Showing posts with label H. Show all posts
Showing posts with label H. Show all posts

Monday, January 20, 2025

Hemet, Or the Landlady Doesn't Drink Tea


Director - Tony Olmos (South of 8, Pulp Friction)
Starring - Kimberly Weinberger (Outer Dark, Apparition), Brian Patrick Butler (Hacksaw, The Gools), and Aimee La Joie (Golden Hour, The Film Crew)
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "You thought your neighbors were weird"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):


     I get asked to review a lot of films from various filmmakers, producers, distributors, and so on.  I have a hard time turning a film away especially if something about the film catches my eye.  A few weeks ago I received an email to review the oddball political satire horror comedy Hemet, or the Landlady Doesn't Drink Tea.  The title and poster definitely peaked my interest and I agreed to check it out.  However, it take me a little time to get to it which I do apologize for.  I want to thank Dan Butler for sending this one along for review.  I seriously enjoyed it!
     The film takes place in the not so distant future where capitalism has completely taken over.  Profit rules the world and most laws protecting consumers have been virtually removed.  A tyrannical elderly landlord owns an apartment complex where she willfully increases rent on a whim while kicking out people she doesn't like.  This causes some of them to conspire behind her back to take her out in order to take control of the apartments.  
     Hemet, or the Landlady Doesn't Drink Tea is one of those films that is damn near impossible to describe.  It combines comedy with exploitation, satire, drama, and horror into something that defies labels.  With that being said, the film has a lot going on without really saying anything at all.  While I loved the acting and the out there story, the film itself doesn't really go anywhere.  The acting in this one is very uneven but not what I would call bad.  Some of the cast delivers a fantastic job while others do show inexperience.  These scenes are a bit awkward and feel like they are going nowhere.  On the flip side of that same coin, Butler makes the film as the elderly landlord.  This performance is unforgettable and makes the film for me.  I would have checked out of this film very early on if it wasn't for Butler and his performance.  The story for this one would be a solid premise for a short.  I loved the way money means everything but has very little value along with the power over the tenants the landlord had.  When you toss in the amazing performance from Butler as the landlord you have a solid base for a film.  However, we get a lot of talk about junkies eating people.  I don't know if this was written when the whole bath salts thing was popular on the news but mentioning it without actually showing them does very little for the viewer.  Also, we have a lot of scenes that go nowhere other than giving Butler a chance to shine.  While I do love his performance, a lot of these scenes could have been cut to fix the pacing of the film.  Finally, the film has some cheap visual effects and some wild make-up effects.  We have several deaths with a few of them using cheap visual effects and some blood splatter.  However, the make-up effects for the landlady is actually pretty impressive.  It's clearly a man in make-up but it's surprisingly well made and put together.  Overall, Hemet, or the Landlady Doesn't Drink Tea is a film that would have been a very clever and unique short.  However, it feels stretched too thin as a feature length film.  It's still a fantastic watch as is but does feel bloated in several of the scenes.  I still recommend it but keep it mind that it does feel way too long for the story it has.  

Friday, August 23, 2024

Homework


Director - James Beshears
Starring - Joan Collins (American Horror Story, Star Trek), Michael Morgan (The Master Demon, Murder She Wrote), and Shell Kepler (CHiPs, Three's Company)
Release Date - 1982
Genre - Comedy
Tagline - "Every young man needs a teacher"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):


     Unearthed Films has released some of the most brutal genre films to ever be conceived onto bluray and DVD over the years.  Films like the August Underground trilogy, A Serbian Film, Atroz, and many more have found their home with Stephen Biro and his Unearthed Films banner.  That is not UF only focus.  In recent years Unearthed has dropped several bombshells on fans and collectors when they started adding several non-horror titles to their catalogues.  Several weeks back Unearthed announced the release of the 1982 sex comedy Homework.  This was one I had never heard of before nor was I expecting UF to be releasing it.  Regardless, I was very curious about this one so I reached out to my friends over at MVD and they were kind enough to send a review copy over my way.  Like always, I want to thank MVD and Unearthed for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check this one out.
     The film follows a typical high school student with dreams of losing his virginity and becoming the next big rock star.  However, it's impossible to do either of those because of his school work, seductive teachers and their boyfriends, overprotective parents, and women who prefer to swim instead of fooling around with guys.
     I went into Homework knowing very little about it.  I knew it was originally completed in the late 70s and not released until 1982 but that was the extent of my knowledge on the film.  With that being said, I was surprised by how fun this one was especially considering how it was an 80s comedy that no one talks about.  Most fans of cinema are huge champions of 80s films and I'm a bit shocked I had never heard this one tossed out before when discussing 70s and 80s sex comedies.  The acting in this one is awkward most of the time but far from the worst I've seen.  The cast struggles with feeling sincere with the dialogue and a lot of the scenes feel like the cast is just reading their lines off of poster boards off camera.  When you mix this with the cliched characters you get some unintentionally funny moments.  The story for this one is not that original or compelling but it works for what it is.  A dude trying to score while trying to form a rock band isn't that original even for the late 70s when it was originally shot.  However, it's just the type of sleazy fun you would expect and it works.  Sure, it's not a film you can rewatch over and over again like Porky's but its still a solid film.  Finally, the humor in this one doesn't really find it's mark but the acting and cliches do deliver a few unintentional laughs.  Overall, Homework may not be for all fans of Unearthed Films.  However, fans of 80s comedies will surely enjoy this one but not for the reasons they suspect.  I highly recommend snagging this blu from Unearthed Films.  

