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[BEST & WORST '12] The Worst Trailers Of The Year!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on December 30, 2012 @ 2:02pm
Category: Movies / Trailers

If you’re reading this, perhaps you read my post about the year’s best trailers. Now it’s time to bring the hammer down on the worst. Like I’ve said before, marketing is an art form, and it’s just as eligible for appraisal as the product its selling.

The majority of these are from correspondingly awful movies, but occasionally you get that rare nugget of a trailer that’s actually for a good movie that it can’t seem to sell it at all. We’ve got a couple of those in here as well.

Head inside for the worst trailers of the year (in no particular order)! READ MORE

[BEST & WORST '12] Evan Dickson’s List Of The Best Horror Films Of 2012!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on December 27, 2012 @ 2:03pm
Category: Movies / Editorials

This was a weird year. There weren’t that many great “straight up” horror movies out there, at least not in my eyes. I feel like the genre is at a turning point where it’s about to be reinvigorated, I’ve already seen a few of the films coming out next year (ones that simultaneously fit the definitions of the genre while taking it to new places) and I think 2013 will represent a turning point. 2012 saw the genre tentatively figuring out how to spread its wings in the age of huge budget divides (just like the American middle class, medium sized films are on the wane), VOD and a shifting landscape in general.

So don’t be surprised if some of these movies don’t 100% fall under the “horror” category. It’s not like I tossed Cloud Atlas on here or anything, I operated from the films that we cover on the site, but you’ll see what I’m talking about inside. On occasion we cover some great stuff that doesn’t rigidly fit the definitions of the genre, but it’s material that we feel appeals to horror fans’ sensibilities. That being said, I also kept this year’s “best of” list to films that were released in 2012. I still saw plenty of movies that I fell in love with, and here are 10 that you might dig as well. READ MORE

[BEST & WORST '12] Mr. Disgusting’s List of the Best Horror Films of 2012!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on December 24, 2012 @ 2:02pm
Category: Movies / Editorials

Every year I seem to have a conversation with someone about how weak the year was for horror. Reflecting back, I think it’s more so that every year there are a few gems that need plucking from a landfill of garbage. This doesn’t mean it was a “bad year,” it just means that the goodies are to be discovered and then celebrated.

My odd scenario comes in that I attend major festivals – Sundance, SXSW, TIFF and more- thus, I see quite a bit more than the average folk…and I see everything early. This isn’t me bragging, more so just a note that, like previous years, most of the films on my list have yet to be released.

I just hope that this list, which also carries the first two ever “Editor’s Choice” tags, gives you all a few films to be excited for in 2013. Shit, you may finally get to see You’re Next this year, too! READ MORE

[Blu-ray Review] ‘Detention’ Is Off-The-Wall Entertainment

Movies
Posted by David Harley on July 22, 2012 @ 3:14pm
Category: Movies / Home Video

Back in 2004, pop music video auteur Joseph Kahn burst into the film world with his feature-length debut, Torque, a “special” film in every sense of the word. Produced by Neal Moritz, one of the men behind The Fast and the Furious, it was intended as Warner Bros.’ stab at capitalizing on the popularity of said franchise and its genre, but what Kahn actually made is the Scary Movie version. The struggle between competing visions is apparent during certain bits, with stupidity winning every time regardless of whose fault it was. It lives in a special kind of excess, one where it feels comfortable stealing lines of dialogue word-for-word from the film that’s responsible for its very existence and then has a character quickly retort, “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” Women fighting on motorcycles, Ice Cube sneering in every scene and Adam Scott doing his best impression of David Caruso as an FBI agent; this flick has EVERYTHING you could possible want for it to be a trashy good time. READ MORE

Toronto After Dark Summer Screenings Report: ‘Detention,’ ‘Juan of the Dead’ And ‘The Pact’

Movies
Posted by Mike Pereira on July 20, 2012 @ 2:42pm
Category: Movies / Reviews

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival will make its return to its first love, the newly renovated Bloor Hot Docs Cinema for nine nights this October. The complete makeover includes better seating, a top notch digital projector and a much improved sound system. Also I really appreciated that the film intros were projected onto the screen so balcony dwellers don’t miss out on any of the action.

