Tokyo Home Stay Massacre

Director(s) - Kenta Osaka and Hirohito Takimoto

Starring - Alex Derycz, Diana G. (70th NHK Nohaku Uta Gassen), and Will Harrell

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "You're not in Texas anymore.  Welcome to Japan"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     While most people jump into their favorite Halloween movies I'm continuing my binge of horror movies I've never seen before.  I had sit down to watch Spell for the first time and when I finished I wanted to keep my movie marathon going.  I looked through my recent additions to my collection when Tokyo Home Stay Massacre caught my eye.  The obvious nod to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre really caught my attention.  The film was sent my way recently for review and I figured now was the best time to check it out. 

      The film follows three American's who visit Japan.  They stay with a family in Tokyo and things go smoothly at first but soon discover that the family they are staying with have something sinister in store for them.

     I was really looking forward to this one but after 20 or so minutes into it I could tell that this was one of the many films I've seen this month that was almost impossible to finish.  The original TCM knew exactly what kind of movie they were making but THSM was all over the place.  The story was confusing, messy, and inconsistent while the acting and characters were out of touch with the film.  Honestly, I have no idea what this movie was trying to accomplish but it failed to be anything other than a waste of time.  The acting in this one is extremely inconsistent.  The film starts out well grounded with the cast delivering some solid performances.  However, as the film progresses the characters become flat and goofy.  We get some of the funniest lines in the film said during this as the weirdest time.  The dialogue and acting completely throws these later scenes off.  Honestly, the film starts out like a serious horror films but by the middle point we get a very comedy influenced film that lacks the humor.  The movie has no idea what kind of film it wants to be and it shows.  Finally, the film has plenty of blood.  We have some practical effects and some poor visual effects.  There is no real gore in this one but some very lackluster kills.  Overall, Tokyo Home Stay Massacre is a confused film that needed some help finding it's footing.  It has some serious struggles to overcome before anyone can take it seriously.  Sadly, I recommend skipping this one.  

Spell

Director - Mark Tonderai (Daybreak, Gotham)

Starring - Omari Hardwick (Kick-Ass, Power), Loretta Devine (Supernatural, Urban Legend), and Lorraine Burroughs (Midsomer Murders, Doctor Who)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Evil has it's roots"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My October horror binge has seen plenty of ups and downs.  I've watched some movies that really caught me off guard and impressed me while others were movies I wish I could destroy so no one else would have to suffer.  However, I can't recall many films that fully pulled me in and had me hanging in each and every scene.  Spell is one of those few movies.  Honestly, I had little interest in this one but once I started receiving different news blasts about it and and so forth I decided I would go ahead and check it out.  It seemed like the perfect movie to get me ready for Halloween and I was completely floored by how much fun I had with it.  

     The film follows Marquis (Hardwick) who is a wealthy and successful man who grew up in Appalachia but has put that behind him.  He wants to give his kids the life he never had but his childhood comes rushing back to him when he receives word that his father has passed.  He takes his family in his small plane to his father's home in the mountains but a storm hits forcing him to crash the craft.  He awakens in the home of Eloise (Devine) and her family who assures him that he was the only one who survived the crash.  Heartbroken, he tries to leave and finds his foot mangled.  Eloise is nurturing at first but soon her forceful tone reveals that something else is going on and his family may still be alive.

     I was extremely curious about this one when I learned that it was centered around Appalachia.  I've lived in West Virginia my whole life and spent summers with my brother and foster parents in Virginia but I had never heard of Hoodoo or Voodoo this far north.  It's not a common practice in the mountain states so I was very interested in seeing how this movie would approach it.  The acting in this one is absolutely fantastic.  Omari Hardwick is a great lead and does an amazing job carrying the film.  He really pulls the viewer in and you feel for him.  It takes a great deal of talent to pull those kind of emotions out of the viewer and he does an amazing job.  Wit that being said, Loretta Devine steals every scene she is in.  Movie goers are more accustomed to seeing her in a more light-hearted role but seeing her in this light really is something that will make you skin crawl.  Her warm and welcoming voice can easily send chills down your spine knowing she's a hoodoo priestess here.  Brilliant casting and having her in such a relaxed demeanor makes her character even more terrifying.  The story for this one definately had me glued to the screen.  Most of Appalachia, and especially West Virginia, is not known for Hoodoo and Voodoo.  In fact, this movie is the first time I had heard either of those mentioned within the state.  With that being said, it's nice to see a horror movie that mentions the state and it not be about inbred cannibals or drug dependent psychopaths.  It is something a bit different and I really enjoyed.  Finally, the film has some blood and some practical effects but nothing we haven't seen before.  However, the ending does have some pretty bad visual effects.  The flames in the barn start out looking decent but as the scene drags on they start to look worse and worse.  I'm sure there was another way they could have approached this.  Overall, Spell was not what I was expecting and my surprise favorite of the Halloween season.  I highly recommend checking out this well made supernatural horror thriller.  This is one I will be adding to my collection as soon as physical releases are available.    

