Entertainment Earth

8/31/2019

Entombed A.D.- Bowels of Earth (Album Review)

Musician: Entombed A.D.
Album Title: Bowels of Earth
Genre/ Subgenre: Death Metal/ Death n' Roll
Label: Century Media Records
Release Date: August 30, 2019

Singer LG Petrov may not have the rights to the name of his former band, death metal legends Entombed, but that doesn't matter much, now. Because, he and his current band, Entombed A.D. (along with other former Entombed members in the form of: Victor Brandt [bass], Nico Elgstrand [guitar] and Olle Dahlstedt [drums]), are still putting out ass kicking music. Their latest and third offering, Bowels of Earth, mixes elements from Entombed's earlier, masterpieces and the death n' roll sound of Wolverine Blues and beyond. The result is a really fun and still very heavy album.

The album has some real good grooves and hammering and talented musicianship that makes for a headbanging good time. This fucker is sure to set the mosh-pit on fucking fire. It starts with a real scorcher in the form of "Torment Remains", which is a pummeling and battering track that charges right through you, impaling you with its ferocity. "Elimination" is an explosive tune that erupts with speed and also has an awesome groove that will have you banging your head right along with it. It is also true shining example of the amazing amount of talent everyone has, as its melodic mid-section is one of my favorite parts in the album (which is saying a lot). "Bourbon Nightmare" is a thundering song that is all guns blazing and my favorite one on the album. It's a fucking perfect example of death n' roll that will go perfectly with some hard drinking and moshing. The album closes off with the killer "To Eternal Night" which is rich is atmosphere, heaviness, and fucking kick ass guitar riffs. Petrov has long been one of my favorite vocalists in death metal, and he really shines here, adding menace and an evil vibe.
Bowels of Earth is a fucking blast to hear. While, I liked it the first time I heard, it wasn't until the second listen that it really began to sink in. Each subsequent spin made it even better. It manages to be fun, while still being heavy, dark, and menacing. With the right balance of technically savvy crunch and catchy grooves, this fucker is made for moshing, headbanging, and kicking your goddamn ass. If you have been a loyal Entombed fan or just like kick ass death metal, in general, then this one is for you!


4 out of 5

8/28/2019

SHUDDER: SEPTEMBER 2019 U.S. HIGHLIGHTS

NEW ORIGINAL SERIES

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CREEPSHOW: A SHUDDER ORIGINAL SERIES — series premiere Thursday, September 26 
The Most Fun You’ll Ever Have Being Scared! From showrunner Greg Nicotero (​The Walking Dead​) comes a new Shudder Original anthology horror series based on the iconic 1982 film written by Stephen King and directed by George A. Romero. 

Each of the six episodes features two stories. In the premiere, those stories are:

“Gray Matter,” 
Story by Stephen King, adapted by Byron Willinger and Philip de Blasi
Directed by Greg Nicotero
Synopsis: Doc and Chief, two old-timers in a small, dying town, brave a storm to check on Richie, an alcoholic single father, after encountering his terrified son at the local convenience store. 

“The House of the Head”  
Written by Josh Malerman (Bird Box)
Directed by John Harrison
Synopsis: Evie discovers her new dollhouse might be haunted. 

“Gray Matter” stars Giancarlo Esposito (Emmy-nominated for Better Call Saul), Tobin Bell (SawBelzebuth) and Adrienne Barbeau (who also appeared in the original Creepshow movie) and is adapted from a story originally published in Stephen King’s 1978 bestselling collection, Night Shift.

New Creepshow episodes premiere Thursdays through October 31. 

SHUDDER EXCLUSIVE TITLES

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_blwKco2BVuOzejLfo3cY9yASxF-oty8-2ExNwEvC4c_5kfexs9UYsc4wKl5lj2HyxSiQmSj1X4Kgd_OgDl_nT17QduYemeCU5FJ4hbUXCDYMp04vX-48KQkgg-zUS1X492OLONw

THE WRATH — Thursday, September 5
Director: Young-sun Yoo, Cast: Hong-il Choi, Young hee Seo, Na-Eun Son
In this supernatural creeper set in 14th century Korea, a curse is killing the sons of the kingdom’s highest-ranking official.  When the final son dies, his pregnant widow, Ok-bun, must face vicious family politics and the vengeful spirit descending on the household. A remake of 1986 Korean horror essential, Woman’s WailThe Wrath is elegant horror with funhouse chills. A SHUDDER ORIGINAL. (Also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK)

