https://www.facebook.com/Dinner-Guest-391511844383672/
From Facebook - A young woman's night started bad, and is about to end worse. Finding safety she begins to finally relax, but when her "rescuers" begin acting strange it seems this night's not quite over. This night will leave a permanent scar on her, provided she can survive.
https://www.facebook.com/lavenderthemovie/
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/movie/lavender/id1168231307
THEATRICAL, VOD AND DIGITAL HD RELEASE DATE: March 3, 2017
DIRECTOR: Ed Gass-Donnelly
WRITER: Colin Frizzell, Ed Gass-Donnelly
CAST: Abbie Cornish, Diego Klattenhoff, Justin Long, Dermot Mulroney
SYNOPSIS: When a photographer (Abbie Cornish) suffers severe memory loss after a traumatic accident, strange clues amongst her photos suggest she may be responsible for the deaths of family members she never knew she had. Justin Long plays a psychiatrist who helps her recover lost memories.
GENRE: Thriller
DISTRIBUTOR: AMBI Media Group, Samuel Goldwyn Films
“The
Survivor” follows the story of a pilot who is the lone survivor of a tragic
plane crash. Although disjointed and suffering from acute memory loss, he is
unharmed physically. Questions arise as to why the plane went down and how is
it possible that one man could walk away unscathed. Soon, mysterious deaths
begin taking place that tie back to the crash. The reason for the deaths and
the crash soon become apparent due to the pilot's discoveries and the help of a
mysterious woman’s intuition after she witnessed the event.
“The
Survivor” is an Australian film sporting international talent. Directed by
actor-turned-director, David Hemmings, the cast list features some impressive
names including Robert Powell, Jenny Agutter, and Joseph Cotton. The acting is
fairly solid with a strange performance from lead Powell as the pilot survivor;
his mannerism and facial expressions are fairly subdued leading one to
accusatory thoughts. Jenny Agutter is good and plays the difficult part of a
psychic of sorts believable. Her connection with the dead and Powell is an
integral role in the film and, without it, too much is left out. Ralph
Cotterill shines during the climax of the film during a thrilling reveal; this
is a nice derailment from his good but typical performance as an unhappy man in
charge. Based on a novel by famed horror author James Herbert, people expected
some splatter but the film opts for a different approach, one with dread and
suspense. The music cues, the laughing children, and burning dolls help in
particular with one such moment as a nasty photographer meets his end. The tone, plot, and execution bring a couple
films to mind; the fellow Aussie film “Patrick”, due to its vibe and the 1983
film, “Sole Survivor”, which carries a similar plot. The entire film's set up
and pay off takes much longer than it should. The film gets to the twist
through a bit of ineptitude and arguments among the cast. The whole thing has a
couple unneeded dramatic plotlines that don’t pay off as they should. By the end, the twist is pleasing but more
fitting for a 30 minute slot on television. With that said, it doesn’t stop
“The Survivor” from being a slick looking production with a well picked cast,
an interesting concept, a haunting score, and some sprinkling of genuine dread.
“The
Survivor” is presented in 1080P and looks good, especially for 1981. The disc
is filled with features including an extended end scene, interviews, archival
television programs featuring interviews, a 30 minute Antony I Ginnane trailer
reel, and a look into the books of James Herbert.
Video Review
Director: David Hemmings
Cast: Jenny Agutter, Robert Powell
http://www.cavd.com/product.php?productid=2744 - Blu-Ray
http://www.cavd.com/product.php?productid=2743 - DVD
When a 747 crash lands in a Sydney suburb - a
still-spectacular sequence that helped make this the most expensive Australian
film of its time - the inferno kills everyone on board except the pilot (Robert
Powell of JESUS OF NAZARETH and TOMMY) who emerges from the wreckage
miraculously unscathed. But as a local psychic (Jenny Agutter of AN AMERICAN
WEREWOLF IN LONDON) begins to communicate with the spirits of the doomed
passengers, it will unlock a nightmare of madness, murder and supernatural
horror.
