31 Days Of Horror: A Gift Guide

October 7, 2020 — Leave a comment

Gifting to the horror-movie-loving person in your life just got a whole lot easier!

We all know a person who dresses a little differently than most folks who fit into our built in perception of what’s mainstream. They have a heart of gold and you want them you understand you love them for who they are!

Perhaps you know a person who looks every bit the “all-american” stereotype yet they love horror movies and talk about their dream to drive cross-country in search of historic haunted houses.

If playing it safe by gifting a plastic card for an oversaturated coffee chain’s over priced coffee no longer appeals to you and you wish to give a gift as unique as your loved one is, please read on and enjoy Horror Revival’s 31 Days of Horror: A Gift Guide!

1. Dabbing Skeleton Tote

GRINDSTORE
$6.50

Pulling out the moves, this skeleton is far from lifeless as he dances like there’s no tomorrow. Perfect for spreading the dabbing joy when you’re out and about! 100% Cotton
Merchant Site

2. Per Aspera Ad Astra “Through Hardship To The Stars” Brass Coin Necklace

MARITIME SUPPLY CO.
$24

This motto recognizes the truth that the best things in life come from a great effort of will, and that some hardships are inevitable. No matter what the world throws at you, relish in the challenge because the stars wait beyond the struggle.
Merchant Site

3. Stovetop Gooseneck Kettle

DEATHWISH COFFEE
$40

Our first-ever custom-branded kettle, available now in limited quantities, includes our logo on the thermometer, the bottom, and the handle. The matte black finish on the entire kettle is as dark as your morning cup of coffee.
Merchant Site

4. Double Sided Wax Seal Necklace –
Memento Mori / Memento Vivere

MARITIME SUPPLY CO.
$62

MEMENTO MORI means “Remember your mortality.” Let this side of the pendant remind you to live every day to its fullest potential.
MEMENTO VIVERE means “Remember to live.” This side of the pendant is a reminder to take some risks, take some rest, and appreciate every piece of joy life has to offer.
Merchant Site

5. Death Cups Coffee Pods

DEATHWISH COFFEE
$15.99

Death Cups combine the strength and taste of the world’s strongest coffee with the convenience of single serve pods to make your morning routine easy. Each of our K-cup style coffee pods has double the strength of your average cup of coffee, with a smooth, bold taste to give you the morning boost you need.
Merchant Site

6. Choppy Seas Premium Cologne Roller

MARITIME SUPPLY CO.
$10

Scent notes: amber, teakwood, musk, cedar, and leather are mellowed with hints of lemon, bergamot, neroli, iris, and vetiver. For application, just roll a small amount of the pulse points. Carry in your pocket and apply as needed throughout the day.
Merchant Site

7. Man Cave – Enter At Your Own Risk Saw Shaped Tin Sign

GRINDSTORE
$13.00

Reserved for testosterone fuelled beings only, respect the privacy of the ‘Man Cave’ at all times and leave any snacks or provisions outside! Saw shaped tin sign features a crystal clear warning; ‘Enter At Your Own Risk’!
Merchant Site

8. Bat Ring, Trinket or Incense Dish

REDWOOD STONEWORKS
$18

Ready so ship in the faux grey stone shown here, matte white or gloss white.

(Please see other listing for any other finish requests.) Measures: 4″ x 3″
Merchant Site

9. Sterling Silver Memento Mori
Wax Seal Bracelet

MARITIME SUPPLY CO.
$72

Features the Latin words MEMENTO MORI with a skull on one side, and the Maritime hot stamp on the other.

MEMENTO MORI means “Remember your mortality.” Let this remind you to live every day to its fullest.
Merchant Site

10. “Whisked Away” Hollywood Monsters Apron

VINTAGE GALERIA
$29.95

Fun novelty apron with all of your favorite scary movie characters surrounded by polka dots. This apron features a variety of classic Hollywood monsters. Black and white polka dot trimming creates a nice little contrast against this Monster background. The adjustable straps are long and so more fitting to a variety of body types. One deep pocket comes in handy when juggling crafts and cooking.
Merchant Site

11. Spirit Tree “Crescent Meadow” Witch Ball

IRON ELEGANCE
$49

Spirit Tree Witch Balls are made from recycled soda bottle glass in the Carpathian Mountains; the land of superstition, old world mystery and storybook folklore. Let the magic of our Spirit Balls protect and bring fortune your home. Your tree will be absolutely unique!
Merchant Site

12. Carmilla – Crow Skull Pendant

JEWLR
$79

Take a page from Carmilla’s book of style with your very own Crow Skull Necklace! Worn by Carmilla in Season 3, the crow is symbolic of Carmilla’s mother. Made of oxidized sterling silver, this unique pendant is the perfect statement accessory for any true Carmilla fan.
Merchant Site

13. Bright Eyes – Skull Charm

JEWLR
$89

Charms are a delightfully playful way to commemorate an occasion, or to celebrate a person in your life. By continuously adding small mementos to a bracelet over the years, each charm serves as a reminder and marker of a major life event.
Merchant Site

14. Trick or Treater Room And Linen Mist

LITTLE GHOULS
$19

6 oz room and linen spray

A nostalgic escape reminiscent of Halloween candy, vintage costumes, and a rainy dawn in Salem. This scent will certainly take you to your happy place of gloom & graveland dreams~
Merchant Site

15. Beistle Cackling Jack Knit Sweater

CREEPY CO.
$74.99

When the Moon is Lit,
And the Sky is Black,
That laughter you hear,
Is Cackling Jack.

Slip on this knit sweater and cackle your way through fall. The vintage Beistle jack-o-lantern design is rendered in a shade of eye-catching orange. This sweater is a Halloween must-have, but will keep you cozy any time of year.
Merchant Site

16. Final Girl Enamel Pin

CREEPY CO.
$9.99

Join the ranks of some of the strongest women in horror and be one of the chosen, the elite: the Final Girl!

Get one for yourself, and/or several for your squad!
Merchant Site

17. Ghostie Mug

LIVELY GHOSTS
$19.50

Make your morning cup a little more Lively.

This spooky enamel camp mug holds 12oz of coffee, tea, whiskey, blood (for all you vampires out there), or whatever your delicacy is.
Merchant Site 

18. Small Desk Jawless Skull Decor
Candle And Plant Holder

REDWOOD STONEWORKS
$18

This skull is the perfect size and has so many uses; planter, ring dish, candle holder oil diffuser and more.

Comes with 1 air plant and care instructions. Shown here in faux stone grey finish.
Merchant Site

19. Friday the 13th – Legacy Of The Lake
Turntable Slipmat

PIXEL ELIXIR
$9.99

This 12″ slipmat features our popular Friday the 13th-inspired “Legacy of the Lake” artwork on high-quality felt and will fit any standard 12″ turntable.

