Aatma

Director - Deepak Ramsay (The Fridge, Ramsay House - The Fantasy World)

Starring - Kapil Jhaveri (Ishq Vishk, Saawan... The Love Season), Shabana Raza (Karam, Fiza), and Ranjha Vikram Singh (Hostel, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel)

Release Date - 2006

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Death walks at midnight"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I owe a lot of my love to Bollywood and Hindi horror to Mondo Macabro.  They were not the company that introduced me to these films but this company single handedly kept me in supply of them.  I love their library of Bollywood films and look forward to every release sent over for review.  A few weeks back Mondo Macabro sent me several of their new releases to review and one of them just happened to be the Hindi horror Aatma, or The Ghost, from 2006.  This is one I had heard of before but never had the chance to check out until now.  I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAV for sending this one along for review!

     The film follows a young woman from a wealthy family who finds herself married to a well renowned doctor.  Sometime after their marriage he is confronted by some thugs and forced to sign a falsified death certificate.  The spirit of the deceased vows revenge and possesses the young woman in order to get to her husband.

     I went into this one very excited only to find myself extremely underwhelmed.  I seriously wanted to like this one but it was clear that the charm that made the 80s and early 90s Hindi horror so much fun was long gone by the 2000s.  The acting in this one is not campy or cheesy as the other Bollywood horror that I've reviewed.  These performances are serious but not necessarily better.  The characters are severely cliched and generic which made the characters very unlikable.  The cast does very little to give these characters any sort of personality.  The story for this one is very predictable.  It reminded me a lot of the previous Bollywood and Indonesian horror films that I recently reviewed.  We follow someone young and pretty that is possessed by something evil due to the sins of someone else.  It's predictable and not that thrilling.  I seriously wish the film had more originality.  Finally, I really did like the make-up effects that we get along with the look of several scenes.  With that being said, the deaths, at least the ones we can see, are not that fun.  Much like most of the film, we have zero originality and amazing effects.  Overall, Aatma is a forgettable film that gives the viewer absolutely nothing.  I wanted to like it but it was a tough one to finish.  Skip it.  

The Queen of Black Magic

Director - Liliek Sudjio (Jaka Swara, Dendam Jumat Kliwon)

Starring - Suzzanna (The Earth Gets Hotter, Pact with the Forces of Darkness), W.D. Mochtar (Revenge of the Ninja, Hell Raiders), and Teddy Purba (Ratu Buaya, Sengatan Kobra)

Release Date - 1981

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A chilling tale of magic battles and terrifying demons"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several weeks ago I was introduced to several films that featured Indonesian horror queen Suzzanna when my friends over at Severin Films sent me a box set featuring several of her films.  I was impressed by most of the films and could see myself actually revisiting a couple of them in the near future.  Not too long after I got them for review, I received a few films from my friends over at Mondo Macabro one of those films just happened to be another film featuring Suzzanna.  The film, 1981's The Queen of Black Magic, was the movie that continuously popped up while I was researching movies for her which really made me excited to check out this release.  I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAV for sending this one over.  

     The film follows a woman who is suspected of being a witch when her ex and his soon to be bride suffer several inconveniences on their wedding day.  They toss her off a cliff where she is left for dead when she is rescued by a stranger.  He nurses her back to health and teaches her in the way of black magic so she can get her revenge on those that accused her of being a witch in the first place.  

     Honestly, I don't have a lot to say about Suzzanna that I haven't already said in the previous reviews of her films.  She was an extremely talented actress that is severely underrated when it comes to the horror genre and cinema in general.  The Queen of Black Magic is easily my favorite film starring the Indonesian treasure.  It may not be her best performance, which it's not, but it's easily her most enjoyable film.  The acting in this one is solid enough to make the film work.  The characters are very bold which gives the cast a lot to work with.  However, they are not as campy or exaggerated as a lot of the other films I've seen of hers with the Bollywood inspiration.  I very much enjoyed the story but I would have appreciated it a lot more if it was the first Suzzanna film I had reviewed.  Instead, it was very similar to several other films of hers where someone was wronged and came back with the help of demons, the supernatural, or magic.  It's not that original by today's standards but I'm sure it was a lot of fun for early 80s Indonesia.  Finally, we have some blood and make-up effects but the deaths are not as memorable as I was hoping for.  I did like the look of them and how they fit the film but they just did not stand out as I would have liked.  The potential was there but not capitalized on.  Overall, The Queen of Black Magic is the film that made Suzzanna a household name in Indonesia and an underrated horror star.  While the film was underwhelming after binging half a dozen of her films weeks prior, I still enjoyed it and highly recommend adding this release to your collection.  Check it out.

     

Purani Haveli

Director(s) - Shyam Ramsay (Saboot, Hotel) and Tulsi Ramsay (Om, Police Mattu Dada)

Starring - Deepak Parashar (Armaan, Nikaah), Amita Nangia (Ramsay House: The Fantasy World, Islamic Exorcist), and Shubha (N.H. 47, Ravana Rajya)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Mondo Macabro really took care of me here with this fantastic Ramsay Brother's double feature with Tahkhana and Purani Haveli.  Both of these films were first time watches for me and I was really looking forward to it.  After watching the first film, the 1986 film Tahkhana, it was time to dig into the second film on the set which was the 1989 flick Purani Haveli.  This is one I had heard of prior to watching it but I never had the chance to check it out.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending it over.  

