Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones

Director - Christopher Landon (Freaky, Happy Death Day)

Starring - Andrew Jacobs (Lasso, The Wrong Boyfriend), Jorge Diaz (Arrested Development, American Carnage), and Gabrielle Walsh (Lucifer, The Flash)

Release Date - 2014

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "You're one of us now"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)(Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I finished Paranormal Activity 4 I was ready to take a deep dive into The Marked Ones. I was actually excited after seeing how story focused 4 was. I know 4 was far from perfect and still difficult to finish but it still had a solid story that I could get behind. However, as soon as I hit play on The Marked Ones I knew this one was going to be different in a good way. This was the film that the franchise needed and the movie they should have started with. 

      The film follows two friends who find themselves graduating high school and preparing for the real world when one of them finds themselves in possession of a camera. He starts recording everything and eventually records a former classmate running from his apartment building. Soon it’s revealed that a woman in the building was murdered and he had footage of the killer fleeing. They decide to break into her apartment when the police leave to investigate where they uncover more than they expected with one of them having a closer connection to the deceased than they realized. 

      The Marked Ones is one hell of a story that is able to pull off the found footage aspect while giving viewers something they can follow. The movie gives us an even deeper look into the coven and the first-born sons that was previously only mentioned in the films until 4. I really like this story especially now that it is being explored more. The acting in this one is probably the best in the franchise, at least up to this point. The characters are really likable, full of personality, and the cast does one hell of a job in their roles. The dialogue is a lot smoother than previous films and the awkward scenes are non-existent. The story for this one explores the blood cult and the first-born sons who are called the marked ones in this one. I absolutely love this and how it was approached. It gives us so many layers to the story that the first 3 films lacked while opening the door to the possibility of even more expansion in subsequent sequels. Finally, the film has some jump scares, a few visual effects, and that’s about the end of it. We might get a little blood but that’s it. Overall, The Marked Ones is the peak of the franchise and I seriously hope the follow up explores what was established here. Hopefully they learned a lesson and that genre fans don’t want to watch rich white people scream over pots and pans falling. I can recommend this one so check it out.

Paranormal Activity 4

Director(s) - Henry Joost (Australian Psycho, Nerve) and Ariel Schulman (Project Power, Viral)

Starring - Stephen Dunham (The Mummy, Savages), Katie Featherston (Paranormal Activity, Psychic Experiment), and Matt Shively (The Purge, Santa Clarita Diet)

Release Date - 2012

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "All the activity has lead to this"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I guess every franchise has a turning point. Most of the time that turning point takes a beloved film series and turns it into a quick cash grab. We can physically see the change in quality and most of the time these films are rushed. While the third film is debatable among genre fans, it’s undeniable that Return of the Living Dead 4 and 5 is the turning point in the RotLD series while Pumpkinhead 3 is where that franchise went off the rails. However, it looks like Paranormal Activity 4 is the turning point for this franchise with the film being better than the previous installments. Sadly, it didn’t take much to achieve this feat and PA4 is nothing special, but it is a superior film up to this point. I would never subject myself to this torture again but it’s nice to see something that resembles an actual movie with this film series. 

      The film follows a wealthy teenage girl and her boyfriend. Her boyfriend is very intrusive and records her without her knowing which results in some creepy happenings when their neighbor’s son stays with them while she is in the hospital. Things only get stranger when they find strange symbols painting on her little brother and the talk of an imaginary friend before it’s revealed that his “mother” is Katie from the first three films and they need virgin blood to complete a ritual. 

      I went into this one thinking it was going to be just as half assed and dull as the first three films. I was wrong. While the movie doesn’t have many redeeming qualities but it does find a way to actually deliver a story that is coherent and leagues above the previous films. I will not be watching this one again but I can tell this is the turning point for this franchise. The acting in this one is a little more grounded and less awkward than other installments. The dialogue and interactions here are more traditional and something you would find in a normal movie. The small talk and banter normally found in a found footage film is not a prominent here. I liked the cast and the characters they brought to life. They have more personality than any other PA film up to this point and the cast nailed it. The story for this one is a much bigger look into the lore that has barely been touch upon in the other films. We learn a little more about the coven and the blood sacrifice while still keeping the found footage aspect intact. The story we do get could have filled the movie’s run time a little better than it did but it’s a step in the right direction for the franchise. I like the demon and coven angle and really hope we get more of this in the follow up. Finally, we once again get several jump scares and cheesy visual effects that honestly do nothing for the film. Jump scares can be fun if the story works but they missed their mark here and the visual effects are extremely dated and does not really fit the found footage angle like previous films. Overall, Paranormal Activity 4 is a start in the right direction for the franchise, but it still has plenty of room for improvements. I can’t recommend it but it does give me hope for future films in the series.

Paranormal Activity 3

Director(s) - Henrey Joost (Catfish: The TV Show, Secret Headquarters) and Ariel Schulman (Catfish: The TV Show, Secret Headquarters)

Starring - Chloe Csengery (Deadtime Stories, The Good Doctor), Jessica Tyler Brown (NCIS, Hawthorne), and Christopher Nicholas Smith (Wild Bitch!, Storks)

Release Date - 2011

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Discover how the activity began"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve watched television series and film franchises previously that I didn’t like but I was able to sit through them and hammer out a review in a decent time frame. However, when I started this Paranormal Activity journey, I didn’t expect to dread writing reviews like I do now. The first two films were some of the worst films I’ve watched and reviewed to date which made me not look forward to the following installments. I just didn’t have the drive to dig into the third film right away so after a small break I decided to dig into the third installment. 

