Splatterday Special: Scooter [Film]

Welcome to Day 12 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Annual Month of Horror Showcase! We have a fully loaded month of all things horror for you fine folks! October is our favorite month for this very reason, and we are so excited to share 31 full days of film showcases and interviews with some of the finest folks from the world of horror, just as we have been doing for the last 6 years. What started as a simple 5 day showcase, has now blossomed into a full blown month long event. You’re going to love this! Enjoy!

Synopsis:

“The Three Amigoes are life-long best friends and partners in crime. They became internet famous after their YouTube channel went viral. Each episode of their antics has them undertaking some ridiculous challenge. From racing cars to tricycles and from the waters of the South Atlantic to the bottom of a swimming pool, there’s no challenge too stupid. Like a pack of cats, they always land on their feet.
The Amigoes latest challenge is to ride scooters from Miami to New Orleans. Each person has $1000 to get a scooter, pay for gas, food, and lodging. After they select their vehicles and pack their bags, it’s time to hit the road. They soon find that their 50CC scooters are no match of I-95, and they retreat to the side roads to continue their epic 900 mile journey. While the road is smoother, the trip gets a lot bumpier. One of the scooters break down, the friends start to fight amongst each other, and their troubles reach a climax when they witness and video a murder.

Stuck in rural Florida with two working scooters, they have little hope of escape, and the killer is hot on their trail. What was once a leisurely trip becomes a fight for survival. They end up captured, tortured, and it’s clear they won’t all survive. When those who are sworn to protect you are the problem, where do you turn? Will they all die in a small backwater town, or can they once again defy the odds and come out alive?” – October Coast PR

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Today we are celebrating a film that is truly and experience, more than it is a film. It is a brilliant expose on what the future could hold. It’s some beautiful irony that it is the 20 year anniversary of the release of the first major blockbuster “found footage” film (The Blair Witch Project) and that now a film like Scooter is available to showcase how far we have advanced technologically ever since the year we thought the world was going to collapse as we entered a new millennium. And while some old geezers like myself to relish in the past at times, it is undeniable just what can be accomplished with such great ease these days. And it’s also undeniable to the natural art of genuinely good storytelling has never subsided, which is further proven in the incredibly unique story that is Scooter. Utilizing the technology that we only once imagined in science fiction to be possible, this film tells a very dark and highly stylized story that you are simply going to love!

Scooter is available in select theaters now, including at the following screening in Brooklyn, New York:

October 16
7:30pm–8:57pm
Brooklyn, NY at UA Court Street 12 & RPX

DVD and VOD release to be announce soon.

Sunday Bloody Sunday Matinee: MOMO: The Missouri Monster [Film]

Welcome to Day 6 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Annual Month of Horror Showcase! We have a fully loaded month of all things horror for you fine folks! October is our favorite month for this very reason, and we are so excited to share 31 full days of film showcases and interviews with some of the finest folks from the world of horror, just as we have been doing for the last 6 years. What started as a simple 5 day showcase, has now blossomed into a full blown month long event. You’re going to love this! Enjoy!

Synopsis:

Sometimes it’s not all about getting the living hell scared out of yourself when enjoying quality horror cinema. Sometimes, it can actually be pretty funny. Some of the best works of horror combine a comedic element to counteract with gruesome material to create an overall entertaining experience. And that is exactly what you will get with the rockumentary/narrative bigfoot related film you should all definitely see in the form of MOMO: The Missouri Monster. It’s just so damn much fun. The combination of grind house-esque b movie narrative scenes with the documentary aspect creates and overall incredible cinematic experience that you truly do not want to miss!

MOMO: The Missouri Monster is available now on DVD and wherever you watch your movies.

Splatterday Special: American Killing [Film]

Welcome to Day 5 of Trainwreck’d Society’s Annual Month of Horror Showcase! We have a fully loaded month of all things horror for you fine folks! October is our favorite month for this very reason, and we are so excited to share 31 full days of film showcases and interviews with some of the finest folks from the world of horror, just as we have been doing for the last 6 years. What started as a simple 5 day showcase, has now blossomed into a full blown month long event. You’re going to love this! Enjoy!

