Welcome Back to Graphic Breakdown!

It’s Friday and I’m currently in San Diego schmoozing with Thomas Jane which means the rest of you can kick back and read my reviews of some independent books!

Here we go!

The Backstagers Volume 1  
Written by James Tynion IV
Illustrated by Rian Sygh
Published by BOOM! Studios

James Tynion IV has been making quite a name for himself over at the DC Comics line of books. This is his independent book he’s been writing and it’s pretty damn good. It’s a heartfelt book and the writing and art work extremely well together.

Tynion has written a book about the difficulty of fitting in especially if you’re an outcast. Jory, our protagonist, is off to a new school. He decides to join the backstage crew of the theatre. While Jory is there, he discovers a door that leads to a different world. So what does he do? He goes exploring of course. This leads to some wild adventures.

Tynion makes the book thoughtful. The art is magical as well. The only problem is it does take a little time to get into. Once you are there though, it’s a magical ride just like traveling through one of the doors. I liked it very much. A good buy.

RATING: B+

Bettie Page #1  
Written by David Avallone
Illustrated by Colton Worley
Published by Dynamite Entertainment

Everyone’s favorite pinup girl gets her own title. There’s something really fun about that. Bettie has always been a cheesecake model and that’s fun.

Sadly, this book takes the subject matter a little too seriously and it loses some of its impact.

This book takes Bettie and puts her in a mystery in the year 1951.

Bettie, it turns out, is a superspy. She must help keep the world safe from bad people. So, off she goes!and again, it’s done in the most serious manner possible.

Dave Stevens got it right when he used Ms. Page in The Rocketeer. This feels forced. The art isn’t bad. Still, this could be a lot better. Maybe it’ll pick up and be more joyful. One could only hope.

RATING: C+

Clue #1 & #2  
Written by Paul Allor
Illustrated by Nelson Daniel
Published by IDW Publishing

They finally did it. They went and made a comic book version of the board game Clue. This seems to be the latest trend these days.

How is it? Well, it’s a tad wacky. That’s okay, though. The creative team is in love with the material so it makes for some fun reading overall.

The mystery here starts at a Mr. Boddy’s dinner party. There is a murder. Mr. Boddy is the one killed. Everyone is a suspect!

All the familiar faces from the board game are here.

And boy, are they characters.

Truthfully, if you like the board game or the movie, you’ll like this. If not, chances are you won’t. The story is fun and the art is okay. This won’t change the world, but it is a good enough time.

RATING: B

Mighty Mouse #2    
Written by Sholly Fisch 
Illustrated by Igor Lima
Published by IDW Publishing

This is one of the best comics of the new year. I love this so much.

This is the story of a young boy who can’t relate to the world. The only thing he can relate to is the cartoon character Mighty Mouse.

One day, Mighty Mouse jumps from the television  screen and joins the young boy.

Together they must deal with an evil coming to this world.

Sholly Fisch is a great writer who has been underutilized for years. Here, he writes with passion.  It’s also very inventive.

There is a laugh out loud scene in here where Mighty Mouse asks what happens if you fall off a cliff in this world, where the answer is “you die.” Then he asks what happens if you get blown up and so on with the same answer.  It’s good writing.

The art is wonderful as well. It’s nicely composed and it combines all the elements of a great comic. Pick this up. It’s certainly a gem.

RATING: A

Curse Words Vol. 1: Devil’s Devil
Written by Charles Soule 
Illustrated by Ryan Browne
Published by Image Comics

I love the writing of Charles Soule when he is not writing for the Big Two. He puts passion into it, and it shows. This book is no different.

It’s whacked out and it’s a hell of a book.

A wizard has appeared in New York City!

Everyone is excited!

He’s going around casting spells and living it up. It turns out this wizard is one of those evil wizards! He’s fooled everyone. The best part is he’s summoned a bunch of evil that is headed this way!

The art is perfectly gonzo as well and fits the writing well. I hadn’t heard of this before I started reading it but I’m glad I got the chance to. It’s a wild ride from the get go and doesn’t let up!

RATING: B+

Generation Gone #1  
Written by Ales Kot
Illustrated by Andre Lima Araujo
Published by Image Comics

Ales Kot is another writer who I adore who is very underrated. This book is a nice, emotional tale and he writes it very well. I love the style of it. It’s a story for every kid growing up in the modern era. It’s themes are universal and really dig deep.

The scene is America, 2020. The story is about three young hackers with nothing to lose. They come across a secretive scientist with a plan. This was supposed to be one final job.

What happens when you’re poor, angry, and get superpowers you never asked for?

Kot answers that question and answers it well. The art is wonderful and Araujo may in fact be a breakout talent because of this book. Pick it up. It’s quite excellent.

RATING: A-

Redlands #1   
Written by Jordie Bellaire
Illustrated by Vanesa R. Del Rey
Published by Image Comics

This is a classic case of amazing art and and okay story. Del Rey’s art of a standout here. It’s full of life and a style that is unique and eye popping. It’s wonderful. The story is very basic however.

This is a horror tale involving a town, a coven of witches and the police. The witches are trying to take over the town. The police are trying to stop them. That’s basically the first issue and about how deep it gets.

This could get better. Right now it was a simple story with great art. Maybe the future issues will get deeper. I’ll read it either way, if only for the amazing art.

RATING: B

Sisters of Sorrow #1    
Written by Courtney Alameda and Kurt Sutter
Illustrated by Hyeonjin Kim
Published by BOOM! Studios

A lot of fuss has been made over this book as Kurt “Sons of Anarchy” Sutter had a hand in it.

With that pedigree, you would expect something deeper. Sadly, the premiere issue never gets any deeper than just being a comic book about “nuns with guns.”

By day, Dominique, Greta, Misha, and Sarah run a nonprofit women’s shelter. At night, they each don a nun’s habit and move through Los Angeles hunting down violent abusers who have escaped justice. They start getting noticed. They start calling themselves the Sisters of Sorrow.

That’s pretty much the entire first issue.

The art is very good. Kim also may breakout as a star because of this book. This could get more intense and more interesting. I hope it does.

Right now, it’s all surface. A nice looking surface, but a surface nonetheless.

