Director - Alexander McGregor Birrell (Braincell, Sleepaway Slasher)
Starring - Joshua Tonks (The Society, What's Left Inside), Jay Clift (The Bleeding Edge, Supergirl), and William Tippery
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Inspiration can be deadly"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I’ve learned over the years that my reviews are going to be scrutinized no matter what I saw about the film or television show that I’m reviewing. That doesn’t stop me from writing what I want to write but I do prepare myself mentally for the dumbasses to pile out of whatever hole they have been living in so they can comment bullshit that I never take the time to read. Several years ago I was introduced to the fantastic film Fags in the Fast Lane. This was my introduction to queer cinema which is something I never really thought about. I fucking loved everything about this film and I’ve watched several queer films since then. While I am a straight man and understand that I am not their target audience, I still enjoy horror and exploitation regardless of sexuality. A few weeks back Cinephobia Releasing. I watched the trailer and couldn’t wait to see it. In fact, I tried to sneak it into my October horror binge but time didn’t allow it. Regardless, I want to thank Cinephobia Releasing for sending it over!
The film follows an author who leaves his boyfriend behind to travel to an isolated cabin for a few days so he could write without distractions. However, a stranger finds his way into the cabin where things heat up and turn deadly.
I went into this one excited to check it out. The trailer and synopsis really painted a vivid picture which really pulled me in. Some of the best horror films follows a struggling author who is trying to find inspiration away from the mundane. Sadly, The Latent Image delivers a predictable and extremely cliched story with a gay twist. It had so much potential to be something that stands out. Instead, it went down the road that is very traveled. The acting in this one is very well done. The cast is very small but everyone is fully dedicated to their roles. While the characters are a bit one dimensional and cliched, the cast did the best with what they were given and deliver some solid performances. The story for this one has so much potential but goes with a story that has been told numerous times before. Over the years the setting of an author secluded in the woods when something strange happens and, as a direct result, inspires the author’s next story. It’s not that original even with the queer spin to it. I like that it was added to the story to give queer cinema more of a voice but the film itself was predictable and dull. Finally, if you want some blood and gore then you will be very disappointed. The film does lack this. It’s a character piece that focuses more on the situation than the blood. Overall, The Latent Image has an interested premise but fails deliver something not predictable or cliched. I hate to say it but this is one I would skip.
Director - Adrian Garcia Bogliano (Night of the Wolf, La Exorcista)
Starring - Christina Lindberg (Pandemonic, Outrage), Felice Jankell (The Bunker Game, Follow), Ericas Midfjall (Jag Saknar Dig, Oppna Inte Ogonen)
Release Date - 2018
Genre - Horror
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
Several weeks before I began my October horror binge I started working on my movie list. I wanted horror movies I had never seen before that I could watch and review. It was around this time that I received the blu release of Black Circle from my friends over at Synapse Films. This 2018 Swedish horror film really peaked my interest so I decided to work it into my schedule for the month. Sadly, after about 30 minutes into the film the disc I had stopped working. I was already invested in it so I snagged a copy from Amazon. While I couldn’t finish it during my October horror binge I was still able to actually finish it. I want to thank Synapse for sending this one over for review. I really enjoyed it!
The film follows two sisters who finds an old record from the 70s that was meant to provide self-help for the listener. However, the album creates doppelgangers of the listener and after each listen it becomes more and more powerful. Over time the doppelgangers replace the original and live out their lives. The two turn to the woman who created the album for help and to stop them from being replaced by their doubles.
Black Circle is one of those films that is predictable yet you find yourself enjoying it. The film has beautiful cinematography and extremely likable characters which carries the story further than it has any right to be. While I want to love the film I find myself picking apart the story and some of the slower scenes. It’s a fun first time watch but it isn’t without it’s own faults. I liked the acting in this one. The characters are very well written which gives the cast a lot to work with. Their interactions are very genuine and they interact very well with each other. While I would have enjoyed it a little more if some characters had personalities that would stick with the viewer. The story for this one is one of those films that tries to confuse the viewer with characters getting replaced by clones/doppelgangers/doubles. However, it’s not confusing if you actually pay attention and it works. I loved the self help album from the 70s creating doppelgangers. However, the film takes this solid story and stretches it a little too thin. Some of the scenes in the middle of the film does feel a bit dry. If some of these scenes were trimmed down the film’s pacing would improve drastically. Finally, the film is not as violent as I was expecting. There is a little blood and some minor effects but nothing that will stand out to the viewer especially if you are an avid genre fan. Overall, Black Circle is an enjoyable first time watch but there is some aspects that could be tweaked to improve it. Check it out now on blu from Synapse Films.
