The Ghost of Peter Sellers

Director - Peter Medak (Masters of Horror, The Changeling)

Starring - Peter Medak, Joe Dunne (Superman II, Space: 1999), and Simon van der Borgh (These Final Hours, In Tranzit)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Documentary

Tagline - "A comedy legend, a hot new director and a 17th century pirate movie.  What could possibly go wrong?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Severin and Intervision is a company that has been at the forefront of releasing horror, cult, and exploitation films.  While they are not the only company focused on preserving cinema, they are one of the handful of the boutique labels that I greatly admire.  Severin, and their partner label Intervision, has released some fantastic horror and exploitation flicks that many would have slept on.  With that being said, they branch out on occasion to release something that many would not associate with them.  Case in point, a few weeks ago Severin sent over a blu release of the 2018 documentary The Ghost of Peter Sellers from legendary filmmaker Peter Medak.  I'm always up to watch a documentary and this was a new one to me.  I want to thank the folks over at Severin for sending this one over!

     The documentary follows director Peter Medak as he recalls the saga behind the biggest blunder of his career when he was tasked with director international comedian Peter Sellers in a 1973 pirate film.  Through interviews with various cast, fans, and friends of those still alive from the production, we see that actor Peter Sellers, along with some of Peter Medak's insecurities, made the filming damn near impossible resulting in a film that never received an official release. 

     I looks like it has been over a years since my last documentary review and that was the Florida based horror doc Blood, Guts, and Sunshine 2.  While The Ghost of Peter Sellers was not a horror doc, it was still interesting for what it was.  I may not be the ideal demographic for the film, it was still enjoyable for a first time viewing.  The interviews for this one are a bit one sided.  We follow Peter Medak and others as they discuss what it was like filming, the process behind preparing for the film, and what it was like working with Peter Sellers.  While Sellers had been gone for sometime by the time this was made, he is obviously unable to verify or take up for his actions which leaves most of this up to speculation.  With that being said, it was interesting hearing some of the stories from filming and what it was like, though one sided, to work with Sellers during this time.  The topics discussed range from preparing for filming, to filming, and what it was like working with Sellers.  While the title implies that most of the film would be based on Sellers, that was only a fraction of what it was about.  With that being said, a lot of the interviews felt like they were whining and blaming others for their shortcomings.  There wasn't a lot of people holding themselves accountable and a lot of finger pointing.  Finally, the editing and videography on this one is great.  We have smooth transitions, great camera work, and some gorgeous shots.  Overall, The Ghost of Peter Sellers is an odd yet interesting look into a film that I never knew existed.  While this made me want to see the actual train wreck that they filmed, this doc about it is pretty damn good.  Sure, it's one sided but what documentary isn't completely unbiased?  Check it out.  

Black Dragon

Director - Alex Thompson (Pills, Death Row Mama)

Starring - Celia Au (Asian Persuasion, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens), Chris Day (Wish Man, The Hunt with John Walsh), and Matthew Del Negro (American Horror Stories, Teen Wolf)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My Dark Red Film Festival marathon continues with another horror short that was sent my way with this years selections.  I just finished the 2023 Spanish horror short Baba and wanted to keep the marathon going so I decided to fire up the 2018 horror short Black Dragon from filmmaker Alex Thompson.  Like always, I want to thank the fine folks behind Dark Red Film Festival for sending this one my way.

     The film follows a group of soldiers in Vietnam who just captured a young woman.  However, this is no regular woman.  This female prisoner of war is able to bring the dead back to life.  They decide to use her power to bring a fellow soldier back after seeing her resurrect a dead rat.  However, doing so doesn't miraculously heal their wounds and the dead soldier is brought back in excruciating pain.  

     Black Dragon is one that really caught me off guard.  The poster and title had me thinking it was going to go in one direction but it did not.  Instead, it was something completely different but it works.  It does fall prey to Short Syndrome but that's a good problem to have.  The acting in this one is great.  It's not a dialogue heavy film.  In fact, the silence in this one speaks louder than the words.  The cast does a phenomenal job at conveying their emotions and keeping it grounded.  It doesn't feel overdramatic or cheesy.  Everyone has their own specific job to do and they did it.  The story for this one is very well written.  A prisoner of war with the power to bring the dead back to life is pretty interesting especially when you consider the shape of the dead bodies found during wartime.  However, I need more than what we were given.  Who is the woman, who was the dead soldier, how did she get captured?  I have so many questions that will never be answered.  Finally, the film has some impressive visual effects and some make-up effects but those looking for serious gore will be disappointed.  Overall, Black Dragon is a a great short with an amazing story but I need more.  The story is just too rich to contain in a short.  Check it out if you can and be like me wanting more!

Black Circle

Director - Adrian Garcia Bogliano (Night of the Wolf, La Exorcista)

Starring - Christina Lindberg (Pandemonic, Outrage), Felice Jankell (The Bunker Game, Follow), Ericas Midfjall (Jag Saknar Dig, Oppna Inte Ogonen)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several weeks before I began my October horror binge I started working on my movie list. I wanted horror movies I had never seen before that I could watch and review. It was around this time that I received the blu release of Black Circle from my friends over at Synapse Films. This 2018 Swedish horror film really peaked my interest so I decided to work it into my schedule for the month. Sadly, after about 30 minutes into the film the disc I had stopped working. I was already invested in it so I snagged a copy from Amazon. While I couldn’t finish it during my October horror binge I was still able to actually finish it. I want to thank Synapse for sending this one over for review. I really enjoyed it! 

