BELIEVE THE HYPE!

TRICK r TREAT is the new must watch Halloween season film of the decade.

Wonderfully crafted, wickedly demented and all the fun you could possibly hope for from a horror film TRICK r TREAT is indeed a Halloween gift that us horror fans have been begging for.

I have no idea why Warner Bros. would not have given this film a theatrical run, especially at this time of year.  Only possible reason I can come up with is that they just didn't know how to market it.  It is an anthology film that doesn't particularly play like one.  While there are  4 separate stories they are told in reverse order meaning we actually see the end of the film first and then go back in time from that point ultimately ending up back where we started when all is said and done.  It really isn't as confusing as it sounds but you do have to pay attention.  Little tips and hints are delved out along the way and if you happen to not be paying attention, you lose some of the charm of the film.

I have to tell you, I loved the look of this film.  There are segments that are absolutely iconic in he way they are laid out and shot.  A couple different scenes involving Jack O Lanterns are nothing short of breath takingly beautiful.  I want to use them as my computer backgrounds.  I didn't bother to look up who did the art decoration and set decoration on the film but they should be applauded.

The stories themselves are nice little demented tidbits that run the gamut of childhood Halloween nightmares.  You get the homicidal school principal who is poisoning candy in segment one, A school bus nightmare in segment two, a nice little Werewolf tale with a sweet surprise ending and the final chapter which ties everything up in a nice little blood soaked bow.  Woven throughout all the tales is SAM a burlap bag headed little buddy who ends up playing very large in the grand scheme of things.

The film evokes a feeling of the child like wonder of Halloween.  The awesome head rush we all felt once of heading out into the cool October night to gather our treats, unsure of what is out in the darkness, fearing it just a bit, just enough to bring a smile to our face.  TRICK r TREAT captures that.

Oh yeah and the blood does flow in this sucker.  It flows freely and it also possess that twisted humor that so many of today's horror films seem to forget about.  It is just overall an almost perfect Halloween treat.

The DVD itself is a very shy in the SPECIAL FEATURES department.  I know I definitely wanted more.  All you get is an animated short titled SEASON'S GREETINGS which was director Michael Doughetry's original pitch for the project.  It is available with a commentary by the director which is the only commentary on the disc.  That's it.  No other features.

I would have loved some in depth behind the scenes stuff on this one.  Maybe a Special Edition or Collectors Edition is in our future.  I know I would be interested.

Even though the Special Features are pretty much non existent this is still a must own disc.  Don't let yourself miss out on this one.  It is the film everyone keeps saying they are waiting for.  It has it all and deserves the support of the genre community.

Sick, twisted, demented, bloody, funny, smart, scary - it's the complete package.

Here is a video that explains the mascot character of SAM and will give you a bit of a glimpse on the look and feel of the film:




TRICK r TREAT is out now so go get your copy now!

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The experiment of bringing the hit TERMINATOR franchise continues with this second season DVD collection and for the most part the experiment is a success.  I'm not going to lie to you, a few years back when we all caught wind of this series the entire thing seemed preposterous.  A weekly show based on one of the most successful film franchises in history but starring none of the films stars and attempting to build on the mythology that the film began.  Pretty tall order  and while I could not think of any other then LINDA HAMILTON in the role as SARAH CONNER I have to admit that Lena Headey pulls it off, big time.

She is perfect in the role that LINDA made famous bringing the same strength and determination to the character while still being motherly and the source of John's strength.

I feel the need to stress at this point that SARAH CONNER CHRONICLES is not a show you can just kind of start watching.  Lots of things are not as they seem in this show.  You've got super computers walking around in human form, you've got shape shifting cyborgs and time traveling warriors.  Some here to protect the main characters others here to kill them.  It can get very confusing very quickly so you have to pay attention.  With that said that is why having these show available on DVD is so cool you can just go back and rewatch at any time.  All the more reason you have to own them, right.

This second series finds the character of Catherine Weaver brought much more to the fore front.  Weaver is played by the lead singer of GARBAGE Shirley Manson.  She is excellent pulling of the sexy yet creepy character.  I don't want to provide any spoilers but lets leave it that by the end of the season just exactly who or what she is is not revealed.

