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While his father Mario probably cast a longer shadow than anyone else in Italian horror cinema, Lamberto Bava has managed to leave a prominent mark on the genre through popular works such as Demons (1985) and Demons 2 (‘86). Today we’re going to rewind the clock to his official directorial debut, Macabre (1980), a truly ludicrous and bizarre film “inspired” by true events. I bet they never happened like this.

Bava Jr. certainly spent his time in the trenches, working for Dario Argento and helping his dad finish Shock (1977); while he wrote the script with friends Roberto Gandus, and Pupi and Antonio Avati as a lark after reading a newspaper story from the U.S., he was given the reins to bring this lurid story to the screen as his official calling card. And bring it he does.

Released three years later Stateside as Frozen Terror, Macabre (aka Macabro) did little business...

Stars: Philip Sayer, Bernice Stegers, Danny Brainin, Maryam d’Abo, Simon Nash, Peter Mandell, David Cardy, Anna Wing, Robert Fyfe, Katherine Best, Robert Pereno | Written by Iain Cassie, Robert Smith | Directed by Harry Bromley-Davenport

Directed by Harry Bromley-Davenport, who co-wrote the story with Michel Parry, and written for the screen by Iain Cassie and Robert Smith, is a cult film that, in my view, is long overdue a new release, and this Second Sight project is worth the wait. It tells the story of a man who is abducted by alien lifeforms and three years afterwards he returns to his home, not the man he once was. It’s a gem of b-movie gory horror, with an unnerving tone, nasty sequences and some dated yet effective special effects. The practical gore effects are especially fun to watch, even 36 years later. If you are unaware of the film, and so unaware...

Today we are recognizing Disobedience, as well as co-writer/director Sebastián Lelio, plus co-stars Rachel McAdams and Rachel Weisz. Our Hollywood Film Tributes recognize films and talent for their excellence in the art of filmmaking. Even though Rachel Weisz was justly nominated for her turn in The Favourite this year, it’s still a shame that her even stronger work in Disobedience wasn’t given similar attention. Her performance in Sebastián Lelio’s movie, along with that of Rachel McAdams (not to mention Alessandro Nivola), is so moving and full, you can’t help but be blown away. Oscar ignored this film, but today, we won’t be… Here is a bit from our rave review published all the way back in April: When you’re an independent film, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. That can especially be the case when opening up early on in...

Nope, this isn’t Et, The Extraterrestrial, not by a long shot. Guest reviewer Lee Broughton offers an assessment of Harry Bromley Davenport’s British cult sci-fi shocker of modest means, a show that would be pure exploitation if not for some creditable performances. It’s nasty but has a basic competence and is not just more cynical grist for the mill. ‘Phone Home,’ my Aunt Fannie: sometimes the difference between a thriller like this and a higher-profile classic is just pretension.

Xtro

Region Free Blu-ray + CD

Second Sight (UK)

1982 / Color / 1.85 widescreen / 86 min. / Street Date, 18 June 2018 / £29.99

Starring: Philip Sayer, Bernice Stegers, Danny Brainin, Maryam d’Abo, Simon Nash, Susie Silvey, Peter Mandell, Anna Wing, Tim Dry, Sean Crawford, Robert Pereno, David Cardy.

Cinematography: John Metcalfe

Film Editor: Nicolas Gaster

Production Designer: Andrew Mollo

Original Music: Harry Bromley Davenport

Written by Iain Cassie, Robert Smith, Michel Parry, Harry Bromley Davenport, Jo Ann Kaplan...

In his latest podcast, host Stuart Wright talks with Xtro producer Mark Forstater about the 35th anniversary of this cult classic sci-fi horror.

Second Sight Films have this week released Xtro: Limited Edition Blu-ray (region free). Packaging will feature a rigid slipcase with both original UK theatrical and video artwork, each flipped vertically on either side so you choose which is front. Inside will be digipak containing Blu-ray and CD soundtrack plus soft cover book. For more on the release see www.facebook.com/SecondSightFilms/

Xtro: Limited Edition full contents:

New restorations of extended version with option of alternate endings plus original UK video version New director restoration Xploring Xtro – a new 57 minute documentary featuring interviews with Harry Bromley-Davenport, Mark Forstater, Bernice Stegers, Susie Silvey, Tim Dry (Tik), Sean Crawford (Tok), Robert Pereno, Alan Jones and Craig Lapper The World of Xtro – a new featurette with Dennis Atherton, Harry Bromley-Davenport...

