Addy and Andy

Starring - Andrew Barber (The Flash, Tromasterpiece Theatre: The Battle of Love's Return) and Addison Binek (Psycho Ape!, Psycho Ape: Part II - The Wrath of Kong)

Release Date - 2012

Genre - Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago now I befriended YouTuber and filmmaker Addison Binek on Facebook and not long after met him at Cinema Wasteland.  Over the years I've been fortunate to review a lot of his hard work.  Binek has a long running YouTube series called Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon along with the films Tromasterpiece Theatre: The Battle of Love's Return, Tromasterpiece Theatre: Poultreygeist, Psycho Ape!, and Psycho Ape: Part II - The Wrath of Kong.  Sometime back Addison asked me to check out another YouTube series he made sometime ago titles Addy and Andy.  Sadly, I had a rough go at it this summer and wasn't able to check it out in a timely manner and for that I apologize to Addison.  However, I was able to finally get around to checking it out.  Like always, I want to thank Addison for sending this over to review.  

     The film follows roommates Addy and Andy who go through their day to day life while documenting their friendship.  We see them disagree on chips, travel out of state, invent a drinking game around True Blood and so on.

     I had no idea what I was getting into when I agreed to check this out.  Hell, I was damn near certain that it was something I wouldn't like...but I was wrong.  It's so simple and awkward at times but I enjoyed it for the most part.  I don't see myself binging episodes of it again but I could definitely watch a random episode here or there again just for fun.  The acting in this one has a lot of room for improvement but both leads were young and learned a lot from this particular experience.  The two are very comfortable with each other and in front of the camera but a lot of the dialogue is forced.  This does create some awkward tension but it doesn't ruin the experience.  The stories for each episode feels like it was written on the fly or an idea that popped into their heads without full exploring it on paper.  That results in some of the episodes being more entertaining than others.  Finally, no effects to be seen here.  We have some crudely edited videos and that is the extent of it.  I know most of you here want some blood and gore but you will not find it with this.  Overall, Addy and Andy is a surprisingly enjoyable hidden YouTube gem that makes up for its lack of budget with heart and dedication.  Check it out.  

An Evening with My Great Aunt Bedelia

Director(s) - Toby Lerone, Chris Seaver (Death O' Lantern, The Dingleberries), and Josh Suire (Deck the Halls, Happy Helladays)

Starring - Josh Suire and Toby Lerone

Release Date - 2012

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "You'll inherit... THE WILLIES!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been fortunate enough to review a good bit of Chris Seaver's films over the years.  I've been a fan for sometime now and I've collected most of his work over the years.  A decade or so ago I snagged several Warlock Home Video releases on DVD and immediately watched them when they arrived.  I thought I took the time to write reviews for all of them then but looking back I realized that I missed this one.  A couple weeks back I upgraded by DVDs of Die-B-Que and An Evening with My Great Aunt Bedelia to blu.  While revisiting the films I quickly realized that I never  reviewed this one.  

     The film follows a young lady who visits her ancestral home after she received word she inherited something.  Things start out innocently enough until she learns the true intentions of her Great Aunt Bedelia.

     This is a typical Warlock Home Video release.  It doesn't have the most memorable story or characters but it has the sexually charged dialogue and puns that we have grown to expect from Seaver.  While it's not my favorite of his films, it's still a fun one.  The acting in this one is exactly like the other Warlock Home Video releases.  The cast really gets into character and it looks like filming was a party among friends.  They are having a lot of fun in their roles and it shows in each scene.  The story for this one reminds me a lot of the late 70s and early 80s haunted house horror flicks that took on the taboo topics of the time like demon possession and Satanic cults.  While this one doesn't dive that deep into them like the original films did, it still embodies that style and tone.  These films are a lot of fun and I love finding ones I had never seen before.  With that being said, this film is not that long but some of the running time could still be trimmed to improve the pacing.  Like a lot of the films from Seaver, the editing is not the best and it's evident in this one.   Finally, the film is a no budget flick and the effects are  very minimal.   In fact, they are pretty much nonexistent.  The film's focus is on the characters and story itself which works for the most part.  Overall, An Evening with My Great Aunt Bedelia is a fun late night horror comedy from one of my favorite filmmakers.  This film, much like his filmography, is not for everyone but it's a lot of fun.  I highly recommend it.  

