Movie Review: The Sinister Eyes of Dr. Orloff (1973, Intervision)

European cult cinema has produced many undeniable talents over the past 50 years: Dario Argento ( Suspiria, Deepred), Mario Bava ( Black Sunday, Bay of Blood), Jean Rollin ( Living Dead Girl, Grapes Of Death), Walerian Borowczyk ( The Beast, Behind Convent Walls) and Lucio Fulci ( City Of The Living Dead, The Beyond ) are just a handful of names that have contributed numerous memorable features. And then there's Jess Franco. A highly skilled and talented filmmaker in his own right, Franco has been brilliant with films like Venus of Furs and Succubus but has also unfortunately churned out unwatchable shot-on-video sludge like Marie Cookie and the Killer Tarantula and Tender Flesh. The directors mentioned earlier are far from perfect but seem to have a tad more consistency than the Spanish filmmaker. A brand new company specializing in euro-cult features called Intervision has just released a thought to be "lost" Franco film from his popular Dr. Orloff series titled, The Sinister Eyes of Dr. Orloff.

Buy The Sinister Eyes Of Dr. Orloff on DVD

Basket Case hits Blu-Ray September 27th From Image and Something Weird Video!

ON SEPTEMBER 27th, IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT AND SOMETHING WEIRD PRESENT THEIR CASE

BASKET CASE Blu-ray™

The grindhouse classic remastered and on Blu-ray™ for the first time!

Chatsworth, CA – In 1982, a low budget horror film raised its twisted head and created a buzz with a strange mix of comedy, gore, sleaze and heartfelt pathos. On September 27th, Image Entertainment and Something Weird proudly join forces to unleash Basket Case in a brand new HD transfer supervised by writer/director Frank Henenlotter. The Blu-ray™ has an SRP of $17.97 with a pre-book of August 30th and also contains a basket full of bonus features including an all-new video introduction by the director, commentary tracks and outtakes.

Buy Basket Case [Blu-ray] or Basket Case (20th Anniversary Special Edition DVD)

Movie Review: Supercop/Twin Dragons and Beer League/The Big White

Blu-Ray Bargains

If you're like me you're always in search for the best bargain when it comes to buying Blu-Rays and DVDs. Echo Bridge is one of the biggest companies dealing with affordable DVDs and Blu-ray. They've been doing numerous combo packs and a couple Blu-Rays of note that you can grab without cracking $25 dollar are the double feature discs, Supercop/ Twin Dragons and Artie Lange's Beer League/ Big White. That's right you get four movies, one with a double-bill starring Jackie Chan, a man who's taken more blows to the face than any human on earth and another with Artie Lange and Robin Williams, two men that have put more blow in their face than anybody on earth.

Supercop and Twin Dragons are worth a purchase, especially if you're a Chan nut, but don't except brand-new transfers as these are more comparable to the DVD incarnations. The big problem here though is that they're both plopped onto one Blu-ray disc instead of separately. The transfers look ok but no where near Blu-Ray level quality. Amazingly, Artie Lange's Beer League and The Big White look very good. The colors pop nicely and clarity is up to par with Blu-Rays from the studios. Beer League also is loaded with extras. Overall, both are worth grabbing if you're on a budget and not terribly crazy about whether the transfers are perfect.

"Monamour" Two-Disc Edition Coming to Blu-Ray From Cult Epics July 26th!

TINTO BRASS' "MONAMOUR"

“Salaciously entertaining and shows the director’s unique flair for portraying the female form.” -Twitch Film

“Monamour gets a first rate release from Cult Epics.” -10KBullets

CULT EPICS PRESENTS A SPECIAL 2 DISC EDITION OF THE EROTIC FILM ON High-Definition DVD and Blu-ray – JULY 26

Buy Monamour (2-Disc Special Edition) [Blu-ray] or DVD

LOS ANGELES (July 12, 2011) – Tinto Brass’ Monamour, is the love-story of a Venetian girl and a Frenchman in the beautiful city of Mantua. Dario, her husband is too busy to notice his wife’s sexual drifting, when her adultery “born out of neglect and frustration” starts on the day she meets a tall dark stranger in a museum. An intoxicating mix of lies, betrayal and fantasy follows Marta into her personal diary where every emotion and passion is recorded. Cult Epics proudly presents Brass’s latest erotic feature, appearing in high-definition Blu-ray for the first time ever. Monamour will be available at retailers for a list price of $29.98 (DVD) and $39.98 (Blu-ray), both come in the 2-Disc Special Edition and both will be available on July 26, 2011.

