Grunk the Smasher

Director - Darin Wood (Badass Monster Killer, Planet of the Vampire Women)

Starring - Chris "Superbeast" Crotte (Hell's Coming For You), Marylin Monroach (Smosh, Lady Hyde), and Rae Wright (Smosh)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Fantasy/Adventure/Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I was lucky enough to review Badass Monster Killer from Darin Wood when my friends over at Wild Eye sent it over.  I fucking loved the movie and would recommend it to people that would visit the Wild Eye table whenever I was working it at a convention.  I loved the blend of blaxploitation, creature feature, and crude humor.  Sometime around this time I was sent news of Wood's newest project which was a fantasy adventure film titled Grunk the Smasher.  I grew up on sword and sandal epics of the 80s and couldn't wait to check it out.  Sadly, several years had passed and I completely forgot about this one.  I was reminded about it when producer Christy Savage sent me an email to review it.  I couldn't wait and added it to my list to check out as soon as I could.  Thank you Christy for reaching out!

     The film follows rough barbarian Grunk the Smasher (Crotte) who finds himself tricked by an evil sorcerer and left to die.  However, with the help of a few unexpected allies who seek revenge against the same sorcerer, he sets out on an adventure for payback.  

     I went into Grunk the Smasher completely blind.  I had not seen a trailer, promotional images, or the synopsis for the film aside from what I could remember about my original post five years ago.  While I didn't enjoy it as much as I did Badass Monster Killer, I still had a lot of fun with it and I can see myself revisiting it sometime soon.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun but it's not something I would consider award winning performances.    The characters are cliched on purpose and a lot of the performances felt like they were part of a well established play but it's not bad.  It adds a lot of fun to the film but none of the performances stand out like other films from Wood.  The story for this one is a loving tribute to classic fantasy adventure films like both Conan films, The Barbarians, Ator, and so on.  We follow a hulking womanizing barbarian who find himself doing a job for an evil sorcerer only to be tricked and left to die.  He lives, obviously, and partners with others seeking revenge as well.  We have dark elves, witches, creatures, and so much more to enjoy scattered throughout the film.  It's not a compelling story but it is mindless fantasy fun.  Finally, the film has a lot of different effects to enjoy.  We have some puppets, practical effects, stop motion, and visuals.  They all do a wonderful of elevating the film and are visually appealing.  Overall, Grunk the Smasher is not going to be at the top of anyone's list but a lot of gen-x and millennials will enjoy what Grunk has to offer.  It delivers on exactly what it set out to and I really respect it in that regard.  Check it out.  

Gator Face

Director - Padraig Reynolds (The Devil's Dolls, Rites of Spring)

Starring - Tabitha Brownstone (NCIS, Domino), Amariah Dionne (Dead Souls, Saturnalia), and Nikolas Kolasinski (The Republic)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Real alligators.  Real teeth.  Real terror"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I refuse to pass up a slasher or zombie flick.  I don't care about the budget, who is involved, or what the film is about.  If its a slasher or zombie flick then you damn well guarantee that I will check it out.  I've reviewed a lot of slashers over the years ranging from no budget backyard films to several million dollars and I noticed a few things after watching all of these.  A budget cannot buy passion.  I've seen movies made by teenagers in their parents basement on an iPhone that had more passion and originality while the million dollar films sold in Walmart were dull.  In fact, there is how I came up with the term Walmart horror.  These films look great but are very mediocre at best.  A few weeks back I was sent a review link to check out Gator Face from Rites of Spring director Padraig Reynolds.  The trailer, which I usually avoid, pulled me in and I couldn't wait to check it out.  

     The film follows a young woman who goes into a coastal home after reading a warning of "three dead inside" on the outside of it.  She goes in with her friend and discover an alligator with a taste for human flesh and a man wearing a gator mask ready to cut them to ribbons.  She flees but her friends are struck down by the masked maniac.   She eventually crosses paths with another group of twenty-somethings and tries to warn them but they don't listen.  Soon they start to fall victim to the masked man and his gator before they learn he is part of a cult that sacrifices tourists to the gators.

