Touch Me

Director - Addison Heimann (Jeff Drives You, Hypochondriac)

Starring - Olivia Taylor Dudley (Dude Bro Party Massacre III, Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls), Lou Taylor Pucci (Evil Dead, Daredevil: Born Again), and Jordan Gavaris (Orphan Black, Hacks)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Comedy/Sci-Fi

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I fucking love weird movies.  I grew up watching the weird shit Moonbeam was releasing for kids and that really stuck with me.  I love oddball horror and will go out of my way to watch any that I cross paths with.  Case in point.  A few weeks back I received a press release for the sci-fi comedy inspired by b-horror movies of yesteryear titled Touch Me.  I immediately noticed that the film starred Olivia Taylor Dudley and Lou Taylor Pucci which made me very interested in the film.  Dudley was in one of my favorite horror films of recent years, Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls while Pucci made his mark on horror with his performance in 2013's Evil Dead.  

     The film follows Joey (Dudley) and her roommate Craig (Gavaris) who find themselves in a shitty situation when sewage begins spewing up from their shower drain.  Unable to pay the repairs, they find themselves at the generosity of one of Joey's lovers, Brian (Pucci), who is actually an alien who is able to control people's emotions with a single touch.  He seems to have it all, hired help that will do anything for him, a sprawling estate, and the secret touch that is other-worldly.  However, the longer they stay with them, the more Joey suspects that something nefarious is in the works and Brian has a more sinister plan than just pleasing humans.  

     Touch Me is nothing like I was expecting but I did enjoy it at times.  It was still odd but it's not as odd as the story could have been.  Honestly, I was expecting a bit more 90s sci-fi influence with some what the fuck moments but the movie we were given isn't all that bad.  The acting in this one was great.  Dudley and Gavaris are fantastic together. Their on screen chemistry carries every scene they are in.  With that being said, Pucci makes the film.  His performance had me in stitches and the random dance scenes are absolutely brilliant.  I really look forward to seeing him in more genre pieces.  The story for this one is more dramedy than anything but it does have a few horror elements and a lot of sci-fi.  The film itself does struggle with pacing and a lot of the scenes are not that consistent but I do enjoy the ride we are given.  Finally, the film has some practical effects and a lot of visuals.  Honestly, the visuals look great and enhance the scene while the practical effects are solid.  We get a lot of blood at times but the film does it in such a way that we are more concerned with the story itself instead of those scenes.  Overall, Touch Me is not something I would recommend to someone looking for a horror title.  However, if you want a horny sci-fi flick then this one is for you.  Check it out.  

Psycho Night

Director - David Rodriguez (Camp Murder, The Elder Hunters)

Starring - Charles Frith (Moonrocks, The Dark Stairs), Rouge Rose (Woods Within, Manhunt), and James Dijan Bonavia (Faces of the Dead 2: Exorcism, The Brawler)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A bloodbath in New York City"

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometimes I see a movie and I just have to watch it to review it.  Something about it just catches my attention.  It could be the title, the poster, the cast.  Not long ago I received a couple emails for several films that were premiering on Tubi.  I absolutely fucking love Tubi and two of these films really peaked my interest.  The first was Steve Merlo's Unseen, which I just finished reviewing, and the second was David Rodriguez's Psycho Night.  The AI generated artwork was horrendous and I knew this movie was not one I could easily forget.  I made note of it and after watching Unseen, I quickly hit play on it.  

     The film follows a former criminal trying to break it big in the music scene when he is given a chance to participate in a brutal game for a contract.  This deadly game is put on by the wealthy who then make bets on the contestants with those that win get a chance at becoming signed to a record label.

