Vampires and Other Stereotypes

Director - Kevin J. Lindenmuth (Rage of the Werewolf, Monstersdotcom)

Starring - Bill White (Heartwood), Ed Hubbard (Kissing Cousins Monster Babies and Morphing Elvis, The History of Everything Circa 1993), and Wendy Bednarz (There's Nothing Out There)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Vampirism... don't believe the hype"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a fan of Wild Eye Releasing for damn near a decade now. I love the indie releases they put out on DVD. They get films that would normally be looked over by genre fans out there for people to discover. I'm a huge champion of indie cinema and love the indie releases they put out. Hell, even if I don't like the film I still have fun watching it. When Wild Eye announced the creation of their sister label Visual Vengeance, I thought they would be focusing on new indie horror titles like their Wild Eye line. I was wrong. What Visual Vengeance did was something I had hoped other boutique labels would do and bring us low quality indie horror films from the late 80s through early 2000s to bluray. While companies like Vinegar Syndrome do this with films from the video store era and before, VV delivers movies that these types of labels would often skip over due to the films being too goofy, amateurish, and far from perfect. I recently was sent their release of Vampires and Other Stereotypes for review and couldn't wait to dig into it. I want to thank Wild Eye and Visual Vengeance for sending this one over! 

      The film follows a man and his partner that fight supernatural creatures, so they don't wreak havoc on mankind. During a routine mission they find a man being held captive in an abandoned building. They save him but decide to interrogate him when they are interrupted by a man who brought three women there to party. The man is actually a demon and brought the women there to breed and when they crossed over into the building it was taken to hell forcing everyone inside to fight for their lives or die gruesome deaths at the hands and claws of hell spawn. 

      Vampires and Other Stereotypes is a film I was not familiar with prior to this release but the artwork fucking sold me on it. The movie itself is a bit of a low-quality film with not a lot of opportunity to restore it. Visual Vengeance did a great job with the film but the video is not the best quality. I can only assume they did the best with what they had and I'm grateful for it. The film was a lot of fun especially if you are a fan of shows like Kolchak: The Night Stalker and The X-Files. The acting in this one is inconsistent. Some of the cast delivers solid performances but the rest of the cast is extremely stiff and awkward to watch. Their dialogue delivery feels forced and they don't get into character like the rest of the cast. It's not the worst I've seen but some scenes were a little difficult to finish. The story for this one is very bold for a no budget S.O.V. horror flick but I loved it. A secret group of people fighting things that go bump in the night while the world's population is oblivious to the fact has always intrigued me. I also loved how the film is completely locked in this one location yet was able to progress the story. That is brilliant writing with budget in mind. I also loved the back story they established with hell, the demons, and how the building was taken to hell. We get something very different than what you would expect in hell from a Christian standpoint. With that being said, some of the scenes are a bit too long. Some trimming would go a long way. Finally, the film has a lot of fun practical effects. The wall of heads that is reminiscent of Coffin Joe was awesome to see along with the great make-up effects. We also get some fun deaths that are bloody with decent enough practical effects. The film clearly had a low budget, but the effects still find their mark. Overall, Vampires and Other Stereotypes was an awesome early 90s S.O.V. horror flick. The title does kind of suck but the film is well worth your time. Be sure to grab the blu from Visual Vengeance!

He Knows

Director - Steven Morris

Starring - Kayla Kelly (Straight Edge Kegger, The Devil's Left Hand), Zach Meiser (American Horror Story, A Haunting), and Lynn Lowry (Shivers, The Crazies)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "He knows when you've been good or bad, so be good for your own sake!"

