Archive for category Trailers
Further Proof That Uwe Boll Is A Douche
Posted by Matt in New Releases, Trailers, Trash on September 8th, 2010
Unlike many horror film fans, I only started disliking Uwe Boll within the past year. Prior to my viewing of Seed, I hadn’t been exposed to any of Boll’s directorial prowess, which includes House of the Dead and other films ranked amongst the worst of all time via IMDB. In case you haven’t seen it (hopefully you haven’t), Seed is about a prolific serial killer whose execution is botched via a faulty electric chair. The prison guards bury him alive and of course he doesn’t die. Instead he crawls out and goes on a killing spree. Pretty standard cliche stuff. The point of bringing Seed up here is that the first two minutes of the film is comprised of actual footage of animals being abused or slaughtered – stuff you’d see in PETA videos like skinned dogs in their death throes. It’s absolutely horrific and unwatchable to me. While I think it’s important to recognize that this type of ugliness exists in the world, Boll used the footage specifically to get a reaction, not because he had anything to say about cruelty or suffering. He wanted his audience to be shocked by the violence shown and then take that mindset with them into his film. Unfortunately, there’s nothing remotely interesting about watching Seed‘s cliche drivel and nothing that would show intelligence behind including the animal footage. Shock value with no message or meaning.
Anyway, the talented Mr. Boll just released a trailer for his newest “shocking” piece of garbage, Auschwitz, which is obviously about the Holocaust and stars Boll as a Nazi guard. As expected the trailer is horrific, featuring footage of people being gassed, a child’s body being burned and Boll pulling teeth out of a dead body. At one point, the words “never forget” appear over a black backdrop. What is so infuriating about this isn’t the fact that there’s going to be a film about the Holocaust that graphically depicts the atrocities that were committed. I’m all for preserving the memory and awareness of these awful things. What is infuriating is that Boll has the audacity to turn the Holocaust into what will likely amount to a torture porn flick and has the balls to say “never forget” in his trailer! This guy has achieved a brand new level of douchiness never before seen. I bet Boll will attempt to pass off this film as artistic or as making a statement about the Holocaust. Don’t be fooled – we’re just looking at a hack director’s latest attempt to cause controversy in order to keep his name out there. He’d actually be less of an ass if he was up front about just wanting to use the Holocaust as his backdrop for horror. Mostly I get angry at this man’s pretentiousness, not his subject matter. Maybe now’s the time to go ahead and sign the Stop Uwe Boll Petition.
New Let Me In Clip – Yawn
A new clip from Let Me In (Matt Reeves’ remake of Let The Right One In) surfaced today and I remain unconvinced. What we see here is Hakan attempting to drug and presumably drain a teenager by hiding in the back seat of his car. A bit of a cliche, no? This is all set to Blue Oyster Cult’s “Burning For You” which certainly gives the scene a distinctly American feel and I like the fact that the kidnapping is set to some benign rock song. Overall, the scene is nothing spectacular and it leaves me wondering why the producers chose this one to release as a teaser. It doesn’t do much to capture my interest. [Insert further whiny "I hate remakes of awesome films" talk here]. Check it out for yourself:
Paranormal Activity 2 Trailer
Posted by Chris in New Releases, Trailers on July 2nd, 2010
Please Put me in the Sequel! I'm READY to Bust ghosts this time!
Another interesting little tidbit about going to see Eclipse the other night was that I got to catch the Paranormal Activity 2 teaser. Of course, I’m not thrilled, but I am a bit curious. After panning the original as a substance-less jump-fest that provided most of its horror from the on screen attempts at believable acting by Sloat and Featherston, I am not dying to see the sequel as much as those who fell for the first hype factory. What does strike me about the trailer is that it seems to be keeping true to the original format.
Those of us that grew up with the original “con-artist” of the horror genre Blair Witch may remember that their attempt at a sequel produced the all too ordinary Blair Witch 2 : Book of Shadows, which threw the first person hand held cam idea out the window and the novelty and allure with it. Of course, “found footage” and “first person narratives” were new and, at the time, no one thought they would become trendy. Today, PA2 has more of luxury to keep with their roots and while the teaser offers little insight into what direction the film will take, it does seem to promise that it will remain in the style of its predecessor.
What we do see in the teaser is a dog and baby reacting to an unseen force. The German Shepard, already showing better acting skills than Sloat, growls at the air as the baby stands up in the crib. After a cut and a sound spike, a dark haired girl (maybe Featherston?) looms in the doorway. The child and dog have vanished, but if you look in the mirror you can see an image of the child remains. Oooh creepy.
As George W. Bush once said, “Fool me once shame on….you…If you fool me, you can’t be fooled again.” Point being that Paranormal Activity fooled us all once with their sound spikes and tiny little scratches on Featherston’s thigh, so if we’re willing to jump to see this second one it’s shame on us. They need to come up with something really clever to create the swarm of bees buzz that fueled the first one’s success, and I will be the first one to applaud them if they do. Until then I’ll remain skeptical about the paranormal.
