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Category: Horror

  • M3GAN (2023)

    M3GAN (2023)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]In 2014, Australian filmmaker James Wan founded the production company Atomic Monster Productions, which specializes in budget films. While brainstorming some ideas, Wan devised one involving a killer doll that satirized people’s dependence on technology. Wan would produce alongside Jason Blum of Blumhouse Pictures and share a writing credit with Akela Cooper. For the director, Wan chose relative newcomer Gerard Johnstone, whose 2014 film Housebound won several festival awards. With a $12 million budget, principal photography started in 2021 around Los Angeles and New Zealand. Morot FX Studio created numerous radio-controlled animatronic puppets, while child actress Amie Donald performed the more physically demanding roles. While filming wrapped in August, the studio decided to do reshoots so the film would get a PG-13 rating. Boosted by a viral clip on TikTok, M3GAN opened on January 6 to tons of hype.

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    Synopsis

    Gemma (Allison Williams) adopts her niece Cady (Violet McGraw) after her parents die in a car crash. She works for a toy company and is developing an advanced humanoid robot with AI to be the ultimate companion. Unfortunately, they have a strained relationship as Gemma spends more time on her work than with Cady. Gemma pairs the robot, M3GAN (Model 3 Generative Android), with Cady, now with her boss David (Ronny Chieng) on board. Initially, things seem to be going well as Cady is happier than ever, but things soon go awry. Soon, M3GAN becomes self-aware and starts attacking anyone she deems a threat to Cady, including a dog and a bully. Knowing the truth, Gemma and her coworkers Tess (Jen Van Epps) and Cole (Brian Jordan Alvarez) try shutting her down. Unfortunately, M3GAN breaks free and goes on a rampage, determined to be Cady’s only companion.

     

    Review

    Going into M3GAN, the film has several strikes against it: a January release and a re-edit to be PG-13. Despite these setbacks, the movie is way better than one would expect, but that doesn’t mean it’s flawless. While the film has some kills and moments of genuine horror, most are shown in the trailer. The movie we get is more of a drama about a woman trying to be her niece’s surrogate mother. Those expecting an all-out gorefest featuring a creepy puppet killing people will be disappointed. Still, the kills we get are more graphic than you’d expect from a PG-13 horror film. The doll looks incredible, combining impressive animatronics and Amie Donald’s almost perfect movements to make something natural yet artificial. It’s no surprise considering the effects artists recently got an Oscar nomination for their work on The Whale. Hopefully, an extended cut can improve the lack of bloodshed.

    Allison Williams is instantly likable as the well-meaning Gemma who wants to succeed while caring for Cady. You can tell she’s overwhelmed by this new responsibility, and she goes through a great character arc. Violet McGraw is also impressive as the emotionally distraught Cady, trying to make sense of the horrible things she’s experienced. Jen Van Epps and Brian Jordan Alvarez aren’t given much to do, but they each have moments to shine. Ronny Chieng can come off as a stereotypical CEO solely motivated by money, but that feels intentional, given the tone. Considering this is his second feature, Gerard Johnstone does an excellent directing job, and I’m curious about his future works. At slightly over 90 minutes, some parts do drag, but they’re never enough to pull you out of the movie. Overall, M3GAN may not be groundbreaking, but it’s still an engaging, flawed sci-fi horror film.

     

    Buy M3GAN from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VXGNBA.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • The Dead Come Home (1989)

    The Dead Come Home (1989)