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

      I hate how slow I am to review movies but with a day job and three kids I rarely find time to work in movies to watch and review like I used to. I can still knock out one movie a day but that doesn't do much to cut down on the stack of movies sitting beside my television and the dozen or so links waiting patiently in my email. Which is why I'm just now getting around to watching and reviewing a Christmas slasher sent to me from before October. At the end of September, I made a post looking for indie horror flicks to watch and review and was slammed with responses. I loved the amount of people that were kind enough to send over their films to review but I was a bit overwhelmed. One of those films was He Knows which was recently added to Tubi to stream for free. I wasn't able to watch it then, but I was able to finally check it out after watching Dave Kerr's Go Away. I want to thank director Steven Morris for letting me know his film was on Tubi to check out. 

      The film follows a mother and her daughter as Christmas approaches. She tells her daughter the story about an evil elf names Sammy that abducts those that are naughty and takes them back to work in his shop. The story she tells her is inspired by an incident during her childhood when her father was murdered, and her half-brother was abducted by a man in an elf mask. Now she is a mother with a daughter of her own when the murders start again. 

      I knew He Knows as a holiday slasher going into it, but I didn't want to wait the rest of the year to watch it during the Christmas season. With that being said, while it does take place during Christmas, it doesn't really feel like a Christmas horror film. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the hell out of it but it falls short as a Christmas slasher. The acting in this one is solid but there was plenty of room to grow. We have a supporting role from the legendary Lynn Lowry and a small role from Jessa Flux but the remainder of the cast was fairly new to me. I liked the cast and will look further into their work but there were a few scenes where the acting was inconsistent. It's clear that a good bit of the cast has little to no experience in front of the camera, but their inexperience doesn't make the film horrible. I love watching actors grow from film to film. The story for this one gets a little messy near the end but I enjoyed the ride for the most part. I loved the family dynamic of the protagonist, the drug dealer and his stoner entourage, and the entire set up of the film. However, like I stated earlier, the film did not feel like a Christmas film. My favorite slashers happen to be set around Christmas, so I am always open to any horror film set around this time of year. He Knows just didn't look the part. The story could have been set at any other time during the year or holiday with some clever writing and it would have worked. If you take away the Christmas aspect of the film, you are given a slasher that does work until the the last leg of the film. The slow buildup of the story with the cycle of everyone dying one by one is a lot of fun. The ending is more complicated than it needed to be, but I understand the urge to set your film out from other no budget slashers. Finally, the film has some clever deaths that film the characters. The effects work for the scene with one kill really standing out. I would have liked to see more gore but you can't do what you don't have the budget for. Overall, He Knows is a fun indie slasher that has some room for improvement. While I don't see myself adding this one to my December viewing list, I can see myself revisiting this one from time to time. Fans of slashers and indie horror can appreciate this one. Check it out. 

The Box

Director - Andrew Gibbs (Midnight Snack, Come Up Here)

Starring - Catherine Gibbs (Witch, Come Up Here)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few days ago, I started watching and reviewing several micro-budget horror films from Dark House Pictures and director Andew Gibbs. So far, I had watched and reviewed Witch, Midnight Snack, and Come Up Here. That left just one to check out which is The Box. It looks like this was the first micro-short Gibbs had uploaded to his YouTube channel. I want to thank Andrew for sending this over to check out! 

      The film follows a woman when her lights go off in her home. She proceeds to the basement and as she is looking through the breaker box the lights come back on. She turns around to find a strange box sitting behind her on the ground. She opens it for a moment to look inside and looks away for a second. When her gaze reverts back to the box, she discovers it is empty but something or someone is now standing behind her. 

      After watching this fourth and final micro-short from Andrew Gibbs I've realized that they are fun to watch but they don't deliver any sort of story for the viewer to grasp on to. I liked The Box for what it is but I feel like it has so much potential to be something more than a short running just a few minutes. The acting in this one is solid and fits the film very well. We once again have a very small cast with everyone except the film's lead only on screen for a few seconds. She does a great job, but we don't really get to see her "act" in a traditional sense here. The story for this one is another one from Dark House Pictures that has an interesting premise, but we never see where it goes. If the film was just a few minutes longer we could get a few answers to the questions that we have. Finally, this is another one with no blood or practical effects to speak of. Its relies on atmosphere and tension to get to the viewer and it almost succeeds. Overall, The Box is another micro-short that is beautiful to look at but doesn't really satisfy the viewer if they are looking for something with a bit of a story.

