Friday, February 26, 2016

Phil gets an exclusive sneak peak at the new short film SWIVEL SHOT-February 25, 2016

Over the years I've had the pleasure of viewing some outstanding films, whether at my local cinema, special screenings or at film festivals. Today's film review comes courtesy from the filmmaker himself. I first met director Christopher Glatis back in 2013 when I saw his film DOSE OF REALITY when it was screened at the 23rd Annual Cinequest Film Festival in my hometown of San Jose. I received an email about a week ago from a Social Media Rep named Brooks Elms informing me that Glatis was once again returning to Cinequest this year to screen his new short film SWIVEL SHOT. Unfortunately, I informed him that I no longer lived down there and I wasn't going to able to see it. However, since I really enjoyed his last feature, I really wanted to see his new film. Glatis was kind enough to email me a screener of his short so that I could review it. And I'm so glad that he did!

Festival Movie Poster (2016)
The film's official synopsis: Two LAPD police officers, at the height of their love, plan to surprise each other with joyful news. Unfortunately, a day that could have been beautiful for both, turns out to be heartbreaking.

Glatis once again proves that he is one of the most talented and gifted filmmakers I have ever seen. His direction is flawless and achieves that perfect balance between action and drama. His set-ups and compositions are fantastic and shows us, the audience, that he has a precise vision that he executes effortlessly. Whether it's a simple shot of two people talking or an action scene, he captures that moment of time within the frame beautifully.

Another arsenal that Glatis possess in his cannon is his screenwriting abilities. Clocking in at about 14 minutes in length, he showcases a fantastic script complete with developed characters, action, a dash of humor and that sense of uncertainty and danger. It's a gripping story with characters we become invested in emotionally, which is not easy to accomplish in a short film and Glatis is able to pull it off wonderfully.

You can have the best screenplay in the world, but it won't work if you don't have the right actors to bring these characters to life. Fortunately, Glatis had two of the best actors appearing in his film. Both Rick Ravanello (DOSE OF REALITY, HART'S WAR, THE CAVE) and Jacqueline Pinol (ROAD TO JUAREZ, THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, ANSWERS TO NOTHING) are phenomenal in their respective roles. They bring so much to their characters that their performances are so believably honest and real. Their on-screen chemistry is fantastic. I found myself completely lost in their acting. Amazing job by these two outstanding actors!

SWIVEL SHOT is one of the best short films I have seen a long time! I predict it'll be only a matter of time till we see Christopher Glatis directing some big budget Hollywood blockbuster. If you get the opportunity to see this film, make sure you see it! It's than damn good! 5 out of 5 stars!! Very highly recommended!!

SWIVEL SHOT will be having its premier at this year's Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, California. The festival starts March 1st and runs till March 13th. The film will be screened at the Camera 12 Cinemas at the following times: Saturday, March 5th at 9:30pm, Sunday, March 6th at 1:30pm and Saturday, March 12th at 11:59am. You can follow this film on Facebook and Twitter. To learn more about Cinequest, their film schedule and to purchase tickets, visit their website at http://cinequest.org.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Phil interviews actress Natasha Halevi from the upcoming film B.C.BUTCHER from Troma Entertainment-February 25, 2016

 Actress Natasha Halevi (Photo courtesy of N.H.)
Welcome back to my second interview in a series featuring the actresses from the upcoming Troma Entertainment film entitled B.C. BUTCHER, directed by Kansas Bowling. For today, I had the privilege of interviewing actress Natasha Halevi, who plays Anaconda in the film. Not only is she a gifted actress but is also highly intelligent, an avid climber and holds two major degrees. Read on to learn more about this amazing woman.

Phil Castor: First things first. Do you go by Tasha or do you prefer your full name Natasha?

Natasha Halevi: I go by Natasha on the set. My mom loved Natalie Wood and named me Natasha as a variation of that name. I like the idea of having a piece of her with me through my name, especially on set.

PC: So tell us about growing up in sunny Ventura, California. What's your family like?

NH: Growing up in Ventura is like growing up on a beach vacation. I love that town and it is my sanctuary. You can see the Channel Islands from most places in Ventura, including the house grew up in and there is something about staring at those islands that has always grounded me. I was raised by two aerospace engineers, aka rocket scientists...actual rocket scientists. So, my family is kind of a bunch of smarty-pants. We were raised around a lot of technology, but also, a totally grounded connection to nature, especially the ocean. My younger sister grew up to be a tech guru too - she's worked on a bunch of video game development and is a League of Legends nerd. I like to take credit, because I taught her to play Super Mario Bros. as a kid. (But it's really, of course, all her!)

PC: I read somewhere that you graduated from Davis University with a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Dramatic Arts. Those are two totally polar opposite majors. What made you decide to pursue both studies?

NH: Totally. Polar. Opposites...but, I loved studying both. As it turns out, NONE of the classes overlap, so it was a lot of work to complete both. Davis has an amazingly talented plant biology department, and even though I did a pre-med track, I took as many plant biology classes as possible just for the sake of learning from geniuses I their field. I also obsessed over David Osleger's geology classes. (I am a rock climber, so love learning about geology) As much as I loved learning organic chemistry and calculus, the Theater Department was always home. It's still a part of my home - I keep a series of B&W photos of the UCD Theater Department on my wall.

PC: While at Davis you also worked at Yosemite National Park. What did you do there?

NH: I started climbing at the Rocknasium climbing gym when I was at Davis and I became immediately obsessed...I mean I spent my summers living out of my car, sleeping outside every night and literally climbed most waking hours. Yosemite is a Mecca for climbers, so it made sense to get a job there. All those plant biology classes were put to good use too, since I was a Park Ranger who gave daily walks though the Maripoa Grove of Giant Sequoias. I also told campfire stories to campers....hey, wait a minute, that's what Anaconda does!

PC: Sounds like life imitating art. So how did you get into acting? Was it something you fell into?

NH: I wish it was something I just fell into, that sounds a lot easier. I've worked at it for years. As you know, I studied Dramatic Arts in college and I truly continue to study everyday. Everyday I wake up and look forward to working as an actor, whether that means going to set or spending time working on my craft at home. I put in the work everyday and it's a joy!

PC: You've appeared in several outstanding short films. What do you love about acing in them?

 Halevi as Anconda in B.C. BUTCHER (Photo courtesy of N.H.)