      The film follows two sisters who finds an old record from the 70s that was meant to provide self-help for the listener. However, the album creates doppelgangers of the listener and after each listen it becomes more and more powerful. Over time the doppelgangers replace the original and live out their lives. The two turn to the woman who created the album for help and to stop them from being replaced by their doubles. 

      Black Circle is one of those films that is predictable yet you find yourself enjoying it. The film has beautiful cinematography and extremely likable characters which carries the story further than it has any right to be. While I want to love the film I find myself picking apart the story and some of the slower scenes. It’s a fun first time watch but it isn’t without it’s own faults. I liked the acting in this one. The characters are very well written which gives the cast a lot to work with. Their interactions are very genuine and they interact very well with each other. While I would have enjoyed it a little more if some characters had personalities that would stick with the viewer. The story for this one is one of those films that tries to confuse the viewer with characters getting replaced by clones/doppelgangers/doubles. However, it’s not confusing if you actually pay attention and it works. I loved the self help album from the 70s creating doppelgangers. However, the film takes this solid story and stretches it a little too thin. Some of the scenes in the middle of the film does feel a bit dry. If some of these scenes were trimmed down the film’s pacing would improve drastically. Finally, the film is not as violent as I was expecting. There is a little blood and some minor effects but nothing that will stand out to the viewer especially if you are an avid genre fan. Overall, Black Circle is an enjoyable first time watch but there is some aspects that could be tweaked to improve it. Check it out now on blu from Synapse Films.

The Good Exorcist

Director - John Stifter (Chum, Scumbag)

Starring - Daniel Degnan (Tim the Terrible, Greywood's Plot), Brittaney Ortiz (Grandma's House, Another Day at the Office), and Avery Merrifield (Log Truck, Buried Treasure)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Not today, Satan"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A year or so ago I befriended director John Stifter after he shared a post in a horror group about his religious horror comedy The Good Exorcist.  I watched the trailer for the film and immediately sought him out about the film.  He let me know that the film was picked up for Troma to stream on their streaming service Troma Now with a future physical release date not yet planned.  I started to watch it several times on Troma Now but never actually got around to it.  However, the day I saw the blu release on MVD I knew I had to review it.  I quickly reached out to MVD and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Like always, I want to thank MVD and Troma for supporting Horror Society and myself.

     The film follows Father Gil (Degnan) who is called to a ranch that is experiencing a haunting of some sort.  Gil suspects that it is a demonic presence and his investigation leads him through the lives of those that live there where uncovers more than he can chew.

     The Good Exorcist is not a horror film first.  In essence it's a comedy that tosses in some horror elements.  Honestly, I liked the approach that Stifter has and how the film progresses.  It's rather unique and a lot of fun.  Hell, it's possibly the most light hearted horror film I've ever reviewed.  Horror hipsters may not appreciate it but I sure as hell did.  The acting in this one is very enjoyable.  The characters are very well written and this gives the cast something great to work with.  The cast has experience and it shows in every scene.  I enjoyed their performances and hope to see Stifter reunite them again in another horror project.  The story for this one is a character piece where we follow Father Gil as he interacts with a family as he suspects one of them is possessed by a demon or the devil itself.  The pacing is great but some of the dialogue heavy scenes does feel a little awkward at times.  I really really enjoyed how the story was approached and executed.  Finally, don't expect a bloodbath.  We have some blood and some make-up effects along with some visual effects but that is the extent of it.  The film is mostly concerned with the characters and not the red stuff.  Overall, The Good Exorcist is not what I would consider Troma worthy.  It's funny but it's not as odd and out there as most of the films that Troma has stamped.  I loved this film and I can't recommend it enough.  If you want a Troma like film then this one is not for you but if you do want something with a sense of humor then you need to check this one out.  

     

Knife + Heart

Director - Yann Gonzalez (Land of my Dreams, I Hate You Little Girls)

Starring - Vanessa Paradis (A Monster in Paris, Heartbreaker), Nicolas Maury (Spellbound, Metamorphosis), and Kate Moran (Cannabis, Savage State)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     By this point it's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Vinegar Syndrome.  I've been obsessed with their releases for several years now and haven't skipped a release in almost 5 years now.  When they announced their partner label releases I was actually excited to check out even more films attached to my favorite label.  A good deal of these releases are for films that I had never heard of until Vin Syn had their hands on them.  That was how I discovered the French horror mystery Knife + Heart.  I was on the fence about ordering this one but I decided to pull the trigger.  I'm glad I did because this is probably my favorite release from a partner label.  

     The film follows a struggling gay-porn director and producer in the early 70s who lost her lover sometime before.  Focusing on her work she continues to film more gay porn but the more films they shoot the more male stars are being murdered by a masked maniac.  As the police work frantically the catch the killer she finds her life put on display in a time when being part of the LGBTQ community was taboo.

