Toe Tags

Director(s) - Irene Baruffetti (6 Songs, Vore Gore), Cory DeAn Cowley (Phallacies, Patient 4), Domiziano Cristopharo (Ill: Final Contagion, Phantasmagoria), Jon Devlin (Erecting a Monster, Punching the Clown), Adam Ford (Torment, Analogies), and Peter Lankston (Phallacies, Analogies)

Starring - Irene Baruffetti, Cory DeAn Cowley, and Jon Devlin

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago I befriended actor and director Jon Devlin.  He was looking for people to review an action flick he was in.  I was impressed by his acting skill and soon found myself reviewing other films he had appeared in and directed.  Sometime ago I reviewed the male membered horror anthology Phallacies featuring a segment from him and several other filmmakers.  He continued this theme with the recent release of Analogies before this most recent anthology about a sexualized body part, Toe Tags.  Devlin reached out to me to check it out and I couldn't pass it up.  Thanks Jon for reaching out!

     This anthology focuses mostly on feet.  We have a tale following a woman that inherits her mother's shoes, a trans-woman wanting the perfect pair of feet, a child gets revenge against their abusive father, a mentally il person suffering a break, a man dancing with a ghost, and a mermaid wishing she still had her majestic tail. 

     I knew this one was going to absurd but I was hoping that it would embrace the nature of the film a bit more.  A horror anthology trying to remove the sexual taboo from feet could have been something pretty funny in it's own right.  However, what we have is a movie that takes itself a bit too seriously at times and is not as extreme as they would like to be.  The acting in this one is fairly even throughout.  The cast in this one is very broad but they all have experience in front of the camera for the most part.  We get some solid performances throughout every segment which is fairly uncommon among indie horror anthologies where each segment is directed by someone different.  The stories for this one varies greatly.  We have some pretty solid horror shorts with some that feel a bit out of place.  Most of them all follow the foot theme in one way another but not all were created equal.  With that being said, the first and second stories were probably my favorite while the last two tales were not that enjoyable.  I hate to be that way but they just wasn't for me.  Some are original to an extent while others try too hard to feel complex and thought provoking without actually being either of those.  Honestly, I wish we had a horror comedy centered around a foot fetish.  Finally, the film has several shorts with some blood and decent enough effects.  Don't expect to see a movie with insane gore and memorable deaths but you will see some blood along with some fun animation.  Overall, Toe Tags will not be for everyone.  I enjoyed parts of it but the film as a whole was not for me.  Fans of Devlin's previous anthologies will dig it but someone looking for something new may not enjoy it.  

Amityville: Descendants of Darkness

Director(s) - Derek Braasch (Torture the Flesh, Christmas Revenge), Marcelo Fabani (I Slay on Christmas, Doomsday Stories), and James Panetta (Phil Herman's Unearthed, Death in the Dark)

Starring - Vernon Wells (Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Weird Science), Jeremy London (Mallrats, Perversions of Science), and Sandy Johnson (Halloween, The Farmhouse Murder)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Some evils never die... they evolve"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love when the horror genre finds a trend that almost everyone fully embraces.  The Amityville Horror has always been considered a classic among genre fans and I can see why.  I enjoy the film and several of it's official sequels but I don't consider it one of my favorite films.  My favorite part about this film's legacy is all the unofficial sequels and random movies that had Amityville added to the name by distributors at the last minute.  Seriously, just take a moment and go to Tubi.  Just do a little search for Amityville and you will see dozens of films that have absolutely nothing to do with Amityville or it's original story that had the name added to it by a distribution company just to sell a few extra films.  Sometime ago, I'm talking months back, I was asked to review the horror anthology Amityville: Descendants of Darkness by producer Phil Herman.  I wasn't able to get to it right away but made sure to add it to my review list to check out as soon as I could.  I want to thank Phil for sending this one over for review.

     The film features four stories centered around the sinister Amityville house as told by a young woman.  The first tale follows some thieves that try their luck at finding some hidden fortunes in the shed on the Amityville property only to find that they are apart of something far more sinister.  The second tale follows a family that finds themselves in possession of an item from the home where something evil has attached itself to it.  The third story follows a cop tormented by someone he couldn't save.  The last segment follows a family that movies into a new home.  The husband begins to start to slip and they soon learn that their new home was built on the same ground of the original Amityville house.  

