Review by Chris Jacques

Cockhammer is a film in the Troma tradition, an exploitative horror comedy with rampant sexuality and drug references. Unlike a Troma flick, however, the winking wit is simply non-existent. A blurb coming from the filmmakers themselves sets the film up as, “schlock at an exciting pace, proving that making your own damn movie has little to do with talent, and everything to do with tanacity (sic).” Unfortunately for them, and for me, that simply isn’t true.

Principal photography of Let Me In, a remake of the Swedish masterpiece Let the Right One In (review), has begun in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Obviously, writer/director Matt Reeves is looking to “reimage” the film to give it a unique identity and place it in an American context. Hmmmm…I’m not sure taking it out of its isolated and snowy setting of the original and placing it in a frickin’ scorching desert of New Mexico is really an improvement, but we’ll just have to see how it turns out (though all I really want to do is throw up my hands in disgust and ask “WHY?”).

Elite Entertainment, a motion picture distribution company, has picked up the worldwide rights to Abandoned Cinema’s first outing, the feature length film Adelle. Elite Entertainment will hold the rights to distribute the film for seven years in the worldwide film marketplace. Adelle will be available via retail DVD, Pay Per View, and through mail order DVD rental companies.

Adelle tells the story of a young, deaf child who is abandoned by her parents in “dustbowl era” 1937. With no formal education or communication training, Adelle finds herself left for dead in a very unforgiving, cruel world. The film stars Madeline McNulty as the title role, Leo Lunser as the “Carnival Man” and Tim Ryan as the “Rabbit Man”.

Review by Jude Felton

If you have seen director Ryan Nicholson’s previous movies, such as Live Feed or Gutterballs, you will know that he doesn’t exactly take a subtle approach to filmmaking. Whether it be through the use of sex, violence, bad language or a mix of all three you know that he doesn’t hold back. Now, when we throw his latest flick, Hanger, into the mix, we will find ourselves watching a movie that goes even further than before. This flick will offend, it’ll shock, and if you are anything like me you’ll laugh out loud during the entire running time.

Review by Jude Felton

Korean cinema has given some great flicks over recent years, movies like the Vengeance trilogy and A Tale of Two Sisters amongst others have impressed me no end with their beauty amidst the violence. Welcome now to the world of The Butcher, here is a movie that for 75 minutes will batter you around the head without even flinching, and you’ll get no apologies for it. This isn’t a movie that will seduce you with its rich plot and deep characterization. No, it is purely an assault, nothing more, nothing less.

Review by Michael Varrati

The main issue when assessing an anthology, whether it be a film, written, or otherwise, is that inevitably there will be one or two pieces that are going to stand above all else collected, and if the rest of the pieces aren’t quite up to snuff, it just makes them worse. This leads to a generally uneven affair and often general indifference in your audience. After all, they can’t say they hated it, because there are parts they truly enjoyed, and yet, they can’t say they loved it either, because there are parts that just didn’t “pop” as much as the ones that excited them.

Review by Michael Varrati

Such is the case with 12 Gauge Pictures’ action exploitation epic, Death Force.

Live in Southern California and looking for something spooktacular to do this Halloween night?

Review by Michael Varrati

For fans of horror and exploitation cinema, Kaufman’s name is one that you should inarguably and without question know. As the recognizable head and co-founder of Troma Pictures, Kaufman has long been a champion of independent film and budding filmmakers. Behind the camera he has directed and written such cult classics as the internationally recognized Toxic Avenger series of films, Terror Firmer, and the recent zombie chicken cluckstravaganza, Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (review). Through his work with Troma, he has been on the ground-floor of the launching of some of the most notable names in Hollywood, including Kevin Costner, Marisa Tomei, and the creators of South Park, Trey Parker & Matt Stone. Simply put, through his commitment to no-holds barred art and his sweat-inducing dedication to his craft, Kaufman should be, and often is, considered an influential elder statesman in genre filmmaking, and serves as someone to who a new generation of filmmakers can look as they make their way in the savage world of movies.

Review by Tony C.

This is a two song sampler for the upcoming album Lost Souls. If you read my review of their debut EP Love Like Suicide you know that I dig these guys. This new material does not disappoint and pushes The Returners in a darker, harder direction that balances powerful melodies and heavy punked out death rock.