Talk to Me

Director(s) - Danny Philippou (Deluge, RackaRacka) and Michael Philippou (RackaRacka)

Starring - Sophie Wilde (Boy Swallows Universe, Everything Now), Joe Bird (Rabbit, Treasure), and Miranda Otto (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a fan of indie and no budget horror for decades now which is something weird to say. I was born in the late 80s and lived through the Ma and Pop video store boom. I was always watching direct to video horror, sci-fi, and action flicks which was how I was introduced to Full Moon and Troma. Full Moon and Troma, especially Troma, opened the door to indie and no budget cinema to me and I never looked back. It's because of this love for no budget cinema that I often skip big budget or pop horror titles because they often lack the imagination these films have. With that being said, I've seen some seriously amazing pop horror flicks like Ti West's X, The Black Phone, Late Night with the Devil, and Barbarian to name a few. I receive a lot of press releases for pop horror that I share on the site and when I received one for A24's Talk To Me I wasn't really interested in it. Honestly, it looked a bit too goofy while trying to be serious for me. I was going to pass on it until I received the blu release for review. I decided to finally check it out after taking a quick break from horror. 

      The film follows a group of youths who figure out a way to communicate with the dead using a plaster hand. It becomes a party gag with others recording them as they hold the hand and react to the spirits they are seeing. Things take a dark turn when one of them holds the hand and the spirit takes control of them, forcing them to hurt themselves. They are unable to knock the hand off quickly and he is knocked unconscious. He's rushed to the hospital, but things seem off for one of them. She starts to see people from the other side at random moments including her recently deceased mother. As she rushes to figure out what is going on she realizes that the spirit that was in her friend is still there allowing others to come forward. 

      I didn't know what to expect when I tossed in Talk To Me to watch but I was not expecting to love it as much as I did. The movie has phenomenal character development, one hell of a cast, and a story that I found myself fully submersed in. Honestly, I never expected to like this one as much as I did and it's difficult not to sit here all day talking about how much I loved it. The acting in this one is great. I loved seeing Miranda Otto from The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. She's an amazing actress with unmatchable screen presence. With that being said, she was severely underutilized here. I would have loved to see her in a much larger role. The standout performances, for me, came from Sophie Wilde and Joe Bird. Wilde carried the film and showcased a wide range of emotions. Her performance felt very genuine, and she really pulls the viewer into her pain and torment. Bird also delivers one of the most sinister performances I've ever seen in a modern horror film. I'm seriously a fan now and look forward to his other genre efforts. The story for this one is not a like the other horror efforts that follow people hosting a seance or playing with Ouija boards. Instead, it's a party game where somewhere holds a plaster hand, which has its own backstory, and they are able to see a spirit while no one else can. The twist that happens when the teenager is possessed and hurts himself leaving the door open is predictable, but it doesn't ruin the impact of the remainder of the story. It has great pacing, lots of action, and the sense of dread at time is almost choking. Finally, the film has some beautiful practical and make-up effects that only add to the overall experience. I loved the look of the spirits and the make-up effects that were incorporated but the blood and gags used were what really took the film over the top. While it's nowhere near as violent as Evil Dead Rise, it still incorporates some seriously impressive effects. Overall, Talk to Me is one of a handful of modern pop horror flicks that does not disappoint. It's a well-rounded horror film that has some genuine scares and great effects. I highly recommend checking this one out.

Arm Wrestling Roulette

Director - Eric Palmer (Action!, Inheritance)

Starring - Melissa Sapienza (A Paranormal Documentary, Killer Campout Part II), Jim Bob McClane, and Clint Black 

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Thriller/Drama

Tagline - "Step up to the table... and feel the rush"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing horror flicks over at Horror Society for over a decade now and it still blows my mind when I get in contact with a filmmaker to review their hard work. It's an absolute blast and something I hope never ends. However, as much as I love horror, I sometimes find myself a little burned out with my beloved genre. It's not often but I do get asked to review non-horror flicks from time to time. Several months back filmmaker Eric Palmer sent me his found footage horror flick Action! to review. I'm not saying the film was bad but I'm not a fan of found footage so it didn't really find its mark with me. However, after speaking with him after I posted the review, he mentioned some other films he had made, and I agreed to check em out. One of the films caught my eye. The movie, Arm Wrestling Roulette, looked absolutely wild and I couldn't wait to check it out. I decided to finally check it out after a huge horror marathon. I want to thank Eric for sending this one over for review! 

