Lost Woods
Directed by Nathan Ellering & Phillip Ellering
Courtesy of Brain Damage Films & Midnight Releasing
Release Date: June 5, 2012

I’ve never been an avid fan of the Bigfoot legend, but it has always intrigued me nonetheless. That myth as well as the legend of the Loch Ness Monster have occasionally tickled my imagination over the years, but I’ve never put a lot of thought or stock into either one. Still, both make for interesting horror flicks and their film adaptations usually entertain on some level. LOST WOODS is a unique and interesting take on the Bigfoot myth, and it’s a downright fun horror film as well.

If you are not familiar with LOST WOODS, here is the plot synopsis courtesy of the Brain Damage Films website:

Darrin Noland leads a deliberate and careful life, but when his old friends spring a camping trip on him it’s a good time he can’t run from. The escape turns south when Darrin finds out the unsettling news that Warren, someone he has avoided since junior high, is also along for the ride. Darrin attempts to avoid an awkward reunion but horrible events caused by a mysterious creature force him to face his regretful past and take on his beast within.

I didn’t realize that LOST WOODS dealt with the Bigfoot legend before I watched it; and honestly, I probably would have shied away from it if I had known. But I’m sure glad I watched it though, because it’s a great film and very entertaining. Granted, it is a low budget picture so don’t go into it expecting a Michael Bay-sized budget. Instead, enjoy the film for what it is and I’m pretty sure you’ll have a good time.

LOST WOODS is shot very well and the acting is surprisingly good. The characters are diverse and interesting, which in turn makes you actually feel for them (somewhat) when they start dying. There’s a little gore as well, which looks good and is well done, although I personally could have used more than what is seen on-screen.

The best aspect of this film for me is the creature make-up effects. I was very surprised by the quality of the suit and the make-up. I was expecting just a cheap, gorilla-looking suit with an obvious zipper in the back. Instead, the LOST WOODS production team goes out of their way to give a unique and believable creature, complete with glowing eyes and a nappy mane.

I also enjoyed the twist at the end, which is what gives LOST WOODS it’s unique take on Bigfoot. I sorta saw it coming, but it made me smile regardless. The idea is inventive and well thought-out. But be sure and watch through the credits to catch the FULL ending.

LOST WOODS is a definite win for me and I recommend it to anyone looking for a taut creature-feature. But as mentioned above, do not go into it expecting a major-budget picture…instead, sit back and enjoy it for what it is: a low-budget thriller that will make you think twice about going into the woods.

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NATHAN HAMILTON

Congrats, Nathan!!

For you non-winners out there, stay tuned and check back here frequently…I have more cool stuff to give away, including a couple of Blu-rays and even an autographed copy of SPIRIT CAMP!!

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Click here to read the original post for rules and how to enter.

Good luck!!

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Mutant Girls Squad
Directed by Noboru Iguchi, Yoshihiro Nishimura, & Tak Sakaguchi
Courtesy of Well Go USA & Sushi Typhoon
Original Release Date: 2010
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: May 22, 2012

The more Japanese splatter-films I watch, the more I like them. If you’re not familiar with the term ‘splatter-film’, it refers to the over-the-top, blood gushing films that several big-name Japanese directors are releasing these days. They contain hyper-violent (but very fun) scenes of dismemberment and disembowelment which usually result in geysers of blood spraying from the body like fountains. MUTANT GIRLS SQUAD is an excellent splatter-film that is helmed by three of Japan’s biggest cinematic names.

If you are not familiar with MUTANT GIRLS SQUAD, here is the plot synopsis courtesy of the Well Go USA press release:

Rin has always felt like an outcast among her classmates and peers, and as she’s about to turn sixteen, she finds out why — while her mother is human, her dad is a Hiruko, a race of mutant creatures whose bodies transform themselves in strange ways and can sprout weapons at will. Defense Minister Koshimizu has launched a crusade to eliminate the Hirukos in the name of public safety, but Rin’s father tells her of an underground Hiruko alliance who are fighting for their right to survive, and after the death of her parents, Rin makes her way to a training camp for young Hirukos. Rin, who now has long blades where her fingers used to be, teams up with fellow teenage warriors Rei, Yoshie, Sachi, and Chiako, all of whom have unique bodily weapons of their own, as they set out to take down Koshimizu.

