The Pale Door

Director - Aaron B. Koontz (Scare Package, Camera Obscura)

Starring - Melora Walters (The Butterfly Effect, Ed Wood), Noah Segan (Knives Out, Tales of Halloween), Zachary Knighton (The Hitcher, Cherry Falls)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror/Western

Tagline - "It was the perfect score, but Hell was their reward"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's finally October and, though I watch horror movies every day throughout the year, I can finally watch movies centered around Halloween.  Hell, they don't even have to be horror movies.  I'll watch anything that has something to do with Halloween.  Sadly, it will be a few days before I get to dig into a Halloween flick.  I have a few movies I need to watch first for review.  After watching Nail in the Coffin: Fall and Rise of Vampiro I wanted something a little more horror to stay with the spirit.  I decided it was time to toss in a western horror flick with witches.  I want to thank RLJE and Shudder for sending over Aaron Koontz's The Pale Door for review.  I was really surprised by this one.

     The film follows an outlaw gang who plan on robbing a train but when one of them is shot during a duel the little brother of their leader steps in to help so he can get enough money to buy back their old farm.  However, they don't find any gold on the train but do find a woman chained in an old trunk.  She begs them to take her home where they would be rewarded.  They take her to her home and soon uncovers an abandoned town inhabited by burnt witches.

     Honestly, I didn't know what to suspect when I was sent this one for review.  I had seen Koontz short The El Chupugcabra from a few years ago so I was familiar in his work.  However, I was not expecting to see this man grow as a filmmaker to this degree in just seven short years.  He has really impressed me with The Pale Door and I'm now looking forward to anything else he has his hand in.  The acting in this one is very well done and the characters are very well written.  It would be so easy for a filmmaker and crew to craft some cliched and generic cowboys that just push the story along.  The cast does not do that.  Instead, we get some great performances and the characters are very enjoyable.  Even the witches have a sense of humanity about them and you almost hate to see them fail.  The film is perfectly cast.  The story for this one does start out a little on the slow side.  It doesn't waste time and fills these scenes with character and story development but the horror aspect doesn't rear it's ugly head until later in the film.  It's not a struggle to follow and the flow is rather smooth but it a slower pace.  However, once the story picks up it really does hit the spot.  Finally, the kills in this one work for the film but are not that memorable.  The effects are solid and, once again, works for the film but does not deliver unique kills that most of the gorehounds are looking for.  The make-up effects looks great as well.  I really enjoyed the look of the witches.  It's different and really sets itself apart from other witch flicks.  Overall, The Pale Door is not for everyone but fans of horror and westerns will really enjoy this bloody blend.  I really enjoyed the story and the characters are very enjoyable.  Check this one out now because you will not be disappointed.    

Nail in the Coffin: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro

Director - Michael Paszt (Battle Chess)

Starring - Ian Hodgkinson (WCW Monday Nitro, WCW Thunder), Kevin Arturo Geist (WWDE NXT, Before the Dark), and Chavo Guerrero Jr. (Grimm, GLOW)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Documentary

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a product of the 90s.  I was born in the mid-80s and grew up in the 90s.  Like most kids of the 90s I was obsessed with Pogs, Goosebumps, Sega Genesis, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and wrestling.  Like many kids of the time I was forced to pick between WWF (now WWE) and WCW.  I went with WCW.  What wasn't to like?  WCW had Sting, Ric Flair, NOW, M.I.A. with Major Gunns, Eddie Guerrero, the band The Misfits for a short time, and my favorite painted wrestler Vampiro.  No, I'm not just saying this because I was asked to review the documentary Nail in the Coffin: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro.  I was honestly a fan of Vampiro and you better believe that when I was asked to review the documentary I jumped on it.

     This documentary follows a semi-retired Vampiro who discusses the ups and downs of being a professional wrestler, how be got started in the business, the toll it has taken on his body, and the strained relationship it has put on him and his daughter.  

