Blu-ray Review: DEATH RACE 2050 (2017)

DEATH RACE 2050
Directed by  G.J. Echternkamp
Distributed by:  Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

 Very seldom do I come across a sequel to a film that really captures the look, feel, and atmosphere of the original...especially a sequel that came out over 40 years after the original film.  That is just what DEATH RACE 2050 has succeeded in doing, though.

  Here is the basic plot from the Universal Home Entertainment website:

  Legendary filmmaking icon, Roger Corman, is back with his most outrageous film yet in this sensational, action-packed and darkly humorous reboot of the original Death Race 2000! It’s the year 2050 and America is controlled by an all-powerful corporate government ruled by The Chairman (Malcolm McDowell). The masses have been brainwashed with violent virtual-reality entertainment. The event of the year is the Death Race, in which a motley crew of violent drivers compete in a cross-country road race, scoring points for shamelessly running people over and driving each other off the road. The reigning champion and fan favorite, Frankenstein (Manu Bennett), who’s half-man half-machine, wants to take the crown, but his rebel spy co-pilot threatens his legacy.

 There is no doubt that this is a sequel to Roger Corman's DEATH RACE 2000.  It has the exact look of the original film with the crazy cars and even features the comically sped up footage of the race cars like the original film had.  The cars look about as futuristic as the ones in the original DEATH RACE 2000 which I found surprisingly satisfying.  The cars and the film overall have the exact same campy feel as the original film.

  The film also contains the awesome kills you would expect, including some that are pretty gory, like a guy getting sliced in half.  My only fault with this is most of the gore scenes are CGI, and don't look very realistic at all.   That doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the film, though, in fact it goes right along with the campiness of the rest of the film.

  Overall the acting in this film is excellent, with one of my favorite performances being that of the character, Perfectus, played by Burt Grinstead.   While at first I found the character somewhat annoying, he really grew on me and later became one of the highlights of the film for me.

  If you are a fan of Roger Corman's original DEATH RACE 2000, you should love this new film.   DEATH RACE 2050 is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Universal Home Entertainment and contains the following special features:

*  The Making of Roger Corman's DEATH RACE 2050
*  The Look of 2050
*  Cars!Cars!Cars!
*  Cast Car Tours
*  Deleted Scenes


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

Congratulations to the winner of my latest Blu-ray giveaway!

  Congratulations to the winner of my latest Blu-ray giveaway courtesy of Universal Home Entertainment and ThinkJam Distributing!!   Up for grabs was a Blu-ray copy of SINISTER 2! 

The results are in, and the random number generator picked comment/entry # 7 which belongs to Matthew Baker.

  Congratulations Matthew!!  I'll be in touch to get your mailing address, and your Blu-ray will be sent to you directly from ThinkJam. 

  Congrats, and don't worry if you didn't win this time.  Check back often as I have more DVD's ready to give away!!

 Thanks to all those that entered!

Blu-ray Review: THE GREEN INFERNO (2013)

THE GREEN INFERNO
Directed by:   Eli Roth
Distributed by:  Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

  If you are a horror movie fan, then you have surely heard about Eli Roth's latest film, THE GREEN INFERNO.   It was made a few years ago, but then was in distribution limbo for quite sometime.  Luckily the great folks at Universal Pictures took a chance on the film and it was given a wide theatrical release back in September of last year.   If you failed to catch this film at the theater, it is available now on DVD and Blu-ray, so get your hands on a copy asap.    Here is the basic plot synopsis from the Universal website:

  The mastermind behind the Hostel franchise and Cabin Fever, horror auteur Eli Roth, serves up a feast of gut-wrenching terror in the gruesome fear-fest The Green Inferno. Determined to protect the Amazon rainforest, a group of student activists fly to Peru only to crash-land deep in the jungle. Captured by a pack of bloodthirsty cannibals, the survivors suffer unspeakable acts of butchery at the hands of the very tribe they were trying to save. A non-stop barrage of carnage and chills, The Green Inferno is an unhinged blast!

  One of my favorite sub-genres of horror is the Cannibal film.   There is something extremely disturbing with the thought of humans that hunt, kill, and eat other humans.    We were given many cannibal films back in the 70's and early 80's, most notable were CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST and CANNIBAL FEROX.     I love these films and assumed this sub-genre was dead.  I assumed no filmmaker wanted to tackle such a taboo subject matter such as cannibalism.   Thank goodness my assumption was wrong and what better filmmaker to bring us as a new cannibal film than master of horror, Eli Roth!

  Mr. Roth brings back true horror with this latest project.   If you are tired of all the PG-13 horror films coming out lately, you will be glad to finally see a true, rated R horror film.   The film definitely earns it's R rating.   There is some extremely graphic gore in this film, as you would expect with a cannibal film.   The story line is good as well, with a nice little twist at the end.   The acting was great throughout the film, and the camera work was excellent.    

