Following the recent screening at this years Dead By Dawn festival the much discussed indie horror classic FIVE ACROSS THE EYES makes its way onto DVD from Lions Gate in the UK and Stu Willis checks out what all the fuss is about in his review before taking a sneak peek at Lions Gate's June 9th release of indie shocker BURIED ALIVE . Being a man of many extreme tastes Stu tests his stamina for hard core horror as he kicks back with the unrated release of INSIDE before getting horrifically hallucinogenic with the UK release of SHROOMS and hard drugs may be just what Stu needs as he submerses himself in the head scratching world of SOUTHLAND TALES before wrapping with some monster fun with MEGA SNAKE - fangtastic!
Bringing the style of the classic spaghetti western by way of Straw Dogs to modern cinema, the seminal shocker THE BACKWOODS is released on DVD by Momentum Pictures on the 19th of May and to celebrate the release we have three copies to give away to lucky SGM readers. To be in with a chance of winning one of these must have DVDs simply enter our competition here then read our very own Stu Willis' thoughts on the movie here .
Severin Films look to be doing a damn good job of pampering exploitation fans these days as William Simmons can testify as he checks out their release of the bewilderingly bizarre THE BEAST IN SPACE and the bizarre theme continues as William takes a sneak peek at the incoming US release of the Mondo Macabro bollysplatter flick HELL'S GROUND . Code Red continue to uncover some great rare horror oddities and none more enticing than their latest release SOLE SURVIVOR and BCI entice William yet again with some mighty fine global terror by way of MALEFIQUE and their follow up bumper collection of HORROR FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER, Vol.2. Finally, after his much celebrated exclusive interview with Synapse head honcho Don May, William takes time out to savour their release of PARTY 7 before testing his vocal talents with KARAOKE TERROR - enjoy!
Following its success after its UK premiere at the Dead By Dawn festival last year Nacho Cerdà's atmospheric shocker THE ABANDONED makes it way onto DVD on the 19th of May from the nice folk at Momentum Pictures and to celebrate the occasion we have copies to give away to three lucky SGM readers. To be in with a chance of a sleepless night of horror fun simply enter our competition here .
Shaping up to be one of the most exciting independent genre DVD companies on the market today, Shameless Screen Entertainment have pulled out all stops for their latest restoration job as Stu Willis can attest as he checks out the mouth watering release of THE FRIGHTENED WOMAN and the oft ignored gem that is MY DEAR KILLER . Then Stu goes from the Shameless releases to the downright shameless viewing as he oils himself up to get down and dirty with the After Hours Cinema releases of the uber sleazy ZODIAC RAPIST and Bill Lustig sleeper SYLVIA before collapsing in a heap after all the wrist action that is 42nd Street Pete's BUSTY STARS OF THE STAGS loop collection!
Always championing the independent horror scene, Revolver Entertainment unleash Matt Zettell's THE CELLAR DOOR onto DVD in the UK on May 26th and to note the occasion we have three copies to give away to bloodthirsty SGM readers by entering our competition here and you can check out the ponderings of our indie film freak Stu Willis in his review here .
Founded back in 2003, Jinx Media have been struggling ambitiously (with some growing success) to make their mark in the independent horror scene in the UK with low budget treats such as TRASHHOUSE and new release THE DEVIL'S MUSIC . Stu Willis chats candidly to Jinx Media main man writer/director Pat Higgins about the indie scene and Jinx's plans for the future in our latest Spotlight interview here .
Opening in selected cinemas across the UK this weekend is splatter comedy BOTCHED. Optimum Releasing's latest genre venture sees Stephen Dorff in fine form in this bloody comedy heist romp - check out our very own Al Sex Gore' thoughts on the movie in his review here then watch the films trailer (and even have a go at the killer game) at the official site here .
