The Toxic Avenger 3 (1989)

With no crime left to fight in Tromaville, The Toxic Avenger is forced to find a day job in order to make ends meet, but there is only one company willing to hire a hideously deformed creature of super-human size and strength, and that's Apocalypse, Inc., Toxie's arch-nemesis! Toxie unwittingly becomes a pawn of corporate greed and corruption, turning his back on Tromaville when they need him the most! THE TOXIC AVENGER PART III starts off with a bang as Toxie mops up a group of criminals that are trying to replace all of the Independent films in a local video store with mainstream fodder as the patrons plea with them to let them keep their Troma movies. It is one of Troma's shining moments in the series, but it is all downhill from there. The anti-corporate message wares thin quickly, but something just seems missing the entire time... Mainly the over-the-top comedy and absurd gore, both of which have disappeared throughout most of the picture. Ron Fazio and Phoebe Legere are always entertaining as Toxie and Claire, and the snarling antics of Rick Collins' Chairman do make for a fun performance. In reality, THE TOXIC AVENGER PART III is a hackneyed cut and paste job using all of the left over footage from THE TOXIC AVENGER PART II, leaving the third film out as a festering barrel of toxic sludge. As a result, the final half becomes dreadfully boring due to the seemingly endless battle against Apocalypse, Inc. Savor what few laughs you can from the blindsploitation, churchsploitation, and schoolbusploitation or forget that this entry ever existed.

Rating: 4/10.

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Short: Familiar (2011)

For anyone that has ever felt trapped in an unhappy marriage or suffocated by an oppressive job, Richard Powell's sadistic new short will feel all too FAMILIAR! John Dodd is a father and a husband who only wishes to be neither, to break free of the social confines which have imprisoned him for the last 45 years. Just as his daughter is about ready to leave for college, his wife reveals that they have another child on the way, shattering his chances of escape. John's negative feelings turn to action, until he realizes that the voice inside his head may not be his own... FAMILIAR explores the darkest thoughts and emotions that we hide from the world, the side of humanity that most of us try to ignore. Though pushed to the extreme, the character of John Dodd embodies an inseparable piece of the human condition that we have all felt or experienced at one time: the need to be free. Powell's sharp writing brings out the blackest of humor throughout John's inner monologues, which recall the relationships between Brian and Aylmer in BRAIN DAMAGE or Yanka and her unborn fetus in BABY BLOOD. The themes of isolation, withdrawal, and resentment draw closer to the works of Brad Anderson, however, in features like SESSION 9, THE MACHINIST, and SOUNDS LIKE. John's fractured psyche manifests into tumor-like growths that spread across his body, which he feels he must carve out to ride himself of the evil inside. This adds a touch of nauseating body horror in the end to top off the thrilling psychological suspense. Much of the strength also lies in the powerful performance by Robert Nolan, whose jaded interests bleed out through his eyes and facial expressions. Powell impresses with another successful short following his previous win in WORM!

Rating: 9/10.

Movies like FAMILIAR:
BABY BLOOD, BRAIN DAMAGE, SOUNDS LIKE, THE MACHINIST, SESSION 9, BASKET CASE.

http://fatalpictures.blogspot.com/ Read The Full Post HERE!

Go Nuts With 'Acid Head' This Spring!

SAN DIEGO, CA - January 27, 2012 - The latest movie from Tony 'Tex' Watt "Acid Head: The Buzzard Nuts County Slaughter" is finding it's way to DVD and VOD in the very near future. Watt's recent work as a director includes "Vixen Highway 2006" and "Frankpimp". The movie features the director Tony 'Tex' Watt himself, and his preferred heroin and frequent workpartner Vivita playing the lead as Pheromone Labonza and Acid Head. Others starring are Lewis Mercer, Lana Tailor, Elvin Domenic, Paul Nicholls, Adam Schickedanz and many others, and in a cunning cameo as the sneaky reporter Biff Bangs, the only European actor in the film; Kim Sønderholm.

