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.  

The Hunters of the Golden Cobra

Director - Antonio Margheriti (Killer Fish, Death Rage)

Starring - David Warbeck (Breakfast with Dracula, Sudden Fury), Almanta Suska (The New York Ripper, The Gravy Train), and Luciano Pigozzi (Strike Commando, Robowar)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Action/Adventure

Tagline - "The Mission: Recover the world's most priceless treasure.  The odds: impossible"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    I'll be completely honest here when I say I didn't know what to expect when I took a dive into this box set from Severin Films.  I was familiar with Antonio Margheriti and his horror titles so I knew I was going to see some campy writing and a rushed story that somehow finds a way to be cheap fun.  So far that has been exactly what these Indiana Jonesploitation films have been in this set.  Movies, much like the women I love, are a lot of fun when they are cheap and these three films are just that.  After Jungle Raiders and The Ark of the Sun God, I was left with the final film in the set which was the 1982 flick The Hunters of the Golden Cobra.  I once again want to thank Severin for sending this one over.

     The film follows an American soldier who partners with a British officer on a mission.  Things happen and the American soldier is left for dead.  Fast forward a few years and the British officer finds the American soldier in an Asian country.  After a quick scuffle, the pair make ammends an agree to once again team up to retrieve an ancient artifact said to have a supernatural power.

     The Hunters of the Golden Cobra is the only film in the set where we have well written characters but lacked story.  This one was shot in 1982 and I would almost wager that it was rushed into production to cash in on the Indiana Jones craze while writing it as they went.  It's the weakest in the set but does have it's moments.  The acting in this one is easily the most inconsistent but my favorite of the set.  David Warbeck delivers my favorite performance of the three films.  It looks like he is having a lot of fun on set and that shows in each scene.  His on screen chemistry with John Steiner is fantastic.  The pair feed off each other and make the film as enjoyable as possible.  The supporting cast is hit or miss with some showing zero acting experience while others were clearly locals paid to fill space in front of the camera.  The story for this one, like the other three, starts out promising enough but does run it's course fairly early on.  We once again encounter rush stories with everything from Indiana Jones and other like it tossed at the viewer hoping something sticks.  It's clear it was only made to make a quick buck off fans.  Finally, the action is fiarly enjoyable in the early portion of the film but it's nothing original or memorable.  Those of us looking for fun deaths will be disappointed as well.  Overall, The Hunters of the Golden Cobra got my hopes up at the beginning with the fun characters but was once again a cheap watch with some fun moments but is easily forgettable.  It's worth a watch especially if you bring some beer.  

House of Seven Belles

Director - Andy Milligan (Blood, Dragula)

Starring - Dolores Barcia, Peter Barcia (Legacy of Blood), and Elaine Boies (Legacy of Blood)

Release Date - 1979

Genre - Drama/Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     As I prepared to toss in the final film in this set from Severin Films, I wondered if it would be a film that could be followed or another abysmal watch.  The movie was a bit different than the previous films in the set as it was shot in the late 70s before he ran out of money to finish it while the other unfinished films were shot in the 60s and fell on the cutting room floor as he moved on to other projects.  The film, House of Seven Belles, s a period piece horror drama that did not have an ending.  This intrigued me and made me think that it would be watchable until the last leg of the film.  I was mostly right.

     The film follows seven southern belles whose family was once prosperous but has since fell on hard times since the civil war.  However, they are all fighting for the little bit of inheritance that is left and along their journey is a various characters ranging from rapists, wounded soldiers, and a murderer who is stalking the property killing people one by one.

     I went into this one knowing absolutely nothing about it besides the fact that it was completely shot aside from the ending.  I had no idea it was a period piece about the deep south and filmed in New York but I found myself really enjoying it.  The acting in this one is very loud and stiff.  The cast is inexperienced and not really into their roles in a lot of the scenes.  We have a lot of screaming, flat dialogue, and no emotional range.  I really wanted to like these characters but it felt like a stage play with an anger management group.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting and found myself really drawn into it.  It's a period piece drama that has some slasher elements tossed in randomly.  It does not make a lot of sense and some of the scenes left me scratching my head but it held my attention which says something.  On the opposite side of the same coin, the lack of an ending is a bit disappointing.  Finally, the film does have a few deaths but they are not that memorable.  Honestly, I enjoyed them in the film itself but they don't really stand out and use minimal practical effects.  Overall, House of Seven Belles is not the film I was expecting from Andy Milligan.  It's an odd period piece set after the civil war with slasher tones and a lot of unlikable characters.  It's the biggest surprise in this set and one I would recommend watching.  It's still far from perfect and a movie I will never revisit but it's still wild for what it is.  

