The Great Yokai War

Director - Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition)

Starring - Ryunosuke Kamiki (Bloody Monday, Summer Wars), Hiroyuki Miyasako (The Laughing Policeman, Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial), and Chiaki Kuriyama (Battle Royale, Kill Bill Vol. 1)

Release Date - 2005

Genre - Fantasy/Comedy/Adventure

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I originally received the Yokai Monsters Collection set from Arrow Video I was under the impression that it house four films from the late 60s and early 70s.  I had never seen these films before but the trailer for the films looked extremely fun.  That was the reason I reached out to MVD to see if I would review it.  While 100 Monsters, Spook Warfare, and Along with Ghosts were exactly what I expected.  I was surprised that the fourth film was more modern and was directed by legendary filmmaker Takashi Miike.  The film, The Great Yokai War, was a loose remake of Spook Warfare and my favorite film in the set.  It was absolutely amazing and I'm extremely grateful that it was included in the set.  Once again, I want to thank MVD and Arrow Video for sending this one over.

     The film follows a young boy who moves in with his grandpa in a new town.  During a festival he was chosen as kirin rider which is expected to protect the yokai, a group of ancient creatures and beings.  However, this could not come at the worst time as an evil man and his army of mechanical creatures ravage Japan in search of yokais that he uses to turn into his mechanical followers.  It's up to the kirin rider and the surviving yokais to stop the evil man and his mechanical abominations.

     The Great Yokai War is absolutely fantastic.  It's a fantasy adventure film for children but I found myself loving every minute of it.  It does try to capture that look and style of the original Yokai trilogy but it has a more modern influence.  Regardless, I thought it was absolutely fantastic and the highlight of this set.  The acting in this one is great.  The characters have just as much personality as the creatures which makes the scene way more enjoyable than the previous films in the set.  They are funny, full of energy, and work so well together.  Honestly, I loved the entire cast and the characters they portrayed.  I know there is a sequel and I seriously hope it features returning cast and characters.  The story for this one is a loose remake of Spook Warfare but it adds much more to the story.  As I stated earlier, this is a film aimed to children but I found it to be funny and very charming.  I loved how it used Spook Warfare as the basis for the film while building so much more to it.  It's a superhero movie that reminded me a lot of the Japanese super sentai shows and clones except it had Miike's touch and the Yokai Monsters influence.  You never know what to expect and the film progressed and the pacing is damn near perfect.  The film is over two hours long but it doesn't feel that way while watching it.  The writing is smooth and not lazy as the other films.  Finally, the film has plenty of make-up and practical effects along with some dated visual effects.  I loved the look of the yokai and really loved the cyberpunk look of the mechanical creatures but some a good bit of the scenes used some dated visual effects that just don't hold up well now.  It doesn't ruin the film but it is very noticeable.  Overall, The Great Yokai War is a must see for fans of Japanese cinema and those of you that grew up with shows like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and so on.  It's absolutely fantastic and you will not be disappointed.  I highly recommend it.  

Yokai Monsters: Along with Ghosts

Director(s) - Yoshiyuki Kuroda (Mirrorman, Lone Wolf and Cub: White Heaven in Hell) and Kimiyoshi Yasuda (The Lefty Swordsman, Tokyo Gambler)

Starring - Kojiro Hongo (Satan's Sword, The Falcon Fighter), Pepe Hozumi (Ultraman Dyna, Super Robot Mach Baron), and Masami Burukido 

Release Date - 1969

Genre - Fantasy/Horror

Tagline - "The most spectacular specters the world has ever seen"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    When I started the Yokai Monsters journey I never knew what to expect when Arrow Video sent the release my way.  However, I was very pleased with the look and style of the first film in the set 100 Monsters.  The film was so much fun and the look of the film is something that I'm still thinking about several days later.  I spent some time with Neon Genesis Evangelion before I decided to continue through the Yokai Monsters set.  Spook Warfare was a lot of fun as well but just didn't work out for me as well as the first film.  Once I finished Spook Warfare I went ahead and tossed in the final film in the original Yokai Monsters trilogy Along with Ghosts.

     The film begins with a caretaker in a cemetery who is murdered by a group of thugs.  His daughter finds his body and possible clue to who murdered him.  As the gangsters try to find her and get rid of the evidence they soon find themselves at the mercy of the Yokai.  

