Screamwalkers

Director - Sean King (The Ghouligans! Super Show!, Hunter's Moon)

Starring - Elizabeth Davoli (In America, To Be the Best), Sasha Graham (Trivial, Side Effects May Vary), and Julia DeVita (Distant Things)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "You're gonna need more than nine lives"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago now I befriended filmmaker Sean King when I came across a post of his for his series The Ghouligans.  I spoke with him some and he was kind enough to send over a few discs with several episodes on them.  I immediately fell in love with them and I've been fortunate to add most of their releases to my collection over the years.  Since then I've kept an eye on his project on social media so I can stay in the loop.  Sometime back he started posting about his newest horror comedy Screamwalkers.  I wanted to contribute to the crowdfunding campaign at the time but money was a little too tight for me to do so.  However, I quickly snagged a copy when I saw that it was now available and up to order.  

     The film follows a young girl in a small college town sometime after her boyfriend was brutally murdered.  When another murder happens nearby she connects with a young man who lost his pregnant girlfriend during the murders.  The two become close but as more murders occur and they both become prime suspects.  That is until one of the detectives assigned to the case comes face to face with the killer donning a cat mask.  Now they must uncover the secret behind the new string of killings and how they are connected to the one's from the young woman's past.  

     I knew Screamwalkerss was going to be a parody flick but I didn't realize how many films it would actually parody.  It was a lot of fun and offered up some clever humor without going overboard similar to films like Scary Movie.  The acting in this one was funny when it was meant to be and solid during the more important scenes.  The film is obviously not to meant to be taken seriously and the acting is pretty campy throughout most of it.  Fans of Chris Seaver and Troma will know exactly what I mean by that.   The story for this one pays homage/parodies so many iconic horror franchises.  The first is the obvious Scream nod. then we have Monster Squad, Sleepwalkers, and a few more that are alluding me at the moment.  It's obvious King is a genre fan with a wonderful sense of humor and used that to his advantage to make a Scream parody without it feeling like another Scary Movie.  Finally, the film has a surprising amount of gore that looks very well done.  I wasn't expecting that much of a throw back to 80s carnage with this one but the kills are violent and look absolutely great.  Overall, Screamwalkers is the 90's S.O.V. Scream parody that you didn't know you needed in your life.  While it's not perfect, it more than makes up for it's shortcomings with humor and gore.  I highly recommend it.  

The Profane Exhibit

Director(s) - Jeremy Kasten (The Dead Ones, Devil in the Details), Uwe Boll (House of the Dead, Rampage), Ruggero Deodato (Cannibal Holocause, Deathcember), Anthony DiBlasi (Last Shift, Malum), Marian Dora (Voyage to Agatis, Blight of Humanity), Ryan Nicholson (Torched, Gutterballs), Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Dragon Chef, Meatball Machine Kodoku), Sergio Stivaletti (The Wax Mask, Dogman's Rabies), and Nacho Vigalondo (V/H/S Viral, Collossal)

Starring - Christine Ahanotu (The Reunion, The Mojave Sisters), Didac Alcaraz (Trash Ninjas, Something Huge), and U. Bernard (Morbid Montage)

Release Date - 2013

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "There are no boundaries"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     For years I've heard talks about the extreme horror anthology The Profane Exhibit from genre fans who get off on films like August Underground and the Vomit Gore series.  At one point in time I wasn't interested at all in the project because these types of films don't appeal to me.  While I love gore and blood, most extreme horror flicks focus too much on gore and trying to be edgy instead of giving viewers a decent story.  However, that changed when I saw that director Ryan Nicholson was involved.  What films of his I had scene I thoroughly enjoyed.  I kept an eye on the project and after a few years it was evident that it found itself in distribution hell.  That was until recently when Stephen Biro announced that he was releasing the film, eleven years after completion, on blu and DVD.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  I want to thank Unearthed and MVD for sending this one over!

     The film follows a group of the world's wealthiest and depraved who get together to tell stories that is not for the faint of heart.  These stories range from a serial rapist, an evil surgeon, a doctor who has turned his back on his oath, and many more.

