Friday 4 November 2022

TRAILER: Dawn Breaks Behind The Eyes stars Anna Platen, Jeff Wilbusch, Frederik Von Lüttichau, Luisa Taraz and Robert Nickish

Making waves at leading film festivals across the globe and getting its UK premiere at FrightFest, DAWN BREAKS BEHIND THE EYES is a love letter to European cult cinema of the 60s and 70s and now gets its UK theatrical release in December from Fractured Visions with its digital release to follow in February 2023.

The critically acclaimed German arthouse horror from Kevin Kopacka in his feature film directorial debut, stars Anna Platen, Jeff Wilbusch, Frederik Von Lüttichau, Luisa Taraz and Robert Nickish.

When Margot inherits a run-down castle from her wealthy family, she and her husband Dieter decide to spend the night there, where their relationship and their sanity are put to the ultimate test. As time and space begin to shift around them, a reality that only exists within the walls of the eerie building is exposed.

Horrific, hallucinatory, and harrowing, DAWN BREAKS BEHIND THE EYES is a trippy descent into an entirely new dimension where everything and nothing is quite as it seems.

You’ll be wide-eyed with fear and wonder as DAWN BREAKS BEHIND THE EYES.

Theatrical release 2 December 2022 Home Ent. release February 2023

Wednesday 2 November 2022

REVIEW: Mr. Harrigan's Phone (2022) - Starring Jaeden Martell, Donald Sutherland and Joe Tippett

Review by Jon Donnis
When I first heard about Mr. Harrigan's Phone, I was intrigued. I want you to read the same synopsis that I did before I start.

"When Craig, a young boy living in a small town (Jaeden Martell) befriends Mr. Harrigan, an older, reclusive billionaire (Donald Sutherland), the two begin to form an unlikely bond over their love of books and reading. But when Mr. Harrigan sadly passes away, Craig discovers that not everything is dead and gone and strangely finds himself able to communicate with his friend from the grave through the iPhone in this supernatural coming-of-age story that shows that certain connections are never lost."


Now the first thing you think of is that this is going to be a supernatural type film, something similar to classic 2000 film Frequency. The problem is, that it is not, not in any way remotely is the last line of that synopsis true. I think the film has been slightly mis-sold, I understand it is based on an 88-page novella by Stephen King which I have not read. My issue is not so much with the film itself; I actually found the film to be very watchable, and enjoyed it, my issues is that it is not really what it is advertised as.


The film is more of a coming-of-age story for the Craig character, that is played by Jaeden Martell, there is no real horror element, there is no real supernatural element. The "Communication" with the dead Mr. Harrigan, is more of a therapeutic complaining by Craig, and a couple of nonsensical text messages, and then some coincidental deaths that Craig either asks for, or were Karma. If this happened in real life and was examined from a critical standpoint, everything could be explained.


In the end the film tries to hit on a few points about technology, living on your phone, the consequences of revenge and so on, but when you hear "Stephen King", you kind of want more, and I think if this film would have taken a few liberties with the short 88 page novella it is based on, and instead went full on in one direction or another, it would have been much better. Either as a horror film, or as a supernatural one. Instead it is just a nice drama.


The Good
A perfectly fine coming of age drama, at about 95 minutes it is a decent length, and the lead actor Jaeden Martell does a very good job and is convincing in his part.

The Bad
The film is just not what I wanted it to be, I wanted a Supernatural/Horror, and I didn't get that. Maybe that is my fault for not doing more research first and just relying on the synopsis.

Overall
I did like the film, but I felt disappointed that I did not get the supernatural/horror film that I was expecting. So I am in two minds here.

I score Mr. Harrigan's Phone a completely acceptable 6.5/10.

Out on Netflix now

TRAILER: Bar Fight! - releasing on Digital Platforms 14th November.

 

Synopsis: Time to settle the score, one drink at a time. There’s only one way to assert dominance after a break up and for Nina (Melissa Fumero, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and Allen (Luka Jones, Up All Night) it’s a turf war for their local watering hole. Lines have been drawn and with the help of Nina’s best friend Chelsea (Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) it’s going to be a winner takes all affair. The drinks are free flowing, the competition is fierce and the games are out of this world crazy. With the bar on the line this bar fight is going to become a tale for the ages.Bottoms up! Bar Fight is directed and written by Jim Mahoney (Klaus), and also stars Vik Sahay (Chuck) and Caroline Harris (Happiest Season).  

