Sauna ( Sauna - Wash Your Sins ) ( Filth ) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Interesting foreign language film (subtitles) based on a late 1500s storyline of a joint Finnish/Russian expedition working to define the border between their two countries. As they walk the actual disputed line, they commit a few unchoice acts that come back to haunt them, and also discover a village that is not on any map. Eerie things follow (trying to avoid giving a spoiler).
Overall, this was generally enjoyable. The mood maintains a dreary and eerie feeling throughout, but perhaps too much. It almost never lets up, as strange acts continue and the actors engage in several savage acts. This could be a negative; the story unendingly plods through dark territory with interspersed horror moments that more abruptly arise rather than be built up. Also, its kinda slow. The story unfolds somewhat discontinuously (which, at times, is very well done), but generally it moves from one slowly developed scene to another, all of which are more notable for the human-human brutality (which is more often implied than actually shown) than the paranormal horror.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sauna ( Sauna - Wash Your Sins ) ( Filth )

Click here for more information about Sauna ( Sauna - Wash Your Sins ) ( Filth )

Read More...

Terror on Tour (1983) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Before the infamous "Video Nasties" ruling of 1984, in which some of the most graphic and explicit low budget video titles of the preceding years were subjected to censorship and cuts from their pure original form by the powers that be, it almost seemed like anything went in the world of underground movies. 1980 was one of the scene's peak years; you had the notorious "Maniac," "Don't Go in the House," "Eyes of a Stranger," along with such Italian walking dead splatterfests as "Zombie."
One extremely obscure (and in some ways maybe deservedly so) entry of the slasher wave from that year and one that has been largely lost to time is Don Edmonds' "Terror on Tour." Edmonds had already established himself in the world of underground deviant cinema with such low budget schlock fests as the all but banned "Ilsa, She-Wolf of the S.S." (1974). So he was more than well acquainted with the form.
"Terror on Tour" concerns a fictional Kiss-like rock band known as the Clowns, who don costumes and face paint, making them all but indistinguishable from one another, and whose wild stage shows feature such delightful things as mannequins (all female) being chopped up and torn apart in mutilation-style. Unbeknownst to the band, someone is dressing up like one of the the Clowns' members and sadistically murdering their groupies back stage both during and after their concerts.
This film bears the dreaded "Unrated" classification and at times you can see why. There is rampant partying and drug use, such as smoking grass, doing lines, and popping ludes, so much so that one of the victims is identified in the closing credits simply as "freebase chick." And, then there's the stabbings and throat slittings of mostly bare-breasted backstage groupies. Suspicion points to one of the band's roadies, a socially inept loser unable to mingle with women who therefore is obsessed with applying the Clowns' make-up to get a taste of the action. At one point he peeks through a window in envy at one of the drugged-up band members getting it on with one of the groupies.
This film gets three stars from me for the explicitness and general spirit of rock 'n' roll abandon it possesses. That said, all of the groupies are portrayed as brainless and slutty and are indistinguishable from one another, so some more sensitive viewers will not like this platform or all the violence against women depicted here. In addition, all the actors are amateur or one step above it and there are no name players to be found.
Still, I'd love to see a long overdue DVD release of this. If such equally low budget entries as "Pieces" and "Nail Gun Massacre" can get lavish DVD treatment, then why can't this one? I have a 1985 Media Home Entertainment ex-rental VHS copy that I transferred onto DVD-r. I'd love to see this though without such crummy and grainy picture quality.
While not a great movie by any means, if you cherish the bygone days of the early video revolution and like your slasher movies sleazy, low budget and without morals, then "Terror on Tour" should satiate your fixation for a good 90 minutes or so.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Terror on Tour (1983)

Click here for more information about Terror on Tour (1983)

Read More...

