Film Reviews from the Basement

Jason and Shawn review: Sinners and Saints and Texas Killing Fields

2012-03-03T07:00:00.007-08:00

Sinners and Saints

Jason: This is a great action movie. A loving throwback to the hardcore, R-rated buddy cops movies of the late 80s and early 90s. Reckless cop with nothing to lose partnered with the stable family guy. Profanity and graphic violence ensues. Sold! We've got a great gunfight and a dozen or so F-bombs in the first five minutes. Then a number of stellar, old-school shoot outs, explosions and chases thrown in throughout. No shaky cam, just straight up action from people who knew what they were trying to achieve. Don't remake Lethal Weapon. Put Sinners and Saints in 3,100 theatres and make three sequels. I'd love to see Riley and Ganz kicking ass and taking names in a series of movies. Good!

Shawn: I'm reminded vaguely of a movie here. Straight-arrowed, black cop, assigned a crazy, nothing-to-live for, on-the-edge, ex-special forces partner. Sound familiar? Lethal Weapon maybe? Some Bad Boys and Boondock Saints mixed in. And voila. Awesomest movie in a long time. Sure it had a shortcoming or two, but that didn't hamper the experience for me. And if you are like me, you will like this. But don't jump to be like me. I am simple. Simple demands, though there were no boobies, there was violence. And this movie gets a Good, and more watches.

Texas Killing Fields

Jason: A movie that grows on you as it rolls along but never fully engages. This is a work where the parts are better than the whole, which means it's watchable but not completely satisfying. Big fan of Jeffrey Dean Morgan and he does good work here. I can relate to his tortured soul and desire to do the right thing, even though the bodies in the fields technically aren't his problem. What is a problem are all the loose ends left by the time the movie plays out. Sure, the main story is resolved, but too much else is left hanging. The film is well made and well acted, but the screenplay lets everyone down. A Bad from me.

Shawn: Probably one of the more acclaimed movies that we’ve ever watched. Big names, likely a big budget. The movie was well shot, extremely well acted, well put together, well directed. There were a few slips in time that had me confused a bit near the beginning. However, there really wasn’t much wrong with this movie. For many, this would likely a perfect movie. I was decently entertained, but already knew the outcome, within about 20 minutes. It was also a longer movie than it needed to be. I didn’t mind the watch, but it wasn’t a Good. It was a Bad. For me.

Sinners and Saints and Texas Killing Fields

2012-03-02T08:33:00.000-08:00

Action speaks louder than words in The Basement this week as the boys take a break from horror and dive head first into the realm of the action/thriller.

Excited? We thought as much.

First up, The Basement Dwellers take a trip into the gritty New Orleans underbelly with Sinners and Saints. Martial artist turned actor Johnny Strong (appropriate last name for an action hero) stars as a troubled cop who sets out to solve a series of murders only to stumble onto something much bigger. Sound like a bunch of 1980s action films? Sure. Do we care as long as shit blows up? No. What do Jason and Shawn make of this little seen action flick? Stick with us!

And hang tough for the second film of the episode: Texas Killing Fields. The thriller holds a special place in The Basement Dwellers' hearts as its the first film they were invited to a screening of. Sure, they weren't able to attend, but it's the thought that counts. The film stars Hollywood middle weights Sam Worthington, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hit Girl herself, Chloe Grace Moretz in the tale of two cops trying to crack a series of unsolved murders.

Wait, don't these two movies sounds kind of alike? Stick with us! Again!

Mike S will be displaying his mad tweeting skills throughout the recording of this latest episode. You can follow along at @basementreviews. The boy knows his tweets. We mean it!

And don't forget to tune in to 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops, Shaw Cable 106.1 and www.thex.ca at 3 p.m. PST today for the radio version of last week's show.

Now for a preview of the evening's fireworks:

Sinners and Saints

Texas Killing Fields

The Frankenweenie trailer is alive!

2012-03-01T20:06:00.000-08:00

That's right bitches, we're featuring a Disney trailer in The Basement! Wanna fight about it? No? Because it's for a Time Burton movie? Good!

A stop-motion remake of Burton's 1984 short film, Frankenweenie tells the grimly touching story of a boy and his dead dog . . . which is brought back to life Frankenstein style. Hence the title of the movie. Frankenweenie.

This looks a lot like Burton's other kiddie flicks Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Being a new dad, I guess its time to start checking this kind of stuff out. Better Frankenweenie than Sleeping Beauty. Gotta make sure horror is represented, even for the young ones.

Frankenweenie arrives in theatres Oct. 5.

Avengers assemble in the new trailer

2012-02-29T20:44:00.000-08:00

We've seen teasers and lengthy Super Bowl spots but the wait for the full Avengers trailer is over. And it was worth it!

We've got 'em all: Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Hawkey, Black Widow and Nick Fury. And, Hulk aside, they're all played by the actors who immortalized them on the big screen during several Hollywood blockbusters.

This is the first time anything like this has been attempted on film. It's a risky venture for Marvel and Paramount Pictures, but under director Joss Whedon, it looks like the gamble paid off. Can't wait to see this on May 4!

But I digress too much. Time to shut up and watch the trailer again!

Robotic virus meteor catastrophe

2012-02-29T19:04:00.002-08:00

Everyone knows that Jason and I love movies that you have almost might have heard of.

My personal favorites are disaster or end of the world movies. This movie is something I can look forward to. I "accidentally" watched the trailer and can honestly say, "looks wicked, to me."

But, we've been fooled by trailers many, many times.
What to do? Have faith that either three separate stories of doom and gloom are going to inflict mankind, or one story with a triple threat is going to take us out.

Yeah, my draw to these movies? The thought that I won't die alone. All you fuckers are coming with me. haha.

That said, I can find little on this story, except it's directed by these guys:

Ji Woon Kim - Pil-Sung Yim

And they are going to take out humanity!

Here's a trailer (with subtitles):

Transformers babe manages creepy apartment in 666 Park

2012-02-28T20:31:00.001-08:00

We don't touch on TV much in The Basement but, seeing as how I've just got cable up and running, and movie news is in short supply today, I figure I'd post this little tidbit.

Rachael Taylor, who recently starred in the TV reboot of Charlie's Angels and appeared in the first Transformers flick, has been cast in the pilot for ABC's new supernatural drama 666 Park. I guess, with the success of American Horror Story, scary television all the rage again.

Good! As long as it's good. Got it!?!

The pilot is based on Gabriella Pierce's series of novels of the same name. Taylor will be play Annable who, along with her husband, accepts an offer to manage a historic New York City apartment building. Then the scary stuff starts to happen and puts everyone's lives at risk.

Fringe scribe David Wilcox wrote the pilot, which automatically means I will at least watch the first episode. We'll keep you in the loop on 666 Park as it develops.

Real Steel: Micro Review

2012-02-27T19:30:00.001-08:00

Ever thought it would be cool to have real life sized "Rock em Sock em" robots? How about not only life size, but bigger than life, and under your explicit control?

Well here they are.

Hugh Jackman is a pretty diverse dude. From Wolverine to Broadway. And pretty much everything in between. This included.

This is a "feel good" family movie. Although, my five year old did get in trouble for the "LEFT, RIGHT, UPPERCUT" display at school.

This is a technically perfect movie, and with an almost Disneyesque feel, crossed with any Rocky movie. However, it does have huge robots that box each other until they destroy their opponent.

The technology for something like this has been around for a while, so while it presents nothing new, it only perfects the effects needed to pull this off.

I have been holding off from watching this movie because I have heard that it is story heavy. I don't really like to think about the story, but this presents well, and satisfied my need for robot battle. Mostly. I'll probably watch this again, as all my kids love it, but wouldn't choose to on my own.

While it was nothing new, by today's standards and quite clichéd story-wise, it was completely believable. Worth a watch, once.

Shawn from the Basement reporting with a Bad.

Jason and Shawn review: Terror From Beneath the Earth and The Monster of Phantom Lake

2012-02-25T07:00:00.003-08:00

Terror From Beneath the Earth

Jason: A Mihm movie that gets it right. How? Terror clocks in at a breezy 66 minutes, the perfect length for a 1950s cheapy. These movies were talky and slow moving, and Mihm captures the vibe perfectly. Actually, there isn't one wrong note here other than I know this was made in the modern era of cinema. Otherwise the acting is appropriately bad, the sets equally so, and the monster, well, the monster makes 1950s Godzilla look like the dinosaurs from Jurassic Park. I enjoyed this, but it's still a Bad. You know, the whole adjust-for-inflation thing. A worthy watch, and would be a Good if viewed in 1950 something, but a Bad by today's standards, even if that's the point.

Shawn: ATTACK OF THE GIANT BAT THING! First let me say that I loved LOVED the making of the bat thing in the special features chunk of the DVD. Missed Shannon though. She's only in it for four minutes. Not even. BOOO. She is the greatest retro actress eva. As for Mihm movies, we’ve endured this style of movie four times this season. These style of movies should only happen once a year. That said, because Mihm is our hommie, it was easy to keep an open mind. And remember, this is made in the dude's basement. My 1950’s review would be a Good, but time adjusted, I have to give it a Bad.

The Monster of Phantom Lake

Jason: Like all Mihmverse movies you either groove on this kind of thing or your don't. If you do, you'll love The Monster of Phantom Lake. If not, this could be a chore to watch. I'm somewhere in the middle. I found this well made and it does a decent job of capturing the vibe of the 1950s drive-in movies. The music is bang on, the acting fits the era, and the style of filmmaking is anchored firmly in the genre of that time. As with many of Mihm's films, this one is too long. 1950s B-movies ran just over 70 minutes. This is more than 90. Had 20 or so minutes been trimmed out of The Monster of Phantom Lake, it would have really cooked. As it is, too slow! This rates a Bad. Worth the watch for fans, but a Bad.

Shawn: Man, can this guy capture the feel of these movies. Thanks for letting us into your universe, brother! He's got the 50’s ideologies, actors, music -- all of it -- down. Great stuff. And his monster ruled! For a $9 monster it was the best money could buy. As said in the previous review, we really have to time adjust our entertainment value. Currently we have spaceship fights, warp speed and giant robots that turn into cool cars. In colour. Brother, these are great for the style, but they get a Bad in The Basement.

Modern/Retro 50s Night Vol. 2: Terror from Beneath the Earth and The Monster of Phantom Lake

2012-02-24T08:26:00.001-08:00

We return to the wacky 1950s world of drive-in cinema with this, the latest episode of Film Reviews from the Basement. But we're doing it with a twist that can only come from that maestro of throwback cinema, Christopher R. Mihm.

Modern/Retro 50s Night Vol. 1 is one of the most successful episodes of our fine radio show/podcast, and the only way we could think of topping it was to interview Mihm's favourite leading lady: Shannon McDonough!

Shannon has starred in three Mihmverse epics: It Came From Another World, Attack of the Moon Zombies and one of the film's on the chopping block tonight: Terror from Beneath the Earth. Not only does she provide some great insight into the love and hard work that goes into making these micro-budget movies, but she talks about what it takes to be a working actress outside of Hollywood. It's a great 20-minute conversation whether you're in show business or not.

In addition to Terror, Jason and Shawn tackle Mihm's very first film, The Monster of Phantom Lake, all the while keeping in mind that these are looooowwwwww budget films intended to capture the look and feel of Basement Cinema from a bygone era. Do they hold a candle to cheesy classics like Them and The Blob? Stick with us!

Mike S will be displaying his mad tweeting skills throughout the recording of this latest episode. You can follow along at @basementreviews. It takes talent to entertain in 140 characters of less. Trust us!

And don't forget to tune in to 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops, Shaw Cable 106.1 and www.thex.ca at 3 p.m. PST today for the radio version of last week's show.

And now for a look at tonight's film de cinema!

Terror from Beneath the Earth

The Monster of Phantom Lake

Pop goes the evil in Slash-in-the-Box

2012-02-23T20:11:00.000-08:00

Two short films sent our way in as many weeks? We are blessed in The Basement. And the more Shawn and I get to watch these nifty little numbers, the more we appreciate the medium as a method for telling scary stories.

Today's entry, Slash-in-the-Box, comes by way of writer/director Nick Everhart. Shot in one day on a budget of $2,000, this looks just as slick and accomplished as any Hollywood effort. Sure, I could see the ending the coming, but I got a few scares, some gore and a hot blonde. And it's a fun watch too. Not bad for five minutes worth of entertainment.

But why bore you with my chatter, push play and experience Slash-in-the-Box yourself. Keep up the good work, Nick, and let us know when your next film is ready for viewing!

And, for the record, Barbie dolls are scary!

Slash-In-The-Box from Nick Everhart on Vimeo.

Altered: Micro Review

2012-02-22T20:04:00.001-08:00

Altered is a 2006 sci fi flick from the director of the Blair Witch Project.

Yeah, I thought the same thing too. More shaky cam stuff, low budget etc and so forth.

This movie is NOT what you think.

I had seen this movie popping up in my recommended row on Netflix. I kept skipping it because of the director and my physical queasiness that I suffered from Blair Witch. Also, because I thought it would be plain, cheesy. Even after Jay recommended it, I was still skeptical.

I can't believe that I waited.

All I have to say is, "WOW".

This movie had a very cool vibe from the get go. It starts out with a bunch of "good ole boys", hunting something. That something turns out to be an alien, from the species that altered their lives, some 15 years prior.

They capture it and take it to their ultra secure location. Do they kill it? The answer to that question, is another question: "What happens to an animal when it kills a human?" It is pure party from then on. Satisfying multiple levels of us genre geeks.

Jay has held this movie in the same light as Alien!

It is an unusual and fresh take on stories that we have all heard. For a basement movie, this was superb, and is the reason we do what we do.

Altered. Recommended viewing by all basementites.

Horror hits the dusty trail in The Prospector's Curse

2012-02-21T18:19:00.000-08:00

In addition to bringing you reviews of movies you've almost heard of, The Basement has found a nice little niche when it comes to giving short films their due, and we're more than happy to do it. All the better when it's a Canadian flick to boot.

The latest is a Western-themed horror film called The Prospector’s Curse, which recently wrapped production near the remote town of Ponty Pool, Ontario.

Set during the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890’s, this darkly comedic short is written and directed by Josh Heisie (Mail Order Bride), produced by Bruno Marino (Anything Goes) and is currently in post production in Toronto.

On a side note, if you haven't seen Bruce McDonald's 2008 zombie flick Pontypool then you need to get on it. Great twist on the genre.

Getting back to The Prospector's Curse, the film tells the story of Theodore “Tubby” Ellsworth and Jack Smith, two criminals who stumble across a mutilated and dying prospector on Indian ground. They promise to give him a Christian burial, but break their oath and steal the old man’s gold. That night, the prospector’s corpse returns to make them pay!

Sounds like fun! Heisie has promised to let us view the finished film, which means we will review on the show down the road. I like Westerns and I like horror. Hopefully The Prospector's Curse will combine the genres well.

Who's in Insidious 2?

2012-02-20T08:23:00.000-08:00

In a move that will likely come as no surprise to anyone, Insidious scribe Leigh Whannell let drop to the folks at Dread Central that at least two characters from the 2011 horror hit will back for the eventual follow up.