     The film follows a young girl who lost her parents in a horrible accident.  She lives with her aunt and uncle who is manipulating her into giving them her inheritance once she is old enough to receive it.  However, they die at a haunted hotel after visiting it for a possible purchase.  The young lady, unaware that her uncle was murdered at the hotel, visits with her friends.  Arriving at the same time is a small time criminal and his lackies looking for a quick score only for them all to learn about the sinister forces in the building. 

     I went into this one almost immediately after watching the first film on the disc and really enjoyed myself.  It's not as well put together and written as Tahkhana but it works as a double feature and stand alone film.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from an 80s Hindi horror movie.  We get some campy performances with a lot of overdramatic acting and high energy.  The characters are not that memorable but the acting is a lot of fun.  The story for this one is a solid creature feature that feels like a haunted house flick at times.  It doesn't really have the suspense and tension that I would expect from a straight forward haunted house flick here in the states but it works. We also have the crime aspect and the devious family portion that adds some layer to the film.  It doesn't feel overwhelming and works with the pacing of the film.  Finally, we once again get some fun make-up effects and blood but the deaths are not as graphic and gory as I would have liked.  The effects look well enough for the film but they are not as entertaining as the rest of the film.  Overall, Purani Haveli is another fun Ramsay Brother's horror movie that I think all genre fans should check out.  It's a lot of fun especially if you dig Hindi horror.  Check it out.  

Tahkhana

Director(s) - Shyam Ramsay (Veerana, Neighbours) and Tulsi Ramsay (Purana Mandir, Telephone)

Starring - Hemant Birje (Smart Killer, Tarzan's Daughter), Kamran Rizvi (Main Hoon Sherni, Din Dahade), and Arti Gupta (Saamri, Haadsaa)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

Format - Blu (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was bitten by the horror bug in middle school and found myself fully embracing the genre by high school.  These years really shaped my taste in horror as I found myself becoming obsessed with no budget and indie productions.  However, as I grow older, I find myself becoming surprised by just how diverse my taste in the genre has become.  Several years back I found  a copy of Mahakaal from Massacre Video.  This movie is known to genre fans as the Indian or Bollywood Freddy Krueger.  I fucking loved it and watched it many times.   This opened me up to more Bollywood horror with companies like Mondo Macabro spearheading this passion.  Sometime ago Mondo Macabro released the Hindi horror double feature with the first film being the 1986 film Tahkhana which was also known as The Dungeon.  I couldn't wait to check it out and like always I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAV for sending this one over.

     The film follows an evil man who dabbles in black magic as he vows to end his family's lineage when his dying father leaves everything to his brother.  He tries to kidnap his niece and nephew but is unable to get them both.  We jump forward several decades and his niece, unaware of her evil uncle, sets out with some friends to investigate a local legend unaware of how close she is to it.

     There is nothing on this planet like Hindi/Bollywood horror and that is something I will stand by the rest of my life.  These movies seem to follow a formula but they are just so much fun especially when compared to their western counterparts.  Tahkhana is another solid and memorable horror outing that is almost as enjoyable as some of the others that I've fell in love with.  The acting in this one is extremely campy in the very best way.  The characters are colorful and very dramatic with the cast doing a wonderful job with their performances.  With that being said, some of the later scenes don't have the energy as the earlier scenes which does take away from the camp. I don't know if everyone was tired or directing was ore laid back but this part of the film just doesn't have what the first two thirds had.  The story for this one is exactly what I would expect from a Hindi horror flick.  We have an evil relative who does black magic, a collective of colorful characters and that wonderful 80s flare.  We do have some pacing issues and the ending not being as energized as the rest of the film but it's still very enjoyable as it is.  Finally, I love the make-up in this one.  The kills have some of the red stuff an simple practical effects but the make-up for the evil uncle just looks awesome. Overall, Tahkhana is great entry in a severally underrated regional genre that many horror fans will never experience.  I highly recommend this film and this release from Mondo Macabro.  Check it out.  

Amityville: Descendants of Darkness

Director(s) - Derek Braasch (Torture the Flesh, Christmas Revenge), Marcelo Fabani (I Slay on Christmas, Doomsday Stories), and James Panetta (Phil Herman's Unearthed, Death in the Dark)

Starring - Vernon Wells (Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Weird Science), Jeremy London (Mallrats, Perversions of Science), and Sandy Johnson (Halloween, The Farmhouse Murder)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Some evils never die... they evolve"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love when the horror genre finds a trend that almost everyone fully embraces.  The Amityville Horror has always been considered a classic among genre fans and I can see why.  I enjoy the film and several of it's official sequels but I don't consider it one of my favorite films.  My favorite part about this film's legacy is all the unofficial sequels and random movies that had Amityville added to the name by distributors at the last minute.  Seriously, just take a moment and go to Tubi.  Just do a little search for Amityville and you will see dozens of films that have absolutely nothing to do with Amityville or it's original story that had the name added to it by a distribution company just to sell a few extra films.  Sometime ago, I'm talking months back, I was asked to review the horror anthology Amityville: Descendants of Darkness by producer Phil Herman.  I wasn't able to get to it right away but made sure to add it to my review list to check out as soon as I could.  I want to thank Phil for sending this one over for review.