RATING: B

It was announced last weekend at D23 Expo that in August, one of the biggest animated films in history—“The Lion King”—joins the highly celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection. The coming-of-age masterpiece, filled with humor and heart, breathtaking animation and soul-stirring Academy Award®–winning music (1994: Best Original Score and Best Original Song, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”), arrives on Digital on Aug. 15 and on Blu-ray and DVD on Aug. 29.

Audiences will fall in love all over again with the treasured classic, and a new generation of fans will laugh with Timon and Pumbaa, cry with Simba and Mufasa, burst into song, and find their place in the “Circle of Life.” The Walt Disney Signature Collection release includes over three hours of classic bonus material and exclusive, brand new features inviting viewers to sing along with the film’s award-winning music, observe recording sessions, step inside the story room, witness the evolution of a villain, and join Nathan Lane (voice of Timon) and Matthew Broderick (voice of Adult Simba) for an extended conversation regarding the legacy of “The Lion King.”

“The Lion King” follows the adventures of Simba, a feisty lion cub who cannot wait to be king, as he searches for his destiny in the great “Circle of Life.” The film earned a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture—Comedy or Musical and inspired a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that is currently the third longest-running musical in Broadway history. In 2019, a reimagined live-action film, helmed by Jon Favreau, will delight audiences with the thrilling retelling of the original tale utilizing groundbreaking technological advances—as only Disney can do.

“The Lion King” is the fifth title to join the Walt Disney Signature Collection, which includes groundbreaking films created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney, featuring timeless stories and characters that have touched generations. It takes its place alongside “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Pinocchio” and “Bambi.”

Bonus Features:

BLU-RAY, DIGITAL*:

• Brand New Sing-Along Version
• Audio Commentary – View the film with commentary by producer Don Hahn and co-directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff.
• Visualizing a Villain – Against a backdrop of live dancers and the animated “Be Prepared” sequence, artist David Garibaldi paints a masterpiece of evil.
• The Recording Sessions – Watch rare footage of the actors recording their roles, matched with the final animation. Intro by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff.
• Nathan and Matthew: The Extended Lion King Conversation – Nathan Lane (Timon) and Matthew Broderick (Adult Simba) offer candid and hilarious insights into their Lion King experiences.
• Inside the Story Room – Co-directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff present archival footage of five original story pitches.
  • Circle of Life – See how color creates emotion and meaning in the film’s iconic opening.
  • Simba & Nala – See how elements proposed in story meetings evolve into what appears onscreen.
  • Simba Takes Nala Out to Play – …And, sometimes what seems funny in story meetings never makes it into the film!
  • Hakuna Matata – Co-directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff sing, act and dance their hearts out as they pitch the “Hakuna Matata” sequence.
  • Rafiki and Reflecting Pool – Co-directors Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff pitch a sequence that became the emotional heart of The Lion King to Producer Don Hahn.
• Music & More – Sing along to your favorite songs from the movie!
  • “Circle of Life”
  • “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King”
  • “Be Prepared”
  • “Hakuna Matata”
  • “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”
• Galleries
  • Visual Development – Explore a gallery of striking artwork that inspired the movie’s look and feel.
  • Character Design – Trace the development of the film’s unforgettable characters through early concept art drawings.
  • Storyboards – Examine storyboards created in the development of “The Lion King.”
  • Layouts – Feast your eyes on layouts created in the development of “The Lion King.”
  • Backgrounds & Layouts – Journey through a gallery of landscape paintings that shaped the world of “The Lion King.”
• Classic Bonus Features (Digital Only) – These offerings from prior home entertainment releases include hours of bonus material, such as bloopers, audio commentary, deleted and alternate scenes, and in-depth journeys into the music, film, story, animals and stage show.

Produced by Omid Shamsoddini,
Yumee Jang, Megan Freels Johnston
Written and Directed by
Megan Freels Johnston
Starring Deanna Russo, Emil Johnsen,
John Redlinger, Sam Schweikert,
Hilary Barraford, Bailey Anne Borders,
Jeff Daniel Phillips, Dan Sutter,
Dana Gaier, Lisa Ann Walter

Deanna Russo portrays Mary, a writer who moves back to her suburban hometown. She is staying in her new home for a short time alone, awaiting the arrival of her husband and two children.

Mary is almost immediately set upon by her annoying, nosy neighbors, exuding sunniness but barely masking their judgmental derision of her.

Still, they ARE neighborly, so Mary is invited to a neighbor’s son’s high school graduation party.

While there, Mary surprises herself by sharing a joint with said son and his girlfriend, thus beginning a fumbling-for-her-youth mission which starts to spiral downward.

Meanwhile, a creepy, throwback ice cream truck – and its nearly omnipresent jingle – canvases the neighborhood…

The Ice Cream Truck feels a bit like two separate movies stitched together: a satiric tale of a woman who had a child just out of high school and now wants to relive her teen years within the gossipy confines of suburbia, and a low-budget slasher film.

The film is actually rather interesting throughout, thanks to the odd structure of the script and combination of seemingly disparate elements of several genres.

Mary’s descent into adolescence is believable, even though there were a few moments of character motivation I didn’t quite buy. Still, Mary is brought to vivid life by Russo, who is perfectly cast as a beautiful, sexy woman (fittingly, in a girl-next-door way) who is quite conflicted about family life. I’ve never seen Russo in anything before, but she’s extremely good here.

The supporting cast is also solid, and the film has an amusing synthesizer score.

My only real problem with the film is I didn’t feel the two story threads came together in a satisfying way. I don’t want to say anything more, as spoilers would ensue.

Also, it should be noted that viewers looking for a scary, straightforward horror flick will likely be let down. But adventurous viewers who enjoy dramas with horror elements, and don’t need to have everything spoon-fed to them, may find quite a bit to like about The Ice Cream Truck.

The Ice Cream Truck will be released in theaters and on VOD August 18th.

I’ve been playing The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild recently, it’s such a beautiful, charming, well put together game and I absolutely adore it but one thing about it has been bothering me lately, namely the games difficulty. I can’t explain to you how defeated I feel, I should be well-trained and have my skills perfectly honed based on my many years of gaming. I’m admitting a weakness in my gaming ability despite having been a gamer for the majority of my life.

Worse still, it’s a Zelda game that I’m having problems with and this game series has always been a huge part of my life. Yet, here I am, ashamed and embarrassed to admit that I’m struggling with Breath of the Wild. Zelda games have always had an element of challenge to them, there’s certainly no denying that. I only need to utter the phrase “water temple” and many of you will understand the pangs of pain and frustration that come loaded with it.

