Plan 9 From Outer Space.... the Cartoon Remake?!

While I already knew that there was a modernized PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE remake out there (click here for more info on PLAN 9), a cartoon remake of the original comes as a big surprise. The members of Bad Aftertaste Animation are currently trying to raise funds to do a full-on animated redo of Ed Wood's classic, quintessential b-movie, and they need your help! Read on for more info.

Bad Aftertaste Animation needs your Angora!

Greetings, earthlings. You better turn on your dictorobitaries for the following announcement. Bad Aftertaste Animation would love to affect you in the future with this future event: a cartoon remake of Plan 9 From Outer Space, featuring a complete new sound track - voices, music and, as a change, acting! - and animated goodness, from special effects to Vampira’s wooden movements.

Yes, ‘ooh!’ I hear you say awestruck. However, world domination cannot happen without your help funding this project, since our electrode guns aren't working, and dropping them on the ground doesn't help. We have started an IndieGoGo campaign trying to collect the necessary material for our attack on mankind. You can head over to http://igg.me/at/plan9/x/3152901 for our crowd-funding campaign, or you can help spread the word. Either way, you'd be helping getting this saucer where it came from: from up there!

About Bad Aftertaste Animation: Bad Aftertaste Animation was founded in 2012 by Nicholas Triarchos, a short-film & TV director, writer & sound artist from Cyprus, whose work has been featured in the 2012 film Sinister by Scott Derrickson. Bad Aftertaste Animation aims to produce dark comedy animated features & shorts to further the boundaries of independent animation.

This IndieGoGo campaign will only be around another 19 days, and it is a "flexible" one, meaning that even though the director wants fifty-five thousand Euros to make the best cartoon possible, any little bit you chip in will go directly to the production even if the main financial goal is not met.

There are perks if you pledge five Euros or more, but if none of them sway your judgement, you can just  donate one Euro (roughly $1.29 in U.S. currency) to the production. Every little helps!

So if you have a few bucks kicking around, why not become a backer for what could be one of the greatest animated b-film tributes of all time?

Shout Factory releasing Luc Besson's "The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec" to DVD & Blu-ray on August 13th!

I received a press release the other day for this upcoming Shout! Factory release of Luc Besson's fantasy tale, THE ADVENTURES OF ADELE BLANC-SEC. It's kind of like THE MUMMY, but with a French twist and a cute pterosaur discovering/riding gal taking the place of Brendan Fraser. Here's more info about this movie and it's DVD & Blu-ray release:

JOURNEY IN THIS SPECTACULAR EPIC ACTION ADVENTURE ON DVD and TWO-DISC BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK (BLU-RAY + DVD + DIGITAL COPY) IN STORES EVERYWHERE ON AUGUST 13, 2013 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY!

This summer, let your imagination run free. Journey into an awe-inspiring world of action fantasy and visual wonder with popular French comics heroine Adèle Blanc-Sec as she leaps from the pages to the screen! On August 13, 2013, Shout! Factory, in collaboration with EuropaCorp, invite families and the young-at-heart across America to be captivated by one of the most highly anticipated international motion pictures of all time when Luc Besson’s The Extraordinary ADVENTURES of Adèle Blanc-Sec unleashes on DVD and on two-disc BLU-RAY COMBO PACK. The Blu-ray combo pack allows viewers to enjoy The Extraordinary ADVENTURES of Adèle Blanc-Sec on the platform of their choice and includes spectacular movie presentation on Blu-ray, DVD and a digital copy of the movie compatible with PC, MAC, iTunes, iPhone and AppleTV.

Brimming with heart-pounding action, breathtaking cinematography and visceral special effects, this acclaimed feature illustrates the magical power of moviemaking, and delivers wildly entertaining cinematic adventure filled with humor, incredible action, mystery and lush Parisian period details that the whole family will enjoy! Both Blu-ray combo pack and DVD editions offer English and French audio tracks, English subtitles. Insightful bonus features take viewers behind- the-scenes as director Luc Besson and the cast share their passion in bringing this timeless tale to the screen. Available in stores nationwide, The Extraordinary ADVENTURES of Adèle Blanc-Sec Blu-ray combo pack is priced to own with a suggested retail price of $24.97, and $14.97 for the DVD. THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ADÈLE BLANC-SEC The Director’s Cut Edition Two-Disc Blu-ray+DVD Combo Pack will arrive in stores this Fall 2013.

THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ADELE BLANC-SEC, is currently available for pre-order (directly from Shout! Factory, or from other online retailers) and it's street date (again) is on August 13th! Check out the trailer below to help make up your mind on this one:


Did anyone else start hearing Sammy Hagar belting out "Heavy Metal" when Adele rides off on the Pterosaur at the end? (Or did you hear the theme from "E.T.?")

PRE-ORDER THE DVD FROM AMAZON.COM!
PRE-ORDER THE BLU-RAY FROM AMAZON.COM!

On Teacher's Day, the students pay! New slasher film coming out later this year on Friday the 13th!

I received a press release last week from director Jared Masters, the writer/director of SLINK (available on various VOD services on June 1st), about his upcoming film TEACHER'S DAY (formerly BLOOD SCHOOL). Principal photography wrapped on May 1st; the film is now in post-production and slated for release on Friday, December 13th! Here's more info on this upcoming slasher flick/love letter to trash cinema.

SYNOPSIS: The story involves a Napoleon Bonaparte obsessed high school educator, Ty Anderson, whose minor online communication with a teasing student finds him immediately terminated from school grounds, which snaps him into a psychotic killing spree, terrorizing his former female students at their slumber party.

PRESS RELEASE: Frolic Pictures Presents... The film you've been waiting for; a tawdry mix of a sinister slasher, with a double dose of comedic camp, coupled with Hollywood's grade A soon-to-be Scream Queens (for now we'll call them princesses).

What better holiday than Teachers' Day for a jilted high school educator to snap and go on a pointless killing spree, plucking off young lovelies one-by-one at their slumber party, where no boys are allowed?

