Change Your Image
kannibalcorpsegrinder
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Tenants (2024)
An underwhelming if still watchable anthology effort)
Awaking in a strange apartment complex, a woman begins a search for her missing sister which soon causes her to come into contact with the residents who begin experiencing their own horrific incidents
This was a decent enough anthology with some likable enough stories. The stories are best when they're kept simple and likable, whether it's the opening one involving an actress trying to deal with a rash before a major audition, a lonely man unwilling to part with his deceased wife's belongings, or the resident obsessed with a woman who won't return his affections. These segments are the most appropriate for this type of storytelling providing enough to get a quick glimpse of the characters, what they did, and how to fix everything which usually goes along with some solid if unspectacular effects work. Other segments, including the bickering couple who are trying to overcome a miscarriage or the unkillable roommates who can't stop attacking each other provide a wacky energy and tons of nice gore to give this some solid positives. The main drawback here is that the segments aren't anything out of the ordinary and simply come off as par for the course in these types of stories. Almost every single setup here has a storyline that makes everything quite obvious at the very start. Based on this type of setup and the length of the individual segments, there's not much in the way of deviating from the signposted finale the resolves everything as there's no opportunity for it to change it up. Moreover, the fact that so many of the encounters in the wraparound setting up the stories which is one of the most confusing and pointless wraparounds in the genre by tying nothing together and feeling like a setup for a different movie altogether before having the main segments shoehorned into it. It's a bit of a disappointment that this part comes off as weak as it does and lowers this one the most overall.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.
Inherit the Witch (2024)
An overall enjoyable if somewhat flawed feature
Heading back to his family house, a man reunites with his estranged family for their father's funeral which soon starts to stir up revelations about the occult past of their legacy featuring his bloodline as a means of ending the threat posed to him and his family through their actions.
This was a pretty solid and generally enjoyable genre effort. Among its better features is the rather strong setup that allows for a fun time here unraveling a series of intricate plot threads throughout here. The central setup of the family gathering together for the funeral and getting the chance to unravel all of their neurosis and baggage with each other, from the failed relationships, the estranged nature of the siblings, and the different lifestyles everyone leads creates a fine grounding for the dynamics that play a large part in what unfolds when everyone arrives. Knowing that there's a series of secrets hidden beneath everything that helps to underline the way they've acted and changed over time as we get flashbacks to their childhood that features all sorts of occult happenings adds a fine layer to everything which gives this a strong overall setup. That setup also gives the film a chance to run wild with the supernatural shenanigans when it gets going. As we realize early on that there's a legacy of witchcraft in the family with the series of performances that signal nefarious witchcraft ties, it goes nicely along with the reveals about the bloodline and how the cult of worshippers around her have gathered to put a plan in motion for it to continue on that becomes the starting point for their supernatural influence to take shape. Controlling others to carry out attacks on those who wrong them, influencing dreams and nightmares, and trapping others in a never-ending series of torment that soon play a huge role in the revelation about everything coming from a family curse to continue taking shape. These are imaginatively realized and provide some solid shocks alongside the gruesome effects on this kind of budget, giving it a lot to like overall. There isn't much to this one that holds it down. The main factor with this one is the lack of surprise accomplished by a routine story that features all the expected elements in such a similar setup. Strained family dynamics, dysfunctional relatives, a centuries-old curse, and misguided power struggles are all in play as the well-worn track of a generational curse in the bloodline needing to come to pass are integrated throughout this one which helps to spell out what's going on so easily it becomes quite easy to guess with the sometimes leaden pacing really making that stand out even more. It's not helped by the other big issue here in who we're supposed to be rooting for with everything taking place, as none of the family members are likable and the generic nature of the witch cult makes them pretty bland when not carrying spells out so with no real gore or physical trauma they come off pretty underwhelming much like the others which hold this one down the most.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language, Graphic Violence, and Brief Male rear Nudity.
Hayride to Hell (2022)
A generally likable and worthwhile genre effort
Trying to run a successful farm, a series of indiscretions made by the locals force a farmer and his friends into a make-or-break case to keep the farm out of their hands, and when he decides to show them what the farm means with a hayride tour decides to enact a vicious plan for revenge.
This was a really fun genre effort with a lot to like about it. Among its better qualities here is the strong opening setup that provides this with a fantastic launching point for the festivities to come about. As we get a big introduction sequence here getting an idea of the hayride with the celebrations he sets up for everyone, the treatment by the locals who want to see it shut down, and the resentment by the authorities who want to take it away from him, it sets up a rather fun dynamic to get everything going on a strong start. Since everyone in the group has decided on how to treat the property and what they want to do with it, his desire to keep it running with the help of his friends and other family members comes together for a great time here. The plan to keep this farm together, ensuring the locals see the festivities of their central plan which is immensely fun. Taking the time-honored role of preparing a bunch of gags and displays that are supposed to be fake but are patently the group genuinely taking out the local hoodlums who have been tormenting them by disguising everything in the form of gruesome-looking effects, this is quite fun and engaging. The idea of the performance pieces here taking the shape they do with the various setpieces and interactions that the group are done one by one which is handled with the kind of zany energy and outlandish glee at what's going on that helps to sell what the group is doing. As everything here has a nice bit of gore and creative kills due to the setup, there's a lot to like about this one. There are a few issues to hold this one down. One of its few issues is the main concept at play here where the plan to pull everything off doesn't come off all that logically or realistically. The plan to go through with the genuine torture and fright that plays out here is immensely complicated and takes a lot to go through and not get caught which is far removed from the sake of consistency it makes for a tough time believing the plan. That becomes especially true when there's nothing here about what drove the plan together as everything here just tends to come off with the kind of explanation for it to make sense or why the group would go through with it. On top of also taking on so many cliches and overly familiar character tropes to try to make this one work, it's the few issues that bring it down.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.