Still, I find myself wondering why I’m having an issue with this game specifically because it’s the first game in recent memory that I’m having difficulty with. Could it be that other modern games up until this point have been too easy? Have I lost my ability due to these games themselves?

If I stop to think about my recent gaming experiences, it seems plausible that games have become easier because I do find myself coasting through a game these days with minimal effort. I’m not so egotistical that I associate my ability to coast through a game entirely with skill (believe me, I’m good but I’m not that good).

So it’s not so unbelievable that this relative ease with which I am able to play may have been the product of incessant hand holding from contemporary games where we are led like cattle from checkpoint to checkpoint, stopping only to attack ineffective enemies here and there.

Games today offer us gameplay that continually nudges us along in a particular direction in order to complete objectives. There are few modern games where I’ve become lost or forgotten what I was doing. This is because we are bombarded with our objective through use of repetitive, exposition-heavy dialogue, obviously placed items and other familiar tropes. Even the controls are practically identical, we’re pre-programmed to know how to aim and shoot. Everything has been offered up to us so that we can approach a new game with ease, familiarity and comfort.

Breath of The Wild by comparison has no real tutorials, you are thrown into the world of Hyrule just as Link is. Though in fairness, Link has lost his memory and must retrace his steps by searching for places and people to trigger his memories, only then can he fight to save Zelda and all of Hyrule…hang on, have I just described myself?

I know this game, it is familiar yet different. I have nostalgia for the series and know inherently what I must do but…I have forgotten how to play because the majority of games today come with online walkthroughs, tutorials and entirely unskippable levels dedicated to teaching us what buttons to press when and how to ride a bike, tie your shoe lace and chew your food properly.

I have been too spoilt by the games of late, they have been far too kind to me. They’ve protected me from failure, bubble-wrapped my ego and handed me everything on a plate. I’ve become so accustomed to their protective layers, without them I’m lost.

They’ve made me too confident, given me a false sense of security so that I think I can take on multiple monsters at once yet, in Breath Of The Wild I need to utilise careful planning and equip myself properly in order to take on multiple enemies. It’s not just about being able to handle gameplay mechanics or understand the controls.

I don’t want to be one of those people who blame the tools around them for their failings, so perhaps I’m being too unfair to contemporary games. Maybe it isn’t them, maybe I have to face the fact that it’s me with the problem, I’m rusty and out of practice. I suck. There I said it.

Perhaps Breath of The Wild is exactly what I need right now. I need to remember how to think before I act, carefully plan out my actions and keep myself equipped for all situations. Charging in with over-confidence and a gung-ho attitude will not work.

To use Dragon Ball Super as an example (sorry, I’ve been watching a lot of this recently), I am currently the Gohan of gaming. I was once a formidable fighter who could rise to any challenge and take on any opponent (or game) without difficulty but for the last few years or so I’ve settled down into adulthood, I’ve stopped training my muscles and have dialed down the intensity (playing less games, less frequently), choosing to focus instead on my study of the craft (writing about games).

Then, out of nowhere I’m faced with the possible end of the world (because gaming is my world) and I am ill-equipped, unable to defeat my foe and punished by my own complacency through failure. So now I must re-train and seek help from my original trainer, the one who taught me my craft in the first place, Piccolo (or The Legend Of Zelda series).

It turns out that I’m not alone in my struggle and other gamers have had similar experiences. However, the game is supposed to be challenging and was created to incorporate difficulty into the gaming experience. Hidemaro Fujibayashi (game director of Breath Of The Wild) has even explained that it is very much intentional.

In an interview for The Verge he explains,

“There’s actually kind of a fun to be had from falling and dying. You learn to be careful and to be cautious…that gave a lot of players the emotional preparedness to take on the rest of the world”.

Uh, thanks? I guess I’ll persevere and suffer through my failures. There’s certainly no way I’m giving up on a Zelda game, it’s far too important to me.

Breath Of The Wild is definitely a challenge but I think ultimately that makes it all the more rewarding. For me, this is something which has been missing from games for a long time. The game can be unforgiving, weapons and shields break often, cooking is an actual necessity to survive and you can even be struck down by lightning and die in one fell swoop but I’m learning that you just have get back up and continue on because that’s life.

And after all, it wouldn’t be a Zelda game if it wasn’t trying to impart some important wisdom or life lesson to me.

Do you think games are much easier than they were or am I just a terrible gamer? How did you find Breath Of The Wild? Let us know in the comments section below.

Ever wondered how the crew of Serenity would fare if they landed back on Earth-That-Was? Would we see etiquette classes by Inara? Remedial math lessons from Jayne? Could River make it as a psychic poker champ? And what kind of carnage could Saffron cause with a charity kissing booth?

Find out in this cute cartoon collection from Joey Spiotto.

And we’re giving away three copies!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header “FIREFLY” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

Which actress was originally cast as Inara before she was replaced by Morena Baccarin?

Please include your name, and address (U.S. only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on July 30th, 2017.

San Diego Comic-Con has gone blue.

Blue tents cover the out parts of the convention center as folks wearing blue antenna walk around handing out fliers and refreshments spread the gospel of Amazon Prime in an attempt to get the message out that The Tick as returned.

By the time Amazon Prime airs its incarnation of The Tick on August 25, the character would have been around for 30 years.

Star Peter Serafinowicz explains that part of the big blue hero’s staying power is not just his journey, but that his ability to remain who he is throughout the years is part of his appeal.

“I’m not one of the writers, but I was allowed to air my thoughts,” said star Peter Serafinowicz, “That was my main concern knowing that characters have to develop, but one of The Tick’s defining characteristics is that he remains exactly the same. And that was a situation that I think was dealt with expertly.”

Once again, The Tick has returned to poke a big, sharp stick at the super hero genre, but this time, the series take a focus on sidekick Arthur, played to milquetoast perfection by Griffin Newman.

“We are now doing a comic book movie parody,” said star Jackie Earle Haley, who plays The Terror. “The focus isn’t solely on Arthur, but it’s definitely his origin story. But there is a bit of Tick’s origin in there too, because he doesn’t remember who he is or what is going on. And he’s only whole when his is with Arthur.”

