Dr. Saville's Horror Show

Director - Kevin R. Phipps (Friday the 13th Part 3: The Memoriam Documentary, Granny's Treasure)

Starring - Allen Valor (Love is Blind, Student Film), Michael Hanelin (Dead in 5 Heartbeats, The Trigger), and Ashlieya Mariano (The Misadventures of Harley Quinn, The Locker Room Mascot Massacre)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Indie horror is my bread and butter. As much as I love reviewing the various forms of exploitation, horror will always be my true passion with indie horror being something I’m truly passionate about. I love sharing news about indie projects when I get the chance to review them I try to find the positives along with the negatives to discuss. It’s so easy to bash an indie production but only fans of indie horror and the underground can appreciate what the team behind the film is trying to achieve. A few weeks back I was sent a press release for the indie horror anthology Dr. Saville’s Horror Show. I’m a sucker for horror anthologies and I really liked the title so I agreed to check it out. I decided this would be the perfect film to watch after checking out the new animated Batman flick and the large amount of non-horror titles send my way in April. 

      The film follows a business man that finds himself at a bar when his flight is cancelled. He is approached by an attractive blonde and invited back to her place. As he awakens he realizes he is bound while a masked man introduces him to three tales of horror. The first follows a bride-to-be looking to get into shape before her big day. She is introduced to an experimental procedure where she is given a manmade tapeworm that is designed to die once she reaches her desired weight. However, that does not happen and the tapeworm’s hunger grows until it craves human flesh. The second tale revolves around a man who is too picking when it comes to the opposite sex. An ex gives him a break up gift as a gag. He decides to open it and try to grow one of the Aqua Pets inside of the package. The next morning he finds the perfect woman on the floor. While he is living on cloud 9 with his new girlfriend he soon uncovers that she is extremely jealous with murderous tendencies. The third and final tale follows a loving father and his daughter as he protects her from the zombie apocalypse but something else is going on. 

      Dr. Saville’s Horror Show was an interesting anthology but the predictability and lack of an original wraparound segment made it easily forgettable. A horror anthology is just as strong as it’s wraparound segment and when it fails to give you anything new or enjoyable you are left with an unimaginative indie production that consists of several shorts with nothing tying them together. It was an alright short collective but I can’t call it an effective anthology because it didn’t have that fun segment that held them all together while setting the theme for the film. The acting in this one is very well done. I didn’t recognize a lot of the cast but I was impressed by their performances. Each segment had fun characters with likable personalities and a lot of energy. I loved how comfortable everyone was in front of the camera and I will keep an eye out for others films each and every one was in. The stories for this one is predictable but that doesn’t stop them from being enjoyable. The sea monkey bride along with the dad during the apocalypse tales were my favorite two. The first tale is fun but felt more like a Monsters or mid-80s episode from The Twilight Zone. I liked it but it just didn’t have the same feel as the other segments. My biggest, and honestly, only real gripe with the film is the weak wraparound segment. A dude tied up and being forced to watch movies by a masked man is something that has been done before especially in indie horror. It’s not that original and in this case it’s not that clever or enjoyable. It doesn’t hold the stories together well and if you took it out the film would be just as entertaining as it with it left in. A different segment to bookend the film or something more fitting for the title would have made it better in my opinion. Finally, the film has some practical effects but it’s not as bloody or gory as you would expect a film with Horror Show in the title would be. The make-up effects look solid enough but the death scenes are unimaginative and pretty straight forward. Overall, Dr. Saville’s Horror Show is a decent horror anthology that has some issues but is still enjoyable. Fans of indie horror should check it out but you should know exactly what you are getting into.

Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham

Director(s) - Christopher Berkeley (Extreme Ghostbusters, Men in Black: The Series) and Sam Liu (Batman vs. Dracula, Superman: Red Son)

Starring - David Giuntoli (Grimm, Ghost Whisperer), Gideon Adlon (The Craft: Legacy, Witch Hunt), and Karan Brar (Hubie Halloween, Pacific Rim: Uprising)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Action/Horror

Tagline - "An ancient evil awakens!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screeener)

Rating (out of 5):

I’ve been getting the DC animated films for review for several years now. While I wasn’t really a fan of animated flicks beforehand, I’ve found that I actually enjoy them now and often look forward to the next project. A few weeks ago I was at work when I received a package from WB. I rarely get packages anymore due to covid and the economy so when something shows up I get that little rush of adrenaline. When I opened it I was pleased to find a copy of Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham. I was familiar with the comic series but I had no idea that it was being adapted into an animated film. I couldn’t wait to dig into this one but I had to due to the amount of films I was behind on reviewing. However, once I finished a few streaming links sent over I decided it was time to finally check this one out. 

