The Twisted Twins and Painkiller Jane: A Marvelous Match Made in Action-Horror Heaven

There were many highlights from this year's San Diego Comic-Con (in fact, you can read my horror highlights here), but there was one exclusive announcement which took prevalence, causing all action-horror pundits to squeal with delight.

During the WWE panel, Jen and Sylvia Soska (aka the Twisted Twins) announced their plans to direct an adaptation of the 90s comic, Painkiller Jane. This is, without question, a genius pairing and here's why...

The Twisted Twins are fast becoming an unstoppable force in horror. In 2009, the two debuted their directorial efforts with Dead Hooker in a Trunk - a low-budget, comical exploitation film that follows four young adults and the fight for their lives, following the discovery of well... a dead hooker left in their trunk. With violence, sleazy motels, pimps and chainsaws the film indeed became a cult hit. It wasn't until 2012 however, and the release of American Mary, that the Soska Sisters truly shot to critical acclaim.

American Mary is a female-centric, body-horror revenge film that follows the tumultuous journey of Mary Mason and her descent (or ascent, depending on which way you look at it) into the world of underground body-modification.The physical and emotional strife of a young adult woman, combined with gore and a seedy yet elegant aesthete, makes for one compelling feature film. Starring Katharine Isabelle as the titular character, the film is easily one of the best female-themed horrors to emerge from the genre for quite some time.



Indeed, this garnered the two monumental success and since then, the Soska Sisters have been very busy. In addition to directing and appearing in numerous shorts, they have also directed the upcoming See No Evil 2 - which looks like an enjoyably raucous neo-slasher, starring female leads Isabelle and Danielle Harris - and a segment for The ABCs of Death 2 - details of which, are yet to be confirmed. They have also just finished directing Vendetta - a WWE Studios film about a detective who seeks vengeance against the man who murdered his wife - and are currently filming a segment for XX - an upcoming, all-female horror anthology film.

Although relatively small, recurring trends throughout their filmography are clear. Stylistically speaking, the two are accomplished and well-versed in executing atypical horror aesthete - relishing the scuzziness, exploitation, gore and titilation. Yet there also feels a non-descript seamlessness which adds a contemporary feel. Having written the majority of their films, the Soska Sisters also manage to deliver very smart and well-thought dialogue, that occasionally diverge into the realms of black comedy.

Thematically speaking is where the two really shine however, thanks to the recurring focus on female characters. Gender politics in the horror genre is a bit of a landmine, so claiming the two as feminist filmmakers is a rather loaded statement. Yet, when stripping the twins' work down to its basics, it's undeniable. All of their films, whether likeable or not, have primary female characters. They are thoughtfully developed and have a depth or purpose, representing areas of the female psyche or experience that to-this-day remain marginalised. Sylvia explains...

"You see so many flawless female characters...they're the girlfriend or they're the nagging wife and you're like 'Who are these people?' I think the modern woman is a lot more interesting than we're seeing represented on film... I'm a chick and I know the crazy that goes through my head"



In the quest to truly represent a contemporary female perspective, their films are predominantly female-focused. That's not to say men can't enjoy their work or indeed, that all women do enjoy it, but the female-centricity is certainly refreshing, which is why their partnership with Painkiller Jane is such a marvelous match.

The comic Painkiller Jane was released in 1995 and created by Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada. In a five issue mini-series (with later crossovers into Punisher, Vampirella and Hellboy) it follows Jane Vasko, an ex-cop who is virtually indestructible. The origins of how this came to be vary from source to source. In one instance,whilst on duty undercover, she is caught in a bomb explosion planted by her mafia 'boss' Joey Fonti. In the other, she is tortured and drugged rather than blown up. Either way, she mysteriously awakes with regenerative powers.

Minor injuries heal in mere seconds and anything more serious takes only minutes - even from an axe embedded in to her spine to a shoutgun wound to the face. Overall Jane's healing abilities - teamed with a pair of handguns and a martial arts skill set - make her a rather badass vigilante, to take on all sorts of crime, oppression and further wrongdoing. That's not to say her injuries don't hurt however, hense the given name. 

