Dawn of the Beast

Director - Bruce Wemple (The Retreat, Monstrous)

Starring - Francesca Anderson (Groupie, Grip), Adrian Burke (Ghost Girl, Younger), Chris Cimperman (Lake Retreat, The Nerd)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The legends are real... and they kill!"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm always on the hunt for indie horror flicks that deliver some insanity.  Indie movies always struggle with telling a story on a budget or with no budget at all.  Some try to cover up their lack of a budget with buckets of fake blood or nudity but I prefer movies that mask their shortcomings with humor.  With that being said, sometimes you get an indie flick that has so much going on that you never notice the budget.  They use the money wisely and make every cent count.  A few weeks back I received the press release for the 2021 horror flick Dawn of the Beast from Monstrous director Bruce Wemple.  The trailer sold me on the film so I reached out to get a screener link for it.  I was not expecting a polished horror film like this.  

     The film follows a group of bigfoot enthusiasts who go deep in the woods in hopes of finding the elusive creature.  However, things take an unexpected turn when they find a badly decayed corpse.  Things then take an even stranger turn when they find an old book.  Soon they discover that bigfoot is real and he's not the only creature stalking the woods.

       We've seen several bigfoot indie flicks pop up over the years but never a bigfoot vs. wendigo flick.  This one was extremely fun but it could have been a lot better.  It had some great moments but there was also a lot of missed opportunities.  The acting in this one was one of my biggest complaints.  The cast is really dedicated to their roles but a lot of the scenes were very underwhelming.  The characters are very bland and don't do anything significant to move the story along.  With a story as wild as this one you would expect a character or two to stand out from the crowd.  The story for this one is not at all what I was expecting.  We get a modern bigfoot settings mixed with wendigos, and a little dash of Evil Dead.  I loved the set up and how it comes together I just wish we had more wendigo and bigfoot action.  The whole selling point of the film is this and yet it's only in the film for a fraction of the time.  Also, the film could use a good trim.  Some of the scenes are just way too long and dull.  The dialogue is gringy at times makes the already drawn out scenes feel even longer.  Finally, the film has some cool practical effects and creature effects.  The visuals are solid as well but the fight scene is not nearly long enough to truly appreciate what went into it.  I could have used a lot more of this.  Overall, Dawn of the Beast will not be for everyone.  In fact, I can see some of you bitching about it but if you are in the mood for something a little different then I would highly recommend this crazy ass movie.  You won't see anything like it for some time.  

Awoken

Director - Daniel J. Phillips (Release, The Martyr)

Starring - Erik Thomson (Hercules: The Legendary Journey, Xena: Warrior Princess), Sara West (Ash vs. Evil Dead, Don't Tell), and Benson Jack Anthony (Legend of the Seeker, 100% Wolf)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Never sleep again"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several weeks ago Umbrella Entertainment caught me off guard with their March release announcement.  Bad Boy Bubby had caught my eye but there was a pair of horror releases on DVD that really pulled me in.  Sator was the one that I was really looking forward to.  Several of my horror friends had talked about this particular film in the past which really made me want to see it even more.  Sadly, it was not as fun as I had hoped.  The second film is one I had never heard of before but I can't turn down a horror movie to watch.  That brings me to 2019's Awoken starring Erik Thomason who some of you may recognize as Hades from Hercules and Xena.  I want to thank Umbrella for sending this one my way.

     The film follows a young med student who has a brother who suffers from a severe form of insomnia.  As his health deteriorates she moves him out of the hospital into a secret basement facility to help him and others like him.  However, the worse he gets the more strange occurances happen until she discovers the real reason behind his sickness.

     I didn't know what to expect from Awoken when I tossed it in.  The artwork looked kind of cool and I wasn't sure where the story would take me.  I liked the premise but the predictability and unlikable characters made for a tough one to sit through.  The acting in this one is not bad.  The cast is fully dedicated to their roles but the characters are written in a way that you have a hard time liking them.  The female lead has her heart in the right place but she's so fucking whiny.  Her former love interest is extremely emotional and his indecisiveness makes some of the scenes extremely awkward to watch.  Hell, the film's antagonist is the only character that I enjoyed which is saying a lot about the movie when you sympathize with the villain.   The story for this one is very interesting and has a lot of promise but it's very predictable and the ending is very drab.  Having sleep deprivation tie in to demonic possession is not a new idea having been explored in other films but having an insomniac be a vessel for an ancient demon is pretty fun.  Sadly, this is never fully explored and when the film gets into the thick of it all we slip and slide through it without getting to the good stuff.  The movie could have been so much more.  Finally, the film has a few deaths.  We get some pretty nice looking make-up effects but the kills we get are done either quickly or off camera so those of us with a taste for blood will be very disappointed.  Overall, Awoken is another missed opportunity.  It could have been something memorable for the genre but at the end of the day it's forgettable and tough to finish.  Skip it.  

