Ben

Director - Phil Karlson (Walking Tall, The Hornet's Nest)
Starring - Lee Montgomery (The Midnight Hour, Mutant), Joseph Campanella (CSI, Star Trek: Voyager), and Arthur O'Connell (Night Gallery, A Taste of Evil)
Release Date - 1971
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Where Willard ended...Ben begins.  And this time, he's not alone"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      So many amazing films have great sequels.  Frankenstein has Bride of Frankenstein, Night of the Living Dead has Dawn of the Dead, Evil Dead has Evil Dead II, Re-Animator has Bride of Re-Animator, Alien has Aliens, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has Texas Chainsaw Massacre II, and the list goes on and on.  One film I was surprised had a sequel, yet alone a great sequel, was Willard.  Willard is one of those films that I had always wanted to watch and knew it would be entertaining to an extent but didn't expect it to be life changing.  The fact that is spawned a sequel shocked me.  Hell, I didn't know it existed until Scream Factory announced it's release.  Ben was a new one on me.  Would it be a mild drama for most of the film like Willard or would it pick up where Willard left off taking the viewer into a traditional horror film?  I had to see for myself.
     The film picks up moments after Willard with his death.  The police are on the look out for an army of rats and their leader, Ben.  The police are searching every house, sewers, and any other place you can think of to find the rodents.  What they don't suspect is that a young boy, suffering a terrible illness, has befriended Ben and his rat army.  They protect the young boy and when those that bully him are attacked by Ben and his army it is easy for the adults and the police to trace them back to the young boy.
     I enjoyed Willard but it just didn't feel like a horror film until the last 20 minutes or so.  Honestly, it felt like a depressing dark drama before the bloodshed erupted.  Ben was a faster moving film that genuinely felt like a horror film.  In fact, I enjoyed it a lot more than Willard.  The acting in this one is not the best.  Lee Montgomery is a familiar face though he is a lot younger than his appearance in one of my favorite horror films growing up, The Midnight Hour.  The child actor does a solid job in his performance but there was still a lot of room to grow.  The remainder of the cast is on the same level.  They oversell a lot of the scenes and remind me of a theatrical production.  The story for this one is more or less the same as Willard except the antisocial misfit is a kid with a critical illness instead of a socially awkward adult.  What I really liked about this one is how it looked and felt like a horror film.  The story had better pacing and the some of the scenes stick with me.  Finally, the film has the same type of kills as the first film.  The effects are almost identical and no imagination or creativity is tossed in.  The effect s are minimal as well resulting in some lackluster kills.  Overall, Ben is a worthy sequel.  There is some missed opportunities but the film is better than Willard in my opinion.  I can't recommend this one enough.

Willard

Director - Daniel Mann (Journey Into Fear, The Revengers)
Starring - Bruce Davison (X-Men, The Lords of Salem), Sondra Locke (Tales of the Unexpected, Death Game), Ernest Borgnine (Escape from New York, Deadly Blessings)
Release Date - 1971
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "This is the one movie you should not see alone"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've heard of a lot of movies that I needed to check out when I first started getting into horror.  Most told me to check out the more common horror films like the Universal monster film and Hammer Horror flicks.  These were already films I was very accustomed in.  Others made me take a more obscure route with films like Frankenhooker, Basket Case, Neon Maniacs, and so on.  While others in different horror groups were recommending the same movies over and over again I did have a few people offer up things that were different.  One of the films was Willard.  Around this time there was a remake in the works starring Crispin Glover.  I had always wanted to see it but never had the opportunity to do so.  That changed recently when Scream Factory released Willard and the sequel Ben on blu.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send review copies my way.

     The film follows Willard (Davison) who finds himself as everyone's punching bag.  The company his father created was taken away from his family and the boss treats him like shit.  His mother is terminally ill and continues to belittle him.  The only friends he has is two rats, Ben and Socrates.  He secretly takes them with him everywhere he goes but his adoption of them has created a problem when more and more rats pour into his basement seeking sanctuary.  When he takes them to work one evening, his boss finds them and kills Socrates.  Ben becomes infuriated and Willard is tore up over the ordeal.  He then gets his rat army, lead by Ben, to take those that wronged him but once he tries to stop Ben turns on Willard and kills him.