Let Me In Trailer Released – This Just Isn’t The “Right” One
Posted by Matt in New Releases, Rants, Trailers on July 1st, 2010
As you’ve probably seen on a variety of other blogs and movie sites, the first trailer has been released for Matt Reeves’ Let Me In, the upcoming remake to the much acclaimed (and personal favorite) Let The Right One In. I’ve been dreading this thing since hearing about it more than a year ago and while this trailer hasn’t inspired rage in me, it has only furthered my suspicion that this film will be a completely unnecessary rehash of the original. Based on the shots included in the trailer, it seems that Reeves has worked to keep a lot of Tomas Alfredson’s stylistic dark imagery and maintain the tone of John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel but something seems, well, wrong to me here. The source material was never meant to be set to some moody rock song, Colorado just isn’t Sweden, and I don’t remember Oskar to be the kind of kid to whisper “do you think there’s such a thing as evil?”
Beyond those surface details and nit-picky complaints, I have doubts that Reeves will have the balls to explore the uncomfortable topics of sexual attraction amongst pre-teens, pedophilia, castration, and gender confusion in his remake. These are the elements that make the book and original film so disturbing and intriguing. I think that, best case scenario, we’ll end up with a film about loneliness with a vampire twist. But wait, we already have that and so much more.
Splice – Frankenstein Rears His Ugly Head, Again
Posted by Chris in Horror, New Releases, Trailers on May 10th, 2010
For those of you who haven’t caught the trailer, Splice is a sci-fi/horror flick that intends to tackle the recent stem-cell research debate with a part human, part scorpion, part ostrich thing? Sounds confusing, but Splice runs a significant risk of being a bad cliche before the trailer’s even over.
The plot follows two scientists, Elsa and Clive, (Sarah Polley and Adrien Brody) that find a loop hole in genetic engineering laws by creating a non-human species mix with the mentality that a new species won’t have legislation against testing on it. After a quick glance at the trailer, or people with enough common sense to fill a thimble will realize that this creature is going to escape and run-amuck in downtown Tokyo. Well, everything but those last three are true and logically obvious.
Sound interesting? Well, maybe it will be, but Splice functions by attempting to put modern twists and problems on an iconic tale. This becomes problematic because Mary Shelley casts a big shadow as her novel explored the dilemma of out of control science and what type of soul comes to Earth with the creatures we create. While her inspiration came from Galvani and Volta hooking up batteries to dead frogs, the moral debate of what we’re messing with have changed very little.
The trailer gives a peek of Brody’s character referring to their creation as a “specimen,” which draws an angry “don’t her call her that” from Polley. While the subtext is intended to be powerful, I have doubts that a sci-fi/horror thriller can carry weighty questions and please genre fans. Call me a cynic, but the last person to pull this off was Shelley herself. It’s bad enough that since 1910 we wouldn’t let the original monster stay dead. Until 2000, every decade has had at least some form of Frankenstein movie but every attempt to modernize this concept has been mediocre at best. Fans of the Species franchise (if there are any left after the last two straight to DVD releases) can testify to that.
Regardless, Splice is, at very least, not another unnecessary sequel or slasher remake which is refreshing in its own way, but my pessimism is going to win out on this one until June 4th when it hits the screen. That Friday we can all go see if Hollywood has created another abomination.
Resident Evil Afterlife Trailer:LOOK 3D! LOOK 3D! Did We Mention It’s 3D?!
Well, it’s nearly time for the steadily declining Resident Evil franchise to lower the bar a bit. Resident Evil: Afterlife, is scheduled for a September 10th release and its latest trailer can’t seem to stop trying to illustrate how good…its 3D will be. In fact, it’s the first text in the trailer; after a long flying sequence and before we see a lick of action, the film makers feel the need to inform the viewer that this movie was “filmed with the James Cameron/Vincent Price Fusion Camera System.” Oh boy that sounds neat-o; I’m sure the storyline is going to be Shakespeare.
It’s not just crappy writing that bothers me here, but the fact that the trailer goes out of its way to say “better come for the 3D because that’s all we got going on.” The 3D is literary shoved in your face with every shot: Milla tossing glaives at the screen, Milla aiming her shotguns in you’re face, a plane flying at the screen, Milla jumping at the screen away from zombies, and even ridiculous non-action based gimmicky shots just for the sake of exploiting the 3D further like Wesker throwing his sunglasses at the screen. The only break from this mess of cheap cinematography is more text, explaining that those nifty aforementioned cameras are “THE WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED 3D TECHNOLOGY.” I wonder if this film is going to be in 3D?
