Cradle of Fear

Director - Alex Chandon (Inbred, The Perv Parlor)

Starring - Dani Filth (Baphomet, Dominator), Emily Booth (Doghouse, Evil Aliens), and Stuart Laing (Halo, Silent Witness)

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "It's not if they die, it's how..."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I had a friend that was really into Cradle of Filth.  I couldn't get into their music but it wasn't without giving them several tries.  Anyway, that same friend was a huge genre fan and was telling me about a British horror film that starred Dani Filth.  I found that pretty interesting at the time and was able to snag a copy of the DVD super fucking cheap from eBay.  Sadly, I didn't care for the film at the time and over the years I completely forgot about it.  A few weeks ago I was sent a copy of Unearthed Film's release of the film on blu for review.  Honestly, I don't remember a damn thing about the film aside from Dani Filth starring in it.  I decided to revisit it with this release and I would like to thank Unearthed for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows the unexpected spirals of several people with one unknown connection.  We follow a detective investigating a string of brutal murders.  A young woman hooks up with a goth guy at a club and soon discovers that she is carrying his child and can see visions of demons.  The detective's son works for an internet company who finds himself becoming obsessed with snuff films.  A amputee finds a leg and has it sewn back on with unexpected results.  Two women break into a home to steal some cash where they are confronted by the owner resulting in a bloodbath.

     I went into this viewing with an open mind because I absolutely hate giving a movie sent my way for a review a negative score.  I didn't remember a lot about my initial viewing of the film except I wasn't really a fan at the time but I had hoped that the film would sit with me a second time.  Sadly, that wasn't the case and I found myself not enjoying it the second time around.  The acting in this one is extremely stiff and flat.  Most of the cast delivers their dialogue with little to no conviction.  We have no emotional range and most of the dialogue delivery is extremely awkward to watch.  It's almost as if we are watching a high school play for most of the film.  There is a few scenes where we get some decent enough performances but not enough to make up for the akward ones.  The story for this one looks great on paper but wasn't executed that well.  I like the idea of all these people and the suffering they encounter is connected to a serial killer.  However, the film itself jumps from person to person which can be a bit confusing at times.  I wish the film was shot like a typical anthology as to make it easier to watch.  Finally, the film doesn't shy away from the blood and there is a few moments that try to be shocking but does not have the impact they wanted.  While they effects look decent, they are not that memorable.  Overall, Cradle of Fear has a fantastic idea but the way they went about it made it a bit difficult to finish. I seriously wanted to like this one but it's not for me.  

Yellow Dragon's Village

Director - Yugo Sakamoto (Green Bullet, Baby Assassins)

Starring - Yuni Akino (Stop the Bitch Campaign: Reboot, My Favorite Girl), Itsuki Fujii (Vampire Clay 2, Pan), and Wataru Ichinose (Antihero, Sacrifice)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been actively watching Asian horror films for around 15 years now and while my knowledge of Asian cinema is fairly small, I know that some of my favorite horror films I've seen have been Japanese.  Movies like House, Tokyo Gore Police, Meatball Machine, Ichi the Killer, Versus, and Helldriver just to name a few.  Several weeks back I bought a Japanese double feature from Terror Vision and added it to my watch pile to check out when I had the time.  I bought the set for the second film, Visitors, which is why my review appears out of order.  I had to watch the second film first but once I finished with it I quickly tossed in Yellow Dragon's Village.

    The film follows a group of college students who are making a trip out into the country for some camping when they run into car troubles.  They just happen to break down near an old village steeped in tradition with promises of getting their car repaired the following day.  However, the next day they awaken to one of their own missing and at breakfast they learn that the village has a strange ritual that involves butchering outsiders that stumbles upon them.  The town descends on them to slaughter when they flee but several in the group are actually trained in hand to hand combat for just this occasion after losing a family member to their sick game some years before.

     I went into this one absolutely blind and found myself really enjoying it.  The movie, much like Visitors, is far from perfect with a lot of issues with the story but is still very entertaining.  In fact, I could see this one spawning a sequel or even a prequel due to it's rich story with endless possibilities.  The acting in this one is very consistent and very well done.  Much like Visitors, the characters are very one dimensional with very little personalities.  The cast does the best with what they were given but the characters are easily forgettable.  The story for this one is pretty fucking clever.  The film's artwork made me think I was getting into a slasher.  Instead, the film follows a small village that lives like a cannibalistic cult that slaughters anyone that walks into their domain.  This would have been good enough for a straight forward horror flick.  However, we get the additional storyline of several of the youths who have trained to seek revenge against the villagers for killing someone they loved sometime ago.  It feels a bit cheap and doesn't really improve the film.  In fact, it pulls the film down in my opinion.  The movie would have been much better if the film followed the campers as they fought off the villagers.  Finally, the film has plenty of blood and minimal effects.  The kills fit the film very well but if you are looking for memorable deaths and outstanding gore then you will be disappointed.  Yellow Dragon's Village is a pretty solid Japanese horror film with a decent enough story.  While some of it could be edited out to improve it, the film is just fine as is.  It's not going to be someone's favorite film but it is entertaining.  

