Channel 99

Director - Joe Sherlock (Things 666, Tales for the Midnight Hour II)

Starring - Tonjia Atomic (Hobo with a Trash Can, Scarewaves), John Bowker (We Need Earth Women!, Underbelly), and Richard Johnson (Drifter, Frames of Fear)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror/Sci-fi

Tagline - "We've got it!"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’m now three films deep into my Skullface Astronaut marathon. Back before I started my Halloween binge I was contacted by filmmaker Joe Sherlock to review several of his films. I couldn’t get them worked into my month long horror binge but I still wanted to check out everything sent my way. As I worked through each movie sent to me I found myself standing before a dozen or so films from Sherlock. I decided this would be the perfect time to have a marathon of his films. I started with Drifter and moved on to Beyond the Wall of Fear. The next film on the list is another anthology of his that I was looking forward so I turned to Channel 99 and turned it on. 

      The film follows Channel 99 as it airs several films ranging from haunted showers, beautiful content creators with a taste for blood, and men in black. 

      Channel 99 is a lot of fun and reminds me of why I love anthologies so much. While it is a no budget production it still finds a way to hold the viewer’s attention more than most bigger budgeted films like Terrifier and it’s sequel. Yea, I said it. Those films have amazing gore but the story is lacking. The acting in this one is similar to the previous two films I’ve watched and reviewed. The cast is having a lot of fun and is really into their roles but inexperience is evident. I like the amount of memorable characters we get and how their personalities are so very different. Also, the amount of women comfortable in their own skin that show it off really makes it enjoyable for the “sleazy” movie fan. The stories for this one is inconsistent but none of them are what I would consider bad. It’s just obvious that some of them had more time spent on them than others. I love the Channel 99 angle again and how it takes me back to when I would watch movies on cable with my grandmother while my dad was out of town. I love that aspect and how it brought everything together. The segments are enjoyable but some are much more entertaining than others with my favorite involving the beautiful woman who live streams her heinous acts. Finally, the film has several on screen gags and effects but it once again suffers from lack of budget. We have a lot of creative effects and deaths but these are the least entertaining aspect of the film. Overall, Channel 99 is a fantastic indie horror anthology that is for fans of the VHS era and beautiful women in the nude. I highly recommend it.

Beyond the Wall of Fear

Director - Joe Sherlock (Drifter, Odd Noggins)

Starring - Tonjia Atomic (Thingz, Scarecrow County), John Bowker (Twisted Fates, Axegrinder 3), and Tom Griffith (The Alien Factor, Nightbeast)

Release Date - 2016

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My Skullface Astronaut marathon is in full force as I move on to my second film on the list of films he sent over titled Beyond the Wall of Fear. While I assume there is some order that I should be watching them, I’m just too lazy to do the research to make sure I watch them in order. I will say that I was a big fan of Drifter and couldn’t wait to dig into this horror anthology from 2016. 

      The film begins with a woman who is having horrible nightmares and when she dies of fear it is revealed her torment was orchestrated by a man in black. The second tale follows two men who is searching for something and uncovers an evil older than man himself. The third story follows a man and his dog going for a walk while something lurking out of sight is on the hunt for something. The fourth tale follows a writing looking for inspiration who finds herself in some sort of Lovecraftian nightmare. We then round the film out with four more tales involving a couple on a date, witches, a drug addled individual, and people who become ravenous after becoming infected by an unknown agent. 