Milk & Serial (2024)
An intriguing if overall problematic found-footage effort
Attempting a big social media prank, a group of friends try to continually get one over on each other as the experience draws them into the long-hidden psychopathic intuitions of one of the group's depressed past that sets them off into a race against time to stop their unhinged plans from coming true.
Overall, this was a solid enough indie genre effort. One of the finer aspects with this one is the engrossing and likable setup that features quite a lot of likable elements to it. The initial setup with the friend-group who are going around setting up the exploits of their channel and relationship with each other by setting up elaborate and harmful pranks on each other for a birthday surprise gets this established quite nicely so that the later exploits are far more believable. Not knowing whether or not the series of crazed incidents, from encountering the stranger in the apartment to the suicide attempts by the figure they come across, and the bizarre kidnapping scheme that quickly goes array, there's a genuinely thrilling and immersive experience that all builds up a fantastic showcase for the eventual devolution into insanity that comes about as how he treats his friends over time helps this out immensely. Beyond this, though, there's not much to this one that stands out. The type of setup featured here generating vicious and somewhat illegal pranks on people for the sake of views on their video channel makes the group so unlikable it's hard to get invested in what's going on with the friends barely being worth investing this much time into. As this is due to the prank-video nature of the channel so no one can be believed or trusted, that just adds even more to what's going on here There's also the fact that there's so many obvious instances in which psychotic behavior becomes quite underwhelming to see play out as too many obvious red flags are ignored for the sake of moving a story along that's quite cliche and familiar. As well as a lackluster finale that makes for so many rule-breaking moments of found-footage throughout here, these all manage to bring this one down overall.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.
Booger (2023)
Far more of a grief drama than a genre effort
Following the loss of her roommate, a woman trying to keep herself together to handle everything going on at the time is overwhelmed when her friend's pet cat bites her and escapes from their apartment which throws her life into further chaos when she suspects the bite is turning her into a cat.
This was a fairly solid dramedy but a generally lackluster genre effort. The initial setup here with the stressful situation of dealing with the friend's death, detailing the funeral, and trying to maintain the semblance of a life she had before the incident provides a clear-cut explanation for her frazzled and closed-off mindset throughout. Wanting to deal with the escalating situation but also not left with any time to do anything herself on top of trying to catch the cat when he escapes their apartment loft which only compounds things further, this type of mental breakdown becomes far more warranted the more this goes on with the exploits of a newfound transformation following the bite as these all come off quite nicely overall. While there's a lot of fun to be had with the upcoming transformation and the generally impressive use of body-horror elements to pull it all off, the fact that it doesn't go for more genuine thrills makes for a difficult watch at times. The series of dreams and hallucinations where the feline instincts and behavior come about after the bite are never treated as though it's threatening to her condition what with the stupidity of failing to see a doctor and get it checked out but it's more treated as a coping mechanism for not being able to move on past her friends' death. That never lets anything happen here so it comes off without any genre material which can lead to some disappointment out there if you're not in the right mood.
Rated Unrated/R: Violence and Language.
Himalaya (2024)
A generally fun found-footage Bigfoot creature feature
Searching for the legendary Yeti, a famous paranormal researcher conducts a livestream of a colleague scaling an ice cave for the creature in its Himalayan home, but the longer they conduct the search they come to find the creature might not be the most dangerous entity on the mountain.
This was a fairly fun and likable found-footage creature feature. Among the better features here is the strong setup that allows the film to go for a fine overall storyline with some fun elements present. The setup of the livestreaming event taking place at the location on the mountain while the host takes up residence at a friends' house to host a special show with pre-programmed segments that help to explain their interest in the subject and his past shows on the subject features a far more professional setup than a person simply broadcasting an expedition searching for the creature. The cut-ins to the doctor on the mission to the cave where it's supposedly located take on a more impressive quality as they come off as intermittent breaks in the more controlled conversations monitoring the search or talking with his wife about what's going on, making this appear far more intriguing as time goes on. The longer the search continues and the series of hardships about the journey start to become more frequent and prominent, the film picks up in excitement and energy considerably. Due to the prominent presence of the emergency systems discussing the expedition he faces, the continued monitoring of the decreasing oxygen supply and the side effects he'll face due to that even before taking into account the environmental elements offers the kind of intriguing starting point that makes the later encounters come off quite intriguing. Once the cave is breached and the action turns into fra more of a potential psychological breakdown with the elements here bringing along a supernatural bent with the way the systems keep breaking down and the visions get more intense and freakier, there's a fun dynamic to the way this sets up a wholly chilling series of encounters throughout here which give the film a lot to like about it. There isn't much to dislike here but it does have some drawbacks to be had with it. The main detriment with this one is the seemingly lackadaisical encounters with the wife and scientist at the house watching everything unfold. A dynamic between the two of them designed for some combative scenarios to pop up is instead wasted as the low-key nature of what's going on with the two of them tends to be far more restrained than they should be as some more dynamics between them would've livened up the pacing a bit more during this section which tends to be a bit more sluggish until the later section of this one. The other issue here is the film's decision to keep the creature so isolated and off-screen until the last moments that it might disappoint those looking for more of a traditional genre effort with how it's presented here. Alongside some of the low-budget origins being apparent, these are what hold this one down.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.
Bittertooth (2023)
A solid enough if somewhat problematic genre effort
Working on a true-crime podcaster, a woman and her partner who have made a name for themselves as survivors reaching out to others decide to tackle a case that hits close to home for one of them as they look into the serial killer they escaped from, bringing them into the killer's orbit once again.