Okay so it's more action than horror per se, but Painkiller Jane's narrative and aesthetics pair perfectly with the talents of the Soska Sisters. We have a complex, female lead for them to once again explore (with added depth as an LGBT character), and their attachment to the horror genre is ideal for delivering those gory set pieces. All in all, there is no one better to direct such a violent, female-themed film than the two ladies who have received such acclaim for recently, and brilliantly, doing so in the first place.

Sources: 

http://www.nsnews.com/entertainment/twisted-sisters-jen-and-sylvia-soska-scare-people-for-a-living-1.364387#sthash.CaS1bOPw.dpuf

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/soska-sisters-direct-painkiller-jane-720772

News Round-up: SDCC 2014 Horror Highlights!

Another San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) has been and gone and amidst the various panels, queues and must-see displays, exclusive announcements and sneak-peak previews emerged in abundance.

Marvel, Ant-Man, Batman vs. Superman... It's only natural that these big hitters dominate headlines. But what about horror? Well fear not my fiendish friends, as below is a round-up of all horror highlights from this year's SDCC.

Scream Factory's future releases

First up in the world of film, Scream Factory announced their plans to release ten horror classics on blu-ray. Titles include Dolls, Monkey Shrines and Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh. No release dates or special features have been confirmed yet, but it's nice to know that such delights could be joining our collections soon. 

The Last of US feature adaptation

It was only a matter of time before last year's gaming behemoth, The Last of Us, would be snapped up for a feature-film adaptation. Alas the time has come and it was confirmed at SDCC by the man himself, that Sam Raimi would produce this genre-defying, survival epic. In cohorts with Raimi will be the game's co-director and writer, Neil Druckmann, who is also on board to produce and write the film's script.

So far, so good but what about casting? Who will play Ellie? Well, nothing has been officially confirmed, but both Raimi and Druckmann have voiced their wishes to cast Game of Thrones' very own Maisie Williams in the infamous role. Josh Brolin for Joel anyone? 

Trailers, trailers, trailers!

Of course, SDCC wouldn't be complete without a few exclusive trailers here or there to get those heart rates going in Hall H. First up is the new trailer for Alexandre Aja's Horns...


This is the most we've seen of the film to-date and it's mightily impressive - stylistically accomplished, dark, comical and what looks to be a strong and compelling performance from Daniel Radcliffe. Horns is due for release 31st October, 2014.

Unfortunately the same can't be said for Leprechaun: Origins, which had its first official trailer exclusively shown at the WWE panel...



Fans mostly enjoy the Leprechaun franchise down to its cult-rendering shoddiness, the "its-so-bad-its-good" quality comprised of bad dialogue, bad editing and bad effects. All of that, dare I say charm, seems to be lost here in what appears to be a very dull and generic reboot. Leprechaun: Origins is due for release on August 26th (VOD) and September 30th (DVD/Blu), 2014.

The same panel also premiered the trailer for See No Evil 2, which sees the revival of Jacob Goodnight (played by WWE superstar Kane) thanks to the directorial work of Jen and Sylvia Soska, aka the Twisted Twins.



Also staring Danielle Harris and Katharine Isabelle, this looks to be a decent neo-slasher full of tongue-in-cheek dialogue and gory violence. In other words, a good old fashioned horror romp. See No Evil 2 is due for release on October 17th (VOD) and October 21st (DVD/Blu), 2014.

Yet the standout trailer for upcoming horrors at this year's SDCC was for Kevin Smith's Tusk. As low-budget Canuxploitation goes, this walrus-body-horror looks defiantly dark and bizarre, boasting a great cast and truly comical one-liners. 

At the panel, Smith revealed little more on Tusk other than his plans to turn this into a 'True North' trilogy. Yet adoration for this film is nevertheless apparent, and if the above trailer is anything to go by, we're in for a unique and twisted treat. Tusk is due for release on September 19th, 2014.

In the world of television...

