Mystics in Bali

Director - H. Tjut Djalil (LAdy Terminator, White Crocodile Queen)

Starring - Ilona Agathe Bastian, Yos Santo (The Devil's Sword, The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman), and Sofia W.D. (Teen Idol, Fatima)

Release Date - 1981

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The last few weeks have truly been eye opening to me.  I've had an eye for foreign and international horror for several years now after discovering Japanese splatter but I never really ventured into the world of Indonesian horror.  Severin opened the door with their Suzzanna box set but Mondo Macabro took me further with their releases of The Queen of Black Magic and Mystics of Bali.  Mystics of Bali is one that I had heard about for many years but never actually had the chance to see it.  I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAV for sending this one over for review.  I'm glad I was finally able to check this one off my watch list!

     The film follows a woman writing a book on black magic with the help of a local.  He takes her to the cemetery late at night and they find an old woman with long nails laughing.  She offers to help her with her book and give her some of her black magic power.  However, she is tricked and turned into a penanggalan at night.  The penanggalan is a disembodied head with the organs still attached that feeds on the blood of the living.  She begins terrorizing the locals who are then forced to stop her.

     I went into this one assuming it was about a penanggalan from seeing some of the artwork for the film.  I was only familiar with this creature due to Dead by Daylight and I'm not going to pretend like I'm an expert on the creature.  However, I knew enough about the basics to appreciate the film for what it was.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun.  Sofia W.D. made the film for me as the old witch.  Her performance stole every scene she was in and really stood out from the rest of the cast.  It was on the campy side but I enjoy the theatrics in horror films with great atmosphere and tension.  The supporting cast does a decent enough job but no one else in the film delivers a performance like Sofia W.D.  The story for this one is a lot of fun.  It doesn't really offer up anything we haven't seen before but it does give it a unique spin.  Black magic as the center focus in an Indonesian horror film is nothing new and was already done several times in 1981 alone.  However, adding the penanggalan angle made it stand out from the crowd.  It does get a bit dull and repetitive as the film moves on but it still finds a way to work.  Finally, the film has some fun effects.  We get some classic camera tricks and some fun make-up effects.  While the kills are not that imaginative and gruesome, they do fit the film.  Overall, Mystics in Bali is a fantastic film with a creature that many genre fans have never seen before.  I highly recommend this one and this release from Mondo Macabro looks fantastic.  Check it out.  

The Queen of Black Magic

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

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

Release Date - 1981

Genre - Horror

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

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

     

Grunk the Smasher

Director - Darin Wood (Badass Monster Killer, Planet of the Vampire Women)

Starring - Chris "Superbeast" Crotte (Hell's Coming For You), Marylin Monroach (Smosh, Lady Hyde), and Rae Wright (Smosh)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Fantasy/Adventure/Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I was lucky enough to review Badass Monster Killer from Darin Wood when my friends over at Wild Eye sent it over.  I fucking loved the movie and would recommend it to people that would visit the Wild Eye table whenever I was working it at a convention.  I loved the blend of blaxploitation, creature feature, and crude humor.  Sometime around this time I was sent news of Wood's newest project which was a fantasy adventure film titled Grunk the Smasher.  I grew up on sword and sandal epics of the 80s and couldn't wait to check it out.  Sadly, several years had passed and I completely forgot about this one.  I was reminded about it when producer Christy Savage sent me an email to review it.  I couldn't wait and added it to my list to check out as soon as I could.  Thank you Christy for reaching out!

     The film follows rough barbarian Grunk the Smasher (Crotte) who finds himself tricked by an evil sorcerer and left to die.  However, with the help of a few unexpected allies who seek revenge against the same sorcerer, he sets out on an adventure for payback.  

     I went into Grunk the Smasher completely blind.  I had not seen a trailer, promotional images, or the synopsis for the film aside from what I could remember about my original post five years ago.  While I didn't enjoy it as much as I did Badass Monster Killer, I still had a lot of fun with it and I can see myself revisiting it sometime soon.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun but it's not something I would consider award winning performances.    The characters are cliched on purpose and a lot of the performances felt like they were part of a well established play but it's not bad.  It adds a lot of fun to the film but none of the performances stand out like other films from Wood.  The story for this one is a loving tribute to classic fantasy adventure films like both Conan films, The Barbarians, Ator, and so on.  We follow a hulking womanizing barbarian who find himself doing a job for an evil sorcerer only to be tricked and left to die.  He lives, obviously, and partners with others seeking revenge as well.  We have dark elves, witches, creatures, and so much more to enjoy scattered throughout the film.  It's not a compelling story but it is mindless fantasy fun.  Finally, the film has a lot of different effects to enjoy.  We have some puppets, practical effects, stop motion, and visuals.  They all do a wonderful of elevating the film and are visually appealing.  Overall, Grunk the Smasher is not going to be at the top of anyone's list but a lot of gen-x and millennials will enjoy what Grunk has to offer.  It delivers on exactly what it set out to and I really respect it in that regard.  Check it out.  