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate this homecoming than Toronto After Dark’s first Summer Screening Nights. It makes the wait for the actual Film Festival that much more bearable, as well as wisely keeping TAD in genre fans’ collective consciousness all summer long. Audiences got treated to two nights of four feature films. While they’re all dabbling within the horror genre, each film had its own unique flavour. To kick-off the festivities, Festival Director and Founder, Adam Lopez played one of his personal favourites, Director Peter Cornwell’s (The Haunting in Connecticut) 2003 Claymation short, Ward 13. This delightfully kooky, action-packed ride is not to be missed. If the strong audience turnout for these double bills (final showing was a sell-out) is any indication, this is a start to a more than welcome summer tradition.

Disclaimer: I will only be reviewing three of the four titles since one of them just happened to be V/H/S. While I had nothing to do with the making of the film, it would be in very poor taste to review it as a Contributing Writer on this site. Being a horror devotee like yourself, it sucks not to be able to share my thoughts with you. Oh well, it is what it is. READ MORE

Sony Sets Genre-Bending ‘Detention’ Date For This July

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on June 04, 2012 @ 7:44pm
Category: Movies / Home Video

Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) and Dane Cook (Good Luck Chuck) star in the instant cult classic Detention, coming to Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital July 31st from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. In this comedy-horror hybrid, a group of high school seniors must prevent themselves from becoming the victims of a slasher movie villain terrorizing their small town of Grizzly Lake. Along the way they encounter body switching, time travel, and even a human-insect hybrid. The film also stars Spencer Locke (TV’s “Cougar Town”) and Shanley Caswell (upcoming The Warren Files) and features music by The Kills, Pussycat Dolls, 50 Cent, Hole, C&C Music Factory and Public Enemy.

The Blu-Ray and DVD are packed with bonus materials, including a feature-length featurette. “Cheat Mode: The Unbelievably Mind Melting Making of Detention” provides detailed insights from cast and crew on the making of the film as well as trivia throughout. In addition, the Blu-Ray includes three exclusive bonus features: in “Fight Rehearsal” the crew rehearses one of the key fight scenes from the film; the “Riffing with Dane” featurette provides a montage of Dane Cook goofs; and last are the screen testes for Shanley Caswell, Aaron David Johnson and Yves Bright.

“Josh Hutcherson, Dane Cook and Spencer Locke star in Detention, a hipster teen horror-comedy, in which the students of Grizzly Lake must survive their final year of high school. Standing in their way is Cinderhella, a slasher movie killer who has seemingly come to life and is preying on the school’s student body. As the clock ticks and the bodies pile up, the likely suspects are embroiled in a race against time to stop Cinderhella and ultimately save the world … if only they can get out of Detention.”

Detention was directed by Joseph Kahn and written by Kahn and Mark Palermo. It was produced by MaryAnn Tanedo and Richard Weager, with Bob Abramoff, Josh Hutcherson, David Kang, Clayton Reaser and Vernon Reaser serving as executive producers. READ MORE

Exclusive

[Interview] Shanley Caswell Talks ‘Detention’, The ADD Generation And ‘The Warren Files’

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on April 13, 2012 @ 9:00am
Category: Movies / Exclusives

Joseph Kahn’s Detention opens today (April 13th) and while this is one of those movies where the star is sort of the film itself, it would be unwise to overlook the work Shanley Caswell does in the lead role of Riley Jones. The movie is many things. It’s a slasher, a comedy, a romance, and a time travel adventure. But, most significantly, it presents a bracing picture of the speed at which Generation Y lives their lives. Caswell is tasked with providing the audience an access point into a world they’re not familiar with, and she more than pulls it off.

Co-scripted by Kahn and Mark Palermo “‘Detention’ tells the story of the senior class at Grizzly Lake high school. The road to graduation is never an easy one, but it’s further complicated for these students by the arrival of a slasher movie killer who has seemingly come to life. The only ones who can stop the killer are a handful of students, but they’ll have to cut out of detention if they’re to stand a chance at saving the world.”