Hollywood legend Joseph Cotten in his final film performance
co-stars in this shocker directed by British film icon David Hemmings (BLOW-UP,
DEEP RED) and produced by Ozploitation maverick Antony I. Ginnane (THIRST,
PATRICK, TURKEY SHOOT), featuring haunting cinematography by Academy Award®
winner John Seale (THE ENGLISH PATIENT, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD) and now transferred
in 2k HD for the first time ever.
Special Features:
- Not Quite Hollywood Extended Interviews with Producer
Antony I. Ginnane and Cinematographer John Seale
- The Legacy of James Herbert
- Robert Powell on James Herbert - Archive TV Special On
Location Featuring Interviews with Stars Joseph Cotten and Peter Sumner
- Archive TV Interview with David Hemmings
- Archive TV Interview with David Hemmings and Robert Powell
Starry Eyes (2014)
directed by: Kevin Kolsch, Dennis Widmyer starring: Alexandra Essoe, Amanda Fuller, Noah Segan, Maria Olsen, Fabianne Therese, Shane Coffey, Mark Senter, Natalie Castillo, Louis Dezseran, Pat Healy
(out of 5)
Wow what a film! First response. This is one of the those movies for me that I was angry at myself for not watching sooner. And now also not purchasing it on Blu-Ray. I have owned this movie for about a year and what an idiot I have been just letting this one sit. Last time I felt this way was when I watched Blue Ruin. Which by the way I bought at the same time as this one.
The movie follows an actress by the name of Sara who fumbles her way through life in search of a dream. The dream of course in the Hollywood hills is to become an actress. Sara wants nothing more than to quit her job as a waitress at Big Taters and become the next Marilyn Monroe. She has a small group of friends she rolls with and all of whom have similar dreams but Sara is different or so she thinks. She auditions for a part in a new horror film called the Silver Scream for a big time horror film producer. Soon it seems the whole casting is too good to be true. Something begins to happen to Sara's body soon after meeting with the head producer and she frantically begins searching for answers. The movie really can't be critiqued a whole lot in my opinion script wise. The pace moved right along and the dialogue held natural from beginning to end. I loved the end I really cannot go into a whole lot without spoiling it for the people out there like me who have not sat down and watched it yet. I will say that Sara finds what she's looking for but soon she realizes that there is more here at stake than time and money for rent. Spectacular story telling.
The actors in this one were all so perfect for their roles I never really came out of the film once. This is one of those movies that just pulls you in and never lets go. Alexandra Esse, Amanda Fuller, Noah Segan, and Maria Olsen most especially knocked it out of the park. One fine thing in particular was during some of the more violent scenes in the film. The actors portrayed the pain they were receiving. This is a giant pet peeve of mine in any film. When a person is stabbed etc they cry out, the freak out, they tremble, shake, etc. I'm sure some people will go into shock etc but really in a film I generally want to see the feeling of what's going on, not an excuse of shock to cover up the fact that my actors can't act. Definitely not the case here.
The effects on the blood and gore were old school no cgi flubs taking me out of the film either. Usually this happens with blood splatter but this one for the most part all around were practical effects which in my opinion always looks more real. Sara's body goes through some changes in this film including color changes and what a job the effects artists did with her. There have been a couple films I can compare this to, Thanatomorphose and Contracted but only in parts and pieces and mostly due to the fact that the women leads in the movie slowly go through a lot of violent body changes.
The movie definitely left me wanting more and thinking hard about what just transpired during the entirety of the film itself. I loved it. Sheer masterpiece of modern cinema. Do not pass this up as I did for so long!
The
cover of “Murderlust” would grab anyone’s attention while they wondered through
the video store in 1985. The cover is a sleazy painting, the perversion nearly
falling of the case as a young woman undresses, a tense male figure standing in
the foreground, with suggestive violence in his body language. This sort of
80’s video store flair really set the standard and expectations for films of
this nature. Thanks to Intervision we will find out if “Murderlust” meets that
expectation and hopefully doesn’t leave us let down like so many vividly drawn
covers of yesteryear.
