PUMPKINHEAD: NEW MONSTER DELIVERED CORRECTLY

I've always been a horror film fan from early on. I grew up on the classics, staying up late at night and watching monster movies on the Cleveland stations all in glorious black and white. While most kids have no idea who Karloff, Lugosi or Chaney Jr. are, for me they were the monsters of my childhood. Knowing that and remembering what a great time I had with them, I'm always excited to hear that a new monster is on the horizon. Unfortunately of late that has meant slashers and stalkers rather than monsters. Wouldn't you know one of the last great monster to come along happened in 1988. The good news is that the movie that introduced this new monster is now available on blu-ray from Shout Factory.

PUMPKINHEAD offers a new creation rather than relying on something old. If you've never seen the movie then this blu-ray edition is by far the best way to introduce yourself. Not only will you get a beautiful copy of the movie itself but it offers some killer extras that fans and non-fans alike will love and appreciate. These include a new tribute to monster creator and the director of this movie, Stan Winston; interviews with the producer and several actors; PUMPKINHEAD-UNEARTHED, a documentary on the making of the movie; a featurette about the toyline that featured the creature and more.

The story itself begins in 1957 in a backwoods area where a young Ed Harley witnesses the wrath of the legend known as Pumpkinhead, a creature called forth to exact revenge on an individual or group at the bequest of someone wronged. Years later Ed (Lance Henriksen) is grown up and living with his young son, running the local general store. An accident involving a group of young people and their motocross bikes leaves Ed's son dead and Ed determined to have his revenge.

Ed finds his way to the creepy old lady of the hills and pays what she asks to help him fulfill this wish. She warns him that the cost is deep but blinded by grief he agrees. It isn't long before the creature of vengeance is unleashed upon the earth and the group of youngsters hiding in their cabin is not safe behind closed doors. Before the end of the night Ed will have to decide if the price for his revenge is worth it. Can he decide before each of the victims is claimed by Pumpkinhead?

That might not sound terrifying but in reality this creature is fantastic. Director and special effects genius Stan Winston used practical effects to create this creature and the effort pays off hugely. It appears to be a real live creature. Keep in mind in 1988 the age of CGI monsters was not around yet. When you look at this monster it is indeed scary to look at and one that you hope never comes knocking.

The whole movie has an eerie vibe to it that seeps through each and every frame. It's not just the monster that is scary but the havoc that it unleashes as well. Not only that but the effect it all has on Ed as it begins to fulfill his wishes makes for some creepy moments as well. Rarely has a new monster been created that could cause nightmares but this time they've done it and done it well.

To say that Shout/Scream Factory has outdone themselves again is beginning to become redundant in my reviews of the product they've released. They truly get that fans want to see these great horror films in blu-ray format but not cleansed so much they don't remain faithful to the original print. Not only that, they take these movies and add to them extras that show they truly appreciate these movies rather than just toss them out there with nothing special. They've done an amazing job on this release and it only makes us, the fans, look forward to what comes next. If you love this movie buy it immediately. If you like it, buy it and learn to love it. This is a great new release and one that deserves space on your shelf.

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MOM'S NIGHT OUT: MOM'S DESERVE THE BEST

It is rare to find a movie that will make you laugh so hard that you find yourself scrambling for the remote. Not so that you can fast forward to get away from the movie but because you were laughing so hard that you missed something else and now have to rewind to catch that joke as well. It's a good thing and so is the movie MOM'S NIGHT OUT.

Allyson (Sarah Drew) is a part time blogger/full time mother trying to wrangle three pre-school children at home. Her husband Sean (Sean Astin) is an architect who tries to help when he is home but more often than not is out and about working or taking guy time out with his friend Kevin. Needless to say Sarah's stress level is about to explode.

Allyson's best friends are Izzy (Andrea Logan White) and Sondra (Patricia Heaton). Izzy is Sarah's age with two kids of her own and a husband with a fear of children. Sondra is the oldest of the three, the wife of the pastor of their church and dealing with her own child, not pre-school mind you but the next step of aggravation, a teenager. When Allyson has had enough she suggests they have a night out, just the three of them. With a coupon at the local high class restaurant plans are made.

