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
One of the movies I saw at Tribeca that I thought had a great message was Adult World (check out my review), although I could’ve lived without the cutsey ending. Still, I think this post-college comedy about an aspiring poet (Emma Roberts) who meets her idol (John Cusack) could play well with audiences — and IFC seems to think so too, as it has picked up the film and will release it with a day and date theatrical and VOD release.
Drafthouse is quickly becoming one of my favorite VOD distributors because of quality choice after quality choice. That makes me look forward to A Field In England from director Ben Wheatley, whose Sightseers just came out on VOD and he also had a segment in the already somewhat legendary compliation horror film ABCs of Death. A Field In England is about 17th century English soldiers who fight psychedelic evil in a mushroomfield… which sounds awesome. A VOD and release to Drafthouse’s Alamo Drafthouse cinemas will come by the end of 2013.
One way you can tell VOD business is on the rise? Every other month it seems like I’m announcing a new distributor. This time around Deadline has announced that the new kid on the block is Vertical Entertainment, which is planning to release two features a month and already has two releases coming later this summer: Rushlights, starring Josh Henderson, Beau Bridges and Aidan Quinn and Hot Flashes starring Brooke Shields, Wanda Sykes, Virginia Madsen, Daryl Hannah and Camryn Manheim. Rushlights will have a day-and-date VOD and limited theatrical release on June 21, while Hot Flashes will get a June 14 VOD release and a July 12 limited theatrical release. Hey, the more the merrier when it comes to VOD — there is plenty of content to go around!
Kevin Smith has lent his name to a number of films that share his sense of humor. The next one from his Phase 4 Films/Kevin Smith Movie Club will be 2013 Slamdance Film Festival winner The Dirties, which is about two best friends who decide to make a movie about killing the bullies at that school, although the fictional story begins to take a very real turn. Unlike previous Kevin Smith Movie Club releases, The Dirties is not a comedy. It was co-written, directed, and stars Matthew Johnson as his first feature, and it will have a VOD/theatrical release later this year. In the press release, Smith says, “I’ve always wanted to say this about a movie I made and mean it, but never could. Now, thanks to The Dirties, I can: This is the most important film you will see all year. Matt Johnson has mashed-up the found-footage film and the faux-documentary genres and crafted the most original, hypnotic, and human movie about a monster-in-the-making you will ever see. Not only is The Dirties an astonishingly great first film, it has the stones to deal with some very real subject matter in a mature, important way.” Though I stopped being a big fan of Smith’s movies years ago, I give him a ton of props for helping films get attention.
Though our friend from across the pond Tom Hunt only gave it an average review, Cockneys Vs. Zombies is the type of movie that I am sure a number of U.S. movie fans would love to see. If you are one of them, you’re in luck: Shout! Factory will be releasing the movie in the U.S. on VOD on August 2. Check out Tom’s review to find out all the details about this unlikely showdown.
Finally, to me the best news of the week is that SnagFilms is launching a campaign titled “Honor Our Heroes” that will incorporate a VOD and Tugg theatrical release of Honor Flight. The film is a documentary about four living World War II veterans whose community raised money to send each of them to Washington D.C. to view memorials built in their honor. IndieWire reports that the Tugg screenings — over eighty — will go on throughout the country in May. The film has already been released on VOD, so check it out to honor the Greatest Generation.
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:
Aroused (Review: 5/10)
Fresh Meat (Review: 3.4/10)
Room 237 (Review: 8.5/10)
Gimme the Loot (Review: 8.5/10)
Hunky Dory (Review: 3.5/10)
The Frankenstein Theory (Review: 2/10)
Upcoming VOD Releases
May 16
American Mary
Jen and Sylvia Soska, AKA “The Twisted Twins” have gotten a ton of notice lately, and not just because of the awesome way they dress during public appearances. American Mary is about a med student (Katharine Isabelle) who earns money in the world of underground surgeries with increasingly twisted patients. It swept every award it swept every award it was nominated for at the 2012 Screamfest, so it’s definitely worth a look. It also gets a limited theatrical release on May 31. Check out the trailer here.
May 21
Free Samples
Our old friend Melissa saw this ice cream truck comedy (you read that correctly) way back during Tribeca 2012. She wasn’t a fan (check out her review), but if you’re a fan of quirky movies you might enjoy it. It will have a limited theatrical release on May 31.
Webdultry
Did you ever listen to the lyrics of “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)”? If so, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what this drama is about, except with social media and with much darker sensibilities. Darn, now I have that tune stuck in my head.
May 24
A Band Called Death
Forget everything you ever thought you knew about punk music. Before anyone was playing punk, there was a band named Death formed by three African American Detroit brothers in the early 1970s. It wasn’t until 2008 when much of the world learned about them and their story, which this documentary tells (check out my review here). The documentary will also have a limited theatrical release on June 28.
May 30
Hammer of the Gods
With Vikings now a TV hit and Game of Thrones a ratings monster for HBO it seems like the perfect time for Magnet to release this Viking film. It actually stars James Cosmo of Game of Thrones and will have a theatrical release on July 5.
Have news about an upcoming VOD movie? Want to have Movie Buzzers check out your upcoming VOD release? Contact me on Twitter @ChrisMcKit or via e-mail at chris@moviebuzzers.com!
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