      The film follows Chip (Jim Bob McClane) who finds himself in the middle of an arm-wrestling tournament after finding videos of it at night while on a bender. However, this is no ordinary arm-wrestling tournament. In this tournament the loser has to place a bullet in a revolver, spin it, and then place the end against their head as they pull the trigger. He's been thinking about killing himself a lot lately but that changes when he meets another competitor and the two fall in love. He has something to live for but that, in itself, was short lived when she loses a match and is not so lucky with the roulette. Now, he's hell bent on beating the man responsible for her loss resulting in her killing herself. 

      I went into Arm Wrestling Roulette completely blind and instantly fell in love with it. While I would struggle to categorize it, I would say that it borrows heavily from drama, thriller, and action genres which works. I would love to see Eric expand upon this story further in the future. The acting in this one is so much fun. Jim Bob McClane is great as the drug addled man looking for some cheap fun or a way out. He carries the film for most of it's run time, but we do have a great supporting cast with another great performance from Melissa Sapienza. Melissa has been in several films I've reviewed recently like another Eric Palmer film Action!, Brad Twigg's Deathboard and Killer Campout Part II, and The Legend of Crick Foot. Honestly, I've been seriously impressed by her performances and it's a shame she doesn't have a bigger role in this one. The story for this one really caught my interest and has the potential to have a follow up film or two. An underground arm-wrestling ring where the loser has to play roulette with a revolver is fucking brilliant. I don't know if this was from something else that Eric had seen or thought of himself, but I absolutely love it. With that being said, the tone of the film is uneven and not very consistent. The film begins with a gritty atmosphere with the drug abusing drunk trying to remember the night before while looking for information about the arm-wrestling videos he saw before. When his love interest is introduced, the film does become a bit cheesy, which I don't mind, but it doesn't really fit the first part of the film. After her death the film dials up the camp as we get arm-wrestlers with gimmicks similar to late 80s and early 90s professional wrestlers. Honestly, I loved this but I do wish that the film followed this through the entire run time instead of the last leg. Finally, the film has some blood but don't expect a gory flick with a high body count. It does have some blood but nothing that will stand out for the viewer. The film focuses on the story more than it does the red stuff. Overall, Arm Wrestling Roulette has no right being as good as it is. The story is phenomenal, and the cast makes it stand out. I highly recommend checking this one out if you ever have the chance.

Caddy Hack

Director - Anthony Catanese (Hi-Fear, Girls Just Wanna Have Blood)

Starring - Dana Ackerman (Girls Just Wanna Have Blood), Max Alcarado (Bikini Watch, I Love You Sabado!!!), and Joe Biedron 

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Welcome to a hole new world of horror!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago, I was introduced to director, musician, and graphic designer Anthony Catanese when he was working on his horror comedy Sodomaniac. A slasher about a killer wearing an ass mask was a movie I couldn't pass up. I befriended him on social media and followed the project the best I could and one day my patience paid off when Anthony hit me up to review the finished project. I was hooked on his style of filmmaking from that point forward and since then I've been lucky enough to review Hi-Death, Girls Just Wanna Have Blood and Hi-Fear. Sometime back my friends over at Wild Eye Releasing sent me their blu release of his horror comedy Caddy Hack. I wasn't able to check it out right away, but I worked it into my watch list to watch as soon as I could. Like always, I want to thank Wild Eye for sending this one over! 

      The film follows a struggling golf course on the eve of a big event when the caddies are forced to hunt down and kill groundhogs that have been mutated by the dimwitted groundskeeper. Now they are bloodthirsty and will stop at nothing to maul anyone caught on their golf course. 

