Asylum Blackout : Review

 Matt Boiselle

Do asylums give you the creeps ? How about the fear of being stuck in the dark ? If you can imagine the two of these phobic instances meshed together, then IFC Midnight's: Asylum Blackout is the film for you. The movie itself revolves around three aspiring band members ( George, Max & Ricky) who, while struggling to make it big in the rock business, are working in the kitchen of a high security asylum for the criminally insane. Their jobs are relatively safe - they prepare food for the inmates and serve it behind a thick glass wall.

You honestly didn't think things were going to go smoothly did you ? In the midst of a severe thunderstorm, power to the facility is severed, including all security systems, thus releasing all prisoners from their cells, and basically allowing all hell to break loose. The scenic views inside the prison rate fairly high on the creep factor, but the acting leaves quite a bit to be desired. There however is one standout: Richard Brake, who plays Harry, one of the asylum's scariest inhabitants - the man NEVER utters a word during the film, but gives off a 1000 yard stare that would make even the most hardcore tough-guy feel the back of his pants start to fill up. ( The horror aficionado will remember Mr. Brake as one of the paramedics that gets decapitated by Michael Myers in Rob Zombie's Halloween II)

All in all this is a fairly creepy movie, and should be enjoyed with the light preferably in the OFF position. Don't look for a deep storyline here, although you will find an ending that will leave you scratching your skull. The movie is in limited theatrical release as of May 4th, but is available on IFC Midnight Cable VOD, and selected digital outlets ( SundanceNOW, iTunes, Amazon Streaming, XBOX Zune & Playstation Unlimited).

The Horde

Consider this a bit of a public service announcement. The French zombie film, The Horde, will be available On Demand from IFC Films beginning August 11th. For previous information on The Hord, click here.

"The Horde" - New International Trailer

The Horde will be available through Video On Demand this August thanks to IFC Films. We have been reporting on this film since April of last year! IFC Films seems to come through and I'm excited that they picked up the domestic rights to this film. Enjoy the new trailer and you will see why.


Check out Zombies & Toys on YouTube for this and other zombie videos that have been featured.

The Horde - New Info About French Zombie Film

I have mentioned French zombie film, The Horde, several times in the past. Heck, the first post was in April of last year! Well, we are finally getting close to seeing it.

The Horde will be released in its native country of France next month. I know, I know... in France. BUT it already has already been picked up for distribution stateside by IFC Films. So, hopefully, we will have the opportunity to pick up this DVD in a few months.

Long-time readers will know I'm a fan of French films. Want to watch some great cinema? Rent High Tension, Martyrs, Them, or Frontier(s). Yannick Dahan who directed Frontier(s) is also the director of The Horde.

Bottom line: I'm excited and you should be too.

The Horde synopsis:

A posse of crooked cops, malevolent gangsters and a horde of walking dead as the centre point of this gruesome, tight, action packed, claustrophobic tale of retribution and escape. Penned like animals, on the top floor of a deserted high-rise block, these two opposing gangs find that they are not alone in the lair of bloodthirsty corridors of death. Joining forces to survive, they must reach ground level together or perish. Loaded with a bad ass attitude, guns, axes and extremely creative hand-to-hand combat sequences that project the fears and paranoia that are the fighting forces behind the need to survive, when caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Horde trailer:


The Horde images:

Pontypool Finally En Route

Pontypool, a Canadian film being brought to us by IFC Films, will be in select US theaters on May 29th and On Demand May 27th. In preparation, the new one-sheet pictured above has been released.

I have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to view this unique zombie film and will (hopefully) have a review posted sometime soon. Already approved for a sequal, the film mostly takes place within the confines of a radio station. Clips and reviews I have seen already leave me with the impression that the film is intense and well-acted. The lack of actual zombie mahem is a bit of a bummer, but if done right the suspense should make up for it.

UPDATE: Aaron over at Zed Word (another great zombie news site, by the way) posted a review of Pontypool here. Thanks for posting your comment prompting me to search for it. Sorry, also, to my readers for not mentioning Zed Word sooner.

I Sell The Dead - IFC Films Brings Us More Zombies

Our friends over at YouBentMyWookie dropped me a line with some zombie news. IFC Films, who are bringing us Pontypool, have another zombie-laden film headed our way. I Sell The Dead stars Ron Perlman, Larry Fessenden, and Dominic Monaghan.

I Sell The Dead tells the tale of Arthur Blake, an 18th Century British graverobber. In prison, convicted for his crimes, he awaits the final judgement of the guillotine. A priest (Perlman) comes to talk to him about his life's sins. As Blake confesses, he brings us back to when he was taught all about his vocation by his partner Willie Grimes (Fessenden).

Why am I mentioning this movie here? Because they live in a world populated by ghouls, vampires and, you guessed it, zombies. With some added comedy twists, this one sounds like another winner.