Saint Drogo

Director(s) - Michael J. Ahern (Death Drop Gorgeous), Christopher Dalpe (Death Drop Gorgeous), and Wayne Gonsalves

Starring - Brandon Perras-Sanchez (The Spine of Night, Hollow Lake), Michael J. Ahern, and Matthew Pidge (Death Drop Gorgeous)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    I grew up during an odd time in American history in an even odder area.  I've been a lifelong Appalachian resident which has it's own folklore, religions, and superstitions.  This gives those of us a unique view if you are not raised Christian.  I've been an atheist my entire life but that didn't stop me from being curious about all the different religions and so on that can be found along the creeks and hollows of my state.  I also grew up during the tail end of the Satanic Panic era and the Jonestown Massacre happening just a few years before I was born.  When I was little I saw other cults, like the Branch Davidians, getting a lot of news coverage for their deaths and so on.  I've never been a religious person but religion has always been an interest of mine along with being a major fear.  I'm not bashing those that have found religion.  Hell, my wife is a practicing Christian but I would be lying if I said I wasn't afraid of fanatics and what they would do in the name for their religions.  That's why I've always had a soft spot for religious horror and movies centered around the occult.  A couple months back I received the press release for Monster Makeup's Saint Drogo.  I shared it on the site and they were kind enough to send over a copy of the film for review.  I wasn't able to get to it right away but I added it to my list to review as soon as I could.  I want to thank them for sending this one over!

     The film follows a gay couple in a strained relationship as they head to P-Town during the small town's off season in search for their missing friend.  The man in question is the ex of one of the men who was working there during the summer.  However, both men started having horrible dreams about him and decide visit him there when they fail to contact him.  They quickly befriend a local who takes them around to various spots in hopes of finding him but are unable to do so.  This frustrates his ex who starts to alienate himself from his boyfriend and the local who has now turned to drugs and sex all night.  This leads him further into the secrets of the small town where he finds himself drugged and at the center of a huge party the wealthy locals are throwing.  

     I went into Saint Drogo completely blind.  The title alone made me think that the film was going to be a religious horror tale that would be heavy on Catholicism.  However, I was very wrong with that assumption.  The movie itself reminded me a lot of Richard Griffin's Beyond the Dunwich Horror with a lot of bearded men kissing...which is kind of funny when you think about it.  Honestly, this is well made horror movie that does a wonderful job at telling a story while creating tension and atmosphere.  The acting in this one is great which is very impressive when you consider how little on camera experience most of the cast has.  It was awesome seeing Johnny Sederquist (Ninny Nothin).   It has been a few years since I last saw them in a film and it was great seeing them here even though the role was small.  We also get a small role from co-director Wayne Gonsalves who really impressed me with his role in Death Drop Gorgeous.  His experience in front of the camera is very limited but he is very comfortable in his roles.  His dialogue is natural and feels genuine.  With that being said, Brandon Perras-Sanchez, Michael J. Ahern, and Matthew Pidge carry the film.  The supporting cast is fantastic and deserve praise as well but these three make the film what it is.  Their characters are very well written and they bring a lot of personality to their roles.  I hate that I'm not taking the time to mention everyone in the film for their acting but I'm lazy and it is what it is.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting at all and loved every minute of it.  We follow a couple in a rocky relationship.  One of the men is very inconsiderate and clearly still hung up on his ex while the other man is trying hard to have a social life and support him the best he can.  They take a "vacation" to a coastal town in the off season just to look for said ex and meet a guy interested in them both and a strange drug.  We then move into strange occurrences, a secret the town is hiding, and a gay orgy ritual ceremony before we finally meet the title character.  Its a story that sounds boring as fuck on paper but is executed exceptionally well.  The dialogue, characters, and story telling holds your attention through each scene and the pay off at the end is well worth it.  Finally, the film starts out with an amazing scene with some great gore before making the carnage take the back seat until the last leg of the film.  While the film does have a small body count, it make sure that the few deaths we do see count.  They look absolutely amazing and the last death in the film is sure to leave viewers feeling squeamish.  Overall, Saint Drogo is not what I expected but I fucking loved it.  I hate that it took me so long to see it but now that I have I can see myself revisiting it several more times before the year is out.  I highly recommend it!

Harvest Brood

Director - Joe Meredith (South Mill District, Variant)

Starring - Cidney Meredith (Variant II, Teratomorph), Robin File, and Anthony Leroy

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5): 

     Several years ago I befriended artist and filmmaker Joe Meredith on social media after I saw several posts for one of his films.  I can't recall which film that was exactly by this point but I do know that I've been fortunate enough to review all of his films up to this point.  Well, that was until he released his newest film Harvest Brood for free on YouTube during Halloween.  I quickly shared the news on the site at the time but I wasn't able to check it out immediately due to the fact that I had already planned out my October horror binge.  However, I did toss it on my watch with for immediately after.  I'm glad I did because this one may just be my favorite film of his.

     The film is a documentary about a small town in Alabama that experienced a killing spree in 2006 with connections to local lore surrounding a strange family deep in the woods.