Comes sealed in a poly bag and ships in a weatherproof poly mailer.
Merchant Site

20. Grave Digger Skull Handbag

KILLSTAR
$79.99

Welcome the newest skull member, in lush velvet coating! The ‘Grave Digger’ handbag is yer creepy must-have – large human skull handbag – with intricate detailing, zip opening, long shoulder strap and detachable tassel detail. All Hail the Halloween Queen!
Merchant Site

21. ‘Lanterns of Hallow’s Harvest Candle

LIVELY GHOSTS
$25

‘Lanterns of Hallow’s Harvest emulates a cauldron brewing the spices of the season’s harvest, candy apples, pumpkin treats & fallen leaves. The candles are topped with star anise & cinnamon sticks, & the jar lids are carefully crafted with pumpkins and hand-picked twigs & pine cones from the deep woods of Oregon.
Merchant Site

22. Never Mess With A Girl Who Loves
Horror Movies T-Shirt

EDGE BY DESIGN
$22

This Bella + Canvas T shirt is a unisex fit which means its a longer length and relaxed fit, so it is perfect for rolling up the sleeves, tying it off or tucking it in. Bella + Canvas shirts feature 100% combed, ring spun cotton for a super soft feel.
Merchant Site

23. ‘Creatures Series’ Tattoo Pack

LIVELY GHOSTS
$10

Creatures Series inspired by mythological hybrids, and many hours of observing animal footage.

  • Red Death Temporary Tattoo ($4 Value) 
  • Nocturnal Temporary Tattoo ($4 Value)
  • Unholy Trinity Temporary Tattoo ($4 Value)
    Merchant Site

24. Kitties / Doggies Face Masks

VINTAGE GALERIA
$12.50

Reusable adult face masks are made in the USA and are 100% cotton. Select from the fabrics shown in listing. Masks have a pocket with a side opening that can fit a standard filter.
Merchant Site

25. Men’s “Big Muertos Skull” Socks

VINTAGE GALERIA
$12.50

RELEASED: 2015

Get ready for Day of the Dead. Save yourself the day after Halloween and slip on these muertos skull socks. Featuring beautiful skulls on a dark background, these socks are sure to compliment your Dia de los Muertos outfit.
Merchant Site

26. Day of the Dead Skull Cufflinks

JEWLR
$65

These decorative and traditional Day of the Dead Skull Cufflinks are rich in history and beauty. These plated and enamel cufflinks feature a bullet back closure and measure approximately 7/8″ x 1/2.”
Merchant site

27. Moon And Coffin Shaped Shelf

CRYSTAL GEMSTONE SHOP
$67.50-$90

An intriguing decoration, the Coffin Shelf, Crescent Moon Shelf or Triple Moon Shelf is a perfect Halloween-style decoration to show off gems.  A welcome decoration for those with a macabre sense of style, or a conversation piece to standout, this shelf is an attention-grabber.

Each features 3 compartments for storage. Sold separately.
Merchant Site

28. The Shining, Overlook Hotel Face Mask

CYBEROPTIX TIE LAB
$30

The Shining inspired two layer cloth face cover, is hand made in Detroit, USA. Quarantine vibes be like…how’s that solitude treating you? All boredom and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Merchant Site

Keychain $6 Well Done Goods

29. Beistle Simply Spooky Pajama Set

CREEPY CO.
$49.99

See spooky things wherever you go with this must-have pajama set, featuring icons from Beistle’s vintage artwork, like bats, skulls, and Scratch Cat — all beautifully rendered.  Sport these spooky PJ’s and spook up your bedtime, lazy time, or any time!
Merchant Site

30. Freddy Krueger Leather Wallet

UNIKE4ART
$40

Hand made wallets, journals and passport holders, crafted from genuine veg-tan leather. Extremely high 5-star seller of personalized gifts.
Merchant Site

31. Sterling Silver Skull Charm Bracelet

JEWLR
$94

Rock this fun and adorable skull charm bracelet any day of the week! Layer it with other bracelets or wear it solo for a simplistic touch. It features a 1 inch extender and is fastened with a spring ring closure. Customize in your choice of sterling silver or white, yellow, and rose gold.
Merchant Site

Scariest Horror Movies | Halloween 2020

September 30, 2020 — Leave a comment

31 Movies For The Month Of October

For many people October is their favorite month of the year. With it’s crisp air and colorfully changing leaves, dreams of treats and baking with loved ones; also comes the desire to snuggle up on the couch and scream into the night with the help of a scary movie.

While I prefer everyday to be like Halloween, I have compiled a list of my favorite scary movies for those of you looking to get into the spirit but may not know where to begin. All you have to do is gather your tribe, grab a few treats and follow this easy guide to 31 scary movies in 31 days.

If by chance you live with someone who is not completely onboard, now is the time to explain to them that they get 11 months out of the year to choose the movies that suit them best but for the month of October, they must compromise and join in on the autumn festivities.

For this list I did not include any of the big name titles that you likely have seen or if not seen, definitely have heard of. Therefore, you will not find movies like A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday The 13th, Halloween, Hellraiser, Poltergeist, Jaws, Insidious, nor any of The Conjuring films on this list.

Under each film I gave a suggestion of where to stream it, however availability does change often so please check prior to watching.

Thursday • October 1

The Autopsy of Jane Doe
(2016) 6.8/10 IMDb
A father and son, both coroners, are pulled into a complex mystery while attempting to identify the body of a young woman, who was apparently harboring dark secrets.

Available on Amazon.

Friday • October 2

The Witch
(2015) 6.9/10 IMDb
A family in 1630s New England is torn apart by the forces of witchcraft, black magic, and possession.

Available on Amazon.

Saturday • October 3

Hell House LLC
(2015) 6.4/10 IMDb
Five years after an unexplained malfunction causes the death of 15 tour-goers and staff on the opening night of a Halloween haunted house tour, a documentary crew travels back to the scene of the tragedy to find out what really happened.

Available on Shudder.

Sunday • October 4

The Witch in the Window
(2018) 5.7/10 IMDb
When Simon brings his twelve year-old son, Finn, to rural Vermont to help flip an old farmhouse, they encounter the malicious spirit of Lydia, a previous owner. And now with every repair they make – she’s getting stronger.

Available on Shudder.

Monday • October 5

Terrified
(2017) 6.5/10 IMDb
When strange events occur in a neighborhood in Buenos Aires, a doctor specializing in the paranormal, her colleague, and an ex police officer decide to investigate further.

Available on Shudder.

Tuesday • October 6

Deadtectives
(2018) 6.2/10 IMDb
A team of hapless paranormal investigators go on a quest to Mexico’s most haunted house in the pursuit of better ratings for their fake reality show. When the true dark secrets of the mansion reveal themselves, the hapless presenters quickly discover that this house is no hoax. With zero ghost-hunting skills (or really any other applicable skills) the team has to figure out how to bust the ghosts and escape the house with their lives.

Available on Shudder.

Wednesday • October 7

Baskin
(2015) 5.8/10 IMDb
A squad of unsuspecting cops go through a trapdoor to Hell when they stumble upon a Black Mass in an abandoned building.

Available on Amazon IFC.

Thursday • October 8

The Hallow
(2015) 5.7/10 IMDb
A family who moved into a remote mill house in Ireland finds themselves in a fight for survival with demonic creatures living in the woods.

Available on Shudder.

Friday • October 9

Satan’s Slaves (Pengabdi Setan)
(2015) 6.6/10 IMDb
After dying from a strange illness that she suffered for 3 years, a mother returns home to pick up her children.

Available on Shudder.

Saturday • October 10

Haunt
(2019) 6.3/10 IMDb
On Halloween, a group of friends encounter an “extreme” haunted house that promises to feed on their darkest fears. The night turns deadly as they come to the horrifying realization that some nightmares are real.

Available on Shudder and Amazon.

Sunday • October 11

The Void
(2016) 5.8/10 IMDb
Shortly after delivering a patient to an understaffed hospital, a police officer experiences strange and violent occurrences seemingly linked to a group of mysterious hooded figures.

Available on Shudder.

