Violent Night

Director - Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters)

Starring - David Harbour (Stranger Things, Suicide Squad), John Leguizamo (Spawn, Super Mario Bros), and Beverly D'Angelo (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Pterodactyl Woman from Beverly Hills)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Actiom/Crime/Thriller

Tagline - "You better watch out"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Actor David Harbour is a familiar name especially among genre fans. He’s been working steadily since the early 2000s but didn’t become a household name until he appeared in Stranger Things as Jim Hopper. Since then he’s appeared in Marvel’s Black Widow, DC’s Suicide Squad, Hellboy, and Drunk History, and The Simpsons just to name a few. Back before the holiday seasons I saw trailers posted in various movie groups for Harbour’s newest film Violent Night. I checked it out and was fucking impressed by it. I couldn’t imagine a Christmas film with this type of budget feature a story this outlandish. I had originally planned on watching it theaters with a friend, but work and life got the best of me. When I received the press release for the physical release of the film, I knew I had to jump on it. It was after Christmas, but I didn’t give a fuck. I had to see it so I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send over a copy of the film on blu for review. 

      The film follows Santa (Harbour) who has a taste for alcohol and finds himself passed out in a massaging chair in a mansion on Christmas. He just happens to be in the very mansion where a rich and powerful woman is getting together with her family to celebrate Christmas when a group of organized thieves take over her home demanding the millions she keeps in a private vault. Santa is forced to fight off the heavily armed and trained intruders one at a time in order to save a young girl who still believes in him and her family. 

      Violent Night is one hell of a good time. Here I am in February watching one of the most entertaining Christmas films I’ve been sent for review and I don’t care that I’m not in the holiday spirit. It was one of the wildest films I’ve seen in awhile and just when I think it can’t top itself it does something completely unexpected. This is a must see and I don’t care what time of year it is when you watch it for the first time. The acting in this one is great all the way around. Harbour is absolutely fantastic as Santa. The character is just as grizzled as Hopper but he shows a more action oriented side that we don’t see in Stranger Things. I wouldn’t say he carried the film but his fight scenes are fucking legendary. We also have amazing performances from John Leguizamo, Beverly D’Angelo, and Edi Patterson just to name a few. I was really surprised to see Brendan Fletcher in the film. He’s an extremely underrated actor having appeared in the Goosebump’s episode Werewolf of Fever Swamp along with Freddy vs. Jason, and Ginger Snaps 2 just to name a few. I hope to see him appear in more films. The story for this one reminded me a lot of some other films that I enjoy. The basic premise of the film felt like a Christmas themed film influenced by Bob Odenkirk’s Nobody. They then tossed in elements of Die Hard and Home Alone. We essentially have an alcoholic Santa forced to pick up the war hammer again and clobber some nameless bad guys before they hurt a kid on the nice list. While he is fighting off the armed gunmen, the little girl is locked in the attic setting up traps for the intruders. It blends them all together into something that is wild, action packed, and very violent with great pacing and scene structure. Finally, the film has a lot of imaginative and enjoyable deaths. We get a few gun shot deaths that are what you have seen millions of times before. However, the Christmas theme is used in several other deaths and they were violent, bloody, and highly enjoyable. The effects are brilliant and we get a beautiful blending of visual and practical effects. Overall, Violent Night should be on everyone’s watch list during the holiday season but the movie is worth your time any time during the year. I can’t recommend this film enough.

Don't Deliver Us from Evil

Director - Joel Seria (Charlie and His Two Chicks, Black Sequence)

Starring - Jeanne Goupil (Cookies, Fresh Bait), Catherine Wagener (One Mystery a Day, Desirella), and Bernard Dheran (Escape to Nowhere, Tarzoon: Shame of the Jungle)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Horror/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’m a huge fan of exploitation cinema. I was introduced to them at a young age when my dad bought a box of VHS tapes from a peddler at a gas station when we were traveling out of state. I convinced him to buy them when I saw a few movies that caught my eye. This was my introduction to blaxploitation. I never fully explored exploitation cinema until I was an adult, but I find myself getting more and more excited to review exploitation over horror. I’ll never turn my back on my beloved genre but watching movies that go against normal cinema is so rewarding. Several weeks ago, I received three releases from Mondo Macabro. All three looked like great international horror releases. Before I could watch them, I received another Mondo Macabro release several days later. This was 1971 French exploitation flick looked right up my alley. The film, Don’t Deliver Us from Evil is a movie I was familiar with but had never seen before and couldn’t wait to check it out. Like always, I want to thank CAV and Mondo Macabro for sending this one over. 

      The film follows two young girls who attend a catholic school. Their parents are wealthy and very strict but they find themselves going against everything they were taught. The pair are very mischievous and often pulling mean pranks on their classmates. They started turning their back on their school teachings and believe they are in league with Satan so when one of them finds themselves alone in their home for some time the other secretly moves in with her where they go on a rampage through the countryside. They tease an older man with an eye for school aged girls before pranking him. They then prank the school’s groundskeeper and eventually find their way up to murdering a tourist who breaks down near their home. 

      I went into Don’t Deliver Us from Evil excited. It’s not often that Mondo Macabro releases a movie that I’ve heard about so I was really looking forward to finally seeing a film that has been on my radar for some time especially after seeing how many of my movie friends have liked it. Sadly, I was not a fan of this one. I found myself liking the idea behind it but not fully committed to the story. I wanted to like it but it was just too dull and long winded for my taste. The acting in this one is very well done. The cast all look very comfortable in front of the camera and the young female leads are great as well. They work so well together and the characters you bring to life are what makes the film as enjoyable as it is. I liked their energy and the characters they portray when compared to the other characters. The story for this one should be so much more fun. I think the story would have had a bigger impact on the viewer if the girls were much older and it fully embraces the whole sinning for Satan aspect. As it is, it just doesn’t shock or hit like it could have been. Also, the drawn-out scenes with little to no dialogue with the two girls scheming just didn’t work for me. It was a dull watch. Finally, this is not a violent film or a sleazy one for that matter. If you are looking for blood or skin, you will be surely disappointed. Overall, Don’t Deliver Us from Evil wasn’t what I was expecting but I couldn’t help but think of the movie it could have been. It was decent for a first time watch but I really want to see the movie I thought I was going to watch. Check it out if you dig other Mondo Macabro releases.

