Let's face facts shall we. Any hour of 'The Walking Dead' is worth more than most single years worth of horror entertainment. Having always loved the living dead dynamic, a judgement call on this epic comic turned television phenomenon was a no-brainer. Thank you Robert Kirkman, Frank Darabont, and AMC for giving our zombie lust a home. On October 31, 2010 our twisted dreams came true. Four years and a butt-load of blood later the Fifth season awaits us.
As a latecomer to 'The Walking Dead' it was a real eyeopener. This story of survival, human conflict, and monstrous undead hoards is television fear at its greatest. The tension is thick as is the pathos. A combination rarely achieved without tragically laughable results. Even the living dead world of the one and only George A. Romero fell victim to the cornball from time to time, but in the 'The Walking Dead' world, not so much.
A Netflix marathon began my love affair with this post apocalyptic soap opera. The Darabont touch was all over the first moments of the series giving us initial pangs of both fright, familiarity, and love for all the characters in this flesh torn universe. It's a home spun comfort level that he and one Mister King deliver to audiences so very well. Another pleasing touch woven throughout the series is one of artist Greg Nicotero. His skills in creature creation are the best and certainly match if not surpass his mentor the great Tom Savini. With Kirkman's brain, Darabont's heart, and Nicotero's dark passion, this terror novella simply could not miss. It is weekly serial as breathing nightmare. A vision 1960's/1970's spooky television legend Dan Curtis could not have ever dreamed of, not even when peering out of his Gothic Dark Shadowed Collinwood window.
Do yourself a favor this October 12th. Tune out the world, turn on the tube, and fall in love with the wonderful world of reanimated corpses, savaged survivors,and all manor of anxiety in between. 'The Walking Dead' truly is a gem in a frightening sea of entertainment mediocrity.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
'The Battery' Blu-ray Review: Ben & Mickey vs. The Dead
What do you get when you combine $6000 with the raw love of film making and genre geekdom? A really enjoyable post apocalyptic road to Zombie picture. Writer, Directer, Producer, Actor Jeremy Gardner has scored a solid home run with his tag team tale of baseball player buddies wandering onward to no where fighting flesh eaters along the way.
Ben (Jeremy Gardner) and Mickey (Adam Cronheim) are an unlikely pair. In this walking dead world baseball catcher Ben does all the dirty work while Mickey mopes around headphone music blaring, longing for female companionship. Never wanting to linger in one place to long Ben works hard to keep things safe while Mickey complains and longs for a comfortable stop along the way. They try but we all know that safety is fleeting especially when the dead want there pound of flesh, literally. Sainthood will certainly be awaiting Ben on the other side of the pearly gates after pampering the highly annoying lump that is our pitcher Mickey. Add in a disembodied lovely voice on a walky talky air wave and the plot twists to a clever turn.
'The Battery' is more angst than gore ridden, but in a sea of zombie flicks that have nearly drowned us all since the living dead 1960's through the modern masterwork that is 'The Walking Dead' this film is a cool ride of non nightmarish fun.
Scream Factory has once again gone above and beyond in honoring independent horror film. 'The Battery' Blu-ray edition is presented in a wonderful 2.35:1/1080p/AVC-encoded image and an equally great 5.1 DTS-HD Master and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio mix. There are English subtitles and the special features include Audio Commentary with Writer, Director and Producer Jeremy Gardner as well as Producer and Actor Adam Cronheim and Director of Photography Christian Stella, Tools of Ignorance: The Making of The Battery, Outtakes, Trailers, and a soundtrack piece called Rock Plaza Central at the Parlor.
When the world as we have known it ends and the dead come calling we could do worse
than to have a couple of ball players lead us out of the chaos. Gore covered baseball bats and catchers masks work in a pinch. For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, At the old ball game.
Ben (Jeremy Gardner) and Mickey (Adam Cronheim) are an unlikely pair. In this walking dead world baseball catcher Ben does all the dirty work while Mickey mopes around headphone music blaring, longing for female companionship. Never wanting to linger in one place to long Ben works hard to keep things safe while Mickey complains and longs for a comfortable stop along the way. They try but we all know that safety is fleeting especially when the dead want there pound of flesh, literally. Sainthood will certainly be awaiting Ben on the other side of the pearly gates after pampering the highly annoying lump that is our pitcher Mickey. Add in a disembodied lovely voice on a walky talky air wave and the plot twists to a clever turn.