Twisted Fates

Director(s) - Ron Ford (Tombstones of the Blind Dead, The Mark of Dracula), Bob Olin, and Joe Sherlock (Blood Creek Woodsman, Beyond the Wall of Fear)

Starring - Ariauna Albright (Bloodletting, Polymorph), Dee Alsman (Underbelly, Abomination: The Evilmaker II), and Amanda Bounds (Blood Creek Woodsman, Platoon of the Dead)

Release Date - 2012

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

I’ve been watching a good chunk of the Skullface Astronaut filmography and I’m been enjoying every minute of it. I’ve been binging several films before taking a break to watch some other films sent my way for review. My most recent mini marathon of Skullface Astronaut is about to come to an end. On this go around I was lucky enough to review Blood Creek Woodsmen, Dark Zone Thirteen, Dark Zone Thirteen Part 2, before moving on to the last film in this batch. Now I’m finishing with the 2012 horror anthology Twisted Fates. I once again want to thank Joe Sherlock and Skullface Astronaut for sending this one over for myself and Horror Society to check out. 

      The film follows two men going door to door to spread the good word when they find themselves tied up and forced to listen to several horrifying tales. 

      Twisted Fates may be my favorite horror anthology from Joe Sherlock and Skullface Astronaut. I liked most of the stories and and characters with several having enough potential to have their own spin off film or segment in another anthology. Hell, I found myself a little disappointed when the film actually ended. The acting in this one is very enjoyable but extremely awkward at times. I liked the energy and how involved some of the cast was with their scenes. However, several scenes felt awkward to watch due to their inexperience but the good outweighs the bad. The stories for this one is a lot of fun. The wraparound segment reminded me a lot of Tales from the Darkside: The Movie with the woman telling the abducted men stories in the same fashion as the witch makes the little boy she has caged read stories from a book she read as a child. MY favorite segment of the film involves the beautiful killer who moves into a nice community only to meet a set of twins who also murder. There is some clever writing here with some fun twists that utilizes the film’s lack of budget. Finally, the film has blood and boobs but don’t expect the kills to stick with you. The characters carry the film and the nudity adds another layer of enjoyment but the death scenes are a bit underwhelming. Overall, Twisted Fates is probably my favorite horror anthology from Skullface Astronaut. The humor, nudity, and story telling works very well in my opinion which takes away from the film’s lack of budget. I highly recommend it.

Paranormal Activity 4

Director(s) - Henry Joost (Australian Psycho, Nerve) and Ariel Schulman (Project Power, Viral)

Starring - Stephen Dunham (The Mummy, Savages), Katie Featherston (Paranormal Activity, Psychic Experiment), and Matt Shively (The Purge, Santa Clarita Diet)

Release Date - 2012

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "All the activity has lead to this"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I guess every franchise has a turning point. Most of the time that turning point takes a beloved film series and turns it into a quick cash grab. We can physically see the change in quality and most of the time these films are rushed. While the third film is debatable among genre fans, it’s undeniable that Return of the Living Dead 4 and 5 is the turning point in the RotLD series while Pumpkinhead 3 is where that franchise went off the rails. However, it looks like Paranormal Activity 4 is the turning point for this franchise with the film being better than the previous installments. Sadly, it didn’t take much to achieve this feat and PA4 is nothing special, but it is a superior film up to this point. I would never subject myself to this torture again but it’s nice to see something that resembles an actual movie with this film series. 

      The film follows a wealthy teenage girl and her boyfriend. Her boyfriend is very intrusive and records her without her knowing which results in some creepy happenings when their neighbor’s son stays with them while she is in the hospital. Things only get stranger when they find strange symbols painting on her little brother and the talk of an imaginary friend before it’s revealed that his “mother” is Katie from the first three films and they need virgin blood to complete a ritual. 

