Gut Pile

Director - Jerry O'Sullivan (The Slasher Nurse, Killer Campout Part II)

Starring - Jeffrey Forsyth (Star Trek Phase II, The Vicious Sweet), Ron Bonk (Johnny Z, The Night of Something Strange), and Edward Mastin (House Shark, Joe Vegas)

Release Date - 1998

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Watch your step..."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

      I have a horrible habit of buying horror films to add to my collection and never watching them.  It's not because I have no interest in it but because I never have the time to watch everything I add to it.  Many years ago I bought the DVD for the 1998 horror film Gut Pile from SRS Cinema during a holiday sale.  It looked like a film I would love but I just never had the time to check it out.  Fast forward many years and the awesome folks over at Saturn's Core has put the film out on blu.  I try not to double dib but the price wasn't bad and I'm a huge fan of TV so I snagged a copy.  I decided to finally check the film out and it had to the this new release from Saturn's Core.

     The film begins with a hunter who accidentally shoots someone.  He buries the body in a shallow grave and keeps it to himself.  The next year he returns to the same spot to hunt with some of his friends.  A fun weekend of beer and hunting soon turns deadly when something sinister awakens in the woods wanting revenge.

     Gut Pile is a film I've seen very few people talking about and even fewer exclaim that they like it.  This made me a bit nervous but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.  Honestly, I knew nothing about the film prior to watching it but if I knew that the film was as Evil Dead like as it was then I would have watched it a lot sooner.  The acting in this one is solid but there is plenty of room for improvement.  The cast, for the most part, didn't have a lot of on screen experience prior but they did go on to appear in more films after this.  As inexperienced as they may have been, I still enjoyed the characters they portrayed and the performances in each scene.  The story for this one is simple and stretched a bit thin even though the movie only has a 50 minute run time.  I really liked the premise with the hunter hiding a body and going back a year later.  I also liked he flow of the film and the small talk.  It doesn't take away from the film like it does in other films.  In fact, it works with the story to progress.  With that being said, the film is padded to extend the run time.  The film has no reason being more than 30 minutes with the story we are given.  Finally, the film has some deaths with some blood and make-up effects.  While they are nothing memorable, they fit the film and work.  Overall, Gut Pile is a surprisingly enjoyable cabin in the woods type horror film.  It might not be the most gruesome film I've seen but it is a lot of fun.  I highly recommend snagging tis on blu from Saturn's Core.  Check it out.  

The Primevals

Director - David Allen (The Dungeonmaster, Puppet Master II)

Starring - Juliet Mills (Ark: The Animated Series, Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar), Richard Joseph Paul (Oblivion, Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise), and Leon Russom (The X-Files, Tales from the Darkside)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Adventure/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "A civilization lost in time... Invaded one million years ago"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Full Moon Entertainment has done a lot of good for horror history over the several decades they have been in business.  Starting all the way back when Charles Band launched Empire International Pictures and the release of the classic films Re-Animator, From Beyond, Rawhead Rex, and Crawl Space just to name a few.  When Empire went out in 1988, Band launched Full Moon Entertainment the same year and has been making films under that banner ever since.  While some of the Full Moon releases are easily forgettable, he has still turned out classics like Puppet Master, Evil Bong, Subspecies, The Gingerdea Man, and many more.  Band and both companies have one hell of a track record.  That's why I began following The Primevals so intently when it was announced.  The film was a dream project by David Allen that began filming in the 80s but was shelved due to budget issues.  A few years back Full Moon began raising funds to finish this film and get it released.  I'm glad Band took the time to get this one out to fans of Full Moon and stop motion animation because it's a fantastic film!

     The film follows a group of scientists who venture deep into the Hymalayas in hopes of finding a live yeti after the remains of one was sent to them showing signs of brain surgery.  What they discover is a civilization lost to time that is being terrorized by ancient aliens that are using this ancient race of humanoids for experiments and entertainment.  

     The Primevals is a film that I can see a lot of the pop genre fans brushing off and I get it.  This film isn't for them.  It's for cinema fans that grew up on stop motion like Allen was known for.  This was a style that was over before my time but I always watched the films when I was little when I was a kid with my grandmother.  I remember watching all the Ray Harryhausen classics with her and often wished there was more movies with stop-motion.  This one doesn't disappoint especially if those style of films are your thing.  The acting in this one is very well done.  While the characters are very one dimensional and uncharismatic, the cast still does a phenomenal job at moving the film along.  The dialogue is very heavy but the cast does a fantastic job at finding the correct emotion for the scene which really does help with the film's pacing.  The story for this one is a bit out there but I really enjoyed it.  It's something different and makes great use of the stop-motion.  An ancient alien race enslaving a humanoid ape like species deep in the Himalayan mountains is something that would have been a wild story during the height of stop-motion.  Add in the characters, yetis, and the rest of the film and you are given something that you can watch over and over without tiring of it.  I found myself wanting to talk about it for days after watching it.  It sounds a bit goofy typing it out but it really was compelling.  Finally, the film has a little blood but the focus of the film is the creatures and the stop-motion which is absolutely gorgeous.  I loved the looked of the reptilian aliens, the missing link type creatures, and the yetis.  You can tell a lot of time and passion went into crafting these and I'm sure fans of stop-motion can appreciate the models as well.  Overall, The Primevals is a must see for fans of stop-motion and Full Moon alike.  It's a film that will go on to become a timeless classic and a staple in any Full Moon collection.  Check it out!