      I have a lot to say about Psycho Night and very little will be positive.  I knew this was going to be a train wreck when I went into after every poster I found for the film, with the exception of one, was made by using AI.  I was hoping it wouldn't take itself too seriously and deliver on the so bad it's good films that I love so much from directors like Chris Seaver.  Sadly, that was not the case with this one taking itself way too seriously and the unintentional laugh wasn't enough to save it.  The acting in this one is extremely uneven and not very consistent.  We have some fairly solid performance mixed with cast members with little to no experience.  It makes most, if not all, of the scenes extremely awkward to watch.  The movie could have been a little more enjoyable if the acting was a bit more even.  The story for this one reminded me of Rob Zombie's 31 meets Knights of the City.  We have a deadly contest held by rich people where the participates hope that winning will grant them a record deal.  Honestly, this could be a fantastic premise to a blaxploitation flick with some influence from brutal games like Battle Royale and The Condemned.  With that being said, the film is a series of incoherent scenes pieced together resulting in a story that is difficult to follow and is difficult to finish.  Finally, the film has some of the worst visual effects I have ever seen in a movie.  Usually, I can look over something like this is they try to give us some solid practical effects but the film doesn't have any for us to enjoy.  Overall, Psycho Night is a difficult one to finish.  The movie feels rushed, unfinished, and a chore to finish.  Honestly, this is one I would recommend skipping.  

Projection

Director - Ari Groobman (Snapped, I Solve Problems)

Starring - Preslea Elliott (Growers, Nine), Diego Garijo (35, The Long Way Home), and Mikey Gray (Under the Bed, Totally Becky)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I go through spells where I never get to review a short but then I'll find myself with several to check out.  Sometime back, a month or so now, I was asked to review the horror short Projection from director Ari Groobman.  I tried to check it out in a reasonable amount of time but the end of the school year and life got away from me.  I was able to recently check it out and I hate that it took so long to see it because I actually enjoyed it.  I want to thank Ari for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a young woman and her sister who find themselves renting a new apartment after leaving their parents behind.  However, a fresh start for the pair takes a deadly turn when someone takes a sinister liking to them resulting in a hostile confrontation their first night. 

     I went into this one very blind and found myself very surprised by what I saw.  It was visceral and sort of straight to the point.  I love when a short doesn't waste my time and this one did not.  The acting in this one is very well done.  It's a rather small cast with the supporting cast doing a solid job while the film's protagonist, Mikey Gray, delivers a pretty intense performance during the short's last leg.  I really enjoyed her performance and I hope she returns to the genre again.  The story for this one fits the title perfectly and doesn't over stay it's welcome.  We follow a woman leaving an abusive home life where she finds herself at what could be a potential home invasion.  However, once her life is threatened she projects her abuse onto her potential abuser.  It's a clever short that has great pacing and a fitting title.  With that being said, the title itself is not that appealing which could prevent it from getting the views it deserves.  Finally, the film does have a very bloody moment during the film's final minutes before ending.  It's not gory but the effects work for the film.  I enjoyed it and appreciate how it was handled.  Overall, Projection is a fun little short that doesn't waste your time.  It's got some blood and solid acting but it doesn't really deliver enough to make it memorable.  It's fun but not something you will want to revisit again anytime soon.  Check it out.  

It: Welcome to Derry Season 1

Creator(s) - Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman, It: Chapter Two), Andy Muschietti (Mama, It), and  Barbara Muschietti (Mama, They Will Kill You)

Starring - Taylour Paige (The Toxic Avenger, Brothers), Jovan Adepo (Overlord, Watchmen), and Stephen Rider (Daredevil, Luke Cage)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Go back to where IT all began"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've read a lot of Stephen King's work over the years.  His novels and short stories, along with Goosebumps, was one of the reasons I fell in love with the horror genre.  He's a titan in the horror and literary worlds but I would be lying if I said I was an expert in his work.  Sure, I've read a lot of his work and watched many adaptations over the years but I can't verify how close these adaptations are to their source material.  What I can say is that a lot of his written work and their adaptations are a lot of fun.  Sometime back I was sent word that IT, specifically Andy Muschietti's two films starring Bill Skarsgard, was getting the television treatment.  I didn't follow it closely but I knew I would eventually be checking it out.  Fast forward to a few weeks back and I was lucky enough to get the blu release sent over for review.  I wasn't able to get to it right away but made time for it as soon as I could.

     The series takes place in the town of Derry in 1962 where a young boy went missing.  Several months later three more were brutally murdered in a theater where only one girl survives.  One of the theater's employees, a black single father, is arrested for the murder.  His daughter, the lone survivor, and two other students start looking further into the missing student and the blood soaked history that Derry shares where they uncover the truth about Pennywise.

