It’s the holidays again. That means it is time to give you a list of the top items to buy this season. While you may not want to get everything on this list, there should be at least one thing on here to appease the DVD movie fan in your household.

Let’s start with the Top Five DVD Movie Comedies:

#1 - Mamma Mia!

#2 - George Carlin: It’s Bad For Ya

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Movie Info:
Writer: Joel Soisson
Director: Joel Soisson
Cast: Jackie Arnold, Jamie Bamber, Kent Jude Bernard, Boti Bliss, David Addison Brown, Dodie Brown, Bruce Bryant, Georgina Rylance
Rating: R
Studio: Weinstein

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: September 30, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $13.99

Unless we are talking about A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 or a few other choice movies, horror sequels are known for being disgustingly bad. Maybe it’s because the realism is blown or maybe it’s because in nine out of ten cases the talent doesn’t come back. Whatever it is, horror sequels are known for sucking and you aren’t going to hear me say any different when it comes to Pulse 2.

This movie actually had a small chance of surpassing the issue of the talent leaving. You see, if you’ve seen the first Pulse you know that the problem is that a computer virus has grown out of control and has infected every area where there are cell phones, computers, telephones, and televisions. The only hope anyone has is of being in a dead zone. While any remaining survivors left for the zone in the first Pulse, the second could pick up with new people and a new story, but still remain close enough to carry the name. Unfortunately, this idea is all but squandered on bad writing, bad direction, and horrid acting on the part of a few actors.

The worst acting of the year award goes to Boti Bliss who plays Marta in the movie. She is unoriginal, unattractive, boring, bland, and shockingly horrid. Even when she goes through a transformation she sucks. I would rather sew my eyes shut than watch her in a movie again. She was so bad in this I cannot imagine that she is any good in anything else she is in. Even in bad movies, actors can try and save face by offering a good performance. She might have given it her all, but it wasn’t even close to being good enough. I’ve seen better actors in high school sex education videos, and if you’ve seen those videos you know how bad those actors are.

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Movie Info:
Writer:: John Shiban
Director: Shawn Papazian
Cast: Joey Mendicino, Julie Mond, Graham Norris, Mikey Post, Michael Childers, Brionne Davis, Edmund Entin, Gary Entin, Gina Fricchione, Diane Salinger, Richard Tillman
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Warner Home Video

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: September 30, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $18.99

The direct to DVD horror movie Rest Stop came out in 2006 and reminded me of just how old I am (thanks to Joey Lawrence’s performance). Sure, this movie had some interesting moments and was a decent movie, especially for being direct to DVD, but who’d have thought that it’d only be a few years before the sequel, Rest Stop: Don’t Look Back would be released? I should have known because horror flicks are infamous for having sequels. Some franchises are successful and others just don’t have what it takes to continuously spew out another sequel.

Part of this is because most sequels aren’t as good as the original films. Another part of this is because most sequels were just made to capitalize on the success of the original film. Therefore, they are often shoddily made and hastily thrown together. I believe Rest Stop: Don’t Look Back isn’t nearly as good as the original, but I also believe it wasn’t hastily thrown together. There is an obvious plot, plenty of gratuitous violence and a dark feel to it. I just didn’t find it nearly as jumpy as I did the original and I’ve heard other critics say this as well, so I know I’m not alone here.

That being said, Rest Stop: Don’t Look Back does have its redeeming moments. It actually has a story. It relates to the original, which I find many horror sequels stray from excessively. The movie has some good ideas and some of those ideas are executed with success while other fall a bit flat. There is even a back story that explains the entire reasoning behind both Rest Stop: Don’t Look Back and its predecessor. This was a nice touch though it was slightly overemphasized throughout the film, making it less important or worthwhile, in the end.

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Movie Info:
Writer: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Director: Marc Schoelermann
Cast: Milo Ventimiglia, Michael Weston, Alyssa Milano, Lauren Lee Smith, Johnny Whitworth, John de Lancie, Mei Melançon, Keir O’Donnell, Buddy Lewis, Dan Callahan, Larry Drake, Med Abrous
Rating: R
Studio: MGM

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: September 23, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $23.99

I am happy to say that when I put this in to watch, the sinking feeling of “this is going to suck” quickly faded once it began. You see, I apparently mixed this movie up with another horror movie of the same name. When the film started I said to myself, “I didn’t know Alyssa Milano was in this.” That was about the time I realized that I thought this was another movie and settled in for something that I hoped would be good.

It was good. It was not what I expected at all. The writing was good and the acting fit the bill perfectly. The characters were not necessarily relatable or likable, but they were definitely engaging. Many of the actors share a common chemistry that resonates through the screen. In moments of tension, it is not only seen, but felt. While this might not have been a major blockbuster waiting to happen it is definitely worth watching.