Despiser

Director - Philip J. Cook (Invader, Beyond the Rising Moon)

Starring - Mark Redfield (Dark and Stormy Night, Cold Harbor), Doug Brown, and Gage Sheridan (Twilight of the Dogs, First Encounter)

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Horror/Fantasy

Tagline - "Fear for your soul"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     I know my brain is wired differently than most genre fans.  Most horror fans flock to films that are well polished, edited, and acted with top notch effects.  They want the blood and gore but they want it done with unforgettable practical effects.  Don't get me wrong.  I love that stuff too but I find myself drawn toward the films made on a shoestring budget with nylon stockings filled with tissues and dipped in red corn syrup as guts.  I live for these types of films and when I saw what could only be described as a CGI disaster that is Despiser, I knew I had to have it especially after I saw that my friends over at Visual Vengeance was releasing it.  I went ahead and snagged a copy and quickly added it to my watch list.

     The film follows struggling artist and veteran Gordon (Redfield).  He just lost his job and with his rent now behind, his wife has left him too.  He then finds himself in a car accident and awakens in a purgatory like hellscape with a faction of other survivors are in an endless struggle against Despiser, his right hand Shadowman, and legion of twisted soul hellbent on serving him.  

     Many genre fans would see a film like Despiser and turn their nose up at it and I completely understand.  However, movies like this one are the kind that excite me the most.  They may have horrible effects and the acting may be amateurish but they usually have a lot of imagination and creativity.  Despiser is one of those films.  While it may look like a direct to video Christian film from the earl 2000s, it's actually a solid fantasy horror flick with some of the worst CGI I've seen in a movie.  This brought about a lot of unintentional laughs and I could see myself revisiting it sometime in the near future.  The acting in this one is not the worst I've seen but the cast is extremely stiff in their performance.  The dialogue for most of the film comes out of their mouths almost as if they are drill instructors and afraid to show any emotion.  Several members of the cast would go on to appear in other films and I would love to check those out to see how far they have grown from this film into the next.  The story for this one is absolutely wild and I love it for that.  We have purgatory, high speed car chases, aliens, freedom fighters, romance, and more inside a film that has PBS quality CGI and looks like an early 00's Christian film.  The movie is a bit on the lengthy side but I didn't want it to end.  The pacing, campy dialogue, and editing is able to come together to almost stop time.  Finally, the film has a lot going on especially in regards to the computer generated effects.  The film uses a lot of CGI and every shot of it is horrible.  It's unintentionally funny yet you can't look away.  Sure, I would have loved some great practical effects gore but this horrible CGI is still entertaining to say the least.  Overall, Despiser is a must see.  Fans of b-movies and unintentionally bad movies will want to check this one out.  It's the holy grail for bad movie fans.  I absolutely loved it.  

Kung Fu Rascals

Director - Steve Wang (Guyver, Drive)

Starring - Steve Wang, Troy Fromin (Shrunken Heads, Return of the Living Dead II), and Johnnie Saiko (Hell Comes to Frogtown, Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Action/Comedy

Tagline - "It's not just another day of kung fu fighting"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a fan of martial arts and kung fu flicks for as long as I can remember.  I watched them growing up with my grandmother and when I hit my teenage years I watched them with some friends of mine.  I've watched a lot of the "bad" kung fu movies over the years and I absolutely love them.  The campier the better.  Sometime back Visual Vengeance, the blu ray oriented sister company to Wild Eye, released the 1992 kung fu comedy Kung Fu Rascals on blu.  I had to add it to my collection so I ordered a copy and added it to my watch list to check out as soon as I could.

     The film follows three young kung fu masters who are on a quest to find a power that can restore their village to it's glory days.  However, an evil man and his gang of kung fu goons are after the same power and will stop at nothing to get it before them.

     I went into Kung Fu Rascals expecting to see some cheesy humor and a lot of fun kung fu.  Instead, what we have is an extremely campy film with a lot of dialogue filled scenes and not that much martial arts action.  I seriously wanted to like it but it wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun.  The film features a big cast of characters with memorable personalities but a lot of the scenes drag on and on for far too long.  This creates a lot of time with these characters delivering dull dialogue.  The story for this one has so much potential but struggles with the pacing.  At it's hear its a film with a story we had seen many times during the early 90s with films aimed at children with a select group of people (often teenagers) go on a quest of self-discovery to find something sacred that will save them while an evil villain and his army of soldiers is trying to stop them.  I could get behind it if it spent more time focusing on fights and setting the scenes instead of the quick jokes and dialogue heavy scenes.  The humor is clearly a parody to the martial arts films of the late 70s except the jokes run their course fairly early in the film resulting in a film that moves at a snails pace with not enough action to hold the viewer's attention.  Finally,   isn't a blood one but there is some fantastic creature designs that I was seriously impressed by.  In fact, I loved them so much that I wish the film was centered more around them instead of the film's lead.  Overall, Kung Fu Rascals might be a bit more fun if you pop an edible or crush some beers.  However, it's not enjoyable as a sober watch and could use a lot of trimming to fix the pacing.  

