4K ULTRA HD/BD Review: EVILENKO (2003)

 

EVILENKO

Written & Directed by:  David Grieco

Distributed by:  Unearthed Films / MVD Entertainment

 Serial killer movies are one of my favorite sub-genres of horror.   I love true crime stories, so was pretty intrigued when this one showed up for review.   EVILENKO is based on the book "The Communist That Ate Children" by David Grieco, who also wrote and directed this film.   That book, and this film, were based on the true story of serial killer Andrei Chikatilo.  Here is a bit about him from Wikipedia: 

  Andrei Romanovich Chikatilo was a Ukrainian-born Soviet serial killer nicknamed "the Butcher of Rostov", "the Rostov Ripper", and "the Red Ripper" who sexually assaulted, murdered, and mutilated at least fifty-two women and children between 1978 and 1990 in the Russian SSFR, the Ukranian SSR, and the Uzbek SSR.

  Chikatilo confessed to fifty-six murders; he was tried for fifty-three murders in April 1992. He was convicted and sentenced to death for fifty-two of these murders in October 1992, although the Supreme Court of Russia ruled in 1993 that insufficient evidence existed to prove his guilt in nine of those killings. Chikatilo was executed by gunshot in February 1994

 I had never heard of this serial killer before, and it got me thinking about how many serial killers there have probably been all over the world that we just don't know about here in the states.   We typically just know about all the U.S. serial killers, so it was interesting to hear about one that was completely new to me. 

 Here is a brief synopsis of the film from the Unearthed Films website:

Based on the shocking true story of the former Soviet Union's most notorious serial killer, this riveting, haunting film explores the mind of a true monster; a man who mutilated and devoured more than 50 children. For years, Andrei Evilenko (Malcolm McDowell, A Clockwork Orange, Gangster No. 1, TV's "Entourage") eluded the obsessive Detective Lesiev (Marton Csokas, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, xXx, Aeon Flux) and the psychiatric profiler Aron Richter (Ronald Pickup, The Chronicles of Narnia). Spurred on by his rabid fury at the gradual crumbling of his precious Soviet Union, Evilenko is a man who will live, die and kill as a communist. The haunting melodies of composer Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive) and writer-director David Grieco's stark imagination have created a portrait of a serial killer that will resound in the psyches of us all.

  Let me start by saying that EVILENKO will not be for everyone.   It will be triggering for some, especially those that have been in anyway affected by sexual abuse.  As you would expect from a film about a killer that preyed on small children, the film contains some unnerving subject matter. I will say, though, that most all of the killing are done off screen, with the viewer just seeing the aftermath of Evilenko's butcherings.   While Unearthed Films is known for it's more gorier releases,  this one does seem out of place for an Unearthed Films release, but I assume it is just the extreme subject matter that got this one picked up by them. 

 The film is shot well and wonderfully acted, especially by genre legend Malcolm McDowell who plays the title character/killer.   He does a wonderful job in this role, as he does in every role I have ever seen him in.   My one fault with this film is the pacing, as it does feel very slow and drawn out in parts.  The film has a running time of 111 minutes, which could have been trimmed down in my opinion. 

 The new 4K transfer is stunning, and is sure to be a huge leap from any previous release you might have seen. 

EVILENKO will be released on February 25th, but is available now for preorder.  The 4K/BD combo contains the following special features:

• 4K ULTRA HD + BLU-RAY | LIMITED COLLECTOR'S EDITION CONTENTS
• *  NEW 4K restoration of the original camera negative by Unearthed Films
• *  Blu-ray of the feature film and all new extras
• DISC ONE – FEATURE (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
• *  NEW 4K restoration of the original camera negative by Unearthed Films presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio in HDR
• *  NEW 2024 Commentary with writer/director David Grieco and actor Malcolm McDowell
• *  DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• *  Optional English SDH Subtitles
• DISC TWO – FEATURE & EXTRAS (BLU-RAY)
• *  NEW 4K restoration of the original camera negative by Unearthed Films presented in 1080p HD in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio
• *  NEW 2024 Commentary with writer/director David Grieco and actor Malcolm McDowell
• *  DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• *  Optional English SDH Subtitles
• *  An 81 minute cast and crew interview collection including writer/director David Grieco, actor Malcolm McDowell and composer Angelo Badalamenti
• *  'Evilenko Dossier: Andrei Chikatilo' A 27 minute look at the real-life basis for the character of Evilenko
• *  David Grieco and Malcolm McDowell on 'Evilenko' A 69 Minute interview from 2021
• *  Photo Gallery
• *  Original Trailer

