Starring - Artemis Lupercalia, Carolyn McNiece, and Krista Kent
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror
Format - Streaming (YouTube)
Rating (out of 5):
I watched several horror shorts during my October horror binge and they were mostly pretty enjoyable. Creativity was a big factor in those shorts which is something you really need to make a short effective. I started looking at the movies I had left when the month was over and realized I forgot to include a new short that was sent my way by director Raymond Cara. The short, Shadow with a Straight Razor, looked like something I would really enjoy and I hate that I forgot to include it in my month long horror binge. However, I still have a lot of movies left to review so I moved it up my list and kept on digging through them all. I want to thank Raymond for sending it over.
The film follows a group of unsuspecting victims in the city at night that fall victim to a maniac wielding a straight razor.
Shadow with a Straight Razor is a solid little slasher with giallo vibes that was a lot of fun as a short. However, if the film was stretched in further it would have fell apart. The acting in this one is decent for the most part. While everyone is fully committed to their roles, some show inexperience. Their dialogue is forced and unnatural. It doesn't ruin the film and in later scenes they seemed to have found their footing. The story for this one works for a short but if it was to be stretched any longer it would not be as effective. It's a film with a body count and a bad attitude which is something I love in a film. On the downside, I left this one with more questions than answers. A little more focus on the why he is killing rather than just killing for entertainment purposes would have went a long way with this one. Finally, the film has several on screen deaths that utilizes the straight razor. The deaths use fantastic practical effects and are extremely bloody. Overall, Shadow with a Straight Razor is a seriously mean spirited short with a lot of blood. The kills may not be the most original, but the fantastic effects make them worth watching. Check it out.
Director - Ti West (The House of the Devil, The Innkeepers)
Starring - Charley Rowan McCain (L.O.L. Surprise: House of Surprises, NCIS), Simon Prast (Serial Killers, Xena: Warrior Princess), and Mia Goth (X, Pearl)
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Hollywood is killer"
Format - UHD (Personal Collection)
Rating (out of 5):
Two years ago I was lucky enough to receive the Ti West's X for review and instantly fell in love with it. I watched it so many times during that initial week and it's one I often recommend to pop horror fans when they ask for recommendations. The film's prequel, Pearl, is a great horror film but it was nowhere near as enjoyable as X was. Honestly, I wanted to like it just because it seems like the film got more marketing and merch for collectors but X is the superior film. It's been two years since those releases and Ti West has finished his trilogy with the release of MaXXXine which once again stars Mia Goth. I wasn't able to check this one out during it's theatrical run but as soon as the physical release hit store shelves I quickly snagged a copy.
The film once again follows Maxine Minx who has made a name for herself in the adult film industry but she still longs for the fame and notoriety that only comes from acting in traditional films of Tinseltown. At this time a serial killer is killing aspiring actresses of Hollywood and carving pentagrams on their body to indicate they are sinners. She lands a role in a horror picture and those she is associated with during her adult films and on her new film start to turn up dead. The police are investigating her and she learns that someone her past has hunted her down and she is about to star in the deadliest film of her life.
I went into MaXXXine blind on purpose. I shared news of the film whenever it was released but I refused to watch any of the trailers or exclusive clips that were sent my way. I didn't want to the trailer to give away too much so I could go into this one know absolutely nothing which I'm glad I did. MaXXXine was a fantastic entry in Ti West's trilogy but it was no X. The acting in this one is absolutely amazing. We have standout performances from Kevin Bacon, Giancarlo Esposito, and Elizabeth Debicki. These three made the film for me and I fucking loved their characters. Once again Goth shows fans why West chose her for the trilogy and she absolutely destroys it. She cold blooded, calculating, and gorgeous. I couldn't imagine this film with someone else in the role. The story for this one is a fantastic follow up to X. While Pearl serves as a great prequel to X, this one serves as a great sequel that checks all the right boxes. It's a gritty 80s slasher that holds your attention from scene to scene without compromising on story. With that being said, the killer reveal is predictable and combining this story with the real like Night Stalker murders feels cheap. An original killer and angle would have worked just as well. Finally, the film has some seriously impressive kills and a lot of blood. Some of the kills are more drawn out than others and they do a fantastic job with the effects. We also get some great make-up effects as well. I love the look of the pentagram carved into the deceased. Overall, MaXXXine is a worth installment in this trilogy from Ti West. It's story rich, violent, and features a great cast. I highly recommend it.
Director - Mark J. Parker (Deathbrella, Dragged Beneath the Shadows)
Starring - Mike Pratt, Gavin Damian-Loring (Johny, The Most Precious Thing), and Olivia Barberian (The Parody News Network, Your Last Summer: A Fan Film)
Release Date - 2023
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Some actors would kill for this opportunity"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I was lucky enough to watch several amazing shorts during my October horror binge and while I liked them all, some were most definitely better than others. One of the shorts that was sent my way was Mark J. Parker's Casting Kill. The poster he sent along with it sold me on the film and I quickly added it to my month long horror binge. I want to take a moment to thank Mark for sending this one over!
The film follows a casting agency working on a new project when someone enters the building and starts murdering everyone he crosses paths with.
