It is a new year and the pandemic is still a thing. On a personal note I decided to finally head back to the gym after a two year absence. It is cliché joining a gym in January, but I haven't associated it with any new year resolutions so think I will be ok. Onwards as usual to the news. As I put up a music focussed post last week I will leave off the music news for this months post.
A new film is out on Dark Matters YouTube channel. Off Fleek, directed by Steven Norrington, is an award winning dark comedy that looks at the impact of cyber bullying.
There is currently a
Kickstarter running to get funds to make a board game based on the
Marvel Zombies licence. Frankly, the game looks amazing, but the high cost of it has priced me out. The base game is $130 (around £96), but to get that plus all expansions (
X-Men Resistance,
Galactus the Devourer,
Fantastic 4: Under Siege,
Hydra Resurrection and
Guardians of the Galaxy Set) would cost $550 (around £410). Still, you should definitely check out the
Kickstarter, if only to see how cool all the zombified versions of the heroes and villains look.
More people have been announced to join the upcoming anthology sounding horror film
Campfire. These include Ken Foree (
Dawn of the Dead,
The Devil's Rejects), Denise Crosby (
Pet Semetary,
Deep Impact), Martin Klebba (
Pirates of the Caribbean,
Jurassic World), Gavin White (
Artik), Tre Ryan (
Black Adam), and Jackson Kelly (
Splinters). Also joining the film crew are F/X artists Kenneth Calhoun (
Jurassic World,
X-Men Apocalypse) and Alan Carnes (
The Black Tape) as well as makeup department head Claire Amadea (
Pig), and Klebba who as well as acting in this, will be the film's stunt coordinator.
The February releases for the Arrow streaming subscription service have been announced. Bizarre sci-fi comedy Laguna Ave arrives February 1st (a review for that will be dropping later on in the week). A season of films by Michael Haneke, the making of Dune and 'B-movie gems from the world of Vinegar Syndrome'. Other notable releases includes Kaboom, Don't go in the House, Amateur, Another Wolfcop and Dan Curtis' Dracula.
Arrow Films have acquired rights in the UK, Eire and US (and home entertainment for Canada) for the festival circuit hit The Righteous. This was the first feature film from director/actor/writer Mark O'Brien and is described as a dark thriller about '...a burdened man who feels the wrath of a vengeful God, after he and his wife are visited by a mysterious stranger.' This will release this summer on digital in the UK, US and Eire, with a collector's edition Blu-ray releasing in the UK, US, CA and Eire under its Arrow Video brand.
Black Spot Books and Crystal Lake Publishing have announced an anthology titled Classic Monsters Unleashed. As the title may suggest this is made up of short stories based around the classic monsters, such as Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster and The Invisible Man. The twenty nine stories includes entries from authors including Joe Lansdale, Ramsey Campbell, Linda Addison and Dacre Stoker. The book is coming out in paperback, hardback and ebook formats on July 12th later this year.
Marooned Awakening is a dramatic thriller that was filmed on the Island of Guernsey. It follows a young journalist named Alex (Cameron Ashplant - Gentleman Jack) who has aspirations to leave his island home. His journey takes him 'through distorted memories of his mourning father, loving girlfriend and a recent accident. The film hopes to push the barriers of slow cinema and question our perceptions of reality, particularly in a changing world." Also in the cast are Murray McArthur (Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, Outlander), Tilly Keeper (Eastenders), West End performer Brian Webster, as well as Jenet Le Lacheur (Cinderella). This is due to have its premiere this September.
I'm a week behind, but I have been given the stats from JustWatch for the most streamed shows and films in the UK for the week leading up to 24th January. I always get sent these on Monday evenings so I fear I will always be behind! Relevant films in the top 10 include Ghostbusters: Afterlife at the top spot, Scream at number four, and Venom: Let There Be Carnage at number nine. In the streaming chart for show Dexter is at the number six spot, I really need to get around to watching that new series of that.
Horror film Rust Belt Driller comes to DVD on March 22nd from Bayview Entertainment. This is about a seemingly good guy, Renn Maxwell who has everything. A darkness that has followed him his whole life has finally caught up with him.
A newly restored high-definition Blu-ray of 1987's Surf Nazis Must Die releases on February 8th from Troma. This bonkers sounding movie has a group of neo-nazis who seize control of the California beaches are a massive earthquake strikes. After her son is killed by them while out jogging, "Mama" Washington (Gail Neely) breaks out of her retirement home to get her revenge. This new release includes a whole host of extras.
Finally, a special clip has been released from
Hellblazers. This new
Tubi Original horror film takes place in the late 1980s and is about a Satanic cult seeking to unleash literal Hell on Earth. This was written and directed by Justin Lee (
Badland,
Final Kill) and includes among its cast Tony Todd (
Candyman), Adrienne Barbeau (
Escape from New York), Meg Foster (
They Live), and Mike Ferguson (
Amityville Uprising).