Zombieland: Double Tap

Director - Ruben Fleischer (Venom, Zombieland)
Starring - Woody Harrelson (Kingpin, Natural Born Killers), Jesse Eisenberg (Batman V. Superman, Justice League), and Emma Stone (Maniac, Superbad)
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Format - 4K Ultra HD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My college years were some of the best years of my life.  I partied, learned so many things, met some cool people, and found so many movies that stuck with me almost 10 years later.  During this time I became obsessed with O' Brother Where Art Thou?, Necroville, Black Dynamite, and Zombieland.  These were my go to movies when I wanted to drink, study, clean my dorm, and so on.  I had a lot of fun with those movies on and they still trigger great memories when I think about them.  Sadly, it's been sometime since I last watched any of them but I do randomly think about these movies.  Back in October Zombieland received a sequel with Zombieland: Double Tap.  I tried on several occasions to check it out but something always came up preventing me.  I had to wait until a physical release was out in order to check it out.  I was lucky enough to receive a review copy an a promo candle that smelled like Twinkies.

      The film picks up a decade after the first film.  Tallahassee, Columbus,  Witchita, and Little Rock as they continue life in the zombie apocalypse.  They continue their lives with Tallahassee taking over as a father figure for Little Rock while Columbus and Wichita continue their relationship.  Things work the way they are until Little Rock starts to long for someone her age and Columbus proposes to Wichita.  The two sister leave while the other two struggle to pick up the pieces.  A month goes by and Columbus still misses Wichita but runs into the dumb blonde stereotype Madison.  The two hook up and soon Columbus regrets it when Wichita returns after losing Little Rock to a hippie drifter making their way to a safe haven known as Babylon.  The four then set out to go find her while surviving a horde of ever evolving zombies.
     I can't find the words to explain how excited I was for this film.  I've watched the first one no less than 100 times in 10 years and I couldn't wait to finally check this one out.  Now that I have I can't help and feel like this one was not on the same level as the first film.  I'm not saying it's a bad movie but it just doesn't entertain like the first film did.  The acting in this one is great.  Harrelson carries the film much like the first film.  Eisenberg is the comedic relief of the film and serves well as the sidekick while Emma Stone delivers a rather underwhelming performance.  I'm a huge Superbad fan so I always expect an amazing performance from her but I just wasn't feeling it in this film.  However, Abigail Breslin delivers a superior performance when compared to the first film.  I did not care for her character in the first film but this time around she has way more personality and is more fun to watch on screen.  The story for this one just feels a little all over the place.  We get the same characters we love but then we get duplicates tossed in that is funny at first but the joke does run thin.  Along with that we get the separation of the characters that feels like two possible stories were written and then combined to make a more action packed film that just doesn't flow very well.  I didn't hate the story but it would have been a lot more fun if it was a little more linear.  My biggest complaint is that this zombie comedy puts the zombies I the back seat.  The story does center around them but they are mostly in mention and not really seen until the last 20 minutes or so.  Finally, this one gives the viewer some blood but if you are looking for gore then you will be a little disappointed.  When the undead is destroyed we get more visual effects than practical effects and the gore seems to be missing.  The deaths are quick, sometimes off camera, and very underwhelming.  Overall, Zombieland: Double Tap is a fun popcorn horror flick but is nowhere near the same quality as the first film.  I can't call it a quick cash grab but it is lacking.  It's fun for a double feature with the first or a one time watch but I highly doubt I will be revisiting this one.  

Tromasterpiece Theatre: Poultrygeist

Director - Addison Binek (Movies to Watch on a Rainy Day)
Starring - Addison Binek, Andrew Barber, and Brad LaJoye
Release Date - 2020
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love when I meet another Troma fan in the indie community.  A lot of my friends don't care for Troma so I always find it cool when I come across other fans of theirs.  A few years back I met Troma fan Addison Binek at Cinema Wasteland.  His YouTube series Movies to Watch on a Rainy Day is fairly popular and his first episode of Tromasterpiece Theatre has a solid fanbase.  Addison recently wrapped on his second episode of his Mystery Science Theater 3000 inspired series Tromasterpiece Theatre and reached out to me to review.  I couldn't turn it down especially after learning it was on Troma's Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.  Thank you Addison for allowing me the opportunity to check this out.  

