Monday 28 September 2015

MAYHEM - The Unquenchable Thirst of Dracula, Full details released!


Hello Folks,
Jonny T here with great news about a very special night on Saturday 17th October at this years MAYHEM festival. A reading of an unmade Hammer Horror script "The Unquenchable thirst Of Dracula" This event certainly is going to be one of the highlights of this years festival, I have put the press release below along with details of how to get your tickets,
Enjoy,
Jonny T.



MEDIA RELEASE

Jonny Phillips and Sohm Kapila join Jonathan Rigby
for Mayhem’s live stage reading of Hammer Films script


Mayhem Film Festival is proud to reveal the full cast of its exclusive live stage reading of unmade Hammer Films script, The Unquenchable Thirst of Dracula.

Joining acclaimed author and actor Jonathan Rigby who will act as narrator, Mayhem will welcome Jonny Phillips (Titanic, Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime) as Count Dracula himself, West End actress Sohm Kapila (Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical), TV Workshoppers, Harpal Hayer and Sabrina Sandhu, and local actors Lauren Carse (Truckers), Shajait Khan, and Jas Steven Singh.

The completely unique event will take place at Broadway as part of Mayhem’s 2015 edition, with the group of actors bringing to life a never-seen-before Hammer Dracula story, and accompanied by original music by Neil Tolliday.

Lying firmly in the tradition of the classic Hammer Dracula films, and written by legendary Hammer writer/producer Anthony Hinds, The Unquenchable Thirst of Dracula, sees Count Dracula escape to India where his evil influence is just as insidious and powerful.

Earlier this month, Mayhem announced its full line-up of events and guests, including Aaaaaaaah! with Q&A from director Steve Oram, documentary Future Shock! The Story of 2000AD with director Paul Goodwin, producer Sean Hogan and 2000AD writer and artist D’Israeli, Howl with Q&A from director Paul Hyett, the haunting Nina Forever with co-directors Chris & Ben Blaine and producer Cassandra Sisgaard, and the provocative German Angst with co-director Michal Kowakowski.

The full line-up and schedule is available at http://bit.ly/mayhem15-lineup

Tickets for The Unquenchable Thirst of Dracula at Broadway on Saturday 17 October are available now at http://the-unquenchable-thirst-of-dracula and from Broadway’s box office.

Full Festival passes, day passes and individual tickets for the rest of Mayhem’s programme are also available from http://http://mayhem_film_festival

The Unquenchable Thirst of Dracula is made possible thanks to Hammer Films, CATH (Cinema and Television Research Centre) and the De Montfort University.


Mayhem Film Festival takes place on 15-18 October at Broadway, Nottingham with the support of the BFI Film Festival Fund, awarding funds from The National Lottery.

Sunday 27 September 2015

I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES | RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCEMENT







Hey folks,
Well you may well ask, Why is Jonnys Cult films covering sports films??
Well the simple answer is that I Believe in miracles is about one of the greatest football teams and managers and assistant managers in football history I speak of non others than Brian Clough, Peter Taylor and the mighty reds, Nottingham Forest. Although over the time period of two seasons Forest still have the longest unbeaten run and back to back European cup wins in history, Two stars on the shirt this year proves that point. OK I sound bias but as a life long forest fan I am but I still remember Trevor Francis scoring and my whole family going mental, OK the last few years may have been a little hit and miss but with the passionate new owner those glory days will not be far away.
All release details below and watch this space for a review coming very soon,
Jonny T.



In Selected Cinemas from 14th October following

A Nationwide Preview Event Screening on 13th October



UPHE Content Group to release the DVD and Blu-ray on 16th November



I Believe In Miracles will receive its World Premiere at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on 11th October



“THE GREATEST FOOTBALL FILM EVER MADE”

Dan Taylor - Chief Football Writer, The Guardian



“FUNNY, UPLIFTING AND ENLIGHTENING – A FANTASTIC FOOTBALL STORY.”