Whannell said paranormal specialists Specs and Tucker, played by Whannell and Angus Sampson, return in the sequel. Whannell explains it best himself below:

"I can say that yes, my character will be seen in Insidious 2," said Whannell to Dread. "It may probably bum a lot of people out, though, to hear this news. It's part of the reason I don't even read the internet message boards anymore; there was this hatred that spewed out from fans saying 'I hated those guys! They sucked! They ruined the movie!' so there will probably be a lot of people out there who will be disappointed to hear that the Specs and Tucker characters will be coming back. (laughs)"

Some didn't like the humour the characters brought to an otherwise freaky 90-minute ride. I didn't mind it at all, and really dug that ghost-seeing Viewmaster. What's more important to me is that Whannell and director James Wan develop a really solid and scary story.

Here's the trailer for Insidious to remind you of the greatness.

Micro Review: Paranormal Activity 3

2012-02-18T22:33:00.000-08:00

In some ways this is the most affective Paranormal Activity film of the bunch, with a number of good scares and clever use of special effects. There's chills aplenty and some great shorts shitting moments. I'm a bit puzzled by how it ends and how the filmmakers are going to explain the progression into the other movies, as it's a prequel to a prequel. But I guess that's what Paranormal Activity 4 is all about. Directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman -- who made Catfish -- do a great job of recreating the 80s and crafting some convincing horror. That said, if you hated the other Paranormal Activity movies, you'll hate this one. I didn't, so it gets a Good!

Jason and Shawn review: Choose and Dead Hooker in a Trunk

2012-02-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

Choose

Jason: Or, as I like to call it, an excuse to stare at Katheryn Winnick's chest for 90 minutes. Or Katheryn Winnick in general. This is a disposal horror thriller. It's like Saw or Scream, only not as clever. I spent more time playing on my iPad and chatting with Mike S on Twitter than I did paying attention to this movie. That pretty much tells you everything you need to know about Choose. I can't give this an Ugly because then it'd be a slight against Katheryn Winnick. But, if you want to perv on her in a good movie check out Satan's Little Helper. Otherwise this is just Bad.

Shawn: Pretty decent start to a movie. Got me looking. Speaking of looking: hot blonde in a shower scene! Still looking!! No boobs :(. Interest fading. Hey, investigative reporter seeking serial killer with links to her own family? Sounds all too familiar. Girl with the Terrible Boobies ring a bell!?! You know what, at least I saw boobs in that movie. This is another borefest cheesy story with a lame twist. All in all, a PG version of the suckjob that is Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. There, I said it. Because this movie made me give the other movie a little more respect. BoooUgly!

Dead Hooker in a Trunk

Jason: Not only is Dead Hooker in a Trunk the best title for a movie ever, but it's one of the best first films/low budget efforts I've ever seen. Yes, this movie is ridiculous, but it's supposed to be. It's a grindhouse version of Scooby Doo only without someone saying “I'd have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for you meddling kids.” Props to Jen and Sylvia Soska. Not only did they write and direct this, but they starred in it and they did their own stunts. It can't be easy getting dragged behind a horse.This film has a heart and a soul and is a lot of fun. Aspiring filmmakers need to see it. Dead Hooker rates a Good, and I want to show it to all my movie geek friends!

Shawn: Dead hooker. In a trunk. Where else would you find one? This movie does with a low budget what only big budget movies wish they could do. And chainsaw a person! You showed me what you could, and I appreciate that. Everyone needs a friend that will knock out a trucker that just tore your arm off with his truck, then retrieve your arm for you. That's so sweet! Low budget movie fans, FUCK YEAH! This movie is goodness. It's disturbing, showed what it could, and they did a pretty damn good job! "Like dying could kill me." Bravo. I'll be watching it again. Good!

Choose, Dead Hooker in a Trunk and an interview with Jen and Sylvia Soska

2012-02-17T08:37:00.000-08:00

When it comes to horror, women tend to get more notice for the work they do in front of the camera than behind it. Not so with Jen and Sylvia Soska.

The self proclaimed Twisted Twins of Vancouver are no strangers to the entertainment industry, having started out as child actors before making the transition to stunt work and eventually a disappointing turn in film school. Frustrated, the twins set out to make their first feature film. They called it Dead Hooker in a Trunk, made it on a low budget, and the rest is history.

Jason and Shawn are not only going to review Dead Hooker on this episode, but The Basement Dwellers will also air a feature interview with Sylvia and Jen that explains their adventures in grindhouse cinema far better than can be done here. It's a 20-minute chat every film fan and aspiring filmmaker needs to hear.

But first, the boys will level the executioner's axe at a little-know horror flick called Choose. It stars Canadian actress Katheryn Winnick, last seen in The Basement fave Satan's Little Helper, as a journalism student tracking a serial killer. Does it end badly for her, or does the latest horror heroine win the day? Stick with us!

Mike S will be displaying his mad tweeting skills throughout the recording of this latest episode. You can follow along at @basementreviews. It's more fun than a circus. Promise!

And don't forget to tune in to 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops, Shaw Cable 106.1 and www.thex.ca at 3 p.m. PST today for the radio version of last week's show.

And now for a taste of tonight's gruesome entertainment:

Choose

Dead Hooker in a Trunk

Lockout poster features a babe and a big gun

2012-02-16T20:49:00.000-08:00

A movie that's gone from zero to 60 on The Basement's must-see scale is the sci-fi/action film Lockout.

First, we got a look at the kick ass trailer (posted below) and now we've go the slick poster (posted above). It shows Guy Pearce in full action-hero mode with a big effing gun, hottie Maggie Grace and a bunch of explosions and shit. It's everything a poster for a flick like Lockout should be.

Oh yeah, the title's in there somewhere too.

Lockout is written and produced by action guru Luc Besson and stars Pearce as a wise-cracking anti-hero recruited to rescue Grace from an orbital prison. The film hits April 20 and look like all kinds of fun.

Horror invades your home in Intruders

2012-02-15T20:07:00.000-08:00

Clive Owen and horror aren't words I ever expected to see together in a sentence, but such is the reality of the new home invader flick Intruders.

Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, who made the surprisingly great 28 Weeks Later, Intruders features Owen as a father trying to unravel the mystery of Hollow Face, a mysterious figure who is tormenting his daughter. Creepy, nightmare-like imagery ensues as Hollow Face draws every closer to the girl.

Is it just me, or have hoodies become the new Shatner mask or horror? Just throwing that out there.

The film plays at SXSW from March 13 to 15 and hits theatres March 30. Shawn's retired from watching trailers, but I've seen this one and think it looks right up our alley here in The Basement. We like scary, and this promises to be all kinds of scary.

A first look at Taken 2

2012-02-14T18:30:00.000-08:00

No, this isn't a trailer for the much anticipated sequel to Liam Neeson's spectacular 2009 action flick Taken, but rather a rundown of the script by those fine folks over at Latino Review. And it's a rather spoiler free one at that.

It does, however, offer a very thorough synopsis of the sequel's first act or so and hints at how the film plays out without actually running anything. The reviewer also puts to rest any fears that Neeson will play a small part in this.

That said, if you want to go into the film without even the remotest hint of what's to come, then don't push play. But, if you want to be even more jazzed for what promises to be an exercise in pure badassery, then give the six-minute clip a listen.

Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen return along with Neeson. Taken 2 is shooting as we speak and hits theatres Oct. 5.

And apologies for the sizing of the video, but it's meant to be heard rather than seen.

What's in the Briefcase?

2012-02-13T20:23:00.000-08:00

Legendary director Alfred Hitchcock popularized the term MacGuffin, a plot element that catches the viewer's attention or drives a work of fiction. Writer/director Nate Golan must have had the term in mind when he crafted his short film Briefcase.

Take a guess what the MacGuffin is.

Golan also stars in the film, which we've embedded for you below at his request. The less said about Briefcase before you have the chance to watch it the better. So I'm gonna embed away and share my two cents after the break.

This is a pretty cool little film; a concept ripe for a short. Golan uses the MacGuffin well in crafting a tale right out of The Twilight Zone that's five minutes well spent. It's a good looking flick too. I'd love to see what he can do with a feature film.

To learn more about Briefcase check out the film's Facebook page, where Golan promises more about the film's mythology. Something tells me we're not done with this story yet.

Doghouse: Micro Review

2012-02-12T14:28:00.000-08:00

So with 4 gin and tonics, 2 beer in my system, I decided to watch this movie. I have seen it on Netflix for months and always bi-passed it. I just wasn't interested in seeing a low low budget zombie movie. But then, something got the better of me.

This movie started out pretty decent, with good acting and some funny, yet dark, UK humor. Almost felt a little Shaun Of The Dead ish. Just darker.

As this movie progressed and gave little hints of what was to come, I started really enjoying it and hoped they didn't let down with cheese zombies.

Wow, they sure didn't let down. They had a surprisingly good budget for gore and blended it nicely. There weren't hoards of the zombie - demon ish women, but there were a lot. I was completely satisfied with every step of this movie and wished I had watched it sooner.

Does everyone survive? I don't know, but I really dug the ending too. For any zombie lover, I recommend this movie. It is a buddy movie, too.. More fun with booze and friends. Yet still solid. I could easily give this cult classic status. Just needs a cult. haha. Good in my books.

Shawn from the Basement out.

Jason and Shawn review: Rage and Tales of an Ancient Empire

2012-02-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

Rage

Jason: A true cautionary tale. Remember kids, it's not polite to steal another man's parking spot. He might hunt you down, rape your wife, and make a mess of your face. In all seriousness though, this is a solid little suspense film with a brutal conclusion. The game of cat and mouse starts with harassment and becomes increasingly more violent as it goes along, exploding in a gruesome yet tasteful climax. Too bad Witherspoon didn't have enough of a budget to show us all of the gore, but we get a taste. This harkens back to films like Duel and Carpenter's Halloween and, although it isn't quite the classic they are, I will enjoy watching this again and again. A Good from me.

Shawn: Wow. This was a pretty cool movie. It was well made, well shot, well cut. That being said, I have some issues and they have nothing to do with the presentation or actual viewing experience. First off, if I knew some clown ass biker dude was chasing me after he cut my brakes, then chased me home after I got them fixed: eeeerrrrch! SMACK! You just splattered on my back window. There was some super potential here and I dug what they tried to do, but there is no way I would allow any of these events to play out like this. Most guys with a set of balls would agree. I give it a Bad.

Tales of an Ancient Empire

Jason: A better title would be Kevin Sorbo and the Four Hot Chicks. Definitely would have brought in more box office, at least on opening weekend. Then people would have realized what a shit movie this is and demanded a refund. Huge chunks of the story are explained rather than shown. This is the kind of flick where you get a bunch of friends together, drink beer, smoke some weed and laugh at how shitty a movie it is. It could become a cult hit really, but I'm still giving it an Ugly and moving on.

Shawn: Hi Kevin Sorbo. This is where you've been hiding? You are far too good an actor for super off the map stuff. I guess. Or you just shined here in this slopfest of a movie. The movie was all kinds of slop and ended the same way. Probably because everyone in the movie hated it as much as I did. The end credits were 15 minutes long? Eff you! I saw some nice boobs though, and some girl-on-girl tease action, but I gotta give this an Ugly. And would someone give Sorbo a real job? I think he can do it.

Rage and Tales of an Ancient Empire

2012-02-10T08:29:00.000-08:00

You think you're having a bad day? Check out the folks in the above pic. Doesn't look like things are going well for them at all!

Which brings us to one of our films on the chopping block this episode: Rage. Writer/director Chris Witherspoon approached The Basement Dwellers, Jason and Shawn, about reviewing his award-winning indie horror/thriller. The boys naturally agreed.

Witherspoon was inspired by 1970s thrillers like Duel when he crafted this story of a cat and mouse game between a suburban thirtysomething and a mysterious biker. As the tale unfolds, the game gets a little ugly. Does the outcome appease our Basement duo, or is Rage just something to get mad at? Stick with us!

And don't step away -- even for a second -- as Jason and Shawn turn their attention to Tales of an Ancient Empire, the not-so-long-awaited sequel to Albert Pyun's early 80s fantasy hit The Sword and the Sorcerer. Sure, no one cared if it got made, and it stars Kevin Sorbo, but it's still worth watching. Right? I said right!?!

The Basement welcomes Cory Hope, the voice behind 92.5FM CFBX's Accelerator, to the program this week. Cory has wanted to sit in on an episode of Film Reviews From the Basement since it hit the airwaves, and The Basement Dwellers are happy to oblige.

Throw in some songs, a feature on movie trailers that suck, and the mad tweeting of Mike S over at @BasementReviews and you've got yourself an hour well spent. The podcast goes live on Saturday!

And don't forget to tune in to 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops, Shaw Cable 106.1 and www.thex.ca at 3 p.m. PST today for the radio version of last week's show.

Our films on the chopping block tonight:

Rage

Tales of an Ancient Empire

Machete is ready to kill again!

2012-02-09T18:31:00.000-08:00

The Robert Rodriguez-produced Machete is Shawn's favourite flick of 2010 despite the presence of Fat Steven Seagal. I was entertained by it but wouldn't call it Top-10-of-any-year material.

But I assure you we're both excited to see Danny Trejo return to the role he was born to play in the aptly titled Machete Kills.

All we really know is the flick is scheduled to shoot in April and the plot is as follows: "Machete is recruited by the U.S. Government for a mission which would be impossible for any mortal man. Machete must battle his way through Mexico to take down a madman cartel leader and an eccentric billionaire arms dealer who has hatched a plan to spread war across the planet with a weapon in space. Machete takes on an army in an effort to dismantle a plan for global anarchy."

As long as Trejo is kicking ass, hot chicks are getting naked, and the third act can live up to the first two this time around, I'll be more than pleased with Machete Kills. Shawn's content with my first two points.

We'll keep you posted on Machete Kills as it develops. Now enjoy Trejo's scary mug in some poster art for the film!

Moon Nazis attack in Iron Sky

2012-02-08T19:34:00.001-08:00

That's the basic plot behind the new batshit crazy sci-fi/action/comedy from Stealth Media Group.

And what a great premise it is: Nazis landed on the moon 70 years ago and have been biding their time to launch an invasion. They decide they’ve been waiting long enough, take to their fleet of flying saucers, and begin a full scale attack of Earth.

What more can be said? Nothing! Other than this has become a must see in The Basement!

Iron Sky premieres at the Berlin Film Festival and is expected in theatres April 4. It's directed by Timo Vuorensola, produced by Tero Kaukomaa and written by Johanna Sinisalo along with Michael Kalesniko. Genre veteran Udo Kier and a bunch of hot chicks star.

Now watch the epic goodness below!

From the Mihmverse to The Basement: an interview with Shannon McDonough

2012-02-08T18:56:00.000-08:00

On Feb. 25 we journey back into the world of Christopher R. Mihm with his low budget tributes to 1950s horror and sci-fi: The Monster of Phantom Lake and Terror From Beneath the Earth. Yes, it's Vol. 2 of Modern/Retro 50s Night.

