Listener Sam Reviews: A Color Our of Space

Richard Stanley has a reputation for being somewhat of a maniac. After masterfully directing Hardware and Dust Devil in the early nineties, he was famously fired from the production of The Island of Dr. Moreau. He also famously haunted the set in a dog mask, spying on his own lost production. 

It seems fitting that Stanley’s comeback would come in the form of an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s The Color Out of Space. His early career began and ended with all the splendor of a comet whizzing past, majestic and bright, before crashing spectacularly into a New England farm.

That’s more or less how Stanley’s adaptation of Lovecraft’s novella begins, and somehow it only gets crazier from there. If you’ve read the story, you’ll know what happens, and if you haven’t I suggest you read it. Like much of Lovecraft’s writing, it’s in the public domain and available through the H.P. Lovecraft Archive. 

The story, in essence, is about an infectious color that haunts a New England farm. Despite a change of time period, I think it’s fair to say that Stanley’s adaptation is fairly faithful. It’s not a beat-for-beat recreation of the story, but it is about a farm in New England that’s devastated by an alien color.

To this end, I think it’s fair to say that Lovecraft works best as an idea man. Sure, he has some genuinely good stories, but his stilted prose, hollow characters, and his occasional bouts of extreme racism and xenophobia make direct adaptations difficult. Many of the great Lovecraft adaptations take only the base elements and turn the story into something entirely their own. (From Beyond, Re-Animator, Castle Freak, Dagon, and Shatterbrain all come to mind)

That’s exactly what Stanley does, as he shows a family’s descent into technicolor madness. Nicolas Cage (Mandy, Mom and Dad) stars as Nathan Gardner, the father of a family farm who has moved to a secluded New England farm to raise Alpacas (a delightfully weird choice for a delightfully weird movie). Cage gives another solid horror performance. He manages to play it impressively straight for the beginning of the film and goes completely mad at the end. It’s what we’ve come to expect from Cage, but that makes it no less fun.

The rest of his family is comprised of an amusing cast of characters, but his daughter Lavinia (Madeleine Arthur of Big Eyes) who begins the film hanging out in a velvet cape with a white horse doing magic. This choice initially seems bizarre until you realize that this movie is gunning for high strangeness, which it nails at every turn. 

His youngest son Jack, played by Julian Hilliard of The Haunting of Hill House, is portrayed mostly as a scared, innocent child, but Hilliard nails it. It’s rare to see such a convincing performance from such a young actor, and between this and Hill House, his career is off to an amazing start. 

As an aside, I caught this at Beyond Fest, with a Q&A that included Richard Stanley, Julian Hilliard, and a good chunk of the film's cast, excluding Cage. Hilliard absolutely stole the show. From his Nicolas Cage-themed Spider-Man Noir t-shirt, regaling the crowd with personal anecdotes and stories of Cage’s antics on set, and even interrupting Stanley to tell the audience a joke. It was legitimately one of the most entertaining Q&As I’ve ever been to, and Hilliard was largely to thank.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention Tommy Chong, who plays the farm’s resident squatter. He lives in an airstream with his pet cat, worships nature, records the sounds from underground, and acts like you’d expect a dirty hippy to act. It’s great.

The film balances horror and humor expertly. It blends written gags and laugh-out-loud Cage-isms with tense horror sequences, a few solid jump scares, and some legitimately harrowing scenes of gruesome body horror. 

While the film relies heavily on CGI, it never bothered me. At best it’s convincing and simply looks good, and at worst the CG creations fall far enough into the uncanny valley to fit with the film’s surreal sensibilities. Where the effects really shine is the color. This isn’t the first adaptation of this story, but it’s by far the most colorful, with a palette that feels like Annihilation on mescaline. 

Other adaptations cheap out on the concept of an alien color by presenting the film in black and white. Stanley instead chooses to bludgeon your eyeballs with a magenta sledgehammer, using the somewhat unusual color to depict a mix of infrared and ultraviolet. It looks stunning, and while some viewers might find certain sequences cheesy, I loved it.

Last but not least, the film is graced with a score by the fabulous bass saxophonist Colin Stetson, who’s in high demand after his killer score for Hereditary. Unlike Hereditary, Stetson’s score for Color Out of Space is bigger and more driven by a strange mix of orchestral and electronica sensibilities that seems strange at first but fits perfectly with the film’s aesthetic.

Maybe I’m biased. I love Nick Cage. Mandy was quite possibly my favorite film of last year, and I loved Mom and Dad. I believe that Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is a masterpiece. I could watch The Wicker Man any day. By and large, I haven’t seen a Cage flick I haven’t liked. 

I’m also Lovecraft obsessive. I’ve read nearly all his stories, I love all of Stuart Gordon’s adaptations, and just about every other adaptation too. Even the bad ones. And sometimes especially the bad ones. I love cosmic horror, and it’s a joy when something good comes along.

Color Out of Space has already been picked up by RLJE Films, and will be getting a wide release this week. If you get a chance to see this one theatrically, jump on it. The gorgeous kaleidoscopic effects lend themselves beautifully to the big screen.

