Showdown in Secret City

Director(s) - Vinnie Vineyard (Wrestling with Ghosts, Camp Smokey) and Luke Walker (The Hike, Haunted Graves)

Starring - Travis Graves (Swipe Wrong, Logan's Chapel), Kandi Thompson (WJHC AM, Tainy My Ride!), and Luke Walker

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Comedy/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Artificial intelligence vs low intelligence"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love reviewing independent features.  I don't care if they are movies that I like or dislike.  It doesn't matter if it was made for a few dollars to just shy of a million.  All that matters to me is that they are made by someone passionate about the project and not just someone wanting to cash in on whatever trend is sweeping through the horror community at the time.  Watching an indie movie is an experience that I really enjoy even if the movie wasn't that great to me.  Sometime ago indie filmmaker Vinnie Vineyard contacted me to review several of his films.  The movies that I was lucky enough to review were hit or miss with me.  For every movie that I liked, there was one that just wasn't for me.  A few weeks back he reached out to review his newest film which is a sci-fi comedy titled Showdown in Secret City.  I wasn't able to get to it right away and I would like to apologize to Vinnie for the delay on the review.

     The film follows a small production company when they realize they signed over all their rights when they signed an agreement to have their films streaming in a different country.  Now they are forced to film a movie written entirely by AI.  They do as instructed for fear of losing their jobs and find themselves responsible for a box office hit.  Instead of celebrating, they quickly realize that the company they started for fun is long gone and they are just a cog in an AI machine.

     I knew absolutely nothing about this one prior to giving it a watch.  The title didn't really stir my imagination and the poster did absolutely nothing for me but the film's tagline really peaked my interest.  AI is a huge deal among the indie community and I was really curious to see what that had to do with the film.  The acting in this one is inconsistent but it's not bad.  Some of the scenes have some forced dialogue that is a bit awkward to sit through while other scenes feature a more relaxed cast that is able to deliver dialogue more naturally.  The scenes later on in the film is much more genuine and the cast does a much better job interacting with one another.  The story for this one takes some time to get moving but once it does it is surprisingly fun.  The beginning 20 or 30 minutes of the film made me think that I was about sit through another film like The Hike.  However, I stuck with it and the film did pick up substantially.  I loved the way AI was used in the story, the addition of the "porn and cats," and how people absolutely loved the film made with AI.  AI is controversial as hell but we all know how people, especially keyboard warriors, are hypocritical.  With all that being said, a lot of the humor didn't find it's mark.  I did chuckle at their AI representative going topless due to the amount of people that search for porn.  It was about the only funny moment that I found in the film.  Also, there is a documentary film crew "filming" the entire ordeal but they only appear randomly through the film and it doesn't really feel like the mockumentary I was expecting early on.  Finally, don't expect a film with memorable deaths or a lot of blood.  Instead, this is a sci-fi comedy that is light on the comedy.  It's satirical in nature but not catered to those of us that have a taste for the red stuff.  We don't really have any practical or visual effects to enjoy.  Overall, Showdown in Secret City is not what I was expecting at all.  I could blame my age and cynicism because I didn't find the movie funny but it was enjoyable for the most part.  It has a clever story that was fun but is not without some holes in the plot.  Check it out.  

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.  

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.  

Out There Halloween Mega Tape

Director - Chris LaMartina (WNUF Halloween Special, Call Girl of Cthulhu)

Starring - George Stover (WrestleMassacre, Flesh Eaters), Melissa LaMartina (A Corpse for Christmas, House Shark), and Ted Geoghegan (Sharknado 2: The Second One, Hatchet III)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "It's Halloween in your VCR!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago I grabbed a copy of Chris LaMartina's WNUF Halloween Special on DVD and it instantly became a staple of my October horror binge.  I don't think I've skipped an annual viewing of it since obtaining the DVD all that time ago.  I have upgraded to the blu when it was released but that is neither here nor there.  A few years back LaMartina released sequel to WNUF titled Out There Halloween Mega Tape.  I remember following the project when he finally announced it but I completely forgot about it until Terror Vision announced their bad ass special edition release of the film with all kinds of extras with it.  I quickly ordered the collection and had hopes it would arrive in time to watch for Halloween.  Sadly, it arrived a day late so I added it to my review stack to get to when I could.  After watching the Gingerdead Man series, I decided to finally check it out.