And we're thrilled to have sat down and talked with one of Mihm's favourite leading ladies: Shannon McDonough. Shannon starred in Attack of the Moon Zombies (see Vol. 1 of Modern/Retro 50s Night) Terror From Beneath Earth and It Came From Another World and she provides some great insight into the love and hard work that goes into making these fun films.

Shannon also takes some time to discuss her other projects, including Potpourri -- a movie she says has a little of every genre, and what it takes to be a working actress outside of Hollywood. It's a conversation every Basement Dwellers needs to hear!

Stick with us for Vol. 2 of Modern/Retro 50s Night featuring the movies of Christopher R. Mihm and our interview with Shannon at the end of the month!

James Wan conjures up The Warren Files

2012-02-07T18:29:00.000-08:00

Horror fans know James Wan. The director made Saw one of the biggest horror franchises of all time and he turned last year's Insidious into a huge hit. Now the man is back behind the camera with a new terrifying tale: The Warren Files.

The film is based on the real-life cases of Ed and Lorraine Warren, who reached out to help the Perron family after they claimed they were haunted in Rhode Island. The Warrens were also involved in the infamous Amityville haunting.

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga have signed on to play the Warrens. Wan just cast his Perron family, with Lilli Taylor and Ron Livingston playing the parents and Mackenzie Foy and Joey King their children.

The casting isn't as big a piece of news as the project itself. Anyone who's watched Paranormal State knows who Lorraine Warren is and her exploits are ripe for a decent movie. I also have complete faith in Wan as a director when it comes to this type of material.

The Warren Files begins production later this month.

Bait 3D promises Jaws in a supermarket

2012-02-06T18:57:00.000-08:00

You read that right: sharks in a grocery store. Kinda like snakes on a plane, only with sharks and no Samuel L. in sight. We're talking material for the highest grossing movie of all time right there.

In all seriousness, that is the concept behind the Australian shark movie Bait, which speculates on what would happen when a freak tsunami hits a small town on the Gold Coast and traps people in a flooded underground supermarket with a pack of man-eating sharks.

The idea is cool, and the rough sales trailer we've discovered and posted below holds promise. We love sharks in The Basement, be they mega, 2-headed or otherwise. And Bait sure can't be any worse than Shark Night 3D, although it was shot in the three-extra dollars format.

Bait was directed by Kimble Rendall and stars Julian Mcmahon and Xavier Samuel. No word yet on when we'll see it, but it's rumoured to hit theatres some time this year.

Check out trailer below and share your thoughts, Basement Dwellers.

UPDATED: The Basement presents Dark Fest 2012

2012-02-04T11:33:00.002-08:00

There's been a dastardly change in the line up for Dark Fest 2012, with The Innkeepers unable to attend because of frightening circumstances. But those Basement Dwellers Jason and Shawn are proud to announce Hobo with a Shotgun will step in as the kick off film March 9 at 7 p.m. And this Canadian grindhouse effort, starring the great Rutger Hauer, is sure to please fans of gruesome cinema!

From out of the cinematic basement and onto the big screen, the 16^th Kamloops Canadian and International Film Festival has plunged into a dark realm of B-grade movie entertainment with the inaugural Dark Fest, a loving tribute to the frightful side of cinema.

To do so, the gentle Kamloops Film Festival Committee turned to a couple of guys who appreciate everything that's good about bad movies: Jason and Shawn, co-hosts of 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops' premiere film review show Film Reviews from the Basement.

Jason and Shawn looked deep into the darkest corner of the basement to find four films guaranteed to thrill, chill, frighten and possibly offend audiences at Thompson Rivers University's Clocktower Alumni Theatre on March 9 and 10.

And The Basement Dwellers have recruited a fellow Canuck who is no stranger to horror to make this Dark Fest a success: actor, writer, director, stunt man and film critic John Fallon. Fallon is probably best known within the horror community as The Arrow, head honcho of the Montreal-based horror news website Arrow in the Head. Fallon will be on site throughout Dark Fest, and will show some of his work during the festival.

But what are the films on the chopping block this dark weekend? Read on:

The festival kicks off March 9 at 7 p.m. with director Jason Eisener's Hobo with a Shotgun. A train rolls into its final stop. From one of the freight cars jumps a weary-eyed transient with dreams of a fresh start in a new town. Instead, he lands smack-dab in the middle of an urban hellhole, a place where the cops are crooked and the underprivileged masses are treated like insignificant animals. This is a city where crime reigns supreme, and the man pulling the strings is known only as "The Drake." Along with his two cold-blooded and sadistic sons, Ivan and Slick, he rules with an iron fist, and nobody dares fuck with The Drake, especially not some hobo.

Fallon will introduce Deaden at 9 p.m. He wrote and stars in this actioner, shot in his native Montreal under the direction of Christian Viel. Deaden follows ex-undercover cop turned biker Rane, who witnesses the brutal murder of his pregnant wife before being left for dead with an arrow in the head. Upon his exit from hospital, Rane arms himself to the teeth and goes on an substance fueled, psychotic rampage. in the name of retribution. Fallon will conduct a brief Q&A after the film.

The festival resumes at 7 p.m. on March 10 with Sevé Schelenz's Canadian found-footage horror film Skew. The film has screened at 40 film festivals worldwide and we're excited to make it a part of our first Dark Fest. Schelenz's tale follows Simon, Rich, and Eva as they head out on an eagerly anticipated road trip, they bring along a video camera to record their journey. What starts out as a carefree adventure slowly becomes a descent into the ominous as unexplained events threaten to disrupt the balance between the three close friends.

Dark Fest concludes with Some Guy Who Kills People at 9 p.m. Jack Perez's horror comedy is about a small town loser who, fresh out of the looney bin, seeks revenge on those he deems responsible for ruining his life. The movie is produced by Hollywood legend John “An American Werewolf In London” Landis and stars veteran actors Kevin Corrigan (Fringe, Unstoppable), Barry Bostwick (Megaforce, Supernatural) and Karen Black (The Hunger, House of a 1,000 Corpses). Fallon's short film The Red Hours will screen prior to the feature.

Jason and Shawn review: Skew and Familiar

2012-02-04T07:00:00.001-08:00

Skew

Jason: I love movies that fuck with you, and Skew fucks with you. Is what's happening real? In the cameraman's brain? Or is something wrong with the camera itself? That's what Skew is all about, Charlie Brown! Skew is more about psychological horror than visceral thrills, although there are a few of those. The viewer's task is figuring out the link between what is happening and what is happening on camera. You have to work a bit to enjoy this movie. If you're up to the task, you'll have a fun ride. Simon, the cameraman, unnerved me almost as much as the killer in The Poughkeepsie Tapes. I'm giving Skew a Good and encourage horror fans to watch it.

Shawn: Hello found-footage movie. I’m about done with these now. Truly. With that said, at least this was a decently entertaining story. For my last unbiased review of a “footage” movie, I’m glad it was this one. You better make one hell of a found footage movie to pull me out of retirement. This was a low budget, odd duck of a movie. It was a bit uncomfortable, with a shorts shitting moment or two. But I wasn’t embarrassed by the stain it left. Not bad. Better than some big budget, found footage movies, and a way better ending. Decent into madness. Dig that shit a lot. Ugly feet, Bad movie.

Familiar

Jason: Much like the short film Anna that we featured on the blog back on Halloween, Familiar packs more into 24 short minutes than most features put into 90. We get a whole story, an entire character arc, and some really gruesome imagery. All within what a normal movie considers its first act. Familiar moves. I credit director Richard Powell with that. He knew he had a short amount of time to tell his tale, and he cranked it out. I'm going to need to watch Familiar a few times to take it all in, but I consider that a pleasure. And, like Skew, this movie fucks with you. Is everything we're seeing real, or in the character's head? We're given no hard answers, but the ride is well worth it! A Good from me.

Shawn: Wow. Twenty-four minutes filled with an intensity that is driving, unknown and scary in a way. This film did in 24 minutes, what most motion pictures cannot achieve in two hours.Hey big budget flicks, remakers, and superhero ruiners, pay attention: This is original, well done, and in my head an amazingly satisfying flick. Will I watch it again? Fuck. Yes. The pure rawness captivated me from the onset. “Oh god, don’t let this pig touch me…”. Good.

Skew, Familiar and A Chat With A Scream Queen

2012-02-03T08:30:00.000-08:00

This episode is a milestone of sorts for Jason and Shawn. For the first time in Basement history the films on the chopping block are being reviewed at the request of the film makers themselves, and it's a task our two Basement Dwellers are all too willing take on.

First up is Seve Schelenz's horror feature Skew, which has screened at more than 40 film festivals worldwide and won awards at six. Skew was recently picked up by Netflix in the U.S. but has yet to achieve a wide release in our Home and Native Land. That said, it's screened in The Basement, and Jason and Shawn are prepared to tell you if Skew is deserving of the attention it's received.

Then the boys turn the executioner's axe on the first short film ever reviewed on the show: Familiar. The flick comes from the Fatal Pictures team of writer/director Richard Powell and producer Zach Green. Is Familiar 24 minutes of gruesome terror and fun? Stick with us!

And you've got to stick around for the long awaited conversation between our favourite scream queen, Brooke Lewis, and Jeremiah Kipp, the winner of our Win A Chat With A Scream Queen contest. Shawn oversaw the call, and promises that Jeremiah and Brooke have a few surprises in store for listeners. It's roughly eight minutes of chat that made Basement history!

Mike S. is also back with a horror review for your listening pleasure and there's four songs to tickle your ear holes. Plus the boys will make a major announcement about that film festival they keep talking about.

You can follow the tweets while the episode records live at @basementreviews. It hits the Internet on Saturday morning.

And don't forget to tune in to 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops, Shaw Cable 106.1 and www.thex.ca at 3 p.m. PST today for the radio version of last week's show. It's good stuff. Promise!

Now for a preview of our featured films!

Skew

Familiar

Riddick is back!

2012-02-02T18:37:00.000-08:00

Because some times it's best for a headline to just speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Amen.

Indeed, the above shot is of Riddick, the cult character made popular by action dude Vin Diesel in the films Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick. Well, this shot is from the franchise's latest installment, appropriately enough titled Chronicles of Riddick: Dead Man Stalking.

Currently in production under the guidance of director David Twohy, Dead Man Stalking is rumoured to be more in scope and tone with Pitch Black than its grandiose follow up. I dug both films a lot, but I'm looking forward to a return to the franchise's roots. Too be honest, as long as Riddick is being a bad ass, I'm happy. He's one of the best antiheroes put on film.

The latest Riddick also stars Battlestar: Galactica babe Katee Sackoff, Jordi Molla and Nolan Funk. As for the plot? Read on:

"Betrayed by his own kind and left for dead on a desolate planet, Riddick (Diesel) fights for survival against alien predators and becomes more powerful and dangerous than ever before. Soon bounty hunters from throughout the galaxy descend on Riddick only to find themselves pawns in his greater scheme for revenge. With his enemies right where he wants them, Riddick unleashes a vicious attack of vengeance before returning to his home planet of Furya to save it from destruction."

No word yet on when Dead Man Stalking hits theatres.

Murphy, Weaver and Bobby D get Buried in Red Lights

2012-02-01T18:45:00.000-08:00

Rodrigo Cortes's made a killer debut with his claustrophobic thriller Buried. Now he's set his sites on the paranormal with his follow up Red Lights.

Cortes cast Cillian Murphy and Sigourney Weaver as physicists who make a living out of disproving paranormal phenomenon. Things go well until they run afoul of Robert De Niro, a psychic who claims to have extraordinary powers.

The trailer belows holds promise, but don't they all. I've had a crush on Weaver since Aliens and Murphy was the bomb in 28 Days Later and Sunshine. Bobby D needs to introduction, but he hasn't made a great film in a long, long time.

The success or failure of Red Lights hangs on its director. If this is even half as good as Buried, it's going to be a solid night at the movies. Here's hoping Cortes isn't a one-hit wonder.

The Avengers Super Bowl spot

2012-01-31T21:21:00.000-08:00

One of the best things about the Super Bowl (aside from the cheerleaders) are the commercials. And some of the best commercials are for the upcoming big summer movie blockbusters. For a football and movie geek like me, it's all win.

We've snagged the Super Bowl spot for the upcoming super hero epic The Avengers and, while it doesn't show a lot, it makes me even more psyched to see this movie. The concept of all these great characters played by all these great actors from a series of already decent movies in one fucking movie is just too awesome to comprehend. It's enough to give one an aneurysm.

There it goes!

Anyway, check out the spot below and geek out to the goodness. This movie has a lot riding on it, but I have a feeling it will deliver . . . I hope. Marvel, don't fail me now!!

Behold, the Dead Shadows teaser

2012-01-30T19:57:00.000-08:00

Anyone who is a regular listener to our show knows we're fans and friends of John Fallon -- The Arrow of Arrow in the Head -- and his work, be they of the film critic or film maker variety.

Earlier this month we interviewed John about his upcoming projects, including his starring role in the French sci-fi/horror flick Dead Shadows (also covered here on the blog). Well, we've got a treat for you Basement Dwellers today: the teaser for said French flick . . . and fuck me I'm excited.

John promised an FX heavy horror film with lots of ass kicking. The teaser promises the same. Director David Cholewa's movie is still in post production, but Dead Shadows intends to have a presence at Cannes in May. We can only hope to catch more footage before then.

Here's the skinny on the plot: Dead Shadows tells the terrifying story about a young man, Chris (Fabian Wolfrom), whose parents were brutally killed 11 years ago, on the same day that Haley's Comet could be seen from earth. Tonight, a new comet is going to appear and everyone in his building are getting ready for a party to celebrate the event. There's even an apocalypse theory going around. As the night falls, Chris starts to discover that people are acting strange - and it seems to somehow be connected to the comet. People are becoming disoriented and violent and it doesn't take long before they start mutating into something from beyond this world. In a fight for survival, Chris has to try to escape from his building with the help of another tenant (John Fallon) - but will they make it out alive?

Enough chatter. Give this bad boy a view! And, when you're done, check out the official Dead Shadows Facebook page!

Dead Shadows - Teaser from ADDICT FILMS on Vimeo.

Captain America: First Avenger. Micro Review.

2012-01-30T08:08:00.000-08:00

This is Shawn from the basement, reporting live, from the....basement.

We have the technology, the story already exists, and all we need is the movie.

Let's face it: All these superhero movies are fully capable of executing EVERYTHING the comics books etc, portrayed. Right? Right?

Save for the excitement and fun of the comic's, cartoons etc. This movie was slow, boring and when the action kicked in, it really wasn't enough to pull me back from the boredom. Here's a clue. The majority of the people, that will watch all these superhero movies, are already fans of said hero.

We don't need umpteen million reboots and / or a drawn out re introductions of said characters. They aren't that complex. Make a movie from the prospective of the villain, then you can build up a huge story as to why he's bad.

The only thing that impressed me was the small Chris Evans.
There were some cool parts from this movie for sure, but in between them, there were a lot of boring parts.

Bad from this basement dweller.

