Director's Cut

Director - Don Capria (Anecdota, Buckout Road)

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.  

     

People in the Walls

Director - Michael Crum (Malice, The Cursed Tapes)

Starring - Daffy Arellano (Blood Vow, Lake Fear), MarkAnthony Baca (Roadkill, The Legend of El Chupacabra), and Donny Boaz (Hidden Murder Island, Black Easter)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My October horror binge has been in full swing for several weeks now and I'm absolutely enjoying every minute of it.  I try to watch and review as many films as possible during October and a lot of times I find myself checking out movies I've never seen before.  Sadly, I can't always like the movie I'm watching.  Not all the movies sent to me for review are going to be ones I like and I may not be the targeted audience.  That doesn't mean they are bad movies, because they are not.  I still enjoy watching them and while I may not care for the film, I respect the amount of time and hard work that goes into them.  A few weeks back I was contacted by producer Gerald Crum to review several of his films.  After watching The Cursed Tapes, I moved on to the second film People in the Walls.

     The film follows a young girl who tries a viral game in hopes of talking with the "people in the wall."  Her first attempt fails but she soon tries again and this time she becomes a bit more successful.  She becomes obsessed with the idea of people in the walls and continues trying it before she accidentally unleashes something sinister from a world we cannot see.

     This is another film sent to my way for the October horror binge that I knew absolutely nothing about prior to viewing it.  I went into it thinking I was getting something like the People Under the Stairs but what I actually had here was a film that had a similar plot to Charlie Charlie, Tarot, and several more.  I wanted to love it but it had a lot working against it.  The acting in this one is really well done.  I really liked the cast and the young actors in this one do one hell of a job.  It's not often that I get a film in that predominately features a young cast that does as fantastic as this one does.    The supporting cast is great but these young actors kill it.  The story for this one is where the film loses me.  I've seen a dozen or so horror films that follows a youth or several of them as they try a viral craze, local legend, and so on only for it to come true forcing them to fight for their lives.  I've seen it so many times by this point and when you have a film that struggles with budget and other shortcomings, you find yourself with something that is difficult to finish.  The way the story unfolds is difficult to follow which throw the pacing of the film off.  Some major editing can fix this.  Finally, if you want something bloody and gory then you are out of luck.  We do have beautiful cinematography and very nice shots but those wanting blood will be disappointed.  Overall, People in the Walls is a bit rough but I was a fan of the cast.  While I don't recommend it in it's current state, a lot of editing could save it.  Until then, skip it.  

Spider Baby, or the Maddest Story Ever Told

Director - Dustin Ferguson (10/31 Part 4, Space Sharks)

Starring - Beverly Washburn (Old Yeller, Spider Baby), Brinke Stevens (Side Effects May Vary, Smart House), and Robert Allen Mukes (House of 1000 Corpses, Futureworld)

Release Date-  2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The maddest story ever told"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing films for a long ass time and some of my lowest rated films have all come from the same filmmaker, Dustin Ferguson.  Over the years I've reviewed several of his films and the only two that I enjoyed was Stale Popcorn and Sticky Floors and Direct to Video.  These two documentaries are actually pretty well put together and feature some solid interviews.  Hell, I reviewed them several years back and I still recommend them to people to this day.  With that being said, his films are mostly clickbait titles that offer up absolutely no value.  Sometime back he announced his plans to remake the cult classic Spider Baby, or the Maddest Story Ever Told with original producer Jack Hill.  The few horror fans that heard the news immediately brushed it off as another dud from Ferguson but I was curious.  I don't mind remakes and I fucking love the original Spider Baby so I didn't brush this one off.  Then I completely forgot about it until I received the press release from Scream Team Releasing announcing the blu release of the film.  I quickly snagged a copy and put it aside to add to my October horror binge.

     The film follows three siblings who suffer from Merrye Syndrome, a disease that eats away at the brain causing the inflicted to revert back to a child mentality which is brought about by inbreeding.  The oldest child, Ralph, has digressed further along than his two little sisters.  They live with their caretaker who receives word that some relatives are trying to force them off the land so they can sell it.  They visit their oddball cousins and soon learn that these three and the caretaker who will do anything for them, will not be leaving their family home without a fight.

