Friday, May 29, 2015

Kung Fury, Love Letter to the 80's



Kung Fury is a 2014 crowd funded film by David Sandberg and it hit YouTube yesterday. To get an idea of what to expect from this film; imagine Manborg meets Hobo with a Shotgun set to a buddy-cop narrative, kinda... Then add a David Hasselhoff music video. Well the video is actually a thing and features the lead song "True Survivor." Both of these played extremely well during yesterdays screening and are hardly a commitment clocking a total time of 35 minutes.








I loved this film's portrayal of a neon pink 1980's that never was, but I think the pacing holds the film back from being a long lasting hit. The beginning hits so hard and is utterly relentless and then we get some back story... If you haven't turned the film off by that point you are already on board with the humor/high action narrative, but once we start getting some back story the film seems to slows to a crawl. I really feel that restructuring of the story would have made this awesome short hit a lot harder with a slow build to an amazing climax, not the other way around. In the end Kung Fury is consistently funny and perfectly absurd.

- Lord Battle

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Overlooked Crowd Funding: Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 2

"The explosive finale of Lloyd Kaufman’s inspired two-part indie event film"

The long awaited sequel to 2013's Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1 is finally here! Well, almost. It's up to the loyal Troma fans among you to push this project past the finish line. 
According to the Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 2 kickstarter campaign, the movie has been basically been filmed, all that's left is the post-production bells and whistles, which means sound mixing, editing, special effects - everything that will bring this beast to life. Troma is trying to raise $50,000 in order to get this all done and there are 26 days left to contribute and get some very weird swag in return. 

With Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 2, we will be reunited with Lauren and Chrissy as they take on the evil that is invading their beloved Tromaville and getting ready to spread. Their mission is to stop the global domination of an organic food company CEO gone mad! Mixed in with all of that madness will be some real life themes that the film will address, such as discrimination and bullying. 

Now let's take a look at some of the very Troma rewards you can get by contributing:

Affordable:
  • $20 will get you a digital copy of the script and a thank you in the credits. This may be appealing to aspiring script writers but probably not to the majority of people. At this level, you also get the first reward, which is to be included in a Lloyd Kauffman-read thank you video that will be posted on YouTube. 
Under $100:
  • $50 gets you a region free bluray of Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 2 signed by the father of Troma himself, Lloyd Kauffman. This release is packed with extras, including the making-of documentary. This pack also comes with the script and the recorded thanks.
Breaking the Piggy Bank:
  • $500 sounds a bit high but here's what it can get you: in addition to the signed bluray of the film, an electronic script, and a 30 minute Skype conversation with Lloyd Kauffman, you will also get six full sized movie posters, complete with posters for The Toxic Avenger, Poultrygeist, Citizen Toxie, Class of Nuke 'Em High, Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1 and of course Volume 2, all signed by their loving director Lloyd Kauffman. This sounds like the Troma faithful dream pack, or maybe like eBay fodder. Either way, it's very cool if you have the resources. 
Contributions jump up pretty quick after this one, but there are some other tempting ones. A lot of opportunities to meet and talk to Lloyd Kauffman, which could be helpful for film makers or just a cool experience for some fans. These are mostly $1000 and they're still available. For this last section, I have two rewards to tell you about. So it's time for...
Honorable Mentions:
  • For either $5000 or $8000 you could be the proud owner of an original Troma movie prop, in addition to most of the previously mentioned rewards. These are your choices or prop:
Remember, there are 26 days left to help this film get finished. You can see the full list of rewards and more stills from the film at the campaign page


-Huntress

Monday, May 25, 2015

Always Watching: A Marble Hornet Story, or The Best Slenderman Film So Far


6 of 7 viewers "Liked" "Always Watching: A Marble Hornet Story" (USA, 2015)
Here's what the citizens of the Overlook Theatre had to say:

Book Wyrm - " I thought the movie was a fun glimpse into the world of Slenderman and was especially nostalgic if  you were a fan of the original games like I am." - 4 Stars

