Vengeance Unloads at the San Francisco International Film Festival

Vengeance is another thriller which will highlight the San Francisco International Film Festival. Showing April 27th, Vengeance is set in the dark underworld of Hong Kong, China. The film also involves revenge after a French chef loses his daughter's family to a violent attack (IMDB). These early shots are very violent, so fans need to take a look at the trailer for this latest Johnnie Toe production.

A synopsis for Vengeance here:

"A French chef swears revenge after a violent attack on his daughter's family in Hong Kong, during which her husband and her two children are murdered. To help him find the killers, he hires three local hit-men working for the mafia" (IMDB).

Release Date: April 27th (Limited Release, already available on Blu-Ray).

Director: Johnnie To.

Writer: Ka-Fai Wai.

Cast: Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Testud, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Ka Tung Lam, Suet Lam, Simon Yam, Siu-Fai Cheung, Felix Wong, Ting Yip Ng, and Maggie Siu.

The second trailer for Vengeance here:


Also available on Blu-Ray:



More info' on the film at the SFIFF here:

Vengeance at the SFIFF

Sources:

Vengeance at IMDB

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Julia Attends the San Francisco International Film Festival

The 53rd San Francisco Film Festival will begin April 22nd and the film Julia will be in attendance. To show May 1st at 5:30, Julia is a film about a sleazy, vile protagonist who kidnaps a young boy for some quick cash (SFIFF). This lonely booze-hound double-crosses another kidnapper and soon Julia's life spirals ever downward. An action-packed thriller Julia is not to be missed along with several other noteworthy cinema treasures. All the details on the San Francisco Film Festival and Julia can be found below.

The synopsis for Julia here:

"Julia is a drunk. She loses her job in real estate and at an A.A. meeting meets a neighbor, Elena, an addled Mexican woman who talks about having lots of money and a plan to kidnap her own son from the boy's grandfather, a wealthy businessman. Elena wants Julia's help. Julia says yes with her own plan to do this alone. Following Elena's plan, Julia manages to grab the boy, Tom, who's about 10. Now what? She asks for a ransom. Tom's grandfather and his money are connected directly to Mexican drug trafficking, so Julia is up against long odds. Will anyone make it out alive" (IMDB).

Release Date: May 1st, 2010 (Limited Release).

Director: Erick Zonca.

Writers: Roger Bohbot, and Michael Collins.

Cast: Tilda Swinton, Saul Rubinek, Kate del Castillo, Aidan Gould, Jude Ciccolella.

A trailer can be found here for the picture:

Julia Trailer at Youtube

For those of you not able to make the festival do not fret a DVD release for the picture has already happened:



Sources:

Julia at the SFIFF

Julia at Magnolia Pictures

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Prowl Through This Synopsis

After Dark Films is announcing a partnership with Lionsgate and Syfy to produce eight original titles. Prowl is one of the originals and some early artwork from the feature is available here, along with a synopsis. In the film, Amber wanders off the beaten path to find herself in a warehouse full of animalistic creatures who: "hunt human prey" (HF). The film stars Bruce Payne, Courtney Hope (Amber), and Saxon Trainor. A trailer is forthcoming, but check out all the other details below.

A synopsis for Prowl here:

"Amber dreams of escaping her small town and persuades her friends to accompany her apartment-hunting in the big city. When their transportation breaks down, Amber and friends gratefully accept a ride in the back of a semi. But when the driver refuses to stop and they discover the cargo is cartons of blood, they panic. Soon, panic turns to terror when the truck disgorges into a dark, abandoned warehouse where blood-thirsty creatures learn to hunt human prey, which the friends realize is what they have now become" (HF)

Release Date: October 2010 (tentative).

Director: Patrik Syversen.

Writer: Tim Tori.

Cast: Bruce Payne, Courtney Hope, and Saxon Trainor.

More details on the film will be posted here:

Horror Fest Online

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I Sell the Dead Not Ready for the Grave Yet

I Sell the Dead made a move to DVD and Blu-Ray today, with extras now available. The film stars Dominic Monaghan (Lost), Larry Fessenden (Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever), Angus Scrimm (Wishmaster), and Ron Pearlman (Dark Country) as two grave robbers who bite off too much of the supernatural to chew. Bonus features run the gamut of cast and director commentaries to making of featurettes (visual effects). A blend of the comedic, action, and horror genres, I Sell the Dead was one of the better releases from 2009. More details on this title below.