     Honestly, I didn't think that Knife + Heart would be for me but the only reason I even bought it was because of the sleeve that came with the release.  The cock knife completely sold it for me.  However, once I actually got to check it out I was blew away by it.  It was one hell of a film and easily my favorite movie from the partner labels.  I cannot recommend this film enough.  The acting in this one is great.  I absolutely loved the characters and they were cast damn near perfectly.  Some of the roles did bring about some laughs, rather intentional or unintentional, but the cast is absolutely amazing.  I could see an entire series of films following the surviving cast.  The characters are written very well and the cast does a fantastic job with them.  The story for this one is a solid period piece with some light humor, LGBTQ themes, and a solid murder mystery angle set against the early 70s adult film industry in France.  It's not predictable and I loved the killers look and weapon.  When you mix that with the murder mystery and light laughs you find yourself with a film that you will absolutely love.  Finally, the film has some fun gore and deaths that really do fit with the theme of the film.  I absolutely loved the murder weapon and some of the deaths utilized it so well.  The practical effects are absolutely fantastic which really makes the kills work in my opinion.  Overall, Knife + Heart is a must see for fans of slashers and giallo.  It's a great story, plenty bloody, and an amazing cast.  I highly recommend it.  

Portraits of Andrea Palmer

Director - Louis Justin (The Power is in the Blood, Return to the Quadead Zone) and Joe Rubin (Like a Moth to a Flame, Live for Sex...Die for Love)

Starring - Katrina Zova (TS Pussy Hunters, Sperm Diet), William Margold (Hackin' Jack vs. the Chainsaw Chick 3D, Jumpin' Jack Slash), and Richard Wright (Becoming Nia)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror/Adult

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     A couple years ago I was attending Cinema Wasteland, like I try to do twice a year when they are having it, when some friends of mine was telling me that Louis Justin, of Massacre Video, was screening his new movie in his hotel room.  Justin and I have several mutual friends and one of them asked if I wanted to tag along.  I politely declined so I could hang out with some other friends that I hadn't seen for some time.  A few days later I discovered that the film was called Portraits of Andrea Palmer and it was a collaborative effort between Justin and Vinegar Syndrome's Joe Rubin.  I started receiving press releases for the film sometime later in regards to the blu release.  Since then I've heard several of my horror community friends praise the film but I never had the opportunity to see it again this most recent Wasteland.  Director SamHel (Let's Stop at the Morgue, Love Dump) was working the Massacre Video table and had a few copies of the film for sale.  I snagged one and while I was out of work with Covid I decided it was time to finally watch it.  

     The film follows Andrea (Zova) who is am amateur cam girl.  However, one night she starts to struggle while she is live.  Questioning herself and her redeeming qualities, she soon receives a call from someone offering her a job if she travels to L.A.  She gladly accepts but after arriving she realizes she was stood up.  She turns to sex work as a way to make some quick cash and finds herself responding to an add on Craigslist.  The director scams her out of her first paid gig and she turns to escorting.  It starts out innocently enough as an older gentleman offers up advice but each time after that becomes more and more violating until she completely loses herself.

     Portraits of Andrea Palmer is a unique film in that it combines erotica with horror.  The story itself is not really a horror tale BUT the film itself is shot like a horror film which makes this one stand out when you try to categorize it.  It's not an extreme horror film, not necessarily a sexploitation flick, and not a horror film in a typical sense.  However, it has all these qualities to some extent making it a strange, yet highly entertaining flick.  The acting in this one is one of the few parts of the film that I didn't necessarily care for.  The cast, when not in as sex scene, feels extremely up tight and awkward to watch.  I've watched no budget horror films made by pre-teens in their parent's basement and I've seen porn parodies of horror classics from companies like Burning Angel and Hustler but the acting in Portraits of Andrea Palmers lies somewhere in between.  The cast has some credits to their names but they are not as comfortable acting as they are fucking.  The story for this one is such a strange film yet it completely mesmerizes me.  It's a dark drama erotic film that was shot like it was a horror film.  It has elements of extreme horror and sexploitation but never fully explores either.  Instead, it walks the fine line between genres without dedicating itself to anything other than the story itself.  Some may argue that the film is about how sex work slowly chips away as the person until they is nothing left.  In fact, I've read posts on social media about it claiming that same thing but I don't necessarily agree with that.  Finally, the film has a little smidgeon of blood and a whole lot of nudity.  If you are looking for great practical effects and memorable deaths then you will be disappointed.  If you are in the market for a skin flick then you are in luck.  Overall, Portraits of Andrea Palmer might be a disappointment to some but I honestly enjoyed it.  It's an adult film with a story that is about sex instead of sex just written in and filmed in the style of a horror film.  It's very unique and one I would recommend to genre fans that enjoy the sleazier side of cinema.  

Commando Ninja

Director - Benjamin Combes (The Last Human in the Milky Way, Hopkins)

Starring - Eric Carlesi (Spotter's Rift, Wendigo), Philippe Allier (Exodust: Sick World as Legacy, PTOLOMEA), and Stephane Asensio 

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Action/Comedy/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "More destructive than a commando, more deadly than a ninja, he is the...commando ninja"

Format- Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     I can already hear the keyboard warriors crying over this not being a horror flick but after a month long horror binge for Halloween I'm feeling a little burned out.  After spinning he Peekarama Fantasm double feature I decided to keep the non-horror going.  This time I turned my focus on a Vinegar Syndrome partner label release with Commando Ninja from ETR Media.  This looked like the perfect cheesy action flick that I needed right now.

     The film follows Vietnam veteran John (Carlesi) who lives a reclusive life of peace and tranquility.  That is until his ex-wife is murdered and his daughter is taken by ninjas who are controlled by a crime lord who is using time travel to build an army to take over the world.  Now John, who vowed to never kill again, goes on a murder rampage through space and time to retrieve his daughter from the evil crime lord and his ninja henchmen.

