Velvicide

Director - Kenneth Perkins (Lux, Zepotha)

Starring - Gea Rose Henry (Allure, The Ms. Pat Show), J.D. Starnes (Murdaugh: Death in the Family, The House Among the Trees), and Jon Devlin (Screw Year's Eve, Phallacies)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Escape was only the first act"

Format - Streaming (online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Over the last week or so I've been watching several of the films in the Excorsimo set from Severin Films.  These Spanish films are historical due to the fact that they were made following the death of Spain's dictator and the removal of such strict filming regulations.  However, I'm getting a little burned out after a dozen or so films.  I decided to take a break and check out a few other movies sent to me for review.  The first up on the chopping block is the indie horror feature starring friend of Horror Society, Jon Devlin.  The film, Velvicide, was directed by Kenneth Perkins and stars Gea Rose Henry.  I want to thank Jon for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows two people from different walks of life that eventually cross paths.  Callum (Devlin) is an operator at a suicide hotline service who had recently listened to a caller that killed her husband and then herself.  We also follow Velvet (Henry) who was abducted, humiliated, and abused by a masked wearing mad man before she was finally freed left to live her life with the trauma inflicted upon her.  The pair is unaware of the other's existence until they cross paths resulting in an unexpected outcome.

     I went into Velvicide completely blind.  I had received a press release for it sometime ago and shared it on the site but nothing really stood out to me besides the fact that it featured Devlin.  I figured I would eventually check it out so I didn't check out the trailer and other promo material that accompanied the press release.  I try not to watch trailers for films that I'm going to review due to the fact that most of the time the trailer features all the best parts.  Velvicide is a film that had a great cast and an interesting story but was unable to pull it all together to create something enjoyable.  The acting in this one is great.  Gea Rose Henry delivers an emotionally charged performance that will linger with the viewer for days after watching it.  She really dialed in her performance and did a great job.  Devlin is great as well.  His character wasn't as interesting but he once again delivers a great performance.  The supporting cast is solid as well but it's these two that really stand out.  The story for this one is one that I found to be very interesting but it was unable to carry itself through the length of the feature length run time.  I loved the idea of a suicide hotline operator crossing paths with a woman with severe trauma.  There is a twist in there that I'm avoiding that I did love but it doesn't really help the film with it's obvious run time issue.  The story itself should have been adapted into a 30 minute short.  Finally, The film has some blood and some solid effects for what they are but don't expect to see some memorable kills that we want from most genre titles.  Overall, Velvicide is a film that has a great cast and a solid story but the story is not as effective as it could have been if it was trimmed down.  I wanted to love it but it just wasn't for me.  

The Benefactress

Director - Guerrilla Metropolitana (Bits, Dariuss)

Starring - Marie Antoinette de Robespierre (Dariuss), Juicy X (Corporate Torment), and Elektra McBride

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "An exposure of cinematic freedom"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed a lot of extreme horror over the years.  I can only assume that spending several decades watching horror has desensitized me but a lot of the films advertised as being extreme are nothing more than arthouse shock by filmmakers who never watched porn until they were well into adulthood.  What we usually have is a lot of rape and fake self-mutilation with no real plot.  A couple weeks back I was contacted by a filmmaker to review his film which he pitched to me as an artistic film that could be compared to pornography and so on.  I agreed to review it and he immediately deleted everything he said and blocked me.  I noticed that the film was being released by a mutual friend so I contacted him about the filmmakers strange behavior.  I assume he messaged me through his personal page instead of his filmmaking page.  Regardless, I have no idea what happened but my friends over at Blood Pact Films sent me a link to check it out anyway.  

     The film follows a woman who is married to an evangelist who finds a movie that is so perverse and shocking that it awakens something inside her.  She then starts exploring her sexuality and before long finds herself taking advantage of someone who is at her mercy.  

