The Voices of Our Mother

Director - Mark O'Brien (Ready or Not, Hannibal)

Starring - Sheila McCarthy (The Umbrella Academy, Star Trek: Discovery), Georgina Reilly (Pontypool, Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal), and Mark O'Brien

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I have a soft spot for religious horror.  Organized religion scares the absolute shit out of me and some religious horror movies have been truly effective over the years.  It's not my favorite sub-genre but I do check out the films from time to time.  Some time ago I received the press release for the Shudder original film The Voices of Our Mother from director and actor Mark O'Brien.  I really liked the artwork but the title and synopsis didn't really interest me.  This changed when I watched the trailer which is something I rarely do just in case I want to watch the movie later.  Many of you know how I feel about trailers and their potential to spoil the film but this time it did peak my interest.  I was going to reply to the email in order to request a review link when I realized that they had already sent one.  I went ahead and added that to my review list to check out when I could.

     The film follows four estranged siblings who visit their mom after a horrible accident.  Their mother recently lost her mother, whom she was very close with, before suffering what looks like a stroke.  They meet to see if she is passing away or if she will pull through.  They are unable to agree on what to do with her while she recovers and this causes tension between the four siblings.  As they discuss their mother's future, which could be shorter than expected, they learn that she is healing at an accelerated rate.  Her erratic behavior and a conversation from her long-time priest convince them that she may be possessed by something sinister.  This further divide the siblings forcing them to become hostile toward one another.

     I went into The Voices of Our Mother knowing a little bit about the plot due to the trailer but that was all the knowledge of the film that I had.  The synopsis that I was sent does not do the film justice.  The movie has a lot of moving parts but they don't necessarily come together that well.  The acting in this one the highlight of the film.  Director and star Mark O'Brien was great as the demanding brother that doesn't care to crack a few eggs so to speak while Georgina Reilly is phenomenal as the down to Earth sister wanting to make everyone happy.  With that being said, Sheila McCarthy steals the show.  Her performance is absolutely brilliant.  It's unbelievable how she was able to switch up her character so often.  She truly deserves recognition for her role here.  The story for this one does not feel like a religious horror flick.  We have a family drama with a few horror-like moments but nothing that really sells the film to genre fans.  We have four siblings that hate each other, a mother who may be ill or may be possesses by something demonic, and doctors who have no idea what is going on.  While it does sound like something horror fans would be frantic over, the film itself is 90% siblings bickering with one another, 5% doctors or a priest talking about mom, and the rest is mom losing her fucking mind.  It's not really a horror film but some serious changing would make it feel more at home in the genre.  The movie is written to be a slow burn but doesn't really ever find the traction it needs.  Finally, the film is not that memorable in regards to the red stuff.  We have some blood, a gunshot wound that looks decent, and some make-up effects.  We don't really have death scenes that stand out or the gore that a lot of fans would love.  Overall, The Voices of Our Mother is a missed opportunity.  While the acting is great, the story is lacking.  Horror fans will not appreciate this one.  Skip it.  

Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon

Director - Jason Lei Howden (Guns Akimbo, Deathgasm)

Starring - Milo Cawthorne (Blood Punch, Wolf Man), Kimberley Crossman (Stream, The Almighty Johnsons), and James Joshua Blake (Dangerous Game, Jackals)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Evil cums again"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I tend to go against the grain, so to speak, when it comes to horror movies.  I often like the no budget backyard flicks with a ton of imagination and lack of resources over the bug budget films that lack imagination. However, there is a few movies that pop up from time to time that offer up a bigger budget than I'm used to and delivers.  Over a decade ago the Milo Cawthorne lead film Deathgasm was released on the world and immediately became a hit.  I've watched this one many times since it's release and always find myself glued to the screen like it was a first time watch.  A few weeks ago I received news that a sequel was getting released very soon so I reached out to Raven Banner to see if I could review it.  They were kind enough to send me a link for Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon.  I want to thank them for being so kind as to let me review the film before it's release.

     The film picks up many years after the events of the first film.  Brodie (Cawthorne) is struggling with his music career after two members of his band died the night he saved the world.  Unemployed and an alcoholic, he finds himself living with Giles after Medina (Crossman) left him to further her music career.  He decides to use the pages from the first film to resurrect his bandmates in hopes of winning a battle of the bands competition.  His spell works but they are unpredictable and their appetite for flesh is uncontrollable forcing Brodie to once again reverse the spell while trying to get Medina back.

