It's double feature time and this one makes us wonder why. Two movies for the price of one are always a cool proposition. They are usually paired for fit and fun, but in this case I think they got it wrong.
Our first film find is Roger Corman's 1973 exploration rip off 'I Escaped from Devil's Island'. It stars football legend Jim Brown and television and film star Christopher George. They play Le Bras and Davert, two prisoners attempting freedom from the terrible injustice that French Guiana's Devil's Island holds for them. Seeming to try and ride the coattails of another 1973 prison escape film, 'Papillon', this sweaty bit of cheese just can't hold a candle to that Dustin Hoffman/Steve McQueen epic prison piece. It is however a fantastic fun ride. Our frantic escapees have to fight off corrupt prison guards, shark infested waters, a helpful but obviously problematic Leper colony, not to mention primitive native tribesmen and there hopped up women. From its highly borrowed soundtrack to Mr. Brown's sexy naked ass we are in grade Z movie bliss and laugh filled you have got to kidding awe. A nice piece of exploitation indeed.
Our second film not so much. 'The Final Option' is no option at all. This should never have been made British trash is low end television clap trap. It stars Lewis Collins as a former British Military Capt. Peter Skellen. He goes undercover to infiltrate a antinuclear terrorist group lead by Frankie Leith (Judy Davis). Claiming to be inspired by the Iranian Embassy siege of 1980 and sporting a cast of blink and you'll miss them stars such as Richard Widmark and Edward Woodward, this movie is just plain deadly dull. It is not exploitation but movie of the week instead.
This disjointed package offers no extras and is offered in 1080p High-Definition Widescreen image and DTS-HD Master Audio. The picture and sound is fine if nothing special. Shout Factory is wonderful with their product as a whole and this is no exception. The problem can by found in the pairing of the drive-in picture show. One is passion pit pleasure the other should have left the kids at home aggravation.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
'Ginger Snaps' Blu-Ray Review
In a world where mythic monsters dwell the 2000 film 'Ginger Snaps' stands alone. A twist cone mix that's one part 'The Trouble with Angels' one part 'I Was a Teenage Werewolf' and pure blood at its core. This tale of two sisters earned a cult following for its coming of age wickedness and truthfully stands the test of time nearly fifteen years later.
Brigitte (Emily Perkins) and Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) are sisters. Gothic threads hold them close while keeping at bay the rest of the local adolescent rabble. They have sworn a death pack and would rather disappear from this world than suffer the pains of young womanhood. Sadly Mother Nature calls and with her a lycanthropes wrath. After being bitten Ginger snaps in more ways than one. Soon classmates are dying and the town is closing in on our full moon siblings. Brigitte is left alone to save her sister from her changing nature. Both well done and cliched this is a classic in the horror genre. A slightly different take on werewolf legend that both scares and brings a tear. If you haven't seen it, please take a chance on this thoughtful terror tale.
Scream Factory has given us a superb package for this film. This two disc set contains both Blu-Ray 1080p High Definition Widescreen and Anamorphic Widescreen images. Both are lovely and the DTS and Dolby Digital sound choices are equally well done. The special features are also a real treat, containing new interviews with actors Emily Perkins and Jesse Moss, as well as make-up artist Paul Jones and composer Mike Shields. There are deleted scenes, cast rehearsals, and the usual trailers. A New Women in Horror panel discussing 'Ginger Snaps' combined with wonderful commentary track by Director John Fawcette is the icing on this horror set cake.
The classic legends of monster lore have many adventures to tell. Frankenstein's Monster has gone from country side to outer space. Dracula's myth has worn so thin that he's nearly unrecognizable. With 'Ginger Snaps' our tired Werewolf becomes once again renewed. A pup as menstruating menace counting calender days toward both fertility and the madness of the moon.
Brigitte (Emily Perkins) and Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) are sisters. Gothic threads hold them close while keeping at bay the rest of the local adolescent rabble. They have sworn a death pack and would rather disappear from this world than suffer the pains of young womanhood. Sadly Mother Nature calls and with her a lycanthropes wrath. After being bitten Ginger snaps in more ways than one. Soon classmates are dying and the town is closing in on our full moon siblings. Brigitte is left alone to save her sister from her changing nature. Both well done and cliched this is a classic in the horror genre. A slightly different take on werewolf legend that both scares and brings a tear. If you haven't seen it, please take a chance on this thoughtful terror tale.
