Tainted Blood

Director - David Hinds (Garden Tool Massacre, The House on Cuckoo Lane)

Starring - Bindweed (The House on Cuckoo Lane), Teddy Boy Glover, and David Hinds

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The past will destroy them all"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The last few years I've been lucky enough to review a couple films from indie filmmaker David Hinds.  The films were released by SRS Cinema and though I didn't care for these films I still had fun watching them.  Watching movies is an experience for me and even though I don't like a movie I still have fun watching and seeing someone's ideas unfold on screen.  I wasn't a fan of Garden Tool Massacre and The House on Cuckoo Lane but there was parts of the films that I was grateful to see.  When I saw that SRS was releasing another Hinds flick I was all for it.  I know his films missed the mark before but it's always cool to watch a no indie release.  I reached out to MVD, who was handling the DVD for SRS, and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a drug addict with no moral compass and an insatiable need to indulge in his addictions.  A local organized crime enforcer forces him to produce and shoot snuff films or face the same fate as those he butchers.  He reluctantly agrees and soon the bodies pile up and the money pours in for his exploits.  

     I really did like the idea behind Tainted Blood but the execution and editing made it extremely difficult to enjoy.  It was as if the film borrowed heavily from Tarantino while trying to bring about a bloody and violent no budget horror film centered around snuff.  It had some fun and interesting ideas behind it but the execution was all wrong.  The acting in this one is a little awkward at times.  The cast is all in and they do try.  You can see their passion and dedication in each and every scene but the cast is so stiff and inexperienced that several scenes are awkward to watch.  I do see some promise in most of the cast with a little more experience and direction but the scenes in this one are a little too tough even for no budget backyard standards.  The story for this one has so much promise.  The idea of a junky forced to make snuff by the local organized crime members is something that would have the most dedicated extreme horror fans salivating at the bit.  I'm not much on extreme horror but do find myself pulled to the ones with a fun story.  This one had a great set up for a fantastic story driven extreme horror film.  However, these drawn out scenes that are dialogue heavy with very little that arte relevant to the story really breaks the mood of the film and chips away at the pacing.  A lot of this should have been removed to make the film more enjoyable and easier to follow.  Finally, the film has some great gore and bloody deaths.  The effects look great and the film doesn't rush through them. We get to enjoy them for what they are worth.  The kills are not that memorable but they look great.  Overall, Tainted Blood had the right idea but the end result falls very short from it's intended mark.  Honestly, I would love to see Hinds and company revisit this one later with a little more patience and more experience from the cast. It has so much potential to be the next big extreme hit.    

     

Brimstone Incorporated

Director(s) - James L. Edwards (Her Name Was Christa) and Brad Twigg (Killer Campout, Deathboard)

Starring - Drew Frontier (Frames of Fear 3, Her Name Was Christa), Rick Jermain (Milfs vs. Zombies, Bigfoot!), and James L. Edwards

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Three tales of terror worth the price of your soul!"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Over the last few months I've saw actor and filmmaker James L. Edwards (Polymorph, Bloodletting) post about his new feature Brimstone Incorporated on social media.  I was really digging the poster for this one and I was already sold on the film after watching his directorial debut Her Name Was Christa.  A few days ago I was asked to share the blu release of the film on the site from filmmaker Brad Twigg when I discovered this new film was an anthology and Twigg had directed one of the segments.  Brad was kind enough to send over a link to the screener for me to check out.  I'm glad he did because I fucking loved this film.  So much so that right before I typed this review I went ahead and ordered the blu.

     The film follows Gregory (Frontier) who is over bringing in the recently deceased to process for hell.  When he gets in a new "client" he has them tell him their story.  The first client of the day is a young man who was on a first date from hell with an extremely religious and rude woman.  When the date goes south he find's his date becoming violent before she pulls out a gun.  She kills several of the people in the diner.  As he lays dying he finds himself being helped by a young man only to discover it was his date's former lover who is finishing her job.  The second client is a young man who was having a hard time with the ladies.  Every time he found himself getting close to a woman she would up and disappear.  What he doesn't know is that his mother was killing them and she was once part of a suicide cult but tried to leave when she was pregnant with him.  The third and final client is the brother of a man who was a recluse who received a special kind bud from his brother.  The bud, along with a scheduled fumigation, sends him over the edge tripping hard.  When he fails to answer the phone, his brother goes to check on him and dies on the way there.  

