THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR
Starring Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeremy Sisto, Sofia Rosinsky, Logan Creran, Suchitra Pillai, Javier Botet
Written by Johannes Robert, Ernest Riera
Cinematography by Maxime Alexandre
Edited by Baxter
Produced by Rory Aitken, Alexandre Aja, Ben Pugh
Directed by Johannes Roberts
Released by 20th Century Fox
My Halloween Horror Watch marathon continues with another fantastic film that was very entertaining and horrifyingly chilling. I've heard good things about this movie and it took me awhile to finally get around to watching it. Filmed in India, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR explores the different beliefs and evils that exist in other parts of the world.
The film's official synopsis: A family lives an idyllic existence abroad until a tragic accident takes
the life of their young son. The inconsolable mother learns of an
ancient ritual that will bring him back to say a final goodbye. She
travels to an ancient temple, where a door serves as a mysterious portal
between two worlds. But when she disobeys a sacred warning to never
open that door, she upsets the balance between life and death.
Sarah Wayne Callies is just an amazing and wonderful actress. Here, her character Maria is so lost without her son that she will do anything to get him back. Her depression and desperation gets the better of and now she must come to grips that her son is gone and she must move on or her family will die. To display all these different ranges of emotions requires talent and Callies nails her performance perfectly. I was such a huge fan of hers since The Walking Dead and now she can be seen on the new USA sci-fi show Colony so this makes me very happy.
Theatrical Movie Poster (2016)
Also turning in a great performance is Suchitra Pillai, who portrays Maria's nanny Piki. Wise, caring and devoted to Maria's family, she tells her of the ancient ritual but warns her of the consequences if she breaks the rules. Pillai is quite famous in her native home of India. She is an actress, singer, model, anchor and VJ. She started acting back in 1993 and has appeared in several Bollywood movies like DIL CHAHTA HAI (2001), FASHION (2008) and FITOOR (2016). Actor Jeremy Sisto (who plays Maria's husband Michael in the film)has had a long career in Hollywood, appearing in CLUELESS, SUICIDE KINGS, THIS SPACE BETWEEN US, ANGEL EYES, MAY, WRONG TURN, THIRTEEN, WAITRESS and ROBOT & FRANK.
The film was directed by English filmmaker Johannes Roberts. He made his feature film debut with the 2001 SANITARIUM. He made several movies in England such as ALICE (2002), HELLBREEDER and DARK HUNTERS (both in 2004). His first film made here in the states was the 2011 feature ROADKILL for the Maneater Series and was shown on the SyFy Channel. Here, Roberts exhibits his growth as a competent director, creating fear, scares and dread as well drama and character development. He captures all the beauty and horror of India and showcases their beliefs, their folklore and their rituals.
The movie was released on March 4, 2016 in limited release in select theaters. It grossed $2.8 million domestically and $4.5 million internationally. However, critical response has been less than warm. Despite these negative reviews, I thoroughly enjoyed the film and was captivated by its story, characters and directing.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR is a brilliant, entertaining and horrifying movie that will haunt your Halloween season! If you want to see something different in your horror film, then make sure you add this title to your library! 3 1/2 out of 5 stars! Recommended viewing!!
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR is available on both Blu-Ray and DVD. The movie is also available on iTunes, Video On Demand, digital download and Netflix.
If you've been following my blog for all these years then you know that I'm a huge supporter of local independent filmmaking. A&P Productions is an independent film production company based out in Modesto, California. Founded by power couple Paul Ragsdale and Angelica De Alba, they make their films the old fashioned way; meaning they write, shoot, edit, produce and direct all themselves which is wonderfully inspiring. They're latest film caught my attention a couple of months ago and I knew that I had to review it. Lucky for me, they were having a special screening of the film at The Shire Community Space in Modesto. Taking inspiration from films like SAVAGE STREETS, ANGEL and ALLEY CATS with the late night format of USA's Up All Night, STREETS OF VENGEANCE is a perfect blend of 80's homage and local DIY filmmaking!
The film's official synopsis: Former adult film star Mila (Delawna McKinney) is attacked by a misogynistic cult known as The Sword. She turns vigilante and puts a group of bad-ass girls together and seeks revenge.
