Wednesday 30 September 2015

"Victor Frankenstein" - Interviews

Twentieth Century Fox is pleased to present four brand new talent videos to celebrate the forthcoming release of Victor Frankenstein. Experience a never before seen version of Frankenstein as Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy talk us through their characters as well as their unique friendship.

Starring James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe, this fresh take on Mary Shelley's classic story is brought to you by director Paul McGuigan (Gangster #1, Push, Sherlock) and is written by Max Landis (Chronicle).
 
Daniel Radcliffe Q&A


James McAvoy Q&A


Daniel Radcliffe Piece-by-Piece


James McAvoy Piece-by-Piece


Victor Frankenstein will be released in UK cinemas on December 4th.

 

"THE FINAL GIRLS" on UK DVD and Digital HD 12th Oct

When Max (Taissa Farmiga - TV’s “American Horror Story” ) and her friends reluctantly attend an anniversary screening of “Camp Bloodbath," the infamous ‘80s horror film that starred Max’s late mother (Malin Akerman - "Rock Of Ages", "Watchmen"), they are mysteriously sucked into the silver screen.

They soon realize they are trapped inside the cult classic movie and must team up with the fictional and ill-fated camp counsellors, including Max’s mum as the scream queen, to battle the film’s machete-wielding killer. With the body count rising in scene after iconic scene, who will be the final girls left standing and live to escape this film?

"The Final Girls" is a genre-bending horror comedy also starring Adam DeVine (Pitch Perfect), Thomas Middleditch (Wolf of Wall Street), Alia Shawkat (Green Room), with Alexander Ludwig (The Hunger Games) and Nina Dobrev (TV’s The Vampire Diaries).

"The Final Girls"  is released to UK disc and digital October 12th from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
 
Watch the trailer on YouTube

Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk
 
 
 

Tuesday 29 September 2015

"The Enfield Haunting" - A UK DVD review

Sky Mini-series “The Enfield Haunting”, starring Timothy Spall, is released to UK DVD this October in time for Halloween. Based upon an apparent true story, it tells the tale of a family terrorised by an apparent poltergeist and a couple of paranormal investigators attempts to prove, or debunk what’s going on in the house.
 
Set sometime during the late 1970s (as is evidenced by the posters of Starsky and Hutch and The Bay City Rollers adorning the children's walls), in an ordinary residential street in Enfield, North London. A single parent and her 3 young children’s lives are turned upside down when they find themselves being terrorised by strange noises and the furniture moving on its own.
 
A paranormal investigator from the Society of Physical Research, Maurice Gross (Timothy Spall – “Talented Mr Ripley”, TVs “Auf Wiedersehen Pet”) is sent to investigate the apparent the ghostly goings on, suspecting the kids might be playing a prank. But is soon convinced that what’s going on in the house is genuine.
 
Fellow researcher, Guy Playfair (Mathew Macfayden TVs “Ripper Street”) is also sent to see what he makes of the situation and like Maurice, initially suspects foul play. But after witnessing first hand one of the daughter’s speaking in strange voices, levitating in mid air and finding himself hurled across the room by an invisible force, is forced to conclude that Maurice is indeed right.
 
Based on the book “This House is Haunted”, about Guy Playfair’s experiences during his investigation (yes he is an actual character), the film is rather like a cross between The Amityville Horror and The Exorcist, though set in Britain (both of those also being based on apparent true stories). The question does arise as to just how true the original story was (particularly as the show does deviate from the actual story quite drastically in places), but on an entertainment level, the film is a very entertaining supernatural drama.
 
Originally shown as 3x 45 minute episodes (1hour with commercials), the disc gives you to watch all episodes consecutively, or select them individually. The disc also comes with a series of behind the scenes features, containing interviews with the cast and crew, which were originally filmed as web teasers for Sky TVs web page to promote the show. Which includes…

- About the Show (2:38)
- Back in Time (2:09)
- Meet the Cast (2:55)
- Making a Poltergeist (2:44)
- Spooks on Set (2:25)


The series is released to UK disc Oct 19 from Entertainment One.
 
Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk


"Contracted: Phase II" on UK DVD and Digital October

Prepare to be shocked all over again as the zombie/body-horror hybrid returns with a new cast of characters literally going to pieces from the deadly virus in "Contracted : Phase II".
 
Picking up immediately after the events of the original "Contracted", Phase II follows Riley (Matt Mercer), now infected and running out of time, as he attempts to find out more about the virus and its mysterious host.
 
As he digs deeper into its origins, Riley attracts the attention of a detective (Marianna Palka - "Neds") who doubts his innocence, and BJ (Morgan Peter Brown - "Oiuja") himself, who holds the key to the virus – and perhaps the destruction of mankind as we know it, leading to a blood-soaked finale you have to see to believe.

Having premiered at this year’s Film4 FrightFest, make sure you buckle up for more skin-crawling terror in the genre ride of the year!

"Contracted : Phase II" is released to UK DVD and Digital Download October 26th

Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk


Monday 28 September 2015

How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse in Five Easy Steps

To celebrate the release of "The Walking Dead - Series 5", which hits UK DVD and BD today (Moday 28th Sept), here is an exclusive guide written by Travis Bradberry, author of Zombie novel "Cryonic". The article offers an insight into How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse in Five Easy Steps. From location to weapons, this is the only survival guide you’ll ever need – that is, if you’re not lucky enough to have Rick Grimes as your companion.
 
1) Pick a good location
Like real estate, location is everything to surviving never-ending zombie hordes. Many great sounding locations are ultimately traps. If it has one door (a bank vault, and RV) then your security will be you demise once there are more zombies outside than you can fight through. If it’s small and lacks visibility (a farm house) then it doesn’t matter how many doors you have because you can still get surrounded. The best location? A brick office building of about four stories. Most have fewer windows to board up than a house, a great, high vantage point, and multiples exits and floors through which to maneuver in a hasty effort.
 
