Genre television has done little to excite me in recent years. There's a couple of shows on the premium channels, such as True Blood and Dexter, but when it comes to your basic cable there isn't much. The Walking Dead had an excellent first season, now with the Darabont debacle we can only guess how the second season will play out. And quite honestly Teen Wolf has done nothing for me. Maybe Death Valley, which premieres August 29th, will be decent though.
What we are getting though is American Horror Story, debuting Oct 5th on FX, which from what I have seen from the numerous clips and teasers looks like it could be half-decent. I'm not quite sure that sticking it on a Wednesday night is such a rocking idea, but it might break the week up nicely and FX have aired some good shows of late, such as Sons of Anarchy and Justified. Anyway, check out the teaser and other assorted clips and make your own minds up. Until October then...
American Horror Story revolves around The Harmons, a family of three who move from Boston to Los Angeles as a means to reconcile past anguish. The All Star cast features Dylan McDermott (The Practice) as “Ben Harmon,” a psychiatrist; Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) as “Vivien Harmon,” Ben’s wife; Taissa Farmiga as “Violet,” the Harmon’s teenage daughter; Jessica Lange (Tootsie, Blue Sky, Grey Gardens) in her first-ever regular series TV role as “Constance,” the Harmon’s neighbor; Evan Peters (One Tree Hill) as “Tate Langdon,” one of Ben’s patients; and Denis O’Hare (The Good Wife) as “Larry Harvey.” Guest stars for the series include Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) and Alexandra Breckenridge (Dirt) as the Harmon’s housekeepers; and Jamie Brewer as Constance’s daughter.
Gavin O'Connor's Warrior is coming to theaters on September 9th from Lionsgate and I've got a new clip from it to share with you all. Also, you can check out the full trailer. Warrior stars Handsome Bob himself, that being Tom Hardy (RocknRolla and Inception), Joel Edgerton and the grizzly one Nick Nolte.
Rising stars Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton command the screen as two estranged brothers facing the fight of a lifetime in Lionsgate's WARRIOR, a moving, inspirational action drama from acclaimed director Gavin O'Connor (MIRACLE).
Three new character posters have been released to promote the September 16th release of Rod Lurie's Straw Dogs redux. My initial knee-jerk reaction upon hearing about this was a resounding Hell no. I've since changed my opinion somewhat. There have been remakes I have been excited about that have turned out to be pants, and vice-versa, so I am just going to wait and see on this. The original poster for this was a bit crap, check it out here, but these are a bit better. Simple and to the point. Anyway, time will tell on this and if it plays near me I will more than likely catch it at the theater.
Writer/Director Stevan Mena graciously took time out of his schedule to answer a few questions about Bereavement, as well as his earlier movies Malevolence and Brutal Massacre.
Jude Felton (JF) – Congratulations on Bereavement. I just finished watching it a couple of days ago and have to say that it was well worth the wait. After its limited theatrical release you must be thrilled to finally see it coming to Blu-ray and DVD?
Stevan Mena (SM) – Yes, the whole process was exhausting as I was involved from writing and production, all the way through distribution, so it’s great to see it finally seeing the light of day. The film wasn’t made, it was forged.
JF – Bereavement is the prequel to your debut movie Malevolence. At what point did you decide that you wanted to expand on the story from that movie? Was it always the plan? Or did this decision come later on?
SM – That was always the plan. The entire story was originally one novel that I broke up into three parts. This was part 1 of three. Malevolence was part II.
JF – Carrying on from the previous question, I read that you had planned this story as a trilogy, is that still the plan? Do you have a next movie already lined up?
SM – Malevolence 3 is already in pre-production. It’s once again a very different film from its predecessors.
JF – Bereavement is an incredibly intense movie in places, and I was surprised that it was released with an R rating. Were there any scenes you had to cut? Or decide not to use?
SM – No, I voluntarily excised certain portions of gore that I felt ventured into excess and revolt. My intention was to shock and to terrorize, not to disgust to the point of people turning off the TV, or leaving the theater (which they still did). I just dialed it back a bit. There’s only so much people need to stomach. They get the point. Anyone who needs more than what I presented needs psychiatric help. The MPAA passed it on first viewing..
JF – Actress Alexandra Daddario, who is excellent as Allison, is probably best known for the more family orientated movie Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. How was she to work with, and how did she respond to some of the more intense scenes she had to film?