SHUDDER EXCLUSIVE TBA — Thursday, September 12
Details coming soon.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4uuILqy6dY4iA8LIHCxyeDSyx98Jxid16JGRPmEa87xwd0jpOuYphATfVL7II1dgGt6RNZ6JgB7_-EtGREbCY181-F6rwTwpFEUM5bHXMD-m9hWfOc1Fi6eNvgxQJOmORZg6F7w9

HELL HOUSE LLC III: LAKE OF FIRE — Thursday, September 19
Director: Stephen Cognetti, Cast: Gabriel Chytry, Elizabeth Vermilyea, Sam Kazzi
In the final installment, guests both past and present will be forced to battle for their souls in Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire, as all is revealed about the infamous Abaddon Hotel and the evil that dwells there. Set one year after the events of Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel, the hotel is on the verge of being torn down when it is purchased by billionaire Russell Wynn (Gabriel T. Chytry) as the new home for his popular interactive show, “Insomnia.” He invites journalist Venessa Sheppard (Elizabeth Vermilyea) and her crew to record everything happening inside the hotel leading up to the performance, but they soon encounter a more nefarious plot, one that threatens to unleash a veritable hell on earth.

SHUDDER EXCLUSIVE TBA — Tuesday, September 24
Details coming soon.

NEW MOVIES FOR SEPTEMBER

September 9
Train to Busan (Director: Yeon Sang-ho)
When a mysterious virus breaks out across the country, the infected turn into the murderous undead. A few terrified travelers find themselves trapped on a bullet train from hell, fighting for their lives as hordes of the living dead crash towards them, crawling closer with every stop. Suspicion is rife and tensions run high as some will do anything to make it to the safe zone and survive. Starring: Yoo Gong, Yu-mi Jung, Dong-seok Ma (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Note: This will be the first time Train to Busan is available alongside the Shudder Exclusive Seoul StationBusan’s animated prequel from director Yeon Sang-ho. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

September 16
Hands of the Ripper (Director: Peter Sasdy)
The infant daughter of Jack the Ripper is witness to her mother’s brutal murder at the hands of her father. Fifteen years later, she had grown into  a troubled young woman who is seemingly possessed by the spirit of her father. While in a trance, she continues his murderous killing spree but has no recollection of the events afterwards. A sympathetic psychiatrist takes her in and is convinced he can cure her condition. Soon, however, he comes to regret his decision. Starring: Eric Porter, Angharad Rees, Jane Merrow  (Also available on Shudder Canada)

September 23
Twins of Evil (Director: John Hough)
After being orphaned, two beautiful identical twins move from Vienna to the village of Karnstein to live with their Uncle, a fanatical Puritan. Nearby, the Count of the village is performing a sacrificial rite to raise his ancestor, the vampire Countess. After she bites him, he too becomes a vampire and sets off in search of victims. Starring: Peter Cushing, Dennis Price, Mary Collinson (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Vampire Circus (Director: Robert Young)
A circus arrives at a Serbian village where it will perform a show for the local inhabitants. Many of them believe that the plague that has gripped their village is the result of a curse inflicted on them years before by Count Mitterhouse, a vampire. Unbeknown to them, the leader of the circus is the Count’s cousin intent on reviving his relative and having his revenge. Starring: Adrienne Corri, Thorley Walters, Anthony Higgins (Also available on Shudder Canada)

September 30
The Taking of Deborah Logan (Director: Adam Robitel)
After months of searching, Mia has found the perfect subject for her PhD thesis film on Alzheimer’s Disease.  For the next several months, cameras will record the everyday life of Deborah Logan and her daughter, Sarah. Mia and her crew will document the physical effects the disease on Deborah, and the emotional and mental toll it takes on Sarah, her primary caregiver. As they begin the filming, the cameras record Deborah and Sarah’s day-to-day activities, with Mia noting the telltale signs of the progressive disease.  As the days progress, strange things begin to happen around Deborah that are not consistent with any findings about Alzheimer’s. Something else has taken control of Deborah’s life, an evil threatens to consume anyone and everyone who try to stop it. Starring: Jill Larson, Anne Ramsay, Michelle Ang  

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8/26/2019

Belzebuth (Review)

Title: Belzebuth
Director: Emilio Portes
Writers: Luis Carlos Fuentes, Emilio Portes
Cast: Tobin Bell, Joaquín Cosio, Tate Ellington, Giovanna Zacarías, Aida López, Aurora Gil
Min: 114
Year: 2017