'The Battery' is more angst than gore ridden, but in a sea of zombie flicks that have nearly drowned us all since the living dead 1960's through the modern masterwork that is 'The Walking Dead' this film is a cool ride of non nightmarish fun.
Scream Factory has once again gone above and beyond in honoring independent horror film. 'The Battery' Blu-ray edition is presented in a wonderful 2.35:1/1080p/AVC-encoded image and an equally great 5.1 DTS-HD Master and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio mix. There are English subtitles and the special features include Audio Commentary with Writer, Director and Producer Jeremy Gardner as well as Producer and Actor Adam Cronheim and Director of Photography Christian Stella, Tools of Ignorance: The Making of The Battery, Outtakes, Trailers, and a soundtrack piece called Rock Plaza Central at the Parlor.
When the world as we have known it ends and the dead come calling we could do worse
than to have a couple of ball players lead us out of the chaos. Gore covered baseball bats and catchers masks work in a pinch. For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, At the old ball game.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
'Pumpkinhead' Blu-ray Review: The hills are alive with the sound of vengeance
'Pumpkinhead' is a wonderful film. With special effects genius Stan Winston as the director it's atmosphere is thick and visceral. It took to the big screen in 1988 and was welcomed with less than glowing praise. Seeming a bit before it's time 'Pumpkinhead' has since become a favorite of many clearer thinking horror fans.
It's 1957 and little Ed Harley witnesses a horrible sight. One he won't soon forget and perhaps a mere glimpse into his sad future. Time passes and Ed (Lance Henriksen) grows into a simple man who loves his small son with all his heart. His peaceful life is soon undone by a group of less than compassionate outsiders with more money than brains or heart. Tragedy strikes and all hell is soon literally let loose. All moral dilemmas aside we can surely side with poor Ed Harley. Some folks deserve to die. Legends run wild through the darkness of the mountain top. Portents of mystical justice have deep roots and a monumental myth is about to be born from blood. Lance Henriksen is a superb and disturbingly underrated actor. His angst is palpable in this role and it makes the film a true supernatural gem. If you haven't ridden this wild ride before, do yourself a favor an climb aboard this classic tale of wrongs righted and souls sold.
Scream Factory is brilliant in giving due respect to all their horror film presentations and their 'Pumpkinhead' Blu-ray Collectors Edition is no exception. The 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 image is lovely as is the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack offered. The special features include the new "REMEMBERING THE MONSTER KID: A TRIBUTE TO STAN WINSTON" featuring new interviews with actors Lance Henriksen and Brian Bremer, special effects artists Alec Gillis, Tom Woodruff Jr. and Shannon Shea. Also included are new interviews with producer Richard Weinman and actors John D'Aquino and Matthew Hurley. PUMPKINHEAD UNEARTHED (now in HD) – a documentary on the making of PUMPKINHEAD featuring Evolution of a Demon, The Cursed and the Damned, The Torture Soul of Ed Harley, Constructing Vengeance, Razorback Holler. Audio Commentary by Co-screenwriter Gary Gerani and Creature & FX Creators Tom Woodruff, Jr. and Alec Gillis. Completing the package is a Featurette: Demonic Toys, as well as Behind-the-Scenes Footage, Still Gallery, and Theatrical Trailer. If you love the film you will love this wonderful DVD.
The unspoken code of life and death while rarely paid heed to is scarily real non the less. Call it karma or simple Gypsy curse but mess with the simple salt of the earth type folk and most times Satan comes a calling. Que Sara Sara my ass.
