I’d heard the title Knights of Badassdom mentioned in a number of places when True Blood was getting ready to return and Ryan Kwanten was doing interviews, but I hadn’t bothered to investigate it any further.
I should of. It looks sweet as.
IMDB says:
Live-action role players conjure up a demon from hell by mistake and must deal with the consequences.
Ryan Kwanten, Steve Zahn, Peter Dinklage, Danny Pudi and Summer Glau star. It’s due for release later this year. Check out the trailer.
Here’s another poster for Tucker & Dale vs Evil. Anyone would think they’re trying to build up interest for the film.
Yep, Tucker & Dale vs Evil is finally coming out in the US after I saw it months ago (and it played at various festivals months before that).
Anyway, here’s the new poster for the film.
Title: Season of the Witch
Directed by: Dominic Sena
Written by: Bragi F. Schut
Initial Flickchart position: #1068 of 1392 overall. My #5 film, of 5, from the year 2011.
What It’s About:
14th-century knights transport a suspected witch to a monastery, where monks deduce her powers could be the source of the Black Plague.
General Comments:
Nic Cage really does make some odd choices with his roles. Red Rock West, Leaving Las Vegas, Face/Off, Bringing Out the Dead, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans, Kick-Ass. They’re all good to great films, but then he goes and appears in garbage like Ghost Rider, Next, Bangkok Dangerous and Knowing. Season of the Witch falls into the latter category. It features some truly terrible dialogue, a whole bunch of religious bullshit, Cage getting angry and yelling through spit, and Ron Perlman doing his “I’m big and hitting stuff” routine. It’s below average in every possible way, and makes Drive Angry look like a masterpiece.
Watch Season of the Witch too see how low Nic Cage is willing to go.
Rating: 4.5/10
Title: Let Me In
Directed by: Matt Reeves
Written by: Matt Reeves and John Ajvide Lindqvist (novel and screenplay Lat den ratte komma in)
Initial Flickchart position: #195 of 1374 overall. My #10 film, of 71, from the year 2010.
What It’s About:
A bullied young boy befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian.
General Comments:
I still consider it to be a completely unnecessary remake, but seen as how it’s an almost scene for scene copy, is in English, and stars probably my favourite up and coming actress in Chloe Moretz, I think that it’s a damn good film. I find all remakes to be pointless exercises because they’re never any better than the original and really amount to a cash grab by the studios. Still, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chloe Moretz gave really good performances, and I was pleasantly surprised that they kept Abby as a boy, although from memory they don’t seem to have delved as deep into that aspect as they did in the original Lat den ratte komma in.
Watch Let Me In because it’s a surprisingly good remake starring the fantastically awesome Chloe Moretz.
Rating: 8/10
Title: Maniac Cop
Directed by: William Lustig
Written by: Larry Cohen
Current Flickchart position: #496 of 1363 overall. My #12 film, of 23, from the year 1988.
What It’s About:
In New York, a man in a cop’s uniform starts killing people for no apparent reason.
General Comments:
I just couldn’t resist. An ’80s horror flick set in New York starring Bruce Campbell. There was no way I wasn’t gonna enjoy it. It’s cheesy, simple, and fairly poorly acted but it’s exactly the type of film I enjoy. The only way this would of been better was if Cordell was actually undead, kinda like Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers.
Watch Maniac Cop because Bruce Campbell is a God damn legend.
Rating: 5.5/10
Title: Hatchet II
Written and Directed by: Adam Green
Current Flickchart position: #322 of 1348 overall. My #29 film, of 59, from the year 2010.
What It’s About:
Marybeth escapes the clutches of the deformed, swamp-dwelling iconic killer Victor Crowley. After learning the truth about her family’s connection to the hatchet-wielding madman, Marybeth returns to the Louisiana swamps along with an army of hunters to recover the bodies of her family and exact the bloodiest revenge against the bayou butcher.
General Comments:
Hatchet II is more of the same ’80s style monster/slasher vibe from the first film but with the comedy really toned down. I got a real Friday 13th crossed with Rambo feel early on in the film and for the most part that’s a pretty fitting description. I’m glad Tony Todd got a bigger role this time round and I was exceedingly happy that Marybeth was now being played by Danielle Harris, an actress I love because she was in Halloween 4, Halloween 5, and The Last Boy Scout. It’s just a shame the sequel isn’t as good as the first one.
Watch Hatchet II for more outlandish kills and to see Danielle Harris kick major ass.
Rating: 5.5/10
Title: Hatchet
Written and Directed by: Adam Green
Current Flickchart position: #316 of 1347 overall. My #27 film, of 62, from the year 2007 (Flickchart has the film incorrectly listed as a 2007 release).
What It’s About:
When a group of tourists on a New Orleans haunted swamp tour find themselves stranded in the wilderness, their evening of fun and spooks turns into a horrific nightmare.
General Comments:
Hatchet is a nice throwback to ’80s style monster/slasher films with a bit of ’90s humour thrown in. Like any good horror there are some very gory and exaggerated kills, and a psycho bad guy/monster with no clear indication why he’s killing everyone in sight. Bonus points for finally allowing me to see Mercedes McNab topless. I’ve been waiting for that since Buffy.
Watch Hatchet because it’s a good enjoyable horror flick that will make you jump. Just like the glory days of the Friday 13th films back in the ’80s.
Rating: 6.5/10
I love the Scream franchise so I’m obviously super excited for the upcoming fourth installment.
At first I didn’t like the idea of the addition of a whole bunch of new characters with the franchise seemingly being relaunched for a new generation, but as long as Sidney, Gale and Dewey don’t die I’ll be happy.
Scream 4 opens on 14th April.
I’ve been super excited to see Tucker & Dale vs Evil since it played at Sundance at the beginning of the year. Sadly I’m still waiting for it to be released.
Something that may signal a release is imminent is this Russian poster for the film. Although with the progress made so far this year with trying to find a distributor and actually getting the film out there, I may end up getting it on DVD from Russia before it sees a theatrical release. Still, fingers crossed for a release soon.
Check out the trailer below too.