Pathology only made around $100,000 at the box office, which is most definitely pathetic. However, this is a movie that received next to no advertising. You shouldn’t hold that against it because it is a decent movie. The story is not necessarily new or completely original, but it is done much better than most that are like it. The combination of sharp witted storytelling and good acting goes a long way for this thought to be meager film.

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Movie Info:
Writer: Frank Darabont , Stephen King (story)
Director: Frank Darabont
Cast: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher, Toby Jones, William Sadler, Jeffrey DeMunn, Frances Sternhagen, Nathan Gamble, Alexa Davalos, Chris Owen, Sam Witwer
Rating: R
Studio: Weinstein Company

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: November 21, 2007
DVD Release Date: September 16, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $23.95

Back in March, Ashtyn did the review for the standard release of The Mist. I had watched this movie with her and I liked it then. I’m a fan of anything Stephen King oriented. If the screenplay is written by him or if the story is based on one of his works, then I’m probably going to check out the movie or TV miniseries at least once. I’ve seen everything from the good (such as Carrie and Firestarter) to the bad (Dreamcatcher anyone? It was an excellent book, but a rotten movie). What I’ve come to realize is that, overall, Stephen King has such a twisted mind, if his work is represented well in film form then the film will be amazing.

The Mist wasn’t just an exceptional film. It’s one of those jaw droppers that leaves you reeling well after the credits roll. I didn’t see the ending coming. It was a complete shock and yet it made absolute sense. Stephen King is a serious mofo. He loves to play with the human mind, that much is clear in most of his work, but especially in The Mist. While King didn’t write the screenplay to this movie, Frank Darabont follows the plot of King’s story almost exclusively.

The Mist is truly a gem amongst a horror genre that has a dwindling amount of entertaining content. While The Mist isn’t gore-filled (though there are some gross moments in relation to the mist-filled creatures), the real horror is in the desperation felt (you could actually see yourself reacting the same way as the characters do) by those trapped in the supermarket, especially when it is clear what they’re up against.

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Movie Info:
Writer: Don Mancini
Director: Tom Holland
Cast: Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Alex Vincent, Brad Dourif, Dinah Manoff, Neil Giuntoli, Tommy Swerdlow, Jack Colvin
Rating: R
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: September 9, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $7.99

Child’s Play came out in 1988, back when I was the ripe old age of ten. By that time, I was no stranger to horror movies. I was an old pro really, having watched my first horror movie, Halloween when I was a mere five years old. Ever since that movie scared me to death, I was in love with the adrenaline rush that horror movies provided. To this day, I watch every horror movie that I can get my hands on.

When I heard that Child’s Play was being released again on DVD in an anniversary birthday edition, I couldn’t wait for it to arrive. Though it’s laughable now, when I was a child, after watching this movie, we got a dog and named it Chucky. I am not sure if this is a coincidence or not, but that damn dog was about as evil as evil could get. He liked to try and eat our paperboy for fun.

Child’s Play was quite inventive at the time because of Chucky, the doll used as the central evil character in the film. A real doll was used for the film. In fact, a number of dolls were used to achieve different movements and emotions. There were also scenes with a little person, who was used to achieve more lifelike movements. The result of the creative team’s hard work is a relatively realistic, mean tempered, serial killing Good Guy doll.

Chucky and Child’s Play never actually scared me, but I have always loved the movie and the idea of a crazed children’s doll that is nothing less than twisted. That being said, this makes for a great addition to any horror fan’s movie library.

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Movie Info:
Writer: J. S. Cardone
Director: Nelson McCormick
Cast: Brittany Snow, Johnathon Schaech, Scott Porter, Jessica Stroup, Dana Davis, Collins Pennie, Kelly Blatz, James Ransone, Brianne Davis, Kellan Lutz, Mary Mara, Ming-Na, Idris Elba
Rating: PG-13
Studio: Sony

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: April 11, 2008
DVD Release Date: August 19, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $16.99

I generally don’t like remakes of movies. I especially don’t like those films that are named to imply they are remakes, but really just stole the name from the original to garner publicity. I also don’t like Brittany Snow. It’s nothing personal. I think she’s an arrogant little brat, having met her personally before and having witnessed her Paris Hilton diva-like qualities first hand. Off camera impressions aside, as an actress, she’s fair. I’ve seen her in stuff where she stinks and in things where she’s decent. While she won’t be winning any Oscars anytime soon (or ever), she isn’t so bad that I won’t watch a movie if she’s in it. That’s reserved for Cameron Diaz.