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.  

AmnesiA

Director - Martin Koolhoven (Brimstone, The Cave)

Starring - Fredja van Huet (Dummy, Divorce), Carice van Houten (Game of Thrones, Repo Men), and Theo Maassen (Manslaughter, Random Shit)

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Drama/Crime

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’m not the most versed in international titles. I’m a huge fan of Godzilla and the other campy kaiju films from Toho and Japan along with a handful of other titles but I never stepped out of my comfort zone until I started here at Horror Society. I’ve been with Horror Society for 10 years now and since I’ve joined I’ve found myself watching more international titles from amazing companies like Mondo Macabro, Blue Underground, Vinegar Syndrome, Eureka Entertainment, and Cult Epics just to name a few. Cult Epics has released some wild films over the years and while I don’t always enjoy their films I still appreciate the work they put into their releases. A few weeks ago they sent over the 2001 Dutch film Amnesia for review. I had never seen this dark drama from the Netherlands but I was very interested in it. I want to thank Cult Epics for sending this one over because I really enjoyed it. 

      The film follows a photographer that has lost his eye for photography who receives a call from his twin brother. Their mother is at their childhood home dying and he makes the trip to see her one last time before she passes. His brother is a low level thug and has stole some packages from his boss and one of his partners is injured during the raid. He brings him back to his mother’s home where the two brothers attempt to make peace with each other and fail while their mother is dying. Before long the brother’s former crime boss arrives looking for what was taken from him. 

      I’ll be completely honest with you. I didn’t think I would like Amnesia as much as I did. I was looking forward to checking out an international flick that I had never seen before but I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It’s a great flick but I don’t see myself revisiting it anytime soon. It’s a great film for a first time watch but I don’t see much of a replay value. The acting in this one is great. The entire cast does a fantastic job but the film wouldn’t be what it is without Fredja van Huet who takes on the dual role as twins Alex and Aram. He does a phenomenal job bringing both to life with completely opposite personalities. It had to be a difficult job for him to portray two different characters on screen with radically different personalities. However, he did it and it’s his performance as Alex and Aram that makes this film so enjoyable. The story for this one is a bit of a slow burn but the character development and progression makes it worth your time. It’s the characters that makes this film which makes it easier for the viewer to follow the slow story. It does pick up around the halfway point but it doesn’t pick up drastically. The point of the film is to follow Alex/Aram and their contrasting personalities mixed with their family dynamics. It’s enjoyable but once you’ve seen it you don’t really desire to see it again. Finally, the film has a little blood but if you are looking for a film with a body count then this one is not for you. This character driven drama is more for those of you looking for something a little different with enjoyable characters. Overall, Amnesia is not something I would typically watch but I did enjoy it. It’s a great release from Cult Epics especially if you dig international or foreign films. Check it out.

Anal Paprika 3: Menage-A-Death

Director - Chris Seaver (Ski Wolf, Phantom of the Grindhouse)

Starring - Chris Seaver, Casey Bowker (Resident Horror, Carnage for the Destroyer), and Lori Swierczek (Anal Paprika, Anal Paprika 2: Vampire Killers)

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I know it was several years ago now but I don't remember watching the third Anal Paprika but I was still looking forward to revisiting it.  I absolutely love the first film and while the second film had plenty of room for improvement it was still very enjoyable.  It reminded me a lot of the vampire flicks I watched while I was in high school during the early 2000s from companies like Brain Damage.  Because I couldn't remember this final installment I was a little more excited to dig into it than the others.

     The film once again follows brothers Johnsimon (Seaver) and Alfred (Bowker) along with their carpet munching friend Toddy (Swierczek) who once again find themselves in the middle of another life threatening adventure.  While preparing for a Troma retrospective they uncover a coven a witches who have big plans for them and their souls.  