     The "mega tape" features two cable television Halloween specials recorded a few years apart and many years after the dreadful WNUF Halloween special where several people are still missing.  The first special is a day time talk show with a Halloween theme.  The second special takes place a few years after the first with the same host, now hosting a paranormal show, who is meeting a cult that expects extraterrestrials to appear to take them to their home world.

     I had no idea what I was getting myself into with Out There Halloween Mega Tape but I knew that LaMartina would not disappoint and I was right.  Out There is a fantastic trip back to the 90s when I was spending my time at the video store or glued to the television.  A lot of thought went into this one and only someone who survived the decade would be able to nail a film like this.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent but still enjoyable.  The main characters, like Melissa LaMartina's Ivy Sparks, are very enjoyable with a little more time spent on the character's personality and background but a lot of the supporting characters are a bit awkward to watch.  I'm not referring to the cast "acting" as awkward people being interviewed on television like you would see on the local news.  The story for this one really does feel like something you would have watched during the 90s.  Hell, the only thing it's missing from the nostalgia overload is a USA Up All Night clone and some static breasts.  We get some "local" commercials that feel genuine, a great parody/tribute to day time talk shows with a Halloween special, and the final segment with the "live" broadcast of the cult is something that would have been extremely popular during the Satanic Panic.  With that being said, I couldn't imagine a news station going all out on Halloween a decade or so after people went missing on a live broadcast.  Regardless, I enjoyed it and I'm glad it was done in the same style again.  Finally, don't expect a blood bath or a film with a body count.  We get a lot of campy video editing and graphics along with some cheap computer generated images that fits the tone of the film perfectly.  Overall, Out There Halloween Mega Tape is not on the same level as the original and I think they knew they wouldn't be able to duplicate the same look and vibe.  Instead, they set out to make a similar experience but with a different type of Halloween special.  I enjoyed it and it definitely made me reminisce of about all the shows, infomercials, and commercials I watched growing up.  This is a must see for genre fans and those of you that made it out of the 90s alive.  Check it out.  

The Legend of Crick Foot

Director - Bone Jawnson

Starring - Bone Jawnson (The Farmhouse Murders, Halloween the 31st: The Curse Continues...), Shannon Atkins (Anna Key), and Todd Bobenrieth (House of Cards, Banshee)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I always feel like I should preface every found footage or mockumentary that I review with a warning about how I typically avoid these types of films unless they are sent my way for review. I've never been a fan of this style of filmmaking, but I always go into them with an open mind. A few weeks back my friend Matt Burns sent over a few films he was attached to for review. The first is the cryptid mockmuntary The Legend of Crick Foot. While I'm not a big fan of mockumentaries, I have a soft spot for anything to do with cryptids. I want to thank Matt for sending this one along to check out. 

      The film follows an aspiring filmmaker who investigates a string of sightings involving a humanoid covered in hair known as crick foot. The creature frequents cook outs and other outdoor gatherings in hopes of stealing hot dogs. 

      I went into this one expecting a certain kind of film but was greeted with something completely different than I had in mind. Regardless of how the film played out, I found myself waiting for the credits to roll. As I said earlier, this is not the kind of film I typically like so my review, like any indie horror review, should be taken with a grain of salt. The acting in this one is extremely awkward. A majority of the film consists of interviews with the cast as they discuss their fictitious encounters with Crick Foot. I believe that these segments were filmed elsewhere and sent to the director to edit into the film. Regardless, these interviews are awkward to watch and don't give this amazing cast the chance to show viewers what they are capable of. The story for this one is not what I was expecting at all. I thought I was going to be digging into a found footage flick in the same vein as The Blair Witch Project where we feature a documentary filmmaker investigating a cryptid only to be fighting for his life. Instead, it's a filmmaker loosely investigating Crick Foot and a majority of the film features self-shot interviews with the cast. It might have worked as a short but it's too long to be effective as long as it is. Finally, this is not a violent film. In fact, the only scary thing about this one is what the cryptid does to hot dogs. No blood or gore for those of you looking for it. Overall, The Legend of Crick Foot is not for me. Fans of mockumentaries might dig it but I was not a fan. I recommend skipping it.

