Saturday, February 28, 2015

Check Out This Grim Extended Look At 'An American Serial Killer In Manila'


With a title like An American Serial Killer in Manila, you have our attention. And after taking a gander at this extended promo for the film, which is still in development, I want someone to give me a bunch of money so I can give it to these folks to finish their damn movie. Or I could just wait until they finish it on their own and buy a ticket, but I’m an impatient sort.

Friday, February 27, 2015

'Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor' Issue #5 Delivers Fast-Paced Adventure And Death Cults


While we won’t likely see new episodes of Doctor Who on TV until much later this year, Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth incarnation of the venerable Time Lord shows no signs of slowing down on the pages of Titan Comic’s Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor. In fact, the latest issue, #5 in the continuing run, delivers the fastest paced adventure we’ve see yet from this title.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

'The Lazarus Effect' Movie Review: This Resurrection Horror Should Have Stayed Dead


The Lazarus Effect is simultaneously the exact movie you expect and not what you envisioned at all. The film you see on screen is a generic, predictable one. Full of the usual horror tropes and clichés, it’s more concerned with quick jump scares than building lasting tension, and you see every new development coming from a mile away. That’s not to say it’s without certain charms, but only the most hardcore genre fans need to search this one out. From the trailers and the fact that this comes from Blumhouse Productions, most known for low-budget fare that turns a tidy profit, you get more or less what you anticipate.

Marvel's 'Daredevil' Reveals The Cast In These New Photos


Admittedly, I have some major concerns about Marvel’s upcoming Daredevil series on Netflix. I’m still gun-shy from the last attempted adaptation (I was on a date on Valentine’s Day and had to be restrained from leaving the theater like five minutes in), and while what we’ve seen shows potential, it hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. As we get closer, we’re seeing more and more, and this new set of photos from Empire gives us our first look at the supporting players.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

This 'Jem And The Holograms' Photo Is Truly, Truly, Truly Outrageous


Jem really is truly, truly, truly outrageous. Based on the ‘80s cartoon, it’s been a while since we heard anything about Jem and the Holograms, but this new still hit the airwaves today and it shows off the live-action interpretation of the retro future look of the title character and her band.

Read Brent's Essay 'Welcome To The Gun Show'



Hey, sometimes I do things other than write movie reviews and talk trash on the internet. A narrative nonfiction essay I wrote, “Welcome to the Gun Show,” was just published by Gris-Gris, a literary journal out of Nicholls State University in Louisiana. It’s about the first time I ever shot a gun, which didn’t end well. But don’t worry, I still manage to talk about movies quite a bit—it’s really all about the discrepancy between my lifelong fascination with ultraviolent cinema and a general abhorrence of real world violence. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but it’s a damn good time. Hit the jump to give it a read.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Sean Penn Does Some Bad Things In This Trailer For 'The Gunman'


It appears we live in a world where every aging actor eventually gets reborn as a grizzled, badass action star. Liam Neeson has the Taken movies, Pierce Brosnan is still playing the ass-kicking international spy, and even Salma Hayek (who, granted, is only 48) got to blast the hell out of everyone in Everly. For the record, I am totally on board with this trend, I love a good grim tough-guy/girl film, and it looks like the latest addition to this train is Sean Penn, as you can clearly see in this trailer for The Gunman.

This 'The Dead Lands' Is Full Of Screaming Warriors, Beheadings, And Spurting Neck Wounds



If you’re down for a historical actioner where old timey tribal dudes hack each other to shit with old timey weapons, The Dead Lands may be just the movie you’re looking for. Hailing from New Zealand and directed by Tao Fraser, this looks brutal, bloody, and full of crazy ass action. You’ve got revenge and screaming warriors and beheadings and spurting neck wounds. What more do you want?

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Magnet Acquires 'Skin Trade' With Tony Jaa, Dolph Lundgren, And Michael Jai White


Separately, if you throw the names Tony Jaa and DolphLundgren into any picture, I’ll totally watch the crap out of it. Put them together in the same movie, and it’s one I’ll shove my own family members out of the way in order to get into the theater first. (And if you want to sweeten the deal with Michael Jai White, Ron Perlman, and Peter Weller, that’s also fine with me, it’s like all of my favorite things.)

Friday, February 20, 2015

Check Out This Trailer For Grim Revenge Thriller 'The Demolisher'


I’m always up for a grim revenge thriller, and Gabriel Carrer’s Canadian indie The Demolisher looks like it’s going to fit that bill perfectly. And better still, there’s a lot more going on than just the surface story, as you can see in this first trailer for this slow-burning psychological saga.