     Along with Ghosts fits in with the previous two films very well.  It's a copy cat of the other films in sense of style and atmosphere but I found the story of this one to be a little bit more fluid than Spook Warfare.  It didn't feel as chaotic and overwhelming than the other film.  Honestly, this is probably my second favorite film of the three.  The acting in this one fits the film but the characters are nowhere near as fun as the creatures.  This is one of the many consistent themes throughout these films.  The cast is great but the humans are merely there for story purposes while the creatures steal the show.  The story for this one mixes gangsters with monsters and it's surprisingly a lot of fun.  The film is written better than Spook Warfare which makes it a tad more enjoyable.  It's easier to follow, better pacing, and the story has a little more imagination.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  We get some fun monsters and great atmosphere but that's the extent of it.  It's a fantasy crime film with monsters so don't expect a blood bath.  Overall, Along with Ghosts is a fantastic installment in the Yokai Monsters trilogy.  Sadly, it's an end to an era with these films but it goes out with a bang.  

Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare

Director - Yoshiyuki Kuroda (Fangs of Darkness: Vengeance, The Invisible Swordsman)

Starring - Yoshihiko Aoyama (The Oiwa Phantom, Zero Fighters), Hideki Hanamura (Devil's Temple, Sleepy Eyes of Death: Sword of Villainy), Chikara Hashimoto (Fists of Fury, Gamera vs. Viras)

Release Date - 1968

Genre - Horror/Fantasy/Comedy

Tagline - "The most bizarre monsters the world has ever seen"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A week or so ago I decided to take a stab at the Yokai Monster Collection from Arrow Video.  I started with 100 Monsters and fucking loved it.  I loved the style of the film and the monsters made it so much fun.  I was fully prepared to start on the second film in the set, Spook Warfare, but decided to watch the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion with my kids instead.  After a week or so of watching the series and the follow up films I've decided it was time to go back and finish this set.  I had a lot of fun with 100 Monsters and Spook Warfare did not disappoint.  

     The film follows a Babylonian demon who is accidentally resurrected by some grave robbers.  As he makes his way through Japan he is spotted by a water spirit who tries to warn the other monsters.  They disregard him but as things take a turn for the worse they band together to stop it from destroying their beloved country.

      Spook Warfare was a lot of fun but not quite as enjoyable as 100 Monsters.  It still has the same style and look of the other film but the story is choppier and uneven.  I still had fun with it and even loved the idea behind the story but the film itself could use some polish and some smoother editing.  The acting in this one is solid but it's the monsters that steal the show.  I liked the cast for the most part but every scene with the monsters was so much fun.  I loved their energy, how they acted with each other, and their personalities.  It was so much fun watching them interact and carry the scene.  The story for this one is essentially a Yokai vs Babylon demon.  It has some great moments especially if you love campy fantasy movies about monsters and demons but I feel like something more could have been done with this story.  It's great as is but could have been a genre defining film if more was applied to it.  Finally, no blood and gore here but I did love the masks and costumes wore by the creatures.  They are a bit campy but it only adds to the atmosphere and look of the film.  Overall, Spook Warfare is a great addition to the Yokai Monster collection.  The story does get a bit chaotic at times which makes if a little difficult to follow but it's still very enjoyable.  Check it out.  

Children of Sin

Director - Christopher Moore (Triggered, Blessed are the Children)

Starring - Meredith Mohler (Triggered, A Stranger Among the Living), Lewis Hines (Mimi: Blood Thicker Than Water, Just Say That), and Jo-Ann Robinson (Scalps, The Devil Dolls)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "If you don't leave Abraham house a different person... you wont be leaving at all"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago an aspiring filmmaker reached out for me to review his no budget horror feature.  The film, Perversion, was not one that I cared for but there was certain aspects of the film that I did like.  This was his first feature film but he had previously worked on an extremely fun YouTube review series and a short.  Some time passed and Christopher reached out to review his newest horror feature Blessed Are the Children.  I love religious horror and couldn't wait to see it.  Just to be clear, when I say I love religious horror I mean horror films that follow religious extremists that take quotes from the bible literally.  Blessed Are the Children was fantastic so when Christopher hit me up later to review his politically charged horror film Triggered I couldn't say no.  This has become a trend between us because when he asked me yet again to review his newest film Children of Sin I knew I couldn't say no.  Like always I want to thank Christopher for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check out your hard work.

     The film follows the young Emma (Mohler) and her brother Jackson (Hines) who are sent to a religious home by their abusive and strict step-father.  The den mother, Mary Esther (Robinson), is dedicated to her faith and turning around the lives of those under her care.  However, when the youths show no willingness to change she turns to deadly means to save their souls.  When Emma and Jackson uncover the home's dark secret they must fight to survive the house that the lord did not build.