  If I had to find a flaw with this film, it was the bit of comic relief Roth threw in concerning some pot and the cannibals getting high.  That part just seemed silly to me and sort of ruined the flow of the dark subject matter the rest of the film has.    But that is just one little gripe.  Overall I loved this movie and really welcome the cannibal sub-genre back thanks to Eli Roth.  I hope other filmmakers take note and we can see some other cannibal films in the near future!

  THE GREEN INFERNO is available now on DVD and Blu-ray and contains the following special features:

*  Photo Gallery
*  Feature Commentary with Co-Writer/Director/Producer Eli Roth, Producer Nicolas Lopez, and Stars Lorenza Izzo, Aaron Burns, Kirby Bliss Blanton, and Daryl Sabara.


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

Enter for your chance to win a FREE Blu-ray of SINISTER 2!!

  It's time for another Blu-ray Giveway from the 4H blog and the fine folks at Universal Home Entertainment and ThinkJam Distributing!  Universal and ThinkJam are giving you the chance to win some FREE Blu-rays of Universal's hottest new horror Releases!!

  We've already given away a copy of M. Night Shyamalan's latest film, THE VISIT, and Eli Roth's latest film, THE GREEN INFERNO.   Our last giveaway is here and this time we are giving away a blul-ray copy of the frightening sequel SINISTER 2!

 Here is the basic synopsis of SINISTER 2 from the Universal Home Entertainment website:

  The sequel to the 2012 sleeper hit horror movie. In the aftermath of the shocking events in Sinister, a protective mother (Shannyn Sossamon of Wayward Pines) and her nine-year-old twin sons (real-life brothers Robert and Dartanian Sloan) find themselves marked for death in a rural house as the evil spirit of Bughuul continues to spread with frightening intensity.

   If you didn't get a chance to check out SINISTER 2 in theaters, now is the time to do so with the Blu-ray release.  SINISTER 2 was released on Blu-ray and DVD January 12th, 2016, but you can win a copy FREE by entering my latest contest today!!

CLICK HERE for more info and to watch the trailer

  In order to win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post below, and tell me what your favorite horror sequel is.   Include your email so I can contact you.  If you would rather not leave your email address, then just comment on the post and then shoot me an email (zombiehayes@hotmail.com) so I will be able to get in touch with you if you are the winner.  The contest will run from now through Saturday, January 17th and the winner will be chosen at random on Thursday, January 18th.   I will send an email to the winner to collect their mailing address, and then the Blu-ray will be sent directly to the winner from ThinkJam.   Only 1 comment/entry per person please.

Thanks, and GOOD LUCK!!

Congratulations to the winner of my latest Blu-ray Giveaway!!

 Congratulations to the winner of my latest Blu-ray giveaway courtesy of Universal Home Entertainment and ThinkJam Distributing!!   Up for grabs was a Blu-ray copy of THE GREEN INFERNO from director Eli Roth.    The results are in, and the random number generator picked comment/entry # 16 which is Alfred Guy!

  Congratulations Alfred!!  I'll be in touch to get your mailing address, and your Blu-ray will be sent to you directly from ThinkJam. 

  Congrats, and don't worry if you didn't win this time.  Check back in a few days when my next giveaway will go live...up next will be the chance to win a blu-ray copy of SINISTER 2!

 Thanks to all those that entered!

Enter for your chance to win a FREE Blu-ray of THE GREEN INFERNO!!

  It's time for another Blu-ray Giveway from the 4H blog and the fine folks at Universal Home Entertainment and ThinkJam Distributing!  Universal and ThinkJam are giving you the chance to win some FREE Blu-rays of Universal's hottest new  horror Releases!!

 In all, we will be giving away 3 Blu-rays over the next few weeks.  We've already given away a copy of M. Night Shyamalan's latest film, THE VISIT.   We'll be giving away the frightening sequel SINISTER 2 soon, but up now for giveaway is a Blu-ray of Eli Roth's terrifying Cannibal film, THE GREEN INFERNO! 

Here is the basic synopsis of THE GREEN INFERNO from the Universal Home Entertainment website:

  The mastermind behind the Hostel franchise and Cabin Fever, horror auteur Eli Roth, serves up a feast of gut-wrenching terror in the gruesome fear-fest The Green Inferno. Determined to protect the Amazon rainforest, a group of student activists fly to Peru only to crash-land deep in the jungle. Captured by a pack of bloodthirsty cannibals, the survivors suffer unspeakable acts of butchery at the hands of the very tribe they were trying to save. A non-stop barrage of carnage and chills, The Green Inferno is an unhinged blast!

  If you didn't get a chance to check out THE GREEN INFERNO in theaters, now is the time to do so with the Blu-ray release.  THE GREEN INFERNO was released on Blu-ray and DVD January 5th, 2016, but you can win a copy FREE by entering my latest contest today!!

CLICK HERE for more info and to watch the trailer

  In order to win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post below, and tell me what your favorite Eli Roth film is.   Include your email so I can contact you.  If you would rather not leave your email address, then just comment on the post and then shoot me an email (zombiehayes@hotmail.com) so I will be able to get in touch with you if you are the winner.  The contest will run from now through Saturday, January 22nd and the winner will be chosen at random on Saturday, January 23rd.   I will send an email to the winner to collect their mailing address, and then the Blu-ray will be sent directly to the winner from ThinkJam.   Only 1 comment/entry per person please.