     I went into The Profane Exhibit knowing absolutely nothing about it aside that it was meant to be an extreme anthology featuring some of the world's most popular underground filmmakers at the time.  I don't mind extreme horror if they have more to them than gore and "shocking" scenes.  The Profane Exhibit did have some solid enough stories but I still found myself very underwhelmed by a film that, honestly, was not as gruesome as I was expecting.  The acting in this one is actually very well done in every segment.  Typically, an anthology with segment from various filmmakers usually features inconsistent acting.  However, that is not the case here.  Each segment features some serious acting from various walks of life and experience.  I was honestly impressed in this regard.  The stories for this anthology are where the film lost me.  Some of them are extremely slow paced and dull while others are in your face and action packed.  Segments Mother May I?, Bridge, Tophet Quorom, Sins of the Father, and Mors in Tabula are extremely dull in my opinion and while they may showcase some great effects, the are unable to hold the viewer's attention with lack of storytelling.  On the other side of the same coin, segments Basement (from Uwe Boll of all people), Goodwife, and Manna are very enjoyable but you have to make it through the other segments to enjoy them.  Finally, this film has a lot fantastic practical effects.  While some of the segments use more blood and gore than others, they all have amazing looking effects that rivals anything you've seen before or since.  Overall, The Profane Exhibit had some amazing gore but the overall film was a huge let down.  I love Unearthed Films and can recommend dozens of other releases of theirs to check out but this is not one of them.  Skip it.  

     

Cocaine Werewolf

Director - Mark Polonia (Pandasaurus, Teddiscare)

Starring - Brice Kennedy (Splatter Beach, Black Mass), Yolie Canales (Amityville in Space. Sharkula), and James Carolus (Children of Camp Blood, Return to Splatter Farm)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "You can run.  You can hide, but he will always sniff you out!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few years ago the horror comedy Cocaine Bear hit theaters and caused quit the stir among indie filmmakers.  The simple idea of something deadly finding cocaine and becoming an unstoppable killing machine is a lot of fun.  In fact, I'm shocked this wasn't a massive trend during the drive-in era.  Could you image a double feature of drug fueled animals during the heyday of drive-in cinema?  Anyway,  since Cocaine Bear hit theaters we've seen a slew of other drug fueled films like Methgator, Cocaine Crabs from Outer Space, Cocaine Shark, and Crackcoon.  A few weeks ago I received a press release for a film I was not expecting.  Cleopatra Entertainment sent word that they would be releasing Mark Polonia's Cocaine Werewolf.  While that was not a title I was expecting, it was one I refused to miss out on.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.  I want to thank MVD and Cleopatra Entertainment for hooking me up with a review copy.  

     The film follows a stoke broker with a nose for coke finds himself wondering through the woods where he encounters someone cursed.  This choice encounter also leaves him cursed to wonder the night as a werewolf.  Nearby, an indie film crew is working on a killer clown film and come face to face with the coked out werewolf.

     A Polonia film is always hit or miss with me.  Sometimes I enjoy the no budget charm and the absurd stories but other times it's clear the film was rushed to cash in on a specific craze and no regard to quality.  While I was very interested in a coke fueled werewolf flick, I figured it was going to be on of the film that was rushed to store shelves were still talking about drug-filled horror titles.  I was wrong.  I found myself actually enjoying this one way more than I should have.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven but I did enjoy it for the most part.  Some of the characters had more time spent on them.  They are well written which gave the cast something to work with.  On the flip side of that, some of the characters are painfully flat and one dimensional which resulted in flat performances from their respective actors.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward but so much fun.  While originality is not at the forefront of this film, it's the absurd moments and no budget charm that makes this one as enjoyable as it is.  Swapping out a bear with a werewolf is something I was not expecting, and while it doesn't feel like a standard werewolf flick, it still held my attention through the entirety of the film's run time.  While I would have added a bit more backstory to the werewolf, it still works as is.  Finally, the film makes use of a cheap werewolf mask and a few cheap gags.  We get some blood splatter here and there and kills that are not that impressive.  Overall, Cocaine Werewolf was a lot of fun but I can already predict that many of you will quickly rush to the comment section to claim this review was bought by Mark Polonia and Cleopatra Entertainment.  It wasn't and I honestly enjoyed it.  Sure, I would have loved better performances and some gnarly gore but it is what it is.  Cocaine Werewolf does for coked out stoke brokers as Wolfcop does for alcoholic cops.  I highly recommend snagging this one.