RIP: Rest in Pieces

Director - Dustin Mills (Snuffet, Applecart)

Starring - Dave Parker (The Bad Man, Headless), Allison Egan (Easter Casket, Skinless), and Brandon Salkil (Halloween Spookies, Invalid)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Crime/Horror

Tagline - "Pissed off... Ripped off.. About to be ripped apart!"

Format - Streaming

Rating (out of 5):

     There is nothing more exciting than getting a movie in from one of your favorite filmmakers.  Sometime back I contributed to the crowdfunding campaign for Dustin Mills' newest film RIP: Rest in Pieces.  I was hoping the film would get released fairly quickly but some months went by and I forgot about it.  A few days ago I was checking my junk email when I came across the crowdfunding email with the digital copy of the movie.  I was going to wait until my blu copy came in but I was just too damn excited so I went ahead and watched the digital copy of the film.  

     The film follows a group of undesirables consisting of hire guns, hitmen, and cleaners, who are gathered by the local crime boss to visit an abandoned school to retrieve a bag.  This seems like an easy enough task but what they don't expect to find there is a hermit and an extremely powerful manic that does his bidding.

     It had been sometime since we got an actual film from Dustin Mills.  I know I reviewed his Haley Jay Horror Show blu earlier in the month but that was just a collection of shorts and music videos.  Having a real film from him really had me pumped.  The acting in this one is very fun.  Dave Parker has a bigger role in this one that I've previously seen and he really shows how natural he is in front of the camera.  His accent is a little exaggerated but I enjoyed it.  It added some light humor to the film.  It was also nice to see Allison Egan in another movie.  It has been sometime I was able to review a movie she was in.  She is always entertaining and never afraid to bare it all for the scene.   Her character is tough which only comes natural to her.  I also enjoyed Kayla Elizabeth and Kenzie Phillip's performances.  They were great in front of the camera and their characters were very fun.  The supporting cast is just as solid and I'm happy we get a return of Brandon Salkil.  He was always one of my favorite parts of Mills' earlier films.  The story for this one is not necessarily horror but the horror elements are there.  The film, at it's heart, is an organized crime movie with an ensemble cast of characters.  The film is very focused on the characters and their backstories which the film does a great job at creating.  The scenes are very dialogue heavy but it doesn't drag the film down at all.  In fact, the dialogue between the characters is very entertaining.  With that being said, the action segments in the film are not as entertaining as previous films from Mills.  You find yourself getting pulled in to their interactions but the more fast paced action scenes are a bit of a drag.  Finally, the film has some kills with some solid practical effects but the movie is not as visually stunning as other films from Mills.  This time around he is going for the gritty and grounded look which works.  The effects we get are solid but nothing stands out.  Overall, RIP: Rest in Pieces is another great film from one of my favorite filmmakers.  The cast is great, the story pulls you in, and we get some kills.  I wouldn't recommend it for your Halloween movie marathon but if you are looking for a decent indie movie this one is it.  

Main Street Meats

Director - Jeff Lyon (The Sound from Beyond)

Starring - Morgan Boland (Dead of the Night, Walt), Steve Golla (The Amateur Monster Movie, Psycho Holocaust), and Stacey Weber 

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "It's our pleasure to serve you"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Wild Eye is a company that can be hit or miss for some but I tend to find myself enjoying a good bit of their releases.  If you allow the artwork to set the tone for the film you usually find yourself becoming very underwhelmed.  However, if you go into them with an open mind you can find some quality entertainment.  Sometime back I received the film Main Street Meats for review.  I knew nothing of the film but after seeing Bloody Scum was nothing like the artwork I decided to wipe the artwork for this one from my mind and give it a go.  Thanks Wild Eye for sending this one my way!

     The film follows a family owned butcher shop that is struggling with keeping their doors open.  That is until one day when the mute brother snaps at a disgruntled customer and kills her.  To hide the body they run her through a meat grinder and sell her in the shop.  The meat becomes a hit but the family is faced with a new problem, supply and demand.  To meet the demand of their new found business they start killing people on the fringe of town but soon they get caught in their own game when they become careless and a class ring finds its way into a burger.  

     I was really impressed by how well put together this film was.  It was an amazing looking film that could have been a period piece if a little more work had went into the production.  Regardless, I loved the look of this film and the story was very entertaining.  The acting in this one is very well done which is very surprising considering how very little most of the cast has in the way of experience.  The characters fit the story very well and the cast is very dedicated to their roles.  They really get into character and deliver some very memorable performances.  The fact that most only have this film credited to their IMDB pages really says a lot about this cast.  The story for this one is very simple but I couldn't help but compare it to the film The Man Who Collected Food.  This light-hearted genre film both depects cannibalism in a not so brutal manner.  Both films are very whimiscle in a sense and offer up some friendly environments and settings for the film.  It's horror but with a friendly approach.  I really enjoyed this.  It could have easily been a Texas Chainsaw Massacre inspired film but this approach made it stand out.  Finally, the film has plenty of practical effects and props that looked awesome.  There is some blood and the "gore" is done very neatly.  It doesn't shower the viewer in it but does it to fit the story.  This was a nice touch without being over done.  The practical effects are nice and the props are fantastic.  Overall, Main Street Meats is a charming and beautifully shot horror film that doesn't try to be extreme or graphic.  Instead, it's a warm and inviting story that just happens to be about a taboo subject for most humans.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  