If you’ve never see a Japanese splatter-film before, then this one is perfect to cut your teeth on. Just be warned: they are way over the top and have some of the most bizarre things you’ve ever seen on film. Not to mention the bucketfuls of blood and body parts. But all of that combined makes for one heck of a fun film!

MUTANT GIRLS SQUAD brings together three top-name directors: Noboru Iguchi, who also directed ROBOGEISHA and THE MACHINE GIRL, Yoshihiro Nishimura , who also directed HELLDRIVER (click here to check out my review of that one), and Tak Sakaguchi, who wrote, directed, and starred in YAKUZA WEAPON (review coming very soon here at Shattered Ravings). The collective imagination of this trio is nothing short of astounding. These three men weave together an almost surrealistic blood-fest that will take your breath away and then shove it back down your throat.

As mentioned, this film is WAY over the top…but that’s certainly a good thing. I can guarantee you that there are things in this movie that you probably haven’t seen anywhere else. I mean, can you honestly say you’ve seen an ‘ass-chainsaw’ before? Or a character who sports ‘mammoth tit-maid Sachie’s breast swords’? Or even a giant creature that spews acid from its breasts? Yeah, I didn’t think so. But check this film out and you will see all of that and much, much more.

My sole complaint about MUTANT GIRLS SQUAD is that the nose-guns that the guards use are very annoying to look at. They are literally guns mounted over their noses. Instead of cool and sleek, they come across as phallic and just plain stupid looking. But that’s my SOLE complaint for the film, so it’s nothing that detracts from the enjoyment-factor.

The gore is phenomenal and there’s plenty of it to go around. The fight scenes are original and unique, not to mention the special effects in general are stunning to see. The story, while not entirely original, is executed well and gives the audience plenty to laugh at one minute and then gasp at the next.

I highly recommend MUTANT GIRLS SQUAD, whether you are a fan of splatter-films or not. The entertainment factor is off the charts, so you’re almost guaranteed to have a good time. The film is released on DVD and Blu-ray next week, so make a note. And be sure and check out the Blu-ray for superb video and sound quality. It also contains some awesome bonus features, including interviews and featurettes, as well as a spinoff short film titled “Yoshie Zero”.

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Earth Girl
by Janet Edwards
Published by HarperVoyager
U.K. Release Date: August 16, 2012
U.S. Release Date: TBA

If you are like me, originality and uniqueness in a story go a long way when looking for new books to read. I have my favorite genres that I always look up when I’m perusing the bookstores, but even so, I like to see new ideas and concepts within them. I hate to see the same plots rehashed and reinvented over and over again, which makes every unique storyline that I run across a true treasure to find. EARTH GIRL, the debut novel from Janet Edwards, is one of those rare gems, a pure diamond in the coal-cluttered mine of Young Adult fiction.

If you are not familiar with EARTH GIRL, you will be very soon…I would wager that it is the next big series to hit the YA scene, putting it in the same caliber as the Harry Potter series and the Hunger Games trilogy. Here is the plot synopsis, courtesy of the author’s website:

The year is 2788. Only the handicapped live on Earth. While everyone else portals between worlds, 18-year old Jarra is among the one in a thousand people born with an immune system that cannot survive on other planets. Sent to Earth at birth to save her life, she has been abandoned by her parents. She can’t travel to other worlds, but she can watch their vids and she knows all the jokes they make. She’s an ‘ape’, a ‘throwback’, but this is one ape girl who won’t give in. But can she prove to the norms that she’s more than just an Earth Girl?

I will be blunt in regard to my overall thoughts on this book: EARTH GIRL is by far one of the best fiction titles that I have read in the past year. Make no mistake…this is a book that must be on your To Read List for 2012/2013.

The above plot synopsis is a bit vague, I will admit, but I am not going to go into great detail here, so as not to ruin the story for you. But I will tell you that the basis EARTH GIRL deals with the excavation of a couple of key sites in New York. Yes, you read that correctly: because the stars have beckoned to mankind, Earth has been forgotten over the past couple of centuries, rendering much of it to ruin. But humanity has finally realized all of the historical significance the planet has and is therefore sending teams to dig up its past. The story revolves around Jarra, as she poses as an off-worlder in order to work on the site.

As you can see, the story is a refreshing and unique concept, and EARTH GIRL is a very welcome addition to a YA market that is flooded with overused ideas. Edwards writes with a brilliant voice and her prose dances off the page with the grace of a ballerina. The pacing of the story is dead-on and the characters are all interesting and likable (except for one particular young man who goes out of his way to be an ass). I particularly enjoy how the story is told from Jarra’s point-of-view, which allows the reader to get into her head easier.