      I absolutely love Anthony's sense of humor. I feel like we were raised on the same television shows and movies which left a lasting impression on us. Sodomaniac and Girls Just Wanna Have Blood are great additions to two sub-genres that I love. While slashers are always popular, vampire films don't get the love they deserve in the post-Twilight world. However, he took the risk with Girls Just Wanna Have Blood, and it paid off. I knew it was going to be a good time when I saw that Wild Eye was releasing a horror parody of Caddyshack from him and I was right. I absolutely loved Caddy Hack and I'm glad I was able to finally check it out. The acting in this one was very enjoyable. The cast makes up for inexperience by making their characters larger than life. They have big personalities and bring a ton of energy to each scene. I love the characters and this cast does one hell of a job bringing them to life in front of the camera. The story for this one is a fun parody/tribute to the classic comedy Caddyshack. I love that the groundhogs are mutated by a fertilizer created by an idiot. It's such a simple spin on a well-known comedy that works for the premise of the film. The movie makes great use of its run time, has great pacing, and the comedic timing is spot on. The comedy works in a Troma sort of way, which is something I really enjoy. Finally, the film has a lot of great practical effects and a few visual effects. The film has a few amazing gags but isn't that gory. The effects for these gags work but the visual effects used stand out. Overall, Caddy Hack is a fantastic horror parody that genre fans will truly enjoy. If you grew up on 80s media, then this film is for you. Check it out.

Static

Director - Anna Hammill (The Best of Intentions, Quarantine)

Starring - Mary Beth Eversole (The Social Dilemma, Office Chatter), Megan Farley (The Rite Gift, The Ace), and Shirley Jordan (Abbott Elementary, Linked by Love)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love reviewing shorts but most filmmakers prefer to tackle a feature length film. While I understand the want to make a feature length film, I sometimes wish a filmmaker would realize that the story they are attempting to adapt doesn't have enough content to make a feature. Sometime back I was sent info on a short titledStatic from Macabre Productions. I wasn't able to get to it right away so I added it to my list to watch when I could. After recently watching a few other shorts that were sent my way for review, I decided it was time to check this one out. I'm glad I did because this one packed a punch. 

      The film follows a young woman speaking with her therapist about events leading up to a horrible incident. She's struggling with post-partem depression and her constantly crying baby only made matters worse. She then begins to hear voices tell her to "do it" before finally placing a pillow over the newborn's face. 

      I went into Static completely blind and found myself getting a gut punch of emotions. I'm a father of three and I have custody of my niece so any film that features a story like this will solicit a reaction out of me if it's done well. Static succeeded and and had me gutted. The acting in this one is fantastic. The cast is very small, but the performances are bigger than the film. The characters are very well written, and this small cast goes above and beyond to bring them to life. The story for this one is short, simple, and full of emotion. It's very effective to viewers that are in tune to their emotions along with parents or someone close to little ones. A mother struggling with depression after the birth of a child is no laughing matter and shows the horrors of the real world, as well as parenthood. It doesn't overstay, it's welcome and is very effective. Finally, this one doesn't have any blood and gore. Instead, it relies on the subject matter to get to the viewer instead of a body count. Overall, Static is a top-notch horror short that shows viewers that zombies and slashers are not the only thing in life to be afraid of. Check it out.

Artifacts of Fear

Director - Rusty Apper (The Whistler, Halloween: The Wake)

Starring - Luke Morgan (The Man in the Cave, New Year's Eve), Cameron Patmore, and Laurence R. Harvey (The Human Centipede 3(Full Sequence), Frankenstein Created Bikers)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "What are you afraid of?"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I grew up during what I like to call the golden age of anthologies. The early to mid-80s is known for the abundance of slashers that was being released almost daily during that time but the mid-80s to mid-90s saw some of the most iconic anthologies hit theaters and video store shelves. While Creepshow and The Twilight Zone: The Movie was in the early 80s, the mid 80s to early 90s saw Creepshow 2, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, Two Evil Eyes, From a Whisper to a Scream, Body Bags, Tales from the Hood, and so many more. I still have a soft spot for horror anthologies, especially indie anthologies. A few weeks back, or maybe longer, filmmaker Rusty Apper reached out to me to review his anthology film Artifacts of Fear. I wasn't able to get to it right away, but I worked it into my watch list as soon as I could. I want to thank Rusty for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check this one out! 