...highlights include the Hannibal panel - in which Bryan Fuller categorically denied any appearance of Clarice Starling - and the American Horror Story: Freak Show panel - which announced newcomer John Carroll Lynch and his role as this season's villain.

In addition to The Last of Us, Raimi also announced that he is working on an Evil Dead TV series with his brother, Ivan. Details are scarce, unlike the skepticism, but at the very least it appears Bruce Campbell is on board. Groovy.

For horror TV at this year's SDCC however, there was only one star... or should we say many, undead stars. That's right, walkers and all, The Walking Dead took centre stage and was met with raucous adoration, as the cast and crew revealed the first official trailer for Season Five.


Fans of the graphic novel may well be a little apprehensive at the direction this adaptation has taken, but it cannot be denied that this trailer does a cracking job at conveying an action-packed, violent and emotional season, with plenty of twists and turns to boot. The Walking Dead returns in the US on Sunday, October 12th and a day later in the UK on Monday, October 13th, 2014. 

Honorable Mention...

Okay so it's not strictly horror (not unless you count the film's production history) but this exclusive is nevertheless worthy of a mention. Mad Max: Fury Road was without doubt this year's biggest hitter at SDCC. Convention pundits were lucky enough to witness this material first-hand but thankfully, Warner Bros. were kind enough to whack it up online too...



Vast desert landscapes, traditional stunt car action and some badass performances from the likes of Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult, prove that this latest effort by director George Miller will be, quite frankly mad and in the best possible way. Mad Max: Fury Road is due for a release in May 2015.

So that's it for Wise Words...'s SDCC 2014 Horror Highlights! Share your thoughts and comment below - what were your highlights from this year's SDCC? Is there anything you're particularly looking forward to? Until next time...!

News Round-up: Upcoming blockbusters and VOD highlights!

It's been a while since the last news round-up and, as ever, there is a lot to catch up on - namely the release dates of a few eagerly anticipated horrors. So, it makes sense to do an upcoming releases special, neatly rounding-up what horrors we can expect later this year (although by no means comprehensively). Just you wait, Halloween will be upon us before you know it...

Upcoming Blockbusters

As partial as we are to the occasional summer blockbuster, or a good old moan at the existence of Michael Bay, it's always good to know what various multiplexes will be blaring out come Halloween. Last week revealed some of the frights we can begin to expect from the big screen later this year.

Cast your mind back to last summer and you'll remember James Wan's monumental success with The Conjuring. You'll also remember the film's biggest star, Annabelle, who has now received her own spin-off film. Catch the teaser below;



Directed by The Conjuring's cinematographer John Leonetti, Annabelle looks to have that familiar Wan-esque format (fitting as he's the film's Producer) - well crafted tension and suspense and a penchant for jump-scares... but lacking originality. Annabelle is due for release October 3rd (US) and October 10th (UK).

Next up on the list of blockbuster fodder is Ouija - a stereotypical teen horror, due for release on October 25th (US), surrounding a group of friends and their unfortunate experience with a Ouija board. After viewing the trailer (released last week), it appears we shouldn't hold our breath for anything particularly scary, entertaining, smart or original.

Thank goodness then, for Alexandre Aja's adaptation of Joe Hill's novel, Horns. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, this follows the story of Ig Perrish - a young man who is wrongly blamed for the murder of his girlfriend. One morning, Perrish awakes with a pair of horns on his head that grant him the ultimate power in possessing a curious hold over all those he encounters. With this new found ability, he goes on a mission to get to the bottom of his girlfriend's murder. It's set to be a dark, horror-fantasy setting itself apart from the above spin-offs and jump-scares. Horns is due for release on October 31st (US and UK).

In a previous news round-up, Wise Words... shared enthusiasm for Kevin Smith's upcoming body-horror, Tusk. Of course this isn't a blockbuster, but by the looks of things it will nevertheless receive a theatrical release. Starring Justin Long as an enthusiastic podcaster, Tusk follows his surgical transformation into a walrus by a mysterious seafarer. Whether you love or loathe Smith as a director, you can't deny it - that's an original premise - and it must be said that excitement is rife for this upcoming feature. Luckily, we won't have to wait long as Tusk will hit theatres in the US on September 19th (UK release date TBC).