Scream Factory has given us a superb package for this film. This two disc set contains both Blu-Ray 1080p High Definition Widescreen and Anamorphic Widescreen images. Both are lovely and the DTS and Dolby Digital sound choices are equally well done. The special features are also a real treat, containing new interviews with actors Emily Perkins and Jesse Moss, as well as make-up artist Paul Jones and composer Mike Shields. There are deleted scenes, cast rehearsals, and the usual trailers. A New Women in Horror panel discussing 'Ginger Snaps' combined with wonderful commentary track by Director John Fawcette is the icing on this horror set cake.
The classic legends of monster lore have many adventures to tell. Frankenstein's Monster has gone from country side to outer space. Dracula's myth has worn so thin that he's nearly unrecognizable. With 'Ginger Snaps' our tired Werewolf becomes once again renewed. A pup as menstruating menace counting calender days toward both fertility and the madness of the moon.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
'The Perfect House' Movie Review: One tale too many
Horror, as defined by Webster's, is a very strong feeling of fear, dread, and shock. When one enters into a viewing of the latest horror production their hope is to be served up all three. Sadly most times one if not all of those feelings are missing. 'The Perfect House' offers no exception to that rule. Fear is totally absent, dread is only present as one counts the minutes till the end, and shock is dished out in predictable gory moments. Very disappointing indeed.
We are brought to the perfect house via a neighborly dinner party that takes a turn for the worse. This is an anthology so we are shown a historic tour through this homes evil ways. There is mayhem in a storm cellar, caged victims for the torture, and that original dinner parties ultimate ending.We are led on this journey by a sexy real estate agent (Monique Parent) and her potential buyers.
There is lots of gore to go around but in a market that has seen the likes of mainstream torture porn like the 'Hostel' and 'Saw' franchises this low budget 2012 entry pales in comparison. Truthfully there are many low budget gorefests that simply get it much more right than this. Some of the acting is well done especially by 'Sleepaway Camp' stars Felissa Rose as one terrorized Mother and Jonathan Tiersten in serial killer mode. Directors Kris Hulbert and Randy Kent certainly show a great love for the genre of terror as mutilation but the lack of true fright just can't save the show.
In the horror film market today fear is to frequently confused with all things disgusting or disturbing. Gore is not fear. Dissonance is not fear. Chaos is not fear. Making the audience uncomfortable is fine but none of that beats a good scare. The theater seat is painful enough. What we horror fans long for is a terrifying close call with what truly awaits us in the dark.
We are brought to the perfect house via a neighborly dinner party that takes a turn for the worse. This is an anthology so we are shown a historic tour through this homes evil ways. There is mayhem in a storm cellar, caged victims for the torture, and that original dinner parties ultimate ending.We are led on this journey by a sexy real estate agent (Monique Parent) and her potential buyers.
There is lots of gore to go around but in a market that has seen the likes of mainstream torture porn like the 'Hostel' and 'Saw' franchises this low budget 2012 entry pales in comparison. Truthfully there are many low budget gorefests that simply get it much more right than this. Some of the acting is well done especially by 'Sleepaway Camp' stars Felissa Rose as one terrorized Mother and Jonathan Tiersten in serial killer mode. Directors Kris Hulbert and Randy Kent certainly show a great love for the genre of terror as mutilation but the lack of true fright just can't save the show.
In the horror film market today fear is to frequently confused with all things disgusting or disturbing. Gore is not fear. Dissonance is not fear. Chaos is not fear. Making the audience uncomfortable is fine but none of that beats a good scare. The theater seat is painful enough. What we horror fans long for is a terrifying close call with what truly awaits us in the dark.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
'The Den' DVD Review
Illusion, perception, the minds eye, all are real and all highly influenced by manipulative forces. The visual medium has been used to lure us since our imaginations dawned. From shadow puppets to Polaroid's instant scratchy intrigue, the image and more importantly what lies in the darkness within yet just beyond the image has compelled us. Enter our world today filled with internet webcams, phone cameras, and all manners of surveillance, and what you find yourself living in is a jumbled mix of absolute reality and social media bullshit. Deciphering between the two can be a stressful endeavor that can spread the fragile mind just a little to thin. 'The Den' takes it one step further.
Grad student Elizabeth Benton (Melanie Papalia) has been given a grant to study the online social media site called The Den. Linking up with various types of people across the globe seems like a tame task, but one random connection turns our students world upside down. After witnessing a maybe murder her life and the lives of her closest friends and family are invaded and not their own.
'The Den' is a creepy cautionary tale that has some genuine scares but whose gimmick heavy storytelling can grow tiresome. It's what might happen if Hitchcock's classic 'Rear Window' exited out of boredom leaving 2007's pale yet enjoyable imitation 'Disturbia' to take over and then swirling it all together with a ribbon of 'Hostel' just for kicks. A lazy evening viewing is cool but nothing overwhelmingly special overall.
