Other

Director - David Moreau (Them, The Eye)

Starring - Olga Kurylenko (Vampire Academy, Thunderbolts*), Jean Schatz (MadS, Mash Up), and Lola Bonaventure 

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "You are beautiful"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed a lot of horror movies over the years and I'm always impressed by the things sent to me for review.  I look at every movie I review as an experience and even if I don't like the movie, I still enjoy watching them.  I love cinema and think about the hardships that many face when making a film.  I'm also notorious for judging a book but it's cover so to speak.  Sometime back I was sent a link to review the Shudder original film Other from director David Moreau.  I was looking at the artwork sent over for the Shudder release and had zero interest in the film.  I just assumed I wouldn't like it and tossed it to the bottom of my review list.  I then felt myself getting anxious the closer I got to reviewing it because I absolutely hate writing a negative review for a movie sent to me but I also refuse to lie.  Regardless, when it was time to check it out, I hit play and the rest is history.  I want to thank Shudder for sending this one over!

     The film follows Alice (Kurylenko) who receives word that her estranged mother had passed.  She reluctantly revisits her childhood home and past traumas begin haunting her memories.  As she tries to piece together the life of the woman that tormented her so much growing up, she starts to suspect that something is living within the walls of the home.  As she digs deeper and deeper into her childhood she soon remembers something dark that happened to her and what is actually stalking her family.

     Other is a film that the title nor the artwork did nothing for me but the movie itself was a lot of fun.  It's not going to be making anyone's best of list at the end of the year but it was still a solid horror title for what it was.  The acting in this one is pretty well done but the film is a bit one sided.  The supporting cast is pretty good with most of the characters being fairly generic or disposable.  With that being said, Olga Kurylenko really impressed me with her performance.  She isn't overdramatic or over does it which makes the scenes a lot more enjoyable.  It would have been easy for her to ham it up with the type of story we have but she keeps her performance fairly well grounded.  The story for this one is a bit predictable if you pay close attention during the earlier scenes in the film.  With that being said, I liked the story even though it was obvious where the twist was going before it appeared.  It had great pacing and the build up was still a fun ride.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments with some solid make-up effects but that is about the extent of it.  I was hoping we would get a lot of gore and memorable deaths but that was not the case.  The gags we get do look good but they are not as elaborate or memorable as I had hoped.  Overall, Other is a solid horror outing that fits the Shudder trademark.  I would have liked to see some memorable deaths but the film is still enjoyable the way it is.  Check it out.

The Odd Job

Director - Peter Medak (The Changeling, Breaking Bad)

Starring - Graham Chapman (Monty Python's The Life of Brian, Monty Python and the Holy Grail), David Jason (Count Duckula, Dramarama), and Diana Quick (Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka, Kolchak: The Night Stalker)

Release Date - 1978

Genre - Comedy

Tagline - "It's murder having the Odd Job man around"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I never realized just how legendary Peter Medak's career was.  I knew he helmed an episodes of the iconic horror series Masters of Horror, Tales from the Crypt, The Twilight Zone,  along with the classic horror films The Changeling and Species II.  I had no idea his career involved episodes of Breaking Bad, Hannibal, Carnivale, 7th Heaven, The Wire, and so much more.  His career is pretty insane when you sit back and look at it all.  He started in the mid-60s and was directing movies up until 2018.  That's incredible in it's own right but the quality of these films and television episodes are phenomenal.  I was extremely excited to check out this earlier films that was sent over for review from Severin Films.  I started my little marathon of his films with the 1978 comedy The Odd Job.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one my way!

     The film follows the dull and boring Arthur (Chapman) who returns home on his wedding anniversary to find his wife leaving him.  He's unable to cope with her absence and decides to kill himself.  However, he has a problem with that.  He's doesn't have the balls to do it. He then gets the idea to hire an odd jobs man to do it for him.  Things then take a weird turn when his wife returns to him forcing him to try to stop the hit he has on his own life.  That turns out to be rather difficult when he is unable to find the odd job man.  Now, he is wanting to live his best life again with his wife while keeping an eye over his shoulder looking for his would be murderer.  

     The Odd Job is a movie I knew I was going to enjoy before I even hit play on it.  I wasn't around during the height of Monty Python's fame but I did watch several of the movies growing up with my Dad.  I was a fan and would often revisit them during my high school and college years.  I still watch Holy Grail and Life of Brian from time to time and consider them to be timeless classics.  I was already familiar with Graham Chapman and was looking forward to checking out another comedy with this legend.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun.  We have an energetic performance from Chapman and David Jason.  These two made the film for me and their chemistry on screen lead to a lot of laughs.  The supporting cast is solid, with some laughs brought in by them as well, but it's these two that made the film what it was for me.  The story for this one is not something new especially by this point in the 70s.  I've seen several other films, mostly comedies, featuring films with someone that paid to have a hit on someone only to change their mind.  With that being said, this film was funnier than those other films but still painfully predictable.  The laughs does cover up the predictability but it just doesn't have the replay value of the other films I've seen with most of this cast in it.  Finally, this is not a film with a body count of bloodshed.  It's a comedic film based heavily on character interactions and development.  Overall, The Odd Job is a must see for fans of 70s cinema or those that find the Monty Python films and shows funny.  I highly enjoyed it and recommend checking out this release from Severin.  It's well worth it.  