     The original Spider Baby is one of my favorite genre titles and over the years I've met some seriously dedicated fans of this film.  In fact, when I posted on my social media accounts that I was watching this I was met with some not so nice comments.  Sure, people immediately jump the gun and hate remakes but these comments were aimed at the director remaking the film than the remake itself.  If you go through letterboxd or any other user based review site for films you will find a dozen or so 5 star reviews and then dozens of negative ones.  It's clear the 5 stars are from cast, crew of even Ferguson himself with the negative coming from people that actually watched the film.  Spider Baby is no different.  While it does try it's damnedest to pay tribute to the original, it wasn't able to fill it's shoes.  The acting in this one is extremely uneven.  While I did enjoy some of the scenes, some of the others were very awkward to watch.  I don't know if this was due to a rushed shoot, lack of rehearsals, or zero input from the director.  These scenes feature dialogue with no conviction, the cast standing around stiff as a board, and a few scenes even feature cast members aimlessly walking around as if they didn't know what to do next.  The story for this one is pretty faithful to the original.  While it does struggle with pacing issues and bringing the excitement that the original is known for.  What makes the original Spider Baby so enjoyable is the characters and their interactions with one another.  When the acting fails to be consistent like this remake does then you are left with a pretty bland story that doesn't hold the viewer's attention.  I respect Ferguson for trying to follow the film as closely as he does but he really needed to be more hands on with the acting.  Finally, don't expect a bloodbath.  We get a little blood here or there along with some cheap skeletons and the like but that is the extent of it.  Nothing memorable or noteworthy in that regard.  Overall, Spider Baby is the perfect example of cult cinema and how a movie can gain a following decades after it's release.  However, the remake is another one that is difficult to finish.  It lacks everything that made the first one so much.  I seriously wanted to like it but its another forgettable film from a clickbait director.  Skip it.  

The Cursed Tapes

Director - Michael Crum (Mold, Lake Fear 3)

Starring - "Donny Boaz (Black Easter, Girls Getaway Gone Wrong), Mark Christian (Kill Devil Hills, Fear Itself), and Natalia Santacoloma (People in the Walls, Mission from Outer Space)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Don't watch the tapes"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few weeks back I made a post on my Facebook page looking for indie horror films to watch and review for my annual October horror binge.  I received a bunch of comments and messages from several filmmakers, producers, actors, and so on wanting me to check out their work.  One such producer is Gerald Crum asking me to check out several of his films.  I appreciated him for reaching out and adding them to my list.  The first on the chopping block was The Cursed Tapes.  I want to take a minute to thank Gerald for sending this one my way.  

     The film follows a man who visits his late father's home to clear out his things so he can have an estate sale.  However, he uncovers a series of VHS tapes that his father had recorded prior to his death.  As he watches them he uncovers strange things happening on the tapes and before long he realizes that something sinister was living in the basement and his father was taking care of it while he kept it locked away.  

     I knew very tittle about this one before hoping into.  I had a slight assumption that I knew the basic outline after watching other horror films with cursed VHS tapes like Ring and V/H/S.  However, after finally seeing the film I can safely say that the title is not really reflective of what happens in the film.  The acting in this one is fairly well done.  The cast is fully committed to their roles but for most of the film we are given some extremely stiff performances that lack any depth.  I respect the hell out of this cast but a little more work on their dialogue and emotional range would have went a long way.  The story for this one could have been interesting but the way in which it was done does not work.  The title, The Cursed Tapes, doesn't really deliver on that.  The tapes in question are not cursed in a sense that you have in mind.  People watching these tapes don't die from a mysterious illness or masked killer.  Instead, the tapes just shows the viewer, the man in the film, how his father took care of the creature in the basement.  You would think the movie would pick up from then on but that's not the case.  His father's videos does nothing to expand the story and the remainder of the film is just following the film's lead as he fumbles around getting scared.  What we have is a film that has a decent premise but is unable to pull all their resources together to create something coherent and enjoyable.  Finally, the film has a fun looking creature at times that looks like it uses some solid visual effects but that is the extent of it all.  If you are looking for blood or gore then you will be very disappointed.  Overall, The Cursed Tapes is a cool idea that a lot of physical media fans could appreciate.  Many of us have a nostalgic love for VHS and love seeing that incorporated into a horror film.  Sadly, this one fails to deliver anything enjoyable.  This is one I would have to recommend skipping.  

A Quiet Place: Day One

Director - Michael Sarnoski (Pig, Fight Night Legacy)

Starring - Lupita Nyong'o (Big Mouth, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things, Overlord), and Alex Wolff (Hereditary, My Friend Dahmer)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Stay quiet.  Stay alive"
Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      The last decade or so has saw the rise of several horror franchises like The Purge, The Conjuring, X, V/H/S, and Terrifier to name a few.  One of the more popular properties is John Krasinki's A Quiet Place.  Krasinski, known to fans as Jim Halpert on the American reboot of The Office, created one of the most effective horror films of recent years.  It was obvious that the film would receive a sequel, which it did, but I was not expecting it to get a a prequel sometime later along with a video game.  Earlier this year the world was introduced to A Quiet Place: Day One.  I was not able to check it out during it's initial release but when the physical release was announced I was lucky enough to get the awesome UHD steelbook in for review just in time for Halloween!

     The film follows a terminally ill woman who goes into the city with her nurse to watch a puppet show.  However, on the way home she spot several objects falling from the sky.  Before long the people in the city are under attack by bloodthirsty creatures that seem to be attracted to sound.  She tries to stay quiet with a group of survivors but she decides to leave them and return to her home in Harlem.  Along the way she is reunited with her cat and finds a few other survivors.  The closer she gets to her home the more dangerous it becomes and the creatures that hunt by sound is listening for anyone to make a mistake.