       I was pretty excited going into Gator Face.  Honestly, I was hoping that this slasher was going to more of a hixploitation flick but that wasn't the case.  Instead, it was a slasher centered around a cult which is something I am all for.  I fucking love movies about cults and Gator Face seemed to be the perfect set up for a solid slasher but I found myself really struggling with it.  I wanted to like it but it clearly wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is not the worst I've seen but the cliched characters and zero chemistry between the cast makes many of the scenes a bit awkward.  We have a lot of yelling when it's unnecessary and a lot of the emotions you would expect for the scene is nowhere to be seen.  I hate to be this negative about a movie but the acting made these unlikable characters even more unlikable.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward for the most part.  A cult that worships an ancient alligator god sacrifices tourists to the gators in order to appease them.  I dig it for what it is but it would have been way more enjoyable as a short rather than a feature length film.  Too much time was spent on the cat and mouse portion of the slasher than the story building and back story.  I found myself wanting to turn it off by the mid-way point.  Some serious editing needs to be done to improve this one.  Finally, the film does boast some pretty impressive kills with some great practical effects.  The kills fit the film very well and the movie makes great use of the practical effects.  Overall, Gator Face is a missed opportunity.  It could have been a southern fried slasher that embraced the hixploitation films of yesteryear.  Instead, it's a middle of the road slasher that is only saved by it's impressive practical effects and the cult aspect.  I seriously wanted to love it but I can't.  This is Walmart horror at it's finest.  

Island of the Doomed

Director - Mel Welles (Lady Frankenstein, Code of Silence)

Starring - Cameron Mitchell (Jack-O, Terror Night), Elisa Montes (Battered Flesh, Blaues Blut), and Jorges Martin (Death Carries a Cane, Professionals for a Massacre)

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "What was the terrifying secret of the vampire tree?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     

     Mondo Macabro has been my go to for international horror, especially Bollywood/Hindi horror.  I may not always like their releases but I always have fun experiencing films from different countries and decades.  A few weeks back I was sent several films from Mondo Macabro with one of them being the 1967 co-production between Germany and Spain.  The film, Island of the Doomed, was also released under the title The Blood Suckers and Maneater of Hydra.  I had never heard of this one before but was really looking forward to checking out this late-60s horror flick.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over!

     The film follows a group of tourists that find themselves invited to tour an isolated island with promises of beautiful sights.  They agree and go where they meet an estranged scientist and his hired help living in an old mansion.  He has been working on mutating carnivorous plants and succeeded in creating something with a taste for human flesh.

     I didn't know anything about this one when I tossed it in the Blu-ray player.  I was expecting something rather different but the film I found before me was actually pretty enjoyable.  It's not going to be a film that will stick with me for years but I can see myself revisiting it again sometime down the road.  The acting in this one is pretty solid.  Some of the characters are throw aways with no purpose other than filling the screen.  These performances are not bad but these characters did nothing for the story and was not that memorable.  However, screen legend and b-movie staple Cameron Mitchell delivers the best performance of the film as the evil Baron creating the carnivorous plants.  He made the film for me and I could absolutely see this character becoming an evil villain/scientist in several other films.  The story for this one is extremely campy but that is exactly what I'm looking for when I toss in a film from the 50s or 60s regardless of the region it was from.  We have a movie with an evil scientist slamming radiation on a plant to mutate it into a man-eating creature is pure drive-in era camp.  It's not something that will be on anyone's best of list but it's cheap fun regardless of what kind of film you enjoy.  Finally, we get some cheesy practical effects with the plants and some not-so memorable deaths.  This was easily the weakest part of the film but it doesn't take away from the experience.  Overall, Island of the Doomed is a fantastic drive-in era cheesefest for those of you that dig the campy flicks of the 50s and 60s.  We have a fun performance from Cameron Mitchell and a solid story.  Check out this release from Mondo Macabro, it's well worth it.  

Purani Haveli

Director(s) - Shyam Ramsay (Saboot, Hotel) and Tulsi Ramsay (Om, Police Mattu Dada)

Starring - Deepak Parashar (Armaan, Nikaah), Amita Nangia (Ramsay House: The Fantasy World, Islamic Exorcist), and Shubha (N.H. 47, Ravana Rajya)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Mondo Macabro really took care of me here with this fantastic Ramsay Brother's double feature with Tahkhana and Purani Haveli.  Both of these films were first time watches for me and I was really looking forward to it.  After watching the first film, the 1986 film Tahkhana, it was time to dig into the second film on the set which was the 1989 flick Purani Haveli.  This is one I had heard of prior to watching it but I never had the chance to check it out.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending it over.  

     The film follows a young girl who lost her parents in a horrible accident.  She lives with her aunt and uncle who is manipulating her into giving them her inheritance once she is old enough to receive it.  However, they die at a haunted hotel after visiting it for a possible purchase.  The young lady, unaware that her uncle was murdered at the hotel, visits with her friends.  Arriving at the same time is a small time criminal and his lackies looking for a quick score only for them all to learn about the sinister forces in the building. 