Optimum Releasing are investing in a lot of interesting horror titles of late and with three big releases about to hit the shelves of DVD shops across the UK it's time to be terrified as Al Sex Gore takes a deep breath before wallowing in the much anticipated release of Dario Argento's final Three Mothers trilogy movie MOTHER OF TEARS then Stu Willis gets his raincoat and brolly ready for STORM WARNING before wrapping the trio of Optimum terrors with Hollywood's take on the legendary Cannibal Holocaust with WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE - prepare to be shocked!
We like to be exploited here at SGM and what better way than with some good old trashy movies as Stu Willis can attest as he checks out the Shameless release of RATMAN then gets banged up behind bars with Shock-O-Rama's incoming 2 DVD special edition release of WOMEN'S PRISON MASSACRE before soaping up with Seduction's CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE . William Simmons on the other hand prefers to be exploited by vintage horror gems as apparent with his early look at Legend Films June releases of THE POSSESSION OF JOEL DELANEY and the late night Peter Cushing gem THE SKULL - spooky!
Code Red seem to be gathering great speed with their horror schedule and the bloody fun just keeps coming as William Simmons checks into the BOARDING HOUSE before looking to Redemption for some vintage Brit horror fun as he takes a sneak peek at their impending release of Pete Walker's classic SCHIZO then gets all Eurocentric with Jean Rollin's salacious NUDE VAMPIRE and atmospheric chiller THE IRON ROSE . Stu Willis meantime is back checking out Redemption's UK output with their more modern French shocker AQUARIUM whilst William wraps the Euroshock fun with Simon Rumley's unsettling chiller THE LIVING AND THE DEAD - get ready to be terrified!
Following his recent Spotlight interview with Paura Productions Mike Baronas, William Simmons now takes time out to savor the finished tribute opus PAURA: LUCIO FULCI REMEMBERED and see just what Fulci's peers and victims thought! William also kicks back with a triple treat of Spanish terror from the fine folks at BCI with the much anticipated release of the Naschy giallo treat BLUE EYES OF THE BROKEN DOLL, León Klimovsky's salacious vampire opus THE DRACULA SAGA and HUMAN BEASTS starring a certain Jacinto Molina! Wrapping up his horror fun William digs out his old school tie and heads East for Tartan's GHOST SCHOOL TRILOGY.
Stu Willis is back on hand with some (very) advance sneak peeks of some incoming April releases including the UK DVD debuts from Metrodome Distribution of Stephen King's NEEDFUL THINGS and the Robert Altman classic STREAMERS. Then it's off for some Asia Extreme fun as Stu takes an early look at the Third Window Films release of FRIEND then kicks back with some original Miike fun by way of ONE MISSED CALL before wrapping proceedings with the latest gem from the wonderful folk at Onar Films with the mouth watering release of DEMIR PENCE KORSAN ADAM - enjoy!
From the exploitative joys of Brain Damage to the terrifying cruelty of Thriller: A Cruel Picture, from the poetic disturbance of The Image to the splatter bliss of the darkly comic Street Trash, SYNAPSE have been largely responsible for spearheading the horror and cult home entertainment revival of the last decade on home DVD, so join us as William Simmons talks at length with Synapse founder Don May Jr about his career in our extensive SGM Spotlight interview here.
As he will happily admit, Stu Willis is a man who enjoys being exploited (in the nicest sense of course) so settle back as Stu willingly submits to some uncut Shameless fun with NIGHT TRAIN MURDERS before being chased by a Nazi Benny Hill as he checks out After Hours Cinema's epical edition release of SEX SLAVES OF THE S.S. But worryingly, will Stu be able to maintain his viewing pleasure as he takes an advance sneak peek through the Secret Key to check out the STUNNING NUDES OF THE 1950's or will be flaccid by the time FORBIDDEN DESIRES rolls onto the screen? Viagra at the ready folks!
