BREAKING GLASS SEEKS VENGEANCE THIS HALLOWEEN WITH THE TORMENTING

THE TORMENTING

Supernatural Revenge Thriller’s North American

DVD/VOD Release October 31st

Label: Breaking Glass 
Release Date: October 31st 2017 
Duration: 91 Minutes 
Rating: NR
Language: English
Cast: Laura Mitchell, Steven Baran, Eric Schweig, Gemma Martini
Director: Jaspreet Kaur

Breaking Glass Pictures has acquired North American rights to the Canadian horror film THE TORMENTING. Breaking Glass acquired rights to the film in August in a deal negotiated between Breaking Glass CEO Rich Wolff and Brian Sweet of APL Films.

THE TORMENTING premiered and won three awards during the Sutter Creek International Film Festival, and went on to play the Rio Grande Film Festival, the Indie Fest Film Festival where it won the Award of Merit, and the Female Eye Film Festival. The film stars Laura Mitchell (October Kiss, The Unauthorized Full House Story), Steve Baran (Five Minute Rush, "Supernatural"), and Eric Schweig (The Last of the Mohicans, “Blackstone”, The Missing). THE TORMENTING is directed by Jaspreet Kaur, and proudly produced by Prabhjot Bhangu and JJ Productions.

Amy is a medical researcher with ambitions to open her own health care facility. After visiting a property up for sale, she begins to experience tormenting supernatural visions of a young girl who experienced a horrific death. Amy's life takes a turn when she begins to piece together glimpses of the girl’s last living moments, and starts to understand the spirit’s plea for help to cross over. Seeking a detective’s assistance, Amy becomes determined to seek justice for the girl’s death and bring her soul to peace—even at the risk of being perceived as insane by those close to her.

“It’s a real struggle to be a female in the director’s chair within the horror genre”, said writer/director Jaspreet Kaur. “Many other females have directed horror genre films before, but people continue raising questions about a traditional woman being a filmmaker.”

“Newcomer Jaspreet Kaur has crafted an interesting, female-centric ghost story that was inspired by a true story about a missing girl”, said Richard Ross, co-president of Breaking Glass Pictures. “It is wonderfully atmospheric, with good performances, and an above average amount of scares!”

Starting October 31t, THE TORMENTING will be available to buy/rent on the following platforms: iTunes, Amazon Instant, Google Play, Xbox, Vudu, and On Demand through your local cable provider.

DVD Review: JUNK (2012)

JUNK (2014) 

Label: Breaking Glass Pictures

Duration: 104 Minutes

Rating: Unrated

Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0

Video: Anamoprhic Widescreen 

Director: Kevin Hamedani

Cast: Kevin Hamedani, Ramon Isao, Brett Davern

Indie film makers Kaveh (Kevin Hamedaniwere) and Raul (Ramon Isao) were once the best of friends but after a falling out are estranged. Kaveh's girlfriend has dumped him and Raul is off doing his own things at Columbia University, a runion doesn't seem likely but when their action-comedy ISLAMA-RAMA 2: MOUSTAFA LIVES is accepted at the Outsider Film Festival in Seattle they're forced to patch things up in order to promote their movie and pitch a script to legendary b-movie producer Yukio Tai (James Hong, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA). 

Let me just start off by saying I have not see ZOMBIES OF MASS DESTRUCTION so I came into this with some hesitation. I wouldn't say I am anti-weed comedy but the marijuana leaf on the cover sort of put me on guard and went in expecting straight-up stoner stupidity... and there was a bit of that but there's a lot more to it. I loved the interactions of the reunited friends. Kaveh's a bit of an emotional mess and a stoner who's definitely not over his ex quite yet. Raul is in a different place, happily in a relationship but he's a bit embarrassed by his involvement with ISLAMA-RAMA 2. Oppositely Kaveh's just excited to be at a festival promoting  one of his films and he thinks his friend has become a bit of a snob after being enrolled in an ivy league writing program. 

The duo have a great rapport which comes of very natural and playful with some moments of personal pain and humor - pretty sure these guys are probably longtime friends in reality and it shows onscreen. The film is also a send-up of indie filmmaking, the festival circuit and pitching movie ideas and that's the part I enjoyed the most. They're goal is to pitch a pro-life zombie western to schlock producer Yukio Tai but they have competition from another pair of arthouse filmmakers who have a weird Jodorowsky meets Kafka idea of their own. Along they way we get to see visualizations of their pitch for a CHUCKY sequel which is hilarious, I love the movie-within-a-movie moments.

we also have a fun cast of side characters including a festival liaison who throughout the film transforms from straight laced super-Christian into a sex-crazed hipster. There's an ego maniacal actor who betrays his friend in a very cutting way and a host of bodyguards who are a bit upset when the duo attempt to sneak into the producers penthouse, which doesn't go quite as planned. My favorite parts were the clips from ISLAMA-RAMA 2 and the CHUCKY sequel and the extreme lengths indie filmmakers will go to pitch their ideas. These guys obviously love genre film and it shows throughout, a very smart and honestly entertaining watch. . 

The DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures looks pretty decent - the image isn't the most stable or consistent but for a low-budget production it has a nice sheen to it. The stereo audio is pretty clean and the OK GO performances sound very nice. There's a feature length commentary from the filmmakers, a brief making of featurette and nearly an hour of deleted and extended scene plus trailers. 

Special Features:

- Audio Commentary by writer/director Kevin Hamedani, co-writer/actor Ramon Isao, and actor Brett Davern
- Deleted Scenes (52:47)
- Making of Junk featurette (8:51)
- 2 OK Go music Videos (6:24) 
- Trailer (2:38) 
- Breaking Glass Trailers

Verdict: An entertaining satire of low-budget fimmaking/writing with some fun movie-within-a-movie moments and if that's not enough there's also a very small appearance by TROLL 2 star George Hardy! 3 Outta 5 

DVD REVIEW: Let Me Die Quietly (2009)

LET ME DIE QUIETLY (2009)

Release Date: On DVD January 4th 2011

DISTRIBUTOR: Breaking Glass Pictures
RATED: Unrated
GENRE: Neo-Noir, Thriller
DURATION: 95 Min.
DIRECTOR: Mitchel Reichler, Brian Michael Finn
CAST: Charles Casillo (Milo), Dana Perry (Gabrielle), Ian Thomaschik (Dr. Avery), Paul Coughlan (Det. Devlin), Ian MacRae (Nick)
TAGLINE: What he sees can kill you.

PLOT: Mario is a haunted, broken-broken-down man who's been tortured by visions of violent murders all his life. Now, as his visions intensify he senses his own impending death. Mario sets out to save the life of the last victim in his final premonitions. Then, he has a chance encounter in an elevator with a beautiful woman, Gabrielle, who herself is psychic and seeing different aspects of the same murder. These two lost souls join forces in an attempt to stop a serial killer, but, in their quest, they may end up leading each other down a path of self-destruction.
 
FILM: Let Me Die Quietly (2009) is the indie neo-noir thriller from directors Mitchell Reichler and Brian Michael Finn and penned by writer/actor Charles Casillo who stars in the film as Mario. His story is revealed in flashbacks as he confesses to a priest. The tale he weaves begins as he recounts his sexual proclivities, his visions of death that have haunted him from youth and the chance encounter with a gorgeous woman named Gabrielle (Dana Perry) who leads him down the destructive path that leads to the film's suspenseful final moments. 
 

The New York City depicted in Let Me Die Quietly feels small and claustrophobic, more a neighborhood and a sprawling metropolis. Mario is a man at his ropes end, his sanity frayed and unraveling quickly. It's a powerful performance from Charles Casillo who recalls a younger Brian Benben (HBO's DREAM ON series), it's a nuanced performance steeped in noir tradition, good stuff and a definite high point of the film. After years of haunting visions and an increased sense of his own mortality he chooses to intervene on behalf of the victim in his current vision which leads him to the chance encounter with Gabrielle (Dana Perry) another psychic who shares his visions, though from a different perspective. She's a mysterious and alluring character, but this is a noir so you know an attractive woman is not to be trusted. Mario also confides his visions to his therapist - Dr. Avery (Ian Tomaschik), but the guy just seems sinister from the get-go (this is a noir after all) who plays heavily into the layered storyline. Also figuring into the story is Det. Devlin who Mario approaches with his visions which make him a suspect right away when he reveals crime scene evidence not made public. Great interplay between the character and when the double crossing begins it only get better.  

The film is heavy on noir atmosphere, no small feat considering the film's surely tiny budget. The overall effect is greatly enhanced by Isaac Rodrigonzalez's haunting score which accentuated the films sleepy noir pace. Be forewarned though, the film is a slow burn. I started the film twice before settling in to it's relaxed and deliberate pace - but when the film starts to unfold and reveal its twisty self it's truly captivating stuff. One aspect of the film that felt untrue to me is a characters change in sexual orientation. Perhaps I missed something but I felt it was too convenient, I think a re-watch is on order here. Anyway, in the grand scheme of things it didn't ruin the film for me.  


DVD: Let Me Die Quietly is presented in a 16x9 aspect ratio with stereo audio and looks  decent. Definitely shot digitally and on a micro-budget but its stylish in a way that suits the neo-noir thriller atmosphere.  This was a screener of the film from Breaking Glass Pictures and the image was a bit flawed owing more to the fact that it was a ripped screener than anything else. My copy included none of the special features but should you buy the DVD here's what you get.
 