Come Up Here

Director - Andrew Gibbs (Witch, Midnight Snack)

Starring - Andrew Gibbs, Catie Gibbs, and Emily Gibbs

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm starting to suspect that micro-shorts have such low run times that it makes it impossible to tell any sort of story. I can see these being very effective as proof of concepts or funding purposes but I'm struggling to see the benefit of having a short less than five minutes long. Several months back I was contacted by director Andrew Gibbs to review several of his micro-short indie horror films. So far, I've seen Midnight Snack and Witch before moving on to this one, Come Up Here. I want to thank Andrew for sending this one over. 

      The film follows a woman who is home alone when she hears a noise upstairs. When she calls out asking if her family has returned early, she hears a voice that sounds like her husband telling her to "come up here." She reluctantly ascends the stairs where she notices the attic door is slightly opened. When she approaches the door she turns her back to it as her husband and son rushes through the door while the thing in the attack uses the distraction to sneak up behind her. 

      Come Up Here is a little bit more like a traditional short when compared to the other micro-shorts I've seen so far. While it was still a little too short to get anything really going, it was able to give viewers some sort of story to follow. It wasn't a lot but it was more than the previous two films had established. The acting in this one is a little more than what we were given in the other two shorts. We get some dialogue delivery and a little more emotion. I liked it but I wish we had a little more to the film so we could see what she is truly capable of Infront of the camera. The story for this one is decent enough for a short but I want to know more about the creature in the attic. Things like how did it get there, why is it there, and what is it going to do with the mother? I liked the idea of this one but I'd love to see more to it. Finally, the film isn't a bloody one but I fucking loved the masked used. I don't know if it was made for this project or picked up for a prop or Halloween store. Regardless, it looks awesome. Overall, Come Up Here is another beautifully shot genre short that has a great looking creature but the lack of story and gore does make it feel like it's a puzzle missing important pieces.

The Witch

Director - Andrew Gibbs (The Box, Midnight Snack)

Starring - Catherine Gibbs (Midnight Snack, The Box)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     My look into the micro-shorts of Dark House Pictures continues! A few months back director and Dark House Pictures found Andrew Gibbs reached out to me to review his shorts. I was unaware that micro-shorts were a thing but agreed to check them out regardless. I want to thank Andrew for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to see his films. The next short on the chopping block is his five-minute film Witch. 

      The film follows a woman who is home alone when she starts to hear strange sounds in the home. She tries to hide under her blanket but when she thinks it's safe to leave the warm safety of the blanket she discovers that something sinister is in the room with her. 

      While I may be new to the micro-short films, I'm starting to realize that sometimes being too short is a problem in the world of cinema. Don't get me wrong, Witch was an enjoyable short but it doesn't offer up enough substance for the viewer. The acting in this one is solid for the film especially since the short is around 5 minutes and no real interactions with other characters. The films lead does a decent job but you don't get to see any dialogue or real emotions due to the quick runtime. The story for this one is a great set up to something that could be much more than a short. I strongly believe that there is not enough horror films centered around witches. With that being said, this micro-short just doesn't have enough of a story to tell. It's a beautifully shot short that definitely is not a waste of time but it needs more to it. Finally, this film doesn't have any death scenes or crazy looking creatures for genre fans to gawk at. Overall, Witch is a beautifully shot micro-short but is lacking in the story department. It's a solid watch for the 5 minutes but don't expect something that is story rich. Check it out. 