     Menage-A-Death is more of the same from AP: Vampire Killers.  It is more of a story driven film with humor and those lovable characters where the first film was clearly a parody that was more focused on the comedy.  It was enjoyable but, much like the second film, I don't see myself revisiting it anytime soon.  The acting in this one is essentially the same as the first two films.  The characters are having a lot of fun on camera acting with their friends. They are very comfortable with each other and it shows.  They deliver some funny one liners and so forth but at the end of the day it's very amateurish.  However, I'm not complaining because I have a lot of fun with it.  The story for this one once again reminds me of the indie and no budget horror titles that companies like Brain Damage, Pendulum Pictures, and Tempe Video which makes sense considering Tempe releases several other films from Seaver around that time.  The film has the same type of humor that you would expect from The Seavage and Low Budget Pictures with a story centered around a coven of witches and lesbians.  It's not a compelling story but it works especially if you are a fan of no budget horror.  Finally, we get a little blood but don't expect amazing gore and great practical effects.  It works for this type of film but it's nothing amazing.  Overall, Menage-A-Death is a solid entry in the Anak Paprika series but when you compare it to the original short it does come up short.  I loved the original idea behind it and the fact that Seaver never fully explored these is a damn shame.  It's still a fun watch so check it out.  

The Psychedelic Priest

Director - William Grefe (Death Curse of Tartu, The Hooked Generation) and Terry Merrill (Beach Boy Rebels)

Starring - John Darrell (The Wars of the Roses, Whoops Apocalypse), Carolyn Hall, and Joe Crane

Release Date - 1971/2001

Genre - Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I heard that Arrow Video was releasing He Came from the Swamp: The Films of William Grefe I was curious about the release for several reasons.  I was looking forward to revisiting Death Curse of Tartu and Sting of Death but I was also interested in checking out two other films for the first time.  One of those films was The Psychedelic Priest.  This one really caught my eye because it was originally filmed in 1971 but wasn't released until 30 years later.  I've seen it mentioned in different movie groups over the years but never had the chance to actually see it until now.

     The film follows a priest who is drugged by some teenagers when he shares a drink with them.  This moment opens him up and he realizes that he is meant for more than just preaching sermons.  He still believes in his faith but wants to explore his mind and the world more.  On his adventure he tries many different mind altering drugs and meets different people from varying backgrounds before he goes too far down the rabbit hole.  After an accidental overdose, he finds himself back in religion.  

     The Psychedelic Priest is the highlight of this box set so far and I fucking loved it.  It's not a complicated film but it is a story that has a few layers that you may not pick up on as the film progresses.  This is the kind of film you can watch several times and still find something new to appreciate.  The acting in this one is great.  The cast is rather small and unexperienced but John Darrell carries the film.  His performance was fantastic and I fucking loved his spin on a religious character that finds recreational drugs.  The supporting cast is solid but it's Darrell and his character of the priest that makes the film as enjoyable as it is.  The story for this one is follows a priest who explores his own faith while opening his mind to psychedelics.  Controversial, especially for the early 70s, but it works on several ways.  It not only works as a drama about religion and counter culture but it also works as a film handling political and social topics of the time.  I thoroughly enjoyed the story and can see myself revisiting several more times before I get tired of it.  Finally, the film does have a little blood but this is not one with a body count.  It's a character driven piece that focuses more on story than gore.  Overall, The Psychedelic Priest is one of the highlights of the He Came from the Swamp box set.  It's a fantastic film that fully embodies the counter culture cinema of the time.  I highly recommend this one.  

Elvira's Haunted Hills

Director - Sam Irvin (Oblivion, Oblivion 2: Backlash)

Starring - Cassandra Peterson (Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure), Richard O'Brien (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Spice World), Mary Sheer (Between Two Ferns: The Movie, Reno 911!)

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Evil. Terror. Lust.  Some girls really know how to party!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Like most genre fans that were born in the 80s and raised up through the 90s, I'm a huge fan of Elvira.  I collected her show on DVD when I was in high school and college and purchased Mistress of the Dark on several formats from VHS to DVD and then the blu from Arrow Video.  I love her sense of humor, self-awareness, and sex appeal.  With that being said, I had never seen her 2001 film Elvira's Haunted Hills.  I owned the DVD after finding it at a used video store but I just never made time to check it out.  However, when Scream Factory announced the release of the film on blu I knew it was time to finally see if it was as fun as Mistress of the Dark.  Like always, I want to thank Scream Factory for hooking me up with this fabulous release.

     The film follows Elvira (Peterson) who is traveling through the Carpathian mountains with her servant in 1851 when they picked up and taken to Castle Hellsubus which is rumored to be cursed.  The owner, Vlad Hellsubus, is plagued by many ailments and has never recovered from the death of his wife which looks just like Elvira.  As she unintentionally fumbles through the castle uncovering secrets hidden behind the walls the uncovers the real reason for Vlad's wife's death along with a brand new conspiracy.

