MARTIN KEMP STALKS HORROR CHANNEL

Martin Kemp, the famed actor/musician has turned his hand to horror, bringing us his impressive directorial debut STALKER.  It’s not often that a woman stalks another woman in this genre and here Jane March, who found fame in ‘The Lover’, plays the part of a psychotic female to chilling perfection.

Kemp talks about being a horror fan, why he prefers directing to acting and compares his experience in the Celebrity Big Brother House to ‘The Thing’.

You wrote the screenplay for Stalker, where did the inspiration for the story come from?

Jonathan Sothcott, the producer, came to me asking me to rewrite the seventies movie ‘The House On Straw Hill’, but after looking at it I decided to just take a seed from it and send it on to a different journey, but the basic principle is still there. 

Are you a big horror fan?

Love horror, from the moment I saw Boris Karloff in the Mummy, to The Omen... They keep me on the edge of my seat.

How did you go about casting the movie or did you have people in mind whilst writing?

Casting was easy as we always knew we wanted Jane March and it was a matter of fitting the other parts around her.

Did you have a large budget to play with?

LARGE! I wish. This was tiny even compared to tiny budgets.....but we made the most of what we had.

The film has a gothic chill to it and a bloody climax, are you happy the way the film turned out? 

As happy as you can be! always when you make anything you wished you could go back and shoot it again, or paint or make it again...its only natural!

Did you have to cut any scenes due to time or budget restrictions?

We cut the most expensive scene as it goes because it ended up looking to Dr Who rather than gothic horror!

What was the atmosphere like on set?

The atmosphere was great, but it has to be on low budget, everyone has to chip in....it’s the only way!

Stalker is getting its UK TV premiere on the Horror Channel, how do you feel about that?

Thrilled it’s on the Horror Channel....it’s the home of all great horrors!

Where are you at your happiest when working? Is it acting, playing on stage, writing or directing?

I am by far at my happiest directing....it encompasses everything I love...Music, drama, photography and people!

If you were given the chance would you like to tackle a remake of a classic horror? If so which one would you choose and why?

A remake of a classic Horror...I would love to make ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ – a great mix of horror and romance.

Will you be directing more horror movies in the future and what projects are you working on at the moment?

There is a fantastic project I’m working on at the moment, but you know what it’s like ....I will tell you about it when it’s signed and sealed

You’ve recently come out of the Big Brother house, that must have been a bizarre experience? Did this give you any inspiration for a movie?

A couple of times it was like being on the set of The Thing..... it was fun.

Martin Kemp, thank you

A pleasure.

Stalker premieres on the Horror Channel Oct 19 at 10.55pm

We Are The Night DVD Review

German Vampire flick ‘We are the Night’ does exactly what is says on the tin. In an era where vampire movies are a dime a dozen, it’s difficult to supply something original to the genre, and unfortunately director Dennis Gansel’s take on the creatures is nothing but another high action, gluttonous movie to add to the pile.

That’s not to say it’s not enjoyable, however. It’s shot well, it’s got enough fight scenes, special effects and fake blood to satisfy and action fan - with particular reference to the final sequence involving two very attractive woman and a lot of bending the rules of physics - and there’s plenty of typical vampire behavior to keep the lifestyle enviable. However, the problem is that this is the perfect word to describe the movie itself - typical.

Telling the tale of young criminal Lena (Karoline Herfurth) as she unwittingly falls into the hands of long time vampire lesbian Louise (Nina Hoss) and her band of vampire babes - party girl Nora (Anna Fischer) and 1920’s silent film star Charlotte (Jennifer Ulrich). Naturally there’s a handsome hero, coming in the form of police inspector Tom Serner (played by Max Riemelt - who looks suspiciously like a German Garret Hedlung) and it all follows a likely story arc; there’s some vampire fun - shopping, partying etc. - before our heroine has trouble coming to terms with all the murder and bloodshed, and her hero gets caught up in the whole bloody mess.

To hold your attention, there are car chases, aeroplane crashes, bikini-wearing-blood-soaked-females, some high budget special effects, and an attractive cast for you to oggle, just don’t expect to have your perspective on the age old monster completely re-vamped (pardon the pun).

