RIP: Leonard Nimoy March 26, 1931 - February 27, 2015

"I'm touched by the idea that when we do things that are useful and helpful - collecting these shards of spirituality - that we may be helping to bring about a healing."

~ Leonard Nimoy

THE BONUS MATERIAL PODCAST Episode 15 - Special FX (with guest Shannon Shea)

On this episode of The Bonus Material Podcast, we are honored to have as our guest, Shannon Shea (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790339), with whom we talk FX in film. Join us as wel talk about dinosaurs, LOGAN'S RUN, EVIL DEAD 2, and Shannon's new book, I'M RUBBER, YOU'RE GLUE! 

THE BONUS MATERIAL PODCAST Episode 14 - Death

In this episode, Heather Buckley, Thom Carnell, and Langley J West (with Sean Smithson in absentia) talk about Death - specifically, Death in Cinema. How is it portrayed? What is its proper function? How do filmmakers fail to promote a more realistic depiction of Death? Can we, as Creatives, use Death to speak to more important themes? 

So, join us on The Bonus Material Podcast Episode 14!

REVIEW - Sins of Sister Lucia aka Sudojo Rushia: Kegasu aka Sister Lucia’s Dishonor (1978)

Ok, I’ll say it (if I haven’t already)… I don’t exactly “get” the whole nunsploitation thing. I mean, I get it… I just don’t “get” it. These types of films want to be porn so badly… but somehow they lack the proper conviction to take that extra step. Maybe it’s a financial thing (these films at least got into normal – albeit exploitation - theaters)… Maybe it’s a moral thing (although I highly doubt it)… The plots are pretty much all the same (girl goes to convent to repent or hide from her past only to find the nuns there more twisted and kinky than they ever could of dreamed being). Now don’t get me wrong… taken in and of itself, nun porn I get. Few do it better than the Italians.. let THAT be said. They have that whole sex/guilt thing down to a friggin’ science. What’s odd about the Japanese nunsploitation sub-sub-genre is that, at its core, Japan is not a Catholic country. Yes, there are factions of the population that are Christian, but historically it has not been the case. So, enter Catholic nunneries in modern Japanese society… add a bit of bondage, torture, lesbianism, and outright blasphemy and hey, sounds like a party. However, the problem with films of this type is two-fold. First, as previously stated, they want to be porn, but aren’t…which, as a viewer, makes it terrible frustrating. Secondly, the films look and feel like copies of copies. That is to say that the have gathered all of the elements inherent in these types of films, but they’ve been arranged by someone who’s SEEN a lot of these films, but don’t exactly know what makes them tick. But ok… SISTER LUCIA… The film, directed by Koyu Ohara and starring Yuki Nohira (the Japanese nunsploitation classic WET & ROPE), is exactly what you’d expect. Rebellious nun goes to convent, is made to confess sins (shown in detail), she plots convent overthrow, finds there is more to the nuns than anyone thought. Blah blah blah… credits. The girls are attractive and the sex is mostly people grinding up against one another. Softcore porn fans will like this. Japanese Pinku film fans will as well. Most everyone else will leave it feeling confused and oddly conflicted. Imminently rentable (if only as a curiosity), but truthfully… there are better examples of the genre (SCHOOL OF THE UNHOLY BEAST and the aforementioned WET & ROPE are just two worthy of mention).

2.5 out of 5 stars

~ Thom Carnell

REVIEW - Outrage (2010)

The great Japanese director Takeshi “Beat” Kitano directs his 15th feature film with this Yakuza drama. The thing to remember when watching this is that this is not a Takashi Miike Yakuza film. Gone are the huge gun battles and blood splattering everywhere. Instead, Kitano chooses to punctuate the drama with moments of breathtaking violence that never is gratuitous or exploitative. This is a film that centers on the drama and political intrigue as a Yakuza war breaks out and quickly escalates. The roster of journeymen actors all do exemplary work even if the plot is slightly unfocused. But Kitano has an artist’s eye and is able to mine some beautiful visual moments within all the macho posturing. OUTRAGE was not met with universal approval from critics, but the film is solid all the way around. Kitano (along with men like Miike) is one of the most interesting filmmakers coming out of Japan in the last few decades and I’ve enjoyed all of his films… even the flawed ones. So, I went into OUTRAGE already predisposed to liking it. Thankfully, it did not disappoint. Yakuza film fans will dig this (especially once they figure out the film isn’t a “shoot-‘em-up”). Non-fans may want to use this as their first exposure to a truly great genre of cinema.

