Yummy

Director - Lars Damoiseaux (Chopper, Patient Zero)

Starring - Maaike Neuville (Perfect Darkness, Red Light), Bart Hollanders (Callboys, Salamander), and Benjamin Ramon (Cannibal, Team Spirit)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Facelifts, boob jobs, and zombies"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been really impressed by Shudder's streaming service and their line of exclusives and originals.  Sure, a few left me feeling underwhelmed but a majority of them have been absolutely amazing.  Several months ago I received the press release for the release of the horror comedy Yummy which was another Shudder exclusive.  This 2019 film looked fun but I wasn't able to review it upon it's release but had since snagged a copy of it for cheap from Amazon.  I've been sitting on the blu for a few weeks now and decided that it was time to finally check it out.  I'm not going to lie, I was really excited to finally check it out.

     The film follows a young woman and her boyfriend who are visiting a clinic so she can have breast reduction surgery.  However, the boyfriend finds himself wondering in an area he should not be and accidentally frees a young woman infected with something that has turned her into a flesh eating monster.  Slowly the hospital becomes infected forcing the young couple to team up with other survivors in order to make it through the chaos to survive.  

     I was expecting a pretty solid zombie flick but I was not expecting a zombie comedy to make me laugh like this one did.  In fact, I haven't laughed this hard at a zombie flick since Shaun of the Dead.  I was not expecting this kind of film but within just a few moments I was in love.  This is the most entertaining zombie flick I've seen in awhile. The acting in this one is solid.  The characters don't stand out like most other horror comedies.  In fact, the character are fairly flat but the cast does the best with what they were given.  It's not really the characters personalities that makes the film.  It's the situation that the viewer enjoys.  Regardless, this was no easy acting job for the cast and they all do a wonderful job.  The story for this one is extremely fun.  Zombies are extremely oversaturated at this time thanks to The Walking Dead and most deliver the same ol' boring story where there is internal drama among the survivors and the humans are the real monster.  Yummy gives us some of that but puts the humor to the front of the film along with the zombies.  Humanity showing it's monstrous side results in more comedic moments in the film.  I could really spin this one as a double feature with movies like Shaun of the Night or Night of the Creeps.  The humor found it's mark and the pacing is perfect.  With that being said, I wish the film had written in some more memorable characters that make horror comedies so much more fun.  Finally, all the best zombie flicks have brilliant death scenes and this one is no different.  We get some fun gory moments with some great practical effects.  Most of us horror veterans have seen this all before but Yummy does a great job with the kills and practical effects.  Overall, Yummy was not what I was expecting and it fucking rules.  I absolutely loved this goofy horror comedy and highly recommend it to other genre fans.  Snag a copy or check it out on Shudder.  You will not be disappointed.  

Morgue

Director - Hugo Cardozo 

Starring - Pablo Martinez, Francisco Ayala, and Maria del Mar Fernandez

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Death is not the end"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I spent the previous day catching a wave of nostalgia as I watched and reviewed the two documentaries The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story and Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren and Stimpy Story.  Both were fantastic documentaries that I highly recommend.  However, after watching both of those titles I was in the mood for something horror related.  I took a look at the stack of movies I needed to review when Morgue caught my eye.  This is one I recently received from Well Go USA for review and it looked extremely interesting.  I want to thank Well Go USA for sending this one over for me to check out!

     The film follows Diego who is down on his luck and struggling financially.  One night his girlfriend entices him to come over for sex and on his way over to see her he accidentally hits a pedestrian with his car.  He returns home in a panic and goes to bed before getting a call to work as a security guard at the local morgue.  When he arrives for his shift he discovers the body of the man he had killed with his car on the slab and his night only gets stranger from there.