      The film follows two guys who are looking for something to be the center of attention at their house party. One of them takes the other to an antique store that's out of the way to see if they can find something creepy enough to do the job. They meet the shop owner (The Human Centipede 2's Laurence R. Harvey) who takes them to the basement of the shop to show them a piece he just got in. It turns out to be an old story telling machine similar to the old fortune teller machines from the turn of the 1900s. He leaves them alone with the machine so they can look it over and in his absence it tells them three bone chilling tales before the real horrors is unleashed on them. 

      A horror anthology falls apart if the wraparound segment doesn't hold the entire film together. The Creepshow trilogy and television series has The Creep, Tales from the Crypt has The Cryptkeeper, and From a Whisper to a Scream has Vincent Price reading stories from a book. A good anthology needs something that ties the segments together and Artifacts of Fear makes good use of the animatronic storyteller. It is a bit odd that an old coin operated machine is telling modern stories but I'm not here to pick apart little details like that.  The acting in this one is consistent all the way through which is very surprising for an indie anthology. It's normal for an indie anthology to have segments that feature impressive acting while others feature not so impressive acting. However, Artifacts of Fear is consistent throughout the entire film with solid acting. Laurence R. Harvey is great as the shopkeeper. Many recognize him for his role in the second Human Centipede movie and while that is a fantastic film, Laurance has appeared in many more films and never disappoints. I would have loved to see him have a bigger role or more screen time, but I'll take what I can get. The remainder of the cast is just as good with some amazing performances from everyone involved. The stories for this one are just as consistent as the acting. While I did like some more than other, this one doesn't really have any weak links so to speak. The wraparound segment works very well for tying all the shorts together. The bulk of the film consists of three stories ranging from a witch's skull to a serial killer. They are a lot of fun and very enjoyable but not as memorable as the book end story. Finally, the film has some blood and some visual effects but those of you looking for serious gore and a body count will be a bit disappointed. The film relies heavily on character development and storytelling to make up for the lack of gore. Overall, Artifacts of Fear is a fantastic modern horror anthology with some rich storytelling and an amazing cast. I highly recommend adding this one to your late night viewing especially if you are wanting something that can make your skin crawl. Check it out.

Erecting A Monster 3: The ResErection

Director - Jon Devlin (Erecting A Monster, The Missing Left Sock)

Starring - Jon Devlin, Jezibell Anat (Morningstar, The Corn Teen), and Renee Honeycutt

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Bigger, longer, harder"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I absolutely love reviewing shorts, but I rarely get the opportunity to review them. Most filmmakers want to tackle a feature length film over a short one. While that is all fine and good, shorts can be more effective especially if the story is lacking. With that being said, some stories have too much to tell which requires a feature length film or two to give it the justice it deserves. A few years back filmmaker and actor Jon Devlin contacted me to review a feature length film he was starring in. After I posted the review, he once again contacted me to review a horror short he directed and starred in. The film, Erecting a Monster, was the kind of indie flick that I love. It's absurd, full of potty humor, and completely unique when compared to other genre films of the time. The short spawned two sequels since then. I reviewed the follow up film a year or so ago and a few days back Jon hit me up to review the third film, The ResErecting. I want to thank Jon for sending this one over for review! 

      The film follows Victor (Devlin) who is living with the trauma of the past while trying to move forward. He decides to transition into a woman but cannot get the necessary surgery because she does not have the skin of the penis to be shaped into a vagina. Her friend reminds her that her schlong is buried nearby, and they can dig it up in order to do the surgery. They dig it up and accidentally resurrect it. Now the dong is going around eating people and growing. They must once again stop it before it grows to gigantic proportions. 