     This episode once again follows Addison and his bag of popcorn Corny and film reel Reelie as they work at the local theater.  During another slow night the three decide to watch another Troma film.  This time they toss in Lloyd's 2006 Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.  The three then make their way through the film delivering 1 liners and puns.

     I had extremely high hopes for this entry in  Tromasterpiece Theatre.  I fucking love Poiultrygeist and after having as much as I did with the first episode I knew this one was going to be better.  Addison may not have created the concept of riffing movies but he does add his own spin to it which is purely entertaining.  This review is only for the portion Addison is responsible for and not Poultrygeist.  The acting in this one is more of the same from the first episode.  The voice acting works great with the puppets.  They match so well and I couldn't imagine these puppets having a different voice.  Also, Addison does a great job as well.  In both episodes he is natural in front of the camera and delivers a very entertaining performance.  Once again you can tell her has a lot of love for these projects and gives every scene his all.  The story for this one is more of what we received in the first episode.  We follow the three as they watch Troma movies and poke fun at them.  It works with the jokes but I would love to see a little more screen time with the characters interacting than what we do get.  These short segments are fun and adds a little more to a film that some of us fans have seen several dozens of times.  Finally, the Tromasterpiece Theatre portion of the film lacks blood and gore but it does have some puppet fun.  Gorehounds will still enjoy the red stuff in Poultrygeist but if you are looking for additional carnage you will not find it here.  Overall, this is a fantastic addition to the fun that you already get with Poultrygeist.  It doesn't take away from the film but does add some additional laughs.  If the film ever gets a special release later down the road then Lloyd may want to include this in the special features.  I highly suggest checking this out!

Tromasterpiece Theatre: The Battle of Love's Return

Director - Addison Binek (Movies to Watch on A Rainy Day)
Starring - Addison Binek, Johnathan Gogoleski, and Andrew Barber
Release Date - 2017
Genre - Comedy
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I rarely get to watch movies for my own enjoyment.  I get a fair amount of films in for review so my spare time is usually spent on watching movies that I need to review.  That doesn't stop me from adding movies to my collection.  For several years now I've collected compilation collections of Addison Binek's Movies to Watch on a Rainy Day.  I may have never got around to watching them but I love having them in my collection.  I've met Addison several times at Cinema Wasteland and he is one of the nicest people you could ever meet.  Aside from his Movies to Watch on a Rainy Day series he is also the director and star of Tromasterpiece Theatre.  Those of you that know me knows that I absolutely love Troma and a Mystery Science Theater 3000 inspired showed catered to Troma fans is right up my alley!  Addison recently wrapped up his second episode and reached out to me to review it.  I was unable to watch the first one so I thought now was the best time to remedy that!
     The film follows Addison who works for a local theater.  During his unusual shift he meets a bag of popcorn named Corny and a film reel named Reely.  The three decide to pass time watching Lloyd Kaufman's 1971 comedy The Battle of Love's Return.  The film proves to be very underwhelming for the three so they make up some puns and one liners to pass the time.  

     Tromasterpiece Theatre looked fun but how would it play out?  Would the jokes be funny or would they be a sad attempt at a fan who was trying too hard?  Answer: it was funny.  My review is for the portion of the film that Addison brought to life and not for The Battle of Love's Return.  The acting in this one is solid.  The voice acting in this one is fun but could use some improvement.  The voices do fit the characters but there was a few times where the dialogue was very unenthusiastic.  With that being said, I really enjoyed Addison's performance.  He is extremely comfortable on screen.  His character really fits his personality and you can tell he loves his character.  The story for this one is simple and works on a MST3K level.  The theater setting is absolutely perfect for the film and the MST3K approach works.  It doesn't over do the gimmick and it works.  The humor finds it's mark and the jokes would make any father proud.  Finally, if you want blood and gore you will not find it here.  However, if felt is more your speed then be prepared for some puppet fun!  Overall, Tromasterpiece Theatre: The Battle of Love's Return is fun way to experience one of Lloyd's earlier films.  The movie is a bit of a bore but Addison brings some fun to a rather dull flick.  I doubt I will be revisiting this any time soon but it was entertaining.  Troma fans will want this for their collection!

