Movie Review: Enter The Void (2009)

I have many independent film directors that I admire for particular reasons, but only a few really surprise me with each of their projects (which is a unique feat in itself considering the lack of originality in current films). Two filmmakers of note that I hold high on the list are Todd Solondz (Happiness, Welcome to the Dollhouse, Palindromes) and controversial French director, Gaspar Noe (Irreversible, I Stand Alone, Destricted). Both men are very similar in regard to the fearless nature of their films but Noe, for me, even takes a leap over Solondz's provocative film offerings. Enter the Void is a recent example of the growth of this gentleman's craft. MPI/ IFC now have unleashed this hypnotic, beautiful and naturally disturbing, cluster of creativity on Blu-Ray and DVD.

On the Set of Back Woods 2: Hour 40 somethingish

Show Low shooting as complete as it'll get. Lego girl meets demise. Muddy grass = fire hazard.

Movie Review: Butchered (2010)

By James DePaolo

Plot: A group of teens decide to spend the weekend on a local island to say their final goodbyes before heading off to college. Little do they know, a convicted serial killer escapes from the authorities while on death row at a maximum security prison. Touted in the headlines of the local papers as "The Butcher" (due to the manner he hacked up his victims in the local town deli), he takes cover on THE VERY SAME ISLAND as the teens. It becomes a battle for survival as the teens attempt to fight back against this unimaginable foe played by Shaun O' Rourke.

Movie Review: Acacia (2003, Tartan)

By Hal Astell

Dr Kim Do-il and his wife Choi Mi-sook are apparently unable to have children, so they decide to adopt. Actually Mi-sook takes some convincing but when she sees some artwork on the wall of the adoption agency they visit, she's all for it and quickly finds an affinity with young Lee Jin-sung, soon to be Kim Jin-sung. He's quite the budding artist and he has an affinity of his own: with trees. He draws them all the time and even seems to talk to them, including one in the back yard. Soon we discover that he's an orphan because his mother died and Jin-sung believes she turned into a tree.

Things seem to go pretty well for a while, though Mi-sook's mother is rather brutal in her rejection of the adopted son, but then Mi-sook becomes pregnant for real so there's a new member of the household. To say the least, Jin-sung does not take this well and does what he can to remedy the situation. Given that this is a horror film, albeit of the school of slow and creepy rather than rapid fire grossout, you can imagine what that means. And then he disappears and as even more bizarre things start to happen the strain begins to have an effect on those he leaves behind.

On the Set of Back Woods 2: Hour 23.62

Out of chicken fried steak. Catboy has been decapitated. Nun humping reaches epic proportions.

On the Set of Back Woods 2: Hour 17.5

The Beefbillies clash with Luther. Lunch ensues. Mullet bloody mullet. Ranger Earl takes a pee.

On the Set of Back Woods 2: Hour 14.48

Snow hampers filming. Beefbillies need to rise from the depths. Mangina awaits in the netherworld.

On the Set of Back Woods 2: Hour 5

The nun and the Lego girl make a return. Catboy drops the kids off in the sandbox. Further chaos ensues.
More in later hours.

On the Set of Back Woods 2: Hour 3.5

In the sleepy town of Show Low, AZ, a sequel is born. As I post this report from the field, a man became a cat. A wad of detachable chest hair became a star. A Lego woman sexed up a nun. As Mangina, Luther and Mama bring the Beefbillies into their fold, film history is made.
More to come in the waking hours.

Interview: Jen and Syl Soska

James DePaolo sits down with the talented creators of Dead Hooker in a Trunk and the upcoming American Mary, Jen and Syl Soska.

DVD/Blu-ray News: Synapse makes Blu-ray drip blood!

Movie Review: The Booby Hatch (DVD, Synapse Films)

Synapse Films brings this zany 70's T&A sexploitation flick to DVD.


Film: 3/5
Ah the 70's. An era filled with sex, rock n' roll, drugs and most importantly, groovy cinema. Kids were taken to a galaxy far, far away in Star Wars, everyone was terrified to go into the water with Jaws and the world was possessed with fear by The Exorcist. The 70's were a decade to remember with countless classic films, no matter what the genre. Hell, the 70's are also considered the Golden Age of Porn. Debbie did Dallas, Deep Throats were introduced and John Holmes changed pornography with his long john. If I had a time machine, without a doubt I would go back to experience this rad age.

Buy The Booby Hatch on DVD

Sid and Marty Krofft's H.R. Pufnstuf coming soon from Vivendi Entertainment!