     I was really curious about this one.  The title and artwork really set the mood for the film which is rare for a modern horror tale but once I got into this one I was very underwhelmed.  The movie was extremely dull and predictable.  The "twists" and story were not that fun and I found myself struggling to even finish it.  I hate writing a negative review for a movie sent to me but I refuse to lie.  The acting in this one is pretty decent.  It's pretty much a one man show following Diego through his supernatural journey.  His performance is pretty solid with no overacting. He's great in role and they did a great job casting him.  The supporting cast is great as well.  Their characters are not as developed as Diego's but they deliver solid performances.  The story for this one is interesting in theory but there is just not enough substance to run an entire length of a feature film.  The movie reminded me a lot of a movie I reviewed sometime back title La Casa which was a found footage flick with a similar story.  I liked the idea but the movie could have been a more effective short instead stretching out unnecessary scenes.  Finally, the film has some blood but if you are looking for bloody and gory moments you will be very disappointed.  The film relies heavily on suspense and atmosphere to convey the horror aspect to the viewer.  There is some moments where we have a little blood but nothing that will stick with the viewer.  Overall, Morgue was extremely underwhelming.  I liked the premise but it was just stretched too thin for the running time.  This is one I was not a fan of but you should also consider that reviews are just my opinion.  If this sounds like something that would interest you then you should check it out because I'm a nobody.  

Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren and Stimpy Story

Director(s) - Ron Cicero and Kimo Easterwood

Starring - Bob Camp (Tiny Toon Adventures, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes), John Kricfalusi (The Simpsons, The Smurfs), and Jim Ballantine (The Little Mermaid, 100% Wolf)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Documentary

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     If you grew up through the late 80s and early 90s then you lived through some of the most controversial animated shows in history.  The Simpson, Beavis and Butthead, South Park, Family Guy and Ren and Stimpy.  Ren and Stimpy stood out among the others because it was on Nickelodeon and was aimed to children while the others were meant for adult audiences and typically came on late at night.  Ren and Stimpy was not only controversial on the screen but behind the screen as well.  I was a huge Ren and Stimpy fan but now I struggle with separating the art from the artist.  A few weeks ago I saw that Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren and Stimpy Story received a blu release.  I was already picking up The Orange Years so I went ahead and added this to the cart to have a double feature.  

     The documentary follows the company the creation of the animation studio Spumco, which was co-founded by artist John Kricfalusi, who would respond to an ad looking for animation properties to air on Nickelodeon.  We then follow them through their rise to stardom before egos clashed resulting in John K's firing from Nickelodeon.  

     A few years ago a video was floating around, from Buzzfeed I believe, discussing Ren and Stimpy creator John K's sexual abuse and grooming of underage women.  He admitted to it and gave a half-hearted apology but the whole situation really tainted the legacy of Ren and Stimpy.  I want to separate the art from the artist so to speak especially where there is other amazing artists attached to the show.  What John K did was inexcusable but the show was such a huge part of my childhood and this documentary does a phenomenal job at giving fans a look inside of what happened to one of the most icons yet short lived shows to ever exist.  The interviews in this one are exactly how I love to see a documentary done.  We have people from all sides of the subject and not everything is sugar coated.  We have people, including John K and one of his victims, who go in depth on the beginnings of Spumco, the creation of Ren and Stimpy and how Nickelodeon acquired them, the success, and then the ego of John K taking over forcing Nickelodeon to fire him.  I love seeing the fans talk about the shore while others are discussing the destructive nature of John K.  The interviews are very thorough and you really do get a great glimpse of what it was like.  The topics discussed in this one move in a chronological order and it works for the subject.  I wish the portion about John K and his victims was included during the time it was happening instead of at the end but I'm glad it was included regardless.  Finally, the editing and transitions in this one is great.  The transitions are smooth and we get a lot of fun animation and old pictures scattered throughout to really add to the stories being told.  Overall, Happy Happy Joy Joy is for fans of early 90s Nickelodeon or fans of Ren and Stimpy in general.  I hate that John K did that to those women and justice was never served but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that this show was a huge part of my childhood.  John K being a piece of shit aside, I highly recommend checking out this doc.  It was well worth the time.  

