The Echo DVD Review

The Echo (2008) is one of those films which sounds good on paper, but unfortunately fails to deliver on its promises. Promoted as a tense and creepy thriller, this mystery / horror by Yam Laranas and starring Jesse Bradford and Amelia Warner, is heavy on pseudo shocks but light on pretty much everything else.

Bobby (Bradford), just released after serving a prison sentence, is determined to go straight. Moving into his late mother's old apartment in a period block in downtown Manhattan, he gets a job at a local garage run by the well meaning Hector, and tracks down his old girlfriend Alyssa (Warner) who reluctantly begins seeing him again. However after a series of strange incidents in his apartment, Bobby and Alyssa realise that something malevolent and evil is living in the block and isn't about to leave without a fight.

This film had all the potential of being a good little chiller. Set in a suitably creepy, run down Manhattan period apartment block, peopled with equally odd residents à la Rosemary's Baby (1968). Two sexy young kids as the main protagonists, who in theory could have made a seriously hot couple. And amongst the producers, Roy Lee, who has been responsible for producing a host of hits including the infinitely superior The Woman in Black (2012).

However one can't help feel when the final credits roll that the film you've just watched wasn't really the one the filmmakers intended. The setting appears to have been shot in a series of mottled and half lit tones of off brown, whilst the interiors of the apartments look depressingly old fashioned throughout. Though their dodgy plumbing and crumbling walls make for one of the main plot points, a few leaky cisterns do not make for particularly convincing paranormal phenomena. As for the young couple, Bradford seems to believe that horror acting consists of looking moody and put upon whilst Warner, though injecting slightly more life into her performance, is wasted in a role which amounts to little more than window dressing. Which leaves you with the producers. Alarm bells should always ring when you see that a film requires twelve producers - what can twelve produces do on one film? After seeing this limp excuse you could be forgiven for asking whether they were actually doing anything at all.

The film's one saving grace is the Cuban actor Carlos Leon who plays Bobby's boss Hector. An accomplished actor both on film and the Broadway stage, Leon's other great claim to fame is being the father of Madonna's daughter Lourdes - but hey, we won't hold that against him. Here he actually makes his character believable and, dare I say it, nice - but we all know what happens to the nice guys in horror movies!!

Despite its best efforts The Echo leaves you with little more of a brief frisson of excitement, rather than a lingering echo of disquiet. As such it will likely be forgotten almost as soon as the DVD player is switched off.

Cleaver Patterson

★★☆☆☆

Rating: 15
DVD Release Date: 8th April 2013 (UK)
Director: Yam Laranas
Cast: Jesse Bradford, Amelia Warner, Carlos Leon, Kevin Durand
Buy: The Echo On DVD

Video Game Martial Arts Shernnigans in U.S Trailer For Tai Chi Hero

When you have your own movie website it can be extremely frustrating when you post trailers for films your unlikely to see especially been based in UK. Stepehen Fung's Tai Chi O is one of those films I'm intrigued to see before I even get a glimpse at that film, the follow up film Tai Chi Hero has a new trailer out in time for it's American release. If you have been fortunate to see Tai Chi O you'll know its a madcap film combining steampunk with martial arts, funny, entertaining plenty of action whilst at the same time been 100% respectful to the ancients arts. Tai Chi Hero even has the one and only Peter Storamore playing the film's villain Duke flemming the Dutch East India Company, an actor whose become of cinematic expert at playing the baddie with a fun precision.

Tai Chi Hero will get a limited release in USA on 26th April and stars Yuan Xiaochao, Qi Shu, Tony Leung Ka Fai



Synopsis
Lu Chan (Jayden Yuan) is still trying to find his place in Chen Village, the legendary town where everyone is a martial arts master...and Chen-style Tai Chi is forbidden to outsiders. But since he helped save the town from a frightening steam-powered machine, Yuniang (Angelababy), beautiful daughter of Grandmaster Chen (Tony Leung Ka-Fai), agrees to marry Lu Chan and bring him into the family. It's only a formality, though - she is the teacher, and he is the student - and that suits Lu Chan just fine, as the mutant horn on his head gives him incredible kung-fu power, but leaves him dumber each time, and closer to death.

Chen Village still stands in the shadow of danger. A prodigal brother returns, Lu Chan's presence invokes a curse on the town, and Yuniang's scorned fiancée has an appetite for revenge, as well as some new partners in crime.

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

source:Twitch

Thursday Till Sunday (De jueves a domingo) Review

Adding her young yet considerable talent to the burgeoning world of Chilean cinema is Dominga Sotomayor. Her incredibly assured debut feature Thursday Till Sunday (De Jueves a Domingo) takes the template of a road movie to explore themes of innocence amid the breakdown of a family. Confining the tale of a family’s trip to the beaches of northern Chile largely to within a car, hers is a stylish and original take on a well worn genre.

Aware of the fractious nature these car-locked journeys can take on, TTS poses the question – what if the arguments had already occurred and fallout decided. This is the position we are in, mother Ana (Paola Giannini) and father Papa (Francisco Perez-Bannen) have already agreed to separate following this, their final family trip where Papa can check out some inherited land on their way to the coast. Never stated outright, the split is the frission of tension underlining every exchange in the front seats, not that we get to hear. We are in the back with the kids, young Manuel and pre-teen daughter Lucia – our eyes for the journey and occasional witness to her parents’ possible arguments.

Separating the car into two vastly different worlds is something of a masterstroke by Sotomayor. She succeeds effortlessly in plunging us into childhood, regressing us to a time when adult concerns are of little interest and their serious conversations rarely more than glimpsed.

Time passes slowly in the back where games are played, songs are sung and requests come in the form of shouted demands, “I want to go to the beach” shouts Manuel. We become enveloped by memories of those family holidays, endlessly driving for the promise of a beach.

Occasional stops offer a chance to stretch the legs for the family and some time out of the car for the audience. Used by the children as a chance to explore and play at ferocious pace, we are treated to hints at previous quarrels – young hitch-hikers and friends from the past are met with delight and quiet disdain by either adult. The focus here, however, lies away from the action. Lucia’s ever increasing awareness of the situation is based on sightings and moods rather than anything explicit and is excellently handled by Sotomayer.