     I was obsessed with WCW when I was in elementary school.  I had shirt for NWO, Sting, Goldberg, and several generic WCW shirts.  I had action figures for most but I never saw merch out and about for Vampiro and a few others that I really loved.  I really loved the persona of Vampiro and how he handled the few interviews he was given in front of the camera.  I don't follow wrestling anymore but I often wonder what happened to the wrestlers I grew up watching so this little look into his life was very entertaining.  The interviews in the film are informative but they are sometimes a little goofy which comes with the territory.  The people the film interviews really gets into Vampiro and his current life but we don't get a lot of insight into his passed history.  Don't get me wrong, there is moments where certain situations are spoke about or mentioned briefly but never fully explored.  With that being said, Hodgkinson's interviews are very angsty.  I don't know if he's trying to stay in character or what but he just genuinely seems like a miserable person.  A documentary about him has him as the worst part.  The topics in the interview do jump around a bit but the film does a great job holding everything together as to not create a confusing documentary.  It is focused more on his recent life instead of past feats but some of the topics do jump around.  Finally, the editing in this one is not as smooth as I've seen in other documentaries but it works for the film.  The transitioning between topics, as I stated earlier, is a little choppy but it gets the point across and works.  Overall, Nail in the Coffin: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro is not what I was expecting.  I was really looking forward to getting a look into legacy and life after wrestling of Vampiro.  Instead, it's a look into the current life of Hodgkinson and his dedication to his craft.  It's still a fun watch but if you are looking for something that dives deep into his past accomplishments you will be disappointed.  Check it out.  

Let It Snow

Director - Stanislav Kapralov (I Am Illusion, Sui Caedere)

Starring - Ivanna Sakhno (Pacific Rim: Uprising, Chernobyl: Aftermath), Alex Hafner (Extinction, Maniac Tales), and Tinatin Dalakishvili (Hostages, Fairy)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "They were warned"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Here we are!  The very first day in October.  Halloween is quickly approaching so it's time to dive deep into some Halloween themed movies.  However, before I do that I have to knock out a few reviews that I need to get done in a timely manner.  A few days ago I got the snowy slasher Let it Snow in for review.  The artwork was nothing special but I went into it with an open mind.  It had some moments but the overall film was rather dull.  

     The film follows a snowboarding couple who head to the secluded Black Ridge mountain range for some out of bounds snowboarding.  They were warned of a recent death in the area but play it off to inexperience on the slopes and head out anyway.  Their trip looking for danger soon lands them in front of an axe wielding man with a snowmobile and a knowledge of the landscape. 

     The artwork didn't excite me but I went into this one looking forward to a wintery horror film.  It's getting colder outside and, honestly, I'm a fan of the winter months.  Halloween will always be special to me but I'm a Christmas/winter kind of guy so a snow covered horror flick really had me interested.  Sadly, the movie was a bit of a dull one to sit through.  The acting in this one is decent.  The characters are very lackluster but the cast does a solid enough job with their portrayal.  The characters are not that memorable and they bring very little to the scene they are in.  The story for this one is simple enough and really reminds me of the 1993 horror film The Chill Factor.  The satanic cult aspect is removed but the story following people trying to survive in the snow while someone on a snowmobile terrorizes them is still the same.  However, the story's pacing is all wrong.  The scenes are extremely long and boring which results in the viewer struggling to finish it.  The more action oriented scenes are predictable and not that well done.  Finally, the film has some blood but those of you looking for a bloody mess will be very disappointed.  The film focuses more on the atmosphere and snowy settings than it does for kills and effects.  

