The Harvest (Blu-ray Review)
In his first film in nearly 15 years, the director of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer harks back to the twisted suspense that made his 1986 debut a horror milestone with The Harvest . Deeply unsettling, The Harvest is a taut psychological thriller that examines that horrors that can lurk in unsuspecting places. Showcasing a powerhouse performance by Samantha Morton that is both utterly monstrous and tragically desperate, The Harvest also features an impressive performance by Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire, Man of Steel) as the subdued suburban father as well as screen legend Peter Fonda as the character in the film Maryann’s grandfather. Not to mention there are some good turns from the young cast members. Continue reading ‘The Harvest (Blu-ray Review)’
Fans of legendary director Wes Craven (Scream, The Last House on the Left, A Nightmare on Elm Street) know well the terror mayhem inflicted by Horace Pinker, a diabolical mass murderer who harnesses electricity for unimaginable killing powers, from the 1989 horror cult classic SHOCKER. On September 8, 2015, Scream Factory™ is proud to present Wes Craven’s SHOCKER Collector’s Edition Blu-ray, packed with insightful bonus content including, special audio commentary with Wes Craven, all-new interviews with Mitch Pileggi, Cami Cooper, executive producer Shep Gordon, music supervisor Desmond Child and soundtrack artists, new audio commentary with director of photography Jacques Haitkin, co-producer Robert Engelman and composer William Goldstein, retrospective featurettes, original storyboard gallery and much more! A blend of dazzling special effects and an electrifying soundtrack, SHOCKER stars Michael Murphy (X-Men: The Last Stand, Batman Returns), actor/director Peter Berg (actor Smokin’ Aces, director Lone Survivor), Cami Cooper (Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace) and Mitch Pileggi (The X-Files, Sons of Anarchy) as Horace Pinker. 
Officer Rose Cooper (Reese Witherspoon) is assigned the task of escorting cartel informant Daniella Riva (Sofia Vergara). The two must team up against the cartel members and corrupt policemen as they travel across Texas. The film received a wide release in the United States on May 8th, 2015. 
From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes the Shorts Film Collection, an extraordinary new collection of award-winning and beloved short films featuring Disney’s Frozen Fever, starring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff, and the Oscar-nominated Lorenzo. It will be available early on Digital HD/Disney Movies Anywhere August 11 and you can bring It home on Blu-ray August 18. Enjoy this must-own collection with all-new extras including an inside look at the Disney Animation shorts, featuring introductions and interviews with the acclaimed filmmakers themselves. Fans Can Now Enjoy The In-Home Debuts of the Beloved Animated Shorts “Frozen Fever,” “Lorenzo,” and “Tick Tock Tale.” Also includes Academy Award®-Winning Animated Shorts “Feast” (2014) and “Paperman” (2012), Special Filmmaker Introductions and More!
Nicole Kidman, for obvious reasons, has always reminded me of Tom Cruise. I’m not referring to the fact that they were once married, birthed children together or even starred in the same motion pictures. I’m referring to the apparent fact that just like Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman (with makeup on of course) appears to suffer from that same Peter Pan syndrome of never aging. So while the Blu-ray’s cover of Strangerland, the film’s premise and all the negative reviews didn’t help sell me on the feature, the fact that Nicole is in it and the trailer didn’t make the flick unwatchable hooked and reeled me right in. So despite the negative reviews I come into Strangerland only knowing two things for sure. It has some talented cast members and the theatrical trailer looked promising. Other than that I had no idea what I was getting myself into. 
Scream Factory has announced the release of 
A double feature of insane Italian horror awaits you… On August 25, 2015, Scream Factory proudly presents 
From the writer of Pontypool and Septic Man comes Ejecta, the tale of William Cassidy, a man haunted by a lifetime of alien encounters, searching for answers while evading menacing government agents. With an ingenious structure that stylishly interweaves William’s past and present, this sci-fi horror feature will makes its Blu-ray debut on August 18th, 2015 from Scream Factory, in partnership with IFC Midnight. Directed by Chad Archibald and Matt Wiele, this nerve-shredding film stars Julian Richings in a tour-de-force performance and Lisa Houle and Dee Wallace. Ejecta
If you’ve never been frightened by anything, you’ll be frightened by this! Scream Factory presents 
When the e-mail for Innerspace came across my e-mail, I got pretty excited. This is a film I hadn’t revisited since the 80s (Maybe early 90s). Its one I remember liking quite a bit. I believe ABC used to run this as their Sunday Night Movie for a couple years straight. I remember really enjoying it, liking all the characters quite a bit, and finding fun in this unique adventure. Then there was the journey through the human body ride/thing at Disney’s Epcot Center that used to make me feel like I was Dennis Quaid in Innerspace. So, the question is, how would this film hold up now, after really truly having never seen this movie since childhood and my memories on exact details being kinda foggy. 
It is nice to see Warner Brothers taking the rights and reaching into the Paramount vault and pulling out a few titles at a time in an effort to convert their library to high definition. That said, that also means taking films that are enjoyed by some, but mostly looked at poorly by others. Virtuosity is not a great film. It is not terrible, as that is near impossible for Denzel Washington to accomplish (save for John Q), but it is a film that shows its age in the worst of ways, while also offering little value as a narrative. With all of that in mind, I was happy to revisit the first film that brought Washington and Russell Crowe together, flaws and all.
This is not your parents’ Justice League! These heroes are not the renowned saviors of the world – they’re more likely Earth’s despotic rulers. Witness the divergent reality where the Justice League protects the planet but answers to no one but themselves. Employing methods of intimidation and fear, this Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman deal brute force in the name of justice. The Elseworlds-style tale features the voice talents of Michael C. Hall as Batman, Benjamin Bratt as Superman, Tamara Taylor as Wonder Woman, Jason Isaacs as Lex Luthor, Paget Brewster as Lois Lane, and C. Thomas Howell as Dr. Will Magnus. Gods & Monsters arrives on Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD combo pack. 
This summer, brace yourself for explosive action and edge-of-your seat thrills with highly anticipated motion picture prequel to the popular overseas action series Black & White. On August 4, 2015, Shout! Factory will unleash Black & White: The Dawn of Assault on Blu-ray™ and DVD. Delivering blockbuster movie entertainment, Black & White: The Dawn of Assault puts its own spin on the classic buddy cop formula with this outrageous actioner filled to the brim with over-the-top stunts, government conspiracies, and weapons of mass destruction. 
After hearing word that his three sons have been killed in the Battle of Gallipoli, Australian farmer Joshua Connor (Russell Crowe) travels to Turkey in order to find their remains and return them home. The uneasy aftermath of World War I and an uncooperative regime in power provide heavy conflict for Connor in his epic search. The film premiered in Australia and Turkey on December 26th, 2014, before seeing wide release in the United States on April 24th, 2015. 
