McBain

Director - James Glickenhaus (Timemaster, Slaughter of the Innocents)

Starring - Christopher Walken (Hairspray, The Jungle Book), Maria Conchita Alonso (The Running Man, Predator 2), and Michael Joseph DeSare 

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Action

Tagline - "It takes a killer to stop the killing"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Horror and exploitation may be my bread and butter but straight to video action films of the 80s and early 90s are what got me on my reviewing journey. My dad was was a huge western fan but we didn’t have a western channel where I grew up. Instead, he would watch whatever the premium channels like Cinemax and HBO had to offer. This was where I was introduced to these wild action flicks. I only fueled that fire when I started renting tapes from my local video store. I still look forward to watching the millions of cheap action flicks that was released during this time and has relatively been lost to time. A few weeks back my friends over a Synapse Films sent over the 1991 action thriller McBain starring the unforgettable Christopher Walken. I had never heard of this one so I was fucking excited to finally check it out. I want to thank Synapse Films and MVD, who is handing the physical release, for sending this one over. 

      The film follows a Vietnam vet who has transitioned to civilian life as an iron worker when he is contacted by the sister of a Columbian freedom fighter that lost his life trying to overthrow the Columbian government. She convinces him to avenge her brothers death so he embarks on a mission to recruit hos old squad and steal money from drug dealers to fund his mission to Columbia. Once there his squad works together to bring peace to Columbia which is controlled by El Presidente and the cartel. 

      McBain is one of those easily forgettable action flicks that I grew up loving. It’s not the best but it is enjoyable if those are your type of films. Hell, I wish this was one I had seen prior to now because I know it would be one I would have revisited like all the others from my childhood. The casting in this one is very unexpected but I did enjoy it. I was born in the mid-80s so I lived through the video store age and grew up in the 90s. Christopher Walken was a part of my childhood thanks to The Prophecy and Joe Dirt. While most people remember him for his roles in The Dead Zone, Deer Hunter, and Batman Returns, I grew up watching The Prophecy and Joe Dirt with the latter being a film I often revisited in my youth. It’s a bit strange seeing him act and not carry the same mannerisms and dialogue delivery that I was used to. Honestly, I really enjoyed seeing him actually get into character and not portray the “image” that most associate with him. The supporting cast is great in my opinion. In fact, their characters and performances were a little better than Walken’s. There was times where it felt like Walken was disassociated from the film and was just saying his lines on co-pilot while his co-stars were fully invested in the scene. It does make them uneven but it brings that “so bad it’s good” charm that I like about this type of action films. The story for this one kind of felt like a rejected A-Team episode that repurposed for a direct to video release. It asks a lot of the viewer to go along with it but some aspects are very cleverly written. Why a group of Vietnam veterans would team up to try and crush a corrupt government from a third world nation is beyond me but I did like the part where they raised the money to make the trip there and some tie backs to the Vietnam war that was enjoyable. However, the film skips on the characters and giving them different personalities. Instead, they are all “yes, sir” type men with no definable or memorable personalities. Finally, the film has a lot of deaths but they don’t really have the blood or gore you would expect. We have those campy deaths where people go stiff and fall after being shot and some decent sized explosions. I was a bit disappointed in the lack of original deaths and fighting but that’s something to expect with a film like this. Overall, McBain is another generic action flick that I actually enjoyed. This is one of those films you can toss in if you’ve been drinking or popped an edible. It’s not good but it’s fun which is all you can ask for from a movie. Snag it on blu from Synapse Films.

The Witches Mountain

Director - Raul Artigot (Bajo en Nicotina, Cabo de Vara)

Starring - Patty Shepard (Rest in Pieces, My Dear Killer), Cihangir Gaffari (Bloodsport, Hundra), and Monica Randall (Stay as You Are, Cross of the Devil)

Release Date - 1973

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a horror fan for as long as I can remember.  I was obsessed with zombie films as a kid when I was first introduced to Tom Savini's remake of Night of the Living Dead.  From there I dived deep into the sub-genre before migrating to slashers and other genre films.  While I'll always have a soft spot for slashers and zombie flicks I still find myself disappointed by the lack of witch films.  Several weeks back Mondo Macabro released the 1973 Spanish horror film The Witches Mountain on blu.  I was lucky enough to get a copy of this one for review.  Like always I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.

