Blu-ray Review: DEVIL'S KNOT

DEVIL'S KNOT
Directed by Atom Egoyan
Distributed by RLJ/Image Entertainment

  If you have followed the case of The West Memphis Three, then you surely know about the book DEVIL'S KNOT by Mara Leveritt.  That book is one of the best resources about this tragic case.   There have been many films about this case, all of which were documentaries if I recall correctly.  Most well known is the trilogy of PARADISE LOST films produced by HBO.   Atom Egoyan's film DEVIL'S KNOT is based on Leveritt's book, and is the first "Hollywood-ized" version of the WM3 story that I know about.   I was a little leery going in, wondering what a film with a big name actors would do to the WM3 story. Turns out, even though this is a big budget Hollywood film, it was just as informative as any other films or books out there on this subject.    Here is the basic synopsis from the Image Entertainment website:

  Academy Award® winners Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, 2010) and Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line, 2005) lead an all-star cast in this gripping, heart-wrenching true story that shocked the nation. May 5, 1993. West Memphis, Arkansas. Three young boys playing in the nearby woods never come home for dinner. In the rush to find and convict the killers, police focus on a trio of teenagers suspected of devil worship. As the mother of one of the murdered boys (Witherspoon) tries to come to grips with this unspeakable tragedy, she is desperate to believe that the killers have been found and will be brought to justice. It is only when an investigator (Firth) reveals that the evidence doesn’t all add up, that the community is forced to face the reality that the true killer might still be out there.

  First off, if you do not know anything about the West Memphis Three case, it a very sad and tragic case to follow.  I highly suggest you Google the subject and read up about it.  It is a truly fascinating case and should anger you at the way our Justice System works sometimes.  Everything started back in 1993 when three 8 year old boys were brutally murdered and the police accused and convicted 3 teenage boys of the crimes, even though they had zero evidence that tied any of them to the murders.
That sparked years of appeals and petitions to "Free the West Memphis Three", as most people could see that the teenage boys convicted of this crime most likely had no involvement in it.

  The film DEVIL'S KNOT gives a very accurate portrayal of all the events that occurred in this case.  The films is brilliantly acted from everyone involved, especially Reese Witherspoon who gives an incredibly touching and emotional performance as one of the Mothers of one of the murdered young boys.   Also, the actors they got to portray the 3 convicted teenagers, or the West Memphis 3, were spot on.  Each one looked remarkably like the real person they were portraying.

  This film is not easy to watch.  In fact, in a couple of places the film brought tears to my eyes.   Being the father of two 8 year old boys probably made this film hit home more than it would to some, but I think anyone and everyone will be effected in some way when they see this film.  The image of when the cops find the boy's bodies is truly heartbreaking, and was extremely well done in terms of looking very realistic.   That was the first scene that really got to me.   There were many other scenes that got to me, some that made me very sad, and then some that made me extremely angry.  You can't help but wonder how the West Memphis police department could do such a horrible job like they did with this case.   Evidence was lost, evidence not taken, etc. Very sad situation for all involved.  You feel for the parents of the murdered little boys, and you can't help but feel for the three teenagers that most likely did not do this crime.  The three convicted teenagers were finally released from prison back in 2011 after entering Alford Pleas, after serving over 18 years of their lives behind bars.

  Weather you know nothing about this case or think you know everything there is to  know, do yourself a favor and watch DEVIL'S KNOT.  While hard to watch due to the subject matter, it is a very well made film and worthy of your attention.

