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BD-REVIEW

[BD Review] Brad Finds ‘Lords Of Salem’ To Be A Chore, Mike Loves The Style

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on April 19, 2013 @ 11:27am
Category: Movies / Videos

Rob Zombie’s The Lords of Salem is finally out (in limited theaters in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, DC, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Detroit) and it’s sort of a polarizing movie. Some people love it, others hate it. I kinda liked it for the strong visuals, but felt that the story was pretty spotty. But Brad and Mike have actual reviews posted – so read those!

Per Brad, “It would be easy to give Lords a pass. It has genuinely creepy imagery, cool scares, super crazy sound design, and even more mind blowing set designs. But there will be no pass, mainly because of the awkwardly unfulfilling ending and the fact that much of the “cool” doesn’t interact with the characters or plot.”

Per Mike, “For 100 minutes, I was taken away to another place and the usual insistence in basic storytelling and character eluded me. In this case, the style is the substance.”

Who will YOU agree with? Here’s Brad’s review out of TIFF, as well as Mike’s more positive take. As always, write in with YOUR review here!

Contests

[BD Review] Brad Digs ‘Antiviral’ And Two Lucky Winners Can Watch It For Free!!!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on April 12, 2013 @ 10:00am
Category: Movies / Contests

SundanceNOW and IFC Midnight’s Antiviral, directed by Brandon Cronenberg, opens on VOD and in limited theaters this Today, April 12th. So we figured we’d do two things, the first of which is to remind you to read Mr. Disgusting’s review (excerpted here),”The expectations may have been unfairly high (being the son of a legend demands some sort of competence), yet he surpasses them by delivering a deep, engaging, and beautifully shot art house horror film.”

The second thing is a quick mini-contest. We’re giving TWO lucky readers the chance to watch the film on SundanceNOW for free! Just email [email protected] with your favorite David Cronenberg movie. I’ll hit the winners back on Monday with their passes so they can watch the movie.

Caleb Landry Jones, Sarah Gadon, Malcolm McDowell, Douglas Smith, Matt Watts and James Cade all star in the film. Click here to read the review in its entirety, then write your own.

[BD Review] ‘Stitches’ Is Destined To Be A Cult Classic!!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on April 04, 2013 @ 1:38pm
Category: Movies / News

Fantastic Films and MPI Media Group (Hatchet II, Stakeland, The Innkeepers)’s horror comedy Stitches, directed by Conor McMahon, is currently out on DVD, Blu-ray and VOD – and I certainly recommend it! So I’m taking the time to re-post Mr. Disgusting’s review to remind you of the film’s potential!

“And while the filmmakers let the good times roll, when its time to get to business, they f*cking deliver. Stitches is a relentless and brutal slasher that’s not only ultra violent, but also off-the-wall gory. But the icing in the ice cream cake is how original the death scenes are taking the genre to an entirely new level (think Killer Klownz weird).”

You can read his review in its entirety by clicking here. And don’t forget to write your own to tell all of Bloody what YOU think. READ MORE

[SXSW '13 Review] ‘Evil Dead’ Is Amazingly Gory And Fun!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on March 09, 2013 @ 11:27am
Category: Movies / News

FilmDistrict and TriStar’s Evil Dead just premiered at SXSW and I had a total blast with it. It’s pretty much exactly the movie you think it is, but it goes further (and gets wetter) than you’re probably expecting.

“It’s even gorier than you’re expecting. I seriously don’t have a clue as to how they wrangled an “R” rating here. Blood, pus, bone fragments, limbs and brains are flung around with playful abundance and the result is both punishing and exhilarating… This film doesn’t condemn its audience, it exalts it – and as a result it’s able to achieve a sustained symphony of carnage that energizes rather than exhausts.”

Directed by Fede Alvarez, the R-rated remake stars Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Elizabeth Blackmore and Jessica Lucas.

Check out the entire review here! READ MORE

[BD Review] Brad Finds A Lot To Like In ‘Warm Bodies’

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on February 01, 2013 @ 9:15am
Category: Movies / News

Summit Entertainment releases All the Boys Love Mandy Lane and 50/50 director Jonathan Levine’s Warm Bodies today, February 1st and Brad (Mr. Disgusting) is here to share is review. The good news is that he liked what he saw and would recommend it – with a few exceptions. I had planned to follow this review up with my own take, but since I’m sort of (barely) in the movie I’ve decided that I won’t be writing an official review. But I will say that I pretty much agree with Brad on this one (though I like it just a little bit more).

