Thinner

Director - Tom Holland (Child's Play, Fright Night)

Starring - Robert John Burke (Robocop 3, Dust Devil), Joe Mantegna (Airheads, The Twilight Zone), and Lucinda Jenney (3 From Hell, The Late Shift)

Release Date - 1996

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Let the curse fit the crime"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been fortunate enough to review several Stephen King adaptations over the years thanks to my friends at the various boutique labels re-releasing these films on blu and UHD. I've seriously enjoyed several of his film adaptations, including the one he directed, but I haven't seen them all. One film I never got around to seeing is Thinner. I had bought the film years ago on DVD but never had the desire to watch it. However, I had to finally check it out when Scream Factory released the film on blu. They sent it my way for review which I'm grateful for, but I just didn't think I would enjoy it. The synopsis on the back of the DVD made it sound like it was going to be predictable and unintelligent to watch. However, I was very wrong, and I want to thank Scream Factory for sending it over. 

      The film follows a lawyer who is struggling with his weight. His wife and doctor are constantly bringing up his weight and forcing him to diet, which has not been so successful at this point. One night after celebrating winning a big case they accidentally strike a woman with his car killing her instantly. The accident lands him on trial where he uses his ties with the judge and chief of police to get out of it. After the trial he is approached by the elderly father of the woman he killed where he touches his face while whispering "thinner." That evening he notices he is losing weight and suspects his new diet is working but as the days go on, he realizes he was cursed by the man and so was the judge and chief of police. 

       I never thought a film like Thinner would interest me but here I am writing a review after watching it twice. It's not my favorite King adaptation but it is a fantastic film that combines horror, crime, and drama into something that works. Some genre fans may not appreciate it, but fans of all genres will truly enjoy it. The acting in this one is great. Robert John Burke is fantastic as the overweight lawyer who finds himself quickly wasting away. His performance has a wide range of emotion, and he absolutely nails it. The supporting cast is just as fantastic. We have amazing performances from Kari Wuhrer, Joe Mantegna, Lucinda Jenney, Daniel von Bargen, and many more. The story for this one is a bit predictable but I really enjoyed the ride. The blending of crime, drama, and horror works very well with the story centered around gypsy curses and corrupt lawyers, judges, and cops. While it does slow down dramatically during the middle portion of the film, it is still able to pick back up and deliver a very strong ending that perfectly wraps up everything with a little twist that you see coming but doesn't take away from the effectiveness. Finally, the film has a lot of make-up effects and prosthetics but it's not a bloody or gory flick. While I hate the fat make-up used on Burke, I loved the make-up used on the judge and the chief. They both looked absolutely amazing and worked. Sadly, Burke's make-up is laughable at best and does bring about a bit of unintentional humor. Overall, Thinner is a fantastic King adaptation that may not bring the chills you would expect but still finds a way to entertain. This release from Scream Factory looks great and deserves to be in any collector's collection.

Darkman

Director - Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Drag Me to Hell)

Starring - Liam Neeson (Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace, Gangs of New York), Frances McDormand (The Twilight Zone, The Butcher's Wife), and Colin Friels (Seven Deadly Sins, Dark City)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror/Action

Tagline - "They destroyed everything he had, everything he was.  Now, crime has a new enemy, and justice has a new face"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

My middle school and high school years were defined by George A. Romero and Sam Raimi. I discovered Romero when I was a kid staying at my grandmother's house and I rediscovered Raimi in middle school when I bought the Evil Dead trilogy on DVD when I was starting my collection. I had realized that Evil Dead II was a film I had watched as a child when my mother was still around. I fucking loved Raimi's approach to film and had never seen a film of his that I didn't like. During my high school years, I was rabid for other films from both filmmakers, and it was here that I was introduced to the Darkman trilogy. I had picked up the DVD release of all three films at Walmart and binged them when I got home. While they do drop in quality as the trilogy progresses, I still found myself enjoying them greatly. Fast forward almost 20 years and here I am reviewing the new UHD release from Scream Factory. I want to thank them for sending this one over and allowing me the opportunity to reminisce for a minute. 

      The film follows a scientist working on a synthetic skin in his lab at his apartment when he is left to die by a gang of thugs looking for a document that his girlfriend had obtained. He survives the attack but due to the massive number of burns that his body has received, the doctors are forced to severe his nerve endings, so he is not in a constant state of pain. Using his synthetic skin and no pain tolerance, he sets out to seek revenge on those that tried to kill him. 