      Erecting a Monster 3 did not go the direction I was expecting, and I truly respect that. The follow up went in a whole new direction while keeping the same sense of humor that made the first two films so much fun. I would have loved to see Devlin pull his resources and knock out a feature length film with this same story, but I'll take whatever I can get. The acting in this one is a lot of fun. The entire cast has a lot of energy, and you can really tell that everyone had fun on set because it is shown in every scene. Jon's performance makes the short for me. His character is a lot of fun, and he does an amazing job at getting into character. I also thought Steve Johnson was funny and I'm glad he was able to reprise from the previous film. With all that being said, this one introduces us to Renee Honeycutt, and I seriously hope she is able to snag roles in more horror productions. The story for this one is the most logical continuation of the first two films now that I sit here and think about it. I was expecting something along the lines of a zombie dong biting men and their dongs falling off turning into more zombie dongs. However, having the protagonist transition into a woman and the pecker growing after each meal and shedding its skin is total fucking genius. It makes great use of it's run time and still has room to another continuation. Finally, the film has some practical and visual effects that are really fun. I loved the fake penis skin and the buckets of blood we get but some decent gore would have gone a long way. Overall, Erecting a Monster 3 is the sleazy horror short about a killer wiener that you didn't know you needed in your life. I highly recommend checking out this trilogy as soon as you can. You will not be disappointed.

Martian Girl Massacre

Director - Morrigan Thompson-Milam

Starring - Morrigan Thompson-Milam (Debbie Does Demon, Karate Ghost), Tobi Tobi, and XXX-Mas, Phantom Fun-World)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I couldn't tell you which movie it was, but a few years ago I reviewed something that starred Morrigan Thompson, and I instantly turned into a fan. I love her camera presence, how natural she is in front of the camera, and the dedication she has for each role she performs. It also helps that she is easy on the eyes. After seeing her in that film I sought her out on social media, and I've been following her career ever since. Sometime back she announced that she would be directing a sci-fi horror short titled Martian Girl Massacre. I couldn't wait to see it and every time she mentioned it, I would have to hold back the urge to ask her how long until we could see it. That changed when she posted last week asking reviewers to check it out. I quickly messaged her, and she was kind enough to send a link my way to check it out. I want to thank Morrigan for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to review the new short! 

      The film follows four twenty-somethings who travel to an airbnb for a quick getaway. What they don't expect is a strange creature to be roaming the backyard and turning one of them into a vicious killer. 

      Thompson is known for her colorful characters and baring it all in front of the camera. She's a talented actress that never disappoints so I was very excited to see her sci-fi horror short. With that being said, Martian Girl Massacre didn't disappoint. It was a little on the campy side and had a few unintentional laughs, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The acting in this one is a lot of fun. While Thompson is the star of the short, and does a fantastic job in her role, her co-stars are just as good. The characters are written very well to fit the story and the cast does a wonderful job at bringing them to life. The story for this one is really fun especially if you grew up during the direct to video age. We get an alien that takes over control of this woman who then goes on a rampage killing anyone she crosses paths with. It's simple and reminiscent of so many no budget S.O.V. flicks of the late 80s and early 90s. I also found myself laughing at a few unintentionally comedic moments like the scene she is telling everyone she saw an alien kill someone. They proceed to tell her that they don't believe her, so she goes to bed. AN ALIEN JUST KILLED SOMEONE AND SHE DECIDES TO GO TO BED! While I did enjoy it, a lot, I wish it would have been longer with a little more backstory on the alien itself. Finally, the film has a campy looking alien and a lot of blood. We have some effects on a budget, but they work. I loved the blood, and the look of the alien made the short for me. Overall, Martian Girl Massacre will not be everyone's cup of tea but fans of Troma and Warlock Home Video will truly appreciate this no budget horror sci-fi medley. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to see what Morrigan Thompson has in store for us next!

