Rotten's Choice Cuts: April Edition

Big month for DVD releases

Choice Cuts is a list of your grade-A horror-related “best bets” for the month across the board – theatrical fare, DVD (new or re-issues), special signings and revival screenings. Currently, all events listed below are located within the Los Angeles area, however, if you’re the organizer of an upcoming special event, contact us HERE to be included in future editions of Choice Cuts. As a reminder, you can click on the film titles for full cast and crew details, plot synopsis, photos, trailers and reviews (if available). Look for subsequent Choice Cuts to appear the first day of every month. For a complete list of releases this month visit Shock’s database.

No theatrical releases this month!

Final Destination (April 7th, New Line): Death never looked better as Glenn Morgan and James Wong’s Grand Guignol hits Blu-Ray. Amanda Detmer’s splat-tastic date with a bus is still one of the best jarring deaths of this decade.

Vinyan (April 7th, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment): Fabrice du Welz’s English-language pic doesn’t resonate or carry the disturbing and quirky qualities I liked about his feature debut Calvaire, yet I still found this somber, dreamlike journey engaging. Rufus Sewell and Emmanuelle BÃ©art’s pain-filled performances are so sharp they cut to the bone as they traverse dangerous, haunted landscapes. This movie is not for the A.D.D.-afflicted. I wish someone would give Du Welz a crack at a U.S. project.

Shuttle (April 7th, Magnet Releasing): To be honest, I didn’t go in expecting much. Would you after this premise? Two girls, fresh from a vacation, board an airport shuttle home unaware that the driver has alternate plans for his passengers. The idea doesn’t exactly send shivers down one’s spine, however, writer-director Edward Anderson’s low budget thriller delivers a few good twists and one helluva grim ending. It’s not without its faults, still, I walked away from this one pleasantly surprised.

Splinter (April 14th, Magnet Releasing): Toby Wilkins’ film comes to both DVD and Blu-Ray! Check out my review here.

Slaughter High (April 14th, Lionsgate Home Entertainment): The 1986 slasher film arrives uncut for the first time.

Hellraiser (April 21st, Anchor Bay Entertainment): Anchor Bay, masters of the “double/triple dip,” revisit Pinhead and company for a Blu-Ray release that looks great. The company is also issuing a Lament Configuration Puzzle Box set which isn’t perfect (“perfection” would mean all of the films, but that’s not possible due to the rights for the other films) but, design-wise, is a massive improvement over the UK edition that hit shelves a couple of years ago. This one is made of durable plastic and pulls apart. Inside you’ll find Hellraiser. on standard DVD and Blu-Ray, and Hellraiser II.

The Burrowers (April 21st, Lionsgate Home Entertainment): I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again here. If Terrence Malick made a horror film, it would probably resemble the attitude of J.T. Petty’s bloody yarn. Good characters and bizarre creatures, but man, the pacing is a killer and there’s a messy climactic battle. I still can’t completely knock this one, though. It’s not often we see a film like this.

Laid to Rest (April 21st, Anchor Bay Entertainment): Get ready for some incredible kills and a lean, mean, unrelenting bogeyman. Rob Hall’s slasher flick makes its debut this month on both DVD and Blu-Ray.

Saturday, April 11th @ 2pm (Dark Delicacies): Jack Hill signs Calum Waddell’s book “Jack Hill: The Exploitation and Blaxpoitation Master, Film by Film.” For more details, click here!

Tuesday, April 21st @ 7pm (Dark Delicacies): Writer/Director Robert Hall, Bobbie Sue Luther, and Nick Principe (ChromeSkull) signing Laid to Rest (DVD). For more details, click here!

Tuesday, April 21st @ 7pm (Dark Delicacies): Seth Grahame-Smith signs “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance.” For more details, click here!