Evil Toons

Director - Fred Olen Ray (Beverly Hills Vamp, Scalps)

Starring - Monique Gabrielle (Deathstalker II, Chained Heat), Suzanne Ager (Shock 'Em Dead, Camp Fear), and Madison (Vampirass, Scared Stiff)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Tagline - "This dude is rude"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was younger, maybe around middle school age, I would rent anything from the local video store.  I was already a fan of horror literature and television shows like Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark? was already shaping me into the horror fan I am today.  I remember renting so many videos from Dewey's Video that I can't remember actually renting them but sometimes around this time I watched Evil Toons for the first time.  I did acquire the DVD but I can't recall if my first viewing was the DVD I had or one of the Fred Olen Ray movies I had already rented.  Regardless, when I saw that Makeflix had the blu of this one in stock I quickly jumped on it to upgrade it for my collection.  After watching Hauting Fear I decided to continue having a Ray marathon and revisited this one.  

     The film follows four beautiful young women who are hired to clean a home with a sorted past.  They agree and set out to clean the basement first when they uncover a strange trunk with a skull and dagger.  The decide to call it a night and return up stairs when they receive a knock at the door.  A strange man (David Carradine) gives them an old book and leaves.  Before long they open it up to see a strange creature drawn on the pages.  When they decide to call it a night they leave the book unattended and thats when the evil toon leaves the pages of the book to hunt down the gorgeous ladies one by one.

     Evil Toons has no right being as good as it is.  It was a rushed production with a haunted house story that is poorly mixed with an animated angle but it works.  It's cheap but extremely fun.  The acting in this one is far from perfect but I would be doing a great injustice if I didn't mention how fucking sexy these four ladies are.  Aside from legends like Dick Miller and Arte Johnson, the cast was clearly picked for their bodies and no on screen presence.  What they lacked in acting prowess they more than made up for by looking good on camera.  With that being said, they really do work well with the humor that was written into the film.  The story for this one is, at it's heart, a haunted house story but we get the undead David Carradine, an evil cartoon that possesses people, and Dick Miller watching Dick Miller. It's a fucking weird story but the setting, characters, and story really does come together to make a movie that is surprisingly fun.  It's a similar story to Nightmare Sisters but with an animated twist and way more humor.  With that being said, the humor in this one is not that consistent.  A good portion of the film has a serious tone but we get these random goofy moments that are funny but feels like it was added in last minute.    Finally, the film has some bloody moments but the kills we get are very underwhelming.  Plenty of blood, some fake teeth, and animated cells placed over the film and thats the extent of the effects in this one.  A little more imagination would have went a long way in the death scenes.  Overall, Evil Toons is a cheap and rushed production that somehow finds a way to be extremely fun.  I could see myself revisiting this one again soon and still enjoying it.  I highly recommend snagging the blu from makeflix.com to add to your collection.  

Nightmare Sisters

Director - David DeCoteau (Sorority Babes at the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama, Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge)

Starring - Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead, Night of the Demons), Brinke Stevens (The Slumber Party Massacre, Savage Streets), and Michelle Bauer (Demonwarp, Night of the Living Babes)

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Something hellacious has gotten into the girls next door!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I met a a like minded guy who liked horror movies.  It was rare to find someone with the same tastes in movies in the small town I grew up in.  After high school we started hanging out a lot and our circle grew by a few more.  We would usually sit around drinking while watching horror flicks.  One night one of us ended up with a copy of Nightmare Sisters and we watched it.  I don't remember a lot about it but I do remember laughing a few times at it.  When Vinegar Syndrome first released the film on blu some years back I went ahead and bought a copy.  I never revisited it or reviewed it but I'm glad I snagged it.   When I saw that they were releasing the limited slipcover with artwork from Thomas Hodge I decided to grab it.  Honestly, this artwork is the best I've seen yet and I couldn't wait to own it.  When I got it in I decided it was the perfect time to check this one out.  

     The film follows three nerdy sorority sisters who find themselves alone one weekend night.  They decide to invite over three guys for a little wholesome fun.  However, when they run out of games to play they turn to a magic crystal ball one of them recently acquired from a garage sale.  Things turn weird when the three ladies change from nerds to sexy sorority babes.  The guys go with it at first but soon they realize that these three ladies are now possessed by an evil succubus.  

     A few months ago I watched the documentary Screaming in High Heels which was about the golden age of scream queens.  In it Nightmare Sisters was discussed and how the movie was pretty filmed in over a weekend.  I can see that now after watching it again.  It's a fun and cheesy late 80s horror comedy that I can see myself watching over and over again without tiring of.  The acting in this one is far from perfect but its fun.  The three leads, Quigley, Stevens, and Bauer, are horror icons and have appeared in some classic films over the years.  Nightmare Sisters may be their most underrated film.  The three will not be winning awards for their performances here but they did a great job at making this one super fun.  The supporting cast is solid but nothing memorable.  The story for this one simple, straight forward, but very entertaining.  Honestly, its nothing new by this point in the late 80s but with DeCoteau behind the camera and the three iconic scream queens in front of it you have a classic campy and sleazy horror comedy.  There is a few slow paced scenes but nothing you can't sit through.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick which is what I was expecting.  Even the cheesiest horror films of the 80s were known for their imaginative kills but this one rides mostly on the characters and their dilemmas.  Overall, Nightmare Sisters is just the film you want to see as you are lounging around in the evening and drinking a cold beer to relax.  It's nothing overly complicated but it's super fun and enjoyable.  I highly recommend checking this one out and if you can get the amazing slip with Thomas Hodges artwork then I suggest you do.  It's well worth it.  