Midnight Snack

Director - Andrew Gibbs (Witch, The Box)

Starring - Catherine Gibbs (Witch, The Box) and Claudio Mendrano 

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been lucky enough to review dozens of horror shorts over the years. These films range in length from 5 minutes to around half an hour. However, I was recently introduced to micro-shorts when I was sent a series of them from Dark House Pictures founder Andrew Gibbs. I had made a post at the end of September about my October horror binge, and he shot me a message. By this point I had already received 60 to 70s films to review but I was very interested in his work. I added them to my viewing list and when I finally could get around to checking them out, I started with his micro-short Midnight Snack. I want to thank Andrew for sending this one over for me to check out! 

      The film follows a woman who wakes up in the middle of the night and decides to raid the fridge. What she doesn't know is that something else is lurking in the home with the same idea. 

      I had no idea micro-shorts existed or that films this short were called that. I can see the appeal they would have to movie fans but it's difficult to fully review a film when it's barely over a minute long. Regardless, here I go! The acting in this one is solid for the film. We don't get to see the small cast explore their characters and their emotional range but for the story we get the cast does a fantastic job. The story for this one is fun especially when you consider how short it is. I loved the idea of someone going to the fridge in the middle of the night only to become a snack themselves. With that being said, I have so many questions that this film just doesn't answer. A longer short with a little meat on the bone would have cleared up any questions I had. Finally, this is not a bloody one but the suit for the creature looks great. I don't know if this was designed for this project or picked up from a costume store. Either way, it looks great, and I would love to see it appear in another film with a bit more to it. Overall, Midnight Snack doesn't have a lot of depth, but it is a lot of fun for a one-minute flick. Check it out. The information in this transmission may contain proprietary and non-public information of Lendmark Financial Services or its affiliates and may be subject to protection under the law. The message is intended for the sole use of the party to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use, distribution, or copying of the message is strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please delete the material from your system without reading the content and notify the sender immediately of the inadvertent transmission.

Go Away

Director - David Kerr (Curse of the Slasher Nurse, Return of the Slasher Nurse)

Starring - Matthew Sharpe (Bloody Summer Camp, Bad Witch), Christine Oswald (Nightmare Pageant Moms, Sutherland), and Emily Zinski (Emily Who Was Very Sad)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "5 Intruders, 4 Hours, 3 Floors, 2 Exits, 1 Problem"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years back I befriended filmmaker Dave Kerr on Facebook when he was promoting Bloody Summer Camp. Most of you know how much I love slashers, so I was all over this one. We spoke and after that he started sending news about his projects to be covered on the site. Since then, I've spoken with Dave and frequent collaborator Michael McGlynn at several horror conventions. Their love for the genre is evident so when they announced that they were raising funds for a new horror film titled Go Away I was ready for it. Several months back when I was preparing for my October horror binge Dave was kind enough to send over a link for Go Away. I want to thank Dave and the Slasher 15 crew for sending this over for review! 

      The film follows an estranged family coming together for a dinner after revealing that their mother remarried a few years back. Their bickering and arguing is cut short when a group of masked intruders make their way into their home. They tell them to hide and if they are able to escape then they can live but if they are found then they will be slaughtered. What should be a simple game of hide and seek for the killers takes a deadly turn when they realize that the home, they just broke into belongs to a killer that is more cunning and has more experience than all of them combined. 

      I had posted about Go Away several times before I was able to finally see it but I made sure I kept the synopsis a secret to myself because I knew I would be reviewing it eventually. I usually just copied and pasted the news from the press releases and did very little reading. I typically do that to films I want to review later down the line and I'm glad I did because there was a part of the plot that I was not expecting and really enjoyed. The acting in this one is fantastic. We have amazing performances from genre icons Thom Matthews (Return of the Living Dead, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives), Tuesday Knight (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, The X-Files), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp, Zombiegeddon), and Robert Mukes (House of 1000 Corpses, Bone Tomahawk). It was great to see them in another genre title that doesn't just exploit their names. They get decent screen time and do great in their roles. With that being said, the star of the show are the is the rest of the cast. They carry the film and do a fantastic job. The story for this one is not another home invasion horror flick with no depth. It is a home invasion horror film but with a spin to it. It has a slasher sub-plot that makes it feel completely different while keeping the basics of the sub-genre intact. I loved the "twist." the characters, and how well the sub-plot and story worked together. Finally, the film has some seriously solid practical effects that I was not expecting. We get a decent amount of blood and some seriously impressive practical effects. The kills fit the film very well and I love the mask design for the intruders. Overall, Go Away is one of those titles that will cause ripples in the indie horror community. I highly recommend it especially if you dig slashers and home invasion flicks. It's well worth your time.

