Starring - Kara Gray (Payton's Burden, How to Sit in Church), Lanae Hyneman (Morbid Colors), and Alice Shen (A Quiet Family Christmas, Both Ways: The Movie)
Release Date - 2023
Genre - Horror
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I never really got into shorts until I started writing for Horror Society but now I find myself almost obsessed with them. Don’t get me wrong, I fucking love feature length horror films especially if the story fills the run time but shorts make much better use of their time. We don’t get a lot of filler or bullshit scenes that only extend the film’s run time. Shorts are straight to the point with very little time to waste yours which is why I rarely turn down the opportunity to review one. A few months back I was asked to review Real Cool Time. I knew nothing about this one but I agreed. I’m glad I did because it was a solid indie short that worked. I want to thank director Matthew Packman for reaching out to me to check this one out.
The film follows a journalist that visits an acclaimed female rock musician who is working on new material. The journalist is hoping to get a sneak peak at some new music along with a look at the day in the life of the young musician but finds herself face to face with something far more sinister.
Real Cool Time doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel or deliver an overly complicated story with no pay off. Instead, its short, sweet, and to the point with no time to really waste. With that being said, while it doesn’t waste our time it does rush through some important back story that the film was lacking. Regardless, I enjoyed it and think most horror fans will as well. The acting in this one is great. The cast is very small but the two work very well together. The characters have contrasting personalities which really works with the story while giving the cast a strong foundation to work with. The story for this one is very straight forward and works for the short run time we have but I would have loved to see more back story. Both characters were more than cliched horror fodder and seeing more about them and what is really going on. Its fun as is but would make one hell of a feature length film. Finally, the film has a little bit of blood but those of you with the taste for blood and gore will not be satisfied with this one. However, if a film more focused on characters is more your speed then you will appreciate this one. Overall, Real Cool Time is an effective short that would work as a feature. I seriously enjoyed it but I can’t stop thinking about the what ifs with this one. Check it out
Director - M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Split)
Starring - Dave Bautista (Glass Onion, Guardians of the Galaxy), Jonathan Groff (The Matrix Resurrections, Mindhunter), and Ben Aldridge (Pennyworth, Thrive)
Release Date - 2023
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Save your family or save humanity. Make the choice"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
Genre fans are quick to hate specific filmmakers and they are extremely vocal about it on social media. I’ve had an online presence since my first year in high school in the earl 2000s and every day since then I’ve see hate for filmmakers like Eli Roth, Rob Zombie, and M. Night Shyamalan. I was in middle school, I believe, when The Sixth Sense was released. I remember renting it and really like it. Since then Shyamalan has released countless genre classics like Unbreakable, Split, Old, and Glass among several more. Personally, I think his films are a lot of fun but I do find humor and basis for a lot of the complaints that many have with his work. A few weeks back I received a copy of Knock at the Cabin on UHD for review. I completely forgot he had released a new film and I couldn’t wait to finally check it out!
The film follows a gay couple and their daughter as they stay in a cabin deep in the woods as a getaway. Things take an unusual turn when four people arrive armed and requesting they let them in. They are reluctant and suspect that it’s locals who oppose their lifestyle. However, the four find their way in brandishing weapons and telling them that they have to make a serious decision and if they chose not to then the world as they know it would end. The couple does not believe them but as time moves on they start killing their own one by one as natural disasters are being reported on the news.
When it gets down to one person left the couple starts to question if they are indeed telling the truth or this is a sick game where everyone loses.
