TAD is back!

Last year I managed to watch all 13 films presented, highlights included FUNKY FOREST: THE FIRST CONTACT, BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON, and RE-CYCLE.
This year I'm most keen to see Shinya Tsukamoto's NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE. Check out the trailer below, and visit the Toronto After Dark official website for more info.

Espeluznante!

[REC] is a fantastically creepy little film from Spain, currently on the festival circuit, (next stop SITGES!) There's a bit of buzz about the film here in the new world, except I've noticed some sketchy reporting that the film takes place in Los Angeles?

Here's the real 411:
In Barcelona, as part of a night-time news show that focuses on the jobs that get done at night while the rest of us sleep, a reporter and her cameraman tag along with a firefighting crew who have received a call for help from a small residential building. It seems the tenants have heard screams from an elderly tenant's apartment. The entire film is seen as if through the tv crew's camera.

Here's a link to the full trailer on the official website, which gives away a little more, but only in Spanish.

A good remake?

I've ranted before about my general dislike of remakes, but every once in a while someone gets it right. The first case in point that comes to mind is usually Philip Kaufman's 1978 remake of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. I havn't seen it's latest iteration THE INVASION, but word of mouth wasn't good to say the least.

"On her neck?"

"Scientists say the future's going to be far more futuristic than originally predicted."

Here's the trailer, I'm at a loss for words.

"The goriest film since Peter Jackson’s DEAD ALIVE"?

The light at the end of my Festival tunnel appears to be a woman trying to cut the baby out of another woman.

Don't Blame Me!

Have you ever really liked a film, but was wary of recommending it for fear of being labeled a degenerate? At this year's TIFF my pick for that dubious honour is EX DRUMMER.

It's Miike time!

When the Midnight Madness programme of the Toronto International Film Festival announces it's films each year, chances are you'll get a film by Takashi Miike. This year is no exception.

"Old enough to know better, but too young to care!"

What you talkin' bout Rob?

Here's a quote from a interview with Rob Zombie prior to the release of HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES:

Question: How do you feel about big budget remakes of DAWN OF THE DEAD and THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE?

Zombie: I feel it's the worst thing that any filmmaker can do.

Oh rly?

Plucked from HORROR-MOVIES.CA

HALLOWEEN (2007) review

When I heard that someone was re-making/re-imagining/version 2.0ing John Carpenter's 1978 classic my first reaction was a predictable *groan/eye-roll*. But then the fact that Rob Zombie was tackling the writing/directing movies gave me a glimmer of hope. I wasn't a fan of HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES, but it showed his love of the genre, and THE DEVIL'S REJECTS had a gritty 70's aesthetic and a mean streak a mile wide that I appreciated. However, I must give Zombie's third film the stink-eye.

First off, Zombie caught a lot of flack from the fans when they found out he was going to give Michael Myers a back story. The theory being that what made the original film frightening was the fact that you had no idea what Michael was, and thus he's credited as "The Shape". Sound reasoning. But I actually didn't take issue with Zombie giving us the story of young Michael, and what made him the silent killer we all know and fear. Turns out it was this first half of the film held promise.
For the most part I think sequels and remakes are the territory of a bankrupt imagination, so go ahead, change it up, cuz at the end of the day, it's a different movie, and in no way deteriorates the original.
That being said, Michael's origin turns out to be rather textbook, though I suppose the atypical abusive male authority figure and a propensity for animal abuse is better than the "Cult of Thorn" nonsense that the worst of the previous sequels threw up on us. Another issue I take with the life of young Michael is what appears to be a Zombie trademark, which after only 3 films may be a sign of a real shortness of reach. Michael's family are the sleaziest, most foul-mouthed trailer trash you can imagine, and it comes off as caricature.

