Entertainment Earth

10/22/2020

Shudder: November 2020 Highlights for US

NOVEMBER 2020 U.S. HIGHLIGHTS 

titles also available on Shudder Canada, UK and ANZ as noted

SHUDDER ORIGINAL/EXCLUSIVE MOVIES

 

BLOOD VESSEL — November 5

Somewhere in the North Atlantic, late 1945, a life raft adrift at sea, and in it, the survivors of a torpedoed hospital ship. With no food, water, or shelter, all seems lost until a seemingly abandoned German minesweeper drifts ominously towards them, giving them one last chance at survival—if they can survive the bloodthirsty monsters on board. Starring Nathan Phillips (Wolf Creek), Alyssa Sutherland (Vikings), Robert Taylor (Longmire), directed by Justin Dix (Crawlspace). A SHUDDER EXCLUSIVE. (Also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK

Trailer: https://youtu.be/wzLPDkgxRuo 


LINGERING — November 12 (a.k.a. Hotel Lake)

Seeking support as the guardian of her younger brother, Yoo-mi returns to a small hotel run by a family friend. As bizarre incidents creep up in her mother’s old room, Yoo-mi will have to unravel the supernatural mystery and discover the truth before it’s too late. Starring Lee Se-young (Memorist), Park ji-young (The Concubine), directed by Yoon Eun-kyoung. A SHUDDER ORIGINAL. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ) 

Trailer: https://youtu.be/us-_8VpdlLs 

 

LEAP OF FAITH: WILLIAM FRIEDKIN ON THE EXORCIST — November 19

A lyrical and spiritual cinematic essay on The ExorcistLeap of Faith explores the uncharted depths of William Friedkin’s mind’s eye, the nuances of his filmmaking process, and the mysteries of faith and fate that have shaped his life and filmography. The film marks the sixth feature documentary from Philippe (78/52, Memory: The Origins of Alien), continuing his thoughtful analysis of iconic genre films. Starring William Friedkin. Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe. A SHUDDER ORIGINAL. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZTrailer: https://youtu.be/p5FXjdKxgrA 


PORNO — November 24

When five repressed teen employees at a local movie theatre in a small Christian town discover a mysterious old film hidden in its basement, they unleash an alluring demon that is determined to give them a sex education...written in blood. Starring Robbie Tann, Katelyn Pearce, Evan Daves, Larry Saperstein (High School Musical: The Musical series), Jillian Mueller (The Last O.G.), Glen Stott (The Good Fight), directed by Keola Racela (Above the Sea). A SHUDDER EXCLUSIVE. (Also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK)
Trailer: https://youtu.be/-JiWnGQgKNk 

 

NEW COLLECTIONS FOR NOVEMBER

 

THE MARIO BAVA COLLECTION — November 23

A master of Gothic, a genius of giallo and a Godfather of Italian Horror—Shudder celebrates the legacy and influence of Mario Bava with a collection spanning his first foray into fright, Black Sunday to his final gem, Shock


Featuring: A Bay of Blood, Black Sabbath, Black Sunday, The Girl Who Knew Too Much, KIll Baby Kill, Lisa and the Devil, Shock and The Whip and The Body

 (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

ALL NEW TITLES FOR NOVEMBER

 

November 2

EMELIE (Director: Michael Thelin)

As their parents head out for a date in the city, the three young Thompson children – Jacob, Christopher and Sally – immediately take to their new babysitter Anna, who seems like a dream come true: she’s sweet, fun, and lets them do things that break all of their parents’ rules. But as the night creeps along and Anna’s interactions with them take on a more sinister tone, the kids slowly realize that their caretaker may not be who she claims to be. Soon it’s up to big brother Jacob to protect his siblings from the increasingly nefarious intentions of a very disturbed woman whose weapon is trust, and whose target is innocence. Starring Sarah Bolger, Joshua Rush, Carly Adams. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

SALEM’S LOT (Director: Tobe Hooper)

Driven by inner forces even he cannot understand, novelist Ben Mears returns to his hometown to write about a mysterious mansion that has intrigued him since childhood. But he discovers a horrifying secret: The community is slowly becoming a village of vampires.  Starring David Soul, James Mason, Bonnie Bedelia 

 

URBAN LEGEND (Director: Jamie Blanks)

Dr. Wexler, professor of American Folklore, states that urban legends exist only to convey hidden moral lessons for all who hear them. But the students at New England's Pendleton College are finding out just how fatal these stories can really be. When a series of murders occurs at the school, student Natalie begins to notice a bizarre link between the killings. Starring Jared Leto, Alicia Witt, Rebecca Gayheart, Robert Englund 