SM – Amazing. She is the real deal. She is a superstar, even if she refuses to admit it. She is so grounded for a girl that possesses the talent and beauty she does. She’s a winner.
JF – How was it working with Michael Biehn and Jon Savage?
SM – Michael Biehn was a blast to work with. He is very involved, and just a fun guy. And he’s a real man’s man, too, tough guy on and off screen. Savage was an interesting trip, you never know what to expect, he really keeps you on your toes. You never know what he’s going to say.. A true original talent.
JF – Horror movies involving children are always a sensitive subject, and some of the scenes in Bereavement are uncomfortable to watch. Spencer List however was fantastic in his role as the young Martin Bristol. How did he respond to the material?
SM – He loved being on set, and loved the blood effects. He pushed himself hard. He didn’t need any prodding, he was there to make a good film. A real intelligent person, and a talent to watch. As is his sister. And his performance, though understated, was very difficult to pull off. It’s hard for any actor to emote with only facial expressions and no dialogue. His silence was terrifying on screen.
JF – What was the most challenging part of filming Bereavement?
SM – The finances are often the toughest part. Trying to do what you want, but realizing you only have a limited budget. And I wanted the film to have an epic quality to it, which is why I chose to shoot it in super 35mm this time around. It was stunning to see projected. Aside from that, I’m very squeamish about blood, I feint at the sight of real blood. So doing the killing scenes always leaves me woozy. I have trouble watching. In the edit room, I’m fine, but when it’s live, it just gets to me. I’d make a terrible doctor.
JF – Some of the locations in Bereavement and your second movie Brutal Massacre looked similar, and I know they were both film in my home State of Pennsylvania, were they filmed nearby to each other?
SM – Literally a mile from each other. Brutal Massacre was based on the making of Malevolence. Everything in that movie that happens to Harry, happened to me in real life. Everything. The making of Malevolence was epic in it’s tragedy, so I knew it would be fun to laugh at myself by making Brutal Massacre. And the sets from Brutal were a stone’s throw away from malevolence. The only reason I didn’t use the same sets was because it would be a little too close, especially since I had to still make Bereavement.
JF – With Bereavement’s release I personally am hoping more people will check out Malevolence, are there plans for a Blu-ray release?
SM – Ha ha, Anchor bay has promised, but only if people buy Bereavement on Blu Ray. So every Blu Ray we sell, is one step closer to the Malevolence Blu Ray.. And I’ve already delivered a newly mastered Hi Def Transfer to them, so it’s in their lap now, they just have to say yes. Feel free to write them… hint hint…
JF – Once again, thank you for taking the time to answer these questions and I will leave the last word to you. Is there anything you would like to add?
SM – Yes, remember, piracy hurts the little guy. Buying a dvd for an indie film is the same as tipping your waiter. People who pirate small indie films are the same people who skip out the door without tipping for their meal. I know it’s pervasive, and everyone does it, but if you buy a dvd, you’re directly supporting that filmmaker’s career by helping him/her make another movie. It really and truly makes a difference. Peace.
(Bereavement is released on Blu-ray and DVD on August 30th through Anchor Bay Entertainment.)
I've covered the Guillermo Del Toro produced Don't Be Afraid of the Dark a couple of times on the Lair now, and dagnamit if I'm going to cover it again. Check out a couple of new clips down below, and brace yourself for August 26th when this is released at theaters and looks to scare us senseless!
Synopsis:
Blackwood Manor has new tenants. While architect Alex Hurst (Guy Pearce) and his new girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes) restore their Gothic mansion's period interiors, Alex’s young daughter Sally (Bailee Madison)—neglected by her real mother and brushed aside by the careerist father—can investigate the macabre history and dark corners of the estate. Spurring Sally's investigation are the voices—rasping whispers who call out to her from the basement, who promise her understanding and friendship, who are so very hungry and would like to be set free. When Sally gives in to her curiosity, she opens a gateway into a hellish underworld from which an army of beady-eyed, sharp-clawed monsters emerge, small in size but endless in number: the homunculi. Confronted with the horror that now threatens to taker her life and destroy her family, Sally desperately tries to warn the whole house, but there's just one problem: no one believes her. Will she make them understand in time, or will they become another chapter in the centuries-long horror story of Blackwood Manor?
