Ever have one of those weeks where everything goes really well and just falls into place? They happen rarely in the world of Sarah@Cult Labs but this week has been one of them. For some reason, everything has just… worked. No disasters, no major crises, just everything running along smoothly. I’ve even got a massive pile of work done! Of course, this doesn’t make for very exciting writing but… c’est la vie!

So what’s been going on this week that is exciting? Well, stunning Brit horror Outcast has been released on DVD by Momentum Pictures for a start. Featuring an early appearance by actress Karen Gillan, this is a must for horror and Doctor Who fans alike. You can find more info over at the blog or chat about the film over on the official thread.

Also exciting this week is the fact that Cult Labs needs you. Needs you to ask a question, in fact! We’re trying to build a better FAQ section and need your help. So if you’ve ever had a question about Cult Labs that’s not been answered, or a question that has been answered but you think more people need to know, you can either ask it by hitting “reply” to this email or going on over to this thread. All we want for now, is questions, not answers and no question will be considered unimportant or daft so get asking!

Sarah@Cult Labs.

BARE BEHIND BARS

One of the most extraordinary, explicit and most revered of all “women-in-prison” movies, writer-director Oswaldo de Oliveira’s notorious Bare Behind Bars comes to DVD for the first time ever in the UK on 31 January 2011 courtesy of Arrow Video.

Set in a South American prison, where life is cheap but sex is cheaper, Bare Behind Bars is a chicks-in-chains grindhouse explosion guaranteed to induce cinematic whiplash. See sex crazed inmates come up against twisted lesbian prison guards in this camp expose of the steamy, seamy life behind the grim walls of an all women penitentiary. Beware the blond bombshell doctor, whose only desire is to sate her mad lust by inflicting her affections on the vulnerable inmates and don’t dare cross the insane warden of the institution, who’s feathering her bed with the profits of a convict prostitution ring. Any prisoner who dares to cross her must face the worst kinds of sadistic tortures.

For more info on Bare Behind Bars and a clip from the film, head on over to the blog. Or if you’d rather discuss the film, go visit the official thread.

TODAY IS THE DAY OF THE WOMAN!

I’m fairly positive no one needs reminding as this is such a hotly anticipated release from Anchor Bay Entertainment, but the excellent I Spit on Your Grave remake is out in UK cinemas today!

Just in case you’ve missed the hype surrounding this title, head on over to the blog where you can find a clip from the film as well as links to more information. Alternatively, why not head over to the official mini-forum where you can chat about this film to your heart’s content!

CIRCLE OF CAIN

Circle of Pain is out on DVD on 24 January 2011 from Chelsea Films. As well as street fighter Kimbo Slice, the fight film also stars Superman himself, Dean Cain as a wheelchair-bound Mr. Miyagi type. Cain, it would seem, is one of the hardest working men in showbusiness, starring in dozens of TV movies and straight-to-DVD titles and has no less than eight movies in the pipeline for this year! For more info on Dean Cain and Circle of Pain, head over to the blog or chat about the film in it’s official Damage Depot thread!

AMER

Amer has been generating quite a lot of excitement and interest over the last few weeks, with astounding reviews and being named as one of the best films of 2010 by Quentin Tarantino.

This week we have a beautifully psychedelic clip for you over at the blog, which shows off the quick zooms and candy lighting that fans of Euro-horror and, particularly, gialli will know and love.

Amer is out on DVD and Blu-ray from Anchor Bay Films on 31 January 2011 and promises to be one of the most visually stunning films of the year. Chat about it in the official mini-forum.

MRS. WARDH ARTWORK REVEALED AND SHAMELESS ANNOUNCE ALMOST HUMAN!

Shameless has finally been able to reveal its artwork for the forthcoming DVD release of Sergio Martino’s The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh. The announcement of the release has been met with much excitement, especially as it’s a title that Cult Labs members have been asking for for years!

So what do you think of the artwork choice? Do you think it’s “Shameless’s finest hour,” like Gojirosan? Let us know your feedback on the artwork thread!

Shameless have, today, also announced a brand new release. Umberto Lenzi’s Almost Human will be coming to UK DVD in May 2011. Considered to be one of the best Euro-crime films of all time, this will be a must-have for fans of the genre. You can find out more and discuss this news on the official thread.