      I had no idea that Beyond the Wall of Fear was an anthology but I’m always open to checking them out when they are sent my way. I grew up on Creepshow, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, Twilight Zone: The Movie, and From a Whisper to a Scream so I always go into a new one excited. I went into this one with my normal enthusiasm for indie horror but if I would have known it was an anthology I would have been a bit more excited. Regardless, I enjoyed the film but some of the segments were better than others. The acting in this one is inconsistent but not bad. Much like Drifter, the cast is really into their roles. They are fully invested in the film and deliver the best performances they can. Inexperience is evident but I loved the energy and the cavalcade of characters that we are given. The stories for this one is inconsistent but as an overall film they work. It’s hard to find an anthology where every segment is consistent so it’s to be expected. With that being said, I’m a huge fan of how this was set up to look like a late night cable production. I grew up on shows like USA Up All Night and MonsterVision so seeing a film attempt that look and feel really brought me back. Finally, the film is a no budget production and the effects clearly show that. They do the best with what they have and I enjoy it. I’ve always had a soft spot for indie cinema and seeing diy effects on screen has always been something that I’ve been impressed by. It shows a lot of creativity and ingenuity. They may not always look the best but they are still passionate about what they do. Overall, Beyond the Wall of Fear is an entertaining indie horror film with beautiful women in the buff and some enjoyable stories. Some are better than others but they all are worth the time. Check it out

Drifter

Director - Joe Sherlock (Frames of Fear, Channel 99)

Starring - Dave Bowers (Blood Creek Woodsman), John Bowker (Beyond the Wall of Fear, Platoon of the Dead), and Sonya Davis (Death Pool, Vengeance for Chloe Darling)

Release Date - 2014

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The madness is coming..."

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I recently found myself having one of the wildest and entertaining marathons I’ve had in a while. Sometime back I came into contact with filmmaker Joe Sherlock. I had been friends with him on social media for a number of years but I had never seen any of the films he produced and directed under his label Skullface Astronaut. These are films I had heard about for sometime but I never had the opportunity to check them out until he slid into my messages when I made a post about my October horror binge. He was kind enough to send over a dozen or so of his films to review. I didn’t know where to start so I began with the first movie on the list and worked my way down in order in which he sent them. That meant I was watching Drifter first. I want to thank Joe for sending this one over. 

      The film follows a real estate agent who is tasked with selling a home with a horrible past. Known locally as Blood House, many refuse to see the home which has forced him to do some remodeling, cleaning, and other tactics in hopes of getting people to look passed it’s bleak history. However, he doesn’t know that a deranged drifter is squatting in the vacant home and everyone that finds their way inside meets a bloody end. 

      Drifter is one of those films that is so fucking simple that it pisses you off that you didn’t come up with the idea first. It works especially if you are into no budget indie flicks that doesn’t shy away from the blood and nudity. Most of you confuse liking a movie to comparing it to some of the best genre title to exist. You can like films and not compare them to films like Pumpkinhead and Night of the Demons. A no budget film is not going to have a same impact as a studio picture with a budget. However, they can still be enjoyable which is what the Drifter is. The acting in this one is solid but does have some room for improvement. The cast is very dedicated to their roles and it looks like they are having a lot of fun in front of the camera but inexperience is evident. The dialogue in some of the scenes are very awkward while the delivery is a bit unnatural. They are forcing the dialogue out instead of finding their character and performing. It doesn’t ruin the film but these scenes do lose some of their impact because of it. The story for this one is straight to the point and a little repetitive but I fucking loved it. It’s effective and works especially for a first time viewing. We have a drifter squatting in a house who kills repair men, cleaning ladies, teens looking for somewhere to party, and so on. It’s a simple set up for a body count but it does get a bit repetitive but what great slasher doesn’t? Finally, the film has several death scenes with some blood and light make-up effects but that is the extent of it. The kills fit the film very well but for those of you looking for detailed gore and awe inspiring effects will surely be disappointed. Overall, Drifter is for fans of indie horror or horror films with a lot of blood and nudity. I highly recommend it.

When the Trash Man Knocks

Director - Christopher Wesley Moore (Triggered, Blessed are the Children)

Starring - Cheryl Abernathy (Triggered, A Stranger Among the Living), Allie Bennett, and Derek Robert Hull Bond (The 12 Sacred Moons, Broad Daylight)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Pray you're not home"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve been having a blast watching all these indie horror films that were sent my way in late September for my October horror binge. I’ve seen some amazing films that I will be adding to my collection like Desperate Souls, Night of the Axe, Redhead, and Stranded just to name a few. I love indie horror and it’s been amazing checking out a new one every night like I have the last two months or so. Way back in October I was sent a screen by director Chris Moore to review his newest horror film When the Trash Man Knocks. This was a different type of indie horror compared to the others that were sent my way. This one wasn’t a Halloween horror flick. Instead, this is a Thanksgiving horror tale that I failed to notice until after Thanksgiving has passed. Regardless, I want to thank Chris for sending it over. 