“‘Warm Bodies’ is beautifully shot, features relatable characters, and a carries a romance that the viewer may actually connect with. There’s a lot to like about Warm Bodies, even if you’re into old school horror. Still, the hardcore horror nuts may be turned off by the lack of violence and gore typically shrouding the zombie subgenre…”

Click here for the full review! And make sure to write your own reviews as well! READ MORE

[BD Review] Brad Is Mixed On ‘Mama’

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on January 18, 2013 @ 7:00am
Category: Movies / News

Universal releases Mama, the Guillermo del Toro-produced horror thriller about a group of feral children raised by something sinister, today, January 18th. Brad (Mr. Disgusting) saw a lot to like in the film, but ultimately couldn’t make it past the film’s extreme overuse of CGI and some muddled character development.

“We see Mama way too much, there are too many effects shots in general, and for whatever reason Muschietti felt the need to have Mama performing acrobatics like bending backwards off walls and twisting into inordinate shapes. Some of the most haunting and jump out of your seat scary moments are subtle and quick, not long winded and showy… The most disappointing aspect of Mama is that the original idea is fantastic, and some of the scares are out of this world effective. But ultimately poor writing, editorial and effects decisions transform it into a long winded, almost faux horror movie.”

Click here for the full review and remember to write your own reviews here!

[BD Review] Brad Weighs In On ‘Paranormal Activity 4′!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on October 19, 2012 @ 10:07am
Category: Movies / News

Paramount Pictures’ Paranormal Activity 4 hits theaters today, October 19. It’s directed by Catfish duo Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, whom also helmed Paranormal Activity 3. Unfortunately, this fourth entry has none of that film’s mojo. I unexpectedly loved the third entry, so my hopes were high for this new installment, so imagine my surprise when I sat in the theater aghast at how boring the overall film is (not to mention how flimsy the ending is).

But don’t take my word for it! Brad (Mr. Disgusting) weighs in with his review, “Paranormal Activity 4 is such drivel. It’s trite and cliche to its own fault, a lazy and cheap replica of a Paranormal Activity movie. If it weren’t for the performances by all three of the children, I may have found myself either sleeping or walking out of the theater – and this is saying a lot from the guy who gave Paranormal Activity 2 a pass.”

Read the whole review here and be sure to tell everyone what YOU think by writing your own review.

[BD Review] Brad Thinks ‘Smiley’ Will Leave You Frowning

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on October 09, 2012 @ 10:38am
Category: Movies / News

Director Michael Gallagher’s (“Totally Sketch”) Smiley hits theaters on Friday, October 12. AMC will exclusively release the film theatrically through its AMC independent platform on 28 screens in 14 markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston and Atlanta.

Brad (Mr. Disgusting) has seen the film and didn’t find much to love. In fact, it’s one of his least favorite movies of the year thus far. “[The film] attempts to tap into modern technology. Unfortunately, the only thing it taps into is a wellspring of generic slasher tropes that mainstream horror fans will scoff throw popcorn at. It’s bad enough that this cool concept (‘Candyman’ with a hint of ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’) is ruined by the fake scares, but the ship is finally sunk by a heavy dose of exposition that attempts at an extreme and unnecessary clarity”

Click here for the full review. And be sure to write your own! READ MORE

[Fantastic Fest '12 Review] Brad Thinks ‘The Conspiracy’ Is A Rabbit Hole Worth Going Down

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on September 24, 2012 @ 1:44pm
Category: Movies / News

Director Christopher MacBride’s Conspiracy is playing the ongoing Fantastic Fest in Austin. In the film, “Two young documentary filmmakers are drawn into a shadowy world of secret societies when the subject of their film simply disappears. Have his investigations led to his demise?”

And now Brad (Mr. Disgusting) writes in with his review. In short, he found a lot to like. “The film builds tremendous amounts of suspense as they go from a safe place of laughing at a “wacko” to the sudden haunting realization that all of this “may be true.” And, if so, are they in danger? The tension builds to an incredible third act that can best be described as Eyes Wide Shut with more scares, but less boobage.”

Click here for the full review! READ MORE

[TIFF '12 Review] Brad Is Blown Away By Most Of ‘Dredd 3D’

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on September 21, 2012 @ 2:42pm
Category: Movies / News

Writer Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Sunshine) and director Pete Travis (Vantage Point) bring Dredd back to life as a futuristic neo-noir action film that is pretty d*mn hardcore. The film screened last night at TIFF so we figure it’s time to feature our review.

The reviews have been mostly gushing, and Brad pretty much feels the same way (with some reservations about the film’s ending).

“Dredd is a supercharged comic adaptation that’s faithful to the source material and made specifically for the fans. There’s nothing to indicate an attempt to appeal to mass audiences, which means Dredd was made for YOU, which is a rare treat in the cinematic haze of remakes, franchise films and generic thrillers. Even with a lackluster finale, soak this magnificent work of art in and enjoy the hour and a half gift from the movie gods.

I loved the film too, for what it’s worth. Click here to read the review in its entirety, then check back after the film comes out to write your own.

