The Horseman
Year: 2010
Director: Steven Kastrissios
Stars: Peter Marshall, Caroline Marohasy
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Screen Media Films
Running Time: 96 Mins
It’s time yet for another torture porn film to review, but it‘s different from Bloodmyth and She‘s Crushed. This time, it’s an action/horror film, in the vain of “Taken” and “Hostel“ .
“The Horseman” is an Australian revenge film about Christian, a divorce businessman, who is going through a tough time in his life when his daughter dies under complicated circumstances. He then find out what happened to her, when a video arrives in the mail. Christian sees the tape to find out that his daughter was intoxicated and mistreated in the last moments of her life. Fueled by anger and rage, he begins to build a body count to find the truth about. Amidst this rage, he comes across a young runaway, who is not unlike his daughter and builds a fragile relationship.
Finally after having to sit through the films that I mentioned in the beginning, there actually going to be a positive review considering the subject matter and subgenre.
“The Horseman” is one very brutal film from start to finish. First time feature Writer/director Steven Kastrissios does a very good balancing the pace of the film. For an action film to succeed, it has to move at an intense pace to be effective and enjoyable. The film here moves at a slow pace and usually I would be bored because in these types of films, I like the pace of the film to move along. It wasn’t the case here, but I accept that because of the way that Kastrissios puts emotion into the main characters. The reason that he makes the character very interesting, Kastrissios directs gets a lot of emotion out of his lead actor, Peter Marshall. I thought this was the best thing out of this whole film. The performance gets you into the story, when often times films like this will lag until the next action sequence. Speaking of the action sequences, I thought they were directed, very well. They come off more shocking then you would expect in a normal action film. Kastrissios does a good job directing those sequences as they give depth into the emotion state of the main character, while providing the necessary elements that are needed to keep a film like this moving.
Kastrissios’ screenplay does a good job keeping this film from not turning into either one of those all out action or torture films. The reason it doesn’t go all out into either direction is the way that Kastrissios makes the story about the Christian and not about how many or he kills. It makes the story become relevant, which is not seen in most films of this kind. I liked how it also focused on the character’s state of mind, especially when he driving on the road with the runaway during the course of the film. He does that through the various flashbacks that in the film. By telling most of the story that way, it makes you think what is going on in his mind. Another thing that I liked about this film was the scenes with the main character and the teenage runaway. It’s added into this film to give the main character some humanity amidst all the monstrous things that he is doing to the people that killed his daughter. I think, it also really slows the film down to the point your not completely horrified of this character. That’s a good thing because at the end of the day, this is an action film, not an all out horror film.
“The Horseman” is an action packed film that “Death Wish” meet the torture porn genre.
Review Rating: Four Stars.
The 3-disc Robin Hood Blu-ray™ Combo Pack will feature a Blu-ray and DVD copy of the theatrical and director’s cut film, as well as a digital copy of the director’s cut that can be viewed on an array of electronic and portable devices anytime, anywhere. Additionally, both the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and the 2-Disc Special Edition will feature deleted scenes and filmmaker commentary, plus an extensive look at the making of Robin Hood that includes behind-the-scenes interviews with cast and crew. The Blu-ray™ release also exclusively features an interactive “Director’s Notebook,” which seamlessly takes fans inside the making of the specific scenes of the film, from production design to special effects.
Sweeping pageantry and heart-pumping action transports viewers to the meticulously recreated medieval battlefields and byways of 13th century England for the inspiring story of a legendary hero. Robin Hood’s sterling cast also includes Academy Award® winners Cate Blanchett (The Aviator, Elizabeth: the Golden Age) and William Hurt (The Incredible Hulk, Kiss of the Spider Woman), as well as Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes), Mark Addy (The Full Monty ), Oscar Isaac (Body of Lies), Danny Huston (The Aviator), Kevin Durand (Legion), Scott Grimes (“Band of Brothers”), Matthew Macfadyen (Frost/Nixon), Eileen Atkins (Last Chance Harvey), Simon McBurney (Body of Lies) and Oscar® nominee Max von Sydow (Shutter Island).
Robin Hood chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in self-preservation, from his service in King Richard’s army against the French. Upon Richard’s death, Robin Longstride (Oscar® winner Russell Crowe) travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marion (Oscar® winner Cate Blanchett), a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Hoping to earn Lady Marion’s hand and salvage the village, Robin assembles a gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by their appetite for life. Together, they begin preying on the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff. With their country weakened from decades of war, embattled by the ineffective rule of the new king and vulnerable to insurgencies from within and threats from afar, Robin and his men heed a call to ever greater adventure. This unlikeliest of heroes and his allies set off to protect their country from slipping into bloody civil war and return glory to England once more.
BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVELY ON BLU-RAY™:
DIRECTOR’S NOTEBOOK—A seamless multimedia experience focusing on the director’s vision gives viewers a peek inside Oscar® nominee Ridley Scott’s unique filmmaking process. Incorporating behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Scott and his trusted inner circle of collaborators, this feature launches at critical moments throughout the film to illuminate the task of mounting a vast production like Robin Hood.
THE ART OF NOTTINGHAM—A special look at the portfolio of designs generated for the film, including video introductions by key department heads such as production designer Arthur Max and costume designer Janty Yates. Galleries of concept art, costume designs, storyboards and other imagery are featured.
BD-LIVE TM—Access the BD-Live™ Center through your Internet-connected player to get even more content, watch the latest trailers and more.
MY SCENES—Bookmark your favorite scenes from the movie.
pocket BLU™ APP— Experience Blu-ray in an exciting new way with the pocket BLU™ app for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Blackberry, Android, PC and Macintosh. With this app, you can work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray™ player to activate advanced features such as:
ADVANCED REMOTE CONTROL: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease as well as activate a timeline to skip to any point in the movie with the slide of a finger.
VIDEO TIMELINE: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the movie.
MOBILE-TO-GO: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there’s a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy exclusive content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
VIRTUAL KEYBOARD: Enter data into a Blu-ray™ player with your device’s easy and intuitive keyboard to facilitate such Blu-ray™ features as chatting with friends and sending messages.
uHEAR—Always catch every word with uHear! This innovative feature instantly skips back a few seconds on your Blu-ray™ disc and turns on the subtitles for the section you couldn’t hear!