NH: I love short films, I love all films, I love all venues for sharing emotion and story. I get most excited about feature films - I like being able to spend days, weeks, months with a character. The first film I worked on was a feature length called THEY WANT DICK DICKSTER. It was great place to get started because the set was easy to be on as a newbie. Robert Ray Schafer and the rest of the cast was so hilarious and so welcoming. Chris Olen Ray was a very fun director and made sure the set started light - which was really helpful on a dark comedy.

PC: What are some of your favorite film genres? Do you have any actresses and films that you draw inspiration from?

NH: I love an epic drama. Some of the most epic stories of our day are actually on TV. The work that Matt Weiner has done over the years is amazing - Mad Men is such a beautifully complex drama.  There is such subtlety and so much meaning in every moment. I’m really into Krysten Ritter right now.  It’s really fun to see her go from her comedic role in “Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23” to a very dark role in “Jessica Jones”.  I also really like watching the career of Constance Zimmer – she’s been working a long time, but she seems so fresh in every new role she’s taken on recently – it’s really inspiring.  Both those ladies have recently been added to the Marvel Universe, so might I actually be a Marvel nerd?

PC: So tell us how you meet Bowling Kansas and what made you decide to be in her film? What attracted to you to the project?

NH: I met Kansas in the audition room and I knew immediately that I wanted to work with her.  It took a whole of maybe 3 seconds to realize that Kansas was a strong force and a woman who had the cajones to make her vision happen. I got what she was going for with Anaconda and I knew it would be a lot of fun.  It was easy to say yes to Kansas because I loved what she was planning to make happen, and I knew that she would actually make it happen.

PC: How would you describe your character Anaconda? Did Bowling allow you to improvise on set? 

NH: Anaconda is aptly named – she’s a snake and is a little sneaky in trying to get her way. She is the “second in command” of the female cave clan and is always somewhat undermining her best friend and cave clan leader, Neandra. It's a classic tale of most popular girl and her bff.  

PC: There's been a lot of debate with shooting movies on film like Kansas did and shooting digitally? Do you have an opinion on this topic?

NH: There’s something special about working on film and hearing “roll out."  It felt like being in a romanticized version of old Hollywood. After we shot, Kansas invited us to see the raw footage in a small theater at FotoKem where the film was processed. I was blown away by how beautiful everything looked raw. It’s a dreamy medium and I hope I get to work on film again.

Natasha Halevi (Photo courtesy of N.H.)
PC: What other projects are you currently working on?

NH: I just finished up a feature film called 'Toby Goes to Camp.' I’m Bella and have a wild animal refuge where Toby lives.  Toby is a tiger, a real tiger!  Most anytime I was on set there was also a tiger on set, which was pretty exciting.  It was a lot of fun to work with a tiger and the amazing trainers. We actually shot some of the camp scenes on location at a camp in the hills not far from where we shot B.C. BUTCHER.  

PC: What are your future plans? Will stay in the film industry or will you go into the world of biology?

NH: I’ve never thought, "oh, if only I could go back and go to med school or why didn't I become a field biologist." I'm excited about the work I do as an actor every day. Acting is my passion and my career and I'm lucky to have them both together.

PC: What advice would you give to all aspiring and upcoming female talents who want to break into the film industry, especially those who wish to bring diversity and a feminine voice to the overpopulated male dominated Hollywood?

NH: There are so many things you need to “do”, BUT, the most important thing you can do for your career is to know your own self worth – regardless of gender, race, education, height, weight, or whatever other metric you (and the industry) might let get in your way. Keep that internal fire lit through whatever it is you do – exercise, meditation, journaling. Keep the external support strong by surrounding yourself with people who think you’re worthy – let go of people who tell you to put your dreams on a shelf or are jealous you are following your dreams. Especially let go of people who pretend to be supportive but undercut you. (Those are the people who congratulate you, but with a dig about how small the project is or something.) Take in the people who love you for who you are, believe you have a voice in this world, and whom you also love in the same way. To put it short, believe in yourself and allow others to believe in you too.

To learn more about Natasha Halevi, visit her IMDb page and be sure to check out her Twitter and Instagram accounts. To learn more about Troma and their upcoming release of B.C. BUTCHER, visit their website at www.troma.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show! 

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Phil interviews actress Leilani Fideler from the upcoming film B.C. BUTCHER from Troma Entertainment-February 24, 2016

Actress Leilani Fidler (courtesy of IMDb)
As I mention in my Troma Entertainment anniversary tribute, the company just recently launched their new streaming service Troma Now, where fans can watch a plethora of movies, television shows and world premieres. One of those premieres was their newest acquisition B.C. BUTCHER, directed by Kansas Bowling. A couple of months ago I began a series of email interviews with the cast of the film, culminating with the film's director. The first in the series, I had the great pleasure with interviewing lead actress Leilani Fideler, who portrays Neandra in the film. Below is my interview with this very sweet, charming and talented actress.

Phil Castor: Tell us a little bit about yourself, your family and your upbringing.

Leilani Fideler: I'm part of the rare breed of actors that were born, grew up, and STILL LIVE in Los Angeles! I'm lucky to have parents that just celebrated 30 years together and a brother that I enjoy. I'm definitely a city-type, but will always appreciate a trip to the country! 

PC: You definitely are a rare breed indeed. Are your parents and brother in the film industry as well?

LF: Thanks! My family is not in the film industry.

PC: Did you always wanted to be an actress or was it something you fell into?

LF: I fell into acting at the young age of 13. I've been through dance lessons, music lessons, sports, painting, etc. but the craft of acting has stuck around. It's so much fun and mentally challenging! I believe I'm growing as a person while I grow as an artist.

PC: You were also a production assistant on television shows like Melrose Place and Pretty Little Liars. How did you get involved with these shows?

LF: Yes I was!! MP and PLL were my first two immediate jobs after college graduation. I wanted to be as close to the industry as I could! An assistant job in the TV world is really tough, but I learned a great deal on these sets, learning the behind-the-scenes processes has helped me as an actress.

PC: Where did you attend college at? What were you majoring in?

LF: I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications at the University of Colorado at Boulder. It was a fantastic life experience to be there!

Fideler as Neandra from B.C. BUTCHER (photo courtesy of Leilani Fideler)
PC: So how did you meet director Kansas Bowling? Were you two friends prior?