On using the latter, director Tony 'Tex' Watt said: "When our movie about a killer goth-girl needed a main greek chorus-type performer [the character who tells the viewer what is going on], to embody the form of news anchor: Biff Bangs... I, as the Writer/Director needed an internationally appealing actor who was both authoritative and able to carry some of the comedic hyperbole, with dry humor [As Sean Connery did in the early 007 movies]. Versatile actor/filmmaker Kim Sønderholm came to mind as the first choice, as I admired his acting prowess in such films as "Craig", "Tour de Force", "Bleed with Me"; as well as his comedic turn in the 2011 TV series "Goodbye Light". Sønderholm embodied to myself, a brilliant character actor, who was very hard working and tenacious. Working with him, showed me that this charismatic and popular performer was exactly what I perceived, as well as being very humorous and humble."

The idea for the film originally came in 2009, when Award winning Canadian horror author and TV host (Flatline, Post-Mortem, Nightmare in Canada: Canadian Horror on Film) Edo van Belkom's son Luke started filming "Acid Head: The High School Horror" based on a loose script plot the young van Belkom co-wrote with actor/filmmaker Tony 'Tex' Watt. The script's projected budget was originally too high; so Watt decided to shoot an improvised sequel, first, based on situations deriving from his previous script.

The film will be available as VOD and DVD release in Spring 2012 on Amazon, Indieflix, MoviesInsanity.com & TonyWatt.com

More about the film on IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1672166/

Read The Full Post HERE!

'Battle Royale' Begins March 20th!!

“If you love The Hunger Games, BATTLE ROYALE sets the stage. One of the best – and most violent – genre films ever made. It’s also a hell of a lot of fun.”

-Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly

“BATTLE ROYALE is not just a fantastic film, but an important work on a precipice of the most dangerous period facing cinema in the last 40 years.”

-Harry Knowles, Ain’t It Cool News

ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILMS IN HISTORY FINALLY ARRIVES!

BATTLE ROYALE

Available for the first time in North America on Blu-ray™, DVD and digital download on March 20th from Anchor Bay Entertainment

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – January 27, 2012 – Battle Royale. A title that has shocked, thrilled and unnerved audiences. A film whose fiendishly simple premise has inspired many imitations, including the upcoming The Hunger Games motion picture. Based on the 1999 global best-seller by Koushun Takami, the futuristic tale first came to the screen in 2000, directed by the legendary Kinju Fukasaku. Authors, filmmakers and film fans the world over consider the film and its 2003 sequel Battle Royale II: Requiem sacred cinematic classics. And now, fans can own them on high-definition Blu-ray™ and DVD!

On March 20th, Anchor Bay Entertainment proudly brings the Battle Royale: The Complete Collection to Blu-ray™ and DVD for the first time in North America. Featuring state-of-the-art HD transfers, hi-res audio and a wealth of bonus features that delve deep into this truly international phenomenon - the three disc Blu-ray™ plus bonus DVD set has an SRP of $49.99 and an SRP $44.98 for the four disc DVD. Battle Royale will also be released separately on Blu-ray™ for an SRP of $29.99 and DVD for an SRP of $24.98. Pre-Book on both is February 22. Battle Royale will be available digitally via select outlets including iTunes® and Xbox LIVE®.

42 students, Three days, One survivor – No Escape. Welcome to the world of Battle Royale!

Battle Royale

In the near future, the economy has collapsed, unemployment has soared and juvenile crime has exploded. Fearful of their nation’s youth, the Japanese government passes The BR Law: Each year, a 9th grade class is sent to a remote island where they will be locked into exploding neck collars, given a random weapon, and forced to hunt and kill each other until there is only one survivor left. Chiaki Kuriyama (Kill Bill) and screen legend Takeshi Kitano (Boiling Point, Brother) star in the movie that has been argued, acclaimed and banned around the world. More than a decade later, it remains one of the most savage, shocking and emotionally powerful films of all time. Now experience the complete Director’s Cut of Kinji Fukasaku’s uncompromising masterpiece – nominated for 10 Japanese Academy Awards® – available uncensored and unrated for the first time ever in America.

