DVD round-up from The TOMB

'Masters of Horror' is the big DVD out this week, while 'The Constant Gardener' also hits shelves.

Mar 13 2006

In this, the first of The TOMB's weekly DVD columns, I'll be running down what's hot and what's not in the world of home entertainment.

Every Monday I'll recommend worthy additions to your collection, from new features and classic films to the best boxsets and TV series hitting DVD.

This week, we kick off with a blood-splattered double bill that no discerning horror fan will want to miss – the highly anticipated DVD debut of the 'Masters of Horror' TV series.

The brainchild of director Mick Garris, 'Masters' is a series of 13 brand-new, one hour films made by the best horror directors in the business, from Tobe Hooper and Don Coscarelli to John Landis and Takashi Miike.

This week Anchor Bay release the first two episodes in the shape of John Carpenter's 'Cigarette Burns' and Stuart Gordon's 'Dreams in the Witch House'.

Being the busy bee that I am here at The TOMB, I've only managed to check out the Carpenter entry thus far, but I'm pleased to report that it's a solid effort that sees Carpenter at the top of his game (and let's be honest – it's been a while since the 'Halloween' director has performed at that level).

The story is a little hokey, with scene after scene of dull exposition involving a cursed film threatening to ruin the whole thing. In spite of such constraints however, Carpenter effortlessly piles on the tension and suspense, and climaxes with several scenes of genuinely thrilling horror and gore.

The extras are excellent, featuring commentaries, documentaries and featurettes, and I'm seriously looking forward to checking out Gordon's entry tonight.

The best film on release this week is 'The Constant Gardener', Fernando Meirelles brilliant follow-up to 'City of God'.

Based on the bestselling John Le Carre novel, the film features an Oscar-winning turn from Rachel Weisz, a career best performance from Ralph Fiennes (criminally overlooked by the Academy), and is an engrossing thriller that slowly develops into a touching and deeply affecting love story.

'Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang' is also on release, an entertaining film noir that's a little too clever for it's own good, but nevertheless features Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr having a blast with Shane Black's hilarious script.

Aside from that, there's 'In Her Shoes' for the chick-flick brigade and 'Howl's Moving Castle' for those who like their animation to be a little more sophisticated than the average Disney cute-fest.

As for the 'one to avoid' this week, I'd suggest 'Fat Albert', a film so unfunny that its trailer alone made me feel physically sick.

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