DVD Review: ABSENTIA (2011)

  

  
ABSENTIA
Written & Directed by:   Mike Flanagan
Distributed by:  Phase 4 Films

 I had never heard of the film, ABSENTIA, before it arrived in my mailbox, so to be honest, I wasn't super excited or motivated to watch it.  There are so many horror films that come and go without much notice, and usually it is for a good reason.  You have to weed through a lot of bad films to find a good one, and I am happy to say this film is a "needle in the haystack" of horror films.  Everyone should know about this film and it is a shame that it hasn't received more fanfare.  
Here is the basic plot of the film from the Phase 4 Films website:
 
 Tricia's husband has been missing for seven years. Her younger sister Callie comes to live with her as the pressure mounts to finally declare him 'dead in absentia.' As Tricia sifts through the wreckage and tries to move on with her life, Callie finds herself drawn to an ominous tunnel near the house. As she begins to link it to other mysterious disappearances, she comes to the realization that his presumed death might be anything but 'natural.' Soon it becomes clear that the ghostly force at work in the tunnel might have set its sights on Callie and Tricia too.                            
 
 I loved everything about this film.   I would be lying if I said I understood it completely, but that is part of what makes me like it so much.  It is not a simple "I-saw-that-coming" type of horror film.  This is a smart horror film with a great story with many different levels.  What you think is basic supernatural type of film turns into almost a creature feature towards the end.  I wont say much more about that in fear of spoiling anything for you.
 
 On paper, I really shouldn't have liked this film so much.  There is no blood or gore to speak of (although there is a messed up looking body at one point), no special effects for the most part, and not  any slasher like killing.   Heck, there is not even the typical horror movie nudity thrown in to this film.  ABSENTIA is too smart for that and is above that.   What you do get is brilliant acting by everyone involved  (especially by the two female leads, played by Katie Parker and Courtney Bell).
 
 The film is very suspenseful and really plays to the dark and dreadful emotions of loosing a loved one.  Not just loosing a loved one, but the fear of a loved one going missing and having to declare them "dead in absentia" even though the slight chance is out there that he or she may still be alive.   That lack of closure would be a horrible feeling and Bell emotes this feeling with perfection in her portrayal of Tricia, who's husband went missing 7 years ago.
 
 Please do yourself a favor and check out ABSENTIA as soon as you can.  You will not be disappointed.  ABSENTIA was released on DVD on March 13, so should be available at a store near you, or order from the link below.   Special features on the DVD include:

*  ABSENTIA:  A Retrospective
*  Producer and Actor Commentary
*  Camera Test Teaser
*  Deleted Scenes
*  Trailer

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

Check out the creepy trailer for Eric Hurt's horror thriller, HOUSE HUNTING

 
 I just got a press release for the film HOUSE HUNTING, and I jut had to share it.  I knew nothing about this film before reading the press release, but it looks like it is going to be a very fun film.  It is a haunted house flick, which I love.  Here is the basic plot courtesy of Phase 4 Films:

Two families attend an open house in the hopes of finding their dream home. Upon entering, their dream quickly becomes a hellish nightmare when they realize that every attempt to leave takes them right back to the front door. Stuck in this purgatory, the two families are haunted by the deserted home’s former owner with the declaration that only one of the two families will be able to call this house their home.
 
  Phase 4 Films has released some wonderful genre films lately, and it looks like this will be another great one to add to the list!  The film is directed by Eric Hurt, and is being released on Video On Demand by Phase 4 Films.  In fact, the film is available now on Comcast, Cox, Insight and Cable Vision!   Check out this film asap!  Let me know what you think of it once you see it!

Also, you gotta love the cool, retro looking movie poster!   Very nice!
 
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

DVD Review: SWEET KARMA (2009)

 ------Review by contributing writer Scott Baker------


SWEET KARMA
Directed by:  Andrew Thomas Hunt
Distributed by:  Phase 4 Films

 

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a good female-revenge flick, so I was pretty happy when Hayes handed me SWEET KARMA to review. The cover is very inviting, after all, with a woman in bra and panties holding a handgun; I mean, how can you not be curious?

  

If you are not familiar with SWEET KARMA, here is the plot synopsis courtesy of Phase 4 FIlms:

  

Karma Balint is a shy, mute Russian girl whose sister Anna left for Canada with bright hopes of making some money for the two of them. When Karma discovers that Anna’s body has been found in the woods, the apparent victim of a Russian mafia hit, Karma sets off to infiltrate the criminal underworld to avenge her sister. Her journey takes her through the twisted underbelly of society leaving behind death and mayhem in her wake.                           

 

I loved this movie. It has a gritty, underworld feel to it and is full of dark themes and overtones. You truly feel for Karma as she searches for her sister’s killers...and you relish the vengeance that she doles out. And, boy, does she dole it out!

  

SWEET KARMA is a vicious film with some excellent ‘revenge’ scenes. The seductive yet fatal ways that Karma gets rid of the killers is almost entrancing to watch; you literally have a hard time pulling your eyes away from the screen! For example, Karma leads one of the men into a restroom where she starts kissing him. Thinking that Karma is an easy dancer, the man lets his guard down...and pays a horrific price for it. Karma tricks him into thinking he’s snorting cocaine off of her breast, but it’s actually laundry detergent. While the guy is floundering around in some massive pain, she knocks him down and then ‘hangs’ him on the hand-rail!