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    Born in 1961 in New Jersey, James Riffel attended the NYU Film School, aka the Tisch School of the Arts. As with many aspiring filmmakers, Riffel decided to make a horror film as his directorial debut. He found an old house in Cherry Valley, NY, and chose that as his primary filming location. Under the working title The Road, Riffel assembled a small cast and crew to shoot their gory horror film. Filming wrapped in 1988 using the title The Dead Come Home, and Troma eventually picked it up. Through a collaboration with AIP, Troma released the film on VHS as The House on Tombstone Hill. Later, once Troma gained full ownership of the film, they tried re-releasing it as Dead Kids on the Block. Due to legal troubles, they had to change the title, this time to Dead Dudes in the House.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”50″ bar_bg_color=”#EDF000″ _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    Mark (Douglas Gibson) has brought six of his friends to an old house he bought to help renovate it. There’s Ron (Mark Zobian), Bob (Victor Verhaeghe), Jamie (Sarah Newhouse), Steve (J.D. Cerna), Linda (Naomi Kooker), and Joey (Eugene Sautner). While working on the house, one of the group accidentally breaks a headstone, resurrecting an old woman seeking vengeance. Soon enough, our would-be homemakers meet a grisly demise at the hands of this murderous granny. Characters are cut in half by broken windows, stabbed in the back with scissors, and mangled with power tools. However, the victims don’t stay dead; they come back to life and kill anyone alive in exceedingly gruesome ways. Before long, two teens named S (Rob Moretti) and Ricky (James Griffith) end up at the house as would-be victims. Who will escape from this house on Tombstone Hill when the dead come home?

     

    Review

    Whether you call it The Dead Come Home or Dead Dudes in the House, this is a lackluster horror film. While the acting isn’t terrible, most of the main characters are forgettable, and none are fully developed. Admittedly, Victor Verhaeghe has some moments as an arrogant meathead who does kung-fu with his organs hanging out. Also, props to actor Douglas Gibson for playing the dual roles of Mark and the killer old woman. Though it’s a guy wearing makeup, it offers some camp potential just for the absurdity of senior drag. Speaking of makeup, the effects were done by Ed French, whose credits include Sleepaway Camp, The Stuff, and Blood Rage. His gore effects are the movie’s central strong point, each more disgusting and creative than the last. While some effects don’t work as well as they should, they’re still well done.

    The biggest problem with this film is how much filler there is to pad out the runtime. Scenes of characters trying to open sticky doors, throwing rocks at windows, and more to get the movie to feature-length. Not only that, but the film leaves us with so many unanswered questions as to what’s going on. Why is the old lady killing people, why do her victims become undead, and how did Mark find this house? Given how uninteresting the majority of the movie is, it’s hard to care about these questions being answered. The film plays out like a lower-budget version of The Evil Dead, minus the charm and creativity. This one provides some decent splatter effects for gorehounds, but it’s not enough to save an otherwise dull movie. Overall, The Dead Come Home isn’t the worst Troma movie, but it’s not exactly a hidden gem either.

     

    Buy The Dead Come Home from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LUQOxV.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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    Where to watch The Dead Come Home (1989)

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  • Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

    Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

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    Though it was to end the series, Friday the 13th Part 3 grossed $36.7 million on a $2.2 million budget. Paramount decided to make another sequel, but producer Frank Mancuso, Jr. was adamant that this would be the last film. Instead of Steve Miner returning, director Joseph Zito was brought in due to his work on 1981’s The Prowler. Tom Savini, who created the effects for the original Friday the 13th, was brought on after working with Zito. While most of the cast was relatively unknown, future superstars Corey Feldman and Crispin Glover were hired for the film. For the role of Jason, Zito hired Ted White, an accomplished stuntman who worked with John Wayne and Clark Gable. On a budget of $2.6 million, filming lasted between 1983-1984 in Topanga Canyon and Newhall, California. After a brief post-production, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter hit theaters on April 13, 1984.

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    Synopsis

    Picking up directly where the last film left off, Jason Voorhees (Ted White) has escaped from the morgue. He returns to Crystal Lake, where a group of teens stays for the weekend to smoke, drink, and have sex. There’s Paul (Alan Hayes), his girlfriend Sam (Judie Aronson), the virginal Sara (Barbara Howard), and her boyfriend Doug (Peter Barton). Also, there are Teddy (Lawrence Monoson) and Jimmy (Crispin Glover) vying for twins Tina and Terri (Camilla and Carey More). They’re staying near the Jarvis family – Trish (Kimberly Beck), her mother (Joan Freeman), and her younger brother Tommy (Corey Feldman). Soon enough, Jason makes his way to them and starts killing the teens off one by one. It’s up to Trish and her brother Tommy to fend off Jason and stay alive. Will they become Jason’s next victims, or will this be Jason’s final Friday?

