Fungicide

Director - Dave Wascavage (Suburban Sasquatch, Adventures of a Haunted House)

Starring - Wes Miller (Suburban Sasquatch), David Weldon (Zombie by Design, Tartarus), and Mary Wascavage (Adventures of a Haunted House, Zombies by Design)

Release Date - 2002

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "You don't pick them, they pick you"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago I bought a 50 movie set of indie, no budget flicks.  Hell, I bought several of these sets because those are the kind of movies that I seriously love.  I couldn't tell you which set it was in but one of them had the 2002 horror comedy Fungicide from Suburban Sasquatch director Dave Wascavage.  I was still in college when I snagged this set and the first time I watched it I was absolutely hammered on confiscated alcohol that I had taken from my residents when I was an RA.  I remembered some kung-fu mushrooms and horrible visual effects but that was about it.  A few weeks back my friends over at Visual Vengeance sent me a copy of the film on blu for review.  Honestly, I was really excited to revisit it because it had been damn near 20 years since my original viewing.  This gave me the perfect excuse to check it out.  Once again I would like to thank Visual Vengeance for sending this one over for review!

      The film follows a wanna be scientist that works in his parent's basement.  His mother thinks he is working too hard and forces him to take a vacation.  In pure bad movie fashion, he takes a test tube full of his experiment fluid where he accidentally spills it in the grass turning the vegetation around his vacation home into mushroom monsters.  

     I'm a fan of the no budget masterpiece Suburban Sasquatch and I know that I had watched Fungicide in the past which made me really excited to check out this blu release.  Sadly, I didn't care for this one.  It has a lot of the elements that made Suburban Sasquatch so much fun but it wasn't able to duplicate the results.  The acting in this one is fun for the kind of film it is.  The cast consists of those with no on screen experience and some with very little experience.  The characters are all over the place ranging from high energy comical characters to more serious characters that feel out of place.  Those that watch enough no budget horror will know exactly what I mean.  The story for this one is a fun mash up of the science run amok, straight to video action of the mid-90s, and little creature features.  I really dig what they were trying to achieve but the film just doesn't have the humor that made Suburban Sasquatch so much fun.  Most of the scenes are dull with the exception of the bonkers fight scenes and random deaths.  Honestly, I wish more time was spent on just one aspect of the story instead of having everything as spread out as it was.  It would have helped with the pacing tremendously.  Finally, the film has some of the worst visual effects I have witnessed and some of the most creative no-budget practical effects I have ever seen.  The film really did use everything they had at their disposal which resulted in some unintentionally funny moments and no so memorable deaths.  A mushroom creature fighting people could have been so much more fun that what it was.  Overall, Fungicide is a movie that I thought I would be fully behind but found myself seriously struggling to finish it.  I hate writing a negative review for a movie I was sent but I'm just being honest.  I could recommend several other Visual Vengeance films over this title.  

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.  

A Feast at Midnight

Director - Justin Hardy (Strictly Supernatural, Secret History)

Starring - John Hurley, Freddie Findlay (Rasputin, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries), and Sebastian Armesto (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Comedy/Drama

Tagline - "A 500 year old school.  A prehistoric form master.  ...and a 10-year old chef"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A couple weeks ago I received The Eurocrpyt of Christopher Lee Volume 3 from my friends over at Severin Films.  At the time I thought that I had only seen one of the films in the set which actually turned out to be two films when I realized one was using an alternate title.

  Anyway, the one film that I had previously seen in this set was the 1994 family friendly kid's movie A Feast at Midnight.  This was previously released by Severin as part of their Severin Kids line where I bought a copy for my collection.  I liked the film but only watched it the one time before placing it on my shelf to collect dust.  I'm glad it was included in this set which gave me another reason to revisit it

**Spoiler Alert**     The film follows a young boy who is sent to a boarding school where he is immediately ostracized and mocked.  He is unable to make friends until he decides to turn his love of cooking into a late night meeting for his classmates.  He slowly starts building friendships with his class and the school nurse while sneaking around from the dean, an angry teacher, and a cook who refuses to let students in his kitchen. **Spoiler Alert**

     There is a lot to unpack with this movie but I honestly love it.  The artwork infuriates me but I get why it looks like that and the title is dumb but, once again, it fits the film.  I know many genre fans are going to be disappointed in it but I absolutely loved it.  

The acting in this one is great.  Christopher Lee once again gives us a larger than life character that I really enjoyed watching.  He really got into the role and made it his own.  The main cast consists of young boys with very little, if any, experience.  Yet, they were able to do a fantastic job together.  They made the film as fun as it was and it's a damn shame that many of them did not continue their careers in acting.  

