Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on October 27th, 2014
31 Nights Of Terror is coming to an end this week. We have one more giveaway make this the most prizes we've ever given in October. Oscillascope offers Whitewash staring Thomas Haden Church. "Hell can be a cold dark place". An accidental death leads to terror in this DVD. One lucky winner gets to find out for free.
To win just follow these instructions.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on October 25th, 2014
Most of you know Sarah Butler from her strong performance in I Spit On Your Grave. The remake might have gotten mixed reviews but Butler's strong showing has helped to create a promising career. In Free Fall she gets to work with Halloween producer Malek Akkad and screen legend Malcolm McDowell. I had a chance to chat with Sarah about the new film coming October 28th from Anchor Bay. She's got tons of energy and our time together was far too short to ask everything I had hoped. Bang it here to listen in on my chat with Sarah Butler.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 25th, 2014
The Mentalist was once the highest rated drama on television. There was a lot to like here, as I'll discuss throughout this review. But I think most of us had gotten a little sick and tired of the Red John story. The show milked the single case for over five years, and the fan base had dissolved to the point that the once #1 show has been on the bubble for the last two seasons. Next year it will return, but only as a January mid-season replacement, a place many shows begin their lives. Fans' patience has worn thin, but at long last the show's producers discovered what we've known since the second season. It's time to get Red John gone and move the show in another direction. If the show was going to survive, it was now or never. What you likely didn't see coming was a two-year jump in time and a retooling in the middle of an ongoing series. More on that later. Let's get you up to date first, shall we?
Simon Baker stars as Patrick Jane, a psychic who was riding high bilking folks out of their hard-earned money by playing on their desires to contact their deceased loved ones. He justified his con as providing closure for his marks and never looked back. That is, until one day he makes a fatal mistake. He never fooled himself into believing any of it was real. He wasn’t psychic. He just paid close attention. While working with the police to solve a serial killer case, he arrogantly demeans the murderer, known as Red John, on a television show. It was all chuckles until he gets home and finds that he made Red John so angry that he killed his wife and young daughter. Driven by guilt and a desire to avenge his family’s death, he abandoned his con game and decided to use the observational skills that allowed him to play a psychic to assist the California Bureau of Investigation, a sort of state-based FBI, to solve murders. He’s not a cop, but consulted with a tough-crimes division that answers directly to the state’s Attorney General. As he put it, “No gun. No badge. They don’t even give me dental.” While he’s shed his psychic persona, Jane is still incredibly full of himself. Jane is also deeply disturbed, although he hides it well. He still sleeps in the bedroom where his wife and daughter were killed. He never covered the red smiley face Red John drew at his crime scenes to taunt him in the victims’ own blood. A little Helter Skelter meets Barney.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on October 22nd, 2014
Our friends down at Revolver Entertainment have really hit the target with a copy of the DVD About A Zombie. They’ve got a documentary crew following that Zombie Apocalypse we’ve all been hearing about. They’ve also given us a copys of the film on DVD to give away to you guys. Zombie Apocalypse and free stuff! It doesn’t get much better than that. Now that's a 31 Nights Of Terror we can all scream about.
To win just follow these instructions.
Posted in: Random Fun by Gino Sassani on October 21st, 2014
This last Friday night Upcomingdiscs was invited to attend the 10th annual scare fest at Busch Gardens in Tampa. They call it Howl-O-Scream, and what a scream it is, literally. I believe that most of the people who attend these events do it so that they can scream themselves hoarse. I bumped into a young girl reaching for napkins at a concession stand and she practically had a heart attack. She screamed and began thumping her chest. I apologized for the unintended startle, but I’m not sure she ever heard a word I said. If you’re reading this, sorry once again. But that’s the climate you can expect to encounter should you be fortunate enough to get to the spooktacular before it closes up for the season.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on October 21st, 2014
31 Nights Of Terror continues. We do the celebration. You get the goodies. This time it's our pals down at Revolver Entertainment that have loaded a contest. Their new horror DVD The Inside streets on DVD/VOD on October 21st. A strange video tape turns up in a pawnshop camera. What it contains is going to be a shock. Allow us to deliver a little shock-treatment right to your front door. One lucky winner walks away with this terrifying DVD from Revolver.
To win just follow these instructions.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on October 19th, 2014
This continues to be a crowded 31 Nights Of Terror contest year. Once again it's thanks to the great folks at Arc Entertainment. This one is for the kids. Maybe not so scary but a lot of fun. Arc Entertainment has given us three copies of their zany adventure Under Wraps. The animated feature is loaded with mummy's, pharaohs and other things that go bump in the night. It was released October 14th on DVD. It features the voice talents of Brooke Shields, Drake Bell & Matthew Lillard. Who's your Mummy? Upcomingdiscs and Arc Entertainment, that's who.
To win just follow these instructions.
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on October 17th, 2014
"Ideals are peaceful. History is violent."
David Ayer doesn't have a huge resume of films to his credit. In his 15 years as a director he's only given us five films. Add just another three as a writer. What he has done as a writer and/or director appears to explore some of the same themes of machismo under heavy fire that are splattered all about Fury along with the blood and gore that is the natural byproduct of war. He's the kind of filmmaker who doesn't appear to tackle a project unless he finds he has something to say. In the past that voice hasn't always been terribly original. And while Fury contains pretty much every World War II stereotype ever filmed, Ayer has found a way to present the over-explored genre in a new and clever way at times. You have to exhibit great patience. There are many moments where Ayer stretches a scene to the point where you really feel the nearly 2 1/2 hour running time. During those moments you might find yourself questioning the investment of cash and time you've given him, and rightly so. Ayer can milk a moment like no one else in the business. But, if you stick with it, Fury will deliver just enough of those incredible moments that will make you glad you did.
Posted in: Contests, Expired Contests by Gino Sassani on October 15th, 2014
This year we're having our best 31 Nights Of Terror ever. We're giving away so much stuff and it's all thanks to folks like our great buddies at Arc Entertainment. They've chipped in with three copies of their new thriller Autumn Blood. These hunters are out for blood. Can an innocent 16-year-old girl and her 10-year-old brother survive these brutal attackers? You can find out. We'll send a copy right to your front door if you're one of the lucky winners. The movie arrives on DVD on October 21st. It looks to be killer.
To win just follow these instructions.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on October 14th, 2014
Daniel Stamm is one of those directors who comes along once in a while with some fresh ideas. He's given us the controversial A Necessary Death, The Last Exorcism and 13 Sins. There are some rather nice chills to be found in his films, but whatever you do: Don't call him a horror director. Okay, you can call him a horror director, if you want. Bang it here to check out our recent review for 13 Sins.
I had the chance to chat with Daniel. He's an energetic talent with passion for the craft. It was a great time. Now you can check out what he had to say. Bang it here to sit in on our talk: Daniel Stamm Interview.