Based on the 1973 telefilm that Guillermo del Toro believes to be the scariest TV production ever made, DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK was co-written and co-produced by del Toro and directed by Troy Nixey. Akin to PAN’S LABYRINTH, DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK focuses on a young girl’s struggle against menacing and terrifying forces.
Ben Wheatley's Kill List is one movie I am very excited about. I know I say that I am excited about loads of movies, but I must emphasize the "very" part of my first sentence. I previously covered the movie here, where you can check out the teaser and the UK trailer. Now we have a gorgeous new poster which you can see up above. Sweet. You can also check out an exclusive clip below courtesy of TheGuardian.co.uk
Synopsis Eight months after a disastrous job in Kiev left him physically and mentally scarred, ex- soldier turned contract killer, Jay, is pressured by his partner, Gal, into taking a new assignment. As they descend into the dark and disturbing world of the contract, Jay begins to unravel once again – his fear and paranoia sending him deep into the heart of darkness.
Here's the new poster for the latest Jason Statham movie Safe. Am sure we can expect more action-packed shenanigans from the Statmeister when this hits theaters at the end of October.
(The release date has now been put back until March 2nd 2012)
SYNOPSIS:
In the movie from writer-director Boaz Yakin, Statham portrays a former elite operative who must protect an adolescent girl (played by Catherine Chan) from the bad guys. The cast also includes Chris Sarandon, Robert John Burke, Reggie Lee, Danny Hoch and James Hong.
Coming to Blu-ray and DVD on October 11th from Anchor Bay is Beautiful Boy starring Maria Bello and Michael Sheen. Personally speaking I think Sheen is a terrific actor, and recommend checking out his portrayal as Brian Clough in The Damned United, so I will be checking this out as soon as possible.
Official Synopsis Bill (Michael Sheen) and Kate's (Maria Bello) already strained marriage is tested as they realize all they have left with each other is their shared grief and confusion, and the unfortunate legacy of their son. In performances that "will take your breath away" (Jeannette Catsoulis, NPR) the life-altering tragedy forces Bill and Kate to face their feelings of guilt, rage, blame, self-discovery -and ultimately hope-so that they can finally see each other, and the life they share together, with clear eyes.
Genre: Drama
Cast: Michael Sheen, Maria Bello, Alan Tudyk, Moon Bloodgood, Austin Nichols, Kyle Gallner
Directed by: Shawn Ku
Written by: Michael Armbruster, Shawn Ku
Executive Producers: Mark Moran, Richard Gabai, Richard Iott
Thanks to those good folk at Phase 4 Films I have a copy of the upcoming DVD release of House of Fallen. The movie is released on August 23rd and stars C. Thomas Howell and Corbin Bernsen, and was previously covered hereat the Lair.
Synopsis:
The Watchers, a group of fallen angels, walk amongst the earth disguised as humans, torturing their vessels. In the hunt for prophetic truth, three strangers are put on trial for their past sins, and are forced to fight for survival in the face of an ancient evil. But in the war between heaven and hell, how do you kill what is already dead?
To win a copy of the movie all you need to do is send an email to judefelton@hotmail.com with the subject "Filthy House of Fallen Giveaway". Be sure to include your name, email and mailing address and I will draw a winner from my haunted wishing well on August 23rd. Good luck guys and gals.
Midnight Movie was originally released in 2008, although I didn’t manage to catch it until maybe a year later. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t knock me off my feet. Upon hearing that there would be a new Director’s cut, or Killer Cut if you will, I was determined to give this version the once over for a couple of reasons; to see whether I would I enjoy it more this time around and what is different about it.
The plot of Midnight Movie isn’t million miles away from such flicks as Demons or Anguish, with a group of kids, a couple of bikers and a cop all at the theater to catch an old cheesy horror flick. Little do they know, well the cop does kind of, that the actor/writer/director of the movie they are watching, entitled The Dark Beneath, was actually locked up in a psychiatric hospital and disappeared five years prior. Now the killer in the movie is starting to kill off the folk in the theater.
This all adds up to some fun plays on horror stereotypes, some cool death sequences and to be honest one of the coolest onscreen killers in a few years. The entire movie has a definite old school feel to it, from a time where horror flicks were about having a good time with and not to be taken too seriously.
