Blu-ray Review: THE SADIST OF NOTRE DAME (1979)

THE SADIST OF NOTRE DAME
Written & Directed by  Jesús Franco
Distributed by Severin Films

  Jesús Franco (a.k.a. Jess Franco) is a very unique director and gave us some of the strangest films in the horror genre.  A lot of his films are really not that good (in my opinion), yet I still find myself drawn to them.  If I hear of a film I haven't seen and notice it was directed by Franco, I put in at the top of my list of movies to see!

  Such was the case with THE SADIST OF NOTRE DAME (El Sadico de Notre-Dame).   Once again Franco brings us a weird tale of perversion, mixed with part slasher film, part occult film, and part Giallo.  His films are really a mixture of things, which sometimes can cause for confusing plots.  That is some of the charm of his films, though.   Here is the basic plot courtesy of the Severin Films website:

  In 1979, legendary writer/director Jess Franco (VAMPYROS LESBOS) re-purposed elements of his satanic sex shocker EXORCISM with all-new footage to create a depraved new epic that – even by Uncle Jess standards – achieves new levels of EuroSleaze insanity: Franco himself stars a defrocked priest turned hooker-slashing psychopath, prowling the streets of Paris in a fever of violence, voyeurism, rampant nudity and S&M depravity. Olivier Mathot (TWO FEMALE SPIES WITH FLOWERED PANTIES), Pierre Taylou (HOT NIGHTS OF LINDA), Antonio DeCabo (VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD) and Jess’ beloved muse Lina Romay (MACUMBA SEXUAL, MANSION OF THE LIVING DEAD) co-star in what Franco considered to be his most personal film of all, now scanned in 4k from elements discovered in the crawlspace of a Montparnasse nunnery.

  If that sounds like a pretty simple plot, it's because it is.  This film is basically just Franco running around and killing those he thinks are sinners, mainly prostitutes he comes across.  It seems to be a good excuse for some Eurosleaze nudity.  In a somewhat weird and out of place plot element, he also targets those attending an orgy in a castle complete with virgin sacrifice!   Ha!  Again, the charm of a Jess Franco movie is what keeps me coming back for more! 

  The film clocks in at 99 minutes, and honestly it can feel a little slow at times.  I feel like a running time of 86-88 minutes would have helped the flow of the film.  There were many scenes of characters just walking around and some stock footage of the town that I feel could have been cut out to speed the film along a bit.  That is my only complaint, though.  If you are a fan of Franco's other films, I think you will like this one as well.

  THE SADIST OF NOTRE DAME is available now on Blu-ray and DVD and contains the following Special Features:

*  The Gory Days Of Le Brady – Documentary Short On The Legendary Parisian Horror Cinema

*  Stephen Thrower On Sadist Of Notre Dame – Interview With The Author Of ‘Murderous Passions  – The Delirious Cinema Of Jesus Franco’

*  Selected Scenes Commentary With ‘I’m In A Jess Franco State Of Mind’ Webmaster Robert Monell

*  Treblemakers: Interview With Alain Petit, Author Of ‘Jess Franco Ou Les Prosperites Des Bis’

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

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, April 3rd

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 4/3:
 
*  4/20 MASSACRE  [DVD]
*  BROKEN  [DVD]
*  FOX TRAP  [DVD]
*  THE HUNTED  [DVD]
*  INSIDIOUS:  THE LAST KEY  [BD & DVD]
*  LOOKING GLASS [BD & DVD]
*  THE SADIST OF NOTRE DAME  [BD & DVD]
*  SINFONIA EROTICA  [BD & DVD]
*  A STUDY IN TERROR  [BD]
*  THELMA  [DVD]
*  TOKYO GHOUL  [BD/DVD combo]

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, March 27th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 3/27:

*  ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13  [BD Steelbook]
*  BEHIND THE MASK  [BD]
*  I REMEMBER YOU  [BD]
*  THE OUTER LIMITS:  SEASON 1  [BD]
*  PRINCE OF DARKNESS  [BD Steelbook]
*  SCANNERS  [Criterion Collection BD]

Blu-ray Review: EATEN ALIVE (1980)

EATEN ALIVE
Written & Directed by Umberto Lenzi
Distributed by CAV Distribution / Severin Films