Director - Johnna Hodge (Reunion from Hell, Taste of Revenge) and Sam Hodge (Twelve Pole, Undead Fred)
Starring - Johnna Hodge, Ashley Stinnett (Dawson's Creek, Snapped), and Sara Stinnett (Before Daybreak, 1861)
Release Date - 2023
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Will Autumn Blacksmith kill every man around her?"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out or 5):
Many years ago now I befriended West Virginia filmmaker Sam Hodge on social media when he was promoting his feature film Twelve Pole. I find it impressive when any West Virginia native doesn’t turn to drugs and finds a creative outlet to express themselves. I find it even more impressive when they turn to something like filmmaking as a way to channel that. I watched and reviewed the film and several of his short films since then as well. I’m a fan of his work and look forward to anything he is attached to. I was truly excited when he announced his newest film Redhead starring his lovely bride Johnna who also co-directed. He was approaching this project much differently than his other projects so I knew it was something that really meant a lot to the both of them. Over time they released images and clips of the film and it looked like a beautiful tribute to rape revenge type films like Thriller: A Cruel Picture and I Spit On Your Grave. I followed the project and talked with Sam several times about reviewing it and that glorious day finally arrived. He reached out to me to review it and I couldn’t fucking wait. I want to thank Sam and Johnna for remembering me when looking for reviewers for the film.
The film follows Autumn (Johnna Hodge) who is finds herself beaten and abused by a man in his pleasure dungeon. After the man kills her husband she is able to escape but the mental strain the ordeal has pushed her over the edge. Now Autumn has a score to settle against the opposite sex and she takes every chance she can get to cut the opposite gender down to size.
Redhead takes me back to the golden age of video with the video nasties and other graphic films that featured serious depravity. I know I was watching this with the goofiest smile spread across my face. There was so much blood and some genuinely impressive practical effects. While I do think the characters and overall story could have used a little more attention I still absolutely loved this slice of cinematic madness. The acting in this one is fairly well done. I always try to put myself in the scene when I’m watching an indie production. I know a lot goes into the film and a lack of budget brings about so many issues which is one of the many reasons indie productions utilize friends, family, amateur talent, and so on. Redhead is no exception. We do have several cast members with some credits under their names but not everyone has acting experience. That doesn’t stop them from delivering some solid performances. Johnna Hodge is fantastic as Autumn. Her imdb page shows that she stepped in front of the camera for the first time in 2019 which is mind blowing to me. She is extremely comfortable in front of the camera and makes the film what it is. Honestly, I don’t the film would have worked if the role of Autumn was cast to someone different. The supporting cast does a fairly solid job but a few scenes are a bit awkward to watch. The dialogue is very forced and doesn’t feel genuine in these scenes which does throw the pacing of the film off. It doesn’t ruin the film but inexperience does rear its ugly head. The story for this one took me back to when I watched the notorious rape revenge films of the late 70s and early 80s. We follow a woman who has her husband taken from her violently and then forced to watch other meet their end at the hands of a sadistic man. The trauma is too much to bare so she starts taking out her anger and frustration on men. Honestly, it’s such a beautiful and simple story for a film that wants nothing more than to be mean spirited. It doesn’t take long to get to the blood and the movie is quick to move from death scene to death scene. With that being said, I really do wish some of the characters had a little more development. This included the titular character as well. We follow her through so much but we really don’t know shit about her. A little more look into her life before and after the incident would really bridge the gap between the film and the viewer. Finally, the film is violent and extremely bloody. We get some seriously impressive effects, some vomit inducing gags, and one scene in particular that I had to rewind multiple times to enjoy just how craft it was. These effects are top notch especially when you consider the film’s budget. Overall, Redhead took me back to when movies were violent and the women were bad ass. This is the kind of film that suburban housewives warn parents about. I cannot recommend this film enough. It’s a must see.
