Monster Force Zero

Director - Nathan Letteer (Fifty Shades of Kilroy, Mac's Apartment)

Starring - Adam Singer (The Jurassic Dead, Hannah and Gretchen: A Trail of Breadcrumbs), Aeon Cruz (Terror Tales, The Night Shift), and Dalena Nguyen (Scarred for Life, Not Your Mothers Scouts)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy

Tagline - "From zeroes to heroes"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The community, especially the horror and cult community, is some of the most toxic group of people I have ever encountered in my entire life.  I've been a movie fan for as long as I can remember and a horror fan for damn near 20 years so most of my social media existence has included movie forums and groups.  People in these groups are way to quick to hate on movies without giving them a chance or realizing that they were done with little to no budget.  Sometime ago I saw the press release that Wild Eye was releasing the sci-fi comedy Monster Force Zero.  It wasn't long before the news of the film reached these groups and many were quick to shit on it.  Honestly, I thought it looked fun so I couldn't wait to dig into it.  I reached out to MVD who was handling this release for Wild Eye and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  I'm glad I checked it out because it was really fun.  

     The film follows a group of comic artists and writers who are appearing in character to promote their indie comic at a convention.  When a rival comic group approaches them they find themselves invited to an after party where they are recruited to play a game for a group of aliens who grants them the powers of the characters they are cosplaying.  After each task they discover that the aliens are actually using them forcing them to work together with their rivals to defeat them before they are able to take over the planet. 

     Monster Force Zero isn't going to be for the horror crowd.  However, if you dig stuff like Video Game High School, Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie, Fanboys, and Rise of the Fellowship then you will really appreciate this one.  I had a lot of fun with it and I expect to get a lot of blow back from this review but it's whatever.  I won't lose any sleep tonight knowing someone is mad at me for liking a movie where a yeti fights bigfoot.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun but the cast does have some room to grow.  The characters are all written well into the story but some are a little cliched.  With that being said, if didn't stop the cast for going fully dedicating themselves to their roles.  They gave each scene their all and it shows.  It was a lot of fun watching these characters interact with one another.  The story for this one has a lot going on but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  We get some sci-fi adventure, a lot of alien conspiracy references, some cryptozoology, and even a few comic and video game references as well.  The film does struggle with pacing and does get a bit choppy at times but if you stick with it you will find yourself having a lot of fun.  Finally, the film has a little blood but the main focus here is the use of visual effects and props.  We get some fun costumes and props that look great considering the film's budget.  We also get a lot of visual effects.  Some work with the style of the film while others do look a little goofy.  Overall, Monster Force Zero is a fun sci-fi film for fans of sci-fi and pop culture.  I have a soft spot for shows and movies like The Guild, AVGN: The movie, and Video Game High School so this one was nothing short of enjoyable.  I know some of you will be extremely critical on this one but the people like that are never happy any way so it doesn't matter.  I recommend checking this one out.  

Anything for Jackson

Director - Justin G. Dyck (A Witches' Ball, Super Detention)

Starring - Sheila McCarthy (The Day After Tomorrow, Die Hard 2), Julian Richings (Supernatural, Spare Parts), and Konstantina Mantelos (Paranormal 911, Miss Misery)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Fear your elders"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The RLJE Films and Shudder partner releases have really impressed me over the years.  Movies like The Cleansing Hour, The Mortuary Collection, Random Acts of Violence, Yummy, and so on were surprise hits.  I enjoyed watching them and I liked most of these movies so much that I actually took a dive by subscribing to Shudder.  When I saw that RLJE and Shudder were once again teaming up for the release of Anything for Jackson I had to check it out.  The trailer painted a movie that I really had to see so I reached out and was lucky enough to get a review copy of the film before it hit store shelves.  I want to thank RLJE for sending this one over.

     The film follows the elderly couple Audrey (McCarthy) and Henry (Richings) who lost their grandson after a horrible accident.  As Satanists they learned about an ancient book that could bring him back but they need an unborn child for him to take over.  Henry is a doctor and has a patient that is due any day now to deliver.  The two put a plan in motion to kidnap her and use the ancient book to bind him to the unborn child.  However, things don't go according to plan and they turn to another member of their church to help them through the ritual. 

     Anything for Jackson is a movie I was not expecting to see get a release in today's age where so many people are getting offended over the simplest things.  A movie centered around a family oriented elderly couple who are also Satanists is really bound to ruffle some feathers considering how in the U.S. anyone that isn't a Christian is painted as terrorists.  I really enjoyed this one and I'm sure most genre fans will feel the same way.  The acting in this one is great.  McCarthy and Richings are fantastic together as the elderly couple trying to bring their grandson back.  These two characters are what makes the film so much fun.  Their on screen chemistry is perfect for the story and they really do an amazing job at bringing them to life.  The supporting cast is just as great.  Their screen time is nowhere near as much as the other two but they make great use of the time they have.  The story for this one is a supernatural haunted house tale mixed with the occult.  I loved how we get an unconventional take on grieving grandparents.  In most films the elderly couple would turn to religion, which would most likely be Christianity, but here they turn to Satanism and the occult.  I fucking loved this aspect and how well it worked with the characters.  The movie is very well written and it works as a moody, and often times claustrophobic, genre film.  With that being said, I feel as if more of the ancient book and backstory could have been used in the film.  It's such a brilliant story with so much material that was never used.  Finally, the film has several death scenes that really do catch you off guard.  They hit when you don't expect them and are extremely brutal and bloody.  I wouldn't call these deaths gory but they are fun and very enjoyable.  Overall, Anything for Jackson is a must watch for horror fans.  If you dig haunted house flicks or movies centered around the occult then this is a no-brainer then.  I highly recommend it.  

