Blu-ray Review: DARK SANCTUARY: THE STORY OF THE CHURCH (2024)

 

DARK SANCTUARY:  THE STORY OF THE CHURCH

Directed by:  Timothy Stevens

Distributed by:  Cleopatra Films / MVD Entertainment

DARK SANCTUARY is a documentary film about a famous night club in Dallas, TX.  I'm going to be honest here....I had never heard of this film or of the night club that is the subject matter of this film.  When this showed up in my mailbox to review, I was a little disappointed.   A documentary about a night club did not sound like an entertaining 86 minutes of my life.   Well, I am not to proud to admit how wrong I was.   This just goes to show you that you can't judge a book  (or a movie), by it's cover.   What sounded like a dull documentary to me ended up being one of the most interesting documentaries I have watched in quite a while.   

Here is a description of the film from the MVD website:

DARK SANCTUARY is a feature-length documentary about the historic Dallas, TX Goth club - The Church.  Dark Sanctuary exposes the incredible, shocking history of one of the longest running goth clubs in the U.S. as well as the world-renowned artists who performed there.


Through interviews with world-famous music artists, local bands, and patrons, the film tells the story of the community that formed over nearly three decades of the legendary club's existence. The motto of The Church became 'Enter Without Prejudice' meaning no matter who you are, how you look, how you dress, your sexuality, your gender identity, the color of your skin, your body type, all are welcome and embraced at The Church.


Follow DJ in residence, Joe Virus, on his journey from aspiring musician to headlining the main stage for over 20 years and through the events of the global epidemic which lead to a neighborhood buyout from a multimillion-dollar real estate company, threatening to claim the beloved building at 2424 Swiss Avenue.


Just what will happen when the deep south's premiere goth club of nearly thirty years stands on the brink of being lost forever?

  The Church was what a club called The Lizard Lounge changed into on Sunday nights.  The location was at 2424 Swiss Ave in the Deep Ellum neighborhood of Dallas, TX.   The Church opened in 1994 and was the place for artists and "misfits" to gather with like minded people and enjoy some Electronic Dance Music and what would later become known as the "Goth" community.   The film is mainly told through The Church's resident DJ, DJ VIRUS  (Joe Gonzales), and it was very touching to see how much this club meant to him.   In fact, almost everyone that is interviewed about The Church gets choked up at some point while reminiscing about the club.  It just shows you how much of an effect this place had on it's regulars.  The film goes over the clubs entire timeline, from it's creation and all the special events that took place over the years and live music performances, to it's closing and eventual reopening 

  While the original location closed in 2020, The Church lives on today at a new club located at 4322 Elm St in Dallas.  It looks as though it never has recreated the true look and feel of the original location, though, in my opinion.   For those that went to The Church religiously,  this is a wonderful keepsake and memento of a place that meant so much to so many people, and is a must have film.  Even if you are like me, having never heard of The Church, this is still a wonderful film and honestly makes me a bit jealous that I never had a place like this to hang out.  The people here seem so sincere and accepting of everyone.   While some people might look at The Churchgoers as "weirdos" or "outcasts", I think they were just the opposite.  They are the people we should all strive to be like.  Loving people that let others be themselves and accepting of all lifestyles with no judgement or prejudice of any kind.  The Church truly seemed like an amazing place. 

  DARK SANCTUARY is available now on DVD and BD from MVD Entertainment and contains the following Special Features:

*  Trailer

*  Uncut Celebrity Interviews

* 2 music videos from the band Solemn Assembly 

CLICK HERE to watch the trialer

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

CLICK HERE to purchase the BLU-RAY

The 4H Blog is back from Holiday Break!

 

  Happy New Year!!!    Well, I wasn't planning on it, but I took quite a bit of a Holiday break from the 4H Blog!   The Holidays are a very busy time, with family get togethers and parties.  Also, my boys were home from college!  So, needless to say, I didn't find the time  (or make the time, I guess) to do much blogging!   

I did watch quite a few films during the break!   I won't go into too much detail, but I will give you a quick rundown of what I watched!  It wasn't all horror, but that was the majority, of course! 

THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE 3   (2015)

  I had seen the first 2 and liked them, but had heard so many negative things about this 3rd installment that I just kept putting of watching it.  Well, I finally broke down and watched it.  It wasn't as bad as people said, but it was definitely the worst installment of the trilogy.   Would I watch it again?   Probably not.  It was pretty bland compared to the other two, and the Human Centipede only made an appearance at the very end of the film.  Overall, a pretty pointless sequel. 