    

Onlyfangs

Director(s) - Angelica De Alba (Murdercise, Slashlorette Party) and Paul Ragsdale (Streets of Vengeance, Cinco de Mayo)

Starring - Kansas Bowling (Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood, The Third Saturday in October Part V), Drew Marvick (Pool Party Massacre, XXX-Mas), and Nina Lanee Kent (Nite Time Creatures, Murdercise)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Work sucks.  Be a vampire"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I grew up with some of the best vampire films to grace the silver screen outside of the classic Hammer horror and Universal monster movies.  Movies like Fright Night, Fright Night II, The Lost Boys, Children of the Night, My Best Friend is a Vampire, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Near Dark, and the list can go on for days.  While zombies may be my favorite sub-genre of horror, I will always have a soft spot for a good vampire flick.  A few years back filmmaker Paul Ragsdale and his partner Angelica De Alba announced their new film OnlyFangs.  This was one that I've followed closely since it was announced and couldn't wait to check out.  A few days back Paul hit me up with a link to finally to review it almost two years after I made my first post about the film.  I want to thank Paul and Angelica for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a group of insanely gorgeous vampires who cross paths with a wannabe monster hunter.  He proposes that instead of killing him, he create an app for incels to to subscribe to monthly and they would get to drain them.  This turns out to be rather lucrative for them and they become a pop culture phenomenon.  This popularity brings attention to them from a conspiracy theory nut with backing from a local politician, as well as, the evil vampire that had enslaved them for years.

     I went into Onlyfangs knowing it was a vampire flick featuring some of the hottest actresses in indie horror.  However, I was not expecting the film that I actually saw.  There was several things I didn't like about it but the film as a whole was a lot of fun and one that ties with GatorBlade Film's Fatal Desires for being the sexiest film of the year.  The acting in this one is great.  I loved the cast that A&P Productions put together with some familiar A&P faces meeting up with several genre favorites that have not worked together previously.  Drew Marvick never disappoints.  He is a natural in front of the camera and always delivers memorable performances.  His character here is a bit more bland that his previous roles but he is able to work with it to give us something fun and enjoyable.  Nina Lanee Kent is as talented as she is sexy.  She absolutely murders her role as a ruthless vampire and has cemented herself as one of my favorites and an actress that I look forward to seeing in future projects.  We also have another memorable performance from one of my favorite indie scream queens, Jessa Flux.  I've been fortunate enough to watch and review two other films of hers this Halloween season with Blood Sick Production's Little Bo Creep and Blood Bitch Baby.  While I loved her performance here, I feel she was underutilized or that just may be because I'm biased.  We also have great performances from cult filmmaker and actress Kansas Bowling and actress Adriana Uchishiba.  Kansas does a fantastic job as the film's light hearted vampire looking for love while Adriana delivers a very intense performance as a very aggressive vampire.  The supporting cast is great as well but if I was to mention everyone that delivered amazing performances I would be here all day.  The story for this one reminded me a lot of the erotic vampire flicks that you would find in the mid to late 90s.  We have beautiful women who use their vampiric abilities and modern technology to line their pockets with cold hard cash.  We then toss in a subplot with conspiracy theories and liberal snake people trying to take over America.  I love all of this and love how they all work together to make a fun vampire film that is unlike anything I have seen before.  With that being said, I was not a fan of the scenes featuring influencers and online personalities reacting to the ladies and their app.  There was too many and they were extremely awkward to sit through.  The movie would have been so much better if these were removed.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood and some make-up effects.  The kills are exactly what you would expect from a vampire film and they look fantastic.  However, the film does have some not so great visual effects that stand out more then they should have.  Overall, Onlyfangs is a great modern spin on one of horror's most enduring monsters.  While I did have an issue with the amount of reaction videos used in the film to bloat the run time, I still enjoyed the overall film.  It was a lot of fun and featured one hell of a cast.  I highly recommend checking this one out when you have the chance.  

     

The Only Way

Director - Kyle Grogan (Don't Plan on Selling it)

Starring - John Moody (Don't Plan on Selling It), Sophia Moody, and Izzy Blanchard 

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     This year I've returned to one of my favorite sub-genres when I decided to rewatch The Walking Dead series.  I decided to check out the spin off series when I finished the original run and in between seasons I was checking out some zombie flicks here and there.  I've always been a fan of the sub-genre but found myself burned out with the popularity of The Walking Dead when the original series hit season 5 or so.  That's when I stopped watching the show and would only watch zombie films here or there.  I guess that has changed and I found myself digging the show from where I left off for the most part.  A few weeks back I was contacted by director Kyle Grogan to review his horror short The Only Way.  I added it to my list and decided that I would watch it during my annual October Horror Binge.  

     The film follows a father and his young daughter who are fleeing from a horde of the undead where they barricade themselves in a room with no escape.  As the undead start to hammer on the door with relentless force, the father takes drastic measures to save his daughter.

