DOWNSHIFT -- Movie Review by Porfle

I knew nothing about DOWNSHIFT (2014) at first, but the premise caught my fancy right away.

When two estranged brothers meet up by accident in a hometown diner, their obsessively competitive spirit and love of racing are rekindled and they challenge each other to the best out of three cross-country races from New York to Baltimore and then to New Orleans and Los Angeles.

"Charming" (Phillip Andry, MEME) has taken the family route with his expectant bride Grace (Geri-Nikole Love, LIVIN' THE DREAM) and a mechanic's job that keeps him close to his beloved automobiles.

"Drifter" (co-writer Jeremy C. Russell, BLOODY MARY), on the other hand, left home after their father's death and has never settled down.  When he arranges to meet up with his brother in that diner, Drifter knows that he'll be unable to resist the challenge. 

Thus, roughly ten minutes into the movie we're already speeding down the highway with these two guys (and Grace, for whom this seems as good a honeymoon as any), and DOWNSHIFT is now a road picture with some low-key but involving relationship drama.

This will soon include Drifter's on-again, off-again girlfriend Jacqueline (Stephanie Heitman), whose melancholy love for the elusive loner remains largely unrequited.

One thing about it, this movie doesn't resemble CANNONBALL RUN or THE GUMBALL RALLY at all--there are no big car stunts, police chases, comical situations, or edge-of-your-seat adrenaline rushes.  The race, in fact, is just a metaphor for life and whatever, and it's shown mainly in a series of montages accompanied by songs. 

(I liked these segments the least because I hate that pensive, twangy singer-songwriter stuff.  If you like it, you'll like these sequences more than me.)

The downtime between the three segments of the race is where the interesting character interplay takes place.  There's Charming and Grace, feeling a little overwhelmed by it all until they stop over at her family home for the night for some awkward moments between her new husband and "the folks."

Jacqueline's quiet desperation tugs at the heartstrings although, thankfully for a change, nothing in the film is overplayed.  And through it all the two brothers chafe at each other's presence as the past keeps coming back to haunt them. 

Performances are good while the direction by Ryan Schmitz (this is his sophomore effort after THE SEARCH FOR AGENT Z) is lean and efficient.  To his credit, he manages to capture a distinct 60s-70s "car movie" vibe here that I found quite pleasing while still being contemporary. 

DOWNSHIFT is something that we don't quite get enough of these days--a "cool" movie.  It never quite shifts into high gear as one might expect for a movie such as this, but sometimes just cruising along with the windows down  for awhile is enough. 

Buy it at Amazon.com

Directed by: Ryan Schmitz
Runtime: 77 minutes
Format: 1:85 Flat
Sound: Dolby SR
Country: USA

A BIT OF BAD LUCK -- Movie Review by Porfle

One thing's for sure--we're supposed to hate Brooks Caldwell (Cary Elwes, TWISTER, SAW, ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS) so much that we relish seeing him suffer the most horrific "Twilight Zone"-ish retribution imaginable.

Becauses that's what A BIT OF BAD LUCK (Indican Pictures, 2014) is all about--setting him up as a really bad guy and then beating him down over and over again, like a cartoon character getting driven into the ground like a stake by a giant sledge hammer. 

Trouble is, we DON'T hate him that much.  Or at least I didn't.  The first thing we see happening to this otherwise successful attorney is his wife Amanda (Teri Polo, MEET THE PARENTS) pointing a gun at him in his office.  Okay, he's been cheating on her, but let's face it, she's a little nuts and has been for quite awhile.  Already I was starting to sympathize with the guy.

He hooks up with his mistress, Heather (Agnes Bruckner, THE WOODS) at a motel that weekend but they have an argument which leads to her overdosing on pills. Thinking her dead, Brooks erases all evidence of his presence and hightails it out of there.  Again, maybe not exactly what I'd have done but understandable.  By now I'm rooting for him.

That's when A BIT OF BAD LUCK lives up to its name and poor Brooks embarks on a rocket sled right into Hell.  It's like one of those old horror movies where someone ends up stranded in Hicksville (or, in this case, Creechville) and, somehow, everyone he runs into is in on a plot to get him.  Sort of like a cross between DELIVERANCE and TWO-THOUSAND MANIACS. 

I must say, however, that for much of the film I was enjoying myself because a lot of it does come off as a really black comedy.  It reminded me of one of those "escalating misforture" stories a la THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS where the more unbelievably messed up things get the funnier it is.

Brooks flees the motel only to find that his car has been vandalized.  He takes it to a garage to get it fixed and it disappears.  He checks into the fleabag motel of all time, goes to a bar full of hostile rednecks, and then discovers that several of them are related to Heather and they all somehow know exactly who he is.  That's when the real fun starts. 

And as I said, it is kind of fun, or maybe anti-fun, to watch the guy stay one step ahead of a whole town full of crazy people who all seem to be members of the We Hate Brooks Club. Highlights include his encountering a role-playing prostitute in a cabin in the woods who thinks he's her next customer, and a bunch of snotty teens having a wild party who end up beating the crap out of him for wanting to use their phone. 

First-time writer-director John Fuhrman really builds it all up and does a great job of filming it, and the cast is generally rock solid, including Marshall Bell (TOTAL RECALL, STARSHIP TROOPERS) as the man who seems to run Creechville and its mysterious secret society.

There comes a point, however where things turn really nasty, and instead of being funny the movie devolves into a long, bitter diatribe against Our Mr. Brooks as he becomes the straw man in a weird feminist revenge fantasy and suffers more abuse than the back wall of a shooting gallery.

I was even afraid for a minute there that it was going to go all EDEN LAKE on me and leave me depressed for a week or two. 

While A BIT OF BAD LUCK doesn't quite reach the level where I required grief counselling after watching it, it did leave me wondering what the point of it all was.  I  enjoyed parts of it here and there, but boy, was I ever relieved when it was over.

Buy it at Amazon.com

G.I. Film Festival Red Carpet Screening of "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi"

GI FILM FESTIVAL RED CARPET SCREENING OF
13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI

Interviews with actor Dominic Fumusa and Veterans John "Tig" Tiegen, Mark "Oz" Geist and Kris "Tanto" Paranto, Whose Story Inspired the Film

The gripping true story 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI was honored as the closing night film at this year's GI Film Festival in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, May 29th. Three of the real-life heroes upon whose story the film is based-John "Tig" Tiegen, Mark "Oz" Geist and Kris "Tanto" Paronto-attended the red carpet screening, along with one of the stars of the film, actor Dominic Fumusa ("Nurse Jackie"). Download their red carpet interviews below.

13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI tells the incredible true story of six elite ex-military operators who saved the lives of more than 25 Americans against overwhelming odds at a U.S. diplomatic compound in Libya.

Directed by Michael Bay, the film stars John Krasinski (TV's "The Office"), James Badge Dale  (World War Z), Dominic Fumusa (TV's "Nurse Jackie") and Pablo Schreiber (TV's "Orange is the New Black"), and is based on the book 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi by New York Times best-selling author Mitchell Zuckoff with the members of the Annex Security Team.

13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI is available now on Digital HD and arrives on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on June 7th.