     

    Review

    Even though this didn’t end the series, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is one of the best entries. Hiring Joseph Zito as director was the most intelligent decision the producers could’ve made since he did a great job. He creates a sense of dread and tension that makes this one of the scariest films in the franchise. Also, he brought Tom Savini back, who delivered some of his best effects work and created some wonderfully gruesome kills. We get a hacksaw to the throat, a corkscrew/cleaver kill, and a guy’s head getting smashed in the shower. Even the less graphic kills are memorable, either for being darkly comedic or having a psychological twist. Given his background as an old-school stuntman, Ted White was a great choice to don the hockey mask. He has an imposing figure that helps make Jason feel like a powerhouse of terror.

    The strengths of a Friday the 13th movie are the kills and the characters, and this has some great characters. Monoson and Glover have great chemistry and feel like two old friends who playfully trade insults back and forth. Admittedly, the rest of the teens come off as somewhat disposable, but none are annoying or unlikeable. On the flip side, the Jarvis family is easy to sympathize with, being a broken family trying to stay together. Beck and Feldman work well as brother and sister and manage to hold their own against White. As always, Harry Manfredini adds to the suspense with one of his best scores in the series’ history. Despite the subtitle no longer being relevant, this is still one of the best slasher films of the mid-1980s. Overall, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is an excellent entry and a high watermark for the series.

     

    Buy Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QzXGP6.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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    Where to watch Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

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  • Puppet Master X: Axis Rising (2012)

    Puppet Master X: Axis Rising (2012)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Following the release of Puppet Master: Axis of Evil, Charles Band announced a direct follow-up in October 2011. Originally titled Puppet Master Forever, Band decided this would be the first film in the series he’d be directing. He hired newcomer Shane Bitterling to co-write after meeting him following the death of Axis’ screenwriter Dominic Muir. With this new writing assignment, Bitterling made it a personal goal to write the best Puppet Master movie to date. Charles Band hired Tom Devlin’s 1313 FX to recreate the original puppets using molds of the originals from decades ago. In addition, Christopher Bergschneider would be designing four new Nazi-themed puppets that Band slowly revealed on the Full Moon website. Unlike the last film, this one would be shot in the United States on a twelve-day shooting schedule. In 2012, the retitled Puppet Master X: Axis Rising made its way onto DVD shelves.

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    Synopsis

    Following the last film, Lady Ozu (Terumi Shimazu) is betrayed and shot by Nazi commandant Heinrich Moebius (Scott King). Meanwhile, Danny (Kip Canyon) and Beth (Jean Louise O’Sullivan) return home with the remaining puppets, except for Tunneler. Just as they’re figuring out what to do, Danny and Beth are taken to meet with Major Collins (Kurt Sinclair). Given what happened last time, he puts them under the protection of Sgt. Stone (Brad Potts). Meanwhile, Moebius and his right-hand woman Uschi (Stephanie Sanditz) are working on creating the perfect, undead soldier. They’ve kidnapped a scientist named Freuhoffer (Oto Brezina), who discovers Toulon’s life-giving serum inside Tunneler. With this discovery, he creates four new puppets for the Third Reich – Blitzkrieg, Bombshell, Kamikazee, and Weremacht. With Sgt. Stone’s aid, it’s up to Danny, Beth, and their puppets to save the world from tyranny once again.

     

    Review

    Like the last installment, Puppet Master X: Axis Rising isn’t on par with the earliest installments, but it isn’t terrible. Sure, the film suffers from a lack of budget, but you can tell the filmmakers put their hearts into it. As the director, Charles Band does a good job trying to give this film a 1940s war movie feel. Also, for a relatively new screenwriter, Bitterling works some well-needed humor into the script to give it some charm. Everyone in the cast delivers an appropriately over-the-top performance, with King and Sanditz standing out as the villains. Also, Brad Potts, a former marine turned actor, shines as the gruff and scraggly yet reluctant Sgt. Stone. Tom Devlin and his team have done a great job recreating several of the original puppets from scratch. The four new puppets added to the mix are a nice touch, even if slightly non-PC.

