Curse of the Weredeer

Director - Ben Johnson

Starring - Derek Woodrow Johnson (Deadly Dealings, Shakespeare's Shitstorm), Nadia White (Harvest of Horrors, Daisy Derkins and the Dinosaur Apocalypse), and Babette Bombshell (CockHammer, Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1)

Release Date - 2023/2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Welcome to Tromaville.  Deer killin' capital of the world"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I follow several hashtags on Instagram so I can what some of the indie filmmakers are working on.  I've found several amazing films this one and often browse through the photos looking for my new favorite film.  Several years ago I found posts for the indie horror comedy Curse of the Werewolf featuring scream queen, adult star, and professional wrestler Nadia White.  I was already interested in this one but it really peaked my curiosity when I saw that Troma was affiliated with the film.  I reached out to them and they informed me that they were currently editing the film but would hit me up when it was available for review.  Since then I've ran news of several other Weredeer horror films with one being centered around Christmas.  I know this is a complete coincident but it's worth mentioning.  We jumped forward a few years and my friend Dixie Geers hit me up to check it out.  I was really excited to check it out and want to thank Dixie for sending this one over!

      This one follows Randy (Johnson) who heads out into the woods with his closest friends for a little deer hunting, beer drinking, and wiener tugging.  A night of debauchery and mutual masturbation turns deadly when a rogue weredeer breaks into his camp killing his friends and biting him.  He finds himself starting to change over the next few days and learns that he has a short amount of time to stop it before he is stuck with the curse forever.  

     Curse of the Weredeer is one of those indie horror comedies that I see a lot of genre fans are going to love.  I've reviewed a lot of horror comedies over the years, many of which were associated with Troma, and very few made me laugh like this one did.  It's not perfect and some of the humor is beating a dead horse when you reach the hour mark but I still had fun with it.  The acting in this is inconsistent but nothing I would consider bad.  I noticed that some of the cast does lack experience which may be one of the reasons the acting was inconsistent.  Some of the characters had more personality than others which gave the actor something to work with while others were extremely flat.  The story for this blends the premise from the classic Wolfman film with hixploitation which is something I didn't realized I needed.  We once again follow a man who was bitten by a creature and has a short time to cure himself or he will be cursed for all time.  You then toss in the redneck/hixploitation angle with nudity and you have yourself that you can easily pair with the likes of Poultrygeist or Smokey and the Bandit.  With that being said, the dipshit redneck inspired dialogue does run it's course fairly early in the film which makes some of the later scenes feel a lot longer than they actually were.  Finally, the film has a lot of fun and campy effects.  The weredeer, which doesn't appear as much as I would like, was extremely campy looking.  It reminded me a lot of the giant monster movies of the 50s.  It's funny when you see it but fits in perfectly with the film.  We also get a lot of blood and light gore.  Troma fans already know what to expect in regards to this.  Overall, Curse of the Weredeer is one for the ages.  It's a sleazy hixploitation horror comedy that has a lot of laughs and just as much blood.  I highly recommend checking it out when you can.  

Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon Volume 2

Director - Addison Binek (Psycho Ape!, Psycho Ape: Part 2 The Wrath of Kong) 

Starring - Addison Binek 

Release Date - 2017 - 2021 

Genre - Horror/Comedy 

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've spent a lot of my time watching and reviewing Addison Binek's work.  That's not a bad thing.  In fact, it's far from it.  He has spent a lot of time and energy in his long running YouTube series Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon and I enjoy getting in the different collections for review.  He has released several over the years ranging from a few of the Shark collections, zombies and cannibals, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Troma.  Sometime ago he sent over a collection simply titled Volume 1 and a few weeks back I received Volume 2 in for review.  After finishing the Troma Edition release, it only made sense to spin this one and check it out.  I want to thank Addison for sending this one along for review!

     In this collection we once again follow host Addison Binek as he watching some horrible and not so horrible films while delivering witty one liners.

     Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon Volume 2 is a solid collection of episodes ranging from cult classics to modern day misses and everything in between.  Like with the other Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon, this isn't going to be for everyone but fans of puns and one liners may appreciate Binek and his brand of humor.  The acting in this one is more like a stand up comedy routine than it is traditional acting.  Binek is a one man show that seems to be enjoying himself in front of the camera.  While it's not acting in a traditional sense, he still gets into his horror host character and delivers the jokes with his flair.  The themes and set up for each episodes corresponds with the film he is riffing.  What we have is some 90s nostalgia, 60s schlock, and classic drive-in era monster madness with some funny, and not so funny puns.  A lot of the humor finds it's mark but a few jokes do fall a bit flat.  Finally, this is a no budget production.  We have some scenes from the film spliced in with Binek's segments.  While he doesn't bring any blood and gore to the series, the films he riffs does offer some of the red stuff or some cheap visuals.  Overall, Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon Volume 2 is another entertaining collection of episodes from the unusual mind of Addison Binek.  This is not going to be for everyone but those within this niche will truly appreciate it.  Check it out.  

Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon: Troma Edition

Director - Addison Binek (Psycho Ape!, Psycho Ape: Part 2 The Wrath of Kong)

Starring - Addison Binek

Release Date - 2017 - 2021

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     There is a lot to appreciate when it comes to Addison Binek.  If you look past his devilish good look and charming personality, you will find someone who truly loves the strange side of cinema.  In a lot of ways I believe we have similar tastes in film.  I've known Addison for years now and have noticed a lot of similarities in the films we watch along with the films we try to skip.  He has his ear fairly close to the indie horror community which why he has "rifted" several Troma releases on his YouTube series Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon.  I've reviewed several of these collections that he has released over the years and was happy to find a copy of his Troma Edition waiting for me in my mailbox recently.  I want to thank Addison for always supporting Horror Society!

     The film follows Addison who sets out to watch different Troma films where he inserts various clips from the films and then riffs them.  

     Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon: Troma Edition is one of the many things that I've reviewed over the years that will not be for everyone.  It's not going to be for every Troma fan.  However, if you dig Troma and MST3K then you will really appreciate what Addison is doing.  The series is a one man show with the exception of a featured guest on the Hectic Knife episode.  Addison really gets into his character where he delivers cheesy dialogue and punny one liners.  He really does love talking about these films while he pokes fun at them for their short comings.  The themes of each episode is centered around the film or major theme of the film.  He does a great job at working that into each episode while still providing the campy humor that many of us return for.  Finally, the episodes only feature scenes from the films along with segments of Addison saying his dialogue.  The deaths and effects we get are from the films he is riffing.  Overall, Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon: Troma Edition is a solid collection featuring some of underground cinema's sickest films as they get ripped apart by Addison.  I highly recommend checking this out.  

Cracula

Brad Twigg (Crackoon, 10/31 Part 3)

Starring - Tim Hale (Meat, Killer Campout Part II), Chanda Rawlings (Go Away, The Slasher Nurse), and Chris Rhydings (A Cheesy Christmas, Trivial)

Release Date -2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "He wants to smoke your blood"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a fan of Brad Twigg for sometime now since his release of Milf vs. Zombies.  I know I often reference this in my reviews but I like to throw it out there to piss off one random reader who didn't like the fact that I was included in the special thanks in the credits and still took the time to give it an honest review.  In reality, I'm a fan of his films and always look forward to his projects.  With that being said, not all of the Fuzzy Monkey Films' releases are the same.  I enjoy some more than others with Crackcoon being one of my new favorites.  Sometime back, Twigg announced a few films continuing the drug fueled puns that became popular after the release of Cocaine Bear and his film Crackcoon.  One of those films was Cracula starring Tim Hale.  A few days back, Brad reached out to me to review the film.  I graciously accepted the offer and would like to thank Brad for sending this one my way for review.

     The film follows Rick (Rhydings) who just inherited a storage locker after the death of his parents.  However, two drug addicts break into it before they can inspect it's contents.  They uncover an ancient coffin which has been a prison to the vampire Dracula (Hale).  Dracula awakens and drains the blood of one of them where he gets a taste of drugs for the first time.  He turns the other into his familiar and sends him out into the wilds of West Virginia to find others with blood as special as his friend.

