Maniac Cop 2

Director - William Lustig (Maniac, Vigilante)

Starring - Robert Davi (The Goonies, Predator 2), Claudia Christian (Babylon 5, Quantum Leap), and Robert Z'Dar (Easter Sunday, Spring Fever)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Action/Horror

Tagline - "You have the right to remain silent... forever"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love a good sequel.  Hell, I even love a half-assed sequel.  Most genre fans are quick to bash a sequel, prequel, remake and reboot without letting the film speak for itself.  If the film sucks we still have the original film to fall back on.  However, if the new one is good we now have an additional film to watch .  The first Maniac Cop is a historic slasher that combines the standard slasher formula with the look and feel of late 80s action flicks.  The fact that it was produced by Larry Cohen and directed by William Lustig should also be noted.  I first saw the film about ten years ago when I found the film on VHS and sometime later snagged the sequel on DVD.  The trilogy was one of my first reviews when I started writing and a series of films that has stuck with me all these years later.  When Blue Underground sent out the press release for the UHD release of Maniac Cop 2 I was all about it.  I quickly reached out to them for a review copy which they were kind enough to hook me up with.  Thanks guys!

     The film picks up with the maniac cop, Matt Cordell (Z'Dar) escaping in the water after the events of the first films.  Officer Jack (Campbell) is released from his involvement but he suspects that Cordell's killing spree is not over.  When a new series of murders breaks out Detective Sean McKinney (Davi) starts investigating and eventually uncovers that Cordell was arrested and convicted after he got too close to a group of dirty cops including their current commissioner revealing that his set up is why he has returned from the dead to kill officers.

     Maniac Cop 2 is one of the sequels that holds up just as well as the original film.  It builds upon the story from the first film while furthering the the story in a way that not only made it entertaining and not predictable.  This is a fantastic sequel that plays perfectly as a back to back double feature with the original.  The acting here is great and actually a little better than the first film.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adored Tom Atkins are the detective in the first film but this go around we get more Z'Dar as Cordell with a little more personality and screen time along with Davi delivering a great performance as a different detective.  We also get an outstanding performance from Claudia Christian who never disappoints as well.  I really enjoy seeing her pop up in films that I'm not expecting.  The story for this one takes a deeper look at Cordell and how he became the bloodthirsty cop killer.  It doesn't make him out to be the monster that he is in the first film but it makes the original story make a little more sense.  I liked it a lot and sets itself up for even more possibilities to follow.  With that being said, it does trip over it's feet a few times but it regains it's traction before fumbling.  Finally, the film has some classic deaths with some solid practical effects and good bit of blood.  We also get a better look at Cordell and his make-up effects look great.  He might not be as iconic as Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorehees but I really do love the look of this character and the make-up effects are top notch.  Overall, Maniac Cop 2 is a fantastic sequel and a seriously underrated slasher.  The UHD release from Blue Underground is damn near perfect.  The video and audio is great and the supplemental material is a great addition to this release.  I highly recommend snagging this one especially if you have never seen this follow up to William Lustig's cult classic.  

Maniac Cop - Revisited

Director - William Lustig (Maniac, Vigilante)

Starring - Tom Atkins (Night of the Creeps, Halloween III: Season of the Witch), Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead, Ash vs Evil Dead), and Laurene Landon (Full Moon High, The Stuff)

Release Date - 1988

Tagline - "You have the right to remain silent... forever"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago, almost a decade now, I started up a blog to write reviews.  I wanted to focus on old action and exploitation flicks but my love of horror took over.  Before long I was more focused on horror and thrillers than those action and exploitation flicks that I wanted to review.  It was at this time that I found a bunch of VHS tapes at a pawn shop that they were basically giving away.  It was here that I found my first copy of Maniac Cop.  I couldn't pass up the find and quickly snagged it.  Sometime later I found a used copy of Maniac 2 on DVD at FYE of all places.  I snagged it while I could and ordered a copy of Maniac 3 to half the trilogy.  That first year I was writing reviews I decided to review the all three Maniac Cop films.  I'm a huge Bruce Campbell and Tom Atkins fan so I was really excited to dig into it.  Now, after almost a decade of waiting, I'm giving another chance to revisit the trilogy after Blue Underground announced the release of Maniac Cop 2 and 3 on UHD.  I went ahead and ordered a copy of the first Maniac Cop on blu so I could binge the trilogy.  

     The film follows police detective Frank (Atkins) who is investigating the murder of several police officers.  He suspects that the murderer is actually police officer Jack (Campbell) after his wife was found murdered shortly after she discovered he was cheating on her with a female officer.  Now it's up to him and his female love interest to discover who is really killing the other officers before it's too late.  

     Maniac Cop is a bit of an oddity to come out of the late 80s.  Around 1986 the slasher sub-genre was on the decline with almost a decade of dominating the horror scene.  Horror fans were becoming sick of the non-stop bombardment by film studios and their aggressive marketing for slashers.  Slashers were cheap to make and had the potential to yield big results.  However, genre fans were looking for something more and Maniac Cop was that.  It was a action horror film written by legendary genre director Larry Cohen and directed by Maniac director William Lustig.  It's unique for the slasher sub-genre and some fans even argue that it's not a slasher even though all the traits are there.  The acting in this one is very well done with some stellar performances coming from Tom Atkins and Laurene Landon.  Atkins never disappoints and he once again an unforgettable performance.  The character is oddly similar to his iconic character in Night of the Creeps but he still brings the same intensity that he does in every other film of his I've seen.  Landon is an actress that I was unfamiliar with until I initially watched this almost ten years ago but I've always found it odd that her filmography has two or three amazing films and pretty much deters off from there.  I don't know much about her personal life or what happened but here she was amazing.  She's equal parts beauty and talent.  The rest of the cast is solid but Campbell is underwhelming and Z'Dar is a solid killer but the way the film was shot, which was for dramatic effect, doesn't really give him a chance to act.  The story for this one is a standard slasher but heavily mixed with 80s action style.  It's unlike any of the slasher films coming out then and even now.  The basis for the story follows a cop who was arrested and convicted by those that were supposed to be his brothers.  In prison he was attacked by those he had sent there and murdered in the showers.  Now, he's back from the dead and he has a bone to pick with the police force.  The standard slasher formula consisted of people being picked off one by one by someone that was wronged.  This follows that formula very well and when you add it to a typical cop action flick you find yourself in the middle of something different and very unique.  Finally, the film has several bloody deaths along with some quick and unimaginative deaths.  The practical effects for some look great but the film is not as gory as I would have liked.  Overall, Maniac Cop is a must see for genre fans.  It has a great cast and the story is unlike any other slasher of the time.  It may not have revitalized the sub-genre but it's still a fantastic watch.  I highly recommend it.  