-Listener Sam

Digging Up The Dirt with KillDozer and A&P Productions, Slashorette Party

As a genre fan, one must give full credit when talented people create on screen magic with minimal resources. A&P Productions has been a buzz in the horror community since their Cinco De Mayo release. They have been giving audiences amazing examples of what can be accomplished with  passion, dedication, talent, and a shoe string budget. Their last film Streets of Vengeance left the horror community wanting more and A&P are ready to deliver with their newest labor of love Slashlorette Party. I had to dig up the dirt on how this bloody dream was going to become a reality. 

KIllDozer: I can't get over how excited I am for your new film but as a nerd I must ask, what came first the title or the concept for Slashorette Party?

Paul: Thanks! The concept came first and the title came shortly after during a car ride. Angie and I we were going through as many crazy title names as we could. I had originally titled it “The Bride Wore Red” but that seemed more like a Italian giallo movie. We wanted something more ridiculous!

Angie: Ridiculous is the perfect word! I don’t know how many times I rolled my eyes at the various options Paul rattled off. But Slashlorette Party made me laugh because it sounded like a actual crazy 80's horror movie.

KD: I love the way you bring your fan base in on each step of the casting process. What inspires you to bring everyone along with you on the film making process?

Angie: Filmmaking is both difficult and easy at the same time. I get asked all the time how we can make movie as regular people with full time jobs. Explaining it isn’t enough, I like to show people the process so they can see it’s possible for them to do it too.

Paul: Angie has really pushed this transperancy approach. I’m not really good at it, sometimes I forget to document all things we do! But it turns out it’s really helpful for others to see the steps we take to get a film made.

KD: What has the crowdfunding experience been like? Where can we go to support Slashorette Party?

Paul: The crowdfunding campaign for Slashlorette Party has been very successful! We have raised more money for this project than we did for Streets of Vengeance! Here’s the link to our indiegogo campaign! http://igg.me/at/slashparty

Angie: I put a lot of thought into the perks, I really wanted to give as much as possible to show my appreciation for everyone’s support. So I went into this pretty optimistic but I’m still shocked by well it went!

KD: Why a slasher film? What do you think brings people back to slashers after all these years? 

Angie: I truly have no idea! I wasn’t allowed to watch horror movies growing up so I don’t have an emotional or a nostalgic connection to them but they seem to make people happy! I do know that people have so much fun not only watching them, but also making them! When we first announced we were making a slasher movie we had so many people show support and excitement without even knowing the story first!

Paul: The imagery of a “slasher movie” is so strong that everyone immediately knows what you are talking about when you mention the genre. The genre just causes people to get excited! I grew up watching slashers and they had a huge impact on me. I always wanted to make one. In 2010, we made our first feature film, Cinco De Mayo, which is a holiday slasher film. But it was more of a revenge movie, similar to how Streets of Vengeance is a female revenge thriller. This time I wanted to make a true slasher, but of course in our own way. 

KD: Your other films have had a decent amount of social commentary. Can we expect the same from Slashorette Party? Do you think it's important to balance the  fun with a solid message?

Angie: Yes and yes! At this point I feel like that’s become our signature: genre movies with a underlying message. 

Paul: It’s very important to us that we have something to say with each film. For this one, the subtext is much more nuanced than the previous films, but it’s there. We talk to the lead actress, Molly Souza, about the subtext quite often, which I really enjoy.

KD: Are any of the characters in the film based on real people in your lives? Or are they based on slasher tropes? What is the hardest part when writing these characters?

Angie: Some characters are based on real people we know. That’s why our characters seem realistic and relatable to some people. Others exist purely for the kills! Haha

Paul: Yeah it’s definitely a mixture of real people and character archetypes. The hardest part about writing characters is finding their own unique sense of humor, finding their voice. So if you base characters off of real people you can tune into that voice much easier.

KD: Do you create the kills for your films during the script writing process? What can the audience expect in terms of gore with Slashorette Party?

Paul: Sometimes I write a detailed kill with camera moves and editing notes and then sometimes I just write something like “everyone in the room gets hacked up.” Which can be scary to read if you are the special effects person. But later on I’ll go in and work it out in full detail.

Angie: This is going to be our bloodiest and goriest film yet! Which is why we’ve teamed up with the Sacramento Film Armory for this one. We can’t call it Slashlorette without having a lot slashing going on!

KD: Can you tell us about the exciting premiere screening?! How can we can attend? 

Angie: The State Theater in Modesto CA has generously offered to host the premiere. We’ve always wanted to have a premiere there since it’s such a beautiful theater and in our home town. Most of the cast is local so it will be easier for their friends and family to attend. We are excited about being able to share this experience with our own community! 

Paul: The State Theater has thing called the Late Night Horror Series where they show a classic horror movie each month and our film is going to part of it! Once the film has been complete, we will set it up with the theater and post the premiere date all over the internet!

KD: When do you hope to complete the film? Will it go onto the film fest circuit once complete? Will you be touring with it?

Angie: We will most likely screen the film at a few different locations but we’re not really interested in the Film Festival route for this one. We prefer to focus on official distribution so people can rent and/or own it sooner than later.

Paul: I’ve haven’t had too much luck with film festivals in the past haha. I think we are just going to bypass all that and hold our own screenings around California! But if someone wants to have a screening in a different state we would love make it happen! The film should be complete early 2020!