This was a decent if somewhat problematic genre effort. What works best here is the way this one manages to tie in a wholly modern approach to the traditional investigation into the life of a serial killer. The use of a true-crime podcast delving into the history of crime in their area and reporting on the same killer that had attacked one of them earlier which forced them into the path they choose offers a rather strong touch with the modern popularity of true crime podcasting. This goes a long way towards making the investigation into the life of the killer which soon puts them in his path as the final half takes the clues revealed about their past into a rousing, chilling series of encounters which have a lot of great psychological torture and some fun graphic kills here that are far more entertaining than they deserve to hold this one up. There are some issues with this one that hold it back. One of the main issues here is the likability of the main girls as we spend so much time with which is a big problem to get over. Their disparate personalities already make it quite difficult to believe that they'd be genuine friends but so much is reliant on the more outgoing one trying to to coerce her friend to go along with what she wants merely for the fame it'll lead to rather than trying to perfect their reporting makes this even more troubling. That everything we get between the two paint them out as a reckless firestarter merely for the views while the other is the cautious note-taker who wants to be truthful and accurate makes their plan immensely sketchy when so little is used to spark their interest in everything and is intended to be a big reveal so everything here is quite troublesome and hard to get a handle on. On top of that, the film takes way too long to get going with the whole thing getting to the halfway point before they even decide to go investigate the killer. With all the work done trying to get to know the girls, their history together, and the type of show they run, it feels way too dragged out with this type of material rather than going for the traditional genre fare. While it attempts one or two reenactments of the crimes to try to spice things up, there's not enough of them nor are they long enough to counteract the lack of action on display and is again let down even further with how it makes us feel about them anyway so it's all even lower as a result. The last issue here is the generally lackluster motivation and reasoning for what's going on as it tries to make some connection to the modern world corrupting people and preventing them from reaching their true spiritual awakening but it's buried so late in the film with such a jumbled delivery it's hard to make sense of what it means or why we should care, making this one quite a bit lower than it should be.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.
Deer Camp '86 (2022)
A wholly enjoyable and likable throwback that has a few drawbacks
On a hunting trip in Michigan, a group of friends celebrating the start of hunting season stumble upon a series of strange deaths triggered by the murder of a Native American woman in a long series of similar incidents unleashing an avenging Native American spirit now targeting them.
This was a fairly solid and likable genre effort. One of the main aspects found here is the strong build-up to the general storyline where everything here comes together quite nicely. The initial setup of the group coming to the area to enjoy the hunting afforded by the area only to come upon a series of attacks on Native American women in the city which pulls them into its sphere due to the involvement of the latest victim being a bartender they befriended who becomes the latest victim in a series of violent outbursts in the area. This idea of merging the two stories together by making the group become the new victims of the hunter once they arrive in the woods after being caught up in the rampage makes this a rather solid setup with a fantastic touch on the treatment of indigenous tribes with how that sets everything in motion here. The other enjoyable factor with this one is the series of antics on display with the use of the supernatural killer coming to life and taking out those responsible for taking out other Native American women. Given a fantastic motivation for the rampage, the whole thing taking place out in the woods where it can use its powers and manipulation of the environment to provide a slew of intriguing sequences of it appearing to take down the hunters one by one. Attacking the couple by the lake, the big ambush on the main cabin, and the traps laid out in the woods to stop it have a lot to like keeping the action frantic and furious with the series of attacks present her involving the great kills on display with the impressive look of the killer also coming together to all provide the film with a lot to like. There are some issues to be had with this one. Among the main drawbacks to be had with this one is the immensely disproportionate pacing present here where its rather bizarre tempo leaves this one quite uneasy and uneven. There's way too much time spent on the stereotypical racist town of backwoods rednecks with their treatment of the Native Americans in the town setting up the idea of what's going on but going way beyond the point of it being as useful as it should with how mow time is spent on it, while other scenes involving the team being stalked in the woods by the creature or it taunting the others with it which leaves this to make the encounters fun if immensely quick in comparison. It also leaves little time for explanations about everything as we get to know very little about the creature hunting them as a result so it's powers are cool if entirely unexplained as well as it's backstory, which along with a completely lacking sense of humor bring this down.
Rated R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.
Voice of Shadows (2023)
A likable if rather problematic haunted house effort
After inheriting a family house, a couple moves out to the property to help take control of the property while also dealing with the conditions that go along with the inheritance, but when they notice a hidden danger within the house affecting their relationship must stop an evil entity from haunting them.
This was a formulaic and rather predictable genre effort. One of the better features here is the sense of atmosphere and general environment of living in the house which is quite effectively a traditional Gothic landscape. The ornate furniture and decorations overlooking everything, the darkened vibes without much sunlight getting through, the creaking wooden floors and hallways, and the hidden secrets found within its grounds make for a sterling old-school Gothic interpretation. It feels quite logical and believable that this kind of location allows for what to happen while they stay there to come off as psychologically unhinged as they do. With everything exacerbated by the cultural and racial overtones featured throughout here, it manages to provide a solid enough captivating presence that keeps this one somewhat endearing as it goes along. That's for the best with the rest of the film following these types of storylines to such close scrutiny it becomes bland and predictable otherwise. The splitting couple brought together by an inheritance they think will keep them together, the psychological unraveling that comes about by being in the house far longer than they should, and the series of miscommunications that further spark the growing disconnect in their relationship are intended to be signs of the haunting that's going on here but are so overutilized and familiar they're spotted from a mile away and only help to provide a kind of familiarity into what's happening. It also ends up being a part of the secondary issue where it's so familiar that there's not much in the way of anything interesting happening. As it's far too late in the film to introduce what really happened and what all the hidden hauntings within the house, this all comes off as pretty bland and boring for the most part and is what keeps this down.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.