The special features offer up some nice additional content, with your usual behind the scenes and VFX features. Also worth a watch are the additional scenes and alternate endings - just as well, as the final edit has an ending which feels lacking.

In summation, it’s nothing groundbreaking. It’s exactly the type of vampire movie you’d expect for a True Blood generation, which is fine… if you’re into that kind of thing.

Jo Heinemeier 

★★1/2☆☆

Certificate: 15
Release Date: 15th October 2012
Director: Dennis Gansel
Starring: Karoline Herfurth, Nina Hoss, Jennifer Ulrich, Anna Fischer, Max Riemelt

Watch The Teaser & Full Trailer For Confession Of Murder

Meeting someone face to face who says he's the killer of the unsolved murders who where investigating many years ago is someone you want to meet at a police station not at a book signing. In Jeong Byeong-gil  Confession Of Murder Jung Jae-young  plays an hardened cop Choi who comes face to face with a baby faced suave 'killer' Lee (played by Park Shi-hoo)who claims to be the killer of those unsolved murders 17 years previously, they meet each other at the book signing of 'I Am The Killer'. Thanks to a rule of the statute of limitations Choi cannot not touch Lee but is determined this time he'll get his killer.

Been an avid fan of Korean thrillers anything remotely dark, twisted even intense I'm a sucker for them and Confession of Murder certainly looks to have the credentials to be at least intense. Park Shi-Hoo looks creepy and his sinister smile/stare does suggest behind the babyface there's something ice cold evil behind it.

Confession of Murder is released in Korea November, check out the official teaser and full trailers below.

Confession of Murder - Teaser Eng Subbed

Director Jeong Byeong-gil made his debut with action documentary "Action Boys" (2008), a film about stunt men who dream of becoming action stars. He is now moving onto feature films for the first time. This action thriller, with his stable performance, Jeong Jae- yeong takes on the roll of detective Choi Hyung-gu and popular TV drama star Park Si-hoo plays Lee Du-seok. After the statute of limitation expires on the murders he has committed, Lee Du-seok publishes an autobiography describing all his murders in great detail. Detective Choi, who investigated Lee's murders 15 years ago starts the chase once again and Han Ji-soo, who lost her daughter to Lee, pledges vengeance. Meanwhile, another killer appears, casting doubt to whether Lee is the real serial killer. The key here is how well the story juggles the truth and how solid the description of the characters' tangled relationships is. The film began production in January, and is scheduled to be released during the second half of the year.

source: Hancinema / Film Smash

Watch The Awesome Stephan Zlotescu's True Skin Short

Who said short film makers don't have talent? I've heard a few people say that in the past however quite a few feature films  of the past 20 plus years have stemmed from an short film idea and Stephan Zlotescu's True Skin could be the next short film to get the feature length treatment. The film has sparked a bidding war from the studios for the rights the full 6 minute short has been released online for your full enjoyment before one of the big studios destroy thr film integrity with a mediocrity version.

TRUE SKIN from H1 on Vimeo.


True Skin is set in a future where augmented humans and robots co-exist together with humans. Kaye buys a prototype robot that not only sees him fighting his own humanity but also something much larger. Incredible looking stuff a big Blade Runner feels to the film which was shot in Bangkok Thailand.

Source :FirstShowing

Uwe Boll's Zombie Massacre Trailer

He's the filmmaker many love to hate and for numerous reasons you can see why they hate him but whatever you think he has a cult following and as long that fanbase is around Uwe Boll will keep making those films.  His latest film though this time only as producer Zombie Massacre a full trailer has landed online with Eaters duo Marco Ristori and Luca Boni directing. Based on a 1998 video game which has similarities to Doom but with the undead roaming the lands which look like the same location as Eaters but this Italian duo are experts at low budget flicks so absorb your resources!

