Phil sees THE DISASTER ARTIST at the AMC Easridge 15 - December 29, 2017

When one thinks of modern day cult classics, there's one film that rises above them all: THE ROOM. Written, produced, directed and starring Tommy Wiseau, his infamous 2003 work of art is both hilariously awful and deeply personal. It is considered one of the worst films ever made, which sparked midnight screening all across the country. It has gained an almost mythical cult classic status in the last ten years, propelling Tommy Wiseau into a mythical character. To this day we still don't know who he is, how old is he, where does he come from and where he got the money for the movie. It was only a matter of time before Hollywood became interested in this mystery man, and the one responsible of tackling this subject was none other than James Franco. Along with his younger brother Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Ari Graynor, Paul Scheer, and Alison Brie, his latest film THE DISASTER ARTIST tells the tale of the making of THE ROOM and all the drama that went on behind the scenes.

The film's official synopsis:  With THE DISASTER ARTIST, James Franco transforms the tragicomic true-story of aspiring filmmaker and infamous Hollywood outsider Tommy Wiseau—an artist whose passion was as sincere as his methods were questionable—into a celebration of friendship, artistic expression, and dreams pursued against insurmountable odds. Based on Greg Sestero best-selling tell-all about the making of Tommy's cult-classic disasterpiece THE ROOM (“The Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made”), THE DISASTER ARTIST is a hilarious and welcome reminder that there is more than one way to become a legend—and no limit to what you can achieve when you have absolutely no idea what you're doing.

This was such a great movie!! James was so believable as the enigmatic Tommy Wiseau! In fact, I only saw Tommy Wiseau; I couldn't find James Franco at all!! Not only was performance was fantastic, but he's directing was absolutely incredible!! His re-creation of several key scenes from THE ROOM was spot-on perfect!! Not only that, he is able to keep the laughs coming while injecting drama within the movie frames. Franco has become a force to be reckon with within the Hollywood community. His resume is very eclectic and personal, taking on roles and projects that really reflect his diverse interests of subjects.

And I cannot forget to mention his younger brother Dave Franco, portrays Tommy's best friend and fellow actor Greg Sestero. Now I have to admit that when I first saw him on the ninth season of the tv series Scrubs, I thought he was a decent actor, but he wasn't as talented as James. Now all these years later, Dave killed it as Greg! He's vulnerable, sympathetic and unsure of himself at times. Dave really nailed all these faults as well as all of Greg's attributes. Together, both James and Dave brought a sence of realism and absurdity to the film, which elevates it from great to Oscar worthy!!

So far the film has grossed $22 million worldwide against it's budget of $10 million. It has garnered acclaim from both critics and fans, especially fans of THE ROOM. It's been nominated for several awards, which is again ironic since we're talking about a film that is about the making of one of the worst films ever made!

THE DISASTER ARTIST is one of my favorite films of 2017!! The film just sucks you in and doesn't let go until its beautiful conclusion! If this film wins any awards this coming year, it would be richly deserved and poetically ironic since THE ROOM won't win any!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

THE DISASTER ARTIST is now currently playing in theaters nationwide, including at the AMC Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at http://www.amctheatres.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil's Horror Watch: ANNABELLE: CREATION (2017) from New Line Cinema/Warner Bros. Pictures - December 27, 2017

ANNABELLE: CREATION Blu-Ray Cover

ANNABELLE: CREATION
Starring Anthony LaPaglia, Samara Lee, Miranda Otto, Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Eliana Bateman, Lulu Wilson, Brad Greenquist, Mark Bramhall
Written by Gary Dauberman
Cinematography by Maxime Alexandre
Edited by Michel Aller
Produced by James Wan, Peter Safran
Directed by David F. Sandberg
Released by New Line Cinema/Warner Bros. Pictures

When filmmaker James Wan made THE CONJURING back in 2013, little did he realize that we was about to create an entirely new universe that horror films have grown to love. So far, there are four films within THE CONJURING Universe, with more on the way. Today's film is the fourth film and a prequel to the whole series. Overall, ANNABELLE: CREATION is a worthy entry in this shared world!

The film's official synopsis: Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker (Anthony LaPaglia) and his wife (Miranda Otto) welcome a nun (Stephanie Sigman) and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the dollmaker´s possessed creation, Annabelle.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2017)

The first thing I thought while I was watching was this is sooooo much better than the first film! Originally director David F. Sandberg didn't want to make  the film because of his distain for horror sequels. But he changed his mind when that the film would be standalone prequel and he wasn't really obligated to connect the film with the rest of THE CONJURING Universe. This allowed him to really expand one the concept and bring in some genuine scares, chills and thrills. He directing was spot-on perfect and really elevates the idea of what a big time studio horror film could look like. It looks absolutely beautiful, his compositions and sweeping camera shots are incredible and he knows when to scare the audience, just like he did with his previous film LIGHTS OUT.

The entire cast in the film is great, but the one actress that I want to spotlight is actress Lulu Wilson. She was absolutely fantastic as Linda! I became aware of this young actress when I saw her in the 2014 film DELIVER US FROM EVIL. But it was her breakout role as the possessed Doris Zander in OUIJA: ORIGIN OF EVIL, which was another prequel movie and was released to theaters back on October 21, 2016. She is a force to be reckoned with because she is that damn talented. She has three projects coming out next year so keep an eye out for those!

The film was released on August 11, 2017 and garnered acclaim from horror fans and critics. It went on to gross $306.5 million worldwide, against its budget of only $15 million! Again, it proved to the mainstream that 2017 was a banner year for the horror genre, with other notable titles like SPLIT, GET OUT and the Stephen King remake IT.

ANNABELLE: CREATION is a nightmare infused horror thriller that will add another dimension to THE CONJURING Universe! Make sure your check out this frightful flick with your fellow horror hounds tonight!! 4 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

ANNABELLE: CREATION is available on both Blu-Ray and DVD. It is also available on Digital HD, iTunes and VOD.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI for the third time at the Cinemark Century 20 Oakridge Mall - December 27, 2017

Yup, I saw STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI for the third time today! This time, I took my old friend Dina to see the film. We've been friends for over 25 years, and she is a huge STAR WARS fan! She hadn't seen the movie yet, so I thought it would be fun to take her to the Cinemark Century in Oakridge Mall. We also saw it in their special XD theater with the soft, comfy chairs too! Yeah, it felt real nice to sit in those reclining leather chairs!

