The Emasculator

Director - Susana Kapostasy (Metal Maniac, Night of the Zodiac)

Starring - Brad G. Grinter, Carly Sonafelt (Bathtub Shark Attack, Crackcoon), and Desmond La-Fontane

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "He'll pull you up... by the root"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing films for well over a decade now and I still find films that completely surprise me.  I've been a fan of indie horror for a long time now and started seriously collecting these films when I was in high school.  Over the years I've noticed that I find myself drawn to several sub-genres of horror and the same can be said for exploitation.  Exploitation cinema is important to movie history and over the years has saw several amazing sub-genres pop up.  I'm a huge fan of blaxploitation, hixploitation, sexploitation, cannibal, and the most controversial of them all, rape and revenge.  Exploitation in it's own is controversial but every sub-genre that it created has it's own controversies with rape and revenge being one that gets the biggest emotional response from me.  Horror doesn't really pull an emotional reaction from me anymore but a well done rape/revenge film can leave me feeling some sort of way.  Sometime back I received an email from Makeflix about a new release of theirs.  The film, The Emasculator, looked like something I would really enjoy so I pulled the trigger and bought a copy.  I'm glad I did because this was one indie release I needed to see!

     The film follows a father who is struggling with the loss of his wife and has turned to drinking to cope.  His daughter, known around town for being a bit loose, goes on a date where she is drugged and raped while the act is filmed.  She tells her father and forces him to promise not to turn to the police due to the fact that it was the son of the small town sheriff that was in on it.  That night she kills herself leaving behind a grieving father.  He turns to the skills he learned in the military and his cattle emasculator to get his revenge on the aspiring pornographers.  

     I only had a vague idea as to what the film was about prior to watching it but I wasn't expecting it to be a rape/revenge flick nor was I expecting myself to connect with the killer in the way that I did.  I Spit on Your Grave is one of my favorite films and I've always loved how justice was served in the film.  The Emasculator does the same while giving the viewer a character they can associate with.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven but it's far from being bad.  Some of the cast does show inexperience but they are all fully committed to their role.  With that being said, I really liked the characters and what the cast did with their roles.  It's these characters that made the film so much fun.  The story for this one is a bit different than your normal rape/revenge flick.  Typically, the film will feature a woman who is defiled by a man or group of men and then sets out to kill those responsible.  Here, the film uses the father's love for his daughter to fuel his anger for revenge.  Honestly, I'm a father of two little girls and I couldn't imagine something like this happening to them so seeing a father go to the lengths he does here makes the film for me.  As much as I loved the story to this one, some of the scenes are a bit drawn out and boring at times.  Some editing and trimming down would help the pacing of this one out tremendously.  Finally, the film has some blood and with some decent practical effects but it's clear that this no budget feature didn't have the funds for serious gore.  While it does work for the film, I was expecting a little more in regards to the red stuff.  Overall, The Emasculator is a fantastic S.O.V. tribute to one of the most controversial sub-genres in cinema history.  It's depraved at times and a lot of fun for fans of underground cinema.  I highly recommend it.  

Primal Games

Director - David Ryan Keith (Ghosts of Darkness, The Redwood Massacre)

Starring - John Love (The Droving, No Ambition), Hannaj Bang Bendz (Wrath of Dracula, Ship of the Damned), and Gary Kasper (Redwood Massacre: Annihilation, Bigfoot)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Action/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Only the elite survive"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been following the career of filmmaker David Ryan Keith for sometime now.  I first befriended him when he was promoting his slasher The Redwood Massacre about a decade ago now and since then I've reviewed several of his films.  He's a very talented filmmaker and his body of work speaks for itself.  A few weeks back David reached out to me to review his newest film Primal Games.  This sci-fi action flick looked like a fun time so I agreed to check it out.  Like always, I want to thank David for sending this one my way to check out!

     The film follows Ben (Love) and Sarah (Bendz) as they travel through the woods.  However, on their way they cross paths with a man who seems to be having car troubles.  Ben offers to give him a lift but Sarah has her own reserves about the man.  Things take a deadly twist when he shoots Ben and starts killing Sarah.  Ben is able to get the upper hand on the sadistic man but not before Sarah dies.  During his escape, Ben is able to seize the man's cellphone and while looking through it he discovers that he is the paying customer of the ultimate hunt revealing that Ben and Sarah are clones.  People pay to hunt the clones and their bodies are used to harvest organs for medical emergencies.  Ben then uses the device to increase his intelligence and fighting prowess to stop the other hunters in the park.