     I was extremely excited to check this one out and it was a lot of fun.  However, it wasn't as wild as I was hoping.  I laughed and enjoyed myself but I can point you in the direction of several more films that do what Commando Ninja does but better.  The acting in this one is campy and extremely cheesy but it's fun.  The cast knows the films that this film is parodying or paying homage to and fully dives into all the cliches and stereotypes that makes those 80s action flicks so much fun.  It does kind of wear thin as the film moves on but I wouldn't call it bad.  The story for this one is pure nostalgia where we get 80s pop culture, gaming, music, and fashion mixed in with action, war, and post-apocalyptic films which is a lot of fun.  With that being said, some of the scenes are painfully drawn out and dull.  I enjoy the great lengths the film goes to deliver on that wild and over the top story that made director to video late 80s and early 90s action films were but the long scenes were difficult to follow.  Also, I feel as if this one stretches a fun idea a little too long.  Kung Fury, a short that is very similar to this one, knows that it didn't have enough material to run the length of a feature length film and Commando Ninja should have followed their example.  Finally, the film has plenty of effects.  We get some blood, solid visuals, not so solid visuals, and so much fucking gore especially in the later portion of the film.  Those of you with an eye for the red stuff will really enjoy the last 15 or 20 minutes of the film.  Overall, Commando Ninja is a lot of fun and a movie I would highly recommend pairing with Kung Fury and Manborg.  It's a lot of fun but I feel as if it was a little overdone especially by this point.  Regardless, it's well worth a watch.  Check it out.       

     

Black Pumpkin

Director - Ryan McGonagle (Legend of Fall Creek, The Good, the Bad, and the Bloody)

Starring - Ellie Patrikios (Gam Cam Grrl, Body of Sin), Matt Rife (Average Joe, After Masks), and Grayson Thorne Kilpatrick (American Horror Story, Dave)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Trick or treat!  You're dead meat"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Halloween is this weekend so I'm focusing the remaining few days of my spare time on Halloween centered films that I've accumulated over the year or so.  A few weeks ago I started receiving press releases for the 2018 horror film Black Pumpkin.  The film was recently hitting store shelves so I ventured out to Wal-Mart where I found a copy for a decent price.  I snagged a copy and was looking forward to checking it out in the days leading to Halloween.  Kind of wish I didn't after finally seeing it.

     The film follows two kids who did a video on a local legend.  Their video and subsequent exploits in the area awaken an evil force known as Bloody Bobby that starts killing without prejudice forcing them to act quick to save their family and friends before Bobby gets to them.

     I went into this one only seeing the trailer for it and I was actually pretty excited to see it.  It looked like an unexpected Halloween treat but that was clearly a trick.  The movie was a paint by the numbers Halloween tale that struggled with it's own identity.  Someone clearly wanted to be Trick 'r Treat.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent.  The child actors were the highlight of the film.  These young talents were surprisingly well rounded and genuine in front of the camera while the older cast, the ones portraying high school age students, were extremely awkward to watch.  Their dialogue was forced and they were painfully cliched.  The story for this one is Wa-Mart horror at it's finest.  It's mediocre are best and the story doesn't attempt to deliver anything new or different.  We get a small statured killer that is oddly similar to Sam from Trick r' Treat named Bloody Bobby which is the name of another Halloween themed movie and it's killer.  We follows two kids who accidentally summon a killer on Halloween which is the basis for so many other horror films.  The movie pulls in so many different recycled aspects that it completely loses sight of the movie it set out to make.  Honestly, if the film would have at least picked one horror trope and stuck with it I could have enjoyed it as a cheap late night watch but seeing all these generic characters and predictable story pile together made it a miserable watch.  Finally, the film does have some blood and practical effects but the kills are not as fun as they could have been.  It looks like the film's budget went into the cast when some of it should have been left for the effects so horror fans would get what they were looking forward to.  Overall, Black Pumpkin is one of those horror films that you will find at the bottom of the $3 movie bin by summer.  It's painfully dull and generic with nothing new or original.  This is one I would skip and recommend you do the same.  

Luz

Director - Tilman Singer (The Events at Mr. Yamamoto's Alpine Residence, El Fin Del Mundo)

Starring - Luana Velis (Diebe des Schlafes), Johannes Benecke (Hit Mom: Murderous Christmas, Moebius), and Jan Bluthardt (The Events at Mr. Yamamoto's Alpine Residence, Tatort)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I receive press releases for so many films.  Some look fun and are right up my alley while others look unique.  Sadly, I do get press releases for movies that just utterly ridiculous.  Sometime ago I received a series of press releases for the German horror film Luz.  The series of posters to accompany the film really peaked my interest and I was all about it.  Sadly, I forgot about it until recently when a partner of Vinegar Syndrome, Altered Innocence, announced the release of the film on blu.  I try to snag their releases when possible and I didn't want to skip on this one.  I was very excited to check this one out.  

     The film follows Luz (Velis) who strolls into a dilapidated police station to turn herself in.  However, Luz is not safe there because a women, Nora, is possessed by a demon who is seducing her way into the police station to be with her.  