LF: B.C. BUTCHER brought us together and I'm so very grateful we crossed paths! This was here first film and my first film too! She's a really hard worker and believes in everything she puts out there. I really admire that. I hope to collaborate with her serve as more times down the road.

PC: What attracted you to be involved with her film debut B.C. BUTCHER?

LF: Her casting directors had me scream and struggle during my audition. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would!! The genre was new to me and actors LOVE to play!

PC: Sounds like you had a fun-filled audition. Were you interested in the horror genre previously? What are your favorite film genres?

LF: I really love period piece films. Every once in a while I'll have the courage to watch a horror film but I'm too scared, to be honest

PC: Tell us about your character Neandra. What made you decide to portray her?

LF: I was ecstatic that Kansas chose me for her lead female! She recognized that I could portray a strong aura, which is Neandra. But what I especially thank Kansas and her writing partner for is that they gave Neandra contradictions and her inner struggles. She is a human being after all! I'm glad audiences could hate her and love her all the same.

PC: Did Kansas allow you to improvise to being more elements to Neandra?

LF: Kansas is so great because she allowed all the actors freedom to improvise their idea of the characters. One day I lightly suggested to Kansas that Neandra have a mental breakdown with tears after discovering her lover's affair coupled with the deaths of her tribe members. I mean, wouldn't YOU break your "heroism" with a good cry after events like these? Kansas happily accepted.

Behind-the-scenes (photo courtesy of Leilani Fideler)
PC: Sounds like you had a lot of fun with your character! What were some of the things you took away from this experience?

LF: Talk to the camera crew. They have a wealth of knowledge about equipment and it's really fascinating!

PC: The movie was shot on 16mm film. How do you feel about the current debate between shooting on film versus using digital camera?

LF: This is a great question for our director Kansas Bowling! Filmmakers know exactly how they want their work to look and feel. Kansas wanted to keep it authentic by using film and I think it looks fantastic!

PC: What projects are currently working on now?

LF: I'm taking my career to New York City! More projects and stage productions to come in 2016!!

PC: Oh really? How exciting! Can you give us any clues as to which stage productions you will be involved in?

LF: I'm still in the process of searching and auditioning.

PC: What are your future plans in the film industry? Will we see you someday become a director or producer?

LF: Actor-producer is definitely a possibility for me! Directing is not out of the question. I will need to shadow a few directors before I feel confident enough!

PC: What advice would you give to all aspiring and upcoming female talents who want to break into the film industry, especially those who wish to bring diversity and a feminine voice to the overpopulated male dominated Hollywood?

LF: I wouldn't say I'm in a position to give aspiring actresses advice, but I would definitely offer encouragement and support. The industry is extremely challenging to navigate and because of that, a lot of agents' casting directors, producers, etc will shy you away from dreaming BIG! Appreciate what others are trying to tell you, but take things with a grain of salt. Focus on your goals and aspirations!

PC: Thank you for your time Leilani!

LF: Thank you Phil! =)

To learn more about Leilani Fideler, visit her IMDb page and follow her Twitter and Instagram accounts. To learn more about Troma and their upcoming release of B.C. BUTCHER, visit their website at www.troma.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show! 

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Phil sees CRIMSON PEAK from Universal Pictures-February 20, 2016

Director Guillermo del Toro has made some of the most interesting, original and frightening films ever made. From his breakthrough debut of CRONOS to films like HELLBOY, PAN'S LABYRINTH and PACIFIC RIM, del Toro has crafted works of art that contains both surrealistic imagery and social commentary. His latest film CRIMSON PEAK is equal parts horrifying disturbing and atheistically pleasing visually.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)
The film's official synopsis: When her heart is stolen by a seductive stranger named Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston), Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) is swept away to a house atop a mountain of blood-red clay: a place filled with secrets that will haunt her forever. Between desire and darkness, between mystery and madness, lies the truth behind Crimson Peak.

Words cannot describe just how amazing and gorgeous this movie is. With its sweeping visuals, impressive sets, outstanding performers and terrifying script, the movie harkens back to the old Hammer Films of the past. And like those gothic classics, this film captures the look and sounds of the early 1900s perfectly: the impressive exterior sets, the dramatic costumes, the eirry English castle, everything is done to perfection. You don't see to many movies being made with this much attention to detail. Again, del Toro's directing is fantastic!

Along with co-writer Matthew Robbins, del Toro's script is utterly horrifyingly romantic and weaves together themes of love, murder, life and death. It's sheer brilliance is such a welcomed change of pace from your typical Hollywood cookie cutter films and the tired reboot/remake/sequel trend. The story itself is gripping; showing us a time and place that we immediately are drawn to. We the audience  are transported into another world and we become so invested in not only the story, but the characters that inhabit this world.

The three main leads are phenomenal, each bringing something interesting to the table. Our protagonist Edith is wonderfully brought to life by Mia Wasikowska and she brings a wide variety of emotions. Edith is intelligent, a gifted writer, bold and has no problem with speaking mind, and yet at the same time she's naive, stubborn and vulnerable. A great performance by this talented actress. Tom Hiddleston breaks out of his Marvel alter ego Loki and shows us he has a lot more to offer to his fans. He adds a sense of intrigue, mystery and distrust to his character Thomas but there's a level of confusion. He knows what he has to do but he becomes town between his love for Edith and his loyalty to his sister Lucille, played amazingly twisted by Jessica Chastain. Lucille is both insanely breathtaking and gorgeously twisted which is very hard to pull off but Miss Chastain does this effortlessly. This actress was born to play this character!

CRIMSON PEAK is one of the most hauntingly beautiful romantic horror films I've seen in decades! Easily one of the most strikingly and original films as well! So do yourself a favor and see this astounding work of art!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Very highly recommended!!