The Cleansing Hour

Director - Damien LeVeck (Attraction, Asylum: Twisted Horror and Fantasy Tales)

Starring - Ryan Guzman (The Boy Next Door, Pretty Little Liars), Kyle Gallner (Jennifer's Body, A Haunting in Connecticut), and Alix Angelis (The Magnificent Seven, Bones)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The perfect internet hoax just went to hell"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5): 

      Most of you are aware of the October horror binge I do every year.  There is a Facebook group for it and we all post the different movies and discuss them that we've seen throughout the month.  Several members of the group posted and discussed the 2019 horror film The Cleansing Hour.  Honestly, the title and artwork made me think it was a cheap horror flick trying to capture the younger audience.  Since October other horror fans that I know have seen the movie on Shudder and told me how awesome it was.  This made me the least bit curious to see it.  When I received the press release that RLJE was releasing the film I reached out to see if I could get a review copy of it and they were kind enough to send one my way.  Thanks guys!

     The movie follows Father Max and his team as they broadcast live exorcisms to his social media followers.  However, the exorcisms are fake but one night they find themselves at the mercy of a real possessed woman and will have to do as their told in order to survive.  

     I went into this one a little skeptical but I was really surprised by it.  The movie has a few really goofy moments but as the credits started to roll I found myself wanting more.  It was well put together and written but there was a few moments that I could have lived without.  The acting in this one is fucking fantastic.  I'm a fan of Kyle Gallner after the first time I had seen A Haunting in Connecticut.  He was great in his role.  When I saw him again in Jennifer's Body, a very underrated horror comedy, I was really impressed then as well.  I haven't seen much from him in recent years but it was great seeing him make a return to the genre.  He was a solid lead and did a fantastic job.  Ryan Guzman was fantastic as well.  In October I watched The Boy Next Door for the first time and he proved he had some serious acting chops.  He not only went above my expectations here but he went beyond anything I could have expected.  With that being said, Alix Angelis delivers the most intense performance of the film.  Her character goes through literal hell and she does one hell of a job making that convincing.  Anyone that shares the screen with her should consider themselves lucky.  My only complaint is the voice the possessed makes.  It reminds me of a very nasally woman trying to talk to a group of kids.   The story for this one is more of modern take on a possession tale.  Working exorcism into a livestream on social media is a great way to make the story stand out but it could backfire and date the film making it somewhat cringy for viewers wanting to revisit it in a few.  Regardless, I really loved the story.  The pacing is solid and the action and horror evenly balances itself throughout the film.  Finally, the film is a bloody one.  The body count is rather small but every kill is worth your time and even though some of the scenes don't feature a death they still deliver some seriously brutal gags and blood.  The practical and make-up effects look great.  Some of the deaths had me rewinding so I could re-watch it so I could appreciate the practical effects.  The visual effects also look well done.  The film has one fiery death scene that really look good.  Overall, The Cleansing Hour is a modern horror film that does it's job.  It's well put together, has some seriously entertaining deaths, and the story works.  I highly suggest giving this one a spin when you get the chance.  

Scary Tales

Director(s) - Doug Ulrich (7 Sins of the Vampire, Screen Kill) and Al Darago (Darkest Soul, Screen Kill)

Starring - Al Darago, Brad Storck, and Ilene Zelechowski 

Release Date - 1993

Genre - Horror/Comedy/Fantasy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     Several months ago I was preparing for my October horror binge.  I wanted to watch as many horror in October as I could focusing on movies I had never seen before.  While I was rounding up movies for my month long binge I saw that AGFA and Bleeding Skull was releasing a shot on video horror anthology from 1993 called Scary Tales.  The original release date was the tail end of October so I knew it would be cutting it close if I got it in time to review for Halloween.  Sadly, the releases for October were delayed and it would not arrive until the middle of November.  I wanted to watch it sooner but decided to save it to watch later after I binged Game of Thrones.  After power housing through five seasons I decided to split the other seasons up and watch a few horror releases.  Scary Tales was the first.

     The film follows the storyteller as he spins three tales for a group of unsuspecting children.  The first story follows a man who finds Satan's necklace that possesses him and forces him to do evil deeds.  The second story follows a loving husband who uncovers that his wife is cheating which sends him over the edge.  The third and final tale follows an avid gamer who finds himself sucked into the world of the game and forced to fight for his life.  