THE LICKERISH QUARTET  (1970)

  This is a weird one.  I read about it in one of the Grindhouse Movie groups I am in on Facebook.   I checked it out and I am glad I did!   It involves a couple (and for some reason their son) who watch a stag film.  They then go out for a night at the local carnival and they Husband and Wife see a carnival worker that looks eerily like the star of the film they just watched.  They invite her back to their home (which is a huge castle) and she ends up seducing all 3 of the castle's residents.  Sounds simple enough, but this is a very art house type film with some very interesting visuals and more to the story than what it looks like on the surface.   This is not one to watch with the kiddo's, of course, but I would recommend this one.  It was interesting enough that it actually kept me quite entertained. 

STARSHIP TROOPERS  (1997)

  This one is a fun Sci-Fi classic.  One of my boys mentioned that he had never seen it, so I watched it with him.  I forgot how fun this movie is!  It still holds up, including the visuals and effects.   

LORDS OF SALEM  (2012)

  This is one I saw in the theater when it first came out and I was really disappointed in it.  I think I was expecting another HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES or DEVILS REJECTS type film, so I was kind of let down.  Well, it's been 12 years since I first saw it, so I decided to give it another shot.  I am so glad I did!   I absolutely loved this film this time around.  It really goes to show you that sometimes you need to give movies you didn't like a 2nd chance.  The visuals in the film was excellent and the movie was genuinely creepy.   Give it a shot if you haven't seen it before, or give it a 2nd chance if you have seen it but didn't like it originally. 

EXTREME MOVIE  (2008)

  I waned a good laugh, and this film provided many.   Not a "good" movie by any means, but it was some dumb fun and worth a watch

CARNAGE PARK  (2016)

 This was an interesting one....I'm still trying to figure out this one.  I think I liked it.  I'm still trying to process everything.  What starts as a bank heist movie turns into a Turkey Shoot type of film, but there is more to it as well.   

INSEMINOID  (1981)

  Horrible film. Just awful.  They tried to make a knockoff ALIEN film, and failed miserably. Nothing happens.   Avoid this one at all cost!

FUGITIVE GILRS (1974)

 Another one to avoid.  I usually like women in prison type flicks, but this one was bad.   Very boring, and very slow in parts. I actually found myself nodding off several times during this film.

NIGHT OF THE CREEPS  (1986)

  A true classic!  One of my all time favorite horror movies. I put this one on every couple of years or so.  I never get tired of it.   Tom Atkins performance in this film is pure perfection!  If you haven't seen this one, do yourself a favor and check it out!

JOKER:  FOLIE A DEUX  (2024)

 I loved the first JOKER film. I was so excited when this one came out, but unfortunately I heard nothing but bad things about it.  For that reason, I didn't go see it in theaters.  Now that it is streaming on MAX, I decided "what the heck".   I turned it on and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.  Maybe it was because I had such low expectations for it, but I loved it.   It wasn't as good as the first one, and it is a completely type of film than the first one (which is probably why people didn't like it), but it was a great movie on it's own, and one I will be adding to my collection for sure!

THE RINGER  (2005)

 I like to mix in a comedy between my horror movies, and this one was a lot of fun.  It probably couldn't be made in today's world, and I don't think it's streaming anywhere, so you might have to find the DVD like I did.   It's a fun movie and ends up having a good message.   Lots of great quotable lines, it's a fun one that is worth a watch!

SUBSERVIENCE  (2024)

 I saved the best for last.  This is new new Megan Fox film on Netflix about AI robots gone wrong.  The AI robots gone wrong sub-genre is fast becoming one of my favorites.   This one was done extremely well and was extremely entertaining!  I can't recommend this one enough!!

Have you seen any of these films?   Leave me a comment about any you have seen and liked or disliked.  

I'll try to get back to reviewing some new releases soon!! Stay Tuned!

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

Check out the 2024 Cyber Week Movie sale from MVD Entertainment!

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4K ULTRA HD Review: THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND (2020)

THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND
Written & Directed by:  Kevin McManus & Matthew McManus

Distributed by:  Synapse Films / MVD Entertainment

 I am always surprised when I get a screener in the mail to review, and I have never heard of the film.  Especially with newer films.   Such was the case when THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND showed up in my mailbox.   This film is one I had somehow missed.   I have never even heard a mention of it!   I was surprised to see that Synapse Films is who put this one out, as I associate them re-issues of older titles.  

