Blu-ray Review: A DOG CALLED...VENGEANCE (1977)

 

A DOG CALLED...VENGEANCE

Directed by:  Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi

Distributed by:  Severin Films / MVD

 Severin Films has always been one of my favorite distribution companies.   They put out some amazing releases of classics that are well known, but then they release some very obscure, hidden gem type titles that you may have never heard of.   Such was the case for me with the recent release of the 1977 film, A DOG CALLED...VENGEANCE!   Here is the plot synopsis from the Severin Films website:

  Less than two years after the end of Spain’s oppressive Franco regime, Goya Award winning filmmaker Antonio Isasi (THEY CAME TO ROB LAS VEGAS, SUMMERTIME KILLER) co-wrote and directed the action blockbuster that shocked European audiences and became one of the most culturally-charged survival thrillers of the decade: Best Supporting Actor Oscar® nominee and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Jason Miller (THE EXORCIST, THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON) “gives a fantastic performance” (This Is Quiet Cool) as a political prisoner who escapes custody, only to be relentlessly pursued by a military dictatorship dog driven to hate, hunt and kill. Donatello Award winner Lea Massari (L’AVVENTURA) and Goya Award winners Marisa Paredes (HIGH HEELS) and Juan Antonio Bardem (THE CORRUPTION OF CHRIS MILLER) co-star in “one of a master director’s most significant films” (Madriz), now scanned in 2K from the original camera negative.

  While not a horror film in the regular sense of the word, I feel this film is definitely a close cousin to the horror genre.  While is is definitely more of an Action/Thriller, there are some horror elements to it for sure, including a bit of gore.  You could classify this as a creature feature for sure, in the likes of JAWS, or any other film where animals attack and kill humans.  The dog in this film is trained to kill, and does not give up until he gets his man!   

  At the very beginning, when the star of the film, Aristides, is shown, I knew I had seen that actor somewhere.  After looking on IMDb, I kicked myself for not realizing this was the actor that played Father Karras in 1973's THE EXORCIST.   I don't recall ever seeing him in anything other than THE EXORCIST before, so that was fun to see him in completely different role.   He does some things in this film that Father Karras would definitely not be proud of!

 The action in this film is great, with the intensity of the dog chasing right behind Aristides throughout the film.  There were some very cool camera shots, making it look like we were seeing what was happening through the dog's eyes.  The intensity never lets up, until the film comes to the end with a bang!   Watch the movie and you'll see what I mean!  

 The film is unique in that it starts like a typical 1970's grindhouse type film, but then transitions to more of a political drama/action film in the 2nd half.   That being said, I did feel in 2nd half of the film dragged on a bit in some sections, and the 115 minute run time could have been trimmed down a bit in my opinion.   That is my only complaint with this film, though, as overall I found it very enjoyable and am happy to have discovered this one!  

 One thing I must note, is that this film does depict some violence against the dog, but that dog did his fair share of damage as well!   I know violence against animals bothers some people, so just wanted to throw that out there before you watch it.  Rest assured, through, that no animals were harmed in the filming of this movie.   There is even a disclaimer from the director before the movie starts letting you know this.  

 If you like creature feature type horror films, and action/ survivalist films, you'll want to check this one out for sure!

A DOG CALLED...VENGEANCE is available now from Severin Films and contains the following Special Features:

• A Film Ahead Of Its Time – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival
• Memories Of A Guerilla Woman – Interview With Actress Marisa Paredes
• Daughter Of Titans – Interview With María Isasi, Daughter Of Director Antonio Isasi And Actress Marisa Paredes
• Trailer

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: OBSESSIONS (1969)

OBESSIONS
Directed by  Pim de la Parra
Distributed by Cult Epics / CAV Distributing

 I haven't done a review for a Cult Epics release in a while, so I was glad to get the chance to review one of their latest releases, OBSESSIONS.  This is a very interesting crime/thriller from director Pim de la Parra and was co-written by Martin Scorsese!  I had never heard of this film before, but I really enjoyed this one.  Here is some more info about the film from the Cult Epics website:

