The Ugly

Director - Scott Reynolds (The Cult, When Strangers Appear)

Starring - Paolo Rotondo (Power Rangers Dino Charge, The Rule of Jenny Pen), Paul Glover (Spartacus, Power Rangers Ninja Steel), and Chris Graham (Power Rangers Beast Morphers, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys)

Release Date - 1997

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Murder is in the eye of the beholder"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I snagged a horror documentary as a bonus movie with another horror title that I picked up somewhere.  I think it may have been Walmart at the time but I honestly can't remember.  Anyway, this documentary talked about several horror titles from the popular franchises like Child's Play and Friday the 13th but it also featured some other films that I had never heard of before.  One of those films is the 1997 horror film The Ugly from New Zealand.  A friend of mine decided to track down the movies from this for us to check out and got a VHS copy from eBay.  I remember digging it but also being a bit underwhelmed by it.  The documentary made it seem like it was a lot more gruesome than what it was.  Fast forward two decades to me checking my mail when I was surprised to find a copy of the new blu from my friends over at Unearthed Films and MVD.  This gave me the perfect chance to revisit it and, like always, I want to thank MVD for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a psychiatrist who is sent into an asylum to interview a serial killer.  This starts out innocently enough when we learn that he was bullied by other boys and his mother was very abusive.  However, the deeper into his past she goes, the more things don't add up until he finally admits that he sees people.  Those that he has killed will tell him to kill.  They are persistent and their persistence drives him mad until he finally kills them adding yet another face to the crowd.

     The Ugly is a film that is never really talked about among genre fans but the few times I've seen it mentioned it feels like it is embellished to some extent.  Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the film but even by late 90s standards, it's not that gruesome or depraved.  Hell, I don't even think it's gruesome by New Zealand's standards of the time.  The acting in this one is pretty damn good.  Paolo Rotondo gives an amazing performance.  He doesn't come across as menacing or sinister but his emotional range in this film is damn impressive.  I would have loved to see him give a little more intensity during the death scenes but his performance is still fantastic as is.  The supporting cast is solid but a lot of the characters are generic or very flat which doesn't give the cast a lot to work with.  The story for this one is very interesting and works for the most part.  A serial killer that is haunted by his victims is pretty clever.  However, I would have loved to explore more of his life and the time during the killings rather than the random flashbacks.  We know what happens before it happens.  If we would have followed him through his murders then we would have that sense of unpredictability.  It's still enjoyable but we know exactly where it's going before it gets there.  Finally, the film doesn't have imaginative deaths.  A straight razor across the throat of his victims is the extent of what we get.  We have black blood, which I assume is a censorship thing over there, and some solid make-up effects but nothing that will stick with you once you hit stop on the film.  Overall, The Ugly is a solid film that could have been so much more if we had some death scenes that stood out.  It's still a fun film but I don't feel that is nowhere near as violent as others let on.  Regardless, this release from Unearthed is fantastic.  Collectors will want to grab this one.  

Phil Herman's Unearthed

Director(s) - Derek Braasch (Torture the Flesh, The Ties that Bind), Will Devokees (Morbid Stories, Macabre Medicine), Marcelo Fabani (I Slay on Christmas, Doomsday Stories), Phil Herman (Burglar from Hell, Jacker), Christopher Kahler (Around Midnight, Hobo with a Trash Can), and James Panetta (Death From Beyond, Death in the Dark)

Starring - Butch Patrick (The Munsters, Bite School), Tina Krause (Bloodletting, Side Effects May Vary), and Tiffany Helm (Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, 13 Fanboy)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I find myself bitching and moaning with every horror anthology that I review about how almost every indie anthology lacks a wraparound segment that ties everything together.  Most of these anthologies are just shorts that role from one segment to the next with no reasoning behind it.  I know it's no easy task to make a movie especially when you have zero budget and using the bare essentials in regards to equipment but an anthology without a segment to bookend everything is not an anthology in my eyes.  A few weeks ago I was speaking with director and producer Phil Herman about a few of his projects that I was sharing on the site when he offered me two of his most recent films to review.  One of them just happened to be an anthology film simply titles Phil Herman's Unearthed.  The title intrigued me some but it the was film's poster that really made me curious about the film.  I want to thank Phil for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows an unfortunate character named Doom (Christopher Kahler) who is doing a bit of graverobbing when he finds an old book.  He takes us back to his humble abode where he begins reading us tales from inside which range from a detective who may have locked up an innocent man, a young bride and her father in law searching for her missing husband, and a woman who suspects her home might be haunted.

     Phil Herman's Unearthed is a movie that I couldn't get behind but it does do a few things right.  I went into this one a bit excited but the overall movie did nothing for me but I there was a few things that really impressed me.  The acting in this one is very uneven.  Some of the segments features some solid performances while others are inconsistent.  I don't know if this is a reflection of the direction or inexperience but each scene within each segment does vary.  I would like to add that it was awesome seeing Tiffany Helm from A New Beginning with a small role.  I would have loved to see her utilized more but it was still cool to see her even if the role was small.  The stories for this one is not what I was expecting.  The segment used as the wraparound segment was my favorite part of the film.  The character that is reading from the old book, similar to From a Whisper to a Scream, was a lot of fun.  It was a solid segment that pulled everything together very nicely.  The other segments were very hit or miss with me.  The one with the husband who was abducted by aliens was probably my favorite of the film but it was far from perfect.  This story had a lot of promise and I'm a huge fan of Kristina Santiago but it failed to really go somewhere worth noting.  The other three segments were very predictable and not that interesting.  I thought the short with the woman seeking help with her home was going to be a lot more fun than it actually was but it was extremely dull and slow paced.  Finally, the film features a wide array of effects.  We have some make-up effects that look fairly decent to some visual effects that do look cheap.  While the film was not as bloody as gory as I would have liked, the make-up effects were impressive.  Overall, Phil Herman's Unearthed had a solid premise with the horribly disfigured grave robber reading stories from an old book.  Sadly, the segments that made up the bulk of the film was not as enjoyable.  This is one that I really wanted to like but it wasn't for me.  Skip it.  

