Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon

Director - Jason Lei Howden (Guns Akimbo, Deathgasm)

Starring - Milo Cawthorne (Blood Punch, Wolf Man), Kimberley Crossman (Stream, The Almighty Johnsons), and James Joshua Blake (Dangerous Game, Jackals)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Evil cums again"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I tend to go against the grain, so to speak, when it comes to horror movies.  I often like the no budget backyard flicks with a ton of imagination and lack of resources over the bug budget films that lack imagination. However, there is a few movies that pop up from time to time that offer up a bigger budget than I'm used to and delivers.  Over a decade ago the Milo Cawthorne lead film Deathgasm was released on the world and immediately became a hit.  I've watched this one many times since it's release and always find myself glued to the screen like it was a first time watch.  A few weeks ago I received news that a sequel was getting released very soon so I reached out to Raven Banner to see if I could review it.  They were kind enough to send me a link for Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon.  I want to thank them for being so kind as to let me review the film before it's release.

     The film picks up many years after the events of the first film.  Brodie (Cawthorne) is struggling with his music career after two members of his band died the night he saved the world.  Unemployed and an alcoholic, he finds himself living with Giles after Medina (Crossman) left him to further her music career.  He decides to use the pages from the first film to resurrect his bandmates in hopes of winning a battle of the bands competition.  His spell works but they are unpredictable and their appetite for flesh is uncontrollable forcing Brodie to once again reverse the spell while trying to get Medina back.

     Sequels rarely live up to the original but Deathgasm 2 is a fantastic follow up to a film that that I've loved for sometime.  Is this review a bit biased?  Absolutely, but I'm still going to be as honest and fair as possible.  The acting in this one is great.  Most of the cast returned for this sequel a decade later and bring the same energy that made the first film so damn fun.  Cawthorne carries the film as the metal head turned reluctant hero while Crossman was not in the film as much as the original.  I assume it was due to her rates, scheduling, or something of that nature.  The entire film features some seriously fun acting with no weak links to be seen.  The story for this one is a rehashing of the first film but it still finds a way to mix it up a little.  We have music to summon his dead bandmates only for one of them to steal the pages and then they try to raise an army of the dead to take over the world.  It's equal parts Evil Dead and Stan vs. Evil which I'm here for.  While it does rehash a lot of the original story from the first film, it adds some new things that make it just as fun as the first.  Finally, the film has just as much blood and gore as the first films.  We have some seriously fantastic practical effects and a lot of severed penises, peeni, penis's, whatever the plural of peckers are.  The deaths are a lot of fun and these effects look absolutely amazing.  Overall, Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon is a worthy sequel to a film that I absolutely adore.  Metal, blood, and the undead is all I ever wanted and this movie, along with the original, delivers.  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.  

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.  

The Paranormal

Director - Todd Norris (Call Me Snake, Nighty Night)

Starring - Josh Anderson, Dave Byerley, and Davide Baldin 

Release Date - 1999

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "They knew the movie was bad... they didn't know it would kill them"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The 90s was the decade that I gound my love of horror.  It started with my grandma letting me watch Tom Savini's remake of Night of the Living Dead and then showing me the original immediately after.  It wasn't long after this that my love for reading, at the time, sent me down the path of horror with R.L. Stine's Goosebumps and Fear Street along with several collections of Appalachian ghost stories and Stephen King from my local library.  Horror also took hold with my T.V. as well with Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Tales from the Crypt, and so much more.  I know the 90s is easily one of the most hate decades in regards to horror but it's a decade I cherish.  I'm always open to check out horror from the 90s and when Visual Vengeance announced the release of 1998's The Paranormal, I knew I had to see it.  I once again want to thank MVD and Visual Vengeance for sending this one over!

     The film follows a paranormal investigator who is sent back to his hometown to investigate a movie theater that was said to be the site of unexplained phenomenon.  What he thinks would be a routine investigation but finds himself, along with some others there for the investigation, locked inside the theater when it hit midnight.  Now they have to figure out what is going on and why everything paranormal happening in the theater is connected to an old zombie movie.