Heathens

Director - Nathaniel Paull (Rock Bottom, Straight Jacket)

Starring - Kirstie Drew (Allow Access, Reluctant Blues), Tiffany Michelle Foster, and Casey Jane (Rennie)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Join the sisterhood"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been writing reviews for a long time now and most of you may know my stance on found footage and mockumentaries.  I know a lot of people enjoy these sub-genres but I just can't get into them.  Sure, there has been a few of each that I've found over the years that I enjoyed but most of them are damn near unwatchable for me.  As much as I dislike them, I always find myself agreeing to review them when asked to check them out.  A week or so back I was contacted by Nathaniel Paull to check out his movie Heathens.  I quickly agreed with no knowledge about the film.  I did so because the poster sold me on it.  It's easily one of the best film posters I've seen in the last several years.  I wasn't able to get to the film right away but after a few days I was able to finally check it out.  I want to thank Nathaniel for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a group filming a documentary about a small group of witches in a small town.  This group consists of witches from various backgrounds and disciplines as they come together to protect themselves while growing as witches.  However, drama seems to follow one of the members creating a dangerous situation for the rest of the coven.

     Have you ever wanted to see a film that is equal parts This is Spinal Tap and The Craft?  What about a movie that feels like episodes of The Office mixed with What We Do in the Shadow?  Well look no further.  I went into Heathens completely blind which is my preferred way to watch a movie I'm going to review.  All I knew about the movie came from what could be seen from the poster.  I had no idea that it was a mockumentary but that didn't matter.  The movie itself surprised me and I found myself really getting into it.  The acting in this one makes the film for me.  The characters are very well written which gives the cast a lot to work with.  Some of the cast has very little, if any, on screen experience which does show in a few scenes.  However, they do a wonderful job and make the film as fun as it is.  In fact, I will actively be seeking out other films these young ladies appear in and hope they appear in future films.  The story for this one is pretty fucking clever in regards mockumentaries.  We follow a coven of witches in a small town where every member has their own background and different view on what it means to be a witch.  We then have some drama added to the mix which works and doesn't feel too outlandish.  With that being said, I felt the film tried to be funny but didn't really find it's mark with the humor.  I don't know if I'm the target audience for the jokes but its clear that the film wanted to be a comedy. In fact, it wasn't really a horror film either.  More like a dramedy centered around witches.   Finally, don't expect a bloodbath with this one.  The film itself is a character driven piece that works but doesn't have a lot of the red stuff that many of us genre fans are looking for.  Overall, Heathens is not going to be for everyone but god damn did I enjoy it.  I love the characters, the cast, and how everything unfolded but I would have loved some horror elements added to it.  Honestly, I really enjoyed and highly recommend it.  Check it out.  

Sorority of the Damned

Director(s) - Joe Davison (Up All Night with Rhonda Shear, Frost Bite) and Roy Knyrim (Death Racers, Cemetery Gates)

Starring - Joe Davison, Kaleina Cordova (Knock Knock, American Horror Story), and Chelsea Jordan (On-Site, The Itch)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Witches be crazy"

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     I absolutely love horror comedies.  While Savini's take on Night of the Living Dead was my introduction to the genre, it was films like Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness, Dead Heat, and so on that really made me a genre fan.  My shift from pop horror to indie horror hasn't been without it's own disadvantages.  I miss watching polished movies with decent acting.  I love the passion, originality, and creativity that accompanies the indie films but a lot of times they feature rough acting and barely resemble a movie.  There has been some well made horror comedies pop up over the last decade or so.  The Moleman of Belmont Ave., Deathgasm, and Psycho Goreman just to name a few.  Several months back I received a press release for the horror comedy Sorority of the Damned.  The film was recently added to Tubi and they were trying to get the word out.  I decided to check out the trailer, which I rarely do, and was surprised by how fun it looked.  I went ahead and added it to my watchlist.  After a few snow days here, I decided to check it out while I was snowed in.  I'm glad I did because it was a lot of fun.

     The film follows an educated man turned plumber who works for a sorority that often flushes feminine hygiene products.  He turned his back on his career when he learned that he comes from a long line of monster/witch hunters.  This comes in handy as the sorority he is employed for is about to be become by ancient witches with plans of taking over the world.  