     I went into this one expecting something very unsettling and wild but what I found is a movie that was extremely dull and not shocking at all.  In fact, the film has nudity but isn't really that graphic or violent.  I can recommend dozens, if not hundreds, of films that are more extreme than this one.  The acting in this one isn't very good.  In fact, it's awkward to watch through most of the film.  The lead is very stiff and not that natural in front of the camera.  The story for this one is pretty much non-existent.  We follow a women, who we are lead to believe is a high society character, that finds herself in the middle of a sexual awakening that could tarnish her reputation if someone finds out.  It could be an interesting short if someone behind the camera actually had a grasp on what extreme cinema is.  Instead, we have a story that falls flat and feels like it was created by someone that only watches pop horror and has no idea what extreme horror really is.  Finally, we have a lot of skin but those that want to see some of the red stuff will be very disappointed.  This one doesn't have a body count and no memorable deaths.  Overall, The Benefactress is not the film they think they made.  It's not extreme, shocking, or even that graphic.  I've seen movies on Skinemax growing up that was rougher than this one.  You may find it extreme if you grew up watching only Full House and Saved by the Bell.  I wanted to like it solely because Blood Pact Films released it but it's not for me.  I highly recommend skipping it.   

Lookin' Italian

Director - Guy Magar (Retribution, Stepfather 3)

Starring - Jay Acovone (The Hills Have Eyes 2, The X-Files), Matt LeBlanc (Lost in Space, Monsters), and Stephanie Richards (Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Never Trust a Serial Killer)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Crime

Tagline - "There can be no peace without honor and family"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I get in some non-horror for review from time to time but it's not that often.  Most of the time these films are sexploitation which I've really grown to appreciate but sometimes I get in something that is not horror nor sexploitation.  A few weeks ago I was contacted by my friends over at Severin Films to review a trio of their releases.  Severin, as most of you know, is one of my favorite labels and I was really looking forward to checking out these films.  The first film that I tossed in and hit play on was the 1994 crime film Lookin' Italian which starred a young Matt LeBlanc and directed by Guy Magar who directed the 1987 underrated horror film Retribution.  I was really looking forward to this one and want to thank Severin for sending this one over.

     The film follows a man living Los Angelos and working in a used book store who was once a member of a prominent crime family.  He has now turned his back on the life and wants something simple.  However, his nephew that he took in after the death of his father has a wild side about him.  This leads him down the same path his uncle once walked forcing him to try and save his nephew before it's too late.

     I went into Lookin' Italian kind of excited.  I didn't realize it was directed by Guy Magar until I was putting the disc in.  I'm not a fan of Friends or Matt LeBlanc but an early 90s crime flick by Magar had to be fun.  Sadly, it wasn't.  It was an interesting idea that just never finds it's footing.  The acting in this one is top notch.  Jay Acovone and Matt LeBlanc are phenomenal together.  They work so well together and the viewer almost believes that these two are really an uncle/nephew pair.  The supporting cast is just as great with no real weak links in this one.  The story for this one is one I can get behind but struggles to really find itself.  The movie does a great job at setting up the uncle as a man who regrets his past but way too much time is spent on the nephew and showing the viewer that he is a wild teen with no responsibilities.  The entire mafia aspect of the film should have started by the 30 minute mark instead of how late it was.  A little tighter writing and smoother editing would have made this one far more enjoyable than it is.  Finally, don't expect memorable deaths and a lot of gore.  We have a lot of drama and crime with a little romance but no fun deaths with the red stuff.    Overall, Lookin' Italian is a movie that has a fantastic cast and a story that could have been something memorable but puts too much emphasis on one character that doesn't deserve it.  I wanted to like it but just couldn't get into it.  Fans of early 90s crime may still appreciate it and the release from Severin looks great.  

Blue Sunshine

Director - Jeff Lieberman (Squirm, Satan's Little Helper)

Starring - Zalman King (Galaxy of Terror, Trip with the Teacher), Deborah Winters (The Outing, Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo), and Mark Goddard (Strange Invaders, Lost in Space)

Release Date - 1977

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "After blue sunshine you're better off dead!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been accused of writing positive reviews for money which is absolutely absurd.  I wish I could get paid to do this but the truth is I do this for fun.  I've never received a cent from my work on Horror Society and all my reviews are my honest opinion.  I like what I like and some of my readers believe that my reviews are paid for.  Honestly, I just have weird taste in movies and I'm not ashamed of that at all.  The reason I'm saying this is because I'm about to write a review for Synapse Film's release of Blue Sunshine.  This is a film I first watch many years ago thanks to Elvira's Movie Macabre.  Since then I have snagged the DVD release of that episode along with a standard DVD release of the film.  I know many genre fans dislike the movie but I fucking love it and couldn't wait to check out this release from my friends over at Synapse.