Since the release of GRINDHOUSE back in 2007, there have a plethora of retro styled horror and exploitation films that have been amazing. These releases include HOUSE OF THE DEVIL (2009), HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN (2011), THE SLEEPER (2011), THE FINAL GIRLS (2015), WE ARE STILL HERE (2015) and the movies from Canada's Astron 6: FATHER'S DAY (2011), MANBORG (2011) and THE EDITOR (2014). Here, director Ragsdale continues this trend but adds some new ingredients into the mix. While it feels and sounds like your classic 1980's revenge action movie, it looks like a like a modern day film. There's modern day cars, cellphones, computers and other forms of technology that reminds viewers that the film takes place in today's world of San Francisco. But, by having the grittiness of those films that inspire it and the totally awesome 80's synth soundtrack courtesy of Vestron Vulture, it takes you back to those crazy fun-filled days of Reganomics era America.
Ragsdale's directing is fantastic; providing that perfect balance between action and drama. His set-ups and compositions are incredible, creating some very iconic scenes that would make excellent lobby cards (hint hint Paul). He is able to tell a very compelling story (which he wrote as well) with complex and often hilarious characters and grotesque villains while offering the audience some cool action and gory death scenes. Credit also goes to cinematographer Dan Zampa who does an outstanding job of capturing it all. His visuals are sharp, clean and his lighting is very reminiscent of those found in Dario Argento's films like SUSPIRIA, DEEP RED and PHENOMENON. Truly a very talented cameraman and photographer.
As for the cast, I have nothing but absolute praise for them! Standouts for me include lead actress Delawna McKinney as our protagonist Mila, who shines bright as our heroine. She brings naïveté, vulnerability as well as strength, determination and guts! Paige Jenkins as Amber is sweet, kind and a loyal friend to Mila (she also did the special effects for the insanely sickening "Penis Scene" which was absolutely freaking impressive). Cassidy Irwin's Liv had the best one-liners in the film! She was hysterical and badass as well and I loved it when she appeared on-screen. Brian, played by Anthony lava To'omata proves that the average joe can become a hero and get to kiss the girl. Awesome job by this great actor.
Now you can't have a good movie without some bad guys and this film has the luxury of having not one, but two evil antagonists. While I won't mention their names due to revealing spoilers, but my hat goes off to both of them for their performances. These two are the most diabolical, disgusting, and deplorable human beings to ever appear in a movie. Seriously, these guys are just plain evil and I loved hating them while I was watching the movie. Like I said, I can't mention them due to ruining the plot revelations, but again, tremendous job fellas.
Another interesting fact is that the movie also features cameos from some of today's most popular adult film stars. So look for Alexis Amore and Sophie Dee in one scene together. Also having a small part in the film is Joann Angel, founder of Burning Angel Studio. Angel plays Nina, who is the catalyst for one of our antagonist going batshit crazy. The other actress to appear in the movie is the adult film icon Ginger Lynn Allen as Roxy Carmichael. I loved Ginger in her role and I am very happy and excited to see her being used properly and to see her acting in a film! I'm sorry but Rob Zombie's use of her in both THE DEVIL'S REJECTS and his latest project 31 is appalling. She is a legend, she is a gifted actress, and she is talented! She's completely wasted in those films. Here, she gets to show off her range as an actress and have real dialogue. I applaud Ragsdale for giving her the opportunity to display her acting capability. A great performance by this living legend!
I mentioned earlier that Ragsdale wrote the film's screenplay, which has a strong feminist message within the dialogue. Women have the right to do what they want with their bodies and shouldn't be slammed with vulgar displays of discrimination. Body shaming, name calling and misogyny are not tolerated. I am a big supporter of women's rights and if they wish to work in the sex industry or make adult films or whatever, then that's their right. Despite its over-the-top violence, gore and bloodshed, the movie acts as a reminder for all women to be and feel empowered and ignore society's so-called and outdated "standards" on what and how a woman should be and act like. It's their lives and their choices people, so if you don't like it, well, tough shit. Get over it!
After the screening, they had DVDs of the movie for sale as well as three different type posters. Of course, I went TOTAL fanboy and bought it all. I then had the cast and crew autograph everything plus made some new friends as well. This was my first real movie event that I've attended in a long time and overall, I had a total blast at the screening!