     I went into this one kind of excited to check it out.  I recently watched Amityvillnado and really enjoyed it for what it was which made me really look forward to this one.  Sadly, that excitement quickly faded as the film progressed.  I really wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is very uneven and not very consistent.  The segment that bookends the film is probably the best acted short in the film.  The young lady delivering her dialogue is very natural in front of the camera and does a solid job in her role.  the remaining segments are solid for the most part but we have some cast with a lot of experience and some with barely any.  Some of the dialogue in these are forced which did create awkward scenes while others were a bit more natural.  The stories for these segments vary in originality but none really deliver something that pulls you in like the original film and it's official sequels.  In fact, every segment borrows heavily from previously released Amityville films.  The first segment borrows from the 2017 film Amityville Clownhouse where a group of thieves steal from the infamous home.  The second story is much like Amityville: 4: The Evil Escapes and Amityville Vibrator where something from the house, like a lamp from part 4 and a vibrator from AV, found it's way into someone's home bringing the curse with them. The final segment is basically a retelling of the original film while the third segment doesn't really have anything involved with Amityville aside from it being a ghost tale.  We have a lot to dissect in this anthology but none of the segments really stuck with me aside from the last portion of the first segment.  I liked the ending of this one but it didn't do a lot to hold my attention until then.  They were all pretty bland for the most part and extremely difficult to finish.  Finally, the film has some blood in the first segment and some visual effects scattered throughout the rest but it doesn't really offer up much in regards to fun blood and guts.  Overall, Amityville: Descendants of Darkness has some interesting ideas but doesn't come together to offer up anything enjoyable.  Maybe if some of the segments were explored further but it's difficult to finish as is.  Skip it.  

Fun-Size Pieces of Sharp Candy: The Movie

Director - Dylan R. Nix (The Demon of Serling, 10/31 Part IV)

Starring - Jason Eckles, David E. McMahon (He Never Left, Children of Sin), and Dylan R. Nix)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Step one to making a horror movie?  Don't!"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've met some seriously talented filmmakers through Horror Society over the years.  Some of them are responsible for some of my favorite films that I've seen in the last 15 years while other created movies that are part of my go to lineup for various reasons.  These particular films mean a lot to me and I try to watch them as much as possible or, at least, once a year when I can.  Some years ago I befriended author and filmmaker Dylan R. Nix who was kind enough to send over his indie horror anthology Baron Von Laugho's Halloween Spook-A-Thon.  I've worked this one into my annual October horror binge every year since.  I've reviewed several other films from him, like The Demon of Serling and Sharp Candy, and I've really enjoyed them all.  Recently, Dylan reached out to me to review his new anthology Fun-Size Pieces of Sharp Candy: The Movie.  I wasn't able to get to it right away but as soon as I had the time I hit play on it.  I want to thank Dylan for sending this one over.

     The film follows Nix's character Baron von Laugho (Nix) has he once again takes us on a chilling journey through three horror tales.  The first involves a safe cracker who is tasked with opening an old safe for a small business unaware he was sealing his own fate.  The second story follows director Dylan R. Nix as he breaks the news to fans that the film failed to raise the funds needed to bring his vision to life before he receives a bit of fan mail in the shap of a doll in the Baron Von Laugho garb.  This awakens something sinister inside of him.  The final segment follows a movie critic who finds himself locked up with David E. McMahon who is drugged and dressed up as the Easter bunny.  

     Fun-Size Pieces of Sharp Candy: The Movie brings some of Nix's short stories to the Baron von Laugho universe which is something I fully support.  He is a huge fan of the genre and his films really demonstrate that.  Fun-Size was a solid anthology for the most part but like any indie production, there is a few aspects of the film that I didn't care for.  The acting in this one is a little underwhelming in a few scenes but is fairly well done for the most part.  Nix is at home as his Baron von Laugho character where he carries every scene he is in.  The supporting cat is a little inconsistent with some showing inexperience in front of the camera while others are very comfortable in their roles.  It's not poorly acted but there is a few awkward scenes.  The story for the segments are very uneven but finds a way to work in the end.  The bookend segment with Laugho telling horror tales actually works.  I enjoy it and could see this hold it over for several more sequels.  The first tale in this one is my favorite segment in the film.  It has a Tales from the Crypt style ending that you don't see coming and works very well.  The second segment is the weakest in the film for me.  I understand that this is more of a personal segment for the director when he was unable to raise the funds he needed to make the movie he wanted but it's out of place in the film and completely derails what could have been a solid psychologal horror segment.  The final segment is very middle of the road.  This Saw parody with the director taking his frustrations out on film critics with a drugged up horny David E. McMahon should have been the best thing ever filmmed by an indie director.  However, it's not as funny as it could have been.  It feels like it's trying a bit too hard and misses it's mark.  With all that being said,  some of Laugho's scenes were a little bit underwhelming due to some of the self-righteous dialogue.  It didn't fit the film and is a bit confusing.  Finally, the film doesn't really have the gruesome deaths that most genre fans are looking for.  The movie is very low budget and worked with what they had but money for practical effects were not in the cards.  However, we do have a pretty wild looking nutsack that looks like something James Bell may have crafted.  Overall, Fun-Sized Pieces of Sharp Candy: The Movie doesn't really hit like The Demon of Serling and Baron Von Laugho's Halloween Spook-A-Thon but it's a solid watch especially if you are a fan of Nix.  I fucking love horror anthologies and this one was worth a watch.  Check it out.  

Cradle of Fear

Director - Alex Chandon (Inbred, The Perv Parlor)

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

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Horror

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

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

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.  