The Dead Ones

Director - Jeremy Kasten (The Profane Exhibit, The Thirst)

Starring - Sarah Rose Harper (The Last Days of Capitalisms, The Last Time), Brandon Thane Wilson (Wonder Woman 1984, Star Trek First Frontier), and Katie Foster (Ghosts Don't Exist, Disconnected)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "High school is hell"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The last few days I've been busy watching some indie horror flicks that was sent my way from Wild Eye Releasing and SRS Cinema.  Some were fun and entertaining while a couple were a bit of a let down.  All in all, I enjoyed myself but it was time to venture to some other movies that I needed to review.  The next movie I placed on the chopping block is the 2019 supernatural horror film The Dead Ones from director Jeremy Kasten and released by Artsploitation Films.  The trailer looked really interesting and I couldn't wait to see just how crazy it was going to be.  Thank you Artsploitation for sending this one my way!

     The film follows a group of teens who are forced to clean their school as part of their summer detention. However, a group wearing masks and armed with weapons has other plans.  They lock the troubled youths in the school and set out to kill them one by one forcing them to fight for their lives against the armed intruders and their own dark pasts.  

     The Dead Ones is a highly imaginative and fun but the story does get rather chaotic and confusing at times.  I really enjoyed it for what it was but there was a time when the movie completely lost me and forced me to rewind it to ensure I wasn't missing something.  It was fun but troublesome.  The acting in this one is pretty solid.  The characters are really fun and enjoyable.  The cast does a fantastic job and really brought out some intense performances.  As a father I have to admit that the cast really did hit me in the chest with their performances.  They took the subject matter and really amplified that with their portrayals.  The story for this one has a lot going on.  The portion following the teenagers trapped in the school while masked murderers stalk them is a pretty powerful story.  It really works and, as I stated earlier, as a father it really fucking hits.  With that being said, the weird paranormal angle they tossed in does extend the film's running time but it does take away from the film's impact. Finally, the film does have some blood.  It's not a gory flick but the film does not shy away from the blood.  We get puddles of it early on but once the school massacre begins we get some solid kills that really work well with the film.  Some of the gunshots I struggled with determining if they were practical or visual effects so kudos to the effects team there.  Overall, The Dead Ones struggles to find it's footing but does still deliver a fun and gruesome horror film.  Parents will find it more shocking than others.  It's worth a watch so check it out from Artsploitation Films.  

Penny Pinchers: The Kings of No-Budget Horror

Director - Dustin Ferguson (Ebola Rex, 5G Zombies)

Starring - Todd Jason Cook (Horrorscope, Demon Dolls), Donald Farmer (Cannibal Hooker, Hooker with a Hacksaw), and Chris Seaver (The Weirdsies, Death O'Lantern)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been watching a few indie releases that I've been sitting on for sometime now.  A lot of these got lost in the shuffle when I had to box up all my movies after the house fire.  As I was sorting some things I discovered a great deal that was sent my way for review that I never got around to.  One of those movies is the 2017 indie horror documentary Penny Pinchers: The Kings of No-Budget Horror.  I had wanted to see this one for sometime but never did get around to reviewing it once I received it.  I hate that I had lost it after the fire but once I re-found it I knew that I had to see it.  Thanks MVD and SRS for sending this one over!

     The documentary speaks with indie filmmakers Chris Seavers, Todd Sheets, Johnny Dickie, Donald Farmer, Todd Jason Cook, Tim Ritter, Lloyd Kaufman, Phil Herman, and Dustin Ferguson about the ups and downs of no-budget filmmaking. 