     Joe Meredith has a style of his own.  His movies and art is very unique and instantly recognizable with his movies being some of the most visceral that I've been fortunate to see.  Honestly, South Mill District is a film I often recommend to genre fans looking for something on the gruesome side of horror.  Harvest Brood did not disappoint.  I'm not really a fan of mockumentaries and found footage but this one holds your attention from beginning to end very well without the dull dialogue and pretentious acting.  The acting in this one is very well done.  We do get some of the acting that you would expect from a found footage type film with small talk and not a lot of emotional depth.  Luckily, these scenes are few and far in between.  The rest of the film is acted very well with some seriously fantastic performances from a cast with very little experience.  The story for this one is the kind of movie that I love with a family deranged mutant living in the woods killing people that cross their paths.  I've lived in Appalachia my entire life and any film with that kind of story instantly has my attention.  However, there is only so many ways you can spin a story like this so giving it the mockumentary spin to it does make it stand out from the rest.  With that being said, it's not as dull and boring as most other faux documentary and found footage flicks that I've reviewed in the past.  The film does a great job with the pacing and doesn't leave a lot to our imaginations.  Finally, the film is just as gruesome as I've come to expect from Joe and company.  We have a lot of fantastic practical effects that looks great.  If you've seen one of Joe's films then you know exactly how amazing his effects look and this one is no exception.  Honestly, I have no idea why this film is still on YouTube and not flagged.  Overall, Harvest Brood is another great film from a filmmaker with a true love for the genre.  The film doesn't do anything revolutionary for the genre but it does deliver on everything many of us love about horror.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

Baba Yaga

Director - Corrado Farina (They Have Changed Their Face, Fumettophobia)

Starring - Carroll Baker (Baby Doll, Kindergarten Cop), George Eastman (Antropophagus, Erotic Nights of the Living Dead), and Isabelle De Funes (Pont Dormant, Esprits de Famille)

Release Date - 1973

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The psychedelic shocker based on the erotic comics of Guido Crepax"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (Out of 5):

     I was really looking forward to this set when I received it for review.  Not only was Terror-Creatures from the Grave a movie, at the time, I had always wanted to watch but never had the chance but because it featured the 1973 film Baba Yaga.  Baba Yaga is one that I had seen pop up in so many horror groups and message boards but I never had the chance to check it out.  This just happened to be the last film in the set and I had high hopes that I would be ending it with a bang.  

     The film follows a photographer who is almost hit by a car driven by a strange woman named Baba Yaga.  She soon finds herself in the middle of strange occurrences.  Her camera seems to be cursed anytime she tries to take pictures of a living subject, a weird doll given to her by Baba Yaga is doing strange things, and everyone around her seems to be pushed further and further away.  She starts to suspect that Baba is a witch and is using her powers to alienate the young photographer so she can seduce or possess her.

     I went into this one only knowing that it starred Carroll Baker and had very little to do with the Baba Yaga folklore.  With that being said, this slow burn film didn't really give me that Italian gothic vibe nor did it feel like I was watching a horror title.  I seriously wanted to like it but this was one that had me absolutely bored to tears.  The acting in this one is great even from a cheesy mid-70s campy aspect.  The entire cast, aside from Baker, delivers what I would consider a reasonably grounded performance that works very well for a more modern horror title.  With that being said, Baker is extremely theatrical in her performance and stands out in every scene she is in.  I loved her performance but I feel that she was underutilized.  The story for this one is not enough to hold the viewer's attention over the full runtime of the film.  A photographer finding the most important aspect of her job becoming cursed and her entire life being pushed away as a witch forces her way into her life is a pretty solid story but the way it was shot leaves a lot of room for pointless scenes and a lot of dull dialogue.  This is one of those films that I find myself watching the clock more than I do the film.  We don't have enough going on to hold your attention.  Finally, if you want a bloody flick then you will be disappointed.  The movie is character driven instead of blood, gore, and atmosphere.  Overall, Baba Yaga is nothing like I expected.  It feels more like a supernatural drama rather than a horror tale.  I seriously wanted to like this one but it bored me to tears.  Skip it.  

The Devil's Wedding Night

Director - Luigi Batzella (When the Bell Tolls, The Beast in Heat)

Starring - Mark Damon (Crypt of the Living Dead, Stuck on You!), Rosalba Neri (The Girl in Room 2A, The Arena), and Esmeralda Barros (Kong Island, Paid in Blood)

Release Date - 1973

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Satan is coming!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I get in a good bit of movies to review and they usually fall into two categories which are movies I had seen before and movies that are new to me.  I love getting in both because if it's a movie I had seen before then it means I get to revisit a movie I like or I get to see why I didn't like it originally.  This is just to see if my taste in film has changed or the circumstances during my initial viewing impacted how I saw the film.  However, this set has tricked me on two separate occasions.  I thought Terror-Creatures from the Grave was going to be a first time viewing for me and then I realized I had seen it years ago but didn't remember it.  Goes to show that we are all getting older.  The third film in the set, The Devil's Wedding Night is another film I thought I had never seen before but once I hit play I quickly realized that I had seen the film but not in it's original form.  Many years ago I snagged several copies of Elvira's Movie Macabre on DVD from the FYE near my college for $1 a piece.  These unopened films were well worth the price and were the first time I had watched a lot of these movies.  Sadly, I didn't remember the names to a lot of the movies she hosted but it was clear this was one I had previously seen.

