Hellacious Acres: The Case of John Glass
Year: 2012
Director: Pat Tremblay
Stars: Navin Pratap, Jamie Abrams
Studio: Bloody Disgusting Selects
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 108 Minutes

“Hellacious Acres: The Case of John Glass” is the latest film to be released on the very excellent Bloody Disgustings Selects label. The film was an official selection at Fantasia Oldenburg Film Festival and the Sitges Film Festival.

This latest offering from Bloody Disgusting Selects follows John Glass, who wakes up from a cryogenic freezer to find himself suffering from amnesia. He discovers that the planet has been mostly destroyed from a world war and an alien invasion. Now, John Glass is thrust into a military operation to help humanity survive from all these disasters. But he gets more than he hoped when he encounters aliens, crazy survivors, equipment that doesn’t work, and bad luck.

By the look of the DVD cover, I was very leery about this film. Right away, you can tell that this is going to be very weird. This looked like it might have the potential to be really good or so bad that I would regret spending time with this film. The end result felt like a mixed bag with the positives outweighing the negatives.

First the positives. One of the things that I liked about this film was the fact that it has very good direction. Writer/ producer/editor/ visual effects supervisor/ co-composer/ director Pat Tremblay does a very good job with the way that the film is presented. I liked the way that the images were grungy. Tremblay does a very good making it noticeable and grindhouse looking. It added to the films apocalyptic tone and weirdness, which helped offset some of the films boring parts. The other thing that I liked about the production of this film was the score. Tremblay and Jean-Francois Deshaies do a very job in making the score of the film very dark and loud. It kept me interested with this film, as it added to the film’s dark and grungy imagery.

Tremblay’s screenplay for the most part was good. He does a very good job with the way that he wrote the dialogue. It felt like it came out of “Napoleon Dynamite” rather than a serious sci-fi film. The dialogue gives the film the quirkiness that it needs considering that there aren’t many characters in this film. I also liked how Tremblay focuses on the main character. Even though the editing aspects hurt this film, Tremblay does a good job exploring the character and his state of mind. He spends his time developing his character’s adjustment to this post apocalyptic world, which is needed to make the character interesting.

Now onto the negatives that I have with this film. These are kind of major complaints that I have with this film. First, the film is way too long for it’s 108 minute time. It felt like there wasn’t much effort on the editing. This film could have been cut another ten minutes or twenty minutes. I know that you have to enhance the main character and his state of mind, but there were scenes that went on way too long without enhancing the character or the story. It felt like my mind was in another place and not in the film. When that happens, your film is not working with an audience. Thankfully, there were parts that grabbed my interest back. The other thing that I didn’t like with this film was the lack of characters. I know that this is a post apocalyptic film, but every time he introduced a new character they would die or disappear from the story altogether. By adding more characters or giving the characters more time, it would have made the film more entertaining. Instead, it felt like the main character walked around the woods for most of the film and that‘s it.

Even though “Hellacious Acres: The Case of John Glass” is my least favorite film in the Bloody Disgusting Selects series, it has very good direction and good dialogue that keeps this film from becoming a complete boring failure.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film’s official website at: http://www.hellaciousacres.com

Review Rating: Three Stars

Bloody Disgusting Selects has send us over a copy of their latest release "Chop" The film marks the directorial debut of cult actor and writer of "Deadgirl" Trent Haaga. "Chop" is available in stores, but you can win a copy from us.

To enter: send us an email to facontest@gmail.com with your name and address.

Please put "Chop" in the subject line of the email.

Contest Ends: January 4, 2012

Plot Synopsis:

Lance Reed, a seemingly innocent man, is forced by a psychotic stranger to confront his duplicitous past. The mysterious stranger, seeking retribution for a past crime, forces Lance to reveal his inner most secrets by systematically removing his limbs! As time runs out and Lance’s limb count dwindles, he must recall what he’s done to the stranger before he doesn’t have a head to remember with. Jam-packed with laughs, gore and some insane twists, CHOP is the directorial debut of DEADGIRL screenwriter Trent Haaga.

"Chop": Official Trailer

Bloody Disgusting Selects send us the official trailer and information that they will be releasing "Deadgirl" writer Trent Haaga's directorial debut "Chop" to DVD and VOD on December 27th. The horror/comedy is coming off a successful festival run, where Haaga picked up the Best Director Award at the Boston Underground Film Festival. No special features have been announced at this time.

Plot Synopsis:

Lance Reed, a seemingly innocent man, is forced by a psychotic stranger to confront his duplicitous past. The mysterious stranger, seeking retribution for a past crime, forces Lance to reveal his inner most secrets by systematically removing his limbs! As time runs out and Lance’s limb count dwindles, he must recall what he’s done to the stranger before he doesn’t have a head to remember with. Jam-packed with laughs, gore and some insane twists, CHOP is the directorial debut of DEADGIRL screenwriter Trent Haaga.

"Chop": Official Trailer

Bloody Disgusting Selects has send us over a copy of the upcoming DVD Release "Atrocious", which will be hitting DVD on October 25th. We're giving away a copy of the film, for you to enjoy.

Plot Synopsis:

ATROCIOUS is a gruesome, mind-bending thriller shot in a style reminiscent of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. The horror film excerpts found footage from a film reel recovered by Spanish police, documenting a family of five discovering the truth behind a dangerous urban legend. The 37 hours of found footage follow Cristian and July Quintanilla passing time at their summer home by investigating a terrifying and mysterious urban legend. As their investigation intensifies, strange occurrences in and around the house escalate rapidly, culminating finally in unspeakable atrocities.