Things start to go wrong when Sean's half sister Bridget (Abbie Cobb) comes to dinner and asks Allyson to watch her baby while she starts a new job that same night. Allyson turns her down but Sean steps in, learning for the first time about the girl's night out, and says he'll baby sit. He wants Allyson to go out, to unwind and to have a good time. He appreciates her and all she does believing more in her success than she does.

All seems fine right? That is until it all starts to unravel beginning with their reservation messed up. Mix that with ever ringing cell phones from husbands who can't seem to deal with the same things these women do every day and it gets worse. I'm not talking about worse because of the cell phones either. By the end we have babies in tattoo parlors, stolen vehicles, bikers, cops, waste heads and children with the uncanny ability to find a way to get into trouble at the local pizza and gaming establishment. And that's just a few things that happen.

The energy if frenetic in this film and never seems to let up. Something seems to constantly be happening here. Each opportunity to turn one of these negative things into something funny is taken and it works each and every time. But more than that the movie also provides an opportunity to bring about a message about faith, about God and about mother's deserving praise non-stop. It becomes something that offers a positive message among the chaos that begins in the first moments and runs through till almost the last image.

If you have children, or if you have relatives with children, you'll certainly relate to so much that happens in this movie. Perhaps not the same circumstances but at least the same sort of minor life explosions that come with having children. At the same time you'll be reminded that children are a blessing and that even some of the worst things they seem to do can turn around to be amazing displays of creativity and affection.

As I said when beginning this review to find a movie that is laugh out loud funny from start to finish these days is rare indeed. When you can find one that is inspiring as well it makes it even more special. I know that MOM'S NIGHT OUT will find a comfortable space in my collection to be watched every now and then when I need to do two things: to have a laugh and to be reminded how great mothers are. My guess is you'll want to do the same after watching it the first time.

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DUCK DYNASTY-QUACK OR TREAT: HALLOWEEN FUN

Let's just say this up front: if you don't like the show DUCK DYNASTY or can't stand the Robertson family, then don't bother reading any further. On the other hand, if you're like me and enjoy both, then by all means read on.

Fans of the show will know this episode by heart having aired this past season. I should say the main show on this disc as it offers a trio of episodes here. The main episode deals with the Duck Dynasty warehouse being turned into a haunted house for the local kids to go through. CEO Willie Robertson loves the Halloween holiday and goes all out for this event. Unfortunately no one seems to think Willie is scary no matter what he tries. It doesn't matter because the rest of the group pulls together to make a scary night for the kids that they'll enjoy and talk about the rest of their lives.

If that episode doesn't strike your fancy then another deals with Uncle Si as he looks for the infamous black panther that he swears he's seen for years in the area. Needless to say no one else is convinced. If that isn't enough there's another episode where Willie approaches his mid-life crisis by dying his beard and buying a motorcycle he has no idea how to ride. This leads to a battle of the brothers between Willie, Jase and Jep to determine just who the best of the three is.

One of the beautiful things about the DUCK DYNASTY series is the simplicity of it. As you can see you can sum up what an episode is about in just a few sentences. Like the ducks they hunt, each story is like the animal they hunt at the center but it's covered with feathers all over to make it better to look at. I know, a weird analogy, but it works.

I may have oversimplified the biggest reason the show has done so well. It's not just the simplicity of the stories. The biggest reason is the family and the love shared between them. Sure they may tease or make fun of one another or they may prank one another, but the genuine affection they feel and express here shines through each and every episode. When you add to that the religious convictions that they stay true to but don't overkill on you have something special. If that weren't enough already, each episode ends with a family prayer almost always said at the dinner table where they gather together.

It's funny how none of the networks seems to understand the reason for the success of the show. Perhaps the two closest programs they have along this line are WHALBURGERS where we have the Wahlberg family and BLUE BLOODS where we have a devout Catholic family of cops that share a bond as well. Both shows play to an audience tiring of the usual garbage tossed on the air. While they claim that sex sells it's amazing to consider the amount of viewers and sales of DUCK DYNASTY products on the market that are doing amazing numbers. It's been this way as far back as LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE which had great ratings yet wasn't copied either.

So if you're looking for a fun time with the Robertson boys for Halloween then by all means pick up this disc and enjoy. I know it's on my keep shelf here right next to the copies of each season. I know I'll enjoy them again and again.  