STREETS OF VENGEANCE is my favorite underground independent film of 2016!! It's only a matter of time before the film takes over the world! Till then, I'm gonna watch my DVD copy over and over again! Also, keep your eyes peeled here because in the very near future, I will be conducting interviews with several members of the cast and crew! If you see this film playing in a town near you, I would strongly suggest you see this movie!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Very highly recommended!!
STREETS OF VENGEANCE will be soon be screening at film festivals throughout the country. In the meantime, you can follow the movie on Facebook and checkout it's IMDb page and look for A&P Productions on Instagram.
THE BOY
Starring Lauren Cohan, Rupert Evans, James Russell, Jim Norton, Diana Hardcastle, Ben Robson, Jett Klyne, Stephanie Lemelin
Screenplay by Stacey Menear
Cinematography by Daniel Pearl
Edited by Brian Berdan
Produced by Matt Berenson, Jodyne Herron, Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, Jim Wedaa
Directed by William Brent Bell
Released by STX Entertainment
Welcome back my faithful followers to another installment of my horror movie marathon! Tonight I have another fright-tastic flick that will surely make you quiver with fear! Or at least entertain you for about 90 minutes. So let me tell you all about THE BOY from STX Entertainment.
The film's official synopsis: Greta (Lauren Cohan) is a young American woman who takes a job as a nanny in a remote
English village, only to discover that the family's 8-year-old is a
life-sized doll that the parents care for just like a real boy, as a way
to cope with the death of their actual son 20 years prior. After
violating a list of strict rules, a series of disturbing and
inexplicable events bring Greta's worst nightmare to life, leading her
to believe that the doll is actually alive.
Now here is horror film that truly delivers the goods! First, you have a smart and scary script courtesy of screenwriter Stacey Menear. It's rare to see a film that contains a unique and original script like this coming out of Hollywood. The story is a perfect blend of horror, thrills and mystery. Plus, we have these interesting and realistic characters that we actually care about. What's that you say? A horror film with characters that we are emotionally invested in? Yes, the end is nigh my friends! Also worth noting, it has one of the best twist endings I have ever seen in a horror movie! Not since THE SIXTH SENSE have I been caught off guard like this! Brilliant ending!
Original Theatrical Poster (2016)
Actress Lauren Cohan's performance as Greta is fantastic, but then again, I wouldn't expect anything less from the woman who plays Maggie Green from my favorite television show The Walking Dead. She's naïve in the beginning of the movie; thinking that this family with the life-sized doll are completely nuts. But then, she starts to believe in the possibility that this doll is alive as recent events persuades her to change her mind. The final act we see her become the heroine as she must not only fight to save her life but of her new love interest Malcolm, portrayed by Rupert Evans.
For a time filmmaker William Brent Bell was on my shitlist, reason being was because he directed the damn awful THE DEVIL INSIDE back in 2012. Now if you've been following my blog, you will remember that I was so pissed that film sucked so bad. In fact, I wrote that it was, "2012's worst horror film to be released" and to, "let this movie rot in Hell for all eternity." Yup, I hated it that damn much! Now, I love the man! The directing style was flawless; each set-up, every camera angle, every composition told the story of this young nanny being tormented by this little doll. Superb work by Bell people!! He has redeemed himself!
The film was released to theaters on January 22 of this year and went on to gross over $35.7 million here in the states and another $26.6 million in the international market. Overall, its worldwide box office take was $62.4 million. Not too bad considering the budget was only about $10 million but it received mixed reviews from movie goers and film critics. It opened up against THE 5th WAVE and DIRTY GRANDPA in the same weekend.
THE BOY is one fantastic film to watch this Halloween!! It's psychological, it's thrilling, it's scary and most important, it's fun and entertaining to watch!! So bust out the popcorn and drinks, sit back and relax and enjoy watching this movie! 4 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
THE BOY is available on both Blu-Ray and DVD. The movie is also available on iTunes, Video On Demand, digital download and Netflix.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES
Starring: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston, Bella Heathcote, Ellie Bamber, Millie Brady, Suki Waterhouse, Sally Phillips, Douglas Booth, Matt Smith
Based on the novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Written by Burr Steers
Cinematography by Remi Adefarasin
Edited by Padraic McKinley
Produced by
Directed by Burr Steers
Released by Screen Gems/Sony
Hello again folks and welcome back to horror movie marathon! Now I'm sure you're all familiar with the name Jane Austen, since many of you (including me) had to read her novels back when we were in school. "Sense and Sensibility", "Mansfield Park" and "Emma" are literary treasures, but her most famous novel is "Pride and Prejudice." Hailed as an instant classic, the book has been adapted in many other mediums ranging from the theatre to television and the silver screen. In 2009, writer Seth Grahame-Smith combined Austen's 1813 novel with modern day zombies to create his parody novel entitled "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies", which he cited Austen as co-author. It became a huge success, prompting Hollywood to come calling. Then finally in January of 2016, the film PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES was finally released to theaters.
