Connect with us

Home Video

[DVD Review] ‘The Collection’ Is An Insane Array Of Creative Ways To Kill People

Published

on

The Collection starts like a music video, glorifying party sluts at angles only an art student would use – all while untiss untiss. Dig it? However, it’s not 1999 anymore. If you go to raves, you deserve to die.

Such is the case in this sequel to 2009’s The Collector. Again directed by Marcus Dunstan, we take a seemingly innocent party atmosphere and turn it into a crazy epic bloodbath.The film then continues in this format, with such mannerisms, so much that the over the top torture porn looks choreographed. And really, the torture porn isn’t really over the top. It’s bareable. The Collection is simply yet another insane array of creative ways to kill people. It’s absolutely ridiculous, but for what it is, it works.

Mr. Peters aka Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald)’s daughter Elena (Emma Fitzpatrick) is kidnapped from the rave. Arkin from The Collector has survived his ordeal from the original film and leads Lucello (Lee Tergesen) aka the “I love you, man” guy from Wayne’s World, who is a bodyguard of sorts for Elena, to where the Collector guy lives. And where is that? The abandoned Hotel Argento – whose name won’t take you right out of the movie (sarcasm). It is rigged with its own set of contraptions (see first movie) and somehow the Collector guy is just insanely stronger than most people and starts taking them out one by one. When a trap or The Collector guy doesn’t take someone out, one of his dogs do. Dogs that are both canine and people his has turned into his crazy psychopaths. Yes, his collection includes people that he has drugged up and mutilated. So drugged up and mutilated that they come at the rescue crew like a horde of rage infected zombies – but they just sorta just look like members of Slipknot.

All the while – who’s paying the rent and utilities on this place?

Even with all the nonsense, The Collection is well done and well acted. The imagery, as absurd as it is with slow-mos and gallons of blood, are crafted in an eye appealing manor, as is the sound. While the DVD doesn’t show the crisp imagery of a Blu-ray, it does have impressive audio qualities. Every squish and creek and break is heard which adds to the unsettling nature of the subject matter.

The special features on the disc are basics. There are three deleted scenes and a theatrical trailer. There are also five featurettes: A Director’s Vision, Makeup and Effects of The Collection, Production Design, Special Effects of The Collection, and Stunts of The Collection. Each runs only a few minutes long and are at least somewhat interesting. The commentary is Marcus Dunstan with cowriter Patrick Melton and the two deliver some good insight for those who enjoy this type of feature. They are very passionate about their product and their hard work and dedication shows.

The Collection will make a nice addition to any fan of the first films’ library, however, if you are simply looking to check out, I definitely recommend renting it.

Home Video

Gateway Horror Classic ‘The Gate’ Returns to Life With Blu-ray SteelBook in May

Published

on

One of my personal favorite horror movies of all time, 1987’s gateway horror classic The Gate is opening back up on May 14 with a brand new Blu-ray SteelBook release from Lionsgate!

The new release will feature fresh SteelBook artwork from Vance Kelly, seen below.

Special Features, all of which were previously released, include…

  • Audio Commentaries
    • Director Tibor Takacs, Writer Michael Nankin, and Special Effects Designer & Supervisor Randall William Cook
    • Special Effects Designer & Supervisor Randall William Cook, Special Make-Up Effects Artist Craig Reardon, Special Effects Artist Frank Carere, and Matte Photographer Bill Taylor
  • Isolated Score Selections and Audio Interview
  • Featurettes:
    • The Gate: Unlocked
    • Minion Maker
    • From Hell It Came
    • The Workman Speaks!
    • Made in Canada
    • From Hell: The Creatures & Demons of The Gate
    • The Gatekeepers
    • Vintage Featurette: Making of The Gate
  • Teaser Trailer
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • TV Spot
  • Storyboard Gallery
  • Behind-the-Scenes Still Gallery

When best friends Glen (Stephen Dorff) and Terry (Louis Tripp) stumble across a mysterious crystalline rock in Glen’s backyard, they quickly dig up the newly sodden lawn searching for more precious stones. Instead, they unearth The Gate — an underground chamber of terrifying demonic evil. The teenagers soon understand what evil they’ve released as they are overcome with an assortment of horrific experiences. With fiendish followers invading suburbia, it’s now up to the kids to discover the secret that can lock The Gate forever . . . if it’s not too late.

If you’ve never seen The Gate, it’s now streaming on Prime Video and Tubi.

Continue Reading