Dog Soldiers (2002)

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There really should be more good action horror movies. Dog Soldiers is an example of what can be done. Scottish soldiers on night exercises + werewolves = awesome. Do I really need to tell you anything else? I really enjoyed this movie and was happy to see the director go on to make The Descent. Unfortunately that was pretty much all old Neil Marshall had to offer, other than appearing as a talking head in many horror-related documentaries (well, Centurion was not bad). Maybe it’s not too late for Mr. Marshall? He has two upcoming movies at this moment, so let’s hope for the best.

Available on Blu-ray from Shout Factory.

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They Shall Not Grow Old (2018)

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This is Peter Jackson’s documentary on World War I using restored historic film footage. That sounds pretty dull, but trust me people, that definitely not the case. Jackson used every bit of technology available at the time to make the images look as if they were shot recently, including adding accurate color, sound, and dialog. This all makes the WWI footage far more real and visceral than anything seen before. The process of restoration itself is very engaging on its own, and the end results are stunning. I give this doc a 10 out of 10.

Available on Blu-ray from Warner Archives.

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Upgrade (2018)

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A man is crippled by an accident that also kills his wife. He is given a chip implant to restore his mobility. The chip also turns him into an involuntary fighting machine that helps him to get revenge. Upgrade is one hell of a fast paced, violent, gory, sci-fi action flick. It’s often funny too. This movie isn’t perfect, but it is an absolutely entertaining blast to experience.

Available on 4K UHD / Blu-ray from Shout Factory.

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The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008)

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Here is a dramatization of the history of the German Red Army Faction terrorist group from the ‘60s and ‘70s. The filmmakers make their rise look rather glamorous and sexy, but don’t let that put you off, you’ll see that aspect degenerate in their fall. This is a good, fast paced movie, but it is on the long side, so the the end drags a bit. For some reason the burned in subtitles on the streaming version are huge too, which might be a distraction. Really it’s worth watching in spite of those issues. My only real criticism is how good looking the actors are. The real RAF members were a pack of uggos.

Available on Blu-ray from MPI.

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Collective (2019)

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This bleak documentary starts with a devastating fire at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest, then goes into the corrupt Romanian healthcare system and the evil elements that support it. The footage of the fire is horrifying, but things get even worse as you see what happens to hospitalized survivors. This doc is not uplifting in any way whatsoever, but shows the importance of investigative journalism. It is also extremely well constructed. Collective is a film most would be unwilling to watch, but I rank it among the most essential issue-oriented documentary movies of the last ten years.

Not available on Blu-ray.

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Bronson (2008)

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This film is based on the real life criminal Michael Peterson, who became his alter ego Charles Bronson in prison. Nicolas Winding Refn is very hit or miss for me, but this one was a pleasant surprise. The film is weird, dark, violent, and thankfully not as deliberately paced as much of Refn’s other work. I also didn’t really notice Tom Hardy until I saw Bronson. He’d been in several movies before, but he absolutely blew me away in this role. This is 100% pure uncut Anomalous Cinema.

Available on Blu-ray from Magnolia.

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Sleepy Hollow (1999)

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I am posting this on the Friday before Halloween 2023, so I wanted to choose something with a particularly spooky vibe. In fact, many moons ago, my partner and I had a seasonal party where we showed this, along with the original versions of Night of the Living Dead and The Evil Dead. I will admit that Sleepy Hollow falls into the territory of movies I would think everyone with interest in horror has seen. However the film came out before 9/11, so this recommendation is for the benefit of you folks born after. Tim Burton is very hit or miss for me, but this and Ed Wood are probably my favorite among his work. Yes, it does have some wince-inducing cheesy parts that might have been better in Edward Scissorhands, but it also features plenty of gore and one of my favorite Christopher Walken appearances. Just watch Sleepy Hollow if you’ve never had the pleasure before. It’s a whole bunch of creepy fun. Oh, and if you’ve never seen the 1958 Disney version of The Legend… (or it’s been a while), watch that first.

Available on 4K UHD / Blu-ray from Paramount.

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The Sentinel (1977)

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This is one bizarre work of ‘70s horror. I already liked the film because of the mind blowing ending that I cannot tell you about. Then several years ago, my girlfriend and I got to see a 35mm film print of it at the historic Castro theater in San Francisco on Halloween. Seeing this with an audience, in such a beautiful space, on arguably the best holiday, made for one of my favorite film memories. The Sentinel will not be an easy movie for many people under the age of 40 to enjoy. Everything may look extremely dated, the acting and some scenes will seem downright corny. I will assume these factors are why the film has a rather low IMDb rating. Trust me folks, if you can just ignore the blatant screaming 1977ness of this movie, you are in for a wild and scary ride. After you’re done, look up what makes the ending so special. It works without that knowledge, but… yowza.

Available on Blu-ray from Scream Factory.

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Daybreakers (2009)

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This is a sci-fi vampire movie that manages to straddle being very smart and pretty damned cheesy. However the action is solid, it features three excellent actors, and the gore is plentiful. I am also a sucker for movies with a Blade Runner influence. Daybreakers is a bit of a rollercoaster ride however. One moment you will notice the very insightful social commentary, the next you will be rolling your eyes at something ridiculous. The good news is that there’s a good chance you will remain entertained throughout.

Available on 4K UHD / Blu-ray from Lionsgate.

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The Outpost (2019)

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This is a very good military action film based on true events from the US occupation of Afghanistan. I actually rewatched the full movie before writing this and it remained an intense experience. The first half is mostly plot and character setup, but thankfully none of it drags. The action gets very heavy around the one-hour mark. After watching The Outpost it’s a wonder anyone survived. On a lighter note, Clint Eastwood’s son Scott and Caleb Landry Jones (from Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral) are both excellent in this.

Available on 4K UHD / Blu-ray from Screen Media.

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