The film's official synopsis: A zombie outbreak has fallen upon the land in this re-imagining of Jane Austen’s classic tale of the tangled relationships between lovers from different social classes
in 19th century England. Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James)
is a master of martial arts and weaponry and the handsome Mr. Darcy (Sam
Riley) is a fierce zombie killer, yet the epitome of upper class
prejudice. As the zombie outbreak intensifies, they must swallow their pride and join forces on the blood-soaked battlefield in order to conquer the undead once and for all.
Original Theatrical Poster (2016)
OK, so I have a confession to make and here it is: I loved this movie!! This was not what I had expected it to be. It was freaking awesome!! It had it all!! Beautiful British women dressed in Victorian clothes who did Kung Fu moves and killed zombies! Blood and gore galore!! Humor and horror blended perfectly together!! A cool story and interesting, funny and bad ass characters!! And of course, it had zombies!! Yup, I absolutely loved watching this movie!!
Lily James is incredible as our heroine Elizabeth, who is both breathtakingly beautiful and a bad ass warrior! Strong, independent and opinionated and knows how to open a can of whoop ass on zombies, Jamesalso brings a little bit of vulnerability to her character, especially when she meets Sam Riley's Colonel Fitzwilliam Darcy. Like Austen's original novel, it isn't quite love at first sight but soon their love grows while trying to survive the plague of zombies. Another fun character was Parson Collins played by the great Matt Smith. Smith made a name for himself portraying the Twelth Doctor on the long running BBC sci-fi television series Doctor Who. Here, he's playing against type, making Parsons wimpy, cowardly and hopefully romantic. And he's very funny too.
While the book received mass amounts of rave reviews, the film itself performed rather poorly at the boxoffice. The budget was a staggering $28 million but only reaped in a measly $10.9 million in tickets sales. While there was a huge fan base for the novel, it translate into theater goers which is quite a shame. The film stayed pretty faithful to the original source material and it was entertaining as hell, but it didn't bring in the audience that it was trying to attract.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES is an action packed, zombie crawling, blood drenched, fun-filled ride for the whole family!! Pay no attention to those naysayers out there in the cold, dark world!! Check out this movie for yourself and form your own opinion, but don't be surprised when it's over, you'll want to watch it over again! 4 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES is available on both Blu-Ray and DVD. The movie is also available on iTunes, Video On Demand, digital download and Netflix.
Starring Brandy Schaefer, Zack Andrews, Bobby Roe, Mikey Roe, Jeff Larson
Written by Zack Andrews, Jeff Larson, Bobby Roe, Jason Zada
Cinematography by Andrew Strahorn
Edited by Jeff Hall with Cesar Martinez
Produced by Zack Andrews, Todd King, Steven Schneider, Matthew Stein, Steven Steiner
Directed by Bobby Roe
Released by Image Entertainment
Welcome back everyone to my Halloween Horror Watch! Today's film is an unique one, having been a documentary first before morphing into a found footage horror film. Now I know the idea of a found footage film has literally been done to death, but taking an existing documentary movie and transforming it onto a feature length is rather clever. So for today I'll be talking about THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT from Image Entertainment.
The film's official synopsis: Five friends are stalked by a group of mysterious and disturbed individuals while on a road trip looking for the ultimate haunted house attraction.
Theatrical Movie Poster (2014)
As I mentioned earlier, the movie was at first a 2011 documentary of the same name. In it, five friends traveled across the country checking out many haunted houses while interviewing those who do the and those you attended. The documentary won the grand prize at the 2011 Schockfest Film Festival. Since then, director Bobby Roe very cleverly used footage from this and reused it for the feature length, which is a very Roger Corman way of filmmaking!
