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Post by fenris on May 16, 2010 14:18:20 GMT
Dark, period horror movies about sword-welding heroes battling demons and witches in plague-ridden Europe are clearly like buses. You wait ages, then three come along at once. Almost. Case in point: earlier this year, Solomon Kane had a frustratingly brief stint in UK cinemas, and at the time of writing there's no word on whether it's going to be released in America, either in cinemas or direct to DVD/cable. Here's the trailer; www.youtube.com/watch?v=lalm_kkczVMAnd originally scheduled to hit British screens on 28/05/10, but now apparently pushed back to 11/06/10, is Black Death, directed by Christopher Smith (previously responsible for Creep, Severance and Triangle). It concerns a group of mercenary knights led by Sean Bean, who are recruited by the Church (represented by veteran horror actor David Warner) to travel to a remote village that has reportedly been spared from the plague, and bring back an alleged necromancer for trial. The trailer; www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEualA0ujdo&NR=1And finally there's Season of the Witch, the only American member of this trio. It was supposed to hit US cinema screens several weeks ago, but the studio pulled it just a few days before it was supposed to be released, apparently because they believed the film's advertising campaign had failed to make much impact. As a result, Season of the Witch is currently sitting in ' no-confirmed-release-date' limbo. The movie's story has a group of mercenary knights led by Nicholas Cage (with Ron Perlman as second-in-command), who are recruited by the Church (represented by veteran horror actor Christopher Lee) to transport a young girl accused of witchcraft and deemed responsible for the outbreak of the plague to a remote monastery, where she will stand trial (the girl is played by British actress Claire Foy, soon to be seen in Sky's Pratchett adaptation Going Postal and BBC Three's pilot episode for Paul Cornell's Pulse). Trailer; www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLoKm_vUsFY
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Post by fenris on Jun 27, 2010 15:29:17 GMT
Dark, period horror movies about sword-welding heroes battling demons and witches in plague-ridden Europe are clearly like buses. You wait ages, then three come along at once. Have found further proof that the Middle Ages have become officially sexy (at least as far as the British film industry is concerned). Following on the coat-tails of Solomon Kane and Black Death is the upcoming Ironclad, a UK independent production which chronicles the siege of Rochester Castle by King John in the year 1215. Amongst the cast are James Purefoy, Mackenzie Crook and Jason Flemying (who all starred in Solomon Kane), plus Brian Cox and Derek Jacobi. Imported for the all-important US market are American actor Paul Giamatti (as King John) and one of my favourite young actresses, Kate Mara (in a role originally filled by Megan Fox, until the recession caused investment to shrink and the movie's budget was downgraded to $25 million). Ironclad was shot entirely in Wales last year (2009). Here's a link to a rough-cut trailer; ironclad-movie-trailer.blogspot.com/2010/01/ironclad-film-trailer.html
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Post by fenris on Jul 28, 2010 12:38:44 GMT
Season of the Witch was supposed to hit US cinema screens several weeks ago, but the studio pulled it just a few days before it was supposed to be released, apparently because they believed the film's advertising campaign had failed to make much impact. As a result, Season of the Witch is currently sitting in ' no-confirmed-release-date' limbo. The Arrow in the Head website has posted an update about the current status of Season of the Witch; Remember the Nicolas Cage flick SEASON OF THE WITCH? Try, it might take some time... The Dominic Sena-directed period thriller, taking place during The Black Plague, has been off the radar since February, when it went from having a March release date to an undetermined one. Obviously, that did not bode well for the flick, and neither does the new update regarding it. According to Production Weekly's Twitter page, SEASON OF THE WITCH will now undergo re-shoots in September. That's two months away, so you don't have to be a genius to realize that this WITCH is in trouble and won't be released anytime soon. Shreveport, Louisiana is where the re-shoots will take place, even though the initial production - which occurred back in November '08 - was based in Austria and Hungary.Source: www.joblo.com/arrow/index.php?id=23286Hmm. Having enjoyed Solomon Kane immensely, I was really looking forward to the similarly themed Season of the Witch, so it's a downer that we'll have to wait even longer to see it. That said, the fact that the studio is prepared to weather the added expense of re-shoots instead of just dumping the movie onto DVD proves that the suits still have faith in the film.