Battle Royale: The Complete Collection
In 2000, director Kinji Fukasaku unleashed Battle Royale, his violently poetic epic about an innocent group of Junior High students forced by the government to hunt and kill their classmates for sport. It was nominated for 10 Japanese Academy Awards®, launched a global phenomenon, and banned from screens by frightened civic groups and distributors across America. Three years later, the equally disturbing sequel – featuring a new class, new rules, and a brutal terrorist plot by the first film’s young survivors – triggered its own tragic firestorm around the world. Now for the first time ever, you can see it all: Experience the entire Battle Royale saga on 4 discs that forever blasts open one of the most potent, shocking and savagely influential sagas in motion picture history.

Battle Royale: The Complete Collection’s four disc set in collectible high-end packaging will include:

-Battle Royale Director’s Cut with both Japanese and English language tracks and English subtitles
-Battle Royale Theatrical Cut with both Japanese and English language tracks and English subtitles
-Battle Royale II with Japanese language and English subtitles
-Battle Royale Bonus Content with Japanese language and English subtitles

SPECIAL FEATURES:
-The Making Of BATTLE ROYALE
-BATTLE ROYALE Press Conference
-Instructional Video: Birthday Version
-Audition & Rehearsal Footage
-Special Effects Comparison Featurette
-Tokyo International Film Festival 2000
-Battle Royale Documentary
-Basketball Scene Rehearsals
-Behind-The-Scenes Featurette
-Filming On-Set
-Original Theatrical Trailer
-Special Edition TV Spot
-TV Spot: Tarantino Version

The Battle Royale release will include:
-Director’s Cut with Japanese and English language and English subtitles

With impeccable direction by three-time ‘Director of the year’ Kinji Fukasaku, and featuring high-quality acting performances from every angle, Battle Royale: The Complete Collection is as cunning as it is ruthless, offering a unique and brutal depiction of what people are capable of when imminent death is everywhere you look.

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Discover 'Lost Goddess' This February!

NEW YORK, NY - January 27, 2012 - Readers have become enthralled by bestselling author Tom Knox’s lurid blend of adventure, gothic horror, and ripped from the headlines modern science. THE LOST GODDESS (On Sale: February 6, 2012; Viking; 978-0-670-02318-9; $26.95) is the exciting new iteration on Knox’s internationally bestselling genetic thrillers—edge-of-your-seat chases through dusty museums and dripping jungles, profound and shocking revelations on the history of human violence and guilt, and characters who are recognizably vulnerable and yet capable of thrillingly surmounting the insurmountable.

While working on a dig in the most remote part of France, Julia Kerrigan comes across the find of her career—a trove of skeleton, many with holes at the front of the skull and arrow wounds studding the various skeleton bones. Her excitement about her discovery disappears the following day, however, as her mentor and a friend is brutally murdered.

Meanwhile, Jake Thurby, who has been travelling through Cambodia as a travel photographer, lands a job with a beautiful Cambodian lawyer, Chemda Tek, that takes him to the mysterious Plain of Jars. What starts as a fascinating assignment soon turns deadly, as Jake and Chemda realize they’ve uncovered a horrific historical clue that authorities will go to any length to keep quiet.

