Wow. I cannot believe we’re at the end of the second weekend in January. 2011 is barely a fortnight old and I’m already woefully behind on all my work. After writing this I plan to spend some long hours at the university library doing a mammoth reading session. That is, of course, before being swept away to a ball on Saturday night by Mr. Sarah@Cult Labs! Just call me Cinderella! Except I don’t have to leave before midnight, my shoes are, rather sensibly, not made of glass and Mr. Sarah@Cult Labs drives a Micra, not a pumpkin.
That, and I imagine Cinderella would be rather less excited about seeing the I Spit on Your Grave remake than I am. Not sure rape-revenge was really her thing. Incidentally, I Spit on Your Grave is being released in UK cinemas on 21 January 2011 – that’s next week! – by Anchor Bay Entertainment. You can discuss it on the official mini-forum or head on over to the blog where Sam has written a handy guide to the film’s cast.
Speaking of Sam, this week I’m going to add a new section to the newsletter, devoted to some of Sam’s more thoughtful blog pieces which, I think, deserve a section of their own. So Sam can join the esteemed ranks of the Mods and Kyle in the dedicated-newsletter-section stakes! And without further ado, let’s get on with it!
Sarah@Cult Labs.
OUTCAST: OUT ON MONDAY!
I’ve been looking forward to Outcast from Momentum Films for a while now and it’s finally out on DVD on 17 January 2011 – that’s Monday! I truly believe that when the Brits put their mind to it, they can produce some of the best horror films in the world and Outcast is no exception. It’s been garnering rave reviews left, right and centre but, of course, you need to see it yourself to appreciate it.
Of course, it’s also noticeable for containing an early appearance from a pre-Doctor Who Karen Gillan, who is fast overtaking Catherine Tate as my favourite Doctor Who companion. Sam has kindly popped the moment where Gillan’s character buys the farm up on the blog, along with another clip for your viewing pleasure. So head on over there to check out a bit of British Pagan horror at its best and then check out the official thread to chat about it!
NEW YORK RIPPER DVD AND BLU-RAY SPECS ANNOUNCED
Last week I was able to announce that Shameless’s forthcoming special edition of New York Ripper would be the longest version available anywhere on DVD and Blu-ray, despite a minor BBFC cut. Now I’ve been able to announce the special features for both versions. Both the DVD and Blu-ray will include:
- A presetation by Antonella Fulci, daughter and curator of Lucio Fulci’s work.
- A brand new, exclusive 20 min interview with Antonella Fulci and writer Dardano Sacchetti.
- A fan booklet on the making of New York Ripper.
New York Ripper will be released by Shameless Screen Entertainment on 25 April 2011. To discuss these features and read more as it unfolds, head on over to the official thread!
Also in Shameless related news this week, you can win a copy of Fulci’s Box of Terror courtesy of Shameless and Attack From Planet B. The competition closes on 1 February 2011 so head on over there ASAP to be in with a chance of winning!
THE JOY OF KIMBO
Kimbo Slice, star of Circle of Pain, is a professional fighter who gained notoriety online when his streetfights began to appear on YouTube. Sam has put a playlist of these fights over on the blog for your perusal. To find out more about his appearance in Circle of Pain and to chat about the film, you can check out the official thread. Circle of Pain will be released on DVD by Chelsea Films on 24 January 2011.
SHOCK LABYRINTH
Also out soon from Chelsea Films is Shock Labyrinth, which will be released on DVD on 31 January 2011. The film is directed by Takashi Shimizu, director of the highly successful Grudge movies and makes excellent use of the 3D format, as you can see from the head-spinning clip posted here. To find out more about Shock Labyrinth, you can visit the official UK hubsite or chat about the film on the official thread.
22 BULLETS
Everyone loves a bit of Jean Reno. Seriously. There is nothing better than watching that man play a badass. So the fact that 22 Bullets, starring Jean Reno, is out on DVD and Blu-ray from Anchor Bay Entertainment on 31 January 2011 is, I think good news for all.
Directed by Richard Berry, 22 Bullets is a thriller inspired by the real-life events in the world of the Marseille Mafia. Charly Matteï has turned his back on his life as an outlaw. For the last three years, he’s led a peaceful life devoting himself to his wife and two children. Then, one winter morning, he’s left for dead in the parking garage in Marseille’s Old Port, with 22 bullets in his body.
Against all the odds, he doesn’t die…
For more info and a trailer, you can check out the blog, or to chat about 22 Bullets, head on over to the official thread.
THE BEST OF THE BLOG
This week, Sam has written a brilliant piece, summing up his conclusions on A Serbian Film. He discusses his thoughts on the film itself, as well as his feelings when he first discovered he would be running the film’s UK promotional campaign. Sam can say it better than I can so here’s a taster:
So, after reading about the A Serbian Film for months, I’ll admit to a feeling of dread when I was told Cult Labs would be running a promotional campaign for the movie. I knew that the film was tabloid frenzy fodder, a gift to the Richard Littlejohn’s of the this world, whose knees would be primed to jerk the moment they read the synopsis on Wikipedia (This one page was mentioned more often than any other in articles and forum discussions).