Phil Herman's Unearthed

Director(s) - Derek Braasch (Torture the Flesh, The Ties that Bind), Will Devokees (Morbid Stories, Macabre Medicine), Marcelo Fabani (I Slay on Christmas, Doomsday Stories), Phil Herman (Burglar from Hell, Jacker), Christopher Kahler (Around Midnight, Hobo with a Trash Can), and James Panetta (Death From Beyond, Death in the Dark)

Starring - Butch Patrick (The Munsters, Bite School), Tina Krause (Bloodletting, Side Effects May Vary), and Tiffany Helm (Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, 13 Fanboy)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I find myself bitching and moaning with every horror anthology that I review about how almost every indie anthology lacks a wraparound segment that ties everything together.  Most of these anthologies are just shorts that role from one segment to the next with no reasoning behind it.  I know it's no easy task to make a movie especially when you have zero budget and using the bare essentials in regards to equipment but an anthology without a segment to bookend everything is not an anthology in my eyes.  A few weeks ago I was speaking with director and producer Phil Herman about a few of his projects that I was sharing on the site when he offered me two of his most recent films to review.  One of them just happened to be an anthology film simply titles Phil Herman's Unearthed.  The title intrigued me some but it the was film's poster that really made me curious about the film.  I want to thank Phil for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows an unfortunate character named Doom (Christopher Kahler) who is doing a bit of graverobbing when he finds an old book.  He takes us back to his humble abode where he begins reading us tales from inside which range from a detective who may have locked up an innocent man, a young bride and her father in law searching for her missing husband, and a woman who suspects her home might be haunted.

     Phil Herman's Unearthed is a movie that I couldn't get behind but it does do a few things right.  I went into this one a bit excited but the overall movie did nothing for me but I there was a few things that really impressed me.  The acting in this one is very uneven.  Some of the segments features some solid performances while others are inconsistent.  I don't know if this is a reflection of the direction or inexperience but each scene within each segment does vary.  I would like to add that it was awesome seeing Tiffany Helm from A New Beginning with a small role.  I would have loved to see her utilized more but it was still cool to see her even if the role was small.  The stories for this one is not what I was expecting.  The segment used as the wraparound segment was my favorite part of the film.  The character that is reading from the old book, similar to From a Whisper to a Scream, was a lot of fun.  It was a solid segment that pulled everything together very nicely.  The other segments were very hit or miss with me.  The one with the husband who was abducted by aliens was probably my favorite of the film but it was far from perfect.  This story had a lot of promise and I'm a huge fan of Kristina Santiago but it failed to really go somewhere worth noting.  The other three segments were very predictable and not that interesting.  I thought the short with the woman seeking help with her home was going to be a lot more fun than it actually was but it was extremely dull and slow paced.  Finally, the film features a wide array of effects.  We have some make-up effects that look fairly decent to some visual effects that do look cheap.  While the film was not as bloody as gory as I would have liked, the make-up effects were impressive.  Overall, Phil Herman's Unearthed had a solid premise with the horribly disfigured grave robber reading stories from an old book.  Sadly, the segments that made up the bulk of the film was not as enjoyable.  This is one that I really wanted to like but it wasn't for me.  Skip it.  

Bring on the Damned

Director - Brandon Bassham (Feartown USA, The Slashening)

Starring - Sydney Hirsch (The Secret of Cuck Island, Blood Stab), Zac Amico (Shakespeare's Shitstorm, Curse of the Weredeer), and Ian Fidance (Crank Yankers, The Last O.G.)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "An anthology from Hell!"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Horror anthologies were such a huge part of my childhood.  I never claimed to be a genre fan until my later teenage years.  I grew up as a fan of cinema in general.  I didn't care what genre a movie or television show was apart of.  If something caught my eye, regardless if it was horror or not, I would watch it.  With that being said, I always loved watching horror anthologies.  Films like Creepshow, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, Twilight Zone The Movie, From a Whisper to a Scream, and so on.  My favorite part about these films was how they were all held together by one wraparound segment with Tales from the Darkside: The Movie being my favorite.  I still love anthologies and will go out of my way to watch them now.  A few weeks back I was sent a press release with a review link for the horror anthology Bring on the Damned from The Slashening and Feartown USA director Brandon Bassham.  

     The film features five segments ranging from a psychologist studying a woman who may be possessed, two killers who find themselves fighting over a woman, and a woman who can only nut when she kills a man.

     I was really looking forward to Bring on the Damned.  As I stated earlier, I'm a huge fan of horror anthologies and Bassham's Feartown USA and The Slashening are very enjoyable films.  However, I didn't necessarily care for Bring on the Damned.  It had a few fun moments but the overall film failed to gain any momentum with me.  The acting in this one is very well done.  The film has a lot of memorable performances and likable characters which made it a as enjoyable as it is.  The stories for the segments are clever, especially for those of you that like horror comedies or low brow humor like that found in South Park or many Troma releases.  I really enjoyed the giallo inspired disco segment along with the segment featuring two killers who quarrel over the woman.  They were clever stories but somewhere between the paper and filming, something was lost.  Most of the segments have moments that are funny but they do very little to hold my attention.  Also, the lack of a wraparound segment that held everything together really disappointed me.  Finally, the film does have some bloody moments.  We get a lot of blood, solid practical effects, and beautifully shot scenes.  It's not a gory flick so those looking for a lot of carnage may not be satisfied.  However, those of you looking for a beautifully shot flick with some solid effects and a decent amount of blood will appreciate what Bassham and company has brought us.  Overall, Bring on the Damned has some cool ideas that I really liked but the overall fil just fell short.  I wanted to love it but the few laughs and amazing cast that the film has wasn't enough to win me over.  