Unstoppable writer/director Jared Masters admits that out of the five features he's shot, this one's the most fun he's ever had, thanks to an amazing all-star teen cast compiled of the sensational Savannah Matlow, the alluring Nikole Howell, the All-American Courtney Rood, the epitome of grace and poise Danika Galindo, the girl you'd love to meet Lindsay Lamb, and the angel in disguise Abby Summers.

The film also stars the strikingly handsome Bruce Kade, as Mr. Anderson, and the beautiful boy wonder Andrew Phillips, as Luke Dalton, the jock you love to hate.

The movie also offers the veteran thespian Art Roberts, glamor queen Dawna Lee Heising, foxy Julia Faye West, celebrity cop Steve Crest and the stunning, highly-sought after Mindy Robinson.

Produced by Julia Faye West, Seth Metoyer, Mikko Tervonen, Sunny Vachher, Michael Anthony and Bruce Kade.

Sound and soundtrack by Sean Gibson. Shot by Tim McCombe.

I'm always a sucker for a good slasher flick (and even some "not so good" slasher flicks) and this one sounds pretty fun. Ridiculous motive for the killer? Check! Hot slumber party girls? Check! Gratuitous nudity and gore? There better be!

A teaser trailer and the official poster are coming soon, so stay tuned fellow slasher cinema fans!

23:59 coming to DVD & Blu-ray in June!

I just got a press release from the folks at Magnet Releasing/Magnolia Pictures about this cool ghost story from Singapore. "23:59" is hitting DVD & Blu-ray on June 4th; here's more info about this release.

SYNOPSIS: FROM THE PRODUCERS OF TATSUMI AND MACABRE.

Written & Directed by Gilbert Chan (Love Matters, S11)

Starring Award Winning Comedian, Television Host and Director Mark Lee (Love Matters, Liang Po Po: The Movie, Money No Enough Franchise).

During a routine road march at an island military training camp, an army recruit is found dead at exactly 23:59. This mysterious and gruesome incident unearths a terrifying dark secret of the haunted island, forcing the recruits to confront their deepest fears in order to find the truth about their friend’s death.

BONUS FEATURES:
"The Making of 23:59" featurette.
 Trailers.

Check out the trailer below.


It doesn't look like anything super awesome, but I'm a sucker for a good ghost story, so I'll probably give it a look. Once again, "23:59" comes out on DVD & Blu-ray on June 4th, and it is currently available for pre-order at Amazon.com (for about $24.00 or so).

PRE-ORDER THE DVD FROM AMAZON.COM!
PRE-ORDER THE BLU-RAY FROM AMAZON.COM!

THE FOG and THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN coming to Blu-ray this July!

Here's a huge helping dose of awesome news for all you classic horror fans out there! Shout!/Scream Factory has announced that they are releasing THE FOG and THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN onto Blu-ray in July! Both discs will be loaded with cool extras, gorgeous high-def transfers, and rockin' cover art! Here's the lowdown via the press release I received the other day. Get excited and put aside some cash for these discs!

THE FOG ROLLS IN ON COLLECTOR'S EDITION DVD & BLU-RAY, FROM SCREAM FACTORY!

A weather beaten old fisherman tells an ancient tale of betrayal and death to fascinated children as they huddle together by their campfire. As a piece of driftwood in a child’s hands glows with spectral light an eerie fog envelops the bay and from it’s midst emerge dripping demonic victims of a century old shipwreck… seeking revenge.

 THE FOG Collector’s Edition bonus features NEW SCREAM FACTORY EXTRAS: 
· New HD transfer of the film supervised by Director of Photography Dean Cundey

· Exclusive interview with Actress Jamie Lee Curtis discussing The Fog and covering her legendary early 80s “Scream Queen” career.

· Audio commentary featuring Actress Adrienne Barbeau, Actor Tom Atkins and Production Designer Tommy Lee Wallace.

· Retrospective interview with Director of Photography Dean Cundey about his many legendary collaborations with John Carpenter.

· Horror’s Hallowed Grounds – A Look At The Film’s Locations with host Sean Clark

Extras from the MGM prior release include:
· Tales From The Mist: Inside The Fog Featurette

· Fear On Film: Inside The Fog Featurette

· The Fog: Storyboard To Film Featurette

· Outtakes

 · Theatrical Trailers & TV Spots

· Photo Gallery and Storyboards

· Audio Commentary With Writer/Director John Carpenter And Writer/Producer Debra Hill.

Also, as always, the DVD & Blu-ray will have awesome custom artwork, BUT, it is dual-sided so you can flip the cover over and sport the original poster art! (Yet another reason to love Shout!/Scream Factory!)

I absolutely love THE FOG (read my old review for it HERE) and can't wait to get my paws on this Blu-ray!

PRE-ORDER IT ON DVD AT AMAZON.COM FOR $14.99!
PRE-ORDER IT ON BLU-RAY AT AMAZON.COM FOR $26.94!


Also coming out on July 31st is the Blu-ray for THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN. This is the first time this title has been on Blu-ray and now you can enjoy one of the more notorious creature features of the late 70's in glorious high definition!

SYNOPSIS:
He was once the hero… now he’s the hunted!

Colonel Steve West has just returned from an incredible history-making flight to Saturn when he is hospitalized with an ailment that baffles the entire medical community. His flesh is melting and to stay alive he must consume human flesh and blood. The infected Colonel West escapes from the doctors’ supervision and hides in the surrounding community where he begins to hunt for human flesh. Who can stop the Incredible Melting Man?

This movie features the early makeup f/x work by the great Rick Baker, and has the (some would say dubious) honor of being riffed on Mystery Science Theater 3000! (Of course... you do know that this means we could very well see said episode of MST3K in the near future! YAY!)

Info on extras has yet to be announced, so keep your eyes peeled for more updates on this upcoming Shout! Factory release!

PRE-ORDER THE BLU-RAY ON AMAZON.COM FOR $17.97!

Coming to DVD & Blu-ray in May: Mama and ABCs of Death!