     I went into The Only Way knowing absolutely nothing about the film and was surprised by what I saw.  Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the film but I was not expecting to see the simplest short I have ever reviewed.  I was amazed by how much fun so little was.  The acting in this one is very well done.  The main cast, which I assume is a real life father/daughter duo, do fantastic together.  They have very little screen exprerience according to their imdb pages but they nail it.  You really do feel for them as they find themselves trapped.  The story for this one is so god damn simple, yet it works perfectly for a short about zombies.  The film makes great use of it's location and and doesn't overstay it's welcome.  We get straight into the meat of the story and then move on.  We have no filler or pointless scenes, unneeded dialogue, and bloated plot points.  Finally, we don't have gore or bloody deaths.  We do have some blood but nothing worth noting.  Overall, The Only Way is a great short about the lengths a father will go to save his child.  Its short, sweet, and worth a watch.  Check it out.  

Open Wide

Director - Sam Fox (Fck'n Nuts, Unagi)

Starring - Ashley Smith (Off Ramp, On Call),  Ethan Daniel Corbett (Headless Horseman, Blood), and Lara Repko (Karen's Family, Heavy Rain)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format (Streaming) (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometimes I'm sent something for review and it leaves a lasting mark on me.  It's not common but it does happen.  What is rare is when that film happens to be a short.  I really enjoy shorts because they tend not to get straight to the point with no time to fuck around.  Sometime back I was contacted by filmmaker Sam Fox to review the short Fck'n Nuts.  I absolutely loved it and had planned on including it in my year end wrap up but I never got around to making a list.  A few weeks back I was contacted again to review a new short from Sam titled Open Wide.  I knew absolutely nothing about it but I couldn't wait to check it out.

     The film follows a young woman who goes home with a couple for some drinks and after hours fun.  The man is a bit odd and the woman is overtly sexual, but she stays just to see where things go.  However, once their "son" arrives wearing a gasmask, things take an unusual turn.

     I went into Open Wide daydreaming about Fck'n Nuts with my imagination working overtime.  I knew this short would be an unusual story and unforgettable and I was right.  The acting in this one is great.  I was recently turned on to Ashley Smith after checking out the Juggalo road trip adventure flick Off Ramp over the summer.  She is a phenomenal actress and it was great seeing her appear in the short.  I also enjoyed Lara Repko's performance.  Her character is a little more grounded and the most logical of the cast which she did an amazing job at bringing that to life in front of the camera.  With that being said, it was Ethan Daniel Corbett's erratic performance that stole the show for me.  I loved the intensity he brought to the short.  The story for this one is a bit of a mindfuck once the strangeness starts but does struggle with comprehensiveness.  I loved the wild characters and the awkwardness between the young woman and the couple.  However, the short does go off the rails with the introduction of the child and from there it's pure anarchy.  While I'm not 100% sure I know what is going on, it was still fun to watch.  Finally, the film is not a gruesome one.  We have some light make-up effects but those of you with a taste for blood will be disappointed.  Overall, Open Wide is not going to be for everyone.  However, if strong performances and weird stories are your thing then this one is for you.  Check it out.  

Wan Pipel

Director - Pim de la Parra (Lost in Amsterdam, Rubia's Jungle)

Starring - Borger Breeveld (The Obsessed One, Wiren), Diana Gangaram Panday, and Willeke van Ammelrooy (The Killer is on the Phone, Paradise Lost)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Drama

Tagline - "At last a movie with heart"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I never know what will show up for review but each and every film I receive makes me excited.  Is this going to be a new favorite, something historical that will stand out in the history of cinema, or will it be something that I don't care for?  I never know until I pull the trigger on the play button.  Most of the time the films are horror or, at the very least, have some sort of horror theme within.  However, that's not always the case.  A few weeks ago I received the blu release for the 1976 drama Wan Pipel, or One People, from my friends over at Cult Epics.  This was a new one to me and even though it wasn't a horror flick, I was still excited to check it out.  Like always, I want to thank Cult Epics for sending this one over.

     The film follows a young man who is studying in Amsterdam when he receives a call that his mother was dying in his home country of Suriname.  His girlfriend gives him the money  to return home and he does.  However, once he returns home he begins to become enthralled with his heritage and country.  He even goes as far as to fall in love with a local woman and refuses to go back to the Netherlands to finish his studies.  

     I knew absolutely nothing about Wan Pipel prior to watching it but I actually enjoyed it.  It's not a movie I can se myself revisiting anytime soon but it was solid for a first time watch especially for something that wasn't horror-centered.  The acting in this one is solid but there was a few scenes where the acting was very forced and the cast didn't show a lot of experience.  The cast is fully submersed in their roles but the scenes are not consistent.  The story for this one is a fantastic character driven story about patriotism and embracing where you are from.  However, this story does somewhat run thin once you see the direction the film is actually going.  A little more character arcs or an interesting dilemma would have made the film much more enjoyable.   Finally, those of you looking for blood or memorable deaths will be very disappointed.  The film is a strict drama with focus on character development and growth.  Overall, Wan Pipel is a solid foreign drama that is a fun first time watch.  This is a great release from Cult Epics that I highly recommend checking out especially if you are a collector.  