      I went into this one thinking it was going to be just as half assed and dull as the first three films. I was wrong. While the movie doesn’t have many redeeming qualities but it does find a way to actually deliver a story that is coherent and leagues above the previous films. I will not be watching this one again but I can tell this is the turning point for this franchise. The acting in this one is a little more grounded and less awkward than other installments. The dialogue and interactions here are more traditional and something you would find in a normal movie. The small talk and banter normally found in a found footage film is not a prominent here. I liked the cast and the characters they brought to life. They have more personality than any other PA film up to this point and the cast nailed it. The story for this one is a much bigger look into the lore that has barely been touch upon in the other films. We learn a little more about the coven and the blood sacrifice while still keeping the found footage aspect intact. The story we do get could have filled the movie’s run time a little better than it did but it’s a step in the right direction for the franchise. I like the demon and coven angle and really hope we get more of this in the follow up. Finally, we once again get several jump scares and cheesy visual effects that honestly do nothing for the film. Jump scares can be fun if the story works but they missed their mark here and the visual effects are extremely dated and does not really fit the found footage angle like previous films. Overall, Paranormal Activity 4 is a start in the right direction for the franchise, but it still has plenty of room for improvements. I can’t recommend it but it does give me hope for future films in the series.

Hot Chicks Blast Uranus

Director - Richard Mogg (Earth Girls are Sleazy, Easter Bunny Bloodbath)

Starring - Kirk Munaweera (Bigfoot Ate My Boyfriend, Massage Parlor of Death), Christina Martine (Massage Parlor of Death, The Big Show), and Lloyd Kaufman (Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, Bigfoot Ate My Boyfriend)

Release Date - 2012

Genre - Comedy/Sci-Fi

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago, almost at the beginning of my writing career, I discovered the no budget slasher Easter Bunny Bloodbath and was fucking obsessed with it.  It's been many years now but I'm almost certain that I have the film on VHS, DVD, and blu by this point.  I could be wrong because I do collect a lot of movies but I'm certain that I snagged this one on multiple formats.  It's such a fun slasher directed by RickMoe Productions founder Richard Mogg.  To date I have reviewed every release of his and all have received positive reviews from me.  His films are fucking hilarious and genuinely entertaining.  When Richard announced the release of a "lost" RickMoe flick Hot Chicks Blast Uranus I was fucking pumped.  Title aside, I was excited for a new mind melting RickMoe experience.  I want to thank Richard for sending this one over for me to check out.

     The film follows a small group of troubled women who are in a home working on their various issues like anger management and kleptomania.  One night they plan a party but soon find themselves under attack by beings from Uranus where they are forced to fight off the intergalactic menace.

     I went into this one expecting a wacky and hysterical sci-fi flick centered around butt jokes and the typical Mogg humor.  However, this did not feel like a film I would expect from Mogg.  It was pretty mild and the humor was not on the same level of the other films of his that I love.  The acting in this one is, surprisingly, one of the better acted RickMoe films.  The cast has a lot of fun on set and it shows in almost every scene.  The characters are not that memorable but the scenes are a lot easier to follow and comprehend due to the cast and their dedication to their roles.  The story for this one has all the makings of a classic RickMoe production but tapers off before coming together to create something along the lines of Bigfoot Ate My Boyfriend and Teenage Slumber Party Nightmare.  The thought of beautiful young women fighting off creatures from Uranus sounds like a film made just for me but the deliver was all wrong.  We get at least three fourths of the film where we follow the young ladies as they bicker and fight back and forth before the intergalactic fun begins.  It's very one sided and dull but the last 15 or so minutes is fun.  Finally, don't expect blood and gore with this sci-fi comedy.  However, if puppet aliens and beautiful women are your thing then you will be in luck with this one.  Overall, Hot Chicks Blast Uranus just doesn't have the charm that I expect from a Richard Mogg flick.  The humor and camp is lacking but I still believe the story has potential that Mogg could revisit later.  

The Dingleberrys

Director - Chris Seaver (Filthy McNasty, Die-B-Que)

Starring - Meredith Host (The Weirdsies, Evil Night) and Chris Seaver

Release Date - 2012

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi/Comedy

Tagline - "You'll crap your pants in fright... these turds have bite!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     My goal of eventually reviewing every film of Chris Seavers is slowly coming to fruition as I continue to update my DVD collection to his recently released blus.  I worked my way through four Filthy McNasty flicks before moving on to some other films I needed to check out before their release date.  At the beginning of the month I was at Cinema Wasteland where I was able to finally meet Seaver and I snagged his newest blu release of the Warlock Home Video Double Feature Volume 2 with Happy Helladays and The Dingleberrys.  I reviewed Happy Helladays a few years back during the Christmas season but I decided that The Dingleberrys was the perfect movie for my October horror binge.