     I went into this one with an open mind expecting to have some laughs but I was rather disappointed in that regard.  I grew up on Pee Wee's Playhouse, Beavis and Butthead, South Park, and the like so my sense of humor is pretty broad.  However, this film was not funny but it was still a lot of fun for what it is.  The acting in this one is one of the better aspects of the film.  Joe Davison wasn't doing it for me.  His Will Sasso inspired performance wasn't as funny as they thought and it made a lot of the scenes feel goofy in an unfunny way.  With that being said, I really enjoyed the supporting cast.  The women are beautiful and seriously talented in front of the screen.  In fact, I was impressed by them so much that I started looking at their previous films on imdb.com while I was putting this review together.  The story for this one is pretty clever but I kind of wish that it took itself a little more seriously than it did.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love horror comedies but a lot of time the humor doesn't find its mark.  Sadly, that was the case here.  The jokes are repetitive and most of them feel very forced.  With that being said, I loved the legacy of the witch hunter, the sorority being a front for an ancient coven, and the depth some of the characters had.  Finally, the film has some blood, fun costumes and make-up, and some really fun sets.  It's not a gory flick and does incorporate some cheesy visual effects but I appreciate how much time was spent on the practical effects with this one.  Overall, Sorority of the Damned is the kind of movie I could see myself renting as a kid in the late 90s.  It would have been a lot of fun to watch with some of the mid-90s Full Moon flicks.  While it does have some issues and lacks the humor they were going for, it was still fun especially for a first time watch.  Check it out on Tubi!

Night of the Damned

Director - Filippo Walter Ratti (Crazy Desires of a Murderer, Mondo Erotico)

Starring - Pierre Brice (Star Maidens, The Valley of Death), Patrizia Viotti (Amuck!, Death Falls Lightly), and Angela De Leo (Zorro in the Court of England, Julliette de Sade)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Horror

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It looks like my trip through 60s and 70s cinema is still going strong after watching Terror-Creatures from the Grave along with Sexomania, Lady Desire, The Odd Job, Negatives, and Sparrows Can't Sing.  I had just finished Terror-Creatures from the Grave in the Danza Macabra Volume 4 set and decided to keep on going with the next film in the set which happened to be the 1971 film Night of the Damned which was originally titled La Notte Dei Dannati.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a man who receives a strange letter from an old friend.  Fearing he may be in danger, he quickly makes the trip to his castle where he finds him on his deathbed.  He is convinced that he has been cursed but his new bride doesn't believe that to be the case.  He starts to investigate his friend's property and uncovers something rather strange.  Several centuries before, his ancestor had a woman burned at the stake for being a witch and had his family line cursed.  Sadly, he soon dies and those close to him starts to die gruesome deaths and are drained of their blood.  As he keeps investigating, with the help of the police, he uncovers the truth and the true evil stalking the property.

     Night of the Damned was a new one for me and I was really looking forward to checking it out.  Terror-Creatures from the Grave set the bar pretty high for me in regards to Italian gothic horror and, sadly, Night of the Damned did fall short.  It has some solid moments but the overall film was a bit of a drag if I'm being honest.  The acting in this is solid enough and is what you would expect from an early 70s film.  The cast is a bit dramatic and most of the scenes have that theatrical flair that is a bit cheesy in film but I dig it.  It fits the film and makes it feel like a slightly sleazy play.  The story for this one has a lot going on for such a simple plot.  The movie is basically a guy is cursed and the curse eventually kills him.  However, we have a Countess Bathory angle, so much character development, and a lot of backstory.  However, the film's pacing and extremely drawn out scenes with painstaking dialogue makes the movie feel a lot longer than it really is.  The movie could have used a little tighter writing and even tighter editing.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting a blood bath.  The death we do get mostly take place off camera and leave the rest up to our imagination or we get the aftermath which is not that impressive by any standards.  Overall, Night of the Damned is a movie that has a fantastic story but just doesn't live up to it.  It's too long for it's own good and could have used a lot of editing in my opinion.  This is one I would recommend skipping.  

Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay

Director - Bruno Gantillon (Highlander, The Hitchhiker)

Starring - Dominique Delpierre (School Falling Apart, Julia), Alfred Baillou (Steppenwolf, Cop or Hood), and Mireille Saunin (Le Mariage de Figaro)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Trapped by the queen of evil with only her body to save her"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been collecting movies for a long time.  I started with VHS and DVDs when I was in high school and made the jump to blu and UHD when they became readily available.  During all those years I've added a lot to my collection with films ranging from the silent era all the way to modern classics.  I love adding new films to my collection and I don't see myself slowing down anytime soon.  Several years back I snagged a bunch of DVDs from Cheezy Movies when they were running a sale of some sort.  I think it was around Halloween but I'm not completely sure.  Anyway, I snagged a bunch of them to add to my collection and one of those films was the 1971 erotic horror flick Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay.  I watched it not long after and didn't remember shit about it.  Recently, my friends over at Mondo Macabro sent over a copy of their release of the film on blu for review.  I decided to double feature it with their UHD release of the sexploitation classic Cafe Flesh.  I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one my way!

