The Resurrected

The first thing you think of when it comes to a Lovecraft movie is Re-Animator. But there is one horrid little gem that many may have missed, and that is The Resurrected. The Resurrected is based off a short story by Lovecraft called The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. And while it moves the story to a modern setting, it stays true to the creepy that is Lovecraft.

Made back in the early 90’s and released to VHS (remember those?) The Resurrected stars John Terry (who I know as Hawk The Slayer but everyone now thinks of as “Jack’s Dad” from Lost) as private detective John March who is hired by a pretty blonde named Claire Ward (Jane Sibbett) to find out just what the hell her husband is doing now that he’s moved out of their mansion. Seems hubby is now focused on making stinky smells and gross things that ooze out of his far less glam new digs.
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Porky’s: The One Size Fits All Edition

Nary a film fan didn’t heave a tremendous sigh of grief at the untimely passing of director Bob Clark last month in a tragic car crash in California. In a career spanning four decades, Clark racked up an eclectic CV of films, including one of the great underrated horror classics (1973’s Black Christmas, recently bastardized in a crap remake – discover the original!) as well as a true American classic, 1983’s A Christmas Story. Sure, there were a few outright clunkers (Rhinestone, anyone?), but for the most part the director’s assured eye and surprisingly deft hand at any material brought a certain truthful charm to just about everything. Yes, even serial killers. And that most frightening of all creatures… the teenage boy, at the center of 1982’s legendary Porky’s. (more…)

Pan’s Labyrinth and The Fountain

2006 was a banner year for science fiction and fantasy films with searing intelligence and passionate storytelling. Two of those films arrive on DVD this week:

Guillermo del Toro is arguably the most daring of the new guard of Mexican filmmakers to emerge in recent years. His Pan’s Labyrinth is a splendid morality tale about the choices that make us who we are. Set against the backdrop of the Spanish civil war, the story follows young Ophelia’s test of mettle in the face of evil both fantastical and all too frighteningly real. (more…)

Armageddon vs. Deep Impact

Hollywood and the disaster movie have had a long and rocky relationship (hehehe, get it? rocky? Anyone?). Back in the 60’s and 70’s there were a slew of them with such titles as Earthquake, The Towering Inferno, and the myriad Airport movies.

They tapered off a bit but in the 90’s they came back with a big old bang. And it started another trend that would keep going till The Day After Tomorrow. This new batch of disaster added a new element, the big freaking rock hurtling towards Earth. Not an unheard of fear, and these new movies with modern special effects could really milk it for all it was worth.

From this new batch emerged two mega budget epics, Armageddon and Deep Impact.
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DVD Pick of the Week - Big: The Director’s Cut

Of all the films out there that lend themselves to, even demand, a longer, fuller edit… well, Big doesn’t immediately stand out as one of them. The 1988 comedy that launched Tom Hanks into stardom (and earned him, in this geek’s view, his most richly deserved Oscar nom… and it’s the one he lost), it’s a fairly airtight, heartwarming, odd and endearing tale as could only be told by that master of light comedy, Laverne DeFazio. (Well, at least Penny showed loads of promise then… this was before Renaissance Man and Riding In Cars With Boys. Oy.) (more…)

Alice, Sweet Alice: Ah, the creepiest 1970’s film starring Brooke Shields hits DVD at last – no, not Pretty Baby. This 1976 horror gem (originally released as Communion) tells the sordid tale of young Alice (Paula Sheppard), an adolescent accused of the murder of her younger sister (Shields) which sets of a bizarre, and disturbingly filmed, series of events deeply rooted in Catholic guilt. For lovers of offbeat horror, it’s a must see; the film also features possibly the creepiest mask ever to grace the face of a slasher – take that, Ghostface! Includes a director/editor commentary and alternate opening titles.

An Officer & A Gentleman: Collector’s Edition: A fine slice of romance and an all-too rare example of a chick flick with balls, Taylor Hackford’s 1982 film is all the more remarkable given the fact that hot lovebirds Debra Winger and Richard Gere couldn’t stand each other in real life. (more…)