Next month, you can snap up either of these two major horror releases wherever movies are sold: The Guillermo del Toro produced MAMA comes to DVD and Blu-ray courtesy of Universal Home Video. I haven't seen it myself but it seems that most people liked it... until they saw the disappointing ending. Here's more info on the film and the specs on the DVD and Blu-ray:

From Academy Award® nominated actress Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty, The Help) comes the pulse-pounding tale of one mother’s twisted love in MAMA. Brought to life by Academy Award® nominee Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) and also starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (“Game of Thrones”), MAMA will be available on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand on May 7, 2013 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Also available on Digital Download on April 23, 2013.

MAMA is the haunting tale of two little girls who vanish without a trace from their suburban neighborhood the day that their parents were killed. But when the young sisters are found alive years later in a decrepit cabin, their uncle (Coster-Waldau) and his girlfriend, Annabel (Chastain), take them in. As they try to introduce the children to a normal life, Annabel begins to wonder if the traumatized girls are the only guests they have welcomed into their home or if someone or something still wants to come tuck them in at night.

The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack allows fans to watch MAMA anytime, anywhere on the device of their choice. It includes a Blu-ray™ disc, a DVD, a Digital Copy and UltraViolet™ for the ultimate, complete viewing experience.

· Blu-ray™ disc unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound.

· Digital Copy provides fans with a choice of digital options to watch on devices such as iPhone®, iPad®, Android™, computers and more.

· DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing the movie in more places, both at home and while away.

· UltraViolet™ is a revolutionary new way for fans to collect their moves and TV shows in the cloud. UltraViolet™ lets consumers instantly stream and download to tablets, smartphones, computers and TVs. Now available in both the United States and Canada.

BONUS FEATURES (BLU-RAY™ and DVD):
* MATRIARCAL SECRETS BD EXCLUSIVE: An in-depth exploration of the digital and practical effects employed to shape the film’s phantom presence.

* DELETED SCENES with Commentary by Director/Co-Writer Andy Muschietti and Producer/Co-Writer Barbara Muschietti.

* ORIGINAL SHORT WITH INTRODUCTION BY GUILLERMO DEL TORO with Commentary by Director/Co-Writer Andy Muschietti and Producer/Co-Writer Barbara Muschietti.

* THE BIRTH OF MAMA: MAMA began as a chilling short that announced a new voice in the horror genre. Exclusive interviews with Executive Producer Guillermo del Toro and the filmmakers track the bloodline of the feature and explore changes needed to make the transition to a film.

* FEATURE COMMENTARY with Director/Co-Writer Andy Muschietti and Producer/Co-Writer Barbara Muschietti.

PRE-ORDER ON DVD AT AMAZON.COM FOR $19.86!
PRE-ORDER ON BLU-RAY AT AMAZON.COM FOR $23.86!

What?! They removed the baby from the cover art?!

Also coming out in May is "The ABCs of Death" (read my review HERE) which has built itself a sturdy cult May 21st, and features 26 short films from 26 different directors from around the world.
following. This (in my opinion) failed cinematic experiment is coming to DVD and Blu-ray through Magnet Releasing on

Here are the special features that both the DVD and Blu-ray releases will contain:

* 11(DVD)/14 (BR) Behind the Scenes, Making-ofs and Deleted Scenes.

* Filmmaker Commentary (Over 30 Filmmakers).

* BD-Live Feature Exclusive to Blu-ray – Additional Short Film Contest Submissions.

I'd probably pick it up for the making-ofs and commentaries alone, just to get some insight into why all of these filmmakers chose the topics and made the artistic decisions that were displayed in their final products. While I admittedly only enjoyed a handful of the short films (about six out of the twenty-six), I'd love to have some of my curiosity sated.

Also, not to be a stickler, but why was the baby photoshopped out of the cover art? That sort of propelled me to actively seek the movie out and watch it... now the artwork just looks... generic.

Once again, THE ABCS OF DEATH hits DVD and Blu-ray on May 21st. You can pre-order yourself a copy by clicking on the links below.

PRE-ORDER THE DVD AT AMAZON.COM FOR $24.28!
PRE-ORDER THE BLU-RAY AT AMAZON.COM FOR $19.99!

HATE CRIME NOW AVAILABLE ON VOD + MUSE NOW IN PRODUCTION!

Just got some press release action from indie producer/screenwriter/director James Cullen Bressack about his latest film HATE CRIME (read my review HERE) getting a global VOD release, and some new about a new indie horror flick he's producing called MUSE. Read on for more details:

HATE CRIME GETS GLOBAL VIDEO ON DEMAND DISTRIBUTION; FINDS A DISTRIBUTOR!

HATE CRIME is now available WORLDWIDE on VOD exclusively on http://www.psykikjunkypictures.com . And when we say WORLD WIDE we mean WORLD WIDE! That's right ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE EVERYWHERE can watch the film now! Many have been patiently waiting to see the film Hate Crime for months now. Well the wait is OFFICIALLY OVER!!!!

IT IS AVAILABLE NOW ON VOD WORLD WIDE at this link: http://psykikjunkypictures.com/ for $6.66 but you better hurry because it will only be available for 1 month before it gets taken down off of VOD for its DVD/BLU release in AUGUST through UNEARTHED! TIME TO UNLEASH THE BEAST!

If you've been curious about this film (and it is hard not to be, what with all the good press and reviews, plus the refusal of some theaters to play the movie at several film festivals) this is your chance to see what all the hoopla is about. While I can't sit here and tell you that it is a great movie that you'll want to watch over and over again, I can say that it is a more than competently made visceral cinematic experience. There's actually a few scenes in this home invasion / found footage flick that made yours truly squirm a bit, and I'm a jaded horror fan that's "seen it all before," so maybe that'll be enough reason for you to give HATE CRIME a look!

Next up on James Cullen Bressack's plate is an indie horror film he's producing called MUSE. Directed by Nick Palumbo (another controversial indie filmmaker), the film follows a young actress' decent into murder and madness. Here's more info via the press release:

MUSE NOW IN PRE-PRODUCTION
Fright Flix Productions and controversial cult filmmaker Nick Palumbo have begun pre-production on "MUSE," a psychological horror film starring Samantha Mion in her film debut. Co-starring Patrick Scott Lewis ("Zodiac"), as an irascible thespian. MUSE is written, and directed by Palumbo and produced by Nick and David Palumbo along with cult filmmaker James Cullen Bressack ("Hate Crime"). Director of Photography is David Newbert ("Marfa Girl"). Principal photography begins on April 15 in Los Angeles, California. The announcement was made today by Fright Fix Productions' President Nick Palumbo.

