Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon Volume 2

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

Starring - Addison Binek 

Release Date - 2017 - 2021 

Genre - Horror/Comedy 

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon: Troma Edition

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

Starring - Addison Binek

Release Date - 2017 - 2021

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

Mexico Barbaro II

Director(s) - Diego Cohen (Honeymoon, Mark of the Devil), Christian Cueva (Voices, Vampiro), Ricardo Farias (Deliver, Vampiro), Michelle Garza Cervera (Abismal, The Original), Carlos Melendez (My Encounter with Evil, Clickbait), Lex Ortega (Atrocious, Mexico Barbaro), Abraham Sanchez (Devastcion, Sanguijuelas), Sergio Tello (T is for Tamales), and Fernando Urdapilleta (Consuelo, Atrapada)

Starring - Yeray Albelda (The Darkest Days of Us, Fear the Walking Dead), Alejandra Anaya, and Gabo Anguiano (Devil's Reflection, Control Z)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Nine tales of terror from south of the border"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    I love having little movie marathons when I can. I know I'm not the fastest person to review a film and sometimes I will sit on a movie for weeks at a time before I can review it. This sometimes results in me having a couple releases from the same company that I need to check out. I recently found myself holding on to three different Unearthed Films' releases that I needed to review. After watching the wildly enjoyable Deadgirl, I tossed in the horror anthology Mexico Barbaro II. While I had never seen the first film, I was still very excited to check this one out. Like always, I want to thank MVD and Unearthed Films for sending this one over for review. 

      The film features 9 horror tales ranging from a solider meeting his end by a bullet only to come back as a vengeful demon, a family mutilating their abusive father, an addict taking her addiction too far, two young men wanting to make an adult film with two beautiful women who are hiding something, and more. 

      I went into Mexico Barbaro II hoping that the segments in this sequel did not connect to the ones from the first film where I had never seen it. Lucky for me, it looks like they are eight or nine original segments that call Mexico Barbaro II home are original stories or if they are sequels, they can be enjoyed without seeing the first film. Most of you know how much of an anthology fan I am, and Mexico Barbaro II did not disappoint. The acting in this one is a bit inconsistent. With nine different filmmakers contributing their own segment to the film bringing their own different styles, experience, and budgets it only makes sense that there would be inconsistencies. With that being said, there were no bad performances but some of the segments have more memorable performances than others. The same can be said for the stories in the film. I liked a good deal of the segments and found myself absolutely wanting more but I think that nine stories were just too many. Sure, removing some would have shortened the run time but an anthology doesn't need a damn near dozen stories to be enjoyable. Maybe set some aside for a third film and focus the remaining run time on a wraparound segment that tied everything together. My favorite part of an anthology is the wraparound segment and not having one is a huge disappointment. Finally, this film is extremely violent and full of fantastic make-up and gore effects. The practical effects look great, the blood is plenty, and these kills are very enjoyable. Overall, Mexico Barbaro II is a brutal anthology that crams in nine segments into it's feature length run time. While the segments are enjoyable, the lack of a story putting them all together does make it feel like a collection of shorts with no purpose. It's still a lot of fun and I highly recommend snagging the blu from Unearthed Films

Xpiation

Domiziano Cristopharo (Doll Syndrome, Red Krokodil)

Starring - Chiara Pavoni (Violent Shit: The Movie, XXX Dark Web), Emanuele Delia, and Karen Lynn (A Taste of Phobia, Scarecrowd)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Over the last few years I've been lucky enough to review a few films from Italian director Domiziano Cristopharo.  Several years ago Unearthed Films sent over his film Red Krokodil and most recently I was lucky enough to check out his Confessions of a Necrophile Girl.  His films are not for everyone but I have enjoyed most of his films that I've seen.  When Unearthed announced the release of his 2017 horror flick Xpiation on blu I was looking forward to it.  I quickly made my way to my email so I could request a review copy from my friends over at MVD.  I had been sitting on this one for a couple weeks and after watching Firestarter starring Zac Efron I needed some indie horror to recharge my batteries.  Like always, I want to thank MVD and Unearthed for sending this one over.

     The film follows a woman with her handheld camcorder who films a man torturing another nude man who is bound to a chair.  The woman sometimes records the abuse or at other times she allows torturer to breastfeed on her.  However, the only thing clear is that the man in the chair is there for their amusement and will not be leaving alive.  