KD: What can we expect in term of the sound track?

Paul: We will be working again with the amazing Vestron Vulture who composed the 80's synth soundtrack to our last film, Streets of Vengeance. We love working with him; even though we live in different countries we have a deep connection. We are also working with The Grind Theory, out of NYC, on a few tracks! He produced a track for us on SOV as well. We are excited to work with him again!

KD: What roles are both of you playing in this production? (Is it everything? ha ha)

Angie: Technically we both do everything but we do have our individual strengths. Paul is always more of the writer/director and I’m more of the producer. I focus most of my attention on the logistics (renting locations, selecting wardrobe, on set photography, scheduling, keeping track of finances etc.). Basically Paul creates a world with characters and I help him bring it to life. We both dream up a vision and style together and then tackle it together using our individual strengths.

Paul: I will be mainly directing, although sometimes I record the audio too! But our films are really made by both Angie and I, we make all the decisions together. That’s the secret behind our success. 

KD: Okay, now for some quick fun questions! What actresses would you invite to an actual Bachelorette party and what would the theme be?

Paul: I don’t know much about bachlorette parties but if I was gonna throw one I’d invite Ginger Lynn Allen, Linnea Quigley, and Felissa Rose! The theme would be murder, mayhem, the usual stuff. 

KD: I took my mom to a screening of Streets of Vengence, should I take her to see Slashorette Party as well? (Be honest ) 🙂

Angie: Slashlorette will probably be easier for a mom to get through considering it’s not about sex workers. Haha! For some reason people get uncomfortable with anything sexual but are completely okay with brutal murders, so she should be fine. 

Paul: If she was able to make it though SOV and all the blood and boobs, she can definitely make it through Slashlorette Party!

KD: What is your favorite slasher kill of all time?!?!

Paul: I would have to say Angie Dickinson Dressed to Kill or the guy in the wheelchair that gets the machete in the face and falls down the stairs in Friday the 13th part 2.

Angie: When the clown falls in the dunk tank and gets his arm bitten off by the cute little ghoulie in Ghoulies 2! I love when he pops out of the water and smiles!

(PS I’m still looking for an answer on why the ghoulie was wearing a shirt and suspenders on the cover of the vhs but it never shows up in actual film! If you figure it out please let me know!)

~💀~

Keep up with Slashorette Party updates by liking them on Facebook!

And get updates on all things A&P Productions by liking their page here!

-KillDozer

The Overlook Theatre Reviews: Underwater

A crew of aquatic researchers work to get to safety after an earthquake devastates their subterranean laboratory. But the crew has more than the ocean seabed to fear.

8 of 9 viewers "Liked" "Underwater" (2020, USA)

Creature reviews have been minimally altered in an attempt to maintain their voice:

Listener Sam - "Underwater is aggressively unlike the vast majority of blockbusters being released nowadays. The movie has a laser focus. From minute three onward the driving force is "get from point A to point B," and for a $60M+ movie, it sticks to this extremely tightly. The tension is relentless. The claustrophobia and crushing weight of the 7 miles of water is palpable. Reprieve only occurs as characters descend elevators or ride brutally slow trams, and we get short, human moments that drive narrow character arcs that are driven by primal motivation. The deaths are visceral and there's a lot of implied gore for a PG13 movie (including an incredible explosive depressurization.) It also has some of the coolest creature designs I've seen in years. It's got shades of Deep Rising, Leviathan, and Deepstar Six, and Lovecraft's Shadow Over Innsmouth, while creating something uniquely its own. If you like aquatic horror and lean late-eighties creature features, you'll probably love this. You're not going to get a traditional studio blockbuster, but you'll get a nostalgic throwback with constant tension, interesting characters, and badass killer mermaids." - 4.5 Stars

Clark Little - "We occupy a cinematic landscape that is littered with cookie-cutter remakes and plain-jane blockbusters for the masses. It is refreshing to come across a larger budget monster flick that isn't borrowed from a previous property- a new idea. However, Underwater doesn't do enough to separate itself from the droning, derivative dirge that is January releases. The production design and CG work were worth the price of admission. The creatures were great and I wish there was more, especially from our headliner. Corners were not cut on the production and that was very refreshing. Unfortunately, one has to account for the story, characters, and the crow-barred geo-political ending. For the majority of this 95 minute run time, I was disengaged and was apathetic towards the telegraphed ending that canonized our heroine protagonist. If you're going to be bleak, I'd rather you be bleak in the story, rather than putting it on the shoulders of the voting public who want and need escapism and not another reminder that the world is a toilet that is on fire. In addition, the characters were uninteresting and devoid of charm or charisma. Shooting on and in water is an incredibly difficult and expensive task and I'm sad to say that this film will stay on the ocean floor of my memory." - 2.5 Stars

Grey Ranger - "It's a programmer: it does what it says it'll do, nothing more...yet nothing less. It's not going to reinvent genre cinema, but if Kirsten Stewart vs. deep sea horror is your idea of a good time, then that is what you get. Stewart reliably leads a cast who all convey the cabin fever that comes with too much time spent miles below sea level. You get more-than-decent set and costume design, a fine and brooding score by Marco Beltrami and Brandon Roberts, and the thing's even generous enough to give you a couple of good long looks at the creatures. All of which is not bad for a January release of a movie that's been on the shelf since 2017." - 3 Stars