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 Only Ones

Director - Jordan Miller (The Red Effect, Frederick One Take)

Starring - Paul Cottman (Where the Scary Things Are, Three), Tatiana Nya Ford (Project LETHE), and Emily Classen (The Forgiving, Thespian)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "What could possibly go wrong"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      I spent a majority of the month binging zombie flicks while I played the horror survival game Once Human.  Honestly, this was one amazing extended vacation before I started my new employment.  Once the zombie flicks ran their course, I decided to switch it up a bit and watch the Amityville series along with some of the indie Amityville bootleg films that are found on Tubi.  This was fun while it lasted and while I had many more Amityville flicks to binge I knew I needed to get back to reviewing.  I decided to get back into reviewing with a new slasher that was recently released and when that one let me down it was time to check out The Only Ones.  The Only Ones is an indie horror flick sent over by my good friend and actor Matt Burns.  I want to thank Matt for sending this one over!

     The film follows a group of twenty-somethings who go deep into the woods to the property owned by own of them to party it up.  However, a run in with squatters leaves the group on edge.  To make matters worse, one of them has failed to show up after a night of tripping on shrooms in the woods.  Things take a deadly turn when paranoia gets the best of them and they inadvertently kill each other suspecting others to be the killer.  

     The Only Ones is one of those films that is more enjoyable the less you know about it.  I knew Matt was involved with the film but I took the lazy route when I heard about it and didn't look into it.  I prefer to go into a film I review completely blind.  The less I know about it the better and in this case it made the film a lot of fun.  The acting in this one is probably my least favorite aspect of the film.  The characters are extremely one dimensional and the cast doesn't have that much energy.  A lot of the characters are not very likable and the stiff performances does take away from the film but it doesn't completely ruin it.  The story for this one is what draws the viewer in.  The Tucker and Dale vs Evil type story works for this indie horror feature.  It doesn't feel like a rip off or a copy cat film.  Instead, it's a well written story that uses a similar plot but mixes it up enough to where it feels like it's own.  It's clever is a lot of ways and the deaths are very unexpected which makes it damn near impossible to predict what is going to happen next.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood and simple effects.  The film doesn't shy away from the blood but the kills we do get are nothing we haven't seen before or are that impressive.  They use simple effects, which do look good, but for those of us looking for wild deaths or crazy gore will be very disappointed.  Overall, The Only Ones was a surprisingly fun indie horror flick that had no reason being as good as it is.  While I was not a fan of the characters and would have loved more blood, I still really enjoyed it.  I highly recommend checking this one out

Odder Noggins

Director - Joe Sherlock (Beyond the Wall of Fear, Twisted Fates)

Starring - Tonjia Atomic (Smart House, Axegrinder 3), Tiffany Beall (Strange Things Happen at the Weird House, Zombie Chronicles: Infection Zone), and John Bowker (Things 666, Channel 99)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror/Comedy/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "another strange trip..."
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve enjoyed the few Skullface Astronaut mini-marathons that I’ve done over the last month or so. I’ve seen some beautiful woman in the nude, memorable characters, and some fun stories during this time and my trip isn’t over just yet. I just started another mini-marathon and started with Bloodsucking Redneck Vampires which I absolutely loved. I could see myself when I was in high school becoming obsessed with this one in the same way I was Necroville. After that un flick I moved on to Joe Sherlock’s sequel to Odd Noggins. Odd Noggins is a unique film to say the least and was very curious if this follow up could deliver in that regard. I want to thank Joe once again for sending over Odder Noggins for review. 

      The film follows a busty spy with a camera implanted in her left breast, who is tasked with uncovering moles within her organization. Her mission brings her face to face with an interdimensional traveler who is doing experiment on humans. 

      Odder Noggins is just as strange as the first film. While it is overflowing with nudity, it is still able to deliver a unique story that can hold the viewer’s attention. Sure, there is plenty of breasts to hold your attention as well but the story is so wild that you can’t help but want to see where it goes next. The acting in this one is everything you can ask for in a no budget spy film with sci-fi elements. We have beautiful and busty women without their clothes on, enjoyable characters, and decent performances. While there was a few awkward scenes and some lines of dialogue that was forced, the acting really surprised me in this one. The story for this one blends the classic spy films of the 60s with Skullface Astronaut’s Mr. Birch character. Add a dash of straight to video skin flicks and a nod to The Brain that Wouldn’t Die and you have Odder Noggins. It’s a lot of fun even if you’ve never seen the first film which you should have seen by now. Finally, the film has some visual effects but it relies mostly on the characters and nudity to entertain the viewer over effects. Overall, Odder Noggins is a worthy follow up to one of the oddest indie films I have ever seen. I highly recommend it and this sequel.