2) Pick good weapons
As appealing as that AK-47 looks on television, you won’t be able to shoot it with enough accuracy to get the head shots needed to survive. Same with a handgun. Doesn’t hurt to have it but if you think you can just kill shot your way through a dozen zombies you’ll be mistaken (and devoured). A handheld weapon that yields kill shots and is easy to swing (like a sword, machete, or crowbar) is your best friend.
 
3) Pick good company
You know that friend of yours that’s a little too into weapons and survival? He’s the first person you should seek out in an apocalypse. Your mUm, your best friend, and your little brother are going to make sentimental decisions that will get you killed. Pick people that are crazy enough to make logical decisions with no remorse. Then get on their good side.
 
4) Have a water source
A lack of water will kill you much faster than a lack of food, and most anything (think bugs) becomes food when you really need it. But there’s no substitute for fresh water, and you’ll drink up an entire grocery store’s (which come to think of it might make a good location for #1) worth in time. If there isn’t a fresh water source near your hideout, you better find another hideout.
 
5) Stay away from people you don’t know
They are the only thing that will kill you faster than zombies or a lack of water. Once the excrement hits the proverbial fan, the only people you can trust (most of the time) are people you know. Most people you don’t know will kill you to get the great stuff you’ve accumulated in steps 1-4. Rick learnt this lesson the hard way when he encountered the cannibalistic survivors at The Terminus.
 
"The Walking Dead : The Complete Fifth Series" is out now on UK DVD and BD. The version available on Amazon UK also contains an exclusive bonus disc featuring "An Interview with Gregory Nictero: The Man With A Thousand Faces ".
 
Buy the BD box set from Amazon.co.uk (exclusive)

Buy the DVD box set from Amazon.co.uk (exclusive)

Buy the series 1-5 BD box set from Amazon.co.uk

Buy the series 1-5 DVD box set from Amazon.co.uk
 
 
 
 

"Metal Hurlant : Resurgence" - UK DVD review

"Metal Hurlant : Resurgence", the follow up to “Metal Hurlant Chronicles” is released to UK BD and DVD this October (this review covers the DVD release, but the BD is the same).
 
If you are unfamiliar with the Metal Hurlant series (which has not yet been shown on UK TV) it’s a dark sci-fi anthology show, based on the French comic books of the same name (republished as Heavy Metal in the US).

Filmed in the style of those old “Twilight Zone” shows, and featuring an international cast. Each episode is a self-contained story, set on a different planet in the universe. The only link between them being the story takes place as a blazing asteroid (known as metal hurlant) happens to be passing by.

Ep 1 “Whisky in the Jar” Appears to take place on Earth in the wild west, where the local sheriff (played by Michael Beihn – “Aliens”) attempts to convince the new doctor to leave town, after a his predecessor developed an usual healing ability during the appearance of a passing meteor.

Ep 2 “The Endomorph” When a companies cyborg workers become sentient and mount a rebellion against mankind, one of the last remaining groups of soldiers (including Michael Jai White – “Spawn” and Michelle Lee – “Pacific Rim”) attempt to transport a young lad behind enemy lines to an energy source, known as the Gollem. Which can change people into the ultimate fighting machines, known as endomorphs. But when they are captured, have stopped the right person from going through the transformation? (you have GOT to see the end of this episode to believe it).

Ep 3 “Loyal Khondor”. A lone space pilot seeks out the help of an alchemist (played by John Rhys Davis – “Lord of the Rings” trilogy) to cure their princess of an alien disease. But there’s a heavy price to pay.

Ep 4 “Second Chance” takes place at the same time as the previous story and features some of the same cast, in which a down on his luck gambler (Scott Adkins – “Zero Dark Thirty”) thinks his luck may have changed when he meets a feisty call girl, who helps him steal his freighter back. But when they crash land on a planet in a ‘no mans land’ it may not be the second chance he hoped for (again, there’s an interesting twist in the tale on this one).

Ep 5 “Second Son” is set in days of old when knights were bold on a planet that is actually a lot more technologically advanced than its medieval appearance would suggest. Where death from anything other than old age is only temporary, but the third in line to the throne of the Techno King is plotting a murder most foul for his older brother, so that he may seize power.

Ep 6 “Back to Reality”, which was suspiciously like an episode of Red Dwarf, enters a world where people pay to live out their fantasies in a virtual reality environment (in which, confusingly, some of the scenarios from previous stories take place). But when one disgruntled worker (played by Dominic Pinion – “Alien Resurrection”) pays to beat the crap out of his boss in VR, it seems the fantasy world may not be the virtual world he thought, and there’s also the question as to which “reality” is real.
 
Originally filmed for the French and Belgian TV networks, if you like those old “Twilight Zone” or “Outer Limits” anthology TV shows, or indeed “Tales from the Crypt”, then this will probably appeal.

“Metal Hurlant : Resurgence” is released to both UK BD and DVD October 19th
 
Pre-order the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk
 
Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk

 


"A HAUNTING AT PRESTON CASTLE" on UK DVD and Download Oct 26.

When best friends Ashley (Heather Tocquigny - "Insidious") and Liz (Mackenzie Firgens - "The Hamiltons", "The Thomsons") decide to visit Preston Castle, an abandoned boys’ correctional institute, nothing can prepare them for the grisly nightmare ahead.
 
As the friends probe the decaying depths and shadows of the building, they find themselves in deeper and deeper trouble with no way out of the never-ending maze of rooms and locked doors.

The film is inspired by true events at northern California’s infamous haunted house Preston Castle, which has been featured on TV’s Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures and marks the directorial debut of Martin Rosenberg (Visual Effects DOP on "Terminator Salvation").
 
Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk
 
 
 

"Toolbox Murders 2" gets an Oct 12 UK DVD & Download release

The handyman of horror is back with a new box of tricks in this terrifying sequel to Tobe Hooper's 2004 reimagining of the 1978 cult favourite.