Described as "Sundance for the Troops," the GI Film Festival preserves the stories of veterans through film, television, training and special events.
 
  www.thirteenhoursmovie.com 



    13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Blu-ray/DVD(Paramount Home Entertainment)

    HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Hailed as “powerful” (Kyle Smith, New York Post),
    “engrossing” (Soren Andersen, Seattle Times) and “full of explosive action” (Dan Casey,
    Nerdist), director Michael Bay’s remarkable 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF
    BENGHAZI arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand June 7, 2016 from
    Paramount Home Media Distribution. The film arrives two weeks early on Digital HD
    May 24.

    13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI tells the incredible true story of
    six elite ex-military operators who fought to protect the CIA against overwhelming odds when
    terrorists attacked a U.S. diplomatic compound on September 11, 2012. The film stars
    John Krasinski (TV’s “The Office”), James Badge Dale (World War Z) and Pablo Schreiber (TV’s
    “Orange is the New Black”), and is based on the nonfiction novel 13 Hours: The Inside
    Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi by New York Times best-selling author
    Mitchell Zuckoff with the members of the Annex Security Team.

    The 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI three-disc Blu-ray Combo
    Pack with Digital HD includes an hour of bonus content featuring behind-the-scenes footage
    and interviews with the six ex-military operators recounting the extraordinary detail involved
    in recreating the events from the attack. Plus, join the cast and crew as they highlight the
    filmmaking process and how director Michael Bay brought the film to life.
  
    The Blu-ray containing the feature film is encoded in Dolby TrueHD and features a
    Dolby Atmos® soundtrack* remixed specifically for the home theater environment. Dolby
    Atmos delivers captivating sound that places and moves audio anywhere in the room,
    including overhead, to bring entertainment alive all around the audience.

Long Awaited Sequel to Cult Sci-Fi Hit, "The Man From Earth", Announces Cast and Principal Photography

THE MAN FROM EARTH: HOLOCENE,
THE LONG-AWAITED SEQUEL TO THE CULT SCI-FI HIT,
ANNOUNCES ENSEMBLE CAST

Principal Photography Begins In June

HOLLYWOOD, CA – Emmy®, Grammy® and Tony Award® Nominee Vanessa Williams (Eraser, Shaft, “Desperate Housewives”), Sterling Knight (17 Again, “Sonny With a Chance” and “Melissa & Joey”), Brittany Curran (Dear White People, Legally Blondes), Carlos Knight (“Supah Ninjas”) and Akemi Look (The Unbidden) are joining returning cast members David Lee Smith (“CSI: Miami”, Zodiac, Fight Club) and William Katt (Carrie [1976], House, “The Greatest American Hero”) in The Man From Earth: Holocene, the next film from writer-director Richard Schenkman. The Man From Earth: Holocene continues the epic journey of John Oldman (Smith), an immortal man of incomparable wisdom and experience. The story for the sequel is being kept under wraps until the film’s release in 2017.

The 2007 original The Man From Earth, written by renowned sci-fi writer/author Jerome Bixby (Fantastic Voyage, It! The Terror from Beyond Space) launched the thought-provoking franchise about college professor “John Oldman” who reveals to his colleagues that he's actually a centuries-old caveman. And so began a captivating journey through history and a philosophical meditation on immortality. The script was the last work from screenwriter Bixby, who earned career accolades for his contributions to such genre-defining shows as “Star Trek" (“Mirror Mirror”, “Requiem For Methuselah”, “Day of the Dove”) and “The Twilight Zone” (”It’s a Good Life”) and poses the provocative question… Is it science-fiction or science-fact?

After The Man From Earth made its debut at the 2007 San Diego Comic Con International Film Festival, the critically-acclaimed film hit the festival circuit and went on to win numerous awards including Best Screenplay and Best Feature at the Rhode Island International Film Festival, before traveling to festivals worldwide including Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Israel, Columbia and more. Following its festival run, the film was released by Starz/Anchor Bay Entertainment and earned a 2008 Saturn Award Nomination for “Best DVD Release” from The Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Films that soon cemented its cult status. With over 126,000 votes, the film is currently ranked #45 on IMDb’s Top Science Fiction Films of All Time.

“People have been asking for this since the first movie became a viral phenomenon,” said director Richard Schenkman. “Over the years, I’ve spent time developing this property with the ultimate goal of creating a long form series. I’ve had a lot of help from a number of really talented people, and stunning support from fans all over the world. It’s been a long road, but now that we’re about to start shooting, I could not be more excited. Nervous, of course, but excited.”

Schenkman and Eric D. Wilkinson are producing and Schenkman shares writing credit on the movie with Jerome Bixby’s son, Emerson Bixby, who also serves as executive producer through his Falling Sky Entertainment Banner.  The Man From Earth: Holocene is based on a story by Schenkman & Wilkinson.

Schenkman has assembled a stellar production team for The Man From Earth: Holocene, with frequent collaborator cinematographer Richard Vialet (Boo! A Madea Halloween, Tales of Halloween), production designer Ryan Henneman (The Curse of Sleeping Beauty), editor Bobby K. Richardson (Mercenaries) and casting by Shannon Makhanian (The Brits are Coming, Brick) all on-board.

Schenkman’s credits include The Pompatus of Love starring John Cryer and Academy Award® Nominee Kristen Scott Thomas, and the holiday favorite A Diva’s Christmas Carol starring Vanessa Williams. Wilkinson’s credits include Sparks starring Ashley Bell and Clancy Brown, and the upcoming Subterranea starring Nick Turturro, Bug Hall and William Katt.

THE MAN FROM EARTH: HOLOCENE
© 2017 Falling Sky Entertainment
© MMX Features
Directed by: Richard Schenkman
Written By: Richard Schenkman and Emerson Bixby
Story By: Richard Schenkman & Eric D. Wilkinson
Based on the screenplay “The Man From Earth” by Jerome Bixby
Produced by: Richard Schenkman and Eric D. Wilkinson
Executive Produced By Emerson Bixby and Jack Hanan
Starring in alphabetical order: Brittany Curran, William Katt, Carlos Knight, Sterling Knight, Akemi Look, David Lee Smith and Vanessa Williams

official website: http://www.manfromearth.com/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManFromEarthSeries/
twitter: https://twitter.com/indeeproducer

Olive Films Releases Campy Cult Sensation, Still-Relevant "Blaxploitation" Drama, and Classic British Film Noir

 

CHICAGO, IL – Olive Films, a boutique theatrical and home entertainment distribution label dedicated to bringing independent, foreign, and classic films to DVD and Blu-ray, is excited to announce that June 21st will be the Blu-ray debut of seven films including the campy cult sensation I’ll Take Sweden (1965), Laurence Fishburne’s still-relevant film debut Cornbread, Earl, and Me (1974), and the British film noir Appointment with Crime (1947).

“We're ecstatic about the wide array of June offerings. I’ll Take Sweden is pure cult classic fun at its campiest, and we hope the Blu-ray gives it a new life,” said Alex Kopecky of Olive Films. “Even though it’s been over 40 years since Cornbread, Earl, and Me was released, its themes are more relevant than ever. Another great offering this month, Appointment with Crime sheds light on the often underappreciated but fascinating world of British film noir.”

I'LL TAKE SWEDEN (1965)

This 1965 Bob Hope feature flaunts the star comedian’s attempt to appeal to young audiences and create a socially relevant film. A well-meaning misfire in both of those categories, this film has gone down in history as a cult classic of ultimate 1960’s camp. Among these attempts to be relevant, the film features former teen idols Tuesday Weld and Frankie Avalon as hip young characters and tries to take on contemporary hot-button issues of premarital sex and free-loving society.

