inmate profile: Cole S. McKay

Take a look at the picture up there, a good look: the penetrating stare, the awesome fucking mustache, the jacket; that, ladies and gentlemen, is what a Badass looks like.

Cole S. McKay: stunt man extraordinaire turned director. Kinda like Colt Seavers, but real. Earlier this year he directed 200 MPH, The Asylum's white-knuckle racing flick. His latest project? You guessed it, the upcoming Asylum release 3 Musketeers. 

There isn't a lot of biographical info on Mr. McKay online, but his resume more than speaks for itself. Since 1986 he has served as a stunt man in one capacity or another for 221 films and television productions. 221. Even cooler, know what his first film was? Three Amigos. Uh-huh. Badass.

Other films Mr. McKay defied death in include Star Trek VI, Demonic Toys, Leprechaun, Super Mario Brothers, Lost Highway, Wishmaster 1 & 2, The Devil's Rejects, American Pie Band Camp, a driving double for Kyle Gass in Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny, and Cloverfield. He's also worked with The Asylum several times as the stunt coordinator for The Terminators, Ballistica, Titanic II and Battle of Los Angeles. Badass, badass, badass.


McKay started directing in 1988, and among his more notable films are Star Hunter, co-directed by Fred Olen Ray (father of MSvC, Almighty Thor and 2 Headed Shark Attack director Christopher Ray) starring Roddy McDowell and Stella Stevens, and his last non-Asylum film, 2006's Special Ops: Delta Force, which featured Titanic II and Mega Fault's Bruce Davison.

And the best of all this background is that McKay's storied career path has led him to present moment, on the cusp of releasing his second directorial effort for The Asylum, 3 Musketeers, on DVD next Tuesday, October 25th. His next effort is also kinda Asylum-related: he'll be directing Blackgate, a film written by and starring Asylum vet Paul Logan.

One more time: Badass!

Ballistica on DVD Today

That's right, for the second Tuesday in a row, there's a brand new Asylum movie waiting at your favorite video store/kiosk/queue: Ballistica starring Paul Logan, Martin Kove and Robert Davi.

I've already weighed in on this bad boy right here, but if you don't have the time to click through, here's my opinion in a nutshell: BADASS. Part political thriller, part action spectacle, Ballistica delivers on both fronts, and is well-worth a watch. 

So why are you still reading? Go! Go!

observation notes: Ballistica

Another week, another Asylum release; we should always be this lucky. This week it’s the action flick that’s been on The Asylum’s schedule since late last year, and now at last the release is upon us: ladies and gentlemen, I give you Ballistica.

So here’s the set-up: “Ballistica,”  it seems, is more than just a fancy title - it’s a hybrid form of martial arts combining weapons training and hand-to-hand combat; think tai-chi with guns. CIA Operative Damien (Paul Logan), is the world’s foremost practitioner of this new fighting style, making him our government’s best defense against terrorism all sizes. When that terrorism turns towards something called “genetic implosion” - it’s as bad as it sounds - they’re going to need all the defense they can get.

What follows is a film that’s part political-thriller, part action-spectacle, part martial-arts display, and even bit of good, old-fashioned hero-worship-turned-impromptu-romance.

Paul Logan as Damien brings the fierce, angrily-confident capability we expect of him, plus an extra, hearty dose of badass. Mega Piranha is probably the closest to an all-out action flick as I’ve seen him in, but this one is even more all-out, and this guy is a bona fide star. He’s got everything an action hero requires: grizzled good lucks, a gruff exterior over a genuinely righteous heart, a voice that could grate stone, amazing physicality and like, 0% body fat.

Martin Kove as Damien’s “handler,” I guess, plays it calmer than I’m used to seeing him, but no less intense, which is only a testament to the actor’s power no matter what the emotion. His embroidered vest, however, I could have done without.

Robert Davi as the liaison between the Ballistica program and governmental higher-ups is also more restrained than usual, a cool, calm and calculating administrator, quietly honorable. The scenes with these two together were like the B-movie equivalent of the diner scene in Heat, but, you know, an actual payoff.

Other cast standouts include C.B. Spencer as “Alexa,” the beautiful scientist who never realized the dangers of her research now aiding in its destruction, Andrew Divoff (”LOST”) as “Dragomir,” the evil Russian mastermind - a respected character actor with a long history of greatness, this guy’s an evil chameleon; you give him the villain, he’ll knock it out of the part. Here is no exception. Also notable, the lovely, formidable and probably quite dangerous stunt woman/actress Lauren Mary Kim as “Fang.” Think Nia Peeples meets Morena Baccarin with the disposition of Jason Statham.