     Confessions of a Necrophile girl and Red Krokodil are vile and disgusting films with great practical effects and stories that keep the viewer glued to the screen.  Sadly, Xpiation was one of Cristopharo's films that I did not like.  Most of you know my opinions on the "torture porn" sub-genre and this film was a textbook example of what it means to be a torture porn flick.  It might be something some of you extreme horror fans will love but it was extremely boring to me.  The acting in this one is surprisingly well done for the most part.  IMDB doesn't do a great job listing the cast and characters, which is typical for a Cristopharo film, but it does make my job a little difficult.  Chiara Pavoni is the star of the film for me.  She's gorgeous and carries the film on her shoulders.  The lack of story is ALMOST made up for with her performance and how she carries the scenes.  I loved her here and my new collecting goal is to obtain the horror titles that she has appeared in.  I also believe that the man that is bound to the chair does a decent enough job considering that his only task in his role is to be bound and tortured.  With that being said, the man that is doing the torturing did make me laugh which I can only assume was unintentional.  He didn't really fit the film and was very out of place.  If the film was meant to be comical I would have enjoyed it a little more but the dark and gritty style of the film only clashed with this character.  The story for this one is straight forward and stretched extremely thin.  The film runs for around 70 minutes but 50 or so minutes of the film follows the man as he is tortured and the woman watches.  Sometimes the torture is split up with scenes of the women pleasuring herself, breast feeding the man doing the torturing, among other things.  The movie could have been more effective if it was cut much shorter. However, at 70 minutes it is stretched too thin and the torture is like beating a dead horse.  Finally, the film has some blood and light make up effects but this is nowhere near as gruesome as some of Cristopharo's other films.  Those looking for carnage will be a little disappointed.  Overall, Xpiation may be one of Unearthed Film's weakest titles.  I respect the hell out of Unearthed Films and director Cristopharo but this movie just wasn't for me.  It was extremely dull and boring.  This is one I would skip.  I would suggest checking out some other Unearthed releases instead of this one.  

Stranger Things 2

Creator(s) - Ross Duffer (Wayward Pines, Saturday Night at Norm's) and Matt Duffer (Hidden, Eater)

Starring - Winona Ryder (Heathers, Edward Scissorhands), David Harbour (Hellboy, Black Widow), and Natalia Dyer (Velvet Buzzsaw, After Darkness)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "It only gets stranger..."

Format - Streaming (Netflix)

Rating (out of 5):

     When Netflix released the first season of Stranger Things I was obsessed.  I fucking loved the show.  As soon as I finished the last episode I started it over and forced my wife to watch it.  Before the second was released I had watched the first season three times overall.  However, when Stranger Things 2 was released I found myself struggling to finish it.  In fact, I stopped on the fifth episode and turned my back on the show.  It wasn't until recently when part one of Stranger Things 4 was released that I decided to go back and give Stranger Things  another shot.  It was a solid series but it was nowhere near as fun as the first season.

     This season follows the gang who is still struggling with the upside down when will becomes possessed by a tentacle creature known as the Mind Flayer that pulls the gang and their surrounding family into the fight to save their little town from destruction.

     Stranger Things 2 doesn't have that kick that the first season had.  It's not a bad follow up to the original season but I feel like it's introducing too many characters with so much back story and their own story arcs that it's taking away from the overall show.  Don't get me wrong, I do like the new characters and I like the attitude change they gave Steve but there is so much going on that it makes the main plot of the film lose the impact it was going for.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  The returning cast gives us some seriously amazing performances while giving us even more of the characters that we grew to love.  I really like the fact that Steve, portrayed by Joe Keery, is no longer a douche and a fan favorite.  I'm glad he was moved up in importance and I love the new characters we are given as well but this is the season's downfall.  The story for this one is a serious attempt at following up to the first season.  We get the DnD inspired story with the Lovecraft inspired creature getting the name of Mind Flayer.  We also get a plethora of new characters that does over saturate the story.  This season would have worked if they would have kept the character list short and tight.  Instead, we get so many different side stories.  It's almost as if this season was written by Bethesda.  I liked the set up of the story and how it went but it could have been so much more fun if we would have just focused on the gang and the continuation of this story without the unneeded distractions.  Finally, this season is just as beautiful as the first season.  We have some great practical effects, lots of blood and gore, and some fantastic visual effects.  The deaths are violent and bloody with some good use of practical and visual effects.  Some of the visual effects are a little noticeable at times but overall they are almost as perfect as the practical effects.  Overall, Stranger Things 2 is a serious follow up to the first season.  It isn't without faults and spreads itself too thin at times but is still worth your time.  If you are like me and loved the first season you will find it underwhelming at times but it does have it's moments.  