Sunday, June 16, 2024

The Hike


Director(s) - Luke Walker (The Legend of Bloody Mary Tested, Haunted Graves) and Vinnie Vineyard (Wrestling with Ghosts, Camp Smokey)
Starring - Kandi Thompson (WJHC AM, Vinnie's Vantastic Rock N Roll Adventure), Vinnie Vineyard, and Luke Walker
Release Date - 2021
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Run from the forest.  Run!"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):


     I absolutely love watching and reviewing indie horror flicks. It doesn't matter about the budget or experience. Hell, it doesn't matter if I like the film or not. I always have fun watching an indie production but sometimes I catch a movie that I just don't care for. Sometime back I was contacted by Vinnie Vinyard to review several of his films that are meant to explore the legends and lore of the Great Smokey Mountains. The first one on the chopping block was 2021's The Hike. I couldn't wait to dive into this one and I want to thank Vinnie for reaching out to me to check out his hard work! 
      The film follows a couple who plan on hiking for three days by themselves. However, this trip didn't go according to plan. They find a camera in some weeds with some horrifying images on it, an injured man, and hallucinations. Before long they find themselves confronted by three men who refuse to let them leave the mountain but that is only the beginning of their trip. 
      I was really excited when I hit play on The Hike. Many of you know that I have a soft spot for horror films centered in or around the woods. Slashers set against the backdrop of a summer camp, hixploitation, and any other form of horror or exploitation set in the woods has always caught my eye. The Hike looked like a movie that was made especially for me... but that wasn't the case. While I always enjoy watching indie horror films, I will had to admit that not all films are made for me. Some of them miss their mark and just don't do it for me. The Hike is one of those films. The acting in this one is solid but there is plenty of room for improvement. The cast is fairly small, and they interact with one another very well, but inexperience is evident. Several of the scenes are very awkward to watch and the dialogue is very forced. The story for this one is all over the place. The movie makes you think it's going to be steeped in Native American mythology and lore. It then switches gears and follows the three strangers stalking them through the woods reminiscent of Cannibal Campout with the hicks chasing the campers through the woods. Both ideas are very interesting but combining them and not giving each aspect the attention it deserves created a film that felt like it was lacking. They should have gone all in on one angle and gave it all they had instead of splitting it up like that. Finally, the film has some blood but if you are looking for some memorable deaths and amazing gore then you will be out of luck. The film's run time is mostly people walking around the woods acting lost or scared. Overall, The Hike tries to deliver on a pretty ambitious story but fails to pull all the parts together. The movie has an interesting story that has what feels like two different ideas clashing for screen time. I want to like it but it was a difficult one to finish. Skip it.

Sunday, March 3, 2024

He Knows


Director - Steven Morris
Starring - Kayla Kelly (Straight Edge Kegger, The Devil's Left Hand), Zach Meiser (American Horror Story, A Haunting), and Lynn Lowry (Shivers, The Crazies)
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "He knows when you've been good or bad, so be good for your own sake!"
Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):


      I hate how slow I am to review movies but with a day job and three kids I rarely find time to work in movies to watch and review like I used to. I can still knock out one movie a day but that doesn't do much to cut down on the stack of movies sitting beside my television and the dozen or so links waiting patiently in my email. Which is why I'm just now getting around to watching and reviewing a Christmas slasher sent to me from before October. At the end of September, I made a post looking for indie horror flicks to watch and review and was slammed with responses. I loved the amount of people that were kind enough to send over their films to review but I was a bit overwhelmed. One of those films was He Knows which was recently added to Tubi to stream for free. I wasn't able to watch it then, but I was able to finally check it out after watching Dave Kerr's Go Away. I want to thank director Steven Morris for letting me know his film was on Tubi to check out. 
      The film follows a mother and her daughter as Christmas approaches. She tells her daughter the story about an evil elf names Sammy that abducts those that are naughty and takes them back to work in his shop. The story she tells her is inspired by an incident during her childhood when her father was murdered, and her half-brother was abducted by a man in an elf mask. Now she is a mother with a daughter of her own when the murders start again. 
      I knew He Knows as a holiday slasher going into it, but I didn't want to wait the rest of the year to watch it during the Christmas season. With that being said, while it does take place during Christmas, it doesn't really feel like a Christmas horror film. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the hell out of it but it falls short as a Christmas slasher. The acting in this one is solid but there was plenty of room to grow. We have a supporting role from the legendary Lynn Lowry and a small role from Jessa Flux but the remainder of the cast was fairly new to me. I liked the cast and will look further into their work but there were a few scenes where the acting was inconsistent. It's clear that a good bit of the cast has little to no experience in front of the camera, but their inexperience doesn't make the film horrible. I love watching actors grow from film to film. The story for this one gets a little messy near the end but I enjoyed the ride for the most part. I loved the family dynamic of the protagonist, the drug dealer and his stoner entourage, and the entire set up of the film. However, like I stated earlier, the film did not feel like a Christmas film. My favorite slashers happen to be set around Christmas, so I am always open to any horror film set around this time of year. He Knows just didn't look the part. The story could have been set at any other time during the year or holiday with some clever writing and it would have worked. If you take away the Christmas aspect of the film, you are given a slasher that does work until the the last leg of the film. The slow buildup of the story with the cycle of everyone dying one by one is a lot of fun. The ending is more complicated than it needed to be, but I understand the urge to set your film out from other no budget slashers. Finally, the film has some clever deaths that film the characters. The effects work for the scene with one kill really standing out. I would have liked to see more gore but you can't do what you don't have the budget for. Overall, He Knows is a fun indie slasher that has some room for improvement. While I don't see myself adding this one to my December viewing list, I can see myself revisiting this one from time to time. Fans of slashers and indie horror can appreciate this one. Check it out. 

Thursday, January 11, 2024

He Never Left


Director - James Morris (The Witching Season, The Astrological Whipping Boy)
Starring - Colin Cunningham (Preacher, Blood Drive), Jessica Staples (This is Not Home, The Stolen Valley), and David E. McMahon (Johnny Z, Rose Blood: A Friday the 13th Fan Film)
Release Date - 2023
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Some legends refuse to die"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):