I recently hopped on the phone with Caswell to talk about her work in the film and what it’s like trying to ground a movie for the ADD generation. I also tried to pry a little bit out of her in regard to James Wan’s latest, The Warren Files, but she was wisely tight-lipped. Head inside for the interview. READ MORE

Detention (2012) – Official Theatrical Trailer

Posted by Bloody Disgusting Staff on April 12, 2012 @ 12:44pm
Category:

http://api.indieclicktv.com/watch/4f86ce0fa4962/video.js

Exclusive

[Interview] Director Joseph Kahn On Today’s Teens And His Insane New Slasher, ‘Detention’

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on April 12, 2012 @ 10:00am
Category: Movies / Exclusives

Detention is such an idiosyncratic accomplishment I’m not even sure where to start. I’ve seen it twice now and, while I was initially put off by what I perceived to be a sense of self-satisfaction emanating from the film, I quickly fell in love with it. Yes, it’s a slasher movie, but it’s also a million other things. Perhaps its most singular achievement is that it so accurately captures the current high school experience and the rate at which the youth generation absorbs and processes information. It’s an empowering acknowledgement of that generation that will regardless become many parents’ worst nightmare.

Co-scripted by Kahn and Mark Palermo “Detention’ tells the story of the senior class at Grizzly Lake high school. The road to graduation is never an easy one, but it’s further complicated for these students by the arrival of a slasher movie killer who has seemingly come to life. The only ones who can stop the killer are a handful of students, but they’ll have to cut out of detention if they’re to stand a chance at saving the world.”

While director Joseph Kahn (Torque) is best known for music videos, he put a lot of his own money into the film. So even though it has plenty of blood, guts, sex, violence and time travel (yep) – it also has a beating heart. Josh Hutcherson, Shanley Caswell, Spencer Locke and Dane Cook (don’t worry, this isn’t a “Dane Cook movie”) all star. Detention opens in select theaters tomorrow, April 13th.

Head inside for the interview. READ MORE

Detention

Posted by Bloody Disgusting Staff on April 06, 2012 @ 12:00am
Category:

In the film a downtrodden 17-year-old girl is sent to detention where she must survive a slasher film killer and save the world in time for prom.

Alternate: Written and directed by Joseph Kahn, “Detention” tells the story of the senior class at Grizzly Lake high school. The road to graduation is never an easy one, but it’s further complicated for these students by the arrival of a slasher movie killer who has seemingly come to life. The only ones who can stop the killer are a handful of students, but they’ll have to cut out of detention if they’re to stand a chance at saving the world.

Theatrical Trailer, Image Gallery For Genre-Bending ‘Detention’

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on March 27, 2012 @ 6:39pm
Category: Movies / Images

detentiongory032712 Theatrical Trailer, Image Gallery For Genre Bending Detention

Opening against The Cabin in the Woods Friday, April 13 is Samuel Goldwyn’s high-concept spoof Detention, the genre-bending slasher from awesome music video director Joseph Kahn.

Hoping to gain momentum with The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson, we’ve now landed a handful of new images (click the still above for the gallery) and the official theatrical trailer for the horror sci-fi time travel comedy (yes, you read that right) that David Harley coveted out of last year’s SXSW Film Festival read the review here.

“ ‘Detention’ tells the story of the senior class at Grizzly Lake high school. The road to graduation is never an easy one, but it’s further complicated for these students by the arrival of a slasher movie killer who has seemingly come to life. The only ones who can stop the killer are a handful of students, but they’ll have to cut out of detention if they’re to stand a chance at saving the world.” READ MORE

New ‘Detention’ Poster Cancels Your Future!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on March 25, 2012 @ 5:49pm
Category: Movies / News

Detentionland32512 New Detention Poster Cancels Your Future!

I’m already dying to see Joseph Khan’s Detention so I don’t really need this poster to sell me on the film. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a cool poster.