     I went into Primal Games blind and found myself really enjoying it.  Hell, I honestly loved it for the most part.  The story did have me scratching my head fairly early on but as the film progressed I realized that it was going to be something a bit different especially for an indie production.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  John Love and Hannaj Bang Bendz made the film for me.  I love their on screen chemistry and the characters they portrayed.  They both carry the entire film on their backs and do one hell of a job with their roles.  The same can be said about Gary Kasper.  While he may not make the film for me as the other two do, his performance is nothing short of brilliant.  He does an amazing job as well.  The supporting cast is solid but it's these three that shine.  The story for this one is is not what I was expecting.  Hell, I thought I had the film figured out before the big reveal which I did not see coming.  It's a well written film that reminded me a lot of the direct to video sci-fi action flicks of the late 90s.  I wasn't a fan of these films growing up but the library on Tubi of these lost classics has really opened my mind up to these type of films.  I loved this story and how it left itself open to possible sequels further down the line.  Finally, the film has a lot of violent deaths with plenty of blood.  We do get a few gruesome scenes with solid effects but they are not that memorable or original.  Most of the deaths are done by gun or knife so we don't have a lot of room for creativity here.  They work for the film but don't stand out.  With that being said, I wasn't a fan of the visual effects used.  It does cheapen the film and takes away from the overall presentation.  Overall, Primal Games may not be a straight forward horror flick.  In fact, it's not really a horror film at all.  It's a sci-fi action flick that is just clever and violent enough to appeal to horror fans.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.  

Wolf Man

Director - Leigh Whannell (The Invisible Man, Insidious: Chapter 3)

Starring - Christopher Abbott (Kraven the Hunter, Possessor), Julia Garner (Ozark, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), and Matilda Firth (Vampire Academy, The Power)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Protect your own"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many genre fans, myself included, cut their teeth on the Universal Monster movies.  I remember collecting the reissues VHS as a kid and picking up extra copies to trade among friends.  This was long before the genre really took hold.  I was still watching shit like Air Bud, Heavyweights, Space Jam, and any other kid appropriate film of the mid-90s but there was always joy in watching Bela deliver Dracula's iconic lines or Boris throwing that little girl in the water.  The films have seen several reboot over the years with some being personal favorites of mine.  Brendan Fraser's The Mummy being one of them.  A few years back Blumhouse produced The Invisible Man and it was one I went into with an open mind but in the end I didn't enjoy it.  However, the success of the film spawned interest in more classic Universal Monsters and before long we were given Wolf Man from Leigh Whannell who also directed the Invisible Man.  I had reserves about this one but I was still interested in it.

     The film follows a father who receives documentation that his missing father has been declared dead along with the keys to his childhood home deep in the woods.  He decides to take his family there to try and rekindle his marriage and spend more time with his daughter.  However, their trip there is anything but normal when their vehicle is ran off the road by a humanoid creature and the person taking them to the cabin is killed.  He suffers an injury but is able to get his family to safety in his father's cabin but soon finds himself severely ill.  As he slowly succumbs to his illness, his body starts to change.  He starts losing his teeth, finger nails, and hair.  It doesn't take long before he is unrecognizable but he still has a little of his humanity left and puts himself between the creature, who happens to have the same tattoo as his father, and his family.  