Audiences cite several of the movie's aspects as the best sources of campy delight. Some love how Bob Hope always appears either with a hat or under strategically cast shadows to conceal his receding hairline. Others point to the obviously-not-Sweden filming locations, with California scenery and boat registrations clearly visible. But really, it’s a culmination of the corny one-liners, musical numbers, and out-of-touch themes that lend the film its irresistible campy charm. Olive Films brings it to Blu-ray for the first time ever and to a new DVD on June 21.

CORNBREAD, EARL AND ME (1974)

Another film receiving its Blu-ray debut and a new DVD from Olive Films in June is Cornbread, Earl and Me, the first feature with then-age-13 Laurence Fishburne (as Laurence Fishburne III), also starring Tierre Turner, basketball star Jamaal Wilkes (as Keith Wilkes), Moses Gunn, Rosalind Cash, Madge Sinclair, and Antonio Fargas. In the film, Chicago adolescents are forced to face adulthood early when their idolized friend is shot dead by police after being mistaken for a criminal. With the courtroom proceedings that follow, this film provides a devastatingly relevant 1974 perspective on the stories that seem to be now on the news every day.

Olive Films also invites reviewers and audiences to join the debate as to whether or not Cornbread, Earl and Me qualifies as “Blaxploitation” cinema. On one hand, the film contains no over-the-top action, and it does not present the racial "us vs them" themes typical of the genre. On the other hand, the cast contains many classic Blaxploitation actors as well as a quintessential soundtrack with an original song by The Blackbyrds.

APPOINTMENT WITH CRIME (1947)

Appointment with Crime, another Blu-ray debut and DVD offering from Olive Films this June, represents an often-overlooked genre of British film noir. While American film noir draws heavily from German expressionism, many scholars have pointed to French poetic realism as the greater inspiration to the style of British film noir. The heightened aestheticism that defined poetic realism is certainly present in the 1947 film directed by John Harlow and starring William Hartnell, Robert Beatty, Joyce Howard, Raymond Lovell, and Herbert Lom.

About Olive Films

Olive Films is a Chicago-based boutique theatrical and home entertainment distribution label dedicated to bringing independent, foreign, documentary, and classic films to life. Its catalog boasts over 500 titles ranging from Hollywood classics to contemporary titles. More information about Olive Films may be found at olivefilms.com.

Other Olive Films June Titles

Blu-ray debut of If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969), directed by Mel Stuart, starring Suzanne Pleshette, Ian McShane, Murray Hamilton, Mildred Natwick, Peggy Cass, Norman Fell, and Vittorio De Sica with cameo appearances by John Cassavetes, Ben Gazzara, Joan Collins, Anita Ekberg, Senta Berger, and Robert Vaughn.

Blu-ray debut of The Return of a Man Called Horse (1976), directed by Irvin Kershner, starring Richard Harris, Gale Sondergaard, Geoffrey Lewis, and William Lucking, photographed by Owen Roizman.

Blu-ray debut of Stagecoach (1986), directed by Ted Post, starring Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Elizabeth Ashley, Waylon Jennings, John Schneider, Anthony Newley, and Anthony Franciosa, with appearances by Merritt Butrick, Mary Crosby, June Carter Cash, Jessi Colter, and David Allan Coe.

Blu-ray debut of A Home of Our Own (1993), directed by Tony Bill, starring Kathy Bates, Edward Furlong, and Soon-Tek Oh.
 

TEEN TITANS GO!: EAT. DANCE. PUNCH! SEASON 3 PART 1 -- DVD Review by Porfle

Anyone who has been keeping track of all my likes and dislikes so far--and really, who hasn't?--will be well aware of the fact that I love Cartoon Network's "Teen Titans Go!", the cartoon series in which those colorful Teen Titans characters we've known and loved for years are stripped of all their relative realism and seriousness and transformed into wacky, pint-sized juveniles engaging in the most farcical and freakishly cartoonish misadventures imaginable. 

This is a big turn-off for some fans, but for me it's the visual equivalent of eating cupcakes oozing with gooey icing or drinking pink lemonade through a crazy straw with a festive cocktail umbrella sticking out of it. 

So far I've already gushed about the previous DVD collections TEEN TITANS GO!: APPETITE FOR DISRUPTION SEASON 2 PART 1 and TEEN TITANS GO!: HOUSE PESTS SEASON 2 PART 2.  Now, with Warner Brothers Home Entertainment's 2-disc DVD set TEEN TITANS GO!: EAT. DANCE. PUNCH! SEASON 3 PART 1, their surrealistic comedy hijinks continue unabated.  In fact, these cacophonous chunks of cartoon chaos may be the team's most relentlessly brain-bending assaults on sanity so far. 

As always, Batman's youthful sidekick Robin is their leader, which isn't bad since he's the only one without any super powers.  He's the most gung-ho of the group, often trying to whip the others into shape or exhort them to be more dedicated and disciplined crimefighters.  But he's vulnerable to his own failings which include narcissism, overconfidence, occasional blatant stupidity, and a crippling infatuation with fellow member Starfire. 

Starfire, of course, is the sweetly girlish alien still learning the ways of earthlings and prone to gush over things like kittens, babies, flowers--pretty much anything except Robin.  There's also half-human, half-demon Raven, the mysterious Goth girl with black magic powers and a dark disposition.  Cyborg is mostly machine but an all-around fun guy.  Beast Boy, who can assume any animal shape, is the smallest and least mature of the group and is pretty much their mascot. 

While these cartoons do occasionally show us the Teen Titans actually fighting crime--usually their arch enemy Brother Blood or their other arch enemies The Hive--we mostly get to see their various domestic conflicts and other off-duty mishaps and misunderstandings that occur within their massive T-shaped headquarters on an island right off the shore of Jump City. 

In "Cat's Fancy", Robin decides to become a kitty cat in order to win Starfire's love, a plan which works all too well when she moves into her own apartment with him and becomes a crazy cat lady.  "Leg Day" shows what happens when the team neglect their legs in order to concentrate on upper body strength, until Raven transforms them into the League of Legs. 

"The Dignity of Teeth" is a terrifying cautionary tale in which Beast Boy, thrilled by the prospect of getting money from the Tooth Fairy for his teeth, begins pulling them all and racking up the cash. When the others follow suit, Raven confronts the Tooth Fairy on his own turf and must compete against him in a tooth-eating contest. In "Croissant", Beast Boy disappears one day and a giant cocoon turns up in the living room.  A disgusting creature emerges from it, which the team believes is a new incarnation of the missing Beast Boy.

"Spice Game" warns of what can happen when one becomes addicted to spicy foods and gradually requires hotter and hotter peppers.  In "I'm the Sauce", Robin forces the others to partake in rainy day games to cheer up the sad clouds that are crying.  When the rainy day games prove to be irresistibly fun, the Titans then deliberately make the clouds sad so they'll continue to cry.

"Hey You, Don't Forget About Me in Your Memory" finds the team going back to school so Robin can live out his fantasies of being popular.  In "Accept the Next Proposition You Hear", Robin tries to teach the team to think for themselves, which fails miserably when they discover that fortune cookies can tell them what to do. In "The Fourth Wall" the Titans are told by the evil Control Freak that they're on a TV show and that he is going to "reboot" them.