     The film follows a man who is on the run after falsely being accused of murder he did not commit.  His friend, the real murderer, lost all his hair before going mad and killing their mutual friends.  Knowing something is going on, he starts investigating by himself while avoiding arrest where he uncovers a connection between him and other murders like it where the person lost all their hair and went mad.  He then learns that all the murderers had taken a drug called Blue Sunshine years before that may have triggered the murders.  

     I know Blue Sunshine has it's fans but I was under the impression that it was a genre title that was genuinely loved.  That changed after I posted on social media that I was checking out this release.  While no one said anything about the UHD release from Synapse, some genre fans were quick to bash the film.  This was shocking to me as I had always thought it was a film many of my like minded friends loved.  The movie itself is an awesome horror thriller that almost plays into the anti-drugs propaganda of the time.  It's extremely dated but that is what makes this one so much fun.  The acting in this one is great.  Zalman King is a fantastic lead.  He reminds me a lot of a young Sean Penn in some of the scenes which has always been a bit of a surprise to me.  His character doesn't show a wife range of emotions but he carries the film.  The supporting cast is great as well but it's King who is a one man show.  The story for this one is a horror thriller following a man trying to clear his name and get to the reason his friend snapped and killed several people before trying to kill him.  Toss in a "drugs are bad" message and you have a film that is frozen in time but is still extremely enjoyable.  It has great pacing and while it is predictable it still delivers a fun ride to it's destination.  Finally, we do get some blood but this is not a gruesome flick.  the film relies heavily on the story itself and the mystery surrounding the murders instead of the murders themselves.  It's because of this that we don't get memorable deaths.  Overall, Blue Sunshine is a film I absolutely love.  I'm blown away that genre fans don't dig it like it.  I know the movie has it's fan out there and this release is for you.  However, if you don't like it then I can only assume you smell your own farts for pleasure.  Check it out.  

Van Life

Director - Thor Moreno (Schism, Burn)

Starring - Adam Meirick (Die Again Tomorrow, The Man in the Woods) and Kelsey Anne Osborne (Mortal Poker, California Dream)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "One van.  A thousand eyes.  No way out"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm on the fence about found footage flicks.  Most of them, and I mean that, bore the absolute shit out of me.  The dialogue is so fucking awkward, the stories usually lead nowhere, and it's hard to tell what is going on due to the shaky camera work.  I understand that the goal is to make these feel as authentic as possible but the more authentic it is means the more difficult it is for me to finish.  There is a few exceptions to this but the ones I did like can be counted on one hand.  A few weeks ago I was asked to review the found footage flick Van Life.  The title really peaked my interest but the AI made artwork for the film didn't do much for my imagination.  Regardless, the title pulled me in and I agreed to check it out.  I want to thank Damon Moreno for reaching out!

     The film follows a man who is heading out into the woods to find his missing friend.  She has been missing for sometime now and the only thing recovered was her phone.  She was an aspiring vlogger wanting to create content while living in her van.  Using his camera and her last known location, he sets out to find her before succumbing to the same fate she suffered. 

    I absolutely hate writing a negative review but I'm always honest.  I always try to be respectful but I can't like every movie sent my way for review.  The movies may have some things I enjoy but not every movie is for me nor am I the intended audience.  Van Life has a solid, yet small, cast but the story and atmosphere just didn't do it for me.  As I said earlier, I hate writing negative reviews and I wanted to like it but couldn't.  The acting in this one is my favorite part of the film.  The cast is acting alone while narrating their actions for their vlogs.  The dialogue is awkward but that comes with the territory.  The story for this one is one that we've seen several times before especially in a found footage film.  Here we follow someone looking for a missing friend only to find themselves facing the same horrors that the missing had.  Most recently, I reviewed the Horror in the High Desert film which followed a similar story.  It's not that original and what makes this one a tough one to sit through is that it feels like two separate films.  The first portion is the friend looking for her and the second is the video from the phone.  We shouldn't have both aspects playing out like that.  It's almost as if we watched a sequel and followed it up with the original film.  The movie would have flowed a lot better if we just followed the young man for a few moments before we watch the found footage before moving back to him looking for her.  It would have made the pacing way more enjoyable and didn't give away the stuff that happened to her before it's time.  Finally, don't expect to see a bloody mess.  The movie doesn't have a high body count or a lot of the red stuff.  We get a little blood smeared on the actresses face but that is the extent of it.  Overall, Van Life was not for me.  It doesn't have the atmosphere and tension that most found footage films are known for.  While I did enjoy the acting, the repetitive story and lack of memorable deaths made this one a tough one to finish.  If you dig found footage then you may enjoy it but if you are like me then you may want to skip it.  