     The film follows wealthy rich playboy Bruce Wayne who is on an expedition when he discovers that Cobblepot and a few others have succumbed to madness after discovering something buried in the ice. When Bruce investigates he finds one survivor who is changing once he came in contact with the sleeping beast in the ice. Bruce inadvertently touches the ice encasing the creature which begins the awakening process. He rushes back to Gotham after a 20 year hiatus in hopes of uncovering the secrets of the being trapped in the ice only to be confronted with a world outside of science and a pact that traces back to his deceased parents. 

      The Doom That Came to Gotham could have been better but having a horror tale set around the dark knight in the 1920s is something I thought I would never see. While the animated films from DC tend to take a bigger risk their live action adaptations, I never expected that the series pinned by Hellboy’s Mike Mignola would get the animated film treatment. I really liked it especially as a fan of Mignola, Lovecraft, and the DC films but I couldn’t help imagine how much more fun it would have been if it would have fully embraced the horror side. The voice acting in this one is not my favorite. I didn’t necessarily care for most of the casting choices but I know the cast tried to capture the look and sounds of the 20s. With that being said, Batman didn’t sound like Batman and most of the other characters had voices that didn’t really fit the characters. The cast doesn’t do a bad job but they don’t really fit the characters they were hired to portray. I really enjoyed the story for this one. It gives viewers an alternate take on many of our most beloved Batman characters while putting a H.P. Lovecraft spin to it. I liked the creativity that went into the characters backstories to match the time period and settings of the new story but I feel like a lot more detail could have been spent on the Lovecraftian influences. Finally, I really enjoyed the animation and the setting for this one. Having the film take place during the time when Lovecraft was pinning his most famous tales. When you mix it with the solid animation done in a traditional DC style you have something that works for the story while catering to those DC fans that look forward to the animated films. Overall, The Doom That Came to Gotham is another solid DC animated flick that gives fans a story they would never see get the live action treatment. It’s a fun Lovecraftian spin on our favorite DC characters that I think a lot of fans will enjoy. Check it out

Horror in the High Desert 2: Minerva

Director - Dutch Marich (Infernum, Horror in the High Desert)

Starring - Laurie Felix Bass (Dead Power, Dead Cruelty), Suziey Block (Pickle's Horror Show, Dude Bro Part Massacre III), and Brooke Bradshaw (Reaptown, Miserable Sinners)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "No one just disappears"

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     Back in 2021 I was asked to review the found footage horror flick Horror in the High Desert from director Dutch Marich. I’m not a fan of found footage and though I often struggle to finish them, I found myself actually enjoying the film. I’ve written reviews for Horror Society since 2013 and while I’ve done thousands of reviews by this point, this one is easily my most popular. My reviews often go unnoticed aside from the day or so after their initial posting. However, my review for Horror in the High Desert is easily my most popular review and often over takes my most popular post of all time on the site with daily views. When Dutch announced a follow up film I knew I would have to review it just because of how popular the first one was. He sent me a review link a few weeks back but I wasn’t able to get to it in a timely manner. Since then the film has been released on Tubi and I was able to check it out there. I still want to thank Dutch for thinking about Horror Society when the film was released! 

      The film is a mockumentary following the disappearance of a young woman who was living in a trailer out in the Nevada desert. There was several murders around the time she went missing but the police and investigators were unable to find any leads besides a bag that was suspected to be hers with a recording inside that gives a small glimpse into the horrors of the Nevada desert. 