  DEVIL'S KNOT is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from RLJ/Image Entertainment and contains the following Special Features:

*  Deleted Scenes
*  The Making of Devil's Knot
* Getting Into Character:  The Cast of Devil's Knot featurette


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

DVD Review: CAMP DREAD (2014)

CAMP DREAD
Written & Directed by Harrison Smith
Distributed by Image Entertainment

  I really like Eric Roberts.  I really, really like Danielle Harris.  I really like slasher flicks.  I really, really like slasher flicks set at summer camps.   CAMP DREAD contains all of the above, yet for some reason, this film just didn't work for me.   Here is the basic plot of the film from the Image Entertainment website:

The “Summer Camp” horror trilogy was one of the most popular movie franchises of the 1980s. However, the decade ended and so did director Julian Barrett’s career. Now Barrett plans to resurrect his gory series via a modern reboot patterned after reality filmmaking. With his former leading lady and an eclectic group of 10 young “contestants,” Barrett returns to the same locale where his old splatter-fests were filmed. When one of the campers is found savagely murdered, they discover there’s more at stake than just fame and fortune. Each of them is in a fight for their lives as they realize summer is over – forever.

  CAMP DREAD had some good moments.  The film had some good kill scenes with some good gore.  The main problem is the pacing of the film and the dialog.  The film is very slow in parts, especially the first half of the film.  The second half is better when all the killings start taking place, but the beginning and middle parts seemed to drag on.  The script was good in terms of story line, but some of the dialog was just goofy and some was flat out dumb.   I do have to give props to the ending though, as it had a nice plot twist when it was revealed why all the "kids" were really at the camp.

 There is not much else I can really say about this one.  I was really excited for this film, and it was a let down for me.  It was nice to see Felissa Rose  back in a summer camp slasher flick for old time's sake, though!  Also, while Danielle Harris is very prominent on the DVD cover, she makes a cameo appearance with a total of about 2- 3 minutes of screen time  (that is my estimation, anyway).  One of my pet peeves is when movies bill a certain actor or actress as a main actor, then you find out they are only in the film briefly.

  Well, as I always say, this is just my opinion of the film.  Hopefully you all will like it better.  Watch it if you get the chance and let me know what you think.  If you have already seen CAMP DREAD, leave a comment below and let me know what you thought of it.

CAMP DREAD is available now on DVD.


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

Blu-ray Review: NUDE NUNS WITH BIG GUNS (2010)

 
NUDE  NUNS WITH BIG GUNS
Directed by:  Joseph Guzman
Distributed by:  IMAGE Entertainment

First off, let me start by saying if they gave awards for the best movie titles, this film would
win hands down!    NUDE NUNS WITH BIG GUNS is a title you just can't help but like.  I also love the two tag lines of the film:  "This Sister is one bad Mother" and "She's got a bad habit"!  HA....classic!    For those of you not familiar with the film, here is the basic plot from the film's official website:

Upon taking her vows to become a nun, Sister Sarah is abused, brainwashed and drugged into submission by the corrupt clergy. On the verge of death from a lethal dose of drugs, Sister Sarah receives a message from GOD telling her to take vengeance on all those who did her wrong. Armed with God's will and an arsenal of big guns, she dispenses Judgment Day on her former tormentors. When the church hires the merciless motorcycle gang the "Los Muertos" to track down and kill her they soon realize that this Sister is one bad Mother!

 NUDE NUNS WITH BIG GUNS is shot in an old Grindhouse style.  Many films have done this every since Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez made that genre popular again with their film, GRINDHOUSE, but not too many of these films really get it right.  You can tell it is a new movie just made to look older.   NNWBG does the hole grindhouse bit perfect.   The filmmakers did a perfect job from the font style of the opening credits to the music throughout the film.   If I didn't know better, you could tell me this was a long lost grindhouse film from the 70's and I just might have believed it.

This movie is dirty, gritty, and sleazy....and that is a compliment for this type of film.  That is what the old movies were like that played in those sleazy grindhouse theaters on 42nd Street in New York back in the 60's and 70's.   This movie would fit right in with the best of them all.    The idea of a nun going on a shooting rampage is a crazy idea, and seeing it carried out on screen is even crazier!

There are some hard parts to watch in this film, especially a couple of rape scenes, but the bad guys get what is coming to them by way of this ticked off Sister!   Armed with her guns and her sex appeal, she gets back at all those that have done here wrong, sparing no one in her quest to rid the land of the scum that inhabits it.   

