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Tuesday, December 05, 2006 |
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Masters of Horror (2.6) “Pelts†- Review
By: Zed Guru
Masters of Horror really hasn't made this easy on me. With the exception of John Landis' "Family," there hasn't been an episode this season that I can recommend without reservation. Unfortunately, Dario Argento's Pelts follows the same pattern.
I should admit that I'm not much of an Argento buff. I haven't seen all of “Suspiria†or last season's "Jenifer." With that said, I am familiar with Argento's style of horror from bits and pieces of “Suspiria†and reading reviews of his works and I do have to say that my first Argento experience has not let me down. "Pelts" is overflowing with blood, gore, sex, nudity and disturbing imagery.
One of the better episodes of the season, "Pelts" stars another favorite of mine, Meat Loaf Aday (yeah, that Meat Loaf) as Jake, a fur clothing maker in Seattle. However, it seems that there is a little something unusual about his latest batch of raccoon furs; specifically that they turn people into suicidal maniacs. I won't give away too much about the plot, but don't expect a clear-cut explanation for much of anything in this one. Oh yeah, and there are strippers... quite a few stripper scenes actually. Not only is "Pelts" full of graphic female nudity, it also features the most graphic sex scenes you will see this season. Seriously, it's borderline soft-core, so don't watch this one with your folks.
As far as acting goes, there isn't a whole lot to mention besides Meat Loaf. As usual, he really gets into his role and does a fantastic job as the perverted, disgusting sweatshop owner. You hate him from almost the first moment he's on screen, but you just can't take your eyes off of him. No one else in the film gets enough screen time to really recognize them, but there isn’t a performance that stands out as being particularly bad.
Let's talk for a second about the degree of gore in this episode. I've seen quite a bit of horror and "shock horror" in my day, but few things compare to "Pelts". This Masters of Horror entry shows you some of the most graphic acts of self-mutilation probably ever filmed. I swear; Argento must have some jacked-up dreams or something, because some of the scenes are just so over-the-top with the blood. All the effects are absolutely top notch, which is really saying something given the budget for these episodes and the extremes that Argento pushes to. No joke, all three people that I watched the episode with felt slightly nauseous by the time it was over. To be completely honest, I was slightly woozy myself. This episode is definitely not for the squeamish.
Argento's direction is also top quality, except that "Pelts" builds the tension really well without ever being scary. Despite buckets of blood and a supernatural storyline, Argento never makes you frightened for the characters, probably because he makes you hate Jake so much right from the beginning.
In all, "Pelts" is one of the best episodes of the season, but not one for the Masters of Horror record books. Meat Loaf does a fantastic job as the despicable protagonist, but it's hard to get scared over a character you hate. However, if you're a fan of hardcore blood and gore, you just found your favorite episode of the season.
Make sure to tune in for next week's episode, Joe Dante's Screwfly Solution, where men around the world develop the desire to kill all women.
What do you think? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about this and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
For more Masters of Horror, check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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Tuesday, December 05, 2006 |
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Horror Brain News -- December 5, 2006
Jon Avent To Adapt Italian Bestseller 'I KILL'
Variety.com is also reporting that Jon Avnet is set to shoot I Kill, a serial-killer thriller based on an eponymous Italian bestseller, in a rare case of a Hollywood helmer adapting a contempo Italo tome.
Monte Carlo-set tale, in which the killer always calls a local radio deejay to request a song themed in synch with his next slaying, is being produced by Aurelio De Laurentiis and his son Luigi De Laurentiis Jr., under their Filmauro banner, with plans to start shooting next year on the Cote d'Azur.
"The book is Italy's biggest bestseller of the past few years," De Laurentiis Jr. told Daily Variety, adding that "the cast is going to be A-list."
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Gaumont and Sean Ellis Have Begun Shooting 'THE BROKEN'
Variety.com reports that Sean Ellis, who won an Oscar nomination last year for his short "Cashback," has started shooting his second feature, The Broken, backed by French major Gaumont.
"The Broken" is a psychological horror project, starring Lena Headey as a woman whose life descends into nightmare after she sees an apparent double of herself driving by in her own car.
The multi-national cast also includes Richard Jenkins, Melvil Poupaud, Ulrich Thomsen, Michelle Duncan and Asier Newman. Producer is Lene Bausager of Left Turn Films, and Gaumont CEO Franck Chorot is the exec producer.
Gaumont is also handling worldwide sales of the feature-length version of "Cashback," which opens theatrically in France on Jan. 17.
What do you think of today's news stories? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about these and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
Also, be sure to check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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Monday, December 04, 2006 |
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Horror Brain News -- December 4, 2006
Trailer: ‘COLD TRAIL’
Twitchfim.net now has up the full trailer for the Icelandic thriller Cold Trail. Check it out!