Now onto the second half, with our little Michael all grown up into the monsterously huge ex-wrestler (Tyler Mane) who's incredibly strong, spry, and silent. Here's where it all goes downhill fast. It's clear to see that Zombie loves the monsters, and it shows in his inability or disinterest in writing the heroes. Not that there are heroes in this film, just victims. Michael's psychiatrist and eventual nemesis Dr. Loomis (Malcolm McDowell) comes across arrogant and completely inept in battling Michael, but at least he has his moments, unintentionally comedic as they are. Even worse off is our survivor girl Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton) who's ridiculous portrayal as the 'good girl' is utterly annoying and unbelievable. Then again, considering the paper thin character she had to work with I'm weary to chalk this up to her ability as an actor.
I won't get into the mobius strip of a plot that would have us believe Michael can recognize his teenage sister from a baby photo, or the inconsistency of Michael's behaviour after spending so much time establishing that Michael only lashed out in retaliation. I won't even discuss the obvious 'dumb' factor here, where the bodycount hinges on all the victims making moronic decisions that lead them onto Michael's knife.
I must, however, strongly question the choice of the last set piece, having Michael stalk Laurie through his old dilapidated house. It was too dark to tell where the hell anyone was, and it turned into a bad home demolition.
Ultimately I'd label this a moderate failure, and yet another reason to shun the onslaught of remakes that we just don't need.

"Confusion in her eyes that says it all..."

CONTROL, the story of the life and death of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis is playing as part of the Vanguard programme at this years TIFF. Joy Division's UNKNOWN PLEASURES is one of only 3 cassette tapes I couldn't part with, even though I don't currently own a cassette player.

Poster Crush

Oh what could have been!

Robots love Mandy Lane too!

Finally we're getting some sizzle for ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE, which took names and kicked ass at last year's Midnight Madness screening.

Check out the latest trailer here.

UPDATE

It's been nothing but drama for ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE since Midnight Madness, but this just in:
Senator Entertainment's U.S. arm has picked up the North American distribution rights to the Occupant Films production from the Weinstein Co. The movie will be the first theatrical release for the German-based company.
It's release is now scheduled for March on 1000+ screens.

Now, in extra shiny Quicktime

1-18-08

What is it?

There's a ton of talk in the blogiverse about a mysterious trailer that is playing before the TRANSFORMERS. No title is given, just that it's from producer J.J. Abrams, and that it will be in theaters 1-18-08. There's a bootleg of the trailer on YouTube (or is just more viral marketing?) but I'm waiting till I see it in a theatre, and this may be an official site.
Apparently this project has been referred to as CLOVERFIELD, here's the IMDB page. Drew Goddard is scripting the thing, which gives me hope considering his previous work has been on the tv shows LOST, ANGEL, and BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. This is not confirmed by IMDB, but I've read on other sites that Matt Reeves is directing, his previous work being on FELICITY and the film THE PALLBEARER.
Whatever this turns out to be, I'm digging the tease!

Fingers crossed...

Adapting a comic book into a film is a tricky thing. Sometimes you get BATMAN BEGINS, and sometimes you get DAREDEVIL. 30 DAYS OF NIGHT is one that I'm looking forward to, cautiously looking forward to. Check out the trailer.

All action films should have a little Crüe

The more ridiculous SHOOT EM' UP looks, the more I like it. A little Crüe goes a long way for many things.

MR. BROOKS review

This utterly ridiculous thriller asks an awful lot from its audience. First, we're expected to believe in 'wood-like' Kevin Costner as the perfect family man/pillar of the community who happens to be addicted to serial murder, and then that his murderous invisible friend would be William Hurt!

*INCONCEIVABLE! Fezzini declares.*

So, Mr. Brooks has been a good boy for quite some time, but we know this must change in the first act. Unfortunately he gets caught in the act by a pervy neighbor with a camera (Dane Cook) who later blackmails him in order to become his protégé. Unfortunate for me, I imagined Dane Cook getting off watching Kevin Costner. *Shudder*

On the case is police detective Demi Moore, who happens to be a multi-millionaire currently going through an ugly divorce. Oh, and also, she is being pursued by another serial killer who has just escaped custody.
And on top of this is another sub-plot concerning Mr. Brook's daughter, who comes home after dropping out of college for mysterious reasons.
This all makes for a mashed-up sloppy mess, plot holes and common sense be damned.

There are many opportunities for outright laughter throughout, most obvious of which is when Mr. Brooks ends up in an a silly disguise, which I think he stole from Ben Stiller on the set of Starsky and Hutch!

Except for William Hurt's performance as Marshall, who at least appears to be enjoying himself as the villianous imaginary friend, the characters are as thin as a razor blade. The intertwining subplots are too ridiculous to care about, but not bat-shit crazy enough to really groove on. It's an unfortunate curiosity at best, 'enjoy' it on cable with your buddies and a few drinks.