Great action, some good gore, and full of beautiful women showing off their...well...big guns, this film has something for everyone!   Check this one out for sure!   The DVD and Blu-ray is available now.

Special features include the trailer and the NUDE NUNS WITH BIG GUNS original short film that inspired the full length feature film.


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

DVD Review: LITTLE DEATHS (2011)

 
LITTLE DEATHS
Directed by:  Sean Hogan, Simon Rumley, and Andrew Parkinson
Distributed by:  Image Entertainment

I had no clue what to expect from LITTLE DEATHS.  The cover looked cool, and the pics on the back were very intriguing, but you never know what you are going to get with a lot of films.  I had never even heard of this film, so I had no clue what to expect.  Sometimes the pictures on the cover make a film look better than it is.  I am glad to say for this film, that is not the case.  In fact, the few pictures you see on the back don't do it justice.  Before I go on, here is the basic plot courtesy of Image Entertainment:

Well-to-do home owners Richard and Victoria pose as religious do-gooders and lure homeless girls to their luxurious home. Apartment dwellers Claire and Pete invigorate their love life with a role-playing game with increasingly hazy boundaries. Jen and Frank, once prostitute and pimp, are now trying to make a go of things as an exclusive couple. Jen’s even in therapy with a psychiatrist, who is secretly working with her husband Frank. Each couple is in for a surprise. Richard and Victoria will have the tables turned on them by one of their lady victims; Claire will finally push Pete too far in their sexual game; and Jen and Frank can’t begin to imagine what their conspiring psychiatrist is up to. Little Deaths are little games that sometimes lead to the big one.

This film is very well made and the acting is wonderful. I can't think of a bad performance in any of the 3 parts to this anthology.   The first story, 'House and Home', was my favorite by far.  This story had the most gore, and was the scariest of the 3 to me.   In this one a couple brings home homeless women, promising them a hot bath and hot meal, but only lure them there to play sick and twisted sexual games with them, against their will.  Their latest victim, a homeless woman named Sorrow, is not as helpless as they might think and she puts an end to their little games. I won't say how she does this, but it came as a complete shock to me and was very scary. 

The second story called, 'Mutant Tool', was just messed up.  It is a crazy story about a mutant  that a scientist is harvesting semen from, because it has psychedelic effects when used as a drug.  Yes, you read that right, and I could not have made that up if I wanted to.   Full of weird and creepy visuals, this story is unfortunately the weakest of the three in my opinion. Sci-fi fans might enjoy this segment the best.

Finally, 'Bitch'is the story of a woman with an intense phobia of dogs.  She is in a very destructive relationship with a man she makes dress up as a dog in order to control him.  I guess this gives her a sense of empowerment that she has control over this "dog".  She is very controlling and demanding and eventually her boyfriend has had enough and gets back at her the best way he knows how.  I can't even describe what he does to her.....you will have to see this one to believe it.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed LITTLE DEATHS.  I liked it much better than I thought I would and would recommend it to anyone who is fan of extreme cinema, as there are quite a few very disturbing scenes.


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

DVD Review: THE REEF (2010)

   
THE REEF
Written & Directed by:  Andrew Traucki
Distributed by:  IMAGE Entertainment

Ok, I'll be honest. I wasn't real excited about another shark movie.  I mean, the sci-fi net work has almost wore me out with the shark films lately....SHARKTOPUS, DINOSHARK, etc.  Don't get me wrong, I liked these films, but I am ready to see something else.  But THE REEF is nothing like those movies mentioned above.  THE REEF is back to a 'real' shark movie.  The only shark movies I could compare THE REEF to would be OPEN WATER and yes, even the one that started them all....JAWS.  Here is the basic premise from the Image Entertainment website:

On the beautiful but dangerous waters of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, ship delivery man Luke and four friends chart a yacht to its new owner. Along the way, their ship is torn open by sharp rocks and begins to sink, leaving the passengers with a terrifying choice: stay on board with slim hope of rescue, or swim twelve miles to the nearest island… through shark-infested waters. When they enter the water, an unstoppable, relentless Great White immediately follows their trail for a white-knuckle chase that will fill the waters with blood! From the director of the acclaimed monster hit Black Water comes a pulse-pounding, visually stunning thriller that never lets go until the final, heart-stopping scream!
  