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’THE GRUDGE 2’ Arriving on DVD In February
DavisDVD.com reports that The Grudge 2 will be hitting DVD on February 6, 2007. There is no word yet on what extras will be featured on the forthcoming DVD, but we’ll bring you that info as soon as it becomes available.
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Writer Gary Dauberman To Work With Del Toro On 'DEADMAN' Adaptation
Variety.com is also reporting that Warner Bros. has hired tyro scribe Gary Dauberman to work with director-producer Guillermo del Toro in penning the script for the bigscreen adaptation of DC Comics' Deadman.
Project is a potential directing vehicle for del Toro, who is producing with Angry Films' Don Murphy and Murphy's partner Susan Montford.
Deadman is the ghost of a murdered circus acrobat who has the power to possess the living in order to seek out his killer, as well as to help the innocent.
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Bob Clark Prepares For Remakes of ‘CHILDREN' & 'DEATHDREAM’
Variety.com reports that Bob Clark, Canada's most famous filmmaker who is not actually a full-fledged Canuck, is having a good year. And that's despite the fact that Clark's most successful film, "Porky's," was nudged aside in the Canadian record books this year.
Clark is an American but he lived in Canada from 1971 to the early '80s, and that's where he made his best-known pics, including low-budget horror cult faves "Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things," "Deathdream" and "Black Christmas" and horn-dog laffer "Porky's."
And a remake of Clark's "Black Christmas," the 1974 sorority-house murder tale that's often described as the pic that set the stage for later slasher pics like "Friday the 13th," is coming from Dimension on Dec. 25, written and directed by Glen Morgan.
Clark -- who splits his time between homes in Los Angeles, Vancouver Island and Toronto -- will helm the new version of "Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things," which likely will shoot in the spring in Vancouver. It is a Canadian-British co-production.
The remake of "Deathdream," an anti-Vietnam War horror pic, likely will shoot next year as well.
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First Bloody Clips From ‘BLACK CHRISTMAS’ Remake Now Online
If you head on over to the Official U.K. website for Dimension Films’ upcoming remake of the classic horror flick “Black Christmasâ€, you will be able to check out three clips from the film.
“Black Christmas†hits theaters on Christmas Day.
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Trailer: ‘BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE’
MTV.com now has up the very first trailer for MGM's upcoming werewolf flick Blood and Chocolate, which opens wide on January 26th.
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Review: ‘FIDO’
Ainticool.com also has up a review of Lionsgate’s retro-style zombie flick Fido, which is scheduled for release in March 2007.
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One Sheet For ‘THE HITCHER’ Remake Unveiled!
Aintitcool.com now has up an exclusive look at the final one sheet for the upcoming remake of The Hitcher, which hits theaters on January 19th.
What do you think of today's news stories? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about these and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
Also, be sure to check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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Friday, December 01, 2006 |
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Horror Brain News -- December 1, 2006
Early Review: 'PREMONITION'
Aintitcool.com now has up an early review of the upcoming Sandra Bullock supernatural thriller Premonition, which doesn't hit theaters until March 2007.
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Trailer: 'THE HOST' Red-Banner
CHUD.com now has up an exclusive "red band" trailer for the incredibly awesome Korean monster flick entitled The Host, which attacks U.S. theaters in January. Check it out!
*You all know what a "red band" trailer is right? Well for those of you who dont know, typically, when you go to a movie you will see a lot of "green band" trailers. These are ones that have been approved for all audiences. But every once in a while, we get treated to a "red band" trailer. Not nearly as common, these are approved only for adult audiences and may either be too intense for some people or contain adult language, some violence or even a bit of sexuality. God we love our "red band" trailers!
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Three Beautiful 'PAN'S LABYRINTH' Clips Now Online!
Bloody-Disgusting.com now has up several new clips from Picturehouse's and Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth, which hits theaters on December 29th. Check 'em out!
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Clive Barker To Conjure Up The Ghost of Poe For New Thriller
Hollywoodreporter.com reports that Horror master Clive Barker is partnering with Walden Media to create an original young adult thriller centered on the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe.
Barker is set to develop the story and produce the project, with Barker's Seraphim Films' Anthony DiBlasi and Joseph Daley executive producing.
The film will revolve around a group of teenagers who attempt to uncover what happened during the last two weeks of Poe's life. They inadvertently trigger a curse that unlocks Poe's nightmares from which they must escape.
"This project is an opportunity for us to reimagine a genre that is generally associated with an older audience," Walden Media executive vp production Alex Schwartz said. "By focusing on mood and atmosphere rather than blood and guts, Clive Barker brings a smart, literate take on the horror genre that will expose young audiences to its great literary underpinnings. It is only appropriate that the grandfather of modern horror fiction, Edgar Allan Poe, provides the fulcrum for the story."