      Darkman is one of the better superhero films pre-Blade and one that I can watch over and over again without tiring of it. It's a cleverly written action film with a lot of memorable characters that I always made me want to immediately toss in the Dick Tracy live action film. Many may argue that this one is not horror, and they could easily win that argument, however, its horror influence is very evident from the make-up effects to the death scenes. The acting in this one is fucking amazing. We have Liam Neeson, the late Larry Drake and Danny Hicks, Frances McDormand, Ted Raimi, and a cameo from Bruce Campbell. Fans of the genre and cult cinema will truly appreciate this cast and how amazing they are in these fantastic characters. The supporting cast is just as great, creating what is one phenomenal well-rounded film. The story for this one has a great twist that you really don't see coming, some well-placed action scenes that holds the viewer's attention, and some developed characters. This is clearly not a film that was approved and rushed into production. The way the story is told combines action, crime, noir, and horror elements to create something that is still enjoyable all these years later. Finally, the film has iconic make-up effects along with some seriously impressive action scenes that really pulls the whole film together. We do have a little blood but don't expect a bloodbath or gore in tune to Saimi's previous films. Overall, Darkman is a must-see action/crime film that charades around as a superhero film. Raimi does not disappoint and neither does this UHD release. Check it out.

The Night Devours

Director - Jason Hawkins (The Last Slay Ride, Cross Hollow)

Starring - Maddey Pierson (Zuzu: The Rough Cut, A Nightmare Uncovered), Jason Hawkins, and Jason Reynolds (Jason Rising: A Friday the 13th Fan Film, The Brain that Wouldn't Die)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      A lot of times I get films sent to my inbox that I had never heard about or know anything about.  It's hard to explain but getting to see a film before it's released is extremely exciting.  I get sent a lot of films to review and sometimes my greed and curiosity gets the best of me.  I often find myself swamped with films that I want to watch and review but I'm unable to do so in a timely manner.  One of the films that I agreed to check out recently is the 2024 horror film The Night Devours from director Jason Hawkins.  I've had this one on my list for a few weeks but couldn't get around to it until now.  I'm glad I made time for it because it was a lot of fun.  I want to take a moment to thank Jason for sending this one over to me.   

      The film follows a young man who grew up obsessing over his father and being accepted by him. However, his father often neglected and abused him which has boiled into a hatred inside him. Night lighting as a ridesharing driver, he meets his victims when they book a ride in his vehicle. After each murder he turns to his camera to explain why he does what he does and how his upbringing is responsible. 

      The Night Devours was surprisingly well done. I knew nothing about it prior to my viewing but once I realized it was done in a found footage/mockumentary way I was ready to abort. I'm not a fan of these types of films but this one worked for the most part. It has great atmosphere, great character development though it is a bit cliched at this point, and a solid story. I did enjoy it but there are several things that could have been done differently to improve the film. I loved the acting in this one. I have a problem with films having scenes where they are doing the whole MTV's Real World confessional style rants in front of the camera. It's always awkward and most of the time the actor is trying too hard to make it feel genuine. That is not the case here. It works and I felt the different emotions being channeled during each of these scenes. While these repetitive scenes did overstay their welcome, the acting is great. Teh story for this one is very clever but it would be far more effective as a short. The male killer with daddy issues finding victims while working a ride sharing job at night is very clever but, it does repeat itself. The ride sharing victims and the camera confessionals repeat themselves too many times. These scenes should have been done once or twice because without feeling monotonies. Finally, don't expect a bloodbath or a gory flick. The film is character driven with no real blood or practical effects for the viewer to enjoy. Overall, The Night Devours is a solid indie flick about a serial killer but it would have been more enjoyable if it was trimmed down. Regardless, it's worth your time so check it out.

