Violet

Director - Samuel Vainisi (Breathe, Senses)
Starring - Alyss Winkler (Slaughterhouse Slumber Party, Amazon Hot Box), Jason Crowe (Space Babes from Outer Space, Harvest Lake), and Ember Burns (Skeleton Cop, Demonbond)
Release Date - 2020
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Can you handle reality"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several months back I was browsing a few horror groups on Facebook looking for new movies to check out when I saw several posts talking about a new indie horror flick from young filmmaker Samuel Vainisi.  The young man is under 18 I believe but already helmed several shorts and just released his new feature.  I went to his website and ordered what DVDs and blus he had available to check out.  I recently decided to give them all a spin.  The two shorts I reviewed were not for me.  I struggled to finish them so I wasn't expecting much different from the feature but I was shocked.  Violet is Vainisi's best work yet and I was a fan.

     The film follows Violet (Winkler) who is solicited online by a man and his friends to come audition for them.  What she doesn't know is that the three men intend on raping her while filming it.  She survives and soon vows to seek revenge on the three men.  However, along the way she meets a man that takes the pain away and she falls in love with him.  Sadly, her quest for vengeance blinds her and she hurts the one she loves.
     I was concerned that I wasn't going to like Violet after checking out Breathe and Akrasia but the film really surprised me.  It was brutal at times but there was also a lot of heart and intimacy in the story that most horror films lack. I was really impressed by this and it only proves my point that Samuel Vainisi will be a name many in the horror community will be familiar with real soon.   The acting in this one is great for the most part.  Violet has a much bigger cast than the previous two shorts.  Alyss Winkler and Jason Crowe are great together.  Their characters are so genuine and very grounded.  They are not over the top or ridiculous but they don't feel cliched or unforgettable. With that being said, the dialogue in this one is rough at times.  I'm sure these scenes I'm referring to was improved but it's really awkward to watch.  The film also has several cameos from other indie horror faces.  Rock Bottom's Brain Papandrea (The Big F, Gray for Pray: The Erotic Adventures of Jesus Christ) makes an appearance along with Arme/Lust director Keith Voigt and artist Justin Talarski.  The story for this one really surprised me.  It has a lot of emotion, which is brought out by Winkler, and then we have the bloody scenes scattered throughout.  This is written completely differently than the two shorts I watched and it flows way better.  It's easy for the viewer to follow.  Finally, there is a few death scenes.  We get some practical effects and plenty of blood.  Gorehounds will not find satisfaction in this one but those looking for an immersive horror experience will enjoy it.  Overall, Violet has a story that will hit some right in the gut.  The cast does a great job and the pacing is perfect.  The dialogue is a bit slop at times but if you sit through it you will really enjoy what Vainisi delivers to viewers.  Check it out.  

Breathe

Director - Samuel Vainisi (Senses, Violet)
Starring - Alyss Winkler (Slaughterhouse Slumber Party, Jessie's Super Normal Regular Average Day) and Dominic Vainisi (Akrasia, Senses)
Release Date - 2018
Genre - Drama/Horror
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love watching a short. They tend to pack so much into a short running time where most feature length movies run out of wind before the final act.  I recently purchased a few films from the young filmmaker Samuel Vainisi who has a few shorts and a feature length film under his belt.  He's a stand up young man who is very supportive of other filmmakers and I really wanted to check out his work.  The first short I tossed in was 2018's Akrasia.  Honestly, I wasn't a fan of this one but I kept moving on.  The next short is another one from 2018.  This one, Breathe, stars indie starlet Alyss Winkler.  

     Breathe follows Riley (Winkler) who is suffering from anxiety and insomnia.  She lives in her head and every waking moment is a nightmare for this young woman as she hallucinates.  Over time she starts to think about taking drastic measures that could be life altering but in the end she remembers that she just needs to breathe...

