Starring - Mallory Stern, Ron Clower, and Jaclyn Tripp (The Blair Trump Project, Superman: World War)
Release Date - 2021
Genre - Action/Crime
Tagline - "Hail Mary, full of rage!"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)
Rating (out of 5):
Several months back I was looking around on Instagram when a friend of mine shared a picture of a film he had just acquired on blu. The movie was Fountaine and the Vengeful Nun Who Wouldn't Die and it immediately caught my eye. I'm a huge fan of grindhouse and exploitation flicks so this was a no brainer. I messaged him and he was kind enough to send over a link for me to order it. The movie actually arrived a few months back but I never had the time to check it out. After spinning the three Visual Vengeance blu releases I decided it was time to finally check it out.
The film follows Mary (Stern) who is a nun with a particular skill set. The church has been operating in secret to bring down any challenges they may face. Her sister was murdered some time back and now she has tracked the killer to an underground drug kingpin. With the help of her lover, another nun, and her martial arts partner she sets out to bring them down and exact revenge. However, the person she is looking for is not who she was expecting.
I was ready to love Fountaine and the Vengeful Nun Who Wouldn't Die but it was quick to show me that it wasn't going to be for me. The movie does pay a loving tribute to classic exploitation films with a dash of homage to some nunsploitation flicks. However, the film takes itself a little too seriously when it shouldn't have. Some intentional humor would have gone a long way. However, the way the film is left me slightly confused and underwhelmed. The acting in this one is hit or miss. The cast shows some inexperience but a lot of the scenes are awkward to watch. It feels like it was written to have some comical moments added in but the cast struggled at delivering it in such a manner. The seriousness of the film mixed with the inexperience made for underwhelming moments. I liked how the characters were written but something between the paper and filming. The story for this one borrows heavily from films like They Call Her One Eye and Kill Bill. I liked the premise and the characters but the drawn out scenes and awkward acting makes it a tough one to sit through. I also feel that there was a short or something that was released before it because it feels like at times that the viewer is expected to know what is going on even though some things are never fully explained. Finally, this film is bloody and violent. We get some visual and practical effects that look fairly well done together. They compliment each other nicely and make the gag work. Overall, Fountaine and the Vengeful Nun Who Wouldn't Die have their moments. I liked the set up of the film and the great detail that goes into the characters. I wish there was a little more to the acting and some humor to take away from the serious tone but that's just me. Some of you may enjoy the film that it is. It's still worth a watch but it's not one I want to revisit.
Director - Lucio Fulci (Don't Torture A Duckling, The New York Ripper)
Starring - Brett Halsey (Return of the Fly, The Black Cat), Meg Register (Boxing Helena, Running Scared), and Link Salemme (Demons, Delirium)
Release Date - 1990
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "No evil deed goes undone"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
Lucio Fulci is a filmmaker that I greatly admire but I've yet to see all his films. His movies Zombie, The Beyond, House by the Cemetery, and City of the Living Dead are some of my favorite horror films. Sadly, I rarely venture into his other films aside from the ones sent my way for review. I think it's because I love those films so much that if I'm watching something for myself and not for review I turn to films I already know I like. Regardless, there is so many other Fulci films out there that I haven't seen yet. A week or so ago Severin Films sent me over a few Fulci films to review that they just released on blu. The first one I tossed in was the 1990 supernatural flick Demonia. Thanks Severin for sending this one over.
The film follows a Canadian archeological group who travel to a small remote village in Sicily. The locals are very superstitious and don't want them working around a on missionary. However, they ignore their warnings and uncover the crucified remains of five nuns. Now their evil spirits are hunting down everyone and brutally killing them.