      I know I paraphrased a lot with the show but it throws a lot at us without over doing it.  It did take some time to gain some traction with me and it wasn't until episode 3 or 4 that I actually started getting into it but once I did I was really hooked.  The acting in this is great for the most part.  Some of the characters are very unlikable and it's not because they were written that way.  The cast is really dedicated to their role and deliver some seriously impressive performances especially from the young cast.  As the series progresses we have some intense performances that shows why everyone was cast in their respective roles.  The story for this season serves as a prequel of sorts to It and It: Chapter Two.  We get a lot of insight into some of the previous feeding cycles of Pennywise along with why he took on the appearance of the clown.  We also get a lot of social commentary from the early 60s mixed in with the character development.  It's very well written and works well but my biggest issue with the show was how long it took to get going.  The first three or so episodes could have been condensed to give the viewer more to grab onto.  Finally, this series doesn't hold back with the visual effects.  I know practical effects can be pricy especially when you have a show with eight episodes   However, a good deal of the visual effects look like shit.  They are very noticeable which was good for a laugh the first few times but they do become eye rolling as the show moves on.  Overall, It: Welcome to Derry Season 1 was a great continuation of what the 2017 film and it's sequel established.  While I can't remember exactly how accurate those films are to the written work, I can safely say that I enjoy it very much.  I do hope we have a season 2 eventually but until then I highly recommend checking out season 1.  

     

The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan

Director(s) - Grayson Tyler Johnson (Toast, Community Service) and Josh Johnson (Rewind This!, Creation is Violent: Anecdotes on Kinski's Final Years)

Starring - John Borske (Bloodthirsty Butchers, Gutter Trash), Alex DiSanto (Nightmare in Psycho Town, Bad Seeds), and Gerald Jacuzzo (The Man With Two Heads, Torture Dungeon)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Documentary

Tagline - "Strictly adult entertainment"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed more documentaries this year than I have previously.  Hell, I've probably reviewed more this year than I have the last two or three years combined.  I love documentaries but I'm not really a fan of reviewing them as it entails a lot to cover.  I usually try to simplify it as much as possible which does most documentaries an injustice.  Anyway, I recently watched several documentaries sent over from Severin as part of their various collection sets.  The first was about the films from Spain following the death of their dictator while the second was on the life and career of the legendary Christopher Lee.  As I move over to the Gutter Auteur set from Severin, I find myself watching another one.  This time it's the 2025 doc. The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan.  Milligan is a filmmaker I was familiar with but I'd be lying if I said he was one I admired or genuinely enjoyed.  I did like a few of his films but for every one of his films I liked there was a few that I didn't care for.  Anyway, I went into this set excited and after watching The Degenerates, I figured it made sense to watch this one next.  

     This follows an in depth look at the personal life and career of Andy Milligan featuring interviews from film historians, collaborators, and personal friends.  We see him growing up as an Army brat, to the stage, and filmmaking all while being openly gay before he died of AIDS.  

     I'll be honest and admit that I didn't know a lot about Milligan before this documentary.  I knew he had fought with his cast and crew during filming and died sometime back but I had no idea he was openly gay and died as a result of AIDS.  This was kind of an eye opening documentary in regards to his backstory and how that shaped his films.  This also confuses me as to why I never seen him mentioned among other LGBTQ+ filmmakers.  He more than deserves to be on those lists.  I may not like all his work but making films as long as he did during the decades he did is commendable.  The interviews in this one are insightful and not always one sided.  We get a full look at his up bringing, career, and personal life through several eyes.  These interviews are not sugar coated either.  We get a real look at him and see how he was as a person.  I really dislike films that gloss over the negatives but this one doesn't.  You get to see the real Milligan.  The topics discussed follow his life chronologically and, in some instances, are very informative.  While some are thorough than others, it does offer a wide variety of what made Andy Milligan stand out.  Finally, this one is edited and shot very well.  The transitions look great and the cinematography looks amazing.  I was really impressed by how well this one looks.  I was familiar Josh Johnson's previous docs and knew he would do a great job but this one is easily his best looking doc.  Overall, The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan is an informal and well put together documentary about a true cinema maverick.  While I wouldn't say I'm a fan of his work, the fact he was openly gay and creating movies during a time when this could get you hurt means he was truly passionate about it.  I highly recommend checking this one out especially if you have no idea who Andy Milligan was.  Check it out.  