      Director Dutch Marich has done something very few people have been able to do and that’s get met to actually enjoy a found footage horror flick. I’ve seen and reviewed dozens, if not hundreds, by this point and I can count on one hand how many I’ve actually liked. Two of which would be his films. Found footage is one of the dullest sub-genres in horror but these two films have really pulled me in. Minerva doesn’t really answer the questions from the first film but paints an even bigger picture that I’m sure will come to full circle in a future sequel not yet announced. The acting in this one is like most mockumentaries where we follow the cast as they engage in faux interviews. It’s awkward and one of the many reasons I often find mockumentaries and certain found footage films to be unwatchable. As awkward as this is I didn’t mind it. Everyone is dedicated to the project and I enjoyed some of the characters. I would have rather watched them act out their scenes aside from the interview style but it fits the film and it works. The story for this one is a loose follow up to the first film where the main focus is on a missing woman along with a few murders committed in the general area. Not enough evidence is there to link them to the incident from the first film but it is suspected. I liked this approach to a sequel. It builds a much bigger story in scope while establishing a much larger sinister force. While it doesn’t help answer questions from the first film, it still entertains while giving fans a bigger picture to follow. Finally, it’s not a bloody film. In fact, it relies heavily on story and atmosphere so if you are looking for a gory found footage flick then you will be very disappointed. Overall, Horror in the High Desert: Minerva is a fantastic sequel and one of the few found footage flicks that I would recommend to genre fans. Dutch Marich is a fantastic filmmaker that everyone should look out for. Check this one out.

Bottle Monster

Director - Marjorie DeHey (Goldenrod, The Same Conversation)

Starring - Willie Aames (Bibleman, Dungeons and Dragons), Billie Proffitt (Killer Pad, The Dead Undead), and Ryker Overacker (Goldenrod)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror/Drama

Tagline - "The next evolution of horror"

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

      Last month I was asked to review several films that flirted with horror but wasn’t quiet horror films themselves. These movies has horror elements or darker tones but were actually dramas that flirted with the line of horror or thriller. Recently I’ve watched Spin the Wheel and The Other Side of Darkness and was very surprised by how much I enjoyed these dark dramas. Spin the Wheel was exactly what I thought it would be but The Other Side of Darkness completely caught me off guard. It was nothing like I expected but was still a fun watch. A few days after I was asked to review this two non-horror titles I was sent another dark drama that borrows from horror. The film, Bottle Monster, was streaming on Tubi for free and the team behind it was asking that I check it out to draw in some buzz for the release. I agreed and here we are. I want to thank them for bringing this one to my attention. 

      The film follows a mother and her young son who move into an old house in hopes of a new beginning. She’s a recovering alcoholic and believes a change in scenery will help her kick the habit and re-establish the relationship she once had with her son. As she struggles with her own demons she is confronted by something sinister living in the home and is putting her own child in danger

      I was really looking forward to this one. The synopsis and title really peaked my interested and I couldn’t wait to see another monster movie centered around an alcoholic mother and her young son. However, what I actually watched was a depressing drama with some jump scares and a “monster in the old house” side story that never fully expands into what it should have. I wanted to like this one but it wasn’t for me. In fact, I have no idea who it was intended for but those with a taste for horror or dark dramas will be disappointed. The acting in this one is not the worst I’ve seen but there was some moments that made me roll my eyes or ask why the scene wasn’t reshot. Most of these scenes involved the son which could be chalked up to his age and inexperience but I’ve seen films with much smaller budgets with younger actors able to pull it off. With that being said, I really did enjoy Billie Proffitt’s performance. I liked her character and she did a fantastic job in the role. The story for this one was not what I was expecting and was a bit disappointed in it. The film tries to use the metaphor or a drunk mother battling demons while she is in a home with a literal monster. The film needed to focus on the mother’s struggles or moving into a home that is inhabited by something sinister. Having the film split it’s time between the two does both story arch’s injustice while creating a film that tries the viewer’s patience. Finally, the film doesn’t really hit you with some blood and gore. We get a few little glimpses here or there of the rat in the basement and the “thing” in the house but that’s really about it if you want to ignore the horrible visual effects. If you are looking for memorable deaths or a monster movie in tune with The Gate or Ghoulies then you will be very disappointed. Overall, Bottle Monster had an interested idea with poor execution. It feels like two ideas clashing together resulting in a messy film that is not as enjoyable as it could have been. I wanted to like it but I’d be lying if I said I did. Skip it.