     The film follows a photojournalist who is traveling through the beautiful Spanish countryside where he crosses paths with a beautiful woman. She agrees and they visit a secluded castle high in the mountains but when he hears strange sounds and chanting he suspects that the local lore surrounding the mountain being inhabited by witches may be true. 

      I know The Witches Mountain is not going to be a film that genre fans flock to store shelves to snag a copy to add to their collections but serious genre collectors will want to check it out. It’s a decent enough folk horror flick that may not be the most memorable film I’ve seen but it was entertaining especially for a first time watch. The acting in this one is solid but no one is winning any awards. The characters are fairly generic in an early 70s genre film kind of way. The cast is fairly small but everyone did their part and pulled it off. I was a little disappointed that our two leads didn’t have personalities that would stand out. Their performances are decent enough but the characters are easily forgettable and blend into the background at times. The story for this one doesn’t really build up to an atmospheric and suspenseful horror film with witches and Satanic imagery like you would expect. I was really looking forward to seeing a coven of wood witches resort to pagan rituals. We don’t really get that and when you mix that with the slow burn that the film is you get something that will really push the patience of the viewer. I enjoyed it for what it was but I don’t see myself revisiting it anytime soon. Finally, the film relies on the location, atmosphere, and story to drive the fear home to the viewer. We don’t really get any memorable effects or movie magic to enjoy which is a damn shame. I would have loved an early 70s witch film with some blood and gore. Overall, The Witches Mountain is not the definitive horror film about witches. Hell, it’s not even that memorable of a Spanish horror film but it is solid for a first time watch. Collectors will want to add this Mondo Macabro release to their collection but remember that it is far from perfect.

Dr. Caligari

Director - Stephen Sayadian (Silk Stalkings)

Starring - Madeleine Reynal (Space Mutiny), Fox Harris (Repo Man, Forbidden World), and Laura Albert (Bloodstone, The Unnamable)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Comedy/Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "the MAD doctor is in"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Mondo Macabro is one of those labels that brings us films that we would never get the chance to see if it wasn’t for them. Hell, a good portion of the films they release are completely unknown to myself and most of my circles of friends. While I’m always excited to check out these odd and obscure films I will be completely transparent with everyone that takes the time to read my reviews. Sometimes I review a Mondo Macabro film that I just don’t like. They are a company that I enjoy watching and collecting but their films or either loved or disliked. There is no in-between. Sometime back I was sent a few MM released and one of them was Dr. Caligari. This is one I had seen bits and pieces of growing up but never actually sat down to watch the whole film. I’m glad Mondo Macabro was kind enough to send it over because I fucking loved it. I want to take a second to thank MM for hooking me up! 

      The film follows a female doctor who is a descendent of the original Dr. Caligari. She is employed at a mental asylum and has been conducting experiments on the patients there. However, it’s not innocent experiments that she is conducting. Her sexually charged research has her working on a variety of patients from serial killing cannibals to housewives with libido issues. 

      Dr. Caligari is a loose sequel to the classic silent film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. While both films are memorable they are memorable for very different reasons. The original film is known the world over for it’s beautiful imagery and tone while the sequel has just as memorable visuals but the sexual humor and colorful characters makes the follow up stand out. The acting in this one absolutely amazed me. While the film does focus on sexuality and perversion, it does give viewers some of the most memorable characters I’ve witnessed. I would be here all day if I was to pick apart the cast because everyone delivered amazing performances. However, I will take a moment to mention John Durbin’s performance. His character had me laughing so fucking hard. This is easily my favorite performance of his and the film wouldn’t be nearly as funny if someone else was cast in that role. The story for this one is very different than the original while paying tribute to the film that was released 60 plus years before it. While imagery is still an important part of the film we follow a story that doesn’t shy away from laughs or the sleazy side of cinema which is to be expected when it was produced by the same folks behind Café Flesh. The film’s focus is Dr. Caligari and how she experiments on the deranged in sexual and perverse ways. You would think this set up would wear thin as the film progresses but the new wave style sets and wardrobe mixed with the colorful characters carries this simple story further than it should have. Finally, the film has plenty of practical effects and beautiful set designs but those of you looking for blood and gore will be very disappointed. While there is blood it is not the focal point of the film. In fact, it happens in passing with no real time spent on it. We do get some wild scenes with some enjoyable practical effects and visuals but that is the extent of it. Overall, Dr. Caligari is nothing like the original film but I believe that is a good thing. It pays tribute to a historical film while making a name for itself. It’s a must see cult film that I highly recommend snagging on blu from Mondo Macabro. Check it out.

