Trick or Treat

Director - Edward Boase (The Mirror, Blooded)

Starring - Craig Kelly (Titanic, Waking the Dead), Dean Lennox Kelly (Jamestown, Being Human), and Frances Barber (Mr. Holmes, Cold Feet)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Crime/Thriller

Tagline - "Middle age can be murder"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Last year I was searching through Wal-Mart for new releases when I found myself very underwhelmed by what they had to offer.  I know the pandemic put a huge hit to the entertainment industry but I was hoping to snag something fun for my annual October horror movie binge.  Before I walked away I caught sight of the film Trick or Treat from Echo Bridge Entertainment.  It looked like a decent enough Halloween movie to check out but I never found the time to work it into my schedule until this year.  It was a solid film but not what I was expecting at all.  

     The film follows a new father who has turned his back on a life of crime to focus on his new family.  However, an unexpected visit from his brother who is rambling on about killing a man.  Soon he is visited by members of the local organized crime scene and his life, along with that of his family, is put in danger until he can track down his brother or uncover the truth of what happened to the new crime boss' son.

     Trick or Treat is not a horror movie and the name is very misleading.  The movie is centered around Halloween but that is the extent of it.  I would argue that this is a Halloween film but the story does not deliver on the Halloween hi-jinks that one would expect from a movie with a similar title.  It's a full fledged crime thriller with no real horror elements for those of us looking for a little chills on this sacred of holidays.  The acting in this one is surprisingly well done.  The characters are equal parts cliche and entertaining personality.  The cast is given a lot to work with and they all do a fantastic job with it.  They really did a great job bringing memorable characters to life that doesn't just blend into the background.  The story for this one isn't bad but having it set against Halloween and titling it Trick or Treat is very misleading.  The film would have worked under a different title and set against any other time of year.  Hell, it would even appeal to a much wider audience than the horror crowd.  If you look at the film's imdb page you will see several other reviews similar to mine about how misleading it is.  With that being said, it was a really fun and gritty crime thriller with a story that has something to say instead of a Tarantino inspired thriller with heavy dialogue and drawn out scenes.  I enjoyed it but it wasn't what I was expecting to watch.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments that fit the film but it's not the gory horror film you were expecting on this late fall weekend.  The effects work for the gag and the blood looks great. Overall, Trick or Treat is mostly a trick but it's one I enjoyed.  It's not the horror film you think it is but I would still recommend checking it out early on in your October viewing.  Check it out.  

The Good Things Devils Do

Director - Jess Norvisgaard (The Resurrection of Kryst)

Starring - Bill Oberst Jr. (3 From Hell, Circus of the Dead), Linnea Quigley (Night of the Demons, Return of the Living Dead), and David Rucker III (Fatal Attraction, Your Worst Nightmare)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Breaking in was easy... breaking out is going to be hell"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     During my October horror binge last year I ordered a couple Halloween centered horror flicks to watch and review.  One of those films was The Good Things Devils Do that has a stellar cast featuring Kane Hodder, Linnea Quigley, and Bill Oberst Jr.  Sadly, I wasn't able to squeeze it into my month long horror binge and decided to put it off until this year.  Sadly, when my October binge started this year I had completely forgot about it until I was looking for a few of my annual staples like The Barn and WNUF Halloween Special.  When I saw it I decided that I had to make time for it.

     The film follows an amateur curator, Melvin (Rucker), who wants to open up his own museum of the macabre.  On Halloween night he plans to unveil his newest attraction known as the Masquerade.  However, the Masquerade is actually a hibernation vampire and when the stake is removed from her heart all hell breaks loose putting Melvin, his wife and step-daughter, along with some petty criminals, together to fight for their lives.

     I was expecting a shit show when I tossed in The Good Things Devils Do just because I was so disappointed in Black Pumpkin.  I'm a huge fan of Kane Hodder and Linnea Quigley but the films they have appeared in over the last five or ten years has been very questionable.  With that being said, this film was surprisingly bloody and fun.  I'm not saying it's a new film to add to my annual rotation but I did enjoy it for what it is.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  Quigley, Hodder, and Oberst Jr. deliver the performances you would expect from them.  However, they all were out performed by David Rucker III.  His character made the film as fun as it was and his scenes were the highlight of the movie.  The story for this one has a little dash of crime meets a traditional Halloween horror film.  It was a lot of fun and I found myself really pulled in.  It doesn't try to overcomplicate things and is straight forward for the viewer to see.  Some of the scenes were a little dialogue heavy and uneventful but if you stick with it you will find yourself enjoying this vampire centered Halloween tale.  Finally, this film was extremely fucking bloody with some seriously impressive practical effects.  The kills are gnarly and fit the vampire story very well and there is buckets of blood for the sick horror fans out there.  Overall, The Good Things Devils Do is not what I was expecting but I did enjoy it.  It does drag it's feet at times but the acting and effects more than makes up for the drawn out scenes.  I recommend it.  

     

Black Pumpkin

Director - Ryan McGonagle (Legend of Fall Creek, The Good, the Bad, and the Bloody)

Starring - Ellie Patrikios (Gam Cam Grrl, Body of Sin), Matt Rife (Average Joe, After Masks), and Grayson Thorne Kilpatrick (American Horror Story, Dave)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Trick or treat!  You're dead meat"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Halloween is this weekend so I'm focusing the remaining few days of my spare time on Halloween centered films that I've accumulated over the year or so.  A few weeks ago I started receiving press releases for the 2018 horror film Black Pumpkin.  The film was recently hitting store shelves so I ventured out to Wal-Mart where I found a copy for a decent price.  I snagged a copy and was looking forward to checking it out in the days leading to Halloween.  Kind of wish I didn't after finally seeing it.