The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story

Director(s) - Scott Barber (This is GWAR, American Clown) and Adam Sweeney 

Starring - Jason Alisharan (Are You Afraid of the Dark?, The Halfback of Notre Dame), Drake Bell (Superhero Movie, Drake and Josh), and Michael Bower (Salute Your Shorts, Dude!, Where's Your Car?)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Documentary

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a product of my childhood like many people my age.  I was born in the mid-80s but grew up in the 90s.  While most of the people my age were fans of Disney I found myself spending most of my time watching tapes or anything on Nickelodeon.  I was a bit of an outcast among my friends because I wasn't excited for movies like Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Lion King, and so on.  I was more focused on Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Ren and Stimpy, CatDog, and so on.  This was my favorite channel by far and when I reached adulthood I discovered I was not the only one.  While most of my childhood friends were Disney fans I've met several in the horror community that were fans of this golden age of television.  A few months ago I was digging around Amazon when I came across The Orange Years.  This looked like a documentary made specifically for me so I quickly snagged the blu.  When I found an opening in my schedule I decided I would finally dig into it.

     The documentary takes the viewers from before Nickelodeon where we learn that it was a result of a cable experiment in Ohio before it became a children's television program.  From there they grew into cutting edge children's programing that sometimes pushed the envelope of what was acceptable on television to creating their own brand of television aimed to children.  Their growth eventually became their downfall as they no longer had goals to strive for.

     I started collecting movies, or tapes as they were at that time, when I was in elementary school.  I started with Goosebumps releases and soon moved on to everything that caught my eye.  This would include as many Nickelodeon tapes as I could find.  Orange was a big part of my childhood and at one point I had so many orange tapes in my collection.  Most were like a greatest hits compilations of different shows.  Some were Rugrats, Doug, Aaahh Real Monsters, and so on.  I loved this time of my life and Nickelodeon was such a huge part of it.  This documentary was really a walk down memory lane and one I thoroughly enjoyed.  The interviews in this one is extremely diverse ranging from fans, to company executives and creators, to child stars and other cast members.  A lot of thought and research went into who would be interviewed and it was nice to see how some of the faces I grew up with has aged over the last 20 some odd years.  I've noticed that a lot of the indie documentaries that I review usually have people on one side or the other of a topic.  However, it's nice to see people from different aspects of the company, along with fans, as they talk about the rise or the orange years.  The topics discussed go in chronological order from before Nickelodeon, what a nickelodeon is, and how the channel became the giant that it was in the 90s.  A lot of behind the scenes and personal stories were shared which adds a whole new level of depth to my childhood.  Finally, the editing and flow of this documentary is extremely smooth.  This is a top notch production.  The transitions, editing, and interviews are all shot perfectly.  This is one of the best looking docs I've seen in awhile and I absolutely loved it.  Overall, The Orange Years may not be for everyone but for this millenial it's a fantastic film.  I loved the history and a reminder of all the great shows that I've forgot about over the years.  I highly recommend this one.  It was a lot of fun.  

The Wolf of Snow Hollow

Director - Jim Cummings (Thunder Road, Hydrangea)

Starring - Jim Cummings, Riki Lindhome (Knives Out, The Last House on the Left), and Robert Forster (Vigilante, Alligator)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Welcome to Snow Hollow
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I often see horror fans praising certain new releases but I rarely get excited for these movies because I know my taste in films often conflict with most.  I have a taste for bad movies and I will never hide the fact.  However, if a movie is truly good then I can appreciate it.  A few weeks ago I saw some friends posting about how fun the horror comedy The Wolf of Snow Hollow was.  I wasn't too interested in it at first but when I found the movie for a decent price at Target I decided to snag a copy of it on blu.  After some much internal debate I decided it was time to give it a spin.  I'm glad I did because it was pretty fun.

     The film takes place in a small mountain town that finds themselves at the mercy of a serial killer. We follow Officer Marshall (Cummings) who is a recovering alcoholic and struggling with his recent divorce.  His aging father, the chief of police, refuses to step down but his age is preventing him from fulfilling his duties.  All this added stress has pushed Marshall over the edge resulting in him turning to the bottle while he struggles to keep his fellow officers in check who believes the killer is a werewolf.  