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Post by fenris on Aug 15, 2010 14:28:09 GMT
I don't like the Star Wars movie series. I saw the first trilogy at the cinema when it were originally released between 1977 - 1983, and I confess at that young age I loved it. However, seeing those movies again on television a few years later, when I was in my late teens, I suddenly noticed the lame dialogue, gaping plotholes and how much of the material was - ahem - 'borrowed' from other sources. I realised that they were just children's films, and not very good ones at that (ironically, this meant I must have been one of the few people who wasn't surprised by how bad the second trilogy was, because I wasn't expecting the new films to be any good in the first place). That said, I really enjoy the numerous fan-made, short Star Wars films that continue to be produced. Go figure. Here's a prime example that I've just discovered; www.youtube.com/watch?v=NATeU-r0GDU
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Post by fenris on Aug 18, 2010 20:30:28 GMT
Yet another Eighties horror movie is being remade (!). This time it's Night of the Demons, which was never actually a major success, but it developed a cult following which resulted in two sequels - Night of the Demons II and Night of the Demons III (the latter was retitled Demon House in the UK). Amelia Kincade starred in all three films as demonic villainess Angela, tormenting, killing and enslaving any unwary teens who ventured into a haunted mansion called Hull House. The only confirmed news about the remake so far concerns the cast. Monica Keena and Diora Baird will both be starring, and the role of Angela will be played by Shannon Elizabeth. Although originally intended for cinema release, the Night of the Demons remake is going direct to DVD in America, and will be available over there in October. No word yet on any kind of release in the UK. Meanwhile, the trailer is now on-line; www.joblo.com/video/arrow/player.php?video=nightofthedemons2010trl
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Post by fenris on Aug 22, 2010 15:55:11 GMT
Have just found something on the 'net that made me laugh, so I thought I'd share it here. It's a brief fan-made trailer for new movie Scott Pilgrim vs The World, put together by someone who's seemingly not a fan of the film's lead actor Michael Cera; www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUEr0aFLY3E
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Post by fenris on Sept 19, 2010 12:58:24 GMT
The Night of the Demons remake is going direct to DVD in America, and will be available over there in October. No word yet on any kind of release in the UK. Although it's going straight to DVD in it's native America, the Night of the Demons remake has been given a cinema release here in the UK, and opened two days ago (17/09/10). Unfortunately, it appears to be a limited release - I live within driving distance of three large multi-screen cinemas, but only one of them is showing Night of the Demons, with just one screening each day, at 23:10 (!). A couple of years ago attending a night-time screening wouldn't have been a problem, but I currently have to be at home at night due to family commitments. I'll just have to wait for the Region 2 DVD release.
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Post by fenris on Sept 19, 2010 13:15:07 GMT
Banshee!!! is being shown on the Horror channel tonight (19/09/10) at 21:00. I saw a previous screening of the film on Horror a few months ago, and it's well worth watching.
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Post by fenris on Oct 7, 2010 15:14:08 GMT
I was really looking forward to Season of the Witch, so it's a downer that we'll have to wait even longer to see it. That said, the fact that the studio is prepared to weather the added expense of re-shoots instead of just dumping the movie onto DVD proves that the suits still have faith in the film. Another update regarding Season of the Witch, courtesy of the Arrow in the Head website; So it seems like Dominic Sena's genre period-piece SEASON OF THE WITCH has been doomed since the get-go, does it not? This flick has just been hit with negative twist after negative twist, with the most recent update revealing that the film was heading to the land of re-shoots. And as we all know, that's never a good sign.
But alas this little diddy has somehow clawed it's way out of limbo and has once again secured a release date. So when might we be able to watch another unbearable performance from Nicolas Cage's hair? According to Variety this flick will be hitting theaters on 7th January 2011. Works for me. What do you guys think?
Synopsis: Nicolas Cage stars as medieval knight Behmen, who undertakes a mission pitting him against a devious witch, and making him the last hope for the world against an ancient, dark force. His faith broken by years of battle as a crusader, Behmen returns to central Europe to find his homeland decimated by the Black Plague. While searching for food and supplies at the Palace at Marburg, Behmen and his trusted companion, Felson are apprehended and ordered by the dying Cardinal to deliver a young peasant girl believed to be the witch responsible for the Plague to a remote abbey where her powers can be destroyed. Behmen agrees to the assignment but only if the peasant girl is granted a fair trial. As he and five others set off on this dangerous journey, they realize with mounting dread that the cunning girl is no ordinary human, and that their mission will pit them against an evil that even in these dark times they never could have imagined.
Along with Cage the flick also stars Ron Perlman, Stephen Campbell Moore, Robert Sheehan, Claire Foy, Ulrich Thomsen, Stephen Graham, Christopher Lee and Ada Michelle Loridans. Get ready for SEASON OF THE WITCH to finally hit theaters on 7th January 2011! I bet you can't wait huh?! Start counting down the days folks!Source: www.joblo.com/arrow/index.php?id=24483
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Post by fenris on Oct 11, 2010 18:52:54 GMT
Although it's going straight to DVD in it's native America, the Night of the Demons remake has been given a cinema release here in the UK, and opened two days ago (17/09/10). The Night of the Demons remake is available on Region 2 DVD from today (11/10/10). And by a quirky coincidence, the classic British horror movie Night of the Demon (1957) is finally being released on Region 2 DVD in a week's time (18/10/10). Also available on the disc will be the slightly re-edited version of the film that was released in America, retitled Curse of the Demon.