     The film follows two kids who did a video on a local legend.  Their video and subsequent exploits in the area awaken an evil force known as Bloody Bobby that starts killing without prejudice forcing them to act quick to save their family and friends before Bobby gets to them.

     I went into this one only seeing the trailer for it and I was actually pretty excited to see it.  It looked like an unexpected Halloween treat but that was clearly a trick.  The movie was a paint by the numbers Halloween tale that struggled with it's own identity.  Someone clearly wanted to be Trick 'r Treat.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent.  The child actors were the highlight of the film.  These young talents were surprisingly well rounded and genuine in front of the camera while the older cast, the ones portraying high school age students, were extremely awkward to watch.  Their dialogue was forced and they were painfully cliched.  The story for this one is Wa-Mart horror at it's finest.  It's mediocre are best and the story doesn't attempt to deliver anything new or different.  We get a small statured killer that is oddly similar to Sam from Trick r' Treat named Bloody Bobby which is the name of another Halloween themed movie and it's killer.  We follows two kids who accidentally summon a killer on Halloween which is the basis for so many other horror films.  The movie pulls in so many different recycled aspects that it completely loses sight of the movie it set out to make.  Honestly, if the film would have at least picked one horror trope and stuck with it I could have enjoyed it as a cheap late night watch but seeing all these generic characters and predictable story pile together made it a miserable watch.  Finally, the film does have some blood and practical effects but the kills are not as fun as they could have been.  It looks like the film's budget went into the cast when some of it should have been left for the effects so horror fans would get what they were looking forward to.  Overall, Black Pumpkin is one of those horror films that you will find at the bottom of the $3 movie bin by summer.  It's painfully dull and generic with nothing new or original.  This is one I would skip and recommend you do the same.  

The Dingleberrys

Director - Chris Seaver (Filthy McNasty, Die-B-Que)

Starring - Meredith Host (The Weirdsies, Evil Night) and Chris Seaver

Release Date - 2012

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi/Comedy

Tagline - "You'll crap your pants in fright... these turds have bite!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     My goal of eventually reviewing every film of Chris Seavers is slowly coming to fruition as I continue to update my DVD collection to his recently released blus.  I worked my way through four Filthy McNasty flicks before moving on to some other films I needed to check out before their release date.  At the beginning of the month I was at Cinema Wasteland where I was able to finally meet Seaver and I snagged his newest blu release of the Warlock Home Video Double Feature Volume 2 with Happy Helladays and The Dingleberrys.  I reviewed Happy Helladays a few years back during the Christmas season but I decided that The Dingleberrys was the perfect movie for my October horror binge.

     The film follows a group of youths looking to party and have fun who stumble across a group of poop balls that crashed to Earth from another planet.  The dingleberries have a taste for human flesh and soon start rampaging through town with sites on the group.  Hot on their tails is an intergalactic bounty hunter tasked with killing the dingleberries.

     I went into this one expecting a fun Chris Seaver flick with a lot of poop jokes and some small creature mayhem.  That's exactly what I was given so I was shocked when I saw the warning at the beginning of the film stating that it was one of Warlock's worst films and the cast and crew was ashamed of it.  You can usually tell which films Seaver doesn't like when it says it's directed by Rudy Bellefonte instead of himself.  They may have not liked their work but I enjoyed it.  It was the oddball horror comedy that I was looking for.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from a Chris Seaver film centered around space turds.  The cast has a lot of fun in their roles and that translates very well onto the screen but that's the extent of it.  Some of the cast portrays similar characters to other Seaver films but they are still a lot of fun.  I enjoy the close group of people that he works with and the acting makes the film in my opinion.  The story for this one is a shitty parody of Critters with the Warlock Home Video sense of humor.  The movie runs around 40 minutes so it doesn't over stay it's welcome and the humor works.  The film does have a few slower scenes but the humor and horror references works.  Finally, the film has some blood and some tiny turd creatures designed and sculpted by my friend Tom Martino.  We get some shit smeared on faces and funny critters that don't look cheap.  It's a late night horror comedy so don't expect a lot.  Overall, The Dingleberrys is not the best film to come from Chris Seaver and his camp but I enjoyed it.  It's not as memorable as The Weirdsies and Death O'Lantern but it has it's moments.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

The Vigil

Director - Keith Thomas (Arkane)

Starring - Dave Davis (The Walking Dead, Logan), Menashe Lustig (Menashe, Holy Woman), and Malky Goldman (Woman of Valor, Unorthadox)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "It wants your pains"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     

    When IFC and Shout Factory teamed up several years ago I was extremely excited for the possibility of the amazing releases this collaboration would bring us.  The pair has released some seriously eerie horror films over the last few years some of which still get regular revisits from me.  A few weeks ago I received the press release for the religious horror film The Vigil from IFC Midnight and Scream Factory.  I was really excited to check this one out so I reached out to my friends at Scream Factory and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a young man who has found himself lacking in faith after he lost his son when a group of bullies attack them while walking through Brooklyn.  He is asked to watch over the body of a recently deceased as part of the vigil.  A seemingly easy night takes a sinister turn when he discovers that something supernatural is lurking in the home.  

