Amityville Barbi vs. The Evil Dead-O's

Director - Ronin James

Starring - Jessa Jupiter Flux (Blood Bitch Baby, Debbie Does Demons) Korey Fackler (Dark Haul, Gotham), and Anthony Hoang (Death House, Spring Break Zombie Massacre)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Her dream home is a nightmare"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's not often that I get to have a double feature of flicks featuring one of my favorite indie horror starlets.  I recently sat through two Blood Sick Production films after I bought them for my collection and decided to review them.  The first film, Little Bo Creep, was a fun little creature feature.  The second, Blood Bitch Baby, starred Jess Jupiter Flux and was the main reason I bought the film.  I found myself greeted with an opportunity to check out another film starring Flux when I finished with those two.  The film is Amityville Barbi vs. The Evil Dead-O's from director Ronin James.  I had posted about this one sometime back and was looking forward to it.  I want to thank my friend Matt Burns for mentioning and for Ronin James for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows Barbi (Flux) who is tasked with fighting the forces of darkness when she's not being the beautiful star she was born to be.  

     I went into this one expecting to find a finished film but found myself questioning what it was that I was watching.  I contacted the Facebook page for the person that sent it over for review and they confirmed that this 11 minute film was just the intro.  They sent it out to a select few for review to stir up interest so they could secure the funds to finish the film.  I'm glad I was able to check out this work in process because it was a lot of fun!  The acting in this one is great.  Flux is the obvious star as the ass kicking hottie.  This one is a bit different than her normal scream queen rolls.  In this one she is diving fist first into fight scenes with choreography and more action than her previous films.  She does a phenomenal job and shows just how versatile she is as an actress.  The supporting cast in this is solid as well, with most of them showing long careers in stunts, but it's Flux that is the star.  The story for this one is alright when you consider that it's just the intro to the actual film.  We don't have enough to meat on the bone, so to speak, if it was to stay as is as a short.  All we have is Barbi kicking ass with some narration giving us some insight to her backstory.  It's fun but we need more to it than it is.  Finally, the film has some great visual and make-up effects but it doesn't really offer up the practical gore effects many of us want.  The visuals look great and I loved the make-up effects of the Evil Dead-O's.  They look straight out of the Ash vs Evil Dead series.  Overall, Amityville Barbi vs. The Evil Dead-O's may not be finished but I can already tell that it's going to be one of the better horror titles to release in recent years.  It's almost like a fan film for the entire genre.  I really enjoyed what I saw and hope they are able to complete it very soon.  Check it out.  

Longlegs

Director - Osgood Perkins (The Twilight Zone, Gretel and Hansel)

Starring - Maika Monroe (It Follows, The 5th Wave), Nicolas Cage (Mandy, Renfield), and Blair Underwood (Dear White People, Ironside)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Nic Cage has been one of my favorite actors for many years.  I grew up on his classics like Face/Off, Con Air, Once Bitten, Raising Arizona, and so on.  While he did hit a bit of a dry spell with the Left Behind films along with the two Ghostrider movies, he seems to have found his second wind with the smaller budget films like Mandy, Color Out of Space, Willy's Wonderland, and the recent hit Longlongs.  I heard a lot about Longlegs and how it was written and directed by Osgood Perkins but I had no idea Cage was attached.  I ordered the UHD release of the film and when it arrived I saw his name attached to it.  That made me immediately move the film to the top of my watch list.  

     The film follows an young agent who is working on a case where young kids were murdered and strange occurrences happened inside the home.  When she starts to uncover a pattern she realizes that the person responsible for the deaths is connected to another crime where an entire family was murdered.  The revelation of the killer leads her to her family home and a dark secret her mother has been hiding for decades.