Starring - Augustine Frizzell (Euphoria, I Was a Teenage Girl), Carl Bailey (Final Summer, The Stalker Part II), and J.D. Brown (Cross Bearer, The Cemetery)
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Home is where he lays your head"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I started planning for my October horror binge several months ago to make sure I had at least one new movie to watch each day in October. While I was looking through hashtags on Instagram I came across several posts for the indie slasher The Hoot Owl. The artwork and title really pulled me in but I couldn’t find a place to snag a copy. After some digging I was able to track down the filmmaker and I reached out to him. After some talking he offered to send over a copy for review. I’ve had it for a month or so but held off on watching it until this month so it would be apart of my month long binge. I want to thank Jason Von Godi for sending this one over because I had a lot of fun with it.
The film follows a young couple who bought an old fixer upper online without seeing it. The pair is looking for a new start after a miscarriage and invite over some friends to help clean and repair the home. What his wife doesn’t know is that the house was once the site of a grisly murder and a pair of children went missing just a few weeks prior. Now, as the group attempts to party and fix the place off they are unknowingly being picked off one by one by something, or someone, that has been living in the back of one of the barns on the property.
I went into this one really excited after seeing the trailer and staring at the artwork for a few weeks. I had high hopes for the film and it thoroughly enjoyed it. I posted about it on social media and had some discussions with other genre friends about the film, the baby scene, and the state of modern indie horror. Honestly, I was under the impression that those that had seen it did enjoy it after my Facebook posts. Sadly, that was not the case. While preparing for this review I discovered that the film was available on Tubi and many have went to sites like imdb and review bombed it. While I’m sure not all of the negative reviews were done by trolls, I can only assume that a majority of them were done by people with a lot of time on their hands because the film was very enjoyable. The acting in this one is great. I absolutely loved the characters the film gives us and the cast does a great job with it. They all feel very natural in front of the camera and their dialogue delivery works very well for the film. While there was a few scenes that seems a little awkward with mindless banter and casual conversation, the cast delivers fantastic performances. The story for this one is not that original but it’s enjoyable. They go into this one with a story in mind and delivered on it. They didn’t reinvent the wheel or try to spawn the next horror franchise. Instead, they made a movie that’s enjoyable for genre fans which I think they achieved. The movie is a little one sided with most of the film used to establish the characters, their backstories, and the history of the home before we get to the horror. Typically this would be a huge turn off for me but the characters are likable, the performances work, and the writing is done so well that you find yourself pulled in. These scenes could be trimmed down to work with the pacing but I didn’t mind them the way there were. My biggest complaint is how the killers identity is never fully revealed aside from a few parts about the story of the home that was told earlier in the film. Slashers are known for their iconic killers with memorable back stories and this one seems to have every aspect of the film wrote out except the killer. Finally, the film has a lot of blood and some gruesome practical effects. The kills fit the film and the effects look great but I was expecting more gore. Overall, The Hoot Owl is a very well done slasher that delivers on the blood. The character development and backstory is very well written but the killers need more work. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.
Director - Sebastien Godin (Ouija Mummy, Blood Rites of the Vampyr)
Starring - Anthony D.P. Mann (Phantom of the Opera, Terror of Dracula), Vicki Bitis (DinoGore, Poisonous Dreams), and Melissa Radford (Bug-Eyed Monsters Invade the Earth!, Once a Millenuim)
Release Date - 2021
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Stitch by stitch... he created a nightmare"
Format - Streaming (YouTube)
Rating (out of 5):
Several years back I befriended indie filmmaker Seb Godin on social media and began following his career. Around the time I met him he was releasing a few of his project on DVD and I snagged them for review. I loved his fondness for messy practical effects and horror films of the 80s and 90s along with the amazing titles like DinoGore, Lycanimator, and Slimoids. A few years back Godin began work on another film. The film, The Abominations of Frankenstein, looked like another enjoyable film. I followed it for sometime but things got away from me and I missed the release of the film and any news they shared about it. Over time I forgot about the film and never followed up with it until I saw that Seb had posted a link to their YouTube channel where several of their films were streaming for free until Halloween. I really wanted to see it so I worked it into my annual October horror binge. I want to thank Seb for allowing genre fans the opportunity to see his work for free during the Halloween season!
The film follows the great Dr. Frankenstein who is once again working on another patchwork creation in Canada. After prolonging his life for centuries and working in secret, he has created artificial life.
