"THE LOST TRIBE" from Image Entertainment -- coming to DVD October 19th

PRAY THEY NEVER FIND YOU…

FROM IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT -- THE LOST TRIBE

Discovered on DVD October 19

Chatsworth, CA – Scientists and historians have often been warned about the knowledge they uncover.  Too late, they learn that there are some truths best kept hidden. On October 19, Image Entertainment will present The Lost Tribe, a lesson in terror and hair-raising revelation.  A horror-thriller cast against the lush and humid jungle, The Lost Tribe continues the sultry tradition of Predator and “Lost” and will be available at an SRP of $27.97.  Pre-book is September 21st. 

On a remote tropical island, a primeval secret lurks that is so dangerous, the archeologists that ultimately discover it do not live to reveal their awful findings.  Then, when five friends are shipwrecked on that same island, they find the secret waiting for them:  a tribe of humanoids – strong, ravenous, and with a taste for the hunt as well as for human flesh.   Faced with these remnants of prehistory, this group of friends becomes the hunted, and must relay on their own animal instincts to survive.

Starring Golden Globe® nominee Lance Henriksen (Terminator, Aliens), Emily Foxler (Ghosts of Girlfriends Past), Nick Mennell (Friday the 13th, Halloween), Hadley Fraser (“Doctor Who”) and Brianna Brown (40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up), The Lost Tribe is part mystery and part horrific discovery:  a vision of evolution that has become twisted and malevolent.  When this savage population is discovered, there is the promise of danger…but is there hope of escape?

Bonus features on The Lost Tribe DVD include:
Feature Commentary with Producer Mohit Ramchandani and Actor Hadley Fraser
Behind the Scenes
Trailer

Image Entertainment, Inc. is a leading independent licensee and distributor of entertainment programming in North America , with approximately 3,000 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 340 exclusive CD titles in domestic release and more than 450 programs internationally via sublicense agreements. For many of its titles, the Company has exclusive audio and broadcast rights, as well as digital download rights to over 2,100 video programs and approximately 400 audio titles containing more than 5,600 individual tracks. The Company is headquartered in Chatsworth , California . For more information about Image Entertainment, Inc., please go to www.image-entertainment.com.

The Lost Tribe - DVD
Genre:              Thriller, Horror, Drama, Adventure, Feature Film
Rating: Not Yet Rated
Languages:       English 
Format:            Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio:              Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:           English, Spanish
Year:                2009
SRP :                $27.97
Street Date:      October 19, 2010
Pre-Book:        September 21, 2010
Length:             90 minutes
UPC :                014381673722
Cat#:                KAV6737DVD

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"THE LOST TRIBE" from Image Entertainment -- coming to DVD October 19th

TOP GEAR: THE COMPLETE SEASON 13 -- DVD review by porfle

I don't know the first thing about cars, but that didn't stop me from having a great time watching the BBC's TOP GEAR: THE COMPLETE SEASON 13.  The cars are stunning, the production values are first-rate, and the three hosts, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, make for an entertaining comedy team.

The first of seven episodes on this three-disc set gets off to a fun start with an interesting challenge--pretend that it's 60 years in the past and have a three-man cross-country race in the most powerful automobile, motorcycle, and steam locomotive of the era.  As usual, the show opens with the first half of the challenge and closes with its conclusion.  While much of the verbal byplay between the hosts and the various mishaps they have along the way are obviously scripted, the suspense is real.

In other episodes, the trio must purchase used autos for a limited amount of money and either race them or compete in other ways which will decide which of the men has chosen his vehicle the most wisely.  A little friendy sabotage is often involved.  An arduous road rally in France tests these cars to their limit, some practically falling apart as they speed along.  My favorite challenge has the hosts having to pretend they're seventeen again and deal with the problems a teenager must face, such as sneaking their cars home after curfew with a minimum of noise. 

Some other good ones: Jeremy takes on the British Army and its armored (and heavily armed) vehicles with nothing but a tiny compact car; the boys take their dilapidated rear-wheel-drive heaps onto a crowded French ice track with wild results; James and Richard mail a letter at the southernmost tip of England and then try to beat it across the continent by road; and Jeremy and James try their hand at creating a new Volkwagen commercial with hilariously bad results.


These and other location segments are beautifully photographed and edited, and are thoroughly cinematic.  When the hosts are let loose behind the wheel of the latest supercar in order to weigh its plus and minus points, the result often resembles a cross between one of those high-end car commercials and an action flick.  Each car is judged by general performance, steering and cornering, and how it handles on the straightaway.

No matter how much or how little you know about cars, these stunning Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Aston Martins, and other mindboggling machines are captivating, and the unrestrained enthusiasm of the drivers is infectious.  Since most of us will never, ever, never, ever, ever be able to even make the down payment on anything like this, feasting our eyes on these gorgeous and incredibly-expensive fantasy machines is pure vehicle porn.  No need for the producers to dress this show up with sexy bikini babes--here, it's the cars that are sexy and you may find yourself flush with automotive lust. 

Between the location segments we go back to the studio, where the hosts recline on comfortable car-seat furniture amidst a live, in-the-round audience.  Scraggly-haired John May looks like a good-natured pub crawler while a more diminutive Richard Hammond is wiry and excitable. Jeremy Clarkson, the tall, older guy who seems wonderfully comfortable in his own skin, handles the interview segments with lighthearted ease.  His guests during season 13 include Michael Schumacher, Olympic track star Usain Bolt, actress Sienna Miller (G.I. JOE), AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson, and "The Chin" himself, Jay Leno, who's well-known for his obsession with cars.


The engagingly funny hosts shoot the breeze about the latest automotive news and take part in other weekly features such as "star in a reasonably-priced car", in which celebrity guests take a spin around a private racetrack and compete for the best time.  Resident racecar driver The Stig, a mysterious figure who never removes his helmet, tests the newest cars and their laptimes are kept on a seperate board.  In the first episode of this set, the identity of The Stig is revealed--or is it?  The issue is never fully resolved.

This three-disc set from BBC Video contains seven hour-long episodes in 16:9 and Dolby Stereo, with English subtitles.  Extras include POV views of Stig racing different supercars around the track, a POV view of a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640-4 SV's 200 mph run down a straightaway in Abu Dhabi, some beautiful additional footage of Jeremy's steam locomotive adventure, and extended interviews with Brian Johnson and Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button. 