Welcome Week: A College Horror Anthology

Director(s) - Blake Douglas, Ethan Gomez Zahnley (Johnny Wick: Chapter 2, Satan's Servant), and Lenny Ibarra

Starring - Joanna Zimbler (The Night Never Fades, Bad), Angelo Kern (Planetquake, Bull Shark 3), and Kimberly Girkin (Stage Fright, Monsters of Mine)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a fan of horror anthologies for as long as I could remember.   I've mentioned several over the years that I grew up watching over and over.  Movies like Creepshow, Creepshow 2, Twilight Zone: The Movie, Tales  from the Darkside: The Movie, From a Whisper to a Scream, and so on.  I love checking out a new anthology and absolutely love when they have a fantastic wrap around segment that ties everything up neatly.  A few weeks back I found a post on Instagram for the indie horror anthology Welcome Week: A College Horror Anthology.  I really liked the artwork and decided to reach out to the page.  They got back to me with a review link to check out.  I decided to check it out after my Visual Vengeance and want to take a moment to thank the folks over at the Welcome Week Instagram page for sending this one over!

     The film follows a group of college freshman going to a party during their first week at school.  However, things take a deadly turn when someone starts killing the students in gruesome manners.  One of the students reveals that he had hand to hand combat training in order to attend college because his siblings all met horrific fates while in college.  While trying to save his friends, he recounts their tragic tales while making his way across campus.

     I went into Welcome Week knowing absolutely nothing and was surprised by just how unique the film was.  Sadly, a lot of the film wasn't for me but that doesn't mean it will not find it's targeted audience.  I went into this one with an open mind but found myself not enjoying it like I had hoped.  The acting in this one is very well done and consistent which is something you don't really see in anthologies featuring segments from varying directors.  The characters are cliched and not written that well but the cast does a solid job with what they were given.  The stories for this one varies.  The wrap around segment is a cool idea while I was watching it but after watching the film it feels like a cheap way of pulling them all together.  It would have been more effective if each segment was written for the film and consistent.  Instead, it's clear that each one was filmed at different times and just happened to feature freshman in college meeting a horrible end.  Aside from the wraparound segment, none of the other segments reference each other.  Also, some of the stories actually feature similar stories to one another.  We follow college students dying to a mysterious killer or something supernatural and occult like.  Finally, the film has some blood and solid enough make-up effects.  These do fit the film but they are not memorable or imaginative.  Overall, Welcome Week: A College Horror Anthology is one of those films that is interesting on paper but didn't work out too well on film.  It features a great cast but the stories themselves requires the viewer to overlook a lot for it to make sense.  Sadly, this is one I would skip.  

Tent Burner

Director - Steven Reifsteck (McMurderer, Fish Piss)

Starring - Michael Atkinson, Justin Cottingham (Attack of the Killer Potatoes, Blood Pizza), and Doyle Dow (Shrek Crack)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed several films by the indie collective Janice.Click over the years.  Starting with the insanely odd McMurderer and followed by Attack of the Scarecrow from Mars, and Shrek Crack.  Since then they have released several other films but I let these releases get away from me.  I decided to snag a couple of their releases to finish the collection.  When they arrived I quickly added them to my watch list and the first on the chopping block was the 2024 flick Tent Burner.

     The film follows two aspiring Satanists who decide to kill a hermit that has been camping deep in the woods in a tent with his dog as a sacrifice.  They loot the tent after killing him where they find an old VHS tape and then set fire to it to cover up their heinous act.  When they get back to their home they decide to give it a watch and discover the atrocities that were on it.

     Tent Burner doesn't have the parody style humor that makes the previous films so enjoyable.  Films like Attack of the Scarecrow from Mars and Fish Piss mock horror trends and parody a lot of stereotypes that many horror fans are very familiar with now.   While Tent Burner does poke fun as some horror tropes, it's a more serious film that I enjoyed.  It's not my favorite Janice.Click film but I loved it and hope this is a new direction for them.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from this group.  The characters all fit the stories fairly well with some standing out a bit more than others.  The Juggalo styled story probably had my favorite characters in it and I love how it parodied their lifestyles and stereotypes.  The stories for these vary in quality but they all have a more serious spin to them than previous Janice.Click releases but still poke fun or parody many sub-genres and genre cliches.  The segment that serves as the film's bookend is inspired by V/H/S/ where people watch "disturbing" videos before something bad happens.  The segments shown from the VHS are not consist but they do work for shorts.  I mentioned it before, but the segment with the aspiring trailer rapper really made me laugh and worked for the most part.  None of them over stayed their welcome but I could see them being expanded upon at a later time.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood and some very cheap effects.  While a lot of the deaths and effects we do get are forgettable, they fit the film very well.  It's clear that the film has a very low budget and they did the best with what they had.  Overall, Tent Burner doesn't really feel like a normal Janice.Click release but I really enjoyed it.  It continues their parody of horror tropes but is much more serious in tone which I enjoy.  I definitely recommend this one to indie horror fans so check it out!