     Longlegs is one of the genre films that immediately became a hit among horror fans.  I heard so much about the film to the point that I almost skipped it.  Movies that are typically hyped up by pop horror fans tend to be underwhelming to me.  However, after getting the film in for my collection and seeing it featured Nic Cage I knew I had to check it out.  I'm glad I did because it was one of the better films of the year and probably one of my favorite performances from Cage to date.  The acting in this one is absolutely amazing.  Monro and Underwood are fantastic.  They really do hold their scenes and the characters they bring to life make the movie.  Also, they work so well together and their on screen dynamic really shows how talented they really are.  With that being said, Cage makes the film what it is.  He's absolutely unhinged in this movie and damn near unrecognizable.  I've seen damn near everyone of his films to date and this was the first time he gave me goosebumps.  I couldn't see this film having the same impact if someone else had took on the role of Longlegs.  The story for this one is a bit of a stretch but I enjoyed it for the most part.  I loved the gritty true crime aspect.  It reminded me a lot of Se7en and Kodiak which are two of the most underrated films of all time.  We then get the Satanic aspect that I absolutely love.  I grew up during the Satanic Panic of the late 80s and early 90s and love seeing this incorporated into true crime films.  With that being said, the film does hit the paranormal on it's final stretch which does throw the movie off some but not enough to ruin it.  If the film was going to go that route I wish it would have embraced it from the beginning instead of just dipping it's toes in it during the last stretch of the film.  Finally, this is not a gruesome film.  We do get some blood and great make-up effects on Cage but the main focus of the film is the characters and rich story.  Overall, Longlegs is another fantastic pop horror film that I did not expect to enjoy as much as I did.  This is going to be a genre film that fans will remember for many years to come.  I urge anyone that is on the fence about this one to give it a go.  You will not be disappointed.  

Night of the Demons

Director - Kevin Tenney (Witchboard, The Cellar)

Starring - Amelia Kinkade (My Best Friend is a Vampire, Night of the Demons II), Linnea Quigley (Tourist Trap, Graduation Day), and Cathy Podewell (Growing Pains, Beverly Hills Brats)

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "You're invited to my party."

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I became friends with a student that had just transferred in. He was expelled from his previous school and we became friends after talking about horror, metal, and Johnny Cash. We watched a lot of movies over the next few years. Movies like Zombi, Susperia, Cemetery Man, Dead Heat, and so many more. One of the films I remember watching with him and a metric fuck ton of alcohol is the 1988 Halloween horror flick Night of the Demons. He had snagged it on VHS with some other films on eBay and we were marathoning them one weekend. That movie fucking stuck with me and I had to have it. I did a little digging and was able to snag the DVD and I’ve revisited it a number of times over the years until I upgraded sometime back to blu. When Halloween was quickly approaching I was sent the UHD release of the film from Scream Factory and couldn’t wait to dig into it. I want to thank Scream Factory for sending this one over. It was a nostalgia filled experience to watch it again. 

      The film follows a group of youths who break into an old mortuary known as Hull House to have a party on Halloween. What started out as a night of scares and drinking takes a deadly turn when a séance accidentally unleashes something sinister that has been laying dormant in the mortuary. Now Angela is possessed and her friends are about to be put through hell. 

      Night of the Demons is probably the most underrated Halloween horror film in the history of cinema. When Halloween rolls around most genre fans quickly rush to films like John Carpenter’s Halloween, A Nightmare Before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, and House of 1000 Corpses. While these are solid films that deserve their rightful place on your annual Halloween watch list, there are other films that really deserve your attention. Kevin Tenney’s Night of the Demons is one of those movies. It has a strong fan base and those that have seen it are absolutely ravenous about it. However, I’m always surprised by the amount of horror fans that have never seen the film. It’s a must see during the month of October but it can be appreciated anytime. The acting in this one is solid. The characters are very generic especially for a late 80s horror flick. We have characters that fit into normal clichés like the jock, bully, virgin, outcast, metalhead, and a sexually promiscuous couple. While they are rather generic, they still have personalities that make them stand out. The cast really gets into their roles and deliver some memorable performances that still stick with me after all these years. The story for this one is a bit generic as well but the execution is anything but. Teens partying on Halloween and summoning demons is nothing new to horror. It’s been done numerous times especially during the 80s. However, the scenes in this one makes it stand out. You have Linnea Quigley’s character having a mental break in the bathroom, the Demon Wind like changing of the property, the humorous dialogue, and the clear influence from the classic Italian horror film Demons. The viewer has so much to absorb and it’s a lot of fun to see unfold before you. Finally, the film has some seriously amazing effects. We get some amazing props, practical effects, and a what the fuck moment involving lipstick. Fans of 80s horror will truly appreciate the effects and death scenes that we are given. Overall, Night of the Demons is essential for the Halloween season and a horror title that should be on every genre fan’s shelf. I highly recommend snagging this UHD release from Scream Factory. It’s worth every cent.