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Interview with writer/actor Charles Casillo on the Making Of LET ME DIE QUIETLY
- Video of the Los Angeles Premiere
- Theatrical Trailer

VERDICT:  A solid and suspenseful  indie entry into the neo-noir genre. Good performances all around, Casillo and Perry particularly, with a script that weaves a tangled web of deceit and betrayal leading to a twisty and satisfying finale. If you are fan of  noir thrillers and don't  mind some sexual exploration which may step outside your comfort level this is a recommend. Keep in mind this is an elaborate thriller not a horror film, as such gorehounds may be sorely disappointed if expecting otherwise. So, keep an open-mind and don't expect a ton of bloodshed and I think you'll find there's a lot to enjoy here.
*** (3 out of 5 stars)
-McBASTARD  

DVD REVIEW: Ticked-Off Trannies with Knives (2010)

TICKED-OFF TRANNIES WITH KNIVES (2010)

STUDIO: Breaking Glass Pictures
YEAR: 2010
REGION: 1
RATED: Unrated
GENRE: Exploitation, Revenge-Thriller
RUNNING TIME: 90 Min.
DIRECTOR: Israel Luna

PLOT: When the innocent and likable Bubbles Cliquot shows up for her nightly stage performance with a black eye, her transgender sisters suspect foul play from her latest boy toy. In an attempt to get Bubbles back to her bubbly self, the girls take her out for a relaxed night of cocktails at a local gay bar. After a few drinks, the ladies’ troubles seem far away, and Bubbles’ friends Emma Grashun and Rachel Slurr convince her to join them for a triple date with a pair of charming boys. Sadly, not even three tough-as-nails vixens could be prepared for the ambush that comes next. It turns out the blind date is set up by Boner, the baseball-bat-wielding, tranny-hating rapist who gave Bubbles her shiner. After luring them into an abandoned warehouse, Boner and his two beefy minions unleash all their hatred on the unsuspecting ladies, leaving them bashed and bruised, but not broken. After waking from her coma, Bubbles enlists the aid of her friends – the sharp-tongued Rachel and the fiercely protective Pinky La’Trimm – to bring her attackers to bloody justice.The ladies get in touch with their inner Zen before arming up with an assortment of bladed weapons and dressing in their finest dominatrix gear (if their knives don’t kill, their looks surely will). Not even a man as psychotic as Boner could imagine the well crafted and ingeniously planned bloodbath that ensues. (from breakinglasspictures.com)

FILM: With a name like TICKED-OFF TRANNIES WITH KNIVES it's gotta be good, right? Enter a new sub-genre of exploitation cinema - TRANSPLOITATION. The film begins as we meet tranny go-go dancer BubbleCliquot (Krystal Summers) and her transgender friends, all of whom have awesome stage name: Rachel Slurr, Pinky La'Trimm, Tipper Somore, Emma Grashun, fun stuff. They're a group of fun living trannies who are out to just have a  night out on the town but all that abruptly comes to an end when they're confronted by a murderous trio of homophobes lead by Boner (Tom Zembrod). From this point the film is a throwback to the  70's-era rape/revenge-thrillers not unlike I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE (1978) or LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (1972) ...only with trannies.

There's some Tarantino influence fully on display with plenty of tasty dialogue as well as a strong John Waters influence. The films is heavy on campy humor including a bit of a tribute to the infamous 70's porn DEEP THROAT that takes place at a hospital when Dr. Phil Latio arrives on scene delivering some deliciously lewd puns, fun stuff and obviously a film with it's tongue planted firmly in cheek.

Fun though it may be don't forget this a revenge thriller and there's a nasty bit o' violence perpetrated against this fun loving bunch of trannies. While most of it takes place off screen it is well shot and you feel it. I think the final third of the film is a bit weak when compared to what came before it mostly because the tone feels off when trying to transition from campy comedy and taking some well-deserved revenge against the perpetrators. The story feels a bit threadbare but when one comes to a film titled TICKED-OFF TRANNIES WITH KNIVES what do you expect!

DVD: TICKED-OFF TRANNIES WITH KNIVES (2010) comes to DVD by way of BREAKING GLASS PICTURES. The film is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with 2.0 stereo audio. Ticked-Off Trannies with Knives is a good looking indie feature with a vibrant color palate, it's been digitally manipulated to give it the grindhouse look of a well-worn print similar to PLANET TERROR (2007) - missing reels, artificial print damage, scratchy audio - you know, that old chestnut. I was sent is a screener of the film that contained none of the special features which appear on the final DVD which was a damn shame as after viewing the film I had questions.

Special Features:
- Bloopers
- Nacho and Chuey Show
- Chapter 4: The Red Pen
- Behind The Scenes Featurette
- Commentary with Director Israel Luna and Stars Willam Belli and Krystal Summers

VERDICT: A fun, campy and excessive film that sends-up the revenge-thriller exploitation flicks of the 70's/80's and is mostly successful. I think film is definitely front-loaded and the final act of the film drags on a bit but still a tasty b-movie blast. The DVD is available now from Breaking Glass Pictures.
 *** (3 out of 5 stars)

- McBASTARD