It's 1957 and little Ed Harley witnesses a horrible sight. One he won't soon forget and perhaps a mere glimpse into his sad future. Time passes and Ed (Lance Henriksen) grows into a simple man who loves his small son with all his heart. His peaceful life is soon undone by a group of less than compassionate outsiders with more money than brains or heart. Tragedy strikes and all hell is soon literally let loose. All moral dilemmas aside we can surely side with poor Ed Harley. Some folks deserve to die. Legends run wild through the darkness of the mountain top. Portents of mystical justice have deep roots and a monumental myth is about to be born from blood. Lance Henriksen is a superb and disturbingly underrated actor. His angst is palpable in this role and it makes the film a true supernatural gem. If you haven't ridden this wild ride before, do yourself a favor an climb aboard this classic tale of wrongs righted and souls sold.
Scream Factory is brilliant in giving due respect to all their horror film presentations and their 'Pumpkinhead' Blu-ray Collectors Edition is no exception. The 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 image is lovely as is the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack offered. The special features include the new "REMEMBERING THE MONSTER KID: A TRIBUTE TO STAN WINSTON" featuring new interviews with actors Lance Henriksen and Brian Bremer, special effects artists Alec Gillis, Tom Woodruff Jr. and Shannon Shea. Also included are new interviews with producer Richard Weinman and actors John D'Aquino and Matthew Hurley. PUMPKINHEAD UNEARTHED (now in HD) – a documentary on the making of PUMPKINHEAD featuring Evolution of a Demon, The Cursed and the Damned, The Torture Soul of Ed Harley, Constructing Vengeance, Razorback Holler. Audio Commentary by Co-screenwriter Gary Gerani and Creature & FX Creators Tom Woodruff, Jr. and Alec Gillis. Completing the package is a Featurette: Demonic Toys, as well as Behind-the-Scenes Footage, Still Gallery, and Theatrical Trailer. If you love the film you will love this wonderful DVD.
The unspoken code of life and death while rarely paid heed to is scarily real non the less. Call it karma or simple Gypsy curse but mess with the simple salt of the earth type folk and most times Satan comes a calling. Que Sara Sara my ass.
Monday, September 15, 2014
'Prom Night' Blu-ray Review
The killers are coming? What ever happened to tag you're it? That's the first thought one has when a crazed hide and seek game goes horribly wrong during the opening moments of the 1980 horror film 'Prom Night'.
Ah the slasher film, the seventies birthed them and the the eighties milked them to within an inch of their ever loving lives. But really what's not to love? Angst ridden teens all hoped up on hormones with deep dark hidden secrets, masked killers armed with all manner of weaponry with revenge filled obsessive mutilation on their minds. In the lexicon of these gore laced babies 'Prom Night' is still a top ten contender in this particular horror genre.
It's six years after the tragic death of an eleven year old girl at the hands of a known child molester. Kim (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Nick (Casey Stevens) Hammond are still mourning their sister. So are their parents Mother Hammond (Antoinette Bower) and Father Hammond (Leslie Nielsen) who happens to be their high school principle. You see the night is all a bustle with prom preparations, but crape paper and glitter are taking a back seat to morbid threatening phone calls and vengeance on the cusp. Red herrings abound what with creepy janitors, escaped child killers, and dateless old maids running a muck in the neighborhood. Michael Myers would be proud. Before the night is over blood will shed, cherries will pop, heads will roll, and all to the pump of the disco beat. Canadian film director Paul Lynch gets a lot right in this cliched tale of juvenile mayhem. It's corny and campy but with enough scares to keep you jumping. Popcorn horror to it's silly core.
Synapse Films respects the horror fan and with 'Prom Night' once again delivers a near perfect package. The Blu-ray image is fantastic in it's HD 1080p widescreen specifications, as is the audio featuring DTS-HD 5.1 Surround/Original 2.0 Mono. English subtitles for the deaf are also available.
The special features include audio commentary with Director Paul Lynch and screenwriter William Grey, a making of featurette, a collection of additional scenes added for TV broadcasts, never before seen outtakes that are exclusive to Blu-ray, and finally the usual trailers and still gallery.
Nearly 35 years later 'Prom Night' like all it's 1980 hack and slash film companions seems almost 70's porn like in it's delivery. Sexy slim babes, weak effeminate boys, and hideous get up and boogy soundtracks all swirl us up into a way-back machine vortex of fun and feeling slightly groovy. High-wasted jeans and perms for all.