     I was really interested in this one because several filmmakers that I greatly admire were featured in it but I have to admit that I am a little confused after actually seeing it about the point of the film.  The moniker "The Kings of No-Budget Horror" made me believe that the documentary was following filmmakers that had turned no-budget filmmaking into careers that spanned decades.  Filmmakers like Farmer, Seaver, Herman, Cook, and Kaufman made sense to have in the doc but the addition of Dickie and Ferguson was a little confusing.  Both are fairly new to filmmaking especially in 2017 and when compared to the others who have 20 or 30 years in the business.  Maybe tossing in filmmakers like Henrique Couto, J.R. Bookwalter, Richard Griffin, and Dustin Mills just to name a few would have made the title really work.  The interviews are very interesting.  We get some very thorough and in depth recollections from some of the most iconic filmmakers in the business revisiting the make of some of their classic films.  It was also great hearing the struggles they faced first hand, as well as, how they got started in the business.  All of them are well grounded and really paint a realistic look at filmmaking and not just stories of rainbows and sunshine.  I respect Dustin Ferguson and Johnnie Dickie greatly and feature them whenever I can on the site but their stories, when compared to the others, doesn't really have the impact as the directors that's been doing it for decades has.  The topics discussed are very interesting and people looking for inside knowledge of directing their own movie will find some very interesting things discussed from long time filmmakers.  Finally, the editing in this one is extremely smooth and helps the flow of the interviews.  It works very well and information is not lost in the transitions.  Overall, Penny Pinchers: The Kings of No-Budget Horror is an entertaining and insightful documentary with some astonishing stories from some of indie's favorite filmmakers.  The title is a little misleading but the documentary still works.  Check it out.     

Suffering Bible

Director - Davide Pesca (After Midnight, A Taste of Phobia)

Starring - Nicola Fugazza and Mery Rubes (Rage Killers, Fame de Vampira)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I follow a lot of different companies that release some seriously fun titles.  Over the years I've became a fan of Wild Eye, MVD, Brain Damage, Midnight Films, Troma, Scream Team Releasing, SRS Cinema, and so on.  They don't always release a movie that I love but a majority of their releases entertain.  The last few days I decided to work through some movies that had been sent my way for review that I had neglected.  A few of those releases from SRS Cinema.  After watching Bad CGI Sharks I decided it was time to give 2018's Suffering Bible a spin.  I had not heard of this one prior to receiving it for review so I couldn't wait to see what was waiting for me.  Thanks SRS and MVD for sending this one over!

     The film consists of short segments, or chapters, that are loosely based on biblical stories ranging from torture, cannibalism, and self-mutilation.

     I'm a member of several horror and collectors groups so it's not often I come across a movie that I've at least never heard of the title before but Suffering Bible from SRS seems to have slipped by several of us.  Which is weird considering a sequel was released not long after this one.  Sadly, once I tossed this one in I soon discovered why this one is not mentioned in these groups.  The "acting" in this one is hard to explain.  The segments are people acting out crude and brutal acts on themselves or others.  There is no character development, personalities, or acting in general.  Just people doing things on camera.  The stories for this one is a tongue in cheek take on pieces of the bible that have nothing to do with one another.  The movie is just segment after segment of people making a bloody mess with no real hint of a story to hold it together.  Gore for the sake of gore.  Finally, the film boasts some pretty impressive practical effects.  This is the only real redeeming quality of the film.  The lack of a story to hold everything together really is a disappointment because the effects really are something to be seen.  Overall, Suffering Bible is an arthouse approach to extreme horror but the lack of story and characters makes it a painfully dull experience which is a damn shame because the effects are worth it.  This is one I cannot and will not recommend.  

     

Evil River

Director - Marco Rosson (New Order, Vendetta)

Starring - Marcella Braga (Dark Resurrection, The Italian Dream), Claudia Marasca (The Perfect Plan, The Broken Key), and Toni Pandolfo (Dracula 3D, Rasputin)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Beware the water witch"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

I get a lot of movies in from Wild Eye for review.  Honestly, I'm a huge fan of theirs and I want to see everything they release.  They are a rapidly growing company and release several movies a month.  With a catalogue is expansive as theirs it would be extremely difficult for me to like all their movies.  I know this and they know this.  As much as I love and respect Wild Eye I still find some of their films to be tough to finish.  Sometime ago I received the press release for Evil River.  This Italian horror film was originally titled Shanda's River which was changed for North American release.  I was excited to check it out especially after I heard it was compared to the classic film Suspiria.  I want to thank Wild Eye for sending this one my way.

     The film follows a woman writing a piece on women sufferings and travels to a small Italian village that is the site of a witch's burial.  With her is a professor and a tour guide.  This innocent trip turns bloody when she witnesses men in robes kill the tour guide and the professor.  She awakens in her hotel room and is forced to relive that day over and over again.

