Macabre Mountain

Director - Anthony David (The Body, Double Down)

Starring - Xander Goldman (Camp Pleasant Lake, Human Hibachi 3: The Last Supper), Felissa Rose (The Barn Part III, The Boy from Below), and Denny Nolan (Death Count, Blood Witch)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Misery knows no bounds"

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

    I find some indie horror flicks from just browsing different hashtags on Instagram or checking the posts in a few horror groups on Facebook.  I've found some seriously awesome indie movies this way over the years.  A couples weeks back I was browsing Facebook when I found a post from Xander Goldman about the indie horror film Macabre Mountain hitting Tubi.  Somewhere in the post it was mentioned that the film was shot in West Virginia.  I was very interested in the film then as I'm West Virginia born and raised.  I added it to my watch list and hit play on it when I finally found the time.  

     The film follows a small town who plans on opening a haunted attraction on the site where 11, or 12, children were murdered as part of a cult ritual.  Now, a pair of paranormal podcasters and a former model are attending along with the other haunt fans and locals only to discover that the one responsible for the murders is back and his followers will do anything for him.

     I went into this one really excited to check it out.  A West Virginia horror film with my buddy Robert Mukes really had my attention.  It wasn't until I hit started watching it that I saw that it also featured Dave Sheridan as well.  Sadly, the movie just couldn't pull it all together into something enjoyable.  The acting in this one is is very uneven and not that consistent.  We have an overdramatic performance from Sleepaway Camp's Felissa Rose that feels very out of place which the same can be said for Sheridan.  His performance was funny and added a lot of humor to the scene but his character just doesn't fit the tone of the film.  Mukes does a solid job but I feel as if her was underutilized here and his character was not fully developed.  The supporting cast is just as inconsistent as these with several showing very little on screen experience.  The story for this one sounds like something straight out of my wet dreams.  A murder sometime ago, a corrupt preacher and his demented followers, and true-crime junkies looking for some unheard information about it all.  It sounds amazing on paper but what we have is a film that struggles with pacing where too much time is spent on pointless dialogue and unnecessary character development. Some of the most random, throw away characters have more screen time than those essential to the story.  Honestly, I believe that about 30 minutes could be trimmed from this one without effecting the story.  Finally, we have some blood and minor practical effects but neither stand out here.  The deaths we get are not as gruesome as most other genre titles and the effects are not creative.  Overall, Macabre Mountain had me really excited to check it out but was quick to show it just didn't have wait it takes to make it fun.  The film has a lot of inconsistencies which held it back.  I seriously wanted to like it but I'd be lying if I said I did.  Skip it.  

       

Souls Chapel

Director - Jake C. Young (Daylight to Dark, The Dark Room)

Starring - Andrew Pierson (Tulsa King, Punk Shark), Brian Bremer (Pumpkinhead, Coffintooth), and Niko El Santo Zavero (Robot Ninja, Axegrinder 7: New Blood)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror/Western

Tagline - "Kentucky's most haunted legend"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in college I found myself really getting into the few horror westerns that I added to my collection when the local Hollywood Video was going out of business.  The movies Dead Birds, The Burrowers, The Dead and the Damned, and Ravenous were all cheap buys as the video rental giant was trying to liquidate as much as they could.  Honestly, I enjoyed them and still check them out from time to time when I want something different to watch.  I always keep an eye out for a horror western when I'm movie browsing but I rarely find them.  A few weeks ago I received a press release for a supernatural horror western.  The movie, Souls Chapel, caught my eye but the title and artwork didn't do much for me.  However, I quickly agreed to check it out when I was offered the chance.  

     The film follows a drifter who is on the hunt for gold when he finds himself in the middle of a snow storm.  He tries to seek sanctuary in a small church but soon finds himself at the mercy of the town priest, his nun, and their followers.  Things go from bad to worse when he learns that there are supernatural forces at play in this small town and the church is at the center of it all.

     I went into Souls Chapel kind of excited.  It's been a minute since my last horror western and that film in particular was very underwhelming.  I was hoping that this one would finally scratch that itch that I didn't know I had but it fell short.  I seriously wanted to like it but it was too stretched out and not enough going on to hold my attention.  It was a great looking film but it just didn't have anything to say.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven and inconsistent.  Some of the cast shows inexperience while those that have appeared on camera prior to this shows a lot of inconsistency.  In some of the scenes we have some great performances where the cast is really dialed in while other scenes feel rushed.  The characters themselves are somewhat cliched but a few do shine through the cracks, most importantly, the woman in white and the nun.  The story for this one is stretched way too thin for the run time we have.  The movie uses pointless scenes full of dull dialogue to bloat the run time.  A good portion of the film could be trimmed down making the story more streamlined.  The movie should have took the story and went straight through it instead of all these unnecessary scenes.  Finally, the film has some blood and a few deaths but neither are that memorable.  The effects are minimal and the deaths are not that imaginative.  Genre fans will want more and will be very disappointed by this.  Overall, Souls Chapel is an interesting idea that just didn't find it's way.  The story reminded me a little of the series Wynonna Earp but just wasn't able to give us the fun characters or a story to follow.  I wanted to love it but it just wasn't for me.  