Linking the two investigations is a strange, demonic woman—dazzling in her physical prowess and unstoppable in her hunger for vengeance. What this killer is avenging is the link between prehistoric remains in the European caves, the horrific genetic experiments still occurring in Caucasian Russia, the mystical mutations committed by Khmer Rouge, and a strange fortress perched at the top of the world, in Communist Tibet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tom Knox is the pseudonym of Sean Thomas, author of the internationally bestselling novels The Genesis Secret and The Marks of Cain. Born in England, he has travelled the world writing for various newspapers and magazines, including The Times, The Guardian and The Daily Mail. He lives in London. For more information, please visit www.tomknoxbooks.com

THE LOST GODDESS

By Tom Knox

Viking Hardcover ▪ On-sale: February 6, 2012

$26.95 ▪ ISBN: 978-0-670-02318-9

ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN E-BOOK

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The Wicker Tree (2010)

Nearly forty years after the release of the cult classic THE WICKER MAN, director Robin Hardy has returned to the screen with a "spiritual sequel" entitled THE WICKER TREE, as adapted from his own novel Cowboys for Christ.

Betty and Steve embark on a trip to Scotland to perform missionary work in the name of Jesus, where they are invited to preach the gospel in the small and hedonistic town of Tressock by the leading lord and lady. Their good nature quickly betrays them when they are fooled into playing the parts of the Queen of the May and her Laddie in the upcoming May Day celebration, a pagan ritual that will be used to restore feracity to the land.

THE WICKER TREE suffers invariably from its connection to the original film, which forces unfair comparisons between the two. Expectations will be set exceedingly high as a result, which may initially lead to an uncharitable response from the existing fan base. There is much at work in THE WICKER TREE, however, between the cynical humor, religious banter, musical interlacing, slight eroticism, and underlying suspense. Hardy takes a risk in delivering another artful suspense piece in light of the drastic changes the film-going public has undergone over the years, but one that should inevitably pay off.

Having said that, THE WICKER TREE is far from perfect. Betty and Steve never strike a chord with the audience. They are far too gullible, and their characters are portrayed as shallow caricatures of Southern rubes. This was surely intended as part of the film's playful stab at Christianity, but the suspense suffers when the pair are lead like lambs to the slaughter. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Sir Lachlan Morrison and the townspeople of Tressock reveal their malintent far too soon, which takes away from the mystery and intrigue inherent in the original. In this way, Hardy may be playing against the viewer's familiarity with THE WICKER MAN, letting them in on the joke from the very beginning.

Graham McTavish steps in for Christopher Lee as Morrison, the charismatic leader of Tressock. He is a worthy successor, and delivers a powerful performance. Likewise, Honeysuckle Weeks places the audience under her spell as the seductive Lolly. Brittania Nicol and Henry Garrett are all too convincing as Betty and Steve, with their performances becoming the source of much ridicule. The line between innocence and idiocy has unfortunately been crossed, as there is very little irony to be found in either of their portrayals.

THE WICKER TREE revisits the musical traditions set forth in THE WICKER MAN, but with far less success. The gospel singing of Betty and Steve lacks the emotional discourse and intensity of tracks like "Willow's Song" or "Gently Johnny," which had a tremendous impact in driving the plot and luring a one Sergeant Howie into temptation. The continued use of music does give the film a unique identity in the midst of modern Horror.

What we are left with is a mixed bag overall: too serious to be taken as an outright comedy, and too soft for satire. As a "spiritual sequel," fans will surely revel in the familiar themes that are embedded in the film, but THE WICKER TREE stands in the shadow of Hardy's earlier success.

Rating: 7/10.

Movies like THE WICKER TREE:
THE COMMUNE, MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, THE WICKER MAN, POPULATION 436. Read The Full Post HERE!

Get 'Familiar' With Director Richard Powell!

Horror fans will recognize him from the top-rated Horror short WORM, and tonight, I Like Horror Movies is happy to sit down with Fatal Pictures' Richard Powell, who has recently completed work on his next short, FAMILIAR!

ILHM: Richard, you have seen two previous successes in the Indie circuit with the individual releases of CONSUMPTION and WORM. Tell us a little about the films leading up to your newest short, FAMILIAR.

