LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

Hold on to you knickers, Aunty Flow, because you’re going to be blown away by the amount of Cult goodness stuffed into this week’s newsletter! It’s quite literally bursting at the seams! I’ve been struggling to stuff and squeeze as much as I can into this overflowing bulging bad boy all day…my arms are killing me. From killer dolls to rowdy inmates, from a hunking hulk of muscles to a overweight hillarious hairy man and oh so much more. It’s all here ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, living, dead and otherwise. So, stand well back when reading this unruly beast of a newsletter as it’s threatening to burst at it’s breaches, spurt at it’s seams and explode at any moment – it’s that stuffed!

Oh, sweet mother of God! My computer can’t hold it any longer. It’s going to erupt into a cult cinematic commotion of chaos! Run for your lives readers! Run! Run! Go on without me! Save yourselves!

THE BEST THINGS OUT NOW!

Congratulations! You, dear reader, are one of the few survivors left alive after the huge newsletter exposion of 2012. The world is nothing more but a run-down baron wasteland, not disimilar to how Hackney has always been. But fear not, for there’s hope on the horizon…if you a fan of incredible TV and film that is.

Thankfully, out this week is the highly anticipated and praised television thriller, Hidden! Directed by Niall MacCormick (from Albatross and Wallander) and staring a stellar cast including David Poriot Suchet, Thekla Reuten (from In Bruges), Anna Chancellor (Spooks), Thomas Craig (Where The Heart Is) and Lisa Kay from Heartbeat, this show has recieved much critical worship and it’s easy to see why. Out now on DVD from FreeMantle Enterprises, this two-disc edition of Hidden contains all four hour long episodes and plenty of extras too! If you haven’t already, be sure to order yours here.

COMING SOON!

Very shortly you will see a whole wave of cult titles bursting across the UK like a wild plague of all things totally awesome! So, here’s a quick look at what you can expect in the coming weeks. Enjoy!

Red Scorpion (Arrow Video, Blu-Ray) A blond Swede with rippling muscles? Surely, that’s good enough reason to see this film! Staring Dolph Lundgren, in his forth film (after A View To A Kill, Rocky IV and He-Man in Masters Of The Universe) Red Scopion proves to be one heck of an action film. With hand-to-hand figting, exploding trucks, flamethrowers and M. Emmet Walsh from Blade Runner. The action comes thick and fast and there’s plenty of deaths and blasting bullets to keep the most adrenaline-hungry lunatic on the edge of their seats. This week on the film’s official UK forum, all four artwork panels for this release were revealed (which can be seen and voted on here). There’s also a new thread up full of great GIFs (animated pictures) from the film, so be sure to check those out – they’re pretty fun! Red Scorpion is out on Blu-Ray on the 6th of Feb and can be ordered here to keep your Arrow collection up to date. Speaking off, don’t be shy and share your Arrow collection with the Cult Labs gang on this neat little thread!

Four Flies On Grey Velvet (Shameless Screen Entertainment, DVD and Blu-Ray). So, it’s still only January and a statement such as ‘this is the best release all freakin’ year!’ doesn’t really sound that impressive, but by the time Decemeber comes to a close, I bet you’ll still be saying the same thing! Shameless’ release of Four Flies On Grey Velvet is quite simply the most definite and ultimate edition of this previously-thought-to-be-lost Argento masterpiece that is on the same level of greatness as Deep Red and Suspiria. Not only is it the most complete version of this film EVER, not only does it come with a very nice selection of extras (including introductions, making-ofs and notes by Argento-expert Alan Jones), not only is it the FIRST EVER TIME this film has been released on Blu-Ray (and looking incredible may I add), but the audio for this release is quite something. Obtained from the original magnetic soundtrack, this is the best you have and will ever hear Four Flies On Grey Velvet. Trust me, it’ll blow your mind compared to earlier releases of the film. At it’s most basic, this Shameless release IS the best version of this film EVER! Four Flies On Grey Velvet is out on DVD and Blu-Ray on the 30th January and can be pre-ordered from Amazon, or any other good retailer.For some great images of original promotional material and some on-set photos head to the new thread this week. Also, whilst you’re there why not check out the new Shameless Trailer for this release?

Obey!

Click here for a little surprise.

Holy Flying Circus (FreeMantle Enterprises, DVD). Monty Python. Need I say more? Really? As I’m sure you can vouch for, Monty Python were and still one of the funniest comedy acts of all time. From their Flying Circus, The Holy Grail, The Life Of Brian to The Meaning Of Life, these guys are the kings of comedy. It’s no surprise then that there have been countless documentaries and features on these masters of laughter, but none have quite lived up to the standard that last year’s Holy Flying Circus set. It was hillarious! Retelling the story of the controversy surrounding The Life Of Brian, Holy Flying Circus manages to capture the Python humour perfectly that will have you crying with laughter. Seriously, it’s genius! If you’re a Python fan, then may I suggest you stop fondling your nipples, get off your hovercraft of eels, take back that dead parrot and silly walk your way to the nearest store to pre-order this gem! You won’t regret it! Holy Flying Circus is out on the 6th of Feb and is a must-see!

Too Fat For 40 (Mediumrare Entertainment) – Raise your hand if you’re a fan of Kevin Smith. So…that’s everyone then! Too Fat For 40 is Kevin Smith’s Stand-Up DVD who’s title is a reference to the incident where he was refused permission to fly due to his weight. Smith talks with great humour and self-deprecation about the event during his time on stage but more amusing are some of the upshots of his choice to no longer fly intercontinental, including the acquisition of a rock ‘n’ roll style tour bus more befitting debauched road dogs like Motley Crue. If you’re a fan of his work and looking for a fun night in, then this is absolutly perfect for you! Order yours from amazon – this DVD is out on the 23rd of January.