After the screening was over, I asked her what her thoughts and opinions on the film. She basically said the same thing as Stephanie did: it was awesome, action packed and the story was amazing!! Since this was a third time watching it, I was able to pick up things that I missed the previous two times. In my original review, I said that the film's story is a dark one; born out of annihilation and darkness and ends in hope and light. I was completely blown away by the film's script as it took me on a very different path that I thought I was going to travel on, based on how the last film ended. This is all true but somehow I totally missed the message in the movie: hope! 

It was referenced all throughout the film. The main line, "We are the spark that will burn the First Order down." is about hope. The ending of the film offers us that hope will rise again throughout the galaxy. And that hope will bring the end to the First Order. It is a powerful message; one that reflects on what has happened in this country since Trump took over the White House and ushered in his reign of tyranny over America. But now there has risen a Resistance to this regime of white supremacy, corporate sell outs, misogyny, homophobia, climate change and this Resistance will not stop until those who will cause us harm has been removed from office. If you don't see this, then I'm sorry but you're not paying attention.

The day I saw it was also the one year anniversary of actress Carrie Fisher's passing. It's hard to believe that it's already been a year, yet watching the movie it felt like she was still here with us. The universe is still reeling from her untimely death, and fans from all over the world miss out beloved princess Lea.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is currently playing in theaters nationwide, including the Century Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at http://cinemark.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil's Top Ten Favorite Christmas Horror Films of All Time - December 26, 2017

With the holidays almost over, what better way to conclude this wonderful time of year than to watch some really awesome Christmas themed horror movies! During this yuletide time, I thought it would be not only fun but informative to share with you some of my favorite Christmas themed horror films. This is something that I've been doing for a couple of years now, due to the amazing plethora of titles that are available to watch. Some of these are classic horror staples, while some are newer releases that truly deserve your time and attention.

This list contains MY favorite movies that I have enjoyed and only titles that I have seen! So that is why you won't see other acclaimed and worthy titles like RARE IMPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE, STIRRING or SANTA SLAYS on this list. However, they are on my to-watch list so maybe they'll appear on next year's compilation. So my faithful readers, here is my Top Ten Favorite Christmas Horror Films of All Time!

Theatrical Movie Poster (2012)

10) SILENT NIGHT (2012): I'm gonna start off this list with a controversial entry. A loose remake of the classic 1984 slasher film SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT, the plot centers on the police force of a remote Midwestern town in search for a killer Santa Claus who is picking off citizens on Christmas Eve. Directed by Steven C. Miller and starring Malcolm McDowell, Jaime King, Donal Logue, Courtney-Jane White, Ellen Wong and Rick Skene, the movie is a slick, sick slasher flick that will appeal to horror fanatics. Miller is no stranger to the horror genre, after helming AUTOMATION TRANSFUSION (2006), SCREAM OF THE BANSHEE (2011) and UNDER THE BED (2012). Also, this was King's third remake of a 80's slasher film, having starred in the 2009 MY BLOODY VALENTINE and 2010 MOTHER'S DAY remakes. Click here to view the film's theatrical trailer.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)

9) KRAMPUS (2015): When his dysfunctional family clashes over the holidays, young Max (Emjay Anthony) is disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas. Little does he know, this lack of festive spirit has unleashed the wrath of Krampus: a demonic force of ancient evil intent on punishing non-believers. All hell breaks loose as beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own, laying siege to the fractured family's home and forcing them to fight for each other if they hope to survive. Filmmaker Michael Dougherty is well known to horror fans as the writer/director of the beloved anthology TRICK 'r TREAT and is in post-production of the upcoming film GODZILLA: KING OF MONSTERS for Warner Bros. Pictures. At the time of me writing this piece, it was announced that Dougherty will finally be making the long awaited sequel TRICK 'r TREAT 2, which I have been waiting for since the first movie came out! Click here to view the film's theatrical trailer.

Theatrical Movie Poster (1980)

8) CHRISTMAS EVIL (1980): When he was a boy, Harry idolized Santa Claus, but one Christmas Eve, he witnessed something horrifying that forever shattered his innocent understanding of Santa. Now an adult, Harry wants to embody the pure Santa Claus he grew up loving. He works at a toy factory and keeps records of who’s been naughty and nice, but the spirit of Christmas isn’t what it used to be and he can’t take it. So, garbed in his red suit, Harry decides that the only thing he can do is to become Santa himself and make all of the naughty townspeople pay…in blood! Originally released as You Better Watch Out, the film predates SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT by four years! Troma Entertainment originally released the movie on VHS in 2000 in an unrated director's cut. Then in 2006, Synapse Film's gained the rights to release it on DVD before finally getting a Blu-Ray/DVD combo from Vinegar Syndrome in 2014. Click here to view the film's theatrical trailer.

Promotional Movie Poster (1997)

7) JACK FROST (1997): On his way to be executed, the vehicle containing notorious serial killer Jack Frost collides with a hazardous chemical truck, turning Jack into a snow covered mutant and unleashing him on the unsuspecting town of Snomonton, ‘The Snowman Capitol of the Midwest’. Jack immediately takes advantage of his newfound freedom and blizzardy abilities to seek revenge on the bungling Sheriff, played by Christopher Allport (TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.), that accidentally ended his cross-country killing spree. On his way to the Sheriff, Jack terrorizes the snow-man themed town and murders its residents in a variety of winterized ways. The movie was recently released as a Blu-Ray/DVD combo by Vinegar Syndrome after being out of print for years. Click here to view the film's theatrical trailer.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)

6) A CHRISTMAS HORROR STORY (2015): It’s the season of joy, peace, and goodwill… unless you live in Bailey Downs. Last Christmas Eve, two teens came to a grisly end in a school basement. Now, one year later, a new set of horrors has come to town. As three friends explore the site of the massacre, a malevolent spirit is determined to keep them there forever. One of the first cops to the scene of the bloody murders has new complications as his seven-year-old son exhibits terrifying and violent behavior. And when a local family seeks reconciliation with an estranged aunt for the wrong reasons, they suddenly find themselves running in terror from Krampus, the demonic anti-Santa Claus. Not even St. Nick is immune to the terror as he fights back against a horde of zombie elves. This is destined to be a holiday no one will ever forget. Click here to view the film's theatrical trailer.