Summer of Fear (1978) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)To be truely correct: Wes Craven's "Summer of Fear". Actually, "Wes Craven Presents Lois Duncan's Summer of Fear".
18 year old Rachel Bryant is getting used to the fact that her aunt and uncle have died in a car crash. But mostly, her cousin Julia who was at boarding school at the time. It's summer, and Rachel thinks she can deal with her cousin Julia. But there is something funny about Julia....
Rachel finds strange artifacts in her room that she is sharing with Julia such as a picture of herself with red splotches all over it. Wait a minute....Rachel suddenly suffered from hives a few days ago. And Rachel's horse has acted strangely around Julia until it suddenly had to be put down. And there is a strange figure with her horses hair on it....What is going on with Julia?!
I enjoyed "Summer Of Fear" since I first saw it on TV several years ago under the title "Stranger in Our House". It's creepy and some good plot twists help make this a winning horror flick for the ages.
RECCOMENDED TO FANS OF:
Witchcraft (1988)
Burnt Offerings (1976)
The Craft (1996)
CAST
Linda Blair .... Rachel Bryant
Lee Purcell .... Julia
Jeremy Slate .... Tom Bryant
Jeff McCracken .... Mike Gallagher
THE MOVIE: 3.5/4
THE PICTURE QUALITY: 7/10 In 1.33:1 full screen. That's probably the original aspect ratio since it's a tv movie. There is a large amounts of specs and grittyness thoughout the movie.
THE AUDIO QUALITY: 9.5/10 You can choose from 5.1 Dolby Digital or 2.0 dolby Stereo. The commentary is in 2.0 Stereo. Great listening!
THE SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary with director Wes Craven and producer Max Keller, director and cast filmographies and sneak peeks.
SUBTITLES: English.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Summer of Fear (1978)

Item Name: Summer of Fear; Studio:Live / Artisan

Click here for more information about Summer of Fear (1978)

Read More...

Finale (2009) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First off, please disavow the ghastly cover artwork that implies things that this movie simply doesn't revel in. I fell in love with the photography, with so much beige tones, big grain, and that "big head" screen filling where the entre frame is taken up by tight close ups of someone talking, that I felt like it could have been a Paragon release from 1982. Kudos are in order for making a film with so many old cars, phones with cords, and early 80s decor that when the scene with the son and the cll phone came up at the end I felt it was a deus ex machina until I realized, hey, it just adds to the phantasmagorical aspects of it all. The plot concerns one mother who finds a demonic plot in her son's suicide, which at the onset of the film may be a descent into her insanity, and winds up with her fighting tooth and nail against a devil cult led by someone who may be another mother- or Maeter of B. (something I kept from writing out fully to avoid ruining the plot, just keep an eye out for the feather boa to see who I mean), as it were, as this films quickly veers into what could be construed as another option of the Third Mother of "Suspiria De Profundis". I am going to take heat for this one, but I felt like this film would have made for a more satisfying conclusion to the Mothers' trilogy than the film Argento eventually made as it has more of a rabbit hole approach to it, and has a dream-like aspect to it- so much so that it reminded me in parts of "Inland Empire." And hey, when was the last time you saw a DTV horror flick that didn't have gratuitous rock music during the end credits. Overall, I think I will be watching this one again- it would make a great 80s throwback double bill with "House of the Devil." (And don't take offence at the Argento comment because I am- and will always be- a great fan of his work!)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Finale (2009)

Get 13% OFF

Click here for more information about Finale (2009)

Read More...

The Entity (1983) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am a huge fan of 70's horror movies, and am always searching for some new treasure. This movie is even more frightening than normal when you consider that it is based on a true story. It shook me quite a bit when I first saw it. Be warned that some scenes are very sexual in nature and disturbing. It's not gratutious sex like most bad "horror" flicks today. The movie depicts a woman who moves into a new house with her two children and after some time begins to be attacked by an unseen entity. She is left raped and bruised and thinking she's going out of her mind. The rape scenes are very tastefully done, but are hard to watch when you think that this supposedly really happened. It is not a movie for children. As an adult, I had to sleep with the lights on after the movie and really had a hard time being alone for a few days. This is not a blood-letting fest, it's not a teen sex/slasher film, and it's not a dark assylum like setting. It's a film that is at the top of my list of all time favorite truely scary, "can't go the bathroom alone" kind of movies.
By the way, if you liked this movie then you should try to get your hands on a made for TV movie called "Don't be afraid of the Dark". It scared me to death as a child, so much so that I remembered the name all these 20 some years. When I finally saw it again as an adult, it was still pretty creepy and worth the search.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Entity (1983)

Item Name: The Entity; Studio:Starz / Anchor Bay

Click here for more information about The Entity (1983)

Read More...