I went into this short thinking I knew what it was about based on the title. I was wrong. The title does appropriately represent the film but in my mind I was picturing a casting director or director killing the cast for a snuff film. However, what we actually got was still enjoyable. The acting in this one is fairly well done. The cast has some experience while others have very little. No one delivers a bad performance but you can see some inexperience from time to time. I really liked the characters and how they are all representatives of what you would find in an actual casting firm. The story for this one is straight forward and something that could easily happen. A man who was once cast in a project was told the project was no longer happening. Distraught, he attacks the firm for revenge. Pretty straight forward story that works. It doesn't have any playback value and it's not the most memorable film but it's fun for a first time viewing. Finally, the film has some blood and some stab wounds with minimal effects but that is the extent of it. They do work for the film and how the story is told but it's not something the hardcore gorehounds would appreciate. Overall, Casting Kill is a solid indie short that has a strong cast and decent story. It works very well as a short and doesn't overstay it's welcome. Check it out.
Director - Brian Dorton (Trashology, Crazy Fat Ethel)
Starring - Lynn Lowry (Shivers, The Crazies), Scarlett Freeman (An Extremely Uncommon Set of Circumstances, All That Remains), and Lucas Dunaway (They See You, Wolf Hollow)
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "Nothing can prepare you for the terror in the..."
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
It's been awhile since I've been able to review a hixploitation horror flick. I have reviewed several over the years but it's been a year or so since my last hixploitation flick and, honestly, we need more. A few weeks back director Brian Dorton, who brought us the fantastic remake of Crazy Fat Ethel, messages the Horror Society Facebook page to see if we could review his newest film Early Morning Calm, which stars legend Lynn Lowry. I quickly agreed to it and added it to my watch list. Sadly, I wasn't able to get it in during my October horror binge but it's better late than never. I would like to thank Brian for sending this one over!
The film follows a father, his daughter, and his mother as they make the trip to his late father's favorite lake to spread his ashes. However, they have car issues on the backroads to the lake and are forced to stop. When they try to find help or someone to fix their car they accidentally come across a cannibal family who would love to have them over for dinner.
I've reviewed several films from Brian over the years and he has always impressed me. Many years ago I befriended the folks over at Olive Films who was releasing several of Brian's films on Blu at the time. I fell in love with Trashology and found Brian on social media where I added him to keep up with his future projects. Since then I've reviewed a great deal of his films and look forward to every project he announces. I was super excited when he dropped news of Early Morning Calm and I was even more excited when he revealed that living legend Lynn Lowry would be starring in it. When I finally got to watch it I was a bit underwhelmed by it but there was a few moments I enjoyed. The acting in this one is solid but very inconsistent. Lynn does a solid job and shows that she has decades of experience in front of the camera. However, there is scenes meant to be funny but they couldn't find their footing. I wanted to laugh at these scenes but the comedic timing just wasn't right. The rest of the cast is just as solid but we do have several scenes with awkward dialogue and one dimensional performances. I don't know if they were rushed or or inexperienced but some of the scenes were not as well acted as others. The story for this one is one we've seen many times before. People traveling through rural America, or Appalachia, and find themselves lost, stranded, or both only to fall victim to a cannibal family is something that has went back to the late 60s. Hell, some can even argue that films like Spider Baby may have inspired it while movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Wrong Turn brought similar stories to pop culture status. Regardless, I love these types of stories and could have loved Early Morning Calm if it was a more traditional horror film. However, the humor is out of place and a lot of the dialogue feels forced. This brought the pacing of the film down drastically and made several of the scenes difficult to finish. Finally, this one has some fun and kills you would expect from a story like this but if you are looking for memorable deaths and a lot of gore then you will be disappointed. The deaths work for the film and can be fun if you are a fan of indie horror. However, if you are expecting deranged deaths and buckets of guts then you are watching the wrong film. Overall, Early Morning Calm has a great cast and a story I could really get behind but it struggles with it's own identity. The humor is extremely out of place and the lack of memorable deaths makes this one a miss for me. I seriously wanted to like it due to how phenomenal Brian is as a filmmaker but it's clear this film was not meant for me.
Starring - Celia Au (Asian Persuasion, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens), Chris Day (Wish Man, The Hunt with John Walsh), and Matthew Del Negro (American Horror Stories, Teen Wolf)
Release Date - 2018
Genre - Horror
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
My Dark Red Film Festival marathon continues with another horror short that was sent my way with this years selections. I just finished the 2023 Spanish horror short Baba and wanted to keep the marathon going so I decided to fire up the 2018 horror short Black Dragon from filmmaker Alex Thompson. Like always, I want to thank the fine folks behind Dark Red Film Festival for sending this one my way.
The film follows a group of soldiers in Vietnam who just captured a young woman. However, this is no regular woman. This female prisoner of war is able to bring the dead back to life. They decide to use her power to bring a fellow soldier back after seeing her resurrect a dead rat. However, doing so doesn't miraculously heal their wounds and the dead soldier is brought back in excruciating pain.