Star Trek: Discovery Season One

Creator(s) - Bryan Fuller (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Dead Like Me) and Alex Kurtzman (Sleepy Hollow, The Mummy)

Starring - Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walking Dead, Space Jam: A New Legacy), Doug Jones (Hellboy, Crimson Peak), and Anthony Rapp (Dazed and Confused, Adventures in Babysitting)

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Tagline - "At the edge of the universe, discovery begins"

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm not the most avid Star Trek fan but I did spend a good bit of my childhood watching reruns with my grandmother while my dad was out of town.  We mostly watched the original series but I've spent my fair share of time watching Next Generation and Deep Space Nine.  In recent years I've become obsessed with the new Star Trek trilogy along with the newer series.  Over the last few years I've been lucky enough to review the first season of Picard and Lower Decks.  Both are fantastic series that takes on on different parts of the Star Trek universe.  I had heard of Star Trek: Discovery before as well but I had never had the chance to see it until I was sent the first three seasons for review.  While I was on Thanksgiving vacation I decided to tackle it and it was a fantastic show.  

     This season follows Michael (Martin-Green) who is raised by a Vulcan and his human wife after her family was killed by Klingons.  He raises her to use logic over emotions which serves her well when she enlists in the federation.  However, she is headstrong and her impulses leads to the death of her captain and a war between the Klingons.  Six months passes and she is transported to the Discovery to help the captain while she is in prison for treason.  This leads them on several missions before the entire vessel finds themselves in a parallel universe where the federation is an empire that kills all alien species.  

      I'm loving the new Star Trek series.  Picard was fantastic and visually stunning while Lower Decks was the Star Trek for fans of adult animation.  Discovery was just as visually stunning but the story and characters are the part that is the most compelling.  I absolutely loved it and couldn't stop binging it.  This is not your typical Star Trek series but it does feel like Star Trek.  The acting in this one is nothing short of brilliant.  The series features so many amazing cast members that has made a name for themselves in horror and sci-fi.  We have Doug Jones who is known for his work with Guillermo del Toro along with Sonequa Martin-Green from The Walking Dead, Anthony Rapp from Dazed and Confused, Shazad Latif from Black Mirror and Penny Dreadful, and Jason Isaacs from the Harry Potter series.  Also, the film brings several new faces that I was unfamiliar with and everyone delivers unforgettable performances.  Discovery did bring Mary Wiseman to my attention who is now my new crush.  The story for this one is exactly what you would expect from Star Trek.  The story is fully submerged in the federation but we get other aspects from various other series like the Vulcans, Klingons, and other fan favorites.  With that being said, the story takes us through parallel dimensions, war, and the federation hierarchy.   I fucking loved it and couldn't look away even if I tried.  Finally, the series is absolutely beautiful. The visual effects are top notch and never show a sign of weakness while the make-up and creature effects were great as well.  Overall, season one of Discovery is an unforgettable and an important part of television history.  I highly recommend this for any sci-fi and Star Trek fan.  

The Demon Inside

Director - Joey Moran (Pals, The Z Virus)

Starring - Joseph Rene (Dead of Night, Between Hell and a Heartbeat), Madeline Thelton (Big Bad, Furious in Alabama), and Chloe Lee (The Secret: Dare to Dream, Minari)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "His sins brought the demon to life.  Now it wants his daughter"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I hate how horror fans never give indie productions the same attention they do bigger releases.  Don't get me wrong, I love a good popcorn horror flick but indie productions tend to have more heart and originality.  Sure, they may pay tribute to other films that inspire them but they typically take an idea and make it their own.  A few days ago I was contacted to review the 2017 horror release The Demon Inside which was streaming for free on Tubi.  I had never heard of this one and was really looking forward to checking it out.  

     The film follows ex-con Sam (Rene) who lives with his wife and daughter but one day their life is tossed upside down when they discover that something sinister has taken residence in their home. Not knowing what to do next they turn to reality television show Ghost Killers for answers but soon realize that their evil presence is actually a demon and not a ghost.  Soon blood begins to flow leaving Sam to face his own demons before his family is ripped apart.  

     The Demon Inside caught my eye with the poster.  The title is a little lame and I don't mean to be so rude about it but as someone that has spent most of his life searching for horror releases I can safely say that this title is one I would skip on title alone.  The artwork really pulled me and the movie didn't disappointment.   The acting in this one is inconsistent.  Some of the cast delivers a more grounded performance that fit the style of the film but some of the other performances felt a little flat and almost lazy.  I liked the characters but some of the cast felt like they were there for the experience and not fully dedicated to their roles.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward and simple.  I liked it but there was some aspects that I could have lived without.  I liked the reality show investigating the house and having a lead with a dark past.  However, all the scenes establishing him as a family man over does it. Just one or two scenes to drive the point home would have sufficed but having it take up the first 30 minutes of the film is a bit overkill.  This results in some long, drawn out scenes that really does very little for the actual story.  Some of these scenes could have been trimmed.  Finally, the film has some seriously bloody moments that I was not expecting.  The practical effects looks absolutely phenomenal and the deaths are always unexpected.  They pack a punch and stand out.  Honestly, the effects are my favorite part of the film.  Overall, The Demon Inside doesn't have the most appealing title but the film itself is a must see for genre fans.  I really enjoyed it and if you give it a chance then I'm sure you will too.  Check it out.  