Horror in the High Desert 2: Minerva

Director - Dutch Marich (Infernum, Horror in the High Desert)

Starring - Laurie Felix Bass (Dead Power, Dead Cruelty), Suziey Block (Pickle's Horror Show, Dude Bro Part Massacre III), and Brooke Bradshaw (Reaptown, Miserable Sinners)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "No one just disappears"

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     Back in 2021 I was asked to review the found footage horror flick Horror in the High Desert from director Dutch Marich. I’m not a fan of found footage and though I often struggle to finish them, I found myself actually enjoying the film. I’ve written reviews for Horror Society since 2013 and while I’ve done thousands of reviews by this point, this one is easily my most popular. My reviews often go unnoticed aside from the day or so after their initial posting. However, my review for Horror in the High Desert is easily my most popular review and often over takes my most popular post of all time on the site with daily views. When Dutch announced a follow up film I knew I would have to review it just because of how popular the first one was. He sent me a review link a few weeks back but I wasn’t able to get to it in a timely manner. Since then the film has been released on Tubi and I was able to check it out there. I still want to thank Dutch for thinking about Horror Society when the film was released! 

      The film is a mockumentary following the disappearance of a young woman who was living in a trailer out in the Nevada desert. There was several murders around the time she went missing but the police and investigators were unable to find any leads besides a bag that was suspected to be hers with a recording inside that gives a small glimpse into the horrors of the Nevada desert. 

      Director Dutch Marich has done something very few people have been able to do and that’s get met to actually enjoy a found footage horror flick. I’ve seen and reviewed dozens, if not hundreds, by this point and I can count on one hand how many I’ve actually liked. Two of which would be his films. Found footage is one of the dullest sub-genres in horror but these two films have really pulled me in. Minerva doesn’t really answer the questions from the first film but paints an even bigger picture that I’m sure will come to full circle in a future sequel not yet announced. The acting in this one is like most mockumentaries where we follow the cast as they engage in faux interviews. It’s awkward and one of the many reasons I often find mockumentaries and certain found footage films to be unwatchable. As awkward as this is I didn’t mind it. Everyone is dedicated to the project and I enjoyed some of the characters. I would have rather watched them act out their scenes aside from the interview style but it fits the film and it works. The story for this one is a loose follow up to the first film where the main focus is on a missing woman along with a few murders committed in the general area. Not enough evidence is there to link them to the incident from the first film but it is suspected. I liked this approach to a sequel. It builds a much bigger story in scope while establishing a much larger sinister force. While it doesn’t help answer questions from the first film, it still entertains while giving fans a bigger picture to follow. Finally, it’s not a bloody film. In fact, it relies heavily on story and atmosphere so if you are looking for a gory found footage flick then you will be very disappointed. Overall, Horror in the High Desert: Minerva is a fantastic sequel and one of the few found footage flicks that I would recommend to genre fans. Dutch Marich is a fantastic filmmaker that everyone should look out for. Check this one out.

Satan Lives: The Rise of the Illumanatti Hotties

Director - Sean Donohue (Naked Cannibal Campers, Zed's Dead)

Starring - Jessa Flux (Voorhees: Night of the Beast, Cannibal Hookers), Sushii Xhyvette Holder (Kill-Cam, The Cheerleader Sleepover Slaughter), and Bob Glazier (Cannibal Claus, Amerikan Holokaust)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     

     Sean Donohue is a filmmaker that I greatly admire. I try not to send too much praise his way for fear of it going to his head but he truly is one of my favorite filmmakers especially when I’m in the mood for blood and nudity. He is the extreme counterpart to filmmakers Chris Seaver and Richard Mogg in my opinion. I’ll spin a Seaver or Mogg flick if I want some laughs and cheap effects with a story that parodies or pays tribute to films I grew up with. On the opposite side of the same coin, Donohue is when I’m in a more serious mood and want blood and boobs. His films are more polished than other indie horror productions and rarely let me down. When he announced his newest film, Satan Lives!: The Rise of the Illuminati Hotties, I was ready for it. I couldn’t wait to see what kind of depravity he was bringing our way. A few days back he reached out to me to review it and I couldn’t say yes fast enough. As always, I want to thank Sean and GatorBlade Films for supporting Horror Society and myself. 