     I was very curious to see how Breathe was going to play out.  Much like Akrasia, the film was not meant for movie fans like myself.  I'm too immature with a taste for bad movies.  This film is obviously very close and personal with the filmmaker with the story focusing on mental health.  People will appreciate what he is trying to say but for people like myself the 12 minute short is a little too long with the story we are given.  The acting in this one is very one sided which can be said about Vainisi's other short Akrasia.  Winkler is alone most of the film but delivers a very powerful and impressive performance.  She has to communicate with the viewer without speaking which she does a phenomenal job with it.  Roles like this is why she is one of my favorite indie scream queens.  The story for this one is simple and works if the film was just a little shorter.  Even with the film running 12 minutes it feels a lot longer than what it actually is.  The impact of the story is felt early on but struggles to hold that same power on the viewer after the initial hit.  Finally, this is not a bloody and gory short.  This is a very story driven short that does not rely on the red stuff to sell it.  Overall, Breathe is a compelling story with an amazing performance from Alyss Winkler but the viewer will find themselves becoming uninterested in the story once the middle segment begins.  Regardless, this one isn't for me but it could be for you so check it out if it sounds like something you would dig.  

     

Akrasia

Director - Samuel Vainisi (Violet, Breathe)
Starring - Kyle Thacker, Jessi Winston (Senses, Violet), and Dominic Vainisi (Senses, Breathe)
Release Date - 2018
Genre - Drama/Fantasy
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     People that know me often say that I like stupid movies.  I don't take offense to that because it's true.  I often gravitate toward the oddball side of indie cinema.  I've watched movies that were musicals about incest, homophobic cops forced to go undercover as gay porn stars, a living fetus, and a killer turkey.  Hell, as I write this I'm watching a movie where people are smoking weed and get the munchies so severe they become cannibals.  Anyway, not everything indie is for me.  That doesn't mean it's a bad movie but it just doesn't fit my tastes.  Sometime back I befriended filmmaker Samuel Vainisi.  This young filmmaker has already made a name for himself with his short films Senses, Akrasia, and Breathe but really made a wave in the horror groups with his first feature Violet.  I wanted to support this upcoming director and picked up his movies knowing they didn't look like something I would enjoy.  Regardless, I'm glad I picked them up to show some support.  The first film of his on the chopping block was his 2018 short Akrasia.  

     The film follows a teen who is wondering through the woods uncovering photos.  He has no idea why he is there or how he got there but with each photograph he finds a little piece of his memory comes back.  However, nothing can prepare him for his last discovery.  

     I was very curious and interested in these films.  When I received them in I was really drawn into the artwork for Akrasia.  It made my mind race with the possibilities about what it was about.  Sadly, I just wasn't into it.  It's not a bad movie but just not my kind of movie.  Akrasia shows great promise for the young filmmaker.  We get some beautiful shots, a smooth flowing story, and the beginnings of what I'm sure will be an unforgettable career.  The acting in this one is rather one sided.  The film mostly follows Kyle Thacker as he wonders through the forest looking for answers.  There is flashbacks with him and Jessi Winston interacting but the scenes show dedication but inexperience.  The story for this one is not the most original story but it does set Vainisi apart from other indie filmmakers.  I'm a horror fan but I have to admit that almost every filmmaker starts their indie career by making a zombie or slasher so it's nice to see someone go against the norm.  Sadly, the story is one that I found taxing to follow.  It was simple but the uneventful scenes made it a bit of a chore to finish.  Finally, this is not a horror flick as I stated earlier so if you want some gore you are barking up the wrong tree.  The artwork, featured above, does paint a horror picture but the film is more of a dramatic fantasy film.  Overall, Akrasia isn't for me and those of you that dig Troma, Rock Bottom Video, and other goofball horror films will not find entertainment in this one.  However, if you like the more story driven side of cinema then this one might be right for you.  

