The Cannibal Man

Director - Eloy de la Iglesia (The Creature, The Priest)

Starring - Vicente Parra (Daddy's War, El Transexuale), Emma Cohen (The Dumfounded King, Alone in the Dark), and Eusebio Poncela (The Ministry of Time, Sleepwalker)

Release Date - 1972

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "When the butcher goes berserk..."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     With October quickly approaching I'm trying to knock out as many movies sent to me for review before I start on my 31 Days of Horror challenge.  Most of the movies sent my way are horror but a few that trickle in from here or there are not.  A few weeks back Severin and MVD sent over two new Severin releases that included The Cannibal Man and Overboard.  Though The Cannibal Man was obviously horror the second film was clearly not.  So, before October arrives, I wanted to knock these two releases out real quick so Overboard wouldn't be sitting around until November.  Like always I want to thank MVD and Severin for always supporting Horror Society.  

    The film follows a man that works at a meat processing plant who accidentally kills a taxi driver while on a date.  The killing is in self-defense but his girlfriend starts to feel guilty and requests that they turn themselves in.  Fearing a life in prison he reluctantly kills her too to cover his tracks.  However, this murder begins a chain of murders for him to cover his tracks eventually leading to him becoming overburdened.

     I really liked The Cannibal Man but the movie is not as gruesome as I was hoping for.  In fact, it's not as horrifying as I was expecting.  It's actually fairly tame considering the films artwork, title, and taglines.  Regardless, I liked it a lot and can see other genre fans enjoying it just as much as I did.  The acting in this one is great.  I really liked Parra as the lead.  His character always seem calm and collected even after the bodies start to pile up he still seems relatively cool about the entire situation.  I really loved that and his demeanor made the film for me.  The supporting cast is just as fun but the characters doesn't carry the film quite like Parra's.  The story for this one is more of a character piece with a body count.  We follow Parra's character as he goes through his day to day life and how the one murder spirals out of control as he tries to cover up each murder with another murder.  It does have these 6 or so kill scenes that are not that graphic with the exception of one but the overall story is not really that terrifying.  Finally, the film has several on screen kills.  The kills, aside from one, are not that gruesome but a few do offer up some blood.  We get some strangling, one hit with a rock to the dome, another has their throat sliced, but the hatchet to the face is the most graphic and rewarding death.  I loved the effects used in this one.  However, if livestock being butchered is something you are against then you may not enjoy this one.  Overall, The Cannibal Man was a little milder than I was expecting but I really enjoyed it.  Parra brought the film to life and it was great fun.  I highly recommend this one to genre fans.    

Rancho Deluxe

Director - Frank Perry (Mommie Dearest, Skag) 

Starring - Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski, R.I.P.D.), Sam Waterston (Serial Mom, Tales from the Crypt), and Elizabeth Ashley (Hey Arnold!, Touched By an Angel)

Release Date - 1975

Genre - Comedy/Western

Tagline - "Oh! give me a home, with a low interest loan, a cowgirl and two pick-up trucks.  A color TV, all the beer should be free, and that, man, is Rancho Deluxe"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometime back Vinegar Syndrome announced their partnership with the newly formed Fun City Editions.  This partnership brought some seriously fun and enjoyable movies to my attention that I would have normally missed out on.  Since then they have released Alphabet City, Jeremy, Walking the Edge, Smile, and I Start Counting.  All have been phenomenal releases so when they announced the release of the 1975 western comedy Rancho Deluxe I was all in.  I quickly pre-ordered it and after watching a few other Vin Syn partner releases I went ahead and tossed it in.  It was another hit from this extremely underrated boutique label. 

     The film follows rustlers who poach cattle from the local wealthy cattle owner.  This pisses the ranch owner off to no end resulting in him bringing in a former horse thief turned straight to snuff them out.  The pair think they have a way in when they partner with the cattle-owner's ranch hands to snag a shipment of cattle but things are not as easy as they seem.  

     I believe that Rancho Deluxe is the first FCE release that I actually knew about prior to their announcement.  When I was younger I spent a lot of time at my grandmother's with my uncle who had a sizeable VHS collection and one of the tapes he had happened to Rancho Deluxe.  I never watched it but I was there a few times as he had it playing so I caught a scene or two.  With FCE behind the release I figured now was the best time to finally check it out.  I'm glad I did because it was a pretty fun modern western with some laughs.  The acting in this one is great.  Bridges has appeared in some of my favorite films over the years but this is probably my favorite performance of his aside from his performance of The Dude.  I loved how chaotic he was in this role and his characters dedication to living the free roaming life was really fun to watch.  I also enjoyed Sam Waterston's performance as well.  I'm not used to seeing Waterston in this type of role and I absolutely loved it.  The supporting cast is just as fun.  I loved the assortment of characters the film delivers along with the outstanding performances that everyone delivered.  The story for this one is mostly a loose western following two rustlers who kills cattle and use the beef to cover their expenses.  However, we get some romance scattered in along with some laughs and a very interesting crime aspect that doesn't really take hold until the later part of the film.  The pacing is smooth and the dialogue in this one is a lot of fun.  The characters really do make the story as fun as it is.  Finally, the film is not a gory one BUT there is a few graphic scenes featuring cows being shot.  A lot of blood and the practical effects work for these scenes but those looking for real carnage will need to look elsewhere.  Overall, Rancho Deluxe is a surprisingly funny and well put together.  The cast is great and this release from Fun City is a must own for movie collectors.  Check it out.  