The Wild Boys

Director - Bertrand Mandico (Dead Flash, After Blue)

Starring - Pauline Lorillard (Apocalypse After, Up the Mountain), Vimala Pons (Struggle for Life, The Sweet Escape), and Diane Rouxel (Standing Tall, The Smell of Us)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Adventure/Fantasy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Vinegar Syndrome has brought a lot of different movies to my attention.  They started bringing exploitation, sci-fi, and horror to the masses through their own releases and as they grew so did their influence.  Over the last year or so they have put a lot of focus in their partner labels to bring even more films to our attention.  A month or so back I saw that Vin Syn had released a special limited edition slipcover for the Altered Innocence release of the 2017 French film The Wild Boys.  I had never heard of this one beforehand so I went ahead and added it to my cart.  I had no idea what kind of movie this was but it was an experience to say the least.

     The film follows a group of adolescent boys who go on a boat trip with a harsh sea-captain to a magic island filled with wonders and mysteries.  However, their interest in the occult and the mysteries of the islands results in a murder.

     I knew The Wild Boys was not going to be the typical horror film I usually review.  In fact, it was one of the strangest films I had reviewed in recent years.  I wouldn't say it was a bad flick but I'm too fucking stupid to appreciate it.  The acting in this one is great.  The young boys, which was portrayed by female actresses, is all into their performances.  They dedicate their everything to their roles and it shows.  The supporting cast is just as great.  There is no weak links in this film but some of the characters are more enjoyable than the rest.  The story for this one is a little difficult to follow but it is extremely clever.  It has an arthouse/experimental mentality that some people enjoy but I found myself just watching the beautiful shot scenes play out with no real interest in the story.  If it was a little more straight forward I could have enjoyed it but the way it is just wasn't my thing.  Finally, the film has some beautiful cinematography and a few scenes with prosthetic effects but it's not really bloody or gory.  Overall, The Wild Boys is a beautifully shot piece that some will thoroughly enjoy while some, like myself, will not fully understand or appreciate.  It's a cool addition to the collection but I'll never watch it again.  

Suicide Club

Director - Maximilian Von Vier (The Host, Sanctuary)

Starring - Therica Wilson-Read (Sinners, The Last Call), Klariza Clayton (House of Anubis, Blood Money), and Kate Lister (Clickbait, Curse of the Scarecrow)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Kill_or_be_killed"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love the wide range of indie flicks that Wild Eye releases.  Obviously, I have my eye on their horror releases but Wild Eye has really impressed me with some of their non-genre releases.  After I had Vicious knock me for a loop I found myself very disappointed in The Death Pledge and Godforsaken.  I had a few more Wild Eye flicks left to review so I went into them hoping that they were better than the two previous films.  The next movie I was digging into was the 2017 horror thriller Suicide Club from director Maximilian von Vier.  I want to thank Wild Eye and MVD for sending this one over.

     The film follows a young woman who is afraid of leaving her apartment.  She turns to the internet for social interaction where begins stalking a new resident of the apartment complex she lives in.  She also finds herself becoming a member of an online community known as the Suicide Club where you are tasked with providing a name for them to "kill" or you will die.  Soon she finds herself deep in this madness while suspecting that another resident is a serial killer.

     I didn't know what to expect when I tossed in Suicide Club.  I'm very familiar with the Japanese horror flick from 2001 so I was curious how a film that borrows the title and had that amazing artwork would play out.  I really enjoyed it but it's one that will split genre fans.  The acting in this one is very well done.  Klariza Clayton does a phenomenal job as the reclusive yet snoopy Liz.  She does a great job and she really fit in the role very well.  The character is a little flat but she fits with the story very well and makes it feel very genuine.  The supporting cast is much of the same.  They do a fantastic job but the characters are very generic and cliched.  No one really stands out but they do a great job at fitting in the story.  The story for this one is very predictable but it's fun.  Having a young woman who is afraid of the outside world seek out a suicide club is pretty unique.  We then have the love interest that changes her mind about it all only makes sense and adds to the story.  However, having the suicide site and club not be the main antagonist of the film is a bit of a let down.  Instead, we have the theorized serial killer that has a decent sized build up only to dissipate.  Both could have been much more than what we were given.  The film is too focused on Liz overcoming her fear of the outside world and finding a reason to live instead of the horror aspect of the story.  Finally, the film has some blood but nothing that is that impressive or will leave a lasting impression.  The movie is more character driven than bloodshed.  Overall, Suicide Club is a fun and interesting movie.  The cast is great and the story is pretty solid.  There is some room for improvement but it's still a solid flick the way it is.  I recommend it.  