RICHARD POWELL: CONSUMPTION is the story of a professor seeking out a willing victim to take part in a pact of consensual cannibalism. The film was very low budget but features some great and gory FX work by the Butcher Shop. I've come to view CONSUMPTION as an extension of my film school studies, as I learned a great deal of what to do and not do in independent short filmmaking while making that film. Everything I learned was applied in the making of WORM. WORM was a very ambitious short as it takes places in a high school and was shot on film. It was a difficult film to make but in the end a very worthwhile project. Again, we gained much great experience, developed new contacts, and found our direction as a filmmaking entity. WORM really represents my filmmaking voice as it dabbles with genre elements while sticking to a more character centric narrative. Both shorts have played internationally and taken in awards. WORM has gained much critical acclaim thanks to the wonderful performance of its lead Robert Nolan.

ILHM: The teaser trailer for the film is pretty tight-lipped, can you familiarize our readers with the story?

RP: FAMILIAR is the story of John Dodd, an average man who comes to suspect the negative thoughts plauging his mind may not be his own. The film has elements of drama and horror, and another great performance by Robert Nolan.

ILHM: John Dodd is a very conflicted character. How does his struggle relate to the greater human condition?

RP: John's struggle represents the eternal battle between primal and civilized man. Instituions such as family, career, and other social constructions mold him into an acceptable member of society, but somewhere with in him and all of us is something wild that wants to break free.

ILHM: Would you say that there is a little of John in all of us at times?

RP: To varying degrees. We all have desires and goals, and when they are squashed and supressed, we grow bitter and disillusioned. It's important to follow your dreams, but as the film shows, it is easy to fall into a life you never wanted, never asked for, and escpae can seem impossible. Dark things begin to fester when the human soul is crushed under the weight of life.

ILHM: Is the film's unexpected ending meant to be interpretted literally, or is this a manifestation of his own broken psyche?

RP: I'd prefer to leave that open to interpretation.

ILHM: Robert Nolan has already won critical acclaim for his performance in WORM, was it decided that he would play John as well from the very beginning?

RP: Not at all, but during the writing stages, I was always thinking of Robert, as the characters and themes of FAMILIAR are so similiar to WORM. I let Robert read the script when finished and actually asked him to help me find a suitable actor for the role. Over a series of conversations, Robert made it clear he was interested in the part and I began to feel only he would be able to bring what I was looking for to the character. It was a natural progression and Im very thankful it was Robert who took the part.

ILHM: FAMILIAR is being likened to the works of Roman Polanski, Frank Henenlotter, and David Cronenberg. Which comparison do you feel is most accurate?

RP: It's hard to say, as I feel the comparisons being made are based on very surface level elements such as body prostehtics and monster FX. Thematically, the film is inspired by my previous short WORM, which has drawn no comparisions to any of these filmmakers due to its lack of FX and body based trauma. FAMILIAR is the flip side to WORM, an allegorical exploration of the same themes of repression, failure, and rage.

ILHM: Did either of these filmmakers have a direct influence on the making of this film?

RP: While I love the works of Polanksi and Cronenberg especially, I wouldn't say I drew any direct influence from their films. I can understand the comparions however and welcome them as I admire both filmmakers a great deal. Ive not seen much of Henenlotter's work, but I plan to in the near future.

ILHM: What is it about Canadians and "Body Horror?"

RP: I can't say for certain, but much of Canadian film is very reflective and deals with themes of identity, isolation, and alienation. These themes injected into the horror genre yields body horror I suspose, a kind of brainy, art house horror subgenre. Most of these films more than likely wouldn't have been made with the tax shelter funds without the injection of the intellectual elements of the subgenre as out right horror films rarely recieve government funding in Canada. So you could say body horror was born out of necessity in Canada, that's the pragmatic answer.

ILHM: On top of the gripping suspense, FAMILIAR promises more than a little bloodshed. Who did you go to for the effects?

RP: We enlisted the help of the talented Butcher Shop, a great group of guys who consitently bring great FX and expertise to our films. They did an amazing job!

ILHM: What do you hope that viewers will take away from the film more than anything else?

