Horror Show! The Film4 FrightFest Is Back

The “Woodstock of gore” returns to the Odeon West End with The Film4 FrightFest 2008! From Thursday 21st August to Monday 25th August, the UK’s number one event for horror fans will exclusively preview 26 new films. This year, six world premieres and sixteen UK premieres will play at the festival, which include the highly controversial French flick, Martyrs, the 3D slasher, Scar 3D, Clive Barker’s The Midnight Meat Train (starring Vinnie Jones), and the UK premiere of Paul W. S Anderson’s Death Race, starring Jason Statham and Joan Allen.

The festival will once again include special guest appearances, Q & A’s, sneak previews, a short film strand, signings, competition prizes and give-aways!

This is the number one festival for those eager to see the latest horror tiles before anyone else. Last year’s event introduced numerous now-infamous titles such as The Orphanage, Black Sheep and a fully uncut version of Uwe Boll’s highly controversial, Postal.

For a full timetable of this year’s line-up, log onto www.frightfest.co.uk. To book tickets call the dedicated hotline 0871 224 1983 or go online to: www.odeon.co.uk. But you better be quick, because these babies sell out pretty damn fast!

 

Tartan R.I.P

Following our recent report on the closure of Tartan USA, it looks like the famed distributor has now completely slid into administration and is no more.

Tartan had been around in one shape or form since 1984 and went on to become a staple of high quality cinema and home entertainment. A pioneering company when it came to the world cinema scene, Tartan introduced countless world cinema classics to a wide-spreading audience, from Lars Von Trier’s The Idiots (1998) and Gaspar Noe’s Irreversible (2002) to Capturing the Friedmans (2003) and Belleville Rendezvous (2003). The company also brought to light the prolific world of J-Horror and the most exciting contributions from Eastern cinema with the likes of the Ringu trilogy (1998-2000), Battle Royale (2000) and Oldboy (2003). Tartan Films also recently helped produce Michael Haneke’s controversial Funny Games U.S (2007).

The closure has left all of the company’s staff redundant, and certainly, the movie and DVD world just won’t be the same without Tartan’s vital input.

 

Hollywood Homicide! L.A Confidential - 10th Anniversary Edition

Warner Home Video is set to release L.A Confidential – 10th Anniversary Edition.

Based on James Ellroy’s ‘L.A. Quartet’ series of novels, L.A. Confidential delves into a sordid 1950s Hollywood full of police corruption, prostitution and murder. Directed by Curtis Hanson, the film was nominated for nine Oscars (bagging two), and boasts an all-star cast including Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Guy Pearce and Kim Basinger.

The digitally re-mastered L.A Confidential – 10th Anniversary Edition will be released on October 6th (TBC), and though the special features have yet to be confirmed, the forthcoming region 1 Special Edition suggests we could be looking at one spectacular DVD package:

Special Features (TBC):
Disc 1
Audio Commentary With Movie Expert Andrew Sarris
Music Only Track
Trailers and TV Spots
Showest
Nite Owl Action
Hollywood
Theatrical Trailer
Soundtrack Promo 
Disc 2
Whatever You Desire: Making L.A. Confidential
Sunlight and Shadow: The Visual Style of L.A. Confidential
A True Ensemble: The Cast of L.A. Confidential
L.A. Confidential: From Book To Screen Off The Record
Photo Pitch
The L.A. Of L.A. Confidential Hollywood Center Motel Formosa Café
Sid Hudgen’s Office
Victory Motel
Bidwell’s Office
Nick’s Liquor
Lynn Bracken’s House
Frolic’s Room
Pierce Patchett’s House
Movie Premiere Pot Bust
Mrs. Leffert’s House
Nite Owl Café
Navarette’s Hole-up
Fitch House
City Hall
L.A. Confidential 2000 TV Pilot