The synopsis for I Sell the Dead here:

"18th century justice catches up with a pair of grave robbers. With only a few hours to go before his date with the guillotine, Arthur Blake (Monaghan) tells his life story to Father Francis Duffy (Ron Perlman). Before long, Arthur spills the beans on how he got started in the grim corpse peddling business with seasoned ghoul Willie Grimes (Fessenden)" (Bloody).

Release Date: March 30th (DVD and Blu-Ray).

Director/writer: Glenn McQuaid.

Cast: John Speredakos, Eileen Colgan, Brenda Cooney, Daniel Manche, and Joel Garland.

The trailer for I Sell the Dead here:





The extras repeated:

-Commentary with stars Dominic Monaghan and Larry Fessenden
-Commentary with director Glenn McQuaid
-The Making of I Sell the Dead featurette
-The Visual Effects of I Sell the Dead featurette
-Trailer

The film's homepage:

I Sell the Dead Homepage

Sources:

I Sell the Dead at Dread Central

I Sell the Dead at Bloody Good Horror

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A Blood Moon Brings Out the Crazy and the Very Hairy

You know what is really surreal? Combining westerns with werewolves. This combo' will make one feel strange, enthralled, horrified, and excited as the trailer for Blood Moon: A Werewolf Western unfolds. Not your average indie' flick, Triboro Pictures will bring this satisfying mix to the small screen shortly. All available details for Blood Moon: A Werewolf Western are below.

Release Date: Unknown.

Director: Unknown.

Writer: Alan Wightman.

The very interesting trailer for Blood Moon here:



More details on the pic' will be shown here (several other horror titles here as well):

Blood Moon at Triboro Pictures

Sources:

Blood Moon at Bloody Disgusting

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The Dark Legacy: Real or Fiction?

Often the real is more horrifying than the surreal, or fiction and The Dark Legacy hopes to add some new insight on the death of John F. Kennedy. Director John Hankey is determined to prove that former president and CIA director George H.W. Bush is connected with JFK's assassination. This is a documentary for conspiracy theorists, or possibly for those looking for more info' on this event. This picture is being re-released and is available now.

A plot summary for The Dark Legacy here:

"That black day in November 1963 will never, be put to rest, its ghosts doomed to walk the earth and compel us to keep digging. An issue as durable as it is nonpartisan, conspiracy theorists, mere theorists and armchair speculators will debate the assassination till the end of time. Why? Only 22 percent of the American public believes in the official account of the shooting. A majority believe there was more than one shooter. But no has come along to blow the lid off the case until John Hankey, a Southern California high school teacher who has spent years researching the case and assembling connections from historical sources, interviews and detective spadework."

Release Date: November 25th, 2008.

Director/writer: John Hankey.

Cast: John F. Kennedy, George Walker Bush, Richard Nixon, and Herbert Hoover.

The trailer for The Dark Legacy here:





More details on the picture here (and other conspiracy theories):

The Dark Legacy Homepage

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The Crooked Eye and the Surreal

IndiePix has picked up The Crooked Eye for distribution today. The negotiated deal will put the film in the IndiePix library for at least three years. This tale stars Academy Award winner Linda Hunt and Fay Masterson in a story that captures the surreality of dreams. The Crooked Eye has also been shown at several film festivals and the film is already available on Amazon. Directed by D.C. Douglas the synopsis and trailer for this indie short are below.

The synopsis for The Crooked Eye:

A quiet woman goes through her daily drudgery one St. Patrick's Day. A surreal journey that drifts through memories of a recently unraveled marriage. The Crooked Eye dreamily connects the guilty moments that made her world so unreliable" (The Crooked Eye).

Release Date: Available Now.

Director: D. C. Douglas.

Writers: Betty Malicoat, and D.C. Douglas.

Cast: Linda Hunt, Fay Masterson, Katherine Boecher, Joe Duer, and Clement Blake.

The trailer for The Crooked Eye here:





More details on The Crooked Eye here:

The Crooked Eye Homepage

The Crooked Eye will appear at Indie Pix Films here:

Indie Pix Films

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A Chance in Hell Steals Souls

A Chance in Hell now has a horrifying trailer that shows zombies and bullets flying. The film is set in World War II during the winter of 1944. Some Nazi experiments have not turned out as planned and the German forces unleash "a hideous creature" (Horror). Shot on a budget this trailer is a good intro' for horror fans to A Chance in Hell.