American Freakshow

Director - Tommy Slama (Alabama Sasquatch, Bumper Hardwood's Thanks Giving Day Special)

Starring - Tommy Slama, Elizabeth Knight, and Robbie Cox

Release Date - 2015

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "See how the other half lives"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I reviewed the two no budget horror comedies Weedwolf and Alabama Sasquatch.  They were cheap, funny, and completely off the wall.  I really enjoyed myself and told several friends about them after reviewing them.  Jump forward a few years and both films would get an official release from my friends over at Wild Eye.  Around that same time Wild Eye released another film of theirs that I had not seen prior.  Back in 2015 Tommy Slama and company made the film American Freakshow and recently Wild Eye released it under the new title Bloody Scum.  I decided my October Horror Binge would be the perfect time to finally check it out.  Thanks Wild Eye for sending this one over!

     The film follows a group of backwoods hillbillies who have a knack for kidnapping women and killing men.  When several groups make their way into their woods they find themselves deep in abducting and killing but will they have their hands full when they come across boy scout legend Bumper?

     It has been almost 10 years since I reviewed Alabama Sasquatch and Weedwolf so I couldn't remember a lot about them.  I do remember bits and pieces and some of the scenes still makes me laugh but overall I couldn't remember the overall story.  Lucky for me this film is not really a sequel in a typical sense to those other films and flows as it's own film.  I enjoyed it for the most part and it reminded me a lot of the mid 00's Troma releases.  The acting in this one is over the top and extremely goofy.  The cast, though mostly lacking on screen experience, had a lot of fun with their roles which showed in each scene.  The characters are very enjoyable and made the slower scenes very entertaining.  The story for this one is nothing we haven't seen before but the addition of heavy humor and some slapstick makes it an easy watch.  I can't see myself tossing this one in again but it's hard to tell what kind of mood I will be in 5 or so years from now.  Finally, the film has a lot of fake blood and cheap practical effects which only adds to the tone of the film.  Some of the kills were unintentional funny while others were very intentionally funny.  Regardless, the film has blood but not the amazing practical effects that most of you are looking for.  Overall, American Freakshow, aka Bloody Scum, is a fun watch for those of you that live on cheap beer and Troma flicks.  It has some laughs, cheap effects, and fun characters.  Check it out if you are looking for something different to watch but don't let the cover art for this one paint the picture for the film because you will be very disappointed.  

The Grandson: A Halloween Fan Film

Director - Robert Seawell

Starring - Robert Seawell, Wes Hightower, and Terri Gibson

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've found myself wanting to collect fan films.  I have no idea why but the last few weeks I've been searching social media for fan films.  I've found several that caught my attention and reached out to secure a copy.  It's illegal to sell fan films but if you donate to them or some other form of loophole you can usually get a copy of the film.  A few weeks ago I was searching through Instagram when I came across a post for Corn Teen Studio's The Grandson: A Halloween Fan Film.  I did some digging and found another post on FB which sent me to the director's page.  I reached out to Robert and was able to grab a copy of the film.  With Halloween just a few short days away I figured now was the best time to spin it.

     The film follow Donnie Loomis (Seawell) who is the grandson of the famed Dr. Loomis.  With Halloween upon him he finds himself decorating and preparing for the night when he gets a visit from a masked man wielding a knife.  He flees for his life but his roommate was not so lucky.  He soon realizes that his grandfather's nemesis, Michael Myers, has escaped the sanitorium and made his way to him and that his dear old grandfather was harboring a dark family secret.

     Fan films are usually made from passionate fans who want to continue their favorite films their own way.  In a lot of ways they can be fun but I often find myself wondering why they would spend all their time and energy on someone else's intellectual property instead of just tweaking their fan film into something original that they can call their own?  The Grandson has an interesting spin on the original Halloween mythos but some creative writing could have turned this Halloween fan film into something very different that they could credit as their own.  Regardless, The Grandon was a fun watch but I don't see myself revisiting it again.  The acting in this one is inconsistent but not bad.  Seawell not only takes over directing duties but he also has two roles in front of the camera.  He takes on a lot of roles here so it's understandable that his performance in some of the scenes is not on the same level as others.  I really liked his character and the depth he brought to it.  However, I could have lived without the scenes where he is talking to himself.  The film has a great Halloween aesthetic and dark atmosphere but hearing him talk to himself in the opening of the film made it a little laughable.  The story for this one takes a big leap with what we get in the original Halloween but I really liked the grandson angle.  It is a bit of a leap but I believe it pays off.  It works if you want my opinion and, honestly, I had more fun with this one than I did the most recent Halloween film.  Finally, the film has some blood but if you are looking for over the top kills and gore you will be very disappointed.  The kills work for a no budget indie horror film but if you expect more you will find yourself let down.  Overall, The Grandson is a no budget fan film that took a solid idea and executed it to the best of their abilities.  It does deliver a pretty fun spin on the classic Halloween story but the film isn't without faults.  It's worth a shot so check it out on YouTube.  