Black Dragon is one that really caught me off guard. The poster and title had me thinking it was going to go in one direction but it did not. Instead, it was something completely different but it works. It does fall prey to Short Syndrome but that's a good problem to have. The acting in this one is great. It's not a dialogue heavy film. In fact, the silence in this one speaks louder than the words. The cast does a phenomenal job at conveying their emotions and keeping it grounded. It doesn't feel overdramatic or cheesy. Everyone has their own specific job to do and they did it. The story for this one is very well written. A prisoner of war with the power to bring the dead back to life is pretty interesting especially when you consider the shape of the dead bodies found during wartime. However, I need more than what we were given. Who is the woman, who was the dead soldier, how did she get captured? I have so many questions that will never be answered. Finally, the film has some impressive visual effects and some make-up effects but those looking for serious gore will be disappointed. Overall, Black Dragon is a a great short with an amazing story but I need more. The story is just too rich to contain in a short. Check it out if you can and be like me wanting more!
Starring - Carolina Castellano (The Ministry of Time, Love in Difficult Times), Lucia Hoyos (Mambo, Down There), and Alvaro Ramos Toajas (Inspector Sun)
Release Date - 2023
Genre - Horror/Fantasy
Tagline - "A short film by Pablo Otero"
Rating (out of 5):
I've still got a handful of shorts left to review from the Dark Red Film Festival. I recently marathoned several of their films but I decided to take a break from them after I had watched three or four of them. I decided to get back into them after watching a few feature length films. The first in this marathon was 2023's Baba from director Pablo Otero.
The film follows a young woman who returns to her childhood playhouse in the woods to see her imaginary friend. They do a little reconnecting and that's when her talking rabbit notices the blood on her hands. He knows she did something horrible but before he can find out the police arrive to arrest her.
Baba is not a gory short with a story that will leave your squirming in you seat. In fact, it's the exact opposite of that. It's a film that relies heavily on character development and story which it has. It's a fantastic short but it's another one that leaves me with more questions than answers. The acting in this one is great. The film's lead is acting out her entire scene with an imaginary puppet that is visually added. I don't know if someone was filmed in place and green screened out for the rabbit or she was talking to someone not there the entire time. Either way, she does a phenomenal job and I would be even more impressed if she delivered her dialogue with no one there. The story for this one is a solid psychological thriller that makes you think the film is going one way but, instead, it goes in a completely different direction. It wants you to think it's a sweet film about a woman rekindling her friendship with her imaginary friend but it's not. With that being said, I have so many questions. The most obvious is what lead to the bloody hands and the police after her, what was the body count, and did her imaginary friend and childhood lead to the murder/murders? While it is a fantastic short, I feel this story could have been stretched a lot longer than it actually was. Finally, if you are looking for amazing gore and great practical effects then you will be very disappointed. The film does showcase some visual effects with the rabbit. I liked the look of it in all honesty but I don't think it will age well. Overall, Baba is a great short but does struggle from short blindness. There is so much left to tell with this story which it doesn't really do as a short. Regardless, it's still a fun watch so check it out!
Director - Jacob Ennis (Red River, Kill Granny Kill)
Starring - Heather Harlow (Curse of the Weredeer, Psycho Ape Part II: The Wrath of Kong), Kayla Perkins (Wicked Ones, Clown Nightmare), and Dixie Gers (Crazy Fat Ethel, Bigfoot Exorcist)
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "The end is just the beginning"
Format - Streaming (Tubi)
Rating (out of 5):
I've seen so many Halloween movies during my life and a lot of them are easily forgettable. While I do have favorites like The Midnight Hour, Night of the Demons, Double Double Toil and Trouble, Trick 'r Treat, Hack O' Lantern, and a few more, there is dozens, if not hundreds, more that are centered around Halloween but are not worth your time. I'll be completely honest here, I absolutely love Halloween but I don't get excited for Halloween horror flicks anymore. Too many have let me down over the years so unless it's something I truly want to see then I usually skip them. However, a few days ago a new Halloween flick was brought to my attention when actress and director Dixie Gers announced that The Town Without Halloween was streaming on Tubi. I've been a fan of Gers for sometime and decided to added it to my Halloween viewing. I'm glad I did because it was actually a lot of fun.
The film follows a small town with a mayor who plans on stopping Halloween completely. He is working with an evil presence and once he can channel the power of Halloween he will become unstoppable. He uses a special elixir to brainwash some of the townspeople to accomplish his sinister plan while turning a select few into tiny creatures to do his bidding. Stuck in the middle of all this is a group of kids who want nothing more than to celebrate their favorite holiday and score some candy.
The Town Without Halloween only caught my attention because Dixie Gers was attached to it. The title and artwork did nothing for me. However, the film is actually really fucking good. I knew very little about it going into it and was very surprised by the overall film and I could see myself revisiting it every October. The acting in this one is very well done. The entire cast delivers exceptional performances. The film has a lot of great characters that are very memorable and enjoyable to watch but it's the film's young cast that makes it stand out. I've been fortunate enough to review a few films recently that does feature a young cast and a lot of time their age and inexperience hinders them. That is not the case for this film. This young cast demonstrates a lot of natural talent and I will not be surprised if I see their names appear in another genre film in the future. The story for this one is not what I was expecting when I saw the title and film's artwork. The movie has so much going on and while the title is related to the story, it doesn't do it any justice. I absolutely love the occult angle and when you toss in the little monsters like this one did then you have me hooked. Personally, I feel like these little delights didn't didn't get enough screen time and could have been a bigger part of the story. Regardless, I like the flow of the film and the story but some of the scenes felt out of place. I don't know if that was a result of editing or if some parts of the story had to be cut due to budget. Finally, the film has a lot of practical effects but those looking for gore and a lot of carnage will be very disappointed. We do get some make-up effects along with some fun looking puppets. While they are stiff and don't show a lot of motion, I still enjoyed them and hope that if we get a sequel they are updated. However, the lack of death scenes was a bit of a disappointment. While the film is clearly being aimed at children and as family friendly, but some fun deaths would have knocked it over the top. Overall, The Town Without Halloween isn't going to be for everyone. However, fans of shows like Eerie, Indiana and Big Wolf on Campus will appreciate this light hearted horror. Check it out.
