Kingdom of the Vampire

Director - J.R. Bookwalter (The Dead Next Door, Ozone)

Starring - Matthew Jason Walsh (Stage Fright, Zombie Cop), Cherie Patry, and Shannon Doyle (Flashpoint, The Contract)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Her bark is worse than her bite!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Back over the summer I went through makeflix.com, J.R. Bookwalter's movie distribution site, and ordered some of his releases that I didn't have in my collection.  I had the Zombie Cop Bad Movie Police release but lost it when I left college.  When I saw that all his sov films from the early 90s was in a Bad Movie Police set I decided to snag that.  It was the cheapest way to get those films so I didn't mind the set.  However, just a few weeks after buying that set he revealed that those same six films would be getting a blu release.  Then he revealed his SOV Six Pack release to the world.  It was absolutely amazing and I had to have it.  The moment pre-orders were available I jumped on it and I'm glad I did.  This set is absolutely amazing.  I had to wait a few weeks but I was finally able to dig into it.  The first film on the chopping block is 1991's Kingdom of the Vampire.

     The film follows teenage Jeff (Walsh) who works night shift and then supports his mothre during the day...because she is a vampire.  He has to take care of her in order to prevent her from killing the neighbors which occasionally happens.  Things go from messy to chaotic when Jeff meets a beautiful young lady and the two starts dating.  His bloodthirsty mother becomes jealous.  To make matters worse, the town police suspects Jeff and his mother for the disappearence of his relatives who was last seen on their street trick or treating.  

     Kingdom of the Vampire is one I was not familiar with until I buy the Bad Movie Police set over the summer.  I had the Brett Kelly remake I bought sometime ago but never watched.  In fact, until over the summer I had no idea it was a remake.  With that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this sov flick.  Sure, it's nowhere as fun as the other films I've seen from Bookwalter but it was still entertaining enough.  In fact, I kind of liked the lowbrow nature of the film.  The acting in this one is pretty amateur but the cast is really dedicated to their role.  The lack of experience, or inexperience, of the cast is overshadowed by their determination to deliver what the scene was calling for.  I respect that kind of dedication.  The story for this one is super simple and works but really stretches itself thin for the hour run time.  A man trying to hide his evil mother from the general public in order to save her really is a solid story especially for a no-budget sov flick.  However, this story does become flat as the film progresses.  It would have made much more of an impact if some of the repetitive scenes were cut.  Finally, has some bloody moments but if you are looking for amazing practical effects and gore you will be very disappointed.  The bloody scenes are not that impressive and easily forgettable.  Overall, Kingdom of the Vampire is not going to be very everyone.  However, if you dig early 90s sov horror flicks then this one may be for you.  I really enjoyed it for what it was.  

The Twilight Zone: Season Two

Creator(s) - Simon Kinberg (Deadpool 2, The New Mutants), Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us), and Marco Ramirez (Daredevil, The Defenders)

Starring - Jordan Peele, Jimmi Simpson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Into the Dark), and Topher Grace (Predators, That 70s Show)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi/ Drama

Tagline - "Escape"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The Twilight Zone is one of the most iconic shows in history.  Rod Serling sitting on the table speaking before and after each episode is something that has made it's way into modern pop culture with his appearance appearing in memes and other images circulating social media.  The show has seen several revivals over the year.  Honestly, they were fun in their own right but they are still met with heavy criticism from fans.  In 2019 it was announced that Jordan Peele would be hosting a new reincarnation of the series.  I was on the fence about it only knowing Peele from the comedy sketch show Keye and Peele.  However, I gave the first season a shot and fucking loved it.  With the pandemic around us I didn't believe a second season would be released but a few days ago I was surprised with season two on DVD for review.  I couldn't wait to dig into it.

     The second season features several episodes following people who can communicate telepathically, a man living the same day over and over, a man who controls the town with a model set, and an alien that morphs into a couples deceased daughter.

     The Twilight Zone appeals to so many different genre fans.  It has some seriously clever sci-fi themed episodes, extremely dramatic episodes, and some episodes that dive deep into horror.  The first season of the Peele hosted show was really enjoyable so I was curious if the second would be just as fun or if the pandemic hit it.  It looks like it was actually finished prior to the shut down and just as enjoyable as the first season.  The acting in this season is nothing short of brilliant.  Every episode is consistent with the cast delivering some seriously enjoyable performances.  The characters are great and well written which gave the cast a lot to work with.  The stories for this season range from solid level dramas to dark horror and sci-fi influenced.  They all have that iconic Twilight Zone twist that makes every episode worth watching.  With that being said, the episode titled 8 was extremely goofy.  It took something that could be truly disturbing and made it goofy.  It was the only episode that really didn't fit with the others.  Finally, this season features a lot of heavy visual effects, some practical effects, and a lot of character development.  Fans of the original Twilight Zone know not to expect blood and gore and this season is no different.  However, the make-up and practical effects we do get look fantastic while the visual effects do stand out.  Overall, Season two was an amazing entry in the iconic series.  If you have yet to give the new Twilight Zone a shot I highly recommend doing so.  Both seasons are amazing and well worth your time.  

Dark Tales

Director(s) - Brad Bruce (Michael, Ol' Sparky), Benji Carver (Jumpers, Skid Row Love), S.J. Doss (Got Gremlins?, Pretty Boy), Jason Figgis (Faces of Fear, Blood Tales), Lomai (Proven, Clown Cop), Luke Mepham (Night Smiles, The Disease), Jim Stramel (The Thrillbillys, Degenerated Ink), Gordon Bressack (Virus of the Dead, Keeper), and Tony Newton (Welcome to Hell, Halloween Hell Night)

Starring - Jerry Rector (Double Impact, Ghost World), Joseph Cranford (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Better Call Saul), and James Crichton (Victory Parade)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Welcome to the nightmare"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few night ago I set out to have a Wild Eye marathon where I binged a few of the newer Wild Eye releases.  After Creature from Crannibal Creek, 2020: Fallen Earth, and Deal with the Devil, I decided the fourth and final movie in my marathon would be the 2017 horror anthology Dark Tales.  The artwork, which was similiar to Deal with the Devil, did not paint a very entertaining picture but after watching three fun and entertaining Wild Eye releases prior to this one I was excited to spin another one.

     The film begins with the police investigating the suicide of a man who has watched a series of short films.  The same short films we are about to watch.  

     When I tossed this one in I was immediately greeted with a text introduction before the film moved on to the shorts.  The "wraparound" for an anthology is my favorite and the fact that this was just a paragraph before the film was already a huge disappointment.  Then we moved on to the actual film and the disappointment continued.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent but almost every segment feels rushed.  The cast feels impatient in most of the shorts and rushes through their dialogue. With that being said, the segment Keeper was smooth and the cast did fantastic together.  The stories for this anthology feel unfinished or incomplete for the most part.  I tried to do some research on this one and all I could find was the imdb page and a few not so good reviews on YouTube.  I don't know the history behind this one or how it came to be but the text on the opening screen completely voiding the film of a wraparound and seeing these shorts makes me believe this was a rushed project just to get something released.  Keeper is the only short that I actually enjoyed but it's not a horror short.  Finally, the film has some blood and some minimal practical effects but they are nothing memorable or enjoyable.  I was hoping that at least we would get some fun gore with this one but we did not.  Overall, Dark Tales is an incomplete horror anthology that is barely watchable.  I love Wild Eye and can recommend dozens of movies from their catalog but this is not one of them.  Skip it.  

Deal with the Devil

Director - Benjamin Thomas (People are Stupid, Quality Value Price)

Starring - Eric Wolfgang Nelson (Under the Veil, While We Were), Don Brandon, and Thom Murray (The Ghost Who Walks, T.E.R.A.)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "What would you give to have it all?"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I have a Wild Eye marathon I usually toss in a mixture of movies that are great along with a few that are duds.  After watching Creature from Cannibal Creek and 2020: Fallen Earth, and falling in love with both of them, I was ready for the next movie to be one that misses it's mark with me.  I decided to toss in Deal with the Devil.  The artwork and title made me believe that I was going to be sitting through a painfully dull and generic horror release but I was wrong.  This movie was not what I was expecting and it was a lot of fun.  Thank you Wild Eye for sending this one my way.

      The film follows a true crime author who is renting the home of an infamous serial killer.  He has scheduled interviews with neighbors, friends, and family to understand the reasoning behind.  What he doesn't know is that the man had made a deal with Baal to become a successful artist and had to return the favor in blood.

