The Twilight Zone: Season 1

Creator(s) - Simon Kinberg (Cinderella, Deadpool), Jordan Peele (Get Out, Big Mouth), and Marco Ramirez (The Defenders, Daredevil)
Starring - Jordan Peele, David Epstein (Son of Bigfoot, The Chronicles of Lei Gong), and Kelly Ann Woods (Supernatural, Supergirl)
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Tagline - "What dimension are you even in?"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I can trace my love for television to my grandmother.  My dad worked out of town a lot growing up so I spent many nights are her home with my uncle and sister watching television.  She was a fan of the original Sci-Fi Channel and I could remember watching shows like Red Dwarf, Doctor Who, Lexx, Roswell, and so much more.  Aside from those she often watched shows like Unsolved Mysteries, The Twilight Zone, Murder, She Wrote and many more.  These are shows that I still love and often revisit when I get the time.  When I heard that Jordan Peele was bringing The Twilight Zone back I was confused.  How did the star of Key and Peele become Rod Sterling's replacement?  I know Get Out and Us made waves through the horror community but I was curious how a known funny man turned horror director would take over this iconic role.  Regardless, I was still intrigued and when I was presented with a review copy of the film on blu I couldn't turn it down.  

     The series features 10 episodes ranging from a struggling comedian that always has the last laugh, to social justice, to time travel in a sense.  Each episode features a moral dilemma and the outcome is always based on the antagonists actions.  

     

     I loved the original run of The Twilight Zone along with the 1985 series.  I wasn't a fan of the 2002 reimaging but it did have some moments that was enjoyable.  The Twilight Zone: The Movie is another memorable moment of my childhood so I wanted to give this new series the benefit of the doubt.  At the end of the day it stood out as an amazing show but just didn't feel like the classic Twilight Zone that I grew up on.  The acting in this one is absolutely fantastic.  Jordan Peele was a fantastic host.  His voice and demeanor is no replacement for Sterling but it is evident that they knew that.  He borrowed the tone but gave his own flare which worked.  Each episode has an amazing cast that really brings these bigger than life stories to life.  They are all very entertaining and hold your attention very well.  Some are more straight forward while others tackle hot button topics of racism, sexism, and politics.  Each and every episode will draw you in and hold your attention.  With that being said, they feel like modern takes on Amazing Stories rather than The Twilight Zone.  I could be more behind these being new episodes of Amazing Stories rather than The Twilight Zone.  Finally, the series is visually stunning.  We get some great practical effects, visual effects, and sets that are unforgettable.  Hell, we even get some blood in one or two of the episodes.  No gore but the effects for these episodes are still great to look at.  Overall, Season 1 of The Twilight Zone is a must watch for fans of the series.  Sure, it doesn't feel like the classic series but it does fill the void.  Peele gives the viewer something extremely entertaining and for that I am very thankful.  Check it out now on DVD and blu!

The Bleak

Director - James Bell (Nutsack, Dog Dick)
Starring - James Bell, Amanda Bell (Harm, Guardia de Male), and Nathan Rumler (Chubbies, Time to Kill)
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Horror
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Indie director James Bell is no stranger to my reviews.  I've covered his films for several years now and I always look forward to what he will bring to the table with his next film.  His films are more experimental and extreme than I am accustomed to but I would be lying if I said I don't have fun with them.  Sometime back Bell announced another film was in the works, The Bleak, and it would be available at Cinema Wasteland.  Sadly, I was unable to attend and with the first one of this year being cancelled I had to order my copy from them.  When I got it in I patiently waited until I was able to toss it in.  

     The film flows more like an anthology than an actual film.  The first story follows a pussy faced man as he brutally mutilates anyone he comes across.  The second story follows a serial killer that abducts beautiful women, has his way with them, and then brutally murders them in torture porn fashion.  The third and final story follows a man who is watching the previous murder on tape while trying to fuck his wife.  When she refuses he snaps and goes on a killing spree.

     Bell has a unique style that is almost impossible to explain.  We get gore, masked maniacs, more gore, nudity, and gore mixed with an score that is unforgettable.  I'm not a fan of extreme horror and I'm the first to admit it but Bell's unique and strange style really pulls me in.  The Bleak is another continuation of the sick world Bell has crafted over the years and delivers, once again, on the depravity that makes this filmmaker so much fun.  The acting in this one is solid and works for the film.  The characters lack personalities but they more than make up for it with the screaming and emotion range.  Some of the cast is expected to deliver more and they do for the most part.  Bell takes on multiple roles and does a fantastic job along with his gorgeous wife Mae (credited as Amanda Bell). Both are great and so is the supporting cast.  The story for this one is short, simple, but somewhat repetitive.   We get stories that we have seen before in horror, especially extreme horror, but Bells' synth soundtrack mixed with his practical effects really pulls you in with the atmosphere.  The movie clocks in just a little over 40 minutes so the film doesn't over do it for the viewer.  The pacing is smooth and we get plenty of action but once you finish the first story you find yourself in very familiar territory.  Finally, it wouldn't be a Very Fine Crap Video's release if it wasn't full of great practical effects and gore.  Bell is one of the most talented special effects artists in the indie community and his films, The Bleak included, showcases some seriously entertaining gore.  You have to watch it to truly appreciate it.  Overall, The Bleak is another gore soaked flick from a truly unusual filmmaker.  It doesn't bring anything new to the table but it is truly fun as hell to watch.  Check it out now on DVD from Very Fine Crap Videos.  

Terror in the Skies

Director - Seth Breedlove (The Bray Road Beast, The Mothman of Point Pleasant)
Starring - Lyle Blackburn (Return of the Jackalope, American Nightmare), Loren Coleman (UFO Files, Twisted Tales), and Ken Gerhard (In Search of Monsters, Monsterquest)
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Documentary
Tagline - "Thunderbirds. Phantoms. Prehistoric remnants. Winged demons. Mothman"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I wanted to have a crypto double feature after I watched two Vinegar Syndrome flicks.  So I decided to toss in the horror comedy Bigfoot! from Absurd Productions Pictures.  When I finished that anthology I decided to look for something a little different but still fitting my theme.  I had bought the Small Town Monsters' documentary Terror in the Skies sometime ago at the Mothman Festival but never got around to checking it out.  I've seen most of their releases up to this point and reviewed several of them so this was the perfect time to get caught up and add more cryptids to my double feature.

     The documentary follows the winged phenomenon of Illinois that has terrorized the state for decades.  We venture into tales from possible condors, left over creatures from prehistoric times, and even the Mothman.



 

      I really enjoy the documentaries brought to us from Small Town Monsters.  They give the world of cryptozoology the much needed attention it truly deserves.  Sure, we have countless books and half ass television shows on the subject but none go as in depth as these documentaries do.  I really enjoy their documentaries and this one was exceptionally interesting.  The interviews in this one are wide range spanning from cryptozoologists that studied each incident to witnesses and locals that lived through each of the sightings as they happened.  I really like how in depth these interviews get but my only turn off is how each subject in the film has very little time dedicated to it.  I would have really enjoyed myself if each phenomenon had their own episode dedicated to it.  I also enjoyed the way the documentary follows each phenomenon as they took place and kept them grouped with the anomaly.  We follow each sighting as it happened and the film is split up with each creature/phantom almost like an anthology but in chronological order.  It really puts everything in scope of how much phenomenon happens in a state that is known for other things.  Finally, this crypto documentary is edited together very nicely which his something STM is known for.  Their productions are always top notch and the flow in this is fucking seemless.  They do a fantastic job with this production and I would have loved to see more from it.  Overall, Terror in the Skies is another hit from the crew of STM.  They give us another documentary that will pull the viewer in and mesmerize them.  I wish this film was turned into a series but it's still a solid effort from a team that has brought paranormal and cryptids into the mainstream once again.  Check it out and add it to your collection.  

Bigfoot!

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Flesh-Eating Mothers

Director - James Aviles Martin (Artwatch, Diega!)
Starring - Robert Lee Oliver (Caesar and Otto Meet Dracula's Laywer), Donatella Hecht, and Neal Rosen
Release Date - 1988
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "They bit off more than they could chew"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     After watching the Spookies release from Vinegar Syndrome I decided to keep the Vin Syn train rolling and toss in another release.  I wanted something sleazy but another release caught my eye.  When I was in college I bought a Region B release of the horror comedy Flesh-Eating Mothers before realizing it was region locked.  I never got around to checking it out but sometime later I traded it to someone for movies I could.  I've kicked myself several times since then for trading that release away but I don't feel as stupid now.  Sometime back Vin Syn released the film on blu and was kind enough to send a review copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a small suburban community that turns deadly when the mothers turn bloodthirsty.  The mothers in the town turn on their families and start eating them forcing a few of the teenagers to band together to stop them without actually killing them.  The local coroner starts investigating the cause and discovers that the women are infected with a virus after sleeping with one of the men there.     