    The film follows two young women who find themselves lost in the forest which happens to be the domain of Morgana (Delpierre).  She promises that they would keep their youth and beauty if they stay with her and be her lovers but if they refuse then they will rot in her dungeons.  

     Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay is one of those films that would be a lot of fun if it was 45 minutes or less.  However, it becomes a bit dull once you hit the hour mark.  I would have loved this one if some of the more slower scenes were trimmed down but, as it is, I found myself watching the clock more than the film.  The acting in this one is pretty well done.  We do have a few scenes where the cast struggle with where they should be looking along with awkward hand gestures but these scenes are few and far in between.  Instead, most of the film is very well done with this gorgeous cast delivering some solid performances even when baring it all.  The story for this one is one I could really get behind if it was trimmed down.  An erotic folk horror film with beautiful women and the promise of eternal youth if they pledge their bodies to her is something out of every genre fan's dreams.  Sadly, the long, drawn out scenes and dialogue that tends to go nowhere makes this film feel a lot longer than it is.  I often found myself losing track of time and the story as we progressed through the run time.  A lot of trimming should have been done in the editing room.  Finally, the film is not a bloody one.  The film's main focus is the beautiful women and the fantastic locations.  Honestly, you can pause the film at any time and find yourself with something you could frame and hang on the wall.  While I would have loved some blood and guts, these beautiful locations almost make up for it.  Overall, Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay is a movie I thought I would love but found myself somewhat bored with it.  It does have a few memorable moments but the overall film is one that doesn't really stick with you.  Collectors will want to grab the Mondo Macabro release but genre fans looking for something new to watch will want to check out many of Mondo's other releases.  

Coven of the Black Cube

Director - Brewce Longo (Pumpkinman Lives, A Corpse for Christmas)

Starring - Morrigan Thompson-Milam (Bl0od and Breakfast, Crackcoon), Zoe Angeli (LoveDump, Flesh Eater X), and Josh Shafer (Busted Babies, Slaughter Tales)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing indie horror for over ten years and during that time I've reviewed everything from living placenta, killer condoms, gay Jesus, and even a haunted vibrator.  Horror is filled with endless possibilities especially when genre fans get behind the camera.   I love slashers, zombies, werewolves, and witches.  The later two don't get the love the other two sub-genre get.  A few weeks back I found a horror flick starring Morrigan Thompson-Milam.  Those of you that read my reviews know that I'm a huge fan of hers so when I saw that she was in Coven of the Black Cube I had to grab it.  The witch sub-genre doesn't get the love it truly deserves and seeing a witch flick with a bit of an unusual story made me extremely excited to see it.

     The film follows a young woman, named Vi (Milam) who finds herself on the shit end of a bad relationship.  She finds herself in a shop owned by a group of witches who sell potions, incantations, and any other word you can use to associate magic to witches.  She finds a potion she uses to make her former lover fall in love with her but it backfires.  It kills her ex-girlfriend but not all hope is lost.  The gorgeous witch at the shop has her eye on her and the two start dating.  What Vi doesn't know, is that her new lover and her coven secretly help women in abusive relationships remove their abusers from the equation.  As the two lovers get to know each other, bodies start to pile up.

     Coven of the Black Cube is a film that a lot of genre fans will immediately dismiss.  It's a film that tries to capture the VHS look which a lot of horror fans will dislike.  The modern era of films getting polished, remastered, and restored to be released on formats that provide the best possible picture quality available has many of us forgetting about the quality of films we used to watch growing up.  I don't mind the grainy, gritty looks like this one and others like it but there was a few scenes that needed a bit more light.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven but not what I would call bad.  The cast is really into their roles and you can tell it was a fun project by their character's interactions on camera.  With that being said, experience does vary from person to person resulting in a few scenes where the cast felt a little stiff.  The story for this one doesn't over stay it's welcome and gives us just enough to hold our attention.  We have beautiful women as witches, beautiful women that are not witches, unique deaths, and solid enough pacing.  With that being said, the story we do have is stretched a bit thin.  The movie could have about 10 to 15 minutes trimmed from it.  Some of the scenes are a bit bloated and it does pull the pacing down some.  The movie is fine as is but this would help the story move along much better.  Finally, the film has some deaths with a bit of blood and some limited practical effects.  The film did the best with the resources they had but don't expect a film with gore that will stick with you for days after watching it.  Overall, Coven of the Black Cube is a solid no budget witch flick that surprised me.  A lot of genre fans will not appreciate the film as it is but the select few that still live in the VHS age will enjoy the aesthetics.  Check it out.  