“His mom says to him in one episode, ‘Good is great. You are not destined for greatness. Just settle for goodness. Just hold down a job, get an apartment and pay your bills. That’s fine.’ And he’s miserable. He’s not doing anything that speaks to him,” said Newman, “So when the Tick comes and gives him a suit and tells him he’s supposed to be a superhero, he doesn’t believe it, because everyone told him not to believe it his entire life.”

“I think the arc is teaching him to believe in himself and trying to convince everyone around him that he hasn’t lost his mind and that this is what he was meant to do.”

“I think these character connect because they say something about the human condition,” continues Newman. “Tick and Arthur represent the two voices in our head. The id and the ego. Tick is all the bluster, all the action. Arthur is all the doubt, all the questioning, all the awareness of how unlikely of how we will accomplish anything. And we need both in order to succeed in this world.”

“If you are The Tick, you’ll go out and get everything done, but without a filter or a strategy and it will all backfire. And with Arthur, it will all backfire because you’ll think too much about how it will go wrong. If you balance your Tick and your Arthur, you can actually do something.”

The Tick launches it’s first season on Amazon Prime on Friday, August 25

Situated at the cross street of Great Yarn and Canon, the Black Crown Pub anchors a peculiar street where characters commingle and corrupt.  As previously announced, notorious editor Shelly Bond has opened up shop at IDW Publishing and is hurtling towards the launch of her creator-owned imprint, Black Crown. Peter Milligan (Britannia, Shade, the Changing Man) and Tess Fowler (Rat Queens), whose KID LOBOTOMY will be Black Crown’s debut title in October, now welcome some rambunctious new residents to the neighborhood.

Come December, writer Tini Howard (The Skeptics) and Gilbert Hernandez (Love and Rockets) will combine their talents on a 6-issue miniseries with more attitude than you can shake a sword or a game controller at in ASSASSINISTAS. Octavia is an ex-hitwoman who comes out of retirement to pay for her son’s college tuition — and, with any luck, rescue the kidnapped child of one of her former bounty-hunting partners. Octavia recruits her reluctant son Dominic and his boyfriend Taylor to become the next generation of ASSASSINISTAS.

Then in January, the British invasion is back in full force with PUNKS NOT DEAD, co-created by novelist David Barnett (Calling Major Tom, Gideon Smith series) and artist Martin Simmonds (Death Sentence). Fergie is a lonely, bullied teenager raised by a single mom who unexpectedly finds himself in search of the dad he never knew.  But Fergie won’t be traveling alone.  For some reason a strange branch of MI5 is hot on Fergie’s trail. Could it be the ghost of Sex Pistol Sid Vicious who becomes Fergie’s ethereal companion and unlikely father figure? Bound to Fergie for reasons unknown, is Sid in search of redemption himself or out to prove that punk is alive and well 40 years later?

Right on the heels of KID LOBOTOMY is the BLACK CROWN QUARTERLY, a 48-page compendium of all things comics, culture, and cool. It features a wraparound cover and a regular 10-page lead story set in the Black Crown Pub by Rob Davis (The Motherless Oven). Other features include a two-sided pull-out poster with a view of the street and Frank Quitely’s KID LOBOTOMY #1 B-cover, music connections via CUD: Rich and Strange and Swell Maps, Canonball Comics, an exquisite corpse, and much more.

For those attending Comic-Con International in San Diego, you can swing by the IDW Publishing booth #2743 and pick up the Black Crown preview book now, a Black Crown enamel pin, or a Black Crown button.

The humorous and heartwarming award-winning film, Dean, will arrive on DVD, Digital HD and On Demand August 29 from Lionsgate.

Writer-director Demetri Martin stars alongside Academy Award winner Kevin Kline (1988, Actor in a Supporting Role, A Fish Called Wanda) in this comedic and heartfelt film about a father and son coming to terms with love, loss, and everything in between. Following a life-shaking event, Dean (Martin), a New York illustrator, hops a transcontinental flight hoping to figure out his increasingly crazy world. While in Los Angeles, Dean unexpectedly discovers romance, hope, inspiration, and the importance of family.

The film’s all-star cast also includes Gillian Jacobs, Rory Scovel, Ginger Gonzaga, Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Reid Scott (2012, Ensemble in a Comedy Series, TV’s “Veep”), and Academy Award winner Mary Steenburgen (1981, Actress in a Supporting Role, Melvin and Howard). Written and directed by Demetri Martin, this comedy about loss, grief and the redemptive power of love won Best Narrative Feature at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival. Including two never-before-seen featurettes and a Q&A with Demetri Martin and Rory Scovel, the Dean DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.98.

DVD/DIGITAL HD SPECIAL FEATURES

• “This Is a Movie: Making Dean” Featurette
• “Drawing on Film: Stories About Dean” Featurette
• Dean: Q&A with Demetri Martin and Rory Scovel

Rooted in the classic graphic novel series, Valerian and Laureline– visionary writer/director Luc Besson advances this iconic source material into a contemporary, unique and epic science fiction saga. Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are special operatives for the government of the human territories charged with maintaining order throughout the universe. Under directive from their Commander (Clive Owen), Valerian and Laureline embark on a mission to the breathtaking intergalactic city of Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis comprised of thousands of different species from all four corners of the universe. Alpha’s seventeen million inhabitants have converged over time- uniting their talents, technology and resources for the betterment of all. Unfortunately, not everyone on Alpha shares in these same objectives; in fact, unseen forces are at work, placing our race in great danger.

And we’re giving away three copies!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header “ART OF VALERIAN” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

What was the name of Luc Besson’s 1997 Sci-Fi Epic
Starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich and Chris Tucker?

Please include your name, and address (U.S. only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on July 30th, 2017.

Based on the real-life love story between star and cowriter Kumail Nanjiani (“Silicon Valley,” Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates) and his wife, The Big Sick arrives on Digital HD September 5 and on Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital HD), DVD and On Demand September 19 from Lionsgate. Produced by Judd Apatow (Trainwreck, Bridesmaids) and Barry Mendel (Trainwreck, Bridesmaids), the winner of the 2017 SXSW Film Festival Audience Award is Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh with a 97% critic score. A New York Critics’ Pick, the hilarious film takes a comical look at the clash of two cultures in a moment of crisis.