Lucio Fulci is a phenomenal filmmaker and his movies are a huge part of horror history but some of his films often get pushed to the side for his other films that are well known. I've never heard other horror fans mention Demonia prior to Severin's announcement. However, after I watched it I have to say that I absolutely loved it. In fact, it has one of the most mind blowing death scenes I've seen in a movie. I don't understand why this film doesn't get the praise it should. The acting in this one is a little uneven but I enjoyed it. The characters, aside from the five nuns, don't really stand out. They do a great job in their roles but the story is what really pulls you in. Their personalities and personas are nothing spectacular. However, some deliver amazing performances during their death scenes. The story for this one mixes the supernatural with religious. It works and almost plays out like a slasher in a sense. Most slashers, especially those from the golden age of slashers, followed someone that was wronged as they come back and kill. This isn't that much of a stretch from comparing it to those slashers. It works and the historical aspect really pulled me in. I found myself enthralled with the story and refused to look away. Finally, this film is not the blood soaked movie we typically get from Fucli. However, the kills we do get are unforgettable and one kill in particular is the craziest scenes I have ever seen. This one death in particular will be how I judge future films. It's extremely gruesome and the effects are out of this world. Overall, Demonia is not the best horror film from Fulci but it deserves it's own place in horror history. The blu from Severin looks absolutely stunning which really makes the blood pop. I highly suggest adding this one to your collection.
Director - Koyu Ohara (Rope Hell, Fairy in a Cage)
Starring - Yuki Nohira (Sins of Sister Lucia, The Detective Story), Miyajo Yamaguchi (Doctor X, Torso), and Yuko Akane (Happening, Mittsu)
Release Date - 1978
Genre - Crime/Drama
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
The last few days I spent a good amount of time watching a few Vinegar Syndrome releases that I had been sitting on for a few days. I avoided the sleazy stuff and tossed in a few of their other releases. After enjoying myself with Hell Comes to Frogtown, Blood Harvest, Tammy and the T-Rex, and Pledge Night I decided to finally spin some sleaze. This time I went with some Impulse Pictures releases instead of Vin Syn. I had two films I wanted to check out from them and both were part of the Nikkatsu Erotic Films Collection. The first film on the chopping block is 1978's Nun's Diary: Confession which was originally released under the title Wet & Rope. I want to thank Impulse for sending this one my way. The film follows a young woman who is raped in front of her husband. He now sees her differently and when life doesn't look like it can sink any lower she finds herself joining a monastery in order to save her own life. However, what she doesn't expect is to become the center of the nun's sexual attention once she joins.
Most of the time I can find some fun in sleazy sexploitation flicks but every once in awhile I come across one that just doesn't satisfy. It misses its mark and this can be chalked up to several different reasons. Regardless, Nun's Diary: Confession was not for me. The acting in this one is what you would come to expect from the Nikkatsu Erotic Films Collection. The cast really try to deliver a solid performance but the best acting comes from the sex scenes. I know someone will read this and have a good laugh but the only real believable scenes are the sex scenes. The cast just seems more natural in that environment than traditional acting. The story for this one should not have been stretched to feature length. A rape victim being sexually taunted in a monastery work for a sexploitation flick but does not offer up enough substance to hit the hour running time. Honestly, I found myself bored within just a matter of minutes. The characters are not enjoyable and the sex scenes, though believable, were still rather boring. Finally, if those of you are looking for some blood you will be very disappointed with this one. However, if nuns exploring their sexuality is something you are interested in you may have fun with this one. Overall, Nun's Diary: Confession is a missed opportunity that feels rushed. It seems like they possibly had a hit on their hand with a previous sexploitation flick and rushed this one into production to catch some more cash. It was underwhelming and boring. Skip it.
Director - Humphry Knipe (Love Bites, Erotic Eye)
Starring - Ginger Lynn (Streets of Vengeance, The Devil's Rejects), Angel (Hot Blooded, Passions), and Lisa De Leeuw (Midnight Zone, Scared Stiff)
Release Date - 1985
Genre - Erotic
Tagline - "Nasty enough to say yes"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I recently took a dive into a few new releases from Severin Films. After watching the late 70s slasher Drive-In Massacre I caught two nunsploitation flicks, The Other Hell and Dark Waters. I haven't seen that many nunsploitation flicks so I decided to venture into another one that I had waiting to review. Sometime ago Vinegar Syndrome released the sexploitation/vintage porn flick Too Naughty to Say No. This film was not going to be like the other two horror based nunsploitation flicks but would involve nuns nonetheless (see what I did there?). I once again want to thank Vin Syn for sending this one my way.