Amityverse

Director(s) - Chad M. Campbell (Jeanie's Face Exploded, Chillermania! The Story of Michigan and American Chillers), Curtis Everitt (Shark Balloon, Doll), Ron Ford (Grass Hook Massacre, Twisted Fates), Evan Jacobs (Backrooms Bigfoot, The Pickleball Exorcist), Chad Knauer (Murder Clown 1985, Skeleton Cop), Jt Kris (The Arkansas Pigman Massacre, Ghosts of Amityville), Josh Spiegel (Witching Hour, The Last Amityville Movie), Blaize Tudor (The Exotic Zoo of Terror, Cocaine Witch), Douglas Waltz (Invisible Shark, The Basement of Baron Morbid), and Andy Wolf (Monster Mansion Memories)

Starring - Armand Arekian (Tales from the Aether, Dummy), Jace Blalock (Meanboat, Santa Crawls), and Paul Bradford (Skate to Hell, Gobblefoot)

Release Date  - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometime last year I took a few days to watch the original run of Amityville Horror films.  I had seen them before but it had been years so I decided to revisit them.  I've always liked these films, for the most part, and really enjoyed myself watching them again.  I tend to stay away from the indie and no budget Amityville "sequels" unless it catches my eye because I don't really care for most of them.  With that being said, I do enjoy Amityville Vibrator and Amityville Christmas Vacation.  A few weeks back I received a press release from my friends over at SRS Cinema announcing the upcoming release of their indie horror anthology Amityverse.  I brushed it off like I do most of the Amityville films until I saw it on Tubi while I was browsing for something to watch.  I decided to pull the trigger and check it out.

     This anthology features ten stories ranging from evil mimes, killer clowns, the famous Skeleton Cop, serial killers, and more.

     I went into Amityverse with an open mind and found myself not having a good time.  It had some interesting segments that I liked but the overall film was a tough one to finish.  I hate writing reviews like this, especially about an indie flick, but it was clear that these were done quickly with very little care.  The acting in this one is uneven.  Some segments offered up some decent performances while others felt very rushed and insincere.  I've reviewed indie, no budget films for years and while some of these segments are among the better acted I've seen, others are very rough.  The stories in this one varies from clever and fun to very confusing and unwatchable.  The Skeleton Cop and Death Toilet Reprise are my two favorites in the film but they are still far from perfect.  Personally, the segments are just too short and don't stay around long enough to really get any traction.  They are all rushed and feel incomplete for the most part.  Finally, the film has some practical and visual effects but neither are enjoyable.  The deaths are very lackluster and add nothing to the films while the effects are noticeably cheap.  Overall, Amityverse feels like a no budget anthology that just tried to cram as many segments as it could without focusing on quality.  I seriously wanted to like this one but it was not enjoyable at all.  Skip it.  

Plankenstein

Director - Diq Diamond (Don't Drink and Drive: A Family Film, The Bunker)

Starring - Leilani Ramos (Potluck with Smooch), Amy Jennings (Paranormal Sh!t, True Tales of Terror), and Shane Chisum (The Tattoo Club: Curse of the Dragon, Static)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "A killer surf movie"

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've seen a lot of movies over the years thanks to my connection with Horror Society.  I've seen some of the wildest films imaginable with movies featuring living placentas, murderous condoms, gay bikers that create a fight club, bigfoot with an STD, and so on.  A few weeks back I received a press release for the surfing slasher Plankenstein.  The film was released on Tubi and the team behind the indie horror film wanted to get the news out.  I shared it on the site and decided to add it to my watch list.  It looked fun and a movie that I could really enjoy.  

     The film follows a surfer, a cop, and the chief of police as they investigate a string of brutal murders along the beaches of popular surf spots.  