The story for this one is not what I was expecting the first time I saw it.  The artwork and title makes you think that Christopher Lee is a monster snatching up students at night.  However, the artwork is referencing his nickname that the students call him behind his back while the title is obviously referencing the young boy's love of cooking for his classmates at night.  It's a family friendly story that I found to be very entertaining and still holds up after the second viewing.  

Finally, don't expect a film with a lot of effects and fun deaths.  This is a no budget kids film so we don't have any effects to enjoy.  Overall, A Feast at Midnight is not going to be the kind of film that many genre fans are going to love but I found myself having a lot of fun with it.  It's an amazing performance from Lee with the rest of the cast delivering unforgettable performances.  I highly recommend this one even if you don't have children.  

     

Faces

Director - Juan Ignacio Galvan (El Embarazado)

Starring - Carmen Sevilla (The Devil's Cross, The Glass Ceiling), Juan Pardo (Escala en Hi-Fi, Dias de Viejo Color), and Barbara Rey (The Night of the Sorcerers, The Ghost Galleon)

Release Date - 1978

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      I've been reviewing these movies in this Exorcismo set for what feels like weeks now and it's been a wild ride to say the least.  Some of these films were a lot of fun while others were a bit difficult to finish.  I didn't mind the negative ones because these films were pioneering for Spanish cinema after the death of Franco.  As I work through the last leg of the set I find myself about to watch the 1978 horror film Rostros, or Faces, from filmmaker Juan Ignacio Galvan.  I was unaware that Faces was the film Rostros but I had seen the original poster for this one in the Upcoming Horror Movies message boards many years ago.  I never had a chance to see it or knew the alternate title was Faces but once I realized it was the same film I was excited to check it out.

     The film follows a struggle artist who has mad a career out of sculptures.  However, he has worked so many faceless sculptures that he now struggles seeing the faces of the people around him.  This changes while on a flight when he encounters a woman of unimaginable beauty.  He becomes infatuated with her and tries to pursue her but the closer he gets to her the weirder things are as their lives are turned upside by a strange woman in white.

     Faces is nothing like I expected.  Honestly, I liked the basis for the story but the unlikable characters and poor pacing made this one extremely mediocre.  I can see why it would be included in the set and why it was mentioned on the UHM message boards back then but this one was not for me.  The acting in this one isn't bad.  In fact, it's pretty well done by most of the cast.  The cast really gets into their roles and the characters are written very well for the story.  Sadly, the characters are not that likable and the decent performances are lost to the scene.  The story for this one is very interesting when you look at the film as a whole but it's execution, similar to other films in the set, doesn't reach it's full potential.  The sculptor lost to his own creations only to find obsession with a random woman is poetic.  You then have the voodoo aspect tossed in that adds some layer to the story but is not fully explored like I had hoped.  With that being said, the story doesn't really want to commit to any aspect of the story.  We bounce around from theme to theme without dedication to any of it.  Personally, I wish it would have fully embraced the voodoo aspect and gave us a chilling folk horror tale about the artist and his love interest.  Finally, this one doesn't really have a body count or a gore.  It's a character driven piece with a story that is meant to hold the viewer's attention.  Fans of the red stuff will be very disappointed with this one.  Overall, Faces has a story that was pretty fucking clever and surprised me with the little voodoo angle but it couldn't put it all together into something enjoyable.  I seriously wanted to like it but couldn't.  

Far From the Trees

Director - Jacinto Esteva (Metamorfosis, Le Fils de Marie)

Starring - Manuel Cano (Law of Desire, Cake of Blood), Marta Mejias (Centro Medico, Sexperiencias), and Antonio Gades (Blood Wedding, Bewitched Love)

Release Date - 1972

Genre - Documentary

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's wild how many documentaries I've been able to review recently and most of them have been thanks to Severin Films.  Near the end of last year they sent me The Ghost of Peter Sellers and The Mancunian Man: The Legendary Life of Cliff Twemlow.  Then I was sent over the documentary The Last Sacrifice from Shudder before I was sent the box set Exorcismo from Severin.  This set features several genre titles along with a couple documentaries.  I decided to start the set with Exorcismo from 2024 before moving on to the 1972 doc. Far from the Trees from Spanish filmmaker Jacinto Esteva.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film explores the rituals and folklore surrounding death in Spain in often secluded areas that has not developed like the more populated areas.  

