Empire's PROMETHEUS On-Set Exclusive

I just bought the latest issue of Empire magazine and not only does PROMETHEUS grace both the front and back page, but there is also a massive article within. Not only is there an awesome array of images but also interviews with the PROMETHEUS cast including Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Sean Harris and more. There's a nice ALIEN timeline thrown in as well and it's all capped off with a very interesting interview with the man himself, Ridley Scott. I've taken the liberty of scanning the entire article and you can find it all below. If you're afraid of spoilers you may want to give it a miss.
(Click on images for full readable size)

Explosive New Poster For PROMETHEUS

Wrap your eyeballs around the new international PROMETHEUS poster. Only a few weeks to go, the anticipation is killing me!

Synopsis: “Visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott returns to the genre he helped define, creating an original science fiction epic set in the most dangerous corners of the universe. The film takes a team of scientists and explorers on a thrilling journey that will test their physical and mental limits and strand them on a distant world, where they will discover the answers to our most profound questions and to life’s ultimate mystery”

PROMETHEUS hits US theatres June 8th and Australia June 7th.

THE DIVIDE (2012) Review

Directed by: Xavier Gens

Starring: Michael Biehn, Lauren German, Milo Ventimiglia

Many movies have taught us that when you take a group of people and lock them all together in a confined space, bad things happen. Such is the premise of THE DIVIDE, a movie which follows a group of survivors who have taken refuge in the basement of their apartment complex after a nuclear attack on New York City. With the deadly levels of radiation outside their bunker these people will need to stay inside for a long time, but eventually of course they start to clash and disagreements quickly turn to violence. As the tagline says “The lucky ones dies in the blast”

THE DIVIDE starts with a bang, literally. A nuclear attack is underway and although we don’t really see a lot of it, it’s pretty obvious what with all of the people running for their lives and everything. Through all of the jostling and running and screaming we follow a relatively small group of people rushing through a heavy steel door which then slams shut behind them and suddenly it all goes quiet and dark. Somebody hits the lights and these survivors get their first glimpse at the place they will be calling home for a long time. For some it may even turn out to be their tomb. A few nerve rattling aftershocks later and we are introduced to the characters we will be spending the next 2 hours with.

Mickey (Biehn) is the apartment super and this basement is his territory, an underground complex he has turned into a fallout shelter for when the ‘rag-heads’ attack. He’s a gruff don’t-take-no-shit-from-nobody type of guy and it’s from him that we get the lowdown on the situation. He explains how they may not be able to venture outside for a long time, but stops short of saying just how long that may be. Along with Mickey there are Eva and Sam a couple with a fractured relationship, a woman named Marylin and her young daughter, two brothers Josh and Adrien and a friend Bobby and finally Delvin who seems to be the token black guy. Mickey instantly clashes with Josh and Bobby who turn out to be the stereotypical nobody-tells-me-what-the-fuck-to-do young idiot males. They ignore his warnings and proceed to try and open the door but back off when Mickey pulls an axe on them.

After things finally settle down and everybody seems to be aware of the gravity of their situation something unexpected happens. There’s a knock at the door. A knock at the door? After a nuclear blast? Yes that’s right. The door is torched open and in step a bunch of soldiers wearing radiation suits and carrying some heavy weaponry. But is this a rescue crew or a clean-up squad? That question is swiftly answered as they abduct the young girl and then bullets start flying. The shit has most definitely hit the fan.

It’s pretty predictable by this point that things are just going to go from bad to worse. Arguments make way for violence, questioning turns into torture, sexual appetites rear their ugly heads, radiation sickness sets in and it’s unclear just how many people are going to make it out alive.

Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way first. THE DIVIDE is most definitely not an original concept, it’s also predictable and full of characters who make stupid decisions. The acting in parts is below par and the nature of the confined space means that shooting locations are limited. Despite all this however, I really enjoyed this movie. With not much in the way of a plot this is definitely a character driven film, and this is where the movie pulls you in. Even though half of the characters seem like assholes or idiots who you just wish would die, it is really entertaining watching them interact especially after they all start turning on each other. Some of their transformations are terrifying (see accompanying images for examples).
And when the action starts it doesn’t let up until the end. You may think that spending two hours in this claustrophobic setting would become boring but somehow it manages to do just the opposite. The suitably dim and dank subterranean surroundings make for some panicky scenes especially when gunfire is thrown into the mix. And the knowledge that they are all basically rats in a trap is always present.