Paying Up

Director - Dustin Mills (Slaughterhouse Slumber Party, Ouija Blood Ritual)

Starring - Dave Parker (Gay for Pray: The Erotic Adventures of Jesus Christ, Feaster Sunday), Brandon Salkil (Kill That Bitch, Halloween Spookies)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Crime/Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener) (Vimeo)

Rating (out of 5):

      Writing reviews has granted myself the opportunity to check out some pretty awesome movies over the years.  It's a privilege to check out these films especially when they are movies that I'm looking forward to or made by the people that I love and respect.  A few days ago producer Chet Turner reached out to me to review a new short that was directed by Dustin Mills and starring Dave Parker.  Dave is a good friend of mine and I'm a huge fan of Dustin's work so I was quick to accept the invitation to check it out.  Thanks Chet for reaching out to check it out.  

     The film follows Justin (Parker) who finds himself hard up for cash owing a huge sum of money to the local drug dealer.  With his back against the wall he is told to give a doctor a call.  Reluctantly, he does and discovers that the doctor wants to remove his nuts while filming it.  He agrees and soon finds himself in the middle of an occult ritual while his testicles are being removed.

     I didn't know what to expect from Paying Up when Turner reached out to me.  I had no idea what this one was about or that Mills was even working on a short.  However, I went into it excited and I actually enjoyed it.  It was a bit odd but I love a good story centered around a cult.  The acting in this one is great.  Dave never disappoints and it's the rare occasion that he actually stars in a film.  He's extremely natural and comfortable in front of the camera so his performances always seem genuine.  Similarly, Brandon Salkil is always a joy to watch.  His characters are always bigger than the screen and always stand out with me.  The supporting cast is small but all the performances were fun to watch they just didn't hold that much to the story.  The story for this one is very unexpected but it's a wild ride.  I liked the idea of a surgeon harvesting nuts for a weird sexual occult ritual.  However, the short doesn't really do a good job at explain why.  It's a cool visual to see the beautiful women fully nude under their robes eating parts of Dave's nutsack but the film needs a little more story as to why this is a thing.  The short leaves the viewer with more questions than answers.  Finally, this short has one of the wildest scenes I have ever seen.  Watching that dick rubber banded and then cut open really made me uncomfortable but holy fuck did it look amazing.  What a wild fucking scene and imagery.  Overall, Paying Up was a different short but I enjoyed it.  I wish it would have delivered a little more story but it's still fun as it.  Fans of Dustin Mills should really check this one out.  

Golden Arm

Director - Maureen Bharoocha (Edith!, Crank Yankers)

Starring - Mary Holland (Between Two Ferns: The Movie, Mapleworth Murders), Betsy Sodaro (Hubie Halloween, An American Pickle), and Olivia Stambouliah (The Walking Dead, Hiding)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     I've really been enjoying myself the last week or so watching all the movies that Vinegar Syndrome has released or was released by one of their partner labels.  As a collector I really appreciate the wide spread of releases that Vin Syn brings to use each and every month.  However, my wife and bank account doesn't appreciate all that they give.  When they announced the newest releases from their partner labels one release really caught my eye and that was the 2020 comedy Golden Arm.  The artwork really put me in mind of The FP so I pulled the trigger on the pre-order.  After checking out Through the Fire I wanted to finish my night with something a little more light so I tossed in Golden Arm.  Glad I did because it was a lot of fun.

     The film follows the truck driving Danny (Sodaro) who is a competitive female arm wrestler who injures her arm in a match with a rival competitor.  Her injury puts her out of the upcoming tournament and determined not to let her rival win she turns to her college friend to compete.  She reluctantly agrees to join the competition and quickly makes a name for herself with many suspecting she has a golden arm.  Things, however, take an unsuspecting turn when she finds love and discovers that Danny's arm was not actually hurt.  With their friendship on the rocks they overcome their differences to focus on the competition.

     I was more curious about Golden Arm than anything and I have to admit that the movie did not disappoint.  It has one of the best casts I had ever seen and the story did not disappoint.  It did make me chuckle a few days along with a few serious laughs. It was a very enjoyable film and I can see this is one I toss on when I need some background noise in the future.  I don't see myself becoming bored with it.  The acting in this one is absolutely phenomenal.  Mary Holland as the reluctant golden arm is brilliant.  She's so shy, innocent, and cute but still is able to kick ass in an unbelievable way.  My favorite character in the film was portrayed by Betsy Sodaro.  Her character made the film and reminded me of some of my friends from college.  It was so much fun watching her on screen and without Sodara this film wouldn't be as fun as it is.  The supporting cast is great as well.  The characters are all bigger than the screen itself and everyone carries their own weight.  The story for this one does remind me a lot of The FP laid over the Stallone classic Over the Top.  We get an unusual sport with wild and colorful characters like you would see in The FP.  I tried not to compare it to Over the Top when I started writing this but the similarities are too much to ignore.  It was a lot of fun and the comedy mixes nicely with the story.  I found myself smiling for most of the film and flat out laughing at others.  Finally, this is not a bloody or gory mess like most of us love.  The film focuses on the characters and the humor.  The laughs work and the comedic timing is damn near perfect. Overall, Golden Arm was a lot of fun.  I really enjoyed it and I can see myself running it into the ground without ever tiring of it.  It's a lot of fun and I highly recommend that you check it out.  