     

Daisy Derkins, Dogsitter of the Damned

Director - Mark Mackner (Evil Brew, Daisy Derkins and the Dinosaur Apocalypse)

Starring - Susanna D'Arcy (The Embalmo the Clown Show, Always from Darkness), Annamarie Ruggiero (St. Blacktrick, Midnight Show), Christine Fisler (Alpha Girls, 3 Poisons)

Release Date - 2013

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Sit.  Stay.  Play dead"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

       I've uncovered a bunch of wild indie horror flicks over the last few years just from browsing hashtags on Instagram and Twitter.  When you sort through the busty goth girls and their Scream VHS pics you can find some fun indie films that would typically go unnoticed.  Several months back I found a post from indie filmmaker for the re-release of his 2013 horror comedy Daisy Derkins, Dogsitter of the Damned.  I fucking love weird and strange indie releases so I was quick to search for a copy.  I found it on oldies.com which seems to be the exclusive retailer for Alpha Video who is handling this release.  I snagged it, along with some other Alpha Video releases, and decided to finally check it out. 

     The film follows Daisy Derkins (D'Arcy) who is hired to dog sit for a mysterious man.  Uncomfortable in the home of the mysterious man, she quickly calls her friends to come over and sit with her when news of a famed serial killer has escaped prison.  Things take a predictable turn when the girls break out an Ouija board which only makes matters even worse.

    I knew Daisy Derkins, Dogsitter of the Damned wasn't going to become my favorite indie movie but I knew it was going to be fun as fuck.  In fact, I really enjoyed it and look forward to checking out Mackner's other films including his two other Daisy Derkins films.  The acting in this one far from perfect but it wasn't bad.  I liked the energy the cast brought to their scenes along with the characters personalities.  The cast did lack experience but was still able to deliver some memorable performances.  The story for this one is one is very imaginative and different than your normal indie horror flick.  Mackner doesn't succumb to trends and delivers a movie with a fun and out their story that will hold your attention from beginning to end.  We have a giant, man-sized dog, a serial killer on the loose, a horror YouTube show, beautiful women, and an Ouija board.  All this comes together to make a messy yet entertaining film that doesn't overcomplicate things.  It's a movie that you can follow even if you are paying half attention to it but doesn't underwhelm the viewer either.  It's cheap fun for genre fans.  With that being said, some of the scenes do drag on a little too long but they don't really take away from the overall film.  Finally, the film has some blood and minimal practical effects but a few of the gags actually looked cool.  The real highlight of the film is the dog costume which was funny but surprisingly well done considering the film's budget.  Overall, Daisy Derkings, Dogsitter of the Damned was a fun no budget indie horror comedy with a story that will stick with you sometime after watching it.  It's not perfect but it does entertain.  

She Freak

Director(s) - Byron Mabe (The Lustful Turk, Space Thing) and Donn Davison (Honey Britches, Blood Beast of Monster Mountain)

Starring - Claire Brennen (Ritual of Evil, Maneater), Lee Raymond (Men into Space, Mission: Impossible), and Lynn Courtney (I Am a Camera)

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Behind the tents and tinsel of a monster midway something barbaric occurs in the Alley of Nightmares"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been heavily collecting the AGFA releases for a couple years now.  I was introduced to their releases when MVD sent over a couple for me to review.  Their partnership with Something Weird has brought us upgraded and remastered releases of movies that I had never heard about or owned on a bare bones DVD prior to now.  I had picked up She Freak many years ago from Amazon when I was heavily collecting exploitation and older horror titles.  I had only watched it once or twice during my college years but it never really stood out to me at the time.  When AGFA and Something Weird announced a new blu release I almost skipped it.  However, my urge to collect all the AGFA releases forced my hand.  I'm kind of glad I did because it was fun to actually revisit this odd one.  

     The film follows a small town waitress who catches the eye of most of the men in her town.  However, she has bigger dreams than working at a dirty diner and when a barker for a traveling carnival stops in for a bite she finds herself swept away by the lights and attention.  She leaves her small town life behind to join the carnival but soon realizes that she does not like the carnival attractions and oddities.  This comes back to bite her in the end when the carnies and attractions come together to exact revenge.  