     This is one of the many movies I had never heard of prior to Visual Vengeance releasing it.  The press release for this one really peaked my interest and the artwork for the release sold me on it.  The movie was just as good as I had hoped and this release from VV is now among my favorite releases in my collection.  The acting in this one is solid which is surprising considering how inexperienced the cast is.  The cast works very well together and do a decent enough job at bringing their characters to life.  Also, they do a great job at showcasing their wide range of emotions that fit the scene.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting at all.  I knew it was going to be supernatural based story but I did not expect the movie subplot and how well it was going to play in the film.  The character development is a little off and the pacing has issues in some of the scenes but the overall story works.  Finally, the film has some make-up effects but that is the extent of it.  we don't get any memorable deaths or fun effects.  We get some classic movie magic and that is it.   Overall, The Paranormal is the kind of movie that I really enjoy watching late at night.  It's not that well made but it's fun for what it is.  Check it out on blu from Visual Vengeance.  

Colony Mutation

Director - Tom Berna

Starring - Joan Dinco, David Rommel (Downer), and Anna Zizzo 

Release Date - 1995

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Don't be afraid of..."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Visual Vengeance quickly became one of my favorite boutique blu labels of recent years with their dedication to S.O.V. cinema.  I'll be honest, a lot of their films do not benefit from being restored and put on blu but it's awesome having a lot of these in my collection with many of them being stuck in VHS hell.  Some of these movies are proudly displayed in my collection.  A lot of them are movies I had never seen before and it was thanks to VV that I was able to finally check them out.  However, for every movie that I live, there is one that just didn't do it for me.  A few weeks back Visual Vengeance sent me the 1995 sci-fi horror mashup Colony Mutation from Tom Berna.  I had never seen this one before but I couldn't wait to dig into it.

     The film follows a man who is sneaking out on his hot scientist wife with another woman.  She learns of the affair when she gets his credit card bill and confronts him.  She slaps him and then throws a chemical her colleague is working at him before he beats her to death.  After hiding of her body, he tries to go about his life as if nothing happened but soon learns that the chemical he was hit with has altered his body.  His limbs are now carnivorous creatures with a taste for human flesh.  

     I went into this one knowing very little about it.  It looked like an attempt at the science gone too far films that many of us would watch on the Sci-Fi Channel before their rebranding.  While it does feel like that at times, the story is just different enough to make it feel like something somewhat unique.  It had some fun moments but loses itself during the last half of it's runtime.  The acting in this one is rough at times but I appreciate their dedication to their roles.  Most of the scenes feature dialogue spoken without conviction and a lot of their mannerisms are unnatural.  They are really into their roles but their lack of experience shows in every scene.  The story for this one is another science gone too far creating body horror.  We've seen this type of films before with films like The Blob and The Fly remakes.  I loved how the film started.  We have a cheating husband and a scientist who catches him.  In a fit of rage, she throws a chemical on him before he kills her before his body slowly changes into a flesh eating beast.  I really love how the film is written but it's the second half of the film where it loses me.  The whole body horror aspect is half-assed resulting in a poorly put together last act that has nothing enjoyable for the viewer to see.  Honestly, I feel this part was changed during filming for unknown reasons.  Finally, the film has several deaths but they are not as fun as they could have been.  The effects are very limited which is why I suspect the second half of the film is difficult to finish.  I love the idea behind his body/limbs being monsters but the way the films goes about it leaves a lot to be desired.  Overall, Colony Mutation is a movie that I was really looking forward to and was actually liking until the film lost steam.  The ending felt rather dull and out of place makes me think that it was changed on the fly.  I wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me.  Skip it.  