     

Nosferatu

Director - Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse)

Starring - Lily-Rose Depp (Tusk, Yoga Hosers), Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies, Mad Max: Fury Road), and Bill Skarsgard (It, Barbarian)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Succumb to the darkness"

Format - Streaming (Fandango at Home)

Rating (out of 5):

     I became obsessed with the Universal classic monsters when I was in high school.  At the time Universal was putting out DVD box sets for each of the monsters and I was scrambling to find them all.  This started my deep dive into the careers of some of the legends that portrayed many of the monsters like Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., an so on.  Chaney Jr. lead me to his legendary father and this turned me on to films from the silent era of Hollywood and what is one of the most iconic films of the time period, Nosferatu.  It was fairly easy to track down a copy of the film due to it being public domain now.  This is a film that I greatly admire and love that younger generations have discovered it because of Spongebob.  When news broke that The Witch's Robert Eggers was remaking the film, I knew I had to see it.  He is a filmmaker that has not let me down and I knew he would absolutely knock this one out of the park.  A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to receive a package for the film's digital release that included a code to check it out.  Damn right I took advantage of that to see the film.

    The film follows an underling sent to a castle deep in the Carpathians to see a Count.  The count is buying an old mansion in England and the young man is tasked with visiting him to sign the necessary paperwork.  What he doesn't know is that this is a ploy from his employer who is in leagues with the count.  The count is secretly a vampire with an obsession for the young man's new bride.  The count plans on locking him away and setting sail to England to be with her but he is able to escape.  He teams up with two doctors, one of which has knowledge of vampires, to stop the count from damning her soul.

     Nosferatu is an iconic silent era film that can be argued that it is still effective to this day.  It does have it's fair share of haters, especially those who disagree with the fact that it was a blatant rip off of Bram Stoker's Dracula.  This remake, like a lot of pop horror releases, seemed to split the genre community.  Some loved the film and hailed it as their favorite of the year while others were disgusted by the sexual energy an Orlok's mustache even though it was period accurate.  I went into this one with both in mind and found myself absolutely loving it.  It may not be as amazing as the original but it's still a must see for genre fans.  The acting in this one is unforgettable.  Hoult and Depp and fantastic.  Hoult has never disappointed me and I'm always looking forward to the next film of his.  Lily-Rose Depp also does a fantastic job as well.  Her performance here is legendary and images of her from the film will live on in cinema history.  The supporting cast is just as phenomenal.  Willem Dafoe, Bill Skarsgard, and so on deliver the same intense and amazing performances.  The story for this one does follow closely to the original film which does borrow heavily from the classic novel.  It's very romantic fantasy heavy with a lot of horror elements scattered throughout.  The film does rely on dialogue heavy scenes to get the character's background and story progressing but it's not that boring.  The atmosphere and tension helps with the pacing issue creating a very effective story.  Fans of The Witch and The Lighthouse will truly appreciate the way the story is delivered here.  Finally, the film has a high body count.  We get a lot of the traditional vampire kills that uses some blood and light make-up effects.  I also love the look of Skarsgard as Count Orlock.  The mustache does fit the period while paying homage to the man who created the Dracula legend.  With that being said, there is several scenes that use a heavy dose of computer generated effects that are a bit goofy.  Overall, Nosferatu is a must see especially if you like the original film or the works of Robert Eggers.  I know pop horror fans will flock to this one but if you are a lifelong genre fan that is on the fence then I highly suggest you check it out.  It's well worth your time!

In the Hands of Fate

Director - Samuel L. Fronsman (Hang in There)

Starring - Adam Joseph Turner (Double Walker, Wanna Play A Game), Keith Migra (The Melon Heads: House of Crow), The Hunting), and Sofia Bianchi (The Other Side, Nightmares Unleashed)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Crime

Tagline - "Every choice has a price to pay"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm often asked to review horror, thrillers, exploitation, and sci-fi flicks with most of the films, obviously, being horror.  I love my job and I love watching everything sent my way.  Even if I don't like the film, I still love seeing all the hard work the cast and crew put into the project.  However, it's not often that someone reaches out for me to review something that's not from the before mentioned genres.  A few weeks ago I was sent Samuel L. Fronsman's In the Hands of Fate to review.  I agreed to check it out and after spending a little time looking over the poster for the crime film I thought that I wouldn't like it.  That just proves you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover because I absolutely loved it.  It was a bit too long but I still had a lot of fun with it.  I want to take a moment to thank Sam Fronsman for sending this one over!

     The film follows a hired gun for a local crime boss who is tasked with killing one of his pushers.  He does so but leaves a loose end in the form of a female junkie.  He lets her go if she promises to keep her mouth shut.  However, she follows him back to his boss and steals a large sum of money.  As they all scramble to find who stole it so they can kill them, she visits an old friend she met in rehab who happens to be clean now and part of a cult.  She tricks her into going with her so the cult can use the money to expand.  

       In the Hands of Fate is nothing like I thought it would be.  It essences, it's two films connected by a a few characters and their actions.  In fact, the film could have taken the Tarantino approach and split itself up into two films rather than one film over two hours long.  Regardless, of the film's length, I seriously enjoyed it.  It's a lot of fun and some minor changes would make this one damn near perfect.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven.  The performances are not bad but some of the cast clearly has inexperience.  This made some of the dialogue feel forced or fall flat.  Aside from these instances, I loved the characters and how far the cast went to bring them to life.  The story for this one is such a wild ride and something the viewer may not expect.  It starts out with a humble crime beginning with a small time crime boss sending out people to clean up some messes.  However, it eventually leads to a cult with inner turmoil and a conspiracy to remove their leader of power.  I loved how far out this story branches but it could have easily been two films.  An indie crime flick that clocks in over 2 hours is a bit absurd.  Finally, the film has several death scenes but they are nothing memorable or exciting.  They use some blood and computer generated visuals but that is the extent of it.  Someone looking for a big body count or gore will be very disappointed.  Overall, In the Hands of Fate might be a lot for someone looking for a generic crime film to take in.  However, if you are looking for something different with a big story to tell then I highly recommend checking this one out.  I truly enjoyed it.    