To enter: send us an email to facontest@gmail.com with your name and address.

Please put "Atrocious" in the subject line of the email.

Contest Ends: October 25th, 2011.

One entry per person and open to US Residents. Film Arcade writers are not eligible.

Bloody Disgusting Selects recently send us stills for the controversial film "The Woman", which will be playing at select AMC Theaters on Friday. The film is the latest film from director Lucky McKee, the director behind the horror film "May". This is sure to make you scream.

Plot Synopsis:

Directed by Lucky McKee, based on the bestselling novel by Jack Ketchum, written Ketchum and McKee by and produced by Andrew van den Houten and Robert Tonino for MODERNCINÉ, THE WOMAN is a disturbing tale of torture and dirty little secrets that can haunt any seemingly harmless neighborhood. The story follows a successful country lawyer who captures and attempts to "civilize" the last remaining member of a violent clan that has roamed the Northeast in the wild for decades, thereby putting the lives of his family in extreme jeopardy.

Starring Pollyanna McIntosh, Sean Bridgers and Angela Bettis, the film prompted furious debates and walkouts during its world premiere in the Park City at Midnight program at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Reports surfaced of people becoming sick while watching the graphic scenes and one irate Sundance audience member went so far as to say THE WOMAN “ought to be confiscated, burned. There's no value in showing this to anyone." Whether a “wonderfully bizarre tale” or an “inhumane degradation of women,” you’ll have to decide for yourself.

Bloody Disgusting Selects has send us over the official poster, trailer, and information regarding Lucky Mckee's new film "The Woman" that will be playing at AMC theaters on October 14th 2011 . The film earlier this year shocked and horrified audiences at Sundance. "The Woman" is the latest book from Jack Ketchum to adapted into a feature film.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/selects/releases/the-woman/

Press Release:

WHAT: Directed by Lucky McKee, based on the bestselling novel by Jack Ketchum, written Ketchum and McKee by and produced by Andrew van den Houten and Robert Tonino for MODERNCINÉ, THE WOMAN is a disturbing tale of torture and dirty little secrets that can haunt any seemingly harmless neighborhood. The story follows a successful country lawyer who captures and attempts to "civilize" the last remaining member of a violent clan that has roamed the Northeast in the wild for decades, thereby putting the lives of his family in extreme jeopardy.

Starring Pollyanna McIntosh, Sean Bridgers and Angela Bettis, the film prompted furious debates and walkouts during its world premiere in the Park City at Midnight program at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Reports surfaced of people becoming sick while watching the graphic scenes and one irate Sundance audience member went so far as to say THE WOMAN “ought to be confiscated, burned. There's no value in showing this to anyone." Whether a “wonderfully bizarre tale” or an “inhumane degradation of women,” you’ll have to decide for yourself.

Rated R for “strong bloody violence, torture, a rape, disturbing behavior, some graphic nudity, and language"

this film is sure to have viewers (and reviewers) squirming in their seats.

View the official trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWFSaJiROFY
View the teaser clip at: http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/25803

WHEN: Opens theatrically beginning October 14th, 2011.

WHERE: AMC and other theaters. Please visit BloodyDisgustingSelects.com for tickets and show times or check local listings.

MORE: Director Lucky McKee has been involved in filmmaking since his childhood in Jenny Lind, CA, when he and a friend recreated THE NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET after seeing it in a local theatre. McKee directed his first video in 2001, and quickly gained a cult following a year later after releasing the film MAY, an eerie murder thriller based loosely on Mary Shelley’s “FRANKENSTEIN;” “TAXI DRIVER;” and lyrics from the band Nirvana. After showing at Sundance, MAY earned a limited theatrical release before being released on DVD. McKee has previously teamed up with Ketchum, adapting two of his novels into films: THE LOST in 2006 and RED in 2008. THE WOMAN made headlines earlier this year when it screened at the Sundance Film Festival, prompting walkouts and controversy surrounding its graphic violence. The film has also screened at the Texas Frightmare Film Festival.

WHAT ELSE: The Collective, a full-service entertainment management and content company and #1 Horror website BloodyDisgusting.com, have partnered to acquire and distribute the best new horror and thriller titles from the festival and international markets to theatres across America.

The series has included RAMMBOCK, YELLOWBRICKROAD, PHASE 7 and ATROCIOUS. The Collective, along with Bloody Disgusting Selects, also released the critically acclaimed Sion Sono film COLD FISH, which will be available on DVD and iTunes August 23 following its current art-house theatrical run, including a Sept. 16-22 run at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco, and is available for rental on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/cold-fish/id452491582.

After their theatrical runs, The Collective and Bloody Disgusting will make each film in the series available to fans on DVD, Video on Demand (VOD), online and television. Released though The Collective’s home-video partnership with Vivendi Universal, DVDs for each film in the Bloody Disgusting series feature unrated content, bonus features and special packaging. The first, RAMMBOCK, was released June 28 on DVD and VOD. YELLOWBRICKROAD was released on August 2 on DVD and VOD and will also run on TV VOD from Sept. 2 through Nov. 1. COLD FISH streets on DVD and iTunes August 23 and follows with TV VOD on Sept. 23 through Nov. 22.