The Anointed

Director(s) - Jimmy Arbugh and Travis Lander

Starring - Jimmy Arbugh, Louise Arbaugh, and Marcedel Arbaugh

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Keep the faith"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing indie horror for years now and it's absolutely my favorite thing to do.  I love watching a no budget indie flick and then typing out my thoughts regardless if I had fun with the movie or not.  It's always a fun experience to check out an indie horror flick and I refuse to turn down for review.  Back before I started reviewing the Exorcismo set from Severin Films, I was asked to review the indie horror flick The Anointed.  I had already promised Severin I would check the set out but I didn't expect the set to take me as long as it did.  In fact, it took me almost a month to check it out and I would like to apologize to Shane Taraschke for allowing myself and Horror Society the opportunity to check it out.

     The film follows a a backwoods cult that is keen on misinterpreting the bible and killing those they feel are going against their beliefs.  Lucky for them, a pair of friends exploring the beautiful country of Arkansas and a small group of friends both cross paths with them resulting in some blood shed.

     I absolutely love religious horror and feel that it doesn't get enough love especially from the indie horror community.  I grew up in Appalachia and find religion, especially fanatical Christianity, to be extremely scary.  That's why I was so excited to check out The Anointed.  It looked like an no budget nod to films like Red State and Inverted.  Inverted had it's moments and I absolutely loved Red State.  The Anointed was a decent film but had a lot working against it.  The acting in this one was not that enjoyable for me.  The film starts out with a YouTube style vlogging introduction that was extremely difficult to watch.  The dialogue is very forced and not natural during this scene with the film not really improving as it progressed.  The cast, for what I was able to find, is not very experienced but they do show dedication to their roles which not something I can say about a lot of films regardless of budget.  The story for this one has it's issues but I absolutely love the idea of a religious cult in the woods killing trespassers who sin.  With that being said, having the two friends die before moving to the group split the film up when it didn't have to.  This, along with scenes that are a bit too long for the story, took away from the pacing.  Finally, the film has plenty of blood.  While the effects we get are very limited, it is not shy with the red stuff.  We get a lot of bloody deaths and moments that fit with the film very well.  Overall, The Anointed is extremely rough around the edges but is still enjoyable especially if you are a fan of religious horror.  While I don't see myself revisiting it anytime soon, I still enjoyed it.  Check it out.    

Morbus

Director - Ignasi P. Ferre (Sitges-Nagasaki, Sota el Signe De)

Starring - Roman Ferre (Bloody Sex, Porno: Situacion), Carmen Serret (The Gypsy), Joan Borras (Change of Sex, Teatre)

Release Date - 1983

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Over the years I've learned that the 80s truly was a high point in horror cinema.  I'm not saying it was the best decade for the genre, because it honestly wasn't, but there was a lot of memorable moments.  Sometime during the late 70s several genre titles were released where they tossed in so many different horror tropes.  It never really caught on with some of these films falling into obscurity while others became cult classics.  However, this trend came somewhat popular with a lot of movies, especially direct to video titles, throwing "everything including the kitchen sink" into the story.  The writers couldn't make their mind up with which way they wanted the movie to go and we were given some wild films with stories that are extremely unpredictable.  As I work my way through this Exorcismo set I'm hit with another early 80s horror title that does the same thing.  I thought Morbus was another nudie flick due to the poster but once I hit play on that disc I realized it a nudie flick with an everything horror has to offer story.

     The film follows a prostitute who is running for her life when her friend, also a prostitute, and a John are killed by zombies after a scientist has created a serum that brings the dead back to life.  She finds her way to the home of a struggling writer.  The two try to leave before they are overrun by zombies but discover that his assistant has sabotaged their ride.  They are forced to stay and fight but zombies are the least of their worries as they soon encounter a Satanic sex cult.  

     I went into Morbus completely blind and while several films in this set surprised, none shocked me like this one did.  Morbus is not what I would call a good movie.  It's campy, with stiff acting, and a story that is all over the place but I had so much fucking fun with it.  This is the kind of movie that itf it was made in the US I could see Joe Bob hosting a showing of.  The acting in this one is extremely campy.  The characters are one dimensional and we don't get a lot of emotional range but it works for the film.  We don't have any memorable characters or performances but the story more than makes up for it.  The story for this one is all over the fucking place and that is why I enjoyed it so much.  We have an evil scientist, zombies, prostitutes, aspiring horror writers, Satanic bikers in a sex cult, and so much nudity.  The film does struggle with pacing and it has no idea how to put them all together in a coherent story but the unpredictable and absurd ride makes it worth your time.  Finally, the film has some blood, some decent make-up effects, and a lot of skin.  The zombies look decent in a way but are not that memorable while the effects are minimal.  They fit the film but nothing that most of us genre fans are looking for.  Overall, Morbus is a film that has so much going on and while is struggles with it's own identity, is still delivers on an experience.  It reminds me a lot of films like Spookies and Neon Maniacs.  It's a good film but far from perfect.  Check it out. 

The Priest

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

Starring - Simon Andreu (Die Another Day, Vampire Academy), Emilio Gutierrez (Estigma, Lost Bullet), and Jose Franco (Hail Hazana, Climax)

Release Date - 1978

Genre - Comedy/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I guess I've turned a corner on this box set as it seems like the last few films I've tossed in have not been horror.  I knew not all of these films would be horror but I'm shocked by the amount of documentaries that are included.  I love a good documentary so I don't mind that but it looks like we've reached the portion of the set where focus from horror may have shifted to other genres now that nudity and so on could be filmed.  After watching the sex comedy Sins of a Nympho, the next film in the set is another comedy of sorts.  This time it's the 1978 dramedy The Priest from Eloy de la Iglesia.  Iglesia is no stranger to Horror Society after I reviewed several of his films years ago that Severin also released on blu.  I was curious about this one once I realized he directed it.