     I'm always skeptical of the bigger budget horror movies that gets a lot of praise from the horror community.   As I said earlier, my taste in horror is a lot different than most but I am always open to finding something new to like.  The Wolf of Snow Hollow is not amazing or something that I will obsess over like Godzilla vs. Kong but I did have fun with it.  I enjoyed it but it wasn't perfect.  The acting in this one is extremely uneven and one of my biggest complaints with the film.  Forster, Lindhome, and the rest of the cast is absolutely amazing.  They deliver well grounded performances that fit the film extremely well.  However, Jim Cummings made the film a bit tough to watch at time.  His intensity and high volume performance was funny at times when it shouldn't be and at others it made the story a little difficult to follow.  He really should have stepped back behind the camera and let someone else carry the film.  His performance is a bit of a drag which does take away from the film.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting.  The movie has a well written story that really does appeal to horror fans with varying tastes for horror.  With that being said, there is a red herring scattered through out that was obviously fake to throw you off but because it has nothing to really do with the real twist it feels a waste of time once you finish the film.  With that being said, I really loved the real twist in the film and the approach it took.  It's very real and down to Earth without making it feel like a cheap twist or ploy.  Finally, the film has some fun gags and a couple really entertaining death scenes.  The kills are not memorable but the look of the "werewolf" is what makes these death scenes so much fun.  A lot of thought and time went into the preparation of this which makes it one of the memorable werewolf moments of recent years.  Overall, The Wolf of Snow Hollow is not the movie you were expecting but it's well worth your time.  Acting aside, the story and look of the killer really makes this one a must see for genre fans.  I highly recommend it.  

The Day of the Living Dead

Director - Thomas J. Churchill (The Amityville Harvest, Big Freaking Rat)

Starring - Natalie Victoria (Deadheads, Last Shift), Ray Capuana (Escape Under Pressure, Emerging Past), and Kevin Eugene Franklin (1000 Ways to Die, America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back)

Release Date - 2014

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "1957 Hollywood.  Glitz and glamour.  Blood and brains.  And Zombies"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a huge fan of no budget zombie flicks.  In the world pre-The Walking Dead, I was obsessed with zombie flicks and slashers.  When I was in high school I remember snagging movies like Meat Market, Dead and Breakfast, Shaun of the Dead, Land of the Dead, and the Dawn of the Dead remake along with the classics like Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead.  Meat Market would be one that really stuck with me and I soon found myself searching for indie zombie flicks.  A good portion of the ones I found were no budget zombie flicks with a lot of heart.  The zombie sub-genre is a oversaturated once The Walking Dead become a pop culture phenomenon but I still find myself looking for them on occasion when I'm out and about shopping.  A few weeks ago I walking through Walmart when I spotted the blu for The Day of the Living Dead.  I rolled my eyes at the title but found myself pulled in by it.  I snagged it and decided to give it a spin when I had a chance.  After my recent Vinegar Syndrome marathon I decided I was in the mood for some indie zombie fun.

     The film follows an insurance investigator who is investigating a $13 million dollar claim against a cigarette manufacturer.  Several employees of the company became ill at the job and subsequently fired.  After interviewing several of them he discovers that they are infected and are slowly turning into the living dead.  However, by the time he discovers this it's too late and falls victim to one of them.  His wife and their assistant go searching for him but continue to run into dead ends until they come face to face with the undead as well.