Lust, Magic, and the Witches' Sabbath

Director - Andrew J. Chambers (Attack of the 50 Foot Sphincter, After School Lunch Special)

Starring - Morrigan Thompson (Debbie Does Demons, Karate Ghost), Ivy Smith (Attack of the 50 Foot CamGirl, Giantess Battle Attack), and Raven Foyt (After School Lunch Special 2: Sloppy Seconds, Babezilla vs. The Zombie Whorde)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in middle school the world went fucking crazy for The Blair Witch Project. I remember kids arguing at lunch and recess about it being real. While I was still one of those kids that fully thought wrestling was real, I never bought into the hype that The Blair Witch Project was real. My argument was always that if people really died would they be showing it in theaters? When I finally watched it I remember thinking it didn't live up to the hype but it wasn't the worst movie that I had seen. My biggest problem with the film was the lack of witches. I was looking forward to a film centered around a witch and all I got was three assholes arguing with one another for an hour or so. The horror genre rarely gets films that are worth a damn centered around witches in a traditional sense. We may get one every couple of years to enjoy and that may be pushing it. That's why I was so fucking excited to see A.J. Chamber's Lust, Magic, and the Witches' Sabbath. An indie horror film about witches starring one of my favorite indie horror scream queens Morrigan Milam (Thompson). I want to thank A.J. for sending this one over!

      The film follows a young woman who moves out of her family home wanting to get her life started without her mother's help. She befriends a witch in her new town and is invited to join her coven. However, another young woman in the area has turned to religion after a traumatic childhood. Now she has plans of eradicating the witches from her hometown. 

      I knew very little about Lust, Magic, and the Witches' Sabbath prior to watching it aside from what the title suggested. I went into this one blind, and I found myself struggling until the last half of the film. I didn't care for the film during the first 30 minutes or so but once the film gained traction, I found myself really digging it. The acting in this one is very well done. Morrigan is one of my favorite indie actresses and she never disappoints. This film is no exception. I struggled with the characters and found myself not liking most of them, but her character was very down to Earth and grounded. I also liked Attack of the 50 Foot CamGirl's Ivy Smith. She is almost unrecognizable here and does a phenomenal job. In fact, her performance is probably the best in the film. With that being said, the remainder of the characters are lacking in development. The cast does a great job with what they were given but the characters are flat and not that likable. The story for this one is exactly what I'm looking for when I hit play on a horror flick about witches. We have the witches' holding ceremonies in the woods, nudity, Satan, and heavy religious elements. I absolutely loved this story, but it is a little back end heavy. The last half saves the film while the first half is a bit difficult to finish. Some editing a little more action in the first part would have helped the flow of the film. Also, a little more time on developing the characters would have gone a long way as well. Finally, this isn't a bloody film. It focuses mor on the characters and their interactions more than blood and gore. We go get a fair bit of nudity so that is a plus. Overall, Lust, Magic, and the Witches' Sabbath is a sexy yet extremely slow film about witches and deep seeded religion. I enjoyed it and I think you will too if you stick with it. Check it out.

The Wrong Door

Director(s) - James Groetsch, Shawn Korby, and Bill Weiss

Starring - Matt Felmlee (The Strip, Lovers and Liars), Loreal Steiner, and Jeff Tatum (Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Hymens Parable)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "Knock, knock Ted... It's the wrong door"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been having a lot of fun with my recent Visual Vengeance marathon. I was able to see a film I had wanted to for almost 20 years during this time along with some films that I instantly fell in love with. I had wanted to see The Abomination for YEARS and was finally able to on blu thanks to Visual Vengeance. I also checked out the awesome Repligator, Vampires and Other Stereotypes, and now The Wrong Door from 1990. This is another release from Visual Vengeance that I didn't know existed until I received the press release. I forgot to reach out for a review copy when it was released but I wanted to see it regardless. I ordered a copy and when it arrived I decided to start this marathon with The Wrong Door closing it out. 

      The film follows a college student who takes a last-minute gig to play a Jester for a birthday party instead of working on his project that is due. However, this quick gig for some extra cash takes a strange turn when he goes to the wrong door. A woman answers and mouths "help me" to him but he reluctantly ignores it when a patron from the party he was ordered for drags him to the correct room. After the party he goes back to check on her and finds her on the floor bleeding. He panics and flees the room but when he returns, he finds her body has disappeared and is greeted with two men looking for her. This is only the beginning of a wild night in store for him. 

