Side Effects May Vary

Director - J. R. Bookwalter (The Dead Next Door, Robot Ninja)

Starring - James L. Edwards (Deathboard, Zombie Cop), Drew Fortier (Dwellers, Brimstone Incorporated), and Floyd Ewing Jr. (Skinned Alive, Robot Nija)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The only thing more fatal than the virus... is the cure"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I befriended a new student who was also interested in horror movies. We shared movies back and forth with one another along with introducing each other to horror titles we had never heard of before. It was around this time that he introduced me to Tempe Video. He was an avid effects fan and reader of Fangoria so he had picked up the film The Dead Next Door and Skinned Alive sometime before hand. I remember one night watching both movies multiple times while drinking. I absolutely loved both of these movies and after that initial viewing I quickly got my own copy of both for my collection. I’ve added most of the Tempe releases to my collection over the years and upgraded them when I was able to as they made premiers on new formats. I’m a huge fan of J.R. Bookwalter and his messy horror films so when I received the press release about the theatrical run of his newest film Side Effects May Vary I had to reach out to him. He was kind enough to send over a screening link and I want to thank him for the support he’s shown myself and Horror Society. 

      The film follows Glenn (Edwards) who is a conspiracy theorist during the onset of a pandemic. When he becomes ill he is forced by his wife to get a vaccine to overcome his illness. While it helps him overcome his sickness, he does slowly start to disintegrate and crave human flesh. 

       I went into Side Effects May Vary knowing nothing about the film aside that it was from legendary indie filmmaker J.R. Bookwalter and starring frequent collaborator James L. Edwards. This pairing has resulted in some seriously unforgettable moments in horror cinema. This pairing in Side Effects May Vary is no exception. It’s another fantastic film with oozy effects and a story that is still relevant today but would have made a bigger impact a few years ago. The acting in this one is great. James never disappoints when he is attached to a film whether it be in front of or behind the camera. His character here is very relatable. While he doesn’t share the same views as I do I still found it very grounded and down to Earth because we all know people just like him. We also get a fantastic performance from Drew Fortier who has been in several other films that I was lucky enough to review in the past. I like his character and how he approached the role. The supporting cast is just as solid but these two stand out and carry the film. The story for this one isn’t something new or original but it does have Bookwalter’s spin on it. The film’s impact would have been greater if it was closer to the beginning of the pandemic but Covid restrictions and so forth made that damn near impossible so I understand why it took so long for this to hit theaters. Also, I wish the film embodied more of the wild off the wall conspiracies that we’ve heard over the last four years. With that being said, Bookwalter’s spin on this familiar tale is a lot of fun. I’ve reviewed several indie productions that featured people taking experimental drugs and found themselves mutating into flesh crazed fiends. However, in this film the person retains part of their humanity. You add that with the film’s supporting characters and their storylines and you have something that will hold your attention during the entire run time. Finally, this film has amazing practical and make-up effects. The film’s make-up effects are absolutely top notch. I couldn’t help but think of other films with this much puss, slime, and oozing skin like The Stuff and The Blob. Fans of Bookwalter’s earlier films and horror movies that don't shy away from the red stuff will truly appreciate this one. Overall, Side Effects May Vary is the contender for best horror movie of the year and it’s only February. This is the kind of horror movie that got me into reviewing and I hope this is the beginning of more horror films from J.R. and James. Check it out if you ever get the chance.