     I was pretty excited to check out another zombie flick but it was evident early on that this one was not for me.  As I stated before, I love a good no budget zombie flick but this one was just a bit lazy.  I hate watching an indie horror flick and not liking it but this is one I just couldn't get into.  The acting in this one is surprisingly well done.  In fact, it's the only aspect of the film that was enjoyable.  The entire cast is brilliant from the film's protagonist to the director's cameo.  Everyone is absolutely amazing and deserving of praise.  The story for this one could have been a fun noir horror flick but it's messy, chaotic, and extremely dull.  Having an investigator searching for people only to find them as zombies could have been a pretty fun horror flick in all honestly.  However, the way it was shot and the extremely long scenes filled with mind-numbingly dull dialogue makes for a very tough watch.  Also, I have a hard time taking a film seriously that names a character George A. Lazarus.  I've seen characters named after horror icons countless times and each time I find it cringy.  Finally, the film has the typical zombie make-up effects and a few bite scenes here and there with minimal effects.  If you are looking for a bloody and gory zombie flick you will not find it here.  However, if a character driven zombie tale is more your speed then this one is for you.  Overall, The Day of the Living Dead was not what I was expecting.  The title should have been a dead giveaway as to how bad this one was going to be.  I'm a champion of indie cinema but this one is one of the toughest films to watch I've seen in awhile.  Skip it.  

Rush Week

Director - Bob Bralver (Werewolf, Knightrider)

Starring - Pamela Ludwig (Project X, City Limits), Dean Hamilton (Night Heat, Alfred Hitchcock Presents), and Roy Thinnes (Dark Shadows, A Beautiful Mind)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "It's a picture perfect college.  With a perfectly terrifying secret"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I fucking love when Vinegar Syndrome gets their hands on a slasher flick.  Most of the time the slashers they restore and release are ones I've never heard of before.  I grew up on slashers and I often find myself pulled to this sub-genre more than others.  Most of the slasher they release are pretty solid but there has been a time or two where they've released duds.  When I saw that Vin Syn was releasing the late 80s slasher Rush Week I was pretty pumped.  I kept the Vin Syn train rolling so after watching Last Gasp and Death Promise I decided to finish the night out with Rush Week.

     The film follows journalism student Toni (Ludwig) who is assigned a piece about rush week but her journalist instinct tells her that there is a story involving female students that have recently went missing and the murder of the dean's daughter from a year before.  The closer she gets to the answer she is looking for she finds herself in danger as a hooded maniac wielding an axe looks to snuff her out.

     By the end of the 80s the slasher film was on it's way out.  The sub-genre ruled the drive-in and theaters for most of the decade but the general public was slashered out.  There was still some slashers popping up here and there but nothing like what the early 80s were delivering to viewers.  I always go into a late 80s slasher with some skepticism but excited usually takes over.  Rush Week was far from perfect but I found it to be very charming and it held my attention very well.  Sure, it's nothing like the slashers that dominated the early 80s but it was still a slasher at heart.  The acting in this one is a little better than what you would expect from an 80s slasher.  The characters are a little smarter than their sub-genre counterparts.  The cast was given a little more to work with and they do a fantastic job.  With that being said, there is some slasher cliches placed around a few scenes but the cast did wonderful with them.  These characters are almost like tributes to the characters from the more iconic slashers.  The cast is able to really do something enjoyable with what was written for them.  The story for this one is a pretty straight forward college based slasher with the same formula that most of us has come to love.  I have a soft spot for slashers that take place in the woods but I can't deny how much I enjoy slashers that take place on college campuses.  We get the standard slasher formula following someone that was wronged who then dons a mask and starts killing.  It works but it is pretty predictable.  The film tries to throw a few red herrings your way but they are so in your face you can tell they are there to throw you off.  Regardless, it's a fun story that works for a late 80s slasher.  Finally, the film has several deaths but they are not as fun and memorable as most of the other slashers.  We get a little blood but most of the fun stuff takes place off screen.  Overall, Rush Week is your sterotypical slasher.  It's predictable but the characters are more enjoyable.  It's fun especially if you are looking for a slasher you've never seen before.  I enjoyed it and the blu from Vin Syn is fantastic.  I highly recommend it.  