(L to R) Rachel Weisz as Ronit Krushka, Rachel McAdams as Esti Kuperman and Alessandro Nivola as Dovid Kuperman in Sebastián Lelio’s Disobedience, a Bleecker Street release. Credit: Bleecker Street

In Disobedience, Rachel Weisz stars as a woman who returns to her Orthodox Jewish community in London for the funeral of her father, a revered rabbi. Years earlier, Ronit (Weisz) had left the community she had grown up in, forced out over a sexual attraction to another girl, Esti (Rachel McAdams), while the other girl chose to remain and submitting to obeying the rules of the community. The consequences of those different choices, for their and others lives in the community, and the very concept of free will are the themes of director Sebastian Lelio’s thoughtful, nuanced English-language drama Disobedience.

Disobedience offers the gifted Rachel Weisz a role worthy of her talents and Weisz gives an outstanding performance as Ronit.

When you’re an independent film, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. That can especially be the case when opening up early on in the year and/or against a massive blockbuster movie. This week, we have a truly wonderful indie opening up against a true behemoth. The latter is obviously Avengers: Infinity War, though the former is Disobedience. A well liked title last year at the Toronto International Film Festival, it’s also currently playing at the Tribeca Film Festival. It’s tremendously good and honestly one of my favorites of 2018 so far. If you’re not looking for comic book fare, you have a top notch other option to consider. Read on to find out why… The film is a romantic drama. Distributor Bleeker Street describes it as such: “From a screenplay by Sebastián Lelio and Rebecca Lenkiewicz, the film follows a woman as she...

That naughty boy Federico Fellini goes all out with this essay-hallucination about women, a surreal odyssey that hurls Marcello Mastroianni into a world in which women are no longer putting up with male nonsense. It's an honest (if still somewhat sexist) effort by an artist acknowledging illusions and pleasures that he knows are infantile. City of Women Blu-ray Cohen Media Group 1980 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 139 min. / La cittá delle donne / Street Date May 31, 2016 / 39.98 Starring Marcello Mastroianni, Anna Prucnal, Bernice Stegers, Iole Silvani, Donatella Damiani, Ettore Manni, Fiammetta Baralla, Catherine Carrel, Rose Alba. Cinematography Giuseppe Rotunno Film Editor Ruggero Mastroianni Original Music Luis Bacalov Written by Brunello Rondi, Bernardino Zapponi, Federico Fellini Produced by Franco Rossellini, Renzo Rossellini, Daniel Toscan du Plantier Directed by Federico Fellini

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

Federico Fellini's 1980 City of Women was called 'wonderfully uninhibited' by The New York Times. Fellini's output slowed to a crawl in the 1970s,...

The second poster has arrived for Great Expectations starring Jeremy Irvine, Holliday Grainger, Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter. Mike Newell directs the romantic drama adventure scripted by David Nicholls based on the Charles Dickens novel. Also in the cast are Jason Flemyng, Robbie Coltrane, Ewen Bremner, Sally Hawkins, David Walliams, Sophie Rundle, Toby Irvine, Helena Barlow, David Walliams, Bernice Stegers, Tim Freeman, Alan Rushton, Sheila Simpson, Bebe Cave, Robert Burton and Richard James. The film opened in limited theaters this weekend (November 8th) and is rated PG-13 for some violence including disturbing images. The story follows a humble orphan who is raised to gentleman status thanks to the aid of an unknown benefactor.

“Macabre” was originally released back in 1980 and marked the debut of Italian horror director Lamberto Bava. The son of the legendary Mario Bava, who was responsible for countless influential genre classics including “Black Sunday” and “Black Sabbath”, his works were always somewhat overshadowed by those of his father, though he did manage a few gems himself, including Giallo thriller “A Blade in the Dark”, the “Demons” films, and of course, “Macabre”. A truly bizarre and unsettling film drawing upon both psychological suspense and exploitative shocks to entertain, it has at last been given a proper UK release on DVD through Arrow Video and their Masters of Giallo series, complete with featurettes on the director and the production. Opening with the claim that it was inspired by true events, the film begins in New Orleans as housewife Jane (Bernice Stegers, from Federico Fellini’s “City of Women”) leaves her two young...