      The film follows documentary filmmakers who are filming cult leader Richard Lemeau (Glazier). Lemeau is known for his sexual antics and strange occult practices. In the middle of the of this is a stripper who is tasked with killing him by a new organization known as the Illuminati Hotties. 

      I’m not attempting to suck up to Sean because I wasn’t a fan of his latest film, but I truly believe he is one of the better filmmakers in the indie horror community. His films Die Die Delta Pi and Death-Scort Service are still finding new audiences almost a decade later. While his films may be skin filled and bloody, they are still beautifully shot with stories that appeal to the horror fans that are sick of the remakes, sequels, and prequels to franchises that should have died years ago. I’m not kissing ass or blowing smoke up his, but I honestly believe he is one of the most entertaining filmmakers in the game right now. With that being said, not everything he does appeals to me. His found footage film Dead Residence was a tough one for me to finish but most of you know how much I hate found footage films. Satan Lives!: The Rise of the Illuminati Hotties was one of my most anticipated films especially after he unleashed Naked Cannibal Campers and Sushii’s Sex Séance where he seems to have embraced the sleazier side of his films but the movie just didn’t do it for me. It was 100% a GatorBlade Film’s release but the story didn’t hold my attention like usual and the pacing just didn’t work for me. I wanted to love it but I couldn’t find something to latch on to aside from Jessa Flux and Sushii. The acting in this one is a lot of fun which is exactly what I expected from Sean and his arsenal of actors. We have some familiar GatorBlade faces like Bob Glazier, Sushii, Katie McKinley, Ashley Lynn Caputo and Joe Makowski to name a few. They all deliver great performances and the characters they brought to life made the film for me. Honestly, what the film was lacking in story it more than made up for with wild performances from this cast. I also liked that Sean brought indie starlet Jessa Flux on board and gave her a bigger role than just a cameo. I hope these two work together again in the future.  The story for this one is the kind of story that really gets me excited for indie productions. It’s wild and out there but I found it to a bit too dull. The cult with a sexually abusive leader harboring a dark secret who finds his congregation infiltrated by gorgeous assassins is something straight out of a 70s exploitation flick. I liked the set up and style of the film but the drawn out scenes and dialogue left me wishing more of the world around the cult was explored instead of just the leader. Finally, the film has plenty of blood and boobs but if you are looking for memorable kills then you are out of luck. A few of the deaths are effective head shots that fit the film but the lack of carnage is more than made up for with beautiful women. Overall, Satan Lives!: The Rise of the Illuminati Hottie is decent for a first time watch especially if you are a fan of Sean’s other films but this is one of the few projects of his that I don’t see myself revisiting. I respect the hell out him but you can’t make everyone happy all the time and I’m sure I will be the minority here.

Creatures from Black Lake

Director - Joy N. Houck Jr. (Night of Bloody Horror, The Night of the Strangler)

Starring - Jack Elam (The Norseman, The Cannonball Run), Dub Taylor (Starman, Burnt Offerings), and Dennis Fimple (House of 1000 Corpses, Fangs)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Terror has reached new depths"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It’s no secret that I have a soft spot for cryptid-based horror films and I especially have a deep love for the bigfoot films of the 70s. The popularity of the Patterson-Gimlin footage lead to a huge influx of no budget bigfoot flicks that flooded the drive-ins for years to come. Most are barely watchable, but they are an experience in their own rights. One film that I had never seen before but was very much aware of was Creature from Black Lake. I snagged the DVD for this some years back but never found the time to watch it and once I started writing reviews for Horror Society I found myself watching films for myself less and less. That’s why I was extremely excited when I read that Synapse Films was releasing the film on blu. I knew the DVD I snagged years ago at FYE used was piss poor quality so I was looking forward to finally seeing the film in decent quality. I want to thank my friends over at MVD and Synapse for sending this one over for review. 