The impressive camera work and collaboration with cinematographer Barbara Alvarez breathes life into what could otherwise be a claustrophobic affair. The vast Chilean landscape out the window belies the trapped nature of the journey and quickly becomes a character of it’s own - the lunar-like planes bringing a sense of isolation as well as familiarity.

The limited dialogue and near lack of narrative are considered and bold moves for a first time director but there’s a looseness here that ensures it seldom feels restrictive. It is away from the technical aspects that Thursday Till Sunday shines brightest however. This 26 year-old director succeeds in bringing a tone and atmosphere recognisable to all who see it. The childhood traits on show, from inventing secret languages and carefully measuring out drinks to the restless frustration of those long journeys, all ring true and are incredibly well observed. So too are the actions of the parents as tears are slyly wiped away and ‘brave faces’ put on in believable performances from Perez-Bannen and Giannini.

Those fond of a faster paced journey may wish to look elsewhere but Sotomayer has announced herself with an accomplished and elegiac debut.

Matthew Walsh

★★★★☆

Rating: 12A
Release Date: 5th April 2013 (UK)
Director: Dominga Sotomayor Castillo
Cast: Santi Ahumada, Emiliano Freifeld, Paola Giannini

James Franco: A Career In Pictures (Spring Breakers)

James Franco is best known for being a jack of all trades. The California native is an award-winning actor and filmmaker, a college professor as well as an avid student, a prolific academic and mathematician, a serious painter and Huffington Post blogger, a published author and poet; the list goes on and on.

Franco dropped out of college to pursue his acting career, eventually landing one of the lead roles in the short-lived television series Freaks and Geeks, starring alongside future stars Jason Segel and Seth Rogen. Since then, Franco has grown into an accomplished professional. His intense dedication and seemingly unstoppable drive has pushed him further and further with every new project he undertakes. In honour of the UK release of his latest movie, Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers, here is a look back of some of the most memorable roles of his film career yet.

James Dean (2001) – James Dean

Playing the title character in this biopic about the legendary actor, James Franco immersed himself completely into the complex role, going from being a non-smoker to smoking two packs a day. He also learned how to ride a motorcycle and play the guitar and bongos. He received a Golden Globe for his performance as well as nominations for an Emmy and an SAG Award.

Spider-Man (2002) – Harry Osborne

Franco received worldwide fame and recognition with his role as Harry Osborne, the son of villain Green Goblin and best friend to Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man. The film was a commercial and critical success that would later lead him to reprise his role in the second and third instalments of the superhero franchise in 2004 and 2007, respectively.

Pineapple Express (2008) – Saul Silver

Co-starring alongside former Freaks and Geeks alum Seth Rogen, Franco plays lazy pot dealer Saul Silver who winds up on the run from hitmen after being implicated with a dropped bag of weed at the scene of a crime. His performance earned him another Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, praised for his ability to transform a simple role into a three-dimensional character.

Milk (2008) – Scott Smith

Franco starred opposite Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, and Emile Hirsch in this powerful drama about Harvey Milk’s life and career. Playing Scott Smith, the boyfriend of Penn’s Milk, Franco further proved his versatile skill as an actor who could take on virtually any role. He won the Independent Spirit Award in the category of Best Supporting Actor for his performance.

127 Hours (2010) – Aron Ralston

Under the direction of Academy-Award winning director Danny Boyle, Franco gives a chilling performance as he portrays real life mountain-climber Aron Ralston as he tries to free his hand after it becomes trapped under a boulder in a ravine. His most well-received movie, Franco earned a Golden Globe, SAG Award, and Academy Award nomination for Best Actor as well as winning an Independent Spirit Award.

Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) – Oz

Franco takes the lead again in the latest delve into L. Baum’s world of Oz. Playing a small-time magician with dubious ethics who gets swept away into a fantasy land by a familiar tornado, he stars alongside the three witches portrayed by Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, and Michelle Williams. Bringing a fresh take to a classic story, Franco gives his character just the right combination of arrogance and charisma that provides an interesting background to the original character.

Spring Breakers (2013) – Alien

Starring alongside Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, and Rachel Korine, Franco takes on the role of Alien in Harmony Korine’s latest film Spring Breakers. Completely embracing the ganster-with-a-heart-of-gold persona, Franco shines in the role as he takes the four college girls under his wing of drugs and guns, promising them a spring break none of them will ever forget.



Spring Breakers hits UK cinemas Today, Friday 5th April.

Wanna Fight? Watch First Red Band Trailer For Only God Forgives

When you ask anyone what film they are really looking forward too, you'd expect to say one of expensive blockbusters? No! Only God Forgives the follow up film to the cult hit Drive from Nicholas Winding Refn and Ryan Gosling, watch the first red band trailer if not Ryan wants a fight!

Only God Forgives tells the tale of Julian (Gosling) a man living in exile in Thailand, running a Thai boxing club as cover for his family's drugs operation. When his mother is killed he seeks revenge and his trailer guides him to the one man ho knows everything, ex-cop better known as the Angel of Vengeance an act the will cost Julian very dearly.

Only God Forgives is a reunion cinephiles especially fans of their previous effort have been waiting for. The trailer shows this film does possess the visual style of Drive even the brutality, sexual tension too and with Gosling saying very few words apart for 'Want A Fight' delivers a cold atmosphere to the affray too and our answer is Yes Ryan. What more can you ask for in a film?

Only God Forgives doesn't have a confirmed UK&Irish release date, with the film to make its world premier at Cannes Film Festival , so hopefully then we can expect a release date. The film also co-stars Kristin Scott-Thomas,Tom Burke, Rathar Phongam and Vithaya Pansringarm

Synopsis

Julian (Gosling) lives in exile in Bangkok where he runs a Thai boxing club as a front for the family’s drugs smuggling operation. When Julian’s brother Billy is killed their mother, Jenna (Kristen Scott Thomas), arrives in the city. She wants revenge and forces Julian to find the killer. Julian’s contacts in the criminal underworld lead him directly to The Angel of Vengeance, a retired police officer who knows everything and who is both Judge and Punisher. Jenna demands that Julian kill The Angel of Vengeance, an act that will cost him dearly.

source:  Yahoo

Get Crazy! Night Of The Trailers Heads To Prince Charles London For Night of 35mm Nostalgia

Night Of The Trailers 35MM Edition bring madness, mayhem and cinematic nostalgia back to the big screen at London’s home of cult films: The Prince Charles Cinema.