Through the Fire

Director - Gary Marcum 

Starring - Tamara Hext (Dallas, Frequent Flyer), Tom Campitelli (Brutal Fury, Dark Angel), and Randy Strickland 

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Sandra has the power and there's someone who'll kill for it"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     Vinegar Syndrome has won my heart on many occasions.  The one that I always think about is when they released a childhood favorite of mine on blu when they released Demon Wind.  I know that is a polarizing film for most genre fans but I can't help but love it.  It's one that I watched several times as a kid but a lot of friends of mine had never heard of it before.  Now when Vin Syn releases a title I had never heard of I always go into it with hopes that they snagged another wild mid to late 80s horror title with a similar tone.   When Vin Syn announced the release of 1988's Through the Fire I found myself almost obsessed with the film's artwork.  The image they used for the blu really sold me on the film and I couldn't wait to check it out.  I quickly pre-ordered it, like I did with the rest of their releases, and as soon as I could check it out I quickly tossed it in.  It looked like it would be so much fun with the same charm that made Demon Wind so enjoyable.

     The film follows a woman whose sister is missing.  She seeks out a police officer to help her find her in his down time.  Soon they find an old amulet that she used to wear when it is conveniently dropped off to them as they were investigating her apartment.  The amulet is what a cult needs to control a demon that they wish to resurrect.  Soon they pair finds themselves hunted by cult members and demons alike.

     I noticed a few of my friends within the horror community did not like Through the Fire.  I can see why some of them didn't like the film but I had a lot of fun with it.  It was goofy, the characters were a little flat, and the story was predictable but it was a fun late night watch.  The acting in this one is not the worst I had seen but it was evident that a lot of the cast had very little experience.  Their performances were a little underwhelming at times but it didn't really take away from the overall film.  The characters are very forgettable but no one really delivers a bad performance.  Their inexperience, mixed with the lack of character development, creates the perfect storm for the cast.  The story for this one is pretty predictable but I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it.  The demon aspect mixed with a little mystery and the occult is a lot of fun to me.  The film has some great pacing and the story development mixed with the more action heavy scenes were a lot of fun.  I enjoyed this story but I don't think I could revisit it anytime soon.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments but it's not as gory as I was hoping for.  The practical effects for the kills work but they are nothing we haven't seen before.  The demon as the end is funny looking.  I feel bad for laughing because a lot of time went into the effects for this creature but at the end of the day it looked like a hairless nutsack with a face.  The design is definitely lacking.  Overall, Through the Fire is not an 80s horror staple like Killer Klowns from Outer Space or any other horror film you think of when you think about 80s horror but it has it's moments. I really enjoyed it and the blu release from Vin Syn is a fantastic addition to my collection.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

Mail Order Murder: The Story of W.A.V.E. Productions

Director(s) - William Hellfire (Duck! The Carbine High Massacre, Orgasm Torture in Satan's Rape Clinic) and Ross Snyder

Starring - Gary Whitson (The Mummy's Dungeon, Psycho Sisters), Aven Warren (Vampire Brides, Hayride Slaughter), and Clancy McCauley (Witchfinder, Sleepover Massacre)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror/Documentary

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love a good horror documentary and I love them even more when they focus on other aspects of the genre aside from the pop horror classic of the 80s or VHS collectors.  I grew up on horror and I lived through what I call the message board age.  A lot of my spare time was spent on different horror forums, especially Upcoming Horror Movies, and over the years I've learned what I consider horror common knowledge.  However, these tidbits that most horror fans know has still been the subject to so many horror documentary and series.  I'm not knocking these docs but they offer very little knew information to genre fans.  The same can be said for the dozen or so documentaries centered around VHS and tape collectors.  A few weeks back Vinegar Syndrome posted their newest partner label releases and among them was Mail Order Murder: The Story of W.A.V.E. Productions.  I knew nothing about W.A.V.E. Productions but I had seen a few of the films they were associated with.  As soon as I could pre-order a copy I quickly snagged it.  Glad I did because this is the most fun I've had with a documentary in a long time.

     The documentary takes a look at filmmaker and pioneer Gary Whitson who took the Ed Wood approach S.O.V. filmmaking.  His love for horror movies inspired him to call out for locals actors and effects artist to make films.  Soon he was being commissioned by fans to turn their own visions into films.  Along the way he gathered a following and turned some young actresses into recognizable b-movie scream queens. 

     This is the type of horror documentary that I want to see.  Stop shoving films everyone and their mother has been obsessed with down our throats.  We get it, you love movies like Fright Night and Return of the Living but lets focus on other aspects of the genre that most people don't know about...like W.A.V.E. Productions.  Honestly, while Hellfire is at it he might as well put together a documentary on Seduction Cinema.  Most of the movie fans and collectors my age started collecting when these films were being released and still crush on Misty Mundae even to this day.  Anyway, my point is we don't need all these documentaries on pop horror films.  What we need is docs about companies like Wave, Troma, Full Moon, Alternative Cinema, and so on.  The interviews were informative for the most part but I feel like only a small portion of what it meant to be W.A.V.E. Productions was discussed here.  We get some history behind the company, what made Gary decide to make his own films, how it spiraled from S.O.V. horror to horror for hire, the many different scream queens that worked with W.A.V.E., and how the company still has fans today after 3 decades of movie making.  I found myself really getting into the interviews featuring the cast and crew of the films.  I liked hearing the stories they told, the humor of the behind the scene antics, and how they inspired a whole generation of no-budget filmmakers.  It was also cool seeing some fans talk about what it was like to discover a W.A.V.E. flick.  With that being said, I would have loved less stories from fans and others that knew of the company for some time and replaced it with more history about the company and a little more look into their filmography.  The topics discussed run in a chronological order which works for someone like me that is knew to this wild world of W.A.V.E.  We move from the beginning, to when they shifted from their original films to directing ideas of other people that paid for them, and how their scream queens would go on to make a name for themselves in the indie horror community.  Finally, the editing is very smooth and we transition from topic to topic very naturally.  Each topic perfectly unfolds into the next with very little effort and the cut scenes featuring segments from their films is the icing on the cake. As a fan of S.O.V. and no budget horror I'll be the first to admit that a few scenes sold me on these movies.  I was so invested in these that I placed an order for a few of their movies before the film was over.  Overall, Mail Order Murder is the type of documentary the horror community needs.  Series like Eli Roth's History of Horror and Cursed films, along with movies like In Search of Darkness, rarely delivers new information to horror fans.  I'm a fan of the movies discussed in them but when I watch a doc I want to see something I didn't know about.  W.A.V.E. Productions is my new obsession and I look forward to the next doc that brings me something obscure from the genre we all love.  Please, do yourself a favor and watch this!