"The Woman": Official Trailer

Atrocious
Year: 2011
Director: Fernando Barreda Luna
Stars: Clara Moraleda Cristian Valencia
Studio: Bloody Disgusting Selects
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 75 Mins

You might have noticed lately on the site that I’ve been providing a good chunk of coverage to this film. From posting theatrical listing to recently posting stills for the film, I’ve been pushing this film hard on the site. The reason for that, this is one very good horror film.

“Atrocious” is the latest film in the Bloody Disgusting Night Terrors series that currently goes on monthly at AMC theaters. The film started to pick up a lot of online buzz at this year’s Slamdance Film Festival, as it was getting compared to the likes of “Paranormal Activity“ and “The Blair Witch Project“. The film centers around footage that was found by Spanish Police in April of 2010.

A family of five moves into their summer home, where there’s a mysterious murder legend that has haunted the place. Two kids, Cristian (Cristian Valencia) and July (Clara Moraleda) are spending their time at the house filming their investigation on this legend . As they begin to find evidence, strange occurrences begin to happen rapidly around them that ultimately leads to unspeakable atrocities that occur.

I know that some of you might notice that I’ve been writing many very positive review to all the films that Bloody Disgusting has put out. I can’t help it, because each film has been very good. As a lover of this genre, I’m being spoiled with all these great films. This film was no different. This along with ‘YellowBrickRoad” and “Cold Fish are three films that will most likely end up on my top 10 horror films list of 2011.

“Atrocious” is one scary movie that effectively uses the elements of “The Blair Witch Project” and “Paranormal Activity to its advantage. Writer/director Fernando Barreda Luna does a great job making this film very entertaining through the pace and story. One of the major things that makes this work, he makes sure the action is moving. Even though “Blair Witch” and “Paranormal Activity” were very good films, the pace of the films were slow in some parts. Here, there is none of those slow moving scenes that slows the intensity. Luna does a very good job editing the film. I liked, how doesn’t spend an a good chunk of time on filler dialogue that isn‘t providing anything to the story. It moves the story along and that’s you want to see. The other thing that I like about this, the way that he handles the two leads. Luna does a very good job making the two leads develop a certain chemistry that was needed for the film to succeed. For this film to work for me, you needed to be interested with these two characters and you needed the leads to feel like they were brother and sister to make the action work. He gets the performances to feel that way, so that your interested in the characters and you feel shocked at what happens.

The other thing that makes this very good, Luna’s screenplay. What makes his screenplay very good, he doesn’t make the story feel like a rip off of “The Blair Witch Project” or “Paranormal Activity”. There were two things that makes it different. The way that he established the mythology of the place and the twist at the end that literally turns this film upside down. It’s the way that Luna handles each of those things that makes the film very effective, as the end result is shocking. The other that I liked about this, the way that he handled the brother/sister relationship. Luna focuses on the characters, from how they adjust to their new surrounding to their obsession with the supernatural. He handles them, in a way that your not bored watching them and waiting for something to happen. It makes you become invested with the characters, even though you pretty much know the character’s fate.

“Atrocious “is truly a horror film that you should seek out at your , if you’re a fan of this style of horror. This is one scary film that is filled with intense scares and an ending that will shock you.

For times of screening, check this news article here that has all the information on “Atrocious” theatrical run at AMC theaters at: http://www.filmarcade.net/2011/08/atrocious-official-stills.html .


Review Rating: Five Stars

Bloody Disgusting Selects recently send us over stills for their current release "Atrocious". which is currently playing at AMC theaters. Upcoming screening times for the film are Fri 8/19 @midnight, Wed 8/24 @10pm, and Fri 8/26 @midnight. For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://www.bloody disgusting.com/selects/releases/atrocious/.

ATROCIOUS is a gruesome, mind-bending thriller shot in a style reminiscent of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. The horror film excerpts found footage from a film reel recovered by Spanish police, documenting a family of five discovering the truth behind a dangerous urban legend. The 37 hours of found footage follow Cristian and July Quintanilla passing time at their summer home by investigating a terrifying and mysterious urban legend. As their investigation intensifies, strange occurrences in and around the house escalate rapidly, culminating finally in unspeakable atrocities.

Director Fernando Barreda Luna was born in Mexico in 1983. A screenwriter, editor, producer, and director, he is the founder of production company Nabu Films. Atrocious is his feature film debut.

ATROCIOUS premiered internationally at the 43rd Sitges International Film Festival and then at Slamdance this past January 2011, garnering a tide of online buzz and quick comparisons to 2008's PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.







"Atrocious": Official Trailer

Cold Fish
Year: 2011
Director: Shion Sono
Stars: Makoto Ashikawa, Denden, Mitsuru Fukikoshi
Studio: Bloody Disgusting Selects
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 144 Mins

“Cold Fish is the latest film from Japanese director Shion Sono, who is responsible for the cult films, “Suicide Club” and “Exte: Hair Extensions”. The film recently played at this Fantasia International Film Festival, where the film shared the Audience Award for Best Asian Film with Takashi Miike's 13 Assassins.

The film follows Shamoto (Makoto Ashikawa), a shop keeper, who’s teenage daughter gets caught shoplifting, When he and his wife go there to pick her up, they meet a mysterious shop owner (Denden). He along with his wife help resolved the situation. The owner then offers to help him straighten out his daughter, by having her work at his shop. Shamoto agrees with him, but all this seems too good to be true. He starts finding out that the owner and his wife are committing unspeakable acts and soon he gets caught up in them. Can Shamato find a way to stop the madness, before it overtakes his sanity and puts the ones that he loves in danger.