Video on Demand

Despite the occasional anomaly such as Tusk or Horns, there is the common conception that horror blockbusters (and I use the term cautiously) are not for horror fans. So where can we get our fix of talented horror folk and their twisted, horrifying and original work? Video on Demand of course - a platform that has long been perceived as the hot spot for horror. These select, upcoming releases are proving no different.

On August 12th, Septic Man will be available to purchase and download. Directed by Jesse Thomas Cook and written by Tony Burgess, the story follows Jack, a sewage worker determined to get to the bottom of a town's contamination crisis. During his investigation he becomes trapped underground in a septic tank and undergoes a hideous transformation. Check out the trailer below;


Sporting an impressive amount of critical acclaim after its festival run, Septic Man promises to be a dark and affecting body-horror, full of gross-out set pieces sure to please any horror fan.

Although, if septic tanks aren't your thing and you prefer an intense, psychological break down of a newlywed couple then you're in luck. On the 12th of September, Magnet will release Honeymoon On Demand. The film stars Rose Leslie (Bea) and Harry Treadaway (Paul) as a newly married couple who escape to the country for their romantic honeymoon.

Sure enough, things don't go to plan as Bea is discovered wandering one night, totally disorientated. From then on, their journey of love goes in to deep and disturbing depths with chilling consequences. Her behavior turns increasingly peculiar and Paul suspects more than sleepwalking is at play. With captivating performances and a strong, psychological backbone, Honeymoon could well be the most affecting feature this Autumn.

After further delay by Blumhouse Productions, the ghostly tale of Jessabelle will now hit On Demand in a few months. From the producers of Paranormal Activity and Insidious, this film follows the titular character as she returns home wheelchair-bound, following a fatal car accident. Rather than building a stronger relationship with her father in such horrendous circumstances, Jessabelle is instead tormented by a spirit who has long-awaited her return. Queue all manners of spooky apparitions and unwanted bath-buddies. Jessabelle is due for release on November 7th.

Yet to have a release date but worthy of a mention is Deep Dark, a film about a failed sculptor who finds a strange, talking hole in the wall (voiced by Denise Poirier). The hole has the power to fulfill his wildest dreams, or inadvertently become his worst nightmare.

Putting a clever twist on the 'careful what you wish for' parable, Deep Dark looks to be a sinister and downright disturbing horror. As we speak, the film is still in post-production, but the folks at Vitamin M and Polluted Pictures have been nice enough to provide us with a little teaser. Check it out below;



By no means a list of all upcoming releases, these are a select few which should at the very least get our tongues wagging. What are your thoughts on the above? Are there any you're particularly looking forward to?
Post a comment!

What are the Video Nasties? Britain's shameful censorship past and a nod to the work of Jake West

This week saw the release of Jake West's Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide Part 2 - The Draconian Days, a follow-up collection to Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide Part 1, which included the acclaimed documentary Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship and Videotape.

In lieu of this release, it feels only right to take a sweeping look back over this tumultuous period of film censorship in Britain and celebrate West's important work at informatively re-visiting such a controversial era.

What are the "Video Nasties"?

"Video Nasties" is a term not unfamiliar to film and horror fans alike. Now perhaps perceived as a badge-of-honor, this affiliation once headed a campaign fueled by a moral panic, to rid the United Kingdom of all films deemed too violent, too extreme and downright disreputable.

Let's hark back to an era where films, horror in particular, were largely inaccessible. Whereas today we have Video on Demand, are able to purchase DVDs at the click of a button, or even watch the latest flick on our Smart Phones, horror fans in the 1970s had no such convenience. It was either a multiplex or condensed Super 8, in which fans of the genre could see the latest in the macabre.