     I was extremely excited to jump into this one but I quickly found myself waiting for it to end.  It was a very interesting premise but the humor and nostalgia that made the original films and subsequent episodes of her show so much fun was nowhere to be found.  The film was very much forced but it wasn't without a few fun moments.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from something with Elvira attached to it.  Cassandra Peterson rarely gets acknowledged for her acting.  Most people forget that Elvira is just a persona that she portrays and she does a phenomenal job with her character.  Elvira is second nature for her and she is great in the role.  Also, it was great seeing The Rocky Horror's O'Brien in another campy horror film.  He never holds back in his performances and this was no exception.  A few scenes he comes completely unhinged and the energy he brings is fantastic.  The rest of the cast is solid as well but these two characters really stand out.  The story for this one is a parody/tribute to the Roger Corman produced Edgar Allen Poe films and the iconic films from the height of Hammer Horror's productions.  With that being said, the set up is fun but the humor is forced and the story is stretched way too thin.  The story would have worked for a 40 to 50 minute film and the jokes might be more effective in a different setting but here they were not as fun as her previous film.  Finally, the film is not a bloody mess.  The movie focuses more on set design and wardrobe than it does blood and gore but we do get a skeleton and a great looking set.  Overall, Elvira's Haunted Hills was not as fun as I was hoping but I did have fun with a few scenes.  It's alright for a first time watch but don't expect the humorous and sexually charged Elvira that you are accustomed to.  The blu release from Scream is probably my favorite release of theirs so far.  

Brotherhood of the Wolf

Director - Christophe Gans (Silent Hill, Necronomicon: Book of Dead)

Starring - Samuel Le Bihan (The Mountain Detective, Journey of No Return), Mark Dacascos (Drive, Double Dragon), and Jeremie Renier (Brotherhood of Tears, Tomorrow at Dawn)

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Action/Adventure

Tagline - "The year is 1766...the hunt for a killer has begun"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in college I had an eclectic group of friends.  We all lived in the same building but we all came from different background and had different interests.  I was the only one of the group that liked horror but they all could appreciate a good film.  One of my friends at the time was a huge fan of critically acclaimed films.  He was always trying to get us to watch some movie he found that won a bunch of awards but I never really had an interest in them.  I guess I was a shitty friend.  Anyway, when we would all get together and drink we would often spin movies.  I would notorious for playing Necroville, Black Dynamite, and O' Brother Where Art Thou? and he would spin random movies.  However, there was several occasions where he tried to show us Brotherhood of the Wolf.  I had sit down to watch it at least a dozen times but I never finished it because I would get too drunk and go off on drunken adventures.  When I saw that Scream Factory was releasing it on blu I figured now was the perfect time to finally give the film the attention it deserves.  

     The film follows Gregoire de Fronsac (Bihan) and his Native American companion Mani (Dacascos) who visit a small French town in the 18th century that is plagued by a series of murders.  The locals suspect it is a wolf or some sort of beast.  As the days turn the weeks they find themselves hunted and the beast is part of a much bigger cabal tied to the church.

     Brotherhood of the Wolf, aka Le Pact des Loups,  is a film that I was too young to appreciate at the time but holy fuck is it amazing.  It has a few hang ups that stops it from being perfect but god damn is it close.  It blends genres together to create something that resonates with everyone.  The acting in this one is great.  Dacascos delivers my favorite performance of his followed closely by Drive.  I absolutely loved his character and wish that the film would have dived a lot deeper into his back story.  Bihan is great as the man leading the charge against the beast.  He was very charismatic and does an amazing job during the action scenes.  The rest of the cast does a great job as well.  The characters are all great on screen and the cast delivers some memorable performances.  The story for this one has so much going on that it would be almost impossible to mention it all in one review.  We get church sects, incest, armored beasts, martial arts, sex scenes, racism, and so much more.  I really enjoyed the period piece of the story all the different genres it mashed together to deliver something very unique to the viewer.  With that being said, as much as I love the movie there is no need for it to be almost three hours long.  so much could be trimmed down from it.  Finally, the film has some impressive practical and make-up effects and no so impressive visual effects.   We get a few scenes with corpses mutilated by the beast that look absolutely stunning especially the body left in the bog.  However, the visual effects from the fight scene along with the beast were extremely dated.  The visuals may have been good for the time but now they look poor.  Overall, Brotherhood of the Wolf is an absolute must see for any movie fan regardless of their preferred genre.  This blu release from Scream Factory is absolutely gorgeous and the way I would recommend any fan to see it.  It's worth every cent and every minute.  

Mulva: Zombie Ass Kicker! (Revisited)

Director - Chris Seaver (The Weirdsies, Evil Night)

Starring - Missy Donatuti, Chris Seaver, and Mike Nicolai 

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago, almost a decade ago now, I was collecting as many Brentwood DVD sets as I could find.  I loved these no budget S.O.V. horror sets and was spending entire pay checks on them for my collection.  One of the sets I snagged was called Ghoul School and it featured two Chris Seaver films.  I can't remember which one I watched first but Mulva: Zombie Ass Kicker! and Filthy McNasty was my introduction to the world of Seavage.  I remember Filthy McNasty really impressed me but Mulva was a bit of a let down.  Fast forward almost a decade later and Tempe Digital and Makeflix has released 13 of Seaver's films on blu in an amazing box set.  I needed this for my collection so I was quick to nab one.  As soon as it arrived I tossed in Mulva for a revisit to see how it held up.