The film “tells the story of the senior class at Grizzly Lake high school. The road to graduation is never an easy one, but it’s further complicated for these students by the arrival of a slasher movie killer who has seemingly come to life. The only ones who can stop the killer are a handful of students, but they’ll have to cut out of detention if they’re to stand a chance at saving the world.”

Opening in theaters April 13 from Samuel Goldwyn Films, David Harley says Detention is “mesmerizing and something you definitely won’t be able to take yours eyes off of.” Be sure to check your local listings since the film will be playing in limited release.

Hit the jump for a look at the poster! READ MORE

‘Detention’ Clip Does the Crane Thing

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on February 21, 2012 @ 7:49pm
Category: Movies / Videos

Co-written and directed by Joseph Kahn, the bizarre, twisted and hysterical Detention tells the story of the senior class at Grizzly Lake high school. The road to graduation is never an easy one, but it’s further complicated for these students by the arrival of a slasher movie killer who has seemingly come to life. The only ones who can stop the killer are a handful of students, but they’ll have to cut out of detention if they’re to stand a chance at saving the world.

Opening in theaters April 13 from Samuel Goldwyn Films, David Harley says Detention is “mesmerizing and something you definitely won’t be able to take yours eyes off of.”

Check out the first clip below that doesn’t bring the bloodshed, but will give you an idea of the film’s tone. Also dig on the newly launched official website for more. READ MORE

Release Date Shifts: ‘Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters’ and ‘Detention’

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on January 10, 2012 @ 1:43am
Category: Movies / News

Release Date Shifts: Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters and Detention

After The Devil Inside killed the boxoffice, Paramount Pictures is securing that date in 2013 for another potential sleeper. The studio has made a full-year shift for Dead Snow director Tommy Wirkola’s twisted spin Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters 3D, which stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton as the title characters. Moving from March, it will now arrive in theaters January 11, 2013.

Word on the street is that this flick is good, like really good. It’s an original take on the classic fairytale that is set 15 years after the siblings killed the witch who kidnapped them. Hansel and Gretel have now evolved into bounty hunters who pursue witches.

In addition, Samuel Goldwyn will take Joseph Kahn’s awesome Detention (review) to theaters on April 6 of this year. Odds are it will also hit various VOD platforms day and date. In the film a downtrodden 17-year-old girl is sent to detention where she must survive a slasher film killer and save the world in time for prom. READ MORE

Indie

FrightFest ’11: A Distorted ‘The Devil’s Business’ Poster

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on July 06, 2011 @ 2:32pm
Category: Movies / Indie

Part of this summer’s Film4 FrightFest lineup is Sean Hogan’s British The Devil’s Business, which we just landed the official festival one sheet.

“Two hit men, Pinner, a cynical veteran and the inexperienced Cully, are sent to murder an old associate of their underworld boss. Waiting for their mark to return home, Pinner attempts to pass the time by telling a strange story from his past, involving Valentina, a dancer he was once ordered to kill… But things are not all what they seem in their quarry’s house and the discovery of a make-shift black magic altar sends the uncomprehending duo into the shadowy darkness of their own tortured souls.”

FrightFest 11: A Distorted The Devils Business Poster

Indie

FrightFest ’11: Image Roundup: ‘Inbred,’ ‘ Glass Man,’ ‘Devil’s Business’ and ‘Sennentuntschi’

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on July 01, 2011 @ 4:55pm
Category: Movies / Indie

The Film4 FrightFest news is straight up out of control, so we’re going to squeeze the last batch of new images into a single news post. Inside you’ll find a super gory new look at Alex Chandon’s Inbred (trailer), whcih follows “a disparate group of young urban offenders and their care workers embark on a community service weekend in the strange, remote Yorkshire village of Mortlake, which prides on keeping itself to itself. A minor incident with some locals rapidly escalates into a blood-soaked, deliriously warped nightmare for all involved.”

