New in Home Entertainment
October 6, 2015
Insidious Chapter 3
Rated PG-13 for violence, frightening images, some language and thematic elements
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
There have been so many of these types of movies lately that I’ve completely lost track of which is which. I remember kind of liking Insidious 1 and hating number 2, but darned if I can remember any sort of plot. The good news is that this newest chapter is a prequel and apparently has little to do with the first two chapters. The story revolves around a young girl who, in an attempt to track down her dead mother in the afterlife, brings back a vengeful and rather scary spirit, leaving Elise, the psychic from the first two films, to try to save her life. While the story isn’t anything new, the scares are plentiful and not forced. This is a genuinely creepy movie with many hair-raising moments throughout. And while I usually make the claim that PG-13 does not a decent horror movie make, this one proves that thought somewhat wrong. B
We Are Still Here
Not Rated – but would be very Rated R if it was
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Ahhh. October. Tons of horror films coming to home entertainment. This week I’m covering three but the choices are plentiful. We Are Still Here is a little indie horror flick from Dark Sky Films that centers on a husband and wife who move into a new home after the death of their son only to discover that there are evil spirits living in the house and a knowledgeable town who will do anything to keep the spirits appeased. Some truly terrifying moments lurk throughout the film and while the acting is pretty poor at times, the scares are first class with some incredibly well-conceived and imaginative monsters. B+
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Rated R for sexuality and horror violence
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This doesn’t feel like classic material yet, but believe it or not, it’s been 23 years since Francis Ford Coppola’s horror masterpiece hit theaters, and this newly remastered version looks and sounds even better than I remembered from a half-lifetime ago. This lushly produced retelling of the famous novel about the first vampire is expertly crafted and the talented cast provide for a wonderful fright night experience. This film really set the stage for all modern monster movies that have followed. A-
Road Hard
Not Rated but again would be very Rated R if it was
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Looking for something other than horror this week? Check out Adam Carolla who stars as a version of himself, trying to eke out a living on the road as a stand-up comedian while desperately attempting to get back into the world of television. While the first half feels almost too personal, the second half turns rather sweet as Carolla’s character puts his life into perspective. Luckily the whole film is filled with some great little stories that I’m sure were inspired by real life scenarios. B-