Dracula

Director - John Badham (Short Circuit, Saturday Night Fever)
Starring - Frank Langella (Masters of the Universe, Brainscan), Laurence Olivier (Clash of the Titans, Spartacus), and Donald Pleasence (Halloween, Escape from New York)
Release Date - 1979
Genre - Horror/Romance
Tagline - "Throughout history he has filled the hearts of men with terror, and the hears of women with desire"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My Dracula marathon has finally come to an end.  After a week or working through the Hammer Dracula series I decided to end with a Dracula film that has nothing to do with Hammer.  In 1979 John Badham directed the Frank Langella lead Dracula adaptation that also featured Laurence Olivier and Donald Pleasence.  This is one of those movies I had found many years ago when I first started collecting movies and never got around to checking it out.  I want to thank Scream Factory for sending a review copy my way.  I have no idea why I slept on this film for so long because I absolutely loved it!

     The movie follows Count Dracula who buys Carnifex Abby and moves to London.  He meets Jonathan Harker, his girlfriend Lucy, Mina, her father Dr. Seward, and Lucy's father Van Helsing.  Once Dracula arrives Mina falls ill and soon dies.  Upon her body they find two puncture wounds on her neck but Dr. Seward dismisses it as of importance.  Soon Minas father arrives to bury his daughter and suspects that Dracula is more than just a count relocating to London.  Soon Lucy starts to show the same symptoms as Mina forcing Van Helsing and Jonathan to work fast before Dracula can fully turn her into one of his brides.

     I blame the boring ass artwork on the DVDs that I saw when I first started collecting.  They made me think that the film was more romance than horror which was something I just didn't want to fucking see.  However, after finally checking it out I can safely admit that I fucking missed the boat on this one.  It was fantastic and easily the best Dracula movie in my marathon.  The acting in this one is fucking top notch.  Frank Langella is superb as Dracula.  Sure, he looks ridiculous but he still delivers a phenomenal performance.  I didn't care for the way he looked but his acting makes the film.  The same can be said for Jonathan Harker who was portrayed by Trevor Eve.  He does a fantastic job as well.  With that being said, Donald Pleasence and Laurence Olivier do decent jobs but their characters are just not likable.  They are extremely bland and even a screen great like Pleasence could save it.  The supporting cast is solid as well.  The story for this one does follow the book to an extent but the film does take some liberties.  Honestly, I had a lot of fun with this one.  I was pulled in and the changes to the novel does keep the viewer on their toes to an extent.  There is some romance still in the film but it wouldn't be Dracula without that little love triangle aspect.  The film has great pacing and the viewer will find themselves quickly disregarding the film's lengthy run time.  Finally, the film does have your typical vampire kills but they are more graphic than most vampire films of the time.  The kills are rather brutal and we get some great practical effects.  This was the aspect that impressed me the most with the film.  I was not expecting the brutality and awesome effects.  Overall, Dracula 1979 is fucking amazing.  I absolutely loved this film and the blu from Scream Factory is god damn beautiful.  I highly recommend checking this one out and adding it to your collection!