     I went into this expecting a lot of Frankenstein puns mixed with a lot of surfing.  Instead, what I was greeted with was a move that felt like it was intentionally trying to annoy you.  I made it maybe five minutes before I found myself wishing it would end.  I hate being that way especially for an indie movie but this one was one of the hardest films to finish that I've reviewed in sometime.  The acting in this one is very stiff at time with flat dialogue.  The cast seems to be having a lot of fun on set and that shows in a few scenes but the overall acting is fairly one dimensional.  The story for this one is a slasher meets island lore.  I was expecting more a Frankenstein story with a surfing theme but what we get is a slasher that doesn't really feel like one with some made up legend that doesn't really pull the viewer in.  The film feels like there is several decent enough ideas thrown out but none of them full builds up on them.  Honestly, a patchwork surf board killing tourists would have been a much more entertaining film than what we have here.  Finally, don't expect memorable deaths.  We have some prop body parts and some blood but that is the extent the practical effects.  We do have a few scenes with some horrible visual effects that stand out.  The deaths are not memorable or imaginative but they do make good use of the practical props.  Overall, Plankenstein is not the movie I was expecting.  In fact, it was damn near impossible to finish.  When I was putting my review together I saw a similar review on Letterboxd or imdb that said the film was "intentionally trying to piss off the viewer" and I somewhat agree with it.  I wanted to like it but it was all over the place and held together with chewed gum and cheap tape.  This is one you will want to skip.  

A Blind Bargain

Director - Paul Bunnell (The Ghastly Love of Johnny X, Strange Tales)

Starring - Crispin Glover (Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, Back to the Future), Jake Horowitz (Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, The American Werewolves), and Lucy Loken (Teen Wolf, Devil in the Details)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A reimagining of the lost Lon Chaney classic"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm one of the few that are open to remakes and reimagining of classic movies.  The way I see it, remakes have the ability to expand on a story that we already know and love or it could suck which leaves us with the original to watch.  A few days back I received a press release for a reimaging of the lost Lon Chaney film A Blind Bargain.  I was unfamiliar with the original film but I was immediately sold when I saw that it starred Crispin Glover.  I know he is eccentric and can be a bit much but I fucking love him.  He never disappoints me when he is in front of the camera but a few of the films he has been apart of were damn near unwatchable.  Regardless, I had to see this one so I replied to the email and was granted a screener link.  

     The movie follows a young man recently sent home from the Vietnam war with a new habit.  He's dependent on drugs and his mother, along with a social worker, want's him to get clean.  They recommend a clinic for treatment and his initial appointment results in them drawing his blood.  They later call him and state that after running a test on his blood sample they are able to determine that his mother has the type of blood that the doctor needs for his experiments to reverse aging.  He offers the young man a large sum of money for a pint of her blood.  Owing a hefty amount to a local drug dealer, he tricks his mother into visiting the clinic where they sedate her in order to take her blood as needed.  He gets his money and soon finds himself in need or more and more forcing him to turn to the strange doctor to chip away at his aging mother.

     I know absolutely nothing about the original film or why it's considered lost.  What I do find funny is that it's listed as the "lost" Long Chaney "classic."  If the film was lost then how is it a classic?  Is anyone alive that has seen it?  When was it lost?  These are all questions that I don't want to take the time to look up.  I may not know a lot about the original film but I did enjoy this remake, or reimaging, though it was extremely slow at times.  The acting in this one is is very well done.  While Glover stole every scene he was in, it was Jake Horowitz that makes the film for me.  He is a strong lead and goes to great lengths to make his character believable.  One hell of a performance from someone that I was unfamiliar with.  The supporting cast is solid for the most part but we do get a few scenes with dialogue that lacks conviction and feels flat.  The story for this one reminds me of a few other films I've seen from the 60s up until today.  A selfish doctor or scientist is running illegal experiments where he offers someone down on their luck cash for blood, plasma, semen, and so on.  What makes this one stand out is that the person on their luck gives up their parent instead of bodily fluids.  It works especially when you see all the fun and memorable characters tossed in to move the film along.  With that being said, several scenes were painfully slow and difficult to finish.  These scenes does throw the pacing off but doesn't ruin the film.  Finally, the film is not one with memorable deaths.  We get a lot of colorful characters but fantastic blood and gore is not part of this film.  Overall, A Blind Bargain is a fantastic vehicle for Crispin Glover to play a mad doctor but the story is predictable and often too slow for it's own good.  It's fun for a first time watch but nowhere near as enjoyable as man TikTokers and IG influencers are letting on.  Check it out.  