Mulva: Demon Ass Kicker

Director - Chris Seaver (Anal Paprika, SexSquatch)

Starring - Deana Naja (Screamwalkers, Victim No More), Katie Keating (Indiana Jones and the Legend of Bimini, Wellsville Nights), and Jason McCall (The Bleu Cheese Brothers, The Weirdsies)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "You gotta kill for your right to party!"

Format - Streaming (The B Stream)

Rating (out of 5):

       I don't know what I can say about Chris Seaver and his films that I haven't already said in previous review.  I've reviewed a lot of his movies over the years and really enjoyed most of them.  Hell, I still have fun with the few that I don't like.  His movies really is an experience that I recommend to anyone that grew up in the 80s or has the sense of humor of a teenager.  Sometime back I was surprised to learn that Seaver had wrapped on a sequel in 2023 to one of his earlier films.  The movie, Mulva: Demon Ass Kicker, was getting released through Makeflix but they seemed to be dragging their feet on it.  I started keeping an eye on Seaver's Instagram account and noted when the film was released.  At the time I wasn't able to snag a copy but kept an up with it until I could.  However, during that time the movie hit some streaming services and I was able to check it out on The B Stream.  I want to thank The B Stream for sending me a promo code so I could check them out!

     Mulva: Demon Ass Kicker follows Mulva (Naja) who is about to celebrate her birthday when she suspects that her friends are doing something special for her.  When she presses them further she learns that they are planning a Halloween party.  As she prepares for the party, two people she accidentally offended previously sets out to sabotage her.  They use an ancient book to summon a trio of sex demons who they promise can rape and kill everyone at the party.  However, that is no easy task when Mulva puts on her ass kicking boots.

     The first two Mulva films are not for everyone.  Hell, Demon Ass Kicker will not be for everyone but it's worth noting that the first two films and this one are very different in regards to look.  Seaver's films are known for making the best out of nothing.  His no budget films are meant for those that have fun with movies without needing the big budgets for effects and polish.  Not having a budget is why he masks everything with humor.  However, this sequel is leagues above the first two and may be one of my favorite films of his only second to The Weirdsies.  It was a lot of fun and easily one of the better shot films to come out of the Warlock Home Video camp.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun which is the first thing I expect from a Low Budget Pictures/Warlock Home Video/Midnight Kids Productions.  The characters always have a lot of energy and deliver some hilarious dialogue.  We have a lot of returning faces and the cast is always fun to watch regardless if they are brand new or genre legends with decades under their belts.  While on that same topic, Debbie Rochon who portrayed Mulva in the first sequel appears in the film as a different character.  She was solid as Mulva but I really enjoyed her more in her role here.  She has a lot of experience in front of the camera and easily slips into the style of characters Seaver is known for.  The story for this one is pure Warlock Home Video.  We have more sexual innuendos than you can shake your dick at while keeping the essence of Mulva there.  The sugar addicted surprisingly badass Mulva character still has all the quirky things that made her so memorable early on in Seaver's career while bringing in the trends that many of his fan has seen in his work over the last 10 or 15 years.  The set up for the story is not really that creative or imaginative but it's the characters, humor, and what happens once the party starts that makes the journey worth it.  Finally, the film has surprisingly better effects than almost every other film I've seen from Seaver.  While it's not a gory flick, the monster cocks and the gags associated with it look great.  The kills may not be the most brutal but they fit the film and are very memorable.  Overall, Mulva: Demon Ass Kicker is so much fucking fun especially if you have the mind of a teenager with a nudie mag hidden under your bed.  I know most of the horror community will turn their nose up to it but those of us not high on our own farts will truly appreciate the humor.  I highly recommend this one.  