“Murderlust”
follows the story of Steve Belmont, a psychopath who plays out like America’s
serial killers' greatest hits. He’s like Kenneth Bianchi with sprinkles of
Dennis Rader and Gary Ridgeway (the latter two yet to be caught when the film
was released) Belmont is an alcoholic, impotent loser who can’t keep a job down
but leads a promising double life as a church youth counselor, where he is
respected and beloved. This double life
for Steve lets the film dig deep into his sociopathic nature and we see him at
his most charming and embarrassing. The films subject matter seems to have been
researched fairly well and it comes across in the portrayal of a serial killer
and his methods. The lead should be praised for turning in a very unsettling
performance. Like a true serial killer, he is charming when he needs to be and
menacing when the time comes; a step above the remaining cast, not to say they
aren’t good, as well. In scenes where Belmont is arguing with his boss, you almost
forget that you hate him as he aggravates his employer; his immature antics are
somewhat comedic. The desert is our killer's dumping ground; hence the moniker
the papers have given him, a semi lame alliteration “The Mojave Murderer”. The
vast scope and isolation of the desert let the filmmakers show off some
wonderful aerial shots that add in some production values, beefing up the
camera work. “Murderlust” is surprisingly bloodless until the finale, but makes
up for it with its cruelty and tense moments when the killer lures in his prey.
The tension puts “Murderlust” firmly into the horror category, but also
separates it from standard slasher fair. The synth score is of its time but
fits the plot and works on an enjoyable memorable level. Overall “Murderlust”
is a well-directed, written, and acted horror film worth your time and living
up to its cover.
The
film appears to have been shot on film and edited on tape and Intervision gives
us a widescreen presentation. It’s rough looking, but never dark or unwatchable.
The DVD consists of a insightful commentary with the film's writer, an entire bonus film “Project Nightmare” (a
hokey yet highly imaginative science fiction thriller about isolation and
computer mind creation), an isolated commentary for the bonus feature, and a
awesome trailer for “Murderlust”.
Overall a nice release well worth its price point.
http://www.cavd.com/product.php?productid=2746
Plot Summary:
From enigmatic director Donald M. Jones comes one of the most disturbing and rarely seen serial killer sagas of the 80s: By day, mild-mannered Steve Belmont (Eli Rich of THE JIGSAW MURDERS) is a clean-cut teacher and youth counselor at his Los Angeles church. But by night, he's a sexual psychopath who murders prostitutes and dumps their bodies in the Mojave Desert. Ashley St. Jon (TAKIN IT OFF) co-stars in this overlooked and effective (Horrorpedia) chiller, now with an all-new audio commentary and available uncut on DVD for the first time ever.
Bonus Second Feature: Jones trippy directorial debut, PROJECT NIGHTMARE is the obscure VHS nugget now restored for DVD that Unobtanium13.com calls something of a surrealistic masterpiece!
http://mvdshop.com/products/hollywood-horror-house-dvd
A New High in Terror and Shock!
By 1970, the once golden age of Hollywood glamor and stardom was a tragic last hurrah represented by the decayed and deteriorated Hollywood Sign. In HOLLYWOOD HORROR HOUSE, we'll go below the sign, to a decaying hilltop mansion of a once great star, played by a once great star, Miriam Hopkins. The fabled Ms. Hopkins, toast of the town back in the thirties with box office hits like Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde and Becky Sharpe, was an A-list actress and Oscar nominee. Another Oscar winner (Best Supporting Actress 1936) Gale Sondergaard plays Miss Hopkins' loyal friend and housekeeper, who tries to save her friend from the handsome stranger, played by son of acting legend John Garfield. He may be the culprit littering the land around the Hollywood sign with hacked up body parts. This hellish time capsule showcasing late 60s/early 70s Hollywood, remains an early example of the slasher films which would follow in just a few years. See Miriam Hopkins trapped in a madhouse of hacked up blood-splattered bodies, tripped out drug sequences, murder by electric knives and a Hollywood Christmas Parade with a drunk out of control movie star as its Grand Marshall. HOLLYWOOD HORROR HOUSE is the last death rattle of the Horror Hag craze that began with Better Davis feeding dead rats to Joan Crawford in Whatever Happened To Baby Jane. Just as Bette sang "I've written a letter to daddy' in that film, listen to Miriam sing the hell out of "Taking a chance on love." Witness that demented slice of cinema best described as a motel six version of PSYCHO...you have been warned!