The Virgin of Nuremberg

Director - Antonio Margheriti (The Unnaturals, Cannibal Apocalypse)

Starring - Rossana Podesta (Hercules. Man of the Year), Georges Riviere (Agent 3S3: Passport to Hell, Castle of Blood), and Christopher Lee (The Hunting of the Snark, Dark Shadows)

Release Date - 1963

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Women's virtues made him a killer"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I received The Eurocrypt of Christopher Lee Volume 3 from Severin Films, I expected to see several titles that were completely new to me.  However, I'm surprised by how many of these films in this set that I had actually seen.  I had just finished Beat Girls and The Hands of Orlac when I decided to continue on with 1963's The Virgin of Nuremberg.  This was a movie I thought I had never seen before but I soon realized that it was very familiar to me.  After a quick search I learned that the film was also released under the title Horror Castle.  This was a film I had previously watched back many years ago and completely forgot about it.  It was awesome getting to revisit it in this amazing set from my friends over at Severin.

     The film follows a young American bride who is taken to her husband's German castle after their marriage.  She soon learns of the rich history the castle has and how one of the properties long time employee was once disfigured by Nazis during World War II.  While exploring the castle and it's many rooms, she finds a woman bound and tortured but when she returns with her husband the woman is nowhere to be found.  She then learns about the castles "secret" from decades before when an evil man known as "The Punisher' would torture people in the castle's dungeon.  While the more superstitious employees say that he is back, the young woman suspects that her new husband or one of his employees are responsible for the heinous acts.

     I was not expecting to see this one when I hit play on The Virgin of Nuremberg but it was pretty cool to revisit this one after all these years.  It's a fantastic film but it's nowhere near the top 20 of Lee's best performances.  I do enjoy it and can see this set being worth it just for this film alone but in the 70 years Lee was in film, it's not even a speck on his career.  The acting in this one is solid but not the best I've seen.  Many, like myself, will be tossing this one in with hopes of seeing a fantastic performance from a young Christopher Lee.  He delivers a solid enough performance but his character is not that memorable and he doesn't really get the screen time fans would have liked.  However, Georges Riviere is great in her role.  She does a great job carrying the scenes and shows a wide array of emotions.  I've always liked her in this film but can't think of a reason why I have yet to look up other films of hers.  The supporting cast is decent but we do get a lot of cheesy performances from many of them.  It's not the worst I've scene but early 60s cinema is a lot of camp.  The story for this one is one that was pretty popular in the 60s where we follow a woman in an old castle where something sinister once took place.  It's not the most original story I've seen from the time but I do enjoy the Nazi addition to the story to give the film real world lore.  It has great atmosphere and tension but the predictability and poor pacing in some scenes does stop it from reaching it's full potential.  Finally, the film has some solid make-up effects and light blood but doesn't really deliver on the gore.  Early 60s genre films were more about locations, atmosphere, and story over blood and gore.  Overall, The Virgin of Nuremberg is an effective gothic horror title with some great atmosphere and tension but does have issues with it's pacing.  While Lee does appear in the film, he does not have as much screen time as I would have liked.  Regardless, it's a fun film that deserves to be seen.  

The Hands of Orlac

Director - Edmond T. Greville (Temptation, House on the WaterFront)

Starring - Mel Ferrer (Nightmare City, Eaten Alive!), Christopher Lee (Sleepy Hollow, Howling II... Your Sister is a Werewolf), and Dany Carrel (Inferno, The Chaser)

Release Date - 1960

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The frightening nightmare of a man who finds himself with hands which he can't control"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been lucky enough to review several Christopher Lee movies over the years.  Most were horror tales but a few, like the previous film Beat Girl, are not from my beloved genre.  Lee will always be remembered for his long and varied career but horror fans will always be grateful for his contributions to the genre.  Many genre fans, myself included, hail Lee for his performances in the many Hammer horror films.  His performance as Dracula and many other characters for Hammer horror is legendary by any standards.  As I started down the list for the new Eurocrypt of Christopher Lee Collection 3 I noticed a movie that I was very unfamiliar of.  When I was in high school I went through a period where I was obsessed with silent cinema.  It was during this time that I watched The Hands of Orlac which was a classic from it's time.  However, this set just happened to contain a movie by the same name.  This was a huge surprise to me because I had no idea that it was remade in 1960.  I was really excited to see this one and couldn't wait to hit play on it.  

     The film follows a world famous pianist who finds himself in a life threatening accident where his hands are severely burned.  His hands start to heal after the accident but he is unable to play to the degree that he was able to before the accident.  To make matters worse, he learns that his hands were actually transplanted to him and once belonged to a murderer.  Now his hands are taking on a life of their own and want to murder everyone around him.

     I went into The Hands of Orlac not knowing what to expect.  It had been damn near 20 years ago that I had seen the original film and did not remember a lot about it but I was excited to see this early 60s horror title that featured the legendary Lee.  The acting in this one is great.  I absolutely loved Lee's character in the film.  It was as if he was written for Lee specifically.  His larger than life performance was great but was overshadowed by the film's star, Mel Ferrer.  Ferrer made the film for me.  His performance is pretty fucking intense, especially during the last portion of the film, and brought out so many emotions.  He really does a fantastic job making the film what it was.  The story for this one is great for a drive-in era horror title.  As I stated earlier, I don't remember a lot about the original film so I cannot speak on how close it resembles it but I enjoy it for what it is.  What I like about this one is that it takes the premise for the brain transplant films and swaps it out with murderous hands.  It's a fun little change that works to a certain degree.  With that being said, some of the scenes in the film lead to nowhere.  They do nothing for the story nor the pacing.  Finally, the film has some light make-up effects and that is about the extent of it.  Like the films of it's time, the movie doesn't rely on the gore to get a rise out of the viewer.  Instead, it's character driven and we are expected to use our imaginations for the deaths.  Overall, The Hands of Orlac is not going to be a memorable film in the filmography of such a great actor but it's a decent film for what it was.  It's a worthy addition to this set and worth your time.  Check it out.  