     I went into this one not expecting much but I absolutely loved it.  Sure, it's cheap and rough around the edges but it still delivers.  However, what it lacks in quality it more than makes up for in humor and absurdity.  The acting in this one is very rough.  I really liked some of the characters but the acting still left plenty of room for improvement.  Most of the cast struggles with volume control and unnatural conversations.  It brings an unintentional laugh to the film but it also kills most of the scenes that require a sense of brevity.  The story for this one is goofy as hell but it's fun in the same manner that most of the S.O.V. horror films of the late 80s  and early 90s are.  It's stupid, has goofy characters, and a story with holes swiss cheesed in it but it works.  We get one dialogue fueled scene after another but the cringy dialogue, the awkward character interactions, and the STD virus that turns housewives into cannibals makes for an unforgettable movie experience.  Finally, if you want some blood you will find plenty of it here.  We get some fun make-up effects and some solid practical effects.  Nothing spectacular or amazing but they work for the film and makes the kills just as enjoyable.  Overall, Flesh-Eating Mothers is far from perfect but the bad mixing with the cheesy just enough to entertain.  I hate using the phrase it's so bad it's good but that seems to fit this perfectly.  I can see myself tossing this one in again sometime down the road with a few beers.  The blu looks solid especially when compared to previous releases of the film.  You can get it now on blu from Vinegar Syndrome.  Check it out.  

Spookies

Director(s) - Genie Joseph (Mind Benders, Pheromone), Thomas Doran (Mothers of Mercy, Is This the End of Doublespeak?), and Brendan Faulkner (Killer Dead)
Starring - Felix Ward, Maria Pechukas (Carmilla, Night of the Cat), and Dan Scott (Adam-12, Screen Two)
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "A night of unrelenting terror"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     After a few days at work I decided to take a three day weekend and binge some movies and relax.  The amount of customers walking into our store that pretend like this is not a serious situation for everyone staggers and creates an extremely stressful work environment.  While I was home for three days I tossed on a little Vinegar Syndrome double feature before moving on to a few other films.  The films film on the chopping block is the 1986 horror comedy Spookies.  This is a movie I had bought several year prior at a con only to get home and discover that it was a boot and the boot didn't work.  When Vin Syn's blu release is the first time I had ever seen the film.  Thanks Vin Syn for sending this one my way.

     The film follows a group of people that stops by a home near a cemetery to party but soon find themselves in mortal danger.  What they don't know is that the home is owned by an evil man and his "children" who plan on using the group to resurrect his dead wife.  

    

  I never heard good things about this one aside from how awesome the practical effects was.  I was always curious about it and my love for cheesy 80s horror flicks always made me interested in the film.  I couldn't wait to watch it and when I had the time I tossed it in.  The acting in this one is super cheesy and not in a good way at times.  I've seen some cheesy horror flicks from the 80s with some oddball casts and characters but Spookies may take the cake.  The characters are very out there and unforgettable but there was several occasions the viewer just feels awkward watching the cast stammer through their dialogue.  I don't know the director situation with the film but the performances feel as if they were lacking direction.  The story for this one is beautifully 80s but lacks something to pull it all together.  The evil man sacrificing the group to bring back his love while various creatures wreak havoc.  It was a promising idea but it feels incomplete and the romance angle around the dead beauty and the evil conjurer is extremely awkward and out of place.  These inconsistencies makes this one fall short of greatness.  Finally, the creatures and practical effects are great.  Honestly, most of the film flows like a highlight reel of top not make-up effects, prosthetics, and practical effects.    We don't get the blood and gore that I thought we would but the creatures, undead, and the effects are fucking top notch.  Very memorable and highly enjoyable.  Overall, Spookies is a movie that has a lot going for it but is unable to put them all together into a movie that I will revisit several times.  The blu looks great from Vin Syn and looks perfect in any collection but I don't see myself watching this again anytime soon.  Check it out now.  