The Berkeley Blazer - "This is some workman level found-footage horror. Everything is solid, but nothing is inspired. Slenderman is a very striking figure aesthetically, and he comes off here as genuinely imposing and mysterious until you begin to realize there isn't much more to him than the fact that he looks creepy. Such a tantalizingly mysterious character demands to be explored but the filmmakers played it safe; less is more but none is least. Nevertheless, there are many strong moments in the film that provoke dread and suggest unknown worlds. Indeed this film could have benefited by some Lovecraftian-style lore or, dare I say, exposition. I definitely recommend this be enjoyed in a theatre setting, if you can find a theatre that's actually screening it." - 3 Stars

Ice Giant - "If you're looking for a Slenderman movie you might wanna skip Always Watching, but if you're looking for a middle of the road found footage movie with decent acting and scares this just might be the 11PM Netflix movie for you." - 3.5 Stars

Bear - "I love the Slenderman mythos, that being said this movie kind of let me down. I just think it could have more. Slenderman is a complex yet simplistic character. A giant towering over you, tormenting your every thought. I felt that slightly. The effects were eerie but I feel like Slenderman could have had a better part. The plot and characters actually made the movie tolerable. The way it was filmed it made me feel like the characters felt isolated, maybe to intensify the fact that it's just them and the Slenderman now. Paranormal Activity/Blair Witch/The Slenderman Game = Always Watching." - 3 Stars

KillDozer - "Good actors, bad script, and editing that would have worked well 15 years ago. I am not a fan of films that feel long and this film dragged on about an hour longer than I would have liked. I hope this was a learning experience for everyone involved because I honestly feel as though the potential is there to make something worth while but this is a lack luster piece of film and was not worth the admission fee. I will say this though, I would happily watch the amazing and fun Angus Scrim cameo again and again! Also it never hurts to support your local independent film house." - 1 Star

Lord Battle - "It's such a shame that Always Watching was soooo mediocre. Great cast, perfect story for a found footage movie, and an interesting script. Something must have happened during production, this movie feels rushed and is poorly executed. Pacing and atmosphere are a must for a Slenderman film and Always Watching lacked in both. One thing this film was really full of is eastereggs; there were a tone of little nods to Slenderman (a flower vase that has several blank faces) or signs that he's been there (magnets on the fridge form his symbol) and I don't get why other found footage films never seem to include this. When a film is hinging on a voyeur theme it makes sense to have your audience probing every frame looking for clues/the villain. I'm adding a half star to my rating because I would watch this again to catch more Eastereggs." - 3.5 Stars

Huntress - "I may not know everything there is about Slenderman and I have yet to play one of the games that features him, but I know enough of his story to recognize a missed opportunity in Always Watching. The film makers had all the right pieces: foresty settings, perfect for partially obstructing; found footage type camera, which seems like the best way to film Slenderman; and of course Doug Jones playing the mythical monster man (the reason I got excited to see this), because who could do it better?? But none of these elements were used to their full potential, except maybe the found footage aspect. This film was full of anticipation, but hardly any pay off. Much like the boy who cried wolf, the anticipation lost its effect and the story remained mild. Lurking around and following people may be a big part of Slenderman's process but I just wanted there to be a little more of him actually walking/moving on screen, instead of just appearing. Maybe knowing more about Slenderman would have helped, but just from a horror aspect I was left wanting more. This is not to say that Always Watching didn't have its moments; they just got overshadowed by my disappointment." - 3 Stars




The Overlook Theatre Final Rating*

It seemed as though everyone except for myself, Ice Giant and Bear hated this movie. Perhaps this had something to do with us being the only three who had played the games or had some prior knowledge about who Slenderman actually was, but I think it was just because there were too many scenes in the woods where nothing happened. The main reason I really enjoyed this film was because of the suspense I felt throughout it. I had played the games, Slender and Jail (I think the names changed since the last time I played them but whatever) when they first came out and the hype about Slenderman was still a new thing. Through the entire movie I was just looking for Slenderman and searching for him in corners and shadows and every time the camera would go static-y I would get a little bit scared. What really freaked me out was a line from the movie that said, "looking for him just invites him in," considering that I spent the entire movie doing just that. I thought the movie was a fun glimpse into the world of Slenderman and was especially nostalgic if  you were a fan of the original games like I was, but according to everyone else it was nothing new in the world of found footage and an "eh" movie at best which I can't really disagree with. Take it as you will, I thought this movie was pretty cool.

-Bookwyrm

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

Bluray Tuesday!