Unknown World

Director - Terry O. Morse (Godzilla, Godzilla: King of the Monsters)

Starring - Bruce Kellogg (They Were Expendable, The Golden Eye), Otto Waldis (Gomer Pyle: USMC, Hogan's Heroes), and Jim Bannon (Good Neighbor Sam, Wagon Train)

Release Date - 1951

Genre - Sci-Fi/Adventure

Tagline - "Adventure into the unknown!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I say this all the time and I absolutely mean it.  I wish I lived during the golden age of drive-in cinema.  I could see myself basically living at the drive-in watching every campy double feature and cheesy sci-fi and horror flick they had to offer.  While I was born decades after the fall of the drive-in, I still like to fantasize about what it was like as I watch these older films sent to me for  review.  A few weeks back my friends over at Severin Films sent me a few flicks to check out and among them was the 1951 sci-fi adventure flick Unknown World.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows an expedition team as they seek out a place inside the Earth for mankind to live if a nuclear war happened to occur.  During their voyage they do discover a vast land that could potentially be home to the human race along with a vast ocean network.  However, they soon learn that something is making those there sterile but before they could uncover the cause they are forced to flee when a volcano erupts.

    I went into Unknown World knowing absolutely nothing about it and it was nothing like I was expecting.  I liked it's unique set up and how the story got to where it was going but the ride itself was painfully dull and boring.  I seriously wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is extremely cheesy but that is what makes these drive-in classics so much fun and enjoyable.  The over-reacting in some scenes and the underwhelming reactions in others is exactly what I was expecting.  The acting in films like this is my favorite part and this one did not disappoint.  The story for this one starts out in a fun way that really captures the time in which the film was made.  We are in the beginning years of the Cold War and the film starts out like a film meant to prepare you for the "big one."  We then move on to a cheesy sci-fi adventure to the middle of the Earth with generic characters, a little romance, and a lot of boring dialogue that doesn't help the movie out at all.  It's almost as if the film was being pulled in too many direction resulting in a finished film that fails to gain traction.  Finally, the film has some miniatures and some campy sets but that is about the extent of it.  Those with a eye for the red stuff will be very disappointed in that regard.  Overall, Unknown World is an interesting idea and one I could normally see myself enjoying but the execution here leaves us with a bit of a dull flick.  Fans of Cold War era sci-fi flicks might enjoy this one but I couldn't.  

Up!

Director - Russ Meyer (Motorpsycho!, Vixen!)

Starring - Edward Schaaf (Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Addams Family), Robert McLane (NET Playhouse, Blue Summer), and Elaine Collins (Fantasm Comes Again, Deep Jaws)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Comedy/Erotic

Tagline - "A robust American fun movie!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I hear the name Russ Meyer I immediately think of classics like Vixens!, Faster Pussycat Kill Kill!, and Motorpsycho!  However, he had a career that spanned almost 60 years and directed over 30 films.  A lot of his films are new to me but I have yet to find one that I didn't like.  A few weeks back I received the press release for two upcoming releases from Severin Films that just happened to be two Russ Meyer's flicks.  One is a film I had seen several times from 1965 titles Motorpsycho! but the other was new to me.  That film was 1976's Up!.  A few days later I received both films in for review from Severin and added them to my watch pile.  I started my double feature with Motorpsycho! because it was one I was familiar with and liked.  However, Up! didn't look that interesting to me.  I was fucking wrong!

     The film begins with the murder of a sexual deviant named Adolf as a busty drifter wonders into town.  What she doesn't know is that everyone in town has their own kinks and the man murdered was a sex warlock hiding a secret.

    I went into Up! knowing absolutely nothing about it and it quickly became my favorite release of the year so far.  The movie was completely batshit crazy and very unpredictable.  The movie is very raunchy and remains off the wall from start to finish.  The acting in this one is very enjoyable.  We get a lot of memorable characters ranging from Adolf to the busty hitchhiker and all the sexual fiends in town.  The cast does a fantastic job while bearing it all in front of the camera.  Some of the scenes are a bit more inconsistent than others but the energy and humor more than makes up for it.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting at all and held my attention from start to finish.  The film is a comedy first an foremost with the nudity coming in a close second.  Not all the jokes find their marks but most of the film had me laughing.  We then get some quick character development, some mystery, and a lot of soap opera quality love triangles.  Honestly, it's a hard one to describe but it's a lot of fun.  Finally, the film has a little blood and a lot of skin.  The death we get is funny with no effects needed but those looking for beautiful women will appreciate what the film has to offer.  Overall, Up! was one of the most unexpected films I've reviewed this year.  It was so much and I highly recommend checking out this awesome release from Severin Films.  

Unquiet Death

UNQUIET DEATH promo trailer from Mondo Macabro on Vimeo.