Picking up directly after the events of Hooper's 2004 film, we follow ‘Coffin Baby’, Hollywood's most twisted killers, as he plans to put the screws to a new victim - Samantha, the sister of his prey from his previous rampage. Samantha finds herself held captive in a house of horrors and forced to undergo the most unspeakable tortures…

This is the authorised and complete version of "Toolbox Murders 2", which stars Chauntal Lewis ("Séance") as Samantha, Brian Krause ("Camel Spiders"), Ethan Philips (TVs "Star Trek : Voyager") , and two-time Academy Award nominee Bruce Dern ("Django Unchained", "The Hole" and of course "The Burbs"). It is directed by Dean Jones ("Dark Awakening").

"Toolbox Murders 2", will be released in the UK on DVD and Download simultaneously on Oct 12, 2015, courtesy of TriCoast UK.

View the trailer on YouTube

Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk



Saturday 26 September 2015

"The Elimination Game" - A UK DVD review.

Prison Break star Dominic Purcell finds getting out of prison is the easy part in this film, it’s what he has to do next that’s the hard part, in “The Elimination Game”, which is out on UK DVD October.

Set in the near future, disgraced Navy Seal Rick Tyler (Dominic Purcell – “Blade 3”, TVs “Prison Break) is languishing in a military prison, when he is given an offer he cannot refuse. Rather than face execution, he’s released to appear on a sadistic TV game show called “Turkey Shoot” (sound familiar? It should do), where prisoners have to, quite literally, fight for their freedom.

Dropped into a “game zone”, he has to reach a target within a certain time limit to win his freedom. But preventing him from doing so are a bunch of armed killers, who he has to evade or fight off in order to get there. As the “games” begin, it soon becomes obvious that Rick has been set up to fail. But it seems they’ve never had a contestant like him before and unlike previous entrants, isn’t going to be such an easy target.

A loose remake of the 1982 film “Turkey Shoot” (AKA “Blood Camp Thatcher” and “Escape 2000”) which also mashes in elements of “The Running Man” the film is an entertaining enough, low-budget action movie, which also rather amusingly features the original “Turkey Shoot” on TV during one scene and even features one of the original actors, Roger Ward, in a minor role.
 
However, what the film was obviously trying so hard to achieve, seemed to be just beyond the reach of its budget. Scenes in the military prison and the hospital all seem to take place in one room, the black cars used for police vehicles didn’t have flashing light bars in them and the actual police chase isn’t really shown, but made of stock dash-cam footage taken from various real life chases. But if you can look past the films low-budget trappings, it still proves to be very entertaining, and benefits greatly from Dominic Purcell’s presence (sharper eyed viewers may also recognise US TV actor Nicholas Hammond, the original TV "Spiderman", as General Thatcher).

The film is released to UK DVD October 12th from Altitude Entertainment and contains a trailer as an extra.

Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk


"The Messenger" comes to UK DVD

If you missed the recent cinema screenings of "The Messenger", (you can read my review of which HERE) you will be pleased to know that Metrodome will be releasing the film to UK DVD This November.
 
We all want to believe in life after death and imagine loved ones looking over us, feel their presence in a draft of air - knowing they wait for us. But Jack (Robert Sheehan TVs Misfits) isn't waiting, in and out of secure units all of his young life, the dead won't leave him alone. Some might call Jack a troubled soul, at odds with the world, unable to conform. But Jack has a sharp mind and a razor wit. It's not that he doesn't want to live a normal life, he can't. They won't let him.

When Jack unwillingly becomes embroiled in the unfinished business of a local murder, he discovers hidden secrets which threaten to push him over the edge.  His estranged sister, Emma (Lily Cole) re-appears in his life and Jack starts to remember the past they shared together and to confront the truth about the death of his own father.

Joely Richardson (The Patriot, Nip Tuck), Lily Cole (The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus), Tamzin Merchant (Game Of Thrones, The Tudors) David O’Hara (Braveheart) and Jack Fox (Mr Selfridge, Fresh Meat) also star.
 
The DVD is out Nov 2nd, no news yet on what extras will be included on the disc (if any).
 
Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk
 
 

Thursday 24 September 2015

"We Are Still Here" - UK DVD review

Andrew Sensenig (Last Exorcism Part 2) and scream queen Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, From Beyond) play a couple, who get more than they bargained for when they move into a house in the country, in Ted Geoghegan’s “We Are Still Here”, which comes to UK DVD this October.

Following the death of their son in a car accident, middle-aged couple Paul and Anne (played by Sensenig and Crampton respectively) decide to start over and move to a house out in the country. Anne claims that she can still feel the presence of their son, Bob, in the new house. Though husband Paul is extremely dismissive. 
 
But following a rather bizarre visit from their neighbours, who inform them of their new home’s dark history, they soon discover there is indeed something else in the house, but not what Anne originally thought and there is a reason the locals are somewhat stand off-ish towards them, owing to a very dark secret the town is hiding.

Directed by Ted Geoghegan (Writer – Don’t Wake the Dead, Nikos the Impaler) and also starring Lisa Marie (Lords of Salem, Planet of the Apes), Larry Fessenden (Stakeland, I Sell the Dead) and Monte Markham (TVs Baywatch, Piranhas), the film is an effective haunted house thriller, which also blends in elements of the slasher genre for its gore soaked finale.

I really enjoyed this one, the film had a good cast and looked like it had a lot more money than it probably did, making the most of its rural location. Though at 1h20m, it’s not overly long. If you like supernatural thrillers, this one’s a must.

Extras on the disc include a Behind the Scenes feature, which includes interviews with the cast and crew and an audio commentary track with Writer/Director Ted Geoghegan and Producer Travis Stevens.

The film is released to UK DVD October 12 from Studio Canal.
 
Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk
 
 

Leicester Zombie Film Festival - First Films Anounced.

The first 2 films have been announced for the 'UK Festival of Zombie Culture' in Leicester this November.
 