RP: I hope they feel like they've seen something distinct, different, and strong. Thats the impact I want all of our films to have. I also hope they appreciate a horror film that respects them as an audience and doesn't feel the need to talk down to them or hold their hands the whole way through. Horror fans are a lot smarter than most films give them credit for, and I feel the great response to FAMILIAR is representative of that.

Horror fans are starved for intelligent, challenging stories and that's what Fatal Pictures is planning to bring to the genre. Also listen for yet another brilliant score by our good friend and talented composer Bernie Greenspoon!

ILHM: When will fans finally get the chance to see FAMILIAR at home and on the big screen?

RP: Hopefully very soon, we are in the process of lining up festivals and screenings, and should have some news on that shortly.

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Fans can follow Richard and FAMILIAR as it begins booking festivals by visiting Fatal Pictures' websites below:

www.fatalpictures.com
www.fatalpictures.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/fatalpicrtures

Thanks again to the talented Richard Powell for an insightful look at FAMILIAR!

Read The Full Post HERE!

The Company of Wolves (1984)

"Little girls, this seems to say, never stop upon your way, never trust a stranger friend, no-one knows how it will end! As you're pretty, so be wise! Wolves may lurk in every guise! Now, as then, it's simple truth, sweetest tongue has sharpest tooth!"

Childhood fantasies come to life in Neil Jordan's whimsical fairy tale, THE COMPANY OF WOLVES! Each of the stories take their roots from Angela Carter's feminist twist on Gothic fiction, creating strong female characters in place of typical male archetypes. Rosaleen is whisked away to a world of dreams and nightmares, where her kindly old granny tells her treacherous tales about men who hide their hair on the inside; wolves in sheep's clothing. It is these men, she warns, that will drag a young girl into the depths of Hell! Jordan works from an striking visual palette that is overflowing with dark mood and a menacing atmosphere. His forests are filled with gnarled branches, creeping mists, and towering toadstools, which set the perfect stage for such stories. Where other films strive to turn men into wolves on the outside, THE COMPANY OF WOLVES shows that all men are wolves on the inside, both figuratively and literally. The beastly men rip away their flesh to reveal their inner animal in a stunning display of special effects. As in Carter's fiction, THE COMPANY OF WOLVES serves as a beautiful allegory for the coming of age and the perils of puberty. Red suits Rosaleen quite well, and signifies her journey into womanhood. Jordan also explores these changes through clever visual metaphors and running motifs that underline the plot with wit and satire. Sarah Patterson is wonderful in her debut performance as Rosaleen, putting on a show of innocence and naivety that quickly turn to understanding when the time has come to put away her toys and run with the wolves in her budding adolescence.

Rating: 9/10.

Movies like THE COMPANY OF WOLVES:
MIRRORMASK, GINGER SNAPS, BLOOD MOON, SPIRITED AWAY, LABYRINTH, LEMORA: A CHILD'S TALE OF THE SUPERNATURAL.

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Full Moon Unveals Their Newest Puppet from 'Puppet Master X'!

Bombshell Joins the Cast Of

PUPPET MASTER X: AXIS RISING

LOS ANGELES, CA - January 24, 2012 - To celebrate the unveiling of the latest evil puppet, BOMBSHELL, Full Moon is offering a 1 week special. From Mon Jan 23rd to Mon Jan 30th, you can get ALL the Puppet Master films for one low price! If you've missed any of the Puppet Master films in the series, 1 through 9, now is the time to take advantage of this super low price....

Only $45 for the whole series to date!
PLUS! Amazing prices on blu ray ($10) & DVD ($5) of Puppet Master 1 Re-Mastered.
AND Amazing prices on blu ray ($10) & DVD ($5) of Puppet Master: Axis of Evil.

Click here for more info, the sale, and the reveal of the teaser!

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SO much more is at http://www.fullmoonhorror.com!