     I went into this one extremely excited but found myself very underwhelmed.  I still gave the film the benefit of the doubt in hopes that it would pick up before the film was over but it never did.  It was an interesting premise but at an hour and a half long the story just didn't have enough meat on the bone.  The acting in this one is great.  The cast is really dedicated to their roles and the characters are enjoyable but the situation they are in is very uneventful.  The story for this one has a great set up that could be something extremely chilling and terrifying but the atmosphere it builds is ruined by random scenes of text messages and random flashbacks.  The flashbacks does tell the backstory of the protagonist but they feel out of place at times and destroys the tension the film builds.  Also, the scenes are long and drawn out with little to no action.  The film would be way more effective if it was condensed to maybe a 30 minute run time then it would have been a little more enjoyable.  Finally, the film is not as bloody and gruesome as I would have liked.  It's very atmospheric at times but it does struggle to keep it.  Overall, The Vigil is a missed opportunity.  It could have been an unforgettable supernatural tale centered around religion but it fails to actually build upon the foundation it laid down.  I want to recommend this one but I can't.  Skip it.  

Alone in the Dark

Director - Jack Sholder (Tales from the Crypt, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge)

Starring - Jack Palance (Twilight Zone: Rod Sterling's Lost Classics, Batman), Donald Pleasence (Halloween, Prince of Darkness), and Martin Landau (Ed Wood, Frankenweenie)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "They're out...for blood!  Don't let them find you"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I was at a convention, possibly Cinema Wasteland, when I saw a few copies of the 1982 slasher Alone in the Dark on blu.  This release looked fantastic but it was clearly a boot.  I debated about snagging it because I had never seen the film before.  The guy offered me one of the copies for around $10 so I snagged it.  Ironically, I never took the time to actually watch it due to my work and review schedule.  A few weeks ago I received the press release for Scream Factory's release of the film on blu.  This was exciting news because it gave me a reason to finally watch the film and I could do it with a legitimate release instead of the boot that I'm ashamed to say I bought.  Like always I want to thank Scream Factory for sending this one over.  

     The film follows a doctor at an experimental mental institute that suffers a power outage.  Some of the more unstable patients escape and make their way to the home of a new doctor who they believe killed the doctor he is replacing.  As the night falls the doctor and his family finds themselves trapped in their home with the three deadly patients waiting for their opportunity to strike.

     I had always heard good things about this film but I did not expect to love it as much as I did.  It's not try to reinvent the slasher sub-genre but it does offer up a different approach to our beloved slashers.  The acting in this one is fantastic which is something you don't really see in a slasher from the early 80s.  Palance, Pleasence, and Landau are fantastic actors and watching them all deliver performances like this is out of place for two of them.  Pleasence had already cemented himself in horror history as Dr. Loomis by this point so seeing him tackle a similar role was a no brainer.  Palance and Landau deliver some seriously unhinged performances that made this film what it is.  Landau was easily my favorite part of the film and his performance here should be embedded in horror history.  The rest of the cast is great but they don't stand out like these.  The story for this one is a slasher at it's heart but does have a different set up that most slasher films do not.  The slashers released at the beginning of the 80s all followed someone that was wronged seeking revenge.  This one follows mental patients who think someone they liked was murdered and seek revenge against the doctor they think is responsible.  It does loosely used this trope but the mental hospital is a great set up for a slasher.  I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this story and the pacing makes it even more fun.  Finally, the film has plenty of blood and some fun kills but it's not as gory as one would expect.  I loved the kills and how they fit the film but some gory deaths would have set it over the top.  Overall, Alone in the Dark is the most underrated early 80s horror film that I've been fortunate to review.  It was a lot of fun and embodies everything that I love about genre films from that decade.  I highly recommend checking it out and the Scream Factory release is the best way to watch it. 

Elvira's Haunted Hills

Director - Sam Irvin (Oblivion, Oblivion 2: Backlash)

Starring - Cassandra Peterson (Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure), Richard O'Brien (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Spice World), Mary Sheer (Between Two Ferns: The Movie, Reno 911!)

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Evil. Terror. Lust.  Some girls really know how to party!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Like most genre fans that were born in the 80s and raised up through the 90s, I'm a huge fan of Elvira.  I collected her show on DVD when I was in high school and college and purchased Mistress of the Dark on several formats from VHS to DVD and then the blu from Arrow Video.  I love her sense of humor, self-awareness, and sex appeal.  With that being said, I had never seen her 2001 film Elvira's Haunted Hills.  I owned the DVD after finding it at a used video store but I just never made time to check it out.  However, when Scream Factory announced the release of the film on blu I knew it was time to finally see if it was as fun as Mistress of the Dark.  Like always, I want to thank Scream Factory for hooking me up with this fabulous release.

     The film follows Elvira (Peterson) who is traveling through the Carpathian mountains with her servant in 1851 when they picked up and taken to Castle Hellsubus which is rumored to be cursed.  The owner, Vlad Hellsubus, is plagued by many ailments and has never recovered from the death of his wife which looks just like Elvira.  As she unintentionally fumbles through the castle uncovering secrets hidden behind the walls the uncovers the real reason for Vlad's wife's death along with a brand new conspiracy.