      The film takes place in 1988 when the sisters from the first two films were just kids. Their father is a videographer and decided to film his family when he notices that there are strange occurrences happening around them. He decides not to tell his wife right away but when things continuously get sinister he decides to finally tell her where he learns about demonology and a tale about a witches coven that force women into having male children to sacrifice.

     Paranormal Activity 3 is the first film in the franchise to not focus on as much on the found footage angle as previous films. Instead, it follows a story first before adding the found footage aspect. Sure, the found footage part does feel over used and drags the story down dramatically but it’s no where near as bas as the first two films. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll never subject myself to this torture again but I would pick it over the previous two entries. The acting in this one is very similar to the first two films. The film is over flowing with small talk that feels forced and extremely awkward. The cast are fully dedicated to their roles, but the dialogue and character interactions is so weird to watch. This is typical of found footage films and this series really focuses on those tropes and clichés. The story for this one is a little more elaborate than previous installments but it still only touches upon the basics instead of exploring it like a standard film. If you cut out all the small talk and pointless scenes you would be greeted with a film that may run around 20 minutes. It does give us more than normal but it doesn’t give us enough. I liked the demon aspect along with the first born son aspect introduced in the previous film and explored subtly here. Finally, the film has some jump scares and cheap visual effects but for those looking for blood will be very disappointed. The visuals looked good and fit the film but the jump scares can be seen from a mile away. Overall, Paranormal Activity 3 is an improvement over the first two films but the cleanest turd is still a turd. I highly recommend skipping this one.

Paranormal Activity 2

Director - Tod Williams (Cell, The Adventures of Sebastian Cole)

Starring - Katie Featherston (The Lonely Host, Big Little Lies), Micah Sloat (Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones), and Molly Ephraim (A League of Their Own, Modern Family)

Release Date  - 2010

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Paranormal Activity is one of the most popular horror properties of our generation with no signs of slowing down. To date the franchise has seven films, a feature length documentary, another film scheduled for release next years and talks of a television series. It’s a wildly popular series that I’ve never had an interest in. When I received the Ultimate Chills Collection set I was excited to check them out. However, after finally watching the first film I have to say that I don’t have high hopes for the rest of the set. Either way, I went into Paranormal Activity 2 with an open mind and found myself once again struggling to finish. 

      The film takes place several months before the first film with Katie’s sister and brother-in-law welcoming in their newborn into their home. Things immediately start happening but they chalk it up to just strange occurrences and natural phenomenon. However, as their teenage daughter starts to investigate the happenings around the home she learns that a deal with a demon for the first born son’s soul could lay dormant for decades and her brother just happens to be the first male born in almost 100 years on her mother’s side. 

      Paranormal Activity 2 is not a better film that the first one but it does start to deliver on something that could be confused as a story. Honestly, I liked where the story wanted to go but the delivery and found footage style once again made this another movie experience that was unbearable. I hate writing negative reviews but I would be lying if I did in this case. The acting in this one is more of the same as the first film. The cast tries to have casual conversations but it’s extremely awkward to me and the dialogue is horrible. There was several instances where these drawn out scenes with small talk and unnatural dialogue almost had me tap out. I stuck through it for the review but who finds this enjoyable? The story that takes place during most of the film is exactly what we were given during the first film. Shit moving and falling while people joke about being haunted is not enough to hold the viewer for an hour. I did like the demon and first born son angle but that was not fully explored or really explained in detail enough to hold the viewer’s attention. Finally, the film has a little blood stains on clothes but that is the extent of it. If you are looking for some blood and gore then you will be very disappointed. Overall, Paranormal Activity 2 introduces a little bit of story but it doesn’t save it from the boring scenes and horrible dialogue. This is another one I would recommend skipping.

Paranormal Activity

Director - Oren Peli (Area 51)

Starring - Katie Featherston (Psychic Experiment, The River), Micah Sloat (Paranormal Activity 2, The Death and Return of Superman), and Mark Fredrichs (Emerald Nights, Wristcutters: A Love Story)

Release Date - 2007

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "What happens when you sleep?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It seems like my November has turned into the month for found footage. A few days back I reviewed the new indie found footage flick Blamed and then followed that up with Human Hibachi sequel Human Hibachi 2: Feast in the Forest. After reviewing a couple other films sent my way I decided to go ahead and dive into the Paranormal Activity: The Ultimate Chills Collection blu set that was sent over to me for review in the middle of October. Due to the large amount of films I received last month for review I wasn’t able to check this set out until now. I was curious about it because I’ve never actually seen a Paranormal Activity film before. I know the first Paranormal Activity is one of the most popular found footage films to exist behind The Blair Witch so I was kind of looking forward to checking it out.      

     The film follows a young couple, Katie and Micah, who move into a new home. Katie reveals that she suspects that an otherworldly presence has been following her for her entire life which prompts Micah to buy a camera to record her in hopes of capturing paranormal activity on film. When he doesn’t get the results he expected he start antagonizing the spirit by mocking it before eventually purchasing an Ouija board. That’s when things take a more sinister turn and he gets the footage he was looking for but it’s the last thing he ever does. 