Sound of Summer

Director - Guy (Difficulty Breathing, The Rope Maiden)

Starring - Shinya Hankawa, Kaori Hoshino, and Kiyomi Kametani 

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve been lucky enough to review Unearthed Film’s releases for several years now. While I don’t always enjoy the films sent my way for review I still respect the absolute legend that is Stephen Biro. He brings movies that only a specific set of genre fans want to the masses allowing many to experience films they normally would miss out on. While I love seeing these unusual and often overlooked films get a physical release from a major label, I would be lying if I said I loved them all. Some of the films just don’t have enough to hold my attention. A year or so ago Unearthed started releasing some CatIII and pinku films on blu. I was extremely interested in these films as they are both recent interests of mine after I started branching out to international cinema. Several weeks back Unearthed released the 2022 Japanese film The Sound of Summer from filmmaker Guy. The trailer really pulled me in so I reached out to MVD, who was handling the release for UF, and they were kind enough to send a copy my way. I want to thank MVD and Unearthed Films for sending this one over. 

      The film follows two female shop clerks who find themselves working through the unbearable heat of summer. To make matters worse, the cicadas are hatching and with it comes their unbearable screeching. One of the locals is obsessed with the bug and often collects them in one of his many enclosures which he brings with him as he walks around town. One of the women starts to have episodes where her skin would rash up and itch. Before long she is convinced that the Cicada Man has planted cicada eggs in her and they are eating her from the inside out. As the heat bears down during the long summer days she finds her mental health declining resulting in paranoia, hallucinations, and body mutilation. 

      The Sound of Summer made me think I was getting into a brutal and gory torture film that followed a killer known as the Cicada Man. Instead, what we get is a film about a woman struggling with mental illness during the hot days of summer in Japan. I wanted to loved this one but as much as I love and respect Biro I have to be honest with anyone reading this. The Sound of Summer is extremely… dull. The acting in this one is one of the better aspects of the film. The characters are very generic but the cast does a fantastic job with the characters they were cast to portray. While the film didn't really pull me in I did find myself captivated in a few scenes by the cast and how into the scene they were. With that being said, the cast is fairly small and we don't have a lot of scenes with memorable performances. The story for this one is a mix between Japanese underground and Cronenberg. We follow a woman who has a dislike for the cicadas who have awaken after their 17 year hibernation which coincides with the Cicada Man who is roaming around collecting his little friends to put in boxes. This arrival of the cicadas awakens a fear inside her and before long she claws her body apart to remove cicadas that she thinks are in her. If the film would have relied more on her mental disability and the body mutilation then it could have been interesting enough. However, the film is a bit dull as it is.  Finally, the film has a lot of practical effects.  The make-up effects work which makes some of the later scenes even more gruesome but the lack of story makes the effects feel underwhelming.  Overall, The Sound of Summer could have been something gruesome and entertaining but the story drops the ball.  It looks good and I like the cast but the film comes up short.  I can recommend at least a dozen more Unearthed releases to check out instead of this one.  