I mentioned below par acting earlier but thankfully this is the exception rather than the rule and for the most part everybody does a great job, Michael Biehn especially. Things get rather brutal and depraved during the course of the film and may be a little too much for some people, especially if you find yourself sensitive to scenes of torture or rape.
But otherwise THE DIVIDE is a pretty solid action packed movie. Xavier Gens has taken a well used idea and given it new life by filling it to the brim with depravity, brutality, doom and gloom. Well worth a watch.

New Clip For CHERNOBYL DIARIES

Just over a month until CHERNOBYL DIARIES hits theatres on May 25th and here is another clip to keep you satisfied in the meantime.

Synopsis: "“Chernobyl Diaries” is an original story from Oren Peli, who first terrified audiences with his groundbreaking thriller, “Paranormal Activity.” The film follows a group of six young tourists who, looking to go off the beaten path, hire an “extreme tour” guide. Ignoring warnings, he takes them into the city of Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, but a deserted town since the disaster more than 25 years ago. After a brief exploration of the abandoned city, however, the group soon finds themselves stranded, only to discover that they are not alone…"

Latest Clip For PROMETHEUS

With the abundance of PROMETHEUS goodies still coming out fairly frequently it's hard to imagine that not too long ago it seemed so damn secretive. But now it's only a few weeks away and here is the latest clip featuring Noomi Rapace titled 'Quiet Eye' which you can find below.

Synopsis: “Visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott returns to the genre he helped define, creating an original science fiction epic set in the most dangerous corners of the universe. The film takes a team of scientists and explorers on a thrilling journey that will test their physical and mental limits and strand them on a distant world, where they will discover the answers to our most profound questions and to life’s ultimate mystery”

Official Trailer For THE POSSESSION

Ole Bornedal's possession flick is coming in August but so far it's failing to impress me too much. To me it just looks like more of the same, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and wait til it's released. On the other hand, the trailer looks pretty good considering it's a PG-13 movie. And the fact that it's being produced by Sam Raimi's Ghosthouse Pictures seems like a good sign. Check it out below.

Synopsis: “Clyde Breneck and his 10-year-old daughter, Em, who purchases an antique box at a yard sale (while the real-life story it took place on Ebay). With the box, Em accidentally releases an ancient spirit that has one goal: to devour her. Clyde must team work with his ex-wife to put an end to the curse”

Teaser Trailer For MANIAC Remake (NSFW)

This is one of the few times I can actually say that I'm looking forward to a remake. Franck Khalfoun's MANIAC is set to be a pretty brutal re-imagining and I can't wait to see how Elijah Wood does in Frank Zito's shoes. It sure is a world away from the cuddly Hobbit he played in the Rings trilogy. Check out the NSFW teaser below.

Synopsis: “Just when the streets seemed safe, a serial killer with a fetish for scalps is back and on the hunt. 
Frank is the withdrawn owner of a mannequin store, but his life changes when young artist Anna appears asking for his help with her new exhibition. As their friendship develops and Frank’s obsession escalates, it becomes clear that she has unleashed a long-repressed compulsion to stalk and kill”

New Trailer Surfaces For BAIT 3D

BAIT 3D is definitely one I will be checking out if only because the premise sounds absolutely crazy. Underwater supermarket? Crazed bandit? Tidal wave? Sharks? Count me in. Besides it can't be any worse than SHARK NIGHT 3D.
BAIT 3D hits theatres September 6th. Check out the new red band trailer below.

Synopsis: "In a sleepy coastal resort community, shoppers at an underground supermarket find themselves terrorized by a crazed bandit when the unimaginable occurs...

A monstrous freak tsunami swallows the town.

