Monster from the Ocean Floor

Director - Wyott Ordung (Robot Monster, Target Earth)

Starring - Anne Kimbell (Dragnet, Port Sinister), Stuart Wade (Teenage Monster, Death Valley Days), and Dick Pinner (Red Snow, The Mob)

Release Date - 1954

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Terror strikes... from beneath the sea!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Do you ever sit around and day dream about time travel?  Would you go to historic events and witness them first hand or try to change the history of mankind for the better?  No me.  If I could time travel I would visit the different eras in cinema history to see the films when they were first released.  I've always been a fan of the no budget Roger Corman drive-in era so it would have been cool to watch a double feature of these films at the drive-in.  A few days back I received the blu release of the 1954 creature feature Monster from the Ocean Floor from my friends over at Film Masters.  This is one I had never seen before and couldn't wait to dig into it.  Like always, I want to thank Film Masters for sending this one my way.

     The film follows a young woman on vacation in Mexico who befriends two deep sea scientists who are working on a way to cultivate plants in the water.  Things take an unexpected turn when one of their crew turns up missing but his scuba gear is found undamaged.  Their investigation into his disappearance uncovers an aquatic monster that the locals have feared for decades.

     Monster from the Ocean Floor is not a film that I can confidently say that I enjoyed.  In fact, I highly doubt I will ever watch this one again.  Corman's films, especially the earlier produced films, are very hit or miss with Monster from the Ocean Floor being a miss.  Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I got to check it out and it's awesome seeing something that a legend like Corman had his hands on but this is a flick that many genre fans can live without.  The acting in this one is pretty solid from the short cast.  The film's leads do a solid job at bringing cliched characters yet likable characters to life.  A few of the scenes were a bit awkward to watch but they are few and far in between.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward and predictable.  If you've seen any monster movie from this era then you know exactly what to expect.  With that being said, an awesome monster or characters that stand out makes this one extremely slow and hard to finish.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting awesome monsters and a lot of gore because both will leave you disappointed.  Overall, Monster from the Ocean Floor is not a great film especially for the time.  It's easily forgettable.  However, fans of the late Roger Corman will want to add this one to their collections.  The blu looks great from Film Masters and I know collectors will want to snag it while they can!

Tokugawa Sex Ban

Director - Norifumi Suzuki (Shogun's Ninja, Beautiful Girl Hunter)

Starring - Audrey Cruise, Ryoko Ema (The Transgressor, Graveyard of Honor), and Kaya Hozumi (Hiroshima Death Match, Terrifying Girl's High School: Lynch Law Classroom)

Release Date - 1972

Genre - Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (Out of 5):

     I've reviewed a lot of films over the years and I'm always surprised when I get a film in for review that I have never heard of before.  This is often the case with releases from Mondo Macabro.  They tend to release films that are often overlooked on blu and that is something I really do appreciate.  I may not always like the movies they put out but at least they are giving genre fans something they had never seen before.  Several weeks back Mondo Macabro sent over a couple new releases for me to check out and they were all new to me.  However, one stood out more than the others and really peaked my interest.  That film was the 1972 Japanese sexploitation flick Tokugawa Sex Ban which is also known as The Erotomaniac Daimyo.  I really wanted to see all three of these films but I had to move this one to the top of my list.  I once again want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over!

     The film follows a lord of a powerful clan who is recently married.  However, he struggles with his intimacy and cannot consummate his marriage.  He is provided a French slave to take in as a mistress and after some time he learns that sex is the ultimate pleasure.  It's because of this that he puts in place a ban on sex as he believes that commoners and those under him should not be experiencing it.  