Ready For My Close Up

Director - Jason Read (Frankula, Ripper Tour)
Starring - Lynn Lowry (Shivers, The Crazies), Charlotte Mounter (The Curse of Halloween Jack, A Fistful of Lead), and George Sweeney (Jack the Ripper, Matlock)
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Comedy/Horror
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometime ago Cinema Wasteland was having an I Drink Your Blood reunion and actress Lynn Lowry was in attendance.  I try to never miss a Cinema Wasteland and I was extremely excited that Lynn was going to be there.  I picked up a copy of I Drink Your Blood to have her sign it and while I was there I grabbed a signed still from Shivers from her as well.  She was an extremely kind person to meet and one of the nicest celebrities I had met at a con.  A few days back she posted on Facebook that she was looking for reviewers to review a new short she was a part of.  What made this stand out was that she was asking for someone to review it specifically for Dread Central and Horror Society.  Lynn Lowry wanted someone from Horror Society to review her film!  This is one of the coolest thing to happen to me since I joined Horror Society almost a decade ago.  I reached out and she sent over a streaming link for the short Ready for My Close Up.  Thank you Lynn for allowing me the opportunity to check this out!

     The film follows "nurse" Becca (Mounter) who cons another nurse into leaving so she could take over duties of caring for former actress Megs Topplethwaite (Lowry).  She hopes to drug Megs so she can search her home for something of value but Megs is a spunky thing that refuses to stay down.  While Becca searches Megs home she uncovers several corpses from delivery boys that Megs has killed while referencing movies she once worked on in her youth.  When Becca is finally able to find the thing she is looking for Megs has awaken and is ready for her next close up kill scene.

     I didn't know what to expect when I was sent the link for Ready For My Close Up.  The title was something that did not stir up my imagination but once the movie started rolling I found myself loving it.  This quirky comedy has several laughs and it mixes well with the horror elements in the film.  The short far exceeded my expectations.  The acting in this one is great.  Lynn knows how to control the scene she's in.  I've yet to see a film where she was not the best part of the cast.  Her career has spanned 50 years and its for damn good reason.   Her character in this film is extremely enjoyable and this is probably my favorite performance of hers.  Charlotte Mounter delivers a solid performance as well.  Honestly, I hated her character but the viewer is supposed to.  She does a great job at pulling that emotion from the viewer and I can dig it.  The supporting cast is great as well.  The delivery boys bring some more fun characters to life as well which really adds more fun to the film.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting but I fucking loved it.  A former actress reliving her past glories while killing is fun.  I liked the whimsical approach to the film and the colorful characters.  The movie makes very good use with it's time and brings plenty of laughs.  I could have used a little more horror with the story but it's still damn near perfect the way it is.  Finally, the film does have several deaths.  They are quick with minimal practical effects.  They do throw in a splash of visuals to really make the effects pop but hardcore horror fans will be looking for more blood than what we get with this one.  Overall, Ready For My Close Up will be hard to beat for my favorite short of the year.  I know 2020 just started but this short is absolutely phenomenal.  I haven't had this much fun with a review in a long time.  Thank you Lynn.  

     