Interview: Wild Eye Releasing's Keith Crocker

James DePaolo locks horns with cult film director and Wild Eye Releasing president Keith Crocker. These guys let it all hang out folks. Enjoy!

Find Wild Eye Releasing on Amazon.com

1. At Wild Eye, what is your and Rob's mission statement?

KJC: James, our mission statement is very simple. To deliver quality, independent cinema to the movie aficionado who has watched all the lame garbage that passes for independent cinema these days. Bear in mind that QUALITY is the key word here, we are not offering lame, shot in one-week video product that makes a lame attempt to compete with Hollywood product simply by being “polished”. If you look at all the titles that have been released, each one was hand picked out of countless submissions. We stand behind all these titles personally; I can give you countless reasons why they are heads and shoulders above the rest of the offerings out there. As far as my personal mission statement as a filmmaker, whatever I make is done in the services of the humanities. The bulk of the people in my immediate family are social workers. My films are my contributions to humanity. They are pieces of a puzzle that at the time of my death should be viewed as one huge road map to life. It’s the only way I can make a difference in this life. The two films that I am currently trying to pick up financing for are Three Slices of Delirium and Rasputin on Campus. The Three Slices of Delirium promo trailer is already done, the Rasputin on Campus trailer is shot but still being edited. Three Slices is a period piece in the tradition of Brothers Grimm only grimmer. But there is not one story in that anthology that no one will be able to not relate to. Rasputin is very different in its approach, but it signifies the way things never change, at least not completely. We are all sort of locked in a whirlpool where things appear to change but in reality nothing really happens that can qualify as change. Anyhow, I hope I haven’t bored you. I can make a “big dick” joke if you’d like?

Cinematic Hell: Horrors of Spider Island (1960)

by Hal Astell

Director: Jaime Nolan

Stars: Alex D'Arcy and Barbara Valentin

Buy Horrors of Spider Island on DVD

You may have a picture in your mind of how a 1960 film called Horrors of Spider Island is going to play out, but you'll be wrong. You might be closer to the truth if you mishear the title as Whores of Spider Island but unfortunately not too much closer. Originally a German/Yugoslavian coproduction whose title translates to A Corpse Hangs in the Web, it ran 89 minutes long and contained quite a lot of nudity. Released Stateside in 1962 under the title of It's Hot in Paradise, all that risqué material is supposedly intact as it was an adults only release. Finally in 1967 it was trimmed down into this version, which supposedly runs 77 minutes but by the time it made it to the public domain box sets ended up as a mere 74. And whatever you think it's going to be you're wrong. Trust me. It's so bad that the director apparently took his name off the thing. He was Fritz Böttger but he's credited as Jaime Nolan and he never directed again.

Movie Review: Apt Pupil (1998, Blu-ray, Image)

Long before Ian McKellan was playing Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings series he was marching to Adolf in Brian Singer's thriller, Apt Pupil. Image Entertainment has just recently released the film on the Blu-ray format in lovely High-Definition with a few extras to boot.

Buy Apt Pupil [Blu-ray] or DVD

The late Brad Renfro (Larry Clarks, Bully) plays Todd Bowden, a teenager with a disturbing fixation on the history of the S.S. Particularly the men behind Adolf Hitler running the concentration camps. Kurt Dussander (Ian McKellan) was employed to murder for the S.S; for decades since he has gone on with his life and just become that older quiet neighbor. Bowden wants to take his knowledge to a new level and learn more about the camps and other intricacies of this horrible time in world history. He soon tracks down Dussander, forcing him to talk. Dussander's feels cornered by Bowden with threats of him being exposed but it doesn't take him long to take the upper hand on this naive high school kid.

Movie Review: Violence and Flesh

Violence and Flesh (1981)


Buy Violence and Flesh on DVD on Amazon.com

Pornochanchada, anyone ever heard of it? And no, it is not a new foreign dance move a la the "macarena". Still don't know? Well dear reader, Pornochanchada was a film genre in Brazil between 1976-1984. Erotic films were made in Brazil during a time of political dictatorship that gave filmmakers complete freedom and void of any censorship as long as political issues were not mentioned. Hundreds of these erotic features were made with support from the government and became big box office successes, how bizarre is that! Pornochanchada films are filled to the brim with excessive nudity and way over the top sexuality. Pornochanchada attracted mainstream Brazilian actresses and directors, certainly a factor in the films success. Imagine seeing a Pornochanchada film today directed by Steven Spielberg with a nude Scarlet Johansson performing sleazy acts throughout the duration of the film. That would never happen but you can see why the movies were box office gold. All good things come to an end, such was the fate for the Pornochanchada genre. VHS blasted onto the market in the mid 80's, thus making hardcore pornography readily available. With that boom and the end of the Brazilian dictatorship, Pornochanchada films heavily decreased in popularity. The genre died, but thanks to Synapse/Impulse Pictures they're back!