I know it’s cool to hate on Shyamalan in certain circles and, while his plot twists are legendary and easily mocked, I still thoroughly enjoy his films. I wouldn’t say they are among my favorite but I do enjoy watching them. With that being said, there is two or three of his more recent films that I’ve missed but I will circle around to them eventually. While Knock at the Cabin is not on the same level as Split to me it was a great film and among one of his best. It satisfies from the cast through the story and practical effects. The acting in this one is great. I knew Dave Batista was in this one from the original promo material but I had no idea that Rupert Grint was in the film. Both are fantastic but the entire cast deserves praise from the very young Kristen Cui, who shows experience beyond her age, to the rest of the cast. The cast is surprisingly small but everyone delivers an amazing performance. I’m still impressed by how intense Batista was at times. I had already outgrown wrestling by the time Batista made his debut so my only knowledge of him was from Guardians of the Galaxy. However, he absolutely shattered all my expectations I had for him. He has some serious acting chops. The story for this one takes the horror stereotype of cabins in the woods and adds the religious horror aspect to it. I really appreciate the addition of religious horror, especially when it’s around Christianity and how far it drives certain people, when it is done right. Knock at the Cabin blends that with a home invasion story in a sense while a family is secluded in a cabin. Honestly, it works but it could be set anywhere and it’s because of this that we can easily have a sequel following the same premise. I loved it and I seriously hope we get a follow up. Finally, the film was surprisingly violent. It has a great built up to the deaths and once it hits it doesn’t let up. A good bit is done off screen but it makes good use of practical and visual effects. The deaths fit the film perfectly but they don’t necessarily stand out. Overall, Knock at the Cabin may not be the type of horror film most genre fans are looking for but I personally enjoyed it. It has a great cast, a solid story, and some violent deaths. Fans of Shyamalan should really check it out.
Director - Kerry Shawcross (RWBY Volume 1, RWBY Chibi)
Starring - Ozioma Akagha (Runaways, Rugrats), Jen Brown (Scare Package, Death Battle), and Tiana Camacho (My Inner Demons, Beefcake Boys)
Release Date - 2023
Genre - Action/Sci-Fi
Tagline - "A new era of adventure"
Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I’ve been digging these animated DC films for several years now. I know Horror Society and my readers are not the target audience for these films but I absolutely love them. I do often catch hell from readers for writing reviews for these films but I genuinely enjoy them and know that there is several of our followers out there that dig them as well. I’m always open to these releases and when I get a new one in I tend to try to make time for them as soon as possible. A few weeks back I received Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes and Huntsmen Part One. This was a strange one to me as I have no idea what RWBY is but the artwork really peaked my interest. I want to thank WB for sending this one over.
The film follows Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Flash, Cyborg, and Vixen who find themselves transported to the planet Remnant. They partner with heroes of this planet to stop evil creatures called Grimms from taking over while investigating the cause as to why they were transported to this planet.
I went into this knowing absolutely nothing about RWBY. I was recently introduced to anime after watching My Hero Academia and Attack on Titan but that is about the extent of my knowledge. I had hoped that my lack of knowledge of RWBY wouldn’t prevent me from enjoying the film but I found myself questioning everything and a lot of the stuff, especially pertaining to RWBY, was never fully explained or explored. I wanted to like it but I couldn’t find anything to grab onto as a fan of DC. The voice acting in this probably the best part of the film. I loved the energy and range of emotions that we get in this animated film which is seriously impressive when you consider that this is all done with just their voice. The story for this one needed a lot of work. The film just tossed in two franchises in hopes that it would stick but it relies heavily on the viewer knowing both properties. I get that most viewers will not be tossing this in like I did only knowing the DC side of the film but a little bit of backstory and development would have made this one so much better. Finally, the artwork and style really worked for the film especially considering it was the JL in an anime setting. I really liked the look of the film but wish I was more invested in the story. Overall, Justice League x RWBY Part One just wasn’t for me. I really wanted to like it but seeing I was blind to most of the source material meant I didn’t appreciate it like a fan would. If you are a fan of RWBY and JL then you may like it but if you are going into it clueless like I did then you will not enjoy yourself.
Director - Alberto Vazquez (Homeless Home, Birdboy: The Forgotten Children)
Starring - Jon Goiri (Birdboy: The Forgotten Children, Decisiones), Jaione Insausti (Betizu Izar Artean, Nola Egin Zen: Euskal Bikoizketa), and Ramon Barea (Stories to Stay Awake, Lullaby)
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Action/War
Tagline - "Bear witness"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I’ve reviewed a lot of wild and weird movies over the years ranging from claymation films following people in a post-apocalyptic world where milk is dangerous to a movie where a living placenta is forced to go to school. I love the odd and unusual so when I heard that Shout Factory was releasing the animated film Unicorn Wars I knew I had to see it. I had never heard of this Spanish film before I received the press release but once I saw the trailer I knew I had to see this. I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy over for review. I seriously want to thank Shout and Scream Factory for supporting Horror Society.