Then in 1979 a new technology was introduced - domestic home video. With this new invention, namely in the form of VHS or Betamax, the access to horror films was revolutionised. All of a sudden, a platform was provided in which anything could go, skipping cinematic regulation and providing youngsters with new and exciting horrors. A gap in the market was discovered and soon enough, Britain saw a boom in VHS stores, enabling the purchase or rental of the latest exploit to anyone, at the utmost convenience. 

To clarify, these horror imports were not in the same vein as Hammer horror, or even B-movies from the 1950s. Rather, these features were scuzzy, exploitative and unashamedly gory. Titles such as Driller Killer, I Spit on Your Grave and Cannibal Holocaust were comprised of bodily mutilation and cannibalism... and that's just scratching the surface. Shocking? Yes, but that made it fun, new and interesting. Either that, or they were laughably naff. 

The lack of censorship meant such content was accessible to children, pre-packaged in an enticing, exciting and overtly taboo box - advertising which in itself became an appreciated art form - appealing to the rebellious impulses of young horror pundits. Sure enough, temptation was rife and the very latest in 'pure terror' was frequently lapped up. Sitting through one of these flicks soon became a rite of passage and no childhood sleepover was complete without a communal viewing of sex and violence. 

None of this went un-noticed however and soon enough, the term 'Video Nasty' began to fill newspaper columns. Ensuing outrage began and the right-wing, sensationalist writings of The Daily Mail, popularised by Mary Whitehouse (President of the National Viewers and Listeners Association) accelerated a moral panic of all proportions. Supposedly these 'Video Nasties', adorning the walls of your local convenience store, were corrupting and depraving society, causing all young children to grow up as mass murderers. Newspapers were filled with damning headlines and anything from domestic violence to animal harm was blamed on these 'socially corrosive' horror films. Martin Barker recalls, "Video Nasties could now explain every evil in society" and indeed - in a Thatcher era of civil unrest, unemployment and The Faulklands War - those in authority needed a scapegoat, and an area in which they could supposedly take the moral high ground. 

So what actions were taken? Well after the failure of a voluntary censorship scheme, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), in conjunction with James Ferman (the Director of the British Board of Film Classification 1975 - 1999) constructed a list of potentially 'harmful' horror films that could violate the 1959 Obscene Publications Act - an act in which anything that has a tendency to deprave and morally corrupt an individual can be withdrawn from the public.

The list comprised of 72 'Nasties' and sure enough, police began seizing them from video shops across the country. Videos were burned, retailers were put out of business and distributors were sent to jail, with sentences greater than those of a drugs offender. It was an incredibly infuriating and frightening time. 

It was also a confusing time for those in opposition to the 'Nasties', as not all prosecutions were successful. Conclusions were inconsistent and numerous titles were wrongly, and laughably, seized including Samuel Fuller's The Big Red One and Colin Higgins' The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, featuring Dolly Parton. It was abundantly clear that authoritative bodies became very confused at what constituted obscene material.

Subsequently, to avoid embarrassment and satisfy their tyrannical mission toward robust regulation, a Private Members Bill was passed through Government. Thanks to a fraudulent report and the scaremongering campaigning of MP Graham Bright and Whitehouse, the 1984 Video Recordings Act was passed. From then on, all video releases had to appear before the newly re-named British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) for certification, adhering to what Kate Egan calls "the most stringent form of regulation imposed on media in a Western country" (2007). 

This whole era is a shameful yet profound piece of censorship history, in which control overpowered content and hypocrisy was rife. Headline figures were 'bogus' and class naivety warped every judgement. The bourgeois MPs wouldn't be morally depraved after viewing such 'Nasties', but heaven forbid if an un-educated, working class citizen got hold of one at their local video store.

It was a time in which power-hungry individuals picked on 'the little guy' over films that really and truly, didn't do any one any harm. Even though the 'Video Nasties' have now ironically been remade in Hollywood and exist as enshrined vessels of nostalgia for every horror fan of any age, this period of British history must not be forgotten as a threat to independence, creative freedom and civil liberty.

