The Blu-Ray release of You're Next doesn't offer many additional incentives to attract "special feature" junkies, but with a movie this good, do we really care?
With an unbalanced story and an even worse 3D conversion, The Legend Of Hercules is an abysmal production that feels hours longer than it should - like an undesirable chore.
Alas, another year has come and gone, but momentary endings come with new beginnings and fresh opportunities, letting us start clean once again. With that said, I have no intention of starting over anything, and neither does my partner Remy, as we see 2014 as a chance to grow, reach even farther, and make the awesome year of 2013 seem uneventful compared to the hard-rocking, face-melting, awe-inspiring year of 2014. I can feel it people! If you thought 2013 had some highlights, just wait for 2014 - to quote lyrical virtuosos Tenacious D, we're here to "rock your f@#king socks off!"
Revenge is often a dish best served cold, but while rifling through collections of revenge thrillers from different countries, you definitely get the feeling that different nations have added spices and flavors. Some like their revenge with a happy ending, others like it bleak and nasty, but no matter how you swing it, the overall concept of revenge is a theme that any person can understand. We've seen American revenge films, Korean versions, Japanese versions - but are you ready for the Israeli interpretation of revenge?
I have to admit, I didn't expect much going into Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones. In my eyes, the franchise had been on a steady decline since Oren Peli's original, which absolutely haunted my nightmares - wait, no. Paranormal Activity made sleep just a tempting fantasy as I laid in my bed clutching my blanket over my eyes, so I couldn't even reach the nightmare stage - I was just scared. After that, each sequel seemed to lose that spark of inventive horror, even though a new camera gimmick was introduced each time. In a way, I thought the technology removed that inherent terror, as I slowly became bored with Katie, Hunter, and all the witching hour dramatics.
Being a backup singer isn't easy, but neither is making it as a solo act, and that's the dangerous balance that documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville approached for one of 2013's best documentaries, 20 Feet From Stardom. Neville's film is an entrancing look into the world of backup singers like Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, and Lisa Fischer, all of whom possess immense talents and have performed with legendary icons throughout the music scene. You may not know these names immediately, but then you'll listen to "Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones and hear that prevalent female voice belting "Rape, murder!" and realize just how impactful these behind-the-scenes talents are.
Wow, what a truly inspiring year. Why, you ask? Simple - 2013 was the best year for horror I've seen since starting my love for the genre back in college. Each year has its highs and lows, don't get me wrong, and even though there were some insultingly bad horror movies forced upon us this year (which I already discussed in my 13 Worst Horror Movies Of 2013 article), the good mightily outweighed these forgettable blemishes. Count Dracula turning into a Praying Mantis? Last, last exorcisms? Sympathetic Leatherface? Forget all that malarky because 2013 was full of top-notch remakes, energized reboots, worthy sequels, ambitious independent winners, and horror comedies that had us laughing just as much as we were screaming. As a horror fan, this has been a year for the ages - and also a year that gave me a pretty empty wallet.
Thank you for ditching the gimmicks and focusing on horror once again Christopher Landon, because this is the best Paranormal Activity sequel since Oren Peli's original nightmare machine.
While keeping up with all the mainstream horror releases of any year might be hard enough, it's even harder to view all the lesser-known independent features that are released each and every week. While Video On Demend services give smaller films the audience they deserve, it's sure making life hectic for film fans and reviewers. It's nearly impossible to keep up with the always growing backlog of horror films, and even I can admit a few films were missed I would have loved to see - but both Remy and I did our damnedest to catch every film in our power. Dedication, thy name is insanity.