DVD Pick of the Week: Darkness: The Vampire Version

I have to say, this week's selection is rather week. Nothing that I saw screams "MUST HAVE!" and for that I am thankful. This hobby is nothing if not addictive and expensive. It is nice to have a week with nothing that I really want. This isn't to say there is nothing that interests me, and it is thast interest that brought me to this week's pick.

This week's pick is a film I had not heard of until about a half hour prior to writing this. It is a micro-budget horror film called Darkness: The Vampire Version. The film tells the story of a small town that comes undersiege from vampires. A man watches as his friends are decimated at a convenience store, he then goes on a one man mission to do battle with the undead.

What really interested me was the way that it was initially funded by writer/director Leif Jonker. He sold blood at a blood bank to raise money for a vampire movie, how funny is that? Apparently, he was making this as more of a demo reel than as a complete film. I guess it was made in a similar vein to Robert Rodriguez and El Mariachi, except with more blood. Apparently this has been a big hit on the underground horror circuit. It may not be good, but I am nothing if not intrigued. Besides, the disk looks to be loaded with featurettes and other material.

Also coming out this week:

• Date Movie. This is here as a warning. This movie is awful. The only thing it has going for it is the lovely Alyson Hannigan.
• Freedomland. This was mediocre at best. The story never really took off. It would be worth a rental, but that's it.
• Joey: The Complete First Season. They should have just packaged this with the abbreviated second season and called it the complete series. It was an OK show, nowhere near the heyday of Friends. Joey is one of the best characters I've seen on TV.
• Night Stalker: The Complete Series. Inspired by the original Kolchak series, it never really lived up to the potential.
• Platoon: 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition. The Oliver Stone classic comes to DVD in a new anniversary set with new bonus features.
• Riddick Trilogy. The two features and the direct to DVD animated entry collected in one set. I don't believe there is anything new here, just everything in one box.
• Tomie: Beginning. Not sure where this fits in with the rest of the series, but they are always intriguing.
• Touch the Sound. I have been wanting to see this for awhile. It is a documentary about one of the best percussionists in the world, who is also deaf.
• The Venture Brothers. Here is a part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. Haven't seen much, but wouldn't mind seeing more.

What are you getting this week?

Categories: Movies, Previews, Weekly, News