      The film follows two investigators who visit a small rural community after news reports that an ape like creature is terrorizing the residents. They encounter a sheriff that warns them about poking their heads around in the woods before setting out to do just that. After recording some interviews and sounds in the forest they find themselves face to face with the beast. 

      Creature from Black Lake is not a good movie. In fact, it’s pretty poor from several aspects. However, I fucking love movies like this. It reminded me a lot of The Legend of Bigfoot which is another from the same period that I enjoy. The faux documentary angle mixed with a lack of budget and cryptid hunting works for me. I know a lot of genre fans will be very critical of this one but I found it enjoyable and charming to some extent. The acting in this one is rough all around. There is a few scenes that was better to watch than others but the overall acting is very forced. The characters were either written on the fly or created on the spot. Regardless, the cast didn’t have much to grab on to and the performances were underwhelming. The story for this one is like others from the same time. The popularity of the Patterson-Gimlin footage sparked an interest for many in cryptozoology. Producers and indie production companies were quick to cash in on the craze with films following people searching for the cryptid before encountering them. This film is no different but, as I stated earlier, I found myself enjoying the low budget aspect and the simplicity of the story. Sure, it has plenty of awkward scenes that is dialogue heavy but I kind of enjoy it if I’m being honest. It’s mindless fun that I can toss in from time to time and just watch. It’s nothing amazing or spectacular but enjoyable for the occasional watch. Finally, the film is rated PG so don’t expect any blood and gore. Deaths take place off screen and the lack of blood is a bit of a disappointment. As for the creature, if you have watched any bigfoot film from the 70s then you know exactly what to expect. Overall, Creature from Black Lake is a forgettable film that is for a specific niche of the horror community. I enjoy it and I know other fans of bigfoot flicks that will appreciate it but for those of you with a hard on for A Serbian Film or foaming at the mouth to talk about August Underground will not enjoy it. I recommend it but you really need to know what you are getting yourself into with this one.

Horror in the High Desert

Director - Dutch Marich (Infernum, Reaptown)

Starring - Suziey Block (Pickle's Horror Show, Dude Bro Party Massacre III), Eric Mencis, and David Morales (Hunting, The Dark Hand)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "No one just disappears"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Since the beginning of the pandemic I expected to see some projects that were already started to be finished while most filmmakers where sheltering at home but once these projects were done I didn't expect to see many new indie films hit the market.  With new covid guidelines and social distancing I would imagine filming a new film would be relatively difficult.  While I've seen a huge decline in indie releases in recent months I still get surprised from time to time with a new one that I had not heard about.  A few weeks ago director Dutch Marich reached out to me to review his newest film Horror in the High Desert.  I befriended Dutch on social media sometime ago and was familiar with his work but I had no idea that he had just finished this project.  I agreed to check it out and the second I had some free time to spin I gave it a go.  Thanks Dutch for sending this one my way.

     The film is a mockumentary about the disappearance of outdoor enthusiast and YouTuber Gary Hinge (Mencis).  Gary went out into the woods to investigate a small shack he had found on a previous trip but never returns.  The local authorites and people from the community search for him but are unable to find his remains.  However, things take a chilling turn when his backpack is found with his severed hand glutching his camera.

      I didn't know what to expect from this one when Dutch asked me to review it.  I hit play and after ten minutes or so I was ready to write a negative review.  However, I stuck with it and after each passing moment I found myself getting drawn in.  I like to call this the Trailer Park Boys syndrome.  The first season of TPB is horrible but after that episode you are greeted with one of the best television shows in history.  Horror in the High Desert does have a slow start but the longer you sit with it the more you start to appreciate and enjoy it.  The acting in this one works for the film.  You don't really get conventional scenes like most movies with characters interacting with one another.  The interview setting is a bit boring at times but the cast does a phenomenal job at creating and staying in character during these scenes.  The story for this one is a bit unique.  It's a true crime mockumentary meets found footage.  The film is set up to mock a true crime show where family and friends of the victim are interviewed alone with the police and detectives working the case.  This was a bit slow starting out but it eventually finds it's footing.  We then move on to the footage that was found.  This found footage insert adds some much needed action to the film.  I'm not a found footage fan but having this aspect just take up a small portion of the film was fun.  Finally, the film is not a bloody mess of a horror flick.  It's very character driven and focused on the story rather than showering the viewer in blood and gore.  Overall, Horror in the High Desert was not what I was expecting at all but it was a pleasant surprise.  This unique blend of mockumentary and found footage really held my attention and was a lot of fun.  I highly recomemend this one especially if you are a fan of found footage.  You will not be disappointed.  