"40%, 40%, 20%" has Cyborg driving the others crazy with his new favorite song, which he repeats over and over until he can no longer function without it.  "Grube's Fairytales" has the team re-enacting well-known fairy stories with their own bizarre twists.

The Titans are put on trial by their own super-villains for accidentally destroying Jump City in "A Farce." Halloween is ruined in "Scary Figure Dance" when The Hive blow up Jump City's only candy factory and then seemingly kill the Titans, who come back as ghosts to haunt them.  In "Animals, It's Just a Word!" Beast Boy must save the lives of the others by giving them his blood, which turns them all into animals. 

Robin, Raven, Starfire, and Cyborg break Beast Boy's heart by forgetting his birthday in "BBBDAY!"  Starfire refuses to go shopping with the others on the day after Thanksgiving in "Black Friday", which causes her to get a visit from three spirits in this takeoff of "A Christmas Carol." 

The two-part episode entitled "Two Parter: Part One/Two Parter: Part Two" features the team sneaking into the Justice League's headquarters while they're away, and then having to take over the real heroes' identities and come to the rescue when they're captured by the dreaded Darkseid (voiced by "Weird Al" Yankovic).  

"The True Meaning of Christmas" finds the team traveling to the North Pole to find out why Santa has put them on his naughty list--which means no more presents ever. "Squash & Stretch" parodies the old Warner Brothers and MGM cartoons when a squirrel steals the team's precious bowl of mixed nuts, leading to a free-for-all of old-fashioned cartoon violence.  In "Garage Sale", Robin forces the team to sell all their old mementos but finds that in doing so, they've disrupted their own timeline and must get all of the items back before it's too late.

In "Secret Garden" Starfire's idyllic secret hideaway from the others is ruined when they discover it and turn it into a shambles.  "The Cruel Giggling Ghoul" is a spot-on spoof of "Scooby-Doo" with guest star LeBron James (look for him in the opening titles sequence).  "How 'Bout Some Effort" finds Cyborg and Hive member Jinx pretending to be married on Valentine's Day.

"Pyramid Scheme" begins with the team fighting evil mummies and somehow turns into a spaghetti western.  "Finally, A Lesson" has Robin teaching the others about rental properties, equity, credit ratings, etc. in what must be one of the weirdest "educational" cartoons ever. 

The 2-disc DVD set from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (26 episodes, 11 minutes each) is in matted widescreen with English, Spanish, and Portuguese Dolby surround sound. Subtitles are in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.   No extras except trailers for other WBHE releases.

If you're not into this incarnation of the Teen Titans, then you might as well stay away because this is more of the same and then some.  But if you love this wacky combination of Tex Avery and John Kricfalusi done in a colorful American anime style that's packed to the gills with lightning-fast gags and cultural references and frenetic as a flock of hummingbirds on a caffeine rush, then TEEN TITANS GO!: EAT. DANCE. PUNCH! SEASON 3 PART 1 is just the confection to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Buy it at WBShop.com
Street date: May 31, 2016

"The Space Between Us" with Gary Oldman - Trailer Now Available

In Theaters August 19, 2016

In this interplanetary adventure, a space shuttle embarks on the first mission to colonize Mars, only to discover after takeoff that one of the astronauts is pregnant.

Shortly after landing, she dies from complications while giving birth to the first human born on the red planet - never revealing who the father is.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Gardner Elliot - an inquisitive, highly intelligent boy who reaches the age of 16 having only met 14 people in his very unconventional upbringing.

 

 

While searching for clues about his father, and the home planet he's never known, Gardner begins an online friendship with a street smart girl in Colorado named Tulsa. When he finally gets a chance to go to Earth, he's eager to experience all of the wonders he could only read about on Mars - from the most simple to the extraordinary.

But once his explorations begin, scientists discover that Gardner's organs can't withstand Earth's atmosphere.

Eager to find his father, Gardner escapes the team of scientists and joins with Tulsa on a race against time to unravel the mysteries of how he came to be, and where he belongs in the universe.


                            Watch the Trailer

 

VIVA LA MUERTE -- DVD Review by Porfle

The most autobiographical and visually confrontational of surrealist filmmaker Fernando Arrabal's films, his feature debut VIVA LA MUERTE (1971) is the story of a little boy named Fando (short for Fernando, I'll bet) dealing with the arrest and imprisonment of his father during the Spanish Civil War and the discovery that it was his mother who turned him in to the fascist government for being a "red" and an atheist.

Fando idolizes his missing father, whose forbidden ideologies begin to transform the teachings of his domineering mother and other elders into warped Freudian nightmares in his fervid adolescent mind.

The delirious onrush of puberty that fuels Fando's imagination becomes an Oedipal obsession which finds him lustfully keyhole-peeking on his mother. In one scene, he literally strokes his lizard as he peers at her half-naked body, then bites its head off.

Okay, I can partially identify with that, because if I was in a movie and the exquisite Núria Espert played my mom, I'd probably stroke my lizard, too. But I wouldn't bite its head off. Unless I found out that I was in a Fernando Arrabal movie, in which case it would probably be the most normal thing I'd do that day.

The message of the film is that both the fascist state, which uses violence to crush dissent, and rigid conformity, which does so in a variety of insidious ways, are bad. This is a springboard for Arrabal to indulge in plenty of scenes, both real and imagined, which ridicule religion and the military.

Of particular note is a fantasy in which Fando and some other boys castrate the local priest and feed him his own junk. "Oh, my balls! How tasty they are!" he gushes. "Thank you Lord, for this divine dish."

Another highlight finds Fando's mother stripping to the waist and forcing him to whip her back with a belt in penance for her sins ("Harder! Faster!" she moans in ecstasy) while she in turn grabs his crotch and gives it a vise-like squeeze.

Her treachery in blowing the whistle on Fando's father inspires a vision in which she tapes black X's over his eyes as he's tied to a post, then gleefully mounts a tank and exhorts the leering soldiers, to whom she has given herself sexually, to shoot him. In one of the film's most startling moments, he's bound in a tiny wooden cage while she stands over him and defecates on his head.

Fando, meanwhile, is either increasingly losing touch with reality or it's losing touch with him. When his beloved grandpa dies and he's told to give the departed a last kiss, Fando does so and then begins to lick the old man's face. He lights up a cigarette during class one day and sits there puffing like Bogart while his teacher, a pudgy nun whom he envisions as a rooting pig, has a fit.

The adult world around him grows stranger by the minute as he struggles to make sense of his father's fate, while both his alienation from and strange sexual attraction to his mother continues to confuse him. (Mahdi Chaouch, as Fando, is an amazing child actor who is convincingly in character every moment he's onscreen and gives a performance of surprising subtlety and depth.)

This, however, is nothing compared to the dizzying heights of weirdness Arrabal has in store for the viewer. An actual slaughterhouse is the setting for a sequence that will leave mortified animal lovers agog as a live bull is violently beheaded, disembowled, and castrated.

Fando's mother holds the bull's testicles aloft and then squirms ecstatically through the flowing gore (Núria Espert is the very definition of a "trouper" here) before inserting a grown-up Fando into the animal's open carcass and sewing him up inside it.

It's a crashing wave of repellant but disturbingly potent symbolism that leaves the incredulous viewer aghast. And if you're like me, you'll wonder how in the hell Arrabal managed to persuade his cast to enact some of this way-OTT stuff.