     The film features four stories centered around the sinister Amityville house as told by a young woman.  The first tale follows some thieves that try their luck at finding some hidden fortunes in the shed on the Amityville property only to find that they are apart of something far more sinister.  The second tale follows a family that finds themselves in possession of an item from the home where something evil has attached itself to it.  The third story follows a cop tormented by someone he couldn't save.  The last segment follows a family that movies into a new home.  The husband begins to start to slip and they soon learn that their new home was built on the same ground of the original Amityville house.  

     I went into this one kind of excited to check it out.  I recently watched Amityvillnado and really enjoyed it for what it was which made me really look forward to this one.  Sadly, that excitement quickly faded as the film progressed.  I really wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is very uneven and not very consistent.  The segment that bookends the film is probably the best acted short in the film.  The young lady delivering her dialogue is very natural in front of the camera and does a solid job in her role.  the remaining segments are solid for the most part but we have some cast with a lot of experience and some with barely any.  Some of the dialogue in these are forced which did create awkward scenes while others were a bit more natural.  The stories for these segments vary in originality but none really deliver something that pulls you in like the original film and it's official sequels.  In fact, every segment borrows heavily from previously released Amityville films.  The first segment borrows from the 2017 film Amityville Clownhouse where a group of thieves steal from the infamous home.  The second story is much like Amityville: 4: The Evil Escapes and Amityville Vibrator where something from the house, like a lamp from part 4 and a vibrator from AV, found it's way into someone's home bringing the curse with them. The final segment is basically a retelling of the original film while the third segment doesn't really have anything involved with Amityville aside from it being a ghost tale.  We have a lot to dissect in this anthology but none of the segments really stuck with me aside from the last portion of the first segment.  I liked the ending of this one but it didn't do a lot to hold my attention until then.  They were all pretty bland for the most part and extremely difficult to finish.  Finally, the film has some blood in the first segment and some visual effects scattered throughout the rest but it doesn't really offer up much in regards to fun blood and guts.  Overall, Amityville: Descendants of Darkness has some interesting ideas but doesn't come together to offer up anything enjoyable.  Maybe if some of the segments were explored further but it's difficult to finish as is.  Skip it.  

Hantu Ambulance

Director - Nayato Fio Nuala (After School Horror 2, Horror House)

Starring - Suzzanna (White Crocodile Queen, Santet 2), William Alvin, and Dimaz Andrean (Setannya Cuan, El: The Movie)

Release Date - 2008

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Suzzanna returns"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a fan of early 2000s horror.  I was in high school in the early 2000s and this was the time I really found myself becoming obsessed with the genre.  It was during these years that my movie collection grew substantially.  After snagging some must own genre titles, I quickly took a deep dive into indie and no budget cinema.   Companies like Midnight Release, Tempe Video, and so on were my go to.  I never expected that I would be reviewing a late 2000's Indonesian no budget horror film that found it's way into a boxset from my friends over at Severin.  The final film in the Suzzanna: Empress of Darkness is the 2008 supernatural tale Hantu Ambulance.  I want to take a moment and thank Severin for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows a young man who is moving away from his family home to be closer to school.  His grandmother tries to talk him out of it but he is unwilling to listen but soon learns that his family is cursed.  His grandmother made a deal wit ha benevolent force for fortunes if she provides it with a sacrifice.  She did not keep up with her end of the bargain and now it is taking her family from her one by one.

     I had no idea what to expect when I tossed this one in.  I knew it was a newer film but it wasn't until I was putting the review together that I learned that it was Suzzanna's last film and her first feature film in almost 20 years after taking a hiatus to deal with health issues.  Sadly. this is easily the worst film in the set and one that I struggled to finish.  The acting in this one is very awkward.  The Bollywood style camp and cheese that made the first three films in the set so fun are now replaced with a more serious tone.  Most of the cast lacks on screen experience which makes a lot of these "serious" scenes feel a bit awkward.  The cast really tries to get into their roles but the lack of experience and emptions makes many of the scenes unintentionally funny.  The story for this one uses the severely underrated generational curse lore that I've been fortunate enough to read in several novels and stories through the years but rarely see as the focus of film.  This would have works in a J-Horror style film if they didn't toss in the random ambulance storyline with some of the random encounters that take place.  It feels as if the story was never finished and the filmmakers used what resources they had with the little budget left to piece something together.  I seriously wanted to like this story but it's missing so much.  Finally, the film tries to offer some jump scares but they never work and the practical effects that you would expect from a film featuring Suzzanna are nowhere to be found.  The movie doesn't give us the death scenes we would like and the effects we do get are forgettable.  Overall, Hantu Ambulance is a missed opportunity all around from the acting and story to the death scenes.  I sincerely hate that this is the last film Suzzanna appeared in because it's difficult to finish.  I hate to say it but I would skip this one.  

Kliwon Friday Night

Director - Sisworo Gautam Putra (Wolf, Primitif)

Starring - Amit Abidin (The Stabilizer, Revenge of the Ninja), Soendjoto Adibroto (White Crocodile Queen, Pact with the Forces of Darkness), Ali Albar (Diskotik DJ, Satan's Slave)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    The Suzzanna: Empress of Darkness set from Severin Films is one hell of a ride that I was not expecting.  I considered Putra one of my favorite directors for the sole reason that I absolutely adore his film Satan's Slave.  However, after watching a few of the films in this set I can safely say that he may not be my favorite but I still respect the hell out of him.  I've reviewed a few of his films in this and I have to say they are the true definition of what it means when people say a movie is a roller coaster ride.  The movies have so many ups and downs but that doesn't mean they are good.  Hell, by western standards, these films are not that great but I still have fun with them.  I was still excited to check out the next film of his in the Suzzanna set, Kliwon Friday Night.  