Shortlist



In 1975 Brian Clough had gone from being football’s most exciting young manager to being seen as impossible to work with after walking out on Derby County, leaving Brighton under a cloud and being sacked as manager of Leeds United after just 44 days. His only offer of work came from a run-down second division club called Nottingham Forest who's brief glory days in the 1950's were seen as well behind them. It was predicted that Clough would last less than a season but in five he'd won a remarkable two European Cups consecutively and produced one of the greatest domestic football teams in the game’s history.

OFFICIAL TRAILER






Written, directed and produced by Jonny Owen alongside Baby Cow Productions (Philomena, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa), and Spool Films/Post (completed post production for This Is England, Tyrannosaur, Nativity 2/3), I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES features interviews with every player from that triumphant side to tell one of the greatest sports stories ever told. Using unseen footage of games from the time and of the great man himself, the players tell us about Brian Clough’s remarkable man management and how he convinced a team, largely written off by the fans and media, to beat the world’s best.



I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES will receive its World Premiere at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, in the Trent Stand on the 11th October.


“The Miracle Men”

Former players from the legendary Nottingham Forest team of 1977-‘79, including:







Trevor Francis, Martin O’Neill, Garry Birtles, Viv Anderson, Larry Lloyd, John Robertson, Kenny Burns, Ian Bowyer, John McGovern, Frank Clark, Colin Barrett, Peter Shilton, Archie Gemmill, John O'Hare, Tony Woodcock, John Robertson, David Needham

Monday 21 September 2015

MAYHEM - Sunday, AAAAAAAAH!


So, On to the final day, Always a strange feeling for me and even though sat in the cinema so long since Thursday it seems to go so fast,  One of the highlights always being the quiz The Flinterigation but be warned people we have swatted this year (Not really but there are plans to!) The quiz will be in the cafe bar between screenings of Aaaaaaaah! and The Invitation so come along and challenge us if you dare!! Sunday this year for me personally looks the best day, but will it top the amazing last year? You know what? It doesn't matter, That is why I love this festival it's so different every year and always great to see Chris Cooke introduce the last movie with the relief that it all went well and gained loads more fans and so it should, All I can say is take look at below for Sunday showings and you will see why it's well worth coming along for no just for the Sunday but the whole brilliance of MAYHEM.
Jonny T.


SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER 

12.00PM DEATHGASM Dir. Jason Hei Howden, 2015 (NZ) with Milo Cawthorne and James Blake


Two teenage boys unwittingly summon an ancient evil entity known as The Blind One by delving into black magic while trying to escape their mundane lives.


1.45PM
 GERMAN ANGST + special guest Michal Kosakowski Dirs. Michal Kosakowski, Jorg Buttgereit and Andreas Marschall 2015 (GER) 


Three German tales of love, sex and death in Berlin from Germany's most shocking directors.



4.15PM 
THE WITCH Dir. Robert Eggers, 2015 (USA) with Ralph Ineson and Kate Dickie



A family in 1630s New England is torn apart by the forces of witchcraft, black magic and possession.




6.45PM
 AAAAAAAAH! + special guest Steve Oram Dir. Steve Oram, 2015 (UK) with Toyah Wilcox and Julian Rhind-Tutt






Human beings have the same violent tribal urges as wild apes in this surreal horror comedy, the directing debut of British actor and screenwriter Steve Oram.





Sunday 20 September 2015

LEGEND - Reviewed.



You know them there Kray Twins, Good old Ronnie and Reggie, Looked after their own, Gave loads to charity and got banged up for 30 years each for murder, Nice. That's the Legend and the new movie is Legend.

A Tuesday off work and meeting my dad, Taking him to his first visit to Broadway cinema in Nottingham and he loved both the place and the film, As do I and as did I. My Granddad came from Stepney in the east end of London so my dad had some great stories afterwards about the the Krays activity at the time including my Granddad attending one of their famous/Infamous celebrity parties and talking to Ronnie Corbett!

The films starts with Reggie taking out two cups of tea to detective Nipper Reid and his colleague who are sat just down the road surveying the Kray house, This resulted in a couple of nudges from me dad saying "That looks like the street me grandma used to live on!" and "My Dad's first car was like that one!" Bless him. 