     A Quiet Place brought a new dynamic to horror that hasn't been seen since the silent era of film.  Using tension, meticulous cinematography, and amazing acting they are able to bring the scares to the viewer without the use of sound.  It absolutely works and while I praise the film for how unique it is, I'm not the biggest fan.  I do like the films and enjoy watching the but I don't see much replay value in them.  It's not my favorite franchise but I do look forward to seeing where this franchise is going to take us especially with the video game coming.  Day One is a solid installment in the series but it doesn't really bring us anything new aside for some backstory.  The acting in this one is outstanding.  Nyong'o makes the film.  While the dialogue is a minimum, she is able to convey so many emotions through her facial expressions and mannerisms.  She draws the viewer in and you genuinely feel bad for her.  Quinn won many of us over when he was cast as Eddie in Stranger Things and delivered one hell of a performance on the show.  He does a fantastic job in this one as well but his character is nowhere near as enjoyable.  In fact, his character is severely lacking personality especially when you compare him to the others on the film.  The supporting cast is great as well but it's these two that we spend the most time with.  The story for this one is a bigger look at the beginning of the invasion.  We still don't get a lot of answers but we get a much bigger look at the beginning that was shown in the second film.  With that being said, the film doesn't really give us much more to go on.  We still follow people surviving in silence and monsters eating people.  While I would have loved to learn more about the creatures, where they come from, and why Earth, I still doubt we will ever get those answers.  Finally, I've always enjoyed the creature designs regardless of how close it looks like the demogorgon from Stranger Things.  I wish viewers got a bigger look at them as they are feeding and attacking the people.  With that being said, we do get some blood and a lot of visual effects that are surprisingly well done.  Sadly, it's not a gory flick and those of you looking for that will be very disappointed.  Overall, A Quiet Place: Day One is another solid entry in a very popular franchise.  It doesn't give viewers anything new but it's still a solid first time watch.  While I do recommend it, I do so with a warning.  If you are wanting something that will expand what you know from the first two films then you will be disappointed.  However, if you want to see the same story as the first two films but from a different perspective then this one is for you.  

Pater Noster and the Mission of Light

Director - Christopher Bickel (The Theta Girl, Bad Girls)

Starring - Adara Starr (Grub, Welcome to Wunderlawn), Mike Amason (House Monster, Seven Deadly Synths), and Joshua R. Outzen (Death Alley, Sea Critter)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years back I befriended director Christopher Bickley while he was promoting his film Bad Girls.  I had heard of him prior to this when several friends of mine picked up his previous film The Theta Girl.  I was already interested in his work by this point so I reached out to him for info on Bad Girls for the site.  Eventually, I was able to get a review link after speaking with him for sometime.  I loved the film and immediately sought out a copy of The Theta Girl on blu to follow it up with.  I absolutely loved both films and looked forward to his next project.  Sadly, after a few years and hundreds of friend requests on social media, I was no longer seeing posts from Bickel and missed out on any news he was sharing.  That changed recently when he reached out to me to review his newest film Pater Noster and the Mission of Light.  The artwork immediately sold me on the film and I quickly worked it into my October horror binge.  I want to take a moment to thank Christopher for sending this one over.

     The film follows a vinyl collector that works at a music store when she receives a tip that could land her a super rare album worth thousands made by a cult back in the 70s.  She receives a strange call one day after visiting a thrift store with connections to the cult asking if she would like to visit their commune.  She agrees and takes a few friends of hers with her.  Their visit starts out innocently enough where the group explore the compound and learn a bit of their history.  However, when members of their group turn up missing they realize that something sinister is at play.

     It's already October and I've seen some amazing indie horror films this year.  Movies like Psycho Ape II, Frankie Freako, Death Streamer, Crackcoon, Screamwalkers, and several more.  However, as amazing as these films are, Pater Noster and the Mission of Light is probably my favorite indie horror film of the year and it is most definitely making it among my top 5 films of the year.  The acting in this one is great and consistent.  The entire cast pulls their own weight and delivers memorable performances.  The characters are well written and the cast goes all in to bring them to the screen.  With that being said, there was a few scenes where the dialogue is a bit stiff and awkwardly delivered.  It doesn't take away from the overall film but it did mess with the pacing some.  The story for this one is what's been missing in modern horror.  I absolutely fucking adore films centered around cults and don't get to enjoy that many films about them.  Modern horror doesn't approach cults and witches as much as I would like but Pater Noster and the Mission of Light was able to take a sub-genre that doesn't get the attention it truly deserves and brings it into the modern era by combining it with the trend in recent years to collect old and obscure vinyl.  This works exceptionally well especially when you consider the amount of hippie cults that turned to music and other forms of art to cover costs in the 70s.  The film has great pacing even with the few awkward scenes and, while it is a bit predictable, it is still a fun ride.  Finally, the film doesn't shy away from the red stuff.  We get a lot of blood and some great practical effects.  While the kills are not that imaginative, they fit the film very well and look amazing.  The gnarliest of horror fans will truly appreciate the bloodbath we get with this one.  Overall, Pater Noster and the Mission of Light is a must see for genre fans.  It's bloody and violent with a great cast and story.  I cannot recommend this movie enough so check it out!  