"I'm very excited to return to set with my follow up to 'MURDER-SET-PIECES,'" said Palumbo. 'MUSE' is something very different from me. The subject is extremely relevant. The film is a character study of a sociopathic young woman, and how loneliness and isolation pushes her further into the abyss. I believe it's a feeling many actors have experienced and will surely relate to. With our incredibly talented production team, we are confident we'll give thriller/horror fans something to talk about as we offer an unflinching look at the dark side of the entertainment industry."

"Nick is one of the very few American filmmakers that isn't afraid to lay it all on the line and make a confrontational film," said Bressack. "His dark and visceral style is unparalleled within the genre."

MUSE is a brutally honest and chilling story of a young actress (Mion), descending into homicidal madness. Both shocking and controversial, the film is told from her point of view, as we follow her dark odyssey through modern day Los Angeles.

MUSE is written and directed by Nick Palumbo, produced by Nick and David Palumbo and James Cullen Bressack through their Fright Flix banner.

For more information please visit: http://www.musethemovie.com/
Please join our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/musefilm

This sounds like it will be interesting; I'll definitely be keeping tabs on MUSE as the production ventures onward to completion and release.

Tai Chi Hero coming to select theaters on April 26th!

I missed out on TAI CHI ZERO (buy it or rent it from Amazon.com) but it is definitely on my radar. It looks to be a cool martial arts flick that takes place in a steampunk universe, and apparently it did pretty well because the sequel, TAI CHI HERO is on its way to select U.S. theaters on April 26th, courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment.

SYNOPSIS: Lu Chan (Jayden Yuan) is still trying to find his place in Chen Village, the legendary town where everyone is a martial arts master…and Chen-style Tai Chi is forbidden to outsiders. But since he helped save the town from a frightening steam-powered machine, Yuniang (Angelababy), beautiful daughter of Grandmaster Chen (Tony Leung Ka-Fai), agrees to marry Lu Chan and bring him into the family.

 It’s only a formality, though – she is the teacher, and he is the student – and that suits Lu Chan just fine, as the mutant horn on his head gives him incredible kung-fu power, but leaves him dumber each time, and closer to death. Chen Village still stands in the shadow of danger. A prodigal brother returns, Lu Chan’s presence invokes a curse on the town, and Yuniang’s scorned fiancée has an appetite for revenge, as well as some new partners in crime.

The second in a trilogy from the creators of IP MAN and DETECTIVE DEE, and featuring action directed by the legendary Sammo Hung, TAI CHI HERO is a full-on, steampunk-infused, video game-influenced kung fu throwdown that will knock you out of your seat.

Wait what? It's a trilogy?! Man I need to scope these flicks out for myself and prep for the third one! Check out the trailer below for TAI CHI HERO to get psyched up for some kung-fu/steampunk insanity!


As stated earlier, this film is getting a limited release on April 26th. Here is a list of theaters that will be showing the film that weekend:

Los Angeles, CA - AMC Atlantic Time Square (450 N. Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park)
New York, NY - AMC EMPIRE 25
San Francisco, CA - AMC Metreon 16, AMC Cupertino Square 16
Honolulu, HI - Pearlridge West 16
Toronto, Canada - Cineplex Odeon Yonge and Dundas Cinemas
Vancouver, Canada - Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas

If more screenings are announced, I'll be sure to update this post. For more info on TAI CHI HERO, visit the official website!

Look for EDDIE: THE SLEEPWALKING CANNIBAL in select theaters and on VOD this Friday!

I received a press release the other day about this new and odd horror/comedy that's in the same vein as COLOR ME BLOOD RED and A BUCKET OF BLOOD. How far is a man willing to go to produce his greatest work of art? Well... pretty damned far apparently. Check out the synopsis and trailer below.

SYNOPSIS: Thure Lindhardt (Keep the Lights On) stars in this quirky horror-comedy as Lars, a former darling of the art scene now slipping away into the land of has-beens and struggling with lack of inspiration.

When Lars’s art dealer Ronny arranges a teaching job in a small town as a “therapeutic measure” to stir up his creative juices, things don't quite turn out as planned. At first, life in the peaceful small town seems rosy, as he settles in and impresses beautiful fellow colleague Leslie (Georgina Reilly) by taking in the brawny, mute Eddie (Dylan Smith) after the latter’s caregiver passes away. But Lars soon discovers that the façade of serenity hides something unimaginable: Eddie suffers from a rare form of sleepwalking that transforms him from a docile, cereal-obsessed art student into a ravenous sleepwalking cannibal. Initially horrified by Eddie’s dark secret, Lars becomes enthralled by the not-so-gentle giant. Exceptional art comes at a very high price...and how far is Lars willing to go for his next masterpiece?

EDDIE: THE SLEEPWALKING CANNIBAL is a fresh, clever satire about artistic inspiration that pushes boundaries with its unique blend of offbeat humor, twisted friendships, sweet-hearted romance, and the gory realities of sleepwalking cannibalism.

Hahahaha. This sounds awesome! Let's check out the trailer and see if it lives up to the cool synopsis, shall we?


Yeah I dig it! But is it me or would this be the perfect vehicle for a Nick Frost/Simon Pegg team-up? In any case, EDDIE: THE SLEEPWALKING CANNIBAL hits video on demand services and select theaters this Friday, April 5th! Maybe I'll check it out after I see EVIL DEAD!

CRUSH comes to DVD & Blu-ray on April 9th!

I recently received a heads-up from Millennium Entertainment that this new horror/thriller is coming to DVD & Blu-ray next week. Check out the synopsis and trailer below!

SYNOPSIS: Millennium Entertainment proudly announces the DVD and Blu-ray release of CRUSH for April 9, 2013. The teen-thriller stars Lucas Till, Crystal Reed, Sarah Bolger, Reid Ewing, Leigh Whannell and Caitriona Balfe and will be available DVD and Blu-ray.