     Cracula is another hit in a long line of hits from filmmaker Brad Twigg and his Fuzzy Monkey Films label.  The film is nowhere near as fun as Crackcoon and Killer Campout in my opinions but it was still a solid modern day vampire tale that borrows heavily from the Bram Stoker classic tale...with drugs.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun.  Tim Hale has appeared in several genre titles over the years and has always done a solid job with his roles.  With that being said, he did a phenomenal job tackling the starring role.  He's extremely comfortable in front of the camera and brought about some laughs that I was not expecting.  I look forward to watching him lead other horror comedies in the future.  We also see more Fuzzy Monkey regulars like Melissa Sapienza, Rick Jermaine, and Chris Rhydings among a few others.  They deliver some solid performances as well.  The cast is very well rounded here.  However, I would be doing the film great injustice if I don't mention how much I enjoyed the performances from Chanda Rawlings, Chad Critelli, and Kristina Santiago.  I had a lot of fun with their roles, especially Critelli.  His modern day junkie spin on Renfield was a lot of fun.  The story for this one is exactly what you would think if you took the classic Dracula tale and set it in the middle of rural West Virginia.  We have Dracula, bikers, prostitutes, drugs, and a stripper named Cinnamon just like the original story penned by Stoker.  Or not, I can't remember.  Anyway, the film gives it a modern spin with some of the stereotypes facing the mountainous regions of West Virginia.  Honestly, it's funny at times but a lot of the jokes and scenes miss their marks.  While I did enjoy the movie, several scenes could have been trimmed down to improve the pacing.  Also, the movie doesn't feature THAT much drug use.  I was expecting a lot more for a film titled Cracula.  Finally, the film has some blood and some nudity.  The effects are very limited considering it's a vampire flick.  We get some blood, some fake teeth "biting" people, and that is about the extent of it.  What the film lacks in effects, it more than makes up for in nudity.  Overall, Cracula is a fun and sleazy take on the classic Dracula story...if it was set in the mountain state.  I would definitely recommend checking this out and pairing it with Twigg's Crackcoon.   Check it out.    

Pumpkin Guts

Director - Bryan M. Ferguson (Bloody Bites, Earworm)

Starring - Scott Abel, Vari Ferguson (Ladytron: The Island, Insecticide), and Isabelle McIver 

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Don't get pinched"

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

    It's the beginning of September and I'm already in the mood for Halloween.  Most assume that Halloween is my favorite holiday because of my obsession with horror and they would be wrong.  Christmas will forever by my favorite holiday but god damn do I love Halloween.  Every year around this time I start looking for as many Halloween-centric horror titles I can find for my annual October horror binge.  While on my search I found a horror short from last year titled Pumpkin Guts.  I reviewed a short last year with the same title and was curious how this Pumpkin Guts would play out.  I went ahead and hit play on it instead of waiting an entire month.  

     The film follows a young woman on Halloween when she finds a pumpkin randomly in her home while she is on the phone with a friend.  A friend reminds her of a Halloween tradition where she has to appease the Halloween spirits in an hour or she will get "pinched."

     Pumpkin Guts is a short in a long line of shorts that perfectly captures the nostalgic Halloween vibe of the late 80s that many of us genre fans grew up on.  It was a solid short and made great use of it's short run time.  The acting in this one is solid.  The cast is extremely small but everyone is fully dedicated to their rolls.  I really liked the cast and was very surprised how most of them had no other credits on their IMDB.  They did a phenomenal job with no prior experience.  The story for this one is short, sweet, and to the point.  It focuses on a Halloween tradition that I'm not familiar with.  I don't know if it's something created just for this short or a regional tradition.  I liked it but I would like to more about it or what inspired it.  With that being said, the film makes great use of the film's run time and does a great job at holding the viewer's attention. Finally, the film has some simple effects along with solid visual effects.  The visuals do stand out but they look great.  I would have loved some gore but this one doesn't necessarily need it.  Overall, Pumpkin Guts is a great throwback to 80s Halloween horror in the same vain as Stranger Things and any of the films from Witching Season Films.  I highly enjoyed it so check it out.  

The Half-Life Horror from Hell or Irradiated Satan Rocks the World!