In career that has encompassed such controversial classics as Ms. 45, Bad Lieutenant and Welcome to New York, none of Abel Ferrara's films have quite managed to match the shock, extremity and downright notorious nature of The Driller Killer.
Ferrara plays struggling artist Reno, a man pushed to the edge by the economic realities of New York living in the late seventies and the No Wave band practising in the apartment below. His grip on reality soon begins to slip and he takes to stalking the streets with his power tool in search of prey...
Forget Taxi Driver, The Warriors and The New York Ripper, The Driller Killer is the definitive look at NYC's underbelly - a slasher that is as much at home in the arthouse as it is the grindhouse.
Limited Edition Steelbook featuring original artwork (2500 copies)
Brand new 4K restoration from the original camera negative of the never-before-seen pre-release version and the theatrical cut
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations in both 1.85:1 and 1.37:1 aspect ratios
Original Uncompressed Mono PCM audio
Audio commentary by director and star Abel Ferrara, moderated by Brad Stevens (author of Abel Ferrara: The Moral Vision) and recorded exclusively for this release
Laine and Abel: An Interview with the Driller Killer, a brand-new interview with Ferrar
Willing and Abel: Ferraraology 101, a new visual essay guide to the films and career of Ferrara by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, author of Cultographies: Ms. 45
Mulberry St., Ferrara's feature-length 2010 documentary portrait of the New York location that has played a key role in his life and work, available on home video in the US for the first time ever
Trailer
Collector's booklet featuring new writing by Michael Pattison and Brad Stevens
Bb (2016) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3643844/
RENT or PURCHASE VOD OPTIONS:
BB - A Film by CJ Wallis
https://now.bt.co/bundles/bb
Trailer: https://youtu.be/piV6H7JEUC4
BB on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbthemovie/
http://www.fortyfps.com/bb.htm
From Facebook:
BB is a provocative, pyscho/sexual thriller about a struggling, rough-edged girl named Leah Lamont who takes it upon herself to raise the money her girlfriend Alina Lupei needs to fly home to be with her ailing family member in Romania.
With no quick fix available, under the name "Candy Cummings," Leah performs online strip shows from her apartment for thousands of strangers every day, never fully knowing the extent of evils that could be watching on the other side of the screen.
Starring
Jennifer Mae, Kristian Hanson, Victoria Fox, Elissa Wagner, Carlos Velarde, Joseph May, Samantha '3D Na'tee' James, & Michael Joseph
https://www.amazon.com/Observance-Blu-ray-Lindsay-Farris/dp/B01H4CSMDI/ref=sr_1_1_twi_blu_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474842596&sr=8-1&keywords=observance = Blu-Ray
https://www.amazon.com/Observance-Lindsay-Farris/dp/B01F0XP4GQ/ref=sr_1_1_twi_dvd_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1474842596&sr=8-1&keywords=observance = DVD
They Are Watching
Atmospherically creepy and visually unnerving, Australia's Joseph Sims-Dennett's startling feature film debut follows Parker, a young man in the grip of grief following the death of his young son, his marriage on the rocks and nearing bankruptcy, but who reluctantly returns to work as a private investigator. His assignment it to observe a woman from an abandoned apartment, and as her watches bizarre happenings surrounding her, he slowly becomes aware that the derelict building he is in has a dark presence which slowly threatens to consume him. A frightening horror tale of a man spiraling into madness and reminiscent of Roman Polanski's THE TENANT, Hitchcock's REAR WINDOW, and the works of David Cronenberg and David Lynch.