The synopsis for A Chance in Hell here:

"Nazi officer, Dr. Bucher must create the ultimate warrior for the fuhrer. All his experiments until now have ended in failure. And with the Americans closing in on Berlin, time is running short. The doctor performs his experiment on a concentration camp child. She transforms into a hideous creature, and hell is unleashed" (Horror Society).

Release Date: Unknown.

Director/writer: Tony Wash.

Cast: Kevin Zaiderman, Steven James Price, Chad Meyer, Adam Stephenson, and Tony Lee Gratz.

The trailer for this independent film (AB Productions):

A Chance In Hell - Teaser from Crispy Power on Vimeo.

More info' on the film here:

A Chance in Hell on Facebook

Sources:

A Chance in Hell at Horror Society

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Long Pigs at Frightmare Opening Nite

The Texas Frightmare Weekend has announced a film lineup that includes mockumentary Long Pigs. The film is shot shaky cam style as a serial killer goes about his daily routine of killing, cooking, and even eating the innocent. This is a picture that will test your resolve and test your ability to tolerate nausea, with a trailer unloading murder below. As well, horror fans can check out several more films at the festival through the homepage inside.

The synopsis for Long Pigs:

"Long Pigs is a mockumentary, horror, comedy about two documentary filmmakers who follow a serial killer who has a taste for cooking human flesh" (Long Pigs).

Release Date: April 28 (Limited Theatrical).

Directors/writers: Nathan Hynes, and Chris Power.

Cast: Anthony Alviano, Phyllis Cooper, and Paul Fowles.



More info' on the FB page:

Long Pigs on Facebook

The Texas Frightmare film lineup:

Texas Frightmare Weekend

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The Devil's Crossing Not Just a Western

The Devil's Crossing mixes a western feel with zombies in a post-apocalyptic world of tomorrow. Filmed on location in North Carolina, the film deals with "remnants of humanity...the undead," and a "tattered town" (Crossing). To be shown in the first quarter of this year, The Devil's Crossing now has a very professional looking website and trailer (April). Both of these items are below.

The synopsis for The Devil's Crossing here:

"Nuclear war has ravaged the world. The remnants of humanity fight to survive, taking refuge in bleak settlements. The undead wander the earth, slaves to their bloodlust, or perhaps some higher power? The tattered town of Celestial sets the stage for the greatest battle of the New Dark Age! A score that must be settled and a reckoning that has been 235 years in the making...

Shadrach a man who watched his life burnt to the ground! Left for dead, having sold his soul to the devil with his last dying breath. A slave to the devil... Born again as a "Soul Collector". Now centuries later Shadrach fights to be freed from the chains of the demons that torment him. To regain his soul and save the lives of an entire town he must fight the living dead as hell literally rises from beneath" (Crossing).

Release Date: April 2010.

Director/writer: Ryan Gary

The trailer for The Devil's Crossing here:



The film's website:

The Devil's Crossing Homepage

The Facebook page for the Crossing:

The Devil's Crossing on FB

Sources:

The Devil's Crossing at Shock Till You Drop

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Dark Nature's Inherent Violence: A Movie Review

Director: Marc de Launay.

Writer: Eddie Harrison.

Dark Nature was previewed here February 16th and director Marc de Launay (Winning Streak) has forwarded a copy here, courtesy of Mandragora Productions (Dark Nature Preview). The film was shot in Scotland and Launay describes the film as "an eco-thriller [that] took inspiration from the zeitgeist of 1970's productions like Deliverance" (Dark). Shot on a budget, Dark Nature envisions an earth hell bent on man's removal for the destruction of her once healthy landscapes. Killers change, but the thrilling nature of the film stays throughout.

There is a virus in the air that infects the living with murderous impulses. Soon, loved ones kill loved ones in an unnatural shift from man vs. nature to nature vs. man. The only questions are who is next, and will the virus stop? Fans will have to to check out Launay's film to find those answers, but there is a certain brilliance in the simplicity of the storyline.

An action sequence starts Dark Nature with a bang and the disappearance of many other characters keeps the tone tense. Janice Forsyth of the BBC Movie Cafe says of Dark Nature: "[DN is] tense, twisted, shocking and very bloody" (Dark). This statement cannot be disagreed with as bodies turn up on coastal shores, knife wounds are plentiful, matricide is the norm, scalps are removed, and one character dies via typewrite bludgeoning. There is a creativity in the bloodshed despite the confines of a small budget and the use of a central set.