  Now don't get me wrong, this movie was no JAWS....but then, can any movie live up to that masterpiece?  I highly doubt it and it is probably unfair to compare a shark movie of today with that classic film.  But I will say this.....THE REEF gets awfully close.  In fact, I would say this is the most enjoyable shark film I have seen since watching the JAWS films.

  The acting in this film was superb, not a bad performance in the bunch, which is quite a rarity in most films these days.  The women were particularly good, giving performances where they looked and acted so scared, you wondered if the director told them they would be in the water with real sharks!  Oh yeah, did I mention they used REAL sharks for this film!  That's right, no CG sharks here..this is the real thing....and that shark is HUGE!

 THE REEF clocks in at a good time of 94 minutes...short enough that all the action is packed in tight leaving little to no slow or dull parts of the film.  That is one thing I really noticed about this film....I was entertained the entire time.    It hooked me in from the start and never let go until the end.  If I had to sum up THE REEF in one word it would be...intense.  My wife watched this movie with me (a rarity for sure, since she hates horror films) and she said the entire time her muscles were tensed up.  That is a sign of a great terror/horror film in my opinion!  

Check this one out for sure!  THE REEF is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Image Entertainment.


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



CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Image Entertainment

Blu-ray Review: THE VIOLENT KIND (2010)

THE VIOLENT KIND
Written and Directed by Mitchell Altieri and Phil Flores
Distributed by Image Entertainment

  THE VIOLENT KIND is not what you would expect...at least, it was nothing like what I expected.   From the looks of the DVD cover and then after watching the trailer, I expected more of an action/crime film than a true horror film.   But with elements that reminded me of THE EVIL DEAD films, and THE EXORCIST, this is most definitely a true horror movie.
Here is the basic plot synopsis from the Image Entertainment website:

Brace yourself for an unrelenting new horror classic that’s scary, rough, and willing to break all the rules! Your life will never be the same when you meet THE VIOLENT KIND, a ruthless pack of unstoppable psychopaths terrorizing the wilds of Northern California. Now they have their eyes on young Cody, the member of a notorious biker gang whose ex-girlfriend, Michelle (scream queen Tiffany Shepis), turns up hysterical, drenched in blood… and carrying a dark, terrifying secret. Unrelenting and wildly unpredictable, this acclaimed shocker from the Butcher Brothers, directors of the horror hit The Hamiltons, shocked audiences at Sundance and takes you on a wild ride you’ll never forget!
 
  As I stated above, this movie was nothing like what I expected.  I didn't expect it to be much of a horror movie at all, but it most certainly is.   Although, it is hard to say what sub-genre of a horror film this movie would fit into.    In fact, it is really hard to describe this film at all!  I'll be honest...I don't totally understand the film.....I'm still not sure exactly what happened to Tiffany Shepis' character or what is inside her now....but maybe we are not supposed to?  Who knows?  What I do know is that none of that matters when it comes to entertainment value of this film.  I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, even if it does leave me a bit confused and wanting to know a little more about what happened to these folks.  I assume this could have been done intentionally in order to set up a sequel, and if so, that is fine by me.  I will be first in line to part 2!

  While the film looks like it would be a typical biker/hostage type film, it is so much more than that.  I can't say to much, as I really don't want to give to much away, but you will witness a girl who is apparently "possessed" by....well...something, as well as some supernatural elements and even...aliens?  I will let you be the judge of that.  I could be way off here, but like I said, this film kinda leaves some things up in the air for you to decide for yourself.