     Shot on video horror is not for everyone.  I love the cheap side of horror so I often find no budget shot on video horror to be entertaining but they are very far from perfect.  I love discovering a new sov horror flick I've never seen before and the second I saw Vinegar Syndrome post Scary Tales for AGFA and Bleeding Skull I knew I had to see it.  The movie is very crude and amateur but, god damn, did I enjoy it.  The acting in this one is rough.  I don't want to call it bad but I would call in inexperienced.  The cast really tries to get into character but their lack of experience does create a few unintentional laughs. Regardless, I had fun with the characters.  The stories in this one are nothing we haven't seen before even in the early 90s.  So many horror films, as well as, erotic thrillers followed a jealous husband murdering his adulterous wife.  The same can be said about possession stories.  However, we didn't have a lot of horror tales where someone is pulled into a video game.  With that being said, we have seen similiar stories with people getting pulled into movies, television shows, comics, books, and so on before this.  Still, it's cool seeing video games incorporated into a horror tale.  Finally, the film has some blood and cheap practical effects but I enjoyed them.  Sure, the kills we get are nothing memorable but they really fit the film.  Some were unintentionally funny while others were a little more serious but I liked them.  Overall, Scary Tales will not be for everyone.  In fact, it's not going to be for a lot of people.  However, if you are one of the few members of the horror community that doesn't get off on your own farts then you may enjoy this cheap anthology.  I like what they were going for and, if you ask me, they deliver a very fun and entertaining horror anthology.  Sure, there is a few occasions where you will laugh at the acting but the fact they got off their ass and did something speaks louder than us laughing.  I highly recommend checking this one out on blu now from AGFA and Bleeding Skull.  

Hell's Kitty

Director - Nicholas Tana (The Director , We Are Animals)

Starring - Nicholas Tana, Lisa Younger (Cold Creepy Feeling, Superhot Apocalypse), and Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog, Escape from New York)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "You'll wish you had nine lives"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    I get a lot of movies in to review from Wild Eye.  Some do an amazing job of stirring my imagination while others completely turn me obsessive.  Sometime ago I received the horror comedy Hell's Kitty from Wild Eye for review.  The artwork for the film really peaked my interest but I just never got the desire to watch it.  When I was in my October horror binge I decided that this peaky horror comedy about a possessed cat would be the perfect movie to finish the month with.  I want to thank Wild Eye for once again sending this one over.

     The film follows a man who is very attached to his cat Angel.  However, Angel is very protective of her owner and when any woman gets too close she attacks them.  He tries several different suggestions but nothing works until he discovers that the cat is actually possessed by a scorned lover that killed herself and possessed the cat when she realized she would never be loved by him like he loves the cat.

     I knew this wasn't going to be a film that I would want to revisit every October but I thought it was going to be something I had a lot of fun with.  Sadly, it was not.  In fact, I feel like it was never intended to be a film and some digging around I can see that it wasn't.  In fact, it looks like it was a web-series of sorts that was put together into a film.  Maybe if I was to check it out in the original format I would enjoy it better than I did.  The acting in this one is pretty solid but so many of the characters are underdeveloped.  The main characters throughout the film have a solid enough back story that fits in with the story.  Sadly, the film offers up so many cameros with some memorable names in horror.  These additions seem to be tossed in rather quickly with little to no benefit to the story.  A cameo for cameo's sake.  The acting for those are solid but they can be removed from the film and nothing would change story wise.  The story for this one doesn't have enough substance to run the length that it does.  A possessed cat attacking women is fun in theory but dragging that story out for almost 90 minutes is a very big stretch.  The unnecessary cameos, dry scenes where the lead and his best friend talk about the same situation multiple times, the highly sexualized therapy sessions that repeat themselves, are all ways to drag the film out but its recycling the same scenes over and over.  If the film was around 30 minutes and the pointless scenes removed I could see myself loving this story.  However, watching the same scenes over and over again while the cast wears different clothes is redundent.  Finally, the film has some make-up effects throughout and some prosthetics but nothing memorable or that stands out.  The make-up effects we do get, mostly cat scratches and the like, look great but nothing we haven't seen before.   Overall, Hell's Kitty had an interesting story but the execution is just all wrong.  It's cool seeing some well known horror names make appearances but they feel like they are tossed in last minute with nothing to contribute to the story.  This is one I cannot recommend.  

Terrified

Director - Damian Rugna (Cursed Bastards, The Last Gateway)

Starring - Maximiliano Ghione (Love After Loving, Ashes of Paradise), Norberto Gonzalo (Killer Women, Super Dad), and Elvira Onetto (Zama, Jennifer's Shadow)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I decided to take a look at the Shudder exclusive Blood Quantum and really enjoyed it.  There has only been a few Shudder releases that I didn't care for so I was looking forward to it.  Blood Quantum is one of the movies I bought when I saw Voodoo Apocalypse and Evil Takes Root at my last trip to Walmart.  I also bought another Shudder release.  After I watched Blood Quantum I decided to go ahead and watch the other Shudder release which is the 2017 paranormal horror flick Terrified.  This is another one that I heard so many horror fans talking about so I was looking forward to it.  