     I knew absolutely nothing about Tokugawa Sex Ban prior to watching it but the artwork used by Mondo Macabro really made my imagination work overtime.  What kind of film was I about to watch and what the fuck was a sex ban?  Only watching the film would answer these questions.  The acting in this one is solid but I found myself laughing at the cast during several of the scenes.  The cast is fully dedicated to their roles in several scenes but in others they act as if they are getting paid by how quickly they complete the scene.  They rush through their dialogue with zero attempts at trying to stay in character with straight faces.  These scenes were so funny to me due to how out of place they are.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting at all which may be why I enjoyed it so much.  This erotic drama follows someone who finds a mistress that opens the door to his sexual fantasies.  He then decides that this is something too good for common folk, so he bans it.  Honestly, the story works for an erotic drama that uses nudity to pick up the slower scenes and rich dialogue to carry the story the rest of the way.  It might not be everyone's speed but those that enjoy sexploitation and Asian cinema can enjoy it.  Finally, those looking for blood and gore will be very disappointed.  However, is awkward acting and some nudity is more your speed then you will enjoy this one!  Overall, Tokugawa Sex Ban is another great film that I would have missed if it wasn't for Mondo Macabro.  It's not the horror title I was hoping for but it was still very enjoyable.  Check it out on blu now!

Coffintooth

Director - Matt Cloude (Beneath the Old Dark House, Johnny Ghoulash Escapes from Creightonville)

Starring - Anna Clary (Grandma, Amityville Ripper), Clint Beaver (Massacre at Femur Creek, Babezilla vs. the Cyber Skanks: Rise of Mechababezilla), and Katie Bennett (Gore Theatre)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "It's Halloween Eve and he's ready to party"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Matt Cloude is a filmmaker that I befriended many years ago on Facebook.  I can't remember how our paths crossed but I'm damn near positive it had to do with indie horror.  I assume he was promoting one of his earlier films or something to do with Troma.  Regardless, he's a passionate filmmaker that truly loves the genre.  Sometime ago he started posting about his newest film Coffintooth.  The title alone had me fucking hooked and as some cast announcements made their way to social media I knew I had to see it.  A few days back Matt sent over the finished film for me to check out.  I quickly made room for it in my schedule so I could check it out.  I want to thank Matt for sending this one over to check out!

     The film follows a young woman and her small group of friends On Halloween who find themselves being hunted by the local legend Coffintooth.  

     Coffintooth was not the movie I was expecting but it did not disappoint.  I tossed this one in and the opening scene made me think I was about to dig into a hixploitation flick.  Sadly, that was not the case.  Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed Coffintooth but I was a little excited thinking I was getting into a hixploitation flick.  With that being said, Coffintooth is a lot of fun especially for fans of classic slashers and the current indie scene.  The acting in this one is great.  We get great performances from several familiar faces like Pool Party Massacre director and star Drew Marvick, iconic rape/revenge starlet Camille Keaton known for starring in the cult classic I Spit on Your Grave, Troma president and director Lloyd Kaufman (people really thought they sold to Disney...), the pillar of the indie horror community Jason Crowe, Pumpkinhead and Society star Brian Bremer, and one of my favorite indie horror scream queens Angel Nichole Bradford just to name a few.  This film really does have an impressive cast and we get zero weak links...besides Michael McGlynn.  He doesn't deliver a bad performance, in fact, its the opposite but I really do hate seeing him with a shirt on.  The story for this one is a slasher in a literal sense of the sub-genre and could easily continue with a sequel, prequel, or spin off depending on how Cloude approaches it.  While I would love a prequel that fully embraces the hixploitation aspect, it would be easy to make a sequel featuring more Coffintooth or even a spin off.  The movie is a slasher that creates it's own lore and doesn't over do it with a complicated story.  It's straight forward with great pacing and phenomenal storytelling.  Finally, the film has plenty of the red stuff.  We get some deaths that fit the film very well with some great effects and gore.  I would have loved to see more, especially after seeing how great it looks here, but I understand budget restraints and so on.  Overall, Coffintooth doesn't try to reinvent the slasher sub-genre.  Instead, it tries to capture what makes the sub-genre so much fun for viewers while giving them some blood and gore.  Honestly, it works and I can see myself revisiting it several more times before I tire of it.  I highly recommend checking it out if you ever get the chance.  

