"CARJACKED" with Maria Bello and Stephen Dorff -- Gun It on Blu-ray and DVD November 22nd from Anchor Bay Films

He took her car. He took her son.  Bad idea.


ANCHOR BAY FILMS GETS "CARJACKED" ON BLU-RAY™ AND DVD


Drive For Your Life November 22nd

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Maria Bello (the upcoming “Prime Suspect,” Abduction) and Stephen Dorff (the upcoming November 11th release of Immortals, Blade) headline the Anchor Bay Films thriller Carjacked, premiering November 22nd on Blu-ray™ and DVD. Co-starring Joanna Cassidy (Blade Runner, “Six Feet Under”), Catherine Dent (“The Shield,” 21 Grams) and Gary Grubbs (JFK, Ray), Carjacked is an unforgettable ride into suspense and terror! SRP is $26.98 for the DVD, and $29.99 for the Blu-ray™. Pre-book is October 26.

During a routine stop at a gas station, Lorraine (Bello), a vulnerable single mom, and her 5 year-old son (Connor Hill) are overtaken by Roy (Dorff), a vicious bank robber on the run. He forces her to drive to meet up with his accomplice who still has money from the heist.  Possibly facing not only her death, but her son’s, Lorraine’s fight for survival summons up an inner strength and courage that she never thought she had.

Bonus features on both the Blu-ray™ and DVD include a behind-the-scenes featurette.

The film is produced by Daniel Grodnik (Powder, Bobby) and Eric Gozlan (Beautiful Boy) and directed by John Bonito. Written by Michael and Sherry Compton, who also are Executive Producers. Composer is Bennett Salvay, and Theo Van De Sande is Director of Photography. Executive Producers are Murray Rosenthal, Jonathan Rosenthal, Richard Iott and Michael Greenfield.

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DVD
Blu-Ray

"FREERUNNER" from Image Entertainment -- coming to Blu-ray and DVD October 18th

"FREERUNNER" FROM IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT Racing onto DVD and Blu-ray™ October 18


Prepare for a pulse-pounding ride that will leave you breathless! 

Chatsworth, CA – Demanding, dangerous and daring, urban acrobatic freerunning combines athleticism with audacity with imagination.  Inspired by the stunts of Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Buster Keaton and more recently the exciting opening chase sequence of Casino Royale, modern free runners weave through their environment by vaulting, running, climbing and jumping. On October 18, Image Entertainment will release Freerunner a story of high spirits, high stakes and high speeds.  Freerunner, with special features, will be available on DVD for an MSRP of $27.97 and on Blu-ray™ for $29.97. 

Sean Faris (Never Back Down) stars as Ryan, a freerunner desperately trying to break free from Reese (Tamer Hassan, Kick-Ass), a mobster who controls a stable of street runners. They got into the sport for the rush and for the money:  but now they’re running for their lives! With exploding collars locked around their necks, they have one hour to make it across town:  all for the amusement of Mr. Frank (Danny Dyer, “Foyle’s War”) and a gambling organization betting on who will win…there is no second place.  World Champion Freerunner Ryan Doyle costars with Seymour Cassel (“The Flight of the Conchords”) in this exhilarating film filled with explosive action and mind-blowing stunts!    

Pushing their bodies to the limit, freerunners rely on muscle, heart and mind to complete their outrageous marathons.  Time is short as Sean faces long odds when he starts his next – and maybe final – contest.   Will he make it to the end, or is he facing the ultimate death race?

Freerunner Blu-ray™ and DVD bonus features include:
Behind the Scenes, Outtakes and Bloopers
Over The Rooftops and Behind The Scenes
Freerunner Stunts, Fights and Effects
Playing Ninja
Parkour/Freerunning
Freerunner Trailer

About Image Entertainment:
Image Entertainment, Inc. (OTCQB: DISK ) is a leading independent licensee and distributor of entertainment programming in North America, with approximately 3,200 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 6,000 individual tracks. The Company is headquartered in Chatsworth , California . For more information about Image Entertainment, Inc., please go to www.image-entertainment.com.

Freerunner Blu-ray
Genre:                          Action/Adventure, Feature Film 
Rating:                          R for some bloody violence, language and sexual/nudity
Language:                     English 
Format:                        2.35:1
Audio:                          DTS HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles:                       English, Spanish
Year:                            2011
SRP :                            $29.97
Street Date:                  October 18, 2011
Length:                         88 minutes
UPC :                            014381747751
Cat#:                            FRM7477BD

Freerunner DVD
Genre:                          Action/Adventure, Feature Film 
Rating:                          R for some bloody violence, language and sexual/nudity
Language:                     English 
Format:                        2.35:1
Audio:                          Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:                       English, Spanish
Year:                            2011
SRP :                            $27.97
Street Date:                  October 18, 2011
Length:                         88 minutes
UPC :                            014381674422
Cat#:                            FRM6744DVD

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DVD
Blu-Ray

"The Last Circus" Coming To Blu-ray and DVD October 18

A TWISTED TALE OF LOVE, REVENGE AND
PSYCHOPATHIC CLOWNS… "THE LAST CIRCUS"


The 2010 Venice Film Festival Winner For Best Director And Best Screenplay Makes Its DVD and Blu-ray™ Debut October 18 From Magnolia Home Entertainment Under The Magnet Label


“Brilliant.” - Ain’t It Cool News
"If the idea of an unholy collaboration between Guillermo del Toro, Federico Fellini and William Castle appeals to you, put near- masterpiece The Last Circus on your must-see list right now.” - Salon
“Cult status is assured.” - Variety

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – Called “brilliant, bizarre, dazzling and utterly demented” (New York Times), the shocking tale of two murderous clowns in a twisted tale of love and vengeance, The Last Circus steps right up to Blu-ray and DVD October 18 from Magnolia Home Entertainment under the Magnet label. From cult director Álex de la Iglesia (The Oxford Murders, The Day of the Beast) and starring Antonio de la Torre (Volver, Che: Part Two), the “insane,” (Chud) “sinister and grotesquely funny” (Village Voice) film follows two clowns – one sad and one happy – as they enter into a peculiar and unforgettable love triangle.

The film follows Javier, a second generation clown who dreams to follow in his father’s footsteps as a Happy Clown but has seen too much tragedy and suffering in his life to be anything but its counterpart. He finds work in a circus where he befriends an outlandish cast of characters, but as the Sad Clown, he must take the abuse of the brutish Happy Clown, Sergio, who humiliates Javier daily in the name of entertainment. Included in the ménage is Natalia, a gorgeous acrobat and the abused wife of Sergio. Javier quickly falls deeply in love with her and attempts to rescue her from her tyrannical Happy Clown husband, however, Natalia is torn between her affection for Javier and her violent lust for Sergio.

Set in both the brutal Spanish Civil War and the tail end of the Franco regime, The Last Circus is a “a searing, intimate work riffing on Hitchcock, DePalma, Fellini, the Universal Monster films and German Expressionism” (Ain’t It Cool News). The DVD and Blu-ray contain bonus features including deleted scenes and the international trailer, and will be available for the suggested retail prices of $26.98 and $29.98 respectively.

Synopsis
Javier, a Sad Clown, finds work in a circus where he befriends an outlandish cast of characters, including the brutish Happy Clown, Sergio, who humiliates Javier daily in the name of entertainment. It is here that he meets Natalia, a gorgeous acrobat and abused wife of Sergio. Javier falls deeply in love with Natalia and tries to rescue her from her cruel and violent husband, unleashing Sergio’s jealousy. With neither man willing to back down, this twisted love triangle evolves into a ferocious battle between Sad Clown and Happy Clown, escalating to unbelievable heights in this shocking, irreverent and unforgettable film.