The Impostor - "This is one of the better January horror releases. Underwater takes no time getting straight to the horror and suspense and keeps you engaged 'till the very end. I felt claustrophobic from a few scenes and the underwater creatures looked cool. Underwater is fast paced yet still gives us insight into the characters which isn't easy to do. Lately, horror has been supernatural and remakes/reboots so it's definitely refreshing to see this creature feature survival horror released. While it doesn't bring anything new to the table, it's definitely entertaining and made me jump quite a bit. Overall solid film and I'm impressed with how much I enjoyed it." - 3.5 Stars

KillDozer - "Remember when genre fans proudly supported horror films? When we as a community wore our love of horror like a badge of honor and had no fear of pretentious film critics trashing our community or belittling us for loving the genre? The time has come to once again have fun and embrace our inner monster kids. Underwater is a beautifully written, acted, shot, and produced... Horror Film!! A solid reminder of how to take you to familiar places and still give you an experience that leaves you wanting more. It's okay to fall for a jump scare, to laugh at the comic relief, or even hope the hero survives. Yes, this is not A24 and that's a good thing! We are a diverse group who wants to be entertained! Underwater is fun and exciting. I can honestly say it has something for everyone. In a better world, this film would get as much attention as Us but this isn't a better world so I won't hold my breath and wait for the "millennial horror fans" to catch up to the fact that it's okay to like monster movies!" - 4 Stars (Collection worthy)

Drumachine - "Underwater does an excellent job of reinforcing my fears of the deep ocean. The set design and score were exceptionally thoughtful, and I appreciated the nods to its inspirations. I do wish there was a bit more to the characters." - 3.5 Stars

Lord Battle - "Fuck, Underwater is good. K Stew staring in a sci-fi horror set in a deep sea water base couldn't sound less deprived of creativity, but it DELIVERS. Underwater starts with a voice over that might make you think this is going to be a deliberately paced existential horror that's stepping waaay outside of its capabilities, yet it's a film that's 100% aware that it's playing in a sandbox built by Ridely Scott and Walter Hill. Remember how Rear Window started its storytelling with framed photos? Now imagine a fast-paced action film where everything we learned about the characters happened in quick visuals like that Rear Window opening. It's brilliant! So make sure you go see that beautiful flat chested, elf-like creature K-Stew and support this dumped block buster and all its Old Ones/Neil Marshall glory!" - 4.5 Stars

Wondering Panda - "I tell you what, I like this film a lot. It's dark, cold, claustrophobic. It builds tension and has an amazing reveal. I had very low expectations for Underwater and that worked in the film's favor. I'm amazed by its ambiance and its feeling of hopelessness. The film did a great job with the material it had. And I enjoyed myself." - 4 Stars

Huntress - "Sure, I noticed some similarities between Underwater and Alien, even in the trailer, but if anything that made me want to see the movie even more. It's clearly not a remake of any kind, but it has some familiar elements scattered throughout. The tension is suffocating. Set entirely seven miles under sea level, the exterior shots are both beautiful and terrifying, especially when the survivors are being pursued by something they can't identify. This was another case of me liking all the characters so much I was really bummed when anyone died, but then their deaths looked so good it was hard not to gasp. The creature designs were amazing and daring. And then there's the ending... I don't know why anyone would agree to to into the ocean again." - 4.5 Stars

The Overlook Theatre Final Rating*

(Below is for after you've seen the film)

The following is a series of texts sent after Listener Sam saw the Alamo New Mission's early screening of Underwater. The following has been edited in no way.

-Lord Battle

The Overlook Theatre materialized in a Century Theater for a screening on 1/9/2019
*Based on the star ratings turned in by character reviewers, others viewed and got to "Dislike" or "Like" but that does not affect the rating.

The Overlook Theatre Reviews: The Grudge, Nicolas Pesce

A house is cursed by a vengeful ghost that dooms those who enter it with a violent death.

2 of 5 viewers "Liked" "The Grudge" (2020, USA)

Creature reviews have been minimally altered in an attempt to maintain their voice:

Huntress - "When we enter the world of The Grudge, it feels familiar. We meet our cast in their most withered, helpless, or raving moments, but we won’t find out how they got there until several storylines and time shifts later. We’re given the year of each major event in the overall story, but what we actually watch feels like it’s set four decades before the given year. (The Grudge house also appears to be in Haddonfield, but that’s a different story.) The movie feels familiar not because it’s a remake, but because it’s a Nicolas Pesce movie. It was subtly time lost, and we got to know our characters’ stories out of order, two elements that The Eyes of My Mother and Piercing both had, although executed very differently. The children in this movie were unfortunately mechanical, but the sheer insanity that Lin Shaye brought to the screen made up for them. And the gore was great with the exception of one questionable nosebleed. There were some anti-climatic moments and it felt like one of the characters had seen the original movie with how quickly he pieced everything together, but overall The Grudge is one of the better January releases as far as I’m concerned. It was indiscriminately violent and realistically shocking. It gave me a lot to think about, which I can’t say about many movies. Of course it would have been better if it was its own thing, especially since most ties to The Grudge felt a little forced, but the worst part of seeing this was the rest of the audience." - 3.5 Stars