The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires

Director(s) - Roy Ward Baker (Aslyum, The Monster Club) and Cheh Chang (Five Deadly Venoms, Kung Fu Invaders)
Starring - Peter Cushing (Horror of Dracula, The Satanic Rites of Dracula), David Chiang (A Slice of Death, The Revenge Ghost of the Tree), Julie Ege (The Mutations, The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins)
Release Date - 1974
Genre - Action/Horror
Tagline - "Black belt vs. black magic"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's been a busy week with my reviews but I still have a few more left to post before the weekend strikes.  Over the course of this week I've reviewed Warner Brothers Archive Collection releases of Horror of Dracula and The Satanic Rites of Dracula along with Scream Factory releases of Dracula: Prince of Darkness and Scars of Dracula.  Next up is the Scream Release of the Hammer/Shaw Brothers production The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires aka The 7 Brothers Meet Dracula.  This is hands down my favorite Hammer Dracula film.  I love those 70s kung fu films and the mashing of the highly popular Hammer Dracula series really works for me.  I know many dislike this entry but I absolutely love it.
     The film follows Van Helsing (Cushing as his son) as he tours the Chinses country speaking about vampirism.  It also just happens to be the same time that Dracula, now once again resurrected, is seeking out the 7 golden vampires to do his bidding.  Van Helsing, his son, and a wealthy heiress is then persuaded to follow a group of brothers and their sister, all kung fu master, to their village before the 7 golden vampires can kill more innocent people.  Van Helsing agrees and they start their treacherous journey to the village to stop Dracula, his deadly vampires and the legion of the undead that follows them.
     I tend to enjoy the cheesier side of cinema.  I love horror but my taste usually takes me to the trashier and comedic side of the genre.  I guess I can blame my upbringing of 90s kids movies and exploitation cinema from the video store.  I know this is one of the weaker films in the series but I can't help but love it.  It's so fucking fun and one of the few films in the franchise that I can watch over and over.  The acting in this one is far from perfect but they do bring to life some pretty entertaining characters with some fun backstories.  I'm a sucker for characters with backstories and history.  The brothers and sister with their own skillset and different personalities was a very entertaining touch to the film along with the history behind the golden vampires.  Dracula is a bit of a downer in this one but when you combine everything together you get a real fun kung fu films with horror elements scattered throughout.  The story for this one is something I would have loved as a kid.  As I stated in my previous review for The Satanic Rites of Dracula, I was already familiar with this franchise but I had not seen them all before.  If I knew there would be a kung fu entry in the series at that time I would have broke my neck to find a copy.  I absolutely loved the mash up and the whole new lore given to fans of the films.  The kung fu works and the writing does a great job at bringing characters like Van Helsing into a film they normally wouldn't fit in.  Finally, this one has several deaths that are fun and fit with the film but the practical effects were very weak.  This series is not known for their amazing practical effects and this film is no better.  In fact, one of the gags near the end of the film is out right laughable.  Overall, The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires is such a fun movie.  Imperfections aside, it is highly entertaining and a breathe of fresh air in a series that has become stale.  I highly recommend checking out the blu from Scream.  It looks absolutely fantastic.

Teacher Shortage

Director - Troy Escamilla (Party Night, Mrs. Claus)
Starring - Brinke Stevens (The Slumber Party Massacre, This is Spinal Tap), Debra Lamb (Star Trek: Enterprise, All Strippers Must Die!), and Kaylee Williams (Season's Greetings 2, Model Hunger)
Release Date - 2020
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Some are dying to leave the profession"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've spent my week watching some of the Hammer Dracula films sent to me for review from Warner Brothers and Scream Factory.  These are not first time watches for me but it was fun to revisit some classic horror.  However, not to burn myself out on the series I've decided to take a few breaks throughout the run to check out some indie productions sent my way for review.  After watching Sam Hodge's fantastic short Conversation with the Devil I decided to toss in Troy Escamilla's newest slasher Teacher Shortage.  This was one I had been interested in for sometime now.  Not many know this about me but my degree is actually in education and my wife is an elementary school teacher so a slasher centered around teachers is right up my alley.

     The film begins with a horrible prank when a girl replaces another girl's name in the yearbook to Ugly Skank.  The girl is mortified and later kills herself in the school bathroom.  We jump forward some time and follows a first year teacher, who is sleeping with the principal, when he attends a department get together that is held annually.  However, he is unaware of a mask killer stalking the staff killing them one by one.  