10/31 Part IV

Director(s) - Dustin Ferguson (Hell of the Screaming Undead, Cocaine Cougar), Matthew McManus (Slash-O-Lantern, Slash-O-Lantern Part II), Taylor McManus (SlashFM, Slash-O-Lantern), Dylan R. Nix (Sharp Candy, The Demon of Serling), and Ryan Sheets (The Pumpkin Man, The Letters of Wailing Creek)

Starring - Jennifer Moriarty (Big Bad CGI Monsters, Beyond the Gates of Hell), Sayeed Bensalama (SlashFM, Slash-O-Lantern), and Cody J. Briscoe (VHS Violence: Bootlegged, Spider Baby)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     The 10/31 horror anthology series is one of the more popular Halloween horror films of recent years.  You can easily find hundreds, if not thousands, of posts on various social media platforms for the film series as October approaches.  Honestly, I enjoyed the first three 10/31 films and when the fourth film was announced I had to add it to my collection.  My goal was to watch it during my annual Halloween horror binge but I forgot to place the order in time and it didn't arrive until after October.  Just like with the Out There Halloween Mega Tape, I added it to my review list so I could still see it even though Halloween was behind us.

     The film once again follows Malvolia (this time in animated form) as she spins four tales of terror.  The first tale, Ejectdead, follows a group of friends as they prepare for a night of horror movies on Halloween.  What they don't know is that one of the tapes they are about to watch is actually cursed and the masked killer inside is about to make their night a living hell.  The second, Haig's Heart, follows a candy factory owner who never got over the accidental poisoning of his daughter.  The third tale, The Witch's Curse, follows a group of as they visit a supposedly haunted house to film a reality show only to find their deaths.  The final tale, Moonlight Massacre, follows a haunted attraction employee who may have bitten off more than they can chew.

     The 10/31 series has been pretty consistent up to this point and hasn't let me down and Part IV is no exception.  While it is the weakest of the series, it still offers up at least two stories that I really enjoyed.  With that being said, the stories were not consistent and I don't see myself revisiting this one anytime soon.  I might revisit one of the shorts sometime in the future but not the film as a whole.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent, like almost every aspect of the film.  Some of the stories have a fantastic cast that really get into their roles while others feel almost as if they told to get the scene over as quick as possible.  I don't expect consistent segments when you have an anthology with shorts from different filmmakers and this is the clear reason why.  The stories for this one really try to get in to the Halloween spirit.  Ejectdead is my favorite of the anthology with a simple and straight slasher story that blends The Ring and The Video Dead with any masked slasher to come out of the early 80s.  It's short, sweet, and straight to the point.  The second story is from one of my favorite indie filmmakers, Dylan R. Nix.  Some of you may remember him from another one of my favorite Halloween films, Baron von Laugho's Halloween Spook-O-Thon.  I was really looking forward to this one but it was, sadly, the middle of the road in my opinion.  It has a lot of nods to Halloween III: Season of the Witch ranging from the iconic theme song to the commercial used to trigger the masks. While I did like the tribute to this underrated Halloween classic, the short itself wasn't something I enjoyed.  It has potential to be extremely powerful especially if you are a parent but the Creepshow "Something to Tide You Over" ending missed it's mark in my opinion.  The third segment is from controversial filmmaker Dustin Ferguson who has helmed some of the lowest rated horror films on imdb and Rotten Tomatoes.  His segment was the one I was looking forward to the most.  Not because he was behind the camera but because I absolutely love horror movies centered around witches.  Sadly, this was another dud with absolutely no heart or imagination.  Just a paint by number piece used to take up space.  The final segment really caught me off guard.  I was expecting another segment that would miss it's mark with me but was very surprised.  It did have some room to grow but for a no to low budget indie short I enjoyed it for the most part.  I'm not necessarily a fan of horror films taking place at a haunted attraction but this one didn't make it's entire identity the attraction.  Finally, the film doesn't shy away from blood but it's not as gruesome as I would have liked.  We do get a few small shots of computer generated effects but most of the film consists of practical effects.  The deaths fit the films but they are nothing memorable or that would stand out to the viewer.  I would have loved to see some imaginative kills in this one but that wasn't in the cards.  Overall, 10/31 Part IV is a solid enough watch with the first and final segment being the highlight of the film.  I really wanted to like Nix's segment, and while I respect him as a filmmaker, that segment wasn't for me.  I recommend checking it out if you dig the franchise but if you are looking for something new to watch during your Halloween season then I would suggest the first three films in the series.  