     The film follows a priest, obviously, who has reached a point in his life where he is questioning his decision to become a man of the cloth.  He is starting to sexual desires that slowly start to take over his life.  He doesn't know what to do with these feelings at first so he turns to others in the church.  They offer up suggestions on how to deal with it but they are not helpful at all.  With his sexual tension rising, he starts to lust over a married woman who has an abusive husband.  

     I went into The Priest actually a little excited.  I had no idea what kind of film this was but I was hoping it would be better than Sins of a Nympho.  I got my wish because it was better but not by much.  It's not the most entertaining film but it was alright for a first time watch especially after watching a film that was damn near unwatchable.  The acting in this one is fucking fantastic.  Hell, it's about the only reason I was enjoyed it as much as I did.  Simon Adreau carries the film in my opinion.  While the supporting cast is fantastic and do a wonderful job at bringing to life many colorful characters, it's Adreau and his intensity that makes the film what it is.  The story for this one is one that speaks volumes when you say it out loud but watching it on film is like beating a dead horse.  We follow a priest who wants to get laid.  It's ALL he can think about and lets us know about it over and over again.  We do have a little bit of intrigue when he starts to fall for the married woman but that doesn't happen until later in the film.  I really wish we had more to the story than a horny priest and a battered wife.  Finally, this is purely a drama with some funny moments so don't expect a body count and memorable gore.  The film is purely a character piece and nothing else.  Overall, The Priest has a stellar cast and a story that should have been more enjoyable than it was.  It's very repetitive and doesn't give the viewer anything worthwhile.  I wanted to love it but couldn't get into it.  

Purana Mandir

Director(s) - Shyam Ramsay (Veerana, Inspector Dhanush) and Tulsi Ramsay (Tahkhana, Mahakaal)

Starring - Mohnish (Itihaas, Henna), Arti Gupta (Saamri, Tajurba), and Puneet Issar (Superman, Haar Jeet)

Release Date - 1984

Genre - Horror/Musical

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      When I started writing reviews back around 2010 I never expected to find myself watching the movies that I do.  I've always loved horror but when I started writing I wanted to cover long forgotten action and exploitation flicks.  My original blog and the idea behind it was to chase down any direct to video action flicks from the late 80s and early 90s along with any dime a dozen exploitation film I could find.  However, my love of horror quickly took over and before long I was diving deep into my beloved genre.  Over the years I've learned that Bollywood, or Hindi horror, is a sub-genre that I really like.  I had seen these films pop up in random message boards and horror groups over the years but never took the time to check them out until just a few years ago.  Now, I fucking love them and will go out of my way to check them out.  A few weeks back my friends over at Mondo Macabro sent me the 1984 Hindi horror film Purana Mandir on blu for review.  Like always, I want to take a moment to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.  

     The film follows a wealthy family who has a curse placed on them by a devil worshipper.  Every woman in the line will die during childbirth.  We pick up sometime after the original curse with a man who lost his wife during childbirth and his daughter has grown up.  She is now a college student and is dating someone that is not of nobility.  Her father eventually tells her of the curse but she brushes it off and starts looking into the lineage of her father and the evil devil worshipper.  Through her research she finds his head but mistakes it for a valued solider unleashing his evil spirit.

      I've only reviewed a handful of these Hindi horror films so far but I have yet to find one I didn't like.  They are all so much fun but that doesn't make them all equal.  Some of these are much better than others with this one being the weakest of the others that I had seen.  It's a great movie but it does have it's faults.  The acting in this one is exactly like I expected.  The cast has a lot of energy and brings a lot of charisma to the front of the camera.  With that being said, a lot of the characters, even though they were fun to watch, are rather one dimensional.  This isn't so much the cast's fault but it doesn't really give them a lot to work with.  The story for this one is great but does have similarities to other Bollywood horror films that I've reviewed recently.  We have a family cursed by a supernatural presence and we follow a demon of sorts as it kills people.  It's not the most original story regardless of where it was made but once you dress it up with the Bollywood musical numbers and colorful characters then you get something you will never forget.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody and gory one.  We do have some blood and some rather forgettable make-up effects but that is about the extent of it.  Bollywood isn't really known for their memorable deaths and this one fits into that one as well.  Overall, Purana Mandir is not the most memorable Bollywood horror flick but it's not a bad one either.  It's a lot of fun and one you can rewatch several times without getting sick of it.  I highly recommend checking it out from Mondo Macabro.  

Dirty Boy

Director - Doug Rao (War Hero, Jubilee)

Starring - Stan Steinbichler (Vienna Blood, Zero Chill), Susie Porter (The Monkey's Mask, Cargo), and Graham McTavish (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Highlander)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "What's done in the dark... will be brought into the light"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I grew up in Appalachia in one of the poorest counties in the U.S.  The average income, when I was in elementary school, was $11,000 a year.  People struggled to feed their families and had long term place for employment to turn to.  Most of the population in this county turned to religion as a way to cope with their financial struggles and hardships of living so far from amenities.  I think that my interest in cults is due to my unique upbringing in these hollows in West Virginia.  Seeing how fanatic many of these people were and how far they would go in the name of their religion really scared me.  I strongly believe that religion is the scariest thing on the planet, so I jump on any movie I see that is centered around a religious cult.  A few weeks back I was sent a few press releases for the religious cult thriller Dirty Boy.  The trailer really peaked my interest so I reached out to them for a review link.  With Halloween rapidly approaching, I went ahead and worked it into my annual October horror binge.