Ah the slasher film, the seventies birthed them and the the eighties milked them to within an inch of their ever loving lives. But really what's not to love? Angst ridden teens all hoped up on hormones with deep dark hidden secrets, masked killers armed with all manner of weaponry with revenge filled obsessive mutilation on their minds. In the lexicon of these gore laced babies 'Prom Night' is still a top ten contender in this particular horror genre.
It's six years after the tragic death of an eleven year old girl at the hands of a known child molester. Kim (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Nick (Casey Stevens) Hammond are still mourning their sister. So are their parents Mother Hammond (Antoinette Bower) and Father Hammond (Leslie Nielsen) who happens to be their high school principle. You see the night is all a bustle with prom preparations, but crape paper and glitter are taking a back seat to morbid threatening phone calls and vengeance on the cusp. Red herrings abound what with creepy janitors, escaped child killers, and dateless old maids running a muck in the neighborhood. Michael Myers would be proud. Before the night is over blood will shed, cherries will pop, heads will roll, and all to the pump of the disco beat. Canadian film director Paul Lynch gets a lot right in this cliched tale of juvenile mayhem. It's corny and campy but with enough scares to keep you jumping. Popcorn horror to it's silly core.
Synapse Films respects the horror fan and with 'Prom Night' once again delivers a near perfect package. The Blu-ray image is fantastic in it's HD 1080p widescreen specifications, as is the audio featuring DTS-HD 5.1 Surround/Original 2.0 Mono. English subtitles for the deaf are also available.
The special features include audio commentary with Director Paul Lynch and screenwriter William Grey, a making of featurette, a collection of additional scenes added for TV broadcasts, never before seen outtakes that are exclusive to Blu-ray, and finally the usual trailers and still gallery.
Nearly 35 years later 'Prom Night' like all it's 1980 hack and slash film companions seems almost 70's porn like in it's delivery. Sexy slim babes, weak effeminate boys, and hideous get up and boogy soundtracks all swirl us up into a way-back machine vortex of fun and feeling slightly groovy. High-wasted jeans and perms for all.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
'Blood Glacier' DVD Review
"Is this gonna be a stand-up fight or another bug hunt?" Pvt. Hudson - 'Aliens'
When dealing with 'Blood Glacier' it really doesn't matter, it's the fun that counts. This independent German horror film from director Marvin Kren is one part 1982's 'The Thing', one part 1979's 'Prophecy' with a little Hiedi's grandfather crazy thrown in for good measure.
Janek (Gerhard Liebmann) is studying global warming in an isolated science station in the Swiss Alps. The rest of the team comes and goes but Janek has been there for five years strait. One day he and the rest of the research team find a glacier that is covered in an organic red material. They also find mutated animals running a muck. Janek's dog is attacked, more researchers arrive, and all hell breaks loose. Beatles combine with foxes, birds with spiders, and soon we have giant critters terrorizing the tundra. The mutations start getting larger and in the end one seems a little too human for comfort.
'Blood Glacier' is truly a crazy suspense filled ride. IFC Midnight has brought us a feature free DVD but the image and sound are good and the movie itself is worth the price of admission. There is a choice of the original German soundtrack or an English dub version. My advice as always is to watch this or any film in its native language, but in this case why not do both. The German is cool but the English version is just hilarious.
From 'Pod People' to 'Godmonster of Indian Flats' cornball scifi/horror flicks are always good for a belly laugh or two. This little entry is no exception to that rule. So pop up some corn, pour out a cold one, and let your mutated freak flag fly.
When dealing with 'Blood Glacier' it really doesn't matter, it's the fun that counts. This independent German horror film from director Marvin Kren is one part 1982's 'The Thing', one part 1979's 'Prophecy' with a little Hiedi's grandfather crazy thrown in for good measure.
