Coming Soon - The Devil Inside [Updated with Full Trailer]

Set to open on January 6th The Devil Inside is the new flick from Paramount and is written and directed by William Brent Bell. There are no previews yet (it debuts on October 17th), but there is a viral video which I have posted below. From what I have heard the movie is set in Italy, is shot documentary style (of course) and is about a woman accused of murder and a group performing unauthorized exorcisms. More news as I get it.

New Poster, Stills and Clips from the upcoming Retreat

Further to my previous post here about the upcoming Retreat, releasing October 21st from Samuel Goldwyn Films, I now have the new poster (above) to share with you, as well as a plethora of stills and a new clip.

SYNOPSIS:

Kate and Martin escape from personal tragedy to an Island Retreat. Cut off from the outside world, their attempts to recover are shattered when a Man is washed ashore, with news of airborne killer disease that is sweeping through Europe. But is this mysterious stranger who he says he is and can he be trusted?

Release Date:             October 21, 2011

Directed by:                 Carl Tibbetts

Written by:                   Carl Tibbetts and Janice Hallett

Starring:                      Thandie Newton, Cillian Murphy and Jamie Bell

Rating:                         R

Distributed by:             Samuel Goldwyn Films

Filthy Review - Shadowland Magazine #1

Shadowland Magazine #1

Review by Jude Felton

There is something about print magazines that I just flat out dig. Sure, I can find news and reviews and the like online far quicker but it just isn’t the same. Maybe it’s my age, I grew up when print was the only option, or maybe it is the cold hard fact that print keeps my attention longer. I tend to skim read a lot of online pieces, as I really do not like reading waffling great articles off a screen however well written they maybe, whereas give me a magazine and I will sit down and savor it. In fact I will revisit a print magazine from time to time, yet I won’t do this online.

Genre magazines have come and gone over the years, we have our big boys, so to speak, in the shape of Fangoria and Rue Morgue and then you have mags such as Horrorhound and Ultraviolent which have managed to stand the test of time, through tough times for the print industry. Back in the UK they also have a few now with Shock Horror, Scream and Gorezone. One I have read and will definitely read again, one I have yet to check out and one I won’t be reading again. Regardless of personal feelings the fact that these magazines are still going, and in some cases going strong is a testament to the folk that work on them, and of course the fans that read them. It wasn’t too long ago that there was a rash of new horror mags hitting the stands with the only one still going, to my knowledge, being Horrorhound.

Now, seemingly out of nowhere I might add, there is a new kid on the block in the shape of Shadowland Magazine. It’s a quarterly affair with issue 1 being the summer issue, and I tell you what it is a most enjoyable read. Aiming to cover Horror, Sci-fi and Fantasy the first issue, and I would think issues to come, focuses on informative articles, interviews and retrospectives and does not appear to be trying to compete directly with the more established magazines. A wise move methinks and one that appears to have paid off here. There are a few reviews towards the back of the mag, that do include more recent faire such as Hobo with a Shotgun and older flicks like Zone Troopers and Shock Waves, as well as a news section at the front.

The articles themselves do indeed appear to be incredibly well researched pieces. The article on the Phantom of the Opera truly is a wonderful read. Looking back on its origins back in the early 1900’s through to modern day, with every spin-off, knock-off, imitation good or bad and just about anything else related to the Phantom. We are talking a 13 page article here (including photos).

Elsewhere there is a look at Marvel’s take on Godzilla, Captain America before the blockbuster hit, what Spielberg’s E.T. could have been and a look at the Robocop TV series. On top of that there are also a couple of interviews. Each article is genuinely interesting and informative and is obviously written with a passion for the subject matter.

The magazine itself is 54 pages, including the cover, and there is not much of that space taken up with advertising, which I will admit to being a necessary evil, so you are getting your money’s worth here. It’s definitely $7 I will be happy to shell out on in the future. If you like to read up on movies and other genre related pieces that you wouldn’t necessarily normally check out then, on the strength on this first issue, I would heartily recommend you give Shadowland a read.

The magazine is available to purchase at Shadowland Magazine.com

Rare Exports UK Release Details

Finnish movie Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, directed by Jalmari Helander, is all set for its UK release on Blu-ray and DVD on November 7th. It's about time too as it really is a wonderful movie. I reviewed it back in December of last year and it made my top 10 movies of the year. Actually it made the number one spot, it really is that good. You can check out my review that I wrote for Wildside Cinema here. The UK release is by Icon Home Entertainment.


Oscilloscope Laboratories will be releasing the movie in the US on October 25th on Blu-ray and DVD.

Driven by his curiosity regarding a supposed archeological excavation located on a mountain near his remote rural home, young and adventurous Pietari stumbles upon the shocking, ugly truth about the being known the world over as Santa Claus.

