You know how you go to Walmart around Halloween time and start browsing the DVD section for some discount horror movies? Well, this year you better come with the full wallet because there’s a new set of great classics and cult horror films with brand spanking new custom art on the covers, and, if you buy them at Walmart, you get youra bonus horror movie coloring book… for the win.
Bring on the Halloween season!
Treat yourself to hours of frightful fun with this exclusive Halloween Collection of 19 thrilling, chilling films with limited-edition art packaging by renowned artist/illustrator Orlando Arocena. Utilizing vibrant colors and a fervent imagination, Arocena’s striking cover art creations add the perfect touch of terror to these haunting horror titles. Choose your favorite Halloween hits, featuring Hollywood’s biggest stars, and start planning a killer movie night that’s sure to be a scream. It’s an eye-popping, spine-tingling collection to die for!
Fans who purchase any of the films at Walmart will also receive an exclusive coloring book featuring all 19 of Arocena’s designs.
Films available in the exclusive Halloween collection include:
28 Days Later
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Black Swan
Carrie (1976)
Child’s Play
Devil’s Due
The Fly (1986)
From Hell
The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
Jeepers Creepers
Jennifer’s Body
Joy Ride
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
The Other Side of the Door
Poltergeist (2015)
The Return of the Living Dead
Victor Frankenstein
Wrong Turn
Young Frankenstein
The films are set to hit Walmart’s on September 12 so be ready to rush out and grab your copies because these are limited editions and once they’re gone, you’ll be shit outta luck, capeche?
The horror genre of film has always been divided into two camps: the typical cliché horror films starring and aimed at teens and the college crowd with plenty of “Boo!” moments, and films aimed at true horror fans who can be a tough crowd to please. Hardcore horror fans are always looking for something different, something original, and something that can scare even them.
Unfortunately, even that second category of horror films created for aficionados and armchair horror filmmakers has been infiltrated lately with many of the horror clichés. Most notably, paranormal groups that go into a situation where they find much more than they bargained for, college kids playing with Ouija boards, and the dreaded “found footage” genre, the genre that just won’t die.
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Not only does The Eyes of My Mother defy those horror clichés, but it stands apart in a category very few explore, and that even fewer explore successfully. This psychological horror film, released on DVD March 7, explores the potential ripple effect of psychological trauma at a very young age, and how the impact of meeting sociopathic evil can create something even darker and more disturbing.
The story centers on a young girl who witnesses her mother’s murder by a serial killer, but instead of getting any kind of help she needs to deal with the damage done psychologically, she’s kept in isolation and the crime is never reported. In fact, without giving away too much of a spoiler, she lives with a daily reminder of the violence that took place in her family home while she sat at the kitchen table
The Eyes of My Mother generated a lot of controversy over the violence and content of the movie, but there is really very little gore shown on screen. What seems to have made many people uncomfortable enough to walk out of screenings seems to center around watching an innocent child become an adult monster.
The DVD has very few special features, with only some behind-the-scenes photos, the theatrical trailer, and an interview with the director, Nicholas Pesce. In this directorial debut from Pesce, there isn’t any director commentary on the film itself, but the DVD includes an interview and some special insight into the film, including the fact that Pesce drew the inspiration for the opening scene from a real-life memory with his mother. Fortunately, his life story diverged into a different direction from there.
While the descent into madness and murder plays an integral part of the horror of The Eyes of My Mother, the real heart of this horror story — and any good horror story — is the human emotion behind the horror. As Pesce says in the interview, this is basically a family drama, but more importantly, this is a drama showing how loneliness and despair can drive a person to madness, as much as any psychological trauma. Perhaps even more so.
Is it the murder of her mother that drives Francisca (Kika Magalhaes) to become a cold-blooded torturer and murderer? Or is it living in isolation in her black and white world, much like Dorothy before she lands in Oz?
The Eyes of My Mother was shot entirely in black and white, and for those of you who consider yourselves connoisseurs of the genre, you’ll be happy to know that this film has no Ouija boards in it. It has no stupid teens or college kids breaking into some place they’re not supposed to go to have a party. There are no paranormal groups doing fake paranormal shows only to find the real thing while filming an episode. And best of all, even though the film was shot in black and white in a sort of documentary style, there’s no damn found footage.
The Eyes of My Mother is the kind of horror film that gets under your skin, and if you’re someone who’s ever felt all alone in the world with no one left to turn to, you may find yourself almost feeling sympathetic for Francisca, who witnesses the murder of her mother, then years later struggles to let go of her deceased father, keeping his corpse around for company to combat her loneliness.
The real horror of The Eyes of My Mother is not only the horror of what humans are capable of, but the horror of being alone in a bleak world with no love or comfort.
Exists is not a bad movie. But it’s yet another in a far too long line of the “found footage” genre. I realize that Eduardo Sanchez has a certain claim to the genre as the director of the classic that started it all, The Blair Witch Proiect, but enough is enough. As a horror fan I am tired of this found footage shit. I’m going to stop reviewing them I’m so fed up with the cliche, but making an exception in honor of the first guy who did it.
Is this getting through filmmakers?
Anyway, it’s a shame Sanchez resorted to this gimmick because there are a lot of good things going for Exists. Unfortunately, however, not only is the found footage format tired, but it draws more attention to the blatant way Sanchez ripped off his own film in some of the plot details as well.
Don’t get me wrong, this movie has some very scary moments, and a very sad sense of melancholy set up by the opening credits. But it blatantly uses the strange noises in the woods, the “let’s take a shortcut” gimmick, and even the creepy lair of the creature at the end. All it needed was creepy handprints on the cave walls.