     Sequels rarely live up to the original but Deathgasm 2 is a fantastic follow up to a film that that I've loved for sometime.  Is this review a bit biased?  Absolutely, but I'm still going to be as honest and fair as possible.  The acting in this one is great.  Most of the cast returned for this sequel a decade later and bring the same energy that made the first film so damn fun.  Cawthorne carries the film as the metal head turned reluctant hero while Crossman was not in the film as much as the original.  I assume it was due to her rates, scheduling, or something of that nature.  The entire film features some seriously fun acting with no weak links to be seen.  The story for this one is a rehashing of the first film but it still finds a way to mix it up a little.  We have music to summon his dead bandmates only for one of them to steal the pages and then they try to raise an army of the dead to take over the world.  It's equal parts Evil Dead and Stan vs. Evil which I'm here for.  While it does rehash a lot of the original story from the first film, it adds some new things that make it just as fun as the first.  Finally, the film has just as much blood and gore as the first films.  We have some seriously fantastic practical effects and a lot of severed penises, peeni, penis's, whatever the plural of peckers are.  The deaths are a lot of fun and these effects look absolutely amazing.  Overall, Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon is a worthy sequel to a film that I absolutely adore.  Metal, blood, and the undead is all I ever wanted and this movie, along with the original, delivers.  Check it out.  

Tahkhana

Director(s) - Shyam Ramsay (Veerana, Neighbours) and Tulsi Ramsay (Purana Mandir, Telephone)

Starring - Hemant Birje (Smart Killer, Tarzan's Daughter), Kamran Rizvi (Main Hoon Sherni, Din Dahade), and Arti Gupta (Saamri, Haadsaa)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

Format - Blu (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was bitten by the horror bug in middle school and found myself fully embracing the genre by high school.  These years really shaped my taste in horror as I found myself becoming obsessed with no budget and indie productions.  However, as I grow older, I find myself becoming surprised by just how diverse my taste in the genre has become.  Several years back I found  a copy of Mahakaal from Massacre Video.  This movie is known to genre fans as the Indian or Bollywood Freddy Krueger.  I fucking loved it and watched it many times.   This opened me up to more Bollywood horror with companies like Mondo Macabro spearheading this passion.  Sometime ago Mondo Macabro released the Hindi horror double feature with the first film being the 1986 film Tahkhana which was also known as The Dungeon.  I couldn't wait to check it out and like always I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAV for sending this one over.

     The film follows an evil man who dabbles in black magic as he vows to end his family's lineage when his dying father leaves everything to his brother.  He tries to kidnap his niece and nephew but is unable to get them both.  We jump forward several decades and his niece, unaware of her evil uncle, sets out with some friends to investigate a local legend unaware of how close she is to it.

     There is nothing on this planet like Hindi/Bollywood horror and that is something I will stand by the rest of my life.  These movies seem to follow a formula but they are just so much fun especially when compared to their western counterparts.  Tahkhana is another solid and memorable horror outing that is almost as enjoyable as some of the others that I've fell in love with.  The acting in this one is extremely campy in the very best way.  The characters are colorful and very dramatic with the cast doing a wonderful job with their performances.  With that being said, some of the later scenes don't have the energy as the earlier scenes which does take away from the camp. I don't know if everyone was tired or directing was ore laid back but this part of the film just doesn't have what the first two thirds had.  The story for this one is exactly what I would expect from a Hindi horror flick.  We have an evil relative who does black magic, a collective of colorful characters and that wonderful 80s flare.  We do have some pacing issues and the ending not being as energized as the rest of the film but it's still very enjoyable as it is.  Finally, I love the make-up in this one.  The kills have some of the red stuff an simple practical effects but the make-up for the evil uncle just looks awesome. Overall, Tahkhana is great entry in a severally underrated regional genre that many horror fans will never experience.  I highly recommend this film and this release from Mondo Macabro.  Check it out.  