Theatrical Movie Poster (1993)

5) THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993): Bored with the same old scare-and-scream routine, Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, longs to spread the joy of Christmas. But his merry mission puts Santa in jeopardy and creates a nightmare for good little boys and girls everywhere! I don't care what people think or say, this is a horror film disguised as a children's film. Created by the legendary Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick, this stop motion musical contains some delightful scares and eerie imagery that horror fans have come accustomed to with Mr. Burton's cinematic world. And the cinematic world has never been the same since. Since its original release, the film has gone on to become a true animation classic, spawning toys, games, clothes and all kinds of merchandise. Click here to view the film's theatrical trailer.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2016)

4) BETTER WATCH OUT (2016): This holiday season, you may be home, but you’re not alone... In this fresh and gleefully twisted spin on home-invasion horror, babysitter Ashley (Olivia DeJonge) must defend her young charges Luke (Levi Miller) and his best friend Garrett (Ed Oxenbould ) when intruders break into the house one snowy night – or so she thinks. Originally titled as SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD, the film made a big splash when it was screened at the Fantastic Fest in 2016. It went on to garner acclaim at other film festivals before being picked up for distribution by Well Go USA Entertainment. This is one of the most original, entertaining and sick Christmas themed horror films I have seen in a very long time! Fun fact: both DeJonge and Oxenbould played siblings in M. Night Shyamalan's 2015 thriller THE VISIT. Click here to view the film's theatrical trailer.

Theatrical Movie Poster (1984)

3) GREMLINS (1984): A small town is besieged by some furry and not-so-cute little creatures after a young man ignores the warnings of a wise elder regarding their care and feeding. Before anybody says anything, the film takes place during Christmas time, so that is why it's on my list. Written by Chris Columbus, produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Joe Dante, the film stars Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Keye Luke, Corey Feldman, Dick Miller and with Howie Mandel providing the voice of Gizmo. The film was so successful that it became the fourth highest-grossing film of 1984 (GHOSTBUSTERS, BEVERLY HILLS COP and INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM were the other three films), grossing a staggering $148.1 million against its meager $11 million budget! A sequel was eventually made and released in 1990. Click here to view the film's theatrical trailer.

Theatrical Movie Poster (1984)

2) SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (1984): The film is the heartwarming story of little Billy Chapman who was traumatized by his parents’ Christmas Eve murder, then brutalized by sadistic orphanage nuns. But when grown-up Billy is to dress as jolly St. Nick, he goes on a yuletide rampage to "punish the naughty! ", Santa Claus is coming to town ... and this time he’s got an axe! Robert Brian Wilson and Scream Queen Linnea Quigley star in this jaw-dropping horror classic that a nation of angry mothers still cannot stop! Community leaders tried to stop the release. The P.T.A. fought to ban it. In 2017, Scream Factory, an imprint of Shout! Factory, released the film on Blu-Ray in a new high-definition and fully restored from the original vaulted film negative. Still considered controversial to this very day, the film spawned four sequels along with the 2012 remake that came in at number ten. Click here to watch the film's theatrical trailer.

Theatrical movie Poster (1974)

1) BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974): The grandaddy of all Christmas horror films! The college town of Bedford is receiving an unwelcome guest this Christmas. As the residents of sorority house Pi Kappa Sigma prepare for the festive season, a stranger begins to stalk the house. A series of obscene phone calls start to plague the residents of the sorority and it becomes clear that a psychopath is homing in on the sisters with dubious intentions. And though the police try to trace the calls, they discover that nothing is as it seems during this Black Christmas. Over 40 years after its initial theatrical release, the movie still holds up and still inspires screams from audiences today! It predates HALLOWEEN by four years and it's sited as launching the slasher genre. A remake with the same name came out in 2006 and Scream Factory released a two-disc special edition Blu-Ray set earlier this year! Click here to view the film's theatrical trailer.

And there you have it folks! My Top Ten Favorite Christmas Horror Films of All Time! I hope that this list inspires you to watch some of these films, or if you're a die hard horror fanatic, it will make you want to revisit these festive cinematic gems! Since many of these movies are available to watch on Blu-Ray, DVD, VOD or on streaming services like Netflex, Hulu and Shudder, there is a plethroa of ways for you to watch them. So put out those milk and cookies, turn on your Christmas tree lights, pop some popcorn and set back and watch these films with your family today! Just make sure you save a seat for Santa, or he'll leave a lump of coal in your stocking....if your lucky!

Thanks for reading, and Happy Holidays to you all!

Phil sees STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (again) at the Cinemark Century 20 Oakridge Mall - December 19, 2017

Well, I didn't wait long to see STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI again. This time I took my girlfriend Stephanie to see it at the Century 20 Theaters in Oakridge Mall, located here in South San Jose. So after seeing it on Monday after work, I told her all about it (spoiler free of course) and that I need to take her to see it. So we went the very next day and caught the 11:45am screening of the film.

Over two hours later, we exited the theater and I asked her what she thought of the film. All she could say was, "That was so awesome!" I sensed she was a little overwhelmed and was still trying to process the movie. Having seen it a second time, I caught more details that I missed the day before. As I said in my original review, Johnson has deliberately taken the franchise into uncharted territory. There is so much happening in the film that it requires multiple viewings, which I was planning to do anyway. 