https://www.amazon.com/Bunker-Pit-Bukowski/dp/B01F0XMZ22/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1474729041&sr=8-2&keywords=der+bunker = DVD
A funny, visually arresting and a bit unsettling modern fairy tale
With his surrealistic and dark, yet strangely heart-warming approach towards an unusual family's world, DER BUNKER's director Nikias Chryssos may well be the nephew of John Waters and the illegitimate son of David Lynch and Luis Buñuel. A student rents a windowless room in a bunker home nestled deep within a forest. Here, instead of finding tranquility for his studies, the young man becomes increasingly involved in the dramas of his landlord's family. They include the stern father, his wife (whose swollen leg almost takes a life of its own) and their precocious 8-year-old son Klaus who, despite being German and "learning-challenged," is being home groomed to become the President of the United States. Initially friendly and welcoming, the situation becomes increasingly bizarre. A funny, visually arresting and a bit unsettling modern fairy tale.
http://mvdshop.com/products/upsidedown-cross-dvd
Exploited, Abused, Addicted and Sick: Nadine Survived the Streets, but Can She Survive an Exorcism?
From controversial filmmaker William Hellfire comes a shocking new film starring David Yow (The Jesus Lizard), Erin Russ (Porkchop), Tina Krause (Bad Biology) and adult film star Rick Savage - UPSIDEDOWN CROSS. Abandoned, abused by the police and in the throes of withdrawal, Nadine, a drug addicted young prostitute, returns to her childhood home and the mother she ran away from. Nadine's mother, Delilah; a fanatical Christian who believes demons have possessed her daughter, searches for a "cure" for Nadine's erratic behavior. When she finds a rogue preacher willing to exorcise her daughter for a fee, neither realizes they have invited the devil into their home. While her mother turns a blind eye to the bizarre practices unfolding in her own home, Nadine, wracked with mental and physical pain, has no choice but to put up with the preacher's increasingly violent charade. This collector's edition of UpsideDown Cross contains a double sided wrap featuring original photography by Jackie Cerniglia, a clear amaray, an illustrated Chick Tract by successful notorious underground comic artist Mike Diana, and image galleries featuring photos and original illustrations inspired by UpsideDown Cross. Print run is limited to 1,000 copies,
A police inspector investigates a serial child kidnapper, his repressed childhood memories awakened in the process.
The Treatment is an unsettling Belgian murder mystery that gets under your skin and stays there. A nail-biting suspense yarn based on one of a series of best-selling novels by British crime writer Mo Hayder, the film is not an old-fashioned Agatha Christie-type whodunit, but its gritty themes of sexual violence and pedophilia give it a raw, contemporary intensity that places it in the same company as the "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" book and film series. Police inspector Nick Cafmeyer is investigating a case where a mother and father have been bound and beaten, and their young son is missing. An obsessive loner, Cafmeyer discovers that there are other similar cases - tragedies where the parents were forced by a psychopath to harm their own children, who then vanish. For the inspector, this triggers memories of his own brother's abduction as a child, and the possibility that he may still be alive somewhere. Grim and wholly engrossing, The Treatment is a thriller with an edge.
http://mvdshop.com/products/invitation-the-blu-ray-dvd-blu-ray
There is nothing to be afraid of.
In this taut psychological thriller by Karyn Kusama (Girlfight, Jennifer's Body), the tension is palpable when Will (Logan Marshall-Green, Prometheus) shows up to his ex-wife Eden (Tammy Blanchard, Into the Woods) and new husband David's (Michiel Huisman, "Game of Thrones") dinner party. The pair's tragic past haunts an equally spooky present: Amid Eden's suspicious behavior and her mysterious house guests, Will becomes convinced that his invitation was extended with a hidden agenda. Unfolding over one dark evening in the Hollywood Hills, The Invitation blurs layers of mounting paranoia, mystery, and horror until both Will--and the audience--are unsure what threats are real or imagined.
Director: Karyn Kusama
Producers: Martha Griffin, Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi, Nick Spicer
Actors: Logan Marshall-Green, Michiel Huisman, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Tammy Blanchard, Lindsay Burdge, John Carroll Lynch, Michelle Krusiec, Mike Doyle
Starring:
GRAHAM SKIPPER, LAUREN ASHLEY CARTER, JOHN SPEREDAKOS, NOAH SEGAN
Available in Theaters, VOD & ITunes: August 5, 2016
Running Time: 87 Minutes
Rated: Not Rated
SYNOPSIS
Zack Connors and Rachel Meadows were born with incredible psychokinetic capabilities. When word of their supernatural talents gets out, they find themselves the prisoners of Michael Slovak, a deranged doctor intent on harvesting their powers. After a daring escape, they are free from his sinister institution, but the corrupt doctor will stop at nothing to track them down so that he may continue to siphon their gifts for his own use.