   If you are a fan of 80's cannibal films, you will definitely want to check out Umberto Lenzi's 1980 classic, EATEN ALIVE!    I love cannibal films, and have seen quite a few, but somehow this is one I had never seen.   Here is the basic plot from the CAV press release:

  Eight years after he first unleashed the Italian cannibal craze, spaghetti splatter master Umberto Lenzi (NIGHTMARE CITY, CANNIBAL FEROX) returned to the jungle for this "graphic" (Monster Hunter), "sordid" (Geek Legacy) and "extreme" (Horror News) gut-muncher that still packs the power to knock you over. EuroSleaze hall-of-famers Robert Kerman (CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST), Janet Agren (CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD), Ivan Rassimov (THE MAN FROM DEEP RIVER) and Me Me Lai (JUNGLE HOLOCAUST) - along with Hollywood legend Mel Ferrer (WAR AND PEACE) - star in this insane assemblage of flesh-ripping mayhem, depraved sexual brutality, and even the Jonestown massacre. EATEN ALIVE! is now presented uncut, uncensored and fully remastered in HD for the first time ever, with all-new Special Features that slit open the legacy of this definitive cannibal classic.

  As I mentioned above, I have seen a lot of the cannibal films including CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, CANNIBAL FEROX, CANNIBAL APOCOLYPSE, MAN FROM DEEP RIVER, etc.   I love all these films, and EATEN ALIVE is a wonderful addition to this list and sits right at the top of these films.  

  If you've seen those other cannibal films I mentioned, you kinda know what to expect here.  One thing these films seem to have a lot of is animal cruelty, which is the one thing about these films I don't like.  I guess these scenes are for shock factor and to make you feel uneasy, which they definitely accomplish.   While the killing of people on the screen is obviously fake, some of the animal scenes are definitely real.  These can be very hard to watch at times, and this film has quite a few of those scenes, so be warned if you can't handle those types of scenes. 

  The gore effects in this film are done extremely well, and are pretty disgusting  (which is a compliment, of course)!   One aspect of this film I really liked was the cult aspect of the film, and the creepy cult leader.   This was a very unique subplot that separates this film from the other cannibal films.

  If you saw Eli Roth's cannibal movie GREEN INFERNO that came out a few years ago, you will definitely note some nods to this film, especially with the ending.   That's all I'll say about that, though, to avoid any spoilers.

  One last thing I want to point out is the feature length documentary called "Me Me Lai Bites Back" which is a special feature on this new release.  I normally don't pay much attention to special features, but this doc was a great feature about actress Me Me Lai who appeared in three cannibal films in the 70's and 80's.  It was very interesting to hear stories directly from Me Me about her time filming these movies.   I thought this doc was worth buying to DVD/BD for alone! 

EATEN ALIVE is available now from Severin Films on both DVD and Blu-ray.  Special Features include:

*  Welcome To the Jungle - Interview With Director Umberto Lenzi
*  Me Me Lai Bites Back - Feature Documentary on "The Queen Of Cannibal Movies"
*  The Sect of the Purification - Interview with Production Designer Antonello Geleng
*  Archive Interviews With Actors Ivan Rassimov and Robert Kerman
*  2013 Q&A With Umberto Lenzi from the "Festival of Fantastic Films, UK"



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

 

Have you seen the trailer for the new film, HEREDITARY?

 If you haven't seen this yet, take a few minutes and watch this trailer right now!  This looks absolutely terrifying!  Here is the basic plot from the film's imdb page:

 When Ellen, the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away, her daughter's family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. The more they discover, the more they find themselves trying to outrun the sinister fate they seem to have inherited as it slowly destroys everything they know. Making his feature debut, writer-director Ari Aster unleashes a nightmare vision of a domestic breakdown that exhibits the craft and precision of a nascent auteur, transforming a familial tragedy into something ominous and deeply disquieting, and pushing the horror movie into chilling new terrain with its shattering portrait of heritage gone to hell.

  HEREDITARY was written and directed by Ari Aster and is scheduled for a June 8 release.

 Check out the trailer and leave a comment to let me know what you think!  