Filled with laugh-out-loud moments, the unconventional and authentic comedy also stars Oscar winner Holly Hunter (Best Actress, The Piano, 1993), Emmy winner Ray Romano (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) and Zoe Kazan (What If, Ruby Sparks).  Co-written by Nanjiani’s wife Emily V. Gordon (“The Carmichael Show,” “Explored”), the film is directed by Michael Showalter (Wet Hot American Summer).

Based on the real-life courtship between Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, The Big Sick tells the story of Pakistan-born aspiring comedian Kumail (Nanjiani), who connects with grad student Emily (Kazan) after one of his stand-up sets. However, what they thought would be just a one-night stand blossoms into the real thing, which complicates the life that is expected of Kumail by his traditional Muslim parents. When Emily is beset with a mystery illness, it forces Kumail to navigate the medical crisis with her parents, Beth and Terry (Hunter and Romano) who he’s never met, while dealing with the emotional tug-of-war between his family and his heart.

The home entertainment release of The Big Sick features all-new bonus content including two behind-the-scenes featurettes, audio commentary with cowriters Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, producer Barry Mendel, and director Michael Showalter, the 2017 SXSW panel, deleted scenes, jokes that didn’t quite make the big screen, and bonus footage from The Big Sick Comedy Tour featuring hilarious stand-up performances, Q&As, and backstage moments. The Big Sick will be available on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD for $39.99 and $29.95, respectively.

BLU-RAY / DVD / DIGITAL HD SPECIAL FEATURES

• “A Personal Journey: The Making of The Big Sick” Featurette
• “The Real Story” Featurette
• 2017 SXSW Film Festival Panel
• Cast & Filmmaker Commentary with Actor-Writer Kumail Nanjiani, Writer Emily V. Gordon, Producer Barry Mendel and Director Michael Showalter
• The Big Sick: The Other Stuff
• Deleted Scenes
• The Bigger Sick: Stick Around for More Laughs

For more details, visit Facebook.com/TheBigSickMovie

In the sixth and final season of Girls, HBO’s hit comedy continues to follow the assorted humiliations and triumphs of a group of 20-something friends in NYC. Season 6 picks up six months after the end of Season 5, with Hannah (Dunham), enjoying new success as a writer while her roommate and bestie Elijah (Andrew Rannells) considers getting serious about his acting career. Marnie (Allison Williams), now in a relationship with Ray (Alex Karpovsky), seeks to maintain her independence post-divorce from Desi (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). Now also a couple, Jessa (Jemima Kirke) and Adam (Adam Driver) decide to embark on a creative project to channel their passions, which could become a source of contention. And Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet) finds herself professionally on the right path, though personally she realizes that her friendships may be holding her back. A time for closing chapters and new beginnings, Girls follows our four familiar friends as they attempt to get closer to becoming the women they always envisioned – even as life sometimes gets in the way.

And we’re giving away a copy on Blu-ray!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header “GIRLS 6” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

In addition to Lena Dunham, which two Girls cast members also appeared in her film, Tiny Furniture?

Please include your name, and address (U.S. only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on August 6th, 2017.

The mutant problem is still an issue at San Diego. Despite attempts by government agencies and top scientists, the mutant gene is still on the rise.

This time around, it can be found in Fox’s latest effort, The Gifted.

Directed by Bryan Singer, the Marvel Television series airing this Fall on Fox, follows the story of two families who go on the run to protect their teen kids from a post-X-Men world looking to destroy all mutants.

Starring Stephen Moyer and Amy Acker, the actioner follows the families as they go on the run following an incident at the high school in which on for the teens is revealed as a mutant.

At San Diego Comic-Con, Moyer chatted about the upcoming sci-fier, his role in it and his entry into the Marvel universe.

“My character doesn’t exist in the comics. He’s an ordinary man,” said Moyer. “Not a total tosser, but he’s sort of the prism in which the audience is watching through. So, I think myself and Amy’s characters end up being the reality. The ordinary meeting the extraordinary, so the audience can visit this world through their eyes.”

“When I was a kid, I was really into Spider-Man. X-Men wasn’t my bag. I did read comic books, but the X world wasn’t what I grew up with. But obviously the X-Men are part of my family because my wife has been in four of them,” joked Moyer. “It was a bit difficult to avoid.”

“She starred in three films with Bryan Singer, and Bryan directed our pilot, so that was great. She loves Bryan, and Bryan has a very encyclopedic knowledge of what the world is. So it was fantastic to just come in and mine that,” said the Brit. “She led me down the rabbit hole as far as interesting places to go to.”

Playing a father of superhumans is a bit of a stretch from the role that made Moyer famous, the Southern tinged Bill from True Blood.

“One of the things I’ve always wanted to do is fly, and I was always very gutted that (Alexander) Skarsgård got to fly. On top of the fact that he was 6’4″, he got to fly!,” joked Moyer.

“There are things these mutants can do like shifting metal, or bringing buildings down, or there is a character called Proteus who can turn back time, which I think would be very awesome. So I think there are things the X-gang can do that we couldn’t as vampires.”

Moyer also made a comment on how a show about discrimination is a reflection on modern times.

“It would be quite difficult to live in the 2017 that we are living in and not comment on the world. In the same way that True Blood dealt with disenfranchised and marginalized otherness, one of the things that drives this is that the kids in our story and the mutants that become mutants, their genes are activated by some sort of persecution or bullying,” said Moyer.

“There are aspects in the script that were written well over a year ago that will have a pressing effect given the recent government.”

The Gifted premieres October 2nd on Fox

There are other worlds than these. Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, the ambitious and expansive story from one of the world’s most celebrated authors, makes its launch to the big screen. The last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), has been locked in an eternal battle with Walter O’Dim, also known as the Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey), determined to prevent him from toppling the Dark Tower, which holds the universe together. The fate of the worlds is at stake – good and evil will collide in the ultimate battle as only Roland can defend the Tower from the Man in Black.

For your chance to download passes to see THE DARK TOWER at the advance screening on Wednesday, August 2^nd  at 7:00 PM at AMC Boston Common click here:  sonyscreenings.com/NQRtG38833.

Remember seating is first come, first served and not guaranteed. Arrive early!

Not all pilots are live action. Many animated shows never get off the ground the same as their live action brethren. Sometimes these are kids cartoons and sometimes these are more adult animated fare.

Either way lets look at a few cartoon pilots that never went anywhere.