So, yeah I wasn’t exactly thrilled about this movie. First of all, the first Prom Night was awesome. It’s hard to compare with an 80’s horror movie that has Jamie Lee Curtis in it. Sure, the original was typical, 1980s, horror cheese, but that’s what’s so great about 1980s horror! The truth is, the 2008 version of Prom Night isn’t really a remake. It’s about the horror-based events that happen to a group of kids on their Prom Night. That’s about the extent of the similarities between the two films.

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Writer: Scott B. Smith
Director: Carter Smith
Cast: Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Laura Ramsey, Shawn Ashmore, Joe Anderson, Sergio Calderon
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: July 8, 2008

My luck with horror movies has not been good lately. Whether I am reviewing them or just sitting down to watch a new movie, I always seem to find one of the worst horror movies in the bunch. So, when The Ruins ended up on my desk I was seriously hoping I would not be let down.

My only hope was that the movie was being put out by Paramount. The last horror movie that I recall watching from Paramount was Cloverfield, which was pretty good. With other studios I don’t always have much luck. Being that I didn’t know what to expect, I was walking blindly, but what I ended up finding was anything but typical horror.

The Ruins is more about psychological terror and lack of information than anything. The actions of one or two affect a small group and once terror hits one, it strikes all. The amount of gore in this movie is limited, if present at all. Whether it is or not (there is some mild blood) will depend on what you consider to be gore. The Ruins holds a unique spot in the horror genre. I wasn’t truly frightened, but at the same time, I saw the horror concept and was always interested in finding out what would happen next.

Release Information:
The Ruins was considered a financial success due to the fact that the $8 million production budget was almost tripled overall. To date, the film has made over $17 million domestically and over $22 million worldwide. These totals aren’t bad for a movie that was not heavily marketed. After a fair run in theaters, Paramount decided to release The Ruins in rated, unrated, and Blu-Ray copies. Shayne, one of our LI reviewers, offered his thoughts on the Blu-Ray copy of this film.

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Writer: Scott B. Smith
Director: Carter Smith
Cast: Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Laura Ramsey, Shawn Ashmore, Joe Anderson, Sergio Calderón
Rating: R (Unrated)
Studio: Dreamworks & Paramount
Release Date: July 8, 2008

Just because a movie is in the horror genre doesn’t mean that it has to be filled with gore, terrible horror clichés and a dumbed-down story. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I sat down to watch The Ruins. I’ve seen some pretty awful horror in my day. I was hoping for something that wouldn’t make me feel as though I wasted my time watching this film. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that The Ruins was much better than I anticipated.

I believe that this movie has succeeded largely due to the amount of tension that was ever present thanks to good writing and a talented cast. I actually recognized most of the main characters in The Ruins. That’s rare for the majority horror films. It seems that many directors feel that horror can be carried on the story alone and they can sacrifice when it comes to finding quality actors. Unknowns may be cheaper, but they’re also going to affect the quality of a film. The Ruins didn’t seem to suffer from this problem.

Release Information:
The Ruins made its debut in U.S. theaters on April 4, 2008. While it debuted at #5 at the box office, netting $8 million during its opening weekend, the film didn’t stay in the top ten very long. I feel the movie was affected by less advertising than you’d expect for a horror movie that has the potential to make some cash. The Ruins has received mixed reviews from critics. It seems that critics either love it or hate it. I believe critics fall into three categories when it comes horror; those who like senseless gore with very little story behind it, those who like something more (gore or not) in the stories behind the horror they watch and those who just aren’t fond of horror period. This may affect the reviews for this movie merely because The Ruins is horror, but it is not dependent on mindless gore.

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Writers: Matthew Grainger, Jonathan King
Directors: Peter Burger
Cast: Jason Behr, Mia Blake, David Fane, Robbie Magasiva, Caroline Cheong, Michael Hurst, Nathaniel Lees
Rating: R
Studio: Sony
Release Date: June 24, 2008

I really didn’t know how I felt about having to review a movie called The Tattooist. I’m not one of those people who think tattoos are bad. I’m also not a tattoo fanatic. I was unsure about an entire movie that revolved around tattoos and tattooing. Starting out as a lesson in the cultural practice of tattooing, the The Tattooist quickly becomes a thriller/horror movie with a fast paced storyline.

The Tattooist isn’t the best movie I’ve seen in recent days, but it is something I’d watch again. It’s a movie that is enjoyable and perhaps even a bit shocking. While some aspects of the movie are predictable as the movie goes along (I had a few “I bet this is going to happen” moments) this doesn’t seem to detract from the overall appeal of The Tattooist.

Release Information:
The Tattooist is a film that comes out of New Zealand. The film was actually co-produced between the countries of New Zealand and Singapore, and that is why the film debuted in New Zealand on August 30, 2007 and Singapore on November 29, 2007. The film has never been released in U.S. theaters though its main star is American.

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