     She Freak is a movie that I've heard a lot of genre fans bash but I genuinely like it. Like I said before, it's not a movie that would add to a top 10, 20, or even 100 list but it's not a bad movie.  It is easily forgettable but fun while you are watching it.  The acting in this one isn't the worst but there is plenty of room for improvement.  I always find it funny when amateurs or actors with no experience raise their voices to show emotions.  They never rely on mannerisms and facial expressions to convey emotions.  Instead, they yell and scream to show various emotions.  It's funny to me and She Freak had me straight up cackling during some of the scenes.  Don't get me wrong, the acting is not as bad as a Friday the 13th fan film made by teenagers but it does have plenty of room for improvement.  The story for this one is Freaks with the horror removed.  You did read that correctly, the horror aspect is literally removed from the film until the last 10 minutes or so.  I love a good horror film set against a circus or carnival but this one focuses more on the characters and the bigotry that people that are different face.  It's a solid dark drama but if you are looking for the She Freak like the cover paints you will be disappointed.  Actually, the She Freak is the title is referring to the film's main character and how much of a monster she is toward those she deems below her.  Finally, the film has some fun make-up effects are the end of the film but if you are looking for a film with a body count you will be greatly disappointed.  Overall, She Freak is a true exploitation film in every sense of the word but it can be slow and dull at times.  It's not the best horror film but if you like character driven exploitation flicks then you will enjoy this one.  The new blu release from AGFA and Something Weird is a must own for collectors.  I highly recommend it.  

Psycho Sisters

Director - Pete Jacelone (Dead Students Society, The Masked Strangler)

Starring - Pamela Sutch (Sorority Slaughter, Virgin Sacrifices), Christine Taylor (Domestic Strangers), and Tina Krause (Bloodletting, Strawberry Estates)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Beyond the brink of madness"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few months ago I discovered W.A.V.E. Productions thanks to the documentary Mail Order Murder: The Story of W.A.V.E. Productions.  I was kicking myself for not knowing about them prior to but I was surprised to see a few films that I was familiar with get mentioned in the documentary like HorrorTales.666 which was recently released on DVD by The Sleaze Box.  Soon after watching the doc I quickly rushed to my computer and ordered a few titles and before long Vinegar Syndrome's partner label Saturn's Core released the 1994 W.A.V.E. film Psycho Sisters.  This was another must own release for me and I was quick to pre-order a copy.  While I was on my Thanksgiving break I decided to finally dig into it.

     The film follows two twisted sisters who go on a killing spree after witnessing the rape and murder of their younger sister.  

     I was seriously excited to check this one out and was even more excited after I spoke with William Hellfire who is one of the folks behind Saturn's Core.  Sadly, I didn't like the film.  Don't get me wrong because I had fun watching it but the movie itself was nothing spectacular.  It's easily forgettable but I always find something enjoyable about watching an S.O.V. flick I had never seen before.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from an early 90s S.O.V. flick.  The cast, especially the female leads, are very dedicated to their roles.  The characters are poorly written but the female leads have a lot of fun in front of the camera.  The story for this one is simple and straight to the point but it stretches itself far too thin.  Two beautiful women seducing and killing men is exactly what most male horror fans are looking for.  However, this movie is extremely repetitive and the sleazy aspect doesn't reach it's full potential.  The film misses several opportunities to bring the carnage and sleaze.  Instead, it feels like each scene is rushed and the story just follows what they could film as quick as possible.  Finally, don't expect to find a bloody flick.  We get some strangulations and the like but that's the extent of it.  The deaths are forgettable and lack any imagination.  Overall, Psycho Sisters is a great idea that misses it's mark.  The thought of two beautiful women seducing and killing men could be something horror fans would never forget but the way it was shot made for a film that had no reason to be as dull as it is.  I wanted to love it but I couldn't.  The blu release looks great so S.O.V. fans and collectors should check it out but if you are looking for something new to watch you will want to skip this one.  

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Director - Andy Serkis (Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, The Ruins of Empires)

Starring - Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road, The Dark Knight Rises), Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, The Hunger Games), and Michelle Williams (Venom, Shutter Island)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Action/Horror

Format - Streaming (Vudu)

Rating (out of 5):

     While 2020 delivered a hard hit to the film industry it looks like the second half of 2021 has been a steady incline of new films from Hollywood.  I was only able to catch Ghostbusters: Afterlife in theaters but some of the other movies I had to miss were quick to get a streaming release.  Another film that I was excited to check out was Venom: Let There Be Carnage which was directed Andy Serkis. I enjoyed the first Venom and was really looking forward to the follow up especially when I heard that it was feature Carnage and was directed by Serkis.  The day it hit Vudu I quickly rushed over and snagged it. I'm glad I did because it was a lot of fun.

     The film once again follows Eddie Brock (Hardy) who is struggling with his professional career and hiding Venom from the outside world.  However, his life goes on the uphill when he interviews serial killer Cletus Kassidy (Harrelson) and Venom uncovers the spot where he had buried his victims.  However, a strange encounter prior to Cletus' execution leaves a portion of Venom inside of Cletus giving birth to Carnage.  He escapes prison and his execution before setting out to free his girlfriend Francis who is a mutant forcing Brock and Venom to once again step in and stop them before more innocent lives are lost.  

     Venom: Let There Be Carnage was an exciting sequel but it was extremely goofy and sometimes awkward but it was an overall enjoyable experience.  The acting in this one is enjoyable and the characters, the ones like Eddie Brock and Cletus Kassady, really stand out.  Hardy and Harrelson are great as these two iconic characters but their symbiote versions of themselves were not as entertaining as they could have been.  The Carnage and Venom feud is iconic among fans yet their voice acting and personalities were not where they needed to be.  The supporting cast is solid but you watch a Venom and Carnage film for Venom and Carnage.  The story for this one is a little bit of what we get in the first film but this time we have Carnage added to the mix.  We once again spend most of the movie with Venom and Eddie Brock bickering back and forth before we fully embrace the Carnage side of the film.  Honestly, the story is very one sided and I was expecting a lot more Carnage than what we actually were given.  Honestly, the film should have been more Eddie Brock and Cletus Kassady interactions than what it was.  There is so much more to the story than what we were given here.  Finally, the film has some fun CGI moments but there was several instances with the visual effects looks atrocious.  I can't believe that a movie like this actually let visual effects like this pass.  Overall, Let There Be Carnage had some entertaining moments along with some awkward moments.  Honestly, I enjoyed it but I don't see myself revisiting it any time soon.  I would prefer a Carnage stand alone film but this was entertaining enough as it is.  