     The film follows two officers who get dragged into a series of paranormal events when a child that was recently dead returned home.  They try to rebury the body but soon uncover that something else sinister is alive in the neighbor and all the paranormal events doing on are a result of it.  

     Terrified is one that I've seen so many horror fans talk about over the course of this month which makes sense because it was a fantastic watch and an even better film to add to my October watch list.  The atmosphere is absolutely spot on and the scares that the film provides are ones that will stick with you days after watching it.  The acting in this one is uneven but the inconsistency doesn't distract from the film.  The characters are borderline cliched but their personalities stand out just enough to make them memorable.  Sadly, their performances are not the focus of the film as we focus more on the story and what's about to happen next.  The story for this one is a bit of a tricky story that is done as simply as possible.  The way the story is told is very effective but it has several different layers.  If flows fairly well and easy enough to follow.  However, if you look away for a moment you will miss something pivotal to the story.  Finally, the film has some blood but it's not a gory flick.  Instead, it relies on jump scares, make-up effects, and a few instances of visual effects.  All those are very impressive and the jump scares, which I'm usually not a fan of, are very effective as well.  In fact, I really enjoyed them when they did occur here.  Overall, Terrified is a must see this Halloween season.  It's such an impressive movie and one horror film that leaves a lasting mark.  Give it a go!

Death Toilet Number 2

Director - Evan Jacobs (Death Toilet, The Reckoning)

Starring - Isaac Golub (Black Friday, DV2) and Mike Hartsfield (Ultimate Target, The Riverbed)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "What you call hell, Brett Baxter calls the commode"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Early last year I was digging around on social media when I came across the no budget horror comedy Death Toilet.  This is the kind of movie that I love.  Movies often take themselves too seriously and try to pull off they don't have the budget nor know how to do so.  Movies that don't take themselves too seriously are the kind of movies that I live for.  When I got it in I checked it out and loved it.  It was cheap and funny.  When director Evan Jacobs announced a sequel I had to own it as well.  I sit on it a few months and with my October horror binge in full swing I decided it was time to give it a go.  

     The film picks up some time after the events in the first film.  Brett Baxter survived and successfully sued big toilet companies.  His life of fighting possessed toilets is behind him...so he thought.  His is priest and best friend comes calling he soon discovers that not only are toilets becoming possessed again but so are the showers.  

     Death Toilet had me laughing and I love how simple, absurd, and goofy it was.  Most indie horror features refuse to just have fun which is what made this one so enjoyable.  It wasn't trying to reinvent the genre or make a name for itself.  Instead, it wanted to make the viewer laugh and it succeeded.  The sequel followed in the original's footsteps but lost wind pretty quick.  It had some fun moments but the gimmick just wasn't the same this time around.  The acting in this one is more of what you got in the first film.  The cast offers up some comedic performances and plenty of laughs but the acting is far from perfect.  Fans of Troma will know exactly what I am talking about and many of us come to love these kind of performances.  You may laugh at how the two leads ham up their scenes but you will never forget their performances here.  The story for this one is more of what we got in the first flick with very little story progression.  It was funny at first but the same jokes and almost the same scenes as the first film made this one a little less fun.  I love sequels when they progress the story further than the previous installment.  The rehashing of the first film just wears the joke of it all too thin.  Finally, the film is not a bloody flick but if you love cheap CGI explosions then you are in luck because this film is fucking full of them!  Overall, Death Toilet Number 2 is not as fun as the first film.  However, if you have some friends over and a few beers then you may actually enjoy yourself with this one.  

Truth or Dare

Director - Jeff Wadlow (Fantasy Island, Cry Wolf) 

Starring - Lucy Hale (Scream 4, Riverdale), Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf, Yoga Hosers), and Violett Beane (The Flash, DC's The Legend of Tomorrow)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "They are dying to play"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     As I approach the last two films in the set I'm reaching both of the films that I was the most excited to see.  A few years back Truth or Dare hit theaters and the horror community was torn with it's release.  Some loved it while others absolutely hated it.  I'm weird so when I hear people say they hate a movie I find myself wanting to see it more and more.  I was gifted the blu a few months ago but never could find the time to watch it until now.

     The film follows a group of college students who visit Mexico for Spring Break.  There they meet a man who invited them to an old church to play truth or dare.  They start the game and he reveals that he tricked them into playing so he wouldn't have to.  They pass it off as an evil prank and go on back to their business. A few days goes by and they return to campus and soon they start dying one by one until they finish the game.

