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Category:    Home > Reviews > Horror > Slasher > Exploitation > Aliens > Thriller > Action > Mad Scientist > Nazis > Child Eater (2006)/Conspiracy Theory (2006/both MVD Visual DVDs)/Hell Hunters (1986/Film Chest Media DVD)

Child Eater (2006)/Conspiracy Theory (2006/both MVD Visual DVDs)/Hell Hunters (1986/Film Chest Media DVD)



Picture: B/B/C Sound: B/B/C Extras: B/D/D Film: C+/C/C



Child Eater


A unique little horror movie that slipped past the radar, Child Eater (2016) is far better than the recent Bye Bye Man, and would definitely be qualified as a member of that kind of horror sub genre. When a young, pregnant girl babysits a little boy who lives in a house where ghastly events once took place involving the Child Eater, a creepy old blind man who has a thing for bear traps, creeping in dark closets, and plucking the eyeballs out of everyone he meets.


While Director Erlingur Thoroddsen was obviously going for an iconic Freddy Krueger-like character, the film succeeds in a way that many low budget indy horrors get wrong in that it looks and sounds good throughout, with some solid gore effects to boot. The buildups and tensions aren't half bad, with one of the flaws being the no-name acting cast that hits and misses some marks. What this film also gets right is its atmospheric qualities, which reminded me a little bit of the Jeepers Creepers films.


Child Eater stars Cait Bliss, Colin Critchley, Jason Martin, Dave Klasko, and Brandon Smalls.


Presented in standard definition with an anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio and a lossy 5.1 Dolby Digital track, the film looks and sounds not half bad on DVD but of course would be improved by a high def release.


Special Features...


Deleted Scenes


Audio Commentary with Director Erlingur Thoroddsen and Stars Cait Bliss and Jason Martin.



There's a Trailer listed on the back of the DVD cover, but it is mysteriously missing from the menu options.


While I wouldn't say its a classic or that it will earn any sort of cult status, Child Eater isn't a bad attempt at the supernatural slasher genre and is definitely worth a watch.



Conspiracy Theory


Also known as Lake On Fire and not to be confused with the hit Mel Gibson/Julia Roberts film, Conspiracy Theory (2016), is (yet another) found footage film that is a spin on the alien genre and explores a sighting in Lake Meade and some beautiful looking shots of Nevada. However, like most found footage films, it has some weak acting points and some segments that are obviously edited, making it a lose a bit of credibility. Still, there are some interesting moments that make some of its less finer points fun.


The truth behind alien life is something that the Government has been covering up for years. When a group of TV show crew members go to Lake Meade to investigate mysterious lights and sightings, they are met with hostility from Government officials and are soon on a run for their lives. Will they uncover the truth on videotape and expose the truth?


The film stars Ben Kobold, Jennifer Mills, and Jamie Bragg.


Presented on DVD in standard definition with an anamorphically enhanced widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and a lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track, the presentation is up to standards in its compressed form and reads fine on disc. For the nature and genre of the film, however, this format looks fine.


No Extras.



Hell Hunters


Hell Hunters (1986) premieres on DVD thanks to Film Chest Media. In many ways, this is the kind of movie that you would find in a video store in the 1980s, all it's missing is Chuck Norris. Explosions, gunfire, and death galore, this silly B-rated indie is respectable for pulling off some practical (and wild) explosions and disintegrating set pieces, but isn't much in the way of story or performances.


A Nazi scientist, wanted as a vicious war criminal, develops a spider serum that turns people into fascist Nazi zombies that are prone to violence. A pair of investigators, by which have luckily have devoted their lives to hunting down Nazi war criminals, set out to stop him.


Hell Hunters stars Stewart Grainger, Maud Adams, George Lazenby, Romulo Arantes, and Candice Daly.


Restored from the original 35mm print, this standard definition, anamorphically enhanced DVD presentation preserves the original widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and a standard, lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo presentation that has lots of noise and feels like you're watching the film through a can. The film was issued in old Dolby analog A-type Dolby System sound and coding might be an issue here.


The image transfer itself is a bit jumpy at times, like the film is running too loose in the projector. This aids a certain '80s drive-in movie feel to the other all movie but is a noticeable flaw. There's a lot of film noise and emulsions on the print as well, however the colors and tones aren't completely terrible... if it wasn't for the shaking in the transfer and disappointing audio this release would look a lot better.


No extras.


A campy Cannon-like film that is mindless and silly, but nothing special except for its nostalgic action qualities.



- James Lockhart

https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/


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