      The film follows a suffering mother and traumatized son who live in constant fear decades after their picture perfect family was tore apart by the murderous Trash Man. As they try to move on with their lives they find themselves haunted by the tragic events that night but now history is about to repeat itself. The Trash Man has returned to their sleepy southern town and is making his way through several people leaving a bloody trail in is wake. 

      I’m a big fan of Chris Moore and his previous films. Triggered, Blessed Are the Children, and Children of Sin are all fantastic films that I highly recommend to indie horror fans. I love the atmosphere, characters, and stories that he gives viewers. He does a fantastic job writing and paying tribute to the films that a lot of us grew up on that was direct to video or made for television. When the Trash Man Knocks is another solid film that feels like a slasher that you would have watched late at night on cable or would be part of USA Up All Night. The acting in this one is very enjoyable. While some of the scenes does show some inexperience, a majority of the film is well acted. The characters have a lot of personality written into them and the cast does a phenomenal job bringing them all to life. On the opposite side of the same coin, I wish that the Trash Man character had a little more depth. I love a faceless slasher but backstories and appealing lore goes a long way. The story for this one pays tribute to a lot of classic slashers but does feel like it’s a parody of Halloween. The film is set during another holiday, this time Thanksgiving, and we follow a killer who returns to the home of the original murders why those that lived through that horrendous night is forever changed and looking over their shoulders. It has great pacing, well written characters but the loving tribute or parody of Halloween is very obvious. Finally, the film has a decent amount of blood with some solid effects. It’s not gory but we do get some fun blood that adds some color to these darker scenes. Overall, When the Trash Man Knocks is another enjoyable film from Chris Moore and company. I love the visuals, writing, and story centered around a holiday that doesn’t get enough horror attention. I highly recommend checking this one out

Night of the Axe

Director - Shawn Wright (Spirit Board: Doorway to Death)

Starring - Lera Savannah (Titles), Kaci Frick (Barbara), and Justin Sisk (Wonder Woman 1984, True Terror with Robert England)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "For a group of friends, a night of fun becomes a night of terror!"

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     I recently found myself having a Angel Bradford double feature. Back when I was gathering movies for my yearly October horror binge I was sent two films from different filmmakers. The first was the romantic horror flick Desperate Souls and the other was the slasher Night of the Axe. I wasn't able to get them in during October but I kept them in line to check out as soon as I could. I was very impressed with Desperate Souls and was very surprised to see Angel appearing in my next film Night of the Axe. This one was sent over to review from filmmaker Shawn Wright. I want to thank Shawn for sending it over for Horror Society and myself to check out. 

      The film follows a group of twenty-somethings who are putting together a school reunion of sorts. This small get together is meant for everyone to get drunk, high, and laid. However, what they don't know is that a mental patient has recently escaped his confines and is leaving a bloody trail straight for them. 

      Night of the Axe is exactly what I thought it would be. It's a no budget slasher with blood and nudity. Nothing more and nothing less which is exactly what I like to see when I'm in the mood for slasher goodness. Shawn Wright didn't try to re-invent the wheel or try so hard that he forgot how fun paint by numbers slashers can be. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to Shawn's next project. The acting in this one is a bit uneven but I did enjoy the characters. The cast works very well together and they look like they are having a lot of fun in front of the camera. This always makes no budget films a little more enjoyable and helps with inexperience. However, a few scenes were a bit awkward to watch. The dialogue was forced and was more like a table reading instead of actual acting. The story for this one is a straightforward slasher that doesn't stray too far from what made them so fun in the 80s. We get a mental patient steamrolling his way through people until he finds a house party serving as a reunion. It's not that original but it's fun, raunchy, and bloody. Finally, the film has several on screen deaths with a lot of blood and minimal effects that surprisingly works. They are not complicated or something that stands out like other films but it works for the gag. Overall, Night of the Axe may not be the next slasher classic but it's a well rounded indie slasher that satisfies the need for blood and boobs. I highly recommend it