Monday • October 13

Carriers
(2009) 6.0/10 IMDb
As a lethal virus spreads globally, four friends seek a reputed plague-free haven. But while avoiding the infected, the travelers turn on one another.

Available on Amazon.

Tuesday • October 14

Verónica
(2017) 6.2/10 IMDb
Madrid, 1991. A teen girl finds herself besieged by an evil supernatural force after she played Ouija with two classmates.

Available on Netflix.

Wednesday • October 15

Ouija: Origin of Evil
(2016) 6.1/10 IMDb
In 1967 Los Angeles, a widowed mother and her daughters add a new stunt to bolster their seance scam business by inviting an evil presence into their home, not realizing how dangerous it is.

Available on Amazon.

Thursday • October 16

Oculus
(2013) 6.5/10 IMDb
A woman tries to exonerate her brother, who was convicted of murder, by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon.

Available on Hulu.

Friday • October 17

The Canal
(2014) 5.8/10 IMDb
A depressed and stressed film archivist finds his sanity crumbling after he is given an old 16mm film reel with footage from a horrific murder that occurred in the early 1900’s.

Available on Hulu.

Saturday • October 18

We Are Still Here
(2015) 5.7/10 IMDb
In the cold, wintery fields of New England, a lonely old house wakes up every thirty years – and demands a sacrifice.

Available on Amazon Prime.

Sunday • October 19

The Taking of Deborah Logan
(2014) 6.0/10 IMDb
An elderly woman battling Alzheimer’s disease agrees to let a film crew document her condition, but what they discover is something far more sinister going on.

Available on Shudder and Prime.

Monday • October 20

Incident In A Ghost Land
(2018) 6.4/10 IMDb
A mother of two who inherits a house is confronted with murderous intruders on the first night in their new home and fights for her daughters’ lives. Sixteen years later when the daughters reunite at the house, things get really strange.

Available on Shudder.

Tuesday • October 21

The Devil’s Candy
(2015) 6.4/10 IMDb
A struggling painter is possessed by satanic forces after he and his young family move into their dream home in rural Texas, in this creepy haunted-house tale.

Available on Amazon.

Wednesday • October 22

Back Country
(2014) 6.0/10 IMDb
An urban couple go camping in the woods and find themselves lost in the territory of a predatory black bear.

Available on Amazon IFC.

Thursday • October 23

They’re Watching
(2016) 5.6/10 IMDb
The renovation of an old house in a village somewhere in Eastern Europe will bring the crew of an American home improvement TV show up against superstitions, misunderstandings and bloody violence.

Available on Amazon Prime.

Friday • October 24

Last Shift
(2014) 5.8/10 IMDb
A rookie cop’s 1st shift alone in the last night of a closing police station turns into a living nightmare.

Available on Amazon.

Saturday • October 25

Hush
(2016) 6.6/10 IMDb
A deaf and mute writer who retreated into the woods to live a solitary life must fight for her life in silence when a masked killer appears at her window.

Available on Netflix.

Sunday • October 26

The Invitation
(2015) 6.6/10 IMDb
A man accepts an invitation to a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife, an unsettling affair that reopens old wounds and creates new tensions.

Available on Netflix.

Monday • October 27

Night of the Living Dead
(1990) 6.9/10 IMDb
The unburied dead return to life and seek human victims. 

Available on Amazon.

Tuesday • October 28

The Wailing
(2016) 7.4/10 IMDb
Soon after a stranger arrives in a little village, a mysterious sickness starts spreading. A policeman, drawn into the incident, is forced to solve the mystery in order to save his daughter.

Available on Shudder.

Wednesday • October 29

The Exorcism of Emily Rose
(2005) 6.7/10 IMDb
A lawyer takes on a negligent homicide case involving a priest who performed an exorcism on a young girl.

Available on Amazon.

Thursday • October 30

The Final Girls
(2015) 6.6/10 IMDb
A young woman grieving the loss of her mother, a famous scream queen from the 1980s, finds herself pulled into the world of her mom’s most famous movie. Reunited, the women must fight off the film’s maniacal killer.

Available on Amazon.

Friday • October 31 • Double Feature

The Houses October Built
(2014) 5.2/10 IMDb
Five friends are stalked by a group of mysterious and disturbed individuals while on a road trip looking for the ultimate haunted house attraction.

The Monster
(2016) 5.4/10 IMDb
A mother and daughter must confront a terrifying monster when they break down on a deserted road.

Both available on Amazon Prime.

What do you think of the list?


The Greasy Strangler

The Greasy Strangler

May 30, 2020 — Leave a comment

THE GREASY STRANGLER (Movie Review)

Released: October 7, 2016
Directer: Jim Hosking
Writers: Toby Harvard and Jim Hosking

Starring: Michael St. Michaels, Sky Elobar, Elizabeth De Razzo

Stream on Amazon Prime

★★☆☆☆

Big Ronnie and Big Brayden discover love as a greasy killer strangles his way through town

There are not enough pearls to clutch or words to be written that can adequately describe the dirtiness I felt while watching The Greasy Strangler. Alarmingly, the optimal moment arrived when I turned the film off after 15 minutes as I finally felt like I could breathe unpolluted air once again.

The Greasy Strangler (from what I gather) is about a father and son duo named Big Ronnie (Michael St. Michaels) and Big Brayden (Sky Elobar) who while giving a walking disco tour both fall head over heels for their curly haired customer, Janet (Elizabeth De Razzo).

In between lewdness, nudity and random acts of grotesquerie that can make any viewer wish to become blind or at the very least celibate, a killer who is obsessed with greasy food, dresses in a suit made of grease while killing random people while they portray the ultimate in stereotype.

The Greasy Strangler strives to compete with the early works of John Waters like Pink Flamingos and Mondo Trash. Whether it succeeds is up to you. The only question remains…can you make it through the entire film?

Climax

May 28, 2020 — Leave a comment

CLIMAX (Movie Review)

Released: May 13, 2018
Written and Directed by: Gaspar Noé

Starring: Sofia Boutella, Romain Guillermic, Souheila Yacoub, Kiddy Smile, Claude-Emmanuelle Gajan-Maull, Gisele Palmer, Taylor Kastle, Thea Carla Schott, Sharleen Temple, Lea Vlamos, Alaia Alsafir, Kendall Mugler, Lakdhar Dridi, Adrien Sissoko, Mamadou Bathily, Alou Sidibé, Ashley Biscette, Mounia Nassangar, Tiphanie Au, Sarah Belala, Alexandre Moreau, Naab, Strauss Serpent

Stream on Amazon Prime

★★★☆☆

Dancers move to chaotic and energetic LSD-fueled choreography that mesmerizes and destroys

Take two Excedrin and call me in the morning. You may need them if you are unaccustomed to long hours of thumping club bass, EDM and a discernible room full of cigarette smoke, so aptly depicted you begin to smell the thick of it wafting through your television. This is Gaspar Noé’s highly debated film Climax—the movie that transpires in a single location and sometimes even in a single 42 minute-long shot.

The French filmmaker [Gaspar Noé] is best known for creating experimental and demanding bodies of work—all of which strive to inform a kind of hell to varying degrees of success. For those unfamiliar with his 2003 film Irréversible—Roger Ebert called it “a movie so violent and cruel that most people will find it unwatchable.”

As for Climax, the extreme violence we have come to associate Noé, is shed for a less tactile subject furthering his experimental style while exploring drug use. This is not to say the horror of incessant screams won’t make the person in the next room over wonder what the hell you are watching.