     I went into this one almost immediately after watching the first film on the disc and really enjoyed myself.  It's not as well put together and written as Tahkhana but it works as a double feature and stand alone film.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from an 80s Hindi horror movie.  We get some campy performances with a lot of overdramatic acting and high energy.  The characters are not that memorable but the acting is a lot of fun.  The story for this one is a solid creature feature that feels like a haunted house flick at times.  It doesn't really have the suspense and tension that I would expect from a straight forward haunted house flick here in the states but it works. We also have the crime aspect and the devious family portion that adds some layer to the film.  It doesn't feel overwhelming and works with the pacing of the film.  Finally, we once again get some fun make-up effects and blood but the deaths are not as graphic and gory as I would have liked.  The effects look well enough for the film but they are not as entertaining as the rest of the film.  Overall, Purani Haveli is another fun Ramsay Brother's horror movie that I think all genre fans should check out.  It's a lot of fun especially if you dig Hindi horror.  Check it out.  

Tahkhana

Director(s) - Shyam Ramsay (Veerana, Neighbours) and Tulsi Ramsay (Purana Mandir, Telephone)

Starring - Hemant Birje (Smart Killer, Tarzan's Daughter), Kamran Rizvi (Main Hoon Sherni, Din Dahade), and Arti Gupta (Saamri, Haadsaa)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

Format - Blu (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was bitten by the horror bug in middle school and found myself fully embracing the genre by high school.  These years really shaped my taste in horror as I found myself becoming obsessed with no budget and indie productions.  However, as I grow older, I find myself becoming surprised by just how diverse my taste in the genre has become.  Several years back I found  a copy of Mahakaal from Massacre Video.  This movie is known to genre fans as the Indian or Bollywood Freddy Krueger.  I fucking loved it and watched it many times.   This opened me up to more Bollywood horror with companies like Mondo Macabro spearheading this passion.  Sometime ago Mondo Macabro released the Hindi horror double feature with the first film being the 1986 film Tahkhana which was also known as The Dungeon.  I couldn't wait to check it out and like always I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAV for sending this one over.

     The film follows an evil man who dabbles in black magic as he vows to end his family's lineage when his dying father leaves everything to his brother.  He tries to kidnap his niece and nephew but is unable to get them both.  We jump forward several decades and his niece, unaware of her evil uncle, sets out with some friends to investigate a local legend unaware of how close she is to it.

     There is nothing on this planet like Hindi/Bollywood horror and that is something I will stand by the rest of my life.  These movies seem to follow a formula but they are just so much fun especially when compared to their western counterparts.  Tahkhana is another solid and memorable horror outing that is almost as enjoyable as some of the others that I've fell in love with.  The acting in this one is extremely campy in the very best way.  The characters are colorful and very dramatic with the cast doing a wonderful job with their performances.  With that being said, some of the later scenes don't have the energy as the earlier scenes which does take away from the camp. I don't know if everyone was tired or directing was ore laid back but this part of the film just doesn't have what the first two thirds had.  The story for this one is exactly what I would expect from a Hindi horror flick.  We have an evil relative who does black magic, a collective of colorful characters and that wonderful 80s flare.  We do have some pacing issues and the ending not being as energized as the rest of the film but it's still very enjoyable as it is.  Finally, I love the make-up in this one.  The kills have some of the red stuff an simple practical effects but the make-up for the evil uncle just looks awesome. Overall, Tahkhana is great entry in a severally underrated regional genre that many horror fans will never experience.  I highly recommend this film and this release from Mondo Macabro.  Check it out.  

Amityville: Descendants of Darkness

Director(s) - Derek Braasch (Torture the Flesh, Christmas Revenge), Marcelo Fabani (I Slay on Christmas, Doomsday Stories), and James Panetta (Phil Herman's Unearthed, Death in the Dark)

Starring - Vernon Wells (Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Weird Science), Jeremy London (Mallrats, Perversions of Science), and Sandy Johnson (Halloween, The Farmhouse Murder)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Some evils never die... they evolve"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love when the horror genre finds a trend that almost everyone fully embraces.  The Amityville Horror has always been considered a classic among genre fans and I can see why.  I enjoy the film and several of it's official sequels but I don't consider it one of my favorite films.  My favorite part about this film's legacy is all the unofficial sequels and random movies that had Amityville added to the name by distributors at the last minute.  Seriously, just take a moment and go to Tubi.  Just do a little search for Amityville and you will see dozens of films that have absolutely nothing to do with Amityville or it's original story that had the name added to it by a distribution company just to sell a few extra films.  Sometime ago, I'm talking months back, I was asked to review the horror anthology Amityville: Descendants of Darkness by producer Phil Herman.  I wasn't able to get to it right away but made sure to add it to my review list to check out as soon as I could.  I want to thank Phil for sending this one over for review.