Terrifier 3

Director - Damien Leone (Frankenstein vs. the Mummy, All Hallow's Eve)

Starring - Lauren LaVera (The Well, Chestnut), David Howard Thornton (Gotham, The Mean One), and Antonella Rose (Fear the Walking Dead, Candy)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Twisted Christmas"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     The Terrifier films have gained a lot of fans over the years and it's impressive to see a film series with a moderately small budget gain the success that it has.  Art is a prominent figure at Spirit Halloween and can be found on shirts at various stores like Spencer's and Hot Topic.  He's also featured as an operator in Call of Duty.  However, I'm not a fan.  I watched the first two films sometime back and while I was impressed by the gore, the films themselves were lacking.  I wanted to love them but both films are like the Scream franchise to me.  They are widely popular but I can barely finish them.  When news about the third Terrifier broke, I figured I would skip it,  The first two did nothing for me and I would almost bet the third would be the same way.  However, my interest in it was peaked when it was revealed to be a Christmas flick.  I have a soft spot for Christmas horror and knew I would need to see it eventually.  I became even more interested in the film after Umbrella Entertainment announced an UHD release of all three films in a nice box set.  I snagged it and after wait forever, it was finally time to check it out.  

     The film once again follows Art the Clown who is back after Victoria Heyes becomes possessed by the little girl from part 2 and grows a new head for him inside her.  The two are reunited and begin their killing spree 5 years later and once again set their sights on Sienna and her family.

     I went into Terrifier 3 hoping it was as good as the general public lead me to believe but at the end of the day it was just like the first two films.  It's full of amazing gore, some humor (intentional and unintentional), and unlikable characters with painstakingly dull dialogue.  I wanted to love this one so I could have a new Christmas flick to enjoy during the holidays but this one wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is exactly what I expected.  The cast does a decent enough job but the characters themselves are not likable at all.  Thornton has become a pop culture icon with his portrayal of Art.  He really does get into the character and I couldn't imagine someone else donning the make-up.  With that being said, I'm glad the film embraced a second killer with Victoria.  Art's silent killing and miming is a bit dull to me while the Heyes character brings much more personality.  In fact, I would much prefer this character having her own film over Art.  The story for this one is just a vehicle for the kills.  I love a good horror film with brutal deaths and amazing practical effects but I need a story to get me there.  Terrifier 3 was severely lacking in this department.  Art and Victoria awaken after a 5 year nap to kill Sienna and her brother.  While the story may be similar to a Friday the 13th sequel, unlike a Friday the 13th sequel, the unlikable characters in Terrifier makes this one a difficult one to finish.  Finally, it wouldn't be a Terrifier film if there wasn't over the top blood and gore.  The deaths in this one will become just as iconic as the Art character.   They are brutal, violent, and look absolutely amazing.  The practical effects are top notch and easily the best of the trilogy.  Overall, Terrifier 3 is consistent with the other films but don't offer up much to the diehard horror fan but if you don't watch a lot of horror or only watch theatrical releases then you may enjoy yourself if you are not accustomed to the amount of gore that this one delivers.  While I did enjoy the deaths and effects, I can name several other films that offer just as impressive death scenes with stories that are worth your time.  

100 Tears (Revisited)

Director - Marcus Koch (Bad Blood, Rot)

Starring - Georgia Chris (The Punisher, Vampire Biker Babes), Joe Davison (Stranger Things, Sorority of the Damned), and Raine Brown (Psycho Street, Plasterhead)

Release Date - 2007

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Everyone loathes a clown"

Format - Blu (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago I reviewed the indie clown slasher 100 Tears from effects artist/director Marcus Koch.  I remember thinking that the film was amazing but wasn't a fan of the music and how loud it was compared to the rest of the film.  I remember watching the film several times that week while I prepared my review and couldn't get passed the ridiculously loud music that was very distracting.  Fast forward several years and Unearthed Films is putting the film out on blu and they were kind enough to send me a copy.  Like always, I want to thank MVD and Unearthed Films for sending this one over!