The film follows a catholic schoolgirl who witnesses one of her fellow classmates dressed up in a skimpy outfit. When she confronts her about leaving school the young woman invites her along. The two are then picked up by a man where he takes them back to his place and pays the one for sex while the other watches. She finds the sexual freedom of her friend very enlightening and decides to join in her body of work. She meets her Madame who immediately puts her to work which freaks her out. She runs away from the brothel only to find herself in the middle of more sexual adventures and awakening. Before I tossed in this one I started to believe that I was not a fan of nunsploitation with the exception of Dark Waters. I knew this one would be sleazy but I at least hoped it would be fun. The acting in this one is surprisingly entertaining. Ginger Lynn is a babe and shows why she is known for her craft. Her sex scenes are hot and she has some acting chops to boot. Angel was a new one to me but she is a knock out but her acting could use some work. The supporting cast was strictly there to fuck and get paid for it. Little to no acting is applied to their scenes and the movie suffered for it. The story for this one just isn't there. It works for those looking for some cheap thrills but fans of raunchy cinema and sexploitation will find it lacking. The sex is fun but the overall story just isn't enough to carry the film to feature length running time. We really needed a little something more added to it. Finally, those of you that want blood and guts will be very disappointed. However, the film is home to beautiful bodies and heavy sex. You sleazy movie lovers will love it. Overall, Too Naughty to Say No is a sexy film that surprisingly has two great leads but the story just isn't there. If you want sex this is the film for you but if you want something more you may want to check out another Vin Syn release.
Director - Mariano Baino (Never Ever After, Based on a True Life)
Starring - Louise Salter (Interview with the Vampire, Our Friends in the North), Venera Simmons, and Mariya Kapnist (The Lost Letter, Lushka)
Release Date - 1994
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Sometimes, evil lurks where you least expect it"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I recently made my way through two Severin releases, Drive in Massacre and The Other Hell, so I decided to give another release of theirs a spin. The Other Hell was what some call a nunsploitation flick and this other release went perfectly along with it. The film, Dark Waters, was a new one to me and as I stated earlier I know very little about nunsploitation flicks. I love exploitation so it only makes sense that I should enjoy a few of these. I really didn't care for the artwork on their new blu release but Severin has a good track record with me so I decided to give it a go. I want to thank Severin for being awesome and sending this one my way.
The film follows a young woman who just had her father pass. While looking into his belongings she discovers that he had been donating a substantial amount of money to a convent on a small island where her mother mysteriously died. When she visits the island she is greeted with cold shoulders and malice until the mother superior offers one of the nuns to show her around the island where she uncovers something dark and sinister lives underneath and the convent keeps it at bay.
I was a little disappointed with The Other Hell and the artwork for Dark Waters made me think I would find nothing but dissatisfaction but I was very surprised with the overall film. I really enjoyed the look of the film and how dark and ominous it is. Mariano Baino really has an eye for horror and I'm shocked that he never went on to direct more. The acting in this one doesn't sit well with me. The characters we get range from your typical final girl we see in horror movies to strong women characters and even some rather funny characters that bring a laugh but don't do anything to move the story along. The wide range of characters doesn't make the film feel consistent. If the acting and characters were all more grounded it would have made the film so much better. The story for this one is great. A secret convent performing rituals to keep a demon at bay is pretty fucking bad ass. Sadly, that takes the back burner to the leads interaction with the nuns. We get a lot of character development, which I typically like, but this time it just doesn't work well with the rich story we have. There was some missed opportunity here but that doesn't make it a bad film. The way the story is given to us is still great and the film has some chilling moments. Finally, aside from the chilling imagery and beautiful scenes we do get some blood and gore. The effects are great and the gore looks great but the kills are not that imaginative. Overall, Dark Waters is a solid horror film but there was so much more left on the table. If you want a beautifully shot horror film then look no further. Check it out.