May 26th 2015



The last Bluray Tuesday this month has arrived. This month ends with a few double features from Shout Factory / Scream Factory as well as some Independent horror films. Let Us Prey looks interesting and at $10 I did get it as a blind buy and will check out this week. Madman, an 80's slasher film, releases this week for the first time on Bluray as well. This one I am excited to check out. I haven't seen this and I love 80's slashers so will definitely check this out. It would be great to screen someday soon. What films will you buy, rent or pass on this week? Let us know below in the comments.

Let Us Prey: Amazon - $9.96

In a remote police station, the arrival of a mysterious stranger, an apparent victim of a traffic accident, begins a night of deadly reckonings with the past.

Let Us Prey (Blu-ray)

The Food Of The Gods / Frogs: Amazon - $15.85

The Food of The Gods: When a strange edible substance appears on a remote island, local farmer Mr. Skinner (John McLiam) and his wife (Ida Lupino) deem it a blessing and feed it to their farm animals. Soon other wildlife such as rodents and insects have eaten the food, which makes anything that consumes it grow in size. These gigantic beasts start terrorizing the island, with an athlete named Morgan (Marjoe Gortner) among those who are fighting for their lives against the gargantuan creatures.
Frogs: Unsurprisingly, grumpy Southern chemical baron Jason Crockett (Ray Milland) is not terribly concerned with the environment. When Pickett Smith (Sam Elliott), a wildlife photographer in the area, stumbles upon the snakebitten corpse of Crockett's gardener, who was sent out to spray pesticide, he knows something is amiss. Smith attempts to warn Crockett and his family to postpone their Fourth of July celebrations as local animals begin behaving strangely, but Crockett stubbornly refuses.

The Food of the Gods / Frogs (Blu-ray) 

Empire of The Ants / Jaws of Satan: Amazon - $17.93

Empire of The Ants: Con artist Marilyn Fryser (Joan Collins) has a steady and profitable racket. Along with an unscrupulous ship captain (Robert Lansing), she takes gullible investors on a cruise of the Everglades and persuades them to invest in a housing development that will never be. But when she and her latest group of suckers go ashore on a small island, they're horrified to discover that illegally dumped toxic waste has created a breed of giant ants set on human destruction.
Jaws of Satan: While being transported via train to a carnival, a king cobra is let out of its box by Satan, and it kills two railroad workers. The snake flees into the night, under the influence of demonic powers. It eventually heads toward a small Alabama town, ready to strike in the name of evil. Meanwhile, the town's Roman Catholic priest, the Rev. Tom Farrow (Fritz Weaver), discovers that his ancestor was none other than St. Patrick, who drove the snakes from Ireland. Now, Farrow must do the same.

Empire of the Ants / Jaws of Satan (Blu-ray) 

Madman: Amazon - $14.99

At a summer camp for youths, cockey pre-teen calls out the name of mass serial killer "Madman Marz". Suddenly, counselors are being maimed and slaughtered in various ways by the backwoodsman who has returned when his name was called.

Madman (Blu-ray)
Temporary cover art 

Seventh Son: Amazon - $19.95

In a time long past, an evil is about to be unleashed that will reignite the war between the forces of the supernatural and humankind once more. Master Gregory is a knight who had imprisoned the malevolently powerful witch, Mother Malkin, centuries ago. But now she has escaped and is seeking vengeance. Summoning her followers of every incarnation, Mother Malkin is preparing to unleash her terrible wrath on an unsuspecting world. Only one thing stands in her way: Master Gregory. In a deadly reunion, Gregory comes face to face with the evil he always feared would someday return. Now he has only until the next full moon to do what usually takes years: train his new apprentice, Tom Ward to fight a dark magic unlike any other. Man's only hope lies in the seventh son of a seventh son.

Seventh Son (Blu-ray) 

The Loft 2014: Amazon - $17.99

Five friends who share a loft for their extramarital affairs begin to question one another after the body of an unknown woman is found in the property.
 
The Loft (Blu-ray) 



-The Impostor

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Acid Witch - Midnight Movies LP is Out Now!

Midnight Movies LP just hit HellsHeadbangers get over there and buy your copy now! The picture disc (above) and German flag colors have already sold out but the color discs are still available. These are limited to a run of 300 so go!