What Have You Done

Director - Mike Pelak (The Deliveryman)

Starring - Smitty Chai (Iron Fist, Madam Secretary), Jay Potter (The Call, Beast), Azumi Tsutsui (Deep in the Darkness, The Invisible Worm)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror/Thriller

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been extremely focused on watching and reviewing as many movies as I physically can this month.  Honestly, I've had a fucking blast watching so many new movies along with movies I've had in my collection for some time and never watched.  However, I do have to focus on other projects that were sent my way for review.  A few weeks ago I was contacted to review the politically charged thriller What Have You Done from director Mike Pelak.  This short runs around 6 minutes so I agreed to check it out.  I'm glad I did because I really enjoyed it.

     The film follows a wealthy and influential man who visits someone to help him clean up his mess.  The cleaner is often used to handle bribes and so forth but he soon finds that his new client went too far and killed the young girl.  

    I knew this wasn't going to be like the other horror flicks that I've spent most of my month reviewing.  However, I was still open minded to it and I was very surprised by what I witnessed.  The film is not really a horror film but it is a dark thriller with some blood.  For a six minute watch I have to admit that it was very entertaining.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  Smitty Chai is good as the calm and collected cleaner/fixer.  He's very natural in front of the camera and does a great job.  However, Jay Potter is the show stealer.  His character has an intensity about him that just steals every scene.  He was phenomenal.  The story for this one is very straight forward with a small twist at the end.  Honestly, I didn't see the twist coming but now I feel stupid because it was spelled out in front of me at the beginning of the film.  The movie is short, quick, and sweet.   I really enjoyed it and I'm glad they did not attemp to stretch this story out longer than it had to be.  Finally, the film has some blood but if you are looking for a gory mess you will be very disappointed.  The blood looks good but for those looking for practical effects will be let down.  Overall, What Have You Done is a very well rounded and solid short that really satisfies.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  

Hunter's Moon

Director - Michael Caissie (Speak of the Devil, Purgatory)

Starring - Katrina Bowden (Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, Sex Drive), Jay Mohr (Go, Small Soldiers), and Will Carlson (Killer App, Captain America: The First Avenger)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Crime/Horror

Tagline - "Something evil lurks within"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My October horror binge has taken me through some up and downs.  I always seem to find bad movies in clusters before moving on to a string of good movies.  After I went into the August Underground trilogy I decided to hit up a few monster movies to clean the taste out of my mouth.  My trip into Jeremy Gardner's After Midnight was fun so I decided to follow that up with a new werewolf flick that was sent over for review.  Hunter's Moon arrived a few months ago and I never took the time to check it out but I decided this was the perfect time to dig into it.  Sadly, I should have waited a little longer.  

     The film follows a family that moves into an old house isolated in the woods.  The parents leave their daughters there while they go away for a few nights.  One of the girls invites a few guys over to party and have fun but the guys have a different plan in store for the young beauties.  Instead, they want to rob the house because they secretly have ties to it after helping a serial killer who lived there before gain his victims.  What the guys don't know is that these are not normal ladies and they too have a dark secret.  

     I knew this was a werewolf flick that had Thomas Jane in it but that was the only thing I knew about this one.  The movie started out a little dry but progressivly improved only to completely unravel in the third act.  I really wanted to like this one but when it was all said and done I couldn't.  The acting in this one is solid but the characters are painfully cliched.  In fact, there was a few times that I forgot which cast member was portraying which character.  The cast tries but their personalities and portrayals are very cliched and unenthused.  Even Thomas Jane delivers a very stereotypical backwood's sheriff that offers very little to the story.  The story for this one has so much potential but doesn't know how to tell it.  The film wants to deliver a huge twist but the viewer knows exactly how the film is going to play out so the twist doesn't work.  If the story was told in a more linear fashion in typical movie style it would have been one hell of a werewolf flick.  However, as it is I find it to be rather dull and very ineffective.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments but nothing we haven't seen before.  The practical effects are decent but nothing that really stands out.  The werewolf that we see for a total of maybe five minutes look absolutely fantastic.  Most movies have a hard time pulling off a werewolf but this film nailed it.  Sadly, they don't let the viewer see it enough.  Overall, Hunter's Moon had the makings of good werewolf flick but approached it in the wrong manner.  It's predictable and very uneventful.  This is one I would skip.  

After Midnight

Director(s) - Jeremy Gardner (The Battery, Tex Montana Will Survive!) and Christian Stella (Tex Montana Will Survive!)