Desperate Souls

Director - Steve Hermann (Blood Sisters, It Came from Somewhere)

Starring - Angel Nichole Bradford (Wolf Hollow, Night of the Axe), Joe Rosing (Attack of the Corn Zombies, Flesh Fire), and Magdalena Conway (Morium, Nightmare)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Romance/Horror

Tagline - "Love to die for"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love the unique, unusual, and different indie horror films that I get in randomly for review. I’ve been fortunate to review some seriously impressive indie features over the years and when I asked for movies to watch during my October horror binge I was not expecting the response I received. Several people reached out to me and I found myself with over 100 films to review. Some of the films were horror but didn’t really fit in the Halloween theme but I was still grateful they reached out to me to review their projects. One of those films was the horror/romance flick Desperate Souls starring Angel Bradford and Joe Rosing. This would be a film that I surprisingly loved. In fact, I watched it twice before I started the review. I want to thank Angel for bringing this film to my attention and scoring me a review link. 

      The film follows a young man who is struggling with life. He’s constantly alone with his thoughts, which has resulted in him seeking professional help. His longing for death is only second to his desire to find love. Things change when he meets Moira (Bradford). She comes to him one night in his sleep leaving him to suspect that their encounter was a dream. However, it was anything but. She is a succubus and is drawn to his sorrow. The two fall in love which sends her on a murderous rampage killing anyone she suspects might come between the two. However, the more time they spend together, the weaker he becomes forcing her to break up with him for fear of killing him. 

      I never expected to love Desperate Souls as much as I did but here we are. It's not often that I find myself needing to watch a film a second time but this movie deserved it. In fact, as soon as I can add this indie romance horror hybrid to my movie collection. I know a lot of genre fans will hate it but fans of cinema in general will greatly appreciate this one. The acting in this one is uneven but not bad. The film's leads, Angel Bradford and Joe Rosing, work so well together. Rosing's character is a man that has been beaten down to the point he doesn't know which way is up. His sorrowful demeanor really does show on screen. He does a fantastic job in the role. The same can be said for Bradford. She's not a menacing figure if you've been lucky enough to meet her but she does pull off the sexy succubus with a knack for killing. These two almost fed off each other in each scene and their on-screen chemistry made the film as good as it is. The supporting cast is solid but there were a few scenes where the acting and dialogue were a bit awkward to watch. The story for this one is very well written. It flows like an early 2000's horror movie that you could find on store shelves from companies like Brain Damage Films with a romantic twist. The characters are written well into the story and the meshing of the romance with the horror works very well together. I typically find myself not interested in films with romance angles but it was so well written and captivating that I found myself pulled into it. Finally, the film has several bloody moments with minimal practical effects. The kills fit the film and we get some of the red stuff but the effects are nothing that stands out especially if you are a fan of gory horror. Overall, Desperate Souls is going to be a polarizing film among indie horror fans but I truly enjoyed it. It's not often that a horror film can portray love in a manner like Desperate Souls is able to. I highly recommend this one so check it out

Variant II

Director - Joe Meredith (South Mill District, Teratomorph)

Starring - Joel Barnette (Variant), Samuel Barnette (Variant), and Nhi Burton 

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve been actively watching and reviewing indie horror films for over a decade now. I’ve reviewed so many wild and offbeat horror films like Isle of the Damned, Psycho Ape, The Thingy: Confessions of a Living Placenta, and Killer Rack. On the opposite side of the same coin, I’ve reviewed some seriously brutal and gory films that have a coherent story and doesn’t overload you with gore with the lack of plot. This can be seen in films like Nutsack, Headless, Freak, and several films from artist and filmmaker Joe Meredith. His films South Mill District, Teratomorph, and Variant are wonderfully gory while delivering a simple story for viewers. I absolutely despise films that lack stories but over do the gore. They are extremely boring to me but the films from Meredith is able to combine the best of both worlds. When I was preparing for October horror binge Joe reached out to review his newest film Variant II. I couldn’t wait to check it out and quickly agreed. I want to thank Joe for reaching out and allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check it out! 