So as I am writing this, the film has now grossed $791.7 million worldwide! It had the 5th biggest worldwide opening of all time, the 2nd biggest worldwide IMAX opening of all time and the 2nd highest Thursday night gross ever (the first was THE FORCE AWAKENS). The film is estimated to gross over $800 million by the end of the year.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is currently playing in theaters nationwide, including the Century Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at http://cinemark.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI at the Cinelux Almaden Café & Lounge - Dec. 18, 2017

On December 23, 2015, I saw STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, which was a the first new STAR WARS film to be released since Disney bought LucasFilm from its creator George Lucas in October of 2012. The film became a huge blockbuster, thanks in large part to director J.J. Abrams. After viewing the movie, I thought to myself as to where the story would go in the next installment of this cherished sci-fi franchise. After all, writer/director Rian Johnson is an accomplished filmmaker, having title like BRICK, THE BROTHERS BLOOM and LOOPER in his resume, I knew that he would take these characters and make something revolutionary with them. Low and behold, I was right in my guess, having seen it with my own two eyes. Now, the long two year wait has ended and I finally saw STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI this past opening weekend.

The film's official synopsis: Rey (Daisy Ridley) develops her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who is unsettled by the strength of her powers. Meanwhile, the Resistance, lead by General Lea Organa (Carrie Fisher), prepares to do battle with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the First Order.

Also appearing in the film are John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux), Andy Serkis (Supreme Leader Snoke), Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma), Billie Lourd (Lieutenant Connix) along with newcomers like Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico), Laura Dern (Vice Admiral Holdo) and Benicio Del Toro (DJ), with special guest appearances from Lupita Nyong'o (Maz Kanata) and Frank Oz (Yoda).

Since there are still a number of you out there that haven't seen the movie yet, I will be making this a SPOILER-FREE REVIEW! So I will be mostly talking about my opinion of the film as a whole rather than dissecting it like I usually do. Basically, this will be kind of a generic review because I don't want to ruin the movie for any of you (which begs the question why are you reading this and not going out to see the movie?).

This was unlike any other STAR WARS film that has come before it. Johnson has deliberately taken the franchise into uncharted territory. The STAR WARS Universe, as a whole, has forever changed and whether you like it or not, the line in the sand has been drawn. This film marks the turning point in the franchise and will forever alter the course for all future chapters. And I, for one, am very excited to see where this will lead.

Johnson also does something unique with his film: he doesn't answer any of the questions that Abrams set up in the previous installment. We don't know how the First Order came to power, we don't know the origins of Supreme Leader Snoke, we never really learn who Rey's parents are, we basically never get any questions answered from THE FORCE AWAKENS! Instead, Johnson takes us on a personal journey for several of our characters and how their actions will affect the entire galaxy! The film's story is a dark one; born out of annihilation and darkness and ends in hope and light. I was completely blown away by the film's script as it took me on a very different path that I thought I was going to travel on, based on how the last film ended. Congratulations to Rian Johnson on helming one of the best STAR WARS film ever made!!

Because of the powerful screening the film had with the Disney executives, LucasFilm  announced on November 9, 2017 that Johnson had signed on to create an all-new STAR WARS trilogy. He will also be writing and directing the first film of the new trilogy. No word yet on what the series will be about but I cannot wait to see them!

But I can't end this review without mentioning the late, great Carrie Fisher, who passed away on December 27, 2016. This would be her last on-screen appearance as General/Princess Lea Organa. Words fail me to express how hard it was to watch her in the movie, knowing that this was her last role ever. While THE FORCE AWAKENS centered on Han Solo and THE LAST JEDI focused on Luke Skywalker, Episode IX was going to feature Lea as a key character, completing the original cast from the original trilogy. But with her passing, those plans fell apart. There was talk about using footage of Fisher left over from this film and even creating her digitally like they did in ROUGE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY. However, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy announced in January of this year that they would not digitally generate Fisher in the next movie, nor will she be in it at all. We can only wonder what her role might have been. And our hearts will forever mourn the loss of our beloved princess.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is, without question, my favorite film of the series since THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!! The movie is just that damn incredible!! I am planning to see this movie over and over again in the theater before it comes out on Blu-Ray because there is so much happening in the movie, it needs to be seen on the big screen!! So stop whatever it is that you are doing and go see this film!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is currently playing in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D theaters nationwide, including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees JUSTICE LEAGUE at the Cinelux Alamden Café & Lounge - November 27, 2017

The DC Extended Universe been playing catch-up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the exception of this past summer's blockbuster WONDER WOMAN, every single DCEU film has received every single kind of negative review you can think of. To be honest, I think it's a little unfair. I enjoyed the MAN OF STEEL. SUPERMAN V. BATMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE was okay, but it was uneven and incoherent. And I liked SUICIDE SQUAD. Now Warner Bros. has released the latest chapter in the DCEU with JUSTICE LEAGUE.

The film's official synopsis: Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes-Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash-it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

The movie has already received mixed reviews from critics, which is really uncalled for. The film has a solid three-arc story, all the characters get their fair share of on-screen appearances, the main antagonist felt like a real threat and it had a lot action and humor. Plus the movie marks the return of the Last Son of Krypton (this is no big spoiler, it's already been mentions by several media outlets).

Both Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot reprise their roles as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. They really do look and sound like superheroes, even though word has it that Affleck might be stepping down as the Dark Knight, which is a real shame. He brought us a totally different Batman; one that has been fighting crime for over 20 years. He's the elder statesmen of the group and he's that one that initiated the formation of the Justice League. Gadot is wonderful and Wonder Woman (pun intended)! Also making their return are Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Diane Lane as Martha Kent and Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth. But this time, they are joined by some new faces!

Beefcake studmuffin Jason Momoa portrays Arthur Curry aka the Aquaman! Momoa is currently every woman's wet dream. Gaining immortality from the television show Game of Thrones, Momoa's Aquaman is funny but serious and kicks a lot of ass! Ezra Miller's Flash is the kid of the group. He's unsure of himself, lack self-confidence and is new to this whole "superhero" thing. But he see him grow as the film puts him is situations where he must man up and be the hero he is capable of being. Victor Stone aka Cyborg is brought to life by actor Ray Fisher. Moody, terrified of himself and his abilities but very cool under pressure, Fisher captures the character's personality, strengths and flaws perfectly!

