Pumpkin Guts: Devil's Night

Director - R. J. De Leon Vega (The Haunting of Hill House)

Starring - Josie Hull (X People, The Sisters Kardos) and Kyle Kouri 

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     As I'm writing this we are just a week away from October and the beginning of my month long horror binge.  Many that know me know that I spend the entire month of October watching as many horror and Halloween titles that I can.  However, a few Halloween titles has been sent my way for review and instead of waiting I decided to go ahead and give them a spin.  The first Halloween flick of the season was the horror short Pumpkin Guts: Devil's Night from director R. J. De Leon Vega.  I want to thank R. J. for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a man who is preparing for a rowdy Halloween when a young woman wearing a mask appears at his door step.  He tries to persuade her to leave but she doesn't do so willingly.  Eventually she leaves his porch and he retreats back into his home.  However, once inside his home he finds her there and her true intentions are finally revealed and his true identity is revealed.

     Pumpkin Guts: Devil's Night may be just a short but it's better than at least 90% of the feature length films I've seen that are centered around Halloween.  I loved the acting, the short and simple story, and the effects are better than most of the moderately budgeted indie productions I review.  This short impressed me all around and it's one I hope to add to my October binge yearly.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  Josie Hull is great as the mysterious masked trick or treater.  She does a solid job but her character is not that demanding.  However, Kyle Kouri's performance was great.  I loved the energy he has in front of the camera and his personality more than made up for his co-star's emotionless character.  The story for this one is pretty simple and straight forward.  We follow a mysterious woman/young teenager who gets inside the home of a foul-mouthed man who is hiding his own secret.  It's a clever story that absolutely works for a short and I think there is just enough meat on the bone to be stretched into a feature length.  Finally, the film goes out with a bang.  We get some great practical effects and just enough gore to satisfy the most deranged of genre fans.  Overall, Pumpkin Guts: Devil's Night is a fantastic Halloween treat that isn't a trick.  It's well written, acted, and gleefully gory.  I highly recommend checking this one out.

     

Backmask

Director(s) - Chris Baker and Matt Fitch (Google Stories: Brown Moses, The Other Side of the Fence)

Starring - David Shields (Doctor Who, Black Mirror), Charlie Rix (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Martyr's Lane), and Jeannie Eggleton (Wonder Woman, Evermoor)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "When the music stops the nightmare begins!"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been writing reviews for Horror Society for over ten years now and I tend to notice a pattern when I'm working on them.  I can go several weeks or months without a horror short sent over for review but when I finally get one, they usually come in pairs.  A few weeks back I was sent the Hallmark inspired horror short Cookies for Christmas to review which I accidentally forgot about.  When I finally got ready to give it a go I received an email asking to review another horror short title Backmask.  I decided to double feature them both and it was a damn good time.

     The film follows a musician that found success with his band.  However, he wants to create something that is purely his own.  This prompts him to buy an old Georgian mansion to live in while he records his solo record.  However, while recording his recorded he discovers a sinister voice inside his tape recorder requesting he do more in order to find that one thing he's missing from his record.

      When I was asked to review Backmask I was sent over some images, a trailer, and the press release which really peaked my interest in the film.  With that being said, it did not prepare me for how beautifully shot this one is.  When you combine that with the fantastic cast and solid story you are left with a horror short that far surpassed my expectations.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  The cast is extremely small and while everyone carried their own weight, it's David Shields that makes the film.  Everyone has amazing on screen chemistry, the dialogue works and feels genuine, and everyone involved goes all in.  The story for this one is great for a short but could be so much more if they were to expand on it.  I loved the idea of a film set in the 70s where a man sacrifices those close to him for fame.  It's a great premise for a short but I would have loved to learn more about the supernatural presence and what happens to him once he makes the sacrifices.  Finally, the film has some blood but that's the extent of it.  It works for the film but those of us with a taste for gore will be a bit disappointed.  Overall, Backmask is one of the best horror shorts I've seen during my tenure at Horror Society.  While I do have some questions, it was still a phenomenal watch.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  

Cookies for Christmas

Director - Adam Raynes (Sweet Satan's Diaper, Turn Around)

Starring - Ashlynn Hideman (My Name is Sam, Deadly Promises), Jason Potter (Life and Death, Sin Eater), and Carissa Rasmussen 

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I can appreciate almost each and every trend in movie history to some degree.  I'm not a fan of found footage but I absolutely respect the hell out of it.  The same can be said for romantic comedies, shark films, and social media centered horror films.  I may not like them but I respect their place in history.  However, the biggest blight to cinema is the Hallmark movies.  I absolutely despise these films and to this day I'm still surprised by how many people, my wife included, love these films with the rehashed stories, the cloned cast, and cookie cutter locations.  A few weeks ago I was asked to check out the holiday themed horror short Cookies for Christmas.  I agreed to it and then promptly forgot to add it to my watch list.  I then moved it up my watch list after I was reminded that I had yet to review it.  I'm glad I did because I really enjoyed it.  