     The film follows a young schizophrenic in a cult deep in the woods.  The cult keeps him heavily medicated and isolated from the others.  However, as he slips between paranoia, hallucinations, and lucidity, he discovers that the cult has been killing those in their ranks that disagrees with them and plan on using his mental illness to finger him for the murders.  With the help from one of the female cultists, he tries to escape but is caught.  As they try to enforce a more strict regime for him, he is able to once again free himself and fight his way out of there.

     Dirty Boy is a flick that I knew absolutely nothing about until I received the press release.  The trailer really intrigued me and I was really looking forward to checking it out.  We don't get a lot of titles centered around cults and I was hoping that this one brought that sense of dread and real life terror that they are known for.  This one was unable to duplicate that feeling of dread but it was still a solid watch.  The acting in this one is very consistent and very well done.  The film doesn't have any one cast member shining above the other.  We have every one feeding off each other and contributing beautifully to the scene.  While some of the characters are a bit flat, the cast does the best with what they were given.  The story for this one has it's moments but not what I was expecting.  The film focuses more on the schizophrenic character and his struggles mentally with his health along with the way the cult ostracizes him.  While the cult aspect does play a huge part in the character's development, it's not explored as much as I would have liked.  I wasn't expecting the mental health aspect when I agreed to review and I really did enjoy that original spin on the cult sub-genre but I want more history on the cult itself.  Finally, the film is not a bloody or violent one.  While people do die, it's not the deaths that the film focuses on.  Instead, the film is very character driven instead of focusing on the deaths.  Overall, Dirty Boy was not a bad film.  In fact, I liked it for the most part.  However, it was not what I was expecting.  I was expecting a bit more atmosphere and a focus on the unhealthy obsession with religion.  While it did not deliver on that, it did give us a decent film.  Check it out.  

Despiser

Director - Philip J. Cook (Invader, Beyond the Rising Moon)

Starring - Mark Redfield (Dark and Stormy Night, Cold Harbor), Doug Brown, and Gage Sheridan (Twilight of the Dogs, First Encounter)

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Horror/Fantasy

Tagline - "Fear for your soul"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     I know my brain is wired differently than most genre fans.  Most horror fans flock to films that are well polished, edited, and acted with top notch effects.  They want the blood and gore but they want it done with unforgettable practical effects.  Don't get me wrong.  I love that stuff too but I find myself drawn toward the films made on a shoestring budget with nylon stockings filled with tissues and dipped in red corn syrup as guts.  I live for these types of films and when I saw what could only be described as a CGI disaster that is Despiser, I knew I had to have it especially after I saw that my friends over at Visual Vengeance was releasing it.  I went ahead and snagged a copy and quickly added it to my watch list.

     The film follows struggling artist and veteran Gordon (Redfield).  He just lost his job and with his rent now behind, his wife has left him too.  He then finds himself in a car accident and awakens in a purgatory like hellscape with a faction of other survivors are in an endless struggle against Despiser, his right hand Shadowman, and legion of twisted soul hellbent on serving him.  

     Many genre fans would see a film like Despiser and turn their nose up at it and I completely understand.  However, movies like this one are the kind that excite me the most.  They may have horrible effects and the acting may be amateurish but they usually have a lot of imagination and creativity.  Despiser is one of those films.  While it may look like a direct to video Christian film from the earl 2000s, it's actually a solid fantasy horror flick with some of the worst CGI I've seen in a movie.  This brought about a lot of unintentional laughs and I could see myself revisiting it sometime in the near future.  The acting in this one is not the worst I've seen but the cast is extremely stiff in their performance.  The dialogue for most of the film comes out of their mouths almost as if they are drill instructors and afraid to show any emotion.  Several members of the cast would go on to appear in other films and I would love to check those out to see how far they have grown from this film into the next.  The story for this one is absolutely wild and I love it for that.  We have purgatory, high speed car chases, aliens, freedom fighters, romance, and more inside a film that has PBS quality CGI and looks like an early 00's Christian film.  The movie is a bit on the lengthy side but I didn't want it to end.  The pacing, campy dialogue, and editing is able to come together to almost stop time.  Finally, the film has a lot going on especially in regards to the computer generated effects.  The film uses a lot of CGI and every shot of it is horrible.  It's unintentionally funny yet you can't look away.  Sure, I would have loved some great practical effects gore but this horrible CGI is still entertaining to say the least.  Overall, Despiser is a must see.  Fans of b-movies and unintentionally bad movies will want to check this one out.  It's the holy grail for bad movie fans.  I absolutely loved it.  

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.  