Dark Nature is already gearing up for a North American DVD/Blu-Ray release for April 27th and this reviewer hopes that you will sit down with the film for seventy minutes. As Launay states of his film: "it is small Scottish film," which duly deserves your attention (great for a quiet Sunday).

Setting/realism/importance to the story: 7 (showing the sets in darkness would really have amped up the horror, mystery feel).
Social/philosophical message: 7.5 (few horror films go here and it is a shame - thankfully Dark Nature has more depth than just blood and guts).
Photography/composition/lighting: 6.5 (great shots of the Scottish shoreline - lighting needs to show some complexity here, mastery).

Overall: 7 gasps out of 10.



More details on the film here:

Dark Nature Homepage

A trailer for Dark Nature is provided for viewers here:

Dark Nature Trailer

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Babysitter Wanted to be Paid with Blood Money (DVD Release)

Babysitter Wanted was one of the best indie horror films to come out of 2009 and now the film will be available to a wider audience May 25th. The Blu-Ray artwork is left and the film will be released through the Big Screen Entertainment group on both DVD and Blu-Ray. The film is a taut, tense, thriller, which pits one innocent girl against a demonic force. An excerpt of a review posted here describes the film as "the pacing of the film, along with the twisting story will unsettle viewers" (Babysitter Wanted Review). Horror fans are encouraged to pick this one up.

Thanks goes out to those purchasing items through this broke student's Amazon account :).

The synopsis for Babysitter Wanted here (DVD/Blu-Ray extras below):

"A new life is starting for Angie, who’s leaving the embrace of her Catholic mother for college studies. She applies for a baby-sitting job and finds herself on a remote farm before the Stanton family and their adorable little boy. But Angie’s first night of work might be her last. Alone in the sprawling and remote house, anonymous phone calls begin to shatter her peace of mind.

Release Date: May 25th (DVD/Blu-Ray).

Directors: Jonas Barnes, and Michael Manasseri.

Writer: Jonas Barnes.

Cast: Tina Houtz, Sarah Thompson, Nana Visitor, Jillian Schmitz, and Matt Dallas.

The trailer for Babysitter Wanted here:





Special features are said to include the following:

-Audio commentary
-Making-of featurette
-Music videos

More details on the film here:

Babysitter Wanted Homepage

Sources:

Babysitter Wanted Review Here at 28DLA

Babysitter Wanted at Upcoming Horror Movies

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2001 Maniacs World Premiere at the Texas Frightmare Weekend

The 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams will have a world-wide premiere at the Texas Frightmare Weekend, which begins April 29th. Showings begin at 9:00pm and several of the cast members from the picture will be in attendance. Bill Moseley, Lin Shaye, and Christa Campbell will be there, will you? Have an early look at 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams before the launch in late April.

The synopsis for 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams here:

"The Southern residents of Pleasant Valley take their cannibalistic Guts N’ Glory Jamboree on the road to Iowa where they encounter spoiled Northern heiresses Rome and Tina Sheraton and the cast and crew of their “Road Rascals” reality show. Performing “The Bloodiest Show on Earth,” our Southern Maniacs prove to be more than ratings killers" (Texas).

Release Date: April 29th (Limited Release).

Director: Tim Sullivan.

Writers: Chris Kobin, and Tim Sullivan.

Cast: Bill Moseley, Lin Shaye, Christa Campbell, and Andrea Leon.

More details on the picture here:

2001 Facebook Page

Sources:

2001 at Bloody Disgusting

2001 at Texas Frightmare

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Burn Some Braincells Watching this Trailer

Braincell was shot in Liverpool and subsequently the film also is staged in this Merseyside locale. This horror production will be shown on DVD April 20th and the film's short synopsis involves deadly experiments at a local college (Fangoria). The trailer shows off some of the viciousness and sexiness of the production. All the details on this Limey based production are below.

The synopsis for Braincell here:

"Dr. Joseph Cornwall is a scientist at a Liverpool college where his niece Hannah (Raine Brown) comes to visit and discovers he is up to some seriously nasty experiments" (Fangoria).

Release Date: April 20th (DVD).

Director: Alex Birrell.

Writers: Alex Birrell, and Iacopo Di Girolamo.

Cast: Eileen Daly, Billy Garberina and Eleanor James.