High school heartthrob Scott has it all; good looks, popularity… and a secret admirer. But what starts out as a seemingly innocent crush soon turns deadly. Who's responsible? Scott’s long time friend Jules, frustrated with their platonic relationship? Bess, a shy classmate, increasingly jealous of his friendship with Jules? Or Jeffrey, a bright outcast whose crush on Bess has lead him to become increasingly obsessive? One thing's certain, time's running out and Scott must uncover the psychotic stalker before it’s too late.


The film is rated PG-13, and though it isn't something up my alley (my fiancee would probably enjoy it) I'll admit that it's good to see a woman going crazy over a dude for a change. Far too many times men turn out are the villains in these "Fatal Attraction" type films, so it's nice to see a film telling it like it really is, because WOMEN BE CRAZY!!!! (Just kidding! :: glances around nervously :: )

Once again, CRUSH hits DVD & Blu-ray next Tuesday (April 9th!) and you can pre-order it now at Amazon.com from the links below:

PRE-ORDER THE DVD FOR $26.09!
PRE-ORDER THE BLU-RAY FOR $26.99!

Magnet Releasing to distribute MILO later this year!

Got a press release the other night stating that Magnet Releasing had won a battle to procure the distribution rights for Jacob Vaughan's horror/comedy MILO, which premiered last week at the SXSW Film Festival. Here's the lowdown on the film:

NEW YORK/AUSTIN – March 18, 2013 – Magnet Releasing has acquired North American distribution rights to the acclaimed comedy/horror film MILO. Written and directed by Jacob Vaughan and starring Ken Marino & Gillian Jacobs, MILO premiered last weekend at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival. Blending the gory elements of a classic critter film (à la GREMLINS) with the lighthearted comedy of an unlikely friendship (reminiscent of TED), MILO was one of the most talked about and unique films of the festival.

The sale for MILO was completed late Friday night, making it the last deal to close during this year’s SXSW.

Duncan’s (Ken Marino) life is a real pain in the ass. Tormented by a manipulative, crooked boss (Patrick Warburton), a nagging mother (Mary Kay Place), a deadbeat new age dad (Stephen Root), and a sweet, yet pressuring, wife (Gillian Jacobs), his mounting stress starts to trigger an insufferable gastrointestinal reaction. Out of ideas and at the end of his rope, Duncan seeks the help of a hypnotherapist (Peter Stormare), who helps him discover the root of his unusual stomach pain: a pintsized demon living in his intestine that, triggered by excessive anxiety, forces its way out and slaughters the people who have angered him. Out of fear that his intestinal gremlin may target its wrath on the wrong person, Duncan attempts to befriend it, naming it Milo and indulging it to keep its seemingly insatiable appetite at bay.

MILO features notable puppetry by Frank Langley and Bob Mano.

MILO was produced by Adele Romanski with New Artists Alliance’s Gabriel Cowan and John Suits. Executive producers include Mark & Jay Duplass, John Norris, Kerry Johnson, Dallas Sonnier, Jack Heller and Floren Shieh Productions’ Clay Floren and Aimee Shieh.

“Just like Ken Marino, our stomachs were hurting watching MILO, happily because of laughter rather than an intestinal demon,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “MILO is a rare entry in the horror-comedy genre that truly delivers.”

Jacob Vaughan said, "Magnet is the perfect home for MILO. The company is second-to-none in releasing quality genre movies and their passion for MILO is overwhelming. I’m confident they will do an incredible job positioning the film in the marketplace and getting it seen by audiences everywhere.”

The deal for MILO was negotiated by Magnolia/Magnet SVP of Acquisitions Dori Begley and Director of Acquisitions Peter van Steemburg, with ICM Partners on behalf of the filmmakers and producers.

This movie actually sounds pretty cool and the fact that there's puppetry in it (no mention of CGI) excites me! Could it be that the filmmakers used practical f/x instead of computerized trickery?! Guess we'll have to wait and find out later this year when Magnet gives MILO a video on demand/limited theatrical release! 

"MILO got a distribution deal?! NO WAY?!"

JOHN DIES AT THE END: Available on DVD & Blu-ray on April 2nd!

Based upon the popular novel by David Wong, JOHN DIES AT THE END follows two slackers who get caught up in an interdimensional adventure involving strange invaders who want to conquer the Earth. I actually saw it earlier this year after buying a "pre-theatrical rental" through Amazon and .... well... it was interesting to say the least. All eyes were glued to the TV, but most of us watching were scratching our heads a lot of the time. Apparently this is an adaptation that requires you to read the source material to fully appreciate the movie. Still, it was fun, and fans of the book should love it! Here's more info about this upcoming release:

SYNOPSIS: In JOHN DIES AT THE END, it’s all about the Soy Sauce, a drug that promises an out-of-body experience with each hit. Users drift across time and dimensions. But some who come back are no longer human. Suddenly a silent otherworldly invasion is underway, and mankind needs a hero. What it gets instead is John (Rob Mayes) and David (Chase Williamson), a pair of college dropouts who can barely hold down jobs...

Adapted from David Wong’s audacious trans-genre horror novel, JOHN DIES AT THE END with screenplay by and directed by Don Coscarelli (BUBBA HO-TEP) and also stars Clancy Brown, Glynn Turman and Paul Giamatti.

 BONUS FEATURES

-- Commentary with Writer/Director Don Coscarelli, Producer Brad Baruh, Chase Williamson and Rob Mayes
-- Deleted Scenes
-- Getting Sauced: The Making of John Dies at the End
-- Creature Corps: The Effects of Soy Sauce
-- Casting Sessions
-- Fangoria Interview with Paul Giamatti
-- Trailers

Both the DVD & Blu-ray hit stores and e-tailers on Tuesday, April 2nd!

PRE-ORDER THE BLU-RAY AT AMAZON.COM FOR $19.99!

PRE-ORDER THE DVD AT AMAZON.COM FOR $14.99!

ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE FINALLY SEEING THE LIGHT OF DAY!