Morbus

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

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

Release Date - 1983

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

Blue Sunshine

Director - Jeff Lieberman (Squirm, Satan's Little Helper)

Starring - Zalman King (Galaxy of Terror, Trip with the Teacher), Deborah Winters (The Outing, Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo), and Mark Goddard (Strange Invaders, Lost in Space)

Release Date - 1977

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "After blue sunshine you're better off dead!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been accused of writing positive reviews for money which is absolutely absurd.  I wish I could get paid to do this but the truth is I do this for fun.  I've never received a cent from my work on Horror Society and all my reviews are my honest opinion.  I like what I like and some of my readers believe that my reviews are paid for.  Honestly, I just have weird taste in movies and I'm not ashamed of that at all.  The reason I'm saying this is because I'm about to write a review for Synapse Film's release of Blue Sunshine.  This is a film I first watch many years ago thanks to Elvira's Movie Macabre.  Since then I have snagged the DVD release of that episode along with a standard DVD release of the film.  I know many genre fans dislike the movie but I fucking love it and couldn't wait to check out this release from my friends over at Synapse.

     The film follows a man who is on the run after falsely being accused of murder he did not commit.  His friend, the real murderer, lost all his hair before going mad and killing their mutual friends.  Knowing something is going on, he starts investigating by himself while avoiding arrest where he uncovers a connection between him and other murders like it where the person lost all their hair and went mad.  He then learns that all the murderers had taken a drug called Blue Sunshine years before that may have triggered the murders.  

     I know Blue Sunshine has it's fans but I was under the impression that it was a genre title that was genuinely loved.  That changed after I posted on social media that I was checking out this release.  While no one said anything about the UHD release from Synapse, some genre fans were quick to bash the film.  This was shocking to me as I had always thought it was a film many of my like minded friends loved.  The movie itself is an awesome horror thriller that almost plays into the anti-drugs propaganda of the time.  It's extremely dated but that is what makes this one so much fun.  The acting in this one is great.  Zalman King is a fantastic lead.  He reminds me a lot of a young Sean Penn in some of the scenes which has always been a bit of a surprise to me.  His character doesn't show a wife range of emotions but he carries the film.  The supporting cast is great as well but it's King who is a one man show.  The story for this one is a horror thriller following a man trying to clear his name and get to the reason his friend snapped and killed several people before trying to kill him.  Toss in a "drugs are bad" message and you have a film that is frozen in time but is still extremely enjoyable.  It has great pacing and while it is predictable it still delivers a fun ride to it's destination.  Finally, we do get some blood but this is not a gruesome flick.  the film relies heavily on the story itself and the mystery surrounding the murders instead of the murders themselves.  It's because of this that we don't get memorable deaths.  Overall, Blue Sunshine is a film I absolutely love.  I'm blown away that genre fans don't dig it like it.  I know the movie has it's fan out there and this release is for you.  However, if you don't like it then I can only assume you smell your own farts for pleasure.  Check it out.  

The Draft

Director - Yusron Faudi (The Verdict, Skull)

Starring - Adhin Abdul Hakim (Hayya: The Power of Love 2, Hayya 2: Dream, Hope and Reality), Anastasia Herzigova (Lost in the Spotlight, Cyanide), and Anggi Waluyo (The Redemption of Sin, Zona Merah)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Fight 4 your fate"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I Absolutely adore getting in international genre titles to review.  Lately, I have been receiving international flicks for review but most of them have been sexploitation flicks from my friends over at Mondo Macabro and Severin Films.  I really enjoy these films so please don't get me wrong but I'm always going to be a horror fan.  I love horror and really enjoy seeing what other countries have to offer.  A few weeks ago I received an email featuring two international titles for review.  The first film happened to be an Indonesian zombie flick from 2023 titled The Draft.  The title really peaked my interest and I decided to check that one out first.  I want to thank my friends over at Shudder and Screambox for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a group of what appears to be twenty-somethings that visit an old villa that belongs to one of them.  Her uncle is the caretaker of the property and begs them not to stay but they refuse to listen.  They soon find themselves in trouble when one of them is murdered the first night.  As they try to figure out a way to get help they uncover that they are actually living in a cliched horror movie.  They must embrace the horror or succumb to the undead monsters lurking outside the villa.

