Squatch'd

Starring - Shawn Burkett (A Shameless Revenge, Bludgeon), Brittany Blanton (Don't Fuck in the Woods, 13 Slays Till X-Mas), and Travis Wilson (Campground: The Requel, Season's Greetings 2)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometime back Shawn Burkett of Concept Media announced that he would be working on a new bigfoot centered horror film titled Stranded.  I respect the hell out of Burkett and Concept Media so I was all for this release.  Sadly, things got out of hand and the pandemic prevented him from making the film.  However, not one to waste time, Burkett and company set out to make a web-series around the fury cryptid.  Then turned into Squatch'd which was released exclusively on the Concept Media YouTube page before receiving a blu release.  I snagged the blu release but I never got around to watching the series on YT.  I knew I was going to be watching two documentaries on bigfoot from Small Town Monsters soon and set out to finally watch this before I did.  

     The series follows the mischievous sasquatch as he encounters various people entering his woods either camping, searching for the elusive beast, or trying to find a solitary spot to piss.   

     I went into this one not knowing anything about the series but it's not often that Concept Media disappoints.  The series, or lack there of, is extremely short lived but funny.  I seriously enjoyed but the fact that there was five or six episodes and barely ran five minutes was a huge disappointment.  It was such a missed opportunity for Concept Media and fans of cryptids and horror comedies.  The acting in this one is great.  One segment features the director himself in a rare on screen appearance where he delivers a pretty fun performance.  We also see some other Concept Media regulars like Travis Wilson, Brittany Blanton, and Rob Collins.  The series is very well acted and the characters are really enjoyable.  They bring out the comedy very well and their scenes work.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward for a webs-series.  Most of the episodes are barely a minute but have some fun laughs. I like the gimmick and the writing but my only issue is that it's way too short.  It's almost like it was made for Tik Tok instead of YouTube and physical releases.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody one.  I liked the look of bigfoot but if you are looking for blood and gore you will be disappointed.  Overall, Squatch'd was fun but not what I was expecting at all.  It has a lot of promise and could have been something extremely memorable but the short episodes does make it difficult to gain any traction.  I liked it but if you are like me and expecting something more than a five minute watch then you will be very disappointed.     

Skinwalker: The Howl of the Rougarou

 

Director - Seth Breedlove (The Mothman of Point Pleasant, Mark of the Bell Witch)

Starring - Amy Davies (Mark of the Bell Witch, Voldemort: Origins of the Heir) and Lyle Blackburn (The Bray Road Beast, Terror in the Skies)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror/Documentary

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been familiar with filmmaker Seth Breedlove and his work for several years now after attending the premier of his documentary The Mothman of Point Pleasant at the historic Lowe Hotel some years back.  When I first met him I didn't know any filmmakers that were making documentaries about cryptids and the paranormal so it was a welcomed friendship.  Since then he has released numerous films on various subjects such as the Braxton County Monster, Momo, various sasquatch sightings, and UFOs.  Sometime earlier this year Seth announced a new documentary investigating the southern werewolf known as a rougarou.  I'm not familiar with this one aside from the episodes of Supernatural that dealt with the subject so I was excited to see it.  I ordered the blu sometime back and decided to finally spin it before the year was up.  

     The film takes an in depth look at the rougarou which is prominent in Louisiana folklore.  We learn about the connection between the indigenous tribes and the impact it has had in pop culture before moving into those that have witnessed strange sightings around the areas suspected to be the rougarou.  