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HEAVENLY SWORD: BIG GAME TO BIG SCREEN

I'm not an avid gamer so when I read that the movie HEAVENLY SWORD was based on a tremendously successful video game I had to take the producer's word on that. From the look and feel of the movie I can believe that every word of that is true.

The story takes place in the orient where a weapon known as the heavenly sword was used in the far past to bring peace and tranquility to the world. Used to defeat a madman intent on ruling the world, it has been placed in the care of a clan whose sole responsibility is to protect it from the world. Only the chosen one can wield the sword as it drains the life force from anyone who would take possession of if be it for good or for bad.

As time passes the sword is protected by the clan until word reaches them that King Bohan has set his sights on taking the sword so that he can rule the world. Born a prince and treated unmercifully as a child, Bohan killed his father to take the crown and now uses evil magic to work his way across the land, taking it all for himself.

A problem rises in the clan when they can find no chosen one to wield the sword. The ruler of the clan is ashamed because he had a daughter, Nariko, as his first born child rather than a boy. Trained in secret by her mentor and her father's best friend, as Bohan attacks their stronghold Nariko and her best friend Kai must find the chosen one and stop Bohan at all costs.

The duo set out to find this chosen one using what little clues they have. Along their journey they discover so much that they never knew, starting with the fact that they are sisters of the same father. Clues later lead them to find that the king did indeed give birth to a son but he and the child had no idea. This is where they head with the sword, Bohan on their heels trying to put an end to the last remnants of the clan.

This sword and sorcery epic does a good job of telling its tale using computer animated graphics to bring the game to life. The animation here falls in line with what you find these days in games found on Play station 3 or X-Box which can be quite good. But if you enjoy these sorts of stories then you're not overly concerned with that. Instead you're more concerned with the story and here there is plenty of that.

While HEAVENLY SWORD might not be for everyone I have little doubt that gamers will love this movie. Fans of the classic swashbuckling films will find something in it for them as well. As for myself I enjoyed it from start to finish and have found a place for it on the collector's shelf here at home. I have no doubt that from time to time, when the mood strikes me, I'll pull it down from the shelf and enjoy it all over again.

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THE MIDNIGHT GAME: BETTER THAN EXPECTED

Things have certainly changed for the horror genre. Where once it horror films were few and far between it now seems like there are several being released each week. Fortunately most of those are straight to DVD because they honestly aren't that great, but at least their trying. When I saw the cover for THE MIDNIGHT GAME I felt for sure that I was in store for another low budget devil worshipping/cult film that would deliver no chills and little horror. I can tell you now that while it had a number of stereotypical items in the plot, it was actually a decent movie.

The film centers around a group of teenagers (don't they all) who get together at one girls house when her mother goes away for the weekend. Apparently one parent households create a revolving door for parties. At least according to horror films. Strangely enough it's an odd combo with one couple, another pair trying to possibly start dating and the girl whose home the party takes place at.

As the beer runs down and the night runs long the group decides to play a game, one that the jock boyfriend saw online earlier that day in the library. I'm not sure if it was a good or bad thing but the amount of things involved with this game seemed lengthy to me. Suffice to say that you must take the game seriously or bad things will happen. Predictably the group doesn't take it as seriously as they should and danger then lurks all around.

The game involved each one talking about the things they feared most and as the night progresses each of those playing finds themselves confronted by that very fear. A fear of heights, a fear of madness and more brings the teens to the edge of terror. Perhaps it was because I'd just finished watching another horror film that had some of the worst acting possible but those involved here did a great job of being convincing in their roles.

What made the movie work well on top of the performances though was the evil creature that's rarely seen in the film and the story that takes you where you least expect it to by the end. The use of the creature here works well because it is indeed visible from time to time but it's never overused as some horror films have done in the past. As for the direction of the story before the end credits I don't intend to spoil that here. You'll have to rent or buy the movie to find that out.

In the end I can tell you that the movie is indeed worth renting. If you're a horror fan then chances are you'll enjoy this one. Keep in mind the budget they had to work with here and don't expect the money found in the EVIL DEAD remake. You'll be pleasantly surprised. As a matter of fact horror fans might even want to add this one to their collection. It delivers the goods.