Jake West and the Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide

Filmmaker Jake West and his pals told the above story in all its glory for the first time in 2010 with Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship and Videotape. Receiving the utmost critical acclaim, his documentary combined interviews with journalists, academics, filmmakers and MPs (that were involved in the 'Video Nasties' era) with rare, archival footage of Ferman and Whitehouse.

West cleverly delivered a well-rounded explanation of each process and opinion, right from the explosion of home video to the passing of the 1984 Video Recordings Act and the beginning of Draconian law. It's a fantastic documentary of great insight and revelation, highlighting the importance of history and the debates surrounding film censorship.

But what of this Draconian impingement? What happened after the Video Recordings Act of 1984 was introduced? Thankfully, this week West returned with Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide Part 2 - The Draconian Days. Essentially continuing where he left of, this sequel-of-sorts follows the ever-increasing moral panics about video that were deemed responsible for real-life tragedies, namely Child's Play 3 and the murder of James Bulger. West covers the emerging underground movement in which horror fans traded pre-certificated and un-cut videos, published fanzines and attended screenings, which once again lead to tyrannical police raids and ridiculous oppression. Moreover a great amount of detail focuses on James Ferman, a man who until his retirement in 1999, had a spectacular rise and fall as the Director of the BBFC. His tale is not only fascinating but an important parable of the pitfalls when in power.



No doubt, West's latest is yet another profound insight into an incredibly important era of censorship history, providing a sociological window into the woes of Britain's past.

Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide Part 2 - The Draconian Days is available to buy on DVD now. Stay tuned to Wise Words... for a full review!

Weekly Round-up: Fantasia, Comic-Con, Tusk and More!

Fantasia 2014

It's summer which means convention season is upon us and from July 17th to August 6th, Fantasia returns. This International Film Festival, taking place in Montreal, boasts the very best in genre from around the world.

Of course, Eli Roth's The Green Inferno, Rom-Zom-Com Life After Beth and the newly remastered The Texas Chainsaw Massacre are making an appearance. Yet, if you're a fan of the French Extremity Movement or crave the latest in Asian horror, I think it is fair to say Fantasia has got it covered.

From Spanish to Cantonese and French to Latvian, this year's convention boasts an impressive variety of horrific delights, in both short and full-length feature form, from all over the world. Highlights include Ju-On: The Beginning of the End, Honeymoon and Housebound - a New Zealand horror-comedy that's promising to be a lot of fun (check out the trailer below).


Visit the official site for full details and keep your eyes peeled for further Fantasia updates.

San Diego Comic-Con 2014

Of course, the next big convention to get excited about this Summer is the one and only San Diego Comic-Con, returning to its favourite convention centre July 24th - 27th. Just last week, the programme for all four days was released and thankfully, there are a few horror tid bits to tide us over. Highlights include;

• Day 1 - Godzilla and the Master of Monsters, a first look at the upcoming Goosebumps film, Hannibal: Embrace the Madness, Penny Dreadful, Leprechaun Origins and See No Evil 2. 
• Day 2 - AMC's The Walking Dead and An Inside Look at Shout! Factory, Shout! Kids and Scream Factory
• Day 3 - Mad Max: Fury Road, Inside the Making of Twin Peaks: The Entire Mystery, Legendary Pictures Panel (for upcoming releases), Constantine, American Horror Story and Science in the Stories of H.P. Lovecraft
• Day 4 - The Strain

Further details are yet to be announced but make sure to check SDCC's official website for the most up-to-date information and other panels taking place.

The Strain Hits US Television

Last night Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan's The Strain began on FX - an American vampire-horror-drama series that tells the tale of Dr Ephraim Goodweather and his team, as they battle a mysterious viral outbreak in New York City.


On the face of it, The Strain looks like a thrilling and visually intriguing serial. With a great cast, source material and artistic input from del Toro and Hogan, I'm sure we're in for a horrific treat.

The Strain has been picked up by UK channel Watch and is due to air Autumn 2014 (date TBC).