3.5 out of 5 stars

~ Thom Carnell

REVIEW - Murder Obsession aka Murder Syndrome aka Follia Omicida aka The Wailing aka Delerium aka L’Obsessione Che Iccide (1981)

An at times incoherent latter day giallo/Gothic horror/occult flick mashup from director Riccardo Freda (I VAMPIRI, THE IGUANA WITH THE TONGUE OF FIRE) who, for some reason decided to make this film his last feature film. The picture has a spotty cast in the way of Stefano Patrizi (LION OF THE DESERT, YOUNG, VIOLENT, DANGEROUS), John Richardson (Mario Bava’s BLACK SUNDAY), Laura Gemser (a number of the EMANUELLE films) and Anita Strindberg  (THE CASE OF THE SCORPION’S TAIL, SHORT NIGHT OF GLASS DOLLS, YOUR VICE IS A LOCKED ROON AND ONLY I HAVE THE KEY). While not as irritating as some of Freda’s other films (like say, TRAGIC CEREMONY aka ESTRATTO DAGLI ARCHIVA SEGRETI DELLA POLIZIA DI UNA CAPITALE EUROPEA), the film is nowhere near as good as say… I VAMPIRI or CALTIKI THE UNDYING MONSTER (oddly both films were reportedly directed by Mario Bava and not Freda), but ok… MURDER OBSESSION feels like it wanted to be one thing and ended up being quite another. It begins like a giallo then things start getting more Gothic (with the big house, thunder & lightning, austere trappings, etc) with some elements of the Occult thrown in for seemingly no reason. The direction is ok… the acting pretty damn stiff (which is to be expected from Italian films of that timeframe). That said… there is a lot of nudity and the locations have a fair amount of atmosphere, but this is by no means a necessity. Giallo & Freda completists may sign on to scratch yet another title of their lists, but few others will be able to generate much interest. One thing of note… this was Italian Special FX guru Sergio Stivaletti’s first gig and you can see the limited budget did him no favors. Bats on visible strings, victims catching said bats and stuffing them in their mouths, weird, goofy stop motion footprints, and one of the worst fake head hatchet plants of all time are just some of the things you’ll spot in this meandering and unsatisfying film.

2 out of 5 stars

~ Thom Carnell

THE BONUS MATERIAL PODCAST Episode 13 - Elements of Story

In this episode Heather, Thom, and Langley (with Sean in absentia) talk about Story: specifically, what makes for a good one, how is H'wood missing the boat, why is it so hard to get it right, and why "serialized entertainment" is an ill-advised method of telling your tale. Yes, it's the 'Elements of Story' episode of The Bonus Material Podcast!!

THE BONUS MATERIAL PODCAST Episode 12 - Little Kids In Big Roles

We're doing it all for the kids this time out! Persevering through some slight technical difficulties, Sean, Thom, Heather, and Langley cannot be thwarted as they talk about strong roles in film played by children. From the cute, to the smart-ass, to the downright brutal. Young actors, and their exemplary work in cinema are honored on this episode of THE BONUS MATERIAL PODCAST. Beware...it's ABOUT kids, but not FOR kids. Viewer discretion advised!

                        

REVIEW - Ted (2012)

Ted
3 out of 5 stars
Seth McFarlane is kinda like horseradish - you either like him or you don’t.  More to the point, you’re either a FAMILY GUY fan or you’re not. Which is exactly why TED comes as such a surprise seeing as how it’s a rather heartwarming/light-hearted story about growing up, friendship, love, and what it means being human. I guess I was expecting something with a little less depth from McFarlane, y’know? Anyway, the animation on Ted is solid and the animators do a terrific job of integrating the bear with the other actors as well as with his environment.  The script is fairly predictable (and a little manipulative), but still fun and McFarlane does a good job balancing the crude with the outright silly.  The jokes are plentiful and, when they land well, they land hard with more than a few laugh-out-loud moments. There are some clinkers, but again… if you’re already a fan of FAMILY GUY, you’ll find them funny.Parents may want to view TED first before letting their kids see it as there’s a lot of drug us and sexual innuendo. Fun… silly… and WIDE open for the inevitable sequel. Totally rentable!

And the trailer for the aforementioned "inevitable sequel."

~ Thom Carnell

Will The New POLTERGEIST Trailer Make You A Believer?