Acid Witch is a Detroit based metal band that's pretty hard to classify but if you like Doomed Heavy Metal with Halloween/Horror lyrics, I just want you to remember Lord Battle told you about them when you're getting "Acid Witch" tattooed on your arm.

Midnight Movies features 4 tracks, each from a legit Heavy Metal Horror movie. 

"I'm Back" from the near perfect Rocktober Blood may just be the best Horror/Metal song ever and Acid Witch really makes it their own on this EP. "After Midnight" from Trick or Treat is one of the more tame re-imaginings on this album but still a solid headbanger. I LOVE the 3rd track "Soldiers of the Night" from the first Metalsploitation film I've ever seen Black Roses. I like the Acid Witch version more than Black Roses (King Kobra) original and I play in at least once a day in my car...
The final track "Partytime" comes from the classic Return of the Living Dead and it seems as a sign of respect they didn't change this one too much from the 45 Graves original (which I might be wrong about as there are two versions of this song floating around by 45 Graves and they might be covering a specific version). These tracks are all sprinkled with clips and original recordings all talking about or relating to the heavy metal horror we love so much!




































The artwork alone makes this vinyl worth owning and once you know the films they are covering, it becomes even more rad! I'll for sure be reaching out to these guys soon.


- Lord Battle

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Wolf Cop or An Adult Hero Written for Adult Children

9 of 9 viewers "Liked" "Wolf Cop" (2014, Canada)
Here's what the citizens of the Overlook Theatre had to say:

The Berkeley Blazer - "Unlike many horror films where the humor is an important but secondary aspect of the overall presentation, Wolf Cop goes for the comedy jugular at every opportunity, successfully drawing buckets of increasingly bountiful blood an laughter, especially when the supernatural elements of the story begin to ignite. Wolf Cop stumbles only when it presents its usually endearingly juvenile sensibilities without apparent irony, as if the filmmakers are laughing with Wolf Cop rather than at him. That minor nitpick aside, Wolf Cop is ideally viewed with a group of friends who find the idea of watching a film called Wolf Cop a promising experience; tears of laughter taste best when shared." - 3.5 Stars

Lord Battle - "A must see for fans of Hobo with a Shotgun, Wolf Cop manages to feel just as campy and just as Canadian!" - 5 Stars

Math Mage - "Everyone should see this movie. Somehow even the awkward 80's style dialogue was great. The awkward 80's style sex scene was even great. Brutal/hilarious violence, engaging story, entertaining characters. I need to stop gushing... I want to give them my money, when can I buy this movie? See Wolf Cop!" - 5 Stars

The Impostor - "Pure awesomeness. A mix of comedy, horror, and brief references to Teen Wolf and Ginger Snaps. Wolf Cop is a must watch for everyone! Lowell Dean takes werewolf films to the next level." - 5 Stars

Unicorn Slayer - "A real gem out of Canada. This horror/comedy touches on classic wolf-man themes, amp'd up with modern cinema magics. Cheeky humor, interesting characters, and the perfect small town vibe. I absolutely appreciate that they took the route of special effects makeup as opposed to CGI. Other werewolf movies could learn a thing or two from Wolf Cop." - 4 Stars

Book Wyrm - "I was gonna give this 3 stars but the after credit scene alone got it another star. The movie was definitely entertaining but I don't see myself watching it again. It's a nice, short movie and definitely fun to watch but I just wasn't super into it. The wolf looked great though!" - 4 Stars

Huntress - "This movie knew what it was doing from the beginning to end; it was funny but also didn't hesitate to slow down and take the horror elements seriously. All the blood and gore looks great!" - 5 Stars

KillDozer - "Writer/Director Lowell Dean is obviously a monster kid who knows how to make other monster kids laugh and have a good time while not making his audience feel like they are being spoken down to. This is the kind of movie I can't wait to share with other people. Full of crude humor, cult style werewolf exploits, boobs, blood, and awesome "A Team" style action sequences. I can't wait for the sequel. This again is a movie that reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously when it comes to creature features! Sit back with some snacks and friends, and enjoy this crime fighting lycanthrope." - 4 Stars (Collection worthy)

Ice Giant - "Campiness at its best. Nothing to dislike about this movie, soundtrack and story are perfect." - 5 Stars