Starring - Chelsea Jurkiewicz (The Seeding, Trim Season), Tanner Gillman (Faith of Angels, The Best of Studio C), and Colin Cunningham (He Never Left, Blood Drive)
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "This Halloween an ancient Irish curse will awaken"
Format - Streaming (Tubi)
Rating (out of 5):
Horror movies set during Halloween are a dime a dozen and every year I see several more hit store shelves and streaming services. Honestly, it's exhausting trying to keep up with every Halloween horror movie there is so I don't even try to anymore. If something catches my eye I will check it out but it's impossible to try to watch all these during the holiday season. However, some films are released and they immediately catch my eye. One such film is Rob York's Curse of Crom: The Legend of Halloween. I've seen this one floating around on social media for sometime and when I spotted it on Tubi I quickly added it to my October horror binge.
The film follows a young delivery food driver who is trying to save up some cash while earning her father's respect. However, her neighbor is a bit odd and it has caused friction between her and her father. Her neighbor is an elderly man that often orders food, has her open the containers on the porch, and then refuses to tip. She confronts him about it and when she goes back the next day to apologize she finds him dead. She soon starts to see something sinister near her home and involves her friend who are skeptical at first but overtime start seeing the same thing. They start researching the old man and discover he was Irish and may have been ordering the food to keep an Irish spirit at bay and she may be closer to her neighbor than she realized.
Curse of Crom: The Legend of Halloween is absolutely nothing like I was expecting but it the kind of film I like to watch as Halloween approaches. I love horror and no one can argue that. I've spent my entire adult life covering horror, especially indie horror, and I don't see myself slowing down anytime soon. However, as Halloween draws near I often want to watch Halloween films. They don't always have to be horror and some of the best Halloween films are often aimed at children or made for television. My go to Halloween films are usually WNUF Halloween Special, The Midnight Hour, Halloweentown, Double Double Toil and Trouble, and Under Wraps. Sure, they are not necessarily horror films but they are a lot of fun and truly embody the spirit of Halloween. Curse of Crom is ALMOST that kind of film. It is a bit darker than those films I previously mentioned but it is family friendly, has great atmosphere, but doesn't really feel like a Halloween film. It doesn't make it a bad film, because it's not, but it might not be the new additional to my 10/31 rotation that I had hoped for. The acting in this one is fantastic. This young cast does one hell of a job at bringing their characters to life and delivering what I would consider genuine performances. The dialogue is heartfelt and down to Earth through most of the film and their interactions with one another is very natural. The cast may be young, but they absolutely kill it. The story for this one reminds me a lot of the supernatural shows I watched growing up but with an Irish twist. I grew up with a heavy dose of shows like Eerie, Indiana, Big Wolf on Campus, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and Goosebumps. More modern genre fans may be quick to compare it to Stranger Things, and they would be right to do so, because the show and this film feature a younger cast fighting a supernatural presence except with this film there is no body count. It has great pacing and the story development runs the entire process of the film. I also really liked the mystery aspect of the film and how you can never fully know where the story is going to take you until you get to the destination. It's not one that is easily predictable and the viewer can clearly see how much time went into writing it. With all that being said, I would have loved to have a bit more of the Halloween aesthetic. If the Halloween part of the title was removed then the viewer would have no clue it was centered around Halloween. Finally, the film has a fun looking creature and a lot of tension but zero blood. It's not a violent film with a body count. Instead, it's a story rich film that focuses more on the characters than the gore. Overall, Curse of Crom: The Legend of Halloween is a fun watch especially if you are looking for something on the lighter side of the genre. While it's not violent or the most Halloween looking film, it was still a lot of fun. I highly recommend checking this one out on Tubi before it's pulled. Check it out.
Director(s) - Robert D. Parham (Mad as Hell, The Hanged Man) and Rene Margary (Love Code)
Starring - Elise Hollywood Evans (Snow Black, Everyday Amazing with Sky Alton), Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (Escape from Death Block 13, Dead Man Rising), and Gary Turner (Reanimation Team, Jackson Bolt)
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "They will bug you to death"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I don't think Cocaine Bear realized that they would be creating one of the most popular trends in indie cinema when it was released several years back. I've been a fan of the wild "when nature attacks" films for as long as I remember going all the way back to films like Night of the Lepus and The Birds. When you mix these random animals with illegal drugs then you are sitting on a movie idea that I have to see. While Cocaine Bear is not the first drug fueled killer animal I've seen, it did spawn so many other films like it. So far I've been lucky enough to see Crackcoon, Cocaine Shark, Cocaine Cougar, Cocaine Crabs from Outer Space and now Cocaine Roach. While I was preparing for my review of Crackcoon I came across the imdb page for Cocaine Roach. I quickly searched for co-director Robert Parham on social media so I could track down a copy of the film for review. He was kind enough to send over a review link and I added it to my October horror binge. I want to thank Robert for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check it out!