     The film follows a busy realtor returning to her small hometown from New York to visit her family when she finds that her mom and dad have been called away last minute to work.  She is then greeted by neighbor who is babysitting her younger sister while they are away.  The pair are baking cookies for a bake sale when news of a deranged killer escaping custody is announced on the radio in the background.  While the child sleeps, the two adults talk about local events when the killer appears in the home.

     I knew very little about this short aside from the fact that it was a Hallmark inspired horror short which is a brilliant idea if you ask me.  Hell, I hope this short inspires other filmmakers to parody the every growing Hallmark holiday films.  The acting in this one is absolutely amazing.  The cast is extremely small but there is no weak links to be had.  The cast gets along very well, the dialogue comes across as very natural, and the scenes are very grounded.  The story for this one did remind me a lot of the classic Tales from the Crypt segment ...And All Through the House that was later adapted into an episode of the 90s television show.  This Christmas tale also features a beautiful woman at home during the holiday while a madman is on the loose.  While I did immediately think about that, I still enjoyed it especially with the cliched Hallmark approach to it with small town girl returning home from the big city to find love.  It's funny and works especially as a short.  Finally, the film has some blood and a simple make-up gag that is effective.  It's not the bloodiest or most violent film I've seen but I enjoyed it for what it was.  Overall, Cookies for Christmas is a solid effort at parodying the abysmal Hallmark films that plague our holidays,  I can't recommend this film enough and I hope that this leads to more filmmakers doing the same.  Check it out.  

Crocodile

Director - Sompote Sands (Space Warriors 2000, Hanuman vs. 7 Ultraman)

Starring - Nard Poowanai (Hands of Death, Ghost Hotel), Ni Tien (Human Lanterns, Corpse Mania), Angela Wells (Beyond Suspicion)

Release Date - 1979

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "From the slimy depths of the ocean.... nature explodes with savage fury"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    I've been a huge fan of the when nature attacks sub-genre for as long as I can remember.  I remember sitting with my grandma and watching Night of the Lepus with her.  From then on I remember watching countless movies featuring killer animals or common animals mutated by mad science or the like.  These campy, drive-in era films may not be perfect but very few people will deny how entertaining they are.  A few weeks back my friends over at Synapse Films sent over the blu release of the 1979 Thai horror film Crocodile from director Sompote Sands.  Like always, I want to thank Synapse for sending this one my way.  

    The film follows two doctors who are constantly working much to their wife's dismay.  However, they convince their dedicated men to go on vacation that would inadvertently turn into their last.  While at the beach both women are brutally attacked in the ocean and they suspect it was something other than a shark that did the heinous act.  When local fisherman start reporting large crocodile's in the ocean they soon realize they are dealing with something extremely unusual and deadly.  They quickly jump into action to catch or kill it when a small riverside village is attacked.

     Crocodile is one I had heard about for years but never had the opportunity to check it out.  It wasn't until Synapse sent over the blu release that I had actually seen the film in physical form.  This made me dig a little deeper into the release history on this one.  Honestly, I'm glad I waited until now because Synapse did a fantastic job and I'm glad it was their release that I watched for the first time.  However, I didn't really care for the film.  While I loved the giant croc carnage, the film was painfully dull.  The acting in this one was fairly well done.  The film is extremely campy and while the acting is a bit cheesy, some of the more action packed scenes does feature some solid acting.  The characters are a bit flat but the cast does their best to make them stand out and not blend in with the background.  The story for this one is pretty cliched by this point.  We've all seen movies where an animal, in this case it's a croc, that is mutated to bigger than normal sizes and terrorizes a small town.  It's textbook by this point.  However, most of these films are able to pull together scenes that are watchable.  Crocodile does not do this.  Instead, we get long, drawn out scenes full of the most pointless dialogue I've seen to date.  A lot of editing and trimming down of scenes would have help the pacing in this one tremendously.  Finally, the film has some blood and some fun camera tricks to make the croc look bigger than it actually is.  The miniatures are fun as well which adds to the appeal of the effects.  Overall, Crocodile has some fun effects and some solid acting but the story and editing makes it difficult to finish.  Sadly, this is one I would recommend skipping.   

The Crippled Masters

Director - Chi Lo (Black Magic, The Hell)

Starring - Sung-Chuan Shen (The Crippled Heroes, Fighting Life), Chao-Ming Kang (Raiders of the Shaolin Temple, Fighting Life), and Chiu Ho 

Release Date - 1979

Genre - Action

Tagline - "Two crippled brothers  one indestructible force.  Revenge against all odds!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've always had a fondness for old martial arts films.  I remember watching several of them with my dad as a kid and several more with friends during my teenage years.  When I was in college I remember snagging a poorly made DVD release of 1979's The Crippled Masters to watch with some friends while we were drinking.  I remember really liking the movie but hating that barebones release with VHS quality video.  I held on to it just in case I ever wanted to watch it again and forgot about it over time.  However, that changed when Film Masters sent over their new release of the film on blu.  This gave me the perfect opportunity to revisit it.  Like always, I want to thank Film Masters for sending this one over.  

     The film follows two men who find themselves severely disabled by a gang that they once proudly supported.  Now, one without arms and the other without the use of his legs, must work together to become one warrior and stop their former gang from terrorizing more people.