Water Horse (2024)
An overall rather enjoyable found-footage feature
Trying to look into a mysterious disappearance, a film crew begins documenting what happened to a popular paranormal investigator who has ties to a mysterious lake in a remote part of the country, but when they begin investigating the incidents they find it's connected to a strange curse affecting the area.
This was an overall enjoyable if slightly flawed mockumentary. One of the brightest spots here is the general setup that allows for a solid enough motivation to search for the missing figure. Getting the right mixture of news outlets reporting on the incident and talking heads providing enough detail about her status and reputation so that the use of providing one of her last paranormal research sessions with a partner looking into a haunted house so we get an idea of who she is and what she's about, the experience comes off nicely enough. The search into the final case involving the mysterious water horse statue that's haunting the family offers the kind of fun lead-in to the main genesis of the film looking into what happened at the lake where it's from sets up some really intriguing elements here. As the investigation into what's going on leads the two into a far-ranging conspiracy about the lake and what's going on, this one picks up considerably with quite a lot to like. The investigation turns rather nicely into a fantastic concept about the the strange creature in the lake which is the start of an equally fantastic mystery connecting a mining tragedy, hidden relatives, a town full of disappearing locals, and the reports about a creature living in the area that begins stalking those around the water which is quite fun to see play out. This is what helps to pay off a lot of the earlier exposition of what's happening as the series of plot-threads at play make for a creepy time the more this goes on. With an immensely chilling and creepy ending that resolves everything quite nicely, this one has a lot to like about it. There are some drawbacks to this one that hold it down. Among the main drawbacks here is the decision to present everything as if it's a mockumentary yet instead feels far more like a found-footage feature. The interludes of the news reports, the flashbacks to the past incident involving her mother, and how this ties into the missing paranormal investigator that spurred everything on all feel far more reliant on the traditional mode of storytelling when it didn't need to be. This could've easily been shot as a traditional feature, or just straightforward found-footage instead of being used to go for this mockumentary approach on people we're unfamiliar with so it sets up who they are at the point where it could've been as everything makes more sense to be a traditional genre feature. It's the main issue to be had here holding this one down.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language, Violence, Brief Nudity, and a sex scene.
Satranic Panic (2023)
An immensely fun genre effort with not much really wrong with it
After the death of their friend, a couple decide to investigate the rumors of a series of demonic possession rituals being conducted by a strange cult that are at the center of what supposedly killed him and must race across the country to stop the cult's plans from coming to fruition.
This was a massively fun and enjoyable genre effort. One of the more enjoyable factors with this comes from the wild and rather fun setup that brings about plenty of genuinely cheesy fun. The idea of the friends deciding to go about on their trip to look into the true nature of their friends' death that no one wants to solve and finding the rumors about the cause being done by a demonic cult looking to summon the creatures to fix the people in their condition as a means of solving perceived mental issues offers a great time here. The central premise of the cult's presence and what they're attempting to offer makes for a great time here with the whole purpose offering a fantastic commentary on the nature of individuality and expression that comes about due to the incredibly sympathetic portrayal that comes about as everything gets connected rather nicely. What helps bring this along is the series of frantic encounters with everyone as they undertake the trip to look into the cult the more they uncover about he death. Realizing the cult is responsible for bringing about demons with the hope of riding people of their supposed mental disease, the confrontations here taking place in public locations or secluded hotel rooms offers the kind of likable setups that are full of impressive practical effects for this kind of budget as the make-up work to denote the kind of physical transformations taking place. The comedic interludes with the drag performances are a great way to add some levity to the proceedings while also continuing to tackle the sense of family that runs wild in this one, making its low-budget limitations the lone real flaw to this one.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.
The Zombie Wedding (2023)
An immensely fun comedy with some issues
Hoping for the day of her dreams, a woman sets out on getting the wedding of her dreams with her fiance finds her hopes dashed when he gets bitten in a zombie plague and turned into one, but not wanting to throw her wedding away tries to keep it going with it being more difficult than imagined.
This was a generally fine comedy but somewhat underwhelming genre effort. That this one works so well as a comedy, going not just from the wild setup of the whole thing taking place during a zombie apocalypse where they're so unconcerned with their presence daily life remains uninterrupted despite everything to the contrary, the more traditional rules established for zombies being jettisoned in favor of more humanistic approaches where they retain personality and traits just enhanced with occasional brain-munching, and the exploits of the family trying to treat the situation as a difference of status which fuels the comedy. While it delivers an endless slew of physical slapstick gags involving the families hoping to resolve the situation without incident but the zombie-like tendencies that spring up acting like an obstacle to overcome allowing for plenty of laughs to come from the situation or the jokes about the situation. While still fun elsewhere, the zombie qualities here are quite a bit downgraded from what it could've been here as the focus on heartwarming interactions and goofy comedy leaves a lot of the horror here downgraded. The ability to render their status into more humanoid-style creatures instead of the mindless brain-eating ghouls makes this one feel quite nice and funny but takes a lot of the fear out of them with the more comedic touch taking centerstage. Although there are still moments where the creatures' instincts kick into high gear, such as their big moment in the wedding at the end where everything goes crazy offering some nice blood and gore, it's the main sequence where that happens. It's not a true detriment to the film but this is a feature that has to be taken into account here.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Graphic Violence.
Amityville Bigfoot (2024)
An enjoyable enough genre effort that has a lot to like about it
Working on a new movie, a film crew working on a low-budget monster movie in the woods surrounding Amityville finds the shoot compromised by a series of problems ranging from protesters to nature-watchers to an out-of-control Bigfoot that escaped from a team of scientists in the area.