Rolling Thunder (Studio Canal, Double Play – DVD & Blu-Ray) Now we’re talking! The 30th of Jan sees the release of a truly great exploitation classic, Rolling Thunder. Co-written by Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) and starring William Devane with Tommy Lee Jones, Rolling Thunder is the ultimate vengengance film! To celebrate the Blu-Ray/DVD release, a whole new section has been added to the forum especially for this film. Check it out here for a whole host of threads including:

Official: Rolling Thunder – a brief intro to the film.
A Hook For Hand - What are some of the best hooked baddies in cinema? And if you lost a limb, what weapon would you choose to replace it?
Rolling Thunder – The Trailer - The trailer, duh!
Linda Haynes – Exploitation Starlet? – Discuss Haynes great roles from Coffy to Human Experiments.
William Devane – A Vast Array Of Credits – From Marathon Man to films with a more cult status. Whats your fav?
Rolling Thunder – Classic Posters – Looking for some incredible artwork? Look no further!
The Misanthropic World Of Paul Schrader - What’s the best Schrader film? It’s got to be Taxi Driver, right?
I’ve Seen Some Things: Vietnam Vengeance - Got any Post-Vietnam recomendations, like Biozombie’s Combat Shock? Share yours here!

THE TWILIGHT ZONE

Ladies and gentlemen, you have just crossed over into The Twilight Zone.

This week on the Twilight Zone official forum the Topic of the Week is all about the greatest season of the show. It’s a very tough call! Perhaps you’re a fan of the very first series, with such classic episodes as Time Enough At Last and The Hitch-Hiker. Or maybe Season 2 with killer machinery, superstitious cafe customers and movie Christmas episode. Then there’s the third season of this classic cult show with plenty of time travel, five trapped characters and an evil ventriloquist dummy. Season 4 had the hour long episodes, whilst the 5th season featured such classic characters as a killer dolly and a gremlin on the roof! But which is best?! Come and vote on this week’s poll and share your opinion.

There’s only a few weeks left until the 5th and final season of the original Twilight Zone is released. There are so so many brilliant episodes included in this box set, in fact I’m watching a Christine-esque episode as I type this. Included here in this boxset are the last 36 episodes of the 1960s show, 22 radio dramas, 20 new audio commentaries, video interviews with some of the writers including Richard Matheson and a whole lot more! The fifth season is due for release on the 6th of Feb and can be pre-ordered from here (on DVD) or, if you’re really posh, on Blu-Ray!

PRISONER: CELL BLOCK H

Alright, listen up you theiving inmates or I’ll pull out the black gloves! This week has been another busy ol’ week on the Official Prisoner forum, so here’s a rundown on what’s been happening. First up, Prisoner: Cell Block H now has it’s very own Tumblr page! Horray! So, if you’re a fan of the show, be sure to check it out for a whole host of Prisoner goodies, from pictures, rare photos, fun GIFs, videos, music, links, articles, original publicity and oh so much more! Don’t miss out! If you have anything you’d like to submit to the site, that would be brilliant! Just either PM me or just click on the ‘Submit’ link on the Prisoner Tumblr! All help is greatly appreciated to make it the ultimate Prisoner page. Each day this’ll be updated with more great stuff, so there’ll be plenty of reason to visit!

This week’s Topic Of The Week is titled ‘Lol Lol PCBH Lol!!11!’. A totally dumb title I know, but that’s the whole point! This week we’re celebrating all those unintentional laughs that Prisoner: Cell Block H has given us! There’s a video full of gaffs, mistakes, errors, bloopers and other hillarious boo-boos. And on top of that, a video that shows just how wobbly those prisoner walls were. In all the Prisoner’s failed escape plans, they could’ve simply just walked through the walls instead! So, if you’re up for a laugh, head to the Topic Of The Week and share your own stuff too.

There’s also not very long at all until the 11th Volume of Prisoner is released in the UK on DVD! Horray! This brilliant box set features some of the most memorable and infamous episodes in Wentworth history including Bea’s attack on The Freak Ferguson and the utterly shocking and disturbing fire that has gone done in television history! The 11th box set is out on the 6th of Feb and can be pre-ordered here.

THE BEST OF THE GRINDHOUSE PROJECT

If you’re after a great night out this week, then have you come to the right place! Biozombie has, as ever, put together a fantastic list of the best Cult Film screenings around the country this week. So, if you live nearby one of these cinemas, what are you waiting for?! Take it away Bio…

Tonnes of great stuff happeing this week including: John Carpenter’s space classic in Manchester, a Cigarette Burns Cinema screening of, one of my personal favorite films, Robocop and a Shameless double bill!!! Enjoy!!! Below are my picks for the best of The GHP this week:

20th January 2012 DARK STAR International Anthony Burgess Foundation – Manchester details

26th January 2012 FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET & DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE The Dancehouse Theatre – Manchester details

Remember, if you haven’t seen it on the big screen, it’s almost like you haven’t seen it at all.

Follow The Grindhouse Project on Twitter at @The_GHP

WIN! WIN! WIN! BECAUSE WE’RE GENEROUS LIKE THAT!

As you can see, this week’s packed newsletter has featured some of the greatest cult films of all time. This is where that stops, for this week’s competition prize may just be as stupid as Sharktopus. Which, as I’m sure you’ll agree, is by no means a bad thing! If you’re looking for a B-Movie creature feature that’s utterly stupid and so bad it’s good, may I point you in the direction of this week’s competition where three lucky winners will get themselves Sands Sharks on DVD. Yes, a film where there are sharks in the sand. You know you want it!