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, March 6th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 3/6:

*  ANNE  [DVD]
*  THE CROSSBREED  [DVD]
*  DONNIE DARKO   [Arrow BD]
*  FANGS OF THE LIVING DEAD  [Scream Factory BD]
*  HAMMER FILMS DOUBLE FEATURE:  MANIAC / DIE! DIE! MY DARLING!  [BD]
*  HAMMER FILMS DOUBLE FEATURE:  NEVER TAKE CANDY FROM A STRANGER / SCREAM OF FEAR  [BD]
*  THE SANDMAN  [DVD]
*  THE STRANGERS  [Scream Factory BD]

DVD Review: SLICE (2012)

SLICE
Directed by Terence Muncy
Distributed by  The Sleaze Box

 The folks at The Sleaze Box bring you another low budget, gritty horror film with SLICE.  The plot is fairly simple....some girls all get together for a costume party and are basically killed off one by one by a deranged lunatic.
 
  That might sound simple enough, but there is a nice plot twist in the film that I didn't see coming.  Also, the ending is not what I expected at all, but I can't say too much about it or I will ruin the shock!  

 Like all of the films in the Sleaze Box library, this film is extremely bloody and full of great gore.  As always with these films, all of the gore is done with practical effects.   This is a huge reason I am a fan of these movies.  Practical effects are far superior to CG effects in every way.  

  The killer in this film is super creepy and quite terrifying, especially when he is wearing his creepy skull/skin mask.  The film is paced well and clocks in right at 1 hour, so there is not a lot of wasted time on this film.  We get to the kills pretty quickly and it never lets up!   You can tell this film was made by some people who love the horror genre!  

  SLICE is available now on DVD from www.thesleazebox.com and contains the following special features:

*  Bonus Short Film:  "BED BUG"
*  Behind The Scenes Footage
*  Sleaze Box Trailers


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

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, February 27th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 2/27

*  78/52:  HITCHCOCK'S SHOWER SCENE  [BD]
*  BASKET CASE  [Arrow BD]
*  COLOSSUS:  THE FORBIN PROJECT  [BD]
*  PREY  [BD/DVD combo pack]
*  THE SECT  [BD]
*  SERPENT'S LAIR  [BD & DVD]


I have never heard of 78/52, but that looks like it could be a very interesting doc on the making of the famous PSYCHO shower scene!  I will be checking that out for sure!

Blu-ray Review: THE SLAYER (1982)

THE SLAYER
Written & Directed by  J.S. Cardone
Distributed by Arrow Video / MVD Entertainment Group

 Arrow Video continues to put out some of the best horror releases available.  THE SLAYER is a great film that I had honestly never heard of before.  I love that Arrow is introducing us to some classic, yet lesser known, horror films.  Here is the basic plot of the film courtesy of the MVD website:

  IS IT A NIGHTMARE? OR IS IT... THE SLAYER? One of the most sought-after titles for slasher fans everywhere, The Slayer finally rises from the ashes of obscurity in a brand new 4K transfer courtesy of Arrow Video. Two young couples set off to a secluded island for what promises to be a restful retreat. But the peace is short-lived: as a storm batters the island, troubled artist Kay begins to sense that a malevolent presence is here with them, stalking them at every turn. Is she losing her mind, or are her childhood nightmares of a demonic assailant coming to terrifying life? Previously only available on home video in truncated or full screen versions, The Slayer - whose nightmares-seeping-into-reality theme predates a certain Wes Craven classic by several years - comes lovingly restored from the original negative in a stunning transfer that will be a revelation to fans both old and new.

 I love horror films from the 1980's.  In fact, I think that is the greatest decade for horror films.   Arrow Video has been putting out so many great horror films lately, and the majority have been these great 80's classics, some more obscure than others. 

  This film is one any 80's horror film fan will want to check out.  Now I will admit it is a little slow at the start, but the 2nd half of the film picks up and makes up for the sluggish first half.    The film is set on a remote island which immediately sets up the eerie tone, knowing how secluded the characters are from other people and any possibility of getting help.  Add in the storm that is headed their way and that completes the very creepy tone of the film, and gives us some of the films more atmospheric and dark visuals.

 As with any horror film from the 80's, we get some great jump scares, some great kill scenes and some great gore, all done with practical effects, of course.  Beheadings, pitch-forkings, hangings, etc are all on display in this film.  At times the film almost feels like an arthouse style horror film, something reminiscent of a Jean Rollin or Jess Franco film mixed with a typical 80's slasher.  This is a film very worthy of a watch!  Also, I have to mention the monster/creature that we finally get to see at the end.  It is one of the most terrifying and frightening creatures I have ever seen in a film, yet we only get to see it for a few seconds.  I really wish we would have seen more of this creature throughout the film!