     The film features four stories centered around the sinister Amityville house as told by a young woman.  The first tale follows some thieves that try their luck at finding some hidden fortunes in the shed on the Amityville property only to find that they are apart of something far more sinister.  The second tale follows a family that finds themselves in possession of an item from the home where something evil has attached itself to it.  The third story follows a cop tormented by someone he couldn't save.  The last segment follows a family that movies into a new home.  The husband begins to start to slip and they soon learn that their new home was built on the same ground of the original Amityville house.  

     I went into this one kind of excited to check it out.  I recently watched Amityvillnado and really enjoyed it for what it was which made me really look forward to this one.  Sadly, that excitement quickly faded as the film progressed.  I really wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is very uneven and not very consistent.  The segment that bookends the film is probably the best acted short in the film.  The young lady delivering her dialogue is very natural in front of the camera and does a solid job in her role.  the remaining segments are solid for the most part but we have some cast with a lot of experience and some with barely any.  Some of the dialogue in these are forced which did create awkward scenes while others were a bit more natural.  The stories for these segments vary in originality but none really deliver something that pulls you in like the original film and it's official sequels.  In fact, every segment borrows heavily from previously released Amityville films.  The first segment borrows from the 2017 film Amityville Clownhouse where a group of thieves steal from the infamous home.  The second story is much like Amityville: 4: The Evil Escapes and Amityville Vibrator where something from the house, like a lamp from part 4 and a vibrator from AV, found it's way into someone's home bringing the curse with them. The final segment is basically a retelling of the original film while the third segment doesn't really have anything involved with Amityville aside from it being a ghost tale.  We have a lot to dissect in this anthology but none of the segments really stuck with me aside from the last portion of the first segment.  I liked the ending of this one but it didn't do a lot to hold my attention until then.  They were all pretty bland for the most part and extremely difficult to finish.  Finally, the film has some blood in the first segment and some visual effects scattered throughout the rest but it doesn't really offer up much in regards to fun blood and guts.  Overall, Amityville: Descendants of Darkness has some interesting ideas but doesn't come together to offer up anything enjoyable.  Maybe if some of the segments were explored further but it's difficult to finish as is.  Skip it.  

The Devil You Know

Director - Shawn Burkett (Don't Fuck in the Woods, Bludgeon)

Starring - Jason Crowe (Hellfire, The Art of Killing), Kenzie Phillips (Chinese Speaking Vampires, Ouija Blood Rituals), and Dale Miller (Stranded, Wicked Ones)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (Out of 5):

     I've been reviewing the films of Shawn Burkett and Concept Media for damn near fifteen years.  He's a filmmaker that I highly respect and I always look forward to checking out whatever film he sends my way for review.  He's directed some seriously underrated genre titles like Bludgeon, Don't Fuck in the Woods, and Betsy.  A few days back he messaged me and asked me to check out his newest feature, The Devil You Know starring Jason Crowe and Kenzie Phillips.  I'm very familiar with both of those names and quickly agreed to check it out.  Like always, I want to thank Shawn for sending this one over!

     The film follows a couple who rented a house deep in the woods for a little getaway.  What starts out as an innocent trip to relax and spend time with each other turns deadly when they learn that the home they are in was once owned by a man who killed his entire family in hopes of completing an occult ritual.  Now, all these years later, a cult with the same endgame in sight tries to kill them in hopes of finishing what he started all those years ago.  