     The film follows a struggling author who rents a supposedly haunted house to work on her next piece of fiction.  However, the spirit in the home refuses to give her a chance to write as it immediately starts attacking her and anyone that comes near the property.  

     I knew it wasn't going to be but in the back of my mind I was hoping that I would be in the same vein as Satan's Slave.  I know you are probably sick of me saying it but I fucking love this movie.  Kliwon Friday Night was not like it but it had some of the weirdest moments I've ever seen in a movie.  The acting in this one is pretty consistent with the other films in the set.  We have a lot of campy performances with a lot of energy and unforgettable characters.  While I don't really have a lot more to say about it, I don't necessarily hate the acting but it wasn't what I was hoping for.  The story for this one feels like the movie was shot without a finished script.  We have the basic premise which features the author and a haunted house but the remainder of the film is random scenes, a dance number, and that is about it.  It was fun so don't take that the wrong way but it doesn't really make sense.  Looking back, I bet I would have loved this one a lot more if I had popped a 100mg edible.  Finally, we get some make-up effects but those looking for gore and memorable deaths will be very disappointed.  However, if a dance number with a little person is more your speed then this one is for you.  Overall, Kliwon Friday Night is a mess of a film but if you dig cult cinema like I do then you can appreciate this weird ass movie.  Check it out.  

      

Malam Satu Suro

Director - Sisworo Gautama Putra (Wolf, Sanet)

Starring - Suzzanna (The Earth Gets Hotter, Hantu Ambulance), Fendy Pradana (Valentine, Dia), and Nurnaningsih (Yoan, Cowok Komersil)

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was excited when Severin sent me the Suzzanna: Empress of Darkness set for review.  My knowledge of Indonesian horror is damn near nonexistent but the one film I had seen previously, Satan's Slave, is one of my favorite films.  So far this set has delivered two solid films but neither are close to reaching the level of awesome that Satan's Slave is.  The third film that I decided to watch is the 1988 supernatural horror Malam Satu Suro which just happened to be directed by Sisworo Gautama Putra who also directed Satan's Slave.  This is the second film from Putra that I've seen in this set so far and easily the best film.  I hate to say it again, but it's not as good as Satan's Slave but holy fuck was it still a lot of fun.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows a power being that gives it all up to become human.  She soon falls in love and starts a family but this idylic life is cut short when an evil witch and her cult discover who she really is.  They force her back into her original form which removes her from her family.  Heartbroken and alone, she sets out to kill everyone in the cult responsible for taking her family from her.  

     I will be hard pressed to find  better film in this set.  This is the kind of film that I'm looking for when I snag a Bollywood horror title from the 80s.  While this may be an Indonesian horror release from the late 80s, it was clearly inspired by Indian films of the time.  I enjoyed it for what it was and could see myself possibly revisiting it again if I ever want something to follow up Satan's Slave with.  The acting in this one is probably the most enjoyable out of the set so far.  The characters are very outlandish and generic but the cast really had fun in their roles.  They brought a great deal of energy to the scenes but the characters lack of depth and the cast's inexperience does make some of the intentional humor miss it's mark.  The story for this one is a bit predictable and unpolished but the eccentric characters and wild moments more than makes up for it.  I went into this one expecting it to be similar to the previous two films but I was wrong.  I found myself laughing at the fun characters even though I knew exactly where the story was going.  Honestly, if more time was spent in the writing process then this film would have been untouchable.  Finally, the film has some blood and some fun make-up effects but don't expect a gory affair that will stick with you for days after watching it.  We get some minimal practical effects and some entertaining make-up but that is about the extent of it.  The deaths are rather bland and just blend into the background.  Overall, Malam Satu Suro is a seriously fun supernatural Indonesian horror tale that did make me laugh a few times.  While it's not a film that I can see myself watching over and over again, I do see myself checking it out every couple of years.  Check it out.  

White Crocodile Queen

Director - H. Tjut Djalil (Lady Terminator, Mystics in Bali)

Starring - Suzzanna (The Earth Gets Hotter, Birth in the Grave), Soendjoto Adibroto (Kliwon Friday Night, Samson and Delilah), and Vera Magdalena (Permainan Dibalik Tirai)

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was not familiar with the horror starlit Suzzanna prior to getting the Suzzanna: Empress of Darkness from my friends over at Severin.  I'd be lying if I said I was and I always try to remain honest in my reviews.  I was still excited to check out these films but I was not aware of how important she was to Indonesian horror.  After watching Pact with the Forces of Darkness, I quickly tossed in the second film in the set which was the 1988 film White Crocodile Queen.  Like with all my reviews, I would like to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows a man who steals an amulet that is said to grant those that wield it the power to overtake any crocodile.  For this he is cursed for the next 20 years where both of his sons die.  His only remaining child, his daughter, is now at risk of dying so he turns to a local widow who might have a way to stop the curse.  However, he learns that she is possessed by the ghost of the original owner of the amulet who is hellbound on revenge.