Bonus Features
Making of The Last Circus
Behind the Scenes Segments
Visual Effects
U.S. Trailer
International Teaser
International Trailer

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DVD
Blu-Ray

Anchor Bay Films spins "13" with Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Michael Shannon -- coming in November

Millions of dollars can be yours. All you have to do is spin, aim, and survive...

SAM RILEY, CURTIS “50 CENT” JACKSON, RAY WINSTONE, ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD, WITH MICKEY ROURKE AND JASON STATHAM LEAD ALL-STAR CAST IN ANCHOR BAY FILMS THRILLER "13" ON BLU-RAY™ AND DVD

Pull The Trigger November 8th; Theatrical Engagement October 28th

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – A chilling and unnerving exploration of the relationship between power and money, Anchor Bay Films presents 13 on Blu-ray™ and DVD November 8th. A remake of the award-winning 2005 international sensation 13 Tzameti, 13 is written and directed by Gela Babluani, the original film’s writer/director, and boasts an all-star cast including Sam Riley (Control, Brighton Rock), Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (Get Rich or Die Tryin’), Ray Winstone (The Departed, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), Alexander Skarsgård (“True Blood”), Oscar® nominee Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road, “Boardwalk Empire,” the upcoming Superman film Man of Steel), Ben Gazzara (Saint Jack, They All Laughed), Emmanuelle Chriqui (You Don’t Mess With The Zohan, “Entourage”) with Oscar® nominee Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler, Iron Man 2) and Jason Statham (The Expendables, The Mechanic). 13 will also have an exclusive theatrical engagement starting October 28th.

The original 13 Tzameti (the Georgian word for “13”) won the 2006 Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Babluani won best director at the Venice Film Festival.

In the film, Vince Ferro is a man in desperate circumstances. While on a quick fix-it job, he steals an envelope containing instructions for a mysterious job that promises a potential fortune. He assumes a false identity and follows the instructions, only to find himself a numbered participant in an underworld Russian roulette competition, where gamblers place bets on who’ll survive when the trigger is pulled.  The stakes are high, but the payout is more than he can resist. Many are competing for the first time, and a precious few have even returned to play again, but are his odds any better than other players in this most deadly game? What will it take to be the last man standing?

Bonus features on 13 Blu-ray™ and DVD will include a behind-the-scenes featurette, and the theatrical trailer. 

New Horror DVDs from Pacific Entertainment

PACIFIC ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE HORROR FILMS ON DVD AND BLU-RAY THIS FALL

Movies Featuring the Dead, the Undead and the Deadly Bring Thrills and Chills with Special DVD Features That Make These Films Even More Entertaining

SAN DIEGO – (September 9, 2011) – Creeping into the ever popular marketplace for horror films on DVD and Blu-ray, Pacific Entertainment Corporation (OTCQB: PENT) today announced a slate of three terrifying titles for release in September and October 2011. Silent Night, Zombie Night will be released October 4, The Hagstone Demon will be released September 27, and Zombie Apocalypse: Redemption will be released October 18, 2011

“Horror is an evergreen genre that has historically held mass appeal among adult male audiences,” said Pacific Entertainment President Mike Meader. “We believe these three films are prime examples of what appeals to this loyal audience and anticipate strong interest in the genre to bring us success on DVD and Blu-ray.”


SILENT NIGHT, ZOMBIE NIGHT

Just in time for Halloween – and positioned for sale throughout the entire 2011 holiday season – is the DVD debut of Silent Night, Zombie Night, the film that proclaims, “This Christmas, you are the holiday feast!”

Written, produced and directed by Sean Cain (Naked Beneath the Water, Breath of Hate), Silent Night, Zombie Night chronicles a viral outbreak the week before Christmas that turns the citizens of Los Angeles into the walking dead. On the brink of severing ties with both his wife and longtime partner, L.A.P.D. officer Frank Talbot finds himself trapped with them. As death closes in, their survival is further threatened by the fact that both men love the same woman.  

“[Director] Cain has out-Romeroed George Romero …” – Robin Pierce, GoreZone Magazine

“This tops Zombieland!” –  Gruesome Hertzogg, Horror Movie Review

Silent Night, Zombie Night special features include:
--Commentary with Director Sean Cain, Producer Wes Laurie and Director of Photography Jim Wright
--Blooper Reel
--Deleted Scenes
--Trailers
--Easter Egg with footage of Silent Night, Zombie Night star Vernon Wells.


THE HAGSTONE DEMON

Director Jon Springer combines horror and noir in The Hagstone Demon, a film about drunken ex-reporter Douglas Elmore, played by Mark Borchardt (American Movie), who finds himself entangled in a hyper gothic web of taciturn ghosts, naked Satanists and hairless cats in this moody send up of 60’s Hammer films. Deep within the dilapidated brownstone under Douglas’s care lurks a blonde succubus whose sexual overtures provide a welcome distraction from the spectral visitations of his deceased spouse, and from the dead bodies piling up in the hallways.

“Instant. Horror. Classic. … The Hagstone Demon brings something totally fresh to the horror canon.” – Don Neuman, Quiet Earth

“The Hagstone Demon has a great quirkiness and energy that makes the film worth a watch …” -- Fangoria

The Hagstone Demon special features include:
--Dollface, a short film by Jon Springer
--Commentary Track with Mark Borchardt and Jon Springer
--Video Interview with Mark Borchardt
--Behind-the-scenes Photos and Original Artwork
--Deleted Scenes and Alternate Opening
--Trailers
--Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound


ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE: REDEMPTION

Horror, adventure and over-the-top, post-nuke comic realism converge in Zombie Apocalypse: Redemption, a film that provides huge must-see appeal among adult male audiences. At the end of civilization, zombies greatly outnumber people and every day is a fight to see tomorrow. Rugged wanderer John Knox is saved by a ragtag group of survivors. As he settles in with his new family, maniacal raiders assault the camp and kidnap Sarah – Knox’s love interest. Knox and the few who escaped the attack join up with zombies and launch an all-or-nothing rescue mission on the raiders’ home fortress.

Zombie Apocalypse: Redemption special features include:
--Commentary track with Johnny Gel, Screenwriter Matthew O’Day and Director Ryan Thompson
--“The Road to Redemption” – The Making of ZA:R
--Deleted Scenes
--Still Image Gallery
--5.1 Surround Sound

SILENT NIGHT, ZOMBIE NIGHT
RUN TIME: Approximately 83 minutes
SRP DVD: $14.98
SRP BLU-RAY: $16.98

THE HAGSTONE DEMON
RUN TIME: Approximately 107 minutes
SRP DVD: $14.98
SRP BLU-RAY: $16.98

ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE: REDEMPTION
RUN TIME: Approximately 101 minutes
SRP DVD: $14.98
SRP BLU-RAY: $16.98

About Pacific Entertainment Corporation
Pacific Entertainment Corporation (OTCQB: PENT) is an entertainment content and brand management company that produces, manages and distributes affordable entertainment products worldwide. DVDs, Blue-ray and CDs are distributed through the company’s distribution network that extends throughout the U.S. to mass, drugstore, supermarket and specialty retailers. Multi-media products are distributed in the U.S. and internationally for television, cable, streaming, mobile, game platforms, iOS and other emerging tablet devices. www.pacificentcorp.com

On DVD Oct. 4 - Midsomer Murders: Barnaby's Top 10, Fresh Fields 2, and Rosemary & Thyme from Acorn Media

MIDSOMER MURDERS: BARNABY’S TOP 10 -- On DVD October 4, 2011

John Nettles presents some of his favorite episodes of Acorn’s top-selling series