Hantu Ambulance

Director - Nayato Fio Nuala (After School Horror 2, Horror House)

Starring - Suzzanna (White Crocodile Queen, Santet 2), William Alvin, and Dimaz Andrean (Setannya Cuan, El: The Movie)

Release Date - 2008

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Suzzanna returns"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a fan of early 2000s horror.  I was in high school in the early 2000s and this was the time I really found myself becoming obsessed with the genre.  It was during these years that my movie collection grew substantially.  After snagging some must own genre titles, I quickly took a deep dive into indie and no budget cinema.   Companies like Midnight Release, Tempe Video, and so on were my go to.  I never expected that I would be reviewing a late 2000's Indonesian no budget horror film that found it's way into a boxset from my friends over at Severin.  The final film in the Suzzanna: Empress of Darkness is the 2008 supernatural tale Hantu Ambulance.  I want to take a moment and thank Severin for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows a young man who is moving away from his family home to be closer to school.  His grandmother tries to talk him out of it but he is unwilling to listen but soon learns that his family is cursed.  His grandmother made a deal wit ha benevolent force for fortunes if she provides it with a sacrifice.  She did not keep up with her end of the bargain and now it is taking her family from her one by one.

     I had no idea what to expect when I tossed this one in.  I knew it was a newer film but it wasn't until I was putting the review together that I learned that it was Suzzanna's last film and her first feature film in almost 20 years after taking a hiatus to deal with health issues.  Sadly. this is easily the worst film in the set and one that I struggled to finish.  The acting in this one is very awkward.  The Bollywood style camp and cheese that made the first three films in the set so fun are now replaced with a more serious tone.  Most of the cast lacks on screen experience which makes a lot of these "serious" scenes feel a bit awkward.  The cast really tries to get into their roles but the lack of experience and emptions makes many of the scenes unintentionally funny.  The story for this one uses the severely underrated generational curse lore that I've been fortunate enough to read in several novels and stories through the years but rarely see as the focus of film.  This would have works in a J-Horror style film if they didn't toss in the random ambulance storyline with some of the random encounters that take place.  It feels as if the story was never finished and the filmmakers used what resources they had with the little budget left to piece something together.  I seriously wanted to like this story but it's missing so much.  Finally, the film tries to offer some jump scares but they never work and the practical effects that you would expect from a film featuring Suzzanna are nowhere to be found.  The movie doesn't give us the death scenes we would like and the effects we do get are forgettable.  Overall, Hantu Ambulance is a missed opportunity all around from the acting and story to the death scenes.  I sincerely hate that this is the last film Suzzanna appeared in because it's difficult to finish.  I hate to say it but I would skip this one.  

Pact with the Forces of Darkness

Director - Sisworo Guatama Putra (Satan's Slave, Wolf)

Starring - Suzzanna (The Earth Gets Hotter, White Crocodile Queen), Elly Ermawati (Saur Sepuh: Satria Madangkara, Saur Sepuh 2: Pesanggrahan Keramat), and Piet Pagau (Revenge of the Ninja, Deadly Angels Strike Back)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Horror

Format - Blu (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years back I was sent the 1982 Indonesian horror flick Satan's Slave from Vinegar Syndrome for review.  I had never seen it prior to that but it was a film I instantly fell in love with.  It's a movie that I've watched several times since then and I can see myself revisiting it again in the near future.  This unforgettable film was directed by Sisworo Guatama Putra who also helmed several other genre flicks.  Sometime back I was sent the Suzzanna: Empress of Darkness from my friends over at Severin Films.  When  I opened it up to watch the first film in the set, Pact with the Forces of Darkness from 1991, I noticed that Putra directed this one as well.  I couldn't wait to dig into this one and like always I want to thank Severin for sending this one over.

     The film with begins with a family preparing for the night when their home is invaded by goons who slaughters everyone before leaving.  The mother, with her dying breath, makes a pact with a demon to get revenge on those that slaughtered her family.  

     I went into this one completely blind and found myself enjoying this one.  It was unintentionally funny at times and the nod to Freddy Krueger was fun even though it did feel cheap.  I can see why this one doesn't get the international notoriety as Putra's other films but it ws fun.  The acting in this one was surprisingly well done.  A lot of the cast had very little, if any, acting credits prior to filming this one yet they all did pretty damn good.  The characters are fairly flat, even for a horror film, but the cast does a solid job with what was written for them.  The story for this one is nothing we haven't seen in horror before, especially by the time this one rolled around in the early 90s.  We have someone who kills off his opposition only for one of them to make a deal with a demon on their deathbed to get revenge.  I've seen similar stories in action, thrillers, and even sci-fi features but none had the Indonesian spin that these had.  Honestly, I enjoyed it.  It's not the most original film but the pacing works.  I may not revisit this one anytime soon but the story works for a first time watch.  Finally, this one doesn't shy away from the deaths but they are not that fun or memorable.  The effects are minimal and work for the gag but are nothing that stands out.  Overall, Pact with the Forces of Darkness is a solid entry in the world of Indonesian horror but it's not as fun or memorable as other films from Putra.  Check it out.  

