Phil's Halloween Horror Watch: THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT (2014) from Image Entertainment - October 5, 2016

THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT Blu-Ray

THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT 

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.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the screaming!

Phil's Halloween Horror Watch: JESSABELLE (2014) from Lionsgate - October 4, 2016

JESSABELLE Blu-ray

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.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the screaming!

Phil's Halloween Horror Watch: BACKCOUNTRY (2014) from IFC Midnight - October 3, 2016

BACKCOUNTRY Blu-ray

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.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the screaming!

Phil's Halloween Horror Watch: GREEN ROOM (2015) from A24 - October 2, 2016

GREEN ROOM Blu-Ray

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.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the screaming!

Phil's Halloween Horror Watch: THE SHALLOWS (2016) from Sony Pictures - October 1, 2016

THE SHALLOWS Blu-Ray

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.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the screaming!

Phil remembers Herschell Gordon Lewis, The Godfather of Gore - September 26, 2016

Herchell Gordon Lewis 1926-2016

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!!

To purchase any of Herschell Gordon Lewis's films on DVD, visit the Something Weird Video website at http://somethingweird.com/. Also visit Vinegar Syndrome at vinegarsyndrome.com. Plus don't forget to visit his website at herschellgordonlewis.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil reminisces and says goodbye to the Camera 12 Cinemas Downtown San Jose - September 8, 2016

Having been born and raised in San Jose, over the years I have watched the South Bay transform into the Silicon Valley. During this time, I also watched Downtown San Jose change as well. But for the past 12 years, I would frequent the Camera 12 Cinemas, one of my favorite movie theaters in town. I saw a plethora of films from all genres here. It was also the home for the Cinequest Film Festival, the then called San Francisco Asian American Film Festival (now CAAMFest at the Camera 3), the Camera Cinema Club, the Midnight Movie series which I hosted, special advance screenings and so forth. It was my home away from home. When I moved to the Sacramento area about a year ago, I thought that I'd come back to visit one day and see a movie there. However, I read the terrible news on Facebook this morning: The Camera 12 Cinemas was closing on September 9, 2016.

I visited the Camera Cinemas' website, looking for more information about the closing. Here is what Jack NyBlom, co-founder of the Camera Cinemas, wrote on the website:

"A message to our Camera 12 family,

It is with much sadness that, in spite of our best efforts, we cannot keep Camera 12 open any longer. A decade’s loss of revenue from a promised growing downtown residential market, that’s just now coming online, coupled with the staggering costs of maintaining a large, aging, poorly designed building has led us to this decision to close.

This closure does not affect our thriving Camera 3 and Camera 7 cineplexes.

I’m proud to say that Camera Cinemas is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the downtown. In 1975, my partners, fellow San Jose State University students and incurable film buffs Jim Zuur and Dennis Skaggs, and I rehabbed a former South First Street shoe store and turned it into Camera One. We were tired of driving to Berkeley or San Francisco for art, foreign and independent films. A few years later, we opened Camera 3 in downtown San Jose. In 1989, nationally renowned Cinequest Film Festival debuted at Camera 3 and grew into Camera 12 over the years.

In 2004, Camera Cinemas reopened the failed United Artists 8-screen cineplex at Paseo de San Antonio as Camera 12 Cinemas, finally bringing first-run movies on a regular basis to downtown for the first time in 40 years. It’s estimated we’ve drawn an estimated 20 million moviegoers to downtown San Jose, contributing more than $200,000,000 to its economy.

On behalf of my partners and investors, I wish to thank our staff for their dedicated service, and the community leaders and tens of thousands of patrons who’ve kept the Cameras rolling for so many years.

To customers holding Camera Cinemas gift and discount cards they will be honored at Camera 3 and Camera 7.

In time, I’m confident that downtown San Jose will be home to a new cinema experience. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Sincerely,
Jack NyBlom" 

I can't explain to you all just how devastating this news means to not only me, but to those who work there, the patrons who've been coming there for years, the film festivals and events, this changes the downtown landscape drastically. The Camera 12 Cinemas was a place that people would gather to see extraordinary films, commerce with friends, meet local and independent filmmakers and just celebrate life through art. 

It is now Monday, September 12, 2016 and the Camera 12 is now closed forever. If I was still living in San Jose, I would've left work early on that Friday, went to the first mantine show and stayed till the very last frame of film went through their projector. Then I would've made sure I was the last patrons there, walked around the theater, taken a few pictures of the place, said goodbye to the people working there, and then stood out front and waited till they turned off the lights. I didn't do that though, but over the years I've done just that. Plus I was smart enough to take a plethora of pictures of the theater and all the festivals I attended. Below are some of my favorite pictures I took.

The Camera 12 Cinemas (2012)

Upstairs lobby during the Cinequest 22 Film Festival (2012)

My friend Nate at the 27th Annual SFIAFF (2009)

The Camera 12 Box Office for Cinequest 22 (2012)

The cast of ETERNITY: THE MOVIE at Cinequest 24 (2014)

The upstairs lobby during Cinequest 23 (2013)

The Camera 12 Cinemas Marquee (2012)

It's sad to think that the landscape of Downtown San Jose will never look the same. The Camera 12 will forever hold a special place in my heart, as well as everybody else who paid for a ticket to see some of the greatest films ever screened there. However, like NyBlom said, there's still the Camera 3 on the corner of San Carlos and 2nd Street and the Camera 7 in the Pruneyard Campbell (visit their website at www.cameracinemas.com). But the Camera 12 leaves a big hole in the downtown area. Maybe someday it will re-open again, and if it does, I'll definitely be back for that. But right now I just want to say thank you for the memories, for all the fun times, for all the friends I made there, and last but not least, thanks for all the wonderful movies that I got to see. Goodbye my old friend!! 

Thanks for reading, and long live the Camera 12 Cinemas!!