    As I stated earlier, Supernatural was the only time I had heard mention of the rougarou prior to Seth's film so I was looking forward to learning about a cryptid/supernatural creature that I was unfamiliar with.  I thoroughly enjoyed the history behind the creature along with the ties to pop culture and so on.  The interviews in this one is split into those giving us the backstory and history of the creature before moving on to eye witness testimonies.  I was more interested in the historical aspect over the interviews.  My degree is in history education so I always find it fascinating to learn more about creatures and folklore especially when they are something I am not familiar with.  In fact, I wish this Small Town Monsters' doc. went a little further into this aspect than it did.  With that being said, the interviews from the eye witness accounts and so forth were a little underwhelming.  I'm fully convinced that they believe what they saw but these were not as captivating as the historical aspect.  The topics discussed follows the same formula as other STM docs.  They appear in chronological order going from the historic aspect, the connections to the indigenous tribes and the locals of the area then, before moving into the modern sightings.  This formula works very well especially for a documentary with this type of subject matter.  Finally, the editing and transitioning in this one is great.  Seth and STM has released some of the most professional and well put together documentaries that I have seen in recent years.  However, the CGI rougarou in several scenes in the re-enactments were very goofy looking.  They reminded me a lot of the monster movies from the late 90s SyFy originals.  Overall, Skinwalker is a fantastic doc about a subject that I was not familiar with.  It's extremely informative and entertaining.  Fans of paranormal, cryptids, and folklore should really check it out.  

Star of David: Beautiful Girl Hunter

Director - Norifumi Suzuki (Sex & Fury, Roaring Fire)

Starring - Shun Domon (Daitokai - Tatakai no hibi), Natsuko Yashiro (Women in Prison, Rape!), and Asami Ogawa (Woman Who is Used, Attacked!)

Release Date - 1979

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I know this is going to sound corny or cheesy but I've learned a lot about myself after reviewing all these movies over the last decade or so.  My intentions with my blog, almost a decade ago, was to focus on 70s and 80s action and exploitation flicks that time has forgot.  However, my love for horror soon took over but over time I've received some CAT III and pinku releases that really opened my mind to international films.  Impulse Pictures, the sister company to Synapse Films, has released The Nakkatsu Erotic Films Collection on DVD and blu.  I started receiving them some years back and fucking loved them.  I often jump at a chance to check out the newest releases so when I heard that 1979's Star of David: Beautiful Girl Hunter I was quick to request it.  I want to thank MVD and Impulse for sending this one over!

     The film follows a young man who is the result of a rape when a deranged man escaped incarceration and broke into the home of a wealthy scientist and his wife.  The scientist resented the child his wife birthed and when she commits suicide he is extremely cold and bitter toward the child.  However, when he dies and leaves his fortune to his "son" he discovers in his diary entries that his father was a life long criminal and rapist.  This sparks a bloodlust in him.  He converts his basement into a torture chamber where he would lure women to their own hell before death.

      Star of David: Beautiful Girl Hunter didn't really give me much of an idea as to what I was going to get myself into when it arrived.  I figured it followed a man who kidnapped and tortured women hence the name.  However, I was very curious where the Star of David alternate title came from but it quickly made sense once the film started rolling.  I thoroughly enjoyed this one and it's probably my favorite of the Nikkatsu Erotic Films Collection.  The acting in this one is surprisingly well done considering that a good portion of the film consists of actresses known for adult films and other pinku flicks.  The female characters are pretty cliched and unoriginal but the cast really does dive straight into it.  They don't hold back which makes these scenes really intense.  Also, the film wouldn't be as entertaining if it wasn't for Shun Domon.  His portrayal of the product of rape is nothing short of brilliant.  He manipulating, charming, calculating, and ravenous.  It's a damn shame he never appeared in more of these films.  The story for this one rides the line like most of the other films in this collection where someone, regardless of who they are, kidnaps or lures women to a hidden place where they are raped, tortured, and murdered.  What sets this one apart from the others is having the man being a product of rape and having his studies into the holocaust stirring the homicidal urge inside him.  It is a bit of a character study but at the end of the day it is a classic torture porn.  Finally, the film has some surprisingly bloody moments but the real focus is the bound and tortured women.  The blood and bright red and the effects are very minimal.  Overall, Beautiful Girl Hunter a raunchy, violent, and depraved film that genre fans should take seriously.  I really enjoyed it and this release from Impulse is fantastic.  I would have preferred some more supplemental material with this release but I'll take it as it is.  