SID AND MARTY KROFFT’S

H.R. PUFNSTUF CELEBRATES 40 YEARS

Iconic Children’s Series Presented in Standard and Collector’s Editions with All 17 Episodes on Three Discs, and a Rare Episode of “Horror Hotel” on DVD for the First Time Ever.

Buy H.R. Pufnstuf: Complete Series on DVD

Collector’s Edition Accompanied by Exclusive Bobblehead

Buy H.R. Pufnstuf: Complete Series Collector's Edition on DVD

Both Sets Due Out April 12 from Vivendi Entertainment

LOS ANGELES (February 24, 2011) – As H. R. Pufnstuf marks 40 years since the series ended its trailblazing run on Saturday mornings, Vivendi Entertainment honors the iconic Sid and Marty Krofft creation with H. R. PUFNSTUF: THE COMPLETE SERIES. This three-DVD collection features all 17 episodes, which were originally broadcast between 1969 and 1971.

Some Days are Better Than Others Coming Soon from Palisades Tartan!

PALISADES TARTAN PICKS UP

MOMA’S NEW DIRECTORS/NEW FILMS SELECTION

‘SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS’


Film stars renowned Indie musicians, including co-star of IFC’s PORTLANDIA


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Los Angeles, February 22, 2011 – Palisades Tartan announced today that they have secured distribution rights for SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS, Matt McCormick’s debut feature, which stars Indie rock talents James Mercer from the Shins and Carrie Brownstein, vocalist/guitarist for Wild Flag and the now defunct Portland, Oregon based band Sleater-Kinney. Brownstein can also be seen on PORTLANDIA, the new IFC Original short-based comedy series created, written by and starring Brownstein and Fred Armisen from Saturday Night Live.

Movie Review: Carnival Magic (Blu-ray, 1981)

Al Adamson's vast film resume that just surpassed 20 years before his untimely death, was rich with many contributions to the horror and exploitation genres. Films like Brain of Blood, Blood of Ghastly Horror, Dracula Vs. Frankenstein and Nurse Sherri are just a few that made the attempt at "horror", but none of the titles mentioned frightened this reviewer more than Adamson's 1981 kiddie offering Carnival Magic. Cultura and Virgil Films have just put together a deluxe Blu-ray/ DVD combo pack for this lost film that may give fans of the late schlockmeister a reason to celebrate.

A very well tanned Don Stewart plays "Markov the Magician". Markov is really getting the cold shoulder from many of the other carnies because of his bizarre behavior. What's this behavior? Well, peculiar noises seem to be resonating from the gentleman’s trailer. Not to worry, Markov just has a rambunctious talking chimp pal named "Alexander The Great" living in there that's just itching to vacate Markov's cramped pad.

Buy Carnival Magic [Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack]!

Movie Review: Roger Corman's Cult Classics; Triple Feature

Today was my definition of heaven. Revisiting some of the most resonant movies of my boyhood, made by a guy whose legend continues to grow even as we age. Shout Factory's re-issues of Roger Corman double and triple features continues to thrill and inspire us old timers, and hopefully will also garner new young fans along the way. Today I watched one of the most welcome sets of the bunch. A triple feature of new transfers of three of Roger's most iconic early films: Attack of the Crab Monsters, Not of This Earth, and War of the Satellites.

While the prints are not flawless, they are probably the best I have seen. Shout Factory has obviously gone to some effort to find good quality prints to make their transfers from. Two of the three in this set are from British release prints; none are from scratched up TV prints as has often been the case in the past.

Movie Review: The Absent (2011)

Here is an ambitious low budget feature shot in the quaint little town of Twisp in Central Washington state. The actors and cinematographer were all flown in from LA to ensure a professional-looking film, but most of the minuscule crew were locals; many of whom I am proud to say I have worked with on stage and in my own local movie productions. The result is a slick-looking little thriller with a unique tone; and, while not entirely successful, it is well worth a look.

The story, set in the fictitious town of Liberty, hinges on twin brothers Vincent and Oscar Burton (real-life twins Bryan and Denny Kirkwood). In the opening flashback, we see their parents plotting to kill Oscar for insurance money. Oscar fights back and poisons them both, sending him to prison for a long, long time. Jump to twenty-five years later when the grown up Vincent is now the town high school science teacher. Vincent, not quite the squeaky clean role model he appears to be, is having an affair with one of his students, Katie (Yvonne Zima). Like a lot of small towns, Liberty is filled with dirty little secrets, and lots of them get exposed as people begin to die at the hands of a mysterious killer. Vincent comes to believe it's his twin, Oscar, who has escaped from prison and returned to wreak his vengeance on the town. The local Sheriff (Samuel Ball) is narrowing in on the suspected Oscar as the body count rises, but Vincent my just be helping to keep his brother out of sight.