INTERACTIVE TICKER: Get the latest information about Universal’s theatrical and Blu-ray™ releases. Plus, get updates about upcoming BD-Live events, awards and TV shows on NBC
BONUS FEATURES AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY™ AND 2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION DVD:
DELETED SCENES WITH INTRODUCTION & COMMENTARY BY EDITOR PIETRO SCALIA
RISE AND RISE AGAIN: MAKING RIDLEY SCOTT’S ROBIN HOOD
BALLAD, LEGEND & MYTH: PRE-PRODUCTION—See how the filmmakers and actors, including Ridley Scott, Brian Grazer and Russell Crowe, tackled the challenge of breathing new life into the longest surviving character in the English language, Robin Hood.
THE MORE THE MERRIER: PRODUCTION—A stellar cast led by Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett descended on England to shoot this massive epic under the direction of Ridley Scott. With an unparalleled passion for detail, Scott oversees all of the production design, costuming, weaponry and action sequences in the film.
NO QUARTER GIVEN: POST PRODUCTION—Sifting through a million feet of shot film, Ridley Scott and editor Pietro Scalia perfect the screen story and work with the post-production team to add layers of sound design, visual effects and Marc Streitenfeld’s beautiful score.
DIGITAL COPY OF THE UNRATED DIRECTOR’S CUT VERSION OF THE FILM
Lionsgate recently released the latest poster for "Saw 3D" and let me just say, it mind blowing.
This October, one of the biggest, most successful horror franchises in movie history arrives in theaters in vivid, chilling 3-D with the release of Lionsgate’s SAW 3D.
As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw’s brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror...
The film stars Tobin Bell, Cary Elwes, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell and Sean Patrick Flannery.
"Saw 3D" hits theaters on October 29th
Citing his continued fascination with Fairytales, del Toro noted that this film was more about the abduction aspect of the Changeling fairytale. Del Toro explained that he did not want to reinvent the story, and he did not want to change what worked in the original. For example, when he talked about what to do about the ending he joked that the original version’s ending “hits like a motherfucker.” When writing the project, del Toro was very specific that he “wanted the creative freedom not to change the end.” So for the handful of fans out there that have seen the original, it looks like you know what to expect in the end.
Del Toro unveiled both a trailer and a clip at the panel. The trailer was nicely cut together and moved rapidly. It begins with a black screen and a creepy, whispery voice telling you not to be afraid. (Of course in a pitch black airplane hangar full of people that is easier said than done.) The end of the trailer produced gasps from the relatively hardened crowd, so that should give you a measure of how effective the fear of the preview was.
The clip that del Toro showed was of the first scene that he wrote for the movie, which involves the reasoning why the ash bin in the basement had been sealed years ago. I won’t give too much detail of the scene to spoil the sequence but suffice it to say, you stop breathing about 30 seconds in to the 3 minute clip. I heard actual retching coming from a few rows back, and I have to say, I don’t blame the person. This film is clearly not for sensitive people, yet, it subscribes to the imply, don’t show school of filmmaking. Like “Psycho,” much of the gore seems to be more in your mind than on the screen. Though del Toro talked about how he prefers this approach, much credit should be given to Nixey for how he executed this vision. The clip was really lovely to look at and incredibly intense.
Another mark of the possible effectiveness of the terror in this movie is the story that del Toro told about submitting the film to the MPAA. According to him, the film was shot with no sex and no profanity (except for what was on set of course) in the hopes of scoring a PG-13 rating. What the filmmakers got back was an R for “pervasive scariness.” Del Toro asked the MPAA what could be done to lose the R rating and the MPAA replied, “Why ruin a perfectly scary movie?”
After discussing the movie, del Toro offered a few wonderful tidbits of philosophy. In regards to the horror genre, del Toro noted that he did not enjoy comedy in a horror movie. “It should be serious as an attack of fucking Gonorrhea,” del Toro noted. “Horror needs to have balls. And sweaty. And wrinkled,” del Toro continued with a chuckle. In regards to filmmaking, del Toro advised the audience to “never break your roots.” Del Toro advised filmmakers to not let fear overrun them because there was a good chance your film would fail whether you followed your instinct, or bowed to pressure and did it the way the others wanted you to do it.
What’s next for Guillermo del Toro? By now most of you have heard that he is set to helm “The Haunted Mansion” for Disney. Del Toro talked about how he has been obsessed with the Disney ride since he was a child. In explaining his decision, del Toro noted that although for many the Haunted Mansion was just a ride, for others, like him, it was “a way of life.” With so much passion for a project, del Toro certainly seemed to be taking his own advice and following his instinct.
Del Toro also discussed his long term interest in creating a TV horror anthology like “Night Gallery,” doing a new version of “Frankenstein,” and discussed the strong possibility of doing a stop motion version of “Pinocchio” with music by Nick Cave. Up next for director Troy Nixey is the movie “Simple Machines.”
The first time I went to New Beverly Cinema was about 4 or 5 years ago when I was a student at the writing conservatory of Second City in Los Angeles. Some of the students in the program invited me to go with them to check out a double feature of “Evil Dead 2” and “Bubba Ho Tep,” both which starred the always entertaining Bruce Campbell. I had heard a little about this theater before, and I figured it was some sort of rundown theater with crappy sound and loaded with seats so uncomfortable that you were afraid a metal spring would pop out from underneath you. But knowing that this theater was in operation brought back memories of when I went to another just like it right near UC Berkeley and it too was a revival house showing movies from years past that many of us never got to see on the big screen. I went to that one as much as possible before it disappeared without any real explanation.
After witnessing the “groovy” Bruce Campbell double feature (and he gave a truly great performance as Elvis in “Bubba Ho Tep”), my interest in this theater began to grow and grow over time, and I consider it my favorite independent theater in all of the
Lionsgate recently released the first stills and teaser trailer to "Saw 3D". It's the final chapter of the most successful horror franchise of all time.
This October, one of the biggest, most successful horror franchises in movie history arrives in theaters in vivid, chilling 3-D with the release of Lionsgate’s SAW 3D.
As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw’s brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror...
The film stars Tobin Bell, Cary Elwes, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell and Sean Patrick Flannery.