     I went into this one completely blind and was confused by what I was watching.  I didn't realize it was supposed to be a documentary until I was well into the film and I have no been able to find much on the making of this one.  From what I can find is that this was made by piecing together old black and white footage from various recordings to create what some would consider to be an insightful yet disturbing look into folk customs and long forgotten superstitions.  While it was wild to see some of this stuff, years of reviewing horror and true crime documentaries has left me somewhat desensitized to the topics of death.  This documentary is not a documentary in a traditional sense.  We do not have interviews from experts that studied these customs nor do we have interviews from those that participated.  Instead, we have footage crudely pieced together to create a a look into something that most of the world is unaware of.  Overall, Far From the Trees is not going to be for everyone.  Hell, I didn't enjoy it myself but those that dig darker documentaries may enjoy it.  It is rough around the edges and dull through most of it but it does have it's moments.  

Five Nights at Freddy's 2

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

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

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "You there?"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

Forbidden Game of Love

Director - Eloy de la Iglesia (The Priest, Confessions of a Congressman)

Starring - Javier Escriva (Brigada Central, Obscene Desire), John Moulder-Brown (The Devil in the Fog, Miss Marple: Sleeping Murder), and Inma de Santis (Sonatas, Estudio 1)

Release Date - 1975

Genre - Drama/Thriller

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm going to have my hands full with Spanish cinema the next few weeks thanks to some of my favorite boutique labels and I'm really excited for the opportunity to check these out!  Not only has my friends over at Severin Films released a fantastic box set of late 60s and early 70s cinema from Spain but my friends over at Mondo Macabro has released a trio of Spanish horror and thrillers from area and era.  I just watched and reviewed Mondo Macabro's release of I Hate My Body and decided to follow it up with their second release of the the three which is the 1975 dramatic thriller Forbidden Game of Love.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over!

     The film follows a young couple who are hitchhiking after classes when their wealthy professor picks them up.  He takes them back to his home where he puts them up for the night.  The following day they try to leave and he refuses to let them go.  He then offers them a proposal.  He will provide them with everything they need or want if they promise never to leave.  They refuse at first but he has his servant force them to stay.  Overtime, the two start to succumb to his torture and brainwashing.

     I'm not well versed on the history of Spain but from what I can gather was that Spain was under fascist rule until the mid-70s.  This time, known as Francoist Spain, saw heavy censorship with a lot of the more bold and boundary pushing films getting censored.  That is one of the many reasons I'm excited to see these films from the time.  Forbidden Game of Love is not the wildest or craziest film I've seen but I can only imagine how a conservative government would lose their mind over it.  The acting in this one is very well done.  The cast works very well together and bring to life some fantastic characters with their performances.  Honestly, I really enjoyed the cast and how each character interacted with one another.  It made the film for me.  The story for this one is not as wild as I was expecting but that be due to years of sexploitation has desensitized me.  We follow a wealthy man and his rather timid associate/servant as they "torture" and brainwash a young couple.  It's nothing that brutal or extreme by any standards but it's a solid watch especially with the acting we have.  Finally, the film has some skin but don't expect it to be a bloody affair like you would expect from most of the films I review.  The film is very story rich and character driven.  Overall, Forbidden Game of Love is the kind of film that I would never have the chance to enjoy if it wasn't for companies like Mondo Macabro.  It's a wild film that may seem tame by today's standards but did get some knickers in a twist at the time, so to speak.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  

Forgive Us All

Director - Jordana Scott (Twisted)

Starring - Lily Sullivan (Evil Dead Rise, Lunacy), Callan Mulvey (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Children of the Corn), and Richard Roxburgh (Van Helsing, The League of Extraordinary Gentleman)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Redemption in a world gone dark"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've went through a zombie phase this year after spending a few years actively avoiding them unless they were sent to me for review.  I absolutely loved The Walking Dead comics when I was in high school and the show when it was released when I was in college.  Sadly, the show became so popular that it spawned so many piss poor clones and shitty zombie flicks.  Zombies had invaded store shelves and they all lacked originality and fun that made the sub-genre so entertaining in the first place.  I decided to dive back into zombies this year and binged the entire Walking Dead series along with most of the spin-off series.  Since then I've watched a dozen or so more zombie flicks and keep looking for more.  I think enough time has passed since The Walking Dead hype initially started and the sub-genre is back to being more original and creative.  A few weeks back I received a press release for the zombie flick Forgive Us All and I had to see it.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send over a link for review.

     The film follows a young woman trying to survive deep in the woods after a virus has wiped out most of the population.  Those that did not die after becoming infected has turned into flesh eating madmen.  Her survival is put into question she finds an unconscious man who is being hunted by an organization that tries to enforce rule on those that are not infected.  