It pains me to state that there is not U.S. release date for EARTH GIRL yet, however it appears that Pyr will be the company that is publishing it. Still, you would definitely not be wasting your money if you decided to pay a bit extra and order a U.K. version later this year. I am considering doing so, if anything but to see what the decided cover of the book will be (the advance reader copy I received does not have a real cover).

Check EARTH GIRL out as soon as you can. It is vastly entertaining and immensely enjoyable. It is definitely going into my library, and I cannot wait to see what Edwards does next.

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Episode 50
Directed by Joe Smalley & Tess Smalley
Courtesy of Image Entertainment
Release Date: 2011
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: April 17, 2012

Even though they are almost flooding the market now, I still really enjoy the found-footage concept when it comes to horror films. Something about the idea just makes the film seem so much more plausible, as if the events are actually feasible in real life. EPISODE 50 gives this sub-genre a good try, but is unfortunately also lacking in several places.

If you are not familiar with EPISODE 50, here is the plot synopsis courtesy of Image Entertainment:

Fans of PARANORMAL ACTIVITY and QUARANTINE will get the fright of their lives with this personal descent into pure terror! The ghost-debunking team at GTV’s television show PI: Paranormal Inspectors is about to mount a very special investigation for their 50th episode, which takes them into the abandoned, haunted depths of a legendary West Virginia mental hospital. On the scene they run into a club devoted to proving the existence of the supernatural, and when a ghostly menace threatens them all, the spirit-seeking intruders must team up to escape the haunting or separate and die.

EPISODE 50 is one of those films that you have to rewind at certain scenes to make sure you haven’t missed anything. It is rife with quick-flashing sequences that contain many creepy elements, so you should be sure and give these scenes a slow-through, just so you can appreciate everything.

The film is shot well, even though it’s not technically a found-footage film…it’s actually supposed to be the culmination of found documentary footage that was filmed through both stationary and mobile cameras. The result is a semi-effective thriller that will have you cringing and jumping in more places than one.

But even so, EPISODE 50 never quite pulls it all together. Although you do cringe and jump in a few places, the film is not scary at all. And the acting in certain parts is enough to make you mad. Combine that with the fact that the plot seems thrown together in spots, and you’ve got a confusing film that could have been excellent. I see where the directors were trying to go, but they just didn’t quite get there.

I’m going to go ahead and recommend EPISODE 50, though, because it’s a great example of a first-draft type of movie, like the film that you shoot BEFORE you make your mega-hit. You should check this one out, if anything just to see the potential these filmmakers have. I definitely want to check out their future work. But if you’re looking for a great, entertaining film, I would give this one a by.

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That’s right…you have a whole week left to enter…but why not go ahead and do it today?

You know you’re wanting this brand new DVD copy of THE THEATRE BIZARRE.

This movie truly rocks!! Click HERE to read my review of it. It’s a collection of six unique short films, one of which is directed by horror legend Tom Savini! How could you not want to win a FREE DVD, especially one this awesome??

To win, simply click HERE to read the original post containing instructions (it’s very easy!) and rules. Do it today so you don’t forget!! Good luck!

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Playback
Directed by Michael A. Nickles
Courtesy of Magnet Releasing
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: May 8, 2012

Ok, confession time: I have always been and still am a big Christian Slater fan. I don’t know what it is about the guy, but I really enjoy almost everything he’s done (note the ‘almost’ in there…I hated ALONE IN THE DARK and a couple of others). From GLEAMING THE CUBE (yeah, I was a skater!) to PUMP UP THE VOLUME to KUFFS, he’s usually a winner for me. So, I knew I had to watch PLAYBACK when I discovered he was in it.

If you are not familiar with PLAYBACK, here is the plot synopsis courtesy of the press release:

This unnerving film follows a group of high school students who begin to dig into their towns infamous past and unwittingly unlock a dark secret that has been kept hidden for years. Now an evil spirit has awakened and will stop at nothing to get what it wants.

Thankfully, PLAYBACK continues Slater’s list of wins for me. This film is wildly thrilling and vividly entertaining. It is full of suspense and tension with an excellent twist towards the end that I didn’t see coming.