     Way back at the end of September I made a post about my annual October horror binge. I was fishing for a few indie horror flicks to add to my month long marathon but was met with an overwhelming amount of films to watch and review. In fact, it’s now the end of December and I’m maybe a third of the way through the movies sent my way. One of the films that was sent over was He Never Left from director James Morris and Witching Season Films. I became a huge fan of theirs after the release of Witching Season, They Live Inside Us, and their segment in 10/31 Part III. I want to thank James Morris for sending this one over and I want to apologize for taking so long to get to it. 
      The film follows a man who is trying to get his life straight but fails to do so. A string of events leads him to a seedy motel where his ex-girlfriend has bought a room for him so he can lay low for awhile after he accidentally kills someone. Now a state-wide manhunt is underway for him which is pushing him over the edge mentally. Things take an even darker turn when he suspects that people in the room next to his is murdering people. Soon he learns about the local legend of the Pale Face Killer and his connection to the motel that he was trying to seek refuge in. 
      He Never Left was not the film I was expecting but I did enjoy it for the most part. While it was an enjoyable film with a clever story, I found it to be a little too busy and clumsy at times. There was some questionable choices made along the way but the overall film was entertaining and well worth my time. The acting in this one is one of the better acted indie films I’ve seen. Colin Cunningham carries the film as the murderer on the run. Watching him mentally break down as the film progresses is nothing short of brilliant. He delivers an absolutely fantastic performance that makes the film what it is. We also get fantastic performances from the supporting cast with Jessica Staples, director James Morris, and David McMahon carrying their own weight in the film. The story for this one is a fantastic set up but not all the pieces fall into place as they should. A fleeing murderer seeking asylum in an old motel only to find himself in the room beside a legendary killer is something that will leave horror fans chomping at the bit for. We then have an angle with two detectives or marshals (forget which) are hunting for him. Their chemistry is fun but they character arc does feel a bit out of place. When you combine both of those in which the way the film was edited and you are left with a film that doesn’t reach it’s full potential. I think viewers would have liked to see the mentally unstable man exploring the people next door further in a more linear story format. Finally, the film has a lot of blood and some solid practical effects. The deaths are not the goriest I’ve seen but they do look great and fit the film very well. I was hoping for more memorable death scenes but I appreciate what we were given. Overall, He Never Left has one hell of a premise but it did struggle with it’s own footing. Maybe some editing could get the film to where it needs to be but it’s still an entertaining film as it is. Check it out.

Sunday, November 19, 2023

The Hoot Owl


Director(s) - Jason Rader and Jason von Godi
Starring - Augustine Frizzell (Euphoria, I Was a Teenage Girl), Carl Bailey (Final Summer, The Stalker Part II), and J.D. Brown (Cross Bearer, The Cemetery)
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Home is where he lays your head"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):


     I started planning for my October horror binge several months ago to make sure I had at least one new movie to watch each day in October. While I was looking through hashtags on Instagram I came across several posts for the indie slasher The Hoot Owl. The artwork and title really pulled me in but I couldn’t find a place to snag a copy. After some digging I was able to track down the filmmaker and I reached out to him. After some talking he offered to send over a copy for review. I’ve had it for a month or so but held off on watching it until this month so it would be apart of my month long binge. I want to thank Jason Von Godi for sending this one over because I had a lot of fun with it. 
      The film follows a young couple who bought an old fixer upper online without seeing it. The pair is looking for a new start after a miscarriage and invite over some friends to help clean and repair the home. What his wife doesn’t know is that the house was once the site of a grisly murder and a pair of children went missing just a few weeks prior. Now, as the group attempts to party and fix the place off they are unknowingly being picked off one by one by something, or someone, that has been living in the back of one of the barns on the property. 
      I went into this one really excited after seeing the trailer and staring at the artwork for a few weeks. I had high hopes for the film and it thoroughly enjoyed it. I posted about it on social media and had some discussions with other genre friends about the film, the baby scene, and the state of modern indie horror. Honestly, I was under the impression that those that had seen it did enjoy it after my Facebook posts. Sadly, that was not the case. While preparing for this review I discovered that the film was available on Tubi and many have went to sites like imdb and review bombed it. While I’m sure not all of the negative reviews were done by trolls, I can only assume that a majority of them were done by people with a lot of time on their hands because the film was very enjoyable. The acting in this one is great. I absolutely loved the characters the film gives us and the cast does a great job with it. They all feel very natural in front of the camera and their dialogue delivery works very well for the film. While there was a few scenes that seems a little awkward with mindless banter and casual conversation, the cast delivers fantastic performances. The story for this one is not that original but it’s enjoyable. They go into this one with a story in mind and delivered on it. They didn’t reinvent the wheel or try to spawn the next horror franchise. Instead, they made a movie that’s enjoyable for genre fans which I think they achieved. The movie is a little one sided with most of the film used to establish the characters, their backstories, and the history of the home before we get to the horror. Typically this would be a huge turn off for me but the characters are likable, the performances work, and the writing is done so well that you find yourself pulled in. These scenes could be trimmed down to work with the pacing but I didn’t mind them the way there were. My biggest complaint is how the killers identity is never fully revealed aside from a few parts about the story of the home that was told earlier in the film. Slashers are known for their iconic killers with memorable back stories and this one seems to have every aspect of the film wrote out except the killer. Finally, the film has a lot of blood and some gruesome practical effects. The kills fit the film and the effects look great but I was expecting more gore. Overall, The Hoot Owl is a very well done slasher that delivers on the blood. The character development and backstory is very well written but the killers need more work. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.

Monday, November 13, 2023

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later


Director - Steve Miner (House, Friday the 13th Part 2)
Starring - Jamie Lee Curtis (The Fog, Halloween), Josh Hartnett (The Faculty, 30 Days of Night), and Adam Arkin (Full Moon High, The Twilight Zone)
Release Date - 1998
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "This summer, terror won't be taking a vacation"
Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):