Plus, of course, what’s a found footage film without at least one “camera knocked to the ground” moment.
Oh, let’s not forget all the awkward explanations for filming when clearly anyone in their right mind would put the goddam camera down. Like when you are being attacked. You put the fucking camera down and fight. Seriously, you expect us to buy this shit someone would keep filming? Have none of you heard of suspension of disbelief?
Stop it. All of you making found footage films.
This movie could just as easily been made with a conventional narrative and been more effective. I also take issue with some plot points that don’t make sense, like the last confrontation and the aforementioned shortcut thing. I hate it when characters act in ways that make no sense.
Once again, this is not a bad movie, as the cast does a great job with the material and the lack of A-listers adds to the realism. Even with the found footage gimmick and a couple of questionable plot points, if it hadn’t borrowed from The Blair Witch Project, this would be a very good movie for the most part. If you don’t mind the repetition and can overlook those things, this could be a worthwhile addition to your DVD collection.
The DVD has some nice extra features, including a featurette on the creature creation, and a three part extra on filming in the woods for 21 days. You also get deleted scenes and the classic commentary track from Sanchez and writer Jamie Nash.
So this is definitely better than most found footage films, but no more people. That means you too, Eduardo Sanchez. Leave your Blair Witch Project legacy intact.
What happens when you have six girls born on the sixth day of the sixmonth in the same Amish community with deep religious beliefs? Why, a demonic legend surrounding them, of course. The latest creepy devil legend thriller is The Devil’s Hand, now available on DVD. Is this movie worth buying for your personal collection?
The Devil’s Hand has some scary moments and some great twists, using misdirection to keep the ending in suspense as far as who is the killer. And somewhat suspenseful which one of the girl’s is the “Drommelkind” of legend, destined to become “the Devil’s hand” on her 18th birthday.
The cast is mostly relatively unknown actors whose faces you know if not their names, and young actors, with the exception of Jennifer Carpenter, aka Debra Morgan on Dexter. Unfortunately, Carpenter is tragically underused here, except to scowl and smirk throughout the entire film as the evil stepmother. Sorry, Dexter fans, no potty mouth here as the devout Rebekah.
If the lead actress seems familiar, it’s probably because Alysia Debnam Carey bears a striking resemblance to Taissa Farmiga of American Horror Story fame, and Sarah is portrayed by Leah Pipes, who bears a striking resemblance to Radha Mitchell.
The acting and script are better than average and this is a very respectable horror film, if there are the typical moments when a character does something stupid that hastens their demise (hiding in a well?)
Obviously if you really love the movie you’ll want the DVD for your collection, but sadly, there are no special features to add value, so your decision will come down to how much you love the movie yourself.
As if the real show isn’t funny enough, the full gag reel for “Supernatural” Season 8 dropped this week, and you can see it now before buying the DVD September 10. Watch the boys flubbing lines, being silly and falling down… again, and again, and again. And a really uncomfortable scene between Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins.
You’ll know which one I mean.
As for Season 9, a few spoilers have made the rounds, including the return of Felicia Day, and an episode where they take on “The Wizard of Oz.” That should be quite interesting. Who do you suppose will be Dorothy?
“Supernatural” Season 9 premieres October 8 on the CW.
Pick up your copy of the Season 8 box set of “Supernatural” September 10.
Clive Barker made an official announcement on his Facebook Friday night that his cult classic, “Nightbreed,” will get a DVD release of the “Cabal Cut” by Shout! Factory’s Scream Factory line.
Barker himself was harshly critical of the 1990 theatrical edit of the film and felt the studio completely mishandled the editing and marketing of the movie, which was a huge box-office and critical flop. The lost footage was found years later, but the studio had no interest in an extended release despite its rise to cult status. Then in 2012, Russell Cherrington, a senior lecturer in film and video production at the University of Derby, created a composite cut of the film using the footage found on both VHS tapes as well as the Warner Bros DVD. This version is the most complete version of Barker’s film available and has been dubbed The Cabal Cut, running 155 minutes long.
This isn’t the only time Barker’s work was misunderstood and mishandled by studio execs. “Lord of Illusions” suffered a similar fate of being over-edited, and critical failure. But the extended cut adds back much need elements to the story, and is one of the more disturbing horror films out there. Which, it should go without saying, is considered a compliment here.
It’s not so hard to figure out why the man stopped directing.
Barker is such a mad genius of dark fantasy, he’s beyond anything Hollywood could possibly ever grasp. And “Nightbreed” presents a shining example of a world created by Barker, full of creatures who form their own tribe as outcasts of humanity, or the Nightbreed.
No details on release date or extras, but Shout! Factory has quite a collection of special editions, including films like “Prince of Darkness,” “Terror Train,” and “The Funhouse.” Or, you could read the book “Cabal” while you wait for the “Nightbreed” release.
, but enough is enough. As a horror fan I am tired of this found footage shit. I’m going to stop reviewing them I’m so fed up with the cliche, but making an exception in honor of the first guy who did it.
. Unfortunately, however, not only is the found footage format tired, but it draws more attention to the blatant way Sanchez ripped off his own film in some of the plot details as well.
What happens when you have six girls born on the sixth day of the sixmonth in the same Amish community with deep religious beliefs? Why, a demonic legend surrounding them, of course. The latest creepy devil legend thriller is 
. Unfortunately, Carpenter is tragically underused here, except to scowl and smirk throughout the entire film as the evil stepmother. Sorry, Dexter fans, no potty mouth here as the devout Rebekah.
fame, and Sarah is portrayed by Leah Pipes, who bears a striking resemblance to Radha Mitchell.