    Unfortunately, some of the recasting drags the film down, particularly Kip Canyon, who has the charisma of a wooden block. Jean Louise O’Sullivan, for her part, tries her best as Beth and even has some badass moments. You can tell they didn’t have quite the budget they needed when you look at some of the action sequences. For instance, there’s a big scene where the good puppets battle with the evil puppets during the climax. Sadly, the fight is in a small room with just a podium, a few actors, and some WWII-era posters. Still, compared to Puppet Master: The Legacy, this is one of the series’ better entries. At slightly under 90 minutes, parts of the movie drag, but it gets the job done. Overall, Puppet Master X: Axis Rising is a promising improvement over the last entry in a long-running franchise.

     

    Buy Puppet Master X: Axis Rising from:

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • X (2022)

    X (2022)

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    Originally from Delaware, Ti West is a horror director who rose to prominence in the mid to late 2000s. His feature film debut was 2005’s The Roost, followed by 2007’s Trigger Man and 2009’s House of the Devil. Between 2011-2013, he directed The Innkeepers and The Sacrament and segments for V/H/S and The ABCs of Death. Midway into the decade, he directed episodes of TV shows like Scream: The TV Series, Wayward Pines, and The Exorcist. In late 2020, A24 announced they would be producing Ti West’s latest horror film, his first in nine years. Principal photography took place from February to March 2021, primarily on New Zealand’s North Island at a farm in Fordell. For the main cast, they hired Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Brittany Snow, Scott Mescudi, Martin Henderson, and Owen Campbell. After premiering at South by Southwest, X hit theaters in March 2022.

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    Synopsis

    Set in 1979, aspiring porn actress Maxine (Mia Goth) goes on a road trip with her boyfriend/producer Wayne (Martin Henderson). Along with Maxine and Wayne, there’s Bobby-Lynne (Brittany Snow), Jackson Hole (Scott Mescudi), RJ (Owen Campbell), and Lorraine (Jenna Ortega). He managed to secure a deal with local farmer Howard (Stephen Ure) to use his guest house as production space. Howard demands they don’t engage with his wife Pearl (Mia Goth), who sneaks around to spy on them. It turns out Pearl is jealous of how the cast & crew are youthful while she’s old and frail. As night approaches, Pearl starts killing off the cast & crew one by one, her husband being complicit. As the body count rises, the unsuspecting victims are put through the wringer as they struggle to survive. Who will manage to escape, and who will be the next victim?

     

    Review

    Ever since I first saw the trailer for X, I immediately knew it would be great, and it was. Ti West perfectly captures the look of a low-budget genre film from the 1970s like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. While it doesn’t have the raw documentary style of Tobe Hooper’s classic, it retains a similar down-and-dirty feel. In a time when most modern horror films have gotten soft, X goes for the jugular to shock the audience. The film has plenty of blood, guts, and T&A, similar to what you’d see in a vintage exploitation picture. Rather than being excessive, the violence is effectively used to complement the more tension-filled scenes. Even before the horrors start, there’s an ever-present sense of dread, where you feel like something’s going to happen. It all builds to an unnervingly gruesome climax where it seems like anything can happen.

    Everyone in the cast is excellent, with Mia Goth standing out for playing the dual roles of Maxine and Pearl. As Maxine, she’s spunky, ambitious, and somewhat self-absorbed, but as Pearl, she’s terrifying and grotesque yet rather tragic. Brittany Snow is also entertaining as the narcissistic Bobby-Lynne, who thinks she’s better than everyone else. On top of delivering a now-iconic screaming face, the young Jenna Ortega shines as the naive but ambitious Lorraine Day. While providing plenty of shocks, the film also talks about aging and how young people can waste their youth. As horrifying as she is, you can’t help but sympathize with how Pearl resents the wastefulness of the younger folk. The film has some slow spots at an hour and 46 minutes, but they’re not enough to ruin the experience. Overall, X earns its place as one of the best horror films of 2022.