     I saw that Burkett was working on a new film but I had no idea what it was about.  The title made me think it was about a serial killer living next door or something of that nature.  However, I was very wrong.  I was very surprised to see that it was a film centered around a cult which is one of my favorite genre sub-genres that doesn't get the credit it deserves.  The acting in this one is great all around.  Crowe is one of my favorite indie actors and it's a damn shame he's not cast in every indie production.  He's can tackle any character thrown at him and does a phenomenal job in front of the camera.  The same can be said for Phillips.  This is, by far, my favorite performance of hers.  She takes you down one path with her character before completing changing gears and giving viewers something they will not forget nor expect.  The supporting cast is great but it's these two that really carry the film.  The story for this one has the potential to be a franchise if handled properly.  We can have prequels, sequels, and even spin offs if enough attention was given to the writing.  We have a family being murdered in their sleep in the early 90s that inspired a cult.  We move forward to now and a young couple renting the home finds themselves fighting for their lives as the cult plans to use them to finish the ritual with a huge twist that you can kind of see coming.  It's a great story that can be taken in a number of directions giving fans years of entertainment.  Finally, the film has several deaths.  The practical effects look great and the kills fit the film very well but they are not that memorable or original.  With that being said, they were not that memorable but they did look great.  Overall, The Devil You Know is easily one of my favorite films from Concept Media.  I love the idea and the way they went about it.  You combine that with the acting and great looking kills and you have something that many genre fans will enjoy.  Check it out.    

Commando the Ninja

Director - Chi Lo (Magic Swords, Tiger Angels)

Starring - Man Fei (Born a Ninja), Patrick Largent (Power Kids, Team of Prodigies), and Hung Kuan (One-Armed Boxer, The Deadly Island)

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Action

Tagline - "One man's battle to save the world from an evil bacteriological nightmare"

Format - Blu (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm going to be completely honest here.  I went into this second film in the double feature confused. I watched them in the order they were on the cover and in the set but it seems that maybe Commando was the first film while imdb lists both films as releasing in 1988.  Honestly, I have no idea what the order is here but it looks like there is several other films in this series.  Regardless, I still gave this one a chance because of how much I respect and love Visual Vengeance and what they are doing for long forgotten S.O.V. films regardless of their genre.  Like always, I want to thank Visual Vengeance and MVD for sending this one over.

     The film, I believe, is about a ninja trying to find a bioweapon from WWII but Russians are on the hunt for it as well.

     I really did try when I hit play on this.  It's cool that I have this one in my collection and dig that VV is looking outside of horror for releases but these two films are difficult to watch alone...and sober.  It was edited poorly and the story is damn near impossible to follow.  I hate being this negative but it's a rough movie for sure.  The acting in this one is very amateurish.  The cast gets into their roles but inexperience and lack of direction makes the scenes very awkward to watch.  I was hoping the movie would have that unintentional humor that I found in Born a Ninja but I think it had ran it's course by the time I tossed this one in.  The story for this one is so fucking confusing and that is a big part in the way the film was edited.  I read on letterboxd that the movie was pieced together from an unused episode of a television show.  While I don't know how true this is but it answers a lot of my questions if it is.  Finally, we get some solid fights scenes that don't really go anywhere and that is about the extent of it.  Genre fans looking for memorable deaths and gore will be very disappointed.  Overall, Commando the Ninja is a rough one to watch.  I'm still convinced that it would be fun to watch with like minded movie fans while high but it's difficult to finish while sober and alone.  I cannot recommend this one. 

Born a Ninja

Director - Joseph Lai (Ninja Hunt, Golden Ninja Warrior)

Starring - Man Fei (American Commando Ninja), Patrick Largent (Power Kids, Team of Prodigies), and Martin Chan 

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Tagline - "A spy who will stop at nothing to complete his mission .  A scientist who is torn between love for the present and terror of the past"

Rating (out of 5):

      I've been a fan of kung fu and martial arts movies longer than I have the horror genre.  My dad bought some of these films on tape from someone and from that night on I was hooked.  I would watch them with my grandma and on several occasions I would pick one of these films over a horror title.  A few weeks back I was sent the double feature of Born a Ninja and Commando the Ninja from my friends over at Visual Vengeance.  I had just received two releases from them a few days prior and decided that when I had the time I would turn this into a marathon.  After Fungicide and The Screaming, I hit this double feature with Born a Ninja first.  I want to thank Visual Vengeance and MVD for sending this one along for review!

     Tanaka, a scientist with a past, is unable to face the sight of the atrocities he committed as a germ-war researcher during WWII. Martin, miraculously returns from the dead, recruits an ace but evil Ninja, Simon, to retrieve Tanaka and the formula. Lung, a master of a lost art joins the battle and goes head-on with Simon. The Japanese samurai and the Chinese martial arts finally encounter. battle between Ninjitsu finally starts. At the same time, Tanaka takes the plunge. In a burnt laboratory, he uses the golden horn to locate the germ formula. Despite the heroics, Tanaka’s gang is pursued once again by Martin, Daniel and Simon. Tanaka finally gets the formula but it is shot from his hand again. The ghostly image floods Tanaka’s mind and he is left laughing in an insane heap.