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SANCTUARY-QUITE A CONUNDRUM: EXAMPLES OF GOOD AND TERRIBLE ACTING

This is the second film that I've watched from Midnight Releasing. The first (whose name I won't mention) was so bad that bleach could not have cleaned the scum it left on my eyes. While this one isn't quite as bad, it will reach the bottom of the barrel when it comes to horror films.

The problems are visible right from the start when we see an older, fat man with an eye patch in bed with a younger woman who doesn't seem the least bit interested in what is going on. So why is this a problem? I have no difficulty in having an older man and younger woman together. The problem is that there is no way that a guy who looks like this is going to find himself with an attractive young woman. To hear that he's married and this is an affair makes it even more unbelievable.

But that's not the only problem here. The other problem is that the woman in question is supposed to be a college age student living in her father's home. While this actress (I'll save to disgrace of naming her here) may be attractive enough there is no way that she qualifies for college age. A quick search online found the smallest of bios that didn't include her age. From the looks of things I'd say late twenties. Before anyone goes off about misogynistic tendencies and sexism I'm not slamming her for her appearance. I'm just saying no, she doesn't look 19 years old. Neither does the actress playing her best friend.

In any event she, her roommate and her sister plan on having a big party that night where she plans to hook up with her roommate's best friend, her sister might be having her first encounter with her boyfriend and her roommate will continue to jump her boyfriend each moment she can. Things seem to go along fine until the big, bald guy from the start of the movie shows up naked and kills himself, falling into the backyard pool. This being her father's house (and the man in question being a staff member of her father's law firm) they can't let the body remain or call the police.

As the saying goes, the best laid plans... Things go from bad to worse as the wife of the dead man storms in. The boyfriend disappears, leaving everyone behind to take care of the problem. The young sister's boyfriend gets completely wasted prior to the suicide and ends up walking around with in a perpetual state of excitement (think perfect add for Viagra). And then something happens that makes it even worse.

So is there anything good here? Well perhaps. Joe Coffy, who plays the intended hookup for the main character, turns in a decent performance. I would love to see him in something else other than this movie. Again, he looks far too old for the part. Between the receding hairline and the fact that he's 32 years old in real life, he should not be playing someone involved with a college age girl.

As a fan of horror films I can tell you that this one is not worth your time. Keep in mind this is from someone who can appreciate horror films that fall into the category of "so bad they're good". The bad acting, bad cinematography, bad story and more make this one to avoid.

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THE WALKING DEAD SEASON FOUR: TV'S BEST DRAMA REMAINS UNRECOGNIZED

So the Emmy awards have come and gone for another year and once again the best drama to be found on television has been snubbed. I'm talking about THE WALKING DEAD which is indeed the best drama found right now. Don't poo poo me and suggest that I don't know what I'm talking about or bypass this show simply because of the title and the horror filled storyline on display. That's the same mistake the Emmy folks continue to make year after year. Instead they should focus on what the real story is here. Not zombies but people.

If you haven't seen the previous four years of the show then stop reading and go back and do so. If you have then know that the release to DVD of Season Four holds so many great items for you to see that as they unfold you'll find yourself both screaming at the TV because of what's happening or tearfully sitting on your couch joyous that you do not have to live in the world portrayed here. The series picks up with the survivors getting along fine in the world they've created for themselves in the prison having defeated the Governor at the end of season three. But things are a bit different.

Series centerpiece Rick Grimes continues to feel the need to protect the people he's taken in but his friend Hershel has convinced him it's time to lay down his sword and take the time to raise his family now. This works for a time but the inner beast set loose upon the world by Grimes remains just beneath the surface ready to come forth should the need arise. Unfortunately for Rick that need comes up more than once in this season.

The first half of the season takes place mostly in the prison as people begin to adapt. And then problems begin when a simple virus nearly wipes them out. As one group goes off to find the medicines necessary to save them all the rest eventually have to contend with the long lost Governor who returns to seek vengeance. While he gets plenty of air time for his own adaptation to the world around him, the pure evil that drives him remains and he sets his sights on Rick and his people. But again, that's just the first half of the season.

I hate to reveal much of the second half because it would spoil one of the biggest events in season four. Suffice to say that things change leaving Rick wounded both mentally and physically. It also places his son Carl in the role of adult having to take care of Rick. The relationship between the two is put to the test in the second half here. More than that the caged animal that has long resides within Rick breaks out once again as it has in the past revealing an opponent that you would not want to be on the bad side of.