CarousH3LL

Director - Steve Rudzinski (Shingles: The Movie, A Meowy Halloween)

Starring - Steve Rimpici (CarousHELL, A Meowy Christmas Vacation), Autumn Ivy (Zoomed, Amityville Christmas Vacation), and B. Barnabei (The Survivors, A Meowy Christmas)

Release Date-  2023

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Indie filmmaker Steve Rudzinski has achieved so much during his career. He is the first Top Male Thirst Trap of Pittsburgh and lifetime achievement winner from Grossfest. While those are notable awards, he is mostly known for directing several films that has received positive reviews from the prestigious horror site, Horror Society. I’ve reviewed most, if not all, of his feature films and a couple of his shorts. I’ve spent a lot of time watching and writing reviews for his films and I can safely say that Steve is among one of my favorite indie filmmakers. He never submits to trends and makes the movies that he wants to see. A few years back Steve directed and cameoed in one of his most popular films. The comedy slasher CarousHELL seemed to come out of nowhere and quickly gained a following among horror fans. Soon a sequel was greenlit and due to the popularity of both films a third was announced. The first is easily my favorite film of the trilogy but I absolutely love how both sequels go a completely different direction than fans expected. I quickly agreed to watch CarousH3LL when Steve asked me to review it. However, I wasn’t so fast to actually review it. I want to thank Steve for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check it out and I’m sorry it took so long to get this up. 

      The film once again follows Duke, the living carousel unicorn from the first two films, who has tried to be a better person after discovering he was a father. He wants to be the father his son deserves but one of his victims, Joe (Rudzinski), has his eye (that’s a pun for those that have seen the film) on revenge. Also standing his Duke’s way of being a better person is another living carousel animal, a rabbit named Usagi who is stealing the power from other inanimate objects to make herself stronger to bring Duke down. 

      When Steve started the CarousHELL trilogy I was expecting him to keep turning out slashers that had a lot of humor and colorful characters. Honestly, the first film in the trilogy may not be my favorite Rudzinski film but it is among one of my favorite indie slashers of recent years. While this trilogy is no Captain Z, I still enjoy them and love seeing how each story progressively builds up on the last while taking the viewer on an adventure they were not expecting. CarousH3LL is a worthy follow up to the first two films and we still have more room to further the story for fans. The acting in this one is easily my favorite of the trilogy. I have nothing but good things to say about this cast but any film that features a three way with Jessa Flux, a carousel bunny, and a random guy gets my full attention. This scene was funny as fuck and I loved how into it Flux was. We also get great performances from Rudzinski himself, some professional wrestlers, and a bevy of voice actors. Honestly, this film has a little bit of everything and the cast represents that. I seriously loved the people involved here. The story for this one follows down the same path set forth in the second film. It completely abandons the slasher premise of the first film and we get a bigger look at inanimate objects coming to life, secret government agencies, pissed off Mascots, and much more. I found myself laughing a lot more than I expected but I was a bit disappointed in the story he created around the Mascot group. I could seriously see myself getting sucked in by a film completely centered around them and their dwindling numbers. With that being said, I still enjoyed CarousH3ll and the direction it took. We get a lot of character development, lore, and comedy tossed into a relatively short run time of a little over an hour. Finally, the film has a lot of different effects to enjoy. We get some classic gags like the cut knife “stabbing” people, practical effects, and classic voice acting. The film also has some visual effects that stand out but doesn’t bother me as much as it normally does. Maybe because the film was not meant to be taken so seriously. Regardless, the visuals were not as much of a sore spot as normal. Overall, CarousH3LL is another enjoyable piece of cinema from a filmmaker that makes the type of films that he wants to watch himself. He doesn’t cave in to fads or trends which is refreshing as a genre fan. I highly recommend checking out this film along with its two predecessors especially if you want to see Jessa Flux in a threesome with a plastic rabbit.

Alien Planet

Director - Alan Maxson (Christmas with Cookie, Patina)

Starring - Alexandra Bokova (Figure it Out, Mermaid Down), Hunter C. Smith (Ike Boys, Naruto: Climbing Silver), and Naiia Lajoie (The Gingerweed Man, Skymed)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Sci-Fi/Action

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      As a millennial I grew up during the height of the video store age.  I didn't have a big box store near me but I did have two ma and pop video stores that I would frequent quite often.  While I was always open to snagging the newest big budget release that all my friends were going to be talking about in school the next day.  However, I couldn't skip on the direct to video horror and sci-fi titles that lined the shelves in Dewey's Video.  These moments is what shaped my taste in films and when a movie is sent over for review that reminds me of those films then I have to see them.  Several weeks back I was asked to review the sci-fi action film Alien Planet.  The trailer sold me on it and I greedily accepted the chance to check it out.  I'm glad I did because it was a lot of fun.