And last, but not least, I have to mention the great J.K. Simmons as Police Commissioner James Gordon. Wow!! Even though he was in the film for about 5 minutes, he looked and sounded like the old Jim Gordon from the comics!! Simmons has the distinct honor of portraying two of the most iconic comic book characters on film: Gordon and J. Jonah Jameson from the original SPIDER-MAN Trilogy! How freaking cool is that?!?!

Director Zack Snyder, who's petty much been in charge of the DCEU, originally was hired to direct the film, but left the project after a year into it due to the tragic death of his daughter. Joss Whedon was brought on board oversee the remainder of post-production, including writing and directing additional  his own scenes for the film. Even though Snyder's name is listed as director, one has to wonder how much tampering did Whedon do? And with that being said, will fans ever see Snyder's version of the film? Hopefully, Warner Bros. Pictures will release both versions of the movie when it comes out on Blu-Ray!

In my humble opinion, JUSTICE LEAGUE is an action packed, entertaining comic book blockbuster!! Fans of the DC comic will enjoy seeing this big screen adaptation during this holiday season!! 4 1/2 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

JUSTICE LEAGUE is currently playing in 2D and 3D in theaters nationwide, including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil's Horror Watch: HELLO MARY LOU: PROM NIGHT II (1987) from MGM Home Entertainment - November 24, 2017

HELLO MARY LOU: PROM NIGHT II DVD

HELLO MARY LOU: PROM NIGHT II
Starring Lisa Schrage, Michael Ironside, Wendy Lyon, Louis Ferreira, Terri Hawkes, Brock Simpson, Richard Monette
Written by Ron Oliver
Cinematography by John Herzog
Edited by Nick Rotundo
Produced by Peter Simpson, Ray Sager, Ilana Frank, Peter Haley
Directed by Bruce Pittman
Originally distributed by The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Released by MGM Home Entertainment

Throughout the 1980’s, horror fans were treated to an endless supply of films being released to theaters. The majority of these were sequels to popular franchises: FRIDAY THE 13^TH, HALLOWEEN, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, EVIL DEAD and A NIGHTMAE OF ELM STREET for example. Then in 1987, a sequel to the 1981 slasher film PROM NIGHT was released, but failed to capture both the audiences’ attention and box office profits. Now, exactly 30 years later, fans have finally caught up to the brilliance of HELLO MARY LOU: PROM NIGHT II.

The film's official synopsis: In 1957, jealous boyfriend Bill Nordham kills Hamilton High’s Prom Queen Mary Lou Maloney (Lisa Schrage). Thirty years later, Nordham (Michael Ironside) is now the principal of Hamilton High and his son Craig (Justin Louis) is attending the prom with his lovely girlfriend Vicki Carpenter (Wendy Lyon). But when she finds and opens an old trunk in the school’s basement, the spirit of Mary Lou processes her. Now Nordham must confront his old love before she murders everyone he cares about.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that the film was never to be intended to be a sequel at all. Directed by Bruce Pittman and written by Ron Oliver, it was originally titled THE HAUNTING OF HAMILTON HIGH. Oliver’s script was heavily filled with nods to other horror films such as CARRIE, THE EXORCIST and A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. Another interesting nod that he did was to have almost every characters’ last name pay homage to famous horror and cult directors; such has Wes Craven, Frank Henenlotter, John Carpenter, John Waters, Stephen King, George Romero, Todd Browing and Edward D. Wood, Jr.

Original Theatrical Poster (1987)

The movie was shot on location at Archbishop O’Leary High School in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. After filming wrapped, executive producer Peter Simpson – who produced the original PROM NIGHT – didn’t think the film worked and hired Oliver to rewrite and reshoot several of the film’s sequences in one week. These would be the rocking horse scene, the chalkboard whirlwind and the climax of the locker room death scene.

Once production was completed, the Samuel-Goldwyn Company, who purchased the film’s distribution rights, decided to change the title to HELLO MARY LOU: PROM NIGHT II to cash in on the success of the first PROM NIGHT. It was a sheer coincidence that the name of the high school was the same from the original.

The film was released to theaters on November 13, 1987. It grossed $2.6 million at the box office against its $1.5-$2 million budget. The film performed poorly and horror fans didn’t flock to the theaters to see it. It did garner a positive review from L.A. TIMES film critic Kevin Thomas when he called it “THE BLUE VELVET of high school horror movies.” In a 2002 interview with the website The Terror Trap, Peter Simpson stated that, “But [Samuel Goldwyn] never had the courage of his convictions and it was released in a capricious and silly fashion. He wanted to build on PROM NIGHT so we changed the title, which I think hurt the movie.” Though the movie bombed at the box office, it eventually made a killing when it was released on home video. It’s here that the film finally found its audience and became a bona fide cult classic.

HELLO MARY LOU: PROM NIGHT II is an often, overlooked 80’s horror gem! With its amalgam of slasher killings, supernatural scares, radical 80’s soundtrack and its social commentary on topics revolving teen sex, pregnancy and suicide, the movie demands a closer examination. So invite a bunch of your friends, make some popcorn and go watch this horror classic! Just make sure you save a seat for Mary Lou! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

HELLO MARY LOU: PROM NIGHT II is currently available on DVD at your local retailer. The film is also available several streaming platforms, such as Amazon Prime, Netflex and Shudder with paid subscriptions.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil's Horror Watch: JACK FROST (1997) from Vinegar Syndrome - November 24, 2017

JACK FROST Limited Edition Lenticular Cover

JACK FROST
Starring Jeremy Paige, Christopher Allport, Stephen Mendel, F. William Parker, Rob LaBelle, Kelly Jean Peters, Shannon Elizabeth, Charles Stevenson Jr.
Written by Michael Cooney and Jeremy Paige
Cinematography by Dean Lent
Edited by Terry Kelley
Produced by Barry L. Collier, Barbara Javitz, Jeremy Paige, Vicki Slotnick
Directed by Michael Cooney
Originally distributed by A-Pix Entertainment
Released by Vinegar Syndrome