Starring - Jeremy Gardner, Brea Grant (Dexter, Beyond the Gates), and Henry Zebrowski (Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell, The Wolf of Wall Street)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Love will rip your heart out"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few years ago I was out at a few pawn shops, thrift stores, and used record stores looking for some movies to add to my collection.  I can't recall which store I was at but I found the zombie film The Battery from Scream Factory on DVD.  It looked interesting but not something I was going to rush home to watch.  Sometime passed and I found myself sick.  I stayed home from work and took a deep dive into some movies I had never seen before.  The Battery was one of those films and I fucking loved it.  I've watched it several times since then and enjoy it just as much every time I watch it.  Sometime back Umbrella Entertainment reached out to me to review Jeremy Gardner's newest film After Midnight.  Sadly, the trip from Australia was a rough one for this release.  The disc was dislodged when shipped and suffered some serious damage.  Instead of reaching out to them for a replacement I found someone selling their copy of the film fairly cheap so I snagged it.  I know it took some time but I was finally able check it out and review it.  

     The film follows Hank (Gardner) who finds out that the love of his life, Abby (Grant), has left him when he finds a strange letter.  His simple life is then thrown for another loop when a creature starts attacking his home every night after midnight.  His friends and family is starting to believe that Abby's departure has sent him over the edge but Hank truly believes a creature is hunting him.

     I was so excited to get into this one.  The Battery is not a fast paced action filled zombie film.  Instead, it's very character driven with more time spent on the character's relationship with each other and their fight for survival more than it's focused on the undead.  It works because it doesn't give us more of what The Walking Dead.  Instead, it keeps the sub-genre intact while delivering a solid story.  After Midnight has that same slow build up as The Battery but focuses on a torn lover dealing with isolation.  It works but is a very slow watch.  The acting in this one is great.  Gardner is not only a talented director but he is a fantastic actor.  His character is very down to Earth and works with the story so well.  He has plenty of personality and delivers a fantastic performance.  Also, it's always awesome to see Henry Zebrowski in something.  It was only earlier in the year that I discovered Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell but it quickly shot him up to the top of my favorite actor's list.  His comedy is no much prevalent here.  Instead, he delivers a very serious performance showing that he is a well rounded actor.  The story for this one is a slow burning one that will lose the viewer several times before the ending.  If you stick with it the ending is worth it but it is a bit of a climb to get there.  Where The Battery had two characters that contributed a lot to the story, this one follows one person and his solo scenes do become a bit of a boring watch.  However, if you stick with it you will see the film was worth your time.  Finally, this is not a gory flick.  We get some blood, minimal effects, and a very memorable looking creature that looks very impressive.  I really liked the way they went with the creature and the make-up effects and prosthetics look good.  Overall, After Midnight is not a movie that you will watch several times but it is a solid watch fir a first time viewing.  Slow, calculating, and moody but with a great cast and a different kind of creature.  Check it out.  

August Underground's Penance

Director - Fred Vogel (The Final Interview, The Redsin Tower)

Starring - Fred Vogel, Cristie Whiles (August Underground's Mordum, The Redsin Tower), and Shelby Lyn Vogel (Maskhead, Murder Collection V.1)

Release Date - 2007

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Well, I was able to do it.  I honestly didn't think I would be able to finish the August Underground trilogy.  I know some of you are going to go to the comment section and talk about how I couldn't handle them or I missed the point but I can assure you that is the furthest from the case.  I know exactly what the trilogy is trying to achieve and it doesn't work for me.  Maybe, big maybe, if I would have saw these films when they were released they would have had a bigger impact on me but seeing them all these years later after watching more extreme releases makes me wonder if I've become desensitized.  Regardless, I completed the trilogy.  

     The film follows the young man from the previous two installments and his girlfriend has they butcher, torture, and rape anyone that is unfortunate enough to cross their paths.  

     I really did go into this series with an open mind but the movie just doesn't have enough content to hold my attention for well over an hour especially after you have just sit through the other two films.  By the time you've reached the third film the movie is so overdone that you literally have to force yourself to finish it.  The acting in this one is consistent throughout all three films.  The characters are forced, unlikable, and really drag the scenes out.  Watching Fred scream the length of all three films is rough to sit through.  The characters are not that grounded and not enjoyable.  The story for this one is literally the same as the previous films.  We follows aadistic killers as they kill.  Simple as that with the film stretching an hour longer than it really needed to be.  Finally, this wouldn't be an August Underground film if it didn't have some of the best practical effects I've ever seen.  This one doesn't really embrace the gore like the previous films but what we do get is still very well done.  Overall, Penance is exactly as the previous films but it offers up very little for horror fans.  It's shocking for the sake of shock value but not much of a movie in itself.  Skip it.  

August Underground's Mordum

Director(s) - Jerami Cruise (Murder Collection Vol. 1, Insomniac), Killjoy (Necrophagia: Sickcess), Michael Todd Schneider (His Devil's Night, Our Devil's Night), Fred Vogel (August Underground, The Final Interview), and Cristie Whiles 

Starring - Fred Vogel, Cristie Whiles (Murder-Set-Pieces, The Redsin Tower), and Michael Todd Schneider 

Release Date - 2003

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I dislike writing negative reviews especially when they are the films from people I've met and have always done right by me.  I refuse to lie in a review but it's very difficult to write a negative review and not disrespect the person that made the film.  I've met and talked with filmmaker and effects artist Fred Vogel several times at Cinema Wasteland.  He was always extremely friendly and happy to speak with fans and other horror friends.  Sadly, his film series August Underground just didn't look like something I would like.  I decided this October to give them a shot and with Halloween approaching I figured now would be the perfect time to spin them.  The first one was something I had to force myself to finish.  Not because it was graphic or visceral, because it wasn't, but because I found myself bored.  I was hoping the sequel would be better.