Night of the Blood Monster

Director - Jesus Franco (Bloody Moon, Hellhole Women)

Starring - Christopher Lee (Tales of the Haunted, End of the World), Maria Schell (Superman, Liquid Television), and Leo Genn (A Lizard in a Woman's Skin, Psycho-Circus) 

Release Date - 1970

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Horror will hold you helpless!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Filmmaker Jess Franco had many frequent collaborators over the years but the one that always stood out to me was Christopher Lee. The pair would collaborate on several films together and I've been lucky enough to review some of them over the years. Sometime back Full Moon released Night of the Eagle which also starred Star War's Mark Hamill, Dracula from Severin, and two FuManchu films released by Blue Underground. Sometime back Blue Underground was re-releasing The Bloody Judge on UHD under its alternate title Night of the Blood Monster. This Franco/Lee collaboration is one I had owned for some time on DVD but never actually took the time to watch it. I want to thank my friends over at Blue Underground and MVD for sending this one over for review. 

      The film follows an evil judge who uses the witch trials in England as a way to gain political power and seduce women. When his power fails to seduce a woman whose sister he just sentenced to death, she joins a group of rebels along with her boyfriend to stop him from using his power for evil. 

      I can't believe I was sitting on this one for as long as I did without watching it. I absolutely love anything centered around witches and the witch trials so the fact that I've owned this film on DVD for years and never took the time to watch it really bums me out. It was a fantastic flick that has one of greatest titles I've had the chance to review. While I don't really care for the Night of the Blood Monster moniker, I love The Bloody Judge and wish they would have stuck with that for this UHD release. Regardless of the title, this film is worth every minute. The acting in this is amazing. Christopher Lee never disappoints, and he once again shows his on-screen talents. While he delivers a memorable performance, he doesn't outshine Maria Schell, Leo Genn, Maria Rohm, and Margaret Lee to name a few. The story for this one has a lot of moving parts but I absolutely loved it. I love that the film takes place against the backdrop of the witch trials but not fully focused on it. We then have corruption, conspiracy, seduction, and so much more. It's a film with a lot going on but doesn't fill overcomplicated or busy. Finally, the film has some blood and make-up effects but that is really the extent of it. The film relies heavily on sets, costumes, and characters to sell the film instead of gore. Overall, Night of the Blood Monster is a fantastic film and another amazing collaboration between one of the world's greatest actors and one of the greatest exploitation filmmakers to ever live. I highly recommend this one especially the UHD release from Blue Underground. Check it out

Last Voyage of the Demeter

Director - Andre Ovredal (The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Troll Hunter)

Starring - Corey Hawkins (Kong: Skull Island, The Walking Dead), Aisling Franciosi (Game of Thrones, God's Creatures), and Liam Cunningham (Clash of the Titans, Masters of the Universe: Revelations)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The legend of Dracula is born"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Horror has a lot of iconic stories but very few are as memorable as Bram Stoker's Dracula. This iconic tale has spawned countless movies, unofficial sequels, and some may even argue that is created an entire sub-genre to horror. It's one of the most recognizable stories that has been adapted many times on film. While I love the story of Dracula, I will be the first to admit that I'm tired of all the adaptations telling the same story. That's why I was very excited for The Last Voyage of the Demeter. I was really looking forward to watching a film about the ill-fated crew on the ship that brought Dracula from his homeland to Carfax Abbey. Sadly, I wasn't able to check this one out in theaters but as soon as I could work it into my schedule I did, and it just happened to be right after I watched another movie starring David Dastmalchian. 

      The film follows the doomed crew of the Demeter as they make their way to England unknowingly with Dracula in tow. The crew is uneasy at night and when they discover a woman aboard claiming to be the food supply for a creature in a coffin like crate they are transporting. Soon they realize that their ship is now a crypt, and everyone's life is in danger. 