      Before I get too deep into my review of Paranormal Activity I will admit that I’m impressed by the story and the idea behind the movie. However, this movie is damn near unwatchable to me. The awkward dialogue, the dull scenes where we watch the couple sleep, and the “scary” moments that are almost laughable made this movie one hell of a chore to finish. Honestly, I can’t figure out why anyone would enjoy this movie. The “acting” in this one is fucking rough. The characters are unlikable and painfully generic. The performances fall flat for me and their emotional range feels like it was modeled after Kristen Stewart. The cast is small but their interactions with one another feel forced and not natural at all. The story for this one is simple and has so much potential to be something more than what it is. I know it’s an extremely popular found footage film but from a movie standpoint this movie fucking sucks. The snail’s pace the story unfolds, and the awkward dialogue makes this movie feel like it is a lot longer than it actually is. What makes this movie so boring is it’s attempting to seem like a legitimate found footage film by over doing the bullshit scenes of them talking, gasping as noises throughout the house, and laying in bed. The film would be top tier horror if it explored the entity haunting her instead of focusing on bullshit scenes that lead to nothing. Finally, if you sit through this mess of a film and expect to find some blood and gore then you will be very disappointed. The film has some cheap gags here and there to make you think the house is haunted but those of you looking for some fun practical effects and memorable kills will be very disappointed. Overall, Paranormal Activity is one of the biggest found footage films to date and one of the most lucrative franchises but I don’t see the appeal. The movie was barely watchable and the story is a huge missed opportunity. This is one I cannot recommend.

Barbarian

Director - Zach Cregger (Miss March, The Whitest Kids U'Know)

Starring - Georgina Campbell (Black Mirror, His Dark Materials), Bill Skarsgard (It, Deadpool 2), and Justin Long (Jeepers Creepers, Tusk)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Come for a night.  Stay forever"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Last year I was bitching about the lack of new movies to watch and review due to the restrictions brought on by the pandemic. However, 2022 has really delivered on the quality films. Not only has the indie productions I’ve seen been hits but the theatrical and pop horror films have been exceptional as well. So far this year I’ve enjoyed X, Nope, The Black Phone, plus the dozen or so indie flicks that impressed me. I haven’t seen Pearl yet but I can only imagine how amazing it is. Several weeks back news of Barbarian broke many seemed to enjoy it during it’s limited theatrical run. I wanted to check it out but was unable to find the time between my day job and a never-ending sickness that seems to be running through my family. A few days back I received a press release for the VOD release of the film and I was lucky enough to get a link with a digital code sent over. I had to see this one as soon as possible and quickly worked it into my schedule. I’m glad I did because it was fucking amazing. 

      The film follows actor AJ Gilbride (Long) who finds himself struggling financially when an actress he had previously worked with claimed he sexually assaulted her. He tries to consolidate all his date and sell properties he no longer needs which forces him to move into a home he was using as an Air BnB in Michigan. He had never visited the property before but suspects something is wrong when he learns that it has not been rented for several weeks yet there is someone’s belongings still there. After doing a little exploring in the basement he uncovers something sinister living beneath the home and will soon be forced to fight for his own life. 

      Barbarian is a film that makes you think it’s going to go one direction before completely pulling the rug out from under you. The movie is constantly shifting and the viewer never knows where it will take them next. While I do see similarities between it and the Full Moon film Castle Freak starring Jeffrey Combs, Barbarian has enough of it’s own originality to feel like a completely different movie. The acting in this one is fucking fantastic. Justin Long never disappoints and has really made a name for himself portraying the baby-faced victim in so many genre films from Jeepers Creepers to Kevin Smith’s Tusk. His character is a little different here but he knocks it out of the park. We also get a fun performances from Georgina Campbell and Richard Brake. I was a little bummed by how little screen time Bill Skarsgard had. I was expecting to see a lot more from him. The story for this one is amazing and really keeps the viewer guessing. The film’s beginning makes you think you know where the story is going to go before it completely changes it up. From that point forward you never know what the next scene will bring your way. I still see some similarities to Castle Freak but not enough to ruin the experience. Finally, this one has some great practical effects and gory deaths. It’s not as bloody as the previously reviewed film Terrifier 2 but it does mix blood and gore with story which is more than I can say about Terrifier 2. Overall, Barbarian is a must see and in the running for my favorite film of the year. I fucking loved it and can see other genre fans enjoying it as well. I highly recommend it.

Terrifier 2

Director - Damien Leone (Terrifier, Frankenstein vs. The Mummy)

Starring - Lauren LaVera (The Hunter's Anthology, Slash), David Howard Thornton (Gotham, Terrifier), and Jenna Kanell (The Vampire Diaries, WandaVision)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Who's laughing now?"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I caved in and snagged the horror film Terrifier to review. Something about Art the Clown just didn’t rub me the right way. I like when clowns are innocent looking before flipping the script on the viewer and delivering the real horror hiding behind their face paint. That’s why I think Stephen King’s It is such an effective film. However, scary looking clowns are not hiding anything from you. You know exactly what you are getting and that can be said with the first Terrifier. The film had some amazing effects but lacked story and likable characters. When news of Terrifier 2 broke I was curious because the first film had some seriously impressive practical effects, but I was afraid that it would be lacking story again. A few days back I received the press release that the film would be premiering on Screambox. I reached out and was able to get a screener link. I had hoped to add it to my October horror binge but I was unable to squeeze it in but that didn’t stop me from checking it out. 

      The film once again follows Art the Clown who finds himself alive again in his small town. He once again goes on another killing spree while Halloween approaches. A young girl and her little brother prepare for Halloween but soon learn that their paths are destined to cross with Art and an evil showdown will commence. 

