Shooting nowadays a genre movie in Italy is almost impossible. Producers are afraid of anything that is not your average comedy, drama or coming-of-age movie (or all three combined). Fortunately not everyone is thinking like that and that’s where Morituris comes into the game. But what is the movie about?

Here is the Press Release:

“Yes, there will be gladiators.” It’s one of the few confidences currently revealed about this new horror movie in production under the shade of Colosseum. Morituris is an italian indie horror project helmed by roman director Raffaele Picchio, currently in work in progress, that would blend violence of modern horror and a “ancient” genre like peplum. Few has been known of the plot but a statement concerning some historical references . “Rome. 73 B.C. .Spartacus leaded the rebellion of 200 gladiators which saw them opposed to the inhumanity in which Rome forced them. During the riot they stood for a long time against Roman soldiers. Few against a whole army. Some of them went crazy and started murders, rapes and violences. Spartacus punished them with death. But in that Lands, when blood get shed, they come back..."The first teaser posters and two really exploitation promotional teasers are available on the official site of the movie.

Well, that’s sound like something I would watch, but take a look a the trailers for yourself.
By the way, the special effects are created by Sergio Stivaletti (Phenomena, Opera, Demons) himself.
At least, it should be gory.

We have covered Senesi Michele’s Bumba Atomika since day one.
Read here, here, here and here.

Now the waiting seems nearly to be over and the first Trailer has appeared finally online.

Remember, this was shot on a shoe-string budget, but it looks really tasty. Check it out!

The Dude abides ...

Some interesting Festival News for all Buttgereit fans out there.

PesarHorrorFest, the International Festival of Horror Cinema and Literature that takes place in Pesaro (Italy) on August 21-26, 2007, is glad to announce that Jörg Buttgereit will be the special guest of the 4th edition. On the occasion of the 20th anniversay of his cult-movie Nekromantik (1987), a special section of the Festival, called Omaggio di sangue, will be dedicated to him and offer the opportunity to go deep into the poetics of the eccentric director, through the presentation of his whole cinematographic work, from the first shorts to all his feature length movies, music videoc, tv products, unpublished works, etc.
Buttgereit is a cult director since the late eighties and considered in several countries, from the U.S. to Japan, the leader of Germany’s underground scene. Opposed in his own country, at the same time he is celebrated by the rest of the world for his overstepping of all moralistic bounds.

Meanwhile the first short movies are already arriving at the organizing secretariat for the competition Il ritorno dei corti viventi; it is possible to download the competition announcement at the PesarHorrorFest Website.
The expiry date to send the shorts is July 7, 2007; the best works will be shown during the event and compete for the prizes awarded by the audience and a qualified jury.

For More infos you can check the Festival’s Website PesarHorrorFest Website, or the following numbers:
tel (+39) 338 1883137
fax (+39) 0721 455681
or send an e-mail to

The Dude abides ...

Ok, here we are again. The first titles of Udine’s Far East Film Festival are popping up and they are very tasty.

First of all, there will be a complete Patrick Tam Retrospective, including all of his made-for-TV movies. That is, to say the least, a total blast.

Besides the Retrospective, the first japanese titles to be announced are Sinking of Japan (Nihon chinbotsu, 2005) by Shinji Higuchi [read about it here], Memories of Matsuko (Kiraware Matsuko no isshô, 2006) by Tetsuya Nakashima [here and here], Nana 2 (2006) by Kentarô Ôtani [read here], Umizaru 2: Test of Trust (2006) by Eiichiro Hasumi and Arch Angels (Warau Mikaeru, 2006) by Issei Oda [read here].

From the Phillipines there will be the new Joyce Bernal movie Agent X44 (2007) and from Hong Kong a movie we talked a lot about on Twitch, Soi Cheang’s Dog Bite Dog (2006) [take a look at logboy’s review here].

Hopefully the complete line-up will be announced in the next few weeks.

Here is the Variety announcement:

HONG KONG – The Udine festival of Far East Film, to be held in Italy 20-28 April, will hold a tribute to Hong Kong ‘new wave’ director Patrick Tam.
Fest, now in its ninth frame, will feature a total of 60 films from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines, Japan, Singapore and Thailand. Titles unveiled so far include “Nana 2,” Sinking of Japan” and “Umizaru 2.”
Tam, who returned to helming last year with the slowburn “After This Our Exile,” is noted for his realism and experimentation with genres. His entire movie oeuvre is to be shown at Udine ranging from “The Sword” through “Nomad,” to erotic noir “Burning Show.” Fest will also screen a selection of his 20 made-for-TV movies.

Far East Film Festival Website

The Dude abides …

If, like me, you have trouble remembering names and faces of all the actors and actresses from your beloved Hong Kong Movies, here is the right website for you.

Hk.faces went online just some days ago and they are slowly building up their archive.
Take a look, it may be helpful.

The Dude abides ...

HKfaces website