As I said at the beginning, most people only see the name of the series or hear that it involves zombies and turn their noses up at it. The truth of the matter though is that while there are some amazing special make up effects to be viewed here, the amount of screen time actually given to the zombies and mayhem that surrounds them is rather small. Instead the story here revolves more around the various characters and how they interact with one another. It's not just how they behave because of the zombies but also how they act with one another given the circumstances around them and between each other. There are jaw dropping moments, moments that will make you shed tears and moments where you will feel frustrated as you realize that there is no other course for them to take but the one they do.

There were moments in this season as with the previous three where I just sat stunned as I watched the story unfold in a direction I never saw coming. There were also moments when I yelled in anger at the screen as characters were wrung through the ringer by the situations around them. And then there was that moment of joy near the very end when Rick sums up what we all felt from the start concerning the group. Split apart due to circumstances I haven't revealed they come together once again. Now all we can do is wait till season five to find out the results of their reunion.

As if the act of storytelling here wasn't enough to make this the best drama on television the combination of directing and acting make this must see TV. There isn't a single performance that doesn't ring true here. I constantly say that the best actors are the ones where I don't even notice that they're acting. Instead I completely buy into their performance as being that person I see on screen. My mind may know different but the way they work here makes the suspension of belief quite easy to do.

Don't let yourself be fooled that this is a simple horror tale that comes on every week. Don't let yourself be led to believe that the show is about nothing but zombies. Realize that it has more to do with the characters and their interaction with one another more than anything. Many of the best moments are ones that involve no creatures or effects at all, just two people talking to one another. When you realize this and watch, you'll find that the show is as I've said the best drama on TV. Now if only those in charge of the Emmys would take notice.

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THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE: THE 2ND GREATEST HAUNTED HOUSE MOVIE EVER MADE

So my guess is the immediate question is what is number one? That is reserved for, and always will be in my mind, Robert Wise' THE HAUNTING. That movie set the stage for haunted house films. The great thing is that this movie tips its hat to that film in the extras. This is not to say that his film doesn't deserve great rewards though. It stands out as an amazing movie in the genre, filled with enough scares to haunt your dreams and enough great moments to deserve a spot in the horror hall of fame.

If you've never seen the movie this is your chance. Shout Factory has gone out of their way to present the film in all of its eerie glory with a transfer that doesn't overly clean up the print but allows it to retain that fog shrouded walk to the house as it was first seen and presents it much as I recall seeing it that first time as a second billed film at the drive in. Too bad they didn't realize that the better film that night was this one, so good that I can't even recall what the first movie was after all these years.

The story takes place in the Belasco house, a home said to contain the most evil of spirits. The current owner employs Dr. Barrett (Clive Revill) to give him conclusive proof that there is or is not life after death. To do so he gives him one week inside the house with all expenses to get his equipment there. He also insists that a select team accompany Barrett including a psychic named Florence Tanner (Pamela Franklin) and the only survivor of a previous effort to the house, Benjamin Fischer (Roddy McDowell). If they make it through the week and return with the answers he seeks, each will be paid handsomely.

Joining the group is Barrett's wife Ann (Gayle Hunnicutt). While Barrett thinks she should sit this one out, she insists on accompanying him to help. As the four enter the grounds of the house the surrounding area is covered with fog. Opening the door they find the area prepped for them already with electricity running and the house prepped with food and needed supplies.

Once they settle in they have a séance. During this whatever spirit resides in the house manifests itself through Florence, first with ectoplasm emanating from her fingertips and then speaking through her. Warned to leave they fail to follow the advice of the spirit and things go from bad to worse.

Through the first part of the film Fischer stands or sits tentatively saying very little, choosing his words carefully. Eventually he tells them the story of what happened before and how he was fortunate enough to survive. Through it all Barrett disbelieves the existence of a malevolent spirit, a man of science who believes this is nothing more than trapped energy within the house. But Fischer and Florence try to tell him that there is more here than energy, a presence that once lived here is at work. Florence believes it to be someone in need of help. Fischer knows it is something more, something that is pure evil.