      When I ordered this one for my collection, I knew absolutely nothing about it aside from VV was handling the release. The film's artwork made me think the film was about a killer jester or something like that. I was not expecting the dark crime film that was setting before me. I really enjoyed the film but it was not the horror film I was expecting. The acting in this one was actually very well done. I really liked the casting and the energy they brought to the film. While the film could have benefited from a little more development with the characters, the cast did a great job with what they were given. The story for this one can be a little difficult to follow but I liked the overall story and how it unfolded. A dude arriving at the wrong door to find a woman in distress only to find her murdered later is pretty compelling stuff. You toss in the suspected murderers looking for her body and tying up loose ends also creates a fun cat and mouse story. Where this movie starts to struggle is the random locations the dead/dying woman is randomly found at. If this had been a little more linear and used, then the film would have been a lot easier to follow. Finally, we get a little blood but that is the extent of it. This is not a bloody flick and those seeking a body count will truly be disappointed. Overall, The Wrong Door was surprisingly fun and one I was not expecting to like as much as I did. This is another great release from Visual Vengeance. Check it out.

Scream Queen

Director - Brad Sykes (Camp Blood, Plaguers)

Starring - Linnea Quigley (Return of the Living Dead, Hunters), C. Courtney Joyner (Lurking Fear, From a Whisper to a Scream), and Kurt Levee (Evil Sister)

Release Date - 2002

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When genre fans throw around the label Scream Queen there is so many names they could be referring to. Some instantly think of Jamie Lee Curtis, Danielle Harris, Neve Campbell, Heather Langenkamp, and so many more. However, since I heard the term in high school I've instantly thought of Linnea Quigley. She starred in so many films that I loved during my middle school and high school years like Night of the Demons, Silent Night Deadly Night, and especially Return of the Living Dead. When Visual Vengeance announced that they would be releasing the 2002 Brad Sykes film Scream Queen I was amused in the fact that it did star Quigley. I reached out to them, and they were kind enough to send a

      copy of the release over for review. Like always, I want to thank VV for hooking me up with a copy! The film is centered around the death of a well-known horror actress after she leaves the set of her newest film. The death is considered suspicious because it happened after she had an altercation with a co-star. It doesn't take long for the bodies to start piling up with everyone involved in the film starts dying one by one leaving many to wonder if her death was accidental or is someone exacting revenge for her death. 

      I knew very little about Scream Queen aside from it being directed by Brad Sykes and starred Linnea Quigley. I've covered Brad's work for some time now, and I respect him, which is why it's hard to type this. However, I wasn't a fan of this one. I've been a huge fan of Quigley's for damn nearly 20 years, but this film just doesn't utilize her in a way that I would have liked while delivering a story that is very predictable. I went into this one extremely excited, but it was difficult for me to finish. The acting in this one is awkward from start to finish. It's the only consistent part of the entire film. The cast doesn't deliver horrible performances, but the forced dialogue and unnatural body movement made the scenes feel a bit weird to watch. The story for this one could have been a lot of fun but the predictability and lack of enjoyable characters makes it fall short. The idea of a horror icon meeting a violent end then a slasher like story follows where anyone attached to the film meets a horrible end sound fucking awesome on paper. Sadly, the pacing is all wrong, the scenes are dull, and the story only works if you really can't see who the killer is and, to be honest, you would need to be blind to miss it. Finally, the film's deaths leave a lot to be desired. I went into this one thinking it was going to be a bloody and violent film but was very disappointed in the lack of red stuff and clever deaths. Overall, Scream Queen feels like a movie that was written and shot on the fly. It doesn't feel like it had the love and care that the other films from Syke's have had. I love Visual Vengeance and what they are doing but this is one I couldn't get behind. skip it.

The Abomination

Director - Bret McCormick (Blood on the Badge, Children of Dracula)

Starring - Scott Davis (Roller Blade, Ozone: The Attack of the Redneck Mutants), Jude Johnson (Tabloid, Broken Promise), and Blue Thompson (The Real American, Highway to Hell)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Tumorous parasitic beasts are nesting in the bowels of their victims..."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school, I frequented the message boards at Upcoming Horror Movies. By frequented I mean I fucking loved on that message board. I met some of my closest friends there along with so many films that I love. It was a huge part of my high school years, and a good chunk of my collection came from recommendations and suggestions of other members from the message board. One film I was suggested was the 1986 Bret McCormick flick The Abomination. I had tried for years to snag a copy of this film on any format and failed miserably. I was constantly getting reminded of it from various horror groups I'm in and so forth but never found a copy for a decent price. That changed recently when Visual Vengeance was able to put the film out on blu. I had to finally see this one, so I reached out to them, and they were kind enough to send a copy my way for review. I want to thank VV for sending this one my way. 