     I seriously enjoy this zany yet amazingly choreographed martial arts film.  Not only because of the great character development but because the fight scenes truly have to be seen to be believed.  The acting in this one is pretty cheesy at times but that's part of the charm that makes Hong Kong cinema so much fun.  The characters, for the most part, had a great back story which gave the cast a lot to work with.  When you mix these great attempts at serious acting with the language barrier and the kung fu films of the 70s and you get something that is wildly entertaining.  The story for this one is is pretty straight forward but so much fun.  Two disabled men working together to make up for their short comings to battle an evil organization that they were once apart of is pretty poetic if you ask me.  Sure, there isn't a lot of depth in other aspects with all the creativity placed on the two stars and their connection to the story along with the choreography but it's more than enough to hold your attention.  Finally, The film has a few  bloody moments and two really gags making using of the actor's disabilities.  They are extremely campy but they work very well for the film.  With that being said, this is not a gory flick so those looking for that will be very disappointed.  Overall, The Crippled Masters is an iconic piece of Hong Kong cinema that all genre fans can appreciate.  The release from Film Masters is the go to release for this one.  As I said earlier, the DVD release I had before was garbage with this one being night and day better.  I highly recommend it.  

The Right Hand of the Devil

Director - Aram Katcher (I Dream of Jeannie, Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens)

Starring - Aram Katcher, Lisa McDonald, and Brad Trumbull (A Gathering of Eagles, The Longshot)

Release Date - 1963

Genre - Crime

Tagline - "The most Satanic plot since "Diabolique"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I get a lot of films in for review that I've never heard of before which only peaks my curiosity of said films.  I love going into a movie completely blind with no preconceived notions about them.  Recently I was sent a copy of Film Master's Door to Door Maniac.  This 1961 crime thriller starred country legend Johnny Cash and was every bit as entertaining as I had hoped.  The released included another early 60s crime film that I had never heard of before.  The film, 1963's The Right Hand of the Devil, featured the tagline "The most Satanic plot since "Diabolique" which really made my imagination work overtime.  As soon as I finished Door to Door Maniac I quickly tossed in The Right Hand of the Devil!

     The film follows a criminal mastermind that put together a plan to rob a racetrack.  He begins by putting together a small team and then seducing the older teller at the track to get access.  Once he has her head over hills for him he he sets out to rob them.  Once done he celebrates with his team where he poisons them to tie up any loose ends along with disposing of the teller.  He then packs up all the money and flees to Rio to live the high life until someone from the crime unexpectedly appears.  

     I was very curious about this one after seeing that tagline and I honestly enjoyed it.  I noticed that it was directed by and starring Katcher which made it very clear that it was a vanity project.  The movie is essentially a criminal mastermind that is always two steps ahead and is smooth with the ladies finds his next score and pulls it off with a little twist near the end.  Yea, a vanity project for sure.  The acting in this one is very enjoyable.  Katcher himself carries the film and he makes sure he doesn't shorten himself any screen time.  I really like his character and how arrogant and intelligent he is.  He does a wonderful job bringing him to life and the film would not be near as fun as it is if this character wasn't so flamboyant.  The supporting cast does a fantastic job as well but they are nowhere near the same level as Katcher's.  The story for this one is very forward and you can see the twist ending coming a mile away but I'm sure it was rather clever for an early 60's crime drama.  It's not as dark as I was hoping for but the level of detail that went into the heist and so on was actually very impressive.  I would have loved to see a much bigger twist but I respect the one we do have.  Finally, the film does have some make-up effects but if you want some blood and gore then you will be disappointed here.  Overall, The Right Hand of the Devil was a surprisingly enjoyable bonus film in this set.  While the plot was not "satanic" by any means, it was still fun.  I highly recommend it.  

Five Minutes to Live

Director - Bill Karn (Gang Busters, Ma Barker's Killer Brood)

Starring - Johnny Cash (The Johnny Cash Show, The Pride of Jesse Hallam), Donald Woods (The Felony Squad, True Grit), and Cay Forester (Queen of the Amazons, Mike Hammer)

Release Date - 1961

Genre - Crime/Thriller

Tagline - "A woman's price drops fast as the time limit ticks away!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school Johnny Cash releases his American IV: The Man Comes Around album and that was the first time that I actually listened to his music on my own.  My dad was an avid country fan so I was very familiar with his earlier songs but that album was the turning point for me.  It's been sometime since then but it wasn't long after the release of that album that he passed away.  Over the years I learned that he had not only appeared in several television shows and hosted his own, but he had starred in several films over the years.  A friend of mine actually picked up the soundtrack and DVD for The Pride of Jesse Hallam not long after his death and we checked it out.  My knowledge of Cash's films is very limited but I've always been open to checking them out.  A few weeks back Film Masters sent over a review copy of 1961's Five Minutes to Live under it's alternate title Door to Door Maniac.  I was looking forward to checking out this crime thriller and I want to take a moment to thank Film Masters for sending this one my way!