The story is mainly told from Reggie Kray's first wife Francis perspective of how they met and married. Played greatly by Emily Browning and this brings me on to the performance of Tom Hardy as both Ronnie and Reggie, At first it's weird but within minutes you totally forget that he is playing both parts, Incredibly done. I was especially impressed by his take on Ronnie Kray that was brilliant, Extremely witty and intimidating in equal measures, There was more than one occasion where I was on the edge of my seat thinking it's all going to get really bad any minute now then laughing at the stuff that Ronnie came out with, Just wait until the wedding scene with Reggie Krays mother in law and you'll see what I mean!

The film is based on the book by John Pearson "Profession of violence" which came out in 1975 and told the true story of the notorious twins and also it has been said that with them being sentenced in 1968 that the public interest had wavered somewhat by 1975 but with the release of this book it propelled them  back into the public eye and from that day they made more money inside than they ever did in the East End, 



So in summing up, Legend is definitely worth a watch, Tom Hardy is fantastic one thing is though that he has been touted as being the next James Bond which I personally hope he doesn't do as he is way better than that in my opinion always a flat role. Stick to Mad Max and Gangsters sir you did it superbly!
9/10
Jonny T.






Saturday 19 September 2015

MAYHEM - DAY 3, SATURDAY!!



Well after all that Friday night follies we move on to what is showing Saturday 17th October at MAYHEM. Today you have from 12PM until 12AM jam packed full of insanity! You have parasitic japanese, Henry Rollins, A lost Hammer script , Some great looking horror shorts and a classic from Brian Yuzna! Also I have now heard that individual screening tickets are available as well as day passes, Get on it you weirdos!!
SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER 

12.00PM
PARASYTE: PART 1 Dir. Takashi Yamazaki, 2014 (JAP) with Shoia Sometani and Eri
Fukatsu



The humanity is suffering from murders all over the globe, called "Mincemeat murders". High school student, Izumi Shinichi has a parasite living off him, having replaced his right hand, and he might be the discoverer of truth.




2.15PM
HE NEVER DIED Dir. Jason Krawczyk, 2015 (USA) with Henry Rollins and Jordon Todesey


Jack, a social outcast, is thrust out of his comfort zone when the outside world bangs on his door and he can't contain his violent past.



4.15PM
SCARY SHORTS Dir. Various, 2015 (International)



Mayhem's SCARY SHORTS section is the best yet, from LAB RATS to THE HERD, Alice Lowe's SOLITUDO and PACO PLAZA's ULTRAVIOLETA and much, much more...

LAB RATS 16m UK 
Dir: David Wayman
Blackly comic, ultra gory and filled with explosive special effects this is old school, rip-roaring horror at its most satisfyingly.

ULTRAVIOLETA 11m SPAIN
Dir: Paco Plaza
A restorer of paintings finds the heat really turned up on her latest job, rescuing a ‘hidden’ painting. From the co-creator of [REC] a warming to the curious.

JULIET 11.30m FRANCE 
Dir: Marc-Henri Boulier
Bored with the routine? Depressed by the thought of going to bed alone every night? Juliet is the first super-competent companion robot, and she's waiting for you!

SOLITUDO 9m UK
Dir: Alice Lowe
The directorial debut of writer/actress Alice Lowe (SIGHTSEERS), an austere tale of a nun in isolation at a rural convent who is terrorized by an encroaching darkness... that may be coming from within.

HIMIKO THE GOD SLAYER VERSUS THE DAEMON LEGION OF AZURE DRAGONS 5.13m JAPAN 
Dir: Hikaru Tsukuda
The guardian Gods who protect the four quarters suddenly revolt against human beings! To save the world, a Godslayer, Himiko Kaguraoka, takes action.

THE HERD 20m UK 
Dir: Melanie Light 
Truly nightmarish, confrontational horror – raw and frighteningly real with a great cast including Pollyanna Mcintosh and Andrew Shim.

SURGERY 11m UK 
Dir: The Clemens Bros.
Legendary writer Brian Clemens’ (The Avengers, Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter) last work – a crimson tale of surgical terror.

HEIR 14m CAN
Dir: Richard Powell
From the creators of the disturbing short, FAMILIAR, comes this equally devastating tale of fatherhood and transformation.