     The film follows two lizard like race of humanoids that have been at war with one another with generations.   The war has depleted their world's resources with water almost non-existent.  We follow a female who finds herself alone when her husband is killed by one of their rivals forcing her to find the last bit of water that she can while surviving the harsh climate of her planet and those that wish to kill her.

      I went into Alien Planet knowing nothing about it aside from what the trailer showed me. It’s not often I get a practical effects filled sci-fi adventure film and when I do I seriously find myself enthralled with them. Alien Planet didn’t really have the story that pulled me in like I would have liked but the effects, set pieces, location, and acting was enough to hold my attention. While it was far from perfect it was better than most of the other no budget sci-fi films I’ve reviewed in the past. The acting in this one is solid. I did struggle at times keeping the characters apart due to their similar prosthetics and make-up effects but once the film establishes itself I did find myself impressed by how great the cast was and how they were able to stay in character during what I could only assume were far from perfect filming conditions. I couldn’t imagine filming those action scenes in what looked like a hot and humid location with all that make-up. The cast was truly dedicated to the film and it shows. The story for this one didn’t really catch my imagination like it could have. In fact, I found myself wishing I was watching the 1985 sci-fi action flick Enemy Mine which followed a similar story where a group of waring humanoids have to work together to survive.  I grew up watching Enemy Mine and I loved that this indie sci-fi flick reminded me of that classic sci-fi flick.  With that being said, while the practical effects and make-up were a highlight of the film, the story is stretched a bit thin.  While I did enjoy what it brought viewers I did find it to be a bit too long and long winded.  Some of the run time should have been trimmed from this one to make it flow a little better.  Finally, the film is a showcase of practical effects and how far make-up effects can be pushed even on a budget.  We get some blood, a few deaths but the highlight of the film is the lizard-like humanoids that the film follows.  They look great and you can still see the actor's emotions underneath.  Overall, Alien Planet is not a ground breaking sci-fi flick but it is absolutely phenomenal considering the budget.  I highly recommend it.  

Renfield

Director - Chris McKay (The Lego Batman Movie, The Tomorrow War)

Starring - Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies, Mad Max: Fury Road), Nicolas Cage (Mandy, Ghost Rider), and Awkwafina (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Raya and the Last Dragon)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror/Comedy/Action/Crime

Tagline - "Sucks to be him"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Looking back at my childhood and teenage years I realize that I’ve always been a fan of Nicholas Cage. I loved the movies Con Air, Face Off, Once Bitten, Valley Girl, Raising Arizona, Gone in 60 Seconds among so many more. His career is legendary but what really stands out with his career is the films he’s worked on in the last decade or so. He has found a new wave of fans with his appearance in films like Mandy, Color Out of Space, Willy’s Wonderland, and the Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. I seriously love the new films of his and look forward to any new project he’s involved with. When I heard that he was cast as Dracula in a horror comedy from Universal I was fucking excited. I know many of my friends on social media were quick to dismiss the film and once again claim that Cage will agree to any role. While the latter may be true, I was beside myself with excitement. I couldn’t wait to check it out but would have to wait until a home release due to work and home life. I received the blu release of the film not too long ago and knew I had to watch it. I’ve now watched the film three times since I received it and I fucking love it. 

      The film follows former lawyer turned servant Renfield (Hoult) who has decided to take his life into his own hands and try for freedom after decades of serving Dracula. They have relocated to New Orleans where Renfield has been attending a support group for people in abusive relationships. He has been feeding the abusive partners to Dracula but along the way has used the group to help him get out on his own. He befriends a female police officer with a grudge for the local organized crime family that responsible for her father’s death. This leads Renfield to embrace leaving Dracula but once Dracula discovers his plans he sides with the crime family to seek revenge on Renfield for turning his back on him. 