     I knew nothing about Brimstone Incorporated prior to viewing it aside from the fact that it was an anthology flick.  I went into this one completely blind and fucking loved it.  The acting and the stories really made this one stand out.  I fucking loved it and if you are a fan of good horror anthologies then I highly recommend this one.  The acting in this one is great.  Every segment was well done.  Frontier was phenomenal as the sleazy corporate goon over interviewing the recently deceased.  I really loved the character and the energy he gave him.  The director of the wrap around segment and two of the stories, James L. Edwards, does a fantastic job as the start of the first story.  He is a phenomenal actor and once again demonstrates his skill on screen.  I also enjoyed Rick Jermain's performance as the reclusive stoner.  He was fantastic and I really liked his character.  I've seen him in other films and there was a few performances he delivered that came across as a little forced but this one was very grounded.  With all that being said, Shianne Daye made the film for me.  Her character was fucking intense and absolutely the center of attention.  The stories for this one are fun but some fit better than others.  The wraparound segment sells the film in my opinion.  It was such a simple gimmick that really bookends the stories very well.  Also, all three segments were great.  The first segment really worked with the film and fit beautifully.  The second segment worked as well and took the film into the occult direction.  I really dig stories like this and would have loved to see more of it.  The third segment is probably my favorite of the film but it's the one that is a little out of place.  I know the point of the story, the fumigation and what not, but it's essentially a little creature story at heart that really should have embraced it.  Maybe I'm being a little too hard on it because it was my favorite but I would have loved it more if it would have went that direction.  Finally, the film has some blood and well done practical effects.  The film isn't that gory but if you are look for some fun kills and decent make-up effects then I highly suggest giving this one a spin.  Overall, Brimstone Incorporated is a fantastic horror anthology that is a lot of fun.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  You will not be disappointed.  

     

I Was a Teenage Serial Killer

Director - Sarah Jacobson (Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore)

Starring - Kristen Bree Calabrese (Gone for a Week), Phil Calabrese, and Corey

Release Date - 1993

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "See the horror of righteous dismemberment! Feel the triumph when sexist pigs are wasted! Hear the screams of terror! Join Mary, America's favorite female serial killer, who kills off dumb men."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I know most of the horror fans out there will be bitching and moaning that I reviewed a non-horror movie during the month of October but my goal with Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore was to check it out so I could move on to the second film in the set which is Jacobson's 1993 horror short I Was a Teenage Serial Killer.  I was so impressed by MJNaVA and I couldn't wait to dive into this horror short from Jacobson.  

     The film follows Mary (Calabrese) who is your typical woman until she discovers that men are pigs.  As she roams the streets she finds different shitty men to kill ranging from guys she's sleeping with who take their condoms off, men who catcall, and serial killers who kill men and women.

     I wasn't expecting a film as fun and enthralling as Jacobson's feature film but this one was a solid short that did enough to hold my attention.  I enjoyed it enough and I could see myself tossing both films in for something to watch when I can't make my mind up.  It was entertaining but wasn't without it's own flaws.  The acting in this one is indie quality.  The cast really dedicates themselves to their roles but inexperience rears it's ugly head.  I like the characters and Calabrese's portrayal of a feminist serial killer but some of the scenes are a little on the goofy side.  The story for this one is very effective as a short but it's not without a few unintentional laughs.  It fills the time wisely and works.  Finally, the film has a few kills with some blood.  The effects are minimal but have that no budget charm that most indie horror fans can appreciate.  They are nothing special and rather forgettable but they work for the film.  Overall, I Was a Teenage Serial Killer is a fun no budget experience.  Most fans of horror and underground will appreciate the simplicity of the film.  It's flawed but hits the right spot.  

Dahmer

Director - David Jacobson (Tomorrow You're Gone, Down in the Valley)

Starring - Jeremy Renner (The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Bruce Davison (X-Men, Creepshow), and Artel Great (Save the Last Dance, 24)

Release Date - 2002

Genre - Crime/Thriller

Tagline - "One man, 17 bodies.  His story is finally told"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's weird how you can look back at times and remember what was your favorite movies during certain parts of your life.  When I was in high school I was obsessed with Night of the Living Dead (original and Savini's remake), Dawn of the Dead (the remake would come out in a few years), and the Evil Dead trilogy.  However, the movies Cemetery Man, Zombie 2, The Dead Next Door, Skinned Alive, House of 1000 Corpses, and Ed Gein (not the Kane Hodder flick) would play a huge part of my life during this years.  My close friend was a huge fan of the Ed Gein film and we would often watch it.  I really enjoyed it but he was borderline obsessed with it.  This love opened the door to other serial killer flicks from around the same time.  Movies like Gacy, Dahmer, Bundy, and The Hunt for the BTK Killer.  A few days ago I was surprised to get the 2002 film Dahmer from MVD for review.  This Jeremy Renner starring film was released as part of their MVD Marquee line.  Thanks MVD for sending this one over!

