Director - Kyle Hytonen (A Drop of Blood, The Hobo and the Clown)
Starring - Eric De Santis (Max and the Showgirl), Adam Lemieux (Dark Side of Comedy, Cursing My Name), and August Kyss (Isleen Pines, Murdercise)
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "This party has an unexpected guest"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
It's hard to believe it but I've been writing reviews for 15 years now and 11 years of it has been spent at Horror Society. I've reviewed a lot of fantastic features, shorts, television, and web-series during this time, and I have no plans of stopping anytime soon. A decade ago, now I was asked to review the horror short Massacre at Femur Creek. I don't remember a lot about this one, but I do remember enjoying it. I was reminded about it a few days back when director Kyle Hytonen hit me up to review his new feature length film Massacre at Femur Creek. I didn't ask if this was a remake, a continuation, or a whole new slasher using the same name as his previous short. Honestly, I didn't care. I wanted to see this and immediately agreed to check it out. I want to thank Kyle for sending this one over for review!
The film follows a group of men who head out into the woods to party as one of them prepares to marry soon. A getaway full of booze and bud ends horribly when a madman escapes an asylum and makes his way through the woods killing anyone he crosses paths with.
I wish I remember the original Massacre at Femur Creek short before I went into this, but it has been so long that I remember absolutely nothing. It's because of this that I will be reviewing the feature as its own entity because I can't confirm if it serves as a sequel, prequel, or remake to the short. However, I can confirm that it is an enjoyable horror comedy that reminded me why I love slashers so much. The acting in this one is really enjoyable. While I was not a fan of the characters themselves, the cast did a fantastic job bringing their characters to life. They all have their own personalities that stand out and the cast has chemistry together. The story for this one is a comedic approach to a very cliched slasher plot. We follow a masked maniac that escaped from a mental hospital as he kills people camping in the woods. I'm a sucker for slashers in the woods and I love that this one takes us back to the bloody roots of slashers. It has a lot of humor spaced throughout that I enjoyed but the characters are very generic and even though I was a fan of the cast, I still found the characters very unlikeable. Finally, the film has a lot of blood and some cheap effects. If you are looking for buckets of gore and major practical effects, then you will be very disappointed. However, if you want kills that are reminiscent of the early days of slasher then you will be in luck. A lot of knife kills with minimal effects and a lot of blood. Overall, Massacre at Femur Creek is a by the book slasher with some humor that tends to find its mark. It's not the most violent slasher I've seen but it's a lot of fun especially if you want something you have never seen before. Check it out.
Director - Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's Eleven, Magic Mike)
Starring - Matt Damon (True Grit, Titan A.E.), Kate Winslet (Heavenly Creatures, Titanic), and Jude Law (Captain Marvel, Cold Mountain)
Release Date - 2011
Genre - Drama/Thriller
Tagline - "Nothing spreads like fear"
Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I've reviewed several films centered around the pandemic over the last few years. This is understandable considering how significantly our lives changed for those few years and the amount of lives lost to selfishness and ignorance. In the early days of the pandemic I recall several social media friends decided to marathon films centered around pandemics and outbreaks. I was considered essential so I had to work and wasn't able to partake in these marathons but I did remember seeing several people watching Contagion. I was not familiar with the film but seeing that cast really made my imagination run. Its only been four short years since the pandemic began and I've yet to see the film. However, this soon changed when I was sent over the 4K release of the film. I had never seen it before but I'm glad I was finally given the opportunity.
The film follows a group of different people from various backgrounds as the struggle during an outbreak. We follow a family man who loses his wife at the very beginning of the pandemic as he struggles with keeping the rest of his family safe. We also follow a conspiracy theorist who suspects that something more is going on with the outbreak and government officials are hiding information from the public. We also follow several different scientists and professionals as they rush to stop the spread of the disease and find a cure.
I knew nothing about this one going into it aside from the fact that it revolved around a dangerous pandemic, and it had a great cast. While I did enjoy it and I'm glad that my first viewing of it was in 4K, I still wish I would have taken the time to watch it during the beginning of the pandemic. Seeing the parallels and how much of this actually happened during that first year of the shut-down made my skin crawl. I really enjoyed this movie and can't wait to recommend it to others. The acting in this one is fantastic, which is an understatement when you conder the cast. I could spend all day going through this cast and how amazing they were but I'm too lazy for that. There are no weak links in this film and some of Hollywood's biggest names deliver some of the most underrated performances of their career. The story for this one is very well written and the team behind it clearly did their research. Watching this film, especially the first 30 minutes of so, took me back to 2020 and how the pandemic started, how different organizations, political parties, and so on were at each other's throats with little care about the lives they were influencing. I loved how well this was written and could only imagine how it would have influenced me during the early days of the pandemic. With that being said, the film feels like it was originally setting out to be a television series or mini-series. The way it's edited together we bounce from character to character with no rhyme or reason as the world around them falls apart. Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing film but it feels like everything was edited together to make a film after they originally planned on making a series of some sort. Finally, the film is not a bloody one. There are some great make-up effects and one scene in particular featuring an autopsy of Gwyneth Paltrow that was amazing but that is the extent of it. Overall, Contagion is one hell of a thriller that blows my mind by how close it was to predicting the 2020 pandemic. It's a great film and this 4K release is gorgeous. I highly recommend checking it out.
Director - Bob Clark (Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things, Black Christmas)
Starring - John Marley (The Godfather, Kolchak: The Night Stalker), Lynn Carlin (Terror on the 40th Floor, The Bionic Woman), and Richard Backus (Another World, The First Deadly Sin)
Release Date - 1974
Genre - Horror/War
Tagline - "Something unspeakable has come home"
Format - Streaming UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
Bob Clark is a filmmaker that I hold in high regard. He is up there, at least for me, with the likes of George A. Romero and John Cherry. His films Porky's A Christmas Story, Black Christmas, Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things, and Dead of Night are absolute classics and I would argue that almost all the films I mentioned have earned their place in cinema history. Many years ago a friend of mine purchased the Dead of Night DVD release from Blue Underground. This was one of my favorite releases of the DVD era and one that I have a hard time parting with as I've upgraded from DVD to blu. A few weeks back Blue Underground once again re-released the film and this time on UHD. They were kind enough to send over a copy for me to review and this gave me the perfect chance to revisit one of my favorite films. Like always, I want to thank Blue Underground and MVD for sending this over!
The film follows a family who just received word that their son had died while fighting in Vietnam. However, their son makes a miraculous late-night arrival to their home much to their surprise. However, he's not the Andy that they remember. Now, he just sits in a rocking chair with a lifeless expression on his face. After a strange encounter with Andy's father and the town's coroner at the local bar, the coroner is convinced that Andy is responsible for the murder of a truck driver that was brutally murdered the night he arrived in town. When the coroner is gone missing and found dead, Andy's father realizes that Andy really did die in the conflict and a monster has came in his place.
Deathdream is one of the many films of Bob Clark's that I truly enjoy. However, unlike the films Black Christmas and Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things, Deathdream is one of those films that I can't watch over and over again without getting tired of it. It's one of the films that I really enjoy but I can only watch it once or twice a year. I also prefer the original Dead of Night title over Deathdream but I can see the appeal of wanting to use that title over the original. The acting in this one is great and features a lot of familiar faces from previous films from Clark. Most of the Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things cast has roles in the film and they all do a fantastic job. While the cast is well rounded, John Marley and Richard Backus carry the film. Backus does a great job as the shell of a man that returned home from Vietnam. I love how patient and calm his character is before becoming rabid when he attacks his victims. Marley is fantastic as the father struggling with his son and the fact that something is different about him. He shows a lot of emotion with this role and makes the film for me. The story for this one feels like a slasher meets pseudo-vampire in the way it unfolds. The random deaths have that same pacing and tone as the late-70s and early 80s slashers. While we actively know who the killer is we are given the deaths like a slasher of the time. That makes it rather enjoyable even though some of the scenes do tend to drag on. I also love the vampire-like spin they gave Andy. I always appreciated how they incorporated his bloodlust into his aging and night-time stalks. It's a lot of fun if you are open to it. Finally, the film has a lot of bright blood and decent effects. While I would have loved to see more gore and imaginative deaths, I still enjoy what the film does deliver. Overall, Deathdream is a classic horror title that has finally received the UHD treatment. I highly recommend snagging this release especially if you've never seen the film before.