The Impostor - "Sadly, The Grudge (2020) didn't start off the year on a high note. With its R rating and director attached whose films I enjoyed, I was excited and all in. While the film's cinematography and acting were great, the overall film kind of bored me. The ghosts weren't as scary as I remember Kyoko being in the original 2004 The Grudge, but the movie had a few effective jump-scares. I would have hella liked to see Kyoko and Toshio in an R rated setting, but instead we got a watered down American family that weren't as effective with the scares for me. I also thought The Grudge (2020) was a remake of the 2004 version but it's actually The Grudge 4, taking place during the same time of the events of The Grudge (2004). I will say the posters and fan art for The Grudge are great. Lots of the promo art and teasers feature the creepy hair that barely makes the final cut of the movie. Overall a weak start to the year for horror but hopefully the planned sequels for this pan out and are a bit more exciting." - 2.5 Stars

Wondering Panda - "Horror movies in January. Aww boy. So The Grudge (2020) is a very stripped down, boring take of the franchise. I had low expectations coming in, but wow that was bad. The film pays homage to the original Ju-On by showing the original house in one quick scene outside and that's it!! One shining light is Lin Shaye, who genuinely looks like she's having fun in her role. All in all if you guys want to watch this film be our guest, but we bit the bullet so you won't have to."  - 2 stars

Lord Battle - "2020 kicks off with Nicolas Pesce's The Grudge, easily the most interesting horror project slated as an outta the gates dump in the past decade. Unfortunately, it's exactly what I feared, an extremely stylish indie horror director trying to find his voice in a heavily produced franchise reboot. If we take a look at The Grudge using the auteur theory, Pesce's voice is present only in the form of a slow uncertain build that added so much to the climax of The Eyes of My Mother and swelled the mystery of Piercing, only hinders this film and its unnecessary non-liniar narrative. To be frank, the film's only bad because it's boring. The Grudge is so boring that it manages to allow Lin Shaye's bonkers performance to get lost! Seriously, if you need a reason to see Nicolas Pesce's The Grudge, just know that Lin Shaye cuts off her own fingers, jumps from a Vertigo-esk stairwell, and delivers a stellar performance while doing it. Harold (-Kumar) is also there and he's contemplating abortion (which is important for some reason?). Oh, and CGI fire! Why the CGI fire?! - 2.5 Stars

Math Mage - *Message received a day late, sent via cellphone* - "I liked it. Had good pacing and atmosphere, the jump-scares and gore actually made it less scary. Particularly the terrible CG blood, and I question the decision to computer generate an unconvincing dummy of Lin Shaye. It seems like the film might have benefited from a lower budget, so that there would be more incentive to be creative. Particularly around the imagery that wasn't lifted wholly from the original films. Additional note: the ending theme apparently doesn't exist. It's a terrible song that starts with: "I'm watching the static on the TV and my eyes are bleeding!". So I Shazamed it and got nothing, googling the full title also did nothing." - 3.5 Stars

The Overlook Theatre Final Rating*

(Below is for after you've seen the film)

Packed! The damn theatre was packed! Well... it was at least 88% full, which is insane for a 7PM Thursday night horror movie. At first, we thought this was a Winter Break thing, but Nicolas Pesce's The Grudge is rated R and there were practically no teenagers to be seen. Honestly, it looked more like a date night convention, with many a couple to be seen (I know because we sat up front and I turned around 👀😁). This unusual crowd really made me happy. Digesting films in a large group is a fading part of the experience especially when it happens to be a reboot of a cultural remake/sequel (we attended a Ju-On screening a couple years ago at the Little Roxie where the director mentioned that the Sarah Michelle Gellar entry was actually cannon).

Then the downsides of a packed theatre started to rear their ugly heads. We had to sit in the third row from the screen, which honestly doesn't bother me as I like to sit up front, but I understand is a deal breaker for many. The Impostor sat next to a dude whose girlfriend was 100% in the film, while he checked his phone every 5 minutes. And I had the pleasure of waiting for the family of 6+ to take their seats at the 40 minute mark, as they arrived late and preceded to chat throughout the whole film... I should add that the couple of jump-scares that worked in the film killed with all of these casual lame-o's and nothing beats a row of people jumping/screaming.

-Lord Battle

The Overlook Theatre materialized in a Century Theater for a screening on 1/2/2019

*Based on the star ratings turned in by character reviewers, others viewed and got to "Dislike" or "Like" but that does not affect the rating.

The Impostor's Top 2019 Bluray Tuesday Releases

December 31st 2019

2019 is coming to an end and the last Bluray Tuesday is upon us. Today no new releases arrive today so I decided to feature a few of my personal favorite blurays released in 2019. These are in no particular order but I consider collection worthy and have re watchable value. It's been a great year for film and Bluray alike and there are many more that are just as great that are not listed. I'm very thankful to all who check these out over the past few years and I enjoy talking about the releases on Instagram and social media with you guys. Here's to another great year in 2020! What are some of your favorite releases this year let us know in the comments. Until next year!