Artifacts of Fear

Director - Rusty Apper (The Whistler, Halloween: The Wake)

Starring - Luke Morgan (The Man in the Cave, New Year's Eve), Cameron Patmore, and Laurence R. Harvey (The Human Centipede 3(Full Sequence), Frankenstein Created Bikers)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "What are you afraid of?"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I grew up during what I like to call the golden age of anthologies. The early to mid-80s is known for the abundance of slashers that was being released almost daily during that time but the mid-80s to mid-90s saw some of the most iconic anthologies hit theaters and video store shelves. While Creepshow and The Twilight Zone: The Movie was in the early 80s, the mid 80s to early 90s saw Creepshow 2, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, Two Evil Eyes, From a Whisper to a Scream, Body Bags, Tales from the Hood, and so many more. I still have a soft spot for horror anthologies, especially indie anthologies. A few weeks back, or maybe longer, filmmaker Rusty Apper reached out to me to review his anthology film Artifacts of Fear. I wasn't able to get to it right away, but I worked it into my watch list as soon as I could. I want to thank Rusty for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check this one out! 

      The film follows two guys who are looking for something to be the center of attention at their house party. One of them takes the other to an antique store that's out of the way to see if they can find something creepy enough to do the job. They meet the shop owner (The Human Centipede 2's Laurence R. Harvey) who takes them to the basement of the shop to show them a piece he just got in. It turns out to be an old story telling machine similar to the old fortune teller machines from the turn of the 1900s. He leaves them alone with the machine so they can look it over and in his absence it tells them three bone chilling tales before the real horrors is unleashed on them. 

      A horror anthology falls apart if the wraparound segment doesn't hold the entire film together. The Creepshow trilogy and television series has The Creep, Tales from the Crypt has The Cryptkeeper, and From a Whisper to a Scream has Vincent Price reading stories from a book. A good anthology needs something that ties the segments together and Artifacts of Fear makes good use of the animatronic storyteller. It is a bit odd that an old coin operated machine is telling modern stories but I'm not here to pick apart little details like that.  The acting in this one is consistent all the way through which is very surprising for an indie anthology. It's normal for an indie anthology to have segments that feature impressive acting while others feature not so impressive acting. However, Artifacts of Fear is consistent throughout the entire film with solid acting. Laurence R. Harvey is great as the shopkeeper. Many recognize him for his role in the second Human Centipede movie and while that is a fantastic film, Laurance has appeared in many more films and never disappoints. I would have loved to see him have a bigger role or more screen time, but I'll take what I can get. The remainder of the cast is just as good with some amazing performances from everyone involved. The stories for this one are just as consistent as the acting. While I did like some more than other, this one doesn't really have any weak links so to speak. The wraparound segment works very well for tying all the shorts together. The bulk of the film consists of three stories ranging from a witch's skull to a serial killer. They are a lot of fun and very enjoyable but not as memorable as the book end story. Finally, the film has some blood and some visual effects but those of you looking for serious gore and a body count will be a bit disappointed. The film relies heavily on character development and storytelling to make up for the lack of gore. Overall, Artifacts of Fear is a fantastic modern horror anthology with some rich storytelling and an amazing cast. I highly recommend adding this one to your late night viewing especially if you are wanting something that can make your skin crawl. Check it out.

Night of the Blood Monster

Director - Jesus Franco (Bloody Moon, Hellhole Women)

Starring - Christopher Lee (Tales of the Haunted, End of the World), Maria Schell (Superman, Liquid Television), and Leo Genn (A Lizard in a Woman's Skin, Psycho-Circus) 

Release Date - 1970

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Horror will hold you helpless!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Filmmaker Jess Franco had many frequent collaborators over the years but the one that always stood out to me was Christopher Lee. The pair would collaborate on several films together and I've been lucky enough to review some of them over the years. Sometime back Full Moon released Night of the Eagle which also starred Star War's Mark Hamill, Dracula from Severin, and two FuManchu films released by Blue Underground. Sometime back Blue Underground was re-releasing The Bloody Judge on UHD under its alternate title Night of the Blood Monster. This Franco/Lee collaboration is one I had owned for some time on DVD but never actually took the time to watch it. I want to thank my friends over at Blue Underground and MVD for sending this one over for review. 

      The film follows an evil judge who uses the witch trials in England as a way to gain political power and seduce women. When his power fails to seduce a woman whose sister he just sentenced to death, she joins a group of rebels along with her boyfriend to stop him from using his power for evil. 