     I was so excited to spin Luz.  I had heard nothing but great things about this one with a lot of my friends in the horror community praising this possession film.  Sadly, I didn't care for it as much as others.  It was a decent first time watch but it was not as fun as others had lead me to believe.  It had an interesting premise but the dull scenes and flat dialogue made for an extremely difficult film to finish.  I can already hear the comment section bashing away at their keyboards bitching that I "didn't get it."  Regardless, there was moments I really dug but most of the film was a miss for me.  The acting in this one is my favorite part.  The characters are very well written and they mesh fantastic with the story.  The cast does a great job with the characters and the cast makes the film as enjoyable as it is.  The story for this one is a fun and unique take on a possession.  I liked the idea of the woman in the police station while a demon is possessing people to get to her.  With that being said, the story seems to drag on and once you figure out what is going on you find the impact of the story not hitting as hard as it should.  If the movie would have focused more on the demon possession instead of the woman infiltrating the police station it would have been so much more fun.  Finally, the film has some blood and a couple moments with some supernatural fun that implements some great camera tricks to pull them off.  It's not a gory mess but it does have a few moments.  Overall, Luz was not what I was expecting but it has it's moments.  I enjoyed the set up but it feels like there was some wasted opportunity here.  It's alright for a first time watch but don't expect a movie that will stick with you.  

The Ringmaster

Director - Soren Juul Ptersen

Starring - Anne Bergfeld (The Artwork, The Last Warrior), Karin Michelsen (Jeg er David, Gennembrud), and Damon Younger (The Valhalla Murders, Outlanders)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Entertainment knows no boundaries"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     MVD has supported Horror Society for sometime now.  Hell, they were the first company to really give me a shot when I first started writing reviews.  I'll never forget how nice they have been with me for almost a decade now.  Over the years they have sent me some seriously amazing releases along with a few that wasn't really for me.  Sometime back MVD hooked me up with a package with a dozen or films to review.  Most were movies I had requested but MVD had tossed a few additional films to review.  Among those were The Ringmaster.  This 2018 Danish horror flick was originally titled Finale but the title was changed with Jinga and MVD released in the the U.S.  I want to thank MVD for sending this one over to check out!

     The film follows two gas station clerks working the night shift when two strange men come in recording them.  They creep the pair out and they ask them to leave.  Later, they feel as if someone is pranking them before they discover one of their boyfriends injured and left to die of his wounds.  Soon they finds themselves abducted and tortured for the sake of entertainment.

     I was looking forward to this one especially seeing the quote on the cover comparing it to Hostel and The Purge.  However, that was not the film I have here before me.  I really wish that was the movie but the movie here is nothing like either of those films.  The movie had an interesting idea but the finished product wasn't entertaining.  The acting in this one is very well done.  The cast is absolutely fantastic with the two female leads doing a fantastic job carrying the film.  They were likable and grounded but nothing forgettable.  With that being said, Damon Younger does a fantastic job but I couldn't stop noticing how much his character and performance reminded a lot of the character Malcolm McDowell brings to life in Rob Zombie's 31.  He does an amazing job but the mannerisms and tone is almost spot on.  The story for this one is editing in a way that is unique but it does put the story out of order which interrupts the flow of the film.  The premise is basically two girls from a gas station get kidnapped and tortured on camera for views.  This is pretty much a darkweb spin on Zombie's 31 which, when mixed with Younger's character, makes it feel like a Wish mockbuster.  The flow of this watered down story is all over the place due to the editing sync.  Finally, the film has some impressive practical and make-up effects that made the film tolerable.  There is some very bloody scenes that look great due to the effects.  Overall, The Ringmaster felt like a Danish 31 with a patchwork story and no pacing.  The bloody scenes were fun enough but the rest of the film was a struggle to finish.  This is one I would skip unless you are in the mood for blood with no substance.  

Prospect

Director(s) - Christopher Caldwell (In the Pines, Taste) and Zeek Earl (Flirting's for Dummies, In the Pines)

Starring - Sophie Thatcher (The Exorcist, The Tomorrow Man), Jay Duplass (Sasquatch, Drunk History), and Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Sci-Fi

Tagline - "No one survives alone"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     My Vinegar Syndrome's partner marathon continues as I take into a sci-fi thriller starring The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal.  This is one of the few UHD releases from Vin Syn's partner label Gunpowder and Sky.  Over the years I've opened up more to sci-fi films and seeing it is part of Vin Syn I figured I might as well check it out while I'm binging a few of their films.

     The film follows a young girl (Thatcher) and her father who are on a strange planet digging for precious stones and metals in hopes of securing a fortune when they encounter others looking to do the same and are not afraid to kill for it.  Her father is murdered in a shootout and one of the men responsible for his death becomes her ward when she shoots and wounds him.  The two then embark on a journey to reach civilization before he succumbs to his wounds.  

     Prospect was a solid sci-fi thriller that had gorgeous costumes and a simple yet engaging story.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and could see myself giving it another spin just for the hell of it.  It's not as science fiction based as most sci-fi films which was very refreshing.  The acting in this one is great.  Pascal has never let me down and continues to showcase some serious talent in front of the camera.  Thatcher does a solid job as well.  Her character is the center point of the film but she is a little too flat at times.  I found myself watching the other characters more than I was her.  It has nothing to do with her performance but more so the writing.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward and fairly grounded when compared to other sci-fi flicks.  The cast is sporting space suits but the story itself is flows more like a drama or thriller with two people fighting to survive while others are looking to make a quick buck even if they have to kill for it.  Most sci-fi films put too much thought into the sci-fi aspect and not the story.  I really enjoyed how this one was a gritty space film instead of the beautiful and bright sci-fi films that we are accustomed to.  With that being said, the film does hit some low spots that slows down to a crawl.  It doesn't take away from the film but does affect it's pacing.  Finally, the film has gorgeous costumes and the sets fit the film but for those of you looking for blood will be disappointed.  We get some splatter here and there but that's the extent of it.  Overall. Prospect is a gritty and grounded sci-fi film that works.  The story is very simple but the cast do an amazing job carrying the film.  I highly recommend it.  