First up is "DARKEST DAY". A young man wakes up on a beach with no memory. He discovers an empty city ravaged by a deadly virus. After befriending a small group of survivors it soon becomes clear the army are hunting him down, and the group are forced on a dangerous journey to escape.
 
The Cast and Crew will be in attendance to introduce the film and field questions afterwards. "DARKEST DAY" is an independent action/adventure/zombie feature film shot in Brighton (UK) by BrightHelm Films and took over 7 years to complete.
 
The second film, stars Elijah Wood in "COOTIES". A horror comedy with unexpected laughs and unapologetic thrills. When a cafeteria food virus turns elementary school children into killer zombies, a group of misfit teachers must band together to escape the playground carnage.
 
The film stars Elijah Wood ("Lord of the Rings" Trilogy), Rainn Wilson ("The Office"), and Alison Pill ("The Newsroom") as teachers who fight to survive the mayhem while hilariously bickering in an uncomfortable love triangle on the worst Monday of their lives.
 
'The UK Festival of Zombie Culture' (AKA Day of the Undead) is being held on 14th November at the Pheonix Arts Cinema, Leicester.
 
For more info, and to purchase tickets visit Phoenix website
 
 
 

New sci-fi thriller feature from Johnny Kevorkian goes into production

AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS, a darkly monstrous tale of tyranny and television, will start a five-week shoot on Oct 5 at GSP Studios’ studio facilities in York.

Produced by Jack Tarling of Shudder Films and Alan Latham of GSP Studios and directed by Johnny Kevorkian (The Disappeared) from a screenplay by Gavin Williams, the cast includes David Bradley (The Strain), Sam Gittins (The Smoke), Holly Weston (Howl), Kris Saddler (The Hour), Neerja Naik (Hackney’s Finest) & Grant Masters (Silent Witness).

It's Christmas Day and the Milgram family wake to find a mysterious black substance surrounding their house. Something monumental is clearly happening right outside their door, but what exactly - an industrial accident, a terrorist attack, nuclear war?

Descending into terrified arguments, they turn on the television, desperate for any information. On screen a message glows ominously: 'Stay Indoors and Await Further Instructions'. As the television exerts an ever more sinister grip, their paranoia escalates into bloody carnage.

Kevorkian commented: “I want to create a pressure cooker atmosphere, which ultimately explodes on screen! By the end of the film we’ll be shooting mostly handheld, really ramping up the pace with lots of camera moves to create an unstoppable climax to match the extreme situation”.

The film has been further developed with the support of public agencies Northern Film + Media and Digital City Innovations. Film London facilitated financing and Creative England have backed the development of marketing strategies for the film.

Arena Cinema and James Cullen Bressack pick first movie for their CAMPFIRE midnight Series

One for my US site visitors, particularly those in the LA area.
 
James Cullen Bressack and Arena Cinema’s CAMPFIRE series kicks off October 10th with the original I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE
 
Saturday October 10th at Midnight, we invite you to attend Arena Cinema's new monthly event CAMPFIRE at Arena Cinema curated by Director James Cullen Bressack. Pre-Reception in Arena Courtyard at 10:45PM.

 
Special introduction by James Cullen Bressack before the screening. 

I Spit On Your Grave is the controversial 1978 cult classic rape and revenge film. The film received a limited release, with a wider release in 1980. Prominent film critics condemned the film for its graphic violence, nudity, obscene language, and lengthy depictions of gang rape, and the motion picture remains controversial to this day; even considered as being among the worst ever made. The film was named in 2010 one of Time's Top 10 Ridiculously Violent Movies. It was remade that same year.
 
Location
1625 North Las Palmas Avenue
Hollywood , CA 90028
ENTRANCE BACK GATE
 
DISCOUNT PARKING NEXT DOOR/ACROSS STREET
 
 
 

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Horror Channel (UK) treats viewers to Haunted Halloween Season

All treats and no tricks…Horror Channel celebrates Halloween with a special HAUNTED HALLOWEEN SEASON, a spectral selection of movies which will take possession of the nation’s TVs every night for two weeks in October - from Saturday 17th to Saturday 31st, 9pm.
 

Here is the full line-up:

 Sat 17 Oct @ 9pm - AN AMERICAN HAUNTING (2005) *Network Premiere

The wind whispers ominous warnings of death before a malevolent entity arrives to claim the life of a young girl as director/writer Courtney Solomon brings author Brent Monahan's chilling, fact-based story of supernatural murder to the screen in this tale of terror starring Donald Sutherland, Sissy Spacek & James D’Arcy.

Sun 18 Oct @ 9pm – DARK SUMMER (2015) *UK TV Premiere

From Paul Solet, director of the acclaimed hit Grace, comes a suspense thriller focusing on a 17-year-old boy, Daniel, on house arrest for stalking, Mona, a female classmate online.  He thinks he has piggybacked his neighbours' wireless signal but then things start to happen and feels a strange presence in the house.

Fri 23 Oct @ 9pm - STIR OF ECHOS: THE HOMECOMING (2007) *Network Premiere

This sequel features Rob Lowe as National Guard Captain Ted Cogan, an Iraq War veteran whose past comes back to haunt him. After returning home from the line of duty, Cogan’s notion of his life returning back to normal is scuppered when he has visions of a group of innocent bystanders he inadvertently killed in Iraq.

Sat 24 Oct @ 9pm – AMITYVILLE 3 (1983) – Network Premiere

Investigative reporter John Baxter (Tony Roberts) buys a notorious house in the Long Island suburb of Amityville in an attempt to prove that stories about its being inhabited by demons are fraudulent. But soon his daughter, Susan (Lori Loughlin), and her friend Lisa (Meg Ryan) are experiencing inexplicable terrors, while his estranged wife, Nancy (Tess Harper), and supernatural expert Elliot West (Robert Joy) fear that the evil has begun to spread outside the house's walls.