Director - Mark Mackner (Evil Brew, Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned)

Starring - Sarah French (Pretty Boy, Blind), Jimmy Snuka (WCW Monday Nitro, Queen City), and Christian Hess (Return to Sleepaway Camp)

Release Date - 2014

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Welcome to Personburg. PA! Where crime, corruption, incest, voodoo, Satan, and heavy metal reign supreme"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been lucky enough to review several films from indie filmmaker Mark Mackner over the years.  I started my journey through his films several years back when I snagged a copy of Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned.  I enjoyed this one and kept an eye out for his other films.  Since then I've reviewed three more Daisy Derkins flicks which were hit or miss with me.  Sometime last year I found an Etsy shop selling blus of Mackner's 2014 horror comedy The Half-Life Horror from Hell or Irradiated Satan Rocks the World!  I snagged a copy for my collection and tossed it on my shelf where I forgot about it until recently.  A few weeks back I received an email from Mark asking to review that film which was streaming on Tubi.  I used this as the perfect excuse to finally crack open the blu release!

     The film follows a small town gripped in fear as a glowing monster starts attacking people out of nowhere.  As a small group looks into the the monster and where it came from, they learn of a conspiracy behind a cover up and it's ties to a mayor who is refusing to postpone a metal show.

     The Half-Life Horror from Hell or Irradiated Satan Rocks the World! is the kind of movie I can see myself getting behind but I couldn't.  There is several things I did like about the film but the negatives far outweighs the positives.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from a no budget indie flick.  I'm not calling it bad, because it's far from it.  However, the cast does show a great deal of inexperience.  I did enjoy Sarah French's performance and a few others that pops up here and there but the overall film did lack experience and it showed.  This included the late Jimmy "Supafly" Snuka who was extremely stiff during his scenes.  Honestly, I would have loved to see him bring the energy and charisma he did when he was shooting his wrestling promos.  The story for this one is one I was fully behind.  At times it felt like a tribute to the atomic age monster movies of the 50s which I'm a huge fan of.  At other times it felt like a Troma film of the time which I'm also a fan of.  However, it was other times in the film that it felt like it forgot where the story was going.  A lot of the scenes are dialogue heavy, which I don't mind, but in this case they do very little to progress the story.  A lot could be trimmed off this one to help the tone and flow of the film.  Finally, those of you looking for a flick with a huge body count and gore will be disappointed.  We do have some cheap effects that fit the film very well but the few deaths we do get are not that imaginative or fun.  Overall, The Half-Life Horror from Hell or Irradiated Satan Rocks the World! is one that I really wanted to like but couldn't.  The story is something straight out of a wet dream of mine but the way it was done made it difficult to follow.  I seriously wanted to love it and couldn't.  It is currently on Tubi if you want to check it out for yourself.  

Borderline

Director - Jimmy Warden (Cocaine Bear, The Babysitter)

Starring - Samara Weaving (Ready or Not, Mayhem), Ray Nicholson (Novocaine, Smile 2), and Eric Dane (Feast, X-Men: The Last Stand)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (Online Screening)

Rating (out of 5):

     Samara Weaving has had one hell of a career when you really sit back and look at it.  With a role in the short lived Ash vs Evil Dead, Monster Trucks,  Scream VI and starring roles in Mayhem, Ready or Not, The Babysitter, Bill & Ted Face the Music, and Guns Akimbo among several more.  She is a phenomenal actress who I'm sure we will see in many more genre titles for years to come.  A few days back I received a press release for the horror comedy Borderline starring Weaver and Ray Nicholson.  The trailer looked wild so I reached out for a screener link.  I want to thank my friends over at Strike Media and The Movie Partnership for sending this one over.

     The film follows pop star Sofia (Weaving) who finds herself being stalked by an escaped mental patient, his equally as deranged female friend, and their one eyed muscle bound companion.  He has plans on holding her hostage, kidnapping a preacher, and marrying her in his dream wedding.  What he doesn't count on is for Sofia to fight back and to have a body guard that seems to have nine lives.  