Necrosluts

Director(s) - Angel Martin (Actress Apocalypse) and Sebastian Kult (Before I Die, Hi-8)

Starring - Sky O'Blivion and Rex Renn

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "On morgue slabs...they found untold pleasures"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     The Sleaze Box and Gatorblade Films are no strangers to my review.  I've reviewed several of their releases over the years but very few were given negative reviews from me.  Most are severely entertaining and sleazy but only one or two were a bit of a struggle to finish.  A few years back I piked up a copy of their release Necrosluts.  I had originally planned on reviewing it when I recieved it but I never got around to it.  With my month long horror binge under way for Halloween I decided it was the perfect time to spin this sleazy horror flick.

     The film follows a young woman who is expecting but finds herself not too concerned with being a mother.  She gets herself a metal clotheshanger and unfolds it before using it as a sex toy.  Soon she is pleasuring herself with the hanger inside her.  The more blood that gushes the more she is turned on by it...

     I had no idea what I was in for but knowing The Sleaze Box and Gatorblade Films like I do I knew it was going to be a wild ride.  The movie itself clocks in around 45 minutes but for the story we have it's about 30 minutes too long.  It tries too hard to be shocking and graphic while losing it's story, or lack there of, along the way.  The acting in this one is not really acting.  The film mostly consists of a beautiful woman nude as she pleasures herself with a coat hanger.  Nothing that really stands out from the acting here.  She's gorgeous and watching a woman pleasure herself covered in blood is memorable but that doesn't mean it's a meaningful impression.  The story for this one could have been something really unique.  Having a film follow a woman doing what she does in the film could really leave an impact on the extreme horror crowd but the way this film was approached really lessens the impact of the story.  It's more for shock than story but at 45 minutes it stretches itself very, very thin.  The movie would really have an impact on the viewer if it was shorter.  The viewer becomes unsensitized the longer the movie plays.  Finally, the film has blood and the ending dials it up a little but for almost 40 minutes we get very little in the way of the red stuff.  Sure, it ends with a bang but most of the movie is a bit of a dry one.  Overall, Necrosluts is more shock than anything.  It doesn't offer up anything memorable but the female lead is absolutely gorgeous.  That is the only redeeming quality of this one.  Skip it.  

Drop Dead Gorgeous

Director - Michael Patrick Jann (Daybreak, Reno 911!)

Starring - Kirsten Dunst (Interview with a Vampire, Spider-Man), Ellen Barkin (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Faerie Tale Theatre), and Allison Janney (The Addams Family, Ma)

Release Date - 1999

Genre - Comedy

Tagline - "The battle between the good and the bad is about to get ugly"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I remember seeing the 1999 mockumentary Drop Dead Gorgeous at the local video store but I never had the desire to watch it.  Some of my movie friends talked about how funny it was but, honestly, the idea of watching a comedy about a beauty pageant really didn't sound like something I would enjoy.  Fast forward about 15 or so years and I've discovered that I love a lot of these quirky 90s comedies that time has seemed to forgot.  When I received a review silicit for the blu release of Drop Dead Gorgeous I decided to finally pull the trigger on it.  I requested a copy and WB was kind enough to send one my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a small town that is gearing up for a beauty pageant while a documentary film crew films everything.  The crew films the judges, contestants, and those responsible for the pageant as strange things happen like the death of the all-star female who was everyone's choice to win, to the deaths of others involved.