The film follows two slackers who are tasked with doing a coke drop off for their drug dealer. A simple transaction turns deadly when the trap house they are meeting their handler happens to be the home of cocaine addicted roaches who will stop at nothing to get their next fix.
I knew absolutely nothing, and I mean, nothing about Cocaine Roach aside from the title. I didn't watch the trailer, read the synopsis, or look at reviews of the film prior to watching it. My only look into the film was what could be seen on the poster. I'm glad I went into this one blind because nothing could have prepared me for the film I was about to witness. The acting in this one is very inconsistent but I fucking loved it. The film has a lot of colorful characters that really stand out. Their personalities are bold and memorable with the cast really going all in for the scene. However, some have inexperience and it shows. While they are fully dedicated to their performances, their dialogue and so on is a bit awkward and stiff. The story for this one combines LGBTQ+, crime, and the cocaine crazed animal/insects craze that we expected. While the crime and cocaine roaches were expected, I was not expecting the film to have the drag presence that it does. Don't get me wrong, this was fantastic and very welcomed coming from a genre fan who grew up on John Waters and To Wong Fo. However, not all of it really meshes well. Personally, I wish the film focused more on the drug dealer and the other drag queen/trans characters as they fight for their lives. Instead, we get them in segments that break up the actual story, whether it be movie clips or television show episodes, that feature these characters and serve very little purpose. All it does is add to the film's run time and destroy the pacing. The film is too chaotic with all of this together. Finally, the film has a lot of visual effects that are not that impressive. While the film's budget does dictate the effects, I feel this one would have benefited from having plastic roaches on strings or sticks instead of the visual effects we get. Also, I wish the film was a little more bloody. It's not violent and those looking for a body count will be very disappointed. Overall, Cocaine Roaches was n interesting idea but the execution is a bit off. The movie struggles with it's own identity and at the end of the day the film missed it's mark. I seriously wanted to love it but I couldn't get into it.
My Dark Red Film Festival marathon is moving along with my fourth short so far and this time it comes from India. I haven't reviewed a lot of films from India over the years but I am very familiar with it especially the Bollywood horror efforts and not to forget that one of my favorite zombie films, The Dead 2, takes place in India. I knew this wasn't going to be like either of those that I previously mentioned and that actually excited me. A straight forward horror film from India was something I didn't realize I needed. Before I jump into my review for Another Short Film About Killing from director Andrews Dev Clarson, I want to thank the Dark Red Film Festival for sending this one over.
The film follows an old man who is a shut in with his dog. However, one day his dog gets ahold of a kitten and kills it. The kitten's teenage owner is devasted by the loss of his kitten and sets out for revenge with bloody results.
Another Short Film About Killing is nothing like I was expecting and I loved that. The film is more of a dark thriller with a lot of blood and I'm completely fine with that. It was very rich with story and character development while still keeping the run time very short. The acting in this one is great which is surprising when you consider how little dialogue is actually spoken. One of the many reasons this was an effective short is because even though there is a language barrier, the dialogue is such a small part of the film. Instead, we are given silent performances where the cast showcases emotions through their facial expressions and actions. It's a fantastic cast and this works very well at helping the viewer follow without following subtitles closely. The story for this one is was nothing like I was expecting. From looking at the poster and title I was expecting a film where a child murdered meets an actual murderous child. Instead, the story we get is full of character development which I really enjoy. While I would have loved a definitive ending, the open ending we do get works for the way the film was shot. Finally, the film has a lot of blood during the end. It's not a gory flick but the "death" is done in such a way that you really absorb the violence without seeing it. It was a beautiful shot and that scene will stick with you for days after watching it. Overall, Another Short Film About Killing is a well done genre short that doesn't have a body count but has a lot of passion behind it. It's so well put together and the cast is fantastic. I highly recommend this one.
Starring - Amy Puente (Better Call Saul, Open Range), Evelyn Coffing (Wretched, The Night Shift), and Gavin Bohn
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Keep the lights on"
Format - Streaming (online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I've found myself in the middle of a Dark Red Film Festival marathon and I'm honestly enjoying it. I just finished watching and reviewing the fantastic 1 Star Review and kept the marathon going with the second film send to me from Dark Red. This film is a mystery to me as I can't find any info on it outside of what the poster had to say. Apparently, it's directed by William Frankenstein for Video Vermin along with the cast listed. That's all I can find on this which made me even more interested in it. I want to once again thank Dark Red for sending this one over.
The film follows a young woman who is cleaning up the belongings of a loved one when she comes across some old recordings. She watches them and learns that her disappearance may be something nefarious and sets out to find her.