Highway to Hell

Director - Bret McCormick (The Abomination, Repligator)

Starring - Benton Jennings (American Horror Story, Dexter), Richard Harrison (Terminal Force, Empire of the Dark), and Blue Thompson (Blood on the Badge, Ozone: The Attack of the Redneck Mutants)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Action/Horror

Tagline - "A one way ticket to terror!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Visual Vengeance has been pivotal in releasing some seriously underrated or long forgotten S.O.V. horror to blu.  One of my favorite releases over the last several years is VV's release of Bret McCormick's The Abomination.  They later released anothr McCormick film Repligator on blu.  I really enjoyed both films and was surprised by just how different these two were.  They showed how versatile McCormick was as a filmmaker.  Recently, VV released another McCormick film that I had never seen before.  The film, Highway to Hell, is an action horror flick that I've wanted to see for several years now but never had the opportunity to check out.  I want to thank Visual Vengeance and MVD for sending this one along for review.

     The film follows a serial killer who has escaped prison and flees into the desert.  He continues his murderous ways while he is hunted by a cop who is seeking revenge for what this sicko did to his daughter (or sister?).  Caught in the middle of the cat an mouse game is a young woman taken hostage by the escaped serial killer.

     I went into Highway to Hell very excited to finally see the film.  This is one I had heard about for years but never had the opportunity to check it out.  While it does share a name with a film from 1991, these two films are very different.  With that being said, the movie just wasn't as fun as I had hoped for.  You can't compare this one to the previous films from McCormick that I had mentioned.  Repligator is a sci-fi horror mash up that completely embraces the campy side of the genres while The Abomination is one of the greatest no budget splatter films that I've seen.  Highway to Hell had an interest premise but it had trouble trying to find it's own identity.  The acting in this one is very stiff and corny.  The cast really hams up the screen but I wouldn't call it bad acting.  We just don't see a lot of conviction with the dialogue delivery and absolutely no emotional range unless you consider screaming to be an emotion.  The story for this one feels like it wanted to be an action flick centered around a serial killer but budget and other constraints prevented it from being what the director had envisioned.  The movie itself has a lot of identity issues.  One scene flows like a horror flick while another scene is set up like a drama with a cat and mouse story.  We don't have a lot of cohesion which makes me really curious as to what the original idea for the film actually was.  Finally, don't expect to see a lot of blood and gore.  This film is character driven with a lot of focus on the relationship between the two leads.  Overall, Highway to Hell is a confused film that had a story that I could have really got behind if they just stuck with it.  An action thriller about an escaped serial killer with a hardened cop hunting him could have been a film you would never forget.  I seriously wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me.  This is still an awesome release from Visual Vengeance especially if you are a collector but the movie this movie isn't going to be for everyone.  

He's Watching You

Director - Jordon Foss (Knightmare: Man or Bat, Static + Cling)

Starring - Jan Luis Castellanos (Uglies, Saint Clare), Tiana Le (Big Shot, No Good Nick), and Elizabeth Yu (Womb, Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Slashers have always been my favorite sub-genre once I found myself fully embracing horror.  Zombies are damn near close but slashers has and always will have my heart.  I prefer the slasher of the early to mid 80s but I'm always open to any slasher regardless of when it was made or what it was about.  Several weeks back I started receiving press releases for the 2024 slasher He's Watching You which was making it's VOD debut.  I shared it on the site and the press release that followed.  I found myself really interested in the film after watching the trailer that accompanied the press release so I reached out to them for a screener link and they were kind enough to send one over!

     The story for this one follows a high school journalist who finds his sleepy small town the center of a murderer known as The Pill who is targeting other youths from the area.  While doing some investigating on his own he uncovers a collection of VHS which could lead him to uncovering the killer's identity.  

     He's Watching You looked like an interesting slasher that would fully embrace the modern tropes... and I was wrong.  Instead, it was a slasher that borrowed heavily from 80s slashers while keeping a modern look and feel.  I respect the hell out of it for that but the unlikable characters and weak slasher makes it one that I couldn't really get into.  The acting in this one is solid.  The characters are painfully generic and the dialogue is very campy but the cast does a decent enough job with what they were given.  I was hoping that some of the characters in the film would have memorable personalities or would offer up something unforgettable but they all blend into the background.  I get that everyone is written into the film to be murdered but having them all be one dimensional made the film a bit dull.  The story for this one had some things I liked and a lot of things that I didn't.  As I stated earlier, the characters are poorly written and offer up very little entertainment.  With that being said, I did like the VHS angle and how the film feels like a slasher on campus horror film that was popular in the late 80s.  Sadly, it doesn't really take hold like I would have liked resulting in a predictable experience that just doesn't have the suspense or tension that most modern slashers have. Finally, the film has several deaths that feature some solid practical effects but they were unimaginable and not that graphic.  I was expecting a lot from the kills with this one and was let down by them.  The effects work and the kills fit a slasher tale but they are easily forgettable.  Overall, He's Watching You is a slasher that is painfully the middle of the road.  It's easily forgettable and offers up very little for the viewer.  This type of generic slasher is what I like to call Walmart Horror.  It's not bad but it's not that great either.  Skip it.  