 

CLICK HERE to pre-order the Blu-ray

CLICK HERE to pre-order the 4K HD/BD combo 

Blu-ray Review: VILLAGE OF DOOM (1983)

 

VILLAGE OF DOOM

Directed by:   Noboru Tanaka

Distributed by:  Unearthed Films / MVD Entertainment

 Unearthed Films is one of my favorite movie companies out there.  Not only do they release and distribute films that normally wouldn't get a release due to their extreme nature, they also produce their own extreme gore films!   Recently, Unearthed Films created a new line of films called Unearthed Classics.  These are older films that they are releasing that have either been long out of print, or maybe even the first time being released in the U.S.!    Today's review is from the Unearthed Classics line, and it is called VILLAGE OF DOOM.    The film is from 1983, and is one I had never heard of before arriving to me for review!  

 Here is a brief synopsis of the film from the Unearthed Films website:

A classic Japanese true crime story, Village of Doom is a chilling reenactment of the infamous Tsuyama Massacre, a revenge killing spree that occurred on the night of 21 May 1938 in the rural village of Kamo near Tsuyama in Okayama Prefecture. Mutsuo Toi, an emotionally distraught 21-year-old man who had been ostracized by his fellow villagers, went on a violent killing spree that took the lives of 30 people, including his own grandmother. Before finally killing himself, Toi visited his revenge upon the village using a shotgun, Japanese sword and axe. It remains the deadliest mass murder spree in Japanese history.

 The film is based on the true story of the Tsuyama Massacre, something I was not familiar with before this film.   Here is a brief description of the massacre from Wikipedia:

The Tsuyama massacre was a revenge spree killing that occurred on the night of 21 May 1938 in the rural village of Kamo close to Tsuyama in Okayama, Empire of Japan. Mutsuo Toi (都井 睦雄, Toi Mutsuo), a 21-year-old man, killed 30 people, including his grandmother, with a Browning shotgun, katana, and axe, and seriously injured three others before killing himself with the shotgun. It is the deadliest shooting by a lone gunman in Japanese history.

 I always find it so hard to believe that I have gone my whole life never even hearing about some films, especially when they are as good as this one.   I am in tons of horror movie groups on Facebook, and follow lots of horror movie fan accounts on Insta and X, yet somehow this is one that had just slipped by me.   I am not sure how this is not talked about more, because it is definitely worthy of discussion. 

 The film follows a 30ish year old man who lives with his grandmother.  He is a quiet, shy man who is very smart and dreams of being in the military to serve his country.   He is liked by all in his village, but is sometimes taken advantage of by his so called "friends".   This very normal, calm man is instantly changed when he goes to enlist in the military, but is refused due to an illness.   He has been diagnosed with the highly contagious Tuberculosis.   Word spreads quickly around his small town, and he is instantly discriminated against by all the people of his village.  He is also chastised for not serving his country in the military, through no fault of his own.    

 As time passes, this once quiet man get fed up with the way he is treated.   What starts as a minor annoyance grows into pure hatred as the build up of the way he is being treated boils up inside him.   He makes a plan to extract revenge upon his village.   He makes a map and plots out house to house the direction he will go.   He does this in the dead of night, to catch people off guard and while everyone is inside so the streets will be empty for him to navigate without being seen.    This creates some very cool visuals as he straps two flashlights to his head and around his chest, almost giving him the look of some homemade super hero, or I guess in this case, super villian, costume.   Prowling the night in his homemade get up looks very creepy.    He carries out his killing streak using a multitude of weapons including guns, swords, knives, and even an axe. 