The Sticks

Director - Peter Kominek (Slug Brothers, Timber) 

Starring - Shelby Cox-Dersch (Karma, B*tch), Mitchel Roelfsema (Faultline, Don't Kill the Babysitter), and Vanessa Wenzel (Falling Through the Cracks: Greg's Story, Tribal)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     I try to keep an eye out for movies that might peak my interest and I never know where that may be.  It could be an email from a press release or randomly through a Facebook message.  A few weeks ago I was looking through one of the indie horror groups on Facebook when I saw a post for the 2025 film The Sticks.  The post was announcing that it was now available to stream on Tubi.  The artwork really caught my attention and I quickly added it to my watch list.  After I made my way through that Exorcismo set from Severin, I decided to watch a couple indie horror flicks with The Sticks included.

     The film follows a young woman with a knack for survival as she finds herself lost in the woods alone.  She had originally planned on camping with her boyfriend but something happened forcing her to flee alone.  Now, she is forced to survive as something lurking in the woods is hunting her.

     I went into The Sticks seriously excited thinking I was about to see a creature feature set in the woods.  Sadly, that was not the film in front of me at all.  In fact, the film that I saw just followed a woman as she stumbled and panicked in the woods while showing off her camping and survival skills.  I've seen a lot of dull films over the years but this has to be the most boring indie horror film I've seen in recent memory.  The acting in this one is very one sided.  Shelby Cox-Dersch carries the film.  The cast is rather small but most of the film, at least an hour of the film's run time, is Cox-Dersch alone surviving in the woods.  The supporting cast is solid for the little screen time they do get but it's Cox-Dersch that carries the film.  With that being said, her character is not that likable and it's hard to tell if it was just the way she was written, how she was portrayed, or if it was intentional.  The story for this one somewhere in there but I couldn't find it.  From what I could see, the film is meant to depict a woman running from a supernatural creature but the film started out with flashbacks of camping before we saw the young lady running through the woods for no apparent reason.  Maybe I missed something or maybe this is one of those films where you needed to be high as balls but I couldn't make heads or tales from it.  Finally, the film has some great make-up effects but that is the extent of what we will see in this one.  I was hoping the creature from the poster would make an appearance but it doesn't.  That is if I didn't miss it.  Overall, The Sticks is one of those indie horror films that confuses the fuck out of me.  What is the purpose of the film and where is the story?  Honestly, I don't know if I missed something extremely important when I was watching it or the film fell apart during filming.  Regardless, I can't recommend this one.  Skip it.  

The Anointed

Director(s) - Jimmy Arbugh and Travis Lander

Starring - Jimmy Arbugh, Louise Arbaugh, and Marcedel Arbaugh

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Keep the faith"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing indie horror for years now and it's absolutely my favorite thing to do.  I love watching a no budget indie flick and then typing out my thoughts regardless if I had fun with the movie or not.  It's always a fun experience to check out an indie horror flick and I refuse to turn down for review.  Back before I started reviewing the Exorcismo set from Severin Films, I was asked to review the indie horror flick The Anointed.  I had already promised Severin I would check the set out but I didn't expect the set to take me as long as it did.  In fact, it took me almost a month to check it out and I would like to apologize to Shane Taraschke for allowing myself and Horror Society the opportunity to check it out.

     The film follows a a backwoods cult that is keen on misinterpreting the bible and killing those they feel are going against their beliefs.  Lucky for them, a pair of friends exploring the beautiful country of Arkansas and a small group of friends both cross paths with them resulting in some blood shed.

     I absolutely love religious horror and feel that it doesn't get enough love especially from the indie horror community.  I grew up in Appalachia and find religion, especially fanatical Christianity, to be extremely scary.  That's why I was so excited to check out The Anointed.  It looked like an no budget nod to films like Red State and Inverted.  Inverted had it's moments and I absolutely loved Red State.  The Anointed was a decent film but had a lot working against it.  The acting in this one was not that enjoyable for me.  The film starts out with a YouTube style vlogging introduction that was extremely difficult to watch.  The dialogue is very forced and not natural during this scene with the film not really improving as it progressed.  The cast, for what I was able to find, is not very experienced but they do show dedication to their roles which not something I can say about a lot of films regardless of budget.  The story for this one has it's issues but I absolutely love the idea of a religious cult in the woods killing trespassers who sin.  With that being said, having the two friends die before moving to the group split the film up when it didn't have to.  This, along with scenes that are a bit too long for the story, took away from the pacing.  Finally, the film has plenty of blood.  While the effects we get are very limited, it is not shy with the red stuff.  We get a lot of bloody deaths and moments that fit with the film very well.  Overall, The Anointed is extremely rough around the edges but is still enjoyable especially if you are a fan of religious horror.  While I don't see myself revisiting it anytime soon, I still enjoyed it.  Check it out.    