     I was excited to toss this one in but it was evident within minutes that I would not be enjoying this one.  The movie had an interesting story but the execution and scenes were troubling.  I really wanted to like it but I couldn't get into it.  The acting in this one is solid enough but there was room for improvements.  The cast was very dedicated to their roles but their performances were a bit dry.  They lacked emotions and the dialogue was very forced.  The characters were not that genuine which made some of the dialogue heavy scenes feel heavy.  The story for this one is Suspiria meets Groundhog's Day.  Sadly, I find films that repeat themselves to be unoriginal and boring.  The second the viewer gets the predictability of the scene the impact is removed and you are left with a scene that doesn't work.  I will give credit where credit is due with the story.  It is one hell of an idea but it doesn't transcribe well on film.  Finally, the film doesn't shy away from blood.  We get several kill scenes with a ton of blood and solid practical and make-up effects.  The kills are, mostly, in the center of the scene which gives the viewer plenty of time to soak them in.  Overall, Evil River wasn't what I was expecting.  The story has potential but the way it was done makes it a tough one to finish.  Wild Eye has several amazing releases in their filmography that I would recommend instead of this one.  

Bad CGI Sharks

Director - MaJaMa

Starring - Matthew Ellsworth (Potluck), Jason Ellsworth (Potluck), and Matteo Molinari (Drive In, The Silence of the Hams)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    I love weird and bad movies.  It's no secret by this point and I blame Troma for my horrible taste in film.  The goofier the movie the more I want to see it.  Sometime last year I started seeing posts for the horror comedy Bad CGI Sharks.  I'm not much for the sharksploitation sub-genre but this movie looked funny so I reached out to SRS Cinema and MVD and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way  Thanks guys for allowing me the opportunity to review this strange little film!

     The film follows estranged brothers, Jason and Matthew, that reconnect after years apart.  During their youth they had dreams of making a shark movie but life took them in different directions.  While one of them still has dreams of directing their own movie the other is more grounded and wants to keep his life on track.  However, that doesn't happen when a poorly constructed CGI shark starts terrorizing Hollywood sticking the brothers in the middle of the carnage.

     I love watching an indie movie that doesn't take itself too seriously.  If a movie can be fun while making fun of itself then I know I will at least have laughs. Bad CGI Sharks is a movie with laughs, memorable characters, and a solid story but the scenes are a little dry and some of the jokes are repetitive.  I still enjoyed myself but I don't see a revisit anytime soon.  The acting in this one is pretty fun.  The cast really gets into their roles but some of the scenes is a little forced.  The characters are fun and not easily forgettable but the cast's inexperience does show.  The story for this one is funny and really mixes fantasy and sci-fi elements with sharksploitation.  Calling this a horror tale is a bit of a stretch but I will admit that this movie is more entertaining than it should be.  This goofy story that felt like it was thought up in a weed smoking session is pretty fun if you just go with it.  There is a few scenes that are very uneventful and boring which does bring the movie down but not enough to make it unwatchable.  Finally, if you want great practical effects and plenty of gore then you are in the wrong place for that.  However, if cheap CGI is your thing then you will find your fill here.  There is no practical effects in this one but it is full of shitty looking sharks.  It's funny at first but the joke does run it's course fairly early on.  Overall, Bad CGI Sharks is an interesting idea that works for a no budget comedy but the humor does wear thin and some of the slower scenes are a bit tough to sit through.  This is one I would recommend watching with friends and beer but not alone and sober.  

A Psycho's Path

Director - Rocky Constanzo (Ditch Party, Hallowed)

Starring - Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (The Midnight Meat Train, The A Team), Steve De Forest (Action Impossible II, Keepin' It Real), and Noel Gugliemi (Dawn of the Zombie Apocalypse, 3 From Hell)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "No one is safe"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     

     Sometime back I received the tow horror titles Savage Creatures and A Psycho's Path for review from ITN Distribution.  Savage Creatures looked like a movie right up my alley and it was for the most part.  The movie is full of so many classic horror moments but the acting did stop it from achieving greatness.  However, A Psycho's Path really peaked my curiosity.  I was very curious to see how a horror film with Noel Gugliemi and Quinton Jackson was going to play out.  I want to thank ITN for sending these two releases my way!