 This was an excellent film, and quite topical with todays climate.  Seeing this nice, quiet, young man go from completely normal to a vicious killer was very disturbing.  The movie shows this in such a way that is so realistic, showing the very slow transition, making it so much more realistic and disturbing.   You can see how his transition was created, and you could see the exact exchanges that led to it.  It really makes you think that if we pay more attention to people and how they are treated, maybe we could tell when people are starting to transition to this way of thinking and could stop a something like this from happening in present day.  

I can't recommend VILLAGE OF DOOM enough.   It is a great film that is a must see for all extreme horror fans.   While there is a bit of gore, there is nothing overwhelming, but just the subject matter by itself and the violence our lead takes on innocent people is extreme enough. 

 VILLAGE OF DOOM is available now from Unearthed Films and includes the following Special Features:

• *  Audio commentary by Asian film experts Arne Venema and Mike Leeder
• *  Dark Asia with Megan: Case #57 Japan's Darkest Night, Tsuyama Massacre
• *  Promotional Gallery
• *  Theatrical Trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

CLICK HERE to purchase the BLU-RAY

Book Review: THE ED GEIN FILE: A PSYCHO'S CONFESSION AND CASE DOCUMENTS by John Borowski

THE ED GEIN FILE:  A PSYCHO'S CONFESSION AND CASE DOCUMENTS
Produced & Edited by  John Borowski

 I have always been a fan of True Crime, and especially stories of serial killers.  I guess they are just so far from what I consider "normal" that they fascinate me.  I just can't fathom how someone could take another person's life, let alone multiple lives.  And it's usually done with little to no remorse.  There are some crazy killers out there throughout history, but none have a story quite like that of Plainfield, Wisconsin's own Ed Gein.   

  Ed Gein was had a very bizarre fascination with his Mother, to the point of not being able to let her go once she died.  He dug up her body and kept her corpse on her bed, basically making an alter to his Mom.  He also killed a couple of other people from the small town he lived in, and desecrated numerous graves, stealing and using body parts from the deceased.   Ed's most gruesome murder was that of a lady named Bernice Worden, a local hardware store employee who was found hanging in Ed's shed, strung up like a deer that had just been killed.   After Bernice went missing, the body was eventually found at Ed's farm, along with all the other "things" he had collected.  He had organs on the stove and fridge, in preparation for consumption.  He also had lampshades and furniture made from human skin.   Ed Gein's case was so bizarre that many Hollywood films have been based (although some very loosely) on Ed Gein.  

  Now, if you want to ready more about the details and specifics on his life and crimes, there are many books out there you can find on this subject.   But...if you're already familiar with the story, then you need to pick up THE ED GEIN FILE by John Borowski to delve much deeper into the Ed Gein case.   This book is a truly amazing reference to have.   The amount of research that must have gone into this book in astounding.    The main component of the book is a transcription of the complete interrogation of Mr. Gein, complete with his confession.  It's completely eerie to actually read all of Gein's own words, I could hear them in his voice as I was reading them.    While this is the main bulk of the book, there are so many other great items in this book including the complete physical and psychological profile of Ed Gein, the official autopsy report of Bernice Worden, a copy of Gein's death certificate, multiple newspaper clippings of articles related to the Ed Gein case,  and some great illustrations and photos of Ed Gein.    You might read about some of these items in other books about Gein, but in this book you get to see the actual item itself. 
 
  THE ED GEIN FILE:  A PSYCHO'S CONFESSION AND CASE DOCUMENTS is a must have for any fans of true crime and/or the Ed Gein story.    The book is available now on Amazon.com.


CLICK HERE to purchase the book


Click the banner to visit the official website of auther/filmmaker John Borowski

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

Check out the HOUSE OF MANSON trailer!