Heavy Trip

Director(s) - Juuso Laatio and Jukka Vidgren (Tough Love, Dr. Professor's Thesis of Evil)

Starring - Johannes Holopainen (Force of Habit, All the Sins), Samuli Jaskio (Nesting, Mister8), and Antti Heikkinen (Juice, Roba)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Comedy/Adventure

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a hardcore collector of Vinegar Syndrome for several years now.  Every month when they announce their new releases I jump to their site to snag what I can.  The last year or so Vin Syn has been releasing films from their partner labels which I have been snagging as well.  I was mostly interested in the AGFA releases but there has been a few other labels or releases that has caught my eye.  One of those releases was Heavy Trip from Music Box Selects.  This is a movie I had heard about sometime back when I received a few press releases for it.  When I saw that it was on Vin Syn's site I jumped on it.  I thought this would be the perfect film to wash the taste of the AGFA double feature I just had out of my mouth.

     The film follows a struggling metal band in Finland who want to make it big.  When a promoter for a metal festival in Norway arrives on their doorstep they think they have a way in...until they accidentally spill reindeer blood on him.  The lead singer of the band tells a little white lie to impress the girl he likes and soon everyone in town believes that they are going to Norway to play in the festival.  When he is eventually caught up in the lie he loses his drummer to a car accident and his will to perform.  That is until his crush convinces him not to give.  With a stolen van, the casket housing their dead drummer, and a mental patient from the psych ward, they make their way to Norway to make their dreams come true.  

     Heavy Trip was billed as an adventure comedy centered around a Finnish metal band.  I thoroughly enjoyed the film and I can see myself revisiting it again with some friends.  However, I don't recall laughing the first time.  What sold me on the film was the story and the character but as for the humor I found it very lacking.  The acting in this one is great.  As I stated earlier, I love the characters and the cast really does go all in for their roles.  They brilliantly brought out the stereotypes of the metal scene from the country while giving them personalities that stand out.  I would love to see this cast appear for a follow up because I need a lot more metal-themed adventures with this cast.  The story for this one isn't as funny as I was lead to believe but that didn't stop me from enjoying it.  The film really plays into the stereotypes of the area and the metal scenes which is somewhat comical but it also gives the film an extra layer.  The characters are wonderfully written into the story with everyone serving a purpose.  With that being said, I didn't find anything really funny about the film and a few of the scenes was really awkward.  They fit the film but they relied on the humor to make the scene but it falls short making the scene just really awkward.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood but not in the way you would expect.  This is not a film with a body count but there is some blood and some prop effects.  Overall, Heavy Trip is a fucking blast.  I can't recommend this one enough.  This is one hell of a film and I can't wait to see what the future holds for these cast of characters.  I highly recommend it.  

American Psychopath

Director - Gabriel Saint (Here in the Dark, Ghost Light)

Starring - Will Rothhaar (The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, Jack Frost), Brooke Culbertson (Chastity Bites, Wicked Enigma), and Maddisyn Carter (The 27 Club, Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Sacrifices must be made"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Indie horror can go so many different ways but the biggest determining factor for an indie movie is what inspires the director.  Sure, things like budget and experience can affect a production but witty filmmakers can always find ways to make things happen.  Sometime ago MVD sent over the film American Psychopath for me to review.  The film looked like an obvious tribute, or rip off depending which way it goes, of American Psycho.  It looked intriguing enough and my curiosity definitely got the best of me.  I want to thank MVD for once again allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to review this one.

     The film follows struggling artist and distant boyfriend Chance (Rothhaar) who has hit a slump in his work until he meets the beautiful Charlie (Culbertson).  He becomes obsessed with her and soon begins stalking her.  When she's out of her apartment he would often break in and rummage through her belongings in hopes of getting to know her better.  However, he eventually learns that she is in a long distance relationship.  When her boyfriend comes to visit he realizes that he has an obstacle in his way before he can truly be happy with her.

     I went into this one expecting it to be along the lines of American Psycho meets Fatal Attraction after reading the synopsis and watching the trailer.  Sadly, I was right but that combination is not as fun as it sounds.  In fact, the way this story unfolds you are left watching the lead talk to himself for most of the film.  I've watches some slow burners in my time but this one is a slow burn with nothing to see.  The acting in this one isn't bad.  In fact, I actually enjoyed Will Rothhaar's performance when he was interacting with his co-stars.  He really gets into those scenes and does one hell of a job.  However, the scenes with him wondering around aimlessly while narrating had me wanting to turn it off.  It's extremely awkward and boring.  This is most of the film with the supporting cast popping in here and there to deliver their lines before moving on.  The story for this one is very intriguing.  Think about it.  We get a character like Patrick Bateman who struggles to find emotions and purpose in the world who becomes infatuated with a model.  It is very promising and I'm sure looks great on paper.  However, on film we get a story that is stretched so thin that the viewer struggles to finish it.  There is no reason the movie had to be as long as it was and a lot of the scenes where the lead is narrating could be cut because they do absolutely nothing for the story itself.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood but no real practical effects.  The movie has two instances where we get so much blood but doesn't deliver any practical effects for those of us interested in it.  Overall, American Psychopath is a huge let down.  It could have been a really fun genre offering but chose not to be.  If you want to watch someone talk to themselves for an hour then this is the movie for you.  In not, then skip it.  

