Thanksgiving Review

Thanksgiving: A Middle-of-the-Road Feast for Horror Enthusiasts

In the realm of horror, few films manage to serve a dish that's both familiar and surprisingly fresh. Thanksgiving attempts just that, situating itself comfortably within the genre while trying to carve out its own niche. This review promises a casual and entertaining stroll through the film's highs and lows, catering specifically to the pallet of horror aficionados.

Plot at a Glance

Thanksgiving unfolds in a typical small town where the holiday spirit is as thick as the November fog. But this year, the town's tranquil veneer cracks when a series of bizarre incidents begin to spoil the festive mood. As the townsfolk's Thanksgiving preparations turn into a fight for survival, the movie cleverly uses tension and suspense to keep the viewers on the edge of their seats. While the narrative occasionally trots down the well-worn paths of the genre, it's the unexpected twists that keep the feast interesting.

The Meat of the Matter

For horror movie enthusiasts seeking the next film to add to their 'best horror movies' list, Thanksgiving offers a mixed bag. The cinematography adeptly captures the eerie atmosphere of a town caught between tradition and terror. Performances are robust, with characters that, while archetypal, provide a solid foundation for the unfolding horror. However, it's the special effects where Thanksgiving truly shines, skillfully blending practical effects with CGI to create a visceral horror experience that's as unsettling as it is visually captivating.

A Slice of Critique

While Thanksgiving succeeds in many aspects, it's not without its shortcomings. The pacing, brisk in some sections, feels sluggish in others, making the film's narrative flow feel slightly disjointed. Character development, although adequate, misses some opportunities to deepen the emotional impact of the story. Nonetheless, for fans scouring through horror movies free of pretense and filled with genuine genre love, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise enjoyable watch.

Final Thoughts and Rating

Thanksgiving is a film that, much like the holiday itself, offers comfort in the familiar while sprinkling in enough novelty to keep things interesting. It's a solid addition to any horror fan's collection but doesn't quite reach the pinnacle of the genre. This cinematic dish earns a hearty 3 out of 5, making it a worthy watch for those who enjoy their horror with a side of dark humor and traditional scares.

Craving more after the feast? Grab your copy of Thanksgiving on Blu-ray for the ultimate horror experience, complete with bone-chilling bonus features that are sure to keep the holiday spirit (and scares) alive in your collection!

Midsommar Review

I didn’t catch up to Midsommar until recently. I was definitely not sure what to expect, but I kept getting told that it was up my alley. I finally sat down, and was a little intimidated because the run time is longer than the average horror film. The first thing I noticed about the movie was how well it looked. It is bright, full of life, and has an interesting backdrop overall. I loved the scenery, and the cinematography off the bat was good. It took a little bit to get to the locales but it was worth the wait as it really did showcase a great deal of beauty. I love a well shot film, and this one was well shot from the start.

The plot starts simple enough, a group of students go to Sweden after the death of the main character’s family. They go to there with the premise of studying a festival that only occurs every 90 years. Upon seeing some of the things going on, a sinister plot brews, and they see themselves trapped in a cult’s arms. The plot thickens slowly, and things really get out of hand as some of them start to get killed before they could leave. As the body count rises, things get out of hand, and our main heroine is placed as a queen, meanwhile her boyfriend is used to breed a child, and things just keep getting nuts.

Visually this movie is superior to a lot of movies in the horror genre. The cult is sensationalized, and really well done throughout, with some very interesting moments. The acting from Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, and the rest hits hard, especially when things start to go awry in the cult and people start getting killed. Even the sex scene is shot with immense attention to detail, and the horrors therein are shown with a sinister spin.

Midsommar hits you in the head really hard a few times, and shows you some extremes in terms of cult behavior. It also shines light on the horrors of outsiders coming into a new locale. I’m not saying that all communities are going to gut you, but this one certainly did. The movie is long, but it unravels into a sinister story if you stick with it. There is a lot to unravel with this one, but I don’t want to spoil things for you, but rather am going to tell you to see it. There’s some hard moments, and a bit of gore, but the majority of the film is shot with cinematography in mind and detailed throughout. It will leave you unsettled, especially towards the end, as it really is a movie with dread and obscenity in mind. It’s presented in a good visual, and wow, I was impressed. I recommend owning this one.

Bones And All Review

Can you make a cannibal movie and a love story? Well, I didn’t think you could, but there’s something interesting about those that dare to mesh the two and create something of substance. “Bones and All” begins with a shocker of an opening, and it carries through such innocence at first glance. You wonder why things are the way they are, and then after the first glimpse into flesh eating, you realize that something is awry. 

 

The movie begins like a detective story. The story features a young woman looking for her mother, trying to find out why she left. As her father leaves her, she carries on the notion of finding her birth mother and asking questions. This carries a major arc of the film, but along the way she meets some interesting characters, including a love interest. 

 

Things seem to flow through a love story, and one that is quite interesting and dare I say beautiful. You forget that you’re watching a horror movie, as it becomes very dramatic, and easy going. There’s something nuanced to the film, shot with a great deal of attention to details. It’s a wonderful landscape of cinematography, and it moves forward with ease. 