     The film, once again, follows a pair who go around torturing, degrading, and killing people while they film it.  This time around they bring someone else in on the madness. 

     I love a lot of bad movies.  Cheap and absurd seems to be my wheelhouse but I do find a few of the more gruesome and extreme horror films to be entertaining as long as they have a story to tell.  With that being said, I can't find the appeal of this series aside from the practical effects and gore.  For movie that span the length of a feature film I struggle to watch it for more than 15 minutes.  Watching people get in each others face and scream, obnoxious laugh, and rough up someone tied up doesn't cut it for story for me.  I need something that pulls me in and Mordum, much like the first film, just didn't do that for me.  The acting for this one is more of the first film.  The characters try way too hard to be edgey and offensive.  They try to be people that have no regard for other human lives but you can tell the cast is forcing this really hard.  It's not genuine and a few of the scenes are very awkward to watch.  I found myself rolling my eyes more often than not.  The story for this one is literally the same as the first film with the additional of an extra headcount.  It works for 15 or 20 minutes but after that you will find yourself drifing off to sleep.  This simple and straight forward story is stretched so thin that it becomes a chore to finish.  Finally, the film once again showcases some of the most impressive practical effects I have ever seen.  The fact that this wasn't put into a traditional horror film is a fucking crime.  As much as I dislike this film I still have to recommend watching it just to see the effects.  Overall, Mordum is barely a movie in my opinion.  I know so many of you love this series but I can't find anything redeemable here besides the effects which isn't enough alone to carry the film.  Please, tell me what you love so much about these!

August Underground

Director - Fred Vogel (The Redsin Tower, The Final Interview)

Starring - Fred Vogel, Kyle Dealman, and Casey Eganey

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been collecting horror films for around 20 years now.  I was invited to join the forums at Upcoming Horror Movies when I was entering high school and it was here that I learned about a lot of indie horror films that would typically go unnoticed.  This was when I was first introduced to Fred Vogel's August Underground trilogy.  I collected the films on DVD soon after but after watching the trailer I decided to hold off on watching them.  They just didn't look like movies I would enjoy so I put them on the shelf and left them there.  When I started attending Cinema Wasteland I met Fred and his lovely wife Shelby and we talked about the movies he had for sale at his table.  Over the year's I've bought a good bit of their shirts and other merch.  The Vogel's are super nice and I will support them any way I can which is why I bought the blu release one Wasteland.  I still never had the urge to watch them but decided to break out the blu this October horror binge.  It was finally time to see what the extreme horror fans have been screaming about.

     The film follows two men, one with a camera, who go around kills, raping, and butching those unfortunate enough to cross paths with them.  

     Most people assume that I hate extreme horror and this is the furthest thing from being true.  I love all horror as long as the story works.  There is nothing wrong is a good, depreved piece of cinema full of gore if the movie has a story.  If it's lacking a story then it's boring for me.  I need a story to pull me in before showing me in blood and guts.  Sadly, August Underground was lacking this.  After just a few minutes into this one I found myself bored to tears.  The acting in this one is pretty rough.  As I stated earlier, I had met and spoke with Fred several times at Cinema Wasteland.  He's one of the nicest guys I've ever met at a con but his character and acting here is really hard for me to like.  His character was so annoying and his performance was very forced.  He was trying so hard to be a bad guy but it was just coming across as obnoxious and cringy.  The story for this one is not enough to cover a feature length film.  Someone recording their friend killing people has some power behind it especially for a found footage film attempting to capture that snuff style film.  However, watching a maniac on camera as his degrades and tortures people for the entire duration of the film becomes painfully dull after 10 or 15 minutes.  I'm sure it was a powerful and unnerving film when it was released almost 20 years ago but I find to see what makes it so appealing now.  I've seen far more depraving films with stories that hold up the entire length of the film.  Finally, this is one hell of a bloody film.  The practical effects are damn near impossible to beat and some of the most impressive I've seen in a no-budget release.  Vogel was a student of Savini I believe so it completely makes sense that these effects are amazing.  Overall, August Underground is 50 minutes too long if you want my honest opinion.  The faux snuff films will always bore me because they lack story and this one is no exception.  The gore is fantastic but watching a man yell, scream, and abuse people for an hour and some odd minutes is a dull watch for me.  Skip it.  

Alone

Director - Johnny Martin (Skeleton Man, Hangman)

Starring - Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf, Truth or Dare), Summer Spiro (Westworld, Swell), and Donald Sutherland (The Hunger Games, National Lampoon's Animal House)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "First the pandemic.  Then the chaos"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Earlier in the month I ventured to Netflix and watched a few movies.  I decided to start with a film released earlier in the year but has recently started gaining attention as Halloween approached.  That was #Alive which was from South Korea and was one of my favorite films of the month.  It is definately in my top 5 films of my October horror binge.  A few days ago I was sent the horror film Alone starring Tyler Posey, Summer Spiro, and Donald Sutherland.  After I tossed it in I quickly realized that this was an American remake of #Alive which really intrigued me then.  