Through the Fire

Director - Gary Marcum 

Starring - Tamara Hext (Dallas, Frequent Flyer), Tom Campitelli (Brutal Fury, Dark Angel), and Randy Strickland 

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Sandra has the power and there's someone who'll kill for it"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     Vinegar Syndrome has won my heart on many occasions.  The one that I always think about is when they released a childhood favorite of mine on blu when they released Demon Wind.  I know that is a polarizing film for most genre fans but I can't help but love it.  It's one that I watched several times as a kid but a lot of friends of mine had never heard of it before.  Now when Vin Syn releases a title I had never heard of I always go into it with hopes that they snagged another wild mid to late 80s horror title with a similar tone.   When Vin Syn announced the release of 1988's Through the Fire I found myself almost obsessed with the film's artwork.  The image they used for the blu really sold me on the film and I couldn't wait to check it out.  I quickly pre-ordered it, like I did with the rest of their releases, and as soon as I could check it out I quickly tossed it in.  It looked like it would be so much fun with the same charm that made Demon Wind so enjoyable.

     The film follows a woman whose sister is missing.  She seeks out a police officer to help her find her in his down time.  Soon they find an old amulet that she used to wear when it is conveniently dropped off to them as they were investigating her apartment.  The amulet is what a cult needs to control a demon that they wish to resurrect.  Soon they pair finds themselves hunted by cult members and demons alike.

     I noticed a few of my friends within the horror community did not like Through the Fire.  I can see why some of them didn't like the film but I had a lot of fun with it.  It was goofy, the characters were a little flat, and the story was predictable but it was a fun late night watch.  The acting in this one is not the worst I had seen but it was evident that a lot of the cast had very little experience.  Their performances were a little underwhelming at times but it didn't really take away from the overall film.  The characters are very forgettable but no one really delivers a bad performance.  Their inexperience, mixed with the lack of character development, creates the perfect storm for the cast.  The story for this one is pretty predictable but I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it.  The demon aspect mixed with a little mystery and the occult is a lot of fun to me.  The film has some great pacing and the story development mixed with the more action heavy scenes were a lot of fun.  I enjoyed this story but I don't think I could revisit it anytime soon.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments but it's not as gory as I was hoping for.  The practical effects for the kills work but they are nothing we haven't seen before.  The demon as the end is funny looking.  I feel bad for laughing because a lot of time went into the effects for this creature but at the end of the day it looked like a hairless nutsack with a face.  The design is definitely lacking.  Overall, Through the Fire is not an 80s horror staple like Killer Klowns from Outer Space or any other horror film you think of when you think about 80s horror but it has it's moments. I really enjoyed it and the blu release from Vin Syn is a fantastic addition to my collection.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

They Reach

Director - Sylas Dall (The Blue Line, Hit Squad)

Starring - Mary Madaline Roe (The Ice Cream Date, Two Pictures), Morgan Chandler (Silence), and Eden Campbell (Z Nation, The Mortuary Collection)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "First you hear them.  Then you see them.  Then..."

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometime ago, last year I believe, I received the press release for the horror tale They Reach.  The artwork looked fun and I was getting a Stranger Things vibe from it.  I marked it down to check out later but I forgot which is typical for me.  I look at so many movies through out the week for the site that I often lose count of which ones I was interested in and which ones didn't peak my interest.  A few days ago I was at a Walmart I typically don't visit when I saw that they had a bigger selection of movies than my local Walmart.  I snagged I Am Lisa, Sacrilege, and They Reach.  They Reach was the one I was the most excited to see so I put it at the end of my movie marathon.

     The film follows a young girl in 1979 who just lost her older brother.  Her parents are taking it hard but she finds herself following in her father's footsteps of tinkering on electronics.  She finds a box of junk at an old store and buys it when she discovers an broken cassette player in it.  While working on it she accidentally cuts her hand.  What she doesn't know is that the recording on the cassette is of a failed exorcism.  Her blood on the tape opens up a portal allowing a darkness to enter this world and take over her small town.  It's up to her and her two friends to stop them before everyone they love dies.  