 

November 5

BLOOD VESSEL (see above for details)

 

November 9

BLOOD & FLESH: THE REEL LIFE AND GHASTLY DEATH OF AL ADAMSON (Director: David Gregory)

“Horror Film Director Found Slain, Buried Under Floor,” screamed the 1995 headlines read ‘round the world. But the truth behind the wild life of Al Adamson—including the making of his low budget classics and his grisly death—reveals perhaps the most bizarre career in Hollywood history, as retold in this captivating documentary. Featuring Al Adamson, John 'Bud' Cardos, Robert Dix, Marilyn Joi, Gary Kent (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

CHERRY TREE (Director: David Keating)

After learning dad’s leukemia has advanced, Faith is stunned when her teacher approaches her with a devilish deal. If Faith gets pregnant and hands the baby over for a sacrifice, the sorceress will heal poor papa. But there’s always a catch, and when Faith realizes what she’s actually agreed to, the sweet deal goes sour very fast. David Keating’s follow-up to Shudder favorite Wake Wood. Starring Anna Walton, Naomi Battrick, Sam Hazeldine. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

November 12

LINGERING (see above for details)

 

November 14

SATURDAY THE 14TH (Director: Howard R. Cohen)

In this horror comedy, John and Mary can't believe their good fortune when they inherit the vast estate of John's recently departed uncle. Sure, it's a fixer-upper. But there's nothing that can't be taken care of with a fresh coat of paint, a little dusting ... and maybe an exorcist! Monsters, mayhem, and mirth descend upon the house and only a mysterious book can save this everyday normal family from Saturday's paranormal activity. Starring Richard Benjamin, Paula Prentiss, Jeffrey Tambor (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

November 16

ARE WE NOT CATS? (Director: Xander Robin)

After losing his job, girlfriend, and home in a single day, a desperate thirty-something accepts a delivery job upstate. There he stumbles upon Anya, a beguiling and mysterious young artist who shares his proclivity for eating human hair. While their shared obsession bonds these two loners together, it also takes them on a perverse and disturbing journey in one of the most exciting and singular American indies of recent years. Starring Michael Nicholson, Chelsea Lopez, Michael Godere. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

BLOOD OF WOLVES (Director: Kazuya Shiraishi)

Rookie detective Shuichi Hioka is assigned to the East Kurehara precinct’s Second Investigation Division, which boasts the best arrest rate in the Hiroshima Prefectural Police. He and his new partner Shogo Ogami, a veteran detective rumored to be in cahoots with the mob, are tasked with investigating the disappearance of an employee of Kurehara Finance, a front company for the Kakomura-gumi organized crime group. Starring Koji Yakusho, Tori Matsuzaka. (Also available on Shudder Canada, UK and ANZ)

 

COHERENCE (Director: James Ward Byrkit)

On the night of an astronomical anomaly, eight friends at a dinner party experience a troubling chain of reality bending events. Part cerebral sci-fi and part relationship drama, Coherence is a tightly focused, intimately shot film that quickly ratchets up with tension and mystery. Starring Emily Baldoni, Maury Sterling, Nicholas Brendon 

 

LET THE CORPSES TAN (Director: Helene Cattet, Bruno Forzani)

Belgian filmmakers Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani trade in the crushed velvet and creeping shadows of their giallo-worshiping first two films (Amer, The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears) for blistering sun, creaking leather and raining bullets in this glorious homage to 1970s Italian crime films. Based on a classic pulp novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette and featuring vintage music cues by Ennio Morricone, Let the Corpses Tan is a deliriously stylish, cinematic fever dream that will slamfire your senses like buckshot to the brain. Starring Elina Lowensohn, Stephane Ferrara, Bernie Bonvoisin (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

November 19

LEAP OF FAITH (see above for details)

 

November 23

THE MARIO BAVA COLLECTION:

A BAY OF BLOOD, BLACK SABBATH, BLACK SUNDAY, THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, KILL BABY KILL, LISA AND THE DEVIL, SHOCK and THE WHIP AND THE BODY

 

November 24

PORNO (see above for details) 

 

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1/03/2015

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 13: 40-31

If you have been following this list since it's start, I'm sorry for all if the months where I did not continue it. Once convention season (Oct, with NYCC) started followed by the holidays, I was severely busy and couldn't continue to do this list. But, with all of that over now (well until I head out to Vegas for AEE, later this month), I can go right back to it. And, so let's not waste anymore time and get right back into it:

40. Cradle of Filth- Nymphetamine- The sixth album by this extreme metal act is actually my favorite of theirs. The title refers to the addiction towards a vampiric woman. Which is perfectly understandable in my book! The cover with a sexy and tempting vampire babe painting is truly beautiful, very cool, and captures the title perfectly.