     When I was a kid I spent a lot of time with my grandmother while my dad was out of town for work. I liked staying with her because I had an uncle that was just a few years older than me so we played video games or watched movies together. My grandma was a movie fan as well so we would watch a lot of television shows that she liked like Red Dwarf, Lexx, Doctor Who, and so on. When we wasn’t watching television shows we would be watching movies that I had rented or the random movies that aired on cable. This was the first time that I had seen John Carpenter’s Halloween. This is a franchise that I believe has been played out but I’m still a huge fan of the films. Well, I love all the films besides the new Halloween Trilogy. Most fans of the franchise despise certain installments but I have a soft spot for almost all of them. One that catches a lot of hate is 1998’s H20. I can somewhat see why people are quick to hate it but I love it. I love the casting, the location, the direction the story took, and how it ends. I’ve defended this film for years and I will continue to do so every October. A few weeks ago I received a press release for the UHD steelbook release of the film. I try to watch this franchise every October but this release actually gave me a reason to check it out. I want to thank Paramount for sending over this beautiful steelbook for review. 
      The film picks up 20 years after the first film with Laurie (Curtis) adopting a new name in hopes of putting her past behind her. She is now the headmaster of a private school and has a 17 year old son. With Halloween approaching she is on edge but her son fails to understand the nightmare that she lived through all those years ago. Now, her worst nightmare is emerging as Halloween quickly approaches when Michael Myers escapes and starts making his way to her and her son who is the same age as she was when he first attacked. 
      MY opinions on films often draw criticism and I’m completely fine with that. I like what I like and a lot of time that goes against the collective. I love all the Halloween entries with the exception of the Blumhouse produced films. I prefer Rob Zombie’s Halloween to the original but I still love Carpenter's take. I think Season of the Witch is the best film in the series and the Danielle Harris saga is fantastic. While Resurrection is the weakest of the franchise I still prefer it over the Blumhouse trilogy. H20 draws a lot of hate from franchise fans but I have so much fun with it. The acting in this one is very campy but I love the characters and the late-90s characters. I always found it vaccinating that Jamie Lee Curtis is portraying the same person as the first film but with 20 years between the two films has hardened her character. Her character has grown a lot and she is still amazing in the role. I was a fan of Josh Hartnett in the late 90s and while I do prefer The Faculty to this film I still enjoy H20. His performance is far from award winning but it’s his hamming up each scene that makes it what it is. It reminds me a lot of the male characters in Scream and the sequels. I also liked the supporting cast. The performances are just as cheesy but if anyone watches the original Halloween and can say with a straight face that they are not just as cheesy is lying to you and themselves. The story for this one is extremely realistic when you consider what it is. The film is not overflowing with Halloween imagery and that’s because the headmaster of the private school survived a massacre on Halloween and associates the holiday with the bloodshed. Once you realize that you start to see other aspects that are a repercussions of the first film. We get the same silent and stealthy kills that Myers is known for, characters that are very well written and support the story, and the deaths are very memorable. Finally, the kills we get in this one use solid practical effects and camera tricks. The ice skate to the face is one of my favorite slasher kills. With that being said, I’m not a fan of the deaths taking place off screen. I want to see them so I can truly enjoy the characters demise and the amazing effects that go into making them look real. Overall, Halloween: H20 is not as bad as people claim it to be. It’s a very well thought out sequel with a great cast and some decent deaths. I highly enjoy it and the UHD release looks absolutely fantastic. Fans and collectors alike will need this one.

Thursday, October 26, 2023

HeBGB TV


Director(s) - Eric Griffin (1-888-5-Blue-You), Adam Lenhart (1-888-5-Blue-You), and Jake Mcclellan (Dead in 5 Heartbeats)
Starring - Andrew Bowser (Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, The Green Shit), Zenobia Decoteau, and Josh Dorsheimer (Never Too Late, Hacktress)
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Horror/Comedy/Sci-Fi
Tagline - "Don't touch that dial"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):


      I love how unique and strange indie cinema can be. Some filmmakers have so many ideas and a strong sense of humor resulting in films that will stick with you for days or even weeks after watching them. A few weeks back I was ordering a few movies from Scream Team Releasing to add to my October horror binge when I came across HeBGB TV. I remembered sharing a few press releases for this one sometime back but it had completely skipped my mind when I moved on to the next post. I quickly watched the trailer for the film and promptly tossed it in my cart. I had to have it and I couldn’t wait to see it. Fast Forward to now when I decided to have a Scream Team Releasing marathon with HeBGB TV being the first film. 
      The film follows two children who receive a mysterious package. When they open it they are surprised to find a television receiver titled HeBGB TV. When they plug it in they are introduced to someone who wants to show them all the programs the device has for them. We then enter a world full of dancing candy corn, stoners and pesticide, phone sex operators, Frankenstein’s monster and hot dog wieners, Onyx the Fortuitous, and much more. 
      HeBGB TV is not going to be for everyone. It’s a wild and colorful ride with a lot of horror puns and memorable characters but those of you looking for something along the lines of August Underground or Terrifier will be very disappointed. However, if Shit & Champagne mixed with a little bit of Hee-Haw and WNUF Halloween Special sounds fun for you then I highly recommend snagging this one. The acting in this one is a lot of fun. The characters are all over the top and very enjoyable. Some of the cast portrays different characters but they all stand out and have their own distinct personalities. The fact that they were able to keep track of all the characters they brought to life and not just recycle them over and over is seriously impressive to me. The stories for this one are a lot of fun but some clearly had more thought and work put into them than others. I loved the sense of humor, the delightful horror and Halloween puns, and the energy each segment brought to the film. While I loved the format and lay out of the film I would love to see this team tackle a straight forward anthology. Finally, the film is full of DIY effects that I absolutely loved. We have some fun puppets, campy late night visual effects, blood, and lots of make up effects. This film offers a lot for those of you with an eye for effects but understand films on a budget can’t compete with major motion pictures. Overall, HeBGB TV is everything I hoped it was and then some. It’s funny, bloody, and very entertaining. I don’t know if I will add this to my Halloween list but I can see this one quickly becoming a comfort film for me. I highly recommend this no budget treat.