Violent New Breed

Director - Todd Sheets (Bloodthirsty Cannibal Demons, Zombie Bloodbath)

Starring - Mark Glover (Lady Street Fighter, Zombie Bloodbath 2), Nick Stodden (Clownado, Vampire Holocaust), Rebecca Rose (Slave Farm, Maid Service)

Release Date - 1997

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "A brutal look at the future... like you've NEVER seen it!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Genre fans often bash 90s horror and I see why.  The 90s saw a lot of shitty horror films hit video store shelves but I'll be damned if there wasn't some serious heavy hitters release in the 90s.  We have Army of Darkness, Children of the Night, Savini's Night of the Living Dead, Scream, Nightbreed, and Candyman just to name a few.  The 90s, just like every decade, has the good and the bad and I feel that it is truly unfair to say it's the worst decade for horror.  The 90s was also the decade in which we saw more no budget films due to the rise in technology and lower cost of older obsolete technology from previous years.  I've seen a lot of indie and no budget features from the 90s that absolutely fucking rocked.  I've also seen a bunch that were difficult to finish. A few weeks back I received the press release from Visual Vengeance for their blu release of the 1997 horror crime flick Violent New Breed.  This was a Todd Sheets film I was unfamiliar with and I had to remedy that.  I reached out to Visual Vengeance and they sent me over to MVD who were kind enough to send a copy over for review.

     The film follows two shitty cops who are forced with tracking down a new drug that is wiping out the streets.  They expect to find an underground kingpin or a conspiracy of international drug lords but what they find is that the drugs are being manufactured by a group of demons who are using the drug the create a "new breed" that the anti-Christ will control.  To make matters even worse, one of them has his wife and daughter kidnapped by the new breed forcing the pair to go deep into their underground lair to stop them and the anti-Christ.

     Todd Sheets is a filmmaker I truly respect.  This mother fucker has been writing and directing movies since the mid 80s and hasn't really slowed down with his most recent film having been released in 2023.  That is one hell of a career and Violent New Breed is one of his films that I actually enjoyed.  His movies can be hit or miss with me but this one was fun for the most part.  The acting in this one leaves a lot to be desired.  I had saying that, especially about an indie film, but the acting in this one is a bit rough.  The try their best in a lot of the scenes but inexperience is obvious for most of the cast.  This creates some forced dialogue delivery and emotions that just don't fit the scene.  The story for this one borrows from several classic 80s films and I'm damn sure it inspired a movie that I reviewed not too long ago.  We follow a pair of cops tasked with stopping the spread of a new drug (Robocop anyone?) while a demon brings about the end of the world.  If you swap the demons out for a group hellbent on taking over the city then you would have Robocop all over again.  With that being said, it was still fun even though it was very predictable.  I like the characters and how they related to the story.  I also liked the anti-Christ angle even though I fell like it wasn't fully explored.  I would have loved to see more time spent on that angle.  Finally, we have some make-up effects that look great and a few scenes with some solid effects but the deaths are not that enjoyable.  They fit the film very well but are not that original as I had hoped.  Overall, Violent New Breed is a fun horror crime flick with drugs, demons, and a little blasphemy tossed in for good measure.  It is a movie that struggles in some areas but still finds a way to work.  Check it out on blu from Visual Vengeance.  You will not be disappointed.  

Mulva: Demon Ass Kicker

Director - Chris Seaver (Anal Paprika, SexSquatch)

Starring - Deana Naja (Screamwalkers, Victim No More), Katie Keating (Indiana Jones and the Legend of Bimini, Wellsville Nights), and Jason McCall (The Bleu Cheese Brothers, The Weirdsies)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "You gotta kill for your right to party!"

Format - Streaming (The B Stream)

Rating (out of 5):

       I don't know what I can say about Chris Seaver and his films that I haven't already said in previous review.  I've reviewed a lot of his movies over the years and really enjoyed most of them.  Hell, I still have fun with the few that I don't like.  His movies really is an experience that I recommend to anyone that grew up in the 80s or has the sense of humor of a teenager.  Sometime back I was surprised to learn that Seaver had wrapped on a sequel in 2023 to one of his earlier films.  The movie, Mulva: Demon Ass Kicker, was getting released through Makeflix but they seemed to be dragging their feet on it.  I started keeping an eye on Seaver's Instagram account and noted when the film was released.  At the time I wasn't able to snag a copy but kept an up with it until I could.  However, during that time the movie hit some streaming services and I was able to check it out on The B Stream.  I want to thank The B Stream for sending me a promo code so I could check them out!