     I was extremely excited to jump into this one but I quickly found myself waiting for it to end.  It was a very interesting premise but the humor and nostalgia that made the original films and subsequent episodes of her show so much fun was nowhere to be found.  The film was very much forced but it wasn't without a few fun moments.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from something with Elvira attached to it.  Cassandra Peterson rarely gets acknowledged for her acting.  Most people forget that Elvira is just a persona that she portrays and she does a phenomenal job with her character.  Elvira is second nature for her and she is great in the role.  Also, it was great seeing The Rocky Horror's O'Brien in another campy horror film.  He never holds back in his performances and this was no exception.  A few scenes he comes completely unhinged and the energy he brings is fantastic.  The rest of the cast is solid as well but these two characters really stand out.  The story for this one is a parody/tribute to the Roger Corman produced Edgar Allen Poe films and the iconic films from the height of Hammer Horror's productions.  With that being said, the set up is fun but the humor is forced and the story is stretched way too thin.  The story would have worked for a 40 to 50 minute film and the jokes might be more effective in a different setting but here they were not as fun as her previous film.  Finally, the film is not a bloody mess.  The movie focuses more on set design and wardrobe than it does blood and gore but we do get a skeleton and a great looking set.  Overall, Elvira's Haunted Hills was not as fun as I was hoping but I did have fun with a few scenes.  It's alright for a first time watch but don't expect the humorous and sexually charged Elvira that you are accustomed to.  The blu release from Scream is probably my favorite release of theirs so far.  

The Stand

Creator(s) - Josh Boone (The New Mutants, The Fault in Our Stars) and Benjamin Cavell (Justified, Wall Street)

Starring - Whoopi Goldberg (Theodore Rex, Bordello of Blood), Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood, Straw Dogs), and James Marsden (Disturbing Behavior, Sex Drive)

Release Date -2020

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Choose your side.  Take your stand"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was younger I watch a lot of television shows and movies with my grandmother while my dad was out of town.  During one of those nights I watched The Stand mini-series with her.  I remember watching it with her but I didn't remember a damn thing about the show aside from it featuring Molly Ringwald.  A few years back the series was released on blu and I was lucky enough to get a copy in to review.  It was great to revisit it and I found myself completely obsessed with the story.  Fast forward a year or so and I catch wind that the Stephen King story was getting another adaptation.  I was ready to check it out when it premiered on Paramount + but my time didn't allow it.  Soon after I forgot all about it until I started receiving press releases for the physical release of the series.  A few days later a blu showed up for review and I couldn't wait to dig into it.  This was my most anticipated release of the year.  

     The show takes place after the accidental release of a plague where most of the world's population is wiped out.  The survivors, who are immune to the disease, start receiving lucid dreams from the saintly Mother Abagail (Goldberg) or the devilish Randall Flagg (Skarsgard) instructing them to on where they should go.  Mother Abagail's followers assemble in a small community in Colorado while Flagg's people arrive in New Vegas to party and live out their fantasies.  

     After revisiting the first adaptation of The Stand I can safely say that it was one of my favorite adaptations of King.  I was excited but nervous about the new adaptation but I really liked it.  Hell, there was aspects of this one that I actually enjoyed more than the original.  With that being said, some aspects, along with the casting, was not as fun but not enough to take away from the overall show.  The acting in this one is absolutely fantastic.  We have James Marsden tackling the imported role of Stu Redman.  He does a phenomenal job in the role and really made it his own.  He doesn't outdo Gary Sinise but makes the role his own and unique.  I also enjoyed Owen Teague as Harold.  He was extremely creepy when the show called for it and did a fantastic job at creating an emotional bond with the viewer.  Though it is hatred he still played the part and did an unforgettable job.  Skarsgard as Randall Flagg was great as well but he just didn't look the part like Jamey Sheridan did in the original run.  His performance was still great but that look meant a lot in the original mini-series.  The casting that I didn't care for was Ezra Miller as Trashcan Man and Amber Heard as Nadine Cross.  Both of these performances were underwhelming and their personalities were no where near as fun as the original show.  Matt Frewer as the original Trashcan Man was so much fun and his scenes had a sense of humor that Miller's rendition could not touch.  The story for this one pretty much follows the same story as the original.  I had never read the story it was based on but I feel as if both adaptations follow the story fairly closely considering they both are overwhelmingly similar.  I love everything about this story to be completely honest.  I'm not a religious person but I love a story with good versus evil and when you mix that with a global pandemic, supernatural forces, and survival drama then you are in for some compelling television.  It does suck knowing exactly what is going to happen next but the road there is still enjoyable.  I think I would have loved it a little more if I didn't know exactly what was going on but knowing was still as fun.  Finally, the film uses a great mix of practical and visual effects.  The film has some pretty gnarly deaths scenes with some amazing practical effects that truly surprised me.  I guess going to a streaming platform instead of cable allows a production like this one to up the gore factor.  The film also implements some great visual effects as well.  They do stand out from the practical but they don't look as bad as others that I've seen.  Overall, The Stand is a must see for genre fans, as well as, any fan of Stephen King's work.  I fucking love it and can't wait until I can find another reason to revisit it.  I highly recommend it.  

Let's Stop at the Morgue

Director - SamHel (Flesh Eater X, The Satanic Works of Jasmine)

Starring - Ken May (Arachnado, Grindsploitation 666), Shane Ryan (Axegrinder 2, Virus of the Dead), and Rebecca Vanguard (Gloryhole, Assylum)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener) (Vimeo)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend my favorite horror and cult movie convention, Cinema Wasteland.  Honestly, Wasteland is my favorite time of the year and the fact that it happens twice the year is just enough reason not to off myself.  At this go around I was able to meet indie filmmaker and artist SamHel.  I had known him on social media for many years now but I had never been able to actually meet him in person so it was cool to finally see meet him. Since then I've been living the post-con blues wishing it was almost April for the next Wasteland when he reached out to me to review his newest horror effort Let's Stop at the Morgue.  This one is a bit different than his other films and focused more on horror instead of erotica.  Like always, I want to thank SamHel for once again allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check out your work!