     The film follows two journalists who are investigating the murders committed by a prolific killer.  However, their investigation has lead them straight into the path of the clown killer Gurdy (Jack Amos) who is leaving a pile of bodies in his wake.  

     Horror has always been masked slashers, vampires, zombies, and werewolves to me and I know most genre fans feel the same way.  However, clowns have always had a chokehold on the genre with films like It, S.I.C.K., Camp Blood, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Killjoy, Blood Harvest, and many more.  In recent years the clown sub-genre has been flipped on it's head with the release of the Terrifier trilogy.  The first film caused a stir when released but the second and third films went on to catapult Art the clown to pop icon status.  With that being said, I was never a fan of Art and the Terrifier films though I have yet to see the third installment.  The films have tremendous gore but the story is so fucking weak.  Even the second installment, which is overflowing with story, tries too hard to be something it's not.  However, 100 Tears was Terrifier before Terrifier was a thing.  It's a killer clown film with amazing gore but it does something the first film could not and that delivers a decent story.  The acting in this one is a bit inconsistent.  It's not what I would call bad but some of the scenes is a bit stiff while others are better acted.  I don't know if it's inexperience or the rushing of scenes but they are not consistent from scene to scene.  Also, what happened to Raine Brown?  I loved to watching her when I started my writing career and haven't seen her name appear in anything in years.  Her imdb shows her most recent film credit is 2017.  I'd love to see her make a come back to the indie horror community.  The story for this one is pretty basic but it works and is just enough to get us from kill to kill without boring us to tears.  Not to compare this one to Terrifier, but that is my biggest complaint with the film.  It has very little story, unlikable characters, and amazing gore while being released a few years after 100 Tears.  100 Tears does delivers what most horror fans are looking for.  It's a coherent story with somewhat likable characters and crazy deaths.  The pacing is a bit on the slow side when people are not dying but we have a death scenes frequently to offset that.  Finally, this film has some of the most brutal and graphic deaths I've seen.  I reviewed this film in 2012 for the first time and I can probably count on one hand the amount of films that has surpassed it in regards to carnage.  The effects are top tier and these deaths set the standard for the films I've reviewed since my initial viewing.  Overall, 100 Tears isn't as polished as most films with the quality of kills that this one is.  While the music is still distracting, the film is a must see for genre fans.  I highly recommend this blu release from Unearthed Films.  

Tent Burner

Director - Steven Reifsteck (McMurderer, Fish Piss)

Starring - Michael Atkinson, Justin Cottingham (Attack of the Killer Potatoes, Blood Pizza), and Doyle Dow (Shrek Crack)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed several films by the indie collective Janice.Click over the years.  Starting with the insanely odd McMurderer and followed by Attack of the Scarecrow from Mars, and Shrek Crack.  Since then they have released several other films but I let these releases get away from me.  I decided to snag a couple of their releases to finish the collection.  When they arrived I quickly added them to my watch list and the first on the chopping block was the 2024 flick Tent Burner.

     The film follows two aspiring Satanists who decide to kill a hermit that has been camping deep in the woods in a tent with his dog as a sacrifice.  They loot the tent after killing him where they find an old VHS tape and then set fire to it to cover up their heinous act.  When they get back to their home they decide to give it a watch and discover the atrocities that were on it.

     Tent Burner doesn't have the parody style humor that makes the previous films so enjoyable.  Films like Attack of the Scarecrow from Mars and Fish Piss mock horror trends and parody a lot of stereotypes that many horror fans are very familiar with now.   While Tent Burner does poke fun as some horror tropes, it's a more serious film that I enjoyed.  It's not my favorite Janice.Click film but I loved it and hope this is a new direction for them.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from this group.  The characters all fit the stories fairly well with some standing out a bit more than others.  The Juggalo styled story probably had my favorite characters in it and I love how it parodied their lifestyles and stereotypes.  The stories for these vary in quality but they all have a more serious spin to them than previous Janice.Click releases but still poke fun or parody many sub-genres and genre cliches.  The segment that serves as the film's bookend is inspired by V/H/S/ where people watch "disturbing" videos before something bad happens.  The segments shown from the VHS are not consist but they do work for shorts.  I mentioned it before, but the segment with the aspiring trailer rapper really made me laugh and worked for the most part.  None of them over stayed their welcome but I could see them being expanded upon at a later time.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood and some very cheap effects.  While a lot of the deaths and effects we do get are forgettable, they fit the film very well.  It's clear that the film has a very low budget and they did the best with what they had.  Overall, Tent Burner doesn't really feel like a normal Janice.Click release but I really enjoyed it.  It continues their parody of horror tropes but is much more serious in tone which I enjoy.  I definitely recommend this one to indie horror fans so check it out!