Just because Halloween is over doesn't mean that the scares has to stop! Today's film was one of my favorite films to rent at my local video store American Video Center. It was a treasure trove for horror films: classics, shot on videos, cult classics and low budget gems. It was here that I saw a movie that I had to see. It had a lenticular cover of a killer snowman! This was right up my alley and I rented it ans watched it that day. Now 20 later, Vinegar Syndrome has re-released this cult classic on Blu-Ray. Today's horror film is the one, the only JACK FROST! (Not to be confused with the 1998 Michael Keaton movie of the same name)

The film's official synopsis:  On his way to be executed, the vehicle containing notorious serial killer Jack Frost collides with a hazardous chemical truck, turning Jack into a snow covered mutant and unleashing him on the unsuspecting town of Snomonton, ‘The Snowman Capitol of the Midwest’. Jack immediately takes advantage of his newfound freedom and blizzardy abilities to seek revenge on the bungling Sheriff, played by Christopher Allport (TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.), that accidentally ended his cross-country killing spree. On his way to the Sheriff, Jack terrorizes the snow-man themed town and murders its residents in a variety of winterized ways. Can the residents of Snomonton fight back against the psychopath snowman from Hell or will they all end up in a snow-covered grave?

London born writer/director  Michael Cooney came up with the idea for the movie back in 1989. The story of a serial killer who becomes a murdering snowman just screams cult classic! Along with co-writer and producer Jeremy Paige, these two came up with a script that is funny, over-the-top and very clever! The gags work, the one-liner are hilarious and the characters are fun caricatures of classic slashers from years past!

Original VHS Box Cover (1997)

Filmed in 18 days on short end film stock, Cooney and his gang had to be creative and came up with some clever ideas to overcome their very low budget and many obstacles. One example was that the movie was shot during the winter drought and there was no snow on the ground. To rectify this situation, foam and cotton swabs had to be used for snow. So every scene the audience sees that has "snow" they had to put it all down. Plus since this was filmed during the drought, temperatures reached about 70 degrees and all the actors are dressed in sweaters, scarfs, coats and parkas!

The film is also well know for being the feature film debut of the lovely Shannon Elizabeth (billed here as Shannon Elizabeth Fadal). She would go one to give every red-blooded American male wet dreams in films like 13 GHOSTS, SCARY MOVIE, JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK and, of course, the AMERICAN PIE franchise. The film's antagonist Scott MacDonald has had a very successful acting career, appearing in movies such as FIRE IN THE SKY, JARHEAD and WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, television shows like Charmed, The X-Files and Star Trek: Enterprise as Commander Doli. Boston born actor Christopher Allport (who plays our hero Sam) started acting way back in the 1960's. His resume includes titles like DEAD & BURIED, TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A., and INVADERS FROM MARS and a slew of TV shows like Another World, Days of Our Lives, M*A*S*H, St. Elsewhere, Dynasty, In The Heat of the Night and Murder, She Wrote. Sadly, Allport passed away on January 25, 2008 from a, "a trio of avalanches which swept off-trail canyons in the San Gabriel mountains at the Mountain High ski resort, northeast of Los Angeles."

The movie was released on VHS by A-Pix Entertainment on November 18, 1997. It became such a huge cult classic that a sequel entitled JACK FROST 2: REVENGE OF THE MUTANT KILLER SNOWMAN was released three years later. A third installment was planned but was scrapped when Allport died. The film was to be called JACK FROST 3: THE LAST COMING.

While the movie was released by A-Pix Entertainment on VHS, it was also distributed on DVD by Simitar Entertainment, both in the same year. Soon, it was out of print on both formants and commanded high prices on eBay. In 2016, Vinegar Syndrome released the film for the first time on Blu-ray.

JACK FROST is one of the best and funniest horror films to come out of the late 90's!! If your a horror fan who thinks they have seen it all, guess what? You are so wrong! You have not lived until you see a mutant snowman killing a naked Shannon Elizabeth in a shower! Yes, you read that right and that's just a small taste of the insanity that the movies offers! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

JACK FROST is available in a Blu-Ray/DVD Combo at your local retailer as well on the Vinegar Syndrome website, where they are offering a Limited Edition Lenticular Cover. To order a copy for yourself, visit their website at vinegarsyndrome.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil's Cult Classics: ROLLER BOOGIE (1979) from Olive Films - November 15, 2017

ROLLER BOOGIE Blu-Ray

ROLLER BOOGIE
Starring Linda Blair, Jim Bray, Roger Perry, Beverly Garland, James Van Patten, Kimberly Beck, Albert Insinnia, Stoney Jackson, Mark Goddard
Written by Barry Schneider and Irwin Yablans
Cinematography by Dean Cundey
Edited by Byron 'Buzz' Brandt, Edilberto Cruz and Edward Salier
Produced by Irwin Yablans, Bruce Cohn Curtis and Joseph Wolf
Directed by Mark L. Lester
Originally distributed by United Artists
Released by Olive Films

Welcome back to another edition of Phil's Cult Classics! Today's film come from that groovie decade known as the 1970's. In fact, it was released in the last year of that decade and it started off a trend that continued in the early 1980's Dubbed "The CITIZEN KANE of the Roller Disco Films", ROLLER BOOGIE continues to entertain audiences long after its original release!

The film's official synopsis: Terry (Linda Blair), a classical musician, meets fast-talking roller skater Bobby James (Jim Bray) at Venice Beach, Calif. After initially ignoring Bobby, Terry warms to him when he saves her from a roller skating accident. The pair start skating together and decide to partner for a competition at the local roller rink. But, when they discover a shady plot to sell the rink to a crooked developer (Mark Goddard), Terry and Jim team up with their friends to stop the deal.

Original Theatrical Poster (1979)

Lead actress Linda Blair is no stranger to genre fans. Having shot to stardom with her role as Regan in director William Friedkin's 1973 horror film classic THE EXORCIST, she went on to appear in movies like THE EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC, HELL NIGHT, CHAINED HEAT, SAVAGE STREETS and  REPOSSESSED. At first, Blair's co-star was going to be her then boyfriend David Kennedy, but they broke up and he was later dismissed. Jim Bray (making his one and only film appearance) was originally hired to be the stunt double for Blair's then uncast leading man. When the producers failed to find an actor they liked, they cast Bray as Bobby James. By the time he was cast, he had already won a staggering 275 trophies for rollerskating! Beverly Garland had already made a name for herself in classic sci-fi and B-movies of the 1950's such as PROBLEM GIRLS, THE ROCKET MAN and Roger Corman's SWAMP WOMEN, GUNSLINGER and IT CONQUERED THE WORLD. 