This was a decent-at-best genre effort that does have some likable factors. One of the positives with this one comes from the cheesy setup that provides an endless opportunity to unleash plenty of action here. The main setup of the team of scientists in their isolated facility studying the creature and accidentally letting it loose when it assaults the team and stumbles upon the film crew in the area trying to make a low-budget movie while being inundated with bird-watchers, hikers, or protesters. This allows for a constant stream of interactions throughout here with the creature running loose in the woods where it's mistaken for the costumed actor on the film, attacking the rest of the crew, or just randomly encountering any of the people with some decently gory and violent encounters. Outside of these factors, this one comes off with the kind of flimsy low-budget limitations usually found in these types of features. The majority of the film tends to act as though it's all a series of unconnected sequences strung together to reach a predetermined running time with everything coming across as this kind of improvised actions where people just ramble on and on since they think it's funny to yell this while filming. In execution, though, this all makes the film feel long and cheap with so many of the scenes being interminably long and dragged out so it feels far longer than it really is, which is even worse with the flimsy effects matching the spirit and tone of the film but still looking rather cheap and silly as a result that all come together to lower this one.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, Brief Male Nudity, intense scatological references, and comical sexual scenes.
Amityville Backpack (2024)
A disjointed mess without much going on
After visiting a yard sale, a hapless loser tries to turn his life around by attaching his success to the purchase of a special backpack, but when the backpack seems to be the center of a series of strange deaths it's grisly back to a fabled haunted house are revealed and force him to stop it.
This was a pretty disappointing if still watchable enough feature. One of the better features here is that this one manages to provide a worthwhile setup to the lifestyle he has. The idea of him being such a put-upon and hopeless loser, ridiculed at work, unskilled at life, and being so clueless at it all he never gets out of the rut in his life to where the need for the backpack to fit his condition makes for a solid enough starting point. With the cheesiness of the situation enhanced by the presentation of the backpack being like the titular house, the psychological impact its presence has on him after getting together is decent enough that the series of deaths around him by those who mock or ridicule him offers up a cheesy sense of fun at points. Outside of this, though, the film is quite as hapless as its titular hero. Rather than delve into any kind of action, the majority of this one is so completely overwhelmed with characters narrating everything to the point that it becomes more irritating than anything to listen to everything said that it just becomes tiresome hearing what happens. This becomes even worse when it's so unnatural and disinteresting with all the clunky dialog about how much of a loser his boss thinks he is or how much he wants to improve his life all thanks to the backpack as it's just incredibly frustrating how everything piles on at such a ludicrous degree rather than building his case at improving himself. Coupled with the expected flimsy gore and production values found here, these all hold the film down.
Rated Unrated/R: Violence and Language.
Cenaze (2023)
A unique and somewhat bizarre genre effort
Working as a hearse-driver, a lonely man is entrusted with taking care of a special body for a month until he can return her to her parents, but after realizing that his supposedly-dead charge is still alive he forms a bond with her that brings him into a dangerous trail to appease her.
This was a wholly disappointing and unconventional effort without much going for it. The main problem here is the preponderance of plodding arthouse aesthetics in place of more traditional faster-paced material. The cryptic nature of the central relationship here where it's not entirely clear how the romance between them starts considering her condition and how extraordinary it is compared to the amount of time we've spent following him around until that point, there's little in the way of making it come together at all logically as it has more of a father/daughter angle than anything else based on how he treats and protects her. This is matched with excessively long and meandering scenes of him wandering through the city trying to find out how to help her or trying to deal with the escalating danger his actions have caused. This favoring of these factors even with their excellent usage throughout as the gorgeous imagery and deep-seated commentary on the life of the conservative mindset in the country does create far more of a highly impressive mainstream genre effort. That does mean there are some intriguing elements present here where this one focuses on the savage nature of her condition making their relationship far more difficult to sustain. Featuring numerous moments of them being subjected to random strangers that are turned into victims to provide the blood she needs to survive, these scenes add a touching depth and gravitas to what's essentially a series of gruesome vampiric feedings with the way they're portrayed throughout here. Going through the finale is a big part of this with the confrontations taking place in the mountainous region of the area that has a lot more of an impact due to the frenzy of activity present, but it's just too slow and artistic for its own good. This could've been trimmed down considerably or gone about its motions at a faster tempo to help out considerably as that's what really holds this back.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Language.
Dead Teenagers (2024)
An enjoyable enough concept but let down by some big factors
Heading out into the woods, a group of friends decide to hang out before heading back to school in the fall, but when they discover the remains of a movie script depicting the group being attacked by a serial killer must try to use the pages they have to outwit and survive the situation.
This was a decent genre effort with a couple of big issues. One of the better features here is the strong and generally enjoyable setup that allows for a fine meta-variation on the genre but also the trilogy as a whole. The cabin location where it all starts is quickly shown to be the location where the other entries in the series were shot with the discovery of the previous filming equipment or scattered script pages that dictate what's to come in the film currently being played out. Invoking this element with the use of supernatural time-portals, alternate realities, and changing dynamics within the friend group based on how their perceived reactions to everything playing out around them is a bit over-the-top and difficult to make sense of everything but the creativity of doing that comes off well enough overall. With the few kills handled through solid enough practical effects, it's a good enough time on that front, but outside of this, there's not much else to this one. The fact that it's so confusing jumping around and going through different timelines and storyline beats makes everything feel far more confusing than it actually is, with the main problem being the idea of what's going on here being way too advanced an idea for this type of production to muster. Letting the whole thing run on a meta-slasher idea of the teens finding a script for a film based on their lives and trying to alter it by reading it aloud and acting it out gives this a generally lame feel instead of trying to show that the friends are altering their fate since it's too cheap to effectively do anything more than just have the same group of people stand around the same locations reading from the script as if that's supposed to change anything. That highlights just how dull and confusing this one is with the whole thing jumping around so frequently to different viewpoints and storyline universes that it's nearly impossible to figure out what's supposed to be going on or happening. It's hard to tell if the cast is supposed to be reacting to an escaped killer in the area and that was what the original script was supposed to be before it got intertwined with reality, what anything means once they start taking things way too literally, or why anything should matter at all which is the main detrimental about it all since the characters are suddenly so different from what we were introduced to that it all being character-based scenarios that we're reacting to which are then changed on the reality of what's going on so it's just immensely confusing. These all hold the film down.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.
