Die, Daisy, Die!

Director - Mark Mackner (Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned, Daisy Derkins vs the Bloodthirsty Beast of the Pine Barrens)

Starring - Jessica Lynch, Falon Joslyn (American Exorcist, Alpha Girls), Bob Kaplan (Killerz II, The Play-Station Killed the Puppet)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy

Tagline - "The battle cry that could doom the whole Earth!"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few days ago I started out with what would be a triple feature of epic proportions.  As I've stated in recent reviews, I started watching the three installments of the Daisy Derkins saga that I had yet to see after director Mark Mackner contacted me about reviewing the newest film.  While I really enjoy the first film, Dogsitter of the Damned, I was not a fan of Bloodthirsty Beast of the Pine Barrens.  The series seemed to pick up a bit with Dinosaur Apocalypse which once again made me excited to check out the newest film Die, Daisy, Die.  I want to take a moment to thank Mark for sending this one over for review!

     The film, once again, follows the evil fighting Daisy Derkins (Lynch) who is now living a mundane life.  She finds herself employed for a company that has just launched a brand new dating app.  What she doesn't know is that the people behind the new app are actually lizard people from the center of the Earth in need of women to reproduce.  They partner with a man who has it out for Daisy when she failed to save his sister back during the first film.  Their plan is to go back in time to prevent Daisy from becoming the hero she is now so they can take all the women they require but Daisy is more resilient than they expected.  

     I went into this one knowing absolutely nothing about it aside from it being another installment of the Daisy Derkins series.  However, after the last two films I was ready for what I could only assume was going to be one wild ride.  The acting in this one does go back to what was seen in the second installment.  While a good portion of the cast does have some acting credits to their name on imdb, a lot of the scenes just felt stiff.  The cast almost delivers their dialogue in monotone with very little attempt at making it feel like casual conversation.  While that does feel like the entire film is shot this way, there is a few performances that I really enjoyed.  The story for this one is a bit all over the place and not as coherent as it could be.  A film following Daisy as she avoids the scheme of lizard people and a nemesis she doesn't know she has.  Solid plot on paper but the inconsistent editing and drawn out scenes makes the film a bit difficult to follow at times.  With that being said, the actually story is still able to be followed if you stick with it and is just absurd enough to work even with all the hiccups and imperfections.  Finally, the film is full of the cheesy and cheap visual effects and campy masks that you would expect from Mackner and crew.  While it's not a bloody mess like most genre fans like, it still delivers on those bad effects that fans of indie cinema look for.  Overall, Die, Daisy, Die was not as fun as Dogsitter of the Damned but I really enjoyed the over the top story and comical characters.  Honestly, I would have loved more lizard people and a little more meat on the bone in regards to their backstory but that's just me.  The film is a lot of fun as it especially if you watch it with like minded friends and some cheap beer.  Check it out.  

Daisy Derkins and the Dinosaur Apocalypse

Director - Mark Mackner (Evil Brew, Burning Down the Dollhouse or: The Legend of the Center City Bearhugger)

Starring - Nadia White (Mr. Buzzkill, Harvest of Horrors), Josip Peruzovic (Cool as Hell 2, WrestleMassacre), and Emilyanne Cusato (Dollface: Road to the Apocalypse, Brave the Dark)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy

Tagline - "It's not just any apocalypse"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I befriended filmmaker Mark Mackner several years ago, I did so as a way to follow his career and to keep up to date with his projects.  I was first introduced to his work when I found Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned while browsing indie horror on social media.  I was very impressed by the film and sought him out.  Since then he has released several sequels to the film on DVD and streaming which I've been lucky enough to grab for my collection.  However, I never took the time to actually watch them due to my day job, personal life, and reviewing films sent my way for review.  That changed when Mark reached out for my to review his newest film Die, Daisy, Die!  Instead of jumping directly into that installment, I would go ahead and check out the previous films.

     The film once again follows Daisy (White) who has now set her sights on professional wrestling along with her time traveling film.  However, while she is training there is an evil sorcerer and a mad scientist scheming together to unleash dinosaurs on Earth to kill Daisy.  