     Forgive Us All looked like a solid end of the world zombie flick starring Lily Sullivan who won many of us genre fans over with her performance in Evil Dead Rise.  Sadly, this was not the case and the movie was difficult to finish.  The acting in this one was decent for the most part.  Sullivan does a solid job for the most part but a lot of the scenes without dialogue from her was a little awkward to watch.  Her blank stare and emotionless demeanor is a bit odd to watch and makes the scenes feel very awkward to watch.  The star of the film for me was Richard Roxburgh.  His performance was fantastic but his character was underutilized.  I would have loved to see more of his character so we could watch him ham up the scenes.  The supporting cast is hit or miss.  Some do a decent job while others feel more forced or overdramatic.  The story for this one is could be trimmed down into a 20 minute short which would have worked in the movie's favor.  The movie itself focuses way too much time reminding the viewer that the film's protagonist lost her daughter and is living a simple life in the woods.  The remainder of the film is spent with her butting heads with the older man, presumably her father, over the man she found.  A lot could be cut from this one which would fix the pacing tremendously.  Also, the film is about a world ravaged by infected killing those that are healthy but we get very little of this.  Hell, most of this is shown in flashbacks and those are few and far in between.  Finally, the film isn't a graphic one.  We get some blood and some make-up effects but nothing that would stand out to genre fans.  Overall, Forgive Us All sounds more like an apology from the crew behind the film than an actual title.  The movie is extremely slow paced, uneventful, and very lackluster.  The artwork I was sent does very little to represent the film properly and is easily one of the weakest zombie films I have ever seen.  Skip it.  

Firestar: First Contact

Director - David Kent-Watson (The Eye of Satan, Lethal Impact)

Starring - Cliff Twemlow (G.B.H., Tuxedo Warrior), Charles Gray (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Paper Man), and John Wyman (Revenge of the Pink Panther, The Fourth Arm)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Sci-Fi

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've seen a lot of "action" flicks that was lacking action and one thriller that was surprisingly fun.  However, I was not expecting to see a sci-fi flick as I make my way near the last few films in the Bloody Legend: The Cliff Twemlow Collection. I thought Firestar was going to be an action flick centered around some sort of military plot but it wasn't until I was putting the disc in that I realized I had missed the First Contact portion of the title.  This actually made me very excited to check it out.  I knew it wasn't going to be a new favorite but it was nice to take a step away from the action flicks.

     The film follows a space crew that finds themselves in trouble after they destroy an alien spacecraft.  They are the first in the history of mankind to come in contact with intelligent life while traveling the solar system and decide to blow them up instead of peace negotiations.  Those on the crew is then tasked to return to the place where they destroyed the craft to collect the debris but on the trip home they find out their vessel has been breached by a creature of unknown origin.  

     Firestar: First Contact is probably the most ambitious of the films in this set.  It has a lot of promise even though it borrows heavily from the classic sci-fi horror film Alien.  Sadly, the same issues from the other films plagued this one resulting in another film that looks good on paper but is difficult to finish.  The acting in this one is a little better than The Assassinator but that's not saying much.  The characters are generic, the cast struggles with their volume control, and almost all the scenes lack emotional depth.  The story for this one does play off of Alien for the basis but it features a lot of sci-fi drama that was quick to remind me of early Star Trek episodes.  We have a lot of drama, a huge sci-fi set up, yet the film struggles to gain traction.  It's almost as if it was written to be a short and somewhere through production they decided to film some filler scenes to bloat the runtime.  Finally, this film does have some blood, a decent looking creature costume, and some wild visual effects that are laughable at best.  While it's not the most gruesome film in the set, it does offer up the most blood and effects for fans of that sort of thing.  Overall, Firestar: First Contact is one of the most ambitious and bold entries in this box set.  While I did like some of it, the film still fell flat.  If you cut about 30 or 40 minutes of the film's runtime and left most of the last leg of the film intact then you would have something a bit more enjoyable.  However, as it is this is one I have to recommend skipping unless you dig this kind of thing like I do.  

Father of the Year

Director - Chuck Conry (Arbor Day, Screwdriver)

Starring - Ethan Bouldin (Chickens Blood, Morbid), Chuck Conry, Richard Garza 

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Divorce is really tough on the kids"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago I befriended professional wrestler and horror journalist Chuck Conry.  I was new to the writing scene and he offered me a lot of advice and answered a lot of questions for me early on in my career.  I was friends with him for several years before I realized that he was the filmmaker behind Morbid.  Since reviewing the Wild Eye release of Morbid, I've reviewed every film Conry has directed and a few that he worked on.  We seem to have similar tastes in film and his films tend to reflect that.  I enjoy his work and when he asked me to review Father of the year, originally titled Decapitate the Children, I quickly said yes.  I want to thank Chuck for sending this one over!

