Sex Apocalypse

Director(s) - Carlos Aured (The Mummy's Revenge, Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll) and Sergio Bergonzelli (Blood Delirium, Dirty World)

Starring - Ajita Wilson (Hell Behind the Bars, Passionate Lovers), Ricardo Diaz (Cut Throats Nine, My Daughter Hildegart), and Lina Romay (Snakewoman, Vampire Junction)\

Release - 1982

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been fortunate enough to review several films starring Lina Romay through my tenure here at Horror Society.  While I may not have liked them all, I did enjoy a fair bit of them.  She's an amazing actress and her beauty is unparalleled.  However, I just realized that all the films that featured her also had Jess Franco behind the camera.  That was until Mondo Macabro sent over 1982's Apocalipsis Sexual which they released on blu under the title Sex Apocalypse.  This was another one from MM that I had never heard of before and I want to take a moment to thank them for sending it my way for review.

     The film follows a group of sex crazed criminals who decide to kidnap a woman and hold her for ransom.  They soon discover that their beautiful captive is a virgin with a wild side which changes things up for them.  

     I went into this one thinking it was going to a severely erotic flick but I was very surprised to find that it was a sexy crime drama with a decent story.  While it wasn't as fun as the Andy Sidaris action flicks of the 80s and early 90s, it was still a very enjoyable especially if you enjoy the sleazier side of exploitation.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent.  Some of the cast really got into their characters.  They tried to give viewers fun personalities and had a lot of energy on screen.  The rest of the cast is there because they are good looking.  They let their looks carry them through the film.  The story for this one is surprisingly well written regardless if its skin flick or not.  A group of criminals kidnapping a millionaire's daughter only to discover she might be the key to new insights into their sexually driven world.  It's a wild story that held my attention from beginning to end.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody one.  It relies heavily on the beautiful bodies of the cast with no thought of delivering the red stuff to exploitation fans.  Overall, Sex Apocalypse is a fun sexploitation release from Mondo Macabro that should be on any fan's shelf.  It's a wild film that is put together very well.  I highly recommend it.  

Tarot

Director(s) - Spenser Cohen (Blink, Classified) and Anna Halberg (Classified)

Starring - Harriet Slater (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Pennyworth), Adian Bradley (Wrong Turn, Fantasy Island), Avantika (Mean Girls, Senior Year)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Your fate is in the cards"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     For most of my reviewing career I would dodge theatrical releases and focus more on the indie horror scene.  A good portion of the big budget theatrical releases around the time I started writing reviews were extremely lackluster for the most part.  This was one of the many reasons I spent all my time covering indie releases.  However, several big budget pop horror releases have seriously impressed me over the last few years with movies like X, Black Phone, and Late Night with the Devil.  When I started receiving news for Tarot I was very interested in it.  I have been more open to these films by this point and thought I would give it a chance but I wasn't able to check it out in theaters.  When the blu release was about to hit store shelves I reached out and was able to secure a copy for review.  

     The film follows a group of college students who rented an old house to celebrate a birthday in.  They discover an old deck of handmade tarot cards that could be decades, if not centuries old, and decided to do a reading for everyone there with them.  This unwillingly unleashes the evil creator of the deck who starts killing them one by one in accordance to their readings.

     I went into Tarot with an open mind looking for a bit of pop horror fun.  What I found was a film that left me rolling my eyes more than it did entertaining me.  While it wasn't as bad as many genre fans have lead me to believe, I will say that it is painfully mediocre and easily forgettable.  I seriously wanted to love it but I found myself questioning why anyone would make the decisions they did.  The acting in this one is easily the highlight of the film.  When I saw that Jacob Batalon was in the film I was afraid he would be used in every scene and capitalize in on his Spider-Man fame.  Luckily, they did not and he is only in the film a fraction of the time as the remaining cast.  The character are cliched and written clearly to serve the story but the acting is fairly well done.  I enjoyed their chemistry and how natural they all were in front of the camera.   The story for this one is one we have seen before in dozens, if not hundreds, of films before.  We follow a group of teenagers, twenty-somethings, college students and so on who discover something old and cursed.  They then do something foolish and unleash the evil.  As played out as this story is I still find horror films that use it to be pretty fun especially if they have a rich back story about the ancient/antique item.  Tarot which is why is scored so high with me.  Honestly, I think a prequel film about the original owner of the deck would be phenomenal.  Finally, the film has some horrible CGI with a little blood splatter here and there.  Most, if not all, of the kills take place off screen but they could have been a lot of fun if they were shown with decent practical effects.  The supernatural presence looks goofy and is quick to remind viewers of The Nun from the Conjuring series.  Overall, Tarot is a missed opportunity but it's not as bad as others make it out to be.  I really wanted to like it but it wasn't for me.  

