David Cronenberg's 1981 horror film Scanners is a darkly paranoid story of a homeless man (Stephen Lack) mistakenly believed to be insane, when in fact he can't turn off the sound of other people's thoughts in his telepathic mind. Helped by a doctor (Patrick McGoohan) and enlisted in a programme of "scanners"--telepaths who also can will heads to explode--he becomes involved in a battle against nefarious forces. A number of critics consider this to be Cronenberg's first great film, and indeed it has a serious vision of destiny that rivals some of the important German expressionist works from the silent cinema. Lack is very good as the odd hero, and McGoohan is effectively eccentric and chilly as the scientist who saves him from the street, only to thrust him into a terrible struggle. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
It wasn't until the beginning of Stargate SG-1's fourth season that fans knew to take the Replicator threat seriously. The spidery nasties had only seemed like one of many new enemies introduced in previous years. But when the one seemingly omnipotent backbone of the galaxy was asking Earth for help, clearly we were in real trouble! In fact, the team's list of enemies expanded and got far more complicated this year. Proving without a shadow of a doubt that this is science fiction, the Russians reveal they have their own Stargate program and ask the Americans for help. This twist allows for exploration of all the political machinations occurring behind the scenes of the SG-C, all of which appear to stem from the embittered Senator Kinsey (Ronny Cox). There were quite a few Earth-based stories in the year, but not all the new enemies were originally local. Willie Garson comically guest-starred as Martin, a geekily suspicious guy with too much knowledge of the Stargate. More sinister was an old flame of Daniel's turning into something far more painful than an old wound (thanks to an ancient Egyptian curse). Thankfully, the writers hadn't forgotten the importance of one-off storylines too. In "Upgrades" the team learns a lesson in abuse of power. In "The Other Side" (featuring DS9's Rene Auberjonois) they learn about blind trust. In "Scorched Earth" a dangerous claim for a planet's ownership means they learn to value Daniel's contribution to the group dynamic. If only this last lesson were learned better, season 5 might not have ended up as muddled as it did. --Paul Tonks
Popular high school senior Virginia Wainwright (Melissa Sue Anderson) survives a freak accident, but suffers from memory loss and traumatic blackouts. As she attempts to resume a normal life, something terrible is happening - her friends are being ruthlessly murdered one by one. But will she be the next victim or is she the killer? Director J Lee Thompson's classic shocker was made during the period before the horror genre drenched itself in irony and self-reflexivity, and instead revels in the effective staging of the terrifying set-pieces which drive it towards its climax. Extras: HD restoration Original mono audio Alternative 5.1 surround sound track Alternative score: experience the film with the controversial re-scored electronic music soundtrack, as used on the 2004 home video re-release Audio commentary by The Hysteria Continues team: Justin Kerswell (author of Teenage Wasteland: The Slasher Movie Uncut) Joseph Henson, Erik Threlfall and Nathan Johnson Image gallery: on-set and promotional material Original trailer and TV spots New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearin
Whilst investigating a plane crash a government official meets a strange woman but the next day the woman vanishes. Her identity is entwined with the strange object found at the crash site for which she returns only to then vanish once more...
Marielle Delauney (Lisa Rinna) and her adoring husband Charles are enjoying the romance of Paris when suddenly a tragic accident claims the life of their young son. Their marriage cannot survive their misery and Marielle plagued by guilt and despair is hospitalised.Eighteen months later she moves back to New York to forget her past and start her life over. A wealthy steel magnate Malcolm Patterson (George Hamilton) hires Marielle as curator of his art collection and it's not long before business leads to pleasure. They marry and very soon they are blessed with a beautiful baby boy. But then just as Marielle is sure her future is finally coming together her son goes missing and memories of her past flood back with a vengeance.To her horror Marielle's ex-husband is charged with kidnapping and in disbelief she searches for another possible answer. With the help of FBI Agent John Taylor Marielle is about to discover the unexpected true fate of her son.