     Mulva: Demon Ass Kicker follows Mulva (Naja) who is about to celebrate her birthday when she suspects that her friends are doing something special for her.  When she presses them further she learns that they are planning a Halloween party.  As she prepares for the party, two people she accidentally offended previously sets out to sabotage her.  They use an ancient book to summon a trio of sex demons who they promise can rape and kill everyone at the party.  However, that is no easy task when Mulva puts on her ass kicking boots.

     The first two Mulva films are not for everyone.  Hell, Demon Ass Kicker will not be for everyone but it's worth noting that the first two films and this one are very different in regards to look.  Seaver's films are known for making the best out of nothing.  His no budget films are meant for those that have fun with movies without needing the big budgets for effects and polish.  Not having a budget is why he masks everything with humor.  However, this sequel is leagues above the first two and may be one of my favorite films of his only second to The Weirdsies.  It was a lot of fun and easily one of the better shot films to come out of the Warlock Home Video camp.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun which is the first thing I expect from a Low Budget Pictures/Warlock Home Video/Midnight Kids Productions.  The characters always have a lot of energy and deliver some hilarious dialogue.  We have a lot of returning faces and the cast is always fun to watch regardless if they are brand new or genre legends with decades under their belts.  While on that same topic, Debbie Rochon who portrayed Mulva in the first sequel appears in the film as a different character.  She was solid as Mulva but I really enjoyed her more in her role here.  She has a lot of experience in front of the camera and easily slips into the style of characters Seaver is known for.  The story for this one is pure Warlock Home Video.  We have more sexual innuendos than you can shake your dick at while keeping the essence of Mulva there.  The sugar addicted surprisingly badass Mulva character still has all the quirky things that made her so memorable early on in Seaver's career while bringing in the trends that many of his fan has seen in his work over the last 10 or 15 years.  The set up for the story is not really that creative or imaginative but it's the characters, humor, and what happens once the party starts that makes the journey worth it.  Finally, the film has surprisingly better effects than almost every other film I've seen from Seaver.  While it's not a gory flick, the monster cocks and the gags associated with it look great.  The kills may not be the most brutal but they fit the film and are very memorable.  Overall, Mulva: Demon Ass Kicker is so much fucking fun especially if you have the mind of a teenager with a nudie mag hidden under your bed.  I know most of the horror community will turn their nose up to it but those of us not high on our own farts will truly appreciate the humor.  I highly recommend this one.  

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.  

Purana Mandir

Director(s) - Shyam Ramsay (Veerana, Inspector Dhanush) and Tulsi Ramsay (Tahkhana, Mahakaal)

Starring - Mohnish (Itihaas, Henna), Arti Gupta (Saamri, Tajurba), and Puneet Issar (Superman, Haar Jeet)

Release Date - 1984

Genre - Horror/Musical

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      When I started writing reviews back around 2010 I never expected to find myself watching the movies that I do.  I've always loved horror but when I started writing I wanted to cover long forgotten action and exploitation flicks.  My original blog and the idea behind it was to chase down any direct to video action flicks from the late 80s and early 90s along with any dime a dozen exploitation film I could find.  However, my love of horror quickly took over and before long I was diving deep into my beloved genre.  Over the years I've learned that Bollywood, or Hindi horror, is a sub-genre that I really like.  I had seen these films pop up in random message boards and horror groups over the years but never took the time to check them out until just a few years ago.  Now, I fucking love them and will go out of my way to check them out.  A few weeks back my friends over at Mondo Macabro sent me the 1984 Hindi horror film Purana Mandir on blu for review.  Like always, I want to take a moment to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.  

     The film follows a wealthy family who has a curse placed on them by a devil worshipper.  Every woman in the line will die during childbirth.  We pick up sometime after the original curse with a man who lost his wife during childbirth and his daughter has grown up.  She is now a college student and is dating someone that is not of nobility.  Her father eventually tells her of the curse but she brushes it off and starts looking into the lineage of her father and the evil devil worshipper.  Through her research she finds his head but mistakes it for a valued solider unleashing his evil spirit.