     The film follows a set of twin brothers who split up momentarily so one of them could go the Transylvania in search of an ancient ring with untold power.  He makes it to castle Dracula where he meets a young widow and her emotionless servant where she soon seduces him.  Sometime later his twin brother comes searching for him but she knocks him out and hides him in the dungeon while telling him that his brother had left sometime ago.  He is able to see through her lie and discovers that she is a vampire and uses the power of the ring to lure virgins to the castle to feed upon.

     The Devil's Wedding Night is a movie that is pretty enjoyable for the most part but it does lag in several scenes.  I don't know why I thought this movie had a different title but do we really intend on watching the movies hosted by Elvira or are we watching it just to see her and hear her horrible puns?  The acting in this one is probably the worst of the set so far.  While it's not the worst I've seen, their performances are very stiff and awkward to watch.  The characters are pretty cliched if I'm being honest which may be why the cast didn't bring a lot of energy to their roles.  The story for this one is different especially for a vampire flick centered around the mythology of Dracula.  We follow his bride who is using an evil ring to lure virgins to the castle who finds herself in the company of twins at different times... so we could have one person play both parts.  It's solid and works for an early 70s gothic horror tale.  With that being said, some of the scenes are a bit bloated which threw off the film's pacing at random times throughout the run time.  I don't know if these were added last minute or just padding the run time but they stick out like a sore thumb.  Finally, those wanting a lot of carnage and a high body count will be very disappointed.  The film has some vampire fangs but that is about the extent of the practical effects.  Overall, The Devil's Wedding Night is a bit of a misleading title but it's enjoyable.  I actually dug it and could see myself revisiting it again.  Check it out!

Night of the Damned

Director - Filippo Walter Ratti (Crazy Desires of a Murderer, Mondo Erotico)

Starring - Pierre Brice (Star Maidens, The Valley of Death), Patrizia Viotti (Amuck!, Death Falls Lightly), and Angela De Leo (Zorro in the Court of England, Julliette de Sade)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Horror

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It looks like my trip through 60s and 70s cinema is still going strong after watching Terror-Creatures from the Grave along with Sexomania, Lady Desire, The Odd Job, Negatives, and Sparrows Can't Sing.  I had just finished Terror-Creatures from the Grave in the Danza Macabra Volume 4 set and decided to keep on going with the next film in the set which happened to be the 1971 film Night of the Damned which was originally titled La Notte Dei Dannati.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a man who receives a strange letter from an old friend.  Fearing he may be in danger, he quickly makes the trip to his castle where he finds him on his deathbed.  He is convinced that he has been cursed but his new bride doesn't believe that to be the case.  He starts to investigate his friend's property and uncovers something rather strange.  Several centuries before, his ancestor had a woman burned at the stake for being a witch and had his family line cursed.  Sadly, he soon dies and those close to him starts to die gruesome deaths and are drained of their blood.  As he keeps investigating, with the help of the police, he uncovers the truth and the true evil stalking the property.

     Night of the Damned was a new one for me and I was really looking forward to checking it out.  Terror-Creatures from the Grave set the bar pretty high for me in regards to Italian gothic horror and, sadly, Night of the Damned did fall short.  It has some solid moments but the overall film was a bit of a drag if I'm being honest.  The acting in this is solid enough and is what you would expect from an early 70s film.  The cast is a bit dramatic and most of the scenes have that theatrical flair that is a bit cheesy in film but I dig it.  It fits the film and makes it feel like a slightly sleazy play.  The story for this one has a lot going on for such a simple plot.  The movie is basically a guy is cursed and the curse eventually kills him.  However, we have a Countess Bathory angle, so much character development, and a lot of backstory.  However, the film's pacing and extremely drawn out scenes with painstaking dialogue makes the movie feel a lot longer than it really is.  The movie could have used a little tighter writing and even tighter editing.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting a blood bath.  The death we do get mostly take place off camera and leave the rest up to our imagination or we get the aftermath which is not that impressive by any standards.  Overall, Night of the Damned is a movie that has a fantastic story but just doesn't live up to it.  It's too long for it's own good and could have used a lot of editing in my opinion.  This is one I would recommend skipping.  

Terror-Creatures from the Grave

Director - Massimo Pupillo (Bloody Pit of Horror, Django Kills Softly)

Starring - Barbara Steele (Nightmare Castle, Shivers), Walter Brandi (The Vampire and the Ballerina, The Playgirls and the Vampire), and Mirella Maravidi (Behind the Mask of Zorro, Three Bites of the Apple)

Release Date - 1965

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "They rise from dank coffins in the DEAD OF NIGHT to inflict AN EVIL CURSE OF DOOM, murdering their victims in an ORGY OF SLAUGHTER!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5): 

     It seems like I've found myself reviewing a handful of films from the middle to late-60s up into the 70s.  It's not often that I get to review films this old and really look forward to it but it is strange that I've had so many to review the last week or so.  My friends over at Mondo Macabro sent over the Greek sexploitation flicks Sexomania and Lady Desire.  At the same time the fine folks over at Severin sent me copies of The Odd Job, Negatives, and Sparrows Can't Sing.  It wasn't much longer after that I received their Danza Macabra Volume 4: The Italian Gothic Collection box set with even more 60s and 70s fun.  I couldn't wait to check it and went with the first film in the set which is the 1965 film Terror-Creatures from the Grave.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one along.  