Mr. Buzzkill

Director - Rob Collins (Season's Greetings 2)

Starring - Celeste Blandon (Phantom Fun-World, He Comes to Kill), Kaylee Williams (The Barn Part II, Zombie Babies), and Shawn Burkett (A Shameless Revenge, Bludgeoned)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Some legends are born.  This one was made"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing at Horror Society for a long time and met a lot of amazing people along the way.  When I first started this journey all that time ago I befriended the folks over at Concept Media.  Since then they have added a few more faces to the company but the original co-founders Shawn Burkett and Ryan Stacy are still there.  Sometime ago Concept Media announced that they would be working on a new slasher from director Rob Collins.  Rob has worked with Concept Media for sometime now in various roles and this would be his first feature length film if I'm not mistaken.  Sometime had passed and I forgot all about the film, Mr. Buzzkill, until Shawn sent over a press release with a screener link.  I couldn't pass up this opportunity to check out a new Concept Media flick so I jumped on it as soon as I could.  I want to thank Shawn and the rest of Concept Media for sending this one my way.  

     The film follows a bunch of slackers who are sitting around a campfire getting stoned when one of the groups tells the others the story of Mr. Buzzkill who killed several people where they are now.  The story goes that a group of twenty-somethings acquire the keys to an old summer camp with plans of partying and fornicating.  However, their night of debauchery ends in bloodshed when Mr. Buzzkill arrives.

     Concept Media has created several unforgettable films over the years.  These films range from thrillers, crime dramas, fan films, slashers, and their most popular film is a monster movie that spawned a sequel.  I'm a huge fan of Concept Media and though Rob may have only directed a short in the Season's Greetings sequel I knew he would going to deliver one hell of a film.  The acting in this one is very uneven but I wouldn't call it bad.  The entire cast seems to be having fun on set and does a great job getting into character.  However, a lot of the dialogue delivered seems forced.  This makes the scenes a bit awkward to watch.  With that being said, we see a lot of familiar faces with some Concept Regulars returning along with indie horror royalty Kaylee Williams.  I would have loved to see her in the film a bit longer.  The story for this one is very generic but I dig that when compared to more modern slashers who go overboard with the back stories.  The late 70s and early 80s saw the masked slasher killing those that wronged him or his family.  These slowly moved away from camp ground to schools and colleges.  The 90s saw the rise of the meta-slasher that poked holes in the cliched slasher films that came before it which carried over into the 2000s.  However, it was during the mid-to late 2000s that we saw serial killers and slashers morph together.  Mr. Buzzkill's story reminds me a lot of the slashers I used to buy around this time from companies like Brain Damage Films where we follow a troubled youth who becomes a lifelong killer.  It still pays tribute to the slashers of the 80s with the mask and taking us back to camp but the backstory is very reminiscent of the slashers of the 2000s.  Finally, the film has a lot of bloody deaths that fit the film very well.  They are not that gory but they look good and the practical effects work.  I would have liked to see a bit more memorable deaths but it's still enjoyable for what it is.  Overall, Mr. Buzzkill is a slasher for modern genre fans.  While it days pay tribute to slashers from the golden age, it updates several elements so lifelong genre fans have something a bit different to enjoy.  It has a lot of blood, some boobs, and a decent set up.  I highly recommend it.   

Stir of Echoes

Director - David Koepp (Secret Window, Ghost Town)

Starring - Kevin Bacon (Friday the 13th, Tremors), Zachary David Cope (The Wedding Singer), Kathryn Erbe (D2: The Mighty Ducks, How to Get Away With Murder)

Release Date - 1999

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Some doors weren't meant to be opened"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When people think of horror and the legendary actors that have spent decades appearing in genre films, they never think of Kevin Bacon.  I know I don't.  It's was not until I started writing this review for a film featuring him that I realize how much he has contributed to the genre.  We Have the original Friday the 13th, Tremors, Hollow Man, MaXXXine, Flatliners, The Demon Murder Case, and The Darkness to name a few.  There is another dozen or so thrillers and so forth that he has appeared in as well for those that want to take a deep dive into his career.  He's no stranger to horror and has appeared in several of my genre favorites included the severely underrated Stir of Echoes from 1999.  I had the film on VHS many years ago and was recently sent the UHD release for review.  This was the perfect reason to revisit one of Bacon's most underrated performances.  I want to thank Lionsgate for sending this one over to review.  

     The film follows everyman Tom (Bacon) who is hypnotized by his sister-n-law at a party.  He quickly starts to hallucinate and seeing people that is not there.  It starts to hinder his work and personal life and soon realizes he is receiving visions from a teenage girl that went missing a few days before he moved into the neighborhood.  With his life spiraling out of control around him, he begins searching the property for her missing body only to uncover the nasty truth about her and her connection to his neighbors.

