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Jimmy Henderson’s THE PREY Finds Hunting Ground In The UK

Lee B. Golden III

One of the most thrilling features coming our way comes from the creative auspices of director Jimmy Henderson (Jailbreak) following last year’s festival outing, The Prey, Cambodia’s first $1 million dollar-budgeted action feature. The film premiered at Busan and at BFI in London and is currently in the market for buyers by way of internatonal sales agent, Raven Banner. Among the lot via Deadline, we now have fledgling distro banner Lightbulb Film Distribution stepping up to the plate and picking up for its UK-bound release with a date now pending as of last week at EFM in Berlin. Actor and martial artist Gu Shang Wei, stars in the film as an undercover cop swept away amidst a botched raid, forcibly incarcerated and left to fight for his survival among prisoners hunted for sport in a maniacal warden’s deadly game for rich, affluent huntsmen. Also starring are Vithaya Pansringarm and actress […]

KISS KISS: Don’t Miss The Official Trailer For Dallas King’s Sultry And Savage Tournament Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Following a raft of shortfilms back in 2011 and 2012 and shooting behind the scenes on Mitsutake Kurando’s Karate Kill, filmmaker Dallas King chose to grow his craft from then on. He has several features already in his resumé, including Ink & Rain which has since garnered a fair release in China through IQIYI, and now another on the way titled Kiss Kiss which has since released an official trailer and release plans through Cleopatra Entertainment. After a glorious night at the strip club, the film follows dancers, Kiss (Hopkins), and her best friends Treasure (Dae) and Kurious (B) as they are led by newcomer Tia (Castellon) to an exclusive wine tasting. A beautiful day turns tragic when they wake up having been seduced by their captor and special forces veteran, Gibson (Wagner), as he orchestrates a fight night that has each girl to battle against Fortune (Rae) and Dream […]

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DISPATCHED: Stream Jarrod Crooks’ New Martial Arts Cop Comedy Now On Amazon Prime

Lee B. Golden III

I sort of feel like independent filmmaker Jarrod Crooks deserves a much bigger spotlight than he has now. I’ve expressed this back in 2017 to some affect in reviewing of his third feature, Indie Guys, which stands as one of the most delightful action comedies I’ve ever seen – packed with gems and plenty of space to allow Crooks and fitting cohorts like Film Combat Syndicate favorite, co-star José Manuel to do what they love most and are pretty damn good at. I honestly don’t know when that one will be out, although I look forward to covering Crooks’ endeavors in due time. Meanwhile, his third feature, Dispatched, had a local release throughout his home state of Wisconsin where he’s based, and at long last after five years in limbo, the film is now available on Amazon Prime Video where consumers can rent or purchase and support Crooks’ efforts. He […]

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THE HIT LIST: February 18, 2019

Lee B. Golden III

I have to say, the past week has been a real test for me, but I look forward to having a better year than how things have been of late. As for now, it’s time to get back to the business of showing you all what’s what in our weekly endeavors with The Hit List, starting with the usual stunt and action reel adventures from around the web. We begin with an almighty reel by David William No fresh with snippets from Blindsided, Altered Carbon, The Matrix Trilogy and more. Following that are reels by Antjuan Rhames, Caitlin McNerney, Dani Medina, Jonathan Mercedes, Heinrich Laurent, Amanda McLeod, Sam Desmond, Scott Hoffman, Michael Blouin, Tarmo Hietala, Michaela McAllister, James Ortiz, Vitas Lebas, Dave Cutler, Melissa Spolar, Bryce Garcia, Richard Cotta, Mark Whitman, PeiPei Alena Yuan, and a dazzling, brutal fight choreographer reel by one of the industry’s finest out of South […]

SWAMP THING (1982)

Wes Craven’s SWAMP THING Emerges From The Murky 80s Classic Onto UK DVD/Blu-Ray In March

Lee B. Golden III

I was never exposed to Wes Craven’s 1982 classic iteration of DC property, Swamp Thing, growing up, whereas I instantly remember Jim Wynorski’s 1989 sequel that also returned now late actor Dick Durock in the dual role opposite Heather Locklear. Alas, it just so happens that UK distro banner 88 Films is also rolling the red carpet out for this one which has Ray Wise starring principally with Durock’s iconic performance for a dual format DVD/Blu-Ray release on March 25 release. Long before superhero movies were packing out multiplex cinemas, Freddy Krueger creator Wes Craven followed-up the success of Richard Donner’s Superman with this fondly remembered DC adaptation that brings a comic book favourite to life! Following the success of The Hills Have Eyes, Swamp Thing shows Craven adapting his style from less rough ‘n’ ready thrills and spills – and the result is an adventure thriller featuring a mutant-monster […]