Synopsis:

“Jeb’s cartoon is on the verge of cancellation, so the studio sends him and an eclectic team of writers to a secluded house in the mountains.   As Jeb’s controlling personality and obsessive work ethic starts to push the team apart, he goes even further by planting spy cameras in places shared and private, obsessed on what everone is doing.  Jeb is soon fired by the studio but he continues to spy in sercret from his home leading him further down the road to madness. In his most desperate hour, Jeb seals his fate as a viscous madman by returning to the house and murdering his writers one-by-one, on camera. Past emotions and tensions flare, and while nothing goes as Jeb planned, the unforeseen twists, turns, and revelations make his snuff film a violent spectacle sure to go down in infamy.” – October Coast PR

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Oh boy, strap in Folks! If you are a fan of watching a seemingly innocent protagonist slip away into insanity, I simply cannot recommend American Killing enough. It is an absolute delight with a tension build up that is truly gripping and is sure to scare all the hell right out of you. Trevor Peterson gives the performance of his career as Jeb, a man who will seemingly do absolutely anything to be approved as a real artist. Jeb’s obsessions and malicious intentions kick into gear very early in the film, and it culminates in a truly breathtaking fashion. As the body count begins to go up, so does the excitement!

American Killing is what I believe to be a perfect induction for the films we will be showcasing this month during our Month of Horror. The film relies quite heavily on the clever and clearly well written story line from writer and co-director Matthew D. Ward. While the stylization of the film is very well done, it all boils done to a brilliant story to be told with all the suspense you can attempt to digest. And as we always say, good writing has to be back up with great performances. The combination of the two can not be overstated enough. And, as you could probably guess because we are even talking about it at all, American Killing has some absolutely wonderful performances. Persia White and Caitlyn Gerard breath life into their eccentric characters. And the appearance of Demetri Goritsas was a real treat (side note: Demetri happened to appear in “Nosedive”, my single favorite episode of Black Mirror). Everyone gave it their all in the making of this film, and the evidence of such is in the beautiful final product that his this class A horror film.

American Killing is available now on DVD and VOD wherever you get your films.

Sunday Matinee: Relish [Film]

“Set as a modern day breakfast club, Relish follows the story of five teenage outcasts, who escape a private treatment facility in hopes of attending the infamous Dreamland Music Festival. Led by a rebellious transgender male, Kai, and with help from Aspen, a social media influencer, a football player addicted to opioids, Theo, who suffers from bipolar disorder, and Sawyer an alien obsessed nerd, the five embark on the journey of a lifetime. The film brings a level of authenticity to the heart-wrenching struggles and challenges faced by modern teens, especially by the transgender community today. Relish  is an emotional, and inspiring tale about the powerful bond of friendship, dealing with ones own personal demons, and learning that our differences make us special.” – Millenial PR

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I have to admit something to you all right away, Folks: I was very hesitant to showcase this film, for a couple of reasons. The main reason being that I didn’t feel as though I was in the proper place or state of mind to be writing about the subject matter at hand. Sure, I loved the idea and concept of The Breakfast Club, the band of misfits, jocks, etc. banding together to feel as one. It’s a lovely concept. But even then, I was only just being born the year that the film came out. Cut to almost 35 years later, and the wonderful crafted and brilliantly acted film Relish comes across my digital desk. And it’s SO good. It’s fun, compelling, sad, and heartwarming all the way through. But, what the hell am I doing as a white dude in his mid-30’s commenting on the tyranny that the youth of today are facing? Who am I do judge, even positively, what the characters of this film are going through? Hell, I will admit that I truly don’t understand the concept of an “Instagram Influencer” is! I just learned that you can put multiple pictures up in one setting. Do you see where I’m coming from here?

But then it dawned on me: It honestly doesn’t matter. If the film is done well, it deserves to be known. And if the content happens to give people hope along the way, that’s even better! While I would not presume that most of you fine readers may fall into the age category of the subjects of the film…but, don’t ya’ll have kids? Have young co-workers who may appreciate a film that is speaking directly to them? I truly believe that this is where we come in. Spread the love. Spread the joy. You don’t have to pretend to completely understand what these kids are going through, just remember the times when you were a scared youth trying to figure out how not only your body works, but the entire seemingly insane world around you. And maybe, just listen? Keep your old ass mind open to what transpires through a film like Relish, and just appreciate that a film with such vigor to inspire us to get along better exists, and that there are genius minds out there desperately trying to make that happen. How does that sound?