  The acting is superb in this film....not a bad actor in the bunch.  Joe Egender plays the leader of the "bad guys" and gives a remarkable performance.  You know he is bad, but you just can't help to like him!  The make up and effects are excellent as well.   While there is a little CG, most all of the blood and gore is made up of practical effects, and there is quite a bit of blood and gore on display here.  

  One last thing I want to mention about this film is the music.  I normally don't notice music too much in a film, but when I do, I know it must be good.  There is one scene in particular where there is a very disturbing thing happening on camera, but the music that starts playing is a very upbeat, light song.   The contrast of uplifting song paired with a gruesome scene of violence hasn't been used so well since the ear scene from RESERVOIR DOGS.  Kudos to the filmmakers on that awesome feat!

  Overall, this is one of the better films I have seen this year.  It blew my expectations away.  Check this one out for sure!


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

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Image Entertainment

DVD Review: THE RESIDENT (2011)

H

THE RESIDENT

Directed by:  Antti Jokinen

Distributed by:  Image Entertainment

I just watched...no, experienced the latest Hammer Films production of THE RESIDENT.  This is Hammer's follow up to last years, LET ME IN, and this is two "home runs" in a row.   While it will be hard to top the genius that was LET ME IN, this latest film from Hammer Films is a worthy followup, and one I enjoyed almost just as much.  NOTE:  Slight Spoiler Alert.  If you want to go into this film knowing nothing, please do not read this review until after you have seen the film.  Although, nothing in the review below tells you anything that you don't find out too early in the film. Here is the films synopsis from the Image Entertainment website:

Juliet (Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby), a beautiful doctor, has found the perfect New York apartment to start a new life after separating from her husband. It's got spacious rooms, a spectacular view, and a handy, handsome landlord. But there are secrets behind every wall and terror in every room as Juliet gets the unnerving feeling that she is not alone. She is being watched. She is being stalked. And no one is safe when she discovers the relentless horror on her doorstep. But how do you stop an evil that you can't see...until it's too late? Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Grey's Anatomy) and screen legend Christopher Lee (The Lord of the Rings) costar in this pulse-pounding shocker from famed horror studio Hammer Films (Let Me In).

While there are many great aspects of this film, I have to start with the acting.  I have never been a huge fan of Hilary Swank, but after seeing her in this film, that opinion has changed.  Swank did an outstanding job playing a woman who was wronged by her husband.  She comes across at first as emotionally weak and vulnerable, yet she does a remarkable job of going from victim to a strong woman who stands her ground and stands up for herself.

 
Jeffrey Dean Morgan probably gives the best performance overall. He plays the stalker of Swanks character in the film, who watches her through peepholes in her walls and also from within her apartment at times! While at first very charming and polite, he does a complete 180 and plays one of the most menacing, creepy characters ever caught on film. While this might be somewhat of a spoiler, you find this out pretty early in the film, so it's not like a surprise ending that is being ruined. Just look at the DVD cover and you can tell who the "bad guy" is. 

 

Also worth noting is the amazing Christopher Lee.  While he has a very small role in the film, with little screen time, he manages to set a very eerie vibe for the film.  Christopher Lee seems to get better with age and is in a time in his life where he is at his most creepy and sinister.  If you want to make your Horror movie better, just hire this man.  He should be in every scary movie in my opinion!

 

While the acting was superb, everything else about this film is wonderful as well.  The music is great, setting a very creepy tone. Also worth noting is the use of light and shadows.  When Swank's character hears things in her apartment, the camera will scan the room and sometimes you will catch a glimpse of a shadow of the person watching her, but you never see who it is at first.  Later we find that it was Morgan's character Max, the building's owner.  He hides in her apartment, sometimes slipping a sleeping agent into her drinks, and then watches her as she sleeps.  The thought of someone watching you from just inches away as you sleep is a very scary thought to me.  