"Saw 3D" hits theaters on October 29th.
"Saw 3D": Teaser Trailer
In this New York City-set comedy-drama, 16-year-old Craig (Keir Gilchrist of “United States of Tara”), stressed out from the demands of being a teenager, checks himself into a mental health clinic. There he learns that the youth ward is closed – and finds himself stuck in the adult ward. One of the patients, Bobby (Zach Galifianakis of “The Hangover”), soon becomes both Craig’s mentor and protégé. Craig is also drawn to another 16-year-old, Noelle (Emma Roberts of “Valentine’s Day”). With a minimum five days’ stay imposed on him, Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside as he learns more about life, love, and the pressures of growing up.
It’s Kind of a Funny Story hits theaters on September 24 in select cities.
For more information on this film, you can goto: http://www.itskindofafunnystorymovie.com/ or visit the official facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/ItsKindofaFunnyStory
"It's Kind of a Funny Story": Official Trailer
Legendary comic book master Will Eisner's groundbreaking graphic novel "A Contract with God" is being adapted into a live action feature film, it was announced this evening at Comic- Con International 2010 by the film's producers. In what is considered by many to be one of the most influential graphic novels ever written, in "A Contract with God" Eisner utilizes the comic book format in an innovative and pioneering way to explore stories and memories from his childhood growing up in a New York City tenement. Each tale captures the brutality, fragility, and tenderness that exists among people living in close quarters in challenging economic times.
A quartet of acclaimed independent directors are attached to direct each of the graphic novel's four adjoining chapters: Alex Rivera ("Sleep Dealer"); Tze Chun ("Children of Invention"); Barry Jenkins ("Medicine for Melancholy"); and Sean Baker ("Prince of Broadway," MTV's "Warren the Ape"). The film will be produced and adapted for the screen by Darren Dean, whose first feature "Prince of Broadway," about an illegal immigrant in contemporary New York City, is being released this fall and whose second feature, Rwanda-shot "Kinyarwanda" (directed by Alrick Brown) is in post-production, due for a festival bow in 2011.
The film adaptation of "A Contract with God" will be produced under the auspices of the Eisner estate in the spirit of the original work. Bob Schreck, a 30-year veteran of the comic book industry and Michael Ruggiero, former head of original programming at STARZ, will serve as Co-Executive Producers. Black Squirrel Films Co-Founder Tommy Oliver will serve as Co-Producer and Mark Rabinowitz, Co-Founder of indieWIRE.com, will serve as Associate Producer.
Focusing on the immigrant struggle, "A Contract With God" takes a look at a salient theme across four separate but related stories, set primarily in a New York City tenement in the 1930s. The four segments are: "A Contract With God" (Rivera), "The Street Singer" (Chun), "The Super" (Jenkins) and "Cookalien," (Baker). Each of the filmmakers comes to the project with a distinct aesthetic approach which will capture the diversity, style and essence of Eisner's story. Nat Sanders ("Medicine for Melancholy," "Humpday") will serve as editor on the entire film.
The announcement regarding the film adaptation of "A Contract with God" was made this evening at the 22nd annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, which honors creative achievement in American comic books including induction ceremonies into the comics industry Hall of Fame, the first time such an announcement has been made at the Eisners. Will Eisner was a regular participant in the award ceremony until his death in 2005.
Welcome to the 146th Edition of my blog. This week I pay tribute to the late underground comic writer Harvey Pekar who recently left us as well as late character actor James Gammon. I had the pleasure of seeing Pekar speak and meeting him earlier in the year when he was at Ball State. This was a very hard one to put together but it all came together in the end with a pretty satisfying end product. I'm releasing this one a little early since I am not sure what I am doing tomorrow and when I will get a chance.
Comic Book Confidential (1988): This was one intended for my documentary edition I put out a couple weeks ago but for various reasons I put it here instead. This is also my tribute to Harvey Pekar who is featured in this film for his underground comic AMERICAN SPLENDOR. This is a very good showing on the history of comic books and the different forms like the superhero comics, underground comics, and the other genres. It also talks about psychiatrist Fredric Wertham's Comic Code from the 50s which made it very difficult for a lot of writers but gave birth to the underground comics like from Robert Crumb, Bill Griffith, and many others. My mom pointed out a couple comics on here my dad liked which included Zippy from Bill Griffith. This is a very informative film packed into 90 minutes.
Tyson (2008): This is another documentary intended for the documentary edition but it also got thrown into this one. James Toback directed this documentary about the famed boxer who at one time was the most feared boxer but then became a publicity joke to many. This is mostly interview footage with Tyson speaking of all the highs and lows in his life. One part I really liked was him talking about his original trainer Cus D'Amato who died which was when Don King got introduced to the picture. He spoke very highly of D'Amato and maybe things would be different if he had lived longer. He also talks some about his rocky marriage with Robin Givens. There is a lot of his interview footage and some good, archival photos. It also goes in depth with him being a father and wanting to be a better person for his children. It was very straight-forward documentary where he explains his point-of-view while owning up to a lot of the problems he has had in his life. This documentary and the one featured before this one can both be found on Instant Netflix.
What's New, Pussycat (1965): Peter O'Toole stars as Michael James who has a true love in his life but cannot stop his womanizing lifestyle to settle down and marry. Peter Sellers co-stars as Dr. Fassbender who is his psychoanalyst who is not much help since he is having love problems of his own and wants one of his patients who then logs for Michael. Woody Allen wrote the original screenplay and even makes his film debut here as Victor. Other actors include Capucine, Paula Prentiss, and Ursula Andress. This was a pretty decent comedy with some pretty funny bits where some worked and some did not. Woody Allen was pretty funny in debut.
The Seapreme Court (1954): This is my animated short for the week which features the character Little Audrey. In this one, we first see her fishing and is then pulled into sea where she is captured by the fish police. She then gets put on trial for her crimes against fish. It might make some feel bad for fishing though I don't usually fish anyways. This was rather predictable but still very entertaining. Little Audrey was brought in after the character Little Lulu did not get renewed. Lulu was better but these have their moments too.