  

The acting in SWEET KARMA is very good, with actress Shera Bechard doing a superb job in the titular role of Karma. Portraying a shy, mute beauty from Russia is not an easy task, I’m sure, but Bechard pulls it off with ease. I look forward to seeing her in future films.

  

SWEET KARMA doesn’t have many special effects, except for some blood, but it’s well done. The film is shot well, although I have to admit that a few of the scenes were pretty dark and hard to make out. Still, that doesn’t detract from the film overall and is a minor inconvenience. 

 

Not to give too much away, but the film has a great twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. I will obviously not spoil it for you, but you should definitely check this one out to see what happens. If you liked I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE, you will love SWEET KARMA.

  

-MSB-

  

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

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
 

DVD Review: CORNERED!

I recently had the opportunity to check out the great slasher film, CORNERED! The film was directed by Daniel Maze and is being distributed by Phase4Films. Here is the basic plot from the Phase4Films website:

During their nightly poker game, a group of lowlifes are terrorized in their own convenience store by a masked killer as players begin to disappear one by one. Be warned & watch what you say… someone may be listening!

It seems that there have been quite a few good 'ol Slasher films coming out on DVD lately. This is a very welcomed trend, and I hope to see it continue...especially if the Slasher films are as good as this one. CORNERED is a throwback to the slasher films of the 80's but manages to stay fresh and bring something new to this saturated sub-genre of Horror films.

When the movie starts, the employees are getting ready to head upstairs for their game of poker, but as they are buying their snacks and drinks, they begin to discuss a killer that is on the loose in their city that has been targeting convenience stores and their employees. Their conversation turns to what they would do if they caught him in their store. Each one tells how they would kill this serial killer. Well, when the killer traps them in the store, and starts offing the employees one by one, he turns their ideas back on them, killing each one in the way that they had mentioned. I won't say anymore, as I really don't want to spoil this one for you.

The acting in this film is excellent....I don't remember a bad actor in the bunch. Most of the actors I had never seen before, although you will recognize James Duval from his many films and, of course, Steve Guttenberg. Guttenberg is as likable as ever, although can you ever look at this guy without seeing Sgt. Mahoney?

The pacing of this film is perfect, with almost no slow points and action and suspense throughout. The kills are violent and very bloody. This is a great slasher film that stays true to the genre, yet brings its own uniqueness with it. I would highly recommend this film for any Horror fan.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to view the official CORNERED! movie site

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Phase4Films

DVD Review: RED HOOK (2009)

I recently watched the movie RED HOOK, and I have to tell you this is one of the better Horror movies I have seen in quite some time. The film was written by Sammy Buck and Elizabeth Lucas and was directed by Elizabeth Lucas as well. The film is distributed by Phase 4 Films.
Here is the plot synopsis from imdb.com:

Ten years after witnessing her older sister's brutal murder, Jenny Traylor leaves her hometown in North Carolina to start her freshman year at the University of New York City. Still traumatized by her sister's death and struggling with crippling agoraphobia, Jenny tries to cope with the overwhelming city and figure out her new life. When Jenny's over-enthusiastic Resident Advisor organizes a Welcome Week scavenger hunt, Jenny is reluctantly persuaded to join the game. But as she and her new friends decipher the cryptic clues texted to their cell phones - clues that lead them through darker and increasingly remote parts of the city - it becomes terrifyingly clear how high the stakes have become. Someone is hunting for real.

I have a feeling that not too many of you horror fans out there know about this film or have ever even heard of it. I know I hadn't heard anything about it going into it. I am so glad I watched this film and hope you check it out for yourselves. I love when I run across a Horror movie that I don't have any real expectations for and come away really having enjoyed watching the film.
RED HOOK is a good mix between a slasher film and a classic murder mystery. A who-done-it sort of film, if you will. The movie is very stylish and there is a telephone theme running all throughout the movie that is interesting. Phones play a major part in this film (the scavenger hunt clues are given out by text messages). The opening credits are done in a very interesting way, with the names being put up in numbers first then turning into the letters that make up the names (with the numbers turning into the to the corresponding letters on a phone's keypad).
The acting in this movie is superb for this type of lower budget film with no big name actors. Christina Brucato as Jenny and Hollis Scarborough as AnGela (that is An-GEL-a...not Angela and she reminds Jenny upon their first meeting) both gave excellent performances in this film. The character of AnGela brought some comic relief to the film throughout and has some really funny lines.
Ok, now to the good stuff...I'm sure you want to know about the kills in this film. There are quite a few, but only a few are actually seen on-screen. BUT...the few that are seen are very well done, very graphic, and brutal. Don't worry, you will see plenty of the red stuff in this film! One of the more gruesome scenes involves a woman getting stabbed in the lower stomach by the killer who is standing behind her.....the killer then pulls the knife up and cuts from her lower stomach all the way to the top of her chest! ICK!!
The ending is a nice twist, with the killer being revealed and, of course, is not who everyone thought it was. Fans of this type of movie will probably see this coming, and guess the killer pretty early on, but that shouldn't keep you from enjoying this film at all.
Overall this is a great film that I would highly recommend. I hope to see more from director Elizabeth Lucas in the future.


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for RED HOOK
CLICK HERE to visit the RED HOOK official website

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Phase 4 Films