The Last Sacrifice

Director - Rupert Russell (Freedom of the Wolf, How the World Went Mad)

Starring - Geraldine Beskin (The Death and Resurrection Show, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror), Gavin Bone (Forbidden History, Wicca Reincarnate), and Janet Farrar (Ancient Mysteries, The Occult Experience)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Documentary/Crime

Tagline - "Valentine's Day 1945.  A ritual murder in rural Britain.  A new horror is born"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed a lot of documentaries over the years and while I did enjoy a good portion of them, none of them really wow'd me.  With that being said, I've seen some really good documentaries over the years covering a variety of topics ranging from unsolved murders, serial killers, cryptids, aliens and UFOs, and horror legends.  I'm a sucker for documentaries and jumped at the opportunity to check out The Last Sacrifice when Shudder sent me a link to check it out.  I want to thank them for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check this one out!

     The documentary covers a murder of a farm hand in Britain in the early 1940s that many locals believed to be part of a ritualistic sacrifice by a coven of witches.  A legendary detective was sent down from Scotland Yard but was unable to penetrate the locals who refused to cooperate.  This would inspire several pagan and folk horror tales over the years.  The documentary then takes a deeper look into witch cults and covens around Britain that popped up during the love and peace era.  

       The Last Sacrifice is a documentary that doesn't really look like any other documentary that I had seen before.  It didn't wow me like I had hoped for but it's one of the more unique documentaries that I've been fortunate enough to review.  The interviews in this one consists of mostly historians and those that have spent most of their time to investigate the folklore, history, and legends of the area ranging from the witch trials to present day.  They seem to know a lot about witches in the area, ritualistic murders over the years, and how this one in particular spawned a bevvy of folk horror films in the coming decades.  The topics discussed fit the film very well and work from one subject to another.  As an American, I knew Britain had their own witch trials but I had no idea that witches and magic was so steeped into their lore and legends.  It was very informative in that regard but I wasn't really a fan of all the old footage used.  I would have preferred to see the people being interviewed as they discussed each subject rather than the old Hammer footage and so forth.  While it did make the documentary feel unique and different, it made it a bit dull and sometimes confusing.  Finally, the film is put together very well.  The editing is damn near perfect and this doc is unlike any I had seen before.  It is visually pleasing and fantastic in that regard.  Overall, The Last Sacrifice is an interesting true crime documentary that explores a murder from over 80s years ago and the impact it would have on our beloved genres, as well as, the history the country has involving witches.  I highly recommend checking it out!

The Draft

Director - Yusron Faudi (The Verdict, Skull)

Starring - Adhin Abdul Hakim (Hayya: The Power of Love 2, Hayya 2: Dream, Hope and Reality), Anastasia Herzigova (Lost in the Spotlight, Cyanide), and Anggi Waluyo (The Redemption of Sin, Zona Merah)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Fight 4 your fate"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I Absolutely adore getting in international genre titles to review.  Lately, I have been receiving international flicks for review but most of them have been sexploitation flicks from my friends over at Mondo Macabro and Severin Films.  I really enjoy these films so please don't get me wrong but I'm always going to be a horror fan.  I love horror and really enjoy seeing what other countries have to offer.  A few weeks ago I received an email featuring two international titles for review.  The first film happened to be an Indonesian zombie flick from 2023 titled The Draft.  The title really peaked my interest and I decided to check that one out first.  I want to thank my friends over at Shudder and Screambox for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a group of what appears to be twenty-somethings that visit an old villa that belongs to one of them.  Her uncle is the caretaker of the property and begs them not to stay but they refuse to listen.  They soon find themselves in trouble when one of them is murdered the first night.  As they try to figure out a way to get help they uncover that they are actually living in a cliched horror movie.  They must embrace the horror or succumb to the undead monsters lurking outside the villa.

     I was very excited when I hit play on The Draft.  I couldn't wait to see what this film was all about but soon found myself face to face with a film that spent the first hour with the characters just talking.  It was so fucking dull that I almost turned it off.  I can't remember the last time I almost turned a movie off before it was finished but this film had me seriously thinking about it.  I hate writing a negative review for a movie sent to me but this one was tough.  The acting in this one was very well done.  The characters are generic on purpose.  The cast has a lot of fun getting into character which made the movie somewhat barrable during the first hour or so.  The story for this one is a fun idea that took far too long to get going.  The first hour is one death followed by way too much dialogue.  We have zero action before the last leg of the film.  With that being said, that last leg is fantastic.  It almost saves the film.  It's clever, action packed, and has some laughs.  If the whole film was able to hold that consistency then it would have been unforgettable.  Finally, the film has some practical effects.  We have some zombie make-up that looks fairly well done along with some other make-up effects.  They all look good enough but nothing that stands out to the viewer.  Overall, The Draft is such a wasted idea.  I love the story but the way in which it unfolds is extremely boring.  I wanted to like this one, and the last 30 minutes almost won me over, but that first hour ruins the experience.  This is one I'd recommend skipping.  