     The film follows a group of youths looking to party and have fun who stumble across a group of poop balls that crashed to Earth from another planet.  The dingleberries have a taste for human flesh and soon start rampaging through town with sites on the group.  Hot on their tails is an intergalactic bounty hunter tasked with killing the dingleberries.

     I went into this one expecting a fun Chris Seaver flick with a lot of poop jokes and some small creature mayhem.  That's exactly what I was given so I was shocked when I saw the warning at the beginning of the film stating that it was one of Warlock's worst films and the cast and crew was ashamed of it.  You can usually tell which films Seaver doesn't like when it says it's directed by Rudy Bellefonte instead of himself.  They may have not liked their work but I enjoyed it.  It was the oddball horror comedy that I was looking for.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from a Chris Seaver film centered around space turds.  The cast has a lot of fun in their roles and that translates very well onto the screen but that's the extent of it.  Some of the cast portrays similar characters to other Seaver films but they are still a lot of fun.  I enjoy the close group of people that he works with and the acting makes the film in my opinion.  The story for this one is a shitty parody of Critters with the Warlock Home Video sense of humor.  The movie runs around 40 minutes so it doesn't over stay it's welcome and the humor works.  The film does have a few slower scenes but the humor and horror references works.  Finally, the film has some blood and some tiny turd creatures designed and sculpted by my friend Tom Martino.  We get some shit smeared on faces and funny critters that don't look cheap.  It's a late night horror comedy so don't expect a lot.  Overall, The Dingleberrys is not the best film to come from Chris Seaver and his camp but I enjoyed it.  It's not as memorable as The Weirdsies and Death O'Lantern but it has it's moments.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

ParaNorman

Director(s) - Chris Butler (Missing Link) and Sam Fell (Flushed Away, The Tale of Despereaux)

Starring - Kodi Smith-McPhee (Let Me In, X-Men: Apocalypse), Anna Kendrick (The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Fear Itself), and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad, Kick-Ass)

Release Date -2012

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "It's all fun and games until someone raises the dead"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The year I started writing my reviews, 2012 to be exact, I went to the theater to watch ParaNorman with my wife after work.  I worked for a different wireless carrier at the time and they were a miserable company to work for.  I was constantly depressed so I started writing reviews as a way to pass time and to get out of my head.  That was when I started my blog with the intent of reviewing ParaNorman and the other films I was watching at the time.  However, I soon changed my mind and decided to focus on older films that more people may have forgotten.  I absolutely loved ParaNorman but I figured there was enough sites, blogs, and YouTube channels covering it without wasting my time on the review.  Now, here I set almost a decade later writing a review for ParaNorman because Shout Factory asked me to cover some of their new Laika Studio releases.  Thanks Shout for once again supporting Horror Society and myself!

     The film follows Norman (Smith-McPhee) who is an abnormal kid.  He can see the dead which has made him the odd one out in his family and school often making him the center of the school bully's aggressions.  His strange existence gets even stranger when his estranged uncle tries to warn him about impending doom.  Norman doesn't believe him and soon he discovers that his uncle has died.  This sparks the beginning of a wild night for Norman and a few select others when the undead start rising from their grave with a connection to a suspect witch that was executed several centuries earlier.  Now he must stop the witches curse before innocent people in town are murdered by the living dead.

     I absolutely loved ParaNorman when it was released and I would say it's my favorite film to date to come out of Laika Studios.  It's such a fun horror-centered film that the entire family can enjoy.  Hell, I've actually watched this one three times this year already prior to getting in this release for review.  The voice acting in this one is probably my favorite of any animated film.  We get the legendary John Goodman as a deranged hermit who communicated with the dead, we have McLovin himself as a braindead bully, Theodon from Lord of the Rings is a fucking zombie, and so many more that deserve to be mentioned but I'm a lazy fuck.  The characters, much like Coraline, are bigger than the screen they are on and stick with everyone watching it.  The story for this one is a lot of fun and one I try to watch at least once during October.  I love anything that has do to with colonial America and when you toss in witches, which I feel are often underutilized, and zombies mixed with another lonely child seeking acceptance from his family and peers.  It's a great story for kids but also works for many of us looking for something a little light-hearted to watch during the Halloween season.  Finally, the stop-motion animation is even more impressive than Coraline.  I absolutely love the unique look of the characters, as well ass, how amazing the ghosts and zombies look.  It's impressive and this film is my aesthetic.  Overall, ParaNorman is a must for someone seeking a family friendly film and horror fans alike.  The blu from Shout is the way you need to see this film so grab it while you can.  I highly recommend it.  