Watch This Insane 'Alien Tampon' Trailer, It's Full Of Monsters, Mean Girls, And Hobos


There’s a scene in an episode of South Park where one of the kids stumbles across some especially nasty international porn involving Cartman’s mom and one of them asks, “What the fuck is wrong with German people?” That’s a question you’re going to ask yourself after you watch this trailer for the German horror-sci-fi flick Alien Tampon (yes, that says Alien Tampon), and I mean that in the best possible way.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

'Hot Tub Time Machine 2' Movie Review: This Half-Assed Sequel Violates The Laws Of Time And Space And Taste


Lets be honest, you probably already know if you want to see Hot Tub Time Machine 2 or not based on the first one, the crude, crass style of humor, and the cast. This is generally the kind of foul-mouthed comedy you either like or you don’t, and it delivers exactly what you expect on that front.

This 'Mad Max: Fury Road' International Trailer May Light You On Fire



We’ll have to wait until May 15 to see if it lives up to it, but if we’re judging George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road by the trailers, this is going to be the best movie ever made. It’s got post-apocalyptic battlewagons, crazy-ass warlords of the wasteland, insane stunts, explosions, cars jumping out of fire, classical music, Tom Hardy, and a badass one-armed Charlize Theron. I can’t imagine wanting anything more out of a single motion picture, and this new Japanese trailer delivers all of that in just over a minute.

Friday, February 13, 2015

'Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor' Issue #8 Dives Into An Endless War


This issue of Doctor Who: The EleventhDoctor, #8, “The Infinite Astronaut, as well as the previous one, have made a big deal about this being a two-part affair. What this really does is drive home the difference between this Titan Comics title and the other two current Doctor runs—The Tenth and Twelfth Doctors. Both of those comics have, thus far in their youngish runs, only unveiled their arcs across multiple issues, even as many as five or six to fully wrap a story up. This is one of the biggest fundamental differences, and with such a truncated narrative approach, it’s been difficult to get as invested in The Eleventh Doctor as the other two. And while this two-parter is a move in the right direction, it’s not a particularly big step.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

'Kingsman: The Secret Service' Movie Review: Who Knew Colin Firth Kicked So Much Ass?


This weekend at the box office is most certainly going to belong to Fifty Shades of Grey. But if you’re looking for something different, something not insipid and tedious, you’ll want to check out Matthew Vaughn’s adaptation of Mark Millar’s comic Kingsman: TheSecret Service. It’s the first of what are going to be many spy, or spy-spoof movies slated to hit in 2015 (The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Spectre, the latest James Bond film, and another Mission: Impossible are all on the way, among others), and it’s a nonstop blast from beginning to end.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

This 'Deathgasm' Trailer Has Demons, Blood, And Heavy Metal, What More Do You Need?


Beheadings, demons, saw attacks, and shredding heavy metal, this trailer for the gore fest Deathgasm certainly has my full attention. The fact that the movie is called Deathgasm doesn’t hurt either. Slated to premiere as part of SXSW’s Midnight program next month in Austin, this instantly became a movie I want and need to see.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Spider-Man Is Coming Home To Marvel


Well this is big news, especially comic book fans, and more specifically than that, Marvel fans and those out there who have been underwhelmed by the last two Amazing Spider-Man movies. Marvel and Sony, who owns the rights to the fan-favorite web-slinger, have reached a deal that will allow Spidey to show up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And there are even reports about where he’ll take his first bow.

This 'Pitch Perfect' Trailer Is Perfect And Hilarious


You may or may not know this, but I’m a pretty big fan of Pitch Perfect. It made my top ten list for 2012, and once it hit video I’ve watched it dozens and dozens of times. (I may have a problem.) Who knew a bearded movie enthusiast who is pushing 40 would be so taken by collegiate a cappella. So yes, I’m rather excited for Pitch Perfect 2, and when I see things like this latest trailer, it only make me wish I could see it tomorrow.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Takashi Miike's 'Yakuza Apocalypse' Looks Totally Nuts In This New Trailer


Leave it to Takashi Miike to deliver a gangster vampire flick, which appears to be exactly what he’s done with his latest underworld opus, Yakuza Apocalypse, which has dropped this quick new preview on the world. (It might actually be two, I’m not sure.. Is that a furry with a lightsaber at the end? What the hell is going on here? I’m not entirely sure, but goddamn I can’t wait to find out. Then again, this is the guy who put a poorly computer animated cockfight in City of Lost Souls, so nothing should surprise you at this point.

