THIS WEEK @ CULT LABS: 14 OCTOBER 2011

IN A DARK, DARK TOWN…

Lock up your kids! The Weekly Newsletter is on the loose!

There was a dark, dark street. In the dark, dark street there was a dark, dark house. In the dark, dark house there were dark, dark stairs. Down the dark, dark stairs there was a dark, dark cellar. And in the dark, dark cellar our dark, dark Halloween host, Count Kyle-ula lurked.  Ladies and gentlemen, orges and goblins, witches, werewolves, banshees and Satan’s spawn, my dear readers, welcome to another weekly Cult Labs newsletter oozing with delicious and succulent goodness like a bobbing apple injected with rabies, to sink your sharpened canines deep into. All Hell’s broken loose as we approach the 31st and this week is full of great info about all the latest releases just in time for the unholiest and most terrifying festival of all.  So let’s release the Kraken and get this newsletter off the ground!

DAVID HESS (1942-2011)

Before we start the newsletter properly, I think a little tribute to the late great David Hess is called for. Sadly, David Hess – perhaps best known as Krug from Craven’s The Last House On The Left sadly passed away last Thursday (8th) aged only 69. He was a favourite among horror fans and always will be. There shall be a tribute blog to David on the Cult Labs Blog very soon celebrating his legacy and remembering his work. Be sure to visit for some information, a few words from Shameless based on their personal experiences and a short clip of the interview from the upcoming The House On The Edge Of The Park that shows just how wise a man he was.

R.I.P. David Hess (1942-2011)

ALL THE BEST THINGS OUT NOW!

Come dine with me.

“Zombies, man. They freak me out.”  Rotting undead corpses that claw their festering bodies from the pits of the underworld to feast on the flesh of the living, spreading their Infectious disease and bringing mankind to an end in a gruesome and horrendous manner…who couldn’t love this little blighters? Well now you can be the Madonna of the zombie world, by owning this African zombie film, that goes by the name of The Dead. Directed by Howard and Jonathan Ford, this new entry into the moaning and groaning sub-genre is bound to tear you limp limb from limp limb with excitement and fear. Quite honestly, this is one of my favourite zombie films I have seen in recent years and anyone that knows Count Kyle-ula at all, knows just how big of an undeadhead I am.  Set in Africa, The Dead is not only violent, but has an incredible plot and looks stunning throughout. This film is OUT NOW on DVD and is perfect for the month of all things evil. Check out the official thread or head to the untamed land of the dead over on The Dead‘s fanhub!

Warning: Contains worse singing than an X-Factor audition.

Also out this week we have a comedy from those folk over at Arrow Video. Terry Jones’ Erik The Viking has just been set free with two different cuts of the film (the original theatrical cut and the Director’s…son’s cut!), extras, booklet and a reversible cover.  Overflowing with talent, Erik The Viking‘s cast features Monty Python heroes John Cleese and Terry Jones, Tim Robbins, Tim McInnerny and so many more! This is one heck of a funny comedy full of action and adventure – check it out if your a Python fan.

Also out this week is Studio Canal’s DVD and Blu-Ray release of that ever important Hammer film The Quartermass and the Pit. A fantastic blend of horro and science fiction remains one of the best films ever made in the UK and is definetly a must have for any fan of cinema, especially sci-fi buffs and horror freaks.

STRANGLE THE CLOWN’S KILLER JOKE OF THE WEEK!

Smile, kiddies! (Click me)

Every child’s favourite nightmare psychopath is back this week with another killer gag. Strangle the Clown has taken time out of his busy schedule of cannibalism, genocide and big-shoe wearing to bring you a little joke that he claims will leave you in stiches…in a bodybag…in a morgue. Take it away, Strangle…

“Why are graveyards so noisy?

Because of all the coffin!”

Honk honk indeed.

COMING SOON TO A SHOP NEAR YOU…

There’s plenty of amazing films heading your way soon this month too! Just check out this awesome titles…

  • The Devil’s Kiss (Arrowdrome Video DVD, out 17th October!) They sure don’t make ‘em like they used to. This european slice of exploitation sleeze is Arrowdromes only film that isnt a re-release and what a film! With a zombie, some funny fashion modeling and an odd atmosphere like no other! This really is one odd little obscure exploitation movie. For the mini-forum visit here.
  • Shameless Slasher Nasties (Shameless Screen Entertainment DVD, released on the 24th October!) I can’t wait any longer! Wah! There’s not long until this gorgeous box set is available to buy. Feautring three semi-video-nasty, semi-slashers Torso, Night Train Murders and Killer Nun these would make the perfect Italian exploitation themed Halloween party! Oh yeah! The mini-forum is where you’ll find all the info you could possibly need.
  • What would your mother say?!

    The Cheerleaders and Tokyo Decadance (Arrowdrome DVDs, both released on the 24th October!). Looking for a bit of T&A, a bit of nudity, a bit of howsyourmother in your night’s movie viewing? Then look no further than Arrowdrome’s naughty Erotica section. Pwoar! The first two out soon consists of the cheeky comedy The Cheerleaders (mini-forum) and the Asian sexy flick Tokyo Decadance (mini-forum). Included in The Cheerleaders release is not only that film but ALSO it’s just as crazy sequel, The Revenge Of The Cheerleaders. They’ve really spoilt you this time!