We get to see the hosts going airborne in WWII Spitfires, with Jeremy bursting with unrestrained childlike glee the whole time, and there's extra footage of stunt driver Ken Block's insane, mostly sideways high-speed run around a secluded airport's runway and outer buildings.  The latter features the most stunning shot of the whole collection--Block's racecar and a daredevil dirtbike rider launch themselves over a gorge simultaneously from an earthen ramp while a large cargo plane crosses the frame going the other way, all in super slow-motion.  It's absolutely ethereal.   

Most of the time, you couldn't get me to care one way or the other about cars.  Somehow, though, TOP GEAR: THE COMPLETE SEASON 13 managed to make the subject fascinating and fun.  It's a show for gearheads that you don't have to be a gearhead (or "petrolhead", as the Brits say) to enjoy.


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TOP GEAR: THE COMPLETE SEASON 13 -- DVD review by porfle

R.I.P. Gloria Stuart

Known these days mainly as "Old Rose" from TITANIC, Gloria Stuart is fondly-remembered by classic horror fans for her roles in the James Whale films THE OLD DARK HOUSE and THE INVISIBLE MAN.  

Gloria retired from the screen in her youth only to return decades later to appear in James Cameron's blockbuster film and gain fame all over again as the oldest Oscar nominee in history.  She died on Sunday, September 26, at the age of 100.   We'll always remember her with fond affection.

R.I.P. Gloria Stuart

"Legend of the Black Scorpion" Coming to Blu-Ray

ALL THE ACTION NOW IN HIGH-DEFINITION

‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ Zhang Ziyi Stars In This Story Filled With Elaborate Fight Choreography, Magnificent Costumes And Sweeping Cinematography

Arriving On Blu-ray Disc October 26 From Vivendi Entertainment And The Weinstein Company

“The world’s best action choreographer, Yuen Woo-Ping, might have topped himself.” - The Hollywood Reporter

Synopsis: International star Ziyi Zhang of Hero, Memoirs of a Geisha and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon dazzles in this breathtaking action epic inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Renowned action choreographer YuenWo-Ping (The Matrix and Kill Bill films) and the Academy Award®-winning art director* and composer** of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon create “an extravagant spectacle of sin, balletic violence and bloodthirsty politics” (New York Asian Film Festival). Nominated for seven 2007 Hong Kong Film Awards, Legend of the Black Scorpion Blu-ray (known internationally as The Banquet) is filled with astonishing action sequences like none you’ve ever seen.

Starring: Zhang Ziyi (Jet Li’s Hero, Memoirs of a Geisha and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Yuen Woo-Ping (Fight Choreographer, Matrix and Kill Bill films), Timmy Yip (Oscar winner for Best Art Direction, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Tan Dun (Oscar winner for Best Original Score, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)

Special Features:
·Audio Commentary By Hong Kong Cinema Expert Bey Logan
·Master Of Ceremonies: An Exclusive Interview with Director Feng Xiaogang
·Warrior Prince: An Exclusive Interview with Leading Man Daniel Wu
·A Dynasty Uncovered: Behind The Scenes on Legend of The Black Scorpion
·Trailer Gallery

Price: $19.97
Order Due Date: September 21, 2010
Street Date:                         October 26, 2010
MPAA Rating:                        Not Rated
DVD Catalog #:                        WN02708
Run Time:                                    126 minutes
Languages:             English & Mandarin
Subtitles:                English & Spanish

Our original review of the DVD

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"Legend of the Black Scorpion" Coming to Blu-Ray

"DEAR MR GACY" starring William Forsythe as John Wayne Gacy, on Blu-ray and DVD December 14th from Anchor Bay Entertainment

Imagine becoming pen pals with one of the most notorious serial killers of the 20th Century…

WILLIAM FORSYTHE STARS AS JOHN WAYNE GACY IN "DEAR MR. GACY"
FROM ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT

On Blu-ray™ and DVD December 14th

Beverly Hills , CA – Thirty-two years ago, one of the most grisly chapters in the history of American crime came to an end with the arrest of infamous serial killer John Wayne Gacy. But the story didn’t end with Gacy’s conviction and eventual execution. Anchor Bay Entertainment presents Dear Mr. Gacy, premiering on Blu-ray™ and DVD December 14th, based on the shocking true story and best-selling book “The Last Victim” by Jason Moss, with Jeffrey Kottler, M.D. Starring William Forsythe (Rob Zombie’s Halloween, 88 Minutes, The Devil’s Rejects) as John Wayne Gacy, with Jesse Moss (The Uninvited, Final Destination 3, “Stephen King’s The Dead Zone”), and Emma Lahana (Girlfriend Experience), Dear Mr. Gacy was produced by Tom Berry, Clark Peterson, producer of the Academy-Award® winning film Monster, and Kellie Madison. SRP for the DVD is $26.98, and $29.99 for the Blu-ray™. Pre-book is November 17th.

Dear Mr. Gacy recounts the experiences of 18-year-old college student Jason Moss and his relationship with the notorious Gacy. As part of a school assignment, Moss sends a letter to Gacy in prison, portraying himself as a vulnerable kid. Gacy, suspicious at first, subjects Moss to a series of tests before eventually trusting him. What follows is a psychological game of cat and mouse between two manipulators, in which Moss’ life is turned upside down. And when Gacy sends an invitation to visit him in prison for a private meeting, Jason accepts. Nobody could have ever predicted what would unfold inside the maximum security cell…

Dear Mr. Gacy Blu-ray™ and DVD include the behind-the-scenes featurette “The Gacy Files: Portrait of a Serial Killer,” a look into the making of the film based on facts of the case from the people that knew him best, featuring interviews with cast and crew and friends of John Wayne Gacy, along with the teaser & theatrical trailers.