Presented by Alex Kidd, this 40-minute compilation of 35MM vintage trailers and rarely-seen adverts from the 70s and 80s includes GET CRAZY (1983), a chaotic music comedy, unlike anything else you’ve ever seen before.

Alex Kidd said today: “As Night Of the Trailers, I’ve been bringing London the best in obscure film trailers over the last few years, including providing trailer mayhem at Film4 FrightFest, and my own trailer events at venues throughout London. But nothing can prepare you for this event!”.



Tickets £6.50 / Members £4 - available from The Prince Charles Cinema box office and via www.princecharlescinema.com

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Watch The Greetings From Tim Buckley Trailer

If there's any stories of musicians  you can talk admirably and tragedy in the same sentence it has to be Tim & Jeff Buckley. Tim Buckley  highly respected throughout the 1970's folk movement  dying of a drug overdose in 1977, his son Jeff  making his name in 1990's tragically drowning 1994 aged 30. Both talented men in their own right both dying young and now they both  have a biopic,Greetings From Tim Buckley which is now ready for its cinematic run after a decent festival run that's included Toronto, London, Glasgow watch official trailer.

Greetings From Tim Buckley actually follows the build up to Jeff's first public appearance in a tribute concert to his father Tim (Ben Rosenfield), its here he meets Allie (Imogen Poots) a young woman involved in the concerts organisation he becomes attracted too. The film follows Jeff (Penn Badgley) attempting to come to terms with his father's loss leading up to his own tragic death.

When Buckley family are very reluctant to support any type of film be it in a supportive way it can be near impossible to be as honest as you can. But as Amy Berg's Mystery White Boy Movie gather's dust Greetings From Tim Buckley  has moved forward with what looks an honest account of 2 talented tragic musicians with a solid performance from Badgley an young actor whose roles previously may not bring confidence to the viewer though this may give the actor a push to bigger and better things.

No word on the film's UK release just yet however American fans can catch the film on VOD later this month and on limited cinema release from 3rd May.

Scanners Blu Ray Review

The horror classic Scanners is out on blu ray, and who couldn't resist seeing a head explode in high definition?

David Cronenberg's classic science fiction horror film has never looked better. It wasn't the film that launched his career but it certainly was his break into the mainstream, and includes his usual nasty touches of body horror. It's a film which has, for the most part, aged quite well. This is mostly due to some interesting editing choices that prevent it from feeling too much like a B-movie, and the absolutely fantastic special effects.

The scanners of the title are special people who can control other people's minds, and, much like the X-Men, there are those who use their power for good and those who definitly don't. The protagonist of the film, played by Stephen Lack, starts as a lost homeless man who is unable to control his “gift”. He is picked up by a doctor (Patrick McGoohan) who teaches him to control his powers and asks him to try and infiltrate a gang of evil scanners led by the dangerous Revok (Michael Ironside); but things do not go so smoothly.

The film could have easily belonged in a dvd bargain basement if it weren't for some classy choices by Cronenberg and the five star gore on display. What doesn't help the film are a few lacklustre performances. Stephen Lack gives a one note performance throughout and never seems remotely concerned by his predicament, making it astonishingly hard to care about, or be swept up in, his story. It doesn't help that his love interest looks equally as tired and uninterested as he does. Jennifer O’Neil as the female scanner who helps Lack is another black hole in the film.

Making up for these two though is Michael Ironside as the antagonist. He is simply wonderful as the dangerous, psychopathic scanner. From the start to finish, he is frightening, thrilling and a real treat to watch. Patrick McGoohan also helps the film by adding a little gravitas to the proceedings. A little theatrical, yes, but the splash of energy he adds to his scenes is very welcome.

The effects here are the real star, though. It is further proof of just how effective make up and practical effects are. They've aged fantastically well – and they look remarkable in high definition. Scanners is famous for showing a man's head explode. It's what the film was sold on; it is a fantastic effect and is still as revolting as it was thirty two years ago.

Aside from looking great, the film also sounds it. Cronenberg uses fleshy noises to add to the grotesqueness of the effects; and also through electronic sounds and slowing down actors' voices, he prevents sequences from feeling tacky or dated, where others might just simply have poor actors hold their heads shouting “Ahhhh! My mind!”.

Scanners is a great horror film, slightly let down by a few performances. It is Cronenberg at his best and I pray they never remake it. An exloding CGI head just won't do. But if they are to make it, I hope Cronenberg directs and Viggo Mortensen stars.

Harry Davenport

★★★★☆

Rating: 18
BD Release Date: 8th April 2013 (UK)
Director: David Cronenberg

Cast: Jennifer O'Neill , Stephen Lack,Patrick McGoohan,Michael Ironside

Buy: Scanners (Limited Edition Steelbook) On Blu-ray

The Place Beyond The Pines Review

Following the exceptional Blue Valentine, Derek Cianfrance is reteamed with leading man Ryan Gosling for The Place Beyond the Pines. The ambition in Cianfrance's sprawling 140 minute drama cannot be denied, despite waning slightly in its conclusion.

Pines sees a motorcycle rider (Gosling)  taking part in a series of bank robberies as a means of providing for his lover (Eva Mendes) and their child. The consequences of these robberies are further explored through the story of an ambitious rookie cop (Bradley Cooper), attempting to escape the corruption of his department.

Cianfrance and Ben Coccio's narrative is split into three clear sections - the first dealing with Gosling's character, the second with Cooper's and the third with their respective families. Given this structure, a  slightly disjointed feel  in the narrative is almost inevitable - most noticeably between the latter two segments.

The opening segment is by far the strongest - sticking with a simple premise, exploring how far someone would go in order to make amends and provide for their loved ones. This simple plot allows Cianfrance to focus on exploring some interesting character dynamics between Gosling and Mendes' characters. Gosling is exceptional as the well-intentioned motorcyclist attempting to do good (albeit in a completely wrong manner), proving exactly why he is one of this generation's much loved movie stars. The segment also features some truly electrifying, high-octane bank robbery sequences, shot with a clear sense of authenticity.