Wolves Against the World (2024)
An overall underwhelming feature that has some pretty big flaws
Trying to leave his past behind him, a reformed Neo-Nazi is brought back into the sphere of his old bandmate and their previous ways together when he spends time at the remote cabin where he lives, and when the truth about his condition is revealed must fight to save his life and his friend.
Overall, this was a rather disappointing effort from what it could've been. Among its brighter aspects is the rather decent setup that provides an intriguing starting point for everything. The main setup involving the background of his past, the controversial beliefs he had with his connection to his friend that helped to spur everything on and the desire to leave it behind, provides a great pretext for the emotional conflict at the core of the film. With the old friend desiring a means of bringing his friend back into his newfound cult of followers that he's initially leery about and trying to distance from. The appeal and lure of running into his old friend running counterintuitively to his repentance and moving on creates a fine starting point for the discovery about the true nature of their being at the cabin which is what gives the finale a lot to like when it's revealed and everything gets far more energetic and crazy. It's easily the best part of this one taking its build-up into a solid and thrilling time. Beyond this, though, the film is just immensely dull and difficult to get into. The slow-burn pace involving the rekindling friendship and going through their past history together with previous gigs that went sour because of their personal beliefs, thinly-veiled recruitment pledges, and outspoken propaganda ploys that try to make sense of their different paths in life but hardly anything remotely genre-related happens during this part. It makes the film slow to a crawl at the very start with the first two-thirds of the running time spent on these unlikable, wrong-headed ideologies so it's really hard to get invested in this weak-willed guy trying and failing to see the toxic friendship he has with a former associate who only came back into his life through inherent stupidity that becomes a running theme throughout the final half with everything being the result of stupidity more than anything. With very few actual scenes of werewolves in this in favor of more of a berserker setup, these all bring the film down.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language, Graphic Violence, racist themes, and drug use.
The Exorcism of Saint Patrick (2024)
A serviceable enough genre effort even with some issues
After arriving at a remote cabin, a priest starts to work on an extreme form of conversion therapy against a gay teen in his charge which soon goes wrong when the teen commits suicide, bringing his and several other ghosts who have been wronged by this treatment in the past back to haunt him.
Overall, this was a rather enjoyable effort. One of the finer features found here is the incredibly effective and worthwhile starting point that devolves nicely into a strong genre piece. Focusing heavily early on of a psychologically-unhinged relationship between the two alone out in the cabin where his tactics and treatment attempt to work out the sexual orientation the kid shares which provides this with more than enough justification and motivation for what's going on. The physical, emotional, and verbal abuse suffered at his hands which is all later shown to be approved by his parents due to their consent to everything all for the sake of his soul adds even more fuel to what's going on as everything takes place at the camp allows for a solid and engaging setup. After this point, the film does go for a rather formulaic ghost revenge effort that still builds nicely off what came before it. Since the build-up at the camp makes the events feel justified and warranted, the haunting scenes that come about here have quite a bit of impact with their justification coming from the previous treatment the son and numerous others have been subjected to as their karmic retribution has the appropriate work behind it. However, the action used to accomplish this is basic and extremely predictable, resulting in plenty of these scenes leaving a disappointing feeling with so many repetitive aspects coming into play with these scenes. It's not as detrimental as it sounds since the scenes are still fun with the karmic retribution attached but it does diminish the film.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.
Wineville (2024)
A generally fine if just somewhat flawed feature
Following her father's death, a woman and her son travel to their family's vineyard to take ownership of the property against the wishes of the workers who stay there, but as they stay to make amends grow alarmed at a series of mysterious disappearances around the property tied to a horrifying truth.
This was a pretty solid and likable genre effort. The main feature here that comes off well enough is the main setup involving the family dynamic at play once they all arrive at the vineyard and how it all plays out. The initial backstory about her disinterest in the property with how her father treated her and how it affects her son when they arrive and make friends with the two still taking care of the property all makes for a great touch with how the day-to-day operations on the place go about. How the attempts at getting them into the way of working on this type of property they run while secretly making the serial killer antics feel like their hidden in plain sight due to the way they all seem perfectly natural in the idea of a vineyard such as this. The few scenes of his psychotic antics come off well enough and provide the brutality necessary to give this a solid punch at the right moment. Outside of this, though, there's not a whole lot going on here. The psycho tendencies might be hinted at throughout the early stages of the film but they're not present in any great degree until the last act leaving much of the film to function about the goings-on at the vineyard and the struggle to ensure it stays running. Operating in this manner where the farmhand and the older woman are there on the property teaching the mother and son about life on the winery and how it all works that it comes off without much in the way of a genre feel for most of the running time. It's way too late in the film to pile on the genre material that this one utilizes which goes on so long it does start to wear waiting for the final strike to get going where it gets questioned repeating things that aren't interesting in the slightest, which is the kind of issue here that brings this one down the most overall.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, intense themes of incest, and sexual content.