  The obscure film OBSESSIONS (aka HOLE IN THE WALL) was directed by Dutch artsploitation auteur Pim de la Parra and co-produced by longtime collaborator Wim Verstappen (BLUE MOVIE). This gritty, psychedelic Hitchcockian mystery, which is notable for being the first Dutch film shot in English-language, starts in a savagely brutal fashion. When a bloody painting of Vincent van Gogh falls from a wall and exposes a makeshift peephole, student protagonist Nils Janssen (played by the film’s German co-producer Dieter Geissler) becomes an unwitting witness to a gruesome sex crime next door.  When his young fiancée Marina (Alexandra Stewart of Truffaut’s DAY FOR NIGHT), an enterprising journalist, tells him about a report of a murder that she is writing, he naturally wonders if it’s the very same killing.

  This classic exploitation film was the birth of auteur cinema in Holland, and inspired legendary filmmakers such as Paul Verhoeven to make their start in the industry.  Originally distributed in over 100 countries, the film remained unreleased in the U. S. (and France) – until now.  Perhaps most notably, the film was co-written by a young Martin Scorsese, who shot the legendary erotic dream sequence for his first feature WHO’S THAT KNOCKING AT MY DOOR (1968) in Amsterdam, that same year.  Additionally, the film also stars legendary Dutch filmmaker Fons Rademakers (MIRA, THE ASSAULT), is edited by Henry Rust (CHILDREN OF PARADISE) and scored by Hitchcock composer Bernard Herrmann (TAXI DRIVER, SISTERS, VERTIGO). OBSESSIONS is a curious cultural hybrid where late-1960s Dutch exploitation and classic Hollywood Hitchcock collide in a provocative and revolutionary fashion. Blu-ray/DVD Combo.

 

  This was a very interesting film, not horror so much, more of just a dark mystery/thriller.  It reminded me of the early Giallo films of Dario Argento, although this is not a true Giallo film by any means.    The movie was very well made and was different in that a lot of the key action takes place in the apartment next to our main character, Nils,  with the camera looking through the peephole in the wall.  This was a unique way to witness key scenes and made you feel like you were a part of the action!  

  

   The film was very suspenseful throughout, but especially so in one scene where Nils breaks into the neighbor's apartment and gets trapped there as the man comes back before he has a chance to get out.  Nils hides under the bed hoping to not get caught, while his girlfriend makes a distraction and gets the man to leave his apartment so Nils can finally escape.  I was on the edge of my seat during the scene, nervous that Nils was going to get caught! 

 

  While OBSESSIONS is pretty tame by today's standards, it has a good story and keeps you entertained the entire running time, or at least it did me anyway.   I would definitely recommend this one!

  OBESSIONS will be available May 30th on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and will contain the following special features:


. New HD Transfer (from original 35mm film)
. Introduction by director Pim de La Parra (HD, 2017)
. Introduction by actor/producer Dieter Geissler (HD, 2016)
. Interview with Pim de La Parra (HD, 2017)
. Interview with Dieter Geissler (HD, 2016)
. Interview with Martin Scorsese (Volkskrant, 2017)
. Scorpio Films (Excerpt from Parradox documentary, HD 2010)
. Original Dutch Theatrical Trailer (HD)
. Script notes by Martin Scorsese 
. Obsessions photo video gallery


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

M. Night Shyamalan's SPLIT is tearing it up at the box office!

   If you have not seen M. Night Shyamalan's newest film, SPLIT, it looks like you need to go check it out.  I have not seen it yet, but I plan on doing so this week!   The film has spent quite a few weeks at the #1 spot grossing over $112 Million Dollars as of today.  That is extremely impressive for a film with an estimated budget of only $9 Million Dollars! 

