New Poster For Silent House Debuts

Recently I previewed the trailer, which you can check out again below, for the upcoming Silent House, from directors Chris Kentis and Laura Lau.  Now I have the new one sheet for you to check out. Silent House is due to open on March 9th and is based on the Uruguayan flick La Casa Muda.

SILENT HOUSE is a uniquely unsettling horror thriller starring Elizabeth Olsen as Sarah, a young woman who finds herself sealed inside her family's secluded lake house. With no contact to the outside world, and no way out, panic turns to terror as events become increasingly ominous in and around the house. Directed by filmmaking duo Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, SILENT HOUSE uses meticulous camera choreography  to take the audience on a tension-filled, real time journey, experienced in a single uninterrupted shot.

Vicious Circle Films Set To Unleash Wound

It has been a long while coming but finally David Blyth's Wound is set for a U.S. release. The shocker from New Zealand will see a DVD release from Breaking Glass Pictures imprint Vicious Circle Films on March 6th. I can tell you right now that it is powerful viewing and I will have a review posted very soon. In the meantime you can check out the trailer below.

Legendary director Ken Russell (Oscar-winning Women in Love, The Devils, The Who’s Tommy, Altered States) hailed Wound as a “romantically charged Gothic psycho-sexual horror tale.”  He championed the film as a “masterpiece,” pointing out the “gorgeous images and repulsive dream-surgery into the recesses of female consciousness.”

 

Wound breaks all barriers as it explores the dark worlds of mental illness, incest, revenge and death. The film follows Tanya as she searches for Susan, the mother she has never met – a mother who gave her up for dead after Tanya was brutally abused by her own father. Tanya returns from the grave to confront and possess Susan with all her deepest fears and desires, sending her mother into a state of madness and gore filled retribution. A young woman alone attempts to fight the demons that begin to haunt her days and nights -- in a series of brutal confrontations with the enemies of the past that want to possess and kill her.

 “Wound” has shown nationally and internationally in festivals such as Fantasia FF and Fright Fest London. It has been awarded best female performance for Kate O’Rourke, best director, and best film at “A Night of Horror International Film Festival.  As 2011 came to a close, Woundfeatured prominently on many horror critics’ “Best Films of the Year” list. 

 

The DVD release will come fully stocked with numerous special features such as director David Blyth’s short film “Circadian Rhythms”, and music videos for “Damn Laser Vampires” and “Knot Time”, the official theme song for the film.

Dark Circles Announced For After Dark Originals 2

A few years back we had 8 Films To Die For, of which I managed to catch three at the theater, and then then was After Dark Originals. Now After Dark Films are back with their second round of original flicks. The first of which is Dark Circles from director Paul Soter, who is best known for his work with the Broken Lizard team, and it's set to hit theaters later this year. Check out below for the full synopsis and stills.

“Hopefully this will serve as some kind of cinematic equivalent of birth control.”
-Paul Soter, Writer/Director of Dark Circles

When new parents Alex and Penny retreat from the city and move into a place outside town, the stress and massive sleep-deprivation caused by their infant has both of them seeing things in the house that may or may not exist.  Persistent sightings of a strange woman has each of them wondering if they are suffering from hallucinations, or if their new home holds a dark, supernatural presence.  As their fragile grasp on reality spirals into delirium, Alex and Penny find themselves nearly helpless to deal with the horrific truth of what is really going in this house.

Creepy New Poster For Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's Intruders

Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo achieved what so many have failed at before, and that was to make a sequel (28 Weeks Later) that was just as good as its predecessor. Now he's ready to bring us Intruders, which stars the usually excellent Clive Owen. As you can see above the movie now has a new poster which tells us "The Nightmare IS Real", and you can find out if this is true on March 30th when Intruders is released by Millennium Entertainment.

Though no one can see him, Hollow Face lurks in the corners, desperately desiring love but only knowing how to spread fear and hate. He creeps into the life of John Farrow (Clive Owen) after Farrow’s beloved 13-year-old daughter Mia (Ella Purnell) is assaulted in their home. The line between the real and the imaginary blurs as fissures start to open within the family unit. It seems that no security measure can keep Hollow Face out. 
 