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Post by fenris on Nov 21, 2010 15:14:19 GMT
It seems like Dominic Sena's genre period-piece SEASON OF THE WITCH has been doomed since the get-go. But this little diddy has somehow clawed it's way out of limbo and has once again secured a release date. This flick will be hitting theaters on 7th January 2011. According to the latest issue of SFX magazine, Season of the Witch is getting a UK cinema release in mid-January next year. Here's a new trailer for the movie (and yes, that is Nathan from Misfits); www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3830683929/Hmm. Initially intended to be a dark, medieval horror film (rated R in America), it's been dumped by original distributor Lionsgate and re-conceived as a PG13-rated period fantasy/action-adventure. Note the brightly lit desert battle sequence, which is reportedly the result of the reshoots that took place in September. And compare with the original trailer for the film's aborted late 2009/early 2010 release; www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi289539353/
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Post by fenris on Dec 30, 2010 16:02:32 GMT
Season of the Witch is getting a UK cinema release in mid-January next year. Here's a new trailer for the movie (and yes, that is Nathan from Misfits): www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3830683929/ Considering that Season of the Witch was abruptly yanked from release in early 2010, followed by several months in which no news was forthcoming and it seemed highly probable that it would bypass cinemas altogether and instead be dumped onto DVD, even when a theatrical release on 07/01/11 (both here and in America) was confirmed, I still fully expected the movie to quietly sneak out on a limited number of screens with little or no publicity, and be gone after a week. Instead, I've been pleasantly surprised by the sizable advertising push that it's received. Not only is there a brief teaser trailer showing on most TV channels, but practically every bus shelter in the town where I live is displaying the movie's poster. Despite it's troubled post-production history, it's clear that the distributors still have faith in this Witch.
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Post by fenris on Jan 15, 2011 15:57:15 GMT
One of my favourite horror films of the Noughties was the uncompromising serial killer thriller W Delta Z (2007). Sadly, it's a little seen and mostly unknown movie, and I was dismayed when a friend told me a couple of months ago that he'd seen multiple copies of it piled up in the DVD section of his local Poundland. Anyway, a brief TV advert that I saw last night (14/01/11) on the Horror channel has made me aware of a new film that seems to have a similar premise to W Delta Z, and which is debuting straight onto DVD on Monday (17/01/11). I give you the trailer for Choose; www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhuwGbLz30U
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Post by fenris on Jan 19, 2011 14:30:17 GMT
One of my all-time favourite vampire movies is Mark of the Vampire (1935), which was made by MGM and directed by Tod Browning. However, it's always annoyed me that film historians repeatedly insist that Universal's Dracula's Daughter (1936) is the first vampire movie with a lesbian subtext, as this completely overlooks the clearly sapphic interest that vampiress Luna (the unforgettable Carol Borland) shows toward the movie's heroine (Elizabeth Allan) in Mark, which was released a year earlier. Judging by this fan-made video I've found, I'm not the only person who's noticed this; www.metacafe.com/watch/4815584/i_kissed_a_girl_or_how_it_happens_in_old_horrors/
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Post by fenris on Feb 10, 2011 17:15:28 GMT
The trend for medieval period horror movies continues. I've previously posted in this thread about Solomon Kane, Black Death and the recently released Season of the Witch, and the latest addition to this sub-genre (although eschewing the epic quest/sword & sorcery formula of the three films I've just mentioned) is Red Riding Hood, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, who previously helmed the first Twilight movie. Here is Red Riding Hood's official synopsis; Amanda Seyfried plays Valerie, a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider, Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Max Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie’s older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life. Hungry for revenge, the people call on famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (Gary Oldman), to help them kill the wolf. But Solomon’s arrival brings unintended consequences as he warns that the wolf, who takes human form by day, could be any one of them. As the death toll rises with each moon, Valerie begins to suspect that the werewolf could be someone she loves. As panic grips the town, Valerie discovers that she has a unique connection to the beast–one that inexorably draws them together, making her both suspect…and bait.Due to Hardwicke's involvement, many on-line have already dismissed this movie as a Twilight clone, but I'm prepared to give it a chance. The trailer (below) has a pleasing Hammer vibe, and then there's Oldman as Father Solomon - the kind of role that forty years would have automatically gone to Vincent Price. Trailer: www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2514656025/Red Riding Hood opens in America on 11/03/11 (coincidentally, the same date that Black Death is receiving it's US theatrical release), and apparently we'll see it in the UK sometime in April.
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