DEAR MR. GACY Blu-ray™
Street Date:                  December 14, 2010    
Pre-book:                     November 17, 2010
Cat. #:                          BD22384
UPC:                            0 1313 22384-9 4
Run Time:                     103 minutes
Rating:                          MPAA Rating pending
SRP:                            $29.99
Genre:                          Thriller/Suspense
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                          Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Subtitles:                       English, Spanish

DEAR MR. GACY DVD
Street Date:                  December 14, 2010    
Pre-book:                     November 17, 2010
Cat. #:                          DV22379
UPC:                            0 1313 22379-9 2
Run Time:                     103 minutes
Rating:                          MPAA Rating pending
SRP:                            $26.98
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                          Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:                       English, Spanish


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"DEAR MR GACY" starring William Forsythe as John Wayne Gacy, on Blu-ray and DVD December 14th from Anchor Bay Entertainment

Walking Shadows Proudly Presents "Colin" -- Available on DVD Oct. 19

Award-Winning Zombie Horror Sensation & Cannes Film Festival Hit Made for $75

British Horror Phenomenon Invasion Hits DVD Oct. 19th

"The most touching film about a decomposing corpse you'll see all year." - FHM

"… brilliantly conceived … meditative, often genuinely funny film … one of the most heartening stories of modern cinema." - Filmstar

"A smart twist on the genre … a real gem." - Quiet Earth

"Original, compelling and as thought provoking as Romero's Night of the Living Dead." - Zombiefriends.com

"This film will revolutionize zombie cinema." - Scars Magazine

"A phenomenal achievement with terrific special effects." - ViewsLondon.co.uk

LOS ANGELES - Oct. 1, 2010 - For Immediate Release - Breathing new life into the undead is the British horror phenomenon Colin, about the life of a zombie told through his own eyes, stalking onto DVD Oct. 19 (distributed by Walking Shadows).

A surprise hit at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, Colin enjoyed a limited U.S. theatrical run in September/October and played to acclaim at numerous film festivals and horror conventions across the country. Colin won "Best Micro-budget Feature Film" at the Raindance Film Festival, the "Indie Spirit Award" at the South Africa Horrorfest, "Best Director" at the Buenos Aires Blood Red Film Festival and the "Special Jury Award" at the Revenant Film Festival. 

In Colin, life bites (literally!) for Colin (Alastair Kirton, Midnight) when, after becoming a zombie snack, he dies and returns as one of the undead. Wandering aimlessly through the streets of London, during the throes of a cadaverous apocalypse, we learn about Colin (from his perspective) … who he was and, more pertinently, what he has become, through his encounters with objects, places and people. With a broad-daylight, zombie-versus-human street battle, an epic housebound siege and endless gore, Colin is a terror-ific zombiefest not to be missed!

The brainchild of British writer-director Marc Price (Midnight, the upcoming Thunderchild), Colin breathes new life into a classic genre, offering an original, unique perspective-a story told through the zombie's eyes. Made for just $75, mostly spent on tea and cookies for his "zombies," Price relied on friends and Facebook to cast his legion of undead extras. 

Without funding, it was imperative to bring more enthusiasm to the film's set and apply extra innovation to problem solving (technical or otherwise). Taking 18 months to complete and shooting with a 10-year-old camcorder that repeatedly broke down, a determined Price borrowed what he needed and performed most crew roles himself while holding down a night-shift job as a taxi booker. 

Colin is available as a single-disc standard DVD release and in a special, two-disc, standard DVD collector's set with expanded bonus material of an additional 68 minutes.

Colin is presented in full frame with an aspect ratio of 4 x 3 (1.33:1) and stereo sound. Special features include director's commentary. Additionally, expanded bonus material on the two-disc DVD edition includes "Making of Colin" documentary, deleted scenes, deleted scenes commentary, original trailer and Price's new short film, The End.  For more information, visit www.colinmovie.com.

About Walking Shadows:
Walking Shadows, based in Beverly Hills, Calif., is a motion picture and DVD producer and distributor. Under the direction of Alex Nohe - who has consulted on such hit films as the Oscar-winning Gods & Monsters, Oscar-nominated Waco: The Rules of Engagement, Trekkies (Paramount), Michael Moore's The Big One (Miramax), Mayor of the Sunset Strip (First Look) and Bubba Ho-Tep, among others - the company specializes in marketing quality independent, foreign, arthouse, genre and documentary films for theatrical, television, DVD and digital applications. Included in its library are such notable documentaries as I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life and Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal, I Shot JFK, Milarepa: Magician, Murderer, Saint and Burning Man: The Burning Sensation; the award-winning German film Beautiful Bitch; and the hit horror films Re-Cycle and Colin. Visit us at www.walkingshadows.com.

Colin
Walking Shadows
Genre:    Horror/Zombie/Bloodbath
Not Rated
Format:    DVD Only
Running Time:    DVD (1 Disc) - 97 Minutes (Including Special Features)
    2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION - 97 Minutes
    (Plus 68 Minutes of Special Features)
SRP:     DVD - $19.95
    2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION - $29.95
Pre-Order Date:     September 28, 2010
Street Date:    October 19, 2010
Catalog #s:    DVD - WS2015
    2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION - WS2017
UPC Codes:    DVD - #649241901860
    2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION - #649241901853

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Walking Shadows Proudly Presents "Colin" -- Available on DVD Oct. 19

THAT EVENING SUN -- DVD review by porfle

From the looks of it, I thought this was going to be a drippy, golden-hued "Hallmark Hall of Fame"-type movie meant to comfort and inspire.  Instead, THAT EVENING SUN (2009) is one of those simmering rural Southern dramas where slow-burning tensions inevitably boil over, and the resulting tragedies are as subtle as a dying flame.

We find Hal Holbrook's Abner Meecham walking out of the nursing home--or, as he calls it, a "dead people factory"--that his son Paul has placed him in, and making his way back to the farm where he once lived with his late wife, Ellen.  He finds that Paul has leased the place to a ne'er-do-well named Lonzo Choat (Ray McKinnon) and his family, who have no intention of leaving.  Abner moves uninvited into the sharecropper's shack next to the house, and a bitter battle of wills ensues.

With an authentic backwoods atmosphere that's downscale and realistic as opposed to a Tennessee Williams-style "Southern Gothic", THAT EVENING SUN invites us to gear down and settle into its molasses-paced story of ordinary people with tragically conflicting interests.  As such, I found it somewhat similar to Billy Bob Thornton's SLING BLADE, but with more subtle shades of good and evil.