      I've only reviewed a handful of these Hindi horror films so far but I have yet to find one I didn't like.  They are all so much fun but that doesn't make them all equal.  Some of these are much better than others with this one being the weakest of the others that I had seen.  It's a great movie but it does have it's faults.  The acting in this one is exactly like I expected.  The cast has a lot of energy and brings a lot of charisma to the front of the camera.  With that being said, a lot of the characters, even though they were fun to watch, are rather one dimensional.  This isn't so much the cast's fault but it doesn't really give them a lot to work with.  The story for this one is great but does have similarities to other Bollywood horror films that I've reviewed recently.  We have a family cursed by a supernatural presence and we follow a demon of sorts as it kills people.  It's not the most original story regardless of where it was made but once you dress it up with the Bollywood musical numbers and colorful characters then you get something you will never forget.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody and gory one.  We do have some blood and some rather forgettable make-up effects but that is about the extent of it.  Bollywood isn't really known for their memorable deaths and this one fits into that one as well.  Overall, Purana Mandir is not the most memorable Bollywood horror flick but it's not a bad one either.  It's a lot of fun and one you can rewatch several times without getting sick of it.  I highly recommend checking it out from Mondo Macabro.  

Veerana

Director(s) - Shyam Ramsay (Hotel, Purana Mandir) and Tulsi Ramsay (Saboot, Tahkhana)

Starring - Jasmin (Divorce, Sarkari Mehman), Hemant Birje (Adventures of Tarzan, Kabrastan), and Sahila Chaddha (Sau Saal Baad, Naaasamajh)

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Sex, blood, and hairy monsters in a feast of Bollywood horror!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few years back I was introduced to Bollywood horror by Mondo Macabro and Massacre Video.  I've always been open to international titles but a lot of my time was spent on Italian giallo and Japanese splatter.  It wasn't until I watched Mahakaal, or the Bollywood Freddy Krueger, that I knew I had been missing out.  Since then I had snagged the Bollywood collection from Mondo Macabro and watched several of the ones I could find on streaming.  These are truly unique films that I can't put into words how amazing they truly are.  A few weeks back I was sent a few new releases from Mondo Macabro to review.  Among those films was the 1988 Bollywood horror film Verrana.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over!

     The film follows a young woman who is possessed by the soul of an evil witch that was killed after draining the blood from several locals.  

     I knew nothing about Veerana before I tossed it in but I knew if it was half as fun as Mahakaal then it would be worth it.  This movie did not disappoint.  From the musical numbers, to the effects, and even the humor I was not expecting, delivers.  I really enjoyed this one and can see myself revisiting it a few more times before the year is over.  The acting in this one is inconsistent but not bad.  We have some serious performances that are extremely serious and make the horror aspects of the film feel really creepy.  On the other side, we have some extremely campy and comical acting that I was completely expecting.  It was performances like this that made me fall in love with Bollywood horror especially with the horror releases from the 80s.  The story for this one is a bit more bold than the other Bollywood horror films that I've previously seen.  It's not overly complicated but it does have a lot going on at times.  We have an evil witch, a cult, a possessed woman, a complex family subplot that I never fully understood, and some laughs that almost feel out of place but was still very enjoyable  I really like this mix, especially with the typical Bollywood musical numbers, but I would have liked to see a bit more of a straight forward story with a little more emphasis on the cult.  Finally, the film has some great make-up effects and some beautiful sets.  I loved the look of the witch and the scenes when the was possessed.  The make up effects are great and really stand out with the film.  I would have loved some memorable gore but I knew I wasn't getting that going into it.  Overall, Veerana is a must see for Bollywood horror fans.  I may not be adding this to my October rotation but I can see myself revisiting this one a few more times.  I highly recommend it.  

Erotic Ghost Story III

Director - Kai-Ming Lai (Daughter of Darkness, Ghost House)

Starring - Pauline Chan (Hunting Evil Spirit, Spider Force), Tak-Bun Wong (Hard Boiled, Mystery Files), and Shing Fui-On (Queen of the Underworld, Fist of Fury 1991)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm deep into it now.  Four films out of the six in the Supernatural Shockers box set from Shout Factory and I have to admit that I'm glad I bought it.  The films are nothing like I was expecting but I am having a lot of fun with them especially the Erotic Ghost Story films.  After watching the first two films I took a look at the box and realized that there was a third Erotic Ghost Story in the set that needed to be immediately watched which is exactly what I did!