Hawk and Rev: Vampire Slayers

Director - Ryan Barton-Grimley (Lexus Man, Killer Friend)
Starring - Ryan Barton-Grimley, Ari Schneider (Gloria Bell, Criminal Minds), and Jana Savage (Rude Boy - The Movie, Stabbin Cabin)
Release Date - 2020
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "Slay time is over...or is it?"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most will say that 2020 has been the worst year that they have ever lived through and I would agree.  However, the one bright side to this abysmal year is that some pretty solid movies are getting released.  Companies like Blue Underground, Vinegar Syndrome, and Severin Films has been releasing some top notch movies on blu. Also, some awesome indie movies are getting released.  Some have turned the pandemic into a productive time finish projects.  A few days ago I was sent a press release for the movie Hawk and Rev: Vampire Slayers.  The artwork, from The Dude Designs, looked great.  I was asked to review it a few days later and couldn't pass up the opportunity.  This year may have sucked but movies like this makes it a little more tolerable.
     The film follows Hawk (Barton-Grimley) who suspects that new tenants in a warehouse where he works are vampires.  He recruits his friend Rev to help him catch them before they can kill again.  However, they quickly find themselves unprepared for a supernatural battle.  Hawk reaches out to a man he met in military prison to help him but that turns sideways.  It returns back to the two preparing to battle the vampires along with a woman writing a book on vampires.  The three prepare to fight the vampires when they realize they are not vampires at all but a goth rock band and the real vampire was in front of their faces the whole time.
     Hawk and Rev is the kind of film that I love to discover.  They don't take themselves too seriously and offer up some laughs.  The story may be lacking but the characters are entertaining and that's good enough for me.  The acting in this one is extremely fun.  Barton-Grimley and Schneider are absolutely fantastic together.  They compliment each other so well and their characters worked with one another.  The characters they deliver could be the next Tucker and Dale.  I can see these two go on so many misadventures in the future.  The supporting cast is fun as well.  We get so many memorable and entertaining characters on screen.  The story for this one is simple enough.  We get two oddballs fighting suspected vampires while a real vampire is in their midst.  Its not the most appealing story but the characters are so entertaining that you follow them on this journey while enjoying every second of it.  Finally, the film is relatively void of blood beside a few moments at the beginning of the film.  However, that changes during the final act when we get blood by the buckets.  The effects are a mix of practical and visual which works very well for the film.  Overall, Hawk and Rev: Vampire Slayers is not the next genre icons that many of you will get tattooed on your leg or buy shirts of from Rotten Cotton.  However, this is the kind of film that will live on among horror fans who are looking for a good time with some blood and laughs akin to films like Tucker and Dale, Jack Brookes: Monster Slayer, and Bloodsucka Jones.  Give this one a spin and enjoy yourself.  You will not be disappointed.  

Chills Down Your Spine

Director - Mathew Kister (Shivers Down Your Spine, The Eyes of Isabelle)
Starring - Megan Garcia (Camp Blood 4, Shivers Down Your Spine), Steve Eaton (The Grand Horror, Outpost Doom), and Anastasia August
Release Date - 2020
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "Twice the thrills... Twice the kills... Twice the chills... Down your spine"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     This year may be a shit show but there was some good things to come out of it.  I mean, not as much as the bad but I'll take what I can get at this point.  Several years ago I reviewed the boobtastic horror anthology Shivers Down Your Spine.  It was a fun anthology that had a fantastic wrap around segment that really held everything together nicely.  A few days back director Mathew Kister reached out to review the film's sequel Chills Down Your Spine.  I quick to say yes to that request and I'm glad I did because it was just as fun as the first film.  Thanks Mathew for allowing me the opportunity to check this one out!

     This film follows two different djinnies, Mahktoonah and Sabiah (Garcia in a duel role), are called upon by two different individuals.  Mahtoonah is summoned by a man trying to find his love Sabiah while Sabiah is summoned by a mask wearing serial killer.  As the film unfolds the djinnis tell stories to the two men while their individual stories unfold and they finally meet.