This is followed by the Cooper-lead segment, which also proves of some interest.  Here Cianfrance tackles a man caught between his morals and pressure by his corrupt peers, allowing Cooper to give a rich, emotionally-charged performance.  A menacing turn from the sensational Ray Liotta adds some further gravitas to this chapter. Here Cianfrance discusses similar themes to the previous segment, with Cooper's character feeling a sense of pressure to provide for his family and meet the expectations of his peers.

By the final segment, the runtime begins to feel slightly bloated and the subtle power of Cianfrance's screenplay loses its sharpness. This segment relies on far too many narrative coincidences, which hampers the previous authentic style of Pines and tries too hard to make connections with the prior stories.  Despite this dip in quality, the film remains beautifully shot with Sean Bobbit capturing the sheer spectacle of the Pined American exterior.

Pines is an ambitious watch, tackling simple yet powerful themes in an authentic and engaging style, despite being  slightly hampered by the overbearing final chapter. Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper are magnificent, both exploring the various limits one can be pushed to, and the consequences of these limits.

Andrew McArthur

★★★½☆

Stars: Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Bradley Cooper, Rose Byrne , Ray Liotta
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Certificate: 15 (UK)
Release: 12th April 2013 (UK), 24th February 2013 (Glasgow Film Festival)

The Animals Will Hunt You, Watch You're Next Traier

It's a long time coming but now You're Next is finally getting a cinematic release giving a new twist on the Home invasion and the first trailer has arrived!

After a long run on the festival circuit a span that goes back to Toronto Film Festival 2011 when the film premièred 2 years later Lionsgate Films have finally let the film mature slightly as they know they have struck gold with this beauty.The film promises to take Home Invasion films to another level and on evidence of this trailer as well as reading about the films festival appearances (most recent been SXSW) the film looks to deliver the goods. This isn't really a spoiler but the trailer highlight the energy, brutality the terrifying  presence these masked men have over the family reunion they rudely interrupted. At no point do we find who they are, why this family keeping the mystery to the actually film but the thing is are you ready for the animals that will haunt your dreams?

Directed by a face very familiar to UK horror fans especially if your a Frightfester Adam Wingard (V/H/S, ABCs Of Death) who has got onboard a few other familiar faces from indie horror Ti West, Joe Swanberg, AJ Bowen who are joined by Rob Moran, Barbara Crampton, Wendy Glenn,Sharni Vinson, Amy Seimetz and Nicholas Tucci star. You're Next  thankfully has a UK&Irish release date which happens to be same date as USA which is 23rd August.

Synopsis 

One of the smartest and most terrifying films in years, YOU'RE NEXT reinvents the genre by putting a fresh twist on home-invasion horror. When a gang of masked, ax-wielding murderers descend upon the Davison family reunion, the hapless victims seem trapped...until an unlikely guest of the family proves to be the most talented killer of all.

Watch First Trailer To Richard Linklater's Before Midnight

Greece is the word, no not another Grease film but the location of a big reunion as Richard Linklater reunites with Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy for Before Midnight now watch the trailer!

After the success of Before Sunrise, Before Sunset Jesse and Celine return which sees the now married couple head to Greece on holiday 20 years after the first time they met on a train inbound to Vienna. The pair now with children, in their middle age attempting to handle the challenges life throws in front of them whilst struggling to keep the romantic spark between them alive.

I've never seen the first 2 films however you could say jokingly this is could be 'This Is 40' but don't take that as a guide in what this film is all about as this is arthouse not comedy.Before Midnight has plenty of charm, a film that will please fans of Woody Allen, plenty of dialogue, humour, romance.If your worried  about the quality of the film, you just have to look back to this years Sundance Film Festival put your mind at rest as the reviews where nothing but superb, so check out the trailer now!

Synopsis
In Before Midnight, we meet Celine and Jesse 9 years on. Almost 2 decades have passed since that first meeting on a train bound for Vienna, and we now find them in their early 40′s in Greece. Before the clock strikes midnight, we will again become part of their story.

Before Midnight is out in UK&Ireland 20th June (USA 24th May)

Source: Yahoo

Watch UK Trailer For Richard Linklater's Bernie Starring Jack Black

Who said age matters or even the fact the pair in love might be a bit 'odd'? Step forward Jack Black and Shirley Mclaine as they star in Bernie, here's the UK trailer.

Bernie sees Black reunite with his School of Rock director Richard Linklater in a dark comedy based on a 'true life' story printed in the Texas Monthly Magazine. Bernie (Black) a funeral director who forms an unlikely relationship with Majorie (McLaine) a sour faced widower  who becomes dependent, whilst nagging and testing his limits. Majorie mysteriously dies leaving Bernie with a massive windfall, a death that leaves the little town they live in, shocked in disbelief and despite his renowned kindness to the locals the local district attorney (Matthew McConaughey) is determined to get to the bottom of Majorie's death.

Bernie is filmed part documentary part drama and it's refreshing to see Jack Black actually attempt to prove he does have some dramatic chops with in him even if this new film does have comedy elements in it. Want to know what we thought of Bernie? You can asThe Peoples Movies  Sophie Stephenson caught the film last month at Glasgow Film Festival, read our review here.

Bernie will be out in UK&Ireland on 26th April.

Synopsis

In the tiny, rural town of Carthage, TX, assistant funeral director Bernie Tiede was one of the town’s most beloved residents.  He taught Sunday school, sang in the church choir and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Everyone loved and appreciated Bernie, so it came as no surprise when he befriended Marjorie Nugent, an affluent widow who was as well known for her sour attitude as her fortune. Bernie frequently traveled with Marjorie and even managed her banking affairs. Marjorie quickly became fully dependant on Bernie and his generosity and Bernie struggled to meet her increasing demands. Bernie continued to handle her affairs, and the townspeople went months without seeing Marjorie. The people of Carthage were shocked when it was reported that Marjorie Nugent had been dead for some time, and Bernie Tiede was being charged with the murder. source:Empire

BBC To Premiere Ralph Fiennes Coriolanus This April

BBC 2 will premiere Ralph Fiennes’ BAFTA nominated contemporary version of William Shakespeare’s political thriller, CORIOLANUS, on Saturday 6th April at 21:45, which will also be simulcast on BBC HD.