10/31 Part IV

Director(s) - Dustin Ferguson (Hell of the Screaming Undead, Cocaine Cougar), Matthew McManus (Slash-O-Lantern, Slash-O-Lantern Part II), Taylor McManus (SlashFM, Slash-O-Lantern), Dylan R. Nix (Sharp Candy, The Demon of Serling), and Ryan Sheets (The Pumpkin Man, The Letters of Wailing Creek)

Starring - Jennifer Moriarty (Big Bad CGI Monsters, Beyond the Gates of Hell), Sayeed Bensalama (SlashFM, Slash-O-Lantern), and Cody J. Briscoe (VHS Violence: Bootlegged, Spider Baby)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     The 10/31 horror anthology series is one of the more popular Halloween horror films of recent years.  You can easily find hundreds, if not thousands, of posts on various social media platforms for the film series as October approaches.  Honestly, I enjoyed the first three 10/31 films and when the fourth film was announced I had to add it to my collection.  My goal was to watch it during my annual Halloween horror binge but I forgot to place the order in time and it didn't arrive until after October.  Just like with the Out There Halloween Mega Tape, I added it to my review list so I could still see it even though Halloween was behind us.

     The film once again follows Malvolia (this time in animated form) as she spins four tales of terror.  The first tale, Ejectdead, follows a group of friends as they prepare for a night of horror movies on Halloween.  What they don't know is that one of the tapes they are about to watch is actually cursed and the masked killer inside is about to make their night a living hell.  The second, Haig's Heart, follows a candy factory owner who never got over the accidental poisoning of his daughter.  The third tale, The Witch's Curse, follows a group of as they visit a supposedly haunted house to film a reality show only to find their deaths.  The final tale, Moonlight Massacre, follows a haunted attraction employee who may have bitten off more than they can chew.

     The 10/31 series has been pretty consistent up to this point and hasn't let me down and Part IV is no exception.  While it is the weakest of the series, it still offers up at least two stories that I really enjoyed.  With that being said, the stories were not consistent and I don't see myself revisiting this one anytime soon.  I might revisit one of the shorts sometime in the future but not the film as a whole.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent, like almost every aspect of the film.  Some of the stories have a fantastic cast that really get into their roles while others feel almost as if they told to get the scene over as quick as possible.  I don't expect consistent segments when you have an anthology with shorts from different filmmakers and this is the clear reason why.  The stories for this one really try to get in to the Halloween spirit.  Ejectdead is my favorite of the anthology with a simple and straight slasher story that blends The Ring and The Video Dead with any masked slasher to come out of the early 80s.  It's short, sweet, and straight to the point.  The second story is from one of my favorite indie filmmakers, Dylan R. Nix.  Some of you may remember him from another one of my favorite Halloween films, Baron von Laugho's Halloween Spook-O-Thon.  I was really looking forward to this one but it was, sadly, the middle of the road in my opinion.  It has a lot of nods to Halloween III: Season of the Witch ranging from the iconic theme song to the commercial used to trigger the masks. While I did like the tribute to this underrated Halloween classic, the short itself wasn't something I enjoyed.  It has potential to be extremely powerful especially if you are a parent but the Creepshow "Something to Tide You Over" ending missed it's mark in my opinion.  The third segment is from controversial filmmaker Dustin Ferguson who has helmed some of the lowest rated horror films on imdb and Rotten Tomatoes.  His segment was the one I was looking forward to the most.  Not because he was behind the camera but because I absolutely love horror movies centered around witches.  Sadly, this was another dud with absolutely no heart or imagination.  Just a paint by number piece used to take up space.  The final segment really caught me off guard.  I was expecting another segment that would miss it's mark with me but was very surprised.  It did have some room to grow but for a no to low budget indie short I enjoyed it for the most part.  I'm not necessarily a fan of horror films taking place at a haunted attraction but this one didn't make it's entire identity the attraction.  Finally, the film doesn't shy away from blood but it's not as gruesome as I would have liked.  We do get a few small shots of computer generated effects but most of the film consists of practical effects.  The deaths fit the films but they are nothing memorable or that would stand out to the viewer.  I would have loved to see some imaginative kills in this one but that wasn't in the cards.  Overall, 10/31 Part IV is a solid enough watch with the first and final segment being the highlight of the film.  I really wanted to like Nix's segment, and while I respect him as a filmmaker, that segment wasn't for me.  I recommend checking it out if you dig the franchise but if you are looking for something new to watch during your Halloween season then I would suggest the first three films in the series.  