Heathens

Director - Nathaniel Paull (Rock Bottom, Straight Jacket)

Starring - Kirstie Drew (Allow Access, Reluctant Blues), Tiffany Michelle Foster, and Casey Jane (Rennie)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Join the sisterhood"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been writing reviews for a long time now and most of you may know my stance on found footage and mockumentaries.  I know a lot of people enjoy these sub-genres but I just can't get into them.  Sure, there has been a few of each that I've found over the years that I enjoyed but most of them are damn near unwatchable for me.  As much as I dislike them, I always find myself agreeing to review them when asked to check them out.  A week or so back I was contacted by Nathaniel Paull to check out his movie Heathens.  I quickly agreed with no knowledge about the film.  I did so because the poster sold me on it.  It's easily one of the best film posters I've seen in the last several years.  I wasn't able to get to the film right away but after a few days I was able to finally check it out.  I want to thank Nathaniel for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a group filming a documentary about a small group of witches in a small town.  This group consists of witches from various backgrounds and disciplines as they come together to protect themselves while growing as witches.  However, drama seems to follow one of the members creating a dangerous situation for the rest of the coven.

     Have you ever wanted to see a film that is equal parts This is Spinal Tap and The Craft?  What about a movie that feels like episodes of The Office mixed with What We Do in the Shadow?  Well look no further.  I went into Heathens completely blind which is my preferred way to watch a movie I'm going to review.  All I knew about the movie came from what could be seen from the poster.  I had no idea that it was a mockumentary but that didn't matter.  The movie itself surprised me and I found myself really getting into it.  The acting in this one makes the film for me.  The characters are very well written which gives the cast a lot to work with.  Some of the cast has very little, if any, on screen experience which does show in a few scenes.  However, they do a wonderful job and make the film as fun as it is.  In fact, I will actively be seeking out other films these young ladies appear in and hope they appear in future films.  The story for this one is pretty fucking clever in regards mockumentaries.  We follow a coven of witches in a small town where every member has their own background and different view on what it means to be a witch.  We then have some drama added to the mix which works and doesn't feel too outlandish.  With that being said, I felt the film tried to be funny but didn't really find it's mark with the humor.  I don't know if I'm the target audience for the jokes but its clear that the film wanted to be a comedy. In fact, it wasn't really a horror film either.  More like a dramedy centered around witches.   Finally, don't expect a bloodbath with this one.  The film itself is a character driven piece that works but doesn't have a lot of the red stuff that many of us genre fans are looking for.  Overall, Heathens is not going to be for everyone but god damn did I enjoy it.  I love the characters, the cast, and how everything unfolded but I would have loved some horror elements added to it.  Honestly, I really enjoyed and highly recommend it.  Check it out.  

Hobocop

Director - Sean Donohue (Death-Scort Service, Naked Cannibal Campers)

Starring - Bob Glazier (Amerikan Holokaust, Die Die Delta Pi), Sushii Xhyvette Holder (Sushii's Sex Seance, Kill-Cam), and Joe Makowski (Zed's Dead, Fatal Desires)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Crime

Tagline - "It's a cop with nothing to lose"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been writing reviews at Horror Society for almost 15 years now and during my first few years on the site I befriended Florida based filmmaker Sean Donohue when he was promoting Death-Scort Service.  I instantly became a fan and he became one of a handful of filmmakers that I actively follow. I've loved most of his films and always look forward to his next project.  A few days back he messaged me to review his newest film Hobocop.  This spinoff from his Death-Scort Service film starred frequent collaborators Sushii Xhyvette Holder and Bob Glazier.  I knew this wasn't a horror film but I couldn't wait to dig into it.  Like always, I want to thank Sean for sending this one over!

     The film follows a hobo (Glazier) who finds a murdered cop.  Instead of reporting the death to the authorities, he snags the officer's badge and gun where he becomes a vigilante of sorts.  This puts a strain on a corrupt detective who has partnered with a drug pusher and pimp when hobocop tries to shut them down.