Mr. Crocket

Director - Brandon Espy (Bite Size Halloween, Kiara)

Starring - Jerrika Hinton (Hunters, A Majestic Christmas), Alex Akpobome (For All Mankind, Twenties), and Elvis Nolasco (Godfather of Harlem, Manhunt)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Your kid's best friend.  Your worst nightmare"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Millennials are a nostalgic bunch.  I was born in the mid-80s and grew up through the 90s which was an important time for many of us.  Sitting around reading Goosebumps while Are You Afraid of the Dark? plays in the background.  Going to theaters to watch Se7en or renting direct to video sleaze on Fridays because we got to keep them an extra day because the local video store is closed on Sundays.  We've seen genre films that have catered to these fond memories with movies like The Banana Splits, Fear Street, and Willy's Wonderland.  A few weeks back I received a press release for what looked like a Mr. Rogers inspired horror film titled Mr. Crocket.  When I saw a screenshot from this Hulu exclusive that featured a VHS tape I knew I had to see it.  I reached out to Hulu and they were kind enough to send a review link my way.  I want to thank them for allowing me the opportunity to check this one out before it hits streaming.

     The film follows a recently widowed mother and her son.  She is struggling to provide and take care of her son and he has recently started lashing out.  She finds an old video tape for the show Mr. Crocket and takes it in for him to watch where he immediately becomes obsessed with it.  She interrupts one of his many viewings of the tape and he has a meltdown.  Before she is able to do anything about it she finds Mr. Crocket appears.  He tries to kill her and takes her son.  She frantically tries to get him back and before long she has found some other parents searching for their children after an appearance from Mr. Crocket.

     I went into Mr. Crocket extremely excited for it.  I knew very little about the film aside from what was shown in the teaser that was attached with the press release.  Sadly, the movie was nowhere near as enjoyable as I had hoped.  In fact, it was a bit of a dull flick.  The acting in this one is very enjoyable.  The film's lead was fantastic.  Hinton is phenomenal in her role but it was Nolasco that made the film for me.  The film may have been a drag at times but Nolasco as Mr. Crocket was the high point of the film for me.  The story for this one was an amazing idea that wasn't executed very well.  The idea of a murdered children's show host kidnapping children that watch his tape is a pretty awesome idea.  However, the drawn out scenes, boring dialogue, and predictable character reveal made the film difficult to finish.  Giving the viewer a bit more insight into Mr Crocket prior to his death would have been more enjoyable than the brief look into his past that we do get.  Also, several scenes need to be heavily edited to fix the pacing of the film.  Finally, the film has several on screen deaths and some fantastic puppets.  I loved the look of Mr. Crocket's diabolical puppets.  They are only in the film for a small period of time which is a damn shame.  I wish they would have been utilized more.  Also, the deaths are pretty brutal with some fantastic effects that looks great but not enough to save the film.  Overall, Mr. Crocket had so much potential but somewhere between pre-production and filming it lost the appeal.  I seriously wanted to enjoy this one but I could barely finish it.  I hate to say it but this is one you should probably skip.    

Late Checkout

Director - Josh Graves (Chum!, and The House That Eats Flesh)

Starring - Felissa Rose (Sleep away Camp, XXX-Mas), Chaney Morrow (Happy Slashers, Wrong Turn), and Billy Culbertson (Woods Witch, Amityville Bigfoot)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Small Town.  Large body count..."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a fan of Scream Team Releasing for some time now.  The Barn was my introduction to them and from there I've added every release to my collection.  I may not always get to watch and review them in a timely manner but I'm never skipping a release of theirs.  A few months back I snagged a copy of their 2023 slasher Late Checkout from director Josh Graves.  I wasn't able to check it out when I got it but I made sure to add it to my annual October horror binge.  

     The film follows a group of adults who return to their small hometown to rent a cabin for a little get together.  What they don't know is that their small town has recently became the playground for a killer wearing a welding mask.  Once they get in and settled they soon find themselves in the cross hair of the killer.

     I knew very little about Late Checkout going into it but I enjoyed it for the most part.  While it was a very middle of the road slasher, it was still fun and a great addition to my October horror binge.  The acting in this one is a bit stiff.  The cast struggles at times to deliver their dialogue in a genuine tone.  I several scenes the interactions are void of emotion and feels as if they are simply rehearsing their lines instead of getting into character.  A few of the later scenes have more authentic performances from the cast but for the most part it feels as if they were tossed in front of the camera without any sort of rehearsal.  The story for this one doesn't give genre fans something knew to enjoy.  In fact, this week alone I've seen and reviewed three different films following a group of twenty-somethings going to a cabin in the woods where they meet their demise.  Of the three that I've seen this is one of two slashers that feature almost identical stories.  While Late Checkout did mix it up and feature a traditional masked slasher, it was not as memorable as other slasher icons.  The welding mask does work in a traditional sense but completely takes away any sort of recognition that other masks give the slasher.  With that being said, it is very refreshing seeing a modern slasher film go back to the basics.  Finally, the film has plenty of make-up and practical effects.  The kills are extremely gnarly and on theme with the slasher theme but I would have loved some gore in this one.  Fans of traditional slashers will truly appreciate the amount of blood and great practical effects we are given.  Overall, Late Checkout is another paint by numbers slasher that falls into the spectrum of what I refer to as Walmart horror.  I hate to use this word but it's a mediocre slasher with an unforgettable slasher and a story I've seen so many times before.  While it was a solid watch, I could recommend 10 others slashers from just last year that would be more fun than this one.  