Constantine (2005) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)'Constantine' is based on the D.C./Vertigo title 'Hellblazer', which is excellent. Rather than compare the two, I'll just rate it as a movie: John Constantine, who has managed to get himself locked out of Heaven and is so wanted by Hell that Kucifer himself refers to Constantine as the only soul he'd come up personally to get. You had to have done some serious wrongs to the devil in order to get that sort of attention. But the movie itself is pretty straightfoward - stop the devil's son from being born on Earth, or we'll all suffer for it. It's in the details that this film is a little different than the rest. It's got some new mythologies we haven't heard before, some new tricks and some pretty cool villians (not all of whom are from Hell or Earth). As an added bonus you manage to feel something even for the ancillary characters, which is a fun bonus. Very nice F/X, especially Hell. Most of the acting is pretty goo, especially the character of Gabriel. Keanu is fine, even if he isn't British.
It's worth the admission.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Constantine (2005)

Based on the DC Comics/Vertigo Hellblazer graphic novels and written by Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello, Constantine tells the story of John Constantine (Keanu Reeves), a man who has literally been to hell and back. When he teams up with skeptical policewoman Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) to solve the mysterious suicide of her twin sister, their investigation takes them through the world of demons and angels that exists just beneath the landscape of contemporary Los Angeles. Caught in a catastrophic series of otherworldly events, the two become inextricably involved and seek to find their own peace at whatever cost.DVD Features:Additional Scenes:Chas bowls. Surveillance video. Border patrol Hennessey?s apartment. Demonic tryst. Original Vermin attack. Background check. Password. Demonic escort. Constantine?s past. Light command. Last chance. Demon?s pardon. Alternate cemetery ending. A Writer's Vision Alternate endingsAudio Commentary:Francis Lawrence with Akiva Goldsman Commentary Kevin Broadbin and Frank A Cappello Commentary Deleted Scenes:Chas bowls. Surveillance video. Border patrol. Hennessey?s apartment. Demonic tryst. Original Vermin attack. Background check. Password. Demonic escort. Constantine?s past. Light command. Last chance. Demon?s pardon. Alternate cemetery ending. A Writer's Vision DocumentariesDocumentary:Foresight: The Power of Pre-Visualization with Optional Commentary by Francis Lawrence FeaturetteMusic Video:Passive Music Video by A Perfect CircleOther:In Movie Experience: During the feature, Director Francis Lawrence will lead an exploration of the plot, stunts, characters and filmmaking process of Constantine. Theatrical Trailer

Click here for more information about Constantine (2005)

Read More...

