On the list you’ll also find a couple of schlocky monster movies, one a double-feature of classic Gamera entries and the other from the Syfy channel featuring Sharktopus (a sea creature that is both a shark and an octopus) with an over-acting Eric Roberts. In addition Syfy is releasing its mockbuster Battle of Los Angeles to take advantage of the current Aliens-Invading-Los-Angeles craze.
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Starring Matt Damon, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jay Mohr, Cécile de France, Frankie McLaren, George McLaren
George is a blue-collar American with a special connection to the afterlife dating from his childhood. French journalist Marie has a near-death experience that shakes her reality. And when London schoolboy Marcus loses the person closest to him, he desperately needs answers. Each seeking the truth, their lives will intersect, forever changed by what they believe might – or must – exist in the hereafter.
Buy the Blu-ray or the regular DVD.
Directed by Mach Fumiake, Yaeko Kojima, Yoko Komatsu
Starring Noriaki Yuasa
From Shout! Factory come the final two films in the illustrious Gamera franchise: Gamera Vs. Zigra and Gamera: Super Monster! Witness twice the excitement as Gamera takes on the malevolent underwater alien creature Zigra and then revisits each of his deadliest foes one by one while trying to save the world! Both films feature newly remastered transfers in their original Japanese language as well as English dubs!
Buy the DVD.
Directed by Mark Atkins
Starring Kel Mitchell, Nia Peeples, Theresa Jun-Tao
In February, 1942, US forces engaged an unidentified flying object above Los Angeles. Now, almost 70 years later, the alien invaders have returned. Battle of Los Angeles was written and directed by Mark Atkins, the maker of such other Asylum offerings as Princess of Mars and Merlin and the War of the Dragons. Atkins informed me in an email a short while back that certain sequences will employ a mix of comic book style action and cinema-verite sequences and to expect more than one variety of extraterrestrial invader.
Buy the Blu-ray or the regular DVD.
Directed by Declan O’Brien
Starring Eric Roberts, Kerem Bursin, Sara Malakul Lane, Ralph Garman, Shandi Finnessey, and Sharktopus
It is known as S-11, a diabolical hybrid of shark and octopus created by genetic scientist Nathan Sands as the U.S. Navy’s next super-weapon. But when its control implants are damaged during a training experiment, the beast escapes to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for a taste of sun, sand, bikini babes, jet-skiers, spring breakers and beyond. Now a hotshot mercenary, an investigative reporter, and Sand’s biomechanical engineer daughter must stop a creature like none ever witnessed before: It has superior intelligence. It attacks without warning. And it likes to snack on bungee jumpers. Check out the Blu-ray/DVD video clips.
Buy the Blu-ray or the regular DVD.
Directed by Ten Shimoyama
Starring Aya Sugimoto, Jun Kaname, Guts Ishimatsu, Kanji Tsuda
Police Detective Hoshino investigates the murder of a maid at a mansion belonging to Miyako Rozmberk, a seductive vampire mistress and “cougar” all in one. Ukyo Kuronuma, an Edo-era swordsman who was turned into a vampire by Miyako, is blamed for the crime, but before anything can be done about it, Hoshino ends up under Miyako’s spell as well. This leads Hoshino and Ukyo to battle one another for the privilege of staying with Miyako for eternity.
Buy the Blu-ray or the regular DVD.
Directed by Sage Bannick
Starring Bryan Kirkwood, Vanessa Zima, Denny Kirkwood, Yvonne Zima
The Absent centers on Vincent, a high school teacher forced to choose between career and a love affair with Katie, one of his students. The pressure mounts when his twin brother, Oscar, returns to town after serving 25 years in jail for killing their parents. One by one Katie’s friends disappear, prompting the local Sheriff to target Vincent as the number one suspect. Vincent knows his brother is involved, but is unable to catch him in the act until the final scene. By then it is too late. The hunter becomes the hunted.
Buy the DVD.
– KW Low