Dead By Dawn

Director - Dawid Torrone (Opowie Ci o Zbrodni)

Starring - Sylwia Boron (Bloody Date, Hold Tight), Monika Frajczyk (Leave No Traces, Green Border), and Adam Machalica (Planet Single, Raspberries)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I never know what to expect when I check my Horror Society email.  Am I going to get an email from a fan confused by what we do at Horror Society asking if they can get a role in a film?  Is it going to be a random actress asking for us to share their OnlyFans link?  Or, is it going to be a press release for a movie that I really want to see?  My emails can be pretty weird especially when I get the random off the wall emails from people that shouldn't have access to the internet.  However, I sometimes get emails to check out a movie that has really peaked my interest.  A few weeks back I received the press release for Polland's first giallo, Dead by Dawn.  The title, which also shares a name with the alternate title for Evil Dead II, really caught my eye with it's artwork.  I replied to the email and they were kind enough to send a link over for me to check.  

     The film follows a group of aspiring stage actors who visit an old theater that was once considered prestigious.  What they don't know is that a masked maniac is stalking the property killing everyone that is unfortunate enough to cross paths with them.  

     I went into Dead by Dawn excited to see a stylish and beautifully shot giallo but what I found was an extremely slow paced slasher with a lot of scenes that need trimmed down.  I seriously wanted to like this one but it wasn't meant to be.  It was painfully slow, uninteresting, and the slasher was very disappointing.  The acting in this one is easily one of the only redeeming qualities I could find in the film.  The characters are fairly forgettable and we don't have any outstanding performances but I liked the cast.  They really get into their roles and work well with each other.  The story for this one has an interesting premise but fails to put it all together into something truly enjoyable.  The film uses long, drawn out scenes with beautiful cinematography and locations to try to capture that giallo feel but it doesn't really give viewers the Italian mystery feel.  The movie is a slasher for the most part with an occult angle that is never fully explored as much as I would have liked.  I wish this was introduced earlier in the film and the mystery portion of the story played a bigger role.  Instead, we have a slasher flick that just doesn't have the fun that many slashers before it was able to deliver.  Finally, the kills offer up a lot of blood but they don't have the best practical effects or imagination.  The masked killer's weapon of choice is a meat cleaver but the deaths are unable to deliver on the imagination and originality that other meat cleaver killers, like 100 Tear, did before it.  Also, the killer's mask is pretty lame.  It's a mask covered in bright white eyes that does nothing for the scene.  Overall, Dead by Dawn just wasn't as fun as I had hoped it was.  It doesn't feel like a giallo.  Instead, it's a standard slasher where the killer has a stupid mask.  I want to recommend this one but I can't.  Skip it.    

Less Than Nothing

Director(s) - Reagan Henderson (The View Between Villages) and David Michan (El Vato, Price of Fame)

Starring - Samantha Shakira Clarke (Hyde and Seek, Suing the Devil), Gail Simpson (Nepo Baby, The Zeme), and Stew McLean (Arrow, Travelers)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Enjoy.  Consume.  Forget"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I just finished spending a tremendous amount of time reviewing every film in the Exorcismo set from my friends over at Severin Films.  There was so many movies in this set that it took me almost a month to watch and review them all plus an additional 5 hours to edit the reviews into a post.  I spent a lot of time on them which meant I took a lot of time away from indie horror.  I really fucking missed it and as soon as I finished my review for that colossal set, I immediately jumped onto the first indie horror flick I could find for review.  This just happened to be a short sent to me by David Michan after I reviewed his film The Girl Inside the Photograph.  I want to thank David for sending over Less Than Nothing for review!

     The film follows a successful woman who runs an organization that provides water to third world countries.  However, her success comes at a cost as she struggles mentally.  The things of luxury around her take on a life of their own and when they break down she is forced to dispose of them and easily replace them.