LISTEN TO EPISODE 11 OF THE BONUS MATERIAL PODCAST HERE

Gil Kenan, director of the wonderful animated movie MONSTER HOUSE, as well as the semi-bizarre kids flick CITY OF EMBER, has put himself in the cross-hairs of genre fans everywhere by taking on the job of re-imagining the classic Tobe Hooper/Steven Spielberg film POLTERGEIST.
Given the state of "suck" most remakes dwell in (especially when it comes to horror) there's been a lot of worrying and hand-wringing in regards to how the supernatural plight of Carol Anne and her family will be portrayed for modern audiences.
Well, now we all finally get a look at the forthcoming Ghost House pictures release, which some have taken comfort in the fact that Sam Raimi, head of Ghost House, is producing. Personally, and I may be in the minority here, after the disappointing EVIL DEAD remake, that's a small condolence. As they say though, seeing is believing, and after watching this new trailer for the updated POLTERGEIST, you just may become one of the faithful. It seems to be taking all the right cues, and incorporating an up-dated feel without walking on, er, the spirit, the original.
The cast looks solid as well, with Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt taking over the Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth WIlliams roles, along with Jane Adams , Jared Harris, and Nicholas Braun playing the medium and psychic investigators. Relative newcomer Kennedi Clements is Madison (aka Carol Anne, albeit re-named) and Kyle Catlett plays her brother, Griffin.

Check the teaser out below. POLTERGEIST spooks theater goers (in 3D) beginning July 24th.

Also, while we're on the subject of movies featuring young ones, check out the new BONUS MATERIAL PODCAST episode, where we focus on strong performances from children in film. That drops this coming Sunday, Feb, 7, 2015. In the meantime, step into the light.

Like it? Hate it? Don't care? Call out from the Other Side and let us know on the new THE BONUS MATERIAL SPEAKS Facebook group as well!



And check out the alternate French trailer as well! With different footage (YES, there's a clown!)




~Boris Lugosi

A SIX-PACK OF TRAILERS 2-4-2015

LISTEN TO THE BONUS MATERIAL PODCAST EPISODE 11 HERE

Here's some of the new trailers for upcoming 2015 releases. Crack open this six-pack, guzzle 'em down, and let us know how they taste! Please click over and like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and leave your comments!


KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE
Matthew Vaughn and Mark Millar team-up again to bring the ruckus. Are you looking forward to this one?



Netflix's DAREDEVIL
This is looking quite similar to a certain arrow-shooting super hero show. Thoughts?



LOST RIVER
Ryan Gosling's writing/directing debut. Early word hasn't exactly been kind, but we'll be giving it a chance anyway. Will you? Sound off!



THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY
The Bonus Material's Heather Buckley has seen this and loves it. Grim and beautiful by her word, which is good enough for us. This seems to be one worth watching out for! Agree?



WHITE GOD
A little girl, her lost dog, and a cannine revolt of epic proportions. Deemed a genre mashing masterpiece, and one of the most lauded films to play Sundance 2015. Sit up, take notice, and see it when you can. Trust us.



CHILD 44
A period piece set in Soviet Russia, 1953. A child-murdering serial killer. Tom Hardy and Gary Oldman. We're in. Are you?

REVIEW - Zero Theorem (2013)

LISTEN TO EPISODE 11 OF THE BONUS MATERIAL PODCAST HERE

The great Terry Gilliam directs this “what is it to be human” film starring Christoph Waltz (DJANGO UNCHAINED). Per usual in a Gilliam film, the art direction is sumptuous and costumes are interesting (in this case, they’re an extension of 40s-era fashion mixed with a BLADE RUNNER sensibility). Waltz carries the film as Qohen Leth, a nerdy “programmer” who refers to himself in the third person, and is spiraling into loneliness and neurosis. The plot is kind of sketchy other than the fact that "Management" (played to great effect by Matt Damon) is continually involving itself in Leth’s life, presumably because he alone might solve The Zero Theorem – (don’t ask).  Melanie Thierry is great as the love interest, and David Thewlis does his best David Thewlis. Here’s the thing though… ZERO THEOREM, while a solid science fiction film, still ends up feeling contrived. It’s as if the filmmaker had already done a film like it and he did it better the first time. In this case, he – Terry Gilliam –has… and it’s called BRAZIL. While THEOREM is a more optimistic film than BRAZIL, it’s just too eerily familiar to it. That is not to say, by any means, that THEOREM is not a good film. It most definitely is. It’s just that it’s so much like BRAZIL that it's noticeable. But for all of that, Gilliam makes some great commentary on modern society, with video screens everywhere and pedestrians walking with their heads buried in their devices. Gilliam's eye, as usual, is well-placed. All in all, THEOREM is well worth seeing and is a fine – albeit lesser – addition to the director’s filmography.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

~ Thom Carnell

THE BONUS MATERIAL PODCAST Episode 11 - The Modern Climate Of Horror

This episode Sean, Heather, Thom, and Langley get into the guts of what they think is wrong and right about the state of (mostly) modern horror. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN, STARRY EYES, Eli Roth and the "Bro-Horror" sub-genre (as Heather has deemed it), empathy, and lack of it, in terror, these subjects and more get jaw-time in this round.  All lifelong fans, who have worked as professionals, in one capacity or another within their beloved genre, the crew has a lot to say this time around. Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments!