Stay Out Stay Alive

Director - Dean Yurke 

Starring - Brie Mattson (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Random Creepy Guy), Brandon Wardle (Bumblebee, I Am Number Four), and Christina July Kim (Ant-Man, Silicon Valley)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Some things should stay buried"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     As I continue to use social media to find indie horror films I've never seen before I find myself uncovering movies that are quickly becoming some of my favorite horror releases of recent years.  Several weeks back I made a post in an indie horror group on Facebook looking for news to post on the site.  I soon met first time filmmaker Dean Yurke and he told me about his feature film Stay Out Stay Alive.  It looked interesting enough so he sent over a link for me to check it out for review.  I'm glad he did because I fucking loved it.  Thanks Dean.  

     The film follows a group of young adults who are branching out on their own and starting their own lives.  Some have professional careers laid out ahead of them while some are struggling with debt and secret pregnancy.  They decide to go camping near a series of abandoned mines in hopes of sneaking in to find gold.  One of them becomes trapped in an old mind following a freak accident but chooses to remain pinned while the others mine gold from a seam near her.  However, their good luck is about to change when they discover why the mines was abandoned in the first place when the miners first struck gold all those years ago.

     I had no idea what to expect when I agreed to review this one.  I really enjoyed the simple yet affective poster and the title but I had no idea what the film was about.  Once it started I quickly found myself pulled in.  I loved the movie and what it brought to the screen but there was a few little things I didn't care for.  The acting in this one is great.  We get so many different types of characters and even a small role from horror legend Barbara Crampton.  The characters all bring different personalities to the film and they all worked very well with each other.  The chemistry they have is great and that translates well on the screen.  I really enjoyed the acting in this one.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting but I really enjoyed it.  A haunting gold mine set in a valley that floods adds a sense of supernatural dread and a claustrophic setting.  I really enjoyed the story and how it wasn't your typical paranormal tale.  The film was more focused on how the characters treat themselves when faced with riches.  It was interesting watching their friendships deteriorate as the film went on with the supernatural aspect only there to steer the story.  I really liked that take on it.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  It's very character driven but we do get some visual effects of the spirits that I did not care for.  Their cheap look brought the tone of the film down and just didn't work.  Overall, Stay Out Stay Alive was a very pleasant surprise.  I loved the casting and the story.  The cast really did sell the film but the visual effects were a huge disappointment.  I still recommend this one so be sure to check it out!

Croak

Director - Matt Barrett 

Starring - Patrick Basquill (Abducted!, 8 Slices), Bennett Pellington (Bloodhounds, The Reason), and Anthony Reynolds (Black Lightning, Fantastic Four)

Release Date- 2017

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Tagline - "Evolve or die"

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been tearing through reviews the last month or so and I find myself almost becoming obsessed with reviewing as many indie horror flicks as I can.  A few nights ago I found the found footage horror short Camping Fun on Instagram while browsing the hashtags.  Not long after I found another post for the indie horror comedy Croak from Gillybear Productions.  This looked like the kind of short I could get into.  I immediately rushed to YouTube where I found their channel and the short.  After I watch Camping Fun I immediately hit play on Croak.  

     The film follows a slacker who is late for work one day when the frogs outside his home keep him up all night croaking.  He loses his job and decides to seek revenge against them.  He steals some chemicals from his old work truck and attempts to poison them.  However, the chemicals have a different reaction with the toads and one of them mutates into a monsterous humanoid frog with a taste for human flesh.  

     I loved everything about this film except one thing...the run time.  I loved the cast, the story, the creature reveal and how the movie ended.  I just wish the movie had more to it.  The story could have easily been stretched into a feature length film which I hope will happen one day.  It was a lot of fun and there was so much potential for even more fun.  The acting in this one is great.  The characters are all fun and stand out with the character of the stoner slacker really holding the film together.  The beast has a personality as well that added even more humor to the horror aspect of the film.  I really enjoyed the cast and would love to see them all return to another no budget horror feature.  The story for this one takes me back to the late 80s and early 90s direct to video horror classics that I grew up.  Honestly, I could really see this one come out from Moon Beam Entertainment (Full Moon Pictures sister company for children's releases).  It had that Prehysteria feel which is a childhood favorite of mine.  It's short and no time is wasted.  The pacing is consistent.  Finally, the film has an amazing full body costume that looks absolutely amazing and some seriously fun practical effects.  They say that the film was made on a budget of around $400 which really surprises me.  I assume all of it went into the effects.  Overall, Croak is a must see for fans of horror comedies or for those of you with an eye for practical effects.  I highly recommend it.  You will not be disappointed especially for the length of the short.  