     Children of Sin is the perfect example of why I love religious centered horror tales.  When a horror film dives into the bible to give us "retellings" of fictiticious scenarios from the book in a modern setting I often find myself rolling my eyes through most of it.  These Kirk Cameron clones are fucking dull and cringy for the most part.  However, films that take religious fanatics and shows the real dangers of mental illness and how far fanatics will go.  Movies like Gold Told Me To, Se7en and Moore's Blessed Are the Children are great religious horror films and he should be proud of Children of Sin.  It's another fantastic example of how the mentally ill and disturbed succumb to religion as a way to cope with their instabilities.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  Mohler and Hines are great together as siblings.  Their interactions between one another feel genuine and is not forced at all.  Mohler was the lead in Moore's film Triggered and she does not disappoint in either.  We also get a fun role from the director himself who has made cameo appearances in several of his films.  I really liked his character here and how it fit into the film.  In my opinion, the real star of the show is Jo-Ann Robinson who plays the evil Mary Esther.  I absolutely loved this character and how she was written.  She does a fantastic job with her performance and really impressed me with her character.  Honestly, I need more of this character and soon.  The story for this one reminds me of a modern indie horror spin on those classic early 80s made for television thrillers.  We follow two teens who have their own issues who is sent to a home to find a better path than the one they are on.  However, lurking in the home that is supposed to be their salvation is their end.  I could see this story being inspired by those early 80s made for television films or paperbacks from the same time.  I loved it.  It has great pacing, fantastic dialogue, and amazing characters.  I think that Moore has a hit on his hands here.  Finally, the film doesn't shy away from the red stuff.  We get several themed deaths that look great.  We get a lot of blood and decent enough effects that make the kills work but those looking for some seriously brutal and gory kills will be very disappointed.  However, I had fun with them and they worked very well for the film.  Overall, Children of Sin is another fantastic indie horror film from a young filmmaker that I truly believes deserves your attention.  I highly recommend this one along with his films Triggered and Blessed Are the Children.  

    

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion

Director(s) - Hideaki Anno (Cutie Honey, Gamera 1999) and Kazuya Tsurumaki (Revival of Evangelion, The Dragon Dentist)

Starring - MEgumi Ogata (Vampire Princess Miyu, Hell Teacher Nube: The Movie), Megumi Hayashibara (Gundam vs Hello Kitty, Blue Exorcist), and Yuko Miyamura (Hyper Police, Spectral Force)

Release Date - 1997

Genre - Sci-Fi/Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Neon Genesis Evangelion has really opened up the door for me to the world of anime.  Since I've started this weird and wild journey I've found myself creating a wishlist on Amazon and setting up queues on Hulu.  I seriously enjoyed the series and need more of this in my life.  When Shout Factory sent over the release I noticed that there was two film in the set.  After watching the series I quickly made my way to the first film and was very disappointed.  Read my review for that film if you want to know why.  This made me hesitant to watch the second film but curiosity got the best of me and I finally caved in.  It was solid but it was nowhere near as fun as the series.

     The film picks up with the Eva pilots who learn about a secret group within themselves hellbent on triggering a global killer known as the third impact.  As they fight to survive they uncover the true nature behind the Eva project and what the angels really are.

     The End of Evagelion is not as good as the series but it is leagues better than the abomination that was the first film.  I liked the direction that the film took but the writing just felt lazy.  There could have been so much more to this film than it was.  The voice acting follows right in line with the series.  The same cast returns to voice the characters from the series.  The voice acting isn't bad but a lot of the voices just doesn't match the characters that well.  I didn't hate it but the fact that the characters had voices that seemed a little silly did bring some of the scenes down.  The story for this one tries to fix the ending that was delivered in the show but it doesn't fully explore the idea it lays before us.  They either lost the budget for a second season or just didn't have the time to do it right but the film feels like such a missed opportunity.  I like where it when with solving the ending of the series and how half assed it was but it feels almost cheap.  Finally, the animation is in the same style as the series but not as bloody and oozy as the series.  IF you are looking for something a little darker then you will be disappointed.  Overall, The End of Evangelion is a superior film to the first and does a decent enough job at expanding the series but it still falls a bit short in my opinion.  The series had such a great idea and the movie only builds upon it but it doesn't go to the depths the series does.  It's worth a watch but don't expect a film as great as the show.   