“Each of his choices is a gem.” —The Guardian
“Spectacularly entertaining as always” —PaperMag.com
“Superbly acted and filmed, and a great joy to watch” —British Heritage

Silver Spring, MD — Delighting fans with its distinctive mix of dazzling scenery, depraved crimes, and charming detectives, Midsomer Murders: Barnaby’s Top 10 arrives to DVD from Acorn Media on October 4, 2011. In this set, affable star John Nettles introduces 10 of his favorite mysteries with witty and revealing production anecdotes from the first six seasons of the bestselling series. Co-starring his original sidekick Daniel Casey (Marchlands), Nettles shares why each mystery holds a special place in his heart. The DVD 10-Disc Collector’s Edition includes ten full-length standalone mysteries set in England’s picture-perfect but perilous Midsomer County ($99.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

THE TOP TEN

How It All Began: The Killings at Badger's Drift
Favorite Story Line: Blue Herrings
Favorite Leading Lady: A Worm in the Bud
Best Location: Dark Autumn
Funniest Moments: Dead Man's Eleven
Most Intriguing Crime: Death of a Hollow Man
Most Difficult to Film: The Electric Vendetta
Most Dramatic Episode: Murder on St. Malley’s Day
Most Bizarre Episode: A Talent for Life
Favorite Episode: Strangler’s Wood

Midsomer Murders premiered in the United Kingdom in March 1997. Since then, more than eighty feature-length episodes have aired with new episodes still in production. In the U.S., the series has been seen on A&E and The Biography Channel. The mysteries in Barnaby’s Top 10 were previously released on DVD in Sets 1-6. 

Street: October 4, 2011                                                 SRP: $99.99

DVD 10-Disc Collector’s Edition: Ten mysteries – Approx. 16 ½ hours - SDH subtitles

Acorn Media previously released Sets 1-18 with three to five mysteries per set ($39.99 to $59.99) as well as The Early Cases Collection (19-vol. collector’s set which includes Sets 1-3, 5), Barnaby’s Casebook (19-vol. collector’s set which includes Sets 4, 6-8) and Village Case Files (16-vol. collector’s set which includes Sets 9-12). Each set ranked in Acorn’s top 10 best-sellers for its year and sales of each new set consistently gain momentum.




FRESH FIELDS -- Set 2 Debuts on DVD October 4, 2011

Return of the International Emmy®-winning comedy seen on PBS; Starring Julia McKenzie (Marple) and Anton Rodgers

“Wonderful” – Los Angeles Times
“Full of sly, sharp, warm humor” – Los Angeles Times
“Charming” – The Star-Ledger

Silver Spring, MD — A warm and witty empty-nester comedy, Fresh Fields, Set 2 debuts on DVD from Acorn Media on October 4, 2011. Broadcast continually on PBS since the mid-1980s, this International Emmy®-winning series stars fan favorite, BAFTA-nominee Julia McKenzie (Agatha Christie’s Marple) and Anton Rodgers (Lillie, May to December) as a happily married couple adjusting to middle age. Sharply written and brilliantly acted, the DVD 2-Disc Set includes series three and four of the charmingly domestic Brit-com celebrated by critics and fans alike ($49.99, www.AcornOnline.com). Fresh Fields aired for four series (1984-86), and the leads returned in French Fields (1989-91) for three more seasons set in France.

Anton Rodgers and Julia McKenzie return as William and Hester Fields, a middle-aged couple whose grown children have left home to start lives of their own. Hester is ready for a new life, too—and takes on everything from redecorating to catering. Staid William would much prefer that his life—and his wife—remain unchanged. Inevitably, he finds himself drawn into Hester’s self-improvement schemes, usually reluctantly but always with hilarious results.

Episodes: Do It Yourself, A Waiting Game, Moveable Feasts, Tipping the Scales, Crossed Lines, Alarums and Excursions, A Nose for Trouble, The Old Folks at Home, One Damned Ming after Another, Life Is Full of Ups and Downs, Takes Two to Tango, Caught in the Act, Brighton or Bust, and Happy Returns

Acorn Media previously released Fresh Fields, Set 1 (Series 1 & 2) as a DVD 2-Disc Set ($49.99) in February 2011.

Street: October 4, 2011                    SRP: $49.99

DVD 2-Disc Set: 14 episodes - Approx. 342 min. - British comedy - SDH subtitles





ROSEMARY & THYME: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION -- On DVD October 4, 2011

New edition of the hit British mystery series, now with subtitles; As seen on public television

“A winner” —Deseret News

SILVER SPRING, MD—Combining glorious gardens with classic whodunits, Rosemary & Thyme: The Complete Collection arrives to DVD from Acorn Media on October 4, 2011 in a newly re-authored 7-volume collector’s edition, now with subtitles. Felicity Kendal (Good Neighbors, The Camomile Lawn) and Pam Ferris (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Matilda) star in this popular British mystery series broadcast on public television and from the producer of Agatha Christie’s Poirot. Filmed on location in some of Europe’s most spectacular gardens, the release features all 22 episodes, brimming with top-notch guest stars, eccentric characters, and great chemistry from its gardening detectives–-plus bonus interviews, production notes, and much more ($79.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

Stunning gardens provide the backdrop for this hit British mystery series starring Felicity Kendal as Rosemary Boxer and Pam Ferris as Laura Thyme, professional gardeners and amateur sleuths. From their former careers as a university plant biologist and a police officer, Rosemary and Laura bring unique investigative talents to their horticultural and human mysteries.

Locations featured in the series include manor houses in the English countryside; London’s Kew Gardens and Regent’s Park; the French Riviera; Italy’s Ligurian coast; a Surrey vineyard; and the hills of Málaga, Spain. Guest stars include Anthony Andrews (Brideshead Revisited), Oliver Ford Davies (Star Wars), Phyllida Law (The Time Machine), Juilan Wadham (The English Patient), Gareth David-Lloyd (Torchwood), Margaret Tyzack (A Clockwork Orange), and Michael Maloney (The Forsyte Saga).

Rosemary & Thyme aired for three seasons (2003-2005) in the U.K. and was syndicated nationally on public television in the United States. The title music is performed by John Williams.

Special Features:  An interview with Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris (8 min.), production notes, location notes, photo galleries, cast filmographies, and a trivia quiz.

Street Date: October 4, 2011                                               SRP: $79.99

DVD 7-Disc Set: 22 episodes – Approx. 18 ½ hrs. – British mystery – SDH subtitles

"Dracula: The Vampire and the Voivode" Takes a Bite Out of DVD Oct. 4

Walking Shadows and Virgil Films & Entertainment Proudly Present "Dracula: The Vampire and the Voivode"


Documentary Unearths the Never-Before-Told True Story of Bram Stoker and His Legendary Novel


Taking a Bite Out of DVD Oct. 4th


"This is a fascinating and most enjoyable documentary … few viewers will not learn some new from it." - Voices from the Vaults, The Dracula Society

LOS ANGELES - Oct. 1, 2011 - For Immediate Release - In the first documentary to unearth the never-before-told true story of Bram Stoker and his legendary 1897 gothic novel, Dracula: The Vampire and the Voivode takes a bite out of DVD Oct. 4, from Walking Shadows (distributed by Virgil Films & Entertainment).

Few mythic figures have ever captured the imagination, nor been as enduringly popular, as Dracula, made famous in Irishman Bram Stoker's 1897 gothic novel and sparking the earliest pop culture fascination with vampire folklore.