Dr. Jekyll vs the Werewolf

Director - Leon Klimovsky (Trauma, A Dragonfly for Each Corpse)

Starring - Paul Naschy (The Night of the Werewolf, Mystery on Monster Island), Shirley Corrigan (Syndicate Sadists, Hard to Remember), and Jack Taylor (The Ninth Gate, Edge of the Axe)

Release Date - 1972

Genre - Horror

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been fortunate enough to review a couple dozen horror flicks over the years that featured the legendary actor and director Paul Naschy.  His career is nothing short of legendary having portrayed werewolves, monsters, mad men, and the like in dozens, if not hundreds, of films.  His a name I became familiar with early on in my youth once I became obsessed with the genre when a friend of mine introduced me to Horror Rises from the Tomb.  Since then I've watched several films of his including several that were sent my way for review.  What I find funny is that all of the films that were sent to me for review were ones I had never seen before.  That was until Mondo Macabro sent me Dr. Jekyll vs. the Werewolf for review.  This was the first Nashy lead film that I was sent to review that I had actually seen before.  I had seen this one sometime ago when Halloween was approaching and really enjoyed it and I was looking forward to revisiting it.  I want to take a moment to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over!

     The film follows a man who is searching for a cure to his lycanthropy.  In his search he meets a young woman visiting his homeland who has ties to a scientist.  The scientist has access to his grandfathers work and thinks it may come in handy in curing him of his curse.  However, his grandfather's serum does not work according to plan and unleashes his grandfather's alter ego, Mr. Hyde.  

     Dr. Jekyll vs the Werewolf is the sixth time that Naschy has played a werewolf.  I can't confirm if they are a continuation of the other characters or not but it's still fun to marathon them all.  When it comes to Naschy's films, and he's had a lot, this is probably the most bizarre and absurd story I've seen.  While it's far from perfect, it still has it's own charm and is well worth a watch.  The acting in this one is very uneven but still very enjoyable.  Naschy isn't the star of the show but he is fantastic as always.  He delivers what I would consider a classic Naschy performance which blends a commanding performance with classic horror tropes.  The remainder of the cast, including the film's lead, is great as well but there was times when their performances just didn't fit the energy of some of their co-stars.  The story for this one is wild and I couldn't imagine what it was like to genre fans during the early 70s.  Pinning two legendary horror creatures against each other has been done since the early days at Universal Studios.  Even Naschy has pitted classic movie monsters against each other.  However, a film where a werewolf is given Dr. Jekyll's formula is something no one has expected.  This can be said over 50 years later.  It's a wild story that really does hold the viewer's attention from beginning to end.  Finally, the film has some blood and a decent enough looking werewolf mask but the lack of gore and practical effects is a bit disappointing.  Naschy's mask and make-up effects are solid but it's not enough to satiate the diehard gore fans.  Overall, Dr. Jekyll vs the Werewolf may not be the best werewolf flick to hit store shelves but it's still extremely entertaining.  I highly recommending grabbing this oddball release from Mondo Macabro.  It's well worth it.  

Special Silencers

Director - Arizal (Trouble Everywhere, American Hunter)

Starring - Barry Prima (Hello Ghost, London Virginia, Eva Arnaz (Please Be Patient!, Forgotten Rules), and W. D. Mochtar (Hell Raiders, Revenge of the Ninja)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Action/Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I started my writing career I was not very knowledgeable about foreign films but some binging of Asian splatter flicks made me realize that I cannot live on just American films alone.  Since then I've been actively searching for international films released by some of the boutique labels that I support.  A few weeks back my friends over at Mondo Macabro sent over the 1982 Indonesian action horror film Special Silencers.  The film, from what I can tell, finished production in 1979 but didn't release until 1982.  I don't know why but I'm glad it finally found an audience and I'm extremely grateful that MM took the time to release it.  It's a wild action oriented film that has horror elements planted deep in it.  I want to take a moment to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.  

     The film follows an evil man who killed his grandfather, a wise mystic, in order to get his hands on little red pills known as silencers.  If you use them correctly and meditate they can turn you into a strong martial arts master.  However, using them without the proper training results in a large tree growing out of your torso.  When a stranger arrives and discovers that several people have died after a tree has sprouted through them, he sets out to find the cause of it and stop it.  

