Digital Retribution

In the Sign of the Taurus DVD Review

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:19:00 GMT +1000

Danish porn. It's what this site has been sorely lacking in for a long time, but now we at Digital Retribution are determined to make up for that with a veritable cavalcade of Nordic smut... [Read Full Article]

Mad Max 2 DVD Review

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:51:00 GMT +1000

When post-apocalyptic films are done poorly, they're still good, so imagine what they're like when they're done well. Mad Max 2, a milestone film for this hybrid action/science-fiction/horror sub-genre is done very well indeed... [Read Full Article]

Ritual DVD Review

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:44:00 GMT +1000

It becomes very clear in the first scene, with bikinied women hanging out with the Cryptkeeper as he introduces the film, that Ritual is much lower budget than its predecessors... [Read Full Article]

Deathcheaters (1976) DVD Review

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:31:00 GMT +1000

Daft, cheerful and action packed, Deathcheaters is the kind of Aussie movie they sure don't make anymore. Personal taste will perhaps dictate whether that's a good thing... [Read Full Article]

Laid to Rest Art and Specs

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:50:00 GMT +1000

Anchor Bay Entertainment have announced the release of Laid to Rest, which will be arriving locally as a rental exclusive disc on September 9... [Read Full Article]

Aquatic Smackdown Alert!

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:26:00 GMT +1000

Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus caused a stir in the pants of many internet geeks a couple of months back when its trailer surfaced just prior to its Region 1 release, and the good news is we won't have to wait too much longer for the battle of the gigantic sea beasties to arrive in Australia... [Read Full Article]

Straw Dogs DVD Review

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:55:00 GMT +1000

Peckinpah, one of the most underrated American filmmakers that ever lived, was a real master at exploring the minds of violent people. But Straw Dogs is a different beast in that it introduces a manifestly unviolent person and charts their descent... [Read Full Article]

John Woo's Red Cliff Giveaway

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:22:00 GMT +1000

John Woo's epic based on the legendary Battle of Red Cliff will be released in Australia on July 23, and thanks to Icon Film Distribution we're giving away five double passes valid for special advanced screenings nationwide from July 17 to July 19... [Read Full Article]

Pearls Before Swine/Bloodlust DVD Review

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:02:00 GMT +1000

If you're into low budget Australian film, this is a fine DVD that you really should own. You've got Bloodlust for the visceral blast a la Raimi or Jackson, just lower budget and much more crude, and for the more intellectual side of things, you've got Pearls Before Swine... [Read Full Article]

Castle of the Bat Comic Review

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:31:00 GMT +1000

Here we have Batman: Castle of the Bat, a story of the Batman told via Mary Shelley and the Universal and Hammer horror films... [Read Full Article]

¡Maldito Bastardo! Review

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:51:00 GMT +1000

The film is very low budget, but is generally well put together. Any time it gets incoherent, it's because the story is insane, not because the film's structure is flawed... [Read Full Article]

Planet of the Vampires DVD Review

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:01:00 GMT +1000

It's a fine piece of 1960s science-fiction/horror fun, loaded with camp uniforms, camper dialogue and the campiest of special effects... [Read Full Article]

The Hidden DVD Review

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:53:00 GMT +1000

One of the great b-movies of the 1980s, The Hidden is a lightning paced, winningly tongue-in-cheek action film... [Read Full Article]

Uzumaki DVD Review

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:35:00 GMT +1000

Needs to be watched more than once to make any kind of sense out of it. As much an existential art-film as it is a horror film, Uzumaki will keep you thinking long after you've whacked it back in your collection... [Read Full Article]

DR Grindhouse: Family Bizness

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:02:00 GMT +1000

Dad wants his son Michael to take over the Family Bizness, but Michael's more interested in singing and playing with his pet freak, Bubbles. Dad's latest plan will see all hell break loose, Mum get mad and an awful bloody mess... [Read Full Article]

Catacombs DVD Review

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:40:00 GMT +1000

An almost endless series of underground tunnels filled with the bones of millions is a great location for a horror movie, but unfortunately this neat set-up is nothing more than the catalyst for a series of poorly staged "running in the dark" sequences... [Read Full Article]

The George A. Romero Collection DVD Review

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:18:00 GMT +1000

Three strong films from one of the genre's most respected and intelligent directors. Romero invests all of his films with intensity, social commentary and a razor sharp, acerbic wit that raises what might be seen as simple genre fare, to another level... [Read Full Article]

Preacher Volume 2: Until the End of the World Comic Review

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:24:00 GMT +1000

If misdirected male prostitutes, armadillo sodomisers, inbred killbillies, shotgun decapitations and John Wayne’s ghost are your bag… you need this comic right now... [Read Full Article]