CRIMSON PEAK is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. It's also available on Redbox and Video On Demand.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees CABIN FEVER from IFC Midnight-February 20, 2016

In 2002, filmmaker Eli Roth made a huge splash in the horror genre with his directorial debut CABIN FEVER. A homage to Sam Raimi's EVIL DEAD, Roth's film's was a breathe of fresh (or contaminated) air. After two less than stellar straight-to-video sequels, the series was reported to receive a reboot using Roth's original screenply with Travis Zariwny directing it. Now I found this bit of news perplexing considering that the original film came out only 14 years ago. However, one must remember that this is Hollywood we're talking so I shouldn't have of been surprised. Once the film was completed, the film was picked for distribution by IFC Midnight. So let's talk about what I thought about the remake of CABIN FEVER.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2016)
The film's official synopsis: Executive producer Eli Roth presents this reboot of his instant classic gorefest, which features all new characters and all new kills. The story is familiar: fresh out of college, a group of five friends retreat to a remote cabin in the woods for one last week of partying—only to become snacks for a gruesome, flesh-eating virus. What’s surprising are the ingenious new deaths, which offer a fresh spin on a horror-comedy milestone. With Gage Golightly (Teen Wolf) and Dustin Ingram (PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3).

So what did I think of it!? It was OK. There were some cool stuff in it but mostly it was a shot-for-shot remake of the original. My understanding is that the filmmakers used Roth's original script but all the deaths were going to be changed and they incorporated aspects into the film that Roth wasn't able to include. So believe what you want but it was entertaining, albeit an unessesary remake. But I'll explain to you all in more detail what I liked about it.

First up is the cast. The stand-outs for me were actresses Nadine Crocker who portrays Marcy in this version (Cerina Vincent played her in the original). Crocker's performance was really good and she goes full throttle in her performance and doesn't hold back. Her acting is believable, showed great range of emotions and her sex scenes were very hot. I was surprised by how raw and risqué those scenes were because she was very much in the moment. Very beautiful, sexy and talented, I hope to see more of Miss Crocker. The other actress I enjoyed watching was Louise Linton as Deputy Winston. While she didn't get a lot of screen time, I really enjoyed her interpretation of the character. Now as many of you recall, actor Giuseppe Andrews originally portrayed the deputy in the original film. Zariwny changed the character from male to female because he thought there as no way to recapture Andrews' performance. 

Some new ingredients to the remake/reboot include this crazy infested dog, which as a cool concept. The formentioned Deputy Winston gender swap was a good idea. Again, all the character's death scenes were completely different and very gory, which was a lot of fun to watch. Let's see what else am I missing here......well hell's bells, I think that's about it! Oh, during the end credits we see the police arriving and taking away all the dead bodies. So yeah, that's all folks!

Travis Zariwny is best known as a production designer, having worked on films like BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON, WAKE, CHILLERAMA, SUGAR and DIGGING UP THE MARROW. His previous directing duties include SCAVENGERS, INTRUDER and a couple of short films. Overall, I can't really comment on his style cause this was a rehash of the original and I saw nothing new here. I'll have to view his other two films to better make a critique of his directing style.

CABIN FEVER is an OK remake, but honestly, there was no reason to remake the movie. It was perfectly fine but some people can't leave well enough alone. Truth be told, I thought that trailer was better than the film itself. So if you want to see this remake, go ahead but you're better off watching the original. 2 out of 5 stars! It's a rental at best!


CABIN FEVER is playing in limited release in select theaters nationwide. It's also available through Video On Demand. To learn more about upcoming releases, visit the IFC Films website at www.ifcfilms.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Phil's Horror Watch: WE ARE STILL HERE (2015) from Dark Sky Films-February 18, 2016

WE ARE STILL HERE Blu-Ray (2015)
WE ARE STILL HERE
Starring: Barbara Crampton, Andrew Sensenig, Lisa Marie, Larry Fessenden, Monte Markham, Susan Gibney
Written by Ted Geoghegan
Cinematography by Karim Hussain
Edited by Aaron Crozier & Josh Ethier
Produced by Travis Stevens
Directed by Ted Geoghegan
Production Company: Snowfort Pictures
Distributed by Dark Sky Films

Within the horror genre, there are many different subgenres that cater to a horror fan's taste. Recently, the supernatural theme has been very popular among fans and at the boxoffice. With the films THE CONJURING and INSIDEOUS, it seems like the classic ghost story is once again back in style. Recently, Dark Sky Films released one of the best supernatural films of 2015 that I finally got around to see. Like DEATHGASM, this film also made its way into several Top 10 lists from horror websites and publications. Needless to say, WE ARE STILL HERE is another sensational smash from the independent film distributor.

The film's official synopsis: After their teenage son is killed in a car crash, Paul (Andrew Sensenig) and Anne (Barbara Crampton) move to the quiet New York countryside to try to start a new life for themselves. But the grieving couple unknowingly becomes the prey of a family of vengeful spirits that reside in their new home, and before long they discover that the seemingly peaceful town they've moved into is hiding a terrifyingly dark secret. Now they must find a way to overcome their sorrow and fight back against both the living and dead as the malicious ghosts threaten to pull their souls - and the soul of their lost son - into hell with them.

Festival Movie Poster (2015)
Writer/Director Ted Geoghegan did a fantastic job crafting a film that made my skin scrawl. There a couple of factors about the film I really enjoyed. The first being is that it's a slow burn; meaning it takes its time and the scares and tension slowly builds up towards this explosive climax that'll make scream with fright. Most horror films lack this element and just go straight to the scares, which fine but nowadays that's all most horror films are. They lack the peaks and valleys that were commonly found in the older horror films. Thanks to Geoghegan's genius script, it moves us closer and closer to the edge of our seats and we wait with anticipation for the next scare to frighten us.

Second, it's a period piece. The film takes place sometime in the 1970's, which was when these kinds of films were made. Movies like THE EXORCIST, THE OMEN and THE AMITYVILLE HORROR terrified audience during this time and influenced many of today's filmmakers in the horror genre. Now I have a big soft sport for 70's horror films. Reason being is that at this time the new Motion Pictures Rating System came to effect and soon many directors like Wes Craven, William Friedkin, Tobe Hooper, Larry Cohen, John Carpenter, Brian DePalma and George Romero were pushing the envelope regarding to on-screen violence, gore, suspense, sex and nudity combined with social and political commentary.

Third is Geoghegan's style of directing which is really quite simple and very effective. Normally directors will try to get experimental with their set-ups and angles and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. But sometimes it can be a distraction and could take the audience out of the movie. This is not the case here and Geoghegan does a superb job of terrifying us with the simplest cinema techniques like creaking sounds and subtle camera tricks that sends chills running up and down your spine.