The Overlook Theatre Final Rating*

Let me start by saying Wolf Cop is exactly what you think it is (for all you Pieces fans), only better. Everyone thinks this film is going to contain a werewolf who happened to be a cop and for some reason still tries to uphold the law, which is both correct and also totally wrong. Wolf Cop is by no means trying to reinvent to wheel or outsmart anybody; what Lowell Dean is trying to do is entertain.
Wolf Cop is a perfect example of what an Action/Comedy/Horror should be. First we have Lou Garou (wolf cop) as our shoot first ask questions later style hero. It's about damn time we get to root for a mean monster. Usually when a monster is the hero they are a domesticated/loving version but Lou Garou is thankfully staring in a rated R film and is an adult hero written for adult children. Second comes a cast of equally interesting horror-esque villains for our badass hero to fight. Then when you back this all up with well timed jokes and some awesome gags, you get a film that could entertain a room full of people drinking or a group simply looking for a good film.
I'm finding it difficult to discuss this film and I'm not sure why. I think it's because Wolf Cop is such a solid/straight forward film that it doesn't need a theory dissection or a round-table recap. It might just be the most honest film I've ever seen. Lowell Dean really tapped into something here, The Overlook Theatre ended up screening this film 3 times and to a large amount of return reviewers, which is abnormal. Typically we screen a film 1 time to at least 5 reviewers and ask if anyone has seen the film previously. This is because people bitch and moan when subjected to something they've already seen (I don't know why). With Wolf Cop I forewarned people that I'd be showing it again and the audience just kept growing every time...

Here's the second version of the poster used for the review.
Thanks to Francois Deverly, for supplying the amazing art!

- Lord Battle

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

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

H.R. Giger at Landmark Theatres and a Quick Cinematic Recap

Can you imagine peeking into the mind that brought you Alien? Getting to know the man who bent machines into sleek sexual forms and put them into compromising positions (on paper that is)? 

Well two Landmark Theatres in the bay area are giving you that exact opportunity by screening 2014's Dark Star H.R. Gigers World in several threatres. This film is new to theatres and will also be available on VOD in August. You will be able to own your very own copy in September.


For now it will be screening in just two locations in the bay area: Landmark Cinemas Shattuck in Berkeley and the Opera Plaza Cinemas in San Francisco. 
You can look up showtimes here

But if you'd rather laugh yourself almost into a headache, you can still check out What We Do in the Shadows, which is also playing at select Landmark Theatres. It tells the story of four different eras of vampire living together in a single flat in New Zealand, in the weeks leading up to a huge annual party
This is definitely a collection worthy horror comedy and I can't wait to own it. Until then, showtimes are available at the Landmark Theatre site. 

And the Castro Theatre is a week away from kicking off this year's Silent Film Festival. You can see some great old films given a new life with a live orchestra accompanying each screening! The full schedule, along with the rest of the month's screening can be found here.

Bring your friends!
-Huntress

Monday, May 18, 2015

Bluray Tuesday!

May 19th 2015


It's that time of week again. This Bluray Tuesday Scream factory releases Stigmata for the first time on Bluray, I look forward to checking this out again I don't remember this film as much so it's to revisit this soon. Clint Eastwood's American Sniper finally will be released today with a few retail exclusives. Target's Steelbook will be the one I snag in the morning for sure. Best buy will carry a version with bonus content that is also a good reason to get that version. Back to the horror front Poltergeist remake releases this coming weekend and the Overlook residents will see and review for sure, but MGM releases the original sequels on Bluray today as well. Zombeavers finally releases on Bluray only at Best Buy which looks like a nice blind buy for only $10. So what will you buy, rent or just skip this week?

Stigmata: Amazon - $15.85

Father Andrew Kiernan, a researcher of miracles on behalf of the Vatican, must discover the truth behind hairdresser Frankie Paige, who exhibits the Stigmata, the physical wounds Christ received from his crucifixion.

Stigmata (Blu-ray) 

American Sniper: Amazon - $24.96

U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) takes his sole mission -- protect his comrades -- to heart and becomes one of the most lethal snipers in American history. His pinpoint accuracy not only saves countless lives but also makes him a prime target of insurgents. Despite grave danger and his struggle to be a good husband and father to his family back in the States, Kyle serves four tours of duty in Iraq. However, when he finally returns home, he finds that he cannot leave the war behind.