     Stranger Things did a lot for the genre.  It made horror and sci-fi more trendy than what it already was and gave production companies a bigger reason to take a chance with horror.  With that being said, it didn't really do anything new or inventive.  It gave nostalgia hungry millennials something to watch.  Now, we are getting movies that are ripping the show off in the same way the market became oversaturated with zombie films after The Walking Dead premiered.  They Reach is extremely inspired by Stranger Things but the film struggled to find it's own footing.  The acting in this one is very well done.  The relatively young cast delivers a great performance that rivaled shows of films featuring casts of the same age.  The budget for this one is nowhere near that of Stranger Things, It, and so on but this cast delivers just as good of a performance as the actors in those.  They work very well together and their characters were extremely fun to watch.  The supporting cast is just as great.  I loved the casting in this one.  The story for this one is one of the biggest missed opportunities in horror history.  The movie goes in too many different directions.  We get the story centered around kids who have these creatures after them that are afraid of light.  This was a solid premise but we then have moments where this children oriented movie goes extremely dark and gruesome which is not how the film was set up.  It's out of place but if the film would have went that way from the very beginning it could have worked.  We then have these random scenes scattered throughout that are extremely light-hearted and even more out of place than the darker scenes.  The writing in this is very inconsistent which created an inconsistent film that falls short.  Finally, the film has some extremely bloody moments but the deaths, sadly, take place off screen.  We get some blood splatter at various times throughout the film but if you are looking for practical effects and fun deaths you will be disappointed.  Overall, They Reach was such a missed opportunity.  The story could have been one hell of a horror flick but the movie struggles with itself.  It has some fun moments as it is but don't expect a movie that will stick with you.  

Blade the Iron Cross

Director - John Lechago (Blood Gnome, Feast of Fear)

Starring - Tania Fox (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Puppet Master: Axis Termination), Vincent Cusimano (Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark, The Gruesome Death of Tommy Pistol), and Griffin Blazi (Only Children, Bear's Frolic)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Up to this point I've reviewed every Puppet Master released over the years.  A few years back I was lucky enough to get the trunk release with all the films on blu.  Last year I received the remake starring Reno 911's Thomas Lennon.  Most of the films were highly entertaining but a few of them were just quick cash grabs.  They lacked the fun and creativity that the others had which made them fall short.  When news of the Deadly Ten broke I was excited for most of the movies announced.  However, I was skeptical of Blade the Iron Cross.  However, that changed after reviewing Weedjies: Halloweed Night and Necropolis: Legion.  I was fully commited to Blade the Iron Cross.  Full Moon was kind enough to send a review copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film takes place in the early 1940s.  A journalist has secret psychic powers and uses them to get the scoop on unsolved murders.  However, she finds herself in the wrong place at the right time when she happens across several dead bodies with ties to Nazi sympathizers that are working on a way to crack Toulon's elixir.  She partners with a police detective and her puppet friend Blade to stop the Nazi's from creating a death ray.  

     I went into this one expecting a fun and cheesy entry in the Puppet Master series and was greeted with a period piece that was actually more focused on Nazi experimentation than it was the Puppet Master series.  I really enjoyed what it brought to the table but it's lack of PM did make it feel odd.  The acting in this one is solid.  Tania Fox returns as Elisa which was in Axis Termination.  We get a little more backstory on the character and she does a great job.  Her supporting cast is solid as well.  I want to take the time to mention everyone by name but I would be here forever.  They all do a great job and bring some memorable characters to life.  The story for this one was not what I was expecting but it works.  It doesn't feel like a Puppet Master film.  We do get Blade for some fo the last half of the film but the main focus of the film is Elisa and the Nazi scientists running experiments.  Don't get me wrong because I really liked the movie but it lacked that look and feel that made Puppet Master so much fun.  Honestly, I need a Puppet Master in a more modern setting because the Nazi saga is starting to run it's course.  Finally, the film has several kills.  We get some practical stabs with some solid effects but we also get some very cheesy visuals.  I really enjoyed the kills because they fit the film but the visuals were pretty bad.  Overall, Blade the Iron Cross is not the best entry in the Puppet Master series but it works for what it is.  Honestly, I could have been a little easier to swallow if it was just a spinoff based on Elisa and her powers but it works for what it is.  Don't go into this one expecting the original Puppet Master because you will be disappointed.  However, if you are open to the experience then you will enjoy it.  Check it out.