     This is not my first time reviewing a Troy Escamilla film.  Several weeks back I reviewed Troy's Christmas slasher Mrs. Claus and his prom night slasher Party Night that was sent my way from Wild Eye.  I fucking love holiday horror films but Mrs. Claus was not for me.  Party Night had some cool moments but I wasn't feeling the characters and some of the plot.  However, I thoroughly enjoyed Teacher Shortage.  It did have a few areas that could use improvement but I really enjoyed it.  The acting in this one is leagues better than the previous two films.  It's always cool to see horror legend Brinke Stevens in an indie production and Teacher Shortage was not shy about giving her plenty of screen time.  My favorite performance probably comes from David E. McMahon.  He was funny and his performance was definitely over the top when compared to the other characters.  He brought some humor to the film and really helped move some of the scenes along.  The film's lead, Chris Jehnert, does a fantastic job.  I really liked his performance and the character he brought to life was not your typical slasher survivor.  It is rather unique for the most part but I really enjoyed the diversity.  I can't talk about the cast without mentioning the performances from Roger Conners and Debra Lamb.  The two deliver some solid performances and really went above and beyond to make their characters feel authentic.  Conners' performance does get a little intense during the ending of the film and he does a great job.  The casting in this one is perfect especially when you compare it to the previous two films I reviewed.  The story for this one is a love letter to classic slashers.  The movie is thinking about 80s slashers but it's heart belongs to the post-Scream slashers.  It mixes some elements of both and I really enjoy that.  The movie has some great pacing and show how Escamilla has grown as a writer and filmmaker.  His previous two films had some rough dialogue that made the film feel like it was moving at a snails pace.  However, the pacing feels great and the characters and acting makes the dialogue fun.  I liked the slasher twist at the end and it was one I was not expecting.  My only real complaint about the story is the killer's costume.  The devil/demon mask is cool but with Volumes of Blood and the sequel making its rounds I just feel like something more teacher related instead of a mascot would have been more fun.  Sure, it works for Famine but the goofy mascot costume in that film works with the horror comedy presented to the viewer there.  A few years ago I was in a teacher store in October and they had a few little cheap plastic masks for kids that were intended to be cute.  However, one of them creeped me the hell out.  It was a mask of a teddy bear and painted over it was several letters and numbers.  It was meant to be cute but it was extremely unnerving.  Something like that would have fit the theme of the film a little more.   Finally, this one doesn't shy away from the red stuff.  We get some seriously brutal kills that tow the line with classic slasher kills.  Some of the effects and camera tricks works with the kills but there was a few times where the film's budget was noticeable with the kill.  Overall, Teacher Shortage is an impressive slasher that honestly impressed me.  I know I keep mentioning Party Night and Mrs. Claus but I'm really impressed by how much Escamilla has grown as a filmmaker since he directed these two slashers.  He loves the subgenre and it's evident with this release.  I highly suggest checking this one out because you are going to love it.  

The Satanic Rites of Dracula

Director - Alan Gibson (Tales of the Unexpected, Thursday Theatre)
Starring - Christopher Lee (Horror of Dracula, The Wicker Man), Peter Cushing (The Curse of Frankenstein, The Hounds of Baskervilles), and Michael Coles (Dr. Who and the Daleks, The Baron)
Release Date - 1973
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Vampire and vampire hunter meet in one final, bloody conflict!"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     After checking out a short indie horror production I decided to toss in another Hammer Dracula flick.  I was having way too much fun with these films and couldn't wait to toss in another one. After watching a few of the Warner Brothers and Scream Factory releases I went ahead and tossed in the next film in the series.  Next up is the 1973 The Satanic Rites of Dracula release from Warner Brothers as part of their Archive Collection series.  This is one I had seen on numerous occasions.  I had owned this on VHS as a child and bought the DVD in middle school at Rite Aid of all places that was part of their Halloween display.  The VHS and DVD quality was on the bad side so I was excited to upgrade to blu.  Thanks WB for sending this one over.
     The film follows Scotland Yard who finds themselves in the middle of a murder that looks like it was caused by a vampire.  They seek the help of Abraham Van Helsing's descendent.  Van Helsing works with Scotland Yard to track down the culprit only to uncover that Dracula is once again alive and plans on using a more potent strain of the black plague to wipe out the Earth.