      I can't believe I was sitting on this one for as long as I did without watching it. I absolutely love anything centered around witches and the witch trials so the fact that I've owned this film on DVD for years and never took the time to watch it really bums me out. It was a fantastic flick that has one of greatest titles I've had the chance to review. While I don't really care for the Night of the Blood Monster moniker, I love The Bloody Judge and wish they would have stuck with that for this UHD release. Regardless of the title, this film is worth every minute. The acting in this is amazing. Christopher Lee never disappoints, and he once again shows his on-screen talents. While he delivers a memorable performance, he doesn't outshine Maria Schell, Leo Genn, Maria Rohm, and Margaret Lee to name a few. The story for this one has a lot of moving parts but I absolutely loved it. I love that the film takes place against the backdrop of the witch trials but not fully focused on it. We then have corruption, conspiracy, seduction, and so much more. It's a film with a lot going on but doesn't fill overcomplicated or busy. Finally, the film has some blood and make-up effects but that is really the extent of it. The film relies heavily on sets, costumes, and characters to sell the film instead of gore. Overall, Night of the Blood Monster is a fantastic film and another amazing collaboration between one of the world's greatest actors and one of the greatest exploitation filmmakers to ever live. I highly recommend this one especially the UHD release from Blue Underground. Check it out

Phobophobia

Director(s) - Chris Leto (Death Blow, The Cheerleader Sleepover Slaughter) and Sean Donohue (Cannibal Claus, Zed's Dead)

Starring - Jess Flux (Murdercise, CarousHELL 3)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      I've been writing reviews for indie horror releases for over a decade now and during that time I've met some filmmakers that I greatly admire. Florida based filmmakers Sean Donohue and Chris Leto were among the first directors to allow me to review their work, which is something that meant a lot to me. I've reviewed a lot, if not all, of their films to date so when Sean hit me up to review their new anthology, I quickly agreed to it. I want to thank Sean for sending Phobophobia my way to review! 

      The film follows the "final ghoul" Jessa Flux as she shows us several different stories featuring different phobias ranging from clowns, animals, intruders, and confined to small spaces. 

      Phobophobia is a fun indie horror anthology that progressively gets better as the film moves along. The first few stories had me second guessing myself and why I hit play, but it was around the third segment that I started to enjoy myself. This is fairly common in indie horror anthologies and something I've come to expect when I turn them on. The acting in this one is a lot of fun. I'm a huge fan of Jessa Flux and love seeing her take on the role of a horror host. Her charisma and sex appeal holds the viewer's attention, and her whit is quick to remind viewers of the equally sexy and funny Elvira. The segments in the anthology is fairly well acted as well but I am unable to find names due to the imdb page for the film only listing Flux. This leads me to believe that these were possible films sometime back and put together with Flux tying them all together. The stories for these segments are inconsistent but it works if you stick with it. I didn't care for the claustrophobic and coulrophobic stories, however, the next four segments make up for it. We have a fear of witches, animals, intruders, and aliens. The segment about witches and the one about animals are easily my favorite but these last four make the film for me. They are not too long, have solid characters, and some have some seriously fun gore. Finally, the segments, much like the quality, vary in blood and gore. The blood and gore that we do get looks absolutely fantastic. I as seriously impressed by it and hoped that it would lead to even more blood in the coming shorts. Unfortunately, most of the shorts are bone dry, which is a shame. Overall, Phobophobia starts out slowly but does find it's footing as the film moves on. It ends on a strong foot and the idea behind it could be carried on to more films. Honestly, it works and could easily be pushed into a sequel or even a trilogy with Miss Flux hosting. Check it out.

Lust, Magic, and the Witches' Sabbath

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

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

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

The Witch

Director - Andrew Gibbs (The Box, Midnight Snack)

Starring - Catherine Gibbs (Midnight Snack, The Box)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     My look into the micro-shorts of Dark House Pictures continues! A few months back director and Dark House Pictures found Andrew Gibbs reached out to me to review his shorts. I was unaware that micro-shorts were a thing but agreed to check them out regardless. I want to thank Andrew for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to see his films. The next short on the chopping block is his five-minute film Witch. 

      The film follows a woman who is home alone when she starts to hear strange sounds in the home. She tries to hide under her blanket but when she thinks it's safe to leave the warm safety of the blanket she discovers that something sinister is in the room with her. 

      While I may be new to the micro-short films, I'm starting to realize that sometimes being too short is a problem in the world of cinema. Don't get me wrong, Witch was an enjoyable short but it doesn't offer up enough substance for the viewer. The acting in this one is solid for the film especially since the short is around 5 minutes and no real interactions with other characters. The films lead does a decent job but you don't get to see any dialogue or real emotions due to the quick runtime. The story for this one is a great set up to something that could be much more than a short. I strongly believe that there is not enough horror films centered around witches. With that being said, this micro-short just doesn't have enough of a story to tell. It's a beautifully shot short that definitely is not a waste of time but it needs more to it. Finally, this film doesn't have any death scenes or crazy looking creatures for genre fans to gawk at. Overall, Witch is a beautifully shot micro-short but is lacking in the story department. It's a solid watch for the 5 minutes but don't expect something that is story rich. Check it out. 