Jason and Shawn review: Red: Werewolf Hunter and Assassination Games

2012-01-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

Red: Werewolf Hunter

Jason: A cardinal sin with film criticism is comparing the movie you are watching to the movie you hoped to see. Yet I committed this sin over and over again while watching Red: Werewolf Hunter. Everyone involved in this movie thought they were creating Shakespeare. This is a serious melodrama about people who just happen to be killing werewolves. I wanted a fun, campy, gory, violent exploitation movie with flippant humour, boobies and lots and lots attitude. I mean, this is called Red: Werewolf Hunter for Christ sake. Come on! I only got about 15 minutes of what I was looking for, so this rates a Bad for me.

Shawn: This was on SyFy channel? Really? Cool! If I were watching the SyFy channel this would have been a welcome surprise. I dug the whole concept and was fairly entertained. The effects are filled with plenty of cheese, but the werewolf design wasn't bad at all. Not Dog Soldiers, but OK for CGI. The lack of funding hurt what this movie could have been, but the makers were able to escape the low budget with a little creativity. All in all, this is a cheesy made-for-TV movie and I didn't mind it. It isn't Good, therefor it's Bad. But I didn't mind the ride.

Assassination Games

Jason: I'm going to admit right off the top that I was let down by Assassination Games, but only because I expected a balls-to-the wall action flick and didn't get it. Instead, I got a movie that tried very hard to have an intricate plot and a heart. A Van Damme movie with heart? Go figure! The man himself impressed me. Van Damme can fucking act. And he can still kick. He's the glue that holds this movie together. I wanted more ass kicking from him than I got here, but he still delivers. So does the limited amount of action that's in this movie. This is an enjoyable enough action film, but I wanted more. Assassination Games gets a Bad from me.

Shawn: I've been watching a lot of Jean-Claude Van Damme movies lately and have been surprised by his ability to actually act. That said, he's been typecast as a depressed, old, ass kicker because he does it so well. Who am I kidding? I loved Bloodsport, so acting isn't really high on my priority list. Van Damme rocks some one-liners in this movie. Some work, some don't. I particularly like "People choose how they will die by how they choose to live." All that said, this movie is awesome. I dug it a lot, even though the story is slightly cheesy. It was still brutal, satisfying and a definite Good from this Basement Dweller.

Red: Werewolf Hunter, Assassination Games and an interview with Josh Hammond

2012-01-27T08:29:00.000-08:00

No, the guy above isn't actor/producer/screenwriter Josh Hammond, the talented dude who is Jason and Shawn's feature interview on this, the latest episode of Film Reviews From the Basement. The guy in the picture is the Muscles From Brussels and he's been known to do a little Van Dammage.

But Josh Hammond is no stranger to the big screen either, having drawn up a laundry list of film credits in features like The Tripper, where he starred alongside Jaime King and Lukas Haas, the Randy Quaid vehicle Black Cadillac and Scorcher with John Rhys Davies and Mark Dacascos. And, of course, there's the horror sequel and Basement fave Jeepers Creepers 2.

Josh recently wrapped production on the new mob comedy Aqua Caliente, which he also co-wrote and produced. He's dropped by The Basement to talk about it, his films, and what it's like working with Jay of Jay and Silent Bob himself -- Jason Mews. It's a fun interview and Josh is a great guy. We guarantee this is a conversation no Basement Dweller wants to miss! And Josh is excited that he gets to swear on Canadian radio!

As for Jean-Claude Van Damme? His latest action flick, Assassination Games, is one of two flicks on the chopping block tonight. The other is a modern action/horror retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood story. Felicia Day, she of the Internet series The Guild, is Red: Werewolf Hunter. We know nothing about this movie, but everyone loves a red-headed hottie. Are these movies Damme good or just damned? Stick with us!

The podcast records live in The Basement tonight and you can follow the tweets at @basementreviews. It hits the Internet airwaves on Saturday.

And don't forget to tune in to 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops, Shaw Cable 106.1 and www.thex.ca at 3 p.m. PST today for the radio version of last week's show. It's a fun way to kill a Friday afternoon without killing anyone!

And now for a look at tonight's fine entertainment:

Red: Werewolf Hunter

Assassination Games

Lock-Out trailer will kick your ass!

2012-01-26T18:54:00.000-08:00

Another day, another trailer for a Guy Pearce movie? And he's playing a wisecracking sci-fi action hero? Hey, stranger things have happened!

And truth is stranger than fiction 'cause Pearce plays just that in the Luc Besson scripted Lock-Out, which we've got the trailer for below.

Pearce plays a convict who is offered his freedom if he saves the U.S. president's daughter from an orbital penal colony. Shades of Escape From New York/L.A.? Sure. Do we care? No. Why? Because Lock-Out looks great. And Maggie Grace stars as the president's daughter.

I've always dug Pearce. He's a good actor and capable of playing anything. Here he gets to cut loose and kick some ass. The movie looks like it does the same. Bring it!

But why try and explain when you can watch? Push play, sound off and check out Lock-Out when it lands in theatres April 20.

Revenge backfires in Seeking Justice

2012-01-25T21:22:00.000-08:00

We're by no means huge Nicolas Cage fans here in The Basement. I dig his 1990s action flicks and a handful of his other films. Shawn resents him for being cast as Superman at one point in his career.

But neither of us can deny that Anchor Bay releases some damn fine genre films. So we're probably going to give Cage's latest movie, Seeking Justice, a view whence it comes out. Why? Well, for one, his co-stars are Guy Pearce, who is no acting slouch, and hottie January Jones. As for the plot? Read on:

Cage stars as Will Gerard, a man whose wife is violently assaulted by a criminal. Stricken with anger, Gerard is approached by Simon, who claims to represent a group of concerned citizens who enact vigilante justice against unpunished offenders roaming the city. Gerard accepts Simon’s offer of vengeance, but the price is high: Simon wants a dirty deed in exchange for a dirty deed.

Sure, the movie was made more than three years ago -- never a good sign -- but the preview promises some decent action. We'll know more when Seeking Justice hits theatres March 16. Until then, give the trailer a watch and share your thoughts. Does it look Good, Bad or Ugly?

Lily Collins says no to Evil Dead remake

2012-01-24T18:55:00.000-08:00

So say our friends over at JoBlo.com, who picked up the news care of Variety. Turns out Collins, who was tapped to play the female version of Ash in the redo, had a scheduling conflict with another movie.

The question is: what next? Our answer is ditch the project altogether. Or push the film back, rewrite the Ash character back to a male lead, and hire Bruce Campbell. Anything less than The Chin as the lead in an Evil Dead movie is just plain fucking stupid.

For those who aren't in the know, Campbell and Same Raimi are producing this new version, which centers on five friends (David, Natalie, Eric, Olivia, and Mia) holed up at a remote cabin where they discover a Book of the Dead. A demonic force is unleashed and possesses each until only one is left to fight for survival. Mia is the Ash character, and she's a recovering drug addict.

The film shoots in New Zealand in March and FilmDistrict plans to release it in theatres on April 12, 2013.

The Twisted Twins are in The Basement

2012-01-23T11:36:00.000-08:00

Watching movies might by Shawn and I's passion, but a major highlight of doing this show is the cool people we've met along the way. And Vancouver's Jen and Sylvia Soska are certainly among the coolest.

We sat down with the Twisted Twins earlier today to talk about their indie-smash Dead Hooker in a Trunk and get a taste of their much anticipated follow up, American Mary, due out this year. No strangers to show business, Jen and Sylvia also discuss the dangers of film school, the joys of low-budget movie making, and how doing things their way was a recipe for success.

The interview is certainly one of the most high energy, insightful and downright radcore times we've had in The Basement so far. You'll be able to hear the 20ish-minute conversation on our Feb. 18 podcast along with our thoughts on Dead Hooker in a Trunk. The episode airs on The X Feb. 24.

Now prepare for a taste of Jen and Sylvia Soska's Dead Hooker in a Trunk:

Jason and Shawn review: The Innkeepers and The Amityville Haunting

2012-01-21T14:23:00.000-08:00

The Innkeepers

Shawn: The Innkeepers is a long, drawn out movie with a decent payoff in the end. Not the best, but decent. I would not be a ghost hunter if I was afraid of everything and used a huffer for asthma. And I would not comb my hair like Tintin if I wanted to be taken seriously by anyone on earth. I also wouldn't have recognized the old lady as the hot chick from Top Gun if Jay hadn't of said anything. There is some creepy stuff in parts though and it's better than some scary movies I've seen. I wouldn't own it or watch it again, so it's a Bad.

Jason: If you're in the mood for a deliberately paced, slow-burn ghost story then this is the movie for you. No gore or rapid-fire editing here, just old-school film making and scares. Writer/director Ti West does a great job setting things up and paying them off later, as long as you're paying attention. I really liked the characters in this movie. Claire, Luke, Leanne. They are all well written and well cast. The movie works because we get to know and like them. This isn't a film for everyone, but those who like subtle horror will like it a lot. I will watch this again. A Good from me!

The Amityville Haunting

Shawn: I might buy the Amityville house if I knew what happened in it, but I wouldn't live there. And I would not make my wife live there if she was opposed to it. When my kids started to act weird -- bye bye house! These are the worst good parents I've ever seen. In fact, this movie sucks all kinds of goat ass. I've seen excellent found-footage movies and this is erasing them from my memory like some kind of infectious disease. There are some goosebumply moments, but shorts shitting this is not. Bad.

Jason: I was going to give this latest Asylum offering an Ugly for setting a movie in the infamous Amityville house without actually bothering to make the house they used look anything like it. But The Asylum profits off of name brands, so you can't really fault them for being them. And there are boobies and blood within the first five minutes, so at least they tried. But the film isn't scary and the scene where the dad has a nervous breakdown is more comical than powerful. And the bits where the camera blacked out got on my nerve. A lot. This is a Bad movie without a doubt, but what else can we expect from The Asylum?

The Innkeepers and The Amityville Haunting

2012-01-20T08:50:00.000-08:00

Few horror films can chill like a good ghost story. Maybe it's the fear of the unknown. Maybe it's the thought of something watching you that you can't see. Or maybe a good ghost story plays on the fear that our home might be haunted too. There are enough tales floating around out there of allegedly true hauntings, so why wouldn't a ghost haunt our house?

Both films on the chopping block tonight take place in real locations with a spooky past. One famous, one not so much. The first movie Jason and Shawn tackle, The Innkeepers, takes place at the Yankee Peddler Inn in Torrington, CT. The second, The Amityville Haunting, should need no explanation.

Let it be known, The Innkeepers is directed by acclaimed horror director Ti West, who helmed The House of the Devil and Cabin Fever 2. He's a restrained filmmaker who knows how to craft a slow-burn scare.

The Amityville Haunting is yet another found-footage thriller care of those fine craftsmen of crap cinema, The Asylum. Which one of these films fares better by Basement standards? Stick with us!

The Basement Dwellers will also be spinning a new video game review care of Game Time With Greg and playing four new songs for your listening pleasure. You can follow the live tweets at @basementreviews and catch the podcast on Sunday!

And don't forget to tune in to 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops, Shaw Cable 106.1 and www.thex.ca at 9 p.m. PST tonight for the radio version of last week's show. It's worth staying in late for on a Friday night!

A look at tonight's filmed entertainment:

The Innkeepers

The Amityville Haunting

Reconnect with Resident Evil

2012-01-19T19:43:00.000-08:00

To tell the truth, I'm surprised at how popular these Resident Evil movies are. Only one of them, Extinction, is really any good. The rest are passable enough time killers made only mildly interesting by the presence of the Milla Jovovich -- one of the few convincing action heroines on the planet.

What Sony has done right with all the films, which will number five by the time Resident Evil: Retribution hits theatres this fall, is the marketing. These movies are sold really well, and that trend continues with the latest offering.

I like the way this trailer opens, I really do. It harkens back to the first film, which teased us with a commercial and then hit us with the goods. The last bit of footage makes Retribution look like any other Resident Evil movie, but if you dig them, that's why you're gonna go see it.

Joining Jovovich for Resident Evil: Retribution are Sienna Guillory (the pic above), Colin Salmon, Shawn Roberts, Michelle Rodriguez, Johann Urb, Oded Fehr, Kevin Durand and Li Bingbing (No shit!?! Bingbing!?!)

The film hits theatres in the Three-Extra-Dollars format Sept 14.

I Am Bruce Lee. I wish!

2012-01-18T19:14:00.000-08:00

If Shawn doesn't demand we review this documentary on the show I'm going to throat punch an infant. Not MY infant mind you, but a mutant zombie one for sure.

The legendary martial artist died way too young, depriving the world of his talent, philosophies, and wicked cool movies. Basement Dwellers will remember that Enter the Dragon was Shawn's pick for our first Movies You Need To See Before You Die episode, and I cannot disagree. No one rocked it like Bruce Lee.

Along comes this documentary made with the co-operation of Lee's daughter, Shannon Lee, and wife, Linda Lee Cadwell. The focus of the film is on Lee (duh) and those who have been influenced by his legacy and beliefs. The project also promises to show us rare footage and photographs of the Father of Martial Arts.

Sign me up! I love a good doc, and who isn't hungry for a little more of Bruce Lee? The film hits theatres in limited release Feb. 9.

Is George Lucas done?

2012-01-17T19:36:00.000-08:00

Holy crap! Did our very own George Lucas Death Clock scare the Dark Lord of the Sith into retirement? Has The Basement prevailed and rid the world of the future ruination of the Indian Jones and Star Wars franchises?

Check this out: “I’m retiring. I’m moving away from the business, from the company, from all this kind of stuff.”

That's what Lucas to The New York Times in an interview published online Tuesday morning. Sounds pretty promising doesn't it? Well, not really.

Lucas goes on to say he's still leaving room for a possible fifth installment in the Indiana Jones franchise and he might go back to his THX 1138 roots and make experimental movies that would only be shown in art houses. You know, because everyone wants him to do that.

Still, there's hope that Lucas might finally be done tinkering with at least one of his popular franchises, which is fine by me. His new movie Red Tails hits theatres on Friday. And I don't care if I ever see it.

The first five minutes of Haywire

2012-01-16T19:30:00.000-08:00

The new action movie starring MMA star Gina Carano doesn't hit theatres until next week, but we've scored the first five minutes of the Steven Soderbergh action flick.

And shit like this makes me smile in a big way. I dig action movies. And I dig it when a female can kick ass in a convincing way. Given Carano's street cred and what's on display here, I'm pretty sure she's got a long career ahead of her as an action star.

This is also a great way to open a movie. Some mystery. Some promise of things to come. And some ass kicking. All from an Oscar winning director. Sign me up!

Haywire co-stars Michael Douglas, Antonio Bandaras, Bill Paxton, Ewan McGregor, and Michael Fassbender. It hits theatres Jan. 20

Anyway, enough chit chat. Now let Carano pleasure your eye holes.