     The film follows a lawyer who visits the estate of a doctor after receiving a letter telling him the exact date and time to be there.  The letter was intended for his partner but he was away on business.  He decided to go in his place because the letter seemed very important.  However, once he arrives he discovers that the doctor passed way almost a year ago to the date and the remaining family, his daughter and her step-mother, have just returned to the villa after being away.  He soon learns that the doctor died after a horrible fall and was once a spiritualist who thought he had command over the spirits on the property which once served as a dumping ground during the black plague.  As he questions why his partner was asked to be there by a doctor no longer living, he uncovers that everyone that signed as a witness to his death has died horrible accidents besides two and soon learns that it was not an accident and his partner was involved with a murder.

     Terror-Creatures from the Grave is a title that I've always loved but never took the time to actually watch.  Honestly, I love the title and always thought it was a fucking phenomenal name for a horror punk band.  However, it wasn't until I hit play on the film that I realized that I had seen the film before.  Many years ago I was sent the Nightmare Castle release from Severin and this film just happened to be one of the special features on that release.  I don't remember watching it but I remembered the film very well which is weird considering I really enjoyed it.  It's a beautifully shot film that does a fantastic job at building tension and atmosphere.  The acting in this one is pretty well done.  It is definitely a product of it's time with some overdramatic performances but that is to be expected from films of the time.  The characters are very well written and while many of them are a bit cliched, the cast does a great job at portraying them.  The story for this one is one I really dig.  We have a conspiracy around an accidental death, a little bit of history mixed in with the black death, and then the supernatural aspect.   It starts out almost like a slasher before switching gears and hitting us with a great supernatural tale set against the fantastic gothic architecture and brooding atmosphere.  It works for the most part.  A few of the scenes are a bit slow with one or two being just filler that do absolutely nothing for the plot.  A little bit of trimming could have fixed the pacing in this one.  Finally, the film has a few deaths with some make-up effects but nothing that stands out.  The black death victims look like lepers but they don't look bad.  While the make-up effects are decent, nothing in this regard really stands out or is memorable. Overall, Terror-Creatures from the Grave is the kind of film that I really enjoy.  I love well put together gothic tales done in black and white.  This one really sells the atmosphere and I adore the story.  I highly recommend checking this one out!  

     

Night of the Living Dead

Director - Tom Savini (Tales from the Darkside, Creepshow)

Starring - Tony Todd (Candyman, The Man from Earth), Patricia Tallman (Dead Air, Army of Darkness), and Tom Towles (House of 1000 Corpses, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "There is a fate worse than death"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most horror fans that I've met over the years can tell you what triggered their obsession with the genre.  Mine was a product of the time I was raised.  I was born in the mid 80s and raised in the 90s so Goosebumps was my first love.  I was constantly harassing my dad to get me the books when they would hit store shelves.  However, it was watching Tom Savini's remake of Night of the Living Dead sometime during the early 90s that got me hooked on horror movies.  I watched it for the first time with my grandmother while my dad was out of town.  I loved it and asked if we could watch it again and she said no.  Instead, she showed me the original George A. Romero classic and my fate was sealed.  A few weeks ago I was sent the Savini remake on UHD for review which included the director's cut.  I had never seen this version of the film and had to see it.  I want to thank Columbia Pictures for sending this one over!

     The film follows a young woman, Barbara (Tallman), who finds herself fleeing through a cemetery when the dead come back to life.  Seeking refuge in a nearby farmhouse, she finds another group looking for safety.  However, tension comes to a boil when they struggle to agree on what they should do next resulting in altercations eventually resulting in the death of many of them at the hands of each other and the living dead.

     George Romero's Night of the Living Dead is one of the most important films in horror history and a pivotal zombie film that would forever change the sub-genre.  The film spawned several sequels, remakes, and unofficial sequels over the decades since it's original release but it's damn near impossible for me to watch the film without immediately watching Savini's remake or vice versa.  I love both of these films equally and the fact I was sent this film on UHD with the director's cut included is surreal.  I never expected this when I start writing reviews and sitting here banging on my keyboard for this movie is an amazing feeling.  The acting in this one is top notch.  There is no weak links.  We have some of the best zombie actors I've ever seen in a film.  I recently binged the entire Walking Dead universe and while there is some stellar performances among the dead in the show, none hold a candle to the cast playing zombies in this one.  The main cast is amazing as well.  They bring the same intensity as the original while keeping most of the original character's personalities intact.  This is a fantastic cast and their performances are one of the many reasons this film is essential viewing for genre fans.  The story for this one is damn near a shot for shot remake of the original with some minor changes but nothing that I would consider important.  We have most of the essential characters returning with the same personalities, the same locations, social issues, and struggles with the undead the original faced.  The minor changes are fun ones that many will not notice but people that have seen this one dozens of times will see them.  Finally, this one has some great make-up effects along with some unforgettable practical effects.  The make-up effects look great.  The zombies have a unique look with more focus on looking dead over rotting.  The deaths are great as well.  While the people don't really die on screen, the zombie deaths use great gags and look fantastic.  Overall, Night of the Living Dead is a must see for genre fans.  While the original is going to always be my favorite, this film is a strong 2nd.  The director's cut does add some to the film but the movie is damn near perfect as is.  Please check it out.  