IFC Midnight has given us a very nice DVD package. The image and sound are quite decent. The special features include an interesting Behind the Scenes look at the production and its players, the trailer, and a commentary featuring writer/director Zachary Donohue and producers Dan Clifton and David Brooks. Mr Donohue in particular is very interesting to listen to and equally proud of his first feature film.
The internet and social media in general is a vast desert of who knows what is truly lurking out there. 'The Den' takes us on a journey that is filled with unanswered questions and a general reassurance that perhaps accepting every friend request may not be the best idea.
Grad student Elizabeth Benton (Melanie Papalia) has been given a grant to study the online social media site called The Den. Linking up with various types of people across the globe seems like a tame task, but one random connection turns our students world upside down. After witnessing a maybe murder her life and the lives of her closest friends and family are invaded and not their own.
'The Den' is a creepy cautionary tale that has some genuine scares but whose gimmick heavy storytelling can grow tiresome. It's what might happen if Hitchcock's classic 'Rear Window' exited out of boredom leaving 2007's pale yet enjoyable imitation 'Disturbia' to take over and then swirling it all together with a ribbon of 'Hostel' just for kicks. A lazy evening viewing is cool but nothing overwhelmingly special overall.
IFC Midnight has given us a very nice DVD package. The image and sound are quite decent. The special features include an interesting Behind the Scenes look at the production and its players, the trailer, and a commentary featuring writer/director Zachary Donohue and producers Dan Clifton and David Brooks. Mr Donohue in particular is very interesting to listen to and equally proud of his first feature film.
The internet and social media in general is a vast desert of who knows what is truly lurking out there. 'The Den' takes us on a journey that is filled with unanswered questions and a general reassurance that perhaps accepting every friend request may not be the best idea.
'Deadly Eyes' Blu-ray Review
Be it bats in the belfry, squirrels in the attic, or just plain ants in the sugar bowl, vermin by their very nature are a bloody nuisance. Sadly though, the inconvenience gets amped up by about a million when you add a little steroids to a rat infested grain silo, let them feast and mutate and then burn down their home down setting them free and headed toward your front door. This is the tail of 'Deadly Eyes' a 1982 Canadian horror flick that is pure grade B terror filled fun.
Paul Harris (Sam Groom) is a single high school teacher and father of little Timmy (Lee-Max Walton). He already has his hands full with over sexed coeds when our above mentioned rodents come a knocking. Health department inspector Elly Leonard (Sara Botsford) is trying desperately to undo what she has wrought, but one fumigated sewer system later and all hell brakes loose. Babies are pulled bloody from their high chairs, theater goers are made mush, and a subway grand reopening is crashed by our razor teethed riff raff hoard. Can anyone build a better mouse trap? Lets hope so because one Black Plague is more than any planet can handle.
Director Robert Clouse of 'Enter the Dragon' fame has given us a cheesy good time with this tale of nature gone a foul. With its casting of Scatman Crothers as a field inspector to its dogs in rat suit villains, this is "bad" movie making at its ever loving best. 'Deadly Eyes' has a little bit of sex, a whole lot of gore, and just the right amount of drive-in quality film nostalgia to make this a Friday night curl up on the couch favorite for all lovers of the cornball to enjoy.
Scream Factory has given us a wonderful package. You get a Blue-ray/DVD combo pack with lovely 1080p High-Definition Widescreen image to enjoy. The audio is good in its DTS-HD Master Audio Mono. The special features include new interviews with the films actors, writer, art director, and special effects artists.
In 2014 it sometimes seems next to impossible to keep the campy fires burning in the hearts of a nation born and bred in reality based mediocrity and over blown billion dollar blockbusters. There used to be a ridiculously fun middle ground of low budget goodness that didn't involve dreary, dull nerd serial killers tormenting waif like junior college high school bully victims. 'Deadly Eyes' is an example of such fun. So grab a carving knife and get a kick out of what the farmer's wife saw.
Paul Harris (Sam Groom) is a single high school teacher and father of little Timmy (Lee-Max Walton). He already has his hands full with over sexed coeds when our above mentioned rodents come a knocking. Health department inspector Elly Leonard (Sara Botsford) is trying desperately to undo what she has wrought, but one fumigated sewer system later and all hell brakes loose. Babies are pulled bloody from their high chairs, theater goers are made mush, and a subway grand reopening is crashed by our razor teethed riff raff hoard. Can anyone build a better mouse trap? Lets hope so because one Black Plague is more than any planet can handle.
Director Robert Clouse of 'Enter the Dragon' fame has given us a cheesy good time with this tale of nature gone a foul. With its casting of Scatman Crothers as a field inspector to its dogs in rat suit villains, this is "bad" movie making at its ever loving best. 'Deadly Eyes' has a little bit of sex, a whole lot of gore, and just the right amount of drive-in quality film nostalgia to make this a Friday night curl up on the couch favorite for all lovers of the cornball to enjoy.