Saturday, October 7, 2023

Human Hibachi: The Beginning



Director - Mario Cerrito (Human Hibachi, Deadly Gamble)
Starring - Nicholas Ear, Ilana Lo, and Wataru Nishida (The Human Chair, The Porns)
Release Date - 2023
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Bamboo can penetrate concrete.  Imagine what it can do to a human body"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):


     A few years ago I was introduced to the indie found footage film Human Hibachi. The title was absolutely brilliant and I was very interested in the film but I was reluctant to watch it. I’m not a found footage fan. In fact, most of you know how I often avoid the sub-genre altogether. However, the first Human Hibachi and it’s sequel are solid found footage entries. I’ve seen them several times now by this point and highly recommend them to found footage enthusiasts. A few weeks back filmmaker Mario Cerrito reached out to review his newest entry in the series, Human Hibachi: The Beginning. This short film serves as a prequel to the first film and is now streaming on Troma Now. I want to thank Mario for sending this one over. 
      The film follows several people who have someone tied to a chair surrounded by sprouting bamboo. He refuses to cooperate with them so they leave him there for several hours with the bamboo still growing. When they return later they find his lifeless body with several bamboo sprouts protruding from it. 
      Human Hibachi: The Beginning does take the viewer back to before the first film but is it an effective prequel? Honestly, this is the weakest of the three films but it’s not a horrible movie. In fact, it’s a decent enough short but it does have some big shoes to fill. The acting in this one is solid. The cast, which appears to be local Japanese actors, do a great job but the interactions and dialogue is short lived and one sides. I can’t really go to in depth with this one due to the short run time and the action taking place doesn’t give me much room to judge character portrayals and so on but I did like what I saw. The story for this one is decent as a torture porn or a straight forward found footage/faux snuff film but as a prequel to Human Hibachi I feel like it falls short.  While we see the ending monologue connect this one to the first film that is all we have between the two.  It's not the same premise as the first film where this one seems to be a revenge killing with no cannibalism.  It just doesn't feel like a solid prequel but would be a bit more enjoyable if it was a stand alone film.  Finally, the film has some make-up effects that work for the film but they are rather classic gags that don't really stand out.  It's not a bloody film but the effects look good.  Overall, Human Hibachi: The Beginning doesn't surpass the previous films but it's still a solid enough entry.  I would have liked to see the short take a different approach to a prequel but it's still a decent enough horror short.  Check it out especially if you are a fan of found footage or the original Human Hibachi films.  

Monday, June 5, 2023

Hunt Club


Director - Elizabeth Blake-Thomas (Evie Rose, Unseen)
Starring - Mena Suvari (American Beauty, American Pie), Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers, Sleepy Hollow), and Will Peltz (Unfriended, The Collection)
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Horror/Action
Tagline - "The hunters become the hunted"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):


     The last year or so has brought us some seriously unforgettable genre films from Ti West’s X to the film adaptation of Joe Hill’s Black Phone. I’ve really enjoyed this renewed interested in the genre and can’t wait to see what films head our way. While movies like Evil Dead Rise, Renfield, and The Pope’s Exorcist are playing in theaters, we have several horror titles hitting VOD platforms. Several weeks back I started receiving press releases for the horror action film Hunt Club starring Casper Van Dien and Mickey Rouke. I’m a fan of Dien and was curious about the film after reading the synopsis attached to the press releases. I was able to reach out to them and they were kind enough to send a screener link my way to check out. I wasn’t able to check it out right away but as soon as I could I hit play on it. 
      The film follows a woman who finds herself stranded at a road side diner when her girlfriend catches her making googly eyes with a young man and his father. They invite her back to their camp where it’s his son’s first hunting trip. She then tells her about a contest to win $100k. She agrees and goes with them. Things start out innocently enough when she meets other wealthy hunters and women they brought but as the night drags on she realizes they are not engaging in a normal hunt. They hunt women but what they don’t count on is that she is really there to avenge her daughter who was one of their hunting victims from a previous hunt. 
      Hunt Club is going to be compared to Surviving the Game and The Hunt and that’s because it’s just like those films. The Hunt was a bit of a letdown. I love these Surviving the Game style films but the political satire was not as clever as I had hoped for. While Hunt Club doesn’t offer up originality, it does offer up a mindless good time while fixing some of the issues I had with The Hunt. The acting in this one is my favorite aspect of the film. I fucking love Starship Troopers, Sleepy Hollow, and Modern Vampires so I was looking forward to see Casper Van Dien deliver another underappreciated performance. I really liked his character and as the film progresses you get to see him dial up the intensity. I was also impressed by American Pie’s Mena Suvari. She has appeared in several horror titles in the passed like Rage: Carrie 2, Don’t Blink, American Horror Story and many more. She was someone I was not expecting to see yet she completely surprised me. I really liked her character and she really showed that she is another name in the game that delivers underrated performances. The supporting cast is just as good but I would like to comment on Rourke. He doesn’t act anymore. He’s the same character in every film he’s been in for the last 10 or 15 years so the fact he was barely used made the film better in my opinion. Over using him more would have made the film feel cheaper than it is. The story for this one is almost identical to The Hunt except the characters are the opposite of each other. In Hunt Club we have wealthy men who are feeling threatened by smart and aggressive women taking over certain aspects of their lives that they deemed as a man’s right. Now, the lure women into their camp to hunt them. It’s during these trips that they finally get the control over women that they desire. This is a very intriguing back story and when you add the vengeful mother and her girlfriend you get a solid, yet generic, action horror film that is still fun for a first time watch. Finally, the film has several bloody and violent death scenes. The practical effects, when used, is very effective and look great. It makes the violence in the death scenes really stand out. However, this film features some of the worst visual effects I have ever laid my eyes on. I don’t know if they zapped their budget or what but these cheap and rushed visuals look like shit. Overall, Hunt Club was surprisingly enjoyable. I really liked the cast and the idea behind the story. It was bloody and violent but the visual effects were a huge disappointment. Check it out.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Horror in the High Desert 2: Minerva


Director - Dutch Marich (Infernum, Horror in the High Desert)
Starring - Laurie Felix Bass (Dead Power, Dead Cruelty), Suziey Block (Pickle's Horror Show, Dude Bro Part Massacre III), and Brooke Bradshaw (Reaptown, Miserable Sinners)
Release Date - 2023
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "No one just disappears"
Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):