Police Detective Emmanuel Ritter (Joaquín Cosio) and his wife have just had a kid. He has to leave for work and soon thereafter, a woman brutally stabs and kills all the babies (including his), save for one (who survives due to happenstance and luck), in the hospital. Five years later, a kid comes into a school and guns down all the kindergarten children, then blows off his own head. Ritter is called in to investigate and soon there is a continuous series of similar massacres. Although, he doesn't like it, he teams up with an American priest turned paranormal investigator, named Ivan Franco (Tate Ellington) to get to the bottom of it all. Connected in all of this, somehow, is an excommunicated priest, now with satanic connections (Tobin Bell). As the more and more seemingly demonic truth, reveals itself, our heroes must hurry to prevent more from being added to the body count and stop the ever rising hellish evil.
Belzebuth is a bilingual, Mexican, satanic horror movie. It earns points by taking well worn ideas and being able to give us a fresh take on them. While, I genuinely leave most satanic and possession movies with a sense of apathy or worse, this movie actually managed to surprise me and go in manners I did not expect. And, for this horror fan, who feels that he has seen it all, and seen it done a million times over, that is a big compliment to give out.

While, this movie could have been generic and gone a very by the numbers way of telling and revealing its story, it instead ops for a far more interesting approach. As a matter of fact, my theory of what is happening was kind of wrong. As the truth behind the plot's mystery reveals itself, the truth is pretty wild. But, thankfully the movie is done well enough where one can accept and go with it. The climatic exorcism is fresh and wild and a great change of pace for those who are fucking sick of shitty Exorcist rip-offs.

The directing by Emilio Portes is strong. While before this he was only known for comedies like Pastorela and The Popcorn Chronicles (neither of which I have ever seen), he clearly knows how to handle horror. As he achieves some very chilling moments. For example, there is this great reveal of hand prints that is down right jaw dropping! Aided by some strong editing, he does a good job building tension. While, it feels a wee bit overlong, the film always remains interesting and thankfully involving.
With the various mass gun downs and suicide bombings the movie feels even more frightening, due to recent and horrific real life events. A lot of violence involving children happens off-screen. But, the mere fact that it involves kids makes it uncomfortable without much being shown, beyond some blood spattered sets. That being said, there are some good bits of actual gore, including an impressive pickax kill and a fairly graphic crucifixion.

One of the movie's strongest aspects is the great acting. Particularly strong is Joaquín Cosio as our main protagonist Lieutenant Ritter. He really puts his heart into the role, giving a powerful and very believable performance that allows him to express a wide variety of emotions in various scenarios. Saw actor Tobin Bell does some very subdued acting in his role as the mysterious stranger with satanic tats. They are supported and helped by the rest of the strong cast.
Belzebuth is an interesting if a bit longer than needed be satanic horror film. It features a new take on a well worn sub-genre and gives us wild and interesting ideas. It is further aided by suspenseful directing and editing, as well as having a central mystery that reveals its nature in original ways. Throw in some "Oh shit!" moments, shocking occurrences, and gore, as well, as strong acting and you get a flick worth your time. It will begin streaming this Thursday on Shudder, be sure to see it then.

 

3 out of 4 

8/19/2019

Monster-Mania August 2019

On Saturday, August 17, 2019, we headed over to Cherry Hill, New Jersey for another edition of Monster-Mania. And, as always my friends and I had a fucking blast!

The first guest I went up to was the beautiful and extremely talented Kate Siegel. Siegel is an amazing actress, with some great roles in horror content, many in her husband, Mike Flanagan's own movies and TV shows like Hush and The Haunting of Hill House.  I told her just how much I loved her acting in her work, as well as the super cool The Texas Chain Saw Massacre tee that she had on. Kate was very sweet and a joy to meet and talk to.

The three of us, Freddie, Pat, and myself, got a pic with the legendary Beverly D'Angelo. She is best known for her work in the National Lampoon's Vacation films, but my personal favorite thing that she did was the awesome late 70's horror film The Sentinel.

Alex Essoe was a added late that week, so I didn't know that she would be there. Otherwise, I would have bought my Blu-ray of the superlative Starry Eyes, with me to get signed by her. I told her, how I had spread the word on the film, telling friends to see and reviewing it, very positively for this, my own site. In fact, my friend and Master's Minion, Pat, admitted to her to seeing the film, cause of my review. She talked to us for a good fifteen minutes and was so fun, sweet, and plain fucking awesome. I hope that her role in the hotly anticipated Doctor Sleep (from the aforementioned Mike Flanagan, based on Stephen King's novel of the same name, a sequel to The Shining) leads to some great roles for her. She is an incredible actress and most definitely deserves it.

As a huge and loyal The X-Files fan, I was super excited to meet the lovely Annabeth Gish. When we went to her table, she was talking to Siegel (whom she worked with on The Haunting of Hill House). She told her that we were cool, so she came over to us with a smile. She was really sweet and was flattered, as I told her how much I loved her as Agent Monica Reyes on The X-Files.