If your looking for the most bizarre film of the year, then “Cold Fish” would be in the running for that title. It’s one of those films that you can’t take your eye off, as it‘s very surreal.

Shion Sono’s direction was just great. One of the reasons that I liked his direction, the freedom that he gives his cinematographer to shoot the film at a frantic pace. This could’ve easily been your typical by the books thriller, but the cinematographer’s work makes this feel edgy and original. It grabs your attention to the material and helps makes some of the scenes more shocking. This film also has a lot of blood and gore, for a thriller. Sono uses this effectively to his advantage, by creating surreal imagery that makes the shock value work. He uses it to add a disturbing element to the story and not to make it bloody for no purpose. That’s when gore effects are very effective and shocking. The acting here is also very good. Sono carefully directs his cast, because the acting was great. This film has two very good performances from Makoto Ashikawa and Denden. Ashikawa does a very good job adapting to various changes that his character goes through during the course of the film. You see him as an ordinary character in the beginning of the story. But during the course of the film, he able to take the material and make the character darker. That’s what makes those scenes effective and that is what makes the main character interesting. Not to be out done, Denden turns in one of the best performances of the year as Murata, the mysterious shop keeper. He makes the character very odd, eccentric, and frightening all at the same time. The character gives this film its off balance feel, as he played it to perfection. It’s that performances that keeps you interested with this film, especially when the main character begins to lose his sanity to Murata’s horrific actions.

The screenplay which was written by Sono and Yoshiki Takahashi is very good. One of things that makes this screenplay good, the way that the writers focus on the ordeal that the main character goes through. The character starts off as an ordinary person. But when bearing witness to Murata’ murderous rampage, you see the character go through various changes in attitude and his view of life. That’s what keeps your interest with the main character. The writers also did a very good job putting some originality into some of film’s scenes. From the dismemberment of Murata’s victims and the sexual tension that takes place, they generate some sort of reaction. You need that, if your intention is to shock people. This film does achieve that very well. The death scenes were also creative and handled very well. The writers really put some thought into those scenes, as it effectively adds to the shocking elements and tone of the story.

Every though this is my first experience watching a Shion Sono film, it‘s one of those films that makes me want to go back and check out his other films previously to this. ‘“Cold Fish” is an original thriller that has a surreal tone to the violence and shock level, while providing an interesting character study at the same time.

Review Rating: Five Stars

YellowBrickRoad
Year: 2011
Directors: Andy Mitton and Jesse Holland
Stars: Michael Laurino, Anessa Ramsay, Cassidy Freeman
Studio: Bloody Disgusting Selects
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 98 Mins

Plot Synopsis:

“YellowBrickRoad” is the second film of Bloody Disgusting “Night Terrors” series. Before being apart of the series, the film had a good festival run. The film played at the 2010 Slamdance Film Festival and won Best Horror feature at last year’s NYC Horror Film Festival.

The film is about a group of researchers, who are investigate the mysteries that surrounds the disappearance of entire town of Friar, NH that occurred in 1940. TO find answers, they decide to follow the same path that the doomed citizens took. As they start to find answers, the group begins to hear a mysterious song that plays along the woods. After a day or two, it starts to drive them crazy. Soon, the group loses its way and they slowly begin to lose their sanity. As their food and water supplies starts to dwindle, the group start to turn on each other. Can they find a way out of the woods, before they end up suffering the same fate.

Film Review:

Do you ever get that bad song in your head, where you can’t stand it anymore and had enough. There have been some films, where that same analogy has applied. Thankfully, it doesn't with this film.

“YellowBrickRoad” is a disturbing and shocking film that keeps its edge to the end. First time feature filmmakers, Andy Mitton and Jesse Holland did a very good making this film work on all levels. I liked, how they go for old school horror feel with the way they directed and wrote this film. Compared to films of this caliber, it’s something different that gets you interested with the story. One of the things that they do well here, they go for a stylish approach. Whether if its using slideshows of black and white photos to move the story along or seeing the characters being interviews though the screen of the digital camera, it makes the film interesting and different from most horror films. What also make this film work very well, the fact that the acting makes the material even better. The directors did an excellent job directing the cast. It’s one of those films that has a lot of psychological elements pertaining to the film. You need to have a cast that can handle this. With this film, they have a very good cast that makes the elements in the story work. The directors use that to their advantage and you have a film that in some ways feel like the original version of “The Crazies” and other horror films from the seventies.

The screenplay that Mitton and Holland wrote is also very old school horror. One of things that makes this feel like an old school horror film, the time that they take to develop the characters. I like, how this film starts slow. It allows for character development that is needed to get the viewer to get interested with these characters. The directors develops the characters through their interviews that are conducted during the first third of the film. By doing that, it allows you to get a sense of the characters state of mind and see how they being to lose their sanity. That’s what you want to see, if you have a film with psychological elements. The other thing that I liked about this screenplay, it slowly builds up the tension and disturbing elements. I love films that takes its time and build the tension all the way till its third act. The tension keeps building and building, from the time that the group entered the town to the end of the film. It keeps you interested with the story and makes you want to follow it to its conclusion.

DVD Extras:

Sadly, this film doesn’t have much in the way of extras. The only extra on the DVD was the commentary track from the film’s directors Andy Mitton and Jesse Holland. This was a very interesting commentary track, as this really covers the film’s production. I liked, how the directors spent time talking about the various aspects of shooting and locations. It’s very informative, as it gives you information on how the idea came from some of those scene and the way that they were shot. I like having information about what methods they used to get the full effects of the scene, instead of people joking around. The other good thing about this commentary track is that they go into the directing the performances aspects that were needed to make the character driven aspects of the film work. They do a very good job talking about how they were able getting scenes to work through the dialogue and facial expressions of their actors and actresses. This is one commentary track that worth checking out, if you like this film.