Jason and Shawn review: A Lonely Place To Die and 11-11-11

2012-01-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

A Lonely Place To Die

Jason: Not the movie I expected but that's not a bad thing. This is actually one of the better sit downs I've had in some time. The mountain climbing sequences are intense and well shot. Makes you feel like you're on the mountain. Actually, all the action scenes are well done. I like the way this flick was put together. There's also one of the best “Oh shit” moments at the 32-minute mark. Actually put my hands up to my face in shock. The bad guys were two of the most vicious bastards I've ever seen. But they were well written and played. Actually, the whole cast did good. Still, I have no desire to see it again. I think this will have to rate a Bad because of that. But see it!

Shawn: I thought this was going to just be an exciting mountain climbing movie. Sarcasm included. Haha. But it turned out better than I thought. The film is pretty slow to start but, once it got rolling, I started to enjoy it a bit more. I like that I legitimately grew attached to the characters; more so than to the little girl they rescue. And when they died -- and they do die -- I felt the loss. Fair enough. There's some really good scenes in this movie, some really exciting scenes. Some "oh shit" scenes. I was almost going to give this a Good but . . . no. I won't watch it again. It's cool stuff, but I have to give it a Bad.

11-11-11

Jason: Ha ha! Fuck you, Asylum. Fuck you! Duped by your cheap knockoff ways. We thought this was Darren Lynn Bousman's much ballyhooed 11-11-11, but it's not. It's one of your inglorious mockbusters. This is more funny than scary. When the creepy cat lady next door comes out of the shed in the back yard, I laughed. When the hot satanist nanny kicked the crap of the hot, not-satanist nanny, I laughed. When the . . . ah, forget it. I laughed a lot. This movie is bad. Fuck it. It's so bad. No, wait. It's Ugly.

Shawn: I was pretty excited to watch this movie because Jay was exciting to watch this movie. Turns out it wasn't the movie he was excited about and we watched the wrong one. Still, it's an interesting movie, especially given that it's an Asylum movie. It was pretty good for what it was. Most of its success hangs on the dad, who was really well played. His acting holds the movie together. There are some unsatisfying deaths, but the kid does die at the end and we don't usually see that. This gets a Bad from me, but Asylum . . . nicely done.

Micro Review: Shark Night 3D

2012-01-14T09:44:00.000-08:00

A better, more appealing, and accurate title would be Sara Paxton In A Bikini, as she and said bikini are the only reasons to watch this movie. There's few sharks, even fewer shark attacks, and 75 per cent of the film takes place during the day. And these are PG-13 shark attacks done without the skill a master like Spielberg would bring to the table. If I'm watching a shark movie, I want shark attacks and lots of them. And they better be cool! Still, we do get Sara Paxton in a bikini, and she and the article of clothing save this from an Ugly. But it's still Bad.

A Lonely Place To Die and 11-11-11

2012-01-13T08:54:00.000-08:00

Times they are a changin' in The Basement! And it has nothing to do with the lovely lady above realizing any Basement Dwellers even exist.

Regular listeners to the radio show and podcast are probably wondering what the deuce happened last week (Jan. 6). The radio show had a steady, loud hum through it and the podcast, well, there was no podcast per say. The entire hour was lost save for the recorded interview with John "The Arrow" Fallon.

The problem was a technical issue at The X that, while annoying to radio listeners, rendered the podcast inaudible. We're told the issue has been corrected but, because the podcast is a huge part of Film Reviews From the Basement, the crew isn't taking any chances with future episodes.

Starting tonight the show will be recorded live in The Basement. That means the full hour will run uninterrupted just as it has on the air every Friday night at The X with two reviews, the movie news, music and the live tweets of Mike S over at @basementreviews. And, of course, the lively banter of Jason and Shawn.

The hour will be podcast on Sunday and air the following Friday on 92.5FM CFBX Kamlooops at 9 p.m. PST. You can also find it at the same Bat Time on Shaw Cable 106.1 and www.thex.ca. We encourage our radio fans to tune in then.

The Basement believes this is the best way to keep the integrity of the podcast, which has been the show's calling card since the beginning. And it allows the radio show to continue as well.

Tonight Jason and Shawn will recap their lost reviews of Grave Encounters and Julia's Eyes plus tackle the mountain climbing thriller A Lonely Place To Die starring Melissa George (above) and The Asylum knockoff 11-11-11. Plus our thoughts on the worst movie kills of all time.

Don't get 11-11-11 confused with Darren Lynn Bousman's 11-11-11, because that's what Jason did and that's how the flick ended up on the schedule for tonight's hour of entertainment.

We hope Basement fans appreciate the new arrangement, and thanks to Steve and Brant for being so accommodating. As always, stick with us!

And now for a look at tonight's attractions:

A Lonely Place To Die

11-11-11

Retro Review: My Bloody Valentine (1981)

2012-01-12T23:47:00.000-08:00

Given that My Bloody Valentine is a cheap Halloween cash-in, this Canadian slasher movie hasn't aged too badly in its 31 years. Yes, it's poorly written and the acting borderlines on camp, but the kills are decent enough and the film is technically superior. Interestingly enough, the film had nine minutes cut upon initial release by the MPAA because of violence and gore. I'd be like to see that cut, because the theatrical release is no better or worse than the average slasher flick of the era. Not bad, but it was ripe to be remade. And My Bloody Valentine 3D (2009) is a lot more fun. Still, I'm glad I saw it. A Bad for me.

Micro Review: Rise Of The Planet of the Apes

2012-01-12T20:33:00.000-08:00

Shawn from Film Reviews From The Basement, reporting live, from...the...er..basement.

After much internal debate in regards to actually taking in this movie, it was legitimately a Christmas gift, so I had to watch it. The actual debate being my absolute hate on for James Franco.

After watching this movie, I don't think that I could picture another actor in his place. He really did a great job. Enough, in fact, to remove a lot of hate.

This movie was built around one moment in the pre-history of all the Planet of the Apes movies. The moment an ape spoke.

Can't tell you how much I enjoyed this movie, the build up, the moment...I've already watched it a few times. I give it a good, without question. If you liked the original ones, you'll dig this one a lot too.

Briana Evigan joins The Devil's Carnival

2012-01-12T19:13:00.000-08:00

Any excuse to post a pic of the lovely Briana Evigan is a good excuse in my book. And hey, it's horror-related news, so why the deuce not!?!

Evigan, the hottie who starred in Burning Bright and Sorority Row, has signed on to Darren Lynn Bousman's 45-minute experimental short film The Devil's Carnival. The latest genre offering from Bousman, who helmed several of the Saw movies plus Mother's Day, The Barrens, the non-Asylum 11-11-11 and Repo: The Genetic (spits) Opera.

She joins Taryn Manning and Bill Moseley in the short, which is a quasi musical about a carnival run by the devil. The musical aspect turns me right off, but with Evigan in it . . . Yeah. I might just give it a shot. And it's only 45 minutes. Right?

Not much more is known about the project, but we'll try and keep you Basementites in the loop.

It's a 2-Headed Shark Attack

2012-01-11T21:28:00.000-08:00

Because, really, how else can you describe a movie called 2-Headed Shark Attack? It's a movie. About a two-headed shark. And the two-headed shark attacks people. You don't get any more on the nose than that.

The film comes care of those wacky purveyors of mockbuster entertainment -- The Asylum. Yup, the same Asylum that made the Mega Shark movies and the knockoff 11-11-11, which we review on Friday.

2-Headed Shark Attack stars Carmen Electra (pic) and is directed by Christopher Douglas-Olen Ray from a story by Edward DeRuiter a screenplay by H. Perry Horton.

Does the plot matter? Fuck no! But here it is in a nutshell: Survivors escape to a deserted atoll after a Semester at Sea ship is sunk by a mutated two-headed shark. But when the atoll starts flooding, no one is safe from the double jaws of the monster.

We in The Basement have a soft spot for movies like this, Anthony Michael Bosa especially. You know we'll see it, and you know we'll let you know whether or not it's Good, Bad or Ugly when we do.

Here's some footage from a special effects test to tide you over until the film hits DVD/Blu-Ray later this month:

A clip from Chronicle

2012-01-10T19:31:00.000-08:00

The super hero and found-footage genres have been getting pretty stale lately, but perhaps by putting them together one plus one will equal three.

That's what the makers of the upcoming super hero flick Chronicle appear to be shooting for. The story involves three high school students who make a startling discovery that leaves them with strange powers. But things soon spiral out of control when the trio start using these powers to their advantage.

The clip below shows the boys learning how to use their powers. It's a short clip, but I have to admit it's pretty darn groovy. I've watched the feature trailer for the film as well and dig what I see. At some point I intend to watch Chronicle, which hits theatres Feb. 3. Josh Trank directs from a script by Max Landis.

Check out the clip and let us know if you intend to give Chronicle a view.

Hansel and Gretel to hunt witches next year

2012-01-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

Yup, there's a movie featuring classic children's characters who grow up to be witch hunters. And it stars The Hurt Locker's Jeremy Renner and Quantum of Solace's Gemma Arterton. And it's directed by the guy who made Basement fave Dead Snow.

Pretty good pedigree, yes? Indeed.

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters was actually due out March 2, a few scant months down the road with nary a trailer to judge the movie by in sight. But today Paramount Pictures announced it was pushing the action/horror/comedy back until Jan. 11, 2013.

Usually a schedule shift means bad scoobies for the movie in question. But buzz on Hansel and Gretel has been quite good and Renner is a star in the making. One can speculate Paramount wants to take advantage of his upcoming turns in The Avengers and The Bourne Movie Without Matt Damon to increase his popularity.

Tommy Wirkola's film takes place 15 years after the siblings' troubling gingerbread house encounter and finds them as bounty hunters who track and kill witches around the globe.

Sounds like fun if you ask me!

A killer trip to the bank in ATM

2012-01-09T19:06:00.000-08:00

I think this trailer for the new slasher movie ATM is proof filmmakers are running out of ideas.

For one, I'm not sure how they can milk the formula of three people trapped at an automated teller machine by a killer interesting for 90 minutes. Plus, as a character says in the preview below, there's three of them and only one killer. Just rush the fucker, get it over with, and go grab a beer or something.

But discounting a movie based on a trailer is almost as bad as getting too hyped up for one because of the same. And the film does star Alice Eve who is, well, hot. So I'm half way there already.

David Brooks directs from a script by Chris Sparling, who penned the incredible Buried. That just increased my interest level. Hopefully he kept the plot holes to a minimum and we don't spend the entire running time watching people stand around looking scared.

No word yet on when this hits theatres, but we'll keep you posted.

Jason and Shawn review: Grave Encounters and Julia's Eyes

2012-01-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

Grave Encounters

Jason: A personal experience similar to what transpires in this movie might make me connect with it more but regardless, this is creepy, creepy stuff. Even when things go off the rails and into the realm of the impossible, it's still believable. No monsters. No demons. Just stuff one would possibly encounter in a haunted place. This kept the movie grounded and, ultimately, scary. Nothing here is overdone. It's all slow burn. It works for the most part. Maybe things take a little too long to get going, but the payoff is there. I own this movie. I've watched it twice. I will see it again. A Good!

Shawn: This movie looks FAR too familiar for both Jay and I. This is another case where our idea got made into a real movie. Except we did this. Did. It. Along with a psychic, skeptic and camera dude. There is the mother of all jump scares here. I don't usually like jump scares, but this one works, probably because the rest of the movie is scary too. What more can I say? Shorts. Shitting. Entertainment. Good.

Julia's Eyes

Jason: How can something that starts off so strongly end so badly? See the universe in her eyes? Lame! That said, there's a lot to like here. Some really, really good scares and suspense. Foot chase at the clinic for the blind? Loved it! Final showdown lit with only a camera flash? Very cool. A couple very good killer-in-the-house sequences. The movie is scary and suspenseful, it's got Belen Rueda – good actress, nice boobs – but it's too long and too Hollywood for my liking. I didn't mind watching it once, but it's a Bad for me.

Shawn: Man, blind people, my heart goes out to you. This movie made me feel very claustrophobic in the eye section…wow. …and the creepy eyes that some blind people have always scare the shit out of me. You know, the zombie, dead eyes. Not the wondering weird ones. Anyway, this movie had a lot of excellent elements. I really liked it, but won’t ever need to watch it again. There were too many boring times. I was let down as I thought it was going to be supernatural related. AND no boobies from the main actress, but saw other unknown characters' boobies. Like I said, not loveable. Definitely suspenseful. But still a Bad for dragging on and on.

Micro Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

2012-01-07T15:52:00.000-08:00

I had a hard time enjoying David Fincher's take on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and it has nothing to do with the quality of the movie. In some ways this is Fincher's best work since Se7en and in many aspects it's a far superior, more faithful adaptation of the Stieg Larsson novel than the Swedish film. If you've not read the book or seen that film, you will probably really dig this version. If, like me, you've enjoyed both, you might find few surprises to warrant sitting through the film's two hour and 38 minute running time. I like the performances and love Fincher's command of the material, but was kept at arm's length by the movie as a whole. This has to be a Bad from this Basement Dweller.

The Arrow returns, Grave Encounters and Julia's Eyes

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2012. If you're a Mayan, this is the year the world ends. If not, it's another 12 months filled with promise, potential and, as is the case in The Basement: movies. Lots of 'em. Some Good, others Bad and a handful downright Ugly.

And what better way to kick off the second half of the season then by having John Fallon -- The Arrow himself -- back in The Basement. John was the first guest Jason and Shawn interviewed on the show and the head honcho of Arrow in the Head has been a busy man since. Tonight, John talks about his role in the upcoming French horror flick Dead Shadows and the plethora of other projects he's got on the go during a feature interview . . . one that must not be missed!

But that's not all. Oh no. This is a film review show, so there's a couple of movies the boys have lined up for the chopping block. First up is the found-footage frightfest Grave Encounters from the aptly named Vicious Brothers. The film earned high praise during a limited theatrical run and the preview (see below) looks creepy as fuck. Is Grave Encounters shorts shitting entertainment? Stick with us!

Then it's the Spanish thriller Julia's Eyes care of that master of the macabre, Guillermo del Toro. This tale of a woman seeking her sister's killer while losing her sight certainly sounds promising. But you'll have to tune in tonight at 10 p.m. PST to find out if it sits well with the Basement Dwellers.

If you're in the Kamloops area you need to tune that dial to 92.5FM CFBX or Shaw Cable 106.1. For everyone else, log on to www.thex.ca and get ready for an hour of radio that must be heard to be believed!

And for our Twitter followers, join Mike S as he tweets along to our show at @basementreviews. The man knows his tweeting. Trust us on that!

And now for a look at our feature presentations:

Grave Encounters

Julia's Eyes

Real fear in real time with Silent House

2012-01-05T21:09:00.000-08:00

I would love to get my hands on the original Uruguayan horror film Silent House, but we in The Basement are content to share the trailer for the U.S. remake until then.

The film, which plays out in real time, follows a young woman as her panic turns into real terror when she's trapped inside her family's crumbling lake house with an unknown entity. Elizabeth Olsen stars in the film hot off her success in the indie flick Martha Marcy May Marlene, which is supposed to be quite brilliant.

This is a killer premise and the real-time gimmick is perfect for the horror genre. The original Silent House is considered a minor classic and the trailer for the U.S. version is quite effective.