      The film picks up after the collapse of the organization responsible for studying alien DNA. Now the government is tasked with removing and storing the creatures but they quickly drop the ball. Now alien mutations are loose in the world creating new monstrosities that feed on the flesh of humans. 

      The films by Joe Meredith are easily recognizable by his unique art style and bleak atmosphere with some seriously impressive practical effects. When you blend them in with the stories that he brings to life you are left with something that truly stands out from what other filmmakers are doing aside from the folks at Very Fine Crap. Both have similar styles but where Meredith is more focused on the art and design, James Bell of Very Fine Crap is a musician with more focus on the film’s score. I really enjoy films from both of these filmmakers and while I am comparing the two I’m doing so in hopes people who watch Joe’s films will want to check out James’ and vice versa. Their films truly are unique in the world of indie horror. Variant II is another fantastic film from Joe and now I seriously want to binge all his films after finally checking this one out. The acting in this one fits the film but it’s not acting in a traditional sense. The film is full of creatures and human hybrids which doesn’t give the cast a chance to act like a typical manner. The story for this one is a wild blend of classic 16 bit video games and mid-90s direct to video horror/sci-fi flicks. We pick up as the evil corporation experimenting with aliens is dissolved and the specimen are now accidentally released into the populace. I love how Meredith approached this film like a video with mini-bosses like the clown-hybrids and so on. It was very clever and fucking worked. This plot is so rich with possibilities and I can’t wait to see where we go next. Finally, this film is a gorehounds wet dream. We have some seriously amazing practical effects with juicy gore and amazing make-up effects. The effects match the story so well and they look absolutely amazing. I forgot to check the credits when I was watching this but I think I spotted some gags from James Bell but I’m not 100 perfect certain. Regardless, they look great and scratches that itch for gore. Overall, Variant II is another must see from Joe Meredith. I cannot recommend his films enough and this is another solid horror release. Do yourself a favor and check out this guy’s work. He does not disappoint.

Stranded

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

Starring - Mike Pleska (Trespassing, 13 Slays Till X-Mas), Brittany Blanton (Squatch'd, Thrust), and Dale Miller (The Wicked One, Last American Horror Show)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Do you believe?"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve been watching and reviewing films from Concept Media for around ten years now. Co-founders Shawn Burkett and Ryan Stacey were the first filmmakers to give me a chance when I was brought on to Horror Society 11 years ago now. The pair has released some killer genre films over the years and they never fell to stir up excitement from me when they announce a new film. Sometime ago Shawn started promoting his bigfoot horror film Stranded. While I’m not a believer, I do have a big interest in cryptids so I’m always open to a film in which both worlds collide. Sadly, I started seeing less and less news about the film until it had completely skipped my mind. That changed when I started seeing press releases from Wild Eye about the DVD and digital release of the film. Around this time Shawn reached out to me to review the film. Like always, I want to thank Shawn for sending this one over. 

      The film follows a trio of siblings who are on a late night trip to scatter their late mother’s ashes deep in the woods. However, car trouble leaves them stranded in the middle of no-where. As animosity and attitudes collide, they soon realize they are not alone in the woods and something lurking in the dark has it’s sights set on them. 