Regular Edition
American Sniper (Blu-ray) 

Target Steelbook
American Sniper (Blu-ray) 

Best Buy Bonus Content
American Sniper (Blu-ray)
Temporary cover art 

Zombeavers: Best Buy - $9.99

Zombeavers is an action-packed horror/comedy in which a group of college kids staying at a riverside cabin are menaced by a swarm of deadly zombie beavers. A weekend of sex and debauchery soon turns gruesome as the beavers close in on the kids. Riding the line between scary, sexy and funny, the kids are soon fighting for their lives in a desperate attempt to fend off the hoard of beavers that attack them in and around their cabin.
 
Zombeavers (Blu-ray) 

Poltergeist 2: Amazon - $9.49

The Freeling family settles into a new home following the annihilation of their former residence by terrifying visitors from the netherworld. But the spirits of the dead are still hell-bent on luring the family's clairvoyant daughter Carol Anne to "the other side"!

Poltergeist II: The Other Side (Blu-ray)


Poltergeist 3: Amazon - $9.49

They're back...again! And they're still looking for Carol Anne in this riveting and climactic finale to the Poltergeist trilogy. Sent by her parents to live in a Chicago high rise with her aunt, uncle and cousin, Carol Anne must face demons more frightening as ever before, as they move from invading homes to taking over an entire skyscraper!

Poltergeist III (Blu-ray)
Temporary cover art 

Hot Tub Time Machine 2: Amazon - $19.99

After their first adventure with the "Hot Tub Time Machine," Lou (Rob Corddry) and Nick (Craig Robinson) are living very well off their ill-gotten gains, while Jacob (Clark Duke) still cannot rely on Lou to be a positive role model. When an unknown assailant breaks into Lou's mansion and shoots him, Nick and Jacob take him for another trip in the hot tub. They emerge in the year 2025, where they must figure out who shot Lou and prevent it from happening again.

Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (Blu-ray) 


- The Impostor

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Tomorrow Land at George Lucas's Private Theatre

Being a film nerd of any kind and receiving an e-mail saying that you are one of the lucky few chosen to view anything at George Lucas's private ILM theater in San Francisco is an amazing "I've got a golden ticket" kind of feeling. The sound alone was worth the trip. Walking into the lobby of the ILM office with my wife Ruby, I felt right at home surrounded by art and images of some of the most incredible minds responsible for some of  the greatest films of all time. The lobby is decorated with vintage, epic, and rare European one sheets for every thing from Creature From The Black Lagoon to classic Charlie Chaplin films. In the middle of the room stands a tribute to the amazing Willis O'Brian, famous of course for his ground beaking effects in the original King Kong. The statue of O'Brian shows him carefully posing King Kong on top of a mini empire state building. 

Ruby and I entered the theatre just in time to sit and listen to writer/director Brad Bird describe to the audience that "Whatever you think this movie is, ...it isn't." He also went on to beautifully discuss the inspiration for this science fiction masterpiece. Bird, who is one of the minds behind The Incredibles, The Simpsons, Ratatouille, ect, was inspirational in explaining how beautiful and limitless the future and all it had to offer used to feel, and how Walt Disney himself was a big supporter and believer in what technology and imagination could accomplish in making our world a better place. Also in on the writing of this amazing film was Damon Lindelof who some of you sci-fi kids might recognize from his Prometheus and Star Trek into darkness fame. 
Ok, so on with the show. I can honestly say that this film was in no way what I expected and that pleased me very much. This is true to form Science Fiction full of social commentary, action, good guys, bad guys, jet packs, robots, a female hero, and the power of imagination and believing in the world around us even as it seems to be falling apart. This is a perfect example of how big budgets can actually produce something worthwhile when they have talented and intelligent writers to back them up. I can't wait to show this film to my children one day. 4 Stars collection worthy and a reminder that every once in a while we can escape reality through film and come out inspired at the end.