     I was very excited when I hit play on The Draft.  I couldn't wait to see what this film was all about but soon found myself face to face with a film that spent the first hour with the characters just talking.  It was so fucking dull that I almost turned it off.  I can't remember the last time I almost turned a movie off before it was finished but this film had me seriously thinking about it.  I hate writing a negative review for a movie sent to me but this one was tough.  The acting in this one was very well done.  The characters are generic on purpose.  The cast has a lot of fun getting into character which made the movie somewhat barrable during the first hour or so.  The story for this one is a fun idea that took far too long to get going.  The first hour is one death followed by way too much dialogue.  We have zero action before the last leg of the film.  With that being said, that last leg is fantastic.  It almost saves the film.  It's clever, action packed, and has some laughs.  If the whole film was able to hold that consistency then it would have been unforgettable.  Finally, the film has some practical effects.  We have some zombie make-up that looks fairly well done along with some other make-up effects.  They all look good enough but nothing that stands out to the viewer.  Overall, The Draft is such a wasted idea.  I love the story but the way in which it unfolds is extremely boring.  I wanted to like this one, and the last 30 minutes almost won me over, but that first hour ruins the experience.  This is one I'd recommend skipping.  

Bitter Souls

Director - Tom Ryan (Splinter, Haunted)

Starring - Avaryana Rose (The Truth About Monsters, Outer Banks Slasher), Michael Hargrove (Candyman, Justified: City Primeval), and Destiny Leilani Brown (Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor, Hell House LLC: Lineage)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     I get a lot of movies in for review which doesn't leave me a lot of time to watch movies that I want to.  I see a lot of press releases for movies that peak me interest but I don't get the chance to watch them.  I see a lot of movies cross my desk and a good bit of them are movies that I never get to see.  Sometime back I received the press release for the horror film Bitter Souls starring up and coming starlit Avaryana Rose.  The movie stuck out to me due to it's voodoo theme but I was never given the opportunity to review it.  However, a few weeks later I received word that the film was streaming on Tubi.  I fucking love Tubi and added it to my watch list for when I could have a little movie night without the strain of reviewing movies.  After a few days I was still playing catch up on my review list, I decided to say fuck it and watch it anyway and just review it.  

     The film follows a young lady, Kendall (Rose), who finds herself in the sights of a delinquent.  However, he doesn't take kindly to her rejection and strangles her in the woods.  When she doesn't return home, her boyfriend turns to the local priest for help who turns him on to a voodoo practitioner who tries to help him locate her.  Sadly, they are too late and she is already dead and resurrected by the evil Immanuel who is building an army of the undead.

     I went into this one pretty excited to see an indie horror flick about voodoo.  It has been years since my last voodoo review and was really looking forward to this one.  Sadly, the movie just didn't do it for me.  It had an interesting enough story but it just didn't pull it all together into something enjoyable.  I seriously wanted to like it but it just didn't work for me.  The acting in this one is a highlight of the film.  The film boasts an impressive cast with young stars Avaryana Rose and Michael McKeever carry the film.  Their characters compliment each other very well and the two work so well together.  The supporting cast is great as well but it's these two that made the film as enjoyable as it was for me.  The story for this one had an interesting idea but lost touch with itself somewhere along the way.  I love the idea of a young woman harassed and murdered by a punk and his goons only to be brought back by voodoo to seek revenge.  It's such a fantastic and simple story that would have worked.  However, we also have the Immanuel building an army angle that doesn't really feel fully developed along with the priest that helps the guy find a voodoo practitioner.  I'm not religious but would a priest even acknowledge voodoo?  It feels like the film is trying to go in too many directions while not gaining traction on just one.  Finally, the film has some solid make-up effects and some light practical effects that fit the film very well but those of you looking for memorable kills will be a bit disappointed.  While the effects do look good for the film, they are not that elaborate and the deaths are nothing that will stand out to genre fans.  Overall, Bitter Souls is one of those films that I was really looking forward to but just didn't work.  I loved the cast and liked some of the story ideas but the overall film just missed it's mark.  I wanted to like it but I can't.  Skip it.  

Cabin Fever

Director - Eli Roth (The Green Inferno, Thanksgiving)

Starring - Jordan Ladd (Death Proof, Club Dread), Rider Strong (Darkening Sky, Critical Role: One Shots), and James DeBello (Detroit Rock City, Scary Movie 2)

Release Date - 2002

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Catch it!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Genre fans love to find filmmakers to shit on.  They are easily the most opinionated fanbase there only second to the metal community.  I've been writing for Horror Society for over a decade and I've been a genre fan since the mid-90s so I've seen how rabid and spiteful the horror community can be.  One filmmaker that has always drawn criticism from fans is Eli Roth who has given the genre some fantastic films in my opinion.  While Roth and Rob Zombie are quick to catch hell online, I would much rather watch their body of work over the Terrifier trilogy and the Scream franchise.  Honestly, I'm a fan of Roth's and can remember watching Cabin Fever on VHS when I was in high school.  I know a lot of genre fans refused to watch it because "modern" horror sucked but I've always been open to all horror.  Since then I've watched all of Roth's work but I never revisited the first Cabin Fever after I left for college and lost my tape collection.  That recently changed when Lionsgate sent over their new UHD steelbook release for review.  It had been damn near 20 years since my last viewing and couldn't wait to revisit it.

     The film follows a group of twenty-somethings who venture deep into the woods for a little drinking and hunting.  However, their idyllic trip is anything when they encounter a man who is extremely sick.  He has open sores all over his body with puss oozing from them.  Things then take an even deadlier turn when their vehicle becomes damaged after one of the sick tries to steal it.  Stuck deep in the woods with no phone, they try find a way to get into town for help but when one of their own becomes infected they are forced to find their own way to survive.  

     Cabin Fever is not a film that anyone will say is their favorite film.  It might be someone's favorite Eli Roth film but they would be wrong.  I like Cabin Fever and I think it's a solid, well rounded film but it's not the best of anything if I'm being honest.  It's a fun flick that anyone can enjoy regardless if you are a genre fan or just someone that appreciates good movies.  The acting in this one is very uneven but not bad.  Honestly, I like the cast in this one.  James DeBello and Jordan Ladd make the film for me.  Their characters are so different and so memorable.  I also enjoyed the supporting cast.  While they are unintentionally funny,  they deliver solid performances as well.  In fact, they are probably just as memorable as DeBello and Ladd's.  With that being said, Ryder Strong, Cerina Vincent, and Joey Kern's performances were a bit underwhelming.  While Vincent was nice to look at from a misogynistic standpoint, her character was very cliched and forgettable.  The story for this one is unique and not like your standard cabin in the woods type film.  A group of young adults in a cabin deep in the woods with plans of fucking and getting high/drunk is nothing knew.  Hell, it's damn near essential for most slashers.  However, this one differs from others and plays into the fear many have of us of unknown infections.  I'm not a germaphobe but I would do everything possible to avoid a skin eating disease.  The movie does a great job at creating tensions between those in the small cabin when the disease is introduced.  The film has great pacing, some humor that works, and some clever deaths.  Finally, the film has some pretty gruesome scenes with some fun gore.  It's not the bloodiest film I've seen but I loved the effects for this one.  The gore, though limited, looks great and the make-up effects are top next.  Here we are 20 some years later and still talking about the gooey effects for this one.  Overall. Cabin Fever is not the film people will use to describe Eli Roth's career but it is a solid flick.  It's crazy to revisit this one and see how far he has grown as a filmmaker when you compare it to something like Thanksgiving.  It's still worth a watch especially this new UHD unrated release.  Check it out!