     The film follows Mulva (Donatuti).  Mulva is a sugar addict who is looking forward to Halloween.  This year she plans on embracing the holiday and getting as much candy as possible.  However, bullies and a horde of the undead stand in her way.  

     Mulva: Zombie Ass Kicker! is not a great film.  It's crudely done and very cheap but it does have a charm about it that I never noticed during my first viewing.  Maybe my years of reviewing no budget films has changed my tastes in films but I did enjoy it in all it's flaws.  The acting is fun and typical of Seaver's style.  The cast is having a lot of fun on set and that translates very well on camera.  The cast does a fantastic job at creating memorable characters that stand out from other genre films.  The story for this one is a fun spin on a typical zombie flick.  It's more of a comedy with zombies dashed throughout.  It works, especially if you are familiar with Seaver's work, but if you are looking for a traditional horror flick then you will be disappointed.  We get a plethora of characters that stand out and work with the film but the story does lack some action.  The movie is an hour long and even at that length the story is stretched a little too thin.  It is predictable but it has some cheap and fun moments.  Finally, the film has some blood and cheap practical effects but as I stated earlier, the horror takes the backseat in the film.  Seaver did the best with what he had but he could only go so far.  Overall, Mulva: Zombie Ass Kicker! is a cheap and crude film that has a lot of the humor that makes Low Budget Pictures so much fun.  It's not one that you can watch over and over again but it's fun for an occasional watch.  It's something I can appreciate.  

Donnie Darko

Director - Richard Kelly (The Box, Southland Tales)

Starring - Jake Gyllenhaal (Spider-Man: Far From Home, Zodiac), Jena Malone (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Neon Demon), and Mary McDonnell (Scream 4, Battlestar Galactica)

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "What would you do if you knew the future"

Format UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The year after I graduated high school I was with some friends and we took a trip to a mall that was a couple hours away from us.  The mall had an FYE in there and I spent most of out trip digging through the movies.  I left out of there with a pretty solid stack of movies.  Most were horror but I did snag a few random 80s comedies and action flicks.  Among the movies I grabbed was the 2001 horror sci-fi flick Donnie Darko.  I had not heard about this one before but it looked wild.  I remember watching it with my friends but I don't remember shit about the movie.  A few days ago MVD and Arrow Video sent over the new Donnie Darko uhd release for me to review.  This was a great time to revisit the film since I couldn't remember a damn thing about it.  I want to thank MVD and Arrow for sending this one over!

     The film follows Donnie Darko (Gyllenhaal) doesn't fit in.  He struggles to find acceptance within his school and family and is forced to seek therapy several times a week.  He has a knack for creating imaginary friends but his newest, Frank, is a time travelling bunny that brings him to the middle of the apocalypse unless he can stop it.

     I know a lot of genre fans love Donnie Darko.  I've met many at cons that sport hoodies, patches, and even tattoos of the iconic rabbit.  With that being said, I was not impressed with the film after my second viewing.  I can't remember what I thought of the film the first time around but this second viewing was way too long and such a dry experience.  I can see the appeal of the film to some but it was not one that I enjoyed.  The acting in this one is pretty good.  We get amazing performances from a young Jena Malone, Seth Rogan, Drew Barrymore, and Patrick Swayze, and so many more.  This cast is really noteworthy.  They all deliver amazing performances and not a single weak link among them.  With that being said, I didn't care for Jake Gyllenhaal.  His performance just came across as dull when compared with the rest of the cast.  His real life sister Maggie even out stages him in their shared scenes.  The story for this one tries way too hard to achieve something that could have been done in half the time.  I do like how the time travel story goes around and forms a complete circle while tiring up loose ends.  I also like the aspect of the old woman going mad from having all this information.  The movie should have focused more on this and Donnie's "imaginary" friend instead of all the time spent on painting him unstable.  The movie is way too long and a lot of the movie could be removed because so many scenes are repetitive and unnecessary.  Finally, there is a little make-up effects but if you are looking to Donnie Darko for blood and gore then you will be really disappointed.  There is some visual effects but they did not age well and are very laughable now.  Overall, Donnie Darko was not one I could really get into.  I can see why some like it but it's not for me.  However, this UHD release looks absolutely fantastic.  I'm jealous that I'm not a fan of this one and can enjoy it like others can.  