Sat 31 Oct @ 9pm – THE POSSESSION (2012) – UK TV Premiere

When their youngest daughter, Em (Natasha Calis), becomes strangely obsessed with an antique wooden box, parents Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Stephanie (Kyra Sedgwick) see little cause for alarm. However, Em becomes increasingly unstable, leading the couple to fear the presence of a malevolent force. To their horror, Clyde and Stephanie learn that the box contains a dybbuk, a dislocated spirit that inhabits, and ultimately devours, a human host.
 
Plus:
Mon 19 Oct, 9pm - GRAVE ENCOUNTERS (2011)
Tues 20 Oct, 9pm - CASSADAGA (2011)
Wed 21 Oct, 9pm - THE ABANDONED (2006)
Thurs 22 Oct, 9pm - STIR OF ECHOS (1999)
Sun 25 Oct, 9pm – HAUNTED (1995)
Mon 26 Oct, 9pm - FORGET ME NOT (2009)
Tues 27 Oct, 9pm - THE TATTOOIST (2007)
Wed 28 Oct, 9pm - THE TORMENT (2010)
Thurs 29 Oct, 9pm – SOLSTICE (2008)
Fri 29 Oct, 9pm – GRAVE HALLOWEEN (2013)

There are also a further two UK premieres and five Network premieres, including the network premieres of Nicolas Roeg’s classic DON’T LOOK NOW (Sun Oct 4, 9pm) and John Carpenter’s devilishly original PRINCE OF DARKNESS (Fri 9 Oct, 9pm) and the UK premieres of Blair Erickson’s mind-altering BANSHEE CHAPTER (Fri 16 Oct, 9pm)  and Conor McMahon’s evil-fuelled FROM THE DARK (Fri 30 Oct, 10.55pm). 

TV: Sky 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138 / Freeview 70
 
 

Monday 21 September 2015

"Paranormal Activity : The Ghost Dimension" - Living One-Sheet released

Checkout this living One Sheet poster for the upcoming sequel "Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension", in UK cinemas this October.



For the first time, see the unseen in "Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension" – the horrifying conclusion to the Paranormal Activity films.
 
Starring Chris J. Murray, Brit Shaw, Olivia Taylor Dudley, and Dan Gill, "Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension",  arrives in UK cinemas on October 23rd.
 
 

"Houses of Halloween" - A UK DVD review

Director Bobby Roe’s “Houses of Halloween” is out on UK DVD next month courtesy of Kaleidoscope entertainment, who were kind enough to send over a review copy for me to take a look at.

Halloween is big business in America, each October around 2500 haunted attractions open up across the land, hoping to entice in scare seekers. So with this in mind, a group of friends decide to go on a road trip in their camper van, to make a film about them, visiting as many as they can to see if they can find one they consider the most extreme.

Unfortunately, they manage to upset a number of people that work at several of these attractions, who it seems don’t like being filmed, and they find themselves being stalked on the road by creepy clowns and people wearing amateurish zombie make up from the carnival. But despite this, when they get a cryptic invite to a haunted attraction called The Blue Skeleton, which boasts as being the Ultimate scare attraction, the group just can’t resist following it up, even if it may have dire consequences for them…

Told entirely through the groups documentary film cameras, this is yet another one of those “found footage” style films, which unfortunately I’m not much of a fan of. Indeed, the film could best be described as "Blair Witch Project" meets “House of 1000 Corpses”. But whilst the intro initially had me interested, I very quickly lost interest and found the film to be a bit of a borefest.

The problem was that there were these really long periods where nothing seemed to happen, just endless footage of them driving from one place to another and them wandering round these attractions. Occasionally, when something strange or mysterious happens to them, the payoff just doesn’t seem to be worth the wait and actually found myself fast forwarding through parts.

Released in the US as “The Houses that October Built”, the film is, apparently, very loosely based on a real documentary of the same name the director made back 2011 about Halloween attractions. Though I haven’t seen that to comment.

If you like “Found Footage” style films you may want to seek this one out. But otherwise, you’d be advised to give this one a miss. The film is released to UK DVD October 5th and contains a trailer as an extra.
 
Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk
 
 
 

Frightfest Presents - Launch titles announced!

Discover true terror on October 19th as Icon Film Distribution and FrightFest, the UK’s leading genre film festival, team up to launch FrightFest Presents, an all-new expert driven social community-building label ready to deliver true shocks and scares straight into your home just in time for Halloween and beyond...
 

FrightFest Presents will bring you the most unsettling feature films from the festival; a series of movies that wowed and earned critical acclaim hand-picked by FrightFest directors Alan Jones and Paul McEvoy.
 
You’ll even have Alan and Paul on hand to guide you through each film thanks to specially filmed introductions in the spirit of the much-loved Moviedrome. No need to wait for the next fest - this is year-round FrightFest in your home!
 
PHASE ONE: The first phase of six films hand curated by FrightFest Presents will be available to Download from October 19 and are:
 
THE SAND - Director: Isaac Gabaeff.
After an all-night graduation beach party, a group of hung-over students wake up under blazing sun to find their numbers somewhat depleted. An enormous alien creature has burrowed down deep and anyone foolish enough to make contact with the sand finds themselves at the mercy of a sea of flesh-eating tentacles. Will they ever be able to escape its carnivorous clutches?
 
ESTRANGED - Director: Adam Levins.
January is forced to return home after six wild years abroad. A road accident has left her wheelchair-bound with amnesia. Not only has she forgotten her family, but also her childhood and is surprised to discover her home is a stately country manor. Trying to settle in with boyfriend Callum at her attentive side, she becomes even more distant from her family, who just want their old daughter back. The trouble is she cannot remember who that person was, or why she fled in the first place. Now she must learn all over again how terrible relatives can be.
 
AFTER DEATH - Directors: Gez Medinger, Robin Schmidt.
Five young people wake up on a beach washed up by the tide. Where are they? What brought them there, and what are the strange creatures that surround them? All this and more will be revealed in this beautifully executed, award-winning first feature, chock full of exciting new acting talent, from Gez Medinger and Robin Schmidt – future genre names to keep a sharp eye out for.
Alan's take - “A gothic horror blast of hellish night and supernatural nightmare.”
 