Camping Fun

Director(s) - Thomas Burke (Lost Luggage, Return to Love Lake) and David Eimer (Indulgence of a Coward)

Starring - Thomas Burke, Hailey Marmolejo (Ice Breaker, Interrogation), and Bonnie Sturdivant (Mud, The Gold Rut)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Evil caught on tape"

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most of you know how social media has brought so many indie horror flicks to my attention.  Browsing the hastag indiehorror has resulted in some seriously entertaining finds that I would not have found any other way.  A few weeks back I was doing my typical scan through the hashtags when I found a short found footage film called Camping Fun.  I'm not much on found footage flicks but I was curious about this one.  I reached out to them to buy a physical copy of the film when I was told that the film is only available for streaming.  They sent me the link to check out and I'm glad I did.  I really enjoyed this short found footage flick.  

     The film follows four youths who are visiting an abandoned Texas farmhouse that is owned by the family of one of them.  This fun little camping trip into the Texas wilderness soon turns deadly when something deadly has followed them onto the property.

     I went into this one with an open mind and really enjoyed this one.  Most of the found footage films that I've seen were paranormal which just didn't work for me.  However, seeing this one take a different approach made it a little more enjoyable especially when that approach is one that I tend to enjoy.  There is not enough modern horror films dealing with cults and we really need that to change.  The acting in this one is far from perfect.  The cast really dedicates themselves to their roles but their dialogue delivery and interactions with one another is a bit awkward.  I've seen so many no-budget back yard productions and the dialogue in this one is some of the most awkward I've seen.  I know found footage flicks try to create small talk to make them feel genuine but this one was a tough one to sit through at times.  With that being said, once the horror aspect picks up the acting does become more grounded and enjoyable.  The story for this one works for a short and is actually pretty entertaining for a found footage flick.  I'm so sick of the jump scares from paranormal found footage flicks so it was nice to see one actually have a story that delivers the scares instead of a lamp flying at the camera out the corner of the frame.  I loved the set up and location of this one which does work for the southern religious cult aspect as well.  I live and grew up in the bible belt so I know first hand how extreme some of these fanatics can be.  I really liked that spin on the story.  The movie is a short but it starts out fairly slow before picking up around the 6 minute mark.  Finally, the deaths in this one are nothing that memorable.  Hardcore gore hounds will be disappointed by the lack of red stuff but the deaths do fit the style of the film.  Overall, Camping Fun is a solid entry in a sub-genre that I tend to hate.  Found footage films tend to be boring and repetitive but Camping Fun was a lot of fun and the story was something different.  I highly recommend giving this one a spin.  

Zipperface

Director - Mansour Pourmand (Bitter and Sweet, Aladdin's Untold Story)

Starring - Dona Adams, Jonathan Mandell (California Hot Wax, Body Parts), and David Clover (The Kentucky Fried Movie, Star Trek: Voyager)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The last face you'll ever see!"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I use social media as a way to find new releases to add to my collection.  A lot of these smaller boutique companies are unable to advertise their releases so I often browse hashtags on social media.  Some months back I snagged a DVD of Slashdance from a small label.  A few months passed and I saw that the label I had ordered that DVD from was now working with Culture Shock Releasing to release the 1992 S & M slasher Zipperface on DVD.  I was unfamiliar with this one but the artwork totally sold me on the release.  I ordered one as soon as pre-orders were up and when it arrived I wasted no time watching it.  

     The film follows a female detective and her new partner who are working on a case involving murdered prostitutes.  After interviewing a potential suspect she falls in love with him and tries to keep her love a secret but once it's revealed he was connected to one of the deceased prior to her death he becomes top suspect.  However, the real killer is closer than it appears and he has his sights in on her and her love interest.  