But much confusion surrounds Count Dracula, the fictional vampire, and Vlad "Tepes (The Impaler)" Draculea III (1431-1476), the voivode, Old Slavonic, meaning "one who leads warriors." A real-life royal, many believe that Vlad III's violent, six-year rule of Romania and now-familiar surname inspired the famed, fanged figure.

Separating fact from fiction, Dracula: The Vampire and the Voivode - filmed in Transylvania, Whitby, London and Dublin - was produced in association with the Transylvanian Society of Dracula and features interviews with the leading experts on the subject.

Sink your teeth into this intriguing examination of one of the world's most infamous legends with an unprecedented look at: visits to Stoker's hometown of Dublin and his (and Dracula's) London haunts; a vivid account of the real-life count's arrival in the seaside town of Yorkshire; Vlad III's reign of terror; debunking the association between any Dracula (a common surname in the former countries of Yugoslavia) and the iconic Castle Bran; retracing Vlad III and Count Dracula's footsteps through Romania; and a look at how Stoker (who never visited Transylvania) left an indelible impression of Romania on the world.

Directed by Michael Bayley Hughes and narrated by Jason Walford Davies.

Dracula: The Vampire and the Voivode is presented in full frame with an aspect ratio of 4x3 (1.33:1) and 2.0 Stereo Sound.

Dracula: The Vampire and the Voivode
Virgil Films & Entertainment
Genre: Documentary
Not Rated
Format:  DVD Only
Running Time:  Approx. 84 Minutes
Suggested Retail Price:  $19.99
Pre-Order Date:  August 30, 2011
Street Date:  October 4, 2011
Catalog #:  670779
UPC Code:  #829567077924

Buy it at Amazon.com
See it now with Amazon Instant Video

Horror Reigns Supreme with "Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings" on Blu-ray and DVD October 25

WELCOME TO THE PLACE THAT RAISED THE MOST DANGEROUS KILLERS YOU NEVER WANT TO MEET…

Witness The UNRATED Bloody Beginnings of Three Finger and His Family of Hillbilly Cannibals on Blu-ray and DVD October 25

Los Angeles (September 14, 2011) – Before their victims ever hit a “Dead End,” one family took terror to a gruesome new level. Discover the disturbing origins and bloody beginnings when WRONG TURN 4: Bloody Beginnings debuts on unrated Blu-ray and DVD October 25 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

In 1974, Glenville Sanatorium was the site of a brutal and horrific crime, as three hideously deformed cannibals went on a merciless killing spree. Now, years later, a group of college kids having the time of their life make a fateful wrong turn, giving this family of blood-thirsty cannibals new prey to stalk. The abandoned medical wards within the sanatorium soon become killing fields as the panicked victims come face to face with a chilling choice: fight back or die.

With bonus footage too graphic for theaters including behind-the-scenes featurettes and commentary from director Declan O’Brien (Wrong Turn 3, Sharktopus), WRONG TURN 4: Bloody Beginnings takes audiences back to the most terrifying place of all… the beginning. Available on Blu-ray and DVD October 25, prebook is September 28.

WRONG TURN 4: Bloody Beginnings Special Features
--Feature Commentary from Director Declan O’Brien
--Director’s Die-aries
--Making Another Wrong Turn
--Lifestyles of the Sick and Infamous
--Music Video Featuring The Black Out City Kids

Follow Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on Twitter @FoxHomeEnt

WRONG TURN 4: Bloody Beginnings Blu-Ray: (Catalog # 2274743)
Street Date: October 25, 2011
Pre-book Date: September 28, 2011
Screen Format: Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio: 5.1 DTS HD-MA
Subtitles: English, French and Spanish
U.S. Rating: Unrated
Total Run Time: 93 minutes (not including 35 minutes of special features)
Closed Captioned: Yes

WRONG TURN 4: Bloody Beginnings DVD: (Catalog # 2274736)
Street Date: October 25, 2011
Pre-book Date: September 28, 2011
Screen Format: Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English, French and Spanish
U.S. Rating: Unrated
Total Run Time: 93 minutes (not including 35 minutes of special features)
Closed Captioned: Yes

HIGANJIMA (EQUINOX ISLAND) -- Movie Review by Porfle

You know how a fruitcake is colorful and tastes pretty good, but you don't really enjoy eating it that much?  That's kind of what it's like to watch HIGANJIMA (EQUINOX ISLAND)  (2009), a Japanese manga-based horror film by Korean director Tae-gyun Kim. 

At first I thought this might be a kids' movie because the alternate English title, "Escape From Vampire Island", reminded me of ESCAPE FROM WITCH MOUNTAIN.  And at times it does seem a little on the juvenile side, albeit with a lot more geysers of blood than Uncle Walt was known to use.  It's more action-fantasy than scare flick--in fact, it isn't scary at all, with the island's drone vampires resembling a bunch of hunched-over geezers with red eyes and fangs and behaving a bit like the winged monkeys in THE WIZARD OF OZ. 

The creepiest scene is the pretitles one, in which some poor shlub in a blood-splattered business suit is terrorized by vampires in an abandoned building on the island until a mysterious swordsman named Atsushi (Dai Watanabe) steps in and kills them.  It's an atmospheric sequence with effective gore (Atsushi smashes the vampires' heads in with a log) and some nice CGI-rendered settings.

After that, we're transported to the city where Atsushi's younger brother Akira (Hideo Ishiguro) runs with his gang of high-spirited urban pals.  They're the usual types: Ken, the older leader; Yuki, the girl Akira loves but who has a crush on Ken; Pon, the simpleminded misfit; Nishiyama, the nerdy brainiac; and Kato, the overweight clown (played by stand-up comic Masaya Handa).  The early scenes of them knocking around in the streets are mercifully brief.

One day, a beautiful and mysterious woman named Rei (Asami Mizukawa) appears and tells Akira she knows the location of his long-missing brother Atsushi, arranging for him and his friends to travel to the island.  As it turns out, even Rei's ulterior motives have ulterior motives, and the kids find themselves surrounded by vampires.  The vamps prove pretty ineffectual here, easily beaten back by a bunch of gangly inner-city kids despite all their scary grimacing and hopping around. 

The real menace turns out to be vampire king Miyabi (Kôji Yamamoto), although he isn't scary either.  He's more of a white-faced, nattily-dressed dandy who seems terminally pleased with himself than an object of fear.  He is pretty unbeatable, though, as reunited brothers Akira and Atsushi discover in their bloody clashes with him.  Atsushi's band of underground freedom fighters get into the act, with Akira getting a crash "anti-vampire" course and being transformed into a sword-slingin' warrior in about two hours.  This sets up their climactic assault on Miyabi's lair (an actual Japanese army fortress from WWII) to rescue a captive Yuki.

The action scenes are fairly exciting for the most part although a little repetitive.  About midway through the film the shaky-cam gets progressively worse for some reason, to the point of noticeable annoyance.  By the final minutes, however, this problem seems to give way to some nicely-staged action with Akira and the vampire fighters taking on a giant reptilian beast which guards Miyabi's inner sanctum.  This creature is a direct descendant of both the dragon in DRAGONSLAYER and the queen alien in ALIENS, and the CGI effects here run from good to sketchy. 

The best thing about the movie for me is Genki, an albino bat-girl who swoops around causing trouble while giggling girlishly through it all.  The makeup and SPFX used to create her, along with Kazuko Sakagami's quirky performance, make her a fun character whose demise comes all too soon.  Later, the final clash between Miyabi and brothers Akira and Atsushi in the vampire king's exploding fortress provides the film's bloodiest and most suspenseful action setpiece. 