AAAAAAAAAH! - Director: Steve Oram
Alpha Male Smith and his Beta, Keith, move to take over a local community. They hook up with restless Female, Denise, igniting a deadly feud in which emotions run high and deep-seated grudges resurface amongst the tribe. Are we not men? Or are we simply beasts? Steve Oram, the actor/writer from SIGHTSEERS and KILL LIST stars in his long-awaited debut feature with a host of his friends. Get ready for the most unusual celluloid primal scream - an anarchic, hilarious, disturbing and touching look at the human condition. 
 
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEB - Director: Kyle Rankin.
After a girls’ night out, endearingly awkward Deb wakes up in the apartment of the most attractive guy in Portland, Maine. She’s thrilled, but can’t remember how she got there. Pretty boy Ryan only knows it was a mistake and ushers her out the door... into a full-scale zombie apocalypse. Now, a walk of shame becomes a fight for survival as the mismatched pair discovers that the only thing scarier than trusting someone with your life... is trusting them with your heart. Great one-liners, a fabulous soundtrack and terrific performances – a touching rom-zom-com delight from the director of INFESTATION.
 
SOME KIND OF HATE - Director: Adam Egypt Mortimer.
What if your past came back for you as a fully formed, physical thing that was going to kill you? Tightly wound Lincoln is a favourite target for the local high school bullies. One day he violently snaps and is sent to the Mind’s Eye Academy, a remote desert reformatory. But the harassment doesn’t stop and in despair he accidentally summons the kindred spirit of Moira, a girl tormented to suicide in the same establishment, who is more than happy to take vengeance on his persecutors.
 
FrightFest Presents titles will be available on all major platforms including iTunes, Virgin Movies, Blinkbox, Google Play, Amazon, Xbox Video, Wuaki, Talk Talk and Volta.




"Walking Dead Series 5" - Ltd Edition BD set - Rakuten exclusive.

In what has become a highly anticipated annual tradition for The Walking Dead fans the world over, Entertainment One will be releasing "THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SERIES - Blu-ray Limited Edition" set on December 14th.
 
 
As with previous limited editions, McFarlane Toys has once again created a striking, must-own packaging concept. This year’s Limited Edition features an “asphalt” walker, one of the many unforgettable images that has made the series a global phenomenon. Handsomely crafted and intricately detailed, the figurine is based on the original walker designed by award-winning SFX make-up Supervisor and Executive Producer, GregNicotero.

Previous The Walking Dead Limited Edition releases include the “Governor’s Walker Head Tank” (Series 3) and the “Tree Walker” (Series 4). This Series “Asphalt Walker” edition will be available to order from Monday 16th November exclusively through eOne Direct on Rakuten.co.uk eOne Direct Shop and on eBay
 
Special features on the set include...
 
-Deleted Scenes
-Inside “The Walking Dead”
-The Making of “The Walking Dead”
-The Making of Alexandria
-Beth’s Journey
-Bob’s Journey
-Noah’s Journey
-Tyreese’s Journey
-A Day in the Life of Michael Cudlitz
-A Day in the Life of Josh McDermitt
-Rotters in the Flesh
 
 

Saturday 19 September 2015

"Extinction" - UK DVD review

Neighbourly disputes are nothing new, but when the person next door is probably the only other person left alive and you have fallen out with them. How do you continue to survive the in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse? That is the question posed in director Miguel Angel Viva’s “Extinction” which comes to UK DVD Sept 21.

Set during a very bitter winter, it’s been 9 years since the world was ravaged by a zombie like virus that turned people into blood thirsty mutants. Jack (Jeffrey Donovan – TVs “Burn Notice”) and his daughter Lu (Quinn McColgan - “Non Stop”) and former friend Patrick (Matthew Fox – TVs “Lost”) have survived the carnage by holding up in the remote town of Harmony and are probably the last 3 survivors.

It’s been years since they last saw any mutants, but they still live in fortified properties, stockpiled with guns and ammunition and survive by scavenging food supplies from the other houses. But, the problem is that despite seemingly being the only people left alive, it seems they’ve had a major falling out sometime in the past and no longer talk, despite living right next door to each other.

Sam at least has his daughter for company, whilst Patrick only has his pet dog and a radio, which he constantly broadcasts distress messages on, in the hopes of hearing another voice. But when they discover another survivor, who informs them the mutants have returned, the 2 must put aside their differences if they are going to survive, as the mutants converge and they quickly find themselves under siege….

Owing more than a passing resemblance to “The Omega Man” and “Last Man on Earth” (which were both based on the book “I am legend”) “Extinction” is a compelling zombie/infection movie. The film starts well, showing the films main protagonists barely escaping an attack by the mutants, which have over-run an apparent safe haven, before showing how the 2 former friend’s lives have unravelled over the years in the post apocalyptic world.

Things do however kick back up a gear for the action packed finale, as they are forced to fend of a “Night of the Living Dead” style siege by the creatures who finally over run them.

The disc also comes stacked with a number of special features, most of which look like they might have been filmed for Web/YouTube promos, which include…

Making of (12mins) – a behind the scenes look at the film, featuring interviews with the cast and crew.

The Apocalypse (2:30) – The Director and cast discuss the look and feel of the film

The Creatures (2:30) – A look at how the prosthetic effects for the mutants were achieved.

Digital Effects 1 (2:20) and 2 (2:15), a look at how the CGI effects were overlayed over the filmed footage to give the impression of a desolate town.

Mathew Fox and Jeffrey Donovan (2mins) The lead actors discuss their characters in the film.

Clara Logo and Quinn McColgan (2:10) The lead actresses discuss their characters in the film.

VFX Breakdowns (3:20) – a comparison of the original story board artwork with the finished CGI shots.