Evil Dead Rise

Director - Lee Cronin (Minutes Past Midnight, Ghost Train)

Starring - Lilly Sullivan (Picnic at Hanging Rock, I Met a Girl), Alyssa Sutherland (The Mist, Vikings), and Richard Croughley (Blaze, Beautiful They)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Mommy loves you death"

Format - Theatrical

Rating (out of 5):

     It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the Evil Dead franchise. All three of the original films were a huge part of my childhood with Evil Dead II being a film that was constantly playing in my house. I’ve watched all the films countless times growing up on VHS and when I made the jump from tape to DVD I snagged the entire trilogy on DVD along with Raimi’s Spider-Man and Little Nicky. I remember leaving K-Mart with my new DVD player looking forward to watching the remastered releases of three of my favorite horror films along with Adam Sadler’s best film. Since then I’ve played all the games as they were released along with the television series and reboot. I love them all but I do like some more than others. When news broke that Bruce Campbell was retiring as Ash I was upset but I knew that the franchise would still stand on its own because Evil Dead 2013 is such a good film. I wanted to watch Evil Dead Rise on opening day but a friend of mine was having a birthday dinner and watch party the following week so I decided to hold off checking it out. I wish I would have seen it sooner but I’m grateful I was able to at all because I fucking loved it. 

      The film follows a single mom and her three children who live in a dilapidated apartment building that is being demolished soon. After an earthquake her teenage son finds a hidden bank vault under the parking garage and after doing some urban spelunking he uncovers a hidden stash of religious artifacts along with an old book and two vinyl recordings. He plays the recordings and learns that this is one of the three ancient books and the spell spoken within soon awakens something sinister that takes over his mother forcing his aunt and siblings to fight for their lives in their apartment. 

      I went into Evil Dead Rise excited but severely skeptical. I was so fucking pumped to watch another Evil Dead film in theaters but a part of me was worried that it would be a flick that was Evil Dead in title only. That was set aside fairly quickly when the film’s opening scene paid tribute to the original film. Evil Dead Rise may not top Evil Dead II or Evil Dead 2013 for me but it was a fucking blast from start to finish. I absolutely loved it and I fucking pray on anything that is holy or unholy that we don’t go another 10 years before we get a follow up to this one. The acting in this one is great. I loved the entire cast and the characters that we get. A lot of thought went into the casting of this film and everyone does a fantastic job bringing their characters to life. We get a lot of energy, intensity, and a wide range of emotion from the cast. No one outshines the other and the consistent acting really helps keep the dark atmosphere and tone of the film. The story for this one is a big jump from the traditional Evil Dead films but it still feels like a follow up of the reboot. The film focuses more on the darker side of the original Evil Dead trilogy with more emphasis on bodily mutilation and possession with no slapstick or humor. I love the humor found in Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness, and Ash vs. Evil Dead but without Ash being the focal point of that it would fall apart. I like the approach the newer installments follow where they have strong female leads that pay tribute to Ash without replacing them. You spin that with the book’s backstory and the possession and you have something for existing Evil Dead fans along with new genre fans watching their first Evil Dead film. Finally, this film is extremely violent and covered in blood. We get some great props ranging from the new book and set locations like the apartment that is falling apart and the hidden bank vault with religion iconography. However, what makes this one so enjoyable is the amount of blood and visceral moments. We do get some visual effects but they only compliment the practical effects which are unforgettable. These deaths and dismemberments are extremely fun and memorable. Overall, Evil Dead Rise is a fantastic modern entry that has some of the old charm that makes the other entries so fun but didn’t try to duplicate itself with a cabin in the woods story or an Ash clone. It’s a gritty follow up to Evil Dead 2013 with a great story progression and some great nods to the classic trilogy. I highly recommend it.

M3gan

Director - Gerard Johnstone (Housebound, Terry Teo)

Starring - Allison Williams (Get Out, Horizon Line), Violet McGraw (Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House), and Ronny Chieng (Godzilla vs Kong, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Friendship as evolved"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Blumhouse is not a company that I closely follow but when they release something I do like I absolutely fucking love it. Movies like Black Phone, Freaky, and Happy Death Day are movies that I absolutely love while films like Paranormal Activity, Halloween, The Invisible Man are films that I could barely finish. With that being said, there is more films from Blumhouse that I don’t care for when compared to the ones I love so I tend not to get too excited when they announce a new project. When I originally saw the press release for M3gan I was a little unimpressed with it all. However, as more and more of the film was revealed I found myself just a little curious about the film. Prior to the film’s physical release I received a massive press kit with a lot of goodies and trinkets inspired by the film which did put me in the mindset to see it. When I was finally able to check it out I found myself impressed with it. I could see this being the beginning of a new franchise for horror fans. 