Netflix Officially Cancels THE PUNISHER And JESSICA JONES

Lee B. Golden III

The trades are officially reporting that Punisher and Jessica Jones are no more with Netlfix completely purging itself of its Marvel TV roster. Via The Wrap: “‘Marvel’s The Punisher’ will not return for a third season on Netflix. Showrunner Steve Lightfoot, the terrific crew, and exceptional cast including star Jon Bernthal, delivered an acclaimed and compelling series for fans, and we are proud to showcase their work on Netflix for years to come,” Netflix said in a statement. “In addition, in reviewing our Marvel programming, we have decided that the upcoming third season will also be the final season for ‘Marvel’s Jessica Jones.’ We are grateful to showrunner Melissa Rosenberg, star Krysten Ritter and the entire cast and crew, for three incredible seasons of this groundbreaking series, which was recognized by the Peabody Awards among many others. We are grateful to Marvel for five years of our fruitful partnership and […]

INEMURI IWANE: Swords Clash In The Official Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

The first official trailer is finally here for director Motoki Katsuhide’s latest, Inemuri Iwane, headed for Japan screens on May 17 from Shochiku. The film takes its cues from Saeki Yasuhide’s Futaba Bunko novel series and its three-volume NHK TV series follow-up. The film centers on Matsuzaka Tori (The Blood Of Wolves, Sanada 10 Braves) in the role of Iwane, his two friends, Kinpei and Shinnosuke, all who train at the same dojo, and Kinpei’s younger sisters, Shinnosuke’s wife, Mai, and Iwane’s fianceè, Mao. Blood begets blood when Kinpei kills Shinnosuke for murdering Mai in a jealous rage, forcing Iwane’s hand in a duel in the wake of an already-decimated brotherhood. The film was adapted for the screen by Fujimoto Yuki and also stars Emoto Tasuku, Sugino Yosuke, Yoshine Kyoko and Miyashita Kanako among the cast.

Timo Tjahjanto’s THE NIGHT COMES FOR US: A Story Of Frenetic Poetry

Orson Welles said of friendship that, through it, we get to create the illusion that we are not alone. He said of women that through them men become civilized. I wonder what he would have thought of The Night Comes For Us, a film that illustrates friendship (both its value and fragility) through a harsh, deconstructive lens, and presents a young girl as the catalyst for its protagonist’s quest to civilize himself, that is, to regain his civility after a career of criminality and murder. Ito, played by Joe Taslim, is the star of the picture, a gangland veteran from the streets of Jakarta who progressed from here to become an enforcer for the East Asian Triad. Ito, at the film’s opening, has experienced a sudden change of heart -or re-evaluation of his life- when met by the pleading eyes of a young girl (Asha Kenyeri Bermudez) who just witnessed […]

Kitamura’s Stylish, Energetic LUPIN III Falls Short Of Expectations

Cesar Alejandro Jr.

The Works, an international organization comprised of the greatest thieves in the world. When the head of the organization is betrayed by one of their own (Yan), legendary thieves and criminals Lupin III (Oguri), femme fatale Fujiko (Kuroki), gunman Jigen (Tamayama), and master swordsman Goemon (Ayano), head out to find their former ally. Based on the legendary manga series by Monkey Punch, Lupin III comes to us from action director Ryuhei Kitamura; responsible for such films as Versus, Godzilla: Final Wars, and No One Lives. With a long history of animated features, including the highly acclaimed Castle of Cagliostro from Hayao Miyazaki, and one previous live action film released in the 1970’s, this mega budget adaptation had perhaps an unfair amount of expectation laid upon it. The end result is a film that is stylish, quickly paced, and filled with action, but loses the humour, heart, and flat out entertainment […]

STAR WARS IX Cast Hugs It Out As Filming Wraps

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been real, guys. With more movies likely to come, it still bares noting director J.J. Abrams’s upcoming ninth Star Wars film will be the final bow for the Skywalker saga of the franchise. Abrams shared a photo of the principle trio of the latest three films that gave rise to the fandom in 2015 with The Force Awakens and proceeded with The Last Jedi a few years later. The newest installment doesn’t have a title but nonetheless reunites most of the cast from the previous two along with some new faces, in addition to Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, and the posthumous casting of late actress Carrie Fisher who sadly passed away at the age of 60 nearly a year before The Last Jedi (short of a few weeks before the premiere of Gareth Edwards’ spin-off, Rogue One). Abrams penned the script with Chris Terrio for its […]