“Symptoms” is a solid psychological
character study that debuted at Cannes film festival in 1974 only to disappear
into the dark, murky water; much like some of the victims in the film.
“Symptoms” starts in a world filled with melancholy. It not only surrounds the
story but has besieged itself inside of our lead. Glimpses of out of context
flashes soon cover the screen but they quickly vanish. What’s left is the
mesmerizing and clearly haunted Helen. She lets the audience know though
narration that something final will be happening, perhaps through her own
initiative or something hauntingly sinister out of her control.
From the very beginning of the film
we know not all is right with anything. Helen’s childlike qualities give her a
sympathetic yet suspicious aurora. Helen’s personality mix well with wonderful
location this creates a gloomy yet beautiful mood. The previous circumstances
bring the mental state of Helen’s sanity in question and even open up the
possibility of a supernatural interference. The small cast is exceptional in
their roles, bringing realistic performances and intriguing appearances that
pop to life with the set design. The camera work also shines with the film’s
freeze frames and transitions from scene to scene.
The third act does not bring much
surprise, just a wonderful image of tears slipping down Helen’s gaunt, pale, and
beautiful face. “Symptoms” is a classy yet deeply perverse character study with
spurts of violence and moments of wonderfully built tension, worth a discovery.
Mondo Macabro has done a service in bringing this semi lost film out to the
public and making it look as top notch as it does. “Symptoms” is now loaded
with special features such as cast and crew interviews and an entire feature
centering on the film’s director and his body of work including horror and cult
titles such as “Vampyres”, “Whirlpool”, and “Coming of Sin.”
Harvest Lake (2016)
d: Scott Schirmer
starring: Jason Crowe, Tristan Risk, Ellie Church, Dan Nye, Kevin Roach, Lucretia Lynn, Derek Sturgeon format: Blu-Ray Limited Edition
(out of 5)
The Movie: Wow! What a creepy erotic ride over the lake and through the woods! This movie really keeps you guessing and shrouded in mystery the whole film. I mean maybe it's because I went in fresh and knew nothing about it other than it stars Ellie Church, Jason Crowe, was directed by Found's Scott Schirmer and was shot and edited by Brian K. Williams. I grabbed a pre-order copy through the crowdfund and this was one instance where every penny was worth it! Lots of great everything from fx to the acting. I'm a huge fan of Brian Williams and Ellie Church so I knew going in I would at least appreciate it for them but did not expect how much I would enjoy this movie. Scott Schirmer has blown the doors off again. I thought Found was an original well directed independent project. I wasn't expecting anything that happened in Harvest Lake, to be honest I thought it was some sort of slasher film....gladly wrong. The Acting: As I said I'm a huge fan of Ellie Church, very much impressed with her acting overall and this movie was no different. Jason Crowe's performance especially his paranoia towards the end was directly on point. Tristan Risk nailed her character and the unusual um changes she goes through during the movie which I cannot and won't get into and spoil everything. All the actors in this were amazing and all of them had to show their range of ability and when you see the film for yourself you'll know exactly what I mean. Lastly the sexual passion conveyed by the actors in this one was excellent. As a person who is usually bored with sex scenes in most films I was definitely not here. I find them boring because 90% of those I've seen since forever are unconvincing and to me just better left out in serious films such as this if you catch my meaning. Always seem clumsy and off, not in Harvest Lake.
The Gore/FX: Some really crazy visual and practical fx going on as the film progresses past the point of introducing our characters. Sort of a surreal atmosphere created by one hell of a talented team of fx people. It starts in the woods and extends into the cabin and even the lake. Quality effects such as these are rare in the independent world and I loved every minute of it. Great workArthur Cullipher whose listed as the fx supervisor and Dustin Mills who is listed under Visual FX. The Shots: Felt like I was standing on the bank of the lake in a couple key scenes. The shooting was just spectacular. Not sure what kind of camera was used but the tiny waves over the lake were just stunning. Kudos to Scott Schirmer and Brian Williams, gorgeous movie start to finish. The Music: Yeah the sounds and score of the movie just pull you inside it's weirdness from the get go. Loved this aspect of the movie because it just further dropped me into the mystery of what was going on.