Director - Brandon Bishop (Mesa Lake, The Drink with Aeon Cruz)
Starring - Vinnie Vineyard (The Hike, Camp Smokey), Luke Walker (WJHC AM, The Mark of a Killer), and Kandi Thompson (Taint My Ride, A Pokemon in the Maryland Wasteland)
Release Date - 2023
Genre - Comedy/Adventure
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
My Vinnie Vineyard and Luke Walker marathon is coming to an end. Several weeks back I was contacted by Vinnie to review several of his films that he had made with fellow filmmaker Luke Walker. I went into all four of these with an open mind, but it was clearly evident that these films were not for me. The Hike and WJHC AM was a chore for me to finish but Camp Smokey really drawn me in. I was a big fan of that film which further excited me to check out the last film in the marathon. I once again want to thank Vinnie for sending over Vinnie's Vantastic Rock N Roll Adventure.
The film follows Vinnie (Vineyard) who decided to live out his dream of living in a van and traveling the country when he is dumped by his girlfriend. As he makes his away across the country to see his favorite band he meets a wide array of characters and finds himself in unforgettable encounters.
I went into Vinnie's Vantastic still amazed by Camp Smokey and how much I truly enjoyed it. I really liked how this one started and the idea behind it, but the film was way too long and some of the scenes needed cut. Hell, I could have really gotten into it if the run time was around 60 to 80 mins. However, at over two hours, this film is just way too long for the story that it has. The acting in this one is probably my favorite part of the film. Vinnie is extremely comfortable in front of the camera and does a phenomenal job when he is portraying a character that is loosely, or not so loosely, based on himself. He's very natural on camera which really helps him set the scene. The supporting cast is just as fun to watch as well. While we do have a lot of the same returning cast, the lack of serious tone results in a lot less forced dialogue and awkward interactions. The cast is having fun on set, and it is shown in their performances. The story for this one is very interesting on paper but on camera it becomes repetitive for the most part. While the situation may vary, the overall flow of the film is the same thing over and over. We follow Vinnie as he travels to a new spot, meets new characters, and something happens that will negatively impact him the rest of the trip. Some of the later scenes could have been removed to help with the pacing of the film. Finally, don't expect any blood or gore with this one. Instead, it's a character driven piece with no body count. Overall, Vinnie's Vantastic Rock N Roll Adventure is another film of their I could see myself fully getting behind but the drawn-out scenes and repetitive nature of the film made it another difficult one to finish. That doesn't mean it's a bad film but it's one that I didn't personally care for.
Director(s) - Vinnie Vineyard (The Hike, Wrestling with Ghosts) and Luke Walker (Vinnie's Vantastic Rock N Roll Adventure, Haunted Graves)
Starring - Luke Walker, Brittany Brooks (WJHC AM, Showdown in Secret City), and Kandi Thompson (Taint My Ride, A Pokemon in the Maryland Wasteland)
Release Date - 2023
Tagline - "If he's the good guy... the demons are f*cked"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
Several weeks back I was asked to review a few films from director and actor Vinnie Vineyard. I was very unfamiliar with his work but the titles really caught my attention. I agreed and thought I would have a fun marathon with them all. I started my adventure with The Hike and quickly realized that the film was not for me. I followed that up with the thriller WJHC AM. Both films had very interesting ideas but lost their way sometime during their run times. I was still excited to check out the remaining two films and quickly took the dive into Camp Smokey. I want to once again thank Vinnie for sending this over.