     I've always enjoyed the "when nature attacks" horror films of the 70s so it only made sense that I had wanted to watch the movie that started it all.  I knew I would enjoy Willard but I was always curious to see how it played it.  I knew it wouldn't be something that changed the way I saw horror but deep down I knew it would entertain.  The acting in this one doesn't really sell me on the cast.  I loved Ernest Borgnine and his crude character.  He is an asshole boss that we have all had before.  Sadly, I just wasn't feeling Bruce Davison as Willard.  He's an amazing actor but he just doesn't feel helpless and lost like you expect Willard to be.  The story for this one is extremely fun but does take a very long time to feel like a horror movie especially when you consider the wonky music that plays throughout the film.  The film feels like a depressing drama until the last 30 minutes or so before we get anything remotely considered horror.  It is still an effective story but should not be billed as horror.  It is a slower burner that makes very good use of it's time with character development and backstory.  Aside from the lack of horror elements I still rather enjoyed the story.  Finally, the film does have a few on screen kills.  They are entertaining and cheesy but not very memorable.  The rats "attacking" people is literally the rodents walking across their bodies with random blood spots applied.  What makes these so damn entertaining is watching the actors scream like they are really in pain.  Overall, Willard is a fun late night movie that I'm sure was a blast at the drive-in.  Not as effective now as it once was but it is still a fun film.  Check it out.  

Tank 432

Director - Nick Gillespie (Samuel and Emil vs The Word, The Shadow Seamstress)
Starring - Rupert Evans (Hellboy, The Boy), Steve Garry (The Fallow Field, Rough Around the Edges), and Deirdre Mullins (The Frankenstein Chronicles, Whitechapel)
Release Date - 2015
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "There's no turning back"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     After watching several no budget indie flick I wanted to mix it up a bit and check out something a little more polish.  I recently checked out the two Sasquatch films Mountain Devil and Something in the Woods.  Aside from those I was able to watch and review the indie films Betsy and Slimed.  All these films are great but I sometimes I like to mix it up a little.  A little while ago I was sent the psychological horror film Tank 432 by Scream Factory in conjunction with IFC Midnight.  I was on the fence about this film due to the fact that most of the film's running time takes place in a tank.  I then had to remind myself that the film Battery takes place in a car and is easily one of my favorite modern zombie films.  I went into it with an open mind and I'm glad I did.  I actually enjoyed Tank 432.  Once again I want to thank Scream Factory for allowing me to check this out.

     The film follows a military unit making their way through a desolate countryside when then encounter women locked in freight liners.  They take them out and are immediately under fire from an unknown enemy.  They continue their march through the countryside until they find an abandoned tank.  They empty it out and climb inside to seek refuge.  However, their fight is not over when they discover a strange medication inside the tank that is mentally taking its toll on the inhabitants.

     I heard some rough things about this film going into it.  A lot of horror fans complained that it was a boring film with little to no action.  I can see their point but I personally enjoyed it.  Tank 432 may not be one of the most enlightening horror films I had ever seen but it was still entertaining.  The acting in this one is pretty entertaining.  Each actor delivered a unique character that was both very well portrayed and memorable.  I really enjoyed Rupert Evans and Michael Smiley's performance.  Their characters were great and well balanced.  I was a little disappointed that Smiley was not more utilized.  Great casting on the film's part.  The story for this one is very bold but does come across as underwhelming.  The psychological horror angle does come across as weak and almost undermines the raw horror the beginning of the film establishes.  The film would have been a powerful tale of claustrophobia if it would have abandoned the psychological aspect.  Finally, the film does have a few on screen kills but they are rather lackluster and boring.  Most involve gun shot wounds.  The effects are great but once you seen a great gunshot would you've seen them all.  Overall, Tank 432 is far from perfect but I enjoyed it.  It has several noticeable flaws but the overall film is enjoyable.  Check it out. 

