The Pack 2007
Published February 29, 2012 | 
THE PACK: FRENCH FINE DINING
When I see a Horror movie trailer or read about a Horror movie that originates from France, I get excited. I get excited because from past experience I know that there is a good chance that the film will impress in one way or another. I don’t know what it is about France but french Horror films in particular tend to always impress me. Like them or not they always leave a lasting impression. I’m talking to you I Stand Alone (1998). They are always interestingly dark for sure. They are tense and visually… Continue reading
Winter of the Dead aka Metelesta 2012 Trailer
Published February 28, 2012 | WINTER OF THE DEAD: SUCK SHOTGUN COMRADE
I was at a gathering of friends this weekend and found myself pushing the idea that a lot of the better genre films that have been released in recent years have come from from the foreign film market. Some of the films that have impressed me most in recent years have been foreign films; High Tension (2003), Time Crimes (2007), REC (2007), Inside (2007), Martyrs (2008), Macabre aka Darah (2009), Let the Right One In (2008) and others. In my opinion domestic genre films are homogenized and just plain dull.… Continue reading
Final Exam 1981
Published February 27, 2012 | FINAL EXAM: HORROR… NOW IN GENERIC FORM
When I refer to Final Exam as generic, I am speaking as a Horror film viewer in 2012. In 1981 when Final Exam was released, the Slasher film explosion was at its peak in popularity. I can not blame film makers of the time period for persuing the dollars that the popularity of Slasher films represented. During this time period many Horror films were identical to Final Exam. This was the “wave”. Yet, watching Final Exam, the film does feel generic. I felt like I had seen everything in the film… Continue reading
Absentia 2012
Published February 25, 2012 | ABSENTIA: LOW BUDGET FILM MAKING DONE WELL
Absentia is the new film by writer and director Mike Flanagan. Mike Flanagan has been writing and directing since 2000. Flanagan has another horror film under his belt prior to Absentia, Oculus: Chapter 3 – The Man with the Plan (2006). This appears to be the extent of his Horror genre offerings. Having seen Absentia, it is clear that Mike Flanagan has a great vision and ability to create suspense and dread with just ideas and words. Anybody can throw blood at the viewer and call it a day.… Continue reading
Smiley 2012 Trailer
Published February 23, 2012 | SMILEY TRAILER: KILLERS CROSSING OVER THROUGH THE INTERNET… WHAT?
Let me begin by saying the premise for Smiley seems weak and stupid. The idea that something spontaneously manifests itself from our technology rarely works for me with the exception of Ringu (1998). We have a history to look back on to prove my point. Don’t believe me? Let me give some examples; Shocker (1989), Cry Wolf (2005), the American version of Pulse (2006), Stay Alive (2006). This avenue of storytelling has been mined before and not with good results, exception excluded. The only reason I find it of… Continue reading
The Perfect Weapon 1991
Published February 22, 2012 | THE PERFECT WEAPON: FAR FROM PERFECT BUT STILL FUN
In the early nineties, my brother came over to visit. He had been into martial arts for a few years and we both grew up with Kung Fu theater so it was no surprise when he brought a film with him on VHS. He was excited because he had been studying Ken Po, a form of American Karate refined and developed by Ed Parker. My brother enjoyed the Chinese Kung Fu films but he also followed the domestic martial arts films like Ninja Turf aka L.A. Streetfighters (1985), Best of… Continue reading
The Eternal 2012 Trailer
Published February 21, 2012 | THE ETERNAL TRAILER: BLOODY GOOD PREMISE
I stumbled across this trailer and found myself wanting to know more. The film is directed and co-written by Justin McConnell and is the follow up to a prequel short film, Ending the Eternal and continuing in the graphic novel The Eternal: Final Dawn. The Eternal continues the story only this time in a full length feature. There is no release date for the film but 2012 keeps coming up as a general answer to the release date question. Let’s hope we see it this year because I may not be a… Continue reading
Underworld: Awakening 2012
Published February 20, 2012 | UNDERWORLD AWAKENING: WEREVOLVES, VAMPIRES AND GUNS… NUFF SAID
In 2003, Underworld was unleashed on the world. Anne Rice’s influence on Vampire fiction (Interview with a Vampire (1994)) was over. No more pretty Vampires until the laughable Twilight series. Aside from John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London (1981), The Howling (1981) and Ginger Snaps (2000), film makers had done a terrible job with Werewolf movies. Do you remember Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeifer in Wolf (1994)? Awful, just awful. The eighties gave us bloody and dark Werewolf films. The nineties gave us Vampire and Werewolf films with… Continue reading
Stormhouse 2011
Published February 17, 2012 | STORMHOUSE: A BUNKER, A GHOST… TIME TO PLAY
Stormhouse is a new film from across the pond. It is directed by Dan Turner and written by Jason Arnopp. The film boasts that the story of Stormhouse is based on true events. I don’t know about anybody else but saying that a film is based on true events does not do anything for me. The marketing department may think that somehow “based on true events” translates into more dollars but I am here to tell you that this consumer runs in the opposite direction when I see “based on true… Continue reading
Wrath of the Titans 2012 Trailer
Published February 16, 2012 | WRATH OF THE TITANS TRAILER: MEN IN SKIRTS, WHAT CAN GO WRONG?
In 1981 I begged like you wouldn’t believe to be taken to see Clash of the Titans. I was a big fan of Ray Harryhausen even at a young age. I had seen all the Sinbad movies, Mysterious Island (1961), Valley of the Gwangi (1969) and everything else Harryhausen so I knew what the Ray Harryhausen name meant. When the credits rolled, I couldn’t help but feel a bit empty. Even in the early eighties, Clash of the Titans was kind of lame, Mr Harryhausen’s… Continue reading
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter 2012 Trailer
Published February 16, 2012 | ABRAHAM LINCOLN VAMPIRE HUNTER TRAILER: BADASS!
I’ve been reading about this film for a while now. I will admit that I was skeptical, especially when I read that Tim Burton was attached to the project. I enjoy Tim Burton’s work it’s just that I could not see how his style or influence would mesh with the Abraham Lincoln and vampire thing. After seeing the trailer, I am a BELIEVER! This film looks awesome! The scene where Abraham Lincoln strikes down a tree with a single axe swing is all I need to see to be on board. Amazing.… Continue reading
Cargo 2009
Published February 15, 2012 | CARGO: SPACE, WHERE DREAMS GO TO DIE
In 1977, in the wake of the mega hit Star Wars, theaters were filled with films that were trying to capitalize on the success of Star Wars and the new found viability of Sci Fi in the market. Roger Corman’s Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) and Galaxy of Terror (1981) comes to mind. These films were no where near as polished as Star Wars but at least we were getting more Sci Fi stories. There were many more low budget films as well as big budget films that may… Continue reading
