Vikings: Valhalla: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray offers a thrilling return to the Viking world, packed with intense drama, battle scenes, and rich historical intrigue. Set a hundred years after the events of the original Vikings series, Valhalla follows a new generation of heroes, including the famed explorer Leif Eriksson, his fiery sister Freydis Eriksdotter, and the ambitious prince Harald Sigurdsson. This fresh chapter brings a new layer of conflict, as tensions between Vikings and English royals escalate, while old Viking faiths clash with new Christian ideologies.
Read MoreKickboxer (1989) #RetroReview
Want some cheesy mindless fun? You could do worse than Mark DiSalle and David Worth’s Kickboxer from 1989. Though it’s not even close to being the best Jean-Claude Van Damme flick, it’s nevertheless pretty damn enjoyable.
Read MoreThe 13th Warrior (1999) #RetroReview
The 13th Warrior doesn’t completely come together, but I nevertheless find it to be enjoyable. Direction is officially credited to John McTiernan and the story is an adaptation of Michael Crichton’s novel “Eaters of the Dead.” That too was the film’s original title, but its initial cut was received poorly by test audiences, so reshoots were ordered and a new ending was conceived, all of which were directed by an uncredited Crichton.
Read MoreRE: Ready or Not (2019) #RetroReview
Darkly funny with nice production values and distinctive performances, filmmaking collective Radio Silence deliver a crowd-pleasing thriller with 2019’s Ready or Not. Laced with biting class satire, the film aims to entertain as well as skewer. August 21st sees the film celebrate its fifth anniversary, so let’s take a look back!
Read MoreMagnum Opus: The .MOVie (2022)
Magnum Opus: The .MOVie is more than just a film; it's a testament to friendship and a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Addison Binek, the creator of Psycho Ape, along with James Johnson, Brad LaJoye, and Johnathan Gogoleski, have pieced together a chaotic yet endearing collection of stunts and shenanigans captured on a mix of VHS, Hi-8, MiniDV, and Digital HD. The result is a time capsule that perfectly encapsulates the recklessness and camaraderie of a bygone era.
Read MoreRed Dawn (1984) #RetroReview
John Milius’ Red Dawn from 1984 envisions a scenario where the Soviet Union, Cuba, and Nicaragua invade the US, triggering World War 3. It is perhaps silly in its patriotic fervor, but it’s an undeniably action-packed thriller that’s beautifully shot. The first movie to be released in the US with the then-new PG-13 rating, I think it would probably get an R today as there’s a ton of onscreen violence. For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen the remake.
Read MoreCloak & Dagger (1984) #RetroReview
Richard Franklin’s Cloak & Dagger from 1984 is a childhood fave for many of us who grew up during the Cold War. Watching it now, it feels like yet another example of how much heavier PG fare was in the ‘80s. Since it celebrates its 40th anniversary on August 10th, I figured I’d take a look back!
Read MoreThe Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974) #RetroReview
I love a good genre mashup. Their success might be gauged by how well they blend, or subvert, each genre’s respective rules. The results are usually quirky and interesting, due to this process.
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