Director(s) - Ferid Boughedir (Sweet Smell of Spring, Villa Jasmine) and Claude d'Anna (Salome, Foursome)

Starring - Aly Ben Ayed (Tunis Top Secret, Play Dirty), Ursule Pauly (The Nude Vampire, The Rape of the Vampire), and Sophie Vaillant (Number 96, Nanou)

Release Date - 1970

Genre - Crime/Drama/Mystery

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      We just passed the halfway mark to Halloween a few days ago and I'm still trying to watch as many horror titles as possible before the month ends. However, that has been a bit of a challenge this year with the handful of dark dramas and mysteries that have been sent over for review. I don't mind these types of films but I primarily watch and review horror for the month of October. A few weeks ago Mondo Macabro sent over the Broken Mirror and Unquiet Death double feature for review. I was under the impression that these were genre titles but after I finished Broken Mirror I quickly learned that it was not. Regardless, I still enjoyed these films and I want to thank Mondo Macabro for hooking me up with these two fantastic dramas for review! 

      The film follows three sisters who visit their late uncle's estate. While there they are forced to deal with his former servant, which brings about uncomfortable interactions between him and the three. He eventually snaps and starts ordering the women around as if he is the owner of the lavish estate and they are his slaves. It doesn't take long before the three of them have enough and stand up to him. 

      Unquiet Death is another beautifully shot international drama that did not disappoint. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, it's another film like Broken Mirror that I will never revisit. It's a fantastic first time watch but once you know exactly what is going to happen it loses it's thrill. The acting in this one is great. The three female leads are fantastic together. They have amazing chemistry and go above and beyond to make the scene work. While the cast is fairly small, they are all firing on the same cylinder. Everyone carries their weight so to speak but these three lovely ladies make the film for me. The story for this one is a solid drama that bills itself as a mystery. While I don't see the mystery aspect of the film I still thoroughly enjoyed it as a drama. It was unexpected and something you never saw coming. It has smooth pacing, wonderful dialogue, and well written characters. Finally, this is another one that is not a bloody flick. This is character focused but it works. Overall, Unquiet Death is not what I was expecting but I still enjoyed it. It's a drama that does get dark at times. I highly recommend it. 

Unicorn Wars

Director - Alberto Vazquez (Homeless Home, Birdboy: The Forgotten Children)

Starring - Jon Goiri (Birdboy: The Forgotten Children, Decisiones), Jaione Insausti (Betizu Izar Artean, Nola Egin Zen: Euskal Bikoizketa), and Ramon Barea (Stories to Stay Awake, Lullaby)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Action/War

Tagline - "Bear witness"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve reviewed a lot of wild and weird movies over the years ranging from claymation films following people in a post-apocalyptic world where milk is dangerous to a movie where a living placenta is forced to go to school. I love the odd and unusual so when I heard that Shout Factory was releasing the animated film Unicorn Wars I knew I had to see it. I had never heard of this Spanish film before I received the press release but once I saw the trailer I knew I had to see this. I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy over for review. I seriously want to thank Shout and Scream Factory for supporting Horror Society. 

      The film follows a group of teddy bears who are in base camp preparing to be deployed in a war between bears and unicorns. The unicorns turned on the bears many years ago when they began destroying the forests for their own greedy endeavors. The bears are not a uniform group as some aspire to topple the military leaders and take control of the bear army while others just want to end the fighting. 

      Unicorn Wars looks like a cute and cuddly movie made by that never out grew their Lisa Frank phase. However, the film is anything but. It’s bloody, violent, and has a deeper social commentary for those of you that actually pay attention to the story. It has a lot to unpack but it’s one hell of a film with a lot to say. The voice acting in this one is very well done. It’s hard to judge the acting in a film when you have to read subtitles but seeing an animated film with subtitles is not so difficult. The voices really worked for the characters they portrayed and I found myself digging through the film’s imdb page to check out the cast’s other work. The story for this one is more than just teddy bears versus unicorns. It has a whole social commentary about deforestation, religious fanaticism, vanity, and greed. It does incorporate a lot from various genres like war, drama, comedy, and horror but doesn’t fully commit to any. I was also impressed by the amount of memorable characters with contrasting personalities that don’t blend together. A lot of animated films are guilty of creating the same characters over and over with different designs because it’s easier and cheaper. Unicorn Wars does not do that. Instead, they took the time to give almost all of the characters different personalities and backstories which adds a lot to the film. Finally, I love the animation in this one and when you mix that with the trippy scenes and gore you get something that looks great and really gets the point across. We have some great animation and the gore just pops against the beautiful backdrops and colorful characters. Overall, Unicorn Wars will not be for the average horror fan but if you dig animation and odd films then this one is for you. It has a fantastic story and so much blood. I highly recommend it.

Unwelcome

Director - Jon Wright (Grabbers, Tormented)

Starring - Hannah John-Kamen (Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, Ready Player One), Douglas Booth (The Dirt, Pride & Prejudice & Zombies), and Colm Meaney (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Con Air)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Beware the locals.  All of them"

Format - Bluray (Perssonal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve been fortunate enough to review a few Irish folk horror films over the years but the number of movies I’ve seen is nowhere near the number of movies that I want to watch. I love Irish folk tales and blending those into horror films is a match made in hell in my humble opinion. That’s why I jumped at the opportunity to review the new Irish folk horror film Unwelcome when my friends over at Well Go USA sent over the press release. The trailer didn’t really impress me but I loved the synopsis and artwork for the release. I requested a copy and as soon as I could I made the time to check it out. Like always I want to thank Well Go USA for hooking me up. 