     The film follows a man who awakens in the middle of a city wide pandemic where those infected have turned violent.  They start attacking those uninfected and if they don't die they become infected themselves.  He becomes isolated in his apartment and after a few days he finds himself slipping mentally until he notices a woman in the adjoining building is still alive and uninfected.  The two start communicating the best they can and soon a relationship blooms giving him something to live...or die for.

     I had no idea what Alone was when I got it in for review.  Seeing that it did star Tyler Posey and Donald Sutherland was an interesting combination that really caught my eye.  I was curious more than anything when I tossed it in but as soon as the #Alive comparisons started I found myself enthralled with it.  Was it as good as it's South Korean inspiration?  Hell no is the simple answer.  However, it was entertaining to an extent.  The acting in this one is solid.  I'm a fan of the Teen Wolf series so I was aware of who Posey was prior to this.  His character is a little too angsty for me but it works for the film.  I would have loved to see him take on a more action oriented character in the film but it works with keeping with the story they went with.  Sutherland is not in the film as much as I would have liked but he still delivered a great performance.  I was very impressed with Summer Spiro.  This is a new name for me but I really loved her performance.  Weak when compared to her South Korean counterpart but she still did a great job.  The story for this one is a strong American adaptation of the original with more focus spent on how a character will break down when forced to isolate.  This does make the film feel more grounded but it just doesn't hit as hard as the original.  The difference in personalities of the original is the biggest difference between the two.  Have characters afraid of their own shadows made this one not as fun.  Finally, this one has plenty of blood and some solid practical effects.  The film is not a gory one but it doesn't shy away from the blood.  The practical effects all look great and the fact that they had someone on hand that could turn out something this impress and didn't go with gore is a huge let down.  Overall, Alone is not going to be for everyone.  However, if you are looking for a big budget zombie flick this one has some very entertaining moments.  Will I recommend it over #Alive?  Hel no, but if you have already seen it and want something different then I suggest giving this one a go.  

Night of the Clown

Director - Dustin Ferguson (Ebola Rex, 5G Zombies)

Starring - Jennii Caroline (Amityville Toybox, The Dummy 2), Colby Coash (Camp Blood 4, Blood Claws), and Breana Mitchell (Meathook Massacre, Doll Killer)

Release Date - 2016

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "It was a killer Halloween party..."

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed several films from Dustin Ferguson this month.  Sadly, they were hit or miss with me.  Penny Pinchers, Wrong Side of the Tracks, and Runaway Nightmare were all solid watches and movies I could totally see myself diving into again.  With that being said, Asylum of the Devil and Angry Asian Murder Hornets were huge disappointments.  I know the "new normal" has changed the way movies are made so I'm giving AAMH the benefit of the doubt but Asylum just didn't feel like a completed film.  After I recently watched Todd Cook's Night of the Clown I noticed that the disc was actually a double feature with Ferguson's remake included.  Chris Seaver's remake of Cook's Evil Night was a fantastic film so I couldn't wait to dive into it.

     The film follows a group of party goers who are preparing for a Halloween party.  However, a serial killer clown that was burned alive 30 years ago has returned and is turning the woods into his slaughterhouse.

     The original Night of the Clown is a wacky and weird slasher that doesn't take itself too seriously.  The original director took on five different roles in the film which added some much needed laughs.  Sadly, this remake does not embody any of the qualities that made the first film so much fun.  In fact, it completely re-writes itself into something completely different.  The acting in this one is the only aspect that hs better than the original film.  The characters are grounded and more genuine, however, they are not that memorable.  They fall victim to horror cliches and the performances are forgettable.  The story for this one mixes A Nightmare on Elm St. with serial John Wayne Gacy.  We follow a serial killer who is captured by the locals and burned at the stake.  Hell, the killer even has the surname Gacy.  If you put that to the side you are still given a film that does not feel finished.  We have a film that run about 60 minutes with a 5 or 10 minute intermission.  The film already struggled with pacing before this and then completely loses the story after this point.  It's a struggle for even the most adamite no budget fan to finish.  Finally, the kills in this one are unimaginative and forced.  The original does not have memorable kills as well so this is pretty consistent with the first.  Overall, Night of the Clown was a huge disappointment and easily the worst movie in my October horror binge.  I was so excited for this one and then I was hit with the harsh reality that more time went into the artwork than it did on making the acutal film.  Skip it.  

Night of the Clown

Director - Todd Jason Cook (Evil Night, Zombiefied)

Starring - Lisa Cook (Demon Dolls, Lisa's Nightmares), Todd Jason Cook), and Chad Eubanks (Evil Night, Horrorscope)

Release Date - 1998

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A trip WAY beyond reality"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few days ago I decided to check out Todd Jason Cook's S.O.V. slasher Evil Night.  I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.  After digging into a few other movies I decided to circle back to check out a few more of his films.  The next movie of his I wanted to see is his 1998 slasher Night of the Clown.  I had always heard this was the weirdest slasher to ever to be filmed but this only fueled my curiosity.  Nothing I had heard could prepare me for this extremely weird ride.