Produced by BBC Films withRalph Fiennes directing and stars alongside Vanessa Redgrave, Gerard Butler, Jessica Chastain, Brian Cox and James Nesbitt. CORIOLANUS is a tense and timeless thriller of power broking, political manipulation and the arguments and prejudices of opposing social extremes, set against a backdrop of a republic caught up in a long and bitter war.

Caius Martius ‘Coriolanus’ (Ralph Fiennes), a revered and feared Roman General is at odds with the city of Rome and his fellow citizens. Pushed by his controlling and ambitious mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave) to seek the exalted and powerful position of Consul, he is loath to ingratiate himself with the masses whose votes he needs in order to secure the office. When the public refuse to support him, Coriolanus’s anger prompts a riot which culminates in his expulsion from Rome. The banished hero then allies himself with his sworn enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) to take his revenge on the city.

Read our review of the film here after you check out the trailer below

Become A 'Collector' Add The Collection To Yours This April

From the writers of Saw IV, V, VI and 3D comes the thrilling sequel to The Collector that works just as well as a standalone film.  is a  Tense, terrifying and packed full of action The Collection will have you on the edge of your seat - or hiding behind it, it's yours to own when it arrives in UK on DVD This April.

When Elena (Fitzpatrick) is talked into attending an underground warehouse party with her friends, she finds herself caught in a nightmarish trap where the revelers are mowed, sliced and crushed to death by a macabre series of contraptions operated by a masked psychopath. When the grisly massacre is over, Elena is the only survivor. But before she can escape, she is locked in a trunk and transported to an unknown location.

Fortunately for Elena, one man— Arkin (Stewart) —knows exactly where she’s headed, having just escaped from there with his life and sanity barely intact. Going back is the last thing on Arkin’s mind, but Elena’s wealthy father (McDonald) hires a crack team of mercenaries to force Arkin to lead them to the killer’s lair. But even these hardened warriors are not prepared for what they encounter: an abandoned hotel-turned-torture-chamber, rigged with deadly traps and filled with mangled corpses. Can Arkin and the team get to Elena before she too becomes part of his gruesome “collection”?

It's like Aliens to The Collector's Alien with a team of badasses hunting down the mysterious serial killer and a helluva lot more nasties to be found in his lair. Full of action and gore this is a thrill-ride of a horror film that kicks into gear quickly and stays at full throttle right until the end!

Special Features:

Audio Commentary with Director/Co-Writer Marcus Dunstan and Co-Writer Patrick Melton
A Director’s Vision
Make Up and Effects of The Collection
Production Design
Special Effects of The Collection
Stunts of The Collection

Pre-Order/Buy:The Collection On DVD 

The Collection arrives in UK&Ireland on 29th April, courtesy of eOne on DVD and stars stars Josh Stewart (The Collector), Emma Fitzpatrick (The Social Network) and Christopher McDonald.

Monsters: Dark Continent Starts Principal Photography

Vertigo Films have announced the  principal photography of their forthcoming movie Monsters: Dark Continent has officially started.

Monsters: Dark Continent will be the feature debut of Tom Green who has previously directed the E4 cult hit Misfits with the script written by Jay Basu. The film is a coproduction between Vertigo Films and 42.

The movie is a continuation to Gareth Edwards 2010 international hit Monsters that starred Scoot McNairy. Edwards was nominated for a BAFTA and the film has won four British Independent Film Awards along with many international accolades.

It is some years after the events of MONSTERS. There are Infected Zones all over the world. US military forces are fighting Monsters, attempting to wipe them out. They are met with resistance but it’s not just from the Monsters. The cast includes Johnny Harris (London To Brighton, Welcome To The Punch) Sam Keeley (What Richard Did) and Joe Dempsie (Game Of Thrones) with Edwards and McNairy returning as exec producers.

Producer Allan Niblo for Vertigo comments, “Monsters: Dark Continent is a sci-fi action film that remains true to the artistry and intelligence of its prequel Monsters as well as providing the excitement, thrills and set pieces of a genre film. We’re very excited to see Tom Greens vision unfold”.

Producer James Richardson adds "We are delighted to be working with this incredible new team - Ben and Rory are two very talented producers, Jay has written an excellent script, we have a brilliant cast and Tom is one of the most exciting new directors coming out of the UK."

Ben Pugh, co producing states, “Gareth Edwards created a rich and evocative sci-fi world with Monsters and it's a privilege to go deeper into that world for Monsters: Dark Continent with Tom Green, Vertigo and a very exciting cast".

Filming will take place in Jordan for five weeks and a week in Detroit. Vertigo Distribution will release in the UK with Protagonist handling international.

Boxing Day DVD Review

Throughout the years the average working man and woman has been lived, ruled, struggled by the capitalist dream (like now) but as always we fight back. Leo Tolstoy has provided literature world with many fine examples of the dream however there not the easiest to be adapted for film however British director Bernard Rose (Mr Nice) has tried many times with mixed results. For his latest venture he returns to his favourite source Tolstoy with Boxing Day an contemporary adaptation of 'Master And Man' with Danny Huston at his side once more.

Boxing Day tells the story of Basil (Huston) a businessman living out the lower tier end of the capitalist American dream, maxed out credit cards living the lifestyle on a risk. When it comes to business deals he thinks nothing of the date, time in order to seal the deal and decides to leave his family at Christmas time on a day he should be relaxing with his loved ones. Basil heads to a  wintry Denver to snap up repossessed homes on the cheap from the bank refurbish them on the cheap sell for a quick larger profit. Basil hire's Nick (Matthew Jacobs) as a chauffeur to drive him around the snow covered mountain areas but as night sets in  things take a drastic twist for the worst when the pair find themselves trapped leaving them  facng a  uncertain fate.

Huston and Jacobs do deliver strong central performances which help carry the film probably also thanks to the pair been friends off screen too. This gives a natural feel to the film so the dialogue comes across organic, not fake making the improvisation better.