Lonzo, for example, is described by Abner as "white trash" living off his disability checks, and has never amounted to anything his entire life.  As Abner reminds him, Lonzo can't get a crop in because his equipment is broken down, and neither can he plant roots for his family because he isn't equipped for that kind of growth, either.  Yet by leasing the farm--in which he's clearly in over his head--he's at least attempting to take on some responsibility and improve their lives.  While Lonzo is a sullen, resentful drunk with a violent temper, and is capable of committing vile deeds, by the end of the film we're still trying to figure him out. 

Ray McKinnon, best known by me as Long Bill Coleman in DEAD MAN'S WALK and COMANCHE MOON and as the gate guard who first spreads the plague in THE STAND, turns in one of his best performances in the role.  As his wife Ludie, Carrie Preston has the tentative demeanor and vulnerability of Amanda Plummer, and is especially effective when the insecure Ludie is desperately trying to mold the uncertainties that surround her into a semblance of normalcy.  Mia Wasikowska is appealing as their 16-year-old daughter Pamela, a typical teen who makes a connection with Abner because his strength of character intrigues her.

Holbrook's wife Dixie Carter plays the late Ellen Meecham in a number of wistful flashbacks.  Barry Corbin (LONESOME DOVE, WARGAMES) appears as Abner's old friend Thurl, who offers moral support.  Walton Goggins, one of the film's producers (McKinnon is another), plays Abner's son Paul.  His scenes with Holbrook are another source of conflict as the son tries to convince the father that the time has come to let go of his old life.


Hal Holbrook, of course, is a joy to watch as the stubborn, crotchety old man who hates seeing "that evening sun" going down on his life before he's done living it.  We side with Abner as he fights to regain his farm and his dignity, and fear for him when the conflict begins to escalate.  Even so, Holbrook never plays the part as a saintly martyr and we see his faults as well as his virtues.  One of the strengths of the story is that our sympathies are never allowed to rest too firmly on one side or the other. 

The DVD from Image Entertainment is 2.35:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround and English and Spanish subtitles.  Extras include a director's commentary, a series of in-depth "making of" featurettes, cast and crew interviews, and a trailer. 

THAT EVENING SUN is the sort of slow, involving drama that rewards a viewer's patience with its emotional resonance.  It also reminds us that some conflicts burn hot enough to leave smoldering ashes on both sides.


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THAT EVENING SUN -- DVD review by porfle

FROZEN -- DVD review by porfle

"Predicament" movies are weird.  If they're done badly, they're boring, but if they're done well, they can be torture to endure.  So the only way to judge a movie about stranded people struggling to survive the elements, or trying not to get devoured by man-eating sharks or giant crocodiles, is by how unpleasant it is to watch.  FROZEN (2010) is unpleasant all right, though perhaps not quite the ultimate ordeal the filmmakers were aiming for.

The set-up is about as simple as it gets--three college kids go skiing for the weekend, get stuck on the ski-lift as the lodge closes for the week, and must either figure out a way to get down or slowly freeze to death.  Dan (Kevin Zegers, IT'S A BOY GIRL THING, Zack Snyder's DAWN OF THE DEAD) and Lynch (Shawn Ashmore, "Iceman" in the X-MEN movies) are childhood buddies who have grudgingly invited Dan's girlfriend Parker (newcomer Emma Bell), a novice skier, along on what is usually a "guy" outing. 

Like your typical teen movie, FROZEN begins with the three friends frolicking on the slopes to jaunty rock music and engaging in insubstantial dialogue back at the lodge, with the hint of romantic complications cropping up amongst them.  It's only when the ski-lift suddenly stops as they head up the mountain for one last late-night run that the harsh reality of the "predicament" flick hits our now totally helpless trio with a sickening thud.  While at first it seems like the set-up for an episode of "Seinfeld", they gradually realize that they're in big trouble and the viewer settles in for the ordeal to come.


To the movie's credit, the formerly lighthearted tone turns dark pretty quick as the hopeless situation goes shockingly wrong.  We've only had a brief time to get to know the characters, who aren't all that deep to begin with, but we've been made to care about them just enough to cringe during their increasingly desperate attempts to save themselves.  Meanwhile, they're buffeted by icy cold sleet and stricken with frostbite, and--wouldn't you know it--the bolts holding their ski-lift chair in place are coming loose.

With only three characters, you know something bad's going to happen to somebody sooner or later.  It proves to be sooner when one of them decides to jump, hoping the snow will break the fall.  It doesn't.  At that point, the film offers its equivalent to those man-eating sharks and giant crocodiles when a pack of ravenous wolves emerges from the forest.  This leaves only one remaining course of action--climbing up to the razor-sharp cable overhead and dangling hand-over-hand to the nearest support tower, where a ladder awaits.  Again, the suspense is painfully nerve-wracking.


Performances by the leads are as good as they need to be, with Emma Bell ably supplying most of the histrionics (especially when she starts worrying about what will happen to her dog if she dies).  Writer-director Adam Green (HATCHET, GRACE) wrings a good deal of tension from his simple premise and uses the camera well, with most or all of the outdoor scenes shot on location to establish a realistic sense of windswept isolation.  The stuntwork is coordinated by Jason Voorhees himself, Kane Hodder, who plays a bit part in the film. 

The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen with English Dolby Surround 5.1 and Spanish Mono.  Subtitles are in English and Spanish.  Extras include a commentary track with director Green and the three lead actors, plus four "making of" featurettes, altered and deleted scenes, a trailer, and an Easter egg. 

Not quite as gruelingly suspenseful as BLACK WATER or some other films of its ilk, FROZEN is still one of the most nail-biting flicks I've seen in recent years.  I doubt if it will have much rewatch value for me, but it's just the thing to get the old adrenaline going. 


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FROZEN -- DVD review by porfle

PARTY DOWN: SEASON TWO -- DVD review by porfle

Hollywood--the land of broken dreams, where starry-eyed hopefuls struggle for that ever-elusive chance at fame.  A precious few realize their dreams and become stars.  The rest become caterers.  PARTY DOWN: SEASON TWO is their story.

I missed the first season of this Starz comedy series, so the first episode was a little rough going for me.  But it doesn't take long to catch on and warm up to these characters and their interactions.  Henry Pollard (a deadpan Adam Scott), who has given up on acting after a few bit parts and commercials, has been promoted to team leader and is having trouble handling the responsibilities and keeping his lackadasical crew in line.  He's replacing Ron Donald (Ken Marino), who left for an unsuccessful five-month run as manager of a soup restaurant and returns to the group as a disillusioned drone.  Ron's a by-the-book company man whose ambitions to rise within the "Party Down" corporate ranks are hampered by both his emotional instability and his inherent goofiness.