Coneheads

This one is bizarre. Produced in 1983 by Lorne Michaels and directed by the venerable duo of Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr.  (Rankin/Bass). Featuring the voices of Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman reprising their roles from Saturday Night Live. This was even written by stalwart SNL writers Al Franken and Tom Davis. What makes this bizarre is that they were attempting to make a adult sketch from an adult show into a kids cartoon.

Obviously this would happen endlessly throughout the 1980’s (Robocop, Toxic Avenger, Rambo, Chuck Norris, Conan, Police Academy etc…) but what makes this different is Coneheads is not written to a child’s level. The oblique word play (that overly technical and succinct style of speech) and adult themes are present here as they were in the SNL sketches yet the animation and style of the animated pilot is clearly aiming at children. This was written like it was an SNL sketch and not a TV pilot for a children’s show.

I mean there is a sex joke less than 3 minutes in and beer plays a large role in the plot.

Remember this was the pilot for a CHILDREN’S CARTOON SERIES. At least I think they were trying to make a series… the tone is VERY kids cartoon and yet the script is adult almost as if this was made specifically NOT to be picked up.

The plot is simple… this is a prequel to the series of sketches from SNL showing how Beldar, Prymaat and Connie come to find themselves on earth telling everyone they are from France.

Needless to say this was never picked up, although it did air as a special and was eventually released on VHS. For some reason they decided to add a freaking laugh track which is both annoying and distracting.

Mass quantities were not consumed.

The X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men

The mutant age was not ready to begin. Pryde of the X-Men was a 1989 attempt to bring an X-Men cartoon to the small screen. The X-Men had previously guest starred in two quite popular episodes of Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends and as the 1980’s were closing out Sunbow (the animation company behind Spider-Man as well as G.I. Joe, Transformers and many others) decided it was time for the mutant age to begin.

Given a larger budget than other Sunbow series this pilot looks AMAZING. It still has that Sunbow style to it but the animation is very fluid and detailed and the lighting effects were above anything they had done up to this point. It’s a shame the script was not given as lavish a treatment. Now, I want to be clear this is NOT a bad script in and of itself, it just feels far too… god the only term I can use is “comic booky”. That might sound weird but as the animation and the story itself were obviously trying to be more mature (the scene with the black family telling Nightcrawler not to touch their daughter and calling him a filthy animal is a powerful one alongside the blatant Hitler allegory with Magneto) the script itself was full of nonsense; Breathing in space, ridiculous leaps of logic, jets traversing the planet in minutes, etc., undercut the tone. It was like they could not decide if this was a show for teens or kids. Sunbow would wrestle with this thing a few times. In G.I. Joe they had the character Mainframe reference the 1000 Yard Stare he saw in ‘Nam and again with Mainframe a running underground romance with Cobra agent Zarana all the while the stories in those episodes were about adults being turned into children via deaging or a man made out of stolen DNA. Sunbow clearly wanted to be making more mature and adult stories and yet could not stop themselves from acting like kids about it.

The plot is that Magneto wants to use a stolen fragment of Cerebro to redirect the Scorpio Comet into earth so all the humans die and mutants can rise up from the ashes. The X-Men (with newest member Kitty Pryde of the title) have to stop him.

Pryde of the X-Men also is somewhat jarring to fans of the X-Men comic books. They throw together many disparate characters from the comics into a mishmash that never gels. Also the voice acting is an issue. Cyclops is voiced by Michael Bell and he literally does his Duke from G.I. Joe voice with the character.

The worst offender would be that of Wolverine. Voiced by Patrick Pinney (ironically the voice of Mainframe on G.I. Joe) who chose (or was directed depending on who you ask) to use and Australian accent for the distinctly Canadian character. Not just the accent but even calling Toad a dingo at one point. Jarring does not begin to describe this choice.

The pilot was sadly not picked up but did air on TV many times as part of the rotating Marvel Action Universe block of cartoons. These consisted of Marvel animated series including Robocop, Dino-Riders, reruns of Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends and Pryde of the X-Men (sometimes Defenders of the Earth or Dungeons & Dragons episodes would run as well). The pilot was also released on VHS. There would be an X-Men series in 1993 but while that was better storywise… the animation was ass.

The Mini-Munsters

So, who the bright idea that by the early 1970’s The Munsters could be a cartoon? Yeah, they had a TV pilot as well. Now that I think about it this makes a kind of strange sense. The original Munsters series was altered considerably from it’s original pilot. The 1980’s series was altered considerably from it’s original pilot. The 2000’s pilot was never picked up so why not an animated one to go with that. The Munsters just had the worst luck with pilots.

The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie was a rotating band of TV movies (one hour) which brought a truly bizarre series of cartoons and live action insanity to Saturday Mornings.

Yogi Bear, The Brady Bunch, Popeye, Willie Mays (?) and The Banana Splits were all here along with Daffy Duck and Porky Pig Meet the Groovie Goolies (which is something both series have disavowed ever happened). The Munsters (specially The Mini-Munsters) were also featured in this animated spin-off attempt. Actually, is it a spin-off when the base series has been off the air for years? Anyway, this time we have the Munster characters all here (with only Al Lewis returning as a voice) but they are not the focus. This introduces us to The Mini-Munsters, the much younger cousins of the cast from the main series.

The pilot as presented originally was an hour long but that only aired once just before Halloween 1973. It was subsequently edited down to a half hour and aired throughout the 1980’s.

As a special it has limited animation (typical of off brand cartoons of the time) and with the main cast of the show being pushed off to supporting roles it feels cheap(er) and awkward.

The “bawdy, sexy” (Neil Pond, Parade) and “ridiculously fun” (Rachel Smith, FOX-TV) comedy BAYWATCH makes waves with a new extended version, featuring outrageous footage not seen in theaters, on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack August 29, 2017 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. Fans can dive in two weeks early on Digital HD August 15.

When a dangerous crime wave hits the beach, legendary Lt. Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne Johnson, The Fate of the Furious) leads his elite squad of badass lifeguards on a mission to prove you don’t have to wear a badge to save the bay. Joined by a trio of hot-shot recruits including former Olympian Matt Brody (Zac Efron, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising), they’ll ditch the surf and go deep undercover to take down a ruthless businesswoman (Priyanka Chopra, TV’s “Quantico”), whose devious plans threaten the future of the bay.