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THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME: Sebastian Stan Replaces Chris Evans

Lee B. Golden III

With Chris Evans now bowing out due to scheduling, Antonio Campos (The Sinner, Christine) is set to direct The Devil All The Time with actor Tom Holland now joined by his fellow Marvel MCU headliner, Sebastian Stan, in place of Evans. Campos will direct from a script penned by himself and co-scribe Paulo Campos, based on Donald Ray Pollock’s 2011 novel of the same name and with principal photography slated for Alabama next month. In a place called Knockemstiff, Ohio, a forgotten backwoods of this country – a storm of faith, violence and redemption brews. Out of desperation to save his dying wife, Willard Russell turns to prayer which succumbs to sacrifice. This sets our protagonist Arvin, Willard’s son, on his path from bullied kid to a man who knows when to take action. The Devil All the Time is a finely woven “mid-western” gothic tale involving a nefarious cast […]

EC Comics, Hivemind Signal TV/Film Collab For WEIRD FANTASY Series And William Gaines Biopic

Lee B. Golden III

EC Comics is partnering with Hivemind for a new film and T.V. venture as of last of week, now eyeing Weird Fantasy to be the first of the roster. Based on the seminal 1950 comic series, William M. Gaines Agent, Inc., the proprietors of EC Comics will be joining Hivemind to grow a series aimed at tackling the kind of shocking and subversive sci-fi/fantasy lore and social concious issues that made a name for company over the years. “The EC library is a timeless literary achievement that deserves to stand alongside the works of Stephen King, Philip K. Dick, and H.P. Lovecraft,” said producer and Hivemind Co-President Dinesh Shamdasani. “WEIRD FANTASY is a truly historic property that shattered many barriers, and our goal is to make the television series just as fearless and forward-thinking as the stories that inspired it.” Through EC Comics, Gaines’s influence helped shape the zeitgeist of […]

SPLIT LIP Births Exciting Assassin Mythology With Cautionary Tale On How Not To Write A Supporting Role

SPLIT LIP: Stream Chris Sheffield’s Indie Assassin Thriller On Amazon Prime

Lee B. Golden III

The hard work of making an action film paid off tenfold for director Christopher Sheffield whose second feature, Split Lip is now available on Amazon Prime. Split Lip hails from Sheffield’s Persephone Productions independent banner with actress Dorée Seay starring as an assassin whose organization turns on her after a botched hit job. You can read my review here for the specifics, but I can certainly attest that Seay puts on a worthy show in her newest screen outing for someone who only took one capoeira lesson years earlier. I interviewed her late last year where she discussed the process and working with Sheffield and his dedicated team and you can read more on that here as well. Also starring are Maryam Cné, Chris Labadie and DeJean Brown.

Meet MARIA In The Official Red-Band Trailer For Pedring Lopez’s New Revenge Thriller!

Lee B. Golden III

Earlier this month saw Viva Films offering a small dose of the action to come in director Pedring Lopez’s new film, Maria. Now slated for a March 27 release, Cristine Reyes fronts her first action role in what looks to be nothing short of a thrilling contender for this year’s rousing feats since Erik Matti’s BuyBust put the Philippines on the map just a little more for genre fans. Cristine Reyes stars as Lily, a former cartel assassin who begins her new life as Maria—a new life suddenly cut short when the cartel learns of her whereabouts. Soon, the hunter becomes the hunted and a new fight wages on with revenge as the ultimate prize. Lopez, who co-penned the new action thriller, also reunites with Sonny Sison (Nilalang, BuyBust) who services the explosive action and fight scene goodies to fawn over, and there’s plenty of it to sample in the […]

YES, AUNTIE!: My Asian Auntie Takes Kung Fu Shape With Its Season Two Premiere!

Lee B. Golden III

It was an honor and a privilege getting to be a part of the experience had with the guests at the Museum Of The Moving Image last month screening Yes, Auntie!: My Asian Auntie Season 2, and I have none other to thank than the cast themselves, and especially co-star, producer and legendary Sammo Hung protege Robert Samuels for making that possible. Alas, reviews and hype aside, the wait is no more as the first episode is now online following the success of the first season inaugurated into cult fandom by the creatives of Art School Dropouts and director/star Joey Min. A feature film edit is assuredly pending, while Thursday’s premiere officially culminates the hard work and dedication of the numerous creative indie action units who’ve made this series possible. Enjoy the zany comedy, and the fast, fluid kung fu action featuring Min and Samuels along with Stephanie Pham, Leroy […]

Load Up! The Official TRIPLE THREAT Trailer Is Finally Here!