   The film follows a career criminal who partners with another like minded criminal to rob a bank.  Their plan is for one of them to hold a bank employee's wife hostage and use that as leverage so the bank employee will happily hand over the money without calling the police right away.  However, their plan has a few flaws.  The first is that the man responsible for taking care of the wife is a bit unhinged.  He forces her to listen to his songs and is sexually forceful with her.  Also, the bank employee informs them that he wants to leave his wife for his mistress and killing her would be doing him a favor.  Now, the partner is arrested at the bank and the man with a hostage is forced to fight for his life when the police arrive at the home.

     I went into this one thinking it was going to be a crime thriller but what I actually watched was a an odd crime drama that was more enjoyable than it would have been if it was as advertised.  The movie takes an odd approach and actually uses Cash for his talents which is awkward at times but purely enjoyable.  The acting in this one is pure entertainment.  This was clearly when Cash was popping pills as his attention in some of the scenes is very short lived.  His eyes are frantically darting around the scene as if he's bored or forgot what he was doing.  However, during the scenes that rely on his performance, he absolutely kills it.  The supporting cast delivers fantastic performances but be honest with yourself.  When you see a movie starring the legendary Man in Black you don't pick it up for anyone else.  The story for this one is a pretty solid crime flick that fumbles on the thriller aspect.  The crime aspect with the bank employee with his mistress, the wife at home living the cookie cutter life, the criminal who randomly plays songs to his hostage, and the foiled bank robbery actually works.  It's not predictable for the most part and the character dynamic is very well written.  While the musical numbers are a bit out of place, they are still fun and makes great use of Cash's talents.  Finally, this is not a bloody film.  Hell, it's not even a thrilling film.  However, it is different and doesn't require a body count to hold your attention.  Overall, Door to Door Maniac is much more enjoyable than I was expecting.  Cash is absolutely amazing in this especially when you know his history and how he was during this time.  I highly recommend snagging this one on blu from Film Masters.  You will not be disappointed.  

Screamwalkers

Director - Sean King (The Ghouligans! Super Show!, Hunter's Moon)

Starring - Elizabeth Davoli (In America, To Be the Best), Sasha Graham (Trivial, Side Effects May Vary), and Julia DeVita (Distant Things)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "You're gonna need more than nine lives"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago now I befriended filmmaker Sean King when I came across a post of his for his series The Ghouligans.  I spoke with him some and he was kind enough to send over a few discs with several episodes on them.  I immediately fell in love with them and I've been fortunate to add most of their releases to my collection over the years.  Since then I've kept an eye on his project on social media so I can stay in the loop.  Sometime back he started posting about his newest horror comedy Screamwalkers.  I wanted to contribute to the crowdfunding campaign at the time but money was a little too tight for me to do so.  However, I quickly snagged a copy when I saw that it was now available and up to order.  

     The film follows a young girl in a small college town sometime after her boyfriend was brutally murdered.  When another murder happens nearby she connects with a young man who lost his pregnant girlfriend during the murders.  The two become close but as more murders occur and they both become prime suspects.  That is until one of the detectives assigned to the case comes face to face with the killer donning a cat mask.  Now they must uncover the secret behind the new string of killings and how they are connected to the one's from the young woman's past.  

     I knew Screamwalkerss was going to be a parody flick but I didn't realize how many films it would actually parody.  It was a lot of fun and offered up some clever humor without going overboard similar to films like Scary Movie.  The acting in this one was funny when it was meant to be and solid during the more important scenes.  The film is obviously not to meant to be taken seriously and the acting is pretty campy throughout most of it.  Fans of Chris Seaver and Troma will know exactly what I mean by that.   The story for this one pays homage/parodies so many iconic horror franchises.  The first is the obvious Scream nod. then we have Monster Squad, Sleepwalkers, and a few more that are alluding me at the moment.  It's obvious King is a genre fan with a wonderful sense of humor and used that to his advantage to make a Scream parody without it feeling like another Scary Movie.  Finally, the film has a surprising amount of gore that looks very well done.  I wasn't expecting that much of a throw back to 80s carnage with this one but the kills are violent and look absolutely great.  Overall, Screamwalkers is the 90's S.O.V. Scream parody that you didn't know you needed in your life.  While it's not perfect, it more than makes up for it's shortcomings with humor and gore.  I highly recommend it.  

The Profane Exhibit

Director(s) - Jeremy Kasten (The Dead Ones, Devil in the Details), Uwe Boll (House of the Dead, Rampage), Ruggero Deodato (Cannibal Holocause, Deathcember), Anthony DiBlasi (Last Shift, Malum), Marian Dora (Voyage to Agatis, Blight of Humanity), Ryan Nicholson (Torched, Gutterballs), Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Dragon Chef, Meatball Machine Kodoku), Sergio Stivaletti (The Wax Mask, Dogman's Rabies), and Nacho Vigalondo (V/H/S Viral, Collossal)

Starring - Christine Ahanotu (The Reunion, The Mojave Sisters), Didac Alcaraz (Trash Ninjas, Something Huge), and U. Bernard (Morbid Montage)

Release Date - 2013

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "There are no boundaries"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     For years I've heard talks about the extreme horror anthology The Profane Exhibit from genre fans who get off on films like August Underground and the Vomit Gore series.  At one point in time I wasn't interested at all in the project because these types of films don't appeal to me.  While I love gore and blood, most extreme horror flicks focus too much on gore and trying to be edgy instead of giving viewers a decent story.  However, that changed when I saw that director Ryan Nicholson was involved.  What films of his I had scene I thoroughly enjoyed.  I kept an eye on the project and after a few years it was evident that it found itself in distribution hell.  That was until recently when Stephen Biro announced that he was releasing the film, eleven years after completion, on blu and DVD.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  I want to thank Unearthed and MVD for sending this one over!