     I didn't know what kind of movie Deal with the Devil was going to be when I tossed it in but the artwork was really turning me off of the film.  I can understand why you want a flashy and well made poster for a film.  You want to catch the attention of potential viewers.  However, I feel that the artwork for this particular release doesn't paint the proper picture.  The acting in this one is absolutely phenomenal.  If I would have saw this movie in 2018 I would have said it was the best acted indie feature of the year.  The entire cast delivers award winning performances which really blows my mind considering how little experience some of them have.  The story for this one goes two different ways.  This causes some confusion at times but the risk was well worth the reward.  I really enjoyed the true crime author living in the house investigating the murders while we are given flashbacks between the killer and Baal, as well as, the murders.  As I stated earlier, it does get a little confusing at times, but the film was still well worth the gamble.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments but the kills are not the focus of the film.  I know most modern horror films spends a lot of time on the blood and gore but Deal with the Devil is more character driven than it is blood and gore.  Overall, Deal with the Devil is not like the other horror films you can find on store shelves.  The focus is the story and it tells the story well.  I highly recommend this one because it well worth your time!

Lotus Eyes

Director - Joshua Land (Ape Canyon, The American Dream)

Starring - Mitch Holson (V/H/S/ 2, Wonder Woman 1984), Anna Fagan (Ape Canyon, The Visitation), Shannon Lanier (The Dark Knight Rises, Signals 2)

Release Date - 2016

Genre - Drama

Tagline - "Who can you trust when the world ends?"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I have a soft spot for post-apocalyptic movies.  Not every filmmaker can pull off a Mad Max inspired feature but there has been some very clever no-budget post-apocalyptic films to be released over the years.  A few of those has found a home with Wild Eye.  A few weeks ago Wild Eye sent me the 2016 post-apocalyptic drama 2020: Fallen Earth which was originally titled Lotus Eyes.  I can see why the title was changed but I do find it a little funny that a 2016 film was retitled 2020: Fallen Earth.  Regardless, I want to thank Wild Eye for sending this one over.  I absolutely loved it.

     The film follows teenager Simon (Holson) who has decided to leave the care of his mother to live with his uncle on a farm.  The economy has tanked due to an oil crisis leaving many in poverty and barely able to eat.  The journey to his uncle's starts out innocently enough and soon he befriends two others looking for a better opportunity.  However, inner turmoil's and unable to trust newcomers forcing them to separate until he reaches his uncles.  He soon learns that the grass is not always greener on the other side when he learns that his uncle only keeps able bodied workers on the farm and those that are sick or ill are forced out to starve.

     When I tossed this one in I assumed it was a horror tale but I was wrong.  However, I was not disappointed.  In fact, I found myself thinking about this long after it was over.  I absolutely loved it and recommended it to several genre fans after I watched it.  Wild Eye has released several of my favorite movies on DVD over the years and this releases adds another to the list.  The acting in this one is great.  The characters are not that well written and can easily blend into the backdrop but the cast does a phenomenal job in their performances.  The cast is extremely young and inexperienced but they show so much promise in front of the camera.  It's been a few years and the cast has appeared in a few more films but nothing really genre specific which is a bit disappointing.  The story for this one is not a horror tale.  In fact, it's not really suspenseful either.  The film is a drama set against a decaying civilization with the characters choosing one of two options.  They can either help one another or they can look out for themselves.  The movie does a fantastic job showing how easy it is to become selfish in difficult times but it also shows how someone can help others without putting people at risk.  Having these types of characters clash works in this post-apocalyptic setting.  With that being said, there is some pretty dry scenes that really pushes the viewer's patience.  These scenes are few and far in between but they are there and it breaks the pacing up.  Finally, the film is not a bloody one.  In fact, it's not really that gruesome at all.  There is some scenes with a few dead bodies but they do not show blood or gore.  Remember, this is a drama and not an extreme horror flick.  Overall, 2020: Fallen Earth is not what I was expecting but I fucking loved it.  If you are looking for a Mad Max style film you will be very disappointed but if you are a fan of the CBS show Jericho then you will really enjoy this one.  I highly recommend it.  