A Halloween Feast (2024)
A nearly-unwatchable misfire in all areas
After her psychotic outburst upsets the family, dysfunctional siblings try to live their lives while keeping their mother's psychotic tendencies in check, only for it to all come to a head at a special banquet feast she throws to celebrate the occasion leaving the festivities a bloodsoaked affair.
This was a disappointing genre effort with some big problems here that need to be overcome. This one is so over-the-top and ridiculous that it borders on being so ludicrous as to be unbelievable. The whole idea of the family trying to work through the issues they have, from the emotionally manipulative mother that enjoyed playing games with her husband in the past, the violent outbursts against anyone that speaks against her self-centered desires, an unethical doctor releasing her against and the loser children who are continually put upon for the decisions they made in life that keep them all in each other's orbit. This all makes the family such an unlikable group that it's hard to care about anything they do as with the family being so unlikable, there's not much going on here that's all that enjoyable. The first hour to this one is quite bland and excruciating to get through with almost nothing interesting going on dealing with the family and their issues getting in way too many subplots that aren't in the slightest bit fun to watch or even funny like it all thinks this is trying to just play off everything as the most normal reactions ever but are some of the most unnatural and deranged reactions to the situation that lets us stay around unlikable characters for an eternity in frustrating situations. Among the few positives to be had with this one come from the bizarre and over-the-top nature of the dinner itself which has an unhinged quality to it alongside the gruesome effect effects to be somewhat worthwhile, but it's too little too late to save this one.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, and sexual content.
American Werewolf (2024)
Has just enough to be worthwhile but not much else
As life goes on in a small town, a sheriff trying to find what happened to his wife's mysterious disappearance years ago is disturbed when a slew of similar disappearances and deaths occur to the locals around him and sets out to find the cause of everything before the town is killed.
This was a highly disappointing and underwhelming genre effort. Among the few good features here is a solid and enjoyable starting point that manages to provide the kind of instigating factor for the investigation. With the whole affair starting with the wife's attack in the car that he has no way of preventing and featuring the kind of small-town hospitality years after to keep him in the job to catch the criminal responsible which becomes quite topical with the current attacks on townsfolk, the ability to build up a solid whodunnit mystery over the series of crimes being committed in the town makes for a fine setup here. Realizing it's a werewolf and starting to prepare for the occasion with some solid defensive tactics to protect the rest of the town as the final attacks are decent if not spectacular efforts with the low-budget limitations here keeping this one intriguing enough as it goes along. There are so many issues here beyond that as those low-budget limitations are at the center of it all. The fact that the budget here never allows for any kind of genuine attacks to take place on-screen where so many of them are based on a person reacting to being approached by a grunting, growling figure in a tinted vision to indicate something is happening but then switches to the aftermath to see what happened to the victim. This removes any potential suspense or action from the film not having any genuine genre fare present here, and with everything being wrapped in a low-budget haze of flimsy production values, special effects, and utterly nonsensical storylines for what's going on with so much of the film trying to paint him as the culprit it's hard to get invested in anything the film has a lot of issues.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Graphic Violence.
Final Girl: Halloween (2024)
A generally fun indie slasher that has a few issues
After surviving a brutal massacre, a woman who witnessed her friends getting killed by a savage killer tries to adjust to society treating her with unearned sympathy or derision for surviving, which doesn't stop when the killer continues to strike forcing her to stop the madman before she's next.
This was a pretty decent if flawed genre effort. One of the better features here is the solid setup that allows for the film to recap and backtrack on the traditional genre elements while also introducing a fine character study of the survivor. After opening on the titular showdown with the killer that shows off some great stalking and slashing that introduces the fun of the group getting picked off and setting her up as the last victim by disappearing so everything is left open with multiple questions about the situation that are clues to uncovering the truth about what happened. Wondering why she survived, why the others were targeted, what the killer wanted with the group, and who they are is just a hint of the questions presented here and it handles them quite well with the outcome of the situation bleeding over nicely into the treatment she gets from her peers and classmates trying to help get her through the experience since everyone else keeps blaming her for the situation. Due to this solid work here, the series of attacks and encounters present here makes for a fun time trying to work out who the killer is and what their motivation is. The attacks on the student bullies that try to pull a prank on her at the school take some great twists that showcase the deviant nature of the rest of the students as that leads nicely into the proper setpieces towards the later half where it's a real killer. These scenes bring about the more pronounced stalking around the community involving scenes around the school, attacking her friends at home, or getting to the various individuals present around the periphery of the story leading to the fun finale where the killer strikes the group during a closed-off celebration. The final reveal doesn't make much sense in the grand scheme of things since there are parts where it's a blatant lie to cover what's revealed here, but it does come off as a surprising twist giving this one some decent elements for a lot to like. There are some big issues with the film that hold it down. One of the main issues with the film is the way this one manages to make everything happen either through sheer stupidity or inherently illogical actions. The way the students at the school continually blame her for what happened and being the sole survivor because she was the killer all along because of how her friends treated her is simply asinine and stretching trying to provide a motivation for red herrings that are so stupid it's hard to believe the mental logic to bring them to that conclusion. Even worse is that the stupidity of the students to carry out pranks designed to unhinge and unnerve her in this situation without any kind of reprimand is excessively moronic, their behavior towards her knowing there's a killer on the loose which gives them the right to sneak up on her scaring her at school or at home just so there's more psychological trauma inflicted about the situation strains credibility to the point it's so hard to believe the idiocy and incompetence around everyone just so there's some sense of mystery here. It's pretty detrimental and holds this one back the most.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.
The Mitchin Murders (2024)
Decent enough at points but still rather troubling overall
Trying to uncover the truth about her small-town, a reporter and her friend set out to make a documentary about a series of murders that occurred in her home town several years earlier, but when they gradually uncover evidence of a real serial killer still hunting in the area must stop his rampage.
