The Book Of Life (Blu-ray Review)
The Nightmare Before Christmas has become a widely loved kids film, when it comes to celebrating Halloween. If things go the way they should, The Book of Life is in a nice position to become the film that represents Dia de los Muertos for kids, let alone brings it further into mainstream prominence. Director Jorge Guiterrez and his team, including producer Guillermo del Toro, have created a stylish, animated, adventure-romance, which is full of life. It is a bit odd to point that last part out, given that the film celebrates the Day of the Dead, but then again, there is a lot of odd charm in this film that may be overstuffed with ideas, but is so lighthearted and fun, it is easy to look over some minor flaws, when it comes down to supporting a nice little animated film such as this. It also looks and sounds great on Blu-ray.
Well, I get to deliver what is probably going to be the best and most exciting Blu-ray news going into the weekend (Unless of course the unaltered Star Wars original trilogy or True Lies is announced). The Babadook, 2014’s best horror film (And one of the best of this current decade) is coming to Blu-ray! That’s not all, its being headed up for release by none other than everyone’s favorite, Scream Factory! Oh, and they are also giving it a limited run special edition with pop up casing to boot. So, we know this gem is in real good hands when it comes to video. The Babadook also instantly becomes the best modern horror film to be released for the label (Just nudging past The Battery in my book). Read on below to find full details of this exciting release as well as a pre-order button (Because you should). 
Last August, longtime New York Times TV critic Alessandra Stanley penned a feature entitled
Poker Night, a movie that doesn’t really have much to do with the game of poker itself. So, if for some reason the box art isn’t telling you already of that fact, then let this be that sort of disclaimer for you. The film is a crime thriller from Greg Francis, a man who looks to have an extensive background in those crime and FBI and shows you see on cable channels all time time (Francis had nothing to do with this show, but I personally find myself getting glued to Forensic Files on HLN before bedtime). Poker Night debuted on Video On Demand back in early December and enjoyed a short limited theatrical release just before Christmas. It comes to Blu-ray courtesy of XLrator Media under their Macabre label. These are the same folks who brought us Jersey Shore Massacre, but to anyone hesitant to pick up another one of their titles because of that film, this is a much improved pick up both in terms of film competency and Blu-ray authoring and technical aspects. 
Shout! Factory, a leading multi- platform entertainment company, has acquired the North American rights to BLOODSUCKING BASTARDS, a vampire comedy-horror feature directed by Brian James O’Connell and penned by the comedy troupe Dr. God from an original script by Ryan Mitts. The announcement was made today by Shout! Factory’s founder Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos, and the producers of the film. 
Before the new year hit, Scream Factory said that 2015 was going to see an increase in the Double Feature titles compared to years prior. As a fan of their Double Feature titles (And a lot of Shout! Factory’s 4-Movie Marathon series), I got pretty excited. And they really weren’t stretching the truth, as they’ve so far announced eight Double Feature Blu-ray releases for 2015 (Including the Blacula movies and the first two Ghoulies films). They’ll be kicking off this run on February 10 with two of them, majority Vampire-comedy centric. Today, we’re looking at one of those that includes Nicholas Cage’s debut on Scream Factory title (Vampire’s Kiss) as well as another acting legend Peter O’Toole (High Spirits). So sit back, and lets take a look, shall we? 
Below are links to two new clips from Anchor Bay’s upcoming release of FEAR CLINIC, starring Robert “Freddy Krueger” Englund, Fiona Dourif, and Thomas Dekker and features the acting debut of Stone Sour and Slipknot lead vocalist Corey Taylor.
The rural town of Elwood has always been a “bubble” against the backdrop of an organism-based epidemic where infected humans don’t die, instead they roam to spread the infection in a grisly, horrific way. Those who escape must survive—by any means necessary. But at what price? That’s what I’m saying! So here’s the deal. On February 3, 2015, Anchor Bay Entertainment presents Zombie Killers: Elephant’s Graveyard, an exciting survival thriller about a fallen world that’s provocative as it is chilling. Written and directed by B. Harrison Smith and with a stellar genre cast including Billy Zane, Dee Wallace, Mischa Barton, Felissa Rose, and Brian Anthony Wilson, Zombie Killers: Elephant’s Graveyard is presented in an unrated version on Blu-ray and DVD. Enough talking! Check out the videos below! 
An official selection of the New York City International Film Festival and FilmQuest Film Festival, winning Best Actress, Best Screenplay and Best Director honors, the highly anticipated supernatural thriller Echoes arrives on Blu-ray™ and DVD April 14th from Anchor Bay Entertainment. The feature directorial debut of Nils Timm (who also wrote the screenplay), Echoes explores the murky realm between reality and dreams, and what could happen when these worlds collide. With a stellar cast including Steven Brand (“Teen Wolf,” The Scorpion King), Kate French (Channeling, “Gossip Girl,” “One Tree Hill”), Billy Wirth(“Chicago P.D.”, The Lost Boys) and Steve Hanks (12/12/12, Hold Your Breath), Echoes will have viewers guessing until the final fade-out! 
Brian White has a secret he may not want you to know. He’ll tell you he’s obsessed with watching John Wick. But if you pull off the slip cover, it will reveal to you a My Little Pony DVD. Gerard, well, he has get togethers for binge-watch marathons paired with craft beer tastings to reflect the episodes he’s showing. Aaron goes by the handle “Steed McFluffles” on his own little My Little Pony podcast he hosts (Magic Rainbow Tail Pony Power Hour) right after he gets done with his Walking Dead TV podcast. Me, well, I tend to cosplay My Little Pony when I go shopping at Target. Anyway, enough with the silliness, our friends over at the Shout! Factory are the real experts on My Little Pony and they’ve got a new DVD collection of episodes coming out next month. This is another in their long line of My Little Pony releases. Check out the details below! 
Alchemy is proud to announce that audiences can bring home THE WORLD MADE STRAIGHT on DVD and Blu-Ray™ beginning February 17, 2015. The thriller is based on the 2006 novel of the same title by New York Times best-selling author Ron Rash. David Burris (Executive Producer of CBS’ “Survivor”) directs the talented cast that includes Noah Wyle (The Librarian franchaise, NBC’s “ER”, TNT’s “Falling Skies”), Jeremy Irvine (War Horse, The Railway Man, Now Is Good), Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Pay It Forward) and Minka Kelly (500 Days of Summer, Friday Night Lights, Lee Daniel’s The Butler).
This is exciting. I’m really loving that Scream Factory is making efforts in giving attention to the works of some of the great horror directors and figures of years’ past. We know they are doing their best to put out every John Carpenter film ever made, but here’s another one from Tobe Hooper. Previously, they’ve done Lifeforce (One of my personal favorite Scream Factory releases of all time), Funhouse and he also had a short in Body Bags. Now comes one of the more demanded ones of Hooper’s catalog, Invaders From Mars. And its not too far away. What else do you think they could pull off from Tobe Hooper (No Mangler, please)? Maybe they could put out a nice looking special edition of his adaptation of the Stephen King mini series Salem’s Lot from the 1970s? Anyway, this is another in the long line of fine releases and nice surprises from our friends at Scream Factory. 
Academy Award® winner Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables, The Devil Wears Prada) and Johnny Flynn (Something In The Air) star as strangers who connect under unlikely circumstances when Song One releases on Blu-ray and DVD 