But we'll let you be the judge of that. Press play and sound off. The film hits theatres March 9.

Ash cast in Evil Dead remake

2012-01-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

And, as previously reported here in The Basement, he is a she this time around. Yup. Ash, or should we say Mia, is chick.

We love chicks in The Basement, but us Basement Dwellers aren't sold on this Evil Dead redo at all. Nope. Not one bit. Why? Mia is a drug addict. And she's at the cabin for detox. And she's not Bruce Campbell, which renders the existence of another Evil Dead movie pointless.

In this version, the story centers on five friends (David, Natalie, Eric, Olivia, and Mia) holed up at a remote cabin where they discover a Book of the Dead. A demonic force is unleashed and possesses each until only one is left to fight for survival.

Oh, Mia will be played by Lily Collins (above), who also starred in The Blind Side (didn't see it), Priest (sucked) and Mirror, Mirror (don't intend to see it). The film shoots in New Zealand in March and FilmDistrict plans to release it in theatres on April 12, 2013.

The dead speak in spooky clip from The Innkeepers

2012-01-03T18:36:00.000-08:00

Ti West's latest horror offering is available on VOD right now and hits theatres Feb. 3. We in The Basement have heard many a good thing about this ghost story and are jonesing to see it ourselves. Until then, we must make do with this creepy clip care of Yahoo Movies.

Short, sweet and hinting at the atmospheric chills to come, the clip shows stars Sara Paxton and Pat Healy as they attempt to converse with one of the spirits haunting the Yankee Pedlar Inn. Are they successful? You'll have to watch.

I know. We're bastards.

As for the film's official synopsis? Read on: "After over one hundred years of service, The Yankee Pedlar Inn is shutting its doors for good. The last remaining employees --Claire (Paxton) and Luke (Healy)—are determined to uncover proof of what many believe to be one of New England's most haunted hotels. As the Inn’s final days draw near, odd guests check in as the pair of minimum wage “ghost hunters” begin to experience strange and alarming events that may ultimately cause them to be mere footnotes in the hotel’s long unexplained history"

Enjoy the clip, and share your thoughts below!

Paranormal Activity 4 will be made!

2012-01-02T20:05:00.000-08:00

Like, duh! When the third installment in the Paranormal Activity series outgrossed the second and made almost as much as the first, it was only a matter of time before Paramount announced a fourth.

And, if you doubt my words, check out the following blurb from a Paramount Pictures press release:

“In 2012, Paramount’s release slate highlights include “World War Z,” a zombie thriller starring Brad Pitt and directed by Marc Forster, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” the next installment in the global franchise starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Channing Tatum, a new chapter in the “Paranormal Activity” franchise, and “The Dictator,” starring Sacha Baron Cohen and directed by Larry Charles, the team behind “Borat.”

The question that must now be asked is what will the latest entry be about? Two and three were prequels. Where will the story go from here? Another prequel? An official sequel? Something different altogether? And, most importantly, will Katie Featherstone (pic) be back? Thanks for not including THOSE details in the press release, jerkoffs!!

To be honest, does it really matter? No. Shawn and I have yet to see Paranormal Activity 3. It's supposed to be good. But how much life can there be in this found-footage franchise? I guess we'll learn that answer when the grosses die off.

Until then, check back here for more as the project develops. We anticipate Paranormal Activity 4 will be in theatres for Halloween

Micro Review: The Expendables Extended Cut

2012-01-01T09:23:00.000-08:00

How do you improve on awesome? By giving us more. More action, more character development, more humour and more heart. Scenes are extended, scenes are changed, but everything you loved about the original cut -- which was just fine thank you -- is still here. This is badass entertainment. Stallone knows how to shoot an action scene and get everything he can from his actors. And that scene with Sly, Willis and Schwarzenegger? Still puts a big smile on this movie geeks face. Also good for film nerds is the lengthy documentary Inferno. It shows Sly at work and gives some great insights into the process behind making an old school action flick like this. Worth the purchase and one to watch again and again. A Good from me on this!

Micro Review: Final Destination 5

2011-12-31T10:23:00.000-08:00

I'm an unashamed fan of the Final Destination series. Like the original run of Friday the 13th films, these movies are all about death and how death rolls. The formula is the same with each film, but it's the way the carnage plays out that makes them fun and highly entertaining. The fourth entry is the weakest link, so it's nice to see the fifth installment return to the series's glory. There's a great opening sequence on a bridge and the final thrill is a great one that brings the series full circle. The acting doesn't matter here, it's the effects and the kills that are the true stars, and they shine! And yes, the Tom Cruise lookalike does die . . . twice! That's Good for me.

Mike S reviews Troll Hunter

2011-12-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

Mike S, the creator of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly and curator of The Corner of Terror joined me in The Basement recently for a screening of the Best Flick of 2011 (in my opinion), Troll Hunter. But The S is a biased man, just like Shawn and I, so he might not agree with me on that. What does he think?

Read on . . .

A few months ago Jay and Shawn reviewed the 2010 Norwegian film, "Troll Hunter". Well, I finally managed to get the chance to sit down and watch it so that I could give you guys my thoughts on this unique film.

And here they are:

I was expecting it to be a rather cheesy movie in the same horrid way that "Leperchaun" was, but since Jay and Shawn enjoyed it, I was anxious to see it. I was quite pleased with it from start to finish.

The plot is fairly simple and easy to follow: a college film crew wants to document events surrounding strange disappearances and property damage that are reportedly done by bears. While trying to get a possible poacher to talk, the crew stumble onto something even stranger and far more dangerous... troll hunting.

I found it highly appropriate that a Norwegian film would deal with such a topic, as trolls are more of a Nordic tradition than and English/North American one. It helped add to the reality of the whole situation that was only enhanced by the CGI work and the acting.

I really enjoyed how the trolls looked the way they've been portrayed in old illustrations with the small, beady eyes, and bulbous noses, etc. Just fantastic for a monster geek like myself. The CGI was also used sparingly, which was nice since it didn't distract from the characters involved.

The acting was also pretty decent considering that most of them were unknowns. Otto Jespersen was great as Hans, the troll hunter, and Thomas Alf Larsen, Johanna Morck, and Glenn Erland Tosterud were believable as college film students as well. The cast worked well together, and the humourous parts of the movie came naturally. The way Jespersen delievered some of his lines with such a straight tone was just priceless, and I couldn't help but smile and chuckle.

While the movie isn't, "I can't sleep now, thank you," scary, it does pull you into the story and makes you a little worried about the safety of the characters. I was quite impressed with how easily "Troll Hunter" made it for me to forget that it was just a movie, and enter the reality presented before me... by the end, I believed in trolls.

Because of that, I'm giving "Troll Hunter" a honoured spot in "The Good," and will be adding it to my collection as soon as I can.

Jason's Top 10 of 2011

2011-12-30T09:49:00.000-08:00

There was a time when I saw almost everything that hit mainstream theatres. A lot has changed since then. For one, I've come to dislike most of what Hollywood dishes out week after week, finding it boring, unoriginal tripe designed for mass consumption. No chances are taken . . . because taking a chance can hurt box office.

Then there's the show, which requires Shawn and I to watch two movies a week that are away from the mainstream. No complaints; none at all. But it leaves little time to track what's playing in theatres in our home town.

That said, this is a list that's very different from other Top 5 or Top 10 or Top Whatever lists floating around out there. It's a list cobbled together from what I've seen in 2011 and largely from what's been viewed on the show. I can do no more, or no less.

Enjoy the list, and remember: Shawn and I are back on the air Friday Jan. 6 at 10 p.m. PST on 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops, Shaw Cable 106.1 and www.thex.ca. We've got the return of The Arrow himself, John Fallon, and reviews of Grave Encounters and Julia's Eyes. Awesome doesn't begin to describe the hour of radio that awaits!

1) Troll Hunter
TRROOOOOLLLLLLLL! That will never get old. This is one of the few found-footage films that gets it right. We see enough of the monsters, the camera doesn't shake so much that we get motion sickness, and not too much time is wasted on the boring humans. Actually, the humans are kinda interesting! And I believed everything I saw in this movie, even though it's 100 bullshit. By the time this movie was done, I was convinced trolls exist, at least in Norway. That's the sign of a great movie, people. Hollywood take note: this is great entertainment. Don't remake it, just give it a wide release and you'll make the millions you so desire. A Good from The Basement on this.

2) Buried
I love movies that leave me feeling like I've been punched in the gut and this movie did that to me. The final 10 minutes are unbearably suspenseful and the ending, although some may see it coming, still packs a wallop. This is the kind of movie Alfred Hitchcock would have made if he were still with us. It's cinematic, emotional and even shocking despite its cramped quarters and features a great performance by Ryan Reynolds. This is a one-man show and he owns it. A Good review from me.

3) Rubber
Rubber is a slap in the face to Hollywood and all the sheeple who flock to the mass-market garbage movie studio's make. As long as the sheeple keep watching movies like that, Hollywood will keep making them. That's what Rubber is about, but it's also about a killer tire named Robert. To say Rubber is witty as hell and twice as funny would be an understatement. It's ballsy and has something to say. People will either groove on that or hate it. I grooved on it, and it's getting a Good in books.

4) Kidnapped
Where to begin? First off, I dig the way it was shot. Lots of long tracking shots to give it a documentary feel. Also love the split screen. It ramps up the tension and the thrills. Some sequences almost knocked me out! And the ending? Killer! Left me spinning on me heals and feeling like I'd been punched in the stomach. Not for the faint of heart or fans of mainstream cinema. Kidnapped pulls no punches and takes no prisoners. It's a Good. I gotta watch it again!

5) Attack the Block
I'd rather watch a movie with juvenile thugs as the main characters than rich, pretentious white people. I'm talking about YOU Skyline. These are the kinds of people you want protecting the planet: real people who, despite being scared, ACT. They know how to defend themselves and their block. They kick ass. Lots of it. And they're about 15 years old. This is a fucking awesome movie! Gory. Scary aliens. Chases. Some good one liners. A fun ride! Better than most movies of its kind. A Good for me.

6) Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil
What a fun, likable movie with lovable characters and some great, gory deaths -- none of which are at the hands of another character! And yes, Katrina Bowden is gorgeous. Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil isn't laugh-a-minute funny, but I did laugh a lot. And one's enjoyment of it doesn't hinge on whether or not he or she is a horror fan. If you dig horror comedies in the vein of Shaun of the Dead, you will likely enjoy Tucker and Dale. I did, and I'm giving it a Good.

7) ChromeSkull: Laid to Rest 2
Best. Slasher. Sequel. Ever. There, I said it. This is an original piece of work, at least for the genre. Yet it gives fans what they want: more blood, more gore, and cooler kills. Yet there are ideas at work here. Hell, the main villain, ChromeSkull, has a pit crew -- a whole network of people working for him. No wonder he can pull off what he does! Even Brian Austin Green was good here. He was creepy, messed up, and a total wanna-be ChromeSkull. The little game of Who Is the Better Killer that he and the original play is F-ing cool. ChromeSkull is quickly becoming one of my favourite slasher villains, and this film lands firmly in the Good. For shizzle.

8) The Loved Ones
Wow, what an experience. I've never gone from hating a movie to loving it before. But I did here. Believe it! The first 40 minutes or so are disjointed and weird. Then the film has a brilliant turning point and it all comes together in the best possible way. Robin McLeavy is a revelation as Lola, one of the creepiest movie villains of all time. Her family makes the one from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre seem oddly tame. This is a disturbing and crazy film that is also a lot of fun. I have to give it a Good.

9) Catfish
Fact or fiction? Or does it even matter? This sure looks and feels like a documentary. No note is false. Every person feels 100 per cent credible. If it's bullshit, then give the makers an award anyway. This movie pulled at me. I felt every emotion while watching it and it's certainly a work for our times; kind of a high-tech, real-life thriller. And, true or not, every Facebook user needs to see this because there is no doubt in my mind this happens every day to people who spend too much time online. In fact, I'd be willing to screen it to people just for that purpose. This is a Good for sure.

10) Burning Bright
Jaws on land. That's the best way to describe Burning Bright, although it isn't as good as Jaws. This is a tight thriller with lots of expertly executed suspense. Briana Evigan acts as good as she looks, and she looks great. I believed her and her relationship with the autistic brother. Burning Bright is a solid horror movie, and one of the best I've reviewed in The Basement. A Good for me.

The Basement will be filled with Rage

2011-12-28T19:30:00.000-08:00

Because that's the name of an acclaimed new horror movie that is being sent our way care of director Chris Witherspoon.

Made on a shoe-string budget, Rage tells the story of Dennis (Rick Crawford) who unintentionally runs afoul of a mysterious motorcyclist. The encounter sets in motion a day-long battle that grows more and more sinister as it goes along. Sounds like a gritty riff on Duel or Joyride. I dig!

The film has earned praise across the board on the independent film festival circuit. It's also scored points with Fangoria and Horror Movies.ca, which makes Shawn and I all the more eager to put Rage on the chopping block as soon as the screener arrives. Ditto the effective little trailer below.

Check out the film's official website and Twitter feed for more details. And stick with us for our thoughts on Rage once we get to see it!

Comparison and contrast: Fright Night

2011-12-24T09:33:00.000-08:00

Shawn and I enjoy shitting on remakes or reboot or whatever the kids and studio execs are calling them these days. Primarily because most suck, and suck hard. But that's not the case with all of them.

A good remake brings something unique to the table, retelling a good story in a new and interesting way. Like a good production of Hamlet, which has to be one of the most told stories in human history.

I'm not saying The Thing or Halloween or Fright Night are on the same level as Hamlet, but they are stories that lend themselves to retelling. And, when done right, each version can be as timeless as the one that came before it.

With that in mind, I've tackled the 1980s horror classic and its redo, released this past summer.

Fright Night (1985)

I first saw this movie back in 1985. It's the first horror film I watched in a theatre and it scared the crap out of me. Now it's just a great funhouse ride of laughs, scares and gruesome, but fun, visual effects. Chris Sarandon is just awesome as the vampire and Roddy McDowall is a joy to watch as Peter Vincent: Vampire Killer. This was made back when horror movies, and movies in general, were a lot of fun and it shows. I find it hard to believe the remake will have anywhere near the energy and wit writer/director Tom Holland put into every frame of his movie. A Good for me.

Fright Night (2011)

This could've been one of the better remakes in the horror cannon had the final act not fallen apart in a mess of nonsense and contrived plot twists. But the 40 or 50 minutes that come before it are a fun and frightening update of the original film. Director Craig Gillespie and writer Marti Noxon make all the right choices in retelling the story of a vampire that moves into a suburban neighbourhood. Scenes are moved around and changed, giving the story a different feel. Colin Farrell makes Jerry his own, turning him into and angry and frightening villain. The rest of the cast is equally as good, and different, from the one that came before. I wish I could give this a Good, but the weak ending puts it in the Bad.