     The film follows a group of the world's wealthiest and depraved who get together to tell stories that is not for the faint of heart.  These stories range from a serial rapist, an evil surgeon, a doctor who has turned his back on his oath, and many more.

     I went into The Profane Exhibit knowing absolutely nothing about it aside that it was meant to be an extreme anthology featuring some of the world's most popular underground filmmakers at the time.  I don't mind extreme horror if they have more to them than gore and "shocking" scenes.  The Profane Exhibit did have some solid enough stories but I still found myself very underwhelmed by a film that, honestly, was not as gruesome as I was expecting.  The acting in this one is actually very well done in every segment.  Typically, an anthology with segment from various filmmakers usually features inconsistent acting.  However, that is not the case here.  Each segment features some serious acting from various walks of life and experience.  I was honestly impressed in this regard.  The stories for this anthology are where the film lost me.  Some of them are extremely slow paced and dull while others are in your face and action packed.  Segments Mother May I?, Bridge, Tophet Quorom, Sins of the Father, and Mors in Tabula are extremely dull in my opinion and while they may showcase some great effects, the are unable to hold the viewer's attention with lack of storytelling.  On the other side of the same coin, segments Basement (from Uwe Boll of all people), Goodwife, and Manna are very enjoyable but you have to make it through the other segments to enjoy them.  Finally, this film has a lot fantastic practical effects.  While some of the segments use more blood and gore than others, they all have amazing looking effects that rivals anything you've seen before or since.  Overall, The Profane Exhibit had some amazing gore but the overall film was a huge let down.  I love Unearthed Films and can recommend dozens of other releases of theirs to check out but this is not one of them.  Skip it.  

     

Cocaine Werewolf

Director - Mark Polonia (Pandasaurus, Teddiscare)

Starring - Brice Kennedy (Splatter Beach, Black Mass), Yolie Canales (Amityville in Space. Sharkula), and James Carolus (Children of Camp Blood, Return to Splatter Farm)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "You can run.  You can hide, but he will always sniff you out!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few years ago the horror comedy Cocaine Bear hit theaters and caused quit the stir among indie filmmakers.  The simple idea of something deadly finding cocaine and becoming an unstoppable killing machine is a lot of fun.  In fact, I'm shocked this wasn't a massive trend during the drive-in era.  Could you image a double feature of drug fueled animals during the heyday of drive-in cinema?  Anyway,  since Cocaine Bear hit theaters we've seen a slew of other drug fueled films like Methgator, Cocaine Crabs from Outer Space, Cocaine Shark, and Crackcoon.  A few weeks ago I received a press release for a film I was not expecting.  Cleopatra Entertainment sent word that they would be releasing Mark Polonia's Cocaine Werewolf.  While that was not a title I was expecting, it was one I refused to miss out on.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.  I want to thank MVD and Cleopatra Entertainment for hooking me up with a review copy.  

     The film follows a stoke broker with a nose for coke finds himself wondering through the woods where he encounters someone cursed.  This choice encounter also leaves him cursed to wonder the night as a werewolf.  Nearby, an indie film crew is working on a killer clown film and come face to face with the coked out werewolf.

     A Polonia film is always hit or miss with me.  Sometimes I enjoy the no budget charm and the absurd stories but other times it's clear the film was rushed to cash in on a specific craze and no regard to quality.  While I was very interested in a coke fueled werewolf flick, I figured it was going to be on of the film that was rushed to store shelves were still talking about drug-filled horror titles.  I was wrong.  I found myself actually enjoying this one way more than I should have.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven but I did enjoy it for the most part.  Some of the characters had more time spent on them.  They are well written which gave the cast something to work with.  On the flip side of that, some of the characters are painfully flat and one dimensional which resulted in flat performances from their respective actors.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward but so much fun.  While originality is not at the forefront of this film, it's the absurd moments and no budget charm that makes this one as enjoyable as it is.  Swapping out a bear with a werewolf is something I was not expecting, and while it doesn't feel like a standard werewolf flick, it still held my attention through the entirety of the film's run time.  While I would have added a bit more backstory to the werewolf, it still works as is.  Finally, the film makes use of a cheap werewolf mask and a few cheap gags.  We get some blood splatter here and there and kills that are not that impressive.  Overall, Cocaine Werewolf was a lot of fun but I can already predict that many of you will quickly rush to the comment section to claim this review was bought by Mark Polonia and Cleopatra Entertainment.  It wasn't and I honestly enjoyed it.  Sure, I would have loved better performances and some gnarly gore but it is what it is.  Cocaine Werewolf does for coked out stoke brokers as Wolfcop does for alcoholic cops.  I highly recommend snagging this one.