Local legend suggests the jolly old man in the red suit was in reality a supernatural creature that, rather than rewarding children for being good, severely punished those who were naughty. When a large herd of reindeer on which Pietari’s father depends for his livelihood is found slaughtered, the townsfolk suspect it is the work of hungry wolves that have crossed into the area from the nearby slopes. But when all the local children mysteriously disappear overnight, Pietari fears the scientists on the mountain have unearthed something extremely sinister and very much alive from what is apparently “the largest burial mound in the world”.

Well Go USA to bring some Triple Tap action

The latest flick to get a release from Well Go USA is the Derek Yee directed thriller Triple Tap. Set for a release on Blu-ray + DVD combo pack, as well as regular DVD, on December 6th. Having had the pleasure of catching several of Well Go's recent releases I have my fingers crossed that this will be another winner.

The Stakes are Higher, the Danger Greater

and the Sharpshooter Much, Much Deadlier

TRIPLE TAP

Louis Koo, Daniel Wu and Li Bingbing Star in Director Derek Yee’s Action Thriller on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD December 6

Bonus Materials Include Deleted Scenes,

Behind-the-Scenes Featurette and a Photo Gallery

PLANO, TEXAS.  (October 12, 2011) – Two-time Best Director Hong Kong Film Award® winner Derek Yee’s (One Nite in Mongkok, Shinjuku Incident) latest action-packed thriller Triple Tapdebuts on Blu-ray^™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD December 6 from Well Go USA. Louis Koo (Triad Election, Flash Point) plays a champion shooter who becomes a hero after fatally-shooting a band of armed bank robbers, but is soon suspected to be the mastermind behind the heist by a crack shot police officer (Daniel Wu, Shinjuku Incident). The follow-up to Yee’s earlier filmDouble Tap, the film also stars Li Bingbing (Forbidden Kingdom) and Charlene Choi (Robin-B-Hood). Triple Tap comes packed with explosive extras, including deleted scenes, director and actor interviews, a behind-the-scenes featurette, a photo gallery and an optional English dub. Triple Tap will be available in a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack for $29.98 SRP and on DVD for $24.98 SRP.

Synopsis:

Champion competitive marksman Ken comes across an armored van robbery. He sees a policeman held hostage and shoots and kills four of the robbers. One of the robbers escapes and the policeman survives. The case is handled by Jerry Chang, whom Ken knows from having recently beaten him in a shooting match. Ken is found not guilty in court. Soon after, Ken is attacked by the escaped robber Pang Tao. Their confrontation reveals a very different background story and brings about a myriad of lies and traps and changes in relationships as Jerry and Ken try to outsmart each other.

Bonus Features Include:

§  Director and Actor Interviews

§  Behind the Scenes Featurette

§  Deleted Scenes

§  Photo Gallery

§  Optional English Dub

Triple Tap has a runtime of approximately 94 minutes and is not rated.

Before The Mask: The Return Of Leslie Vernon Gets A New Investor

Good news for Leslie Vernon fans. As you may, or may not, know Before the Mask: The Return of Leslie Vernon, which is the sequel to the 2006 movie Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, has been actively seeking investors through Facebook. Well, they have so far raised $15,000, which in itself is great, and this has triggered an investment group to match all contributions up to $500,000! 

Fantastic news which means we are all one step closer to seeing this eagerly anticipated sequel coming to fruition. I have included the Facebook link so you too can invest should you desire, and desire you should!

Before the Mask Facebook Page.

Full Press Release

Glen Echo Entertainment Triggers Matching Investment Group’s Participation, Raising $30,000 Through Facebook Crowd Sourcing Campaign

Glen Echo Entertainment Assembles Investor Group to Match All Pre-Order Funds Up to Half Million Dollars

Los Angeles, CA – October 11, 2011 – Fans of the 2006 horror hit Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon have united on Facebook to pre order merchandise totaling $15,000, so far, for the making of the next Mask installment titled Before the Mask: The Return of Leslie Vernon. In June 2011, Glen Echo Entertainment and Scott Glosserman, director of Behind The Mask, set a goal to co-finance the film through crowd funding on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/BeforeTheMask), requesting the help of Leslie Vernon’s loyal fans.  With the Before The Mask campaign reaching a $15,000 milestone, it has triggered an investor group that has agreed to now match all cash raised by community funds up to half a million dollars.  This new partnership brings filmmakers and fans $30,000 closer to the production of Before The Mask.

The Before The Mask Facebook campaign grants Mask fans the opportunity to pre-order limited edition DVDs, Blu-Rays, merchandise and experience packages ranging in price from $25 to $7500 with all of the money raised through pre-orders to serve as funding for the film.  Among the pre-order items includes a Supporter’s Edition version of the film in DVD & Blu-Ray formats as well as the unique opportunity for a select number of fans to be killed in the movie. Once the film is completed the original print will be diced up and each Supporter’s Edition DVD, Blu-Ray & Poster will include its own unique frame cut from the print. These unique collector's items will come with stamps serializing their authenticity and their film frame's sequence number.

