Information Overload

Stake Land

Stake Land is a surprise stand-out horror movie about a post-apocalyptic America ravaged by a pandemic that mutated a large portion of the population into ravenous creatures of the night (that apparently hate the cold). The pairing of a hardcore vampire killer mentoring a young apprentice as they search for safer territory is somewhat reminiscent of Zombieland. However, Stake Land is serious about its subject matter. It covers quite a few interesting scenarios as the duo of "Mister" and Martin make their way towards Canada. Kelly McGillis puts in an unexpected performance as a resilient nun who helps the two navigate through the danger zone.

Night of the Comet

Night of the Comet is a classic cult comedy–horror movie. It stars sexy Catherine Mary Stewart with big hair from 1984, and the dude who would eventually play Commander Chakotay nearly a decade later. A comet passes through Earth's atmosphere, and affects most of the human and canine population of the greater Los Angeles area. Exposed survivors are mutated into homicidal zombies leaving the few who were unexposed to Kübler-Ross. Their coping is campy. There's really not much to like except for some cheesy dream sequences, and some confusing continuity issues when a mysterious organization crashes the post-apocalyptic party.

Attack the Block

Attack the Block is a campy, somewhat serious at times, sci-fi horror flick about burgeoning London hoodlums who must defend their highrise building from ravenous alien creatures. The gangster kiddies in this film don't trust the police to help them. Otherwise, they react pragmatically in the defense of their homes. (More horror movies should strive to feature characters with common sense so audiences can root for them to survive rather than write them off as inept fodder for death.) A lack of readily available firearms in the UK leaves the children to prove that other weapons can be just as effective for taking down monsters from outerspace.

The Horde

The Horde starts off with French cops (and English subtitles in the Netflix version) out for revenge against Nigerian gangsters in a condemed highrise. Both sides are caught off guard when ravenous zombies descend upon their building like American shoppers swarming to a Walmart on Black Friday. French living dead are fast, and aren't stopped easily! Remaining police and criminals form an uneasy truce so they can escape the surrounded building in order to take their chances out in the open. The Horde is one of the best zombie horror films that this fan has seen since 28 Weeks Later.

The Last Man on Earth

1964's The Last Man on Earth stars Vincent Price as Dr. Robert in Hollywood's first major adaptation of Richard Matheson's novel from 1954 (see I Am Legend review). Price's last man alive character clings to a daily routine out of lonliness and despair. A plauge has wiped out humanity, and mutated "survivors" into homicidal yet extremely slow-moving creatures of the night. Dr. R. systematically euthanizes them during the day in their sleep, while inexplicably failing to eradicate a whole lot of them when they assault his fortified house each night. It's as if the doctor prefers a more humane approach than using readily available firearms even when he probably should have towards the end of the film when events make less sense.

The Omega Man

1971's The Omega Man stars Charlton Heston as Neville in Hollywood's second major adaptation of Richard Matheson's novel from 1954 (see I Am Legend review). Heston's last man alive character is wreckless, perhaps out of lonliness and despair. A plague has wiped out humantiy, and mutated "survivors" into hippy creatures of the night. Neville half-heartedly tries to exterminate them during the daytime, while strangely failing to eradicate a whole lot of them when they assault Neville's compound each night. Neville has amassed a substantial arsenal so one wonders why he doesn't just jump on one of at least two .50 caliber machine guns mounted on his rooftop to mow down his slow and inept attackers, or at least kill the cult leaders.

Noah Wyle As Steve Jobs

Who knows how accurate UK tabloid reports that George Clooney is battling Noah Wyle to play Steve Jobs in a forthcoming film based on the Apple co-founder's official biography. Wyle should clearly win the role given his great portrayal of Jobs in The Pirates of Silicon Valley, and Macworld Expo in 1999:

Case 39

Case 39 is a quality production to watch on a day with dreary weather. (It's currently available to stream on Netflix.) A gem from 2007, the horror flick features Renée Zellweger, Bradley Cooper, and other seasoned talent. Zellweger plays a child caseworker whose extra effort for one girl's case turns out to be a bad idea. It's best to know less about the story before watching this film, as the marketing gives away far too much. The plot isn't totally unique. It's played out well enough to overlook neighbors' failures to notice anything suspicious, and metal dining utensils in a mental institution cafeteria.

Cars 2 Blu-ray Today!

This Disney shareholder and Amazon Associate reminds children* flush with Halloween candy that the Cars 2 Blu-ray is racing into stores today! Maddeningly, there are two similar packages—not counting the Director's Editon, or other bundles. Spending $2 more scores Blu-ray 3D, and a Digital Copy for Apple TV, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and other mobile devices. Look for "3D" and "Digital Copy" on the cover (pictured left).

*i.e. Adult parents or legal guardians of children ;)

Redbox Rental Price Increase

Redbox is raising the cost of renting a DVD ever so slightly from 99¢ to $1.20 per day. Interestingly, the price change only affects DVD's. Blu-ray rentals will still cost $1.50, which will hopefully help hasten the demise of lower fidelity DVD's. Redbox has floated the idea of higher prices for a while, and so far seems to be avoiding the customer backlash that Netflix experienced after they announced bigger changes.