Inverted

Director - Tristan Clay (Red Eye, USED)

Starring - Jennifer Nagle (Gone with the Dead, Amityville Apt.), Kaici Lore (The Dark Web Tapes), and Destinie Orndoff (Red Hollow, The Haunting of Mia Moss)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Join the cult or fight to survive"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most of you know by this point that I was born in the mid-80s and grew up during the video store heyday. I remember going to Dewey's Video every Friday evening after school and loading up on tapes to watch through the weekend. While I've always been a fan of horror, I'm obsessed with 80's cinema in general. I would rent 80s action, drama, comedy, and romance. I didn't care as long as it was made in the 80s. Hell, I'm still like that to this day. However, as I got older, I've found myself really interested in 70s exploitation and horror flicks especially those centered around cults and the whole Satanic Panic scare. This started when I stumbled on the William Shatner lead film The Devil's Rain, and others like Enter the Devil, Satan's Cheerleaders, and Race with the Devil. This was why I was excited when I received an email for the 70's inspired occult horror film Inverted that featured my good friend Roman Jossart as director of photography asking to review the film. I quickly worked it into my schedule and decided to hit play when I finished watching the blu release of the 1997 adaption of Stephen King's The Shining. I want to thank director Tristan Clay for sending this one over for review. 

      The film follows a group of strangers who are brought together by two women and sent through several "trials" as forced initiations to join their cult. The two ladies are looking for the strongest of the group as their build their cult in preparations of the second coming of Christ. As their group gets smaller and smaller, one of them refuses to submit to their twisted games and is about to fight back before she is forced to join. 

      I went into Inverted completely blind as to what it was aside from what was included in the email when I was asked to review it. I prefer to go into a movie knowing absolutely nothing about it to avoid preconceived notions or ideas about the film. This worked in favor for Inverted. I enjoyed it quite a bit but it's an indie production that is far from perfect. The acting in this one is great. The cast features a wide range of characters, and the cast does a great job at portraying them. The film has several standout performances from names like Destinie Orndoff, Dixie Gers, Maria Olsen, Susan Lanier, and Bryan Kruse just to name a few. However, the two that really stood out to me were Jennifer Nagle and Kaici Lore. These two were amazing together. Their energy matched each other and the way they fed off each other made their scenes even more enjoyable. The story for this one is predictable and repetitive but I found myself enjoying it for the most part. I loved the characters and how developed they are along with the location that the story mostly takes place. Any horror film set in the woods plays on my love for the mountains in which I grew up. When you toss in the cult angle then you have my full undivided attention. I was fully invested in Inverted, but I did find it to be very predictable and the torture scenes did get a bit repetitive. In fact, some of them could have been cut and it would have no impact on the overall story. Finally, the film has a lot of blood and several deaths but nothing that will really stand out with the viewer. The gags that we do get are classic effects like the notched machete and slit throat but that's the extent of it. Overall, Inverted is a solid attempt at paying tribute to a time when films about Satan were very common. I enjoyed it as it is, but I would have loved to see some memorable deaths and some of the scenes trimmed down. Check it out.

Lust, Magic, and the Witches' Sabbath

Director - Andrew J. Chambers (Attack of the 50 Foot Sphincter, After School Lunch Special)

Starring - Morrigan Thompson (Debbie Does Demons, Karate Ghost), Ivy Smith (Attack of the 50 Foot CamGirl, Giantess Battle Attack), and Raven Foyt (After School Lunch Special 2: Sloppy Seconds, Babezilla vs. The Zombie Whorde)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in middle school the world went fucking crazy for The Blair Witch Project. I remember kids arguing at lunch and recess about it being real. While I was still one of those kids that fully thought wrestling was real, I never bought into the hype that The Blair Witch Project was real. My argument was always that if people really died would they be showing it in theaters? When I finally watched it I remember thinking it didn't live up to the hype but it wasn't the worst movie that I had seen. My biggest problem with the film was the lack of witches. I was looking forward to a film centered around a witch and all I got was three assholes arguing with one another for an hour or so. The horror genre rarely gets films that are worth a damn centered around witches in a traditional sense. We may get one every couple of years to enjoy and that may be pushing it. That's why I was so fucking excited to see A.J. Chamber's Lust, Magic, and the Witches' Sabbath. An indie horror film about witches starring one of my favorite indie horror scream queens Morrigan Milam (Thompson). I want to thank A.J. for sending this one over!

      The film follows a young woman who moves out of her family home wanting to get her life started without her mother's help. She befriends a witch in her new town and is invited to join her coven. However, another young woman in the area has turned to religion after a traumatic childhood. Now she has plans of eradicating the witches from her hometown. 

      I knew very little about Lust, Magic, and the Witches' Sabbath prior to watching it aside from what the title suggested. I went into this one blind, and I found myself struggling until the last half of the film. I didn't care for the film during the first 30 minutes or so but once the film gained traction, I found myself really digging it. The acting in this one is very well done. Morrigan is one of my favorite indie actresses and she never disappoints. This film is no exception. I struggled with the characters and found myself not liking most of them, but her character was very down to Earth and grounded. I also liked Attack of the 50 Foot CamGirl's Ivy Smith. She is almost unrecognizable here and does a phenomenal job. In fact, her performance is probably the best in the film. With that being said, the remainder of the characters are lacking in development. The cast does a great job with what they were given but the characters are flat and not that likable. The story for this one is exactly what I'm looking for when I hit play on a horror flick about witches. We have the witches' holding ceremonies in the woods, nudity, Satan, and heavy religious elements. I absolutely loved this story, but it is a little back end heavy. The last half saves the film while the first half is a bit difficult to finish. Some editing a little more action in the first part would have helped the flow of the film. Also, a little more time on developing the characters would have gone a long way as well. Finally, this isn't a bloody film. It focuses mor on the characters and their interactions more than blood and gore. We go get a fair bit of nudity so that is a plus. Overall, Lust, Magic, and the Witches' Sabbath is a sexy yet extremely slow film about witches and deep seeded religion. I enjoyed it and I think you will too if you stick with it. Check it out.