Before the pair meet on screen we do meet the pair on their own a chance for us to try connect with them. Basil is the face of capitalism, he only care about personal wealth and profit. He's a greedy individual who is actually riding on the edge of bankruptcy we get a glimpse on how low he would go to get money he deceives a church to give him a loan, money they would never really see again.As for Nick  he is Basil's complete opposite though both are fathers Nick is more family orientated but when he visits his estranged wife we get a possible glimpse into his past one that looks was violent maybe of alcohol (maybe both). Times are hard for him living out of a case in a cheap motel waiting for his phone to ring for the next job.

As the film progresses your left with no sympathy both guilty of their fate one self centred the other hapless. Its in the car its when the confines start to get close in, Basil attempts to force some line of authority demanding Nick refer to him as sir, graceless Nick attempts to counteract getting knowhere. Eventually the pair eventually find some mutual respect but a very thin line tensions rear and the bickering  starts which actually makes the pair open their eyes and re-evaluate life. It's when the pair bicker actually brings some much needed humour to lighting the tone though it's not mainstream belly laughs more obsidian in nature.

It's the final part of the film is when things go downhill as it looks like the consistent script seems to have been thrown out the window when order is replaced by chaos. Hysteria prevails as the ending we watch feels like its been stolen from another film when the pair are trapped Basil decides to leave the car and do his best Julie Andrews impression ala Sound Of Music as the film abruptly ends the hills are left certainly alive but as for Basil and Nick you'll just have to watch the film.

★★★☆☆

Paul Devine

Rating:15
DVD Release Date: 25th March 2013 (UK)
Director: Bernard Rose
Cast: Danny Huston, Matthew Jacobs
Buy:Boxing Day On DVD
Win: Boxing Day on DVD (The Peoples Movies)

The Cousins (Les Cousins) Blu-Ray Review (Masters Of Cinema)

Making its way to the cinema screens of Paris only a month after Le Beau Serge, Claude Chabrol’s Les Cousins, still preceding François Truffaut’s The Four Hundred Blows by three months, became the first box-office success of the nouvelle vague. Featuring the previous film’s starring pair of Jean-Claude Brialy and Gérard Blain, the film went on to win the Golden Bear at the 1959 Berlin Film Festival.

With the film’s script written around the same time as that of his feature debut, Les Cousins mirrors Le Beau Serge’s story. But, whereas Le Beau Serge revolved around a Parisian student’s return to the village he grew up in, Chabrol’s second feature tells the story of a student from the country who goes to stay with his cousin in Paris.

Not content with mirroring the previous film’s story, Chabrol also reverses his leading actors’ roles: Brialy now takes on the bad-guy role with his portrayal of a decadent bohemian type student while Blain becomes the good-guy with his role as the hesitant provincial type thrust into life in the big city.

In a similar way to Le Beau Serge, Les Cousins tackles those assumptions and judgements held between social classes. It is also similar to Le Beau Serge in the way it contrasts the central characters, with Les Cousins seeing the sophisticated Parisian able to cruise through life with ease while the unfortunate provincial student works hard to no avail. By the films end, the conflicting fortunes of the cousins as become tragic and a dangerous slide ensues with cruel and harsh results.

Not for nothing is Claude Chabrol known for “his sardonic view of life as a matter of the survival of the fittest.”

★★★★☆

Shane James

Rating:12
DVD/BD Release Date: 25th March 2013 (UK)
Director: Claude Chabrol
Cast:  Gérard Blain, Jean-Claude Brialy, Juliette Mayniel
Buy:LES COUSINS [THE COUSINS] (Masters of Cinema) On Blu-ray / DVD

Le Beau Serge Blu-Ray Review (Masters Of Cinema Release)

The first film of the nouvelle vague, or at the very least the first feature directed by a Cahiers du Cinéma critic, Claude Chabrol’s beautifully observed film preceded François Truffaut’s highly acclaimed The Four Hundred Blows by a year. Winning the 1958 Le Prix Jean Vigo award, and receiving praise from friend and colleague Truffaut for being “as masterly as if Chabrol had been directing for ten years,” Le Beau Serge defined the nouvelle vague’s aesthetic with its use of non-professional actors, location shooting, natural black and white photography, and its personal vision.

Opening with the words “this film was shot entirely in the village of Sardent (Creuse). Our warmest thanks to the residents and local authorities there,” Chabrol’s film introduces the audience to François (Jean-Claude Brialy), a Parisian student returning to his home village to recover from a serious illness.

Upon arrival, François seeks out his childhood friend Serge (Gérard Blain), now an unhappily married alcoholic with a baby on the way, and the pair reminisce in an attempt to reconnect. But it isn’t long before the pair become disconnected due to the differences in their circumstances: the superior François is content with his life and his education, whereas Serge has become bitter and discontented at the prospect of a life stuck in a provincial village.

The film ends when François, suffering from some kind of, as the village Doctor jokingly attests, “martyr complex,” tries to ‘save’ his debilitated friend on a snowy night after Serge’s wife goes into a premature labour. A scene wonderfully shot by cinematographer Henri Decaë, chosen because of his expertise in capturing natural light in films such as Jean-Pierre Melville’s Bob le Flambeur.

The film takes a bleak look at the judgements and assumptions held between social classes with a story that could be deemed as being simplistic and somewhat conventional. But what sets it apart, what turns it into something new, is the radical way in which it moves away from that style of filmmaking, much despised by the Cahiers critics, called the Tradition of Quality. With its aforementioned use of natural photography, location shooting, and a personal vision, Le Beau Serge became the standard-bearer for a new generation of filmmakers.

★★★★☆

Shane James

Rating: 12
DVD/BD Release Date: 25th March 2013 (UK)
Director: Claude Chabrol
Cast: Gérard Blain, Jean-Claude Brialy, Michèle Méritz 
Buy: LE BEAU SERGE [HANDSOME SERGE] (Masters of Cinema) (Blu-ray)

Chillerama - Adam Green Interview

Adam ‘Hatchet Man’ Green talks about the future of the genre, why he turned about ABC’s Of Death, his new movie inspired by the artist Alex Pardee and courting controversy as CHILLERAMA gets its Horror Channel UK TV premiere on Sat 30th March at 10.55pm

Q: Your story for Chillerama could be looked at as being controversial by some, how did you pitch it to the other directors?