The first image was also released for Sean Hogan’s British The Devil’s Business. “Two hit men, Pinner, a cynical veteran and the inexperienced Cully, are sent to murder an old associate of their underworld boss. Waiting for their mark to return home, Pinner attempts to pass the time by telling a strange story from his past, involving Valentina, a dancer he was once ordered to kill… But things are not all what they seem in their quarry’s house and the discovery of a make-shift black magic altar sends the uncomprehending duo into the shadowy darkness of their own tortured souls.”

Inside you’ll also find your first look at Neve Campbell in Cristian Solimen (star of Dario Argento’s Mother of Tears) thriller The Glass Man (trailer), which also stars Andy Nyman (Severance), James Cosmo (Braveheart), Don Warrington, Polly Furnival, Cristian Solimeno, Lorraine Burroughs, Simon Sherlock, Brett Allen, Gary Grant, Amanda Ray King, Luke Sullivan, Lauren Cuthbertson, and Jonathan Goddard. “Martin Pyrite has lost his job. But instead of telling his wife he continues his work routine and gets into enormous monetary difficulties. Then late one night a sinister debt collector bangs on his door with an offer – if Martin helps him carry out an important task he’ll wipe the financial slate clean. In accepting, Martin goes on a journey through his own private hell where he’s forced to confront his worst dreads in a mesmerizing vortex of soul-destroying madness.”

Lastly comes a doezen or so photos from Michael Steiner’s Sennentuntschi: Curse of the Alps (trailer), whcih can be seen by clicking the still below. “An Alpine legend tells the story of three lonely herdsmen who were so starved of female companionship they built the girl of their dreams from a broom, some straw and a few rags. Then the Devil took pity and made Sennentuntschi live and breathe… This fable informs the first ever shocker from Switzerland, a complex and twisted tale of past crimes, tragic love, ghostly encounters, horrendous murder, unexplained suicide and sexual enslavement. Continually surprising, brilliantly directed and superbly acted, this unusual and beguiling mystery chiller finally puts Switzerland on the genre map.”

You’ll find the full FrightFest lineup up here.

sennennenen070111 FrightFest 11: Image Roundup: Inbred, Glass Man, Devils Business and Sennentuntschi

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on July 01, 2011 @ 4:09pm
Category: Movies / News

Probably the most controversial film of the year is May director Lucky McKee’s The Woman (review), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The film features some intense abuse to the female protag, which resulted in one man freaking out in the theater lobby.

Gearing up for release later this year, the Angela Bettis, Pollyanna McIntosh and Sean Bridgers starrer will be screening as part of the Film4 FrightFest in London. Check out a newly released still.

“The Woman is the last surviving member of a feral clan that has roamed the Northeast Coast for decades. When the last of her family is killed in a battle with the police, The Woman finds herself alone, severely wounded and vulnerable. Unfortunately, she is now a far too easy prey for local hunter, successful country lawyer and seriously disturbed family man Christopher Cleek. With his twisted set of ideals, Cleek decides to embark upon a deranged project – to capture her and “break” The Woman – a decision that will soon threaten the lives of Cleek, his family and The Woman.”

FrightFest 11: Stare Into the Empty Eyes of The Woman

Indie

FrightFest ’11: Need Help? Push the ‘Panic Button’

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on July 01, 2011 @ 4:00pm
Category: Movies / Indie

Playing at London’s Film4 FrightFest is Chris Crow’s high altitude thriller Panic Button, which we’ve just scored the first action-packed images. You’ll also find the trailer inside, along with the poster and some more stills by clicking the title.

“Four young people win a trip of a lifetime to New York, courtesy of their favourite social-networking website – All2gethr.com. As they board the private jet, they are asked to relinquish their mobile phones and take part in the in-flight entertainment – a new online gaming experience.

But this is no ordinary game. Trapped at 30,000 feet, they are forced to play for their lives and the lives of their loved ones by their invisible captor, who seems to all know their most intimate secrets.

With no escape and no one to trust, they are about to learn that putting your life on-line can have deadly offline consequences… ”

Watch the official website and Facebook for more.