New updates everyday like:

Stuart Gordon's Lab Report
Ted Nicolaou's Subspecies Journals
Sexy Stars with Amy Paffrath
CRAZY stuff in the Far Out Videos section
and more!

Read The Full Post HERE!

Dust Devil (1992)

A dark shadow hangs over the African desert, and in its wake lies a trail of bodies. He is the Dust Devil, and he rides on the winds collecting the souls of the desperate and weak of heart. As he sets off across the desert to collect his latest victim, he is followed by a persistent policeman whose fifteen year pursuit will finally draw him into a final confrontation with the devil! DUST DEVIL is Richard Stanley's magnum opus, a film that is simply too good for the Horror genre. Stanley is a supreme visualist, who is able to tell a captivating story through images, alone. His impeccable style mesmerizes the audience in DUST DEVIL, as each shot has been planned out to perfection. The African landscape comes to life in ways that many people never thought imaginable, to the point where it becomes a surreal painting. In its extended cut, Stanley achieves all of the same abstract mysticism and dreamy suspense as Alejandro Jodorowsky or David Lynch ever have. The film is otherwise beyond compare. Robert Burke plays a powerful villain, often losing himself in the character. He is charming and mysterious, easily winning the affection of his intended victims in their final moment of weakness. With stunning cinematography and a gripping story, DUST DEVIL is essential viewing for all Horror fans!

Rating: 9/10.

Movies like DUST DEVIL:
EL TOPO, SANTA SANGRE, THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE, THE BONE COLLECTOR, CANDYMAN, LOST HIGHWAY, SE7EN.

Read The Full Post HERE!

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

Martha is picked up at the bus stop -- scared, confused, and alone. As she attempts to settle in to a normal life with her sister, she is haunted by horrible images from the past, where she had become part of a hippie commune led by the persuasive and charismatic Patrick. Martha's nightmares, fear, and paranoia continue to build until she is unable to separate her dreams from reality. First-time director Sean Durkin has struck immediate success with MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, the award-winning cult drama from 2011. Durkin delicately interlaces the past and the present as he retells Martha's chilling experiences using an organic story structure. It is terrifying to think just how easily an impressionable mind could be manipulated and controlled in such a way, but Durkin takes all of the right steps in disarming the audience in the same way that Patrick has disarmed his followers, perfectly illustrating the power of coercion and the psychological lures that draw people in to such a group. Elizabeth Olsen is phenomenal as Martha, and commits herself mind, body, and soul. There are moments where Martha makes contact with the viewer and causes them to turn away in shame for intruding into her thoughts and emotions. John Hawkes is deadly as Patrick, coming on with a subtle charm that effectively seduces the other characters under his spell before corrupting their minds. MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE will not be easily forgotten, and is a top-contender for Best in 2011.

Rating: 9/10.

Movies like MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE:
HELTER SKELTER, GUYANA: CRIME OF THE CENTURY, THE COMMUNE, THE WICKER TREE, POPULATION 436.

Read The Full Post HERE!

A Chinese Ghost Story 3 (1991)

It has been 100 years since Ning and the Taoist priest Yin defeated the ancient tree demon, but as legend foretold, the evil spirit has returned to the Orchid Temple along with its harem of ghostly slaves to trap the souls of weary travellers. A naive young monk falls under the spell of the beautiful Lotus after spending the night in the temple, and the two team with a young swordsman to defeat the evil once more. If you enjoyed either of the previous entries in the A CHINESE GHOST STORY trilogy, you certainly will not be disappointed in the third, as the final film is a virtual remake of the original, with only slight variations played on each of the characters. That is really not a bad thing at all in this case, as the high-flying action, dreamy mysticism, and astonishing special effects are all just as good (if not better) than in the original. Joey Wang returns to the role of the mischievous seductress with all of the same captivating beauty and playfulness as before. This time, Tony Leung Chiu Wai stands in for Leslie Cheung as Fong, and does an excellent job portraying the innocent and good-natured monk. Where there may be slightly less swordplay and cinematic duels throughout the plot, the slapstick comedy never misses. This leaves fans in high spirits as Tsui Hark's stunning fantasy horror series comes to a close.