AG: Actually, Adam Rifkin pitched me the title (The Diary Of Anne Frankenstein) when the four of us first met up to discuss potentially doing this project. He said, “Green, you’re Jewish- you should do Anne Frankenstein.” I said, “But Rifkin, you’re Jewish, too. Why don’t you take that one?” He replied, “Yeah, but what if instead you did it?” And that was sort of it. Though the phrase “the diary of Anne Frankenstein” is a joke that’s been around for decades, I have to admit I was still scared to death of it at first. I mean, who wants to touch that title with a ten-foot pole? Unfortunately, we live in a world full of people who literally seek out reasons to be offended and who love nothing more than to be “outraged” so that they can get attention. Especially coming off of Hatchet 2 and all of the controversy I had just lived through with that film’s public battle with the MPAA and its assassination from cinemas here in the US… the last thing I wanted was to be put in the spotlight for ridiculous negative reasons again. However, I immediately came up with the idea of doing a piece that would be a complete mockery of Hitler and not something that could possibly be taken seriously.

Q: To me its Monty Python at its creative peek meets classic Universal horror, would you agree?

AG: Wow. That’s a very big compliment and yes, that was exactly what I was going for. I walk away from every screening feeling so incredibly proud of the piece. Reviews, awards, and accolades… those are all nice. But as a comedian, there is no feeling of accomplishment greater than hearing an audience howl with laughter to the point that they drown out the film itself. You can’t fake laughter like that. There are no politics or agendas behind that kind of uproarious laughter. It’s the most primal and real reaction you can hope to get and when it happens universally across oceans and language barriers… it’s a wonderful thing.

Q: Do you think the horror genre is in good health at the moment?

AG: I’m excited to see what the next decade will hold. Looking back, filmmakers my age who came onto the scene in the past ten years or so were saddled with some very difficult hurdles. Not only was the “trend” all about remakes over originals (both with the studios who churned the remakes out and the fans who supported them in droves) but we also saw the indie financing industry take a nosedive with budgets and distribution as internet piracy wreaked havoc on us. There was never a harder time than this past decade to get an original (decent budgeted) horror movie made and distributed. But now that remakes have kind of run their course they’re now out of recognizable titles to remake and people are starting to see the light about internet piracy I am optimistic that more and more original horror movies will get a chance to be made and to be seen. As a genre- we’re always alive and well. Horror will never die and we will always survive the passing trends because we’re a “community” unlike fans of other genres. Just walk by the “sleepy queue” for FrightFest later this summer and look at the die hard fans standing in line over-night for tickets (not even knowing 100% what the programming will exactly be yet). Of course we’re fine! We’ve got zombies! The rest of ya’ll are f***** though.

Q: You must be pleased Chillerama is getting its UK premiere on the Horror Channel?

AG: I’ve had a very special connection with the UK audience ever since Hatchet first premiered at UK FrightFest in 2006 and so I’m always especially excited when a new film of mine premieres across the pond. The Horror Channel has been incredibly supportive of my career over the years so this is like a double-win. Who knows? Perhaps Holliston will wind up on the Horror Channel when it arrives in the UK? You never know!

Q: Would you like to be part of another anthology film such as the recent ABCs Of Death?

AG: I was approached for “ABC’s Of Death” when they first started putting the project together but I passed. I was in the middle of post-production on Chillerama when they started assembling their team of directors and the thought of doing another anthology film at that time just wasn’t appealing to me, as fun as the project sounded and as terrific as the people behind it were. While I can never say “never”, right now another anthology just isn’t in the cards for me. Remember, with Chillerama I didn’t just write and direct a segment. My company (ArieScope Pictures) also produced it and put the money and distribution together to make it happen. That’s a hell of a lot of responsibility/heartache and so I couldn’t just make my segment and “let the chips fall where they may”. When you produce a film it is essentially an STD for your company. It never goes away and it is never really over. Wait, did I really just compare Chillerama to syphilis? Yup. Have at it, critics and haters. You’re welcome for that one.

Q: How much involvement have you had with Hatchet III?

AG: I wrote it, I produced it, I’m presenting it, I cast most every actor in it, I was there for every step of pre-production, filming, and post-production, I surrounded our new director with my incredible ArieScope crew, and I had final cut of the film. So let’s just say that it won’t feel like I ever left. If you’re a fan of the first two films I think you’re going to really like what we did with Hatchet III.

Q: So what are you working on at the moment?

AG: Right now I’m finishing up post-production on the second season of my television series Holliston. It’s a massive undertaking each season given that I wear so many hats on the show (writing every episode, being the show runner, directing, and playing one of the main four characters) but it’s far and away my favourite and the most personal project I’ve ever done. Holliston is an absolute joy to work on and I go to work every day surrounded by only my closest of friends. I’m so excited that we’ll soon be starting the process of bringing the series to the rest of the world and we’re all blown away by how quickly and passionately the audience in America embraced this show and this cast. Next week I kick off my tour in support of Hatchet III and the launch of Season 2 of Holliston so I’m basically in a different place every weekend until the end of summer/early Fall. I’m also in the process of shooting Digging Up The Marrow, a “documentary” (kinda) about monsters (sorta) that is inspired by the art of the insanely talented artist, Alex Pardee. We’re keeping the details of that one under wraps for now, but what I can say is that collaborating with a genius like Alex has proved to be a completely soul inspiring and creative re-awakening for not only myself, but for my core crew as well.

Adam Green, thank you very much.

TV: Sky 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138
www.horrorchannel.co.uk | twitter.com/horror_channel

The Rise of Scandinavia Cinema

There has been a steady rise over recent years in the popularity of the Scandinavian film industry. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo franchise is widely perceived as being the series that kick-started this interest, in addition to a flurry of exceptional hit TV shows including The Killing and The Bridge to name but a few.