     White Crocodile Queen is about on the same level as Pact with the Forces of Darkness.  It's not a horror title that will stick with you for sometime after watching it but it is a solid genre flick.  With that being said, it was extremely campy which reminded me a lot of the Bollywood films that I've reviewed in the past.  It's fun but isn't as fun as it could have been.  The acting in this one is nowhere near as fun as the first film.  The characters are all charictures of what you would expect from a film like this but it's not bad.  The cast has a lot of energy and really get into their roles but the awkward dance-esque numbers and constant smiling made a lot of the scenes feel silly.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting but I did enjoy it for what it was.  A supernatural Bollywood inspired movie with possession, magical amulets, and awkward scenes that bring in unintentional laugh was not what I was expecting.  I really enjoyed loved how unconventional it was in a western sense but it doesn't really have any replay value.  Finally, we get some blood, some fun camera tricks, and some great make-up but that is really the extent of it.  The movie is very story driven with a lot of great visuals but don't expect to see something gory.  Overall, White Crocodile Queen is a fun film for a first time watch.  It's a solid Indonesian horror film that may be more fun if you were a bit high or buzzed.  I liked it but I don't see myself revisiting it anytime soon.  Check it out.  

Pact with the Forces of Darkness

Director - Sisworo Guatama Putra (Satan's Slave, Wolf)

Starring - Suzzanna (The Earth Gets Hotter, White Crocodile Queen), Elly Ermawati (Saur Sepuh: Satria Madangkara, Saur Sepuh 2: Pesanggrahan Keramat), and Piet Pagau (Revenge of the Ninja, Deadly Angels Strike Back)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Horror

Format - Blu (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years back I was sent the 1982 Indonesian horror flick Satan's Slave from Vinegar Syndrome for review.  I had never seen it prior to that but it was a film I instantly fell in love with.  It's a movie that I've watched several times since then and I can see myself revisiting it again in the near future.  This unforgettable film was directed by Sisworo Guatama Putra who also helmed several other genre flicks.  Sometime back I was sent the Suzzanna: Empress of Darkness from my friends over at Severin Films.  When  I opened it up to watch the first film in the set, Pact with the Forces of Darkness from 1991, I noticed that Putra directed this one as well.  I couldn't wait to dig into this one and like always I want to thank Severin for sending this one over.

     The film with begins with a family preparing for the night when their home is invaded by goons who slaughters everyone before leaving.  The mother, with her dying breath, makes a pact with a demon to get revenge on those that slaughtered her family.  

     I went into this one completely blind and found myself enjoying this one.  It was unintentionally funny at times and the nod to Freddy Krueger was fun even though it did feel cheap.  I can see why this one doesn't get the international notoriety as Putra's other films but it ws fun.  The acting in this one was surprisingly well done.  A lot of the cast had very little, if any, acting credits prior to filming this one yet they all did pretty damn good.  The characters are fairly flat, even for a horror film, but the cast does a solid job with what was written for them.  The story for this one is nothing we haven't seen in horror before, especially by the time this one rolled around in the early 90s.  We have someone who kills off his opposition only for one of them to make a deal with a demon on their deathbed to get revenge.  I've seen similar stories in action, thrillers, and even sci-fi features but none had the Indonesian spin that these had.  Honestly, I enjoyed it.  It's not the most original film but the pacing works.  I may not revisit this one anytime soon but the story works for a first time watch.  Finally, this one doesn't shy away from the deaths but they are not that fun or memorable.  The effects are minimal and work for the gag but are nothing that stands out.  Overall, Pact with the Forces of Darkness is a solid entry in the world of Indonesian horror but it's not as fun or memorable as other films from Putra.  Check it out.  

Fun-Size Pieces of Sharp Candy: The Movie

Director - Dylan R. Nix (The Demon of Serling, 10/31 Part IV)

Starring - Jason Eckles, David E. McMahon (He Never Left, Children of Sin), and Dylan R. Nix)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Step one to making a horror movie?  Don't!"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've met some seriously talented filmmakers through Horror Society over the years.  Some of them are responsible for some of my favorite films that I've seen in the last 15 years while other created movies that are part of my go to lineup for various reasons.  These particular films mean a lot to me and I try to watch them as much as possible or, at least, once a year when I can.  Some years ago I befriended author and filmmaker Dylan R. Nix who was kind enough to send over his indie horror anthology Baron Von Laugho's Halloween Spook-A-Thon.  I've worked this one into my annual October horror binge every year since.  I've reviewed several other films from him, like The Demon of Serling and Sharp Candy, and I've really enjoyed them all.  Recently, Dylan reached out to me to review his new anthology Fun-Size Pieces of Sharp Candy: The Movie.  I wasn't able to get to it right away but as soon as I had the time I hit play on it.  I want to thank Dylan for sending this one over.

     The film follows Nix's character Baron von Laugho (Nix) has he once again takes us on a chilling journey through three horror tales.  The first involves a safe cracker who is tasked with opening an old safe for a small business unaware he was sealing his own fate.  The second story follows director Dylan R. Nix as he breaks the news to fans that the film failed to raise the funds needed to bring his vision to life before he receives a bit of fan mail in the shap of a doll in the Baron Von Laugho garb.  This awakens something sinister inside of him.  The final segment follows a movie critic who finds himself locked up with David E. McMahon who is drugged and dressed up as the Easter bunny.  