Dr. Jekyll vs the Werewolf

Director - Leon Klimovsky (Trauma, A Dragonfly for Each Corpse)

Starring - Paul Naschy (The Night of the Werewolf, Mystery on Monster Island), Shirley Corrigan (Syndicate Sadists, Hard to Remember), and Jack Taylor (The Ninth Gate, Edge of the Axe)

Release Date - 1972

Genre - Horror

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been fortunate enough to review a couple dozen horror flicks over the years that featured the legendary actor and director Paul Naschy.  His career is nothing short of legendary having portrayed werewolves, monsters, mad men, and the like in dozens, if not hundreds, of films.  His a name I became familiar with early on in my youth once I became obsessed with the genre when a friend of mine introduced me to Horror Rises from the Tomb.  Since then I've watched several films of his including several that were sent my way for review.  What I find funny is that all of the films that were sent to me for review were ones I had never seen before.  That was until Mondo Macabro sent me Dr. Jekyll vs. the Werewolf for review.  This was the first Nashy lead film that I was sent to review that I had actually seen before.  I had seen this one sometime ago when Halloween was approaching and really enjoyed it and I was looking forward to revisiting it.  I want to take a moment to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over!

     The film follows a man who is searching for a cure to his lycanthropy.  In his search he meets a young woman visiting his homeland who has ties to a scientist.  The scientist has access to his grandfathers work and thinks it may come in handy in curing him of his curse.  However, his grandfather's serum does not work according to plan and unleashes his grandfather's alter ego, Mr. Hyde.  

     Dr. Jekyll vs the Werewolf is the sixth time that Naschy has played a werewolf.  I can't confirm if they are a continuation of the other characters or not but it's still fun to marathon them all.  When it comes to Naschy's films, and he's had a lot, this is probably the most bizarre and absurd story I've seen.  While it's far from perfect, it still has it's own charm and is well worth a watch.  The acting in this one is very uneven but still very enjoyable.  Naschy isn't the star of the show but he is fantastic as always.  He delivers what I would consider a classic Naschy performance which blends a commanding performance with classic horror tropes.  The remainder of the cast, including the film's lead, is great as well but there was times when their performances just didn't fit the energy of some of their co-stars.  The story for this one is wild and I couldn't imagine what it was like to genre fans during the early 70s.  Pinning two legendary horror creatures against each other has been done since the early days at Universal Studios.  Even Naschy has pitted classic movie monsters against each other.  However, a film where a werewolf is given Dr. Jekyll's formula is something no one has expected.  This can be said over 50 years later.  It's a wild story that really does hold the viewer's attention from beginning to end.  Finally, the film has some blood and a decent enough looking werewolf mask but the lack of gore and practical effects is a bit disappointing.  Naschy's mask and make-up effects are solid but it's not enough to satiate the diehard gore fans.  Overall, Dr. Jekyll vs the Werewolf may not be the best werewolf flick to hit store shelves but it's still extremely entertaining.  I highly recommending grabbing this oddball release from Mondo Macabro.  It's well worth it.  

Special Silencers

Director - Arizal (Trouble Everywhere, American Hunter)

Starring - Barry Prima (Hello Ghost, London Virginia, Eva Arnaz (Please Be Patient!, Forgotten Rules), and W. D. Mochtar (Hell Raiders, Revenge of the Ninja)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Action/Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I started my writing career I was not very knowledgeable about foreign films but some binging of Asian splatter flicks made me realize that I cannot live on just American films alone.  Since then I've been actively searching for international films released by some of the boutique labels that I support.  A few weeks back my friends over at Mondo Macabro sent over the 1982 Indonesian action horror film Special Silencers.  The film, from what I can tell, finished production in 1979 but didn't release until 1982.  I don't know why but I'm glad it finally found an audience and I'm extremely grateful that MM took the time to release it.  It's a wild action oriented film that has horror elements planted deep in it.  I want to take a moment to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.  

     The film follows an evil man who killed his grandfather, a wise mystic, in order to get his hands on little red pills known as silencers.  If you use them correctly and meditate they can turn you into a strong martial arts master.  However, using them without the proper training results in a large tree growing out of your torso.  When a stranger arrives and discovers that several people have died after a tree has sprouted through them, he sets out to find the cause of it and stop it.  

     Like a majority of the Mondo Macabro releases, I knew absolutely nothing about this one prior to reviewing it.  The title had me scratching my head but all the artwork I had seen for the film prior to my viewing painted one hell of a film.  While the film was not AS wild as the artwork, it was still a lot of fun.  The acting in this one is what you would expect from a low budget regional flick from Indonesia.  The cast has several credits to their names and had decades in the entertainment industry but the rushed scenes, poorly written characters, and inexperienced supporting cast made a lot of the scenes feel comical in a way and didn't really showcase what the cast is capable of.  The story for this one is a lot of fun.  While it does feel more like an action oriented drama, it did have some horror elements that worked well especially if you are a fan of martial arts cinema.  The characters are not that well written but the scenes and outlandish story more than makes up for it.  It holds the viewer's attention very well and the action is a lot of fun.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood and some fun effects with the tree like thing bursting through the victims like chestbusters from Alien.  These effects look great for the film and horror fans will appreciate them.  Overall, Special Silencers may not be the bloodiest and goriest Asian horror flick I've seen but it was so much fun.  The martial arts is enjoyable and the story is absolutely wild.  I highly recommend it.  