'The Walking Dead' Season 5 Review: "What Happened And What's Going On" Delivers Another Blow



Well damn. The other day Andrew Lincoln, who plays Rick Grimes on AMC’s zombie hit The Walking Dead, promised the first two episodes back from their hiatus were going to be brutal, and he wasn’t lying. The second half of season 5 just kicked off with “What Happened and What’s Going On,” and not only does it pile tragedy on the already abused group of survivors, it’s also likely the most stylized episode in the show’s entire run. We don’t know about the next episode, but if it’s in the same ballpark as this one, it’s going to be a rough go for fans, as the midseason premiere delivers a stout gut punch.

If you haven’t watched tonight’s episode yet, seriously stop reading, there are SPOILERS beyond this point.

'Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor' Issue #7 Weeps With The Angels


The last issue of Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor, introduced a new creative team and kicked off the most grim, desolate of these new adventures of David Tennant’s version of the venerable Time Lord. Now they’re back with Issue #7, “The Weeping Angels of Mons.” Trapped on the front lines of World War I, and if things weren’t bad enough, they go from bad to worse as one of the Doctor’s most sinister foes has tagged along for a ride.

Check Out This Trailer For NWA Biopic 'Straight Outta Compton'


As an 11-year-old white kid growing up in a smallish town, NWA’s seminal 1988 album “Straight Outta Compton” was a lot of things. It was loud, abrasive, and thrilling and terrifying in equal parts. It was also eye opening, peeling back the layers and revealing a slice of daily life in the hood to the entire world. And the debate has raged ever since about whether Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Easy-E, DJ Yella, and MC Ren’s music glorified violence or accurately reflected their world. The revolutionary group now has their very own biopic, also titled Straight Outta Compton, and the first trailer is here.

Saturday, February 7, 2015

'The Duke Of Burgundy' Movie Review: A Small Story About Extremes


Forget 50 Shades of Grey, the erotic thriller you need to watch this month is Peter Strickland’s The Duke of Burgundy. The Berberian Sound Studio director is back with another lush, giallo-inspired offering that brings along a fair amount of Hammer influences just for the hell of it. Every syllable uttered, every frame of film, is sexually charged and full of meaning.

5 Things 'The Walking Dead' Needs To To For The Rest Of Season 5


Season 5 of The Walking Dead is about to return from a long winter’s nap for the back eight episodes of what may be the strongest season yet for AMC’s hit zombie drama. While it is a different world from a couple of years ago (I was so frustrated with season 3 that I almost stopped watching), there is still room for improvement, and some things the series needs to do to maintain the momentum they’ve built and deliver a satisfying conclusion.

5 Crazy Sci-Fi Movies To Watch After 'Jupiter Ascending'


The Wachowskis’ Jupiter Ascending finally opens wide this weekend after being pushed back and delayed multiple times. It’s a movie you’re either going to love or hate—it premiered at Sundance recently and was brutalized—but either way, it’s a wingnut spectacle to behold. It’s like a pulpy, B-grade sci-fi flick from a bygone era, only with a huge budget and no restrictions, which is both an asset and a curse.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Watch Liam Neeson Protect RoboCop In This International 'Run All Night' Trailer


It may not be breaking any new ground, but from what we’ve seen so far from Run All Night, it looks right up my alley. Revenge, grizzled old tough guys going head to head, characters who just have to survive through this one night and everything will be okay—it’s not horribly original, but there’s nothing I don’t like here. Adding Ed Harris and Liam Neeson to the mix only sweetens the deal. Check out this new French trailer to see what I’m talking about.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

'Seventh Son' Movie Review: Fantasy With Very Little Imagination


Seventh Son is like watching a DragonForce song come to life. Seriously, there are dragons, witches, mystics, monsters, and riding into battle; this is an adventure metal band’s wet dream. At times this is an absurd amount of fun; at others, not so much at all. The biggest problem is, for a big fantasy movie, there is very little imagination to be found. 