Death Squad

Director - Max Pecas (The Fashioned in Saint-Tropez, Hot Dogs in Ibiza

Starring - Thierry de Carbonnieres (Highlander, How I Killed My Father), Jean-Marc Maurel (China Blues, Blue Helmet), and Lillemour Jonsson (Dog Day, Hello Beatrice)

Release Date - 1985

Genre - Crime/Thriller

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love these odd and obscure titles that so many of these boutique labels bring us.  I'm always open to a lost early 80s slasher, a never released S.O.V. horror titles, a giallo that never made the jump the the U.S., or an unreleased title from the 90s that found itself in distribution hell.  That brings me to Mondo Macabro.  I've been reviewing their releases for years now and I've thoroughly enjoyed them for the most part.  A few weeks back I was sent a review copy of the 1985 crime thriller Death Squad.  The film is a French flick released under the title Brigade of Death and is one I had never heard of until Mondo released it.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows a cop investigating the murder of three prostitutes and a fellow female officer.  The deeper into the seedy side of France he goes, he uncovers that these murders are connected and something much bigger is at play.

     I was not expecting to like Death Squad as much as I did but I did.  It's not the film I was expecting and I think that added to my enjoyment to some extent.  I was expecting a street vigilante film similar to the film Vigilante.  Instead, I was greeted with a sleazy crime thriller that had so much nudity that I often thought I was watching a softcore flick.  The acting in this one is extremely campy.  The cast really does ham it up in front of the camera but it adds to the fun of the film.  In fact, it's the acting in this film that I now suspect a lot of directors and actors model their performances from in the direct to video action flicks of the 90s and early 00s.  The story for this one is fairly predictable but it's one of those films that you still enjoy even if you know how it will end.  The character's interactions, the action, nudity, and so on comes together to hold the viewer's attention even if the last act of the film doesn't have that much of an impact.  Finally, the film has several gun wounds with minor effects and lots of nudity from both sexes.  The nudity doesn't really make up for the lack of blood for us genre fans but it's still fun to look at.  Overall, Death Squad is another must own release from Mondo Macabro.  It's a raunchy crime film that doesn't disappoint.  Check it out.  

Babezilla vs the Zombie Whorde

Director - Andrew J. Chambers (After School Lunch Special, Lust, Magic and the Witches' Sabbath)

Starring - Stephanie Love (Bikini Spring Break, After School Lunch Special 2: Sloppy Seconds), Gora Chand Saha (Casting Couch Slaughter, Uncle Sleazo's Toxic and Terrifying T.V. Hour)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My month long horror binge has been a fun one but it has been lacking something and I couldn't quiet put my finger on it.  It wasn't until filmmaker AJ Chambers made a post on Facebook for two of his films. It was then that I realized that I had not enjoyed some raunchy zombie flicks this month.  Well, I had seen a few zombie flicks but they were not as sleazy as I would have liked.  I went ahead and grabbed both of those films and worked them into my watch list.  The first one up was 2022's Babezilla vs. the Zombie Whorde.

     The film follows stripper Babezilla (Love) who finds her town overrun by the zombie whorde when an evil man made a video to brainwash women.  He wanted the women to turn into sex obsessed women who will do anything to pleasure him.  However, it backfired and any woman that listens to it turns into a sex-crazed zombie.  

     I knew what kind of film I was getting myself into when I ordered it.  I had previously seen Chamber's After School Lunch Special and Lust, Magic and the Witches' Sabbath.  I enjoy his films and his style of filmmaking so it was a no brainer that I would add these to my collection.  Sadly, this may be the first film of his that I didn't care for.  It was a fun experience, especially for a first time watch but it's not one that I can revisit.  The acting in this one is what you would expect from a no budget flick.  The film's lead is adult film star Stephanie Love.  She's one of the hottest in the business if you want my opinion but he performance here is a bit flat.  She doesn't have a lot of experience acting in traditional films and it shows but it doesn't stop us from enjoying just watching her try to act.  The supporting cast is hit or miss as well.  Some have experience and others do not which makes for uneven scenes but if you've seen any film distributed by Troma then you know exactly what to expect.  The story for this one is right up my alley but it does struggle to find it's footing.  I'm a huge fan of no budget zombie flicks and up until The Walking Dead destroyed the zombie sub-genre, I would actively search for those films.  Babezilla vs. the Zombie Whorde has the kind of story that I would have absolutely devoured if it was done a little more smoothly.  The characters are funny and I love the set up for the film with the redneck trying to brainwash women for blowjobs and accidentally turning them into undead whores.  While the scenes around this were very enjoyable, I wasn't a fan of the random shots of Love eating bananas, stretching, and other normal activities meant to be sexual.  I get that they wanted to get their money's worth of her and add her popularity and sex appeal to the film but it really did slow the pacing of the film down.  Like I said earlier, there is very few women who I find more attractive than her and I could look at her all day but these scenes were out of place and not as funny as intended.  Finally, the film has some extremely campy visual effects, some fun make-up effects and blood but fans of gore will be a bit disappointed.  The zombies are what you would expect from a no budget film which I really do enjoy but the lack of gore is a bit disappointing.  Overall, Babezilla vs the Zombie Whorde is a middle of the road zombie flick that has beautiful women and zombies but doesn't go much further than that.  I wanted to love it but I found myself more worried about the run time than actually watching the film.  If you want to check the film out you can stream it on Tromanow.  