39. Guns 'N' Roses- Appetite for Destruction- One of the greatest debut albums, and in fact one of the greatest albums period, in all of hard rock, this badass rocker is a must have. It's equally iconic cover was originally suppose to be a controversial piece of art with a robot rapist about to get his up and comings via a metallic monster. But, when stores refused to carry that cover they opted for this classic image of the band members represented as skulls on a cross. It was based on a tattoo by Billy White, Jr. I actually prefer the rapist cover, but at least that ended up on the inside sleeve. This image is still fucking awesome, though!!


38. Kreator- Terrible Certainty- The third album by these German thrashers is the one that I first bought from them. It's my second favorite of their albums and the cover with their badass demon mascot surrounded by statues of skull faced bishops on each side of him is fucking awesome!







37. King Diamond- Abigail- The second album, and first to be a concept album, remains the band's masterpiece. It also has one of it's most classic covers, evoking an old school, gothic horror movie with it's beautiful and creepy cover of a carriage being drawn by two horses.







36. Scorpions- Love After First Sting- This hard rock classic from the greatest band to ever come out of Germany features a truly classic photographic cover of a man tattooing a scorpion, of course, on a beautiful, partially nude woman. It was designed by Kochlowski.







35. Black Sabbath- Dehumanizer- The sixteenth studio album by these metal legends, was a return for metal god Ronnie James Dio at vocals. It's the first one that I ever bought with him signing for Sabbath. The cool looking cover features a robotic grim reaper turning a human into a machine. A cool image that goes perfectly with the title track.






34. Arch Enemy- Anthems of Rebellion- The fifth studio album by Arch Enemy is the first one that I ever bought of theirs. The cover depicts a man who pulls off the faceless visage that all the others have, rebelling and showing his own individuality.








33. Sodom- Agent Orange- The third studio release by this German thrash band had what might be their best cover, as it captures the inside of a large, flying war plane. It's badass and looks very eye-catching.








32. Suffocation- Blood Oath- This sixth studio album from this American death metal act, was actually the first album of theirs to chart on the Billboard 200. It's a killer one with a great cover by artist Jon Zig. It's pure classic death metal stuff with it's use of an otherworldly place and monk like phantom people with unseen faces.







31. Sepultura- Chaos A.D.- The classic and influential fifth album by Brazil's metal masters has them move away from thrash to groove metal. But that doesn't mean they have to stop having cool covers. In fact this another kick ass cover as a mummified man is tied to machines.

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 12: 50-41

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 11: 60-51


The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 10: 70-61


The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 9: 80-71


The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 8: 90-81 


The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 7: 110-101 


The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 6: 120-111 


The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 5: 130-121


The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 4: 140-131 


The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 3: 150-141


The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 2: 160-151


The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 1: 175-16

5/21/2014

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 7: 110-101

110. Rainbow- Rainbow Rising- The classic album by British hard rock act Rainbow is their masterpiece and the cover by Ken Kelly is a beauty! The killer use of a giant hand that grabs a rainbow is a stunning image of fantasy and one of the most recognizable classic era metal album covers of all time.






109. Black Sabbath- Cross Purposes- The seventeenth album from the legendary British metal act came post the return and leaving of Ronnie James Dio. So Tony Martin returned for this admit ably not great but certainly highly decent album. The beautiful cover has a blonde haired angel with her wings on fire. The cover has long been one of my favorites and is a captivating imagine from the moment you lay your eyes on it.




108. Iron Maiden- No Prayer for the Dying- The eighth studio album by the mighty Iron Maiden has an awesome and badass drawing by Derek Riggs, as Eddie (who has none of his earlier scars) rises from his grave and strangles a grave robber. Sadly he was taken out of the rerelease at the behest of the band's manager Rod Smallwood. This ranking is based on the original cover, of course.




107. Dio- Last in Line- The Dio demon, Murray, stands above an Egyptian world of slaves, in this cool and classic cove, from the band's second release.









106. Amon Amarth- Twilight of the Thunder God- The seventh album by the Swedish, melodic death/ viking metal band has a fucking kick ass cover of Thor battling the Jörmungandr, a sea serpent and enemy of the thunder god, himself. There's rain, lightning, and, one would imagine, thunder adding to the overall coolness factor.