The Fourth Victim

Director - Eugenio Martin (Horror Express, The Ugly Ones)

Starring - Carroll Baker (Murder, She Wrote, Tales from the Crypt), Michael Craig (Tales of the Unexpected, Doctor Who), and Miranda Campa (Winged Devils, Grog)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Horror/Mystery

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Severin has been surprisingly a lot lately with their releases.  The one title that I was the most excited for this year was Midnight and that release did not disappoint but Severin has released a few other movies that I did not expect to like as much as I did.  A Day of Judgement was a real treat and a film that I have talked about in great lengths in a few horror groups after my initial viewings.  I fucking loved it and I'm so glad Severin took the risk of releasing it.  It's not a title that most horror fans would rush to but I feel that it is one of their most underrated releases.  The same can be said about their release of the 1971 mystery The Fourth Victim starring Carroll Baker and directed by Carroll Baker.  I was under the impression that this was going to be a fun giallo but that was not the case.  It really did catch me off guard and I fucking loved it.  I want to thank MVD and Severin for sending this one my way.

     The film follows a wealthy business man who has been married three times and all three marriages ended in his wife's death.  The police suspect he is behind their deaths but can't pin it on him.  He meets a strange blonde and the two reluctantly become a couple and marry a month after the death of third wife.  However, his new bride is rather strange and he soon learns that she was institutionalized before.  the deeper he digs into her past the stranger it becomes including the fact that she may not be the woman she claims to be.

     I went into The Fourth Victim expecting a giallo but what I was greeted with was an usual mystery that pulled me in and didn't let go.  The movie doesn't really feel like a horror or thriller but it is a fantastic mystery and drama.  I know most of the horror hipsters will not care for this one but if you like the a captivating story that is not predictable then this one is for you.  The acting in this one is great.  Baker is wonderful in her role and the character has so many layers.  She does a fantastic job at bringing the amazingly written character to life.  Craig was brilliant as well as the womanizing wealthy man who suddenly finds himself in the middle of a hunt for who it was he actually married.  He was great in the role and his performance is one of the highlights.  The supporting cast is just as well done but these two characters are the best written.  The story for this one is not like your typical murder mystery.  In fact, the murder aspect kind of takes the back seat while the character driven aspect takes over.  It works if you allow it but if you are expecting a horror thriller then you will be disappointed.  The film is well written and the story unfolds damn near perfectly.  Finally, the film is not a bloody one.  This mystery is more focused on story and character development than it is blood and gore.  Overall, The Fourth Victim is a great film that may go under looked by most genre fans.  However, if you are open to a more unique experience then you will really enjoy it.  The release from Severin is a must own in my opinion.  I highly recommend it.  

Midnight

Director - Gary Lee Vincent (Ted Bundy Had a Son, Strange Friends)

Starring - Brennan Bobish, Michelle Bowser (21st Century Demon Hunter, My Uncle John is a Zombie!), and Michael Ochotorena (Toilet Zombie Baby Strikes Back, Cool as Hell 2)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     A month or so ago I was browsing makeflix.com when I saw that they had had just posted the movie Midnight on blu.  I collect all their releases so I immediately clicked it to order it when I noticed that it was actually a remake of John Russo's Midnight from West Virginia actor and director Gary Lee Vincent.  I had no idea that a remake was in the works let alone by several names associated with the indie horror scene in my state.  I quickly snagged a copy and added it to my upcoming Midnight and Midnight 2 watch party.  

     The film follows Nancy (Bobish) who flees from her home when her drunk step-dad, who is an officer, tries to sexually assault her. She starts hitchhiking and is picked up by a young couple who have plans of camping in Virginia.  When they arrive they soon find themselves face to face with the backwoods Barnes family who are a group of murderous Satan worshipping psychos.  

