Posts Tagged ‘DVD’
Posted by dominie in Films, News on November 21st, 2008
The press release from MGM below speaks for itself.
The Last House on the Left
C O L L E C T O R ’ S E D I T I O N
Timed for the Theatrical Remake, Horror Mastermind Wes Craven’s Terrifying First Film Reveals Its True Nature On Collector’s Edition DVD February 24th From MGM Home Entertainment
Dripping With All-New Features Including Actors’ Commentary, Featurettes, Never-Before-Seen Outtakes, Craven’s Annotated Shooting Scripts And More
LOS ANGELES, CA – Mari, 17, is dying. But the worst for her is yet to come. From legendary writer-director Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream) comes one of the most unnerving and shocking horror films of all-time, when his debut feature film The Last House on the Left arrives in a DVD Collector’s Edition February 24th from MGM Home Entertainment. A collaboration with producer Sean S. Cunningham (Friday the 13th), Craven’s 1972 classic is credited with introducing a sense of realistic and primal violence to the horror genre along with three of the most sadistic and terrifying killers to ever cross the big screen. “A neglected American horror exploitation masterpiece on a par with Night of the Living Dead” (Roger Ebert), The Last House on the Left Collector’s Edition is packed with all-new bonus features including commentary by actors David Hess, Marc Sheffler and Fred Lincoln and over 80 minutes of featurettes including all-new interviews with Wes Craven, a deleted scene featuring Mari dying at the lake, never-before-seen outtakes and Craven’s annotated shooting scripts, among others.
The Last House on the Left Collector’s Edition DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.98 U.S. / $21.98 Canada. Pre-book is January 28th. (more…)
Posted by bob in Films, Reviews on September 21st, 2008
You have to admire a movie that tries to sustain suspense on a shoestring budget.
Essentially shot on one set for a mere $20,000, Breathing Room does what the Saws and Hostels of the world fail to do: engage you in the characters. The premise is a pretty straight-forward one: a naked young girl is tossed into a large, barren room. She’s told she’s the last of 14 prisoners, none of whom can recall how they arrived in this situation. Each has a number and is told they will be tested and only one will see freedom.
For the next 85 minutes, you’re left to wonder who is behind this and why and which one will survive. While you’re led to believe the pretty young thing (Alisa Marshall) will be your hero, along the way you’re left to wonder.
There’s some violence, but nothing overt. It’s all left up to the imagination which is where the best terror tends to be found.
The assorted characters, most of whom have something to hide, are a little too much the same age range but are different enough for you to be left wondering throughout the entire film why them, and which one will be a hero, coward or killer. The acting varies in quality as does the writing for the characters so there’s an uneven feel to the entire production.
The film, released on DVD from Anchor Bay today, is shot in a less-than-smooth style without leaving you seasick and heightening the tension the spare lighting and set provides. You lose track of the days, as do the characters, and you watch the body count mount and keep wondering why. The final twist at the end is jarring but not unsatisfying and overall, given its sparseness, does its job quite well.
Breathing Room was written by John Suits and Gabriel Cowan when they were just students at CalArts. It has a refreshing rawness to it and speaks well for their careers which have taken off since this was shot in 2006. That is has earned over $500,000 is the kind of return on investment people notice and it has led to additional work. We can look forward to more from them as a result.
Posted by dominie in Films on September 18th, 2008
First Look Studios announced the following DVD releases for September 30th, both of which were commissioned by The Powers That Be at Sci-Fi Channel.
FLU BIRDS, $19.98
From ex-Asylum director Leigh Scott, “A team building retreat becomes a nightmare when a group of teenagers are stranded as a flock of flesh eating birds, consumed by a deadly virus, makes them their prey. With the aid of the local forest ranger, the teenagers must run for their lives, fighting against the infectious mutated bird flu that starts to spread amongst them. With a lack of shelter and few weapons to defend themselves, the teens are forced to do whatever it takes to make sure they are the not the next to be eaten by birds. Tough choices are made as they are forced to choose who should live and who should be left behind for the flu birds. With the virus spreading to a nearby town, the race against time begins as the authorities try to control the situation with deadly consequences. FLU BIRDS is a thrilling horror with danger coming at you from all angles.”
GHOULS, $19.98
Directed by Gary Jones (Mosquito, Boogeyman 3), GHOULS stars Kristen Renton, “A young American girl [who] goes on a journey to Eastern Europe to visit her family. While there, she meets a strange and mysterious ghost hunter who speaks of terrifying mystical creatures who roam the surrounding forests, preying on the town’s innocent victims. Together, they discover her supernatural heritage and connection to the evil spirits who plague the town. The creatures once ruled the earth and are planning to rule again with her help, willing or not!”
Posted by dominie in News on September 15th, 2008
Friday the 13th fans can rejoice in news that Paramount has confirmed they are working on a brand new, revamped Friday the 13th box set. According to Dread Central, a reporter from Friday the 13th Films caught the news from a Paramount rep during a panel at The Scare Fest in Lexington, Kentucky.