      The film follows a young couple expecting their first born. They move to the Irish countryside after a home invasion in hopes of having a better environment to welcome their bundle of joy to. They hire a local family to help their with their home repairs but as the relationship between them starts to deteriorate they soon discover a dark secret about the home and the legend of the Red Caps that live in the woods behind their home. 

      Unwelcome is one of those horror films that really made my mind race when I first read the synopsis. The artwork and trailer did very little to stir my imagination but that synopsis really had my brain working overtime. The film is not something that I can see myself revisiting or recommending to close friends looking for something new and bone chilling. However, it was a decent first time watch that did struggle with it’s own footing. I wanted to love it but it’s one of those films that has a fantastic story but fails to fully capture what it could have been. The acting in this one is a bit underwhelming but I enjoyed it for the most part. I really liked Hanna John-Kamen and Douglas Booth as the young couple. They worked very well together and their relationship feels so authentic. I was surprised to see Colm Meaney in the film. Star Trek fans may recognize him from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. I loved his character and the intensity he brought out from time to time. With that being said, I was not a fan of his film children. One of them was portrayed by Game of Throne’s actor Kristian Nairn who portrays a similar character as his GoT character. He is severely underutilized here and it’s a crime that he was typecast like he was here. The story for this one takes some time to get going but the final leg of the film is fucking insane. The first portion of the film follows the couple who is trying to do some repairs to their home after they hired a handyman and his three children. Some things are said and done during the repair process that has the couple on edge but things go fucking berserk in the final stretch of the film when the story comes full circle. It’s a ride that has a slow build up but well worth the trip. I just wish more time was spent on the local legend and less on the unhinged family that does home repairs. Finally, the film has some seriously fun and bloody moments as the film was coming to a close but the first hour or so of the film is pretty dry in regards to blood. The kills all looked good but the visual effects were a bit of a disappointment. I’m sure a different way involving practical effects could have been used and more effectively. Overall, Unwelcomed is not an essential Irish folk horror flick but it’s still a fun watch. Check it out.

Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity

Director - Joe Bandelli (Cabin Fear, Gone Viral)

Starring - Jason Blum (Get Out, Halloween Ends), Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity, Area 51), and Kate Featherston (Paranormal Activity, The River)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve reviewed several horror docs over the years with almost all of them being docs that I was interested in. A few were rather redundant and went over facts that have infiltrated pop culture, but they were still enjoyable for the most part. If you would have asked me what film series deserved a documentary about it, I would have never in a million years suggested the Paranormal Activity franchise yet someone decided this was a good idea. When I was sent the Ultimate Chills, box set for review I didn’t know it included the doc Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity. However, I was looking forward to checking this out over the actual films and once I finished the series I decided to go ahead and knock the doc out. 

      The documentary explores the limited beginnings of found footage from Cannibal Holocaust to The McPherson Tapes before we jump to video game designer Oren Peli who decides to cast unknown names and film a movie in his home. From there we move into Jason Blum getting attached and the impact it had on the genre before moving down the line and taking a look at each installment including a small look at last years The Next of Kin. 

      Unknown Dimension is one of the many horror documentaries that kind of sniff their own farts. They praise the franchise from every stand point while not delivering a different perspective on the franchise. Regardless, it was an informative doc on a franchise that I just spent three months grudgingly watching. I respect it for what it was able to accomplish but it’s not a fun series of films. The interviews are from various producers, directors, actors, and fans. I loved hearing how the franchise started and spiraled into the found footage juggernaut that it is. However, I know that as popular that the film series is that there is still at least half of the community that dislike it. It would have been pretty entertaining to hear genre fans talk about what they don’t like about it. The topics explored were interesting, but I feel like it was a bit one sided. Now, hear me out before you head to the comment section and start blasting me because I was disappointed in a doc about Paranormal Activity spent too much time discussing PA. The film begins going over the history of found footage in general but that is only a brief moment. I would have loved if more time was spent on this. I did like the history behind each PA film but it does become a bit repetitive once we reach the behind the scenes of the third or fourth film. Finally, this is a well put together doc with a lot of polish and smooth transitions. We have great pacing and the chronological approach to the topics made it easy to follow. Overall, Unknown Dimension may not be a Paranormal Activity film but I would rather watch this over five of the films in the franchise. It’s informative and highly entertaining which is more than most of these films can say. Check it out especially if you are fan.

Uncle Sam

Director - William Lustig (Maniac, Maniac Cop)

Starring - Isaac Hayes (Escape from New York, South Park), Christopher Ogden (SLC Punk!, Pumpkin Man), and Leslie Neale (Twilight Man, Gremlins 2: The Batch)

Release Date - 1996

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "I want you... dead"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago, while I was still in high school, I was visiting my local video store when I noticed that they had placed most of their VHS into boxes and had them on sale.  Dewey's Video was a huge part of my childhood and so many memories of mine involved me walking up and down the video isles looking at the various tapes trying to find some to rent for the weekend.  When he sold his store while I was in high school the new owners wanted to upgrade the VHS releases to DVD and to do so they needed to sell their tapes.  It was a bitter sweet feeling walking out of there with bags of tapes knowing that I'll never be able to smell all the tapes as I walked up and down the walkways looking at the cover art.  One of the tapes that I snagged was 1996's Uncle Sam from William Lustig.  The cover art was pretty cool and the lithographic sleeve was rather unique.  The film was a fun watch and since then I've upgraded to blu when Blue Underground released it several years ago.  When I received the press release for the UHD release of the film from BU I used it as an opportunity to revisit this underrated mid-90s slasher.  I reached out to MVD and and Blue Underground and they were kind enough to send a copy my way for review which was just in time for July 4th.  

