'U Want Me To Kill Him?' poster and stills. Full details on the new UK flick

Set to hit UK theaters on September 6th, and from producer Bryan Singer, is U Want Me To Kill Him?, a film based on true events from 2003. It is directed by Andrew Douglas and stars Jamie Blacley and Jaime Winstone, among others. Read on for the full synopsis and a ton of stills. Looks like it could be a fascinating movie, so I will be keeping my eyes open for it.

Fatal Pictures prepare to unleash 'Heir'

They gave us Worm and Familiar, now Fatal Pictures are back and ready to unleash their latest, and final, short movie, entitled Heir. It is written and directed by Richard Powell, and produced by Richard Powell, Zach Green, Marc Roussel and Ron Basch, in association with Red Sneakers Media. The short stars Bill Oberst Jr and the returning, and quite wonderful, Robert Nolan. If Worm and Familiar are anything to go by you will definitely want to see this; I expect another gem!

Pearry Teo's 'Bedlam Stories' News and Exclusive Artwork

Pearry (Necromentia) Teo is a busy man. He's currently hard at work on Bedlam Stories, which is to be released as a novel on September 15th, with a mobile app and movie, which is in the casting process right now, to follow. The story follows Nelly Bly, a reporter in the 1920s' who fakes insanity to get into the infamous Bedlam Asylum. Whilst here she meets a couple of girls named Dorothy and Alice; both of whom believe they have visited some very strange places...

As well as the wonderful artwork above, I have been fortunate to have been given another exclusive piece, which you can check out after the break! More news, just as soon as I get it.

Filthy Giveaway - 'Twixt' Blu-ray - Closed

As a director, Francis Ford Coppola has nothing left to prove, to anyone. Over the past 40 plus years he's given us a wealth of amazing movies (we won't mention Jack) and won awards everywhere. Now it seems it is time for him to make a movie for himself, without giving a flying feck what anyone else thinks, and that movie is Twixt. This movie is Coppola having a blast with the material, whilst also making it surprisingly personal, as Val Kilmer's Hall Baltimore investigates the murder of a young girl, whilst on a book signing tour. It's definitely a film that has divided audiences, but I thought it was terrific, and thanks to my lovely friends at Fox I have a copy of the Blu-ray to giveaway to one reader.

'Curse of Chucky' UK release details

Everyone's favorite Good Guy Doll is set to make his return this fall, and now we have full details on the UK release of Curse of Chucky. Set for release on Blu-ray and DVD from Universal UK on October 21st, Curse of Chucky will see Brad Dourif return to voice the vicious little bugger, and no doubt mayhem and humor will follow, with Don Mancini directing. Universal UK also release American Mary, across the pond, so I wonder if the Blu-ray will be region free? Read on for more details.

Filthy Music Review - 'Men An Tol: Dead Trees'

DEAD TREES by Men An Tol (2013)

Self Released

Review by Wayne Simmons

Christchurch, New Zealand, wouldn’t strike you as a hotspot for black metal, would it? Yet that’s exactly where new kids on the block, MEN AN TOL, hail from. Even the name’s a curiosity; Mên-an-Tol being a small formation of standing stones in Cornwall. So we’re in Sunny New Zealand and dabbling in hippy-dippy, English paganism...

What’s going on? you ask. This some kind of post-black, shoegazing BS?

Not so. MEN AN TOL’s debut album, DEAD TREES, is black as your boot. And we’re talking old-school black as your boot, too. It’s trebly distortion, demonic vocals and low-fi recording all the way. DEAD TREES is a black metal album, let’s make no bones about it. 

There’s some wonderful song writing going on, too. Main man Josh M is strong throughout; his guitar a wall of noise but in a hook-laden way; his vocals shrill and definitively black yet strong and versatile enough to inject melody and diversity. Dominic M and Greg T keep up in the rhythm section, too, not shy of the odd blast beat, but capable of much more when the ever-changing tempo demands it. It’s all impressive stuff.