The film was directed by the great Mark L. Lester with great set-ups and compositions. Lester started out with making exploitation classics like STEEL ARENA, TRUCK STOP WOMEN and BOBBIE JO AND THE OUTLAW. He burst into the mainstream with films like CLASS OF 1984, FIRESTARTER, COMMANDO and ARMED AND DANGEROUS. Lester is still making films to this very day, ranging from action movies to fright flicks such as GROUPIE, POSEIDON REX and DRAGONS OF CAMELOT. 

Produced by Compass International and distributed by United Artists, the movie was released to theaters on December 21, 1979. The film grossed an impressive $13.2 million at the box office but it was the soundtrack that really got everyone grooving. Issued by Casablanca Records, the double-LP soundtrack featured disco hits by Cher (Hell on Wheels), Earth, Wind & Fire (Boogie Wonderland), as well as several original songs written by Bob Esty and Michelle Aller. Despite its cult status, the soundtrack still remains unavailable on CD or digitally.

ROLLER BOOGIE remains one of the best disco cult classics of all time and garnered a legion of fans who enjoy the innocence of the movie! It's a comedic, light-hearted, disco love story that will make you dance in your seat! It captures the late 1970's beautifully and reminds us how much fun it was to be alive back then! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

ROLLER BOOGIE is available on both Blu-Ray and DVD from Olive Films. To purchase a copy for yourself, visit your local retailer or order one on their website at olivefilms.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil Goes Bollywood: COCKTAIL (2012) from Eros International - Novemebr 11, 2017

Ever since seeing the anniversary screening of DEVDAS a couple of months back, I have been itching to return to that magical and wonderful land called Bollywood! Eros International is one of my favorite distributors and back in 2012 they released a film that I've been wanting to see. So after all these months, I once again traveled back to India (as well as London) to watch the romantic comedy COCKTAIL.

Original Theatrical Poster (2012)

The film's official synopsis: Three friends Meera (Diana Penty), Veronica (Deepika Padukone) and Gautam (Saif Ali Khan) move into an apartment together. All is well until love enters their lives & adds more complications than they can handle. Set against the vibrant and luscious backdrop of London and Capetown, this is a comical, new-age and warm celebration of relationships exploring various choices that life may offer and the extra-ordinary choices that ordinary people make.

What I enjoyed about the film is that it takes place in the modern world, in this case London. Instead of having the film be a period piece like most Bollywood movies, it gives the audience that sense of reality, knowing it takes place in the here and now, so to speak. The other aspect is that the characters are all relatable; we can identify with them and their personalities and eccentricities. We have a friend who they remind us of, or we see us in them. This breaks down the language barrier, giving audiences that ability to become emotionally invested in these characters. Love and friendship transcends language, and thus, becomes the universal language for the whole human race.

Khan's portrayal of Gautam is something most men can relate to: a cocky, self-absorbed playboy who sees women as a conquest. Of course, we were all like that at his age. I for one used to pick up on women all the time during my 20's and early 30's. It's something we all go through, but in time, we find love when we least are expecting it. Padukone's character Veronica is the all-night party girl we all know and maybe even dated. But there comes that time when the bright lights start to fade and you are wondering is there anything more than this? Penty's Meera represents those people who have everything planned out, but come to the conclusion that life doesn't always go as planned. Together, these three cinematic individuals represent us in our youths, those who are in their youth and the discovery of what life offers us. All three of these talented actors did a phenomenal job and their on-screen chemistry is second to none!!

Director Homi Adajania (FINDING FANNY, BEING CYRUS) as well as screenwriters Imtiaz Ali and Sajid Ali did a fabulous job of crafting a movie that has a lot of heart, laughter and hurt. Adajania's directing really captures the emotional context of the script while showcasing both London and Capetown as characters in the film as well. Not a lot of directors try to display their surroundings as characters, which is really a shame. We see London in all it's eclectic beauty: the flashy lights of the nightclubs, the rainy skylines and the clash of its modern building and historical landmarks. Capetown is a tropical heaven on Earth. His set-ups and composition's are simple yet elegant and suits the film's themes perfectly.

Produced by Illuminati Films and released by Eros International on July 13, 2012, the film received positive reviews by several media outlets. The film was nominated for several awards from various awards shows and won five, including the UK Bollywood Cosmopolitan award and the Vogue beauty award for best female debut to Diana Penty in 2012 and the BIG Star Critics Award for Best Actress and OIFA and the Award for Best Actor Female to Deepika Padukone in 2013.

COCKTAIL is a wonderful and emotionally charged romantic comedy that reminds us that life is full of love and surprises!! If you think Bollywood movies are just about singing and dancing, then this movie will definitely change your opinion on them. 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

COCKTAIL is currently available on Blu-Ray,  DVD and VOD from Eros International Pictures. To purchase a copy for yourself, and to learn more about Eros and their film library, visit their website at erosnow.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show! 

Phil sees THOR: RAGNAROK at the Cinelux Alamden Café & Lounge - November 3, 2017

Well, it's officially November folks! And you know what that means? Yup, a new Marvel movie was released! Pretty much whenever a new Marvel movie comes out it's a cause for celebration. It means another chapter of the MCU is open for us to explore, full of action and adventure! This time we're joining the God of Thunder as we bare witness of his journey in his third outing in THOR: RAGNAROK!

The film's official synopsis: Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett). But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo)!

The THOR franchise has been mostly serious, sprinkled with some humor. Focusing on the God of Thunder and his human companions as they stop God-like adversaries, the series has been played straight forward. However, with this film, the franchise has made a hilarious sharp left turn and is now played as a comedic action/adventure superhero flick!