     I went into this one not knowing what to expect.  I had seen some promotional images and a few pictures from some event but that was the extent of my knowledge of the film.  With that being said, I actually enjoyed the film.  There was a few things that I didn't care for but the overall film was enjoyable.  I will say that if you went into this one expecting a solid werewolf flick then you may be disappointed.  I would recommend going into this one with an open mind and to expect what you wouldn't expect from a film titled Wolf Man.  The acting in this one is one of my biggest problems with the film.  Abbott and Garner show absolutely zero emotion.  They scream but the entire film their faces remain stone.  I thought Kristen Stewart was the worst for showing no emotion but these two rival her with their performances here.  The remainder of the cast, as short as it may be, was solid enough but with these two starring it didn't leave much room for the cast to make up for their shortcomings.  The story for this one borrow some from the original Wolf Man along with the 2010 remake but not enough to be noticeable.  In all three films we follow an estranged son returning to his family home and that is about the end of the similarities.  The film takes a more grounded take on werewolf lore that almost feels like it was influenced by Ginger Snaps.  It treats it as a sickness or disease rather than people being cursed to turn into a monster by moonlight.  I prefer the original lore surrounding werewolves but I kind of liked this take as well.  Sure, the story does drag it's feet in the third act and is a bit bloated near the ending but the overall film was enjoyable.  Finally, the film has some great practical effects and a few awesome scenes that I don't want to go into great detail with but I absolutely loved the self-harm scenes.  I would have liked a bit more monster make-up and some gore but we can't always get what we want.  Overall, Wolf Man is nothing like the original or the 2010 remake but I still enjoyed it.  While I'm not the biggest fan of Whannell, he did a solid job with this one.  It's not going to be an iconic film or one that defines the genre but it's still fun for a late night viewing.  Check it out.  

Gush

Director - Scott Schirmer (The Bad Man, Found) and Brian K. Williams (Time to Kill, Space Babes from Outer Space)

Starring - Ellie Church (Amazon Hot Box, Hunters), Alyss Winkler (The Barn Part II, Slaughterhouse Slumber Party), and Jason Crowe (Mr. Buzzkill, Don't Fuck in the Woods 2)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Thriller

Tagline - "Inspiration comes at a price"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing for Horror Society for over a decade now and during that time I've seen some wild flicks.  I have a soft spot for films that are unique and weird.  Movies that follow trends or intended to be quick cash grabs are not for me.  Instead, I want a movie with a story that I had never seen before with memorable moments.  That is exactly what I can count on when I see a film with Scott Schirmer and Brian K. Williams attached.  Some of the wildest and strangest films have these two attached to them.  Last week I was contacted by Williams to check out their newest film Gush.  I had seen some images from the film and was really looking forward to it so I quickly agreed to check it out.  I'm glad I did because I absolutely fucking loved this movie.  Like always, I want to thank Brian for sending this one my way!

     The film follows a horror author who is struggling after the loss of her pregnancy.  She has become distant from her husband because of the loss which is impacting her writing.  Her agent sends her to a home deep in the woods in order work on her new book.  Still mourning the loss of her child and suspicion that her husband is not faithful, she reluctantly goes to start on her new book.  Things start out innocently enough but a nightly visit from a beautiful woman has her forgetting her troubles and highly motivated to finish her new novel.  She soon learns that the woman that has served as a distraction from her life and serves as inspiration may be a muse who has motives of her own.  

    I went into Gush knowing very little about it.  All I knew was that it featured Jason Crowe, Ellie Church, and Alyss Winkler but I knew nothing about the story or what the general plot of the film was.  I'm glad I went into this one completely blind because the mystery is part of what makes this film so damn good.  The acting in this one is top notch.  Ellie Church is easily one of the best actresses in the genre and has always stole every scene she was in.  I didn't realize that Schirmer and Williams were attached to the film when I first became interested in the project.  It was Church's involvement that sold me on the project.  Also in the film is Jason Crowe who is one of my favorite actors in the indie horror world.  I've been a huge fan of his for years and he never disappoints.  Gush is no exception.  He once again delivers a great performance.  It would also be a crime if I didn't mention how amazing Alyss Winkler is this one.  I've mentioned in previous reviews how Winkler is easily the most attractive actress I've seen in film and it seems I am not the only one that thinks that.  Her character here says so much without saying a word.  Her body and mannerisms, mixed with her raw sex appeal, makes her performance here unforgettable.  The story for this one is one I was not expecting.  The movie has a lot going on without making it complicated to follow.  We have a struggling author dealing with the loss of her unborn child and the suspicion that her husband is sleeping around on her.  She is then forced to complete a novel she is not mentally ready to write by an agent seeking a payday.  It's here that she meets a muse that helps her get her life on track before something sinister is revealed.  It's a very well written story that is told perfectly on screen with great pacing and dialogue.  Finally, this is not a bloody or violent flick.  Sure, there is some blood and minimal practical effects but it's not something a lot of gorehounds will appreciate.  The film relies heavily on the story and the character development instead of pointless gore.  Overall, Gush is my favorite genre title of the year so far.  It has a phenomenal cast and one hell of a story.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  You will not be disappointed.    