KOBOLD 7m AUS 
Dir: Nicholas Verso
If horror films teach you anything it is that you must take care of your kids, or someone else may do the job for you!

COUNT MAGNUS 11.45m UK [WORLD PREMIERE]
Dir: Richard Mansfield
Glorious shadow puppet adaptation of the classic horror story from MR James, the master of eerie suspense.

CROW HAND 3m USA
Dir: Brian Lonano
Gory fun and a warning to the curious – be careful of what you find lying on the pavement for there may be dire consequences.

(this is not a running order)

7.30PM THE UNQUENCHABLE THIRST OF DRACULA – LIVE with Jonathan Rigby 


JONATHAN RIGBY TO NARRATE LONG-LOST DRACULA SCRIPT FROM HAMMER ARCHIVE
Mayhem Film Festival are to present a live stage reading of an un-filmed Hammer script as part of their 11thedition this October. The Unquenchable Thirst of Dracula was written by legendary Hammer writer/producer Anthony Hinds in the late 1960s but never adapted for the screen.
Actor and film historian, Jonathan Rigby, author of the indispensable guide to British horror English Gothic: Classic Horror Cinema 1897-2015 and Christopher Lee: The Authorised Screen History, will act as the narrator and be accompanied by a group of actors to bring to life this never-seen-before Hammer Dracula story, in a unique immersive ‘screenless cinema’ experience.
Lying firmly in the tradition of the classic Hammer Dracula films, The Unquenchable Thirst of Dracula, sees Count Dracula escape to India where his evil influence is just as insidious and powerful. Anthony Hinds who wrote the script was the son of Hammer Films co-founder, Will Hammer, and was famous for his work on The Curse of the Werewolf (1961), The Phantom of the Opera (1962) and The Evil of Frankenstein (1964). The script would have been written for Christopher Lee at the time.
“This is a completely unique event for Mayhem, explains festival Co-Director Chris Cooke, and a great pleasure to work with horror expert and film historian Jonathan Rigby. He’s also a talented actor and will be perfect as our narrator, taking a live audience by the hand and leading them into Gothic darkness. Hammer Films have never felt more important to the history of British cinema, so this is a great opportunity for an audience to imagine a piece of classic cinema that sees Count Dracula resurrected before their eyes.”
The one-of-a-kind event is made possible thanks to Hammer Films, CATH (Cinema and Television Research Centre) and the De Montfort University.


10.30PM
SOCIETY Dir. Brian Yuzna, 1989 (USA) with Billy Walrock and Connie Danese


The teenager Bill Whitney (Billy Warlock) feels misfit with his parents and his sister Jenny Whitney (Patrice Jennings). When his sister's boyfriend David Blanchard (Tim Bartell) bugs his family, he shows the disturbing tapes to Bill showing incest and a weird society. When Blanchard dies in a car accident, Bill decides to investigate his family and find a scary truth.









Wednesday 16 September 2015

MAYHEM FESTIVAL - Day 2, What we got today then?


So, Onto day two of  MAYHEM and what will we be shown today? It's 16th October Friday night, let your hair down (Unless your me) get a few free drinks and bring on the show, What we have today will be Apocalyptic Ethiopian Wandering, Nina Forever described as a "Fucked Up Fairy Tale, Werewolves on a Train and Giant Wasps attacking rich folk, What more could you want on a Friday Night?  Get your tickets! 


 FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER


4.15PM CRUMBS 2015 (ETH/SPA)
Dir. Miguel Llanso, with Daniel Tadesse and Selam Testayie

Our figurine sized supermen hero embarks on an epic surreal journey that will take him across the Ethiopian post apocalyptic landscape in search of a way to get on the hovering spacecraft that for years has become a landmark in the skies.








6.30PM NINA FOREVER + special guests Ben and Chris Blaine ,producer  Cassandra Sigsgaard
Dirs. Ben Blaine & Chris Blaine,2015 (UK) with Fiona O’Shaunghnessy and Cian  Barry

After his girlfriend Nina dies in a car crash, Rob unsuccessfully attempts suicide. As he begins to overcome his grief, he falls in love with a coworker, Holly. Their relationship is complicated when Nina, unable to find rest in the afterlife, comes back to life to sarcastically torment them whenever they have sex.