Frontier(S) DVD Giveaway

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:45:00 GMT +1000

Frontier(S) is now available to buy on DVD in Australia, and thanks to Madman's Asylum label we're giving you the chance to win a copy... [Read Full Article]

Llik Your Idols DVD Review

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 01:34:00 GMT +1000

Dubbed "The Cinema of Transgression", the movement created a number of ultra-low-budget films that were sexually and politically confrontational, often pornographic and frequently nihilistic... [Read Full Article]

His Name Was Jason DVD Review

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:49:00 GMT +1000

Given the Friday the 13th name, this is the best retrospective you are likely to get. Full marks to the people responsible for making something so comprehensive. It's well worth watching, even if you're not a big fan of the series... [Read Full Article]

My Name Is Bruce DVD Review

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:31:00 GMT +1000

Part vanity reel, part horror comedy, part giving-back-to-the-fans love letter, My Name Is Bruce is a noble failure, which is ironic really, as that's how Campbell casts himself in the first place... [Read Full Article]

Tokyo Zombie DVD Review

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:41:00 GMT +1000

A mountain of rubbish, dubbed Black Fuji, has arisen in the outskirts of Tokyo. It's a handy tip where people can dispose of all sorts of junk: cans, white goods, cars, even the occasional annoying mother-in-law... [Read Full Article]

Counting Down the Top 5 Horror Heroes

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:25:00 GMT +1000

Some were chosen for their iconic status, others for their ability or willingness to face danger and some just cause they kick all kinds of ass. Regardless of their various strengths and virtues, they all have one thing in common: their ability to engage and entertain... [Read Full Article]

No Through Road DVD Review

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:55:00 GMT +1000

A dark, seedy film that draws its inspirations from flicks ranging from Straw Dogs to Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, all the while displaying its own style and a great atmosphere throughout... [Read Full Article]

The Candy Snatchers DVD Review

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:49:00 GMT +1000

One of those exploitation films that fans of the genre need to watch. It's sleazy, grimy and horrid and you'll have a whale of a time watching it... [Read Full Article]

The Walking Dead Volume 1 Comic Review

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:59:00 GMT +1000

This isn't just a zombie story, and unlike George Romero's tales it isn't a wry look at consumerism, or socio-economic woes in a world filled with flesh-eaters. No, this is a look at how human beings find the gumption to survive the apocalypse... [Read Full Article]

Reform School Girl DVD Review

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:39:00 GMT +1000

Not as much fun as its famously sordid title would suggest, Reform School Girl is surprisingly dull, though you do at least get a couple of primo catfights... [Read Full Article]

Death Line DVD Review

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:47:00 GMT +1000

This would definitely have to be one of the most violent UK films of it time. While not a patch on The Devils, or in terms of sheer sadistic nastiness Witchfinder General, Death Line would have to hold the distinction of being one of the bloodiest, goriest UK films of the early 70s... [Read Full Article]

Porn-O-Rama DVD Review

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:24:00 GMT +1000

A five part series that delved behind the scenes on the making of a porno movie. There're no actual penetration shots, but there're lots of scenes of people having sex... [Read Full Article]

Flash Gordon Serial DVD Review

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:08:00 GMT +1000

Each chapter sees Flash and the gang get into another death-defying cliffhanger – which, come the next chapter, isn't as deadly as it seemed - whilst battling Ming's latest dastardly scheme... [Read Full Article]

Picnic At Hanging Rock DVD Review

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:38:00 GMT +1000

Some movies make their name through performances, some through action, some through gore-soaked set-pieces, some through dialogue, and some, like Picnic At Hanging Rock, through a haunting atmosphere and beautiful camera work... [Read Full Article]

I Know How Many Runs You Scored Last Summer Giveaway

Sat, 30 May 2009 03:53:00 GMT +1000

I Know How Many Runs You Scored Last Summer features gore, boobs, and a wicked sense of humour - reason enough for any self respecting Digital Retribution reader to get out there and rent it ASAP, but to inspire you even further we're offering a tasty incentive... [Read Full Article]

Tokyo Gore Police (2008) DVD Review

Fri, 29 May 2009 09:50:00 GMT +1000

If you're expecting anything remotely coherent, Tokyo Gore Police isn't the movie for you; perhaps it's best thought of as the hell-spawn of Cronenberg and Miike, with a dollop of Lynch. Nishimura has adopted for a "low on brains, high on brawn" approach... [Read Full Article]

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) DVD Review

Fri, 29 May 2009 08:50:00 GMT +1000

I hate to say it, but for me this film was like vegetables: I know they are important, but it doesn't mean I have to like them. I appreciate the artistic merit and cultural importance of this film, but I just didn't enjoy it... [Read Full Article]