Odd Noggins

Director - Joe Sherlock (Thingz, Dark Zone Thirteen)

Starring - Melody Berg (Things 666, Axegrinder 3), Juniper Bloodraven (Strange Things Happen at the Weird House), and John Bowker (Odder Noggins, Topless Tori's Tomb of Terror)

Release Date - 2015

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi/Comedy

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’m moving into the fourth film in my Skullface Astronaut marathon and I’m having an absolute blast. While Drifter is my favorite film of Joe Sherlock’s so far, I would be lying if I said I didn’t like them all. I’m a huge of indie horror and when you toss in monsters, beautiful women in the nude, blood, more beautiful women in the nude, aliens, and men in black then you are cooking with gas as my dad would say. After binging Drifter, Channel 99, and Beyond the Wall of Fear, I was ready for the next film on the list. This film, Odd Noggins, is one I had heard about for some time but never had the opportunity to see it. Like always, I want to thank filmmaker Joe Sherlock for sending this one over for review. 

      The film follows a small town who finds themselves watching a sci-fi film about aliens. 

      Nothing unusual about this but things take a strange turn when everyone is getting ready for a Halloween party and the women start killing the men before leaving on a space ship. Odd Noggins may be the more popular title from the Skullface Astronaut catalogue but it’s not my favorite. I did like it for what it was but it’s not a title I would pick to re-watch. It was fun and entertaining Skullface film but it’s not without it’s own faults. While I did like it I will admit that it’s easily the weakest of the four films I’ve seen. The acting in this one is what I was expecting. We have more beautiful women in the nude and a bunch of memorable characters portrayed by people with little to no credits on their imdb pages. I liked the casting and the energy but the dialogue is awkward at times and it’s clear that many of them have never been in front of the camera before. The story for this one is entertaining but could be better. I liked the idea of people watching a sci-fi flick on cable only to have their lives become a sci-fi story themselves. We have the women killing the men before moving to a space ship and blasting off. While I did like this aspect I’m more confused as to why this happened. Did the movie brainwash the females or were they merely aliens transplants that were finally ordered to kill? The movie doesn’t do itself any favors with the way it tells the story. It leaves so many questions unanswered. Finally, the film has some alright practical effects and no budget visuals. The kills are enjoyable in a comical way and the visuals are rough but that only adds to the charm of the film. Overall, Odd Noggins is another solid entry in the Skullface Astronaut catalogue. It’s deserves a watch but could be a lot more enjoyable if the story was a little more tighter.

Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls

Director - Andrew Bowser (Little Willy, The Mother of Invention)

Starring - Andrew Bowser, Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator, From Beyond), and Olivia Taylor Dudley (Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension, She Dies Tomorrow)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Demons.  Ghouls.  Tiny wines.  Onyx is in for one hell of a weekend"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I came across the YouTube channel Bowser Vids. Andrew Bowser is the genius behind the viral videos featuring his now iconic character Onyx the Fortuitous. Most of the videos are titled “Weird Arby’s Guy,” “Weird Gamer Guy,” or “Weird Anime Guy” depending on the video you are watching. I immediately started following him and learned that he had written and directed several films along with the various videos on his YouTube channel. Sometime back he started crowd funding for his newest feature Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls. I had kept an eye on him promoting the film but somewhere between the closing of the crowd funding campaign and filming he stopped posting about it for obvious reasons. Fast forward to a few weeks back when I started receiving press releases for the theatrical premier of the film. After sharing the news with you beautiful people I was sent a screener link that I couldn’t pass up. This movie was everything I hoped it was and more! 

      The film follows Onyx the Fortuitous who wins a contest to attend the home with a legendary occultist with some other contestants. Onyx hopes that this little getaway to his idles mansion will be an enlightening experience but what he doesn’t know is that his idle, Bartok the Great (Jeffrey Combs), has imprisoned a demon and is using the contestants to grant himself immortality. 

      Bowser’s Onyx character is one of my favorite internet characters so it was a no-brainer to watch this film and I’m so fucking glad I did. This is the type of horror film that I love especially as Halloween approaches. It’s funny, bloody, and full of nods to classic genre properties. This movie reminded me of other YouTube personalities that made films based around their online personas like Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie and The Smosh Movie. I’m a sucker for these types of films and I can see myself watching this one over and over again without tiring of it. It’s that damn good! The acting in this one is fucking fantastic. We start with Bowser who is at home with his Onyx character. He made the film and I hope to any higher power that is willing to listen that we get a follow up film with the character. We also have an Empire Entertainment reunion with Barbara Crampton and Jeffrey Combs appearing in the film. These two are well known for their roles in From Beyond and Re-Animator so it was cool to see them in the same film again. Sadly, they don’t share a scene but it was still cool to see them appearing in the same film. With that being said, Combs delivered a performance I was not expecting and I loved it. His character was just as enjoyable as Bowser’s. I could watch an entire movie about his backstory. The remainder of the cast deserves mention as well but I would be here all day giving them the praise they deserve. The story for this one is predictable but it is still a wild ride. You can see the film’s premise a mile away and most movie fans know exactly what to expect. However, the journey is what makes the film so much fun. We have a lot of Child’s Play references along with a tribute to Beetlejuice and a few others that I can’t remember off the top of my head. We have great pacing, lots of humor, and a very rich and detailed story that most movies fail to deliver. Finally, the film has a lot of effects to enjoy. We get some visual effects that don’t stick out like a sore thumb along with so many amazing practical effects. We have some seriously impressive make-up effects, prosthetics, and puppets. While the film is not that gory or bloody, it does satisfy that itch most of us horror fans have. Overall, Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is the horror comedy that you’ve been waiting for. This is for those of you that love your horror with a little adventure and comedy. This is a movie that I will be adding to my annual October horror binge going forward and I highly recommend you check it out