Nightmare Vacation

Director - Mark Polonia (Children of Camp Blood, Return to Splatter Farm)

Starring - Matthew Satterly (Church of the Damned, Night Crawlers), Maria Davis (How to Slay a Vampire, Monster Movie), and DJ Watts 

Release Date - 2017?

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The next time you book a vacation for the beach... it could be your last"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    It's been almost two weeks in the making but this is the last film in my SRS Cinema marathon and third and final film in the Polonia trilogy that I was watching.  There was some highs, a few lows, but it was a very fun experience.  The Polonia releases are way more fun than I was expecting and I saved the one I was the most excited about for last.  This was Nightmare Vacation.  The film was originally shot by the late John Polonia and Todd Michael Smith but never completed.  Mark found the footage and edited it together the best he could and then used narration to fill in the gaps.  This was a unique approach but one I was so fucking excited for.

     The film follows two friends who go to the beach for a little getaway.  What they don't know is that someone wearing a mask is stalking them and killing anyone they come in contact with.

     I went into this knowing it was an unfinished project that was held together by duct tape and some spit.  I didn't realize how difficult it would be to watch.  It's cool that an unfinished project of John's found a way to a physical release for collectors to have but as a film it's a rough one to watch.  The acting in this one is odd to say the least.  I get the feeling that a lot of the scenes were never finished or some of the final recording of the scene was lost forcing Mark to use whatever he had.  What we are left with are scenes that have no enthusiasm or energy which drags the already poorly put together story down even further.  The story for this one would have been a pretty solid slasher with the Polonia/Smith spin but because it was never properly finished it is almost impossible to watch.  The narration makes it funny at times but doesn't help with the story.  Finally, the film has a few kills but by the time you get to them you are waiting for the movie to end.  They could have been fun in a normal movie setting but watching it the way it is now makes the kills feel like another chore to sit through.  Overall, Nightmare Vacation is for collectors looking to complete their Polonia or SRS collection but for someone looking for something new to watch you will be very disappointed.  

Elliot

Director - Craig Jacobson (Alligator Bitch)

Starring - Joshua Coffy, Cassandra Sechler (Dolly Deadly, The Glory Hole), and Craig Jacobson

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Innocence breeds cruelty in the realm of desire"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Last week I spent a good portion of my time digging through some of the SRS catalog that I had accumulated since the beginning of the pandemic.  Some were purchases during their pandemic sale while others were recent arrivals from MVD for review.  Some of the films were let downs while others were really fun.  I took a little break from the SRS releases and decided to spin a few other movies I recently received before going back to the DVD retro line from SRS.  The first one on this week's chopping block is Elliot from director Craig Jacobson.  This looked like it was going to be a strange one and damn if it wasn't.  I want to thank MVD for sending this one over.  

     The film follows Elliot, a lonely low level employee in some in a crumbling factory in a dystopian society.  His only himan interactions are with his boss through the video monitor or the guards tasked with forcing him to work.  In his down time he escapes his reality but soon those moments start to bleed into the real world as his mind melts from the stress of his day.

     I didn't know what to expect from Elliot but it was definitely unique and very different.  The movie hits different but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It dared to do something different and didn't follow trends or attempt a quick cash grab.  After watching this one I decided to do some searching around the web where I found conflicting accounts on the making of this one.  This is part of the SRS retro line which is strange considering it was released in 2017 according to imdb but a few sites have stated that this film was originally shot in 1999.  I couldn't find concrete evidence but the 1999 would make more sense to put it with the retro line.  The acting in this one is pretty solid.  The characters are very different than most movies I've reviewed but I really liked how strange they were.  The cast really got into their roles and it shows.  With that being said, some of the dialogue heavy scenes do get a little awkward at times.  The story for this one is a little dry at times but it's ambitious and bold which pays off.  Sci-fi and horror alike has seen movies where people fantasize about a different life until the point that their mind bends or snaps.  It's nothing new or original.  However, having it set against the backdrop of a mechanized world and forced labor really makes it feel more real.  The movie does have a slow pace about it so those looking for something more fast paced will struggle with this one but if you want something different then I would suggest being patient and letting this one play out.  Finally, the film is not one I would call bloody or gory but it is overflowing with visual and practical effects.  The sets in this one are great and we get some crazy make-up designs along with some practical effects.  As I said, it's not a bloody film but the movie does look impressive.  Overall, Elliot will be one you either turn off fairly early on or you finish it and love it.  This is a movie that those looking for something well polished with a gripping story will be very disappointed with.  However, those looking for a dark and bleak sci-fi film will really enjoy it.  