Book Review: Death of a Transvestite by Ed Wood

The long awaited sequel to Killer in Drag is finally here. The immoral tale of Glen/Glenda is back and better than… other stuff. Death of a Transvestite begins in a prison cell where Glen is about to be lead down to the gallows and put death for his crimes. What, you ask? Didn’t Glen get away scot-free in the last novel? Luckily for us, the warden, priest and guards are in the mood for a story… Glen’s story.

BUY DEATH OF A TRANSVESTITE BY ED WOOD!

Taking a page from Bram Stoker and Dracula, this novel is written completely in epistolary style. Instead of the usual narrative, Wood uses newspaper articles, Glen’s confession tapes and other pieces of media to move the story along.

Book Review: Sex, Shrouds & Caskets by Ed Wood

Be good to yourself, and each other.

—Jerry Springer

Gentle readers, we are in for a very special treat. Sex Shrouds and Caskets is Ed Wood’s treatise on sex and religion. Yes, you read that correctly. Set up like a series of essays on, “The shocking, revealing truth of what takes place sexually in our so-called civilized culture,” and how these truths relate to standardized religion, Shrouds is a tour-de-force of depravity.

BUY SEX SHROUDS AND CASKETS BY ED WOOD!

Beginning with Southern snake charmers, Wood introduces us to a young, unnamed swamp girl. She sees the local preacher, Theadore Jackson, and is instantly smitten with lust. Jackson preaches to the masses using snakes (well, Baptist snakes). Of course, the snakes eventually kill Jackson but that cannot lessen the startling point that Wood makes. He states that, “…one must also realize the symbol of the snake is always directed to the WOMAN – by the MAN!” Because the snake is a phallic symbol and men have phalluses and women, during normal, non-Wood sex, are receptive to phalluses… I think. Believe it or not, Wood’s doctrine becomes even more muddled from there. Wood attests that a majority of the religious groups in the country are based on homosexuality. He poses the following question to any moral, upstanding citizen (who paid $1.75 for this book of weird sex):

Cinematic Hell: King Kong vs Godzilla (1962)

Director: Inoshiro Honda
Stars: Michael Keith, Harry Holcombe, James Yagi, Tadao Takashima, Keji Sahaka and Ichiro Arishima

It's Toho. It's Godzilla. It's presented by John Beck. It stars three Americans. Hang on, what? Well, Godzilla has a strange legacy outside his native country. Gojira, the original 1954 film in a series that ran for half a century, was never officially released outside Japan, so the iconic monster with the atomic breath was first introduced to western audiences through the Americanised version, Godzilla, King of the Monsters! in 1956. Jewell Enterprises cut the original film severely, dubbed it into English and spliced in newly shot scenes with Canadian actor Raymond Burr. Even with new footage, this version runs 16 minutes shorter than the original, but if you thought that was drastic, John Beck did more to King Kong vs Godzilla. He didn't merely add new footage but also stock footage from The Mysterians. He changed the comic tone, removed most of the character development and replaced the entire score. His film runs 11 minutes shorter than the original.

"Stake Land" Hits DVD And Blu-Ray August 2nd Courtesy of Dark Sky Films!

IN THE FACE OF A DEADLY VAMPIRE EPIDEMIC, A BOY AND

A MAN EMBARK ON THE EPIC JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME


STAKE LAND

The Critically Hailed, Award-Winning Thriller, Starring Connor Paolo,

Nick Damici, Kelly McGillis and Danielle Harris Reaches Blu-ray and DVD

on August 2, 2011, Packed With Extras

Buy Stake Land [Blu-ray], DVD or 2 Disc Special Edition DVD

In the ultimate tale of survival in the face of a dying world, Jim Mickle’s breakthrough movie, STAKE LAND adds a frightening new element to the equation: vampires. The award-winning crowd-pleaser comes to Blu-ray and DVD on August 2, 2011, via Dark Sky Films. This extraordinary movie, fresh off of its theatrical release, will be available on DVD, with an SRP of $27.98, and on two-disc Special Edition DVD ($29.98) and Blu-ray ($34.98), both containing a wealth of bonus material.

Zombie on Blu-ray from Blue Underground... The Italians Are Coming!

THE DEAD ARE AMONG US!

Order City of the Living Dead [Blu-ray] while you're waiting!