105. Helloween- Better than Raw- The eighth studio album by the German power metallers has a sexy witch brewing up a stew. There are lots of little pumpkin-head guys, and it looks cool and comic-bookish.







104. Rob Zombie- Past, Present, and Future- This compilation of White Zombie and Rob Zombie has a gorgeous cover by former Famous Monsters of Filmland artist Basil Gogos.








102. Megadeth- Youthanasia- The sixth album by Megadeth has no Vic Rattlehead on the cover, again, but it does have an old lady hanging babies out to dry by their feet. I am gonna on the record in saying that this is not the way to deal with babies who have pissed themselves. 






102. Marduk- Those of the Unlight- The second album by Swedish black metal act Marduk has a dark and cool as fuck cover of cloaked men riding horses that looks like the wraiths from Lord of the Rings. Being that this is a black metal band any similarities between LOTR and the band shouldn't shock anyone.







101. Judas Priest- Sad Wings of Destiny- The second album by these gods of metal has an angel who seems sad (hence the title!) and is in some hellish world (if not, in fact, hell, itself). I love that his pendent is the Judas Priest trident. The artwork is amazing and breathtaking and the type that you want on a classic metal album. It should also be noted that the band had not yet adopted their classic logo.




The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 6: 120-111 

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 5: 130-121

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 4: 140-131 

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 3: 150-141

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 2: 160-151

The 175 Greatest Heavy Metal Album Covers of all Time Pt. 1: 175-16

5/17/2010

In Remembrance of a Metal Legend, Ronnie James Dio

I first heard this tragic news yesterday, when I had saw a rumor had stated that he had died on Saturday. But, it was then said that he was actually alive. Later that day, though, this was posted by his wife, Wendy Dio:

Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.

- Wendy Dio

(If you wish to leave condolences go to the official Facebook page)

I'll be first to sat that this news came to me as major blow. I have been a fan of the man (whose last stage name means God in Italian) and his music since I was in high school. He would eventually become one of my heroes.

He was born Ronald James Padavona on July 10, 1942. After working on various bands, including Elf, he was recruited by Richie Blackmore, along with other Elf members, to form Rainbow. Rainbow was an amazing early heavy metal/ hard rock band. They released three albums with Dio, including Rainbow Rising, which became a classic. He left Rainbow when Blackmore wanted to take the band in a more commercial route.



In 1979, he joined Black Sabbath, after Ozzy had left. They released their masterpiece Heaven and Hell, along with two more albums (the last one a live one). Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules are both considered classics of the genre. The title track from HaH is quite simply one of the greatest metal songs ever written. An epic song with powerful and unforgettable lyrics. It was during this time that he popularized the "devil horns", which came from his grandmother. It's called the Malocchio or evil eye. It gave just another reason for us metalheads, to love and be grateful to him.


Dio eventually left Sabbath and formed his own solo band, Dio. They would put out many albums over the years, including the genre defining classic that is Holy Diver. Both the title track and Rainbow in the Dark became metal favorites. And, gave him further success.

One of my fav Dio tracks, live: Don't Talk to Strangers

Tenacious D sign about Dio


He returned to Sabbath for Dehumanizer, the album that got me into this version of Sabbath, in 1992. He would eventually return full time to Sabbath in 2006. A best of Black Sabbath with Dio collection was released with a couple of new songs. The band changed their name to Heaven and Hell, and would release their one and only studio album (under that name), The Devil That You Know. It was an immediate success, debuting at number 8, making it the highest debut for a Sabbath album in history. It received great reviews and as an awesome, classic sounding masterwork.


Sadly, on November 25, 2009, his wife announced he had stomach cancer. I was greatly saddened by this bit of news. Many fans, including myself, sent their well wishes to him. And, then it seemed that he had gotten better. But, by May 4, Heaven & Hell canceled all their summer tour dates. He had gotten very ill. Dio died at 7:45 am on May 16, 2010.

I feel a very heavy hearted writing this blog. It wasn't easy to put my thoughts into paper. In fact, yesterday, I had to log off the net for a little while; as I was shaken and deeply, deeply saddened. And, so I had to pay tribute to the man, the legend that is Ronnie James Dio, and write this blog, today. While, he is gone his legacy will live on in the great music he made. Throw up those devil horns for him and rock out to his amazing musicianship. May you RIP, Ronnie James Dio.

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Now playing: Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell
via FoxyTunes