From visionary filmmaker JUAN CARLOS FRESNADILLO (28 Weeks Later, the upcoming Highlander reboot), INTRUDERS is the chilling story of two children living in different countries, each visited nightly by a faceless being who wants to take possession of them.
INTRUDERS stars CLIVE OWEN (Children of Men), CARICE VAN HOUTEN (Repo Men), PILAR LÓPEZ DE AYALA (Juana la Loca),DANIEL BRÜHL (Inglorious Bastards), KERRY FOX (Shallow Grave) and HÉCTOR ALTERIO (Son of the Bride).
 
The film’s producers are ENRIQUE LÓPEZ-LAVIGNE (28 Weeks Later, The Impossible), BELÉN ATIENZA (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Impossible) and MERCEDES GAMERO (Planet 51, Torrente 4: Lethal Crisis). JESÚS DE LA VEGA (Hierro, The 2 Sides of the Bed) and RICARDO G. ARROJO (Planet 51, Julia’s Eyes) serve as Executive Producers. The script is by NICO CASARIEGO (Tú qué harías por amor?) and JAIME MARQUES (Takers). 

Filthy Review - Trespass

Trespass (2011)

Review by Jude Felton

It is purely coincidental that at the time of writing this review genre magazine Fangoria has Nicolas Cage emblazoned across its front cover. I honestly never thought I would see that day, but in all honesty whilst Cage is not necessarily known for his out-and-out horror, he has flirted frequently with the genre. As one of the biggest names in acting he certainly is not one to shy away from taking risks. From the batshit craziness of Drive Angry, which I still maintain is a fantastic flick, to the sleazy world of snuff movies in 8mm, you can always be assured that for every big budget mainstream flick he makes, he will also throw in something a little off the wall. Mind you, he did make his name starring in movies such as Birdy, Wild at Heart and Rumblefish, so I guess we should not be surprised.

Trespass has Cage once again working with 8mm director Joel Schumacher in what basically boils down to a straightforward home invasion movie. It’s a sub-genre that when executed correctly can be truly terrifying, with films such as the Spanish entry Kidnapped (Secuestrados), which is a real sledgehammer of a flick, to slightly more accessible faire such as the Liv Tyler scare-a-thon The Strangers. The genre taps into a really primal fear of what would happen if people held you hostage in your own home. Your house is your only real sanctuary in this world, so to have it violated should, if done correctly, really get under your skin.

Starring alongside Cage in Trespass is the equally unpredictable, but again another risk-taker, Nicole Kidman and newcomer Liana Liberato, who was terrific in the David Schwimmer flick Trust, as wife and daughter to Cage’s diamond dealer. Their family is not, as is often the case, the most functional we will ever see; Kyle Miller (Cage) is wrapped up in his work, Sarah (Kidman) is neglected and downtrodden as his wife and Avery (Liberato) is your typical teen rebel. They act like passing ships in the night, living in their huge fortress of a house. I don’t call the house a fortress for nothing, it’s rigged up with an incredibly hi-tech security system to keep the family safe.

However, despite all the hi-tech gadgetry at the Miller’s disposal, a gang of intruders do make it into the house. Apparently all you need to do is pose as a police officer and stand really close to the security camera in order to fool the occupants of this house. So begins a violent hostage situation with the gang, which include Cam Gigandet and Ben Mendelsohn, making their demands of Kyle and his family.

Trespass really is a strange film to watch. On the one hand the situation in which Kyle and his family find themselves is quite unnerving to watch. There are sudden scenes of violence, which although is not especially graphic, still manage to be effective, and then we have Cage giving a restrained, but still over-the-top, performance in which his dialogue is quite ridiculous at times. At one stage he resorts to calling the attackers an “assfuck” and shithole” which only served to make me chuckle. He character displays a strange blend of bravado and fear which at times make it strange viewing. Kidman’s character seems to run on autopilot throughout, and as such delivers a performance which is below her usual decent standards. The cast as a whole though do give decent enough performances, although the script, and its various twists and turns, contrive to make the situation they find themselves in a little comical at times.

As is often the case with a Joel Schumacher film, Trespass is a real mixed bag. There are times when the film works very well, and then there are scenes which only serve to undo any good work that has gone before. The aforementioned Kidnapped is a far better example of the home invasion movie, and I suggest you check that out, whereas Trespass is definitely a movie for Cage fans and genre completists. The credits start at about an hour and twenty five minutes though, so you don’t have to worry about the film dragging, because it doesn’t.

Trespass is a strange film that comes with a cautious recommendation. If you can put up with the flaws I mention you may enjoy it, if not you might want to give it a swerve.