I’m hard-pressed at the moment to think of another straight-up government-oriented action-thriller in The Asylum’s catalog (that isn’t tinged with sci-fi, horror or disaster elements) and I, for one, hope Ballistica isn’t the last. Direct-to-DVD action films are practically as common as direct-to-DVD horror films, and as such, are pretty hit-and-miss. But this was upscale in my book - smart, intense, action-packed - and there should be more like it. The FX were plausible, the action sequences well-choreographed, the story intriguing, all adding up to a slick spectacle that barely gives you time to blink, let alone breathe. 

 

The action movie has changed a lot over the last few decades, to the point that most all these days come heavily loaded with political rhetoric; we live in a “Bourne” world, just guns and bad guys alone aren’t going to cut it anymore, but too often these films come imbalanced one way or the other - either there’s too many explosions and no story, or it’s all story with only a few action sequences. Ballistica, for my money, does a nice job of striking this balance, filling the space between its action sequences with just enough explanatory exposition to satisfy our instinctual need for narrative continuity. Hats off to director Gary Jones and writers Tony Kandah and Sean Rourke for pulling it off. When you figure in great acting and taut action sequences, if you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll be a fan of Ballistica.

inmate profile: Gary Jones

With the DVD release of The Asylum's next film, Ballistica less than a week away, I don't have a lot of time to spotlight the film's creative forces, so I have to move fast. Up first, the film's director, Gary Jones.

Jones began his career in Hollywood in Special Effects, and on some pretty, pretty, pretty awesome films: Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness and a certain bayou-centric JCVD film by the name of Hard Target, among others.

From FX Jones segued into second unit directing on a variety of iconic titles including "Xena," Puppet Master vs Demonic Toys and Man With The Screaming Brain.

Along the way, Jones threw his hat into almost every moviemaking ring there is: make-up effects, digital effect, camera operating, title designer, writing, producing, a little acting and, of course, directing.

Jones made his directorial debut in 1995 with the sci-fi creature feature Mosquito, starring Gunnar Hansen (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ('74)),. What followed were a handful of episodes of "Xena" and "Hercules" then a barrage of awesome B-movie gems: Spiders with a story by Asylum-esque producer extraordinaire Boaz Davidson, Crocodile 2: Death Swamp with Ballistica's Martin Kove, The Asylum's own Jolly Roger: Massacre at Cutter's Cove, Planet Raptor with Steven Bauer, Vanessa Angel and Ted Raimi, Ghouls, Boogeyman 3 and now Ballistica, out on DVD Tuesday, May 17th.

outside the walls: May DVD Releases

I recognize that not all great films are made exclusively by The Asylum and that, in fact, there's a whole world of film outside these walls, some of which might actually interest Asylum fans - when they're not watching or re-watching Asylum films, of course. And, being as I'm only looking out for your viewing well-being, here's a peek at some other DVD releases this month which might satiate you between Asylum releases. But remember, as always, Sweet n' Low ain't sugar.

MAY 3

Bound by Blood: Wendigo

Ninjas vs. Vampires

Sinister










MAY 10

Almighty Thor

Cody Deal
Richard Grieco
Kevin Nash

written by Eric Forsberg
directed by Christopher Ray

Black Death

Cougars, Inc.

Dahmer vs. Gacy

The Hit List

I Saw the Devil

The Violent Kind










MAY 17

Ballistica

Paul Logan
Martin Kove
Robert Davi

The Blood Shed

The Mechanic

The Rite

Takedown

Vanishing on 7th Street










MAY 24

The Big Bang

Death Hunter: Werewolves vs Vampires

Asylum Star and Asylum Director Collaborate Outisde the Walls!

Special thanks to Asylum actor and fellow faithfully-committed Ed DeRuiter (The Source, Way of the Vampire, War of the Worlds, Battle of Los Angeles), who emailed this morning with details on an exciting new project just entering production featuring Committed-fave Paul Logan (MegaFault, Mega Piranha, upcoming Ballistica) - who not only stars in the film but also wrote and is producing it - entitled Blackgate. And while there's no involvement by The Asylum, it is set in one. The official synopsis:

"Blackgate Asylum houses the worst of the worst of the criminally insane. It is basically a supermax prison masquerading as a hospital. Out of the 388 patients there, most are your average, mentally disturbed individuals.  Locked up in the high security, penitentiary-style South wing are the Lifers.  All of the murderers, rapists, child molesters, serial killers and sociopaths that have been dubbed 'criminally insane' in order to avoid spending the rest of their lives on death row are now spending their lives here... They get the patients that all of the other prisons can’t handle or don’t want. There have been 38 escape attempts since they opened, none successful.  This is the most secure facility in the country...Until tonight.