     The film follows factory worker Jeffrey Dahmer (Renner) who lures gay men to his apartment with promises of alcohol where he drugs them.  Once unconscious, he fulfills his sexual desires and curiosities with them which sometimes triggers flashbacks to previous exploits and adventures that lead him to this point in his life.

     I remember watching Dahmer a few times when I was in high school but I don't remember my impressions of the film.  However, after revisiting it all these years later I have to say that I honestly didn't care for it.  There is several things that the film did right but the overall film was just messing and chaotic.  The acting in this one is pretty well done.  Renner has made a name for himself as an amazing actor with starring power but the relatively unknown Renner in 2002 delivered a phenomenal job as the notorious serial killer.  The supporting cast is solid and deliver some noteworthy performances but Renner really brings it home with his portrayal of the deranged and calculating killer.  The story for this one is not in chronological order and told in a series of flashbacks.  They are unpredictable and break the flow of the film up.  The scene starts out by setting itself up and setting the tone then completely derails itself with a flashback.  There has to be another way to approach the flashbacks without destroying the integrity of the film.  Finally, this film inspired by one of the most notorious serial killers in America history is rather dry of blood.  The film is very character and story driven which spends most of the film getting to know Dahmer and not really how he did what he did so those wanting blood will be disappointed.  Overall, Dahmer is a bit of a let down.  It has some entertaining moments but the story is a bit messy and the lack of blood really makes it a tough one to finish.  The blu does look good and, as a collector, I really like having it on my shelf but I doubt I will be revisiting it.  

Terror 5

Director(s) - Sebastian Rotstein (Rabbit 105, Historias Breves 8) and Federico Rotstein (Rabbit 105, Historias Breves 8)

Starring - Airas Alban, Augusto Alvarez, and Naiara Awada (27: The Cursed Club, Cherry Pie)

Release Date - 2016

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "This all happened, more or less"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

          I haven't been movie watching like I normally do.  Instead, I've found myself addicted to Pubg again.  I know this game is buggy as fuck and needs reworked but I absolutely love it and the deployment of bots added even more fun to it.  After taking a week off from reviewing I decided it was time to watch a few movies.  After watching a few Artsploition flicks I decided to give the action thriller Bloodshot a watch.  When it let me down I decided to give another Artsploitation flick a spin.  This time I went with the 2016 Argentinian horror film Terror 5.  I want to take a moment to thank Artsploitation for sending this movie my way!

     The film consists of 5 stories interwoven together and taking place in the same town.  The first follows two teens on a date where they visit their school.  The dude is under the impression he is going to get laid but uncovers that she is into something a bit more darker than he would like.  The second story follows an unlikable couple that try to spice things up in the bedroom so they visit a hotel to add a little kink to their sex life but find something much more.  The third story follows a bullied teen who has had enough and kills his "friends" that pick on him.  The fourth follows two ladies men that want to girlfriend swap but quickly discover that is not for them.  The fifth and final story for this one follows a corrupt politician responsible for several deaths.  Those that died return from the grave to seek revenge.

      I was really excited about this one.  I had seen some of the images from the film that was sent with the press release and it looked fucking awesome.  However, once the film starts you quickly realize that the film may have some impresses imagery and camerawork but lacks on substance.  The acting in this one is pretty solid but the cast's talent is lost in the clunky characters they portrayed and the film's choppy editing.  Honestly, the living characters are really hard to like.  The viewer is just waiting for them to meet their demise.  The stories for this one has potential, for the most part, but just doesn't do it for me.  The first story could be a real sick masterpiece but takes a bit of a soft approach to it.  I could see it taking a real Serbian Film route but we don't get that.  The last story with the undead is by far my favorite of the film.  It's a slow moving classic take on zombies that I really enjoyed but the segment is just too short to truly appreciate it.  Finally, the film has some brutal deaths and solid practical effects but they are not the center point of the segment.  They just roll on through with the story while the horror hands looking for blood are forced to ride along.  The viewer doesn't get to really enjoy these scenes.  Overall, Terror 5 has some very entertaining ideas but they are delivered in a painfully bland manner resulting in an forgettable anthology.  Skip it.