Sacrificial

Director - Tony Schweikle (Spirit of the San Juans, Dobe and a Company of Heroes)

Starring - Carter Burch (Fatal Attraction, Venom), Elisabeth Ferrara (Lethal Weapon, Verotika), and Mark Laursen (Evil Things, My Haunted House)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Embrace the Darkness"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a huge fan of Wild Eye's for sometime now.  I've collected their releases for almost a decade now and every month I look forward to their new releases just like I do with Vinegar Syndrome.  Just because I love WE doesn't mean I enjoy every release of theirs.  I love collecting them but sometimes they release a film that I just don't care for.  I always have fun watching a new indie release but sometimes it is a chore to finish the film.  A few weeks ago MVD sent over the 2018 film Sacrificial to review.  I love getting a new Wild Eye release to review and the artwork for this one really pulled me in but the film itself was extremely messy and difficult to follow.  I wanted to like it but I couldn't.

     The film follows a young man who accompanies a women he met at a bar to a voodoo ritual.  When he witnesses a human sacrifice he flees for his life and soon goes into hiding for fear that the cult will track him down before he can tell the story of what he saw.

     I was really curious about Sacrificial, originally titled Rum and Hot Peppers, but it only took about 10 minutes for me to realize that this was going to be a tough one to finish.  The movie had an interesting premise but the execution and story is just all wrong.  It's almost as if the story was never fully completed and a lot of scenes were added strictly to extend the run time.  I'm sorry, but this is one I don't care for.  The acting in this one is not perfect but I've seen a lot worse.  Some of the scenes were acted well enough for the movie to progress but a few of the scenes lacked energy or commitment.  It felt like the cast was just reading over their lines prior to filming.  No dedication at all which resulted in what was already a dull story becoming even more boring.  The story for this one started out interestingly enough but it struggled to find it's footing almost as if they had the premise written down but never took the time to write out where they would go with it.  The thought of a fake voodoo cult killing people as a tourist attraction is a little goofy but I actually liked that part of the film.  With that being said, the movie didn't know what to do with this.  We spent way too much time following one guy as he panicked and became paranoid.  This part of the film was too drawn out and extremely boring.  A good chunk of this could have been cut out resulting in a much shorter film that could have been a little more effective.  Finally, the film has some blood but don't expect anything that will stand out or hold your attention in regards to deaths.  The movie is more focused on character interactions over story and blood.  Overall, Sacrificial had an interesting idea but was unable to pull it all together into something enjoyable.  It feels like it was possibly a rushed project that resulted in a lot of corners cut.  This is one Wild Eye release that I can't recommend.  

Army of the Dead

Director - Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead, Sucker Punch)

Starring - Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, L.A. Slasher), Ella Purnell (Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Kick-Ass 2), and Omari Hardwick (Kick-Ass, Power)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Action/Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Always bet on dead"

Format - Streaming (Netflix)

Rating (out of 5):

     We haven't received a lot of new releases this year for obvious reasons but the big releases we have received have all been very entertaining.  This year is the year of Zack Snyder after we were given the Snyder Cut of Justice League a few months ago and the promise of Army of the Dead only made the blow of the pandemic feel tolerable.  Army of the Dead is one that I was really looking forward to checking out and when news broke that it was premiering on Netflix I knew that I would be seeing it fairly early on.  Snyder has yet to let me down and I knew he wouldn't with this one.

     The film follows Scott Ward (Bautista) who is tasked with putting together a team and entering Las Vegas which is now blocked off from the outside world following a zombie outbreak.  He is tasked with securing 200 million dollars that is left in a vault of a casino.  However, there is a new breed of zombie lurking behind the walls of the closed off city and another motive for the group to be sent in.

     Army of the Dead has split movie fans since it was released.  Some people went into it expecting a genre changing film from the director of Justice League.  However, the movie was meant to be fun and nothing more.  It's a popcorn flick that mixes action and horror while not trying to be anything more than fun.  The acting in this one is what you would expect from a movie like this.  The cast is all amazing actors that really get into their roles but these are the types of performances that will not be winning awards.  We get some hilarious one liners and comical portrayals of bad asses that gives this film some much needed humor.  With that being said, I really liked Dave Bautista as the lead.  He always entertains and this film is no exception.  The characters, especially the "alpha" dead really make this film what it is.  I enjoyed the diverse cast of characters and how each actor portrayed them.  The story for this one is mindless action and horror.  If you go into this one expecting a "realistic" zombie movie you will be very disappointed.  Which bring me to the question "what the fuck is a realistic zombie movie?"  Really, I want to know.  So many people on social media shit all over this movie because it wasn't realistic.  Regardless, if you go into this one expecting the next Dawn of the Dead you will not have a good time.  However, if you go into it expecting a zombie movie from Zack Snyder and starring a professional wrestler then you will have a lot of fun.  Finally, the film is a showcase of effects.  We get so many amazing practical effects in the deaths.  The deaths are extremely bloody and violent with the film making great use of the practical effects.  The make-up effects look great as well with the zombie queen quickly becoming the face of modern horror.  With that being said, there is several instances of visual effects that looked extremely cheap and rushed.  They didn't match the film what so ever and really took away from the scenes.  I enjoyed the film but I can't figure out why they would make the decision to use poor CGI when I've seen no-budget films use it more effectively.  Overall, Army of the Dead is mindless fun that I could watch on a continuous loop without becoming tired of it.  If you are the type of person that takes things too seriously or have the need to pick everything apart then you will not have a good time.  However, if you are open minded and looking for something straight forward and fun to watch then this one is for you.  It's not Snyder's best but it's very entertaining.  