Bicentennial Man (1999): Chris Columbus directed this sci-fi film which is based on a short story by Isaac Aminov. Robin Williams stars in this film as a robot which is made to complete menial tasks. However, this one named Andrew develops more human emotions than most of the others where he then longs to become human which becomes a very long journey in his life. Sam Neill plays Richard who purchases the robot. Embeth Davidtz plays Richard's daughter Amanda grown-up and then plays Amanda's granddaughter Portia since the movie spans many decades. I have seen bits and pieces of this many times and decided to watch in instantly on Netflix since I needed a 90s movie. I was actually very moved by this film and I liked this better than A.I.: Artificial Intelligence which have some similarities. Williams was great in the many evolutions of this character. This movie is probably not for everyone but this moved me quite a bit. I don't know that it needed to be as long as it was.
The Dawn Rider (1935): I was searching for something from Instant Netflix in my Roku player and this is what presented itself to me. This is one of those many early John Wayne films before his big rise as "The Duke". In this one, John plays John Mason who comes home only to find his father has been murdered. The robbers then shoot and wound John where John then goes after them. I guess this is actually a remake of a 1931 movie called GALLOPING THRU. If you like John Wayne, this might be good to watch. It is a pretty short movie and not a horrible one.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971): This is the musical version of the children's novel by Ronald Dahl. Gene Wilder stars as the title character who is the owner of a chocolate factory and employs the Oompa-Loompas to help with his chocolate. He has shut himself off from society until holds a contest for five children to tour his factory and win a prize. In his candy there are five golden tickets where we have poor but very loyal child Charlie Bucket, played by Peter Ostrum, who does everything he can for that golden ticket and gets it. Jack Albertson is great as his grandfather who is determined to see Charlie win. On the way there are four other children who are quite bratty and fall into mishaps while on the tour. Many know of Tim Burton's remake which stars Johnny Depp and while it is more to the book, I still prefer this great musical which is rather dark without having to make the set reflect it. This is one of my favorite musicals which has some great numbers and is fun to watch. I found this on my instant Netflix.
The American Adventure (1936): I found this lesser-known Cary Grant film on Instant Netflix. He plays a rich man who has never had to work. He then makes a bet with his doctor that he can live off a working class job for a year without touching his inheritance. He then takes various jobs to live and realizes how tough it can be. This is not the greatest Cary Grant film and he did a lot better before this but he carries it pretty well for the hour of the film.
Gamer (2009): This is possibly part one of a Gerard Butler series but I am not sure of that as of yet. This movie takes place in the near future in a society where the video games become real. Gerard stars as Kable, a wrongfully convicted soldier, who becomes a video game character which can be controlled by video game players. DEXTER star Michael C. Hall co-stars as Ken, the creator of this game who is being pursued by Kable to regain his independence. Other people in the film include Kyra Sedgwick, Amber Valletta, Allison Lohman, among others. I went back and forth on this film. It was a very interesting premise and something a little different from things like RUNNING MAN and THE CONDEMNED. However, this is not for everyone but if you want some action, here you go. Butler is pretty good in his part.
Don't Come Knocking (2005): I end this week with my tribute to James Gammon who had a small but good role in the movie as a ranch hand. Wim Wenders directed this film which was written by Sam Shepard who stars as declining western star Howard Spence. While on the set for a film, he gets a bit burned out and sets off to his old home town when hearing he might have a son. Eva Marie Saint co-stars as his mother who does not stop being his mother. Jessica Lange also co-stars as his ex-wife. Gabriel Mann plays his potential son and Fairuza Balk is rather amusing as his stupid girlfriend. Other actors include Tim Roth, Sarah Polley, Marley Shelton, among others. This is another that is not for everyone. It is rather dark and depressing where you must focus on the characters. Shepard is good in the lead and it really fit into my taste of the independent film.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and what you hate and stay tuned for next week.
I could never bear to give my stuffed animals away. They were a huge part of my childhood, and the thought of letting them go forever seemed so horrifying. Society expects you to give up on little dolls and stuff as you become an adult, and I honestly think that’s kind of bogus. I mean am I really supposed to stop playing with these plush friends of mine because society expects that of me? Am I supposed to permanently kill off the childlike wonder inside of me so that I look normal and hopelessly embittered like everybody else? Doesn’t that seem a bit cruel?
In the end, I didn’t need to give my prized stuffed animals away… They got eviscerated by a hideous rat that ended up tearing away at them while they sat in a trash bag in the family garage. The rat wanted their stuffing, and he (or she) left behind a lot of rat poop which had to be disposed of carefully because it spreads disease. However, all Eeyores that I have collected over the years were fine though as they had gotten preferential treatment ever since I got my first one.
It was pretty much inevitable that these cuddly friends of mine would never have the same amount of attention as the years went by. The dilemma of what to do with these things we grew up with brings about strong emotions and uncertainty, and that is what Andy faces in the latest Pixar animated extravaganza “Toy Story 3.” Coming a good 11 years after its predecessor, young Andy who had given a home and much love to these toys is now a young adult about to head off to college. His mother tells him that he can either donate his toys to a nearby daycare center, or they can just go up in the attic. Despite the fact that Andy has clearly not played with them in years, he is reluctant to let them go.
I know it's late and everything, but here is the trailer for the upcoming "Grindhouse" spinoff film, "Machete" courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox.
After a violent shakedown from a notorious drug lord nearly kills him, Machete, a renegade Mexican Federale and tough-as-nails vigilante for justice, roams the streets of Texas, working as a day laborer. When Machete is hired by a crooked US Senator to execute a covert hit, Machete is double-crossed and forced to run from the cops and an endless stream of assassins. But what they don't know is that Machete is looking for them so he can settle the score.
"Machete" hits theaters on September 3rd
"Machete": Official Trailer
Year: 2010
Director: Patrick Johnston
Studio: Maverick Entertainment
Stars: Natalie Dickinson, Henrik Norlen, Caitlin Wehre;
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 90 Mins
Official Website: http://www.crushedthemovie.com/index.html
The film is about a twisted and tortured woman named Sara, who has her sights for her next-door neighbor Ray. First, they start flirting with each other, and then it turns into a one-night stand. The next day, Ray wants to put that night behind him, but Tara becomes more obsessed with him and is willing go to sick extremes to keep Ray all to herself. Ray is now caught in a situation where she is gruesomely murdering his friends and the fact that Tara won’t stop until she gets him all to herself.