Back in what passes for the real world in this movie: increasingly suffocated by his mother's overbearing influence and that of his other stodgy and oppressive elders, Fando begins to develop a constant cough. Although the doctor diagnoses it as TB, it seems more as though his lungs are rejecting the very atmosphere around him.

As he's taken to the hospital for a barbaric operation, his possessions are ordered burned--we see his little handmade theater and the crude dolls that represent his family going up in flames--as though his odd presence is being purged from the village.

In the end, the only person who loves Fando for himself and remains loyal to him is a sweet little girl named Thérèse whose other constant companion is a pet turkey on a leash.

The DVD is in 1.78:1 widescreen with both French and dubbed-Spanish soundtracks and English subtitles. Along with a lobby card gallery and a trailer for I WILL WALK LIKE A CRAZY HORSE is an interesting interview with Arrabal during which he fondles a wooden chair and smells his shoe. The keepcase also contains a six-page foldout booklet with liner notes by Rayo Casablanca.

Often accompanied by an incongruously cheerful children's tune that will reappear in much of Arrabal's later work, VIVA LA MUERTE is a heady concoction of perverse, Bosch-like images that aren't easily assimilated. I'll probably watch it again whenever my life starts to feel a little too normal and I need a stiff dose of crazy.

Buy it at Amazon.com
Read our review of  THE FERNANDO ARRABAL COLLECTION 

"CARNAGE PARK" Trailer/Poster Debut

IFC MIDNIGHT
Presents
CARNAGE PARK

Opening in theaters and VOD July 1st

                               TRAILER NOW AVAILABLE

This pure-pulp thrill ride jumps between past and present as it pieces together the puzzle of a shocking crime.

It's 1978 and a bank robbery gone wrong leaves Vivian (The Last Exorcism's Ashley Bell) the hostage of two criminals on the run. But things go from bad to off-the-rails berserk when she and her captors wind up on the sun-baked desert outpost of a deranged ex-military sniper (Pat Healy), who ensnares them in his deadly game of cat and mouse.

Rising horror auteur Mickey Keating (Pod, Darling) directs this gritty, grisly homage to the glory days of grindhouse cinema.

Directed by Mickey Keating
Starring Ashley Bell and Pat Healy

See William Shatner for Free at Fan Expo Dallas on June 3

Celebrating Star Trek’s 50th Anniversary, Legendary Captain Kirk to Officially Open Convention with Free Presentation on June 3

DALLAS, DATE – Half a century ago, Capt. James T. Kirk and his brave crew embarked on a 5-year mission into the final frontier, exploring strange new worlds, seeking out new life and new civilizations, and sparking a popular culture phenomenon that touched the lives of millions the world over. In celebration of this momentous anniversary, FAN EXPO DALLAS™ — formerly Dallas Comic Con, Texas’ largest convention for lovers of comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming and more — will be hosting a free presentation by William Shatner, the actor who made the role of Star Trek’s Capt. Kirk famous, at noon, Friday, June 3, 2016, at the Dallas Convention Center.

This event is completely free and open to the public — no ticket purchases are necessary.

Doors will open at 11 a.m. for photo ops with Shatner, followed at noon by the half-hour presentation during which the actor (and writer, producer, director and singer) will regale the audience with his favorite tales from the bridge of the USS Enterprise and beyond. Afterwards, Shatner will be available during an autograph session.

Photo ops and autographs are an additional charge of $85 and $80, respectively.

Other appearances happening during the three days of FAN EXPO DALLAS will include Doctor Who’s Peter Capaldi, Michelle Gomez and Jenna Coleman together for the first time in North America; Stan “The Man” Lee (co-creator of Spider-Man, the Avengers, X-Men and innumerable other Marvel Comics characters); original Star Trek cast members George Takei and Nichelle Nichols; Hollywood icons John and Joan Cusack; creative genius Frank Miller (Dark Knight III); and performers from Batman, SpongeBob SquarePants, Netflix’s Daredevil, Angel, The Vampire Diaries, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Arrow, Pretty Little Liars, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Agent Carter, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and more.

FAN EXPO DALLAS is a shopper’s paradise, with more than 600 retailers specializing in everything comics, anime, gaming, science fiction and horror. Whether it’s comic books from any era, original artwork, graphic novels, memorabilia, games, toys or T-shirts, you will find it all here.

Tickets and packages (including exclusives and perks) to FAN EXPO DALLAS start at $25 and can be purchased online (http://fanexpodallas.com/tickets/) or at the box office on site. Ticket prices are:

·         Friday: $25 advance, $30 door
·         Saturday: $50, advance, $55 door
·         Sunday: $40 advance, $45 door
·         Three-day pass: $89 advance, $95 door

For the full list of appearances and family-friendly activities, tickets and other information, please visit www.fanexpodallas.com. Stay connected with the show for announcements and updates by registering for their newsletter and following them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For vendor information, please click here. Those interested in volunteering can find more information here. Accredited media can request press passes by applying for accreditation at www.fanexpodallas.com/press.

About FAN EXPO DALLAS

FAN EXPO DALLAS is the largest comics, sci-fi, horror, anime and gaming event in Texas and is quickly growing into one of the largest events in North America. It is packed with exciting, family-friendly activities and celebrity guests. The pop culture extravaganza is host to 50,000 fans at the Dallas Convention Center for the 3-day annual event.

FAN EXPO HQ is one of the largest entertainment convention groups in North America. Collectively it hosts over 300,000 fans annually at FAN EXPO CANADA™, FAN EXPO VANCOUVER™, FAN EXPO REGINA™, Toronto ComiCon, MegaCon Orlando, FAN EXPO DALLAS and two other Dallas shows.

For more information, please visit the FAN EXPO DALLAS website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. General inquiries can be sent to info@fanexpohq.com, exhibitors can contact exhibitor@fanexpohq.com and questions about tickets can be sent to tickets@fanexpohq.com.

"TRADED" Exclusive Clip Released -- Theatrical/VOD/Digital HD Debut On 6/10

EXCLUSIVE TRADED CLIP:
Michael Pare Begins Searching for His Daughter

Read our review of  TRADED here.

Opening Theatrically June 10 in Top Markets Including New York,
Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Dallas, the Western Thriller
from Cinedigm and Status Media Will Also Be Available
Day-and-Date On Demand & Digital HD

LOS ANGELES, CA - This June, revenge is a bitter deal in the period Western, TRADED, from Cinedigm and Status Media, starring country music star Trace Adkins (The Virginian, The Lincoln Lawyer), Michael Paré (Weaponized, Bone Tomahawk, The Lincoln Lawyer, Eddie and the Cruisers) and Country Music Hall of Famer, Golden Globe®-winner and American icon Kris Kristofferson (Blade franchise, A Star is Born, Two for Texas, Billy the Kid).  On June 10, the gritty drama will open theatrically in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Houston, Phoenix, Denver and Kansas City, and day-and-date, be available on demand and Digital HD.

In 1880s Kansas, sharpshooter turned rancher, Clay Travis (Paré), goes from happily married father of two to a man on a mission after the disappearance of his 17 year-old daughter, Lily.  Determined to protect what little family he has left, Clay leaves his quiet ranch and heads to Wichita where, after confronting the ruthless Ty Stover (Adkins), he discovers that Lily's been traded away into an underground sex ring in Dodge City.  And it's there, with the help of an unlikely companion -- hardened old barkeep Billy (Kristofferson) -- that Clay makes a stand to bring his daughter home, leaving a trail of gunsmoke and bodies in his wake.