     Fun-Size Pieces of Sharp Candy: The Movie brings some of Nix's short stories to the Baron von Laugho universe which is something I fully support.  He is a huge fan of the genre and his films really demonstrate that.  Fun-Size was a solid anthology for the most part but like any indie production, there is a few aspects of the film that I didn't care for.  The acting in this one is a little underwhelming in a few scenes but is fairly well done for the most part.  Nix is at home as his Baron von Laugho character where he carries every scene he is in.  The supporting cat is a little inconsistent with some showing inexperience in front of the camera while others are very comfortable in their roles.  It's not poorly acted but there is a few awkward scenes.  The story for the segments are very uneven but finds a way to work in the end.  The bookend segment with Laugho telling horror tales actually works.  I enjoy it and could see this hold it over for several more sequels.  The first tale in this one is my favorite segment in the film.  It has a Tales from the Crypt style ending that you don't see coming and works very well.  The second segment is the weakest in the film for me.  I understand that this is more of a personal segment for the director when he was unable to raise the funds he needed to make the movie he wanted but it's out of place in the film and completely derails what could have been a solid psychologal horror segment.  The final segment is very middle of the road.  This Saw parody with the director taking his frustrations out on film critics with a drugged up horny David E. McMahon should have been the best thing ever filmmed by an indie director.  However, it's not as funny as it could have been.  It feels like it's trying a bit too hard and misses it's mark.  With all that being said,  some of Laugho's scenes were a little bit underwhelming due to some of the self-righteous dialogue.  It didn't fit the film and is a bit confusing.  Finally, the film doesn't really have the gruesome deaths that most genre fans are looking for.  The movie is very low budget and worked with what they had but money for practical effects were not in the cards.  However, we do have a pretty wild looking nutsack that looks like something James Bell may have crafted.  Overall, Fun-Sized Pieces of Sharp Candy: The Movie doesn't really hit like The Demon of Serling and Baron Von Laugho's Halloween Spook-A-Thon but it's a solid watch especially if you are a fan of Nix.  I fucking love horror anthologies and this one was worth a watch.  Check it out.  

Voices from Beyond

Director - Lucio Fulci (The Beyond, Zombie)

Starring - Duilio Del Prete (Dagger Eyes, About That Strange Girl), Karina Huff (Time for Loving, The Gamble), and Pascal Persiano (Demons 2, Paganini Horror)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "In the tradition of H.P. Lovecraft"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I spent a lot of my time in high school watching the horror films of Lucio Fulci.  It started with his biggest hit stateside, Zombie.  This Italian sequel to Dawn of the Dead started it all for me.  My friend was absolutely obsessed with his work and over the next couple of years we would watch some seriously amazing movies like The Beyond, City of the Living Dead, House by the Cemetery, and The New York Ripper to name a few.  When I was in college I found the DVD for Voices from Beyond for a reasonable price.  I watched it and enjoyed it but it wasn't as memorable as some of the previous films I had seen from Fulci.  Regardless, it was a decent watch and when Severin announced their new release of the film on UHD I quickly jumped at the chance to revisit it.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over for review.  

     The film follows Rosie (Huff) who visits her late father's estate after his unexpected death.  Her estranged family is bickering over who will inherit what but after the reading of the will they discover that Rosie inherited it all.  Things go strange as Rosie starts hearing her late father from the grave as he tries to help his daughter find his killer.

     Voices from Beyond is a lot of fun but it's nothing like the heavy hitters Fulci released before this one.  It's atmospheric and eerie for those wanting a late night fright but it doesn't stand out for those familiar with Fulci and his horror hits.  The acting in this one is very well done and probably the best acted horror title in Fulci's filmography.  The characters are not that well written and it's hard to like many of them but the cast does a phenomenal job in their roles.  The story for this one is a supernatural forward tale that focuses more on the mystery aspect of the murder than the murder itself.  It moves slowly and takes it's time to build tension and atmosphere which I do appreciate.  With that being said, it does feel more like a supernatural murder mystery than a horror tale which may be one of the reasons this one doesn't get the love that other Fulci films get.  Finally, we get some great make-up effects and some props that look great but those looking for the memorable deaths and amazing gore will be very disappointed.  The movie focuses more on the father/daughter relationship and the mystery around his mother more than the effects.  Overall, Voices from Beyond is an often overlooked Lucio Fulci film but it is a solid film.  It's not the bloodiest or goriest film but the effects look great and the story works.  Check it out now on UHD from Severin.  

CarousHELL 4

Director - Steve Rudzinski (A Meowy Halloween, Amityville Christmas Vacation)

Starring - Steve Rimpici (Shingles: The Movie, Easter Casket), B. Barnabei (I: Scream - A Minty Musical, The Survivors), and Aleen Isley (Head Case, A Cheesy Christmas)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "It has all led to this"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     About a decade or so ago I was asked to review the indie slasher CarousHELL by director Steve Rudzinski.  It's not a by the numbers slasher but it still did thing very well and is one  I often referenced when I would review other films of his.  Since then he has released some seriously fantastic movies ranging from family friendly holiday films to several sequels to CarousHELL.  While the sequels were solid entries, they just didn't scratch that itch like the first one did.  Steve recently hit me up to review his latest installment in the CarousHELL franchise with part 4.  I couldn't pass up this opportunity and agreed to check it out.  I want to thank Steve for sending this one over for review.

     The film once again follows Duke (Rimpici) and his son Robbie (Barnabei) who looking for a little getaway so the pair can bond.  They rent a cabin but learn on the ride to it that it has a tragic history.  They ignore the warnings and go anyway only for Robbie to read from the Nekkomeownicon in order to speak with his late mother unleashing waves of the undead with ties to Duke and his bloody rampage.  