With the success of Jonathan Levine's WARM BODIES, it's no surprise that someone finally got around to releasing his feature length directorial debut. I've been curious about it myself and have wondered for some time why it was never released. Seven years later, I'll finally see if it has been worth the wait. Here's more info on this "lost" Horror film that being released by RADiUS and The Weinstein Company:

PRESS RELEASE

RADiUS-TWC is proud to announce that it has acquired U.S. rights to ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE, the long anticipated feature directorial debut from director Jonathan Levine (WARM BODIES, 50/50) that has been rescued by the Weinstein Company’s boutique label.

Starring Amber Heard and Anson Mount, ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY is about a group of high-schoolers who invite Mandy Lane, “a good girl” who becomes the object of everyone’s affection after returning from summer break, to a weekend party on a secluded ranch. While the festivities rage on, the number of revelers begins to mysteriously drop one at a time.

ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE will be released in late summer – seven years after its Toronto Film Festival Midnight premiere.

RADiUS Co-President Tom Quinn says:  “I've been chasing this film since I first saw it in Toronto. [Executive producer] Keith Calder and I have kept in touch over the years and he's finally been able to wrangle the film from a deal at Senator.  Originally, Harvey and Bob beat us to it in Toronto and now we get to work together to finally bring MANDY LANE to U.S. audiences. This is one of the few horror films that has remained relevant and in the zeitgeist for years - - no easy feat - - and it still surpasses so much of what is being produced today.“ 

According to Harvey and Bob Weinstein, “We’ve always loved MANDY LANE and are thrilled that RADiUS shares our passion for the film and will get in front of the widest possible audience.”

Levine goes on to say:  “I am thrilled that MANDY LANE has been rescued and is back where it belongs with Harvey and Bob.  Hard to believe it's been seven years, but then again I’ve always perceived myself as a misunderstood artist who was light years ahead of his time, so I am thrilled the world has finally caught up. Seriously, I am incredibly proud of the film and of the hard work that my cast and collaborators put into it, and I am so happy the world will finally get a chance to see it.”

“It's finally time for me to come clean… During the production of MANDY LANE, I broke a mirror and doomed the film to seven years of bad luck. Thankfully, the team at RADiUS-TWC has shown up to rescue our film and clear my guilty conscience. I'm ecstatic that our first film with RADiUS-TWC is also the first film we produced, and I'm looking forward to working with Harvey, Bob, Jason, and Tom on the release,” echoes Calder.

Quinn and RADiUS Co-President Jason Janego negotiated the deal with Calder.

In the dark on this flick, or you just haven't seen the trailer in a long time? Well give it a look and get excited because it looks pretty darned good. I personally enjoyed WARM BODIES a lot, so I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE:



No official theatrical, video on demand, or DVD/Blu-ray release dates have been announced yet, but I'll be sure to post them once I find out!

ELI ROTH NEWS: HEMLOCK GROVE COMING TO NETFLIX IN APRIL; AFTERSHOCK COMING TO THEATERS IN MAY!

Click for a closer look.

Love him or hate him, you gotta give Eli Roth some credit for creating some of the most brutal gross-out moments in modern film history. From the icky flesh-melting fun of CABIN FEVER, to the torture porn depravity of HOSTEL, to his awesome faux slasher trailer for THANKSGIVING featured in GRINDHOUSE, Eli has come a long way since his short onscreen cameos in Troma flicks.

With that said, Eli Roth's got a new original series prepped  called HEMLOCK GROVE and it premieres exclusively on NetFlix on April 19th. I heard about it a few months back, but it wasn't until recently that I started getting some info on it (like the really kick-ass poster for the show pictured on the left). From the post alone you can assume that werewolves are involved somehow... or at least man-eating dogs.

Synopsis: 
From executive producer Eli Roth and based on Brian McGreevy’s novel of the same name, Hemlock Grove is a riveting one-hour murder mystery that revolves around the residents of a former Pennsylvania steel town.

When 17-year-old Brooke Bluebell is brutally murdered, any of Hemlock’s peculiar inhabitants – or killer creatures – could be suspects. Through the investigation, the town’s seamier side is exposed, revealing nothing is what it seems. Beautiful, terrifying and graphic, Hemlock Grove is unlike anything else in its genre. The cast includes Famke Janssen, Dougray Scott, Bill Skarsgård, Landon Liboiron, Penelope Mitchell and Freya Tingley.

Hmm.... a murder mystery involving supernatural creatures? Count me in!  Check out the trailer for Season one below:


Eli's other new project (which he co-wrote, produced, and starred in) is a disaster movie/horror flick called AFTERSHOCK. Directed by Nicolás López, AFTERSHOCK follows a group of travelers who get trapped in an underground nightclub in Chile during a huge earthquake. But their struggle to escape their would-be tomb is only the beginning because the earthquake has wrecked the city, knocked out the power, and (from what I gathered from the trailer below) unleashed an army of violent criminals upon the panicking populace!


AFTERSHOCK is currently making its festival rounds but is slated for a May 10th theatrical release in the United States!

TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS 2 - DVD ARTWORK, RELEASE DATE, & T-SHIRT!

Click to enlarge bloody cleavage.

I recently received a press release from James Cullen Bressack (director of MY PURE JOY and HATE CRIME) about his recent production of TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS 2, an indie horror anthology that boasts "Six Sick and Twisted Tales of Terror." It's coming out on DVD in a few months and should be a real treat for fans of ultra low-budget horror flicks!

Synopsis:
From Executive Producers James Cullen Bressack (My Pure Joy, HATE CRIME) and Jarret Cohen at Psykik Junky Pictures and directors Doug Waugh, Shawn C. Phillips, and Alex Powers, comes the second installment in the TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS ANTHOLOGY series starring Penthouse Pet Veronica Ricci (Bloody Mary 3D) Shawn C. Phillips (Don & Murph), James Cullen Bressack, Nick Clarck (Hate Crime) Joseph Frantz (CKY & VIVA LA BAM), and Miles Dougal (Detroit Rock City & Chillerama).

Sexy, sinful horror host Mona Screamalot (Penthouse Pet Veronica Ricci) and her crazy backwoods family invite you to take a seat on the couch as they serve up six sick short films from their secret stash of horror trash. Featuring the work of emerging genre directors, this is a bloody and brain-numbing buffet of the bizarre.

TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS 2 hits DVD on April 23rd, for the low low price of $9.99, and you can PRE-ORDER IT AT AMAZON.COM right now! Also available is a cool TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS 2 t-shirt courtesy of Fast Custom Shirts. It's $14.99 and can be purchased HERE.

For more info, updates, and some behind the scenes photos from the film, be sure to visit the OFFICIAL TREASURE CHEST OF HORRORS 2 FACEBOOK PAGE!

To get a taste of what to expect, take a glimpse at the teaser trailer below:

RAGNAROK IS COMING.... courtesy of Magnolia Pictures!

NORWEGIANS!

Just got a press release from Magnolia Pictures about a new film they have procured for North American distribution. Prior to this, they released a little Norwegian mockumentary you may have heard of called TROLL HUNTER (under their Magnet Releasing arm), so you can bet I'm totally ready to check out a flick that involves the Norse end of days scenario. Here's more info about the film:

US distributor Magnolia has acquired the Norwegian action-adventure film RAGNAROK from TrustNordisk.

Magnolia concluded the deal based on a 3-minute promo shown during the European Film Market in Berlin. The deal was negotiated between SVP of Acquisitions Dori Begley and Director of Acquisitions Peter van Steemburg from Magnolia and CEO Rikke Ennis and Head of Sales Susan Wendt from TrustNordisk.

"We are very excited about RAGNAROK, which has all the makings of a terrific action adventure. We are especially pleased to be working with our friends at TrustNordisk again to bring more great Scandinavian cinema to US audiences”, says President of Magnolia Pictures, Eamonn Bowles.

“I can’t recall having seen an action adventure film of this standard and production value coming out of Scandinavia. I am thrilled to have a partner like Magnolia aboard and can’t wait to present the film to the American audiences”, says Rikke Ennis, CEO at TrustNordisk.

Magnolia has previously released successful Norwegian films such as the thriller HEADHUNTERS (2011), based on the book by Jo Nesbø and TROLL HUNTER (2010). Lately Magnolia also acquired the rights for the upcoming Norwegian thriller PIONEER from TrustNordisk.

Norwegian Production Company Fantefilm which also produced THE COLD PREY-trilogy (2006, 2008, 2010) and ESCAPE (2012) is behind the upcoming large scale action-adventure film which stars actor Pål Sverre Hagen (KON-TIKI, 2012) as an archeologist obsessed with the Oseberg Viking ship. Convinced that the Oseberg ship contains the answer to the mystery of Ragnarok, the end of days in Norse mythology he mounts an expedition to “No Man’s Land” between Norway and Russia, which holds a secret more terrifying than he could possibly imagine.

Directed by Mikkel Sandemose (COLD PREY – THE BEGINNING, 2010) RAGNAROK is produced by Martin Sundland and Are Heidenstrøm for Fantefilm Fiksjon in co-production with Film i Väst, H. Aschehoug & Co, Ghost VFX and Tre Vänner with support from The Norwegian Film Institute, Nordic Film & TV Fund, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, The Swedish Film Institute, the MEDIA programme of the European Union and i2i Audiovisual.

Domestic distribution is handled by Nordisk Film with domestic release set for October 2013. TrustNordisk handles international sales.

The film is in the early stages of post-production, so there's no trailer or poster yet, and the Facebook page for the film was just started up this past Tuesday so that's pretty empty too. Even the IMDB page is light on details, except for the cast & crew of course. I'll be posting more info on this film as it is released. In the meantime, don your battle helms, reinforce your shields, sharpen your axes and swords, and prepare for RAGNAROK!

STORAGE 24 coming to DVD & Blu-ray on March 12th!

I'm a sucker for a good creature feature or monster movie, and some of the better ones have been coming from overseas lately, so you can imagine how interested I am in seeing STORAGE 24!

Synopsis:
London is in chaos. A military cargo plane has crashed leaving its highly classified contents strewn across the city. Completely unaware London is in lockdown, Charlie (Noel Clarke) and Shelley (Antonia Campbell-Hughes), accompanied by best friends Mark (Colin O’Donoghue) and Nikki (Laura Haddock), are at Storage 24 dividing up their possessions after a recent break-up. Suddenly, the power goes off. Trapped in a dark maze of endless corridors, a mystery predator is hunting them one by one. In a place designed to keep things in, how do you get out?

The DVD and Blu-ray for STORAGE 24 will both be available on March 12th, and will be chock full o' extras including:

-- Feature Commentary
-- Creature Development Featurette
-- Production Design & Costume Featurette
-- Music & Sound Design Featurette
-- On Set Featurette
-- Video Blogs
-- A Day In the Life Of: Clarke & O’Donoghue
-- Scene Commentaries
-- Deleted Scenes
-- Photo Gallery

Now let's give the trailer a quick look and see what we can see....


Despite being a modern "Alien" rip-off and using the "Prometheus scream" in the trailer, I'm pretty game to check out STORAGE 24, if only to get a better look at the film's mon-star. It's big, it's mean, and it looks like it can bite someone's head off without breaking a sweat! Sign me up!

For more information about STORAGE 24, visit it's official site and official Facebook page.

CLICK HERE to pre-order it on DVD from Amazon.com (only $11.66)!
CLICK HERE to pre-order the Blu-ray from Amazon.com (only $16.97)!

KISS OF THE DAMNED Official Poster Released!

She's got David Bowie eyes....

The hand-painted poster to the left is the cool retro-style one-sheet for the upcoming vampire romance KISS OF THE DAMNED. I kind of dig it; it's like a throwback to the Hammer Horror era, or at the very least looks like something that would grace a Criterion Collection DVD cover. Here's a little more info about the film:

Synopsis:
Beautiful vampire Djuna (Josephine de La Baume) tries to resist the advances of the handsome, human screenwriter Paolo (Milo Ventimiglia), but eventually gives in to their passion. When her troublemaker sister Mimi (Roxane Mesquida) unexpectedly comes to visit, Djuna's love story is threatened, and the whole vampire community becomes endangered...

KISS OF THE DAMNED was written and directed by Xan Cassavetes, and stars Josephine de la Baume, Milo Ventimiglia, Roxane Mesquida, Anna Mouglalis, Michael Rapaport, and Riley Keough.