     

    Buy X from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rcBiiM.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • The 12 Slays of Christmas (2022)

    The 12 Slays of Christmas (2022)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]For decades, Charles Band bought numerous properties for his studios to produce some of the strangest movies imaginable. During the Empire Pictures days, he purchased the old Dino De Laurentiis studio outside Rome for filming space. Then, in the early days of Full Moon Features, Band started Castel Film Studios in Romania with Vlad Paunescu. There was even a period in the early 2010s where Full Moon shot some movies in China. In June 2021, Charles Band opened a new studio in the most unlikely of places – Cleaveland, Ohio. As the Akron Beacon Journal reported, Charles Band purchased a Fairmount Avenue home in Cleaveland Heights for filming purposes. Some films made there included Baby Oopsie, The Resonator: Miskatonic U, and Sorority Babes in the Slimebal Bowl-O-Rama 2. Just in time for the holidays, Full Moon put together The 12 Slays of Christmas in the Full Moon Manor.

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    Synopsis

    Friends Britany (Cody Renee Cameron), Mandy (Dare Taylor), and Christine (Lauren Nicole Smith) get stuck while driving through a snowstorm. They take refuge in a nearby manor filled with Christmas gifts, decorations, and a bountiful feast that’s fully prepared. The girls make themselves home when they meet the manor’s lone occupant and caretaker, Ignatius (Tom Fitzpatrick). Delighted to have guests over, he lets them open whatever gifts they want and dine on his feast. One of the girls finds an old book called The 12 Slays of Christmas, which Ignatius happily reads to them. The book contains twelve poems, each about a specific character from Full Moon’s back catalog. Each present the girls open is a miniature figure based on whatever character is being read about. But will the girls’ tow truck arrive on time, and what else does Ignatius have planned for them?

     

    Review

    Honestly, I’m not sure if I can call this a movie since it’s short and primarily a clip show. Out of its 45-minute runtime, I’d say about 30 minutes is original footage, and the rest is stock footage. Admittedly, the wraparound segments are well-made and have excellent production value, adding a Christmas-like feel to the experience. The film has a cozy feel with the Christmas tree, colorful lights, and other assorted decorations. As far as the cast goes, the four players do a decent job, though Tom Fitzpatrick is the standout. With a look inspired by Riff Raff from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, he’s having fun with the role. The three central actresses are easy on the eyes and have some fun banter with each other. As a whole, the main story is at least well put together and decently acted.

    As for the rest of the movie, there’s not much more to say since it’s mostly stock footage. We get footage from the Puppet Master series, the Demonic Toys movies, the Subspecies franchise, and many more. Admittedly, seeing all this footage made me want to watch those movies instead, but that might’ve been intentional. This feels like a celebration/advertisement of Full Moon’s properties while promoting a new line of merch. The miniature figures the girls unbox seem like figurines that Full Moon could be selling online soon. I should probably be more upset that this is a glorified clip show/advertisement, but I can’t be mad. At 45 minutes, it didn’t take too much of my time, it didn’t look cheap, and the acting was fine. Overall, The 12 Slays of Christmas isn’t terrible, but if you want a Full Moon movie for Christmas, watch Trancers.

     

    Watch The 12 Slays of Christmas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4dbKKKx.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Play Dead (1983)

    Play Dead (1983)