In 2006 director Scott Glosserman received critical acclaim for his horror mockumentary Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon.  In Behind The Mask a fictional documentary crew is given access to Leslie Vernon’s life as a he trains to join the ranks of great slasher villains and plans his reign of terror over the sleepy town of Glen Echo, while also deconstructing the conventions and archetypes of the horror genre for them.  The film had a limited release in theaters, but received huge success with film critics and the horror community through appearances at film and horror festivals.  Before The Mask will pick up where Behind The Mask left off with Vernon disappointed that his fame did not catch on, but ready to get back to work.  With Before The Mask, Glosserman seeks to create a spreemake, or a mash-up of a sequel, prequel, and remake, that will deconstruct and comment on the archetypes of prequels, sequels and remakes.  The original team of filmmakers and actors, including all-stars Nathan Baesel (Leslie Vernon), Angela Goethals (Taylor Gentry) and Robert Englund (Doc Holleran), are anxious for the second Leslie Vernon installment.

Filthy Review - Beautiful Boy

Beautiful Boy (2010)

Review by Jude Felton

How would you react if your son or daughter was the victim of a violent crime? I can only imagine the suffering that would follow. How then would you react if your child was not only a victim, but also the perpetrator of the crime? This is the plot behind director Shawn Ku’s 2010 movie Beautiful Boy. Believe me when I tell you that it is powerful viewing from start to finish.

Kate and Bill (Maria Bello and Michael Sheen) are a couple whose marriage is on really rocky ground, bordering on Bill moving out and with only passing civil conversation between each other. Their son (A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Kyle Gallner) is away at his first year of college, and a brief phone call to his parents emphasizes that something is not quite right. The next day Kate and Bill learn that there has been a shooting at the college.

The film itself does not deal directly with the shooting, relying instead on short news reports and word of mouth to portray the event. Instead the film focuses entirely on the events and aftermath purely from the parent’s point of view, the press, their own family and the public in general. The whole time having to deal with their own feelings towards each other in the face of such tragic events.

Maria Bello and Michael Sheen really are the very core of this film, I can’t recall one scene in which one or the other aren’t on screen. The pain, and guilt, their characters are feeling comes through perfectly clearly. Kate throws herself into doing whatever she can to keep busy and take her mind of events, whilst Bill’s emotional detachment from world is only further exacerbated when confronted with the aftermath. They continually question their roles as parents and whether it was something they did or didn’t to that results in their son’s actions.

At times uncomfortable to watch, at times painful to watch, Beautiful Boy however is always compelling viewing. It is the kind of movie where you will find yourself constantly asking yourself questions as to what you would do. Of course, I don’t think any of us could truly answer them without first going through something like this. Beautiful Boy is emotional viewing but it is not a movie that cranks up the melodrama in order to illicit a response from the viewer, instead it relies on the events themselves which speak for themselves. You will feel the pain, anger and frustration of the parents as the camera follows them throughout with its almost intrusive and claustrophobic style.

The entire cast is superb throughout with both Bello and Sheen outstanding in the lead roles. Genre fans might be intrigued to know that Tucker himself, Alan Tudyk (Tucker and Dale vs Evil), plays Kate’s sister and is a million miles away from his role in the horror comedy also from 2010. Meat Loaf also pops up in a small role, but all involved are nothing less than superb. The direction from Shawn Ku is perfectly executed, and considering that this is his debut feature film can only bode well for the future as he has crafted an incredibly good movie.

Beautiful Boy will have you thinking, and talking, about the movie long after it finishes. It is probably as far from a feel good movie as you can get, yet it is an almost uplifting experience to watch and one of the best movies I have seen this year.

Beautiful Boy is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Anchor Bay

Filthy Giveaway - The Woman Soundtrack Vinyl Edition - Closed

The Woman, directed by Lucky McKee, is released theatrically on October 14th in the States, and I highly recommend you check it out. One of the more striking elements of the movie is the accompanying Soundtrack from Sean Spillane, and I have a copy to give away to one lucky punter. Oh, and did I mention it was the vinyl edition? To tell the truth I am seriously tempted to keep this sucker for myself! I won't though. 

Also included with the vinyl is a digital download of the album, so you don't need to worry about scratching up the album itself if you are a collector.

So, what do you need to do in order to be in with a chance of winning this sexy bugger? As usual I will keep it simple, just send an email to judefelton@hotmail.com with "The Woman Soundtrack Giveaway" in the title. Include your name and mailing address and answer the question below and I will draw a winner on Monday October 17th.

Which other Lucky McKee directed movie was based on a novel by Jack Ketchum?

As usual my decision is final and all powerful. Good luck folks.

Check out my review of The Woman here.