Game of Thrones: Season Two

Creator(s) - David Benioff (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Troy) and D.B. Weiss (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)

Starring - Peter Dinklage (Avengers: Infinity War, X-Men: Days of Future Past), Kit Harington (Silent Hill: Revelation, Seventh Son), and Jack Gleeson (Batman Begins, Reign in Fire)

Release Date - 2012

Genre - Fantasy/Action

Tagline - "The clash of kings has begun"

Format - 4K Ultra HD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Games of Thrones is one of the biggest television shows of recent years only coming in second to The Walking Dead.  Fans were rabid when episodes would release which did intrigue me.  With so many people proclaiming their love for the show it was only as matter of time before I dug into it.  After watching season one I needed to push further into the series.  The first season was alright but it wasn't good enough to make me obsess over it.  Maybe season two would pick up?

     The season begins with the 7 kingdoms fighting over the crown with several "heirs" questioning King Joffrey (Gleeson) place on the throne.  This leads to several alliances and treacherous agreements before King's Landing becomes sieged by another claiming kingship.

      Horror is and always will be the love of my life.  I grew up with it and it's been just as much apart of my life as breathing, eating, and shitting.  Shows like Supernatural, The X-Files, and Tales From the Crypt always held my attention.  However, Game of Thrones is entertaining but I can't help and find myself tuning out from some of the more dialogue heavy scenes where we hear the cast explain the scenes we just previously watched.  I get that there is a lot of things going on but we don't need a show hold our hands as a viewer.  Season two did not do that as much as season one but I was bored a bit regardless.  The acting in this season is just as iconic as the first season.  The characters are absolutely amazing and the cast delivers some of the best performances of their careers.  These characters are iconic and even though I feel the series is out to a slow start these characters and performances are something that will last with me a lifetime.  The story for season two is still a very politically charged dramas but we do get more action and more story than just diplomacy and treason.  This season picks up beautifully where the first season left off.  It's a bit faster paced and more interesting that the first season as well.  Finally, we once against get some moments of blood and some light gore but nothing horror fans haven't seen before.  The fight scenes are beautifully shot and well choreographed with the blood being the icing on the cake.  Overall, Season two is a slightly better season than the first season but if I wasn't sent the entire series to review I doubt I would continue on my own.  It's fun just not for me.  

Lust of the Dead

Director - Naoyuki Tomomatsu (Zombie Self-Defense Force, Stacy: Attack of the Schoolgirl Zombies)
Starring - Rina Aikawa (CSI: Crime Scene Talks), Yui Aikawa (Missing 55, Lust of the Dead 2), and Asami (The Machine Girl, Helldriver)
Release Date - 2012
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When you compare my love for Japanese splatter you will notice that I'm fairly new to the sub-genre.  I've loved horror for as long as I could remember but I never really ventured out to Asian horror until about 5 or 6 years ago.  However, that is a thing of the past.  I fucking love these movies for the most part and I'm always on the hunt for new ones.  A year or so ago I was hunting down the Japanese horror flick Zombie Ass when I found Lust of the Dead 1 through 3 on DVD on amazon for around $50.  I almost bought them but a friend told me to hold off because he heard that these three films, also known as Rape Zombies, was getting a blu release.  I held off and I'm glad I did.  For almost a third of the price I was able to get the first three Lust of the Dead (there is five total films now) on blu from Media Blasters.  Sadly, these films were not as fun as I would have thought.

     The film follows a group of females who are trying to survive after the world is overrun by toxic males who want nothing more than to rape women.  Many females group together to survive but soon the toxic men start to outnumber the women.  Soon a nuclear bomb goes off and many of these men perish but those that survive are now severely burned and rotting with an insatiable appetite for women...in more than one way.