     Hobocop is a movie I knew Sean was working on but I knew very little about the project.  Over the years I've learned that it's best not to get too deep into films that I plan on watching because it's just more fun to go in blind.  This was no exception.  It was very entertaining but nowhere near my favorite film from the GatorBlade Films' catalogue.  The acting in this one is very uneven but not the worst I've seen.  Glazier and Makowski deliver solid performances.  While the characters they portrayed are not their most memorable, they still did a great job.  We also get some seriously impressive performances from Sushii Xhyvette Holder and Katie McKinley.  I've seen them in several films before and, though they never disappoint, I was not expecting such serious performances from the two.  They made the film for me and I really hope they get more serious roles in the future.  The supporting cast is where we get the uneven performances.  It could be from inexperience but some of the scenes were a bit awkward to watch.  With that being said, holy hell are the women in this movie gorgeous.  I've heard a lot of bad things about Florida but god damn do I want to visit.  The story for this one is a little spin off of the Death-Scort Service series and it works as a straight forward crime flick.  It's basically a vigilante film with a crooked cop, drugs, and a lot of nudity.  It has some humor that works for the most part and while I did enjoy it for what it is, I would rather watch one of the Death-Scort Service films before I revisit this one.  Finally, the deaths in this one are not as memorable as some of the other GatorBlade Films I've reviewed in the past.  We get some blood and some practical effects but that is about the extent of it.  Overall, Hobocop is another fun one from Donohue and company.  It's got beautiful women and some fun performances.  I highly recommend checking this one out especially if you are fans of GatorBlade's previous releases.  

Human Hibachi 3: The Last Supper

Director - Mario Cerrito (Wall of Souls, Human Hibachi)

Starring - Lloyd Kaufman (#Shakespeare's Shitstorm, Superman), Debbie Rochon (Special Needs Revolt!, Side Effects May Vary), and Dan Gregory (Happy's Horror Crypt, Blood and Lust)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Kill. Pray. Eat"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's not often you find a trilogy where all the films work.  Hell, it's even more difficult to find an indie trilogy with all three are enjoyable.  What makes this franchise so impressive is that it has a prequel short as well that is a lot of fun.  Like with any indie horror release, I was excited when director Mario Cerrito announced a new movie but in the back of my mind I had a nagging little doubt that maybe this idea had ran it's course.  Regardless, I was excited to check it out and extremely grateful when he reached out to me to review it.  I want to thank Mario for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows a the leader of a cult who turns those that oppose him into a feast that is fittingly taken from the scripture.  However, the crime boss that helped him get in the trend of long pig starts to worry about his sudden rise to power and sends in two others to trim the fat so to speak.  

     As I look back at my intro I think some may get the wrong idea about what I meant.  I'm always excited to see a new indie horror film in production but with this one I was a little, just a little, worried that the cannibal charcuterie story had been milked enough.  While that was a minor doubt, this final film in the trilogy laid all doubt to rest about if it would be good or not.  However, it did raise another question and that is, is this still a trilogy if the franchise has a short prequel?  I don't know but in the words of the great Elvis Aaron Presley when he was in a retirement home in Texas, "what do I know, I have a growth on my pecker!"  The acting in this one is consistent with the previous films and fits the home video vibe that it's going for.  This is one my biggest problems with the franchise and I'm almost certain I've stated in reviews for the previous films which is that I dislike found footage flicks.  There is a few that I like, with these films being among those, and it's always the acting that rubs me the wrong way.    While everyone in the film does a fantastic job at getting into character, it's the small talk and lack of emotion that makes a lot of these scenes feel awkward to me.  It's not bad acting but it's the acting needed to make found footage like feels to feel authentic and it's not for me.  The story for this one really surprised me.  As I stated earlier, I was curious as to how far could they stretch this slab of meat before it snapped.  Well, the answer is clearly a lot further than I originally suspected.  Taking any story into a religious setting instantly gets my attention.  I've been a lifelong inhabitant of Appalachia which is a region steep in their religion.  Religious fanatics and closeminded zealots absolutely terrify me which is why I will always have a soft spot for religious horror.  Seeing the human hibachi story take religion down the path that I find frightening really had me hooked.  The cult angle really works for me and then when you think the movie is going the way you predicted, you get that twist that you wasn't expecting.  The movie makes great use of it's run time and doesn't stretch itself too thin was well.  While I would have liked to see the dialogue heavy scenes trimmed down, it doesn't really take away from the overall film.  Finally, the film doesn't shy away from the blood and we get a lot of fake body props.  While it's not the goriest film I've seen, it was able to use what little budget it had to add some of the red stuff to the film.  It fits the movie very well and works for the most part.  Overall, Human Hibachi 3: The Last Supper may not be the best film of the trilogy (or franchise, however you look at it) but it's probably my favorite of them all.  Religious horror, when done right, is very effective and this one did a great job with that.  It is a bit outlandish but it's fun and that's all we can ask for a movie to do.  

Harvest Brood

Director - Joe Meredith (South Mill District, Variant)

Starring - Cidney Meredith (Variant II, Teratomorph), Robin File, and Anthony Leroy

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5): 

     Several years ago I befriended artist and filmmaker Joe Meredith on social media after I saw several posts for one of his films.  I can't recall which film that was exactly by this point but I do know that I've been fortunate enough to review all of his films up to this point.  Well, that was until he released his newest film Harvest Brood for free on YouTube during Halloween.  I quickly shared the news on the site at the time but I wasn't able to check it out immediately due to the fact that I had already planned out my October horror binge.  However, I did toss it on my watch with for immediately after.  I'm glad I did because this one may just be my favorite film of his.