    

Slimed

Director(s) - Eric Manche and Jeff Nitzberg
Starring - Jordan Lee, Dustin Triplett, and Jessica Borusky
Release Date - 2010
Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi/Comedy
Tagline - "Action. Horror. Exploding children"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My luck with indie horror films has been in point the last few days.  Recently, I was lucky enough to check out the werewolf film Betsy from director Shawn Burkett and Concept Media before moving on to the bigfoot centered films Mountain Devil and Something in the Woods.  After watching these I wanted to continue my indie horror spree and check out some more no budget fun.  Next on my list is one of the newest acquisitions of Troma and will premier on their streaming service Troma Now.  The film, Slimed, was originally shot in 2010 and just now found distribution.  I love anything Troma so I reached out to them and they were kind enough to hook me up.  Thanks Troma for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check out this film!

     The film follows atheist park ranger Rock Rockerson (Lee) who is about to lose his park to back taxes when he encounters a bible salesman named Pepe(Triplett).  Pepe proposes that they build a nature center in the middle of the park to appeal to a younger generation and Rock agrees.  They venture out to a secluded part of the park with a horrible past to build when Rock discovers that Pepe was tricking him into building a church.  While they are quarreling a test subject from a chemical company rolls down the hill covered in a glowing green substance.  They set out to investigate the origin of it and discover a corporate conspiracy and a world unlike their own.

     I have a high standard when it comes to Troma.  I want wacky characters, ridiculous stories, and gruesome kills.  Slimed delivered just that.  I loved the way the film was shot, the story, the characters, and the overall look.  Slimed delivered and is easily one of my favorite Troma distributed films of recent years.  The acting in this one is not great but I love the way it was done.  All the characters are not natural.  Instead, you get characters as if they were written for a children's program.  The acting and the cast reminded me a lot of shows like Pee Wee's Playhouse and I fucking loved it.  The story for this one is fun.  It never has a slow moment and continuously builds upon itself.  Also, there is several twists and turns so you never know where this crazy rollercoaster ride will take you next.  The film does a great job at incorporating horror and sci-fi elements that you can find in drive-in staples of the 50s and 60s.  It was a pleasant surprise and I really enjoyed that.  Finally, the film is a visual feast.  It has tons of classic visual and practical effects.  The practical effects are decent but nothing memorable but what really stands out is the campy visual effects and classic camera tricks.  I love seeing things like that in indie cinema.  When you can't make the visual effects look authentic you can still have fun with them which can be seen in the works of Dustin Mills and the modern holiday classic Thanksgiving.  Overall, Slimed is a testament of indie horror filmmaking and turning a no budget into an unforgettable film.  I cannot recommend this film enough. 

      

Something in the Woods

Director(s) - David Ford (Sense of Urgency) and Tony Gibson (Gypsy Moon)
Starring - David Ford, Angela Harger (Deadly Notes, The Session), and Mike L. Hall (Devil's Deal, Skookum: The Hunt for Bigfoot)
Release Date - 2016
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Inspired by true events"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     With the Mothman Festival approaching I am in a huge cryptid mood.  I've loved cryptozoology for years but with recent visits to Point Pleasant I've become a little more obsessed with it.  As I was going through everything I need to set up the Horror Society/Wild Eye Releasing booth I decided to look up other films centered around bigfoot, Mothman, Braxton County Monster, and so on when I came across a Facebook page for the family thriller Something in the Woods.  This was a film right up my alley so I reached out to them.  They were kind enough to send over a link to an online screener.  With my review of Mountain Devil looming I decided to make a bigfoot double feature.  I want to thank the folks by Something in the Woods for allowing me to check the film out for the site!

