Hostel 3 - New Stills and Release Details

With the DVD release date fast approaching I thought I would share a few stills from it. The action has switched from Europe to Sin City Las Vegas, and Scott Spiegel has taken over the directing duties for this outing.

Hostel 3 is released on December 27th from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Special features include a commentary from Scott Spiegel and Kip Pardue.

High stakes gambling takes on a sinister new meaning in this third chapter of the terrifying HOSTEL series. While attending a bachelor party in Las Vegas, four friends are enticed by two sexy escorts to join them at a private party way off the Strip. Once there, they are horrified to find themselves the subjects of a perverse game of torture, where members of the Elite Hunting Club are hosting the most sadistic show in town.

Italian Brutality In Ice Scream

Ice Scream is a short movie from Italy that definitely has an old school feel to it, in terms of its characters and its on screen violence. Directed by the team of Vito Palumbo and Roberto De Feo it is definitely worth investing 20 odd minutes of your life to. It's not one for the squeamish, that's for sure. You can check out the full movie below.

When Micky gets in a Café to buy an ice cream to his girlfriend, he bumps into two bullies he knows. That is just the beginning of a day he will never forget. 

The Summer Of Massacre Promises Kills Aplenty

The latest release from Breaking Glass/Vicious Circle, which hits DVD and Blu-ray on January 10th, looks set to be an incredibly violent affair. Featuring five stories, with no less than eight killers, it apparently has one Hell of a body count. The trailer, which I have posted below, certainly looks suitably graphic. I just hope that this isn't just a gimmick movie and offers up the viewer something a little more substantial to devour. 

November 29, 2011  - Philadelphia, PA — Breaking Glass Pictures/Vicious Circle Films has announced the January 10 Blu-Ray/DVD release of the horrifying gore fest The Summer of Massacre (SRP $29.99 Blu-Ray/ DVD $24.99). The Summer of Massacre sends viewers on a tour through the mind of madness, as multiple killers strive to create the biggest and bloodiest body count imaginable.  Featuring 8 killers in 5 carnage-drenched stories, The Summer of Massacre lives up to its name with the highest body count ever recorded in a film by The Guinness Book of World Records.

Ungodly brutal beatings turn Chris into a fiend that sets off a bloody rampage.  Beauty is truly only skin deep - Watch a young paraplegic fight for her life as her older, beautiful sister tries to murder her.

It’s been 36 years since Jesse’s biological father raped his loving mother. Now, after hiding and running their entire lives, he has found them.  A group of Christian teenagers are stalked, maimed and burned by a local legend in a haunted forest.

 Three legendary serial killers terrorize downtown Los Angeles and their killer plan is to go out with a real bang.

 The Summer of Massacre is a 100 mph slasher ride through the sweltering heat of summer and insanity.  Packed with enough gore to turn every type of stomach, The Summer of Massacre delivers a pile of corpses that The Guinness Book of World Records has awarded “biggest body count” in all of film history.

Writer-Director Joe Castro (Terror Toons 1&2, The Jackhammer Massacre) introduces another original tale -- the first ever anthology/slasher film that presents eight killers in 5 gore fest tales.  The Summer of Massacre features Brinke Stevens (Slumber Party Massacre), Nick Principe (Laid to Rest), and Cleve Hall (Nightmare).

The Blu-Ray/DVD release will come loaded with numerous HD special features, including: a director’s commentary, a behind the scenes director’s diary, interviews with Brinke Stevens, cast audition tapes, and Joe Castro’s “Childhood of Massacre” a short film furthering the bloodshed.

Whistles will be blown in January - The Whistleblower to hit Blu and DVD

As easy on the eye as she is, I had completely forgotten that Racel Weisz had won an Oscar. Anyway, she's back, alongside David Strathairn, Monica Bellucci and Vanessa Redgrave in the thriller The Whistleblower. It will be hitting Blu-ray and DVD on January 24th from 20th Century Fox.