     The film is a documentary about a small town in Alabama that experienced a killing spree in 2006 with connections to local lore surrounding a strange family deep in the woods.

     Joe Meredith has a style of his own.  His movies and art is very unique and instantly recognizable with his movies being some of the most visceral that I've been fortunate to see.  Honestly, South Mill District is a film I often recommend to genre fans looking for something on the gruesome side of horror.  Harvest Brood did not disappoint.  I'm not really a fan of mockumentaries and found footage but this one holds your attention from beginning to end very well without the dull dialogue and pretentious acting.  The acting in this one is very well done.  We do get some of the acting that you would expect from a found footage type film with small talk and not a lot of emotional depth.  Luckily, these scenes are few and far in between.  The rest of the film is acted very well with some seriously fantastic performances from a cast with very little experience.  The story for this one is the kind of movie that I love with a family deranged mutant living in the woods killing people that cross their paths.  I've lived in Appalachia my entire life and any film with that kind of story instantly has my attention.  However, there is only so many ways you can spin a story like this so giving it the mockumentary spin to it does make it stand out from the rest.  With that being said, it's not as dull and boring as most other faux documentary and found footage flicks that I've reviewed in the past.  The film does a great job with the pacing and doesn't leave a lot to our imaginations.  Finally, the film is just as gruesome as I've come to expect from Joe and company.  We have a lot of fantastic practical effects that looks great.  If you've seen one of Joe's films then you know exactly how amazing his effects look and this one is no exception.  Honestly, I have no idea why this film is still on YouTube and not flagged.  Overall, Harvest Brood is another great film from a filmmaker with a true love for the genre.  The film doesn't do anything revolutionary for the genre but it does deliver on everything many of us love about horror.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

His Motorbike, Her Island

Director - Nobuhiko Obayashi (House, Turning Point)

Starring - Kiwako Harada (Godzilla vs King Ghidorah, The Drifting Classroom), Noriko Watanabe (Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S., True Horror Stories), and Riki Takeuchi (Battle Royale II: Requiem, Tokyo Tribe)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Romance/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It was about 10 years or so ago that I found myself binging as many Japanese splatter films that I could find on Netflix.  I had always knew that Japan had releases a lot fantastic genre titles over the years but I never ventured into them until then.  Now, I'm always on the lookout for an Asian horror I can find but I rarely take the plunge into other genres because of my obsession with horror.  A few weeks ago my friends over at Cult Epics sent over the 1986 Japanese romantic drama His Motorbike, Her Island to review on blu.  I knew it wasn't a horror release but I was still curious if I would like it or not so I added it to my watch list.  I want to thank Cult Epics for sending this one over.  I really enjoyed this one and look forward to checking out other Japanese non-horror titles.

     The film follows a young man who breaks up with his girlfriend and uses his motorbike to travel around Japan.  He finds himself on a small island where he meets a young woman who is very much different than his ex.  He falls for her but soon worries that she may be more interested in his motorbike than him.  

     I went into this one completely blind not knowing what to expect and was greeted with a beautifully shot film that may not be a movie that I would typically watch but enjoyed it just the same.  I know a lot of my readers will quickly skip over this review but fans looking for something a bit different will not be disappointed.  The acting in this one is a bit inconsistent at the beginning but as the film progresses we get some great performances from the cast.  I didn't care for the characters, to be honest, but the cast did the best with what they had and delivered some grounded performances.  The story for this one is more of a drama than anything but the romance aspects do show up from time to time.  The film has great pacing and with the story we have we get a lot of dialogue heavy scenes that does work for the most part.  However, my lack of interest in the genre mixed with the unlikable characters made a few of these scenes feel like they were a lot longer than they were.  Finally, this is not a bloody one for you looking for the red stuff.  This character driven romantic drama is more about the story than anything else.  Overall, His Motorbike, Her Island is not something I would normally review but Cult Epics was nice enough to send it over and I was interested in checking it out.  It's not horror but I enjoyed it and the blu from CE looks great.  I highly recommend checking it out.

The Assassinator

Director - David Kent-Watson (Firestar: First Contact, G.B.H.)

Starring - Sam Barker, Anna Cachia (Cutthroat Island, Final Justice), and Geraard Campbell 

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I hate that I was sent this Bloody Legend: The Cliff Twemlow Collection and I've had to write negative reviews for most of the films in the set.  I really wanted to like them but these films were not for me.  In fact, I don't know who these films are for.  I'm sure they are fun to watch with a group of people and some beer but fans of direct to video or S.O.V. action will struggle to find enjoyment with these.  Anyway, as I work my way through the set I find myself about to set sail with the 1992 action flick The Assassinator, aka The Hitman.  

     The film follows a hitman that works for a covert organization who finds himself forced to kill his superior when his wife is kidnapped by his long time rival.  