The Dentist 2

Director - Brian Yuzna (Return of the Living Dead III, Necronomicon: Book of the Dead)

Starring - Corbin Bernsen (Zodiac, Psych), Jillian McWhirter (Song of the Vampire, After Midnight), and Jeff Doucette (Weird Science, Mom and Dad Save the World)

Release Date - 1998

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "You know the drill"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Writing for a site like Horror Society has given me amazing opportunities. Not only do I get to review films I had never heard of before, but I get to revisit films from my childhood in formats that have better quality. Many films I enjoyed on VHS still hold a place in my heard for nostalgic purposes it’s nice to read the scrolling introduction to films like Monster Squad that was almost unreadable on tape. When Vestron Video announced the blu release of The Dentist and The Dentist 2 I was beyond excited. I remembered a lot from the first film but I only remembered something about bugs with the second, so I was beyond ready to revisit them. As soon as I finished the first film, I had to quickly hit play on the sequel. Like always, I want to thank Vestron Video for sending this one over for review. 

      The film follows the good doctor from the first film who has conveniently escaped the mental facility who was placed in. He travels to a secluded small town where he soon finds himself the town’s new dentist. He suppresses his murderous impulses by cutting his arm with a straight razor but when he suspects his new love interest is seeing someone else the old urges come back. 

      The Dentist 2 is not as good in the first film in my opinion but it’s fairly close. It’s not often that a sequel reaches the same level as the original film but this one almost does. There is some things about this follow up that I enjoyed more than the original but I would still pick the first over this one any day. With that being said, I would prefer to watch them together because they both are spectacular films that could be found on any video store’s shelves during the 90s. The acting in this one is more enjoyable than the first film. Bernsen once again nails it as the diabolical dentist. I loved how intense his performance was and he could have easily brought him back for another film. The supporting cast is more grounded than the first film which is one of the only few complaints I have about it. The cast, aside from Bernsen and a few others, felt campy and out of place. However, the performances here fit the film a lot better. Even Clint Howard delivers a fairly decent performance and not his typical cheesy performance. The story for this one is more of the same but works as a solid continuation. Sure, we follow the doctor who once again finds his love interest is dishonest and this opens him up to murder patients. With that being said, we begin the film knowing of his past atrocities. The film doesn’t really push the idea much further than that but it doesn’t over stay it’s welcome either. It gives us some fun kills and memorable moments before it’s conclusion. As much as I think a third film would have been fun I honestly believe it would have pushed it too far and became a turd. Finally, the film keeps the dental themes in full but they do mix it up some to offer up a bit of variety while keeping it in tune with the film. It was awesome to revisit the bug scene and the practical effects were great but I would have liked a little more gore. Overall, The Dentist 2 may not be as well known as the original film but it’s damn near just as fun. It’s one of the few sequels that can compete with the original like Halloween II, Return of the Living Dead Part II, and Bride of Re-Animator. I highly recommend it especially if you enjoy the first film.

The Dentist

Director - Brian Yuzna (Society, Bride of Re-Animator)

Starring - Corbin Bernsen (Major League, The Nanny), Linda Hoffman (Face/Off, Baywatch), and Michael Stradvec (Sometimes They Come Back... Again, Chairman of the Board)

Release Date - 1996

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "It's been six months.  Time for your check-up"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I often reminisce about the evenings I spent at my local video store, Dewey’s Video, browsing through his tapes looking for something to rent. I would often rent once or twice a week, but it was a given that I would rent a stack on Friday. I often rented anything that caught my eye but there would be the occasional horror title sneak into my stack. It was during one of these trips that I watch Brian Yuzna’s The Dentist for the first time. As an adult looking back at my childhood, I realize now that Yuzna had a huge impact on my childhood. However, as a child you rarely look at the names for the crew behind the camera. I only rented the film because I saw Ken Foree was in it but looking back at the films I loved and their association with Yuzna I must admit he is easily one of my favorite filmmakers and producers. Hell, he produced From Beyond, Re-Animator, Dolls, and Warlock to name a few along with directing Bride of Re-Animator, Society, Necronomicon: Book of the Dead, and more. I never realized how amazing his body of work was until I started writing reviews. The Dentist is a film I remember truly enjoying but it had been decades since I had watched it so when Vestron Video announced the release of the film on blu I knew I had to revisit this one. I want to thank Vestron Video for sending this one over for review. It really took me back to a time where my biggest problem was making my mind up about which movies to rent and what snacks I was going to snag for my late-night movie watching. 

      The film follows the heavily medicated Dr. Feinstone who is a well known and respected dentist in his area. However, he suspects his wife of infidelity and when he finally catches her with the pool boy he snaps. He becomes obsessed with cleaner the dirt and decay out of the world and soon sets his sights on his clients resulting in medical mayhem and carnage. 