     Like a majority of the Mondo Macabro releases, I knew absolutely nothing about this one prior to reviewing it.  The title had me scratching my head but all the artwork I had seen for the film prior to my viewing painted one hell of a film.  While the film was not AS wild as the artwork, it was still a lot of fun.  The acting in this one is what you would expect from a low budget regional flick from Indonesia.  The cast has several credits to their names and had decades in the entertainment industry but the rushed scenes, poorly written characters, and inexperienced supporting cast made a lot of the scenes feel comical in a way and didn't really showcase what the cast is capable of.  The story for this one is a lot of fun.  While it does feel more like an action oriented drama, it did have some horror elements that worked well especially if you are a fan of martial arts cinema.  The characters are not that well written but the scenes and outlandish story more than makes up for it.  It holds the viewer's attention very well and the action is a lot of fun.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood and some fun effects with the tree like thing bursting through the victims like chestbusters from Alien.  These effects look great for the film and horror fans will appreciate them.  Overall, Special Silencers may not be the bloodiest and goriest Asian horror flick I've seen but it was so much fun.  The martial arts is enjoyable and the story is absolutely wild.  I highly recommend it.  

Die, Daisy, Die!

Director - Mark Mackner (Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned, Daisy Derkins vs the Bloodthirsty Beast of the Pine Barrens)

Starring - Jessica Lynch, Falon Joslyn (American Exorcist, Alpha Girls), Bob Kaplan (Killerz II, The Play-Station Killed the Puppet)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy

Tagline - "The battle cry that could doom the whole Earth!"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few days ago I started out with what would be a triple feature of epic proportions.  As I've stated in recent reviews, I started watching the three installments of the Daisy Derkins saga that I had yet to see after director Mark Mackner contacted me about reviewing the newest film.  While I really enjoy the first film, Dogsitter of the Damned, I was not a fan of Bloodthirsty Beast of the Pine Barrens.  The series seemed to pick up a bit with Dinosaur Apocalypse which once again made me excited to check out the newest film Die, Daisy, Die.  I want to take a moment to thank Mark for sending this one over for review!

     The film, once again, follows the evil fighting Daisy Derkins (Lynch) who is now living a mundane life.  She finds herself employed for a company that has just launched a brand new dating app.  What she doesn't know is that the people behind the new app are actually lizard people from the center of the Earth in need of women to reproduce.  They partner with a man who has it out for Daisy when she failed to save his sister back during the first film.  Their plan is to go back in time to prevent Daisy from becoming the hero she is now so they can take all the women they require but Daisy is more resilient than they expected.  

     I went into this one knowing absolutely nothing about it aside from it being another installment of the Daisy Derkins series.  However, after the last two films I was ready for what I could only assume was going to be one wild ride.  The acting in this one does go back to what was seen in the second installment.  While a good portion of the cast does have some acting credits to their name on imdb, a lot of the scenes just felt stiff.  The cast almost delivers their dialogue in monotone with very little attempt at making it feel like casual conversation.  While that does feel like the entire film is shot this way, there is a few performances that I really enjoyed.  The story for this one is a bit all over the place and not as coherent as it could be.  A film following Daisy as she avoids the scheme of lizard people and a nemesis she doesn't know she has.  Solid plot on paper but the inconsistent editing and drawn out scenes makes the film a bit difficult to follow at times.  With that being said, the actually story is still able to be followed if you stick with it and is just absurd enough to work even with all the hiccups and imperfections.  Finally, the film is full of the cheesy and cheap visual effects and campy masks that you would expect from Mackner and crew.  While it's not a bloody mess like most genre fans like, it still delivers on those bad effects that fans of indie cinema look for.  Overall, Die, Daisy, Die was not as fun as Dogsitter of the Damned but I really enjoyed the over the top story and comical characters.  Honestly, I would have loved more lizard people and a little more meat on the bone in regards to their backstory but that's just me.  The film is a lot of fun as it especially if you watch it with like minded friends and some cheap beer.  Check it out.  

Daisy Derkins and the Dinosaur Apocalypse

Director - Mark Mackner (Evil Brew, Burning Down the Dollhouse or: The Legend of the Center City Bearhugger)

Starring - Nadia White (Mr. Buzzkill, Harvest of Horrors), Josip Peruzovic (Cool as Hell 2, WrestleMassacre), and Emilyanne Cusato (Dollface: Road to the Apocalypse, Brave the Dark)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy

Tagline - "It's not just any apocalypse"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I befriended filmmaker Mark Mackner several years ago, I did so as a way to follow his career and to keep up to date with his projects.  I was first introduced to his work when I found Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned while browsing indie horror on social media.  I was very impressed by the film and sought him out.  Since then he has released several sequels to the film on DVD and streaming which I've been lucky enough to grab for my collection.  However, I never took the time to actually watch them due to my day job, personal life, and reviewing films sent my way for review.  That changed when Mark reached out for my to review his newest film Die, Daisy, Die!  Instead of jumping directly into that installment, I would go ahead and check out the previous films.