     The story for this one follows recently divorced Jewel (Bouldin) who finds himself taking care of his three.  He has reservations about being the boys legitimate father and often tells them how he feels about the ordeal.  They are forced to move into a new home following the divorce and here he finds a cassette with something recorded on it.  He decides to listen to it while drinking and awakens the next morning with one of his children dead in the dryer.  He has the remaining children hide the body but when more and more people around him turn up missing, he suspects something is wrong.  Is the house haunted, is he getting drunk and blacking out causing these disappearances, or is he just a bad person?  

     I went into Father of the Year like I did with every other film from Conry.  I was excited to see the newest Tennesseeploitation flick and what kind of story we were getting.  However, I was quick to notice that this one wasn't like other films from him.  It seemed to mostly take place in a house with Bouldin in what appeared to be wrestling mode.  I did laugh a few times but couldn't get into this one at all.  The acting in this one left some room for improvement.  The characters are all bold and memorable with the cast really getting into their roles.  However, the dialogue delivery was extremely awkward for most of the film especially Ethan Bouldin's performance.  Most of his dialogue delivery felt like he was cutting a wrestling promo.  He was very intense and overdramatic for most of the film, yet, his performance is probably the most memorable.  The story for this one blends in some supernatural with psychological horror which could have been more effective if the dialogue wasn't so outlandish.  The set up for the film and general plot outline works but the racist banter and humor surrounding the dialogue delivery contradicts the film's plot.  The humor and serious tone often clashes leaving the viewer wondering what is exactly happening.  The film could have worked if it would have chose one path to follow.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody one.  We do have some make-up effects but those of you looking for blood and gore will be very disappointed.  Overall, Father of the Year just wasn't for me.  The story that we have didn't need humor and the laughs I had I'm sure were unintentional.  I seriously wanted to like this one but it wasn't for me.  

Fatal Desires

Director - Sean Donohue (Naked Cannibal Campers, Swamp Woman)

Starring - D'Andre Noire (Psycho Science, The Legend of Skunk Ape), Alyss Winkler (Space Babes from Outer Space, Curse of the Weredeer), and Jessa Jupiter Flux (Murdercise, Debbie Does Demons)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Thriller

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love the time in which I grew up.  While the late 60s and early 70s exploitation and drive-in era is my favorite time for cinema, I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the films from when I was growing up.  Being boring in the 80s and raised in the 90s really gave me a chance to see some outstanding films.  I was lucky enough to live through the VHS age along with the 90s cable "box" boom that many of us have lovingly called Skinemax.  Premium channels would often get movies after their theatrical run but before they hit home video.  This was an awesome way to quickly see a movie without having to run to theaters.  However, on some of these channels, especially late at night, they would air erotic flicks and shows aimed toward their adult audiences.  Erotic thrillers and women in prison flicks were extremely popular at this time.  I know many of us that knew absolutely nothing about the ways of the world because due to our age would sneak into the living room late at night to get a peak of some skin.  A few months back Sean Donohue announced that he was working on an erotic thriller, similar to those that ran late at night on Skinemax, starring Erin Brown, Jessa Jupiter Flux, and Alyss Winkler.  This was the kind of film I knew GatorBlade would knock out of the park so I quickly said yes when he asked me to check it out!

     The film follows a young couple, Todd (Noire) and Hannah (Winkler), who is struggling with their marriage.  Todd is a professional photographer with a knack for sleeping with his clients.  This has put a strain on their marriage.  Hannah's friend Denice (Brown) suggests that they try a sex therapist in hopes of saving what is left of their marriage.  This is when things start to take a weird turn.  The therapist they hire is a woman that Todd recently hooked up with at his favorite bar and continues to sleep with during their sessions.  As they dive deep into their sessions, Todd finds himself at the center of a murder investigation when he finds one of his clients murdered.  As he tries to figure out what is going on  around him, he soon learns that his therapist has other plans for the two and it doesn't include saving their marriage.