  I know a few horror fans that have not been a big fan of Shyamalan's lately based on his last few films, but it looks like this one is definitely finding a fan base!   Here is a little bit about the film from the film's official website:

  Writer/director/producer M. Night Shyamalan returns to the captivating grip of The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs with Split, an original thriller that delves into the mysterious recesses of one man’s fractured, gifted mind. Following last year’s breakout hit The Visit, Shyamalan reunites with producer Jason Blum (The Purge and Insidious series, The Gift) for the film.
  While the mental divisions of those with dissociative identity disorder have long fascinated and eluded science, it is believed that some can also manifest unique physical attributes for each personality, a cognitive and physiological prism within a single being.
  Though Kevin (James McAvoy) has evidenced 23 personalities to his trusted psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher (Betty Buckley), there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and dominate all the others. Compelled to abduct three teenage girls led by the willful, observant Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy, The Witch), Kevin reaches a war for survival among all of those contained within him—as well as everyone around him—as the walls between his compartments shatter apart.
  For Split, Shyamalan and Blum reassemble their core team from The Visit, the No. 1-grossing horror film of 2015. Their fellow collaborators include producer Marc Bienstock and executive producers Ashwin Rajan and Steven Schneider.


Check out the trailer if you haven't yet:





If you have seen the film, please leave a comment below and let me know what you thought of the film.


CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website

Blu-ray Review: MASKS (2011)

MASKS
Written & Directed by  Andreas Marschall
Distributed by  Reelgore Releasing / CAV Distribution

  I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Andreas Marschall's MASKS is one of the best horror movies you have never heard of.   I know I had never heard of it, so I assumed it was a brand new film.  Turns out, it was made back in 2011 but just now getting U.S. distribution thanks to the awesome new extreme genre label, ReelGore Releasing.   Here is the basic plot of the film from the ReelGore website:

  Stella longs to be an actress. When she is accepted to a private school in Berlin, her dream seems to come true. But there is something wrong with the “Matteusz Gdula-Institute”. In the seventies, the school´s founder, Matteusz Gdula, practiced a learning style that promised to let students shine by driving them to their mental limits. In the end his method was banned, as mysterious deaths occurred during his lessons and Gdula committed suicide.At night, Stella hears eerie sounds in the corridors of the school. A fellow student disappears. Stella suspects that behind the closed door to the abandoned, forbidden wing of the school lurks a bloody secret.
A secret that kills the students...

  I had no clue what to expect going into this film, but what I got was a an amazing horror film.  Part slasher, part psychological thriller, part giallo, and part arthouse film all rolled up into one very entertaining movie.  

  A few things really stood out for me, the first one being the music used in this film.  The film has a very haunting theme that plays at many times throughout the film.   The theme is amazing and is a perfect, creepy fit for this film.  It's not often that I really pay attention to the music in horror films, but this one demands your attention for sure.  

  Another thing that stood out was the kills/gore.   I have seen tons of horror films and not many make me jump or cringe anymore, but this film made me do both, and at one particular kill, made me do both at the same time.  I actually let out a yell during the first kill that seemed to come out of nowhere and really caught me off guard!

  I also picked up on some nods or inspiration from other famous films/directors, most notably Dario Argento and the film SUSPIRIA.   The acting school here reminded me a lot of the ballet school from SUSPIRIA, both are run by some creepy women and both hold secrets beyond the walls of the schools.   Also, Argento's use of color and color schemes was on display here in full force...and done quite well.    

  This movie was extremely suspenseful, and I am putting this among my top films I have seen this year.   Give it a watch and let me know what you think.     The Blu-ray/DVD/CD combo pack is available now from ReelGore Releasing and contains the following special features:


*  EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK CD
*  BEHIND THE SCENES
*  DELETED SCENES
*  MUSIC VIDEO CLIP
*  TRAILER & SLIDESHOW


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

Blu-ray Review: YOU'RE NEXT

YOU'RE NEXT
Directed by:  Adam Wingard
Distributed by Lionsgate

  I remember seeing the trailers for YOU'RE NEXT when this film came out in the theaters, but I never got a chance to see this one.  I heard good things about this film when it came out, but I'm really surprised I didn't hear more.  This is one of the most enjoyable horror films I have seen in years!  Here is the basic plot from the Lionsgate website:

  Aubrey and Paul Davison decide to celebrate their wedding anniversary by inviting their four children and their significant others to a family reunion at their remote and slightly rundown weekend estate. But the family reunion goes awry when their home comes under siege by a mask-wearing team of crossbow-bearing assailants. The family has no idea who’s attacking them, why they’re under attack, or if the attackers are inside or outside the cavernous, creaking house. All they know for certain is that nobody is safe.