6 Songs

Director(s) - Irene Baruffetti (Vore Gore), Corey DeAn Cowly (Patient 4, XXX Darknet: Red Lips), Domiziano Cristopharo (Scorecard Killer, Unburied Tales), Joseph Russio (Beyond Dark Dreams, Devil's Lettuce) Slade Wilson (XXX Darknet: Red Lips), and Peter Lankston

Starring - Cory DeAn Cowley, Madeline Deering (Spirit Animal, Gore Orphanage), and Carley Sonafelt (Bathtub Shark Attack, Air Fryer Slaughter)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     By this point it should be no surprise as to how much I love anthology films.  I grew up with classics like Creepshow, Twilight Zone: The Movie, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, From a Whisper to a Scream, and so on.  So it's safe to say that when I'm approached to review an anthology that I will gladly say yes to the request.  Several weeks back I was asked by filmmaker Joseph Russio to review the extreme horror anthology 6 Songs.  Russio surprised me a few years ago with his film Beyond Dark Dreams so I was already interested in it but once I heard it was an anthology I quickly agreed to it.  I want to take a moment to thank Joseph for sending this one my way for review!

     The film begins with a sinister priest telling the viewer several graphic tales that involves a song.

     I knew absolutely nothing about 6 Songs prior to watching it and I have to say that it was easily the most visually appealing film I have ever seen.  While some of the segments are better than others, the overall film was absolutely beautiful through and through.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven which makes sense considering each segment was made by a different filmmaker.  I'm not saying that the acting is bad, because it wasn't, but some segments are a bit more grounded in regards to characters and acting.  The stories for this one vary, as to be expected, in quality but they work for the most part.  Without giving too much away, the film focuses on the grotesque and extreme violence while focusing on the music aspect.  While I found it to be interesting at times, I did struggle to finish a few of the segments.  These focused more on the beautiful cinematography and the music itself over the story.  Finally, the film doesn't shy away from the blood and has some fantastic make-up effects but it's not as gory as I was expecting.  The effects we get work for the story and looks fairly well done but I was honestly expecting a lot more gore than we did get.  Overall, 6 Songs is a beautiful film but I don't see myself revisiting it anytime soon.  The wrap around segment needed it's own film but is still fun as is.  It's well worth a watch so check it out.  

     

The Guyver

Director(s) - Screaming Mad George (Boy in the Box) and Steve Wang (Guyver: Dark Hero, Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight)

Starring - Jack Armstrong (Quantum Leap, Student Bodies), Vivian Wu (Tales from the Crypt, Shadow of China), Mark Hamill (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, The New Scooby-Doo Movies)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Part human.  Part alien.  Pure Superpower"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I don't know how I feel about all these movies from my childhood finding homes on new formats.  I absolutely love the era I grew up in.  I was born in the mid-80s and lived through the tail end of my favorite decade only to grow up during the video store boom, Goosebumps, and the Clinton scandal.  A lot of the films that I would often watch and now getting 25th, 30, and even 40th anniversary releases on blu and UHD which is cool but seeing these 25 and older anniversary releases is making me feel very old.  Sometime back Unearthed Films announced the release of the sci-fi horror flick The Guyver on UHD and blu.  This is one of those films I remember wearing out on tape as a kid.  At the time I had no idea it was based on a manga or anime but the film was absolutely amazing.  It's one I would often revisit from time to time over the years so I was beside myself when news of the film hitting UHD under Unearthed Films was announced.  I was lucky enough to get a review copy in from my friends over at MVD.  Like always, I want to thank MVD and Unearthed Films for sending this one over!