  One of the most interesting and intriguing stories I have ever known about is the story of Charles Manson.  What he and his followers did was something that if you saw in a movie first, you could never believe it could really happen, but it did.  There have been numerous films about the Manson murders, and a teaser trailer for the newest one has been released!  The film is called HOUSE OF MANSON!  Here is some info about the film from the film's official press release:

House of Manson chronicles Charles Manson's life from his childhood up until his arrest following the raid on Barker Ranch months after the infamous Tate/LaBianca murders that sent a shockwave not just through Los Angeles, but through the entire world.

The film was written and directed by Brandon Slagle, who was recently deemed the "go-to-gore-guy" by The Hollywood Reporter during their coverage of the European Film Market. While not a "gory" film, House of Manson is poised to take a more intense approach to the subject matter than previous film and TV iterations have. The film was produced by Britt Griffith, (co-star of Syfy's "Ghost Hunters"), who also produced Slagle's previous directorial effort, the dark creature feature Dead Sea, set for retail release in the United States and Canada in May.

Actor Ryan Kiser (Truth or Dare) stars as Charles Manson, having previously played the role in the acclaimed short film "Lie." Rounding out the cast is Reid Warner (Oren Peli's Area 51) as Tex Watson, Chriss Anglin (Call of Duty: Black Ops) as Ronald Hughes, Devanny Pinn (The Black Dahlia Haunting) as Susan Atkins, Serena Lorien as Patricia Krenwinkel, Erin Marie Hogan (Paranormal Entity) as Linda Kasabian, Suzi Lorraine (Music and Lyrics) as Sharon Tate, and Tristan Risk (American Mary) as Abigail Folger as well as Julie Rose, Adrian Quihuis, Mel Turner ("Deadliest Warrior"), Jason McNeil, Ryan Cleary, Keith Kraft (Beowulf), Trish Cook (Dark Tide), Tawny Amber Young, Max Wasa, Darius Devontaye Green, and many more.

Charles Manson has been a hot topic as of late due to the recent parole of family member Bruce Davis as well two upcoming television series - one from Rob Zombie and Bret Easton Ellis and the other from NBC, starring David Duchovney. Additionally, this year marks the 45th Anniversary of the Tate and LaBianca murders.

House of Manson will debut later this year.

 Check out the teaser trailer and let me know what you think! I think actor Ryan Kiser's portrayal of Charles Manson looks super intense!


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

Horror In Real Life: Father kills son with an axe because he thinks he is a demon!

 While New Year's Eve is usually a cause for celebration, the family of a 13 year old Phoenix boy is in shock and terror over what took place Dec 31st. 
 
 Police were called to the home of Gary Sherrill after his ex-wife called the police because Sherrill had not returned their son after a visitation.   When police arrived at Sherrill's home, what they found was something right out of a gory horror film.   The boy had been killed by multiple axe wounds all over the body.   Sherrill's reason for doing this was that he thought the boy was a demon and was going to eat him.

  I don't know if this guy was on some crazy drugs, or just mentally unstable, but either way what happened a couple of nights ago in Phoenix, AZ is a horrible tragedy.  I can't imagine what the poor boy's Mother is going through right now.   It's hard to imagine that what we see in horror films could and does actually happen around us every day.  Something to think about for sure.


CLICK HERE to read the full article on MSN News

Horror In Real Life: Man Murders Two Strangers With a Machete

  In this instalment of ""Horror In Real Life", we take a look at the gruesome case of 20 year old Gregory Aaron Kinsey of Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  The murders occurred a little before 10pm this past Wednesday, June 26th.  I heard about this on my local news, as Ft. Smith is only about 50 miles from where I live, and it is actually the town I was born and raised in!  Good thing I got out of there I guess!

 

According to the news report, Kinsey was walking home from a store when he confronted a group of 3 men thinking he recognized one of the men as someone that used to date his mother.  Words were exchanged and Kinsey pulled out a machete and repeatedly struck two of the the men, then left leaving them for dead.  This happened while one of the victims kids  (age 15 and 2) watched their Dad be murdered on the lawn of their own home.

  This just goes to show you that you never know what evil people have inside of them...don't pick fights with strangers, because apparently some people carry around a machete like it was a pocket knife!  Be nice to others kiddos!