     After I posted my review for The Girl Inside the Photograph, I was contact by Michan to review this psychological short.  I didn't care for the first film but I can't turn away an indie horror flick to review and I'm glad I didn't because this short was a lot of fun.  It's not something I could rewatch multiple times but it was very enjoyable for what it was.  The acting in this one is very well done.  We only have two performing in a traditional sense while the rest of the cast delivering performances that the story needed to be affective.  I really enjoyed this cast and love how dedicated some of the "inanimate" objects were to their roles.  The story for this one is not really that horrifying but it could have been.  I like the American Psycho tribute and how the appliances watch the other appliances watch the "broken" appliances and other household items get disassembled or "dismembered."  With that being said, the film is way too clean and polish when the story has so much potential to be a real gritty horror tale.  Imagine a horror film where these objects are real in a Toy Story like film watching a person take the things apart.  It could be so fucking visceral.  Finally, the film has some blood but don't expect to see any memorable effects or gore.  The film clearly didn't have the budget for some great gore but adding that to what we have would have taken this one next level.  Overall, Less Than Nothing is a fun and entertaining short that has a very clever story.  It reminded me a lot of the meme about a Toy Story toy dying and the kids, unaware the toy has died, continues playing with the corpse.  It's fun as it is but could be so much more.  Check it out.  

The Benefactress

Director - Guerrilla Metropolitana (Bits, Dariuss)

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

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "An exposure of cinematic freedom"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

Five Nights at Freddy's 2

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

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

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "You there?"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

Bitter Souls

Director - Tom Ryan (Splinter, Haunted)

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

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

Blood Barn

Director - Gabriel Bernini (Triple Thriller)

Starring - Chloe Cherry (The Grinch XXX Parody, Don't Trip), Lena Redford (Nature is Speaking, And Back Again), and Andrea Bambina (Bagworm)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Don't go in the..."

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My favorite horror films take place in a cabin deep in the woods.  Cabin in the Woods, Evil Dead 1 and 2, almost every slasher I love, and so on.  It's the perfect set up for damn near any horror story so I'm instantly interested in a movie that uses this location for their film.  Several weeks ago I received the press release for the horror film Blood Barn.  This Screambox original looked like it had everything you need to have a good time.  It stars the absolutely gorgeous Chloe Cherry and the story looked like one that would be perfect for the cabin in the woods set up.  I reached out to them for a review link and they were kind enough to send one over!

     The film follows a young woman, Josie (Redford), who invites a group of "friends" to her family old farm that has long since been abandoned.  She is trying to impress them but finds herself on the business end of their jokes and bullying.  However, as things go on and it's evident that she will never fit in, things take a bloody turn.  Their presence at the old farmhouse has stirred up something sinister which is taking control of them one by one forcing the remaining few to fight for their lives.

     I was really looking forward to this one.  I love the title, poster, and synopsis that I read when I received the press release.  However, the day before I watched it I found a post in a horror group talking about it and comparing it to Evil Dead.  This only fueled my desire to check it out and I have to say that they were not wrong.  It does borrow some elements from one of the genre's best independent films but it has enough originality to be it's own thing.   The acting in this one is great.  I love how by the numbers the characters are.  They are extremely cliched but they embrace it.  The cast brings a lot of energy and charisma into their roles which makes the scenes a lot of fun.  The cast really gets into their roles and it shows.  The story for this one blends slasher elements with films like Demon Wind and Evil Dead.  I really liked the premise and how it made use of the "barn" even though it was clearly a house.  Regardless, it worked for the most part but a few of the scenes are a bit dialogue heavy with no real reason to them.  I don't know if these scenes were meant to get the most out of Chloe Cherry or what but they do make the film feel a lot longer than it actually is.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood but it's not as gory as I would have liked.  I really enjoyed the deaths for what they were and the effects we do get.  The make-up effects are great but some memorable gory moments would have made this movie an unforgettable experience.  Overall, Blood Barn was a lot of fun and reminded me a lot of the mid-80s possession movies like Evil Dead II and Demon Wind.  While it wasn't the most memorable film in regards to gore, it was still worth a watch.  Check it out.