AN AMERICAN HAUNTING Film Review - 25/6/06

This film starts out suitably as a gothic horror and actually feels like a modern attempt at a Hammer film of the late 50's with all it's swirling mists and fog and scratchy tree branches in eerie forests full of dark glades and shadows. Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek head the cast and the film starts off in current times and flashes back to the 1800's and dishes out the tale of a family who has been afflicted with a curse and that's it! For around 2 hours of mayhem with all manner of creepy happenings and going-ons that really felt similar to the film "The Entity" that was when the clue struck me. What was happening was a psychological not supernatural event and the ending cop's out back in modern times as the realisation dawns. As a clever chiller with a twist it is fine until you get to the end which makes you feel let down and other people I have spoken to about the ending felt the same. The feel of the movie, it's settings and tone are spot on and really evoke the period part - But wham - That ending leaves it flat!

THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD - TV Film Review 25/6/06

Unfortunately some things don't age well and this 1970 campy horror is a perfect example! Whilst the mood and atmospheric tension is fairly well cranked up there is little of substance to the four stories on offer here. Hammer have had better portmanteau platters to feast on - But this rather limp affair from Writer Robert Bloch border's on the insipid. As a retro-comedy the 70's fashions are great: We get the sight of pre-Indiana Jones Denholm Elliot flouncing around in a lurid pink shirt and cravat, the view of pre-Star Wars Peter Cushing in a bright red smoking jacket and strangely enough Jon Pertwee looking every inch the new Dr.Who (1970 - 1974) in a frilly white shirt and felt floppy hat before he had even taken the role on! Needless to say there is no house dripping blood but this was before Trading Standards in Advertising and zero gore; but if you really DO need to watch this, it is available on DVD - Both versions even come with a nice selection of small but interesting Special Features.
The Region 1 (USA) DVD Cover -
The Region 2 (UK) DVD Cover -

Further BRICK Update!

Further to my BRICK Review this little snippet above sez that it will be available on Region 1 (USA) DVD from the 8/8/06 which is great news for this cool film!

BRICK Film Review - 18/6/06

This is the first film from Writer/Director Rian Johnson who managed to pull together a good cast with a sprinkle of well known names amongst them; especially in the shape of the lead, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (more well known from TV's "3rd Rock From The Sun") who was fresh from filming the anguishing film "Mysterious Skin" with it's tragic heart-rending story. Backed up with current hot favorite Emilie de Ravin and Matt O'Leary ("Frailty" another gripping thriller) we also get the character of The Pin in the form of Lukas Haas and even a nice cameo from Richard Roundtree as the School Principal. The top poster was featured at The Sundance Film Festival where "Brick" received a good showing coming across as a modern-genre film noir set in the youth counter culture vein. Watching it a second time around things make even more sense from a tightly scripted but convoluted and somewhat confusing plot. You really have to watch this one closely to understand what is happening to who, when and where and why? A stylish affair I caught the trailer for this on a Region 1 DVD a few months back and was immediately drawn to it by it's incredibly chilling soundtrack especially the haunting "Emily's Theme" by The Cinematic Underground - So much so that I have tracked down the band's first CD album "Annasthesia" and bought the "Brick: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" to boot as well! Some of the excellent camera framing in this movie has a strong atmospheric feel; a particular scene being a shot set on a beach where the characters of Brendan and The Pin are in black silhouette, set against an orange sundown talking about Tolkien. I won't go into the film too much as it will give most of the story away - But suffice to say Levitt's character of Brendan attempts to help out ex-girlfriend Emily (de Ravin) who gets way too deep into something and he has to put the puzzle pieces together to help her. I look forward to future work by Writer/Director Rian Johnson if it is as good as this first effort!

THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL EDITION DVD 17/6/06

This month we have the remake of Wes Craven's "The Hills Have Eyes" [As above the DVD cover of the Region 1 (USA) Unrated Version] by Director Alexandre Aja - Wes Craven is kept on as a Producer on this production. Now having moaned about remakes I cannot compare this to the original as I have not seen it; so I'll go along with it's own merits, from the opening to the end. This does not waste time and roars straight into an extremely unpleasant opening with a throbbing and grinding soundtrack that more or less set's the tone for the whole film. In fact besides getting increasingly violent and horrific right from the start it keeps this going until the end of the movie. Ted Levine ("Silence Of The Lambs") heads his family out onto the road into the desert and regrets it big-time alongside wife Kathleen Quinlan ("Event Horizon") with assorted family members including Aaron Stanford (from "X-Men") and Emilie de Ravin (of TV's "Lost" and upcoming thriller "Brick") who meet a hellish horde of mutants intent on fucking, killing & eating them. Cropping up as one of these muties is genre king Billy Drago (as Papa Jupiter) with so many credits to his name it is hard to keep up with him. Not only are the SFX in this film extreme but also very realistic - So realistic in fact that I genuinely had a couple of FUCK ME moments when I actually shouted out - Once with a scene in an outhouse and later on with a spiked axe and someone's anatomy. Also I must have jumped or been startled a couple of times as well. This is a very graphic, nasty picture that does not pull any of it's punches. You either kill or be killed. This isn't all sleaze and blood and guts though - It does actually have a plot thread running through it and the tone can be seen quite clearly in the opening titles from the footage of atomic bomb testing and subsequent mutations seen. Well acted; with good effects, this film is the true horror within a horror in several ways and with several meanings.
SPECIAL FEATURES: This Unrated DVD Version has the footage not seen in the Cinema Version which had an R Rating. Audio Commentary by Alexandre Aja, Gregory Levasseur and Marianne Maddalena. Audio Commentary by Wes Craven and Peter Locke. "Surviving The Hills: Making Of The Hills Have Eyes" Documentary - a very thorough and informative background piece on all aspects of the Film's production. Production Diaries - Interesting in themselves. Music Video: Leave The Broken Hearts by The Finalist. English 5.1. Spanish Dolby Surround. Close Captioned. 2006/Colour 108 Minutes. Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1 Subtitled in English, Spanish, French. Dual Layer. Region 1 (USA) NTSC. Special Features not Close Captioned. 20th Century Fox HE/Fox Searchlight Pictures. ISBN # 024543247470.

POSEIDON Film Review - 12/6/06

NOOOOOOOO! Do we really need another remake? For the past couple of years it's been remake city - Everyone seems to think that if in Hollywood you can't come up with a fresh idea then it's time for a remake from the back catalogue? What exactly was Kurt Russell thinking of? For that matter what was Richard Dreyfuss thinking? Will it be Tom Cruise next with a pile of SFX for the almost inevitable remake of "Earthquake"? Will we get the sight of Harrison Ford all dolled up as a Fire Officer for "The Towering Inferno"? Really - I'm not kidding - Remake's are starting to get tiresome, dire and dull! To be perfectly honest Wolfgang Petersen directs a reasonably taut disaster movie that would certainly put you off cruise liners and water. From one horrific scene to another as various people get drowned and roasted by fire, you get thrown into one situation after another with nail chewing going into overdrive. But unfortunately it's the standard rent-a-cast of disposable stereotype characters - I'm amazed we didn't get the cute fluffy dog, nun or even a blind person to up the ante. So although it's an entertaining remake I'd rather see Hollywood funds going into something new with something to say instead of a retread.

THE LAST SEDUCTION (DVD Review) - 12/6/06

Having caught this a few years ago on TV and recording it; I never got around to actually watching it properly, but it was of sufficient interest for me to buy on DVD. Unfortunately as usual it was only available here in the UK and in the States as a crappy bare-bones Vanilla disc; with a tired stereo soundtrack so I didn't bother buying it, and added it to my "buy list" for a decent future re-release. Now it's time has come and the picture above shows the Region 2 (UK) DVD 2-Disc Special Edition in all it's glory. Thanks goes to Network DVD (www.networkdvd.co.uk) who have made it available to be seen once again with a revamped 5.1. Soundtrack and a nice selection of Special Features. People have said they thought this had a lot of comedy too it - I think they are wrong! I think it's a case of nasty people doing nasty things to each other in unpleasant ways. Apart from Peter Berg's character who masterfully underplays his role of the naive small-town boy Mike the rest are all bastards. Self-serving queen bitch Bridget (Played wonderfully over the top and cool as ice) by Linda Fiorentino rips off hubby Bill Pullman after a drug deal and does a runner to cow country shitsville USA and then a whole lot of mess hits the fan. Hiring a private investigator (Bill Nunn) he attempts to track her down and get his cash back whilst his wife gets in contact with her lawyer (J.T.Walsh) in an effort to keep the stolen cash. As a film noir it fit's into the genre quite nicely and is vaguely reminiscent of 1987's "Fatal Attraction" and 1992's "Basic Instinct" in it's portrayal of strong no-nonsense women who don't give a fuck. Twists and turns propel the viewer through a gamut of cross and double-cross as we wend our way into the final showdown. An excellent thriller which pushes all the right buttons as Fiorentino's character screw's with everyone's heads in even the smallest of ways to get what she wants. The overly long wait to a deservedly good DVD release has 2 versions of the film in this set - A 5.1. revamped Soundtrack Mix on the Standard Edition and an Extended Director's Cut with previously unseen footage (Unfortunately this version is only available with a stereo soundtrack and very poor quality timecoded VHS footage inserted) but apart from these two small problems this footage is classic gold for film fan's because not only does it considerably extend the film it add's a lot to the films plot and the motivations and reasonings of the characters. We also get the added alternate ending which like the deleted scenes can be watched seperately and with commentary by Director John Dahl. We also get an episode of US Anthology series "Fallen Angels" which was also directed by John Dahl and starred Bill Pullman. Added to this we get an extensive featurette called "The Art Of Seduction" and a 12-Page booklet about the film and not mentioned on the DVD case or cover we get actual "Behind The Scenes" footage from the film set which is a fascinating glimpse of the film-making process of that time. Rating: 18 Certificate. Runtime: 105 Mins Approx. 1993 ITC Entertainment Group/Granada Ventures. 2006 Network DVD. Picture: 1.78:1 Colour. Subtitles: None. Region 2 - PAL. 7952444/ISBN # 5027626244446.