     The film follows John Hartman and his family who lives in a small town surrounded by forests.  He is a foreman for a logging company that is making great strides in the logging industry.  Things take a dark turn when John spots a hairy creature walking on two legs around his property.  He tries to catch the creature but it seems to be one step ahead of him.  When he learns that the creature has been spying on his youngest son he sets out to kill the creature before it can tear his family apart.

     Something in the Woods is not your typical horror film.  In fact, this dark thriller is aimed for families.  With that being said, it is still a fun film for any horror fan or cryptid enthusiasts.  The acting in this one was surprisingly good.  Budgets usually dictate talent but this film has one hell of a cast regardless of the budget.  Director David Ford is awesome as the film's lead.  He is a powerful character and really has that fatherly charm that people look for in a farther figure.  He takes control of his scenes and carries the story.  The supporting cast is just as great and I can't praise them enough.  The story for this one is great for the topic but it is a bit of a slower burner.  The story does a great job with character development and establishing the story but it moves at a snails pace.  A little more action or story oriented scenes scattered throughout would have made this one a lot better.  Finally, this isn't the blood and gore bigfoot flick like The Big F.  Instead of gore and practical effects we get solid storytelling and a creature feature set in a dreary atmosphere.  Overall, Something in the Woods may not be the horror film you are looking for but fans of bigfoot and other cryptids will really enjoy this dark thriller.  Check it out!

Mountain Devil

Director - Ryan Cavalline (Stockholm Syndrome, Dead Body Man)
Starring - Eric Altman, Eddie Benevich, and Dennis Dean
Release Date - 2017
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Based on true events"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     By this point it is no surprise that I am a fan of cryptozoology and local folklore.  Growing up in West Virginia I was raised on the tales of Mothman of Point Pleasant and the Braxton County Monster.  Both are state known legends that really kicked me into horror.  I discovered cryptozoology around the time I read through my school libraries Goosebumps collection.  It was then that I was introduced to several Appalachian ghost story collections and some had tales of bigfoot, the Mothman, and one eye witness account of the Braxton County Monster.  I was hooked on these stores.  I'm not a believer but I do have an interest in the matter.  Sometime ago Wild Eye released the Ryan Cavalline film Mountain Devil.  Having a story centered around bigfoot made me curious.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to hook me up with a review copy.  Thanks guys!

     This docu-drama follows a team of investigators as they try to follow the steps of Frank Peterson who had an encounter with a bigfoot type creature years before.  They set up shop in the area their video footage was filmed and spend the night in hopes of catching the mysterious cryptid on film.  While this is taking shape we are given interviews from locals that has witnessed similar creatures while in the woods nearby.

   




   
     Before I start this part of my review I do have to say that this review is far from perfect.  In fact, some may find it unwatchable but I really enjoyed it.  I can see where Cavalline was going with it and was entertained by it but there was several things I would have changes.  The "interviews" in this one are fun but some are a little awkward to watch.  Some may be camera shy or their first time on camera and it shows.  However, some are natural in front of the camera and deliver their dialogue in a pleasant manner.   With that being said, the "re-enactment" scenes were solidly acted.  I really enjoyed these little cut scenes and would have loved to see them become their own standalone flick.  The story for this one was entertaining but it could have easily been split into two separate flicks.  The first portion, the documentary, is a fun look at a supposed encounter where a hunter and his friend shoot and kill a bigfoot like creature.  We have a look at the family who had heard the story and a candid interview with the person themselves.  This should have been a stand alone film.  The other portion, the re-enactments was a solid look at a bigfoot horror film.  These scenes are short and few in between but I would have loved for this to be it's own film.  The story was simple and would have worked on a no to low budget.  Finally, this isn't your typical horror film with the blood and gore.  It does have a sasquatch kill that is bloody.  The effects are not the best but that is why I loved it.  It reminded me of a cheap shot on video kills from the 90s.  Overall, Mountain Devil is not the film you are expecting.  This documentary/mockumentary is fun if you have an interest in cryptozoology but there is plenty of room for improvment.  Cryptid fans will need to check it out.