Filled with dramatic Western vistas and sweeping panoramas, TRADED, directed by Timothy Woodward Jr. (Weaponized, 4Got10), was shot in California and New Mexico, including locations in the Yucca Valley, Paramount Ranch and Big Sky Movie Ranch.  Co-stars include Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down), Martin Kove (The Karate Kid trilogy), Quinton Aaron (The Blind Side) and, in her theatrical debut, Kris' daughter, Kelly Kristofferson.

"As a small-town boy growing up in South Carolina, I was weaned on all the classic Westerns," said Woodward Jr. "So, to have the opportunity to helm an emotionally freighted story of frontier revenge set in the 19th century was more than a dream come true.  The highlight, obviously, for myself and the entire cast and crew was to watch a true legend, Kris Kristofferson, ply his trade in the same boots he wore in one of his first starring roles in Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid."

About Cinedigm

Cinedigm is a leading independent content distributor in the United States, with direct relationships with thousands of physical retail storefronts and digital platforms, including Wal-Mart, Target, iTunes, Netflix, and Amazon, as well as the national Video on Demand platform on cable television. The company's library of films and TV episodes encompasses award-winning documentaries from Docurama Films®, next-gen Indies from Flatiron Film Company®, acclaimed independent films and festival picks through partnerships with the Sundance Institute and Tribeca Films and a wide range of content from brand name suppliers, including National Geographic, Discovery, Scholastic, NFL, Shout Factory, Hallmark, Jim Henson and more.

Additionally, given Cinedigm's infrastructure, technology, content and distribution expertise, the Company has rapidly become a leader in the quickly evolving over-the-top digital network business. Cinedigm's first channel, DOCURAMA, launched in May 2014, and is currently available on iOS, Roku, Xbox and Samsung, with additional platforms currently being rolled out. Cinedigm launched CONtv, a Comic Con branded channel in partnership with WIZARD WORLD, on March 3, 2015. The Company's third OTT channel, DOVE CHANNEL, launched on September 15, 2015 and is a digital streaming subscription service targeted to families and kids seeking high quality and family friendly content approved by Dove Foundation.

Cinedigm™ and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp™ are trademarks of Cinedigm Corp. [CIDM-G]

"Star Trek: Beyond" -- Exciting New Trailer!

"Star Trek Beyond," the highly anticipated next installment in the globally popular Star Trek franchise, created by Gene Roddenberry and reintroduced by J.J. Abrams in 2009, returns with director Justin Lin ("The Fast and the Furious" franchise) at the helm of this epic voyage of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her intrepid crew. 

In "Beyond," the Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

Starring: John Cho, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoë Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Sofia Boutella, and Idris Elba 

In Theaters July 22, 2016

"GHOSTBUSTERS" -- New Trailer

"KUNG FU BROTHER" Now on VOD In Demand and Streaming

KUNG-FU BROTHER is an action packed, comedy thriller that profiles the mysterious complexities of ancestral Japanese assassins. The story follows a series of bizarre murders occurring in the pursuit to acquire the Kuji Denjo Scrolls. These sacred scrolls are part of a legacy of an ancient civilization known as the Weirding Clan.

Shot entirely on location in Thailand and the Philippines, KUNG-FU BROTHER is flavored with multi-racial characters who come together in the common pursuit of a murderer on a deadly mission to acquire the sacred scrolls.  Three cops and a no-nonsense female reporter find themselves bound by distrust, suspicion, love, hate….and a pair of handcuffs.  A strange romance unfolds among an array of murders, a lush setting and a psychological jolt.

Bey Logan, Producer, ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny’ calls KUNG-FU BROTHER a “Fast, fun Kung Fu comedy by one of the true unsung heroes of the genre.  (writer/director) Marcus gave new meaning to the phrase ‘by any means necessary’ when he stretched his shoestring budget to two countries and 90 minutes, and then used it to tie the bow on a martial arts mini-masterpiece. Don’t miss it!”  World famous actor/director/producer and martial arts expert Jackie Chan echoed the same sentiments after seeing the film at a special screening.

KUNG-FU BROTHER premiered at the Action On Film International Film Festival where it took home the Action Film of the Year Award and won Runner Up for the Best Director Award.The film stars James Huang, Rona Lee Par, Ron Hall, Fred Ochs and Michael Wilson. 

Writer/Director Marcus Aurelius taps into the soul of independent films, highlighting the issue of diversity – at times, the lack thereof - in Hollywood.  “I've been able to gain a foothold in shedding light on the lack of diversity in the film industry, simply by creating my own opportunity,” Aurelius offers. “You think diversity in Hollywood is tough? Try producing a small urban indie film in two different countries with two different languages!”  

Aurelius is currently tapped by Joseph Collins to write, produce and direct 13 episodes of an action/horror/comedy TV series to be shot entirely in Thailand and the Philippines again.  Principle photography is set to begin this fall, with a 2017 delivery for the Punch TV Network.

KUNG-FU BROTHER is currently playing on DirectTV, In Demand, Dish TV, Amazon, Vudu, Google Play and Hoopla, iTunes, Sony Playstation and Microsoft Xbox.

Watch the Trailer here: http://bit.ly/KungFuBrotherTrailer
Facebook: http://bit.ly/KungFuBrother
Twitter: @KungFuBrother 
Instagram: @KungFuBrotherfilm2016

"MR. RIGHT" on Blu-Ray and DVD June 7 and Now Available on Digital HD

 ANNA KENDRICK AND SAM ROCKWELL COUPLE UP IN AN ACTION-PACKED KILLER COMEDY

"MR. RIGHT"

NOW AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL HD
AND ON BLU-RAY™ AND DVD ON JUNE 7, 2016
FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Universal City, California, May 18, 2016 – Recovering from a recent breakup, a heartbroken woman meets the man of her dreams, with one fatal flaw, in Mr. Right, a hilarious hit-man comedy from writer Max Landis (Chronicle) and director Paco Cabezas (Rage).  Starring Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect  1 and 2, Up in the Air) and Sam Rockwell (Iron Man 2, The Green Mile ) as the outlandish mismatched couple, Mr. Right  is now available on Digital HD and On Demand and coming to Blu-ray™ and DVD on June 7, 2016 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.  Loaded with just the right amount of action and romance, Mr. Right gives whole new meaning to the term killer comedy.

The road to true love is paved with knives and bullets. Unlucky in love and with terrible taste in men, Martha (Kendrick) bumps into Francis (Rockwell) and finally meets the man of her dreams. Sweet and charming, he seems the perfect match until Martha discovers Francis is a world-class assassin whose enemies are trying to kill him. As the body count rises, she can’t quite decide whether to join in the mayhem or dump him. Also starring Tim Roth, Anson Mount, and the Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, Mr. Right fires up excitement and laughs!