Sadly, that’s the only extra on the DVD. It would have been nice to have some perspective of the story, from the actors and actresses that were involved with the making of the film.

Final Summary:

This is one of those films that should’ve have a better DVD package, than one that’s on this disc. Besides that, I highly recommend you check this film out, if you’re a fan of character driven horror films. “YellowBrickRoad” is very cerebral horror film that focuses on the characters, instead of the violence and gore.

Film Review Rating - 5 Stars

DVD Extras: One and a Half Stars.

Bloody Disgusting and The Collective sent us over a new trailer for the next film in "Night Terrors" series, "Atrocious". The film was acquired by Bloody Disgusting Selects and is getting receiving alot of online buzz ever sense its international premiere at this years Slamdance Film Festival. The film will be shown at AMC Theaters from August 17-26. Check screening times at the bottom of this page. For more information on this film, you can goto: http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/selects/releases/atrocious/

Plot Synopsis:

ATROCIOUS is a gruesome, mind-bending thriller shot in a style reminiscent of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. The horror film excerpts found footage from a film reel recovered by Spanish police, documenting a family of five discovering the truth behind a dangerous urban legend. The 37 hours of found footage follow Cristian and July Quintanilla passing time at their summer home by investigating a terrifying and mysterious urban legend. As their investigation intensifies, strange occurrences in and around the house escalate rapidly, culminating finally in unspeakable atrocities.

Director Fernando Barreda Luna was born in Mexico in 1983. A screenwriter, editor, producer, and director, he is the founder of production company Nabu Films. Atrocious is his feature film debut.

ATROCIOUS premiered internationally at the 43rd Sitges International Film Festival and then at Slamdance this past January 2011, garnering a tide of online buzz and quick comparisons to 2008's PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.

ATROCIOUS AMC Showtimes:
Wed 8/17 @10pm
Fri 8/19 @midnight
Wed 8/24 @10pm
Fri 8/26 @midnight

"Atrocious": Official Trailer

Bloody Disgusting Selects and The Collective recently send us over the official poster and trailer for Sion Sono's (Love Exposure, Suicide Club) latest film "Cold Fish". The film will be starting it's limited theatrical run in New York's reRun Gastropub Theater this friday with dates in LA, Austin, Phonenix and Salem MA to follow during the month of August. Check for theater playdates and venues at the bottom of this page.

Don't live in any of those cities, no problem. The film will be released on DVD and iTunes on August 26th.

Plot Synopsis:

COLD FISH-from Sion Sono, the director of LOVE EXPOSURE and SUICIDE CLUB. COLD FISH has won acclaim at both the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals. In the film, mild-mannered Shamoto’s teenage daughter gets caught shoplifting. A generous fellow fish-store owner and his wife appear to help resolve the situation by having her work at their fish store. Too good to be true? You bet! Shamoto soon discovers the horrific truth about this seemingly perfect couple…who inextricably weave him into their grisly rituals. Inspired by true events, COLD FISH is a twisted, brutal, blood-soaked drama that reveals the underlying insanity of an ordinary man pushed well beyond the brink.

Theatrical Playdates:

NYC: August 5 thru 12. reRun Gastropub Theater.
LA: August 12 and 13. Cinefamily
Austin: August 15 thru 18. Alamo Drafthouse
Phoenix: August 19 thru 20. The Royale
Salem, MA: August 26 thru Sept Cinema Sale

"Cold Fish": Official Trailer

Bloody Disgustings and The Collective has send us information regarding their next film in the Bloody Disgusting's "Night Terrors Series" over at AMC Theaters, "Atrocious". It's one of the most anticipated indie horror films of the year, as the film has gained buzz at the 43rd Sitges International Film Festival and this year's Slamdance Film Festival. The film opens in AMC Theaters August 17, 2011 with midnight showings on Friday and 10pm showings on Wednesdays.

Press Release:

What: The directorial debut of Spanish helmer Fernando Barreda Luna, ATROCIOUS. Produced by Octavi Martínez, David Sanz, and Jessica Villegas Lattuada, ATROCIOUS is a Nabu Films and Silencio Rodamos Producciones production. View the official trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGOgo8wju5I.

ATROCIOUS premiered internationally at the 43rd Sitges International Film Festival and then at Slamdance this past January 2011, garnering a tide of online buzz and quick comparisons to 2008's PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.

ATROCIOUS is a gruesome, mind-bending thriller shot in a style reminiscent of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. The horror film excerpts found footage from a film reel recovered by Spanish police, documenting a family of five discovering the truth behind a dangerous urban legend. The 37 hours of found footage follow Cristian and July Quintanilla passing time at their summer home by investigating a terrifying and mysterious urban legend. As their investigation intensifies, strange occurrences in and around the house escalate rapidly, culminating finally in unspeakable atrocities.

Director Fernando Barreda Luna was born in Mexico in 1983. A screenwriter, editor, producer, and director, he is the founder of production company Nabu Films. Atrocious is his feature film debut.

WHEN: Opens Theatrically August 17, 2011
Show times are 10 p.m. on Wednesdays and midnight on Fridays

WHERE: AMC Theaters. Please visit BloodyDisgustingSelects.com for tickets and show times or check local listings.