      The film follows a young man who takes care of his ill mother. She is extremely religious and seeks the help of her preacher instead of modern science. Her preacher tells her that she has a tumor in her lungs, and they pray for her. That night she coughs up the tumor and places it in the trash where it proceeds to crawl out in order to look for a new host. It finds her son and crawls inside where it lays more "spores" which drives him to murder all those around him so he can feed them. 

      I knew The Abomination wasn't going to be a horror film that was well put together with the best acting I had laid my eyes on with a story that would leave me in tears. I knew it was a no budget S.O.V. flick from Bret McCormick but I couldn't stop my imagination from running wild. After finally seeing the film all these years later I can safely say that it was worth the wait. While it may not be for every horror fan, I absolutely loved it. The acting in this one is far from the worst I have seen but it's pretty standard for no budget S.O.V. horror films of the late 80s. The cast is really into the film and the characters are pretty one dimensional, but they really try. It is shown in each scene, but it is easily forgettable. The story for this one is something that feels like it was written specifically for me. An extremely religious mother infected with some sort of tumor-like creature that lays its spawn in her son is nothing short of brilliant. The film doesn't go on for too long and ends when it should. Finally, the effects in this one make the film. The tumor, the death scenes, all of it look great especially when you consider the film's budget. That was the most impressive aspect of the film and the thing that sticks with you days after watching it. Overall, The Abomination is a must own for genre fans and this release from Visual Vengeance needs to be on collector's shelves. Check it out.

Repligator

Director - Bret McCormick (Highway to Hell, The Abomination)

Starring - Gunnar Hansen (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Mosquito), Keith Kjornes (Thug Life, Six Dollars a Minute), and Randy Clower (Fatal Justice, Time Tracer)

Release Date - 1996

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy

Tagline - "Bret McCormick's erotic sci-fi romp"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I may have been born in the 80s but I grew up in the 90s. I remember some things from my early years in the 80s but the 90s were my time. While I do remember watching some ThunderCats, G.I. Joe, Transformers, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, The Real Ghostbusters, and TMNT, it was shows like Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Big Wolf on Campus, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Rocko's Modern Life, and so many more that shaped my childhood. When not watching these on cable I was renting tapes from the local video store or watching made for television movies on the original Sy-Fy Channel, Sci-Fi Channel. I watched a lot of cheesy Sci-Fi Channel films during the 90s and have a soft spot for them which is why I was excited when I saw that Visual Vengeance was releasing the 1996 sci-fi comedy Repligator. This looked like something inspired by the Sci-Fi original films of the time and I couldn't wait to see it. Like always, I want to thank Visual Vengeance for sending this one over. 

      The film follows a scientist with a military contract that is working on what he has dubbed a replicator. However, there is an issue when a man is sent through and comes out a woman on the other side. While he is working to correct the error a rival scientist has convinced the military to let him take over the project resulting in the human test subjects being exposed to that of an alligator. 

      I fucking love campy and cheesy cinema. I know most of the movies I love are shitty in retrospect, but I enjoy watching them so fucking much. Repligator is another entry in a long line of science run amok films made popular in the atom age and is still scene to this day. What sets this one apart from others is the nudity and sense of humor. It's far from perfect but you can't deny that it's a lot of fun regardless of your taste in film. The acting in this one is hit or miss. We have the late horror legend Gunnar Hansen and scream queen Brinke Stevens. Both deliver decent performances, but they are only in the film for a short about of time. The remainder of the cast is having fun on set but their dialogue is forced and many struggle with the volume of their voice. It's not the worst acting I've seen but there was a lot of room for improvement. The story for this one is everything I had hoped it would be for a sci-fi flick titled Repligator. We have beautiful women going around topless, a campy sci-fi setting featuring scientists who accidentally create alligator hybrids for the military, and a lot of cheesy visual effects from the 90s. I had a lot of fun with this but movie fans that don't appreciate the cheesy films that you could find on Sy-Fy in the 90s will not enjoy the story here. Finally, the film is not a bloodbath but it does have some seriously dated yet enjoyable visual effects and some gorgeous women. Blood would have made it a little more fun but we have to take what we can get. Overall, Repligator is another solid release from Visual Vengeance. It's one of those extremely cheesy movies that you can watch sober or 12 beers deep and still enjoy it. This release is a must have for collectors. Check it out.