     The film follows a young man who is struggling with his martial arts training.  One evening he notices that the woman he has a crush on is crying and discovers her father died under mysterious circumstances.  He does a little investigating around the area he was found and discovers a strange device but while he is looking he is confronted by a street gang.  During a fight he is driven face first into the device which begins to grow around his body.  The device is actually the Guyver and grants the user powers and a strong organic armor.  However, a group of shapeshifters creatures is also looking for the device and his girlfriend is standing in the way of them from getting it.  

     The Guyver is one of the many films produced by legendary producer and director Brian Yuzna who has brought us the film Re-Animator, From Beyond, Dolls, Necronomicon, and The Dentist just to name a few.  The Guyver may not be as popular as some of his other films but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable.  It's a great blend of horror and sci-fi without compromising on either genre.  The acting in this one is so much fun.  The characters are all over the top and very exaggerated.  The cast delivers what I can safely assume is the campiest performances of their lives but it doesn't take away from the film.  In fact, the almost professional wrestling style acting makes the film what it is.  I don't know if this was intentional or a result of the direction but I absolutely loved the characters and how the cast handled it.  The story for this one is a great mash up of sci-fi and horror elements.  I've watched some of the anime and this adaptation is more horror influenced than the anime but I can't speak for the manga.  We have a lot of action, a slew of memorable characters, and the story is not something you can  truly predict.  Sure, it's extremely campy but that adds a lot of fun to it.  Finally, the practical effect in this film is absolutely amazing.  The creature designs are not easily forgettable and the transformation scenes are gorgeous.  You could spend days watching this film just to be amazed by the creature effects and gore present in this one.  Overall, The Guyver is one hell of a treat for genre fans looking for practical effects and blood.  I've loved this film since I was a little kid and this UHD release from Unearthed Films does it justice.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  

      

Homework

Director - James Beshears

Starring - Joan Collins (American Horror Story, Star Trek), Michael Morgan (The Master Demon, Murder She Wrote), and Shell Kepler (CHiPs, Three's Company)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Comedy

Tagline - "Every young man needs a teacher"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Unearthed Films has released some of the most brutal genre films to ever be conceived onto bluray and DVD over the years.  Films like the August Underground trilogy, A Serbian Film, Atroz, and many more have found their home with Stephen Biro and his Unearthed Films banner.  That is not UF only focus.  In recent years Unearthed has dropped several bombshells on fans and collectors when they started adding several non-horror titles to their catalogues.  Several weeks back Unearthed announced the release of the 1982 sex comedy Homework.  This was one I had never heard of before nor was I expecting UF to be releasing it.  Regardless, I was very curious about this one so I reached out to my friends over at MVD and they were kind enough to send a review copy over my way.  Like always, I want to thank MVD and Unearthed for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check this one out.

     The film follows a typical high school student with dreams of losing his virginity and becoming the next big rock star.  However, it's impossible to do either of those because of his school work, seductive teachers and their boyfriends, overprotective parents, and women who prefer to swim instead of fooling around with guys.

     I went into Homework knowing very little about it.  I knew it was originally completed in the late 70s and not released until 1982 but that was the extent of my knowledge on the film.  With that being said, I was surprised by how fun this one was especially considering how it was an 80s comedy that no one talks about.  Most fans of cinema are huge champions of 80s films and I'm a bit shocked I had never heard this one tossed out before when discussing 70s and 80s sex comedies.  The acting in this one is awkward most of the time but far from the worst I've seen.  The cast struggles with feeling sincere with the dialogue and a lot of the scenes feel like the cast is just reading their lines off of poster boards off camera.  When you mix this with the cliched characters you get some unintentionally funny moments.  The story for this one is not that original or compelling but it works for what it is.  A dude trying to score while trying to form a rock band isn't that original even for the late 70s when it was originally shot.  However, it's just the type of sleazy fun you would expect and it works.  Sure, it's not a film you can rewatch over and over again like Porky's but its still a solid film.  Finally, the humor in this one doesn't really find it's mark but the acting and cliches do deliver a few unintentional laughs.  Overall, Homework may not be for all fans of Unearthed Films.  However, fans of 80s comedies will surely enjoy this one but not for the reasons they suspect.  I highly recommend snagging this blu from Unearthed Films.  