Now trapped inside a flooded supermarket with an armed maniac and rushing water threatening to entomb them all in a watery grave, the imprisoned band of survivors discover they're not alone. The tsunami has brought some unwanted visitors from the depths. As the waters rise, they must overcome not only the threat of drowning but another threat, just as deadly and far more bloodthirsty ... packs of hungry tiger sharks"

PROMETHEUS Has Landed In First Clip

I'm sure you've all seen the stills, set photos, promo shots and teaser trailers for PROMETHEUS so far but now we have the first clip for the upcoming sci-fi epic which the shows the ship coming in to land. Prepare yourself because the film's release is only a few weeks away and I have a feeling it's going to be HUGE.

Synopsis: “Visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott returns to the genre he helped define, creating an original science fiction epic set in the most dangerous corners of the universe. The film takes a team of scientists and explorers on a thrilling journey that will test their physical and mental limits and strand them on a distant world, where they will discover the answers to our most profound questions and to life’s ultimate mystery”


PROMETHEUS hits theatres June 8th in the US and June 7th in Australia.

New One-Sheet For MACHETE KILLS

Robert Rodriguez's MACHETE sequel seems to be rolling along at a nice pace now. Recently a whole bunch of casting news was released including Jessica Alba, Sofia Vergara, Michelle Rodriguez, Amber Heard, Mel Gibson, Demian Bichir and of course Danny Trejo. Now there's a new poster out and you can check it out below.

Synopsis: “In the sequel, Machete is drafted by the U.S. government to track an arms dealer through Mexico before he can launch a rocket”

Official Trailer For DRACULA 3D

I have to admit that I've been more than a little worried in the lead-up to this movie. Everything I've seen regarding DRACULA 3D so far has pointed to it being absolutely crap, which is not a word I would normally associate with Dario Argento's films. Now that I've seen the trailer though... well it still looks crap. Check it out below and make up your own mind. Feel free to read the official synopsis below, but beware it is ridiculously long and spoiler filled.

Synopsis: "The tale begins with Jonathan Harker, journeying by train and carriage from England to Count Dracula's crumbling, remote castle situated in the Carpathian Mountains on the border of Transylvania. The purpose of his mission is to catalogue the big library of Dracula. At first enticed by Dracula's gracious manner, Harker soon discovers that he has become a prisoner in the castle. He also begins to see disquieting facets of Dracula's nocturnal life. One night while searching for a way out of the castle, and against Dracula's strict admonition not to venture outside his room at night, Harker falls under the spell of three wanton female vampires, the Brides of Dracula.

He is saved at the last second by the Count, because he wants to keep Harker alive. Harker barely escapes from the castle with his life. Soon Dracula is tracking Harker's devoted fiancée, Wilhelmina "Mina" Murray, and her friend, Lucy Westenra. There is a notable encounter between Dracula and Renfield, an insane man who means to consume insects, spiders, birds, and other creatures in ascending order of size in order to absorb their "life force". Renfield acts as a motion sensor, detecting Dracula's proximity and supplying clues accordingly.

Lucy begins to waste away suspiciously. All her suitors fret, and Seward calls in his old teacher, Professor Abraham Van Helsing from Amsterdam. Van Helsing immediately determines the cause of Lucy's condition but refuses to disclose it, knowing that Seward's faith in him will be shaken if he starts to speak of vampires. Van Helsing tries multiple blood transfusions, but they are clearly losing ground. On a night when Van Helsing must return to Amsterdam, Lucy and her mother are attacked by a wolf. Mrs Westenra, who has a heart condition, dies of fright, and Lucy apparently dies soon after. Lucy is buried, but soon afterward the newspapers report children being stalked in the night by a "bloofer lady". Van Helsing knows that this means Lucy has become a vampire. The suitors and Van Helsing track her down, and after a disturbing confrontation between her vampiric self and Arthur, they stake her heart, behead her, and fill her mouth with garlic.