Terminal Island

Director - Stephanie Rothman (The Velvet Vampire, Blood Bath)

Starring - Don Marshall (The Incredible Hulk, The Thing With Two Heads), Phyllis Davis (Knight Rider, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls), and Ena Hartman (Star Trek: The Original Series, Games)

Release Date - 1973

Genre - Action/Drama

Tagline - "Men and women... black and white.  Taken from death row - condemned to Devil's Island, U.S.A., where living is worse than dying"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     When Vinegar Syndrome announced that they would be releasing films on UHD I was expecting them to continue to release video store staples like Rad, The Beastmaster, Tammy and the T-Rex, Six-String Samurai.  However, when Vinegar Syndrome announced the release of the 1973 exploitation flick Terminal Island on UHD I was extremely excited at the thought of future exploitation, even blaxploitation, releases that we would be getting from Vin Syn.  I quickly snagged this release but couldn't watch it when it arrived.  However, my Thanksgiving vacation presented itself the perfect opportunity to finally dig into it.  Keep up the good work Vinegar Syndrome.  

     The film takes place in an alternate 1973 where the death penalty was abolished.  However, with overcrowding prisons the state of California has moved all those guilty of murder to an island nicknamed Terminal Island.  Here a group of men enslave women forcing them to work during the day and fuck the men at night.  However, a small group of outcasts fight them at any chance they can to free their women.  Soon an all out war ensues with both faction of prisoners fighting each other for control of the island.  

     I knew Terminal Island was going to be a lot of fun but holy fuck did I love it.  In fact, it was one of the few films that I've seen over the last year or so that I immediately started it over once I finished watching it the first time.  I fucking loved it and I look forward to the other exploitation films getting the UHD release in the future from VS.  The acting in this one is great for the film but it's not memorable performances from the cast.  The characters fit the film perfectly and the cast really does get into their roles.  With that being said, many of the characters do blend in with the background through most of the film.  The story for this one is the kind of story that I find myself very attracted to.  Films where people are placed out of their element and forced to survive really pulls me in and supercharges my imagination.  Having this set up as a prison setting made the film more grounded.  I enjoyed the two conflicting groups and how they were surviving and thriving.  I also liked how the bigger camps had a hierarchy.  A lot of thought went into the setting for the story and how it was all put together.  The more dramatic and action scenes does feel rushed and lacks the impact that it should have had.  If the movie would have slowed down and approached these scenes in a better manner it would have a more positive impact on the story.  Finally, the film has some blood but don't expect gory death that would fit a film like this.  There is blood and minimal effects but that is the extent of it.  Overall, Terminal Island is a must see for fans of exploitation cinema.  This early 70's action thriller is a lot of fun and definitely set the tone for other films that would follow in the years after.  I highly recommend snagging this release from Vin Syn.  It's an amazing release and an even more amazing film.   

The Haunting of Bly Manor

Creator - Mike Flanagan (Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Hill House)

Starring - Victoria Pedretti (Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood, Amazing Stories), Oliver Jackson-Cohen (The Invisible Man, Dracula), and Amelia Eve (The Darkness, Shadowland)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A year or so ago I was sent over the blu release of The Haunting of Hill House.  I had heard of the show when it was released on Netflix but I never took the time to watch it until I received that copy for review.  Sadly, I didn't care for the mini-series and when the news broke the director and producer Mike Flanagan announced another mini-series The Haunting Bly Manor adapted once again from the works of Henry James.  I wasn't interested in checking out this new mini-series even though it wasn't connected to Hill House but once the blu release arrived for review I figured I had to now.  I'm glad I did because I actually liked it.  It was a lot of fun and highly entertaining.

     The film follows an American nanny who is hired to take care of two children by their uncle after the unexpected deaths of their parents.  However, she is not the first person hired to tend to the children.  An Au Pair was previously hired and soon after took her own life.  Now the nanny is left to uncover the secrets hiding behind the walls of Bly Manor while battling her own demons.

     I was hesitant when I put this in and hit play but after an episode or so I found myself becoming more and more invested with the characters and the story.  It's not perfect and the flashbacks mixed with confusing dialogue does make it a chore to finish but I rather enjoyed it.  The acting in this one is great and the cast is fantastic but the characters are extremely cliched and generic.  I've watched dozens and dozens of paranormal period pieces over the years and the characters in this one are generic.  The cast does the best with what they are given but the characters nor their performances are memorable.  The story for this one is a gothic romance with supernatural and crime elements.  It's not really a horror series per-se but there is some darker moments that were fun.  However, the characters may be generic but their interactions and backstory were the highlight of the show.  I wish a little more time was spent on character personality because it would have made the film even more enjoyable.  Finally, don't expect a bloody series.  We get some visual effects that look solid and some great make-up effects but that is the extent of it.  Overall, The Haunting Bly Manor is a well put together mini-series that isn't really horror in a traditional sense but I really liked it.  The characters are rather cliched and blend into the background but the story around them is worth your time.  I highly recommend it.  

Creepshow Holiday Special

Director - Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead, Creepshow)

Starring - Anna Camp (The Office, True Blood), Adam Pally (Iron Man 3, The Mandalorian), and Pete Burris (Stranger Things, Rampage)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few days ago I was sent the second season of the Shudder original series Creepshow produced by Greg Nicotero and occasionally directed by him.  The season wasn't as solid as the first season but it was still great fun.  The special features on that release included two specials.  The first was an animated special featuring two segments that was released around Halloween last year.  The second special was a Christmas special that was directed by Nicotero and starring the beautiful Anna Camp.  With Christmas just a month away I figured it only made sense to follow up that viewing of the second season with the holiday special.