    I'm not one that bashes remakes.  Hell, I'm always open to remakes, sequels, and prequels.  However, Midnight just didn't hit like the original film.  The original had some cliched and slightly goofy moments but this one dialed up the awkward and camp to 11.  The movie has potential to be fun if it would have embraced it's goofy side and tried to deliver a story that wasn't a direct remake of Midnight.  The acting in this one is solid but a good portion of the cast has little to no experience so it does get a bit awkward at times.  The cast is fully dedicated to their roles but the characters they portray and the story itself does not match well at all.  I loved the intensity that Michael Ochotorena brought to the film and if this was a horror comedy I would be all about his performance but here it feels out of place.  The same can be said about several other characters/performances but his is the one that stands out to me.  The story for this one is a pretty close to the original but it lacks the tone and atmosphere that the original delivered.  I love a horror movie centered around backwoods Satanists and Russo's original had a lot of aspects that I thoroughly enjoyed.  However, this remake doesn't feel like a serious horror film.  It's got a lot of unintentional humor that could have worked if the film would have embraced the comical side.  Instead, the attempt at seriousness and the unintentional humor clash making for an uneven film.  Honestly, I think this one would have been a lot more entertaining if it was a horror comedy.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments with some light gore.  The effects are not the best but I appreciate any indie horror film that tries to tackle practical effects.  What I didn't care for was the visual effects.  The green screen basement and other visuals were horrible.  I can't understand why anyone thought they looked good enough to pass in the final film.  Overall, Midnight tried to tackle the story made popular in what I would consider one of the most underrated early 80s horror films ever.  Sadly, it was unable to pull it all together like Russo did and created an extremely difficult film to finish.  

Midnight 2: Sex, Death, and Videotape

Director - John A. Russo (My Uncle John is a Zombie!, Midnight)

Starring - Matthew Jason Walsh (Zombie cop, Stage Fright), Jo Norcia (Chickboxer, Kingdom of the Vampire), and Chuck Pierce Jr. (The Legend of Boggy Creek, The Winds of Autumn)

Release Date -1993

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Abraham's back... and he's making America's grisliest home videos..."

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I was attending Cinema Wasteland, like I do twice a year, when I discovered that the event this go around was a Night of the Living Dead reunion.  I was beside myself with the convention this time.  I attend the event twice a year when it's held but I rarely look at the guests before hand but when I saw that it was NotLD I was so fucking excited.  I met several members of the cast and crew including John A. Russo who not only appeared in the film but also pinned the story for it.  I'm a huge fan of Russo's and his contributions to the genre so when I heard that SRS Cinema was releasing Russo's sequel to his iconic Midnight I was all about it.  I quickly reached out to MVD, who was handling the DVD release as part of SRS Cinema's Retro Horror line, to request a review copy.  I waited on reviewing Severin's blu release of the first Midnight release so I could watch both films together.  Once again I want to thank MVD and SRS for sending this sequel my way.  

     The film picks up 11 years after the events of the first film with Abraham (Walsh) surviving the attack from Nancy's step-dad.  He's the only one alive from the Barns family and has moved on.  Now, he uses a camcorder to recorder women in the park with.  Using his camcorder as a way to speak with women, he lures them back to his place where he tortures and kills them.  That is until he tortures the wrong woman.  Her friend reports her missing and recalls to the detective about the man at the park with the camera the day she went missing.  The detective said he will look into it but she takes matters into her own hands.  She visits the park to lure Abraham out with the detective monitoring her but Abraham is not as stupid as they think.

     I was pretty excited to spin Midnight 2 especially after watching the first film along with learning that it was produced by Tempe Video.  Sadly, the "movie" was a huge disappointment.  It followed in the footsteps of other horror sequels that were rushed through production or cancelled where it has some new footage, around thirty minutes or so, and then the rest of the run time is made up of archival footage from the original film.  The most notable film to do this is Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor.  Honestly, I wouldn't call this a new movie.  The acting in this one is not bad but not as near as good as the original film.  The cast is given flat characters with no real personalities to portray and they do the best they can with it.  The cast is regular's of Tempe and have been in several of their releases but here their performances are just as one dimensional as the characters they are portraying.  The story for this one is a huge disappointment.  We follow Abraham, a camcorder, and some young girls he picks up to torture and kill.  When he's not doing that he's sitting in front of his camera reminiscing about the events in the first film.  It's a cheap ploy to pull in fans of the first expecting a sequel only to be given 30 minutes of new footage.  The new footage could have been a fun direction but the film never fully explores it.  Finally, the film has some blood but don't expect memorable deaths.  The deaths are cheap and not as fun as the first film.  Overall, Midnight 2 is not worth your time.  I respect the hell out of everyone involved in this from Russo, to SRS Cinema, and Tempe but the film is a huge disappointment. Skip it.  