     The film follows the young Jody (Ogden) who looks up to his uncle who is in the military.  However, his uncle dies in combat during the Gulf War and his body is shipped back to them.  He becomes obsessed with his uncle and vows to enter the military as soon as he is old enough.  However, his uncle, the most patriotic man that ever lived, comes back to punish those that disrespect the country that he died for.

     Uncle Sam is not the best film from the 90s.  Hell, it's not the best film in William Lustig's filmography but it is enjoyable especially if you like holiday themed slashers.  As a fan of cheesy and campy horror films I absolutely adore this film.  It's not one that I can watch repeatedly but once or twice a year is just fine.  I can see some genre snobs and horror hipsters instantly hate on this film and that's alright.  This isn't for them.  This is for fans of the campy side of the genre.  The acting in this one is far from perfect but we do get some fun performances.  Isaac Hayes, The Duke and Truck Turner himself, delivers my favorite performance of the entire film.  I remember thinking how out of place Hayes was during my very first viewing of Uncle Sam but in the years since then I realize that he is among the best parts of the entire film.  With that being said, Ogden was awkward through most of the film.  I know he was young with limited experience but I've seen better performances from other actors his age.  In some of the scenes his performance feels forced and a lot of his emotions don't feel that genuine.  The supporting cast is solid but they are quick in the scenes and don't hold that much screen time.  The story for this one follows a basic slasher formula with an Independence Day theme.  We follow a masked slasher that finds himself wronged and seeks revenge.  This is the standard slasher formula made famous from the early 80s slashers.  However, decorating this one in red, white, and blue makes it stand out and appropriate for yearly viewings.  It is on the cheesy and campy side but I still love what it delivers.  It's simple fun.  Finally, the film has several death scenes with blood and some even fit the theme of the film.  One in particular is rather funny and still finds itself fully submerged in America and American history.  The effects are rather limited but the make-up effects and fucking phenomenal.  Overall, Uncle Sam is going to be one of those films that split the horror community but I enjoy it a lot.  If you are a fan of slashers or cheesy horror then I highly recommend you snag this release from Blue Underground.  I highly recommend it.     

Umma

Director - Iris K. Shim (The House of Suh, Of Kin and Kind)

Starring - Sandra Oh (Invincible, Turning Red), Fivel Stewart (American Satan, Hansel & Gretel: Warriors of Witchcraft), Dermot Mulroney (The Purge, The Righteous Gemstones)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A mother's love never dies"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5): 

     I'm still excited for any new horror film that comes our way in 2022.  When the pandemic hit in 2020 the film industry, among many others, took a massive hit.  Many companies like Vinegar Syndrome and Scream Factory were able to continue their work re-releasing classic films on a newer format.  However, new films were not being made as rapidly as I was used to.  So far this year I've reviewed a handful of films that were released this year which is drastically less than previous years so when I receive a new movie for review I'm jump on it.  Several weeks ago I received the press release for the supernatural horror film Umma starring Sandra Oh.  It looked fun so I reached out for a review copy.  Once it arrived I made time to check it out.  

     The film follows a Korean-American mother and her daughter who live off the grid on their farm.  She had grew estranged from her family in Korea and hoped to forget about them but when her mother dies her uncle brings her remains to her so they can perform a Korean ritual to appease her spirit.  However, she refuses and soon the spirit of her mother starts invading their lives turning her into the person she refused to be.

     I was really excited to check out Umma.  Sandra Oh is one of an actress and I couldn't wait to see what kind of supernatural horror she was going to be apart of.  Sadly, the movie was predictable and most of the characters are very unlikable.  I wanted to like it but I couldn't find much to actually grab onto.  The acting in this one is great but the characters are not that likable at all.  Sandra Oh never disappoints but her character was unlikeable.  I don't know if it was written that way or that was an unexpected product of her performance but I didn't like her character at all.  It made me not want to finish the film.  I was really impressed by Stewart and Mulroney as well but the real focus is on Oh and her relationship with her mother.  The story for this one has so much fucking potential.  It could have been one hell of a horror tale about struggling relations between a mother and daughter and the repercussions it causes between the daughter and her own daughter.  However, the pacing of the film along with the predictability makes it lose any sort of impact that it needed to be effective.  The viewer is just going through the motions when they hit play and the story just sort of happens.  A genuinely creepy tale misses it's mark and becomes another less than mediocre ghost tale.  Finally, the film has some surprisingly well done visual effects for the deceased mother that would be very effective if the film was able to pull together any sort of atmosphere or tension.  However, if you want a body count or blood then you will be very disappointed.  Overall, Umma was a bit of a disappointment.  I liked the cast but the characters are not likable and the story falls apart.  It's decent for a first time watch but even then you will be watching the clock more than the film.  