In a time when the very term black metal can mean just about anything, it’s great to find a band that can bring something new to the table while still retaining a solid footing within the traditional, black metal sound.

MEN AN TOL is that band.  

Track listing:

      1.  Ancient Spire

      2. Enchanting Death

      3. Gathering of the Clouds

      4. Dead Trees

      5. Hatred of the Undying Sun

      6. Winters Reign

      7. Empty Thoughts

      8. Herne the Hunter (cover)

      DEAD TREES is available to download for free from the band’s bandcamp page.

Find MEN AN TOL on Facebook.

Filthy Review - 'Wakey Wakey'

Wakey Wakey (2012)

Review by Jude Felton

In a time where, more often than not, the lack of originality in film is put under the spotlight, it was a refreshing change to sit down, for the second time, to watch writer/director Adrian Goodman’s Wakey Wakey. I actually watched this Australian movie a month or two back, but felt the need to give it a second viewing as it is quite special.

Filthy Music Review - 'Evil Dead: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'

Evil Dead: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2013)

Roque Banos

La La Land Records

Review by Jude Felton

As per usual the remake debate rages on, with both sides of the argument being as heatedly passionate as the other, and the Evil Dead remake is no different. Well, maybe slightly different, being as though it has received more praise than many. Personally, I thought it was a terrific film, and you can check out my review here if you so desire. If, like me, you did like it then you may also want to check out the soundtrack, which is actually the score, from Roque Banos.

I’d held out on reviewing it for a month or two now, purely because I wanted to see the film first and I missed it at the theater. Well, that has been rectified now and it has allowed me to appreciate this wonderful score in a whole new light, or darkness.

The fully orchestrated score captures the feel of the movie perfectly, as any good score should. Banos’ use of strings and pianos complement each other perfectly, with the former offering up the thrills and shocks, whilst the piano offers up a little respite from the frenetic action. What is also noticeable is that this score also manages to pay homage, in a way, to Raimi’s original flick in terms of tone and sound; especially on The Evil Dead Main Theme.

Where I was a little surprised is that there are parts that reminded me of the scores to the Friday the 13^th flicks, with the shrill strings, rather than the kill, kill, kill moments. Surprising, but not unwelcome to these ears. Banos has created a score that perfectly sits in the present day and Fede Alvarez’s movie, as it should, yet also has the classic 80s vibe to it. There aren’t necessarily any great hooks, which you might find in some scores, but it does sit very well as a score you will return to.

As a fan of Alvarez’s movie this is the perfect accompaniment to the film and offers up exactly what I want from a film score, and at 71 minutes you are certainly getting value for money.

Tracklist:

1. I’ll Rip Your Soul Out (4:50)
2. Sad Memories (5:21)
3. Don’t Say It, Don’t Write It, Don’t Hear It (4:42)
4. Demon Possession (Extended) (4:21)
5. Get Me Out Of Here (5:24)
6. She Tried To Kill Me (2:31)
7. He Won’t Let You Out (2:45)
8. Bloody Kiss (2:23)
9. Three Ways Of Saving Her Soul (4:02)
10. Natalie Hunting (5:34)
11. I’ll Do What I Gotta Do (Extended) (8:42)
12. Come Back To Me (3:02)
13. He’s Coming (3:21)
14. Abominations Rising (6:58)
15. The Pendant / Evil Tango (3:21)
16. The Evil Dead Main Theme (1:41)
17. Come Back To Me (Alternate) (2:01)

The Evil Dead Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is available now from La La Land Records.

Filthy Review - 'Dark Skies'

Dark Skies (2013)

Review by Jude Felton

Dark Skies is another film from the Blumhouse Productions camp, which is either good news if you know who they are, or it will mean nothing to you. However, if I tell you that this is the same production company that was behind Insidious and Sinister, you might get an idea of what to expect; a film with solid production values that focuses on the chills. What I find strange is that Dark Skies, upon its US release, didn’t seem to generate anywhere near the publicity that the aforementioned films did. Although that being said, it easily recouped a profit in its opening weekend.