     I knew absolutely nothing about CarousHELL 4 prior to reviewing it but I never expected it to be a damn near perfect tribute to Sam Raimi's masterpiece Evil Dead II.  I had just returned home from watching Evil Dead II at my local theater as part of their Flashback Cinema series when I decided to check it out which is kind of a coincidence in a way.  I was not prepared for what I was about to watch and while I've always said his film Captain Z and the Terror of Leviathan was my favorite film of his,  this film has surpassed it.  The acting in this one is great all around.  The voice acting is top notch.  I couldn't imagine anyone other than Rimpici voicing Duke and Barnabei will forever be Robbie.  They brought these characters to life and made them iconic.  The supporting cast is solid as well with some returning faces reprising roles from previous Silver Spotlight films.  They do a great job getting back into character which makes this one so much fun.  The story for this one does a great job at continuing the connection between several other Silver Spotlight films while furthering the story for Duke and Robbie.  It's not a return to the slasher sub-genre that I enjoyed in the first one and was hoping for but it does everything it can to surpass my expectations.  The occult angle and heavy influence of Raimi's classic really caught me off guard the first time I watched it.  The second rewatch while I wrote this was just as fun.  I loved seeing the returning characters and how they were incorporated perfectly into the story following their horrific deaths in previous films.  With that being said, the movie does get a bit repetitive with the character reveals.  We really only needed a few instances of this before moving on.  Finally, the film makes great use of some practical effects and a lot off make-up effects.  The effects are absolutely fantastic and easily the best I've seen from Steve's films.  The undead deadite things look fantastic and the deaths we do get fit the film perfectly.  While it's not the goriest film I've seen, it still looked fantastic by indie movie standards.  Overall, CarousHELL 4 is not the slasher follow up to Steve Rudzinski's CarousHELL that I was hoping for but it was so much fucking fun.  This is a loving tribute to Evil Dead II and easily my favorite indie horror release of the year.  I cannot recommend this one enough.  

It: Welcome to Derry Season 1

Creator(s) - Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman, It: Chapter Two), Andy Muschietti (Mama, It), and  Barbara Muschietti (Mama, They Will Kill You)

Starring - Taylour Paige (The Toxic Avenger, Brothers), Jovan Adepo (Overlord, Watchmen), and Stephen Rider (Daredevil, Luke Cage)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Go back to where IT all began"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've read a lot of Stephen King's work over the years.  His novels and short stories, along with Goosebumps, was one of the reasons I fell in love with the horror genre.  He's a titan in the horror and literary worlds but I would be lying if I said I was an expert in his work.  Sure, I've read a lot of his work and watched many adaptations over the years but I can't verify how close these adaptations are to their source material.  What I can say is that a lot of his written work and their adaptations are a lot of fun.  Sometime back I was sent word that IT, specifically Andy Muschietti's two films starring Bill Skarsgard, was getting the television treatment.  I didn't follow it closely but I knew I would eventually be checking it out.  Fast forward to a few weeks back and I was lucky enough to get the blu release sent over for review.  I wasn't able to get to it right away but made time for it as soon as I could.

     The series takes place in the town of Derry in 1962 where a young boy went missing.  Several months later three more were brutally murdered in a theater where only one girl survives.  One of the theater's employees, a black single father, is arrested for the murder.  His daughter, the lone survivor, and two other students start looking further into the missing student and the blood soaked history that Derry shares where they uncover the truth about Pennywise.

      I know I paraphrased a lot with the show but it throws a lot at us without over doing it.  It did take some time to gain some traction with me and it wasn't until episode 3 or 4 that I actually started getting into it but once I did I was really hooked.  The acting in this is great for the most part.  Some of the characters are very unlikable and it's not because they were written that way.  The cast is really dedicated to their role and deliver some seriously impressive performances especially from the young cast.  As the series progresses we have some intense performances that shows why everyone was cast in their respective roles.  The story for this season serves as a prequel of sorts to It and It: Chapter Two.  We get a lot of insight into some of the previous feeding cycles of Pennywise along with why he took on the appearance of the clown.  We also get a lot of social commentary from the early 60s mixed in with the character development.  It's very well written and works well but my biggest issue with the show was how long it took to get going.  The first three or so episodes could have been condensed to give the viewer more to grab onto.  Finally, this series doesn't hold back with the visual effects.  I know practical effects can be pricy especially when you have a show with eight episodes   However, a good deal of the visual effects look like shit.  They are very noticeable which was good for a laugh the first few times but they do become eye rolling as the show moves on.  Overall, It: Welcome to Derry Season 1 was a great continuation of what the 2017 film and it's sequel established.  While I can't remember exactly how accurate those films are to the written work, I can safely say that I enjoy it very much.  I do hope we have a season 2 eventually but until then I highly recommend checking out season 1.  