It's bog standard stuff however with so many zombie films on the market now we can easily say Zombie Massacre looks like one of the better ones which has Uwe Boll even starring in it as the President of United States!!! No word on the UK&Irish release date just yet but expect it either before the end of this year early next year. Zombie Massacre also stars Tara Cardinal, Mike Mitchell, Jon Campling, Christian Boeving, Gerry Shanahan, Daniel Vivian and Carl Wharton.

A bacteriological weapon developed by the US Government to create a super soldier - spreads an epidemic in a quiet little town in the middle of Eastern Europe. All citizens have been turned into infected zombies. The plan is to bring an atomic bomb into the city's nuclear plant to pretend a terrible accident occurred. No one has to know the truth. A team of mercenaries is hired to complete the mission. The battle is on. Hordes of monsters against the team.

source: DreadCentral

Yasujirō Ozu's Floating Weeds Getting Masters Of Cinema Treatment

FLOATING WEEDS [UKIGUSA] will be released in DUAL FORMAT (BLU-RAY & DVD) & DVD editions as part of the Masters of Cinema Series on 3 December 2012.

Eureka Entertainment have announced that they will be releasing a gorgeous new HD restoration (undertaken exclusively for this release) of  FLOATING WEEDS [UKIGUSA], one of the most acclaimed films by Japanese legend Yasujirō Ozu (Tokyo Story; Late Spring; Early Summer; An Autumn Afternoon; Good Morning). Starring iconic Japanese actors Chishū Ryū (Tokyo Story; Red Beard), Machiko Kyō (Ugetsu monogatari; Gate of Hell), and Haruko Sugimura (Kwaidan; Late Spring), the Dual Format (Blu-ray + DVD) edition, available on Blu-ray for the very first time anywhere in the world, will be released alongside a DVD-only edition on 3 December 2012.

“A thoroughly absorbing affair” – Total Film

“Ozu's familiar combination of melancholy regret and buoyant comic gaiety is beguilingly in evidence.” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

“A poignant tale of everyday folk; their lives, loves and losses, rendered with exquisite care, compassion and no small measure of humanity by one of the masters of Japanese cinema.” – Film 4

“Floating Weeds'' (1959) is like a familiar piece of music that I can turn to for reassurance and consolation. It is so atmospheric--so evocative of a quiet fishing village during a hot and muggy summer--that it envelops me.” - Roger Ebert

Towards the end of his career, Japanese master Yasujirō Ozu (Tokyo Story; Late Spring; Early Summer; An Autumn Afternoon; Good Morning) returned to a story he had made some 25 years earlier as a silent, Ukigusa monogatari [A Story of Floating Weeds], for a magnificent colour reworking, photographed by legendary cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa (Rashomon, Ugetsu monogatari).

When a travelling theatre troupe brings their show to a seaside port, Komajurō (Ganjirō Nakamura), an ageing actor, is reunited with his former lover, sake bar owner Oyoshi (Haruko Sugimura), and his illegitimate son Kiyoshi (Hiroshi Kawaguchi), to the distress of his current mistress Sumiko (Machiko Kyō).

From this simple scenario, Ozu builds, one exquisite image at a time, a saga of profound humanity and rich understanding. Encompassing a novelistic range of emotions and tones with the utmost delicacy, Floating Weeds stands tall even amidst a body of work as extraordinary as Ozu's. Making its worldwide Blu-ray debut, The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Floating Weeds in a beautiful new high-definition restoration, released as a Dual Format (DVD & Blu-ray) edition and a DVD edition on 3 December 2012.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Exclusively restored high-definition master presented in the film's original aspect ratio, in 1080p on the Blu-ray

• Newly translated optional English subtitles

• Original Japanese theatrical trailer

• Illustrated booklet featuring the words of Ozu, rare archival imagery, and more

• Further details to be announced nearer the release date!
Pre-Order/Buy:FLOATING WEEDS [UKIGUSA](Masters of Cinema) (DVD) [1959] / DVD (&BLU-RAY DUAL FORMAT)

Liff 2012:New Rust And Bone Clip Is All 'For Fun'

Jacques Audiard's Rust and Bone starring Oscar award winning actress Marion Cotillard which has been win critic and fans praise at every festival it's played at since this years Cannes Film Festival. The film is due to play at the London Film Festival before it's limited release in UK&Ireland next month and Studiocanal have sent us a new clip from the film entitled 'For Fun', check it out below.