The Blair Witch Project

Director(s) - Daniel Myrick (Under the Bed, Believers) and Eduardo Sanchez (Supernatural, Yellowjackets)

Starring - Heather Donahue (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Morgue), Michael C. Williams (Altered, Satanic Hispanics), and Joshua Leonard (Depraved, Torn Hearts)

Release Date - 1999

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "In October of 1994 three student filmmakers disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland while shooting a documentary... a year later their footage was found"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      Getting old is something we all have to come to terms with and while I don’t think I’m that old I would be lying if I said being in my mid-thirties felt like it did when I was in my mid-twenties. One of the weirdest things about getting old is remembering specific moments in your life and how long it has been since they happened. When I was elementary and middle school I lived through some of the most iconic pop culture moments from the forming of NWO in WCW, the first Playstation, Tamagochi and DigiPets, Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinski, and the marketing around The Blair Witch Project. I remember how exciting it was to talk with people at school about it. So many kids my age thought the movie was real and while I sometimes played into the hype I knew a movie depicting real deaths would never be allowed in theaters. Honestly, I can’t think of another horror release that caused such an stir like this one did with the public. I wasn’t able to watch it in theaters and by the time it made it’s way to VHS the cast had already been interviewed several times which ruined the image that the film was real. I remember thinking the film was alright but nothing that would stick with me over the years. Hell, I still think about the weeks or months leading up to the premier of the movie when people thought it was real but I have never had the desire to revisit it. A few weeks back I received the UHD steelbook release of the original film along with the 2016 sequel. I wanted to check them out during my October horror binge but couldn’t get them worked in. After spinning a few horror titles and an animated Batman film I figured now was the best time to check it out. 

      The film follows three filmmakers who hike in deep into the Maryland wilderness to film a documentary on the legend of the Blair Witch. Along the way they find themselves lost and low on supplies and at night strange things happen at their camp site. As tempers come to a boil the three realize they are not alone in the woods and the legend is true. 

      Some genre fans incorrectly label The Blair Witch Project as the first found footage film which is the furthest from the truth. While it wasn’t the first to use this style of filmmaker, it was the film that revitalized it when it showed just how lucrative it could be to make a found footage film. While The Blair Witch has catapulted the found footage style films to popularity that is still seen to this day, it is a fairly dull film that doesn’t really come into it’s own until the last 15 or 20 minutes. I respect the hell out of the marketing for the film but the movie itself is nothing special. It’s solid for a first time watch but I believe that many fans remember the hype and rumors surrounding the film during it’s initial release and it heavily influences what they thing of the film itself. The acting in this one is other-worldly. I seriously hate reviewing the acting in found footage films because the cast is trying so hard to make it feel like they are recording themselves doing the most mundane tasks. These scenes are usually abysmal to watch and when I’m not rolling my eyes I’m checking the display to see how much is left of the film. I can’t say the same about the acting in The Blair Witch Project. Their small talk, banter, and other dialogue just feels genuine. It doesn’t feel forced or as awkward to watch as the found footage films that soon followed. The story for this follows a legend that filmmakers Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez created prior to production and built the mythos just for the film’s purpose. Many argue that the Blair Witch was a legend prior to the film’s release but that is not the case. However, when you have a marketing campaign like this one anything can happen. We have a strong background centered around the lore of the witch and when you add in a group of amateur filmmakers documentary their adventure into the woods searching for any hint of the witch’s existence is pure gold. The found footage aspect does make it feel more genuine than if it was a standard film. I respect the hell out of it but it’s because of the found footage style and attention to detail that makes it a mediocre film. I would have preferred a more traditional approach to the story with more attention toward the legend itself and not their journey. Finally, the film has zero effects. We get some rock piles, stacks of sticks, and noises in the dark and that is all the movie needs to strike fear in the viewer. No one in the production of this film was setting out to create a classic or something with such longevity. They wanted to make a movie that people thought was real and once the luster wore off then so did the scares. I couldn’t imagine sitting in a theater with a group of people who went into thinking the people on camera had died or was missing but I bet it was an amazing experience. It’s the mindset that they are dead that made this movie so fucking eerie. Overall, The Blair Witch Project s a film with tremendous historical important for cinema. It was the film that forever made found footage a staple of the genre and it’s marketing and advertising campaign is something that was never seen before or we will see again. The film itself is one of those horror films that is considered the middle of the road. If you have never seen it by this point I would recommend it for a first time watch but it’s not something I would recommend revisiting after sometime or double dipping on the film. Considering the rarity of the blu I would say this UHD is worth it.