Bite School 2

Director - James Balsamo (Hack Job, Bite School)

Starring - James Balsamo, Craig Muckler (Hollywood Werewolf, The Hand That Feeds), and Bob Cummings (Demonoids from Hell, Mind Melters 2)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Bad cop.  Bat cop"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A decade or so ago I befriended filmmaker and pun-gineer James Balsamo as he was promoting a few of the films he was releasing.  I reviewed several of them around that time like I Spill Your Guts, Hack Job, Cool as Hell, Killer Waves, and Bite School.  I liked most of his films but Bite School was probably my favorite of those releases.  I've randomly reviewed a few of James' releases since then but Bite School has always stood out to me.  A few nights back James reached out for me to review a new one from him and it just happened to be a sequel to Bite School.  I was really looking forward to checking this one out so I moved it to the top of my review list so I could quickly check it out.

     The film follows former millionaire playboy Tony Canoni (Balsamo) who has been hunting vampires for the last ten years when he comes across a large gathering of vampires performing a ceremony with Robot Dracula.  Now, he must stop them before their diabolical plan takes over the world.

     Bite School 2 goes a route I was not expecting but I did dig the direction.  However, the way Balsamo's films have been in recent years is something I'm not really a fan of.  I had a lot of fun with his earlier films but the endless cameos and random scenes filmed at conventions or in hotel halls takes away from the overall film.  The acting in this one is very uneven.  Some of the cast, actually a great deal of it, is random scenes from celebrities and musicians talking to the camera from what I assume was a video sent to Balsamo to be added to the film or from conventions and hotel lobbies.  It's clear that they have no idea what the film is about and is asked to give out some random bits of dialogue for the camera so it could be pieced in during editing.  When you remove those scenes you are left with some pretty decent acting.  Balsamo does a solid performance and the remainder of the cast is the same as well but the film doesn't give them much time to really get into their roles before we move between cameos.  The story for this one suffers just like the acting does.  I liked the Robot Dracula character and picking up with Tony ten years later.  However, as soon as the film gains tractions it is derailed by the random cameos that don't really fit the film.  I would love to see this one edited with these removed so we can get a more coherent story.  Finally, this is probably the most impressive film in regards to effects that I've seen with Balsamo attached.  The make-up effects are solid enough but what impressed me was the prosthetics and creature design.  I absolutely loved the look of the vampires and Robot Dracula.  I would have loved some gore but I'll take what I can get here.  Overall, Bite School 2 is a film that I liked but only half of it.  The random inserts and cameos does take away from the film which is a bummer considering how much I love the first film.  I wanted to love it but couldn't.  

Ed Kemper

Director - Chad Ferrin (The Deep Ones, Pig Killer)

Starring - Brandon Kirk (H.P. Lovecraft's The Old Ones, Night Caller), Cassandra Gava (Conan the Barbarian, Night Shift), and Brinke Stevens (Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity, The Slumber Party Massacre)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Thriller

Tagline - "The true story of an American psycho"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     This looks to be the year of true crime for Horror Society and myself.  I've reviewed dozens, if not hundreds, of films about serial killers and madmen but I rarely get in true crime flicks to review.  Yet, here I am just four months into the year and I'm reviewing my second true crime flick.  Several weeks back Unearthed Films sent over Evilenko for review.  The film is based on the heinous crimes committed by Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo.  It had been a very long time since my last true crime flick so I was really looking forward to it.  It was a solid enough film which made me turn to Tubi to watch a few more true crime flicks before I got back into reviewing.  A few days back I was sent the press release for the new Chad Ferrin film Ed Kemper.  I was really interested in this one so I reached out to Epic Pictures and they were kind enough to send over a link for me to check out.  I want to thank Epic for sending this one my way!

     The film follows Ed (Kirk) who is released from state care after spending years locked away for the murder of his grandparents when he was only 15 years old.  His mother blames him for his father leaving her and takes it out on her.  Ed gets a job and tries to get acclimated into society but finds himself drawn to female hitchhikers.  It doesn't take long before he is killing and then raping them before posing their corpses in different positions to photograph.  Eventually, his mother goes too far and he kills her before he is brought in by police.