And with all that preaching having been said, Relish is just a damn fine film! writer/director Justin Ward has a brilliant knack for modern storytelling and an eye for presenting it in a terrific fashion. And the cast! It’s always astonishing to me that as the new age of performers begin to rush in, they are just getting better! I’ve spoken in the past about my fear of the success of YouTubers taking away the spotlight from young performers. But, let’s lay that all to rest right now. The cast of Relish is STACKED with some of the best young talent in the game right now. All 5 of the film’s protagonists are absolutely brilliant. And the fact that this is Tyler DiChiara’s first role is absolutely astounishing. I have a great feeling that this star on the rise is going to be on our radar in a HUGE way. Also seeing Everything Sucks‘s Rio Mangini again is always a delight! Again, all of them were incredible in their own ways, and I simply cannot recommend this incredible “coming of age” story, even if you are no where near the age of the actors. Just feel the love and excitement that clearly exists in this incredible film.

Saturday Special: What Death Leaves Behind [Film]

“What Death Leaves Behind tells of a man who, after a kidney transplant, experiences reoccurring nightmares he believes to be visions of his donor’s violent murder, sending him on a dark path of vengeance, leading to an unbearable truth.” – October Coast PR

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There seems to be a wave of new questions appearing in film and television these days in regards to the human body, and what it means to take a physical part of another human being, and put it inside your own body. And I have to say, it is insane to dismiss the possibility of mental side effects being a very real thing. How can it not? We are (most of the time) born with the same organs and (usually) wired accordingly the same as one another. But, what happens when we take from others? Especially from others we know nothing about? Is it possible that some very crazy shit can enter your psyche and leave you emotionally unstable, driving right to the point of psychosis? Well, that seems to be exactly what the multi-faceted filmmaker Scott A. Hamilton was looking to explore when he brought the idea to the large screen with What Death Leaves Behind. And Folks, let’s just say he did a phenomenal job! Regular readers may be reminded of the concept also being done on the Amazon Original series we touted recently entitled Dark/Web, except with a heart. And while that was a wonderful episode of series with a wider reach, this is a feature-lengthed look at the chaos that can ensue in the hunt for the truth and should be looked at from a very different emotional sense.

I would dare say that the amount of elements to love about What Death Leaves Behind is truly fascinating in itself. It’s wonderfully shot and edited in such a manner that if Hamilton isn’t attempting to scare the hell out of you, he’s making sure that you are strapped in for the emotional rollercoaster that is going off the proverbial rails right before your very eyes. And while I usually question the necessary use of non-linear storytelling, it absolutely works in this film and creates an entirely unique way of looking at the story at hand. And I will be damned if newcomer Khalil McMillan gives an absolutely mesmerizing performance as the show’s protagonist, backed by the likes of greats like Christopher Mann and Vincent Young. Again, What Death Leaves Behind is just an all around wonderfully made film with a suspense filled story to tell. I highly recommend you feast your eyes on the wonder as soon as possible.

What Death Leaves Behind, from Artist Rights Distribution and Smash Entertainment, in theaters nationally this fall.

Sunday Matinee: Such A Funny Life [Film]

“Such a Funny Life” is about the Guiterrez family who moves to New York from “nowhere”. Our main character, David grew up in a challenging household with an abusive and plotting father Ralph, and mentally challenged mother Mariah. David is a complete pariah in school and in the street but he is destined to be a comic and entertainer. Through his childhood we follow him as he loses his sister Gabriella, to a tragic death, and then in his teens he falls in love with a complicated and troubled girl named Mariah. He befriends Tito, the responsible kid turned club owner and Rob, the neighborhood leader who turns into the biggest drug dealer in Brooklyn. We see the evolution of David as he juggles painful circumstances with dire decisions while still honing his ambition to be a successful comic, entertainer and actor. An inevitable story of secrets, loss, and betrayal to reach the top and later forces David to Los Angeles to start a new life where he achieves success in all aspects, albeit with a unknown price on his head and a trail of fire that threatens his family, friends and loved ones that goes deeper than any one of his comedy acts or movie roles.” – October Coast PR

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Oh Boy, are we in for an emotional journey with this one, Folks. Such a Funny Life is just that, a fucking journey. A journey through the mind of the abused, the lost, and determined. And it is all combined into one character with so much strength and pain it becomes practically nerve-racking and downright upsetting! Writer and director Oliver Mann has a story here that his simply a delightful rabbit hole of horrible circumstances and the desire to get out of a life in which David Guiterrez, the film’s protagonist, almost had no control over. It is a gripping tale that is unfortunately as old as time, but seen through a whole new lens. And THEN you tag on the appearance of stand-up comedy as a means for dealing with such pains? Well Mr. Mann, it felt as though you were speaking directly to me!