It turned out that author and horror mag contributor and editor Michael Gingold has a new book out called Ad Astra. As loyal readers may remember, I bought his phenomenal book Ad Nausem last year at New York Comic Con. Part two (which will center on horror movie ads from the 80s-2000s) to that book will be out in time for this year's NYCC. So, you can count on me getting that! Getting back to his current new book, Ad Astra, it is like Ad Nausem, except, that instead of horror newspaper ads, this time it is all science fiction and fantasy movie ads. And, it is not just the 80s, but actually 1980-1999. I am currently reading and loving the fucking hell out of it!

There was a lot of cosplay on display on this day. Here are some of my favorites, that I saw:








As far as swag, that I got, it goes like this:
A Starry Eyes pic signed by Alex Essoe
Ad Astra signed on the inside by Michael Gingold
An incredible Return of the Living Dead tee by Fright-Rags
Vice Squad from Scream Factory, which I got at DiabolikDVD's table
And, from Vinegar Syndrome and their table: Hell Comes to Frogtown and Cutting Class:

By the time, it was all over we were dead tired but so happy. It was another kick ass time, and we are already for the next Cherry Hill one in March 2020!

8/16/2019

Cerebral Rot- Odious Descent into Decay (Album Review)

Musician: Cerebral Rot
Album Title: Odious Descent into Decay
Genre/ Subgenre: Death Metal
Label: 20 Buck Spin
Release Date: August 16, 2019

Seattle, Washington's death metal act Cerebral Rot make their debut with the absolutely crushing and rot filled Odious Descent into Decay. This album completely blew me away with its fetid air of unhinged brutality.

The band consists of members of bands from the area like Fetid, Cauterized, Caustic Wound, and others. They are extremely talented with musicianship that will rip your bowels right out with their musical brutality. The guitars have a sound as if they came from a hell-spawned gutter and the drums are heavy and deep with a brutal usage of blast-beats. The deep and very guttural growls of vocalist Purveyor of Destruction sounds like it comes from the deepest cesspool of rot and decay.

The album opens up with a haunting intro to the title track. It goes into an almost doomy crunch that gathers more and more energy and anger resulting in a face melting sound that will pummel your face into a steel gutter. The excellent drumming skills of Drew O'Bryant are on full display from this very first track with shifts from slow to lightning fast. "Swamped in Festering Excrement", aside from having an extremely touching title, sounds and feels like a putrid corpse rising and dragging itself from the filthiest and most grotesque place imaginable. It is an absolute monster of crunching banger. And, if you want a truly blistering act of filthy speed and unrelenting brutality, then look no further than the track "Cerebral Rot". One of the aspects of this album is the more I hear it, the more I like it. Tracks begin to sound better and better, as you appreciate the changes and talent, therein more and more.

Cerebral Rot's Odious Descent into Decay is the soundtrack to the most fetid and foul hell you can imagine. And, then as you are driven  there head first, your face melts as it hits the foulest of toxic shit. Believe me, though, this description is meant as the highest form of compliment. The best part is it only gets better and better with each listening. Which if one considers just how much my jaw dropped on the first spin, is saying a lot! Make no bones about it, this is the single best extreme metal debut of the year, that I have heard. In all, this is a fetid and killer piece of putrid death metal.


4 out of 5

8/13/2019

Incident in a Ghostland (Review)

Title: Incident in a Ghostland
Writer/ Director: Pascal Laugier
Cast: Crystal Reed, Mylène Farmer, Anastasia Phillips, Emilia Jones, Taylor Hickson, Kevin Power
Min: 91
Year: 2018

Pauline (Mylène Farmer) has recently inherited her sister Clarissa's secluded house. She travels to the house with her two teenage daughters, the slightly more rebellious Vera (Taylor Hickson) and Beth (Emilia Jones) who is inspired by H.P. Lovecraft and likes to write horror fiction. At a rest stop, Beth reads an article about a series of home invasions where the parents are killed but the daughters are spared. What they don't know is that someone in a candy truck is stalking them.

They settle in for the night, but then suddenly a large, obese man breaks in. The Fat Man (Rob Archer) attacks Pauline, and the goes for the girls, dragging them to the basement. A strange woman soon joins them, who says that that they just want to play with dolls. The Fat Man assaults both girls. When he smells that Beth has had her period, he turns his perverse attention and focus on to Vera. Pauline recovers and stabs both the Fat Man and the Candy Truck Woman (Kevin Power) killing them.