The film is also viewable with Italian, German or Turkish audio tracks if the English one isn’t your thing.

Highly recommended for fans of zombie/infection films. The film is released to UK DVD Sept 21 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk

Friday 18 September 2015

Documentary-Horror "The Nightmare" - in UK cinemas October

Altitude Film Distribution are soon to be releasing what is tipped to be one of the scariest documentaries of all time "The Nightmare". 
 
Exploring the phenomenon of 'Sleep Paralysis' through the eyes of eight very different people. These people (and a shockingly large number of others) often find themselves trapped between the sleeping and waking worlds, helpless, totally unable to move but aware of their surroundings while being subject to frequently disturbing sights and sounds.

A strange element to these visions is that despite the fact that they know nothing of one another, (and had never heard of sleep paralysis before it happened to them), many see similar ghostly 'shadow men.' This is one of many reasons many people insist this is more than just a sleep disorder.

"The Nightmare" digs deep into not only the particulars of these eight people's uncanny experiences (through elaborate, sometimes surreal dramatisations), but it also explores their search to understand what they've gone through and how it's changed their lives.

This film was inspired by the director's own experiences with Sleep Paralysis and how startled he was to discover that he wasn't the only person pinned motionless to their bed while being menaced by a living, three-dimensional shadow.

As the team travelled both around the world (and into the bottomless pit of the world wide web) they were constantly amazed to discover strange similarities in people's experiences as well the amount of radically different interpretations about what was really going on.

In a way "The Nightmare" is two very different horror movies at once; there's obviously the primal terror of being helpless in the face of a mysterious intruder, but then there's a subtler, existential terror in the lines between reality and the imagination.
 
"The Nightmare" is opening in cinemas on 9th October

William Shatner stars in "A Christmas Horror Story" on UK DVD

From the producers of 'Ginger Snaps', comes William Shatner in "A Christmas Horror Story", which comes to UK DVD this November from Entertainment One.
 
Christmas: a time of joy, peace and goodwill...unless you live in Bailey Downs. For some folks in this small town Christmas Eve isn't about getting together with loved ones and exchanging presents - it's a desperate fight for survival.

A perfect horror for fans of both contemporary and classic horror, it's little wonder why A Christmas Horror Story was specially selected as a star attraction at FrightFest 2015. It follows in the tradition of festive horrors Silent Night, Deadly Night and Black Christmas, and with its interwoven stories puts a unique seasonal spin on the portmanteau style of horror made popular by films such as Creepshow and Asylum.
 
William Shatner is typically brilliant as the narrator and leads a cast of up and coming stars, who -along with gore-tastic special effects from the team behind Cube and Resident Evil: Apolocalypse - bring a dark sense of festive fun to the bloody tales. With big laughs and even bigger scares, it's Christas terror at its most bad-ass - the perfect gift for any horror fan this festive season!
 
"A Christmas Horror Story", is released to UK DVD November 9th from Entertainment One.
 
Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk
 
 

"Grimmfest" Manchester announces full film line-up

The Grimm Up North Festival (Grimmfest), which takes place 1-4 Oct at the Odeon Printworks in Manchester, have just announced their full film line up as follows...
 
 
Gala Opening Night Thursday 1st October

7.00pm - 8.37pm The Hallow
9.00pm - 10.10pm Northern Showcase:
The Box, Snatchers, Driven,Process + Guest Panel
10.30pm - 11.56pm Blood Sucking Bastards & El Gigante [short]
11.59pm onwards Drinks @ Waxy O’Connor’s


Friday 2nd October

12.00 Midday - 1.52pm German Angst + Q&A
2.00pm - 3.51pm Scream
4.00pm - 5.40pm Landmine Goes Click
6.00pm - 7.39pm He Never Died
8.00pm - 9.40pm Cherry Tree + Q&A
10.00pm -11.35pm Turbo Kid
11.50 -1.23 am The Hive

Saturday 3rd October

12.00 Midday - 1.43pm Excess Flesh
2.00pm - 3.41pm Short Film Showcase:

Dark_Net, Whisper, A Stranger Kind, Judith, Willa, Cowboy Ben, [shut-in]
10.00pm -11.30pm Deathgasm
4.00pm - 5.35pm The Nightmare + Q&A
6.00pm - 7.35pm Howl + Q&A
8.00pm - 9.40pm Synchronicity
11.50 -1.19 am We Are Still Here


Sunday 4th October

12.00 Midday - 1.40pm Hellions & The Sun Has Died [short]
6.00pm - 7.39pm A Christmas Horror Story
2.00pm - 3.30pm Antisocial 2
4.00pm - 5.45pm Hellraiser + Q&A
8.00pm - 10.00pm DXM + Director Q&A
10.00pm Onwards Afterparty.


For more info checkout the Grimmfest website

Full programme is available as a downloadable PDF HERE

Thursday 17 September 2015

"Nightmare Code" premiering on US VOD September 29

Witness the first movie told from the point of view of artificial intelligence with the award winning "Nightmare Code", available on Digital in the US September 29 and on US DVD October 27 from Indie Rights.

Brett Desmond, a genius programmer with a troubled past is called in to finish a topsecret behaviour recognition program, ROPER, after the previous Lead Programmer went insane. But the deeper Brett delves into the code, the more his own behavior begins changing…in increasingly terrifying ways.

Suspense builds with surveillance, PC, and eyeglass cameras – often with four images onscreen at once…as if ROPER itself is telling the story.
 
Winner of the 2015 Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival Award, writer-director Mark Netter’s "Nightmare Code" is “stylish and intelligent” (Horror Asylum) and a “Heir to 2001” (Sensitive Skin).
 
Andrew J. West (The Walking Dead), Mei Melancon (X-Men: The Last Stand) and Googy Gress (Apollo 13) star. 
 
Pre-order the US DVD from Amazon.com
 
 
 

Wednesday 16 September 2015

"The Messenger" - a film review.