     Fatal Desires was exactly like I thought it would be and I loved it.  It's the perfect tribute to the late night Skinemax flicks I grew up watching while keeping the GatorBlade identity alive.  The film really does feel like the erotic thrillers you could catch late at night during the late 90s and has the hottest cast in the indie scene.  It may not be my favorite GatorBlade flick but it's easily one of Sean's best films to date.  The acting in this one is great with many of my favorite actresses appearing in the film.  Being born in the late 80s and raised in the 90s means I hit my teenage years in the late 90s and early 2000s which was when Misty Mundae was making a name for herself with films like The Infamous Bondage Murders, Duck! The Carbine High Massacre, Satan's School for Lust, and Screaming Dead just to name a few.  I've been a fan of hers for over 20 years and I love seeing her continue to appear in genre titles.  She does a great job in Fatal Desires but I am a bit disappointed in how little she was used.  I would have loved to see her get more screen time.  I'm also a huge fan of Alyss Winkler and Jessa Jupiter Flux.  Both are phenomenal actresses that never disappoint.  They are just as gorgeous as they are talented.  With all that being said, the star of the show is D'Andre Noire who delivers a phenomenal performance.  His character is very grounded and he does a hell of a job bringing him to life.  The story for this one is simple and predictable but you don't watch films like this for a compelling story.  It is a fun story when you mix in the nudity and the great performances from the cast.  Finally, the film does have a little blood and some make-up effects but those wanting some great gore will be very disappointed.  However, if beautiful women showing it all is something you are interested in then this film is for you.  Overall, Fatal Desires is another great flick from indie heavyweight GatorBlade Films.  It's a fantastic flick that has plenty of thrills and skin.  I highly recommend it

Found Footage: The Making of the Patterson Project

Director - Max Tzannes (12 Mill Road, Two Niner)

Starring - Brennan Keel Cook (Take the Night, Snowfall), Chen Tang (Mulan, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and Erika Vetter (Stay Awhile, Only Murders in the Building)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A week or so ago I received the press release for the horror comedy Found Footage: The Making of the Patterson Project.  I'm a huge fan of cryptids and I'm very familiar with the Patterson-Gimlin footage so I was very interested in the film.  I was hesitant about requesting a screener link due to the fact that I typically don't enjoy found footage flicks.  However, after watching the trailer for the film I realized that it wasn't going to be a found footage film.  At least one in the traditional sense.  I'm glad I took the chance because it was a lot of fun and one I was not expecting.

     The film follows a documentary film crew that is following a low budget film crew as they make a found footage horror film inspired by the Patterson-Gimlin Footage.  As the crew moves through securing the miniscule budget, casting mishaps, and location issues, they soon discover that the place they are filming their film is home to a dark presence that is unleashed when they opened the door to the room is was locked in.  Small mishaps grow to disappearances and possession forcing them to fight for their lives.

     Found Footage: The Making of the Patterson Project is not the film I was expecting and I'm honestly grateful for it.  The movie starts out very slow and makes you wonder what the point of it is then it pick up the speed and delivers.  While it will not be making the top of any year end lists, it was still fun for a first time watch.  The acting in this one is great and very consistent.  The characters are not that memorable and are rather cliche but they deliver fantastic performances.  With that being said, the film really needed a comedic character that carried the film especially during the first portion where the film is establishing itself.  The story for this one starts out painfully slow, so much slow that it will deter many from finishing the film.  It's painfully mundane and dull.  However, once the the film hits the last 30 minutes or so it becomes very interesting.   Personally, I would have loved a bit more time spent on the characters so the slow leg of the film wouldn't have been so dull.   Finally, the film has some fun make-up effects and a bigfoot costume that looks better than 90% of the horror films I've seen that features the cryptid.  Sadly, it's not a bloody or violent film so those of us looking for a lot of the red stuff will be very disappointed.  Overall, Found Footage: The Making of the Patterson Project is a decent late act Evil Dead inspired horror flick that kind of misses the mark with the comedy.  While I did enjoy it for what it was, it does fall short in a few categories.  Regardless, it deserves a watch especially if you dig occult horror flicks.  

Fear Street: Prom Queen

Director - Matt Palmer (Calibre, The Gas Man)

Starring - India Fowler (The Strangers: Chapter 1, The Trail), Suzanna Son (Red Rocket, The Idol), ad Fina Strazza (Paper Girls, FBI: Most Wanted)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Drop dead, gorgeous"

Format - Streaming (Netflix)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a product of my childhood.  I had one of the most iconic childhoods and was fortunate enough to live through what I would consider the most radical decades.  I was born in the mid 80s and grew up through the 90s.  I was introduced to Goosebumps by R. L. Stine when I was in third grade.  This opened the door to Christopher Pike, Stephen King, and so on.  However, my love for R. L. Stine never faltered.  I soon sought out his other series like Fear Street, Ghosts of Fear Street and so on.  He was my introduction to horror and I wouldn't be who I am if it wasn't for him.  In 2021 Netflix released the Fear Street trilogy.  The three films released a week apart and instantly became my favorite horror films of recent years.  Sadly, it took a few years before we got another installment.  Hell, I knew the film was coming but I had no idea it was released until I saw people posting about it on Facebook.  I quickly made time to check it out.