How far will one woman go to fight global injustice? Clandestine secrets are waiting to be exposed in the gripping dramatic thriller THE WHISTLEBLOWER, arriving on Blu-ray and DVD January 24 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Inspired by true events, THE WHISTLEBLOWER has been met with praise by critics and heralded at the Palm Springs International Film Festival (“Best Narrative Feature”), Seattle Film Festival (“Best Director”) and Whistler Film Festival (“Best Film,” “Best Narrative Feature”).

Academy Award winners Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardner) and Vanessa Redgrave (Julia) head a powerful cast that includes Oscar® Nominee David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck) in writer-director Larysa Kondracki’s harrowing dramatic thriller. When Nebraska cop Kathryn Bolkovac (Weisz) accepts a U.N. peacekeeper position in post-war Bosnia, she uncovers a deadly sex trafficking ring. After learning that fellow peacekeepers and military contractors are involved in the ghastly practice and its cover-up, Bolkovac risks her own life to save the lives of others and expose the corruption. With masterful acting and a heart-racing plot, THE WHISTLEBLOWER is an acclaimed film inspired by actual events and includes stellar supporting performances from Benedict Cumberbatch (“Sherlock”), Monica Bellucci (The Matrix Reloaded) and David Hewlett (“Stargate: Atlantis”).

Filthy Review - Bobby Yeah

Bobby Yeah (2011)

Review by Jude Felton

When you think of Stop Motion animation the films of Ray Harryhausen probably come to mind, or maybe even the Wallace and Gromit movies. Well, let me tell you that there is a dark side to Stop Motion, a very dark side indeed, and it comes from the mind of Writer/Director Robert Morgan.

I will admit that Bobby Yeah is my first foray into Morgan’s work, so I was a little unsure of what to expect. This movie came recommended though and I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to watch it. I will certainly be making an effort to watch more of his work when the chance arises.

Bobby Yeah is a bit of a thug, he likes nothing more than to go around his little world causing misery to others. Oh, and he likes to push buttons too. In fact he just can’t help himself when he spots one, he just has to push it regardless of the consequences. Today though, Bobby may well have gone too far. To sell this movie on a couple of sentences about a bully pushing buttons might not be that easy, but believe me when I say that this is one short movie you need to check out.

Visually, Bobby Yeah is the stuff of surreal nightmares. It’s as if the younger models of David Lynch and Tim Burton spawned an angry offspring. The animation is virtually flawless and only helps to bring this dark world to life. The creatures that inhabit this world, Bobby included, are quite unlike anything I have seen before. They help to create the feeling of menace and almost childlike innocence that pervades the movie.

This is cinema that isn’t afraid to push the boundaries of what can be seen on screen. It certainly isn’t mainstream viewing, yet it is instantly accessible. It just goes to show that there are fertile imaginations out there creating weird and wonderful worlds for us to explore.

Bobby Yeah’s running time is 22 minutes and just left me wanting more. Hopefully this won’t be the last we see of this disturbing little world. Even if it is, I will anxiously await Morgan’s next cinematic outing.

Original, disturbing and above all excellent. Bobby Yeah is just the tonic for those that want to see new and exciting films, whether they be animated or not. 

Filthy Review - A Horrible Way To Die

A Horrible Way To Die (2010)

Review by Jude Felton

With a name like A Horrible Way To Die you may well be expecting one of two things. Either you think you are going to see some gratuitous torture movie, or a cheery feel good extravaganza. Well, believe it or not you don’t get either of these, with of course me jesting on the latter. Instead what unfolds on screen is a cold calculating descent into loneliness, desperation and murder. This is a cold and unforgiving movie that I thought was just flat-out terrific. It is a rare occasion that I will state my feelings in the first paragraph, but sometimes the movie warrants it.

Directed by Adam (You’re Next) Wingard and written by Simon (Dead Birds) Barrett have conjured up a serial killer movie, without actually really being a serial killer movie, at least in the traditional sense of a serial killer movie. You aren’t going to get subjected to a police procedural or the woes of the victims as they slavishly try to apprend/avoid the killer. No, what you will get here is an up close and personal character piece that is as enjoyable as it is uncomfortable to watch.