Climax begins with an interview of a group of professional dancers. They are introduced through an open-ended format of questioning then a rough cut transports us to the next scene, a dance studio where we linger for the remainder of the film. It is here we witness a dance so chaotic and energetic it can only be said to mesmerize.

This is the best of Climax. And once it is over the best is gone too.

At the completion of the dance, the members hang around to celebrate their successful choreography with a sangria punch, lewd conversation and more dancing. Unbeknown to anyone or most anyone—the sangria is spiked with a ferocious hallucinogenic.

For the summation of the film we witness the effects of the drug and its unraveling of the dancers making them paranoid, belligerent and even dangerous to themselves and others.

You will find buried messages throughout the film—messages that are an important part of the dialog today. Credit where credit is due, Gaspar Noé is not afraid of experimenting with intriguing concepts even in the face of failure. But sometimes it is the failure staring us down at the end. That does not mean we should ever stop trying.

The Butcher Possessions

May 27, 2020 — Leave a comment

THE BUTCHER POSSESSIONS (Movie Review)

Released: July 29, 2015
Writen and Directed by: Dale Trott

Starring: Damien E Lipp, Stephanie Mauro, Sophie Wright, Tristan Barr, Tilly Legge, Lliam Murphy, Janet Watson Kruse, Peter Flaherty

Stream on Amazon Prime

★★★☆☆

Creepy found footage film surprises with eerie moments and a perfectly manicured scary story

The Butcher Possessions is a bare bones, low budget Australian gem, that while obvious of its small budget, didn’t stop director Dale Trott from using all the resources at his disposal to create a successful found footage horror movie.

In the UK the film was released under its original title Beckoning The Butcher, and can currently be viewed on Amazon without additional charge for Prime members.

The Butcher Possessions is the story of Chris Shaw (Damien E. Lipp), a social media personality who performs rituals he finds on the web. Wanting to increase his viewership, Chris invites four friends to a weekend gathering in a desolate countryside home where together they will participate in a ritual called Beckoning The Butcher.

For the ritual, participants must write their name on a piece of paper, dab a drop of their blood next to their name and then burn the slip of paper while chanting a Latin phrase. The completed steps are said to then conjure the butcher.

With two video cameras recording at all times; one set up in the house and the other carried for POV, Chris’s hope of capturing even just a small moment of paranormal activity becomes more than he bargained for when the butcher shows up with a plan of his own.

The main moments of The Butcher Possessions are bookended with a backstory via sit down interviews by a family member, a psychic and a sheriff—all of whom add a well rounded linear structure to the narrative.

The Butcher Possessions (or Beckoning The Butcher, depending on where you live) is the perfect party night or Halloween night scary movie.

10 MOVIES THAT WILL SCARE YOU

May 22, 2020 — Leave a comment

A list of 10 of the scariest horror movies ever made

I love horror movies—my favorite are the kind that creep me out, make me feel uncomfortable or outright terrify me. For this list I’ve gathered movies I feel overall are most scary.

1.

Baskin

RELEASED: 2015

Baskin freaked me the hell out when I saw it for the first time. I’ve rewatched it several times since and still love it each and every time. ‘Baskin’ is a Turkish word meaning ‘police raid’ and the movie is savage. A police unit called to an abandoned building becomes trapped in a surreal nightmare. Today’s Hellraiser, must have made Clive Barker proud.

Available to watch on Amazon.

2.

Last Shift

RELEASED: 2015

This is the type of horror movie we need all the time, every time. Jessica Loren, a rookie police officer is asked to spend her first night on the job guarding a soon to be defunct precinct— will she make it though the Last Shift?

Available to watch on Amazon.

3.

Incident in a Ghostland

RELEASED: 2018

Got to be honest, Incident in a Ghostland is a tough one to watch. Director Pascal Lugiere, is known to have created the most disturbingly brutal film (Martyrs) and here he has done it again—only slightly less controversial. Not for everybody. It is very brutal but it is also terrifying.

Available to watch on Shudder.

4.

Veronica

RELEASED: 2017

Great horror movie lists are not complete without Veronica— the breakout, supernatural hit from Spain that left me sleeping with one eye open. Incredible.

Watch on Netflix.

5.

Terrified

RELEASED: 2017

Terrified (original name-Aterrados) is a Spanish language film out of Argentina that is currently being remade in English by none other than Guillermo del Toro—I don’t need to say much more to convince anyone.

Available to watch Shudder and Amazon.

6. & 7.

Hell House LLC

RELEASED: 2015

Hell House LLC is a perfectly, creepy, haunted house tale. Not since Poltergeist has a movie been able to pull off the old clown trick so successfully.

Hell House LLC II

RELEASED: 2019

How often is a sequel as scary as the original? Not very often. Oh, and remember when I mentioned the clown scene above? Wait until you see them in the sequel.

Watch both on Shudder.

8. & 9.

The Conjuring

RELEASED: 2013

James Wan perfected the ghost story so much so that The Conjuring has been called the scariest movie of the decade. I tend to agree, and then some.

The Conjuring 2

RELEASED: 2016

In The Conjuring 2 Ed and Lorraine Warren head across the pond to investigate a haunting in a small English town. Part 3 is coming soon and if it’s anything like the first and its sequel, you’d better bet it will make this list as well!

Watch both on Amazon.

10.

Insidious

RELEASED: 2011

Insidious, another James Wan film is grittier than The Conjuring. This movie reeks of pure fright. It is a fright trap from start to finish. The sequel and the 3rd installment are quite good as well. (Nothing like the original though.)

🔚

Watch on Netflix.

How do you feel about this list? Agree/disagree? Let me know in the comments.

The Wretched

The Wretched

May 21, 2020 — Leave a comment

THE WRETCHED (Movie Review)

Released: May 1, 2020
Written and Directed by: Drew T. Pierce and Brett Pierce

Starring: John-Paul Howard, Jamison Jones, Azie Tesfai, Piper Curda, Kevin Bigley, Tug Coker, Gabriela Quezada Bloomgarden, Richard Ellis, Blane Crockarell, Ja’Layah Washington and Madelynn Stuenkel as The Wretch

Stream on Amazon

★★★☆☆

A crafty witch casts a spell compelling townsfolk to forget about their children—making her meal less of a battle

The Pierce Brother’s coming of age horror movie The Wretched, follows 17-year-old Ben (John-Paul Howard) as he busses into the quaint, boat-slipped town where he and his dad Liam (Jamison Jones) are to spend the summer.

As Ben tries to acclimate to his new summer digs—complete with the ‘warming up to dad’s new girlfriend’ and ‘trying to fit in with the local townies’—tropes, he begins to observe strange occurrences emitting from his next door neighbor’s house.

Unbeknownst, a witch has made the house its new quarters and begins to cast a spell over the townsfolk, causing them to forget their children so that it can easily devour the forgotten ones without a tussle (smart).

John-Paul Howard

When children begin to go missing though, Ben’s suspicions turn real and he must devise a plan to stop the witch and save the children. However, with a checkered past including drug use and stupidity—jumping from a second floor window-resulting in a broken arm, Ben is up against a wall as he finds it increasingly difficult to find people who believe in him.

With elements of Fright Night and The Lost Boys—meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers—all while on a snoozy summer vacation, The Wretched replaces vampires and aliens with a pagan root-like witch that prowls the woods and makes pit stops into peoples homes to eat their children.