Nemesis 5: The New Model

Director - Dustin Ferguson (Ebola Rex, Angry Asian Murder Hornets)

Starring - Sue Price (Nemesis 2: Nebula, RoboWoman), Schuylar Craig (Amityville Toybox, Chills Down Your Spine), and Mel Novak (Apex Predators, Rattlers 2)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Sci-Fi

Tagline - "You can't stop the future"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Back when MVD announced the Nemesis stand along release along with the Nemesis triple feature I went to their website and saw that they were handling the DVD release of Dustin Ferguson's Nemesis 5: The New Model.  I was going to request the two Nemesis blus so I thought it would be fun to review all five films.  Ferguson is a very polarizing filmmaker.  His stand alone films are tough to finish.  He seems to rush through projects in order to move on to the next one with not much time put into quality control.  However, his horror documentaries are pretty fucking good.  In fact, I would highly recommend checking out a few of them if you havent.  I was on the fence about Nemesis 5 especially knowing how Ferguson is with his films and just viewing Nemesis 4.

   The film follows a little girl, Ari, who is found and reluctantly raised by Alex (Price).  As the war between humans and the cyborgs rages on she trains Ari to become a fighter to win the war for all humanities sake.  

     I wasn't expecting a lot from this one but I was hoping it was better than the fourth installment.  It wasn't.  In fact, this one was easily the worst sequel in the franchise.  I don't know why Pyun would want a sequel after 21 years but this was not the way he should have went.  Honestly, this was the toughest watch to date.  The acting in this one is not as bad as the fourth film but the cast just didn't seem to know exactly what to do for the scene.  It's almost as if they were told to film the scene and then was left without direction.  A lot of the scenes they are very underwhelming and the emotional range is just not there.  The story for this one is actually an interesting and decent enough expansion of the original series but the execution is all wrong.  The movie is slow paced that even the action scenes are boring.  Where part four was a chaotic mess of poorly edited scenes we get scenes that are just too damn long and pointless.  A good 30 to 40 minutes of dialogue and pointless scenes could be shaved and we would still be left with the story.  I guess they had a run time limit they really needed to hit with these unnecessary scenes.  Finally, the film is not a bloody one but we do get an instance or two of fun make-up effects and a lot of horrible visual effects.  The visuals are bad but not in a so bad they are funny tone.  Overall, Nemesis 5 is a huge waste of time and a pointless entry in the Nemesis series.  Pyun should have left it along with 3.  Skip it.  

     

The Theta Girl

Director - Christopher Bickel (Bad Girls, Boo Hag: Hokus Pokus)

Starring - Victoria Elizabeth Donofrio (Teenage Caligula, The Battle of Aiken), Shane Silman (Bad Girls, Teenage Caligula), and Dove Dupree (Choices Slipping Away, Bad Girls)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi/Crime

Tagline - "She brought the pills.  He brought the kills"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Over the years I've accumulated some seriously amazing horror, sci-fi, and exploitation flicks but the downside to collecting is I never have time to watch everything I've collected.  Between work, family life, and watching movies sent over for review I rarely get time to pick out something for myself to watch.  However, sometimes I force myself to make time for movies because I'm just too excited to see it.  Sometime ago I bought The Theta Girl from Christopher Bickel on blu because I heard a lot of good things about it.  Bickel recently finished his newest film Bad Girls and sent me a digital copy to review.  Before I dug into it I decided I needed to check out The Theta Girl.  

     The film follows drug pusher Grayce (Donofrio) who deals a new drug called Theta.  As her friends are brutally murdered she suspects a rival drug dealer of the heinous crimes but soon realizes that the ones responsible for the carnage is a group of religious fanatics that was slipped Theta.

     I had heard nothing but great things about The Theta Girl but I was not expecting the movie to be as entertaining as it was.  I don't need to see Bad Girls to be a fan of Christopher Bickel.  Hell, if you want my honest opinion of him after seeing The Theta Girl then it's he's one of the best indie filmmakers in the game right now.  This one blends genres and does not slow down.  The acting in this one is brilliant.  Victoria Elizabeth Donofrio is amazing as Grayce.  She's strong, intense, beautiful, and deadly.  I was absolutely shocked when I saw that her imdb had limited credits.  She really needs to be in more indie productions because she absolutely kills it.  The supporting cast is just as great.  The cast had fun and entertaining characters written for them and they do an amazing job bringing them to life.  The story for this one is fun mesh of action, crime, horror, and a dash of trippy sci-fi.  It's a unique looking film and the story doesn't hold any punches.  I'm a fan of any movie that features drug use, religious fanatics killing people, and beautiful women that can kick my ass.  The dialogue is fun, the scenes don't drag on, and the pacing is smooth.  With that being said, if you are looking for a straight forward horror story you will be very disappointed.  Finally, this one has some seriously fun effects and great scenes for the deaths.  The kills themselves may not always take place on camera but Bickel still lets us see the bloody aftermath.  It's bloody and gorgeously gory.  Overall, The Theta Girl is a female lead violent exploitation film that pays tribute to movies like Thriller and Coffy.  This is a must see for cult movie fans.  I highly recommend it.  