Director - Bruno Mattei (Hell of the Living Dead, Zombie 3)
Starring - Franca Stoppi (Beyond the Darkness, Women's Prison Massacre), Carlo De Mejo (City of the Living Dead, Terror Express), and Francesca Carmeno
Release Date - 1981
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Say your prayers"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
Bruno Mattei is no stranger to my reviews. This man has received some very mixed reviews from me. Some of his films are top notch Italian horror with amazing stories, gore, and releases while others were complete duds. Some of my worst reviewed films just happen to be Mattei's. Mattei has made a wide array of horror flicks ranging from zombies, rats, and even a post-apocalyptic flick or two. One sub-genre or style of film I had never seen him tackle before was the nunsploitation flicks that were very popular in the 70s before dying out in the 80s. Severin recently released Mattei's 1981 nunsploitation flick The Other Hell on blu. I had never seen it and was curious how it would play out so I reached out to Severin and they were kind enough to hook me up with a review copy. Thanks guys! The begins with a convent where a murder takes place. A priest tries to do an exorcism but the church disagrees with this ancient ritual so they send in a young priest to investigate. He thinks that there may be a killer among them instead of a demonic presence. When he arrives the nuns and mother superior are in a panic. They try to burn everything they think is evil to rid the convent of the demonic presence. The priest starts his investigation believing there was a scientific explanation to what is occurring at the convent but what he uncovers is so much worse.
I went into this one excited. I'm not too versed in the nunsploitation flicks of the late 70s and early 80s but I do know that Mattei can make a movie. I may not always agree with them but the ones I did like I really enjoyed. Sadly, The Other Hell was one that did not sit that well with me. The acting in this one is solid. The entire cast brought about an eerie feel to the film. You never truly know who is evil and who is good. I really enjoyed the casting and their portrayal of their characters. Their acting really made the story feel more interesting that what it was. The story for this one is a very slow moving one. The film does a great job at building atmosphere and scenery but the story is very stretched making it difficult for the viewer to follow the story from scene to scene. I enjoyed the conclusion to the film but getting there was a very rough climb. The story definitely needed someone added to it to make it reach the film's running time. Finally, the film has a few bloody deaths but they are not that gory. The kills are stock slashings with minor practical effects. When dealing with the devil you would expect to see more blood and gore. I was not satisifed with the bloodshed we were given. Overall, The Other Hell is a very underwhelming from a legend in the genre. His films are always hit and miss with me and, sadly, this was a miss. The blu release is great but the film is far from perfect.
Sometimes
an exploitation film surpasses its intent; either due to its cultural
relevancy, social message, its sheer success at entertainment, or connectivity
to the audience. This is not the case with “The Other Hell”. “The Other Hell”
is pure exploitation without much to offer except sleaze, cheese, and
absurdity. Severin films happily brings this unbashful, ballsy exploitation
film to remastered blu-ray and DVD.
Nuns at
a convent begin to die in blasphemous and extreme ways; these tragic
circumstances eventually lead to a detective priest trying to figure out what
is happening. “The Other Hell” is a bit of a talkative fair, many scenes
consist of a couple of robed men or women chatting about the strange
occurrences without much else to offer. There is a semi-interesting subplot of
two priests who share completely different fundamental values when it comes to
demonic possession; these conversations are probably the most profound. When
these scenes aren’t hogging the screen, it is business as usual; exploding
glass, unexplained wind, creepy cats, and some scenes trying to be so utterly
blasphemous that one can’t help but shake their head and smirk at the audacity.
The scene guiltiest of this in particular is when a rotted head is found in the
altar box, the most sacred of places! “The Other Hell” follows strange rules to
set up scenes, for example our groundskeeper of the convent, Franco Garofalo
(Hell of the Living Dead), has his very own kennel on the premise of the
church. This is of course done so he can be destroyed by what he loves, vicious
dogs. With scenes like this, the foreshadowing becomes fairly obvious but
nothing seems to happen with purpose, most scenes appear to be shoe-horned
in. So when a few non-flesh eating
zombies pop up out of their upright coffins and begin screaming, it’s not as
shocking as the film thinks it is. The dubbing is fairly poor, although some of
the performances are still solid, including Franca Stoppi, who plays the mother
superior of the convent. She is stern, yet creepy, and over the top crazy when
she needs to be. The film takes freely from “The Exorcist” and “Carrie”, but
manages to have a creative muscle to flex here and there, including the hanging
disfigured mannequins which resemble a secretive character and are the best
piece of foreshadow in the film.
