Blu-Ray Review: The Editor
Published on November 3rd, 2015 in: Blu-Ray, Canadian Content, Comedy, Current Faves, DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews, Horror, Movie Reviews, Movies, Reviews |By Brendan Ross
Those crazy Astron-6 kids have done it again! This time around the Winnipeg collective have made their most ambitious film yet: both a spoof and a love letter to giallo cinema of the 1970s and 1980s. For those not familiar, the term giallo refers to a very specific genre of arthouse-meets-grindhouse thrillers from Italy, recognizable just as much for their beautifully stylized aesthetics as for their bizarrely convoluted story lines and hysterically poor overdubbed dialogue. If you are familiar with the works of Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, or Mario Bava then you probably know what I’m talking about. If not, go watch Deep Red, The Beyond, and Bay Of Blood right now. I’ll wait here…
Blu-Ray Review: The Brood
Published on October 30th, 2015 in: Blu-Ray, Canadian Content, Current Faves, DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews, Horror, Movie Reviews, Movies, Reissues, Retrovirus, Reviews |
Let’s get this out of the way first: whenever someone asks about my favorite David Cronenberg film, my knee-jerk response is, The Brood. Having seen almost all of Cronenberg’s pre-A History Of Violence movies, it still stands out. Perhaps it doesn’t have as much of the gruesome depravity of Videodrome or Dead Ringers (both excellent films in their own right), but there’s just something about it that continues to fascinate me.
I Wish You’d All Be Ready For This Amazing Cover Song
Published on October 28th, 2015 in: Culture Shock, Movies, Music, Video |
Christians have always been fascinated by the end of the world. In their version of this inevitable event, Jesus comes back and takes all of his followers with him up into Heaven, while those who do not believe are left on Earth where Satan rules, and something about the Illuminati and the United Nations and the Mark of the Beast and really, it just gets kind of confusing after that. I think it comes down to Christians get to skip last period, which is the class that everyone hates and has a D in.
DVD Review: The Horror Network
Published on October 27th, 2015 in: DVD, DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews, Horror, Movie Reviews, Movies, Reviews |
Fans of networks, be forewarned that The Horror Network has nothing to do with networks or networking. The title is kind of mysterious. There’s no framing device for the five shorts that comprise this anthology, and no overarching theme to be used as connective tissue. It’s a scattershot approach, but if the intent is to throw a bunch of stories at the wall and see which ones stick, then well done.
Five Freaky German Films
Published on October 22nd, 2015 in: Film Festivals, Horror, Listicles, Movies, Science Fiction, Top Five Lists |
Der Nachtmahr
I was a big fan of Der Nachtmahr, which screened at this year’s TIFF. German director AKIZ has said that the film is “New German Fantastic Cinema” with roots in the Expressionist films of the 1920s. Here are a few more freaky German films from the country’s rich cinematic tradition.
Parasites In Cinema: A Listicle
Published on October 21st, 2015 in: Horror, Listicles, Movies, Science Fiction |
“Pssst, do you have any Reese’s Pieces?”
Have you seen Der Nachtmahr yet? Probably not if you haven’t been to the three film festivals where it has screened (Locarno, TIFF, Warsaw).
What’s Der Nachtmahr about, you ask? “After a wild night out, a Berlin party girl finds herself haunted by a twisted, repellent little creature that no one else can see.”
Is he an alien? Is he good or evil? Is he a parasite? You’ll have to see the film to find out (and you can read my review), but in the meantime I thought I’d pay my respects to some well-known (or perhaps underrated) cinematic parasites.
Retro Review: Here Comes The Devil
Published on October 20th, 2015 in: Film Festivals, Horror, Movie Reviews, Movies, Retrovirus, Reviews |
If you’re familiar with Mexican horror films and are expecting something Gothic, spooky, and languorous from Adrián García Bogliano, you’re in for a surprise. Here Comes The Devil is going to scorch your eyeballs and bathe them in blood.
Seven Movies About Possession
Published on October 19th, 2015 in: Horror, Listicles, Movies, Science Fiction |
The Devil’s Candy
When most people think about possession movies, they think about The Exorcist. While that is certainly a worthy film (and my personal favorite horror film ever), it’s not the only one out there to deal with the topic. The Devil’s Candy and February are two recent films that put a fresh spin on the subgenre. Here are seven more movies about possession, just in time for Halloween.
Music Review: The Winding Stream: The Carters, The Cashes and The Course Of Country Music
Published on October 16th, 2015 in: Current Faves, Feminism, Movies, Music, Music Reviews, Retrovirus, Reviews, Soundtracks and Scores |
One might say that if it weren’t for the Carter family, country music as we know it (or knew it, rather) wouldn’t exist. Director Beth Harrington’s film, The Winding Stream: The Carters, The Cashes And The Course Of Country Music, explores that notion, starting with A.P Carter, his wife Sara and sister-in-law Maybelle, following that stream to the Carter Sisters, to June Carter and Johnny Cash, all the way to Rosanne Cash. The Carters’ influence was far-reaching, shaping ancient melodies into popular songs, and pushing the guitar into the forefront of American music.
The Official Popshifter Podcast, Episode #03: Hallowand
Published on October 16th, 2015 in: DVD, DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews, Horror, Movie Reviews, Movies, Music, Music Reviews, Podcasts, Reviews |
The Official Popshifter Podcast, Episode #03, “Hallowand”
It’s the Halloween episode of the Official Popshifter Podcast, and we’re talking about all things Halloween with our special guest, Paul Casey. It’s a cornucopia of creepiness this month on Popshifter!
Featuring Managing Editor Less Lee Moore, Featured Contributor Jeffery X Martin, and Special Guest Paul Casey! Enjoy and thanks for listening.