HK and Cult Film News's Fan Box

Sunday, September 30, 2018

HOLY HELL -- DVD Review by Porfle




Writer-director-star Ryan LaPlante's stated goal in making his debut feature HOLY HELL (2015) was to "take on 60's and 70's B-Movie and Exploitation film tropes" as did such fairly recent grindhouse parodies as "Machete" and "Hobo With a Shotgun." 

But while those two movies were derived from mock trailers that were fleshed out to feature length, the opposite might've been preferable in this case since HOLY HELL would probably work better as a mock trailer than a full-length film.

That way, it wouldn't have to try so desperately hard to be funny for such an extended period of time that you can almost feel the veins bulging in its sweaty cinematic forehead. 


Things start out on a chipper note as happy priest Father Bane (LaPlante) goes about his business serving the Lord in the midst of the city's most vile denizens going about their own sinful deeds, including mugging and beating the good priest himself. His happy-face faith keeps him going, however.

This all changes when he visits the Bonner family to help with their rebellious daughter Amy (Alysa King), just before another family, the murderous MacFarlanes, burst in guns blazing, killing and defiling almost everyone in sight (including the baby) in the most horrible ways.   

This gives director LaPlante a chance to start piling on the kind of shock stuff he set out to gleefully wallow in with this film, with over-the-top characters Daddy Dokes, he/she Sissy, bad girl Trisha, and trigger-happy thug Buddy dishing out gouts of fake blood and prosthetic body parts while screaming profanities at the top of their lungs.


Naturally, the grievously wounded Father Bane renounces his faith after this incident and buys a pistol which he dubs "The Lord" and begins to worship as he hunts down not just the MacFarlanes but all sinners and blows them away with the help of surviving but now-crippled Bonner daughter Amy as his horny accomplice. 

What follows is scene after scene of the most strenuous attempts to shock us with violence, gore, and perverse sex that's supposed to be both hyper-edgy and funny.  The humor didn't work for me since most of it is composed of non-stop screaming "F bombs", tranny jokes, wacky depictions of oral and anal sex, and flashes of blasphemy, all delivered by actors with little or no comic finesse.  (Shane Patrick McClurg as "Sissy" comes the closest.)


Along with the numerous bloody killings are stabs (so to speak) at spaghetti-western parody and mock tough-guy dialogue. But rather than trying to emulate "Machete" and "Hobo With a Shotgun" with an artless imitation that barely comes close, perhaps it might've been better to create an actual deliberate mockery of such films. Being genuinely funny as well as profane and gross would've helped.  

As it is, HOLY HELL's fevered attempts to break down the bounds of decency should be shocking only to those who have never seen those other two movies or anything by John Waters, or heard people curse stridently and at length like Tourette's-stricken sailors, or seen really hardcore gore movies.


Tech Specs
Runtime: 89 minutes
Format: Full frame
Sound: Dolby Sr. Sound
Country: USA
Language: English
Captions: English
Website: www.IndicanPictures.com
Extras: Outtakes and director's commentary, trailers


Cast & Crew
Directed by: Ryan LaPlante
Starring: Ryan LaPlante, Alysa King, Michael Rawley, Luke LaPlante, Shane Patrick McClurg, Rachel Anne Little, Reece Presley




Share/Save/Bookmark

All The Crab Monster Scenes From "Attack Of The Crab Monsters" (Roger Corman, 1957) (video)





Here, gathered for what is certainly the first time anywhere...

(or not)

...are all the crab monster scenes from Roger Corman's "Attack of the Crab Monsters."

(spoilers)


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!



Share/Save/Bookmark

Saturday, September 29, 2018

MORE Lesser Known Stop-Motion Animation Monsters (video)




The most famous stop-motion animators are Willis O'Brien (KING KONG)…

...and Ray Harryhausen (JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS).

But other animators have given us their own interesting creations throughout the years...

The Lost Continent (1951)
The Black Scorpion (Willis O'Brien, 1957)
The Giant Behemoth (Willis O'Brien, 1959)
Dinosaurus! (1960)
Planet of Dinosaurs (1978)
Caveman (1981)


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!



Share/Save/Bookmark

Friday, September 28, 2018

Is That A UFO Behind John Wayne In "Rio Grande"? (1950) (video)




Many believe that during this scene with Duke and Maureen O'Hara...

...the camera accidentally caught a distant UFO in the upper left corner.

Viewers still disagree over whether the scene was shot on location...

...or on an indoor soundstage with a painted backdrop.

What do you think?


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!



Share/Save/Bookmark

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Lesser Known Stop-Motion Animation Monsters (video)




The most famous stop-motion animators are Willis O'Brien (KING KONG)…

...and Ray Harryhausen (7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD).

But other animators have given us their own interesting creations throughout the years...

Three Ages (Buster Keaton, 1923)
Beast of Hollow Mountain (1956)
Monster From Green Hell (1957)
Jack the Giant Killer (1962)
Equinox (1970)
The Crater Lake Monster (1977)


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!



Share/Save/Bookmark

"THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES" Brings Together their Biggest Nyuks in One Exclusive Time Life Collection, AVAILABLE NOW!




FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, TIME LIFE BRINGS TOGETHER THE STOOGES BIGGEST NYUKS IN AN EXCLUSIVE SLAPSTICK COLLECTION WORTHY OF ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREAT COMEDY TEAMS!
 

THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES
 

AVAILABLE NOW, EXCLUSIVELY AT THREESTOOGESDVDS.COM
DVD SRP: $99.95


Across 13 Hilarious Discs, Lovers of the Three Stooges Will Find Over 45 Incredible Hours of Content, Including All of the Columbia Pictures Shorts (1934-1945), Four Feature Films, Vintage Animated Cartoons, the 9-Part Documentary Series "Hey Moe! Hey Dad!," a Collectible, Full-Color Memory Book and More!

WATCH THE TRAILER:



"Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk...Why I Oughta..." 

For over 50 years, The Three Stooges presented a brand of pie-throwing, eye-poking and head-bonking routines that cracked up multiple generations. They were the masters of mirth, merriment and mayhem, turning slapstick comedy into an art form. And, with a body of work including over 300 films, television, stage shows, cartoons and more - they're forever ingrained in popular culture. Now, one of the greatest comedy troupes of all time is here to poke, smack, slap and bonk their way onto your screens with THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES!