Treasure of the Ninja

Director - William Lee (Dragon vs. Ninja, Demons Rising)

Starring - William Lee, Gary Burton, and John H. Howenstine

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Action/Crime

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     By now most of you may have noticed that I have a love for blaxploitation cinema.  I stumbled across blaxploitation when I was a kid and my dad bought some VHS tapes from a random guy at a gas station.  He needed gas money and sold my dad a box of tapes dirt cheap.  In the box was Truck Turner stashed away with other films that you would expect to find in a dusty VHS bin.  Soon I was renting what few the video store had and snagging them up when I would find them in the wild.  A few days ago it was announced that legendary blaxploitation filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles had passed away.  I wanted to watch one of his films but decided to pay tribute to him in another fashion so I decided to check out Treasure of the Ninja.  This 1987 martial arts action flick was directed by and starred William Lee who owed a lot the late Peebles for paving the way for him.  Treasure of the Ninja was recently released on Blu by AGFA and Bleeding Skull.  I had never seen it before but I fucking love what AGFA has been doing so I couldn't wait to check it out.  

     The film follows secret agent and martial arts master Faze (Lee) who is tasked with protecting a scientist as she searches for the lost treasure of the ninja.  However, an evil businessman and his henchmen are searching for the treasure as well forcing Faze to kick, karate chop, and punch his way through a ninja horde and an ancient ninja cursed with protecting the treasure.  

     I absolutely adore no budget backyard DIY movies.  A good portion of my time is spent reviewing horror movies made on spare change in someone's basement.  I can appreciate the hard work that goes into finishing a film even though you lacked experience and a budget.  They are fun for the most part and even though I don't like them all I still respect the hard work that everyone put into it.  I was not a fan of Treasure of the Ninja.  The flow and pacing was off and from scene to scene was so choppy that I found myself getting lost.  There is no consistency at all but knowing that Lee was doing everything behind the scenes, as well as, acting made me greatly admire this man and dedication.  The acting in this one leaves a lot to be desired.  As I stated earlier, I've seen movies made by teenagers in their backyard using only ketchup and and their smartphone so I've seen amateur and understand it.  The cast really does go all in on their roles but their inexperience shines here.  Their dialogue is very heavy with no emotion behind it with most of the scenes being extremely awkward to watch.  The story for this one isn't blaxploitation in a traditional sense.  It does had blaxploitation elements tossed in but the film itself is mostly a martial arts action flick with cliched characters and a lot of action.  The fight scenes are surprisingly well done and a few had me actually rewinding to see if he really knocked some poor mother fucker out.  With that being said, the awkward scenes with heavy dialogue and no action made this film feel like it was a lot longer that it actually was.  Hell, I was barely 30 minutes in and thought, or hoped, it was almost over.  Finally, don't expect a bloodfest with this one.  We get some smooth choreographed fight scenes and thats about it.  Overall, Treasure of the Ninja has a lot of heart and knowing how much time and effort went into this I feel like shit for not liking it.  It was extremely dull for the most part.  The action scenes were fun but the overall film was difficult for me to finish.  The blu release from AGFA and Bleeding Skull looks absolutely fantastic and the special features with it makes it a must own for fans of weird and amateur films.  

Fried Barry

Director - Ryan Kruger (The Man Who Beat the Man, Swither)

Starring - Gary Green (Escape Room, Death Race 2), Chanelle de Jager (The Widow, The Red Sea Diving Resort), and Brett Williams (Shark Week, Outlander)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Sci-Fi/Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A year or so ago I was browsing a few of the indie horror groups on Facebook when I came across a post from South African director Ryan Kruger talking about his newest film Fried Barry.  I'm not going to lie, the artwork and trailer he had posted for the film really sold me on it.  I reached out to Ryan and he hooked me up with a press release for the film to post on the site and it was a title I followed closely.  Sometime back I received another press release that the film was picked up by Shudder and branded as a Shudder Original.  I've been all about the Shudder releases the last year or so and this only added more fuel to fire for me to check it out.  A few days back RLJE announced the release of the film on blu and I had to jump on the chance to finally see it.  I quickly emailed them and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.  Thanks guys.

     The film follows Barry (Green) who is a drug loving asshole that puts himself before his family.  After one night of partying he finds himself being abducted by aliens.  The extraterrestrial then takes control of Barry's body before descending back to Earth where he wonders the town doing drugs, fucking women, doing more drugs, and fucking more women.  