The BAYWATCH 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Combo Packs include both the extended and theatrical versions of the film and are loaded with special features, including interviews with the sensational cast, a look at the “Baywatch” legacy, behind-the-scenes footage of the spectacular stunts, as well as deleted and extended scenes. The film also boasts a Dolby Atmos soundtrack* remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead.

BAYWATCH Blu-ray Combo Pack

The BAYWATCH Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD compatible), French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The DVD in the combo pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The combo pack includes access to a Digital HD copy of the theatrical version of the film as well as the following:

Blu-ray

• Extended Version of the film in high definition
• Theatrical Version of the film in high definition
• Bonus Content:
  • Meet the Lifeguards
  • Continuing the Legacy
  • Stunts & Training
  • Deleted & Extended Scenes

DVD

• Theatrical Version of the film in standard definition

BAYWATCH 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack

Fans can enjoy the ultimate viewing experience with the 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, which includes the Blu-ray detailed above, as well as an Ultra HD Disc presented in 4K Ultra HD with English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD compatible), French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description with English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The Combo Pack also includes access to a Digital HD copy of the theatrical version of the film.

BAYWATCH Single-Disc DVD

The single-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The disc includes the theatrical version of the film in standard definition.

www.TheBaywatchMovie.com

Produced by A.J. Dix, Eric Gitter, Beth Kono,
Kelly McCormick, Peter Schwerin, Charlize Theron
Screenplay by Kurt Johnstad
Based on The Coldest City by Antony Johnston
Directed by David Leitch
Starring Charlize Theron, James McAvoy,
John Goodman, Til Schweiger, Eddie Marsan,
Sofia Boutella, Toby Jones

Atomic Blonde is not what it seems to be.

I went in expecting a female John Wick movie and got something even better. I loved the trailers. I was really looking forward to seeing this film.

After reading the graphic novel I was a little worried that they may have abandoned the story and this would just be a “loosely based on” type of action film.

I was wrong.

Thank god I was wrong.

The new film from director David Leitch and screen writer Kurt Jonstad is one part John LeCarre spy yarn, a generous splash of John Wick action, a shot of James Bond and a twist of La Femme Nikita all shaken and not stirred into a powder keg of an espionage-action film.

Set against the backdrop of 1989 Berlin during the fall of the Wall and the end of the Cold War as we knew it and based on the graphic novel The Coldest City by Antony Johnston and Sam Hart, Atomic Blonde is all Charlize Theron at her most seductive and badass.

Theron plays an MI6 minder agent sent into the heart of West Berlin to recover a list that has been stolen with every known Western and Eastern spy and their operational networks.

In a race against the Russians, she is to meet with the head of Berlin Station, David Percival (brilliantly portrayed by James McAvoy), and help him get back the list and the man who originally stole it, a double agent named SPYGLASS. Everything goes to hell when her cover is blown and the Russians move in. To tell you any more would be to spoil it all.

Double crosses, dead drops, double agents and a healthy dose of red herrings all culminate to an edge of your seat thriller with fantastic action sequences that would make the aforementioned John Wick fans swoon. A myriad of bone breaking ballets ensue where the action is never confusing or lost in a shaky camera and terrible editing. Superbly choreographed and expertly shot fight scenes are beautiful and exhausting where you feel every hit, kick and throw. Every gun shot is a precise and deadly explosion of energy that is as brutal as it is deadly.

The original graphic novel, The Coldest City reads like most any other well written spy book. What Litch and Jonstad have done is injected it with adrenaline and set it to a “greatest hits” of 80’s must have music. They have retained the feel of the book as well as the very smart dialogue and intricate plot devices and twists of the original story. They have even added a few new ones that I enjoyed very much.

It would be very easy to create a stylized and almost caricature version of the time period, the end of the 80’s. The film makers have actually lovingly recreated the turmoil and clash of cultures that was Eastern Europe during the end of the Cold War. This not only is important to the story itself but it adds to the kinetic and often unpredictable nature of the business of espionage at hand.

I love a well made spy film and this is definitely one. I now add this to my list of MUST HAVE films. I highly recommend this and would almost go so far as to say it is one of my favorite films this year, so far.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) and GES, producers of the internationally touring exhibition Harry Potter: The Exhibition, announced the creation of the newest Harry Potter-themed environment, with a holiday twist, Christmas in the Wizarding World.

Launching fall 2017 in selected shopping venues, Christmas in the Wizarding World is a holiday experience inspired by the Harry Potter film series, which will feature beautifully crafted settings and showcase unique experiences sure to dazzle families of all ages. WBCP and GES will partner with premier retail developers to bring the experience to major shopping destinations during the holiday season.

“This holiday season, we are excited to introduce new Christmas themed experiences that further extend J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World into the lifestyle of our fans and consumers,” said Peter van Roden, Senior Vice President, Global Themed Entertainment, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “Christmas in the Wizarding World will be an all-new touchpoint that celebrates this very special time of the year.”

This fully themed holiday retail experience will be reminiscent of the setting and atmosphere of a wintry Hogsmeade village, complete with a wand shop, ornate window displays and interactive elements that are sure to be a hit with Harry Potter fans.

Key features of the experience include:

• Ollivanders, where guests will be able to experience a holiday surprise with the help of the Wandkeeper, amid soaring shelves of hundreds of precariously stacked wand boxes.
• A memorable photo opportunity, featuring a number of background options from the Harry Potter films, where guests can purchase a keepsake of their Christmas in the Wizarding World experience.
• Throughout the attraction, animated windows will bring the iconic shops from the films to life, delighting visitors and fans alike.
• A wide selection of authentic Harry Potter merchandise, from house sweaters and robes to fan-favorite confections and plush owls, as well as jewelry and collectibles will be featured in familiar storefronts seen in the films.

“GES is delighted to be a part of creating a new way for fans to experience the world of Harry Potter, this time in a holiday setting,” said Eddie Newquist, chief creative officer of GES. “This one-of-a-kind experience is sure to be a hit with families and friends who are looking for a magical experience this holiday season.”

GES, producer of blockbuster touring-themed attractions and world-class live events across the globe, will design, produce and operate Christmas in the Wizarding World.

