Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on October 26th, 2018
"When someone is shooting at you, you know their intentions."
Submarines have had their own fascinations since Leonardo da Vinci first designed one. Jules Verne took us 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and used a fantastical submarine to inspire and dazzle readers for centuries. Even television has gotten into the act as Irwin Allen took us on a Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea. But it's the cinema that truly captured the idea of submarine warfare, from the German classic Das Boot to the equally classic Run Silent Run Deep. Modern films like Crimson Tide and The Hunt For Red October took advantage of modern f/x technologies to bring us even closer to the perilous depths.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 25th, 2018
"You are about to witness the strength of snake knowledge."
That's me. In addition to being the senior writer here at Upcomingdiscs, I also have been a snake breeder for an even longer period of crimes. So, when a box arrived from our friends at Lionsgate with a rubber snake, a couple of syringe pens, and a movie called Snake Outta Compton, I knew this was one I was going to tackle. The snake in the box was rubber and caused no fright here. The syringe pens on the other hand... Let's not talk about those. Snake Outta Compton attempts to bring the world of Snakes On A Plane to Straight Outta Compton.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 25th, 2018
"My father told me about these men, about their natures. All I knew were the stories I was told of monsters and the valiant men sworn to slay them. I fear the stories I've heard may have been clouded, the truth more than clouded. It would seem these monsters are men, sons, brothers, fathers. And it would seem these men face their own monsters..."
Move over, Captain Jack Sparrow.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on October 24th, 2018
Black Sails fans rejoice. 31 Nights Of Terror takes you on-board a pirate ship with the infamous Captain Flint. I had an opportunity to chat with Toby Stephens who plays Captain Flint on the show. He had some insightful things to say. Bang it here to listen in on my chat with Toby Stephens. It's all to celebrate the release of Black Sails: The Complete Series on Blu-ray from Lionsgate.
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on October 22nd, 2018
This will be our last giveaway for 31 Nights Of Terror. We’re giving away Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein on Blu-ray. Bela Lugosi returned to the role of Dracula for the 2nd and last time for this farce. It was also the final appearance of Lon Chaney, Jr. as The Wolf Man. It marked the end of an era and it’s going out to one lucky winner.
To win a copy of this prize, follow these instructions.
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on October 19th, 2018
"I always knew he'd come back. In this town, Michael Myers is a myth. He's the Boogeyman. A ghost story to scare kids. But this Boogeyman is real. An evil like his never stops, it just grows older. Darker. More determined. Forty years ago, he came to my home to kill. He killed my friends, and now he's back to finish what he started, with me. The one person who's ready to stop him."
I was 17 years old when John Carpenter released The Shape, aka Michael Myers, on the world in 1978. It was a milestone film. Of course we didn't know we were watching something that would become so culturally huge.
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on October 19th, 2018
I was quite reluctant to attend the screening for The Oath. My reluctance wasn't based on my willingness to see the film. People like us will go to any kind of a movie. I love films. My issue was the impression I received from the trailer. The film appears to be ripped from today's political climate and quite possibly to be a close parody of the actual present political situation. No matter on what side of that issue I might personally happen to fall, we here at Upcomingdiscs try our best to keep our politics out of our work. It's not fair to fellow writers for them to be brushed with any other writer's ideals, and it's simply unnecessary to create a hostile environment here for any of our readers or staff. So I approached the screening with the caveat that I might not actually review the film. When the studio agreed to those terms, I set out to experience The Oath. I'll give you a little "inside baseball" into the movie review business.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on October 18th, 2018
Painless is out on DVD from Indican Pictures. 31 Nights Of Terror takes you behind the scenes with writer/director Jordan Horowitz. Joey Klein stars as a man who can't feel pain and Painless covers his desperate search for a cure. I had a nice talk with Jordan Horowitz about the film. he let me in on some nice inside stories. Now you can eavesdrop on the call and you won't even need any help from the NSA. Bang it here to listen to my chat with Jordan Horowitz.
Catch the film at Amazon Painless
Posted in: Contests by Gino Sassani on October 16th, 2018
31 Nights Of Terror delivers yet another giveaway. Indican Pictures has given us a copy of their new horror film Painless. I'll be talking soon to the film's director and writer Jordan Horowitz. Please be sure to give it a listen when we post it. What would you do to end your own pain? That's the question this new horror film puts to the test. Enter to win a copy and find out the answer.
To win a copy of this prize, follow these instructions.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 15th, 2018
"All things change. This world is impermanent and deceiving. Many things are not what they seem. You will have many adventures here. And if we live, many stories to tell at the Great Hall. If we live."
When Vikings started five years ago, I found it to be quite an ambitious task for a network that usually featured documentaries and reality shows about odd jobs. I approached this one with some caution. Now I've thrown caution to the wind for these compelling characters. I was particularly drawn into the lead. Travis Fimmel was outstanding as the Viking leader Ragnor Lothbrook. When his character was killed off after three years, I suspected things would be winding down for this experiment.