 

Hell Fest (4K): Amazon - $19.99 

A masked serial killer turns a horror themed amusement park into his own personal playground, terrorizing a group of friends while the rest of the patrons believe that it is all part of the show.

Hell Fest hit theaters in 2018 and was out week one of 2019 on Bluray. Slashers are my number one in the horror genre and it was great to see slashers make a comeback to the big screen. Hell Fest has just enough mystery, story and cool kills to keep you engaged, so this was an easy pick for me.

~💀~

 

Halloween (2018) (4K): Amazon - $12.99

A woman faces the masked figure who has haunted her since she escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.

Halloween 2018 was announced and I was genuinely excited and counted the days to see this in theaters. I wanted to see how Blumhouse re wrote history with this sequel taking place after John Carpenter's Halloween (1978). While my excitement took over but once I saw in theaters I was left wanting something more. I re watched on Bluray, released mid January, and thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to Halloween Kills October 2020.

~💀~

 

Valentine: Amazon - $26.99

Four best friends are looking for a Valentine to die for. And this year, they might just get their wish.

For years, fans of this cult post-Scream slasher have been looking forward to an upgraded Bluray edition to add to their collections. Thanks to the awesome Scream Factory, our dreams came true! It's loaded with bonus material, a great new scan and cool artwork with a reversible cover. I watch this film every year for Valentine's Day, so glad to own this edition for the yearly holiday watch.

~💀~

 

The Little Mermaid (4K): Amazon - $18.99

Ariel, a fun-loving and mischievous mermaid, is off on the adventure of a lifetime with her best friend, the adorable Flounder, and the reggae-singing Caribbean crab Sebastian at her side. But it will take all of her courage and determination to make her dreams come true—and save her father's beloved kingdom from the sneaky sea witch Ursula!

Now I'm a huge horror film fan number one but I also love Disney, and 2019 celebrates the 30th anniversary of one of my favorites, The Little Mermaid. This edition was released with some new material, new 4K scan that looks amazing and a few retailer exclusives when it hit shelves late February. This Disney film features my favorite Disney villain, Ursula, and favorite sidekick, Flounder. It is one collector's edition releases worth owning. 

~💀~

Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse (4K): Amazon - $19.99

Miles Morales takes up the Spider-Man mantle in order to help several other Spider-Men from other dimensions stop the Kingpin from destroying the universe with a super collider.

Arguably one of the best Spider-Man movies to date and is one I've watched a few times since I bought it. I sadly missed this in theaters and will definitely catch its sequel in theaters when it comes out. This animated feature is full of action has a great story and is even pretty funny. I highly recommend this film and Bluray.

~💀~

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald: Amazon - $19.00

In an effort to thwart Grindelwald's plans of raising pure-blood wizards to rule over all non-magical beings, Albus Dumbledore enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

I loved this first Fantastic Beasts film and couldn't wait for its sequel. This 4K Bluray looks stunning and is a solid sequel to its predecessor. The Harry Potter series is a favorite of mine and this is a great addition to the collection especially if you love the wizarding world of Harry Potter.

~💀~

 

Aquaman: Amazon - $16.99

Arthur Curry learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, and must step forward to lead his people and to be a hero to the world.

DC Comics live action films have had a rough road with a string of not so great films. Wonder Woman was the light at the end of the tunnel and showed a glimmer of hope for WB. So going into Aquaman I was super hesitant but I was surprised how much I enjoyed this film. The casting was perfect and I liked the action, fight scenes and story overall. I'd love to see a sequel to this one with the hopes that DC can keep up this momentum.

~💀~

 

Climax: Amazon - $22.99

In the mid 90’s, 20 urban dancers join together for a three-day rehearsal in a closed-down boarding school located at the heart of a forest to share one last dance. They then make one last party around a large sangria bowl. Quickly, the atmosphere becomes charged and a strange madness will seize them the whole night. If it seems obvious to them that they have been drugged, they neither know by who nor why. And it’s soon impossible for them to resist to their neurosises and psychoses, numbed by the hypnotic and the increasing electric rhythm of the music. While some feel in paradise, most of them plunge into hell.

I went into Gasper Noe's Climax blind and was shocked as to what I was watching. The movie takes a few turns and doesn't let up. One of my favorite films of 2019 for sure. Very intense, fluid, and it's definitely a trip worth taking.

~💀~

 

Shredder: Amazon - $25.99

Horror hits the slopes in this sexy slasher film about a gang of snowboarders on a one-way chair lift to terror! Featuring hot young stars, killer suspense and snowboarding sequences to die for, Shredder is an ice-cold, rip-roaring scare-fest that takes terror to a whole new altitude! When seven hot-blooded coeds break into an abandoned ski lodge, the stage is set for a wild weekend of hot partying and heavy powder. But when the bodies start turning up, they begin to suspect they're not alone. Stalked by a psychotic skier, the gang soon discovers that on the slopes...no one can hear you scream!

Shredder is one of those cheap blind buys you find in the $1.99 bin of DVD's. One night watching this with friends and some drinks expecting the worst, it caught us all by surprise as to how fun this film is! And this year we are gifted this awesome Bluray release from Scorpion Releasing with a cool slip cover with art from Cavity Colors main artist Devon. This is a must own for horror and film fans alike and has great replay value.