 KISS OF THE DAMNED will be available on iTunes/On Demand March 28, 2013, and in theaters May 3, 2013, and is being distributed by Magnet Releasing. For more information about the film, visit the official site, or like its official Facebook page.

I couldn't find an official trailer, so here's a clip from the film featuring plenty of DAMNED KISSING!

Check out the dude's "O-face" at 1:26. Hahaha.

Tibor Takács' SPIDERS coming at you in 2D and 3D on March 12th!

Where have I seen this poster before?

Though he's been relegated to making various low-budget killer animal/nature runs amok films, Tibor Takács will forever hold a place in my heart for directing THE GATE. Even though he made an awful sequel to that classic, and worked on several failed TV series, and various low budget atrocities.... I can't hate the man that terrorized a young Stephen Dorff with pint-sized demons.

Now Tibor is back with an all new giant spider, 3D CGI-fest, aptly named SPIDERS! Here's the dirt on this upcoming creature feature:

"Millennium Entertainment announces the upcoming 3D + 2D Blu-ray, DVD and VOD release of SPIDERS for March 12, 2013. The film was released theatrically and on Premium VOD February 8, 2013. The Sci-Fi Horror stars Patrick Muldoon, Christa Campbell and Sydney Sweeney and will be available on 3D + 2D Blu-ray at an SRP of $34.99 and DVD + Digital Copy at an SRP of $29.99.

SPIDERS centers on mutant spiders that fall to earth from a disabled Soviet space station. With New York City threatened to be overrun, it's up to transit supervisor Jason Cole and health inspector Rachel Cole to save their daughter and prevent the colossal Queen Spider from uniting with her eggs and creating an army of massive killer spiders."

Ooohhh..... that's where.

Hahahaha. I love how a "transit supervisor" and "city health inspector" are the spider-stopping heroes of this film. Do they single-handedly save the day and crush the spider menace, or do they declare martial law and lead the military in a life or death battle against the arachnid invaders from space? Regardless, I'm all over this. I'm a sucker for any movie involving giant creatures attacking a metropolitan city, so this is a surefire rental for yours truly. (Truthfully, they had me at the poster, which kind of rips off the classic Ripley/Newt "ALIENS" poster. See what I mean? ----->)

SPIDERS has already had a limited theatrical release and hit Video on Demand services this past Friday. (Watch it instantly on Amazon.com for $6.99!) The DVD (which will be 2D and come with a digital copy) and the Blu-ray (which will contain both the 2D and 3D versions of the film), hit retailers (and e-tailers) on March 12th!

For more info about the movie, visit its IMDB page HERE.
To pre-order the DVD from Amazon.com ($14.99), CLICK HERE.
To pre-order the Blu-ray from Amazon.com ($19.99), CLICK HERE.

Before you make your final decision on renting or buying this flick, check out the trailer below:

Call for Entries for the Dark Carnival International Film Festival!

I received a press release in my inbox this past weekend from David Pruett, the festival director for the Dark Carnival Film Festival. David and company are looking for indie filmmakers to submit their films (short or feature-length) to be screened at the fest, and have announced a new venue as well. Here's the lowdown on what has been called one of the "13 Film Fests to Die For:"

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls – join us August 30-31, 2013 in Columbus, Indiana for the Greatest Show Unearthed! Founded more than seven years ago, the Dark Carnival International Film Festival strives to be the premier event for screening the best independent horror, sci-fi, and dark fantasy films. Our mission is to put fans and filmmakers first and present fantastic films from the four corners of the globe. Many of the movies at Dark Carnival have been picked up for distribution by major players in the industry, and our event has provided numerous networking opportunities for visiting filmmakers who have traveled from as far as Spain, the UK, Toronto, New York and LA.

Since 2007, Dark Carnival has screened nearly 200 films from more than a dozen countries all over the world, and from almost every state in the US. In the past seven years we have gained a reputation as a festival that values indie filmmakers and that loves genre films as something much more than a business niche. As a result, we’ve gained the attention of some of the most highly regarded publications, film distributors, and sponsors including Avid, R2 Entertainment, Diabolique Magazine, HorrorHound Magazine, GeekTyrant, and Final Draft. The festival has also been featured multiple times in MovieMaker Magazine, which recognized Dark Carnival as one of the “13 Horror Film Fests to Die For” (Fall 2011) and one of the top “25 Film Fests Worth the Entry Fee” (Fall 2009)

New Venue
While other similar film festivals often screen their movies in hotel conference rooms, from the very beginning we’ve been proud to showcase festival films in some amazing theater venues. During our first six years, Dark Carnival was held at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, a restored, 1930s era movie-house. For 2013, we’re excited to move to our new location – the historic Crump Theater in downtown Columbus, Indiana. Originally opened in 1889, the Crump is the oldest theater in the state - and is also recognized as one of the most haunted places in the midwest. The Crump began its own restoration project in 2001, and since then has hosted a variety of shows and events, including benefits for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in Japan, as well a live performance by John Mellencamp.

Call For Entries
The Dark Carnival International Film Festival is currently accepting submissions for 2013 and festival organizers are looking for original, cutting edge independent films in the horror, fantasy and sci-fi genres. Both short and feature-length films are accepted, as well as documentaries, animation, experimental, music videos, and trailers. The early-bird deadline for submission is June 30, 2013. (Filmmakers should visit www.darkcarnivalfilmfest.com for more information.) The Dark Carnival International Film Festival is a different show every year. Screenings showcase a mix of 25-30 short and feature films. Events have included outdoor drive-in film screenings, filmmaking seminars, panel discussions, VIP award banquets, and filmmaker Q&A.

The festival has also offered a variety of after-hour events, including costume contests, dance parties, carnival sideshows, horror hosts, burlesque dancers, live fire shows and more! 2013 promises to be a special year for the event. This year’s festival theme will take advantage of the Crump Theater’s spooky reputation as a favorite location for ghost hunters from around the country, and festival organizers are hard at work planning our best show yet! Festival passes go on sale spring 2013, and a limited number of vendor tables are available. Visit www.DarkCarnivalFilmFest.com for more details.