The Mortuary Assistant

Director - Jeremiah Kipp (Slapface, The Geechee Witch: A Boo Hag Story)

Starring - Willa Holland (Legion, Arrow), John Adams (Hellbender, Where the Devil Roams), and Paul Sparks (Waco, The Lowdown)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Alone with the dead"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm an avid gamer and have been most of my life.  Horror as always been an obsession but I spend more time with a controller or keyboard and mouse in my hand than I do watching movies.  I've been gaming on PC for a few years now and found dozens of fantastic indie horror games through Steam.  One of those eerily creepy horror games was The Mortuary Assistant.  This game was originally released in 2022 but it wasn't until last summer that I decided to finally play it.  I loved the atmosphere, the tension, and some of the little details they added into the game to really drive in that supernatural and occult aspect.  While the jump scares didn't always work, it still delivered one of the most genuinely unnerving playthroughs that I've experienced as an adult.  A few weeks back I received a press release for the film adaptation and was very excited for it.  My mind immediately raced with the ideas of how the movie would play out and which parts of the game would be included.  A few days later I received a link to review the film and I quickly jumped on it!  I couldn't wait to check it out.

     The film follows a young woman who is recently hired as an assistant at a mortuary.  She is then asked to cover a night shift after proving to the mortician that she is more than capable of taking care of things in his absence.  He has her come in one night when several bodies are delivered.  Alone, she starts preparing the bodies as normal but things are anything but.  She starts to receive strange phone calls from her boss and other strange occurrences before realizing that something is in the mortuary with her.  

     As I stated earlier, The Mortuary Assistant is one of the creepiest indie games that I've been fortunate enough to play.  It's not a perfect game but it makes great use of the location and story.  I had high hopes for this adaptation and was surprised to see that Jeremiah Kipp had brought the film to life.  I recently reviewed Kipp's The Geechee Witch: A Boo Hag Story and enjoyed it.  This only fueled my excitement for the film.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  The film really is a one person show with Willa Holland doing most of the heavy lifting.  I'm a huge fan of the DC series Arrow and The Flash and knew she would do great in this role.  She really gets into the role and makes it her own while showcasing a wide range of emotions.  The supporting cast is effective in their roles but the movie is all eyes on Holland and she delivers.  The story for this one does make some minor changes from the game but still remains true to the game for the most part.  These changes are noticeable but it makes sense as to why they were made.  The location is very similar to the mortuary in the game and a lot of the trickets, symbols, and so on are very influenced by the game.  With that being said, the film is unable to duplicate the spine-chilling atmosphere and tension that made the game so much fun.  The film is dark and really tries to use the slow pacing to it's advantage but it just doesn't work like expected.  Finally, the film has some amazing effects.  The autopsy scenes are fucking phenomenal.  The effects for these scenes look top notch and unforgettable.  We also have some fun make-up effects on some of the characters.  Sadly, the main supernatural presence, shown on the film's artwork, is goofy.  I was hoping the film would take a more realistic look with the creature but what we get is laughable at best.  Overall, The Mortuary Assistant is a faithful adaptation to a very underrated game.  While it doesn't have the atmosphere that the game has, it is still an entertaining horror film.  Willa Holland is fantastic and the effects are a must see.  Check it out especially if you dig the game like I do.  

     

Queens of the Dead

Director - Tina Romero (Rainbowarrior, Flicker)

Starring - Jaquel Spivey (Mean Girls), Katy O'Brian (The Running Man, The Mandalorian), and Quincy Dunn-Baker (The Righteous Gemstones, Inheritance)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few weeks, or even months, back I was sent a couple press releases for Tina Romero's Queens of the Dead.  I knew exactly who Tina was because I follow her on Instagram but for those of you that are unaware, she is the daughter of the late George Romero and Christine Forrest.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know what the film is about after reading the title and knowing her father's legacy.  I was already thinking about my review for the film before I watched it.  I didn't know if I wanted to go into it just making a quick mention of her father before giving the rest of my time to her and her film or compare and contrast their films given that she was likely inspired by her father.  I didn't want my review to be about Romero and his legacy but I ultimately agreed that his daughter is his legacy and his legendary career that did lead to her directing this film.  

     The film follows a small club owner as she prepares for a drag show but clogged toilets, homophobic in-laws, flaky talent, sewer rats, and the undead are stopping her.  A night of major inconviences turns deadly when the undead try to break into her club.  As the rag tag group consisting of a right-wing plumber, several lesbians, and a small group of drag queens prepare to barricade themselves in the club, they learn that a boat is leaving soon and could be their only hope of surviving the night.  Things then take an even stranger turn when she learns that her wife, who works at a hospital, is pregnant and not answering her phone.  