The Other Side of Darkness

Director - Adam Deierling (Genesis, The Creature of Stark Hills)

Starring - Maggie Callahan (Acts of Violence, Judas and the Black Messiah), Scott C. Davis (Drop the Beat, Soupernatural), and Olivia Billings (Ding-Dong Ditch)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Drama/Adventure

Tagline - "Who will you become when the power fails?"

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     In years passed I would often skip horror for a month as a way to recharge my batteries. I try to watch and review at least one horror title a day which can wear you down over time. As a way to combat that I would take a month to watch other flicks that I’ve been sitting on. It was mostly as excuse to watch the various exploitation flicks that Vinegar Syndrome, Impulse Pictures, and Blue Underground was releasing but I still kept an eye on indie releases. April has felt something like those months with the dozen or so non-horror titles that I’ve been asked to review. I don’t mind to step out of my beloved genre from time to time and I’ve actually enjoyed myself for the most part. Several weeks ago I was asked the review the drama The Other Side of the Darkness from director Adam Deierling. I was curious after seeing the film’s artwork and decided to check it out. I want to thank Adam for reaching out to me and letting me know it’s available to stream for free on Tubi. 

      The film follows a teenage girl who is living with a foster family working at her foster father’s shop trying to save up money to buy her first vehicle. As the world suffers from rolling black outs and power failures, she finds herself on a quest to find her birth mother which lands her on the doorstep of her supposed grandfather and the recovering alcoholic that he sponsors along with a plot to destroy America’s infrastructure. 

      The Other Side of Darkness is going to be one of those films that is polarizing among viewers. Horror fans digging into it expecting a post-apocalyptic action adventure like I did may be a bit disappointed. Hell, movie fans expecting a teenage action adventure who has a soft spot for indie cinema may a bit disappointed in this one as well. However, if you are open minded and ignore everything you are being told about the film then you may appreciate it. I liked it but it’s nothing like I thought it would be. The acting in this one is a little inconsistent but it’s not bad. The characters are very grounded and the most realistic characters I’ve witnessed in a film. The cast has a lot to work with here and they do a fantastic job. They deliver the dialogue very clearly and in a natural manner and they are fully dedicated to their roles but there is a few scenes where their performances does feel rushed. It doesn’t ruin the experience but it’s evident that their hearts wasn’t in it then. The story for this one feels like it’s being pulled in several different directions. It wants to be a coming of age adventure tale where a teenage girl finds her place in life but it slowly slips into this apocalyptic type scenario where continental U.S.’s power grid fails and the three youths find themselves in the middle of it. It would be a much more effective film if it chose one path to go down instead of trying to work both in. Also, there is way too much stock footage in this one. Sure, the shots are beautiful and it’s amazing drone work but the film could be trimmed down significantly if some of these unnecessary shots were cut. Finally, this is not a bloody or violent film. It does have a little action near the end but the film is character driven without the need of blood and gore. Overall, The Other Side of Darkness is nothing like I was expecting but I enjoyed it. A lot could be done to it to make it better but it still has it’s moments as it. If you are looking for something a bit different then I highly suggest checking it out on Tubi.

Ogopgo: The Mythical Snake from the Lake

Director - Richard Mogg (Hot Chicks Blast Uranus, Bigfoot Ate My Boyfriend)

Starring - Kirk Munawaeera (Earth Girls Are Sleazy, Easter Bunny Bloodbath 2: No More Tears), Richard Mogg, and Elaine Thrash Oliveira (The Masks We Wear, Cute Exorcist)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "For 150 years it has slept. Now it's awake... and John Saurius is ready"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Richard Mogg, founder of Rickmoe Productions, is one of my favorite indie filmmakers. His sense of humor and style is something that has always drawn me to his films. Easter Bunny Bloodbath is what drawn me to his films but since then I’ve fell in love with most of his releases like Massage Parlor of Death, Teenage Slumber Party Nightmare, Bigfoot Ate My Boyfriend, and many more. I wasn’t really a fan of his last film Hot Chicks Blast Uranus, but the title is among one of the best I have seen. When he announced his new film Ogopogo: The Mythical Snake from the Lake I was ready for another Rickmoe flick! Richard soon reached out to me and sent over a review copy. Like always I want to thank Richard for supporting Horror Society and myself. 

      The film follows John (Munaweera) who finds himself in British Columbia hunting down the lake monster Ogopogo. His hunt catches the eye of filmmaker Richard Mogg who comes out of an early retirement to film John and the creature. Along the way John falls in love and discovers he has a closer tie to the creature than he expected. 