CLICK HERE to read the full news article from the KFSM 5 News website and to watch the video of the story

CLICK HERE to see a portfolio of photos taken inside Kinsey's home.  This looks like something out of a horror movie...very disturbing to say the least.

Blu-ray Review: SINISTER (2012)

SINISTER
Directed by  Scott Derrickson
Distributed by Lionsgate Home Entertainment

I remember seeing the previews for SINISTER when it was released to theaters last year, and thinking it looked really good.  Somehow though, I never got around to seeing it in the theater.  Now, after watching this film on the newly released Blu-ray, I am kicking myself for not experiencing it on the big screen.  This is one creepy film, and was honestly even better than I expected it to be!  For those unfamiliar with the film, here is the basic plot from the film's official website:

SINISTER is a frightening new thriller from the producer of the PARANORMAL ACTIVITY films and the writer-director of THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE. Ethan Hawke plays a true crime novelist (Ellison Oswalt) who discovers a box of mysterious, disturbing home movies that plunge his family into a nightmarish experience of supernatural horror.

I can't say enough about how good this movie is.  The acting is superb from all involved and the film is paced very well.  There are no dull or boring moments like you find in some films.  The film is entertaining the entire running time.  The scariest moments are when Ellison turns on one of the home videos that he has found.  Each consists of a family being filmed in everyday activities, followed by video of the families being slaughtered in a variety of graphic ways.   Some of these are actually very hard to watch, and in one crazy scene, I actually jumped and had to pause the film for a second to get settled before going on.  I felt like I had been punched in the stomach after seeing that scene.  I won't say what it involves, but you will probably know it when you see it.

This is must have for any horror fan.  I highly recommend this one.  I don't remember enjoying a horror movie this much in a long time.  The Blu-ray and DVD are available now.  Special Features include the following:

*  Audio commentary with director Scott Derrickson
*  Audio commentary with writers Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill
*  "Living in a House of Death" featurette
*  "True Crime Authors" featurette
*  Deleted scenes with optional audio commentary with director Scott Derrickson


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

True crime fans...check out SERIAL KILLER MAGAZINE!!

 
 I have always been a fan of true crime....from movies to books, if it is a about actually cases, I want to read about them.   I have read many books on killers such as Ed Gein and Albert Fish.  I'm not sure what is about these people that we find so interesting, but a lot of people like to read about them.  I think the popularity with serial killers comes from the fact that most people just cant fathom what they did.  They do stuff that we normally see in horror films.  What makes a person be able to do such heinous things?  These are the questions we like to answer so we look to movies and books about this subject to find out what makes these people who they are. 

 Well, if you are interested in true crime and serial killers, there is a magazine out there that you can not afford to miss.  I'm not sure how I came across this company, but they make tons of great products all dealing with serial killers.  The company is serialkillercalendar.com, and yes, they do make serial killer calendars!   They also make the wonderful Serial Killer Magazine.  

 Serial Killer Magazine is full of info and stories about every serial killer you can think of.  This is a big magazine, with regular issues at 100 pages on glossy pages with a nice card stock glossy cover.   You might think the $20 price tag is a little expensive for a magazine, but keep in mind a lot of reference work  and writing goes into each magazine.  There is also great artwork from a number of different artists.  Also, I don't know if it is like this with every issue, but the issue I read has ZERO ads in it.  You are paying for a full 100 pages of info, not ads!  This is really like more of a small book than a magazine, and is well worth the price in my opinion. 

 Each magazine brings you stories of serial killers....most of whom you have probably heard of, but also some more obscure ones you probably have never heard of.  The issue I read even had some info about serial killers from different countries, something we don't hear much about usually.  The magazines also contains rare interviews with the serial killers, letters written by serial killers, rare F.B.I. file transcripts, and even copies of some of the killers birth certificates, which is very unique.  The issue I read also had a story on how serial killers have influenced slasher films which was a very interesting read.  