The acting in the film is fantastic and all deserve a huge round of applause. However I would like to single out the beautiful and talented actress Barbara Crampton. She has been a favorite with genre fans since she portrayed Megan Halsey in the 1985 Empire Film RE-ANIMATOR. Crampton has gone one to act in other noteworthy horror films like FROM BEYOND, CHOPPING MALL,TRANCERS II, CASTLE FREAK and LORDS OF SALEM. To most mainstream fans she's best know for playing Leanna Randolph from the television soap opera The Young and the Restless. In this film she's plays grieving mother Anne Sacchetti and does a phenomenal job of bringing her to life. The emotional roller coaster Anne goes through is substantially trying on her. The loss of her son, trying to rebuild her life, emotionally detached from everything and surviving the horrifying paranormal threat that wants to kill her and her husband. This legendary acting icon is able to visually express all of these different ranges of emotions and then some. Truly an underrated actress, Crampton gives a tour-de-force performance that rivals any of those so-called Hollywood actress!!

WE ARE STILL HERE is easily one of the best horror films that you will ever see! With a solid script, outstanding acting and stunning directing, any horror aficionado would welcome seeing this astounding work of art!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!


WE ARE STILL HERE is currently available on Blu-Ray and DVD. Visit your local retailer or order directly from Dark Sky Films. To learn more about Dark Sky Films and their upcoming film releases, visit their website at darkskyfilms.com. You can also follow them on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees DEADPOOL from 20th Century Fox-February 14, 2016

Before Marvel Studio came into excistance, 20th Century Fox were the ones making movies based on Marvel's most popular properties. The X-MEN franchise plus the WOLVERINE spin offs and the FANTASTIC FOUR films were huge hits at the boxoffice (OK maybe not so much the FANTASTIC FOUR films because those were pretty shitty but Jessica Alba was smoking hot in them though). When X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE came out in 2009, the film introduced a mouthy little mutant named Deadpool, portrayed by the one and only Ryan Reynolds. This movie version of the popular Marvel character resembled nothing like its comic book source and it was met with some very negative feedback. Fans wondered if they would ever get an authentic Deadpool origin movie. Fast forward to this past Valentine's Day weekend and I took my fiancé to see DEADPOOL at our local theater.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2016)
The film's official synopsis: This is the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson (Reynolds again), who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

At this point, I usually give my thoughts and opinions about the film. However, I thought it would be more fun to just list what I loved about the film (and it has nothing to do with me being lazy or anything like that).

1) Ryan Reynolds portrays Wade Wilson aka Deadpool perfectly. He stays very faithful to the Marvel Comics character. He really is the Merc with the Mouth: a funny smart ass who's also a bad ass that kills a lot of people and has the best one-liners in the whole world. What's not love about this guy? Oh, and he takes pot shots at BLADE 2, GREEN LANTERN and his shitty version of Deadpool from X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE

2) Director Tim Miller makes his feature length debut and knocks it out of the park! He captures the violent and the randomness that made the comic books so popular to begin with. Plus he keeps the movie going while giving the audience the chance to get emotionally involved with our characters before shit hits the fan. Great set-ups, awesome directing, two big thumbs up to you Mr. Miller and congrats on making a big splash with your debut buddy!

3) Hats off to screenwriters Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese for crafting one of the most hilarious, profanity filled, sexual innuendo intended, over-the-top violence and pop culture referenced script that made me laugh my ass off! What's interesteting about the comics is that Deadpool always breaks the fourth wall; he talks directly to the reader, he knows that he's a character in a comic book and he's constantly referencing to the pop culture of today and says the worst things at the wrong time. These two were able to capture the spirit of the comic and the character spot-on!!

3) Well, hello there Morena Baccarin, who portrays Deadpool's hot, sexy, sassy, sexy, caring, sexy, loving, sexy, beautiful, sexy (did I mention she was sexy?) girlfriend Vanessa. Now, I was surprised seeing her in the film because she plays Dr. Leslie Thompkins on the hit DC Comics television show Gotham. And here she she doing a sex scene in an R-rated Marvel property film. Damn girl you got some big balls there! And good for you! You were fantastic in the film! You were tough, compassionate, dramatic, and your awesome on-screen chemistry with Reynolds made it feel more real. We cared about your character and we believed in your performance so congrats on an excellent job Morena!!

4) Stan Lee's cameo is fucking awesome! 'Nuff said!!

5) One must give credit to Deadpool's creators. Artist Rob Liefield and writer Fabian Nicieza debuted him in the now classic New Mutants #98 back in 1991 (holy crap I'm old!). I don't think they had a clue as to just how popular he was destined to become. Believe it or not, I still have that issue in my collection and I just recently found it. Awwwwww.......how I miss the simplicity of my younger days. Anyway, in the intro of the movies there's a Starbucks coffee cup and the name on it says Rob L. Just one of the many Easter Eggs to look for in the film.

6) Speaking of the film's intro, the opening credits are freaking hysterical! Instead of listing everybody's names, the use generic descriptions like Miller is credited as "An Overpaid Tool" while Reynold's is "God's Perfect Idiot." Then there's Baccarin as "The Hot Chick", Lee's billed as "A Gratuitous Cameo" and the screenwriters billed themselves as "The Real Heroes Here." Now imagine reading these credits while watching a vehicle with Deadpool killing its passengers in mid flip with Juice Newton's "Angel of the Morning" playing the background and you get an idea of the tone of the movie.

7) Did I mention it was violent as hell? Oh yeah it's fucking brilliant! Heads getting blown off, bodies crashing into freeway signs, heads getting chopped off, it's just brilliant!! 

8) The numerous references to pop culture is abundant, not to mention the poking fun at the X-MEN and WOLVERINE films. Oh and stick around after the end credits because there's two bonus scenes at the end (What? I'm not spoiling it for you people. It's a Marvel film. There's always a bonus scene at the end of the credits. Where the hell have you been hiding?).

9) For all you ladies out there that are being dragged kicking and screaming by your significant other (because that's the politically correct thing to say) to see this movie, there's something for you here: it's a love story. Granted, it's a love story that filled with raunchy humor, explosions and foul language but there's heart in this movie. So, there you go. Yeah. Moving on now.

So, in case you were wondering, DEADPOOL is a fucking party bus movie filled with laughs, guns, mutants, romance, strippers and so much awesome action that you'll shit your pants with excitement! This is the perfect to movie to have sex while eating a chimichanga smothered in red sauce with a dollop of sour cream to give it that right flavor! And you're probably wondering what the he'll I'm talking about! To be honest I don't have a clue either! Just go an see this movie!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!