     Back in 2021 I was asked to review the found footage horror flick Horror in the High Desert from director Dutch Marich. I’m not a fan of found footage and though I often struggle to finish them, I found myself actually enjoying the film. I’ve written reviews for Horror Society since 2013 and while I’ve done thousands of reviews by this point, this one is easily my most popular. My reviews often go unnoticed aside from the day or so after their initial posting. However, my review for Horror in the High Desert is easily my most popular review and often over takes my most popular post of all time on the site with daily views. When Dutch announced a follow up film I knew I would have to review it just because of how popular the first one was. He sent me a review link a few weeks back but I wasn’t able to get to it in a timely manner. Since then the film has been released on Tubi and I was able to check it out there. I still want to thank Dutch for thinking about Horror Society when the film was released! 
      The film is a mockumentary following the disappearance of a young woman who was living in a trailer out in the Nevada desert. There was several murders around the time she went missing but the police and investigators were unable to find any leads besides a bag that was suspected to be hers with a recording inside that gives a small glimpse into the horrors of the Nevada desert. 
      Director Dutch Marich has done something very few people have been able to do and that’s get met to actually enjoy a found footage horror flick. I’ve seen and reviewed dozens, if not hundreds, by this point and I can count on one hand how many I’ve actually liked. Two of which would be his films. Found footage is one of the dullest sub-genres in horror but these two films have really pulled me in. Minerva doesn’t really answer the questions from the first film but paints an even bigger picture that I’m sure will come to full circle in a future sequel not yet announced. The acting in this one is like most mockumentaries where we follow the cast as they engage in faux interviews. It’s awkward and one of the many reasons I often find mockumentaries and certain found footage films to be unwatchable. As awkward as this is I didn’t mind it. Everyone is dedicated to the project and I enjoyed some of the characters. I would have rather watched them act out their scenes aside from the interview style but it fits the film and it works. The story for this one is a loose follow up to the first film where the main focus is on a missing woman along with a few murders committed in the general area. Not enough evidence is there to link them to the incident from the first film but it is suspected. I liked this approach to a sequel. It builds a much bigger story in scope while establishing a much larger sinister force. While it doesn’t help answer questions from the first film, it still entertains while giving fans a bigger picture to follow. Finally, it’s not a bloody film. In fact, it relies heavily on story and atmosphere so if you are looking for a gory found footage flick then you will be very disappointed. Overall, Horror in the High Desert: Minerva is a fantastic sequel and one of the few found footage flicks that I would recommend to genre fans. Dutch Marich is a fantastic filmmaker that everyone should look out for. Check this one out.

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

The Hook of Woodland Heights



Director(s) - Michael Savino (Attack of the Killer Refrigerator) and Mark Veau
Starring - Robert W. Allen, Christine McNamara, and Michael Elyanow 
Release Date - 1990
Genre - Horror
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):


     When I first learned about the horror comedy Attack of the Killer Refrigerator it was a vhs release that was making some rounds on different horror message boards I frequented. I can remember it becoming a popular topic on Upcoming Horror Movies where I remember talking with a few of my friends there who had seen it. They all mentioned how it was something up my alley and I often looked at the VHS artwork over and over without noticing the bonus film at the bottom of the artwork. The movie was released with a second film, the 40 minute short The Hook of Woodland Heights. It wasn’t until I ordered the blu release from Terror Vision that realized that it had a second film and when I was looking for artwork for my review that I saw the second title at the very bottom of the release. This bonus film is much longer than the title release and I couldn’t wait to check it out. 
      The film follows a serial killer missing his hand who escapes from an insane asylum and makes his way through the woods to a small community. Using a homemade pronged fork on his missing hand, he begins kills people as they cross his path. 
      The Hook of Woodland Heights reminds me a lot of the recent S.O.V. releases from Visual Vengeance. It’s cheap, amateur, but so much fucking fun. Hell, I think this film is much more enjoyable than Attack of the Killer Refrigerator but doesn’t have the appealing title. This backyard film pays tribute to the classic ghost story told around campfires for decades along with some classic slasher flair. I like it but it’s far from perfect. The acting in this one is not the worst I’ve seen but it also suffers from inexperience. The characters are very generic but the cast is clearly friends in real life and that chemistry shows in most scenes. They work well together and the awkwardness of inexperienced acting is not as noticeable as it could have been. The story for this one is a straight homage to the classic camp fire tale told for decades about the escaped mental patient with a hook for a hand. However, the film flows like a slasher which I really enjoy and at 40 minutes it doesn’t over stay it’s welcome. It has solid pacing but a little more time could have been spent on character development and the death scenes. Finally, the deaths are amusing and use classic camera tricks and movie magic. We get some blood but that is really the extent of the effects which is a bit of a let down. Overall, The Hook of Woodland Heights is a fun short S.O.V. horror flick that has no reason being as good as it is. I really enjoyed it and think it’s the better of the two films in the set. (I know here is another Christmas themed film in the set)

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Heartland of Darkness


Director - Eric Swelstad (Frankenstein Rising, The Curse of Lizzie Borden 2: Prom Night)
Starring - Dino Tripodis (Criminal Minds, The Funny Man), Nick Baldasare (Road Meat, They Bite), and Shanna Thomas 
Release Date - 1992
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "An evil place between Heaven and Hell... the sanctuary of death"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5): 


