William Shatner loves being a movie critic. He also loves the thrill of the hunt. That’s because Bill isn’t just watching movies and writing reviews, he’s looking for the best underground sci-fi movies he can find. Every time he finds an undiscovered gem, he adds it to his William Shatner Sci-Fi DVD-of-the-Month Club, which showcases the best sci-fi movies that didn’t come to a theater near you.
Some of Bill’s top picks:
Immortel (ad Vitem) is set in 2095, when the ancient Egyptian gods have returned to earth to cast judgment on the falcon-headed god Horus. Given just a week to preserve his immortality, Horus must search New York City for a human host and a
willing mate.
William Shatner says: ‘Immortel is a breathtakingly beautiful film, yet beneath the stunning and imaginative visuals is a genuinely captivating story. This film took home two awards from the 2004 European Film Festival, but is still widely unknown in the U.S.’
Virus (aka Fukkatsu no hi) is an apocalyptic vision of bio-warfare run amok. When a virus in development gets loose and begins to destroy humanity, only the 808 American scientists stranded in inhospitably cold Antarctica are relatively safe.
William Shatner says: ‘This little known classic was the most expensive Japanese film production of the early ’80s, and one of the finest disaster movies ever made. Virus is massive in scale, with an epic, end-of-the-world plot. This DVD can be tough to find.’
Close Your Eyes features a telepathic hypno-therapist troubled by visions of a young girl floating beneath the surface of a stream. The escaped victim of a serial killer, the girl has become mute, and the therapist is called upon by Scotland Yard to unlock the secrets she holds in order to catch a man who believes he has discovered the key to immortality.
William Shatner says: ‘Close Your Eyes is a taut and suspenseful thriller, twisting and turning effectively between the supernatural and the engaging mystery that drives the plot. The acting is flawless, with ER veteran Goran Visnjic giving a stunning and surprising portrayal of the dark and complex protagonist; a must-see for genre fans.’
To see the rest of William Shatner’s current picks, check out his DVD Club at the link listed above where you can also get Bill’s first movie selection for free. If you know a movie that you think Bill should screen, let him know!