      The Dentist was not as gruesome as I remembered it but I’ve also spent the last 25 years watching some of the most fucked up film imaginable, so I am a little desensitized. With that being said, the film was just as campy and fun as I remembered. It’s not my favorite Yuzna film but I could watch it again and have just as much fun. The acting in this one is very uneven. Corbin Bernsen makes the film. His intensity and delivery sent chills down my spine as a kid and now I still feel eerily uncomfortable when he becomes unhinged. He gives this campy film his all and makes it so much fun. I also enjoyed Ken Foree’s performance as the hardboiled detective hot on his tail. We also get a well rounded performance from Molly Hagan who is best known for her role in Red State. Aside from those three performances, we are given some extra cheesy performances from the gorgeous Linda Hoffman, Michael Stadvec, the rest of the cast. Their performances are over exaggerated and awkward at time. I found myself laughing a few times and lost it during Stadvec’s death scene but the cast’s lack of direction at times really shows from scene to scene. I love a goofy horror films and I could see this one being just as funny as Ice Cream Man if they embraced it. Instead, we have some seriously great performances with campy performances and they clash in several scenes. The story for this one blends mental slasher and fear of dentists into something that only could be described as a seriously enjoyable straight to video horror title. We get some dentist themed deaths mixed with unlikable character that we want to watch die and a killer that makes the film. While I do prefer my slashers masked I still find this one to be very effective especially with the stellar performance from Bernsen. Some of the scenes are a bit stretched out and dull with way too much dialogue. The movie could use a good trimming to make it flow a lot better. Finally, the kills in this one are a lot of fun. As I stated earlier, they fit the theme of the film and the effects are phenomenal. Yuzna does not disappoint in this department but I do feel like the movie was a lot bloodier when I was younger but I can’t swear to it. Overall, The Dentist may not be as well loved as Child’s Play and Scream but I would choose it over those overrated franchises anyday. Be sure to snag this release from Vestron. It’s worth the price.

Invitation Only

Director - Kevin Ko (Incantation, Doomsday Reverse)

Starring - Ray Chang (When Geek Meets Serial Killer, Tomb Mystery), Julianne Chu (The Ghost Tales, 100 Days), and Maria Ozawa (Geisha of Death, Erotibot)

Release Date -2009

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A party to die for"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I respect the hell out Stephen Biro and Unearthed Films but I’ve never been a hardcore fan. Biro and company has released some seriously important indie and extreme horror films over the years and his focus on Cat III releases in recent years really impressed me. However, there is several Unearthed Film releases that just didn’t work for me. By now, most of you know that I’m not a fan extreme horror that trades story for gore and shock value. I love gore but it needs to fit the story so when a movie consists of someone tied to a chair and tortured with nothing else going on I often find myself uninterested. Luckily, not all of Unearthed releases are like this. Recently, they released Invitation Only. This 2009 Taiwanese horror film is one I had never heard about until Unearthed announced it’s release. I reached out to MVD, who was handling the physical release, and they were kind enough to send a copy my way. Like always, I want to thank Unearthed Films and MVD for supporting Horror Society and myself. 

      The film follows Wade who is the driver for a wealthy man who is president of a huge corporation. After he finds him sleeping with a model, he is offered an invitation to a party for the upper class in hopes of keeping him from telling others. He accepts the invitation and attends the exclusive party where he is given $20 million from his employer to have some spending money. However, he finds himself with a handful of other first time invites when things go south. They soon learn they are not who they say they are, and the party is a front for the wealthy to torture and kill people. 

      I went into Invitation Only completely blind aside from the preconceived notions I had in my head based on the title alone. I’m glad I didn’t dig too deep into this one because I absolutely loved being blindsided by the story, the gore, and the acting. This is easily one of my favorite Unearthed Films’ releases and it has revitalized my love for the company. The acting in this one is very well done. I liked the wide array of characters and how natural the cast was in front of the camera. The female cast carry their own and are extremely gorgeous. Their experience in front of the camera also shows that they are more than just eye candy. They help carry the film and deliver some seriously underrated final girl performances. The male lead and his employer is the heart of the film and their chemistry together is what makes this film as enjoyable as it is. Their personalities are opposites and they bring a wide range of emotions to the cat and mouse chase during the last leg of the film. This is some fantastic casting. The story for this one is not that original, but I really did like the approach to it. We’ve seen dozens of films over the years following people invited to parties or other events only to discover that it is some sort of sick and twisted game put on annually by the locals, elite, corporations, and so on. Ones that instantly come to mind are the films Murder Party and Surviving the Game. I can name many more but the point stands that this is not a story we have seen before but Invitation Only makes it their own by putting their own spin on it. It works and you find yourself wanting more. It has great tension, locations, and the deaths set it apart from many other films with similar stories. Finally, the kills in this one are fucking relentless. The film does not shy away from the blood and the practical effects we are given are damn near perfect. I’m sure if you paused the scene you could find something wrong with them but from just watching the film, twice in my case, they are fucking phenomenal. The deaths are nothing we haven’t seen before but the amount of hate and brutality in the scene makes them stand out. Overall, Invitation Only is a fucking must see for genre fans. I’m sure the hardcore Unearthed fans have seen more extreme horror that packs a harder punch but for those of us that enjoy stories and blood will truly appreciate this one. Check it out.

House of Terrors

Director - Hajime Sato (The Glorious Ghost, Terror Beneath the Sea)

Starring - Ko Nishimura (47 Ronin, Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis), Yuko Kusunoki (Goke: Body Snatcher from Hell, The Call of Flesh), and Shinjiro Ebara (Invasion of the Neptune Men, Ninja Hunt)

Release Date - 1965

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     If you have followed the site or my reviews for any length of time you may have noticed that most Mondo Macabro releases comes in three and it’s rare for me to like all of them. Usually one or two of them don’t sit well with me while one or so makes the releases worth it. However, this is the first time in awhile that Mondo Macabro has released three films together and they all were hits. After watching In the Folds of the Flesh and A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse I quickly took the dive into The House of Terrors aka The Ghost of the Hunchback and Satan’s Pit. Like many of Mondo Macacabro’s releases, this was a new one to me and I couldn’t wait to dig into this Japanese horror flick. Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAB for sending this one over. 

      The film follows a young woman who finds herself dealing with the unexpected death of her husband. After his death she discovers that he owned a second home which was a mansion complete with it’s own caretaker. The hunchback was tasked with taking care of the property for her late husband but warns her and her friends who are investigating the property that others have suffered strange deaths on the grounds. They disregard their warnings and soon find themselves surrounded by a sinister force. 