What do you think of today's news stories? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about these and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
Also, be sure to check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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Thursday, November 30, 2006 |
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Horror Brain News -- November 30, 2006
First Posters For Russia's 'DEAD DAUGHTERS' Revealed
Twitchfilm.net now has up the first two finalized posters for Pavel Ruminov's Russian horror film Dead Daughters, which is slated for release in February. Check 'em out.
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Take A Whiff of This 'PERFUME' Clip
Comingsoon.net now has up an exclusive first look at a clip from DreamWorks' upcoming thriller Perfume - The Story of a Murderer, which is opening in theaters on December 27th.
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Leelee Sobieski Gets Involved In 'ACTS OF VIOLENCE'
Variety.com reports that Leelee Sobieski ("The Wicker Man") will star in and produce Acts of Violence, a horror comedy about a doctor seeking to avenge an attack on his wife. Cast includes Ron Perlman and Il Lim, who wrote the script and will direct. Elizabeth Sobieski, Michael Costner and Ian Eyre also produce.
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George Romero's 'DEAD' Franchise Is #20!
IGN MOVIES has just ranked George A. Romero's Dead films #20 in their "Top 25 Movie Franchises of All Time" list. Check it out!
What do you think of today's news stories? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about these and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
Also, be sure to check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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Wednesday, November 29, 2006 |
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John Carpenter's THE THING - Review
By: Joe Click
"I know I'm human. And if you were all these things, then you'd just attack me right now, so some of you are still human. This thing doesn't want to show itself, it wants to hide inside an imitation. It'll fight if it has to, but it's vulnerable out in the open. If it takes us over, then it has no more enemies, nobody left to kill it. And then it's won." - R.J. MacReady
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Director: John Carpenter
Producer: David Foster
Cast:
Kurt Russell - R.J. MacReady
Wilford Brimley - Dr. Blair
T.K. Carter - Nauls
Charles Hallahan - Vance Norris
Keith David - Childs
Release Date: June 27th 1982
Running Time: 109 min
Budget: $10,000,000
Box Office take-in of opening weekend: $3,107,897
In 1982, John Carpenter, the director of some of the greatest and entertaining films of all time, made a film that was technically a remake, but in reality was much more. Pulling way more inspiration from the short story by John W. Campbell entitled “Who Goes There†than the 1951 film The Thing from Another World, directed by Christian Nyby, this particular film was simply titled The Thing and would go on to be recognized as one of Carpenter’s greatest works ever. So if you’re as excited as I am, let’s jump right into this review of John Carpenter’s The Thing.
Synopsis: When 12 men at a remote Antarctic facility are disturbed by a 100 year old alien who takes the shape of anything it absorbs, they must stick together to fight it. It’s when the alien life form begins to take the shape of the men themselves that the real danger begins. Now, each man begins to suspect that no one is who they say they are, which makes finding the alien that much more difficult and if they don’t act fast, everyone on earth could become part of The Thing.
Direction: The film opens like a lot of old Carpenter films with credits over a black screen, which I like vary much. Some of these films include the stunning 1976 action flick Assault on Precinct 13, the forever unmatched 1978 horror classic Halloween and the 1981 post-apocalyptic masterpiece Escape from New York. The Thing’s is weird, though, because those were independent films and The Thing was a studio picture that was released by Universal and not opening up with the classic Universal logo is odd. If you try and think of another Universal picture that does this, it will help you better understand what I mean.
After the opening credits, we move right into a highly atmospheric film. The whole movie takes place in an isolated bunker on the South Pole, which makes you feel very claustrophobic when The Thing actually begins to terrorize the men. Then, when the alien begins to take the shape of the men, themselves, you feel even more closed up because not only is there no communication with the outside world, but you can’t communicate with the man next to you as you’re not sure if he’s still human or not.
This is what is so interesting about the film. Not only do you have the great direction of John Carpenter, but you have this tale that puts you on the edge of your seat; you just can’t trust anyone, even as an audience member. Another thing that makes the film so terrific is that with most films that have similar story lines, it’s the audience who sees what the characters in the film don’t and this makes us more involved because we know more than the main characters know. With The Thing, you never really know who is who until the moment where they revel that they’re not human at all. It is this thrilling suspense that puts us, the viewer, into the movie, itself, as if we ourselves are a character. It’s a very interactive and highly effective approach.
Which brings us right into another aspect of the film that is very special: the level of suspense. One scene that is both well acted and well directed is one where MacReady is testing everyone’s blood to see who is human and who is not. He has three of the men, who are suspected to be The Thing, tied to a chair. As he heats up the needle and begins placing it into the blood, nothing happens. Then he goes down the line and still nothing happens and the men begin to criticize MacReady, saying that his theory is false. Even Carpenter, as the director, lets the audience think that maybe it really doesn’t work. When we start to think this, we’re hit with one of the most intense and overall best scenes in the entire film. These are just a few points that make The Thing a classic.