Sleaze, sexploitation and giallo goodness are the order of the day as William Simmons dons his black leather gloves to watch Severin Films release of THE SISTER OF URSULA before he ponders life after the Hatchet for director Adam Green with the Anchor Bay release of SPIRAL and its Anchor Bay all the way as William checks out the Bruce Campbell sci-fi shlocker ALIEN APOCALYPSE . And after all the horrific viewing you'd be wondering if William would be feeling fit for some BAD BLOOD courtesy of Tartan Asia Extreme but it's in fact the fine folk at BCI/Eclipse who step up to the plate not only with some new Eurohorror by way of BROCELIANDE but lead to an extensive overview of Mexi-horror for William as he takes time out to savour CRYPT OF TERROR: HORROR FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER, VOL ONE - salsa at the ready!
If you haven't already done so, then now's the time to order your pass for this years DEAD BY DAWN Horror Festival as sales (as ever) have been going incredibly well with only a small handful of weekend passes left! The annual horror shindig of non stop horror viewing, ghoulish guests and late night bar action will be running from Thursday 24th through to the early hours of Monday 28th April at the Filmhouse Cinema, Lothian Road in the heart of Edinburgh. The full programme will be announced soon and damn it's a cracker with not only the first UK screening of all Three Mother Argento movies back to back but some premieres that will make your eyes bleed with horror loving joy! The last few full weekend passes (costing a mere £60) are available by calling the Filmhouse direct on 0131 228 2688 (from 12 noon each day) but be warned they're going fast! If you can't make the main event (or the weekend passes have sold out by the time you call) then passes are also available on the same number for the spin off all nighter 'best of the fest' event SPAWN OF DAWN (which kicks off at midnight on Saturday 26th in Cinema Two with tickets costing £25 showing a selection of features and shorts from the main programme). And if you're ready for a breakdown because you just can't afford to come along then you'll be pleased to hear that SGM have two passes for SPAWN OF DAWN to give away to a lucky SGM reader...to be in with a chance of snagging a pair of these must have tickets simply email SGM here stating why you and your guest should get these freebies (bleeding heart stories and sexual favours welcome!) For more details on DEAD BY DAWN and to sign up for festival updates visit the official site here.
Momentum Pictures have unleashed some all new terror on DVD for your horror loving delectation and Stu Willis is on hand to check it out as he heads into the woods to visit DEAD MARY then gets his hymn book at the ready as he prepares for a BLACKWATER VALLEY EXORCISM . And you can too can have the chance to check out these horror treats by entering our spookily easy competition here.
Perhaps one of the most underrated horror directors to have graced any blood spattered screen, the legend that is Lucio Fulci is celebrated in style on February 26th with the release of Paura Productions DVD "Paura: Lucio Fulci Remembered", an extensive documentary that interviews many of the people closest to the late master of horror. To note the occasion SGM's William Simmons talks to Paura producer (and Fulci historian/fan) Mike Baronas not only about the work behind this essential DVD release but his thoughts on Fulci and those close to him that he met on his travels with partner in crime Kit Gavin for this production. Crack open a bottle of red and enjoy all in our spotlight interview here.
Europe has long championed exploitation cinema as Stu Willis can attest as he gets ready to tackle some Nazi action in Optimum's UK release of the wondrously titled INGLORIOUS BASTARDS, then he's off to get frisky with some nuns in FLAVIA THE HERETIC and the often forgotten Fulci gem MANHATTAN BABY from Shameless. And to prove Europe is still at the fore with genre exploitation fun William Simmons checks out the US debut and Broonage the UK release of Redemption's NATURE MORTE - eurotastic!
We love Blue Underground here at SGM, especially so as they love Euro horror as William Simmons commends as he checks out their incoming special edition release of THE LIVING DEAD AT THE MANCHESTER MORGUE and their double dose of Euro perviness with EUGENIE DE SADE/CECILIA. When it comes to exploitation though, Synapse have been delivering the goods with their growing collection of trailer discs as William wallows in their latest 42nd STREET FOREVER: EXPLOITATION EXPLOSION and Dark Sky's wild and crazy RICCO THE MEAN MACHINE. Wrapping the genre fun William kicks back with some Anchor Bay horror, both old and new, as he asks the Masters of Horror what exactly is THE V WORD before heading into the woods for THE EVIL DEAD: ULTIMATE EDITION - join us!