The Convent

Director - Mike Mendez (Killers, Tales of Halloween)

Starring - Joanna Canton (That 70's Show, Brimstone), Richard Trapp (Cradle 2 the Grave, Midgets vs. Mascots), and Dax Miller (Bette, Blood Surf)

Release Date - 2000

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Prayer will get you nowhere"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Mike Mendez is a filmmaker that I know has a serious fan base.  Several genre fans that I've befriended over the years are die hard fans.  While Tales of Halloween was a decent flick and Killers made me laugh, I wouldn't call myself a fan.  He's a talented filmmaker but nothing has really wow'd me.  That changed when I went into this double feature I put together for myself featuring his newest releases from Synapse Films.  Killers was a fun watch but a film that took itself way too seriously.  I followed that up with his 2000 horror flick The Convent.  Once again, I want to thank Synapse Films for sending this one over.  

     The film follows a group of college students that decide to break into an old convent to party it up.  The local legend states a woman several decades before was pregnant and the church forced her to have an abortion because it was the priest's child.  While they explore the property, drink, take drugs, and try to fornicate they inadvertently awaken the evil presence that has laid dormant there for all these years while uncovering the truth about why the convent has become a local legend.

     The Convent seriously surprised me.  The movie is easy to compare to the original Night of the Demons.  It has a similar story but the 80s look and style has been replaced with early 2000's nu metal trends.  Honestly, it was a lot of fun and easily my favorite Mendez film.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent and had me laughing.  Much like Killers, the cast is extremely over the top and very dramatic.  When you mix that with late 90s and early 2000's slang you get some memorable moments but they are not memorable for the right reasons.  Bill Mosley and Coolio deliver what I would consider to be the film's best performances.  The remainder of the cast delivers awkward or unintentionally funny performances that didn't ruin the film but didn't improve it either.  The story for this one is Night of the Demons but for the Limp Bizkit era.  We have a goth girl and a bunch of teenagers/early twenty-somethings who go to a local area with an urban legend attached to it where they accidentally unleash a demonic presence while trying to party and screw.  Honestly, this could have been a small budget remake and it would have still worked.  I loved the story and how it all came full circle.  We get the legend of the place, the real story of what happened, and a rich blending of both stories to give us a story that a lot of movies can't.  I really enjoyed the way it was written and while it does have a good portion of the same story as Night of the Demons, Mendez puts enough of his own spin on it so it doesn't feel like the same film from beginning to end.  Finally, the film has some amazing make-up effects and some gore.  I loved the looked of the possessed and when you mix that with the great looking death scenes and the large amount of blood we get, you have something that sticks with you for days after watching it.  Overall, The Convent was fucking fantastic.  While his other films did not impress me as much as they did other genre fans, it's The Convent that really made me respect Mike Mendez.  Since my initial viewing of the film I've now seen it three times and would love to get in another watch before Halloween.  This is easily my favorite release this year so do yourself a favor and snag Synapse's release.  

Killers

Director - Mike Mendez (Tales of Halloween, Big Ass Spider!)

Starring - Dave Larsen (Vampire Centerfolds, The Teas of Heaven), David Gunn (The Gravedancers, The Convent), and Damien Hoffer 

Release Date - 1996

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "Meet the new James boyz!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Mike Mendez is a filmmaker that I became familiar with several years ago when his anthology film Tales of Halloween was hitting store shelves.  I snagged a copy for my collection and soon realized that he had been in the game for sometime before then after a quick look at his imdb page.  Since then I've watched Big Ass Spider! and Lavalantula.  Sadly, that was all of his work that I had seen until recently when my friends over at Synapse Films sent me two of Mendez's earlier works.  I decided to start my journey with the 1996 horror crime thriller Killers.  Like always, I want to take a moment to thank Synapse for sending this one my way.  

     The film follows convicted murderers Odessa and Kyle James who just escaped from prison and make their way to the Charles Ryan and his picture perfect family.  However, as they get cozy and settle in while the police is looking for them, things heat up between Odessa and Charles wife while his oldest daughter has eyes for Kyle.  Once they relieve themselves of sexual tension, the pair realize that the home they forced themselves into for safety was anything but that.