Worst Laid Plans

Director(s) - John Hale III (The Conduit, 10/31 Part 2), Jeremy Herbert (Killer Deal, The Childish Thing), Christopher G. Moore (Gut Punched, Backward Creep) 

Starring - Daniel Allen (The Things with the Glowing Green Eyes), Keegan Badillo, and Matthew J. Baker 

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "You'll wish you weren't here"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     I grew up steadily watching and renting slasher and zombie flicks when I could.  Hell, I still go out of my way to watch these two sub-genres but I've realized as I've grown older that anthologies were a big part of my childhood.  I grew up watching films like Creepshow, Creepshow 2, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, The Twilight Zone: The Movie, From a Whisper to A Scream, and many more.  I loved the wrap around segment, the little connections each short story would sometime toss in for those paying attention, and the mix of shorts we were given.  When director John Hale III announced that he was connected to the indie horror anthology Worst Laid Plans, I knew I would be checking it out eventually.  Sadly, I completely forgot about it until I was completing my collection of Scream Team Releasing releases and realized I never grabbed a copy.  I went ahead and added it to my cart and added it to my review list when it arrived.

     The film features three stories.  The first, Deep in the Heart," follows a family on a guided tour through a cavern when they cross paths with an abnormally large catfish with a taste for human flesh.  The second tale, You've Been Saved," follows two friends on a road trip when they think they've encountered a human trafficking situation.  However, on further investigating they learn there is more to the situation than appears.  The third and final tale, Taylor Family Vacation '93," follows a family on vacation with the dad recording everything with his tape recorder.  When he spots a strange man in the footage, he sets out to find answers and uncovers the ultimate truth.

     My biggest complaint with a lot of modern indie horror anthologies is the lack of wraparound segments that connect all the shorts together and serve as a sort of bookend.  A lot of the modern horror anthologies, especially indie productions, lack these stories.  Worst Laid Plans is one that doesn't have a wrap around segment nor is the segments consistent.  I enjoyed the overall film but some of these stories are better than others.  The acting in this one is actually very well done through the entire film.  The cast in all three segments do phenomenal jobs and really make their characters enjoyable.  It's not often I review an anthology featuring segments from various filmmakers and the acting is this consistent.  The stories for this one are not as consistent as the acting.  The film plays out in order of enjoyment, at least it does in my opinion.  The first segment, Deep in the Heart, is from director John Hale and is my personal favorite of the film.  A monster living in a cave deep in the mountains is something anyone in Appalachia would find interesting.  You throw in the great character development and acting and you have a great standalone short.  The second segment, You've Been Saved from Christopher G. Moore, had a story I actually liked but didn't fully explore every aspect of it.  Two former friends that have grown apart meet up to take a road trip and party when they cross paths with what could be a human trafficking situation.  It's an interesting premise but shouldn't have ended when it did.  The story has so much more to give viewers.  I need more on the two people "baiting" humans and what became of them.  If this anthology receives a sequel then it better have a follow up segment for this one!  The final segment, Taylor Family Vacation 93 from Jeremy Herbert, is the segment that did nothing for me.  The premise is very interesting but it reminded me too much of a segment in another horror anthology that's name is eluding me.  It may be from the V/H/S franchise but I can't recall.  Anyway, it follows a mother recording her child and every time she does a sinister force is visible.  When she tries to investigate it further it's discovered she's actually dead and the person she was seeing as sinister in the footage is the child's father who is raising the child alone.  This one follows a father who is seeing a strange man through the lens of his camera but not when he takes it down.  Upon further investigating he learns a surprising secret.  This one doesn't really fit with the theme of the other two aside from the vacation/traveling aspect and is not something I could really get into.  It was a bit dull and, as I stated earlier, it reminded me a lot of another segment from another horror anthology.  Finally, the film has some great practical effects.  We have a fun creature in the first segment and a fantastic mask with make-up effects in the second segment.  I really liked the look and editing of the third segment but the lack of gore really disappointment me with all three shorts.  Overall, Worst Laid Plans is a fun themed horror anthology but there is a lot of room for improvements.  It may not send chills down your spine but it will make you plan your next trip with extra care.  Check it out.  

     

Phallacies

Director(s) - Cory DeAn Cowley (6 Songs, Patient 4), Domiziano Cristopharo (4 Halloween, Vore Gore), Adam Ford (Torment, XXX Dark Web), Peter Lankston (6 Songs), Jack Mulvanerty (Everything Decays, Split), Poison Rouge (Unburied Tales, A Taste of Phobia), David Stojan (Slave Dolls, Slave Dolls 2: Red Rooms), Jake Valentine (Callcall: Omega Violence), Slade Wilson (6 Songs, XXX Darknet: Red Lips), Brock Bones (Symbolicus Vol. 3), and Jon Devlin (Erecting a Monster, The Missing Left Sock)

Starring - Brock Bones, Cory DeAn Cowley, and Domiziano Cristipharo 

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Everything you might imagine is shown in this motion picture!"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I absolutely love horror anthologies.  Many of you may have read my reviews for anthologies in the past and know how fond of them I am.  I grew up on films like Creepshow, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, From a Whisper to a Scream, and Twilight Zone: The Movie.  I love these films and watch them whenever I get the chance.  Anthologies, when done right, can be extremely powerful.  I especially love them when they have something to tie them all together.  A few weeks back I was contacted by director Jon Devlin to review the anthology Phallacies featuring segments from filmmakers all around the world.  Jon has never let me down before and I couldn't wait to dig into it.  Like always, I want to thank Jon for sending this one my way for review.  