      I knew very little about Stranded going into it. I knew it had several Concept Media regulars appearing in the film and was centered around bigfoot but that was the extent of my knowledge on the film. While I’ve seen some seriously impressive horror films centered around bigfoot, a good portion of them fail to give genre fans a memorable film with the hairy cryptid. Stranded is a decent film but it’s claustrophobic setting and lack of location makes it feel like it’s a lot longer than it actually is. The acting in this one is solid. We have some familiar faces returning with Brittany Blanton, Scott Gillespie, Payton Pleska, and Mike Pleska along with several more that I’m sure I’m forgetting. I love how tight knit the Concept Media family is and their ability to tackle different roles when the need arises. With that being said, I didn’t care for the characters in this one. The cast does a great job with what they were given but the characters are not likable and I was expecting them all to catch a bloody death at the hands of bigfoot. It’s not often I come across a film like this because there is always one character you find yourself connecting with but this one just didn’t have one. The story for this one works especially in an indie production standpoint. It’s revolves around one location which just happens to be someone’s car that’s parked in the woods late at night. While this is brilliant and an easy way to save money, I found it to be a bit boring. I was expecting a bit more cat and mouse in the woods with the siblings fighting for their lives. The film really needed to utilize the woods more and work on the pacing. Finally, this is not a bloody or violent film. The movie relies heavily on atmosphere rather than practical effects. With that being said, I fucking loved the look of bigfoot. This is the best looking bigfoot I’ve seen in a horror film. It’s menacing and eats up the scene. I wish he was utilized more but I understand why his appearance was limited. Overall, Stranded is a solid entry in the bigfoot horror sub-genre but It’s nowhere near the top of my favorite Concept Media films. It’s dark, brooding, and the creature looks fantastic but a film taking place majority in a car hasn’t worked for me since The Battery. It’s still worth a watch so check it out.

The Grim Findings of Claudius

Director - Demetrius Petra (The Fear of Trees)

Starring - Alyss Winkler (Slaughterhouse Slumber Party, Space Babes from Outer Space) and Brian Papandrea (Amityville Vibrator, Thrust)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’m sure a lot of you are sick of hearing about my October horror binge but I was not expecting the response that it received this year. When I posted at the end of September asking for indie horror films to add to my month long binge I was expecting a handful or so to add to my stack. I was not expecting the 100 or so films to be sent over from filmmakers, actors, producers, and so on. It was a bit overwhelming and to prevent me from having a panic attack I decided to watch them all but give myself until the end of the year to check them all out. One of the films sent my way was The Grim Findings of Claudius from Kyle Putra. The film starred my good friend Brian Papandrea and the always beautiful Alyss Winkler. I want to thank Kyle for sending this one my way for review! 

      The film follows the awkward Claudius (Papandrea) who is trying to find love but is just too backward to find it. He really wants to be with a waitress at a local restaurant but she is creeped out by him and his unusual demeanor. He waits one day to speak with her after her shift and accidentally spooks her resulting in her hitting her head. He takes her back to his place, that he shares with his “grandmother,” to nurse her back to health. Things start out innocently enough but in his warped mind the two are a couple and the next logical step is marriage and intercourse. This is just the beginning of the madness unfolding inside his home and she is about to bear witness to it all. 

      I had no idea what The Grim Findings of Claudius was about or even what kind of film it was. I was grateful that Kyle reached out to me to review and I always look forward to any film starring Brian and Alyss. With that being said, I had a lot of fun with this one. I loved the writing, the characters, and the location. It’s a well put together film that I think some genre fans will enjoy. The acting in this one is great. Alyss is great as the abducted woman. She spends about 90 percent of the film screaming or bound and gagged which doesn’t really give her a chance to show her acting chops. I would have liked to see her character have a more prominent role in the film aside from being tied up. On the opposite side of the coin, Brian was tasked with bringing a character to life that has a lot of personality and is a bit more complex. I love how into the character he gets and the humor goes a long way with this story. These two work very well together and the performances really contrast one another. The story for this one works hard not to be cliched and I really respect that. I’ve seen dozens, if not hundreds, of films following someone who stalks and abducts women. From the beginning we get someone who does abducts a woman but does it out of sincerity. He tries to take care of her when she hits her head. We then have a little Psycho moment, a lot of forced romance, and plenty of laughs. I think the film is very well written and everything is put together to create a film that does stand out but some genre snobs may not appreciate it. Finally, don’t expect a bloody flick. This is a character driven piece that focuses more on the story and the situation they find themselves in over blood and gore. Overall, The Grim Findings of Claudius is not going to be for everyone but I found it to be very enjoyable. I highly recommend checking it out.