       I am a big fan of Dogsitter of the Damned and went into the follow up film The Bloodthirsty Beast of Barren Pines very excited.  However, it was nowhere near as fun as the first film which made me a bit nervous for the third film in the series starring adult film star Nadia White.  While it wasn't as fun as Dogsitter, it was still better than Bloodthirsty.  The acting in this one is by far the best of the three films I've seen.  Nadia White is no stranger in front of the camera in a variety of different horror titles, as well as, adult films.  Her portrayal of Daisy is probably my favorite incarnation of the character so far.  We also have a tremendous amount of memorable characters, many of which are also very comfortable in front of the camera.  They delivers solid performances that makes the story a little more bearable.  The story for this one just didn't hook me like the first one did.  I loved all the colorful characters and humor incorporated into them all but I was expecting a dinosaur apocalypse and not what the film actually delivered.  A lot of the scenes could have been trimmed down to make the pacing on the film much better and a little more action would have went a long way.  While I do love the idea of a sorcerer and a mad scientist getting together to plot a global scale catastrophe, it doesn't full feel like the scope the title suggests which is a bit of a bummer.  Finally, the film is not a gory one.  It has some blood and a lot of cheap visuals effects.  While these were funny from time to time, it does become a bit repetitive and the humor wears off quickly.  Overall, The Dinosaur Apocalypse is a bit better than the second film but it fails to leave an impact like the first film did.  It's worth a watch but I don't see myself revisiting it any time soon.  

Daisy Derkins vs. The Bloodthirsty Beast of Barren Pines

Director - Mark Mackner (Deadsville Rock n Roll Mysteries, The Embalmo the Clown Show)

Starring - Mary Sack (The Devilish Desire of Dario Dragani, Camp Blood 666), Dahlia DeSade (The Half-Life Horror from Hell or: Irradiated Satan Rocks the World!, Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned), and J.D. Korejko (Evil Brew, Bleeding Hearts)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I was digging through Instagram when I came across a post for the film Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned.  This jumped out to me and I quickly snagged a copy to review.  I fucking loved the film and sought the director out on social media.  I started following his projects from there and soon realized that he had made several Daisy Derkins films since Dogsitter of the Damned.  The years since then I've snagged a few of them to add to my collection but never found the time to watch them until now.  A few weeks back Mark reached out to review his newest installment which forced my hand to finally check the previous installments out.  The second film in the franchise, Daisy Derkins vs The Bloodthirsty Beast of Barren Pines, was not as fun as the first but did have it's moments.

      The film follows Daisy who has now come to the realization that she has the ability to defeat monsters and demons.  She finds herself hitching a ride with a punk trio when they break down in a wooded area with no phone service.  They decide to head out to look for help while leaving one person behind to stay with the car.  What they don't know is that an all female gang has just pulled off a deadly heist and is also walking through the woods along with a creature of unspeakable evil.

     I went into this follow up with a lot of excitement after remembering how much I enjoyed the first film.  Sadly, it just didn't have the same energy the first film had.  I did like a few things brought forward in this one but the overall film was lacking.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent.  While I did like some of the performances, most of the film is a bit awkward.  The cast is extremely stiff in front of the camera which results in dialogue that feels like it's being read off of cards out of view.  The performances that were not like this are overshadowed by the rest of the film.  The story for this one is pretty impressive but could have been shot better.  The idea of a punk band and Daisy Derkins wondering through the woods with a gang of killer women and a dinosaur should be something every horror fan can get behind.  However, the gang is not as menacing as I would have liked.  Could you imagine a female version of Last House on the Left?  Anyway, the dinosaur is underwhelming and the female gang is more for comedic effect than it is for carrying the story further.  Finally, the film is full of visual effects that are not visually appealing.  I love when funny horror comedies use bad CGI to add another layer of laughs to a film but here these are out of place.  Mix that with the little bit of blood you do get and you are in for a bit of disappointment.  Overall, The Bloodthirsty Beast of Barren Pines is nowhere near as fun as the first film.  There is parts of the film that I did enjoy but the overall film falls short of where it needs to be.  This is one I cannot recommend.  