Acting: The acting in The Thing could be said to be as good as Carpenter’s directing, and coming from me, that is really something. First off, the film stars Kurt Russell and would mark the third time that both he and John Carpenter have worked together. The other two films they worked on were Elvis in 1979, where Russell plays the king of rock and roll, and Escape from New York, where Russell played the great anti-hero Snake Plisken. They would also team up, again, in 1986 with Big Trouble in Little China, where Russell played a hero truck driver named Jack Burton and then again in 1996 for Escape from L.A., the sequel to Escape from New York, but that film has little to no redeeming qualities.
In The Thing, not only is Russell great as always, but he is also surrounded with great supporting actors. One scene that comes to mind is when Blair decides to cut off communications with the outside world in an attempt to seclude the creature so it wouldn’t take over the whole world. I love the acting of Wilford Brimley in this scene. It’s edgy but at the same time quite funny. Scared for his life and Childs trying to reason with him, Brimley is shot at by Blair as he shouts, “I’ll kill you!â€
Another scene that’s well acted and full of suspense is when Norris has a heart attack and the medic tries to resuscitate him but is startled when he finds that Norris isn’t really Norris at all. I won’t go into it too much, but rest assured that it is great and is just one of many great scenes that The Thing has to offer.
Gore and More: The effects in The Thing are nothing short of spectacular. Not only are they visually stunning, but there are many, many FX to indulge in. There are about five or six scenes that have a lot of incredible effects in them and each one is special in its own way. Also, each one of these scenes are going to be ones that you won’t soon forget.
The imagery is spectacular, as well, and almost becomes more than just a backdrop for the film. Like I have said before, the sets and location of the film give it a feel that is perfect for its subject matter. Also, the lighting is great as The Thing once again reunites Carpenter with Director of Photography Dean Cundey. With all of these in place, you have the makings of a beautifully atmospheric movie.
DVD Extras: This particular DVD, released by Universal, has enough extras to keep you up tonight. Some of the features that are included are outtakes, an audio commentary with Director John Carpenter and Star Kurt Russell, three featurettes: 1. John Carpenter’s The Thing: Terror Takes Shape 2. The Saucer. 3. The Blairmonster and a Theatrical Trailer. One thing is for sure, The Thing DVD will transform your DVD player into hours of great entertainment.
Conclusion: If you haven’t seen this movie yet, go out and rent it. Heck, just blindly buy it because I know you won’t be disappointed. Just remember, if you don’t know what The Thing is, then it might be you!
What do you think? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about this and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
For more movie reviews, check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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Wednesday, November 29, 2006 |
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Horror Brain News -- November 29, 2006
Trailers: An Updated, Subtitled Look At 'LA HORA FRIA'
Twithcfilm.net now has up the links to the downloadable English-subtitled versions of the second and third trailers ("video 2" and "video 3") for Elio Quiroga's zombie thriller La hora fría.
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HBO To Adapt 'PREACHER' Comic Into TV Series
Hollywoodreporter.com is reporting that HBO has seen the light and is bringing Preacher to the small screen.
The pay cable network is developing a one-hour series based on the popular 1990s Vertigo comics series. Mark Steven Johnson, the writer-director behind comic adaptations "Daredevil" and the upcoming "Ghost Rider," is writing the pilot, while Howard Deutch is attached to direct. Johnson and Deutch will executive produce along with Michael De Luca, George Agusto, Chris Bender and JC Spink.
"Preacher," which ran from 1995-2000, told the story of a down-and-out Texas preacher possessed by Genesis, a supernatural entity conceived by the unnatural coupling of an angel and a demon. Given immense powers, the preacher teamed with an old girlfriend and a hard-drinking Irish vampire and set out on a journey across America to find God -- who apparently had abandoned his duties in heaven -- and hold him accountable for his negligence.
The series -- which developed a rabid fan base -- was known for tackling religious and political issues, its dark and violent sense of humor and its observations of American culture. It also was one of the series that helped define Vertigo, the adult-oriented line of comics from DC Comics.
What do you think of today's news stories? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about these and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
Also, be sure to check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 |
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Masters of Horror (2.5) “Pro-Life†- Review
By: Zed Guru
Pro-Life is the hardest Masters of Horror review I've had to do. I came in with uber-high expectations from John Carpenter's second entry, in part because of his episode from last season, "Cigarette Burns," and in part because he is… well, John Carpenter. Unfortunately, hero worship and a good track record make it extremely difficult to review something in an unbiased way, which I am really trying to do. So, without further disclaimer…
John Carpenter's second movie for the ongoing Masters of Horror series is "Pro-Life," which stars Ron Perlman (“Hellboyâ€, “Blade 2â€, “City of Lost Childrenâ€) among a cast of mostly TV actors and actresses. The story opens with a young, barely pregnant, Angelique running through the forest away from something. After nearly being run over by a doctor and nurse heading in for work, the medical duo throws her in the back of their car and takes her to the clinic. The clinic, however, happens to be an unusually high-security abortion facility.