     I had no doubt that Chills would be just as fun as Shivers but I had no idea it would be on the scale that it is.  The movie really impressed me at every turn from the acting to the stories and the sets.  Honestly, Chills shattered my expectations and I absolutely loved it.  The acting in this one is phenomenal from the entire cast.  Megan Garcia handles duel roles in this one and is fantastic.  Her characters are very fun and bring a lot of life to the film.  The same can be said for the remainder of the cast.  The film has a lot of cast members with no weak links.  We have strong male roles and just as strong female roles.  With that being said, the ladies cast in this one are absolutely stunning.  They are all gorgeous and most bare it all for the camera.  The stories for this one vary from comedic supernatural tales to westerns with horror twists.  At almost 3 hours I would be here all day discussing each tale.  What you need to know is that with a running time of 2 hours and 49 minutes there is not a second wasted here.  I loved every minute of this one but I am confused as to why the two wrap arounds segments and their subsequent stories are not separated into two different films.  I don't mind the length of the film but the filmmaker and company could release two films instead of one for additional profit.  Regardless, it's worth your time.  Finally, this film is a beautiful piece of cinema.  The sets and lighting are nothing short of brilliant.  You can pause the film at any moment and what you will get is a work of art.  Also, the film has plenty of blood and great practical effects along with some solid make-up effects.  There is literally something for everyone in this one.  Overall, Chills Down Your Spine is my contender for best indie horror film of 2020 and one of the best horror anthologies I've seen in a long time.  This movie is a must for any horror fan and if you complain about the abundance of boobs then you need to check out a movie from Richard Griffin instead.  

The Revenge of the Living Dead Girls

Director - Pierre B. Reinhard (France Nymphos, French Lolitas)
Starring - Cornelia Wilms (Gwendoline, Fire Under the Skin), Kathryn Charly, and Anthea Wyler
Release Date - 1987
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Shocking beyond belief"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Horror is a funny thing and so it contradicting yourself.  I just reviewed Severin's release of the 1982 Indonesian horror film Satan's Slave.  In my review I mentioned how the artwork lead me to believe that the movie was going to be boring or dull.  I was shocked by how amazing the movie actually was.  I was looking forward to checking out Severin's release of The Revenge of the Living Dead Girls.  The artwork was absolutely amazing and made my mind wonder with the possibilities.  Sadly, it was the exact opposite of Satan's Slave.  The artwork was amazing but the film lost traction as it went on.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one my way to review.
     The film follows a rich executive working for a chemical company who has been embezzling company money meant to pay for the proper disposal of a dangerous chemical.  Instead, he's been dumping the chemicals in a cemetery which has poisoned some of the local women.  What he doesn't know is that the chemicals he's been pumping into the ground at the cemetery have reanimated the corpses of the young women he accidentally poisoned and now they are out for blood.
     The film started out on the right foot.  I loved how the story started, the setting in which the film took place, and how the dead became to be.  However, once we reached the halfway mark on the film it quickly switched gears and started to wonder away from the initial premise.  I'll discuss that more in a few moments.  The acting in this one is solid but very uneven.  Most of the cast delivers a decent performance but there was a few scenes where the cast just ran through their dialogue with no attempt at acting.  It weighted the scene down and made the impact of the story miss it's mark.  The story for this one starts out perfectly.  We get a solid enough reason for corpses to rise from the grave with the chemical dump but the movie comes off the rails by the halfway mark.  The extramarital affair and the conspiracy to cover the tracks is rather boring at takes the horror out of the story.  It really needed to stay straight forward like it was instead of jumping genres like it did.  Finally, this one has the kills you know and love from a zombie flick.  We get some blood and several practical effects that fit in nicely with 80s zombie flicks.  They are fun and work for the film.  With that being said, the zombies are laughable.  They don't look bad but there is something about them that doesn't look right.  From the moment you see them on screen you find yourself wanting to laugh.  Overall, The Revenge of the Living Dead Girls starts out great but couldn't hold it together.  It still has it's moments but don't expect your next favorite movie with this one.  The blu does look great and looks great on any collector's shelf but that's about it.  