      I think that director Damien Leone read some of the reviews for his first film and took what was said to heart. The film was an impressive display of practical effects but it’s lack of story made it an easily forgettable film. It looks like he attempted to give genre fans a story they would never forget but along the way lost focus on elaborating on the many ideas introduced here. The acting in this one is solid. The characters are fairly flat and generic, but the cast does a wonderful job with what they were given. I don’t find Art the Clown to be menacing but David Howard Thornton really does give it his all. The character is a bit of a one trick pony, but you can’t help but enjoy the energy he brings to the scene. We also get some small cameos from celebrities like Sleepaway Camp’s Felissa Rose and professional wrestler Chris Jericho. The story for this one is all over the place with no clear direction of where it wants to go. We get a weak explanation as to why Art has been resurrected, we have a gory dream sequence that does very little for further the film’s story progression, and an ending that has more holes than a political argument. A lot of interesting ideas are tossed out at different points in the film but as the movie moved on we find the story progressing but they never go back and explore the more intriguing ideas. Also, the film is over two hours long which is an hour too long in my opinion. The pointless dream sequence and a lot of dialogue heavy scenes could have been cut to make the film more streamlined and enjoyable. Finally, the film is overflowing with great gore and amazing practical effects. I knew this film would not disappoint the bloody side of genre fans and it did not. We have some seriously impressive effects that really need to be seen to be appreciated. Overall, Terrifier 2 is the better film but it’s not without faults. The story was lacking but it does offer up more than the original. The movie is worth it for the gore alone needs a lot of trimming to get it to a reasonable run time. It’s not perfect but has some fun moments. Check it out.

Thrust!

Director - Victor Bonacore (Diary of a Deadbeat: The Story of Jim Vanbebber, Back to the Lake)

Starring - Erin Brown (Dickshark, Splatter Beach), Allison Egan (Her Name Was Torment, Spookie Dookie), and Michael Shershenovich (I Spill Your Guts, Trap)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Thriller

Tagline - "The end of men!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few years ago I befriended filmmaker Victor Bonacore on Facebook while he was promoting his film Diary of a Dead Beat which was a documentary about exploitation filmmaker Jim Vanbebber. Since then I’ve shared his projects on the site like the Duderus music video he directed and the crowd funding campaign for his newest film Thrust!. I was very interested in this new film when I saw that he had cast some of my favorite actresses including Allison Egan, Linnea Quigley, and Erin Brown. I contributed to the crowd funding campaign and a few days back my copy of the film arrived. I knew I wouldn’t have time to watch it as part of my October horror binge, so I decided to hold off until the month ended. As I got caught up on reviews, I decided it was a perfect time to finally watch this madness. 

      The film takes place in a world where men are inferior to women and most men are forced into a life of servitude. Lovers Aloe and Vera are part of a female gang and live the good life of partying, drugs, visiting wrestling shows, and concerts. However, their awesome life is put on hold when rumors that the murderous Dirtbag Mike has escaped confinement and is tearing a bloody hole through town. Thrust! Was not what I was expecting at all and I fucking loved it. 

      This year has been one of the best years in recent memory regarding quality films with Thrust! Being one of the best indie productions so far. It was a fantastic movie with one hell of a story and a fantastic cast. Honestly, any film released in the last few years that feature Erin Brown or Allison Egan has my full attention and Thrust! did not disappoint. The acting in this is great. I was hoping Linnea Quigley would have a bigger role than she did but she was great in what we did get. Her character was a lot of fun and you could tell she was enjoying herself on set. We also have great performances from other names popular in indie horror. We see Jason Crowe, Sadie Tate, Roni Jonah, Ellie Church, Dixie Gers, and Megan Beck (Do you still go by Beck?) deliver some fun performances. With that being said, Erin Brown and Allison Egan are the stars of the show. They are great as the leads in the film and carry the film with Victor Bonacore and Michael Shershenovich delivering notable performances as well. The story for this one is a punk adventure through a female lead society where professional wrestling and drug use is common while men are forced into slavery or killed for fun. I don’t know what Victor was smoking when he wrote this but god damn is it wild. The movie has great pacing and you never know what the next scene is going to bring you. It’s a film that does not have the same impact after the first viewing but that first viewing is something that will stick with you for days after. Finally, the film has plenty of bloody moments. The effects work for the gag and the film doesn’t shy away from the red stuff but the kills are not as memorable as the rest of the film. Some genre fans will be a bit disappointed in this but the story has so much going on that the lack of memorable deaths didn’t ruin the experience for me.

Human Hibachi 2: Feast in the Forest

Director - Mario Cerrito (Deadly Gamble, Human Hibachi)

Starring - Frank Volpe (Evil Lives Here, Joker), Giavonna Banner (Broken Trust), and Julie Chapin (Ghost Goggles, American Ripper)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - It's hunting season"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Last year, or the year before, I reviewed the found footage horror film Human Hibachi. I’m not a fan of found footage films but I actually enjoyed this one. It’s not the best ff flick I’ve seen but it was a lot of fun and I loved the plot behind it. The movie went on to gain a little bit of a following among indie horror fans so I knew a sequel would be in the works. I was right. I started receiving press releases from the follow up films earlier in the year and the posts went over very well on the site. I was looking forward to checking it out and then a few days before Halloween I received a message from the Human Hibachi Instagram page to review the sequel Human Hibachi 2: Feast in the Forest. I wanted to add it to my October horror binge but I wasn’t able to work it in but I still had time for it this month. 

      The film follows a clan that live deep in the woods who have a taste for flesh. Through different tactics they find ways to lure unsuspecting campers or those that trespass on their land to their camp where they party and then butcher them for a good home cooked meal. 