Midnight

Director - John A. Russo (Midnight 2, Santa Claws)

Starring - Melanie Verlin (Monkey Shines), Lawrence Tierney (Tales from the Darkside, The Prowler), and John Hall (Surf Nazis Must Die, The Silence of the Lambs)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Madness begins when the clock strikes twelve"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When it comes to horror and the modern zombie we often credit the legendary George A. Romero due to his 1968 classic film Night of the Living Dead.  The original Night of the Living Dead took the idea of the zombie, which was consisting of zombies in a voodoo sense prior too, and turned them into the flesh eating undead when it was mixed with the lore of ghouls.  We often credit Romero with this because he did direct the now historical film but producer and author John A. Russo should also be credited for this because he pinned the story Night of Anubis which was later retitled Night of the Living Dead.  He also has other iconic films and novels credited to his name like Return of the Living Dead, The Majorettes, and 1982's exploitation horror film Midnight.  I've seen a good portion of his films before now but I had never found the time to check out Midnight.  I had heard good things about it before now and I've owned the DVD release for years but never made the time to watch it.  When Severin announced the blu release of the film I was quick to request a copy.  The Lion's Gate DVD that I had was poor quality so I was fortunate enough that my first time watch of the film was on a pristine blu.  I want to thank MVD and Severin for sending this one my way.

     The film follows the Barns Family who worships Satan and kills everyone they come across.  Nancy (Verlin), is a young runaway who is picked up by two college students when she flees from home when her step-father, a cop, becomes drunk and tries to rape her.  The three stop to camp in some nearby woods when they find themselves face to face with the Barns clan with two of them acting as local police officers.  The two men are murdered and Nancy is captures before being taken back to their home to be part of their ritual at midnight.  While the Barns clan is preparing for their midnight ritual, Nancy's step-father is actively searching for her and uncovers a lead when the van owned by the hitchhikers was reported in a robbery.  He is able to track it down and find his step-daughter right before the ritual killing several of the Barns' before succumbing to a fatal wound himself.

      Every October I'm actively part of horror binging group on Facebook with a couple hundred other genre fans and during the months a few dozen members talk about this film.  Seeing so many people discuss it during a time when other movies like Carpenter's Halloween, Trick 'r Treat, and Night of the Demons are in heavy rotation only drove my interest in the film.  After finally getting a chance to see it I was not disappointed.  In fact, I fucking loved the film and can see it falling into heavy rotation in my home in the coming months.  It's an underrated horror film that I thoroughly enjoyed.  The acting in this one is solid but there is some room for improvements.  The cast, especially those in the Barns family, are fully dedicated to their roles.  They go all in and deliver entertaining performances.  I liked the cast and the characters and without them the film would not have been as entertaining as it is.  The story for this one is a little on the cliched side, even by 1982 standards, but I fucking love the look of the film mixed with the story.  A family of Satan worshiping hillbillies kidnapping and killing people in a midnight ritual is exactly what every suburban mom was afraid of thanks to day-time television.  With that being said, I actually like it and loved how Russo approached it.  I had a lot of fun with the character and story development.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments but it wasn't as bloody or gory as I was hoping for.  The effects are minimal but they do have some blood but the deaths are fairly unimaginative and forgettable.  Overall, Midnight is probably one of the most underrated horror films to come out of the early 80s in my humble opinion.  It's a bleak backwoods horror film from a legend with a fantastic blu release from Severin.  I highly recommend snagging this when you can because you will not be disappointed.  