Micro Review: Colombiana

2011-12-24T09:10:00.000-08:00

Zoe Saldana is one badass chick. There's no denying her charisma, physicality and acting chops. She's one of the few actresses who can pull off an action heroine. Unfortunately, the script by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen is nothing more than a rehash of other action movies, including Besson's own The Professional. And director Olivier Megaton overshoots and overedits the picture like he thinks he's Michael Bay or something. Throw in a convoluted love interest and you've got yourself standard Hollywood drivel livened up by a great performance and a few good fights. A Bad on this one.

Now I have a machine gun. Ho, ho, ho

2011-12-23T08:48:00.000-08:00

And with that, we want to wish our fellow Basement Dwellers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The holiday season has arrived and there's presents to be wrapped and opened, booze and food to be enjoyed and, yes, some movies to watch. It's not Halloween, but it'll do.

That means regular updates to the site won't be the order of the day for the next week or so. Perhaps if a bit of interesting news pops up or a review floats my way.

But fear not, Shawn and I are back on the air Jan. 6 at 10 p.m. PST on 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops, Shaw Cable 106.1 and www.thex.ca. We've got the return of The Arrow himself, John Fallon, and reviews of the found-footage horror fest Grave Encounters and the thriller Julia's Eyes. It'll be good radio, promise.

Thanks to everyone who supported us this past year and who sticks with us every week. And we appreciate the friends we've made along the way. The Basement is nothing without each and every one of you. You all rock individually and as a collective group.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

The Prometheus trailer promises Alien greatness

2011-12-22T09:35:00.000-08:00

Wow! Just had my socks knocked off by the official trailer for Prometheus, Ridley Scott's return to sci-fi and the Alien franchise (sorta).

We premiered the trailer's teaser a few days back. The result was a bit meh, but this . . . this delivers. Not only does it hint at the genre classic Scott created back in 1979, but it promises a big, sprawling sci-fi epic the likes of which we haven't seen in a long time. And love, love, LOVE the way the title is brought in. Again, nice nod to the Alien series.

The official word from 20th Century Fox? Pleasure your eye holes with this: Visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott returns to the genre he helped define, creating an original science fiction epic set in the most dangerous corners of the universe. The film takes a team of scientists and explorers on a thrilling journey that will test their physical and mental limits and strand them on a distant world, where they will discover the answers to our most profound questions and to life’s ultimate mystery.

I gotta see me this movie in a theatre when it lands on June 8. Until then, watch and enjoy Basmentites!!

Star Trek 2 won't shoot in 3D after all

2011-12-21T19:01:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks back we reported that director J.J. Abrams's second Star Trek flick would be filmed in 3D, a decision that baffled and frightened us in The Basement. The first film was great and hugely popular, so why gimmick up something that's sure to be huge hit with audiences anyway? Or so we wondered.

Turns out Abrams himself talked with MTV and shot down that rumour. The film will be shot normally and undergo the dreaded 3D-conversion process instead, meaning people will be able to see it in both Ds when it hits theatres in May 2013.

This is good news in a sense, as I could care less if Star Trek 2 was in 2D, 3D or even 4D. All we in The Basement want is another Star Trek movie already.

Also good news is Abrams dropped that he'd love to shoot the film in IMAX, which The Dark Knight and the latest Mission: Impossible were filmed in. IMAX gives a movie a powerful feel and scope that three extra dollars can't come close to capturing. Seeing the Enterprise warp in that format would be epic.

Here's the trailer for Abrams's first Trek.

Horror is about to get Familiar

2011-12-20T20:05:00.000-08:00

Got an email in our inbox from producer Zach Green of Fatal Pictures giving us the skinny on a new horror short he's about to unleash upon the world -- Familiar. And boy does it look like it's going to be good and bloody!

Written and directed by Richard Powell with gobs of the red stuff courtesy of Ryan Louagie's FX's, Familiar tells the story of a middle age man who, through a series of tragic events, grows to suspect the negative impulses plaguing his mind might not be his own.

Cryptic? Yes, as is the teaser below. But we've got a screener of this little horror find en route to The Basement and we'll be interviewing Green and Powell early in the new year, so you'll be able to hear much more about Familiar in 2012. And you'll hear it in The Basement.

In the meantime, enjoy the preview. It gave me chills during its short running time. Looking forward to seeing the final film!

Because we have to . . . The Dark Knight Rises trailer!

2011-12-19T20:35:00.000-08:00

Alright, alright. We're whores and we can't deny it anymore. We tried fighting it by posting the Prometheus pre-trailer, but why bother? It must be done. It's our duty as movie geeks!

We contemplated posting the bootlegs that popped up on the net these last couple of weeks but didn't, knowing this day would come . . . a day of high-quality epic greatness.

So, without further adieu, The Dark Knight Rises trailer! It's great. July can't come soon enough. 'Nuff said.

The Prometheus pre-trailer

2011-12-19T18:43:00.000-08:00

That's right, it's the trailer for a trailer. Or should I say the teaser for the teaser trailer? I'm not sure. Actually, I think I just burst something in my brain.

Regardless, we've got a little bit of nifty promotional material from 20th Century Fox counting down to the preview of director Ridley Scott's return to sci-fi and the franchise he created back in the 70s -- Alien. Well, kinda sorta. Prometheus is described as being more Alien related than a prequel to the series.

The video below is only a half minute long and doesn't show much beyond quick images of footage and behind-the-scenes material. But it works. I gotta see me that trailer come Thursday!

Prometheus stars Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender. Look for it in theatres on June 8th. The plot is still being kept under wraps.

Jason and Shawn review: Alien 3000 and Groundhog Day

2011-12-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

Alien 3000

Shawn: Every group of friends have their rules of friendship. Jason earned his friends' points by introducing Alien 3000 to me because he and Anthony Michael Bosa believe it's the worst movie ever made. Any movie that opens with a boob shot followed by some decent gore can't be the worst movie ever. But this is a shit movie; one of the worst I've seen in a long time. Aside from the gore and boobies, everything else about it is pretty bad. The worst thing is everyone in the movie takes it so seriously despite how bad it all is. This rates an Ugly, but The Lady with the Terrible Titties is still worse.

Jason: Worst. Movie. Ever. I thought that when Anthony Michael Bosa showed it to me in 2005 after claiming the same. And I think it now after doing my due diligence and showing it to dude. It's a study in bad. Bad acting. Bad direction. Bad special effects. Bad dialogue. Bad idea. It steals elements from Aliens, Predator and Independence Day among others and does so with malice. I can understand if people believe there are worse movies out there. But to me, this is as shitty as a shit movie can get. And I believe everyone should see it once to understand just how bad cinema can be. An Ugly on this one!

Groundhog Day

Shawn: The concept of this movie is what makes it required viewing. I'd actually rate it a Bad because you either dig Bill Murray (I do) or you don't and it's only funny in parts. But the idea of being given a chance to make everything in your life right is fascinating. It's like being asked "What would you do with a million dollars?" and seeing the answer played out on screen. Watching this movie movie will eliminate the douchebag in all of us, and not many movies are like that. Hence it's a movie to see before you die.

Jason: This is something we don't have a lot of in The Basement: a nice movie. A feel-good movie. Something to learn from and be inspired by. This is more of a Christmas movie than most traditional Christmas movies. No one plays an asshole like Bill Murray. Andie MacDowell can't act to save her life but she's definitely a girl worth pursuing. There's something I've always liked about her. I can't put my finger on it, other than she's exceptionally hot. And she's likable. This movie is a Good. It's inspiring and funny, and you gotta love a combination like that!

Movies You Need To See Before You Die Vol. 2

2011-12-16T08:42:00.000-08:00

Late last season Jason and Shawn shared with their fellow Basement Dwellers two movies they believe everyone needs to see before they die.

The films were Enter the Dragon and Running Scared, and the response was so positive the duo decided to pick two more movies they consider required viewing before death, only this time with a twist. How Shyamalan you say? Quite.

Shawn rolls with the 1993 Bill Murray comedy classic Groundhog Day. Such a light, sentimental choice might seem out of place coming from a beast, boob and blood loving dude like Shawn. In fact, what is up with that!?! Wanna find out? Stick with us!

Meanwhile, Jason brings an out-of-left-field choice with Alien 3000. The same Alien 3000 he and Anthony Michael Bosa say is the worst movie ever made? Indeed. Then why does it need to be a movie everyone watches before he or she dies? Well, you'll just have to tune in.

Thanks to Moe Porn from Drunk On VHS for tracking down Alien 3000. He will also sound off on the "film" tonight. And there will be music and other movie mayhem to go with it.

The last episode of Film Reviews From the Basement to air in 2011 kicks off at 10 p.m. PST on www.thex.ca, Shaw Cable 106.1 and 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good fright . . . err . . . night!

A look at our evening's films:

Groundhog Day

Alien 3000

It's the Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance trailer

2011-12-15T20:12:00.000-08:00

Sequel Week concludes in The Basement with a film starring Shawn's most hated actor of all time -- Nicolas Cage -- that's a follow up to a movie no one seemed to like: Ghost Rider.

But we've given the Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine directed sequel some love here on the site before. So why not showcase the feature-length trailer that premiered today on the Interwebs?

The preview is all about action and flashy visuals. Given that Taylor and Neveldine made the Crank films, there's also hints at the duo's tendency to make things over-the-top crazy. This is not a bad thing.

The story finds Johnny Blaze hiding out in Europe when he's called upon to save a young boy and prevent the Devil from taking human form on Earth. Whether or not Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is any better or worse than the lackluster first film will be known once the sequel hits theatres in February.

The Expendables 2 teaser

2011-12-14T19:06:00.000-08:00

It's sequel week in The Basement. And isn't it ironic that the two most badass looking sequels star Bruce Willis?

Ironic? No! Badass!

Naturally, Willis is not alone in The Expendables 2. Back are Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Randy Couture, Terry Crews and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Joining this cast of awesome is Chuck Norris (who hasn't aged a day in 30 years it seems) and Jean-Claude Van Damme. Yup, that's enough testosterone to power to planet.

The plot isn't important beyond Willis's Mr. Church recruiting the team as payback for not fulfilling the job in the first movie. As for the trailer, it shows the cast and a lot of guns. Great big fucking guns!

The Expendables 2 hits theatres Aug. 17. And our asses will be in seats to see it.

The Collector expands his work in The Collection

2011-12-13T19:36:00.000-08:00

Shawn and I didn't mind the Saw-inspired horror film The Collector. We caught it in between our podcast season and our first season on 92.5FM The X and haven't formally reviewed it on the show. But it'd say it rates a Bad.

Surprise surprise, The Collector was just popular enough to inspire a sequel, which is appropriately enough called The Collection and has been picked up by Lidell Entertainment for distribution.

The Collection is currently in post production and no release date has been set. Given that the first film did better at home than in theatres, I wouldn't be surprised if this goes straight to DVD.

The film stars Josh Stewart, Johnny Yong Bosch, Emma Fitzpatrick and Shannon Kane. As for the plot? The Collection picks up where The Collector left off, with anti-hero Arkin hired to rescue Elena, who was kidnapped in the first film, from The Collector's booby trapped hideout.

I enjoyed The Collector enough that I'm willing to give its sequel a try. Sure, the booby traps in the first film were a bit out there, but there was also blood and boobies. We take the Bad with the Good in The Basement.

The above picture is from the first film. I don't remember what's going on though.

Trailer Alert: G.I. Joe Retaliation

2011-12-12T22:30:00.000-08:00

Earlier in the day I posted a trailer for a big summer movie that I don't think will work. Not at all. Now I'm posting one for a big summer movie that I think will.

Why will I plunk down $10 for G.I. Joe Retaliation and not Men in Black 3? As a big, silly spectacle, the first Joe movie worked. This looks to be more of the same, if not a little less silly judging from the trailer below. Plus it's got The Rock kicking ass and, if you stick with it until the last 20 seconds or so, there's John McClane himself -- Bruce Fucking Willis -- doing what he does best.

Oh yeah, Cobra is actually Cobra in this. Believe.

I dig this preview. It does everything right. And shit blows up. Sold! See you on June 29.

The Men in Black are back

2011-12-12T07:47:00.000-08:00

Will Smith looks old. That's the first thing that popped into my mind while watching the teaser for Men in Black 3.

Sure, Tommy Lee Jones looks old too. But he was kinda old when the first Men in Black hit theatres back in 1997. Smith was young then. Guess I was too. Now we're all growed up and he's rich and famous and I'm not. But I'm happy, and that's all that matters.

The first Men in Black was awesome. The second . . . not so much. There's been a lot of bad buzz about the third in terms of script and budget etc. None of that is unusual when it comes to big summer movies. And this is going to be a big summer movie.

But does the film look any good. The teaser below looks OK. I didn't laugh once and have a hard time caring about a third entry in a 15-year-old film series. I'm probably alone on that train of thought so, submitted for your approval, is the teaser trailer for Men in Black 3, which hits theatres this summer.

Jason and Shawn review The Shrine and Needle

2011-12-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

The Shrine

Jason: The last 20 or so minutes of this movie owned! Creepy. Gory. You name it. Good on Aaron Ashmore's character for stepping up like he did. Good on the Polish villagers for being who they are. And good on Cindy Sampson for never once hesitating to show her cleavage. We love sexy in The Basement, and she brings it. This is a solid, eerie horror movie with one of the creepiest statues put on film. A Good for The Shrine from me.

Shawn: The first 12 minutes of this movie captivated me and gave me chills. We had a naked shower scene and a great scare. If the movie had ended there, it would have been a Good. The middle of this movie left me yawning, bored and not entertained at all. But the ending brought the thrills back. I though the whole concept was alright, but the execution was a bit sloppy. This movie had potential; potential that was not realized. A Bad for me.

Needle

Jason: Needle is a passable enough time waster. Something to watch on a Saturday night or Sunday afternoon with a few beers and no regrets. But you'll never watch it again and likely forget about it soon after the credits roll. The film tried too hard to make us believe one character is the killer. So much so that we're actually looking for a possible killer elsewhere. I wanted more from Needle. More gore. More scares. More of Tahyna Tozzi's boobs. I'm giving it a Bad, but there are worse ways to spend 90 minutes.

Shawn: This is a fairly original movie. Not completely original as ideas are spun off of other ideas, but kudos for trying. There's some cool deaths, a magic voodoo box and hot lesbians. Cool! Because of the cool ideas alone I almost gave this a Good without consideration. But I felt indifferent to who lived and died and figured out who the killer is right from the get go. I won't watch this again, so I'm giving it a Bad. I recommend it for some gore and a little originality, but it won't blow your skirt up.

Season Two, Episode 10: The Shrine and Needle

2011-12-09T08:59:00.000-08:00

There's nothing quite like watching beautiful people die. Not a question, but a statement from one horror fan to another.

And the actors and actresses cast in the films on the chopping block tonight are among the beautiful people. Given that the movies are of the independent and horror variety, there's a pretty good chance some, or even all, will meet a gruesome end. Jason and Shawn wouldn't have it any other way.

The first half of tonight's horrific double bill hails from Canada but takes place in Poland. The Shrine features a trio of journalists who investigate a cult accused of committing human sacrifices. One must assume the group runs the risk of finding out first hand if the allegations are true. Does The Shrine offer up thrills and chills? Stick with us!