“She’s Crushed” is a film that would have better served well, if this were a short instead of a feature film. The reason for that, this film comes off more like a music video with all the camera shots and the way that the pace of the film moves. Writer/director Patrick Johnston’s direction felt kind of rushed, as he going for more of style instead of substance. It was like; the direction was only focused on providing shocking imagery, instead of trying to the best out of his weak screenplay, which I’ll talk about in a minute. There is also no attempt to develop any chemistry or personality with the three main actors here. Johnston directs it in the characters felt they were so bland or they came out of various torture porn films.
Speaking of torture porn films, enough with trying to be next “Saw” or the next “Hostel”. The reason that those series work is that there is thought into the stories and the fact that the characters are interesting. Johnston’s screenplay was just flat in all aspects. The characters were not interesting, as they were annoying and their presence is overwhelming that its giveaway any chance for anything to be fully developed. While we’re on the subject, the film has characters didn’t make sense with anything going on. When your wondering about how each character fits in or not, you know that you have problem with your film. There are a couple of characters that to me felt out of place because there was very little information about them or their relevance to the grand scheme of things.
Another major problem that this screenplay has was the development of main relationships. The main love triangle isn’t fully developed because the screenplay rushes into the action. By doing that, I got the sense that Johnston was only interested in shocking scenes instead of creating a coherent story. It was really sad to see this screenplay lack any development, as this is a good idea for a story, but the execution was just horrible.
In the end, this is just typical bad horror film that has good premise, but the basics aren’t there for me to enjoy a film like this. “She’s Crushed fails on all levels to the point that you want to divorce this film from your DVD player.
Review Rating: One Star
Anchor Bay Entertainment and Overture Films recently send us a copy of Brooklyn Finest to away to one lucky reader. Experience the volatile and deadly world of one of New York’s most dangerous precincts through the eyes of the men and women pledged to protect and serve. Starring Golden Globe® winner Richard Gere, Oscar® nominee Don Cheadle, Oscar® nominee Ethan Hawke, and Wesley Snipes, Brooklyn’s Finest “grabs you and doesn’t let go until the final frame” (Mike Sargent, WBAI Radio). When NYPD’s Operation Clean Up targets the notoriously drug-ridden BK housing project, three conflicted New York City police officers find themselves swept away by the violence and corruption of Brooklyn’s gritty 65th Precinct and its most treacherous criminals. Each man finds himself spiraling toward the same fatal crime scene and a shattering collision with destiny, in this action-packed crime drama directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day). To enter: send us an email to facontest@gmail.com Please put "Brookylin Finest" in the subject line of the email. Contest Ends, August 6th. One entry per person and open to US Residents. FilmArcade writers are not eligible. 
Welcome to the 245 Edition of my long running series. We just switched from Dish Network to Comcast so I have a new source for my movies now which is the great On-Demand. Now I get my selections so get your queues out and read on.
Spider-Man (2002): The Facebook friend I chose for this week is Derek who I went to school with. I should also thank Ed who is quite the Blockbuster and lended me a copy of this movie when the library's was very scratched. This is possibly part one of a two-part James Franco series. This is the first of what would become a trilogy and now it looks like we have a Spider-Man revamp coming as well as a Broadway musical which casts Evan Rachel Wood as Mary Jane but not quite sure who will be the title character. Onto the movie at hand. Sam Raimi directed this superhero film which stars Tobey Maguire as the title character. This focuses on Peter Parker becoming the web-slinging Spider-Man. We first see him as a school nerd that gets picked on a lot until his life-changing moment of becoming bit by what must have been a very powerful spider. James Franco plays his best friend Harry whose father Norman, played by Willem Defoe, owns the big company Oscorp. One of Norman's experiments goes quite wrong giving him another side that becomes the Green Goblin who will be Spider-Man's big threat of the film. Kirsten Dunst plays Mary Jane who is his childhood crush and continues to be the one he loves. Look for an amusing cameo from wrestler "Macho Man" Randy Savage and even one from my idol Bruce Campbell. This movie gave a bit of a resurgence to the superhero genre. I was not big on the special effects of the Spider-Man scenes where he is slinging around town. I thought they were a bit too computerized. Otherwise, this remains an enjoyable superhero film.
The Women (1939): We now take a step back to what many call the Golden Year for film which produced such greats as THE WIZARD OF OZ, GONE WITH THE WIND and many others. George Cukor puts his contribution into the the great year of 1939 which features an all-female cast which includes Rosalind Russell, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Paulette Goddard, Joan Fontaine, and many others. This takes a look at a housewife whose husband is having an affair and her dealing with the affair. I'm not going any further on the plot but performances are very good. It is also quite ahead of its time with some interesting views towards marriage. I know with all these women, some egos had to have clashed behind the scenes.
About Last Night... (1986): Now we have this 80s classic which stars Rob Lowe as Danny and Demi Moore as Debbie. This focuses on these two people who meet, become a couple, and discuss if they are in love. They start out as a one night stand but then it becomes more. There really is not much for me to say except it is a pretty good look at a couple which shows that a relationship is not easy. James Belushi plays Danny's disapproving friend and Elizabeth Perkins, in her film debut, plays Debbie's disapproving friend. Also look closely for a young Catherine Keener as a waitress.
Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer (1992): This is my documentary for the week which was supposed to go on last week's Documentary Edition but for certain reasons it got put in here instead. Most people would know the 2003 film MONSTER where Charlize Theron plays the title character for this documentary which takes place after her trial but before she was actually put to death. Wuornos claims to have been raped and then killed her rapist but then went on to kill many others getting billed as the first female serial killer. This movie shows a lot of footage from the trial and interviews with people like her attorney, the judge and one of her friends. Around this time, a tv movie about her was made called OVERKILL: THE AILEEN WUORNOS STORY which starred Jean Smart and shows the real Wuornos talking about the tv movie and how much she did not like it. There were also some very powerful outbursts of Wuornos in court where they wanted to point out that the legal system was very corrupt to her.
Further Prophecies of Nostradamus (1942): This is my short film for the week which I found on TCM On-Demand and as you might guess, it looks at some of the alleged prophecies of Nostradamus. This first looks at some things that happened with Louis 14th but then goes into what they believe he predicted for WWII. I for one do not buy into these predictions but it still made an entertaining 11 minutes.