With this riotous DVD set, Time Life has brought together the Stooges greatest hits in one exclusive collection, priced at $99.95 and available only at ThreeStoogesDVDs.com. Across 13 uproarious discs, viewers will yuk it up with over 45 hours of knee-slapping content brought together for the very first time, including:



THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES: COLUMBIA PICTURES SHORTS 1934-1945 -- These two volumes feature 87 hilarious short films from 1934 to 1945. Witness the rise of these comedy icons in this high-spirited collection containing the first of the iconic Columbia Pictures Shorts. Watch as the Stooges hit their stride and began to settle into their definitive roles- Moe as boss, Larry the middleman, and Curly as their foil -- and experience what has become regarded as the high point in the Three Stooges career - the Golden Age! (8 Discs; 1496 mins) 

THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES: SHORTS, CARTOONS, & FEATURE FILMS -- From feature-length films to rare cartoons and vintage shorts - this collection is sure to leave a smile on your face and a bump on the back of your noggin! It includes Shemp Howard Comedy Shorts (14 classics from the '30s & '40s); Joe Besser Comedy Shorts (10 side-splitters from the '40s & '50s), Joe DeRita Comedy Shorts (4 smackers from the '40s), Feature Films (The Three Stooges (2000, biopic); Have Rocket, Will Travel; The Outlaws Is Coming and Rockin' in the Rockies; The Three Stooges Cartoons, inludingBon Bon Parade (1935), Merry Mutineers (1936), A Hollywood Detour (1942), as well as the bonus 9-part documentary series "Hey Moe! Hey Dad!," which takes fans behind the scenes with the family of The Three Stooges as they share never-before-seen footage and photos. (5 discs; 1309 mins)


About Time Life
Time Life is one of the world's pre-eminent creators and direct marketers of unique music and video/DVD products, specializing in distinctive multi-media collections that evoke memories of yesterday, capture the spirit of today, and can be enjoyed for a lifetime. TIME LIFE and the TIME LIFE logo are registered trademarks of Time Warner Inc. and affiliated companies used under license by Direct Holdings Americas Inc., which is not affiliated with Time Warner Inc. or Time Inc.

THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES

Type: DVD/13 Discs
Running Time: Approximately 2805 mins.
Genre: TV DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 & 1.78:1
Audio: Stereo & Dolby Digital 5.1



Share/Save/Bookmark

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

3 Stooges Mocked Hitler Before Chaplin ("You Nazty Spy!", 1940) (video)




Charlie Chaplin's famous anti-war film "The Great Dictator" was released in October 1940.

In it, he plays a ridiculous caricature of Adolf Hitler.

But in January of that same year, the Three Stooges released "You Nazty Spy!"

In it, Moe became the first screen actor to lampoon Adolf Hitler...
...almost two years before America's entry into World War II.

In 1941, the Stooges followed this up with "I'll Never Heil Again."


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!




Share/Save/Bookmark

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Shemp's Ad-libs Delight Christine McIntyre In "Of Cash and Hash" (3 Stooges, 1955) (video)




"Of Cash and Hash" was Christine McIntyre's final appearance with the Three Stooges.

At the end, Shemp gets to demonstrate the boys' affection for her as a leading lady.

Although the shot is over, Shemp continues to ad-lib...
...much to Christine's obvious surprise and delight.

By the fadeout, Christine's genuine fondness for Shemp is apparent.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!



Share/Save/Bookmark

Monday, September 24, 2018

Shemp Gets Slapped Silly For Real In "Brideless Groom" (3 Stooges, 1947) (video)




A case of mistaken identity gets Shemp in trouble with Christine McIntyre.

The script called for her to lay into him, but she was afraid of hurting him.

Several takes with Christine's tentative slaps were wearing Shemp out.

So he finally told her to go for it without holding back, and get it over with.

Which she did!


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!




Share/Save/Bookmark

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Criswell's Nuttiest Moments From Ed Wood's "Orgy of the Dead" (1965) (video)




This bizarre 1965 horror/sexploitation film was written by Ed Wood.  

Famous faux psychic Criswell stars as the Emperor of the Night.

"Monsters to be pitied! Monsters to be despised!"


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!



Share/Save/Bookmark

Saturday, September 22, 2018

MOLLY -- Blu-ray Review by Porfle




One thing zombie flicks and post-apocalyptic dystopia movies have in common is that, thanks to templates such as NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and MAD MAX, there's very little need for exposition. We're just suddenly there in these established worlds, and all that's required is to learn the specifics of the individual storyline being presented for us to follow.

This is true for the post-apocalyptic dystopia action-thriller MOLLY (Artsploitation Films, 2017), which comes to us by way of the Netherlands and brashly shoulders its way into the ranks of the best, or at least most brashly entertaining, films of that genre. 

An earlier trailer might've gone like this: "In a world...where society has been replaced by anarchy...and the innocent are injected with a drug that turns them into savage beasts pit-fighting to the death as gamblers cheer them on...one girl...with special powers and a fierce will to survive...fights to bring down an evil dictator while protecting an orphaned child she found alone in the wasteland...etc...etc..."


The girl with "special powers" (which I won't spoil here) is Molly (Julia Batelaan), who's like a cross between a myopic valley girl and Velma from "Scooby-Doo" (complete with glasses).  She looks like a normal teenaged nerd-girl all weighed down by a huge backpack and other gear, but circumstances have forced her to become a wandering warrior who must keep her guard up 24/7 against those who wish to either rob, kill, or capture her.

Local big-wig Deacon (Joost Bolt) wields the aforementioned drug and runs the pit fights, turning captives into vicious drug-fueled maniacs called "supplicants" and staging death battles during which he cleans up on the gambling front (with bullets as the main currency).  With Molly having become something of a legend in those parts, he orders his warriors to hunt her down and capture her for his fighting pit.

It took a while for me to settle in and "get" this movie.  At first, it looks like it's just going to be another mildly entertaining genre offering at best, albeit one with an intriguing main character.  The fight choreography seems a bit off at times, and the story seems a bit lean.


Gradually, however, the imagination and skill behind this above-average effort began make themselves more and more apparent until, by the second half, I was getting swept up in what was fast becoming a dazzling feat of modestly-budgeted filmmaking.

As soon as Molly befriends the little orphan girl Bailey (Emma de Paauw), who is then kidnapped as bait to lure Molly into the clutches of Deacon and his band of rough boys, our heroine's rescue mission in the bad guys' rusted-metal offshore lair becomes a dizzying non-stop assault of blazing action and breathtaking filmmaking.

Earlier fight scenes had a choppily edited shaky-cam look to them in order to convey Molly's fear and disorientation during sudden surprise attacks that came out of nowhere.  But during the extended finale, which takes place on several levels of iron walkways in a harsh industrial setting, the direction and cinematography suddenly shift into sort of a cinematic overdrive that had me goggle-eyed with amazement.