Trespass is available now on Bl-ray and DVD through Millennium Entertainment

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Blu-ray and DVD Details

Hot on the heels of its three Oscar nominations, which include a Best Actor nomination for Gary Oldman, Universal have announced the release details for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Set for release on Blu-ray Combo Pack with Ultraviolet, DVD and On Demand, the movie will hit the street on March 20th. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is directed by Tomas Alfredson and stars Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and John Hurt

Official Site.

OVERVIEW:  Things aren’t always as they seem in the Oscar^®-nominated, suspenseful, and stylish thriller from director Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In), based on the classic novel by John le Carré. Focus Features’ Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy will be available on Blu-ray^™Combo Pack with UltraViolet^™,on DVD,on Digital Download and On-Demand March 20, 2012, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.  At the height of the Cold War, Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), a.k.a. MI6 and code-named the Circus, has been compromised.  An ever-watchful former top lieutenant and career spy, George Smiley (Gary Oldman, The Dark Knight, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ), is called out of retirement by the government to help identify and track a suspected mole at the top of the agency.  The list of suspects is narrowed to five men.  Even before the startling truth is revealed, the emotional and physical tolls on the players enmeshed in the deadly international spy game will escalate…Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is Academy Award^®-nominated for Best Actor (Gary Oldman), Best Adapted Screenplay (Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan), and Best Original Score (Alberto Iglesias); and is nominated for 11 BAFTA Awards including Best Film and Best Actor.

Also starring Oscar^® winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) with Benedict Cumberbatch (“Sherlock”), David Dencik (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Tom Hardy (Inception), Ciarán Hinds (The Debt), Oscar^®nominee John Hurt (Midnight Express), Toby Jones (The Hunger Games), and Mark Strong (Robin Hood), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is “a pleasurably sly and involving puzzler” (Manohla Dargis, The New York Times) and showcases “easily one of the year’s best pictures – Gary Oldman gives a performance that is flawless in every detail.” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone).

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO Blu-ray^TM :  Unleash the power of your HDTV with perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound.

• TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY: FIRST LOOK
• DELETED SCENES
• INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR JOHN LE CARRÉ
• BD-LIVE^TM : Access the BD-Live^™ Center through your Internet-connected player to watch the latest trailers and more!

• pocket BLU^TM app:   The groundbreaking pocket BLU^™ app uses iPad^®, iPhone^®, iPod^®  touch,  Android^™, PC and Mac^®  to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray^™ player.  Plus iPad^® and Android^™ tablet  owners can enjoy a new, enhanced edition of pocket BLU^™ made especially to take advantage of the tablets’ larger screen and high resolution display.  Consumers will be able to browse through a library of Blu-ray^™ content and watch entertaining extras on-the-go in a way that’s bigger and better than ever before.  pocket BLU^™ offers advanced features such as:

• • Advanced Remote Control:  A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray^™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live^™ functions with ease.
  • Video Timeline:  Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.
  • Mobile-To-Go:  Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray^™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
  • Browse Titles:  Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU^™-enabled titles available and coming to
    Blu-ray^™ Hi-Def.  They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
  • Keyboard:  Entering data is fast and easy with your device’s intuitive keyboard.
• uHEAR^™:  Never miss another line of dialogue with this innovative feature that instantly skips back a few seconds on your
  Blu-ray^™ disc and turns on the subtitles to highlight what you missed.

BONUS FEATURES (BLU-RAY^™ and DVD):

• INTERVIEWS  WITH ACTORS GARY OLDMAN, COLIN FIRTH, TOM HARDY; DIRECTOR TOMAS ALFREDSON; AND SCREENWRITER PETER STRAUGHAN
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR TOMAS ALFREDSON AND ACTOR GARY OLDMAN

Things are getting Splintered

For those of you that like your horror from across the pond in the UK, you might be interested to learn that Well Go USA have picked up director Simeon Halligan's 2010 fright flick Splintered. It will be hitting Blu-ray + DVD combo pack, as well as DVD, on March 20th. Full release details and trailer below.

