a very interesting scene in the documentary, as while she distanced herself from the film, she is kind enough to invite Stephenson and Hardy in to reminisce a bit about the film and even re-enact the famous car scene right in her living room! This is amazing footage that Director Stephenson did a remarkable job on capturing.

The film ends with a "what they are doing now" segment over the end credits, showing you what all the main cast/crew are up to these days. This is a great film that my review can't do justice. Do yourself a favor and get a copy of this film asap!

The DVD includes over an hour of exclusive bonus features, including:

* Deleted Scenes and Interviews
* Music Video
* Fan Contributions
* Filmmaker Q&A with Creative Screenwriting Magazine
* A Provocative Message from TROLL 2's Goblin Queen, Deborah Reed


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