     The film follows a sleepy desert town that is turned upside down when a string of murders shocks the community.  The police suspect that it is an escaped criminal listed as John Doe (Jackson) but are unable to track him down.  The local police frantically search for him before he can kill again but he continues to raise his body count.

     A Psycho's Path is an interesting movie that failed it's execution.  I really struggled to figure this one out and at the end of the day I have to admit that I did not care for it.  The movie couldn't make it's mind up on rather it wanted to be taken seriously or not.  The acting in this one is solid.  The entire cast takes on pretty serious roles and did the best with what they were given.  They did a great job and really made the movie better than what it was.  The characters are rather forgettable and extremely flat but they work with the story fairly well.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward but struggles with it's own identity.  The film is serious in tone.  However, a lot of the impact of the story is lost by the cast's ridiculous wigs.  These little silly things in the film really takes away from the simple story.  Also, the film moves at a snails pace which really does a number to the tone of the film.  Finally, the film has several death scenes with plenty of blood and some practical effects but they do get lost in the shuffle of the scene.  Most horror films slow down with the carnage so the viewer can appreciate them but A Psycho's Path lets it blend into the background.  Overall, A Psycho's Path is a mediocre horror flick that I've started called Wal-Mart horror over the years.  It brings nothing to the genre and falls victim to the hands of time.  Most people that have seen it will forget about in soon enough.  Honestly, I would skip this one.  

Savage Creatures

Director - Richard Lowry (The UFO Conclusion, Jessica: A Ghost Story)

Starring - Greg Travis (Starship Troopers, Watchmen), Cean Okada (Bubba Ho-Tep, Joe Somebody), and Victoria Steadman (Preacher, Apocalypse Rising)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The forces of evil are about to collide"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's been an awesome last few days checking out some older movies from my childhood that recently got the blu release.  Seeing movies like Little Monsters, Shivers, and Tourist Trap get an updated release really hit me with a wave of nostalgia.  However, a trip down memory lane is a bit of a boring one at times.  After checking out those older films I needed something newer so I decided to treat myself to a few new indie releases that was sent my way for review.  The first movie on the chopping block is the 2020 film Savage Creatures that was sent over from ITN Distribution.  

     The film follows two beautiful young ladies who find themselves at the hospitality of a god-fearing woman and her son.  However, they are secretly killers who chop up visitors and put them in their freezer.  What these two killers are unaware of is that these two innocent looking young ladies are actually vampires that are centuries old.  Once they make quick work of the religious murderers they are introduced to the local priest and nun before they find out that the world is has been visited by aliens that are turning humans into zombies.

     Savage Creatures is one of those movies I get in for review that I had never heard about previously.  The trailer had be excited for it and I have to admit that I had fun with it.  It was far from perfect but it did entertain so I will give it that.  The acting in this one is solid enough but there is plenty of room for improvement.  The cast really gets into their roles but the characters they portray does fall flat.  They move with the story for the characters are very unforgettable.  The story for this one really does throw everything at you.  We have serial killers, vampires, nuns with guns, aliens, and zombies.  With that being said, the story doesn't toss all this at you at once.  It gives you time with each one before moving on.  It has solid pacing and the stacking of the creatures really works for how it was handled.  I really did enjoy the story for what it was.  Finally, the film has several on screen kills.  We get a fair amount of blood with some basic practical effects.  It works for the gags and the story we are given but for those of you looking for memorable practical effects will be disappointed.  Overall, I really enjoyed Savage Creatures.  It's not a perfect horror film but it hits the spot for those of you looking for a late night no-budget horror flick.  Check it out.