     The Satanic Rites of Dracula is one I had watched several times as a kid before I started collection Hammer horror flicks.  I remember getting the VHS at a yard sale or flea market in Tennessee when I was a kid and watching it at my grandmother's.  It wasn't the best movie but it was awesome getting to watch a horror movie as such a young age.  Nostalgia aside, this is not the best in the Hammer line nor is it close to being the best in the Dracula franchise.  The acting in this one is one of the better acted films in the franchise.  I know that's just my opinion but I really enjoyed the characters we get when compared to previous installments.  Van Helsing, though Cushing is portraying a descendant, delivers the same performance we got in the previous films featuring his character.  He does a fantastic job.  The supporting cast is solid as well.  I really enjoyed their performances.  The story for this one is the second, I believe, that brings Dracula into the modern age.  I was unable to watch a few of the films in this series but I do believe that the first is Dracula A.D. 1972 which was released one year before this one.  I actually like the approach Hammer took at updating their franchise that had ran for almost 20 years but the movie does feel a bit stale by this point.  Finally, the film does have some blood and some practical effects that re very dated.  There was several occasions where the effects had me rolling my eyes even as a kid.  I still feel the same way after watching it all these years later.  The effects seem rushed and half assed.  Overall, The Satanic Rites of Dracula is probably the most well known release from the Hammer Dracula series due to the availability of the multiple VHS and DVD releases but is easily the worst in the series.  It is still a fun watch but don't expect the same quality as the previous films.

Conversation with the Devil

Director - Sam Hodge (Twelve Pole, Glam)
Starring - Travis Robinson (Glam, Twelve Pole), James Edward Holley, and Johnna Vaughn
Release Date - 2020
Genre - Horror/Thriller
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The last few days I've spent all my time working through some of the Hammer Dracula blus that was sent my way to review from Warner Brothers and Scream Factory.  I've really been enjoying myself but to not over do it I decided to break up my marathon with some indie productions.  A few days ago West Virginia director Sam Hodge, the man behind the short Glam and Wild Eye's Twelve Pole, reached out to me about his newest short Conversation with the Devil.  I love seeing inspired minds from my home state and when a WV filmmaker reaches out to me to review a film I always try to make time for it.  Once again Hodge and company deliver a solid short that is well worth your time.
     The film follows William (Holley) who is a down on his luck blue collar man.  His wife has been cheating on him for sometime and he doesn't feel like a man anymore.  While drinking and warming himself by the fire he is contemplating suicide when a stranger approaches him.  Williams doesn't seem to know the man but the stranger knows William all too well.  The two talk it over and the stranger reveals even more secrets that William's wife was hiding from him.  After a few moments the stranger convinces him that the world would be better off without him and William shoots himself.
     Shorts, especially ones running less than 20 minutes, can be very effective pieces of cinema.  They often cram so much punch into such a small package (no penis jokes, please).  Conversations with the Devil uses it's running time wisely and delivers a solid short.  The acting in this one is great.  James Edward Holley is great in his role.  He really plays with the viewers emotion and in just a few minutes you start to really feel for the man.  Such a great performance from a man who I can't find any other acting credits for on imdb.  With that being said, Travis Robinson is fantastic.  He was one of the better performances in Twelve Pole and the he delivers another great performance in this one.  I'm always shocked when I visit his imdb page and only see the few credits to his name.  You indie directors need to be contacting his man.  The story for this one is short, sweet, and to the point.  So many feature length films throw bullshit at the viewer just to reach the films hour and a half running time.  Shorts by pass all that and give the viewer the good parts as quick as possible.  Conversation is simple but it really works on a dark drama level.  The emotional level is there and then the film ends with a bang.  However, if the short was any longer the story would not have worked.  It was spread pretty evenly in this one but if Hodge would have added much more to it the story would have been spread too thin and the film would have lost it's impact.  Finally, if you are looking for a bloody flick then you will be disappointed.  The film is a character piece mostly but we do get a little splatter at the end of the film.  Overall, Conversation with the Devil is a well made and acted short that will leave the viewer feeling emotionally drained.  I highly suggest checking this one out whenever you get the chance!  Hodge did a fantastic job and has showed that he has grown as a filmmaker since his last film.