Shitters

Director - Jarno Mahlberg (The Return of Shitters, Carnival of Sluts)

Starring - Juho Liukkonen (The Head, Axecutioner)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     You never know what you will find when you spend hours upon hours browsing the various horror hashtags on Twitter and Instagram.  A few weeks ago I was scrolling through #indiehorror when I found a poster for the horror short The Return of Shitters.  That title and poster was calling my name so I asked if it was a sequel or what.  I got a reply stating that it was indeed a sequel and the original was available on YouTube.  A few days later I received an email with both links.  Once I got caught up on reviews I jumped on the first one simply titled Shitters.  Thank you Jarno for sending it over.

     This short follows a young man who takes a shit and doesn't flush.  Later, that same shit comes to life and wreaks havoc in his apartment.

     A short horror comedy titled Shitters is exactly what I need in my life.  It's a bummer that it was released almost four years ago now and I'm just now hearing of it.  I would have loved to see this crazy short when it was released but better late than never I suppose.  The acting in this one is nothing really memorable.  In fact, the only cast member in the film is rarely in the movie and his performance is nothing spectacular.  However, the hand puppet is pretty funny and holds the film together pretty well.  The story for this one is short, simple, and straight to the point.  The story is obviously inspired by the puppet horror films of the late 80s and early 90s with movies like Critters, Gremlins, and more obviously, Ghoulies.  With that being said, if the short would have went on any further it would have worn out it's welcome.  The story has just enough meat on the bone to cover the run time.  Finally, if you are looking for a bloody flick you will be disappointed.  However, if you want a shitty sock puppet with corn eyes then you are in the right place.  Overall, Shitters was a fun and well spent 6 minutes.  I could see Troma tossing this one up on their Troma Now platform where it fits in really well with the other no-budget horror comedies.  I highly recommend this one.  

     

Croak

Director - Matt Barrett 

Starring - Patrick Basquill (Abducted!, 8 Slices), Bennett Pellington (Bloodhounds, The Reason), and Anthony Reynolds (Black Lightning, Fantastic Four)

Release Date- 2017

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Tagline - "Evolve or die"

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been tearing through reviews the last month or so and I find myself almost becoming obsessed with reviewing as many indie horror flicks as I can.  A few nights ago I found the found footage horror short Camping Fun on Instagram while browsing the hashtags.  Not long after I found another post for the indie horror comedy Croak from Gillybear Productions.  This looked like the kind of short I could get into.  I immediately rushed to YouTube where I found their channel and the short.  After I watch Camping Fun I immediately hit play on Croak.  

     The film follows a slacker who is late for work one day when the frogs outside his home keep him up all night croaking.  He loses his job and decides to seek revenge against them.  He steals some chemicals from his old work truck and attempts to poison them.  However, the chemicals have a different reaction with the toads and one of them mutates into a monsterous humanoid frog with a taste for human flesh.  

     I loved everything about this film except one thing...the run time.  I loved the cast, the story, the creature reveal and how the movie ended.  I just wish the movie had more to it.  The story could have easily been stretched into a feature length film which I hope will happen one day.  It was a lot of fun and there was so much potential for even more fun.  The acting in this one is great.  The characters are all fun and stand out with the character of the stoner slacker really holding the film together.  The beast has a personality as well that added even more humor to the horror aspect of the film.  I really enjoyed the cast and would love to see them all return to another no budget horror feature.  The story for this one takes me back to the late 80s and early 90s direct to video horror classics that I grew up.  Honestly, I could really see this one come out from Moon Beam Entertainment (Full Moon Pictures sister company for children's releases).  It had that Prehysteria feel which is a childhood favorite of mine.  It's short and no time is wasted.  The pacing is consistent.  Finally, the film has an amazing full body costume that looks absolutely amazing and some seriously fun practical effects.  They say that the film was made on a budget of around $400 which really surprises me.  I assume all of it went into the effects.  Overall, Croak is a must see for fans of horror comedies or for those of you with an eye for practical effects.  I highly recommend it.  You will not be disappointed especially for the length of the short.  