 
While all the characters are great, the apartment building is almost a character in itself.  It is a very old building with lots of hidden rooms and access ways to all the rooms, used by Max to get from room to room and sneak into the apartments.   The chase through this hidden inner hallway is a great scene, with an ending you won't want to miss!
 
Overall, this is one of the better movies I have seen in a while.  While it is more thriller/suspense than actual Horror, it is still a very scary, creepy film that I would highly recommend to any Horror fan.  THE RESIDENT was released today, 3/29, so check your local stores or click the link below to purchase!

 

 

 CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

 CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

DVD Review: DAMNED BY DAWN (2009)

I recently had the privilege of checking out one of Image Entertainment's newest releases, DAMNED BY DAWN. I posted the trailer back in May of this year and have been looking forward to this film ever since. The trailer was amazing and I was hoping the movie would be as good as the trailer made it seem to be. Well, I am happy to say I was not disappointed. In fact, the movie wasn't just as good as the trailer made it look, but it was even better. DAMNED BY DAWN was written and directed by Brett Anstey. This was Mr. Anstey's first feature film, and he has set the bar extremely high. Here is the basic plot from the Image Entertainment website:

Spoken of only in fearful whispers, a supernatural force holds a chilling grip over a remote, primitive farming community where Claire (Renee Wilner) arrives to visit her ailing grandmother. On her deathbed, the old woman warns Claire about the cost of interfering with a powerful spirit coming to claim her soul, and when the rest of the family fails to heed these ancient traditions, the dead are called up from their graves for a bloody night of retribution that leaves carnage and monstrous mayhem in its wake! A riveting roller coaster of terror in the tradition of The Evil Dead and Drag Me to Hell, this acclaimed new vision of horror reveals that there truly are things in the night much more frightening than death!

I almost hate to do a review of this film because I don't believe I have the vocabulary to properly explain how good this film is. Usually I start a review pointing out any negatives of a film, and then point out all the positives in order to end on a good note. With this film, I have absolutely nothing negative to say. Everything about this film is wonderful in my opinion.

The acting is top notch, even though the film does not contain any "big name" actors, at least that I am familiar with. I really like when movies, especially Horror movies, use newcomers and lesser known actors. It adds to the believability of the film and makes the characters much more believable.

The story is also a great one, a supernatural tale of a banshee, who's scream wakes the dead!
The dead come back as flying skeletons, some shrouded in a cloaks and resembling the grim reaper. The plot is simple and easy to follow, which lets you not have to worry about following a complicated story line, and lets you concentrate on the real star of this film, which is the visuals.

Visually, this is one of the most stunning films I have ever seen. The direction and cinematography are spot on and truly make this film. The entire film is very dark and atmospheric, with blues and grays being the primary colors in the film. Rolling fog and eerie music really sets a creepy tone for the film.

The film is not extremely gory, although there is one particularly gory scene, but gore is a not the main effect in this film. The main effects are those of the banshee and the ghost-like skeleton creatures. The film is very spooky overall, and actually gave me a few big scares..something that is very rare with most films these days. I have seen enough Horror films to usually know when a big jump scare is coming. I can usually always tell by the music or other clues, so I am prepared and I don't let them catch me off guard. I was not able to do that with this film. I actually jumped a couple times after being startled by this film. Kudos to the filmmakers for that!

Overall this is by far one of the best Horror films I have seen in years. In fact, I am going to go on and say that this is one of my new favorite Horror films of all time. Definitely in my top 10....maybe even in my top 5 Horror movies of all time! The description on the DVD describes the film as a "roller coaster of terror in the tradition of THE EVIL DEAD and DRAG ME TO HELL". This is a perfect description of this film. It really is a perfect blend of those two films. If you are an EVIL DEAD fan, you should love this movie. In fact, any Horror fan should love this film. This is one I will definitely be watching again very soon!

DAMNED BY DAWN is available now on both DVD and Blu-ray and contains the following special features:

* Cast Audio Commentary
* Crew Audio Commentary
* "Making Of" Documentary
* Trailer


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

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Image Entertainment