 Before I get into the review, here is a brief synopsis of the film from the Synapse Films website:

  Something terrifying is happening off the coast of Block Island. A strange force is thriving, influencing residents and wildlife alike. Birds are dropping out of the sky and fish are mysteriously washing up on shore. As some residents are suffering from inexplicable emotional collapse, Harry Lynch (Chris Sheffield, The Stanford Prison Experiment) watches with dread as his father grows increasingly forgetful, confused and angry. Very, very angry! His sister Audry (Michaela McManus, Into the Grizzly Maze, TV’s The Orville), whose work in marine biology will soon prove invaluable, returns to town with her daughter and leads them all towards chilling revelations that will affect her family in unimaginable ways.

 Let me start off by saying this film will not be for everyone.   It is a bit of a slow burn, but it definitely kept me entertained the entire running time.  This was mainly because I could not figure out what was going on and wanted to find out!    I actually would not classify this as a horror film.  It's more of a dark mystery, suspense sort of film with a bit of a Sci-Fi element to it. 

 The film is about Harry, who is trying to figure out exactly what happened to his father, Tom.  A mysterious sound is causing some very strange things around the island, including mass fish kills and missing people.   Harry keeps seeing his deceased Dad throughout the film, and he seems to be trying to hint to Harry what is going on.   These scenes are very creepy, and it's hard to tell what is real and  what in in Harry's mind.  As the film goes on, we see Harry spiral down a road of madness, causing some major issues with his siblings who have all gathered to find out what happened to their Dad. 

 I'm still not sure I 100% understand this film, and I feel like what is happening and the sound the islanders are hearing is never fully explained.   That was my main issue with this film, as I wanted more of an explanation.  I understand though, that sometimes it's the fact that there is no explanation that makes it more terrifying.   

 The film only has a few scenes involving special effects, but they are very well done.  There is even a special feature on the disc that discusses making the effects on the small budget this film had. 

 The acting in this film is excellent and the cinematography is outstanding.  I love seeing the views of the open water, especially in this 4K Ultra HD edition.  The picture is crystal clear and looks amazing.  

  THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND is available now on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD, and contains the following Special Features:

• *  The 4K UHD release features a special limited edition slipcover featuring new art from Joel Robinson, while supplies last
• *  Original Trailer
• *  A Practical Apocalypse
• *  Finding the Cast
• *  Filming on the Water
• *  Special Effects on a Shoestring
• *  Los Angeles Behind-the-Scenes (Super 8mm)
• *  McManus Family Home Movies

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K Ultra HD

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

GUEST REVIEW: THE WOMAN & OFFSRING [4K UHD Limited Edition]

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

THE WOMAN

Directed by Lucky McKee

OFFSPRING

Directed by Andrew van den Houten

 When you think about big names in horror fiction, certain names flash into mind: Stephen King, Ramsey Campbell, Clive Barker, H.P. Lovecraft, etc.  But you would be remiss if you did not include Jack Ketchum in that list.  Ketchum wrote some of the most horrific and terrifying novels ever published, and he was a true master of the genre (he passed away in 2018).

 

  Ketchum coordinated with a couple of directors to turn two of his books into movies:  OFFSPRING and THE WOMAN.  (Technically, THE WOMAN was published after the movie was released, but from what I understand Ketchum already had the idea when OFFSPRING was originally published).  Both movies deal with cannibalism and torture, and both have merits…but I must confess I liked THE WOMAN a lot better than OFFSPRING.

 

If you are unfamiliar with either movie, here is the plot synopsis of this set courtesy of Arrow Video:

 Almost a decade after Lucky McKee burst upon the indie horror scene and became a 'Master of Horror' in the making thanks to his directorial debut May, he teamed up with legendary cult author Jack Ketchum for his most shocking and brutal film to date: The Woman, an instant cause célèbre on its Sundance premiere.

The Woman (Pollyanna McIntosh, The Walking Dead) is the last surviving member of a deadly clan of feral cannibals that has roamed the American wilderness for decades. When successful country lawyer Chris Cleek (Sean Bridgers, Room) stumbles upon her whilst hunting in the woods, he decides to capture and "civilize" her with the help of his seemingly perfect all-American family, including his wife Belle (Angela Bettis, May) and daughter Peggy (Lauren Ashley Carter, Darling). The Cleeks will soon learn, however, that hell hath no fury like The Woman scorned...