The Only Ones

Director - Jordan Miller (The Red Effect, Frederick One Take)

Starring - Paul Cottman (Where the Scary Things Are, Three), Tatiana Nya Ford (Project LETHE), and Emily Classen (The Forgiving, Thespian)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "What could possibly go wrong"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      I spent a majority of the month binging zombie flicks while I played the horror survival game Once Human.  Honestly, this was one amazing extended vacation before I started my new employment.  Once the zombie flicks ran their course, I decided to switch it up a bit and watch the Amityville series along with some of the indie Amityville bootleg films that are found on Tubi.  This was fun while it lasted and while I had many more Amityville flicks to binge I knew I needed to get back to reviewing.  I decided to get back into reviewing with a new slasher that was recently released and when that one let me down it was time to check out The Only Ones.  The Only Ones is an indie horror flick sent over by my good friend and actor Matt Burns.  I want to thank Matt for sending this one over!

     The film follows a group of twenty-somethings who go deep into the woods to the property owned by own of them to party it up.  However, a run in with squatters leaves the group on edge.  To make matters worse, one of them has failed to show up after a night of tripping on shrooms in the woods.  Things take a deadly turn when paranoia gets the best of them and they inadvertently kill each other suspecting others to be the killer.  

     The Only Ones is one of those films that is more enjoyable the less you know about it.  I knew Matt was involved with the film but I took the lazy route when I heard about it and didn't look into it.  I prefer to go into a film I review completely blind.  The less I know about it the better and in this case it made the film a lot of fun.  The acting in this one is probably my least favorite aspect of the film.  The characters are extremely one dimensional and the cast doesn't have that much energy.  A lot of the characters are not very likable and the stiff performances does take away from the film but it doesn't completely ruin it.  The story for this one is what draws the viewer in.  The Tucker and Dale vs Evil type story works for this indie horror feature.  It doesn't feel like a rip off or a copy cat film.  Instead, it's a well written story that uses a similar plot but mixes it up enough to where it feels like it's own.  It's clever is a lot of ways and the deaths are very unexpected which makes it damn near impossible to predict what is going to happen next.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood and simple effects.  The film doesn't shy away from the blood but the kills we do get are nothing we haven't seen before or are that impressive.  They use simple effects, which do look good, but for those of us looking for wild deaths or crazy gore will be very disappointed.  Overall, The Only Ones was a surprisingly fun indie horror flick that had no reason being as good as it is.  While I was not a fan of the characters and would have loved more blood, I still really enjoyed it.  I highly recommend checking this one out

Founders Day

Director - Erik Bloomquist (She Came from the Woods, Ten Minutes to Midnight)

Starring - Naomi Grace (Gridiron Grind, NCIS), Devin Druid (White Elephant, The Man in the Woods), and William Russ (Father by Law, Grimm)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Change is here"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    I've been a fan of slashers for as long as I could remember.  Before I was obsessed with horror I would often rent movies that caught my eye when I would visit the local video store.  Sometimes I would rent slashers just because the box art was interesting.  While zombies were my first love in the horror genre, it was not my only obsession.  I remember renting Jason Goes to Hell and loving it.  A few months later my uncle gave me a copy of it on tape and it would become my favorite tape in my collection for several years.  I still love slashers but I prefer slashers from the late 70s through the 80s along with modern slashers that follow those classic slasher tropes.  I've never been a fan of Scream and the post-Scream slashers that are self-aware.  A few weeks back I was sent the slasher Founders Day for review.  I have a soft spot for holiday themed slashers so I was very much looking forward to checking this one out.  