    When I say I love wild and bat shit crazy movies this is exactly what I'm talking about.  Those of you that think Malignant was wild have no idea what you are talking about.  If you want to see something that will fuck with you for days after viewing it then Fried Barry is the movie for you.  I could spend all day trying to describe how wild this movie is and it wouldn't do this film justice.  The acting in this one is extremely fun.  No one is really winning any awards but the cast goes all in which creates a very entertaining film.  Green is fully committed to his role and his commitment is what makes this one so much fun.  This character is quickly approaching cult status and I can't imagine anyone else filling those shoes.  The story for this one is a wild ride and sleazy as hell.  I found myself uttering "what the fuck" more times during this film than other film I've seen.  We go from one insane scenario to another and if any movie couldn't be even crazier we get hit with some wild effects and humorous situations.  Finally, the film has some seriously bloody moments and not all of them are actual deaths.  We watch a woman go from not being pregnant at all to giving birth right before our eyes in less than a minute.  It was wild to see and that's only the beginning of the insane practical effects that we get.  Overall, Fried Barry is going to piss some movie fans off while gaining a cult following.  I can see genre fans still talking about this fucked up flick years from now.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

Evil Dead Trap

Director - Toshiharu Ikeda (Scent of a Spell, Angel Guts: Red Porno)

Starring - Miyuki Ono (Dangerous Cops, The Man Behind the Scissors), Aya Katsuragi (Big Boobs Buster, Tales of the Bizarre), and Hitomi Kobayashi (Guys Who Never Learn II, Sure Death Revenge)

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     In the last few years I've found myself more and more interested in CAT III and pinku flicks.  It started with me watching a few Asian splatter flicks on Netflix and that quickly spiraled out from there.  I love a good sexploitation flick so it only makes sense that my love of sexploitation would lead me to pinku and CAT III releases.  For those of you unfamiliar with CAT III and pinku I'll give you a quick rundown.  CAT III, or Category III, films are films from Hong Kong that was not permitted to anyone under the age of 18to view.  Pinku is Japanese films that is centered around sex.  Sleazy movie fans like myself can appreciate these films a little more than others.  A few weeks back it was announced that Unearthed Films would be releasing the 1988 horror flick Evil Dead Trap.  Not necessarily a pinku title but it is often categorized by movie fans considering the sex heavy scenes and most of the female cast consisting of adult film stars.  I had never seen it before so I reached out to my friends over at MVD who was handling the release and they were kind enough to send a copy my way. Thanks guys!

     The film follows a late night television crew who receives a strange video.  After watching it they determined that it was an authentic snuff film that was shot nearby.  They decide to visit the location the snuff film was shot and discover that only death is awaiting them.

     Evil Dead Trap is one that I had wanted to see for some time.  Hell, I even bought a bootleg of it sometime ago at a con thinking I was snagging an international release.  I was even more disappointed when I realized it didn't have subtitles or an English audio track.  Now, after finally getting to see it on blu from Unearthed I'm glad I waited.  This was a fantastic release and the movie was just as fucked up as I had hoped.  The acting in this one is not the best but it was very enjoyable.  The cast, as I stated earlier, features several actresses that were adult film stars of the time but they delivered some seriously fun performances and it was just as sleazy as I expected.  The characters don't stand out and a lot of them do fall flat but the film is still solidly acted.  The story for this one takes a dive into the snuff trend that many 80s Asian horror films seemed to love.  What makes this one stand out from other Asian snuff-oriented films is that it has slasher elements that I thoroughly enjoyed.  The film does have way too many scenes that are slow and dull but when the scenes do pick up they hit like a Mack truck at full speed.  Finally, the film has some of the most chilling practical effects I have seen.  Many genre fans joke or mock Fulci for his eye gags but the beginning of this film really made my fucking skin crawl.  These effects are very gnarly and one of the main highlights of the film.  Overall, Evil Dead Trap has some gruesome moments and some nudity.  It's a disgusting horror film for fans of brutal cinema.  I enjoyed it for what it was and could see myself checking it out again.  The blu release from Unearthed looked good as well.  I highly recommend it.  

ParaNorman

Director(s) - Chris Butler (Missing Link) and Sam Fell (Flushed Away, The Tale of Despereaux)

Starring - Kodi Smith-McPhee (Let Me In, X-Men: Apocalypse), Anna Kendrick (The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Fear Itself), and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad, Kick-Ass)

Release Date -2012

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "It's all fun and games until someone raises the dead"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The year I started writing my reviews, 2012 to be exact, I went to the theater to watch ParaNorman with my wife after work.  I worked for a different wireless carrier at the time and they were a miserable company to work for.  I was constantly depressed so I started writing reviews as a way to pass time and to get out of my head.  That was when I started my blog with the intent of reviewing ParaNorman and the other films I was watching at the time.  However, I soon changed my mind and decided to focus on older films that more people may have forgotten.  I absolutely loved ParaNorman but I figured there was enough sites, blogs, and YouTube channels covering it without wasting my time on the review.  Now, here I set almost a decade later writing a review for ParaNorman because Shout Factory asked me to cover some of their new Laika Studio releases.  Thanks Shout for once again supporting Horror Society and myself!

     The film follows Norman (Smith-McPhee) who is an abnormal kid.  He can see the dead which has made him the odd one out in his family and school often making him the center of the school bully's aggressions.  His strange existence gets even stranger when his estranged uncle tries to warn him about impending doom.  Norman doesn't believe him and soon he discovers that his uncle has died.  This sparks the beginning of a wild night for Norman and a few select others when the undead start rising from their grave with a connection to a suspect witch that was executed several centuries earlier.  Now he must stop the witches curse before innocent people in town are murdered by the living dead.