That should be enough story to set up what you will experience when watching this movie. More happens, trust me, some of it frightening and much of it thought provoking. For being made in 1973 the effects are quite well done and the movie, much like THE HAUNTING, doesn't overly rely on the effects to frighten or move the story forward. Instead it lets the actors move about freely in their characters with each ones quirks and beliefs as they are manipulated by the spirits that haunt this mansion, evil spirits that are not fully revealed until the end.

Based on the novel by the late Richard Matheson, the movie tones down much of what the book contained. The amount of sexual depravity the book's Belasco brought in to the house is extremely lowered and yet the film contains enough hints at this and that to make you realize how depraved he truly was. While watching I felt that it had enough of that part of the story to make the movie not one for young impressionable children and yet at the same time not enough to offend sensitive adults. . It retains enough of the story to make it a truly scary film.

At the same time you must consider that this film was made in the seventies. Had it been made today I'm certain that there would be gratuitous amounts of nudity and debauchery witnessed on screen. Perhaps the fact that it isn't included here makes this film better. Rather than rely on the latest hot actress with the newest implants this movie focuses instead on the actual haunting going on and the effect it has on these four and that's what makes it both believable and frightening.

For fans of the film the extras are limited but good ones worth paying attention to. Included is, of course, the original theatrical trailer. But you also have an audio track during the film done by Franklin which gives some insight into the process of making the movie and an interview with director John Hough that is filled with some wonderful information as well. Once again Scream/Shout Factory has done a tremendous job in bringing to life a movie that got a lackluster release prior to this one, a first time blu-ray edition. For movie fans and horror fans alike, this one is worth adding to your collection.

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GINGER SNAPS: MOVIE AS METAPHOR

Movies as metaphors (that is a movie whose plot discusses a topic while not exactly using the original idea as the plot) work either extremely well or fall flat on their face. I can't recall a movie as metaphor ever just sort of working. When they fail they do so miserably. When they succeed they just make the movie that much better. Such is the case with GINGER SNAPS.

While most teen movies discuss the problems they all face (i.e. acne, dating, peer pressure) it is rare that they discuss things like puberty, especially the monthly changes that women experience. Sure it was touched on in CARRIE but never to the degree that it gets in this film. And here it combines the literal changes right beside the metaphorical ones.

Brigitte (Emily Perkins) and Ginger (Katherine Isabelle) are two awkward sisters, outcast among the teens in their school. Obsessed with their kinship, given to that dark and brooding teen sensibility and a fascination with death, the two have made a pact to die together at 16. Ginger is there, Brigitte is a year away.

One night when they sneak out of the house, they are attacked by something that has been killing animals in their neighborhood. It turns out the creature that attacks them is a werewolf and while Brigitte survives intact, Ginger has shredded limbs and bite marks. As they run to escape the attacking werewolf they cross a street in front of a van that smashes the werewolf.

Returning home they notice immediately that Ginger's wounds have already begun to heel themselves. As the days progress more changes in Ginger become apparent: a sense of empowerment, a confidence that was lacking before, an aggressive nature against the bully that constantly taunted Brigitte and a certain amount of sexual appetite heretofore unseen. Unaware of most of the changes their mother (Mimi Rogers) explains it all as her daughter "becoming a woman". But Brigitte knows the truth of the matter.

As the bond between sisters begins to weaken while Ginger slowly changes, Brigitte finds a friend in Sam (Kris Lemche), a weed selling greenhouse owner whose van was the vehicle that killed the werewolf. He wants to know exactly what it was he killed and a picture Brigitte dropped has given him a clue. Their friendship grows while the sister's bond lessens, all in the hopes of finding a cure for Ginger before it is too late.

All of this is the meat and potatoes of the story but it is the garnish that makes this film work on all levels. The usual werewolf concepts are turned on their head in some cases and explored by the sisters in their search for a cure. An incredible amount of humor is mixed with the cautionary tale here that works so well that you find yourself fearful one moment and laughing in the next. Not since SHALLOW HAL has a tail garnered this much screen time. All of it jells to make a movie that is both frightening and fun at the same time.

Isabelle's performance here as the changing Ginger is wonderful as she transforms not from human to monster but from backwards semi-Goth to high school temptress. It's not just the make up and appearance that makes the change work so well it's the performance combined with that.