Jason X

Director - James Isaac (Skinwalkers, The Horror Show)

Starring - Kane Hodder (Jason Goes to Hell, The Twilight Zone), Lexa Doig (Supernatural, Smallville), and Jonathan Potts (The Strain, Swamp Thing)

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Evil gets an upgrade"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     Jason Goes to Hell may have been my introduction to Jason but Jason X was the first Jason flick that was released while I was conscience of him and the Friday the 13th series.  My generation finally had their own installment in the series and I couldn't wait to see it.  I didn't make the theatrical run but I did get the VHS from Wal-Mart when it was released and later upgraded that to the DVD.  I only watched it a few times and remembered some cool moments but outside of that I couldn't tell you much about it until I rewatched with the others in the Scream Factory blu set.  This movie did not hold up well and I can safely say that this is the worst in the entire series.  It's almost painful to watch now.

     The film follows Jason who is captured by the government and imprisoned in chains.  However, he is able to escape but finds himself trapped and cryogenically frozen, along with a female scientist.  They awaken almost 250 years into the future when they are discovered and thawed.  Those on board have no idea about the hell they just unleashed on their craft and the carnage that will fall in his wake.  

     Jason X was released 21 years after the original and 8 years from the previous installment.  A lot had changed in that time.  They tried to give this one an edge that made it stand out from the others which turned out to be the film's downfall.  This futuristic sci-fi approach sometimes offers up some cheesy fun like in Leprechaun in Space.  However, it was just too cheap and not enough cheese in this case.  The acting in this one is rough for me.  In fact, I can't really find any aspect of the cast that I enjoyed.  The characters are all sci-fi clichés and can be found in almost any SyFy original film.  Even when I first laid eyes on this release I never cared for the cast or characters which is even more apparent all these years later.    The story for this one tries too hard to be a sci-fi flick that it completely disregards the Friday the 13th aspect of the film.  It's an insult to the franchise and really scrapes the bottom of the barrel.  The only redeeming aspects of the film is the kills and we only get one or two that stand out.  Finally, the film has a few unforgettable death scenes and a few that are not as wild.  These two or three kill scenes really use some creativity and great practical effects.  However, some of the other kills are painfully bland.  Also, the film uses some extremely dated visual effects that was laughable in 2001 and even more laughable now.  Overall, Jason X is a humiliating entry in the series.  I remember being excited for a new installment but now I'm ashamed of the film and embarrassed for anyone associated with it.  

August Underground

Director - Fred Vogel (The Redsin Tower, The Final Interview)

Starring - Fred Vogel, Kyle Dealman, and Casey Eganey

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been collecting horror films for around 20 years now.  I was invited to join the forums at Upcoming Horror Movies when I was entering high school and it was here that I learned about a lot of indie horror films that would typically go unnoticed.  This was when I was first introduced to Fred Vogel's August Underground trilogy.  I collected the films on DVD soon after but after watching the trailer I decided to hold off on watching them.  They just didn't look like movies I would enjoy so I put them on the shelf and left them there.  When I started attending Cinema Wasteland I met Fred and his lovely wife Shelby and we talked about the movies he had for sale at his table.  Over the year's I've bought a good bit of their shirts and other merch.  The Vogel's are super nice and I will support them any way I can which is why I bought the blu release one Wasteland.  I still never had the urge to watch them but decided to break out the blu this October horror binge.  It was finally time to see what the extreme horror fans have been screaming about.

     The film follows two men, one with a camera, who go around kills, raping, and butching those unfortunate enough to cross paths with them.  

     Most people assume that I hate extreme horror and this is the furthest thing from being true.  I love all horror as long as the story works.  There is nothing wrong is a good, depreved piece of cinema full of gore if the movie has a story.  If it's lacking a story then it's boring for me.  I need a story to pull me in before showing me in blood and guts.  Sadly, August Underground was lacking this.  After just a few minutes into this one I found myself bored to tears.  The acting in this one is pretty rough.  As I stated earlier, I had met and spoke with Fred several times at Cinema Wasteland.  He's one of the nicest guys I've ever met at a con but his character and acting here is really hard for me to like.  His character was so annoying and his performance was very forced.  He was trying so hard to be a bad guy but it was just coming across as obnoxious and cringy.  The story for this one is not enough to cover a feature length film.  Someone recording their friend killing people has some power behind it especially for a found footage film attempting to capture that snuff style film.  However, watching a maniac on camera as his degrades and tortures people for the entire duration of the film becomes painfully dull after 10 or 15 minutes.  I'm sure it was a powerful and unnerving film when it was released almost 20 years ago but I find to see what makes it so appealing now.  I've seen far more depraving films with stories that hold up the entire length of the film.  Finally, this is one hell of a bloody film.  The practical effects are damn near impossible to beat and some of the most impressive I've seen in a no-budget release.  Vogel was a student of Savini I believe so it completely makes sense that these effects are amazing.  Overall, August Underground is 50 minutes too long if you want my honest opinion.  The faux snuff films will always bore me because they lack story and this one is no exception.  The gore is fantastic but watching a man yell, scream, and abuse people for an hour and some odd minutes is a dull watch for me.  Skip it.  