A very low budget trailer with no sound. The clip will give fans a better sense of what Braincell (sexy):





Extras include:

-Audio commentary by Brown and Zaso

-Audio commentary by director Alex Birrell

-Behind-the-scenes footage

-Slideshow

-Trailers

Sources:

Braincell Article at Fangoria

Braincell at Merecal

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Invasion: The Infection Begins April 13th

Invasion: The Infection Begins takes over home cinemas April 13th with a synopsis now available. The plot line follows a small town that was wiped out after a meteor lands in the vicinity. Investigators look for answers, but soon "the government calls [this] the modern plague" (Invasion). All sorts of mishappenings take place in the film and soon The Invasion will be available for horror and sci-fi fans next month (further details below).

The synopsis for Invasion: The Infection Begins here:

"A mystery surrounds a small town that was wiped out on September 9, 2009. Now, sixty years later, Sarah, the last survivor, sends a reporter, Mary, a letter suggesting what really happened on that day.The government calls 9/9/09 the start of the modern plague. Mary soon realizes that her search for the truth may be harder to uncover than the lies" (Invasion).

Director: Howard Wexler.

Writer: Bryan Brewer.

Cast: Lochlyn Munro, Mary Kate Schellhardt, Alice Amter, and Kent Faulcon.

A quality trailer is available at the film's Facebook site (middle left panel):

The Invasion FB Homepage

The film's homepage with a trailer as well:

The Invasion Homepage




Sources:

The Invasion at Merecal

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Magnet to Show [REC] 2 in North American in July - First Five Minutes of the Film

Magnet Releasing has acquired the North American rights for [REC] 2, which is a horror film produced in Barcelona, Spain. This is the second film in the series and [REC] 2 begins right where the first one left off. According to Magnet they expect a: "July theatrical release" through the "Ultra VOD program" (Magnet). Whether the film will be shown in theatres is unclear, what is clear is that [REC] 2 will be available to horror fans shortly. Have a read of the synopsis and check out the first five minutes for [REC] 2 until available through Magnet.

The synopsis for [REC] 2 here:

"The action continues from [Rec], with the medical officer and a SWAT team outfitted with video cameras are sent into the sealed off apartment to control the situation" (IMDB).

Release Date: July 2010 (North America).

Directors: Jaume Balaguero, and Paco Plaza.

Writers: Jaume Balagueero, and Manu Diez (others).

Cast: Manuela Velasco, Ferran Terraza, Javier Botet, Pablo Rosso, Jonathan Mellor, and Alex Batllori.

Brush up on your French or Spanish and have a look at the first five minutes of the film here:



Sources:

Magnet Releasing. Press Release. 26 March 2010.

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Depositarios One of Several Films to Open Up Sci-Fi London

Depositarios from director Rodrigo Ordonez will be appearing at Sci-Fi London this year. The festival begins April 28th with several pictures showing. In Depositarios human emotions like pain are transfered to other gatekeepers (Quiet). The film then follows two researchers who follow criminals associated with technological oriented crimes. The full synopsis for Ordonez's fifth film is available below (trailer inside).

The synopsis for Depositarios here:

"In the near future, medicine, computing and genetics have made it possible to end the human physical and psychological pain, filtering it through other human beings created expressly for this task, known as "gatekeepers". The plot follows the story of two researchers who belong to the Police Special Branch dedicated to pursue the emerging crimes related to the implementation of this new technology" (Quiet).

Release Date: April 28th (Limited Release).

Director/writer: Rodrigo Ordonez.

Cast: Alejandro Ambrosi, Cesar Ramos, and Jose Carlos Montes.

The trailer for Depositarios here:



The full sci-fi lineup can be found here:

http://www.sci-fi-london.com/

Sources:

http://www.quietearth.us/articles/2010/03/26/SCIFI-LONDON-2010-FULL-LINEUP-ANNOUNCED

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The Last Generation and Apathy: A Book Review

Author: Steffan Postaer.

"The Last Generation" is the first book published by author and advertising guru Steffan Postaer. Released by Inkwater Press in 2003, "The Last Generation" tells a post-apocalyptic story of Embryo Fatality Syndrome. In the world of tomorrow there are no more children. Also in this bleak new world there are no governments that care and a general apathetic feeling towards man's extinction. Succintly, "The Last Generation" creates questions on the complacency of society where death with no hope is inevitable.

In a few short words, this novel looks at an isolated harem known as the Congress. Here one man has access to the few fertile women of the world. However, these women undergo a miscarriage several months later. In the harem's of tomorrow the women are abused and the one man becomes like a God.