      It pains me to say this because I love and respect the hell out of Richard Mogg but I was not a fan of this one. It just didn’t have the same sense of humor and tone as the other films I’ve seen from him. When you mix that with the lack story and cliched characters that made Mogg’s previous films so much fun you are left with something that felt rushed and lacked the heart that made me fall in love with Rickmoe Productions. The acting in this one is exactly like I was expecting. Munaweera returns as the iconic John Saurius, the bigfoot investigator that finds himself in hazardous situations. I’ve always liked his stiff performances and how he is so easily incorporated into these films. I was also surprised by director Richard Mogg’s performance playing himself. He really did catch me off guard by how comfortable he is in front of the camera and how he interacted with the rest of the cast. It was very natural. With that being said, a good bit of the rest of the cast felt a bit awkward and rushed. They quickly fly through their dialogue and move on as if it was like a practice run or table reading. The story for this one really peaked my interest. I’m an avid cryptid fan and was looking forward to seeing how Richard would put the Rickmoe spin on it but what we got was what felt like a rushed film that seems like it was put together in a few hours one evening or weekend. The humor misses it’s mark, which is unusual for Richard, but I did find myself laughing at one scene. Finally, the film doesn’t have the cheap effects that you come to expect from a Rickmoe production. We get a mask used as a puppet and the scene that made me laugh which consisted of children’s toys in a bathtub. If you were looking for no budget deaths then you are out of luck. Overall, Ogopogo: The Mysterious Snake from the Lake was not for me. I’m sure there is some Rickmoe fans out there that appreciate this newest project from Richard Mogg but it was a tough one for me to finish. I wanted to like it but I found very little enjoyment ouf ot it. Skit it.

On the Edge

Director(s) - Jen Soska (Rabid, See No Evil 2) and Sylvia Soska (American Mary, Vendetta)

Starring - Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska, and Tommy Pistol (Evil Head, Psycho Sleepover)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Jesus wept"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I was introduced to the Jen and Sylvia Soska, collectively known as the Soska Sisters, after they directed a string of films that had some success among horror fans. I was curious about their work after I heard about their films Dead Hooker in a Trunk, American Mary, and See No Evil 2 under their belts. It was around this time that I realized that the pair was featured in one of the films in Lucifer Valentine’s Vomit Gore Trilogy. Since then I had only seen their remake of Rabid and was a bit disappointed. Since then I’ve been sent several press releases about their newest film On the Edge starring adult film legend and avid horror fan Tommy Pistol. I’ve spoke with Pistol several times on his personal Facebook and Instagram pages about his film The Gruesome Death of Tommy Pistol along with his appearances in Frankie in Blunderland, Shakespeare’s Shitstorm, Evil Head, and several others. I was really looking forward to this one and when I was sent a screener link to check it out, I jumped at the opportunity. 

     The film follows a wealthy business man with a gorgeous family that has booked 36 hours in a suit. The goal for his 36 hours is to experiment in sadism with a very dominate mistress. Things start out as you would suspect but as the hours slowly move along, he quickly learns that this is not what he was expecting and his past is coming to haunt him. 

      I knew absolutely nothing about On the Edge prior to watching it aside from the fact that it was directed by the Soska Sisters and starred Tommy Pistol. However, after watching it I still don’t know shit about it. I have more questions than the film had answers and my final thought on the film was that it was the Sisters’ way of practicing BDSM on Tommy Pistol which is the dreams of most women that know who he is. I wanted to like it but it felt like a horror focused clone of 50 Shades of Grey similar to Bound and A Darker 50 Shades. The acting in this one is decent, but I was a bit disappointed in how the characters were approached and how they played out in the film. Pistol delivered one of my favorite horror porn performances in Evil Head and seeing him on other genre efforts shows that he knows how to carry a scene. However, watching him cry and baby around for almost two hours really didn’t work for me. I wouldn’t say his performance is bad because it’s not. He shows another emotional range that we rarely see with him but watching him like for as long as we do it becomes a bit dull and boring. The Soska Sisters deliver solid performances as well. Jen Soska does a great job as the evil mistress. I did wonder a few times how much practice she really had in this role prior to filming because it almost felt second nature. With that being said, as the film progressed and more of the story is revealed her performance does become a bit awkward and the audio dubbing is just cringy. They should have left this portion out. The supporting cast does a solid job as well but these two make up most of the film. The story for this one is could have been a lot more effective if they chose a much shorter run time. The story is stretched so thin that the viewer finds himself watching his watch more than the film. The movie should have been no longer than 30 minutes with more emphasis on Pistol’s character’s back story over the torture and degradation of him. I get where the film is coming from. He’s an award-winning adult actor that has a loving fan base so a lot of his followers would be into this but from a movie fan stand point the film is beating a dead horse for well over an hour. So much could be trimmed down from it. Finally, the film has a few visual effects and some bloody moments, but these are nothing memorable. Genre fans watching this expecting gore and great practical effects will be very disappointed. Overall, On the Edge was not for me but it’s blatantly obvious that I was not the intended audience. It would have been a pretty cool flick if it was around 30 or 40 minutes but having a story like this stretched to almost two hours is a huge strain on the viewer and their imaginations. Sadly, I cannot recommend this one.