     Killers is a movie that took itself too seriously resulting in a lot of unintentional laughs.  While I did enjoy the movie, I still found myself laughing at the cringey characters and over-dramatic performances.  It's a movie that may have found it's market in the late 90s direct to video action thriller boom but doesn't hold up as well these almost 30 years later.  The acting in this one is almost a parody of every direct to video action movie of the 80s and 90s.  The cast is very over the top.  Their cliched performances is clearly modeled after villains from infamous low budget films that littered the video store shelves.  Everyone in this film hams it up and their performances inspired a lot of laughter from me.  The story for this one is actually pretty fucking wild.  We follow two Mendez Brothers style killers who break out of prison and find their way into the Ryan family home.  The Ryan's just happen to be serial killers with a secret dungeon under their home.  The two evil forces clash as the feds attempt to infiltrate the home to capture the James Brothers.  Honestly, I enjoyed this story and I could see myself loving the film if the acting was a little more grounded and not so over the top.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood.  The kills are mostly gunshot deaths with the squibs and so on.  They are not that imaginative but they fit the style of the film very well.  Overall, Killers is a must see especially if you grew up through the video store age.  While it almost feels like a parody of the action thrillers that I grew up on, it still has a great story that just happens to be accompanied by some unintentional humor.  This release from Synapse Films is well worth your time.  Check it out.  

Arbor Day

Director(s) - Chuck Conry (Door 1 of the 5 Doors to Hell, Screwdriver) and Ryan Grooms (Whistling Jack)

Starring - Ryan Grooms, Sarah Sulfridge, and Ethan Bouldin

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Johnny would die for his environment... now he's going to make you do the same"

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a fan of Tennessee filmmaker Chuck Conry for sometime now after Wild Eye Releasing sent me his no budget slasher Morbid to review.  Since then I've been lucky enough to review his anthology Door 1 of the 5 Doors to Hell and his second slasher Screwdriver.  It's been a few years since his last film and Chuck surprised me with a link to his newest film Arbor Day.  While it doesn't really fit with the Halloween theme, I still couldn't wait to check it out as October approaches.  I want to thank Chuck for sending this one over for me to check out. I truly appreciate it.  

     The film follows an environmentalist who is turned down by his girlfriend when he asks her hand in marriage.  She is fed up with him and his dedication to trees and moves on to someone else.  When a colleague of his tries to steal his "secret formula" he finally snaps and starts killing everyone in the name of environmental preservation.

     Chuck and his co-director kept this one pretty lose to their chests.  I had no idea the film was shot, edited, and ready for release.  I haven't seen an image or single post about this film until Chuck sent me the link to the film.  I love going into a movie completely blind and I appreciate how Chuck didn't spoil too much with his social media presence.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven but not the worst I've seen.  The cast is extremely comfortable in front of the camera and their interactions feel genuine.  However, there is several times where the cast becomes stiff and the dialogue becomes very awkward.  It's obvious not everyone had acting experience prior to this one.  The story for this one is textbook slasher formula.  We follow someone who was wronged who then sets out on a murderous rampage.  while it is a bit on the goofy side and the humor feels out of place at times I still enjoyed it.  I've always had a soft spot for no budget slashers and this one does the trick.  Finally, don't expect a blood bath or impressive practical effects.  The kills take place off screen or use very minimal, if any, practical effects.  We do get a little bit of make-up effects but that is about the extent of it.  Overall, Arbor Day may not be the best slasher I've seen but it was a lot of fun.  It's great that Chuck is back behind the camera and hopefully we will be getting more from this genre fan soon enough.  Check it out.  

Tales of the Creeping Death

Director - John Williams (The Mothertown, The Slayers)

Starring - Michael Socha (Killers Anonymous, Chernobyl), Andrew Readman (Creeped Out, Cold Feet), and Ricky Tomlinson (The Witchfinder, In the Flesh)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Would you like to hear a story"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    Many moons ago, almost a decade or so now, I was contacted by filmmaker John Williams to review his zombie film The Mothertown.  Sometime after that I was contact to review the next film he had worked on titled The Slayers.  It was around this time that it seems like I had lost contact with him.  That was until recently when he reached out for me to review his 2022 horror anthology Tales of the Creeping Death.  He had originally messaged me to have his movie included in my annual October horror binge but I decided to give it a spin early.  I want to thank John for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows an elderly man who put an ad out to have someone sit with him until 3 am.  A "professional" responds to the ad thinking he is about to make some easy money.  To pass the time, the old man reads him a few demented stories before finally revealing the true nature of why he needed someone with him that night.