I went into this one knowing absolutely nothing about it aside from the director being a Mary Shelley fan. However, the short wasn't for me. I loved the look of the short and the cast but the story itself just didn't cut it. It was missing something that maybe a feature length film could have given us. The acting in this one is very well done. The cast is extremely small and has no weak links. They do a great job creating characters that don't blend into the background while carrying the story. The dialogue feels natural and not stiff which makes it so much easier to follow. The story for this one is where the film lost me. The basic premise follows a young woman looking into the disappearance of a loved one. It's somewhat unclear as to the relationship of the two but it's clear they loved each other. Some random home videos gives her a glimpse into her disappearance and when she finds her she realizes they both are in danger. What we have is a story that has a lot of potential but doesn't give it enough time to fully tell the story. It doesn't really work as a short as I had more questions than answers. Finally, it's not a short with a body count or gore. However, if you are looking for something that is beautifully shot then you are in luck. Overall, Angler just didn't do it for me. I wanted to like it but it but it failed to find it's traction. Given a longer run time then we may have been onto something.
Director - John Ferrer (Trial 22, The Milk Situation)
Starring - Judah Abraham-Silas, Charlie Clee (The Private, World's Most Evil Killers), and Peter Dombi (The Flowerman, The Queue)
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I may have bit off more than I can chew with my month long horror binge. Right as the month began I was approached by Dark Red Film Fest to review their current selection of films for their film fest. I was reluctant at first but decided to add them to my watch list. I was expecting a few films but I had no idea there would be as many as they actually had. After watching a few films it was time to dig into a few of their official selections. The first one on the chopping block was 1 Star Review. While the title did not stir up any excitement, the short itself really packed a punch. I want to thank Dark Red for reaching out to me to check this one out.
The film follows a chef who invited a woman to his restaurant late at night to try one of his dishes. Unbeknownst to her, he holds a grudge against those that give him poor reviews and she had given him one sometime ago.
1 Star Review is one of the few films that really embodies it's title. Not that it deserves a 1 star, because it doesn't, but because the premise of this short is summed up perfectly by it. Honestly, I can't believe we haven't seen a thriller or horror film in this modern era of Yelp, Google Reviews, and so on. It's a great idea and works so well as a short. The acting in this one is fantastic. The entire cast shines regardless if you are the chef killing people with poor taste or a helpless victim. It's a great cast and everyone pulls their weight, so to speak. The story for this one is a lot of fun and works so well as a short. The film runs for less than 10 minutes but in that time we get some character development and a body count. While it does make great use of it's time, it would not be as effective as it is if the run time was to be extended. Finally, the film has some blood and a few deaths require you to use your imagination but it all works together to create an effective horror short. While I would have loved some gore, it doesn't necessarily need it to be good. Overall, 1 Star Review is a well made short that really scratches an itch I didn't know I had. While most shorts could easily be expanded upon and turned into a feature, this one is damn near perfect as a short and would be spread too thin if stretched to a feature run time. Check it out.
Director - Andrew J. Chambers (After School Lunch Special, Babezilla vs. the Zombie Horde)
Starring - Stephanie Love (After School Lunch Special II: Sloppy Seconds, Bikini Car Wash), Jessa Flux (Curtains for Christmas, Crackcoon), and Kelsey Livengood (Attack of the Corn Zombies, Air Fryer Slaughter)
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi/Comedy
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)
Rating (out of 5):
It's not often that you find a sequel better than the original but it does happen. While a lot of these are controversial, I stand by what I say. Movies like T2: Judgement Day, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, The Devil's Rejects, so several more are films that I find more enjoyable than the original. A recently bought two films from Hobjob Productions to add to my October horror binge. The first film was the horror comedy Babezilla vs the Zombie Whorde. It had a fun fun moments but the overall film was a bit of a let down. I followed that up with the second film which was the sequel Babezilla vs Cyber Skanks: Rise of Mechababezilla. This follow up film was more enjoyable than the first.
The film once again follows Babezilla (Love) who has used her popularity after the first film to break out in the adult film business. However, twins to the original brothers from the first film that created the zombie whorde, wants revenge. The create cyber skanks to defeat who and they complete their mission. However, Babezilla is not down and out. Her mother advizes her to find Master Beta to train her so she can beat the cyber menace and Mechababezilla.
There was a lot of things I liked about the first Babezilla film but so many scenes were unnecessary and it destroyed the film's pacing. However, that is not the issue with the sequel. The film has much better pacing and focuses more on the characters and not just one's sex appeal. The acting in this one is consistent with the first. Love once again stars and does a decent enough job but it's still evident that her career is mostly adult films and not genre flicks. Her dialogue is a bit stiff...just like those watching her. The supporting cast is just as sexy and offer up some campy acting that is fun especially for those of you that dig films like Psycho Ape and Death O'Lantern. I see so many familiar faces and how a lot of them are not afraid to bare it all for a sleazy comedy. The story for this one is a clear nod to Godzilla vs Mechgodzilla but with that Babezilla charm. Honestly, it works for what it is. The action is very funny, the actual comedy finds it's mark, and the film is not predictable at all. I could see the saga of Babezilla continuing and it should. Finally, the film has a lot of different effects. We have more campy visuals, great costumes (who doesn't love busty robots), and a lot of deaths While the film doesn't have the best practical effects, it is still able to deliver some unforgettable and rather imaginative deaths. Overall, Babezilla vs Cyber Skanks is not going to be winning any awards but god damn is it fun. This is the kind of money that you can pound a few beers or pop an edible and enjoy. It was a lot of fun and I highly recommend checking this out on blu instead of the SFW edit on YouTube.