Sacrificial

Director - Tony Schweikle (Spirit of the San Juans, Dobe and a Company of Heroes)

Starring - Carter Burch (Fatal Attraction, Venom), Elisabeth Ferrara (Lethal Weapon, Verotika), and Mark Laursen (Evil Things, My Haunted House)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Embrace the Darkness"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a huge fan of Wild Eye's for sometime now.  I've collected their releases for almost a decade now and every month I look forward to their new releases just like I do with Vinegar Syndrome.  Just because I love WE doesn't mean I enjoy every release of theirs.  I love collecting them but sometimes they release a film that I just don't care for.  I always have fun watching a new indie release but sometimes it is a chore to finish the film.  A few weeks ago MVD sent over the 2018 film Sacrificial to review.  I love getting a new Wild Eye release to review and the artwork for this one really pulled me in but the film itself was extremely messy and difficult to follow.  I wanted to like it but I couldn't.

     The film follows a young man who accompanies a women he met at a bar to a voodoo ritual.  When he witnesses a human sacrifice he flees for his life and soon goes into hiding for fear that the cult will track him down before he can tell the story of what he saw.

     I was really curious about Sacrificial, originally titled Rum and Hot Peppers, but it only took about 10 minutes for me to realize that this was going to be a tough one to finish.  The movie had an interesting premise but the execution and story is just all wrong.  It's almost as if the story was never fully completed and a lot of scenes were added strictly to extend the run time.  I'm sorry, but this is one I don't care for.  The acting in this one is not perfect but I've seen a lot worse.  Some of the scenes were acted well enough for the movie to progress but a few of the scenes lacked energy or commitment.  It felt like the cast was just reading over their lines prior to filming.  No dedication at all which resulted in what was already a dull story becoming even more boring.  The story for this one started out interestingly enough but it struggled to find it's footing almost as if they had the premise written down but never took the time to write out where they would go with it.  The thought of a fake voodoo cult killing people as a tourist attraction is a little goofy but I actually liked that part of the film.  With that being said, the movie didn't know what to do with this.  We spent way too much time following one guy as he panicked and became paranoid.  This part of the film was too drawn out and extremely boring.  A good chunk of this could have been cut out resulting in a much shorter film that could have been a little more effective.  Finally, the film has some blood but don't expect anything that will stand out or hold your attention in regards to deaths.  The movie is more focused on character interactions over story and blood.  Overall, Sacrificial had an interesting idea but was unable to pull it all together into something enjoyable.  It feels like it was possibly a rushed project that resulted in a lot of corners cut.  This is one Wild Eye release that I can't recommend.  

The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story

Director(s) - Scott Barber (This is GWAR, American Clown) and Adam Sweeney 

Starring - Jason Alisharan (Are You Afraid of the Dark?, The Halfback of Notre Dame), Drake Bell (Superhero Movie, Drake and Josh), and Michael Bower (Salute Your Shorts, Dude!, Where's Your Car?)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Documentary

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a product of my childhood like many people my age.  I was born in the mid-80s but grew up in the 90s.  While most of the people my age were fans of Disney I found myself spending most of my time watching tapes or anything on Nickelodeon.  I was a bit of an outcast among my friends because I wasn't excited for movies like Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Lion King, and so on.  I was more focused on Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Ren and Stimpy, CatDog, and so on.  This was my favorite channel by far and when I reached adulthood I discovered I was not the only one.  While most of my childhood friends were Disney fans I've met several in the horror community that were fans of this golden age of television.  A few months ago I was digging around Amazon when I came across The Orange Years.  This looked like a documentary made specifically for me so I quickly snagged the blu.  When I found an opening in my schedule I decided I would finally dig into it.

     The documentary takes the viewers from before Nickelodeon where we learn that it was a result of a cable experiment in Ohio before it became a children's television program.  From there they grew into cutting edge children's programing that sometimes pushed the envelope of what was acceptable on television to creating their own brand of television aimed to children.  Their growth eventually became their downfall as they no longer had goals to strive for.

     I started collecting movies, or tapes as they were at that time, when I was in elementary school.  I started with Goosebumps releases and soon moved on to everything that caught my eye.  This would include as many Nickelodeon tapes as I could find.  Orange was a big part of my childhood and at one point I had so many orange tapes in my collection.  Most were like a greatest hits compilations of different shows.  Some were Rugrats, Doug, Aaahh Real Monsters, and so on.  I loved this time of my life and Nickelodeon was such a huge part of it.  This documentary was really a walk down memory lane and one I thoroughly enjoyed.  The interviews in this one is extremely diverse ranging from fans, to company executives and creators, to child stars and other cast members.  A lot of thought and research went into who would be interviewed and it was nice to see how some of the faces I grew up with has aged over the last 20 some odd years.  I've noticed that a lot of the indie documentaries that I review usually have people on one side or the other of a topic.  However, it's nice to see people from different aspects of the company, along with fans, as they talk about the rise or the orange years.  The topics discussed go in chronological order from before Nickelodeon, what a nickelodeon is, and how the channel became the giant that it was in the 90s.  A lot of behind the scenes and personal stories were shared which adds a whole new level of depth to my childhood.  Finally, the editing and flow of this documentary is extremely smooth.  This is a top notch production.  The transitions, editing, and interviews are all shot perfectly.  This is one of the best looking docs I've seen in awhile and I absolutely loved it.  Overall, The Orange Years may not be for everyone but for this millenial it's a fantastic film.  I loved the history and a reminder of all the great shows that I've forgot about over the years.  I highly recommend this one.  It was a lot of fun.  