The film follows a man who has been living in the woods for some time with his stuffed teddy bear. He has been fight demons during these long years and gets what he needs by scavenging the bodies of the demons he slays. When he runs short on supplies he is forced to make trips closer to the cities which means more demons he is confronted with. However, as the film progresses we learn who the true monster is and why there is so many demons.
I went into Camp Smokey with an open mind like I did before and wiped my mind off the previous two films. I was expecting yet another movie that I wouldn't care for but I was really surprised by this one. While I don't see myself revisiting this one anytime soon I still enjoyed it especially if you compare it to The Hike and WJHC AM. The acting in this one is solid but the overall film is a one man show with Luke Walker carrying the entire thing on his shoulders. His character is very likable and his narration and the interaction with the stuffed teddy makes the film what it is. The supporting cast is solid but they are not in the scene long enough to truly see what they are capable of. The story for this one is predictable and the twist has no impact but the build up is very entertaining especially if you are a fan of the film Frailty. The scenes are a bit repetitive but the narration and on screen presence from Walker makes it work. Finally, the film has some blood and simple effects but that is the extent of it. While I wanted to enjoy some top notch kills and great practical effects, the film still works with what we have. Overall, Camp Smokey really surprised me. The story is a fun blend of Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Frailty and I'm all for it. I highly recommend checking this one out.
Director(s) - Vinnie Vineyard (Camp Smokey, The Hike) and Luke Walker (Wrestling with Ghosts, How Men React to Unfaithful Partners)
Starring - Vinnie Vineyard, Tracy Yaste (Snapped, Logan's Chapel), and Luke Walker
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Comedy/Horror
Tagline - "Keeping good folks joyful until the end of days"
Format - Streaming (Tubi)
Rating (Out of 5):
A few days back I attempted to start a Vinnie Vineyard and Luke Walker marathon when I was asked to review a few of their films. I had never heard of these four flicks before so when Vinnie asked me to check them out I was quick to say yes. I started with the first film on the list which was simply titled The Hike. The film made me think it was going to be something steeped deep in Native American folklore but went on to become a hixploitation flick that was rather lacking. I had a health scare and was unable to finish the marathon but once I had things sorted I went ahead and hit play on the second film, WJHC AM. I want to go ahead and thank Vinnie for sending this one over as well.
The film follows an aspiring DJ who finds the break he is looking for when he is hired on at a local religious radio station. His first night on the job should have been pretty straight forward but the fear of Y2K and the second coming of Jesus sends his first night straight to hell.
I went into WJHC AM with an open mind. I absolutely hate writing a negative review for a film sent my way for review especially if the filmmaker is extremely kind. Vinnie Vineyard was extremely down to Earth when I spoke with him and I felt like a major ass for writing a negative review for The Hike but it wasn't for me. After about 15 minutes or so into WJHC AM I realized that I would not be digging it which was a bummer. I've met a lot of filmmakers over the years doing this and not all of their films were for me but I continued to stay friends with them and sharing any news they may have on the site. It looks like Vinnie may be another filmmaker that just doesn't do it for me. That doesn't mean he is a bad filmmaker but his films don't necessarily resonate with me. The acting in this one is a lot of fun and probably my favorite aspect of the film. The cast is really dedicated to their roles and give it everything they have. They work very well together and the personalities that they bring to life in front of the camera was very impressive. The story for this one had so much potential to be something that would truly stand out but fails to fully explore those elements. I grew up in Appalachia and have seen my fair share of religious mania and though I was fairly young I lived through the Y2K craze. I've seen how worked up many of them became. A horror film centered around this would have been a lot of fun. However, much like The Hike, the intriguing aspects of the film was only explored for brief moment in the film while drawn out scenes of dialogue make up most of the film. The Y2K scare would have been more enjoyable than the atheist working in a christian radio station. Finally, the film has a little blood but don't expect a lot of gore or memorable deaths. Overall, WJHC AM is another one with an interesting premise but just couldn't pull it together. I seriously wanted to like this one but it was difficult for me to finish. I have to recommend skipping it.