     When I made a post about watching this film for the first time on Facebook I had several friends comment on the post talking about how awesome the movie was.  This made me really excited to finally check it out but I was quick to see that the movie was not nearly as funny as everyone lead me to believe.  The film did have a few laughs and fun characters but I found myself becoming bored with it fairly early on.  It was fun but I don't want to ever watch it again.  The acting in this one is great.  The entire cast is fantastic and the characters really do make the film.  Most mockumentaries fail to give viewers entertaining characters but this cast does a phenomenal job.  The story for this one is simple, straight forward, and grounded but it is also boring at times and very, very predictable.  The characters do their best to hold your attention but the scenes become very dry and super boring.  The simple story would work if there was a little more going on in each scene rather than the purposely and brilliantly done awkward interviews.  Finally, the film is not one for those of you looking for blood and gore.  There is a gag with some make-up effects that was rather impressive but no bloodshed for you sick fucks.  Overall, Drop Dead Gorgeous has some funny moments and is overflowing with memorable characters but the scenes are so dull at times that you will feel yourself drifting away from the movie.  The blu looks great but the lack of supplemental material will not make it a must own for avid fans.  

The Hoard

Director(s) - Jesse Thomas Cook (The Hoard, The Hexecutioners) and Matt Wiele (Ejecta)
Starring - Lisa Solberg (Voices, Wasteland), Tony Burgess (To Hell with Harvey, Septic Man), and Barry More (Deadsight, The Hexecutioners)
Release Date - 2018
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "A life and death intervention"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Back over the summer I was in another state grabbing some stuff from Wal-Mart before heading to our hotel when I decided to browse the movie section.  The last few years I've had a hard time finding something decent at Wal-Mart but on this particular trip I found a DVD for the horror comedy The Hoard which was originally filmed under the title Hoarders.  It looked pretty fun so I grabbed it.  Now, with things how they are I decided to toss in a few zombie flicks and The Hoard was second on my list.  Kind of wish I would have skipped this one.
     The film follows a group of reality television stars as they attempt a new show that mixes hoarders with paranormal investigators.  The find a man in Ohio that has been buying up different properties all over town and filling them with the junk he finds.  They attempt to clean and repair the homes before they are condemned but along the way they find a plethora of dead cats, vagrants masturbating on everything, and the living dead.
     Honestly, I was really excited to check this one out.  The premise really caught my interest but the execution and delivery of the story really made for an extremely awkward watch.  The acting in this one is actually pretty fucking good.  I really enjoyed the characters and the cast does a fantastic job bringing them to life.  Some of the cast has limited credits under their belts but I absolutely fucking loved the characters they gave us.  The story for this one has so much potential but they were unable to bring it all together to create something memorable.  The paranormal/hoarding reality aspect could have worked but what we get is a film that is mostly building up to a point that barely has any impact.  I was under the impression that this was a zombie flick.  Hell, I guess it is because two zombies is better than none I suppose.  Finally, if you are looking for a blood-soaked zombie comedy you are watching the wrong film.  The film relies heavily on character development and interaction over kills so we get a film that is surprisingly void of death.  We do get a very unintentionally funny death scene.  The horrible visuals made a pointless death even more pointless.  Overall, The Hoard had a lot going for it but in the end it couldn't get the story on the same page as the crew.  This is one I can not recommend.  

Actress Apocalypse

 



Director - Richard R. Anasky
Starring - Garo Nigoghossian (Franklin: A Symphony of Pain, Dangerous People), Greg G. Freeman (Death-Scort Service Part 2: The Naked Dead, Dangerous People), and Jay Ingle (Reconciled, Deadly Dares: Truth or Date Part IV)
Release Date - 2005
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "When a documentary goes wrong you get an..."
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

     Horror and exploitation cross paths more often than fans give them credit for.  Exploitation came about when small production producers saw trends in movies that sold and exploited it.  This resulted in films that often crossed genres but typically involved a lot of blood, gore, and nudity.  In 2005 Richard R. Anasky set out to make a behind the scenes mockumentary involving a no budget film crew making a horror film.  Actress Apocalypse was received well by several horror and exploitation critics but fell into obscurity as the decade closed.  Recently star Garo Nigoghossian reached out to me about reviewing the film because he is giving this film another release.  I agreed and I'm glad I did.  I really enjoyed this slice of exploitation goodness. 

     The film follows two brothers who want to make a no budget horror film but they can not see eye to eye on how to handle the process.  David B. Lincoln III (Nigoghossian) respects the women he casts in the film and tries to keep the set professional.  His brother Vance (Freeman) does not.  Women are there for his amusement and he wants the death scenes to be as real as possible.  So he goes behind his brother's back and kills the actresses on camera. 