Phase 7
Year: 2011
Director: Nicolas Goldbart
Stars:Daniel Hendler, Jazmín Stuart, Federico Luppi
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: The Collective / Bloody Disgusting Selects
Running Time: 98 Mins

Phase 7 is the third film in the Bloody Disgusting “Night Terrors” series that's playing at AMC theaters. It's also the second film in the series that contains the majority of the film’s action inside anv apartment building. And by the way, its playing at this year Fantasia International Film Festival.

Coco and Pipi, are getting ready to start a family. Everything seems to be going well for them, until a special bulletin hits the news. They find out that a virus is rapidly spreading and the authorities are worried. The health department has the apartment building under quarantine and they’re ordered to have limited contact with their neighbors. Determine to wait it out, the couple stays in their apartment.

But as the time passes, the tension rises. The neighbors start forming little bands and Coco is forced to ally with Horacio, a paranoid survivalist. Remaining alive has become the biggest priority, as all hell has broken loose in the complex. Soon, decisions and consequences are going to come the fore, as the chaos is getting out of control.

Phase 7 is a very bizarre film that does a good job keeping your interest. Writer/director Nicolas Goldbart creates an interesting film that keeps you entertained. He does a good job making the tone feel gloomy and apocalyptic, considering that all the action is contained. This film doesn’t focus on the viral epidemic part that much, but Goldbart focuses on how we would react to it. It makes the film more interesting, then you‘re run of the mill virus film. That’s also why this film kept me interested. He makes the action interesting. Whether it’s adding a little humor or slowing down the action, Goldbert keeps your interest in the scene. The acting was very good. I liked, how Goldbart makes the characters interesting through the performances. Each major character has an odd trait, but that is handled well, as it’s there to give some personality to each character. This could have easily been so weird that it would be hard to follow. But to Goldbart’s credit, he keeps to a point that the characters don’t turn you off.

Normally I don’t go into a film’s score, but I enjoyed the film’s score a lot. Guillermo Guareschi does a very good job creating a John Carpenter like score to go along with the film‘s action. It adds to the dark and bizarre tone that this film has. His score helps enhance this movie, as it makes the action and dramatic scenes more enjoyable and gets you into the flow of the film.

Goldbart’s screenplay was a lot different, from most sci-fi films that you normally see. One of the things that makes it different, the action in contained in one building. He does a good job making these action sequences work. The sequences were very contained and not chaotic enough to ruin the dark apocalyptic tone, which this film has. The other thing that I liked about the screenplay, it combine elements from other films and makes it feel different from other films. There are clearly elements of “[Rec}”, “Shawn of the Dead” and “Escape From New York” here with the tone. the scenery and the dialogue. Goldbert does a good job mixing these elements into the film’s story. That’s what gives the film’s uniqueness and draws you into it’s bizarre world.

This is definitely recommended to those like psychological or off beat sci-fi films. “Phase 7” is a very weird and entertaining film that keeps your interest, amidst all the chaos.

Review Rating: Three and a Half Stars

Upcoming AMC Theaters Screenings

Friday, July 15th at midnight
Wednesday, July 20 at 10pm
Friday, July 22 at midnight

Upcoming Fantasia Screenings

July 17th, 2011 / 10:00 pm / J.A. De Seve Theater /Montreal Canada
July 22nd, 2011 / 1:00 pm / J.A. De Seve Theater / Montreal Canada

The Collective and Bloody Disgusting Selects recently send us the DVD and theatrical information regarding the next film in the Bloody Disgusting Night Terrors series, "Cold Fish"

Press Release:

WHAT: COLD FISH-from Sion Sono, the director of LOVE EXPOSURE and SUICIDE CLUB. COLD FISH has won acclaim at both the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals. In the film, mild-mannered Shamoto’s teenage daughter gets caught shoplifting. A generous fellow fish-store owner and his wife appear to help resolve the situation by having her work at their fish store. Too good to be true? You bet! Shamoto soon discovers the horrific truth about this seemingly perfect couple…who inextricably weave him into their grisly rituals. Inspired by true events, COLD FISH is a twisted, brutal, blood-soaked drama that reveals the underlying insanity of an ordinary man pushed well beyond the brink.

View the official trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieTAZUXrBD0&feature=player_embedded.

WHEN: NY: August 5 thru 12. Check local listings for show times.
LA: August 6 and 7. Check local listings for show times.
Austin: August 15 thru 18. Check local listings for show times.
Phoenix: August 19 thru 20. Check local listings for show times.
Salem, MA: August 26 thru Sept. 1. Check local listings for show times.

DVD & iTunes: August 23, 2011

Amazon DVD Pre-Order Now: http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Fish-Asuka-Kurosawa/dp/B004ZKKKW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310146654&sr=8-1

TV Video on Demand: September 23-November 22, 2011

WHERE: NY: reRun Gastropub Theater, 147 Front Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
LA: Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, 90036. (323) 655-2510
Austin: Alamo Drafthouse, 1120 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin TX 78704. (512)476-1320
Phoenix: The Royale, 108 W. Main St., Mesa, AZ 85201
Salem, MA: Cinema Salem, 1 East India Square, Salem MA 01970 (978)744-0660

MORE: Sion Sono made his debut as a poet at the age of 17. In 1985, his short I AM SONO SION! (1985) was screened in competition at the prestigious Pia Film Festival, and two years later, he won the Grand Prize for OTOKO NO HANAMICHI. A subsequent Pia Fellowship financed his feature BICYCLE SIGHS in 1990. The film toured the festival circuit for two years and played at over thirty venues in Europe and Asia, including the Berlin International Film Festival. LOVE EXPOSURE (2009) won the Agnes B. Audience Award at the Tokyo Filmex. It also won the Caligari Award and the International Jury Award at Berlin. Sono remains active as a poet and novelist.