The
score is by Goblin mostly from the film “Beyond the Darkness” where they
borrowed Franca Stoppi from as well; it works with the film and is almost
immediately recognized by horror fans. The score and Stoppi aren’t the only
things borrowed, “The Other Hell” was actually being filmed at the same time as
“The True Story of the Nun of Monza” which also stars Franca Stoppi and Franco
Garofalo. Some of the same sets appear in the both films. Bruno Mattei is
credited as the director on both films, but it seems that Claudio Fragasso
actually directed most of “The Other Hell”, according to the commentary. Both
of these directors have sort of a schlock reputation which is held up here. The
gore isn’t as plentiful as one would think, but the film has its share of
Italian style violence. The camera work
feels like it comes from a director who isn’t afraid to try something new. This
is greatly appreciated and helps the film while also seeming to help solidify
Claudio Fragasso’s claims at being the film’s director, as he was in his
mid-twenties at the time of the film’s creation. All and all “The Other Hell” is worth
checking out for fanatics of nunsploitation, exploitation, Italian horror
cinema, and/or someone who might want to get a laugh out of it.
The
Blu-ray features are ported over from the Shriek Show disc including a
commentary with Claudio Fragasso (in Italian), a Trailer, and interviews with
Franca Stoppi and Bruno Mattei. The best
of these features is the commentary where Fragasso laughs and argues with the
moderator of the commentary. The film is an improvement from the old DVD, but
the print isn’t in the best of shape and will most likely never look better.
http://grindhousevideo.com/products/other-hell-blu-ray
http://www.diabolikdvd.com/product/the-other-hell-severin-blu-ray-all-region/
https://www.amazon.com/Other-Hell-Blu-ray-Franca-Stoppi/dp/B06XC3GY9C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493198500&sr=8-1&keywords=the+other+hell
The Other Hell
Blu-ray
Label: Severin Films
Color 88 minutes In English Closed Captioned
All Regions Widescreen Anamorphic 1.66:1 Dolby Digital Mono
Production year: 1980 Horror Not Rated
Director: Bruno Mattei
Cast: Franca Stoppi, Carlo De Mejo, Francesca Carmeno, Susan Forget
Bruno Mattei's 'Nunsploitation' Classic Now Uncut & Uncensored In HD For The First Time Ever!
At the peak of his '80s excess, Italian sleaze maestro Bruno Mattei - using the alias 'Stefan Oblowsky' - stunned audiences with this Nunsploitation shocker about a series of brutal murders in a depraved convent. And while his cinematic legacy may remain controversial, Mattei here delivers a surprisingly stylized yet undeniably blasphemous orgy of stabbings, stigmata, Satanism, sexual violence and graphic savagery that ranks among his very best. Franca Stoppi (THE TRUE STORY OF THE NUN OF MONZA), Carlo De Mejo (WOMEN'S PRISON MASSACRE) and Franco Garofalo (HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD) star in this filthy nugget (Mondo Digital) - written by the notorious Claudio Fragasso (RATS: NIGHT OF TERROR, TROLL 2) and featuring a score 'borrowed' from Goblin - newly transferred from a 35mm print discovered behind a false wall in a Bologna nunnery!
Special Features:
Audio Commentary With Co-Director/Co-Writer Claudio Fragasso Moderated By Freak-O-Rama's Federico Caddeo
Sister Franca: Interview With Actress Franca Stoppi
To Hell And Back: Archive Interviews With Director Bruno Mattei and Actor Carlo De Mejo
Review Quotes:
GENUINELY UNHOLY... Just watching it, you feel as though you're damned to eternal Hellfire.
-Anticristo: The Bible of Nasty Nun Sinema and Culture
MUST BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED.
-TerrorTrap.com
MAYBE NOT SACRED, BUT CERTAINLY PROFANE.
-UKHorrorScene.com
Severin
Films restores “Dark Waters”, the under-appreciated film by Mariano Baino. “Dark Waters” opens with a church being
decimated by a tidal wave. The wave’s
catalyst is a strange amulet that is shattered shortly after. Twenty years
later, a woman from London is drawn to the convent to dwell into her mysterious
past and meet with a friend. During her
journey she meets a myriad of strange individuals that play as herrings. When
she finally arrives her friend appears to be missing. Now stranded, with little hope at making it
back to the mainland, she is forced to live with the secretive nuns who reside
at the convent. Quickly she begins to
dig into her past which leads her to the mysterious amulet and soon reveals
some troubling information about her family, the nuns, and the entire island.