DEADPOOL is currently playing in theaters as well as in IMAX nationwide. Check your local theater for show times. 

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Monday, February 15, 2016

Phil celebrates the 85th anniversary of DRACULA (1931)-February 14, 2016

Happy Valentine's Day everybody! Now, I'm not a huge Valentine's Day fan, only because all it is really is a made up holiday created by a evil conglomerate greeting card corporation (I'm looking at you Hallmark Cards) for the only purpose of selling their lame holiday themed cards. However, today is a day for celebrating, but not for St. Valentine's sake. Nope, today is the 85th anniversary of one of the greatest horror films ever made. Yes horror hounds, I'm talking about the 1931 Universal Pictures classic DRACULA!!

Original Movie Poster (1931)
The film's official synopsis: Bela Lugosi stars as Dracula in the 1931 original screen version of Bram Stoker’s classic tale. Towering ominously among the shadows of the Carpathian Mountains, Castle Dracula strikes fear in the hearts of the Transylvanian villagers below. After a naive real estate agent succumbs to the will of Count Dracula, the two head to London where the vampire hopes to stroll among respectable society by day and search for potential victims by night. Directed by horror specialist Tod Browning, the film creates an eerie, chilling mood that has been rarely realized since and remains a masterpiece not only of the genre, but of all time.

Originally silent film actor Lon Chaney, star of THE HUTCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT had made a series of films with famed cult director Todd Browning for Universal Pictures. Browning's next project for studio was DRACULA and he was going to cast his friend for the lead role. However, on August 26, 1930, Chaney died from a throat hemorrhage.

The Hungarian born Lugosi created the role of Dracula on the Broadway stage and became a sensation. However, Universal originally didn't want Lugosi to portray the Count and as a result, wasn't even placed on their list of potentials. However, the studio gave him a test screening and eventually he was cast in the lead. The film was released on Valentine's Day in 1931. The rest, as they say, is cinematic history.

The film became a huge sensation and it spawned several sequels including DRACULA'S DAUGHTER, SON OF DRACULA and HOUSE OF DRACULA. Also, during the making of the Todd Browning classic, Universal was also simultaneously making a Spanish version of DRACULA for their Mexican market. Browning's cast and crew would film during the day and then director George Melford and his stars Carlos Villarías (Dracula), Lupita Tovar (Eva), Barry Noton (Juan Harker) and the rest of the Spanish cast and crew would film on the exact same sets at night. Also, they would look at the dailies from Browning's shoot and decided the they could do better. Some fans have said the the Melford version is scarier than Browning's. As for me, I love them both but I have to go with the Lugosi version and I'll tell you all why that is.

Universal Classic Monsters Blu-Ray Boxset (2012)
I first saw the film when I was four years-old. It was 1977 and our local television station KTVU Channel 2 out in Oakland used to show a lot of the old black and white horror movies from when my parents were kids. I remember playing on the living room floor and my dad sitting on the couch watching T.V. Then he told me to look up and see what was on the screen. It was DRACULA and I distinctly remember just being in awe at what I was watching. The Gothic setting, the cobwebbed infesting spooky old castle, the howling of the wolves and then, standing on the staircase stood the iconic Lugosi as the caped clad vampire. It was the most amazing film I had ever seen. It was the very first horror film I ever saw and soon, I watched all the other classic Universal monster movies. But it was DRACULA that got me into loving horror movies and the genre and it remains to this day my favorite horror film of all time.

Over the years the film has been released on VHS, DVD, and then in 2012, Universal released a brand new restored version of the film for their Universal Classic Monsters Blu-Ray Boxset. Last year, the studio released the films individually for fans and horror film lovers. Now a whole new generation can watch these treasured classics in stunning Hi-Definition.

DRACULA is one of the greatest horror films ever captured on celluloid. It started off the Universal Monster cycle with Lugosi creating the look and sound of the vampire and became the standard for all other Dracula movies to follow. One of the most important movies in film history!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended and required viewing!!


DRACULA is currently available on both Blu-Ray and DVD and can be purchased at your local retailer or by visiting the Amazon website at http://www.amazon.com

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Phil Gets Tromatized: THE TOXIC AVENGER (1984) from Troma Entertainment-Feb. 8, 2016

THE TOXIC AVENGER Blu-Ray/DVD (2015)
THE TOXIC AVENGER
Starring: Andree Maranda, Mitch Cohen, Mark Torgl, Jennifer Babtist, Cindy Manion, Robert Prichard, Gary Schneider, Pat Ryan
Written by Joe Ritter, Gay Partington Terry & Lloyd Kaufman
Cinematography by Lloyd Kaufman & James A. Leobovitz (James London)
Edited by Richard W. Haines
Produced by Lloyd Kaufman & Michael Herz
Directed by Michael Herz & Lloyd Kaufman (Samuel Weil)
Distributed by Troma Entertainment

Hello everybody and welcome to a brand new segment entitled Phil Gets Tromatized. Here, I'll be reviewing the many, many films that Troma has released over the past 42 years. Now some movies are classics, some alright and there are those that suck horribably. However, for my inaugural entry, I'll be talking about the most famous hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength and the first superhero from New Jersey: THE TOXIC AVENGER.

The film's official synopsis: Meet little Melvin. He's a 98lbs loser who works at the Tromaville Health Club where he gets picked on a lot. But when a practical joke goes awry, Melvin falls into a vat of chemical waste, thus transforming him into a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength. Melvin becomes The Toxic Avenger, the first superhuman from New Jersey! Soon Toxie is fighting crime and cleaning up Tromaville, much to the chagrin of its fat corrupt Mayor Peter Belgoody (Pat Ryan). But can Toxie and his blind and beautiful girlfriend Sara (Andree Maranda) survive the wrath of the mayor's revenge?

Original Teaser Poster (1984)
Every time I watch this movie, I feel like I'm eighteen years-old again. Being a movie lover, I had never seen anything like this. It was absolutely amazing to watch. Kaufman and Herz also added social commentary to the film, touching on issues like chemical waste, the environment, the underdog becoming the hero and more. There's always something interesting to look for in a Troma movie.