Equally up to the challenge is Perkins as the backwards Brigitte. The make up department had to work equally well to give her a plain Jane look, not quite homely but an appearance that doesn't give her a chance to stand out. Here too if it were not for the performance she offers the make up would not have worked.

I remember seeing this long ago when it first came out and not thinking much of it. I'm glad I had the chance to revisit this film. I found myself captivated by the movie drawn into the story and enjoying it much more than I did the first time around. Scream Factory has outdone themselves with the quality of the movie, offering a clean yet not overly done print that surpasses any offered before. The extras give us a glimpse into what the director, writer and crew were attempting here (and succeeding at) and are as enjoyable as the movie. In the end this is one to add to any growing horror fan collection and worth watching for all others. You won't be sorry you did so. Now it's time to see if Scream Factory will do the same with the sequel.

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HEAVEN IS FOR REAL: THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE

I'll be up front with this review in stating that I am a Christian and do believe. Knowing that will give you the opportunity to know where I am coming from in what I choose to say about HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, the movie based on the best selling book. That being said know that the answer to the question is Heaven real or not isn't exactly spelled out for you in this film. Instead it allows you to come to your own conclusion. Believers will believe and doubters will continue to doubt. I just hope rather than walking in without an open mind you consider the possibility.

The story revolves around the Burpo family. Todd (Greg Kinnear) is a hard working father of two and a minister in a local church. Sonja (Kelly Reilly) is his ever loving wife. Their children are Cassie (Lane Styles) and Colton (Connor Corum). The family has the normal trials and tribulations that all families seem to have except that they seem to have more of them lately. The one that changes their lives though is when Colton takes ill.

It turns out he had a burst appendix and they may not have gotten him to the hospital in time. While Sonja calls church members to send out a prayer request, Todd retires to the hospital chapel where he raises his voice in anger at God. When all is said and done, Colton makes it through surgery and is fine. But he has something a little extra.

It seems that while Colton was undergoing surgery he says that he heard angels singing and followed them into their church. Instead of the normal building he entered Heaven where he met with Jesus who set him on his lap and talked with him before showing him around. Todd is fascinated by Colton's story. Unlike most he believes there is some truth in it. Why? Because Colton tells him he saw his mother sending out the phone call for prayer and he saw his father yelling at God.

The film then follows the quest of answers that this poses for Todd. While he's been a wonderful minister and done well with his parish, increasing attendance, he begins to question his own faith. He looks back at the words he's preached week after week and begins to wonder if he truly believed all that he said. But is it really a question of faith? What Colton tells him makes him believe more deeply in God. What it also does is make him realize that there was some pride involved in his preaching, some bit of himself that made the words more superficial than real to him. Just how Colton's visit to Heaven affects not just his father but the entire congregation makes for a fascinating movie.

It is also a movie that is sure to spark controversy among believers and non-believers alike. Some may think this is the story of a young toddler with an over active imagination. Others will consider it a blessing in the guise of a child's observation of what lies beyond. Until we pass on we will never know the definitive answer to the question posed by this film. For those who believe faith is enough to know that it's real.

The movie is extremely well made with some of the most gorgeous scenery captured on film in recent years. It moves along at a steady pace, never becoming boring or slow but revealing the story in a way that holds your interest from beginning to end. Each and every performance meets what I consider the markings of the best. That is that at no time do you ever think that what you are seeing is actors acting. Instead you believe that each is the character they portray. The movie will touch you like few movies do these days.

Perhaps the saddest thing about this movie is the backlash it and the book have already received. Interestingly enough those who do not believe in faith seem to be much more vocal than those who have it. They claim anyone with faith is intolerant while ranting about how those with faith should be silenced. Those who do not believe have accused this story of being fabricated by a con artist of a minister intent on telling tall tales rather than a man offering proof of his faith as seen through the eyes of his child. I often wonder why it is those who do not believe feel the need to attempt to take down those who do.

In the end I will say again that your own personal beliefs will in no doubt affect the way you view this movie. There is also the chance that for those who do not believe it might make you at least consider the possibility that there is indeed a Heaven. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone could at least consider that notion? For me I'll continue to believe. And once in a while I'll pull this movie down off the shelf and watch it again for a bit of renewal when needed. It's worth adding to your collection and watching more than once.

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