Creature from Cannibal Creek

Director - John Migliore (Exorcism of the Dead, Poltergeist Encounters)

Starring - Deborah Jayne Reilly Smith (Let Her Out, The Demon Weed), Simon Wheeldon (Curse of the Voodoo Bloody Sockpuppet, Johnny Ghoulash Escapes from Creightonville), and Jim Ordolis (Zombie Beach Party, Marked)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "You'll never see it coming"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love shitty movies.  People that have followed my reviews for sometime know exactly how much I love a bad movie.  If it's goofy or has a strange inanimate object killing people then you can bet your sweet ass and half a tit that I'm going to be jumping all over it.  Sometime back Wild Eye sent me a care package over with some of their new releases in it.  A few of them really caught my attention but the one that stood out the most was Creature from Cannibal Creek.  Seeing a Swamp Thing like creature in a film with cannibal in the title really caught my attention.  Then when I saw it was directed by John Migliore I was sold on it.  Migliore is the man behind The Screamtime film Johnny Ghoulash Escapes from Creightonville.  As soon as I had a chance to see it I popped it in.  Thanks Wild Eye for sending this one over!

     The film follows a religious family living in the woods and their only means of surviving is killing "sinners" that venture too close to their home.  They rely on the sinner's meat to survive the winter months.  However, their way of life is jeopardized when one of their would be victims escaped while he was mortally wounded.  Instead of dyin he becomes one with the forest and becomes a creature hellbent on killing those that did this to him.

     I was familiar with Migliore prior to receiving this one for review when I ordered Johnny Ghoulash from Screamtime sometime over the summer.  I had yet to watch the film but I was still familiar with his work.  However, after spinning CfCC I am actively looking for all his films.  This one was cheap but so much fun.  I really enjoyed it and how Migliore approached this creature feature.  The acting in this one is a little over the top at times but fun.  I really liked the characters and how each of them handled the scene they were in.  A lot of the cast has limited experience but they show plenty of promise in front of the camera.  The story for this one is Swamp Thing meets The Hills Have Eyes.  The film follows a group of cannibals in the woods, one of which is named Neptune, as they fight off a creature that was dying in the forest before he was turned into the creature.  Pretty much sums of this film but the fact Migliore was able to combine the two AND deliver a campy creature feature is absolutely genius.  Some of the scenes are a little repetitive and the characters may not be likable but it works for a late night creature feature.  Finally, this one is a bloody mess but the practical effects are very underwhelming.  The film features a very funny creature.  The suit reminded me a lot of the Sid and Marty Kroft creatures which I really appreciated but the practical effects for the deaths were very cheap and unenjoyable. Overall, Creature from Cannibal Creek is a fucking blast.  It's a cheap monster movie that is extremely rough but entertains.  I highly recommend checking out this slice of no-budget madness.  

My Dear Killer

Director - Tonino Valerii (Brothers in Blood, Taste of Killing)

Starring - George Hilton (College, Macho Killers), Salvo Randone (Chronicle of a Homicide, Machine Gun McCain), and William Berger (Hercules, Devil Fish)

Release Date - 1972

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     The Girl in Room 2A, the first film in the set, had me believing that this second giallo box set from Vinegar Syndrome was going to be a bust.  However, The French Sex Murders really surprised me and put hope back into the release.  As I toss in the third film, My Dear Killer, I quickly see that the set ends on another high note.  I had heard some negative things about the film in various horror and collector's groups but I found myself really enjoying this one.

     The film begins with a man getting decapitated by heavy machinery. The investigator assigned to the case soon finds himself overwhelmed with several different murders designed to look like suicides and all are connected to the disappearance of a little girl.

     I didn't know what to really expect with this one when I tossed it in.  On one hand, I was very disappointed with The Girl in Room 2A, but on the other I was really impressed with The French Sex Murders.  My Dear Killer was a solid giallo that really caught my attention.  There was a few things I didn't care about but this was made during a different time where some of these things were considered appropriate.  Regardless, I really enjoyed this one.  The acting in this one is pretty consistent and fairly well done but the characters blend into the background way too easily.  They are cliched and stereotypical of murder mysteries from the time.  The story for this one is a beautifully shot giallo.  What fans love about giallo's is the beautiful cinematography and how the shots are glued with the story.  My Dear Killer does just that.  The shots are beautiful and work so well with the mystery aspect of the film.  With that being said, the story does hit a few dry spells causing the viewer to struggle through a few scenes.  However, if you can stick with it you will really enjoy the overall film.  Finally, the film has several death scenes but the effects are far from perfect.  In fact, a few of the death scenes will cause some unintentionally laughing.  Especially the first death of the film.  I loved the scene but it was a little on the funny side.  Overall, My Dear Killer is not the best giallo movie I've seen but it was fun.  I really enjoyed it and I'm glad it was included in the Forgotten Gialli: Volume Two.  