     I absolutely loved ParaNorman when it was released and I would say it's my favorite film to date to come out of Laika Studios.  It's such a fun horror-centered film that the entire family can enjoy.  Hell, I've actually watched this one three times this year already prior to getting in this release for review.  The voice acting in this one is probably my favorite of any animated film.  We get the legendary John Goodman as a deranged hermit who communicated with the dead, we have McLovin himself as a braindead bully, Theodon from Lord of the Rings is a fucking zombie, and so many more that deserve to be mentioned but I'm a lazy fuck.  The characters, much like Coraline, are bigger than the screen they are on and stick with everyone watching it.  The story for this one is a lot of fun and one I try to watch at least once during October.  I love anything that has do to with colonial America and when you toss in witches, which I feel are often underutilized, and zombies mixed with another lonely child seeking acceptance from his family and peers.  It's a great story for kids but also works for many of us looking for something a little light-hearted to watch during the Halloween season.  Finally, the stop-motion animation is even more impressive than Coraline.  I absolutely love the unique look of the characters, as well ass, how amazing the ghosts and zombies look.  It's impressive and this film is my aesthetic.  Overall, ParaNorman is a must for someone seeking a family friendly film and horror fans alike.  The blu from Shout is the way you need to see this film so grab it while you can.  I highly recommend it.  

Coraline

Director - Henry Selick (James and the Giant Peach, Monkeybone)

Starring - Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds, The Twilight Saga: New Moon), Teri Hatcher (Spy Kids, Supergirl), and John Hodgman (Flight of the Conchords, Parks and Recreation)

Release Date - 2009

Genre - Fantasy/Horror

Tagline - "Be careful what you wish for"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in college I would often visit the local theater to check out some genre releases along with anything else that catches my eye.  My freshman year of college I was dating a woman that was very unpleasant but I didn't see it at the time.  My friends did and they adopted the nickname "unpleasant" for her and would call her that behind her back.  One week night she drug me out to watch the Laika Studios film Caroline.  I had not heard of this one before but when I watched it I fucking fell in love with it.  As soon as it was released to home video I quickly rushed to FYE where I snagged the collectors set.  It's such a charming yet eerie film that still delivers to this day.  Over the summer I introduced my oldest daughter to it and she absolutely loved it as well.  I love that this speaks to different generations.  A few weeks ago Shout Factory reached out to me to review  the film for their new blu release of select Laika releases.  I couldn't turn it down.  I want to thank Shout Factory for sending this classic over!

     The film follows Coraline (Fanning) who moves with her parents to an old house that has been turned into three apartments.  Coraline and her family live in the main house while the eccentric Bobinski and his mouse circus live in the attic and the lovable and jaded Miriam and April live in the basement with their dogs.  She is left to explore the house and the surrounding land while her parents work on a gardening catalogue but things take a weird turn when she finds a key to a cubbyhole.  Inside she fights a gateway to another world with her "other" mother and father.  They look like her parents, minus buttons over their eyes, except they are loving and showering her with affection.  Things are perfect in this world...almost too perfect but before Coraline realizes that she finds herself trapped in the other world and when she finally frees herself and returns to her own she is sent back to rescue her parents who was kidnapped by her other mother.

     Coraline is a film that I don't think I could ever tire of.  It's brilliant and the one of the few films that I can still watch as an adult and still find myself getting sucked into it like a child.  It's an amazing film that is only disliked by people who had never seen it.  After giving it another revisit I would safely say that it is in my top 20 favorite movies.  Absolutely adore it and this release from Shout Factory is just as awesome.  The voice acting in this one is just as brilliant as the film.  We get some stellar performances from Keith Davidz, Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Ian McShane, and many more.  I loved the characters they brought to life on the screen with just their voices and every single character stands out.  It's almost perfect and the cast does a stellar job.  The story for this one brings a lot to the table.  We get a story about family, the affection a child desperately seeks, an intriguing ghost story all mixed into a world of magic and mystery.  I've seen this film several dozens of times now and I still glue myself to the screen like it was my first viewing.  Finally, the stop motion animation is absolutely gorgeous.  Some of the scenes are beautiful and the cast of characters all look great.  They have their own look about them and at this point in time they are now iconic especially Coraline and the other mother.  I love the artistry used here and the stop motion is mesmerizing.  Overall, Coraline is something the entire family can enjoy.  It's crazy, beautiful, and heartfelt.  I highly recommend it and the Shout Factory release is the way to go.  Check it out.  

Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms

Director - Ethan Spaulding (Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge, Scooby-Doo: Return to Zombie Island)

Starring - Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter, Quarantine), Joel McHale (Deliver Us from Evil, Stargirl), and Ike Amadi (What If...?, Wizards)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Fantasy/Action

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Warner Bros. has been absolutely killing it with their animated releases.  Over the last few years their DC animated films have been nothing short but amazing.  A few were just good but a majority of them were films that really stuck with me.  Sometime back they tackled the Mortal Kombat film Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge.  This was a surprisingly bloody and a very enjoyable film.  When I saw that Scorpion's Revenge director Ethan Spaulding was helping another MKL installment I was all about it.  When it was close for the physical release I reached out to WB and they were kind enough to send the film over on UHD to review.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows Lord Raiden and Shao Kahn who agree to visit the elder gods to propose one last mortal kombat for the fate of the Earth realm.  The elder gods agree and a new mortal kombat is held.  While this is going on we have Scorpion and the new Sub-Zero as they fight off the new cyborgs of the Lin Kuei as they try to resurrect the mad god who wants to bring an end to all the realms.

     Battle of the Realms has started something with me that I hope I get to see be continued.  Scorpion's Revenge was a great animated film but Battle of the Realms has really pulled me into MK storyline and I hope that WB continues with these films with more backstories, spinoffs, and sequels.  The voice acting in this one works.  I really enjoyed the range a lot of the cast provided to the characters and how their voices really fit the character.  Honestly, no one really stands out but everyone does a fantastic job with their iconic characters.  The story for this one put some of our favorite MK characters in the middle of yet another MK tournament but that is not the full extent of the story. We get a much bigger story to prevent repetitiveness along with some fun backstories for other MK characters.  The film does get a little too talky at times but the action more than makes up for the slower scenes.  Finally, the animation for the film looks great.  To make the film even more enjoyable is we get some extremely gruesome and graphic death scenes that look great.  Thee are the type of kills that you can only get from an animated flick but they are very enjoyable.  Overall, Battle of the Realms was a great MK film and one that I hope inspired WB to follow up with more MK flicks.  I absolutely loved it and can't wait to see what they bring us next.  Check it out.  