Henry's former girlfriend, struggling actress-comedienne Casey (Lizzy Caplan), spends more time on the phone with her agent than working.  Their relationship will begin to heat up again although Henry is currently dating Uda Bengt (Kristin Bell), the uber-efficient boss of a rival catering company.  Kyle (Ryan Hansen) is a pretty-boy doofus trying to break into the Hollywood B-List while stuck in DTV hell, and Roman (Martin Starr) is a functioning nerd who writes "hard sci-fi" screenplays that are unproduceable.

Last but not least, Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace") plays Lydia, a ditzy divorcee and stage mom to her sullen 13-year-old daughter, Escapade.  Mullally plays Lydia's perky optimism and ultra-clueless naivete to a tee and adds comic zing to every scene that she's in.  Lydia's constantly on the prowl for an available man to hook up with, even if he's a stiff-assed estate lawyer hosting a dreadfully unsuccessful "orgy" to celebrate his divorce. 

"Party Down" is done in the same documentary style as "Curb Your Enthusiasm" but lacks both that show's concentrated hilarity and the comic giddiness of a "Seinfeld."  Still, this low-key show is fun and easy to watch.  The comedy develops naturally out of the situations, as a variety of settings keeps things fresh and generates a new comic energy with each episode.


This is especially true when the gang caters the New Age wedding of former member Constance Carmell (the brilliant Jane Lynch, A MIGHTY WIND, BEST IN SHOW) as she prepares to marry an aging movie producer played by the great Alex Rocco (THE GODFATHER's "Moe Green").  The predominantly Jewish assemblage is aghast when Kyle's emo band performs a song whose lyrics are misconstrued as grossly anti-Semitic ("Holo-what?" Kyle asks when Constance stops him mid-song.) 

In another episode, guest star Steve Guttenberg must cancel his party at the last minute but then invites the gang and their friends into his mansion anyway for a day of fun and games.  With so many aspiring actors on hand, Steve directs an impromptu reading of one of Roman's awful sci-fi scripts.  Later, Henry and Casey are on the verge of rekindling their romance in the jacuzzi when a naked Steve hops in, followed by everyone else. 

While catering an after-party for a community theater group, a series of romantic miscommunications between the actors and the Party Down crew results in complications that mirror the kind of old-style farce that's just been performed onstage.  (It's funnier than it sounds.)  The Party Down company picnic forms the backdrop for another episode that's filled with amusing subplots, and you can pretty much guess how things go when this bunch caters a funeral.  As in every episode of this series, some gags are flat, some simmer for awhile before yielding a modest payoff, and occasionally there's a genuine belly-laugh or two.  For me, "Cole Landry's Draft Day Party" is howlingly funny from start to finish.

The 2-disc, 10-episode DVD from Anchor Bay is in 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby Surround 5.1 and English and Spanish subtitles. Special features include a gag reel and a short promo.

Not quite a blockbuster comedy, PARTY DOWN: SEASON TWO is good fun, with a talented cast, likable characters, and an easygoing atmosphere.  I've already watched it twice, and now I'm eager to check out season one. 


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PARTY DOWN: SEASON TWO -- DVD review by porfle

"COOPERS ' CHRISTMAS" from Anchor Bay Entertainment coming to DVD November 16th

SOME MEMORIES SHOULDN’T BE RECORDED

COOPERS’ CHRISTMAS--Caroling to DVD November 16th, 2010

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Christmas in suburbia: the perfect location for a holiday wreathed in celebration and disaster, in gaiety and calamity.  On November 16th 2010, Anchor Bay Entertainment presents Coopers’ Christmas, the story of a family’s comical – and uncomfortable – Christmas Day.  An Official Selection of the Toronto (2008) and Vancouver (2009) International Film Festivals, Coopers’ Christmas – starring “The Daily Show’s” Jason Jones and Samantha Bee – is a mischievous, candid, riotous ride through one family’s Yule.  Coopers’ Christmas will be available on DVD for an SRP of $26.98.

December 25, 1985.  The dysfunctional Coopers: Nancy (Samantha Bee – “The Daily Show”, Motherhood , The Love Guru), Gord (Jason Jones – “The Daily Show”, All About Steve), their children Teddy (Dylan Everett – “The Dresden Files”) and Marcus (Nick McKinlay) are preparing themselves for another Christmas together.  Does a quiet, normal holiday lie ahead?

The odds are against them.  When their estranged uncle Nick (Mike Beaver – He’s Just Not That Into You, Shotgun Harley) shows up at their door, normalcy becomes lunacy and their holiday spirit disintegrates into a comedy of suburban insanity!  And not one second of the ensuing madness is lost – thanks to Teddy and his family’s Christmas present: a secondhand VHS camcorder.  As they say, some memories should never be recorded!

Also starring Dave Foley (“The Kids In The Hall”, “NewsRadio”), Coopers’ Christmas is a Christmas comedy seen through the eyes of the youngest son as he follows his elders throughout the maddest day of the year.  So prepare to celebrate a holiday of hilarity, when this Yuletide becomes a wave ready to engulf you!

The Coopers’ Christmas DVD bonus features include an Audio Commentary with director Warren P. Sonoda and producer Sean Buckley, as well as a Coopers’ Christmas “When Genius Collides With Inspiration” Featurette.

COOPER’S CHRISTMAS - DVD
Street Date:                  November 16, 2010
Pre-Book:                    October 20, 2010
Catalog #:                     0 1313 2190891
UPC #:                         DV21908
Audio:                          Dolby Digital 5.1
Aspect Ratio:                Widescreen 1.78:1
Retail Price:                  $26.98
Rating:                          NR
Run Time:                     92 minutes

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"COOPERS ' CHRISTMAS" from Anchor Bay Entertainment coming to DVD November 16th

Feel the rush of "BANGKOK ADRENALINE" on DVD and Blu-ray October 12th from Image Entertainment

“Some absolutely fantastic martial arts sequences.” -Kungfucinema.com

BANGKOK ADRENALINE FROM IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT

Racing Onto Blu-ray™ and DVD October 12th

Chatsworth, CA- When you gamble in Thailand , money isn’t the only thing you gamble with. And for five friends who thought they were just out for a good time, they’re about to learn that an adrenaline rush can mean the difference between life and death! On October 12th, Image Entertainment presents Bangkok Adrenaline, the heart-racing, kung-fu action thriller that’ll leave you breathless! Written, directed and co-starring Raimund Huber (Treasure Island ), Bangkok Adrenaline is available on DVD for an SRP of $27.97 and on Blu-ray™ for an SRP of $29.97. Pre-book is September 14th.