     I went into Borderline expecting a cast bringing high energy performances and a lot of laughs.  Sadly, that was not what I was greeted with when I hit play.  I seriously wanted to love this one but I couldn't.  It was painfully dull, predictable, and difficult to finish.  I hate to say it but this is one I would recommend skipping.  The acting in this one is the only part of the film that I actually enjoyed.  Samara Weaving delivers a damn solid performance.  This isn't my favorite character I've seen her to bring to life on the big screen but she does a great job with the role.  Also, Ray Nicholson delivers a great performance as well.  His character was very interesting but I was expecting a lot more insanity and energy from him.  With all that being said, Alba Baptista and Patrick Cox were the highlight of the film.  Baptista's character was just as intense and energetic as I thought Nicholson's character would be.  I seriously enjoyed her performance, along with Cox, and would love to see a follow up some how with just these two. The story for this one is not funny.  At all.  I didn't laugh the first time with this one but I did find it to be very goofy but not in a fun kind of way.  The film doesn't unfold chronologically.  Instead, we have some flashbacks and jump forwards that are completely unnecessary.  A romantic comedy thriller following a deranged stalker and a famous pop star would have been fun if it was a more traditional film but the jumping around and predictable ending leaves a lot on the table.  Finally, the film has a decent amount of blood but those looking for gore or a high body count.  The effects we get fit the film but they are very minimal and nothing that stands out.  Most of them were some stab wounds and one great looking slit throat.  Overall, Borderline is a bit of a disappointment.  While I love the cast, the story and deaths left a lot to be desired.  I seriously wanted to love it but this is one I would recommend skipping.  

The Death Molester's Barn of Blood

Director - Matt Enos (Battle Legends: The Legend of Battle Master, The Slim Duffy Show)

Starring - Matt Enos, Michael C. Urchin (Don't Plan on Selling It, Shakespeare's Shitstorm), and Rod Lord (Last Days in Waldo County), Battle Legends: The Legend of Battle Master)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Nothing can prepare for a film this vile"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5): 

     Early last year I was invited to review the action comedy Battle Legends: The Legend of Battle Master from director and star Matt Enos.  I was unfamiliar with Enos and his previous work, which included The Jim Duffy Show, but it all looked extremely fun.  I agreed to check it out and loved it.  I added Enos on Facebook and kept an eye on his next project which happened to be a horror comedy that serves as a sequel of sorts to Battle Legends.  The new film, The Death Molester's Barn of Blood, looked like it incorporated much of the same humor as the previous film but set in a more horror based story.  I couldn't wait to check it out and I quickly agreed to it when Matt messaged me to check it out.  I want to take a moment to thank Matt for sending this one my way for review!

     The film follows two brothers who suspect that their drooling cousin is a necrophile.  When his employer, along with his heir, is conveniently found dead, the necrophile is left a farm with a barn that he uses to rape corpses with another local pervert.  It's up to the two brothers to expose him as the infamous Death Molester so they can stop him... and get famous enough to bang chicks.

     I knew The Death Molester's Barn of Blood was going to be more horror than the previous film but I had no idea it was going to go the way that it did.  If anything, the post should have been an indication as to what to expect with the giant dillschlong plastered on it.  Honestly, i didn't know what to expect but I fucking loved it.  This is the kind of movie that I can see myself revisiting time and time again without tiring of it.  The acting in this one is over the top and very enjoyable.  The characters are written with humor in mind and it works.  The cast does bring a lot of energy to the film especially from director and star Matt Enos who portrays multiple characters.  The story for this one feels like a tribute to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the crime of Ed Gein meets Battle Legend: The Legend of Battle Master.  The film follows characters from The Jim Duffy Show and Battle Legend as they are thrown into a world of murder and necrophilia.  The film does go to a dark place a few times.  While it does sound dark, the humor and South Park level humor makes it much lighter than it should be.  I loved the sense of humor here and would love to see more of these characters in a horror setting again sometime soon.  With that being said, the film does drag on a bit.  The scenes are not necessarily long but a few of the scenes does feel repetitive.  Some trimming would do this one wonders.  Finally, the film has some hilarious effects.  The film is clearly a no budget production so that meant nothing went into the effects.  We have some fake blood, fake shit, and a hilariously bad prop body but that all makes the film so much fun.  Fans of Warlock Home Video and Low Budget Pictures can appreciate the humor in this kind of effects.  Overall, The Death Molester's Barn of Blood is not going to be for everyone.  Hell, it's not going to be for a lot of people but good god damn did I have fun with it.  I highly recommend this especially if you like movies similar to Death O'Lantern and Skinned Alive.  Check it out!

Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight

Director - Teruo Ishii (Yakuza Law, Japanese Hell)

Starring - Tetsuro Tanba (The 7th Dawn, Demon Pond), Goro Ibuki (Kamen Rider Decade, The Blood of Wolves), and Tatsuo Endo (Audition, Legend of the Devil)

Release Date - 1973

Genre - Action/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I wasn't always a horror fan.  While the horror bug bit me when I was young, I was normal up to that point.  I enjoyed watching anything with dinosaurs, cartoons, robots, outer space, and martial arts (kung fu).  I spent a lot of time with my grandmother and spent most of the time watching the Sci-Fi Channel before the rebranding.  When she wasn't watching Sci-Fi, we would watch random videos I would rent from the local video store.  These movies ranged from random mid-90s family flicks like Heavy Weights, The Big Green, Steel, and so on.  However, I would sometimes find some classic 70s martial arts flicks to watch.  My grandma didn't care for these films but I absolutely loved them.  I've been fortunate enough to receive a few of these films for review over the years and always look forward to checking them out while reminiscing about all the times I made my poor grandma watch these with me.  A few weeks back my friends over at Mondo Macabro sent over a blu copy of their release Bohachi Bishido: Code of the Forgotten Eight.  I had never seen this one before and couldn't wait to check it out.  Like always, I would like to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over!

     The film follows a man who attempts suicide but is rescued by two prostitutes.  The prostitutes are under the protection of the Bohachi Bishido who are an emotionless clan that rules over their prostitutes and their turf.  However, when a rival gang creeps into their land running prostitutes, they send in their newest member, the suicide survivor, take care of them.  His ruthless blood shed captures the sights of the local authorities which brings them snooping around their illegal trade.

     I went into Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight completely blind.  I knew absolutely nothing about it and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was an early 70s martial arts film that is also a pink, or pinku, flick.  Many of you may recall that when I discovered sexploitation, it didn't take long for me to find an interest in Japan's pinku and China's CAT III, so a film that is equal parts martial arts and sleazy pinku is right up my alley.  The acting in this is a lot of fun.  We have a lot of memorable characters that bring a lot of personality and energy to the scene.  We also have beautiful women baring it all to get the film that pinku status.  The story for this one is a bit more sleazier than you would expect from a typical martial arts flick of the time.  Most of the films like this that I've reviewed followed someone who trained their entire life to seek revenge against some sort of master that wronged them or their family.  It's a generic story but it's still fun when you mix in other elements.  However, Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight is an extremely raunchy tale of prostitutes, freeing yourself from social constructs and emotional burdens, and nudity.  Lots of nudity.  As much as I enjoyed this story, I did find it to be a bit boring at times and not even the beautiful skin of the cast could speed the story along.  Finally, the film does have some blood and some cheap effects.  Martial arts films of this time did have some blood and some over the top effects that sometimes worked and sometimes didn't.  Sadly, this one doesn't really meet my expectations.  I do believe that the team behind this one knew that and used the nudity as a way to make up for it.  Overall, Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight is a fun and sleazy martial arts flick.  It may not be my favorite Mondo Macabro release but god damn did I enjoy it.  It's far from perfect but that's part of the charm.  Check it out on blu and be sure to grab a few beers!  

Clown in a Cornfield

Director - Eli Craig (Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, Zombieland)

Starring - Katie Douglas (Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey, What Would Jesus Do?), Aaron Abrams (Hannibal, The Watchful Eye), Carson MacCormac (Shazam!, Zombie at 17)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Are you afraid of Frendo?"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     One of the last few years I was in college, which doesn't seem THAT long ago, I rushed out to my local WalMart at midnight to snag a copy of Tucker and Dale vs Evil.  I was going to snag a copy at FYE when they opened but I was too impatient at the time and decided to hit up WalMart instead knowing that they stocked new releases at midnight.  I fell in love with the film and since then I've collected shirts, posters, and a few random things like hats, beanies, and so forth for the film.  It's one of my favorite horror comedies and one of the best parodies of the cabin in the woods sub-genre to exist.  With that being said, director Eli Craig hasn't really contributed much to the genre since then aside from what looks like a made for television movie, or television show pilot, spinoff of Zombieland that I need to track down.  That was until now when he helmed the Clown in a Cornfield adaptation.  I'm not one to go out of my way to see a killer clown flick but I'm always open to them.  Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Stephen King's It are among my favorite movies, so I always give the sub-genre a chance especially when I saw that it was Craig behind the camera on this one.  I want to thank Shudder for sending over the review link for me to check out!