     The film follows Jackie (May) who works at the morgue and doubles as a serial killer using his job as a way to dispose of the bodies.  Things are going smoothly for the most part until a nosey detective (Shane Ryan) discovers his dumping ground and traces it back to him.

     Let's Stop at the Morgue is not the film you would expect from SamHell and A Baroque House.  It was a gore filled slasher that had a straight forward horror story that worked.  It doesn't over do it or overstay it's welcomes but it works for a shorter slasher-like horror film.  The acting in this one is fairly decent.  I enjoyed the entire cast.  Ken May is no stranger to my reviews after appearing in several of Dustin Ferguson among many others.  He's very natural in front camera but sometimes he does feel a little stiff and awkward to watch especially when his lines are improvisational.  I liked his character here and his performance would have been a lot more enjoyable if the emotion behind the dialogue felt genuine.  Shane Ryan is a filmmaker that I've featured several times on the site but I can't recall a film I've reviewed where he was actually in front of the camera.  He was just as natural in front of the camera as May but he is easily more charismatic.  His character could have been written into a bigger role because he does a fantastic job.  The supporting cast is solid as well but they are rarely on screen like these two individuals.  The story for this one is not overcomplicated and works if you are looking for a bloody horror flick.  We follow a guy working in a morgue who uses his job as a way to get away with murder.  It's a great angle to a serial killer story but it does make the viewer want to compare it to Dexter (I know he doesn't work at a morgue but with law enforcement).  Finally, it wouldn't be a SamHel film if it wasn't gruesome and this is no exception.  It doesn't have a high body count but the kills we get are very graphic and gruesome.  I really enjoyed these deaths and SamHel's demented eye.  Overall, Let's Stop at the Morgue is a character driven bloody mess of a film that I really enjoyed.  Those of you with an eye for blood and guts will really appreciate this one.  I highly recommend it.  

Luz

Director - Tilman Singer (The Events at Mr. Yamamoto's Alpine Residence, El Fin Del Mundo)

Starring - Luana Velis (Diebe des Schlafes), Johannes Benecke (Hit Mom: Murderous Christmas, Moebius), and Jan Bluthardt (The Events at Mr. Yamamoto's Alpine Residence, Tatort)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I receive press releases for so many films.  Some look fun and are right up my alley while others look unique.  Sadly, I do get press releases for movies that just utterly ridiculous.  Sometime ago I received a series of press releases for the German horror film Luz.  The series of posters to accompany the film really peaked my interest and I was all about it.  Sadly, I forgot about it until recently when a partner of Vinegar Syndrome, Altered Innocence, announced the release of the film on blu.  I try to snag their releases when possible and I didn't want to skip on this one.  I was very excited to check this one out.  

     The film follows Luz (Velis) who strolls into a dilapidated police station to turn herself in.  However, Luz is not safe there because a women, Nora, is possessed by a demon who is seducing her way into the police station to be with her.  

     I was so excited to spin Luz.  I had heard nothing but great things about this one with a lot of my friends in the horror community praising this possession film.  Sadly, I didn't care for it as much as others.  It was a decent first time watch but it was not as fun as others had lead me to believe.  It had an interesting premise but the dull scenes and flat dialogue made for an extremely difficult film to finish.  I can already hear the comment section bashing away at their keyboards bitching that I "didn't get it."  Regardless, there was moments I really dug but most of the film was a miss for me.  The acting in this one is my favorite part.  The characters are very well written and they mesh fantastic with the story.  The cast does a great job with the characters and the cast makes the film as enjoyable as it is.  The story for this one is a fun and unique take on a possession.  I liked the idea of the woman in the police station while a demon is possessing people to get to her.  With that being said, the story seems to drag on and once you figure out what is going on you find the impact of the story not hitting as hard as it should.  If the movie would have focused more on the demon possession instead of the woman infiltrating the police station it would have been so much more fun.  Finally, the film has some blood and a couple moments with some supernatural fun that implements some great camera tricks to pull them off.  It's not a gory mess but it does have a few moments.  Overall, Luz was not what I was expecting but it has it's moments.  I enjoyed the set up but it feels like there was some wasted opportunity here.  It's alright for a first time watch but don't expect a movie that will stick with you.  

Auntie Lee's Meat Pies

Director - Joseph F. Robertson (Dangerous When Wet, Innocent Seduction)

Starring - Karen Black (House of 1000 Corpses, Invaders from Mars), Pat Morita (The Karate Kid, The Munsters Today), and Kristine Rose (To Sleep with a Vampire, Batman Returns)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "How do you handle a hungry man?  You have him for dinner!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been buying and collecting horror movies for almost 20 years now.  I've never felt old until I typed that last sentence but it's true.  I've been collecting for many years and there is several movies I've always wanted to add to my collection and was never able to.  One of those films was Auntie Lee's Meat Pies.  I'm a sucker for horror comedies and this film looked like a lot of fun but I was never fortunate enough to find a copy.  When Vinegar Syndrome announced the release of the 192 horror comedy on blu I was quick to snag a copy.  I had never seen it but I was looking forward to getting my hands on this Vin Syn release.  