Director - Stephen Chiodo (Alien X-Mas, Elvira's Movie Macabre)
Starring - Grant Cramer (Auntie Lee's Meat Pies, Night of the Living Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition), Suzanne Snyder (Amazing Stories, The Preppie Murder), and John Allen Nelson (Quantum Leap, Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell)
Release Date - 1988
Genre - Horror/Sci-fi/Comedy
Tagline - "In space no one can eat ice cream!"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
I have had a lot of films that influenced my upbringing. I pretty much lived at my local video store when I was a kid and when I didn't have movies to watch that I had rented I would be watching movies I owned with my Grandma. I was obsessed with the films AirBud, Prehysteria, Adventures in Dinosaur City, Space Truckers, Ernest Scared Stupid, and several others until I was bitten by the horror bug when my Grandma and I watched the 1990's remake of Night of the Living Dead. From then I was obsessed with that film, the original Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, The Guyver, Return of the Living Dead, and Killer Klowns from Outer Space just to name a few. All these films were a huge part of my childhood and I still watch them whenever I get the chance now. Last Halloween my youngest was intrigued by the Killer Klowns merchandise at Spirit Halloween. I got her a Funko POP and a few other little things from the film and that night she asked me to show her the movie. I was so excited to share something I enjoyed so much as a kid with her and now we watch the film almost every other month. Recently, Scream Factory released the film on blu with an awesome steelbook. They were kind enough to send over a copy for me to review which was the perfect reason to rewatch it with the kids. While I was a bit sad to retire my Midnite Movies DVD I was excited to check it out on blu. I want to thank Scream and Shout Factory for sending this one over.
The film follows a young couple who witness something falling from the sky. When they head into the woods to investigate, they find a large circus tent. They go inside and find grotesque clowns not of this world who are turning the locals into cotton candy so they can consume them. They then partner up with a small-town cop and two ice cream truck vendors to stop the killer clowns from outer space from eating everyone in town.
There is so much to love about Killer Klowns from Outer Space. The atmosphere, sense of humor, the clever writing, the score and soundtrack, set designs, and so on are absolutely perfect. Two of my three children will walk around singing the theme song by The Dickies randomly. The movie, while a brilliant blend of horror, sci-fi, and comedy, is perfect for any age. I've talked about cult and genre films with hundreds of people over the years and I've yet to meet someone who doesn't love this film. The acting in this one is one of the highlights of the film. We have one of my favorite performances from the legendary John Vernon. Many may recall him from his roles in Tales from the Crypt, National Lampoon's Animal House, Ernest Goes to Camp, Blue Monkey, and so many amazing voice acting gigs. I loved his character and would have loved to see a bit more of him throughout the film. The same can be said about Michael Siegel and Peter Licassi as the Terenzi brothers. They were a lot of fun to watch and deserved a much larger role in the film. The film's leads do a great job as well. Suzanne Snyder has appeared in several iconic 80s films aside from this one. Fans can check her out in Night of the Creeps, Return of the Living Dead Part II, Weird Science, and The Last Starfighter. Grant Cramer is great as well and was perfect casting to play opposite Snyder. He appeared in several iconic 80s comedies and horror films as well like New Year's Evil, Beverly Hills Brats, and several more classic films from the time. The supporting cast is a lot of fun as well but these make the film for me. The story for this one is out of this world...pun and all. The idea of clowns being out of this world and not part of human culture may explain a lot to those with coulrophobia. I loved the idea of clowns being aliens and everything we associate with them and circuses because they visited Earth sometime before. Then you blend that in with a solid 80s comedy and you have something that really works. It took a lot of brainstorming and thought to make this story work but it's clear they put in the time. The film is well written, has great pacing, and the humor doesn't take away from the campy horror the film is able to provide. Finally, this film is not gory but makes up for it with the humor, fantastic looking clowns from outer space, amazing set locations, and props. The film also incorporates a lot of classic camera tricks and techniques to make the gags work. While it doesn't offer up gore or a lot of blood, it is still full of amazing effects. Overall, Killer Klowns from Outer Space may be one of my favorite horror films to come out of the 80s. It doesn't have a following like Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm St. but it still delivers. I highly recommend snagging this one from Scream Factory if you are a fan of the film or looking for something new to see. It's worth it.