Fights still lack finesse, but this gives them the dirty, messy, awkward feel of real life-or-death battle. And when this mass of sweaty humanity starts plunging into fierce conflict in close quarters, directors Colinda Bongers and Thijs Meuwese shoot it all in amazing long takes with disguised edits that give the illusion of one unbroken action scene lasting a good 20-30 minutes or so.

(Molly's set-to with Deacon's main assassin Kimmy, played by Annelies Appelhof, is a real highlight, as is her final showdown with the Deacon himself.)

It's especially impressive in that the filmmakers don't have quick edits and jerky camerawork to use as a visual crutch.  The sequence boasts beautiful photography and camera moves (no shaky-cam, lens flares, etc.) and precision choreography that must've required both exhaustive practice and multiple retakes.

This is, to be honest, some of the best action filmmaking I've ever seen.  I was constantly reminded of a previous fave, HARD REVENGE MILLY, which this actually surpasses in my estimation.  Which, for me, is no small thing.  The hallway fight scene from OLDBOY also comes to mind.


Through it all, the character of freckled, bespectacled Molly is enigmatic but likable, and human enough to panic when she loses her glasses during a fight.  Where the heck did she come from, we wonder, and how did she become this fabled bow-wielding warrior who defeats opponents twice her size and ferociousness, with nothing more than a sort of frantically puckish resolve to survive? (Plus those special powers, of course, but I won't go into that.)

The Blu-ray from Artsploitation Films is in 1.78:1 widescreen with English 5.1 surround sound and optional English subtitles.  Bonus features consist of a directors' commentary, a half-hour "making of" featurette, and a trailer. 

I had a great time watching MOLLY, especially since so many films of this genre have been both blatantly derivative and inescapably dull.  Okay, this movie is sorta blatantly derivative too--but dull it ain't.  Following the satisfying resolution, there's an epilogue which promises a possible sequel, and, for once, I'm actually looking forward to it.




Artsploitation.com


Share/Save/Bookmark

Mirror POV Trick in "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" (Fredric March, 1932) (video)




How do you shoot a POV mirror shot without showing the camera?

The camera lens represents Dr. Henry Jekyll's first-person point of view.
The "mirror" is actually a clear-glass window in the wall.

On cue, Fredric March (Jekyll) approaches it from the far side...
...in a reverse-duplicate room. 
Then his butler Poole (Edgar Norton) joins him in the mirror-room "reflection."

Later, the same window technique is used to give us another POV "mirror" view of Jekyll...
...and then, of his savage alter-ego, Hyde.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!



Share/Save/Bookmark

Friday, September 21, 2018

Opening Scene: "The Flesh Eaters" (1964) (video)




"The Flesh Eaters" is a low-budget horror flick starring Martin Kosleck.

The gore FX for this lurid thriller were pretty horrific for 1964.

But the first scene kicks the film off in pleasantly goofy (yet morbid) style.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!




Share/Save/Bookmark

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Reacts To Gunshot Before He Gets Shot: "Bloody Mama" (Roger Corman, 1970) (video)




"Bloody Mama" (Roger Corman, 1970)

Ma Barker (Shelley Winters) and her sons wade through a dense hail of police bullets.

One of the Barker boys is so distraught...

...he reacts to a gunshot before it hits him. 


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!




Share/Save/Bookmark

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CONCERT: ENCORE -- Blu-ray Review by Porfle




It's a well-known fact that many of us worship rock stars.  Even rock stars worship other rock stars, and one of their favorite activities seems to be getting together in huge gatherings in order to worship, entertain, and bore each other.

The "entertaining" part is what makes Time-Life's new 2-disc Blu-ray set ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CONCERT: ENCORE worth watching if you happen to like some of the many stars on hand to perform during the four separate induction ceremonies (2010-2013) that it documents.

The "worship" part gets a bit cloying at times as those chosen to induct certain stars into the hallowed hall tend to gush at length over the seemingly godlike objects of their slavering admiration.


That's also where the "boring" part comes in and hits hard--these people are musicians, not speakers, and their amateur efforts to wax both humorous and profound are the stuff fast-forward buttons were made for.

The same goes, unfortunately, for many of those artists' sleep-inducing and sometimes self-important acceptance speeches.  The best one, in fact, is given by lead guitarist Alex Lifeson of Rush, whose entire speech consists solely of the words "blah, blah, blah" expressed with varied emphasis and intonation, which serves not only to liven things up a bit but also to spoof the overall dullness of the event's endless speechifying.

Naturally, your interest in said speeches will vary with your degree of devotion to each particular musician.  What really counts, however, is the musical performances by the inductees themselves or by other artists' covering their most popular songs.


This 2-disc set is jam-packed with musical performances which should have fans rocking and rolling Hall-of-Fame style.  I couldn't stand many of them (strictly personal tastes, of course) but the audience seemed to find them highly "entertaining."  I responded likewise to some of my old faves.

The list of inductees and musical performers includes: Rush, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Donovan, Heart, Alice Cooper, John Mellencamp, The Hollies, Leon Russell, Dr. John, Iggy and the Stooges, Abba, Genesis, Phish, Paul Shaffer, Tom Waits, Darlene Love, Small Faces/Faces, Beastie Boys, Freddie King, Randy Newman, Albert King, Quincy Jones, Chris Cornell, Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins, Public Enemy, and several others.


An illustrated booklet contains the entire program for each of the four ceremonies.

Image and sound quality on the two Time-Life Blu-ray discs are fine, so your enjoyment of ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CONCERT: ENCORE will depend entirely on how excited you get perusing the list of participants.  For some it should be of sporadic interest. For others, it will provide hours of pure entertainment.

Street Date: September 21, 2018
BD/DVD SRP: $39.99/$34.99




Share/Save/Bookmark

Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper in Monkees' Film "Head" (1968) (video)




A young Jack Nicholson co-wrote the Monkees' wildly surrealistic film "Head."

He even made a brief cameo appearance...
...along with future "Easy Rider" co-star Dennis Hopper.

The bizarre film was similar to the 1967 Nicholson-penned "The Trip" (1967) with Peter Fonda.

But Monkees' teenybopper fans didn't know what to make of it, and it helped deep-six the band.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!




Share/Save/Bookmark

Film Movement Classics' Third Steamy Release in the Joseph W. Sarno Retrospect Series: CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE, SIN IN THE SUBURBS & WARM NIGHTS HOT PLEASURES On 10/2




"[Sarno is] one of the true pioneers if celluloid erotica and one of sexploitation's most sincere and critically-acclaimed stylists" -- Anthology Film Archives.