     I went into this one really excited to check it out.  I know, as I've reviewed in the past, that Tim Ritter and others have made no budget horror flicks with the same name but I feel that this one did not steal their idea.  They simply shared the title.  However, Truth or Dare was a tough one to finish.  It was slow paced, no character development, and the story was extremely dull.  I really wanted to like it but I couldn't.  The acting in this one is decent but the cast went a little overboard in some of the scenes.  The screaming and frantic breathing was overkill which made the film feel extremely forced.  The characters were cliched but they were very likable when the scenes wasn't being overacted.  The story for this one really held my interest.  I liked the paranormal approach to this childish game but the movie moves painfully slow.  The action and interesting story points were paced out.  Finally, the film has blood and some memorable deaths but lacks gore and practical effects.  They rely on camera tricks and deaths that don't require the need for practical effects to be pulled off.  Overall, Truth or Dare is a decent flick to toss in late at night if you want something you've never seen before but the overacting and slow story makes it a struggle to finish.  

Bones

Director - Ernest R. Dickerson (Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, Surviving the Game)
Starring - Snoop Dogg (The Addams Family, Hood of Horror), Khalil Kain (Baadasssss!, CSI: Miami), and Merwin Mondesir (Grave Encounters, Godsend)
Release Date - 2001
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Unleash the Dogg"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in middle school I was coming into my own as a rock and metal fan while my best friend was a rap and pop fan.  He would let me torture him with Black Sabbath, Lamb of God, and so on while I would listen to Wu-Tang, Bone Thugs, and so on.  Honestly, I really enjoyed the old late 80s and 90s rap and hip hop so I wasn't suffering.  It was around this time that Snoop Dogg starred in the horror film Bones.  My friend was obviously a Snoop fan and I loved horror so we begged his mom and dad to take us to pick up the movie when it was released.  We couldn't find it on DVD so we settled on the VHS release.  My friend didn't care for the movie after we started watching it but I really liked it.  I would watch it several times over the years but the last decade I have not.  Recently Scream Factory released the film on blu and I figured now would be the perfect time to revisit it.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a group of up and coming DJs and their manager who purchase an abandoned building that was once the home to Jimmy Bones (Dogg) in the 70s.  He was murdered by a pimp, cop, and his best friend when he refused to sell drugs to the people on his block and they hid his body in the basement.  The group want to fix the building up and turn it into a club but their father's dark past comes back to haunt him and his family when they accidentally resurrect Jimmy Bones.  

     I've been revisiting a lot of movies from my elementary and middle school years.  I guess that means I'm getting old but it's cool to see movies on piss poor quality VHS and DVD get the blu treatment.  As fun as it is to revisit some of these films I'm discovering that nostalgia can't cover up a film that did not age well.  When I got Bones in to review I was excited to rewatch it after all these years but I was afraid it didn't hold it.  Most of it did but there was a few instances that made me a little embarrassed for the people involved.  The acting in this one never really sit well for me.  Snoop and Pam Grier deliver amazing performances with Snoop stealing the show.  His character is fucking fantastic and unforgettable.  With that being said, the remaining cast deliver forced performances that always made me roll my eyes.  Even now I feel somewhat embarrassed for the cast and their performances.  The story for this one is a gothic influenced blaxploitation film that works very well for a horror flick.  My love for blaxploitation really makes me a little biased but I really love how this film uses 70s urban culture before transitioning to a modern haunted house look that is heavily influenced by gothic imagery.  Honestly, I think it works but there is several instances that came across as a little too goofy for the film itself.  The overall look works for me and the story flows very well within the film.  Finally, the film has several on screen kills.  Personally, I'm a fan of the bright red blood but here it is out of place.  The kills have great practical effect but the impact of the gag is lessened by the use of the bright red blood.  With that being said, there is some horrible visual effects used that is not only goofy but it looks like shit all these years later.  Overall, Bones may not be for everyone but for those of us that appreciate horror and blaxploitation we will find entertainment in this one.  The blu looks fucking great as well.  I highly suggest picking up this blu from Scream Factory.  

Amityville Island

Director(s) - Mark Polonia (Bigfoot vs. Zombies, Sharkenstein) and Paul Alan Steele
Starring - Danielle Donahue (Muckman, Survival Knife), Jamie Morgan (Halloween Horror Tales, Bride of the Werewolf), and Jeff Kirkendall (Jurassic Prey, Land Shark)
Release Date - 2020
Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi/Comedy
Tagline - "For God's sake get out of the water"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When it comes to indie horror not many people can turn making movies into a career.  When they do they usually transition to other genres or other jobs in the industry that pays better.  Mark Polonia, along with his late brother John, started making no budget indie horror films back in 1985.  Now, 35 years later he is still churning out several films a year.  His films are hit and miss with me.  Some I find really fun and entertaining while others come across as rushed and chaotic.  Sometime back Wild Eye sent over Mark's newest film Amityville Island.  I'm a sucker for no budget horror comedies so I couldn't wait to toss it in.  Thanks Wild Eye for sending it over.

