Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Well folks, 2023 is almost over and what a busy and productive year it has been here at Road Rash Headquarters. Christmastime has rolled around again and it’s time for the gift guide. As always, we’ve had lots and lots of fabulous releases to review and we are happy to present our favourites.
Whether you are looking for an epic box set or a stocking filler, there’s something in here for everybody. Pull on your best santa hat and Christmas jumper and let’s dive in.
Let’s start with some streaming festive cheer and a wholesome Norwegian horror film, There’s Something in the Barn, as well as a traditional and cosy British festive film, Christmas at the Holly Day Inn.
4 star strangely wholesome Christmas horror film.
There’s Something in the Barn is a 2023 American/Norwegian comedy/horror film directed by Magnus Martens (SAS: Red Notice) and with a screenplay by Aleksander Kirkwood Brown (Clue: Maltesergåten).
It will be in UK cinemas and available on Digital Download from 1st December 2023, courtesy of Vertigo Releasing.
“It’s like, in Norway, we learn early that...more
3 star very British festive romance.
Christmas at the Holly Day Inn is a 2023 British romcom, written by Lisa Chapman (Heart of a Champion) and directed by Adam Wilson (Crawl to Me Darling) and Monika Gergelova who makes her feature directorial debut.
It will be available to stream on UK Digital from 6th November 2023 courtesy of 101 films.
“At least stay...more
For the horror fan in your life there have been some excellent offerings this year. We have had two amazing remastered box sets, Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment and The Psycho Collection, a classic horror, The Others and an excellent new film, The Jester.
5 star restoration of a delightfully dark horror collection.
Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment is a fantastic box set, which features the first four films from the magnificent Hellraiser franchise based on the stories of horror legend Clive Barker (Nightbreed, Candyman).
This release features brand new 4K restorations of all four films and is available to own in the UK on Limited Edition...more
5 star celebration of a classic horror franchise.
The Psycho Collection brings together all four of the films from the franchise on 4K UHD for the first time.
In 1960, Alfred Hitchcock (Vertigo, North by North West) burst onto screens with the shocking and totally unexpected Psycho. It was an incredibly influential film, which defined a genre and changed the face of...more
4 star, great restoration of a classy supernatural horror.
The Others is a gothic supernatural horror film, originally released in 2001. It is written and directed by Alejandro Amenábar (The Sea Inside, Open Your Eyes) and is presented here following a 4K restoration courtesy of STUDIOCANAL.
STUDIOCANAL will release a new 4K Ultra HD™ Edition, Blu-ray and DVD on October 2nd 2023.
“You’ll...more
4 star gleefully gruesome horror film.
From the co-creator of the Blair Witch Project, The Jester is a 2023 American horror film written by Michael Sheffield who also stars and Colin Krawchuk, who makes his directorial feature debut with this innovative and scary horror film.
It is available on Blu-ray, DVD and Download-to-own from 8th January 2024 courtesy of Dazzler Media.
“It was...more
If martial arts is more your style, then hold on to your hats, because this year saw the epic release of Bruce Lee at Golden Harvest, as well as She Shoots Straight, The Skyhawk and Lady Reporter.
5 Star
The Ultimate Bruce Lee
Arrow Video bring us the legend that was Bruce Lee (The Green Hornet (TV Series), Batman (TV Series)) when he was at Golden Harvest Productions. From his first starring role in ‘The Big Boss’ through to ‘The Game of Death II’. All in glorious 4K UHD, packed with a plethora of special features (See Below). With...more
5 Star
Acrobatics, Kung Fu and Very Big Guns.
Co-written and directed and acted by Corey Yuen (The Transporter, Righting Wrongs) who has an extensive knowledge of martial arts, and he certainly gets the best out of his wards, in this female lead action masterpiece that has it all. She Shoots Straight is a must own for any Martial Arts fan, male...more
4 Star
Kung Fu fighter meets a Folk Hero
Once more, RRR gets to watch the skills of Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung, again portrayed by Tak-Hing Kwan (Three Films With Sammo Hung, Once Upon A Time In China Trilogy, Iron Monkey, DREADNAUGHT) who shows off his skills as a physician and famed martial artist. Directed by Chang-hwa Jeong (Five Fingers of...more
4 Star
High kicks in Skirts
Actor/director Hoi Mang (YES, MADAM! aka. POLICE ASSASSINS, Zu Warriors From the Magic Mountain) stars alongside female martial artist star of the time, the sensational Cynthia Rothrock (In Search of the Last Action Heroes, Honor and Glory). With her speed and agility, this film certainly entertains.