      I didn’t know what to expect from The House of Terrors, but it did not disappoint at all. It was a great blend of mystery and haunted house horror with just a small dash of drama. It’s a great looking paranormal film with some great atmosphere and imagery. I wasn’t a fan of some of the scenes and revealing too much of the story early on, but I liked it especially as a late-night watch. The acting in this one is a little inconsistent but enjoyable. We get some scenes where the cast is well grounded yet generic. The characters are what you would expect from a horror by numbers piece, but the cast does a decent job during these scenes. However, during the more tense and suspenseful scenes the cast really hammed it up. They were extremely over-dramatic which added an unintentional sense of humor to a scene that would have been perfect without it. It really destroyed the atmosphere and suspense the film was building up to. The story for this one is pretty simple and you don’t have to really pay attention to predict what is going to happen because the film itself tells you from time to time. The foreshadowing is too blatant and does more damage to the story than good. I wish the story would have unfolded naturally allowing the viewer to make guesses as to what is really going on instead of being force fed the “twists.” Finally, this is not a film filled with blood. Instead, we get some great gothic images and some seriously impressive atmosphere. I loved the look of the location and the supernatural scenes had that classic look about them. Overall, The House of Terrors is an effective Japanese haunted house film with a story that doesn’t leave itself up to the viewer to figure out. Instead, it just tells you the twists before they happen. It’s the perfect watch for a late night scare but it does hold itself back from becoming something timeless. Check it out.

A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse

Director - Kazuhiko Yamaguchi (Wolf Guy, Sister Street Fighter)

Starring - Naomi Tani (Flower and Snake, Skin of Roses), Misa Ohara (13 Steps of Maki: The Young Aristocrats), and Taiji Tonoyama (River of Fireflies, Tokyo Pop)

Release Date - 1975

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Mondo Macabro does one hell of a job bringing international films to genre fans. While I don’t always like the films they release, I still find myself excited to check out a film from across the globe. A week or so ago I received a few releases from Mondo Macabro and all three releases were international films. I decided to check out the 1970 exploitation flick In the Folds of the Flesh first before moving on to what was probably the film I was the most curious about which was A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse. The name and artwork really made my imagination work overtime. When I finished In the Folds of the Flesh I decided I couldn’t wait any longer and tossed it in. I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAV for sending this one over. Thanks guys! 

      The film follows a young woman who marries a gambling addict. When he is assaulted for stealing money from a group of gangsters, she works to clear his debt to prevent them from killing him. Things seem to look up for the pair so she moves her younger sister in with her to help her get on her feet when her horrible husband rapes her. He then reveals that he has acquired an even bigger debt gambling and she needs to work at the local bathhouse to pay off his debts. However, he is secretly sleeping with the madame and she plans on torturing her, so she can be with her husband. Her punishment starts out severe and quickly escalates until her death. Soon those that wronged her in the bathhouse, along with her adulterous husband, are haunted by her evil spirit. 

      A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse is exactly what I was expecting while not being what I expected. I know that doesn’t make much sense, but it will after I explain what I mean. The film’s artwork and title was giving me serious Haus vibes and the film does have that Haus type of paranormal haunting during the last 20 to 30 minutes. However, the first hour or so is a classic pinku flick. A lot of torture and rape which was not what I was expecting but when you mix the two together you get a sleazy haunted house flick that is really difficult to compare to anything else. It is a very unique film but one that I thoroughly enjoyed. The acting in this one is surprisingly well done. The characters are pretty generic especially if you have seen any other pinku films. I’ve reviewed a dozen or so Nikkatsu films over the years so I’m very familiar with these and this is probably one of the better acted Japanese rape/revenge films I’ve seen. As I said earlier, the characters are a carbon copy of characters from the other films like it that I’ve reviewed but the cast is all in. The torture scenes are rather unnerving and not as cringy. I did find myself getting uncomfortable during these scenes as rape is something that I don’t find entertaining and the raw emotions shown here really gave these scenes a greater impact. The rest of the film is solidly acted as well. The cast gets along so well with each other and it shows in each scene even the more violent ones. The story for this one does not look like it would fill a standard-length film, but it does. It doesn’t over do it with the rape and torture scenes, but they do help move the story along while staling the ending. With that being said, the last 20 or so minutes is what really made the film for me. The haunted aspect of the film is fully utilized and fucking works especially with the lighting and imagery. Finally, the film has some great looking props and some blood but the film’s highlight is the makeup for the ghost and the atmosphere the film has during that time. What it lacks in blood and gore it more than makes up for with tension and imagery. Overall, A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse is a must see for genre fans and an essential purchase for collectors. This film was a blast and I’m glad Mondo Macabro brought us this release.

In the Folds of the Flesh

Director - Sergio Bergonzelli (Apocalipsis Sexual, School of Erotic Enjoyment)

Starring - Eleonora Rossi Drago (The Angels from 2000, Uncle Tom's Cabin), Pier Angeli (Shadow of Evil, Octaman), and Fernando Sancho (Black Commando, Cross of the Devil)

Release Date - 1970

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Certain boutique labels don’t get the respect they deserve. While most people, myself included, often praise labels like Vinegar Syndrome and Arrow Video while labels like Severin and Mondo Macabro often go overlooked. Honestly, I really enjoy MM and their releases even though I may not always enjoy the films. I appreciate their eye for international titles and bringing those to American markets. A few weeks back I received their blu release of In the Folds of the Flesh. This was a new one to me and I couldn’t wait to dig into it. Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for their support! 

      The film follows a group living in a villa who have a dark secret. Murder is not foreign to the three living there and when an escaped criminal arrives there attempting to black mail them he bites off more than he can chew when they get the upper hand. Soon the police is involved due to the amount of disappearances in the area bringing all their heinous crimes to light.