     The film follows a small town who is on the heels of their mayoral election when someone starts knocking off teenagers one at a time.  As the election is rapidly approaching, the local law enforce is rushing to catch the red masked killer before he uses his gavel to add another tally to his body count.

     I went into Founders Day very excited to check out a modern slasher after spending several weeks watching zombie flicks and several Amityville films.  However, I was extremely confused by what this film was trying to achieve.  At times it felt like a parody of the self-aware slashers but other times it was extremely serious in tone.  I wanted to love it but it at the end of the day it is just another sub-par slasher with an identity crisis.  The acting in this one is inconsistent.  Some of the scenes features some pretty solid acting while other scenes feel a bit rushed and uneven.  These scenes feel like the cast were not fully committed to their roles or the film was being rushed.  Regardless, the inconsistency made most of the film feel very awkward.  The story for this one is a bit messy.  I don't mind a politically charged slasher but the atmosphere here is very uneven.  As I stated earlier, the film has several instances where it feels like it is a parody of self-aware slashers like Scream but the other scenes completely ignore that and fully embraces the campy mid-90s slashers.  Finally, the film has a lot of great kills that have a lot of blood and fantastic practical effects.  The kills fit the theme of the film and make great use of the practical effects.  Overall, Founds Day is a film that has some fun kills but fails to pull everything else together.  While I wanted to love it, I just couldn't bring myself to finish it in one sitting.  This is one I would have to recommend skipping.  

We Are Zombies

Director(s) - Francois Simard (Wake Up, Summer of 84), Anouk Whissell (Red Head Red Dead, Turbo Kid), and Yoann-Karl Whissell (Total Fury, Ninja Eliminator 3: Guardian of the Dragon Medallion)

Starring - Alexandre Nachi (Death of a Ladies Man, Snow Angel), Derek Johns (The Boys, The Umbrella Academy), and Megan Peta Hill (Kung Fu, The Flash)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy     

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I recently quit my 9 to 5 to focus on using my degree to teach so I could spend more time with my kids.  I originally put in my two week notice with enough time to have a two week vacation before school started.  However, my previous employer did something I was not expecting.  They told me to just stay home AND they would pay me through my two week notice.  That gave me an entire month to stay at home and watch movies.  I recently had a health scare so my focus wasn't to hit the reviews hard but to relax and focus on some life changes.  This meant binging zombie movies while I played Once Human.  I started with Romero's Dead films before watching random zombie titles.  It was during this time that I received a press release for the zombie comedy We Are Zombies from the team behind Turbo Kid.  I really wanted to see it so I requested a review link.  An hour later I was adding it to my zombie marathon.

     The film follows two friends, Karl (Nachi) and Freddy (Johns), who frequently partner with Karl's sister Megan (Hill) to pick up unwanted zombies from burdened families.  The dead has came back to life and after so long the bodies decompose to the point that they are no longer able to move or function.  This has resulted in several businesses popping up to help families remove them from their home.  Their business strategy is to intercept these calls and snatch the bodies for themselves so they can cash in on the retrieval. This has lead to two corpse retrieval employees coming up extremely short costing their company a large sum of money.  They decide to kidnap Karl's grandmother to hold for ransom forcing the three to scramble to find the money so they can get her back.

     We Are Zombies is one of the many zombie flicks post-Walking Dead that is enjoyable but fails to set itself apart from the hundreds of zombie comedies that find their way to store shelves.  Honestly, I enjoyed it but it's a film I will forget about in a few weeks until someone else mentions it again.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun.  I liked the relationship between Nachi and Johns' characters.  They work very well together and create a great dynamic similar to other characters in zombie comedies like Ed and Shaun from Shaun of the Dead and Mike and Brent from Deadheads.  The rest of the cast is just as enjoyable with a lot of different personalities coming out on display.  The story for this one is basically a crime comedy set against a world where the dead doesn't die.  We follow two con men who partner with someone else intercept calls to pick up the dead so they can turn them in for the reward.  This is a clever crime film with a lot of horror elements that does work.  With that being said, it is a bit predictable and the ending is not as enjoyable as the earlier portion.  Finally, the film has a lot of fun practical and make-up effects.  We get a lot of blood, great looking zombies, and some decent gore in later scenes.  While I did enjoy it, nothing really stood out in that regard.  Overall, We Are Zombies is a solid zombie flick for fans of Buck Wild, A Little Bit Zombie, and Undead.  While it was very enjoyable, it is a bit forgettable.  Check it out.  