Die, Daisy, Die!

Director - Mark Mackner (Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned, Daisy Derkins vs the Bloodthirsty Beast of the Pine Barrens)

Starring - Jessica Lynch, Falon Joslyn (American Exorcist, Alpha Girls), Bob Kaplan (Killerz II, The Play-Station Killed the Puppet)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy

Tagline - "The battle cry that could doom the whole Earth!"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few days ago I started out with what would be a triple feature of epic proportions.  As I've stated in recent reviews, I started watching the three installments of the Daisy Derkins saga that I had yet to see after director Mark Mackner contacted me about reviewing the newest film.  While I really enjoy the first film, Dogsitter of the Damned, I was not a fan of Bloodthirsty Beast of the Pine Barrens.  The series seemed to pick up a bit with Dinosaur Apocalypse which once again made me excited to check out the newest film Die, Daisy, Die.  I want to take a moment to thank Mark for sending this one over for review!

     The film, once again, follows the evil fighting Daisy Derkins (Lynch) who is now living a mundane life.  She finds herself employed for a company that has just launched a brand new dating app.  What she doesn't know is that the people behind the new app are actually lizard people from the center of the Earth in need of women to reproduce.  They partner with a man who has it out for Daisy when she failed to save his sister back during the first film.  Their plan is to go back in time to prevent Daisy from becoming the hero she is now so they can take all the women they require but Daisy is more resilient than they expected.  

     I went into this one knowing absolutely nothing about it aside from it being another installment of the Daisy Derkins series.  However, after the last two films I was ready for what I could only assume was going to be one wild ride.  The acting in this one does go back to what was seen in the second installment.  While a good portion of the cast does have some acting credits to their name on imdb, a lot of the scenes just felt stiff.  The cast almost delivers their dialogue in monotone with very little attempt at making it feel like casual conversation.  While that does feel like the entire film is shot this way, there is a few performances that I really enjoyed.  The story for this one is a bit all over the place and not as coherent as it could be.  A film following Daisy as she avoids the scheme of lizard people and a nemesis she doesn't know she has.  Solid plot on paper but the inconsistent editing and drawn out scenes makes the film a bit difficult to follow at times.  With that being said, the actually story is still able to be followed if you stick with it and is just absurd enough to work even with all the hiccups and imperfections.  Finally, the film is full of the cheesy and cheap visual effects and campy masks that you would expect from Mackner and crew.  While it's not a bloody mess like most genre fans like, it still delivers on those bad effects that fans of indie cinema look for.  Overall, Die, Daisy, Die was not as fun as Dogsitter of the Damned but I really enjoyed the over the top story and comical characters.  Honestly, I would have loved more lizard people and a little more meat on the bone in regards to their backstory but that's just me.  The film is a lot of fun as it especially if you watch it with like minded friends and some cheap beer.  Check it out.  

Daisy Derkins and the Dinosaur Apocalypse

Director - Mark Mackner (Evil Brew, Burning Down the Dollhouse or: The Legend of the Center City Bearhugger)

Starring - Nadia White (Mr. Buzzkill, Harvest of Horrors), Josip Peruzovic (Cool as Hell 2, WrestleMassacre), and Emilyanne Cusato (Dollface: Road to the Apocalypse, Brave the Dark)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy

Tagline - "It's not just any apocalypse"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I befriended filmmaker Mark Mackner several years ago, I did so as a way to follow his career and to keep up to date with his projects.  I was first introduced to his work when I found Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned while browsing indie horror on social media.  I was very impressed by the film and sought him out.  Since then he has released several sequels to the film on DVD and streaming which I've been lucky enough to grab for my collection.  However, I never took the time to actually watch them due to my day job, personal life, and reviewing films sent my way for review.  That changed when Mark reached out for my to review his newest film Die, Daisy, Die!  Instead of jumping directly into that installment, I would go ahead and check out the previous films.

     The film once again follows Daisy (White) who has now set her sights on professional wrestling along with her time traveling film.  However, while she is training there is an evil sorcerer and a mad scientist scheming together to unleash dinosaurs on Earth to kill Daisy.  

       I am a big fan of Dogsitter of the Damned and went into the follow up film The Bloodthirsty Beast of Barren Pines very excited.  However, it was nowhere near as fun as the first film which made me a bit nervous for the third film in the series starring adult film star Nadia White.  While it wasn't as fun as Dogsitter, it was still better than Bloodthirsty.  The acting in this one is by far the best of the three films I've seen.  Nadia White is no stranger in front of the camera in a variety of different horror titles, as well as, adult films.  Her portrayal of Daisy is probably my favorite incarnation of the character so far.  We also have a tremendous amount of memorable characters, many of which are also very comfortable in front of the camera.  They delivers solid performances that makes the story a little more bearable.  The story for this one just didn't hook me like the first one did.  I loved all the colorful characters and humor incorporated into them all but I was expecting a dinosaur apocalypse and not what the film actually delivered.  A lot of the scenes could have been trimmed down to make the pacing on the film much better and a little more action would have went a long way.  While I do love the idea of a sorcerer and a mad scientist getting together to plot a global scale catastrophe, it doesn't full feel like the scope the title suggests which is a bit of a bummer.  Finally, the film is not a gory one.  It has some blood and a lot of cheap visuals effects.  While these were funny from time to time, it does become a bit repetitive and the humor wears off quickly.  Overall, The Dinosaur Apocalypse is a bit better than the second film but it fails to leave an impact like the first film did.  It's worth a watch but I don't see myself revisiting it any time soon.  