Satan's Slave

Director - Sisworo Gautama Putra (Savage Terror, The Warrior)
Starring - Ruth Pelupessi (Mistery in Hongkong, Rosita), W. D. Mochtar (Fighting the Storm, Operation X), and Fachrul Rozy (The General's Daughter)
Release Date - 1982
Genre - Horror
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I get a lot of stuff in for review.  Honestly, I get in more stuff to review than I have time to review it.  I always look at each release as it's own instead of the company behind it.  I know some people get excited by brands and, to an extent, I do too.  However, I know that all companies are capable of releasing hits, as well as, duds.  Sometime back I got Satan's Slave in for review and put it on my review stack.  The artwork wasn't speaking to me and I just assumed it was going to be one I didn't care for.  I was so fucking wrong.  Over the last two days I've watched this 1982 Indonesian classic twice with a third spin in my near future.  I'm so sorry I slept on this release.
     The film follows a family that is well off financially but is struggling after their mother dies.  The father is a dedicated businessman and is often gone for work leaving his daughter and son home to cope with the loss of their mother.  They hire a new caretaker to look over the home but she is harboring a dark secret.  She practices black magic and is using her powers to reanimate the dead with plans on killing the entire family.  
     The artwork on the Severin blu release is solid artwork but it doesn't pull the viewer in or peak curiosity.  My first impression of this one was that it was going to be a bland and boring Asian horror film but I was so fucking wrong.  This movie has some of the greatest atmosphere to come out of 80s horror along with a great story and fantastic sets.  I absolutely loved it.  The acting in this one is pretty damn good.  The cast does a fantastic job at establishing their characters and creating memorable personalities.  Their scenes are extremely smooth and they do a fantastic job with their character interactions.  The story for this one is simple but it works.  The gothic atmosphere and gloomy sets really work for the film.  It added another layer to the simple story making it work better than it should have.  It does slow down in a few spots but the scenery helps hold the viewer's attention.  Finally, there is blood with some practical effects but they are far from perfect.  In fact, compared to modern films they are rather laughable.  With that being said, the make-up effects are my favorite aspect of the film.  I love how the dead look in this one.  Simple white and gray paint with standard contact really gave the dead a skin crawling look.  Overall, Satan's Slave is a must.  Fans of Night of the Living Dead and Asian horror will need to see this one.  The blu from Severin looks crisp and nice with some of the scenes really popping.  I highly recommend this one for collectors.  

Dead Dicks

Director(s) - Chris Bavota (Even the Darkness Has Arms) and Lee Paula Springer
Starring - Heston Horwin (Wiener vs Brain, A Zombie Love Story), Jillian Harris (Deadly Secrets, My Worst Nightmare), Matt Keyes (X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Being Human)
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi/Comedy
Tagline - "That's a whole lotta stiffs"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm just going to be up front with everyone that takes the time to read my reviews.  If you name your movie Dead Dicks, Dog Dick, Dicks Dick, or any other form of Dick you can guarantee I will at least notice it.  I'm a product of the Beavis and Butthead generation that cut my teeth on Goosebumps books.  I have the maturity level of a 13 year old and if I see something with a title like that hit store shelves you can bet your sweet ass and half a tit that I'm checking it out.  Sometime back I received the press release for Artsploitation Films' release of the 2019 horror comedy Dead Dicks.  I knew I had to see this one so I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  I'm glad they did because I really enjoyed this wacky flick.

     The film follows Becca (Harris) who is struggling with a way to tell her dysfunctional brother that she is moving away because of an opportunity that presented itself.  However, she never truly gets the right chance to tell him when she receives a panicked call from him begging her to come over.  When she arrives she finds his body but is soon startled by him walking behind her completely nude.  Confused, she tries to figure out what is going on and learns of a strange spot in his room that allows anyone that dies in his apartment to come back to life with minor amnesia.  This soon leads to a whole lot of bodies piling up with no explanation as to why.  