There is more to "The Last Generation" than the escape of libidinal energies e.g. sex in space there are also biker gangs. A whole novel could be written about sex in space. Instead, Postaer jumps back and forth between characters often and without logic while unifying the chapters through the process of grief. With each chapter there is a new stage e.g. depression, bargaining and with each new identity a new meth lab destroyed, or character killed by venomous snake. The book could have really shown the end of the world in more graphic tones, but hey did this review mention there is sex in space?

In Postaer's book there is little rioting when humanity is faced with its own survival; instead, there is mostly an uncaring feeling on the part of the characters. Most of the people in the novel go to there jobs as normal, or sit patiently hoping for a cure. Apparently without the possibility of future children man can only expect complacency.

The reason for Embryo Fatality Syndrome is only given one line. This line will not be revealed in order for readers to purchase the book. However, to some mankind's failability is a disgrace rather than scene of triumph. Although the people within the novel are hopeless there is the possibility of questioning man's current existence and the opportunity for life rather than inevitable extinction.

Overall: 6 out of 10 (a little more action and chaos, escapism can be pure joy sometimes).



More details on the book:

The Last Generation Homepage

A novel trailer:



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The Vicious Kind and Pain: A Movie Review

Director/writer: Lee Toland Krieger.

The Vicious Kind was shot by director Lee Krieger's 72nd Street Production company. Released on DVD on February 23, The Vicious Kind has been described by the online newspaper the Los Angeles Times as "surprising and memorable" (LA). One of the surprises is a breakout performance by Adam Scott as Caleb. Other surprises include family secrets, desires, and the painfulness of love. The Vicious Kind has won awards for best feature in drama and the interrelation of several conflicted family members makes the film truly one of a kind.

The synopsis is complex, but put simply the film involves cheating on someone you love. J. K. Simmons plays Donald Sinclaire a father, widow, and philanderer who understands that people do things often out of pain. The character Sinclaire says: "we do things even when we know they are wrong," in reference to cheating on his now deceased wife. Caleb played by Scott takes something from his own brother which is not his to take. Caleb also knows that protecting his brother is the right course of action, but does the opposite instead. Love is rarely kind nor sincere, but often vicious.

Donald Sinclaire's secret affair is one of several hidden truths in the film. Brittany Snow acts as Emma Gainsborough who is virginal despite a semi-punk rock lifestyle. Caleb is a lonely and deeply conflicted man who knows the truth about his father and the reality of his parent's homelife. All of these examples of secrets untightly kept by the characters means each interaction must be slightly hidden from the other characters in the film, especially Peter Sinclaire (Alex Frost). Peter is still a little naive to the many other character's motives and desires.

No matter how many examples you see of romantic love this emotion is more complex than these idealized showings of passion. As well, passion takes us on many different paths that can be full of sorrow or regret. The characters in The Vicious Kind learn that love is painful. In understanding there is connection and truth among the many characters in the film that makes this showing feel very real.

The exposure of a family separated by divorce and death is healed by the entry of a new family member. Gainsborough's appearance on the stage is what brings the three Sinclaire men together. Caleb, after being disowned, is brought back into the fold through his own initiative and the final scene of the film is one of redemption and understanding. One man comprehends another's cheating past. Gainsborough accepts something that she cannot undo herself and each character is connected through each other's pain.

There is no question that The Vicious Kind is one of the most dynamic films to come out in recent times, as director Krieger tackles some very conflicted emotions to show a deeper truth. For each viewer that truth will be different, but keep in mind the consistent theme of infidelity which touches each character to varying degrees.

Social message/philosophical message: 9.
Characters/action/interaction: 8 (brilliant performance by Adam Scott and others).
Plot/story/closure: 7 (just did not want to see this one end).

Overall: 8 out of 10.



Sources:

The Vicious Kind at the LA Times

The Vicious Kind Homepage

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The Vicious Kind Contest Details

The Vicious Kind was released December 11th of last year and the film has gone on to win several awards. Right now there is an extra copy of this film here, which is going out to viewers who enter below. The Vicious Kind has won Best Feature at the New Orleans Film Festival and Best Actor for Adam Scott at the Strasbourg International Film Festival. The DVD has special features like the director's commentary, behind the scenes footage, deleted and extended scenes, so enter to win your copy below (only available to Canadian and US citizens).