Summer Camp Girls

Director - Gary Graver (Party Camp, Peeping Tom)

Starring - Kimberly Carson (Double Heat, Sinners), Tara Aire (Pleasure Zone, Dallas Schoolgirls), Shauna Grant (Flesh and Lances, Suzie Superstar)

Release Date - 1983

Genre - Comedy

Tagline - "They learn about love in all the right places"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been horror overloaded the last few days with Vinegar Syndrome's newest releases along with a few other titles from Wild Eye and SRS Cinemas.  Don't get me wrong, I love my beloved genre but sometimes you really need to mix it up for fear of getting burned out.  Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.  Any way, when Vin Syn announced their April releases they included the sexploitation film Summer Camp Girls as part of their Peekarama label.  It looked like another fun release from them so I decided to toss it in after checking out a few no-budget indie horror flicks just to mix things up a bit.

     The film follows a summer camp where the women are sexually frustrated and will go to great lengths to score.  However, things get complicated when one of the young girls is abducted by one of the local goons right as her father arrives to see her sending everyone on a frenzy to find her.

     Summer Camp Girls is a rushed production with some moments and a lot of sleaze.  Sexploitation is something I've only recently got into over the last few years but this one is of the more entertaining ones.  The acting in this one is great.  The characters all reminded me of the type of characters you would find in the sleazy sex comedies from the early 80s.  They were funny when needed to be and sexy when the time arose.  With that being said, there was a few slow scenes with awkward dialogue and lazy acting.  The story for this one works for a sexploitation flick but it does rush at the end with no real closure.  I've watched countless movies that take place in the 80s with similar stories yet this one struggled to give us any real resolution.  Also, I would have loved to see more campy hijinks mixed in with the sexploitation.  Finally, the film has no blood or gore.  However, if you want to see beautiful women fully nude then this one is for you.  Overall, Summer Camp Girls is a fun and sleazy release from Vinegar Syndrome.  The video and audio looks great and the slipcover is perfect for collectors.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  

The Embalmers

Director - Rebecca Rinehart (Faces of the Dead, Bloody Hooker Massacre)

Starring - Alyss Winkler (Slaughterhouse Slumber Party, Amazon Hot Box), Rob Mello (Happy Death Day, Trailer Park Shark), and Andrea Collins (The Hospital, Seven Screaming Women)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "They'll seal your fate"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Last year was one of the most chaotic and dividing times of my life and I'm sure it was that way for everyone.  Watching businesses close due to the pandemic while the uneducated and selfish masses argue with scientists over the use of masks really made me dislike the human race.  However, last year was not all bad.  Several filmmakers took the time to finish projects or launch new ones while the world was on lockdown.  Indie starlet Rebecca Rinehart used this time to crowd fund her directorial debut The Embalmers starring Alyss Winkler, Rob Mello, and Andrea Collins just to name a few.  The artwork sold me on the movie but with so many crowd funding campaigns going at once I forgot to snag a copy.  A few weeks ago others were showing off their copies of the film so I reached out to Rinehart and she hooked me up with a DVD.  After spinning Evil Everywhere I decided it was the perfect time to check it out.

     The film follows three siblings who run a funeral home.  Cy, Mae, and Billie have been over the funeral parlor for sometime now and it's because of a pat with a voodoo priest that they are able to remain young and service the members of the community. However, things get a bit messy when another voodoo practitioner moves in the area and uses two local idiots to help her obtain blood sacrifices.  This conflict of interest brings the two parties together for a fight that would seal the fate of the small community

     I find it strange how there is a lack of horror films centered around funeral homes and mortuaries.  Sure, we have The Undertaker and his Pals, Tales from the Hood, Mortuary Collection, and Mortuary but when you consider the how many horror films are out there you would be surprised how this perfect setting for a horror tale is rarely used.  That was my biggest draw to The Embalmers aside from the amazing poster.  The acting in this one is extremely awkward at times.  The cast works very well together.  They are comfortable with one another and you can see the chemistry between them all.  However, the dialogue delivery and emotional range in a lot of the scenes falls flat.  The story for this one is very bold and ambitious especially for an indie production from a first time filmmaker.  What we get is a movie with a lot of moving parts that makes for a clunky film that not only drags on but fails to fully capture what the story is trying to say.  In a perfect world Rinehart would have been able to fully explore every aspect of this awesome story she had penned.  However, the way the story is now just feels like a table reading with alternative models.  I found myself very underwhelmed and disappointed in what could have been with this story.  Finally, this is not a bloody or gory flick.  We get some great make-up effects on the cadavers in the film along with some minimal practical effects that look solid.  With that being said, we do get some goofy visual effects that stand out like a sore thumb.  Overall, The Embalmers is a film that looked great on paper but the film it's was a tough one to finish.  The movie may move at a snail's pace but the film itself feels rushed.  With that being said, I can't wait to see what Rinehart and company has in store for us next.  

Evil Everywhere

Director - Mykee Morettini (Premature Nightcrawler, Ghoulish Tales)

Starring - Dylan Mars Greenberg (Psycho Ape!, Shakespeare's Shitstorm), Corrinne Mica (Nightfall, Dungeons and Disaster), and Mykee Morettini 

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "You never know when death will come knocking"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few months back I was sorting through my emails when I saw the press release for an upcoming release from Wild Eye Releasing.  Most of you know how much I love and respect Wild Eye so I was very curious about this one.  After watching the trailer I was only more interested in it so I reached out to MVD who was handling this release for Wild Eye and they were kind enough to send a copy of it my way for review.  Thank you MVD and Wild Eye for once again hooking me up!