      When I was getting info together for my review, I saw that some call this film a trashy giallo. While I don’t see the giallo part I can confirm that it is trashy. Giallo is a popular Italian sub-genre of horror that focuses on the mystery aspect of the story. In the Folds of the Flesh is not so much a mystery but a story about how far the crazy family will go before getting caught. It was enjoyable but way too complicated when it had no need to be. The acting in this one is very enjoyable. The cast was a lot of fun to watch but their reactions in a lot of the scenes was a bit too overdramatic. It didn’t take away from the film but it did give me a few unintentional laughs when you mixed it with the English dub. The story for this one is very enjoyable, especially from an exploitation stand point, but there was a lot going on. In fact, some of the twists and turns could have been removed while keeping the overall story intact. I fucking loved the idea of the three psychopaths living in the same villa together when a criminal arrives and tries to black mail them. We then get some questionable turns like the rape scene that doesn’t really make sense in context of the film along with introduction of the police. It just feels like there is too many ideas being thrown in a pot hoping something sticks. It would have been a hell of a lot more enjoyable if it was more straight forward with the story. Finally, the film has a few death scenes that were surprisingly humorous but if you are looking for some serious blood and gore then you will be very disappointed. We have a beheaded corpse and an acid bath but that is really the extent of the carnage. They were funny in my opinion but nothing that will stick with you. Overall, In the Folds of the Flesh is not what you expect. If you snagged this one expecting a classic giallo then you will be very disappointed. However, if you want a trashy exploitation flick with a convoluted story then this one is for you. I highly recommend snagging the Mondo Macabro release if this one seems like it is up your alley.

Buried Alive

Director - Gerard Kikoine (Dragonard, Edge of Sanity)

Starring - Robert Vaughn (Transylvania Twist, Superman III), Donald Pleasence (Halloween, Prince of Darkness), and Karen Lorre (The X-Files, Sliders)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The dead return!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The works of Edgar Allan Poe is legendary among literary and horror fans. His work has stood the test of time and has become adapted into film and television countless times. Some of these adaptations were phenomenal while others were rushed just to cash in on their namesake. While Two Evil Eyes and Murders in the Rue Morgue are one of the few adaptations of his that I enjoy, I’m a firm believer that the best adaptation of his work came in the form of a Simpson’s Treehouse of Horror episode. While I’m not an avid fan of his I keep an eye out for others that have missed my radar. One case in point is the 1989 film Buried Alive. Not the be confused with the 1990 film of the same name, this Edgar Allan Poe release found it’s way to blu courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome. I had no idea it existed until Vin Syn announced this release. Like all other releases from Vin Syn, I had to snag it and couldn’t wait to check it out. 

      The film follows a female educator who is brought into an all-female institute for teens with troubled pasts. She arrives at a time where a few of the girls are missing and because they are not bound to the property the staff just assumes, they left on their own accord. However, she soon starts to suspect something more sinister is a foot when strange things happen before coming face to face with a mad man wearing a Ronald Reagan mask. 

      Buried Alive is not a film that will stick with you. Hell, it’s not even a good film but I did find myself liking it more than should have. It’s cheesy but not in the 80s cheese than you would expect. It almost feels like a made for television movie with elements borrowed from Poe and performances that match a day time soap. It’s not perfect but it’s a decent first-time watch. The acting in this one is extremely uneven but enjoyable nonetheless. Karen Witter (Lore) is a strong female lead that I was not too familiar with before watching the film. After digging through her imdb I noticed she was in a handful of films I had reviewed in the past, but her performances didn’t really stand out to me. Same can be said here. She’s a strong female lead but the cliched and generic character she brought to life was easily forgettable. Robert Vaughn plays the same character you’ve seen him play in countless movies. He doesn’t try to mix it up with a memorable personality or something that makes his performance stand out from his others. At this point, I’m sure he’s the same character in every movie and they are all part of the Vaughnverse. The performance that really caught me off guard was from Donald Pleasence. His portrayal of Dr. Schaeffer was not what I was expecting. We’ve all seen him portray a doctor of some sort in previous films with Dr. Loomis being the most memorable. However, this performance was nothing like that and had me in stitches during most of his scenes. The story for this one is plain but the nods to Poe’s writings is evident. The killer walling up his victims and the random black cat are the obvious ones. I’m not a Poe scholar and that’s the only ones that I picked up on. I’m sure ants were another one, but I can’t pinpoint which one of his stories they are from. The film itself does struggle with pacing issues with some scenes being drawn out by lengthy dialogue or Vaughn trying to score with Lore. These scenes could have been trimmed down to benefit the film. Finally, the film has several deaths, but they are not the focus of the film. We get some blood but those of you expecting a slasher like kill with the fun effects will be very disappointed. Overall, Buried Alive is not a film that will stick with you or making top ten lists from genre fans but it is a solid first time watch. I want to thank Vin Syn for bringing this forgotten film to us. Check it out but keep in mind that it is far from perfect.

Satan Lives: The Rise of the Illumanatti Hotties

Director - Sean Donohue (Naked Cannibal Campers, Zed's Dead)

Starring - Jessa Flux (Voorhees: Night of the Beast, Cannibal Hookers), Sushii Xhyvette Holder (Kill-Cam, The Cheerleader Sleepover Slaughter), and Bob Glazier (Cannibal Claus, Amerikan Holokaust)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     

     Sean Donohue is a filmmaker that I greatly admire. I try not to send too much praise his way for fear of it going to his head but he truly is one of my favorite filmmakers especially when I’m in the mood for blood and nudity. He is the extreme counterpart to filmmakers Chris Seaver and Richard Mogg in my opinion. I’ll spin a Seaver or Mogg flick if I want some laughs and cheap effects with a story that parodies or pays tribute to films I grew up with. On the opposite side of the same coin, Donohue is when I’m in a more serious mood and want blood and boobs. His films are more polished than other indie horror productions and rarely let me down. When he announced his newest film, Satan Lives!: The Rise of the Illuminati Hotties, I was ready for it. I couldn’t wait to see what kind of depravity he was bringing our way. A few days back he reached out to me to review it and I couldn’t say yes fast enough. As always, I want to thank Sean and GatorBlade Films for supporting Horror Society and myself. 