Five friends have come to Bangkok for good times and better action, but at night’s end, they find themselves broke and deeply in debt to a ruthless local mobster. They hatch a simple plan—stage a kidnapping of the rival mob boss’ daughter, demand a ransom and buy back their freedom. But the plan backfires when they discover the mob boss wants his daughter dead. The clock is ticking, the debt is due and now two mob bosses are closing in for the kill. The five will now have to fight with every ounce of skill they have to save the girl, get the money and get out of Bangkok … alive.

Unlike most big-studio action films, all the actors in Bangkok Adrenaline performed their own stunts. With a supporting cast featuring Daniel O’Neill (The Medallion, The Protector, Blackbeard), Gwion Jacob Miles and Conan Stevens, Bangkok Adrenaline is a cinematic rush of desperate gamblers staring into the inevitable snake eyes of fate.

Bangkok Adrenaline DVD
Genre:              Action/Adventure
Street Date:      October 12, 2010
Pre-Book:        September 14, 2010
Languages:       English
Format:            Anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:              Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:           English
Year:                2009
SRP :                $27.97
Length:             87 minutes
Rating:              R
UPC:                014381669428
Cat#:                SFP6694DVD
Bonus:              Behind the Scenes Featurette

Bangkok Adrenaline Blu-Ray
Genre:              Action/Adventure
Street Date:      October 12, 2010
Pre-Book:        September 14, 2010
Languages:       English
Format:            1.78:1
Audio:              DTS HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles:           English
Year:                2009
SRP :                $29.97
Length:             87 minutes
Rating:              R
UPC:                014381669558
Cat#:                SFP6695BD
Bonus:              Behind the Scenes Featurette

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DVD
Blu-Ray

Feel the rush of "BANGKOK ADRENALINE" on DVD and Blu-ray October 12th from Image Entertainment

"HUNT TO KILL" starring Steve Austin coming to Blu-ray and DVD November 9th from Anchor Bay Entertainment

The Deadliest Predator Of All Is A Man Hunting For Revenge

STEVE AUSTIN STARS IN "HUNT TO KILL"

On Blu-ray™ and DVD November 9th, 2010


BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Steve Austin stars in Hunt to Kill, available on Blu-ray™ and DVD on November 9th, from Anchor Bay Entertainment. A bone-snapping, bullet-blasting, ass-kicking action thriller, Hunt to Kill makes its home video debut at an SRP of $34.99 for the Blu-ray™ and $26.98 for the DVD.

Steve Austin stars as U.S. Border Patrol agent Jim Rhodes, a tough divorcee mourning the loss of his murdered partner while struggling to raise his rebellious daughter in the mountains of Montana.  But when a crew of trigger-happy fugitives takes Rhodes and his daughter hostage, a rugged wilderness will explode in all-terrain vengeance.  Is there any wounded animal more dangerous than a lawman left for dead?

Directed by Keoni Waxman (The Keeper), Hunt to Kill features a stellar cast including Gil Bellows (The Shawshank Redemption), Emilie Ullerup (“Sanctuary”), and Academy Award® nominee Eric Roberts (The Expendables, The Dark Knight).

The Hunt to Kill Blu-ray™ and DVD bonus features include an Audio Commentary with director Keoni Waxman and actor Michael Eklund (Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassin’s Ball), as well as a “Behind-the-Scenes of Hunt to Kill” Featurette.

The amazing stunts featured in Hunt to Kill were coordinated by Lauro Chartrand,      the man behind the stunts of 2012, War, Indiana Jones and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, The Incredible Hulk and I, Robot.

HUNT TO KILL BLU-RAY™
Street Date:                 November 9th, 2010                       
Pre-Book:                    October 13th, 2010                 
Catalog #:                    BD21866
UPC #:                        0 1313 21866-9 6
Audio:                          Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Aspect Ratio:              1.78:1 / 16x9
Retail Price:                $34.99  
Rating:                         R       
Run Time:                   97 Minutes
Subtitles:                     English SDH, Spanish
Bonus Features:         Audio Commentary with director Keoni Waxman and actor Michael Eklund
Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

HUNT TO KILL DVD
Street Date:                 November 9th, 2010                       
Pre-Book:                    October 13th, 2010     
Catalog #:                    AF21863
UPC #:                        0 1313 21863-9 9
Audio:                          Dolby Digital 5.1
Aspect Ratio:              1.78:1 / 16x9
Retail Price:                $26.98
Rating:                         R
Run Time:                   97 Minutes
Subtitles:                     English SDH, Spanish
Bonus Features:         Audio Commentary with director Keoni Waxman and actor Michael Eklund
Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

Buy it at Amazon.com:
Blu-Ray
DVD

"HUNT TO KILL" starring Steve Austin coming to Blu-ray and DVD November 9th from Anchor Bay Entertainment

On the Cultra Label, Synergy Entertainment Proudly Presents …"Monster A-Go Go: Special Collector's Edition"

Celebrating the 45th Anniversary of This Iconic, Cult Favorite, Voted 'The Worst Movie Ever' by MST3K (and Just About Everyone Else)!


Just in Time for Halloween, on DVD Oct. 19th...It's so Bad, it's Good!

NEW YORK - Oct. 1, 2010 - For Immediate Release - In celebration of the film's 45th anniversary, a special DVD collector's edition of the iconic cult favorite Monster A-Go Go is being released just in time for Halloween, Oct. 19, from Synergy Entertainment.

Originally released in 1965, it was billed as "The picture that could set our space program back at least 50 years."  Voted "The Worst Movie Ever" by Mystery Science Theater 3000 (and just about everyone else), it's so bad it's good!