     The film follows a young single mother who moves into a new house across the road from a home where a grisly murder took place.  After buying a few items from the home she finds herself possessed and kills her children.  She's found guilty and incarcerated where her and another woman in for life is purchased by a scientist to have crude experiments run on them in hopes of creating a super solider.
   
     I didn't know what to expect when I tossed this one in.  I was hoping it was going to be a cheap shark movie like Sharkenstein but it was not that.  In fact, the artwork for this release did not paint the right picture at all. Regardless, this is not the movie I thought it was. The acting in this one is fun but the dialogue is very forced.  I did like the characters and how they fit into the story but their interactions were not genuine.  The story for this one seems to have everything.  We get possessions, killer animals, women in prison, mad scientists, and zombies.  However, it comes across as cluttered and chaotic.  I really wanted to like everything that was being thrown at us but it just didn't work for me.  If the movie would have picked one theme to follow it would have been a lot more fun.    Finally, the film is full of cheap practical effects and even cheaper visual effects.  The kills are nothing memorable and, sadly, they are not that fun.  However, if you like cheesy visual effects then you will really enjoy some of the scenes in this one.  Overall, Amityville Island is not as fun as I had hoped.  I love cheap, cheesy, no budget horror comedies but this one is just all over the place.  The story is so out there that I do recommend checking it out at least once but this one has no replay value.  

Muerte: Tales of Horror

Director - Christopher Ambriz (Dark Blood, Blood, Sweat and Fears)

Starring - Mario Aguilar (Wolfsbane Say My Name, Deviant Behavior), Tara Allen (A 13th Soul, Paranoia Tapes 5: Rewind), and Michelle Banks (The Night Before)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Tales of vampires, witches, demons, and a cucuy"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Writing for Horror Society has given me the opportunity to check out some amazing films.  In fact, writing for the site has brought several movies to my attention that I would normally never hear about.  I hate to say it but indie horror has one of the worst communities I've ever seen.  If someone loves a particular movie then they will share it on social media but most refuse to help indie filmmakers out and share their work on social media.  It's because of this a lot of the indie films go unnoticed.  Sometime back I made contact with director Christopher Ambriz of Night Creature Productions.  Since then I'm mentioned his horror anthology Muerte: Tales of Horror several times.  I never got to check the film out then but a few weeks back Christopher was kind enough to hook me up with a blu to review.  Thanks Christopher!

     The film follows a few nerds who steal an old comicbook while looking for other items to perform a ritual.  After stealing it they decide to read through it to see what happens and read the four strange tales out loud.

     I avoided trailers for this one like the plague.  I knew I would be seeing it eventually so I didn't want to have a trailer ruin the experience for me.  The only thing I knew about the film is what I could see in the images I had shared on the site prior to my viewing.  After it was all said and done I have to admit that I really enjoyed what the film brought to the table but it did have some room for improvements.  The acting in this one is pretty solid.  The cast works very well together and I get the feeling that they were all friends prior to filming.  They look great together on camera and their chemistry really makes the stories work.  With that being said, some of the characters has more personality than others.  I think this was due to the writing but the cast for those characters did a great job bringing them to life.  The segments for this anthology is consistent and entertaining.  I really liked the stories for the most part but a few of them are a little dialogue heavy.  In fact, some of the scenes is dragged down by the dialogue that does very little to move the story along.  A little less talking and more time spent on building atmosphere would have went a long way.  Finally, the film has some blood.  It's not a gory indie piece of work but the practical and make-up effects we get look great.  I was really impressed by the make-up effects and the way the creatures looked.  They pay tribute to the creature features of the late 80s and I respect that.  Overall, Muerte: Tales of Horror is a dark anthology that is best enjoyed with the lights off.  The stories are nothing new but they do have a good bite about them.  Indie horror fans will not be disappointed with this one.  

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War

Director(s) - Matt Peters (Lego DC Batman: Family Matters, Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown) and Christina Sotta (Harley Quinn)

Starring - Matt Ryan (Constantine, Legends of Tomorrow), Jerry O'Connell (Sliders, Joe's Apartment), and Tony Todd (Night of the Living Dead, Candyman)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Sci-Fi

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was never a DC fan growing up.  While most of my friends were going on and on about Batman and Superman, I found myself digging the entire Marvel Universe.  That changed when I was in high school.  I found a love for Green Lantern and Flash.  I can't tell you why but they are my favorite DC characters by far and I prefer them over any Marvel character.  In recent years I've found myself really enjoying the DC animated movies.  I absolutely love the ones that are aimed to their adult audience with the first Justice League Dark being by favorite.  That is until I got Justice League Dark: Apokolips War in for review.  I was not expecting such a brutal DC animated movie but I fucking loved it!