The cast is definitely a cast that fit the traditional horror stereotypes well, and all perform their roles with aplomb. You get the tough guy, the even tougher biker, the geek, the young kid, I think you get the picture. There is also an earlier performance from Rebekah Brandes, as Bridget, who can be seen in the terrific Bellflower.
As for the movie itself I have to say that whatever director Jack Messitt did to it definitely worked. I didn’t watch this version and the original flick back to back so you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t single out every single difference. I will say though that it felt like a much more focused film and it most definitely looked and sounded better. This Killer Cut was crisp in all departments, except for the blood and guts which were suitably moist.
Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut is in my opinion one of the better recent Slasher flicks out there. Hatchet, and its lackluster sequel, claimed to be a return to Old School American horror, but I personally found this to be more fitting of that phrase. Slapping a slogan on a movie does not necessarily make it so, and where Midnight Movie succeeds so well is that it has the right feel and look, albeit with a few added bells and whistles thrown in for good measure.
If you haven’t seen Midnight Movie in either of its incarnations I would say without a doubt to check out this version. If you have seen the 2008 version then go out and grab a copy of this cut. If you liked it before you will definitely like this version, and if like me you weren’t completely sold the first time around chances are you will be converted.
I’ll give this B movie a resounding B+. Good times for sure.
Midnight Movie: The Killer Cut is available now on DVD
Evan Glodell’s debut movie, named after a street featured in the film, is the second movie I have seen released by Oscilloscope Laboratories. The first one was Rare Exports, and that ended up being tied for my film of 2010. That being said when I first read about Bellflower I had no idea who was releasing it. Now, Bellflower and Rare Exports couldn’t be further apart in terms of content, what they share though is originality and soul that you would come to expect from quality independent cinema.
In Bellflower we follow the exploits of Woodrow (Evan Glodell) and Aiden (Tyler Dawson) who are childhood friends living in California. Both of them are fans of the movie Mad Max 2, and spend their time building a flamethrower in anticipation of the impending apocalypse where they can rule the roost in their Muscle car, named Medusa, whilst living out their Lord Humongous fantasies.
Of course the best laid plans of mice and men and all that aren’t necessarily going to be smooth sailing. The wrench in this particular story comes in the shape of Millie (Jessie Wiseman) who enters their life whilst at a bar one night. Woodrow slowly falls for her and things go smoothly for a while. However, as is the tragic nature of this movie, events slowly spiral into the crazy, not to mention the surreal.
Bellflower truly is a unique viewing experience, it doesn’t always follow a straightforward narrative, but it was one that held my attention throughout. The visual style perfectly captured the onscreen events, all bright yet dirty colors with the grime finding itself caked to the screen at times. All of this is accompanied by one of the best, and most haunting, soundtracks, courtesy of Jonathon Keevil, that I have heard in recent years.
The performances by the three principals were all excellent too. Glodell’s naïve and innocent nihilism as Woodrow, Tyler Dawson’s Aiden with his constantly optimistic outlook and Millie’s cold yet friendly detachment, all three were fantastic and that is not to take anything away from the supporting cast.
If I was to try and describe Bellflower in just a few words I would have to say that it came across as a cross between Fight Club and Richard Linklater’s Slacker. Even then I wouldn’t really be doing it justice. It had the feel of an early 90s’ movie yet also felt right at home in the present.
Dark and violent in places, and wonderfully serene in others, Bellflower is a beautifully fucked-up and anarchic movie that I recommend wholeheartedly to all fans of original and challenging cinema.
Bellflower is released by Oscilloscope Laboratories and is currently playing theaters. For a full list of where and when it is playing click here
Unlike their Western counterparts Asian directors tend not to hang around between movies. Sion Sono is one such example. Cold Fish is just hitting US screens and Himizu already in post-production, now Guilty of Romance, his 11th movie in six years is all geared up and ready to go.
Set just before the turn of the 21st century, a grisly murder occurs in Maruyama-cho, Shibuya -- a love hotel district -- a woman was found dead in a derelict apartment in the pouring rain. Whilst the police investigate, the story interweaves with that of Izumi, the wife of a famous romantic novelist whose life seems just a daily repetition without romance. One day, to break away from the loveless monotony, she decides to follow her desires and accepts a job as a naked model faking sex in front of the camera. Soon she meets with a mentor and starts selling her body to strangers, whilst at home she hides behind the facade that she is still the wife she is supposed to be.