[BD Review] Evan Thinks ‘Sinister’ Delivers On Its Promise

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on September 21, 2012 @ 10:45am
Category: Movies / News

Summit’s Sinister plays Fantastic Fest this weekend (a few weeks ahead of its official release date on October 12th). While my review was heavily mixed on the film (favorable by a hair), Evan Dickson found a lot more to like.

“As Ellison makes his way through the tapes, accompanied by copious amounts of whiskey, it’s hard not to be impressed. These images are never less than unsettling and occasionally they’re downright horrific. This is the real coup of the film. Derrickson has touched upon something truly indelible in the construction of these moments. They’re not gory, but they’re unflinching. He lets you see more than most filmmakers do, yet still knows when to pull back at the exact right time required to maximize the intended impact. ”

Ethan Hawke, James Ranson and Juliet Rylance all star in this horror flick from Exorcism of Emily Rose director Scott Derrickson. Head inside for the full review! READ MORE

Film Title: House at the End of the Street

[BD Review] Brad Doesn’t Find Much To Love In ‘House At The End Of The Street’!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on September 21, 2012 @ 9:54am
Category: Movies / News

Relativity Media releases House at the End of the Street today, September 21st. The PG-13 thriller from director Mark Tonderai (Hush) stars Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games) Max Thieriot (My Soul To Take) and Elizabeth Shue (Leaving Las Vegas, Adventures In Babysitting). And I’ve got a feeling that the film’s unfortunate twitter hashtag (#HATES) might come back to haunt it. At least if other critics feel the same way Brad does.

In the film, “On the horror scale this PG-13 thriller scores a big fat zero, although it has one fairly well staged jump scare. Frankly, the only thing that makes the remotely bearable to watch are the performances by Theiriot and Lawrence (Elisabeth Shue is awkwardly scripted and shockingly miscast)… it’s just so poorly conceived that it should have premiered on Lifetime.”

Click here for the full review and of course please write your own! READ MORE

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[BD Review] Brad Thinks ‘Resident Evil: Retribution’ Is Mind-Melting Eye Candy

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on September 14, 2012 @ 10:46am
Category: Movies / News

The Paul W.S. Anderson directed Resident Evil: Retribution 3D hits theaters today. The film stars Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, Colin Salmon, Michelle Rodriguez, Shawn Roberts, Boris Kodjoe, Johann Urb, Oded Fehr, Kevin Durand and Li Bingbing. And now Brad (Mr. Disgusting) writes in with his review! He didn’t love the movie, but thinks it will certainly satisfy fans of the series. I tend to agree – I think it’s the best one of the bunch.

Check out our Resident Evil Hub for more Retribution!

“Good or bad, it’s time to be honest – the sole reason any of us watch these movies is to see Milla Jovovich kicking ass in a skintight outfit. This time we’re also blessed with Sienna Guillory squeezed into a tight blue Jill Valentine costume (even though her acting was appalling). Still, I couldn’t help but wish that Michelle Rodriguez had a larger role. In fact, it made me wish she had a bigger role in everything. I can only hope that with the inevitable sixth installment she becomes “the” villain.”

Click here for the full review. And, of course, please write your own! READ MORE

[TIFF '12 Review] The Shocking, Brutal And Beautiful ‘Sightseers’ Ultimately Fizzles

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on September 12, 2012 @ 4:12pm
Category: Movies / News

Kill List was one of last year’s best horror movies and earned its director, Ben Wheatley, a must-see status from me in regard to checking out his future films. His followup, Sightseers, premiered during the Vanguard portion of TIFF this week and Brad (Mr. Disgusting) writes in with the review. I agree with him in some regards, though overall I think I liked the film a bit more.

“Sightseers is Wheatley’s version of ‘Natural Born Killers’ or ‘God Bless America’, only instead of taking on the media and pop culture, he focuses on the elitist and self-absorbed attitudes of today’s youth… the message doesn’t have much impact post the initial kill. Sightseers may be worth a glance, but it’s not a place you’d visit again”

Click here to read the review in its entirety. The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6th-16th.

[TIFF '12 Review] Brad Thinks ‘Here Comes The Devil’ Is A Fun Blast In Need Of More Skill

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on September 12, 2012 @ 11:16am
Category: Movies / News

Penumbra and Cold Sweat director Adrian Garcia Bogliano’s Here Comes The Devil premiered during the ~~Midnight Madness portion of~~ TIFF this week and Brad (Mr. Disgusting) found a lot to like – even if some of the technical aspects of the film aren’t up to par.

“There are intense sexual situations, coming-of-age themes, insane supernatural jolts, and quite a few gory moments; it’s got a little bit of everything for the hardcore horror nut… The end lacks any sort of real punch but still manages to be slightly poetic. It’s hardly the way one would want a movie to end, but it’s hard to knock a film for wrapping it up so cleanly. And while Bogliano is getting better as a filmmaker, it’s highly advised that he attend some sort of filmmaker seminar or class to learn how to add some production value to his gritty, student perspective.”