      The film follows a toy designer who is working with cutting edge technology and is under a tough deadline to deliver the next hit when she is assigned custody of her niece after her sister and husband die in an auto accident. She gets the idea to combine a prototype with AI to create a friend for children that helps them learn while giving the parents a bit of freedom. However, as M3gan learns more and more about what she really is and her connection to the little girl she finds herself crossing the line to protect her regardless of the body count she leaves in her path. 

      I went into M3gan expecting to find a dull remake of Child’s Play with a gender flipped doll. I was fully convinced that the story was centered around the production of the AI doll but the evil consciousness of one of the creators was transferred into it. I was wrong. The movie was very straight forward and gave us a more modern spin on the classic killer doll sub-genre that hasn’t been as fun since the Child’s Play franchise took over. I really enjoyed it and look forward to seeing where we will be going next because there is no way Blumhouse and the others involved will sleep on the popularity of this film. The acting in this one is probably the weakest aspect of the film. All of the characters are extremely annoying. They are unlikable from beginning to end and when the bloodshed finally hits you are fully prepared to watch them all die in the most gruesome fashion. The cast is one of the reasons behind this. The characters are very one dimensional and their performances are very lackluster. The lack of energy and intensity made most of the scenes have less of an impact on the viewer than it was intended. As much as I enjoyed this one I still found myself rolling my eyes during the death scenes or scenes with any sort of action due to the casts lack of commitment. The film would be one of my favorites in my collection if the cast would have gave viewers some characters that we could enjoy. The lack of personalities and likability really held this one back. The story for this one was nothing like I expected but did follow the trailer and marketing material. We follow a children’s companion with AI as it becomes self-aware and too close to her human. This results in several deaths associated with her and the company she was manufactured at. It was very modern and piggybacked off the idea that smart devices are becoming so prevalent relied upon that it makes sense it would eventually make it’s way to something like this. When you mix that with the broken family and rebuilding after the loss of a mother/sister and how they relied on the M3gan unit to repair them instead of bonding in a natural way. I really liked the story and how it was done I just wish some of the characters were likable. Finally, the film has some enjoyable deaths that fit the film wonderfully but they are not as imaginative as I would have liked. They are bloody, violent and work with the story very well but if you are looking for plenty of blood and gore then you will be very disappointed. With that being said, the visual effects are great and the practical, though limited, looked great as well. Overall, M3gan is not my favorite Blumhouse production but I liked it. The story has so much potential to become a classic horror franchise and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here. Check it out.

The Other Side of Darkness

Director - Adam Deierling (Genesis, The Creature of Stark Hills)

Starring - Maggie Callahan (Acts of Violence, Judas and the Black Messiah), Scott C. Davis (Drop the Beat, Soupernatural), and Olivia Billings (Ding-Dong Ditch)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Drama/Adventure

Tagline - "Who will you become when the power fails?"

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     In years passed I would often skip horror for a month as a way to recharge my batteries. I try to watch and review at least one horror title a day which can wear you down over time. As a way to combat that I would take a month to watch other flicks that I’ve been sitting on. It was mostly as excuse to watch the various exploitation flicks that Vinegar Syndrome, Impulse Pictures, and Blue Underground was releasing but I still kept an eye on indie releases. April has felt something like those months with the dozen or so non-horror titles that I’ve been asked to review. I don’t mind to step out of my beloved genre from time to time and I’ve actually enjoyed myself for the most part. Several weeks ago I was asked the review the drama The Other Side of the Darkness from director Adam Deierling. I was curious after seeing the film’s artwork and decided to check it out. I want to thank Adam for reaching out to me and letting me know it’s available to stream for free on Tubi. 