The French Sex Murders

Director - Ferdinando Merighi (His Colt, Himself, His Revenge; Il Sole Tornera)

Starring - Anita Ekberg (Bad Girls, Deadly Trackers), Rosalba Neri (The Arena, No Way Out), and Evelyne Kraft (The Mighty Peking Man, Assassination Attempt)

Release Date - 1972

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When Vinegar Syndrome announced their Forgotten Gialli Volume Two box set and the contents of it I was pretty fucking pumped.  One of the films, The French Sex Murders, was the only film in the set that I had heard about previously thanks to Mondo Macabro who put it out on DVD.  I never got the chance to see it but knowing that Mondo released it on DVD and a lot of their fans loved it spoke to me.  I couldn't wait to dig into it and hopefully wash the taste of The Girl in Room 2A out of my mouth.

     After a judge wrongfully convicts a man for killing a prostitute they soon find themselves stuck with a string of murders.  The police and a local professor start investigating the murders and uncover that the murderer is closer than they suspect.

     I knew nothing about this film besides what a few genre friends have told me about it.  I often see friends share pictures of their DVD on social media talking about it but story wise it was new to me.  After hitting play I soon found myself in love with the film.  The opening death and onward I was hooked.  This is, hands down, the best film in the set.  I absolutely loved it.  The acting in this one is solid for the most part but a couple of the scenes were unintentionally funny.  The supporting cast would give very forced reactions that reminds me a lot of an adult who would listen to a child tell a story.  It was very forced and not genuine at all.  Aside from a few instances of this the acting is pretty solid.  No one actor/actress stands out but they all work fairly well together.  The story for this one throws a few twists at you.  At first you think the movie is going to end quick then it pulls out this supernatural vibe before revealing the real killer.  I really liked how the story had a lot of ups and downs to keep the viewer paying attention.  However, I was not a fan of how the film ended after the killer was revealed.  There was no follow up or real conclusion to the film.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments and one of the most ridiculous decapitations ever filmed.  The blood is super bright red, which I really enjoy, but the decapitation is so funny.  The fake head is pretty piss poor but it adds a few extra laughs to a pretty serious film.  Overall, The French Sex Murders is a little cheesy and has a few unintentional laughs but the story really does satisfy the serious giallo fans.  This one is well worth your time.  

The Girl in Room 2A

Director(s) - William Rose (The Smut Peddler, Rent-A-Girl) and Dick Randall (History of the Erotic Cinema, Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks)

Starring - Daniela Giordano (Bloody Friday, Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key), Angelo Infanti (The Godfather, Savage Breed), and John Scanlon (Midnight Caller, Lovespell)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Thriller

Tagline - "Now you can see it... a bold look at the bizarre world of abnormal sexual behavior"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

    A few weeks ago I took a few days to watch and review Vinegar Syndrome's Forgotten Gialli Volume 1.  This box set is one I had to have so I ordered it the day they launched it for fear of them selling out.  I'm glad I did because that set did, in fact, sell out.  Before I got the second in I wanted to review the first one.  I absolutely loved the set and couldn't wait to dig into this second one.  When I opened up the set I went ahead with 1974's The Girl in Room 2A.  The original poster for this one really caught my attention and I couldn't wait to dig into it.  

     The film follows a woman who was recently released from prison who secures a room in a boardinghouse.  What she doesn't know is that a cult uses that room to lure in beautiful women that they torture and kill for their sadistic rituals.  