I truly did enjoy Such A Funny Life. Gonzalo Trigueros gives an amazing performance in a beautifully shot, delightful story that had so much promise, and completely lived up to the hype I was given around this brilliant film. And I won’t say exactly what kind of ending the film has as that would be a real jerk move, but suffice it to say that it was exactly how I wanted it to turn out. Again, Oliver Mann seemed to dig into my brain and decided to craft something I would specifically go ape shit for, and I know I won’t be the only one. It has everything you would expect from a truly disturbing film about truly disturbing subject matter. And if that is the emotional rollercoaster you want to pay for, well look on further than this great work of art.

Such A Funny Life will be screening in NYC on September 17^th, 2019, with additional screenings in NYC as well as Miami and Los Angeles, throughout October, 2019.

Saturday Special: Empathy Inc. [Film]

“Hotshot venture capitalist Joel has a multimillion-dollar deal go up in smoke, and he and his actress wife Jessica are forced to move in with her parents and start from scratch. At the lowest and most desperate moment in his life, Joel meets old friend Nicolaus and his business partner Lester, who are seeking investors in a new technology known as XVR—Xtreme Virtual Reality—from their company Empathy, Inc., which is said to offer the most realistic and moving experiences for users by placing them in the lives of the less fortunate. Joel gets the startup its funds but soon discovers that the tech’s creators have far more sinister uses in store for their creation and that the reality it provides its customers isn’t virtual.” – October Coast PR

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Holy Shit, Everyone! I hate to be so brash so quickly, but I am very very excited to talk about this film. Empathy Inc. is a film that completely surpassed initial expectations by a LONG SHOT! [Editor’s note: After writing that last sentence, I noticed that it was actually similar to a quote on the poster from filmthreat.com. I honestly hadn’t seen that prior, which should be a testament to how true it is!]  It is an incredibly moving and powerful film that you must see. With its visually stimulating black & white cinematography, and a story line that simply doesn’t let up and keeps you guessing right up until the end, when the only question you have left is: “What the hell did I just watch?” And I tell you Folks, you will have watched one of the best films of 2019. It’s smart and just straight up a whole lot of fun to take in.

And as we like to do around here, we have to talk about the performances. It would be nearly impossible to refrain from spoiling very key elements and plot points of the film to really say what I want to say here, but suffice it to say that Empathy Inc. really brought out the range of actors like Kathy Searle, Zack Robidas, and Jay Klaitz. I really can’t throw anything else out there, but know that they are phenomenal! Filmmaker Yedidya Gorsetman and writer Mark Leidner have created the psychological thriller to surpass other psychological thrillers. I seriously couldn’t stop thinking about this film for days after being entranced by it so greatly. It’s an absolutely brilliant film that I need you all to see. Get on it, Folks!

Empathy Inc. is in select theaters now and will be available on VOD on September 24th, 2019.

Sunday Matinee: Danger God [Film]

“Professional stuntman Gary Kent has made a hard-earned name for himself in over 50 years of falling, burning, jumping, fighting and breaking himself for some of the most cherished independent and B-movies of the 20th Century. This is his story, from the anything goes days of the drive-in era, including his run in with Charles Manson and his infamous family, to his personal battles and triumphs with health, alcoholism and love. Features interviews with Monte Hellman, Duane Eddy, Richard Rush, Marc Singer and more.” – Wild Eye Releasing

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When I think about the world of stunt performers, I will admit that I am not that well-versed on the subject. Which would usually be a good thing I perhaps, as they are meant to appear to be a whole different actor. In fact, prior to seeing Danger God, the only stunt performer I would probably ever be able to put a face to a name would be the great Zoë Bell, but that is just coming at it as a huge Tarantino fan. But now, thanks to this incredible documentary, I know the name Gary Kent, and honestly, I feel like a better person all around. Gary Kent is a man who has no reason to be alive, if I am being perfectly honest with you. The shit that this man has endured for the sake of his art (yes, it is art. No debates allowed) is absolutely mesmerizing. His skill and love for the world of film is absolutely uncanny. And lest we forget, he’s also a damn good actor! And writer! Director! All of it!

Yes, from 60’s westerns & psychedelic films, the 70’s exploitation, right up to present day working in our beloved world of B-horror and beyond, Danger God takes us on a journey through one man’s life that is not only heart-warming and saddening at the same time, it is also very well-crafted. Director and producer Joe O’Connell has created something very special for us, and we should all be very thankful. And Gary Kent is one of the last man’s man from old Hollywood still kicking around. Long gone are the days where a performer could scare the shit out of Charles Manson and make him fix his golf cart (this is not an analogy, it ACTUALLY happened, watch this film!). Again, this is a very special film, and I honestly didn’t want it to end. I may never get to know Gary in real life, but thankfully, I will always have Danger God.