The Exorcist - The Complete Anthology (The Exorcist/ The Exorcist- Unrated/ The Exorcist II: The Heretic/ The Exorcist III/ The Exorcist: The Beginning/ The Exorcist: Dominion) (1977) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)You can find this set for around $25 and for that price it's definitely worth it. True, the first one is the best (I prefer the original over the "Version You've Never Seen", but they're still both very good), but the third one isn't that bad (in fact, I think it's pretty good) And neither version of the prequel is good, but it is sort of neat to have two VERY different versions of the same film, and in this context, for comparing the power of editing and the how the perspective of a director can affect a movie, these discs are interesting. True, the second one has no merit, but what can you do? But I won't complain. It's good for a laugh.
Just so people know, this set does contain all the extras the other releases had. So that even sweetens the deal more!
Disc 1: The Exorcist
This is the same flipper disc from the original Special Edition release
Side A:
Intro and commentary by William Friedkin
Commentary by William Peter Blatty and Special Sound Effects Tests
Side B:
The Fear of God: The Making of the Exorcist
Interviews, Storyboards, Production Sketches
Original Ending
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spots
Disc 2: The Exorcist "The Version You've Never Seen"
Commentary by William Peter Blatty
Trailer, TV Spots and Raidio Spots
Disc 3: Exorcist II: The Heretic
Alternate Opening Sequence
Theatrical Trailer
Disc 4: Exorcist III
Theatrical Trailer
Disc 5: Exorcist: The Beginning
Commentary by Renny Harlin
Behind-the-scenes Featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Disc 6: Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist
Commentary by Paul Schrader
Additional Scenes
Stills Gallery
And there you have it. Everything is there. True, you could get just get the original for cheaper, but I still think this is a solid set and a great deal at that!

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Exorcist - The Complete Anthology (The Exorcist/ The Exorcist- Unrated/ The Exorcist II: The Heretic/ The Exorcist III/ The Exorcist: The Beginning/ The Exorcist: Dominion) (1977)

Get 37% OFF

Click here for more information about The Exorcist - The Complete Anthology (The Exorcist/ The Exorcist- Unrated/ The Exorcist II: The Heretic/ The Exorcist III/ The Exorcist: The Beginning/ The Exorcist: Dominion) (1977)

Read More...

Fallen (Snap Case) (1998) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Fallen is underrated, as I felt it wasn't nowhere near as bad as some critics said it to be. It's a very interesting mix of The Exorcist and The Silence of the Lambs and Seven. The result is one of the best thrillers of the decade. It's not quite up there with Lambs or Seven but it's as good as Arlington Road and is significantly superior to The Bone Collector and Kiss the Girls.
The plot is about Detective John Hobbes (Denzel Washington), who has just captured serial killer Edgar Reese (Elias Koteas). Before Reese is executed, he speaks to Hobbes in a strange language and tells him a riddle, asking him why there's a space between Lyons and Spakowsky. Hobbes doesn't think much of this and watches silently as Reese is executed in the gas chamber.
The next day, another murder occurs, and Hobbes and his partner Jonesy (John Goodman) check it out. To his shock, Hobbes finds the same riddle Reese told him scrawled on the wall of the victim's apartment. Unraveling the clue and with the help of an intelligent woman named Gretta Milano (Embeth Davidtz), he discovers that a demon called Azazel had inhibited the body of Reese and can switch from one human host another with a simple touch.
The premise itself is chilling, yet I was a bit hesitant to watch this film. The critics' reviews were mixed but all of them seemed to agree that the film was a bit slow moving. The truth is, Fallen is a bit slow for the first forty or so minutes, but the last eighty minutes are full of intriguing ideas that are well explored along with plenty of extremely suspenseful scenes, especially the ending, which, by the way, has a great twist.
Regarding the suspenseful moments of the film, they can truly be described as edge of your seat. One of the most harrowing sequences in this film is an original chase scene that involves the domino effect, where the demon chases after Davidtz by passing from one human host to another. There's also the chilling scenes where Washington has to try and keep up with who Azazel has just possessed.
Fallen's greatest aspect, despite all those truly thrilling and very suspenseful scenes, is its ending. It first involves a very clever plan being unfolded by one of the characters and ends with a great and unpredictable plot twist. This is truly one of the most unpredictable endings I have seen. It might not have as much of the shock power as the edgy (and twisty) climaxes of Seven and Arlington Road (or for that matter, The Sixth Sense), but it's just as surprising if not more.
The performances in this film are solid. Denzel Washington is fine as the detective who is much more clever than Azazel thinks. John Goodman is his usual solid self as Hobbes' partner, and he excels in this role, proving he has a lot of range ever since his show Roseanne was cancelled. Embeth Davidtz's performance is okay though her character is slightly underwritten. The real scene stealer, though, is Elias Koteas. Though he's in the film for five minutes his Edgar Reese character is scary and actually a bit fun to watch. Most of the characters are well-developed and this helps us care for Hobbes and his family.
The script by Nicholas Kazan is well-written and the twist in the end makes it better to appreciate and Gregory Hoblit's use of a dark, edgy atmosphere and mood is undeniably effective.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fallen (Snap Case) (1998)