  THE SLAYER is available now from MVD and Arrow Video and contains the following special features:

*  Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative
*  High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
*  Original Uncompressed Mono Audio
*  Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
*  Brand new interviews with cast and crew
*  Original Theatrical Trailer
*  Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Justin Osbourn
*  FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector’s booklet featuring new liner notes by writer Lee Gambin


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the BD/DVD combo

 

 

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, February 20th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 2/20:

*  AMERICAN SATAN  [BD]
*  THE GIRL WITHOUT HANDS  [DVD & BD]
*  MOM AND DAD  [DVD & BD]
*  THE NIGHT WALKER  [BD]

Blu-ray Review: THE BLOOD SPATTERED BRIDE (1972)

THE BLOOD SPATTERED BRIDE
Directed by  Vicente Aranda
Distributed by Mondo Macabro / CAV Distributing

  I always look forward to new releases from Mondo Macabro.   They release some of the best, and lesser known horror films from all over the world.   THE BLOOD SPATTERED BRIDE is one of their films that is a little more well known, I believe.  I actually saw this movie years ago, but I didn't remember much about it at all.   Here is the basic plot of the film from the CAV website:

  Susan, a young bride, travels with her husband to his family’s ancient manor house in the far north of Spain. Susan is a virgin and is very hesitant about her husband's sexual demands. She is also disturbed by her unfamiliar surroundings and wonders if she will ever come to terms with her new married life. She is shocked to discover that all the old portraits of female members of her husband’s family have been locked away in the basement. When she finds them, she discovers that one of the portraits shows a woman holding a strange dagger. The woman’s face has been cut out of the painting. Her name is Mircala Karstein.

  Overall, this is a great classic 70's shocker.   The film is a little slow in parts, and I feel at 102 minutes, it could have been trimmed down some to help with the film's pacing.   That is a very small complaint, though, as the film is great overall.   With a name like THE BLOOD SPATTERED BRIDE, you would expect lots of blood, and the film does not disappoint when it comes to that.   There are some very brutal and bloody scenes, one in particular being a prolonged stabbing scene with copious amounts of spurting blood!  There are also a lot of beautiful and atmospheric scenes, comparable to a some of the vampire films of Jean Rollin.  

 THE BLOOD SPATTERED BRIDE is available now on Blu-ray from Mondo Macabro and CAV Distribution.  The Blu-ray contains the following special features:

- Brand new 4k transfer from film negative
- English/Spanish audio choice
- Newly created English subtitles
- Audio commentary by Samm Deighan and Kat Ellinger
- Interview with cinematographer Fernando Arribas
- Two part interview with actor Simón Andreu
- Interview with Euro Gothic author Jonathan Rigby
- Original trailers and radio spots
- Deleted and alternate scenes
- Mondo Macabro previews


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

 

 

 

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, February 13th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 2/13:

*  ALMOST DEAD [DVD & BD]
*  ATROZ  [BD]
*  THE BLOOD SPATTERED BRIDE  [BD]
*  CHAOS / DON'T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT  [BD]
*  DRAG ME TO HELL  [BD]
*  FRANCESCA  [DVD & BD]
*  GAMES  [BD]
*  HELLRAISER:  JUDGMENT
*  INSIDE  [DVD]
*  LEATHERFACE:  THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 3  [BD]
*  MONOLITH  [DVD & BD]
*  NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD  [Criterion Collection DVD & BD]
*  NIGHT OF THE SEAGULLS [BD]
*  THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS  [Criterion Collection DVD & BD]

DVD Review: DEATH-SCORT SERVICE PART 2: THE NAKED DEAD (2017)

DEATH-SCORT SERVICE PART 2:  THE NAKED DEAD
Written & Directed by Sean Donohue
Distributed by  The Sleaze Box

  A couple of years ago I had the privilege of reviewing an indi horror film called DEATH-SCORT SERVICE.  You can read that review HERE.   The film was from a company called The Sleaze Box and from that name, you should know what's in store for you when you put in one of their DVDs!