~💀~

Leprechaun Returns: Amazon - $5.99

Twenty-five years ago, a young woman and her friends stopped an evil Leprechaun by shoving a four-leaf clover in its mouth and watching its melting body fall into a well in North Dakota. What happened to his pot of gold is anyone's guess. Today, the property is run by the AU Sorority House of a premiere Eco-science college. A group of students decide to spend their summer vacation turning the house into a perfect "green" living abode. And it would be challenging enough, without the depraved Leprechaun they unwittingly revive. 

Set after the events of the original Leprechaun, Leprechaun Returns was announced for the SyFy Channel. After Leprechaun Origins, I had no faith in another film in this franchise especially without Warwick Davis attached. But I'd highly recommend this film, it's everything you would want from it and has a few surprises I didn't see coming. Definitely a solid sequel with its new actor doing an awesome job as Leprechaun. I'm all in for a sequel to this. 

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Shazam! (4K): Amazon - $19.99

We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson's case, by shouting out one word - SHAZAM! - this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam.

Referring to Aquaman earlier and hoping DC Comics films can keep up their momentum, and now they have three in a row. Wonder Woman, Aquaman and now Shazam!! Out of all of these Shazam! is one I knew the least about and went into it blind but I loved every moment of this film. I feel this one is super underrated and deserves a watch its full of heart, action and laughs. 

~💀~

 

Alita: Battle Angel: Amazon - $28.99

Set several centuries in the future, the abandoned Alita is found in the scrapyard of Iron City by Ido, a compassionate cyber-doctor who takes the unconscious cyborg Alita to his clinic. When Alita awakens, she has no memory of who she is, nor does she have any recognition of the world she finds herself in. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield her from her mysterious past.

Talking about underrated films of the year, this also applies to Alita. I'd never seen the anime this film is based on but as a summer popcorn flick this has everything you would want. I'd love to see a sequel to this but I guess time will tell if we see it.

~💀~

 

Avengers Endgame (4K): Amazon - $26.99

Adrift in space with no food or water, Tony Stark sends a message to Pepper Potts as his oxygen supply starts to dwindle. Meanwhile, the remaining Avengers -- Thor, Black Widow, Captain America and Bruce Banner -- must figure out a way to bring back their vanquished allies for an epic showdown with Thanos -- the evil demigod who decimated the planet and the universe.

10 years of story and films all comes down to this. Avengers Endgame is a satisfying end to the core 6 Avengers stories that have been told over 22 films. And while not a perfect film, it's definitely impactful. Must watch and is for sure cinematic history.

~💀~

 

Brightburn: Amazon - $18.99

What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister?

Evil kids were definitely a trend this past year with The Prodigy, Netflix's Eli and Brightburn, which may be the most intense and evil. I loved this film and the aspect of what if "superman" was evil and not chose to do right and abide by society's rules. Must watch and own in my opinion. 

~💀~

 

Booksmart: Amazon - $14.99

Two academic superstars and best friends who, on the eve of their high school graduation, realize they should have worked less and played more. Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to cram four years of fun into one night.

One of the funniest films I've seen this year! I loved the dynamic of the two leads and the scenarios they are put in. Overall great coming of age story and life experiences with your best friends.

~💀~

 

Nightmare Cinema: Amazon - $11.99

Five strangers converge at a haunted movie theater owned by The Projectionist (Mickey Rourke). Once inside, the audience members witness a series of screenings that shows them their deepest fears and darkest secrets over five tales.

I love a good horror anthology and this indie straight to Bluray went a little under the radar but it has some great and creepy stories. I'm looking forward to rewatch again soon.

~💀~

 

John Wick 3: Amazon - $19.99

Former hit man has a $14 million dollar open contract on his life after he killed a member of the High Table. He now must find a way to survive!

Nonstop action and edge of your seat fight sequences with everyone, and anyone is after John Wick! It gets super intense. This is a great chapter in the John Wick trilogy and another highlight Bluray of 2019.

~💀~

 

Crawl: Amazon - $16.99

A young woman, while attempting to save her father during a Catagory 5 hurricane, finds herself trapped in a flooding house and must fight for her life against alligators.

This was the most I've held my breath during a movie. I was on edge of my seat in 90% of its runtime. Anxiety filled but defiantly a fun ride. 

~💀~

 

The Haunting of Hill House: Amazon - $27.99

The Haunting of Hill House is a modern reimagining of Shirley Jackson's legendary novel of the same name, about five siblings who grew up in the most famous haunted house in America. Now adults, they're reunited by the suicide of their youngest sister, which forces them to finally confront the ghosts of their own pasts...some which lurk in their minds...and some which may really be lurking in the shadows of the iconic Hill House.

I loved this series and binge watched it in a day when it was released on Netflix. Season 2 hits this coming year and the Bluray released comes with new bonus material and extended episodes that i plan to revisit before its sophomore season. 

~💀~

Suspiria (1977) (4K): Amazon - $42.99

An American newcomer to a prestigious German ballet academy gradually realizes that something very sinister is going on at the school.