The Script: Starts off like a casual weekend for five friends at Harvest Lake in celebration for a birthday. The strong relationships of friends and couples are obvious within the dialogue, nothing cheesy or unnatural here. In comes a friend of a friend who picks up his cue for what may or may not be a one night stand. Lots of sex and fun is had but what is going on in the forest and in the lake? Continues to keep the viewer in the dark once the craziness begins. Liked the addition of some strong gay characters which sadly is something you hardly ever see in any filmmaking.
The Rating: I cannot recommend this movie any higher than 5 Bloody Handprints. Sexual, bizarre, and just plane what the f***. I realize my review is vague but I really want my fellow viewers to see most of it for themselves and go in as I did with little knowledge. Reminded me of something David Cronenburg would have created is the only way to describe it in comparison to anything else I've seen.
Headless (2015)
directed by: Arthur Cullipher
starring: Shane Beasley, Kelsie Carlise, Ellie Church, Kaden Miller, Haley Madison, Dave Parker, Brian Williams, Jennifer Lee, Emily Solt McGee, Nathan Erdel, Matt Keeley, Ben Monticue format: Limited Edition NTSC: Region 1: Personal Collection
(out of 5)
Wow. Headless got a lot of hype in the indie world. An after effect of the film Found by Scott Schirmer. I received a triple signed copy of the uncut limited edition 682 out of a 1000 and it took me a long time to watch it. I think subconsciously I was waiting for the hype to die down sometimes hype can ruin a movie even when I don't want it to. In the end I really wanted to see it also based on the fact my friend Dave Parker has a decent part in this movie.
The Movie: Gritty and seventiesish like almost no other movie I've seen. I was very impressed with this. It wasn't perfect as no movie shot nowadays can be but it truly gave a retro feel. Unlike even Rob Zombie's Devil's Rejects and films like that who try so hard to have this look about them. Headless was very gory something else I loved about this movie. I don't HAVE to have gore but in a film about a serial killer of sorts it's kind of a must. I read on Facebook that the entire crew or most of them went to a drive-in to see their movie up on the big screen. I envy everyone of them. Wow to be a fly on the wall or I guess on the car window.
The Acting: Well as I stated my buddy Dave Parker was in this playing a major but minor part as the boyfriend to one of the victims. Mr. Parker showed his range a tad bit in this one and I for one was very impressed. Shane Beasley as the Skullface Killer was perhaps the most impressive of all. There is definitely a look you must have to play this kind of role. This was the main reason when I heard Elijah Wood was in the remake of Maniac I was a tad concerned...then he nailed it. I think Shane definitely nailed this movie to the wall being empty, lost, and psychotic. Ellie Church and Brian Williams were both a lot of fun to watch. Especially being that their characters had a certain connection in the film their screen chemistry was perfect.
The Shots: Loved the look of this film as a whole like I said it's one of the few "retro" style movies I have seen to really nail this whole thing camera wise. The lighting, the kill shots all done very well giving the film a nice gritty atmosphere which I totally dug.
The Gore/FX: Yeah the fx in this film were very real and very cool. The heads, if there's one thing I can't stand is a stupid looking severed head in a movie. But not is the case here the heads were real enough and dead looking enough. Cgi or at least most that I've seen never gets this right mostly because the face just never looks dead. Loads of gore in this one. Gorehounds will love it. This one does. Lots and lots of the red stuff.
The Script: Great story. A boy is raised like an animal by his abusive mother and sister. But the boy soon escapes becomes a man and the skullface killer is born. Haunted by flashbacks and a little boy with a skullface our killer goes from victim to victim removing their heads and eating their eyes. Then it seems our killer has more purpose than we realize. Great ending. The dialogue was 100% believable and never boring. Really just loved the shit out of this movie.
