Tales From The Crypt Presents: Bordello Of Blood (1996) – Collector’s Edition [Blu-ray]

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

If there is a movie in the attempted “Tales from the Crypt” movie anthology series that feels like an extended episode of the original series, it’s surely “Bordello of Blood.” When you get down to it, there’s just so much more substance in “Demon Knight,” but Gilbert Adler’s “Bordello of Blood” seems to capture the zaniness and inherent silliness of the original television series, while also sticking to casting a lot of C grade character actors for the films’ respective roles. That’s not intended as a slight to the cast, but compared to “Demon Knight,” the cast of “Bordello of Blood” seem like second stringers. “Bordello of Blood” will satiate those that want the dark humor and menace of the series.

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Contracted Phase II (2015)

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

If you needed any clarification of what the end result of “Contracted” was, then “Phase II” pretty much shows all of its cards for its audience. That may either be a plus for the audience returning to see how the narrative unfolds, or a major missed opportunity for folks that appreciate some ambiguity. True, both films are in essence body horror movies, but they also transform in to brutally creepy and unique zombie films that rely on the grotesque nature of transforming in to the undead. Basically, “Contracted” builds on a more morbid and damaging form of disease transferred through bodily fluids that begin to take massive tolls on its victims.

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Munster Go Home! (1966)

Posted on October 18, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

One of my favorite qualities of “Munster Go Home!” is that it advances the mythology the Munsters, and extends their family bloodline. Unlike the Addams family, the Munsters aren’t all monsters. And Herman is actually the Frankenstein monster, except he was adopted by the Munster family and given their last name, hence his namesake. That doesn’t explain why grandpa is called Grandpa Munster, but hey, this is a family with a vampire mom and werewolf son, so you have to suspend some kind of disbelief here and there. “Munster, Go Home!” was a flop initially, which is sad considering the film really lends merit to the original series. It improves on its universe while keeping everything that made the original series so lovable.

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The Invoking 2 (2015) (DVD)

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

It’s unusual that a sequel to a horror film would suddenly switch formats to an anthology, but horror anthologies are all the rage these days. What were once reserved for horror heavyweights like Romero, Savini, and Zemeckis, are now platforms for rising up and comers of the indie film world. I’m glad that these movies are allowing indie filmmakers to show off their short films, as there is a treasure trove of short horror films out there that almost never get seen by a wide audience. Thankfully you don’t have to see the first film to enjoy the sequel, since it basically bears no connections to the original narrative. This time, it’s an anthology of short horror segments with the recurring theme of ghosts and demons.

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All Hallows’ Eve 2 (2015)

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

I don’t go in to movies wanting to dislike them, which pleases me when a movie manages to surprise me the way “All Hallows’ Eve 2” did. It’s still a mixed bag of horror, but when you get down to it, it’s still a solid anthology film that corrects a lot of the original film’s errors. Plus the mascot is just so much more appealing this time around. I won’t say “All Hallows’ Eve 2” is a masterpiece, but it’s strong enough to recommend to horror fans looking for a good time. Director Jessie Baget recruits a group of really interesting indie filmmakers to lend their shorts for this sequel, and while some of them are mere tricks, others are absolutely wonderful treats.

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Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (1999)

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

The mythical Doctor Frankenstein spent years perfecting his monster which was tragically chased in to the maniacal doctor’s castle for all eternity. Hoping to escape the hatred from the villagers, the doctor travels to Hollywood in hopes of finding a way to perfect a formula. They accidentally cross paths with Alvin and the Chipmunks who are performing at a theme park very similar to Universal and Disney. While there they accidentally interrupt the Doctor who is performing experiments on his monster.

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Magic Mike XXL (2015) [Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital]

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Felix Vasquez

After the pop culture explosion that Steven Soderbergh brought to screens with 2012’s “Magic Mike,” director Gregory Jacobs does a bang up job of carrying the torch. “Magic Mike XXL” is a mixed bag that sags in the middle but is overall a very entertaining road film. After three years retired from the erotic dance business, Mike receives word that former boss “Dallas” is dead. Shocked to learn that he is very alive and abandoned his former group of dancers, Mike is inspired to rejoin his old team after a serendipitous airing of the song “Pony” reminds him of his old days.

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