Curtains for Christmas

Director - Steve Rudzinski (Shingles: The Movie, CarousHELL 3)

Starring - Steve Rudzinski, Aleen Isley (A Meowy Halloween, Amityville Christmas Vacation), and David Dietz (Fetish Dolls Die Laughing, Hauntology)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing at Horror Society for over a decade now and during that time I've become good friends with actor and director Steve Rudzkinski.  He's responsible for several holiday classics along with several indie productions that I absolutely adore.  Many may recognize him as the star and director of the family friendly hits A Meowy Halloween, A Meowy Christmas Vacation, and a few other Meowy films along with his CarousHELL trilogy.  While I'm a huge fan of his and his filmography, he will never be able to top Captain Z and the Terror of Leviathan but that doesn't stop me from checking out his new projects in hopes that he does.  Sometime back Steve reached out to review his newest film Curtains for Christmas.  I was quick to agree to it and as soon as I was able to finally check it out I did.  I want to thank Steve for sending this one my way!    

     The film follows Holly (Isley) who is obsessed with obscure Christmas movies and longs for the perfect companion to spend her idealistic holiday with.  She meets the charming Jay (Rudzinski) who is also a huge fan of Christmas.  He invites her to spend time with him and she immediately accepts thinking she has just met her soul mate.  However, she soon realizes that he is married and is only interested in her platonically.  This enrages Holly resulting in her killing Jay's wife and convincing him that she has left him.  She then asks him to go with her to her family's Christmas party.  He reluctantly accepts but that leaves Holly with a big problem.  She needs the picture perfect family to seal the deal.  She breaks into the home of a gay couple and forcefully convinces them to portray her fathers and when two female burglars break in their home they are forced with portraying her sisters while Jay is there.  She has every aspect of the night planned out but when Jay arrives with his daughter in tow she quickly unravels and so does her perfect Christmas.

     I went into Curtains for Christmas knowing very little about the film aside from the cast and crew attached to it.  I'm glad I did it that way because I found myself completely enthralled with the story.  I loved this film and could see myself adding it to my December horror watch list along with other classics like Black Christmas and Jack Frost.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  Isley has needed a horror vehicle for some time now and it was only a matter of time before Steve gave her just that.  She is the star of the show and there is no mistaking that.  She carries every scene she is in and has a natural talent for being in front of the camera.  The fact she is nice to look at only makes it more enjoyable for the viewer.  Steve and Aleen are absolutely phenomenal together.  I loved their chemistry on screen and how they would feed off each other.  It was great to watch them together.  The remaining cast is great as well.  They do a wonderful job bringing these wonderful characters to the screen.  The story for this one is something I would expect from Rudzinski and Isley.  Rudzinski is known for his holiday films and is very vocal about his love of Christmas so a genre film set against Christmas was a give in.  The film has a lot of layers to it ranging from the well written characters, to the holiday theme, and the serial killer plot.  It's a lot to unpack but it doesn't come across as bulky or bloated.  It fits very well together and has great pacing.   Finally, the film has a lot of brutal kills with effects that work.  The effects are not the most impressive I've seen but they fit the film very well and offer up a ton of blood to those with an eye for it.  Overall, Curtains for Christmas may not dethrone Captain Z for me but it is a new holiday favorite that I will surely be watching each holiday season.  If you love Christmas horror then this one is for you.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

Bomb Voyage

Director - Junsang Yoo (Glassgold)

Starring - David Moskowitz (The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Chok Suwanavisootr (Candy Cane Lane, Perry Mason), and TN Chen (Cholo Love Story)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Hell of a ride"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Honestly, I never know what I'm going to review next which creates some memorable pairings.  I recently took a dive into the Universal vampire flick Abigail and fell in love with the film.  I didn't have anything that I thought would pair well with it so I decided to check out the short horror comedy Bomb Voyage.  This one was sent over some time ago for review but my health took a spill for a few weeks and I wasn't able to get to it in a reasonable time.  Regardless, I still wanted to check it out and I'm glad I did.  It was a wild one. 