      The film follows a teenage girl who is living with a foster family working at her foster father’s shop trying to save up money to buy her first vehicle. As the world suffers from rolling black outs and power failures, she finds herself on a quest to find her birth mother which lands her on the doorstep of her supposed grandfather and the recovering alcoholic that he sponsors along with a plot to destroy America’s infrastructure. 

      The Other Side of Darkness is going to be one of those films that is polarizing among viewers. Horror fans digging into it expecting a post-apocalyptic action adventure like I did may be a bit disappointed. Hell, movie fans expecting a teenage action adventure who has a soft spot for indie cinema may a bit disappointed in this one as well. However, if you are open minded and ignore everything you are being told about the film then you may appreciate it. I liked it but it’s nothing like I thought it would be. The acting in this one is a little inconsistent but it’s not bad. The characters are very grounded and the most realistic characters I’ve witnessed in a film. The cast has a lot to work with here and they do a fantastic job. They deliver the dialogue very clearly and in a natural manner and they are fully dedicated to their roles but there is a few scenes where their performances does feel rushed. It doesn’t ruin the experience but it’s evident that their hearts wasn’t in it then. The story for this one feels like it’s being pulled in several different directions. It wants to be a coming of age adventure tale where a teenage girl finds her place in life but it slowly slips into this apocalyptic type scenario where continental U.S.’s power grid fails and the three youths find themselves in the middle of it. It would be a much more effective film if it chose one path to go down instead of trying to work both in. Also, there is way too much stock footage in this one. Sure, the shots are beautiful and it’s amazing drone work but the film could be trimmed down significantly if some of these unnecessary shots were cut. Finally, this is not a bloody or violent film. It does have a little action near the end but the film is character driven without the need of blood and gore. Overall, The Other Side of Darkness is nothing like I was expecting but I enjoyed it. A lot could be done to it to make it better but it still has it’s moments as it. If you are looking for something a bit different then I highly suggest checking it out on Tubi.

Shingles the Movie

Director - Steve Rudzinski (CarousHELL, A Meowy Halloween)

Starring - Ben Dietels (The Barn Part II, Amityville Christmas Vacation), Jessa Flux (Deadly Dealings, Space Babes from Outer Space), and Steve Rudzinski

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve met dozens, if not hundreds, of filmmakers over the decade I’ve been working with Horror Society. A few of them were in the game a few years before the stress and financial strain got the best of them and they moved on but a select few are still growing and thriving. I first befriended Steve Rudzinski years ago on Facebook and since then he’s become a close friend of mine. It’s obvious he grew up watching the same films that I did and our tastes in movies is why I often go out of my way to watch anything he’s released. Sometime back I was informed that Steve was brought on to direct Shingles: The Movie. I knew nothing of this aside from Steve was directing and Jessa Flux was cast. I shared a few bits of news about it as it became available since then but I still didn’t realize it was based on a series of book until I was sent the trailer to post. I then realized that Shingles is a book series that is almost a parody/tribute to R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps. I’m a huge fan of Goosebumps and this revelation truly excited me for the film. A few weeks back Steve hit me up to review the film and I quickly worked it into my schedule but with work, the kid’s baseball schedule, and illness, I wasn’t able to review it as quickly as I would have liked. Thanks Steve for sending this one over! 

      The film follows a group of youths/Twenty-somethings who are sitting around a campfire telling stories that are supposedly true but are clearly made up or embellished by the story teller. The first story follows a young man who finds himself gripped with a zombie invasion. His parents are oblivious to the fact and soon find themselves on the business end of a zombie bite forcing him to step up to fight for his own life. The second story follows an aspiring comedian who lacks a funny bone. He dad gives him his grandfather ventriloquist dummy help spice up his act. What he doesn’t know is that the doll is alive and plans on using him to get back in the limelight. The third story follows one of them who visits his brother in college as they prepare for a house party. That same night visitors from out of this world arrive and havoc ensues. The third story follows the young girl who finds herself slinging drugs due to a ruse from her racist father. She soon finds herself in possession of a coke farting gnome. The film then ends when the leader of the campfire finally arrives and brings with him two zombie strippers forcing them all to fight or flee. 