Website: http://uni.pictures/MrRight
Trailer: http://uni.pictures/MrRightTrailer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrRightMovie
Hashtag: #MrRight

FILMMAKERS:
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, James Ransone, Anson Mount, Michael Eklund, RZA
Directed By: Paco Cabezas
Written By: Max Landis
Produced By: Michael A. Helfant, Bradley Gallo, Rick Jacobs, Lawrence Mattis
Executive-Produced By: William C. Gallo, Allen Church, Stephen Emery, Max Landis, Avram Butch Kaplan, Mark Roberts, Jennifer Dana, Ross Jacobson, Sheldon Rabinowitz
Director of Photography: Daniel Aranyo
Production Designer: Mara LePere Schloop
Edited By: Tom Wilson
Costume Designer: Jillian Ann Kreiner
Composer: Aaron Zigman

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™:
Street Date: June 7, 2016
Copyright: 2016 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 62177900
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1
Rating: R for strong violence and language throughout.
Languages/Subtitles: English/English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound: DTS-HD MASTER AUDIO 5.1
Run Time: 1 Hour 36 Minutes

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:
Street Date: June 7, 2016
Copyright: 2016 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 62177901
Layers: Dual Layers
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1
Rating: R for strong violence and language throughout.
Languages/Subtitles: English/English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound: DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1
Run Time: 1 Hour 36 Minutes

About Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (www.uphe.com.) is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

TRAILER PREMIERE -- "BUDDYMOON" starring David Giuntoli and Flula Borg

"BUDDYMOON"
Coming July 1, 2016 in theaters and on demand

TRAILER PREMIERE!

 
David (David Giuntoli, “Grimm") is left by his fiancé days before the wedding, and Flula (Flula Borg, “Pitch Perfect 2"), his eccentrically upbeat best man, insists that they go on David’s honeymoon together: a backpacking trip through Oregon’s scenic mountains.

Prepare to laugh when the pair crosses paths with a dazed conspiracy theorist, an attractively charming backpacker (Claire Coffee, “Grimm"), and a bloodthirsty predator (an actual wolf) who all partake in a trek that tests their friendship – and their lives.

 

Run time: 80 Minutes
Directed by: Alex Simmons
Writers/Executive Producers: Flula Borg, David Giuntoli and Alex Simmons
Cast: David Giuntoli, Flula Borg, Claire Coffee, Brian T. Finney, Jeanne Syquia

EPK: http://bit.ly/BuddymoonEPK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuddymoonMovie
Twitter: #BUDDYMOON

Viva Pictures Acquires U.S. Rights For International Horror Brand Mórbido

VIVA PICTURES ACQUIRES U.S. RIGHTS
TO THE LEADING HORROR BRAND
MORBIDO

Company to Debut Mórbido Label by Fall 2016

CANNES, FRANCE – VIVA Pictures announced today that it has landed the U.S. rights to the famed Mórbido brand.  Mórbido is a lifestyle horror and fantasy brand which originated in Mexico in 2007.  During that time, Mórbido has become the most important festival of the genre in Latin America and has become known as the “voice of horror” in the region with its many platforms that include an FM radio show, a podcast, a publishing house, a distribution label and more. 

Plans are to initially launch a Mórbido branded movie label through VIVA Pictures which will roll out this fall with The Ouija Summoning as well as the VIVA original productions Charlie Charlie and Effigy.  The deal was jointly announced at Cannes by Mórbido’s CEO Pablo Guisa Koestinger and VIVA Pictures President Victor Elizalde.

“We’re extremely excited by the myriad of opportunities that exist with the Mórbido brand and lifestyle,” commented Elizalde.  “Horror and sci-fi fans are typically the most loyal followers of any type of genre.  The audiences behind the platforms that Pablo has created are indicative of this fact and we look forward to expanding Mórbido’s presence into the U.S. and Canada.”

“It is wonderful to see Mórbido expanding globally,” stated Pablo Guisa Koestinger.  “As the creator of the brand as well as being a fan myself, I am looking forward to seeing this partnership truly grow.  Mórbido has become a reference in horror as well as a lifestyle and we are happy to be sharing it with the U.S.”

About Mórbido

Mórbido was conceived in 2007 as an International Horror and Fantasy Film Festival.  It was created to serve as a window to promote Mexican films and revive the long tradition of producing horror and fantasy films in México.  After its first event in 2008, Mórbido quickly evolved to become something greater than merely a festival; it became the largest Spanish-speaking multi-platform content promoter and content creator related to fantasy and horror.

Since its inception, Mórbido has become the most important festival of this genre in Latin America, due to its nature as a platform for launching and promoting Latin American and European film, and it has generated a media impact of nearly $40 million. Today, Mórbido is a project that seamlessly combines an international film festival and a communications platform that reaches an audience of over 10 million people a month. This platform includes over 3M in social media, an FM radio show, a podcast, a publishing house, a production boutique, a distribution label for horror films, and continuous education workshops and courses.

About Viva Pictures

VIVA Pictures Distribution, LLC. is an independent film distribution company offering a wide variety of channels for its partners. Led by entertainment industry veteran, Victor Elizalde, VIVA Pictures is a leading distributor that understands and focuses on the needs of the independent producer.  The company is ideally positioned for creating a new, modern distribution model leveraging innovative technology and existing relationships with key retailer and rental channels on par with major studios.  Recent releases include Marcus Nispel’s Exeter, The Ouija Experiment and Cottage Country starring Malin Ackerman.  For more information, visit http://www.vivafilmco.com.

CAR CEMETERY -- DVD Review by Porfle

 

Surrealist filmmaker Fernando Arrabal's CAR CEMETERY, aka Le cimetière des voitures (1983), is a punk-dystopian retelling of the Christ story, replete with nudity, sado-masochism, graphic depictions of a laundry list of other perversions, bizarre surrealistic imagery, and an irreverent (though somehow non-blasphemous) sense of humor.

But despite all this, Arrabal's oddly ineffectual film adaptation of his own play comes off as a low-budget cross between JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and GODSPELL as conceived by Ken Russell.

In a post-nuclear society where fascist police search the ruins for rebellious young punks who still believe in peace and love and all that stuff, a leather-clad rock 'n' roll messiah named Emanou (Alain Bashung, who died in March '09) gathers his followers in an auto graveyard to dispense divine wisdom and perform miracles. His true believers are a motley bunch given to bacchanalian excess while availing themselves of the carnal wares of fat pimp Milos as he presides over his bustling auto-brothel.

Milos' star attraction is the beautiful Dila (Juliet Berto), who still turns tricks although her heart and soul belong to Emanou. In one of the film's loveliest images, Dila performs as a mermaid in Milos' prized pre-apocalypse water tank along with some dolphins. She also allows herself to be dressed as a human wedding cake and wheeled around to attract potential customers. Dila receives holy messages from a tiny guitar-plucking angel she keeps in a glass jar (I'm not sure, but it looks like Arrabal doing a cameo), although it's not clear how she happens to possess such a thing.

An apparent disciple shortage limits us to two rather sorry specimens, the derby-domed Topé (Boris Bergman), resident Judas equivalent, and Fodère (Dominique Maurin), who seems just as faithless and doubting as his associate. We know Fodère is meant to remind us of Peter, since in an early scene he idly muses something about how he thinks that soon, he may deny Emanou three times before the cock crows. This statement just comes out of nowhere and the character does nothing else to remind us of anybody in particular, much less an ardent disciple.

Much time is spent depicting the lecherous indulgences of characters both beautiful and grotesque, although I don't recall any of this sort of thing still being all that shocking in 1983. From time to time Emanou will amaze everyone by performing a resurrection, healing the afflicted, or re-enacting various other passages from the New Testament as his onlookers "ooh" and "aah" and groove on how cool he is. In one scene, he blandly performs highlights from the Sermon on the Mount while standing on a wrecked car, and in another, he feeds the hungry mulitude not with two loaves and two fishes, but with two Big Macs. (He neglects to ask anyone if they'd like fries with that, however.)