Girl With a Straight Razor

Director - Chris Alexander (Queen of Blood, Female Werewolf)

Starring - Ali Chappell (Necropolis: Legion, Goosebumps) and Thea Munster (Necropolis: Legion, Scream of the Blind Dead)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "She lives by night"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I befriended filmmaker, journalist, and musician Chris Alexander after I started receiving press releases from him on behalf of Full Moon Entertainment.  It took me some time before I realized that the Chris Alexander that I was receiving these press releases from was the same CA that had worked for Fangoria.  I respect the hell out of Chris and everything he has contributed to the genre that we all love.  With that being said, I had only seen a few of his films but the ones I have seen were very enjoyable so when I received the email to review his newest film Girl With a Straight Razor I quickly made time for it.  Thanks Chris for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to see your new film!

      The film follows a young girl who is tormented by something as she explores the intricacies of the straight razor that she wields.  She walks the streets slashing those she crosses paths with while exploring her own sexuality with the blade.

      I was really looking forward to this one but I was quick to see that it wasn't for me.  As I often state in my negative reviews, if I didn't care for a film that doesn't necessarily mean it's bad.  Often times, it just means that I didn't get it or fully understand it.  I feel like that is the case with Girl with a Straight Razor.  The film was beautifully shot, edited, and acted but I found myself more confused than anything.  I'm fairly stupid and often dodge the more artistically put together films like this neo-giallo piece from Chris Alexander so take my review at face value.  Hell, you may like it if you can understand it.  The acting in this one is well done.  The cast is small but everyone absolutely nails their performances.  Chappell is the star of the show and he on screen presence and beauty is unparalleled in the indie horror scene.  The character she brings to life seems like she has a lot to say but the way the film was shot left a lot on the table.  The story for this one is simple but it does have some layers to it.  I'm not going to pretend like I know exactly what the film is about but I do know what I seen.  We follow a women who has a bloodlust and is sometimes turned on by her instrument of choice.  I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the story was more straight forward and self-explanatory but for those of you that likes your arthouse mixed with giallo then you will be right at home with this one.  Finally, the film has several bloody moments with decent enough make-up effects.  However, if you are looking for an extremely bloody or gory flick then you will be very disappointed.  The film is more of a character piece than a bloody flick with a body count.  Overall, Girl with a Straight Razor just wasn't for me.  It's over my head but I still enjoyed watching Ali Chappell and each scene is beautifully shot.  Fans of giallos, especially neo-giallos, may appreciate this one.  

Bedridden

Director - Dakota Thomas (One Last Scare, The Other Woman)

Starring - Ryan Rox (Flaming Straight Guy, Crawl), Elizabeth Elise Gonzalez (e-Virus, Save Me), and Hector Dez (Blood Relic, Dominion)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Some wounds NEVER heal"

Format - Streaming (Vimeo) (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several months back I started receiving press releases for the indie horror flick Bedridden.  I was really digging the artwork for the film and the story seemed unique and different.  However, as the year dragged on I stopped receiving news on the film until I eventually forgot about it altogether.  A few days back I was tagged on a past by another reviewer about sites potentially reviewing the film.  The post was from Dakota Thomas who is also the film's director.  I had the weekend off and agreed to check it out.  I'm glad I did because it was a lot of fun once it started moving.  Thanks Dakota for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to review the film!

     The film follows a widow who lost her husband while out of town celebrating their anniversary when a deranged man breaks into their hotel room.  Now, time has passed and she is bedridden healing from the knife wound she received from her attacker.  To kill the time she sleeps when not taking heavy doses of pain meds to numb the pain.  However, one day she uncovers an Ouija board and decides to use it in hopes of communicating with her late husband.  She does but something sinister comes through as well.  Now, confined to the bed, she has to fight for her life as a benevolent spirit can get the upper hand.  