“Dark
Waters” was released in 1993. It came late in the Italian film world but shares
the high concept and imagination of some of the last gems from that era, such
as the body of work from Italian director, Michele Sovia, and the film oddity
“Spider’s Labyrinth” made in 1988. “Dark Waters” has shared similarities to
these previously mentioned films, but also is its own beast. The film's tense
dread sets it apart from a lot of its peers; everything seems to be crumbling
in on our lead, including the church itself. This impending doom eventually
comes to a screeching halt in the way of an insane reveal. Nearly every scene in “Dark Waters” looks
like a painting of beauty and misery, creating a vastly demented world; a world
where the blind are the only ones who can truly see. These blind souls express
these visions of hell through art, depicting a terrifying future with brush
strokes on cave walls or through crochet. The constant dripping and dampness of
the film makes the water feel like a character presence. Being set on an
island, there is no escape from it; indeed, the most memorable death in the
film involves water. A victim is stabbed violently over running water, the
blood then mixes in and trails down the catacomb like walls. Filmed in Ukraine on some wonderfully
designed sets, the bleak location bleeds into the film with the crew’s
experiences and hardships on set translating into it. Our character is longing to escape such a
dreaded place; it’s possible it mimics her desire to flee the actual location.
The crew's mixture of Italian, Russian, and British creates a strange and not
often seen dynamic, presenting a new flavor of film making, not quite like the
other Euro co-productions we have seen in the past. The film's score is creepy and fits right into
the film’s paranoid nature, no one can be trusted and not everything is as it
seems. “Dark Waters” is a visual film
and shows more than it tells, providing foreshadow throughout the entirety of
the film. “Dark Waters” also manages to make the visual moments into memorable
scenes; one that stands out in particular is where our lead munches on a dead
fish uncontrollably surrounded by a shore of dead aquatic life. From beginning to end “Dark Waters”
deliverers on everything it should; a great location, an atmospheric score,
cool special effects, a smart script, and a feeling of dread. It does all this
while being mesmerizing to the eyes and leaving a lasting impression. This
lasting impression is most powerful in its final frames as the bodies of nuns lay
sprawled out on the rocky shore, mimicking the fish earlier.
“Dark
Waters” from Severin Films has been remastered and it looks and sounds great.
The special features on the release are abundant. Many of the features are ported over from the
old 2 Disc NoShame release; the director’s shorts (all of which are worth
watching, especially “Caruncula”), deleted scenes, a making of, and a
commentary. The old features give a look
into what it was like filming in the Ukraine and having such a stressful time.
The new features include Let There Be Water Featurette, Controlling the
Uncontrollable Featurette, and Deep into the Dark Waters Featurette. These
features give a nice look into some of the inspiration from the director. The
entire disc is a treasure from film to making of. Thanks to Severin we have
this atmospheric dread filled gem in HD.
Dark Waters
Blu-ray
Label: Severin Films
Color 89 minutes In English Closed Captioned
All Regions Widescreen 1.85:1 Dolby Digital Mono
Production year: 1994 Horror Not Rated
Director: Mariano Baino
Cast: Louise Salter, Venera Simmons, Mariya Kapnist
It has been acclaimed as visually amazing (Videoscope), deeply disturbing (BBC Radio One), a must see for serious horror buffs (Film Review), and compared to the works of Bergman, Bava and Argento. Now experience the modern Nunsploitation masterpiece from co-writer/director Mariano Baino as you've never seen or heard it before: When a young Englishwoman attempts to discover her mysterious connection to a remote island convent, she will unlock an unholy communion of torment, blasphemy and graphic demonic depravity. Louise Salter (INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE) stars in this stunning and horrifying debut (Digitally Obsessed) - filmed on location along the grim Ukraine coast - now transferred in HD from the original 35mm negative and featuring over 4 hours of startling Special Features.
Special Features:
Audio Commentary With Writer / Director Mariano Baino
Lovecraft Made Me Do It Featurette
Let There Be Water Featurette
Controlling the Uncontrollable Featurette
Deep Into the Dark Waters Featurette
Director Intro
Deleted Scenes
Silent Blooper reel With Audio Commentary by Director Mariano Baino
Short Films Of Mariano Baino: Dream Car, Caruncula, Never Ever After
Making of Never Ever After
Review Quotes:
THE BEST HORROR FILM THAT NO ONE HAS HEARD OF. UNTIL NOW.