Director David Blair’s "The Messenger" is released to UK cinemas this Friday and I was fortunate to get a sneak peek at it, ahead of its release.

The film revolves around a dishevelled young man named Jack (played by “Misfits” Robert Sheehan), who has been driven to distraction, as he can see ghosts of the recently departed. Constantly hounded by these undead spirits, asking him to send messages back to their loved ones. The pressure of having to constantly deal with these people, which no one else can see, has driven him to drink and to the brink of insanity.

Having been in and out of psychiatric care most of his life, the doctors just think he's delusional and keep prescribing him anti-psychotic drugs. Which he usually ends up selling to the smack heads that live beneath his squalid flat, so that he can buy more alcohol.

After getting a good hiding from the mourners at a teenage girl’s funeral, he decides he's had enough of trying to deliver messages from the other side. So when he's confronted by the ghost of a prominent news reporter, asking him to contact his former girlfriend, he initially refuses. But this one ghost is particularly insistent, especially as his death was no accident…

An interesting film, which I would describe as a drama first and a supernatural thriller second. The films central premise, about the journalist trying to contact his former partner, is really more of a sub-plot, whilst the main focus of the film is actually on Jack and how having to deal with ghosts on a daily basis has taken its toll over the years.

Indeed, a lot of time is given to introducing Jack and the other people in his life, such as his estranged sister (Lily Cole – "Snow White and the Huntsman"), and filling in his back story as to how he got to his present state, which also leaves us with the question as to whether he really can see these ghosts or is just delusional.

Overall, I was very impressed and found it to be an intriguing and consistently engaging supernatural drama. It is what I would call a “slow burner” though, so don’t expect an action movie. But if you get chance, I would recommend going to see it.

The film is released to UK cinemas Friday 18th September.
 
View the trailer on YouTube
 
 

Tuesday 15 September 2015

"Bloodsucking Pharoahs in Pittsburgh" - on UK BD and DVD October

Cult classic "BLOODSUCKING PHARAOHS IN PITTSBURGH" finally makes it's way to UK BD and on DVD this October from 88 films.
 
In the same satirical spirit as HOLLYWOOD CHAINSAW HOOKERS (1988) or STUDENT BODIES (1981), comes 1991's esoterically entertaining splatter send-up "BLOODSUCKING PHARAOHS IN PITTSBURGH".
 
Originally entitled PICKING UP THE PIECES, and featuring special effects from the legendary Tom Savini (MANIAC/ DAY OF THE DEAD), this first class mix of gore and guffaws makes its worldwide BluRay debut from 88 Films.
 
Proving that a madwoman can be far more threatening than a madman, BLOODSUCKING PHARAOHS IN PITTSBURGH introduces us to a weapon-wielding femme-fatale who is dedicated to lopping off limbs and chalking up a high body count in the name of an ancient religious cult. What results is a plethora of slice and dice silliness and one of the most deranged, but darkly humoured, hack 'em ups ever unleashed.
 
Starring Veronica Hart (the erstwhile adult movie legend from such late night masterworks as AMANDA BY NIGHT (1981) ), as a crazy killer with a shapely shape, and paying homage to everything from BLOOD FEAST (1963) to THE TOOLBOX MURDERS (1978), "BLOODSUCKING PHARAOHS IN PITTSBURGH" proves once and for all that the female of the species is far deadlier than the male!
 
SPECIAL FEATURES
•BRAND NEW Interview with effects legend Tom Savini
•Animated Stills Gallery
•Behind the Scenes Footage
•Deleted Scenes
•Interview with Dean Tschetter
•Reversible Sleeve
 
The film is out on UK BD and DVD from October 5th.

Buy the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk

Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk



Sunday 13 September 2015

"A Moment of Horror" - A review

Film4 recently sponsored 6 directors to come up with a short film each, which would premiere at the Film4 Frightfest in London.

The result was “A Moment of Horror”, 6 short films that will make you think twice before turning off the lights. The shorts were well received by festival goers and are now viewable on Channel 4s On-Demand service “All 4”. And I was asked if I wouldn’t mind watching and reviewing them.

The first film “Killing Time” from director Michelle Fox ("Zomnic") is a film that I'm sure a lot of downtrodden workers can sympathise with. As a disgruntled employee (Meghan Doyle) decides to goof of the rest of her shift by hiding in the toilets. Only to find something lurking in there that’s far worse than her boss…

“Behind You” by Lee Lennox ("AmStarDam") sees a babysitter (Eline Powell) who’s rather disturbed with the choice of fairytales the young girl she’s looking after wants to read to her. Only to find that the unsavoury characters in them may not be fictional.

Andrew Brand’s ("Where There’s Smoke") “What the Dog Saw” is more of a supernatural thriller. If you’ve ever had a dog that appears to be barking at nothing, this film offers a suggestion at what might be setting it off.

“Bath Time” from Rose Glass ("Room 55") seems to take it’s cue from those oriental, supernatural horror films, like “The Ring”, “The Grudge” etc, in which a woman (Elizabeth Chan) who’s trying to enjoy a nice relaxing bath finds something nasty has manifested itself in her bathroom, but can her self-help tapes save the day?

Christian James (“Freakout”, “Stalled”) “Night Feed” provides one of the lighter hearted segments, in which a young mother gets up in the night to feed her crying child, only to discover something else in the crib and its not after milk.

The last film “The Doorkeeper” from Weronika Tofilska (winner of FrightFest’s Short Cuts to Hell competition) is arguably my favourite segment, in which an old caretaker (John Atterbury, who Harry Potter fans may recognise as Phineus Black) is locking up an old manor house for the night, only to discover doors keep unlocking themselves and lights turning themselves on. Done in the style of a traditional ghost story, we quickly discover ghostly goings on are afoot, but its not what (or indeed who) we think…

Each segment has its own unique style and I found them to be quite entertaining.

They are available to view online individually at Channel 4 on Demand (may only be viewable to UK residents)