      Human Hibachi 2: Feast in the Forest didn’t really have the same tone as the first film and does go a different route but it still finds a way to be fun. I don’t see this one being as rewatchable as the first but it is entertaining as a first time watch. I wanted to like it more than I did but I couldn’t help but compare it to Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) and Wrong Turn. Regardless, it was enjoyable and one I could see other genre fans digging as well. The acting in this one is pretty decent. There is room for improvement but they are fully dedicated to their roles which does bring some fun to several scenes. With that being said, their inexperience does bring about some awkward scenes. It’s not the worst I’ve seen but some experience would have went a long way. The story for this one reminds me a lot of the back-woods cannibal flicks that flocked to video store shelves in the wake of Wrong Turn. It still have that Human Hibachi like storyline by way of films like Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) where the first film is depicted as a movie that inspires a sequel. I liked it and how it was implemented into the film but the movie was too long in my opinion. The dialogue heavy scenes and light action made the film feel like it was 30 minutes too long. Some fat could be trimmed on this one without compromising the film’s integrity. Finally, the films effects had me laughing my ass off. The mannequin roasting over the fire is peak humor in indie horror. This Ed Wood like gag made it onto the film’s artwork and promo material and while it’s far from perfect it still looks pretty cool while retaining the sense of humor. The remainder of the effects are minimal with some blood splatter here and there with some make-up effects. Overall, Human Hibachi 2: Feast in the Forest is something I would highly recommend to watch with a group of friends and plenty of beer. It’s not perfect but it’s fun which is all you can ask for with a movie that has no budget. Check this one out.

Blamed

Director(s) - Dann Eudy, Jack Hunter II (Paranoia Tapes, Get Masked!), and Jeff Roberts

Starring - Jeff Kirkendall (Bigfoot vs. Zombies, Sharkenstein), Jack Hunter II, and Jeff Roberts (Camp Ground, The Elp: A Creature of Legend)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The one guilty... is not always the one accused"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     

     I always feel the need to lead every review with a disclaimer that found footage flicks are not my cup of tea. I’ve seen a handful that I actually liked but most of the time they are a serious struggle to finish. The dialogue, the shaky camera effect, the lack of visibility, and most situations just don’t work for me. They feel like movies made on the fly with no real thought or imagination put into it. I get the appeal the sub-genre has on people but I’m a fan of trash cinema and oddball horror. As much as I want to like found footage I can’t. A few weeks ago Jack Hunter emailed me to review his newest film Blamed which happened to be a found footage flick. While I’m not a big fan of found footage flicks I’ve still found a few that was a lot of fun and had hopes this one would be another one to add to the list. I had never seen one of his films before, so I was actually very curious about it. I agreed to check it out and I want to thank him for allowing Horror Society the opportunity to check it out. 

      The film follows a man who is suspected of murdering several children in the area. However, due to a technicality he is able to walk away from the heinous crimes. While another child is currently missing, someone has taken the law into their own hands. They abduct the suspected killer and his lawyer with plans to torture them live on camera. 

      I went into Blamed with an open mind in hopes that my first Jack Hunter flick would be another decent found footage films that I could recommend to genre fans. Sadly, this one reminded me of so many other found footage films that I’ve seen over the decades. I can see dedicate fans of found footage getting into this one, especially with the story we are given, but for those that are on the fence about the sub-genre will not find the entertainment they are looking for. The acting in this one is exactly as you would expect from an indie found footage film. The performances feel forced at times and during the torture scenes I found their reactions to be unnatural. If someone had me tied to a chair and wishing to do me harm I could damn sure bet I wouldn’t be acting as calm as they were. I don’t feel the fear, pain, and desperation that you normally would when watching a film with similar stories. The story for this one is made for found footage. It is a wonderful set up for what could be one hell of a brutal found footage film. Almost like Dexter but for a modern age where streaming and going live on social media is so wildly popular. However, the film fails to really gain any traction with the story. It focuses way too much attention on faux news coverage and the random footage of the crime scenes that doesn’t really progress the story further. It’s a way to extent the films run time but is a waste of time. We then make it the meat and potatoes of the film but you are so ready to turn off by this point that you don’t really have the patience to enjoy it. The child murderers getting their just does should have been the high point of the film with a lot of emotion, violence, and action. Finally, the film has some blood but these scenes are not as affective as they should have been. The lack of emotion and memorable effects makes it feel like it was not meant to be a feature length film. Overall, Blamed is not for me but I do like the premise it has. I could really get behind a film that fully explored this set up but it just doesn’t work for me as a found footage film.

Here For Blood

Director - Daniel Turres (Terry's Car Gets Stolen)

Starring - Shawn Roberts (Diary of the Dead, Land of the Dead), Maya Misaljevic (The Boys, Locke and Key), and Joelle Farrow (Good Witch, Bitten)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When Halloween was approaching, I found myself slightly overwhelmed with all the press releases flooding my inbox with all the amazing horror titles hitting store shelves just in time for the holiday. Some films were fairly generic and did very little for my imagination while others really caught my eye. One film that I had to see before Halloween hit was Here for Blood starring Diary of the Dead and Resident Evil’s Shawn Roberts. Most horror fans recognize him as Albert Wesker from the Resident Evil series but I first recognized him in George A. Romero’s Diary of the Dead. I quickly responded to the email and requested a screener. I wasn’t able to watch it as quickly as I liked but I made damn sure I was able to watch it before Halloween. 