Among the Lifers is Dr. Julian Sinclair, a Mensa-level genius who is also a sophisticated sociopath. Sinclair has just been dubbed “sane” by the courts and is due to be transferred to a maximum security prison and straight to death row to await execution.  Sinclair orchestrates an elaborate escape plan which begins with the release of all of the Lifers into the general population with one simple order…kill.

The Lifers make their way through the sedate area and proceed to slaughter everyone in their path. Locked in one of the holding cells, there for observations after his last case, is detective Jake Malone. Malone, unarmed, makes his way through the asylum fighting psychopath after psychopath. He rescues a young doctor, Talia and uses all his special forces training to keep them both alive and find a way to stop Sinclair’s escape plan. In this life or death game of cat and mouse Malone must use his wits, detective and fighting skills to deduce and stop this maniac’s plan before Sinclair and the rest of the killers escape."

Mr. Logan is set to play Jake Malone, the cop caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Furthermore, there's another Asylum connection, as Blackgate is being directed by Cole S. McKay, who only weeks ago finished directed Mr. Logan - as well as Jaz Martin and AnnaMaria De Mara - in 200mph. Blackgate just started pre-production, so there's not much more on this one as of yet, but jump over to the Blackgate blogspot for details as they emerge. 

And check out tipster Ed DeRuiter Saturday, March 12, 2011 in the SyFy Premiere of Battle of Los Angeles, 9pm wherever you are.

Newly Committed: Asylum Release Dates

Now that we're a little ways into the new year, we have a more definitive idea of the release dates for the first batch of 2011 Asylum films. Here's what we know:

 Battle of Los Angeles

starring Kel Mitchell, Nia Peeples
written and directed by Mark Atkins


SyFy Premiere March 12 
on DVD March 22

 200mph

starring Jaz Martin, AnnaMaria DeMara
written by Thunder Levin
directed by Cole McKay

on DVD April 26

 Almighty Thor  (not final poster)

starring Cody Deal, Richard Grieco, Kevin Nash
written by Eric Forsberg
directed by Christopher Ray

on DVD May 10

Ballistica   (note the tweaked poster)

starring Paul Logan, Martin Kove, Robert Davi
written by Tony Kandah and Sean Rourke
directed by Gary Jones

on DVD May 17











And that's what we have so far. Still on the docket are 2012 Ice Age, Born Bad and 2 Headed Shark Attack - all of which there's no info on right now besides the titles - but I think we can assume those are the summer/early fall films we can look forward to. And beyond that, there's bound to be another comedy, maybe a horror film for October, who knows? Rest assured I keep my eyes peeled for this stuff, and as soon as I spy details, I'll post 'em up.

newly committed: Asylum Release Dates

2010: Moby Dick - November 23, 2010

               Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus - December 21, 2010

1st Furry Valentine - January 25, 2011 (poster coming)

                            Battle of Los Angeles - February 22, 2011

Ballistica - May 17, 2011

Birthday Wishes/ inmate profile: Paul Logan

In Paul Logan, The Asylum got more than a pretty face and a chiseled physique, they got their first bona-fide action star. A veteran of six Asylum films (plus some uncredited stunt work, according to IMDB, on Titanic II), Logan possesses, as I think I've alluded to before, the stern charm of a pre-Over The Top Sylvester Stallone, teamed with the husky confidence of Jason Statham, and just a dash of the bulky fighting style of Governor Schwarzenegger. So imagine those three having a baby somehow, and Paul Logan is pretty much what you end up with. Good guy, bad guys, good guys with some bad tendencies or bad guys with good leanings, PL has totally owned every role he's taken for The Asylum, and as it stands, along with Kim Little, he is the longest-active Asylum actor, having worked with the gang from their very first film - Killers - all the way up to three releases this year. So he's thoroughly committed. And, as I know I've alluded to before, he has the best run in The Asylum. Really, watching this guy run, it's like stumbling upon a wild Clydesdale. Such command. Anyway, I digress; below please find Paul Logan's filmography with The Asylum. He can next be seen in Ballistica, a Bourne-looking action/spy thriller, releasing on November 16th.

• Killers...Nicky
• The Terminators...TR-4
• MegaFault...Major Boyd Grayson
• Ballistica...Damian
• Mega Piranha...Jason Fitch
• #1 Cheerleader Camp...Tom

It is also no coincidence that Mr. Logan's profile is posted today, because today is Mr. Logan's 38th birthday. Many happy returns of the day, Mr. Logan!

Consider yourself saluted.

newly committed: Asylum Release Dates

8213 Gacy House - 9/28/2010

MILF - 10/26/2010

Ballistica - 11/16/2010

Moby-Dick - 11/23/2010

Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus (!!!) - 12/21/2010