Posted on

John Travolta And Morgan Freeman Flick ‘The Poison Rose’ Hits Blu-Ray In June

It’s amazing to think John Travolta and Morgan Freeman haven’t shared a film together, but that has changed with The Poison Rose. Currently available On Demand, the feature hits Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital June 25 via Lionsgate. Plot and special features details are below!

 

Continue reading “John Travolta And Morgan Freeman Flick ‘The Poison Rose’ Hits Blu-Ray In June”

Posted on

‘Hemlock Grove’ Producer Eli Roth On Humor’s Effect on Storytelling

Hemlock Grove

Shows like Hemlock Grove, House of Cards, and Orange is the New Black is proof that Netflix is a creative powerhouse in the television medium. Streaming is gradually taking dominance over the tried and true remote control, as tablet users can touch, tap and binge watch their way through some of their favorite programs.

“Netflix is such a hot network,” says Roth, whose next film The Green Inferno comes out September 14. “They have been so wonderful. They are the place to be right now…it’s amazing how a year ago people didn’t really understand the concept of a show on Netflix but now everybody wants to get a show on there because it’s the place where you can have the most creative freedom and you can make the most cinematic television series.”

Click on the audio below to hear Roth and Famke Janssen offer up their thoughts on Netflix.

Bill Skarsgard in "Hemlock Grove" Season 2 - (Netflix, CR: Steve Wilkie)
Bill Skarsgard in “Hemlock Grove” Season 2 – (Netflix, CR: Steve Wilkie)

One of the strongest aspects of Eli Roth’s storytelling (Hostel, Cabin Fever) is his ability to mix humor amidst the horror, gore, and suspense that dominate his films (and Hemlock Grove). I asked him if there was a secret to balancing these different tones in his work, and he referenced filmmakers David Lynch (Twin Peaks, Eraserhead) and Stanley Kubrick in his answer.

Click on the media bar below to hear Eli Roth explain why humor, whether it’s found in Twin Peaks or Hemlock Grove, is an important aspect to a strong narrative.

Season 2 of Hemlock Grove, which co-stars Dougray Scott, Bill Skarsgard and Landon Liboiron,is now available for streaming on Netflix.
 

Posted on

‘Hemlock Grove’ Continues Cinematic Groove With Netflix

One of the many impressive facets of Hemlock Grove lies in its unique vision of a morally compromised universe filled with what some may describe as creatures of the night. But monsters, as well as humans, take shape in many different forms and sizes.

My favorite tag line for this year’s Hemlock Grove is that  “even demons have demons,” and most of the characters travel down a dark and unforgiving path in season two. Hemlock Grove’s new batch of episodes debuts on Netflix tomorrow (July 11), as Roman (Bill Skarsgard) and Peter’s (Landon Liboiron) mutual dislike of each other continues.

Netflix is one of the leaders in shaping how we digest film and television. The days of running home from work to catch your favorite show are over thanks to DVR and streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu. For Eli Roth, the changing landscape on how material is digested was one of his inspirations for shepherding Hemlock Grove’s development.

Madeline Brewer in “Hemlock Grove” (Netflix, CR: Facebook)

“It is the norm to binge watch,” said Roth. “That is how people are getting their shows. In fact, people are so used to watching multiple episodes of shows (that) they are waiting for three Games of Thrones episodes to air so they can watch them all in a row. (With Hemlock Grove), we wanted to make something special. We wanted to make something unique, and the fans really gave us a chance and embraced the show. It was a fantastic hit and we were lucky to get Emmy nominations. And we’re so excited to be back with season two.”

Chic Eglee (Dark Angel, Dexter, Murder One) is the new showrunner this season, which series star Famke Janssen accurately described as a “10 hour movie.” Featuring top notch production design and special effects, the show is also blessed with arresting visual work from cinematographer Fernando Argüelles. Roth also brought in a host of first rate filmmakers (Hesher’s Spencer Sussman and Cube’s Vincenzo Natali are among the players) to infuse their specified aesthetic for this season, giving the narrative an even deeper cinematic the second time around.

I asked Janssen and Roth about why Hemlock Grove doesn’t actually feel like a TV show but instead continues to expand its creative horizons. Click on the media bar below to hear their answer:

Will a rehabbing Olivia (Janssen) get son Roman (Skarsgard) back in her good graces, or is the damage too much to repair?  Are you set to binge watch the second season this weekend? Feel free to comment below!!