Forgive Us All

Director - Jordana Scott (Twisted)

Starring - Lily Sullivan (Evil Dead Rise, Lunacy), Callan Mulvey (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Children of the Corn), and Richard Roxburgh (Van Helsing, The League of Extraordinary Gentleman)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Redemption in a world gone dark"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've went through a zombie phase this year after spending a few years actively avoiding them unless they were sent to me for review.  I absolutely loved The Walking Dead comics when I was in high school and the show when it was released when I was in college.  Sadly, the show became so popular that it spawned so many piss poor clones and shitty zombie flicks.  Zombies had invaded store shelves and they all lacked originality and fun that made the sub-genre so entertaining in the first place.  I decided to dive back into zombies this year and binged the entire Walking Dead series along with most of the spin-off series.  Since then I've watched a dozen or so more zombie flicks and keep looking for more.  I think enough time has passed since The Walking Dead hype initially started and the sub-genre is back to being more original and creative.  A few weeks back I received a press release for the zombie flick Forgive Us All and I had to see it.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send over a link for review.

     The film follows a young woman trying to survive deep in the woods after a virus has wiped out most of the population.  Those that did not die after becoming infected has turned into flesh eating madmen.  Her survival is put into question she finds an unconscious man who is being hunted by an organization that tries to enforce rule on those that are not infected.  

     Forgive Us All looked like a solid end of the world zombie flick starring Lily Sullivan who won many of us genre fans over with her performance in Evil Dead Rise.  Sadly, this was not the case and the movie was difficult to finish.  The acting in this one was decent for the most part.  Sullivan does a solid job for the most part but a lot of the scenes without dialogue from her was a little awkward to watch.  Her blank stare and emotionless demeanor is a bit odd to watch and makes the scenes feel very awkward to watch.  The star of the film for me was Richard Roxburgh.  His performance was fantastic but his character was underutilized.  I would have loved to see more of his character so we could watch him ham up the scenes.  The supporting cast is hit or miss.  Some do a decent job while others feel more forced or overdramatic.  The story for this one is could be trimmed down into a 20 minute short which would have worked in the movie's favor.  The movie itself focuses way too much time reminding the viewer that the film's protagonist lost her daughter and is living a simple life in the woods.  The remainder of the film is spent with her butting heads with the older man, presumably her father, over the man she found.  A lot could be cut from this one which would fix the pacing tremendously.  Also, the film is about a world ravaged by infected killing those that are healthy but we get very little of this.  Hell, most of this is shown in flashbacks and those are few and far in between.  Finally, the film isn't a graphic one.  We get some blood and some make-up effects but nothing that would stand out to genre fans.  Overall, Forgive Us All sounds more like an apology from the crew behind the film than an actual title.  The movie is extremely slow paced, uneventful, and very lackluster.  The artwork I was sent does very little to represent the film properly and is easily one of the weakest zombie films I have ever seen.  Skip it.  

School in the Crosshairs

Director - Nobuhiko Obayashi (House, Turning Point)

Starring - Hiroko Yakushimaru (G.I. Samurai, Sailor Suit and Machine Girl), Ryoichi Takayanagi (The High School Girl With a Machine Gun, Let Him Rest in Piece), and Masami Hasegawa (Curse of the God Dog, The Tragedy in the Devil-Mask Village)

Release Date - 1981

Genre - Sci-Fi

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Cult Epics has really took care of me lately by sending over several of their releases on blu for review.  I've found myself somewhat burnt out on horror after spending the entire month of October binging as many horror movies as I could.  These releases from Cult Epics have come in handy as I watch some non-horror flicks to reset my horror battery so to speak.  After watching His Motorbike, Her Island and Dakota, it was time to toss in the Japanese sci-fi flick from 1981, School in the Crosshairs.  I want to thank Cult Epics for sending this one over!

     The film follows a young girl who uses psychic powers to make herself popular which helps her in her school's student election.  Things become a bit difficult for her when a new student arrives and starts gaining popularity as well putting her sure win in jeopardy.  Things take then take an unexpected turn when she learns that she is psychic as well.

     I knew absolutely nothing about School in the Crosshairs besides the fact that it was directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi who directed His Motorbike, Her Island and the title makes me uncomfortable as an American.  I had no idea that this one would have a supernatural aspect to it but I did find myself really enjoying it.  The acting in this one is very well done.  A lot of the characters are very well written with a lot of depth for the cast to work with.  The cast does a great job in their roles but some of the emotional range is lost when the viewer is reading the subtitles.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting from the title but I can see why the film was given that title.  While it does cause a sense of dread among American fans, it is a title that does reflect certain aspects of the film.  A teenage girl with psychic powers dueling it out with another student with psychic powers could have went in so many directions.  Fans of Carrie will immediately think wish it went the horror path.  However, it goes the more logical route, in my opinion, with the girls using their gifts as a way to win a class election.  It's fun and works for the run time without overstaying it's welcome.  Finally, the film is not a bloody flick so those of you looking for a bloodbath will be very disappointed.  Hell, if you thought the title was something else completely like I did then I would suggest checking out Duck!.  Overall, School in the Crosshairs is a fun Japanese sci-fi flick that may not be for the average Horror Society reader but fans of sci-fi and fantasy will dig it.  Check it out!