     Stir of Echoes is one of those films that got swept under the rug by bigger releases of the time only to find a cult following in the years since.  I blame it on premiering the same year as M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense which consisted of artwork using similar colors and a plot involving seeing ghosts.  The movie was definitely overlooked at the time for various reasons but I think horror fans have since discovered it and have added it to their lists of favorite films.  The acting in this one is great.  Bacon never disappoints and I love seeing him in a role like this.  Most films he has been in has him being the calm and collected character but this film shows another side of him that I truly enjoyed.  While the supporting cast is great, it's Bacon that truly makes the film as enjoyable as it is.  The story for this one is a bit out there with someone having a "sixth sense" or gift awakened after being hypnotized while drunk.  However, it makes up for it with a long, drawn out character arc that really pays off at the end.  It does become predictable by the third act but the visuals and haunting atmosphere makes it worth the ride.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody or violent flick.  It does have one scene that will pull at your emotions a bit, especially if you are a parent, but those looking for a body count will be disappointed.  With that being said, I really enjoyed the make-up effects and visuals used.  It really added another level of atmosphere to the film.  Overall, Stir of Echoes may have found it's place in horror history but still has so much more room to grow.  If you have never seen this underrated classic then I highly suggest you snag this UHD release from Lionsgate.  

Feed

Director - Brett Leonard (Man-Thing, Highlander: The Source)

Starring - Alex O'Loughlin (Whiteout, Criminal Minds), Patrick Thompson (The Road Killers, Birth of a Warrior), and Gabby Millgate (Babe: Pig in the City, Full Frontal)

Release Date - 2005

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - Can you stomach it?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was an avid horror fan when I was in middle school but it really didn't take hold until I was in high school.  It was at this time that I seriously started collecting.  I was constantly looking for DVDs and VHS to add to my collection and a lot of those horror movies released in the early to mid 2000s are still in my collection to this day.  One movie I purchased all those years ago is the 2005 Brett Leonard film Feed.  I've had the DVD for years but never watched it.  Honestly, I only bought it because it was super cheap and decided to add it to my collection.  Fast forward a few decades and Unearthed Films sends out a press release that they are releasing the film on blu.  It took me a few minutes to realize that I owned the After Dark DVD release of the film and never watched it.  I took a peak at the trailer, something I rarely do, and decided to finally check it out.  A few days after this I received the blu release for review and that's when I decided it was time to finally check it out.  

     The film follows an Interpol detective that works on cyber crimes.  He finds a website catering to women overeating and suspects that the person behind it may be up to more than just fattening up women.  The further he looks into it he uncovers that he also has a site where subscribers can make bets as to when the overfed woman dies.  He goes against his direct orders and continues the case.  He goes as far as to stalk the suspected killer and his wife and learns that much more is going on than he originally suspected.

     I went into Feed knowing as much as the trailer gave away but I think it was enough to get the basic premise of the film.  I typically avoid trailers and reading the synopsis on films I'm sent to review but for some reason I decided to check the trailer out for this Unearthed release.  I don't think it ruined the experience for me but I wish I had knew very little about this one before diving into it.  The acting in this one is very intense.  The film's lead, Patrick Thompson, is very intense in his role.  He is a bit overdramatic a lot of time but I really enjoyed the energy he brought to the film.  The supporting cast is just as strong.  We have a lot of overacting but, honestly, I liked it for the most part.  The story for this one had so much potential especially for the time.  Internet fetish sites and extreme sexual acts have always had a place on the internet so the story has a lot to use.  When you combine that with the grotesque overeating kink and secretly betting when they die you have something that could churn the stomachs of the most hardened horror fan.  However, the sickening acts committed in the film is not as effective as they could have been and the extremely long scenes filled with pointless dialogue ruins the film's pacing.  Finally, the film makes use of a great looking fat suit and some gore effects that look just as impressive.  However, the film doesn't have a body count and those wanting to see impressive kills will be very disappointed.  Overall, Feed might have been an impressive and sickening film in the mid 2000s but it just doesn't hit that had especially if you are a life long genre fan.  I wanted to like this one but I couldn't.  

The Block Island Sound

Director(s) - Kevin McManus (Funeral Kings, My Brother's Treasure) and Matthew McManus (Front Page, The 30 Bones of Unfortunate Joey Jones

Starring - Chris Sheffield (The Maze Runner, CSI: Miami), Michaela McManus (The Vampire Diaries, The Orville), and Neville Archambault (The Wolf of Snow Hollow, History of the World: Part II)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I get a lot of strange films in to review.  These range from re-releases of classics to lost S.O.V. flicks and a good chunk of indie releases.  However, I sometimes get a film in that really peaks my curiosity especially if it's one I had never heard of before.  A few weeks back Synapse Films sent over the 2020 mystery horror film The Block Island Sound.  The artwork didn't really do anything for me but the title and synopsis on the back really pulled me in.  I want to thank Synapse for taking the time to send this one over!

     The film follows a young man who begins to hallucinate after the death of his father.  He was lost at sea and when his body washes up on the shore strange things begin to happen to him.  He finally tells his sister and she finds another man who suffered from the same ailment.  She discovers that they both are pawns of something more sinister who is using them to bring living creatures to a specific spot in the ocean so it can take them.