  • Maniac Cop (Arrow Video Blu-Ray on Halloween!) Now this is a classic! Arrow Video are releasing the incredible Maniac Cop on Blu-Ray on All Hallow’s Eve. Never seen it? You don’t know what you’re missing! Visit the sub-forum here to get the lowdown, and the official artwork thread to see and discuss the artwork panels revealed here first! You have the right to remain silent…but please dont, join the convo, we’re nice!
  • The House On The Edge Of The Park – (Shameless Screen Entertaiment DVD, Halloween!) On the 31st of October comes the release of Ruggero Deodato’s and staring the incredible duo of David Hess and Giovanni Lombardo Radice, this is one nasty and vicious slice of cinema. The perfect date movie! Come join in the debate here!
  • Prisoner Vol. 10 has escaped! Catch it now!

    Prisoner: Cell Block H - (Shock Entertainment Pty Ltd. DVD, Halloween!) Forget the Freddy Krueger costumes, the hockey masks and those costumes that squeeze blood! Dress up as Prisoner‘s sadistic Freak and you’ll be sending shivers down the spines of any passerby! The 10th volume box set of this hugely adored cult television prison show is released at the end of the month! Featuring epidoses 238-320 this is one mammoth set! A must have for all you Prisoner fans out there or anyone seeking something truley momentous. Pop over to the Official Prisoner: Cell Block H forum now, create some threads or join the chat of some pre-exsisting ones and don’t forget to join in the Topic Of The Week!


WIN! WIN! WIN! BECAUSE WE’RE GENEROUS LIKE THAT.

Wahey! It’s time again to give away a whole load of awesome prizes! At the point of writing I’m running two competitions, but at the time of publication there should be another Super comp on the go, so be sure to head to the Comp Corner for all the details. Here’s the two competitions running at the moment…

  1. Super Comp – exclusive The Dead t-shirt – ends Sunday 16th October – what a prize this is! Fancy winning an exclusive t-shirt of the new zombie film, The Dead? Of course you do! Just head to the competition, share your zombie survival plan and bob’s your uncle, you’ll be entered into the comp. We’ve got 9 t-shirts up for grabs – we’re practically giving these babies away! Don’t miss out!
  2. Weekly Comp – Trilogy Of The Dead Box Set – ends Sunday the 16th too – The new release of George Romero’s original Dead Trilogy are up for grabs this week. We’ve gone zombie bananas! All you have to do is figure out the morphed famous faces and PM me your answer. There’s three winners at the end of this competition – will one be you? You’ve gotta be in it to win it!

Kill zombies...in style.

    And now dear readers let me take a little break and handle it over to Mr BioZombie with this week’s round up off…

    THE GRINDHOUSE PROJECT

    The GHP is back with some more amazing screening across the land. At the moment we’re looking to get an exhaustive list of screenings happening over the Halloween period this year, so if you know of anything going on please PM me (Biozombie) at Cult-Labs, or just contact me via telekinetic powers, either is good.

    Cult film demands to seen on the big screen with an appreciative audience, so head over to The GrindHouse Project and give in to that demand (or else).

    And whilst we’re talking about Cult Film Screenings,

      So that’s all for this week.Oh and before I go….

      There are so many ways you can get involved with all the cult film fun at Cult Labs:

      o Join in the debate on the forums.

      o Sign up to the newsletter (if you haven’t already!).

      o Read the blog.

      o Join us on Facebook.

      o Follow us on Twitter.

      o Check us out on MySpace.

      Kyle (Iluvdvds).

      Hey! There's always space for cute kitties!

     

    ORDER NOW @AMAZON

    CLICK NOW TO ORDER FROM AMAZON

    There was a fantasy gaming explosion in the late 70s, as roleplaying competed with old fashioned table top war pursuits. This dovetailed with the 80s avalanche of low budget, run around the woods, fantasy movies that made a visit to a video store a riot of bare chested warriors with Prince Valiant haircuts, evil hook nosed black magicians, rubber suited monsters and cheap special effects. Some of the cheaper entries in the cycle almost looked as if you could make the costumes yourself… Maybe fashion a sword from available materials… Perhaps, if you were a little kid at the time, you’d go over to the local common and play Beastmaster.

    The Wild Hunt is a film about adults who’ve not let their imaginations whither with age and responsibility. The live action roleplay (LARP) scene they are involved with indulges the child-like imagination without being childish and the players take on fantastical characters in order to live out scenarios set in a mythic world of imagination and heroism (or dirty, underhand dealings and betrayal, if your character is that kind of character…).

    MORE WILD HUNT. CLICK NOW!

    MURDEROUS GROUPTHINK

    Although we know that that we have been invited into a modern day artifice, as the lines blur in this Lord of the Flies style descent into insanity and murderous groupthink, some of the latter scenes in the movie look remarkably similar to the kind of low budget fantasy movies that informed my earliest film watching. This is one of the reasons I loved The Wild Hunt… The filmmakers were smart enough to up the reality of the fantasy elements in the movie in line with the increasing immersion of the players in the game. Films like the aforementioned Beastmaster, Hawk The Slayer, Conan, Conquest, Ator and Deathstalker sprang to mind during some of these moments. Not the sometimes absurd tone that these films can have, but the look and feel, the lighting and costume… The wooded locales.

    GENRE CLASSICS

    Now, these films might not be praised by critics but a lot of people, myself included, hold them in real affection. The way The Wild Hunt uses these cues from genre classics to play with audience perceptions and muddle the distinctions between the real world and the magical, if violent, realm of the game added a whole extra level of enjoyment for me.

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