The film follows a group of teddy bears who are in base camp preparing to be deployed in a war between bears and unicorns. The unicorns turned on the bears many years ago when they began destroying the forests for their own greedy endeavors. The bears are not a uniform group as some aspire to topple the military leaders and take control of the bear army while others just want to end the fighting.
Unicorn Wars looks like a cute and cuddly movie made by that never out grew their Lisa Frank phase. However, the film is anything but. It’s bloody, violent, and has a deeper social commentary for those of you that actually pay attention to the story. It has a lot to unpack but it’s one hell of a film with a lot to say. The voice acting in this one is very well done. It’s hard to judge the acting in a film when you have to read subtitles but seeing an animated film with subtitles is not so difficult. The voices really worked for the characters they portrayed and I found myself digging through the film’s imdb page to check out the cast’s other work. The story for this one is more than just teddy bears versus unicorns. It has a whole social commentary about deforestation, religious fanaticism, vanity, and greed. It does incorporate a lot from various genres like war, drama, comedy, and horror but doesn’t fully commit to any. I was also impressed by the amount of memorable characters with contrasting personalities that don’t blend together. A lot of animated films are guilty of creating the same characters over and over with different designs because it’s easier and cheaper. Unicorn Wars does not do that. Instead, they took the time to give almost all of the characters different personalities and backstories which adds a lot to the film. Finally, I love the animation in this one and when you mix that with the trippy scenes and gore you get something that looks great and really gets the point across. We have some great animation and the gore just pops against the beautiful backdrops and colorful characters. Overall, Unicorn Wars will not be for the average horror fan but if you dig animation and odd films then this one is for you. It has a fantastic story and so much blood. I highly recommend it.
Director - Brandon Guiles (Lower Spirits, All My Friends are Dead)
Starring - Tiffani Van Dorn (Cocaine Stepdad, One Reckless Weekend), Brandon Guiles, and Katie Osoki
Release Date - 2023
Genre - Horror
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
Several years ago I befriended indie filmmaker Brandon Guiles who was working on his web-series Lower Spirits. This comedic spin on ghost hunting was picked up for a time by Troma for their streaming Service TromaNow. Since then Brandon has worked on a few films that I’ve been lucky enough to review. I really enjoyed his film All My Friends are Dead so when he reached out to me to review his newest film Peggy I jumped at the idea. I want to thank Brandon for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to see your newest film!
The film follows Peggy (Van Dorn) who lives with her father. It’s been sometime since she graduated high school but she has a hard time letting go of the torment she suffered those few years. Now, she is getting revenge on those that hurt her and her friends during those crucial high school years and the perfect opportunity presents itself when all the bullies come back to town for a wedding.
Brandon Guiles doesn’t make films and web-series for horror fans with a taste for blood and gore. If torture porn is more your speed then you will dislike what he brings to the table. However, if you are a movie fan with a fondness for horror then you will appreciate Guile’s style and tone. His films remind me a lot of direct to video horror films from the mid-to late 90s meets Kevin Smith. The horror is there but doesn’t always take center stage. I really like them and Peggy is no exception. It’s a fun indie film that could easily have a follow up. The acting in this one is great. I absolutely loved Tiffani Van Dorn as Peggy. She’s fantastic as the cold-blooded killer but her character is more than that. We see her in various stages of the day as a twenty-something woman and she absolutely nails it. Guiles stars as a cop investigating the murders who is also a former classmate of Peggy. I really like Guiles and how natural he is in front of the camera but he just doesn’t have that cop look. The remainder of the cast is solid as well. We get a lot of fun characters and the cast does a great job bringing them to life. The story for this one feels like a slasher except the killer is known and does not wear a mask. We follow someone that was wronged or felt like they were wronged and seeks revenge. A few tweaks to the script and you would have a traditional slasher . However, I really enjoy it the way it is. We don’t have enough pulpy serial killer films like Office Killer and Peggy really satisfied that need. With that being said, I could have used a few more on screen deaths but that doesn’t take away from the experience. Finally, the film has some blood and a few gags that require minimal practical effects but nothing that would stand out to genre fans. I can appreciate the simplicity in the kills especially when you don’t have the budget to pull something off but I would have liked to see a little more bloodshed. Overall, Peggy was a lot of fun. It reminded me of why I love indie horror and I look forward to Guile’s next project. Fans of indie horror should really check this out.