Friday the 13th 3-D (1982) DVD Review

Thu, 28 May 2009 08:25:00 GMT +1000

By now everyone was familiar with the Friday formula: People go to Crystal Lake and then get killed by a member of the Vorhees family. This time it's not councillors, but rather a hodegepodge of characters designed to annoy who have turned... [Read Full Article]

Shrooms (2007) Blu-ray Review

Wed, 27 May 2009 09:27:00 GMT +1000

Basically operates as a J-horror/teen slasher pic hybrid, at least stylistically. Director Paddy Breathnach's idea was to mould the two sub-genres together, hopefully taking the best of both worlds... [Read Full Article]

The Comics Go to Hell (2005) Book Review

Tue, 26 May 2009 11:04:00 GMT +1000

Without doubt the thing that makes both horror movies and comics so cool are the bad guys, and no matter how bad a Lex Luthor or a Freddy Krueger can get, neither will ever be as bad as the ultimate badass... [Read Full Article]

Flower and Snake (2003) DVD Review

Tue, 26 May 2009 09:50:00 GMT +1000

Yes, there's a strong level of violence, and much of it sexual, but there's much more to Flower and Snake than that. The beauty of this film is in what it does psychologically to the characters and to the audience... [Read Full Article]

Mind Game (2004) DVD Review

Mon, 25 May 2009 10:06:00 GMT +1000

Describing the plot doesn't do the film justice at all. This is a film of amazingly imaginative images, pulsating with creativity, energy and wit. At times funny, haunting, touching, and silly, this is quite unlike any film you have ever seen, which is a great compliment in itself... [Read Full Article]

Villain (1971) DVD Review

Mon, 25 May 2009 09:03:00 GMT +1000

The British gangster film is a very mean animal indeed – they always seem more rough and brutal than their American counterparts. Villain is no exception to this rule and displays a nastiness that is very much lacking in similarly-themed American gangster films of the time... [Read Full Article]

Final Faeces (2006) Grindhouse Review

Sun, 24 May 2009 08:33:00 GMT +1000

Not since Pink Flamingos has there been a story this hellbent on repulsing its audience. Puking, drug injection, shitting, racism, bad puns and more shitting are all here to put viewers off as Finale Faeces builds to a climax that will delight corpophiliacs and disgust everyone else... [Read Full Article]

Awakening of the Beast (1970) DVD Review

Sun, 24 May 2009 06:48:00 GMT +1000

Of the films featuring Coffin Joe I've seen, it's far and away the weakest, over-laden with padding of all sorts and well-intentioned but poorly executed social commentary. One for fans only, I'm afraid... [Read Full Article]

This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse (1967) DVD Review

Sun, 24 May 2009 03:12:00 GMT +1000

Coffin Joe returns! It took three years for him to do so, his previous film having effectively bankrupted him, but you can't hold a good ghoul down, and so director and star Jose Mojica Marins strikes back from the grave with this, his sophmore effort about the crazed undertaker... [Read Full Article]

Exclusive - Opening Scene from The Runs!

Wed, 20 May 2009 12:29:00 GMT +1000

I Know How Many Runs You Scored Last Summer will be released as a rental disc through Anchor Bay Entertainment on June 3, and to whet your appetite we've got a tasty exclusive – the entire opening scene from the movie... [Read Full Article]

Patrick (1978) DVD Review

Wed, 20 May 2009 11:23:00 GMT +1000

How do you make a film interesting when your main adversary is bed ridden, in a catatonic coma? Unblinking, staring vacantly into space, Patrick is a villain with a difference and despite his lack of mobility he causes dread and fear into all that meet him... [Read Full Article]

Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion (1972) DVD Review

Tue, 19 May 2009 13:02:00 GMT +1000

I challenge anyone to come away disappointed with this film. Fast-paced, beautifully shot, with lashings of nudity and violence, Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion rightly deserves its place at the top of the women-in-prison genre... [Read Full Article]

13: Game of Death (2006) DVD Review

Thu, 14 May 2009 08:00:00 GMT +1000

You are unlikely to forget moments like the utterly revolting restaurant scene, or a gruesome sequence in a fetid indoor well. Unfortunately, just as memorable are clunky moments of comic relief... [Read Full Article]

Cat in the Brain (1990) DVD Review

Tue, 12 May 2009 13:06:00 GMT +1000

While I don't think that this film sits highly on my list of favorite Fulci films, it is treated with so much respect, and so much care has been taken in the entire release, that the package itself makes the film more emotionally valuable... [Read Full Article]

At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul (1964) DVD Review

Tue, 12 May 2009 11:42:00 GMT +1000

It's quite brutish, and for 1963, shocking – raises an eyebrow today, even. Eyeballs get punctured by fingernails, fingers are removed with a broken wine bottle, women are beaten within an inch of their lives to begin with – all of it surprisingly bloody, and quite squalid... [Read Full Article]