THIS OCTOBER, FILM MOVEMENT CLASSICS DELIVERS THREE BRAND NEW HD RESTORATIONS IN ONE STEAMY BLU-RAY IN THE JOSEPH W. SARNO RETROSPECT SERIES

CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE
&
SIN IN THE SUBURBS
&
WARM NIGHTS HOT PLEASURES


These Celluloid Classics Make their Blu-ray Debut in a Collection Featuring
New 2K Theatrical Masters and Exclusive Bonus Features Such as Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas, Joe and Peggy Sarno and More!

Street Date: October 2, 2018
BD/DVD SRP: $39.95/$29.95

SYNOPSIS
A pioneer of sexploitation cinema, American film director and screenwriter Joseph W. Sarno's (1921-2010) prolific career spans the evolution of the genre. "One of the true pioneers of celluloid erotica [1]," he was also dubbed the "Chekov of soft-core" by The Village Voice.  Film Movement Classics has partnered with Film Media and Something Weird to debut three new Sarno classics, remastered in HD and on Blu-ray for the very first time with the third installment in the Joseph W. Sarno Retrospect Series with CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE & SIN IN THE SUBURBS & WARM NIGHTS HOT PLEASURES. Packaged together for the first time, this exclusive collection featuring specially-produced extras, audio commentary and more, will be available for cineastes everywhere on both Blu-ray ($39.95srp) and DVD ($29.95srp).

Sarno first explored the dark side of the American dream in his 1964 drama SIN IN THE SUBURBS, hailed by DVD Drive-In as "a ground-breaking masterpiece." 10 years later, his return to this theme resulted in one of the most critically and commercially successful films of his career, CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE. Presented with these two major works is Sarno's immediate follow-up to SIN IN THE SUBURBS, WARM NIGHTS HOT PLEASURES.

In CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE, New York sophisticates Carole and Eddie spice up their sex life by swapping partners with their close friends, Anna and Pete. An unexpected visit from Carole's young, attractive and recently widowed mother, Jennifer, throws a temporary wrench into their plans.

Confessions of a Young American Housewife Trailer


SIN IN THE SUBURBS stars Audrey Campbell as Geraldine Lewis, a lonely housewife and mother who distracts herself with racy friends and a secret affair.  Discovered in the arms of another man, Geraldine immerses herself in a secret sex club, only to make a shocking discovery!

Sin In the Suburbs - Official Movie Trailer


And, a sultry snapshot of Times Square in the early '60s, WARM NIGHTS AND HOT PLEASURES follows three ambitious college girls eager to make their mark on Broadway. After renting a room from a men's magazine model, the girls are immersed in a lurid world of wild parties, risqué men's clubs and sleazy casting couches. Soon, each one must decide how far she is willing to go for stardom.

Joe Sarno's Warm Nights and Hot Pleasures - Teaser


BONUS FEATURES
Sin in the Suburbs -- Commentary by Tim Lucas, Commentary by Joe and Peggy Sarno, Michael Vraney and Frank Henenlotter
Confessions of a Young American Housewife -- Commentary by Tim Lucas, Mini-commentary by Joe Sarno, Deleted scenes    

ABOUT JOE SARNO
Director and screenwriter Joseph W. Sarno's (1921-2010) career spans the genre. His early black and white films are praised for their chiaroscuro lighting and their complex psycho-sexual plots, but it was his more explicit art-house film, INGA, shot in Sweden in 1968, that brought him international attention. Never a fan of explicit triple-X filmmaking, Sarno continued to write and direct adult films through the 1970s and '80s, often working under a pseudonym or offering his director's credit to the film's female lead. Among his most noted films are SIN IN THE SUBURBS, INGA, ABIGAIL LESLIE IS BACK IN TOWN, and CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE. Recently, Sarno's work has been the subject of retrospectives at several noted institutions and festivals, including Anthology Film Archives, New York Underground Film Festival, the Lake Placid Film Festival, the Vienna Filmmuseum, The Cinemateque Français, The Turin Film Festival, and the Warhol Museum.

ABOUT THE JOSEPH W. SARNO RETROSPECT SERIES
Through Film Movement's partnership with Film Media, a preservation and restoration company dedicated to outstanding independent cinema shot on film, new 2K theatrical masters are being created for the Joseph W. Sarno film library. For years, only poorly-preserved prints were available for retrospective screenings; now, cinema aficionados will be able to screen Sarno's classics, restored to a pristine state for optimal viewing.

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Type:  Blu-ray/DVD
Running Time: 234 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen
Audio: Stereo

About Film Movement
Founded in 2002 as one of the first-ever subscription film services with its DVD-of-the-Month club, Film Movement is now a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City. It has released more than 250 feature films and shorts culled from prestigious film festivals worldwide.  Film Movement's theatrical releases include American independent films, documentaries, and foreign art house titles. Its catalog includes titles by directors such as Hirokazu Kore-eda, Maren Ade, Jessica Hausner, Andrei Konchalovsky, Andrzej Wajda, Diane Kurys, Ciro Guerra and Melanie Laurent. In 2015, Film Movement launched its reissue label Film Movement Classics, featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on Blu-ray and DVD, including films by such noted directors as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway, Bille August, Marleen Gorris, Takeshi Kitano, Arturo Ripstein, Sergio Corbucci and Ettore Scola. For more information, please visit www.filmmovement.com.



Share/Save/Bookmark

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Olive Signature Announcement: "INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS" (1956) On Blu-Ray 10/16/18




LIMITED TO 5,000 BLU-RAY UNITS 

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS – OLIVE SIGNATURE

KEVIN McCARTHY
(Death of a Salesman, The Misfits, Innerspace)
DANA WYNTER
(Airport, Sink the Bismarck, The Crimson Pirate)
LARRY GATES
(Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, In the Heat of the Night, The Sand Pebbles)
KING DONOVAN
(The Defiant Ones, The Enforcer, The Hanging Tree)
CAROLYN JONES
(The Bachelor Party, A Hole in the Head, TV’s The Addams Family)

Directed by
DON SIEGEL
(Dirty Harry, The Shootist, Jinxed)


Don Siegel’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers features the talents of Academy Award® winner Ted Haworth (Best Art Direction, Sayonara – 1958) along with nominees Kevin McCarthy (Best Supporting Actor, Death of a Salesman – 1952), Carolyn Jones (Best Supporting Actress, The Bachelor Party – 1958) and Ellsworth Fredericks (Best Cinematography, Sayonara – 1958).