Director - Noboru Tanaka (Tuesday Suspense Theater, Hard Scandal: Sex Drifter)
Starring - Masato Furuoya (Stairway to Heaven, Tales of the Bizarre), Misako Tanaka (Gonza the Spearman, The Horizon), and Kumiko Oba (Secret Detective, House)
Release Date - 1983
Genre - Horror/War
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
My October horror binge is in full swing as we reach the middle of the month. So far this month I've seen some childhood favorites, a Mike Mendez double feature, a fun cabin in the woods flick, a few slashers, a fun UK anthology, a pornstar fighting the whoring undead and robotic skanks, and a disrespectful remake of Spider Baby. It's been a wild ride so far and it was only about to get wilder. I was recently sent a screening link for Unearthed Films upcoming horror thriller Village of Doom. This 1983 Japanese horror film is one I had never heard of before but I was really interested in it so I added it to my October binge. Like always, I want to thank Unearthed for sending this one over!
The film follows Tsugio (Furuoya) who is too young to join the army like the other men in his village but desperately wants to when he is old enough. However, with the men absent from their wives, he has found himself at their every need. He soon starts an adulterous relationship with a woman in town and shortly after becomes ill. The doctor diagnoses him with tuberculosis and the military doctor declines to enlist him in the army when he is old enough. To make matters worse, the woman he loves has been promised to someone else and he can no longer see the woman he was sleeping with because her husband has returned from the war. He soon finds himself alienated by his people and no longer considered a man because of his illness. Tsugio cannot take it any longer and sets out to kill everyone in the village that has criticized him.
Village of Doom may not be a straight forward horror title but god damn does it fucking rule. Honestly, it was a highlight of my October binge and easily one of my favorite Unearthed releases behind their Guyver release. The acting in this one is fantastic. Furuoya is unforgettable as the films protagonist. He embodies his role and makes the character his own creation. I absolutely loved his emotional range and how he goes from an awkward teenager fumbling through sexual advances and other teenage issues to a murderous mass shooter. The supporting cast is no joke either. The village is full of amazing and colorful characters and the cast does one hell of a job bringing them to life. The story for this one is a straight forward but is still an enjoyable ride. We have a lot of time spent on character development and it doesn't destroy the film's pacing. We then transition from a war thriller to the film's last leg which is a mass shooting that features many horror elements. It's a fantastically shot film that holds your attention from beginning to end. The editing is smooth as well and the film holds the viewer's attention from beginning to end. Finally, the film has a lot of nudity and blood but those of you wanting a lot of gore will be very disappointed. The kills are in style to the film but they are the most unimaginative part of the film. Don't get me wrong, they look fantastic but not as gruesome of gory as I would have liked. Overall, Village of Doom is a fantastic film and one of my favorite Unearthed properties. I highly recommend this one so check it out.
Director - Michael Crum (The Cursed Tapes, People in the Walls)
Starring - Joshua Winch (Bermuda Island, Hillbilly Frankenstein from Hell), Shanon Snedden (Mold, Lake Fear 3), and Rosie Dubeau (On American Soil, The Legend of El Chupacabra)
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
Back at the beginning of my October horror binge I was contacted by writer and producer Gerald Crum to review a couple films he had worked on with Michael Crum. I was unfamiliar with the films and agreed to add them to my binge. I started my marathon with The Cursed Tapes and was a bit disappointed in it. I followed that one up with People in the Walls and was once again disappointed in the feature film I had just watched. I had one more film left to check out and it just happened to be the one I was the most excited to see. I want to thank Gerald for reaching out and allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to watch his film Malice!
The film follows two beautiful young ladies who go to an old rural house to get some work done on it. A small group of renovators meet them there and start working on the home when they uncover a bloody woman tied to the bed. They attack the two women and tie them up thinking they killed the woman before they arrived. However, the woman in that room is possessed by an evil and when they let her out of her confinement she begins infecting others.
I hate writing negative reviews for films sent my way. A takes a lot of people working endless hours to make a film and I hate shitting on their hard work. However, not every film I watch is a hit nor am I the target. While The Cursed Tapes and People in the Walls were films that I didn't care for, Malice was right up my alley. I really enjoyed it but I couldn't help but find similarities to classics like Evil Dead and Night of the Demons. The acting in this one left a lot of room for improvement but it was still very enjoyable. The film features a fairly small cast and they all are fully dedicated to their roles. However, it does get a bit awkward at time and some of the dialogue feels like it's being read aloud and not acted out. With that being said, I really enjoyed the character of Joshua Winch. I liked the backstory and the personality he gave the character. Honestly, I'd love to see more of this character and how he was confined to that home with the woman for all those years. The story for this one has a similar premise as Evil Dead and Night of the Demons. We follow a group of people in a seemingly abandoned home/building and accidentally unleashing a long forgotten evil. While it follows films like that, it does try to change it up with the guy who has been feeding her for all these years. It works for the most part but several of the scenes feel like they were shot on the fly or improvised resulting in some story issues or scenes not making sense at all. Some editing could fix this but it's still enjoyable as it is. Finally, the film has a lot of blood and some wild ideas that is reminiscent of the 2013 Evil Dead film. The effects are fairly straight forward but they work very well for the film. While I would have loved some serious gore with this story, I'm content with what we do have. Overall, Malice does struggle to find it's footing but the film itself is very enjoyable especially if you like cabin in the woods type films. Check this one out.