Sansho the Bailiff (1954): This is my Japanese film for the week which was directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. This shows a very compassionate governor who does not do the horrible things wanted and is exiled with his family. From there, the children are abducted by slave traders and the parents are doing everything possible to get the children back together. This is a very beautiful story of honor which spans a few years showing also what happened to the children growing up the way they had to grow up. There is also some pretty disturbing imagery for things like when slaves did not do what was told of them.
National Velvet (1944): I now bring you a movie with some horses. Elizabeth Taylor stars as 12 year old horse lover Velvet Brown. Mickey Rooney stars as former jockey Mi Taylor who is taken in by the Brown family and goes onto help Velvet with a very wild horse who becomes a lot better and trains Velvet for a big horse race. Anne Revere co-stars and won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for playing Velvet's very compassionate mother. Donald Crisp plays her father who can be a bit strict but keeps his family's interests at heart. MURDER, SHE WROTE alum Angela Lansbury also co-stars. This is really my inspirational film for the week which shows a young girl who refuses to give up on a horse and even Rooney's character who is a drifter and opportunist but changes through the passion of Velvet.
The Hangover (2009): This is my comedy for the week which I found on HBO On-Demand. Todd Phillips directed this great comedy which features four friends in Vegas for the bachelor party before the wedding which really turns into a night they forgot a lot of. Doug, played by Justin Bartha, is the one getting married and goes to Vegas with his three other friends played by ALIAS and NIP/TUCK alum Bradley Cooper, TRU CALLING alum Zach Galifianakis, and Ed Helms. They end up waking up not knowing what happened, finding a tiger in their hotel bathroom, a baby in their room, and Doug missing. To find Doug, they must retrace their steps to find him and find that quite a bit happened.. I must say I laughed a lot and with comedy not really being one of my favorite genres this one really did it for me. Mike Tyson makes a rather amusing cameo. Most people at least know of this movie so I don't think I really need to explain much more except this is quite a riot. However, as much as I like this I don't know that a sequel is necessary.
Nashville (1975): Robert Altman directed this film which took place in the title town in Tennessee. This is a very nice slice of America where there is a political convention taking place from someone who cannot even be seen while there are many other characters involved in the music industry where each person has something hectic going on in their lives. This is really a character study on many different characters. Some of the all-star cast includes Karen Black, Ned Beatty, Geraldine Chaplin, Henry Gibson, Jeff Goldblum, Lily Tomlin, Keith Carradine, and many others. Each actor who sang wrote and performed their own music including Carradine's great song I'M EASY. Gibson also had a very good performance. There is not much else to say on this except that it is a great and accurate film on the country music scene.
Total Recall (1990): I end this week with this movie with California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Believe it or not, before he became governor, he was in some movies, many of which were action movies. In this futuristic film, Arnold plays Douglas Quaid who is a construction worker but has recurring dreams of being on Mars and being with some girl he has never met. He then hears about a company called Rekall, Inc. where they sell implanted memories so he decides to take a virtual trip to Mars. However, things go terribly awry where he is made to believe he is a secret agent in Mars fighting a dictator. Paul Verhoeven directed directed this sci-fi epic which requires very undivided attention but can pay off in the end.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and what you don't like. Stay tuned for next week which so far includes two of the documentaries supposed to be in the documentary edition, Peter Sellers, Robin Williams, John Wayne, Gene Wilder, and many others.
Landmark’s Sunshine Cinema will become a haven of macabre delights with a live appearance by NATASHA LYONNE and ghoulish surprises galore!
Peaches Christ Productions is proud to announce the East Coast premiere of “ALL ABOUT EVIL: The Peaches Christ Experience in 4-D” on July 30 and 31, 2010 at Landmark’s Sunshine Cinema. Directed by Joshua Grannell, the alter-ego of San Francisco drag sensation Peaches Christ, this very special extravaganza will include a chillingly delightful introduction by horror filmmaker Alan Rowe Kelly (The Blood Shed, upcoming Don’t Look in the Basement!), a pre-show interview with Natasha Lyonne (Die, Mommie, Die!) and musically, macabre performances from Peaches Christ and the Midnight Mass Players on BOTH nights. The magic begins at 12 midnight with tickets for only $15 and on-sale now at Landmark Theatres’ official website: https://tickets.
You know you want more…so satiate your hunger for the latest insights on genre films and embrace your love of all things wonderfully strange by visiting Peaches Christ’s official website: www.peacheschrist.com
“ALL ABOUT EVIL: The Peaches Christ Experience in 4-D”
Hosted by Peaches Christ with a special introduction from Alan Rowe Kelly
With live appearance and Q&A with Natasha Lyonne
Friday, July 30 and Saturday, July 31, 2010
Landmark’s Sunshine Cinema: 143 East Houston Street, New York, NY
Tickets: $15 Show time: 12:00 a.m.
Advance tickets available at:
https://tickets.
After Dark Films will be attending San Diego COMIC-CON (Booth #4035) from Wednesday, July 21 through Sunday, July 25th promoting AFTER DARK ORIGINALS: "A New Brand of Fear". Building on the success and global awareness of the Horrorfest: 8 Films To Die For brand, After Dark Films has created the new AFTER DARK ORIGINALS (ADO) line-up in cooperation with Lionsgate and NBC Universal's SyFy.
AFTER DARK ORIGINALS'
eight cutting edge horror films span the genre. Titles include Husk, Fertile Ground, Scream Of The Banshee, Prowl, The Task, Re-Kill, Seconds Apart and 51. Notable directors and writers include Brett Simmons, whose short film Husk took Sundance by storm several years ago, Steven C. Miller of Automaton Transfusion fame, and previous After Dark writer/director Adam Gierasch (Autopsy). All ADO films were shot in the US and Bulgaria.