     Tales of the Creeping Death is a fantastic modern horror anthology that checks almost every box on my list which makes me wonder where the fuck John Williams has been hiding.  I remember really enjoying both those films when I originally reviewed them and this anthology was way more entertaining that I expected.  Does he have more movies that I don't know about?  Is he working on something else that satisfy my taste for great story telling and practical effects?  As of right now I don't know the answer to these questions but you better believe I'm having a word with him as soon as I post this review.  The acting in this one is very well done but some of the segments showcase better performances than others.  However, that doesn't mean some of the performances were bad because they were not.  I'm just saying that some of the performances overshadows some of the others.  The casting is fantastic, each segment features well written characters and the cast goes all in for their role.  The stories for this one is great.  The wrap around segment works well enough to tie all the other segments together but it is the weakest in the film followed by the segment that follows the young man "making" friends.  The remaining two segments are easily my favorite but even the weakest segment is better than most of the indie horror films I review.  Finally, the film really impressed me with the practical effects.  We get some classic camera tricks, practical and make-up effects, and so on to give us some impressive moments.  The soul draining scene in particular really impressed me.  This film has to be seen just for the effects alone.  Overall, Tales of the Creeping Death is one I did not expect to love as much as I did.  It has a great cast, solid stories with a decent enough wrap around segment, and the effects are unparalleled among other indie genre efforts.  I cannot recommend this film enough.  

       

Candor

Director - Timothy Troy (Ding Dong, Hold My Horse)

Starring - Paige Bourne (Attack of the Corn Zombies, It Came from Somewhere) and Jon Stevenson 

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - Let's have a heart to heart..."

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     We are just a few days shy of October as I write this and that means my yearly month long horror binge is about to begin.  I made a post about it on my social medias and several filmmakers reached out for me to review their films.  One of those films just happens to be a horror short from director Timothy Troy titles Candor.  I was going to wait until October to check this one out but at being less than two minutes long, I decided to go ahead and check it out now.  I want to take a moment to thank Timothy for sending this one over.

     The film follows a young woman who seems to be walking around a hotel room talking to her assumed date.  She explains that she just met him and knew the date would lead to this moment but she was happy that it did.  That is until we see the man is bound to the bed with his heart ripped out of his chest and placed in a jar.

     I knew absolutely nothing about Candor prior to watching it but I did really enjoy it.  It was a solid short but it did raise more questions than it had answers.  The film has an extremely small cast.  It consists of two people, Bourne who does a great job as the murderous vixen on a date, and Stevenson who just lays there.  While the acting is uneven, Bourne was amazing and did a fantastic job.  The story for this one is enjoyable as a two minute short but I was left with so many questions.  Who was the murdered man?  Why did she take his heart?  Did they hook up at least before she murdered him?  I have way too many questions that the film doesn't answer.  Finally, the film has a little bit of blood and an end scene that looks gnarly but isn't perfect.  The film ends with a man laying in a bed with a hole in his chest.  The prosthetics they use looks good but it's a bit dry.  If someone had their heart taken the area would be extremely bloody and glistening.  It just doesn't look right in my opinion.  Overall, Candor is a pretty solid short but I would have loved a little bit more to this one.  It is fun as it is but I still have so many questions.  

Sammy Slick: Vampire Slayer

Director - Christopher Leto (Psycho Science, Death Blow)

Starring - Klein Wong (Swamp Woman, Death Blow), Ariella Aegen (The Book, Dangerous Isolation), and Barbora Sulova (The Beast Comes at Midnight, Werewolf of Wismar)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     Yesterday I inadvertently found myself in a Jessa Flux double feature when I hit play on Brad Twigg's Crackcoon and followed that up with Christopher Leto's Psycho Science.  Both films were fantastic and after watching Psycho Science I realized I had yet to watch another newer one from Leto.  In 2023 he release the horror comedy Sammy Slick: Vampire Slayer and I completely forgot to snag a copy.  I saw it it was on Tubi and decided to check it out as well which, coincidentally, turned into a Klein Wong and Ariella Aegen double feature.  

     The film follows Sammy Slick (Wong) who is a vampire slayer.  He receives a visit from a stripper who claims that the strip club she works at is now owned by vampires.  An investigation into the nightclub results in the owner and her goons finding out he is looking into them.  She sends out several hits on him and his assistant forcing them to fight back.

     Sammy Slick was a pretty enjoyable vampire flick but I did find myself laughing at some unintentionally funny moments.  I knew they were unintentional because of how out of place it was.  However, if you were to remove these elements completely, the film would still be enjoyable.  The acting in this one is pretty solid for the most part.  The characters are very well written and the cast does a fantastic job with what they were given.  Wong and Aegen are great together and I hope to see them both appear in more genre films.  With that being said, the fight scenes had me ugly laughing.  The cast was so stiff and awkward to watch that it resulted in some laughs that were clearly not intentional.  The story for this one is straight forward with no plot twists or real depth.  While I would have liked a little more substance to the story, I still found it enjoyable especially when you consider how well written the characters are.  You don't get a lot of indie horror films with characters written that well.  Finally, the film has some blood, nudity, and horrible visual effects.  The blood is fine and the nudity is perfect but the visual effects were atrocious.  Honestly, the film could have went another route to show the vampires dying instead of taking the Buffy the Vampire approach.  Overall, Sammy Slick: Vampire Slayer is a solid indie vampire flick.  While I did have some laughs at it's expense, I still enjoyed it for what it was.  Grab a few beers and enjoy the nudity at the very least!