Rating: 8/10.

Read The Full Post HERE!

The Horde (2009)

Ouessem leads a raid against a Nigerian gang that is holed up in a condemned building, but their gun battle will quickly come to an end when the dead suddenly begin to rise up against the living. Now, the two unlikely allies must join forces if they hope to leave the building alive! Directors Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher send us on a relentless roller coaster ride of non-stop action and bloody horror in THE HORDE! While the film brings nothing new to the table, the comic book characters play strongly into their respective archetypes, and the endless barrage of bullets keeps things moving at an electric pace. Eriq Ebouaney and Jean-Pierre Martins face off as the two high-powered rivals, along with a highly-entertaining performance by Yves Pignot as the crazed old René. The special effects are handled very well, with terrifying zombie designs and explosive splatter abound. There is also a tinge of dark humor that propels the characters and lightens the mood. Action/Horror fans of films like HOUSE OF THE DEAD and RESIDENT EVIL are sure to enjoy THE HORDE.

Rating: 7/10.

Movies like THE HORDE:
THE DEAD, DARK FLOORS, TENEMENT: GAME OF SURVIVAL, [REC], RESIDENT EVIL, AUTOMATON TRANSFUSION.

Read The Full Post HERE!

Donner Pass (2012)

History is about to revisit itself on an unfortunate group of teens who make the mistake of partying out in Donner Pass, where the legend of George Donner is not only alive, but hungry! After a gory opening, DONNER PASS introduces us to a an obnoxious group of utterly predictable teen stereotypes, and it is downhill from there. Having learned nothing from SCREAM, these mindless characters break every rule in the Horror handbook and beg for some unstoppable force of nature to put them out of their own misery. Help arrives in the form of history's most notorious cannibal, and once the deaths begin, they are fast, furious, and full of blood. At least the film makers had the sense to play this as a simple, honest Slasher with no pretentious hangups, because neither the film nor the characters contain any depth to them whatsoever. The expected "twist ending" is broadcast from the very first moments that we spend with the teens thanks to a few obvious clues. To its credit, however, the young cast members take on their roles respectfully, and the film is both cleanly shot and nicely edited. The Slasher crowd might find some bloody entertainment here, but otherwise it is safest to heed the film's warning and PASS.

Rating: 6/10.

Movies like DONNER PASS:
RAVENOUS, ABOMINABLE, CURSED, SHARK NIGHT.

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Torture Garden (1967)

Dare ye enter THE TORTURE GARDEN? Five thrill seekers are coaxed into entering the suspicious carnival attraction, where their fates are foretold by a supernatural statue of the Greek goddess Atropos. The first sorry sap will be granted a fortune in gold coins if he only obeys the demands of a witch's familiar, which takes the form of a small cat. An ambitious young starlet will do whatever it takes to see her name immortalized on screen. Poor Dorothy falls prey to a possessed piano in the next. An Edgar Allan Poe fanatic lets his jealousy and covetous desire get the best of him when he visits a rival's admirable collection in the fourth. The last man, however, resists looking into the eyes of fate, fearful of what he might find. Burgess Meredith greatly entertains as the attraction's eccentric owner, in a performance that is gleefully over-the-top. As is often the case with omnibus pictures, the stories are a bit uneven, with the first and last proving to be the most enjoyable (even with Jack Palance's oddly excitable performance in 'The Man Who Collected Poe'). Freddie Francis directs the small picture with gusto, and leaves us with a fun diversion in the end despite the film's many flaws. Amicus would reach the pinnacle of their success with their next anthology, THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD, from 1970.

Rating: 7/10.

Movies like TORTURE GARDEN:
TALES OF TERROR, FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE, THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD, TALES FROM THE CRYPT, VAULT OF HORROR.

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