Scream Factory has given us a wonderful package. You get a Blue-ray/DVD combo pack with lovely 1080p High-Definition Widescreen image to enjoy. The audio is good in its DTS-HD Master Audio Mono. The special features include new interviews with the films actors, writer, art director, and special effects artists.
In 2014 it sometimes seems next to impossible to keep the campy fires burning in the hearts of a nation born and bred in reality based mediocrity and over blown billion dollar blockbusters. There used to be a ridiculously fun middle ground of low budget goodness that didn't involve dreary, dull nerd serial killers tormenting waif like junior college high school bully victims. 'Deadly Eyes' is an example of such fun. So grab a carving knife and get a kick out of what the farmer's wife saw.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
'Lake Placid' Blu-ray Review
Nature gone a muck has always been the stuff of horror makings. Radio active insects, mutated houseplants, alien infected live stock, or the ever popular reptile tossed down the toilet bowl were Saturday matinee gold causing fun to be had by one and all. 1999's 'Lake Placid' is really no exception to this rule.
Sheriff Hank Keough (Brendan Gleeson) is a Twinkie eating good old boy Sheriff watching over a sleepy Maine town when all hell breaks loose. Reminiscent of 'Jaws' with its first victim torn asunder extremeness we are hooked from the beginning moments of this gory/funny little film. Finding the lake not safe for the locals the big city experts come a calling. Enter Fish and Game officer Jack Wells (Bill Pullman), paleontologist Kelly Scott (Bridget Fonda), and professor Hector Cyr (Oliver Platt) and the search for who knows what begins. A few chomped body parts later, and a 30 plus foot crocodile becomes public enemy number one.
This really is a fun movie. Filled with enough cornball slapstick to take ones mind off life's stress filled reality while giving scare lovers a couple of tense moments to enjoy. Betty White is a hoot as crazy local Delores Bickerman who has more than a few skeletons in the closet. The cast works well off each other in a wink and a nod sort of way, and its enjoyable to take a look at this film some fifteen years removed from its theatrical debut.
Scream Factory has given us one beautiful image with its 1080p High-Definition widescreen. The Audio 5.1is also very good. For added enjoyment this Blu-ray package includes new interviews with director Steve Miner, actor Bill Pullman, and director of photography Daryn Okada. There are also new interviews with the special effects team, a vintage featurette, and the typical TV spots and trailers. The movie really does look quite nice with its underwater lake scenes and wooded campy goodness.
Writer David E. Kelly of Ally McBeal fame delivered a silly trip down horror host nostalgia lane that everyone can enjoy. If Moe, Larry, and Curly decided that their Three Stooges hearts longed for the great outdoors it would be on 'Lake Placid' that a hiking they would go. Now that's enough recommendation for anyone!
Sheriff Hank Keough (Brendan Gleeson) is a Twinkie eating good old boy Sheriff watching over a sleepy Maine town when all hell breaks loose. Reminiscent of 'Jaws' with its first victim torn asunder extremeness we are hooked from the beginning moments of this gory/funny little film. Finding the lake not safe for the locals the big city experts come a calling. Enter Fish and Game officer Jack Wells (Bill Pullman), paleontologist Kelly Scott (Bridget Fonda), and professor Hector Cyr (Oliver Platt) and the search for who knows what begins. A few chomped body parts later, and a 30 plus foot crocodile becomes public enemy number one.
This really is a fun movie. Filled with enough cornball slapstick to take ones mind off life's stress filled reality while giving scare lovers a couple of tense moments to enjoy. Betty White is a hoot as crazy local Delores Bickerman who has more than a few skeletons in the closet. The cast works well off each other in a wink and a nod sort of way, and its enjoyable to take a look at this film some fifteen years removed from its theatrical debut.
Scream Factory has given us one beautiful image with its 1080p High-Definition widescreen. The Audio 5.1is also very good. For added enjoyment this Blu-ray package includes new interviews with director Steve Miner, actor Bill Pullman, and director of photography Daryn Okada. There are also new interviews with the special effects team, a vintage featurette, and the typical TV spots and trailers. The movie really does look quite nice with its underwater lake scenes and wooded campy goodness.
Writer David E. Kelly of Ally McBeal fame delivered a silly trip down horror host nostalgia lane that everyone can enjoy. If Moe, Larry, and Curly decided that their Three Stooges hearts longed for the great outdoors it would be on 'Lake Placid' that a hiking they would go. Now that's enough recommendation for anyone!
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