9.00PM HOWL + MAKING MONSTERS masterclass with Paul Hyett
Dir. Paul Hyett, 2015 (UK) with Sean Pertwee and Ed Speleers

When passengers on a train are attacked by a creature, they must band together in order to survive until morning.






11.30PM STUNG
Dir. Benni Diez, 2015 (GER/USA) with Jessica  Cook and Matt O’Leary.

A fancy garden party turns into upper class prey when a colony of killer wasps mutates into seven foot tall predators.




Monday 14 September 2015

MAYHEM - Day one, What to see.


Hello folks,
Jonny T here with news of this years MAYHEM film festival, The full line up has now been revealed so over the next four days I shall be doing a daily blog to show you what to expect day by day, The usual date of October 31st has been changed this year and runs from Thursday 15th October and finishing on Sunday 18th October, Four wholes days of insanity! Full festival passes are now available at the bargain price of just £70, So what are you waiting for, Have at it! Day one details below,
Jonny T.

THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER

7.00PM EMELIE Dir. Michael Thelin, 2015 (USA) with Sarah Bolger and Robert Bozek





After their regular babysitter can't make it, the Thompson family turns to her friend Anna to supervise the children while they go out to celebrate their anniversary.



8.45PM FUTURE SHOCK! THE STORY OF 2000AD + special guests Paul Goodwin, producer Sean Hogan and 2000AD writers and artists D’Israeli & Ian Culbard Dir. Paul Goodwin, 2015 (UK) 



Documentary covering the highs and lows of 2000AD's history, from its inception after the demise of Action to the present day.




11.30PM RABID DOGS Dir. Eric Hannezo, 2015 (FRA/CAN) with Lambert Wilson and Laurent Lucas


After a bank job goes badly wrong, three desperate criminals take a young woman and a father and child hostage - it's the beginning of a frantic and violent road trip that not all of them will survive.


Link for all things MAYHEM!

Tuesday 8 September 2015

Zombie Fight Club - Reviewed



"While the zombie apocalypse brings Taipei to the brink of collapse, an apartment block in the corner of the city becomes riddled with crime. But things go from bad to worse when it’s overrun by zombies; infecting the residents, bystanders and even a SWAT team sent in to help. Surrounded by zombies and with no way out but down, the last remaining survivors Andy (Andy On) and Jenny (Jessica C) soon find themselves trapped in an underground arena of the undead. With nothing left to do but fight, can they battle their way through the hordes of zombies and escape the apocalypse?"


So, You know when you have those moments of "What the hell did I just watch?" Well I have just finished Zombie fight club and had one of those moments! But thinking about again I have also seen from director Joe Chien his movie Zombie 108 so I suppose I should have known what was coming! Set slightly before the full outbreak in a world of drug dealers and hookers it goes from quite a slow opening 20 minutes to full on insanity, Now I say this with caution as I found it somewhat of a roller coaster ride, Some great bits/kills, some well dodgy acting and CGI but I suppose he best way to sum it up would be if your a fan of the Troma style films you will love this! So with the market currently massively flooded with everything zombie I will say that Zombie Fight Club is as cheesy and as funny a ride as you would expect, Good fun all round,
Jonny T.

7.5/10


Zombie Fight Club is available now on DVD.


"THE RAID MEETS DAWN OF THE DEAD" HorrorTalk

“LIKE A LATE NIGHT MASH UP OF REC AND GLADIATOR” Live for Films

“PLENTY OF SEX, GORE AND DEPRAVITY… WITH SOME FANTASTIC ASS-KICKING ACTION” Nerdly

“ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL ZOMBIE MOVIES EVER MADE” Horror Channel








BAIT - Reviewed






This year so far in my opinion it has been a pretty decent year for movies from some great new directors, Films such as The Babadook (Jennifer Kent), It Follows (David Robert Mitchell), Aaaahhh! (Steve Oram) and now Bait from Emmerdale actor Dominic Brunt.

Synopsis.