'Jupiter Ascending' Movie Review: The Wachowskis' Latest Is Big, Beautiful, And Bland


The Wachowski’s don’t make small, quiet films. They go big, they go ambitious, and they desperately need a hit, like how a crack head needs a hit. Their last two, Cloud Atlas and Speed Racer, did not exactly light up the box office. Unfortunately, their latest, Jupiter Ascending, is not likely to be that movie, as there isn’t much that truly works. This is a mishmash of crazy ideas thrown into a blender with a damsel-in-distress movie, full of what is best described as heroic space rollerblading. What makes this so unusual for the Wachowskis is how, despite fits of madness like what appears to be a race entirely comprised of a flying lizard biker gang, utterly bland this movie is.

This Trailer For The 'Poltergeist' Remake Proves That Little Kids Are Still Scary As Hell


Little kids are creepy as shit. Even as a little kid I knew this was one of the essential truths of the world, which is a big part of why Poltergeist is straight up terrifying. Who knows if the Sam Raimi-produced remake will be any good, but this first trailer does a good job sending a few chills up your spine. Also, if you have an aversion to scary clowns, probably sit this one out.

This 'Furious 7' Trailer Doesn't Play By Your Rules


Okay, with the sheer amount of promotion we’ve seen for Furious 7 over the last couple weeks, you’d think it was right around the corner, not two months off. But I’m completely okay with that, and any day that a ridiculous action movie I’m super stoked about wants to drop an insane new trailer, well that’s a good day in my world. This may be an extended version of what you saw during the Super Bowl, but who cares, it’s still way, way nuts.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

'John Wick 2' Is Happening, Yeah, He's Thinking He's Back


If you read any of my nonsense at all, you probably know that I have very strong feelings about the major motion picture JohnWick. The Keanu Reeves-starring revenge flick was hands down my favorite movie of 2014, and I use every opportunity to remind people of the fact that it may be the best action movie of the last decade. (It also his DVD/Blu-ray yesterday, so if you still haven’t seen it, you now have no excuse other than you suck.) But it might not be the last we see of the titular badass, as the ball has started rolling on John Wick 2. Maybe he has a cat we didn't know about.

Netflix's Full 'Daredevil' Trailer Is Dark And Grim, Check It Out Here


Marvel is all about brand expansion, and with their upcoming Netflix adaptation of Daredevil it certainly appears that they’re taking a different path than usual. The look and feel of this new trailer, our first real look at the show, has, at least on the surface, more in common with Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy than your average MCU offering, especially the episodic TV side of things, like Agent Carter and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. I like both of those shows well enough, but this appears to be something else.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Watch 'Pitch Perfect 2' Take On The Green Bay Packers In This Super Bowl Spot


Since it hit home video a little more than two years ago (December 2012), I’ve watched Pitch Perfect more than any other movie in existence. There was a period of ten straight days where I watched it at least once, at least. That was just when I was paying attention and there may very well be stretches that long, if not longer. So it stands to reason that Pitch Perfect 2 is one of my most anticipated films of 2015, and nothing I’ve seen has given me a reason not to be totally pumped, including this extended TV spot that aired during the Super Bowl.

Netflix's 'Daredevil' Reveals The First Gritty Footage, Full Trailer Drops Tomorrow


Daredevil is one of my all-time favorite comics and has been since I was a kid. There are so many great storylines and arcs, not to mention the dark, gritty tone, that it seems tailor made for adaptation right now. Still, the Ben Affleck version sucked so hard I almost walked out of the theater four minutes in (it was Valentine’s Day and I was on a date). Since then I’ve been a wee bit gun shy, for obvious reasons, and while I really, really want the new Netflix Daredevil series to be good, I’m taking a wait and see approach. I’ll still binge watch it all the day it drops, but nothing we’ve seen up to this point fills me with overwhelming confidence, including this quick new peek.

'The Boxtrolls' Blu-Ray/DVD Review


If there’s any doubt that stop-motion studio Laika is responsible for the most gorgeous animated features going around over the last few years, there shouldn’t be. Should you still need proof after movies like ParaNorman and Coraline, look no further than their latest, The Boxtrolls, now out on DVD, Blu-ray, and however else you like to watch movies these days.

Monday, February 2, 2015

This 'Furious 7' Super Bowl Spot Ups The Insanity


There aren’t even words to describe the Furious7 spot that premiered during the Super Bowl yesterday, there just aren’t. A car jumps from inside one building (I don’t know how it got there, and I don’t particularly care), lands in another building, and then falls out the other side of building number two. It’s like they came up to me and said, “Hey, what’s the one thing you’ve always wanted to see in a movie?” And when I told them, they took that and amplified it exponentially. Yes, please.