     The film follows a wealthy man, his four identical brothers, and his wife.  He lives a luxurious life with his wife but his brothers are mostly jealous of his success.  While he continues to find success and spoiling his wife there is a killer clown lurking in the darkness killing his family one by one.

     Strange is a word I had hear often when fans describ Night of the Clown but I would not use that to describe this one.  In fact, goofy is about the only word that properly sums this one up.  It is the goofiest and weirdest slasher I have ever seen and no matter how hard I try to describe the absurd story before me it will never do it justice.  This is one S.O.V. horror flick that needs to be seen to be believed.  The acting in this one is pretty much the same as other films from Cook.  They are fully invested in the film but their inexperience and awkward dialogue gives this oddball film a few scenes with unintentional humor.  The movie has a few jokes written into it but they do miss their marks due to the unintentional humor.  The story for this one is brilliant in a no-budget horror sense.  Cook cast himself as five characters to cover the lack of cast and it a few layers to the story.  I loved that he did that and approached each character with a different personality.  It made it fun and extremely goofy.  Now, the clown portion of the film is a bit confusing but with everything going on you still find yourself enjoying it.  Finally, the film has plenty of bright red blood and some practical effects but the kills are the least entertaining aspect of the film.  I know that's a weird thing to say about an S.O.V. slasher but the kills take the back seat to this bat shit crazy story and casting choice.  Overall, Night of the Clown is not the well rounded horror film you are looking for but if you want something VERY different and weird then this late 90s horror film is for you.  Check it out.  

Asylum of the Devil

Director - Dustin Ferguson (5G Zombies, Angry Asian Murder Hornets)

Genre - Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     A late night of movie watching and writing.  I absolutely love watching horror movies late at night and I love it even more when it's a movie I've never seen before.  I recently decided to dive into The WXIP - TC Channel 6 Triple Feature from director Dustin Ferguson.  The first two films, Wrong Side of the Tracks and Runaway Nightmare, were solid films which only fueled my excitement for the third film in the collection.

     The film follows a woman who awakens in an asylum with no recollection of how she got there.  The nurses are cold to her at first and then she meets the evil doctor running the place and his sinister intentions with her are revealed.

     I was hoping the charm of the first two films in this set rubbed off on the third but this final installment really misses it's mark.  Honestly, the movie feels incomplete and just tossed in at the last second to make this DVD feel like you are getting more bang for it's buck.  It's worth the price for the first two films but this one should have been left off.  The acting in this is the only constant between this segment and the previous films.  We get that awkward amateurish performances from the cast that really drives home that made for television tone the film is going for.  The story for this one has a solid start to what could be a pretty solid horror film but after the story is introduced it very quickly falters into a chaotic mess.  It is clearly evident that this segment was never properly finished and just added to this at the last minute.  Finally, if you want the red stuff then this collection is not for you.  This film, like the other two, is not a showcase for blood and gore.  Overall, Asylum of the Devil has an interesting premise but fails to follow up with it.  The short just exists with no real purpose.  Skip it.   

Runaway Nightmare

Director - Dustin Ferguson (Ebola Rex, 5G Zombies)

Starring - Ronne Angel (Tales from the Grave, Axegrinder II), Clint Beaver (Amityville Clownhouse, Nemesis 5), and Dawna Lee Heising (House of Pain, The Woods)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "She thought she had escaped, but the worst was yet to come"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Halloween is just a week away so I'm diving as deep as I can into as many horror movies as I can.  I'm trying to get movies I've never seen before that I've had in my collection for sometime but a few new additions are getting tossed in my player because I'm just too excited to see them.  I recently received Dustin Ferguson's WXIP - TV Channel 6 Triple Feature in with his Angry Asian Murder Hornets.  After I spun through the first film, Wrong Side of the Tracks, I had to have more and took a dive into Runaway Nightmare.

     The film follows the young lady that escaped the cult in the first film who returns home.  Her grandfather becomes a drunk and during one of his drinking binges he tries to fuck her.  She runs away from home only to find herself confronted by the cult once again.

     I really liked the look and atmosphere that Wrong Side of the Tracks was able to pull off.  I was really excited to see Runaway Nightmares and it was able to replicate that while giving us a continuation of the original story.  The acting in this one is more of the same as the first one.  The cast does a solid enough job but the performance is meant to mirror those local public access movies from the late 80s and they do a decent enough job of that.  The story for this one is a quick pick up from where the first film left off.  We follow the young woman who escapes only to find her way back in their arms again.  This is a great send off to those Halloween safety tip videos while adding in the Satanic Panic that swept suburbia of that time.  The commercial breaks are fun and add even more to that atmosphere.  Finally, this one again follows the made for television trope fairly close and doesn't deliver the blood and gore that most horror movies do.  Instead, this one is all about that late night cable aesthetics.  Overall, Runaway Nightmare is a great follow up to the first film and really does a great job building that nostalgia factor that most millennials crave.  Check it out.