The Abominations of Frankenstein is nothing like the previous films that I mentioned from Godin. While a lot of their other films felt like direct to video horror films of the 80s and 90s, their most recent films feel like a loving tribute to the classic Hammer horror films of the 60s and 70s meets arthouse. Blood Rites of the Vampyr had that fantastic European vampire charm that was popular in the mid to late 60s while The Abominations of Frankenstein felt like the mid-80s Full Moon Entertainment films that I grew up loving. Regardless of the inspiration, I loved the film. The acting in this one is seriously unbelievable. The film’s lead, Anthony D.P. Man, is fucking brilliant as the great doctor. He delivers one of the best performances I’ve seen in recent years and one that I’m still thinking about days after watching it. The supporting cast does a solid job but this is one film where one cast member outshines the rest. The story for this one is pretty straight forward. We have a beautiful rendition of Frankenstein and his obsession with creating life. We then have an assortment of characters make appearance but they are not as colorfully written before we meet the “monster” that is not really a monster at all. It does stay faithful in that extent but does add a more modern look into the tale while Godin adds his on spin to it. Finally, this is not a bloody or violent film like some of Godin’s other works. It’s a character driven piece that does a damn good job at holding the viewer’s attention. Overall, The Abomination of Frankenstein may not be for everyone but for those that have read the classic tale from Mary Shelley can really appreciate what Godin and company brought to life. I highly recommend it.
Director - Ray Kellogg (The Giant Gila Monster, The Green Berets)
Starring - James Best (Return of the Killer Shrews, In the Heat of the Night), Ingrid Goude (Flight, Wild Heritage), and Ken Curtis (Airwolf, Perry Mason)
Release Date - 1959
Genre - Horror/Sci-fi
Tagline - "all that was left after..."
Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I love campy horror films. I love cheese on my food and my movies are no different. I was excited when Film Masters sent over the UHD release of The Giant Gila Monster. I couldn’t wait to revisit this one and reminisce about watching this old movies with my dad and grandmother. However, I was surprised to see a second film on the release that I had never seen before. Included in the release was 1959’s The Killer Shrews. This is a movie I thought I had seen before and but couldn’t recall a damn thing about it. This only made me even more excited to see it but once I hit play I quickly realized this was a first time watch for me. I want to thank Film Masters for sending over this lovely release.
The film follows a ship captain that stops on an isolated island to drop off supplies when news of a hurricane reaches him. He ventures onto the island to meet a team of scientists and other crew who are working on an experiment to reduce the size of humans to prevent the eradication of resources. They are conducting the experiments on shrews due to their quick rate of reproducing but they accidentally create a mutation that makes the shrews the size of dogs with a taste for human flesh. As the hurricane makes it way to them they must barricade themselves indoors and fight off the ongoing horde of killer shrews.
I fucking loved The Killer Shrews way more than I should have. I know it’s another film that often gets mocked and riffed by shows like MST3000 but I enjoyed it a lot. In fact, I watched it twice in just as many days. It’s a lot of fucking fun even though it is extremely cheesy. The acting in this one is not as bad as I was expecting. In fact, I actually liked the characters and how the cast depicted them. While several characters are painfully cliched and modeled after other films featuring science gone too far, I still found myself enjoying their performances. The outlandish characters and situations really does fit the campy nature of the film. The story for this one is so predictable but it’s not the destination that is so enjoyable here. Instead, it’s the journey and the situations these survivors find themselves in is so fucking funny and outlandish. Viewer’s can’t help but smile he entire time the film is on and at just roughly over an hour you will not be out that much of your time. Finally, the film is not a bloody one. We get dogs in shrew costumes and gimmicky deaths but that is the extent of it. Viewers need to remember that this is a no budget horror film with more focus on the shrews than anything else. Overall, The Killer Shrews is a fantastic no budget treat from the golden age of drive-in cinema. It’s cheap but it works. I know genre fans will be quick to jump in the comments and bash the review but I fucking loved it. I highly recommend it.
Director - Ray Kellogg (The Killer Shrews, The Monroes)
Starring - Don Sullivan (Curse of the Undead, Teenage Zombies), Fred Graham (The Crimson Ghost, Thriller), and Lisa Simone (The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse, Missile to the Moon)
Release Date - 1959
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Only Hell could breed such an enormous beast... only god could destroy it"
Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
While I was born in the late 80s and survived the 90s, I lived in the household with an older dad that had an eye for classic cinema. He was constantly watching films from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Like many of us, he was trying to revisit his childhood and the fond memories he had watching these films with his friends and families. I was introduced to a lot of films from this time. Most were westerns but I was lucky enough to watch a few sci-fi and horror titles with him. One weekend I remember watching the original Giant Gila Monster from 1959 along with a few horror and sci-fi films from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. I credit this with my love for drive-in era schlock. A few weeks back I received the UHD release of The Giant Gila Monster for review and was extremely excited to revisit it. I want to thank Film Masters for sending this one over for review.
