May 28, 2021
“More links than a Zelda Convention…” - Erin B. Gaskill
I catch myself often thinking about this illustration from a Jehovah's Witnesses pamphlet I was given pic.twitter.com/fvHIURjzjJ
— Kris Wilson (@_KrisWilson_) February 26, 2021
Criterion Collection’s sale, which is 30% off all titles, ends May 31. So head on over to their site to snag some great discs like works by Ernst Lubitsch, Seijun Suzuki, and Agnès Varda.
Vinegar Syndrome’s Halfway To Black Friday sale is also underway (bad weekend for cinephiles’ wallets everywhere). Some of their recently announced titles include both SCANNER COP films, ALIEN FROM L.A., SURF II, CHAMPAGNE & BULLETS, and more (including various deals on subscriptions for the remainder of the year). Copies of certain films can go quickly, so make haste if you’re interested in grabbing any.
Ultimate Action Movies has a great list of the Top 10 Russian action movies that you should check out. Some countries’ outputs never get as much notice as they’re due—especially in certain genres—so this may be a great assortment of films that are totally new to you.
Twitch has announced that it is adding a bunch of new streamer tags to reflect diversity within the Queer community (with special emphasis going towards trans visibility).
SOMEBODY FOUND THE SMASH 64 COMMERCIAL IN HQ & IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL pic.twitter.com/5cmNMeP5z6
— Parker (@snowwood_) May 22, 2021
This isn’t breaking news or of vital importance, but I had to make certain to post two of my favorite weird stories from 2020 that would also make for pretty dope horror movies:
The first involves swarms of sex-crazed monkeys overtaking a town and turning the local movie theater into their headquarters.
The second concerns a Bolivian orchestra that went to a German castle to practice ahead of an appearance at a German festival. COVID hit, as did quarantine protocols, leaving the 20+ musicians stuck in this 15th century palace until their homeland and Germany eventually figured out how to get them out of there. Oh, and that castle? The grounds are surrounded by wolves and it is wildly believed the ancient place is haunted. It’s like CLIMAX meets THE GRAY with a pinch of CASTLE FREAK. Give me this film, NOW!
It was just two weeks ago where I listed DISTURBING BEHAVIOR’s original cut as one of the films I would like to see. Well it seems there are more likeminded folks and if you are one of them, then join in by signing the petition to release that version of DISTURBING BEHAVIOR.
It was a surprisingly big week for trailer drops. Here’s one for GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE (from the director of BIG BAD WOLVES) about three generations of women kicking all sorts of ass. It will be released in July.
Daily Grindhouse is always looking for new writers to join its arsenal of talent covering genre film and more. If that interests you (and it should), then contact EIC Jon Abrams post-haste!
Trick Or Treat Studios has GHOULIES II masks and puppets for preorder. Any incoming freshman that arrives with them to their dorm room at college this fall are automatically the coolest kids on campus.
Shameless Self Promotion Time: Here is my Bullz-Eye.com review of A QUIET PLACE PART II which is a fine, if fairly flawed, film.
Diana Prince (a.k.a. Darcy The Mail Girl) counts down the top ten insects in horror for Fangoria.
@don_sanders ##duet with @morganfkennedy total disclaimer, Coors did not pay me to cut this ad spot. Though I don’t know why. ##b33r ##coors ##cheapbuttrueads
♬ original sound - Morgan
Ghanaian poster art is a thing of beauty which infuses all sorts of exorbitant oddness and exciting (if totally unrelated) visuals into their movie one sheets. You can buy prints (and even originals) via Deadly Prey Gallery. I own a few myself and highly recommend them.
It’s hard to know what will pop up on the multitude of streaming services out there. Luckily, iO9 compiled a list of the best genre content that will be streaming in June, including when and where you can find it.
At Talk Film Society, EIC Marcelo Pico takes the release of SPIRAL to look back at the entire SAW franchise to figure out what it all meant. The ritual of an annual October release, the (eventually) sprawling mythology, and what the future should hold for the series.
Here’s the trailer for M. Night Shyamalan’s next movie, OLD. It’s based on the graphic novel Sandcastle and stars Gael Garcia Bernal, Thomasin McKenzie, Alex Wolff, Rufus Sewell, Embeth Davidtz, and more. At the outset, This feels like one of his films that could have been an episode or special (THE VILLAGE, THE HAPPENING, THE VISIT), but folks seem to be digging his new, creepier vibe in his movies.
An excellent post by Eva Herinkova for Gayming Mag about the casual queerness of Lady Masako in Ghost of Tsushima.
I am a massive fan of author Grady Hendrix. With each new book, he finds a way to improve—even though they are already terrific. There’s a lot of wit and true affection for genres in such titles as My Best Friend’s Exorcism, We Sold Our Souls, The Southern Book Club’s Guide To Slaying Vampires, and more. He utilizes established tropes but with clever angles and characters to deliver fresh takes. If you are like me, I strongly recommend subscribing to his newsletter.
Never enter a battle of wits against someone with a Ted Kord avatar. Also, fuck Lauren Boebert.
Afrofuturism: Blackness Revisualized is a free, online film festival that is running through to the end of 2021. It has short films and feature length movies that span the globe in order to tell unique stories about visions of Black experiences in a future that too often occludes such perspectives. Polygon has a great rundown on the spirit of the festival, its offerings, and why you should check it out.
And now….the LAST NIGHT IN SOHO teaser has been unleashed. I am a massive fan of Edgar Wright (not that he can’t make mistakes or deliver less than great work). But his next film (well, THE SPARKS BROTHERS documentary will be released before then) looks great and like another departure into a new realm of cross-genre for the auteur. There are striking visuals and mysterious allusions to what the plot will be, but it gives off strong vibes of LOST RIVER, THE NEON DEMON, BLACK SWAN, and some Mario Bava moodiness.
Lastly, you’ve already heard me gush about Racer Trash. The artist collective that brings VaporWave aesthetics and anarchic glee to remixing/reimagining/recontextualizing all sorts of movies and other works. Their first major take on a film, SPEED VAPOR (which is their take on 2008’s SPEED RACER from The Wachowski Sisters and, subsequently, gave the group its name) is now available in full to watch on Vimeo—or you can simply check it out below. You’ll be delighted, puzzled, enthralled, and more by the exuberance and abundance of talent on display.
Their anniversary screening on their Twitch stream will be May 28 at 7pm PST. As always, the show is free to watch but please donate to their many worthy causes.
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