     The film follows Zeke (Morettini) who is part of the graduating class that is being picked off by a supernatural presence.  He notices that the evil force is going in alphabetical order and is able to stop it with the help of a rogue cop and a stranger.  Now, two years later, the evil has awakened and is killing again and this time in a different pattern.  Zeke must once again stop the evil before it consumes everyone.

     Evil Everywhere is a throwback to 80s horror films and the rough grindhouse films of the 70s.  With that being said, the film has a sense of humor and doesn't take itself too seriously.  Some genre fans will be turned off by this but if you enjoy films like Blood Junkie and the works of Chris Seaver then you will appreciate what Evil Everywhere brings to the table.  The acting in this one is fun and very energetic at time.  The cast doesn't have a lot of experience but they had a lot of fun with their roles which translates very well to the film.  The use of humor and over the top dialogue makes the viewer look passed the inexperience.  The story for this one blends a lot of different 80s tropes into a fun throwback that works.  We get some Evil Dead, Italian horror, Sleepaway Camp, and a bunch more.  This is a movie written by a real horror fan and it shows.  With that being said, the story does hit a few slow spots that seem to drag on but nothing that truly takes away from the film.  Finally, the film has some fun and bloody moments with some decent enough practical effects.  The kills, like most of the film, is masked with humor to help with the film's budget.  It works and these films are a lot of fun to watch.  Overall, Evil Everywhere is a fun throwback to 80s horror.  It was funny, paid tribute to a lot of the classic films that were shaped by that decade, and was an all around enjoyable experience.  I highly recommend checking this one out from Wild Eye now.  

All American Murder

Director - Anson Williams (Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Charmed)

Starring - Christopher Walken (Sleepy Hollow, The Prophecy), Charlie Schlatter (Police Academy: Misson to Moscow, The Sopranos), and Josie Bissett (Hitcher in the Dark, The Doors)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "He's about to enter a jungle of sex, sleaze and murder... he's going to college"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When Vinegar Syndrome announced their April titles I was excited for most of them but one film in particular did not look that promising.  While Grave Secrets and The Cellar were what really interested me the most I was not looking forward to spinning the 1991 murder mystery All American Murder.  It looked like a made for television film that Christopher Walken would only appear in for a few moments.  Yet, after finally watching it I can safely say that it was the best film in the bunch.  I absolutely loved it and I feel like a fool sleeping on it.  I want to thank Vin Syn for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows Artie (Schlatter) who is an odd duck that marches to his own beat.  After an arson charge he is forced to change colleges after his father, a judge, pulls a few strings.  He immediately falls in love with one of the most popular girls at school and after some work he is able to convince her to go out with him.  However, the romance is short lived when she is found leaping from a building on fire.  Her murder is pointed to him due to his record of arson and as he rushes to find the real killer the bodies turn up with all of the deaths pointing to him.  

     Honestly, I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did but I fucking loved it.  It's a murder mystery that has that made for television type of twist but the characters and story are very engaging.  I really enjoyed it and I'm shocked others didn't like it as much as I did.  The acting in this one is pretty great.  Schlatter is fun as the smooth talking youth who is at the center of a conspiracy involving the campus sweetheart.  I loved his character and how he was so natural in the role.  He worked great with the rest of the cast and the personality of his character really made the film as fun as it was.  Walken just walked through his role but it was decent enough.  We didn't get the typical Walken draw that he is known for which was a bit of a disappoint.  The supporting cast is solid enough but they do deliver inconsistent performances throughout.  In some scenes they are all in and delivering great performances while other scenes are a bit disappointing with lazy dialogue and no enthusiasm.  The story for this one is a mix of slasher meets the classic murder mystery tropes.  The film for the hour or so is a standard murder mystery that will remind the viewer of those murder mysteries from the 70s and 80s.  However, the final leg of the film feels like a slasher with a more fast paced body count and the faceless killer.  Slashers have always been known to have that murder mystery style plot but AAM is more focused on the murder mystery aspect more than the slasher angle.  I really enjoyed the story and how it was written.  It has great pacing and the scenes that are poorly acted don't seem as bad because the story is still developing during these scenes.  Finally, the film has several deaths.  Some have great props and make -up effects but if you are looking for a lot of blood and gore then you will be very disappointed.  Overall, All American Murder may feel like a Lifetime movie at times but it's a fun one.  I really enjoyed the story and the cast for the most part.  Fans of mid-90s slashers can appreciate this one with the emphasis on the mystery around the murders than the actual deaths themselves.  I highly recommend snagging the blu release from Vin Syn because it looks absolutely beautiful.  

The Cellar

Director - Kevin Tenney (Night of the Demons, Witchboard)

Starring - Patrick Kilpatrick (The Stand, Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus), Chris Miller (Shrek, The Boss Baby), and Suzanne Savoy (Better Call Saul, Alien from the Darkness)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "It's your worst nightmare and its in...The Cellar"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several months ago director Kevin Tenney released images of himself dropping off cannisters of film to Vinegar Syndrome to get restored and remastered.  Many began guessing as to what movies of Tenney's was getting released by Vin Syn.  Many suspected that it was his 1990 action flick Peacemaker was getting released as part of their VSA line.  Though, I admit that this would have been a cool release, I was hoping for his 1989 horror film The Cellar.  Back in my high school years I was a huge fan of Tenney's Night of the Demons and from looking over his filmography I found myself extremely interested in The Cellar and I'm glad Vin Syn decided to give this film a proper release.  I also want to take a moment to thank them for sending this one my way to review.  