This is the film that put Troma on the map. Originally, nobody wanted to see the film. But when it was booked at the midnight screenings at the Bleeker Street Cinema, the word of mouth spread. Soon there were lines around the block. With its gratuitous nudity, gore, the infamous head crushing scene, toilet humor, and not so special effects, the film went on to win the hearts of fans and became an instant cult classic! The film has spawned three sequels to date (with a fourth one in the works), a children's cartoon show, merchandise, action figures, books, games, etc. Troma had created their own mascot and the world hasn't been the same since. The little New York independent film studio had just became part of pop culture and film history.

To this day, I still get excited whenever I watch the THE TOXIC AVENGER. And finally, after years of seeing the movie on edited VHS copies, Troma released a director's cut of the film back in the mid 90's. Now in the 21st century, it has been transferred on to Blu-Ray and it looks phenomenal. As a result, a whole new generation of fans can now discover this cult classic in hi-definition and get the same kind of excitement as I have been experiencing for the past 22 years. 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!


THE TOXIC AVENGER is now available on both standard DVD and as a Blu-Ray/DVD combo. To purchase a copy for yourself, visit your local retailer or visit the Troma website at www.troma.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees GOOSEBUMPS from Sony Pictures/Columbia Pictures-February 6, 2016

As a kid, I grew up reading the classics: Dr. Seuss, The Little Golden Books, The Hardy Boys and so forth. These books were so much fun to read that I'd read the same books five or six times. The idea of getting lost in a book and imagining you were on the ship hunting Moby Dick, or swinging through the jungle as Tarzan, or traveling 10,00 leagues under the sea. Fast forward to the present and today's generation of kids are reading a different kind book. One the is spooky and creepy, filled with chills and thrills, bizarre creatures and horrifying monsters. The series is called "Goosebumps" and they are written by the prolific R.L. Stine. The books were adapted into a very popular television series on the children network Nickelodeon that ran from 1995 to 1998. Then finally in 2015, the books was brought to the big screen. So let me tell you what I thought about the film GOOSEBUMPS.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)
The film's official synopsis: Upset about moving from a big city to a small town, teenager Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) finds a silver lining when he meets the beautiful girl, Hannah (Odeya Rush), living right next door. But every silver lining has a cloud, and Zach's comes when he learns that Hannah has a mysterious dad who is revealed to be R. L. Stine (Jack Black), the author of the bestselling Goosebumps series. It turns out that there is a reason why Stine is so strange... he is a prisoner of his own imagination - the monsters that his books made famous are real, and Stine protects his readers by keeping them locked up in their books. When Zach unintentionally unleashes the monsters from their manuscripts and they begin to terrorize the town, it's suddenly up to Stine, Zach, Hannah, and Zach's friend Champ (Ryan Lee) to get all of them back in the books where they belong.

Unlike the televisions series which each episode focused on one particular story and character, the film featured of all these every single characters that haunts within the pages of Stine's books. Black is fantastic in the film as our strangely bizarre and reclusive writer and he also provides the voices of the creepy ventriloquist dummy Slappy and the Invisible Boy. Both Minnette and Rush have great on-screen chemistry as out teen leads and lovers Zach and Hannah, who has a very cool secret that gets revealed in the middle of the film. Lee as Champ is a riot and reminds us all that one friend we had growing up that was  just completely nerdy. But he gets his redemption by defeating a werewolf and saving the girl he likes. You go Champ!!

Director Rob Letterman made is feature length debut with the 2004 computer animated family film SHARK TALE, which did very well at the boxoffice. He then followed that film up with MONSTER VS ALIENS in 2009. After making two computer generated films, in 2010 Letterman made his first live-action movie GULLIVER'S TRAVELS, which marked his first collaboration with Jack Black. With his knowledge of making family films and taking on the classic children book series, Letterman once again proves that he has the ability to direct an awesome movie that is both fun and filled with action and humor with a touch of chills to keep the kids entertained as well as their parents.

GOOSEBUMPS is a worthy adaptation to a classic literary series that families will enjoy for years to come. The movie really does belong in your film library much the the book series should be on your kids' bookshelves. It really is that good of a film and one that needs to be seen over and over again. 4 out of 5 stars! Recommended viewing!


GOOSEBUMPS is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. It's also available on Redbox and Video On Demand. 

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Phil sees THE LAST WITCH HUNTER from Lionsgate-February 6, 2016

I've never been a big Vin Diesel fan. Granted people love the guy and yes, I guess he's kind of a sexy bad ass in the FAST AND THE FURIOUS series. But for the most part, he's just not a very good actor. There, I said it. I did like him as Groot in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY but, then again, he only had one line that he repeated throughout the film. And Groot was a computer generated character so he officially didn't appear in it. So when I saw his latest film THE LAST WITCH HUNTER, I found myself thinking that Vin Diesel should probably stop making movies all together and just do voiceover work.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)
The film's official synopsis: The modern world holds many secrets, but the most astounding secret of all is that witches still live amongst us; vicious supernatural creatures intent on unleashing the Black Death upon the world. Armies of witch hunters battled the unnatural enemy across the globe for centuries, including Kaulder (Vin Diesel), a valiant warrior who managed to slay the all-powerful Queen Witch (Julie Engelbrecht), decimating her followers in the process. In the moments right before her death, the Queen curses Kaulder with her own immortality, forever separating him from his beloved wife and daughter in the afterlife. Today Kaulder is the only one of his kind remaining, and has spent centuries hunting down rogue witches, all the while yearning for his long-lost loved ones. However, unbeknownst to Kaulder, the Queen Witch is resurrected and seeks revenge on her killer causing an epic battle that will determine the survival of the human race.

Wow, this was such a bad movie. I mean really, really bad. Really bad acting, really bad characters, a script that sounded like it was written by a sixth grader, everything was just bad. This is a film that I can see Michal J. Nelson, Kevin Murphey and Bill Corbett from RiffTrax making fun of (hint hint guys). I still can't understand how films like this get made. Who in their right mind would greenlight a project like this and think it'll do well at the boxoffice? C'mon Mr. Hollywood Big Shot Executive, you cannot be that naive! You should've known that this movie was going to suck ass! And yet you still went ahead and gave the "go ahead" and made this piece of crap. And it bombed hard at the boxoffice but you knew that was bound to happen. Vin Diesel plus good movies do not add up at all. So stop making crap and start making good movies please! Thank you!