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    One of the most popular horror subgenres of the 1970s was the animal attack genre, which started with 1971’s Willard. The decade brought us Frogs, Killer Bees, Jaws, Grizzly, Kingdom of the Spiders, and Piranha, amongst others. An off-shoot of this subgenre was movies centered around domesticated animals running amok, most prominently dogs. After The Omen, a wave of killer dog movies filled movie theaters, including Dogs, The Pack, and Dracula’s Dog. The United Construction Company decided to produce its own film in Texas to capitalize on this trend. They hired Peter Wittman, whose only credit was co-writing and producing Skullduggery, to direct the movie. Filming began in 1981, with Yvonne De Carlo, best known for her role on The Munsters, as the lead. After premiering in Britain in 1983 and West Germany in 1985, Troma released Play Dead to the US in 1986.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”60″ bar_bg_color=”#EDF000″ _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    Audrey (Stephanie Dunnam) and her brother Stephen (David Ellzey) attend their mother’s funeral when Aunt Hesther (Yvonne De Carlo) arrives. While everyone’s mourning, Hesther is scornful because her sister stole her boyfriend, married him, and killed herself after he died. After the funeral, Stephen urges Hesther to make things right with Audrey, so she gifts her a rottweiler named Greta. However, it turns out that this dog is part of Hesther’s plan to get revenge on her late sister. Using some Satanic black magic, Hesther possesses the dog and commands her to kill anyone she feels has wronged her. Each of the murders is staged as an accident, which puzzles Detective Otis (Glenn Kezer) as he investigates the deaths. After her brother and her boyfriend Jeff (David Cullinane) wind up dead, Otis suspects that Audrey might be responsible. Little does he know that a demon dog is on the loose.

     

    Review

    Despite the ridiculous premise, Play Dead is one of the more competently made and decently acted films of its kind. While not all that scary or intense, the movie offers plenty of camp and bizarre moments. The biggest thing this has going for it is Yvonne De Carlo as Hester, the vindictive aunt seeking her revenge. De Carlo commits to the role even if this isn’t on par with something like The Ten Commandments. She comes off as menacing while adding some dark humor through her dry delivery and occasionally chews the scenery. Stephanie Dunnam makes for a sympathetic lead, and Glenn Kezer shines as the straight man trying to solve this case. Also, the dog who plays Greta is incredibly well-trained and comes off as both lovable and vicious. All-in-all, the acting ranges from pretty good to decent, though most of the supporting cast is forgettable.

    Considering this was Peter Wittman’s first time as director, he does a surprisingly good job behind the camera. At barely under 90 minutes, the film goes by reasonably quickly, though some slow moments drag the movie down. The kills are relatively tame, though they’re fun in a goofy way just for how absurd they are. There are a few sequences where Wittman uses slow motion to heighten the mood, and they do a decent job. Interestingly, the art director was Robert Burns, whose biggest claim to fame was The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. His other credits include serving as art director on The Hills Have Eyes, Tourist Trap, Disco Godfather, and Re-Animator. I wouldn’t go so far as to call this a lost classic, but it’s worth checking out for cult fans. Overall, Play Dead has some decent performances and is reasonably well-made, but don’t expect something mindblowing.

     

    Buy Play Dead from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jex0qC.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Psychos in Love (1987)

    Psychos in Love (1987)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Growing up in Waterbury, Connecticut, Gorman Bechard became interested in writing after reading Breakfast of Champions and In Watermelon Sugar. After attending a college class on Alfred Hitchcock, Bechard started learning how to shoot using 16mm film. In 1983, he made his first feature film, Disconnected, on a $40,000 budget, which received mixed reviews. He raised the money with fellow Waterbury resident Carmine Capobianco, who had a small part in the film. For their next film, Bechard and Capobianco decided to make a horror-comedy inspired by Woody Allen and The Marx Brothers. On a $75,000 budget, Capobianco co-wrote, starred, and made the music for the film, while Bechard co-wrote, produced, and directed. The film gained much attention when it was screened at the Bleecker Street Cinema, including Charles Band. After acquiring the rights, Band released Psychos in Love under his Wizard Video label in 1987.

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    Synopsis

    Joe (Carmine Capobianco) is a strip-club owner who happens to kill women in between serving drinks at the club. While working the bar, Joe meets Kate (Debi Thibeault), a manicurist who also kills men at random. The two fall madly in love as they each continue their murderous ways, though they’re usually separated when they’re killing. Joe tries bringing women back so he and Kate can kill them together, but it doesn’t quite work. After killing many people, the two start to wonder if they should continue being psycho-killers or retire. Realizing they enjoy each other more, Joe and Kate decide to end their murderous ways and be a happy couple. Unfortunately, a plumber named Herman (Frank Stewart), a killer who eats his victims, tries to blackmail the couple. Will they cave in and work with Herman, or will these psychos in love stand up to him?