     The film follows a teenager girl and her windowed father who move to a small town.  The town is known for it's corn syrup factory and it's mascot Frendo.  However, the times are tough for everyone and the town is starting to fade.  Some of the local youths have turned Frendo into an urban legend with their found footage style YouTube series depicting Frendo as a serial killer.  However, their lucrative hobby turns deadly when they start going missing one by one as they are stalked by someone dressed up as Frendo.  It's up to those left alive to find out who is behind the killing and why.  

     I went into this one knowing very little about it.  I knew it was based on a young adult novel by Adam Cesare but that was the extent of it.  However, as I prepare for the review I discovered that Cesare wrote Last Night at Terrace Lanes which I recently watched.  I was not a fan of that film and that would explain why I didn't really care for Clown in a Cornfield.  The film has a few moments I liked and loved seeing Will Saso and Kevin Durand but the movie just wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is great.  Honestly, this probably has the best acting I've seen this year.  The cast is great and it was awesome seeing Saso and Durand taking over the role of the villains.  Honestly, I would have loved the film if it was focused more on them and their secret Frendo cult instead of the teenagers.  The story for this one has some things that I enjoyed and a lot that I didn't.  I'm going to blame it on my age, but a lot of the characters are not likable.  It's not a problem of the cast, but how they were written.  They have shitty personalities and extremely difficult to connect with.  The teens are meant to be a bit unlikable and their past actions have caused a lot of issues in the small community but with that aside, it's difficult not to want to watch them all die.  Also, the film doesn't do a good job at hiding the twist as to who the killer is.  We have some foreshadowing that gives away more than it should which ruins the big twist near the end.  There was a few things that I did like.  I really enjoyed the idea of teens turning a local mascot into a serial killer in a found footage YouTube series.  I also liked that local cult of adults who despise the youths. Finally, the film has some solid practical effects and gnarly deaths.  The deaths are not the wildest I've seen but they are enjoyable enough for me to recommend the film on just that alone.  I don't see myself revisiting the movie again but I may toss it in and fast forward to these bloody bits.  The effects are fantastic and the kills fit the film but they are not that imaginative.  Overall, Clown in the Cornfield is a film with a story meant for young adults turned turned horror with unlikable characters and a predictable story.  It does have some great looking deaths but nothing that will stick with you especially if you are an everyday horror fan.  I recommend the film for the deaths but that is it.  

The Haunting of Heather Black

Director - Joe Sherlock (Frames of Fear, Odd Noggins)

Starring - Ian McCready (A Knife in the Dark) and Kate Schmidt (The Lizzie Borden Game, Strange Things Happen at the Weird House 2)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Something supernatural wont let Heather rest... what are her dark secrets... and will she survive the night?"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Indie filmmaking brings about it's own unique problems that many people would never know unless they made their own films.  I respect anyone that has made a no budget flick but it's even more impressive when you've turned it into a career.  I know a few filmmakers that has been able to make this their livelihood but very few have been able to do it as long as director Joe Sherlock has.  Next year will make 30 years since his first feature length film and he is still going strong.  A few weeks back Joe sent over a link to check out his newest film The Haunting of Heather Black.  This supernatural flick was inspired by made for television films from the 70s and starred the lovely Kate Schmidt.  I want to take a moment to thank Joe for sending this one over!

     The film follows Heather (Schmidt) who needs a change of scenery and moves into an old family home away from her family and friends.  However, things are strange at this home.  As she navigates through several relationships, we see her mental health start to deteriorate until they all end in bloodshed.  Is there something in the home forcing her to kill or is she insane?