HIGANJIMA (EQUINOX ISLAND) is fairly well-made and has a reasonable amount of entertaining action and carnage, but it lags in spots and just doesn't come together nearly as well as it should have.  With these ingredients, it could've been as much pure, exhilarating fun as BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA or as scary as any number of Asian horror flicks, but as it is, it's a fruitcake.

MAKE BELIEVE -- DVD review by porfle

Ever since I was a kid, I've been fascinated by magicians.  When they're good, it's amazing.  When they're bad, it's funny--and you can see how the tricks are done when they fumble them.  The documentary MAKE BELIEVE (2010) doesn't fumble, and neither do the magicians it introduces us to, because the emphasis here is excellence.  Or rather, the beginning of excellence, since the subjects here are teens still aspiring to win their first major magic competition.

Each of these fiercely ambitious kids has a dream of performing magic for a living and have dedicated their lives to this.  Before we've even gotten a look at their stage acts, we see them doing close-up sleight-of-hand that is near flawless, particularly the stuff Hiroki Hara does with playing cards.  A humble and sensitive boy from the Japanese countryside, Hiroki is such a master of the two-handed circle fan and other difficult tricks that other magicians look on in awe.

Blonde California girl Krystyn Lambert, the quintessential Malibu Barbie type, is a control freak who excels in school while aspiring to be the Britney Spears of magic.  Not quite as driven but equally talented, 14-year-old Derek McKee works in a magic shop in Colorado where his mentors tutor him and try to hone his will to succeed along with some of the weaker points in his presentation.

South African friends Siphiwe Fangase and Nkumbozo Nkonyana incorporate their love of soccer into their comedic two-man act along with their endearingly boyish personalities.  And Chicago's Bill Koch, at 19 making his last try for the title of teen champ, is a husky, energetic go-getter who charges toward this goal with the giddy physicality of an athlete.  During the course of the film, we also get to see the effect of all this on the subjects' families and how, in most cases, an interest in magic has proven to be a decidedly positive influence in a number of ways.

Much of MAKE BELIEVE follows these six teens as they go about their daily lives, which for them includes hour after hour of intense training and practice.  Each credits magic with granting them easy entry into social situations--their almost impeccable sleight-of-hand skills make them instantly popular--yet much of their time is filled with solitary pursuits that isolate them from their peers.  Only when they get together with other young magicians do they feel like they really belong and are truly happy.  

When they and many other young hopefuls congregate in Las Vegas for master magician Lance Burton's World Magic Seminar and vie for the crown, they seem practically blissful in the presence of like company and starstruck at having Burton and other master magicians in their midst.  (This is especially true during a side trip to the Hollywood Hills' fabled Magic Castle.)  When the competition begins, we finally get to see them fully in their element--onstage, performing their long-practiced moves for an appreciative audience and going for the glory.  Most of them do well, some exceed even their own expectations, but one falters at a key moment during a relatively easy trick and faces crushing defeat.

The suspense is gripping but director J. Clay Tweel and writer Cleven S. Loham don't try to manipulate us in the way that a reality TV show would by manufacturing dramatic situations and pitting contestants against each other.  We simply watch events unfold in a realistic way that generates its own subtle drama and is inspirational without being cloying or overly sentimental.  Each of the film's six subjects is allowed to be him/herself and we feel as though we're getting a genuine look at who they are as we root for them to succeed.  And when the winner is announced, it's an engagingly heartfelt moment. 

The DVD From Firefly: Theater & Films and Level 22 is 16x9 with English 5.1 surround sound and subtitles in English and Spanish.  Over an hour's worth of extras includes profiles of the six teen magicians, a "Masters of Magic" short featuring Lance Burton, Neil Patrick Harris, and other magicians, and an entertaining tutorial that teaches viewers how to perform ten magic tricks of varying difficulty. 

MAKE BELIEVE does a good job of helping us understand what's so magical about magic to those who practice it, while amazing us with some dazzling examples of the art by those who aspire to be tomorrow's stars.  Even when we know exactly how a trick is done, the inventiveness, skill, and audacity with which it's performed make it no less impressive.  And in this low-key, insightful, uplifting documentary, we get an idea of what drives certain people to dedicate their lives to creating illusions. 

"LUNOPOLIS" Lands on DVD Oct. 11

Walking Shadows and Virgil Films & Entertainment Proudly Present
Lunopolis

What if You Found Something That History Wanted to Forget?

Award-Winning Sci-Fi Thriller Lands on DVD Oct. 11th 

"Brilliant!  The best conspiracy movie I've seen.  This is like The Blair Witch Project meets The X-Files." - Viewpoint Media
"A ripping good story, well told. Winningly males sense out of modern-day conspiracy theories
and a potpourri of unexplained phenomena." - KATC-TV (Louisiana)
"The most novel lunar conspiracy theory since Capricorn One." - Nashville Scene
"With the wildly inventive Lunopolis, debut filmmaker Matthew Avant has crafted a work of canny, no-budget brilliance. Mannah from heaven for the conspiracy theorist." - Film Ink Magazine
"Intelligent and thought provoking." - Wordpress.com
"This is science fiction for the big boys … can and does stand up to the best-of-the-best in both sci-fi literature and cinema." - Maverick Movie Awards

LOS ANGELES - Oct. 1, 2011 - Two documentarians accidentally uncover proof of a hidden city on the moon and the secret society determined to keep it hidden in Lunopolis, landing on DVD Oct. 11 from Walking Shadows (distributed by Virgil Films & Entertainment).

During a late night radio conspiracy show, a frantic caller claims human beings from the future are living on the moon, controlling our every action. The call is cut short … But when a mysterious box arrives at the station days later, documentary filmmakers Matt (writer/director Matthew Avant) and Sonny (co-producer Hal Maynor) pursue the story, tracking a set of hidden coordinates deep into Louisiana's swamps.

Discovering an enormous, underground facility, the duo finds there may actually be truth to the caller's story.
Entangled in something meant forgotten, they narrowly escape but soon find themselves threatened by the bizarre and reclusive Church of Lunology, a dangerous group dedicated to safeguarding mysterious secrets and silencing those who interfere.

Hunted and on the run, the men keep the cameras rolling as they fight to survive, discover earth's secret history and reach a makeshift time machine that could unlock the very gateway to eternal life. A mind-bending experience, Lunopolis offers a surprisingly compelling explanation for … well, everything.

Lunopolis has won numerous awards including: Best Director, 2010 Fantastic Planet Film Festival, Sydney; Best Feature Audience Award, 2010 Big Easy Film Fest; Best Sci-Fi Screenplay, 2010 International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival; Best Screenplay, 2009 Maverick Movie Awards; Future Vision Award, 2010 Glen Rose Neo-Relix Film Festival; and in 2010 was an Official Selection of the Nashville Film Festival, Orlando Film Festival, Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival, Buffalo Niagara Film Festival, Roswell UFO Festival, Shockerfest Film Festival, Acadiana Film Festival, Sci-Fi-London and Fantaspoa International Porto Alegre.

Lunopolis is LUNOPOLIS is presented in widescreen with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound.  Special features include the theatrical trailer and audio commentary by Director Matthew Avant and Associate Producer Michael David Weis.

Lunopolis
Virgil Films & Entertainment
Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror
Not Rated
Format:  DVD Only
Running Time:  Approx. 98 Minutes (Plus Special Features)
Suggested Retail Price:  $24.99
Pre-Order Date:  September 6, 2011
Street Date:  October 11, 2011
Catalog #:  670777
UPC Code:  #829567077726

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LEGO and LucasFilms Present "LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace"

LEGO® STAR WARS®: The Padawan Menace™
Animated Special Arrives on Blu-ray and DVD September 16

Features Signature Family-Friendly Fun, Spirited Action and Irreverent Humor
– Along with Two Bonus Shorts and an Exclusive Minifigure!