     Ed Kemper is one very interesting guy.  Those that have met him in real life, especially those that have interviewed him for magazines and so forth, have stated that he is a very nice and well spoken individual even though he committed those horrible crimes.  What makes his story even more interesting is the fact that he narrates audiobooks for the blind and has over 5000 hours recorded on titles like Star Wars, Flowers in the Attic, and The Rosery Murders, and so much more.  This doesn't overshadow the atrocities he committed but it's not something you would expect from a gruesome killer.  This true crime thriller from Chad Ferrin really does capture the intelligent side along with how he used his charm to lure female hitchhikers into his car.  It's not my favorite true crime film but it's up near the top for sure.  The acting in this one is great.  Brandon Kirk steals the show with his portrayal of Kemper.  I had seen and watched videos of Kemper for years and while he does have some resemblance to the infamous killer, he doesn't really look like him.  With that being said, his demeanor and tone of voice does resemble Kemper.  I thoroughly enjoyed him here and look forward to seeing him appear in other genre efforts.  We also get a small performance from legendary scream queen Brinke Stevens along with a powerhouse performance from Cassandra Gava.  Gava and Kirk's chemistry on camera made the film for me.  The story for this one focuses on the relationship between the the deranged Kemper and his verbally abusive mother.  It makes this a huge part of the story without over doing it.  We then follow Kemper as he branches out to his murders, rapes, and photographing the corpses before his eventual arrest.  It has solid pacing, the scenes don't over stay their welcome, and the story is very easy to follow.  Kudos to the writers on this one.  Finally, the film does use some computer generated images to enhance a few of the scenes.  It's very noticeable but not bad.  We also get some great practical effects that are rather gruesome.  We don't get a lot of gory deaths but the prosthetics and props look absolutely amazing.  Overall, Ed Kemper is a top tier true crime flick.  I've been of a fan of the Ed Gein film starring Steve Railsback for years now and this one is up there with it.  It's got a great cast and does play close to the real story of Ed Kemper and his crimes.  Check it out.  

Wake Up

Director(s) - Anouk Whissell (We Are Zombies, Summer of 84) and Yoann-Karl Whissell (Turbo Kid, Total Fury)

Starring - Turlough Convery (Ready Player One, Resident Evil), Benny O. Arthur (Django, Helix), and Jacqueline More (Punch, The Wheel of Time)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "From save-the-world to survive-the-night."

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago, around 2015 or 2016, I watched Turbo Kid for the first time.  Since then I've watched it at least a dozen times and often discuss it among fans on social media.  It's a popular film among collectors and one I have yet to meet someone that doesn't like it.  The Whissell's did not stop there with Turbo Kid.  Since then the pair has released Summer of 84 and We Are Zombies.  I was lucky enough to review We Are Zombies last year but it looks like it wasn't the only film they completed in 2023.  Looks like sometime after We Are Zombies, the two made another horror film titled Wake Up.  I sent a screener link to check it out a few days ago and couldn't pass it up.

     The film follows a group of activists that break into a furniture super store after hours to vandalize it.  However, they don't expect to run into two security guards with one of them being unstable and obsessed with hunting.  

     Wake Up is a movie with one of the most straight forward stories I have seen in a film.  When you mix that with obnoxious characters and fun deaths you get something that doesn't really live up to the legacy Turbo Kid has but it's still a god damn good film.  The acting in this one is very well done.  The characters in the film are not likable and I'm positive by the story that they were written that way.  The cast does a fantastic job at bringing them to life but at the end of the day, regardless of how good the acting is, they can't die fast enough.  With that being said, I seriously enjoyed Turlough Convery's performance.  He's absolutely brilliant as the unstable security guard that turns his passion of hunting into a way to get revenge on the group of protestors that he thinks accidentally killed his brother.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward and very enjoyable.  A group of protestors break into a furniture story and a scuffle results in one of the security guards hitting their heads.  The other security guard, his brother, snaps and seeks revenge on the group while they are locked in the building.  It has great pacing and each scene holds your attention resulting in a fun watch especially for genre fans.  Finally, the film has some bloody deaths that work very well for the film.  The effects look great and are unique to the film but I would have liked a little gore to go along with it.  Overall, Wake Up is a violent film that surpassed my expectations.  While I wasn't fully sold on the title and artwork, the film did speak for itself.  It's another genre hit from a duo that should not be doubted.  Check it out.  

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.