Daisy Derkins vs. The Bloodthirsty Beast of Barren Pines

Director - Mark Mackner (Deadsville Rock n Roll Mysteries, The Embalmo the Clown Show)

Starring - Mary Sack (The Devilish Desire of Dario Dragani, Camp Blood 666), Dahlia DeSade (The Half-Life Horror from Hell or: Irradiated Satan Rocks the World!, Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned), and J.D. Korejko (Evil Brew, Bleeding Hearts)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I was digging through Instagram when I came across a post for the film Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned.  This jumped out to me and I quickly snagged a copy to review.  I fucking loved the film and sought the director out on social media.  I started following his projects from there and soon realized that he had made several Daisy Derkins films since Dogsitter of the Damned.  The years since then I've snagged a few of them to add to my collection but never found the time to watch them until now.  A few weeks back Mark reached out to review his newest installment which forced my hand to finally check the previous installments out.  The second film in the franchise, Daisy Derkins vs The Bloodthirsty Beast of Barren Pines, was not as fun as the first but did have it's moments.

      The film follows Daisy who has now come to the realization that she has the ability to defeat monsters and demons.  She finds herself hitching a ride with a punk trio when they break down in a wooded area with no phone service.  They decide to head out to look for help while leaving one person behind to stay with the car.  What they don't know is that an all female gang has just pulled off a deadly heist and is also walking through the woods along with a creature of unspeakable evil.

     I went into this follow up with a lot of excitement after remembering how much I enjoyed the first film.  Sadly, it just didn't have the same energy the first film had.  I did like a few things brought forward in this one but the overall film was lacking.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent.  While I did like some of the performances, most of the film is a bit awkward.  The cast is extremely stiff in front of the camera which results in dialogue that feels like it's being read off of cards out of view.  The performances that were not like this are overshadowed by the rest of the film.  The story for this one is pretty impressive but could have been shot better.  The idea of a punk band and Daisy Derkins wondering through the woods with a gang of killer women and a dinosaur should be something every horror fan can get behind.  However, the gang is not as menacing as I would have liked.  Could you imagine a female version of Last House on the Left?  Anyway, the dinosaur is underwhelming and the female gang is more for comedic effect than it is for carrying the story further.  Finally, the film is full of visual effects that are not visually appealing.  I love when funny horror comedies use bad CGI to add another layer of laughs to a film but here these are out of place.  Mix that with the little bit of blood you do get and you are in for a bit of disappointment.  Overall, The Bloodthirsty Beast of Barren Pines is nowhere near as fun as the first film.  There is parts of the film that I did enjoy but the overall film falls short of where it needs to be.  This is one I cannot recommend.  

Call of the Void

Director - J.M. Stelly (The Demonologist, Abacus)

Starring - Jared Bankens (Twisted Metal, Devil's Peak), Kirsten Bazet (Interview with the Vampire, Claws), and Katie Bankens 

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Death be not the end"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I recently had a double feature of films from director J.M. Stelly and really enjoyed myself.  I started this little adventure with his gritty crime thriller Abacus which was a lot of fun but it's similarities to the pop horror franchise Saw was very noticeable.  Once I finished with that one I moved on to his second film Call of the Void.  This was a bit of an unusual film being part silent and part narrated.  This was a bit of a creative gamble but I absolutely loved it.  I once again want to thank Stelly for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a man with a horrible addiction.  As he struggles with his creative outlets and addiction, he soon finds himself face to face with the void and the ghosts that haunt it.

     Call of the Void is one of those films that you are either going to love or absolutely hate it.  While I absolutely loved it, I can see why some genre fans will hate it.  It's a beautifully strange film with amazing cinematography and screen presence without taking away from the story.  The acting in this one is great.  The film has an extremely small cast but all eyes are on Jared Bankens who delivers a fucking intense performance.  I've seen mental illness and addiction before but he absolutely knocked it out of the park on camera.  This film should be seen for his performance alone.  The story for this one is a loving tribute to the silent era with a dash of German expressionism and a bit of the haunting madness that made Lovecraft a genre name.  It all comes together to deliver a very unique film experience that is rarely seen in the modern era.  As I stated earlier, this was a creative gamble that I do believe paid off.  With that being said, I wish it would have stuck with the silent aspect instead of switching between it and the narration.  Also, a few of the scenes were a bit too long which did impede the flow of the film.  Finally, don't expect a blood bath or a flick full or gore.  Instead, it relies heavily on atmosphere and tension which it does very nicely.  Overall, Call of the Void may be one of the most impressive indie productions I've reviewed to date.  I can see this title being polarizing among genre fans but I absolutely loved it.  I highly recommend checking it out.