Movie Review: Ayaka is Your Angel (2011)

Is Ayaka my Angel? The fine folks at Studio Happy Chicken seem to want me to think that. So much so that they've put togethor a Blu-ray devoted to the lucious Japanese model. Ayaka is Your Angel along with the recently reviewed Les Gamins are two releases of note from Pink movie specialists Studio Happy Chicken. Unlike Les Gamins, instead of two beautiful women we have one that is the main focus of the whole feature. Many of you may be thinking two smokin' babes are better than one but in Ayaka's case, by herself, she's a powerful enough presence that commands all your attention.

Movie Review: Daughters of Darkness (Blu-ray)

Blue Underground brings this atmospheric 70's erotic horror film to Blu-ray with stunning results!

Film: 4/5


This being the first time I've seen this film, I wasn't too sure what to expect. Gory Euro trash? Nude vampire erotica? Maybe even art house fare? It's a mixture of both and much more. The film beings with two newlyweds Stefan and Valerie, on a train headed to Belgium for their honeymoon. They arrive at a seaside grand hotel in Ostden during it's off season. During they're stay, Stefan and Valerie read multiple reports of killings in the paper. The strange part is that the victims have been drained dry...of their blood.

TV on DVD Review: Shaun the Sheep: Season One (2010)

Recently, my two-year-old daughter told me she wanted to watch Wallace and Gromit. I was surprised to hear this, and didn't know much about the shorts or the movie. I decided to look and see if Netflix had any streaming, and they did. I was astonished at the brilliance of these shorts, and I understood why they won Oscars. One of the shorts entitled "A Close Shave" featured a sheep that Wallace dubbed Shaun. Shaun is integral in defeating a wool poaching dog who has additional malicious intentions. He really was a great character on his own, but nowhere near as developed as his own series would make him.

Buy Shaun the Sheep: Season One on DVD

Movie Review: Altitude (2010)

By Greg Goodsell

“One upon a time, a man married this woman,” a college humor magazine once offered up as an example of a twist, “surprise” ending. “It turned out that the man was really her brother, and she was his sister, and they all actually lived on the planet Mars! The End.” The above passage was intended to demonstrate that in order for a shock conclusion to work, the narrative preceding it had to be consistent throughout, and not simply an arbitrary device stapled on at the last minute.

Buy Altitude on DVD or Blu-ray

This example came to mind while watching Altitude, an action adventure-horror-science-fiction whatever from our good friends at Anchor Bay. Too technically competent to be lumped in the WTF? category such as Tommy Wiseau’s The Room (2003) or After Last Season (2009), Altitude will nonetheless have audiences laughing out loud in stupefied amazement.

Movie Review: Home Sick (DVD, Synapse Films)

Synapse Films brings this low budget DIY horror to DVD for the first time.

Buy Home Sick on DVD

Film:
I'll start off by saying this is not your average independent horror. Home Sick is a bizarre oddity, for better or worse. The film opens up with a bunch of friends meeting for a get together of sorts. I use the term "friends" very loosely. No one within the group acts like they give two shits about anyone, for whatever reason. The weirdness really begins when a man dressed in an all blue suit with a briefcase (a really great cameo from genre vet. Bill "f'ckin" Moseley!) nonchalantly strolls in. Known as "Mr. Suitcase", the jolly man asks everyone around the room who they hate. No one answers him until he reveals the contents of his suitcase...hundreds of razorblades. Stunned, the group tells "Mr. Suitcase" who they hate. As they do, Suitcase man slices his arms several times for every answer, retaining his jolly mood. The last person to answer says, "I hate everyone in this room". This is what I meant about using "friends" loosely. Seemingly liking that answer, "Mr. Suitcase" ceases cutting his arm and exits the house. What follows for the remaining duration of the film are Z grade acting, an incoherent plot and good ole' fashioned gory practical kills.....that's A-ok in my book.

Movie Review: Antichrist (2009)

Alright, after being sick for weeks with bronchitis I’m sort of ready to do a new review. Having enjoyed several of Lars von Trier’s movies, such as “Dancer in the Dark” and “Breaking the Waves” I was intrigued when I saw “Antichrist” sitting there on sale. I immediately grabbed it, and took it home expecting the best. I sat down with my boyfriend, who not knowing much of Trier’s work was interested mainly in the movie based on the title. Here we were expecting what had been promised “a disturbing movie”, and as anyone will tell you I am always up for the “disturbing.”