     I’m a huge fan of Wild Eye Releasing so it was a no brainer when they announced their sister company Visual Vengeance to release S.O.V. horror flicks. I’ve worked with Wild Eye in the past and love their dedication to the genre, so I was looking forward their new label. So far, I’ve been very impressed with the releases. Most were first time watches for me and the special features and additions in the releases are fantastic for collectors. Back in October or so it was announced that the Visual Vengeance would be releasing Heartland of Darkness starring Linnea Quigley. I had never heard of this one but the press release and trailer sold me on it. I tried to secure a review copy around the time it was released and was unable to but last month Wild Eye sent a copy over to check out. After watching the classic Bubba Ho-Tep on UHD I decided to follow it up with something I had never seen before. I decided it was the perfect time to check out Heartland of Darkness. I want to thank Wild Eye for sending this one over. 
      The film follows a man and his teenage daughter that move to a small town to run the local newspaper. Within the first few days he is responding to a mutilated body found in the woods near town. He meets the shady priest that is very pushy and suspects something is going behind closed doors but is unable to prove it until his new journalist, who is actually and undercover agent investigating Satanic cults, starts pointing it out to him. When he stumbles into a shrine in the back room of one of the businesses he quickly finds himself at the center of the cult, who is parading as a Catholic church, and must fight to save his daughter before she can be their next sacrifice for the dark lord. 
      I absolutely loved Heartland of Darkness. I know trolls and edgelords will be scurrying to the comment section ready to throw down about how I was paid to write this, and the film wasn’t that good. The thing is, the film is that good. It was a lot of fucking fun especially if you dig S.O.V. horror. Hell, even if you don’t it still hits the spot if you are looking for a late-night horror fix. The acting in this one is was surprisingly well done. When I toss in a classic S.O.V. title I expect to find a film made by friends or family in their backyard with the family camcorder. Not all S.O.V. flicks are like that but that’s the mindset I often find myself in. This one has a fantastic cast and sizeable amount of screen time from Linnea Quigley. I was expecting to only see her in the film for a few minutes, but she is actually in the film for a bit and doesn’t disappoint. With that being said, the rest of the cast really surprised me. The film’s stars Dino Tripodis, Nick Baldasare, and Shanna Thomas really make the film. They are fully invested in the film and do a fantastic job. The same can be said about the supporting cast. Some inexperience rears it’s ugly head from time to time but that doesn’t ruin the experience. I really liked the story, but I did find it to be a little too goofy at times. The idea of a cult parading around as Christians killing those that get in their way while offering sacrifices to Satan in a small town really pulled me in. I liked the idea of the small town coming together to form an evil cult especially when you consider that this was made during the waning years of the Satanic Panic scare that left suburban parents trembling. With that being said, parts of the story, like the part where the government is investigating clusters of cults in small towns across the U.S. I found the Satanic cult aspect to be a little far-fetched and that’s coming from someone who was raised in the tail end of the Satanic Panic and know several people in the Satanic Church. Regardless, I liked it but a different type of cult would have been more enjoyable. Finally, the film has a few death scenes but nothing that would stick out to avid genre fans. We get some weak make-up effects and the kills rely mostly on the viewer’s imagination rather than practical effects. Overall, Heartland of Darkness is a must see for fans of S.O.V. horror. I fucking loved it and I love this release from Visual Vengeance. I can’t recommend this one enough. Do yourself a favor and check out this early 90s Satanic fun.

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

House of Terrors



Director - Hajime Sato (The Glorious Ghost, Terror Beneath the Sea)
Starring - Ko Nishimura (47 Ronin, Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis), Yuko Kusunoki (Goke: Body Snatcher from Hell, The Call of Flesh), and Shinjiro Ebara (Invasion of the Neptune Men, Ninja Hunt)
Release Date - 1965
Genre - Horror
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):


     If you have followed the site or my reviews for any length of time you may have noticed that most Mondo Macabro releases comes in three and it’s rare for me to like all of them. Usually one or two of them don’t sit well with me while one or so makes the releases worth it. However, this is the first time in awhile that Mondo Macabro has released three films together and they all were hits. After watching In the Folds of the Flesh and A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse I quickly took the dive into The House of Terrors aka The Ghost of the Hunchback and Satan’s Pit. Like many of Mondo Macacabro’s releases, this was a new one to me and I couldn’t wait to dig into this Japanese horror flick. Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAB for sending this one over. 
      The film follows a young woman who finds herself dealing with the unexpected death of her husband. After his death she discovers that he owned a second home which was a mansion complete with it’s own caretaker. The hunchback was tasked with taking care of the property for her late husband but warns her and her friends who are investigating the property that others have suffered strange deaths on the grounds. They disregard their warnings and soon find themselves surrounded by a sinister force. 
      I didn’t know what to expect from The House of Terrors, but it did not disappoint at all. It was a great blend of mystery and haunted house horror with just a small dash of drama. It’s a great looking paranormal film with some great atmosphere and imagery. I wasn’t a fan of some of the scenes and revealing too much of the story early on, but I liked it especially as a late-night watch. The acting in this one is a little inconsistent but enjoyable. We get some scenes where the cast is well grounded yet generic. The characters are what you would expect from a horror by numbers piece, but the cast does a decent job during these scenes. However, during the more tense and suspenseful scenes the cast really hammed it up. They were extremely over-dramatic which added an unintentional sense of humor to a scene that would have been perfect without it. It really destroyed the atmosphere and suspense the film was building up to. The story for this one is pretty simple and you don’t have to really pay attention to predict what is going to happen because the film itself tells you from time to time. The foreshadowing is too blatant and does more damage to the story than good. I wish the story would have unfolded naturally allowing the viewer to make guesses as to what is really going on instead of being force fed the “twists.” Finally, this is not a film filled with blood. Instead, we get some great gothic images and some seriously impressive atmosphere. I loved the look of the location and the supernatural scenes had that classic look about them. Overall, The House of Terrors is an effective Japanese haunted house film with a story that doesn’t leave itself up to the viewer to figure out. Instead, it just tells you the twists before they happen. It’s the perfect watch for a late night scare but it does hold itself back from becoming something timeless. Check it out.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse


Director - Kazuhiko Yamaguchi (Wolf Guy, Sister Street Fighter)
Starring - Naomi Tani (Flower and Snake, Skin of Roses), Misa Ohara (13 Steps of Maki: The Young Aristocrats), and Taiji Tonoyama (River of Fireflies, Tokyo Pop)
Release Date - 1975
Genre - Horror
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):