     

Vampire Time Travelers

Director - Les Sekely (Night of the Living Date, I Know What You Did in English Class)

Starring - Lynne Baker, Ali Elk (Of Light and Darkness, Hollywood Homicide), and Kat Facchino (Beverly Hills Bordello, Vampire Night)

Release Date - 1998

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Bite her in the butt"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was raised on 80s and 90s vampire flicks.  I watched movies like Fright Night, The Lost Boys, My Best Friend is a Vampire, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Children of the Night all the fucking time when I was growing up.  I absolutely fucking loved them and the release of Blade catapulted my love for vampire flicks.  Sadly, as time went on I found myself more interested in zombies and slashers instead of vampires.  Fast forward to a few years ago when a friend of mine on Facebook made a post talking about the late 90s vampire comedy Vampire Time Travelers and how the VHS he just got was his favorite movie in his collection.  The title peaked my interest but the artwork was lame as fuck so I had no interest in it.  Move to a few weeks back and Visual Vengeance announced that they would be release Vampire Time Travelers on blu.  I thought the title sounded familiar but couldn't remember why it was.  I shot them a message and they were kind enough to send a copy over for review.  It wasn't until I was watching it that I realized this was that movie and how much fun it actually was.  I want to thank MVD and Visual Vengeance for sending this one over!

     The film follows a group of girls pledging a sorority.  What they don't know is that this particular sorority stopped a vampire from taking over the world recently and her sister is hellbent on revenge.  Now she is going through the sorority one by one biting them on the ass and turning them into time traveling bloodsuckers.

      I had no idea what this movie was about going into it but the title gave me a pretty good idea that it would involve vampires and some time traveling.  However, it wasn't until I got to the scene with the butt biting that I realized that this was the same film my friend had bragged about on VHS.  I love stupid movies and this one is easily one of the dumbest movies I had ever seen.  It was so much fucking fun and I can't wait to recommend it to people looking for stupid movies to watch the next time they want to pop an edible.  The acting in this one is not that great but I kind of enjoyed that quality.  It added to the overall no budget look and feel of the film.  The characters are a lot of fun and the cast, regardless if they are experienced or not, do a lot to bring their characters to the screen.  We have a lot of fun scenes with this cast and they make the movie as funny as it is.  The story for this one is a bit of a mess but that's what I love about it.  The movie is actually a sequel to Sorority House Vampires which was something I just discovered as I was typing this review.  The info I could find on it according to imdb states that that both movies were made in 1998 and featured different filmmakers.  I didn't watch the first one and I was still able to enjoy this one.  Back to this film.  We have vampires, bloodthirsty record execs, bitchy sorority chicks, ass biting, and so much more in this one.  With that being said, it's the amount of simple one liners and puns that makes this film so fun.  This movie is everything I would expect from a mid-90s direct to video comedy but it's actually a late 90s no budget horror movie.  Finally, if you are looking for some fun effects and memorable deaths then you are shit out of luck.  We have some simple and cheap visual effects and some not so impressive make-up effects but that is the extent of that.  The movie focuses more on story and humor than it does the death scenes.  Overall, Vampire Time Travelers is easily my new favorite movie.  I will be adding something from this to my horror sleeve in the near future.  I highly recommend snagging a copy of this one soon from Visual Vengeance.  

Amityverse

Director(s) - Chad M. Campbell (Jeanie's Face Exploded, Chillermania! The Story of Michigan and American Chillers), Curtis Everitt (Shark Balloon, Doll), Ron Ford (Grass Hook Massacre, Twisted Fates), Evan Jacobs (Backrooms Bigfoot, The Pickleball Exorcist), Chad Knauer (Murder Clown 1985, Skeleton Cop), Jt Kris (The Arkansas Pigman Massacre, Ghosts of Amityville), Josh Spiegel (Witching Hour, The Last Amityville Movie), Blaize Tudor (The Exotic Zoo of Terror, Cocaine Witch), Douglas Waltz (Invisible Shark, The Basement of Baron Morbid), and Andy Wolf (Monster Mansion Memories)

Starring - Armand Arekian (Tales from the Aether, Dummy), Jace Blalock (Meanboat, Santa Crawls), and Paul Bradford (Skate to Hell, Gobblefoot)

Release Date  - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometime last year I took a few days to watch the original run of Amityville Horror films.  I had seen them before but it had been years so I decided to revisit them.  I've always liked these films, for the most part, and really enjoyed myself watching them again.  I tend to stay away from the indie and no budget Amityville "sequels" unless it catches my eye because I don't really care for most of them.  With that being said, I do enjoy Amityville Vibrator and Amityville Christmas Vacation.  A few weeks back I received a press release from my friends over at SRS Cinema announcing the upcoming release of their indie horror anthology Amityverse.  I brushed it off like I do most of the Amityville films until I saw it on Tubi while I was browsing for something to watch.  I decided to pull the trigger and check it out.

     This anthology features ten stories ranging from evil mimes, killer clowns, the famous Skeleton Cop, serial killers, and more.

     I went into Amityverse with an open mind and found myself not having a good time.  It had some interesting segments that I liked but the overall film was a tough one to finish.  I hate writing reviews like this, especially about an indie flick, but it was clear that these were done quickly with very little care.  The acting in this one is uneven.  Some segments offered up some decent performances while others felt very rushed and insincere.  I've reviewed indie, no budget films for years and while some of these segments are among the better acted I've seen, others are very rough.  The stories in this one varies from clever and fun to very confusing and unwatchable.  The Skeleton Cop and Death Toilet Reprise are my two favorites in the film but they are still far from perfect.  Personally, the segments are just too short and don't stay around long enough to really get any traction.  They are all rushed and feel incomplete for the most part.  Finally, the film has some practical and visual effects but neither are enjoyable.  The deaths are very lackluster and add nothing to the films while the effects are noticeably cheap.  Overall, Amityverse feels like a no budget anthology that just tried to cram as many segments as it could without focusing on quality.  I seriously wanted to like this one but it was not enjoyable at all.  Skip it.