     The film follows Auntie Lee (Black) who uses the beauty of her three nieces to lure lusty hitchhikers into her home where she kills and cooks them into her amazing meat pies.  Her slow but loveable handyman Larry (Michael Berryman) catches the eye of their small town sheriff and soon their antics come crashing down when he discovers a bag of bones in a car driven by Larry.  

     I was so excited to finally check this one out but after 40 minutes or so I discovered why most horror fans don't talk about this one.  It started out so strong but quickly fizzled out before we reached the halfway mark.  I feel like this one maybe suffers from the same issue that Spookies does and the director had one vision while the producers has another.  I don't know but I do know that it does off the rails after such a strong start.  The acting in this one is fun but not the best I've seen.  The characters are very enjoyable and written with a lot of personality and memorable traits.  The cast was given a lot to work with and they did a fantastic job at making the scenes fun while moving the story along.  With that being said, I was a little surprised by Berryman tackling the role of a simpleton.  I've seen him portray similar characters before but this one is almost a little too weird.  The story for this one has an amazing start where we are introduced to the characters, get a good bit of the cannibalism that we were expecting before we get into the odd scenes in the basement with the different scenarios that they would pick the band that was traveling through off one by one.  It was when the film reached this point that it got out of hand and way too goofy even for my tastes.  I'm all for Satanic cannibals but the way the story drags on at this point made it difficult to stick with it.  Finally, this one has some fun but cheap looking kills that I was expecting.  I didn't expect this one to have impressive gore but it did deliver on the campy kills and cheap practical effects.  Overall, Auntie Lee's Meat Pies is alright for a first time watch but I was very disappointed with it.  I wish it would have stuck with the family killing and cooking people while avoiding the law.  Check it out if you haven't but don't expect a well rounded culty classic.  

     

A Dim Valley

Director - Brandon Colvin (Frames, Sabbatical)

Starring - Robert Longstreet (Halloween Kills, Midnight Mass), Rosalie Lowe (Other Ghosts, The Followers), and Rachel McKeon (Jessica Jones, One Dollar)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometime ago Vinegar Syndrome began their partnership with several labels which has resulted in them releasing some seriously underrated and unnoticed films that would have been criminally overlooked otherwise.  One of the companies they partnered with was Altered Innocence which focuses on LGBTQ+ and coming of age films.  I'll be completely honest and admit that these movies are movies I would typically overlook if Vin Syn wasn't attached which is foolish on my part because most of these releases were extremely entertaining.  A few weeks ago Altered Innocence released the 2020 comedy A Dim Valley.  It looked interesting so I pulled the trigger on the pre-order.  I'm glad I did because it was a fantastic film.

     The film follows a biologist and his two students who are staying in a cabin deep in the woods when they come across three beautiful backpackers camping nearby.  An unexpected campfire accident results in them staying in the cabin with them along with experiences they never expected.

     I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I ordered A Dim Valley but I honestly enjoyed it.  It was a lot of fun and I absolutely enjoyed the cinematography and characters.  I know it will not be everyone's cup of tea but I think those with a feel for the artistic side of cinema will enjoy it.  The acting in this one is really impressive.  The film is not dialogue heavy so a lot of the story, as small as it is, is delivered by the characters interactions with one another.  The cast works so well together and some of the scenes requires the cast to get extremely close but the cast does so in a way that it's not awkward to watch.  Their interactions together feel genuine.  The story for this one is not something that is complicated and difficult to follow but some scenes are more important than others.  The film does take awhile to get rolling but it is thoroughly enjoyable.  It's simple and effective especially when put in place with the visual images.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  It's a character driven story with beautiful images and great character interactions.  Overall, A Dim Valley may not be for the typical Vin Syn crowd but if you are open to the experience you will really enjoy it.  It's omni-sexual and very enjoyable.  I liked it and I'm sure a good bit of you will as well.  

Halloween Kills

Director - David Gordon Green (The Righteous Gemstones, Your Highness)

Starring - Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween, Freaky Friday), Judy Greer (Ant-Man, Jurassic World), and Andi Matichak (Halloween, Son)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Three generations.  Strode strong"

Format - Streaming (Peacock)

Rating (out of 5):

         Like most horror fans, I'm a huge fan of the Halloween series.  Like most of my other film opinions, my opinion on the Halloween franchise is very controversial.  I absolutely adore Season of the Witch and the Jamie Lloyd Saga along with Curse of Michael Myers and the first remake from Rob Zombie.  I know many fans dislike these films but I absolutely fucking love them.  Hell, I even like H20 but I don't really care for H40.  It offered very little in the way of a continuation of the series and I found myself bored out of my wits.  I was on the fence about watching Halloween Kills but after seeing how divided horror fans were with it I decided to give it a go.  

     The film picks up immediately after the events of the first film with Laurie's home going up in flames with Michael stuck in the basement.  As her daughter and granddaughter rush her to the hospital the fire department arrives to put out the flames and accidentally unleashing Michael from his fiery tomb.  Now, Michael is tearing his way through Haddonfield while Laurie is in the hospital.  