     The film follows the Justice League on a botched mission to stop Darkseid on his home planet.  He rips through most of the Justice League but a few members escape.  Superman has a kryptonite insignia engraved on his chest to stop him from using his powers, Constantine teleports back to Earth where he becomes an alcoholic and the ones rest that survive go into hiding or are captured by Darkseid and turned into his mindless slaves.  He uses them, with the reluctant help of Lex Luther, to harvest the Earth's core for his own evil needs.  Superman teams up with Raven to try to find Batman's son Damien so they can use his influence to reach Batman was is brainwashed by Darkseid.  With just a matter of time before Darkseid destroys the world they must band together, hero and villain, in order to stop the Earth from being destroyed.  

     The first Justice League Dark movie was fucking amazing but even knowing how dark that movie was could not have prepared me for the brutality of this one.  This is the DC universe intended for adults and I couldn't get enough.  The voice acting in this one is hit or miss.  To this day I'm still shocked at how great Jerry O'Connell is as the voice of Superman.  It took a few films to get accustomed to it but he really is a good choice in the role even though previous reviews show that I was too critical on him.  It's also great to see Matt Ryan return as Constantine.  He was the live action incarnation as Constantine and it's great to see DC give him life through Ryan.  The rest of the cast is solid as well but I just wasn't feeling horror legend Tony Todd as Darkseid.  He's a talented actor that many horror fans have grown up with but his voice just didn't fit the character.  The story for this one is bleak but enthralling.  I knew Justice League Dark would be a darker approach to the DC universe but I was not expecting the amount of carnage that we got.  I was glued to my screen and I couldn't look away.  You get the standard comic cheese at times but if you stick with it the payoff is well worth it.  The pacing is smooth and you will barely find yourself bored with the film.  Finally, the animation looks fantastic.  It that style and look that you would expect from the recent DC films but works with the blood and gore tossed in.  Overall, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War is not a movie for the whole family.  It's bloody, gruesome, and completely throws characters your know and love into a woodchipper.  With that being said, it was so much fun and easily my favorite film of the year.  Check it out.  

Idle Hands

Director - Rodman Flender (Leprechaun 2, Scream: The TV Series)

Starring - Devon Sawa (Final Destination, Casper), Seth Green (Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Guardians of the Galaxy), and Elden Henson (Daredevil, The Butterfly Effect)

Release Date - 1999

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "The comedy that gives horror films the backhand."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Middle school was when I was coming into my own.  Horror became a huge part of my life when I was in the 4th grade but the movies that shaped my tastes in the genre were the movies I discovered when I was in middle school.  It was this time that I really got into the films of Sam Raimi, George A. Romero, and classics like Return of the Living Dead, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, and big budget releases.  Idle Hands, along with Return of the Living Dead and Halfbaked, was my go to movie.  I would often rotate those three tapes to watch before and after school.  I watched it so much that my dad threatened to burn the tapes because he was tired of hearing them playing in my room.  Once that tape stopped working I drifted away from the film.  I bought the DVD while in college but never did revisit this blast from my past until recently.  Scream Factory announced their blu release which was a perfect time to revisit this one.

     The film follows stoner Anton (Sawa) who discovers his parents were murdered.  He tells his two friends but it's too late.  They all discover that his hand is now possessed and will kill at will unless he stops it.  It kills his two friends but they were too lazy to walk into the light so they come back as the undead to help Anton.  In a blind fit of rage he cuts the hand off setting it loose to kill anyone at anytime now that it is no longer anchored to Anton.  

     I was concerned that this one did not age well but after just a few minutes of it playing I was hit with that wave of nostalgia that many of us crave.  As a product of the 80s and raised in the 90s I often find myself searching for those classic movies and shows that I grew up with.  This Scream Factory release was perfect and really took me back to a time when I wasn't stressed over bills, work, being the father my children deserves, and politics.  It was just me and a highly entertaining film.  The acting in this one is nothing amazing by film standards but I've always loved the characters.  Sawa plays one hell of a convincing stoner while Seth Green and Elden Henson work perfectly as the undead comedic duo.  Their chemistry is great together and most of the people my age wanted a friendship like this.  My favorite character will always be the metal head Randy portrayed by Jack Noseworthy.  To this day he is still the most bad ass character in any horror movie.  The story for this one is a comedic alternative late 90s approach to the devil possessed sub-genre.  I enjoy a good stoner comedy and you can bet your ass I'd break my own neck to see a horror stoner comedy.  I really like how this one just tosses so many things in a blender and it still works.  Halloween, a devil hunter, weed, a little love story, zombies, and all the humor.  So much is going on but it doesn't make it feel cluttered.  It works for what it is and the pacing is smooth.  You never find yourself becoming bored or overburdened.  Finally, the film has some blood and great make-up effects but those of you looking for a gory masterpiece will be surely disappointed.  The kills we get work for the film and the make-up effects are top notch.  With that being said, the visual effects we get did not hold up over time and look rough.  Overall, Idle Hands is my favorite release from Scream Factory.  Hands down (pun intended).  The blu looks great but the special features we do get is a bit of a let down.  I would have loved a retrospective or a reunion/interview with some of the film's notable stars over the supporting cast.  Still, well worth adding to any horror fan's collection.