Around the same time, Jonathan Harker arrives home from recuperation in Budapest; he and Mina also join the coalition, who turn their attentions to dealing with Dracula. After Dracula learns of Van Helsing and the others' plot against him, he takes revenge by visitingand biting Mina at least three times. Dracula also feeds Mina his blood, creating a spiritual bond between them to control her. The only way to forestall this is to kill Dracula first. Mina slowly succumbs to the blood of the vampire that flows through her veins, switching back and forth from a state of consciousness to a state of semi-trance during which she is telepathically connected with Dracula. It is this connection that they start to use to deduce Dracula's movements.

It is only possible to detect Dracula's surroundings when Mina is put under hypnosis by Van Helsing. This ability gradually gets weaker as the group make their way to Dracula's castle. Dracula flees back to his castle in Transylvania, followed by Van Helsing's group, who manage to track him down just before sundown and destroy him by shearing "through the throat" with a knife and stabbing him in the heart also with a knife. Dracula crumbles to dust, his spell is lifted and Mina is freed from the marks. Quincey Morris is killed in the final battle, stabbed by Gypsies who had been charged with returning Dracula to his castle; the survivors return to England."

Rob Zombie Unveils THE LORDS OF SALEM Teaser

Audience members at Rob Zombie's gig at Montage Mountain in Scranton, PA were given a special treat on Saturday night. Mr Zombie screened a sneak peek teaser for his upcoming film THE LORDS OF SALEM before following it up with his song Dragula. And of course it was all recorded then promptly uploaded to Youtube. Check out the clip below.

Synopsis: "A mysterious wooden box containing a vinyl record arrives for Heidi, "a gift from the Lords". She assumes it's a rock band on a mission to spread their word. As Heidi and Whitey play the Lords' record, it starts to play backwards, and Heidi experiences a flashback to a past trauma. Later Whitey plays the Lords' record, dubbing them the Lords of Salem, and to his surprise, the record plays normally and is a massive hit with listeners.
The arrival of another wooden box from the Lords presents the Big H Team with free tickets, posters and records to host a gig in Salem. Soon Heidi and her cohorts find that the gig is far from the rock spectacle they're expecting: the original Lords of Salem are returning, and they're out for BLOOD"

Official Trailer & Poster For AREA 51 CONFIDENTIAL

In recent weeks there has been news of some upcoming found footage films such as AMBER ALERT and THE LUCIFER EFFECT which seem to be trying to bring something new to what quite frankly is fast becoming a stale subgenre. AREA 407 is another recent film which brought a fresh perspective by incorporating dinosaurs. AREA 51 CONFIDENTIAL appears to be another of these films, in this case mixing some sci-fi in with the handheld style as it concerns itself with that enigmatic and seemingly mythical place known as Area 51. This is great news for people who may be getting a little sick of all the found footage ghost films out there at the moment. In any case, below you can find the press release along with an official trailer and poster for the upcoming film.

Press Release: The "found footage" subgenre of film has previously been thrust into the spotlight by such films as Paranormal Activity, Quarantine, Cloverfield, and perhaps most famously by The Blair Witch Project. Now, the genre is stepping into the realm of science fiction with the feature film Area 51 Confidential.

Presented under the guise of a "military training video for new hires at the facility known as Area 51", we follow the plight of a handful of individuals - a broadcast journalist, a documentarian, a teenage girl from Roswell, an army Colonel, and a man who had previously been thought "missing" for a number of years - as they awaken in the desert area surrounding Area 51. With no knowledge of how they arrived there, they must sort out their differences and find a way out - before strange lurking creatures find them first.

Area 51 Confidential hits you with twists and turns, and character development not normally seen in this subgenre. The official United States DVD and Video on Demand street dates will be announced in the coming weeks, as well as international release dates being handled by Phoenix Group Releasing.

THE LUCIFER EFFECT Trailer & Press Release

Tim Burke's new found footage flick THE LUCIFER EFFECT (THE HARROWING) is intriguing to say the least. It apparently incorporates 'subliminal imagery' and has a hidden storyline in amongst the main story and seems to be using some interesting viral marketing strategies.  If you're looking for something fresh and new within the subgenre then I suggest you read the following press release and then check out the trailer below.