Creepy Crawly

Director(s) - Chalit Krileadmongkon (The Beast Below) and Pakphum Wongjinda (Possessed, The Mirror)

Starring - Chanya McClory (Bad Guys, The Stranded), Mike Angelo (Wuxin: The Monster Killer, The Misfits), and Benjamin Joseph Varney (After Dark, Friend Zone)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Unmask the monster"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several weeks back Well GO USA sent me a few of their releases for review. Both of these films looked fantastic but I wasn’t able to check them out in a reasonable time frame. I was in the middle of my October horror binge and was sent a few television shows to review during that time as well. Once I was caught up I decided it was time to finally check out one of the films. The first one I went with was the 2022 Thai horror film Creepy Crawly which was originally released under the title The One Hundred. The trailer for this one looked a lot of fun and I was really looking forward to checking it out. I want to thank Well Go for sending this one over! 

      The film follows a young woman who was visiting abroad and is now in a hotel quarantining after returning home. However, the hotel is about to be overrun by carnivorous centipedes and one giant creature with the ability to absorb it’s host to look like them. The creature is after a specific person that it needs to prolong it’s life but the survivors are banding together to survive. 

      I went into Creepy Crawly knowing absolutely nothing about it but I was pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and love that the story could be followed up with so many different situations and scenarios. With that being said, it’s not going to be making any year end lists but it was an enjoyable film. The acting in this one is very well done. While the characters are dull and often blend into the background, the cast does a great job with the roles they were given. The story for this one is very enjoyable. It blends drama, action, and horror together without one aspect over powering the other. While the characters are cliched and unoriginal, the quarantine hotel becoming overrun with man-eating bugs and a shapeshifting creature is fantastic. The film is evenly paced and we have very little downtime which is great considering how fast paced the film actually is. It’s non-stop action with a lot of family drama and a horrifying setting. It works very well together to create something genre fans can appreciate. Finally, the film has several bloody deaths with a mix of solid visual and not-so solid visuals throughout. The visual effects when mixed with the make-up effects is very efficient but the overall creature and the visual effects for it looked horrible. It stands out and the effects just makes the film feel cheap. Overall, Creepy Crawly is a fantastic late night creature feature if you are in the mood for something atmospheric and fast-paced. While the creature and it’s visual effects didn’t hit the mark it was going for it still delivers. I highly recommend it.

Cobweb

Director - Samuel Bodin (Marianne, Batman: Ashes to Ashes)

Starring - Lizzy Caplan (Mean Girls, Cloverfield), Antony Starr (The Boys, Xena: Warrior Princess), and Woody Norman (The War of the Worlds, The Last Voyage of the Demeter)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Sooner or later, family secrets creep out"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     At the beginning of my October horror binge I was sent the horror film Cobweb on blu to review. I added it to my watch list and as Halloween approached I decided to check it out the weekend before Halloween but I got sidetracked. I foolishly popped an edible and before I realized it I had started watching the wrong fucking movie. Halloween came and went before I realized that I had not watched the Cobweb yet. However, after a few friends told me they enjoyed it, I decided it was time to finally check it out. 

      The film follows a young boy that is heavily bullied at school and very sheltered at home. His mother is a former school teacher that became a stay at home mom when she became pregnant while his father is very domineering and strict. At night he begins to hear something scampering before someone behind the wall starts talking to him. It’s a little girl claiming to be his older sister who was locked away by their parents. She tells him they are mean and they are responsible for a little girl going missing several years before. He believes her and tries to release her but is caught by his parents. That night he poisons them and tries to release her only to discover she is something much more sinister that his parents had locked away to protect him. 