 Experience McKee and Ketchum's uncompromisingly twisted vision of the dark side of the American family in a definitive edition, including a 4K remaster, a slew of bonus features, and a bonus disc featuring a restoration of its gut-churning 2009 predecessor Offspring, also starring McIntosh.

 

 OFFSPRING is a movie based on his book of the same name.  The book is a follow-up to his controversial debut Off Season, which many critics and reviewers deemed “violent pornography”.  Even so, I am curious as to why the filmmakers decided to make a movie based on the sequel when there was no adaptation for the first one at the time.  I would love to see Off Season translated to the screen.

 

OFFSPRING is a decent film, but it’s a bit confusing to start off (probably because it’s actually a sequel).  The opening scenes use newspaper headlines to sorta build the foundation of the story, which again does help a little bit, but it is still not enough to make a solid start.  The story itself is intriguing enough to warrant attention, and it unfolds at a nice pace within its 79 minute runtime.  Still, I would have liked more clarity as to what was happening and why.

 

 The 4K transfer looks excellent compared to previous versions, and if you don’t believe me there’s a comparison video in the Special Features.  This video runs clips from the movie in both resolutions side-by-side so you can see the difference.  And wow, is there a difference!  The 4K transfer is much more colorful and takes the graininess out of the low-light scenes. 

 

 THE WOMAN is a direct sequel to OFFSPRING and pretty much picks up where its predecessor ends.  This film is much better in my opinion.  It ratchets up the intensity and makes better use of Pollyanna McIntosh’s acting skills.  McIntosh does a superb job of portraying the feral Woman once again, and it’s easy to see why she was selected for the role. 

 

 Like OFFSPRING, the 4K transfer for this film looks great as well.  I had a Blu-ray copy of this film years ago, but I don’t remember what the picture quality was like…it would be interesting to see a side-by-side of it compared with this.

 

 Ketchum set a high standard bar for horror, and both films aim to reach it.  THE WOMAN gets closer to that goal than OFFSPRING, but both films are fun to watch and definitely worth owning.  This Arrow set is a fine addition to any horror fan’s collection, and I feel it would make Jack Ketchum proud.  

THE WOMAN & OFFSRING Box Set is available now and contains the following Special Features:

4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• 4K restorations of The Woman and Offspring, supervised and approved by Lucky McKee and Andrew van den Houten
• Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork for both films by Vanessa McKee
• Illustrated collector's booklet featuring writing by Michael Blyth, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Kevin Kovelant

DISC ONE - THE WOMAN (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)

• 4K restoration supervised and approved by Lucky McKee
• 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio commentary with director Lucky McKee, editor Zach Passero, sound designer Andrew Smetek and composer Sean Spillane
• Audio commentary with star Pollyanna McIntosh
• Audio commentary with critic Scott Weinberg
• Archive commentary with director Lucky McKee
• Dad on the Wall, a 75-minute fly-on-the-wall behind-the-scenes documentary filmed by the director's father Mike McKee
• Being Peggy Cleek, an interview with star Lauren Ashley Carter
• Malam Domesticam, an archive making-of featurette
• Meet the Makers, a short featurette on the making of the film
• Deleted scenes
• ¡Mi Burro!, a short film by editor Zach Passero
• "Distracted" music video by Sean Spillane
• Frightfest Total Film Panel Discussion, a 2011 onstage chat about the future of American indie horror at the popular horror film festival, featuring Lucky McKee, Andrew van den Houten, Larry Fessenden, Adam Green, Joe Lynch and Ti West
• Theatrical trailers
• Image galleries

DISC TWO - OFFSPRING (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)

• 4K restoration supervised and approved by Andrew van den Houten
• 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio commentary with director/producer Andrew van den Houten and digital colorist Matt McClain
• Archive commentary with writer Jack Ketchum, director/producer Andrew van den Houten and producer/cinematographer William M. Miller
• Interview with Pollyanna McIntosh and Andrew van den Houten
• Fly on the Wall, a behind-the-scenes documentary
• Extended interview with Jack Ketchum
• Restoration comparison
• Audition comparison
• Progeny: The Birth of Offspring, an archive behind-the-scenes featurette including interviews with cast and crew
• First Stolen's Bailout, an archive behind-the-scenes featurette
• Webisodes, short featurettes used to promote the film online
• Archive Easter Eggs
• Theatrical trailer
• Image gallery

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K Ultra HD limited edition set