The Running Man

Director - Paul Michael Glaser (Amazing Stories, Band of the Hand)
Starring - Arnold Schwarzenegger (Predator, Terminator), Maria Conchita Alonso (The Outer Limits, Vampire's Kiss), and Richard Dawson (The Devil's Brigade, Hong Kong Phooey)
Release Date - 1987
Genre - Sci-Fi/Action
Tagline - "2019.  A game nobody survives.  This year might be the exception"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in middle school and elementary I would stay with my grandma while my dad was out of town.  She was a huge fan of the Sci-Fi Channel (now SyFy) and when I knew I was going to be there for a few days I would rent a stack of VHS tapes.  Most of the time I would rent those mid-90s made for children movies but sometimes I would venture into other genres like horror and sci-fi if something caught my eye.  It was at this time that I was introduced to 1987 film adaptation of the Richard Bachman/Stephen King novel The Running Man.  My grandma fucking hated it but fell in love with it.  I bought the VHS when I could and a few years later I picked up the DVD.  I've watched it so many times over the years but when my DVD started skipping I decided to retire it.  Sometime back Umbrella Entertainment released the film on blu and was kind enough to send it over for review.  Thanks so much, guys!

     The film follows former soldier Ben Richards (Schwarzenegger) who was wrongly accused of massacring innocent civilians.  After a successful prison break the host of a gameshow sees his footage on the news and wants him as a contestant on his show The Running Man.  Richards is eventually apprehended and Damon Killian (Dawson) tricks him into agreeing to be on the show.  Killian is in dire need to higher ratings and Richards looks to be just what he was hoping for but Richards has other plans.

     The Running Man created a love for combat game movies in me that I still love to this day.  I blame The Running Man for my obsession with movies like Battle Royale, The Condemned, Death Race, and even The Hunger Games.  I can't explain why I love these films so much but I know I contracted this love after watching the now iconic film The Running Man.  The acting in this one is extremely cheesy and I fucking love it.  Honestly, I have a hard time taking anyone seriously if they say Schwarzenegger is a great actor.  He's not and I'm sorry to say that.  However, it's his mannerisms and demeanor that makes his roles so much fun.  No one could turn the roles he has taken on into iconic roles like he did.  The same can be said for his performance as Ben Richards in TRM.  He's not delivering an amazing performance but the way he carries himself and so on really makes the character fun to watch.  One of the best performances in the film comes from Richard Dawson.  He's so fucking natural in the role and his personality only makes his performance feel that more sinister.  He does a fantastic job.  The supporting cast is great as well.  Some follow in Schwarzenegger's footsteps and deliver extremely cheesy performances that rival anything from the world of professional wrestling.  The story for this one rides that 80s wave of "futuristic" films that depicts the fall of the U.S. as we know it and the police state is born in it's ashes.  Toss in the classic futuristic effects and computers mixed with a gladiator style reality game show and you have yourself the perfect mix of dated goodness.  Sure, it is funny looking at and horrible depiction of 2019 but the film is still fun while carefully flirting with the fears many people have about big government.  The film has plenty of actions, some memorable fights, and a very compelling story that does feel dated but fun.  Finally, the film does have several on screen kills but the death are carefully done as to not over do it for the viewer.  We get some blood but no gore for you sick fucks out there.  We also get some very dated visual effects that I fucking love.  They are cheap but classic for the time.  Overall, The Running Man is a film I can never tire of and this release from Umbrella looks fucking fantastic.  Fans of this film and collectors will NEED this release for their collections.  Get it now while you still can!

Beyond Evil

Director - Herb Freed (Dead Punkz, Graduation Day)
Starring - John Saxon (Black Christmas, A Nightmare on Elm St.), Lynda Day George (Mortuary, Pieces), and Michael Dante (Star Trek: The Original Series, Winterhawk)
Release Date - 1980
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Even screaming wont help"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     With the world on lock down I still have to work.  At first I wasn't too worried about Covid-19 but everyday is marked with a higher concern for my wellbeing and that of my family.  I have three little ones at home and I'm worried about a customer dragging the virus into the store and then I carry it home to my little ones.  I've turned to horror to take my mind off the entire situation which may be a good or bad thing depending on how you slice it.  I checked out a few indie productions before turning my sights on a few blu releases that I've been sitting on.  The first on the chopping block is the 1980 Troma flick Beyond Evil that was sent my way from Vinegar Syndrome.  I own the VHS and DVD release of this film but I never made the time to check it out.  Thanks Vin Syn for sending it my way!