Rumpelstiltskin

 

Director - Mark Jones (Leprechaun, Triloquist)

Starring - Max Grodenchik (Six Feet Under, Tales from the Crypt), Kim Johnston Ulrich (Supernatural, Highlander), and Tommy Blaze (Viewer Discretion Advised, The Newz)

Release Date - 1995

Genre - Horror/Fantasy

Tagline - "When the fairy tale ends, the nightmare begins"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Horror has always been a genre of trends.  When something finds success you can expect find several copy cats along with others using the idea and making it their own.  In the mid 90s there was a trend where horror fully embraced the classic fairy tales.  Blending these fantasy stories and nursey rhymes with horror was something that made trips to the video store so much fun.  Seeing the titles and artwork often made my mind race with imagination.  Leprechaun was the first of these films that I remembered seeing in the video store and one that stuck with me through all these years.  However, it wasn't the only one.  Rumpelstiltskin was released by the same director in 1995 and Snow White: A Tale of Terror was released in 1997.   All three were at my local video store and I remember checking them out over the course of a few years.  While Leprechaun was a favorite of mine, I still remember enjoying the other two.  A few months back Terror Vision announced the release of Rumpelstiltskin on blu and UHD.  It had been decades since my last viewing so I quickly snagged a copy and when it arrived I added it to my watch list.

    The film follows a recent widow who is raising her daughter alone.  While antique shopping with her sister she finds a unique sculpture and decides she has to have it.  Unbeknownst to her, the sculpture is actually the prison for Rumpelstiltskin and the old tale about him doesn't warn them about the bloodshed that is about to follow.

     Rumpelstiltskin, though directed by the same director, is nowhere near as enjoyable as Leprechaun.  It's still a fun movie with great characters and some laughs but it borrows a lot from what made Leprechaun so enjoyable.  It's obvious Jones wanted a repeat of the success but didn't put in the work to give viewers something different that would stand out from Leprechaun in the 30 some years after it's release.  The acting in this one is solid.  We get some fun characters and others that blend into the background.  Ulrich and Blaze were my favorite performances by far.  Their chemistry on screen makes the film for me and I loved watching their personalities clash from early on.  Grodenchik does a decent job as the title character but you can't watch this film and not think about Leprechaun and the performance was nothing memorable.  His one liners don't always find their mark and his dialogue is a bit forced.  The story for this one is is exactly what you would expect.  We follow someone who mistakenly unleashes Rumpelstiltskin and is forced to flee for her life as he chases her because she has something he wants.  Desperate, she seeks out the person who sold it to her to stop him.  The exact same story as Leprechaun.  We follows a group of people who unleash a leprechaun and run for their lives as he chases them because they have something he wants.  When they can't defeat him they turn to the person that imprisoned him.  Wildly similar stories but this one has a lot more action and it feels like the budget is much bigger.  Don't get me wrong, I love the film but it doesn't have the charm as Jone's previous effort.  Finally, I love the look of Rumpelstiltskin.  He's a menacing looking creature that adds a lot of atmosphere to the film.  We get a few deaths with some blood and decent enough effects but they lack imagination and creativity.  Overall, Rumpelstiltskin is a solid direct to video horror flick that works for a late night monster movie but falls a bit short from what it could have been.  With that being said, the release from Terror Vision is easily my favorite in my collection.  I cannot recommend this one enough.  Check it out.  