Bones

Director - Ernest R. Dickerson (Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, Surviving the Game)
Starring - Snoop Dogg (The Addams Family, Hood of Horror), Khalil Kain (Baadasssss!, CSI: Miami), and Merwin Mondesir (Grave Encounters, Godsend)
Release Date - 2001
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Unleash the Dogg"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in middle school I was coming into my own as a rock and metal fan while my best friend was a rap and pop fan.  He would let me torture him with Black Sabbath, Lamb of God, and so on while I would listen to Wu-Tang, Bone Thugs, and so on.  Honestly, I really enjoyed the old late 80s and 90s rap and hip hop so I wasn't suffering.  It was around this time that Snoop Dogg starred in the horror film Bones.  My friend was obviously a Snoop fan and I loved horror so we begged his mom and dad to take us to pick up the movie when it was released.  We couldn't find it on DVD so we settled on the VHS release.  My friend didn't care for the movie after we started watching it but I really liked it.  I would watch it several times over the years but the last decade I have not.  Recently Scream Factory released the film on blu and I figured now would be the perfect time to revisit it.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a group of up and coming DJs and their manager who purchase an abandoned building that was once the home to Jimmy Bones (Dogg) in the 70s.  He was murdered by a pimp, cop, and his best friend when he refused to sell drugs to the people on his block and they hid his body in the basement.  The group want to fix the building up and turn it into a club but their father's dark past comes back to haunt him and his family when they accidentally resurrect Jimmy Bones.  

     I've been revisiting a lot of movies from my elementary and middle school years.  I guess that means I'm getting old but it's cool to see movies on piss poor quality VHS and DVD get the blu treatment.  As fun as it is to revisit some of these films I'm discovering that nostalgia can't cover up a film that did not age well.  When I got Bones in to review I was excited to rewatch it after all these years but I was afraid it didn't hold it.  Most of it did but there was a few instances that made me a little embarrassed for the people involved.  The acting in this one never really sit well for me.  Snoop and Pam Grier deliver amazing performances with Snoop stealing the show.  His character is fucking fantastic and unforgettable.  With that being said, the remaining cast deliver forced performances that always made me roll my eyes.  Even now I feel somewhat embarrassed for the cast and their performances.  The story for this one is a gothic influenced blaxploitation film that works very well for a horror flick.  My love for blaxploitation really makes me a little biased but I really love how this film uses 70s urban culture before transitioning to a modern haunted house look that is heavily influenced by gothic imagery.  Honestly, I think it works but there is several instances that came across as a little too goofy for the film itself.  The overall look works for me and the story flows very well within the film.  Finally, the film has several on screen kills.  Personally, I'm a fan of the bright red blood but here it is out of place.  The kills have great practical effect but the impact of the gag is lessened by the use of the bright red blood.  With that being said, there is some horrible visual effects used that is not only goofy but it looks like shit all these years later.  Overall, Bones may not be for everyone but for those of us that appreciate horror and blaxploitation we will find entertainment in this one.  The blu looks fucking great as well.  I highly suggest picking up this blu from Scream Factory.  

Thir13en Ghosts

Director - Steve Beck (Ghost Ship)
Starring - Tony Shalhoub (Galaxy Quest, The X-Files), Embeth Davidtz (Army of Darkness, Matilda), and Matthew Lillard (Ghoulies go to College, Serial Mom)
Release Date - 2001
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "This Halloween evil has multiplied"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in middle school the horror bug had already taken over.  I was constantly renting horror tapes from my local video store and making the hour plus drive to the nearest shopping center to pick up some new releases.  This is the years that Dark Castle Entertainment started remaking several William Castle films.  House on Haunted Hill was a fantastic remake and one I will get around to reviewing soon and in 2001 they tackled 13 Ghosts.  Released stylized as Thir13een Ghosts, this was one of the movies I wanted to watch in theaters so fucking bad.     I wasn't able to get it then but I rushed out the day the DVD was released and picked it up.  I was fascinated with film especially the special features detailing the different ghosts.  I played the DVD so much that it stopped working.  Recenty, Scream Factory put the film out on blu and was kind enough to send it to me for review.  It had been sometime since my last viewing and I was excited to revisit it.  Thanks Scream for sending it my way.