Killer's Delight

Director - Jeremy Hoenack

Starring - James Luisi (The Hidden, Baywatch Nights), Susan Sullivan (Justice League, The Comedy Company), and John Karlen (Night of the Shadows, House of Dark Shadows)

Release Date - 1978

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Five girls this week!  How many next week?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Vinegar Syndrome has done an amazing job at bringing long forgotten and relatively unknown films from the late 60s, 70s, 80s, and early 90s to many movie collectors over the years.  Some have not been good but a good portion of these releases were fantastic with almost all of them being first time watches for me.  When Vin Syn announced the release of Killer's Delight I was very curious about the film.  It was one I had heard about under the name The Dark Ride but had never seen.  After watching The Lamp I couldn't wait to finally check it out.  

     The film follows a small town detective in California who is dealing with a string of murders involving beautiful young women who was hitchhiking.  He teams up with a San Francisco detective to track him down before more young ladies become another statistic.  

     I didn't know what to expect from Killer's Delight when I tossed it in but I actually enjoyed it a lot.  the blending of true crime and police drama actually works for a late 70s horror flick.  It may not be up to speed for some horror fans but as someone who loves character driven stories I found myself pulled into this one.  The acting in this one is not the best.  A lot of the scenes feel goofy and awkward but it's far from being the worst I've seen.  The characters, the two male leads included, are easily forgettable and could be replaced with a number of other characters from films out the same time with little to no change to the film.  The story for this one is is a police drama that meets a true crime storyline.  We get a cop who is dedicated to his job who finds himself investigating a string of murders involving young women who happens to have a daughter the same age as the victims.  He takes it personal and starts searching for the killer relentlessly.  It works as a straight forward horror drama but it's clearly inspired by the murders of Ted Bundy.  I really enjoyed the investigation stand point and how they scattered the hitchhiking murders throughout.  The film does slow down to a snails pace at times but if you stick with it you find the story picking up before it causes damage.  Finally, the film is not bloody or gruesome.  The deaths take place off screen and we get just a little drop of blood here or there.  The film gets an rise out of the viewer by getting you attached to the character before they die.  Overall, Killer's Delight was an unexpected surprise.  I really enjoyed it but I wish this release would have used the other alternate title Sports Killer because it fit the film a lot better.  The release from Vin Syn is great and another must own for collectors.  Check it out.  

The Lamp

Director - Tom Daley

Starring - Deborah Winters (Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo, CBS Playhouse), James Huston (ABC Afterschool Specials, Powder), and Andra St. Ivanyi 

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Make a wish...if you dare"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I snagged a Scream Factory DVD that included four movies for an insanely great price.  The movies were hit and miss but as a collector I found myself over the moon with this release.  One of the films in that release was The Outing from 1987.  The movie was a lot of fun and one that I had watched a few times since originally snagging that DVD.  A few weeks back Vinegar Syndrome announced the blu release of The Lamp which is an alternative title for The Outing.  It was cool owning the set with the film on DVD but I was really looking forward to owning a Vin Syn release on blu.  I quickly snagged it when it became available for pre-order.  

     The film follows a group of students who decide to spend the night in a museum so they can party without being interrupted. However, what they don't know is that an evil djinn has escaped the prison of an ancient lamp and is killing everyone there one by one.

     The Outing is not an amazing film.  In fact, it is as far from perfect as a movie can get but the cheesy 80s dialogue, wardrobe, and choppy story still comes together to create something that I enjoy especially for a late night horror treat.  The acting in this one is nothing spectacular.  The characters are very dull and none of them really stand out.  The cast seemed to be having fun on set and some of the deaths scenes were very well acted but their lack of energy and memorable personalities makes this one fall below the cheapest slasher film from the 80s in regards to acting.  The story for this one is like a supernatural slasher that has some fun elements along with some not-so fun elements.  I really enjoyed the djinn killing the teenagers with the relics in the museum.  It gave the viewer a little something different than your standard cat and mouse horror film.  Also, the ideology and mythos around the djinn is a very under utilized creature for horror film.  In fact, their terrifying mythos has been glamorized over the years especially after the release of Disney's Aladdin.  It's refreshing to see a movie tackle the djinn and keep the horror aspect intact.  With that being said, the film tries to combine layer upon layer with the story which doesn't work as well as they would have liked.  The father and his fiance side story helps with establishing the daughter had lied but having them stalked by her ex-boyfriend and his goon could have been left out.  It does nothing for the story.  The pacing for this one is fairly solid.  We get a few slower scenes but they eventually pick up without throwing away the tension the film slowly builds.  Finally, the film has some fun and bloody deaths.  As I stated earlier, the film almost flows like a slasher so we get some slasher like kills with the murder weapons being artifacts and antiques.  It's fun and the practical effects are good enough to make the death enjoyable.  Sadly, the visual effects are extremely campy.  Personally, I enjoyed them but I know some of you will shit yourself because you refuse to have a good time.  Overall, The Lamp is not going to be for everyone but fans of 80s horror can appreciate what this film tries to deliver.  I love that we get something different with the evil djinn instead of your normal masked slasher or another overused supernatural entity.  The blu from Vin Syn looks great and I'm glad they went with The Lamp instead of The Outing because the artwork for The Lamp is so much better.  Check it out.  