   As I mentioned, this is one of the better horror movies I have seen in years.  This film is chock full of good scares, great gore, and even some dark humor.  The film is very well done, with great acting by most all actors involved.  The style of the movie is very cool, with a great use of music to intensify some scenes, and then eerily contrast with some others.  The 1977 song, "Looking For The Magic" by the Dwight Twilley Band is a very light, upbeat song, but is used in scenes that are very disturbing.  The horror onscreen contrasting with the bubbly pop song really makes an impression.  I liken this to the way the old Stealers Wheel song, "Stuck In The Middle With You", was used in the torture scene in the film RESERVOIR DOGS.   This is probably the best use of music in a movie I can remember in some time.

  Home invasion flicks are some of the scariest to me, as these are things that could, and do, happen all over the world, every day.   It's a very scary thought and this movie does a great job of roping you in and making you feel as uneasy as the poor victims in this film.   The movie reminded me a lot of THE STRANGERS, except I thought this was far better.  If you enjoyed that movie, I think you will most definitely enjoy YOU'RE NEXT!

  YOU'RE NEXT was just released on home video this past Tuesday, the 14th.  It is available on DVD or a DVD/Blu-ray/UltraViolet combo pack, and included the following special features:

*  "No Ordinary Home Invasion:  The Making Of YOU'RE NEXT" Featurette
*  Audio Commentary With Director Adam Wingard And Writer Simon Barrett
*  Audio Commentary With Director Adam Wingard,Writer Simon Barrett, and Actors Sharni Vinson And Barbara Crampton
*  Theatrical Trailers


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

DVD Review: BLUR (2007)

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

BLUR

Directed by Nick Briscoe

Distributed by:  Anthem Pictures

I have to warn you up front: BLUR is not a horror movie. It's more like a psychological thriller with a couple of jumps and scares added in. Granted, the DVD case cover sure makes it look like horror, with the demonic, screaming face and all. But dig into the story, and you'll find the reason for the face.
If you're not familiar with BLUR, here is the synopsis courtesy of Anthem Pictures:

Artist Adrian Jonas toils in preparation for the biggest gallery opening of his career. The creative process takes Adrian deep into the depths of his mind, where he begins to experience premonitions of a terrible fate that awaits his beloved Iliana. Adrian grows to suspect that a mysterious neighbor is the phantom who means to harm his wife. Compounding the danger, a masquerade party planned for that evening allows unwanted guests to mingle unnoticed. As his premonitions begin to come true, Adrian races to interpret his visions while there is still time to cheat fate

One of the first things that drew me in to BLUR is the haunting soundtrack. The music from this film definitely belongs in a horror movie. It's enchanting and eerie at the same time, like a midnight-hour seance done in the calming surroundings of your bedroom. I'm a big fan of certain movie soundtracks (I'm looking at you, Danny Elfman!) and would definitely pick this one up on CD, given the opportunity.

The next aspect of the film that really caught my attention was the way it was shot. The camera work in this film is superb, with many moving-camera shots and spanning, slow pans. Likewise, the location for the film (basically set entirely on a single piece of property) is beautiful, set mainly in an older, brick-and-stone estate. I'm not sure where the site is, but I'd love to know if it's for sale.

As for the plot, BLUR is a finely-crafted thriller with a very nice twist towards the end.  I can honestly say I sure didn't see anything like it coming. The pacing of the plot is perfect and takes the audience on a nice trip, right up to the climax, which leaves no questions unanswered. My hats off to the script-writer(s) for creating such a vivid story out of almost nothing.

My sole complaint about BLUR is that it doesn't have any Special Features per se, except for some stills and the 'actual' video taken from a video camera used within the film. I was really hoping for some behind the scenes footage at least, especially if it were to contain the location of the filming set (ahem). What can I say? It's an awesome house and an awesome estate!

All in all, BLUR is a definite win for me, although (to reiterate) it's certainly not horror. But do yourself a favor and shift gears; give BLUR a chance, watch it through to the credits, and enjoy the ride. I certainly think you'll be glad you did. I know I am.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

CLICK HERE  to purchase the DVD

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