YEAR: 1956
GENRE: SCI-FI
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH (with optional English subtitles)
LABEL: OLIVE FILMS
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 80 mins
RATING: N/R
VIDEO: 2.00:1 Aspect Ratio; B&W
AUDIO: MONO

OLIVE SIGNATURE FEATURES
New High-Definition digital restoration
Audio Commentary by film historian Richard Harland Smith
Audio Commentary by actors Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, and filmmaker Joe Dante
"The Stranger in Your Lover's Eyes" – A two-part visual essay with actor and son of director Don Siegel, Kristoffer Tabori, reading from his father's book A Siegel Film
"The Fear is Real" – Filmmakers Larry Cohen and Joe Dante on the film's cultural significance
"I No Longer Belong: The Rise and Fall of Walter Wanger" – Film scholar and author Matthew Bernstein discusses the life and career of the film's producer
"Sleep No More: Invasion of the Body Snatchers Revisited" –  Never-before-seen appreciation of the film featuring actors Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, along with comments from film directors and fans, John Landis, Mick Garris, and Stuart Gordon
"The Fear and the Fiction: The Body Snatchers Phenomenon" – Never-before-seen interviews with Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, along with film directors John Landis, Mick Garris and Stuart Gordon, discussing the making of the film, its place in history, and its meaning
1985 archival interview with Kevin McCarthy hosted by Tom Hatten
“Return to Santa Mira" – An exploration of the film's locations
"What's In a Name?" – On the film's title
Gallery of rare documents detailing aspects of the film's production including the never-produced opening narration to have been read by Orson Welles
Essay by author and film programmer Kier-La Janisse
Original theatrical trailer


“They’re already here! You’re next!” With these chilling words, Invasion of the Body Snatchers sounded a clarion call to the dangers of conformity, paranoia, and mass hysteria at the heart of 1950s American life. Considered one of the greatest science fiction films ever made, Invasion of the Body Snatchers stars Kevin McCarthy (Academy Award® nominee, Best Supporting Actor, Death of A Salesman – 1952) as Miles Bennell, a doctor in a small California town whose patients are becoming increasingly overwrought, accusing their loved ones of being emotionless imposters. They’re right! Plant-like aliens have invaded Earth, taking possession of humans as they sleep and replicating them in giant seed pods. Convinced that a catastrophic epidemic is imminent, Bennell, in a terrifying race for his life, must warn the world of this deadly invasion of the pod people before it’s too late.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers, directed by the accomplished Don Siegel (Dirty Harry, The Shootist) and co-starring Dana Wynter (Airport), Carolyn Jones (A Hole in the Head), Larry Gates (The Sand Pebbles) and King Donovan (The Enforcer), was photographed by Academy Award nominee Ellsworth Fredericks (Best Cinematography, Sayonara – 1958) with production design by Academy Award winner Ted Haworth (Best Art Direction, Sayonara – 1958).

US+CANADA
STREET: 10/16/18
CAT: OS018
UPC: 887090601801
SRP: $39.95

Copyright © 2018 Olive Films, All rights reserved.




Share/Save/Bookmark

BLOOD CHILD -- Movie Review by Porfle




Get ready to duck, because BLOOD CHILD (Random Media, 2017) throws everything it can get its hands on at the viewer, including the bloody kitchen sink.

We know right away that Ashley (Alyx Melone) is either nuts or dabbling in the supernatural when we see her and her obsequious maid from Singapore, Siti (Cynthia Lee MacQuarrie) cavorting in the backyard with a little girl in a red dress not long after Ashley's tragic, traumatic miscarriage.

It's made pretty clear that not only does Ashley not have a daughter, but Siti has a penchant for the black arts and has somehow cooked up a phantom replacement for Ashley's lost child.


Ashley's husband Bill (Biden Hall), a semi-dickish business executive whose friends are all cretins, and her obnoxious BFF neighbor Naomi (Charlotte Cattell), both find Siti creepy and both begin to experience nerve-wracking visions of Ashley's "blood child" suddenly popping up in dark, spooky places.

When Ashley's home pregnancy test reads positive one day, the semi-happy couple are joined by Ashley's mom Renee (Lisa Kovack), who will finally experience enough weird stuff going on in and around the house to put her foot down and demand Bill take action.  But will it be too late to save Ashley's unborn baby from her jealous, clinging ghost daughter?


What makes BLOOD CHILD watchable is the fact that writer-director Jennifer Phillips has embellished this rather simple story with such a non-stop string of shocks, stings, and spooky "gotchas" that some of them occasionally work, while the rest generate enough fun and interest to keep us watching.

The best scares come whenever the ghoulishly-grinning ghost girl appears lurking in a dark corner or under a couch in the middle of the night, or popping up behind someone's back in a mirror.  Of course, these moments don't work every time and aren't always pulled off that effectively, so it's all a bit hit and miss.

This is also true for the usual mysterious odors, loud noises, and other stuff that the typically skeptical characters dismiss with "it's just an old house" until enough freaky stuff happens to finally convince them.


The cast is adequately frantic even when their reactions don't make sense, as when an extremely disturbing experience is followed by a shot of everyone sitting around the dinner table.

The script just keeps barreling along despite all improbabilities, serving up more derivative ghostly goings-on to grab our attention until the usual ironically-downbeat ending.

There's a shocking bit of gore here and there, and plenty of creepy action that scarcely lets up.  There's isn't a lot of finesse to be found in BLOOD CHILD,  but horror fans not in an overly demanding mood should find it a pleasantly unpleasant diversion. 




Available Nationwide on Digital HD and Cable VOD



Share/Save/Bookmark

One of Shemp's Funniest 3 Stooges Scenes: "Sing a Song of Six Pants" (1947) (video)





"Sing a Song of Six Pants" (1947)

Shemp Howard is at his best in this memorable scene...

...as the Three Stooges play the world's worst tailors.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!




Share/Save/Bookmark

Monday, September 17, 2018

LOST CHILD -- DVD Review by Porfle




Capturing the green, light-dappled ambience of the Ozark backwoods in all its sometimes blissful, sometimes ominous solitude is just one of the things co-writer (with Tim Macy) and director Ramaa Mosley does to a turn in the quietly riveting psychological thriller LOST CHILD (2018).

Mosley also takes advantage of the local color in casting as well as giving us leads who convincingly portray these pastoral characters with hardly a hint of stereotyping.  The rich characterizations help propel the languidly-moving story which, in an almost stream of consciousness style, slowly swirls around us and draws us in like an undertow.