      I know a lot of you horror hipsters are going to come out of the woodwork to shit talk this one after seeing your reviews on imdb.  I liked it.  I know it's bad with some serious major issues but I had fun with it.  It's far from perfect but I would be lying if I didn't admit that I have a fondness for shitty movies.  Zipperface feels like a made for television murder mystery that has an anti-bondage message.  Regardless, it could be a rough watch for some or a shitty fun flick for others.  The acting in this one had me fucking laughing.  The performances are what you would expect from an early 90s soap opera or softcore porn.  The cast is underwhelming a lot of the time unless it's a scene involving a death then you can expect way more blood-curdling screams than really needed to get the point across.  The cast tries but their performances are far from perfect but it does result in some unintentional funny moments.  The story for this one is a story we've all seen before especially before the 90s.  We have an urban setting where prostitutes are being murdered while the police is under pressure to find the killer.  Nothing is different here except the killer has an eye for photography and is obsessed with bondage.  Not real S&M but what people thing S&M is when they only have plain vanilla sex.  I was surprised by how much the murder mystery aspect actually pulled me in.  The film does throw a few twists at you to make you think you know who the real killer is but they are so in your face they are comical.  Finally, the film has a few on screen deaths.  The team behind this one really wanted to impress the genre fans but these kills were pretty comical as well.  I found myself laughing more at the first death in the film than anything else I mentioned.  It was so out of place and off the wall.  I fucking loved it.  Overall, Zipperface is bad but I had fun with it.  I can't recommend it to everyone but if you like the shittier side of cinema then you may enjoy this oddball film.  The DVD release from Culture Shock is the way to go if you are curious about it.  

Beach Babes from Beyond

Director - David DeCoteau (Nightmare Sisters, Dr. Alien)

Starring - Linnea Quigley (Return of the Living Dead, Night of the Demons), Tamara Landry (Renegade, The Pleasure Zone), and Nicole Posey (Femaliens: Seduction of the Species)

Release Date - 1993

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy

Tagline - "Hot. Tan. Alien"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was born in the mid-80s but I lived through the 90s.  I was a product of my time and spent a good portion of my childhood glued to the television screen.  During the day I was watching shows like Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Goosebumps, Eerie Indiana, Creepy Crawlers, and Beetleborgs.  However, at night I was all about shows like MonsterVision, USA Up All Night, when my dad went to bed I would watch Taxicab Confessions.  I got to see a lot of cult horror and sexploitation flicks because of MonsterVision and USA Up All Night.  Thought it was cut for cable, I watched the 1993 sleazy sci-fi comedy Beach Babes from Beyond when I was a youngster on USA Up All Night.  When Full Moon sent me over Orgy of the Living Dead and The Hand That Feeds the Dead on blu for review they included the new release of Beach Babes from Beyond.  A pleasant surprise that I couldn't wait to revisit.  

     The film follows three beautiful aliens who decide to borrow their father's classic space ship and take it for a spin. However, they didn't check the fuel before their trip and are forced to crash land on Earth.  They land on the beach and meet up with three beach bums where they soon fall in love.  However, they are soon forced with the risk of losing their home so they all team up together to win a contest where the proceeds can be used to paying rent to keep their uncle's home.

      Even though I had seen Beach Babes all those years ago it had been so long that it was like watching the movie for the first.  When you add in the scenes that was cut for cable it was pretty much a completely different film.  I enjoyed it but it's far from perfect.  The acting in this one is pretty rough.  The cast starts out delivering the typical cheesy performances that many of us come to expect from early 90s Full Moon, Moon Beam, and Torchlight.  The emotional range is pretty flat and several of the scenes the female leads are saying their dialogue with a confused look on their face.  Linnea Quigley and Joe Estevez does alright but they are not a major focus of the film which is a bit of a bummer.  The story for this one is exactly what you would expect from a beach movie of the early 90s.  We get a fun and cheap sci-fi set up with three beautiful aliens crash landing at the beach and then a fun yet cliched story of the direct to video age where the protagonists have to win a contest to save their home.  So many stories from this era in film history used a story like this but I can't complain because I enjoy it.  The added softcore sex scenes really didn't do anything for me which makes me want to revisit the original Up All Night cut of the film.  Finally, if you are looking for blood you will be very disappointed.  We have some spacecraft sets, plenty of nudity, and some cheap visuals but nothing for the horror hounds out there.  Overall, Beach Babes from Beyond is a sleazy and cheap sci-fi comedy that might not be for all the fans of Full Moon but fans of sexploitation and cheesy straight to video titles will really enjoy this one.  The video looks great especially when compared to previous releases.  Collectors will want to snag this one.  