Danger God is available now on VOD, and will be available on DVD on September 17th, 2019.

Sunday Matinee: Stuck [Film]

“Taking place over one fateful day on a New York City subway, a group of strangers from different walks of life are unexpectedly brought together in an uplifting celebration of life and kindness through music.” – newswire.com

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I will be the first to tell you Folks, I am NOT a musical guy. It’s just never really been my forte, but I do understand why they are beloved in a way that is very different from other genres of film. That being said, I absolutely LOVED this film. And not in an “except for the music part” sort of way. No, this certainly added to the experience of watching this absolute masterpiece of a film. I simply cannot get enough of a simple setting of a film being completed amplified and taking you on an emotional adventure. I call it “Breakfast Clubbing”. I think that could catch on, right? Anyway, with Stuck, you get some incredible character development, accompanied by amazing performances, and a brilliant story penned by writer/director Michael Berry. Yet, the majority of the film takes place in a simple Subway train. It’s truly incredible how much talent is involved with this film!

And in way of performances, it was pretty much a given that Giancarlo Esposito was going to absolutely blow minds with his role, because that’s what he does! He has always been an absolute crusher. I’ve always said the sign of a brilliant performer is if you cannot even fathom another person in that role, they did their job superbly. And Esposito did just that with Stuck, and with everything he has ever appeared on. What I will admit is that I wasn’t sure about, or at least had never experienced, how one of my childhood crushes from the music world, Ashanti, was going to do in the world of acting. And Folks, I am now kicking my own ass for even doubting for a second that she couldn’t do it. I bought in hard on her role as the brooding and intelligent character Eve. I did however find it ironic that in a film with so many musical numbers, the Grammy winning, multi-platinum R&B singer…..doesn’t sing? It doesn’t take a single thing away from the film, but damn would it have added to it, don’t you think?

Overall, Stuck is an absolute delight of a film and a testament to what can happen when we stop recognizing each other by our differences, and recognizing why we are alike. Check it out Folks! You wil not regret it!

Stuck is available now on VOD and will be available on DVD on September 17^th, 2019.

Saturday Special: Seeds [Film]

“After a night of debauchery spirals out of control, Marcus retreats to his family home along the New England coast. Solitude is disturbed when his brother asks Marcus to look after his estranged nephew and niece. As days pass, solace escapes him; he feels baited by a dark force. Is he losing his mind or has something terrible burrowed deep within him? Incubating. Waiting until the climate is right. Haunted by his deepest fears, Marcus struggles not to succumb as he fights to protect Lily, his beloved niece from a monster that lies in wait.” – Uncork’d Entertainment

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Strap in Folks, because we have a real WEIRD one for you today. Seeds, while billed as a “horror” film, is frightening as it declares itself to be, but not in a traditional way. Right from the beginning, it gets really strange. It’s almost infuriating how hard it is to describe what takes place in this film without too many spoilers. Suffice it to say, Filmmaker Owen Long has a bit of a Lynchian inspired way about him. I mean this to say, and do not finish this sentence if you don’t want a slight spoiler….the physical manifestation of our darkest fears and deepest desires comes to play, and it is absolutely shocking. It is so hard to feel one way or another about the character Marcus Milton, and I feel as though that is what Long and co-writer Steven Weisman. And if they weren’t, well, that is my interpretation I guess. And I gotta say Folks, I dug it. A lot.

Ozark’s Trevor Long gives an amazing performance as the film’s lead, but Andrea Chen is definitely no slouch in the film and holds up her key role in what appears to be an effortless fashion. I will admit that despite having over a decade in the game, I was unaware of Chen’s talents, but you can bet your proverbial bottom dollar that if I see her name attached to anything, I’m watching that! Of course, as we always say, a brilliant performance is wasted without a good story to tell, and a good story with a shitty performance is wasted. But when the two powers combine. Magic! And that is what Seeds is to me. Magic captured ever so brilliantly (physically by cinematographer Eun-ah Lee, actually) on screen that has a re-watchability to it and I highly recommend that you do! Watch Seeds, watch it again, and tell all of your friends!

Seeds will be in select theaters on September 13^th 2019, and on VOD on September 24^th , 2019.