Click here to read the review in its entirety. The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6th-16th.

[TIFF '12 Review] Brad Thinks ‘The Lords Of Salem’ Is A Huge Letdown Despite Striking Imagery

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on September 11, 2012 @ 11:47am
Category: Movies / News

I’m hoping I feel differently about this one. Rob Zombie’s The Lords Of Salem premiered last night to a ravenous sold-out crowd during the Midnight Madness portion of TIFF. And Brad (Mr. Disgusting) – who had high hopes – was pretty disappointed.

“It would be easy to give Lords a pass. It has genuinely creepy imagery, cool scares, super crazy sound design, and even more mind blowing set designs. But there will be no pass, mainly because of the awkwardly unfulfilling ending and the fact that much of the “cool” doesn’t interact with the characters or plot. Rob Zombie sympathizers are going to eat this up, and will spend their night analyzing the finale as if it were some revelation of brilliance. It’s not”

Click here to read the review in its entirety. And – silver lining – let it be known that BD Stringer Mike Pereira really liked the film and will be writing in with his review soon. The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6th-16th.

[TIFF '12 Review] Brad Thinks ‘No One Lives’ Sets The Genre Back 10 Years

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on September 10, 2012 @ 5:58pm
Category: Movies / News

I can’t say I was looking forward to No One Lives because it was barely on my radar. But Brad (Mr. Disgusting) saw the film at TIFF and hated it with a fiery passion. Apparently Ryuhei Kitamura has failed to live up to Midnight Meat Train and the script is in shambles.

“It can’t be expressed enough just how terrible this film is. It’s camp without the laughs, a complete downer that’ll leave the audience feeling empty. There’s nothing more frustrating than watching films like this get made by people who understand nothing about the genre; they should stick to wrestling, at least that’s one form of entertainment they know how to produce.”

Click here to read the review in its entirety. The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6th-16th.

[TIFF '12 Review] Brad Finds ‘Thale’ Heavy On Bloat And CGI

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on September 08, 2012 @ 10:21am
Category: Movies / News

Playing at TIFF this year is Thale, Aleksander Nordaas’ Norwegian horror film. In it, “Two crimes scene cleaners discover a mythical tailed, female creature in a concealed cellar. She never utters a word, unable to tell her tale herself, but the pieces of the puzzle soon come together; she’s been held captive for decades for reasons soon to surface. Someone is approaching from outside. They want her back.”

Brad (Mr. Disgusting) had a chance to check the film out at TIFF and he wasn’t exactly wowed. “While strong performances and bleak cinematography keep the film afloat, ultimately the bulk of the second act is less than engaging. It takes too long to get to the obvious revelation, which at one point escalates the film into full on terror mode. The audience does get to see some elder creatures, which deliver some violent retribution, but the heavy CGI hinders its impact and full potential.”

Click here for the full review! The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6th-16th. READ MORE

[TIFF '12 Review] Brad Thinks ‘Hotel Transylvania’ Might Work For Kids, But Not For You

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on September 08, 2012 @ 10:10am
Category: Movies / News

In theaters September 21 from Sony Pictures Animation is Genndy Tartakovsky’s animated horror comedy Hotel Transylvania 3D, which features the voice talents of Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, David Spade, Jon Lovitz, Cee Lo Green, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon and Selena Gomez.

Brad (Mr. Disgusting) had a chance to check the film out at TIFF and thought it could have played smarter. “The biggest disappointment is that it’s obviously a film made for young teens, mostly void of any adult humor. The writing lacks any sort of real punch, but is cutesy enough to warm the hearts of some parents out there. Horror fans? ‘ParaNorman’, while I dislike the film, was more aimed towards the horror audience. Although ‘Hotel Transylvania’ is way more focused, entertaining, and isn’t trying to be something it’s not.”

Click here for the full review! The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6th-16th. READ MORE

[TIFF '12 Review] Brad Thinks ‘Antiviral’ Hits More Than It Misses

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on September 07, 2012 @ 6:30pm
Category: Movies / News

Included in the Toronto line-up is Brandon (son of David) Cronenberg’s Antiviral, which made its North American Premiere at the fest. Brad (aka Mr. Disgusting) had a chance to check it out and he wound up liking it well enough!

“The expectations may have been unfairly high (being the son of a legend demands some sort of competence), yet he surpasses them by delivering a deep, engaging, and beautifully shot art house horror film.”

Caleb Landry Jones, Sarah Gadon, Malcolm McDowell, Douglas Smith, Matt Watts and James Cade all star. Click here to read the review in its entirety, then check back after the film comes out to write your own.