Another factor I'm dumbfounded is why in the hell is Michael Caine in this movie.He is a talented and legendary actor whose made some amazing and powerful works of art. The man has apoerared in ZULU, ALFIE, BATTLE OF BRITAIN, THE ITALIAN JOB, THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, A BRIDGE TOO FAR, DRESSED TO KILL, HANNAH AND HER SISTERS, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, THE PRESTIGE, CHILDREN OF MEN and the DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY. He's one of the all-time greats and yet he appeared in this abomination of a film. Why Michael? You're better than this. Did you do it for the money? We're you just bored? Seriously I really want to know! Get back to me later on that buddy! 

So in conclusion, THE LAST WITCH HUNTER is a total piece of shit that will make you feel dumber after watching it. The film doesn't even qualify for the, "It's so bad it's good" moniker. It's just bad. Don't even waste your time with this movie. You're better off watching paint dry because let me tell you that's more entertaining than watching this movie. 1 out of 5 stars!! Just say no!!


THE LAST WITCH HUNTER is still playing in select theaters and is also available on Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. It's also available on Redbox and Video On Demand.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Phil's Horror Watch: DEATHGASM (2015) from Dark Sky Films-February 5, 2016


DEATHGASM Blu-Ray (2015)
DEATHGASM
Starring: Milo Cawthorne, Kimberley Crossman, James Blake, Daniel Cresswell, Sam Berkley, Delaney Tabron, Stephen Ure
Written by Jason Lei Howden
Cinematography by Simon Raby
Edited by Jeff Hurrell & Gareth Van Niekerk
Produced by Sarah Howden, Andrew Beattie & Morgan Leigh Stewart
Directed by Jason Lei Howden
Production companies: MPI Media Group & New Zealand Film Commission
Distributed by Dark Sky Films

The problem I face these days is trying to get caught up with all the movies I've been wanting to see, especially my beloved horror films. Today's movie has been showing up on several "Best of 2015" lists from several websites and publications like Fangoria, Rue Morge and Dread Central. So I finally got around to seeing the ultra crazy, ultra gory, ultra metal and ultra hilarious New Zealand film DEATHGASM from our friends at Dark Sky Films.

The film's official synopsis: After his mother is institutionalized, misfit Brodie (Milo Cawthorne) is sent to live with his fundamentalist Christian uncle and aunt, whose son torments him. A heavy metal fan, Brodie forms a band called Deathgasm with his friends Zakk (James Blake), Dion (Sam Berkley), and Giles (Daniel Cresswell). When the bandmates break into a local house, they discover that one of their idols, reclusive musician Rikki Daggers (Stephen Ure) lives there. Daggers gives the band magical sheet music, which a cult later murders him to find. Skeptical of the sheet music's power, the band plays it, only to summon a demon. With the help of his crush, Medina (Kimberley Crossman), and his bandmates, Brodie must find a way to defeat the demon.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)
After watching the film, I can see why this bad boy was on every horror best of list. Seriously, this was such an ingenious, absurd, funny and bloody movie to watch. You can tell that this was a labor of love and director Jason Lei Howden (making his feature length debut) should feel pretty damn proud. Combining the common ingredients of horror, humor and heavy metal music, Howden was able to make something totally different and unique. His influences were there, taking inspiration from Peter Jackson's DEAD ALIVE, Sam Raimi's EVIL DEAD and Edgar Wright's SHAWN OF THE DEAD. His playful attitude towards directing, his visual look of the film, the smart and funny script that he wrote himself and all the awesome blood and guts he showcases for fans. But what really sold me was the characters that inhabited this wild and crazy world where the film takes place. Unlike Hollywood's typical fake, two-dimensional interpretation, Howden's characters look and sound like real teenagers, thanks in large part to the spectacular cast.

Our lead Milo Cawthorne who portrays Brodie is just like the guy you went to school with: different, loner, has teenage hang-ups, looking for something to do, hates his family, despises his teachers, loathes his school, loves the pretty popular girl, basically he could've been you back in high school. Cawthorne does a fantastic job of conveying all this plus being a cool and sensitive heavy metal hero. His love interest is popular girl Medina, portrayed the gorgeous Kimberley Crossman. Funny, sweet and who is very handy with an ax, Kimberley brings a lot of fun, depth and blood-drenched beauty to her role. And let's not forget the bad ass heavy metal bad boy Zakk as played by James Blake. He is Brodie's best friend and worse enemy. Blake excels in his role and is the asshole best friend we've all had at one point in our youth.

Wal-Mart DVD Cover (2015)
With its theme of horror and heavy metal, you know that it was going to have a killer soundtrack, but I had no idea how freaking awesome it turned out to be! Boasting songs from bands like Bulletbelt, Axeslasher, Nunslaughter, Elm Street, Midnight and Beastwars, the film will make you bang your head while raising your fist high up in the air and give the heavy metal salute! Freaking awesome soundtrack people!!

The film was released by Dark Sky Films here in the states and was met with accolades, acclaim and rave reviews from critics and fans. However, it was met with resistance from the evil soul-sucking, poverty wage paying, corporate entity called Wal-Mart. According to an article published on the Bloody Disgusting website, "Yet another case of horror movies getting a bum rap as it's been announced the the Wal-Mart DVD edition of DEATHGASM will be changing titles to HEAVY METAL APOCALYPSE and that the artwork has been changed, removing the pentagram but allowing a gun. After all, Satan is evil and cannot be promoted in any way, shape, or form, but guns are fine." The sheer stupidity and hypocrisy of this blatant form of censorship makes me angry. Basically, Wal-Mart is just swapping an imaginary evil for an all too real evil that's been plaguing society and taking away lives on a daily basis for decades. Now it's understandable why this has to be done. With Wal-mart being one of the largest retail chains out there, having your movie there will get exposure and sales at the register. I just think their logic is just stupid as hell. But then again, I fucking hate Wal-Mart and all that they stand for.

DEATHGASM is a heavy metal horror comedy masterpiece that will make you shout at the devil and laugh at the face of Death! It is the most outrageous gore soaked comedy horror film that I have seen in a long time! Fans of the genre need to see this movie! So go out and buy this movie right now! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!


DEATHGASM is currently available on Blu-Ray and DVD. Visit your local retailer or order directly from Dark Sky Films. You can follow the film on Facebook and Twitter. To learn more about Dark Sky Films visit their website at darkskyfilms.com. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 
Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!