Always a man to throw himself at the mercy of his love for all things 'indie' Stu Willis gets zombified as he brings out the dead with Heretic Films release of DIE AND LET LIVE and the Shock-O-Rama shocker sleeper DARK CHAMBER before getting filthy with Seduction's releases of SECRET DESIRES and THE SEXPERTS then winds down with some (ahem) serious academic study of Turkish cinema when he checks out the Onar Films release TURKISH SUPERMAN DOUBLE BILL - humus at the ready…up up and away!
Another year bites the dust and as we anticipate what this year will bring it gives us the chance to reflect on the highlights of the previous one as the votes are finally counted in the 8th year of the SGM Awards as voted for by you the readers! What was your choice of the best DVD and Movie releases of 2007 and who were your Industry favourites? All the answers are revealed in our Reader Awards Poll here!
We kick off the horror fun Italian style as William Simmons revisits Severin's reissue of Lucio Fulci's THE PSYCHIC then it's time to crack open the wine as he checks out the Dark Sky release of 'Estratto Dagli Archivi Segreti Della Polizia di Una Capitale Europea'…or as we prefer to call it TRAGIC CEREMONY . We stick with Dark Sky as William gets chilled to the bone by Curtis Harrington's 70's shocker THE KILLING KIND and a double bill of 70's TV Terror fun with Wild Eye Releasing's THE DEVIL'S DAUGHTER/CRAWLSPACE . Wrapping up the shock treatment William kicks back with a couple of solid Anchor Bay crackers by way of their SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT re-release and the infamous Jack Ketchum adaptation THE GIRL NEXT DOOR - dim the lights!
Want to know where the SEX in Sex Gore Mutants comes from? Well, get the KY jelly ready as William Simmons gets us lubed up with Subversive Cinema's release of ALICE IN WONDERLAND then Stu Willis builds us up to a frenzied climax with a double penetration of review treats from After Hours Cinema with the EARLY FILMS OF JOHN HOLMES and SEX STARLETS OF THE 1970'S: SUZANNE FIELDS but will Stu be hit with a premature climax as he checks out Spanish art house collection CODEX ATANICUS …get the hankies ready!
Stu Willis is a man of many tastes as he discovered recently when he checked out the Living TV licensed vampire cop serial BLOOD TIES on its collected DVD debut from Contender and Gregory Read's contemporary thriller LIKE MINDS . Stu gets snap happy as he gets exposed to Tartan Asia Extreme's release of SHUTTER before settling down with a couple of retro gems by way of crazy Belgian cult classic LUCKER THE NECROPHAGOUS and the latest must have release from Onar Films the spy smashing CASUS KIRAN - get read for action!
Perhaps one of the most shocking and evocatively titled movies in quite some time AMATEUR PORN STAR KILLER proved that with no budget and a home video camera it is indeed still possible to produce an enthralling and brutally controversial movie. Long popular with the team at SGM Towers (both on its initial video then more recent DVD release), SGM jumped at the chance to discuss the movie with its writer/director Shane Ryan so got indie die hard Stu Willis onto the case…check out all the shocking details in our exclusive interview here.
Al Sex Gore is known on occasion to enjoy a good book so when long time SGM associate (and guru behind our beloved Dead By Dawn Festival) Adèle Hartley debuted her first work of full length fiction recently in the form of horror thriller REDRESS we simply had to check it out. And we cannot mention the word 'book' without discussing the wondrous FAB Press in the same breath so time to catch up on some of their recent publications including Stephen Thrower's sprawling tome of exploitation cinema NIGHTMARE USA and Robin Bougie's delightful festival of all things filthy CINEMA SEWER and before closing the library doors for now we welcome back Andy Black's always popular journal of Horror and Erotic Cinema with NECRONOMICON BOOK 5 - get your ghoulish reading glasses on now!