 The Sleaze Box is now back with  DEATH-SCORT SERVICE PART 2:  THE NAKED DEAD, and unlike some sequels, this was just as fun of a film as the first one.   Here is the basic plot of the film per the film's imdb.com page:

 Deep in the heart of Las Vegas a new killer has emerged. Having survived the previous psycho's last wrath (Michelle) Krystal "Pixie" Adams is left behind to start anew and forget about her black past. Problem is this new murderer is unstoppable!!. A new group of up and coming hookers are on the streets left to pick up the pieces and start fresh. Will they survive, or will they become prey to this maniac slasher!

  Like the first film, if you are a looking for a plot driven,  smart, stylish, big-budget horror film, you might want to keep looking.   But, if you are like a lot of horror fans and just want to put in a fun dvd full of all the things that make horror great, then this is the movie for you!    DEATH-SCORT SERVICE PART 2 if chock full of great kills with some amazing gore!  Add in plenty of sex and nudity and you get a classic grindhouse experience that you just don't see too much of these days.   Another note about the gore and special effects, all is done with practical effects which is definitely something worth mentioning, as most films today go the cheaper route of CGI, which I think we can all agree never looks nearly as good as the real thing!

  If you were a fan of the first film, or any of the other films from The Sleaze Box, you will love DEATH-SCORT SERVICE PART 2!

  DEATH-SCORT SERVICE PART 2 is available now on Blu-ray and DVD from The Sleaze Box.  The DVD includes autographed cover art and a CD soundtrack!  Special features include trailers and deleted scenes.

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

 
 
 

Check out the trailer for the upcoming film, GAME NIGHT

If you haven't seen a trailer for this film yet, be sure to check it out asap!   The film is called GAME NIGHT, and while not really horror, it looks frightening enough to be worthy of a mention on the 4H blog!   IMDB.com lists it as an Action/Crime/Comedy, but based on the premise it looks to be a very dark comedy.  I have to admit, though, this trailer is hilarious!    Here is the basic plot from the film's official website:

  Bateman and McAdams star as Max and Annie, whose weekly couples game night gets kicked up a notch when Max’s charismatic brother, Brooks, arranges a murder mystery party, complete with fake thugs and faux federal agents. So, when Brooks gets kidnapped, it’s all part of the game…right? But as the six uber-competitive gamers set out to solve the case and win, they begin to discover that neither this “game”—nor Brooks—are what they seem to be.

Check out the trailers and let me know what you think!








 Game night will be in theaters starting February 23.

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, February 6th:

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 2/6:

*  DAY OF THE DEAD:  BLOODLINE  [DVD & BD]
*  DEMONS  [DVD & BD]
*  THE DIABOLICAL DR. Z  [DVD & BD]
*  GRIZZLY  [BD]
*  HOUSE OF DEMONS  [DVD]
*  VICTOR CROWLEY  [DVD & BD]

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, January 30th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 1/30:

*  CLASS OF 1999  [BD]
*  FUGITIVE GIRLS  [BD]
*  GOTHIC  [BD]
*  THE HILLS HAVE EYES  [Arrow BD -standard edition]
*  LEGEND OF THE NAGA PEARLS  [DVD & BD]
*  LUCIFER'S WOMEN  [BD]
*  OLD STONE  [DVD & BD]
*  PENITENTIARY  [BD]
*  THE PROJECTED MAN  [BD]
*  RED MOB  [BD]
*  RENDEL:  DARK VENGEANCE  [DVD & BD]
*  SWEET SUGAR  [BD]
*  TYLER PERRY'S BOO2:  A MADEA HALLOWEEN  [DVD & BD]

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, January 23rd

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 1/23:

*   10 CLOVERFIELD LANE  [4K]
*   ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES  [BD]
*   CLOVERFIELD  (4K)
*   DANCE MACABRE  [BD]
*   DARIO ARGENTO'S OPERA  [BD]
*   GEOSTORM  [DVD/BD combo]
*   JIGSAW  [DVD/BD/4K]
*   THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER  [DVD & BD]
*   RED KROKODIL  [DVD & BD]
*   THE SWORD AND THE CLAW  [BD]

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, January 16

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 1/16:

*  BEYOND SKYLINE  [DVD & BD]
*  BLADE RUNNER 2049  [DVD, BD, & 4K]
*  HAPPY DEATH DAY  [DVD & BD]
*  THE SNOWMAN  [DVD & BD]
*  YOR:  THE HUNTER FROM THE FUTURE  [BD]