The cast of the movie are real life friends so the chemistry between them all is authentic and I really enjoyed seeing them play off one another. Also you can tell that there were having fun while making the movie. However, it drags a lot when they're visiting these local haunted houses. These scenes could have been edited down more. Plus some of the dialogue (or should I say conversations since a lot of it was lifted from the documentary) went nowhere and I started to lose interest real fast. Now when it started getting scary, it was good and creepy. But then it fell flat for me towards the end. It didn't have that much suspense for me to fell that I should fully invest myself into the characters and their dire situation.
Image Entertainment released the film on home video in October of 2014. As an added bonus, they included the original documentary the movie was based on so the fans received two films for the price of one.
THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT is a decent little horror film but it brings nothing new to the genre. However, the documentary I found interesting and fun to watch! So maybe you should pick up the movie so you can watch the documentary and then maybe see the movie so you can decide for yourself. 3 out of 5 stars! Maybe a rental!
THE HOUSES THAT OCTOBER BUILT is currently available on both Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. It's also available on iTunes, Video on Demand and Netflix.
JESSABELLE
Starring Sarah Snook, Mark Webber, Joelle Carter David Andrews, Ana de la Reguera, Chris Ellis, Brian Halliday, Amber Stevens West
Written by Robert Ben Garant
Cinematography by Michael Fimognari
Edited by Kevin Greutert
Produced by Jason Blum
Directed by Kevin Greutert
Released by Lionsgate
Welcome back my fellow horror hounds! Right now I would like to take you the bayous of Louisiana, where tonight's film takes place. Filled with voodoo magic, ghosts and hidden family secrets, JESSABELLE is one of those films that will surprise you with it's interesting story and complex characters.
The film's official synopsis: Returning to her childhood home in Louisiana to recuperate from a horrific car accident, Jessabelle (Sarah Snook) comes face to face with a long-tormented spirit that has been seeking her return and has no intention of letting her escape.
Theatrical Movie Poster (2014)
Actress Sarah Snook shines as our lead heroine. Vulnerable and naive the first half of the film, brave and fearless near the end. All roads on her journey towards both self-discovery and self-aware are steps in her character development. Snook really does an excellent job of conveying all of these elements and more. Jessabelle is a young woman who is trying to heal after surviving a horrible car accident. Once home, her life becomes even more complicated as she sooon unravels her true destiny but she once again fights for her life. I thoroughly enjoyed Sarah Snook's performance in the film and I am looking forward to seeing where her career takes her.
Kevin Greutert is no stranger to the horror genre, having directed SAW VI, SAW 3D: THE FINAL CHAPTER and VISIONS. However, he's best known as an editor and he not only edited this film but several others like SAW 1-6, THE COLLECTION, JOURNEY TO THE END OF NIGHT, ROOM 6 and THE STRANGERS. Greutert brings his eye for detail to the film, leaning towards more atmospheric chills as well as some nice jump scares. Credit also goes to screenwriter Robert Ben Garant for crafting a supernatural scary and intriguing script that contains a very satisfying twist ending.
The film was originally scheduled for release on January 10, 2014, but was pushed back till August that same year. It received a very limited theatrical release before being available on home video. Which to me it makes me very sad because there are some really interesting and original films being made in the independent film world. While there's the IFC Channel and Sundance Channel as well as the SyFy Network, it's not the same as going to an actual theater and watching a movie with those in your community.
Overall, JESSABELLE is a supernaturally spooky slice of cinema that you should really checkout this Halloween season! If you're looking for a movie with thrills and chills with a Louisiana voodoo twist, this will be right up your alley! 4 out of 5 stars! Recommended viewing!
JESSABELLE is currently available on both Blu-Ray and DVD. The movie is also available on iTunes, Video On Demand, Netflix and digital download.
BACKCOUNTRY
Starring Missy Peregrym, Nicholas Campbell, Eric Balfour, Jeff Roop
Written by Adam MacDonald
Cinematography by Christian Bielz
Edited by Dev Singh
Produced by Brandon Baker, Michael Baker, Jeff Roop
Directed by Adam MacDonald
Released by IFC Films
Hello again boils and ghouls and welcome to Day Four of my Halloween Horror Watch marathon! Today we are going on a little hiking trip out in the woods for some rest and relaxation, to witness nature in all her beauty and bliss. Just as long as you don't accidentally run into a crazed man-eating bear!! Oh snap, there's one now! Hang on folks as we travel to the BACKCOUNTRY.