* *
ADO's 2010 TALENT SIGNINGS AT COMIC-CON
After Dark Films has scheduled talent signings over three days: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. During the events, fans can collect FREE After Dark signed posters. Additionally, fans can stop by Booth #4035 anytime throughout the convention to get free decals and other ADO branded merchandise. After Dark will also sell After Dark Originals branded backpacks. The signing schedule is as follows:
Adam Gierasch, writer/director of "Fertile Ground"
Rachel Miner, star of "51"
Steven C. Miller, director of "Scream of the Banshee"
Orlando Jones, star of "Seconds Apart"
Edmund Entin, star of "Seconds Apart"
Gary Entin, star of "Seconds Apart"
Orlando Jones, star of "Seconds Apart"
Edmund Entin, star of "Seconds Apart"
Gary Entin, star of "Seconds Apart"
DIRECTED BY
James Mangold
STARRING
Tom Cruise - Roy Miller
Cameron Diaz - June Havens
Peter Sarsgaard - Fitzgerald
Jordi Molla - Antonio
Viola Davis - Director George
Paul Dano - Simon Feck
Marc Blucas - Rodney
Maggie Grace - April Havens
Genre - Action/Comedy
Running Time - 110 Minutes
Score - 3 Howls Outta 4
Tom Cruise is seen as a lot of things. He's an acting veteran for the past 25+ years. He's an action star. He's a dramatic actor. He's become a comedic actor. He's a Scientologist. He's a complete nutjob. He's delusional about science and the world around him. But the most important part is that he's a huge star with a ton of box office appeal. That's right everyone, Tom Cruise knows how to bring the goods to the silver screen.
Well...that was until his KNIGHT AND DAY, 2010's supposed summer action blockbuster, failed at the box office and has become Cruise's lowest grossing action film to date. With the media backlash [even after his hilarious turn as Lou Grossman at 2010's MTV Movie Awards] and reviews from critics who pretty much bashed KNIGHT AND DAY, the film did a dismal box office take in its first weekend and has dropped dramatically ever since.
Which is a shame, because the film isn't all that bad and is made for the mindless summer blockbuster season. However, there are flaws to KNIGHT AND DAY that make it a possible watch instead of a must-see event.
PLOT
Roy Miller (Tom Cruise), is an FBI agent who may or may not have gone rogue, but is definitely in possession of a ultra-powered battery that everyone seems to want a hold of. He bumps into June Havens (Cameron Diaz) at the airport as she's about to catch a flight to Boston to attend her sister's (Maggie Grace) wedding. While June seems to be smitten with Roy, Roy is using June as a mule for the battery without her knowledge. On the flight, Roy is attacked by assassins and murders them all, taking June as a partner/hostage.
After some hilarity, Roy tells June that FBI agents (Peter Sarsgaard and Viola Davis) want this battery and that they'll tell her that he's insane and not to be trusted. Not sure who to trust at this point, June decides to go along with Roy's story, causing her to be caught up in Roy's life of espionage. Also, they fall in love...like you couldn't guess that.
REVIEW
KNIGHT AND DAY is mostly a fun, mindless action film that is a 
more comedic and cartoon-ish version of the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise [also starring Cruise]. You're caught up in the excitement, the visuals are nice, and it's well paced. Unfortunately, there's something missing about KNIGHT AND DAY that makes it a standout.
Let's deal with the positives first. The acting is very solid in KNIGHT AND DAY. Say what you want about Tom Cruise's personal life, but no one can say he's a terrible actor. In fact, he's the best part of the film and carries it quite well. We all know Cruise can handle action and he does that fantastically here, doing most of his own stunts and having fun riding his motorcycle through Spain while bulls chase him and assassins want to shoot his brains out. But Cruise also brings on the funny here, really making Roy a certifiable lunatic in terms of his actions and behavior. This makes him engaging to watch, as he's always confidence, charismatic, and definitely excited to be on screen. I wish he had better material to play off of here, but Cruise makes it work and it's a joy to watch him do what he does best.
Cameron Diaz, who I usually find pretty annoying in most films to be honest, is actually more than okay here. She plays the confused and neurotic June to perfection and actually looks pretty cute doing it. While she does have her action moments, especially towards the end, she's mainly the girlfriend/eye candy role that we usually see in action films. But she handles it well and maintains incredible chemistry with Cruise [who already worked together in 2001's VANILLA SKY]. I wouldn't mind see them do another film together.
The other actors are also very good, but they're not given much to do. I will say that Peter Sarsgaard and Marc Blucas are the standouts in the supporting roles. Sarsgaard's role is very predictable but he does the most with it. And Blucas has a funny scene with both Cruise and Diaz that's one of the better moments in the film.
The direction by James Mangold is also very good, even though it's not his best work as a director. Comparing KNIGHT AND DAY to his work on GIRL, INTERRU
PTED, 3:10 TO YUMA remake, and especially WALK THE LINE, isn't really fair. But Mangold shoots the action scenes well [even though I noticed Cruise's stunt double very clearly in one shot that made me laugh] and he keeps the film light-hearted. Mangold seems more focused on the chemistry and relationship between Roy and June rather than all the exciting stuff that's around them, which doesn't hurt the film much at all. In fact, I'm glad Mangold focused more on the comedy than on the action, since it takes stale premise and adds something to it to make it a bit staler. Nice direction all around.
The action sequences are also fun, even if they are pretty much action film norms. From the running of the bulls scene, to the rooftop chase, to shootouts in a warehouse, and to dealing with explosions on an island, they're everything you'd want in a film like this. They're over-the-top and pretty implausible, but the film never takes itself all that seriously anyway, so I have no qualms.
What makes KNIGHT AND DAY suffer, however, is the poor script by Patrick O'Neill. While the film does manage to get to point A to point B to point C, it doesn't really develop the journey much to really be memorable at the end. The subplot with the battery is sort of a McGruffin, even though it is the reason why the events occur. It felt like an afterthought to me because it wasn't really the focus of the film. I was too busy wondering why June would fall in love with Roy one minute, want to beat the shit out of him the next, and then fall right back in love all over again. I don't think characters in romantic comedies are that confused.
That brings me to the characters here. The development doesn't really exist for anyone other than Roy and June. Roy is the ultimate spy - reckless, cocky, full of expertise and superhuman abilities, and always one step ahead of everyone else. You even question if the guy is a hero or a villain, especially during the first half of the film. Obviously O'Neill was focused on Roy more than anyone. June is less developed, which you can tell because she likes to talk to herself alot to explain how she's feeling so the audience can understand - i.e. lazy screenwriting. We
barely share in her family life and she seems so desperate for a man that it's off-putting at times. I was never sure what to make of June. The only thing that saved the character was Diaz's performance.