Death Promise

Director - Robert Warmflash 

Starring - Charles Bonet (Way of the Black Dragon, Fists of Bruce Lee), Speedy Leacock, and Bill Louie (Bruce vs. Bill, The Old Master)

Release Date - 1977

Genre - Action/Crime

Tagline - "Filthy rich landlords get away with murder.  It's time they pay for it"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's not often that Vinegar Syndrome releases a movie that I've heard about.  A good portion of their releases are films that I'm just hearing about when they make their monthly announcements.  However, there is, on occasion, a movie they release that I've seen floating around in the different movie groups on social media.  1977's exploitation flick Death Promise is one of those rare occasions.  I've seen this one pop up several times in various movie groups and I've always been curious about it.  Exploitation flicks has become an obsession of my over the years and it was this kind of film that inspired me to start writing reviews.  This release was included in the March release package so it only made sense to finally check it out after viewing Last Gasp.  

     The film follows a martial arts master and his best friend who live in an apartment building.  The tenets of the building are being harrased by the landlords to move in order to turn the building into something else.  When the landlord's hired goons accidentally kill his father the pair go on a bloody rampage killing all the big wigs that had a hand in his father's death.

     Death Promise is not the best exploitation or martial arts film to come out of the 70s but you can't deny how much cheesy fun it is.  I loved the acting, the story, and the action.  It does try a little too hard at times but I appreciate the effort it delivers.  The acting in this one is fun.  The characters are generic for an exploitation and martial arts film but they work very well with the story.  The action and fight scenes are really fun and the characters really do give the roles their best efforts.  With that being said, no one is winning any awards.  The characters may be memorable but they are far from perfect.  The story for this one is a blend of revenge, martial arts, crime, and a little blaxploitation brought together to make one highly entertaining yet cheesy experience.  I really enjoyed the story and the pacing.  The action scenes does a great job at holding the viewer's attention while moving the story right along.  Also, there is some cheesy aspects of the story that adds some unintentional humor which only adds to the fun.  I think most people love exploitation films because they were done so cheaply with no quality control.  Finally, the film has some deaths with a little blood but don't expect to see a lot of it or gore.  The film's focus is on the fight sequences and story.  Overall, Death Promise is another fantastic release from a fantastic company.  It's exploitation at it's finest and cult movie fans will really appreciate the type of movie this one is.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  

Last Gasp

Director - Scott McGinnis (Cousin Skeeter, Angel)

Starring - Robert Patrick (Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Fire in the Sky), Joanna Pacula (Warlock: The Armageddon, Virus), Vyto Ruginis (Star Trek: The Next Generation, The X-Files)

Release Date - 1995

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Pray you never hear the last gasp"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Vinegar Syndrome is always bringing out movies that I've never seen.  Hell, in a lot of cases they are movies I've never heard of until they were released by them.  Over the years I've seen some great, and not so great, films that I would have never seen if it wasn't for them.  I love how they don't care to take a risk and release something most genre fans had never heard of before.  Back in March they released the strange 1995 film Last Gasp starring Robert Patrick.  It's not often that Vin Syn gets ahold of a film from the 90s so I was very curious about it.  I had already pre-ordered the March package so it was just a matter of time until it arrived so I could dig into it.

     The film follows a land developer who is know for his cut-throat ways.  On a trip to Mexico he had a team of mercenaries wipe out a tribe.  However, one of them is able to transfer his spirit into the land developer.  When he returns to his home he is forced to kill by the vengeful spirit dragging a young woman who is looking for her husband into the middle of it all.