Leven Rambin (THE HUNGER GAMES) plays Fern, seperated from her brother Billy after a childhood trauma and now, after fifteen years in the military, returning home to search for her errant brother.  Haunted by PTSD and unsure about her future, she moves into her deceased father's backwoods hovel and tries to track Billy down when she isn't boozing herself into forgetfulness and looking for love in all the wrong places.


The film takes its time settling us into a laconic pace that gives things plenty of time to unfold.  Some of these include Fern's encounters with a shotgun-wielding hermit who orders her away from his crumbling shack and another isolated loner who likes to start fires.  His knowledge of local supernatural legends will come into play later on in a big way.

Just when we've been properly acclimated to LOST CHILD's aura of slow-burning tension, out of the shadowy woods comes the title child, a scruffy but sweetly needy little boy named Cecil (Landon Edwards).  Cecil seems to have no home or family, at least none he cares to divulge, but in no time he latches onto Fern with a heartrending hint of desperation.

The last thing Fern wants is a dependant, but she takes him in for the night and, after some encouragement by young social worker Mike (Jim Parrack, SUICIDE SQUAD, "True Blood"), with whom she recently shared a one-night stand, lets him live with her until a foster family can be found.


The story starts getting really good when the more superstitious locals inform Fern of the legend of the "Tatterdemalion", a childlike forest wraith who latches onto people and drains them of their lifeforce.  Her growing affection for the boy clashes with an even stronger suspicion that the stories are true when she starts getting sick and other strange things start to happen.

What could've easily devolved into a lower-grade horror story is deftly handled here, with touching human drama intermingling with the constant presence of an eerie, unsettling unknown that gradually settles in until we start feeling those tingly chills.

It's a delicate balance, and one which director Mosley manages to maintain with the help of a top-notch cast.  Especially impressive is young Landon Edwards in his screen debut as Cecil--he nails the role with utter conviction and a natural intuitiveness.


His exchanges with the equally talented Leven Rambin as imperfect but likable Fern, whether they're bonding emotionally or clashing over his strange, inexplicable behavior at times are richly compelling.  As for the rest of the cast, their effortless authenticity offers unyielding support.

The DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures is in 2.39:1 widescreen with English Dolby 5.1 sound. Closed captioned but not subtitled.  Extras include four behind-the-scenes featurettes and trailers for this and other Breaking Glass releases.

LOST CHILD works as a creepy campfire tale at times, but one that leads us through a gamut of feelings and impressions.  It's ultimately an engaging human story that's light and dark in turn, like a nightmare that's so captivating that you'd rather see how it plays out than wake up from it.




THEATRICAL: September 14, 2018
New York - Cinema Village
Los Angeles - Laemmle Monica
Missouri - Glass Sword


DVD/VOD RELEASE: September 18, 2018



Share/Save/Bookmark

Bridesmaid Blooper in Bela Lugosi's "The Corpse Vanishes" (Monogram, 1942) (video)




In the Bela Lugosi thriller "The Corpse Vanishes"...

...a young bride dies moments after her vows.

Naturally, the bridesmaids are totally grief-stricken.

Well, maybe not totally...


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!



Share/Save/Bookmark

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Visible Clapper Blooper in "Manos: The Hands Of Fate" (1966) (video)




Many would consider this entire movie to be a blooper.

But even in a film of this dubious quality...

...a visible clapper is a bit much.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!



Share/Save/Bookmark

Saturday, September 15, 2018

All The Narration: "Beast Of Yucca Flats" (1961) (video)




"Flag on the moon.  How did it get there?"

Easily the most noteworthy thing about this eccentric low-budget film...

...is its bizarre narration.

Monotone, redundant, and at times downright disorienting.

Read our review of the movie

Porfle Presents: Coleman Francis' 2001: A Space Odyssey

I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!


Share/Save/Bookmark

Friday, September 14, 2018

Universal Pictures, Miramax and Blumhouse Productions' "HALLOWEEN" with Jamie Lee Curtis -- New Pics, Poster, Info



UNIVERSAL PICTURES, MIRAMAX and BLUMHOUSE PRODUCTIONS Present 

A MALEK AKKAD Production
In Association with ROUGH HOUSE PICTURES 

JAMIE LEE CURTIS
"HALLOWEEN"
 

In Halloween, JAMIE LEE CURTIS returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.  Master of horror JOHN CARPENTER executive produces and serves as creative consultant on this film, joining forces with cinema’s current leading producer of horror, JASON BLUM (Get Out, Split, The Purge, Paranormal Activity). 

Inspired by Carpenter’s classic, filmmakers DAVID GORDON GREEN (Stronger), DANNY MCBRIDE (HBO’s Eastbound & Down) and JEFF FRADLEY (HBO’s Vice Principals) crafted a story that carves a new path from the events in the landmark 1978 film, and Green also directs. Based on characters created by Carpenter and DEBRA HILL, Halloween is also produced by MALEK AKKAD, whose Trancas International Films has produced the Halloween series since its inception, and BILL BLOCK (Bad Moms, District 9).  


Curtis is joined on screen by JUDY GREER (Jurassic World, Ant-Man) as Karen, Laurie’s daughter who was taken away from her when Karen was a child, and who fluctuates between sympathy for her mother and frustration at the nonstop paranoia; newcomer ANDI MATICHAK as Allyson, Karen’s teenager who is attempting to navigate the rift between her mom and grandmother; WILL PATTON (TV’s Falling Skies, Armageddon) as Officer Hawkins, who was a young cop the night Michael Myers was taken into custody 40 years prior; HALUK BILGINER as Dr. Sartain, the psychiatrist who’s overseen Michael’s incarceration for decades; VIRGINIA GARDNER (Hulu’s The Runaways) as Vicky, Allyson’s best friend since they were young girls; and stuntman/performer JAMES JUDE COURTNEY (Far and Away), who portrays Michael Myers/The Shape. 

As well, NICK CASTLE (1978’s Halloween) appears in a cameo as The Shape. Accompanying Green behind the scenes is a seasoned group of creative talent, including director of photography MICHAEL SIMMONDS (Paranormal Activity 2, Cell), production designer RICHARD WRIGHT (Mud, All the Real Girls), Academy Award® winning special effects makeup designer CHRISTOPHER NELSON (Suicide Squad, Avengers: Infinity War) editor TIM ALVERSON (Insidious: The Last Key, Orphan), costume designer EMILY GUNSHOR (TV’s The Last O.G., Salt) and composers CODY CARPENTER (TV’s Masters of Horror) and DANIEL DAVIES (Condemned), who are joined in those duties by John Carpenter.