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death (True)2

Director(s) - Hideaki Anno (Shin Godzilla, Gamera 1999), Masayuki (Revival of Evangelion, Manga Entertainment: The Art of Anime), and Kazuya Tsurumaki (The Dragon Dentist, Kill la Kill)

Starring - Megumi Ogata (Love Deeply, Tokyo ESP), Megumi Hayashibara (Pokemon: The First Movie, Pokemon), and Yuko Miyamura (Battle Royale, Berserk)

Release Date - 1997

Genre - Sci-Fi/Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Earlier in the week I started my adventure of watching my first anime series.  A few weeks back Shout Factory, on behalf of their GKids label, sent over a review copy of their Neon Genesis Evangelion series.  I've never been into anime but I was open to it so I decided to watch it while I played Elden Rings.  Honestly, I found myself focusing more on the show than the game and eventually turned the game off to watch the show.  I fucking loved it and now have a massive cart full of animes to order from Amazon.  The release from GKids also included two films in with the special features.  As soon as I finished the series I quickly made my way to the special features to watch the two films.  The first was Death (True)2 from 1997.

     The "film" is an hour long retelling of the show consisting of segments from the show edited into a more condensed form.  

     What the fuck is this horseshit! I was fully prepared to dig into a feature length Neon Genesis Evangelion film but what I was given was a rehashing of the series.  If you needed a refresher on the show before watching a new movie then this one would have been pretty solid.  However, after just finishing the show and hitting play on this I have to say that I'm very disappointed.  The voice acting in this one is exactly what you get in the series because...it is episodes from the series trimmed down.  No need to really go in depth here because if you are reading this then your probably already read my review on the series.  The story for this one is, as I stated earlier, episodes from the show trimmed down to highlight the important parts.  The film is around an hour long so a lot of character development and arching themes from the series has been removed.  Finally, the animation is the same as the show but we don't get to enjoy a lot of the action and bloody moments like the series.  Overall, Death (TRUE)2 is a huge waste of time.  It's cool that it's part of the release but I would never recommend this one to anyone to watch.  It's a huge waste of time.  

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Creator - Hideaki Anno (Shin Godzilla, Gunbuster)

Starring - Megumi Ogata (Bleach, UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie), Megumi Hayashibara (Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon: MewTwo Returns), and Kotono Mitsuishi (Pokemon, Ghost Stories)

Release Date - 1995

Genre - Action/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "A new world. A new technology.  One last hope for salvation"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm not much of an anime fan.  I've tried to be more receptive of them in recent years but when I was younger I often avoided them.  I do love both Vampire Hunter D films but that is about the extent of my anime knowledge.  Several months back Shout Factory announced the release of 1995's Neone Genesis Evangelion on blu.  I wanted to explore some animes so I decided to check this one out.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  I wasn't able to spin it right away but as I found myself obsessed with Elden Ring I decided to multi-task and finally break out the series.  I'm glad I did because it was a lot of fun.  

     The show takes place many years after a group of giant beings known as Angels wiped out most of humanity.  The surviving humans have grouped together in giant cities that can be driven underground in the case of an angel attack.  To fight the angels, scientists have build giant mechs known as Evas that are piloted by teenagers that are synchronized with the machines.  With their very existence on the line they still find time to worry about the normal teenager things like love, maturity, family, and so on.

     I'm very surprised by how much I actually liked this show.  It was a lot of fun even though it sizzles out by the last two episodes.  Hell, I liked it so much that I may start checking out some other animes now.  Who knew that Neon Genesis Evangelion would be a gateway anime?  The voice acting in this one is one of the few aspects of the show that I didn't like.  The voices didn't match all the characters in my opinion while others were perfectly cast.  This was very inconsistent and made the show have some unintentionally awkward scenes dude to the dialogue.  If the voice cast matched the characters then the scene and the series would have been just a little more enjoyable.  The story for this one is a lot of fun but it feels like the writing became lazy or they just gave up during the last leg of the show.  With that being said, I fucking loved the back story, the betrayal, and the mechs.  It's a great sci-fi action series with some seriously impressive lore.  I know there is two films that follow the series and I can't wait to spin them.  Finally, the animation is great.  We get some blood, a lot of awesome fight scenes, and some light gore.  Genre fans, especially those open to anime, will greatly appreciate this.  Overall, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a fantastic series that may spark a love for anime if you were not a fan already.  I highly recommend grabbing this release from Shout Factory as part of their GKids line.  