Starring - Fredja van Huet (Dummy, Divorce), Carice van Houten (Game of Thrones, Repo Men), and Theo Maassen (Manslaughter, Random Shit)
Release Date - 2001
Genre - Drama/Crime
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I’m not the most versed in international titles. I’m a huge fan of Godzilla and the other campy kaiju films from Toho and Japan along with a handful of other titles but I never stepped out of my comfort zone until I started here at Horror Society. I’ve been with Horror Society for 10 years now and since I’ve joined I’ve found myself watching more international titles from amazing companies like Mondo Macabro, Blue Underground, Vinegar Syndrome, Eureka Entertainment, and Cult Epics just to name a few. Cult Epics has released some wild films over the years and while I don’t always enjoy their films I still appreciate the work they put into their releases. A few weeks ago they sent over the 2001 Dutch film Amnesia for review. I had never seen this dark drama from the Netherlands but I was very interested in it. I want to thank Cult Epics for sending this one over because I really enjoyed it.
The film follows a photographer that has lost his eye for photography who receives a call from his twin brother. Their mother is at their childhood home dying and he makes the trip to see her one last time before she passes. His brother is a low level thug and has stole some packages from his boss and one of his partners is injured during the raid. He brings him back to his mother’s home where the two brothers attempt to make peace with each other and fail while their mother is dying. Before long the brother’s former crime boss arrives looking for what was taken from him.
I’ll be completely honest with you. I didn’t think I would like Amnesia as much as I did. I was looking forward to checking out an international flick that I had never seen before but I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It’s a great flick but I don’t see myself revisiting it anytime soon. It’s a great film for a first time watch but I don’t see much of a replay value. The acting in this one is great. The entire cast does a fantastic job but the film wouldn’t be what it is without Fredja van Huet who takes on the dual role as twins Alex and Aram. He does a phenomenal job bringing both to life with completely opposite personalities. It had to be a difficult job for him to portray two different characters on screen with radically different personalities. However, he did it and it’s his performance as Alex and Aram that makes this film so enjoyable. The story for this one is a bit of a slow burn but the character development and progression makes it worth your time. It’s the characters that makes this film which makes it easier for the viewer to follow the slow story. It does pick up around the halfway point but it doesn’t pick up drastically. The point of the film is to follow Alex/Aram and their contrasting personalities mixed with their family dynamics. It’s enjoyable but once you’ve seen it you don’t really desire to see it again. Finally, the film has a little blood but if you are looking for a film with a body count then this one is not for you. This character driven drama is more for those of you looking for something a little different with enjoyable characters. Overall, Amnesia is not something I would typically watch but I did enjoy it. It’s a great release from Cult Epics especially if you dig international or foreign films. Check it out.
Starring - Hannah John-Kamen (Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, Ready Player One), Douglas Booth (The Dirt, Pride & Prejudice & Zombies), and Colm Meaney (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Con Air)
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Beware the locals. All of them"
Format - Bluray (Perssonal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I’ve been fortunate enough to review a few Irish folk horror films over the years but the number of movies I’ve seen is nowhere near the number of movies that I want to watch. I love Irish folk tales and blending those into horror films is a match made in hell in my humble opinion. That’s why I jumped at the opportunity to review the new Irish folk horror film Unwelcome when my friends over at Well Go USA sent over the press release. The trailer didn’t really impress me but I loved the synopsis and artwork for the release. I requested a copy and as soon as I could I made the time to check it out. Like always I want to thank Well Go USA for hooking me up.
The film follows a young couple expecting their first born. They move to the Irish countryside after a home invasion in hopes of having a better environment to welcome their bundle of joy to. They hire a local family to help their with their home repairs but as the relationship between them starts to deteriorate they soon discover a dark secret about the home and the legend of the Red Caps that live in the woods behind their home.