Never a man to shy away from the shocking or controversial, Stu Willis is on hand to get down and dirty to give us all the low-down on what will perhaps be the most controversial DVD release of the year with Shaun Costello's FORCED ENTRY from After Hours Cinema. After a soul cleansing shower to wash away the feeling of filth Stu kicks back with some good old fashioned gory horror fun with the Anchor Bay UK release of the bloody vampire opus THE THIRST before handing over to the man himself Al Sex Gore who has been checking out the full bhoona of Mondo Macabro's debut movie feature ZIBAHKHANA/HELL'S GROUND - check 'em out!
You may not have heard of Shane Mather or his movie FANTACIDE but for many it is the gore film of the year, if not the decade, as Stu Willis can attest as he reviews the film here. Destined for cult-classic status, and bound to offend many in today's culturally sensitive environment with dialogue that makes FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE seem tasteful, animal torture that outdoes NEKROMANTIK ten times over and sexual violence that Fulci's THE NEW YORK RIPPER shied well away from. All served up with side-dishes of bubblegum pop music and laugh-out-loud comedy. What's not to love? But what about the man behind the movie? Well Stu Willis wanted to find out as he chatted candidly with writer/director Shane Mather in our exclusive spotlight interview here.
As regular readers will know, our very own Stu Willis enjoys the occasional leather-clad Gothic naughtiness so he was front of the queue when it came to reviewing indie genre feature 'Nature Morte', check out Stu's thoughts here then after wallowing in all that sublime decadence Stu kicks back with writer/director Paul Burrows and sultry starlet (and co-producer) Carole Derrien to discuss the making of this ambitious film that the legendary Jess Franco described as "beautiful and insane" - to read the full SGM exclusive Spotlight interview click here.
We like it here at SGM when the horror genre rises to the occasion to help out a good cause and with the assist of The Balance Film Project upcoming genre filmmakers R N Millward and Kieron Hazel have contributed two brand new horror shorts which you can soon view online and help DiabetesUK at the same time. Millward's 'All The Way Home' and Hazel's 'All Fall Down' will soon be available to view for the donation of £1 (though please do feel free to donate more!) through The Balance Film Project website, for more info keep an eye out here...
Once a year the horror hungry masses descend on the Filmhouse Cinema in the heart of Edinburgh for four days and nights of horror fun at the Dead BY Dawn Horror Festival; but even a mere three hours sleep each night hasn't stopped SGM's very own kilted horror freak Al Sex Gore delivering his own inane ramblings from the weekend fun - for the full lowdown on the UK's biggest and best horror fest click here!
Just back from another all too fleeting visit to Roma, SGM's very own Al Sex Gore made sure to take time out to go visit the great Luigi Cozzi at the Profondo Rosso store and between salivating at the exhibits at Argento's Museum of Horror Al took time to check out Cozzi's latest English language tome Four Flies On Grey Velvet - would the mystery of the films rights holders be at last revealed! And later that evening Al kicked back in his Roma residence with a large glass of vino rosso and revisited the Italian version of Argento's oft ignored fantastic thriller La Sindrome Di Stendhal (aka The Stendhal Syndrome) - would Al fall victim to the dizzying impacts of viewing too much high art? Check it out!
Undead master George Romero brought the dead back to life in Pittsburgh in the horror classic 'Night of the Living Dead', Clive Barker briefly shipped the corpses over to London in graphic novel form with 'Living Dead: London', now SGM Publishing have brought the living dead to Scotland's heartland in 'Living Dead: Glasgow'; the all-new zombie horror action strip mix of Trainspotting and Zombie Flesh Eaters in 'Living Dead: Glasgow' limited collectors edition magazine issue one!
Also included in this debut edition is a brand new 'Bad Dog' zombie strip by the very talented Gary Northfield (of Derek the Sheep' and The Beano fame) as well as an extensive chronological overview of the modern 'Zombie Movie Classics'; covering everything from 'Night of the Living Dead' to 'Shaun of the Dead' - a cracking article which should be please both old school horror fans and those new to the genre (with film synopsis and uncut availability on DVD!)
'Living Dead: Glasgow' collectors edition magazine is available direct from SGM by clicking here - show your support for SGM and all things zombie by ordering a copy now!