Day of the Pigs

Director - Michael Rodriguez (Lamb Feed, Homewrecked)

Starring - Sparkle Soojian (Missed Call, It Calls), Nikki Jones Curtis (Prey By Night, GhettoBusters), and Tino Zamora (5G Zombies, Last American Horror Show)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Crime/Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I befriended filmmaker Michael Rodriguez when he was posting about his horror short Night of the Sea Monkey: A Disturbing Tale.  Those of you that know me knows that a movie about a killer sea monkey is right up my alley.  Since then he has released some seriously entertaining and brutal horror shorts upon the world.  He is definitely a filmmaker I would recommend to the more serious horror fans out there.  Sometime back I saw posts from Rodriguez about his newest short Day of the Pigs.  Because Rodriguez was behind it I knew it was going to be a good one but time got away from me and I forgot to follow up with him about the project.  A few days back Michael reached out to me to review the short and I couldn't say yes fast enough.  Thanks Michael!

     The film follows three masked robbers who pull off a day time heist.  They succeed but one of them is shot in the chest.  To prevent him from slowing them down they shoot him in the head and burn the car with the body inside.  They walk for sometime with the cash until they come across a farm with two very lovely ladies.  They invite the men in and offer them something to drink.  Soon they find themselves changing into a swine like creature.

      Day of the Pigs is not a straight forward horror tale which really shows how versatile Rodriguez is as a filmmaker.  Horror may be his passion but he has an eye for film.  He really could make any style of film if he put his mind to it.  Day of the Pigs is a great crime based exploitation film that ends with some classic horror.  It was well worth the wait.  The acting in this one is pretty fucking good.  The characters all stand out and their personalities work very well with the story being told.  In fact, I liked the characters so much that I wish the film was just a little longer.  They all did a fantastic job and the cast really does a fantastic job at bringing these characters to life.  The story for this one is pretty bold for an indie short.  We have a daring day time heist before moving into a character driven narrative before finishing out with some a fun Tales from the Crypt style twist.  It's short, quick to the point, and very little time is wasted on bullshit.  I really like how this story was approached and it's done very well.  Finally, this one has a little blood but nothing that stands out or is memorable.  However, the make-up effects for the transformation was not what I was expecting.  I really loved how this was approached and done.  It looked fantastic.  Overall, Day of the Pigs is another fantastic short from Michael Rodriguez.  The blend of crime and horror fits very well and his grindhouse approach really makes the film that more enjoyable.  I highly recommend checking this out.  

Orgy of the Living Dead

Director - Jose Luis Merino (Hell Commandos, Scream of the Demon Lover)

Starring - Stelvio Rosi (Something Creeping in the Dark, Pirates of Blood Island), Maria Pia Conte (The Arena, Day of Violence), and Dyanik Zurakowska (Cauldron of Blood, The Vampire's Night Orgy)

Release Date - 1973

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Scarier than your worst nightmare!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Back late last year when Full Moon announced the release of two films on blu I was pretty fucking excited.  The first film was the Klaus Kinski flick The Hand That Feeds the Dead.  I had never seen this one but I had definately heard about it.  The second was the Paul Naschy flick Orgy of the Living Dead from 1973.  I love Naschy but this was one I had never heard of before.  I requested a review copy and Full Moon was kind enough to send one over.  I want to thank them for sending this one over!

     The film follows a man who is visiting a village after the death of his distant uncle.  On his walk to the village he travels through the cemetery where he finds a young woman hanging from a tree.  Once he arrives at his uncles home he informs them of her death where he discovers that she was the one who inherited the home of his uncle.  He's now the prime suspect in the murder but soon urban legends and mysterious happening leads him to beleive that something supernatural is at play here.