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (September 12, 2011) – After the Cartoon Network debut of their first-ever original television special, The LEGO Group and Lucasfilm will join forces once again to bring LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace to Blu-ray Disc and DVD. Launching on September 16, the 22-minute original standalone special will feature the charm, action and irreverent humor that have become the signature style of LEGO Star Wars animation collaborations and will include five LEGO Star Wars shorts, as well as an exclusive, collectible minifigure.

LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace BD/DVD combo pack is available now for pre-order exclusively at WalMart.com.

Featuring situations, characters and locations from throughout the entire Star Wars Saga, the original adventure is written by Emmy Award winner Michael Price (The Simpsons) and produced by Oscar-winning Animal Logic, the production company behind Happy Feet.

To date, Star Wars is the first and most successful LEGO licensed product collection in the company’s history, generating more than 200 LEGO models and approximately 275 LEGO minifigures inspired by the Saga, which has also spurred a blockbuster collection of videogames, selling 25 million units to date worldwide. In addition to its popularity among younger fans, a significant portion of the LEGO Star Wars consumer fan base is made up of adult fans and franchise collectors.

BONUS MATERIAL :
--Hunt for R2D2
--Bombad Bounty
--Star Wars in Two Minutes (Part 1)
--Star Wars in 2 Minutes (Part 2)
--Star Wars Clone Wars In Cinema

SYNOPSIS:
A routine Jedi Academy field trip is turned into a rip-roaring comic adventure in LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace. Tour guide Master Yoda leads a group of rambunctious Jedi Younglings through Senate chambers when he senses a disturbance in the Force. Summoned to help save the Republic, he discovers that one of the Younglings secretly boarded his ship…and has a taste for adventure! Meanwhile, C-3PO and R2-D2 are put in charge of the boisterous group and find themselves in over their heads. As the evil Sith prepare to wreak havoc, it’s up to Yoda and the Droids to ensure that their young charges aren’t torn to bricks!

Lucasfilm, Star Wars and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd.  All rights reserved.  All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Brick & Knob configurations and the Minifigure are trademarks of The LEGO Group. ©2011 The LEGO Group. All rights reserved.

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CHROMESKULL: LAID TO REST 2 -- DVD review by porfle

(NOTE: This review is based on the unrated director's cut.)


The tall, skinny, bald guy with the chrome skull-mask, the wicked knife, and the video camera perched on his shoulder like a parrot is back in CHROMESKULL: LAID TO REST 2 (2011) and this time, he's got back-up. 

The last we saw of Ol' Chrome-Dome (Nick Principe) back in the first LAID TO REST (2009), he was lying on the floor of a rural convenience store with his face ripped off and his skull smashed in.  Well, you can't keep a good monster down, so when this sequel picks up right where the last one left off, we see his crew sweep in, dispatch the investigating police, clean up the crime scene, and whisk their boss to an operating room where surgeons labor to save his life and what's left of his face.

It turns out that he's one of those multi-millionaires who can afford to do whatever the heck he pleases and pay people to willingly help him do it, even if that includes setting up an elaborate torture chamber for him (in his chrome-plating factory, naturally) and stocking it with kidnapped young girls.  His right-hand woman, Spann (the ever-popular Danielle Harris) even seems to enjoy her job, as does his main fixer, Preston, who is very well played by Brian Austin Greene. 



Green seems to revel in the Preston role, portraying a borderline psycho who wants to follow in his boss' footsteps by adopting the chromeskull mask and performing his first kills with an almost sexual ardor.  Not only do we get a shocking pre-titles sequence that harkens back to FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2, but we get a little of PART 5 as well with an imitator going around making like the main man.  This not only gives Green a chance to stretch his acting muscles but also gives gore fans a double dose of carnage.

Like a cross between Jason Voorhees and Mason Verger of HANNIBAL, Chromeskull, now sporting a hideous patchwork face, spends his recovery time stalking a new girl to obsess on now that Princess, his previous object of interest, is out of the picture.  Her replacement is Jess (Mimi Michaels), who has an eye disease that's slowly making her go blind.  In one of the film's first startling kill scenes, Jess' best friend is dispatched in imaginatively gruesome fashion and Jess is abucted, waking up in a casket while being taunted by Preston.  Mimi Michaels plays the role to the hilt, screaming very convincingly and emoting her buns off.

Thomas Dekker returns as Tommy (last seen driving away with Princess in the last film) and gets caught up in the whole mess again, this time coming to the aid of Jess.  They both end up in Chromeskull's factory where they witness some of the film's more elaborate kills, including a virtuoso decapitation and a thing with a spring-loaded blade cluster (a chrome-plated custom job designed by Preston) giving another character a really big smile. 

Other death scenes of interest include a nasty disembowelment (with the victim being portrayed by twins in order to achieve a tricky single take), a head sliced vertically in half like a cantelope, the impromptu chrome-plating of somebody else's head, and another impressive single take in which Chromeskull wipes out a number of cops one after the other in gruesome ways.  The gore effects are achieved, as in the previous film, by combining excellent practical effects with some subtle CGI enhancements. 



Speaking of cops, they're a pretty ineffectual bunch here.  Owain Yeoman plays Detective King, who looks a little young to be heading the precinct, and Christopher Allen Nelson (Beatrix' almost-husband Tommy in KILL BILL) is Max, his best detective.  "Best" being a relative term, since the whole squad amounts to little more than kill fodder for Chromeskull.  When they bust into the chrome-plating factory to rescue Jess and Detective King yells, "You're safe now!", I thought, "Yeah, right."  Hot female detective Holland (Angelina Armani) fares no better.

Gail O'Grady appears as Jess' mother and a grown-up Eric Lloyd (of the SANTA CLAUSE series) is billed as "Geeky Lackey."  The actress who played Princess in the first LAID TO REST, Bobbi Sue Luther, is neither seen here (her flashback scenes were reshot with Allison Kyler replacing her) nor mentioned by name (unless I missed it).  

The DVD from Image Entertainment is in 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby 5.1 surround sound.  Subtitles are in English and Spanish.  Extras include a commentary with director Robert Hall, co-writer Kevin Bocarde, and actor Brian Austin Green, along with a making-of featurette, deleted scenes, bloopers, and a trailer.  There's also a feature which allows viewers to jump to any one of the various kill scenes.  (Stick around through the closing credits for a two-minute epilogue.)

While the film is pretty fast-paced and the additions to the Chromeskull mythology fairly interesting, I prefer the first film with its creepier settings, more enigmatic killer, more likable characters, and more involving story.  This one has none of its dry humor (Sean Whalen and Kevin Gage are especially missed) and the main girl, Jess, is winsome but not really all that interesting.  Still, CHROMESKULL: LAID TO REST 2 is head and shoulders above most of the cheap slasher flicks being churned out lately, continuing the first film's "cavalcade of cool kills" approach with a little style and a lot of enthusiasm.  And Chromeskull is definitely one of the major movie monsters of the last few decades.


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Unrated DVD
Unrated Blu-Ray
DVD

MIDSOMER MURDERS: SET 18 -- DVD review by porfle

Having recently reviewed the previous set in this DVD series from Acorn Media, I knew what to expect with MIDSOMER MURDERS: SET 18.  Which, I suppose, is one of the charms of this calm, unhurried, not very action-packed detective series--it's like slipping into a pair of comfortable shoes and taking a relaxing walk down a familiar path. 