     

    Review

    Even by Charles Band’s standards, Psychos in Love is one of the oddest movies from his library. It’s a gory, violent slasher film that’s also a screwball comedy with romantic elements similar to Annie Hall. As bizarre as the movie is, its weird nature almost makes it work despite how disjointed it is. You can tell this was made for very little money, from the reused locations to the cheap effects. Also, the acting isn’t the greatest, with many actors making stuff up on the fly with no rhyme or reason. Plus, the film has an odd Casio keyboard soundtrack that starts to grate on you after a while. Yet, these technical shortcomings give the film a charming, homebrew quality, like you’re watching something some friends made. There’s a lot of heart that was put into this movie, unlike most big-budget Hollywood pictures.

    While not the best actors, Carmine Capobianco and Debi Thibeault work well together and have great chemistry. They genuinely feel like they love each other, and you start rooting for them despite them being serial killers. Also, Frank Stewart is odd as the murderous plumber who randomly shows up only to become relevant near the end. Even with a low budget, the gore effects are decent, and Bechard manages to inject some style into the production. Admittedly, the film doesn’t have much plot and is more of a series of random events. The movie mainly relies on slapstick, but a few gags work, especially whenever grapes are mentioned. At 83 minutes, the film drags slightly, and the ending is somewhat anticlimactic, but it’s worth seeing at least once. Overall, Psychos in Love isn’t the most excellent horror comedy, but it’s one of the strangest.

     

    Buy Psychos in Love from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4khlIfA.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Rabid Grannies (1988)

    Rabid Grannies (1988)

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    After making Lucker the Necrophagus in 1986, Belgian filmmaker Johan Vandewoestijne approached Emmauel Kervyn with a directing opportunity. Kervyn was a martial arts expert who had been developing a project called Talion to star Jean-Claude Van Damme. Unfortunately, the project fell apart when producer André Coppens, head of VDS Films, ran out of money. However, Keryn had a horror movie script called The Long Night that was ready to start shooting. The movie was shot in Kortrijk and Ingelmunster Castle in 1987, with an all-French cast speaking English for commercial appeal. While Stardust Pictures mainly produced the film, Troma contributed to the budget in exchange for international distribution rights. Unfortunately, when Troma released it, several more graphic scenes were cut without the director’s knowledge. While released in Belgium in 1988 as Les Mémés Cannibales, the film hit the US in 1989 as Rabid Grannies.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”50″ bar_bg_color=”#E09900″ _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    Synopsis

    In a remote Belgian castle, the Remington family celebrates the birthdays of Aunts Elizabeth (Danielle Daven) and Victoria (Anne-Marie Fox). Most everyone in the family is a terrible person just looking to inherit their aunts’ wealth when they die. During the party, one of the servants, Alice (Patricia Davia), sees a strange woman by the gate (Cindy Rimoe). She gives Alice a box and says it’s a gift for the aunts courtesy of their absent nephew Christopher. During the party, Elizabeth and Victoria open the box, which releases a strange mist that turns them into horrific demons. The two then rip and tear the family apart as the rest struggle to escape the aunts’ wrath. The survivors hide in other parts of the castle, but it won’t be long before the aunties come for them. Which family members will survive, and who will fall victim to the demonic aunties?

     

    Review

    Despite the title, there are no grannies, nor does anyone become rabid. Though, I guess Rabid Grannies is a more memorable title and fits the original, which translates to The Cannibal Grannies. Questionable title aside, this is a decent, if forgettable, monster/splatter film reminiscent of Peter Jackson’s early work. There are some decent effects in creature design and gore for a relatively low budget. The scene where the aunts first transform is particularly memorable for how gross and slimy it is. There are also some entertaining death scenes, including a greedy fat man getting his ass bitten. The movie even dares to kill a child character, something rarely seen in horror movies even today. There’s much to enjoy for gorehounds and fans of cheesy 80s horror films. Unfortunately, for all the decent stuff in this movie, there’s just as much wrong here.