Malignant

Director - James Wan (Saw, The Conjuring)

Starring - Annabelle Wallis (Annabelle, The Mummy), Maddie Hasson (Grimm, We Summon the Darkness), and George Young (Marry Me, Joys of Life)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A new vision of terror"

Format - Streaming (HBO Max)

Rating (out of 5):

     I know a lot of my peers in the horror community have a distaste for pop horror.  They always try to be edgy by liking extreme horror and refuse to give bigger budgeted films a chance.  These horror hipsters have been active on social media bashing the newest release from director James Wan.  I'll be completely honest, the trailer and artwork did not interest me in his newest genre effort but after seeing some of my horror friends bashing the film I was ready to check it out.  I don't mind a good popcorn horror flick and if this one was truly as bad as they said it was I couldn't wait to see it.  The film is streaming on HBO Max so I decided to check it out yesterday while I was off.  

     The film follows Maddison (Wallis) who was adopted at a young age.  She is attacked in her home by a figure in all black that kills her boyfriend.  She's hurt badly and was expecting at the time but lost the baby during the assault.  Since then she has visions of the figure killing people.  With the help of her adopted sister she does some research into her past where it is revealed that she had a parasitic twin on the back of her head which was cut off with the rest of it's face pushed under her skull in hopes of giving her a normal life.  Now, twenty some years later, he has grown and is able to control her telepathically.  He now uses her body to kill at will without her knowing what is going on around her.  

     Malignant wasn't a bad movie but it wasn't exactly what I was expecting either.  I saw some people complain about the film and referred to it as a horrible Basket Case remake.  Honestly, I can see why some of you called it that.  I also saw others saw it was crazy or bat shit insane.  This is something I didn't really see.  As a fan of Troma, Full Moon, and most indie productions I have to say this film was not as wild as many of you lead on. I enjoyed a good bit of this one but I felt that the film did struggle with it's own identity.  The acting in this one was alright but some of the scenes were a little underwhelming.  The cast took some scenes and absolutely gave them their all while other scenes felt a little lazy.  I know this cast can deliver unforgettable performances because most of them have done so in other films.  However, this film was very inconsistent with a lot of the characters blending into the background.  The story for this is such a mixed bag. We have what could be a phenomenal slasher that works for the most part.  With that being said, we get so many layers added to this story that makes it difficult to really understand everything that is going on.  Some of the things shown are done so in passing which not only opens up the door for more questions but makes the film drag on even longer than it has to.  I could be here all day picking this apart but I wont.  As a slasher, we get some fun kills but the films goofy side shows way too often which takes away from the dark atmosphere that the film tries too hard to establish.  Finally, the film delivers some brutal deaths with some great practical effects.  I assumed Wan would go the cheap route and give viewers horrible CGI deaths that wouldn't work out that well.  I was surprised to see these amazing death scenes.  Also, the mutilated brother looks absolutely phenomenal as well.  This is a killer that will stick with you for sometime.  With that being said, we have several chase scenes following the killer and the visual effects used are laughable.  Any fans of Blade II reading this?  Remember the fight scene where Blade scales the light wall?  Yea, those visuals looked better than this did.  Overall, Malignant could have been something truly special for the horror genre but it's evident that Wan was given full control of the film which resulted in him not knowing which direction to take it.  It's worth a watch but keep in mind that it's a messy flick.  

Alleluia

Director - Fabrice du Welz (Adoration, Vinyan)

Starring - Lola Duenas (Volver, The Sea Inside), Laurent Lucas (Raw, Rabid Dogs), and Helena Noguerra (Perfect Crimes, Heartbreaker)

Release Date - 2014

Genre - Horror/Romance

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I like to think that I have my finger on the pulse of horror but the truth is that so many genre title are released and go unnoticed.  A good bit are international titles but the same can be said about movies, especially indie productions, here in the states.  A few weeks ago Vinegar Syndrome announced the release of 2014's Alleluia from their partner label Music Box Selects.  I saw it was directed by Fabrice du Welz who also helmed Adoration which I reviewed a few weeks back.  This really caught my eye and I pulled the trigger on the pre-order.  I'm glad I did because I really enjoyed this one.  

     The film follows a woman who has a one-night stand with a man she met online.  However, he tries to stand her up before moving on to the next woman he can sucker.  She is able to track him down and her obsession for him soon takes over resulting in her killing any woman she finds him with.  The man, who also has a knack for killing to get what he wants, teams up with her to kill unsuspecting women for profit.  

     The slipcover for this release, along with Welz directing, was the selling points for the film.  I loved the bloody and gritty artwork along with the title.  However, I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did.  The acting in this one is great.  The entire film has a great cast that works so well together.  They feed off each others energy and match it on screen resulting in some emotionally intense scenes that honestly gave me chills.  The characters are a little difficult to follow at first but as the film progresses you find yourself getting pulled in by their insane performances.  The story for this one is said to be loosely inspired by the Lonely Hearts Killers from the 40s.  We follow a wayward couple who kill for cash and other means.  I can see the similarities to the LHK but I couldn't help but think about the iconic Vin Syn release of Psychos in Love.  That film also follows a killer couple but the oddball characters and comedy made it stand out a lot more than Alleluia did but the films serious tone and amazing cast made this serious story work.  It does have some slower scenes that doesn't seem to gather momentum until much later but it's nothing that takes way from the overall film.  Finally, this one doesn't shy away from blood.  We get several scenes with a good bit of blood with minimal practical effects.  It's not a gory one but the blood does flow pretty freely.  Overall, Alleluia was gruesome and intense at times and a slow one-sided romance at others.  It works well together but some of the scenes could be tweaked to fix the pacing.