Maggots

Director - Neil Meschino (Mold!, The Mildew from Planet Xonader)

Starring - Edward X. Young (Easter Sunday, Sheriff Tom vs. the Zombies), Luke Pendley (The Candy Tree, Boxhead), and Julia Salka (Mold!)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "They're here"

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've covered a lot of horror films over the years at Horror Society. Some are films that are sent my way to cover while others are movies I find on social media while browsing posts in horror groups. One film that I was following heavily only to forget about over time was Neil Meschino's creature feature Maggots. Neil was brought to my attention many years ago when I received MOLD! to review. I was so impressed with that film that I sought Neil out on Facebook so I could keep an eye on his future projects. When he started posting about Maggots, I was quick to cover it on the site and anytime a new image or casting announcement was made. However, the longer I wrote for Horror Society the more people would seek me out on the platform so I could cover their project. Before long, his film was buried in the avalanche of indie films that is my newsfeed. In fact, over time I had forgotten about the film until Neil commented on a post, I had made some time back stating that it was streaming on Tubi. I had to fucking see it so I added it to my review list to check out. 

      The film follows an eager college student looking to find a way to use his scientific knowledge as a way to support himself in college. He speaks with a professor who agrees to let him go into an area that he suspects is being contaminated by pollutants from fracking if he takes a few other students that are struggling with his class. The group of college students prepare for a weekend of drugs and partying but quickly learn that fracking has caused mutations in the local wildlife and the flies in the area are the size of dogs with maggots that can take off full appendages.

      Mold! is one of those indie horror films that you never forget. I absolutely loved everything about it and when Meschino announced a new cut of the film with additional footage called The Mildew from Planet Xonader I was quick to add it to my collection as well. Neil is a fantastic filmmaker and Maggots is another priceless indie horror film for genre fans to enjoy. The acting in this one is very well done with some seriously impressive performances. The film has a lot of memorable characters, and the casting is damn near perfect. I found myself looking through the cast's imdb pages to see what else they had been in because they all showed what I thought was experience. The story for this one is a classic when nature meets science scenario that reminded me a lot of the 90s horror film Mosquito where a group of people are in the woods being terrorized by giant mutated bugs. However, this film embraced it's camp to give us some memorable characters it what feels like a love letter to 80s monster movies. The film has great pacing, and the scenes don't overstay their welcome. I also like how broad this story is and how we could get a sequel with a number of different mutated lifeforms found in nature. Finally, the film is packed full of great practical effects. The maggots look amazing. Hell, it's a damn shame they didn't get more scream time. Well also get some great kills and mutilations. I was not expecting the effects to be the caliber that they are. The film needs to be seen just for the effects alone. Overall, Maggots is an indie creature feature made by a genre fan for genre fans. This is one you will not regret watching so check it out on Tubi now! 

Strange Things Happen at the Weird House

Director - Joe Sherlock (Odd Noggins, Odder Noggins)

Starring - Tiffany Beall (Zombie Chronicles: Infection Zone, Odder Noggins), Melody Berg (Dark Zone Thirteen, Things 5), and Juniper Bloodraven (Odd Noggins)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "This sex comedy is about to get really weird"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (Out of 5): 

     I’ve been fortunate enough to watch and review a good portion of Skullface Astronaut’s catalogue. I’ve had a lot of fun watching these crazy, nudity infested films that go above and beyond to entertain. However, all good things must come to an end and here I am with the last film sent to me for review from filmmaker Joe Sherlock. Today I watch and review his sex comedy/horror film Strange Things Happen at the Weird House. Like always, I want to thank Joe and Skullface Astronaut for sending this one my way to review. 