Uncle Sleazo's Toxic and Terrifying TV Hour

Director - Lucky Cerruti (Kindness of Strangers, Freak)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I find a lot of indie horror shorts and films from browsing through social media.  A good bit of them have been absolutely fantastic but some others were a bit disappointing.  A few years back I came across posts in different horror groups for the indie horror short Kindness of Strangers from director Lucky Cerruti and his production company Dead Vision Productions.  I enjoyed it and quickly befriended the director on Facebook.  Since then they have released other films from various filmmakers and a slasher from Cerruti titled Freak.  I absolutely loved Freak which only made the announcement for his newest film even more exciting.  When Cerruti announced the crowd funding campaign for his new anthology film Uncle Sleazo's Toxic and Terrifying TV Hour I was all for it.  I fucking love anthologies and couldn't wait to see what Cerruti brings our way.  It's been a few months since the crowd funding campaign and the film has slipped my mind until he reached out to me to check it out for the site.  I was quick to accept the invitation.  Thanks Lucky!

     The film follows a local televised broadcast of the Uncle Sleazo's Toxic and Terrifying TV Hour.  This special episode features three tales along with a series of commercials and infomercials.  The first tale follows a motorist that stops on a lone stretch of road only to find himself bit by an unknown dog.  Later he finds himself at an usual kennel with a strange man who wants to use wolvesbayne to turn him into a wolf permanently so he can be the alpha of a wolf pack.  The second story follows a young woman who visits a fortune teller.  She receives some rather grave and heartbreaking news.  She returns home and tries to summon a spirit and gets more than she bargained for.  The third tale follows a young man who receives a ghastly visit from someone very unexpected.

     I was very much looking forward to this anthology.  I'm a huge fan of horror films that try to capture that look and feel of films that I grew up with.  The wave of nostalgia is always welcomed.  Uncle Sleazo's tried to capture that look and feel of a late night horror host that so many genre fans grew up with in the 80s and 90s.  Sadly, my area didn't have those but that didn't stop me from renting the Elvira releases from my local video store just to get a little glimpse into it.  I wish my local TV stations had something like this growing up but living in Appalachia I was limited to reruns of The Red Green Show and religious programming.  Regardless, I really liked the idea and execution that Uncle Sleazo's delivers.  The acting in this one is solid enough for the film but the cast does show some inexperience.  It's not bad but there is a few scenes that is a little awkward at times.  I liked the characters and how the cast approached their roles but a little more experience would have went a long way.  The stories for this one are inconsistent but the overall film is worth your time.  I loved the angle of using a late night horror host as a way to tie the shorts together.  However, the shorts are very hit and miss with me.  I really liked the first one about the werewolf.  I would have preferred if it was a little more campy but it was still entertaining as it is.  The second story is solid but does show a little bit of a transition point for the film.  I liked it but it is a little weaker.  Then we dive into the final segment which was not that enjoyable in my opinion.  It had the best effects of the entire film but the story just wasn't there for me.  When you combine all this together with the wrap around segment and the faux commercials you find yourself having a lot of fun.  Finally, the film has some fun gory moments with great effects and some no so great effects.  Budget does dictate what you can work with so this no budget feature didn't have a lot to work with but they were still able to deliver some gore that I found to be very impressive.  Some of the make-up effects did get a laugh out of me but they still had a long way to go.  Overall, Uncle Sleazo's Toxic and Terrifying TV Hour is a horror anthology that many genre fans will truly appreciate.  The film has some room for improvements but it's still a fun indie horror feature.  I highly recommend checking this one out if you get the chance.  You will not be disappointed.  

     

Undead

Director(s) - Michael Spierig (Winchester, Daybreakers) and Peter Spierig (Jigsaw, Predestination)

Starring - Felicity Mason (Mortified, A Predator's Obsession), Mungo McKay (BeastMaster, Inspector Gadget 2), and Rob Jenkins (Australiens, Sharkmen)

Release Date - 2003

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Crazy has come to town for a visit"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I was a very active member of the Upcoming Horror Movies forum.  I discovered so many great films during those years because of the snobby, yet well versed, horror fans that were quick to either bash or praise a horror release.  I tended to gravitate toward the films that often caught heat from the horror hipsters because my tastes in horror is a bit different.  When I saw posts about the Australian horror comedy Undead I couldn't wait to see it.  I pre-ordered a copy of the film on DVD and fucking loved it.  In the years following I was able to snag another copy of the film on DVD featuring different artwork than my original copy from a Hollywood Video that was going out of business.  I don't mind to double dip with the price is only $1.  Sadly, after college I started my reviews for Horror Society and a lot of the films that I often revisited took the back seat to movies that I was sent for review.  When Umbrella Entertainment announced that Undead would be gracing their Beyond Genres line I was excited.  Odd that it wasn't part of their Ozploitation Classics but that doesn't matter much.  I couldn't wait to upgrade to blu and give this one the revisit that it rightly deserved.  I reached out to them and they were once again kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a small Australian town that descends into darkness when the living become the flesh eating undead.  Some survivors band together but attitudes and poor decisions tear them apart before the undead can.  When things look the darkest and they are at their end they face an intervention from someone outside of their town...and this world.  