There are no bad shots in The Wretched. Kudos to the Pierce Brothers for being natural born purveyors of horror. They know how to tell an effectively scary story. The dialog too, thank god comes off as natural and the acting is good—all of which creates a solid foundation for a decent creepy summer movie.

As always, there will be naysayers whom gloss over the accomplishments and only focus on the flaws. And The Wretched is certainly not without flaws. But follow through and you may be pleasantly surprised that more than a little thought went into making this film, and it shows.

Back Home

Blood Quantum

May 20, 2020 — Leave a comment

FILM REVIEW: BLOOD QUANTUM

Released: September 5, 2019
Written and Directed by: Jeff Barnaby

Starring: Michael Greyeyes, Forrest Goodluck, Kiowa Gordon, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Olivia Scriven, Stonehorse Lone Goeman, Brandon Oakes, William Belleau, Devery Jacobs, Gary Farmer

Stream on Shudder

★★★☆☆

A zombie flick with social awareness that would make George Romero proud

“Just like the dog. Just like the fish.” The dead are coming back to life in Jeff Barnaby’s socially aware zombie flick, Blood Quantum. As an impressive ode to the legacy of George A. Romero, Barnaby has given us a tale of the end of the world-where only indigenous peoples are spared as the world burns in chaos.

Six months after the apocalypse, those who have survived now reside on Mi’gMaq reserve of Red Crow, where they have regrouped and implemented new rules to live by. Along with mostly indigenous people, a small handful of non-indigenous survivors have escaped the dead for now.

Joseph (Forrest Goodluck) and Lysol-yes that was the character’s name well before Covid introduced surreal anecdotes regarding disinfectants, (Kiowa Gordon) are two brothers who have arrived at fundamentally different understanding as to why the dead keep coming back to life.

The relationship between the two brothers is in constant flux as they try to grasp the fact that their father; town sheriff (Michael Greyeyes) was never around for his first born, Lysol, but was seemingly always present for Joseph, to dire consequence for the two brothers.

Just as the community of survivors comes to find practicality in their new reality a war is waged and a final battle begins, pinning the walking dead and humans alike of one belief system against people of a different view. In the third and final act the depravity of men becomes worse than what Mother Earth has unleash.

With a little tightening of the wrench, Blood Quantum could compete with the best of ’em. It is an entertaining zombie film; those of us who love the genre will especially dig it. The movie’s message is spelled out clearly and it plays out well as the metaphor that all of our decisions will come back and haunt us. Had the dialog used a little fine tuning, Blood Quantum could soar.

Back Home

The Treatment

The Treatment (De Behandeling)

May 20, 2020 — Leave a comment

FILM REVIEW: THE TREATMENT (DE BEHANDELING)

Released: January 29, 2014
Directed by: Hans Heriots
Written by: Mo Hayder (novel) and Carl Joos (screenplay)

Starring: Geert Van Rampelberg, Danni Petit, Johan Van Assche, Laura Verlinden, Tibo Vandenborre, Dominique Van Malder, Roel Swanenberg, Cerci Letham

Stream on Amazon Prime or Shudder

★★★★☆

A depraved visceral thriller of men and monsters

Inspector Nick Cafmeyer (Geert Van Rampelberg) is lead investigator in a case that drags him straight into the seedy underbelly of a network of pedophiles in Hans Herbots’s The Treatment.

When a mother and father are rescued from a botched abduction that leaves their young son missing, Inspector Cafmeyer frantically begins a manhunt to recover their child.

As the case unravels Cafmeyer discovers similarities from his own life experience decades prior that has left him with an open wound, ever since his young brother was abducted in front of him.

As the old and new cases converge, Cafmeyer becomes obsessed in solving the new crime hoping to gain some sense of closure for himself and for the families torn apart beyond comprehension by the completely maladjusted minds of men.

The Treatment is a grim procedural thriller—and that is putting it mildly. I found myself perusing other reviews to justify that I thought this film was incredibly poignant and well made. The sense of violation, repugnancy and depravity cannot be understated.

Many people, especially those with a weak stomach may not wish to watch as pedophilia involving the rape and incest of young boys is depicted. Even though Herbot has handled the taboo subject delicately, I found the scenes very much more so visceral than I would have hoped to have ever seen.

The Treatment, even in all its depravity is a true feat of filmmaking, beautifully handled by Hans Herbots.

Back Home

The New Mutants: Is This Time For Real?

May 14, 2020 — Leave a comment

Ⓐⓖⓐⓘⓝ,

………Disney’s The New Mutants has created a massive buzz of hysteria and speculation. As the ill-fated, long-awaited film makes its way onto the big screen this summer, Disney/Fox is taking a huge gamble as expectations have either soared or for some, dropped to non existent. There was a time I was clearly ecstatic at the prospect of a horror movie spin-off based on the X-Men Universe. In the 3 years since I first learned of The New Mutants, let’s just say my expectations have tempered.

New buzz as The New Mutants gets a new August 28 release

It was during the beginning of the height of the horror movie revival (yes that is exactly where the name of this blog comes from), when all the world decidedly got hooked on horror. It was a thrilling thing to witness–as it meant their were more horror movies to watch–and on that, it did deliver. But as time passed by and the hairs on my head grew long and we even survived a pandemic, no word arrived as to when The New Mutants movie would finally be released, until now.

Anya Taylor-Joy & Charlie Heaton

I still remember the YouTube search I did a few years back after hearing about the movie for the first time. Then, the movie was slated to be released on April 12, 2018. I was psyched because the trailer was quite dark. At the time there wasn’t much talk about the film and it definitely wasn’t being promoted heavily, if at all.

One time only, I see the movie promoted and that was during a commercial break while watching American Horror Story back in 2017. Watching weekly TV shows was still a thing on network cable stations (yup, with commercials and all that antiquated fun stuff). After that, I never saw it promoted again, nor had I hear anything other than the occasional hearsay.

When I saw the quick trailer I was immediately intrigued by the subject of the movie, but also the film boasted an ensemble cast consisting of Game of Thrones star, Maisie Williams, The Witch’s leading lady, Anya Taylor-Joy whom has an intoxicating way of charming with her fine acting chops, as well as everyone’s favorite brother Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) from Stranger Things. This is exciting stuff for a movie nut.

The New Mutants, was originally slated to be released on April 13, 2018, before being pushed back to February 22, 2019, to avoid Deadpool 2, and then again to August 2, 2019, to avoid Dark Phoenix (which bombed btw). That was two years ago. Then it was one year ago. Then the buzz went silent.

But here we are. The New Mutants has its sixth release date and people are excited to see how a horror movie interpretation of a beloved action-superhero franchise will play out. I for one am not going to place a high bet on the film but I sure can’t wait to see it, finally.

One of the best comments I’ve seen on YouTube under the original trailer for The New Mutants reads:

“I quit smoking to live long enough to see this movie in 2060.”

The comment has over 2K likes and it definitely sums up this movie’s journey.

–🆃🅷🅴 🅴🅽🅳

2020 trailer versus the teaser trailer from 2018

2020 Trailer

2018 Trailer

Back Home

Scream

We’re all Scream Face, as Neve Campbell hints at a Scream 5

May 13, 2020 — Leave a comment

In a recent interview, Christina Radish has us all screaming as Neve Campbell teases a potential return to the Scream franchise, Collider reports.

What’s your favorite scary movie? If it’s Scream, then you’re in luck – franchise star Neve Campbell recently offered an update on the status of Scream 5.