Unfortunately for the clinic staff, the reason for the barbed-wire fences is Angelique's fanatic father, Dwight, who has apparently caused one or more "incidents" in the past. Needless to say, Dwight is a little pissed off that these "murderers" have taken his little girl to their "den of tortureâ€. Things escalate as Dwight is instructed, during prayer, to rescue his daughter, no matter what the cost. And, oh yeah, Angelique seems extremely intent on aborting her "evil" fetus immediately yet won't reveal the circumstances of her unusual conception to the medical team.
First off, I have to say that the acting is top-notch. As always, Ron Perlman is incredibly entertaining and pulls off his character really well. The young Angelique is played by Caitlin Wachs (mostly TV guest spots), but she gives a solid performance as well. "Pro-Life" is written by Drew McWeeny and Scott Swan, the same pair that penned last season's "Cigarette Burns." Unfortunately, the two went from an unpredictable, moody, shockingly violent and brilliant screenplay to one that's predictable, oddly paced, unnecessarily violent and seemingly shallow. I say 'seemingly shallow' because right after watching it, you don't have any questions or want to discuss it in the way you did with "Cigarette Burns."
However, when pondering over this review, I began to think about the questions and statements that this film makes about the issue of abortion in our country. It doesn't say abortion is right or wrong – props to the writers for that – but "Pro-Life" does raise many issues with the way that our country looks at abortion in black-and-white terms.
Moving on to things much easier to evaluate and explain, the special effects in "Pro-Life" are utterly brilliant. This episode features the best creature effects of the series, even outdoing the angel from "Cigarette Burns", and the gore effects are a perfect balance of CGI and the tried-and-true blood sprays.
To wrap this up, let me explain why you should see this episode: See "Pro-Life" because it's by John Carpenter. See "Pro-Life" because of Ron Perlman. See "Pro-Life" because it raises quite a few questions about a hot-button issue without leaning to one-side or the other. See "Pro-Life" because of great gore and special effects.
In all, there are a lot of reasons to see "Pro-Life", but none are because it's a great horror film. The story is predictable; you'll figure it out by the end of the trailer or within the first fifteen minutes of the movie. There are several moments where the characters don't act like real people and it takes you out of the story. Several characters are left a lot less developed than they should have been. But most of all, it's not "Cigarette Burns". Despite all of that, see it anyways, even if it's just to disagree with me.
If you think I nailed this episode on the head, or if you think I completely missed the point of this episode, please respond on the Horror Brainboard. I really need some input on this!
Also, don't forget episode six is on Friday night – Dario Argento's Pelts.
What do you think? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about this and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
For more Masters of Horror, check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 |
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Horror Brain News -- November 28, 2006
Exclusive Clip: 'TURISTAS'
IGN MOVIES now has up an exclusive two-minute clip from the upcoming thriller Turistas, which hits theaters on December 1st.
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’OPEN WATER 2: ADRIFT’ To Hit DVD In February
DavisDVD.com also reports that Lionsgate Home Entertainment has announced Open Water 2: Adrift, starring Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy), for release on February 20th, 2007.
The DVD arrives with an anamorphic widescreen transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 and a making-of featurette. Retail is $26.98.
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Complete ‘SAW III’ DVD Details Unveiled
DavisDVD.com reports that Lionsgate Home Entertainment will release Saw III on January 23rd, 2007.
Available in separate R-rated (108 min) fullscreen and Unrated (113 min) fullscreen and anamorphic widescreen editions, each with Dolby Digital 5.1 & 2.0 tracks, it’s “the sickest, most twisted Saw yet.†Bonus materials will include three commentary tracks (1. Director Darren Lynn Bousman, Writer Leigh Whannell and Executive Producer Peter Block and Jason Constantine; 2. Producers Oren Koules and Mark Burg; 3. Director Darren Lynn Bousman, Editor Kevin Greutert and Director of Photography David A. Armstrong), deleted scenes, “The Traps of Saw III,†“The Details of Death: The Props of Saw III,†“Darren’s Diary: Anatomy of a Director†featurettes and trailers. Retail is $29.95.
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A ’POLTERGEIST’ Remake Is In The Works
Bloody-Disgusting.com reports that word has come down from various confirmed sources that the once titled "Poltergeist: Kayeri" is now being retooled as a remake of the original film. Poltergeist, which is about a family's home being haunted by a host of ghosts, is now looking to attach a director.
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First Image From Dario Argento’s ‘MOTHER OF TEARS’ Revealed!