Director(s) - Alfred Vohrer (Derrick, The Black Forest Hospital) and Samuel M. Sherman (Raiders of the Living Dead, Dracula vs. Frankenstein)
Starring - Harald Leipnitz (The Old Fox, A Case for Two), Klaus Kinski (Nosferatu the Vampyre, Vampire in Venice), and Carl Lange (Alpha Alpha, Peter Brown)
Release Date - 1967
Genre - Horror/Crime
Tagline - "Fear will grip you by the throat when the evil hand kills...kills...kills!"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
Klaus Kinski is seriously one of the most entertaining actors I've witnessed in film. I've reviewed several of his films over the years and I know he is a controversial figure but no one can deny his talents in front of the camera. I've been fortunate enough to review several of his films over the years and I was recently sent a double feature from Film Masters to check out. The first film of the two is the 1967 horror film Creature with the Blue Hand.
The film follows a twin brother and his siblings who live in a mansion when they receive news that their brother, the other twin, has escaped prison where he was held for murder. While the police investigate his whereabouts, they uncover a string of murders that they associate with him and his escape. From the moment I hit play on this one until the end credits rolled, I was mesmerized. Klaus Kinski delivers what may be one of my favorite performances and without him I don't think the film would have been as great as it is. The acting, as I just stated, is fantastic. Kinski never disappoints and him taking on the dual roles of twins is a stroke of brilliance. He delivers one hell of a performance and I don't see the film being as enjoyable as it is if anyone else would have taken the role. The supporting cast is just as great but they don't have the energy nor the intensity that Kinski has. The story for this one is very fun and not as predictable as you would believe. The gothic murder mystery unfolds very well and the slower scenes are compensated for with fantastic acting and characters arcs. With that being said, the last leg of the film is a bit predictable if you pay attention but for the most part it works. Finally, don't expect a bloody flick. The film doesn't really show the murders on screen. That take place out of the camera's view or with classic camera tricks. The focus is the story and not the deaths. Overall, Creature with the Blue Hand is a fantastic film and Film Masters' release looks amazing. Fans of Kinski or late 60s gothic horror will truly appreciate this release. Check it out.
Starring - Louis Lombardi (Ed Wood, Natural Born Killers), Lucy Hart (Pleasure, Transfixed), and Danielle Kotch (Sinister, Patient Seven)
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I'm getting a bit disappointed as my October horror binge comes down to it's last week. I love October, not only because it's my birth month, but because I get to spend the entire month binging as many horror movies as I can in preparation for the greatest holiday there is. As it rapidly approaches I was contacted by a good friend of Horror Society to review a new horror flick that is getting a release sometime around Halloween. I didn't have a lot of time left to get to it so I moved it to the top of my watch pile. I want to thank Ted for sending Director's Cut this way!
The film follows a struggling band that has not been able to move on from the death of a close friend when they receive a message from a "director" asking to shoot a music video for them. They agree and meet him and his assistant at an old mansion that has been abandoned for some time. What starts out as an awkward and confusing film shoot soon turns deadly when the band is picked off one by one and the truth behind gathering them there is revealed.
I knew very little about this one going into it but the synopsis made me think it was going to be like SRS Cinema's Lights, Camera, Blood. However, after actually getting into the film I can see that the story is nothing like I was expecting. The acting in this one is solid for the most part. While the film's focus is the band, Louis Lombardi absolutely steals the show as the "director." His assistant, portrayed by adult film star Lucy Hart, could easily have her own horror franchise with her as the killer. Her screen presence is is domineering and I could seriously see her taking the mantle of killer in an LGBTQ+ film. As for the band, the cast does a great job with the characters. They all have unique personalities and fit the band motif perfectly. However, the characters are not likable. In fact, during the entire film I was excited to watch them die. That doesn't mean the cast did a horrible job, because they didn't. I can only assume they were written to be unlikable and the cast knocked it out of the park. The story for this one is a bit of a slow burn at first but finally reaches it's boiling point around the 40 or 50 minute mark. During the slow build up we are given a lot of character backstory, development, and can see the actual story taking shape. It's not a waste of time but those that are impatient may be quick to pass judgement before letting the film play out. With that being said, I loved the idea of having the location written into the story, the grim back story of the band and how that comes full circle, and the mystery behind the director comes together to give the viewer something pretty enjoyable. While I do find metal/rock influenced stories to be a bit goofy, this one was done very well and didn't come across as trying too hard. Finally, the film has a body count with a lot of blood. We get some great make-up effects and a ton of blood but those looking for great gore and memorable deaths will be very disappointed. While it is very clear that a lot of time went into the story, the effects and deaths were the last thing considered. Overall, Director's Cut doesn't really reach the top of any lists for the year but it is still a fun genre film to check out especially if you are looking for something to see during this spooky season. Check it out.