PLAYBACK is shot very well and the acting is top notch. It sports an all-star cast of rising stars, including Johnny Pacar, Toby Hemingway, and Ambyr Childers. The special effects look excellent, with several nice gore scenes, including a guy who gets his head pounded into pudding with the steering wheel from a car. How can you not want to see that?

But the best aspect of PLAYBACK is the story. The plot grabs you by the throat from the very beginning and doesn’t let go. The opening sequence is extremely intense and I found myself cringing at a couple of points because of how realistic it feels. The thrill-ride that follows is nothing short of spectacular.

Slater’s role as a voyeuristic police officer is less than glamourous, I will admit, but he pulls it off with ease. It’s nice to see him in a non-heroic role, I suppose, but I was hoping he would be more of a lead. Still, he does a great job, as does the rest of the cast.

PLAYBACK is an excellent thriller with a unique mythos and entertaining premise. I highly recommend this film, but not just on the basis that I like one of its actors…it is a high-tension, fun-filled ride that will leave you begging for more! Check it out soon…and be sure to give the Blu-ray version a look. The HD sound and visuals give you more reasons to immerse yourself in the film.

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I picked these two t-shirts up at the Texas Frightmare Weekend because they are uniquely awesome and they look great as well:

(click image to enlarge)
Nothing shows your love for The Evil Dead trilogy like sporting a Boomstick Double Stout t-shirt, courtesy of The Deadite Brewing Co. After all, who doesn’t want to kick back with a cold one after a long, hard day of staving off evil?

(click image to enlarge)
Anyone know what this shirt references? If you don’t know, then you’re obviously not as cool as I am. The USCSS Nostromo is the mining ship that sets down on LV-426 and takes in the titular creature in the original ALIEN film.

TShirt Bordello uses only the finest, heavy weight, 100% cotton tees for their shirts, and offer both Men’s and Women’s sizes. They pride themselves on customer service (as was evident at Frightmare…they are a blast to talk to!) and will work hard to completely satisfy you.

These two shirts are just a glimpse at all the wonderful designs over at TShirt Bordello. Click here to visit their website. While you’re there, sign up for their newsletter to automatically be entered into their giveaways. And be sure to Like them on Facebook as well!

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Shock Labyrinth 3D
Directed by Takashi Shimizu
Courtesy of Well Go USA
Original Release Date: 2009
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: May 8, 2012

I have to admit that I’m a little torn on SHOCK LABYRINTH 3D; I did enjoy it overall, however there were a few things about it that I didn’t like. It’s very well done and I can’t wait to watch it in 3D (alas, I do not have a 3D Blu-ray player or TV), but the plot has some detail issues that bugged me. Still, I am going to recommend watching this, if only for you to make up your own mind about it.

If you are not familiar with SHOCK LABYRINTH 3D, here is the plot synopsis courtesy of the press release:

Ten years ago, Yuki disappeared at the amusement park haunted house. One rainy night, she suddenly returns and faints in front of her shocked friends. Her friends rush her to the hospital but what awaits them is an endless labyrinth of unspeakable horrors.

As mentioned, SHOCK LABYRINTH 3D is a visual feast for the eyes. It is shot very well, with eye-popping detail, and many of the scenes are made specifically to enjoy the 3D effect. (I wish a television maker like LG or Sony would donate a 3D Blu-ray player and 3D TV to my website, so I can rewatch this…ahem).

The special effects are well done although there’s not really any gore to mention, just a bit of blood here and there. The acting is mediocre and could have been much better, especially given the caliber of director that Takashi Shimizu is…after all, he directed JU-ON: THE GRUDGE. The cinematography, on the other hand, steals the show, as a stunning interpretation of Shimizu’s vision.

The plot in SHOCK LABYRINTH 3D is where I find the most faults, though. There are many flashbacks incorporated into the story, but some of them are not actually scenes of what happened. For example, there’s a flashback towards the end of the movie where Ken’s mom pulls him aside and scolds him about going into the hospital, saying that one of his friends will die if they go in. We never see this particular event happen before and it threw me way off of what was actually going in. Afterwards, I found it hard to reintegrate myself into the story.

I do love the ending and will not give it away, in case you decide to give this one a shot. I recommend that you do watch this one, as I mentioned above, so that you can voice your own opinion afterwards. I will daresay this movie won’t please everyone, but some of you might enjoy it. If you do give it a try, pop back over here and let us know what you think.

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