Fangoria.com now has up the very first photo from the set of Dario Argento’s latest flick Mother of Tears, which is currently shooting in Italy. Check it out!
What do you think of today's news stories? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about these and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
Also, be sure to check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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Monday, November 27, 2006 |
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Horror Brain News -- November 27, 2006
Trailer: ‘THE LODGE’
Twitchfilm.net now has up a link to the downloadable trailer for Brad Helmink and John Rauschelbach's horror flick The Lodge .
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Trailers: Two New Teasers For Zombie Thriller ‘LA HORA FRIA’
If you head on over to the official website for Elio Quiroga's sci-fi horror flick “La Hora Fría†(The Cold Hour), you can check out two new teaser trailers for the upcoming zombie flick.
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Prague, Czech Republic Is The Perfect Perfect Place For 'HOSTEL'
Variety.com reports that Eli Roth, who just wrapped Hostel II’s Prague and Iceland shoots, ventured into more than a new threshold for gore on the project.
The energetic, prankish helmer returned to the Czech Republic for the seven-week production, bringing his Raw Nerve company into partnership again with Prague's Intl. Production Co. because, he says, "They know how to put the money on the screen."
The four-year-old Prague-based venture run by American Dan Frisch and Brit Philip Waley was recommended by "Pink Panther" editor George Folsey, Roth's friend, after its work on the laffer, involving 27,000 extras in the town of Teplice. The recommendation, along with the country's "beautiful rotting buildings," won over Roth for the first "Hostel" shoot.
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Awesome 4-Minute Clip From ‘PAN’S LABYRINTH’ Now Online!
Bloody-Disgusting.com now has up another exclusive clip from Picturehouse's and Guillermo del Toro’s beautiful Pan's Labyrinth, which hits U.S. theaters on December 29th. Check it out!
What do you think of today's news stories? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about these and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
Also, be sure to check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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Friday, November 24, 2006 |
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Horror Brain News -- November 24, 2006
Exclusive Trailer Premiere: 'BLACK CHRISTMAS'
IGN MOVIES - our good buddies - now have up the brand new trailer for the upcoming remake of the horror classic Black Christmas, which hits theaters on Christmas Day.
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Osama Bin Laden Admits He Has An Alcohol Problem In 'POSTAL'
If you head on over to the official website for Uwe Boll's next flick, Postal, you can check out a little promo clip for the film.
*Sniff Sniff* I smell another hit... or maybe it's something that rhymes with "hit". Yeah, let's go with the latter.
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New Behind-the-Scenes Footage From The Set of '30 DAYS OF NIGHT'
Ghosthousepictures.com now has up the latest behind-the-scenes video from David Slade's upcoming vampire flick, 30 Days of Night.
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Trailer: 'ALTERED'
Haxan.com now has up the first trailer for Eduardo Sanchez's ("Blair Witch Project") thriller Altered, which will be hitting DVD on December 19th courtesy of Rogue Home Entertainment.
What do you think of today's news stories? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about these and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
Also, be sure to check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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Wednesday, November 22, 2006 |
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Masters of Horror (2.4) “Sounds Like†- Review
By: Zed Guru
I have to admit, before last week I had never seen Session 9. Sad, I know, but it's the truth. However, I had seen Brad Anderson's incredible The Machinist, so, in anticipation of his Masters of Horror episode, I rented Session 9. And seriously, that is one awesome horror movie that definitely lives up to the hype. With The Machinist (not exactly horror but close) and Session 9, Brad Anderson has established himself as a true artist of suspense. Needless to say, I had high expectations for his first Masters of Horror episode, Sounds Like, which he also wrote.
“Sounds Like†revolves around Larry (played by Chris Bauer - who I've never seen before but apparently does a lot of TV work), who is haunted by something in his past. Much like Session 9 and The Machinist, Anderson leaves the mystery (or twist) unexplained until nearly the very end, but you can be sure it's not going to happy. Unfortunately for Larry, he has a special ability where he is able to hear the minutest sounds all the time. But the intensity of the sounds changes and, eventually, he is constantly assaulted by the tiniest noises. Imagine hearing every tiny click, pop, gurgle, chomp and snap of everyday life intensely amplified in your ears every hour of the day; you'd start to lose it, too.
Perhaps the greatest thing about “Sounds Like†is that you don't have to imagine, Brad Anderson shows you. What Larry hears is translated perfectly for the viewer, which is one of the best uses of sound I've ever seen in the genre. However, it does get to you after a while.
Like Anderson's other works, “Sounds Like†advances slowly but with intensity. You're never quite sure why Larry has this power (one question that's left unanswered, even in the end), but his anguish starts to become yours as you are watching. As I have already mentioned, the intense sounds (intentionally) become overwhelming as you're watching, but it grows irritating and about half way in you're ready to shout out, “I GET IT ALREADY - JUST MAKE IT STOP!†I understand that the maddening sounds are meant to do that to the viewer, but it just didn't work for me all that well.