-10KBullets.com
A LOST MASTERPIECE OF ART-HOUSE HORROR.
-Filmmaker Magazine
A SINGULAR EXPERIENCE... Baino is a master of light and shadow.
-Classic-Horror.com
EASTER CASKET
Writer/Director:Dustin Wade Mills
Starring:Josh Eal, Erin R. Ryan, Brandon Salkil, Dave Parker, Dustin Wade Mills
Availability: DVD (blu rays are sold out) available at dmp.storeenvy.com
Rating:
Easter. What a weird fucking holiday. I come from a family comprised almost entirely of atheists, so as we were sitting at the dinner table tonight, I looked at my dad and asked him why we celebrate this odd, random holiday when none of us are religious. Neither one of us could come up with a good answer. It's just the way it's always been for us. I mean, I suppose maybe we do it for the kids? Who the fuck knows? The point is Easter makes no sense to me, and I can't quite fathom why so many of us atheists celebrate it.
Another thing that pisses me off about Easter is that there are basically no good Easter-themed horror movies. That was, until about a year ago, when Dustin Mills unleashed this whacked-out little flick. Now, Dustin Mills is a guy I feel weird writing about. I've been following his career ever since The Puppet Monster Massacre hit the scene, and I'd say for the past year and a half, I've developed a pretty strong kinship with the guy. So, you could say I'm a little biased. I've also promised Dustin that I will always be honest with him when it comes to any of his films, and no bullshit, the guy just happens to be my favorite director working right now in the independent scene.
Easter Casket was the last (and arguably best) of his early, goofier films before he took a turn towards more mature and darker fare like The Ballad Of Skinless Pete and Kill That Bitch. It boasts to be the only horror film to actually have the Easter Bunny as the villain, and well, with as shocking as it is that nobody has done it before, the boast is absolutely correct. Plus, the Easter Bunny is played a fucking puppet, which just makes it even more bad-ass. Plus, Mills's voice work for the puppet is so over the top and hilarious, that you almost sort of love the guy despite being a vicious psychopath. Mills hasn't done a lot of work with puppets since, which is why its refreshing that his next film is going to be a puppet snuff film (!).
Easter Casket was just a true example of a director truly finding his voice. The Puppet Monster Massacre and Night of the Tentacles (also known as Heart Attack) were both fantastic little movies with a lot of imagination and very little money. Zombie A Hole and Bath Salt Zombies weren't quite as strong (Bath Salt Zombies was also a bit of a compromised film anyway), but they both had enough great moments to show that Mills was a director with an original voice. This was the film, though, where all the elements came together to make what was, at the time, his best work. You have all the Mills trademarks here: blood (a mixture of practical and well-done CGI), lots of graphic nudity, some colorful characters, and a potent blend of offbeat humor and effective horror.
This was also the movie that introduced a lot of us to Erin R. Ryan, an incredibly strong actress who has gone on to be a muse for a good handful of modern indie directors, working on several of Dustin's films, as well as the films of Eric Widing, Henrique Couto, and Shawn Burkett. She is a true revelation here. Josh Eal is also quite good as the priest out for vengeance against the evil fucking bunny, playing his role incredibly straight despite all the ridiculous things going on around him. There's also a terrific supporting performance from the great Brandon Salkil (a fixture of just about every Dustin Mills production), and a hilarious cameo from Dave Parker (affectionately known as Mr. Parka for those who have followed his internet reviews throughout the years.
Now, I haven't really discussed much of the plot here, but why spoil the fun? A lot of you have already seen it, and those of you who haven't, I've given you more than enough reasons to finally seek this bad boy out. Mills is a true machine. Since PPM first hit DVD in 2011, he's worked on 7 features (with 2 more on the way), worked on a couple anthology shorts, did effects work for numerous projects. There's a reason I have nothing but mad love for the guy. This is the first time I've watched Easter Casket in nearly a year, and watching it now, I can safely say I still love this fucking movie! It's a rare holiday horror flick that works.