I suppose now might be a good time to actual comment somewhat on what A Horrible Way To Die is actually about, without divulging too much. There are actually two stories that run parallel to each other, that do collide at some point as is the inevitability of the film. The first follows Garrick Turrel, the aforementioned serial killer, who is played perfectly by AJ Bowen after his escape from jail. The second story is concerned with Sarah (Amy Seimetz), who is Garrick’s ex-girlfriend, as she copes with life’s tribulations, first and foremost being her attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. It’s here that she meets Kevin, a kindly soul who tries to befriend her.

Want to know more? Watch the movie or read another review as part of the beauty of this movie is the not knowing where exactly it is going. Even revealing what I have I feel I have said too much. Suffice to say that the story is engaging, even when seemingly nothing much is happening. The whole style of the movie gets you in close to the characters, yet you still feel that there is so much more to learn about them. As I mentioned, this film is cold and detached and firmly grounded in the real world. It is one of those movies where everything about it melds together to create a devastating beast. The acting, writing, direction and score all combine to deliver a movie that, for myself, ranks firmly as one of the best of the year.

Another thing about A Horrible Way To Die, that may or may not surprise you, is that it is not overly graphic or gory. There are a few scenes where the claret is on display, but it is the context in which the scenes of violence are shot which are most disturbing. As is usually the case, it is the build-up that makes these scenes work .

Now, before you rush out and buy this movie, which I think you should, I would suggest you at least check out the trailer first as this is by no means going to be everyone’s cup of tea. You aren’t getting a run-of-the-mill movie here, and it is going to test the lazier viewer. If, however, you appreciate a film that challenges you and doesn’t throw all of its cards on the table you will find yourself a real gem here. If you can imagine the movie Fargo with every single ounce of humor removed, crossed with Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer you might get close to how A Horrible Way To Die is. Even then I am probably not doing it justice.

A Horrible Way To Die is bleak, pitch black and quite excellent. Thoroughly recommended.

A Horrible Way To Die is available now on Blu-ray and DVD from Anchor Bay 

Filthy Review - Chillerama

Chillerama (2011)

Review by Jude Felton

Over the years there have been some great horror anthologies, Trick R Treat and Creepshow being among them, and there have been movies like Snoop Dogg’s Hood of Horrors which wasn’t too memorable. They are, after all, a tricky thing to pull together. This is something I imagine is even more difficult when there are four directors involved, each adding their own segment into the mixing pot. So it was with a mix of excitement and apprehension that I approached Chillerama. The fact that the four directors attached to Chillerama are Adam Green, Joe Lynch, Tim Sullivan and Adam Rifkin did help ease the apprehension I will admit.

Chillerama is set at a Drive-In, where the night’s attraction is a selection of movies that have never been screened before are to be shown. The wrap-around section at the Drive-In itself is directed by Joe Lynch and is entitled Zom-B-Movie, and it is a blast. It probably doesn’t offer too much new in its subject matter, but the execution is one of fun. Indeed one scene in which Richard Riehle, as Drive-In owner Cecil Kaufman, starts rattling off movie quotes is priceless. Zom-B-Movie has what you want in terms of the gross and the gory, and will keep you entertained for sure.

The first movie within a movie is Wadzilla, directed by Adam Rifin, and straight from the get-go it delivers on the gag-factor. If I tell you that the story is about a killer sperm you might get an idea of the level of humor, and gross-out factor, we are dealing with here. It’s bloody funny and has the added bonus of Ray Wise and Eric Roberts over-acting the hell out of things. Fun times all the way baby!