Load Up! The Official TRIPLE THREAT Trailer Is Finally Here!

Lee B. Golden III

For some of us, the last two years have been an eternity with the planned release of forthcoming ensemble actioner, Triple Threat. This one in particular is one in a bundle of productions that have jam-packed The Beautiful Ones director Jesse V. Johnson’s schedule since he resurfaced with his Pit Fighter co-star, Scott Adkins, for a quintet of projects to date beginning with Savage Dog in 2017. With Adkins’ Avengement still in the pipeline as well as Dominique Vandenberg starrer Legion Maxx over at Evolutionary Films, Triple Threat, long since its stasis as “Makeshift Squad”, can finally pick up some steam with the official trailer, and a wide one-night release March 19, and a select theatrical and VOD rollout on March 22. A hit contract is taken out on a billionaires daughter intent on bringing down a major crime syndicate. A down and out team of mercenaries must take on […]

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ABEYANCE: Don’t Miss The Official Trailer For Harley Wallen’s New Sci-Fi Actioner

Lee B. Golden III

Wednesday evening saw the official trailer for Painted Creek Productions’ new sci-fi action thriller, Abeyance. Multi award-winning actor/filmmaker and European Martial Arts Champion Harley Wallen (Betrayed, Bennett’s Song) wrote, produced and directed the film starring Scout Taylor Compton, Richard Tyson, Billy Wirth, Vida Ghaffari and veteran actor Mel Novak. After a revolutionary invention with great implications Bridget (Erika Hoveland), finds a character flaw in the company they’ve partnered with to develop the prototype that could be the fountain of youth. When she pulls the plug and ties to step away from their original deal, she immediately realizes they will stop at nothing to get it back. After her family gets kidnapped to sway a favorable vote, their hopes rely on their teen daughter Miranda (Angelina Cama) and her unlikely allies, Corey (Damien Chinappi), a suicidal military veteran and Stephanie, (Kaiti Wallen), a prostitute. Harley Wallen also stars in the film […]

MGM TV’s EL GATO NEGRO: NOCTURNAL WARRIOR Picks Up Steam With Diego Boneta Attached To Star

Lee B. Golden III

2019 is turning out to be quite the coming out party for Latinx superheroes so far between the release of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, and the forthcoming May 3 theatrical release of Ben Hernandez Bray’s feature debut, El Chicano. Going forward, we now turn our attention to the small screen as we’re learning from Deadline that MGM Television is officially in the works to develop a live-action series adaptation of Azteca Productions comic series, El Gato Negro: Nocturnal Warrior. The comic franchise launched in 1993 from the mind of creator and author Richard Dominguez whose 2004 evolution of the series centers on Francisco Guerrero, a Texas social worker who one day takes on his grandfather’s nom de guerre to avenge a friend’s death. As Erik Pedersen reports, actor Diego Boneta (The Titan, Luis Miguel: La Serie, Rock of Ages) is attached to star in the series and will exec produce […]

TRIPLE THREAT: The Official Trailer Arrives Thursday

Lee B. Golden III

Well Go USA is still getting its campaign going for Furie on March 1 while the company isn’t waiting any longer to rev up on its forthcoming rollout, Triple Threat, which is also releasing next month. The action-packed ensemble had been in the works for a while then finally uniting Jesse Johnson with his all-star line-up with action heroes Tiger Chen, Iko Uwais and Tony Jaa front and center. An official trailer is now coming Thursday which further guarantees the wait will end VERY soon. Check out the SDCC trailer from 2017 and stay tuned!

800: Sales Underway At EFM For Guan Hu’s New WWII Epic

Lee B. Golden III

Gangster pic Mr. Six helmer Guan Hu is in post production with trailblazing $80 million dollar World War II epic, 800, which centers on a four-day fracas between looming Japanese forces, and a band of Chinese soldiers and draft dodgers who’ve fortified a Shanghai warehouse complex. The project is marked as the first Chinese production to use IMAX caneras for its eight-month production period. Huayi Bros. is selling the film at EFM which employs cinematographer Cao Yu (Legend of the Demon Cat), action director Glenn Boswell (I, Robot) original music by the U.K.’s Rupert Gregson-Williams (Aquaman, Wonder Woman) and Oscar-nominated VFX supervisor Tim Crosbie (X-Men: Days of Future Past). No casting details so far. (Variety)