     I was so excited to dig into this set and this film but I soon found myself very underwhelmed with this one.  The story really pulled me in with what it was about but the execution of the story and the extremely dull scenes made me lose interest in this one fairly early on.  This made it a real chore to finish.  The acting in this one is decent but the characters are pretty bland and cliched.  I really wanted to like the female lead but her underacting in a lot of the scenes made her an extremely weak lead.  The supporting cast is solid but there was several instances where they over-reacted or undersold the scene.  They all have some serious acting credits to their name so I know they were more than qualified but they just fell short here.  The story for this one really pulled me in.  I'm obsessed with horror films centered around cults.  I know giallo's are a different breed but I was expecting this one to be a little more cult-based than what it was.  The mystery aspect is definitely at the front of this one with the cult taking a back seat.  The pacing is painfully slow as well.  A lot slower than your standard giallo which made it a tough one for me to finish.  Finally, the film doesn't shy away from the blood but the practical effects are non-existent.  The blood is the bright 3M blood, which I love, but those looking for a little more will be disappointed.  Overall, The Girl in Room 2A has so much promise but didn't quite reach it's potential.  If you are binging the box set you can still find some enjoyment out of it but it is the weakest film in the set.  

The Final Interview

Director - Fred Vogel (The Redsin Tower, August Underground)

Starring - Damien A. Maruscak (Flatwoods, Maskhead), Diane Franklin (Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Amityville II: The Possession), and Grainger Hines (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The A-Team)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Drama/Thriller

Tagline - "Someone is going to die tonight"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Fred Vogel has a fanbase unlike any other in the indie horror community.  His August Underground trilogy really hit among the extreme horror crowd.  He is a very talented filmmaker and effects artist but I'm not really a fan of his AU films.  However, The Redsin Tower is an underrated horror masterpiece.  It's absolutely brilliant and bleak.  I fucking love it and the fact that most fans overlook it for the AU films is a damn shame.  A few years ago Fred announced that he was directing a new film titled The Final Interview.  He was up front about the film telling fans that it was not a horror flick but something much different.  When artwork for the film hit the internet I became very interested in this release and wanted to check it out.  Sometime passed and at the tail end of 2020 Fred announced that the film was available to purchase.  For a steep $50 you could get the film on blu and DVD along with the soundtrack and a few promotional items.  I couldn't justify spending that much just for a blu and was going to wait for a standard release but after seeing several horror fans praise this one I went ahead and pulled the trigger.

     The film is set in 1983 and serial killer Darius Tidman (Maruscak) who is scheduled to be executed later that night.  Reporter Oliver Ross (Hines) has been granted access to the prison for a live interview before he is executed.  However, as the interview progresses Ross becomes unsettled when they break for commercials revealing his inner demons to the mass murderer.  Eventually he reveals how unfaithful and mean he truly is but the worst is still in store for the veteran journalist.  

     The Final Interview was not a bad movie.  In fact, it was a damn fine piece cinema.  Honestly, I really enjoyed it.  However, as much as I liked it I still found several things I wish they would have done differently.  My complaints aside, I still enjoyed it.  The acting in this one is some of the best acting I had seen in years.  Damien A. Maruscak is great as the mass murderer awaiting his execution.  He's very calm, level headed but still has that sense of danger about himself.  The casting was perfect wit hthis one.  Grainger Hines was absolutely brilliant as Oliver Ross.  He was absolutely brilliant as the older reporter who lets his personal life get in the way of his real job.  His performance was so genuine and well grounded. The supporting cast is solid as well but they don't take up as much screen as these two actors.  Vogel and company did an amazing job with the casting here.  The story for this one could have went so many different ways.  The way it goes is still a fun watch BUT there was so many other possibilities that could have made it an unforgettable film.  In 2013 director Chris LaMartina released WNUF Halloween Special which was made to look like an old 80's television broadcast with faux commercials included.  LaMartina even went the extra mile to make it look like it was recorded onto VHS to really sell the film to the viewer.  When I heard that The Final Interview was set in 1983 and followed a television reporter doing a live interview with a notorious serial killer I just assumed that it was going to be similar to WNUF.  Sadly, it wasn't.  It was more of a traditional drama thriller which worked but I do feel like it was a missed opportunity.  With that being said, the film does sneak in an old commercial so that makes me think that this may have been the idea at the beginning but was abandoned sometime during production.  Finally, the film does have one death scene and they really make it count.  The film's focus is the characters and how they interact with one another but the one death we do get is extremely bloody and violent.  The effects for this death are pretty minimal due to the way it was filmed but it was very enjoyable.  Overall, The Final Interview is a very well made and put together dark drama.  The cast is extremely talented and the film really works.  The movie didn't go the way I was hoping for but it's still an entertaining watch.  Check it out.