THE THRILLS KEEP COMING. THE PLOT KEEPS TWISTING. THE SUSPENSEKEEPS GROWING. HOMICIDE DETECTIVE JOHN HOBBES HUNTS A SATANIC FORCE THAT SHIFTS FROM ONE HUMAN HOST TO ANOTHER IN THIS TAUT,TERRIFIC SUPERNATURAL THRILLER.

Get 62% OFF

Click here for more information about Fallen (Snap Case) (1998)

Read More...

The Rite (2011) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Rite looked like it would be a mixed bag right from the start. The film seemed to suffer the same fate many other films before it fell victim to and that's giving away too much of the storyline in the trailers. On top of that, it was a film that revolved around exorcism which is a subject that usually leads to disappointing results. Expectations would lead one to believe that The Rite would have enough momentum to reel you in only to drop the ball during its finale similar to last year's The Last Exorcism (except hopefully without the appearance of a neon red, glow in the dark fetus). Luckily, the film has a few surprises up its sleeve.
The cinematography in the film is probably the first thing you'll notice visually. The opening of the film makes things like dripping embalming fluid, a swing set on a playground, and an overturned shopping cart seem more interesting than they really are. Rain is an element used fairly often in the film to usually signify when something has gone wrong or is about to. Whether the camera is placed up high to make it seem like you're looking down on the cast from the heavens or down low as if you're looking up at them from the depths of the earth, the rain sequences in the film are definitely some of the most memorable due to the camera work.
This is probably a pretty obvious statement, but the film is worth seeing for Anthony Hopkins alone. It's not that Colin O'Donoghue does poorly since he certainly has a strong screen presence and does a fantastic job carrying the film, but Hopkins just manages to trump that while stealing every scene he's in and rightfully so. Father Lucas Trevant is the strongest and creepiest role Hopkins has played since Hannibal Lecter and his best role overall in years. It's just amazing seeing a man in his seventies give a performance that's this physical and this absorbing. Speaking of distinguished actors, it was nice seeing Rutger Hauer as well even if it was just for a small role.
The dream sequences and hallucinations in the film may have been my hands down favorite. I've always been a fan of the surreal, the imaginative, the creative, and the things that don't seem to make sense at first but gain meaning as the film or story progresses. I never thought I'd find myself intrigued with the actions of a mule or that frogs could have an even deeper meaning than what you're probably expecting, but The Rite accomplishes this very well.
Thankfully, The Rite delivers an exorcism film that is actually worth seeing. It'll probably be forgotten about in a year filled with so many blockbuster film releases, but considering that January and February are usually filled with such monstrous duds at the box office The Rite manages to surpass expectations. While the film does seem rather reminiscent of The Last Exorcism and borrows the atmosphere from the Heath Ledger film The Order, The Rite is actually a better experience overall. With an engrossing performance by Anthony Hopkins along with a fairly strong cast all around, its fantastic cinematography, surreal dream sequences, and a satisfying conclusion that doesn't hint at a sequel, The Rite is actually a surprisingly decent film all around.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Rite (2011)

Inspired by true events, this supernatural thriller follows a seminary student (Colin O'Donoghue) sent to study exorcism at the Vatican in spite of his own doubts about the controversial practice and even his own faith. Only when sent to apprentice with legendary Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), who has performed thousand of exorcisms, does his armor of skepticism begin to fall. Drawn into a troubling case that transcends even Father Lucas's skill, the young seminarian glimpses a phenomenon science can't explain or control - and an evil so violent and terrifying that it forces him to question everything he believes.

Get 66% OFF

Click here for more information about The Rite (2011)

Read More...