FrightFest 11: Need Help? Push the Panic Button

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on July 01, 2011 @ 3:45pm
Category: Movies / News

You’ve heard quite a bit about Joseph Kahn’s mindf*ck of a slasher, Detention, which David Harley raved about out of SXSW. While the film is more of a pop culture slap-in-the-face, the slasher starring Josh Hutcherson, Dane Cook, Shanley Caswell, Spencer Locke, Parker Bagley, Alison Woods, Walter Perez and Carrie Wiita is quite violent. Behold a bit of proof in the first blood image below.

It will screen at the upcoming Film4 FrightFest in London.

FrightFest 11: Detentions First Bloody Imagery

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on March 21, 2011 @ 2:53pm
Category: Movies / News

After the SXSW premiere last week, the reviews online for Joseph Kahn’s Detention have been nothing short of brutal, but not everyone agrees.

Bloody Disgusting’s David Harley takes a different perspective, having a blast during Kahn’s mind-melter the follows a downtrodden 17-year-old girl who is sent to detention where she must survive a slasher film killer and save the world in time for prom.

“ ‘Detention’ can be best appreciated as a live-action cartoon, and is more energetic and fun than the last couple of ‘Scary Movie’ sequels. It isn’t really a middle-of-the-road sort of film; you’re either going to really love the ridiculous fast-paced nature of this horror-sci-fi-comedy or you’ll really despise Kahn’s self-indulgence and his attempt to bombard you with more than you can mentally process in one sitting. There’s a lot to like that I didn’t mention because I feel saying much more than I already have will ruin how insane the film is. Despite being a mess, ‘Detention’ is mesmerizing and something you definitely won’t be able to take yours eyes off of.”

Click the title above for the entire review, or click here for our ongoing SXSW coverage.
READ MORE

SXSW ’11: Genre-Bending One Sheet Debut for ‘Detention’

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on March 08, 2011 @ 3:50pm
Category: Movies / News

Torque director Joseph Kahn is bringing this stylish commercial directing to this month’s SXSW Film Festival as they’ll be holding the world premiere of Detention, his slasher film that look like Scream meets Prom Night meets a SyFy original, with the Burger King’s Queen as the killer, as we previously reported.

The trailer premiered last week to a flurry of positive remarks, now we got our hands on two more stills and the official festival one sheet. “Cancel your future…”

SXSW 11: Genre Bending One Sheet Debut for Detention

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on March 03, 2011 @ 4:13pm
Category: Movies / News

Remember the days when you’d be watching Showtime or TMC and they’d play House, Night of the Creeps, Fright Night or even Monster Squad? There was something special about that time where movies were always engaging and fun. Maybe it was seeing someone closer to your age battling ghouls, or something else, but when I finished watching the trailer for Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block I had “that” feeling.

Inside you’ll find the trailer debut for the alien invasion horror film which stars Jodie Whittaker, John Boyega, Alex Esmail, Franz Drameh, Leeon Jones, Simon Howard, Luke Treadaway, Jumayn Hunter, and Nick Frost in a film that follows a gang of South London teenagers defending their housing project home against an alien attack.

The pic will have its premiere at this month’s SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. Also dig on the official website and Facebook.

SXSW 11: Attack the Block Trailer Reminds Me of When Movies Were Fun!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on March 02, 2011 @ 3:53pm
Category: Movies / News

The trailer premiered this morning and is sure to blow your mind. Good, bad, I’m not sure. All I know is that I must see it. And kudos to Kahn for throwing a Torque joke in the opening seconds — that’s a man who can take criticism!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on March 01, 2011 @ 4:15pm
Category: Movies / News

With the SXSW premiere just weeks away, we just now got our hands on two gorgeous posters for Room for Tourists director Adrián García Bogliano’s Cold Sweat, which we’ve been hearing really good things about (people explode!) From Argentina, the pic premieres March 15 in Austin, Texas.

“A young man searching for his missing girlfriend. A loyal friend willing to do anything to uncover the truth. An investigation that culminates in an old house. Inside two brutal murderers expect them, armed with twenty-five boxes of explosives stolen from the last military dictatorship in Argentina.”

Inside you’ll find the film’s official trailer and the two new one sheets, while you can click the image for our full image gallery!