     The film follows a young boy who is visiting his dad and step-mom after they move into a new house in the desert.  The home is sitting on the site of where an evil creature that was created by the Native Americans to kill the encroaching white man was created and is locked away in the cellar when it started killing Native Americans as well.  The boy's father doesn't believe in the legend and opens the cellar door freeing the beast forcing the young boy to team up with a local Native American and the realtor responsible for selling his parents the home to stop the creature from killing his family.

     I had heard a lot about this one prior to watching it.  A few close friends of mine had mentioned how this was one of their favorite films growing up.  I enjoyed it and had a lot of fun with it but I didn't care for it as much as I did some of Tenny's other films.  The acting in this one is great.  Patrick Kilpatrick is amazing as the boy's father who purchasing the home with the creature in the cellar.  He's a stereotypical father figure but he does a fantastic job in the role.  Chris Miller is great as the young boy who is trying to protect his family while no one believes him.  His age does not dictate his performance here and he does an amazing job carrying this film on his back.  The supporting cast is just as entertaining and we even get a small role from Lou Perryman who many of you may recognize as L.G. in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.  The story for this one feels like a late 80's episode of Goosebumps or Are You Afraid of the Dark?  We follow a kid trying to protect his family from an ancient evil but most of the adults don't believe him.  This was the basis for so many of the horror themed kid's shows I watched growing up and I would be surprised if they didn't draw some sort of inspiration from this film.  With that being said, the movie does drag it's feet at times.  The story is very inconsistent and struggles to find it's own footing.  We have a fairly smooth opening and a great ending but the mid-film hump is very uneventful.  Finally, the film has a fun creature design that may not be nightmare inspiring but it looks fun for a late 80s horror production. I really enjoyed the look of the creature.  If you are looking for blood you will find a small amount here but don't expect a bloodbath with lots of gore.  Overall, The Cellar is not Night of the Demons or Witchboard but it is a great late night creature feature that works.  The blu release from Vin Syn looks great and deserves to be seen to truly appreciate.  I highly recommend this one.  

Grave Secrets

Director - Donald P. Borchers (Perfect Fit, Children of the Corn)

Starring - Paul Le Mat (Puppet Master, American History X), Renee Soutendijk (Suspiria, Eve of Destruction), and Lee Ving (Clue, Flashdance)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "It's going to be a hell of a night"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

    Every month I look forward to the newest Vinegar Syndrome releases.   It's not often that they release a movie I've seen before so each month I look forward to checking out some obscure releases from the 70s, 80s, and 90s through their various series.  Their VSA releases have been my favorite of theirs in recent years.  I love the hardbox sleeve and the addition of posters really makes for a nice release that is not aesthetically pleasing for collectors but also consists of some seriously fun and underrated titles.  When Vin Syn announced that the supernatural 1989 film Grave Secrets was getting a blu release as part of their VSA line I had to have it.  When my package arrived this was the first one I tossed in.

     The film follows a professor who studies the paranormal who is contacted by a young woman to investiate her new home that she is trying to renovate into a bed and breakfast.  He reluctantly agrees and soon finds himself in the middle of a real haunting but she is hiding a secret that she doesn't want out.

     Grave Secrets is goofy as hell but I found myself thoroughly enjoying it.  I wouldn't call this one an extremely scary or eerie paranormal film but the characters are engaging and the story works.  The acting in this one is solid but the cast does ham it up some.  Paul Le Mat and Renee Soutendijk were great in their roles and worked very well together.  Their chemistry on screen really tied the characters together making the story that more solid.  The supporting cast is just as solid.  The characters are entertaining and the cast really sticks with it.  I really enjoyed the cast even with the cheesy performances.  The story for this one is a haunted house film with family drama but lacking the atmosphere.  The haunted house story lacks the atmosphere and horror like the films Amityville Horror and Poltergeist but what it lacked in real horror it made up for in story and character development.  I loved the backstory we get on the ghost in the house and it's ties to the main character in the film.  I really enjoyed the backstories more than I would have the eerie atmosphere and suspense.  Finally, the film doesn't rely on blood and gore.  The film is more story focused but we do get some extremely outdated visual effects that will leave the viewer laughing.  Overall, Grace Secrets will not be everyone's cup of tea but if you like campy horror films of the late 80s then I would highly recommend checking this one out while you still can.  This VSA release is a must for horror fans and collectors alike.  I really enjoyed this one and Vin Syn did a fantastic job with the release.  

For the Sake of Vicious

Director(s) - Gabriel Carrer (In the House of Flies, The Demolisher) and Reese Eveneshen (Dead Genesis, The Zombie Disposal Unit Presents Zombie Truck)

Starring - Lora Burke (Paranormal 911, See No Evil), Nick Smyth (Motherly, Covenant), and Colin Paradine (Antisocial, Surviving Evil)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "Nothing good this way comes"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few weeks ago I received a package from MVD with a bunch of movies in it for review.  There was several movies from Wild Eye Releasing, a couple from Severin, the new UHD release from Blue Underground.  There was also a few random releases placed in that I was excited to check out.  After I took a look at the Argentinian post-apocalyptic horror film Scavenger I was looking for something get the taste out of my mouth.  I decided to go with the newest Epic Pictures Group release.  I want to thank MVD for sending over For the Sake of Vicious for review.  

      The film follows a  nurse who returns to her home to find a deranged man in her kitchen who had abducted and beaten another man.  He tries to convince her that the man he is torturing is responsible for the rape of his little girl.  She is reluctant to believe him at first and eventually tries to set him free.  The man, a local business owner with ties to the underworld, calls a colleague to pick him up.  However, his colleague wants to use this as a way to get rid of him and take over the business.  He puts together an army of masked goons to ambush the house resulting in a barrage of gunfire and blood.  