     The Assassinator, or The Hitman, was a film that almost had it.  It wasn't as bad as some of the previous films in the set.  In fact, I found myself somewhat enjoying it for the most part but was ready to turn it off by the time the film hit it's very predictable final act.  I seriously wanted to like it, and did at first, but found the predictability and horrible acting to be too much after the hour mark.  The acting in this one is probably the stiffest out of all the films in the set.  The cast isn't that bad but it consisted mostly of people with no experience or someone that joined just so they could get an exotic vacation out of the deal.  With that being said, I was very surprised to see the late Ronald Lacey appear in a role as big as it was.  While most of you may remember him for his iconic face melting scene in Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, some of us (myself included) may remember him for his roles in several British series like Masterpiece Mystery and The Ray Bradbury Theater.  He was a phenomenal actor and he stole every scene he was in here.  The story for this one is very predictable but it starts out strong.  However, once you hit the midway mark you find yourself predicting each scene before it plays out.  It's a fun game to play at first but any game with cheat codes enabled, it becomes boring as you progress.  I liked the hitman working for a secret group forced to kill his superior.  It's a fun angle especially for a no budget S.O.V. action flick but that seems to be the extent of all that they had written.  The film seems to be fly by the seat and was written as they were filming once they found locations abroad.  It becomes even more predictable than it already was while being extremely dull.  This "action" film has a little more action than previous films in the set but it doesn't have enough to be considered that.  Finally, those looking for some action flicks with explosions and fun fights will be very disappointed.  You get a few "fight" scenes that reminded me a lot school plays along with a lot of talking.  Overall, The Assassinator is not an action packed "action" flick that is predictable and dull for the most part.  The lack of story really hurts this one.  I did like it for a brief moment but that wore off before too long.  Like most in this set, I'd skip this one unless you are like me then may like to see movies that are often overlooked.  

The Half-Life Horror from Hell or Irradiated Satan Rocks the World!

Director - Mark Mackner (Evil Brew, Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned)

Starring - Sarah French (Pretty Boy, Blind), Jimmy Snuka (WCW Monday Nitro, Queen City), and Christian Hess (Return to Sleepaway Camp)

Release Date - 2014

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Welcome to Personburg. PA! Where crime, corruption, incest, voodoo, Satan, and heavy metal reign supreme"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been lucky enough to review several films from indie filmmaker Mark Mackner over the years.  I started my journey through his films several years back when I snagged a copy of Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned.  I enjoyed this one and kept an eye out for his other films.  Since then I've reviewed three more Daisy Derkins flicks which were hit or miss with me.  Sometime last year I found an Etsy shop selling blus of Mackner's 2014 horror comedy The Half-Life Horror from Hell or Irradiated Satan Rocks the World!  I snagged a copy for my collection and tossed it on my shelf where I forgot about it until recently.  A few weeks back I received an email from Mark asking to review that film which was streaming on Tubi.  I used this as the perfect excuse to finally crack open the blu release!

     The film follows a small town gripped in fear as a glowing monster starts attacking people out of nowhere.  As a small group looks into the the monster and where it came from, they learn of a conspiracy behind a cover up and it's ties to a mayor who is refusing to postpone a metal show.

     The Half-Life Horror from Hell or Irradiated Satan Rocks the World! is the kind of movie I can see myself getting behind but I couldn't.  There is several things I did like about the film but the negatives far outweighs the positives.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from a no budget indie flick.  I'm not calling it bad, because it's far from it.  However, the cast does show a great deal of inexperience.  I did enjoy Sarah French's performance and a few others that pops up here and there but the overall film did lack experience and it showed.  This included the late Jimmy "Supafly" Snuka who was extremely stiff during his scenes.  Honestly, I would have loved to see him bring the energy and charisma he did when he was shooting his wrestling promos.  The story for this one is one I was fully behind.  At times it felt like a tribute to the atomic age monster movies of the 50s which I'm a huge fan of.  At other times it felt like a Troma film of the time which I'm also a fan of.  However, it was other times in the film that it felt like it forgot where the story was going.  A lot of the scenes are dialogue heavy, which I don't mind, but in this case they do very little to progress the story.  A lot could be trimmed off this one to help the tone and flow of the film.  Finally, those of you looking for a flick with a huge body count and gore will be disappointed.  We do have some cheap effects that fit the film very well but the few deaths we do get are not that imaginative or fun.  Overall, The Half-Life Horror from Hell or Irradiated Satan Rocks the World! is one that I really wanted to like but couldn't.  The story is something straight out of a wet dream of mine but the way it was done made it difficult to follow.  I seriously wanted to love it and couldn't.  It is currently on Tubi if you want to check it out for yourself.  