With Hollywood gazing admiringly at Scandi output, what better time to look at the cream of the crop, so here’s our guide to the very best output from our blonde haired friends:

The Hunt

- Gripping, compelling and devastatingly dramatic The Hunt is one of the most searingly intelligent feature releases in recent years. Mads Mikkelson plays lead character Lucas who is just starting to pull his life back together following a divorce. But when a little girl at the nursery where he works tells a random lie that is impossible to ignore, Marcus’ world begins to fall apart. As shock turns to mistrust and then malice, it doesn’t take long before the local community is in a collective state of hysteria, igniting a witch-hunt that threatens to destroy an innocent man’s life.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

– It all started when Stig Larson introduced his hugely popular trilogy of novels a few years ago. One of the most popular series crime books ever written, there was huge expectation and anticipation when the movie adaptation was announced. 2012 saw the first instalment hit cinema screens and fans weren’t left disappointed. Not only a huge critical success, the film became a worldwide phenomenon with Hollywood eventually snapping up the rights to this movie franchise. A visually stunning thriller, this trilogy grabs fans attentions from the moment the opening credits roll with its complex series of twists and turns. The cast help to propel this franchise, most notably lead character Noomi Rapace who took on the role of iconic character Lisbeth Salander.

Headhunters

– Another novel (this time Jo Nesbo), and another hit – Headhunters follows a corporate headhunter and part-time art thief who bites off more than he can chew when his latest mark turns out to be a very different kind of head hunter... One of the highest grossing foreign films of 2012, Headhunters continued Scandinavia’s continuing success at the box office.

Let The Right One In

– Ahead of its time, Let The Right One In is a simply stunning horror movie concerned with examining the vampire myth – Twilight this is not! Following the theme of film adaptations, Let The Right One In started life as a novel by author John Ajvide Lindgvist, and is anything but a slasher fest instead intelligently focusing on friendship, love and loneliness.

King Of Devil’s Island

– Hollywood heavyweight Stellan Skarsgard returns to his Scandinavian roots in this indie flick. King of Devil’s Island is based on a true story telling the unsettling story of young delinquents banished to a remote prison of Bastoy.

Valhalla Rising

– starring The Hunt’s Mads Mikkelson as One Eye, a mute warrior of supernatural strength, who has been held prison by the chieftain Barde. Aided by a boy, Are, he kills his captor and together they escape, beginning a journey into the heart of darkness.

Nightwatch

– Focusing on a young law student, Martin Waldau, who takes a job at the local morgue, this edgy thriller is a gripping tale of mistaken identity. When the victims of a serial killer of prostitutes are deposited at the morgue, scary things begin to happen and before long the police suspect Martin is the killer!

Show Me Love

– Set in small town Sweden, Show Me Love explores the lives of two teenage girls. Elin is beautiful, popular, and bored with life. Agnes is friendless, sad, and secretly in love with Elin. This coming of age movie explores the growing pains of turning from child to young adult

Deliver Us From Evil

- This Danish classic focuses on a father who returns to his old hometown with his young family. Events force him to face the small town's xenophobia.

Jackpot

– This edgy thriller starts with a terrified and bloody man, Oscar Svendsen, who wakes up gripping a shotgun in a strip joint, surrounded by eight dead men and with the police aiming squarely at him. To Oscar it's clear that he is innocent, but how does he prove he is the victim here?!

Manga Entertainment To Release Okami-san And Her Seven Companions In UK On DVD

Manga Entertainment have announced they will be releasing Yoshiaki Iwasaki's Okami-san And Her Seven Companions on DVD in UK&Ireland from 8th April 2013. The series comprises of 12 episodes based around Ryoko (Wolf) and a high school club that helps classmates out of grim situation

Synopsis

Ryoko Okami, the “wolf,” and her BFF Ringo, also known as Little Red Riding Hood, are members of Otogi Bank - a high school club that helps classmates out of grim situations. One day, a meek young man proclaims his love to Ryoko, who does nothing but bite him in return. “You're much too weak for me,” she huffs. So the boy joins Otogi Bank to prove he has the stuff to protect his beloved - even if it means taking a blow to the head with a lead pipe. He's no Prince Charming, but will Ryoko allow herself to have her own happily ever after?

Pre-order/Buy : Okami-san And Her Seven Companions Complete Series Collection [DVD]

The Hunt DVD (Jagten) Review

Thomas Vinterberg returns to the difficult subject of abuse with The Hunt, co-written with Tobias Lindholm it’s a simple story told very well. Vinterberg screened his film at last year’s Cannes Film Festival where leading man Mads Mikkelsen scooped a best actor award, it’s now been handed a wider cinematic release which, given the recent high-profile false accusations of abuse, couldn’t be more timely.

Set in small Danish town, The Hunt is a muted, infuriating and utterly engrossing story of lies, paranoia and untamed mass hysteria.

Mikkelsen is outstanding as Lucas, the modest kindergarten teacher who’s dragged through the emotional and physical ringer after being accused of exposing himself to one of the girls in his class. Lucas of course, did no such thing but the rumour spreads, slowly at first, throughout the town slowly turning colleagues and friends against him. The lie then begins to grow and to evolve, soon Lucas is being accused of more and worse, and little by little he is morphed into an outcast, a hated and hunted pariah.

The key to The Hunt is its lack of ambiguity, the message is clear: Lucas is a wronged man, and wronged in the most heinous way possible. It’s because we feel so sure of his innocence, and because Mikkelsen is so good at portraying a tender man persecuted, we find ourselves hoping and rooting so strenuously for him as the shit inexorably hits the fan.

Vinterberg’s thriller is taut, lean and visually arresting, while Lucas’s descent into emotional hell is heart-breaking and utterly gripping. Vinterberg’s ability to draw the maximum tension from sparse set-pieces and stand-offs is truly astounding. Two moments late in the piece in which Lucas is confronted by the townsfolk in a supermarket, and attends a Christmas Eve church service are both gripping and horribly uncomfortable.

Chris Banks (@Chris_In_2D)

★★★★☆

Rating:15
DVD/BD Release Date: 25th March 2013(UK)
Directed By:Thomas Vinterberg
Cast:  Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen,Annika Wedderkopp
Buy The Hunt :Blu-ray / DVD