     The film features stories ranging from a man mutilating his penis with needles to a man who faces his ever changing body and eventually ejaculates out of his mouth.

     This is a lengthy anthology that features 11 (I think) stories about penis in various degrees.  Like most anthologies featuring segments from various filmmakers, some are better than others.  This isn't the first horror film I've seen that was centered around wieners.  Films like One Eyed Monster, Pervert, The Voodoo Dick, and Killer Condom, all focus on male members but this is the first anthology I've seen that featured this many peckers.  With that being said, I really enjoyed this one and can see myself revisiting this one again with some friends and a few edibles.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven but still very enjoyable.  Some of the segments feature colorful characters with a lot of charisma and energy while some of them are straight to the point with the story which gives the cast very little time to "act."  The stories for this one varies from extreme acts of body mutilation to body horror and even some comedy tossed in.  I would be here all day if I took the time to discuss each segment.  While I did enjoy some of the stories, there were other stories that just wasn't for me.  The body mutilation segments were not my speed.  They were more for shock value and offered up very little in way of plot.  Also, I would have loved a segment to bookend the film and bring all the segments together.  I love anthologies and but those without a wraparound segment tend to fall short in my book.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood, some fun practical effects, and one short in particular shows real genital mutilation to some degree.  Like with the acting and stories, some feature better effects than the others but none of them are bad.  The effects look great and if you want some blood then you will not be disappointed.  Overall, Phallacies is a bold anthology that tries to de-sexualize the male anatomy but doesn't really pull it off.  It is a great horror anthology that is a lot of fun especially if you dig horror comedies.  I highly recommend checking this one out!

Tales of the Creeping Death

Director - John Williams (The Mothertown, The Slayers)

Starring - Michael Socha (Killers Anonymous, Chernobyl), Andrew Readman (Creeped Out, Cold Feet), and Ricky Tomlinson (The Witchfinder, In the Flesh)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Would you like to hear a story"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    Many moons ago, almost a decade or so now, I was contacted by filmmaker John Williams to review his zombie film The Mothertown.  Sometime after that I was contact to review the next film he had worked on titled The Slayers.  It was around this time that it seems like I had lost contact with him.  That was until recently when he reached out for me to review his 2022 horror anthology Tales of the Creeping Death.  He had originally messaged me to have his movie included in my annual October horror binge but I decided to give it a spin early.  I want to thank John for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows an elderly man who put an ad out to have someone sit with him until 3 am.  A "professional" responds to the ad thinking he is about to make some easy money.  To pass the time, the old man reads him a few demented stories before finally revealing the true nature of why he needed someone with him that night.

     Tales of the Creeping Death is a fantastic modern horror anthology that checks almost every box on my list which makes me wonder where the fuck John Williams has been hiding.  I remember really enjoying both those films when I originally reviewed them and this anthology was way more entertaining that I expected.  Does he have more movies that I don't know about?  Is he working on something else that satisfy my taste for great story telling and practical effects?  As of right now I don't know the answer to these questions but you better believe I'm having a word with him as soon as I post this review.  The acting in this one is very well done but some of the segments showcase better performances than others.  However, that doesn't mean some of the performances were bad because they were not.  I'm just saying that some of the performances overshadows some of the others.  The casting is fantastic, each segment features well written characters and the cast goes all in for their role.  The stories for this one is great.  The wrap around segment works well enough to tie all the other segments together but it is the weakest in the film followed by the segment that follows the young man "making" friends.  The remaining two segments are easily my favorite but even the weakest segment is better than most of the indie horror films I review.  Finally, the film really impressed me with the practical effects.  We get some classic camera tricks, practical and make-up effects, and so on to give us some impressive moments.  The soul draining scene in particular really impressed me.  This film has to be seen just for the effects alone.  Overall, Tales of the Creeping Death is one I did not expect to love as much as I did.  It has a great cast, solid stories with a decent enough wrap around segment, and the effects are unparalleled among other indie genre efforts.  I cannot recommend this film enough.  