Dancing On My Own

Director - David E. Teixeira (Final Gasp, Stream)

Starring - David E. Teixeira

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I get asked to review a lot of movies especially during the Halloween season.  I never know what these films are going to be about or even if I will like them.  I do love indie horror and often view watching them as an experience.  Even if I don't like the film, I still enjoy seeing someone's hard work and passion that went into the project.  A few weeks back I was asked to review a new short from David Teixeira.  I had reviewed several of his films previously and was looking forward to it but I wasn't able to squeeze it in at the time because of the hectic Halloween schedule I had placed on myself.  However, once the dust had cleared from my month long horror binge I was able to finally check out Dancing On My Own.  I want to thank David for sending this one along for review and apologize for it taking so long to review.

     The film follows a man that is alone going through his day doing typical tasks like making breakfast, reading, smoking and so on.  However, these tasks become much more daunting than they are due to mental health issues and other psychological dilemmas

     When David hit me up to review Dancing On My Own he explained that the film wasn't necessarily a horror film but more of an experimental psychological short.  That is a perfect description of the film and while I don't care for most experimental films I've seen, this one was done exceptionally well.  The acting in this one is not your typical acting which is hard to judge in that regard.  The film features director David Teixeira as he does his day to day tasks before crippling anxiety and other mental issues take hold.  Voices and other forms of paranoia creep in makes the most simple of tasks feel more daunting.  He does a phenomenal job in what I can only assume is an extremely personal role.  The story for this one is short and simple but will have a great impact on many of the viewers that struggle with mental health issues.  I've been there and understand how something as simple as making toast can turn into a crisis when struggling mentally.  The short doesn't over stay it's welcome and while it is experimental, it isn't overly complicated.  Finally, those looking for a bloodbath will be very disappointed.  It's a very story focused short with no room for the red stuff.  Overall, Dancing On My Own is a very powerful and passionate short from filmmaker David E. Teixeira.  This film is very personal and I can see a lot of genre fans who suffer from mental illness will find comfort in this one after connecting with the protagonist.  I highly recommend it.  

The Toxic Avenger

Director - Macon Blair (The Lowdown, Room 104)

Starring - Peter Dinklage (Pixels, Dexter: Resurrection), Jacob Tremblay (Harley Quinn, Pete the Cat), and Taylour Paige (Brothers, IT: Welcome to Derry)

Release Date - 2023/2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "The hero we need now!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a Troma fan and that is no secret to those that have been reading my review for sometime now.  For a short period of time I reviewed a Troma release a week until I just didn't have time for it anymore but I miss it.  I miss the no budget and low brow humor, the off the wall stories, the campy acting, and the unforgettable characters.  My introduction to Troma, like many of us born in the 80s and raised in the 90s, was with the film that put Troma on the map.  That film, 1984's The Toxic Avenger, is a movie that shaped my taste in film and a movie that has stuck with me my entire life.  I was excited when I received news that Legendary was remaking Troma's classic superhero film and had zero doubts about it.  Legendary has done right by me with their Godzilla films and I knew Toxie was in good hands.  That was until I heard the film was getting shelved.  That was around last year I believe and over time I would see random social media posts pop up about getting petitions going calling for the release of the film and so on.  I don't know if the movie finally getting a release is the result of that or someone realizing that Troma fans are rabid but I'm grateful either way.  A few days back I was sent the UHD release of the new Toxic Avenger for review and I couldn't wait to dig into it!

     The film follow single father Winston (Dinklage) who is raising his step-son Wade (Tremblay) after the unexpected death of his mother.  To pay the bills, Winston is a janitor for a company that has been secretly polluting the environment.  He soon finds himself confronted with an illness that will surely kill him if not treated but his insurance refuses to pay for the treatment.  He tries to plead with the owner of the company to help him since they manufacture the medication he needs but finds himself laughed at behind closed doors.  He decides to rob the company he is working for but is caught up in the middle of a plot to expose them for environmental crimes by a local boy band hired to be lackies of the company.  They shoot Winston and toss him in a barrel of toxic waste.  He awakens to find his entire body mutated and his wounds healing rapidly.  He tries to make right by his step-son but finds himself stuck trying to bring the evil corporation down when they kidnap him in order to gain Winston's new powers.  

     When this reboot, remake, reimaging, whatever the fuck you want to call it was finally released, I saw so many Troma fans praising it while a handful or so shared their dislike for the film.  I didn't care who liked it or hated it.  Honestly, my taste in film is different than most people I know so I didn't care what other people thought which is why I paid them very little mind.  I went into this one what the naysayers had to say and fucking loved it.  The acting in this one is amazing.  Dinklage is the obvious star of the film and while he doesn't portray Toxie once he is mutated, his voice work is great.  Some may be pissed that he doesn't recreate the character of Melvin here but I loved Winston and the personality that he created for the character.  It fits the film very well and Dinklage delivers an amazing performance.  The supporting cast is just as good.  While Kevin Bacon delivers another stand out role, it's Elijah Wood that impressed me.  I was not expecting that kind of character from him and could see myself really getting behind a film or show featuring the character.  The story for this one keeps some aspects of the original film but gives it a more modern spin.  The movie does stray from the original film in many aspects and a lot of the crude, almost offensive humor, is wiped clean.  The roadkill game is gone, the name swap from Melvin to Winston, and his pursuit to crush crime is swapped with the idiot in the wrong place wrong time angle.  Don't get me wrong, I still loved it but those that watch it expecting it to be a faithful remake will be a bit disappointed.  With that being said, the movie felt more like a live action Toxic Crusader adaptation than The Toxic Avenger.  A lot of the villains have that cartoon mutant vibe like the boy band, their manager, and even the owner of the evil corporation gets in on the action as the film hits it's final leg.  Considering this is a remake, the story is a lot of fun if you just give it a chance.  Finally, the film has so much blood, gore, and amazing effects to look at.  We get a good chunk of practical effects.  I love the look of Toxie and everything the suit can do.  I also loved a lot of the aftermath with the great looking props and so on.  We do get a lot of visual effects, however.  They are very noticeable but they are still fun especially when you realize that this is a remake of a Troma film!  Overall, The Toxic Avenger is a fantastic film regardless if it was a remake of The Toxic Avenger or whatever the correct terminology is.  It's gory, funny, and over the top in the best way possible.  I highly recommend this one even if you don't know what The Toxic Avenger is.  It's a must own for genre fans.  