Uncle Sleazo's Toxic and Terrifying TV Hour

Director - Lucky Cerruti (Kindness of Strangers, Freak)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

     

Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters

Director - Kimiyoshi Yasuda (Ghost Story: Depth of Kasane, Sleepy Eyes of Death: In the Spider's Lair)

Starring - Shinobu Araki (Satan's Sword 3: The Final Chapter, The Temple of Wild Geese), Saburo Date (Song of the Devil, Wolf Guy), and Jun Fujimaki (Demon Spies, Daimajin)

Release Date - 1968

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A fantastic world unlike anything you have ever seen!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several months ago Arrow Video announced the release of the Yokai Monsters box set.  The artwork really caught my attention so I quickly looked into the movies to see what they were like.  After checking out a few trailers I knew I would fucking love them.  I reached out to MVD, who was handling the American releases for Arrow, to see about reviewing it.  When the standard edition was gearing up for release they were kind enough to send the box set my way for review.  After watching Mondo Macabro's Hiruko the Goblin I figured now was as good enough time as any to finally check them out.  I want to thank MVD and Arrow Video for sending this amazing set my way.  

     The film follows a small village who are moving out of their traditional values into a more modern lifestyle.  A local business owner wants to tear down an ancient shrine in order to build a brothel but refuses to surrender to local legends.  He listens to a village elder tell the story of the 100 monsters but still doesn't believe it.  Soon the village is overrun by the 100 monsters from lore.

     I knew 100 Monsters was going a bit different but I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did.  I loved the look of the film and the light humor does find it's mark without taking away from the story and pacing.  It is a very enjoyable film especially if you don't take it so seriously.  The acting in this one is so much fun.  The film is full of colorful characters and energetic performances.  I loved the characters and the cast does a fantastic job bringing them to life.  As fun as the story is, it's the characters that makes the film as enjoyable as it is.  The story for this one is a lot of fun.  It's not a horror film per'se but it is a fun fantasy comedy with monsters.  The monsters are not scary or bone chilling but I really enjoyed the lore behind them and how they were used in the story.  I thoroughly enjoyed the pacing, use of humor to break up the scene, and the backstory they delivered.  Character development is put in the bac burner here but it's not something that completely ruin the experience.  Finally, the film has some great make-up effects and puppets along with some classic camera tricks to make the gag effective.  I liked most of the monsters and their look but the lack of blood was a bit disappointing.  Overall, 100 Monsters was not the movie I was expecting but I had so much fucking fun with it.  Horror hipsters may bitch about it but for those of you that are looking for something fun to watch will appreciate this late 60s flick.  I recommend it.  

Secrets of the Witch

Director - Dixie Gers (Piggy)

Starring - Dixie Gers, Roni Jonah (Shark Exorcist, Cannibal Cop), and Adam Freeman (Reunion from Hell, Cannibal Hookers)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A couple years ago I befriended actress and filmmaker Dixie Gers while she was promoting her first short film as director.  Piggy was a fantastic film that not only showed how talented she is behind the camera,as well as, in front of it.  Since then I've seen her in the Criminally Insane remake Crazy Fat Ethel along with several other films.  She's a talented actress that I'm a huge fan of.  A few weeks ago Dixie started sharing images and artwork for her newest short Secrets of the Witches on Facebook.  I was curious about the project but before I could reach out to her about it she surprised me with a link to the online screener.  I want to thank Dixie for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check this one out.  

     The film follows a backyard party where a live band plays while everyone sets around drinking.  A woman walks through the crowd surveying them all before she eventually picks her target.  When he goes to piss she knocks him out.  When he awakens he discovers that he is tied to posts with other men while several women stand around them.  Soon their real intentions are reveals and it's not good for these men.

     I love how effective a short can be.  We get a story that's not watered down or stretch to get that feature length running time.  Instead, its straight to the point and often fun for the running time.  Secrets of the Witch was an enjoyable short but it is one of the few instances where I wish there was more to it.  I really liked it but I have more questions than answers.  The acting in this one is solid.  The cast isn't given a lot of time to actually interact with other characters with the film running around 11 minutes long and most of it is spent tied to posts.  I liked the casting but I feel that the film has several seriously talented names attached to it and the fact we don't get to see more from them is a little disappointing.  The story for this one is short and straight to the point but I have so many questions after watching it.  As I stated earlier, the film runs about 11 minutes but could easily be a feature length film.  It has a great set up but the short doesn't give you the reason why?  Sure, they are witches and even though I'm a guy I can still understand the urge to cut off some bro's pecker but I need more to it than that.  Some more meat on the bone so to speak.  Aside from the shorts lack of substance I still enjoyed the imagery and the little bit of story we do have.  Finally, the film has some solid practical effects and a few scenes will make most men squirm in their seat.  It's fucking bloody and I feel violated for just watching it.  Overall, Secrets of the Witch is a decent short from actress and filmmaker Dixie Gers.  She shows so much promise especially when you consider that this is her second time behind the camera.  I would love to see her expand on this one and give us a feature length film about a coven of dick hating witches.  I highly recommend it.