     The film follows a young man who has an assigned marriage that he does not want.  He flees from his home and seeks refuge in some old ruins with his bride to be chasing him.  The pair is soon swept into the afterlife where they are used a pawns to kill other gods so one can take control of Earth.

     I went into Erotic Ghost Story III with the same mindset that I went into the other two films with and I have to say that it continues the nudie mayhem that the first two films had but it doesn't go the same distance.  The film has the same wild story, beautiful women, and fun action scenes but it goes full softcore flick instead of a sexploitation comedy.  It was still fun but nowhere near the same level as the first two films.  The acting in this one is consistent with the second film.  The characters are fairly generic and the cast doesn't have an opportunity to act in a traditional sense due to the film's heavy focus on the softcore aspect over story telling.  The story for this one is a more straight forward.  The movie wants the viewers to focus on the nudity which puts the story in the backseat so to speak.  It does offer up a little more supernatural aspects than the previous two films but the comedy is replaced with sleaze.  I love sleaze but it is a bit overdone here and the story suffers because of it.  Finally, the film has a lot of fun sets and locations with some wild make up but those wanting blood will be very disappointed.  Overall, Erotic Ghost Story III is the weakest of the trilogy but still enjoyable especially if you want some late night sleaze.  I wanted to love it but I did like it for what it is.  Check it out.

Erotic Ghost Story II

Director - Peter Ngor (Legendary Couple, The Tragic Fantasy: Tiger of Wanchai)

Starring - Anthony Chau-Sang (The Mad Monk, Lamb Killer), Ichijo Sayuri, and Charine Chan (Happy Ghost 4, Return of the Fox)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     

     I'm three films deep into the Golden Harvest Volume 1: Supernatural Shockers from Shout Factory and I have to admit that I've really enjoyed it this far.  Sure, the first film was a bit of a dull watch but the second and third films were so much fun.  Erotic Ghost Story may have been a very misleading title but that didn't stop me from enjoying it.  This made me really excited about checking out the sequel that was also included in the set!

     The film follows the demon Wu Tang who has now taken another human form and falls for a human female.  She is then murdered by another god.  Lamenting at her death, Wu Tang turns to a village near his lair and forces them to send him a virgin every month and when they don't he sends down his succubus to destroy the village.  

     Erotic Ghost Story II, like most sequels, is not as good as the first film.  The story is all over the place, the characters are nowhere near as memorable, and the nudity is just there with little pertaining to the story itself.  While it may not be as good, it was still a fun watch especially for a first time viewing.  The acting in this one is solid but the characters are not as fun as the previous film.  The film focuses more on the random acts of nudity and sex over the characters and their development.  It's because of this that the cast doesn't have much to work with aside from baring their assets in front of the camera.  The story for this one is all over the place.  It continues the exploits and evil deeds of Wu Tang but that is about the only real connection to the first film.  The nudity happens for no reason with nothing connecting it to the story and we bounce from one thing to the next without really telling a coherent story.  With that being said, the humor and action really finds it's mark.  I probably laughed more at this one than I did the first film.  Finally, the film has a lot of skin and some blood but not enough to satisfy those of you looking for a body count.  Overall, Erotic Ghost Story II fits well in the Supernatural Shockers set. The title is still misleading but it has a lot of skin and some laughs.  It's well worth checking out.

Erotic Ghost Story

Director - Ngai Choi Lam (The Ghost Snatchers, Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky)

Starring - Amy Yip (Stooges in Hong Kong, Robotrix), Hitomi Kudo (Rape &  Rape Special 1, Kyosei Waisetsu Shimai), and So  Man (Erotic Ghost Story II, Ghost Story of Kam Ping Mui)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I ordered the Golden Harvest Volume 1: Supernatural Shockers, I thought I was getting into some sleazy horror flicks.  So far, that has not been the case and I'm not disappointed at all.  In fact, I've really enjoyed myself up to this point.  Granted, this is just the second film in the set but it was way better than the first film and even though it was nothing like I expected, it was still a lot of fun.  While Sex and Zen was a extremely dull, Erotic Ghost Story was more entertaining.  While the nudity was a given, the humor more than made up for the lack of supernatural elements that I was looking for.