The film's official synopsis: Alex (Jeff Roop) is a seasoned camper, but Jenn (Missy Peregrym) is not. When they realize that they have entered bear territory, there terror gets turned up to a whole new level.
The film was based on the true story of story of couple Mark Jordan and Jacqueline Perry who were attacked by a bear back when they were camping up in Canada in 2005. The movie captures the authenticity of their horrific experience. Both Peregrym and Roop have great on-screen chemistry that propels the movie forward. We care about this couple and when things take a turn for the worse, we sympathize for them as well as with them. But make no mistake, Perry is the star of the movie and she proves it time and time again throughout the movie. Seriously, she is one tough actress as she pitted not only against her antagonist the black bear, but against nature as well.
Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)
The movie also marks the film debut of director Adam MacDonald, who cut his teeth at making a couple of short films. Making a film in the woods is not an easy job to pull off, especially if it's your first film. You have to worry about the elements, animals, insects, etc. MacDonald dismisses all of this by making such an intense thriller that plays on the old concept of man versus nature. But what makes him a really great director is that we was an actor prior to writing and directing, having appeared in SATAN'S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN, JEKYLL + HYDE and WOLVES plus television series like Vampire High, Beach Girls, Wild Roses and Being Erica. Because he can relate to his cast, he is able to obtain some fantastic acting, especially from the formentioned Peregrym. His directing leans towards more of the documentary style, very in your face, shaky camera and unflinching.
The movie had its premiere at the world famous Toronto International Film Festival in September 2014 to critical acclaim. It went to be screened at other festivals such as the Telluride Film Festival, Stiges International Fantastic Film Festival and the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Eventually, Event Film Distribution bought a share of ownership of the film, which they then sold the US distribution rights to IFC Midnight. The movie was finally released on home video in March of 2015.
BACKCOUNTRY is one of the best nature horror films to have been released in the past 20 years! It's a very suspenseful and horrifically realistic slice of cinema that make you shiver with fear! So if you go down to the woods today, remember that you're not going to find any teddy bear picnic! 4 out of 5 stars!! Recommended viewing!!
BACKCOUNTRY is currently available on DVD at your local retailer. It's also available on Amazon Video, iTunes, Netflix and Video On Demand.
GREEN ROOM
Starring: Anton Yelchin, Patrick Stewart, Imogen Poots, Alia Shankar, Joe Cole, Callum Turner, Macon Blair, Taylor Tunes
Written by Jeremy Saulnier
Cinematography by Sean Porter
Edited by Julia Bloch
Produced by Neil Koop, Victor Moyers, Anish Savjani, Vincent Savino, Macon Blair, Daniel Hammond, Gabriel Hammond, Brian Johnston
Directed by Jeremy Saulnier
Released by A24
Welcome back to another installment of Phil's Halloween Horror Watch! Tonight's film has been receiving a plethora of critical acclaim and for good reason. This is an ugly film to watch and I'm not just talking about the bloodshed, gore and the violence (which this film has). No I'm talking about the characters, the so-called human beings that occupy within this cinematic universe. With prestigious and talented actors, complex story and visceral directing, GREEN ROOM is a movie that is not for the faint of hearts.
The film's official synopsis: A band straying into a secluded part of the Pacific Northwest stumbles
onto a horrific act of violence. Because they are the only witnesses,
they become the targets of a terrifying gang of skinheads who want to
make sure all the evidence is eliminated.
One word I used over and over again when I first watched the movie: WOW! Patrick Stewart is just unbelievably evil in the film! Vicious, malevolent, diobolical, he's everything that you would expect the man to portray. Best known as Jean-Luc Picard from the STAR TREK series and Proffessor X from the X-MEN franchise, Stewart proves that he can play any character in any genre. He has such a tremendous range that it's profoundly astonishing to see him portray this disgusting man named Darcy Banker. It was said in an interview that Stewart was reading the film's script at his English country home and was he was done reading it, he immediately locked his house up and turned on his alarm because it freaked him out that much. It was then that he knew that he wanted to play the main antagonist.
Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)
Also appearing in the film is the late Anton Yelchin, who portrays the protagonist Pat. I found it hard at times to watch the movie knowing that he no longer here. As I mentioned in my STAR TREK BEYOND review, he was accidentally killed in a freak accident at his home on June 19, 2016 when he was pinned between his keep and the brick mailbox. I find it ironic that the movie has two STAR TREK stars from two different generations appearing together. But once again Yelton knocks it out of the park. He shows a wide range of acting; showcasing determination, fear, and finally hero. It really is a shame that he is not here to see how his film has garnered so much acclaim, along with his acting as well. He was such a gifted and talented actor. Sometimes we are reminded that life isn't always fair and sometimes the good die young.
Writer/director Jeremy Saulnier poured a lot of social and political commentary into his film. Topics about Neo Nazis, racism, hate crimes, murder, punk rock codes and the human will to survive, the movie is very in-your-face. Hell, the first song Pat's band plays is the Dead Kennedy's classic, "Nazi Punks Fuck Off." The movie grabs you right in the jugular and doesn't let go till the final ending credits. It's shot as it's a documentary and it does not flinch from the violence at all. A very bold statement has been made by this up and coming filmmaker!
Filmed in October 2014, it made it's debut at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2015. Shortly thereafter, it was picked up for distribution by A24. It went on to open the Toronto International Film Festival that September and received a limited theatrical release in April of this year before being released worldwide the next month.
GREEN ROOM is a horrorific thriller of a masterpiece!! Not one time did I feel safe watching the movie! A truly disturbing cinematic gem!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Very highly recommended!!
GREEN ROOM is currently available on Blu-Ray and DVD. It is also available on iTunes, Video On Demand, Netflix and Redbox.
THE SHALLOWS
Starring: Blake Lively, Óscar Jaenada, Bret Cullen, Angelo Josue Lorano, Sedona Legge, Janelle Bailey, Pablo Calva
Written by Anthony Jaswinski
Cinematography by Flavio Martinez Labiano
Edited by Joel Negron
Produced by Jaume Collet-Serra, Lynn Harris, Matti Leshem, Douglas C. Merrifield
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra
Released by Sony Pictures
Hello again everybody and welcome back to my annual Phil's Halloween Horror Watch, where I'll be watching nothing but horror movies for the entire month of October! This year, I thought it would be interesting to focus on films that were released within the last couple of years. As some of you know, I'm a huge advocate and supporter for independent films, especially within the horror genre. But every now and then, Hollywood releases a film that really captures my attention. So for tonight's inaugural entry, let me present to you THE SHALLOWS, which was released to theaters this past June 24th.
The film's official synopsis: When Nancy (Blake Lively) is surfing on a secluded beach, she finds herself on the feeding ground of a great white shark. Though she is stranded only 200 yards away from shore, survival proves to be the ultimate test of wills, requiring all of Nancy's ingenuity, resourcefulness and fortitude.
Ever since the release of Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic JAWS, there have been a plethora of shark films (JAWS 2-3, SHARK NIGHT 3D, SHARK ISLAND) well as knockoffs (ORCA, PIRANHA) but this movie caught me by surprise. Not only was it entertaining, but it had character development, a good story, great acting as well as great directing.
Theatrical Movie Poster (2016)
Credit goes to the lovey Lively, who carries the entire film on her shoulders and pulls it off amazingly! Her acting is fantastic and because of this, we the audience become emotionally invested in her character. We like her from the very beginning and we want her to survive. We want her to live. We want her to defeat her aquatic adversary; the great white shark who ruined her special trip to the secluded beach that her mom visited long before she passed. Lively brings strengths, determination and depth to her character Nancy and I applaud her incredible performance!
I would also like to acknowledge the acting skills of Sully Seagull, who portrayed Nancy's companion Steven Seagall. Get it? I thought it was pretty damn funny!! But the again I have a weird sense of humor. Moving on now...
It's difficult to set a story or film on only one location, but do it right and people will forget that detail. Screenwriter Joel Negron crafted one helluva script that has a great story arc, perfect beats and plenty of tension and thrills. Combine this with filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra's directing and it's a win-win situation. Using both real world location, CGI and studio sets, Serra does the impossible by making the movie lean, mean and frightening cool! And it all takes place at one location! Impressive indeed people!
THE SHALLOWS is one of the best horror films of 2016!! This sleeper of a gem will surely make you afraid of the water all over again! So for make sure you watch this film this Halloween!! Just as long as you don't live on a boathouse or something. 4 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
THE SHALLOWS is still playing in select theaters across the country. The movie is also available on Blu-Ray and DVD. It is also available on iTunes, Video On Demand, Netflix and Redbox.