Lycan Colony

Director - Rob Roy (American Werewolf, Damaged Disciples)

Starring - Sean Burgoyne, Kadrolsha Ona Carole (Morbius, Halloween Kills), and Libby Collins (Thunderstruck, The Knick)

Release Date - 2006

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Leave them alone"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's been a long time since I've reviewed a werewolf flick. In fact, I can't remember the last time I did. I think my last werewolf review was for the Visual Vengeance release Moonchild but I could be mistaken. That brings me to another Visual Vengeance release that was sent my way to review which just happens to be the werewolf horror film Lycan Colony. Like always, I want to thank Wild Eye and Visual Vengeance for their continued support. 

      The film follows a doctor who just moved to a small town and befriends a sibling pair looking for their father that went missing in the area while on a hunting trip. They quickly discover that the small town is inhabited by werewolves that have built a safe haven for themselves and were threatened by the arrival of the hunters. Now they are fighting for their lives as the werewolves attempt to kill anyone that knows their secret. 

      I went into Lycan Colony excited to see an indie werewolf film, but it was quickly evident that I was not going to enjoy it. I liked the idea behind this one and actually enjoyed the acting, but the execution was all wrong. The movie struggled to find its footing and slips even further away from being enjoyable with the creature design. I seriously wanted to like this one, but it was difficult to finish. The acting in this one was a little awkward at times but very enjoyable, especially when you consider how little experience some of the cast have. They are fully dedicated to their roles and do a great job getting into character. The characters may not be that well written or developed but that's not their fault. The story for this one has a very interesting premise that I could get behind. A small town of werewolves sounds absolutely fascinating. It's like a werewolf version of Children of the Night and Sundown: The Vampires of Retreat. This is a concept that had my full support but failed to meet its full potential. It's a town where werewolves try to live normal lives until a group of hunters get too close. However, the story is turned into a game of cat and mouse that goes on for far too long. It's extremely dull and repetitive which turns into a chore to finish. Finally, the film has some light make up effects and the worst looking werewolf I've seen in film history. Many years ago, I reviewed the no budget horror film Werewolf of Ohio which featured a werewolf wearing a cheap knock off mask of the original Wolfman. I would have rather seen this than the weird felt dog looking mask the werewolves wore. A lot of indie films dodge werewolves due to budget restraints and maybe the filmmakers should have this one as well. Overall, Lycan Colony has a lot of promise but fails to pull it all together to create something enjoyable. I wanted to like this one but it was extremely difficult to finish. Visual Vengeance has released some seriously underrated titles, but this is not one of them.

Vampires and Other Stereotypes

Director - Kevin J. Lindenmuth (Rage of the Werewolf, Monstersdotcom)

Starring - Bill White (Heartwood), Ed Hubbard (Kissing Cousins Monster Babies and Morphing Elvis, The History of Everything Circa 1993), and Wendy Bednarz (There's Nothing Out There)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Vampirism... don't believe the hype"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a fan of Wild Eye Releasing for damn near a decade now. I love the indie releases they put out on DVD. They get films that would normally be looked over by genre fans out there for people to discover. I'm a huge champion of indie cinema and love the indie releases they put out. Hell, even if I don't like the film I still have fun watching it. When Wild Eye announced the creation of their sister label Visual Vengeance, I thought they would be focusing on new indie horror titles like their Wild Eye line. I was wrong. What Visual Vengeance did was something I had hoped other boutique labels would do and bring us low quality indie horror films from the late 80s through early 2000s to bluray. While companies like Vinegar Syndrome do this with films from the video store era and before, VV delivers movies that these types of labels would often skip over due to the films being too goofy, amateurish, and far from perfect. I recently was sent their release of Vampires and Other Stereotypes for review and couldn't wait to dig into it. I want to thank Wild Eye and Visual Vengeance for sending this one over! 

      The film follows a man and his partner that fight supernatural creatures, so they don't wreak havoc on mankind. During a routine mission they find a man being held captive in an abandoned building. They save him but decide to interrogate him when they are interrupted by a man who brought three women there to party. The man is actually a demon and brought the women there to breed and when they crossed over into the building it was taken to hell forcing everyone inside to fight for their lives or die gruesome deaths at the hands and claws of hell spawn. 