 

Things go off the rails at several instances, and you are reminded that you’re watching a horror movie because of the cannibalism aspect of the movie. I found that aspect to be a bit scary, especially when a maniac appears. It becomes scary at times, but the cannibalism isn’t the scariest of things. You have to watch to fully grasp the tense nature of the movie. 

 

Overall, “Bones and All” is an interesting character study. It has some nice moments of endearing love, but there’s a horror element to the story as there’s cannibalism, stalking and more. The film has an interesting style to it, and it hit me hard. It is an interesting movie, and it mixes the horror genre, drama, and love all in one. It’s a good movie that will haunt you at times. 

Swallowed (2022) Review

I was told that there was a new movie that had a mix of body horror and crime thriller, and I was all in. I have been watching a lot lately, but haven’t reviewed them in a while. That’s why I decided to sit and think about a recent movie, called “Swallowed”. 

 

The premise of the film is easy enough to follow, a couple of friends get caught up in a drug running option. However, they are in over their heads, especially when they realize that they have to swallow the drugs, and carry them through to a new location. If that’s not bad enough, they get stuck amidst the run, and have to deal with a biological horror. 

 

The movie is tense. It has a great deal of tense moments and really gets you hooked overall. Cooper Koch and Jose Colon do a good job of moving through the script and making you believe things are happening in real life. A sign of a good actor, of course, is to make you feel what is going on. The movie is not fast paced, and it unwinds slowly, moving through a crime caper to a horror element, to a kidnapping. 

 

“Swallowed” is a tense thriller, with a science fiction element thrown into boot. It’s a serious movie with a serious premise that really shocks at times. You’ll find yourself lost in what happens scene for scene, especially with a lot of full frontal nudity, lol. “Swallowed” is one of those movies that gets under your skin, and really works. I recommend it greatly. 

My Best Friend’s Exorcism Review

Grady Hendrix put out a book in 2016 called “My Best Friend’s Exorcism”, and it was a comedic horror novel with a lot to offer. I read the book, and was excited to see what the movie would be like. While the book had a great deal of humor to it, the movie doesn’t, and that’s where the comparisons start, but don’t end. I’m not going to do a compare and contrast here, because the book was just better in my opinion.

The movie has a simple plot, two friends have their lives changed when one of them is possessed by a demon. Their lives turned upside down, the only hope is to go through an exorcism, and hope that the demon gets out. Along the way we do have some comedic moments, but for the most part, it’s not that funny o f a movie.

Abby and Gretchen are the main characters and the ones that are dealing with the demon. The demon is not half bad, and the CGI work is good. The movie takes its time to move forward, but there’s a lot of throwback to the 1980s through musical moments. These solidify the characters, and you get a subplot here and there to level out the overall story.

I found the movie to be fun, it was drenched in the 1980s, and I loved that about the movie. It doesn’t take itself too seriously at times, but when it does get serious, it’s really good. Of all the exorcism movies, however, this is a tame one. The demon and exorcism isn’t something that gets too graphic, although there are some moments that make you think about other movies in the genre. It’s about “Goosebumps” level at times, and that’s not a bad thing, it’s got some soul to it, and it plays well.

Overall, “My Best Friend’s Exorcism” is a good overall movie. It’s horror comedy, but light on the comedy. It’s not graphic, it isn’t going to cause you to pull away a lot, but there are some good moments, and a nice sub plot that includes an interesting weight loss issue, to say the least. The movie flows well, it’s good overall, and definitely worth your time. You can stream it on Amazon Prime. 

Cold Creek Manor Review

Modern horror escapes me a bit, because I usually am lost in the 1980s or something. “Cold Creek Manor” came across my desk and I didn’t want to see it at first glance. It didn’t really appeal to me at first, but then I gave it a try, and decided it was well worth my time, especially with a cast that featured good actors. Dennis Quaid and Sharon Stone are starring so that’s a plus side, making this an interesting option overall. The plot is simple enough, a family wants to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city so they decide to buy an old mansion somewhere far from the city, and they plan on fixing it all up. However, things go awry when the original owner shows up and haunts them, causing a world of chaos for them to have to deal with overall.

The movie looks good, and that’s due in large part to the budget. This was not a made for DVD movie or anything like that, and it shows the way the film is setup, as well as the quality of the acting. The plot takes some time to develop. It crawls at times, trying to build tension, and it just never feels too scary. Is “Cold Creek Manor” scary? Nope. “Cold Creek Manor” just kind of meanders its way through the plot points, and they are ridiculous at times.

The family is convinced to hire the old owner, and things just go awry from there. Weird things start to happen, including being chased in a vehicle, snakes being found in the home, and a horse dying. These are all supposed to lead us to believe that Dale is the main culprit, and well, there’s no reason to not believe it since he is the one issue that keeps coming up.