The Haunting of Heather Black

Director - Joe Sherlock (Frames of Fear, Odd Noggins)

Starring - Ian McCready (A Knife in the Dark) and Kate Schmidt (The Lizzie Borden Game, Strange Things Happen at the Weird House 2)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Something supernatural wont let Heather rest... what are her dark secrets... and will she survive the night?"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Indie filmmaking brings about it's own unique problems that many people would never know unless they made their own films.  I respect anyone that has made a no budget flick but it's even more impressive when you've turned it into a career.  I know a few filmmakers that has been able to make this their livelihood but very few have been able to do it as long as director Joe Sherlock has.  Next year will make 30 years since his first feature length film and he is still going strong.  A few weeks back Joe sent over a link to check out his newest film The Haunting of Heather Black.  This supernatural flick was inspired by made for television films from the 70s and starred the lovely Kate Schmidt.  I want to take a moment to thank Joe for sending this one over!

     The film follows Heather (Schmidt) who needs a change of scenery and moves into an old family home away from her family and friends.  However, things are strange at this home.  As she navigates through several relationships, we see her mental health start to deteriorate until they all end in bloodshed.  Is there something in the home forcing her to kill or is she insane?

     The Haunting of Heather Black is one that I was not expecting from Sherlock and his Skullfaced Astronaut label.  He is constantly working on something but I had no idea what his new film was about.  However, I didn't expect a film paying homage to made for television movies to be one of them.  With that being said, I absolutely loved it.  It wasn't a paint by numbers supernatural horror flick.  Instead, it was a movie that redirected the viewer perfectly and hit them with something they didn't see coming.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven but it's not the worst that I've seen.  The supporting cast has a few scenes where the dialogue is a bit forced and awkward but deliver a solid job for the most part.  The star of the show, Kate Schmidt, is phenomenal.  She does a fantastic job and shows a wide range of emotion.  Her performance here made her a name I look for in future genre projects.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting.  It's not a predictable film and the first 30 or 40 minutes has you scratching your head as you wonder what the point any of this has to do with the film but then the last leg of the film happens and you realize exactly what is going on.  It's a movie you have to watch patiently and missing one scene will throw you off but the pay off is worth it if you stick with it.  The last quarter of the film is worth the wait and really pulls the entire film together.  While it does have a slow build up, it's works.  Finally, the film has some blood with minimal effects.  It's not the goriest film which is to be expected considering the films it's paying tribute to didn't have Overall, The Haunting of Heather Black is a well put together supernatural thriller that pays homage to made for television films from the 70s.  It introduces me to my favorite new actress and has a story that was not predictable at all.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

Hemet, Or the Landlady Doesn't Drink Tea

Director - Tony Olmos (South of 8, Pulp Friction)

Starring - Kimberly Weinberger (Outer Dark, Apparition), Brian Patrick Butler (Hacksaw, The Gools), and Aimee La Joie (Golden Hour, The Film Crew)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "You thought your neighbors were weird"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I get asked to review a lot of films from various filmmakers, producers, distributors, and so on.  I have a hard time turning a film away especially if something about the film catches my eye.  A few weeks ago I received an email to review the oddball political satire horror comedy Hemet, or the Landlady Doesn't Drink Tea.  The title and poster definitely peaked my interest and I agreed to check it out.  However, it take me a little time to get to it which I do apologize for.  I want to thank Dan Butler for sending this one along for review.  I seriously enjoyed it!

     The film takes place in the not so distant future where capitalism has completely taken over.  Profit rules the world and most laws protecting consumers have been virtually removed.  A tyrannical elderly landlord owns an apartment complex where she willfully increases rent on a whim while kicking out people she doesn't like.  This causes some of them to conspire behind her back to take her out in order to take control of the apartments.  

     Hemet, or the Landlady Doesn't Drink Tea is one of those films that is damn near impossible to describe.  It combines comedy with exploitation, satire, drama, and horror into something that defies labels.  With that being said, the film has a lot going on without really saying anything at all.  While I loved the acting and the out there story, the film itself doesn't really go anywhere.  The acting in this one is very uneven but not what I would call bad.  Some of the cast delivers a fantastic job while others do show inexperience.  These scenes are a bit awkward and feel like they are going nowhere.  On the flip side of that same coin, Butler makes the film as the elderly landlord.  This performance is unforgettable and makes the film for me.  I would have checked out of this film very early on if it wasn't for Butler and his performance.  The story for this one would be a solid premise for a short.  I loved the way money means everything but has very little value along with the power over the tenants the landlord had.  When you toss in the amazing performance from Butler as the landlord you have a solid base for a film.  However, we get a lot of talk about junkies eating people.  I don't know if this was written when the whole bath salts thing was popular on the news but mentioning it without actually showing them does very little for the viewer.  Also, we have a lot of scenes that go nowhere other than giving Butler a chance to shine.  While I do love his performance, a lot of these scenes could have been cut to fix the pacing of the film.  Finally, the film has some cheap visual effects and some wild make-up effects.  We have several deaths with a few of them using cheap visual effects and some blood splatter.  However, the make-up effects for the landlady is actually pretty impressive.  It's clearly a man in make-up but it's surprisingly well made and put together.  Overall, Hemet, or the Landlady Doesn't Drink Tea is a film that would have been a very clever and unique short.  However, it feels stretched too thin as a feature length film.  It's still a fantastic watch as is but does feel bloated in several of the scenes.  I still recommend it but keep it mind that it does feel way too long for the story it has.