The only aspect of the trailer that’s more offensive than the shameless 3D promo is the obvious plants of recent and recognizable baddies from Resident Evil 5. Both the giant axe wielding executioner and one of those stupid Los Plagos infected “not zombies” with the four way opening jaws soak up a good chuck of screen time in the trailer. Guess you have to hook your average illiterate gamer into going to see this somehow since they weren’t able to read the third block of text that just flashed on the screen, “Experience a New Dimension,” which – if you haven’t noticed – hints that this film is, indeed, filmed in 3D.
All cynicism and sarcasm aside, it’s still Milla doing what she does, and while she has to be the most typecast actress in Hollywood, she does have a charm, a screen presence, that seems to transcend the offensiveness of the hokey films she often stars in. Honestly, I could watch her read the phone book in thigh-high boots for two hours, so I’m sure I can find something enjoyable about her bouncing around in 3D combat. Besides, I’ve followed this franchise like a beaten puppy dog, through over ten video-games and three half-assed movies, so sadly I’ll be there. But I won’t like it.
Survival of the Dead Release Date and Red Band Trailer
Posted by Chris in New Releases, Trailers, Zombies on March 31st, 2010
After a long wait, an official red band trailer has surfaced for George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead. We’ve all already seen a boatload of footage from this film, but the new trailer offers some chilling scenes like children zombies chained up in their bedroom and of course the classic “feeding” imagery, but maybe most compelling is the format of the release. “Survival,” will hit On Demand video sources: VOD, Amazon, Playstation and XBOX first on April 30th then make its theatrical release May 28th.
The progressive marketing techniques may raise some eyebrows, and even though critics have already panned the film at its premiere in Toronto, faithfuls like me will find themselves paying for both releases. While the film appears to be hokey rehashing of the O.K. Corral to express Romero’s usual commentary sub-text – this time for the purpose of criticizing the anger in modern society’s trivial us-and-them politics or so says Mr. Romero – fans like myself can smell a certain atmosphere when his films hit the screen; it’s as intimate as remembering the scent of your parents baking pancakes on a Saturday morning. The true fans understand it. No matter how seemingly silly his zombie films become, the magic never dies, neither does the zombie. April 30th here we come. CHECK OUT THE RED BAND TRAILER BELOW:
Serbian Film – Artistic Statement Or Bloody Excess?
Posted by Matt in New Releases, Rants, Trailers on March 24th, 2010
Well this one has me waxing all philosophical. I’ve seen several posts on a couple of my favorite film blogs, Pajiba and Filmdrunk, about the upcoming horror/gore movie Serbian Film (Srpski Film) that screened recently at SXSW. From the trailer, which I will embed below with the warning that is a)EXTREMELY NSFW and b)RIDICULOUSLY GRAPHIC, Serbian Film seems to be Hostel with about 200 times more intense sexual violence. We’re talking shit that might even make Antichrist‘s mutilation scene look tame.
The plot, which I have not investigated further than the trailer, appears to be about Milosh, a semi-retired porn star who is lured into doing one last film for a large sum of money under the condition that he is not allowed to know what the film is about. Unfortunately for Milosh, it seems that he’s become trapped in the world of “high-art pornography” which appears to ride the snuff film border or even cross it and he is forced to do horrific things to save his life. I’ve read that it has one of the most disturbing endings ever written.
So, for better or for probably worse, my interest is piqued mainly because of the morbid curiosity that we all have. That is, just how realistic, how gory, how disturbing can something be? I’ve been able to sit through Hostel, The Girl Next Door, Antichrist, you-name-it without any noticeable effects on me. I will say that of those aforementioned films, The Girl Next Door was the most difficult to sit through because the violence was perpetrated on such innocent victims, it was so sexual in nature, and most importantly because it felt so degrading. And that’s just what Serbian Film looks like to me – degrading pornography.
Don’t get me wrong – I certainly don’t take issue with pornography as a whole and in general, I don’t find it to be aimed at degrading women. Feminists, go ahead and beat the shit out of me here but that’s where I stand. However, there are certain types of pornography that are most certainly aimed at degrading women and I derive no pleasure from viewing them. I’ve had the misfortune of seeing a few things where women are purposely meant to either look stupid or be abused and I don’t like that at all.
Now, it seems that Serbian Film features several of these elements. There’s a graphic shot of a donkey punch (look it up) in the trailer, which is nothing short of terrible. Of course, I don’t know the full context of all this sexual violence, as I don’t know the entire plot (not that I can think of a way it wouldn’t be terrible) but it makes me internally debate what “the line” is. What’s too much? Is anything really? I’m a firm believer in freedom of speech and expression and film falls under that. What I’m left wondering is if Serbian Film legitimately has anything to say about the violence it depicts or if it’s just another attempt at being outrageous. I’ll lean toward the latter, but I may be wrong.