Coven of the Black Cube

Director - Brewce Longo (Pumpkinman Lives, A Corpse for Christmas)

Starring - Morrigan Thompson-Milam (Bl0od and Breakfast, Crackcoon), Zoe Angeli (LoveDump, Flesh Eater X), and Josh Shafer (Busted Babies, Slaughter Tales)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing indie horror for over ten years and during that time I've reviewed everything from living placenta, killer condoms, gay Jesus, and even a haunted vibrator.  Horror is filled with endless possibilities especially when genre fans get behind the camera.   I love slashers, zombies, werewolves, and witches.  The later two don't get the love the other two sub-genre get.  A few weeks back I found a horror flick starring Morrigan Thompson-Milam.  Those of you that read my reviews know that I'm a huge fan of hers so when I saw that she was in Coven of the Black Cube I had to grab it.  The witch sub-genre doesn't get the love it truly deserves and seeing a witch flick with a bit of an unusual story made me extremely excited to see it.

     The film follows a young woman, named Vi (Milam) who finds herself on the shit end of a bad relationship.  She finds herself in a shop owned by a group of witches who sell potions, incantations, and any other word you can use to associate magic to witches.  She finds a potion she uses to make her former lover fall in love with her but it backfires.  It kills her ex-girlfriend but not all hope is lost.  The gorgeous witch at the shop has her eye on her and the two start dating.  What Vi doesn't know, is that her new lover and her coven secretly help women in abusive relationships remove their abusers from the equation.  As the two lovers get to know each other, bodies start to pile up.

     Coven of the Black Cube is a film that a lot of genre fans will immediately dismiss.  It's a film that tries to capture the VHS look which a lot of horror fans will dislike.  The modern era of films getting polished, remastered, and restored to be released on formats that provide the best possible picture quality available has many of us forgetting about the quality of films we used to watch growing up.  I don't mind the grainy, gritty looks like this one and others like it but there was a few scenes that needed a bit more light.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven but not what I would call bad.  The cast is really into their roles and you can tell it was a fun project by their character's interactions on camera.  With that being said, experience does vary from person to person resulting in a few scenes where the cast felt a little stiff.  The story for this one doesn't over stay it's welcome and gives us just enough to hold our attention.  We have beautiful women as witches, beautiful women that are not witches, unique deaths, and solid enough pacing.  With that being said, the story we do have is stretched a bit thin.  The movie could have about 10 to 15 minutes trimmed from it.  Some of the scenes are a bit bloated and it does pull the pacing down some.  The movie is fine as is but this would help the story move along much better.  Finally, the film has some deaths with a bit of blood and some limited practical effects.  The film did the best with the resources they had but don't expect a film with gore that will stick with you for days after watching it.  Overall, Coven of the Black Cube is a solid no budget witch flick that surprised me.  A lot of genre fans will not appreciate the film as it is but the select few that still live in the VHS age will enjoy the aesthetics.  Check it out.  

The Substance

Director - Coralie Fargeat (Revenge, The Sandman)

Starring - Demi Moore (Ghost, Tales from the Crypt), Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, Poor Things), and Dennis Quaid (Jaws 3-D, Great Balls of Fire!)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "It'll change your life"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've seen a lot of pop horror in recent years that has truly impressed me.  I've been a champion of no-to-low budget indie cinema for decades now but the recent surge in big budget horror that isn't shitty has created a bit of excitement from genre fans who are now returning to theaters to see their beloved genre.  I've been more open to big budget horror after films like X, Last Night with the Devil, Longlegs, The Black Phone, and Nosferatu.  Another bigger budgeted horror film that I heard a lot about was The Substance starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley.  This is one that came out of nowhere but some horror friends that I highly respect suggested it.  I quickly added it to my watch list after ordering a copy from Amazon.  