ZANNE DEVINE (I, Tonya), DAVID THWAITES (Black Swan), JEANETTE VOLTURNO (Get Out), COUPER SAMUELSON (The Purge series), RYAN FREIMANN (The Hatred), and Curtis executive produce the film alongside John Carpenter.  Green and McBride serve in the same capacity under their Rough House Pictures banner.   Universal Pictures distributes Trancas International Films, Blumhouse Productions and Miramax’s Halloween worldwide.
 

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
 

Resetting the Timeline: Halloween Begins

Malek Akkad—whose family’s production company, Trancas International Films, has produced the Halloween series since its inception—was open to a fresh take on the story and found a likeminded creative partner in Jason Blum.  His fellow producer, whose Blumhouse Productions—responsible for delivering smash-hits from Get Out and Split to the films in The Purge series—has a first-look deal with distributor Universal Pictures. 

Long impressed by Blum’s ability to marry abject terror with impeccable quality, Akkad was keen to embark upon a project with a fellow filmmaker who had a deep passion for his father’s co-creation…and someone who could help him breathe unexpected new life into the franchise. Akkad gives us a bit of background on how it all began, an incredulous 40 years ago: “The original film came about when my father, Moustapha Akkad, and a gentleman named Irwin Yablans started a distribution company, Compass International Pictures.  They were looking for some projects that they could self-finance and distribute and were fans of John Carpenter’s early work: Assault on Precinct 13.  They had a meeting with him, and he had a concept for a low-budget film called The Babysitter Murders.  They took a risk, and the rest is history.”

Carpenter remembers those early years.  “The distributor asked me to make this film for 200,000 bucks, and I said, ‘Sure I can.  I just want creative control and my name above the credits.’”  Reflecting on his creation with co-writer Debra Hill, Carpenter understands why audiences continue to be terrified by this embodiment of fear.  “Michael Myers, with his mask and his gas-station attendant’s uniform, is a character who is between a human being and the supernatural.  He is the ultimate force of evil.  He is ruthless, and there’s no reasoning or praying to God to save you.  He has a single purpose, and that’s to kill you.  Michael Myers is a relentless force of nature.  He’s just coming, and you got to get out of his way.”

A massive fan of the first Halloween, Blum feels that it’s one of the most perfect horror films ever made…and had no interest in developing the project without running it by the director who’d inspired much of his own career.  “Getting John Carpenter’s blessing was a prerequisite for Blumhouse being involved in this movie,” Blum reflects.  “I wasn’t going to pursue making a Halloween movie without him.  So, the first person I went to was John.  I asked him, ‘Do you want to jump in?’  He happily agreed to do just that.” Blum promised Carpenter—who calls Blum “the LeBron James of horror cinema”—that they wouldn’t move forward until he was happy with the director they had in mind…as well as the script that was being developed.


To that end, Blum knew one filmmaker he thought might be interested.  What he found was that David Gordon Green would not only want to helm Halloween, he’d want to collaborate with his longtime writing partners to craft the screenplay.   “We believe strongly at Blumhouse that you don’t need a great horror-movie director to make great horror movies,” the producer says.  “You need a  of horror cinema”—that they wouldn’t move forward until he was happy with the director they had in mind…as well as the script that was being developed.

great movie director.  I’ve admired David since his first film, George Washington, and I’ve reached out to him on multiple occasions hoping to lure him in.  Halloween was when it finally happened.  David fits very much into our philosophy: If you’re a great director, we can help you make a great scary movie.” When it came to a chapter that would wake up the franchise, the producers leaned into this idea of this filmmaker not known for horror. 

“After having met so many directors and hearing several pitches, Miramax and I were able to bring Jason on board, and he deserves credit for bringing David to the picture,” lauds Akkad.  “I have been a fan of David’s for years, and before even meeting I thought it would be an amazing opportunity.  Jeff, Danny and David came in and pitched their take; the rest is becoming history.”

For Blum, it is the not knowing the why behind Michael Myers’ motivation that is so terrifying.  He also wholly agreed with the collaborators’ idea that this should be Laurie’s final confrontation with Michael, and that the film would reset the series.  “This was 100 percent their pitch to me.  The idea I brought to Jeff, Danny and David was to make a new Halloween movie.  I told them they should imagine what would excite them and what they would most like to see.  It was their idea to make this movie a continuation of the first Halloween.”

Green recalls that hearing from Blum was one of the more pivotal episodes of his career.  “I remember that moment vividly, getting up in the morning and seeing this email from Jason asking to have me in the Halloween franchise.  I immediately felt strange, like when you’re standing on the edge of a cliff and your legs start to give out.  It triggered a lot of my enthusiasm from when I was a kid and would sneak into movies I shouldn’t have been watching.  Halloween was the pinnacle of all of them.” 

Block, who has produced fare as varied as the thought-provoking District 9 and Elysium to the crowd-pleasing Bad Moms films, agreed with his fellow producers that Green was the ideal choice to direct the new film.  “You see few directors move in genres as effortlessly as David has in the course of his career.  He has this scholarly understanding and elevation of all that has come before.  He has digested it and taken it a giant step forward; that’s set up a new bar of excellence.”

The producer shares that the matchup between Michael Myers and Laurie Strode is one for which audiences have waited a long time, and Green surpassed his expectations.  “You go to a movie for an absolute thrill ride and for the surprise.  The journey, particularly in this one—and this confrontation that has been brewing for 40 years between these two—upon his release is very satisfying.”



Share/Save/Bookmark

Bela Lugosi Meets Killer Octopus in "Bride of the Monster" (1955) (video)




In Ed Wood's classic horror thriller "Bride of the Monster"...

...Bela (with stuntman Eddie Parker) runs afoul of Bela's own killer octopus.

(spoilers)


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!





Share/Save/Bookmark

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Two TV Icons Played Frontier Women In "SHANE" (1953) (video)




Most of us know Nancy Kulp as Miss Jane Hathaway in "The Beverly Hillbillies."

And Ellen Corby as Grandma in "The Waltons."

But before they became TV icons, they were young frontier wives in the 1953 western classic SHANE.

"Petticoat Junction" star Edgar Buchanan ("Uncle Joe") is also on hand.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!





Share/Save/Bookmark

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Larry Blows A Line In The 3 Stooges' "Gents Without Cents" (1944) (video)




In this one, the Stooges entertain some workers with their "Niagra Falls" routine...