     The film follows Robert (Pally) who suspects that he is a killer when he shapeshifts during a full moon.  He tracks down a group of other shapeshifters who are part of a support group.  They all change into different animals like a boar, tortoise, cheetah, and one furry.  They uncover that he is one of the few that actually transforms into a wolf but his arrival also invited the evil Santa Claus and his Santa minions who have a centuries old grudge to settle with all shapeshifters.

     I was on the fence with this one after watching the animated special but after just a few minutes of this one I was in love with it.  It didn't really feel like a Creepshow episode but it was so fucking crazy that it was fun.  I fucking loved it.  The acting in this one is great.  The characters are goofy and have great personalities.  The cast really did do a great job at bringing their characters to life.  Their performances are fun and are highly enjoyable.  The story for this one is fucking wild and I love it so much.  Honestly, I'm surprised this was greenlit because it's just so fucking out there.  Most companies wouldn't gamble with a story following a group of shapeshifters fighting Santa and his legion of mall Santas.  This special runs around 40 minutes and uses it's time wisely for the most part but some of the scenes are a little dialogue heavy but they have very little to say in regards to the actual story.  A little fat could be trimmed but it doesn't really take away from the special as is.  Finally, the film has some amazing make-up effects and awesome costumes.  It does have some gore that looks amazing and the shapeshifters, aside from the first werewolf, looks great.  With that being said, the first werewolf looks like ass.  Overall, Creepshow Holiday Special is my favorite episode of Creepshow to date.  It's not something I expected to come from a studio produced series but it was a lot of fun.  I highly recommend this amazing special.  

Creepshow Animated Special

Director - Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead, Creepshow)

Starring - Kiefer Sutherland (The Lost Boys, Young Guns), Joey King (The Conjuring, The Act), and Fayna Sanchez (Dollface, OJ: The Musical)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Strange, eerie, terrifying"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Last year was a rough one for many of us.  The pandemic took millions of lives, saw several without jobs and income, and others found themselves homeless for many reasons.  For obvious reasons, the movie industry was hit due to the pandemic and the "new normal" along with the guidelines that made filming new projects damn near impossible.  However, that didn't stop special effects legend and occassional director Greg Nicotero from knocking out an animated special for his produced Creepshow series.  It was released on Shudder but I never got the chance to check it out until I was sent the second season of Creepshow from RLJE Films and Shudder.  I finally was able to check it out as one of the special features on this release.  

     This special consists of two tales.  The first follows a surgeon that finds himself alone on an island with no way or surviving.  He resorts to eating seagulls before resorting to amputating his legs as a way of sustaining his own before succumbing to infection and starvation.  The second tale follows a teenage girl who is on vacation with her family when they come across a roadside attraction called Circus of the Dead.  They soon discover that this a circus centered around zombies and those in charge use the audience as their next batch of undead for the following show.

     I was really looking forward to this after watching season 2 of Creepshow but the animated special was not as entertaining as the actual show.  I liked the stories behind each tale but the delivery and animation just didn't sell it to me.  The voice acting in this one is alright for the most part but the cast does struggle with conveying emotions by just using their voices.  Those cast fit the characters they were assigned to but the voice acting is very flat.  The stories for this one is great on paper but the execution and delivery was just not the best approach to make them enjoyable.  I really enjoyed the plot for both stories but the animated approach and narration made the stories feel a little too goofy.  They didn't have the impact that they could have if it was actually live action.  Finally, the film has some animated violence that was fun to at times but the animation style just didn't work for me.  Overall, Creepshow Animated Special had some fun moments but it is easily forgettable.  It's not on the same level as the regular episodes which means you can skip it if you really want to.  

Creepshow: Season 2

Starring - Kevin Dillon (The Blob, Platoon), Keith David (They Live, The Thing), and Ryan Kwanten (True Blood, Knights of Badassdom)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "11 terrifying tales of terror!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (Out of 5):

     The horror anthology Creepshow is one of the most beloved anthologies ever with some of the most memorable stories from the George A. Romero and Stephen King collaboration.  It's a film that I grew up with and was very fond of.  The films sequel, because we are forced to ignore the third film, is just as iconic and entertaining as the first film.  When I first heard that Greg Nicotero and Shudder was working on a series based on the Creepshow films I was beside myself with excitement.  When I received that first season for review I fell in love with it.  It was a fantastic tribute to the film that Romero and King gave genre fans.  When I was contacted to review the second season I couldn't say yes fast enough.  As soon as it arrived I made time for it.  I want to thank my friends over at RLJE Films and Shudder for sending this one over!

     The show has 11 episodes, along with 2 specials, that follows siblings that are trying to run a murder bed and breakfast, an abusive uncle and his nephew who learns voodoo, an astronaut that is living in his father's shadow, Ted Raimi unleashing deadites on a public access show, and more.