     I remember when Undead was released and several members on UHM hated the film but there was a handful that actually liked it.  Honestly, it was cheap but a lot of fun.  The humor doesn't really find it's mark but the story and characters more than make up for it.  I can see why some of the more picky horror fans dislike the film but if you are open to horror comedies and the odd side of cinema then you will enjoy this one.  The acting in this one has plenty of room for improvement but not the worst I've seen.  Some of the characters are written to be funny while others are meant to be more serious to help carry the story along.  The cast has some experience but it's clear that they didn't have enough to make their performances stand out.  As fun as the film is the characters are rather forgettable.  The story for this one starts out like your typical zombie flick with a small town under siege from the undead but as the film progresses we find the survivors dealing with something much more than just a zombie outbreak.  The characters may not be as memorable as other films like it but they did fit in well with the story.  My biggest gripe with the film is the untimely humor and how flat it is.  I love a good zombie comedy but this one is very inconsistent and uneven.  Finally, the film has some fun practical and make-up effects and some seriously horrible visual effects.  The practical effects look great and really do make this film as enjoyable as it is.  I love the kills in the film and how they use classic practical effects to pull them off.  However, the visual effects are horrible and something that always turned me off back when this was a regular watch.  Overall, Undead isn't perfect.  It suffers from a low budget and fairly inexperienced cast but it finds a way to work.  It's enjoyable and one I would highly recommend watching with friends.  The blu from Umbrella is leagues above the DVD release and one I would consider a must own for zombie fans.  Check it out.  

Underneath: An Anthology of Terror

Director(s) - Andre Becker, Cory Ivanchuk, John Nicol (Channel Zero, Glimpse)

Starring - Brent Baird (Secret Santa, Exorcism of the Dead), Nicholas Koy Santillo (The Waddling Dead, Murder in Amish Country), and Andrew Baptiste (See No Evil, Bloodslinger)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Evil in chapters"

Format - Vimeo (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      The pandemic has put a huge strain on so many aspects of our every day life ranging from the way we work, shop, relax, and our hobbies.  As a cinema fan I often rely on new releases as a way to relax and unwind after a day at my muggle job.  The pandemic put a huge strain on new film productions especially indie productions so when a new movie is sent my way now to review I immediately jump on it.  A few weeks ago I was contacted to review the horror anthology Underneath: An Anthology of Terror.  The artwork and trailer looked a lot of fun so I agreed to it.  Time did get away from me but after a second email to check it out I made time for it.  It was a lot of fun and I'm glad I was given the opportunity to see it.  Thanks for reaching out guys!

     The film is split up into chapters. Each chapter tells a different story with them all being held together with a wraparound segment.  The segments feature various stories ranging from a television that is broadcasting the memories of a serial killer, a man who is convinced that his basement is a gateway to hell, and and a man that can transform into a flesh eating beast.

      Underneath is a film that has a lot going for it but the only thing holding it back is itself.  The film has a great cast, spectacular effects, and solid story ideas but the segments struggle with actually giving the stories they chose the justice they deserve.  The acting in this one is very well done.  The cast doesn't have a tremendous amount of experience but what they do have serves them well.  I enjoyed the cast and the characters they portrayed.  The film would have been a huge failure if it wasn't for the cast and the lengths they go for their performances.  The film uses a series of chapters with a wraparound segment to hold them all together nicely.  Honestly, I really enjoyed the idea behind each segment but a good bit of them feel as if they are missing a good chunk of the story.  I'm a huge fan of indie anthologies and I may hold them to a higher standard than other indie films but these stories had so much potential and each one fell flat.  Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed them as they are but they really did leave a lot of meat on the bone.  Finally, the film is beautifully shot and is overflowing with bloody and gruesome deaths that will satisfy the most rabid of gorehounds.  You can pause the film at any given time and the frame will look art and the effects used in the deaths scenes are spectacular.  It's not often you find an indie production with such great effects and fun kills.  Sure, they are not that inventive but they are fun.  Overall, Underneath: An Anthology of Terror was a bloody anthology that scratches any itch you may have for a late night horror anthology viewing.  The stories really need expanded upon but it's still a must see film as it is.  I highly recommend it.  

The Unhealer

Director - Martin Guigui (Cattle Call, Swing)

Starring - Elijah Nelson (The Sasquatch Gang, Colony), Natasha Henstridge (Ghosts of Mars, Species), and Kayla Carlson (Why Women Kill, CSI: NY)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Drama/Horror

Tagline - "With great power comes great pain"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I just spent a week working through seven films from Florida filmmaker William Grefe along with a documentary about his life and career.  It was fun watching these classic late 60s and 70s horror and exploitation classics and the documentary but I've spent a little too much time in decades passed.  I wanted to watching something a little newer so I turned to a new Scream Factory release.  The Unhealer is a dark drama starring Elijah Nelson and Natasha Henstridge.  I was curious about this one when I saw that Lance Henriksen was in it but the poster was turning me off. Regardless, I went into this one with an open mind and enjoyed it to some degree.

     The film follows the shy and timid teenager Kelly (Nelson) who has an eating disorder and is often bullied by the other kids in his high school.  His body is malnourished because he only eats foam and pencil erasers so his mother turns to a religious healer (Henriksen) to cure her son.  However, he dies during the process and bestows an ancient Native American power that reverses trauma from him and applies it back to those that tries to hurt him.  He uses his new powers to get revenge on those that bully him.  However, they retaliate and accidentally kill Kelly's mother Bernice (Henstridge).  This sends Kelly over the edge and he goes on a killing spree murdering anyone that was associated with the his mother's death.