      The film follows documentary filmmakers who are filming cult leader Richard Lemeau (Glazier). Lemeau is known for his sexual antics and strange occult practices. In the middle of the of this is a stripper who is tasked with killing him by a new organization known as the Illuminati Hotties. 

      I’m not attempting to suck up to Sean because I wasn’t a fan of his latest film, but I truly believe he is one of the better filmmakers in the indie horror community. His films Die Die Delta Pi and Death-Scort Service are still finding new audiences almost a decade later. While his films may be skin filled and bloody, they are still beautifully shot with stories that appeal to the horror fans that are sick of the remakes, sequels, and prequels to franchises that should have died years ago. I’m not kissing ass or blowing smoke up his, but I honestly believe he is one of the most entertaining filmmakers in the game right now. With that being said, not everything he does appeals to me. His found footage film Dead Residence was a tough one for me to finish but most of you know how much I hate found footage films. Satan Lives!: The Rise of the Illuminati Hotties was one of my most anticipated films especially after he unleashed Naked Cannibal Campers and Sushii’s Sex Séance where he seems to have embraced the sleazier side of his films but the movie just didn’t do it for me. It was 100% a GatorBlade Film’s release but the story didn’t hold my attention like usual and the pacing just didn’t work for me. I wanted to love it but I couldn’t find something to latch on to aside from Jessa Flux and Sushii. The acting in this one is a lot of fun which is exactly what I expected from Sean and his arsenal of actors. We have some familiar GatorBlade faces like Bob Glazier, Sushii, Katie McKinley, Ashley Lynn Caputo and Joe Makowski to name a few. They all deliver great performances and the characters they brought to life made the film for me. Honestly, what the film was lacking in story it more than made up for with wild performances from this cast. I also liked that Sean brought indie starlet Jessa Flux on board and gave her a bigger role than just a cameo. I hope these two work together again in the future.  The story for this one is the kind of story that really gets me excited for indie productions. It’s wild and out there but I found it to a bit too dull. The cult with a sexually abusive leader harboring a dark secret who finds his congregation infiltrated by gorgeous assassins is something straight out of a 70s exploitation flick. I liked the set up and style of the film but the drawn out scenes and dialogue left me wishing more of the world around the cult was explored instead of just the leader. Finally, the film has plenty of blood and boobs but if you are looking for memorable kills then you are out of luck. A few of the deaths are effective head shots that fit the film but the lack of carnage is more than made up for with beautiful women. Overall, Satan Lives!: The Rise of the Illuminati Hottie is decent for a first time watch especially if you are a fan of Sean’s other films but this is one of the few projects of his that I don’t see myself revisiting. I respect the hell out him but you can’t make everyone happy all the time and I’m sure I will be the minority here.

Ogopgo: The Mythical Snake from the Lake

Director - Richard Mogg (Hot Chicks Blast Uranus, Bigfoot Ate My Boyfriend)

Starring - Kirk Munawaeera (Earth Girls Are Sleazy, Easter Bunny Bloodbath 2: No More Tears), Richard Mogg, and Elaine Thrash Oliveira (The Masks We Wear, Cute Exorcist)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "For 150 years it has slept. Now it's awake... and John Saurius is ready"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Richard Mogg, founder of Rickmoe Productions, is one of my favorite indie filmmakers. His sense of humor and style is something that has always drawn me to his films. Easter Bunny Bloodbath is what drawn me to his films but since then I’ve fell in love with most of his releases like Massage Parlor of Death, Teenage Slumber Party Nightmare, Bigfoot Ate My Boyfriend, and many more. I wasn’t really a fan of his last film Hot Chicks Blast Uranus, but the title is among one of the best I have seen. When he announced his new film Ogopogo: The Mythical Snake from the Lake I was ready for another Rickmoe flick! Richard soon reached out to me and sent over a review copy. Like always I want to thank Richard for supporting Horror Society and myself. 

      The film follows John (Munaweera) who finds himself in British Columbia hunting down the lake monster Ogopogo. His hunt catches the eye of filmmaker Richard Mogg who comes out of an early retirement to film John and the creature. Along the way John falls in love and discovers he has a closer tie to the creature than he expected. 

      It pains me to say this because I love and respect the hell out of Richard Mogg but I was not a fan of this one. It just didn’t have the same sense of humor and tone as the other films I’ve seen from him. When you mix that with the lack story and cliched characters that made Mogg’s previous films so much fun you are left with something that felt rushed and lacked the heart that made me fall in love with Rickmoe Productions. The acting in this one is exactly like I was expecting. Munaweera returns as the iconic John Saurius, the bigfoot investigator that finds himself in hazardous situations. I’ve always liked his stiff performances and how he is so easily incorporated into these films. I was also surprised by director Richard Mogg’s performance playing himself. He really did catch me off guard by how comfortable he is in front of the camera and how he interacted with the rest of the cast. It was very natural. With that being said, a good bit of the rest of the cast felt a bit awkward and rushed. They quickly fly through their dialogue and move on as if it was like a practice run or table reading. The story for this one really peaked my interest. I’m an avid cryptid fan and was looking forward to seeing how Richard would put the Rickmoe spin on it but what we got was what felt like a rushed film that seems like it was put together in a few hours one evening or weekend. The humor misses it’s mark, which is unusual for Richard, but I did find myself laughing at one scene. Finally, the film doesn’t have the cheap effects that you come to expect from a Rickmoe production. We get a mask used as a puppet and the scene that made me laugh which consisted of children’s toys in a bathtub. If you were looking for no budget deaths then you are out of luck. Overall, Ogopogo: The Mysterious Snake from the Lake was not for me. I’m sure there is some Rickmoe fans out there that appreciate this newest project from Richard Mogg but it was a tough one for me to finish. I wanted to like it but I found very little enjoyment ouf ot it. Skit it.