SHOCK LABYRINTH

Also out on 31 January 2011 is Shock Labyrinth, this time on DVD from Chelsea Films. The film acts as a tribute to everything we’ve found scary about J-horror over the last decade or so and throws every trick in the J-horror book at us: spirals, mysteries, dark shadows, ghosts and creepy looking toys! For more info on this super-scary 3D horror fest, check out the blog or the official UK hubsite. You can also chat about the release over on the official thread.

THE BEST OF THE BLOG

This week, my pick of Sam’s blog is his piece on the forthcoming 22 Bullets (out on DVD and Blu-ray from Anchor Bay Entertainment on 31 January 2011) starring Jean Reno. The film has been drawing a lot of comparisons with Leon but Sam doesn’t believe we should necessarily define films by the actor’s previous work.

Here’s how it’s similar:

• It’s got Jean Reno in it.
• There are guns.
• Jean Reno’s role is the moral centre, even though he’s a flawed character
• Both are very much European films, even if Leon is set in New York.
• There’s revenge and things.

Aside from that, it’s a very different film.

To read more from Sam’s blog, head on over here…

THERE’S SOMETHING GOING ON AT THE LABORATORY

Not feeling too hot today so instead of my usual herbal tea that I have around now, I’m supping from a massive glass of water in the hope that it will make me healthy and feeling my usual sprightly self! So far it’s not working so well but we’ll see… While I’m attempting to feel better, why don’t I catch you up with the threads that have caught my eye this week?

SHAM029/SHAM200 – New York Ripper HD: The Technical Feedback Thread

This thread has been set up for discussion of the technical side of Shamless’s forthcoming release of New York Ripper on DVD and Blu-ray. It’s a place to chat about things like picture quality, audio and other technical bits and bobs. What do you hope to see in the release and, when it is released, what’s your feedback? So, all you tech buffs, head on over there now!

Arrow Video – The Bird With The Crystal Plumage

I’m looking forward to this release so much that I can’t even tell you! Several members have been sourcing a variety of artwork for the film and showing it here. So to give your thoughts on Arrow’s forthcoming title and to have a look at some truly stunning artwork, check out this thread.

A Compilation of Scary Training Videos

I posted this thread in the Why Don’t Shameless Release…? section after a friend of mine showed me a hilariously gruesome health and safety training video on YouTube. Since I posted it, a few others have surfaced, so have you ever seen any grisly health and safety videos? If you can, why not post them on this thread so we can all have a giggle?

What horror actors were typecast?

Actors in horror films, perhaps more so than any other genre, are regularly typecast. Many fail to escape the genre while others, like Christopher Lee, struggle to even escape the role they are known for. This thread is for the discussion of typecast horror actors of all generations so if you know of one that’s worth talking about, head on over now!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Sometimes I think messages get ‘lost in translation’. What may sound benign to the poster may sound insulting to the recipient (or vice versa).” – bizarre_eye points out the problem with chatting online and gives a good reason why we should all think before we type!

KYLE’S COMP CORNER

This week, masdawg is stepping in for Kyle to run the competition, giving away a copy of Shock Labyrinth on DVD! So muchos thanks to masdawg for helping out and writing a great comp. To be in with a chance of winning, you need to head on over to the Comp Corner… Good luck!

MODS & ROCKERS

Just one note from your friendly neighbourhood mods this week:

• Cult Labs represents companies who legitimately release films in the UK and so has a zero-tolerance policy on piracy. We don’t permit the discussion of piracy, admittance of purchasing or downloading pirated copies of films, or enquiries as to how to get hold of pirated copies of films. Discussions of piracy will see your posts being edited or removed, an infraction or, if the issue is pushed, a ban.

The forum rules can be found here. If any of the mods (forum, technical, competitions, etc.) want me to include anything in this section next week then just let me know!

WELCOME NEWBIES!

This week I’m saying hello to the_fallen_one and GoreFreak91! Welcome to the forums! Hope you settle in well! If you’re new to the forum, why not head on over to the new members thread to introduce yourself?

AND FINALLY…

Before I go, here’s a little reminder that if you haven’t already signed up to receive this newsletter in your inbox each week, you can do so using this link. All this means is that every Thursday you get a little bit of me in your inbox. Not literally though. That’d be a bit gross.

Remember, if you have any comments, feedback or anything you’d like to see featured in the newsletter, PM me at Sarah@Cult Labs or drop me a line on the newsletter thread! Or, if you’re reading this as an email, just hit “reply”!

Until next week,

Sarah@Cult Labs.