...in which Moe and Larry, in turn, are enraged by the words "Niagra Falls."

Both have the same reaction: "Niagra Falls!"

"Slowly I turned...step by step...inch by inch..."

But when they do it in unison, Larry forgets to say "Step by step."

The seasoned performers cover Larry's blooper and finish the routine.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!



Share/Save/Bookmark

"THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE" -- Shout! Studios Brings of of the Most Beloved Musicals of All Time to BD/DVD On 11/6



"Mesmerizing!" - The Daily Mail (UK)
 

IN TIME FOR THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED MUSICALS OF ALL TIME, SHOUT! STUDIOS BRINGS THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE HOME ON BLU-RAY & DVD

Destined to Become a New Family Favorite, The Cinematic Production Pays Tribute to the Broadway Show Featuring Such Perennial Classic Songs as "My Favorite Things" and "Sixteen Going on Seventeen"; the Blu-ray & DVD also Includes Audio Commentary and a Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

This November, Rodgers & Hammerstein's beloved family classic comes to rich musical life once again with THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE, an ambitious, live-broadcast production from BAFTA-nominated director Coky Giedroyc. This release presents the American premiere of the production first broadcast live in the United Kingdom. Paying tribute to the timeless Broadway show soon celebrating its 60th anniversary, one of the most beloved musicals of all time will arrive on Blu-ray and DVD on November 6, just in time for the holidays!

Since the show debuted on Broadway in 1959, it has become a favorite of families the world over with such perennially classic and unforgettable songs as "The Sound of Music," "Edelweiss," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," "My Favorite Things" and many others. THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE, destined to become a new family chestnut, brings this beloved and timeless story to lavish life with a cinematically staged production featuring three soundstages and over 150 period costumes, all stunningly shot with 17 cameras.

In the new production, the spectacular Kara Tointon (Mr Selfridge, EastEnders) delivers a "mesmerizing performance and incredible vocal talents" (Daily Mail) as Maria, the tomboyish nun who reluctantly becomes the governess for seven children living in the shadow of their stern widower father (Julian Ovenden, Downton Abbey). Along with her required duties, Maria brings love, music and excitement back into the children's lives ... and also eventually begins to have an effect on their father. But just when things are looking up, the rise of Nazism and the looming threat of war darkens their future.

Supported by Katherine Kelly (Mr Selfridge, Coronation Street) as Baroness Elsa Schraeder and Alexander Armstrong (The Armstrong and Miller Show, Danger Mouse) as Max Detweiler, THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE -- which also features "How Can Love Survive" a song not in the original movie but part of the stage show since 1959 -- is an enchanting experience that will remain with audiences long after the last curtain call.

Bonus Features
Audio Commentary With Kara Tointon And Julian Ovenden
Behind-The-Scenes Featurette

About Shout! Studios
Shout! Studios is the filmed entertainment production and distribution arm of Shout! Factory, specializing in all aspects of distribution, including theatrical, VOD, digital and broadcast. Reflecting Shout! Factory's ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence, Shout! Studios champions and supports like-minded filmmakers and creators at the forefront of pop culture, driving creative expression and diversity in independent storytelling. Shout! Studios finances, produces, acquires and distributes an eclectic slate of movies, award-winning animated features, specialty films and series from rising and established talent, filmmakers and producers.


Share/Save/Bookmark

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Alternate Head Explosion: "Scanners" (David Cronenberg, 1981) (video)




(Caution: contains graphic SPFX violence)

The most stunning scene in David Cronenberg's "Scanners"...
...is undoubtedly the infamous head explosion.

A duplicate of actor Louis Del Grande's head was made and filled with various gooey substances. 
Different methods of exploding it were tried, but none looked convincing.

One of them, using actual explosives, can be seen in the film's trailer.
It's obvious why it didn't work, but still interesting to watch.

Finally it was decided to simply blast the fake head from behind with a shotgun.
And thus, the iconic head explosion as seen by shocked audiences in the final film. 


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!




Share/Save/Bookmark

Monday, September 10, 2018

THE TOYBOX -- DVD Review by Porfle



When I found out that THE TOYBOX (2018) is about a family terrorized by a haunted RV, I thought, "They can't be serious."  Well, they probably aren't--not entirely, anyway.  But they totally play it that way, which is what makes it work so well.

It's a scary-looking old RV to begin with, and when widowed dad Charles (Greg Violand) wrangles his dysfunctional family into a road trip into the desert--to see cave paintings, no less--things just naturally get progressively worse even before the damn thing starts going all supernatural on them.

Weed-puffing slacker Jay (Brian Nagel) hates Dad and resents buttoned-down brother Steve (Jeff Denton), who has wife Jennifer (Denise Richards), cute daughter Olivia (Malika Michelle), and their family dog in tow.


The rickety RV turns into even more of a hotbox when they pick up stranded motorists Samantha (Mischa Barton, THE SIXTH SENSE, DESERTED) and her brother Mark (Matt Mercer).

Then, in a totally non-unexpected turn of events, Dad takes a wrong side road and ends up in the middle of the desert with a dead engine and a bunch of people seriously getting on each other's nerves.

Director and co-scripter Tom Nagel (CLOWNTOWN) has a tight budget and knows how to get the most out of it, building tension fast and keeping it going with barely a let-up.


His direction inside that cramped RV is on the mark, and the script is lean and on point from start to finish.  Performances are just right as well, with Richards and Barton leading an enthusiastic cast.

Family problems, it turns out, are secondary when the ghostly stuff really starts to kick in. At first there are several spooky hints that something's up (things moving by themselves, traces of blood and hair in the sink, weird hallucinations, etc.)

This gradually escalates to an all-out haunting with blood-splattered phantoms popping up here and there and deadly "accidents" striking down random members of the group one by one.


The film has a knack for building an eerie suspense and keeping us off-guard, coming up short only when the secrets behind the ghostly manifestations are depicted in too literal a fashion. Likewise, it's the build-up between the jump scares that's most effective here, rather than the shocks themselves.

The DVD from Skyline Entertainment and Steel House Productions contains a cast and crew commentary and trailer, as well as a 9-minute making-of featurette. English subtitles are optional.

While the idea of a killer RV firing itself up and running over people with their screaming loved ones trapped inside is definitely over-the-top, THE TOYBOX is done in such an earnest manner that I found myself just sitting back and enjoying the ride.




The ToyBox: 95 minutes / USA / Not Rated

Opens in Limited Release September 14th
Nationwide Digital and Blu-ray Release September 18th




Share/Save/Bookmark