Acting-wise, no one really stands out. Chris Bauer does an adequate job expressing Larry's depression, anger and insanity, but it's nothing groundbreaking. Also, like Session 9, there is no blood or gore in “Sounds Like†until the very, very end, and even then it's nothing to write home about.
Overall, “Sounds Like†is just a very ho-hum episode. You won't kick yourself for wasting an hour, but you're not going to tell all your friends to see it. I give props to Brad Anderson for not going over-the-top at all with his horror and building intensity and mystery so well. But all in all, this just isn't that great of a story - original, maybe, but compelling and scary, nope.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though. This Friday's episode is Pro-Life, which is by John “Mother-f'ing†Carpenter and costars Ron “Hellboy†Perlman. Let me make sure this hits home real quick: A genuine master of horror who made The Thing, Halloween and the best entry from last season (“Cigarette Burnsâ€) is directing one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood (check out City of Lost Children for proof!) in a Masters of Horror episode. If you don't have Showtime (preferably ShowtimeHD), freaking order it before Friday!
What do you think? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about this and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
For more Masters of Horror, check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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Wednesday, November 22, 2006 |
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Horror Brain News -- November 22, 2006
'THE HILLS HAVE EYES II' Poster and Trailer Release Date Unveiled!
Bloody-Disgusting.com was provided with the first official one sheet for Fox Atomic's The Hills Have Eyes 2, which hits theaters on March 2, 2007. In addition, they've been informed that the trailer will be attached to prints of "Turistas" on December 1st.
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First Details On New 2-Disc 'SILENCE OF THE LAMBS' DVD, Cover Art Revealed!
Fangoria.com reports that they got the exclusive scoop on a new two-DVD Collector’s Edition of The Silence of the Lambs that MGM Home Entertainment will release January 30. The set will include a remastered anamorphic widescreen transfer of Jonathan Demme’s modern horror classic, and the second disc will be cram-packed with extras.
Click on the link above to check out all of the extras that will be featured on the new DVD, as well as the sweet cover art.
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Trailer: 'THE HITCHER' Remake
MSN.com now has up the first trailer for Rogue Pictures' upcoming remake of The Hitcher, which hits theaters on January 19th.
What do you think of today's news stories? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about these and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
Also, be sure to check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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Tuesday, November 21, 2006 |
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SILVER BULLET - Review
By: Joe Click
“I feel like a virgin on prom night.†- Uncle Red
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Director: Daniel Attias
Producer: Dino De Laurentiis
Cast:
Gary Busey - Uncle Red
Corey Haim - Marty Coslaw
Megan Follows - Jane Coslaw
Terry O’Quinn - Sheriff Joe Haller
Everett McGill - Reverend Lowe
Release Date: October 11th, 1985
Running Time: 95 min.
Werewolves, werewolves, werewolves… Oh how we love the dark creatures of the night. They stalk, hunt and pillage through towns, backyards, and city streets in search of food and other essentials for survival. This is what led me to go pick up Sliver Bullet. Not only does it have the always-amusing Gary Busey in it, but it was a Steven King tale and being a fan I decided to take a look and I am glad that I did. So now I will tell you why.
Synopsis: When some of the people in a small town end up murdered, the remaining townsfolk brush it off as merely a “killer on the looseâ€. Even when it’s discovered that the bodies were being found mutilated and torn apart, the only rational explanation to the deaths is a human being. The only one to see it for what it really is (a nasty, man-eating beast preying on the inhabitants of the small town) is a young child about the age of eight or nine.
He tries to convince his closest relatives and peers but just they don’t believe his seemingly crazy idea. Then one night, he stumbles onto a wolf at a park and, luckily for him, manages to escape. However, with the wolf now knowing the boy’s identity, he must fight the beast off as long as he can or become another victim of the night.
Direction: Being that this film is based on a Steven King Novel (King also penned the screenplay, as well), you know that this would be a film to check out. As you know, some other films based on his books are Brian De Palma’s Classic 1976 film Carrie, Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 masterpiece The Shining, and Rob Reiner’s 1990 shocker Misery. Also, other films of note are ones based on his non-horror efforts like 1994’s The Shawshank Redemption and 1986’s Stand by Me. If you think any of these films are good then you and I share a common interest because I think they are all great and with Silver Bullet, there’s no exception.
The film begins with a supporting character giving narration, which is weird for two reasons. One is because it’s a supporting character. They start off making you think that the narrator is the main person of interest but this is proven to be false pretty quickly. The other reason why it’s weird is because the narration is only at the beginning and then only once again later when said supporting character becomes a little more important to the story and has the ability to change the plot. I guess this is what director Dan Attias wanted.