      The film follows professional wrestler Tom (Roberts) who is coerced by his girlfriend to babysit a wealthy family’s daughter for her after something pops up. He reluctantly agrees and arrives to watch the young girl who would rather spend time playing video games than interacting with her muscle bound babysitter. However, things take a sinister turn when mask wearing maniacs descend from the attack to abduct the little girl. He fights them off and after a lot of bloodshed he is able to save her. However, their night is not over after he learns that her parents are part of a cult that is willingly allowing themselves to be sacrifices. 

      Here for Blood reminds me of the movies I fucking love snagging at Wal-Mart, FYE, and anywhere else I could buy movies in the mid-00s. Movies like Dead and Breakfast, Hide and Creep, Dance of the Dead, Fido, Boy Eats Girl, and many more offer up a lot of splatter, laughs, and a decent enough story that you don’t mind that they are slightly generic. Here for Blood is a film that I will be adding to my collection as soon as I can while recommending it to as many people as I can. I fucking loved it and how mindlessly fun it was. The acting in this one is a lot of fun. Shawn Roberts was perfectly cast as the aspiring professional wrestler. He looks the part and his character was very enjoyable to watch. His co-stars are just as great. Mara Misaljevic, and Joelie Farrow among so many others. This film has an amazing cast and some seriously fun performances. The story for this one is a home invasion splatter flick with plenty of laughs and a unique cult angle that doesn’t feel overdone. A lot of time went into writing the characters and the film’s set up but there is a few moments where the film does feel like it hits a standstill. It quickly picks up the pace after this but it does slow the film down at times. Finally, the film has some fantastic practical effects. The talking head is the weakest effects in the film but it does bring out a laugh here and there. However, the other effects are fucking top notch. We get some bloody kills and memorable characters that makes this one a fantastic late night watch especially with some friends and beer.

Nope

Director - Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us)

Starring - Daniel Kaluuya (Black Panther, Watership Down), Keke Palmer (Big Mouth, Scream: The TV Series), and Brandon Perea (Doom Patrol, Delivery)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     

     Several years back one half of the comedy duo Key and Peele ventured out into horror and really made a name for himself. Jordan Peele wrote and directed the hits Get Out and Us while also producing The Twilight Zone revival and Candyman reboot. I wasn’t too interested in his horror thrillers but after Blumhouse sent over their horror set a few Halloweens back and Get Out really impressed me. I quickly bought Us to add to my collection, but I never had the time to check it out sadly. When I heard that he was working on a sci-fi horror flick I wanted to see it theatrically but with work and three kids that did not happen. However, once I received the press release for the physical releases I knew I had to jump on this opportunity to check it out. I requested a copy and soon was sent a copy of the film on blu. Even though it is not a straight forward horror flick I still added it to my October horror binge. 

      The film follows OJ (Kaluuya) and his sister Em (Palmer) who try to keep their late father’s horse ranch open. They raise and train horses for film and television but have fell on hard times when their father Otis (Keith David) dies when something from a small plane strikes him in the eye. Since his passing the ranch has fell on hard times and OJ has been forced to occasionally some of his father’s prized horses to a local western themed amused mark owned by former child star Jupe (Steven Yeun). As the two struggle to pay bills and find a way in Hollywood they soon realize that something strange is happening at their ranch along with Jupe’s amusement park. They put out security cameras and soon realize that a specific cloud never moves out of the sky near the hills on their ranch. They soon realize that the cloud is something from another world that uses eyes to locate living creatures that it sucks up and feeds on. Jupe has been using Oj’s horses to feed them as part of their western show but after a stunt pulled by Em the ships sucks up everyone in attendance before setting it’s sights on OJ and Em’s ranch. 

      I didn’t know what to expect when I went into Nope but this movie did not disappoint. Honestly, it’s up there with the best theatrical release of 2022 with me along with X and Black Phone. It’s an amazing film that not only does an amazing job blending sci-fi and horror but also solidifies Peele as a modern master of horror. The acting in this one did take me a few minutes to warm up to them but by the end of the film I was really impressed by the cast. While I was really impressed by Steven Yuen and Keith David, I was hesitant with Kaluuya and Palmer at first. Kaluuya really impressed me in films Kick-Ass 2, Get Out, and Black Panther but it took some time for me to really warm up to him here. His character has a quiet demeanor that didn’t really work in front of the camera. However, as the film progressed, I found myself really digging the personality and mannerisms. One performance that really stood out to me was from relative new comer Brandon Perea. I really enjoyed his character and the intensity he brought to a few scenes. The story for this one begins with what feels like a modern western setting before switching up to a Signs inspired sci-fi setting before moving along to a full on horror story with an almost kaiju like story. The film is over 2 hours long but it doesn’t feel that way. In fact, it was over before I knew it which the only disappointing aspect of the film. The pacing is phenomenal, the story pulls you in and is full of imagination, and the characters are very well written. Finally, the film has one extremely bloody scene but that is really the extent of it. The movie shines with the visual effects that look amazing but for those of you looking for gore you will be very disappointed. Overall, Nope is a fucking must see for any sci-fi or horror fan. Hell, cinema fans in general will love what Peele has given us. I can see myself watching this one countless times and never tiring of it. I highly recommend this one.

The Curse of Bridge Hollow

Director - Jeff Wadlow (Cry_Wolf, Are You Afraid of the Dark?)