The synopsis for The Vicious Kind here:

"Sleep-deprived and petulant by nature, Caleb Sinclaire reluctantly picks up his brother Peter at college and brings him and his new girlfriend Emma home for Thanksgiving. Having recently broken up with his girlfriend, Caleb warns Peter that Emma will end up hurting him, but he can't stop himself from being drawn to her. As Caleb's obsession with Emma grows, he must decide whether to act on his feelings or protect his brother’s first love" (IMDB).

Release Date: December 19th.

Director/writer: Lee Toland Krieger.

Cast: Adam Scott, Brittany Snow, Alex Frost, J. K. Simmons, Vittorio Brahm and Bill Buell.

The Vicious Kind trailer:



*Contest entrants need to send an e-mail to 28dayslateranalysis[at]gmail.[com] with The Vicious Kind in the subject line. Also, send your name and mailing details. One entry per person and the contest ends April 14.

The Vicious Kind Homepage:

The Vicious Kind Homepage

The Vicious Kind on FB:

The Vicious Kind on Facebook

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Run don't Walk to see The Road

Dread Central has announced a DVD and Blu-Ray release date for The Road. The Road is a film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel of the same name. Both the film and the novel envision a post-apocalyptic world of tomorrow, where cannibals are the least of your worries. Other challenges to those in this harsh landscape include starvation, murder, and simply freezing to death. The motion picture is one of the best film adaptation's of a novel in quite some time. Have a look at the DVD/Blu-Ray extras below and get prepared for the May 25th release date.

The synopsis for The Road here:

"A father (Viggo Mortensen) and his young son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) fight to survive after an unspecified apocalyptic event, traveling toward the warmer coast with the hope of possible food, safety, and the company of fellow survivors. Along their journey, with scarce shelter and resources available, they encounter many horrors and hardships, and must endure the constant fear of roaming cannibals and other desperate gangs.

Despite having next to nothing but each other, and with little more than the clothes on their back, a rusty shopping cart and a pistol for defense, they manage to maintain their humanity, decency and a human connection (Dread).

Release Date: May 25th (DVD).

Director: John Hillcoat.

Writers: Joe Penhall and Cormac Mccarthy.

Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Charlize Theron, Robery Duvall, and Guy Pearce.

The international trailer for The Road here (the music does not suit the tone of the film at all):





Special Features:

# BD-Live enabled (Blu-ray only)
# Audio commentary by director John Hillcoat
# Deleted and extended scenes
# Making-of The Road featurette
# Two theatrical trailers (Dread)

Sources:

The Road at Dread Central

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Primal Yearnings and Bloodshed a Pairing Made in Hell

Primal was shot in 2009 throughout New South Wales, Australia. The accents will immediately put you in ozzie territory as friends turn on friends in a vicious cycle of violence. After seeing one friend changed into a wild animal from skinny dipping one might stay away from the water. However, further chaos ensues and this trailer will give fans a good impression of what to expect from Primal.

The synopsis for the film here:

"Anja and four friends join anthropology student Dace on a journey to study a remote, ancient rock painting. Their excitement vanishes when Mel becomes delirious after skinny-dipping in the waterhole. Feverish, bleeding, confused, she physically and mentally regresses to a vicious predatory state. Mel has gone primal.

Mel's lover and friends realize they are the prey as she savagely hunts them down. Before they can escape another one of them starts to regress, posing a hideous choice; kill their friends or be killed by them. Their only hope of survival is through a cave, where Anja learns too late the meaning of the ancient rock art they came to study" (Bloody).

Release Date: Unknown.

Director: Josh Reed.

Writers: Nigel Christensen, and Josh Reed.

Cast: Krew Boylan, Lindsay Farris, Rebekah Foord, Damian Freelagus, Stephen Shanahan, Wil Travel and Zoe Tuckwell-Smith.

The murder spree continues...



The film's official website:

Primal Homepage

Sources:

Primal at Bloody Disgusting

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New Terminal Hotel has an Ironic Name

New Terminal Hotel is Corey Haim's final film and the DVD releases March 22nd. The film incorporates murders and double-crossings. In New Terminal Hotel someone "is going to pay" (IMDB). In this revenge thriller Haim plays minor character Jasper Crash and the film was produced by Bull Lee Films. Have a read of the synopsis and check out Haim posthumously.