      I’ve seen a lot of love for Renfield which is a good thing. I hope companies like Universal continue to take risks with horror properties and give fans something a little different than the same stories told over and over again but set in different decades. We could have got another Dracula by the numbers tale like the dozens of films before it. Instead, we get a unique hybrid of comedy and action that dips its toes in horror without becoming a traditional horror film. Honestly, I love it and I would love to see a shared universe with other Universal Monsters but the side characters are in the spotlight. Movies like Frankenstein but we follow Fritz or Wolfman with focus on Bela. It’s a fun concept that leaves us with endless possibilities without simply retelling the same story over and over. The acting in this is a lot of fun. I’m also a fan of Nicholas Hoult after watching him in Warm Bodies, Mad Max: Fury Road, Jack the Giant Slayer, and as Hank McCoy in several X-Men films. This is nowhere near my favorite performance from him but he was great. His character carries the film and it’s one that has similar traits to other characters he has brought to life in the past. With that being said, he really did commit to the role and the action scenes were a lot of fun and something I wouldn’t usually associate with his name. We also have great performances from Awkwafina and Ben Schwartz. I really liked the characters and how they fit into the film but it’s obvious that they were typecast just like Hoult was. With that being said, I was very disappointed by how little Cage was actually in the film. I know his character was taking the back seat in the story but I was hoping we would have a lot more of Cage as Dracula than what we actually got. The story for this one is, at it’s heart, an action comedy set against a classic gothic tale. Essentially, the film is a coming of age tale that took over 90 years for Renfield to come to terms with the life he has with Dracula. We then get some organized crime, a lot of comedy, and some horror moments that blends together very well. It does slow down at random times during the middle portion of the film but picks it up during the last leg. Finally, the film has some blood and gruesome deaths that feature a great deal of practical effects and some visuals. I also enjoyed the various stages of make-up effects on Cage. As the film progresses we see him healing from a near fatal attack from vampire slayers which was cool to see with each passing scene he was in. Overall, Renfield was way more enjoyable than it should have been. It’s goofy but its pulls you in. I highly recommend this one especially if you dig pop corn flicks. Check it out.

Murdercise

Director(s) - Angelica De Alba (Streets of Vengeance, Slashlorette Party) and Paul Ragsdale (Cince de Mayo, Slashlorette Party)

Starring - Kansas Bowling (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, B.C. Butcher), Nina Lanee Kent (Nite Time Creatures, Slashlorette Party), and Jessa Flux (Space Babes from Outer Space, Voorhees Night of the Beast)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "The deadlist aerobics video ever made"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Around 15 or 20 years ago we saw a big trend in indie cinema where filmmakers tried to capture the look and feel of horror films from yesteryear. Filmmakers tried to capture the tone and grittiness of classic exploitation films, the style and trends of the 80s horror, and the classic S.O.V. horror films of the 90s. Honestly, I’m all for filmmakers recapturing the look and feel of films I grew up with but for every film that does it successfully we have another handful who failed miserably. Several years ago I met filmmaker Paul Ragsdale who is one half of the filmmaker duo behind A and P Films. Paul had just released his slasher film Cinco de Mayo through Slasher//Video and added me on Facebook to discuss the release. I was lucky enough to review it and the rest has been history. He is one of my favorite indie filmmakers in the game along with his partner Angie. The pair has released some beautifully shot homages to 80s and 90s cinema while delivering some top notch horror for fans to ingest. Since Cinco de Mayo, they have been responsible for the indie horror hits Streets of Vengeance, Slashlorette Party, and their newest title Murdercise. Sometime back Paul reached out to review Murdercise and I quickly accepted the offer but work and family life stopped me from getting the review up in a timely manner. I want to apologize to Paul and Angie for the delay. 

      The film follows a movie producer who is filming an aerobics video with funds from someone deep in organized crime. He hires a group of beautiful young ladies who are using this shoot as a stepping stone to get their acting career off the ground. However, one of them in a true red blooded American who believes in Good, Regan, and fitness. When the producer is away she is left in control of the shoot but she doesn’t like the sleazy way the film is being shot with her idea of the film being more on fitness. Things take a bloody turn when she finds one of the actresses trying to fuck one of the film crew. She decides to take the morality of the shoot into her own hands and the bodies start piling up. 