The Abomination

Director - Bret McCormick (Blood on the Badge, Children of Dracula)

Starring - Scott Davis (Roller Blade, Ozone: The Attack of the Redneck Mutants), Jude Johnson (Tabloid, Broken Promise), and Blue Thompson (The Real American, Highway to Hell)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Tumorous parasitic beasts are nesting in the bowels of their victims..."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school, I frequented the message boards at Upcoming Horror Movies. By frequented I mean I fucking loved on that message board. I met some of my closest friends there along with so many films that I love. It was a huge part of my high school years, and a good chunk of my collection came from recommendations and suggestions of other members from the message board. One film I was suggested was the 1986 Bret McCormick flick The Abomination. I had tried for years to snag a copy of this film on any format and failed miserably. I was constantly getting reminded of it from various horror groups I'm in and so forth but never found a copy for a decent price. That changed recently when Visual Vengeance was able to put the film out on blu. I had to finally see this one, so I reached out to them, and they were kind enough to send a copy my way for review. I want to thank VV for sending this one my way. 

      The film follows a young man who takes care of his ill mother. She is extremely religious and seeks the help of her preacher instead of modern science. Her preacher tells her that she has a tumor in her lungs, and they pray for her. That night she coughs up the tumor and places it in the trash where it proceeds to crawl out in order to look for a new host. It finds her son and crawls inside where it lays more "spores" which drives him to murder all those around him so he can feed them. 

      I knew The Abomination wasn't going to be a horror film that was well put together with the best acting I had laid my eyes on with a story that would leave me in tears. I knew it was a no budget S.O.V. flick from Bret McCormick but I couldn't stop my imagination from running wild. After finally seeing the film all these years later I can safely say that it was worth the wait. While it may not be for every horror fan, I absolutely loved it. The acting in this one is far from the worst I have seen but it's pretty standard for no budget S.O.V. horror films of the late 80s. The cast is really into the film and the characters are pretty one dimensional, but they really try. It is shown in each scene, but it is easily forgettable. The story for this one is something that feels like it was written specifically for me. An extremely religious mother infected with some sort of tumor-like creature that lays its spawn in her son is nothing short of brilliant. The film doesn't go on for too long and ends when it should. Finally, the effects in this one make the film. The tumor, the death scenes, all of it look great especially when you consider the film's budget. That was the most impressive aspect of the film and the thing that sticks with you days after watching it. Overall, The Abomination is a must own for genre fans and this release from Visual Vengeance needs to be on collector's shelves. Check it out.

Night of the Demons 2

Director - Brian Trenchard-Smith (Leprechaun 3, Atomic Dog)

Starring - Amelia Kinkade (Night of the Demons, Road House), Jennifer Rhodes (Slumber Party Massacre II, Ghost Fever), and Merle Kennedy (Dollman, May)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Angela's throwing another party.  Trick or treat, sucker"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The first Night of the Demons is a film that I had seen numerous times over the years and often recommend to genre fans looking Halloween centered films for their October watch lists. I’ve upgraded the film to various formats over the years and the recent UHD release from Scream Factory is fantastic. While I’ve seen this movie countless times over the years, I can count on one hand the times I’ve seen Night of the Demons 2. I snagged the Olive Films DVD release many years ago and watched it a couple times since then but I always forget about it. Honestly, I like the sequel and I wish I would watch it along with the original more often. Recently, my wish came true when Scream Factory sent over a copy of Night of the Demons 2 on blu with their UHD release of the first film. I want to take a moment to thank them for sending it over! 

      The film picks up several years after the events of the first film. Angela’s sister Mouse is now attending a Catholic school for troubled youths after her parents killed themselves the year prior. Angela has been missing since the murders and the locals has contributed local legends to her and Hull House. The school is preparing for a dance but a group of them has decided to sneak off and party with some locals where they find themselves at Hull House. Mouse doesn’t want to be there but the longer she is she realizes that Angela is still there and something evil is in control of her. 

      Night of the Demons 2 is a solid continuation of the first film. While it’s not as good as the first film it still scratches that itch for a follow up that fans of the first film wanted. Honestly, I like it and really should be running a double feature every time I watch the first film. The acting in this one really surprised me. No matter how many times I watch this one I’m still surprised by Christine Taylor. She’s appeared in a few genre titles like The Craft, Scary Movie 5, Campfire Tales, and Here Come the Munsters but most don’t associate her with horror. That may be why her performance here stands out so much to me. While the characters are just as cliched as the first film, I find myself drawn to them more in this film. Their personalities stand out so much and the cast is amazing. Amelia Kinkade returns as Angela, the late Zoe Trilling delivers a fantastic and sexy performance, and the rest of the cast is just as great. The story for this one is a solid continuation of the first film but it does have it’s goofy moments. Having Angela return along with possessing more teens looking to party really fits the theme of the first film. However, having the demons cross the underground stream that was said to be a barrier they can’t cross by having a character steal the lipstick from the infamous scene in the first one is lazy writing in my opinion. Having the demons follow them in a more demonic manner would have made more sense instead of them attaching themselves to boob-lipstick. That’s really my only complaint with the story as the rest of it works. Finally, the film once again delivers some great practical and make-up effects. The deaths look great and the effects rival the ones seen in the first film. They look fantastic, fit the film, and deliver some humor which I was not expecting. While the film does lack a memorable scene like the lipstick-boob scene it still has fantastic effects. Overall, Night of the Demons 2 is a great follow up to a classic horror film. It may not reach the heights of it’s predecessor it still delivers. I highly recommend it.