WHAT ELSE: The Collective, a full-service entertainment management and content company, along with leading theaters and distributors, and #1 Horror website BloodyDisgusting.com, have partnered to acquire and distribute the best new horror and thriller titles from the festival and international markets to theatres across America.

Bloody Disgusting premieres a new title in the series each month across multiple major US markets. After their theatrical runs, films from the series are available to fans of the genre in DVD, Video on Demand (VOD), online and television. Released though The Collective’s home-video partnership with Vivendi Universal, DVDs for titles in the Bloody Disgusting series can feature unrated content, bonus features and special packaging for each title. The first, RAMMBOCK, was released June 28 on DVD and VOD. YELLOWBRICKROAD streets on August 2 on DVD and digital VOD. YELLOWBRICKROAD will run on TV VOD from September 2 through November 1.

Rammbock: Berlin Undead
Year: 2011
Director: Marvin Kren
Stars: Michael Fuith, Theo Trebs, Anka Graczyk
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: The Collective / Bloody Disgusting Selects
Running Time: 62 Mins

Plot Synopsis

“Rammbock: Berlin Undead” is the first film in a new line of horror films being released by the popular horror website Bloody Disgusting under the Bloody Disgusting Selects label.

The film is about a man, who arrives in Berlin to visit his girlfriend. Soon a virus starts spreading across all of Berlin and starts turning people into homicidal maniacs. He hides in his girlfriend’s apartment, only to find a teenage plumbing apprentice working there. The both of them are forced to barricade themselves from all the chaos and zombies around them. Surround and secluded in the apartment, they must find a way out of there before it’s too late.

Film Review:

Going into “Rammbock: Berlin Undead” I wasn’t expecting a lot, considering that this film only lasts for sixty-two minutes. But still, this is one of those films that gets you caught up to the point that you wished that you had an extra half hour added to the film‘s running time.

Director Marvin Kren does a very good job keeping the film at a dreary and intense pace. He makes that effective, by making the atmosphere feel very dark. You always get a sense things are not going to go well, when the story starts to shape up. I liked, how the film’s tone get very dark. It’s makes you interested in the story and you ‘re wanting to follow it to its conclusion. That’s what makes serious zombie films work as a whole. Kern also does a great job making the action feel contained. You never get a sense that the characters are running all over the place or in circles for no apparent reason. It allows you to become interested with the main characters. By doing that, it makes the action have a purpose and helps generate scares. The action scenes were handled very well. The film has intense action and enough blood that would please zombie fanatics alike.

Kren also does a good job handling the acting aspects. I liked, how he’s able to make the performances fit the film’s dark tone. By doing that, it made the characters interesting on screen. You need that, if a serious zombie film is going to work. Kren does a very good job getting the actors to feel like they’re trapped in this environment. It makes the action come off as intense and it makes this a better film, considering the complaint that I have with the running time.


Benjamin Hessler does a very good job creating a screenplay that has a story within the context of the chaos. One of the things that makes this story good, the action is contained to one place. Normally in horror films, you have action going from place to place. Almost the whole story takes place at the apartment complex. By focusing the action in one place, it allows you to actually care about these characters. I also liked, how Hessler made the zombie different. They were given a weakness, instead of being same kinds that are often used. It makes the story and the film as a whole feel different. If there was one problem that I had with this film, the fact that the ending felt rushed. I would’ve liked another ten or fifteen pages of dialogue to get the other characters in that complex involved, instead of just having them gather up to leave the complex. Even with that grip, this is still a good story.


DVD Extras:

The DVD doesn’t have many extras, but I’ll take quality over quantity every day of the week. First, there is a fifteen minute documentary on the film’s production. This is one of the better behind the scenes featurette that I’ve seen in a while. Even though, it’s not perfect. I liked, how it has some stories from the production side and goes into the process of how the filmmakers came up with the film’s story . It’s nice that it has that information, especially when it’s impossible to do a commentary track for a foreign film like this . The other feature on the DVD is a seven minute award winning short called “Zombiefication”. This is a very funny and entertaining short that mocks the safety films of yesteryear. This is defiantly worth a look, if your renting or purchasing this DVD..

Final Summary

Overall, I had a fun time with this DVD. "Rammbock: Berlin Undead" in an intense zombie film that I fun time watching, even though it should’ve gone a little longer. Still, this is an entertaining zombie film. The DVD package was also good with a good behind the scenes featurette and a must see short film called “Zombiefication”.

Film Rating: 4 Stars

DVD Extras: 3.5 Stars

The Collective, Blood-Disgusting and AMC Theaters send us over the official and list of AMC theaters that will showing the Argentine apocalyptic horror film "Phase 7", which plays in select AMC theaters on Wednesday, July 13th at 10pm, Friday, July 15th at midnight, Wednesday, July 20 at 10pm and Friday, July 22 at midnight.

PHASE 7 premiered at SXSW and will now join the “Night Terrors” film series where The Collective, AMC Theatres and Bloody-Disgusting.com have teamed up to distribute the best new horror and thriller titles from the festival and international markets to AMC theatres across America.