Other

Director - David Moreau (Them, The Eye)

Starring - Olga Kurylenko (Vampire Academy, Thunderbolts*), Jean Schatz (MadS, Mash Up), and Lola Bonaventure 

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "You are beautiful"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed a lot of horror movies over the years and I'm always impressed by the things sent to me for review.  I look at every movie I review as an experience and even if I don't like the movie, I still enjoy watching them.  I love cinema and think about the hardships that many face when making a film.  I'm also notorious for judging a book but it's cover so to speak.  Sometime back I was sent a link to review the Shudder original film Other from director David Moreau.  I was looking at the artwork sent over for the Shudder release and had zero interest in the film.  I just assumed I wouldn't like it and tossed it to the bottom of my review list.  I then felt myself getting anxious the closer I got to reviewing it because I absolutely hate writing a negative review for a movie sent to me but I also refuse to lie.  Regardless, when it was time to check it out, I hit play and the rest is history.  I want to thank Shudder for sending this one over!

     The film follows Alice (Kurylenko) who receives word that her estranged mother had passed.  She reluctantly revisits her childhood home and past traumas begin haunting her memories.  As she tries to piece together the life of the woman that tormented her so much growing up, she starts to suspect that something is living within the walls of the home.  As she digs deeper and deeper into her childhood she soon remembers something dark that happened to her and what is actually stalking her family.

     Other is a film that the title nor the artwork did nothing for me but the movie itself was a lot of fun.  It's not going to be making anyone's best of list at the end of the year but it was still a solid horror title for what it was.  The acting in this one is pretty well done but the film is a bit one sided.  The supporting cast is pretty good with most of the characters being fairly generic or disposable.  With that being said, Olga Kurylenko really impressed me with her performance.  She isn't overdramatic or over does it which makes the scenes a lot more enjoyable.  It would have been easy for her to ham it up with the type of story we have but she keeps her performance fairly well grounded.  The story for this one is a bit predictable if you pay close attention during the earlier scenes in the film.  With that being said, I liked the story even though it was obvious where the twist was going before it appeared.  It had great pacing and the build up was still a fun ride.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments with some solid make-up effects but that is about the extent of it.  I was hoping we would get a lot of gore and memorable deaths but that was not the case.  The gags we get do look good but they are not as elaborate or memorable as I had hoped.  Overall, Other is a solid horror outing that fits the Shudder trademark.  I would have liked to see some memorable deaths but the film is still enjoyable the way it is.  Check it out.

Dakota

Director - Wim Verstappen (Black Rider, Alicia)

Starring - Monique van de Ven (Amsterdamned, Daylight), Kees Brusse (Mysteries, Blue Movie), and Willeke van Ammelrooy (The Lake House, Lost Transport)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Adventure/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most of the movies I get in for review are horror and I have nothing negative to say about that.  Even if I don't like the movies sent my way for review, I still love watching them.  It's an experience sitting down to watch someone's hard work, seeing actors with little to no experience hope in front of the camera with nothing but love for the genre in their hearts.  With that being said, I do get in the random non-horror title for review from some of the boutique labels that I've became acquainted with over the years.  Most of them send over exploitation flicks or the random low budget direct to video action flicks that have been lost to time.  However, companies like Cult Epics have put a lot of time and focus on bringing international titles to the states in recent years which has broadened my viewing up greatly.  Sometime back they sent me the 1974 adventure drama Dakota from filmmaker Wim Verstappen.  I want to thank Cult Epics for sending this one over!

     The film follows a passionate pilot who wants take his DS3, or Dakota, plan across the Atlantic where he encounters several unexpected problems.  

     I knew Dakota wasn't going to be a movie that my typical readers would be interested in but I always feel obligated to review a movie that is sent to me regardless if it was horror or not.  With that being said, I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious about the film prior to watching it.  It looked interesting to say the least and I love watching movies I had never seen before regardless of the genre.  Sadly, the movie just wasn't for me.  It's not a bad movie but I'm clearly not the target audience for this adventure drama.  The acting in this one is solid for the most part.  The scenes with Brusse alone are very well done.  The setting for the film is very small with Brusse alone most of the time but he is still able to pull off some seriously fantastic acting with one sided dialogue and his mannerisms.  It's when Brusse is with other cast members that we see some stiff dialogue that is a bit awkward coming from the veteran actor.  The supporting cast is solid but Brusse is the main focus of this one.  The story for this one is straight to the point and I'm sure it's overflowing with details that only true aviators will understand.  I am not someone with an interest in planes or flying.  As for the film itself, I enjoyed it for a short time but did find myself bored through most of the film.  The beautiful shots from the pilots perspective and of the plane flying is beautiful but doesn't really hold the viewer's attention like it would someone that has an interest in the topic.  Finally, the film is not one with blood and guts so those of you looking for that type of film will be very disappointed.  The film is solely focused on the flight and how the pilot handles the issues he faces in his flight.  Overall, Dakota is going to be a film that several can appreciate for how beautiful the film is but even fewer can appreciate for the story telling.  I really wanted to like this one but at the end of the day it just wasn't for me.  