It’s also apparent that he [Attias] has a taste for black comedy. Throughout the film, when the wolf is shown in full, things often happen that are on the humorous side. It’s not done in a way that hinders the effectiveness of the film, but they are funny moments, nonetheless. For example, there is an instance where the townspeople go out and look for what they believe is a “murdererâ€. When they arrive at the location were most of the recent violence is said to have taken place, they soon realize that it’s not a man at all and are soon attacked by the wolf. The comedy comes in to play when the werewolf takes the bat from one of the men and beasts him to death with it. Come on! You know that it’s funny and has some extreme karma.
Another thing to discuss about the film is its focus on the relationship between the main character Marty and his uncle. Even though the character of Uncle Red is an alcoholic and seems too irresponsible to most people, he has a profound love for his nephew. Since Marty is paralyzed from the waist down and is confined to a wheelchair, his uncle builds him a special wheel chair that is extra fast. The special part of this is how Uncle Red treats his nephew, as if they were the same age. This is even on top of the fact that he doesn’t sympathize with Marty’s weakness. It’s for these reasons that I enjoyed the Uncle Red character the most in the film.
But don’t get me wrong; the film does have its share of scares. It’s different in its approach to the scares, though. Unlike a lot Werewolf films, the main character is not dealing with transformation. It’s a different character that is shown; a character that is not a threat, and then slowly changes to mean spirited, even though he has really had the wolf in him throughout the whole film. I thought this was somewhat unique.
I did think that the film had a drawback or two. One such drawback is that after the film spends a lot of time putting emphasis on the end; where they are supposed to battle the werewolf. I won’t go into what happens because I don’t want to ruin it but it seems to fall flat. In the end, you can still have fun with a film like Silver Bullet.
Acting: The acting in Silver Bullet is typical to that of a lot of 80’s films. It’s nothing that would be award worthy, but it’s not bad at all. I thought that all the people in the film played their respective parts well. Yet, I didn’t really like Everett McGill, who plays Reverend Lowe. I mean I am not sure because his acting wasn’t that bad but I didn’t like the way he played the evil/corrupt role. This is weird because I really liked him in Wes Craven’s The People Under the Stairs.
Someone I really liked, however, was Gary Busey - as I have already stated. He is always funny and he brought that great kind of energy into the movie. Whenever he was on screen, everyone else seemed to do better in their role. Another person to note is Cory Haim, who is the film’s lead. He is very likeable and we are rooting for him the whole way. This was before he was in The Lost Boys and Dream a Little Dream. There’s not much you could say about the acting in Silver Bullet other than it’s entertaining.
Gore and More: The gore in the film is good, but at the same time, it doesn’t really have to fall back on it to make it effective. There is a decapitation that I thought was cool and the prop head looked very real, unlike the Friday the 13th series, which I think has some of the worst fake heads ever. The werewolf creature, itself, looks great as well. The worst thing you can do to a werewolf flick to ultimately ruin it is have the creature look bad; cheesy. Luckily, Silver Bullet does not disappoint.
DVD Extras: This barebones DVD features no extras at all.
Conclusion: If you enjoy fun horror flicks, then check out Silver Bullet. It’s not a film that will stay with you for weeks or even months, but you should be satisfied until the next full moon.
What do you think? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about this and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
For more movie reviews, check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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Tuesday, November 21, 2006 |
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Horror Brain News -- November 21, 2006
Trailer: 'RAZOR'
Twitchfilm.net now has up the trailer for James P. Lay's thriller Razor, which stars Tanya Dempsey, John Fremont, C. Thomas Howell and the great Sid Haig.
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New Behind-The-Scenes Stills From 'HOSTEL: PART II' Revealed
If you head on over to the official Myspace page for Eli Roth's forthcoming "Hostel: Part II", you can check out some brand new behind-the-scenes photos.
"Hostel: Part II" will be hitting theaters on April 5th.
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'PAN'S LABYRINTH' Clip Will Lick You Good
Bloody-Disgusting.com been supplied with an exclusive clip from Picturehouse's Pan's Labyrinth, which hits US theaters on December 29th. Check it out!
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A Second 'CONSTANTINE' Is In The Works
Ropeofsilicon.com reports that producer Lauren Shuler Donner let the cat out of the bag this weekend during the "Unaccompanied Minors" press junket as she let the website know that a Constantine 2 is planned and is currently out to a director.
"We are really going to go for it, it will be a hard 'R' and Keanu [Reeves] will be in it," she said. "The area that we found is great, it will be outside of America. It will be a different director but Francis [Lawrence] will produce it, we will maintain his vision."
What do you think of today's news stories? Reply to this post and leave us your comments or visit the Horror Brainboard and talk with other horror fans about these and other topics. Let your voice be heard!
Also, be sure to check out the newly updated H.B.I. (Horror Brain Index).
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