     The film follows a young man who finds himself ready for a date when he enters an elevator.  Sometime later another gentleman enters and they begin their journey through the building when something bad happens.  As they pass by each floor the other man becomes uncomfortable and it's clear he is suffering from some sort of gastrointestinal distress.  

     I went into Bomb Voyage expecting it to be a film about an actual bomb.  However, after finally seeing it I can safely say this is the best title they could have chosen for this film.  It was extremely funny with the type of toilet humor you don't really see in film anymore.  The acting in this one is fun.  While the cast doesn't really spend a lot of time interacting with one another, they really bring the energy and intensity as the film reaches its climax.  The story for this one is a lot of fun but it doesn't really deliver on the horror.  Sure, if you were the young man stuck on the elevator with a stranger painting the walls with his own poop then it would be a horrifying experience.  With that being said, it's not really a horror flick.  Instead, it's a disgusting comedy that was more fun than it needed to be.  Finally, the films is not a bloody one.  However, if you are in the market for a lot of doo doo then this one is for you.  Overall, Bomb Voyage is one of the shittiest films I have ever seen and I fucking loved it.  Seriously, check this one out if you get the chance.  

Abigail

Director(s) - Matt Bettinelli-Olpin (Scream, Scream VI) and Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not, Soutbound)

Starring - Melissa Barrera (Your Monster, Scream VI), Dan Stevens (Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Cuckoo), and Alisha Weir (Don't Leave Home, Wicked Little Letters)

Release Date -2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Children can be such monsters"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I will credit Tom Savini's remake of Night of the Living Dead as the film that got me into horror.  It wasn't long after that when I first took the deep dived into the original Night of the Living Dead and it's two sequels at that time.  While it was zombies that introduced me to it, it was vampires that became my first genre obsession.  I remember renting films like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Fright Night, Children of the Night, Subspecies, and so on over and over again as a kid at the local video store.  Even now I find myself going out of my way to review vampire flicks when I get the chance.  That's why I was beyond excited when news broke of Universal's vampire flick Abigail and rumors that it would be jumpstarting their new Monsterverse.  I followed this one closely and as soon as I was able to review I jumped at the opportunity.  I want to thank Universal for sending this one over!

     The film follows a small team of criminals who kidnap the little girl of a wealthy man.  They were brought together to kidnap her and hold her for ransom without being told who her father is.  However, as the night progresses they suspect she is the daughter of a underworld crime boss.  When they start to go missing one by one and turning up dead they quickly realize that the little girl they kidnapped is a real life monster.  

     I didn't expect Abigail to be my next new favorite film but I was hoping it would be extremely bloody and violent.  However, after finally getting to see it I can safely say that this is one of my favorite films of the year.  It is bloody and violent that works well with the story.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun.  While I wouldn't call it the best acting I've seen in a recent horror feature, I will say that the cast gives viewers some great characters that they can associate with or love watching them die.  They all have backstories, distinct personalities and truly brought something to the story.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting at all.  I knew it involved a group of people trapped inside a building with a child-like vampire.  While they is the basic premise, it still has a lot more going on with the organized crime angle and her "father" being a very powerful vampire.  Honestly, I fucking loved this story and can't wait to see where they take it next with the future expansions.  Finally, this one does not shy away from the red stuff.  We get some pretty imaginative deaths that not only fits in with the vampire theme but gives some of the more dedicated horror the amazing effects they were looking for.  Overall, Abigail is a fun modern vampire film that doesn't  ride the coattails of other known properties.  It creates it's own legend with so much room to expand.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

Let Me Go

Director - Richard Russell (Jacob's Little Helper, A Family Matter)