     This second season of Creepshow fell a little flat but it still had it's moments.  Some of the stories felt like they were perfectly written to deliver on that comic charm while others felt like they were rejects from The Twilight Zone.  They wasn't bad but they did feel out of place.  The acting in this one is fun but I wouldn't call it great.  We get a lot of cameos from genre legends like Kevin Dillon from The Blob remake, Keith David from John Carpenter's They Live and The Thing, Ryan Kwanten from HBO's True Blood, Ted Raimi who is the brother of Evil Dead creator and director Ted Raimi who has appeared in several iconic films, Ali Larter from Resident Evil and Final Destination fame, C. Thomas Howell who has appeared in several classic 80s films like Red Dawn and E.T., Josh McDermitt from The Walking Dead, Breckin Meyer from Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, Molly Ringwald who was known for her comedies in the 80s but many genre fans will recognize from The Stand and Office Killer, and Justin Long from Tusk and Jeepers Creepers.  This is a stacked cast with some memorable performances but some are extremely campy.  I really enjoyed the casting here and love that so many familiar faces were given roles in such an iconic show.  The stories in this one are hit and miss.  Some are tales that will stick with you for some time while others just feel out of place like they were discarded from other anthology series like The Twilight Zone.  I absolutely loved so many of these tales but the ones like Night of the Living Late Show, Sibling Rivalry, and The Right Snuff just didn't work for me.  I wanted to like them all like the first season but these segments are weak and out of place.  The horror element just wasn't there especially in Night of the Living Late Show.  It felt like a drama with a dark twist.  It's still a great season but very inconsistent.  Finally, the season has plenty of practical and visual effects with some fantastic death scenes.  The practical and make-up effects looks great but the visuals are inconsistent.  Some look surprisingly well done while others were rushed and noticeable.  Overall, Creepshow: Season 2 is an entertaining season with some worthy episodes but other episodes are rather weak.  I still would recommend this one but don't let the bad ones leave a bad taste in your mouth because the better segments are well worth it.  

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Director - Jason Reitman (Saturday Night Live, Juno)

Starring - Carrie Coon (Avengers: Infinity War, Fargo), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers), and Mckenna Grace (Scoob!, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror/Comedy/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Discover the past.  Save the future"

Format - Theatrical

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was a kid my brother introduced me to The Real Ghostbusters on one of his weekend trips in to see us.  He was 12 years older than me so he left home when I was little.  On one of his trips in he brought some of his old Real Ghostbusters action figures to give me and before long I was headed to the local video store to rent the two films.  It was a fun weekend and one that still stands out even to this day.  In 2016 the female lead Ghostbusters was released and I took my oldest daughter, who was 2 at the time, to see it.  She fucking loved it but I know a lot of GB fans were butthurt.  They forget that we already have our own films and cartoons to enjoy.  Regardless, I'm glad I was able to share this memory with her.  Now, my daughter is 7 and my son is 5 and I was able to take them to watch Ghostbusters: Afterlife.  I was on the fence about taking them because they have no interest in "older movies" so they never watched the first two films but I decided to anyway.  I was surprised by how much they enjoyed it while I was over the moon that fans finally got the sequel they have been begging for.

     The film follows a single mother of two teenagers who receives word that her estranged father has passed away leaving her his old farmhouse in the middle of nowhere.  Her kids, the always inquisitive Phoebe (Grace) and the typical teenage boy Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), struggle with their new move into the small town.  However, as they start to clean up the property and surrounding sheds they realize that their estranged grandfather was Egon Spangler, the founder of the Ghostbusters who saved the world in the 80s.  He left his family and friends behind because he knew a much bigger threat was waiting but no one believed him.  Now it's up to his grandchildren to stop Gozer from entering the world once again.

     I didn't know what or where Ghostbusters: Afterlife was going to give us but I was very happy with the overall film.  It was overflowing with nostalgia while giving us a new, yet rehashed story, while setting us up for even more fun further down the line.  I'm all for it and those of you that are fans of the original films and don't have your head up your ass will enjoy it as well.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  With the introduction of Stranger Things and the new reimagining of It Hollywood has brought us some seriously fun films centered around children and these child actors are absolutely brilliant in their roles.  Afterlife is no different.  I'm a fan of Finn Wolfhard and I really liked him in this one.  I know he's no longer a child but he is naturally charismatic in front of the camera and he delivers another unforgettable performance here.  It's also great seeing someone like Paul Rudd getting a chance to be apart of a film with a fandom like this.  His performance was fun but did make me miss Rick Moranis.  The film does bring Mckenna Grace to my attention.  She was in the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina but here she really shows movie goers that she is going to be a name that everyone will be familiar with soon.  Also, it foes without saying that the cameos were a fantastic touch as well.  The story for this one does a great job at explaining the years between the first film and now while giving us the possibility of many more films to come.  The thought of the Ghostbusters having children to carry the mantle really does give me goosebumps thinking about the possibilities.  The remainder of the story, when not delivering on the character development, does deliver a story we have already seen before featuring Gozer, the keymaster, and so on.  I don't think it would have been too hard to give fans a new apocalyptic event.  Finally, the film is overflowing with visual effects.  Some of the visuals were fantastic but there was some that looked extremely goofy.  A film of this caliber has no reason having CGI as cheap looking as it does.  Overall, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is exactly what fans were wanting.  It brings to life that wave of nostalgia we are looking for while giving us something more to look forward to.  Do yourself a favor and check it out.  

     

Candyman

Director - Nia DaCosta (Little Woods, Top Boy)

Starring - Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Aquaman, Watchmen), Teyonah Parris (Mad Men, WandaVision), and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Doctor Who, Drunk History: UK)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Say it"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When it comes to 90s horror very few horror properties have the fan base that 1992's Candyman does.  Written by Clive Barker of Hellraiser fame and starring genre legend Tony Todd, the film would spawn three sequels along with countless urban legends after it's early 90s release.  Hell, it's one of the few pop horror franchises that I enjoy.  I even like the lesser successful sequels.  When news of a reboot produced by Jordan Peele broke I was all for it.  Peele has shown that he is a dedicated fan of the genre and his contributions so far are historic so I was genuinely looking forward to it.  I wasn't able to catch it in theaters but when a physical release was announced I was quick to pounce on it.  I was lucky enough to get a copy in for review and the second I had time in my schedule I tossed it in.