Produced by Kelly Erin Decker, David S. Sterling
Written and Directed by Jared Cohn
Starring Michael Madsen, Made Vodane,
Linda Bella, Zack Kozlow, Kelly Erin Decker,
Brenna Tucker, Desanka Julia Ilic, Ciara Muller

Ok, let’s just get right to this…

The IMDB plot synopses for Devil’s Domain is as simple and as straight forward as this movie should have been, “After becoming the victim of vicious cyber bullies, Lisa makes a deal with the devil to exact revenge on her tormenters.”

I mean, yeah, it’s well trod ground to write a story about a deal with the devil gone wrong, but with the added topic of bullying one thinks that even a no budget movie could pull together a strong story with a dramatic hook.

But unfortunately, Devil’s Domain does no such thing; actually it takes its good ideas along with the cast and wastes them amidst a mess of poorly written character interactions, nonexistent motivations, and sloppily integrated effects set pieces.

To break this down a little more let’s examine that plot synopsis again. There seems to be no real motivation for the bullying and every other teen character in the story appears to act so openly hateful toward Lisa that someone certainly would have intervened in an attempt to figure out what was actually happening.

Now on to the part about Lisa making a deal with the Devil for this “revenge on her tormentors” bit, then please explain to me why the devil character starts killing these people prior to meeting with Lisa? Actually even prior to the cyber-bullying instance? That isn’t only a flaw of the plot synopsis but of the storytelling as a whole. Not to mention the fact that absolutely no one seems to notice that people are being killed, even when they are killed at populated parties with all their friends nearby.

Unfortunately Devil’s Domain is an uneven jumble of scenes that seem to have been placed out of continuity without care. Sloppy writing, sloppy execution, and even sloppier editing make for a rather inept and frustrating viewing experience.

In an attempt to be fair though I will say that the cast does the best with the material they have, especially Michael Madsen and newcomer Madi Vodane as Lisa and since Cleopatra Films produced the film it does have a lot of good music provided by Cleopatra Records.

So to sum this rant up, you can skip Devil’s Domain.

Devil’s Domain is now available on Blu-ray and On Demand.

Produced by Colin Minihan, Stuart Ortiz,
Bic Tran, Brandon Christensen
Written by Colin Minihan, Stuart Ortiz
Directed by Colin Minihan
Starring Brittany Allen, Juan Riedinger,
Merwin Mondesir, Kris Higgins, Nico David,
Michael Filipowich, Andrew Supanz

It Stains the Sands Red is a new zombie film that ends up rising above itself to become something unique and special despite handcuffing itself early on.

The film is about Brittany Allen (of the Syfy Channels’ Defiance) having to survive zombies and other hazards in the Las Vegas desert.

Brittney and her banger boyfriend are attempting to reach an airfield 36 miles outside of Vegas to escape the zombie apocalypse. They have not a care in the world… doing coke and drinking while looking forward to “smoking crack in a beach in Mexico until this all blows over”.

Yeah, these are not good people.

After banger gets his car stuck in the dirt things go bad. A single zombie with a persistence of mind takes down banger and leaves Molly (Allen) to escape through the desert on foot.

With the zombie on her trail she quickly realizes that it does not need to stop to rest, does not need to sleep and most of all will not stop while she on the other hand is running out of water, coming down off of cocaine and is out of shape (she is also suffering major period cramps). With the zombie only steps behind her it becomes a battle of wills.

That is the first 40 or so minutes of the movie with Molly arrogantly yelling and finally pleading with the zombie to leave her alone. One really unique angle is that the zombie is able to track her because it can smell her blood (she is in that time of the month after all). Even when he is hiding in a rundown house he can track her since she ran out of tampons.

After Molly encounters a pair of “saviors” who attempt to rape her she is “saved” by the zombie. Here is where the film takes a turn that is both unexpected and oddly interesting. Molly “befriends” the zombie (whom she calls Smalls). She yells at it like you would a dog and it listens. It remembers these base commands from it’s “life”.

Needless to say that Molly and Smalls form a strange bond and Smalls does not attempt eat her any longer. Molly is latching onto anything she can to stay sane and adopts Smalls as a kind of pet (she even teaches him a few “tricks”). Smalls is dead of course but part of his brain is struggling to remember life and similarly latches onto Molly as a master. This is all short lived as the military begins to take over and Smalls must be put down. There is still a half hour of the movie left though.

Soon Molly gets to the airfield but things go tits up and she must retreat into a subdivision which has been overrun. The last 20 minutes are something you should see for yourself though.

It Stains the Sands Red is a mixed bag. There are many cool and unconventional shots (a 360 panoramic of the desert at one point really stands out for what is both happening inside the frame and how the spinning helps it). My main issues are the CG blood (seriously, STOP WITH CG BLOOD) and that the first half hour is pretty dreadful.

Like with series such as The Walking Dead the zombies in this movie are effortless ninjas making absolutely no sounds until you see them… then they growl and start knocking shit over.

The director also gives away many moments by the obvious framing of shots. For instance more than once in the movie a character will be framed or pushed to the right side of the frame and then, yup, the zombie springs up in the unused portion of the frame. Might have been a good scare if it was not completely telegraphed.

The characters are also a problem… which I feel might be intentional (the same might be said for that first half hour being so bland and average only to shift abruptly). The characters are all terrible people. Molly is a character who’s every choice in life is the wrong one. She is shrill, annoying and has no seeming skills or attributes which might make you care whether she lives or dies. That all changes a little after the 30 minute point of the film. I have to think this is on purpose.

Writer/Director Colin Minihan did a similar thing with his previous film Extraterrestrial. Abrupt shifts in story, unlikable characters he forces you to care about and strange offbeat story twists. Every single living male character in the film is also horrible. They are all either crackheads, rapists, drunks or cowards. Not sure if there is a message there or not.

That first half hour seems to be directed by a hack and is filled with far too many tropes of modern horror films. A hack is not what Minihan is though making my thoughts of it being bad completely intentional.

It Stains The Sands Red is something I can recommend but you have to be able make it through that first 30 minutes though… if that was bad as a some kind of attack on the tropes of horror films it may be miscalculated as I wager many will simply turn off the film before they realize what Minihan is doing. This is a more personal zombie movie and with only the opening establishing shot giving us a scale of the chaos it is an oddly focused zombie film.

All in all, Night of the Living Dead this is not. There is no deep political or societal subtext here but there is an unexpectedly solid second half of the movie.

It Stains The Sands Red  arrives in select theaters and On Demand on July 28