     I knew this film was going to be trashy and offensive but I was expecting to find off the wall story like Helldriver, The Machine Girl, Tokyo Gore Police, and so on.  Sadly, this film was nothing like that and just felt like a no budget mess with sexy women scattered throughout.  The acting in this one is extremely awkward and out of place.  I've seen several Japanese splatter horror flicks in the last few years and this is definitely the bottom of the barrel in regards to acting.  The cast is extremely awkward to watch and in many of the scenes they make no attempt at getting into character.  The only enjoyable moments with the cast is the softcore lesbians scenes.  This seems to be the only time that the cast is dedicated to their scene.  The story for this one is funny in a way and definitely can be offensive to some.  With that being said, the execution of this one is all wrong.  The use of green screens and poor editing makes this story extremely difficult to follow.  I wanted to love this one but after about 20 minutes I was ready to cut it off.  The story and the way it was approached was somewhat painful to watch.  Finally, the film has a blend of visual and practical effects.  The visual effects are hit and miss.  Some of them were great but others were extremely dated and poorly used.  The same cannot be said about the practical effects.  Almost all of the practical effects were great and one of the few redeeming qualities of the film.  The make-up effects could use some improvements but the practical effects were great.  Overall, Lust of the Dead is a severely missed opportunity.  The offensiveness of the film is lost in the lack of story.  This is one I cannot recommend.  Skip it.  

[Rec] 3: Genesis

 



Director - Paco Plaza (Veronica, A Christmas Tale)
Starring - Leticia Dolera (The Nightmare Worlds of H.G. Wells, Penny Dreadful), Diego Martin (The Ministry of Time, Empowered), and Ismael Martinez (The Day of the Beast, The Ministry of Time)
Release Date - 2012
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "You may now kiss the bride..."
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

 

     The first [Rec] made me think this was going to be a series that I didn't care for but the second film really helped me overcome the worry that I had for the series.  The first film was extremely difficult to sit through.  It was boring but the last 15 minutes or so of the film did spark my interest somewhat.  The follow up film took what I liked from the ending of the first and expanded on it which held my interests very well.  After getting through the first two films I was finally able to watch the two I was the most excited for.  I couldn't wait to see 3 and 4 and now it was time to see if they were as good as they looked!

     The film follows Clara and Koldo on their wedding day.  They hire a film crew to document their special day.  As the memorable day starts out with love and fun it quickly turns dark when a relative, who was bitten earlier by a stranger, attacks a loved one.  Soon others infected crash the party and the bride and groom is separated after being forced to flee.  The two refuse to become widow and widower on their wedding day and leave their refuge to find each other while fighting their way through waves of infect while the church property is being quarantined to prevent the spread of the virus. 

      Before I received this box set from Scream Factory I actually had no desire to see the first two [Rec] films.  I'm not a fan of found footage flicks but I really wanted to see the third and fourth film.  I was very impressed with the sequel but [Rec] 3: Genesis was the one I really wanted to watch and I'm glad I watched these in order.  The acting in this one is a little better than the previous films.  The characters have a little more personality and the cast is given something to work with.  The characters are a little clichéd but their outgoing personalities more than makes up for it.  The cast does a great job.  The story for this one does not have anything to do with the first two films but does use the same premise.  We follow a wedding party who becomes ground zero for an outbreak of demon possessed that is hell bent on killing and eating everyone they can.  The movie abandons the found footage style about 20 minutes in or so which was very refreshing for those of you out there that don't care for it.  The first 20 minutes or so are rather boring as we are establishing the setting of the film and the character but once the shit hits the fan the films turns into an extremely fast paced horror film with plenty of action.  Finally, those of you that want gore will finally find it with this installment.  We get so many amazing on screen kills as it turns up the kill count.  The effects we get are fantastic.  We mostly get practical effects but the visual effects we do get are minimal and not that bad.  They actually help the gag rather than distract.  Overall, [Rec] 3: Genesis is my favorite in the series so far.  It is leagues better than the first film and so much more brutal.  It does have some goofy moments but those only added to the film.  If you don't like the first film in the series I highly suggest you sit through the first two because this film was worth the torture of the first one.  





