Horror
Rod Lott
Can director Darren Lynn Bousman survive in a post-Saw world? After the grating steampunk musical misfire Repo! The Genetic Opera, I would have said "no way," but my mindset has been reversed by Mother’s Day and, to a lesser degree, 11-11-11. Ironically, not only were both films denied anything beyond a blip of a theatrical release, but now — insult to injury — they have to compete against one another on home video.

Horror
Rod Lott
Continuing the recent revival of horror anthologies is The Theatre Bizarre, helmed by seven directors. With so many contributing to the recipe, results are expectedly varied, but with enough good to outweigh the bad.

Horror
Rod Lott
An SUV full of beautiful young people sets off on a road trip to — yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Madison County is another one of “those” horror films, where every step of the wilderness trail is paved with predictability — so much so, that it’s filled with lines like this:

Horror
Rod Lott
If Hollywood ever resurrects its craze of remaking Asian horror films, it's safe to say The Shock Labyrinth won't be high on its list. However, if it were, there's plenty of room for improvement.

Thriller
Rod Lott
Two outcasts are better than one in Death and Cremation, a better-than-average indie thriller, thanks mainly to mood. Even the smallest of budgets can afford that, yet few think to invest in it.

Action
Rod Lott
After sitting out the 2009 prequel, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Kate Beckinsale and her skintight, black-leather outfit return for Underworld: Awakening, the fourth and likely not-final entry in the mindless but massively popular vampires-vs.-werewolves franchise. Also back? That omnipresent blue tint. Not so lucky? Scott Speedman.

Horror
Rod Lott
Two new direct-to-DVD horror thrillers begin with much promise, but fizzle before they’re able to provide any sizzle.

Horror
Rod Lott
As someone who loves mummy movies, I’ve long had The Awakening on my radar, but only now has the 1980 horror thriller come within reach, thanks to Warner Archive. While the film's rep isn't sterling by any stretch, I found it to be a nice surprise.

Horror
Rod Lott
On the bloody heels of Something Weird Video's The Blood Trilogy comes another Blu-ray of pioneering indie filmmaker Herschell Gordon Lewis' well-known works. The disc may hold one feature fewer, but high-def beggars can't be choosers, so chew happily on what you got: 1970's The Wizard of Gore and '72's The Gore Gore Girls, which would be his last directorial effort for more than 35 years.

Action
Rod Lott
Since 2005, Synapse Films has helped keep the sticky-floored spirit of grindhouse cinema alive by issuing collections of coming attractions under the 42nd Street Forever banner. Interested parties can catch up on the half-dozen titles thus far on DVD (I have, minus the lone XXX-Treme one) or opt for the new Blu-ray Edition. It's essentially a "greatest hits" piece, culling 80 trailers from all previous volumes.