Unwelcome is one of those horror films that really made my mind race when I first read the synopsis. The artwork and trailer did very little to stir my imagination but that synopsis really had my brain working overtime. The film is not something that I can see myself revisiting or recommending to close friends looking for something new and bone chilling. However, it was a decent first time watch that did struggle with it’s own footing. I wanted to love it but it’s one of those films that has a fantastic story but fails to fully capture what it could have been. The acting in this one is a bit underwhelming but I enjoyed it for the most part. I really liked Hanna John-Kamen and Douglas Booth as the young couple. They worked very well together and their relationship feels so authentic. I was surprised to see Colm Meaney in the film. Star Trek fans may recognize him from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. I loved his character and the intensity he brought out from time to time. With that being said, I was not a fan of his film children. One of them was portrayed by Game of Throne’s actor Kristian Nairn who portrays a similar character as his GoT character. He is severely underutilized here and it’s a crime that he was typecast like he was here. The story for this one takes some time to get going but the final leg of the film is fucking insane. The first portion of the film follows the couple who is trying to do some repairs to their home after they hired a handyman and his three children. Some things are said and done during the repair process that has the couple on edge but things go fucking berserk in the final stretch of the film when the story comes full circle. It’s a ride that has a slow build up but well worth the trip. I just wish more time was spent on the local legend and less on the unhinged family that does home repairs. Finally, the film has some seriously fun and bloody moments as the film was coming to a close but the first hour or so of the film is pretty dry in regards to blood. The kills all looked good but the visual effects were a bit of a disappointment. I’m sure a different way involving practical effects could have been used and more effectively. Overall, Unwelcomed is not an essential Irish folk horror flick but it’s still a fun watch. Check it out.
Director - Sam Liu (Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham, Batman: Soul of the Dragon)
Starring - James Denton (Good Witch, Face Off), Christina Hendricks (The Neon Demon, The Bad Santa 2), and Anthony LaPaglia (So I Married an Axe Murderer, Empire Records)
Release Date - 2011
Genre - Action/Sci-fi
Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
A few years back I was introduced to the DC animated universe. I believed the film that did this was Gotham by Gaslight or Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay. I can’t remember which one it was that I first received for review but it was the film that jump started my love for these animated features. Since then I’ve reviewed most of them and loved almost all of them. However, I have not been able to review some of the older animated flicks. That changed a few weeks ago when I received the UHD release of the 2010 film All-Star Superman. I couldn’t wait to check this one out and I want to thank WB for sending this one over my way for review.
The film follows Superman who finds himself dying after a failed mission to the sun that was sabotaged by Lex Luther has Superman overdosing from the radiation. Knowing that his end is near, he takes Lois to his Fortress of Solitude and reveals that he is Clark Kent. He gives Lois a special serum that makes her like him for 24 hours and eventually stop an invasion before Samson and Atlas arrive. They give Lois a rare necklace and try their might against Superman to win Lois’ affection. However, the necklace was stolen by them and the real owner, Ultrasphinx, takes Lois forcing Superman to save her. Now, knowing his life is at an end, he takes the city of Kandor to another planet to survive not expecting to make it back from the journey. However, he does and finds the world he left behind now changed when two other survivors of Krypton found their way to Earth following in Superman’s trail. They use the world as a template to rebuild their beloved planted regardless of the people currently living there. When Superman tries to intervene he discovers that they are sick and sends them to the Phantom Zone until he can find a cure.
I didn’t mind All-Star Superman. In fact, it was a decent animated DC flick but it’s nowhere near as enjoyable as some of the later titles. In fact, I found it to be a bit too chaotic with too many story arcs going at once. It was a fun first time watch but I would rather revisit some of the other DC animated films instead of this one. The voice acting in this one is very well done. The film has a bunch of iconic characters from the DC roster and they are all voiced very well. The story for this one felt like several episodes from an animated Superman show that I was not familiar with that was strung together to make a feature length film. I didn’t mind the story but the different arcs and plot points could have been expanded resulting in a film series or a trilogy that would have been far more enjoyable. Don’t take it the wrong way. The film is still a decent watch as is but the story does feel a bit too chaotic and all over the place. Finally, I really enjoyed the animation and it looked great in 4K. This is more of a traditional animated style that I expect when I toss in an animated DC flick and it looks very crisp and bold on this release. Overall, All-Star Superman is not something I typically review but granted with the opportunity I couldn’t pass it up. It was a lot of fun and one that looks fantastic in 4k. I highly recommend snagging this UHD release especially if you are a collector.