First Poster for Kevin Smith's Tusk

Last week saw the release of the first teaser poster for Kevin Smith's upcoming horror, Tusk - a film about a man (played by Justin Long) who is surgically turned into a walrus by a mysterious seafarer. No you are not mistaken, that is the film's premise, and apparently based on one of Smith's podcasts. A podcast I might add, supposedly inspired by a Gumtree ad in which a homeowner offered free accommodation... as long as the occupant would dress as a walrus from time-to-time. 

It all sounds ludicrous but dare I say... fun? The teaser art (below) is remarkably minimalist and generates an intriguing fairy tale vibe. Combine this with the recently released behind-the-scenes snaps (above) and we, my horror-loving companions, could well have a very interesting (albeit bonkers) film on our way. Tusk is due for release this Autumn. Until then, the film's first official trailer will be screened at this year's Comic-Con.

That's it for this week's news updates, stay tuned to Wise Words... for more horror related musings. 

Weekly Round-up: Audition, Nightbreed and More!

So what news and updates can I bring you from the world of horror? First up...

Jamie Lee Curtis confirmed for Halloween: The Complete Collection

We should all be well aware by now that toward the end of this year, Scream Factory are releasing Halloween: The Complete Collection - a 15-disc box set to include every installment of the Halloween franchise in swanky, high definition. As well as this, the collection will include numerous special features, original artwork and an accompanying essay from Fangoria's Michael Gingold. As if that wasn't enough, last week it was confirmed that the Final Girl herself, Jamie Lee Curtis, will also be making a contribution.

Curtis, who played Laurie Strode in the original, and subsequently appeared in Halloween II, Halloween III: Season of the Witch (voice only) and Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, has contributed to new commentary and taken part in a brand new interview, accompanied by director Steve Miner and moderator, Sean Clark. Her role in the franchise not only upholds a place in the horror hall of fame, but Strode's character epitomises a major change in the genre's gender politics (I won't go in to detail but Carol Clover's Men, Women and Chainsaw's is a great place to start if you're interested in that particular sub-topic). So it's great to see, that almost 36 years later, she's still looking out for us Slasher pundits. 

Halloween: The Complete Collection is due for release on September 23rd, 2014.

Deliver Us from Evil release

On July 2nd, new crime-thriller-horror hybrid Deliver Us from Evil was released in the United States. Apparently inspired by real life events of NYPD cop, Ralph Sarchie, the film follows his attempts at battling the paranormal underbelly of New York city, with the help from renegade priest, Mendoza. Featuring Eric Bana and Édgar Ramirez, this new horror blockbuster is directed by Scott Derrickson - a man who has successfully creeped us out in the past with Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Check out the trailer below;


By the looks of things, Derrickson may successfully creep us out again, but it's nothing that we haven't seen before - action, CGI, a few jump scares and the obligatory contortion of the human body as a means to shock the audience (pessimistic, moi?). If anything, Deliver Us from Evil will most likely confirm the critical consensus of late - horror efforts produced by Hollywood are not for horror fans. Regardless, stay tuned to Wise Words... for a review - after all, we could all be in for a pleasant surprise

Deliver Us from Evil is due for release in the UK on August 22nd.

Hollywood to remake Audition

It was only a matter of time before Hollywood got their hands on this one. That's right, Takashi Miike's infamous film Audition - a Japanese, psychological horror-drama - is getting the remake treatment.

Miike's 1999 cult classic is an incredibly disturbing journey, following the story of a middle-aged man whose life descends into immense pain and suffering after auditioning for a new, younger partner. It's twisted, unique and boasts arguably one of the most cringe-inducing torture scenes in horror history. The film manages to evoke a bizarre, unsettling feeling that lingers - a feeling that I'm sure would be almost impossible to replicate, least of all by our friends over seas, given their track record of J-Horror remakes and forays into the torture porn sub-genre.

So what will they do differently? Well according to the producers of this new project, the remake will draw from the original source novel by Japanese author Ryu Murakami, in addition to Miike's adaptation. Richard Gray has been hired as the director, who will adapt from his own screenplay. Unfortunately further details are few and far between, so stay tuned for further updates.