The synopsis for New Terminal Hotel:

"Don Malek is not the usual tenant found in the skid row hotels of downtown L.A.. Grief-stricken since the murder of his fiancee Katherin, this successful screenwriter-turned murderous vigilante is bent on revenge against studio head Stanley Glissberg. This is the man cleared of murder charges in Katherin's death. Don can't forget - and Glissberg's going to pay" (IMDB).

Release Date: March 22nd (DVD).

Director/writer: B.C. Furtney.

Cast: Ezra Buzzington, Stephen Geoffreys, Tiffany Shepis and James Grabowski.

A less than thrilling trailer:





More info' at the film's website:

New Terminal Hotel Website

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Break and Life Struggles: A Movie Review

Director/writer: Marc Clebanoff.

Full Force Films is one of three production companies that brought Break to audiences in 2009. The film is action and thriller rolled in one with some genre favourites starring. Michael Madsen, David Carridine, Chad Everett and Brooke Lewis connive, backstab, and seduce each other through much of the conflicted film. The message is simple; love hurts, but love is also worth fighting for.

Characters Frank (Frank Krueger) and The Man (Everett) square off for the beautiful Woman (Sarah Thompson). A threesome is one too many and several characters learn this the hard way. Dark dealings in the underworld of hitmen and murder culminates in several physical fights that prove women are not always the weaker sex.

The ensemble cast gets bits and pieces of screen time, but centrally Break is a film about the lovers Frank and The Woman. Madsen offers his usual tough guy routine and plays both sides of a worn fence. Carradine plays an appropriate sexual deviant who enjoys a little sexual voyeurism. This is very ironic. Everett plays a disturbed, aging kingpin who wants to be buried with his greatest prize, the beautiful Woman. Lewis simply gets introduced and then outroduced after insulting the hero in the film. Lewis gets the bitch role right. All of these recognizable faces make sure the acting is above average at the very least. Sometimes the acting excels when the writing is right, but characters Frank and The Woman stay in most of the scenes.

Love is a difficult road that some of us follow through suffering and pain to find truth. Frank encounters karate kicks, assassination attempts, and mysterious killers to hold onto love for a brief moment. In doing so he learns that he is the murderer of his lover's father. The Woman learns that her life is just a step away from ending at the hands of The Man. Many other truths are revealed in this ninety minute endeavour. Is Frank and The Woman's love eternal, or just another pitstop for another potential threesome?

The ending says the former and Break shows viewers that passion is the only feeling worth risking everything for. This most painful of emotions delivers us to the greatest of heights and the lowest of lows. Each of these levels of feeling are displayed in Break in various scenes. If you have a need for a simple action thriller that goes the extra mile to entertain, then Break is for you. As The Woman says: "break free," for a moment and enjoy this film.



Acting/believability/interpretation: 7.
Conclusion/theme/pacing: 6.5 (some slow pacing early on, takes awhile to find its pacing).
Plot/story/unity: 7 (no problems here).
Social message/author's statement: 6 (the central theme has already been discussed, some additional themes could have been introduced, life is complex).

Overall: 6.6 out of 10.

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Get Possessed by Witchville May 22nd

Pearry Teo (Gene Generation) filmed Witchville in China throughout 2009 and now the film has been announced as part of the SyFy Channel schedule. The show release May 22nd and the film, unsurprisingly, involves witches. Surprisingly, the film also involves matricide, possessed hyenas, and "a rogue band of thieves" (Witch). Dust off your spellbook and get ready to cast some magic of your own as Teo's latest shows on the little screen in just a couple months.

The synopsis for Witchville:

"Summoned back to Draeganoth, upon the death of his father, King Malachy discovers
that Witches are responsible for the blight and disease that has destroyed his Kingdom. Accompanied by his knights Erik and Jason, and, reluctantly, by self-proclaimed Witch-hunter Heinrich Kramer, Malachy sets off in search of the evil ones. Overcoming obstacles such as a rogue band of thieves, Witches disguised as his palace guard and red-eyed monster hyenas, Malachy and his troupe finally find the Witches. In doing so, Malachy uncovers the secret of his origins and the Witch who claims to be his mother. Malachy must regretfully kill his mother in order to free his people" (Witchville).



Release Date: May 22nd (Syfy Channel 9:30 PST).

Director: Pearry Teo.

Writer: Amy Krell.

Cast: Luke Goss, Sarah Douglas, Myanna Buring, Simon Thorpe, Andrew Pleavin, Ed Speelers, and Zhao Xiaofei.

A trailer is forthcoming soon.

Witchville on Facebook:

Witchville on FB

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