The Divide (2011, Xavier Gens)

Just released on DVD and Blu Ray from Anchor Bay is a movie I have been looking forward to for a long time. The Divide is a post-apocalyptic nightmare with a great cast. The fact it was directed by Xavier Gens, best known for his French horror classic Frontier(s), was just one more reason I had to see it.

The Divide begins right as a nuclear bomb is decimating our country. A group of survivors who made their way into a bomb shelter have to rely on Mickey (Michael Biehn), who built the shelter, to keep them safe. Soon the inhabitants, which include a somewhat estranged couple (Lauren German and Ivan Gonzalez), a mother (Rosanna Arquette) and her young daughter (Abbey Thickson) as well as a few others begin to divide into groups and form alliances. When two of the inhabitants (Milo Ventimiglia and Michael Eklund) tie Mickey to a chair and take over the group, the others strive to stay sane...and alive.

The Divide is a surprisingly bleak and brutal film. The cast is very fine, especially the evil Ventimiglia and Eklund, who were two of the scariest characters I have seen in a movie in a long time. Props also must be given to Biehn, one of my favorite actors (who I was fortunate enough to meet - see a pic HERE) and Lauren German who I loved in Hostel 2. Rosanna Arquette also does a great job as the desperate mom who becomes the target for the evil sadists' debauchery. The film, which clocks in at 2 hours, didn't have a single dull moment. I followed along closely as the story unfolded and the characters started to change (or become their true selves) during the solitary confinement they were trapped in. Anchor Bay's disc I viewed was an unrated version and this was definitely not kids stuff. A very dark, scary and sometimes stomach churning film, The Divide is destined to be a classic post-apocalyptic film that fans of the genre should definitely check out...before the world ends!

RATING: 9/10

DIVIDE TRAILER

The Wicker Tree (2010, Robin Hardy)

Our next review features a rarity we don't see very often (hence the word rarity). A sequel made 37 years after the original - even after a remake of the original was made. Why did it take so long for The Wicker Tree (the 2010 sequel to the 1973 horror classic The Wicker Man) to be made? That I don't know, but considering the praise given to The Wicker Man (it's been called The Citizen Kane of horror films) we should just be thankful that it is here...and the fact that it was written and directed by Robin Hardy, the director of the original film.

The Wicker Tree stars Brittania Nicol as country singer and missionary Beth Boothby, who travels with her fiance Steve (Henry Garrett) to England to try to convert some of the residents to God. They arrive just in time to be a part of the local celebrations, but soon find out that the townspeople have more in store for these messengers of God than a nice little parade. The townspeople are pagans and this time of year is VERY special to them.

The Wicker Tree, released on DVD and Blu Ray by Anchor Bay, succeeded in many ways. I liked the characters and the acting was well done. I also thought that the story, which followed the formula of the original, had enough new elements to make it feel like a companion and not a remake. The Wicker Tree didn't skimp on any of the R rated goodness that you'd expect from a horror film but it was also done tastefully and only occassionally dipped into the pointless "just for shock" elements that should be relegated to slashers. My only other complaint with the film was the use of CGI but even that wasn't overdone. There was something special about The Wicker Man that is hard to re-capture and though not as classic as the original, The Wicker Tree was a good follow up that is worth checking out.

RATING: 7/10

WICKER TREE TRAILER

Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel (2011, Alex Stapleton)

I can't remember when I first heard of Roger Corman.  I had seen the name and probably identified it with his old black and white monster pictures.  It wasn't until I got into horror movies and then exploitation movies that I noticed his name repeatedly popping up.  This wasn't just one little niche of films all being produced by the same guy either.  It was horror, action, sci-fi, sexploitation, WIP films, biker films, comedies, etc.  Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel, just released by Anchor Bay Entertainment, perfectly demonstrates the wide range of films he was responsible for and also how important and influential he was on modern day independent cinema...and even today's blockbusters.

Director Alex Stapleton follows Corman's career from his meager start to his current day productions for the SyFy channel.  What's in between though is where the film excels.  Just how many famous careers he started in the film business is discussed as is his knack for making his budgets as low as possible to guarantee not to lose money.  We see in depth interviews from big names like Jack Nicholson, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese, Peter Bogdanovich and Robert DeNiro as well as lesser known directors and actors, most of whom have worked for Corman in the past.

Corman's World is a touching tribute to one of the most important (and underrated) film makers of all time.  Influencing so many genres of modern cinema, it is great to see him finally getting the recognition he deserves.  Corman's World is a great mixture of interviews with Corman himself, his wife and fellow producer Julie Corman, various directors and actors who have worked with him and some modern day film makers who found inspiration in his work.  Besides the big names listed above, we also get input from Pam Grier, Eli Roth, Jonathan Demme, Gale Anne Hurd, Joe Dante, Allan Arkush, Dick Miller, Bruce Dern, William Shatner and more.  We also get lots of footage from Corman's films including The Intruder, The Big Bird Cage, Piranha, Dinoshark, his various Edgar Allen Poe films and many more. Included as bonus features on both the DVD and Blu Ray are trailers, extended interviews and personal messages from the folks interviewed to Roger Corman. 

RATING:  10/10