      A and P Films has some pretty big shoes to fill after their Streets of Vengeance and Slashlorette Party releases. Both of those films are phenomenal indie films that have huge followings. I knew Murdercise was going to be another hit but I was not expecting to love it as much as I did. It’s easily one of their best films to date and they did one hell of a job at taking movie fans back to a time when the video store was a huge piece of our lives and scream queens were teaming with distribution companies to release various horror workouts. I loved this one and really look forward to their next film. The acting in this one is fantastic. We see some familiar faces with some A and P regulars along with some other indie genre favorites. We see another A and P collaboration with adult cinema star Ginger Lynn, Pool Party Massacre director Drew Marvick, and the gorgeous Nina Lanee Kent and Krystal Shay. Also appearing in the film is indie filmmaker and actress Kansas Bowling who has appeared in the films Psycho Ape, Tales from the Grave: The Movie and The Third Saturday in October Part V along with indie scream queen Jessa Flux who is known for films Shingles: The Movie, Debbie Does Demons. The Secret of Cuck Island and many more. This is a very enjoyable cast and the characters they brought to life made the film what it is. The story for this one is not a traditional slasher in a sense but does borrow heavily from the sub-genre. What we have is a loving tribute to direct to video horror and late night television with a good mix of memorable characters and murder. It works and is the kind of film genre fans can watch on repeat without getting tired of it. There is a few scenes that felt a little out of place or was maybe over my head but they do not take away from the overall film. Finally, the film has some fun deaths. The practical effects are nothing elaborate but they do fit the style of the film and story. We get a lot of blood but if you are looking for a gore soaked flick then you will be very disappointed. Overall, Murdercise is exactly what I was wanting. This movie made me miss shows like USA’s Up All Night and direct to video slashers. It’s a lot of fun and something I thing not only indie horror fans but pop horror fans will love. Check it out.

A Question of Silence

Director - Marleen Gorris (The L Word, The Last Island)

Starring - Edda Barends (The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank, Intensive Care), Nelly Fridja (Flodder, Flodder in America), and Henriette Tol (Flying Kicks, Intensive Care)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Drama/Crime

Tagline - "They have never met before... but they agree to kill together"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve spent the last week or two watching indie slashers and shorts for the site. These are the types of films that people have come to expect me to review and I love doing it. I love looking at all the hard work and passion come to life before my very eyes. It truly is exciting to spend this time watching something that someone has put so much time and heart into. Even if I don’t dig them all I still find it enjoyable to watch indie productions. I’ve also found myself more open to international films regardless of release year and budgets. It’s almost like an anthropological study with some of the older international films that I watch. I love seeing the style and culture of these films especially if they are from bygone years or decades. Recently, Cult Epics has been dipping their toes into international waters. They’ve sent over a handful of films recently from the 60s through the 80s from all over the world with their latest effort being the Dutch mystery drama A Question of Silence. 

      The film follows three women from various backgrounds and social standings who find themselves in a retail store at the same time. They have never met each other before and have no connection to one another. However, when one of them is accused of stealing the other two surround the shop keeper and the three brutally murder him while other women watch in excitement. A psychiatrist studies the three and determines that they are not insane but releasing pent up anger from living in a male dominated society. 

      A Question of Silence was controversial when it was released due to it’s subject matter. Men with little dick energy found themselves playing the victim in this film as women came together to make a stand against the way they were expected to be treated. A drama from 1982 was showing the world how women were treated as the "inferior" gender and some accused the film of telling women to take up arms against the males. Controversial or not, A Question of Silence is a fantastic film with a story that is considered a feminist classic from a director that has contributed greatly to the feminist movement. The acting in this one is great. I’m not familiar with the cast at all but I loved the personality and chemistry with each other. The cast does a phenomenal job in their roles and really do an amazing job bringing the characters to life. The story for this one is intriguing and works but I can see why some men in the early 80s lost their fucking minds seeing a film depicting women rising up and taking control of their lives. Even to this day women all over the world are being oppressed and forced to believe that they are inferior. I really liked the mystery angle that this drama uses but it’s a no brainer as to why the murder takes place especially once you get the peak at the lives of the three ladies before the murder was committed. It’s a brilliant film that could be redone today and still have the same impact. Finally, this film is not the bloody mess most of us horror fans are looking for. It’s story driven with just one death that we don’t get to fully enjoy. Overall, A Question of Silence is a powerful piece of feminist cinema that anyone can truly enjoy especially if you don’t have your head up your ass. It’s a well done film that does shed light on what its like for women even in today’s world. I highly recommend this release from Cult Epics.

Grandma

Director(s) - Bobby Canipe Jr. (Karate Ghost, Mom n' Pop: The Indie Video Store Boom of the 80s/90s) and Dustin Ferguson (Stale Popcorn and Sticky Floors, Cocaine Cougar)

Starring - Michelle Bauer (Demonwarp, Beverly Hills Vamp), Brinke Stevens (Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity, Beyond the Gates of Hell), and Angel Nichole Bradford (Debbie Does Demons, Mothman)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Slashers have always bee a favorite of mine. While I was introduced to horror with Tom Savini’s remake of Night of the Living Dead I found myself truly obsessed with slashers. I never really fell into the slasher craze of the 90s following the successful release of Scream and the various clones trying to cash in on the film’s success. However, 80s slashers and the indie no budget slashers of the 00s and 2010s were my bread and butter. I couldn’t get enough of these and this is something that is still with me. While I do indulge in the random 80s slasher, I still find myself obsessed with indie slashers. I will go out of my way to add them to my collection and when I see one pop up in various horror groups I immediately look into it. Sometime back filmmaker Bobby Canipe Jr. was sharing news on his S.O.V. inspired slasher Grandma. I jumped into his Facebook messages and requested a review link which he was kind enough to send over. I want to thank Bobby for sending it over for review. 

      The film follows a young woman who finds herself inheriting some money which she uses to purchase an old bed and breakfast out in the country. She takes a few friends with her to clean up the place before opening it up but is unaware of the local legend about the original owner. She was a little old lady that a lot of the locals called Grandma and her food was well known among locals. However, what made her meals so special was that she was killing tourists that were staying in her bed and breakfast to feed to her patrons. Now, the murders start again after this group of twenty-somethings open the doors for the first time in decades. 

      Grandma is not one of those films that tries to capture the look and feel of 80s slashers. That has been a big trend the last decade or so and I understand the logic behind it all. Movie fans grew up on these films and want to contribute to them. However, they rarely pull it off. Instead, Grandma tries to take the viewer back to a time when shot on video horror was in it’s prime. Slashers were shot for next to nothing and found their way into video stores or fell into obscurity to be found decades later when relatives were cleaning out their deceased loved one’s belonging. Grandma does an exceptional job at taking viewers back to this time while delivering a well rounded no budget slasher. Honestly, I enjoyed it and it’s one of my favorite indie films of the year. The acting in this one is very well done. It’s better than most of the original S.O.V. era films that I’ve seen and I really enjoyed the casting. The characters are fairly generic but the cast does a fantastic job at bringing them to life in front of the camera. With that being said, there is room for improvement. I don’t mean that negatively because I really liked the cast but some scenes were a bit awkward at times. The dialogue during these few scenes just didn’t feel right and fell flat. The story for this one has elements of the classic slashers we all love but does have that cheesy spin that made S.O.V. so appealing to many of us indie fans. We have the victims getting picked off one by one, a masked killer with a local legend, and deaths fitting to the film. I really enjoyed this but I would like a follow up film connecting the killer to the legend of Grandma or more of a backstory as to why he does what he does. Finally, the film has plenty of blood and some cheap effects here and there. I really liked the style of deaths we get and how they pay tribute to other slashers. However, the effects do show the film’s budget. Personally, I liked them but pop horror fans may not appreciate them as much as I do. Overall, Grandma is aimed for a specific group of horror fans and I think it finds it’s mark. It’s not only a loving tribute to S.O.V. horror but a great entry in the slasher sub-genre. I highly recommend it.