The film follows a mechanic who is working with the police collecting wrecks and abandoned cars. When some friends go missing he partners with the sheriff to find them. His search leads him to another wrecked car and signs of something big visiting the area. He soon realizes that a giant lizard is attacking cars and eating the people. No one believes him but once it starts making it’s way to town they realize he was right and they are all in danger.
I love cheesy and campy films so I often gravitate towards these low budget films of the drive-in era spanning from the 50s through the 70s. These movies are often mocked and riffed on by genre fans but I enjoy them. The cheesier the better in my opinion and these type of films are the cheesiest. The Giant Gila Monster is far from perfect but I absolutely love it. The acting in this one is so campy. The cast is over dramatic and their timing is so wrong. They talk over each other, look at the camera, and offer up very little emotional range but I fucking love it. When you add that to the generic characters and stiff acting you get something that is unintentionally funny which adds another layer of fun to the film. The story for this one is a bit repetitive and extremely goofy but fans of drive-in cinema know exactly what to expect. The film is extremely low budget and I would almost bet that the film was being written as they filmed. The characters have very little depth aside from the protagonist and the story is predictable. What makes it so enjoyable is the bearded dragon that is being passed as a gila monster and the miniature sets. Finally, this is not a bloody film. We get lots of wrecked vehicles, footage of a bearded dragon crawling around, and questionable acting to hold our attention. Overall, The Giant Gila Monster is a campy film that is easy to mock but I find it rather enjoyable. Fans of campy cinema will want to check out this UHD release from Film Masters. It looks beautiful which is something this underrated classic needed.
Director - Steve Miner (House, Friday the 13th Part 2)
Starring - Jamie Lee Curtis (The Fog, Halloween), Josh Hartnett (The Faculty, 30 Days of Night), and Adam Arkin (Full Moon High, The Twilight Zone)
Release Date - 1998
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "This summer, terror won't be taking a vacation"
Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
When I was a kid I spent a lot of time with my grandmother while my dad was out of town for work. I liked staying with her because I had an uncle that was just a few years older than me so we played video games or watched movies together. My grandma was a movie fan as well so we would watch a lot of television shows that she liked like Red Dwarf, Lexx, Doctor Who, and so on. When we wasn’t watching television shows we would be watching movies that I had rented or the random movies that aired on cable. This was the first time that I had seen John Carpenter’s Halloween. This is a franchise that I believe has been played out but I’m still a huge fan of the films. Well, I love all the films besides the new Halloween Trilogy. Most fans of the franchise despise certain installments but I have a soft spot for almost all of them. One that catches a lot of hate is 1998’s H20. I can somewhat see why people are quick to hate it but I love it. I love the casting, the location, the direction the story took, and how it ends. I’ve defended this film for years and I will continue to do so every October. A few weeks ago I received a press release for the UHD steelbook release of the film. I try to watch this franchise every October but this release actually gave me a reason to check it out. I want to thank Paramount for sending over this beautiful steelbook for review.
The film picks up 20 years after the first film with Laurie (Curtis) adopting a new name in hopes of putting her past behind her. She is now the headmaster of a private school and has a 17 year old son. With Halloween approaching she is on edge but her son fails to understand the nightmare that she lived through all those years ago. Now, her worst nightmare is emerging as Halloween quickly approaches when Michael Myers escapes and starts making his way to her and her son who is the same age as she was when he first attacked.