In an interview with Collider’s Christina Radish about Campbell’s upcoming movie Castle in the Ground, available digitally and on demand May 15th, Campbell offered some details about the potential fifth installment of the popular horror series, from Ready or Not directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillertt.

Image via Miramax

“Well, I’m not a hundred percent on it, but to be honest, the two directors ( Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett) have made some great work. I’ve watched their films, and they’re really talented. They wrote a letter to me, expressing what great fans of Wes’ work they are, and how honored they are that they’re getting the chance to make Scream 5 because the Scream franchise is the reason that they’re directors now. So, that was really sweet. They really wanna honor Wes’ style of work and honor the movies. That was a lovely thing to hear. So, we’ll see. Hopefully, we can all see eye to eye on everything and make something great, but it’s a process.”

scream-poster

Campbell also seemed to indicate that the next Scream film would in fact be a sequel and not a reboot by sharing some of her feelings about where her character, Sidney Prescott, would be in the 21st century.

“I think you can always tell them more with these stories, and they’re such fun films. There’s obviously a huge audience for them, and the audiences wants to see more of them. You can always go further with the journey. Certainly, with Sidney, she comes to some new shift in her life, at the time, and I don’t know. We’ll see.”

Scream was a breakout hit when it released in 1996, thanks to its subversive nature and macabre comedy. While the sequels never quite lived up to the original, the series has continued to be a mainstay in modern slasher films and has managed to redefine the genre at the same time as it skewers its many tropes. Ready or Not’s black comic tone is a perfect fit for Wes Craven’s ironically self-aware murder mystery, and as a fan of both movies, I’m beyond excited to see what these filmmakers do with the series.

Reporting by Christina Radish for Collider.

Back Home

Haunting on Fraternity Row

May 12, 2020 — Leave a comment

FILM REVIEW: HAUNTING ON FRATERNITY ROW

Released: November 2, 2018
Director: Brant Sersen
Writers: Brant Sersen and Jeff Cahn

Starring: Jacob Artist, Jayson Blair, Shanley Caswell, Claudia Lee, Ashton Moio, Cameron Moulène, Molly Tarlov, Chester Rushing, Breon Pugh, Stephanie Honoré, Eduardo Losan

Stream on Netflix

★★★☆☆

An effective comedy/horror that delivers on both successfully

My brain usually chugs along in accordance with the general consensus as I review horror movies, although I’m aware I may be slightly more forgiving than others. After watching Haunting On Fraternity Row, I excitedly began a search for the movie information I needed to write this review when I noticed the movie had a mere 3.8 out of 10 on IMDb. WTH, I thought to myself as I peered into the abyss of the low score number. Did a freak incident involving bad math produce this oddity?

Haunting On Fraternity Row is an American horror-comedy film, directed by Brant Sersen that delivers on both horror and comedy. By all means the film does not reinvent the wheel however it does enthrall and it will pull you into its anything but jejune world. The casting is spot-on perfect, as it provides likable characters whom are relatable as well.

Jason Blair, Eduardo Losan, Ashton Moio
Shanley Caswell, Claudia Lee, Molly Tarlov

For the film, Brant Sersen tweaked the frat guy persona adding introspection and kindness, even if at times he is still the ridiculous, oversexed jock. What we experience is not the stereotypical college bro; damaging everything and everyone in their path but a different kind of college jock that has a semblance of respect. The subtext is admirable especially when the character attributes could have been played in so many different directions. Furthermore, the actors demonstrate solid ability in their craft, garnering successful laugh-out-loud comedy within a bona fide horror movie.

Jacob Artist

Of course as is customary, the annual Luau procures an abundance of scantily-clad female sorority sisters including some incredibly funny cast members such as Claire (Marley Tolov, MTV’s Awkward), who is hysterical as every bro’s type of bro and the ridiculously over-the-top, Liza (Claudia Lee, The Girl in the Photographs), who along with their other sorority sisters are primed to get sloshed as they search for their perfect Mr. Right now.

While all the silliness is going down, a horror story is building up as a menacing spirit becomes accidentally freed after a keg falls down the basement stairs inadvertently revealing a secret tunnel into a small corridor covered in light fixtures. On a center alter a once covered chalice has now been knocked over, freeing its contents back into the world.

Ashton Moio, Cameron Moulène, Jacob Artist
Breon Pugh

There are several truly scary moments in Haunting On Fraternity Row, so do not be fooled by the comedic overture as the movie is a solid ghost story. Where the movie does unfortunately fall flat is in the CGI effects. While I have seen worse, the CGI should have provided for a more thoughtful look into the character of the movie’s evil spirit. Not only is the CGI not the greatest but the character itself seems rushed.

Haunting On Fraternity Row is a thrilling watch with all the elements one could wish for in a college-themed, luau thrown, booby-bouncing, butt-shaking movie that strives and succeeds to serve its horror wrapped in a comedy. So give it a try. Now streaming on Netflix.

Back Home

The Autopsy of Jane Doe

The Autopsy Of Jane Doe

May 10, 2020 — Leave a comment

FILM REVIEW: THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE

Released: December 21, 2016
Director: André Øvredal
Writers: Ian B. Goldberg, Richard Naing

Starring: Brian Cox, Emile Hirsch, Olwen Catherine Kelly, Ophelia Lovibond, Michael McElhatton, Jane Perry, Parker Sawyers, Stanley The Cat

Stream on Netflix

★★★★☆

A multi layer examination of fear that works perfectly on its viewers nerves

Norwegian film director André Øvredal (Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark) creates an almost-perfect, truly frightening scary movie with his careful handling in The Autopsy of Jane Doe.

Tommy and Austin (Brian Cox, Emile Hirsch), a father/son duo consisting of coroner and mortician, receive a late evening dispatch of an unidentified body from a curious crime scene. Town Sheriff Burke (Michael McElhatton) requests that the team complete an emergency autopsy so that he can report a cause of death in the morning press briefing. Teetering on twilight, The Autopsy of Jane Doe begins.

As the multi layer examination commences the physical uncovers that while the corpse of Jane Doe (Olwen Catherine Kelly) is immaculately preserved, the internal system presents with multiple fractured bones, eyes that are greyed-over, a missing molar and a missing tongue. All of these signs are indicative that the corpse should appear bruised and bludgeoned on the outside. During the exam, incidental and strange supernatural occurrences begin to happen in the embalming room.

Austin Tilden, Olwen Catherine Kelly, Michael McElhatton, Brian Cox

The second phase of the examination; the internal evaluation, produces unnerving results when ritualistic items are discovered inside the digestive organs. The missing molar, a shroud with unknown symbols on it and more are recovered from inside Jane Doe’s perfectly preserved body. Further questions arise when the internal organs appear burned and scarred with no indication the body had been altered on the outside. The discovery coincides with supernatural experiences becoming stronger and more dangerous in the mortuary, culminating in the first of several creepy encounters.

Brian Cox, Olwen Catherine Kelly, Austin Tilden

Øvredal’s execution of the autopsy is done with utmost respect throughout the film. Even the explicitly gory scenes are carefully handled. In doing so, Øvredal dreams up an exceedingly eerie atmosphere formed in reality compared to the many low budget horror movies who otherwise would treat the detail with abandon. When the supernatural events become fully realized, the contrast is that much more defined, creating a truly scary experience.

The cast of The Autopsy of Jane Doe is stellar. Brian Cox (HBO’s Succession) is at his best as is Emile Hirsch (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Into The Wild). The casting, the set design, the lighting and sound all contribute to make this one hell of a scary film, truly worthy of a watch.

