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Review: Evil Dead Anthology Bluray Set

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For years Evil Dead fans have been the subject of mass double dipping. It seems like every year there is a new release of one of these classic films promising to be the “definitive edition” to end all collecting. The holy grail of Evil Dead video releases would be one that contained all four films into one life size replica of the Necronomicon. So safe to say that many Dead fans rejoiced back in September when this was announced:

Daaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnnn

SWEET MOTHER OF KANDARIAN DEMONS THAT IS AWESOME! It was a nut shot to all of the die-hard fans of the series. All four films in a true sized Book of the Dead edition, a replica dagger, and it was said that it would also contain the ever elusive Within The Woods, the short film precursor made to pre-sell the original film. A major blow was sent to many as the set was also announced as only being available in Australia/New Zealand retailing at about $186. Luckily I got my hands on a copy, but just as our hero Ash’s journey, I too found myself on a roller-coaster of emotion and sanity going through the set. Let’s break down the set. First of all, this is what the actual set looks like:

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Right off the bat, they look like the props from the films. The dagger looks nothing like the original dagger in the promo photo and the book is a different cheaper design. It is the right size though, being almost twice the size of the Anchor Bay Book of the Dead DVDs released in the early 2000’s But it also feels, cheap. The rubber looks and feels fragile like it is hanging on by the pure grace of god, and I just took it out of the box. The dagger is based more on the one in Evil Dead 2 and newly designed by Tom Sullivan. Though it isn’t to scale, it is still pretty detailed and has a little weight to it making it a fun addition. Alright, lets open it up and summon some evil forces already:

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Kanda

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Kanda!

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KANDA!

There is no denying that Tom Sullivan’s artwork is still some of the most hauntingly awesome and amazing parts to come out of the franchise. Each page he made gives the fear drive in the films and helped establish the films’ ominous presence. The artwork looks and feels great, and this is made solid by the fact that this is the first Book of The Dead set to be bigger than the average DVD case. Opening the few few pages and holding the dagger feels like I could summon some nasty evil presence in the woods. Sadly, this is one of the last positive thing I have to say about the set.

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Ok, one more page to look at. Damn that’s awesome.

Yes the cover feels/looks cheap but the pages are wicked dope, it comes with a dagger, has all four films on Blu-ray plus three discs of bonuses! Surely it must be worth the steep nearly $200 price tag right? Warms my cold black heart knowing you still have faith in not getting ripped off on Evil Dead home releases.

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At this point I feel like I am just teasing you posting these pages.

Yes, the films look great. High definition really brings out a lot of the strengths and budgetary weakness in the films. But these are already available at a cheaper price elsewhere. The discs are reprints of older editions with the same standard def Anchor Bay special features. My biggest gripes with the Blus are two things: Evil Dead 2 is the only Region 2 Blu Ray disc in the whole set. This is a major blow because while most of the other discs are region free, this set includes two that are in fact Region 2 (the second being one of the bonus DVDs). Also, the set only includes the Director’s Cut of Army of Darkness. An Evil Dead Anthology set without Ash saying “Hail to the king, baby?” Feels worse than Deadites swallowing your soul.

The first bonus disc is “Invaluable”, a new documentary about Tom Sullivan. The film bounces back and forth from interviews, to Tom himself reflecting on his career, and revisiting sites from the production of the first two films. I am really glad we finally have some more stories from the man who created the book/deadites, I just wish it was from a better film. The documentary starts off with bloopers of the filmmaker trying/failing to introduce Sullivan. This along with the opening title card saying “Produced, directed, shot, and edited by” one person sets the tone for the rest of the film. Honestly, it could have been at least 45 minutes shorter. There are some stories that didn’t need to be included in the film. Who cares who hooked up with who in college? There are a few of those types of stories in the documentary that should have been left on the cutting floor. The film also has some pacing issues, some weird timeline chooses with the stories, a fake out ending about an hour into it, gets repetitive for a good portion, and suffers a bit in lack of focus. That being said, there are some great stories from the sets that are great to hear.

Tom Sullivan comes off as a great hardworking guy who loves to tells stories. He has some great insight to the behind the scenes on the films. He also expands upon other non-Evil Dead factions of his life including trips to Japan and working on The Fly II. The documentary also follows Tom to various locations related to the shoot including the original basement, the house the cast and crew lived in during production, and where they shoot both the grave digging scene along with most of Within The Woods. Tom’s enthusiasm for the films really show and come through in the film as he is excited to show all the stories and places revolving Evil Dead. Overall there are some great stories to come out of this documentary, but its poor pace, lack of focus, and long runtime make it a bit tiring. Maybe if it was cut into a few smaller segments then it might have been easier to digest.

The next two discs are pretty lackluster because they are a bunch of old Anchor Bay special features. In fact, thats all they are. The only thing that was added to them is the 2nd special feature disc is coded as Region 2. Honestly, some new special features, along with the short film Within The Woods, could have saved this set.

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But the pages are sooooooooooooo cool.

There is no doubt this set looks and sounds epic on paper, but the execution is poor. Between switching formats and region coding on the discs, the lack of new special features, poor choices on the cover design, and of course, lack of Within The Woods, the set feels like a cheap cash in on the Evil Dead name. Do I condemn this set? Not entirely. Collector’s will buy this set because thats what collectors do. Hell, I bought the set and I already own at least three copies of each film. And they should. The set is cool enough to have with any Evil Dead collection, as long as you can part with $186 easily.

Hopefully the new Starz show will finally bring us what we want from an anthology set. Maybe a director’s approved set like David Lynch’s Twin Peaks the Complete Mystery set? One can dream.

Buy the set here!

Side Note, if you still want to see the Invaluable documentary you can purchase it through Tom Sullivan’s site. They are also offering signed copies and posters using some of Tom’s original Evil Dead poster design from when it was Book of the Dead. Purchase Invaluable here!

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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