Starring - Marlon Wayans (Scary Movie, Senseless), Priah Ferguson (Stranger Things, Hamster and Gretel), and John Michael Higgins (Vampire's Kiss, Blade: Trinity)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Tagline - "Halloween comes to life"

Format - Streaming (Netflix)

Rating (out of 5):

     I watch horror movies year-round so when October rolls around I try to focus on films that are at least centered around Halloween. I don’t care the genre because I’m looking for something to put me in the holiday spirit rather than something spooky. I’m a sucker for children’s Halloween flicks so when I heard that Netflix was releasing the film The Curse of Bridge Hollow starring Marlon Wayans and Stranger Thing’s Priah Ferguson I knew I had to see it. It wasn’t horror, but I damn sure included it on my October horror binge. 

      The film follows the Gordon family who moves to a sleepy small town from the city. As everyone is decorating for Halloween, Howard (Wayans) stays away from the holiday and bases everything on science. That begins to change when his daughter accidentally unleashes the spirit of Stingy Jack when she finds a carved turnip in their attack. Now they must stop him before he possesses the town’s Halloween decorations. 

      The Curse of Bridge Hollow is not going to be for everyone. However, my kids fucking loved it and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a good time with it. It’s a Halloween themed children’s movie that made up for it’s lack of story with some laughs and enjoyable characters. The acting in this one is a lot of fun. The film is meant for children so we get a lot of characters with big personalities that carry the scene. Wayans and Ferguson work very well together and they really did a fantastic job as a father daughter pair. Ferguson slowly became one of the more popular cast members on Stranger Things with her character gaining more and more screen time each season. It’s obvious why because she steals every scene she is in which is something to note since she shares a lot of them with Wayans. It was also cool to see Rob Riggle and John Michael Higgins in the film. Higgins had a very unexpected performance as a character I was not expecting to see him take on. I had a lot of fun with the cast in this one. The story for this one was hit or miss. The story is oddly similar to Spirit Halloween: The Movie with an evil spirit possessing Halloween decorations. However, it does separate itself from there with the introduction of traditional Halloween decorations like carved turnips, spiritualism from the 1920s and 30s, and the legend of Stingy Jack. The story does have some glaring gaps in it but it is still fun for a Halloween flick while you set the mood for the season. Finally, the film has no blood but it does have some impressive visual effects mixed with some rushed visual effects. The two do contrast at times but a good bit of the film looks great. Overall, The Curse of Bridge Hollow is one that many of you will overlook but if you dig movies like Ernest Scared Stupid, Double Double Toil and Trouble, and binging Halloween episodes of 90s television shows then you will like this one. Check it out.

Larva Mental

Director - Mikel Balerdi (The Girl with the Cutter, Vore Gore)

Starring - Mikel Balerdi and Dairi Gaona 

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve been accused of hating extreme horror and I can see why many of you would assume so. Extreme horror, or shock value horror as I like to call it, is very hit or miss with me. I love a gory flick with a lot of realistic effects but if the film lacks a story then it’s wasted. It seems like most of the extreme horror flicks that I review are overflowing with gore or scenes with extreme graphic sexual acts just for shock value and the lack of a coherent story. A few weeks back my friend over at Tetrovideo sent over a couple films for me to review. I added them both to my October horror binge. After watching their release of Cross of the 7 Jewels I decided it only made sense to follow it up with Larva Mental. I want to thank Tetrovideo for sending this one over! 

      The film follows a couple who are a bit strange. The man is into severe body mutilation and recorded himself using a crucifix as a butt plug before shitting and bleeding everywhere. While he is at work she finds the video and soon attempts something similar with scissors on her sexual area. However, she is far more committed than he is and she kills herself. He returns to find her body and this opens yet another door of depravity for the man. 

      Larva Mental is going to be a lot to handle for many horror viewers especially those of you that tend to gravitate toward pop horror. The movie is relentless and well off the rails with some scenes pushing several boundaries. I’ve been reviewing genre films for a decade now and I’ve pretty much seen it all so it’s not something that made me quickly turn it off. I’m pretty much desensitized to films like this but it is a movie I didn’t really care for. It has a run time of just over 60 minutes yet the story only fills about five minutes of the film. The acting in this one is a term I use very lightly. The cast is small, rarely interacts with one another, and spends most of their time nude doing shocking sex acts. Being comfortable in their own skin and baring it all on camera should not be confused with acting. Granted, I don’t look as good as any one in this film but what they are doing isn’t acting in a traditional sense. The story for this one has potential even if it’s painfully simple. The movie could and possibly will be compared to Lucifer Valentine’s Vomit Gore Trilogy and Nekromantik. Shock value is the main focus of this story we then add some necrophilia, shit, and blood which could have been a pretty fun extreme horror flick if we actually had a little something more of a story to grab onto. Nekromantik has a strong fan base and for good reason. The story is simple but it works. Larva Mental relies too much on shock value to draw the viewers in instead of giving them a story with the shock value. Finally, this is a bloody mess of the film. The effe3cts are fairly minimal but they fucking work. Overall, Larva Mental is a film that only a select few would appreciate and I’m not one of them. It’s shocking and graphic but I need a little bit more from a movie than that. If this sounds appealing to you then check it out on blu from Tetrovideo.

Cross of the 7 Jewels

Director - Marco Antonio (Riecco Aborym)

Starring - Marco Antonio, Annie Belle (House on the Edge of the Park, Lips of Blood), and Gordon Mitchell (Nightfall, Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several months ago I saw posts in horror groups going around about the blu release of the 1987 Italian horror film Cross of the 7 Jewels. The image on the poster looked very familiar so I did some looking and discovered that this was actually a film, in a round about way, that I had previously seen under the title Talisman during a Halloween watch party several years ago. The film was notable for having random shots from another film that currently escapes me. A few weeks back Tetrovideo reached out to me to review their blu release of the film. I was actually looking forward to seeing the original cut of the film instead of the one I had previously seen. I want to thank Tetrovideo for sending this release all the way to me for review. I truly appreciate it. 