     The film once again follows Daisy (White) who has now set her sights on professional wrestling along with her time traveling film.  However, while she is training there is an evil sorcerer and a mad scientist scheming together to unleash dinosaurs on Earth to kill Daisy.  

       I am a big fan of Dogsitter of the Damned and went into the follow up film The Bloodthirsty Beast of Barren Pines very excited.  However, it was nowhere near as fun as the first film which made me a bit nervous for the third film in the series starring adult film star Nadia White.  While it wasn't as fun as Dogsitter, it was still better than Bloodthirsty.  The acting in this one is by far the best of the three films I've seen.  Nadia White is no stranger in front of the camera in a variety of different horror titles, as well as, adult films.  Her portrayal of Daisy is probably my favorite incarnation of the character so far.  We also have a tremendous amount of memorable characters, many of which are also very comfortable in front of the camera.  They delivers solid performances that makes the story a little more bearable.  The story for this one just didn't hook me like the first one did.  I loved all the colorful characters and humor incorporated into them all but I was expecting a dinosaur apocalypse and not what the film actually delivered.  A lot of the scenes could have been trimmed down to make the pacing on the film much better and a little more action would have went a long way.  While I do love the idea of a sorcerer and a mad scientist getting together to plot a global scale catastrophe, it doesn't full feel like the scope the title suggests which is a bit of a bummer.  Finally, the film is not a gory one.  It has some blood and a lot of cheap visuals effects.  While these were funny from time to time, it does become a bit repetitive and the humor wears off quickly.  Overall, The Dinosaur Apocalypse is a bit better than the second film but it fails to leave an impact like the first film did.  It's worth a watch but I don't see myself revisiting it any time soon.  

Daisy Derkins vs. The Bloodthirsty Beast of Barren Pines

Director - Mark Mackner (Deadsville Rock n Roll Mysteries, The Embalmo the Clown Show)

Starring - Mary Sack (The Devilish Desire of Dario Dragani, Camp Blood 666), Dahlia DeSade (The Half-Life Horror from Hell or: Irradiated Satan Rocks the World!, Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned), and J.D. Korejko (Evil Brew, Bleeding Hearts)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I was digging through Instagram when I came across a post for the film Daisy Derkins: Dogsitter of the Damned.  This jumped out to me and I quickly snagged a copy to review.  I fucking loved the film and sought the director out on social media.  I started following his projects from there and soon realized that he had made several Daisy Derkins films since Dogsitter of the Damned.  The years since then I've snagged a few of them to add to my collection but never found the time to watch them until now.  A few weeks back Mark reached out to review his newest installment which forced my hand to finally check the previous installments out.  The second film in the franchise, Daisy Derkins vs The Bloodthirsty Beast of Barren Pines, was not as fun as the first but did have it's moments.

      The film follows Daisy who has now come to the realization that she has the ability to defeat monsters and demons.  She finds herself hitching a ride with a punk trio when they break down in a wooded area with no phone service.  They decide to head out to look for help while leaving one person behind to stay with the car.  What they don't know is that an all female gang has just pulled off a deadly heist and is also walking through the woods along with a creature of unspeakable evil.

     I went into this follow up with a lot of excitement after remembering how much I enjoyed the first film.  Sadly, it just didn't have the same energy the first film had.  I did like a few things brought forward in this one but the overall film was lacking.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent.  While I did like some of the performances, most of the film is a bit awkward.  The cast is extremely stiff in front of the camera which results in dialogue that feels like it's being read off of cards out of view.  The performances that were not like this are overshadowed by the rest of the film.  The story for this one is pretty impressive but could have been shot better.  The idea of a punk band and Daisy Derkins wondering through the woods with a gang of killer women and a dinosaur should be something every horror fan can get behind.  However, the gang is not as menacing as I would have liked.  Could you imagine a female version of Last House on the Left?  Anyway, the dinosaur is underwhelming and the female gang is more for comedic effect than it is for carrying the story further.  Finally, the film is full of visual effects that are not visually appealing.  I love when funny horror comedies use bad CGI to add another layer of laughs to a film but here these are out of place.  Mix that with the little bit of blood you do get and you are in for a bit of disappointment.  Overall, The Bloodthirsty Beast of Barren Pines is nowhere near as fun as the first film.  There is parts of the film that I did enjoy but the overall film falls short of where it needs to be.  This is one I cannot recommend.  