     When I agreed to check out a movie for Garo I had no idea what the movie was and when I got it in the mail I have to admit that I was very underwhelmed.  I mean no disrespect but the artwork on the DVD is horrible and I immediately thought I was going to be watching something that I would never be able to finish.  I was far from the truth.  The movie was a fantastically sleazy good time and I loved every minute of it.  The acting in this one is extremely fun to watch.  The cast is fully dedicated to their roles and it shows in each scene.  The stars of the film is the Lincoln brothers brought to life by Garo Nigoghossian and Greg G. Freeman.  They work so well with each other and their scenes are very intense from time to time.  Nigoghossian brings some unexpected humor to the scene and Freeman brings the intensity and vulgarity.  The supporting cast is fucking fun as well but these two are the stars of this show.  The story for this one works perfectly for a no budget production.  The team behind this one knew exactly what they had to work with and how they had to handle the film which worked very well for the finished film.  The movie does start to slow down at times but that is remedied with pointless nudity and vulgar rants that will leave you laughing.  Finally, if you want blood and gore you wont find it here.  However, if you want to look at some of the best examples of the female form that film has to offer you are in the right place!  Overall, Actress Apocalypse may be mislabeled by some as a horror flick but that it is not.  Sure, it may share some of the key elements but this is a prime example of mid 2000s exploitation.  It's fucking sleazy, sexy, and highly entertaining.  Check this mother fucker out!



The Nobodies

 



Director - Jay Burleson (Unfinished Business, Feast of the Vampires)
Starring - Lane Hughes (You're Next, Halloween II), Bill Pacer (Jesus H. Zombie, Zombie Outbreak), and Jay Burleson
Release Date - 2017
Genre - Horror/Drama
Tagline - "Life imitates art.  Art imitates trash"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

 

     Every six months I pack my bags, tell my kids my family goodbye and then I drive 6 hours to Ohio where I can finally be myself.  Every April and October horror and cult movie fans gather in Ohio at Cinema Wasteland to talk movies and get properly drunk amongst friends.  It wouldn't be a Wasteland trip if I don't spend a few hours at the Troma table grabbing things I need for my collection.  This last October when I was at the Troma table filmmaker Jay Burleson and actor Bart Hyatt was there with the release of their new movie The Nobodies.  It had just hit DVD through Troma so I went ahead and grabbed a copy.  I intended on reviewing it but time got the best of me.  With April's Wasteland just around the corner I decided now was the perfect time to check it out.  I would also like to note that Bart can suck farts out of a New York City taxi. 

     The film is a hybrid of the 1993 horror film Pumpkin and a documentary around the director Warren Warner and his girlfriend.  The film follows a man who is abducted by an older man and a deranged clown who then remove his arm.  Sometime later another man abducts him to question him because he is on the hunt for the two individuals that took his arm.  Pieced throughout the movie is segments following the filmmaker and his girlfriend.  They are madly in love but when their movie career falls apart after premiering the film in rural Alabama they take their own lives as a final artistic statement to the community that turned their backs on one of their own. 

      The Nobodies is one I had heard about prior to purchasing.  I had received a press release for the DVD several months before but I had never got around to actually grabbing a copy so this was the perfect opportunity to get my hands on it.  I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this weird and unique approach to indie cinema.  Rather than let budget to prevent them from telling their story, they simply adapted it in a different manner and thought outside the box.  The acting in this one shows inexperience but the cast is dedicated to their characters.  Burleson is not after perfection but the exact opposite.  He wants memorable characters and their flaws over polished characters that are one dimensional and forgettable.  The story for this one is different when compared to other films like it but the way the story is told does create some confusion as the film progresses.  The movie jumps from the documentary to the film very sporadically which can catch the viewer off guard if he not paying close attention.  With that being said, I really enjoyed what the movie brought to the table.  Finally, if you want blood you will find some with very basic practical effects but this is not a gruesome gorefest that some of you may have expected. Overall, The Nobodies is that strange horror drama that you will want to check out.   This is a film that is perfectly nestled between the works of James Bell and Giuseppe Andrews.  Check this one out.