Knock at the Cabin

Director - M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Split)

Starring - Dave Bautista (Glass Onion, Guardians of the Galaxy), Jonathan Groff (The Matrix Resurrections, Mindhunter), and Ben Aldridge (Pennyworth, Thrive)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Save your family or save humanity.  Make the choice"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Genre fans are quick to hate specific filmmakers and they are extremely vocal about it on social media. I’ve had an online presence since my first year in high school in the earl 2000s and every day since then I’ve see hate for filmmakers like Eli Roth, Rob Zombie, and M. Night Shyamalan. I was in middle school, I believe, when The Sixth Sense was released. I remember renting it and really like it. Since then Shyamalan has released countless genre classics like Unbreakable, Split, Old, and Glass among several more. Personally, I think his films are a lot of fun but I do find humor and basis for a lot of the complaints that many have with his work. A few weeks back I received a copy of Knock at the Cabin on UHD for review. I completely forgot he had released a new film and I couldn’t wait to finally check it out! 

      The film follows a gay couple and their daughter as they stay in a cabin deep in the woods as a getaway. Things take an unusual turn when four people arrive armed and requesting they let them in. They are reluctant and suspect that it’s locals who oppose their lifestyle. However, the four find their way in brandishing weapons and telling them that they have to make a serious decision and if they chose not to then the world as they know it would end. The couple does not believe them but as time moves on they start killing their own one by one as natural disasters are being reported on the news. 

      When it gets down to one person left the couple starts to question if they are indeed telling the truth or this is a sick game where everyone loses. I know it’s cool to hate on Shyamalan in certain circles and, while his plot twists are legendary and easily mocked, I still thoroughly enjoy his films. I wouldn’t say they are among my favorite but I do enjoy watching them. With that being said, there is two or three of his more recent films that I’ve missed but I will circle around to them eventually. While Knock at the Cabin is not on the same level as Split to me it was a great film and among one of his best. It satisfies from the cast through the story and practical effects. The acting in this one is great. I knew Dave Batista was in this one from the original promo material but I had no idea that Rupert Grint was in the film. Both are fantastic but the entire cast deserves praise from the very young Kristen Cui, who shows experience beyond her age, to the rest of the cast. The cast is surprisingly small but everyone delivers an amazing performance. I’m still impressed by how intense Batista was at times. I had already outgrown wrestling by the time Batista made his debut so my only knowledge of him was from Guardians of the Galaxy. However, he absolutely shattered all my expectations I had for him. He has some serious acting chops. The story for this one takes the horror stereotype of cabins in the woods and adds the religious horror aspect to it. I really appreciate the addition of religious horror, especially when it’s around Christianity and how far it drives certain people, when it is done right. Knock at the Cabin blends that with a home invasion story in a sense while a family is secluded in a cabin. Honestly, it works but it could be set anywhere and it’s because of this that we can easily have a sequel following the same premise. I loved it and I seriously hope we get a follow up. Finally, the film was surprisingly violent. It has a great built up to the deaths and once it hits it doesn’t let up. A good bit is done off screen but it makes good use of practical and visual effects. The deaths fit the film perfectly but they don’t necessarily stand out. Overall, Knock at the Cabin may not be the type of horror film most genre fans are looking for but I personally enjoyed it. It has a great cast, a solid story, and some violent deaths. Fans of Shyamalan should really check it out.

Heartland of Darkness

Director - Eric Swelstad (Frankenstein Rising, The Curse of Lizzie Borden 2: Prom Night)

Starring - Dino Tripodis (Criminal Minds, The Funny Man), Nick Baldasare (Road Meat, They Bite), and Shanna Thomas 

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "An evil place between Heaven and Hell... the sanctuary of death"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5): 

     I’m a huge fan of Wild Eye Releasing so it was a no brainer when they announced their sister company Visual Vengeance to release S.O.V. horror flicks. I’ve worked with Wild Eye in the past and love their dedication to the genre, so I was looking forward their new label. So far, I’ve been very impressed with the releases. Most were first time watches for me and the special features and additions in the releases are fantastic for collectors. Back in October or so it was announced that the Visual Vengeance would be releasing Heartland of Darkness starring Linnea Quigley. I had never heard of this one but the press release and trailer sold me on it. I tried to secure a review copy around the time it was released and was unable to but last month Wild Eye sent a copy over to check out. After watching the classic Bubba Ho-Tep on UHD I decided to follow it up with something I had never seen before. I decided it was the perfect time to check out Heartland of Darkness. I want to thank Wild Eye for sending this one over. 