     I knew from the poster and title that this was going to be goofy but I still enjoyed it.  It was a solid film over all but I did find myself rolling my eyes from time to time.  It's an interesting idea but it felt like it was written by a teenager or someone that was hoping to sell it to a distribution company that deals exclusively with mockbusters.  The acting in this one is very uneven and not the level of commitment that you would expect from the cast.  Henriksen is only in the film for around 10 minutes or so and his performance at that time is very underwhelming.  I like his character and the set up for the story that they laid before him but his short appearance and lack of screen time really is disappointing when you consider how much his name is plastered all over the promotion items for the film.  I did like Henstridge's performance.  Her character was very likable and she did a fantastic job as the mother.  You really believe that she loved Kelly.  As for the film's lead.  Elijah Nelson was great as Kelly but some of the later scenes where he is becoming power hungry and violent he doesn't feel genuine.  His performance is awkward to watch and it's difficult to take him seriously.  It's almost as if he was being directed to act that way by someone who has never seen an actual movie.  The story for this one has some very interesting aspects along with some out of place portions that are a little cringy and goofy.  The eating disorder angle is very grounded and serious which does add some depth to the film.  However, having him eat trash was pushing something serious to the point it was almost comedic.  Watching him eat foam takes away from the actual impact of that part of the story.  I did love the Native American lore that was mixed into the story but I feel like it was not explored to it's fullest potential.  Finally, the film does have some bloody moments with some impressive make-up effects and the viewer gets to enjoy them full.  We don't get a quick shot of it before it moves away.  Instead, it's the main focus of the scene and we get to appreciate the make-up effects.  Overall, The Unhealer is a film that could be the butt of viewer's jokes but I liked it.  I don't see myself revisiting it again but as a first time watch it was entertaining.  Check it out with an open mind and maybe a few beers.  

UK Haunters

Director - Dan Brownlie (Three's a Shroud, Virus of the Dead)

Starring - Andy Rawlings (Gangsters, Guns, and Zombies) and Dan Brownlie

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Documentary

Tagline - "The first feature length documentary on the UK haunt scene"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Over the years I've become a huge fan and supporter of the cryptid documentary production company Small Town Monsters which has shown me just how much I love documentaries.  I'm always on the lookout for the new STM docs along with any other genre specific doc that I can find.  Shudder has released a few feature length documentaries, as well as, a few documentary series which was extremely fun.  When I was looking through the MVD April and May releases I noticed a documentary about the UK haunt scene titled UK Haunters.  I shot MVD an email and they were kind enough to send over a review copy.  Thanks guys!

     UK Haunters takes a look at the surprisingly expansive haunt scene in the UK.  We follow the organizers and promoters as they plan, hold auditions, and decorate for their yearly attractions with some going back for several decades.

     I was pretty excited to check this one out.  I'm not much into the haunted attraction scene here in the states but I'm always down for a good documentary.  However, this documentary really didn't deliver that typical documentary feel or insight that I was looking for.  Regardless of my opinion on haunts this documentary fell very short.  The interviews in this one are extremely long winded and chaotic.  Every time we go to an interview we have this one person talk about the various topics without cutting to other interviewees to discuss the same topic.  It makes these interviews feel extremely long and uneventful.  This documentary does not space itself out by topics like most documentaries.  Instead, we get one interviewee and we are forced to listen to everything they have to say before moving on to the next person.  If this was split up into topics like the standard documentary it could have been a little more fun and not as dense.  Finally, the editing in this one is fairly smooth.  The transitions and cuts scenes all look nice and the additional footage and inserts look great.  Overall, UK Haunters is an extremely long and drawn out documentary that really needed to be edited in a different manner in order to make it feel more engaging.  This is one I cannot recommend.  

The Unwelcome

Director - Keith R. Robinson (Sniper Corpse, Silverhide)

Starring - Michael Cicchilo, Sinead Bannister, and Lea Garner 

Release Date - 2010

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A terrifying investigation into a poltergeist"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several weeks ago I went through various social media platforms looking for indie horror news to post on the site.  I met a lot of amazing filmmakers, producers, and so forth looking to get the word out on their project.  This was when I met the folks over at Other Dimension Films.  This London based production company has been making movies for 11 years now and was kind enough to send two of their films over for review.  The first film, Sniper Corpse, was surprisingly fun.  After I finished that film I was ready to check out their 2010 paranormal film The Unwelcome.  I want to thank Keith and company for being kind enough to send these all the way over for me to review.

     The film follows two paranormal investigators who take on a case of a young women that seems to be suffering from a poltergeist haunting.  However, the two investigators suspect that something else may be at play when they notice that things only happen when she is upset or inconvienced.

     Sniper Corpse was a campy horror drama with a simple story that worked for a late night horror watch.  This made me look forward to spinning The Unwelcome.  I was really looking forward to it but the movie just wasn't for me.  It was way too long for the story we got and a lot of the tension and atmosphere was wasted with dialogue and drawn out scenes that did very little for the story.  I wanted to like it but I would be lying if I said I did.  The acting in this one is solid enough,  The cast is fairly small for the most part and the cast works very well together.  There is a few awkward scenes that were a little unintentionally funny but nothing that really stands out.  I was shocked to see that this cast had no experience prior to this film.  They did a solid job and didn't let their inexperience ruin their performances.  The story for this one was a fun beginning but the movie struggles to really find it's footing and then just ends.  The movie didn't need to be as long as it was and the dialogue in some of the scenes doesn't really fit the film that well.  A lot could be cut while keeping the integrity of the film.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments as it comes to a close but those of you looking for buckets of blood and gore will be very disappointed.  Overall, The Unwelcome reminded me a lot of the movies Brian Damage was releasing in the early 2000s.  I appreciate those kind of films because they were what I was watching when I first became obsessed with the genre but I couldn't like them all.  Just like The Unwelcome wasn't for me.  It was slow, dry, and unnecessarily long.  Fans of paranormal films should check it out but I can't recommend it.