Sparrows Can't Sing

Director - Joan Littlewood (Oh! What a Lovely War, Peierrots)

Starring - James Booth (Pray for Death, Bad Guys), Barbara Windsor (The Great Bang, Double Vision), and Roy Kinnear (Scrooge, Watership Down)

Release Date - 1963

Genre - Comedy/Drama

Tagline - "Sailor, sailor home from the sea.  Whose little stranger can this one be?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      A few weeks back I was sent several new releases from my friends over at Severin to review.  The package included the amazing set Bloody Legend: The Cliff Twemlow Collection along with several films from director Peter Medak.  I really enjoyed MOST of the film the films that I was sent directed by Medak with the exception of the film Negatives.  I was not a fan of the film but it was the first film in a double feature with the 1963 comedy Sparrow's Can't Sing.  I had assumed that the film was directed by Medak as well but that was not the case.  Regardless, I couldn't wait to check it out in hopes it was better than the other film in the set.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows a young man who is returning home after 2 years at sea.  He learns that his neighborhood, his home included, has been demolished.  He can't find his wife and starts looking for her around town while meeting many familiar faces that he knew before he was gone.  When he is able to find her, she is shacked up with another man and taking care of their child.  

     I went into Sparrow's Can't Sing completely blind and it wasn't until the opening credits that I realized it wasn't directed by Medak.  That didn't really turn me off to the film, and while it was better than Negatives, it still wasn't as great as I would have liked.  The acting in this one is actually pretty well done.  I loved the cast and the characters they brought to life.  While the characters are pretty cliched and generic, the cast does a great job which made the film a little more enjoyable.  The story for this one is a bit messy but I did like several elements of it.  The humor, if the film had any, did not find it's mark.  It may have been funny if you had that old style sense of humor but from today's standpoint, it was not funny.  I didn't realize it was meant to be a comedy until I was putting the review together and saw it listed as such on the imdb page.  Also, I didn't like the way that the film focused more on the protagonist's interactions with supporting characters instead of his search for his missing wife.  The movie plays out the same way that I play sandbox games.  Finally, the film has no blood or gore so those looking for carnage will be very disappointed.  Overall, Sparrows Can't Sing is a movie that had promise but fails to pull anything together.  I liked the acting and the baseline for the story but the execution fell flat.  I really wanted to like this one but I couldn't.  Skip it.  

Negatives

Director - Peter Medak (The Changeling, Species II)

Starring - Peter McEnery (Witchcraft, Hammer House of Horror), Diane Cilento (The Wicker Man, Dead Planet), and Glenda Jackson (Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Devil is a Woman)

Release Date - 1968

Genre - Drama

Tagline - "A bizarre modern drama of a man and two women locked in a sensual game of sex"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Severin recently released a few of Peter Medak's more not so known films.  The first was the 2018 documentary The Ghost of Peter Sellers which was about the making of his ill-fated pirate film with comedy superstar Peter Sellers.  It was then that I realized just how extraordinary Medak's career had been.  He helmed the classic horror film The Changeling along with episodes of Masters of Horror, Tales from the Crypt, The Twilight Zone, Breaking Bad, and many more.  Talk about a fucking legend.  When Severin sent over The Ghost of Peter Sellers, they also included a few more releases with one being a double feature featuring the 1968 Medak film Negatives.  This was another new one to me and I couldn't wait to check it out.  Like always, I want to thank the fine folks over at Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows a couple who stay to themselves and their sexual exploration is mostly role playing with each other.  However, their worlds come crashing down when a new woman moves in near them and becomes infatuated with the couple.  The man wants to begin role playing as a different person than his normal persona and this causes a rift between the long time couple.

     I went into Negatives really excited after watching The Ghost of Peter Sellers and The Odd Job.  I really enjoyed both of those films but Negatives just wasn't for me.  Hell, I don't know who this movie would be for but it sure as shit wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is probably the best part of the movie.  The cast does a wonderful job and the characters are rather enjoyable.  Honestly, I wish these characters had a better story to shine in than what they were given.  The story for this one is a bit of a drag but had some interesting ideas.  A young couple who never got along unless they were role playing finding themselves falling apart with the introduction of a new woman has every right to be a fantastic sexploitation film.  However, making this story fit into a cheap drama with no humor or sex appeal is a huge miss.  Finally, those wanting blood or skin will be greatly disappointed.  The film is a character driven story that would have worked if it embraced the sex and not the weird drama tone it went for.  Overall, Negatives is a movie that I was really looking forward to but just couldn't get into.  While I loved the characters, I disliked everything else with this one.  Skip it for The Odd Job!