He's Watching You

Director - Jordon Foss (Knightmare: Man or Bat, Static + Cling)

Starring - Jan Luis Castellanos (Uglies, Saint Clare), Tiana Le (Big Shot, No Good Nick), and Elizabeth Yu (Womb, Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Slashers have always been my favorite sub-genre once I found myself fully embracing horror.  Zombies are damn near close but slashers has and always will have my heart.  I prefer the slasher of the early to mid 80s but I'm always open to any slasher regardless of when it was made or what it was about.  Several weeks back I started receiving press releases for the 2024 slasher He's Watching You which was making it's VOD debut.  I shared it on the site and the press release that followed.  I found myself really interested in the film after watching the trailer that accompanied the press release so I reached out to them for a screener link and they were kind enough to send one over!

     The story for this one follows a high school journalist who finds his sleepy small town the center of a murderer known as The Pill who is targeting other youths from the area.  While doing some investigating on his own he uncovers a collection of VHS which could lead him to uncovering the killer's identity.  

     He's Watching You looked like an interesting slasher that would fully embrace the modern tropes... and I was wrong.  Instead, it was a slasher that borrowed heavily from 80s slashers while keeping a modern look and feel.  I respect the hell out of it for that but the unlikable characters and weak slasher makes it one that I couldn't really get into.  The acting in this one is solid.  The characters are painfully generic and the dialogue is very campy but the cast does a decent enough job with what they were given.  I was hoping that some of the characters in the film would have memorable personalities or would offer up something unforgettable but they all blend into the background.  I get that everyone is written into the film to be murdered but having them all be one dimensional made the film a bit dull.  The story for this one had some things I liked and a lot of things that I didn't.  As I stated earlier, the characters are poorly written and offer up very little entertainment.  With that being said, I did like the VHS angle and how the film feels like a slasher on campus horror film that was popular in the late 80s.  Sadly, it doesn't really take hold like I would have liked resulting in a predictable experience that just doesn't have the suspense or tension that most modern slashers have. Finally, the film has several deaths that feature some solid practical effects but they were unimaginable and not that graphic.  I was expecting a lot from the kills with this one and was let down by them.  The effects work and the kills fit a slasher tale but they are easily forgettable.  Overall, He's Watching You is a slasher that is painfully the middle of the road.  It's easily forgettable and offers up very little for the viewer.  This type of generic slasher is what I like to call Walmart Horror.  It's not bad but it's not that great either.  Skip it.  

Five Nights at Freddy's 2

Director - Emma Tammi (Five Nights at Freddy's, Into the Dark)

Starring - Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games, Ultraman), Piper Rubio (Robogobo, Project U Move), and Elizabeth Lail (You, Robot Chicken)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "You there?"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm an avid gamer and a horror fan.  I love to game when I'm not watching movies and I love even more when the two worlds collide.  I've been lucky enough to review a few horror video game adaptations with Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City, Silent Hill, The Last of Us, and Five Nights at Freddy's.  I really enjoyed most of those adaptations but wasn't really a fan of Five Nights at Freddy's.  The movie itself was very underwhelming to me.  I was actually pretty excited for the film and found myself struggling to finish it.  Fast forward to now and I was given the opportunity to watch the sequel.  I was on the fence about checking it out but after watching the trailer, I decided to give it a chance.  I'm glad I did because it was leagues better than the first film.  

     The film takes place one year after the first film.  Mike (Hutcherson) is still struggling to provide for his little sister Abby (Rubio) after the horrific events they went through.  However, the terror is not yet behind them as a sinister presence at the very first Freddy Fazbear's Pizza location tricks her into letting out the haunted animatronics and they begin killing adults that they think did them wrong.