Indeed, I was nervous of what my own reaction would be when the screener landed on the doormat a few months ago. What if, having signed up to promote the movie, my reaction was strongly against the film? Could I shove my moral objections in a dusty corner for the next eight weeks and sing the praises of a film I thought may be damaging to the social fabric?
Of course, you’ll just have to read the whole article to see what Sam’s thoughts on the film and its release in the UK are and you can do so here. If you would like to discuss A Serbian Film - which is out now on DVD and Blu-ray from Revolver Entertainment – further, you can head over to the official mini-forum to chat.
THERE’S SOMETHING GOING ON AT THE LABORATORY
I’m writing this week’s newsletter super-early in the morning so I’ve already had two cups of coffee – no need for a herbal tea right now – so I’ll just crack right on with showing you what’s caught my eye on the Cult Labs forums this week!
Some Cult Labs members regularly upload videos of their Shameless collections – Stephen@Cult Labs has posted some particularly good ones – but Shameless have been uncovering videos popping up from around the world featuring their DVDs. I’ve posted a couple on this thread but now I’m looking for more, so if you’ve posted videos or video reviews of your Shameless collection on YouTube, head on over and post them on this thread. It’s easy to embed videos by posting the link to the video with the wrap-around coding: [YOUTUBE] [/YOUTUBE] so what’s stopping you?
Arrow Video’s fabulous Limited Edition Battle Royale set has been out for a few weeks now but the beautiful packaging and amazing extras – not to mention the awesome film! – are still stirring debate on the forums. Have you managed to nab a set? What do you think of it? And what number did you get your hands on? All of these important questions need answering so head on over to the Battle Royale mini-forum to join in!
Arrow Video – Vamp – The BD and DVD Specs
I’ve never seen Vamp but have been looking forward to it ever since Arrow announced they would be releasing it on DVD and Blu-ray. The specs and cover art have now been revealed on this thread and have prompted reactions aplenty! Playzocker says, “Awesome cover art,” while Gojirosan points out that, “It would be rude not to buy the Blu-Ray really…”. And quite right too! So what do you think? Head on over to the thread to let us know!
While I Spit on Your Grave represents a good remake, not all remakes are made equal and, let’s face it, some are just pants. This thread is devoted to all things remake and includes a poll to see what ones people actually like. I went for The Hills Have Eyes, My Bloody Valentine (but only in 3D) and House of Wax, which is nowhere near as bad as people make out! Whether you love or loathe them, remakes are a fact of being a horror fan these days so vent your feelings and vote for your faves. If you have any, that is.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Anytime someone tries to do something good the ‘fans’ start complaining. And I’m not just talking about Arrow either: it’s every distributor. I wonder why anyone even bothers releasing stuff anymore. (Of course there is nothing wrong with criticism but people just don’t seem to want to say anything positive anymore.)” – Pete points out that there is a difference between fans, constructive criticism, and serial complainers.
KYLE’S COMP CORNER
This week, Kyle has a copy of the aforementioned Outcast to give away so if you want a freebie, head on over to the Comp Corner to enter! Good luck!
MODS & ROCKERS
Some quick notes and reminders from your friendly neighbourhood mods:
- Please search for a topic before posting a new thread. Multiple threads on the same topic can be confusing and it’s always better to bump up an old thread on the same topic than start a whole new one.
- Similarly, please don’t post multiple times in a short space of time. If you’ve forgotten to add something to your post, use the “edit” button to update it, rather than adding a new post.
- Cult Labs and the distributors it represents are always happy to read constructive criticism. Complaining for the sake of it, however, is not really appreciated. Please remember, companies like Arrow and Shameless work hard to bring you the best releases they can with custom artwork and exclusive special features. If you don’t like something they’ve done, that’s fine and your right, but please give your feedback in a constructive way.
The forum rules can be found here. If any of the mods (forum, technical, competitions, etc.) want me to include anything in this section next week then just let me know!
WELCOME NEWBIES!
This week I’m saying hello to CC-UK, MECHAGODPHILLA, ArnoGoldfinger, BLARGHH, Christmas_evil, RigorMortis, elmsttam and zombiematt. Welcome to the forums! Hope you settle in well! If you’re new to the forum, why not head on over to the new members thread to introduce yourself?
AND FINALLY…
Before I go, here’s a little reminder that if you haven’t already signed up to receive this newsletter in your inbox each week, you can do so using this link. All this means is that every Thursday you get a little bit of me in your inbox. Not literally though. That’d be a bit gross.
Remember, if you have any comments, feedback or anything you’d like to see featured in the newsletter, PM me at Sarah@Cult Labs or drop me a line on the newsletter thread! Or, if you’re reading this as an email, just hit “reply”!
Until next week,
Sarah@Cult Labs.