     The Block Island Sound is a film that has phenomenal atmosphere and tension but fails to deliver on the compelling story.  Hell, even the jump scares fails to find their marks.  I seriously wanted to like this one but the story just didn't pull me in.  The acting in this one is very well done.  I've said that a lot lately but this film really impressed me with it's casting.  A lot of these names are fairly new to me but they delivered some great performances.  They do one hell job bring the characters to life and the film wouldn't be half as enjoyable as it is if it wasn't for them.  The story for this one is very interesting on paper but the execution left much to be desired.  I loved the idea of a supernatural presence in the ocean driving people insane and forcing them to sacrifice living things to them.  Sadly, that's about the extent of the story that held my attention.  The family dynamic continuously throws itself in your face.  Instead of just one or two scenes establishing the family is at odds with itself, it has to throw it into each scene to the point it becomes a running joke that delivers some unintentional laughs.  Also, the "tributes" brought to the sea should sucked into the sky is the goofiest thing I've seen in a movie.  So many more menacing ways to take them could have been used instead of this.  Finally, the film tries to deliver on some jump scares but is unable to do so.  They are extremely slow and feel cheap rather than effective.  The film doesn't have a body count but we do get some solid looking make-up effects.  Overall, The Block Island Sound had so much promise but couldn't pull it all together into something memorable.  I seriously wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me.  

The Ghost That Wouldn't Die

Director - Matthew Packman (Real Cool Time, Morbid Colors)

Starring - Lanae Hyneman (Morbid Colors, Real Cool Time), Daniel T. Moser (Gayliens, The Lake House), and Kevin Roach (The Bad Man, Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few years back I was sent the horror short Real Cool Time to review from director Matthew Packman.  I really enjoyed the short and if I would have done a year end review it would have made the top of my short film's list.  I posted the review not long after and over time I forgot all about it until recently when Packman emailed me with another opportunity.  H emailed me one more time to review a new short he had directed that once again starred Lanae Hyneman.  The short, The Ghost That Wouldn't Die, looked like another fun short.  I agreed to check it out and would like to take a moment to apologize to Matthew Packman for taking so long to review it.

     The film follows a musician who is struggling with her inner demons after her band becomes somewhat successful.  Addiction and self-abuse consumes her life which has resulted in a drastic change in the band's sound which affected their record and ticket sales.  As her band, manager, and record label try to help her, she spirals more out of control.

     I went into this completely blind knowing absolutely nothing about it besides the fact it starred Lanea Hyneman.  I'm glad that was how I went into it because the mystery of the film only added to it.  It was a lot of fun and didn't over stay it's welcome.  The acting in this one is great and I love the way the film is done.  The way the story is told is through narration while the cast is acting in silence in the background.  Hyneman narrates the film and does a phenomenal job at it.  The supporting cast does a solid job in the background but they don't take center stage like she does.  The story for this one doesn't really feel like a horror film.  It's more of a dark drama at best but it's still enjoyable for what it is.  I was hoping she was a vampire addicted to the kill or something like that but what we do have works for a short without overstaying it's welcome.  Finally, we get a little blood but those wanting a body count or memorable kills will have to look elsewhere.  The film is heavily focused on the main character and the story itself.  Overall, The Ghost That Wouldn't Die is another fantastic short from Matthew Packman.  It may not be the scariest short sent my way but it is the most well done and put together.  IF you ever get the chance to check it out I suggest you do so.  You will enjoy it.  

The Gingerweed Man

Director - Brooks Davis (Bring Her to Me, Famous T&A 2)

Starring - Eli Jane (Ghost Babe, Women in the Dark), Roy Abramsohn (Quantum Leap, Weedjies: Halloweed Night), and Kelly Bunasawa (Milestone, I'm the Rule)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Comedy/Crime

Tagline - "The weedman cometh"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I originally watched the Gingerdead Man films, it was just a trilogy at the time.  Since then the franchise has expanded a bit with Gingerdead Man vs. Evil Bong, The Gingerweed Man, along with the cameos he's had in other Full Moon films.  It's a popular property that I somehow completely forgot about.  As I was catching up on the series with the cookie tin set I noticed that it included The Gingerweed Man as well.  This is another Full Moon film I let slip by me and couldn't wait to check out.  

     The film follows a little stoner with a lucrative weed delivery business with a female friend that he sincerely loves.  However, after a mysterious bud nugget named Baby Buddy falls into his lap, he is tasked with keeping it alive and getting his friend back from corrupt  organization wanting Buddy back to continue their nefarious research on him.  

     I knew absolutely nothing about The Gingerweed Man before diving into it and I have to say that this was easily my favorite film in the set and one of Full Moon's better titles of recent years.  It's nothing that most horror fans will appreciate but I found myself fucking loving it.  It's a comedy first and foremost but it has a few horror elements and a bit of drama to mix it up.  The acting in this one is on par with the Evil Bong franchise.  It's a better consistency than the Gingerdead Man series with a lot more time spent on character development and backstories.  The story for this one is not one I was expecting from Full Moon but I did enjoy it.  Gingerweed Man is a character that can carry several films if given the opportunity.  I could have lived without the Ooga Booga character and a some horror elements but it's still enjoyable as it is.  It's a quick watch that flows very well with a lot of humor and memorable one liners.  Finally, the film is not a bloody one.  We get a lot of puppet action and computer generated effects that look cheap but doesn't take away from the overall film.  Overall, The Gingerweed Man is a Full Moon eccentric film that combines multiple genres.  If you've ever wanted to see Halfbaked made by Full Moon then here is your chance.