SPLINTERED

The Terrifying Horror Thriller

Debuts on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD March 20^TH   

Bonus Materials Include a Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

and Deleted Scenes

PLANO, TEXAS.  (January 30, 2012) – A group of teenagers exploring a creepy abandoned building discover a terrifying creature on a blood-thirsty rampage in the horror-thrillerSplintered, debuting on Blu-ray^™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD March 20^th from Well Go USA Entertainment. The film stars Stephen Martin Walters (TV’s “Skins”), Holly Weston, Sacha Dhawan (TV’s “Outsourced”), Sadie Pickering, Jonathan Readwin (Dread), Sol Heras and Colin Tierney. The film won six awards at the Screamfest Horror Film Festival, including Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Editing, Best Score, Best Special Effects and Best Make-Up. In addition, it was nominated for Best Horror Film at the 35^th Annual Saturn Awards and for Most Memorable Mutilation for the arm removal scene at Spike TV's 2009 Scream Awards. Bonus features include a behind-the-scenes featurette and deleted scenes.  Splintered will be available in a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack for $26.98 SRP and on standard DVD for $19.98 SRP.

Synopsis:

Troubled teen Sophie drags her friends deep into a forest in search of a local legend - a wild beast, half animal and half man, that uses its cunning ability and brutal strength to kill for pleasure. But when the beast leads Sophie and her friend, John, to an abandoned orphanage, the hunters become the hunted.

Bonus Features Include:

§  Behind the Scenes

§  Deleted Scenes

§  Trailers

Splintered has a runtime of approximately 85 minutes and is not rated. 

Filthy Review - The Wicker Tree

The Wicker Tree (2010)

Review by Jude Felton

The grand old year of 1973 was memorable for a couple of things. The first was that I crawled, kicking and screaming, into this crazy world. The second, which is slightly more interesting, is that horror fans were treated to the triumvirate of The Exorcist, the oft-overlooked Don’t Look Now and Robin Hardy’s classic tale The Wicker Man. Of course, it is the latter of the three that bears mention most heavily in this review, as Hardy is back, almost 40 years later, along with producer Peter Snell, with his companion piece to that movie in The Wicker Tree.

Now, comparisons will no doubt be made to his earlier movie even after all this time. To me though that is a little unfair, although not unexpected. The Wicker Man is an iconic movie, the imagery was incredible and the lead cast of Christopher Lee, Edward Woodward and Britt Ekland were fantastic. If we were talking about the remake of The Wicker Man, which limped onto screens in 2006, I would understand. I rarely get too upset over remakes, but that flat-out hurt my eyes to watch.

The Wicker Tree, however, is not a remake but a companion piece based on Hardy’s novel Cowboys for Christ, and although it follows a similar(ish) plot it does have enough going on to stand on its own. In this movie former wild child Country singer turned born again Christian, Beth Boothby, and her fiancé, Steve, leave their native Texas to fly over to the badlands of Scotland to help spread the word of God to the heathens that live there.

Their destination in Scotland is the small town, or village, of Tressock, a town dominated by a nuclear power plant and its boss Sir Lachlan Morrison. The two young Americans are welcomed with open arms into this secluded corner of the world, in fact they arrive just in time for the town’s annual May Day celebrations.

It goes without saying that all in the town is not as it seems, it’s full of eccentric characters and incredibly horny characters, but very few children. Could this be due to the power plant, or something more sinister?

Whilst watching The Wicker Tree I did find myself noticing the similarities in terms of the plot, and if you are familiar with The Wicker Man you might have a rough idea of where the movie is heading. That being said, it is an enjoyable ride to see through to its climax. The characters, whilst occasionally clichéd, are fun to watch and the underlying humor, whilst sometimes very subtle, runs throughout the movie. Yes it is a dark movie, and does a great job of creating an imposing sense of doom throughout, and on occasion fairly visceral, but it is the dark humor that really carried the movie for me.

To look at The Wicker Tree is quite beautiful, the setting is idllyic, although I found it to be a snapshot cliché of how the UK is perceived from the outside world. Maybe that was Hardy’s intent though, as we do follow the tale through the two Americans eyes. Still, it is nicely shot, the pacing and editing has a controlled feeling to it, which makes a really pleasant change and yes Christopher Lee does pop onto screen briefly.

To me The Wicker Tree is a return to a style of film, and filmmaking, that is rarely seen today, and it works very well. It won’t have the impact that its 1973 predecessor had but that is not to say that it is not worth your time. I recommend watching this, and I do recommend it, as it is intended and that is as a companion piece. I feel you will get more enjoyment out of it rather than by looking at it as a belated sequel, of which it isn’t.

It was a brave decision to make this film, but one that I feel paid off. 

The Wicker Tree is released by Anchor Bay and is currently on a limited release at theaters.