     The film takes place in 1988 as the senior class of Shadyside High prepares for their annual prom.  The popular girls in school work together so that their leader, Tiffany (Strazza), wins.  School outcast Lori (Fowler) enters the contest in hopes of winning so she can overshadow her past.  The students, especially Tiffany, often harass her.  Lori's father was murdered and her mother was trialed for the crime but was acquitted.  As time counts down to the crowning, the prom queen candidates are murdered one by one by a masked killer.

     I went into this one thinking about how amazing the original Fear Street trilogy was.  Sadly, this one is no where near as good but it was still worth a watch especially for the kills.  The acting in this one is great.  The characters, though cliched, was very well portrayed.  The dialogue felt natural, the characters pull out the correct emotions from the viewer, and the characters that was meant to be disliked is really unlikable.  While no one performance stands out, the film has an excellent cast.  The story for this one is very predictable.  It has cliched characters with a lot of detail and character development.  However, the film itself is very predictable.  As soon as the murders start you immediately start suspecting who the killer is and as the film progresses it becomes painfully clear who the real killer is.  Don't get me wrong, it's a decent straight forward slasher inspired by 90s slashers but you know what's going to happen before it does.  Finally, the film has several memorable kills with some knockout practical effects.  The kills are very unexpected and deliver a serious amount of blood that I honestly didn't think Netflix had the ball to give us.  The film is worth the watch for the death scenes alone.  Overall, Fear Street: Prom Queen is a film that you can enjoy for the fun kills but the predictable slasher story is not that imaginative or memorable.  I enjoyed it but I know a lot of the genre community will not because I am a little biased.  Fans of the books or R.L. Stine might want to check it out with an open mind.  

Furious

Director(s) - Tim Everitt (The Evil Inside Me, Rats in the Wall) and Tom Sartori

Starring - Simon Rhee (Double Impact, Bad Blood), Arlene Montano (L.A. Streetfighters), and Phillip Rhee (The Kentucky Fried Movie, Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave)

Release Date - 1984

Genre - Actio/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Karate heroes fights aliens for control of the astral plane!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been lucky enough to review several martial arts movies over the years.  Most of them were a lot of fun while others were clearly quick cash grabs.  Over the years I've found that I enjoy the more outlandish and absurd kung fu flicks over the ones that are grounded and centered around crime.  Several weeks back Visual Vengeance announced the blu release of the 1984 martial arts sci-fi flick Furious.  The artwork didn't strike my interest but the synopsis sold me on the film.  I went ahead and preordered it along with Dinosaur Valley Girls and when they arrived I quickly made time for them.

     The film follows Simon (Rhee) who is investigating the death of his sister.  His journey takes him to the city where he uncovers that she was murdered because of an amulet that was split into two pieces and given to them.  If the two halves of the amulet is put together it could mean certain doom for this plane of existence.

     Furious is said to be a cult classic at this point and I can see how it could have been traded around on VHS back in the day.  It had a few funny moments and the story is truly out there but it wasn't one I enjoyed.  Aside from the few laughs, I found myself waiting for it it end.  The acting in this one is consistent but it's laughably bad at times.  I've seen horror movies made with no budget in a teenager's back yard with no acting experience.  I've also seen horror flicks with a budget consisting of millions of dollars.  Both have offered up solid acting.  However, this one was not the best.  In fact, this one features some of the weakest acting I've seen.  The characters are pretty generic especially for a kung fu flick and their personalities are extremely bland.  Also, the sounds they play over the acting during the fight scenes had me cracking up.  I don't know what the thought process was for this decision but it's fucking hilarious when it shouldn't be.  The story for this one really is at home for the early 80s.  It is a solid adventure story with a martial arts twist.  I could see myself really getting into this if it was a straight forward narrative and not a film solely focused on kung fu.  I would have loved the film if it follows the man searching for answers while meeting characters with more depth than the almost dialogue-less film that we have full of fight scenes with funny sound effects.  Finally, the film doesn't really offer up anything in regards to a body count or gore.  Instead, it focuses heavily on the martial arts action which is not as impactful as they intended.  It was funny at first but does run it's course fairly early.  Overall, Furious is a film that I can see why so many people enjoy but was one I didn't enjoy.  It was dull and the laughs it delivered were clearly unintentional.  I seriously wanted to like this one but I couldn't.  Skip it.  