Gingerdead Man vs. Evil Bong

Director - Charles Band (Death Streamer, Corona Zombies)

Starring - John Patrick Jordan (Evil Bong, Dr. Moreau's House of Pain), Robin Sydney (Trophy Heads, Night of the Living Dead 3D: Re-Animation), and Sonny Carl Davis (Bad Channels, Fast Times at Ridgemont High)

Release Date - 2013

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "And hell rode with them"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was really looking forward to this journey through the Gingerdead Man franchise.  I had watched them years ago but didn't remember shit about them.  This gave me a great opportunity to revisit them while catching up so I could watch Gingerdead Man vs. Evil Bong which was included in the same collection.  I'm a huge fan of the Evil Bong series and was really looking forward to this Full Moon crossover that I didn't know existed...or completely forgot about.

      The film follows Larnell (Jordan) who has opened a head shop after surviving several run ins with the Evil Bong E.B.  After a chance encounter with Rabbit, he leaves the shop to find a delicious cookie to sate his munchies where he meets shop owner Sarah Leigh (Sydney).  While he is out of the store, Rabbit goes snooping through his office where he finds the Evil Bong and takes a toke from her which sets her free.  To make matters worse, the Gingerdead Man has returned to try and kill Sarah Leigh again.

     Gingerdead Man vs Evil Bong isn't the best sequel or crossover I've seen but it's not as bad as it could have been.  This is probably the best looking film in the Gingerdead Man franchise but same quality the Evil Bong films had up to that point.  I wanted to love this one and while it's not the worst thing I've seen, it could have been a hell of a lot better.  The acting in this one is the most consistent of the series.  It's nice to see several familiar faces from Evil Bong and Robin Sydney performing a dual role reprising characters she portrayed in both series.  I really enjoyed the casting and I'm glad they went with an Evil Bong heavy casting instead of the Gingerdead Man.  The story for this one spends most of the film giving viewers flashbacks and recapping both series up to this point with only about 45 minutes of the film being new footage.  We then move on to the film mostly consisting of the characters from both series meeting each other or being reintroduced instead of the chaotic story we were expecting featuring a battle between the Gingerdead Man and E.B.  It's a cool film showing them both together but if you were expecting a high body count and a new direction for both series then you will be disappointed.  Finally, the film mostly does the deaths like the Evil Bong series where the smokers are sent to her world to die.  We get a few flashbacks with the kills we've seen before but the new deaths are nothing special or enjoyable.  Overall, Gingerdead Man vs Evil Bong isn't a bad film.  Hell, I enjoyed it but we don't need it and can do without it.  Check it out or don't, it's not really an important installment in the franchise.

Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver

Director - William Butler (My Babysitter The Super Hero, Waffle Hut)

Starring - Jackie Beat (Huluween Dragstravaganza , Tripping the Rift), Paris Wagner (Ready 2 Die, Tattoo Nightmares), and Steve-Michael McLure (Chow Bella, Rizzoli and Isles)

Release Date - 2011

Genre - Horror/Tagline 

Tagline - "The ultimate roller boogieman"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's not often you find a sequel that's better than the original and it's even more rare to find the third film in a series is better than the first.  Some people, who I would argue are wrong, would say films like Return if the Living Dead III is better than the first film but they would be wrong.  However, as I sit here and type this out I whole heartedly believe that parts 2 and 3 of the Gingerdead Man series is leagues better than the first film.  When I picked up the Gingerdead Man tin from Full Moon I did so because I wanted to add it to my collection but I didn't remember shit about the films prior to ordering it.  I did watch them several years back but they didn't really stick with me.  However, after revisiting them on blu, I can safely say this series gets better with each film and Saturday Night Cleaver was a lot of fun.

     The film picks up with Gingerdead Man in a very "secure" prison where he is locked away with other carb heavy monstrosities where he is accidentally released by a group of protestors.  He is accidentally sent back in time to the 70s where a roller disco is having one big party before shutting down for good.  Gingerdead Man doesn't let this slow him down as he sets out to yet again carve out a name for himself.

     Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver is probably the most absurd of the series and easily one of the most enjoyable.  It has a lot thrown into the story that might get overlooked if you are just casually viewing it but those with an eye for horror will notice a few nods to classic titles like Silence of the Lambs.  The acting in this one is consistent with the previous two films.  The cast delivers another amateurish performance with some bold characters.  I liked a lot of the characters and their personalities but their performances are pretty forgettable at the end of the day.  The story for this one once again abandons the bakery theme aside from a few puns here and there.  We then have a sci-fi comedy with horror elements tossed in.  Honestly, it works even though the series is slowly losing it's gingerbread identity.  It started as a bakery themed slasher to a time traveling, roller disco destroying, laser shooting horror comedy that is still fun but the films could be made with any killer from Full Moon's catalogue.  Finally, the deaths are not that memorable but they do work for the film.  We get some cheesy visual effects and low grade practical effects but that is about the extent of it.  Overall, Gingerdead Man 3 is not the pinnacle of horror, or even the Gingerdead Man franchise, but it is enjoyable if you dig little monster movies.  Check it out.  

