I Spit On Your Grave
Netflix | Amazon | Google Play | hitbliss | SEN | Vudu | YouTube
DVD | Blu-ray
Directed by Meir Zarchi
Starring Camille Keaton, Eron Tabor, Richard Pace, Anthony Nichols, Gunter Kleemann
Cinemagic / The Jerry Gross Organization
Originally Released: November 22, 1978

Paving the way for numerous fucked-up films that, in fact, have some form of subtext, the disturbing I Spit On Your Grave (otherwise known as Day Of The Woman) was a massive influence to the horror genre. Though campy now with age, the violence and ruthlessness is no less intense, making the movie still incredibly fucked-up and a disturbing viewing experience.

Writer Jennifer Hills (Camille Keaton) goes into seclusion to a remote "cabin in the woods" where she plans to begin work on her first novelization. The locals in the area seem friendly by all appearances, and things appear to be off to a good start for her. But the situation degenerates, as a group of the local young men attack and rape her, several times, in demented scenes that simply cannot be unseen.

Believing her to be dead, the rapists go on with their daily lives, but Jenny survives and begins to put the pieces of her life back together. Once back on her feet, she becomes conscious that she will be unsafe if her attackers learn that she is alive, and begins to make plans to seek vengeance on those who brutalized her.

Vanilla Sky
Netflix | Amazon | Epix | Google Play | SEN | Vudu | YouTube
DVD
Directed by Cameron Crowe
Starring Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Kurt Russell, Jason Lee, Cameron Diaz, Noah Taylor, Timothy Spall
Paramount Pictures
Originally Released: December 14, 2001

Vanilla Sky is one of those movies that, for one reason or another, I never got around to seeing – until now. And it also happens to be one of those movies that nobody ever says, "Meh, it was okay". Cameron Crowe‘s surreal swirl of romance, sci-fi, thriller, and drama is a divisive piece of work, resulting in the vast majority of viewers either loving it or loathing it.

So that being said, there’s very little I can say within the circumstance of this review about this movie that will sway you one way or the other. Vanilla Sky is just one of those flicks you have to see for yourself, and make your own mind up about.

But whichever end your mind is made up about – one thing is certain: Vanilla Sky will fuck with your head.

ParaNorman
Netflix | Amazon | Google Play | SEN | Vudu | YouTube
DVD | Blu-ray
Directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler
Starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jodelle Micah Ferland, Tucker Albrizzi, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, John Goodman
Focus Features
Originally Released: August 03, 2012

The surprisingly good venture into the macabre and demonic in the stop-motion animated film known as ParaNorman is full of both frights and laughs, in a tale that finishes up being as endearing as it is exciting. With precision on effects and careful attention to detail, the film is well worth your viewing time, full of tributes to classics, and memorable humor.

The story begins in the small town of Blithe Hollow, where Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is ostracized by family members and peers alike because of his unusual ability: he can see the dead and speak with them. Very few believe in Norman’s abilities, except for his mysterious Uncle Prenderghast (John Goodman), who has been watching the boy from afar.

Classic Albums: Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Netflix | Amazon | Google Play | YouTube
DVD | Blu-ray
Directed by Matthew Longfellow
Starring Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, Henry Rollins, Jim Simpson, Tony Allom, Deena Weinstein
Eagle Rock Entertainment
Originally Released: June 30, 2010

With drummer Bill Ward‘s birthday today, May 5, and with all the news surrounding the upcoming Black Sabbath album, 13, (despite Ward not being involved), I thought it would be timely to delve back into the past for this week’s streaming review. This week, we take a look at the band’s classic album called Paranoid, a ground-breaking release that established them as an international phenomenal, and put Black Sabbath’s name down on the history books as the first heavy metal band.

The significance of Paranoid, in union with the other first four releases by Black Sabbath, is unparalleled. Combining musical influences of rock and roll, blues, jazz, swing, and classical; and swarming it among darker occultist lyrical topics, the band laid down a basis that would not only establish their own careers, but also form the basis for all metal bands that would follow as well as all of the subgenres to break off from metal. Black Sabbath’s contributions to the early development of metal are incomparable to all who would follow.

The Stone Tape
Instant Video | DVD
Directed by Peter Sasdy
Written by Nigel Kneale
Starring Michael Bryant, Jane Asher, Iain Cuthbertson, Michael Bates, Tom Chadbon
BBC Two
Originally Released: December 25, 1972

In the most recent Doctor Who episode, entitled Hide, which we reviewed on the latest TARDISblend, the Doctor finds himself meeting a duo of "ghost hunters" in a mansion. Investigating the alleged haunting, the Professor explains to the Doctor a rundown of the sightings in the building, and incidents including the discovery of cans of Spam and a letter hidden behind a boarded up stone steps. This key moment in the episode is a direct reference to a notable BBC story from the 1970’s called The Stone Tape, and was a key influence on that episode.

Being an obstinate Whovian, I was curious to learn more about The Stone Tape, and was pleasantly surprised to find it streaming from Amazon. Not only does the classic televised play feature essential plot elements that would be implied in the Doctor Who episode of Hide, but it’s also implied that Hide is almost somewhat of a sequel (in a manner of speaking, to a degree, maybe) of The Stone Tape.