The Other Side of the Mirror

Director - Jess Franco (Night of Open Sex, Mansion of the Living Dead)

Starring - Emma Cohen (Alone in the Dark, Horror Rises from the Tomb), Robert Woods (Creeping Death, Countess Perverse), and Francoise Brion (The Red Room, The Vertical Smile)

Release Date - 1973

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Famed exploitation filmmaker Jess Franco and I rarely see eye to eye but when we do it’s something to truly behold. While I respect his sexploitation efforts, I still find myself pulled towards his genre efforts a little more. Sometime back Mondo Macabro announced the release of Franco’s The Other Side of the Mirror which was also released under the title The Obscene Mirror. Mondo Macabro’s artwork for the blu release really made me interested in checking it out but a small part of me was worried that this would be another Franco flick I didn’t care for. Like always I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAV for sending this one over. 

      The film follows a young woman who expresses her desire to marry to her father. He objects to the marriage, but she decides to go through with it anyway after speaking with her aunt. This turns out to be fatal as her father soon kills himself. Heavy with grief, she calls off the wedding and moves to the city to play in a band at a night club. She starts seeing her deceased father when she looks in mirrors and before long, she is killing any guy she starts to have feelings for. 

      Honestly, I really liked The Other Side of the Mirror but some parts of the film were a bit of a chore to sit through. Not because they were graphic or offensive but because the scenes were so drawn out and dull. The movie has a very interesting story that I’ve heard other people compare to Alice in Wonderland. However, I’m too stupid to find the connections there. I did like the story and most of the film but several scenes could have used a trim. The acting in this one is very well done. The cast is a little stiff at times but they do appear to be a little more loose in other scenes. Honestly, I liked the cast. Franco did a great job with his casting in this one and the cast did the best with what they were given. The story for this one reminded me of some of the lesser known giallos that I had seen over the years. A young girl living in the shadow of her father’s suicide that was brought on by her desire to get married only to become violent toward any man she gets close to is fucking poetry. The movie does have an issue with pacing but the story is so beautifully written and would have been at home during the gialli craze. With that being said, I’m not an Alice in Wonderland scholar and if folks say this movie is based on that then it could be but I don’t fucking see it. Finally, the film has a little nudity and minor blood but that’s about it. The movie is focused on the story and character development then it is a body count. Overall, The Other Side of Mirror was well worth my time. It didn’t really fit in with my October horror binge but it was a decent flick. Franco did a great job with the story. Mondo’s release is another must own especially if you are a Franco fan. Check it out.

The Old Man: The Movie

Director(s) - Oskar Lehemaa (Beyond the Dark, Bad Hair) and Mikk Magi (Borders, Tommy Cash: ProRapSuperstar)

Starring - Mart Avandi (Restart, The Fencer), Reio Blond, and Merilyn Elge

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Comedy/Adventure

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Unearthed Films has a solid track record with their releases especially in the last few years.  With their focus shifting to bluray releases we've seen some underrated and often overlooked action, sci-fi and horror releases from yesteryear finally make their blu debuts.  Not to forget their extreme and depraved roots, we still get films that are too grotesque for other labels to release.  While Unearthed may be known for their gruesome and gory titles they still keep an eye out for unique films that are just as wild and wacky as they are strange.  Case in point is the 2019 Estonian film The Old Man: The Movie from directors Oskar Lehemaa and Mikk Magi.  I have a soft spot for animated films and when I saw that Unearthed was releasing this oddball on blu I knew I had to see it.  I was quick to message MVD who was handling the blu release of the film and they were kind enough to send over a review copy.  Like always I want to thank MVD and Unearthed for sending this one over.

     The film follows three children who are sent to the country to spend time with their grandfather for the summer.  Their grandfather owns a dairy cow and provides the village with their daily milk.  However, when they release the cow from its bondage they are sent on an adventure to retrieve the cow before it's udders fill with milk and explode on a catastrophic level.  To make matters worse, they must reach the cow before the former milker does and kills it before it can explode.

     I've seen and reviewed hundreds, if not thousands, of films over the years and The Old Man: The Movie is easily in the top five of fucking weird.  It's as if fans of Wallace and Gromit and John Waters came together to make a fucking strange film that will stick with you hours or even days after watching it.  The voice acting in this one is not the same as the actors credited on imdb.  I couldn't find a list of the voice cast for the English dubbed version.  However, I enjoyed the voice acting.  The voices fit the characters very well and I found myself laughing at the dialogue they were delivering.  The story for this one keeps the viewer constantly on their toes.  Just when you think you know where the film is going something completely unexpected happens throwing you for another loop.  It's completely unexpected and mind blowing from start to finish.  Finally, the animation is basic and simple but it works for the story.  The simple approach works for the film but I can see some movie goers being turned off by the style.  Overall, The Old Man: The Movie is not your typical Unearthed release but it's one that I welcome with opened arms.  I highly recommend snagging this one because you will not be disappointed.