Darkman: Dr Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson) is on the verge of realising a major breakthrough in synthetic skin when a gang led by the sadistic Robert G Durant (Larry Drake) obliterates his laboratory. Burned beyond recognition and altered by an experimental medical procedure Westlake attempts to rebuild his laboratory and re-establish ties with his former girlfriend Julie (Frances McDormand). But his most challenging task lies within himself. Torn between his desire to create a new life with Julie and his quest for revenge the man known as Darkman begins to assume alternate identities in this stunning fast-paced action thriller from director Sam Raimi. (Dir. Sami Raimi 1990) Darkman 2: Dr Peyton Westlake alias the crime-fighting master of disguise Darkman is still trying to find a way of healing his disfigured features. But a tragic turn of events causes him to re-live the nightmare that disfigured him... (Dir. Bradford May 1994) Darkman 3: The Darkman pits himself against a drug dealer as he attempts to protect his research and his team. (Dir. Bradford May 1996)
David Cronenberg's Scanners is one of cinema's great horror films and features one of the genres most iconic scenes. Drifter Cameron Vale is plagued by incessant voices in his head, unaware that he is a Scanner, a group of people with extraordinary powers who can not only read minds but literally tear them apart. He is discovered by Paul Ruth, a scientist aiming to help his kind adapt to society. However, an underground movement of Scanners led by the psychotic Derryl Revok have other intent...
Happy Birthday to Me typifies the horror genre prior to the self-reflection and irony that saturated the genre in the late '80s and '90s. A solid cast, decent acting, a well-written script, and relatively high production values result in a solid movie that is engaging on its own in addition to offering a glimpse into the history of '80s horror. The plot follows the rules of the genre (later parodied in such films as the Scream and Scary Movie series). A number of teenagers (played by actors who appear visibly older than their characters) from an elite prep school get into mischievous sexual situations fueled by alcohol and pot smoking. As teens start to disappear, murdered in a variety of violent ways, the film suggests a number of suspects. Is the killer the troubled star played by Melissa Sue Anderson who lost her overbearing, social-climbing mother in a car accident that she survived? Or is it the stern school mistress, the wacky, cool social clown, the social misfit, or none of the above? The film keeps you guessing until the final scene. Happy Birthday is a must-see for serious fans of the horror genre and this release is a solid digital mastering of the movie. Hardcore fans should note that the DVD release was not able to secure the rights to the original soundtrack so this version features an alternate soundtrack of largely nondescript '80s electronic music. --Brian Saltzman
Brace yourself: this is a clever, consistently entertaining and even inspired continuation of the mean-spirited slasher series. For those not in the know, Chucky is a mop-top kid's doll come to life with the soul of a serial killer and the voice of Brad Dourif (doing his best Jack Nicholson). Revived by his former paramour Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly, looking every inch a life-size Barbie in stiletto heels and skintight black leather), Chucky proceeds to turn his human sweetie into a pint-sized Talking Tina doll with attitude, and together they hit the road for a magic amulet and young new bodies to inhabit. They hitch a ride with sweet young runaways Katherine Heigl and Nick Stabile and leave a trail of corpses bloodied, burned and cut to ribbons. The kids are cute, but the real heat is generated by the latex lovers who use murder as foreplay and consummate their renewed romance in a night of passionate sex ("Shouldn't you wear a rubber?" "I'm all rubber!"). Hong Kong director Ronny Yu (The Bride with White Hair) directs with a light touch and against all odds transforms walking dolls Chucky and Tiffany into funny, energetic, full-blooded characters: l'amour fou has never been more crazy. John Ritter costars as Heigl's overprotective uncle (another obstacle on the road to dolly freedom) and Alexis Arquette is hilarious as a lanky goth nerd. The wild conclusion leaves room for another high-concept sequel. The DVD features two commentary tracks, a behind-the-scenes documentary, and "Jennifer Tilly's Diary." --Sean Axmaker, Amazon.com
Paris 1929. Marielle and Charles Delauney's happy life is shattered by an accident that claims their son's life ends their marriage and threatens Marielle's sanity. She moves to New York and works as a curator of Malcolm Patterson's art collection. The work leads to romance marriage and the birth of another son. When this boy disappears ex-husband Charles is the prime suspect. In disbelief Marielle digs to uncover the truth.