One of those comfortable shoes is Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby (John Nettles), a former MI6 agent spending his later years solving homicides in pastoral Midsomer County.  Barnaby is sharp, straightforward, and keenly intelligent, with a very dry sense of humor and a slow-but-sure methodical approach to crime-solving.  You won't see him taking part in car chases, shoot-outs, or fistfights, because such things rarely occur in the sleepy English villages that are his beat.  And for a detective who'd rather spend his days off relaxing in front of the telly with his wife Joyce (Jane Wymark), that's just fine.

What does occur in these modest villages with disturbing regularity is homicide of the most peculiar kind.  In the first feature-length episode, "Small Mercies", the elderly caretaker of a tourist attraction composed of small scale models of buildings and people--an entire rural community in miniature--discovers the body of a murdered man trussed up exactly like Gulliver.  As usual for this series, the shocking nature of the crime, shown in mildly graphic terms, is in sharp contrast to the everyday surroundings in which it occurs.

Suspects include a variety of eccentrics with motives for murder, making this one of the more interesting stories in the set.  In fact, the sight of the old caretaker making his way through the tiny village like a giant would've fit quite comfortably on that classic cavalcade of British eccentricity, "The Avengers" with Patrick McNee and Diana Rigg.  Later, the community holds its annual boat race (during which another shocking murder is committed with a trident) complete with fanciful costumes and nutty makeshift boats.  Watching with his wife, Barnaby surmises that the British love to dress up because they're so boring the rest of the time.  To each other, perhaps, but to us there's always something interesting about these odd and rather isolated rural characters.

"The Creeper", a title that harkens back to the days when Rondo Hatton stalked the screen, takes place a bit closer to home with a black-garbed cat burglar causing a local panic.  Even Barnaby's boss the Chief Constable is victimized despite his home security system, and later Barnaby himself finds evidence of the Creeper's presence in his home.  Is there a connection between this and his investigation of a murder which took place in the mansion of a cash-strapped baronet and his family? 



A "Wuthering Heights"-style disparity between him and the wealthier tenant who now rents the baronet's former estate brings both families into the mix in unexpected ways.  The identity of The Creeper is easily figured out--I did, so it must be easy--but the reasons for the nocturnal activities of this character lead to other puzzles and other murders (including a shotgun blast to the face).  "The Creeper" is a somewhat intriguing mystery, but, all in all, it's dryer and less involving than other stories in the series and I had a hard time keeping all the characters and plot points straight due to lagging interest.  It's good, but comparatively a bit drab.  Jenny Agutter guest stars.

"The Great and the Good" gets back on track with another village and another series of strange homicides.  This time a young schoolteacher keeps hearing intruders in her house and screaming for help in the middle of the night, a "cry wolf" scenario that we know will lead to murder despite her neighbors' dubious attitudes.  When a local civic leader is found stabbed to death on her property, the teacher, in a strange twist, begins to suspect herself as the sleepwalking culprit.  Another grisly murder in her guest house seems to confirm this, but Barnaby isn't so sure and, naturally, neither are we.

This episode benefits not only from a baffling mystery but also from the little dramas going on between the village inhabitants, including the social-climbing wife of a local tycoon who's blithely alienating all her less prominent friends in a quest to draw a higher class of people to their annual charity auction.  This, along with the schoolteacher's romantic entanglements and a surprising conclusion which brings all the various plot points together, makes "The Great and the Good" one of the series' more absorbing mysteries.

The 3-disc DVD set from Acorn Media is in 16:9 widescreen Dolby Digital stereo and English subtitles.  Each disc contains one separate episode (approx. 100 minutes each) and comes in its own slimline case.  Also included is an interview with Jason Hughes, who plays Barnaby's assistant Detective Sergeant Ben Jones.

Fans of a more action-oriented brand of detective yarn will no doubt find these leisurely murder mysteries to be somewhat less than exciting.  But if you're already a "Midsomer Murders" fan, MIDSOMER MURDERS: SET 18 will be yet another relaxing stroll down a familiar path in those old comfortable shoes.



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DARK CHAMBER -- DVD review by porfle

(NOTE: Before breaking into comedy with the CAESAR & OTTO films, writer-director-actor Dave Campfield debuted with this foray into Hitchcockian horror.  The following review was written at the time of its DVD release in 2008.)


Shock-O-Rama's DARK CHAMBER, aka "Under Surveillance" (2008), begins with video footage of a grisly murder caught by home security cameras, followed by a montage of newspaper stories about various killings and other disturbing events attributed to a cult known as "The Black Circle."  All of this gave me the feeling that I was about to watch a really dark, bloody horror movie, but what it turns out to be is a creepy murder mystery with a forboding atmosphere and lots of suspense.

Justin (Eric Conley) is a Bible-toting law student who's had enough of living with his nutty mom, played by Desiree Gould (hey--it's Aunt Martha from SLEEPAWAY CAMP!!!), so he decides to try moving in with Pop for awhile.  Pop has a big house that's been modified so that there are two apartments upstairs and one in the basement.  In one apartment lives an abusive garbage man (Mark Love) and his cringing Russian wife (Sara Baker Bahr), and in another resides a surly, terminally-ill geezer (Chris Cooke) who's living it up with hookers, booze, and drugs while there's still time. 

Best of all, the third apartment contains none of than Felissa Rose--hey, it's Angela from SLEEPAWAY CAMP!!!  (You guessed it...I like SLEEPAWAY CAMP.)  She plays a sex-crazed "massage therapist" named Heidi who lives with her little sister Sonja (Brenda Abbandandolo), a mousy, troubled young lass with a penchant for starting fires.

Justin's burly-but-genial dad Kurt (David H. Rigg, a solid actor) is a veteran homicide cop who'd like nothing more than to solve the "Black Circle" murders even if he has to break a few rules, not to mention heads, to do it.  After Justin meets a strange and scary girl named Kayla (Alexandra Eitel) who may be connected with the cult, he finds her corpse in the front yard that night.  Justin suspects one of the apartment-dwellers of the murder and turns amateur detective, enlisting his reluctant friend Scott (Fred DeReau) and Scott's shady, opportunistic dorm-mate Rick (writer-director Dave Campfield) in a scheme that will eventually include rigging all three apartments with pinhole surveillance cameras.



This is where DARK CHAMBER starts to resemble Hitchcock's REAR WINDOW but with advanced technology.  The guys sit in a van across the street, voyeuristically observing the activities of their suspects like flies on the wall, prying into a number of private conversations and events which yield much to be suspicious about.  Things gradually get darker and more twisted as the guys go from being passive observers to active participants in an increasingly dangerous and ultimately deadly game of catch-the-killer. 

DARK CHAMBER looks good for such a low-budget ($30,000) feature shot on digital video, thanks to the effort put into it both during and after principal photography.  Campfield gives his cast some interesting characters to play and they make the most of it.  It's especially nice to see Desiree Gould back on the screen since she dropped out of acting after SLEEPAWAY CAMP, but each one of the actors does a fine job.

Not only does Dave Campfield turn in an interesting performance himself as the sleazy Rick, he's also written a tense, involving screenplay filled with red herrings and ulterior motives, and directed it with skill.  The story is partially inspired by true events (which occurred in 1984 within a few blocks of the film's main location in Northport, Long Island) as recounted in the book "Say You Love Satan", about an actual cult called Knights of the Black Circle.  This, however, is merely a basis for Campfield's imagination to take off.

The DVD features an informative commentary by Campfield, a second one with cast and crew comments along with isolated musical tracks, seven behind-the-scenes featurettes, alternate scenes, some funny bloopers, a bunch of Shock-O-Rama trailers, and a really cool music video by Blue Moon Harem for the song "Addiction."  Oh yeah, and there's an Easter egg too, which is hilarious.