     The Haunting of Heather Black is one that I was not expecting from Sherlock and his Skullfaced Astronaut label.  He is constantly working on something but I had no idea what his new film was about.  However, I didn't expect a film paying homage to made for television movies to be one of them.  With that being said, I absolutely loved it.  It wasn't a paint by numbers supernatural horror flick.  Instead, it was a movie that redirected the viewer perfectly and hit them with something they didn't see coming.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven but it's not the worst that I've seen.  The supporting cast has a few scenes where the dialogue is a bit forced and awkward but deliver a solid job for the most part.  The star of the show, Kate Schmidt, is phenomenal.  She does a fantastic job and shows a wide range of emotion.  Her performance here made her a name I look for in future genre projects.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting.  It's not a predictable film and the first 30 or 40 minutes has you scratching your head as you wonder what the point any of this has to do with the film but then the last leg of the film happens and you realize exactly what is going on.  It's a movie you have to watch patiently and missing one scene will throw you off but the pay off is worth it if you stick with it.  The last quarter of the film is worth the wait and really pulls the entire film together.  While it does have a slow build up, it's works.  Finally, the film has some blood with minimal effects.  It's not the goriest film which is to be expected considering the films it's paying tribute to didn't have Overall, The Haunting of Heather Black is a well put together supernatural thriller that pays homage to made for television films from the 70s.  It introduces me to my favorite new actress and has a story that was not predictable at all.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay

Director - Bruno Gantillon (Highlander, The Hitchhiker)

Starring - Dominique Delpierre (School Falling Apart, Julia), Alfred Baillou (Steppenwolf, Cop or Hood), and Mireille Saunin (Le Mariage de Figaro)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Trapped by the queen of evil with only her body to save her"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been collecting movies for a long time.  I started with VHS and DVDs when I was in high school and made the jump to blu and UHD when they became readily available.  During all those years I've added a lot to my collection with films ranging from the silent era all the way to modern classics.  I love adding new films to my collection and I don't see myself slowing down anytime soon.  Several years back I snagged a bunch of DVDs from Cheezy Movies when they were running a sale of some sort.  I think it was around Halloween but I'm not completely sure.  Anyway, I snagged a bunch of them to add to my collection and one of those films was the 1971 erotic horror flick Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay.  I watched it not long after and didn't remember shit about it.  Recently, my friends over at Mondo Macabro sent over a copy of their release of the film on blu for review.  I decided to double feature it with their UHD release of the sexploitation classic Cafe Flesh.  I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one my way!

    The film follows two young women who find themselves lost in the forest which happens to be the domain of Morgana (Delpierre).  She promises that they would keep their youth and beauty if they stay with her and be her lovers but if they refuse then they will rot in her dungeons.  

     Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay is one of those films that would be a lot of fun if it was 45 minutes or less.  However, it becomes a bit dull once you hit the hour mark.  I would have loved this one if some of the more slower scenes were trimmed down but, as it is, I found myself watching the clock more than the film.  The acting in this one is pretty well done.  We do have a few scenes where the cast struggle with where they should be looking along with awkward hand gestures but these scenes are few and far in between.  Instead, most of the film is very well done with this gorgeous cast delivering some solid performances even when baring it all.  The story for this one is one I could really get behind if it was trimmed down.  An erotic folk horror film with beautiful women and the promise of eternal youth if they pledge their bodies to her is something out of every genre fan's dreams.  Sadly, the long, drawn out scenes and dialogue that tends to go nowhere makes this film feel a lot longer than it is.  I often found myself losing track of time and the story as we progressed through the run time.  A lot of trimming should have been done in the editing room.  Finally, the film is not a bloody one.  The film's main focus is the beautiful women and the fantastic locations.  Honestly, you can pause the film at any time and find yourself with something you could frame and hang on the wall.  While I would have loved some blood and guts, these beautiful locations almost make up for it.  Overall, Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay is a movie I thought I would love but found myself somewhat bored with it.  It does have a few memorable moments but the overall film is one that doesn't really stick with you.  Collectors will want to grab the Mondo Macabro release but genre fans looking for something new to watch will want to check out many of Mondo's other releases.