Red Krokodil

 



Director - Domiziano Cristopharo (A Taste of Phobia, Doll Syndrome)
Starring - Brock Madson (Cherrywood), Viktor Karam (Poern), Valerio Cassa
Release Date - 2012
Genre - Horror
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

     I needed to get back into my beloved genre.  I recently took a break from horror to watch a few random movies sent my way to review.  After I watched the sexploitation comedy Babyface 2 and the political satire Obamaland I wanted horror.  I needed it.  I went to my review stack and sought out some of the most horrid and gruesome horror films I have.  With that I grabbed a few Unearthed Films releases on blu.  The first film I went with was the 2012 film Red Krokodil.  This film was recently released on blu from Unearthed Films and gets its name from the Russian drug that is known for making the users skin melt from their body.  I want to thank MVD for sending this one my way.

     The film follows a lone man (Madson) who lives in an apartment building set during an apocalyptic scenario.  To cope with his surroundings crumbling he has turned to drugs.  The drugs are now killing him from the inside out and with each use his body starts to fall apart.

       I honestly had no idea what to expect from this one.  Unearthed Films is known for releasing the more extreme horror films.  Most of the time these types of films usually fall short with me.  I'm not a fan of the extreme horror flicks that lack story.  Story is why I'm a movie fan and if the movie lacks any sort of comprehendible story then I don't care for it.  Red Krokodile is a film that does have a simple story but one that works for the style of film that it is.  The acting in this one is solid.  The film's only really role belongs to Brock Madson who goes through his scenes mostly alone but does a decent job with what he was given to work with.  He goes through a wide range of emotions and really pulls the viewer into his deep, dark world.  The story for this one is mostly a narrative with the character going through his day to day life from using the restroom and doing drugs.  He does have the occasional flashback to before things went to shit.  It does move slowly but the narrative and story works very well at painting an even bigger picture than what we are given.  Finally, this film is not as gruesome as I was expecting.  We do get a lot of blood but nothing we haven't seen before.  The effects we get are hit and miss.  Some are great but others were not so much.  In fact, the bad far out weigh the good.  Overall, Red Krokodil is not as vile as I was expecting but it did have a great story with a great narrative.  Check this one out now on blu from Unearthed Films. 



The Bad Samaritan Must Die

Director(s) - Andrew Leckonby (Fractured Boy, Air) and John Raine (Repercussions)
Starring - John Raine, Nikita Rachel Shepherdson, and John Scott (Electricity)
Release Date - 2012
Genre - Action
Tagline - "Tonight we make history!"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been trying like hell to review a movie a day but sometimes that just doesn't happen with work and home life.  Lately, I've been watching horror flick after horror flick to get out of the rut I dug myself but I needed a break.  I looked at my review stack and found the Wild Eye Releasing film The Bad Samaritan Must Die.  I wanted something fun but wasn't much in a horror mood after spending the last two weeks knocking out review after review.  This one promised some brutality so I wasn't turning my back on carnage.  I just wanted something a little more story driven.  Thank you Wild Eye for sending this one my way!
     The film follows a town torn apart by the masked vigilante known as the Bad Samaritan.  Some people believe he is a menace and want him stopped.  They are extremely vocal about this and rally for his capture and arrest.   There is also a large number of people who support him.  Some support him so much they want to join him in his crusade.  His good intentions quickly spiral out of control and a vigilante cult is born.

   
     I really wanted to like this one.  I always go into a Wild Eye release with excitement but this one just didn't flow that well for me.  There was some things I really enjoyed but a lot of the film fell through the cracks with me.  The acting in this one is fun.  Typically the superhero steals the show but not in this film.  Instead, everyone brings the same intensity to their scenes.  They work well together and create fun atmosphere.  The story for this one is lacking.  It does a great job at establishing the characters and setting the scene but does forget about the overall story.  We get several scenes establishing who is bad and who is good with several other struggles but we never get a point to the vigilante.  We get some petty crime but nothing that warrants a vigilante.  There is no major struggle.  Finally, the film does have some blood.  We get some pretty violent beat downs but the choreography is rather weak.  Instead, we get a lot of camera tricks and cuts to get the desired effect.  There is blood but the effects we get are minimal and not really worth mentioning.  Overall, The Bad Samaritan Must Die has the right idea but falls short.  I could totally see this character becoming something more but this film just couldn't pull it together.  A stronger story is needed.