     I was really excited to check out Queens of the Dead.  I was the one that initiated contact with them so I could review it.  A zombie movie made by the daughter of George A. Romero that features drag queens?  This one just sounded amazing to me and I couldn't wait to dig into it.  Sadly, it wasn't as fun as it could have been and it reminded me a lot of the Tubi original Slay and Kicking Zombie Ass for Jesus aka Dead Don't Die in Dallas which was a little more fun than this one.  The acting in this one is very uneven.  We have some seriously fun performances along with some extremely flat performances.  The characters with drag queen personas were a lot of fun and live up to their bigger than life counterparts.  We have a few other performances pop up here and there that was solid as well but a good bit of the film features a lot of one dimensional performances with awkward dialogue and zero emotion.  This would be kind of funny if I was talking about the cast that portrayed the zombies but I'm not.  The story for this one is a lot like Slay meets Kicking Zombie Ass for Jesus with a group of drag queens fighting for their lives against the undead.  I really liked the set up for the film but wish that more time was spent on the character that wasn't queens, as well as, where they wanted to take the story.  We have a lot of time spent on the build up of the story only for it to fizzle out.  We get a very strong start, a little bit of build up in the middle, and just more of the same throughout the remainder.  Finally, the film has some blood, great special effects that go along with it but the look of the zombies are very underwhelming.  This may be a tribute to Tina's father and his classic Night of the Living Dead but the gray glitter body paint just wasn't as enjoyable as it may have sounded on paper.  Yea, it does fit the drag queen theme but it doesn't feel like a true zombie film because of that.  Also, the lack of gore was a bit disappointing.  Overall, Queens of the Dead had the makings to be a modern classic but the lack of story, underwhelming zombies, and flat characters made this one easily forgettable.  God damn, I wanted to love this one but it just wasn't there for me.  

The Last of Us Season 2

Creator(s) - Neil Druckmann (Uncharted) and Craig Mazin (Mythic Quest, Chernobyl)

Starring - Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget), Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones), and Isabela Merced (Superman, Transformers: The Last Knight)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Every path has a price"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've decided to revisit one of my favorite sub-genres this year after spending sometime away from it after it's rise in popularity.  I've always been a fan of zombies but I took a major break over the last few years when The Walking Dead brought them into pop culture and hundreds of unimaginative clones started hitting store shelves.  I figured enough time has passed since it's premier in 2010 so I decided to dive back into the show and zombies in general.  I ventured through The entire Walking Dead series, it's spinoff series, webisodes, and shorts before moving on to some other movies like Romero's Dead series.  A few weeks back I received the second season of the acclaimed horror show The Last of Us which was adapted from an award winning game.  I really enjoyed the first season and couldn't wait to dive into this one.  

     This season picks up with Ellie (Ramsey) and Joel (Pascal) living in the Jackson community after arriving at the end of season 1.  Joel and Ellie's relationship has became strained but Joel refuses to turn his back on Ellie.  What neither of them know is that a group from Seattle have camped in a lodge near their community who plan on making Joel pay for what he had done in the hospital on their way to Jackson.  They are able to find them and kill Joel before leaving when an army of infected rip through their walls.  Ellie is able to get back to Jackson during the aftermath and once they are done refortifying their walls she sneaks out with Dina to find the group responsible for killing Joel.  