     The film follows the Kriticos family that is struggling after suffering a house fire that killed their mother.  However, things look up when a lawyer representing their wealthy but estranged uncle informing them of his death.  They travel out into the country to expect the house.  When it starts to look like their prayers have been answered they uncover a sinister plot from their not so deceased uncle and the ghosts he has trapped in the house.  

     It had been a solid 10 years since I last spun this movie.  I want to say the last time I watched it was when I was in college.  I was curious to see how this film would hold up after all these years and I have to admit that I am rather impressed.  The goth rock soundtrack didn't hold up but the story itself still pulled me in.  The acting in this one is great.  Tony Shalhoub has always shown talent on screen but seeing him in a horror flick really catches you off guard.  Many of you may associate him with Monk which makes him feel like a bad choice in the role but he does a great job.  I've always liked Matthew Lillard and this is one of my favorite roles of his.  He delivers a fantastic performance and his character is a fan favorite.  The supporting cast is great as well.  I love seeing Shannon Elizabeth in a horror film and she is great.  The story for this one is very rich.  We get so much thrown at us at once but the film doesn't feel overwhelming.  We don't get a lot of backstory on the ghosts but they all get their own screen time.  However, the way they are handled on screen is fantastic.  Fans will feel themselves get pulled into the story and not let go.  There is always something exciting taking place with plenty of action.  Finally, this film has some memorable kills early on but the real focus is how amazing the ghosts look.  The kills make great use of practical effects and gags but the make-up effects on the ghosts are iconic by this point.  With that being said, there is several instances of visual effects that did not age well.  In fact, they are painfully laughable.  Overall, Thir13en Ghosts is a movie that does get hate among horror fans but I don't see why.  The movie is so entertaining and the blu from Scream Factory is super crisp.  It looked fantastic and leagues better than my blu.  Check it out if you havent already.

Ghosts of Mars

Director - John Carpenter (Halloween, The Thing)
Starring - Natasha Henstridge (Species, South Park), Ice Cube (Anaconda, Friday), and Jason Statham (The Meg, Death Race)
Release Date - 2001
Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi
Tagline - "Terror is the same on any planet"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      

      John Carpenter, much like George A. Romero, shaped my childhood.  I became fan of his movies as a kid after watching Halloween like many other horror fans.  After that I found myself working through his entire filmography.  I liked a majority of his films but there was a few in there that I just didn't care for.  When I was in high school Carpenter released his sci-fi/horror film Ghosts of Mars starring Ice Cube.  I loved the tv spots for the film but a lot of my friends were not excited for it.  When it was released I went that day and picked up the tape and watched it twice that night.  I fucking loved it.  Sometime back Mill Creek Entertainment released the film on blu and I remember how much I enjoyed it.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks Mill Creek for letting me revisit this one!

     The film follows a police escort on Mars that is going to a mining town to get the prisoner Demolition Jones (Ice Cube) to escort him back for trial but what they encounter is an abandoned down.  The only people they find are the prisoners locked in the holding cells.  When they start investigating the town they find a man barricaded in a truck who kills himself.  They soon uncover that the whole town has went mad when an old chamber found in the mines was opened and a red mist escaped.  It possesses the living and forces them to kill those that are not infected.  The police unit and the criminals must band together to survive in order to make it out of that town alive.

     I remember loving this one when it was first released but revisiting it almost 20 years later I can safely say it did not age well.  It was still fun but there was a lot of things that 32 year old me found goofy that 15 year old me did not.  It was still fun and one I would still recommend to genre fans.  The acting in this one is all over the place.  Legendary blaxploitation actress Pam Grier is in the film for a short period of time and steals the show.  She was very underutilized but it was great to see her.  Ice Cube was great as well.  I really liked how cliched his character was but it worked on the backdrop of this genre mash up.  We also get an early performance from action superstar Jason Statham.  He was a little clunky to watch in his role but it was cool to see him in this one before his career took off.  With that being said, the films star was a little rough to watch.  I guess some genre fans find Natasha Henstridge irresistible but she is not the best actress and her performance does drag a few of the scenes down.  I would have loved to see someone else in this role.  The story for this one would be almost the exact same as the Doom film adaptation years later.  We follow a colony on Mars awakening an ancient evil that possesses humans and uses the bodies to kill.  With that being said, this movie has that Carpenter look that he honed with his films Escape fron New York and Escape from L.A.   The movie works but expect some cheese with your horror and sci-fi.  Finally, there is plenty of blood in this one.  We get a few gory moments but what would normally be a highlight of any horror film is ruined by the extremely dated CGI that is laughable now.  Overall, Ghosts of Mars may not be the best Carpenter film but god damn is fun.  The cast is decent for the most part and the story works.  The blu looks good from Mill Creek but I would expect a fully restored release in the future from another company.  This release will do until then.