Press Release: “The film studies the social condition known as “The Lucifer Effect,” a psychological consequence that is said to occur when “good” people are given power over others in an evil place. The experiment was first conducted in the 1970’s during the infamous Stanford Prison experiment, and now the film’s producers have recreated a modern-day equivalent in an abandoned mental asylum.

Reports of a curse originally surfaced due to the fact that the film features disturbing events that occurred when the participants in the film were taking part in a Ouija board session during their brief stay in the asylum. Unlike other films that it has been compared to, such as The Blair Witch Project or Paranormal Activity, the footage and events in The Lucifer Project are actually real, there was no script and the reactions of the participants are genuine, including the unfortunate assault. As a result the police in Lincolnshire, England, seized the footage and the film was put on hold, creating media attention with coverage in the British press.

Adding to the notion that the film may be heading into unsettling territory, it also uses subliminal imagery and has a secret secondary storyline interwoven in hidden frames beneath the main storyline, which has only fueled the rumors that something very odd is going on.

The film centers around eight people who volunteered for a role in a movie, only to be locked inside a reportedly haunted mental asylum for three days and nights, with no communication from the outside world and little food to eat.

Since these events, two members of the cast have reportedly been hospitalized, with others receiving counseling for any possible after-effects. All involved have signed release forms and given their consent for the footage to be used. Compounding the stories of a curse is the fact that the director who oversaw the filming of the original events is also now missing, with rumors that one of the actresses has been sectioned in South America.

In order to investigate whether the alleged “curse” can have any effects on the public at large, the film has added an innovative social media angle. When anyone activates the trailer on the film’s Facebook and social networking pages, their webcam activates, thereby involving the viewer in what is onscreen. Already there have been reports of doors seen mysteriously opening, shadows appearing and lampshades moving in the background.

The producers added the webcam feature after the curse reports surfaced to pick up on any paranormal activity once the film trailer had been watched. The producers say if anything interesting or unusual is recorded whilst watching the trailer, there is a chance that the recordings will be featured in the final cut of the film when it is released.”

PIRANHACONDA Teaser Trailer

This is one I definitely won't be checking out. But for all of you who are interested, feast your eyes on the new teaser trailer for this Syfy B-movie creature extravaganza below.
PIRANHACONDA hits Syfy June 16th.

Synopsis: “Part fish! Part snake! All killer! In B-movie icon Roger Corman’s latest, a hybrid creature – half piranha and half anaconda — attacks a movie crew on location near her nest when her egg is stolen. Now they must outrun and kill the deadly piranhaconda as well as stop the mad scientist who stole the egg – before they all become dinner. Stars Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill: I & II) and Rachel Hunter (The Benchwarmers)”

Official Synopsis & Images For MANIAC Remake

Yet another remakes is on its way, this one will be screened at this year's Cannes Film Festival. MANIAC is directed by Franck Khalfoun and stars Elijah Wood as serial killer Frank Zito and Nora Arnezeder as photographer Anna. View the images courtesy of Horror-movies.ca along with the official synopsis below.

Synopsis: “Just when the streets seemed safe, a serial killer with a fetish for scalps is back and on the hunt. 
Frank is the withdrawn owner of a mannequin store, but his life changes when young artist Anna appears asking for his help with her new exhibition. As their friendship develops and Frank’s obsession escalates, it becomes clear that she has unleashed a long-repressed compulsion to stalk and kill”

17 New PROMETHEUS Images

And the PROMETHEUS goodness just keeps coming. Less than a month remains until its release but there is still a steady stream of goodies coming from Ridley Scott's upcoming sci-fi epic. Below you can check out a whole bunch of brand new images including set shots, stills and promo photos courtesy of Entertainment Weekly.

Synopsis: "Ridley Scott, director of “Alien” and “Blade Runner,” returns to the genre he helped define. With PROMETHEUS, he creates a groundbreaking mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race"


PROMETHEUS opens June 8th in the US and June 7th in Australia.

HORSEBACK - HALF BLOOD Album Review

HORSEBACK is just one of those bands whose music I have trouble with when trying to translate it into words. You really need to listen to the music to get a feel for it, which is why this will be a relatively short review.

