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Stars: Barry Sullivan, Norma Bengell, Ivan Rassimov, Ángel Aranda, Evi Marandi, Franco Andrei, Federico Boido, Mario Morales | Written by Ib Melchior, Alberto Bevilacqua, Callisto Cosulich, Mario Bava, Antonio Roman, Rafael J. Salvia | Directed by Mario Bava

Mario Bava, often celebrated as a master of Gothic horror and Italian genre cinema, brought to life a diverse array of films that showcased his visual ingenuity and flair for mood and atmosphere. Planet of the Vampires, a standout entry in the realm of science fiction horror, epitomizes Bava’s commitment to stylistic audacity and thematic exploration. This review examines how this film fits into and enriches Bava’s oeuvre, highlighting the characteristics that align with his broader body of work.

Bava’s films are renowned for their distinctive visual style, characterized by deep chiaroscuro lighting, saturated colour palettes, and intricate set designs. Planet of the Vampires is no exception, showcasing these traits within the context of a futuristic,...

Spaghetti Western classics like "A Sky Full of Stars for a Roof" and "The Great Silence" have cold, intense opening scenes. "Django Unchained" and "A Fistful of Dollars" feature dramatic desert action sequences setting the tone for the films. Films like "Unforgiven" and "Rio Bravo" showcase how opening scenes can foreshadow the intensity and grit of Western movies.

Some Western films are renowned for having excellent opening sequences that lead into a great movie, but a few movies are considered the best right from the first moments. From a musical number featuring singer Tex Ritter to a epic shootout on a stagecoach, there is no shortage of action in the opening sequence of a Western. Many of these films also featured classic Western stars such as John Wayne or Clint Eastwood, adding to the mythos of the genre.

Every Western is different, and no two opening sequences are alike, which...

Chicago – “Disconnect” is a punch in the gut, the backlash of our current technology, and a film that could have happened yesterday. It is a trenchant cautionary tale, warning us about the excesses of every blinking screen and “smart” device that supposedly is making our lives easier, but can just as easily become instruments of destructive. It is about how we live now.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Three intertwining stories about cyber-attacks and online consequences are passionately written and acted. Jason Bateman, for example, takes a break from his smarmy guy character to portray a distant father that learns a harsh lesson about that distance, and creates an empathy that displays surprising dramatic chops. When living within our cyber-selves, the theme of the film becomes about the “disconnect” that is created, in conflict with our real selves. It asks the questions about who we are when hidden behind the digital screens, and what...

Los Angeles -- It's a given at multiplexes these days that despite switch-off-your-cell-phone announcements and the occasional grumbling protest, whatever's onscreen will have to compete with tiny pockets of light from audience members unable to stay off their handhelds. Watching those glow patches come and go during "Disconnect" reinforces the film's position on how desensitized we've become to these technological intrusions. Not that Henry-Alex Rubin's schematic multi-strand drama is at all shy about articulating its themes.

Directing his first narrative feature, documentary-maker Rubin ("Murderball") has assembled a solid cast and weaves together the three interconnected stories of Andrew Stern's original screenplay with elegance and efficiency. But this is a film that voices its warning about the hazards of a wired existence with solemn self-importance. It's also quite late in the day to be pointing out that we're so plugged into our devices we often fail to see or...

Comic Con 2009 is announcing the premiere of "The Diabolikal Super-Kriminal" at the San Diego Conference Centre. The film will show in theatres, for the first time in the United States, on the 25 of July at 8:45. From Europe the documentary dramatizes the appearance of "super-villains rather than superheroes" with a juxtaposition on the American cartoonist's focus on protagonists. As well, straight from Europe Mort Todd, the producer of the film, will be on hand to talk about "The Diabolikal Super-Kriminal" while promoting his new web animated series. Have a look at cast and crew information with a preview of the film inside.

The synopsis for "The Diabolikal Super-Kriminal" here...

"A documentary on the controversial 1960s Italian photo novels known as Killing, aka Satanik in France and Sadistik in America. Also the basis for the Turkish cult film series shot as Kilink. Includes interviews with the original actors who were familiar faces from spaghetti westerns,...