     When I tossed this one in I hard never heard of the Naschy flick Orgy of the Living Dead but after just a few minutes I realized that the reason I had not heard of this movie was because it was released in the US under the title The Hanging Woman which is a Troma release.  The film, which bills legendary Paul Naschy as a star, does not actually star Naschy and is a pretty popular release from Troma.  It's awesome getting this one on blu but I wish I would have known that this was an alternative title from Troma.  The acting in this one is pretty damn good.  As I stated earlier, Naschy is not the lead in this one.  He is a supporting character but his screen time is not what most of his fans would expect.  However, the films lead, Stelvio Rosi, is fantastic in the lead.  His character is great and does a fantastic job at carrying the film.  The supporting cast is just as bold and great as well.  The story for this one is a gothic murder mystery with a deep root in horror.  I really loved the "whodunit" storyline and how well it was written.  I never found this film predictable and just as you think you know what is going on something else is thrown your way.  It never becomes dull and the twists really work.  It's a well written and polished murder mystery.  Finally, the film has some blood and decent enough practical effects but if you are looking for memorable death scenes you will be very disappointed.  The film is a gorgeous gothic set murder mystery with plenty of atmosphere but that's it.  Overall, Orgy of the Living Dead is a well put together and stylish gothic horror flick that does not disappoint.  It's a fabulous double feature companion to The Hand That Feed the Dead.  The blu looks great but lack of special features is a bit disappointing.  

The Hand That Feeds the Dead

Director(s) - Yilmaz Duru (Men Don't Cry, Kara Dogan) and Sergio Garrone (Django the Bastard, Lover of the Monster)

Starring - Klaus Kinski (Crawlspace, Nosferatu the Vampyre), Katia Christine (Spirits of the Dead, Knight Rider), and Marzia Damon (Sex of the Witch, The Bloodsucker Leads the Dance)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A 19th-century doctor finds a laboratory and starts dabbling in reanimation"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Late last year Full Moon announced the release of several horror titles on blu.  Two of them were movies I had never seen before so I reached out to them for review copies.  They were kind enough to send me copies over but it did take a little time because the originally pressing had ran into an issue.  Once I finally got them in I couldn't wait to throw in the 1974 film The Hand That Feed the Dead starring film legend Klaus Kinski.  Thanks Full Moon for sending this one over!

     The film follows professor Nijinski (Kinski) who has married the scarred daughter of a brilliant scientist who was killed in an explosion.  Nijinski uses the deceased doctor's laboratory to perform his experiments in skin transplants to give his wife back her looks.  However, in order to make her whole again he needs living skin from beautiful women.  

     Klaus Kinski has been in some of the most iconic horror films of the 70s.  He's one of the best acting to ever step in front of a camera and his performances always overshadow his co-stars.  When I heard that Full Moon was putting The Had That Feeds the Dead on blu I couldn't wait to see him tear up the screen.  The acting in this one is great.  Kinski is known for his amazing performances but here he is more grounded and realistic.  The intense and energetic performance that I was expecting is not here.  Instead, he approaches the role in a more dramatic fashion.  It works and really fits the gothic feel of the film.  His supporting cast does a fantastic job as well.  The characters are rather generic but they still deliver solid performances.  The story for this one is a spin on the Frankenstein mythos meets a gothic romance in away.  A doctor taking the skin from beautiful young women and crafting it to his burned wife is a morbid but deepy romantic but the film still has that Frankenstein like vibe as well.  I really enjoyed it for the most part but some of the scenes do feel a little pointless.  They are well acted and look great BUT they serve no purpose to the story.  These handful of scenes does slow the film down.  Finally, this is not a gory film but we get some seriously fun practical effects and grisly scenes of faceless women.  They are campy by today's standards but I really enjoyed the make-up and practical effects.  Overall, The Hand That Feeds the Dead is not the movie I was expecting but I still really enjoyed myself here.  The story pulls you in and Kinski never disappoints.  The blu from Full Moon looks gorgeous.  The audio and video are crisp and beautiful.  I highly recommend this release for genre fans.  