Thanks, and GOOD LUCK!!

Speaking of Christmas.....how would you like some free Blu-rays?!!!! Blu-ray giveaway #1

 Merry Christmas!  Just when you thought Christmas was over, here comes the 4H blog and the fine folks at Universal Home Entertainment and ThinkJam Distributing giving you the chance to win some FREE Blu-rays of Universal's hottest new upcoming horror Releases!!

 In all, we will be giving away 3 Blu-rays over the next few weeks.  The titles will include M. Night Shyamalan's latest film, THE VISIT.   The frightening sequel SINISTER 2, and Eli Roth's latest film, the terrifying Cannibal film, THE GREEN INFERNO!  

  Needless to say, Christmas is not over yet!   What better time to start this giveaway than right now!!

Up first is M. Night Shyamalan's THE VISIT.  Here is the basic synopsis from the Universal Home Entertainment website:

  When Becca and Tyler are sent to their grandparents' secluded Pennsylvania farm for a weeklong stay, they quickly discover something is not right with the elderly couple. Faced with strange rules and increasingly frightening behavior, the children soon realize it will take all their wits to make it home alive. Critics rave, the latest heart-pounding thriller from the director of The Sixth Sense and Signs and the producer of Paranormal Activity and The Purge is a “deliciously creepy triumph.”** **Scott Mendelson, Forbes.com

  If you didn't get a chance to check out THE VISIT in theaters, now is the time to do so with the upcoming Blu-ray release.  THE VISIT will be released on Blu-ray and DVD January 5th, 2016.  

CLICK HERE for more info and to watch the trailer

  In order to win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post below, and tell me what your favorite M. Night Shyamalan film is.   Include your email so I can contact you.  If you would rather not leave your email address, then just comment and then shoot me an email (zombiehayes@hotmail.com) so I will be able to get in touch with you if you are the winner.  The contest will run from now through Saturday, January 2nd at Winner will be chosen at random on Sunday, January 3rd.   I will send an email to the winner to collect their mailing address, and then the Blur-ray will be sent directly to the winner from ThinkJam right after the film's release date.   Only 1 comment/entry per person please.

 

  

 
 

 

 

Blu-ray Review: CURSE OF CHUCKY (2013)

  
CURSE OF CHUCKY
Directed by Don Mancini
Distributed by Universal Studios Home Entertainment

  I am a huge fan of the CHILD'S PLAY movies, especially the first two films.  The later sequels BRIDE OF CHUCKY and SEED OF CHUCKY got a little (further) far fetched and kind of cheesy.  I was so relieved as I was watching the newest installment in the CHUCKY films, CURSE OF CHUCKY, that it was a return to the original concept.  This was more of a pure horror film than the last few sequels have been.   Here is the plot of the film from the Universal Studios Home Entertainment website:

  He's back! From the filmmakers that brought you Chucky comes the terrifying return of the pint-sized doll possessed by the spirit of a notorious serial killer. When a mysterious package arrives at the house of Nica (Fiona Dourif, True Blood), she doesn't give it much thought. However, after her mother's mysterious death, Nica begins to suspect that the talking, red-haired doll her visiting niece has been playing with may be the key to the ensuing bloodshed and chaos. The return of America's favorite toy, voiced again by Brad Dourif, is unrated and full of more blood-splattered thrills and chills.

  I was sad that this film didn't get a theatrical release.  The film went direct to video, and I know that scares some people off.  Used to direct to DVD films meant that weren't good enough to be at the theater.  That is not necessarily true any more, and CURSE OF CHUCKY proves it.  This was an excellent film, and one of the better, if not the best sequel of all the CHUCKY films in my opinion.  If SEED and BRIDE both got a theatrical release, I have no clue why this one didn't.  I liked this film better than those for sure.  

  As I mentioned above, CURSE OF CHUCKY is a return to the true horror film like the first couple of films.  Sure, there is still some cheesy dialog and some hoaky Chucky one-liners, but that is part of the appeal of these films and is quite normal for horror films.  Heck, Freddy Kruegar throws out one-liners with the best of them!  Chucky may still have his wit, but he is all business in this new film.  He deliverers some major damage to his victims, resulting in some really great gore! 

 Check this one out for sure.   If you are a fan of the CHILD'S PLAY films, you will not be disappointed! 

 CURSE OF CHUCKY is available now on DVD and Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.  The DVD and Blu-ray contain the following special features:

*  Deleted Scenes
*  Gag Reel
*  Playing with Dolls:  The Making of Curse of Chucky
*  Feature Commentary with Director Don Mancini, Puppeteer Tony Gardner, and Star Fionna Dourif

The Blu-ray also contains these exclusive Special Features:

*  Living Doll:  Bringing Chucky to Life
*  Voodoo Doll:  The Chucky Legacy
*  Storyboard Comparisons


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