     The trailer and artwork for this one made me think I was going to be digging into a bloody and brilliant horror film with tons of action.  Sadly, that was not the case.  The movie throws everything at the viewer during the last 20 minutes or so but the hour leading up to that point is painstakingly dull.  I wanted to love it but I couldn't it.  The acting in this one is very well done.  I really enjoyed the characters and how they reacted to the story.  The cast did a magnificent job in their roles and really went all in on their performances.  The story for this one is extremely uneven.  The film has an amazing premise that really hits hard to some.  As a father I found certain parts of the film to be extremely emotional and it hits hard.  With that being said, the first hour or so of the film is extremely dull and claustrophobic.  Following the three leads in the kitchen as they bicker, fight, and beat on each other is fun at first but quickly runs its course early on.  Where the movie makes it's money is during the action filled last 20 minutes that is very fun to watch.  Not enough to save the film but it was fun to watch.  Finally, the film has several deaths.  A lot of extremely bloody and violent but they looked good and fit the movie very well.  We get a lot of practical effects that looks great but most of these deaths will not stick with you.  Overall, For the Sake of Vicious throws everything at the viewer during the final scene but forgets the story during the first hour or so of the film.  I found myself struggling with this one.  It's worth the watch for the bloody bash at the end but the movie leading up to it is a tough one to finish.  

Scavenger

Director(s) - Eric Fleitas and Luciana Garraza

Starring - Nayla Churruarin (Buenos Aries Rojo Sangre 20 Anos), Eric Fleitas, and Sofia Lanaro (Weekend, Collage)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When you grow up living on a healthy diet of zombie movies like I did you often find yourself drawn to post-apocalyptic movies as well.  Watching survivors struggle against the harsh landscape and the collapse of civilization has always been fascinating to me.  A few weeks ago I was checking out MVD when I saw an Argentinian post-apocalyptic action thriller titled Scavenger which was originally titled Carrona.  I reached out to MVD and they were kind enough to send a review copy of this one my way.  I want to thank MVD for always supporting Horror Society and my reviews!

     The film follows a young woman who is a hired gun and organ harvester who finds herself at the hands of an evil man who rapes women and kills people at a whim.  After being raped and beaten she seeks revenge against but there is a much deeper story between the two that he may not remember.

     The artwork for this one and the comparisons to Mad Max made me very excited but the film was a difficult one to finish.  It's basically a character driven rape flick with a post-apocalytpic aesthetic.  The lack of story and drawn out scenes made Scavenger one difficult film to watch.  The acting in this one is fun and is one of the better parts of the film.  The characters are all bigger than life and some really stand out.  The characters made some of the scenes are little more tolerable but they couldn't save the film.  The story for this one is an idea that was ran with by two filmmakers but they never finish writing it.  What we have is a post-apocalyptic setting where the people have their own set of rules and hierarchy.  With that being said, a good portion of the film follows the film's lead as she is tied to a bed and degraded.  If the movie would have focused more on an actual story more than just the little premise it had then we would have been given something memorable.  Finally, the film has some blood and great practical effects but the movie doesn't capitalize on these.  We get them in moderation which is a shame because when we do get it the effects look great.  Overall, Scavenger is a wild idea from two filmmakers that had a solid outline of a film but never finished penning the story.  I loved the look of the film but looks isn't everything.  

Day of the Animals

Director - William Girdler (Grizzly, Abby)

Starring - Christopher George (Graduation Day, Mortuary), Leslie Nielson (Stan Helsing, Dracula: Dead and Loving It), and Lynda Day George (Pieces. Wonder Woman)

Release Date - 1977

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "The terrifying movie of a world gone mad!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Williams Girdler was taken from us way too soon.  He was only 30 years young when he perished in a helicopter accident but he was able to deliver 9 films to the world.  When I was younger I watched Grizzly with my grandmother and really enjoyed it.  Over the years I've seen a few more of his films but one I never got the chance to check out his 1976 film Day of the Animals.  Recently Severin released Girdler's Grizzly and Day of the Animals on blu and MVD was kind enough to send it my way.  After revisiting Grizzly it was time to finally watch Day of the Animals.

     The film follows a group of hikers going on a hiking trip deep into the woods.  What should be a typical outdoor adventure turns deadly when solar flares from the sun hit the Earth's depleted ozone causing animals that are above 5000 feet to become bloodthirsty and crazed forcing the hikers to fight for their lives.

     I fucking love post-apocalyptic tales and I've always been fond of when nature attacks stories so when I heard about Day of the Animals when I was younger I was all about it.  Sadly, I never had the chance to see it until now.  With that being said, I fucking loved it and I can see myself revisiting this one several more times.  Don't get me wrong, it's cheesy as fuck but it's so much fun.  The acting in this one is extremely fun.  We once again get a great performance from Christopher George who delivers a much more different character than we saw in Grizzly.  I really liked his performance and seeing him out act most of the cast in this one really makes me want to dig out more of his films to watch.  The surprise performance of this film comes from legendary funny man Leslie Nielson who had a wonderful and long career but was known for his comedic roles.  However, he delivers a much more intense and serious performance here that reminded me a lot of his character in Creepshow.  I'm not accustomed to seeing him take on these types of roles but he stole the show.  The supporting cast is just as great with no weak links in this chain.  The story for this one mixes nature run amok with sci-fi and I'm all for it.  We get a film that neatly fits into the mid-70s when nature attacks films that followed in the wake of Jaws before moving into the last portion of the film that has that same feel as The Crazies.  It was extremely fun, well paced, and a solid amount of action.  Finally, the film has some blood and a lot of animal attack but if you are looking for gore or great practical effects will be extremely disappointed.  Overall, Day of the Animals is an extremely entertaining and campy.  The film may have been a bit underwhelming at the time with the amount of other films like it but as someone who didn't live through the era I found myself thoroughly enjoying it.  I highly recommend grabbing this release from Severin.  The video and audio quality is fantastic which is how you would want to watch this film.  