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, January 9th

 

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that came out today, 1/9:

*  68 KILL  [DVD & BD]
*  EMMANULLE AND THE DEADLY BLACK COBRA  [BD]
*  HECTIC KNIFE  [Troma BD]
*  IT  (2017)  [DVD & BD]
*  JUNKBONDS:  THE RETURN OF JUNKBUCKET  [Troma BD]
*  THE WITCHES  [Arrow BD]

DVD Review: HI8: RESURRECTIO (2016)

HI8:  RESURRECTIO
Written & Directed by: Stefan Sierecki
Distributed by:  Black Lava Entertainment

 If you have never heard of Black Lava Entertainment, you are missing out on some of the weirdest underground horror films available today.   The latest one I have seen was called Hi8:  RESURRECTIO from filmmaker Stephan Sierecki.  Here is the basic plot of the film courtesy of the Black Lave Entertainment website:

  In "Hi8“ we follow Steven, a film student who intends to create the goriest horror movie of all time, his graduation film. The only problem is the lack of money. Even his lecturer does not support his plans. He claims the horror movie to be a inacceptable medium and does not honor any artist. Steven is aware that it is difficult to distribute genre movies in Germany but hope dies last. A mysterious website discovered by one of his friends raises hope. A single line framed by flames appears on the screen: 'God's messengers fall into hellfire, the angels' Stephen is not bothered by this phrase for he is more interested in the text's content. His eyes are fixed on the words 'filming', 'money', 'prompt cash'. Clicking the 'Send'-button unleashes an experience which affects his mind, flesh and bones. He will literally witness hell on earth.

 I had never heard of this film going into it, so I had no clue what to expect.   To me this film reminded me of a higher budget version of the AUGUST UNDERGROUND series, but a lower budget version of the HOSTEL films.  They are all in the same vein, though.  It basically follows Steven as he is kidnapped by the new "producers" of his horror film and is forced into a world of horror that Steven could have probably never imagined.  He is forced to torture and kill, all in the name of cinema! 

 The film is very well made, with what looks to be all practical effects, something I am always happy to see in horror films.   The acting is pretty good overall,  especially from the female victim that is caged and put through hell.   At times I actually wondered if they told her what all they would be doing and if some of the screaming and fear was actually real!  

 I'm not a huge fan of the torture films, but if you are into those films, you should definitely check this one out.   Hi8:  RESURRECTIO is available now on DVD and contains the following special features:

*  Teaser #1
*  Teaser #2
*  Trailer
*  English Subtitles
*  Bonus Movies:
-Fütterung der Raubtiere
-Herzstück
-Interimere
-Raum der Ausschweifung
-Tote reden nicht
-Vergeltung
-Weihnachten
*  Bonus CD with the complete Soundtrack (~80min Music)


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

Blu-ray Review: DEVIL'S DOMAIN (2016)

DEVIL'S DOMAIN
Written & Directed by  Jared Cohn
Distributed by MVD Visual

   I knew nothing about this film going into it, in fact, I had never even heard of DEVIL'S DOMAIN.  It sounded like a cool concept, though, so I decided to give it a try!  I am not sure why I have not heard more about this film.  It is a cool film with some originality that is missing from a lot of today's horror films.  Here is the basic story from the film's imdb page:

Devil's Domain tells the story of Lisa Pomson, a troubled, social media obsessed teen, conflicted with her sexuality and her parents misunderstanding of her. When Lisa gets secretly filmed binging, purging, and masturbating the video goes viral and she suffers extreme cyber-bullying. Suicidal, and on the brink of insanity, a beautiful, mysterious stranger (the Devil) strikes up an online relationship with her. They grow close and meet and the stranger offers to help in exchange for a favor. The devil will rid her of the bullies and give Lisa fame and fortune in exchange for a baby. Lisa agrees and as the bullies die one by one, Lisa's conscience kicks in and she regrets doing the deal. To keep Lisa in line, the Devil threatens eternal suffering and the death of her loved ones until she finally succumbs to give the devil a baby that will grow to reign terror upon the world.               

  The film is like a darker FINAL DESTINATION entry with each of  Lisa's bullies dying one by one, each on in a unique and sometimes grotesque way!    The acting is great here, especially from newcomer Madi Vodane  who plays the main character Lisa.  She does an excellent job as the tormented teen, Lisa.  