And the supporting characters really get the shaft here. June's sister is barely in the film, even though the reason June goes to Boston is for her sister's wedding. Maggie Grace gets barely three minutes of screentime. Rodney, played by Blucas, seems like a foil for Roy over June's affections, but he just comes off as a likeable dolt who also happens to be a firefighter. Not much is done with him. And Fitzgerald is pretty much a predictable action character [I won't spoil it] but Sarsgaard deserved better.
I will say I did enjoy much of the dialogue, as it was witty and funny. So that's a plus.
THINGS I'VE LEARNED WHILE NOT MAKING FUN OF TOM CRUISE'S RELIGION [OKAY...ALMOST]
- Roy and June constantly bump into each other at the airport. Either it means the two are destined to be together, or one of them is a filthy, clumsy bitch who deserves to be smacked around, even if they are holding a baby in their arms!!
...Sorry. Mel Gibson likes to possess me every once in a while. Moving on...
- Roy had to deal with assassins on an airplane. If Harrison Ford was President, those bastards would have gotten off of the plane and it's be the end of that!
- Roy hit a scarecrow while landing a plane. He should be less worried about a brain and more concerned with getting better life insurance.
- Roy managed to survive being squeezed in between two cars inside of a tunnel. That's the power of Xenu, baby!
- Roy wanted a waitress to serve everyone pie inside of a diner as he held June at gunpoint. Only on The L Word does everyone get a piece of pie, Roy. Only on The L Word.
- Roy shot Rodney in the leg as he tried to save June. Man, he used to be able to take more than that. Ever since he broke up with Buffy, his boring ass got weak!
- Roy and June got cozy on a private island. Because islands in the stream, that is what they are. No one in-between, how can they be wrong?
- June followed Roy as he tried to make a deal for the battery. Some women just don't have any faith in their man. I say don't trust a ho. Never trust a ho. Hell, I won't trust a ho 'cause the ho won't trust me.
- Don't steal someone's battery. Unlike it, you won't keep going and going and going when it explodes in your face.
THE FINAL HOWL
KNIGHT AND DAY is a good action film if you don't want to think too much. Basically, perfect for summer escapism. Unfortunately, the story is pretty weak and the characters could have been developed better for the audience to care more about what they were watching. But the acting is solid [especially by Tom Cruise, who's career ISN'T over yet] and the direction is good. It'll make a good date movie and a definite rental when it's released on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Sundance Selects, a national video-on-demand platform for independent film in the documentary and world cinema categories, announced today that it has acquired rights to Colin Fitz Lives! A black comedy directed by Robert Bella, Colin Fitz Lives! previously premiered to critical and audience acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival in Dramatic Competition in 1997. It also played at festivals around the world including the Austin Film Festival, where it received the top prize for Best Feature Film as well as praise from Ain't It Cool News' Harry Knowles who dubbed it "a cult hit." The Sundance Selects acquisition has brand new never-before-seen footage and newly discovered Colin Fitz musical recordings. Colin Fitz Lives! will be released nationwide on video-on-demand in more than 40 million homes beginning August 4th. A charming, biting, and absurdist comedy inspired by American's obsession with fame, rock 'n' roll and celebrity deaths, Colin Fitz Lives! centers on two eccentric security guards hired to guard the grave of a dead rock legend, the eponymous Colin Fitz. Echoing the canny madness ofThis Is Spinal Tap! and the deadpan worldview of Clerks, the film explores dead rock star mythology and post-modern romance, making a case for friendship in a world-gone-mad. The film's ensemble cast includes stage and screen luminaries including William H. Macy (The Cooler), Martha Plimpton ("How to Make It In America"), Matt McGrath (The Notorious Bette Page), John C. McGinley ("Scrubs") and Mary McCormack ("The West Wing"). Colin Fitz Lives! was written by Tom Morrissey with original music by Colin Fitz, Jason Downs and Matthew Puckett. Colin Fitz Lives! will be available on the on-demand platform of major cable operators, including Time Warner, Comcast, Cox and Cablevision. In addition, the world premiere of the re-mastered cut will take place on Thursday, July 15th in San Francisco as the closing night film of the 2010 LOL-SF Film Festival, a celebration of film comedies. The Los Angeles Premiere of the film will be hosted by the American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre on Thursday, August 5th. To find Sundance Selects on your cable provider, follow the below guides: Comcast: Ch. 1 >> Same Day as in Theaters >> Sundance Selects Cox: Ch. 1 >> Movies on Demand >> Sundance Selects Cablevision: Movies on Demand >> Independent Films >> Sundance Selects Time Warner: Movies on Demand >> IFC in Theaters
Director Nash Edgerton’s stylish, twist-filled film noir "The Square debuts on Blu-ray™ and DVD on August 24 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. David Roberts (Ghost Rider), Claire van der Boom (Red Hill), Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom), and Anthony Hayes (Animal Kingdom) star in the sinister tale centering on an adulterous couple whose scheming leads to arson, blackmail and murder. Synopsis: Escaping the monotony of a loveless marriage, Raymond Yale (David Roberts) becomes entangled in an affair with the beautiful and troubled Carla. Ray’s moral limits are tested when Carla presents him with the proceeds of her controlling husband’s latest crime. This is their chance: Take the money and run...if only it were that simple. The seed is planted and Ray, fearing he will lose his love, engineers the plan. Hiring the professional arsonist Billy becomes a fatal error, and the plan goes horribly wrong. Alarm bells sound and suspicions are raised but, miraculously, the dust looks to settle. After all nobody knows. Then the first blackmail note arrives. In addition, the bonus materials include director Edgerton’s award-winning short film Spider, dubbed “a sharp, sick tour de force” by The New York Time’s A.O. Scott, who noted that the film “stands on its own and serves as a jolting introduction to this director’s skill, sensibility and sense of humor.” A must-own for fans of cult films, DVD and Blu-ray Bonus Features Include: Music Video: “Sand” by Jessica Chapnik Deleted Scenes Featurette: “Inside the Square" Featurette: “Pre-Visualisation” Visual Effects Scene Deconstructions Short Film: Spider "The Square" will be available on Blu-ray for $24.96 SRP and on DVD for $30.95 SRP..