     I went into Halloween Kills hoping it was better than H40.  What I didn't like about H40 was that it was pretty much a retelling of the original Halloween but with extended family of Laurie.  Halloween Kills dials it up a notch with the kills but doesn't really deliver a different story.  In fact, it's just another Blumhouse retelling of Halloween II.  The acting in this one is funny.  Everyone in the film is so serious but a lot of the dialogue had me in stitches.  Since my initial viewing I've spent hours making "Evil dies tonight" memes.  That is the goofiest battle cry I have ever heard and hearing it come from the stern faced Anthony Michael Hall made it so funny.  I don't know who wrote this dialogue but it was hard to take seriously.  The rest of the cast isn't as funny with their dialogue but a lot of the scenes are over-dramatic and extremely awkward.  Even Jamie Lee Curtis is hamming it up more than normal.  The story for this one takes the setting of Halloween II but puts that hyper-violent and gritty spin that H40 started.  It doesn't really offer up anything different in terms of story.  We follow the Strodes as they struggle with Michael while the towns people group up to stop him.  That's it.  We literally have a feature length movie following Laurie and her family panicking in the hospital and the towns people arming themselves.  Finally, the film is extremely brutal with some seriously impressive practical effects.  One that stands out is the make-up prosthetics is when they aged an actor to look like Donald Pleasence  who is known to fans as famously portraying Dr. Loomis.  We also have some brutal and extremely enjoyable deaths that look fantastic.  The effects are the only reason to watch this one.  Overall, Halloween Kills is alright for a first time watch but does sit low on my Halloween film rankings.  It's a quick cash grab that just doesn't do it for me.  I wish it was more focused on story instead of who the film was casting.  

No Man of God

Director - Amber Sealey (A Plus D, How to Cheat)

Starring - Elijah Wood (Maniac, Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring), Luke Kirby (Halloween: Resurrection, The Human Zoo), and Aleksa Palladino (The Sopranos, The Ring Two)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Crime/Drama

Tagline - "Before execution Ted Bundy disclosed details of his crime... but only to one man"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My horror binge continues with a not so horror release that I recently received from my friends over at RLJE Films.  When I received the press release for No Man of God I thought it was going to be a crime thriller that possibly included flashbacks of the heinous acts committed by Bundy as he recollects them to the FBI agent that was interviewing him.  Sadly, that was not the film but I found myself really enjoying it.  I'm glad that I took the time to review it but it was out of place with my October horror binge.  I want to thank RLJE for always supporting Horror Society and sending over this review copy.

     The film follows FBI agent Mill Hagmair who is tasked with interviewing Ted Bundy in hopes of getting closure for many of the families that Bundy had ripped apart during his years of killing.  What starts out as a battle of wits eventually leads to Bundy respecting Hagmair but his games and the governors rush to enact the death penalty on Bundy jeopardizes Hagmair's mission to get closure for the families.

     I was looking forward to No Man of God.  I'm a huge fan of Elijah Wood and seeing him in a crime drama centered around Ted Bundy really peaked my curiosity.  The film was not what I was expecting but I still loved it.  It was a phenomenal film that I can see myself watching several times without growing tired of it.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  I've seen several movies with different actors tackling the enigmatic Ted Bundy and I have to say that Luke Kirby is my favorite performance.  He was absolutely fantastic as Bundy.  There was several scenes where my skin was actually crawling.  I love when a performance, especially centered around a real life monster, gives me chills.  Wood delivers another unforgettable performance.  He is such an amazing actor and I love seeing him tackle films that are destined to gain a cult following.  The supporting cast is just as great but the film is focused on these tow and their relationship together.  The story for this one is a crime drama that focuses on Bundy and his hatred of the FBI and the unlikely friendship he developed with Bill Hagmair.  It's an amazing story and the way it was filmed made for an enjoyable film experience.  However, I wish the film would have delivered on the bloody flashbacks or something of the like for horror fans to sink their teeth into.  Finally, the film doesn't really deliver the blood and on screen deaths that most movie goers would expect from a true crime film.  It's character driven and focused heavily on the story instead of practical effects.  Overall, No Man of God is an absolutely fantastic crime drama with an amazing performance and a captivating story.  I highly recommend this one.  

Tough Guys Don't Dance

Director - Norman Mailer (Wild 90, Beyond the Law)

Starring - Ryan O'Neal (Slumber Party Slaughter, Bones), Isabella Rossellini (Death Becomes Her, Tales from the Crypt), and Debra Stipe (In the Heat of the Night, Murder, She Wrote)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Mystery/Drama

Tagline - "A love story haunted by murder"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When most of us think about Vinegar Syndrome we think about often overlooked horror titles and exploitation flicks.  That's one of the reasons I fell in love with them many years ago when I first started reviewing movies for Horror Society.  Their releases are some of my most valued in my collection and I always look forward to the next horror and exploitation release to come my way.  However, I never expected to see a murder mystery with instances of comedy and drama to come to blu from Vin Syn yet here I am watching and reviewing Tough Guys Don't Dance from director and author Norman Mailer.  I was on the fence about this one when they announced the release but I love Vin Syn so I was open minded about it.

     The film follows author and small-time drug dealer Tim (O'Neal) who finds himself recollecting the previous days to his estranged father where he reveals a web of adultery, drug use, betrayal, and murder.