The Paramount rep unveiled a few details you may be interested in. The new DVD box set is currently in development that will include a fully restored uncut format and be laden with infamous missing and extended scenes. Sources say a lot of planning is going into this development to offer fans a proper tribute to one of the most iconic killers ever put on film.
The goal is for the new set to hit stands in time for the remake’s release on February 13, 2009.
Click here for other related Friday the 13th news.
Posted by dominie in Events, Films, News on September 2nd, 2008
Today we received the following press announcement for Dark Sky Films’ official US release of Isidro Ortiz’s Spanish horror thriller, Shiver. The final DVD art is shown and the brand new trailer can be viewed at www.ShiverTheFilm.com.
From producer Alvaro Augustin of Pan’s Labyrinth and The Orphanage fame, Shiver tells the creepy tale of Santi, a lonely teenager who suffers from photophobia. Santi has excessive sensitivity to light, so he is forced to move with his Mother to a far-off village in the mountains to avoid sunlight. Soon after they arrive, locals and livestock start turning up butchered and Santi becomes the main suspect. The only way to prove his innocence to the town will be to unearth the terrible secret that’s hidden deep in the woods.
Shiver will be available on DVD for the first time in Spanish with English subtitles in addition to an English language track option and will retail for $24.98. Additionally, Shiver will playing all across North America at special fan screenings throughout September and October, before it’s released on DVD on October 28th. Stay tuned for more info!
Posted by dominie in Comics, Events, Films, Games, News on August 27th, 2008
In addition to the Dead Space EA video game and Dead Space: Downfall, both arriving in October, and the ongoing Image Comic series, Dead Space has launched their new website, NoKnownSurvivors.com.
The website will utilize all manners of storytelling and filmmaking from audio effects to the rapidly growing 3D animation techniques to serve fans with more Dead Space content. Over the next nine weeks, fans can immerse themselves into the world and follow every step of the process as the creators tell two tragic stories, Misplaced Affection, followed by 13.
Misplaced Affection follows “an organ replacement technician who falls hard for a capable female security officer. 13 is the “tale of a sleeper agent who makes the wrong decisions for the right reasons.” Each story is four chapters long, with new chapters going live every Monday.
Posted by dominie in Events, Films on August 27th, 2008
Lionsgate announced the following press release for The Devil’s Curse DVD arriving November 18th.
The Devil’s Curse is a modern supernatural horror film that explores the dark side of the human psyche and the terror in facing up to one’s darkest fears. Set in London, England, the film begins with a group of theological students who decide to test their faith by proving the existence of hell. Following their ritualistic summoning of a demon, the students are all found dead, apparently by suicide. Ten years later, five final-year students are evicted from their student digs and break into the now abandoned Catholic halls of residence for the weekend, only to discover that they’re not alone.
Posted by bob in Films, Reviews on August 26th, 2008
Don Coscarelli made a name for himself with the first Phantasm film back in the 1970s. It had blood, gore, a sphere with a cool looking blade and Angus Scrimm as the Tall Man.
Since then, there have been two other films in the cycle and a promised conclusion which took a decade to arrive on DVD despite coming out in theatres back in ‘98. Out today is Phantasm OblIVion, in theory the final installment and offering audiences some much needed background. What we receive is some background but a lot of wasted time as well. The fourth Phantasm film seems to have been shot on a lower budget than the first and Coscarelli teases us with information but forgets to make it compelling. (more…)
Posted by dominie in Events, Films, Games, Interviews, News, Reviews on August 26th, 2008
Clive Barker’s adaptation of The Midnight Meat Train was doomed for failure when its release only hit a limited 100 discount theaters. The limited release was allegedly due to Lionsgate’s president, Joe Drake, who gave his film, The Strangers, preferential treatment in the run for the big screen. MTV caught up with Clive Barker to discuss the fact of the matter.
In an interview with MTV, Barker unleashes his distress.
“There’s room for everything,” he says. “You don’t have to shit on somebody else’s work to advance your own material” referring to Lionsgate president Joe Drake. “Though I mourn the fact that Midnight Meat Train was never given its chance in theaters,” continues Barker, “The movie is surviving the nonsense… It’s a beautifully stylish, scary movie, and it isn’t going anywhere… People will find it, and whether they find it in midnight shows or they find it on DVD, they’ll find it, and in the end the Joe Drakes of the world will disappear.”
Stay tuned for details on the DVD release.
Posted by dominie in Events, News on August 26th, 2008
We learned from FEARnet that Sam Raimi’s (30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust) homepage for the Ghost House Underground arm was just launched. The Underground arm of Raimi’s production was created when Ghost House Productions partnered with Grindstone Entertainment to provide fans with all the indie horror films they can get their hands on. Grindstone Entertainment is today’s leading distributor of direct to video films. Check out the official website for more details on upcoming slated releases which we previously reported on here.