As all this is going on, two members of what pass as the police are roaming the scorched countryside in a bulldozer searching for the right car cemetery where the rebellious punks and their anarchist messiah are hiding out. A tall, matronly woman and a wiry bulldog of a man, the two comical cops supply most of the film's humor as she incessantly urges him to work out to utter exhaustion in order to beat some unknown record, while he plies her non-stop with ardent sexual pleas. "My giant is crying," he implores her. "Smell my candelabra, Lasca."

An amusing flashback shows us Emanou's birth in a garage, where he's visited by three wise beauty pageant contestants (Miss Myrrh, Miss Oro, and another whose banner I couldn't read though I assume she's Miss Frankincense or something) bearing gifts. There's the obligatory Last Supper, not all that different from Leonardo da Vinci's depiction save for the guy with the saxophone and the fact that Dila has her head in Emanou's lap.

And, of course, after Topé betrays him to the cops with a (French) kiss, there's the crucifixion, which consists of Emanou being chained to a wrecked motorcycle and hoisted aloft. We then skip the resurrection (an unfortunate omission reflecting JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR's secular tone, which this film, interestingly, has largely avoided) and go straight to the ascension, depicted by a badly-animated cartoon dove, and the fadeout, which is surprisingly anti-climactic.

The Cult Epics DVD is in 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital French-language soundtrack and English subtitles. Extras consist of trailers for the Arrabal films contained in the first collection (THE TREE OF GUERNICA, VIVA LA MUERTE, and I WILL WALK LIKE A CRAZY HORSE). The film lacks the sort of driving rock music soundtrack I expected, although the song Emanou performs during his final concert does have a catchy bass line.

Despite the extremely garish trappings, the Biblical events are recounted in a relatively straightforward manner, so rather than being satirical I think Arrabal is more interested in drawing a parallel between Christ's persecution and that of his own father, who was imprisoned for political reasons at the start of the Spanish Civil War (a subject which dominates his earlier work as well).

Beyond that, CAR CEMETERY is mainly an exercise in absurdity and excess that didn't engage me on an emotional level. Most of its impact as a story is diluted by the main character, Emanou, since he's pretty much a cold fish without any kind of charisma whatsoever. Even during the Passion, he lacks passion.

 

Read our review of THE FERNANDO ARRABAL COLLECTION 2

 

Maika Monroe and Ed Skrein To Star in Federico d’Alessandro’s Sci-Fi Thriller "TAU"

MAIKA MONROE AND ED SKREIN TO STAR AND FEDERICO D’ALESSANDRO TO DIRECT THE SCI-FI THRILLER “TAU”

Waypoint Entertainment to Finance and Phantom Four and Addictive Pictures to Produce. BLOOM to Introduce to Foreign Buyers in Cannes

LOS ANGELES (May 10, 2016) –– BLOOM announced today that Maika Monroe (Independence Day: Resurgence, It Follows) and Ed Skrein (Deadpool) will star in Tau for director Federico D’ Alessandro. Waypoint Entertainment will finance under their first look deal with Addictive Pictures. David S. Goyer (Man of Steel, The Dark Knight trilogy) and Kevin Turen (The Birth of a Nation, 99 Homes, All is Lost, Arbitrage) will produce under their Phantom Four banner alongside Russell Ackerman and John Schoenfelder for Addictive Pictures. Ken Kao, Dan Kao and Luc Etienne will executive produce. BLOOM is handling international sales and will begin introducing the film to foreign buyers in Cannes.  WME will represent the U.S. rights. Currently in pre-production, the sci-fi thriller is penned by Noga Landau.

Once a street-smart grifter, Julia (Monroe) is the latest victim kidnapped and held captive in a fatal experiment. The only thing standing in the way of her freedom is TAU, an advanced artificial intelligence developed by Alex (Skrein), her captor. TAU is armed with a battalion of drones that automate a futuristic smart house.  TAU’s potential is only limited by his understanding of the world he exists in, but TAU is ready for more. Julia, showing resourcefulness and courage, must race against time to bridge the boundaries between man and machine, connect to TAU and win her freedom before she suffers the same fate as the previous subjects.

“From the first moment Noga’s script made the Blacklist, we knew we wanted to be part of this special project,” said David Goyer. “Federico’s vision for the film was one of the most assured director presentations I have ever seen.  Our backing of these two new voices continues our commitment to emerging filmmakers.  We want to thank Ken and the Waypoint team for helping us bring this exciting story to life."   

Best known for her performance in Indie horror hit It Follows, Monroe is currently in production on Peter Landesman’s Felt starring Liam Neeson and in June can be seen in Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day: Resurgence for Twentieth Century Fox.   Skrein recently co-starred in the hit Deadpool for Twentieth Century Fox.

Goyer’s work includes The Dark Knight trilogy and Man of Steel for Warner Bros., which has led to over $4 billion globally. D'Alessandro is the artist responsible for the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most iconic visual sequences with credits including Ant-Man, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Iron Man 3.

Monroe, D’ Alessandro, Landau and Goyer are represented by WME while Skrein is repped by CAA and 42.

Waypoint Entertainment recently acquired the rights to two Mark Millar properties, American Jesus and Supercrooks which Kao will produce with partner Dan Kao and Addictive Pictures' Ackerman and Schoenfelder under their first-look deal.

The BLOOM and Waypoint Entertainment slate includes: Martin Zandvliet’s The Outsider starring Jared Leto; Scott Cooper’s Hostiles starring Christian Bale; Shane Black’s detective thriller The Nice Guys starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling which will make its world premiere in Cannes and be released by Warner Bros. in the U.S. on. May 20 and Kate and Laura Mulleavy’s Woodshock starring Kirsten Dunst.

BLOOM is also handling international sales on: Danny Strong’s Rebel in the Rye starring Nicholas Hoult; George Cloony’s Suburbicon starring Matt Damon and Julianne Moore; Liza Johnson’s Elvis & Nixon starring Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon; Michael Apted’s Unlocked starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Douglas and Orlando Bloom; and Renny Harlin’s Skiptrace starring Jackie Chan and Johnny Knoxville

Russell Ackerman and John Schoenfelder's Addictive Pictures is a film and television production company with a specialty in elevated genre films.  Addictive is currently prepping Jeremy Saulnier's next film Hold the Dark for A24, and with Phantom Four recently closed a deal for Deeper written by Max Landis starring Bradley Cooper at MGM.

David Goyer’s Phantom Four is an entertainment production company focused on producing powerful, provocative, and innovative visual narrative in film, television, and emerging media. Recently, Phantom Four produced Fox Searchlight’s The Birth of A Nation, which premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and swept top prizes, including the Audience award and Grand Jury prize. Up next for Phantom Four is the recently announced Open Road and Lakeshore Entertainment's Miles, a feature film written and directed by Oliver Daly based on his original short which started a bidding war amongst producers last year, that was won by Goyer and Phantom Four who then developed the script with Daly. Also upcoming is Max Landis’ Deeper, starring Bradley Cooper, 20th Century Fox’s The First Omen, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman for New Line, and Lionsgate’s The Breach, which Goyer will direct with Lorenzo di Bonaventura producing.