For fans of horror and exploitation cinema, one name comes to mind: Herschell Gordon Lewis, known to many as "The Godfather of Gore." His films have become true cult classics and have influenced many of today's filmmakers like Eli Roth, John Waters, Quentin Tarantino and John Carpenter to name a few. I've been a huge fan of his films for decades and I was hoping to one meet me hero. So needless to say that it was such a shock to read this morning's headlines: HERSCHELL GORDON LEWIS, "GODFATHER OF GORE," HAS DIED AT 90. As of right now, I am beyond sad. This is such a loss to fans, friends and to everybody else he touched. It's only fitting that I pay tribute to the man in today's blog post.
Herschell Gordon Lewis was born on June 15, 1926, in Pittsburgh, Pennyslvania. He started off teaching English and
Humanities at Mississippi State, which he later moved into the
advertisement business. When Lewis bought a half interest into a small,
cheap movie studio in Chicago, he started Mid-Continent Films which
produced two films: THE PRIMETIME and LIVING VENUS, which was his feature film debut as a director. It was during the making of THE PRIMETIME he met exploitation pioneer David F. Friedman, who helped Lewis distribute LIVING VENUS. With the release of Russ Meyers' THE IMMORAL MR. TEAS, the next film Lewis and Friedman made was the nudie cutie called THE ADVENTURES OF LUCKY PIERRE.
After a couple of years making these nudie cuties and nudest camp
films, Lewis came up with a completely different idea for a movie. A
type of movie that the major movie studios wouldn't or couldn't make,
but theater owners could make money at the boxoffice. Then in 1963, the film BLOOD FEAST was made and everything would never be the same again.
Original Theatrical Poster (1964)
With Friedman, Lewis created what has been called THE BLOOD TRILOGY which consisted of BLOOD FEAST, TWO THOUSAND MANIACS, and COLOR ME BLOOD RED. These films
introduced that famous four-letter word now forever associated with
horror: GORE. The world of horror would never look the same thanks to
Lewis and Friedman. After the completion of THE BLOOD TRILOGY, Lewis
parted ways with Friedman and began to make a plethora of films within
the exploitation genre such as MOONSHINE MOUNTAIN, JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT, SHE-DEVILS ON WHEELS, and SOMETHING WEIRD. Soon he returned to the horror genre with A TASTE OF BLOOD, THE WIZARD OF GORE, THE GRUESOME TWOSOME, and THE GORE GORE GIRLS, which
was his swan song. After that film's release, he became one of the
leaders in the field of Direct Marketing advertising but Lewis would return
to the director's chair with the 2002 sequel BLOOD FEAST 2: ALL YOU CAN EAT and again with the UH-OH SHOW in 2009. The later would be the final film that he would make.
Original Theatrical Poster (1968)
Over the years Lewis's films gained a huge cult following thanks to midnight screening, late-night television showings and especially when his films were released by Mike Vraney, founder of Something Weird Video (which was named after Lewis's 1968 film). Thanks to Friedman who introduced Lewis to Vraney, the two began releasing a majority of his films on VHS, then on special edition DVDs and DVD-Rs. In 2012, Something Weird Video released THE BLOOD TRILOGY on Blu-Ray as well as THE WIZARD OF GORE/THE GORE GORE GIRLS double feature. Newcomer Vinegar Syndrome released THE LOST FILMS OF HERSCHELL GORDON LEWIS on Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack. It included three films that were thought to be lost: ECSTACIES OF WOMEN (1969), LINDA AND ABILENE (1970) and BLACK LOVE (1971).
Lewis has also appeared in several documentaries, such as SCHLOCK! THE SECRET HISTORY OF AMERICAN MOVIES, AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE and was the subject of Something Weird Video's HERSCHELL GORDON LEWIS: THE GODFATHER OF GORE
It's hard to imagine what the landscape of horror and exploitation without the many contributions from Herschell Gordon Lewis. What he did and accomplished is immeasurable. Films Like FRIDAY THE 13th, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, HOSTEL, EVIL DEAD, SAW and THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE would not look the same with BLOOD FEAST or THE WIZARD OF GORE coming before. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude. Thank you for all the great memories Mr. Lewis!! We will never forget you!!