Janek (Gerhard Liebmann) is studying global warming in an isolated science station in the Swiss Alps. The rest of the team comes and goes but Janek has been there for five years strait. One day he and the rest of the research team find a glacier that is covered in an organic red material. They also find mutated animals running a muck. Janek's dog is attacked, more researchers arrive, and all hell breaks loose. Beatles combine with foxes, birds with spiders, and soon we have giant critters terrorizing the tundra. The mutations start getting larger and in the end one seems a little too human for comfort.
'Blood Glacier' is truly a crazy suspense filled ride. IFC Midnight has brought us a feature free DVD but the image and sound are good and the movie itself is worth the price of admission. There is a choice of the original German soundtrack or an English dub version. My advice as always is to watch this or any film in its native language, but in this case why not do both. The German is cool but the English version is just hilarious.
From 'Pod People' to 'Godmonster of Indian Flats' cornball scifi/horror flicks are always good for a belly laugh or two. This little entry is no exception to that rule. So pop up some corn, pour out a cold one, and let your mutated freak flag fly.
'The Legend of Hell House' Blu-ray Review
In the 1970's descriptive jargon like the metaphysical, psychic phenomena, and clairvoyance, became novel buzz words that opened the door to what now has become basic cable pay dirt. Ghost hunters are a dime a dozen and paranormal states frequently visited. In the seventies a haunted house was just that. A curiosity, a place were good as well as evil dwelt. The spirit world was a mystical hope in the minds of ones who believed. In 2014 anyone with a flashlight, a dark corner, and a REM sleep memory can claim their own spook filled reality. 1973s 'The Legend of Hell House' delivers the scares beyond the more modern hype.
The Belasco House is wicked. It was the unholy home of Emeric Belasco (Michael Gough). Two paranormal investigation teams have been undone by this place of evil. Now, a third group has been chosen to finally uncover the truth about life after death and the infamous realities and hidden atrocities this horror holds. Physicist Lionel Barrett (Clive Revill), his wife Ann (Gayle Hunnicutt), young medium Florence Tanner (Pamela Franklin), and Benjamin Franklin Fischer (Roddy McDowall) a medium who is the sole survivor of the previous investigations arrive and are immediately overwhelmed this mansion's hideous nature. The team goes on a wild ride from the moment they enter their week long investigation. They face invisible forces, physical possession and assault, lapses of reality, and all manner of vice ridden discomfort. The house has killed before and it seems to want more.The ending is wonderfully satisfying and a palpable sense of dread keeps this atmospheric classic's grip on you beyond the closing frame.
Directed by British film maker John Hough from a screen play written by Richard Matheson based on his own novel "Hell House, 'The Legend of Hell House' is pure sweetness for any horror lover. Scream Factory has done a glorious job with this Blu-ray edition. The picture brings you all the scary details just as they first frightened audiences on the big screen, and the soundtrack is equally wonderful and atmospheric. Special features include a commentary by Pamela Franklin, an interview with Director John Hough, theatrical trailers, photo gallery, and radio spots.
In the lexicon of horror film spook-shows this little beauty stands the test of time. 'The Legend of Hell House' is a visceral manifestation on every haunted house fear. A waking nightmare with a degenerate twist that we all secretly want to ride.
The Belasco House is wicked. It was the unholy home of Emeric Belasco (Michael Gough). Two paranormal investigation teams have been undone by this place of evil. Now, a third group has been chosen to finally uncover the truth about life after death and the infamous realities and hidden atrocities this horror holds. Physicist Lionel Barrett (Clive Revill), his wife Ann (Gayle Hunnicutt), young medium Florence Tanner (Pamela Franklin), and Benjamin Franklin Fischer (Roddy McDowall) a medium who is the sole survivor of the previous investigations arrive and are immediately overwhelmed this mansion's hideous nature. The team goes on a wild ride from the moment they enter their week long investigation. They face invisible forces, physical possession and assault, lapses of reality, and all manner of vice ridden discomfort. The house has killed before and it seems to want more.The ending is wonderfully satisfying and a palpable sense of dread keeps this atmospheric classic's grip on you beyond the closing frame.
In the lexicon of horror film spook-shows this little beauty stands the test of time. 'The Legend of Hell House' is a visceral manifestation on every haunted house fear. A waking nightmare with a degenerate twist that we all secretly want to ride.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
'Motel Hell' Blu-ray Review
Horror is by it's very nature fun. Laughter often emerges out of make believe fear. That's just natural.