Bex (Victoria Smurfit) and Dawn (Joanne Mitchell) are trapped. Everyday they work the same market food stall, selling the same food to the same lowlifes. They dream of taking control of their lives and owning their own upmarket cafe, but they meet constant rejection. No one will give people like them a loan, and certainly not in this financial climate. Then they meet Jeremy (Jonathan Slinger) , an independent businessman who offers to fund their dream. Shocked and thrilled, they accept- but all too soon the true motives for Jeremy’s kind offer shine through.



Apparently Bait was very well received at this year's Fright Fest and it's easy to see why. Although the story isn't the most original ever in cinema history the direction and acting for a low budget movie is superb. A massive leap in my opinion from his last film Before dawn. The obnoxious loan shark and the meat head debt collector are played terrifyingly well, The ending is ultra violent and similar in tone to the French horror classic Inside. So in summing up I would definitely recommend tracking this one down and hope it gets the praise it thoroughly deserves and I for one will be waiting to see what Dominic Brunt comes up with next.
8/10
Jonny T.

Bait is out now on DVD.







Wednesday 2 September 2015

Turbo Kid gets a UK Release date!


Hello Folks,
Jonny T here with great news that Turbo Kid is to get a UK release! It will be In cinemas from Thursday 27th Aug. 2015. On DVD & Blu-Ray from Monday 5th Oct. 2015 and for download from Monday 28th Sept. 2015. Described as Mad Max on a BMX the trailer looks insane and extremely gory, Bring it on! Watch this space for a review coming very soon,
Jonny T.



Official Trailer.



Release Details.

The BMX Bandits meet Mad Max in this hugely entertaining and ultra-violent love letter to the VHS era. Set in a vision of the future, Turbo Kid will be instantly recognisable to anyone who spent a wasted youth in the video store – it’s a retro-adventure for the ages!

Starring:
Munro Chambers (Godsend, TV’s Degrassi: The Next Generation)
Laurence Leboeuf (The Little Queen, Trauma, TV’s Being Human)
Michael Ironside (Total Recall, Starship Troopers, Top Gun)
Aaron Jeffrey (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, TV’s Wentworth Prison)

Directors & Writers:
Anouk Whissell, François Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell (feature debut)

Synopsis:

In a post-apocalyptic future, The Kid (Munro Chambers) lives alone in his underground bunker, scavenging for relics from the old world and obsessing over comic books. But when he meets a girl named Apple (Laurence Leboeuf), it’s not long before The Kid has to face his fears and challenge the sadistic Zeus (Michael Ironside), who has declared himself leader of the “Wasteland” and taken control of water supply.

Armed with his ancient turbocharged weapon, he embarks on an incredible journey to rid the Wasteland of evil – and discovers the true meaning of justice and friendship.


Turbo Kid is a celebration of all things that were awesome about the age of movies on VHS. It’s packed with nods to 1980s pop culture (even down to Atari-style credits and its synth-tastic score) and riffs on the kids’ adventure movies such BMX Bandits, The Monster Squad and The Goonies.

And for the hardcore fans, there’s another staple of the VHS – bucketloads of gore and violence. With its crazy decapitations, disembowelments, and dismembered limbs, Turbo Kid follows in the footsteps of other hyper pastiche movies such as Wolfcop and Hobo With A Shotgun, with director Jason Eisener bringing his grindhouse touch as a producer!

Also on hand is legendary actor Michael Ironside, who brings some serious genre credentials to the movie and leads a cast of up-and-coming talent.

The writing-directing team of Anouk Whissell, François Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell have not only created a love letter to retro movies, but a love letter to the fans, who are sure to go crazy for The Kid.

So jump on your dirt bike, turn your walkman up to 11, and get turbocharged!


"An outrageous, blood-soaked gore-fest" ⋆⋆⋆⋆ Joshua Winning, Total Film

“Mad Max on a BMX” Wired

"Slew of blood-soaked slaughter" ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ SCREAM: THE HORROR MAGAZINE

Special Features:

DVD
“Bloody Wasteland” - The Making of Turbo Kid (25 mins)

BLU-RAY with extra gore!
“Bloody Wasteland” - The Making of Turbo Kid (25 mins)
"T is for Turbo" (5 mins)