     I had no idea what was in store for me with a title like Dead Dicks but I knew that if the title was that clever then the story would be just as entertaining.  The movie was not what I was expecting but it did live up to the title.  In fact, that title perfectly fits this film.  The acting in this one is great.  Heston Horwin and Jillian Harris are great in their roles.  Their chemistry on screen is fantastic and one would really believe they were siblings.  I loved their characters and the dedication they gave their roles.  The story for this one is a rather bold one for the film's budget but the cast and crew created a very fun tale that works.  The off beat humor and macabre story works.  It's not a bloody mess of a film but the random bodies piling up and the great cast creates a fun and interesting film that will keep you glued to the screen.  Finally, as I stated earlier, this is not a bloody film.  There is a few spots with some blood but not enough to really stand out especially to a typical horror fan.  This film is very story and character driven over the blood.  Overall, Dead Dicks is unique and unusual to say the least.  The story is very ambitious but the cast and crew do a fantastic job.  Check it out if you ever get a chance.  

     

Hanukkah

Director - Eban McGarr (House of the Wolfman, Sick Girl)
Starring - Robert Felsted Jr. (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, CollegeHumor Originals), Sig Haig (House of 1000 Corpses, Spider Baby), and Caroline Williams (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Hatchet III)
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "A Torah-fying new tale of Horah"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Late last year I saw a few horror fans sharing pictures of the horror film Hanukkah featuring some of the last roles from screen legends Sig Haig and Dick Miller.  I was really interested in this flick but when I went to place an order I realized that it was out of stock.  I waited a few months and eventually forgot about it until producer Christopher Ott made a post on social media that blus were now available to order.  I quickly jumped on it and ordered a copy...then Covid hit.  It would be several months before I actually got the movie.  I understand how the world shutting down could affect small businesses like this so I wasn't mad.  Honestly, I forgot I had ordered it so I was surprised when it did finally arrive.  As soon as I could I tossed this one in to check out.
     The film follows a group of twenty-somethings who head out to a house party several hours from home.  However, they don't realize that one by one they slowly go missing with no trace of them at all. An older man arrives and informs them that several decades ago a religious fanatic, Judah Lazarus (Haig), murdered several people including his father but was shot by an officer before he could sacrifice his only son.  Now he suspects that his son has followed in his father's footsteps killing those that do not follow Judaic law.
     I was so excited to check this one out.  Honestly, I had a smile from ear to ear when I tossed this one in and just after a few minutes I found myself ready to turn it off and it didn't get any better from that moment on.  It's rare I come across a movie with the perfect set up fail to find it's footing.  The acting in this one is the best aspect of the film.  I really liked the cast.  The big name cameos didn't really do it for me.  Don't get me wrong, I love seeing Sid Haig and Dick Miller in movies but I feel they were very underutilized here.  I know they are both aging and ill by this point but there is so much more that could have been done with them.  The actual cast does a fantastic job.  I love the character's personalities and how they interact with one another.  Some were very cleverly written but their personalities doesn't do much to carry the film.  The story for this one is all over the place and stretched VERY thin. The film has the perfect setting to be an unforgettable slasher comedy.  In fact, one scene features someone making Jewish jokes while talking about horror movies.  The movie literally sets itself up to be funny but the forced serious tone fails miserably.  Then we have the people at the home for several days while their friends go missing with zero fucks given.  They question their disappearance but do nothing.  It absolutely makes zero sense.  If the film was centered around a camping trip it would make some sense with hikers going missing but who goes to a house party, has car trouble for three days, and continues to couch surf while their friends are missing?  Finally, the film does have some bloody moments.  The kills fit the style of the film and offer up plenty of blood but, like most of the film, they are rather underwhelming.  The effects for the kills are great and work for the scene but offer up nothing memorable.  Overall, Hanukkah could have been so much more than what we got.  It had the makings of an unforgettable slasher but falls into the depths of Wal-Mart horror.  Skip it.