Rottentail

Director - Brian Skiba (Deadly Excursion, Slaughter Creek)

Starring - William McNamara (Feel the Dead, Day of the Mummy), Domonique Swain (Face/Off, Ghost Whisperer), and Corin Nemec (Sand Sharks, Sea Beast)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Comedy/Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Hippity Hoppity Homicide"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a sucker for a holiday horror flick but some holidays tend to get all the movies while others are skipped over.  Easter has seen it's fair share of horror hits over the years with movies like Easter Sunday, Easter Casket, Peter Rottentail, Kottontail, and Easter Bunny Kill Kill.  I've watched and reviewed all of these but I was looking for something new this year to watch when I remembered I had bought the indie horror comedy Rottentail last summer.  I found the film for $5 on blu and bit the bullet.  It's not an Easter movie per se but a killer man-rabbit was good enough for me to watch it on Easter.

     The film follows a scientist who uses rabbits in his experiments.  However, when a fellow scientists takes his rabbits to run an experiment on he finds himself bitten by the mutated bunny where he is transformed into a man-rabbit with a lust for revenge against those that hurt his fury friends.  

     I went into this one know nothing about it.  I loved the look of the monster on the cover and for $5 I couldn't pass up adding it to my collection.  Sadly, the film was a huge disappointment.  It had all the makings of a great horror comedy but the film is unable to pull everything that it has going for it into something fun and entertaining.  That acting in this one is surprisingly well done.  Nemec is absolutely brilliant as Rottentail.  His one liners and comedic timing is fucking amazing.  I was not expecting him to nail a performance like this.  The character makes the film but it's not good enough to actually save it.  The supporting cast is solid enough but they don't stand out like Nemec and his high energy performance.  The story for this one is basically Spider-Man with a few changes to make it fit better.  A mutated rabbit bites a scientist and it turns him into a murderous man-rabbit is pretty funny but the film is extremely uneven.  A lot of the scenes are extremely drawn out and boring while others are over the top comical.  The movie could use some heavy editing and the story needs to be a little more stream lined.  Finally, the film has some messy moments with some blood but the kills are very lackluster and unimaginative.  The practical effects are solid enough  and the make-up effects are great but the visual effects used are pretty bad.  Overall, Rottentail was not as fun as I was hoping for.  I liked the title character but the film around it was unwatchable.  This movie took me a lot longer to finish it then I expected and a lot had to do with how bad it was.  Skip it.  

Ghoul Scout Zombie Massacre

Director - Eric Eichelberger 

Starring - Joshua Cheramie, Vance Clemente (Devil's Prey, Short Comings), and Penelope Grand 

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few months ago I was searching for Troma releases on Amazon when I came across a list of indie releases that was new to Amazon Prime.  A few of these releases really caught my eye but one really stood out and that was 2018's Ghoul Scout Zombie Massacre.  Many years ago I reviewed Razor Sharp Studio's Catholic Ghoulgirls from West Virginia filmmaker Eamon Hardiman.  That title really put me in mind of that so I had to jump on it.  It arrived a few weeks back and I had to toss it in as soon as I had time for it.

     The film follows a brother and sister pair with an evil plan to rule the world.  The brother is known for directing gay porn but is also an evil scientist with plans on using women from his sister's reform school to sell girl scout cookies that turn those that eat them into the living dead.

     I went into this one really fucking excited to give it a spin.  It looked like the kind of indie zombie flicks that I grew up loving.  However, the film was anything but that.  I did like a few things about it but at the end of the day I found it to be a chore to sit through and one that just didn't work out.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent.  Some of the characters were zany and a little over the top which is something I really enjoy.  They brought some nice humor to the film and made the lack of a story not be as obvious.  With that being said, some of the cast delivered some dry and unenthused performances.  These particular cast members are a little more awkward to watch and don't fully commit to their characters.  The story for this one reminded me a lot of the zombie flicks I was watching in the early 2000s.  It was cheesy, comical, and didn't take itself too seriously.  Sadly, it overstayed it's welcome and gives the viewer a film that is almost two hours long with a story that would barely run 40 minutes.  I liked the wild story the film attempts to give us but the way it was approached was just all wrong.  I love a story that takes the time to give us character development but this movie spends way too much time on it, as well as, shoving so many unnecessary scenes down our throats.  This movie is just too long.  Finally, the film has some blood and some make-up effects but nothing that would stand out to the typical genre fan.  The zombies have some black and gray paint on their faces and we get some blood splatter here and there.  Overall, Ghoul Scout Zombie Massacre is a huge waste of time. If you have two hours to kill I would suggest watching a five minute clip on Pornhub and then reflect on your poor choice in porn for the next hour and 55 minutes.  skip it.