http://www.cult-labs.com/forums/blogs/bizarre_eye%40cult-labs/ Cult Labs is the friendliest forum on the web for discussing the latest cult releases, particularly from Shameless Screen Entertainment and Arrow Video. en Thu, 23 May 2013 13:22:29 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.cult-labs.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.cult-labs.com/forums/blogs/bizarre_eye%40cult-labs/ http://www.cult-labs.com/forums/blogs/bizarre_eye%40cult-labs/219-unlikely-horror-gem-3-who-can-kill-child.html Sun, 07 Jun 2009 10:41:47 GMT _Round 3:_ Probably a bit more well known this one... Who Can Kill a Child (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075462/)(¿Quién puede matar a un niño?) is... Round 3: Probably a bit more well known this one... Who Can Kill a Child (¿Quién puede matar a un niño?) is a definite gem in my eye.



Synopsis:
On a vacation away from their family, Tom (Lewis Fiander, of DR. JEKYLL & SISTER HYDE) and his pregnant wife Evelyn (FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD's Prunella Ransome) sail to an island off the coast of Spain that seems deserted... until its children emerge from the shadows with the blood of their parents on their hands... and hatred in their hearts for every adult.

This film comes across as a sort of "Village of the Damned in the Med" when reading the synopsis, but it is so much more.

This Spanish masterpiece was originally released in the US in 1976 as 'Island of the Damned', the film was heavily cut. This re-issue from Dark Sky re-instates all the previously cut footage and has a pretty decent picture as well as a crisp dual mono soundtrack.

I have to say that personally I love this film. Even if it does borrow on well-used themes of kids vs. adults, it comes across as very fresh and inventive and is certainly a stand-out piece of film-making in my opinion.

Where it stands out amongst other fare, is that it is pretty brutal and unrelenting. It pulls few punches as the heroes of the movie (Fiander and Ransome) are forced to battle with their consciences in various 'kill or be killed scenarios' - a scene where the couple are being cornered in a cell is pretty brutal.

Another stand-out quality is the 'downbeat' attitude in which WCKAC? is filmed and plays out. Most films of this type tend to inspire some sort of hope for the protaganists as they battle through against the odds, WCKAC? seems to turn this device completely on its head with bleakness creeping in more and more as the seconds tick by; any glimmer of hope seems dashed almost immediately.

Well shot, acted, and with an initial eerie suspense that builds up to explosions of violence from all parties, leading to a shocking climax, I cannot recommend Who Can Kill a Child? highly enough.

:popcorn:bizarre_eye's rating: 4.5/5 ]]> bizarre_eye@Cult Labs http://www.cult-labs.com/forums/blogs/bizarre_eye%40cult-labs/219-unlikely-horror-gem-3-who-can-kill-child.html http://www.cult-labs.com/forums/blogs/bizarre_eye%40cult-labs/196-unlikely-horror-gem-2-home-sick.html Thu, 14 May 2009 18:07:36 GMT _Round 2:_ Probably going to be controversial this one, but another horror film that I consider gem material is Home Sick... Round 2: Probably going to be controversial this one, but another horror film that I consider gem material is Home Sick.



Synopsis:
Bill Moseley (Rob Zombie's Halloween, The Devil's Rejects) stars as a smiling maniac named "Mr. Suitcase." With a briefcase full of razorblades, he crashes a homecoming get-together for Claire (Lindley Evans) and forces the partygoers to identify people they hate. Soon, a black-hooded supernatural killer is loose killing each person identified by the teens and the terrified friends realize they may also be viciously murdered because Tim (Matt Lero) awkwardly joked that he hated everyone at the party, too! As the corpses pile up and the body parts fly, the kids enlist the help of a crazed chili loving militia man who can give them the weapons they need to stay alive!

Again, this film was a blind purchase based solely on some online reviews. The fact is that most people will hate this film, but there is a distinct originality to it; its goal was to never boast that it is another Halloween or Friday the Thirteenth, and nor does it mimic these classics to earn a quick buck (as so many US made slasher pics do).

I have the Special Edition from Synapse, which in addition to the very good transfer (as is usually the norm with Synapse), also boasts some impressive special features including an interview with Moseley.

The best way to describe Home Sick is to watch it, not just for its originality (because originality doesn’t always relate to high-quality), but because it is also a very good film.

It is in that minority of slasher films which seem to straddle the arthouse genre; it’s quirky, clever, and weird but also stupid at the same time. It exhibits an almost Olaf Ittenbach quality to it in some respects, coupling excessive gore and character comedy with a jilting plot. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, though; from the initial randomness of the appearance of "Mr Suitcase" (a stellar and minor performance by Bill Moseley, which has to be seen to be believed), through the various character specific plots and killings, to end up at the 'redneck' family showdown (complete with lots of guns of course).

Reading this, you may dismiss Home Sick, but it is far from a by-the-numbers snooze-fest slasher. I recommend you watch it and judge for yourself... after all: WHO DO YOU HATE?

:popcorn:bizarre_eye's rating: 4/5 ]]> bizarre_eye@Cult Labs http://www.cult-labs.com/forums/blogs/bizarre_eye%40cult-labs/196-unlikely-horror-gem-2-home-sick.html http://www.cult-labs.com/forums/blogs/bizarre_eye%40cult-labs/160-unlikely-horror-gem-1-nature-morte.html Fri, 01 May 2009 17:29:04 GMT I thought that I would start my blog with a topic that is very close to my heart: Obscure, but excellent (in my eyes anyway) pieces of horror... I thought that I would start my blog with a topic that is very close to my heart: Obscure, but excellent (in my eyes anyway) pieces of horror film-making available on DVD, that may have escaped the radar of even the most keen eyed movie hound.

The DVD market is saturated with obscure horror DVD’s nowadays thanks to the disappearance of the BBFC’s iron fist on censorship, growing demand from a wider fan base, and great DVD labels who are prepared to invest in movies, and who believe in the products that they are investing in.

I'm going to start with one of my favourite obscure horrors Nature Morte.



Synopsis:
Paint me dead! The strange case of ten beautiful paintings, ten victims of a deranged serial killer and the suicide of a brilliant painter is investigated by an American art guru. From the south of France to Thailand, nothing is what it seems as he is drawn into a world of lust and depravity, where more paintings begin to surface and another artist begins to kill in order to create!

I bought this based partly on a whim, partly on a bit of internet reviewer hearsay on the understanding that it was a fairly good film. Purchased on the Salvation Group label in April 2008, I thought that it would be, at the very least an interesting watch.

To be honest, I was surprised at how good it was. I wasn’t expecting much but the story held my interest throughout, and even though it was clearly a low budget independent film it uses that minimal budget exceedingly well. Directed by Paul Burrows, Nature Morte is more of a thriller than a horror per se but is a very bizarre and beautiful film, with certain scenes conjuring up an almost Rollin-esque quality; very dreamy and surreal. The music by Steve Severin coupled with the bizarre letterboxed aspect ratio on the Salvation DVD, certainly helps to support the cinematographic style, and as a whole the film works really well.

If you do happen to come across this title and you have a spare 90 minutes, give it a watch and let me know what you think.

:popcorn:bizarre_eye’s rating: 4/5 ]]> bizarre_eye@Cult Labs http://www.cult-labs.com/forums/blogs/bizarre_eye%40cult-labs/160-unlikely-horror-gem-1-nature-morte.html