     The film follows an artist and his girlfriend who move into luxury apartments in Chicago that was once known as Cabrini Green.  After hearing the story of Candyman from his brother in law he starts to investigate the area where he meets a an older man that grew up in Cabrini Green and remembers when Sherman Fields was gunned down by police when he was suspected of putting razor blades in candy.  Nicknamed the Candyman, he is known to appear in mirrors if you say Candyman five times while looking in one.  This inspired his newest piece but when those that critic it soon find themselves dead.  As he dives deeper into the legend of Candyman and all the men that held that mantle he discovers that he has closer ties to the legend than it had appeared and soon he is the one responsible for keeping the namesake alive.  

     Horror fans can be extremely toxic.  Hell, I dislike most of the horror community because of how negative and condescending they are.  Many were quick to bash this one before it was released and I'll be honest and admit that I made a few jokes about it but I had every intention of checking it out.  However, after finally checking it out I can't see the reason some of the genre fans disliked it.  The acting in this one is great.  The entire cast works phenomenally well together and their characters are written perfectly for the story.  With that being said, we don't really get enough screen time of the Sherman Fields after he was transformed into Candyman.  The story for this one is a great way to pick up from the original story almost thirty years later.  We get a much bigger backstory to Daniel Robbitaille along with an expanding lore that makes it's way into modern society while staying true to it's roots with discrimination.  It works as a continuation while leaving it open to so many more possibilities.  However, my biggest complaint of the film was the lack of Sherman's Candyman along with the new incarnation of Candyman.  What made the first film so much fun was the cat and mouse game played by Candyman and Helen Lyle.  It has that slasher vibe that I expected and pretty much enjoy but more Candyman and a little less psychological horror would have been fantastic.  Finally, the film has some seriously fun on screen deaths with a mixture of practical and visual effects.  The visuals are noticeable but not bad while the practical effects are great.  Overall, Candyman is a great reboot that gives fans of the original film something to grab onto.  The cast is fantastic and I look forward to future installments building up on this one.  I highly recommend it.  

Chupa

Director - Tom Hoover

Starring - Peter Ferry, Mary Mahoney,  and Jim Lee Jones

Release Date - 2000

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Pray they don't feed on you"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Watching a previously never released S.O.V. horror flick is something a lot of horror fans look forward to.  There is a few companies out there that track down and preserve S.O.V. horror and I respect each and every one of them.  A few weeks ago Tempe Digital announced that they would be releasing the 2000 unreleased S.O.V. horror flick Chupa on blu.  I had never heard of this one but I'm a huge fan of Bookwalter and Tempe so as soon as the orders went live for Chupa I quickly rushed to makeflix.com and grabbed a copy.  

     The film follows a group of professionals from various backgrounds who are recruited by the government to investigate a series of murders that took place in a small town in Ohio.  However, this investigation is unlike anything they have seen before and soon they realize that this is not what they suspected and one of them is not as they seem.

     S.O.V. horror is very hit or miss with me.  Sometimes it's an amazing horror flick with crazy gore and a halfway decent story while other times they are nothing more than kids just fucking around in their parent's basement with their video camera.  I never go into them expecting a life changing experience but I do look to them for a cheap good time.  Chupa was surprisingly fun but it was dull at times.  The acting in this one is well done which is very surprising considering that I can find very little about the cast on imdb.com.  They were all extremely comfortable in front of the camera and the characters they created were very well grounded.  They fit into the story very well but they don't really stand out when the film is said and done.  The story for this one is all over the place.  We get X-Files inspired government conspiracies, cryptids, and creatures that can change their appearance.  I really enjoyed the story for the most part and how it all came together.  With that being said, it does have several dialogue heavy scenes that drags on a bit too long ruining the pacing of the overall film.  Finally, the film has some blood but don't expect a lot of blood and gore.  Also, there is a scene near the end with some visual effects that had me laughing my ass off.  It was so bad but the unintentional laughs made if worth it.  Overall, Chupa is a bit slow but I did enjoy the story.  I liked the the conspiracy aspect and as a fan of The X-Files I really liked what this film pulled together.  It's fun and Tempe did a fantastic job putting out this release.  I highly recommend it.  

     

The Collected

Director - Raymond Cara

Starring - Lexy Robidoux, Artemis Lupercalia, and Evan Robidoux

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     Earlier this year I found the Instagram page for filmmaker Raymond Cara who was releasing his new short Slimebox.  It was a wild and messy short that I really enjoyed.  Since then I've kept an eye on Raymond and his work so I don't miss out on his newest mild melting film.  A few weeks ago Raymond reached out to me to check out his newest short The Collected.  I shared the initial release on the site when it went live but I never had the chance to check it out until now. Honestly, I shouldn't have waited because it was one hell of a horror short.

     The film follows The Collector who is a clown that has a peculiar eye collectibles.  He spots a young boy that he wants to add his collection.  He then lures him back to his home and shows him a secret room made out balloons.  The young boy goes in and returns as a balloon sculpture that he then adds to his ever growing collection of balloons.  

     I didn't know what The Collected was or what it was about.  I did know Cara released a fantastically fun short Slimebox and I had high hopes for this.  It did not disappoint and I look forward to future projects.  The acting in this one is rather unusual.  There is no real dialogue but the character interactions is done by gestures and facial expressions.  The way this was done makes the film even more eerie and unnerving then it would have been had the cast actually talked or communicated in conventional means.  The story for this one is extremely simple, bleak, and unnerving especially if you are a parent.  It's not an extreme horror film that uses shock value to get under the viewer's skin.  Instead, it uses atmosphere and tension to work.  Finally, don't expect a bloody or gory short.  It has amazing lighting, cinematography and set design to make the story have the impact that it does.  Overall, The Collected is a short that works.  It's not gruesome or violent but it does pack an emotional punch especially if you are a parent.  I highly recommend it.  