Directed by Bill Rebane (who also brought you 1975's The Giant Spider Invasion) and Herschell Gordon Lewis (known for his exploitation films and often referred to as the "Godfather of Gore"), Monster A-Go Go was initially released in 1965.

Originally titled Terror at Halfway, the film stars June Travis (the final appearance of the '30s siren film star, who worked with such stars as Bette Davis, Natalie Wood, Ronald Reagan, Dick Powell, Joan Blondell, Lucille Ball and James Cagney), Peter Thompson (who worked with Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Mitchum, Spencer Tracy, Barbara Stanwyck, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, Tony Curtis, Dean Martin, Janet Leigh, Van Johnson, James Mason, Ray Milland, Bud Abbott, Lou Costello and other iconic screen stars, before becoming a recognized character actor in '50s TV westerns) and Phil Morton (one of just two acting jobs before embarking on a production career that included several years at Saturday Night Live).

Ronald Regan - whom Rebane recalls had a crush on Travis - was on board to co-star, but was dropped from the film because the investors considered him a "has been." Why was the movie so bad?  Union woes of the '60s, says the director (who shot the film on location in Chicago), causing the production to shut down and not resume until four years later … with a different director at the helm (Lewis) and some of the original cast unavailable. But despite all obstacles and in grand Hollywood tradition, the show did go on.

In Monster A-Go Go, an astronaut about to be launched into space is being prepped for his galactic voyage with doses of "radiation repellent." But, unknown to anyone else, the doctor begins utilizing a version of the formula previously tested only on animals. As the mission ends and the space capsule parachutes back to earth, it crash-lands in a nearby field and the astronaut aboard disappears. Is there a connection between the missing man and a monster wreaking havoc in the area?

SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio commentary by director Bill Rebane; two short films not seen since their original theatrical release, Twist Craze (produced as a short subject/added attraction for the 1961 premiere of Frank Capra's Pocket Full of Miracles at Chicago's Oriental Theatre and ran a record 11 weeks, before going on to worldwide release) and Dance Craze (1962, released internationally); original theatrical trailer; and a 24-page booklet with a reprint of a 1965 Scary Monsters magazine article about the making of the film (inside the DVD case).

Monster A-Go Go: Special Collector's Edition is presented in original, full-screen aspect ratio (4 x 3) and original sound (mono). 

About Synergy Entertainment:
Synergy Entertainment distributes classic audio, feature film, television, special interest, documentaries and foreign imports - across a wide variety of genres - on CD and DVD and is dedicated to bringing collectors quality entertainment at attractive prices. Based in New York City, the company boasts an extensive library of more than 10,000 hours of feature film, television and other programming. Distribution is via its wholly owned SEI Distribution division.

In 2010, Synergy unveiled the CULTRA label, showcasing the best (and worst) of cult cinema. CULTRA is a cinematic cesspool chuck-full of weird and cartoonish characters, wacky plots, tacky sets and baffling dialog. CULTRA films are surreal, eccentric, controversial, comical and scary but, ultimately, engaging and highly entertaining. These fascinating movies range from buffoonish to brilliant, with directors who are idiosyncratic visionaries and crackpots. They hit their mark anywhere but in the mainstream bull's eye. Misunderstood and rarely successful at the box office, cult films achieve status through word-of-mouth and underground distribution. So step out of your comfort zone and open your mind to absurd and unpredictable realm of CULTRA.

Visit us online at www.synergyent.com.

Monster A-Go Go: Special Collector's Edition
Synergy Entertainment
Genre: Sci-fi/Horror/Cult
Original Release: 1965 (B&W) / Bonus Material (B&W and Color)
Not Rated
Format: DVD Only
Running Time: Approx. 70 Minutes (Plus Approx. 50 Minutes Special Features)
Suggested Retail Price: $9.99
Pre-Order Date: September 14, 2010
Street Date: October 19, 2010
Catalog #:  SYN-302
UPC Code:  #874757030296

Buy it at Amazon.com

On the Cultra Label, Synergy Entertainment Proudly Presents …"Monster A-Go Go: Special Collector's Edition"

Warner Bros. Presents "Supernatural The Complete Fifth Season" on DVD

Things DO go bump in the night -- Supernatural: The Complete Fifth Season

Catch all 22 Terror-Filled Episodes ahead of the Season Six Premiere on The CW

The Apocalypse Looms on DVD and Blu-ray™ September 7, 2010

BURBANK, CA (June 21, 2010) - The Winchester brothers will rev up their '67 Chevy Impala once again in Supernatural: The Complete Fifth Season, debuting on DVD and Blu-ray Hi-Def from Warner Home Video on September 7, 2010. This latest installment of the three-time Emmy®-nominated series and winner of the 2010 People's Choice Award for Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show will hit shelves just in time for fans to catch up with Sam (Jared Padelecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) before the paranormal journey continues with the season six premiere on The CW. The six-disc DVD and four-disc Blu-ray releases contain all 22 original season five episodes, plus nearly three hours of bonus features including featurettes, deleted scenes, a gag reel and much more.

Two brothers and one fallen angel - against all the might of Satan and his army! As the Apocalypse grows closer, threatening to turn Earth into a battlefield soaked with human blood, Sam, Dean and Castiel struggle against daunting odds. New foes arise, including the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Old friends depart, consumed by the fearsome wrath of Hell. Through it all, the Winchesters are targeted by demons and angels alike, who warn that each brother has a special and terrible role to play in the coming devastation. Season five follows Sam and Dean on their most terrifying journey yet, one that may lead them to the only ally strong enough to defeat the Devil: God.

"Supernatural has captivated audiences for the past four seasons, and Season Five led fans even deeper into the mythology of Sam and Dean's ultimate destiny," says Rosemary Markson, WHV Vice President, TV and Special Interest Marketing.  "We are thrilled to bring this outstanding season to DVD and Blu-ray with nearly three hours of never-before-seen bonus features."

Supernatural stars Jared Padalecki (Friday the 13th [2009]), Jensen Ackles (My Bloody Valentine 3D) and Misha Collins (24), with recurring guest star Jim Beaver (Deadwood). The series was created by Eric Kripke, who executive produces along with McG, Robert Singer, Phil Sgriccia, Ben Edlund and Sera Gamble. The series is from Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television.