Grizzly

Director - William Girdler (Three on a Meathook, Day of the Animals)

Starring - Christopher George (Whiskey Mountain, Pieces), Andrew Prine (The Lords of Salem, Weird Science), and Richard Jaekel (Starman, Airplane II: The Sequel)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The most dangerous jaws in the land"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was growing up I remember watching a lot of movies with my grandmother and that's where my love for sci-fi and horror originates from.  A lot of the movies I watched with here were on the original Sci-Fi Channel before the rebranding along with the movies I would rent.  Looking back I can't remember if some of these were movies we watched on cable or rented but I do remember watching them with her.  I loved watching movies with her and some of my favorite movie memories were shared with her.  On one of our movie binges I watched the 1976 nature runs amok feature Grizzly with her.  I had never seen this one before but I fucking loved it.  Sadly I never got to revisit it until now.  A few weeks ago Severin announced the blu release of two William Girdler classics with one of them being Grizzly.  I reached out to MVD and they were kind enough to send a copy my way for review.

     The film follows a park ranger at a state park who is tasked with dealing with tourists, campers, and hunters but that task takes a deadly turn when a giant grizzly bear invades the park shredding anyone it crosses paths with.

     Horror fans and fans of schlocky cinema have laughed and mocked this film for as long as I can remember and I'm sure it was going on for years before.  However, I really enjoy this one.  It is a bit campy and doesn't hold back on the cheese but the films entertains.  The acting in this one is solid but the cast is very uneven.   I really enjoy Christopher George's performance and the character he delivers fits the film so well.  For me, he makes this film.  With that being said, some of the supporting cast is not as fun to watch.  Some of the cast delivers some lackluster performances while other's try to match George.  It's very uneven but I wouldn't call it bad.  The story for this one is a typical nature killing people that was made popular by the film Jaws.  Having animals, especially big animals, attacking and killing people has always been fun and I would have loved to live through the Jaws fame of the mid to late 70s where these Jaws clones were playing in every drive-in across the country.  Grizzly is a fun Jaws clone where the fins were traded in for paws but features a very similar story.  A tourist area is under attack by an animal.  The officials are reluctant to do anything at first but as more bodies pile up they are tasked with stopping it before more blood can be shed.  A Jaws clone, sure, but it's still fucking fun.  Finally, the film has plenty of blood and campy deaths but don't expect to see some great kills.  The deaths are funny and I'm sure this is where a lot of the community's issue with the film comes from but I enjoyed it.  Overall, Grizzly is a fantastic mid-70s horror film that was quick to cash in on the Jaws' craze.  It is a bit campy and restricted but it's a great for a late night horror viewing.  The blu from Severin is gorgeous and deserves to be seen by genre fans.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  

Santa Sangre

Director - Alejandro Jodorowsky (The Holy Mountain, El Topo)

Starring - Axel Jodorowsky (The Voice Thief, The Dance of Reality), Blanca Guerra (The Realm of Fortune, abyss of Passion), and Guy Stockwell (The War Lord, Quantum Leap)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A startling vision of passion and obsession from the creator of El Topo!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was getting into the online horror community I was an active member on the Upcoming Horror Movie forums.  When I was younger this was an invaluable tool for discovering new horror and cult films to check out that I would have never found any other way.  A few of the members in the forum were huge Alejandro Jodorowsky fans and would often go on and on about his films.  Some of these members were rather toxic and hearing them talk about Jodorowsky made me not want to watch his films.  However, a close friend of mine is also a fan and convinced me to see a few of his films.  Holy shit, what a wild journey his films are.  I had always heard of his 1989 Mexican and Italian collaborative effort Santa Sangre but I never had the chance to see it.  Severin and MVD was kind enough to send over the band new UHD release of this one for me to check out.  I'm not going to lie, I'm really impressed with the packaging of this set and I couldn't wait to check it out.

     The film follows a young boy who is the son of a man who does a knife throwing act for the circus and a woman who is the leader of a religious cult.  When his dad is caught cheating his mother burns him with acid forcing him to cut her arms off and then taking his own life.  After witnessing it all, he becomes unstable and spends the next several years in an asylum.  He escapes when he sees his mother waiting for him on the street.  He becomes her hands and begins killing when she commands it.

     Jodorowsky's films are not for everyone.  His unique visions can be a bit slow at times but his films are so rewarding if you stick with it.  Santa Sangre was a fucking wild ride and a movie that will last with you for years to come and this release is easily the best release of the year.  The acting in this one is absolutely amazing.  Axel Jodorowsky does a fantastic job as the struggling young adult who witnessed his father's suicide and is now committing murders because his mother tells him to.  His commitment to the role is astounding.  He really does go all in and delivers one hell of a performance.  The supporting cast is just as amazing.  Every character in this film, and I do mean every character, is so entertaining and full of energy.  This cast is absolutely phenomenal.  The story for this one is so fucking wild but so entertaining.  It is a bit of a trippy film to follow with a lot of things going on but it's an overall enjoyable experience.  The movie is a bit of a slow moving one but it has a lot going on to hold your attention.  It does drag your feet at times but if you stick with it you will find yourself blown away by something very different and enjoyable.  Finally, the film is not one that is in your face with gore but it does have some bloody and uncomfortable moments that will stick with you days or even weeks later.  The practical effects are great and the film doesn't shy away from the blood.  If you want some blood and a several "what the fuck" moments then I highly suggest checking this out.  Overall. Santa Sangre is so well liked by the horror community for a reason.  It's not just a movie but an experience and I would highly recommend experiencing this one on UHD.  This release from Severin is absolutely amazing.  If you listen to me one time this year this is it.  Get this release!  