Apocalypse Now

Director - Francis Ford Coppola (Dracula, The Godfather)

Starring - Martin Sheen (Spawn, Tales from the Crypt), Marlon Brando (Superman, The Island of Dr. Moreau), and Robert Duvall (Invasion of the Body Snatchers, THX 1138)

Release Date - 1979

Genre - War/Action

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I went through a war movie phase.  It started with Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket and before long I found myself snagging up any war movie I could find.  When the local video store closed I was able to snag a super cheap copy of Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now on DVD.  I had never seen it before but I figured for $3 I wouldn't be disappointed.  That weekend I stayed over at a friends house and we decided to watch it.  We both did not expect the movie to be as amazing as it was and to this day whenever I get a chance to revisit it I greatly accept the opportunity.  A few weeks back I received the press release that the film was getting a brand new UHD steelbook release as a Best Buy exclusive.  I reached out to the PR firm handling the release and they were kind enough to send a copy my way for review.  I'm glad they did because it had been a few years since I last viewed it.

      The film follows an Army Captain (Sheen) who is recruited on a special assignment to travel through Vietnam, during the height of the Vietnam conflict, to kill a rogue commander.  The commander has went awol and garnered a following of believers after proclaiming himself a god.  The mission takes him and his squad through the jungles of Vietnam where they suffer several casualties before reaching their destination on the edge of Cambodia.  Here he meets the eccentric and mesmerizing commander and his followers of natives and soldiers alike who will lay their lives on the line.  The captain becomes enthralled with him but refuses to give up on the mission that he is tasked with.

     I can already hear the attention seekers on social media bashing this one for not being horror but I couldn't pass up an opportunity to revisit this one.  It's such an amazing film with some of the best story and character development I have ever seen.  Every shot is a masterpiece and the movie is ridiculously long but doesn't feel that way.  It's absolutely brilliant.  The acting in this one is gives me chills.  This is my favorite performance of Martin Sheen.  He has appeared in other remarkable genre efforts like the first live action adaptation of Spawn but he will always be remembered as the army captain from Apocalypse Now.  The remainder of the cast is just as memorable.  Robert Duvall, Marlon Brando, and so many more deliver unforgettable performances that are unlike anything you have seen.  The story for this one is very layered but it's not overwhelming.  The movie flows almost as if it's told in chapters with one over arching storyline with mini-episodes spaced throughout it.  It has a long running time but the way the story is told it makes great use of time without overdoing it.  We move right along with situation to situation before finally reaching our final destination.  It works extremely well and once the film is over you are surprised to discover exactly how much time you have spent with the film.  Finally, this is not a horror flick but it is one with a body count.  We get lots of blood, some explosions, and gnarly practical effects that work for the gag.  Overall, Apocalypse Now is an amazing film that truly needs to be seen.  Collectors and fans of the film should really check out this Best Buy exclusive before it's too late.  

Prisoners of the Ghostland

Director - Sion Sono (Suicide Club, Why Don't You Play in Hell)

Starring - Nicolas Cage (Mandy, Con Air), Sofia Boutella (The Mummy, Star Trek: Beyond), and Bill Moseley (House of 1000 Corpses, Texas Chainsaw Massacre II)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Action/Thriller

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Nic Cage has been on a fucking roll the last few years since he worked on Mandy.  Since then he has appeared in some of the wildest and strangest horror and sci-fi films I have ever seen.  Mandy is easily one of my favorite horror efforts of the last 10 years but Willy's Wonderland and Color Out of Space shouldn't be slept on either.  When I heard that Cage was teaming up with horror legend Bill Moseley and acclaimed filmmaker Sion Sono for an action thriller titled Prisoners of the Ghostland.  This was probably my most anticipated release of the year and when RLJE Films announced the release of the film on blu I was quick to request a review copy.  Once it arrived I tossed it to the front of my review pile.  I want to thank RLJE for allowing me the opportunity to review this one.

     The film follows a prisoner who is released from jail by the evil Governor (Moseley) to find his granddaughter.  He is fitted with a suit that has explosives and sent into Ghostland to retrieve her.  If he does not find here and return her within three days the suit will explode killing him. 

     I went into this one expecting some bat shit Sion Sono mayhem with the off the wall randomness that has been the new Nic Cage.  The movie was just that but it struggled to pull all the aspects together into one coherent film.  I liked it but it feels rushed and a lot of interesting angles were never fully explored.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun.  Cage delivers a similar performance to what can be seen in Willy's Wonderland, Jui Jitsu, and Primal.  He is stone faced, showing no emotions but his delivery and mannerisms was a lot of fun to watch.  I was disappointed in how they utilized Bill Moseley.  I was expecting to see him portray a crazy ass crime lord or eccentric political figure that perfectly sums up his intense personality.  However, we pretty much get a bearded version of his character of the mayor in 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams.  It wasn't memorable and I feel like his talents, and namesake, was squandered here.  The supporting cast was a lot of fun with some seriously fun performances that will most likely go unnoticed due to how overwhelming the story is.  The story for this one is Sono's attempt at making a more western style film with his Japanese flair.  With that being said, it's painfully reminiscent of Escape from New York and Six-String Samurai.  In theory, this is the kind of movie I've waiting my whole life for a filmmaker to tackle but the execution and drawn out scenes are takes a lot away from the overall film.  I love how the characters are written and the story's premise is very promising.  However, the film is overflowing with long, dull, and disappointing scenes full of dialogue and poor flash backs that feel out of place.  A little more action, story telling, and dialogue that is actually fun would have made this one an unforgettable film.  Finally, the film has some blood and some make-up effects but if you are looking for a bloody tale with Nic Cage running amok then you will be very disappointed.  Overall, Prisoners of the Ghostland is fun for the most part but there is some missed opportunities here.  We've all seen Mandy and Willy's Wonderland by now and know that Cage is fully capable of delivering some bonkers and memorable performances but the way the film was shot ruins what could have been.  It deserves at least one watch but don't expect it to be your next favorite movie.