Call of the Void

Director - J.M. Stelly (The Demonologist, Abacus)

Starring - Jared Bankens (Twisted Metal, Devil's Peak), Kirsten Bazet (Interview with the Vampire, Claws), and Katie Bankens 

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Death be not the end"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I recently had a double feature of films from director J.M. Stelly and really enjoyed myself.  I started this little adventure with his gritty crime thriller Abacus which was a lot of fun but it's similarities to the pop horror franchise Saw was very noticeable.  Once I finished with that one I moved on to his second film Call of the Void.  This was a bit of an unusual film being part silent and part narrated.  This was a bit of a creative gamble but I absolutely loved it.  I once again want to thank Stelly for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a man with a horrible addiction.  As he struggles with his creative outlets and addiction, he soon finds himself face to face with the void and the ghosts that haunt it.

     Call of the Void is one of those films that you are either going to love or absolutely hate it.  While I absolutely loved it, I can see why some genre fans will hate it.  It's a beautifully strange film with amazing cinematography and screen presence without taking away from the story.  The acting in this one is great.  The film has an extremely small cast but all eyes are on Jared Bankens who delivers a fucking intense performance.  I've seen mental illness and addiction before but he absolutely knocked it out of the park on camera.  This film should be seen for his performance alone.  The story for this one is a loving tribute to the silent era with a dash of German expressionism and a bit of the haunting madness that made Lovecraft a genre name.  It all comes together to deliver a very unique film experience that is rarely seen in the modern era.  As I stated earlier, this was a creative gamble that I do believe paid off.  With that being said, I wish it would have stuck with the silent aspect instead of switching between it and the narration.  Also, a few of the scenes were a bit too long which did impede the flow of the film.  Finally, don't expect a blood bath or a flick full or gore.  Instead, it relies heavily on atmosphere and tension which it does very nicely.  Overall, Call of the Void may be one of the most impressive indie productions I've reviewed to date.  I can see this title being polarizing among genre fans but I absolutely loved it.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

Abacus

Director - J.M. Stelly (They Are Watching, The Demonologist)

Starring - Jared Bankens (Twisted Metal, Walker), Matt Story (Blood Country, Her Calling), and Jerry Katz (Men Too, The Exile)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Thriller

Tagline - "Beware the call of his name"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've spent a good portion of my adult life writing reviews for indie releases.  I love the originality and imagination you find in indie releases from passionate filmmakers with a love for the genre.  I've seen some wild films over and years and every day I'm finding new films that surprise the hell out of me.  A few weeks ago filmmaker J. M. Stelly contacted me about an upcoming thriller of his titled Abacus.  Honestly, the title didn't excited me that much but I was still curious about the film.  I agreed to check it out and I'm glad I did because absolutely loved it.  I want to thank Stelly for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check it out.  

     The film follows three strangers who find themselves locked in a cement room with no escape.  They soon discover one of them is holding a gun and a phone laying nearby.  After the discovery of the phone it begins ringing and an ominous voice tells them that they are brought together because of their connections.  Over time it is revealed that they may not know each other directly but their random dealings and seedy history has them connected.

     I'll be honest, I was interested in Abacus for the synopsis only.  The title and poster for it didn't really peak my interest.  However, after just a few minutes into the film I was immediately hooked.  It was a brooding and atmospheric film that did remind me a lot of Saw but with a crime thriller touch.  The acting in this one is very well done.  The cast is extremely small and everyone carries their own weight.  We have some pretty intense performances that works very well against the dark and bleak setting of the film.  The story for this one is a bit predictable but it's still a very enjoyable ride regardless.  I love the characters backstories and how well it integrates into the story.  I also love how it felt like a mix of Saw meets organized crime.  Some of the scenes are a bit drawn out but it still works.  Finally, the film is not one with a body count.  We do have a scene that is particularly bloody but it's not something that will stick with the gorehounds.  Overall, Abacus is a gritty thriller that may not be for all genre fans but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I highly recommend checking this one out when you can.