Saw

Director - James Wan (The Conjuring 2, Aquaman)

Starring - Leigh Whannell (Cooties, Insidious), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, Robin Hood: Men in Tights), and Danny Glover (The Dead Don't Die, Angels in the Outfield)

Release Date - 2004

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Ever piece has a puzzle"
Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I remember so many amazing horror movies getting released.  I was constantly burning through what little money I had snagging up these releases.  Movies like Shaun of the Dead, Dead and Breakfast, Land of the Dead, the Dawn of the Dead remake, and Saw.  Once I got copies of these movies I started pretty much playing them on repeat.  Hell, there was a time when I couldn't stand watching these movies anymore because I had burned myself out on them.  Saw was easily one of the most ambitious and popular releases and for years a sequel was hitting theaters almost like clockwork.  I enjoyed the first three installments but I never took the time to watch the remaining films in the franchise.  A few weeks back I received the press release for the 4K release of the original Saw.  It's been a solid 10 years since I last revisited this one and a UHD release looks like it was the perfect reason to spin it once more.  

     The film follows two men who awaken in a dilapidated public restroom and chained to the pipes.  While going over their surroundings and checking their pockets they begin to unravel a series of clues that fit into a much bigger puzzel when they realize they are the newest pawns in the game of the Jigsaw killer.

     Saw was a huge hit when it was released and the marketing team behind the DVD releases should have won some awards for their designs.  Genre fans are all familiar with these clear sleeve cases with Saw themed artwork throughout.  Honestly, it was a bit of a bummer when I received the UHD release without that iconic artwork.  Regardless, I had fun with it but I did find it a little dull at times.  The acting in this one is great and the cast is legendary.  If you had a childhood similar to mine then you already knew Cary Elwes and Danny Glover from some classic 80s staples.  They both bring on very different performances than I was accustomed to but they absolutely nailed it.  Elwes is someone I've always associated with comedic roles and seeing him here really caught me off guard.  Also, writer and actor Leigh Whannell delivers a solid performance but a few of his scenes is a little overacted.  With that aside, I enjoyed his performance very much.  The supporting cast is great and even though he is rarely in the film we can see the beginning stage of what I would consider the face of modern horror with Tobin Bell in his role of Jigsaw.  The story for this one is gritty and claustrophobic at times but I enjoy it for the most part.  I love the disgusting and nauseating sets mixed with the puzzles that force people who have made bad decisions throughout their lives to works.  It also adds another layer to the film when the viewer gets to watch the various traps created for each victim.  With that being said, a few of the scenes are extremely dull and slow with little to no story development for these scenes.  They just go on for no purpose other than to highlight Whannell's acting.  Finally, the film has some seriously entertaining death even if they don't take place on screen.  The practical effects, traps, and your imagination makes this one stand out among viewers.  It's been almost 20 years later and people are still talking about some of the deaths provided in this film.  Overall, Saw is one of the most memorable horror films to come out of the early 2000s and the franchise as a whole is iconic with the Jigsaw puppet reaching pop-culture status.  This UHD release looks amazing but still retains that gritty and dirty look that makes this series so much fun.  I highly recommend upgrading your copy to this one.  

Alice in Deathland

Director - Krist Rufty (Cutting Room, Psycho Holocaust)

Starring - Vanelle (Witching Hour II, Dark Awakening), Billy Garberina (Deathbone, I Heart U), and Samantha Novak (House of Purgatory, Wicked Wood)

Release Date - 2015

Genre - Horror/Fantasy

Tagline - "G down the hole forever"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     As I push forward is my movie marathon I find myself at a bit of a unique situation.  Several weeks ago I saw that MVD was handling the Wild Eye release of Alice in Deathland that is part of their Raw and Extreme line.  The Raw and Extreme line has been pretty entertaining up to this point so I reached out for a review copy.  After watching a few no budget indie flicks I decided to finally dig into this one when I realized I had actually seen this one before.  As always, I want to thank MVD and Wild Eye for sending this one my way.

     The film follows Alice who is a junkie who works for her supplier as a prostitute.  She was married and expecting her own bundle of joy but gave in to her addiction and returned to her slums.  While her husbands practically searches for her she had to deal with her drug use, physical abuse, and the cries of her ancestors trying to steer her in the right direction.

     Alice in Deathland is one I had reviewed about five years ago when Wild Eye released is under the title Rags.  I really enjoyed it then and I didn't mind revisiting it.  Honestly, I feel that Alice in Deathland is a much better title than Rags and I love the new artwork even though the original Rags DVD art was great as well. The acting in this one is very one sided. The film has some amateur performances that show talent but lack experience and then you have the intense performance from Billy Garberina who steals every scene he is in. It was not fair to the remainder of the cast that they had to share the camera with Garberina. The story for this one is a great fantasy horror film that I believe borrows heavily from Alice Through the Looking Glass. It was great, had tons of twist and turns, and then went bleak delivering some horror that was very unexpected. The film did drag on a bit at times and needed edited a little better to make the story tighter but it still delivered when it counted. Finally, the film does have a few on screen kills hat are not that impressive or entertaining. However, the film delivers the gore in other ways that I will not mention to prevent from spoiling. The effects for these are minimal but they rely heavily on camera work and editing to pull the gag off. Overall, Alice in Deathland is one impressive piece of indie cinema. The film has one of the most memorable characters I have seen in recent years and one highly entertaining story that goes against the current infatuation with slashers and zombies. Check out this highly original film whenever you get a chance.