Overall this is a strong and enjoyable season.  There are plenty of surprises along the way, most of them good.  The writing and acting remain strong and the FX and action are top notch. 

Oh yeah, have got to mention SUMMER GLAU as CAMERON.  Wow, what can you say.  While the main focus of the TERMINATOR series, both film and TV has always been JOHN and while the show is subtitled THE SARAH CONNER CHRONICLES lets face it, why we have all watched is for THE TERMINATOR.  The title character that ARNOLD immortalized on the big screen and now SUMMER has done for the small screen.  She really is absolutely perfect for the role.  She has that kind of detached, not of this world vibe going for her, even in her non-terminator roles she has had that going for her.  I remember the first time I watched her work, it was in the film SERENITY and she played the same sort of role.  She is THE TERMINATOR ever bit as much as ARNOLD was THE TERMINATOR. 

When season two ended on FOX the future of the series was uncertain but it has since been announced that FOX has in deed canceled the show and no other network will be picking it up so it seems that the cliff hanger at the end of the season will remain just that.

The fan base for this well done series is pretty huge so I wouldn't be surprised to see someone like SYFY or CHILLER pick this sucker up.  It would be a good acquisition.

This SEASON TWO box set is 6 discs and features all 22 episodes as well as a fine set of special features that include commentary tracks for select episodes an 8 part featurette offering as well as a wealth of unaired scenes and a handful of other goodies.

Well worth an self respecting TERMINATOR fans time.

The box set is available now everywhere that DVD's are sold, add it to your collection. 

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Originally developed as a television series, ZOMBIELAND, which clocks in at a scant 81 minutes, plays as an over-the-top gross-out comedy, but can also be enjoyed as a fun-filled romp through the cliches of horror films, a tongue-in-cheek love affair for the DAWN OF THE DEAD and 28 DAYS LATER crowd.  It's loads of fun and if you're smart you'll see it with a rowdy crowd in the evening, not in the late morning with two other moviegoing middle-aged schlubs sporadically situated throughout the auditorium - hardly the atmosphere for an audience participation movie.  Apparently, not everyone likes zombies with their cereal.  Who knew?  You live, you learn. 

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I'm going to use a word that I don't think I have ever used in describing a horror film before:  HEARTBREAKING.

MAJOR SPOILERS LIE AHEAD!!

Yep, GRACE is a tough film to watch, not because its horribly done or a bad film but because the subject matter is so personal, so private that you almost feel like you are intruding on these characters lives and sharing their most horrible and heart wrenching nightmares come to life.

GRACE tells the tale of a young couple attempting to have a child.  We meet Madeline and Michael literally while they are conceiving GRACE.  The film opens with them making the two back monster and we quickly learn that Madeline is looking to forgo the standard hospital delivery and will instead head to a midwife clinic which is run by a trusted friend.  Husband Michael is leery at first but after an emergency room visit where the doctors there almost induce labor to early without running the proper tests and midwife Patricia arrives just in time and in one of the most intense and well acted scenes in the film stops the procedure in the nick of time thus earning the trust of Michael.

On the way home from the hospital the couple are involved in a horrible traffic accident and Michael is killed and Madeline is in bad shape the worst thing being that the baby she is carrying is dead.

She decides to carry to term and let nature take its course.  Not only is she dealing with the death of her husband but now she is carrying a child which she know is deceased.  The midwife allows her to continue the pregnancy, given the circumstances and one day while at a baby store she bleeds out and passes out.

Again, we are lead into a scene that is so difficult to watch but so completely gripping that you can't look away.  The acting by Jordan Ladd as Madeline is of an Acadamy Award level here, no shit, it really is.

Madeline gives birth to the stillborn child and it is so emotional so powerful that I dare any one of you to watch it and honestly tell me that it does not move you in some way.  Powerful, powerful stuff.

This is where things start to take an odd turn.  Madeline asks if she can hold the child and midwife Patricia kind of reluctenly agrees.  She watches from another room via cam and when she feels things have gone on long enough she goes into to tell Madeline that she can't will the baby back to life only to discover that he has apparently done just that.

GRACE is alive and the horror is about to begin.  It doesn't take long for Madeline to figure out that something is not quite right with her little GRACE.  Flies seem to be attracted to her and she don't smell quite right but that is just the start of the strangeness.  Seems she don't think much of breast milk, no she would much rather have BLOOD!