Jacques Audiard, acclaimed director of A Prophet and The Beat That My Heart Skipped, returns with this powerful, tender romantic drama about two people from very different worlds seeking redemption in each other. Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose, Inception) stars as Stephanie, a killer whale trainer who late one night meets Alain (Matthias Schoenaerts, Bullhead) in a fracas at the nightclub where he works as a bouncer. Put in charge of his young son, Alain has come from Belgium to Antibes to live with his sister and her husband as a family. Alain’s bond with Stephanie grows deeper after she suffers a horrible accident, bringing the two together once more.

Audiard has been making big marks on the French and World Cinema the past few years with his last film A Prophet especially which won Grand Prix at Cannes and nomination for Best Foreign film at 2009 Oscars. Expect Rust And Bone to win plenty nominations in the awards season  with Marion Cotillard challenging for best female category.

Rust and Bone is released in cinemas on 2nd November 2012.

 

Eureka Taking Us To GATES OF HELL In Masters Of Cinema

GATE OF HELL [JIGOKUMON] will be released in DUAL FORMAT (BLU-RAY &DVD) &DVD editions as part of the Masters of Cinema Series on 3 December 2012.

Eureka Entertainment have announced that they will be releasing a stunning new HD restoration of GATE OF HELL [JIGOKUMON] in a Dual Format (Blu-ray + DVD) & DVD edition, available for home viewing for the first time in the UK from 3 December 2012.  From the director of A Page of Madness [Kurutta ippeji, 1926], this long-awaited reissue of a Japanese classic was the winner of the prestigious Grand Prix at Cannes and two Oscars (for Best Foreign Language Film and Costume Design), and named by Martin Scorsese as one of the ten most beautiful colour films ever made.

“It is hard to convey in simple language the moving qualities of this lovely film” – New York Times

Synopsis: One of the key works of the early 1950s wave of Japanese films to first reach foreign markets, director Kinugasa's sumptuous period drama astonished audiences with its dramatic force and spectacular colour cinematography.

During feudal unrest in the 12th century, samurai warrior Moritō (Kazuo Hasegawa) manages to thwart a palace rebellion and save the life of the empress, using loyal subject Lady Kesa (Machiko Kyō) as a decoy. When Moritō is offered anything he should desire as reward, he requests Kesa's hand in marriage. Informed that she is already married to a fellow samurai (Isao Yamagata), he refuses to withdraw his request, setting in motion a tragic chain of events.

Three decades after the director's iconic A Page of Madness, Kinugasa's striking tale of feudal intrigue, political machinations, and erotic obsession won the Grand Prix at Cannes, two Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film and Costume Design, and has since been named by Martin Scorsese as one of the ten greatest colour achievements in world cinema. Gate of Hell's blazing palette is proudly presented afresh by The Masters of Cinema Series in a magnificent new restoration, available for the very first time for home viewing in the UK, released in a Dual Format (DVD & Blu-ray) & DVD edition on 3 December 2012.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Beautifully restored high-definition master presented in the film's original aspect ratio, in 1080p on the Blu-ray

• Newly translated optional English subtitles

• Illustrated booklet featuring the words of Kinugasa, rare archival imagery, and more

• Further details to be announced nearer the release date!

 Buy/Pre-order:[JIGOKUMON] DVD [1953] / DVD (& BLU-RAY DUAL FORMAT)

Tetsuo: The Iron Man / Tetsuo II: Body Hammer Blu-Ray Review

Japanese director Shinya Tsukamoto (Kotoko, Snake of June) finally has his cult sci-fi films Tetsuo: The Iron Man and Tetsuo II: Body Hammer released on Blu-Ray and DVD.