Call of the Void

Director - J.M. Stelly (The Demonologist, Abacus)

Starring - Jared Bankens (Twisted Metal, Devil's Peak), Kirsten Bazet (Interview with the Vampire, Claws), and Katie Bankens 

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Death be not the end"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I recently had a double feature of films from director J.M. Stelly and really enjoyed myself.  I started this little adventure with his gritty crime thriller Abacus which was a lot of fun but it's similarities to the pop horror franchise Saw was very noticeable.  Once I finished with that one I moved on to his second film Call of the Void.  This was a bit of an unusual film being part silent and part narrated.  This was a bit of a creative gamble but I absolutely loved it.  I once again want to thank Stelly for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a man with a horrible addiction.  As he struggles with his creative outlets and addiction, he soon finds himself face to face with the void and the ghosts that haunt it.

     Call of the Void is one of those films that you are either going to love or absolutely hate it.  While I absolutely loved it, I can see why some genre fans will hate it.  It's a beautifully strange film with amazing cinematography and screen presence without taking away from the story.  The acting in this one is great.  The film has an extremely small cast but all eyes are on Jared Bankens who delivers a fucking intense performance.  I've seen mental illness and addiction before but he absolutely knocked it out of the park on camera.  This film should be seen for his performance alone.  The story for this one is a loving tribute to the silent era with a dash of German expressionism and a bit of the haunting madness that made Lovecraft a genre name.  It all comes together to deliver a very unique film experience that is rarely seen in the modern era.  As I stated earlier, this was a creative gamble that I do believe paid off.  With that being said, I wish it would have stuck with the silent aspect instead of switching between it and the narration.  Also, a few of the scenes were a bit too long which did impede the flow of the film.  Finally, don't expect a blood bath or a flick full or gore.  Instead, it relies heavily on atmosphere and tension which it does very nicely.  Overall, Call of the Void may be one of the most impressive indie productions I've reviewed to date.  I can see this title being polarizing among genre fans but I absolutely loved it.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

Abacus

Director - J.M. Stelly (They Are Watching, The Demonologist)

Starring - Jared Bankens (Twisted Metal, Walker), Matt Story (Blood Country, Her Calling), and Jerry Katz (Men Too, The Exile)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Thriller

Tagline - "Beware the call of his name"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've spent a good portion of my adult life writing reviews for indie releases.  I love the originality and imagination you find in indie releases from passionate filmmakers with a love for the genre.  I've seen some wild films over and years and every day I'm finding new films that surprise the hell out of me.  A few weeks ago filmmaker J. M. Stelly contacted me about an upcoming thriller of his titled Abacus.  Honestly, the title didn't excited me that much but I was still curious about the film.  I agreed to check it out and I'm glad I did because absolutely loved it.  I want to thank Stelly for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check it out.  

     The film follows three strangers who find themselves locked in a cement room with no escape.  They soon discover one of them is holding a gun and a phone laying nearby.  After the discovery of the phone it begins ringing and an ominous voice tells them that they are brought together because of their connections.  Over time it is revealed that they may not know each other directly but their random dealings and seedy history has them connected.

     I'll be honest, I was interested in Abacus for the synopsis only.  The title and poster for it didn't really peak my interest.  However, after just a few minutes into the film I was immediately hooked.  It was a brooding and atmospheric film that did remind me a lot of Saw but with a crime thriller touch.  The acting in this one is very well done.  The cast is extremely small and everyone carries their own weight.  We have some pretty intense performances that works very well against the dark and bleak setting of the film.  The story for this one is a bit predictable but it's still a very enjoyable ride regardless.  I love the characters backstories and how well it integrates into the story.  I also love how it felt like a mix of Saw meets organized crime.  Some of the scenes are a bit drawn out but it still works.  Finally, the film is not one with a body count.  We do have a scene that is particularly bloody but it's not something that will stick with the gorehounds.  Overall, Abacus is a gritty thriller that may not be for all genre fans but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I highly recommend checking this one out when you can.