Alive

Director - David Marantz

Starring - Ellen Hillman, Kian Pritchard, and Neil Sheffield (Covid-19, Witchcraft X: Mistress of the Craft)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming 

Rating - (out of 5):

      I’m starting to find myself more and more interested in zombie flicks. Zombie films were what got me started in horror but my love for The Walking Dead comics and subsequent television adaptation ruined the sub-genre for me. The thousands of clones oversaturated the market and the idea of watching a rag tag group of survivors attempt to portray iconic characters with no experience made for a dull till. Hell, most of these “horror” movies were just dramas at best with zombies in the back ground. When I received the press release for the zombie flick Alive, I didn’t know what to expect. The trailer made it look like another one of those zombie films that I’ve been avoiding the last decade or so, but I decided to give it a go since I was watching another zombie flick titled Z-ero. I’m glad I went against my own judgement and gave it a chance because I really enjoyed it. 

      The film takes place in a world ravaged by disease. Those infected grave living flesh. Those that are newly infected can ward it off temporarily with raw meat but sooner or later the craving for human flesh grows too strong and there is no turning back. We follow a lone man who is barricaded in his home but finds himself face to face with unwelcomed guests when a young man, his girlfriend, and her little sister break in seeking refuge. They are searching for an island that is said to be safe for the uninfected with hopes of finding a cure for the recently infected boy. He lets them spend the night and takes them into town the next day where there is a generator where they can charge their GPS. However, they soon run into a former religious man and his followers who have plans for the young woman forcing the group to separate resulting in a fight for survival pitting them against the living and undead. 

      Alive is not going to be for everyone but fans of no budget zombie flicks will really appreciate this simple and effective zombie tale. The story may sound like a film modeled after TWD with survivors fighting among themselves with zombies taking the backseat but that is not the case. While there is skirmishes between survivors, the film flows more like classic films like Dawn and Day of the Dead where the “good” survivors fight to survive from the “bad” survivors who eventually get what they deserve. The acting in this one is not the worst I’ve seen. In fact, I was impressed for the most part. However, there was a few scenes where the cast felt rushed and the cast looked stiff. The cast is able to deliver solid performances for most of the film so I am very curious as to why some of these scenes feel so out of place. The story for this one really does feel like a no budget love letter to Romero and his original Dead trilogy before he moved on to Land, Diary, and Survival. If you take the social commentary out of films like Dawn and Day of the Dead then you will have something in the tune to Alive. It’s character driven set in the back drop of a zombie apocalypse. It doesn’t feel like a Walking Dead melodrama and you are genuinely curious to see what happens to characters. It does drag it’s feet through several scenes but what film doesn’t hit a dry spell. Finally, the film is not as bloody or violent as you would expect from a zombie flick. We get a little blood and some make-up effects but nothing memorable or that stands out. I was hoping for some gore or classic kills but the film does not deliver in that regard. Overall, Alive is a breathe of fresh air into a stagnant and dull sub-genre. I highly recommend checking this one out.

Wolf Juice

Director - Phil Pattison (Human Cattle, Vs the Dead) and Cam Schwarz

Starring - Rob Gabriele (Terrifier 2, Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1), Sweet Pepper Klopek, and Corey Paquette 

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I often catch shit from some of my social media friends because I don’t ejaculate over extreme horror like they do. I prefer to watch a movie with a wild story, just as wild effects, and characters that stand out. I absolutely hate a movie that lacks character and story but goes over-board with gore. I’d rather watch a behind the scenes documentary on the making of a classic horror film where we watch the effects come to life over an hour and a half of gore for no other purpose than to shock. Most folks interested in extreme horror had similar childhoods to my own. We grew up on rotten.com and bit torrent sites downloading any file titled Faces of Death. However, where they let that shape their tastes, I was more influenced by stupid shit like Pee-Wee’s Playhouse and The Three Stooges. That would explain why I would go out of my way to watch a movie like Wolf Juice over something like August Underground or the dozens, if not hundreds, of faux snuff found footage flicks that feature “tough guys” is ski masks torturing people tied to chairs. I want to thank Cam Schwarz for sending Wolf Juice my way for review. It was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to revisit it with some friends and a few edibles.      The film follows a pair of security guards patrolling a compound that is frequented by undesirables looking for a dry place to get drunk and high. What makes this night stand out from other nights is one of them has found something different to get high, but this is no normal trip. He soon transforms into a bloodthirsty wolf and no one is safe. Wolf Juice is pure fun or as I like to call it, absurd entertainment. 

      It’s not meant to be taken seriously but the viewer can’t look away. It reminds me of the indie films that Troma distributes with much better practical effects. It’s a film that those with a stick up their ass may not appreciate but if you like movies like Psycho Ape and Spirit Animal then you will appreciate this short. The acting in this one is a lot of fun. No one is winning any awards and that is part of the charm. The cast is not hamming it up trying to deliver an academy award performance. Instead, they get into character and have fun with it. The characters are all fun and I loved their energy. The story for this one is short, simple, and fucking stupid in the best way possible. We have drug use, crazy drunk war stories, security guards/cops that get high on our tax dollars, and wolf juice. What more could you ask for? The fact that this is crammed into a 20-minute run time means we have no down time. With that being said, it could easily be a feature with a little more backstory. Finally, we get some goofy effects like a plastic baby along with some seriously impressive practical effects. It does take a minute for the build up but the bloody conclusion to the film was a sight to be seen. Overall, Wolf Juice is a must see for fans of bat shit crazy horror films. Imagine Slime City meets that one scene in Beyond Re-Animator. It was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to check it out again.