     I was interested in Bedridden when I first heard about it but after about 30 minutes into the film I was ready to write it off as a negative review.  However, by the 45 minute mark the film starts to pick up and I found myself really into it.  I typically don't care for a claustrophobic film because they rarely make good use of their atmosphere and location but Bedridden does once it finds it's stride.  The acting in this one is fairly well done but there is a few scenes where it is uneven.  The cast goes all in into their roles but inexperience mixed with awkward dialogue does drive some of the scenes down.  It's not bad but some of these scenes could have been a little better.  The story for this one takes a little too long to get started but once it does it delivers on a great supernatural element.  I like where the story went but the trip there is a bit dull at times.  Also, the film tries to capture that 80s vibe with the soundtrack and graphics but the story itself is not one buried in 80s nostalgia so it feels a little off.  I would have preferred the film embrace it's modern story and sceneries with a more modern score and look.  Finally, the film has some blood and some really impressive make-effects but don't expect a gory flick.  The blood looks great with minimal effects but the highlight of the film is the make-up effects during some of the later scenes.  Overall, Bedridden takes some time to gain traction but once it does it delivers.  The story works if you give it the time but don't expect a gory one because it will disappoint.  Personally, I thought it was very entertaining and I highly recommend checking it out.  

Werewolves Within

Director - Josh Ruben (Scare Me, Death to 2021)

Starring - Sam Richardson (Star Trek: Lower Decks, Ghostbusters), Milana Vayntrub (New Warriors, Robot Chicken), and George Basil (Silicone Valley, Ghost Story Club)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "A whodunnit with teeth"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several weeks ago I was bitching about the lack of newer films being released due to the pandemic.  I'm not naïve and know that the pandemic put everything on hold but as a movie collector I often find myself disappointed now when I visit big box stores and can't find anything to pick up.   I guess with the holidays approaching I've found myself with several new films to check out when I would have rather had them during the month of October for my month long horror binge.  Regardless, I'm happy for the chance to review some new movies instead of the re-release of older films on blu.  A few days ago I received the horror comedy Werewolves Within from IFC Films.  This was one on my radar after I heard that Milana Vayntrub was cast in it.  Not to be that guy but she is one of my celebrity crushes.  Anyway, when I received the press release for the physical release of this one I was quick to jump on a review copy.  I want to thank IFC for sending this one over.

     The film follows the new forest ranger Finn Wheeler (Richardson) as he arrives in the small mountain town for the first time.  While meeting everyone he discovers that a business tycoon is putting in a pipeline which has split the residents on which side they stand on.  Some are for it while others are strictly against it.  However, his first night in the small town turns deadly when something rips apart their generators.  As the following night falls they suspect that one of them is a werewolf and is eating the residents one by one.

    I had seen the trailers and artwork that was released several months back and thought that this one looked fun.  I'm a sucker for a good horror comedy and Werewolves Within scratched the itch that I didn't know I had.  There was some things that I didn't care for but the overall film was very entertaining.  The acting in this one is great.  Richardson and Vayntrub was fantastic together.  Their chemistry on screen was great and the characters they brought to life did a fantastic job complimenting one another.  It was almost as if their roles were written for them.  The supporting cast is a lot of fun as well but most of them are not as well written as the two leads but the cast does the best with what they were given.  The story for this one is based on a video game that I am not familiar with but it does work as a whodunnit with a werewolf and quirky characters.  I liked the set up, how the story progressed, and the mystery theater style plot.  The humor didn't really find it's mark like I was hoping and I can't vouch for how close it follows the game but these are the only real complaints I have about the story.  Finally, the film has some fun gags with prosthetics and practical effects with some bloody kills that fit the film's plot very well.  Plenty of blood but not as gory as I was expecting.  Also, I really enjoyed the make-up effects for the werewolf.  It's not the most amazing looking werewolf but it did look great.  Overall, Werewolves Within was a fun watch but could have been better.  I would have loved a little bit more humor and gore but it's still entertaining as it is.  Check it out.