Gingerdead Man 2: Passion of the Crust

Director - William Butler (Baby Oopsie, The Resonator: Miskatonic U)

Starring - Kevan Moezzi (Firmly Legal, Disaster Date), Kelsey Sanders (Mad Men, iCarly), and Joseph Porter (Detention of the Dead, Mega Piranha)

Release Date - 2008

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Freshly baked terror!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     I remember buying the DVD set at Walmart in their $5 dollar bin and taking it home.  I didn't watch it right away but several weeks down the road I found an actual box set from Full Moon in a Gingerdead Man sleeve for cheap and grabbed it.  It was then that I decided to finally watch them.  I struggled through the first film but when I saw that the second film was directed by William Butler I was sold.  Butler was a huge part of my childhood after appearing in Savini's Night of the Living Dead, Ghoulies II, Friday the 13th Part VII, and Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part III along with all his work in the Power Rangers franchise.  These movies, along with the Power Rangers, would be playing at any given moment in my home during my teenage years.  I'm a huge fan and I hate myself for not knowing he had directed this one for Full Moon.

      The film follows a small production company after it has switched hands recently when the original owner's son takes over.  He has spread himself too thin with multiple projects going at once and is nearing financial ruin when a sick teen from a charity organization makes his dying wish to visit his favorite film studio before he passes.  However, as they explore the studio and meet the cast and crew of the many projects being shot, they realize that the young man pretending to be ill has a more sinister motive.  To make matters worse, a killer gingerbread man is wreaking havoc on set as well.

     If you completely remove Butler's name and I went into this one completely blind as to who was behind it, I would still say this sequel is a better film than the original.  I don't mean that in a negative way but I know many of you will say I'm being biased because I am a fan of his.  I get that and completely understand where you are coming from but honestly, this film IS better than the first.  Trust me, I wanted to love the first film but its an awesome idea that just doesn't do it for me.    The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect.  The performances are a bit campy and cheesy but I really liked the characters.  I love low to no budget films with memorable characters and the cast does a solid job at bringing them to the screen.  The story for this one is a lot of fun but doesn't really fit the baking theme.  With that being said, I'm completely fine with that in this case.  The first film didn't fully embrace the baking theme with the deaths which was a bit of a let down.  In this follow up, that is completely abandoned and now follows a story that almost feels like a parody of Band himself and his Full Moon studio.  I loved that aspect and the twist with the sick teen.  On the flip side of that, the film could have featured any killer in the Full Moon library and it would have worked.  Finally, the film has a lot of deaths with some practical effects and some visuals.  With that being said, I loved both.  The visuals are campy but that adds to the wild story.  The kills are not as gory as I would have liked but they did have some fun practical effects.  Overall, Gingerdead Man 2 is a bit of an improvement over the first film.  It's just as campy but the humor seems to find its mark in this one and the story is a lot more fun.  Check it out.  

The Gingerdead Man

Director - Charles Band (Evil Bong, The Creeps)

Starring - Gary Busey (From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, Piranha 3DD), Robin Sydney (Masters of Horror, Big Bad Wolf), and Ryan Locke (Fight  Club, NCIS)

Release Date - 2005

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Evil never tasted so good!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Full Moon Entertainment has put out some seriously iconic horror titles over the years with films like Lurking Fear, Subspecies, and Trancers just to name a few.  However, they are commonly known for their films featuring little monsters, creatures. and puppets with films like Puppet Master, Evil Bong, and Demonic Toys.  In recent years, Full Moon has found a lot of success with their Evil Bong and Gingerdead Man properties.  So much so that they had a few crossovers since their initial releases.  I'm a huge fan of the Evil Bong franchise but I don't remember a lot about the Gingerdead Man films.  I do remember watching them when I bought a DVD set at WalMart and then a limited edition box set at Dollar General of all places.  Recently, Full Moon announced a new Gingerdead Man set.  This time it would be a blu release that would come in a cookie tin.  I'm a sucker for novelty releases like this and had to snag one which gave me the perfect opportunity to revisit the films.

     This film follows the owner of a small bakery who is struggling to find momentum after the death of her brother and father at the hands of a spree killer.  He was arrested, executed, and cremated with his remains sent to his mother after the bakery owner testified against him at his trial.  Sometime has passed and the bakery receives a package with ingredients needed to make gingerbread.  They use it and make a big gingerbread man unaware that the ingredients actually have the killer's ashes mixed in it.  He is then brought back in control of the gingerbread man and tries to kill everyone in the bakery on his way to get his revenge on the owner.

     The Gingerdead Man is a film that I see a lot of genre fans talk about loving or hating it.  You are either in one extreme or the other.  I remember watching several of the films, if not all of them, when I got the DVD years ago but I don't remember a damn thing about them.  After revisiting the first film I can safely say that I'm not a fan of it.  The acting in this one is nothing like the classic Full Moon releases.  The cast feels a bit amateurish, even more so than what Full Moon was known for.  With that being said, I actually enjoyed it.  Gary Busey in a Full Moon film was something I never expected but it makes sense especially with his career after the accident.  It's not a career defining performance from Busey and, in all honesty, it's not even close to being the best performance in the film.  The story for this one is extremely campy and nothing really happens.  The film is a bit too long even though the run time is only 60 minutes.  We have some of the worst dialogue in film history and the humor you would expect is no where to be seen.  The film could have a lot trimmed off even though it only runs for 60 minutes.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments and some gingerbread puppet mayhem but that is really the extent of the film.  Those looking for a lot of blood and gore will be disappointed.  Honestly, the lack of baking themed deaths is a bit disappointing as well.  Overall, The Gingerdead Man is nowhere near as fun as many of the other Full Moon films of yesteryear or recent memory.  I wanted to love it but it's just too rushed and poorly put together.  This is one I would skip.