Back Home

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse

May 9, 2020 — Leave a comment

FILM REVIEW: THE LIGHTHOUSE

Director: Robert Eggers
Writers: Robert Eggers and Max Eggers

Starring: Willem DaFoe, Robert Pattinson

Where to see it right now: Stream on Amazon Prime

Release Date: November 1, 2019

★★★☆☆
❍ s–o–m

★☆☆☆☆=waste of time
★★☆☆☆=a time waster
★★★☆☆=very good
★★★★☆=excellent
★★★★★=perfection

Industry giants Willem DaFoe and Robert Pattinson team up in a two-man cast (plus mermaid siren) to bring us Director Robert Eggers second feature film The Lighthouse; a small movie lush with grandiose feels.

When Ephraim Winslow (Robert Pattinson) lands a month long job as lighthouse keeper to foreman Thomas Wake (Willem DaFoe) the two instantly clash as they bring out the worst in each other. But as the conditions at the lighthouse worsen the two become more reliant on each other for grounding; with dire consequence.

It is no insult to say Robert Eggers replicates his genius storytelling skills in the same fashion he did when he brought into our lives horror movie visionaire, The Witch. It’s no insult as Eggers thus far knows success.

As one would imagine The Lighthouse explores the effects of isolation and grueling natural conditions on the body, mind and soul. It begs the question, if you had nothing except a small parcel of land on a rock and infinite amount of ocean, what would be your basis for reality?

Equally as important as the characters themselves is the time period The Lighthouse is set—New England in the late 1800’s which serves as the backdrop is already a precarious time for exploration and survival.

Fans with a specificity for the horror genre payoff will not find it as black and white as was laid out in The Witch; when against all odds we gazed in awe as Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy) flies ecstatically into the night sky with her coven. (Balenziaga times a thousand!)

If you are seeking to feel enlightened and uncomfortable in your own skin; you will become voyeur to debauchery and madness of both the mind and the body as The Lighthouse serves you a dish you might not want to eat.

Back Home

Nightingale

May 7, 2020 — Leave a comment

FILM REVIEW: NIGHTINGALE

Director: Elliot Lester
Writer: Frederick Mensch

Starring: David Oyelowo, Barlow Jacobs (voice), Heather Storm (voice)

Release Date: June 17, 2014

★★★★☆
❍ s–o–m

It’s not easy to call Nightingale horror. But then again if Nightingale isn’t horror, what is? David Oyelowo stars in the 2014 film from Executive Producer Brad Pitt’s entertainment company Plan B, helmed by Director Eliot Lester (Selma), as the tormented Peter Snowden, a man who is on the downside of a lifelong battle with mental illness. In this context the film solely relies on one-sided conversations on the telephone along with pitifully accurate vlog entries and their summonsed yet unsolicited comments.

The sparse production and singular location serves as a look into Snowden’s lacking support system and also paints a picture of what loneliness truly looks like.

As we follow Snowden’s descent into madness Lester feeds us the pieces of Snowden’s life we need to begin to understand the psychosis that brings him to this moment in time. In doing so Lester reminds us that mental illness is comprised of two parts; the first being the genetic makeup of an individual which makes it more likely to being susceptible to the illness and the second being the environment a person develops in, which plays a large role in a person’s growth-or lack of.

At one time relatable and almost silly David Oyelowo’s character work as Peter Snowden is complex; it almost appears too simple until we realize we’ve been fooled. Why do we question every interaction Snowden has with his acquaintances? Is he even speaking to another person on the other line or is every conversation living only in Snowden’s mind? Viewers will know the answer to that question as concretely as Snowden himself knows for certain the difference between reality and psychosis.

All the weight of Nightingale rests on its very conclusion where the very talented David Oyelowo serves a lifetime of pain and then a way out. It’s a bleak film, with an even bleaker ending. Then again, how many people do you know who suffer from severe mental disability who actually have their happy ending?

Back Home

The Buzz On Saw 9

May 5, 2020 — Leave a comment

Spiral: From the Book of Saw

Does anyone else find it odd that one of the biggest horror movie franchises of all time; which had an original release date for its ninth installment of the film on October 23, only to then bump it to the earlier date of May 15 as to not compete with Blumhouse’s Halloween Kills, does not have a whole lotta buzz? It seems to me like there may be a whole lotta confusion.

Chris Rock and Max Minghella

Firstly, what is the actual name of this movie? I have seen it referred to as multiple options, which had me initially guessing as to what the actual name this movie will be released under. Let’s take a look:

Spiral, Saw 9: Spiral, The Book of Saw, Saw 9: The Book of Saw, Spiral: The Book of Saw, Spiral: Saw 9: The Book of Saw, Spiral: Saw 9: The Book of Saw Starring Who Now?

The official name of the ninth installation Saw is, Spiral: From The Book of Saw (see Lionsgate official site).

Top billing goes to Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson, two names I never expected to see together, especially in one of the grizzliest horror movie franchises ever made. If I had to imagine one of the two names in this billing, I could picture Samuel L. Jackson as he already has crossed over to the creepy side of life being a M. Night Shamylan muse.

The two together though? That’s an exciting team-up.

Chris Rock
Samuel L. Jackson

The third cast member who was not given top billing, Max Minghella. Yes that Max Minghella of the very successful Hulu series, The Handmaid’s Tale. Minghella has had a robust career for years but manages to fly under the radar somewhat. Minghella is big name right now and rightfully so-he belongs up their with the best of the best-the man’s acting skills crush.

Spiral From The Book of Saw will be released possibly this month on Friday, May 15th or possibly on October 23. Due to the Covid Pandemic nothing is certain these days. But rest assured, this movie will make its way into our lives. Praise be.

Back Home

The Midnight Man

March 29, 2020 — Leave a comment

FILM REVIEW: THE MIDNIGHT MAN

Director: Travis Zariwny
Writers: Rob Kennedy, Travis Zariwny

Starring: Summer H. Howell, Gabrielle Haugh, Lin Shaye, Robert Englund, Kyle Strauts, Grayson Gabriel, Michael Sirow, Emily Haine

Release Date: January 19, 2018

★★☆☆☆
❍ s–o–m

The Midnight Man stars horror legends Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street) and Lin Shaye (Insidious) in this remake of the 2013 Irish horror movie Midnight Man and presumed inspired by The Midnight Game, the 2013 film adapted from the creepypasta of the same name. Our legendary icon’s portrayals are not at their best, however it’s not the acting that disengages the audience, but rather writer and director Travis Zariwny’s bland script. Zariwny successfully creates a few moments of tension throughout but the missed opportunities are too many.

Robert Englund, Grayson Gabriel, Gabrielle Haugh

In the well-maintained attic fully furnished with a curious male mannequin and a gun with three bullets, a sealed box containing the pieces needed to play The Midnight Game, is discovered. The cursed pagan game awaits innocent curiosity to thus bring forth a demonic spirit, The Midnight Man—an evil so smart, its strength lies in its savvy to trick players to their demise.

Gabrielle Haugh, Lin Shaye

Follow the rules and you will be safe, don’t and you will die! Only problem with the ‘rules’ of this game is that time and time again we observe, the Midnight Man does not like to follow rules as he “does not like to lose.”

Decades before in the very mansion Alexandra (Gabrielle Haugh) now resides as caretaker to her declining grandmother Ana (Lin Shaye), The Midnight Game was played with dire consequence. Once again the box is finally opened by Alex and her friend Miles (Grayson Gabriel), who will wager everything for a few hours of trying to stay alive. Although one can’t help but wonder “why on earth would anyone would want to play this ‘game’?”