  One of my favorite parts about this film are the effects.  The filmmakers rely on almost all practical effects which is very rare these days, but it makes a film so much more believable and likeable in my opinion.   It was great to see some good gore in a horror film again.  That is one of my main complaints with horror films these days, most are very light on the gore for some reason. 

  DEVIL'S DOMAIN was very enjoyable and entertaining film that I highly recommend.

  DEVIL'S DOMAIN is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Cleopatra Entertainment and MVD Visual.   Bonus features include the following:

*  Slide Show
*  Extended Scenes
*  Behind the Scenes


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

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, December 19th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 12/19:


*  AMERICAN GOTHIC  [BD]
*  EYE IN THE LABYRINTH  [DVD]
*  HEAD HUNTER  [DVD]
*  LEATHERFACE  [DVD & BD]
*  MOTHER  [DVD, BD, & 4K]

Blu-ray review: ED WOOD'S "THE VIOLENT YEARS"

THE VIOLENT YEARS
Written by:  Edward D. Wood Jr.
Directed by:  William Morgan
Distributed by AGFA & MVD Visual

  When I saw the name of this film was ED WOOD'S "THE VIOLENT YEARS", I was assuming he directed the film.  It turns out, Ed Wood was the writer for this film.  The movie was directed by William Morgan, which probably explains why the film was not nearly as bad as I was expecting it to be when I was assuming Wood was the director!   Don't worry though, if you are a fan of Ed Wood's awful films, this one will still be a hit with you!  Here is the synopsis from the MVD website:

'I shot a cop -- SO WHAT!' So say the girl gang killers in THE VIOLENT YEARS! Written by Ed Wood (PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE), this is the story of teenage hellcats who live for gas station hijackings, pajama party orgies, and murder! From Wood's deranged dialogue to the scene where the girls perform a 'man attack,' this is an essential expose on crime, gender politics, and sweater-stealing.

 Well, first off I have to mention that I know this isn't really a horror film.  So what's it doing on horror website you might say?  Well, as mentioned above it was written by Ed Wood, and that's a good enough reason for me.  Wood is known for directing some awful films, but I have to tell you, he's not much of a writer either!  Ha!   In fact, the dialog is one of the best things about this film.  It's really bad, but in a "so bad, it's good" kind of way.  I knew I was in for a treat when a group of men were talking about the violent spree the  group of girls were on and one said "When will these kids learn"?   The other man's response was "These aren't kids, they're morons"!   Ha!  Classic Ed Wood dialog right there!  

Another thing I loved about this film were the effects, or lack thereof.   Anytime someone got shot, there was no blood or even a bullet hole, they would just hold their hand over where they had apparently been shot and fall to the ground.   It was confusing at times because I didn't know if they had actually been shot or not, but I just took their word for it!  Ha!  This movie is no masterpiece by any means, but it does have a certain charm to it.  It kept me entertained the entire running time, so that's good.  Although I must note the running time in only 65 minutes, so I'm not sure if I could have made it if it was any longer!  

  THE VIOLENT YEARS is available now on Blu-ray from AGFA and MVD Visual and contains the following Special Features:

*  New 4K scan from the original 35mm camera negative
*  Commentary track with filmmaker Frank Henenlotter and Ed Wood biographer Rudolph Grey
*  Gutter-noir trailers from the Something Weird vault
*  Memorbilia Scrapbook
*  BONUS MOVIE:   "Anatomy of a Psycho" -1961 presented in a new 2K scan from an original 35mm theatrical print


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

 

 

 

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, December 5th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that came out today, 12/5:

*  60 SECONDS TO DIE  [DVD]
*  BETTER WATCH OUT  [DVD & BD]
*  THE CRUCIFIXION  [DVD & BD]
*  HOWARD LOVECRAFT AND THE UNDERSEA KINGDOM  [DVD & BD]
*  SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT  [Scream Factory BD]
*  THE SOUND  [DVD]
*  TWIN PEAKS:  LIMITED EVENT SERIES  [DVD & BD]
*  WEREWOLVES OF THE THIRD REICH  [DVD]
*  THE WITCH WHO CAME FROM THE SEA  [Arrow BD]

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, November 28th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 11/28:


*  DEATH DREAM  [Blue Underground DVD/BD combo]
*  MISERY [Scream Factory BD]
*  REMEMORY  [DVD & BD]
*  SUPER DARK TIMES  [DVD]

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, November 21st

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 11/21:

*  DAUGHTER OF DR. JEKYLL  [DVD]
*  SCARECROWD  [DVD]


Looks to be super slow week when it comes to Horror movie releases this week!  Will probably be slow through the holidays....