There’s bound to be further outrage about this film but not only am I going to see it, I will defend its right to be made. I’m in the camp of “if you don’t like it, don’t watch it.” There’s some nasty shit out there already and this is just another one to add to the pile.
Seriously, don’t watch this trailer:
New NOES Trailer And My Deflating Excitement
Posted by Matt in Horror, New Releases, Remakes, Trailers on February 25th, 2010
Oh, Platinum Dunes. Oh, how I want to like your films but always end up disappointed. Damn you for having talented production guys working on your movie trailers in order to deceive us horror fans. I think I’m on to you this time.
As you can guess, I just caught the full Nightmare on Elm Street trailer this evening. I’m not sure if it’s already been out for a while but I’ve been preoccupied lately. Several months back, I posted about being excited by the teaser trailer as it appeared Platinum Dunes/Jackie Earle Haley were bringing Freddy back to his dark roots. I think I’m less excited now and that makes me sad.
Much like their Friday the 13th trailer, this one tries its hardest to suck you in with nostalgia. Where the former has quick cuts of teenage sexuality and machetes, this one has us revisit Freddy’s most famous accolades – claw in bathtub, scraping against steam pipes, and stalking through a rubbery wall. But move beyond that and this looks like a run-of-the-mill horror movie to me, albeit with legendary characters.
I think Haley is a fantastic actor and he’s been consistently good in everything I’ve seen him in. Recently, he was one of the bright spots in Shutter Island and I think Platinum Dunes made a good choice casting him. Still, I’m not a fan of what I see in this trailer. “Oh, God,” one clearly-not-a-teenager says. “No. Just me,” a gravelly voiced Freddy retorts. Really? That’s the line you want to showcase? Another one: “Why are you screaming? I haven’t even cut you yet.” Looks like another case of shitty writing to me.
On top of that issue, a few things jump out at me. Why does Freddy look like a Harry Potter dementor during the iconic “rubber wall” scene? There’s a shot of a female clearly-not-a-teenager wearing Freddy’s glove and an evil smile. Are we in store for a cliche sequence where one of our protagonists unexpectedly turns evil? Hey, at least with this one, it can be written off as a dream but it’s just so expected.
Freddy's side gig?
I want to like this film. If you asked me yesterday, I might have even said that I’m excited for it. Now? Fearful (in the bad way) and suspicious. Take a peek for yourself.
La Casa Muda – Taking Shaky-Cam Horror One Step Further?
Posted by Matt in Horror, New Releases, Trailers on February 2nd, 2010
With shaky-cam, documentary style horror films, directors aim to immerse us in the worlds of their characters. We follow them around tight corners and see through their eyes as they run into a flesh hungry demon. Or perhaps, we watch them stupidly argue with their girlfriend about staying in the house to become victim to said demon, but I digress. This sub-genre actually has a strong track record with The Blair Witch Project, [REC], Quarantine, Paranormal Activity leading the way. But now, La Casa Muda (The Silent House), an independent film from Uruguay, is bringing something new to the shaky-cam table.
First, full disclosure. I was contacted by one of the film’s producers, who gave me some info about La Casa Muda. I get things like this from time to time but usually I don’t write about them because frankly, I don’t care but this one piqued my interest since this sub-genre is one of my favorites. Now that that’s out of the way…
What makes La Casa Muda most interesting is that it is the first horror movie to be filmed in one continuous shot. That’s right – no cuts, edits, nothing. Director Gustavo Hernandez needed to painstakingly plan every single shot and aspect of his 72-minute film before ever pressing the record button. Cynics may say that this approach begs for mess-ups, flubbed lines, and poor acting but I’m being positive about this one. I’m excited by the idea. Also interesting is that this film was shot using the video capabilities of a digital SLR photo camera, specifically the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, making it the second film of its kind in the world (according to the producers – I couldn’t find the other one).
La Casa Muda is based on a real event that took place in 1944 in an old Uruguay farmhouse where two brutally tortured bodies were found without their tongues. Disturbing photographs found a the scene were key to solving the crime. Based on what I’ve read, it seems that Hernandez takes this real event and uses it as the backdrop for his plot:
Laura (Florencia Colucci) and her father (Gustavo Alonso) settle down in a cottage which seems to be off the beaten track in order to update it since its owner (Abel Tripaldi) will soon put it up for sale. They spend the night there in order to start the repairs. Everything seems to go smoothly until Laura hears a sound that comes from outside and gets louder and louder in the upper floors of the house. The father goes upstairs to investigate while Laura remains downstairs.
Pretty bare bones for a description, but I’m intrigued. If nothing else, I’m interested to see how effective a $6,000 72-minute continuous shot can be. Based on the stills I’ve seen, it looks pretty damn good. La Casa Muda is set to premiere at a few film festivals next month. The official website has some more info (if you speak Spanish). Check out the trailer too.
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