Then it's off to the land Down Under for the supernatural tale of a torture device that allows the user to kill his or her prey from a distance. In this case the prey is a group of young university students who cross paths with the titular Needle. The plot certainly offers up potential, but The Basement Dwellers will judge whether or not the film is Good, Bad or Ugly.

There's also the return of Game Time With Greg, four songs for your listening pleasure and other movie-related tricks and treats, all starting at 10 p.m. PST on www.thex.ca, Shaw Cable 106.1 and 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops. It's radio from the cinematic basement.

A preview of tonight's main attractions:

The Shrine

Needle

Agitate Films will krush skulls in 2012

2011-12-08T19:44:00.000-08:00

ChromeSkull. SkullKrusher. You gotta love a horror villain with an on-the-nose name. And U.K.-based Agitate Films intends to bring audiences just that with SkullKrusher.

Currently in pre-production under the guidance of writer/directors Parmjit Singh and Anton Huber, SkullKrusher (love it!) tells the gruesome tale of six medical students whose experiments on the dead accidentally revive a psychopath. Trapped in a deserted hospital basement, the beast hunts and kills the students while they protect a 12-year-old girl named Kendra. Sounds like fun! Our kind of fun! Basement fun!

SkullKrusher is the first feature from Agitate Films, which operates out of London, England with the goal of producing low budget/micro feature films, shorts, clips, commercials and documentaries. To learn more, check out the company's website and give SkullKrusher's Facebook page a view!

We love us low-budget horror in The Basement. Shawn and I promise to keep you posted on SkullKrusher as the film goes into production!

Disturbing red band clip from The Devil Inside

2011-12-07T19:34:00.000-08:00

Being the father of a newborn, the clip below really rocked my world. But that does nothing to diminish my desire to see director William Brent Bell's upcoming horror film. In fact, the stones on display only make me want to see it more!

The found footage exorcism flick is Paramount Pictures's stab at creating another low-budget franchise like their Paranormal Activity series. The film follows a woman who becomes involved in a series of unauthorized exorcisms in an effort to discover why her mother allegedly murdered three people during her own exorcism.

We haven't featured The Devil Inside on the blog until now, but trailers I've seen predict a scary and shocking ride. If you don't believe me, watch the video. But know that despite any blood or gore, it's age restricted for a reason.

The film hits theatres nationwide next month.

The Cabin in the Woods trailer

2011-12-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

Last week we showed you the cool poster for Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard's The Cabin in the Woods. Now we've got the horror film's way cool trailer!

And true to what the pair have promised all along, The Cabin in the Woods takes the premise of five friends who gather at a cabin in the woods for a wild weekend of partying only to rule afoul of . . . something, and turns it on its ear.

Sure, all the elements are there, but something way bigger than a mad killer is at play here. And we in The Basement gotta see this movie and learn what that is! An original horror film? Quite!

The film stars Thor's Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchison and Fran Kranz. It hits theatres via Lionsgate on April 13. Now watch the brilliant trailer below care of JoBlo!

The most kills ever put on film?

2011-12-05T07:40:00.000-08:00

That's what the makers of The Summer of Massacre are claiming. Between it and the alleged scariest movie of 2012 -- Six Degrees of Hell -- next year is shaping up to be big one for horror fans!

Directed by Joe Castro, this anthology features eight slasher killers in five horror stories that, when combined, feature the most killings ever put on film! So says the Guinness Book of World Records. Some of them are featured in the bloody trailer below.

The cast includes genre veteran Brinke Stevens and ChromeSkull himself, Nick Principe. Does the plot of all five stories really matter? No. Not when the film claims to have the most kills ever put on screen.

I'm not much for violence for violence sake, but this has instantly become a must see! We like our slasher movies bloody in The Basement, and this promises to be bloody.

Just how bloody? Push play and find out. And thanks to JoBlo for finding the trailer for this potential classic. The film hits DVD and Blu-Ray Jan. 10!

Jason and Shawn review: Attack the Block and Kidnapped

2011-12-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

Attack the block

Jason: I'd rather watch a movie with juvenile thugs as the main characters than rich, pretentious white people. I'm talking about YOU Skyline. These are the kinds of people you want protecting the planet: real people who, despite being scared, ACT. They know how to defend themselves and their block. They kick ass. Lots of it. And they're about 15 years old. This is a fucking awesome movie! Gory. Scary aliens. Chases. Some good one liners. A fun ride! Better than most movies of its kind. A Good for me.

Shawn: Aliens attacking a neighborhood in the UK. Your heroes? 15-year-old gang kids. Likely? Probably more likely than Hollywood types could imagine. Why? Rich, pretentious 20 somethings don’t make good heroes. But, tough ghetto kids take their beef to anyone that might infringe on their territory, terrestrial or not. I really dig this movie. It has great chemistry, great acting, is well put together, and there's cool aliens. Done. Stuff blew up. Good.

Kidnapped

Jason: Dude watched this first and told me I would fucking love it. He was right. I did! Where to begin? First off, I dig the way it was shot. Lots of long tracking shots to give it a documentary feel. Also love the split screen. It ramps up the tension and the thrills. Some sequences almost knocked me out! And the ending? Killer! Left me spinning on me heals and feeling like I'd been punched in the stomach. Not for the faint of heart or fans of mainstream cinema. Kidnapped pulls no punches and takes no prisoners. It's a Good. I gotta watch it again!

Shawn: This movie reminded me of The Strangers in a lot of ways. But I was equally reminded that it totally isn’t that film. Yes, it's a home-invasion flick and it really wasn't the fastest moving movie. But it has great tension and FAR better scenarios than most movies. It went the distance and delivered with an incredible ensemble of violence and release at the end. Not your typical feel-good ending, but an ending that satisfies the pace and build. Definitely a Good from me.

The Harry Manfredini Interview, Attack the Block and Kidnapped

2011-12-02T08:53:00.000-08:00

Kill, kill, kill . . . ma, ma, ma! By taking the line of dialogue "Kill her, mommy. Kill her" and integrating it into the score for Friday the 13th, composer Harry Manfredini made cinematic history. He also coined one of the most spoken phrases in the movie-nerd vocabulary, and film fans love him for it.

Harry has composed music for more than 100 feature films during his prolific and influential career, one he only gets to scratch the surface of during Jason and Shawn's scant 30-minute chat with him. But it's a conversation every movie and music fan needs to hear, which is why this interview will air uninterrupted between the Basement Dwellers' two reviews of the evening.

And how about those reviews? First up, Jason and Shawn put the British sci-fi comedy Attack the Block on the chopping block. The boys know they are a bit late to the party when it comes to reviewing this highly regarded effort. But being the biased bastards they are, they know you'll want to hear their thoughts on the film. Is Attack the Block Good, Bad or Ugly? Stick with us!

Then it's over to Spain for the second movie of the evening: the home-invasion thriller Kidnapped. The film has a reputation for not holding back on the blood and carnage. Does it live up to its gruesome reputation? Tune in tonight and find out.

So grab a beer or two and plunk your butt down at 10 p.m. PST, tuning in to www.thex.ca, Shaw Cable 106.1 or 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops for all your radio and movie-review needs.

And now for a look at tonight's films:

Attack the Block

Kidnapped

Is The Cabin in the Woods a Rubik's Cube of horror?

2011-12-01T15:19:00.000-08:00

That's what the poster for the Joss Whedon scripted, Drew Goddard directed film The Cabin in the Woods would have us believe.

I admit, the below poster isn't what I would expect for a horror movie about five friends who gather at a cabin in the woods where bad things happen. Then again Whedon, who created Buffy, Angel and Firefly, isn't known for playing by the rules.

As we've previously reported, the film's release was long delayed by MGM's financial woes before Lionsgate picked it up. It now hits theatres April 13, 2012. A trailer is expected next week.

The Cabin in the Woods stars Thor's Chris Hemsworth but was filmed long before he was cast as the God of Thunder.

Night of the Walken Dead

2011-12-01T09:38:00.000-08:00

We're career Christopher Walken fans in The Basement, so this video hit our collective funny bones right where it counts.

From the sketch comedy group POKYPAC comes The Walken Dead, a spot-on spoof of the hit TV series The Walking Dead, only this time the zombie virus makes its victims quote The God Who Walks As A Man, Christopher Walken.

The video has great FX and makeup and the impressions, although a bit overplayed, are hilarious when strung together. So are the people's reaction to them. Even the funny make 'em ups work.

Press play and enjoy . . . little man!

We're the chum in Jurassic Shark

2011-11-29T15:11:00.000-08:00

It's amusing, but not in a ha-ha way, how author Steve Alten has struggled to get a big-budget Hollywood adaptation of his giant shark novel Meg made yet cheap knockoffs hit DVD and Video On Demand every other month. I feel his pain.

On the other hand, some of these schlocky shark flicks are kinda fun in their own way. The latest entry, Jurassic Shark, looks pretty damn funny. Whether that's the point or not remains to be seen.

Directed by Brett Kelly, this shark tale is made in the tradition of mockbuster greats like Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus and Sharktopus. The plot kicks off with an oil company accidentally unleashing a prehistoric shark from its icy prison. Once free, the shark strands a mixed bag of potential victims on an abandoned piece of land where they must join forces in order to survive.

Need I mention that the victims are a mix of art thieves and college students? Probably not, but it gives you an idea of what Jurassic Shark is all about.

As cheesy and cheap as this looks, Jurassic Shark is now a must see in The Basement. We're all about this kind of movie : beasts, boobs and blood. That's what makes us Basement Dwellers happy. Learn more about the film on its Facebook page and enjoy the hilarious trailer below.

Jason and Shawn review: Attack of the Moon Zombies and Destination: Outer Space

2011-11-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

Attack of the Moon Zombies

Jason: This has all the elements of bad 1950s sci-fi drive-in fodder. In fact, one of the characters actually describes the situation as such. The sets are made of cardboard, the costumes are cheap, and the monsters aren't the best quality. In fact. writer/director Christopher R. Mihm captures the look, sound effects and style of the era perfectly. And the acting and dialogue is spot on. Too bad the film clocks in at 90 minutes -- about 10 to 20 minutes longer than most movies of the age did. Had it been tighter, then this Basement Dweller would have had a better time. This is a Bad movie, but that's the point.

Shawn: Capt. Freely . . . Ace Freely! Ha ha! Good casting and this looks like the 50s style. I really like this one. This is what I was hoping Mihm's films would be like. I really think he nailed the feel of these movies. It's the complete opposite of Destination: Outer Space. I'll give this one a Bad, as that is probably the best I would give a 50s black and white sci-fi movie based on watching it in the times we live in. If I saw this in the 50s, I would give it a Good, but we have to adjust for inflation.

Destination: Outer Space

Jason: Not as "good" as Moon Zombies, but a movie that grows on you. Yes, this is supposed to be a loving tribute to 1950s B-grade sci-fi movies, but the first 20 or so minutes feel like it's a tribute to the awful ones. Slow. Bad dialogue. Cheap sound and special effects. You name it. Christopher R. Mihm knows his sci-fi. There's references to Star Wars, Star Trek, and Battlestar: Galactica among others and they are well done. As a satire of movies of the era, I'll give Mihm an A for effort. But it's too long and I doubt very much I will watch it again. Another Bad for me.

Shawn: This movie looks and feels so familiar. Yeah, we in The Basement tried to make an epic spaceship movie once. I think we did almost as well as Mihm did here. In all the departments. I fell asleep while watching this and really had a hard time paying ANY attention. It's simplistic, not well acted, and didn't quite have that feel that Attack of the Moon Zombies did. This is a fail and an Ugly for me. But it may have been an important stepping stone for Mihm, as it came before Moon Zombies.

Modern/Retro 50s Night Vol. 1: Attack of the Moon Zombies and Destination: Outer Space

2011-11-25T08:40:00.000-08:00

Months back writer/director Christopher R. Mihm contacted The Basement via email and asked if they'd be interested in reviewing some of his movies, which are loving throwbacks to the 1950s sci-fi/horror films he grew up with.

These are movies like Village of the Damned, The Blob and Them! Cheap, drive-in fodder designed to do nothing more than entertain. The Basement Cinema of a bygone era.

Always up for a challenge, Jason and Shawn took Mihm up on his offer and present to you the first of three episodes dedicated to his work that will air throughout the season, culminating in an interview with the man himself . . . unless The Basement Dwellers are unimpressed and Mihm unimpressed with them being unimpressed. Got that? Good.

The two looowwwwwww budget films on the chopping block tonight are sci-fi "epics" the likes of which have never graced the screen! A pair of spectacles designed to thrill, chill and bewilder in ways Basement Fans have not experienced until now! They are Attack of the Moon Zombies and Destination: Outer Space!

Even Mike S. gets in on the action, bringing listeners his thoughts on the 1950s drive-in classic Them! Plus there's a slew of music new and old and some other goodies to put you in a movie watching mood! This! Is! Radio! The! Way! It! Was! Meant! To! Be!

Tune in tonight at 10 p.m. PST on www.thex.ca, Shaw Cable 106.1 and the old fashioned way at 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops. The Basement demands it to be so!

Now for a look at tonight's films:

Attack of the Moon Zombies

Destination: Outer Space

J.J. Abrams's Star Trek 2 beams in May 2013, costs three extra dollars to see

2011-11-24T19:22:00.000-08:00

It's the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend (enjoy, friends south of the border) and there's a drought of interesting shit to write about, so I guess this will have to pass as news in The Basement on this Thursday night.

J.J. Abrams's second, and long delayed, Trek epic hits theatres May 17, 2013 and will be shot in 3D. That's good news/bad news for Basement Dwellers, who love what Abrams did with Star Trek and hate paying three extra dollars to see 3D of any kind in theatres. At least it's being shot in 3D, so the comin'-at-yah thrills should be decent, if not unnecessary.

The 3D news surprises me. Abrams's first Star Trek is highly entertaining. A sequel doesn't need a gimmick to make it great as long as his cast is intact and the script is good. And 3D is quickly becoming a thing of the past. An odd choice, Paramount Pictures.

Still, we're gonna see it and, if it's even half as good as the first, it will still be a fun two-hour diversion.

Hollywood shows balls, makes Dragon Tattoo hard R

2011-11-23T20:03:00.000-08:00

And thank you for that, David Fincher! I've never been keen on the U.S. version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, believing the original Swedish film is just fine thank you. Ditto the two sequels.

But at least Fincher and company made the movie right in terms of not wussing out on the book's aggressive content. Nor have MGM and Columbia Pictures, the studios producing the project, demanded the material be cut for the dreaded everyone friendly PG-13.

Instead, the latest adaptation of Stieg Larsson's bestseller has been given an R rating by the MPAA for brutal, violent content including rape and torture, strong sexuality, graphic nudity and language. The feel bad movie of Christmas indeed!

Shawn hates the movies with a passion. Despite my misgivings for the upcoming film, I am curious to see it. The trailers have certainly been promising, but we've been jerked around by trailers before. There's one below for your eye holes.

Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo hits theatres Dec. 21. Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara star.