Starring - Haley Lynn Rose (The Company We Keep, Trinket Box), Julie Carney (Friends Forever, The Dinner Party), and Devin Tyler 

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Thriller

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've spent most of my life obsessed with cinema.  I started my movie journey watching sci-fi flicks with my grandmother until she introduced me to Tom Savini's 1990 remake of Night of the Living Dead.  It was then that I was bit by the horror bug.  Since then I've spent almost all my time watching horror, thrillers, and paranormal documentaries. I always get excited when I'm asked to review a new film I had never seen before.  It's even more exciting when the film is by someone who has a love for the genre that I do.  Sometime back director Richard Russell asked me to check out his newest short  Let Me Go.  He has seriously impressed me over the years and I couldn't wait to check it out.  I want to thank Richard for sending this one over!

     The film follows a young woman who has just ended an abusive relationship.  She gets an Airbnb to collect herself before moving on with her life when she is visited by her mother along with the ghosts of her past.

     I love going into Richard's shorts completely blind.  I never watch the trailers or read the synopsis beforehand so I don't ruin the experience.  Let Me Go is another hit from a powerful filmmaker that is just now beginning blooming career.  The acting in this one is great.  The cast is extremely small but everyone works very well together.  The characters are written very well for the short and the cast does a phenomenal job bringing them all to life.  The story for this one is an emotional punch that I was not expecting.  While I could spend all day sitting here talking about it, I will refrain so I don't spoil what little story this short does have.  Finally, this short focuses more on the emotional side of the genre instead of the blood and gore.  While it does succeed at drawing the viewer in, it doesn't deliver on the blood and gore many of you sick fucks are looking for.  Overall, Let Me Go is another fantastic short from one hell of a filmmaker.  This one will leave the viewer feeling empty inside.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

Shadow of Death

Director - Javier Seto (Viva America!, Long Play)

Starring - Larry Ward (The Deathead Virgin, The Manhunter), Teresa Gimpera (The Tunnel, The Spirit of the Beehive), and Giacomo Rossi Stuart (The Last Man on Earth, War Between the Planets)

Release Date - 1969

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "Beyond madness..."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Boutique labels like Mondo Macabro don't get the credit they truly deserve.  I'm a horror and exploitation collector but I don't need every Evil Dead, Night of the Living Dead, and the Friday the 13th release that hits store shelves.  I want movies that  I've never seen before or has never mad it's way to previous formats until now.  That's why I always get excited for a new Mondo Macabro release.  Sometime back MM released the 1969 crime thriller Shadow of Death which was originally released as Macabre.  This was a new one to me and I couldn't wait to dig into it.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over my way.  

     The film follows a blonde trophy wife who has been having an affair with her husband's twin.  He's a successful business man and the pair plan on brainwashing him until he is about to snap.  However, a wrench is thrown into their plans when a professional blackmailer arrives and tries to secure himself a cut of the money resulting in paranoia and a web of lies.

     I went into Shadow of Death knowing absolutely nothing about it aside from a few giallo junkies that I know mentioned how much they enjoy it.  While I was a bit let down by how little the title and alternate title fit the film, I did have some fun with this one.  The acting in this one is a highlight of the film.  Larry Ward as twins Peter and John along with Teresa Gimpera as the adulterous wife and Giacomo Rossi Stuart as the extortionist are absolutely brilliant together.  Their characters make the film and their chemistry on screen were perfect.  While I enjoyed the supporting cast as well, it's these three that make the film as enjoyable as it is.  The story for this one is something I've seen several times from gothic horror films of the early to mid-60s.  While it is nothing new, it does work as a giallo to some extent.  With that being said, it's not deserving of the titles Shadow of Death or Macabre.  It's a solid crime thriller that fits in nicely with the pulp crime stories that giallo's got their name from.  Finally, the film is not a bloody one.  It does have a bit of violence and a small bit of bloodshed but that's about it.  Those looking for a body count or a bloodbath will surely be disappointed.  Overall, Shadow of Death is one of the milder giallo films I've reviewed over the years but it is very enjoyable.  The Mondo Macabro release is a must own for movie collectors.   Check it out