     Tough Guys Don't Dance is not the movie I expected to be reviewing for Horror Society but I also wasn't expecting to like a murder mystery with humor, drug use, and fake southern accents.  I surprisingly enjoyed it but I don't want to watch it again nor will I ever have the desire to hit play while it's in the disc drive.  This is one of the films where once is enough.  The acting in this one is hit or miss with me.  I liked Ryan O'Neal and Lawrence Tierney in their roles but I found myself laughing at most of the rest of the cast.  I don't know what Wings Hauser was on while filming but he had me laughing my ass off through most of the film.  His intensity in his scenes with that mischievous smile was almost out of place but it was fun.  Also, Debra Stipe held each and every scene she was in.  I absolutely loved her weird ass southern accent and how free loving and wild she was.  Her character was so easy to fall in love with.  However, I was not a fan of Isabella Rossellini.  He performance was very lackluster when compared to the rest of the cast.  The story for this one is a murder noir with some intentional and not so intentional humor with a killer twist that I was not expecting.  I'm fairly quick to determine who the murderer is but this one really did leave me guessing until the reveal.  Some of the scenes are little drawn out and dialogue heavy but I actually enjoyed those scenes.  Finally, the film has some blood but the deaths are done off screen.  We don't get any gore and one scene does feature a ridiculous looking dead dog that did make me chuckle.  Overall, Tough Guys Don't Dance was a fun and exciting film with ridiculous characters and some laughs.  It doesn't have much of a replay factor but I still liked it for a first time watch.  I highly recommend it.  

The Cult Leader

Director - Nate Thompson

Starring - Halle Rose, Jeremiah Goldmain, and Brandon Gee

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "No escape for the wicked"
Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     The pandemic has put a bit of a strain on last year and this year's Halloween horror binge for me but I'm still grateful for the few films that was able to get knocked out with so many obstacles that has befell them the last two years.  A few days ago director Nate Thompson reached out to check out his newest short The Cult Leader.  The title really sold me on the short so I quickly agreed to check it out.  I'm glad I did because I had a lot of fun with it.  Thanks Nate for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check out your hard work.

      The film follows a group of young adults who are looking to party and watch some television when they hear a strange noise.  One of them tells the others about the legend of the cult leader and soon they find themselves face to face with the masked wearing lunatic ready to slaughter them all where they stand.

     The Cult Leader doesn't set out to reinvent the genre.  It is straight and to the point with amazing atmosphere and a story that most feature length slashers try to stretch to reach a feature length running time.  It was fun for what it was and I really enjoyed the look and tone of the film.  Hell, if Thompson wanted to turn this into a feature film or a sequel I would be totally down.  The acting in this one is fun.  The characters are cliched and generic but the cast tackles these rolls with a comedic tone that I really enjoyed.  The cast had fun with it and that fun translated very well to the scene.  The story for this one is pretty much a tribute to standard slashers with a fun killer and just as fun kills.  The film runs around 7 minutes so the movie pretty much skips on the character development and just a little time is spent on the the backstory of The Cult Leader.  I loved how quick it was to get into the action but more time could be spent on the killer's origin story.  Finally, the film only has a few kills but they are very entertaining.  We get a good mixture of blood and humor which is always something that I look forward to when I toss in a movie.  The humor doesn't completely over shadow the blood and works with it.   Overall, The Cult Leader is a fun short that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for something short, sweet, and to the point this Halloween season.  I had a lot of fun with it and I'm sure you will too.  

HorrorTales.666 Part 2

Director(s) - Derek Braasch (The Lazy Werewolf, Murder for Pleasurer), Matt Cannon (Hexercise), and Marcelo Fabani (Smartest Creature, After Last Day)

Starring - Ari Lehman (Friday the 13th, Leaf Blower Massacre 2), Debbie Rochon (Exhumed, Model Hunger), and Debbie D (Tales for the Midnight Hour, Hayride Slaughter)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror/Comedy/Sci-Fi

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's not often that a sequel is better than the original film but it does happen at times.  I know my opinion on films is often controversial but I think movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Evil Dead II, and Hellbound: Hellraiser II are better than their originals.  I'm not knocking the first films but I always found some sequels to be more entertaining that the first film.  When I watched HorrorTales.666 I hoped and prayed that the sequel would be better than the first film.  I'm not religious but some higher power answered my prayers but they have a strange sense of humor.  

     The film picks up 8ish years since the original film with the burglar (Wynkoop) getting out of jail and returning his thieving ways. He breaks into another home and discovers that the house is haunted and the spirit is forcing him to read a series of new horror tales before his time is up.

     I went into HorrorTales.666 Part II thinking there was no way that this follow up could be as bad as the first film and I was right.  However, it wasn't without it's own issues and doesn't really deliver on the cheap fun I look for from indie anthologies.  Most of the segments were very underwhelming but one, like the first film, did stand out to me.  I loved the weird Christmas centered story directed by Derek Braasch.  It was goofy and extremely cheap but my favorite of the film.  With that being said, some of the other segments just didn't fit the movie at all.  The first is the segment featuring aliens, space travel, and some sort of woke concept that was very out of place and goofy but not in a fun way.  The other was the segment following producer Phil Herman as he was putting together the movie while other actors, musicians, directors, and producers reach out to him asking to be involved in the film.  This routine went on for far too long and was something horror fans don't want to see.  Both of these should have been removed which would have helped the films almost two hour fun time.  Finally, this one has much better practical effects and deaths than the first film.  The Christmas story is my favorite by far with plenty of the red stuff but some of the other ones are just as enjoyable but not as memorable.  The humor with the deaths in the Christ story makes it stand out.  Overall, Part 2 was a little better than the first film but still nowhere near as fun as I would have liked.  This is another one I hate to say it but should be skipped.