Trilogy of Trash

Starring - Kayla Syd, Anthony JK, Sloppypapa TV, and Damian Bishop

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Tagline - "Three shocking tales that will break your mind"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     What's better than watching one new S.O.V. horror short from Dungeon Entertainment?  Well, having a double feature with two new Dungeon Entertainment would be the correct answer.  I would also accept watching "pawg anal" videos on Pornhub as an answer.  Around Christmas Dungeon Entertainment released their Christmas short American Santa.  A few days later they announced a physical release of all their films along with a new trilogy, Trilogy of Trash.  I scooped up all their releases and decided to spin Trilogy of Trash after I finished American Santa.  

     The trilogy follows a man in a gold demon mask as he tells us three stories.  The first follows a possessed blow up sex doll.  The second follows a bird that possesses the owner and the third tale follows a drain in a store that is harboring a beast with a taste for human flesh.

     When I went into this one I was told that this was Dungeon Entertainment's longest film which clocks in around 40 minutes.  Still not a feature length film from the folks with a love for S.O.V. horror but they are slowly building up to it.  Honestly, ToT is probably my favorite release of theirs.  I really enjoyed the shorts, the wraparound segment, and look of this one.  It was fun and one I would highly suggest picking up.  The acting in this one is just like the previous DE shorts.  The cast delivers hilariously bad performances which makes the movie so much fun.  Inspired by films from Chris Seaver and Dir Wit, these characters are extremely funny and memorable.  The stories in this one start out solid enough and then progressively get better.  The first segment is the weakest in the film with the middle story picking up the pace and the final short being the best.  They are inconsistent but still entertaining.  As I stated earlier, the last segment is the best by far.  Not only is the humor better but the story itself is open with so much potential.  Finally, there is some blood and cheap props but no real gore for some of you sick fucks.  The film is a no-budget flick so they did the best with  what they had.  Overall, Trilogy of Trash is a must for no budget horror fans.  It's funny and creative.  You will not be disappointed especially if you drink a few before hitting play.  I highly recommend it.  

American Santa

Starring - Damien Bishop, Chief, and Kayla Syd

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "The most fucked up Christmas experience you'll ever have"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several months back I was browsing through hashtags on Instagram when I came across the page for Dungeon Entertainment.  The page had just released their first short, Valley of Carnage, and I missed the physical release.  I was able to check it out on YouTube but not owning it was a huge disappointment.  Sometime later they announced a follow up short, Death Hike, and I was able to score a copy of it.  Both were extremely fun S.O.V. horror shorts with plenty of humor.  When Christmas was approaching they once again released another short, American Santa, before announcing the sell of all their films on DVD.  I waited to watch American Santa until I get get a physical copy.  Once it arrived I couldn't wait to give it a spin.  

     The film follows a group of hopeful Santa's who are fighting for the right to be Santa.  The real Santa has to be replaced every 200 years and this is the year where they fight for the right to don the red suit.

     Dungeon Entertainment has quickly became one of my favorite genre content creators.  Their no budget horror comedies are extremely fun to watch and their lack of budget didn't stop their creativity.  I was over the fucking moon when I saw that they had released a Christmas themed short and I have to say that it's just as fun as their other films.  The acting in this one is fun.  The cast has a lot of fun in their roles and that fun translates well on the screen.  Their goofy approach to the characters makes the performances more memorable and reminds me a lot of the films of Chris Seaver.  The story for this one is a Christmas themed Battle Royal meets anti-capitalism.  I really liked the idea but the fact that it is a short with no real ending makes this one fall a little short.  There is so much potential here for an even more entertaining horror comedy.  An interesting idea with just enough humor and horror to sell it but the short run time and lack of any sort of conclusion is a bit of a downer.  Finally, this one has plenty of blood and cheap effects but those looking for classic S.O.V. style gore will be very disappointed.  As I stated earlier, this is a no budget short so the crew does the best with what they have but some of the kills do fall a little short.  Overall, American Santa is a fun short that has a very clever story that implements a battle royal style story to the Christmas season.  I highly recommend checking this one out especially if you are a fan of the other Dungeon Entertainment shorts.