     The film follows newlyweds as they move into an old mansion with a dark past.  As he continues his life as the head of a construction company building condos on an isolated island she finds herself being haunted by the spirit of a murdered sorceress that is using her body as a gateway to the mortal world.

     I mostly never made time for the film because other Troma fans had told me that it was a huge waste of time with Saxon being the only redeemable aspect of the entire film.  I love Troma but they do release some duds.  I was still optimistic with this one but at the end of the day I was very disappointed.  The blu is a stellar release from Vin Syn like always but all this work did go into a rather lackluster film.  The acting in this one is painfully one sided.  Saxon delivers an amazing performance but his acting is very inconsistent.  In some scenes he gives the role everything he has while others he hams it up big time.  The supporting cast is rather dull and boring.  They lack personalities and are painfully generic.  I just finished the film last night and I couldn't tell you about any of the others characters because they fade into the background.  The story for this one has an interested take on the possessed/haunted house sub-genres but fails to pull it together. The film lacks any dire tone or sense of urgency.  The dude's wife is possessed but we never get a sense of dread or impending doom from it at all.  We just watch the characters handle the situation in an almost nonchalant manner.  It almost feels like an episode of Dark Shadows over a horror film.  Finally, if you are looking for blood and gore  you will be very disappointed.  We do get some very dated visual effects that I actually love but that is it.  Overall, Beyond Evil was just a let down to be completely honest.  The slip and work put into the release from Vin Syn makes it a must for any collector but this is one release I doubt I will ever toss in again.  Sorry, but this is one I cannot recommend unless you need it to complete your Troma or Vin Syn collections.   

     

April Fool's Day

Director - Fred Walton (When A Stranger Calls, Alfred Hitchcock Presents)
Starring - Ken Olandt (Leprechaun, Summer School), Amy Steel (Friday the 13th Part 2, Quantum Leap), and Deborah Foreman (My Chauffeur, Waxwork)
Release Date - 1986
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Guess who's going to be the life of the party?"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in middle I was flipping through the channels as Halloween approached when I landed on a horror movie marathon on some random channel I never watched before.  I think the channel at the time was IFC but I could be wrong.  The marathon had Boogens, a random Friday the 13th, My Bloody Valentine, April Fool's Day, and two other slashers that skipped my mind at the moment.  This was my first time for most of these except MBV and the Friday the 13th film.  When April Fool's Day came on I found myself fascinated with it.  It starred Ken Olandt from Leprechaun, which was a childhood favorite of mine, along with Friday the 13th Part 2's final girl Amy Steel.  When it was over I turned to eBay and found a cheap VHS of it and since then I've bought the movie several times on DVD.  When Scream Factory announced a blu release I knew I had to jump on it.  I fucking loved it that much.  Once again I want to thank Scream Factory for sending this one my way.  

     The film follows Muffy who just inherited a giant mansion and decides to throw a party for some of her friends.  What they don't know is that someone has it out for the group and one by one they are being murdered.

     I know several horror fans dislike this particular slasher due to the ending twist but I love it.  Sure, it makes previous scenes not have the impact they had as the film was progressing but it does deliver something different while keeping with the theme of the holiday.  I think that is one of the many reasons I like this one so much.  The acting in this one is solid but reminiscent of other slashers from the time frame.  The cast is extremely overdramatic at times but this is what makes slashers so much fun.  Watching the cast overreact and over sale the danger is one of the defining qualities of slashers.  The cast works very well together but some of the characters are rather cliched and generic especially for a slasher from 1986.  I will say that the character of Muffy and Buffy does stand out which makes the performance more memorable than the others.  The story for this one follows like most slashers.  We follow a group of young people as they are systematically picked off one by one by an unknown murderer.  This works for the film's theme but the biggest turn on/off for most horror fans is the ending.  The April Fools jest works for me but I can see why some people find it disappointing.  We have solid pacing and the horror splits up the rather boring dialogue.  Finally, this slasher doesn't focus on the kills themselves but more on who is dying.  We do get some after the fact shots but for the sake of the story they are far from perfect.  Overall, April Fool's Day is not for everyone.  Some hardcore slasher fans may not find it in good taste but I absolutely love it.  I often recommend it to many horror fans looking for something outside of the Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm St. series.  The blu is beautiful and a must for horror fans.  Check it out.