      I was very curious about Cobweb but I was concerned when I first hit play that it would be another horror film similar to Stephen King’s The Boogeyman. I was so afraid that it was another film where a teen or pre-teen was being haunted by something sinister. While this is somewhat true in some respect, the story gives us more of an unexpected spin that I was not expecting. I really enjoyed this one and seriously hope we get a follow up film soon. The acting in this one is fantastic. Anthony Starr, who is know for his portrayal of Homelander on The Boys, is fantastic in his role as the father. He is always intimidating in his roles and this one was no exception. He carries the film along with his on screen wife Lizzy Caplan and their son Woody Norman. These three make the film and I couldn’t imagine the movie having the mood and tension that it has if someone else was cast in these roles. The supporting cast works great as well but the focus is on these three and they nail it. The story for this one is another “kid in a haunted house” type film but there is more to it than that. The “haunted house” angle is swapped with something sinister living behind the walls. While it still follows the same theme as other haunted house tales we have some unexpected events that the viewer doesn’t see coming. I really enjoyed the twists that popped up and the characters backstory. These blend together so well and leaves the film open to another film if we are lucky. Finally, the film has plenty of blood and several quick deaths that we don’t really get to enjoy. Also, we get a CGI creature that did feel out of place with the film. I wanted to love every aspect of this film but the use of the visual effects and the cheaply made creature was a big turn off in my opinion. Overall, Cobweb is a solid horror film with an amazing cast and a decent enough story. While I was not a fan of the visual effects, I did enjoy the rest of the film. This one needs to be seen by genre fans. It’s a lot of fun.

Felo-de-se

Director - Jon Devlin (Erecting a Monster, The Missing Left Sock)

Starring - Jon Devlin and Jessica Reagan Asher 

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Near the tail end of September I made a post on Facebook asking filmmakers if they had any films that needed review for the site. I needed a couple more movies to round out my October horror binge. I did not expect the response the post received. I had several filmmakers send over 100 films my way for review. I was going to begin turning people away at a certain point because I did feel overwhelmed but I decided to just mark them all down in the order I had received them and review them all without the time crunch of doing them all in October. One film is a short from Erecting A Monster director Jon Devlin. The short, Felo-de-se, is around 5 or so minutes long and though it does have a rather short run time, I decided to wait until after October so I could give the film the attention it deserves. I want to thank Jon for the support he has sent Horror Society and myself over the years. I truly appreciate it. 

      The film follows an awkward man who has built an unhealthy obsession with a woman in his neighborhood. What he doesn’t know is that this woman he has secretly been stalking is reaching her breaking point and is considering something drastic. When he finally gets brave enough to confront her his warped sense of knowing her leads him to a situation that he never expected. 

      I’m an ignorant guy and I’m fairly certain my reviews paint that picture. I’m not a smart man by any means and it blows my mind every time a filmmaker asks me to review their movies. I say this because I had no idea that Felo-de-se meant suicide. I had no fucking clue but as I was putting this review together I discovered that it was a fairly used term that can be found in some popular films, television, and music. Now, looking back at the film and it’s title I feel like a fool but I am glad I went into it not knowing it’s meaning because I think it would have taken away from the ending. The acting in this one is great. It’s a very small cast but the two work very well together. Devlin has showed a wide range of acting through his various shorts and features but this one is probably my favorite type of character he’s portrayed. The awkward and creepy characters are rarely done correctly but Devlin goes all in. I loved the character and would seriously love to see him tackle another role with a similar character. His female co-star, Jessica Reagan Asher, is great as well. She does a great job in her role which is impressive considering her imdb page has no other credits under her name. It would be a damn shame if she doesn’t appear in other genre efforts. The story for this one is short, sweet, and mostly to the point. Not knowing what Felo-de-se means did leave me unprepared for the ending which I think is the best way to see this film. While the title does fit the short I would suggest changing it so those that are familiar with the phrase would not miss out on the shocking ending. I love the build up and how the ending hit the viewer. Finally, the film has some blood but those expecting a gory short will be very disappointed. The film doesn’t really offer up any type of make-up effects but the point of the story is the characters and the situation they find themselves in and not the red stuff. Overall, Felo-de-se is a solid short from Jon Devlin. He’s a fantastic actor and one hell of a filmmaker who I wish would stop teasing us with shorts. Fucking make a feature film already!