Weekly Horror Round up - Saturday 11th April 2015

From Human Centipedes to Ozploitation films Bradley Hadcroft returns for his weekly round up from some of the horror highlights….

– The Human Centipede III – Final Sequence

This Tuesday saw Entertainment Weekly release a full synopsis for the last in the trilogy of the iconic lips-to-anus feces munching extravaganza. A deafening cheer resounded around the internet as fans of all that is deranged and unholy gladly received the news of a 500 strong chain.

The low brow yet high level concept at the heart of the franchise has some how managed to worm it’s way into the public psyche,through a combination of (muffled)word of mouth and numerous references in popular culture. Everything from a porn parody(The Human Sexipede) to South Park(HUMANCENTiPAD) and even the UK’s own Cardinal Burns have exploited the premise.

I have met director Tom Six and he really is such a nice guy it’s almost impossible to make the correlation between him and his deformed body of work.However, as the Synopsis below illustrates, his inability to adhere to any boundaries may stun even his most fervent fans this time whilst mercilessly hijacking the zeitgeist once again.

Bully prison warden Bill Boss (Dieter Laser), leading a big state prison in thUS of A, has a lot of problems; his prison statistically has the highest amount of prison riots, medical costs and staff turnover in the country. But foremost he is unable to get the respect he thinks he deserves from his inmates and the state Governor (Eric Roberts). He constantly fails in experimenting with different ideas for the ideal punishment to get the inmates in line, which drives him, together with the sizzling heat, completely insane. Under threats of termination by the Governor, his loyal right hand man Dwight (Laurence R Harvey) comes up with a brilliant idea. A revolutionary idea which could change the American prison system for good and save billions of dollars. An idea based on the notorious Human Centipede movies, that will literally and figuratively get the inmates on their knees, creating the ultimate punishment and deterrent for anyone considering a life of crime. Having nothing to lose, Bill and Dwight create a jaw-dropping 500-person prison centipede.

Prepare to embrace the crazy as it seeps onto VOD on May 22nd 2015

-Bethany

Prolific director James Cullen Bressack(Pernicious) has called wrap on his latest production Bethany.The film boasts an interesting cast including Shannen Doherty(Heathers) and comedian Tom Green(Freddy Got Fingered) in a straight role.The plot concerns a woman who returns to her childhood home and is haunted by past traumas.

Bressack’s 2013 work Hate Crime became one of only four films to be rejected wholesale by the BBFC in the last six years.Nottingham university’s student magazine Impact published an essay on the subject this week and you can read it here.

– Top 100 movies of the decade

The A.V. club polled its 11 staff members and contributors this week to find the best movies the decade has offered us so far.The film flying the flag for the horror scene ? Jonathan Glazer’s Under The skin of course as it infiltrates the number 8 slot.If you haven’t seen it yet you really are running out of excuses.

– Steven king’s 11/22/63

This week Variety reported that director Kevin Macdonald (The last King Of Scotland) will handle the first two episodes of this HULU original series.

The plot will see Jake Epping played by the ridiculously hard working James Franco(Spring Breakers) go back in time as he attempts to foil the assassination of Kennedy.

The classy cast including Chris cooper(American Beauty)and Leon Rippy(Maximum Overdrive) along with the involvement of Bad Robot Productions indicate much promise for this potentially fascinating adaptation.

– In space no one can hear you creme

This simple yet clever parody emerged over the Easter period inexplicably blending the worlds of Alien and Cadbury’s eggs.

– Frankenstein

Cult film maker Bernard Rose(Candyman, Paperhouse) premieres his take on Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival this weekend reports Bloody Disgusting.

The cast features Carrie-Anne-Moss(The Matrix) and Xavier Samuel, star of one of the best horror films of recent times The Loved Ones. Candyman himself ,the always awesome Tony Todd, also turns up as Dr Frankenstein’s assistant Eddie.

The comfortingly self explanatory Xavier Samuel News carries this synopsis :

FRANKENSTEIN is set in present day Los Angeles and told entirely from the perspective of the Monster. After he is artificially created, then left for dead by a husband-and-wife team of eccentric scientists, Adam is confronted with nothing but aggression and violence from the world around him. This perfect creation turned disfigured monster must come to grips with the horrific nature of humanity.

In a promisingly original twist the film is set in the world of 3D bio-printing and Bernard Rose had this to say to Deadline Hollywood :

“They’re already 3D-printing organs, so to actually print an entire human being isn’t beyond the bounds of possibility. All the spiritual and metaphysical concepts in Mary Shelley’s book make more sense in that context.”

Trailer Watch :

– Lion

Balakrishna brings the bonkers as the impossibly charismatic Indian film star follows up last years insane Legend with this ultra violent opus.

– Abomination

The last outing from director and cinematographer Yam Laranas was the more than credibly eerie The Road in 2012 .The trailer below plays out beyond generic but hopefully he can bring some flair and bravado to the proceedings to elevate Abomination above the mundane.

– Sinister 2 trailer

The most grown up and genuinely troubling player in the recent resurgence of main stream horror was 2012’s Sinister.

The talented Scott Derrickson who went on to make the underrated chiller Deliver us From Evil reprises his writing role but hands over the directorial duty to Ciarán Foy for the sequel.

Sinister 2 is Foy’s reward for directing the imaginative British horror flick Citadel and providing he takes the budgetary transition in his stride we could be looking at one of 2015’s better horror follow up’s.

Sinister 2 opens in UK cinemas on August 21st 2015

Blu – ray release of the week :

Late 70’s Ozploitation is given a High Definition make-over by Synapse Films with their release of Long Weekend.

The story follows a couple who are too preoccupied with bickering during their supposedly marriage saving weekend away to notice the selfish impact they are having on the local environment- with tragic results.

Written by genre stalwart Everett De Roche(Patrick,Storm Warning,Razorback) this superior eco-revenge thriller is well worth seeking out.The film also features a stand out performance from John hargreaves (The odd Angry Shot) who could have been one of Australia’s biggest acting exports but sadly died of AIDS in 1996.

Special features :

High-Definition 1080p Transfer Supervised by Synapse Films
Re-mastered DTS HD-MA 5.1 Surround Soundtrack
Audio Commentary from Producer Richard Brennan and Cinematographer Vincent Monton
Motion Still Gallery Featuring an Audio Interview with Actor John Hargreaves

It’s only got two states of being…..dangerous…..or dead !!!!