Z-ERO

Director - Wesley Spangler

Starring - Wesley Spangler (Brazen Impact, Christmas in Tune), Sharah Trigger (Heavy Duty Man), and Russell Sage Patrick (Bullet Proof Cowboys, Talons of the Phoenix)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "He'll save the world, even if it kills him"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Tom Savini’s remake of Romero’s Night of the Living Dead was what started me down the road to horror. My first love was zombie flicks and Savini’s NotLD which opened the door to Romero’s original Dead trilogy. A few years later I found my love for zombies taking me down the indie route where I found films like Dead and Breakfast, Meat Market, Planet Zombies, Hide and Creep, and so on. When I reached high school, I was snagging no budget zombie movies from companies like Brain Damage Films and I couldn’t get enough of them. I even enjoyed watching the bad ones and thinking about how I could improve them. Sadly, my love for the undead fizzled out after the first season of The Walking Dead and the hundreds and thousands of TWD clones that flooded store shelves. That was ten or so years ago and I think we have just now got back to zombie films coming into their own again and not trying to recapture that gritty “mankind is the real monster” zombie flicks. A few days ago, a friend of mine sent a link to a film he worked on titled Z-ero. It looked interesting enough, so I decided to check it out and review. I want to thank Matt for sending this one over! 

      The film follows a man living in a town plagued with the undead. While the zombies are dangerous, they don’t seem to be a major issue unless you are slow, or they gather in numbers. However, things go from bad to worse when an alpha zombie emerges with the ability to think, reason, and command the other lesser zombies. That’s when he finds himself on the business end of a zombie bite. He finds himself not changing and soon uncovers that he has super strength and speed, but his body is decaying at a much slower rate than a normal zombie. He tries to use his new-found powers for good but a secret government agency has another idea for him and the alpha zombie. 

      I didn’t know anything about Z-ero aside from the fact that the director was new to the game. I’m always honest in my reviews and I’ll be completely transparent here. Z-ero has a lot of issues with most of them due to their inexperience. We have problems with the editing, the scene transitions, the story telling, and awkward performances at times. However, the no budget charm and story reminded me a lot of films like Meat Market and The Dead Next Door. These films are rough around the edges but have become cult favorites among no budget cinema fans. It had some moments that I did enjoy but I can see other genre fans ripping it apart just for the sake of being assholes. The acting in this one is what you would expect from a no budget film from a first-time filmmaker. The cast is fully invested in their performances, but the lack of inexperience does show in almost every scene. I liked the characters, the energy they bring, but their emotional range was not there. I’ve seen more emotions in an elementary school play. The story for this one really appealed to me. The dude getting bit and trying to save other people from suffering the same fate as he is pretty interesting. When you mix it with the government agency and the no budget, I couldn’t help but feel like I was watching a film inspired by The Dead Next Door and Meat Market. The film does struggle to find its own footing. We get too many drawn out scenes with pointless dialogue and the crude editing from scene to scene does take away from the overall story. Finally, the film uses some solid make-up effects along with some noticeable visual effects. The make up effects look exactly like what I would expect from a film like this and I love it. However, I could have lived without the green screen scenes and the CGI. Overall, Z-ero is a very ambitious film for a first time filmmaker and I respect the hell out of it. With that being said, this film is rough in so many different ways. It’s fun to watch with some friends and some booze but it will be a tough one to watch alone late at night.

Prey for the Devil

Director - Daniel Stamm (In the Dark, Fear the Walking Dead)

Starring - Jacqueline Byers (Bad Samaritan, The Strain), Debora Zhecheva (Chernobyl: Trails of the Past, Stalker: The Curse of the Zone), and Christian Navarro (13 Reasons Why, The Tick)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "It wants in"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It’s my personal opinion that religious horror is the most effective and that doesn’t mean what you think. Horror films based on stories and characters from the bible doesn’t work if you are an atheist. If you are like me then you see the “good book” as a work of fiction and most of the films centered around it just doesn’t have the impact if you don’t have faith. However, if you are an atheist or agnostic then you may find films centered around religious fanatics to be extremely affective. The perfect example of this is Kevin Smith’s Red State. The idea behind gives me fucking chills. I don’t mind a religious horror film but unless it’s something like Red State or the mother from Carrie then it usually misses it’s mark with me. A few weeks back I was sent a review copy of Prey for the Devil. I knew this was a horror film based deep in the Catholic faith, but the trailer really sold me on it. Curiosity got the best of me and I tossed it in when I had some time to kill. 

      The film follows a young woman who had an abusive childhood. Many claim her mother was plagued with mental illness, but she believes her mother was possessed. After problematic teen years she dedicates herself to the church in hopes of becoming a female exorcist. While working with a young girl in the care of the church she discovers that the evil presence haunting the child is one connected to her youth and revealing who the child really is. 

     A lot of religious horror focuses too much on the religious aspect and not the horror. They prey, so to speak, on the viewer’s faith in hopes of really stirring up some fears. While I respect it, it makes for a ridiculously dull film if you don’t know shit about the bible or Christianity. Prey for the Devil is a film that is deep in religious imagery and iconography but doesn’t make the story all about the religion itself which would explain why I was able to fully submerge myself into it. The acting in this one is great. The characters have a lot of depth and the cast absolutely nailed their performances. I wasn’t familiar with Jacqueline Byers prior to this film but she is a name I’m looking forward to seeing in other films in the future. She was a strong female lead that had a wide emotional range that felt genuine. I was also impressed by Colin Salmon and the amount of screen time he was given. I would have liked to see his character have more focus in the story, but I’ll take what I can get. The story for this one is deep with character development and Catholic imagery without overdoing it. I really liked using the catholic school with priests doing exorcism studies as the basis for the story. I also like that the film focuses on a strong female lead who shakes the foundation of the church with the role of women in it. It is predictable, and you can see the twist coming a mile away but it doesn’t take too much away from the build up in it. Finally, the film has some decent make-up effects and a little blood that is barely noticeable. What is noticeable is the horrible CGI that we are given. Some of the scenes featured the possessed bending in unnatural manners that looked extremely cheap. I know contortionists could have pulled these moves off without bringing the quality of the film down. Overall, Prey for the Devil was a surprisingly entertaining horror thriller with a religious spin. It’s not overly in your face about religion but uses it as part of the plot. I highly recommend it. Check it out.