In Italy, it was considered the ‘unofficial sequel’ to DAWN OF THE DEAD. In England, it was known as ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS and banned as obscene. In America, it was called ZOMBIE and advertised with the depraved tag line "WE ARE GOING TO EAT YOU!" Tisa Farrow (THE GRIM REAPER), Ian McCulloch (CONTAMINATION), Al Cliver (CANNIBALS), and Richard Johnson (THE HAUNTING) star in this worldwide splatter sensation directed by ‘Maestro Of Gore’ Lucio Fulci (CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY) that remains one of the most eye-skewering, skin-ripping, gore-gushingly graphic horror hits of all time!


Blue Underground is proud to present ZOMBIE in a new 2K High Definition transfer from the original uncut and uncensored camera negative. Each flesh-eating frame has been lovingly restored to skull-rotting perfection under the supervision of Cinematographer Sergio Salvati (THE BEYOND). Now fully-loaded with hours of brand new Extras, this is the Ultimate Edition of ZOMBIE!

Movie Review: Adua and Her Friends (1960, Raro Video)

By Greg Goodsell
(aka ADUA E LE COMPAGNE)

Directed by Antonio Pietrangeli

Buy Adua & Her Friends (Adua e Le Compagne) on DVD

Simone Signoret plays the title role of Adua, a mother hen to a trio of fellow prostitutes Lolita (Sandra Milo), Marilian (Emmanuelle Riva) Milly (Gina Rovere). Turned out of their brothel with the enacting of the Merlin Law of 1959 that closed all such establihments in Rome, the four try to make a go of it by opening a restaurant in the country. Pooling their savings together to rent a long disused building, they fall short and call on a wealthy former John, Dr. Ercoli (perpetual Italian bad guy Claudio Gora) to finance their business venture. He agrees, but stipulates that for the frist few months the restaurant must not engage in any shady activities -- until he says otherwise, the four women paying him an exorbitant monthly fee in the process. The restaurant at first is a success. Auda begins a fling with playboy Piero (perpetual Italian romantic foil Marcello Mastroianni), Milly first rebuffs and then accepts a proposal of marriage from a straight-arrow customer and Marlina brings her estranged young son to live briefly in her new "family" environment. However -- their male dominated society won't let the girls get on with their lives, and all their hard work and dreams come crashing to the ground. The ladies, without a roof over their head as decreed by law, must now take to the streets ...

Movie Review: Opstandelsen (2009, AWE)

By Travis G.

D: Casper Haugegaard.



Buy Opstandelsen on DVD at Amazon UK

A group of relatives who are already not too keen on attending a funeral have to deal with something more evil than the vultures who run the churches that prey on the sick, old and the weak. The funeral is interrupted by a zombie outbreak of mass proportions. They soon realize that they have to put their differences aside if they want to live another day and not become zombie poop (Do zombies even poop?)

Going by what I have learned by watching films; Vampires can’t enter a church or holy ground but apparently it’s a completely different thing for zombies.



Normally when you go into reviewing independent films you really have to relax and be a little more open minded. Retract the claws ,dull the tongue and remember when your mother said "if you can’t say anything nice don't say anything at all. But, then again I don’t think my mom reviews movies. With OPSTANDELSEN there are few faults with the film. In fact, technically this film is quite sound. It's very atmospheric and moody and very visually appealing. The cinematography is really good and helps set the film up. Changing up the editing in different parts in the film suiting the situation plot wise was a strong point.



The film uses “fast” zombies which I normally don’t care for but that’s a matter of taste. They however made the film without any CGI and I give them BIG props for that. A nice amount of blood/gore that would appeal to the gorehounds out there. A lot of movie references in this film that most zombie/horror fans will notice should appreciate.

One of the most noteworthy things about this film is not only were they able to use a church for filming but this was without the church knowing about it. They also got the actual church’s Vicar to play himself in the film. Just shows that how well money talks, but does make me wonder how many bottles of ceremonial wine were opened during and after production of this film.



My one and only complaint with this film is the film’s ending. Even with the film just creeping past the 50 minute mark , the ending comes to early. Then when it does end it comes off as rushed. In the beginning of the film they have a nice set up and some decent character development (especially for such a short film ) but then the ending hits and its all over way to quick and the films big ending is anything but.