The dark comedy is the direct result of this phenomenon. Films like 'Little Shop of Horrors', 'A Bucket of Blood', 'Theatre of Blood', 'Fright Night', and many, many more combine gruesome motifs with tongue in cheek foolishness to make one crazy time at the movies. 1980's own 'Motel Hell' may be at the top of that list.
Everyone knows the tale, Farmer Vincent (Rory Calhoun) lives the quiet farming life. Beautiful land, happy livestock, a quaint roadside motel, and a profitable cured meat business. His sister Ida (Nancy Parsons) loves the Lord, and their brother Sheriff Bruce (Paul Linke) seems a good old boy at heart. Together they work the land and cultivate a very secret garden indeed. With the use of a booby trap or two Vincent cultivates only the finest meat the highway has to offer. Planting his victims up to their necks, vocal cords cut, he feeds and primes his human specimens until they are choice enough to become delectable jerky for the ages. Like The Sawyers before them the saw is family only this time it's the band saw.
This Drive-in classic is being lovingly brought to you by Scream Factory in a Blu-ray Collectors Edition. The package offers a new Audio Commentary with director Kevin Connor and moderated by filmmaker Dave Parker, 'It Takes All Kinds: The Making of MOTEL HELL' featuring interviews with director Kevin Connor, producers/writers Robert Jaffe and Steven Charles Jaffe and actor Marc Silver, 'Shooting Old School' with cinematographer Thomas Del Ruth, 'Another Head on the Chopping Block: An interview with actor Paul Linke', 'From Glamour to Gore: An interview with actress Rosanne Katon', and 'Ida, Be Thy Name': A look back at MOTEL HELL's frightful female protagonist Ida Smith. There are also the usual Theatrical Trailer and Photo Galleries. The picture and sound quality satisfies making this a must have for any horror collector.
In life it's always a good idea to look back and fondly remember. Why not start off that trip down memory lane by checking into the 'Motel Hell'. They'll do much more than leave the light on for ya!
The dark comedy is the direct result of this phenomenon. Films like 'Little Shop of Horrors', 'A Bucket of Blood', 'Theatre of Blood', 'Fright Night', and many, many more combine gruesome motifs with tongue in cheek foolishness to make one crazy time at the movies. 1980's own 'Motel Hell' may be at the top of that list.
Everyone knows the tale, Farmer Vincent (Rory Calhoun) lives the quiet farming life. Beautiful land, happy livestock, a quaint roadside motel, and a profitable cured meat business. His sister Ida (Nancy Parsons) loves the Lord, and their brother Sheriff Bruce (Paul Linke) seems a good old boy at heart. Together they work the land and cultivate a very secret garden indeed. With the use of a booby trap or two Vincent cultivates only the finest meat the highway has to offer. Planting his victims up to their necks, vocal cords cut, he feeds and primes his human specimens until they are choice enough to become delectable jerky for the ages. Like The Sawyers before them the saw is family only this time it's the band saw.
This Drive-in classic is being lovingly brought to you by Scream Factory in a Blu-ray Collectors Edition. The package offers a new Audio Commentary with director Kevin Connor and moderated by filmmaker Dave Parker, 'It Takes All Kinds: The Making of MOTEL HELL' featuring interviews with director Kevin Connor, producers/writers Robert Jaffe and Steven Charles Jaffe and actor Marc Silver, 'Shooting Old School' with cinematographer Thomas Del Ruth, 'Another Head on the Chopping Block: An interview with actor Paul Linke', 'From Glamour to Gore: An interview with actress Rosanne Katon', and 'Ida, Be Thy Name': A look back at MOTEL HELL's frightful female protagonist Ida Smith. There are also the usual Theatrical Trailer and Photo Galleries. The picture and sound quality satisfies making this a must have for any horror collector.
In life it's always a good idea to look back and fondly remember. Why not start off that trip down memory lane by checking into the 'Motel Hell'. They'll do much more than leave the light on for ya!
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