       

The Profane Exhibit

Director(s) - Jeremy Kasten (The Dead Ones, Devil in the Details), Uwe Boll (House of the Dead, Rampage), Ruggero Deodato (Cannibal Holocause, Deathcember), Anthony DiBlasi (Last Shift, Malum), Marian Dora (Voyage to Agatis, Blight of Humanity), Ryan Nicholson (Torched, Gutterballs), Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Dragon Chef, Meatball Machine Kodoku), Sergio Stivaletti (The Wax Mask, Dogman's Rabies), and Nacho Vigalondo (V/H/S Viral, Collossal)

Starring - Christine Ahanotu (The Reunion, The Mojave Sisters), Didac Alcaraz (Trash Ninjas, Something Huge), and U. Bernard (Morbid Montage)

Release Date - 2013

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "There are no boundaries"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     For years I've heard talks about the extreme horror anthology The Profane Exhibit from genre fans who get off on films like August Underground and the Vomit Gore series.  At one point in time I wasn't interested at all in the project because these types of films don't appeal to me.  While I love gore and blood, most extreme horror flicks focus too much on gore and trying to be edgy instead of giving viewers a decent story.  However, that changed when I saw that director Ryan Nicholson was involved.  What films of his I had scene I thoroughly enjoyed.  I kept an eye on the project and after a few years it was evident that it found itself in distribution hell.  That was until recently when Stephen Biro announced that he was releasing the film, eleven years after completion, on blu and DVD.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  I want to thank Unearthed and MVD for sending this one over!

     The film follows a group of the world's wealthiest and depraved who get together to tell stories that is not for the faint of heart.  These stories range from a serial rapist, an evil surgeon, a doctor who has turned his back on his oath, and many more.

     I went into The Profane Exhibit knowing absolutely nothing about it aside that it was meant to be an extreme anthology featuring some of the world's most popular underground filmmakers at the time.  I don't mind extreme horror if they have more to them than gore and "shocking" scenes.  The Profane Exhibit did have some solid enough stories but I still found myself very underwhelmed by a film that, honestly, was not as gruesome as I was expecting.  The acting in this one is actually very well done in every segment.  Typically, an anthology with segment from various filmmakers usually features inconsistent acting.  However, that is not the case here.  Each segment features some serious acting from various walks of life and experience.  I was honestly impressed in this regard.  The stories for this anthology are where the film lost me.  Some of them are extremely slow paced and dull while others are in your face and action packed.  Segments Mother May I?, Bridge, Tophet Quorom, Sins of the Father, and Mors in Tabula are extremely dull in my opinion and while they may showcase some great effects, the are unable to hold the viewer's attention with lack of storytelling.  On the other side of the same coin, segments Basement (from Uwe Boll of all people), Goodwife, and Manna are very enjoyable but you have to make it through the other segments to enjoy them.  Finally, this film has a lot fantastic practical effects.  While some of the segments use more blood and gore than others, they all have amazing looking effects that rivals anything you've seen before or since.  Overall, The Profane Exhibit had some amazing gore but the overall film was a huge let down.  I love Unearthed Films and can recommend dozens of other releases of theirs to check out but this is not one of them.  Skip it.  

     

6 Songs

Director(s) - Irene Baruffetti (Vore Gore), Corey DeAn Cowly (Patient 4, XXX Darknet: Red Lips), Domiziano Cristopharo (Scorecard Killer, Unburied Tales), Joseph Russio (Beyond Dark Dreams, Devil's Lettuce) Slade Wilson (XXX Darknet: Red Lips), and Peter Lankston

Starring - Cory DeAn Cowley, Madeline Deering (Spirit Animal, Gore Orphanage), and Carley Sonafelt (Bathtub Shark Attack, Air Fryer Slaughter)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     By this point it should be no surprise as to how much I love anthology films.  I grew up with classics like Creepshow, Twilight Zone: The Movie, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, From a Whisper to a Scream, and so on.  So it's safe to say that when I'm approached to review an anthology that I will gladly say yes to the request.  Several weeks back I was asked by filmmaker Joseph Russio to review the extreme horror anthology 6 Songs.  Russio surprised me a few years ago with his film Beyond Dark Dreams so I was already interested in it but once I heard it was an anthology I quickly agreed to it.  I want to take a moment to thank Joseph for sending this one my way for review!

     The film begins with a sinister priest telling the viewer several graphic tales that involves a song.

     I knew absolutely nothing about 6 Songs prior to watching it and I have to say that it was easily the most visually appealing film I have ever seen.  While some of the segments are better than others, the overall film was absolutely beautiful through and through.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven which makes sense considering each segment was made by a different filmmaker.  I'm not saying that the acting is bad, because it wasn't, but some segments are a bit more grounded in regards to characters and acting.  The stories for this one vary, as to be expected, in quality but they work for the most part.  Without giving too much away, the film focuses on the grotesque and extreme violence while focusing on the music aspect.  While I found it to be interesting at times, I did struggle to finish a few of the segments.  These focused more on the beautiful cinematography and the music itself over the story.  Finally, the film doesn't shy away from the blood and has some fantastic make-up effects but it's not as gory as I was expecting.  The effects we get work for the story and looks fairly well done but I was honestly expecting a lot more gore than we did get.  Overall, 6 Songs is a beautiful film but I don't see myself revisiting it anytime soon.  The wrap around segment needed it's own film but is still fun as is.  It's well worth a watch so check it out.