      I know nothing about the source material but I have added a few of the audio books to my reading queue for the future but for those of you reading this in hopes of determining how close to the books the film is will be very disappointed. However, if you are reading this because you are on the fence about checking it out then allow me to help persuade you. This is easily my favorite film from Steve. I know this is film was produced by the authors of the series and financed by them but it has all those noticeable traits that makes Steve’s movies so enjoyable. The acting in this one is a bit complex in regards to indie horror. I absolutely loved the cast and their performances. The characters are so much fun and I love the energy everyone brought to their scenes. I was laughing through most of the scenes and found myself checking most, if not all, of the cast’s imdb pages. With that being said, there was a few awkward scenes and some of the dialogue delivery at random times was a bit forced. It didn’t take away from the overall film but there was a few instances that reminded you this was an indie production. The stories for this anthology was a humorous tribute to some of the classic Goosebumps tales that are aimed toward adults. We have an exploitative tribute to Slappy, a pretty solid zombie tale, another Goosebumps tribute with the gnome, and an out of place but very enjoyable alien invasion segment. Honestly, this feels like it was written by someone that grew up on Ernest Scared Stupid and Goosebumps like Steve was and I’m all for it. Finally, I loved the attention to the practical effects and sets that we get. I loved the locations for the stories and the practical effects look great. It’s not that gory but the blood looks great and the deaths fit the film perfectly. I would have loved a bit more memorable deaths but it’s still a lot of fun as it is. Overall, Shingles: The Movie is an absolute blast for us horror fans that grew up on Goosebumps and Shivers. It’s a loving tribute made by those that clearly grew up enjoying the books and show. It’s funny, bloody, and highly enjoyable. I cannot recommend this film enough.

Spin the Wheel

Director(s) - Neil Chase and David Heacock (Boneyard Racers, Babageddon)

Starring - Dianne Wulf (The Legend of Mindi, Smile: It's Only the End of the World), Neil Chase (Broken, The Academy), and S-Raj Kumar (Gone by Dawn, Dookie Squad)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Drama/Thriller

Tagline - "Killing time at the end of the world"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I get asked to review horror from all walks of life. These range from amateur backyard flicks from teenagers with their phones or a parent’s camera to full time filmmakers with a modest (among indie standards) budgets. I love seeing and reviewing the wide range of films sent my way. Occasionally I get a film that’s not really horror but has some genre inspired elements that makes it right at home at Horror Society. A few weeks ago I was asked to review the feature length dark thriller Spin the Wheel. This was not a horror film in a traditional sense but it did have some horror inspired aspects that peaked my interested. I agreed to check it out and when I could finally work it into my schedule I did. I’m glad I did because I really enjoyed this one. 

      The film follows a group of random strangers from various walks of life who assemble in a small bar as the world outside is burning. The world is expected to fully be engulfed in fire within the next hour so some have decided to spend their last moments alive drinking. With drinks in hand they are enticed to play a game by an enigmatic stranger who tries to convince them all that he is the devil. Everyone agrees to the game and after multiple rounds of Russian roulette they discover he may be who he says he is and the world could be up for grabs. 

      A year or so ago I reviewed the short Boneyard Racers and was really Impressed by the film. The production quality, story, and acting were all top notch. The team involved really had something special on their hands and could have turned it into an effective feature. When Neil Chase hit me up to review a feature film he wrote and directed I knew it was going to be just as amazing and I was right. Spin the Wheel was fantastic. It’s a dark thriller with fantasy and horror elements that works surprisingly well. The acting in this one is fucking great. EVERYONE carries their own weight in this one. Some characters are a little more enjoyable than others but that’s the writing at play instead of the acting. This is perfect casting and everyone does a phenomenal job. The story for this one has a slow build up but the dialogue and character interaction is very well written. The backdrop of the film is a great way to bring everyone into the bar and have them play the game but I would have loved more backstory about the apocalyptic event along with less news broadcasts. The movie is great as is but I feel like a great opportunity was missed with this. Finally, the film doesn’t really have a lot of blood and gore. It’s a character driven piece but there is a death or two that take place off screen giving the viewer use of their imaginations. Overall, Spin the Wheel is one of the more polished films I’ve reviewed in recent years with a solid story and one hell of a cast. It’s not a true horror film but those of you looking for a fun thriller will really appreciate this one. I highly recommend it.