Signature Entertainment presents Bar Fight! on Digital Platforms 14th November

COMPETITION: WIN TOP GUN: MAVERICK ON BLU-RAY™


Tom Cruise stars in the global phenomenon TOP GUN: MAVERICK, The #1 film of 2022, with over $1.4 billion at the global box office, and the highest grossing film of the producer/actor’s acclaimed career.  Hailed as “spectacular” (Brian Truitt, USA Today), “breathtaking” (Don Kaye, Den of Geek) and “jaw-dropping” (Sean O’Connell, Cinemablend) TOP GUN: MAVERICK is available on 4K Ultra HD™ + Blu-ray™ SteelBook®, 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital now! 

To celebrate, we’re giving away 2 copies of TOP GUN: MAVERICK on Blu-ray™. Enter now for a chance to win!

The TOP GUN: MAVERICK Blu-ray™ is presented in 1080p high definition, and boasts a Dolby Atmos® soundtrack remixed specifically for the home to place and move audio anywhere in the room. The film release takes fans deep inside the making of the global smash hit with lots of action-packed bonus content. Witness the cast’s intense flight training program, go behind-the-scenes as the filmmakers capture the most spectacular aerial sequences ever, and push the limits beyond Mach-10 with an experimental aircraft specially designed for the movie. Plus, fans can enjoy watching Tom Cruise share his passion for aviation as he pilots his own aircraft, as well as two music videos from Lady Gaga and OneRepublic.

TOP GUN: MAVERICK Blu-ray™ Bonus Content

Cleared For Take Off—Witness the most intense film training program as the cast prepare themselves for filming while pulling multiple G's in a fighter plane.

Breaking New Ground – Filming Top Gun: Maverick—Prepare to take flight as you go behind-the-scenes with the cast and crew of Top Gun: Maverick on a journey to capture the most spectacular aerial sequences ever!
 
A Love Letter To Aviation—Tom Cruise shares his passion for aviation as he pilots his own aircraft, a vintage World War II P-51 Mustang, which would have been the Top Gun aircraft of its day.
Forging The Darkstar—Pushing the limits beyond Mach-10, the future of aviation is unveiled through an impressive experimental aircraft specially designed for the movie.

“Hold My Hand” – Lady Gaga Music Video—Watch Lady Gaga's music video for her standout lead single hit on the Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack.
 
“I Ain’t Worried” – OneRepublic Music Video—Check out the music video to the original new song from OneRepublic.

TOP GUN: MAVERICK Synopsis
After more than 30 years of service as a top naval aviator, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot. Yet, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past when he returns to TOP GUN to train a group of elite graduates and comes face-to-face with Lt. Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of his former wingman, "Goose". Bitter rivalries ignite as the pilots prepare for a specialised mission, which will require the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it.

TOP GUN: MAVERICK IS AVAILABLE TO OWN ON 4K ULTRA HD + BLU-RAY™ STEELBOOK®, 4K ULTRA HD™, BLU-RAY™, DVD AND DIGITAL* NOW!


COMPETITION CLOSED

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 14-11-22
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

Tuesday 1 November 2022

TRAILER: The Sparring Partner - Starring Mak Pui Tung

The Sparring Partner is a tense and compelling true-story based on the shocking 2013 trial of a young man who brutally murdered, dismembered and cooked his parents with the help of a friend. Pleading not guilty in a trial which dominated headlines, this riveting drama explores the events which unfolded as legal teams clashed and nine jurors grappled with the truth, trying to understand this tragic event which took the media by storm.

Produced by the award-winning filmmaker of Port of Call and marking the directorial debut of Ho Cheuk-tin, The Sparring Partner crafts a complex, multi-layered narrative delivering a gripping insight into this unbelievable true crime story. At the Hong Kong International Film Festival, the film won the “Golden Firebird” Best Actor award for young star Mak Pui Tung, and it made Official Selection at the London East Asian Film Festival 2022. 

Trinity CineAsia presents The Sparring Partner in Selected Cinemas from 18 November 

Previews on 5 & 6 November in London and Southampton

Showtimes: https://trinitycineasia.com/films/the-sparring-partner/