Stunning 4K transfer of a classic film with amazing new artwork. Must own for film collectors.

~💀~

 

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood: Amazon - $27.99

A story that takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood. The two lead characters are Rick Dalton, former star of a western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth. Both are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don’t recognize anymore. But Rick has a new next-door neighbor, who may be a rising star…Sharon Tate.

Quenten Tarantino's 9th film with an all star cast and beautiful 4K transfer. It pays nostalgic homage to the golden age of cinema. Overall makes this a collection worthy title. 

~💀~

It Chapter 2: Amazon - $27.99

In the sleepy town of Derry, the evil clown Pennywise returns 27 years later to torment the grown-up members of the Losers' Club, who have long since drifted apart from one another.

My number one most anticipated film of the year and Bluray. The slip cover is really nice and it includes an exclusive bonus bluray disc filled with bonus material and an in depth documentary on the makings of both films. I love Pennywise and while I liked Chapter One a bit more, this bluray is visually stunning and benefited from the second viewing for me.

 -The Impostor

Listener Sam Reviews: Perfect, A Psychedelic Body Horror Odyssey

To learn that Brainfeeder Films had produced something new, and that it bafflingly had Steven Soderbergh attached as a producer, was a thrill. I was a huge fan of 2017’s Kuso, so when this popped up on Shudder, I was surprised I’d never heard of it. I shouldn’t have been particularly surprised though, Kuso is a punishingly inaccessible film that feels exclusively made for perverts and punishment-gluttons like myself. It’s not a genre that invites advertising. Regardless, I threw myself right into Perfect, unsure of what to expect, and found myself hypnotized by its fluorescent neon-tinged aesthetics. 

For those out of the loop, Brainfeeder Films is a film production company founded by electronic musician Flying Lotus (aka Steven Ellison) and filmmaker Eddie Alcazar as an offshoot of Brainfeeder Records. For those of you who know me personally, you may be aware of my Flying Lotus fandom, which was only solidified by his unique and bizarre collaborations with artists like Shintaro Kago and filmmakers such as David Lynch (plus a cavalcade of musical collaborators).  When he announced he was moving into film, I was really excited, as his music and live performances have strong visual elements. Kuso was a flop with many viewers, but I liked it quite a bit, and was excited for more.

I’m happy to report that Perfect is a far more pleasant film than Kuso, and is somehow more inscrutable. It follows Garrett, a troubled teen who’s sent to a clinic after committing a violent act. The goal of his treatment there is “Perfection,” which is achieved through a brutal and psychedelic process of body modification. “Perfection is horrible,” we’re told early on in voiceover by Garrett’s mother. This serves as the film’s thesis, as the treatments Garrett receives draw him further and further from humanity.

Perfect doesn’t give you much more than that and invites the viewer to discover the plot, which is told through flashbacks, voiceovers, and hallucinations within split timelines that blend reality and fantasy. What we’re given is challenging, and could be interpreted as being anything from mindless nonsense to a trans-human biopunk epic. The reality presumably falls somewhere in between, so I’ll leave that to you, dear reader, to decide for yourself.

What you’ll get for certain is a beautiful eighty-eight montage of visuals. Among the most notable visuals were Garrett’s violent flashbacks, which are shown in garish vfx-heavy black and white. These are accompanied by sequences of neon rotoscoping and 80's styled retro-futuristic animations. The clinic itself is a gorgeous modernist building built in a jungle that feels simultaneously on the outskirts of Los Angeles and alone on an alien planet.

The effects of Garrett’s transformation also stand out. We see his shift in a variety of ways, but central his transformation is the methodical slicing-out of cubes of flesh from his face, which he replaces with crustal cubes. The effect itself is gorgeous and provides a fantastic visual means of tracking Garrett’s progress through the clinic. Since this is a body horror film, he experiences other physical transformation, more harrowing than his face-slicing, but I’ll leave those for you to discover.

Garrett Wareing’s performance as Garrett (Credited as Vessel #13) really makes the movie work. Although there is dialogue, it’s sparse and often occurs in voiceover and pre-lap. Instead, we rely on his body language and physical acting which is top-notch. His dispassionate expressions and unsteady, spastic movement entrance the viewer. Alcazar goes out of his way to objectify Wareing, both before and after his transformation, inviting the viewer to gawk as the body horror unfolds. 

In many ways, Perfect feels like a long-form music video; style never cedes control to substance. Characters come and go without reason. Whole sequences exist as if only to spotlight the music. Hard changes in lighting and palette break the film into music video like segments. This, of course, works perfectly with Flying Lotus’ beautiful score. The music blends minimal string pieces with thrumming electronic beats which often overtake everything. This score makes you feel the film as much as view it.

Perfect is not a film for everybody, but if you like your films to be light on plot and high on psychedelics, you’re in luck. Perfect blends movies like Beyond the Black Rainbow and Antiviral with the arthouse aesthetic of Gaspar Noe and music video directors like Chris Cunningham and Jesse Kanda. The end result is a trippy, visceral film that’s both beautiful and ugly. It almost feels like a “watch it on drugs” movie designed to give the viewer a bad trip.

Perfect is available on Shudder and on Amazon Prime! 

-Listener Sam