Credit goes to screenwriters Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost for crafting a hysterical, smart and action packed script that still contains the mythical aspect of the character while injecting a generous amount of humor from the James Gunn GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY series. In fact, during my viewing if the film, I thought that Gunn had written the script! It was fresh and exciting to see Thor portrayed in this kind of light, which adds a new layer to this famous comic book character. Add the incredibility talented director Taika Waititi (WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, BOY, EAGLE VS. SHARK) helming the project, and you have a Marvel that will rank in the Top 5 Marvel Films of all time!

Once again Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston return as Thor and Loki, respectively. There's nothing that I can say that I haven't said about them before. This is their fourth outing together on the big screen and, all I can say is that they're fantastic! The have the best on-screen chemistry within the MCU and I can't get enough of them. I can watch these two all day! Cate Blanchett's Hela is cunning, vicious and deadly and is easily one the greatest villains in the MCU. But she isn't without a sence of humor and she's got me to laugh a couple of times!

Mark Ruffalo is back as Bruce Banner, better known as the Incredible Hulk! We learn what happened to Banner at the end of AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON and what he's been up to since then. Like we saw in the first AVENGERS film, Thor and Hulk continue their brawl as they have one helluva slobberknocker of a battle! But when we see Bruce interact with Thor, we witness the beginning of a beautiful friendship! Hemsworth and Ruffalo are great actors and they play off one another amazingly. I hope we see more of them in future Marvel films!

Jeff Goldblum basicallly plays himself but in a fancy costume as the Grandmaster, but it's so much fun to watch. Tessa Thompson portrays Valkyrie, the long fabled warrior from days gone by. She is a interesting new character to the THOR franchise and Thompson is a wonderful addition to the cast. Also, we get an appearance of the great Anthony Hopkins as Thor and Loki's father King Odin and Benedict Cumberbatch returns as the mystical Doctor Strange. In fact, the bonus scene at the end of his film appears in this film, which is a nice way of tying the two films together, making it feel like the comic books.

Also, I have no idea on who thought about using Led Zepplin's "The Immigrant Song" in the movie but that was the most brilliant idea ever! The song appears at the very beginning of the film and at the third act's climax and it heightens the action and intensity of both of these scenes! Plus, it exposes the song and the band to a new generation of kids who may never have heard of Led Zepplin before. So whoever is the one responsible for that, good job buddy! Make sure you get a bonus for that!

Overall, THOR: RAGNAROCK is the best film in the series and is one of the funniest, action packed films within the MCU!! Fans will no doubt being seeing this film in the theaters over and over again! So head over to your local theater and see this bad boy on the big screen!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

THOR: RAGNAROCK is currently playing in theaters nationwide, including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil counts down to the 14th Annual ANOTHER HOLE IN THE HEAD FILMFEST at the New People Cinema in Japantown, San Francisco October 25th - November 8th, 2017

One of the aspects I love about living here in the Bay Area is all the awesome films festivals that are held here. One of these is the upcoming 14th Annual ANOTHER HOLE IN THE HEAD FILM FESTIVAL, which is presented by SF IndieFest and will be held at the New People Cinema, located in Japantown, San Francisco. From October 25th through November 8th, 2017, fans of horror, sci-fi and fantasy genres can witness a total of 29 films and 94 short films during the festival's 15-day run!

The festival kicks off the festivities with the its Opening Night's Film MOHAWK, which is, "a historical Action/Thriller film dealing with a conflict between a small band of Native Americans and a group of brutal colonists during during the War of 1812." Screening before the feature is one of the 11 short film programs the festival is offering for fans. Entitled SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME, this program features, "an international collection exploring the themes of time travel and future technologies."

There are plenty on independent films screening at the festival this year, including the giant insect film DEAD ANT and Troma Entertainment Alumni Trent Haaga's 68 KILL, both on Saturday, October 28th at 7pm and 9pm, respectively, the zombie thriller THAW OF THE DEAD on Thursday, November 2nd at 7pm, and EMPIRE OF THE SHARKS screening Tuesday, November 7th at 7pm. Also screening at the festival is the dark horror/comedy TRAGEDY GIRLS on Friday, November 27th at 9pm.

The festival will also spotlight local filmmakers from the Bay Area as well. David O'Shea's 2012 film DAY JOB will be having its 5th Anniversary Screening on Sunday, November 5th at 7pm with O'Shea participating in a Q&A session with audience members. The supernaturally demonic movie SWEET KITTY will be having its wold premiere on Saturday, November 4th. Then on Saturday, October 28th at 5pm, Shorts Block #4 entitled STRANGERS WITH EYE CANDY features several local filmmakers' short films, including cartoonist and animator Levni Yilmaz, creator of the popular YouTube series TALES OF MERE EXISTENCE. Then there's CHRISTOPHER COPPOLA'S ART FILM TRILOGY & G-MEN FROM HELL, spotlighting prolific local filmmaker and festival alumni Coppola's TRILOGY being shown in the order they were produced plus his 2000 film adaptation of Michael Allred's comic book G-MEN FROM HELL starring William Forsythe, Tate Donovan, Bobcat Goldthwait, Gary Busey and Vanessa Angel with Coppola participating in a Q&A session afterwards. This screening will take place on Monday, November 6th at 9pm.

Then there's the awesome screenings of modern day cinema classics, including French filmmaker René Laloux's 1973 animated sci-fi film FANTASTIC PLANET and the 35mm film print screening of Oliver Stone's 1994 movie NATURAL BORN KILLERS, both on Monday, October 30th 7pm and 9pm, respectively. Then on Halloween night, the festival will be showing John Carpenter's iconic 1978 horror film HALLOWEEN at 7pm and then Rick Rosenthal's 1981 sequel HALLOWEEN II at 9pm, both shown in stunning black and white!!

Closing out the festival is the body horror film REPLACE, starring festival alumni and legendary genre actress Barbara Crampton! Show starts at 7pm on November 8th.

Plus so much, much more, it'll take another post to list them all!!

So what are you waiting for?  Mark the festival's date on your calendar and come out to the city for some amazing works of art! Individual tickets are $15 online and at the door. All-inclusive festival passes will be priced at $149, which includes all the films and special events. For the full festival schedule, visit the Another Hole in the Head's official website at www.ahith.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!