      Vampires and Other Stereotypes is a film I was not familiar with prior to this release but the artwork fucking sold me on it. The movie itself is a bit of a low-quality film with not a lot of opportunity to restore it. Visual Vengeance did a great job with the film but the video is not the best quality. I can only assume they did the best with what they had and I'm grateful for it. The film was a lot of fun especially if you are a fan of shows like Kolchak: The Night Stalker and The X-Files. The acting in this one is inconsistent. Some of the cast delivers solid performances but the rest of the cast is extremely stiff and awkward to watch. Their dialogue delivery feels forced and they don't get into character like the rest of the cast. It's not the worst I've seen but some scenes were a little difficult to finish. The story for this one is very bold for a no budget S.O.V. horror flick but I loved it. A secret group of people fighting things that go bump in the night while the world's population is oblivious to the fact has always intrigued me. I also loved how the film is completely locked in this one location yet was able to progress the story. That is brilliant writing with budget in mind. I also loved the back story they established with hell, the demons, and how the building was taken to hell. We get something very different than what you would expect in hell from a Christian standpoint. With that being said, some of the scenes are a bit too long. Some trimming would go a long way. Finally, the film has a lot of fun practical effects. The wall of heads that is reminiscent of Coffin Joe was awesome to see along with the great make-up effects. We also get some fun deaths that are bloody with decent enough practical effects. The film clearly had a low budget, but the effects still find their mark. Overall, Vampires and Other Stereotypes was an awesome early 90s S.O.V. horror flick. The title does kind of suck but the film is well worth your time. Be sure to grab the blu from Visual Vengeance!

He Knows

Director - Steven Morris

Starring - Kayla Kelly (Straight Edge Kegger, The Devil's Left Hand), Zach Meiser (American Horror Story, A Haunting), and Lynn Lowry (Shivers, The Crazies)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "He knows when you've been good or bad, so be good for your own sake!"

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

      I hate how slow I am to review movies but with a day job and three kids I rarely find time to work in movies to watch and review like I used to. I can still knock out one movie a day but that doesn't do much to cut down on the stack of movies sitting beside my television and the dozen or so links waiting patiently in my email. Which is why I'm just now getting around to watching and reviewing a Christmas slasher sent to me from before October. At the end of September, I made a post looking for indie horror flicks to watch and review and was slammed with responses. I loved the amount of people that were kind enough to send over their films to review but I was a bit overwhelmed. One of those films was He Knows which was recently added to Tubi to stream for free. I wasn't able to watch it then, but I was able to finally check it out after watching Dave Kerr's Go Away. I want to thank director Steven Morris for letting me know his film was on Tubi to check out. 

      The film follows a mother and her daughter as Christmas approaches. She tells her daughter the story about an evil elf names Sammy that abducts those that are naughty and takes them back to work in his shop. The story she tells her is inspired by an incident during her childhood when her father was murdered, and her half-brother was abducted by a man in an elf mask. Now she is a mother with a daughter of her own when the murders start again. 

      I knew He Knows as a holiday slasher going into it, but I didn't want to wait the rest of the year to watch it during the Christmas season. With that being said, while it does take place during Christmas, it doesn't really feel like a Christmas horror film. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the hell out of it but it falls short as a Christmas slasher. The acting in this one is solid but there was plenty of room to grow. We have a supporting role from the legendary Lynn Lowry and a small role from Jessa Flux but the remainder of the cast was fairly new to me. I liked the cast and will look further into their work but there were a few scenes where the acting was inconsistent. It's clear that a good bit of the cast has little to no experience in front of the camera, but their inexperience doesn't make the film horrible. I love watching actors grow from film to film. The story for this one gets a little messy near the end but I enjoyed the ride for the most part. I loved the family dynamic of the protagonist, the drug dealer and his stoner entourage, and the entire set up of the film. However, like I stated earlier, the film did not feel like a Christmas film. My favorite slashers happen to be set around Christmas, so I am always open to any horror film set around this time of year. He Knows just didn't look the part. The story could have been set at any other time during the year or holiday with some clever writing and it would have worked. If you take away the Christmas aspect of the film, you are given a slasher that does work until the the last leg of the film. The slow buildup of the story with the cycle of everyone dying one by one is a lot of fun. The ending is more complicated than it needed to be, but I understand the urge to set your film out from other no budget slashers. Finally, the film has some clever deaths that film the characters. The effects work for the scene with one kill really standing out. I would have liked to see more gore but you can't do what you don't have the budget for. Overall, He Knows is a fun indie slasher that has some room for improvement. While I don't see myself adding this one to my December viewing list, I can see myself revisiting this one from time to time. Fans of slashers and indie horror can appreciate this one. Check it out.