     Just so we are clear, I copied the synopsis from Letterboxd because I have absolutely no fucking clue as to what I just watched.  There was ninjas, talk about Hocus Pocus, grown men rolling around like it was a fighting tactic.  I love bad movies and I love when movies are bad on purpose but this was a difficult one for me to sit through.  As I've said in previous reviews, I hate writing a negative review for a movie that was sent to me but I'm always honest.  The acting in this one is unintentionally funny.  I found myself laughing more than I should have at a lot of the line delivery during the dialogue heavy scenes.  The cast was very inexperienced in acting which made a lot of the scenes funny when they shouldn't have been.  The story for this one is all over the place and I still have no fucking clue as to what was happening most of the time.  The best that I can piece together is that someone was a real piece of shit during WWII and wants to make up for his misdeeds but someone evil is wanting to use something he was affiliated with to cause mass death.  I could be wrong but the film is not very coherent or easy to follow.  We really need a tighter story and better editing.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting a blood bath with a lot of fun effects.  We have some ninja costumes and some not so bad fight choreography but that is the extent of it.  Overall, Born a Ninja could be a fun one if you are in a room full of like minded people who have been drinking but if you are looking for a campy kung fu flick then this one is not for you.  Sadly, I would suggest skipping this one.  

The Screaming

Director - Jeff Leroy (Rat Scratch Fever, Dracula in a Women's Prison)

Starring - Vinnie Bilancio (Killjoy Goes to Hell, Giantess Attack vs Mecha Fembot), Wendi Winburn (Killer Cop, Satan's Menagerie), and Elizabeth Barris (Brimstone, Dead Air)

Release Date - 2000

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Come on in for a free evaluation.  We're dying to meet you!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Visual Vengeance, much like their sister label Wild Eye Releasing, is one of my favorite distribution companies.  They don't fight over rights to movies that get re-released on every format.  Movies like Evil Dead, Dawn of the Dead, American Psycho, and the like always find themselves getting re-released on whatever new format that hits the streets.  I'm ashamed to admit how many times I've bought Evil Dead II over the years.  Anyway, Visual Vengeance is a label that has been bringing forgotten and barely seen S.O.V. horror to blu for genre fans.  Honestly, they've released some seriously enjoyable films over the years.  Hell, their releases are one of the few that actually gets me excited to review a movie.  A few weeks back I was sent the 2000 horror film The Screaming to review.  The movie was directed by Jeff Leroy who I was very familiar with.  I had no seen then one yet and couldn't wait to dig into it.  Like always, I want to thank Visual Vengeance and MVD for sending this one over.

     The film follows a struggling college student who can't seem to find an answer to his money problems until he meets hot ass Crystal (Winburn).  She introduces him to Crystalnetics which he soon learns in a cult centered around her.  It seems like his prayers are temporarily answered when he joins but before long a strange German starts warning him that this cult could be dangerous.  He doesn't listen and soon learns firsthand that something sinister is going on.

     I was familiar with director Jeff Leroy prior to watching this after buying his movie Rat Scratch Fever many years ago when it was released.  I fucking loved it and decided I would review it.  This would be one of my first ever written reviews.  Since then I had watched a few of his other films but they never touched the absurdity of Rat Scratch Fever.  The Screaming, also doesn't hold a candle to it, is still an entertaining watch and was interesting to see how much he had grown as a filmmaker in the 11 years between the two films.  The acting in this one is far from perfect but it doesn't take away from the film.  The cast would go on to appear in several more films but around this time most of them were lacking experience.  The dialogue is a bit flat at times and awkward at times but it fits the film for what it is.  The story for this one really pulled me in.  I have a soft spot for horror films centered around cults and the occult.  While I would have loved it to be a bit more cult centered, it was still enjoyable as it was.  We have a few issues with pacing but the overall story was fairly enjoyable.  Finally, the film uses a lot of practical effects that look great for what it was.  We get some fun make-up effects and props that adds a lot to the look of the film.  Honestly, the film wouldn't be as fun as it is if it wasn't for them.  Overall, The Screaming is one of the more entertaining films in the Visual Vengeance catalogue.  It's not perfect but it's a lot of fun especially if you dig fun effects and campy acting.  Don't skip this release.