Grayson Gabriel, Gabrielle Haugh

Suspend your disbelief as we may for even the best of horror films, but unfortunately The Midnight Man still falls short on scares. Contributed to bland CGI, the monster’s lackluster appeal mixed with its obvious Halloween store allure, and The Midnight Man is a bore. The fact that the imminently endangered teens have full sentence conversations with the raspy voiced Midnight Man himself takes away from the suspense at once.

Emily Haine

Quite possibly the most absurd aspect of the film happens when in the midst of fighting off The Midnight Man, Alex and Miles find themselves answering a knock on the door by a third friend, Kelly (Emily Haine) who we discover is well versed on the Urban Legend and therefore remains in the house to help her friends. “You can get out now,” Alexandra tells Kelly. “I wouldn’t desert my friends,” she replies. (She probably should have heeded the warning if you catch my drift.)

Kyle Strauts as The Midnight Man

The Midnight Man is a glossy, commercial looking film that will keep viewers tuned in from start to finish. As a background movie or out of desperation, the film will suffice. The biggest crime though that The Midnight Man has commited is that you will likely not remember much of it after a short time.

Back Home

The Clovehitch Killer

March 28, 2020 — Leave a comment

FILM REVIEW: THE CLOVEHITCH KILLER

Released: November 16, 2018
Director: Duncan Skiles
Writer: Christopher Ford

Starring: Dylan McDermott, Charlie Plummer, Samantha Mathis, Madisen Beaty, Brenna Sherman, Lance Chantiles-Wertz, Emma Jones

Stream on Shudder

★★★☆☆

In a refreshing take on the serial killer subgenre and in particular, a very loose interpretation of real life serial killer Dennis Lynn Rader, commonly known as the BTK Killer (Bind, Torture, Kill), director Duncan Skiles is at his best as he invites us to view a slice of Americana without exploiting the issues he depicts.

When Tyler Burnside’s (Charlie Plummer) life is rattled after finding evidence leading to the discovery that his father; the outgoing, community leader Don (Dylan McDermott), may be the notorious Clovehitch killer (named after the telltale knot which he leaves at the location of each victim), he and his outcast friend Kassi (Madisen Beaty) begin a search that may unravel young Tyler’s life to its core.

The plot glides over the small Kentucky town both eerily and quickly. As a drama and suspenseful mystery, The Clovehitch Killer remains consistent until its second act where the POV shifts and the movie becomes a true nightmare.

Without the use of gratuitous blood, Skiles relies on the story’s built-in-suspense to create the mood. In the same mode that Summer of ‘84, perpetuates a feeling of terror as adolescence and innocence is lost, The Clovehitch Killer, at its core is a story about Tyler more than it is about a killer. Strong acting by Plummer, McDermott and cast carries the film more than its actual script.

In choosing to inform us rather than dwell on the facts, Skiles tactfully holds back on sharing his own opinion regarding the tight-knit, Baptist community his characters live in. The Burnside family is devout, somewhat trapped in the 50’s and display a slight awkwardness toward each other, however they are also a loving and outgoing family that possesses a lighthearted side, which shines through.

If you are a person who finds it hard to suspend your disbelief, the middle and end of The Clovehitch Killer may become a little more than you bargained for, especially after its strong first act. But if you can go with the flow, you will find a clever film that is satisfying to the most hardened horror fan. I’m quite frankly surprised this film didn’t get a stronger release.

Ghost Stories

Ghost Stories: A New Kind Of Anthology

March 27, 2020 — Leave a comment

FILM REVIEW: GHOST STORIES

Director and Writer: Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman

Starring: Andy Nyman, Martin Freeman, Paul Whitehouse, Alex Lawther, Paul Warren, Kobna Holdebrook-Smith, Nicholas Burns

Release Date: April 20, 2018

★★★★☆
✪ s–o–m

Ghost Stories, written and directed by Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson, takes us along the path of Professor Philip Goodman (Andy Nyman), an investigative writer and talk show host, who specializes in debunking the paranormal, spiritual and psychic experience. As a faulty and conceited man by nature, we have little empathy for Goodman when his fixation on proving others as frauds hurts innocent people along the way.

When Goodman is notified of three unsolved incidents by the mysterious recommendation of his long time idol and peer skeptic Charles Cameron (Leonard Byrne), Goodman learns that the man who had inspired him years before as a child, now believes he made a grave error in judgement concluding some cases cannot be disproved.

While Ghost Stories is an anthology tale, it removes the typical plotline we have become accustomed to. Each of the three creepy stories is interwoven with its main character and has actual affect on his life. As Goodman searches for answers, he becomes even more deeply connected to the questions.

The three interwoven anecdotes bring traditional horror to Ghost Stories without the use of cheap tactics like gratuitous blood and jump scares-but you will jump. In the first, a nightwatchman (Paul Whitehouse) is terrorized by an entity in an abandoned asylum. The second features a skittish young man (Alex Lawther) lost in the woods as a demonic creature hunts him. The third tale features a wealthy ex-banker (Martin Freeman) whose home becomes invaded by evil spirits just as his pregnant wife battles distressing childbirth.

As Ghost Stories enters its final act we discover the connections between the characters. For those of you who hate movies that leave many questions to the viewership, Ghost Stories does a complete job at summing up the whole. This effective, slow burn suspense leads us to a twist so grand, it produces a literal gasp amongst viewers; a sure sign the director has gotten it right.

A Demon Within

March 26, 2020 — Leave a comment

FILM REVIEW: A DEMON WITHIN

Directors: Ayush Banker, Justin LaReau
Writers: Ayush Banker, Justin LaReau, Michelle Beyda-Scott

Starring: Charlene Amoia, Clint Hummel, Patricia Ashley, Michael Ehlers, Cole Crawford, Veronika Bonell, David Sweetman, Laura Anne Parry , Tim Jenkins

Release Date: January 20, 2018

★☆☆☆☆
❍ s–o–m

One hundred years ago, a demonic spirit preyed upon a family, resulting in the death of an innocent girl. Today, small town doctor Jeremy Miller (Clint Hummel) must stop history from repeating itself by confronting personal demons while fighting to save the life of a teenage girl whom with her mother, has recently moved into the plagued home he had once lived in.

Julia Larsen (Charlene Amoia) and daughter Charlotte (Patricia Ashley) hope to make a fresh start in picture perfect Crestwick, but when Charlotte finds herself possessed by Nefas, the demon residing in her home, the relationship between mother and daughter is tested.

The story is familiar and in the hands of not one but two directors- Justin LaReau and Ayush Banker, A Demon Within still never fully presents itself as a horror movie that works. In many regards it plays out like a college project, but even those have the potential to offer more inspiration.

The plot holes are unavoidable and the fact that the good, small town doc is plagued not once but twice by the same demonic force; only to a avoid its veracity both times, is not only annoying but also lamentable.

But the scene stealer (not for reasons intended), is the deep, manly voice Charlotte switches to whilst in her possessed state. These choices walk a fine line between scary and ridiculous. Unfortunately here, we experience the latter.

A Demon Within is the regurgitated story, once superbly told as a little movie known as William Friedkin’s The Exorcist. When recreating a horror movie that is the equivalent to undoubtedly one of the best horror movies ever made, it would be best to offer a new vision to the viewers. Here unfortunately, we see nothing new and the old tale is just stale.