It bears repeating that, despite a couple of gory insert shots requested by the distributors so that they could sell this as more of a slasher flick, DARK CHAMBER isn't that kind of movie.  It's a moody, deliberately-paced psychological thriller, not a gross-out.  In the commentary, first-time director Campfield says he wanted to make a movie that concentrated on "plot, characters, and atmosphere", and in this, he has succeeded very well.


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THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA with Lon Chaney sings on Blu-ray November 1st from Image Entertainment

“If I am the Phantom, it is because man's hatred has made me so... If I shall be saved, it will be because your love redeems me.”

IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT PROUDLY ANNOUNCES THE HIGH-DEFINITION DEBUT OF LON CHANEY’S SILENT MASTERPIECE! "PHANTOM OF THE OPERA"

Featuring Three Versions Presented Together for the First Time; Coming November 1st

CHATSWORTH, CA -- He was the “Man of a Thousand Faces.” Generations of filmgoers the world over have been thrilled by his portrayals that showcased – and more often than not, empathized with – the shadows of human nature. And now the makeup artistry of a true cinematic pioneer can be seen in high definition! On November 1st, Image Entertainment releases the Lon Chaney classic Phantom of the Opera for the first time on Blu-ray™! The Blu-ray™ features 3 versions of the film – assembled together for the first time in a single release -- including a brand-new high definition digital transfer from the 35mm negative, plus Gaylord Carter's famous theatre organ score, released for the first time as recorded in stereo! MSRP is $39.98, and pre-book is October 4th.  

Produced by renowned silent film authority and preservationist David Shepard, the Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray™ includes the following versions:

Brand-new HD digital transfer of the 24fps version of 1929 reissue (Academy Aspect Ratio; 16x9 pillar-boxed) from the 35mm negative, with tinted sequences including the Bal Masque sequence in two-strip Technicolor. Featuring a brand new music score by Alloy Orchestra, plus Gaylord Carter’s famous theatre organ score, released for the first time in stereo;
Brand-new HD transfer of 20fps version of 1929 reissue with tinting, Technicolor and hand-coloring. Symphonic score composed by Gabriel Thibaudeau, performed by I Musici de Montreal, conducted by Yuri Turovsky with Claudine Cote, soprano presented in stereo, along with a new full-length audio essay by Dr. Jon Mirsalis;
Standard definition presentation of the original 1925 release from a 16mm tinted source copy. Accompanied by a new piano score by Dr. Frederick Hodges.
Chaney stars as Erik, the “Phantom” who lives deep within the twisting catacombs and dungeons beneath the 19th century Paris Opera House.  The singers all speak of a ghost who walks the halls, yet no one has ever seen him. But when Erik falls in love with the beautiful aspiring singer Christine, rumor becomes reality when he kidnaps her and holds her hostage in his lair. Hoping, praying that she might see beyond the mask and the disfigurement hiding under it...



As in all his films, Chaney designed the now signature makeup for the Phantom, employing techniques – like pining his nose with wires – that not only expressed the outward physical pain of the characters, but inflicted great personal discomfort on the actor bringing them to life.

The Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray™ also contains the following bonus features:

Theatrical trailer
Photo Gallery
The complete Phantom Script
Phantom Souvenir Program Reproduction
The Phantom of the Opera is an allegory of desire, featuring Chaney’s tour-de-force performance. Love and hate; violence and obsession; shame and honor:  all are combined to create one of the greatest characters in cinematic history...and a must-have Blu-ray™!

The Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray™
Genre:             Horror, Mystery/Suspense, Silent, Feature Film, Based on Stage Play
Rating:            Not Rated
Languages:      English, Silent 
Audio:             PCM Stereo
Subtitles:         N/A
Year:               1925
SRP :                $39.98
Street Date:     November 1, 2011
Pre-Book:        October 4, 2011
Length:            362 minutes
UPC :               014381754254
Cat#:               ID7542DSBD

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THE PEE-WEE HERMAN SHOW ON BROADWAY bows October 4th on Blu-ray and DVD from Image Entertainment

“The audience screams for joy." — New York Post
"Intoxicating…great." — New York Magazine
"Sheer Delight." — The New York Daily News
"Fun…timeless." — Daily Variety

FROM IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT: PEE-WEE HERMAN STAGES A RETURN – ON BROADWAY!

EMMY®-NOMINATED "THE PEE-WEE HERMAN SHOW ON BROADWAY" Appearing on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital Download October 4


CHATSWORTH, CA – That voice…that suit…that mad combination of innovative humor and childlike wonder…”I know you are, but what am I?” Pee-wee Herman is back!  The quirky character created by Paul Reubens – which became an American pop culture icon – is back in his Playhouse. Ready to say the secret word? 

On October 4, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking TV show “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” Image Entertainment will release The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway on Blu-ray™, DVD and digital download. First broadcast on HBO, The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway received 3 Emmy® nominations including “Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special.”

Directed by 11-time Emmy® nominee Marty Callner – who also directed the original 1981 “The Pee-wee Herman Show” – it was shot at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in New York City in January 2011 after the conclusion of its triumphant Broadway engagement.  SRP for the DVD is $19.98 and $24.98 for the Blu-ray™. Pre-book is September 6. Bonus features on the Blu-ray™ and DVD include a commentary with Paul Reubens and the cast!

Exclusive bonus features on the Blu-ray™ and DVD includes an intimate commentary with Paul Reubens and the entire cast! This unique bonus feature will provide Pee-wee fans worldwide a rare glimpse behind the big red door of the Playhouse with fascinating stories and warm memories of their times together from the earliest days to the amazing comeback of today.

Pee-wee Herman is experiencing a remarkable revival, achieving a status unheard of thirty years ago -- even reaching 950,000 followers on Twitter!  Most recently, writer-director-producer Judd Apatow has announced that he and Reubens (whose credits also include “30 Rock” “Pushing Daisies,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and “Murphy Brown”, an appearance which earned him an Emmy® nomination), are developing a new feature film based on the character.

Clever, colorful and comical, this special is based both on Reubens’ original stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show and the multiple Emmy® winning and nominated Saturday morning television show “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.” Featuring both old and new characters, you’ll love The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway so much – you’ll want to marry it!

Follow Pee-wee Herman on:

twitter.com/peeweeherman
facebook.com/peeweeherman   

ABOUT IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Image Entertainment, Inc. is a leading independent licensee and distributor of entertainment programming in North America, with approximately 3,200 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 6,000 individual tracks. The Company is headquartered in Chatsworth, California. For more information about Image Entertainment, Inc., please go to www.image-entertainment.com.


The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway Blu-ray™
Genre:                        Comedy, Family/Kids, Musical/Performing Arts, Broadway, Screwball
Rating:                        Not rated
Languages:                  English 
Format:                       Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                         PCM Stereo 
Subtitles:                     English
Year:                           2010
SRP:                            $24.98
Street Date:                 October 4, 2011
Pre-Book:                    September 6, 2010
Length:                        89 minutes
UPC:                           014381722956
Cat#:                           ID7229HWBD

The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway DVD
Genre:                        Comedy, Family/Kids, Musical/Performing Arts, Broadway, Screwball
Rating:                        Not rated
Languages:                  English 
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                         Dolby Digital Stereo 
Subtitles:                     English
Year:                           2010
SRP:                            $19.98
Street Date:                 October 4, 2011
Pre-Book:                    September 6, 2010
Length:                        89 minutes
UPC:                           014381722826
Cat#:                           ID7228HWDVD



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