America is being flooded with counterfeit money, and now the FBI...more
For the sci-fi enthusiast, there have been a couple of excellent new releases this year, the epic Wandering Earth II and the crazy but brilliant Time Addicts.
4 star epic sci-fi extravaganza.
The Wandering Earth II is a 2023 Chinese science-fiction blockbuster. Rather confusingly given the title, it is the prequel to the highly successful 2019 film, The Wandering Earth, which is based on the novella of the same name by Liu Cixin (The Three-Body Problem).
The screenplay is written by Gong Ge’er and Frant Gwo (Homecoming, The Sacrifice),...more
4 Star
Take Your Time With this One.
For his first feature, Sam Odlum writes and directs the next stage in his Time Addicts short story, supported by the executive producer of The Babadook. It is obvious from watching Time Addicts that Sam Odlum has a very furtive imagination, and a bright future after this brilliant piece of black comedy – sci-fi...more
If you and your loved ones prefer to get your teeth into a riveting T.V. series, then you can’t go wrong with the fascinating Dark Winds and gothic horror Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire.
4 star thrilling intrigue on the reservation.
Dark Winds is a 2023 crime drama series created by Graham Roland (Mile 22, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan), based on the novel Listening Woman, from the Leaphorn and Chee novel series by Tony Hillerman. It is executive produced by George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones) and Oscar® winning actor Robert Redford. This season consists...more
4 Star
The Vampires are Coming Out.
It is Halloween time, and it is gothic horror time, and what a way to celebrate it with this new series of Anne Rice‘s Interview with a Vampire. The series is set in Rice’s (Mayfair Witches, The Vampire Chronicles) Immortal Universe (AMC), a shared setting with her other novels. This series concerns itself with the...more
2023 has been an exceptional year for documentaries, whether you like making-of stories with RoboDoc and Exorcist Untold, music with The Lost Weekend and Right Here Right Now, or extreme sport with Speed is Expensive: The Philip Vincent Story.
5 Star
RoboCop, an Untarnished Legend.
In 1981 the future of cinema going changed forever when Edward Neumeier (Starship Troopers, Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars) and Michael Miner (Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid) came up with the idea of RoboCop. With Orion and controversial director Paul Verhoeven (Hollow Man, Black Book) and a lot of blood, sweat and tears, cinematic...more
4 star fascinating 50th Anniversary film documentary.
The Exorcist Untold is a 2023 American documentary film, directed by Robin Bextor (Tales from the Tower, King Charles III). It is available on DVD and UK Digital Platforms from 11th December 2023, courtesy of Reel 2 Reel Films.
“As I said to a reporter earlier, the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble, they’re only...more
5 star emotional and revealing documentary.
The Lost Weekend: A Love Story is a 2023 documentary about the amazing and sadly missed John Lennon, directed by Eve Brandstein (This is Spinal Tap), Richard Kaufman and Stuart Samuels (RasTa:A Soul’s Journey).
It examines in depth the period of his life known as “The Lost Weekend”, a time when he famously had an affair...more
4 star
Memories of a pivotal moment in the UK music scene
Right Here, Right Now is a 2023 documentary, written and directed by Jack Hutchcraft, which tells the story of the infamous 2002 Big Beach Boutique gig in Brighton from various different perspectives.
It is available to buy in the UK on Blu-ray, DVD and Download-to-own from 30th October 2023 courtesy...more
5 Star
A Legacy of Sound and Speed.
First time writer/director, David Lancaster, brings us a slice of iconic British engineering combined with a deep throaty sound that makes a man of my age weep with joy. Yes, this is the documentary for any British motorcycle fan. Big pots, loud noise. Philip Conrad Vincent brought the World pure engineering brilliance, that still...more
If you like a bit of nostalgia then this has been a great year, with lots of remastered classics hitting the shelves. Some of our favourites were creature feature Tremors 2, very eighties sci-fi Time Bandits and Weird Science, an amazing box set of films from Empire International Pictures and the epic Waterworld.
4 Star
4K Evolution is in the Air.