     I wasn't expecting an unforgettable movie but I was hoping for a cheap and fun flick.  The movie did surprise me a few times and struggled during others.  At the end of the day I have to admit I enjoyed it regardless of how short it was.  It was fun but I don't see myself revisiting it anytime soon.  The acting in this one is uneven but not bad.  Robert Patrick delivered a great performance for most of the films but there is a few scenes where he is very underwhelming.  The same can be said about Joanna Pacula.  She delivers an awesome performance for a good portion of the film but then she runs out of steam in a few of the scenes resulting is a pretty dull scene.  The supporting cast is solid but the characters are generic and blend in with the background.  The story for this one struggles with it's identity.  It wants to be a slasher film with a possession subplot but the noir aspect mixed with the pacing and timing issues results in a clunky story.  I has it's moments and satisfies but the replay value is not there.  I wish the film would have approached the story in a typical slasher style instead of trying to reinvent the sub-genre.  Finally, the film doesn't really have on screen kills.  A good portion of the deaths are off screen but when we do get to see the body we get some very impressive practical effects.  They do look a little plastic but they still work for the scene.  It's just a shame that these kills were off screen.  Overall, Last Gasp was exactly what I thought it would be.  It was a fun first watch but I don't see myself checking it out again anytime soon.  The blu looks great.  The image is clear and the audio is pristine.  Vin Syn knows what they are doing and knocked another release out of the park.  

Willy's Wonderland

Director - Kevin Lewis (Dark Heart, Malibu Spring Break)

Starring - Nicolas Cage (Mandy, Face Off), Emily Tosta (Mayans M.C., Monster), and Beth Grant (Donnie Darko, Six Feet Under)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "2020 isn't over yet kids"

Format - Streaming (Vudu)

Rating (out of 5):

     Nic Cage has had one hell of a career.  I grew up on his movies.  Vampire's Kiss, Face/Off, Con Air, and Raising Arizona were movies that I would watch often.  Hell, anytime Con Air aired on television I would make time to watch it.  His career did take a bit of a drag but he caught my eye again with Mandy.  Now, anytime I see his name attached to a new movie I make sure I check it out.  Sometime ago it was announced that Cage would be starring in a Five Nights at Freddy's inspired horror film.  I couldn't wait to check it out and when a friend bought Willy's Wonderland on Vudu I knew I had my chance.  I loved this movie so much I quickly ordered the blu as soon as I finished watching it.  

     The film follows a silent man who finds himself with four busted tired in a small town. The local tow guy helps him out but he finds himself unable to pay for the repairs.  The owner of Willy's Wonderland promises to settle his debts if he agrees to spend the night cleaning the place before opening the next day.  He agrees but soon discovers that the animatronic puppets on display in Willy's is actually possessed by the spirits of a family of serial killers who lured birthday boys and girls to their deaths.  Now he must fight the night away in order to get his car back.  

     I knew this wasn't going to be a perfect film and nowhere near as amazing as Mandy.  I hate comparing Cage's film to Mandy but that is, without a doubt, the best genre film of the last 20 years.  I absolutely love it and I know Cage can give us even more insane films before his time is up.  Willy's Wonderland was fun as hell if you let it be.  However, if you go into this one wanting to pick it apart then you will not enjoy yourself.  The acting in this one is nothing amazing but it does work for the film.  Cage goes through the entire film without uttering a single word.  It's not the most memorable performance from Cage but it works for the film.  The supporting cast is pretty solid but the characters are pretty flat when compared to the absurd story unfolding before you.  The story for this one had a lot of interesting ideas but I feel like these ideas was never fully explored as much as I would have liked to see.  I liked the serial killers transferring their spirits into the characters from Willy's Wonderland and the small town coming together to make an agreement with them.  However, there is so much story in that and it shouldn't just be something mentioned in passing in the film.  The movie should have focused on this.  I sincerely hope we get a prequel to featuring the family and the events leading up to the town making an agreement with them.  With that being said, the film is mindless fun.  It is a bit rushed and a lot of the most interesting aspects are mentioned in passing but it works.  I still enjoyed the hell out of it and as soon as I finished watching it I immediately hit play on it again.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments.  We get plenty of fun and hyper-violent deaths with lots of blood and some gore.  I really enjoyed these death scenes and how they unfolded.  With that being said, the costumes for the animatronics were extremely cheap and didn't really fit the look of the film.  Overall, Willy's Wonderland is a fantastic mind-numbingly fun flick that is perfect for those of you looking to see some blood with no strings attached.  However, if you are one that is overly critical of films then you will want to skip it.