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Bram Stoker's Shadowbuilder - Blu-ray

5 beers

Something is in the storm drains again!  A plunger won’t clear it out either. 

Afraid of neither man or mutt, what travels through the drainpipes of one idyllic town wants only one thing: a small boy named Chris.  And this foul demon will stop at nothing to get to him.  Thankfully, this horror film doesn’t stop either.  Shadowbuilder is fresh and fun and, with great skill, produces a whole new terror with which to haunt the neighborhood with.

Forget what you think you know about 1990s horror.  You're probably missing a classic on your list: this one!  The goods are delivered.  Shadowbuilder is a modern day cult classic for good reason!

The MVD Rewind Collection returns to the scene of the unholy crime with their reissue of a fabulously underrated spookfest this month: Shadowbuilder deserves a spot in your collection.  Intelligent and well-produced, this supernatural showdown between the forces of good and bad kicks some serious ass.  Based on a Bram Stoker’s tale, Shadowbuilder makes for one hell of a trip as a soldier from Hell comes to the earth to hunt souls.

"Once again, the Canadians show America up with their treatment of horror. Gone are the clichés.  What we have is mood, mood, mood, and one hell of an intense protagonist."


Shadowbuilder is a high concept film on a low budget and, as evident by this new blu-ray release, the damn thing works to create a film that is all sorts of unholy fun.  If you’ve ever snubbed this title, then know that you are the one who lost.  Shadowbuilder has what you are looking for in horror.  We get demon-sized consequences and midnight bicycle runs as one kid flees a shape-shifting shadow – jumping from Doberman pincher to man and back again – it is pursuit for his very soul.

Father Vassey (Michael Rooker, in a role he simply kills at) is back.  The pill-popping, bone-crushing, do-gooder of all things involving the soul returns to deliver a beat down of biblical proportions as he throttles the necks of all kinds of Satanists out to summon a demon formed of shadows.  And that’s just the opening movement in this dark tale of possession.  It starts out dark but it goes completely lights out by the end of this tale. {googleads}

Once again, the Canadians show America up with their treatment of horror.   Gone are the clichés.  What we have is mood, mood, mood, and one hell of an intense protagonist who likes – scratch that – LOVES to shoot, shoot, shoot all things of the devil.  Shadowbuilder, in which a demon possess the dead in order to gain access to the son of a dead man who has special abilities, uses some early digital effects but they STILL work.  It is a loose adaptation of Stoker's work (obviously), but the 1990s setting absolutely works.  In fact, it is quite creepy as this boy, Kevin Zegers as Chris Hatcher, has been blessed with a light inside him while everyone else descends into madness around him.

But that little light shining won’t stop this demon from sacrificing him.  Maybe Vassey’s blazing 9mm guns will.  Like I said, this preacher isn’t your typical man of the cloth.  He becomes more and more focused the closer the small town gets to breaking down.  From public nudity to open brawls, the tiny town of Grand River isn’t going to be the same again. Of course, neither will the Hatcher family.

Bram Stoker's Shadowbuilder - Blu-ray

Directed by Jamie Dixon and adapted by Michael Stokes, Shadowbuilder is a strong movie, especially when it comes to showcasing the devolution of the town.  It comes alive with a million little details as the demon shadow figure lures civilians to their own shadows so that he can take them over. Electric poles crush skulls and souls are collected as our heroes – Leslie Hope as Jenny Hatcher, Shawn Thompson as Sheriff Sam Logan, and Candyman’s Tony Todd as Every Covey – join forces with Vassey in an epic sacrifice of the senses.

Shadowbuilder makes its debut on blu-ray with this loaded release from the MVD Rewind Collection.  Darkness is at hand.  Are you truly repentant?

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[tab title="Details"]

Bram Stoker's Shadowbuilder - Blu-ray

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime:
120 mins
Director
: Jamie Dixon
Writer:
Michael Stokes
Cast:
Michael Rooker, Leslie Hope, Shawn Thompson
Genre
: Horror | Action | Thriller
Tagline:
Be afraid of the dark.
Memorable Movie Quote: "What is a priest doing with two nine millimeter cannons?"
Theatrical Distributor:

Official Site:
Release Date:

DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
August 28, 2018
Synopsis: A demon is summoned to take the soul of a young boy, who has the potential to become a saint. By doing this, he will open a doorway to Hell, and destroy the world.

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

Bram Stoker's Shadowbuilder - Blu-ray

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

MVD Rewind Collection

Home Video Distributor: MVD Visual
Available on Blu-ray
- August 28, 2018
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles
: Spanish
Audio:
English: LPCM 2.0
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

The newly transferred High Definition Blu-ray (and Standard Definition DVD) presentation of Shadowbuilder is on point. While it takes place mainly in the shadows of a small town, this 1080p transfer captures crisp details in clothing and in locations that are textured and fine. Loaded with juicy details, this is an atmospheric release that doesn’t shy away from the sunlight either. It has dark layers, yes, and those shadows are well-defined and crisp but the new transfer does not disappoint. The brand new 1.85:1 HD master is detailed and looks better than ever. Some shots, due to the era of the day, are fuzzier than others but the image is reasonably well defined with crisp contrasts and solid textures. Colors are solid, with reds being a standout. Blacks are, too. Surprisingly, there's enough fine detail on display to make this seem revelatory. The era-ready color palette looks terrific, too. The disc comes with the original 2.0 Stereo Audio (Uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray) and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • The film’s director, Jamie Dixon, provides a good commentary. 

Special Features:

Get ready to have fun!  Complete with new interviews from Jamie Dixon, writer Michael Stokes and stars Andrew Jackson (who plays The Shadowbuilder) and Tony Todd (Covey), fans will love the supplemental items included here.  We get a look at the film’s effects and another NEW interview with Kevin Zeger.  A reversible cover, with new artwork, is included and so , too, is a collectable poster.

• NEW! 'Making of Shadowbuilder' featurette (33 min)

• NEW! 'Shadowbuilder: Visual Effects' featurette (13 min)

• NEW! 'Shadowbuilder: Kevin Zegers' featurette (5 min)

• Original Theatrical Trailer

• Collectible Poster

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Bram Stoker's Shadowbuilder - Blu-ray

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