This was a decent if highly troubling mockumentary effort. One of the brighter points here is a straightforward and simplistic storyline that lets the series of events depicted here come together rather well. The initial introduction to the story and how it gets brought up involving the events in the town and how they affected the lives of the filmmakers growing up is a solid touch, especially with the way the series of interviews that get brought into play are utilized. These offer a solid look at the different individuals present here involving the different bits of information that are revealed about what really happened, how the different events went down, and the lives being affected which spur the finale where the turn into a field investigation takes place. The second half features this investigation in the field, featuring more random interviews, and setting out to look into the truth about the claims of everything being based on a boogeyman, resulting in the reveal that the killer is still around taking victims which has some fun moments. This section does manage to slow the pace down considerably with the decision to investigate the towns' history rather than stay involved in the current case, as the background information doesn't prove any more useful at figuring out what's happening. The focus away from the current to look at the past that has no bearing is a misstep with little happening, forced interviews trying to bring something useful to light, and very little action at all making for a generally disappointing time and being the big issues that hold it down.
Rated Unrated/R: Language and Violence.
The Demon Disorder (2024)
Overly familiar but still enjoyable enough
Trying to move on in life, estranged brothers living on a ranch in the middle of the countryside are brought back together when a series of incidents with a family member are eerily reminiscent of what happened to their father when he got possessed by a demon, forcing them to believe it's returned.
This was a decent enough if somewhat flawed genre effort. Among its better qualities is the strong startup that provides a solid base for the demonic activity to follow once everything is revealed. The early setpieces involving the brothers reconnecting and managing to come together again to investigate the strange circumstances surrounding their family with the symptoms resembling what happened with their father that allows for their reunion to take place gives this a decent enough starting point. Tying in the idea of the unnatural behavior and violent outbursts that signal something is wrong, setting the brothers up on their quest to figure out what's going on that ultimately leads to the overt possession and ultimate revenge plot at the center of everything, giving this a solid overall setup. On top of that, when dealing with the grisly aftereffects of the possession, the film scores incredibly well as there's some gruesome work here. The idea of the calling card for everything taking on the form of a spreading and bloody wound on the body leaves quite an impression with the effects going for goopy body-horror style undertones. With the big confrontations in the final featuring even more great effects-work as the practical nature if everything here including demonic beings emerging from victim's body's, the graphic contortions and dismemberments that occur with the possessed in control of the body, and the general grotesque appearance that signals the possession has taken place helping to make the action inside the restricted location even more potent with everything here coming across well enough to have a lot to like. There are some issues with this one that hold it down. One of the biggest drawbacks is the overly familiar and cliched storyline involving long-buried family drama and grief manifesting itself once again. This is a familiar route that plenty of other features have gone with as they try to make the idea of generational curses and long-hidden trauma mean something but it's just not different enough with the material to make much of an impression. Everything is by-the-numbers and routine to the point of making it feel far more dragged out in the beginning than it actually is since everything is building to the point of genuinely chilling horror elements in the final half. However, going once again with the route it halts the moment of this one at the very beginning and makes for a bit of a difficult watch getting into things with this type of setup. These are the main detrimental factors involved with this one.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Graphic Violence.
The Well (2023)
A fantastic genre effort without much wrong
Arriving in a small town in Italy, a woman brought in to restore a damaged painting before a prestigious auction finds that a special significance in the painting might be the key to unlocking the truth behind a centuries-old curse affecting the house and races to stop it from happening.
This was a rather fun and enjoyable genre effort. One of the better elements here is the rather strong and intriguing setup that allows for a highly involved storyline to take place. Going with the overly familiar route of a stranger summoned to a place where a creepy legend is residing and getting mixed up in the shenanigans at work allows this one to go for a rather enjoyable time as the pieces start getting revealed as to what's going on with her arriving at the house to begin restoring the artwork in question. As more and more get repealed during the restoration and what it all means with these elements making more sense through the dreams and hallucinations she has, this begins unraveling involving ancient curses, a returning supernatural evil, and the denizens that are cursed to remain tied to the property which is what she's stumbled onto. Tied together with the secondary storyline involving the figures she met earlier who are kidnapped and held captive in the underground cell with the monstrous killer that provides some unsettling work throughout here. With this setup in play, the later hallucinations here involving the work on the painting as the whole thing continues getting more detailed over time, the different stories she hears from the residents of the estate about the true nature of what went on, and how everything comes together with the captives in the basement comes into a genuinely thrilling experience. Taking everything together with how the curse is involved and what the sacrificial victims are meant adds a fantastic depth and urgency to the finale where the fruits of her efforts are revealed and the different figures around her try to ensure everything happens as the figures responsible for the curse to start try to gruesomely take out those around her including the captives in what are some fantastic scenes as she races through the underground lair to take down these figures and rescue her trapped friends still inside. With this all taking place n a spectacularly Gothic-style setting with the mansion house where she's working coming complete with the requisite hidden passageways, secrets in the walls, and the gruesome remains of their experiences living in the cellar, the strong story here has a gripping atmosphere to match the setup. The grimy basement setup and holding cells are exceptionally well-done to match the aesthetic, and the creatures involved here have a lot to like when they get involved with the deformed appearance, gruesome strength, and just inhuman dimensions leaving a strong visual as they unleash outright gruesome outcomes as the messy practical effects for the multitude of deaths here make for a wholly fun time overall. The one lone drawback is that the finale feels incredibly rushed and over before it really starts with how quickly it's all resolved but it's the one lone drawback on display.
Rated Unrated/R: Extreme Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.