In the original 1989 release a man only known as the ‘metal fetishist’, due to his obsession with sticking scrap metal into his body. After he is hit by a car driven by a Japanese ‘salaryman’, the driver begins to experience his body turning into metal – a fate masterminded through the rage of his victim. Shot in black and white, the film is a frantic and surreal work of cyberpunk; reminiscent of David Lynch’s early work. In its sequel, the monochrome palate is replaced with vivid colour; as Tsukamoto revisits his world inhabited by man-machines.

Both films are shocking and horrific, focusing on graphic imagery rather than dialogue and a linear plot. Clearly the director has a vivid and unique imagination, and that the visuals look so good after being made on a very low budget is a great accomplishment. However these are not films that will appeal to everyone. Their utter strangeness will be enough to alienate most, but fans of cult horror, sci-fi and Japanese cinema will appreciate Tsukamoto’s work.

Extra Features:
Interview with Shinya Tsukamoto
‘The Interview of Electric Rod Boy’ – Tsukamoto’s 45 minute short film
Original Japanese Theatrical Trailers
New UK Trailer

Sophie Stephenson

★★★★☆

Rating: 18
UK Re-release Date: 8th October 2012
Directed By: Shin'ya Tsukamoto
Cast: Tomorowo Taguchi, Shin'ya Tsukamoto, Nobu Kanaoka, Sujin Kim

The Thompsons DVD Review

In a cinematic landscape where the vampire sub-genre is populated with constant reworking and, more specifically, buggered half to death by Twilight, The Thompsons, the sequel to 2006’s The Hamiltons, is a rough but charming pick-me-up.

The Thompsons picks up the brutal family’s story as they escape the US, after a bloodbath puts them on the wanted list, to hide out in the UK.  Desperate for some kind of protection in this new country, they set out to find a shadowy group rumored to be sympathetic to vampires.

The scope of The Butcher Brothers’ latest effort is one of the things that marks it out from your average vampire film, dotting from the US to UK and a peek at two family members’ exploits in France helps make the film feel bigger than it actually is. It’s a road movie after a squalid one-set affair, just like Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects, the epic follow-up to House of a Thousand Corpses.   The narrative style of jumping back to fill in the blanks and show us how Francis Hamilton (Cory Knauf) ends up captured is, at first, intriguing but eventually lends a disorganized flow to the plot. If you really consider it, aspects of the film (excluding the existence of vampires obviously) strain believability; parts of the plot seem to rely on not looking too deep into the characters. For careful viewers this film may anger, for die-hard vamp fans, who can abandon critical viewing, this is a nice slice of brutal fun, since the one thing the film isn’t is boring.

At a run-time of one hour seventeen minutes there’s little time to doddle around so the pace reconciles by keeping the characters on the go. The action is quirky and the gore can be gruesome, but the dialogue is the major weakness of the piece: lacing an otherwise enjoyable affair with so much cliché and cheese you‘d think it’s funny.  But that encapsulates the film, some good scenes mirrored by woeful one’s: Francis’ arrival at the pub is pretty tense, then there’s a bizarre barn dance where nobody seems to know why they are there.

An earlier sequence showing two of the British vampires hunting alludes to a more sinister and unnerving aspect that, in its haste, the film neglects.  Which is a shame when you’re watching a horrormovie. Even when the film gathers a bit of momentum and throws itself at a climax well-setup, the end fight throws a wobbly, looking jittery and anti-climactic. Fluid camera work and careful editing keep previous scraps visceral so the end seems a lazy mistake. After a bloody finale, the film very quickly swaps rails and goes back to being poignant and open, leaving the story not-quite-finished.

Parts of the film are unrealized  others have the right idea, but a generally woeful dialogue drags down an otherwise well-conceived film. The Thompsons is a faulted but brutally enjoyable vampire flick that has its eyes set somewhere beyond your run-of-the-mill sex and death extravaganza.

Scott Clark 

★★★☆☆

Rating:18
UK DVD/BD Release Date: 15th October 2012
Directed by: Mitchell Altieri, Phil Flores
Cast:Mackenzie Firgens, Cory Knauf, Ryan Hartwig, Samuel Child, Daniel O'Meara, Selina Giles
 Buy The Thompsons On DVD