Ten years ago, after a heated pursuit, psycho killer Charles
Drifter Cameron Vale is plagued by incessant voices in his head unaware that he is a scanner, a group of people with extraordinary powers who can not only read minds but literally tear them apart. He is discovered by Dr. Paul Ruth, a scientist aiming to help his kind adapt to society. However an underground movement of Scanner's led by the psychotic Derryl Revok have other intentions and the ultimate confrontation of minds await. Special Features: My Art Keeps Me Sane - Interview with Star Stephen Lack The Eye Of Scanners - Interview with cinematographer Mark Irwin The Chaos Of Scanners - Interview with excecutive producer Pierre David Exploding Brains and Popping Veins - Interview with makeup effects artist Stephan Dupuis Bad Guy Dane - Interview with actor Lawrence Dane
Ten years ago, after a heated pursuit, psycho killer Charles
Waking the Dead, like director-writer Keith Gordon's earlier films (The Chocolate War, A Midnight Clear, Mother Night), is based on a well-regarded modern novel (by Scott Spencer) and has a great many quiet virtues: a genuine engagement with near-contemporary America, complicated characters well-played by a cast of perfectly selected not-quite-star performers and a questioning approach that sits ill with the too-easy answers of most contemporary films. The complex story opens in 1974 with the death in a car bomb explosion of Sarah Williams (Jennifer Connelly), a radical working with a faction of left-wing Catholics to rescue dissidents from Chile. This has a devastating effect on her straighter boyfriend, Fielding Pierce (Billy Crudup), who is working within the system with an eye on rising in the Democratic Party through the patronage of a senior figure (Hal Holbrook), the man who is eventually to become the President. We flash back to 1972 and Fielding's intense relationship with Sarah, marked by romantic and political differences that feel far more real than the contrived oppositional arguments in most political movies. Then skip 10 years forward to find a sleeker, hollow-faced Fielding running for Congress, tormented not only by memories of Sarah but her actual or phantasmal appearances. Another film might play this as a paranoid mystery thriller, but this goes for psychology, and Crudup delivers an intense portrait of a man cracking up by the loss of his ideals as much as his life's love--climaxing in a terrific restaurant outburst to his needy, congratulatory family. Unreleased theatrically in the UK, this outstanding film has award-quality performances from Crudup and Connelly, both doing their best screen work to date. On the DVD: The picture is presented in 1.85.1 anamorphic widescreen, with Dolby Digital sound. You get the usual trailer, filmographies and puff piece featurette, but also three superb extras: a commentary from Gordon that passionately and intelligently addresses the thematic material and production circumstances of the film; a package of deleted scenes that goes well beyond the usual irrelevant snippets--everything here offers additional insights into the plot and character; tracks from the composers Tomandandy which play over the menus--a rare feature that's liable to become more common. --Kim Newman
Bride Of Chucky (1998): The world's most notorious doll is back on the rampage but this time he's met his match... his ex-girlfriend Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) who with marriage in mind breathes new life into the little guy. So begins a hilarious adventure filled with gruesome splatter murderous mayhem and laughs galore! Seed Of Chucky (2004): Deliver us some evil! The fifth film in the Child's Play series marks the directorial debut of Don Mancini the creator the s
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When a chance encounter reunites a long lost daughter Maggie Holloway and her stepmother Nuala both parties are thrilled at the prospect of catching up on years spent apart. However joy turns to devastation when Nuala is found murdered only days before moving to a nearby retirement home...
On 13 May 1992 17-year-old Amy Fisher had an accomplice drive her to the house of Mary Jo Buttafuoco in Massapequa New York. When Mary Jo answered the door Amy shot her in the head. Mary Jo survived the attack but sustained injuries that left her paralysed. The case caused a sensation. Amy was dubbed ""The Long Island Lolita"" by the media and became the most notorious teenager in America. Portrayed as promiscuous and immoral Amy claimed to have started a passionate affair at a yea
Mike Andropolis is a failure law school drop-out and jack-of-all-trades about to lose his house and family. In desperation he decides to train for the Olympic Marathon in a last ditch attempt at winning back his family and his self-respect...
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