      The film follows a man who is cursed with lycanthropy that uses the Cross of 7 Jewels to suppress his transformations. However, while traveling to Milan to visit an estranged cousin he finds himself robbed by a gang of mini-bike thieves. He get’s the police involved but they are unable to retrieve the cross. This doesn’t bare well for him and he soon finds himself at the mercy of the moon. 

      I didn’t know what to think about Cross of the 7 Jewels when I was asked to review it. I had watched the weird cut some time back but I didn’t remember anything about it aside from it featuring scenes from another well known horror title. I liked the idea behind the film but the execution made this one extremely difficult to finish. I hate being negative especially about a film that was sent over for review but this one was rough to sit through. The acting in this one is not the worst I’ve seen but most of the cast does feel like they have short attention spans and wondering eyes. The characters are wonderfully written but a lot of the scenes just feel forced and a lot of the emotional reactions do not feel genuine. I don’t know the behind the scenes of the film here but I get the feeling the cast was allowed to do as they wish with very little guidance. The story for this one really peaked my interest. A werewolf using a sacred charm to hold back the transformation only to have it stolen while visiting family by a group of street thugs is actually pretty fucking brilliant if you think about it. It has so much promise but the execution is all wrong. The film has one of the best premises for a horror film but it feels like a dull drama with horror influences. I would have loved to see more werewolf action along with a little more backstory but the way it was made for a very daunting film to finish. Finally, the film has a few scenes with seriously impressive practical effects. One scene in particular really stands out but I won’t go into too much detail for fear of spoiling this amazing gag. With that being said, I wasn’t really feeling the werewolf. In promotional images I thought I would but once you see it in the film you can’t help but laugh at it. Overall, Cross of the 7 Jewels really isn’t what I was expecting. I saw that it was called the worst Italian horror film from several critics and I somewhat agree with them. I wanted to love it but I just couldn’t. The release from Tetrovideo is a seriously awesome release but the film is not.

Scream 2

Director - Wes Craven (The Hills Have Eyes, A Nightmare on Elm St.)

Starring - Neve Campbell (The Craft, Wild Things), Courteney Cox (Seinfeld, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective), and David Arquette (Eight Legged Freaks, Ready to Rumble)

Release Date - 1997

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Someone has taken their love of sequels one step too far"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I may have been born in the 80s and grew up in the 90s but I’m not a fan of everything from my childhood. I never cared for 90s slashers when I was younger and as I got older I still find them to be arrogant entries in my favorite sub-genre. Over the years I’ve caved in and watched a handful of them. Mostly, I’ve not been that impressed with them but I did recently watch I Know What You Did Last Summer for the first time and enjoyed it. One franchise I never really got into was the Scream series. I’ve reviewed a couple of the movies now along with the first season of the television show. However, I’m not really a fan of the franchise and meta-slashers in general. They almost feel like a parody of the sub-genre and almost feel like they think they are superior to the slashers before them. A few weeks ago I received the press release for the UHD release of Scream 2. I shared it and a few days later I was surprised to find a copy of the film for review waiting for me in my mailbox. I don’t recall if I had seen this previously so I went into it with an open mind as I tossed it in as part of my October horror binge.         The film follows the few survivors of the Woodsboro massacre who have now graduated high school and moved on to college. Gayle Weathers (Cox) wrote a book about her part in the massacre which has alienated her from the survivors. With a film hitting theaters based on the murders, the survivors once again finds themselves at the center of a murder spree as they rush to unmask the new Ghostface killer.      What the fuck did I actually just watch? I mean, a slasher with a weird ass musical number, unlikable characters, and the oddest cast of background actors that I’ve ever seen. I’m not going to spend the rest of my time bashing this because I actually respect the story and the longevity that Craven wrote into it. The franchise could be never ending with anyone taking over the role of Ghostface. However, it feels like a paint by numbers 90s thriller that fails to pull me in. I like the idea of Ghostface and my six year old son is fucking obsessed but the film just don’t do it for me. The acting in this one isn’t that impressive to me. I’ve a fan of most of the cast aside from Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox. Both actresses always seem to have the same expression on their face regardless of the scene. Campbell always looks as if she is confused while Cox can’t stop smiling or at the very least smirking even when the scene is meant to be intense and full of suspense. I do like Jamie Kennedy and his character along with Jerry O’Connell but their characters are not the main focus of the plot. The story for this one does a solid job of keeping up with the previous film in terms of killer reveal and pacing. I really do find the longevity of the plot and killer to be very impressive. The mystery behind who the killer is really does give this franchise the possibility of never ending. With that being said, the series is horrible at writing in characters. The characters are so fucking unlikable and it really is a disappointment when the entire cast of characters is not murdered by Ghostface. Also, what is the point of the entire musical number with O’Connell? Only thing I can think of is it was a test to see how many people would turn the film off before the song ended. Finally, the film has plenty of blood. The practical effects are fairly minimal, but the movie doesn’t shy away from the blood. I would have liked a little more imagination with the deaths along with some gore. Overall, Scream 2 is one I can’t recommend but fans of the franchise will dig this UHD release. Honestly, I wish I could get into this franchise but I can’t get passed the horrible characters and awkward song and dance.