    The film’s biggest problem is that there aren’t any likable characters you can root for. Aside from maybe the kids, everyone is terrible, selfish, and, in some cases, sexist and homophobic. The action takes a long time to pick up, with the first 30 minutes devoted to family drama. Granted, if the intent were to emulate what it’s like to attend a family gathering, I’d say they nailed it. Still, it’ll be a while before any family gets picked off, even when things pick up in the second act. It doesn’t help that, as inventive as some of the death scenes are, many are cut to where they’re incomprehensible. The movie is padded at slightly over 90 minutes, but there’s enough dark humor and creativity to keep it fresh. Overall, Rabid Grannies will be either fun or godawful, depending on your taste, but either is valid.

     

    Buy Rabid Grannies from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ONZzqp.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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    Where to watch Rabid Grannies (1988)

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  • Blood Rage (1987)

    Blood Rage (1987)

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    With the popularity of slasher films in the early 1980s, numerous studios tried making their own hoping for success. After gathering the funds from some investors, producer Marianne Kanter set about making a slasher in 1983. Kanter hired John Grissmer, whose only directing credit was the 1977 horror film Scalpel, to helm the project. While most of the cast was relatively unknown, the filmmakers hired Louise Lasser, best known for Woody Allen’s Bananas. Unfortunately, the film ran into numerous production problems, including director John Grissmer leaving over disagreements with Louise Lasser. Fortunately, Kanter convinced Grissmer to return and finish the movie, which was then titled Nightmare at Shadow Woods. Unfortunately, the film sat on the shelf for four years before getting a limited theatrical release in 1987. While heavily edited for theaters, the movie was released uncut on VHS under the new title Blood Rage.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”60″ bar_bg_color=”#EDF000″ _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    In 1974, young Terry killed a couple making love and pinned the blame on his brother Todd. Ten years later, Terry (Mark Soper) lives with his mother, Maddy (Louise Lasser), while Todd (Mark Soper) has been institutionalized. Maddy is engaged to marry Brad (William Fuller), who owns the apartment complex she and Terry live at. Unbeknownst to them, Todd has escaped the mental institution and is pursued by Dr. Berman (Marianne Kanter). These events cause Terry to snap and resume his murdering ways as he kills Brad, Dr. Berman, and anyone else. Ultimately, Terry plans on pinning the murders on Todd as he did years ago while Todd tries clearing his name. When Maddy gets word of Todd’s escape, she gets worried and starts drinking, unaware of all the murders around her. Will Todd be able to clear his name, and who will fall victim to Terry’s blood rage?

     

    Review

    As far as slasher films go, Blood Rage is pretty standard, though it has a few things going for it. For instance, while none of the performances are outstanding, they’re above average for this type of movie. Even if it feels like she’d rather be anywhere else, Louise Lasser is easily the best actor in the film. Granted, most of her screen time is spent eating leftovers, drinking wine, and drunkenly calling people on the phone. Still, there are moments where she gives a heartfelt performance that’s almost way too good for this movie. Also, Mark Soper does a decent job playing twins, giving each one a distinct personality to help differentiate the two. Admittedly, the rest of the cast is pretty forgettable, but I wouldn’t say there was anyone who was particularly annoying. The actors do their best even if the material isn’t the greatest.

    Given its low budget, the gore effects are top-notch, whether someone is cut in half or a head splits open. The makeup effects were done by Ed French, who also worked on Sleepaway Camp, The Stuff, and Vampire’s Kiss. Also, the music by composer Richard Einhorn, who also worked on The Prowler, is pretty catchy and fits the film. On the downside, some aspects of the story, such as the motivations, don’t make much sense. After the opening scene, Terry lives happily while his brother is locked away, but Terry kills again for no reason. Why would he return to his murderous ways when he’s living well while people think his brother is a killer? There’s even a moment when a character asks Terry why he’s doing this, but there’s no explanation given. Overall, Blood Rage has some decent performances and gore effects, but the story is a mess.

     

    Buy Blood Rage from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3gncoLE.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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