Feed

Director - Brett Leonard (Man-Thing, Highlander: The Source)

Starring - Alex O'Loughlin (Whiteout, Criminal Minds), Patrick Thompson (The Road Killers, Birth of a Warrior), and Gabby Millgate (Babe: Pig in the City, Full Frontal)

Release Date - 2005

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - Can you stomach it?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was an avid horror fan when I was in middle school but it really didn't take hold until I was in high school.  It was at this time that I seriously started collecting.  I was constantly looking for DVDs and VHS to add to my collection and a lot of those horror movies released in the early to mid 2000s are still in my collection to this day.  One movie I purchased all those years ago is the 2005 Brett Leonard film Feed.  I've had the DVD for years but never watched it.  Honestly, I only bought it because it was super cheap and decided to add it to my collection.  Fast forward a few decades and Unearthed Films sends out a press release that they are releasing the film on blu.  It took me a few minutes to realize that I owned the After Dark DVD release of the film and never watched it.  I took a peak at the trailer, something I rarely do, and decided to finally check it out.  A few days after this I received the blu release for review and that's when I decided it was time to finally check it out.  

     The film follows an Interpol detective that works on cyber crimes.  He finds a website catering to women overeating and suspects that the person behind it may be up to more than just fattening up women.  The further he looks into it he uncovers that he also has a site where subscribers can make bets as to when the overfed woman dies.  He goes against his direct orders and continues the case.  He goes as far as to stalk the suspected killer and his wife and learns that much more is going on than he originally suspected.

     I went into Feed knowing as much as the trailer gave away but I think it was enough to get the basic premise of the film.  I typically avoid trailers and reading the synopsis on films I'm sent to review but for some reason I decided to check the trailer out for this Unearthed release.  I don't think it ruined the experience for me but I wish I had knew very little about this one before diving into it.  The acting in this one is very intense.  The film's lead, Patrick Thompson, is very intense in his role.  He is a bit overdramatic a lot of time but I really enjoyed the energy he brought to the film.  The supporting cast is just as strong.  We have a lot of overacting but, honestly, I liked it for the most part.  The story for this one had so much potential especially for the time.  Internet fetish sites and extreme sexual acts have always had a place on the internet so the story has a lot to use.  When you combine that with the grotesque overeating kink and secretly betting when they die you have something that could churn the stomachs of the most hardened horror fan.  However, the sickening acts committed in the film is not as effective as they could have been and the extremely long scenes filled with pointless dialogue ruins the film's pacing.  Finally, the film makes use of a great looking fat suit and some gore effects that look just as impressive.  However, the film doesn't have a body count and those wanting to see impressive kills will be very disappointed.  Overall, Feed might have been an impressive and sickening film in the mid 2000s but it just doesn't hit that had especially if you are a life long genre fan.  I wanted to like this one but I couldn't.  

Frequencies

Director - R, Zachary Shildwachter (Powerbomb, Deathcember) 

Starring - Cameron Box, Emilee Nichols, and Jonathan Box 

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Always say goodbye"

Format - Streaming (Vimeo)

Rating (out of 5):

     I made a post right before I started my annual October horror binge and several filmmakers reached out to me to include their films into my watchlist.  Sadly, I had an overwhelming amount of support on that post and was not able to work all the films sent to me into just one month.  One of the films that I couldn't get into my October binge is the 2023 horror short Frequencies from director Zach Schildwachter.  Zach is very active in the indie horror community and has worked on several well known projects in various capacities so I was a bit excited to finally check it out.  I want to thank Zach for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a young man and his wife who move into their new home in the city.  While unpacking they find a strange box in the closet and come to the conclusion that it's a spirit box.  They decide to try it out and speak with what they think is an evil spirit.  However, what they have is something much different and they learn that their home was once owned by a serial killer who used the bodies of his victim for archaic rituals.  Now, they have accidentally unleashed something evil in their new home.

     Frequencies is one of those shorts that doesn't really work as a short.  Shorts are a great way to condense a story and cut out a bunch of filler scenes that does nothing for the plot.  However, there is times when the story has so much going on that it can't be a short.  Frequencies is one of those shorts.  It has a story that just can't be told in a matter of a few minutes.  The acting in this one is solid for the most part.  A few of the scenes does have some stiff performances and awkwardly delivered dialogue but is solid for the most part.  I really liked the characters and how the cast brought them to life.  The story for this one is too big to condense down to a short.  We have a "spirit box" that might be holding a demonic force which is speculated in the short but never fully confirmed.  Sure, something sinister is in the home but was it there before they found the box?  Also, why are we casually mentioning the guy that made the box when he should have been the main focus of the film.  There is just too much meat left on the bone for this to be a short.  Finally, the film has some solid make-up  and visual effects but those of you looking for the red stuff will be very disappointed.  Overall, Frequencies just didn't do it for me.  I feel like the story needs the feature length treatment where we see the creation of the box instead of it being a short focusing on the discovery of the box.  I wanted to like it but I couldn't.