      I went into The Last Voyage of the Demeter hearing a lot of mixed things about it. Typically, I enjoy the horror titles that get a lot of hate from genre fans. However, when a film divides the horror community like this one did then I'm a little weary of it. However, after finally seeing the film, I can see why so many disliked it but I enjoyed it especially as a pop horror flick. The acting in this one is pretty solid. A lot of the male crew blended into the background or was simply there to die. However, some of the crew did stand out and had great character development. With that being said, the entire film was well acted but not everyone stood out or was as memorable as others. The story for this one is an interested spin on a known story that so many genre fans know and love. The film takes one small portion of the book and turns it into a feature length film. While the pacing does struggle from time to time, I was still impressed by how far the story was able to go and didn't feel claustrophobic. Finally, the film has a lot of blood, make-up effects, and visual effects that fit the film very well. While I think the visuals will not age that well, I really did like the make-up effects shown in the film. Overall, The Last Voyage of the Demeter is a bit of a slow burner but once it picks up it delivers. I really enjoyed how it brought us a famous part of Bram Stoker's Dracula that we have never seen before. Fans of the novel should check this one out

Late Night with the Devil

Director(s) - Cameron Cairnes (Scare Campaign, Warren and Hal) and Colin Cairnes (Under One Roof, 100 Bloody Acres)

Starring - David Dastmalchian (Last Voyage of the Demeter, Dune), Laura Gordon (Saw V, Undertow), and Ian Bliss (The Matrix Reloaded, Man-Thing)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Warning! May be disturbing to some viewers"

Format - Streaming (Vudu)

Rating (out of 5):

     I typically focus most of my attention on indie and no budget genre films but the last decade or so, specifically the last 5 or so years, has brought us some unforgettable big budget pop horror films. Over the last few years I fell in love with Ti West's X, Freaky, Black Phone, Happy Death Day, Barbarian, Lisa Frankenstein, Prey, Evil Dead Rise, Midsommar, and more I'm sure I'm forgetting. While I have a soft spot for indie horror and always will, I've been getting overly excited for more mainstream pop horror recently so when I saw that David Dastmalchian was attached to the new IFC Films produced flick, Late Night With the Devil, and I knew I had to see it. He's been active in the movie world for almost 25 years but recently gained in popularity after appearing as Polka-Dot Man in James Gunn's Suicide Squad. His career was already impressive before landing that role after appearing in The Dark Knight, Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie, Sushi Girl, and The Belko Experiment. He's a fantastic actor and I couldn't wait to see him kill it in Late Night With the Devil. 

      The film follows a struggling late-night television host who has several interesting guests on his nightly show. It starts out innocently enough when a magician practicing mysticism demonstrates some of his abilities. His next guest is a former magician turned supernatural debunker. Things take an interesting turn when the final guests are revealed to be an author who has been working with a teenage girl that was rescued from a cult. She agrees to a séance and things take a deadly turn and no one in the studio is safe. 

      I went into Late Night With the Devil knowing nothing about the film aside from it starring Dastmalchian. I'm glad I went into this one blind. It made the story really even more enjoyable not knowing what it was inspired by or where it was going. The acting in this one is amazing and I truly mean that. While I'm a huge fan of Dastmalchian, he is not the highlight of the film. His character is amazing, and he does a wonderful job in his performance, but he is not the center of attention so to speak. Ian Bliss and Fayssal Bazzi carried the film for me as their portrayal of the spiritualist and the debunker until Ingrid Torelli's character was revealed. Once she arrives, she steals the show. She was amazing and her performance here rivals Linda Blair in The Exorcist. The story for this one is one I never expected to see as the basis for a horror film. Many years ago, renown supernatural debunker and former magician James Randi went on television to prove that magician James Hydrick did not have superpowers. The event was hosted by Bob Barker and is still a popular video online among debunkers and nonbelievers. Once this is established, we move into another popular topic of the late 70s which was the occult and Satanic Panic. The little girl surviving a cult who had plans of using her as a sacrifice really is the nightmare of so many from the late 70s. This is fantastic writing that works well at character development and pacing. Finally, the film does have a little blood and some wild visual and practical effects. I absolutely loved the visuals. They were kind of cheesy but it fit the film so well. Overall, Late Night With the Devil is one of the better horror releases of the last few years regardless of if you are a fan of pop horror or not. I highly recommend checking this one out!