Buy Antichrist on DVD or Blu-ray

First things first, the cinematography was beautiful. I obtained the Criterion Collection DVD which was just outstanding with it’s’ use of color and imagery. But, in the first scene Trier’s implores and overuses the aspect of slow motion to an extreme extent. Now, I have no problem with sex scenes but having to see Williem Defoe’s penis up close and personal in slow motion thrusting in and out was something I could have lived my whole life without seeing. Nevertheless, the black and white scene and its use of water was very beautiful. I could have done without the slow mo though.

Interview: Jovanka Vuckovic in Honour of Women in Horror Month

In honour of Women in Horror Month, one of the most respected women in the worlds of horror and fanzines took some time to answer a few questions for CHC. Boys & ghouls...Miss Jovanka Vuckovic. Writer, filmmaker, madam of the macabre and former editor-in-chief of Canada's number one source of horror culture news.

Lacey Paige: Who are you and what role do you play in the horror biz?

Juvonka Vuckovic: My name is Jovanka Vuckovic and I am a published author, director and editor. I edited Rue Morgue Magazine for six and a half years and have recently moved on to filmmaking. My first short film, The Captured Bird, goes into production this spring. My book, Zombies! An Illustrated History of the Undead, comes out next week from St. Martin’s Press.

LP: What drew you into the genre and at what age to you remember it first having an impact on you?

JV: I always attribute my exposure to horror as a result of my chronic childhood insomnia. My parents used to let me stay up late watching television because I would eventually fall asleep on the couch. It was during those late and lonely nights that I became aquainted with Vincent Price in the Roger Corman Poe adaptations – not to mention the Canadian children’s show he appeared in – The Hilarious House of Frightenstein. Canadian broadcasters weren’t censoring anything after 11pm so it wasn’t long before my little eyes were traumatized by all kinds of horror films including The Exorcist, which I saw for the first time when I was only 8 years old. It left a permanent wrinkle in my psyche and certainly didn’t help my sleep problems. But, like a junkie, I was hooked before I even knew it and I’ve been an addict ever since.

Movie Review: Adam Green's Frozen (2010)

The man behind the hideous face of new-school American horror has stepped far from the world of deformed mongoloid-maniacs into the much more realistic and terrifying world of nature vs. human-kind horror. Adam Green, director of Hatchet and its highly anticipated sequel, Hatcher II, has really stepped up his game and reached frighteningly unimaginable heights—quite literally. Although Frozen is a movie very much like Jaws in a sense of man fighting to survive against the wrath of nature, the gags and campiness are blatantly absent. This winter vacation gone horribly awry will crawl up your spine like a brisk snowy chill and sting your skin like frostbite.


Buy Frozen on Blu-ray!

A friend of mine who organizes monthly screenings at an awesome little independent theatre in Calgary, Alberta (Canada) showed this last year around the time that it was making theatrical rounds at festivals across North America. I wasn’t able to catch it, and sadly it faded away in my mind along with the countless other DVD titles that I just had to see and try to remember until I could get my hands on a copy. I finally got around to seeing what has been one of the best movies that I’ve seen in the past couple years… and one that actually scared the hell out of me.

New at The Blue Cheese

Have you been to The Blue Cheese lately?

Some movies just don't fit in here at the Cheese, but we figured that there should be a place to review vintage adult cinema. That's why we created The Blue Cheese. Though it's a little racy and definitely NSFW, we figured that if Roger Ebert could do it, why shouldn't we?

New this week: A Valentine treat you won't forget!

If you're old enough to vote, feel free to head over to The Blue Cheese now.

Interview: Roxy Vandiver, Nurse Hatchet and Marie Lynn

James DePaolo sits down and chats with three lovely ladies of horror :Roxy Vandiver ( Spirit Camp, Killer School Girls from Outer Space and Sweatshop)
Marie Lynn (Burlesque Massacre I and the upcoming part II) and
Nurse Hatchet(The Chainsaw Sally Show).

Marie-Thanks again James! You are the best!!!!! :D


Roxy-First of all, always a pleasure chatting with you James. Can't wait to see what kind of whacky fun questions you have in store for me!

Nurse-ok James here we go.... ;-D

Interview: Chainsaw Sally in Honour of Women in Horror Month

In honour of Women in Horror month, I took it upon myself to interview some of the most important women currently working in the business. April Monique Burril plays one of the feistiest and foxiest villainous' in modern horror. Conservative sexy librarian by day, scantily clad chainsaw-wielding freak by night...It's CHAINSAW SALLY!