THE 4400 {2nd. Season} (DVD Review) - 10/6/06

Frightening how this show seems to remind me a lot of "Roswell"? This series it even starts off in "The Village Of The Damned" territory as further secrets unravel and accusations fly. Stunning set pieces and some clever plot threads in individual stand-alone episodes really bring this current series along while pulling out all the emotional stops and nerve grinding twists. What other mainstream TV series would dare to fling accusatory statements about Rwandan Genocide into the melting pot when a lot of people don't even know about Rwanda and the atrocities committed there? People have touted this as "an X-Files for a new generation" I think that's trite and rubbish - This show is far more intelligent and so far hasn't got bogged down in it's own mythology of mind-numbing boredom that "The X-Files" became. In 12 episodes of Season 2 "The 4400" has spread a wide tapestry and one can only hope they follow up expectations in Season 3.



The top of this article features the DVD Cover for the Region 1 (USA) 4-Disc Boxset. 2 DVD's per ultra-thin case in a cardboard sleeve. SPECIAL FEATURES: Spread across the 4-Disc Boxset is a couple of features not mentioned on the back of the case. DISC 1: Previews for "The Brady Bunch", "Charmed" & "MacGyver". DISC 2: The first of 3 Audio Commentaries with Jacqueline McKenzie, Joel Gretsch, Craig Sweeny & Ira Steven Behr on Episode "As Fate Would Have It". DISC 3: Audio Commentary on Episode "The Fifth Page". DISC 4: Audio Commentary on Episode "Mommy's Bosses". Main Special Features are also on this disc which comprise the 3 featurettes "Creating The Ball Of Light", "Return Of The 4400" & "A Stitch In Time". NOT RATED. Close Captioned. Special Features Not Rated or Close Captioned. Region 1 (USA) NTSC Colour. Widescreen Format Enhanced For 16:9 TVs. Dolby Digital 5.1./Surround. 2005/2006 CBS Paramount Television/American Zoetrope/Sky TV. 03636/ISBN # 1415716242.

THE 4400 {1st. Season} (DVD Review) - 5/6/06

Nice to see that this First Series of "The 4400" had sufficient ratings to garner a second and now a third season. This opening mini-series (which is only the pilot & 4 other episodes) actually manages to pack in a massive amount of storylines and plot threads leading to endless possibilities? Over the years thousands of people have gone missing suddenly 4400 re-appear exactly as they were when they vanished but now different somehow? Now take it with a large dose of salt but no government on Earth would allow several thousand people loose with unknown powers or anything else for that matter back into the community without making pretty damn sure they weren't a danger to the rest of the planet - But that gripe aside it all rattles along pretty nicely. From the opening pilot with it's genuinely creepy missile attacks on the comet to the eerie feelings of people lost in time and place; it all rolls out as different viewpoints are examined, and various people's stories gradually unfold. Having heard so much about this show I'm glad it was gripping enough for me to want to find out more and I look forward to the Second Series with glee! Language: English. Dolby Digital 5.1. Subtitles: English. Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen. Colour - PAL. Running Time: Approx 247 Mins. Rating: 12. Paramount Pictures/Viacom/American Zoetrope. 2004/2005. GB111153SC/5014437863331>/PHE8633. (Pictured above is the Region 2 (UK) DVD Cover)

FIREWALL Film Review - 5/6/06

Having seen this competent thriller by Director Richard Loncraine it will while away a couple of hours and the last 20 minutes is pretty nail-biting to boot. Harrison Ford capably carries off the family man stuck in the middle of a crisis as bank robber Paul Bettany slowly stitches him up. Virginia Madsen as Ford's wife tries to hold it together as things get well and truly out of hand. Cameos more or less from Robert Patrick, Robert Forster and Alan Arkin pack out a fairly slim plotline that has been retread before but still feels fairly fresh with a couple of new twists as the story spirals to it's inevitable conclusion. If you've a wet Sunday afternoon spare you probably could find the time to sit down and watch this entertaining thriller which is out on Region 1 (USA) DVD very soon.

THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS - Cable TV Review 4/6/06

This programme has played several times on the National Geographic Channel and was recorded on video by a friend who recommended that I give it a watch. Now you would have thought that the Church would have been up in arms about this and not Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code" because this is an actual document that is real and dated to the correct period - So instead of fiction it's fact. If this is so - Then Judas Iscariot has been dealt several centuries worth of injustice and the Church has magnified it's crime. If as this programme purports that Jesus did in fact instruct Judas to betray him and did so on his order's then he has become the fall guy for an infamous act that caused him to be reviled and that the gospel's recount an incorrect version of events. Unfortunately the Church has a habit of dogma that only allows it's view and no one else's and can't be questioned or differed from. If this gnostic codex from that early period of man is one of the many that has been discarded from history just what version of events has Christianity been built on? Frighteningly it all comes down to what you actually believe or more dangerously - What version of events? Available on National Geographic DVD "The Gospel Of Judas" is very thought-provoking stuff and has a few extra Special Features attached. (Below is the DVD Cover) you can pick it up on Regions 1, 2 & 4 with more to follow.

REEKER (DVD Rental Review) - 4/6/06

This is certainly a rare treat! What starts off as a teenage slasher turns into a fairly creepy little chiller which messes with your perceptions and eventually screws your head round. Some very fine touches in the shape of SFX and and storyline lead a fairly unknown ensemble cast with the exception of Michael Ironside in a nice cameo as a possably loopy husband looking for his lost wife. Kids go out to an all-night party and gradually lose contact as mobile phones die, TV stations won't tune in and there is nothing on the radio apart from static. Batteries start to lose power and horrific mutilation victims pass through these wastelands as other stranger things happen. As the tension racks up - the blood really does start to flow and things take a nasty turn as a strange shadow flits in and out of view with a variety of unpleasant blades stashed around it's person. While not quite certain what is happening your liable to jump in a couple of places like I did until the final pieces in the puzzle fall into place revealing just how far off the beaten track you've gone. A clever tale that although derivative deserves to be seen on it's own merits.

OVER THE HEDGE Film Review - 3/6/06

Mightily impressed with this latest Dreamworks offering. Having seen Shrek I found this totally different in style - Tones, colours, textures. It has a variety of ace performances - Particularly William Shatner verily taking the michael out of himself. A self-depreciative Bruce Willis ably backed by Garry Shandling and a wonderful Hammy by Steve Carell. Even Nick Nolte puts in a sly turn with a nice role for Eugene Levy as well and another surprise in Avril Lavigne as Heather. Subtle talents from this cast mix up a simple story well told with a lot of humour and fairly good old fashioned fun but all fairly knowingly. The moral aspects aren't completely hammered home just added with a slight touch. Con-raccoon Willis has to pay back a bear with stolen food big-time and gets involved with a tight-knit group of forest dwellers on the edge of suburbia and all it's riotous perils from the local exterminator to the cuddly rottweiler in between psycho girl scouts and the local business-woman neighbourhood snob. One I hope which will be a 2-disc DVD when it's out with lot's of supplemental detail to round out the package. Please release this soon - I need another dose of Hammy!

THE DA VINCI CODE Film Review - 3/6/06

If the Catholic church seriously believes this piece of tosh will undermine Western civilisation I can only think that their faith isn't on very secure ground. After selling shedload's of the novel by Dan Brown (Workable thriller - Conspiracy - Yawn!!) Director Ron Howard makes a workman like film of the book with a different twist. A virtually unrecognisable Tom Hanks with Audrey Tautou in tow go on the run from French copper Jean Reno amidst a rather dire re-telling of the book. Fairly flat and with no tension at all we get Ian McKellen cropping up to lend support with the likes of Paul Bettany and Alfred Molina and even a cameo from Jurgen Prochnow. Vast swathes of the film are filled with turgid French speaking passages and Latin with no idea as to what's being said? This farce carries on for far too long then a couple of deft twists and we get a quick treatise on man and philosophy about 10 minutes from the end, a revelation and some meta-psychical mystery and then literally - the end. I really enjoyed the book - But really wasn't impressed with the film.