     The film follows three fox spirits that have meditated for centuries to shed their fur and walk as a human.  However, they are tricked into following their carnal desires resulting in the three of them following for the same man.  After taking turns with the man for several days, they start to revert back to their fox forms before realizing they were tricked into sleeping with him,

     Erotic Ghost Story is not what I was expecting.  Hell, the title is so misleading that I had to check the disc after watching it to ensure I didn't toss in the wrong movie.  With that being said, I truly enjoyed it and while the title doesn't really represent the film, it fits this set perfectly.  The acting in this one fits the film very well but the "performances" are not memorable for the acting.  The three sisters are gorgeous in their own way and are not afraid to bare it all for the camera.  While Yip has her famous cut away, the other two are not afraid of the camera.  We also get some unexpected fight scenes that are well choreographed.  The cast does a fine job with those as well but the main focus is the nudity which isn't overdone like so many films before and after it  The story for this one reminds me a lot of the Witches of Eastwick but in a much more sleazier fashion.  While I enjoyed and found myself laughing, it does run it's course fairly early.  The nudity does help carry it a bit further but the movie could easily be cut down drastically.  Also, the title is misleading.  The erotic part fits but the three sisters are not ghosts in the traditional sense and calling them that takes away from a huge chunk of the story.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody one.  We do get some fun zombie props and transitions early on in the film but that is about the extent of it.  The focus on this one is the erotic and not the ghost portion of the title.  Overall, Erotic Ghost Story is a fun watch especially if you are wanting some beautiful women and some laughs.  While it doesn't satiate those looking for some horror, it still delivers on the skin and comedy.  Check it out.  

The Convent

Director - Mike Mendez (Killers, Tales of Halloween)

Starring - Joanna Canton (That 70's Show, Brimstone), Richard Trapp (Cradle 2 the Grave, Midgets vs. Mascots), and Dax Miller (Bette, Blood Surf)

Release Date - 2000

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Prayer will get you nowhere"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Mike Mendez is a filmmaker that I know has a serious fan base.  Several genre fans that I've befriended over the years are die hard fans.  While Tales of Halloween was a decent flick and Killers made me laugh, I wouldn't call myself a fan.  He's a talented filmmaker but nothing has really wow'd me.  That changed when I went into this double feature I put together for myself featuring his newest releases from Synapse Films.  Killers was a fun watch but a film that took itself way too seriously.  I followed that up with his 2000 horror flick The Convent.  Once again, I want to thank Synapse Films for sending this one over.  

     The film follows a group of college students that decide to break into an old convent to party it up.  The local legend states a woman several decades before was pregnant and the church forced her to have an abortion because it was the priest's child.  While they explore the property, drink, take drugs, and try to fornicate they inadvertently awaken the evil presence that has laid dormant there for all these years while uncovering the truth about why the convent has become a local legend.

     The Convent seriously surprised me.  The movie is easy to compare to the original Night of the Demons.  It has a similar story but the 80s look and style has been replaced with early 2000's nu metal trends.  Honestly, it was a lot of fun and easily my favorite Mendez film.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent and had me laughing.  Much like Killers, the cast is extremely over the top and very dramatic.  When you mix that with late 90s and early 2000's slang you get some memorable moments but they are not memorable for the right reasons.  Bill Mosley and Coolio deliver what I would consider to be the film's best performances.  The remainder of the cast delivers awkward or unintentionally funny performances that didn't ruin the film but didn't improve it either.  The story for this one is Night of the Demons but for the Limp Bizkit era.  We have a goth girl and a bunch of teenagers/early twenty-somethings who go to a local area with an urban legend attached to it where they accidentally unleash a demonic presence while trying to party and screw.  Honestly, this could have been a small budget remake and it would have still worked.  I loved the story and how it all came full circle.  We get the legend of the place, the real story of what happened, and a rich blending of both stories to give us a story that a lot of movies can't.  I really enjoyed the way it was written and while it does have a good portion of the same story as Night of the Demons, Mendez puts enough of his own spin on it so it doesn't feel like the same film from beginning to end.  Finally, the film has some amazing make-up effects and some gore.  I loved the looked of the possessed and when you mix that with the great looking death scenes and the large amount of blood we get, you have something that sticks with you for days after watching it.  Overall, The Convent was fucking fantastic.  While his other films did not impress me as much as they did other genre fans, it's The Convent that really made me respect Mike Mendez.  Since my initial viewing of the film I've now seen it three times and would love to get in another watch before Halloween.  This is easily my favorite release this year so do yourself a favor and snag Synapse's release.  

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.