Director - Richard Russell (A Family Matter, Dinner Guest)
Starring - Heather Bayless (Workplace Romance, Powerball), Anna Dutilly (Virus, Scavengers), and James L. Edwards (Bloodletting, Hell Van)
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
It's not often that I get to review horror parodies, but I will jump at the opportunity each and every time it presents itself. Many years ago, I was fortunate enough to review the 80s slasher parody Student Bodies when it was released on blu. It was a beautiful parody of the slasher films of the late 70s and 1980. Not too long after that I was sent over several steelbook releases for the unforgettable Shaun of the Dead to review. This parody/love letter to Romero's Dead films is one of my favorite zombie flicks and probably the only romantic movie that I can watch on repeat. Just recently I was lucky enough to review the horror parody of Caddyshack appropriately titles Caddy Hack. I love parodies and frankly, I believe that we don't have enough horror parodies to enjoy. That is why I jumped at the opportunity to review Richard Russell's short Jacob's Little Helper. Like always, I want to thank Richard for sending this one over.
The film follows a young woman who is appearing on a talk show with declining numbers to discuss her relationship with a masked slasher that she has befriended. She has been with him for some time helping him become one of the best slashers in the business, but things became complicated between the two when she started dating his rival who kills teens in their sleep. Things go from being a friendly interview to deadly when the interviewer dons a mask and attempts to kill her in order to improve his declining ratings.
Jacob's Little Helper is a clever parody of Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm St., and Nightbreed to a lesser extent. It makes great use of its short run time while not being short on imagination and creativity. I was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this one. The acting in this one is very well done. James L. Edwards never disappoints. I've reviewed at least a dozen or so films that feature him and every one of them was very enjoyable. He's so natural in front of the camera and always gives it his all. I also enjoyed Heather Bayles' performance. Her character was very playful, and she did a fantastic job as well in front of the camera. The story for this one is a lot of fun with so much potential for other shorts with the groundwork already been laid before them. Having a female companion to a Jason like character who helps him become one of the top slashers is pretty clever. I loved the nod to Freddy with her dating the dream slasher and having the interviewer switch it up and become a masked slasher out of nowhere, similar to the doctor portrayed by Kronenberg in Nightbreed. You can tell Russell is a fan of these films and I seriously hope he can work in more parodies like this one in the future. Finally, the film has several deaths with some blood but don't expect large amounts of gore or a high body count. The short was clearly made on a very small budget and did the best they could with what they had. Overall, Jacob's Little Helper is not going to be the slasher you are expecting but it's a must see if you are fans of the sub-genre. I highly recommend checking this one out
Director - Justin Burquist (Broken Knuckles, Proxy)
Starring - Eva Ceja (American Bigfoot, Titanic 666), Randy Davison (The Manos Chronicles, Ronald's Little Factory), and Steve Froehlich (Into the Daylight, Beverly Hills Bandits)
Release Date - 2022
Genre - Horror
Format - Screener (Streaming)
Rating (out of 5):
I will never turn down the opportunity to review a horror short. Some of my favorite films that I've been lucky enough to review over the years have been shorts and I'm always open to checking out the next one sent my way. A few weeks back I was sent over the horror short Touch from Dan Butler. This was a new one to me and when I saw that it was a crime thriller/horror short I was very interested. I want to thank Dan for sending this one over.
The film follows a young woman who is brought on to investigate her first homicide case. However, she is no normal detective as she has a supernatural ability she can use to uncover the killer.