Sixteen years later, Beth has grown into a beautiful and successful woman ( now played by Crystal Reed). She is a popular horror author and lives with her husband and their son. She is on a talk show promoting her latest work Incident in a Ghostland, which is inspired by the horrific events of that night. Later, she receives a frantic phone call from her sister (Anastasia Phillips), who still lives with their mom in the same house.
Beth, haunted by her own nightmares, travels to see what she can do to help her sister and mom. There her mother Pauline tells her that Vera cannot move on and is still traumatized and anguished by those events. Soon, Beth, herself, is haunted by strange happenings and Vera says that her assailants are still after them.

Incident in a Ghostland is a deeply searing psychological horror film from French genre writer/ director Paul Lagier, whose classic Martyris a brutal masterpiece. And, I am very happy to report that unlike his disappointing and uneven 2012 movie, The Tall Man, this one hits all the marks. And, boy are these marks ever scarring.

The opening home invasion is intense and very violent. It's one fucking hell of a way to start off and sets the unflinching tone which is kept throughout much of the flick's running time. It is also an excellent study of PTSD and the utter horrors of child abuse. This all results is a nightmarish experience that stays with the viewer, well after it is all said and done.
Laugier manages to disturb and unnerve his audience. And, while for some filmmakers this might not be an easy task, for Laugier, it is something that is right up his alley. The film does use a bunch of jump scares. However, they usually work, because they are actual scares and not fake outs. This ads to the tension that Laugier expertly knows how to build up. The climax will have your heart jumping out of your chest and nails buried deep into your seat. It ends on a very satisfying note, even if you feeling completely fucking drained by the time it's over.

The violence and bloodletting is equally harsh and graphic, keeping the audience's nerves on their very edge. The movie isn't ever light nor funny, and considering the heavy subject matter, it shouldn't be. This all results in a film that has much in common with '70's horror than what is currently out there, which is a huge plus for me.

The acting here is phenomenal. It is some of the finest you are likely to see in a horror movie this year, as their suffering is very palatable. Crystal Reed gives a very strong performance as Beth. She allows her character's pain, strength, and loving and protective nature to really come forth. Anastasia Phillips is incredible as Vera. Her screams of physical and emotional pain are utterly heartbreaking. Seeing her nude, clutching her doll, and begging for help in one scene is one of the most heart-wrenching things that you are likely to see in a genre film. Mylène Farmer gives excellent support as the loving and goodhearted mother.

Incident in a Ghostland is a brutal, intense, and emotionally draining experience. One that left me feeling many powerful emotions and completely consumed me. The acting is utterly phenomenal; giving the movie its emotional center and strength. Disturbing and haunting, it is the most soul crushing horror movie of the year. And, as it begins streaming exclusively on Shudder this Thursday, August 15, 2019, I give you my highest possible recommendation to watch.


4 out of 4

8/12/2019

Devourment- Obscene Majesty (Album Review)

Musician: Devourment
Album Title: Obscene Majesty
Genre/ Subgenre: 
Label: Relapse Records
Release Date: August 16, 2019

Uncompromisingly heavy slam/ brutal death metal act Devourment are back after six years with a savage new album, Obscene Majesty. And, as such, these pioneers of the aforementioned sub-genre have a beast of a release.

The album is a violent and head pummeling exercise in extremity. It ranks as one of the most outright heavy releases you are likely to hear this year. The production by D. Braxton Henry give the album an all encompassing feeling of crushing brutality. With drumming that caves heads in, guitars that shred and slice, and deep, guttural vocals signing about all the gore and violence that you demand, the viciousness will destroy you and everything around you.

 The album opens up with "A Virulent Strain of Retaliation". It's a track that after its nightmarish intro explodes into battering blast-beats and chainsaw like guitars. It will beat you into bloody submission by the time it's chugging mid-section comes in. Speaking of chainsaw guitars you can imagine flesh being sliced and diced by one while "Narcissistic Paraphernalia" kicks in. It's breakdown is sure to break bodies in the pit. Blast-beats galore highlight the brutal "Arterial Spray Patterns". You can almost imagine a meat cleaver chopping up a person as the drums bash and batter the sound barrier. It's possibly my favorite track on the album. You haven't lived in brutality until you hear the blast-beat and slam filled "Dysmorphic Autophagia". "Sculpted in Tyranny" has this almost mechanical chugging breakdown that feels akin to the Terminator contentiously punching someone's head in, again and a-fucking-gain!
Filled to the brim with slamming breakdowns, blast-beats, and saw like guitars Obscene Majesty is one of the heaviest releases of the year. There are no breaks to be had in this album, nor should there be. Thick and obsessively violent sounding the music goes well with its gore loving mentality. Like a stampeding brontosaurus stomping multiple people's heads into oblivion, this a true slam metal monster!


3.5 out of 5