What a way to come back with a bang, for this straight to video (Remember Them?) release back in 96. But a fan favourite deserves this 4K UHD release, as you get one-hundred minutes of pure monster fun. Directed by the original writer of Tremors, and some of the 80s-90s family favourite films, S.S....more
4 star restoration of a classic children’s adventure.
Time Bandits is a 1981 children’s film written by Michael Palin (Life of Brian, The Meaning of Life), who also stars and Terry Gilliam (12 Monkeys, The Fisher King), who also directs.
It is available to buy now in the UK on Limited Edition 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video.
“I can explain everything, Sir....more
4 Star
Teens, Desperation and Computer Science.
From the year that brought us such great films as Police Story, Fright Night, Enemy Mine, The Goonies, Commando. This 4K restoration of Weird Science is 1980s Geek heaven. Written and directed by John Hughes (The Breakfast Club, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), with pedigree like that you know you...more
5 star gloriously restored trip down memory lane.
If you pine for the good old days of heading down to your local Blockbuster store for a stack of eighties gems in huge plastic boxes then look no further than this box set from Arrow Video. All of the fun without any of the rewinding.
This release features five films from the catalogue...more
5 star restoration of an epic nineties adventure.
Waterworld is an American Post-apocalyptic action adventure film originally released in 1995. Written by Peter Rader (The Last Legion) and David Twohy (Pitch Black, The Fugitive), it is directed by Kevin Reynolds (The Count of Monte Cristo) and produced by Kevin Costner (Dances With Wolves) who also stars.
It is now available to buy...more
Lat and by no means least, here is a selection of the fantastic new releases from this year, with a great variety of genres and something to please every member of the family. For the action fans we have Mission Impossible: Day of Reckoning Part 1, John Wick Chapter 4, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and Jackie Chan’s Ride On. For comedy, look no further than the shocking and hilarious Cocaine Bear and for younger viewers, why not treat them to Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.
5 star adrenaline pumping action adventure blockbuster.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is a 2023 American action adventure film. It is the sequel to Mission: Impossible – Fallout and the seventh instalment in the highly successful Mission: Impossible franchise. It sees the return of writer Bruce Geller (Mission Impossible 1 – 6), alongside Erik Jendresen (Ithaca) and Christopher McQuarrie...more
5 Star
Gratuitous, Insane Violence.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, for once again pairing writer Derek Kolstad (Nobody, Die Hart) and martial artist director Chad Stahelski (The John Wick Quadrille) as they take on the story of the killer who will not tow the party line. Chapter four takes off after the events of Parabellum with John in hiding after taking...more
4 Star
Birth of Our Optimus Prime.
Another instalment in the franchise, this time it’s a prequel to the 2007 ‘Transformers’ film. Directed by Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II, The Land) who moves from shorts and TV to full length feature films, with this CGIfest, as Hasbro’s child is reborn, with new transforming aliens and a planet eating evil entity.
Unicron (Colman Domingo,...more
5 Star
A Touching Tribute to Stuntmen.
Written and directed by Larry Yang (Mountain Cry, My Other Home), a fan of action films and the one and only Jackie Chan (THE POLICE STORY TRILOGY, Wheels on Meals, THE LUCKY STARS 3-Film Collection), who has spent his life breaking bones, all for the love of action films and thrilling the cinema goers of...more
4 stars of outrageously funny creature feature/black comedy.
Cocaine Bear is a 2023 American comedy horror film written by Jimmy Warden (Borderline, The Babysitter) and directed by Elizabeth Banks (Pitch perfect 2, Charlie’s Angels).
The film is inspired by real events which took place in Georgia in 1985, although the aftermath was very different and no-one was killed.
It is presented here on...more
5 star adaptation of a beloved and seminal novel.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. is a 2023 American adaptation of the much loved and extremely influential 1970 novel of the same name by Judy Blume (Forever, Superfudge).
This glorious screen version is written and directed by Kelly Fremon (The Edge of Seventeen) and will be available in the UK on Blu-ray...more
4 star fresh and modern return of the turtle power.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a 2023 computer-animated feature film, based on the beloved characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. It is directed by Jeff Rowe (The Mitchells vs. the Machines) and Kyler Spears (Amphibia).
It is available now in the UK on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and...more
Well, there you have it, this year’s recommendations for your festive viewing pleasure. Get filling those stockings and on behalf of Road Rash Reviews we would like to wish all our readers a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!
Category: Gift Guide