Trailer and poster for Kim Ki-duk's Moebius

In keeping with extreme Asian cinema, the notorious Kim Ki-duk is at it again with his latest feature, Moebius. Never a dull moment with this controversial director, this film is a dialogue-free experimental, ultraviolent, sexual thriller. Oh and it's also a comedy...


"When she catches her husband having an affair, a woman attempts to castrate the cheater for his wrongdoing. Unsuccessful, she instead inflicts the unspeakable act on her own son, setting off a series of grotesque yet provocative events ranging from a hurried genital transplant to pain-inflicted orgasms that all merge in a continuous thread of delirious storytelling.

With both husband and son damaged and living in grief, the wife returns as the family heads toward destruction even more horrific than before"

After a crowd-shocking festival run, Moebius has been described as a gruelling experience and whether you love or hate the man's work, I think it is fair to say the film is a must-see. Last week, both a poster and trailer were released. Check out the trailer below;



Moebius will hit limited theatres in the US throughout August before reaching VOD on August 29th.
Nightbreed: Director's Cut Blu-ray/DVD

At last, horror fans rejoice - it's the restoration we've all been waiting for. That's right, Clive Barker's infamous cult classic Nightbreed is getting a Director's Cut Blu-ray/DVD release, courtesy of Scream Factory. 

Upon first announcement, it was thought that this re-release would be yet another version of the Cabal Cut - a 160 minute adaptation of Barker's novel that has circulated screenings and festivals for quite some time.

However in an interview with Seraphim Films' Mark Miller, it has been confirmed that the re-release will be a Director's Cut, restoring original and un-seen footage for the first time ever. 

Miller explains...

"I've seen footage that hasn't even made it into the version at screenings. The story is all there. Clive's vision is complete. It's a thing of beauty..." He continues, "The Cabal Cut was created by us in-house from the footage we found in the storage rooms.This 160 minute beast had every bit of Nightbreed footage we had access to incorporated in the cut.

We put everything we found back in a) just to be able to say we'd seen that version and b) because we needed as much of the proverbial sculptor's rock to chip away from for what would become the finished masterwork: The Director's Cut...". Well the chipping has begun...

On October 28th the 'masterwork' - a Limited Edition three-disc-Blu-ray set and Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo of the Director's Cut - will be released. The Limited Edition will include:

• Un-rated Director's Cut of the film on Blu-ray
• The 1990 R-rated theatrical version of the film on Blu-ray
• Exclusive-to-this-set bonus Blu-ray disc packed with extras 
• Collector's book with essay and rare photos
• Slipcase including newly designed artwork approved by Clive Barker

The Special Edition will include the Un-rated Director's Cut on both Blu-ray and DVD, in addition to bonus features (all of which are yet to be revealed). 

In an official statement, Barker said the following:

"This is film history and beyond my wildest dreams of realization. When Scream Factory told me they had found the Nightbreed film footage, I was gob-smacked! This is the ultimate validation of choices made by myself and Mark Miller all the way back in 2008. As we embarked down the road of attempting to track down the lost footage, we look at each other and said 'Maybe one day they'll find it'. It's my pleasure to announce the day has come...

Speaking personally, I didn't allow myself to believe that it would. Even if we did find some footage [...], and even if we did find a company willing to release the film [...], the prospect of finding the actual lost film materials was remoter than I'd wanted to admit out loud. If the footage could not be found by those who had worked closest on it the same year it had been released, then what were the odds of being able to find anything 20 years on? But Scream Factory, in their commendable determination, kept up the search and thanks to them total reconstruction has been made a possibility.

There's never been a reconstruction that's had as little chance of succeeding and yet has succeeded on as many fronts as this film has. It's unprecedented. To now have a movie that we can put together in the way that I fully intended it to be seen when I first set out to make this film in 1989 is extraordinary".

In other words, its a BIG deal. 

Stay tuned for further Nightbreed: The Director's Cut updates and a Wise Words... article.

That's it for this week's news updates - share your views and opinions in the comment box below!