Synopsis:
PHASE 7 mixes satire, humor, horror and social commentary in a way that reminds viewers of the arch SHAUN OF THE DEAD and the savvy claustrophobia of [rec]. In the film, Coco (Hendler) has just moved to a new apartment with his wife Pipi (Stuart), who’s seven months pregnant. At first, they don’t seem to notice the growing chaos around them, but when authorities quarantine their building after a deadly pandemic breaks out, Coco joins forces with his off-kilter, but well-prepared and stocked next-door neighbor Horacio to defend his refrigerator and keep Pipi safe. Meanwhile, outside the building, Buenos Aires—and the world as the apartment denizens know it, is disappearing. The world is ending; got ammo?

Directed and written by Nicolás Goldbart; produced by Sebastian Aloi; executive produced by Steven Schneider (Insidious, Paranormal Activity); starring Daniel Hendler (LOST EMBRACE); Jazmín Stuart (THE PARANOIDS); Yayo Guridi (LOS RODRIGUEZ); and Federico Luppi (PAN’S LABYRINTH).

Bloody Disgusting AMC Theatres List

AMC Theatres - Barton Creek Square 14
2901 South Capital of Texas Highway
Austin, TX 78746-8101
(888) 262-4386

AMC Loews Theatres - White Marsh 16
8141 Honeygo Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21236-8202
(410) 933-9428

AMC Loews Boston Common 19
175 Tremont St
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 423-5801

AMC Theatres - Concord Mills 24
8421 Concord Mills Boulevard
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 979-0200

AMC River East 21
322 East Illinois Street
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 596-0333

AMC Theatres - South Barrington 30
175 Studio Drive
South Barrington, IL 60010-7142
(847) 765-2262

AMC Easton Town Center 30 with IMAX
275 Easton Town Center
Columbus, OH 43219
(888) 262-4386

AMC Star Theatres - Fairlane 21
18900 Michigan Ave
Dearborn, MI 48126-3929
(313) 982-0015

AMC Theatres - Orange Park 24
1910 Wells Road
Orange Park, FL 32073-2325
(904) 264-5071

AMC Theaters - Independence Commons 20
19200 East 39th Street
Independence, MO 64057
(816) 795-1430

AMC Theatres - The Block 30
20 City Boulevard West
Orange, CA 92868-3100
(714) 769-4288

AMC Burbank 16
125 E. Palm Ave.
Burbank, CA 91502
(818) 953-2932

AMC Theatres - Sunset Place 24
5701 Sunset Drive
South Miami, FL 33143-5369
(888) 262-4386

AMC Theatres - Rosedale 14
850 Rosedale Center
Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 604-9344

AMC Theaters - Elmwood Palace 20
1200 Elmwood Park Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70123-2313
(504) 733-2029

AMC Theatres - Empire 25
234 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036-7215
(212) 398-2597
AMC Theatres - Clifton Commons 16
405 Route 3 East
Clifton, NJ 07014-1911
(973) 614-0966

AMC Theatres - Quail Springs Mall 24
2501 West Memorial Road
Oklahoma City, OK 73134
(405) 755-2466

AMC Downtown Disney 24
1500 E Buena Vista Dr.
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-8422
(407) 827-1308

AMC Theatres - Westgate 20
9400 West Hanna Drive
Glendale, AZ 85305-3137
(623) 772-1371

AMC Loews Theatres - Waterfront 22
300 Waterfront Drive West
Homestead, PA 15120
(412) 462-6550

AMC Theatres - Mission Valley 20
1640 Camino Del Rio North
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 296-2737

AMC Theatres - Mercado 20
3111 Mission College Boulevard
Santa Clara, CA 95054-1832
(408) 919-0282

AMC Metreon Theater 16
101 4th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 369-6000

AMC Theatres - Pacific Place 11
600 Pine Street
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 652-8908

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at:http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/selects/releases/phase7/

The Collective and Bloody Disgusting announced today that Argentine horror film "Phase 7" will be released in AMC Theaters on July 13th, as apart of the Bloody Disgusting Selects series.

Press Release:

The theatrical release of Argentine apocalyptic horror film PHASE 7. Directed and written by Nicolás Goldbart; produced by Sebastian Aloi; executive produced by Steven Schneider (Insidious, Paranormal Activity); starring Daniel Hendler (LOST EMBRACE); Jazmín Stuart (THE PARANOIDS); Yayo Guridi (LOS RODRIGUEZ); and Federico Luppi (PAN’S LABYRINTH) View the official trailer at http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/selects/releases/phase7/.

PHASE 7 (FASE 7) premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in March, and also screened at the Boston Underground Film Festival and the Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival. Before its theatrical release, it will screen at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal (the largest genre festival in North America) and the Danger After Dark Festival in Philadelphia—both in early July.

PHASE 7 mixes satire, humor, horror and social commentary in a way that reminds viewers of the arch SHAUN OF THE DEAD and the savvy claustrophobia of [rec]. In the film, Coco (Hendler) has just moved to a new apartment with his wife Pipi (Stuart), who’s seven months pregnant. At first, they don’t seem to notice the growing chaos around them, but when authorities quarantine their building after a deadly pandemic breaks out, Coco joins forces with his off-kilter, but well-prepared and stocked next-door neighbor Horacio to defend his refrigerator and keep Pipi safe. Meanwhile, outside the building, Buenos Aires—and the world as the apartment denizens know it, is disappearing. The world is ending; got ammo?

Opens Theatrically Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 at AMC Theaters. Please visit BloodyDisgustingSelects.com for tickets and show times or check local listings.