Words like drone, ambient, psychedelic, noise-rock are just a few which come to mind when describing HORSEBACK but these terms seem to bring with them a feeling of pretentiousness which in this case is utterly unjustified. HALF BLOOD is possibly my favorite album of the year so far and it perfectly showcases HORSEBACK's unique style of blending sounds which really shouldn't mix but in reality do so in splendid fashion. Soft, groovy, flowing guitar riffs are blended with harsh vocals most people would associate with black metal. The first couple of tracks feel like a welcome return to 2009's THE INVISIBLE MOUNTAIN while the last few tracks are an absolutely entrancing display of droning ambient noise. HALF BLOOD is definitely one of those albums which seems to get better each time you hear it.
HORSEBACK is definitely not a band for everybody, but I really urge you to give this a listen.

01. Mithras

02. Ahriman

03. Inheritance (The Changeling)

04. Arjuna

05. Hallucigenia I: Hermetic Gifts

06. Hallucigenia II: Spiritual Junk

07. Hallucigenia III: The Emerald Tablet

Teaser Trailer For AMBER ALERT

The found footage films just keep coming don't they? I know they've been around for decades, but it's only in recent years that horror cinema has been absolutely saturated with them. Whether this is good or bad depends on personal opinion and personally I'm actually a bit of a fan, although with the lack of quality I've been seeing lately  I don't know how much longer I will be. However just like any other subgenre of horror, found footage movies can be really great when done well. I think it's been all the shitty paranormal ones that have really disappointed me, so when I heard about Kerry Bellessa's AMBER ALERT and it's unique take on the subgenre I got a little excited. After checking the trailer I'm definitely looking forward to this one.
Check out the teaser trailer below.

Synopsis: “AMBER ALERT follows friends Nate and Samantha, who stumble upon the car described in an Amber Alert while filming their audition video for a popular reality television show. With police slow to respond, the two friends fight to stop a possible child molester before it’s too late”

DRAGON WASPS Official Trailer

Finally somebody got around to making a film which combines dragons with wasps. Just what we've all been waiting for right? Well maybe not. I'm not really a fan of these Syfy-esque creature combos but obviously there are plenty of people out there who are. With sharks, dinosaurs, piranhas, anacondas and octopus already covered, it's time to take to the sky in DRAGON WASPS.
Directed by Joe Knee, the film stars Corin Nemec, Dominika Juillet, Benjamin Easterday, Nikolette Noel and Cosondra Sjostrom.
No release date yet but it's pretty reasonable to assume DRAGON WASPS will be hitting Syfy in the not too distant future.Check out the trailer below.

Synopsis: “When her father mysteriously disappears on an expedition, beautiful entomologist Gina Humphries and her fiery assistant, Rhonda, set out to search the rain forests of Belize. Due to numerous robberies and assaults in the jungle, they are escorted by heavily-armed soldiers. Guerillas, lead by the infamous Jaguar, ambush the convoy and incite a bloody shootout. Just when things can’t get worse, a horde of murderous Dragon Wasps, massive flying bugs that shoot flame from their abdomens, swarms the soldiers. Now the military must defeat Jaguar’s bandits and survive the fearsome insect onslaught as they venture inside the Dragon Wasps’ hive”

Plot Details Revealed For THE LAST EXORCISM II

A few weeks ago a possible title was uncovered for THE LAST EXORCISM II, and now thanks to Bloody-Disgusting it seems that we have some solid plot details. Not much else is known at this point although Ashley Bell will be returning to play Nell Sweetzer and the film will be directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly. Check the plot details straight from B-D below.

"The sequel follows Nell (Bell) who, six months after the first film’s events, has move to a halfway house only to realize that the demon that has ruined her life is still after her! Without giving anything away, the sequel takes an interesting romantic approach that’s spun around Nell’s new boyfriend, Chris (I’m not sure who’s playing the character). A subplot is that Bell is also targeted by a group of rogue Reverends who mean to kill her. The twist is something never beforeseen in an exorcism film"