MY opinions on films often draw criticism and I’m completely fine with that. I like what I like and a lot of time that goes against the collective. I love all the Halloween entries with the exception of the Blumhouse produced films. I prefer Rob Zombie’s Halloween to the original but I still love Carpenter's take. I think Season of the Witch is the best film in the series and the Danielle Harris saga is fantastic. While Resurrection is the weakest of the franchise I still prefer it over the Blumhouse trilogy. H20 draws a lot of hate from franchise fans but I have so much fun with it. The acting in this one is very campy but I love the characters and the late-90s characters. I always found it vaccinating that Jamie Lee Curtis is portraying the same person as the first film but with 20 years between the two films has hardened her character. Her character has grown a lot and she is still amazing in the role. I was a fan of Josh Hartnett in the late 90s and while I do prefer The Faculty to this film I still enjoy H20. His performance is far from award winning but it’s his hamming up each scene that makes it what it is. It reminds me a lot of the male characters in Scream and the sequels. I also liked the supporting cast. The performances are just as cheesy but if anyone watches the original Halloween and can say with a straight face that they are not just as cheesy is lying to you and themselves. The story for this one is extremely realistic when you consider what it is. The film is not overflowing with Halloween imagery and that’s because the headmaster of the private school survived a massacre on Halloween and associates the holiday with the bloodshed. Once you realize that you start to see other aspects that are a repercussions of the first film. We get the same silent and stealthy kills that Myers is known for, characters that are very well written and support the story, and the deaths are very memorable. Finally, the kills we get in this one use solid practical effects and camera tricks. The ice skate to the face is one of my favorite slasher kills. With that being said, I’m not a fan of the deaths taking place off screen. I want to see them so I can truly enjoy the characters demise and the amazing effects that go into making them look real. Overall, Halloween: H20 is not as bad as people claim it to be. It’s a very well thought out sequel with a great cast and some decent deaths. I highly enjoy it and the UHD release looks absolutely fantastic. Fans and collectors alike will need this one.
Director - Jay Burleson (The Nobodies, The Third Saturday in October)
Starring - Kansas Bowling (Murdercise, Psycho Ape), Poppy Cunningham (Cherry, The Death of Dick Long), and Taylor Smith (Angels on Earth: The Light of Faith)
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "He's back. Again! Just like the other times"
Format - Streaming (Tubi)
Rating (out of 5):
When I started my October horror binge I was excited to check out the two new films from Jay Burleson. I’m a fan of his film The Nobodies and when I heard that he had made two films back to back titled The Third Saturday in October and The Third Saturday in October Part V I knew I had to see them. I wasn’t able to check them out when they were released but I knew I would be able to work them into my month long movie binge. I just finished watching the first one and while I loved the late 70s look and eye for detail, I found the overall film to be a slow burner with the last 20 minutes or so being the film’s saving grace. I decided to go ahead and watch Part V so to say that I gave them both a fair chance and I fucking loved it. I don’t see myself revisiting the first film but IV was so fucking good.
The film follows the convicted serial killer that survived his own execution who returns to the town he left bloody seven years earlier to wreak havoc on them once again. This time he just happens to arrive while a group of twenty-somethings are preparing for the big Third Saturday in October game.
Director - Jay Burleson (The Nobodies, Feast of the Vampires)
Starring - Darius Willis (The Dead Center, Music City Paranormal), K.J. Baker (The Reaper Man, Queen Rising), and Allison Shrum (Painted in Blood, American Hunt)
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "You wont live to see Sunday morning"
Format - Streaming (Tubi)
Rating (out of 5):
Several years ago I was attending my favorite convention, Cinema Wasteland in Ohio. I was doing my usual rounds around the convention floor talking with familiar faces and meeting new friends when I made a stop at the Troma table. It was here that I met filmmaker Jay Burleson and actor Bart Hyatt. They were at the con working with Troma for the release of their film The Nobodies. I talked with them for awhile and took a copy of it home to review. The film seriously impressed me and I’ve recommended it in several groups when discussion of Troma pops up. Fast forward a few years and Jay announces on social media that he is working on a new film with Bart appearing in it alongside Kansas Bowling. It seems like the posts from Jay started to become less and less until I stopped seeing them. That’s when he hit us with the news that not only did he finish one feature film but he was able to make two. Both films are tied together with one being a classic slasher and the other being the 3rd sequel released sometime later. I loved the idea and wanted to check them out but my day job and reviewing for the site got the best of my time. However, with October in full swing I decided to work both films into my October horror binge since they were streaming on Tubi. I, obviously, started with the first film, The Third Saturday in October.
The film follows the botched execution of a convicted serial killer who escapes his burial. He makes his way to a nearby home who is preparing for the annual Third Saturday in October rivalry game. As the group party and watch the game, their eventual killer makes his way through the home killing one by one.