     I can't tell you if either season of the show is faithful to the game but I can tell you that this show is damn good even though it reminds me a lot of previous zombie films and series that came before it.  It's hard to make a zombie show stand out and if you can't then you need to make it be entertaining which it does.  The acting in this one is very well done.  The entire cast is great and several of these performances becoming iconic yet Bella Ramsey receives hate for her role.  She's crushes her role here but her character is hard to like.  I understand the importance of her character and how she connects to the story but there is several scenes where I had high hopes that she would meet her end.  That has to do with her acting ability and not her as a person.  The story for this one continues what was started in the first season but doesn't go as far as I had hoped.  We follow Joel and Ellie who start to fall apart while their lives adjust to having a safe place to live.  However, after Joel's death we follow the survivors as they disagree on their course of action.  While the infected are a serious danger, the real danger is the survivors they encounter which is similar to other zombie shows like The Walking Dead, Z Nation, and so many more.  It's not something new or groundbreaking but it works with the story around Ellie who can't be infected and the zombies that are infected with a fungus that takes over.  It's all works into something fun but doesn't really reinvent the wheel. Finally, the series has a lot make-up effects and even more visual effects.  The make-up effects used on the close up scenes look solid but most of the visuals used are noticeable and cheap looking.  I would have loved more practical effects, especially with the gore, but you can't win them all.  Overall, The Last of Us Season 2 is a worthy season to the original run of the show.  While I can't verify how close to the game the show is, it's very entertaining if you are looking for a horror centered show to check out.  

Night of the Living Dead

Director - Tom Savini (Tales from the Darkside, Creepshow)

Starring - Tony Todd (Candyman, The Man from Earth), Patricia Tallman (Dead Air, Army of Darkness), and Tom Towles (House of 1000 Corpses, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "There is a fate worse than death"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most horror fans that I've met over the years can tell you what triggered their obsession with the genre.  Mine was a product of the time I was raised.  I was born in the mid 80s and raised in the 90s so Goosebumps was my first love.  I was constantly harassing my dad to get me the books when they would hit store shelves.  However, it was watching Tom Savini's remake of Night of the Living Dead sometime during the early 90s that got me hooked on horror movies.  I watched it for the first time with my grandmother while my dad was out of town.  I loved it and asked if we could watch it again and she said no.  Instead, she showed me the original George A. Romero classic and my fate was sealed.  A few weeks ago I was sent the Savini remake on UHD for review which included the director's cut.  I had never seen this version of the film and had to see it.  I want to thank Columbia Pictures for sending this one over!

     The film follows a young woman, Barbara (Tallman), who finds herself fleeing through a cemetery when the dead come back to life.  Seeking refuge in a nearby farmhouse, she finds another group looking for safety.  However, tension comes to a boil when they struggle to agree on what they should do next resulting in altercations eventually resulting in the death of many of them at the hands of each other and the living dead.

     George Romero's Night of the Living Dead is one of the most important films in horror history and a pivotal zombie film that would forever change the sub-genre.  The film spawned several sequels, remakes, and unofficial sequels over the decades since it's original release but it's damn near impossible for me to watch the film without immediately watching Savini's remake or vice versa.  I love both of these films equally and the fact I was sent this film on UHD with the director's cut included is surreal.  I never expected this when I start writing reviews and sitting here banging on my keyboard for this movie is an amazing feeling.  The acting in this one is top notch.  There is no weak links.  We have some of the best zombie actors I've ever seen in a film.  I recently binged the entire Walking Dead universe and while there is some stellar performances among the dead in the show, none hold a candle to the cast playing zombies in this one.  The main cast is amazing as well.  They bring the same intensity as the original while keeping most of the original character's personalities intact.  This is a fantastic cast and their performances are one of the many reasons this film is essential viewing for genre fans.  The story for this one is damn near a shot for shot remake of the original with some minor changes but nothing that I would consider important.  We have most of the essential characters returning with the same personalities, the same locations, social issues, and struggles with the undead the original faced.  The minor changes are fun ones that many will not notice but people that have seen this one dozens of times will see them.  Finally, this one has some great make-up effects along with some unforgettable practical effects.  The make-up effects look great.  The zombies have a unique look with more focus on looking dead over rotting.  The deaths are great as well.  While the people don't really die on screen, the zombie deaths use great gags and look fantastic.  Overall, Night of the Living Dead is a must see for genre fans.  While the original is going to always be my favorite, this film is a strong 2nd.  The director's cut does add some to the film but the movie is damn near perfect as is.  Please check it out.