     Mondo Macabro does one hell of a job bringing international films to genre fans. While I don’t always like the films they release, I still find myself excited to check out a film from across the globe. A week or so ago I received a few releases from Mondo Macabro and all three releases were international films. I decided to check out the 1970 exploitation flick In the Folds of the Flesh first before moving on to what was probably the film I was the most curious about which was A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse. The name and artwork really made my imagination work overtime. When I finished In the Folds of the Flesh I decided I couldn’t wait any longer and tossed it in. I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAV for sending this one over. Thanks guys! 
      The film follows a young woman who marries a gambling addict. When he is assaulted for stealing money from a group of gangsters, she works to clear his debt to prevent them from killing him. Things seem to look up for the pair so she moves her younger sister in with her to help her get on her feet when her horrible husband rapes her. He then reveals that he has acquired an even bigger debt gambling and she needs to work at the local bathhouse to pay off his debts. However, he is secretly sleeping with the madame and she plans on torturing her, so she can be with her husband. Her punishment starts out severe and quickly escalates until her death. Soon those that wronged her in the bathhouse, along with her adulterous husband, are haunted by her evil spirit. 
      A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse is exactly what I was expecting while not being what I expected. I know that doesn’t make much sense, but it will after I explain what I mean. The film’s artwork and title was giving me serious Haus vibes and the film does have that Haus type of paranormal haunting during the last 20 to 30 minutes. However, the first hour or so is a classic pinku flick. A lot of torture and rape which was not what I was expecting but when you mix the two together you get a sleazy haunted house flick that is really difficult to compare to anything else. It is a very unique film but one that I thoroughly enjoyed. The acting in this one is surprisingly well done. The characters are pretty generic especially if you have seen any other pinku films. I’ve reviewed a dozen or so Nikkatsu films over the years so I’m very familiar with these and this is probably one of the better acted Japanese rape/revenge films I’ve seen. As I said earlier, the characters are a carbon copy of characters from the other films like it that I’ve reviewed but the cast is all in. The torture scenes are rather unnerving and not as cringy. I did find myself getting uncomfortable during these scenes as rape is something that I don’t find entertaining and the raw emotions shown here really gave these scenes a greater impact. The rest of the film is solidly acted as well. The cast gets along so well with each other and it shows in each scene even the more violent ones. The story for this one does not look like it would fill a standard-length film, but it does. It doesn’t over do it with the rape and torture scenes, but they do help move the story along while staling the ending. With that being said, the last 20 or so minutes is what really made the film for me. The haunted aspect of the film is fully utilized and fucking works especially with the lighting and imagery. Finally, the film has some great looking props and some blood but the film’s highlight is the makeup for the ghost and the atmosphere the film has during that time. What it lacks in blood and gore it more than makes up for with tension and imagery. Overall, A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse is a must see for genre fans and an essential purchase for collectors. This film was a blast and I’m glad Mondo Macabro brought us this release.

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Halo Season 1


Creator(s) - Steven Kane (Closer, The Last Ship) and Kyle Killen (Awake, Fear Street: Part One - 1994)
Starring - Pablo Schreiber (American Gods, The Devil Has a Name), Shabana Azmi (The Black Prince, Next of Kin), and Yerin Ha (Sissy, Troppo)
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Sci-Fi
Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):


     I’m a product of being born in the mid-80s and growing up in the 90s. I can remember when my dad bought me the first Playstation when they were released. This was the dark gray brick before they released the smaller version and called it the PSOne. I can also remember the day my day took me to get the PS2 on launch and how I was one of the few kids in my class to have one. This would be the end of my Playstation fandom. A friend of mine down the road bought the first Xbox when it was released, and we would have lan parties to play the first Halo: Combat Evolved. I didn’t get that Xbox but when the Xbox 360 was released you can bet your sweet ass and half a tit that I got one. I’ve been an Xbox fan ever since. Halo was such a huge part of my middle school and high school years and I played a good chunk of them until Halo Reach. I was big on the multiplayer aspect to be completely honest, so I never really picked up on a lot of the mythology and lore from the storyline aside from what little bit was mentioned in Red vs Blue. When the news about the show was announced I was looking forward to checking it out, but I completely forgot to watch it until I received the blu release for review. I knew this was one I wouldn’t sit on too long before watching. 
      The series follows the UNMC in the 26th century who are at war with an alien collection known as the Covenant. The UNMC has a group of soldiers known as Spartans who have enhanced strength, endurance, stamina, and so on thanks to their years of testing and scientific advancements. When the Spartan’s leader Master Chief interacts with a Covenant artifact awakening a great power, he finds himself torn between memories he thought he had forgot and the UNMC that he had dedicated his life to and has been lying to him since he was a child. 
      I’ll be completely fucking honest with you when I say that I don’t know a lot about the Halo mythology and lore. In fact, if it wasn’t in the first Halo game’s story line or in multiplayer then I have no clue what is going on. I fucking loved the multiplayer in the series, but I never explored the story so I’m not one that can verify how close to the source material this show actually is. With that being said, I really enjoyed the show but there was some seriously cringy moments. It had a hard time capturing the tone of the game and failed at making a show that stood out from others like it. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed it, but it doesn’t hit like the games do. The acting in this is very well done. I liked the casting for the most part, but I just wasn’t feeling Pablo Schreiber as the unmasked Master Chief. His performance wasn’t that bad, but he was the weakest of the series. He didn’t really fit the character, at least in my eyes, and his performance was extremely dry when compared to everyone else. I know the Spartans are meant to show zero emotion and so forth, but he just felt the least genuine to me. With that being said, I felt the other three remaining Spartans were perfectly cast. They did so much with their roles and was able to pull off the emotionless aspect in a far better way. Also, the supporting cast is phenomenal as well. The story for this one doesn’t try to follow what was established by the game franchise, at least from what I can tell. Instead, it takes key moments and characters and revisions it for its own purpose in a similar fashion to the MCU and DCEU. I loved Halo’s blend of comedy and action, yet I didn’t see the humor in the show which was a huge disappointment for me. When fighting the grunts, needlers, and so on you could find comical moments that made the game have that comedic tone about it. However, the show keeps the same alien types, but they lacked the personality. The shows focus to a gritty military drama does take away from the overall film especially when you see the Covenant grunts and they not be funny. Also, the show struggles to find it’s own identity. It feels like a blend of Mandalorian and Star Trek: Discovery while implementing characters from Halo. It’s fun but there is very few things that separates it from other sci-fi shows like it. Finally, the props, locations, and practical effects look fucking fantastic. Some of the best I’ve seen especially in recent years. However, some of the visuals we get look fantastic while others were horrible. I liked the look of the Covenant aliens but the action scenes of the Spartans is straight up garbage. I don’t know who approved those clips but they are the worst visuals I’ve seen especially for something of this size. Overall, Halo season 1 has it’s own issues but it’s still a fun sci-fi show. If you are into shows like Mandalorian, Star Trek: Discovery and any other modern show centered around the military with sci-fi elements will want to check this out. I enjoyed it but it could have been better.