VOD Overdose is Movie Buzzers’ coverage of video-on-demand developments and upcoming films premiering on video-on-demand. With an increasing number of studios embracing VOD as a way to premiere and distribute films, this column covers movies that might be worth a look even though they aren’t playing at your local multiplex.
Latest VOD News
As I detailed in a previous column, the 3rd annual VOD My French Film Festival is now taking place through February 17, 2013, and offers ten recent French films and ten shorts, plus an additional film and short from Quebec on VOD as well as iTunes and VOD. Each film has never been released in the United States but is subtitled in English for this release. For descriptions of each film, visit MyFrenchFilmFestival.com.
In Sundance Film Festival VOD news, Phase 4 Films has acquired the rights to Newlyweeds, which is described as “a Brooklyn repo-man and his globetrotting girlfriend forge an unlikely romance. But what should be a match made in stoner heaven turns into a love triangle gone awry in this dark comedy that is part ballad of chemical dependency, part coming-of-age romance, part hallucinatory adventure.” Phase 4 also acquired the rights to Milkshake for its Kevin Smith Presents label. Milkshake is a coming-of-age story set in the 1990s about Al Jolson‘s great-great-grandson, who wishes he were black (of course, Al Jolson is familiar to film fans as the star of the first “talkie,” The Jazz Singer, in which Jolson performed in blackface). Phase 4 is planning to release both on VOD this summer, with Newlyweeds also receiving a day-and-date limited theatrical release.
In the latest “they really had to go there?” category, Exclusive Releasing will also have a day-and-date VOD/limited theatrical release for Two Mothers. The film stars Naomi Watts and Robin Wright as two best friends who fall in love with each others’ sons and attempt to keep the affairs secret. That plot definitely won’t appeal to mass audiences, but then again none of my mom’s friends ever looked like Naomi Watts so I might be in the minority here.
Radius-TWC, the VOD division of The Weinstein Company, also acquired the documentary Inequality For All about the widening income gap. Though no release strategy has been announced, VOD will definitely be part of it.
IFC also acquired several films, including the hugely praised Ain’t Them Bodies Saints starring Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck. Similarly, IFC hasn’t announced a release strategy but is pretty much the king of multi-platform releases, so expect this on VOD at some point.
Now on VOD… And We Reviewed It!
Here’s a sampling of recent VOD movies that Movie Buzzers has viewed and reviewed. Check your cable provider or online retailers:
Noobz (Review: 4.3/10)
As Luck Would Have It (Review 7.3/10)
Supporting Characters (Review 7.5/10)
Resolution (Review 7/10)
John Dies at the End (Review 3/10)
The Fitzgerald Family Christmas (Review 8/10)
Upcoming VOD Releases
(For films premiering on VOD platforms, or hitting VOD after limited theatrical runs.)
January 29
Noobz
If you’ve ever wondered what Jason Mewes is up to these days, he’s in this comedy about competitive video gaming. It gets a DVD release on the same day and will be playing in a handful of theaters on January 25.
January 30
As Luck Would Have It
Starring the beautiful Salma Hayek alongside Jose Mota, this dark comedy about a family at the center of a huge media story was directed by Alex de la Iglesia (The Day of the Beast). This is another one Alex enjoyed, read his review here.
January 31
The ABCs of Death
This horror anthology film from Magnet Releasing features twenty-six short films by as-many directors, each inspired by a particular letter. It covers just about every horror genre and filmmaking style, including animation and claymation.
February 1
Day of the Falcon
Previously released in other territories as Black Gold, this film might be set in the 1930s but is definitely relevant today — in it a young Arab prince finds himself between his conservative father (Mark Strong) and a modern father-in-law (Antonio Banderas). It also gets a limited theatrical release on March 1.
Wrong
Warning: the surrealist experience of Wrong, directed by the man who brought your Rubber (the killer tire movie), is not for everyone. But if you can get into the surrealism, it can be a lot of fun. Check out my review here. It also gets a limited theatrical release on March 29. You can check out my review here!
February 8
Spiders
This horror film about giant mutant Soviet spiders that attack New York looks like a fun Roger Corman-style throwback. The information I have says it will be released “in theaters and Premium VOD February 8” and on “DVD and VOD March 12,” so I guess check the website to see if you are in a “premium” VOD area.
February 12
Foodfight!
This ten-years-in-the-making animated movie is definitely for the kiddies. It has some big-name voice talent, including Charlie Sheen, Eva Longoria, Wayne Bradly, Hillary Duff, Chris Kattan, Christopher Lloyd, and Cloris Leachman who voice product icons who come to life in the supermarket at night. I guess this is Toy Story for kids who are really into Charlie the Tuna and Mr. Clean.
Have news about an upcoming VOD movie? Want to have Movie Buzzers check out your upcoming VOD release? Contact me here!
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