Lacey Paige: Who are you and what role do you play in the horror biz?

April Burril: My name is April Monique Burril. I am primarily an actress, sometimes a prop mistress, sometimes a set dresser. Like many in the world of micro-budget filmmaking, I pitch in and help wherever is needed at the time. I guess if I'm "known" for anything right now, it would be for the character I portray more than any other—Chainsaw Sally.

Find April Burril on Amazon.com

Cinema Head Cheese: The Podcast! #5 featuring Kitten Natividad: Sexy at Sixty

A few years ago, Jeff Dolniak interviewed the wonderfully entertaining Ultra Vixen, Kitten Natividad. She was gracious and funny and still sexy at sixty. She also sat for a Q&A with Andrea Beesley-Brown aka the Midnite Movie Mamacita. You really won't believe what you hear.

Also in this episode, Kevin Moyers discusses Valentine's Day, thanks you all profusely for your support and praises a sheep named Shaun.

Click here to listen or right click and choose "Save Link As..." to download.

Find Kitten Natividad on Amazon.com.

Movie Review: Bleading Lady (2011)

By James DePaolo

Indie websites are always the first to get all excited when news of a new Ryan Nicholson film is coming out. Sadly, most of them are always the first to want to shit on it when they do see it. Ryan's track record in directing so far is to spoil the gore fans with the adult kills and sex and just sacrifice story and plot, so the fans can get blood, deaths and just something to either offend the casual viewer or make them a fan. As a director, to me Ryan has been very misunderstood, till now.

Buy Bleading Lady on DVD

Celebrating Females of Fright in February

It may have started when writer/producer Debra Hill joined forces with John Carpenter to pen what has, over 30 years, become one of the most recognized and appreciated horror films of all time—one that paved the bloody path for a generation of pseudo-copies—Halloween. Or maybe it was Jamie Lee Curtis’ break-out role as the mousy heroine, Laurie Strode. At some juncture on the road of horror pop-culture—one that for decades men were only thought to have trodden—women began to rise above the bare-breasted, axe-wound victim that they had always been portrayed as in cinematic tales of the macabre.

But the up-rise of women in the horror genre actually happened years before Halloween was released. In 1954, a very scary lady dressed in all black began broadcasting live, haunting airwaves throughout the Los Angeles area—her name, was Vampira. Based on the personalities of silent film actresses Gloria Swanson and Theda Bara, as well as the evil Queen from Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, with an image that was inspired by the drawings that Charles Addams had done during his employment with The New Yorker, the show was cancelled after a brief two-year run on television, and Vampira later became the inspiration for Morticia Addams of The Addams Family

In 1981, a new horror hostess took over the airwaves. Since, she has become an iconic female figure of all things frightening—Elvira. The real woman under all that black is a singer-performer-actress Cassandra Peterson. She made her big break on to Hollywood screens as the beloved mistress of the macabre, and is still to this very day as popular as ever. She has since produced and starred in two Elvira movies, as well as taking roles in a variety of other films, and transforming the Elvira character into a wo

Movie Review: Les Gamins (Blu-ray)

The Japanese form of soft-core erotica known as the "Pink" film will be making its debut via MVD Visual from a Japanese company called Studio Happy Chicken. Not the kind of name you'd expect to deliver adult material, but the name is quite deceiving to say the least. Several of Studio Happy Chicken’s releases are now available here in the states on both DVD and Blu-Ray formats. Today, we take a look at their release of Les Gamins on Blu-Ray.

Buy Les Gamins on DVD or Blu-ray

Movie Review: The Jesus Guy (2010)

A quote on the liner notes by Albert Mayles claims that this movie is "Unforgettable. Absolutely unforgettable." I can't disagree with that. I found this brisk (67 minute) documentary riveting, and it left me with much to think about. Like many great documentaries, filmmaker Sean Tracey doesn't take sides. He presents his subject from as many angles as he can, and leaves the viewer to his own conclusions. It is not a PR job, nor is it an expose'. Like it's enigmatic subject, what you think about him will have much to do with your own views and what you as observer bring to the plate.

Buy The Jesus Guy on DVD

The subject of this even-handed chronicle is a man who, for the last nineteen years, has walked across the country barefoot, clad only in a white robe, emulating the traditional image of Christ. He has no possessions beyond his robe and Bible, and accepts no donations. He lives off the food people offer him, and the Eucharist wafers in Catholic churches. He is the first to claim that he is not pretending to be Christ, nor does he believe he is the second coming.