     I'm not going to say that Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is a contender for my favorite film of the year or any of that.  It's far from perfect and I did have some issues with it but it was still a fun watch.  I wish I would have liked it more than I did but it's an above average flick that somehow better than it has any right to be.  The acting in this one is my biggest complaint.  The film has characters that are extremely unlikable and the cast's performances are fairly lazy.  The film's leads, Josh Hutcherson and Piper Rubio, act as if their hearts aren't in it.  They have no energy for most of the film and the dialogue feels forced.  Elizabeth Lail gives us a little bit more but it's still not impressive.  She has a little more emotional range but is still stiff during a lot of her scenes.  I don't know if the scenes were rushed or they just didn't have their heart in it but the acting in this one is very disappointing.  The story for this one does pick up from where the first one left off but made it a bit more interesting.  We get some back story on the disappearances and murders that took place decades ago before going deeper into the lore of Five Nights at Freddy's.  With that being said, we have a lot of scenes that are unnecessarily long.  They throw off what little bit of atmosphere the film tries to establish while making the film longer than it needed to be.  Finally, the film has some blood but it's not that graphic which is what you would expect from a horror title with a PG-13 rating.  I do like the visuals and the looks of the animatronics but that is about the extent of it for me.  Overall, Five Nights at Freddy's is a better film than the first film but it's still a movie that is barely above average.  The audience for this one is children and I think it works for them while playing fanfare to adults watching.  It's a solid film but it's nothing memorable.  Check it out especially if you want something to watch with your little ones. 

Bitter Souls

Director - Tom Ryan (Splinter, Haunted)

Starring - Avaryana Rose (The Truth About Monsters, Outer Banks Slasher), Michael Hargrove (Candyman, Justified: City Primeval), and Destiny Leilani Brown (Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor, Hell House LLC: Lineage)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     I get a lot of movies in for review which doesn't leave me a lot of time to watch movies that I want to.  I see a lot of press releases for movies that peak me interest but I don't get the chance to watch them.  I see a lot of movies cross my desk and a good bit of them are movies that I never get to see.  Sometime back I received the press release for the horror film Bitter Souls starring up and coming starlit Avaryana Rose.  The movie stuck out to me due to it's voodoo theme but I was never given the opportunity to review it.  However, a few weeks later I received word that the film was streaming on Tubi.  I fucking love Tubi and added it to my watch list for when I could have a little movie night without the strain of reviewing movies.  After a few days I was still playing catch up on my review list, I decided to say fuck it and watch it anyway and just review it.  

     The film follows a young lady, Kendall (Rose), who finds herself in the sights of a delinquent.  However, he doesn't take kindly to her rejection and strangles her in the woods.  When she doesn't return home, her boyfriend turns to the local priest for help who turns him on to a voodoo practitioner who tries to help him locate her.  Sadly, they are too late and she is already dead and resurrected by the evil Immanuel who is building an army of the undead.

     I went into this one pretty excited to see an indie horror flick about voodoo.  It has been years since my last voodoo review and was really looking forward to this one.  Sadly, the movie just didn't do it for me.  It had an interesting enough story but it just didn't pull it all together into something enjoyable.  I seriously wanted to like it but it just didn't work for me.  The acting in this one is a highlight of the film.  The film boasts an impressive cast with young stars Avaryana Rose and Michael McKeever carry the film.  Their characters compliment each other very well and the two work so well together.  The supporting cast is great as well but it's these two that made the film as enjoyable as it was for me.  The story for this one had an interesting idea but lost touch with itself somewhere along the way.  I love the idea of a young woman harassed and murdered by a punk and his goons only to be brought back by voodoo to seek revenge.  It's such a fantastic and simple story that would have worked.  However, we also have the Immanuel building an army angle that doesn't really feel fully developed along with the priest that helps the guy find a voodoo practitioner.  I'm not religious but would a priest even acknowledge voodoo?  It feels like the film is trying to go in too many directions while not gaining traction on just one.  Finally, the film has some solid make-up effects and some light practical effects that fit the film very well but those of you looking for memorable kills will be a bit disappointed.  While the effects do look good for the film, they are not that elaborate and the deaths are nothing that will stand out to genre fans.  Overall, Bitter Souls is one of those films that I was really looking forward to but just didn't work.  I loved the cast and liked some of the story ideas but the overall film just missed it's mark.  I wanted to like it but I can't.  Skip it.