Serial Killer Magazine is a must read for any true crime fan.  You can pick up your copy by visiting serialkillercalendar.com today!


CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Serialkillercalendar.com

HORROR IN THE NEWS: New evidence in the John Wayne Gacy case

 John Wayne Gacy was arrested in 1978, but now more than 30 years later, investigators are doing some new research on the case.  33 bodies were taken from Gacy's Chicago home...8 of which were never identified.   Now investigators have dug up the remains of those 8 bodies and have sent them to a lab for DNA tests, in hopes of identifying all 8 bodies. 

Another thing they are looking into is the possibility that Gacy killed many more men that no one knew about.  While looking through old evidence, investigators found plane tickets to 10 different states during the time he was murdering young men in Chicago.  So now, they are wondering if he was killing people on the road, just like he was at his home on Chicago.  For this reason, he is now linked to 27 missing person cases from all over the country.  What we thought about John Wayne Gacy could have just been a fragment of what that man actually did.   This is a very interesting story...click below to watch the short video about it.


 
CLICK HERE to watch the video from MSNBC

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: ALBERT FISH (2007)

I recently got the chance to check out a film called ALBERT FISH. This is a docudrama about the famed serial killer of the same name. The film was written, produced, and directed by filmmaker John Borowski. Albert Fish was one of the most disturbed individuals you will ever encounter. If you have never heard or studied Albert Fish, I highly recommend this film, as it will tell you all you need to know about this heinous individual. Here is the basic synopsis of the film from imdb:

ALBERT FISH, the horrific true story of elderly cannibal, sadomasochist, and serial killer, who lured children to their deaths in Depression-era New York City. Distorting biblical tales, Albert Fish takes the themes of pain, torture, atonement and suffering literally as he preys on victims to torture and sacrifice. Includes interviews with artist and Odditorium owner, Joe Coleman, and true-crime author, Katherine Ramsland, Ph.D.

I have to start by saying I love movies about serial killers. I hope that doesn't sound weird, but I have always been fascinated by true crime stories, especially those involving serial killers. They are very interesting to study and it amazes me as to what some people are capable of doing. Of the few I have read books on and studied, Albert Fish was by far the most bizarre. Fish was accused of killing many people, mainly children, but the main case he is most famous for is the "kidnapping" and killing of a young girl by the name of Grace Budd in 1928. I put "kidnapping" in quotes, because he didn't actually take her, but she willingly accompanied him to what she thought was a birthday party for his niece. Her mother was reluctant at first, but her father finally convinced his wife that it was ok for little Grace to go with Albert. Needless to say there was no birthday party, and that was the last they would ever see of Grace. Albert Fish wrote a letter of confession to the Budd family. It is a very detailed and graphic letter of what he did to Grace. I can't imagine the horror her parents must have felt as they read every detail of how their little girl was killed and then what Albert Fish did to her body, including cannibalism.

John Borowski's film is the first film I have seen about Albert Fish. I have read a couple of books, but seeing the film hit me a lot harder than just written words. This film contains a good mixture of actual file film and photos, as well as reenactments. The first part of the film is a voice over of what is supposed to be Albert Fish, reading his letter that he wrote to the Budd family. Hearing these words in "Albert's" own voice is very discomforting and really makes what he did really sink in. The narrators voice in this film is very good and the film contains very good music and is shot extremely well. The film is full of details about the life of Albert Fish and tells many stories, some of which I had never heard before. One of which I found most interesting, was a story of when Albert was taking Grace to the "party". They traveled by train and as they got off the train, Grace reminded Albert that he forgot his package he had been carrying. Little Grace ran back onto the train to where they had been seated and retrieved Albert's package. Little did she know that this "package" contained an assortment of knives that would be the cause of her death within hours.

I am extremely impressed with how well this film was made. It is a brilliant look into the life and mind of one of the most troubled people in history. If you have any interest in true crime and subjects such as this, ALBERT FISH is a must have DVD.

The DVD is packed with special features including exclusive interviews, Deleted scenes, trailers, production stills, a History of the Electric Chair, and more!

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