Blu-ray Review: SATAN'S CHEERLEADERS (1977)

SATAN'S CHEERLEADERS
Directed by Greydon Clark
Distributed by VCI Entertainment / MVD Entertainment Group

  I always love coming across films that not only have I never seen, but that I have never even heard of!    SATAN'S CHEERLEADERS  is one of those films.   I'll be honest, as soon as I saw the cover art for this film I had a hunch I was going to like this film!   Here is the basic plot of the film from the VCI website:

  Benedict High School's cheerleaders aren't shy and sweet. The football team knows them well – and Billy, the school's disturbed janitor, would like to. In the locker room, the girls shower and dress, unaware of the evil eyes which secretly watch them. They don't know that a curse has been placed on their clothes. And they don't know that their trip to the first big game of the season might sideline them for eternity. Will the cheerleaders succumb to the dark ritual of sexual sacrifice and death that's been plotted for them? Only those who dare watch will know!

  I'll start by saying that I have a real fondness for 1970's horror films.  There are some really fun 70's horror films and this is definitely one of them.   I do have to admit that this film won't be for everyone, and as much as I liked it, there were some slow parts that even I could have done without.  The running time clocks in at 93 minutes, which doesn't seem to long, but some parts did seem to drag on at times.  I think a little tighter editing and something closer to a 83 minute running time could have really improved this film.  Even so, this is one you'll want to check out. 

  SATAN'S CHEERLEADERS is full of crazy characters and some really cheesy 70's dialog, but that is really what gives it a lot of it's charms.   I was also surprised at the lack of killing and gore...it has very little killing and no gore at all that I recall.  This film is more about the storyline than effects or scares. It's a fun tale that just gets crazier and crazier as the film goes on.

  SATAN'S CHEERLEADERS is available now on Blu-ray/DVD combo from VCI Entertainment and MVD Visual.  Special features include:

*  Behind the scenes Photo Gallery

*  Commentary by Director Greydon Clark

*  Commentary by genre film director David DeCoteau and film historian and journalist, David Del Valle

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

 

The classic arcade game RAMPAGE is headed to the big screen!

   If you are a child of the 80's like me, chances are you grew up playing the arcade game RAMPAGE.  It was such a fun game with a very easy concept.....giant mutated animals destroying stuff.   Here is a brief description of the characters from the RAMPAGE Wikipedia site:

  The game's protagonists are George, a King Kong-like gigantic gorilla transformed by an experimental vitamin, Lizzie, a Godzilla-like dinosaur/lizard transformed by a radioactive lake, and Ralph, a giant werewolf transformed by a food additive. As monsters, they need to raze all buildings in a high-rise city to advance to the next level, eating people and destroying helicopters, tanks, taxis, police cars, boats, and trolleys along the way

 Now, a major motion picture is coming out based on the game and it looks like it is going to be tons of fun!  The film stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson  and Jeffrey Dean Morgan  (Negan from THE WALKING DEAD).   

  Check out the trailer and let me know what you think!   While it looks like it could be a bit cheesy, I think we are in for a fun time with some great monster mayhem!   RAMPAGE has a theatrical release date of 4/20/18


 CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE TRAILER

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, November 14th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 11/14:

*  AMITYVILLE:  THE AWAKENING  [DVD & BD]
*  ATTACK OF THE PUPPET PEOPLE  [BD]
*  GEORGE A. ROMERO:  BETWEEN NIGHT AND DAWN [Arrow BD set]
*  J.D.'S REVENGE  [Arrow BD]
*  NIGHTKILL [DVD & BD]
*  THE THINGY:  CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE PLACENTA  [Troma BD]

Check out the trailer for ASH VS. EVIL DEAD Season 3!

 
Are you a fan of ASH VS. EVIL DEAD on Starz?  If so, check out the trailer for the upcoming 3rd season!   It premieres Sunday, February 25th on Starz!