Movie Review: Super 8 (2011)

I knew very little about this movie going in. The most common thing I heard was that it was a love letter to Steven Spielberg movies. That would be a fine thing to say if Spielberg wrote himself love letters. He produced the J.J. Abrams directed film. To me, it was a throwback to the movies of the early 1980s that were aimed at my generation. Despite what my bio says, I was born in 1976, so I grew up watching things like E.T., The Goonies and Explorers. The heroes were kids my age, and they lived adventurous lives. This was a common theme at that time, and it can probably be blamed for the popularity of the Coreys. What can I say? You get some good, and you get some bad. Super 8 is a return to the best part of that era.

Buy Super 8 [Blu-ray] or DVD

Movie Review: Tetsuo: The Bullet Man (2009, MPI/IFC Midnight)

Shinya Tsukamoto's 1989 hit Tetsuo: The Ironman was really an original piece of cinema 21 years ago. It echoed much of David Cronenberg and David Lynch's work and really brought "cyberpunk" full circle. His sequel, Tetsuo: Body Hammer, changed things up a bit but still displayed the eye-candy that made his debut so successful. Tetsuo: The Bullet Man is the third film in the trilogy and possibly the most manic ride of the three, but is it the best?

Buy Tetsuo: The Bullet Man on DVD

Anthony (Eric Bossick) is an American businessman living in Tokyo living with his wife Yuriko (Akika Mono) and young son Tom (Tiger Charlie Gerhardt). Yuriko is a paranoid mess and is on the verge of becoming a complete basket case. One foggy Tokyo day, Anthony decides to take a stroll down a busy city street with Tom. Being the responsible parent he is, he lets Tom dodge cars in oncoming traffic. The inevitable happens and is hit - purposely though. This throws Anthony into a body-changing, metal nightmare filled trip through hell. Soon Anthony becomes a metal bullet shooting machine taking out anyone getting in his way. With this newfound powerful ability, Anthony takes full advantage and attempts to hunt the creep down who rolled over his kid.

Movie Review: Granny (1999)

A few years back I read on some horror forum or board that this movie was excellent, gruesome, and possibly banned from somewhere. Not sure how many people could have gotten that so fucking wrong. It's been awhile since I've seen such an amateur, sloppy, half-assed attempt at a horror movie. I wonder if they meant the movie, The Granny, from 1995? Or was it Rabid Grannies? I'll have to find copies and let you all know.

Granny is the story of a group of 7 college students who are getting together to welcome a newb into their ranks. Michelle just moved 'here' (wherever the fuck here is) from Seattle and is grateful to be accepted into such a tight knit circle of friends. As they sit around and shoot the shit they somehow get on the topic of paranoias. Tom thinks it would be great to 'show' the group his paranoia but they all have to leave so he can prepare a skit about it. Wtf?

Whatevs. The group leaves and returns in an hour only to find a note from Tom saying he had to go out. Uh huh. Whatevs again. They file back into the house, start whining and arguing about their total bullshit lives when they suddenly hear crying coming from the basement (though they argue halfheartedly about whether or not it's actually outside. OMFG, who cares?)

AWE to release Olaf Ittenbach Gorefests "The Burning Moon", "Premutos" and "Black Past"

Here's the cover art for the upcoming Another World Entertainment releases of Olaf Ittenbach's Black Past, Premutos: Lord of the Living Dead and The Burning Moon.








These releases are said to have English subtitles as well as extra features!

For more information head on over to the Another World Entertainment Website:

http://www.anotherworldent.com/

Movie Review: Truth or Dare?: A Critical Madness (1986)

by Jeff Dolniak

Directed by: Tim Ritter

Buy Truth Or Dare?: A Critical Madness on DVD

As a kid, I never got to partake in the game Truth or Dare but I did view a movie when I was around 10 years old called, Truth Or Dare?: A Critical Madness, from 18 year-old director and writer, Tim Ritter (Killing Spree, Wicked Games, Dirty Cop, No Donut and the upcoming Deadly Dares) . I really didn't know what to expect when I picked up the box and scanned the back cover; it just looked like another slasher film, which was certainly fine with me. After coaxing my parents to get out of the house (a practice I mastered through-out my youth), I pulled the VHS from its hiding place and stuck it in the VCR. What my impressionable eyes viewed was something that would etch its way into slasher history. Truth Or Dare unfolds in sunny Florida where Michael Strauber (John Brace), a very timid but seemingly likable hard-working young man drives home to see his lovely wife, Sharon (Mary Fanaro). To his dismay, he walks in on Sharon, riding his best-friend, Jerry (Bruce Gold) like Secratariat. This doesn't give Mike much hope for furthering his relationship. Mike then starts to become delusional, and gives self-mutilation a shot to dull his emotional pain, while using his favorite child-hood game (Truth Or Dare) as the main focus of his" critical madness".