Second up if probably the most controversial segment, and that is I Was A Teenage Werebear directed by Tim Sullivan. Playing up the beach movies of the 60s’, IWATW focuses on a young lad coming to terms with his homosexuality with the help of some Lost Boys-esque Werebears. Throw in a few musical numbers, plenty of bloody and a good old fashioned shower raping and you have one Hell of a premise. I thought it was a pretty damned cool story, I enjoyed it far more than Sullivan’s 2001 Maniacs sequel, although I did feel that there was too much emphasis put on the musical numbers which unfortunately broke up the flow a little.

Wrapping up the stories proper is The Diary of Anne Frankenstein. Directed by Adam Green this is without a doubt my favorite part of the movie. Starring Joel David Moore as Hitler, the story melds in the stories of Anne Frank and Frankenstein to wonderful comedy effect. Moore is a blast as Hitler and fans of Mel Brooks best work should get a real kick out of this.

Tagged on as a last segment is Deathication, directed by the fictional Fernando Phagbeefy, and it is pretty damned gross whilst it lasts. It’s not a movie proper as it serves to further another plot point, but it is fun in a disgusting shit-flinging way!

The whole look and feel of Chillerama is of the drive-in grindhouse flicks of old, and it succeeds well in that department. The actual quality of the stories within Chillerama is also pretty good on the whole. It is a little uneven in places but ultimately this is a case of the whole picture being greater than the sum of its parts. Chillerama is a party movie plain and simple, and should be enjoyed as such. There will be some out there that won’t like some of the subject matter or its execution, so kudos to Tim Sullivan for his entry as it will scare of some of the less secure viewers out there.

Overall Chillerama is a grossout, gory, dumb and fun way to spend a couple of hours. It may not be perfect but it sure as hell was a blast to watch.

Chillerama is released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 29th through Image Entertainment

Filthy Review - 5 Days of War

5 Days of War (2011)

Review by Jude Felton

Finnish director Renny Harlin has had a mixed career with his choices of movies. He has made enjoyable flicks, such as Prison, Die Hard 2 and Deep Blue Sea, and then he has made the instantly forgettable, like The Covenant. One thing that has tied most of them all together though is that pretty much all of them are popcorn flicks, they don’t really require any real thought and there’s nothing wrong with that.

5 Days of War is a different kettle of fish though, in that he has taken a far more serious approach to the subject matter. This time out the story focuses on the 5 day war between Georgia (the Country not the State) and Russia, which happened in 2008. Don’t worry though, you still get plenty of bang for your buck, although this time out it is dealt with in a slightly less gung-ho manner.

The main story focuses on reporter Thomas Anders, who himself suffered a loss in the Iraq war, and his cameraman Sebastian as they head out into Georgia to cover the emerging story of the conflict in Georgia. Georgia had previously declared their independence from Russia, and now Russia want them back. They are quickly thrown into the midst of the battle when a wedding is the casualty of an airstrike.

As a reviewer I don’t really know all the in’s and out’s of this particular war, and I certainly don’t know how accurate this movie’s depiction of it is. As with any story you are really only going to get one side of the story. What I will say is that this movie did have Georgian funding. So, make of that what you will.

Taking the movie as a spectacle though it does work surprisingly well. Harlin doesn’t flinch away from the nastier aspects of the story, and as I mentioned we do get treated to some quite spectacular set-pieces. On top of that there are some decent lead performances from Rupert Friend as Thomas and Emmanuelle Chriqui who plays Tatia, who is the sister of the bride at the aforementioned wedding. There’s also Heather Graham in a tiny cameo, slightly, but only slightly, larger roles for Val Kilmer and Dean Cain, and Andy Garcia who does give an emotional performance as Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

I did actually enjoy 5 Days of War, as I do like a good war film from time to time, and it does deliver on the action front. I do think that the message was a little heavy handed and the end credit montage was a little too much.

If you want to watch a wham-bam thank you madam kind of movie you could do a lot worse than to watch this. If you are looking for a movie about the political history of Russia and Eastern Europe I might suggest taking your research into more neutral surroundings.

5 Days of War is an entertaining, if a little heavy handed, movie that passed two hours quite nicely.

5 Days of War is released Blu-ray and DVD on November 29th through Anchor Bay