DVD and BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES
o Supernatural: Apocalypse Survival Guides - Bobby's Exclusive Video Collection
o Ghostfacers: The Web Series
o Producer/Writer Commentary on Episode 4, The End
o Unaired Scene from Episode 9, The Real Ghostbusters
o Gag Reel

EPISODES FEATURED

1. Sympathy for the Devil
2. Good God, Y'all!
3. Free to Be You and Me
4. The End
5. Fallen Idols
6. I Believe the Children Are Our Future
7. The Curious Case of Dean Winchester
8. Changing Channels
9. The Real Ghostbusters
10. Abandon All Hope
11. Sam, Interrupted
12. Swap Meat
13. The Song Remains the Same
14. My Bloody Valentine
15. Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
16. Dark Side of the Moon
17. 99 Problems
18. Point of No Return
19. Hammer of the Gods
20. The Devil You Know
21. Two Minutes to Midnight
22. Swan Song

BASICS
Street Date: September 7, 2010
Order Due Date: August 3, 2010
Total Running Time: Approx 924 minutes, EC runtime approx 174 min

DVD
Price:    $59.98 SRP
Language:  English, Portuguese
Audio:          English 5.1
Subtitles:       ESDH, Chinese, Portuguese,
Spanish, French, Thai
Catalog #     1000117173

Blu-ray
Price:    $69.97 SRP
Language:    English, Portuguese
Audio:          English 5.1
Subtitles:    ESDH, French, Dutch,
Spanish, Portuguese
Catalog #    1000116714

With operations in 90 international territories Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace.  Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

Available on DVD: September 7th
Official Site URL: www.supernaturaldvd.com
Buy it at Amazon.com:
DVD
Blu-Ray

Warner Bros. Presents "Supernatural The Complete Fifth Season" on DVD

Vivendi Entertainment New DVD Releases Out On October 12

8 Diagram Pole Fighter

A heroic family is double-crossed and massacred on the battlefield and only two of the brothers survive the slaughter. A survivor escapes to a Shaolin temple where his bloodlust and thirst for vengeance puts him at odds with the monks. When he discovers his sister is captured by the same villains who destroyed his family, he leaves the monastery in an attempt to rescue her and avenge what has come upon his family.

Buy it at Amazon.com

Seven Deadly Sins

Grace, California is a dead-end hell whose streets are paved with intentions both good and bad. Over the final months before graduation a small circle of friends get wrapped up in a heady game of sex, betrayal, revenge, unrequited love, and retribution played out in the reflection of the Seven Deadly Sins—Envy, Pride, Wrath, Sloth, Gluttony, Greed, and Lust.

Buy it at Amazon.com

Vivendi Entertainment New DVD Releases Out On October 12

GROWTH -- DVD review by porfle

Back in the 70s and 80s, low-budget horror filmmakers who weren't wandering around in the woods doing serial killer POV shots sometimes thought of different ways to gross us out than severed limbs and entrails.  Some, like David Cronenberg, focused on body horror in films such as RABID and SHIVERS.  In NIGHT OF TH7E CREEPS, slithery parasites invaded human hosts and attacked them from the inside out while turning their victims into monsters themselves.  Sort of a throwback to the films of this era is GROWTH (2009), which has elements of those earlier efforts along with the same creepy and sometimes dreary atmosphere.

Jamie (Mircea Monroe) is returning to the small New England island where her great uncle Mason (Ian Patrick Williams) and her mother were once involved in an experiment in which genetically-engineered parasites were used to enhance the bodies and minds of their human hosts.  The experiment went horribly wrong, of course, partly because the scientists seem to have forgotten the definition of the word "parasite."

Jamie and her half-brother Justin (Christopher Shand), along with her boyfriend Marco (Brian Krause) and best friend Kristin (Nora Kirkpatrick), are there to clean up the old house and research facility which Jamie has inherited in order to sell them for a large sum.  Unfortunately, the parasites that wiped out the research team and much of the local population years earlier have also returned and are multiplying like crazy.

Writer-director Gabriel Cowan has a fairly good cast to work with and keeps the camera moving nicely.  He also knows how to stretch his limited budget and, for the most part, manages to keep his film from having that "cheap" look.  Makeup effects are good, while the CGI runs hot and cold--some shots, such as a corpse sitting in front of his TV while parasites slither in and out of the holes in his face, are quite pleasingly icky, while others just seem to say, "Look at me, I'm crappy CGI."  But for the most part, the digital effects are serviceable. 

Rather than building up a head of steam and barreling on toward the finish line, the story meanders its way around the various plot points in a fairly involving though somewhat listless manner.  When a large number of the slithery creatures finally escape from a secret lab and disperse into the wild, the free-for-all epidemic we expect to see is confined to a shot of several people sitting in an emergency room, while the climactic action takes place on a small scale.  An interesting little epilogue which takes place in Korea sends the movie off on a high note. 

There's an autumnal feel to the whole thing that reminds me of some earlier low-budget Canadian horrors.  The Cronenberg influence is seen mainly in the SHIVERS-like parasites that are passed from person to person, although here, there isn't much of a sexual element.  Even when one character becomes infected while having sex with another, the "venereal" aspect which Cronenberg would have stressed is missing.  (The bar scene from THE FLY is also paid homage to when a parasite-enhanced character picks up a girl in a local dive and then easily dispatches the local boys who try to intervene.)

The main difference between GROWTH and the similarly-themed NIGHT OF THE CREEPS is that here, aside from a little bickering between Justin and the irritating Kristin early on, there's very little attempt at humor of any kind.  Not that the film takes itself too seriously, though--director Cowan is intent simply on making a giddily gross-out scare flick to the best of his ability, and pretty much succeeds. 

The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with 5.1 sound and English captions.  Extras include two audio commentaries--one with director Cowan and producer Aimee Clark, the other with cast members Monroe, Krause, Shand, and Kirkpatrick--a "making of" featurette, a look at how Cowan directed the Korean segment over the internet, deleted scenes, and a trailer. 

Not an outstanding film by any means, GROWTH is still a worthy effort that should please horror fans who enjoy a good queasy chill now and then.  It's just the sort of grotesque, communal-infection type of scenario that would've made a good episode of "The X-Files"--you almost expect Mulder and Scully to show up at any minute to investigate.

Buy it at Amazon.com

GROWTH -- DVD review by porfle