I've always had a soft spot for shorts but sometimes their short run time works against them. Case in point, Touch is a fantastic short, but I have so many questions about the character and her situation. I need more and a seven minute short just doesn't cut it with this fantastic idea. The acting in this one is very well done. The film's star is great in her role, but we don't have enough screen time to really appreciate what she can truly bring to the table. The supporting cast is solid as well but, once again, the short is over before you really get to see what they can do. The story for this one really made my imagination run wild. I grew up on Brimstone, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and The X-Files so having a story following a detective with supernatural abilities solve murders is right up my alley. It doesn't feel forced or awkward like The Dead Zone television adaptation and I could really get behind the characters that are introduced here as they traverse other murder cases. Honestly, this short is written very well and I would love to see this further explored or redone into a feature film. Finally, the film has some blood and a few gags but nothing genre fans haven't seen before. While the fight scene was done in a unique manner it doesn't deliver on the gruesome deaths that most genre fans are looking for. Overall, Touch is a unique crime thriller/horror tale that has so much more potential. It deserves to be more than a short. If you ever have the chance to check this one out I highly recommend you do so. You will not be disappointed.
Director - Eric Stanze (Ice from the Sun, Savage Harvest)
Starring - Jackie Kelly (Tennessee Gothic, The Man in Room Six), Jason Christ (Deadwood Park, Ratline), and Marcella Miller (Doorway, Heat)
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Don't let is consume you"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
Several years ago, I reached out to the Wicked Pixel Facebook page asking for news to share on the site or movies to review. I befriended filmmaker Eric Stanze and since then I've been fortunate enough to review his films Scrapbook, Ratline, and In Memory Of. I haven't really heard anything from Stanze since the pandemic began and was caught off guard a few days ago when he messaged me to review his newest film Anxiety. I had no idea he was working on a new film, and I jumped at the opportunity to check it out. I want to thank Eric for sending this one over.
The film follows Renee (Kelly) who is a recovering alcoholic. She finds herself struggling during the early stages of the pandemic and when her inner demons begin to show themselves, she has nowhere to turn but within herself.
I went into Anxiety knowing absolutely nothing aside from the fact that it starred Jackie Kelly. I had no idea what to expect but deep down I was hoping for another visceral underground film like Ratline and Scrapbook. The acting in this one is absolutely phenomenal. Kelly really impressed me when I first saw her in Stanze's In Memory Of and she did not disappoint here either. Most of the film followed her character alone but she does a wonderful job carrying the film in that regard. Her narration blends very well with her actions in the scene to hold the viewer's attention. It was also great seeing Jason Christ as well, but I was a disappointed in how little screen time he actually had. The remainder of the cast does a phenomenal job as well with a surprise performance from the director himself. The story for this one really threw me for a loop and was something I was not expecting. The film is heavily influenced by the pandemic, and I have a huge suspicion that it was shot early on during the pandemic with social distancing fresh in everyone's mind. This would explain Christ's performance and why he was only shown during recordings. Would also explain the small cast and the locations chosen for each scene. I liked how the pandemic played a crucial part in the young woman's mental stability and battle with alcohol dependence. So many people suffered losses during the pandemic and the isolation and uncertainty caused many to seek mental health treatment. The anxiety portion of the film is very relatable to many of us but it does move at a snail's pace. I was ready to rate the film a 3 out of 5 and move on but then we hit the last 20 minutes or so of the film which is where it picked up for me. The anxiety fueled nightmare and fear of relapsing meets ghosts of her past resulting in a hellish look into her future if she doesn't stay her course to clean living. Finally, the film had me fooled into thinking it was going to be relatively mild until we reached the last stretch of the film where we got some blood and fun effects. I knew I shouldn't have doubted Stanze and his dedication to his fans when it comes to blood. Overall, Anxiety is one hell of a ride from a seriously underrated filmmaker. The cast is great, and the story may take a little too long to get going but once it does it does not disappoint. I highly recommend this one.