    The film follows aging actress Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore) who finds herself removed as host of her long standing fitness show.  The television exec cut her due to her age and is looking to hire someone much younger.  Afraid of falling into obscurity, she finds herself with a once in a lifetime opportunity to try The Substance.  The glowing, green serum states it will bring out the better version of yourself but you have to "switch" every seven days.  She reluctantly tries it and finds her inner beauty manifesting into a much younger woman.  Her younger self, Sue (Qualley), auditions for her show and gets the job.  Soon she is skyrocketing into popularity and quickly making a name for herself as an up and coming celebrity.  The more popular she becomes, the less likely she is to switch out with Elisabeth resulting in the original body aging even more rapidly.  Once the body is beyond repair, she is forced to try The Substance for herself in hopes of creating another younger version of herself.  This fails and something far more sinister crawls out of her.

     The Substance is one of the few big budget films that left me thinking about it for days after my initial viewing.  As of the time I'm writing this, I've watched it three complete times and certain scenes about 4 or 5 times.  It may be my favorite film of the last 10 which is not something I would say lightly.  It's an amazing body horror film that not only holds the viewer's attention the entire time but it has a powerful message about Hollywood and what it demands from women looking to make a living.  The acting in this one is amazing.  Demi Moore is one hell of an actress and this is easily my favorite role of hers.  She bares it all for the camera and holds nothing back.  This is a career defining film and one that will make her a genre name for decades to come.  The Substance is my introduction to Margaret Qualley and she is most definitely a name I will be looking for in future genre titles.  Her performance rivals Moore's but in a good way.  Just like their characters are cut from the same clothe, so is their performances.  Also, Dennis Quaid delivers another fantastic performance.  His political opinions may have caused controversy in recent years but god damn was he fantastic in this one.  This is another performance from the film that will be remembered for decades to come.  The story for this one is so fucking brilliant.  The medical treatment that spawns a younger and better version of you to rip itself from your spine forcing you to share your life with them every 7 days or the body ages rapidly.  You then mix in the beauty standards of Hollywood and how easy it is to throw away women because they have been fortunate enough to age another year.  It's a fantastic story that will age as gracefully as Moore herself.  Finally, the effects in this are absolutely mesmerizing.  We have some of the best practical effects I've seen with some great bloody moments.  We also have a monster costume that I was not expecting and was so impressed by it.  Overall, The Substance is one of the best body horror flicks since Cronenberg's Videodrome.  It's a must see and I can't recommend this movie enough.  Please do yourself a favor and watch it!

MacWolfen

Director - Megan Brock

Starring - Megan Brock, Eric Dollich (Attack of the Scarecrow from Mars, Fleischwolf), and Steven Reifsteck (Fish Piss, Tent Burner)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I say this often but we need more werewolf flicks in the indie horror community.  We get dozens, if not hundreds, of slashers and zombie flicks a year but we rarely get werewolf or witch flicks.  Both sub-genres just happen to be favorites of mine and due to the lack of films in these sub-genres I often jump on any that I cross paths with.  Several weeks back I was placing an order at Janice.Click when I saw they were releasing the short MacWolfen on DVD.  This was a new one to me so I had to snag it.

     The film follows two horror nerds that volunteer to watch over a junkyard late at night.  A night of pizza and b-grade horror films turn deadly when a werewolf decides to use the junkyard as it's hunting ground.

     MacWolfen was a 100 percent blind buy and I don't regret it at all.  It's far from perfect and was clearly a passion project from a genre fan wanting to dip their toes into filmmaking.  While the movie missed it's mark with me, I appreciate the effort that went into the film and look forward to their next horror outing.  The acting in this one has a lot of room for improvement but it's not the worst I've seen.  In fact, it's somewhere in the middle especially for a no budget flick.  The cast does the best they can in their role but they show clear signs of inexperience.  The story for this one is simple but the way the film unfolds makes it a tough one to finish.  The short implements several scenes that do absolutely nothing to the story itself.  If these were removed the short would run around 15 to 20 minutes and would be more effective.  I loved the idea of watching horror movies while eating pizza before a werewolf attacks and that should have been the main focus of the film.