This of course sets off a series of events that you just know are not going to end well.  I've already probably told you to much so I'm stopping here with the blow by blow.

Trust me on this one.  Go pick it up and give it a twirl in the DVD player.  It is a great little film.  Director Paul Solet has crafted a tight little story that manages to move you emotionally and at the same time make you wince.  The subject matter is touchy but Solet handles it with a deft hand and at no time wanders in to exploitative territory.  He keeps the story focused on one womans tragedy and powerful bond between a mother and her child.

As far as special features go we are given a nice three part behind the scenes look at the film that is very informative and long enough to be worth watching while not being so self serving that you tune out after the first few minutes. 

Here's a complete listing of the extras:

An AUDIO COMMENTARY track by writer/director, producer & director of photography

GRACE: Conception (6:46)
GRACE: Family (11:58)
HER MOTHER'S EYES: The look of Grace (7:03)
GRACE: Delivered (37:02)
LULLABY: Scoring Grace (8:55)
GRACE AT SUNDANCE (13:10)
Trailer (2:27)

GRACE is in the stores as we speak.

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Have to admit, I have enjoyed these DELUXE EDITION releases and FRIDAY THE 13th PART VII - THE NEW BLOOD is no exception.  I hadn't viewed this installment in the franchise in quite some time and I had completely forgotten what a fun ride this film was.

Directed by FX vet JOHN CARL BUECHLER who despite all the problems he had with the film, which he chronicles wonderfully during the feature commentary, managed to bring some new life and excitement into the kind of stale franchise.  PART VII is also notable as it is the first time that KANE HODDER plays JASON who most fans agree is the JASON by which all other JASON'S are gauged.  HODDER would of course go on to play our hockey masked killing machine three more times. 

For those of you who  haven't watched it in a while here is a very quick, very brief  rundown of the plot line.  We pick up right where PART VI left off with JASON being stuck at the bottom of CRYSTAL LAKE after Tommy managed to anchor him down and then attack him with a boat propeller. 

We quickly meet TINA a troubled young girl with psychic powers who as a young girl accidentally killed her father at CRYSTAL LAKE when show looses control of her powers and collapses a boat dock on him.  Tina, her mother and her doctor are heading back to the lake so she can confront her past but Tina is not so happy about this turn of events.

Once at the lake things heat up between Tina and her asshole doctor and she once again gets angry and is unable to keep those damn psychic abilities in check and she inadvertently awakens our buddy JASON who promptly rises to the surface and begins yet another killing spree.  This is for me the best looking JASON of the bunch with him having decayed quite a bit while stuck at the bottom of CRYSTAL LAKE.  I like the look that BUECHLER and crew came up with for JASON although the full body prosthetic had to be a pain in the ass for Mr. Hodder.

I forgot to mention that of course there are a group of sexed up teens next door to Tina and her clan so there are plenty of nude young adults running around for Jason to slaughter.

Some very creative kills this time around.  I love the infamous "death by weed whacker and my personal favorite the "head squeezed to the size of a walnut".  In the special features they have all the cut blood and gore and while the tapes that these scenes are taken from are not the best of quality they are still good enough to get an idea of what Buechler was attempting to accomplish.  The cut stuff on that fore mentioned "head squeeze is gruesome and should have been left in as the scene would have been much more effective.

As with most of the films after PART IV fans are pretty evenly split on their feelings towards the films.  Some love em, some hate em but when it comes to PART VII you can put my vote securely in the love em column as this DELUXE disc has rekindled my affection for this particular installment.

I mentioned the commentary track above, which is top notch and feature JOHN BUECHLER, KANE HODDER and LAR PARK LINCOLN.  I really enjoyed it.  Also featured is a "Making Of" segment titled JASON'S DESTROYER, a segment on Telekinesis titled MIND OVER MATTER and a weak little thing called MAKEOVER BY MADDIE. 

The part most of you will probably want to check out though are the SLASHED SCENES which are numerous and enjoyable.

A great presentation of a fun, stylish and must see segment in the FRIDAY THE 13th legacy.

FRIDAY THE 13th PART VII:  THE NEW BLOOD - DELUXE EDITION is available now so get get it.

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