Contrary to the intended purpose of Christmas being the ultimate social equaliser, it often brings folks together who don’t particularly enjoy one another’s company, which is the case for Diane, a mother of a semi-functional family whom she must protect when an unexpected and ghoulish visitor arrives from her past. If you know anything about […]
Umbrella Entertainment: Red Christmas (2016) Read More »
With the arrival of December comes the mandatory viewing of Christmas movies for many who embrace the festive spirit. I personally like to make an effort to seek out lesser-known titles from the holiday back catalogue, and as luck would have it, Shock Entertainment have re-issued the ensemble comedy Mixed Nuts on DVD. Based on
Review: Mixed Nuts (1994) Read More »
Sometimes the selfless plight of George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life or Cousin Eddie emptying his shitter in Christmas Vacation isn’t enough for one’s seasonal viewing, despite their timeless quality. There needs to be variety among titles, particularly something of a darker nature, still embodying the festive charm. So allow me to introduce Better
Review: Better Watch Out (2017) Read More »
Since I first ventured into the world of Italian horror with Dario Argento’s bizarre, insect-infested Phenomena, my experience with the foreign genre has been a mixed but nonetheless memorable experience. Suspiria has undeniably stood out, as it did for countless fans and in celebration of its 40th anniversary, Umbrella Entertainment have pulled out all the
Umbrella Entertainment: SUSPIRIA (1977) Read More »
Over the years, I’ve developed a rather strict habit of not watching holiday-themed movies outside their designated time, and while I have been lenient with Planes, Train & Automobiles in the past, it has now become a permanent fixture of late November for this Australian film fanatic since enjoying Thanksgiving and all its wholesome traditions.
Holiday Classic: Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) Read More »
I can’t imagine a lot of people jumping up and down for this DVD, but as a keen fan of ‘70s science fiction, Umbrella Entertainment has made an exceptional choice by adding The Andromeda Strain to their library. Based on Michael Crichton’s 1969 novel of the same name, a group of scientists are faced with
Umbrella Entertainment: The Andromeda Strain (1971) Read More »
You probably didn’t know that not only is The Return of Captain Invincible an Australian film, but our very first superhero movie (not to mention a rare hybrid musical to boot). Dwelling in the abysses of alcoholism, a retired Captain Invincible, played by American actor Alan Arkin, has been living in Australia long since his
Umbrella Entertainment: The Return of Captain Invincible (1983) Read More »
Among us collectors of physical media, speculation mounts each month over which titles Cinema Cult will be adding to their ever-expanding catalogue. One of the two latest acquisitions for November was surprisingly Joel Schumacher’s overlooked thriller 8MM, an ideal selection from the Australian-based label and a fixture of cinema’s darker side. Years before he seized
Cinema Cult: 8MM (1999) Read More »
Regular cinema- goers of the early 2000s would have easily been forgiven for assuming Riding in Cars with Boys was just another Drew Barrymore vehicle (no pun intended), but there’s more to this dramatic comedy than meets the eye, as I discovered for myself thanks to the film’s first-ever Blu-ray release, produced by Aussie label
Via Vision Entertainment: Riding in Cars with Boys (2001) Read More »
Fitting in nicely with the film’s optimistic ending in which our trio of heroes arrive in a new century, Sleepy Hollow ushered Australian movie-goers into the new millennium, opening in cinemas on New Year’s Day. I was on school holidays during a particularly hot summer, and I went to see Tim Burton’s gothic mystery with
Review: Sleepy Hollow (1999) Read More »