      The film follows a man and his teenage daughter that move to a small town to run the local newspaper. Within the first few days he is responding to a mutilated body found in the woods near town. He meets the shady priest that is very pushy and suspects something is going behind closed doors but is unable to prove it until his new journalist, who is actually and undercover agent investigating Satanic cults, starts pointing it out to him. When he stumbles into a shrine in the back room of one of the businesses he quickly finds himself at the center of the cult, who is parading as a Catholic church, and must fight to save his daughter before she can be their next sacrifice for the dark lord. 

      I absolutely loved Heartland of Darkness. I know trolls and edgelords will be scurrying to the comment section ready to throw down about how I was paid to write this, and the film wasn’t that good. The thing is, the film is that good. It was a lot of fucking fun especially if you dig S.O.V. horror. Hell, even if you don’t it still hits the spot if you are looking for a late-night horror fix. The acting in this one is was surprisingly well done. When I toss in a classic S.O.V. title I expect to find a film made by friends or family in their backyard with the family camcorder. Not all S.O.V. flicks are like that but that’s the mindset I often find myself in. This one has a fantastic cast and sizeable amount of screen time from Linnea Quigley. I was expecting to only see her in the film for a few minutes, but she is actually in the film for a bit and doesn’t disappoint. With that being said, the rest of the cast really surprised me. The film’s stars Dino Tripodis, Nick Baldasare, and Shanna Thomas really make the film. They are fully invested in the film and do a fantastic job. The same can be said about the supporting cast. Some inexperience rears it’s ugly head from time to time but that doesn’t ruin the experience. I really liked the story, but I did find it to be a little too goofy at times. The idea of a cult parading around as Christians killing those that get in their way while offering sacrifices to Satan in a small town really pulled me in. I liked the idea of the small town coming together to form an evil cult especially when you consider that this was made during the waning years of the Satanic Panic scare that left suburban parents trembling. With that being said, parts of the story, like the part where the government is investigating clusters of cults in small towns across the U.S. I found the Satanic cult aspect to be a little far-fetched and that’s coming from someone who was raised in the tail end of the Satanic Panic and know several people in the Satanic Church. Regardless, I liked it but a different type of cult would have been more enjoyable. Finally, the film has a few death scenes but nothing that would stick out to avid genre fans. We get some weak make-up effects and the kills rely mostly on the viewer’s imagination rather than practical effects. Overall, Heartland of Darkness is a must see for fans of S.O.V. horror. I fucking loved it and I love this release from Visual Vengeance. I can’t recommend this one enough. Do yourself a favor and check out this early 90s Satanic fun.

Don't Deliver Us from Evil

Director - Joel Seria (Charlie and His Two Chicks, Black Sequence)

Starring - Jeanne Goupil (Cookies, Fresh Bait), Catherine Wagener (One Mystery a Day, Desirella), and Bernard Dheran (Escape to Nowhere, Tarzoon: Shame of the Jungle)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Horror/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’m a huge fan of exploitation cinema. I was introduced to them at a young age when my dad bought a box of VHS tapes from a peddler at a gas station when we were traveling out of state. I convinced him to buy them when I saw a few movies that caught my eye. This was my introduction to blaxploitation. I never fully explored exploitation cinema until I was an adult, but I find myself getting more and more excited to review exploitation over horror. I’ll never turn my back on my beloved genre but watching movies that go against normal cinema is so rewarding. Several weeks ago, I received three releases from Mondo Macabro. All three looked like great international horror releases. Before I could watch them, I received another Mondo Macabro release several days later. This was 1971 French exploitation flick looked right up my alley. The film, Don’t Deliver Us from Evil is a movie I was familiar with but had never seen before and couldn’t wait to check it out. Like always, I want to thank CAV and Mondo Macabro for sending this one over. 

      The film follows two young girls who attend a catholic school. Their parents are wealthy and very strict but they find themselves going against everything they were taught. The pair are very mischievous and often pulling mean pranks on their classmates. They started turning their back on their school teachings and believe they are in league with Satan so when one of them finds themselves alone in their home for some time the other secretly moves in with her where they go on a rampage through the countryside. They tease an older man with an eye for school aged girls before pranking him. They then prank the school’s groundskeeper and eventually find their way up to murdering a tourist who breaks down near their home. 

      I went into Don’t Deliver Us from Evil excited. It’s not often that Mondo Macabro releases a movie that I’ve heard about so I was really looking forward to finally seeing a film that has been on my radar for some time especially after seeing how many of my movie friends have liked it. Sadly, I was not a fan of this one. I found myself liking the idea behind it but not fully committed to the story. I wanted to like it but it was just too dull and long winded for my taste. The acting in this one is very well done. The cast all look very comfortable in front of the camera and the young female leads are great as well. They work so well together and the characters you bring to life are what makes the film as enjoyable as it is. I liked their energy and the characters they portray when compared to the other characters. The story for this one should be so much more fun. I think the story would have had a bigger impact on the viewer if the girls were much older and it fully embraces the whole sinning for Satan aspect. As it is, it just doesn’t shock or hit like it could have been. Also, the drawn-out scenes with little to no dialogue with the two girls scheming just didn’t work for me. It was a dull watch. Finally, this is not a violent film or a sleazy one for that matter. If you are looking for blood or skin, you will be surely disappointed. Overall, Don’t Deliver Us from Evil wasn’t what I was expecting but I couldn’t help but think of the movie it could have been. It was decent for a first time watch but I really want to see the movie I thought I was going to watch. Check it out if you dig other Mondo Macabro releases.