The Quacky Slasher

Director - Peter McKeirnon (Dead Town, The Dog Walker)

Starring - Andrew Butterworth (The Dog Walker, Dead Town), Neil Gallagher (Good Tidings, Coronation Street), and Michael Hagen (Creed, Queer as Folk)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Tagline - "Don't fuck with the duck"

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love the stupid side of no budget horror.  As most of you may have noticed, I review a lot of movies with some crazy titles.  Movies like Death Toilet, The Living Placenta, Slimebox, and so on.  I love these wild no budget movies that consistent of more imagination than budget.  They are extremely fun to watch and rarely let me down.  A few night ago I was browsing through social media when I came across the Facebook page for The Quacky Slasher.  This is the kind of movie that I need in my life so I reached out to them to see how I could get a copy.  Sadly, they no longer had them but I could still check it out on YouTube.

     The film follows the deranged Michael Quackers who witnessed some wild ducks savagely eating his father (he had a heart attack and they were actually eating the bread he was feeding them).  From that moment on he was locked away...that is until one day he escapes, dons a duck mask, and goes on a murderous rampage.

     I didn't expect The Quacky Slasher to be the slasher to revitalize my love for slashers.  I went into it expecting some cheap laughs and fun puns.  What I was given was some funny moments and some cheap slasher inspired kills.  I really enjoyed this one and I'm kicking myself for missing the physical release of this one.  The acting in this one is far from perfect but the cast does a solid job bringing the laughs.  They really get into their characters which helps the viewer look passed the budget constraints.  The characters are hit and miss.  Some are absurd and memorable while others are one dimensional and cliched.  The story for this one is short and sweet but really does bring together a lot of the slasher tropes and clichés.  I love shorts because they don't waste time.  The Quacky Slasher goes straight into the murdering and then we have a little comical revelation about who the killer is and his backstory, before moving on to the parody ending that pokes fun to classics like Halloween.  I really liked what they did here and I loved the humor.  Finally, the kills are nothing that spectacular but a few of the practical effects gags were pretty impressive considering this shorts budget and experience.  It's nothing we haven't seen before but it was still fun to watch.  Overall, The Quacky Slasher will not be for everyone.  I know I've said that before but this short slasher is not for fans of op horror.  It's for those of us that grew up on Troma, USA Up All Night, and MonsterVision.  If you like the goofy side of cinema then I highly recommend spinning this one.  

Dark Tales

Director(s) - Brad Bruce (Michael, Ol' Sparky), Benji Carver (Jumpers, Skid Row Love), S.J. Doss (Got Gremlins?, Pretty Boy), Jason Figgis (Faces of Fear, Blood Tales), Lomai (Proven, Clown Cop), Luke Mepham (Night Smiles, The Disease), Jim Stramel (The Thrillbillys, Degenerated Ink), Gordon Bressack (Virus of the Dead, Keeper), and Tony Newton (Welcome to Hell, Halloween Hell Night)

Starring - Jerry Rector (Double Impact, Ghost World), Joseph Cranford (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Better Call Saul), and James Crichton (Victory Parade)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Welcome to the nightmare"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few night ago I set out to have a Wild Eye marathon where I binged a few of the newer Wild Eye releases.  After Creature from Crannibal Creek, 2020: Fallen Earth, and Deal with the Devil, I decided the fourth and final movie in my marathon would be the 2017 horror anthology Dark Tales.  The artwork, which was similiar to Deal with the Devil, did not paint a very entertaining picture but after watching three fun and entertaining Wild Eye releases prior to this one I was excited to spin another one.

     The film begins with the police investigating the suicide of a man who has watched a series of short films.  The same short films we are about to watch.  

     When I tossed this one in I was immediately greeted with a text introduction before the film moved on to the shorts.  The "wraparound" for an anthology is my favorite and the fact that this was just a paragraph before the film was already a huge disappointment.  Then we moved on to the actual film and the disappointment continued.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent but almost every segment feels rushed.  The cast feels impatient in most of the shorts and rushes through their dialogue. With that being said, the segment Keeper was smooth and the cast did fantastic together.  The stories for this anthology feel unfinished or incomplete for the most part.  I tried to do some research on this one and all I could find was the imdb page and a few not so good reviews on YouTube.  I don't know the history behind this one or how it came to be but the text on the opening screen completely voiding the film of a wraparound and seeing these shorts makes me believe this was a rushed project just to get something released.  Keeper is the only short that I actually enjoyed but it's not a horror short.  Finally, the film has some blood and some minimal practical effects but they are nothing memorable or enjoyable.  I was hoping that at least we would get some fun gore with this one but we did not.  Overall, Dark Tales is an incomplete horror anthology that is barely watchable.  I love Wild Eye and can recommend dozens of movies from their catalog but this is not one of them.  Skip it.