- KillDozer

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Horror at the Roxie Theatre


Tomorrow is the opening night for Always Watching: A Marble Hornets Story, a found footage film based on the YouTube series, which is inspired by the Slender Man mythos. I have not heard much about this film and was surprised to find a couple of familiar faces in the cast: 

Alexandra Breckenridge
(American Horror Story, The Walking Dead)

Doug Jones
(Pan's Labyrinth, Mama)

Lots of people have nothing good to say about found footage but this movie looks like it was handled by people who knew what they were doing. Non stop shaky cam is not what found footage was meant to be, it's just a cheap distraction used by people who don't know what they're doing. I think we should all give the genre another chance. Read more here.

The Roxie is also showing another film you won't want to miss:


This film set the record for the highest number of dogs in a film (over 400), all of which were rescued from shelters, trained, and adopted after the filming. This is about the journey of a lost dog, trying to find his loving owner. There's so much more to this film, but I don't want to give anything away. Screening start on Saturday the 16th, you can read more about it here.

Let's all go to the movies!
-Huntress

Monday, May 11, 2015

Bluray Tuesday!

May 12th 2015


Blusday has arrived once again! Just two horror related releases one from scream factory and another through Anchor Bay. Extraterrestrial is a sci fi horror themed film with aliens. The Drownsman from Anchor Bay was a surprise I saw many good reviews and checked this out the other day and after a slow start I really enjoyed this film and I can see this getting a sequel and becoming a franchise in the future. Rolling out the rest of the releases this week are a drama titled Still Alice starring Julianne Moore who went on to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for this film. Blackhat a action thriller with Chris Hemsworth from the Marvel films. Last but not least Mortdecai a action comedy film with Johnny Depp and Gweneth Paltrow. So what films will you be buying or skipping all together? Let us know in the comments below.


Extraterrestrial: Amazon - $15.84

A group of friends on a weekend trip to a cabin in the woods find themselves terrorized by alien visitors.

Extraterrestrial (Blu-ray)

The Drownsman: Amazon - $12.98

After almost drowning in a lake, Madison finds herself living a life of fear. Crippled by her past trauma, Madison attempts to shut out the world, but her fear of water intensifies and she is faced with a recurring vision of a dark figure that haunts her day and night. After watching her struggle for a year, Madison's four friends attempt an unconventional intervention in the form of a séance, which opens a floodgate that none of them anticipated. As Madison and her friends dive deeper into the dark history of the figure that haunts them, it reaches out and begins dragging them one by one to a horrifying place from which they can never return.

The Drownsman (Blu-ray) 

Blackhat: Amazon - $19.97

A man is released from prison to help American and Chinese authorities pursue a mysterious cyber criminal. The dangerous search leads them from Chicago to Hong Kong. After a Hong Kong nuclear plant and the Mercantile Trade Exchange in Chicago are hacked by unknown perpetrators, a federal agent (Viola Davis) proposes that the FBI work with China to find the cyber-criminals. The leader of the Chinese team, Chen Dawai, insists that convicted hacker Nick Hathaway (Chris Hemsworth) be released from prison to help with the investigation. As Nick and his comrades chase their quarry, it becomes evident that the hackers have a sinister motive for their actions.
Blackhat (Blu-ray) 

Still Alice: Amazon - $19.99

Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a devastating diagnosis, Alice and her family find their bonds tested. Dr. Alice Howland (Julianne Moore) is a renowned linguistics professor at Columbia University. When words begin to escape her and she starts becoming lost on her daily jogs, Alice must come face-to-face with a devastating diagnosis: early-onset Alzheimer's disease. As the once-vibrant woman struggles to hang on to her sense of self for as long as possible, Alice's three grown children must watch helplessly as their mother disappears more and more with each passing day.
Still Alice (Blu-ray) 

Mortdecai: Amazon - $12.98

Art dealer Charles Mortdecai searches for a stolen painting that's reportedly linked to a lost bank account filled with Nazi gold. Charismatic British aristocrat and part-time shady art dealer Charlie Mortdecai (Johnny Depp) suffers from a constant lack of funds to support his lush lifestyle, so when Alistair Maitland (Ewan McGregor), a college friend and officer in MI5, asks him to find a stolen Goya painting, he accepts. But Charlie's not the only one with designs on the painting; an American heiress and a revolutionary want it too, for the artwork is rumored to contain the code to a bank account filled with Nazi gold.

Mortdecai (Blu-ray) 


-The Impostor