      The film follows a low budget film crew who are living in the home fighting over pizza and filming skin flicks. However, something strange is living in the basement and soon starts making it’s sinister presence known as it picks them off one by one. 

       It was bound to happen eventually and it looks like Strange Things Happen at the Weird House just happens to be the first film in the Skullface Astronaut catalogue that I didn’t care for. There was some things I liked about it but the overall film just felt dull. I hate to be negative about a film sent my way for review but when you dig through a filmmaker’s filmography like this you are bound to find a film or two that you don’t like. The acting in this one is exactly what I would expect from a Skullface Astronaut film. The cast is having a lot of fun in their roles and the women are nice to look at but this one doesn’t really have the characters most of the other film does. It feels as if the film was cast with no characters written or developed. The story for this one is right up my alley but fails to fully pull it all together. A house full of beautiful busty women running around nude while a monster is in the basement is every b-movie horror fan’s dream. However, the film just plays out with the monster angle never fully culminating into something worth while. I wanted to like it but I found myself watching the clock more than the screen. Finally, the film has some visual effects that showcase the film’s budget but the kills don’t stand out. The highlight of the film is the excessive nudity which is always welcomed. Overall, Strange Things Happen in the Weird House has a lot of nudity but not the laughs I was expecting. I can recommend some other films from Skullface instead of this one

Odder Noggins

Director - Joe Sherlock (Beyond the Wall of Fear, Twisted Fates)

Starring - Tonjia Atomic (Smart House, Axegrinder 3), Tiffany Beall (Strange Things Happen at the Weird House, Zombie Chronicles: Infection Zone), and John Bowker (Things 666, Channel 99)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror/Comedy/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "another strange trip..."
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve enjoyed the few Skullface Astronaut mini-marathons that I’ve done over the last month or so. I’ve seen some beautiful woman in the nude, memorable characters, and some fun stories during this time and my trip isn’t over just yet. I just started another mini-marathon and started with Bloodsucking Redneck Vampires which I absolutely loved. I could see myself when I was in high school becoming obsessed with this one in the same way I was Necroville. After that un flick I moved on to Joe Sherlock’s sequel to Odd Noggins. Odd Noggins is a unique film to say the least and was very curious if this follow up could deliver in that regard. I want to thank Joe once again for sending over Odder Noggins for review. 

      The film follows a busty spy with a camera implanted in her left breast, who is tasked with uncovering moles within her organization. Her mission brings her face to face with an interdimensional traveler who is doing experiment on humans. 

      Odder Noggins is just as strange as the first film. While it is overflowing with nudity, it is still able to deliver a unique story that can hold the viewer’s attention. Sure, there is plenty of breasts to hold your attention as well but the story is so wild that you can’t help but want to see where it goes next. The acting in this one is everything you can ask for in a no budget spy film with sci-fi elements. We have beautiful and busty women without their clothes on, enjoyable characters, and decent performances. While there was a few awkward scenes and some lines of dialogue that was forced, the acting really surprised me in this one. The story for this one blends the classic spy films of the 60s with Skullface Astronaut’s Mr. Birch character. Add a dash of straight to video skin flicks and a nod to The Brain that Wouldn’t Die and you have Odder Noggins. It’s a lot of fun even if you’ve never seen the first film which you should have seen by now. Finally, the film has some visual effects but it relies mostly on the characters and nudity to entertain the viewer over effects. Overall, Odder Noggins is a worthy follow up to one of the oddest indie films I have ever seen. I highly recommend it and this sequel.