I gave “Cold Creek Manor” a fair chance. I watched it, and I mulled it over, and can’t recommend it. It’s convoluted at best. There’s no reason why a family well off enough to own the property would hire some stranger to fix things up, even if he lived there before. There’s a deeper story to the house, and of course Dale causes some issues too, but meh, by the time you find that all out, you have most likely given up on the movie. I know I wanted to throw in the towel several times. It’s not a great movie, and while it visually looks ok, it just can’t salvage a slow moving plot design. I don’t recommend it. 

The Evil Within Review

Creepy movies usually have stellar openings, and some of my favorites come to mind when it comes to that notion. “The Evil Within” goes for the gusto right away, with a full blown creep factor of nightmares. In fact, you aren’t going to expect it, as the movie pulls no punches in positioning our  main character in the nightmare that is unbalancing his core. Is he dreaming? What is real? In first person narration you hear the story start to unfold and it’s one that features an unnerving juxtaposition of dream and reality, with set pieces that are truly macabre.

There’s a real creative push in this one, and while the plot slowly develops, it does so with good imagination. By the time you’re introduced to a more horrific creature, you’re ready for it, and you feel for the main character, especially with his mental disability. You cheer for him, even though the nightmares and the mirror become the central pivot of the scary moments. The scares are done well, and there’s a bit of gore overall.

The effects are good, there’s a good practical nature to some of them, and there’s CG involved too. However, it looks good throughout, and the story unfolds with great focus on the growing nightmares that our main character has, even if the pacing stalls at some points. Despite the hiccups, the threat of the nightmares grows and we get a centralized horror figure that wants everyone dead, and our hero conflicted, and being pushed into things further and further through the mirror that is setup.

The identity crisis in movies is not my favorite, I’ve written about that beforehand. I don’t appreciate the lazy element of it, but in this movie it works. It works in a lot of movies, I admit, but I used to hate it more. This one plays on that and really pushes your buttons, making it a crazy movie at times.

“The Evil Within” is a good psychological horror picture. It slowly tightens your senses, and squeezes your synapses, making you empathize at times, and then realize you’re hero is not really a hero at all. It has heart, it has fear, it’s a good character study, and I recommend it for sure.

Add “The Evil Within” to your DVD collection or stream it byclicking here.

Last Shift Review

There’s something about being isolated, and alone in a job. I used to sell caskets for a living, and that job had me alone with a lot of caskets all day and night. It was a job that left me with a lot of boredom, and well, it just wasn’t fun at times. Dead jobs are relatable to me, so when I heard about “Last Shift” I immediately thought about that isolation. However, the movie is a lot more horrific than anything I had to deal with, even though the premise starts out quite simply.

The movie is about a cop that is working the last shift at a station. As she moves through her shift, a madman shows up and starts to cause trouble. Then as the movie progresses, so does the strange happenings, and a lot of things just don’t seem right. We’re talking supernatural moments, with locked doors, moving chairs, and lots of jump scares to cause you alarm.

“Last Shift” does a good job in presenting the isolation of working overnight in a building, let alone a police station. There’s a sense of boredom that our main character feels at first, and then things go off the rails as the film progresses. There are plenty of jump scars, as I stated, and there’s an attention to details related to the loneliness and boredom that comes with isolation. However, the movie takes a turn into the macabre several times, and you are in for a great treat if you stick with it.

The pacing is a little slow at first, but it slowly builds drama, and eventually unleashes a torrent of scary moments. It isn’t full of gore, it features very few people involved, and it just simply works on several levels. You don’t need much to make a good horror or psychological film, and “Last Shift” is definitely one of them. It has a lot of tension, and supernatural elements to make you keep watching. Even though it starts off slow, it picks up just in time and leaves you enjoying the moments. It’s not the best movie, but man does it get you at times. I liked it. I recommend it, and of course you should check it out.

Add “Last Shift” to your dvd collection or stream it byclicking here. 

Maniac Review

There’s just something about the 1980s. I can’t seem to move away from the decade when it comes to horror movies for review on this blog. I find myself with a list to go through and well, I’ll get through it eventually. Today we focus on a movie from 1980 that was shot on a tight budget, and features all the makings of a slasher, it’s called “Maniac”.

The plot is simple enough, we are introduced to a maniac, hence the title, who is on a serial spree of killing. The action starts up fast, and the first ten minutes give us an initial look at the villain and what he does, only for him to wake up from a dream lying next to a victim. The opening credits showcase our villain much like “Nightmare on Elm Street” did, giving us a look at the villain in different light, but mostly darkness. The movie flows well enough, focusing on various characters and their routines, only to come face to face with the killer. It’s a straight forward slasher in that way.

“Maniac” is an odd film at times, focusing on characters you can’t really invest in overall. It’s definitely a product of the time, and it flows well, with a focus on the brutality of the slayings, and good special effects from Tom Savini. I found that to be interesting overall, and the framework of the movie to be good. I didn’t find myself bored at any time, which sometimes happens with some of these older slashers. If there was a critique to this, it would be that the movie focuses on the killer more than any other character, so it really is a character study more than a  standard horror movie where you get a protagonist up front doing a lot of work to capture the villain.

There’s some gore, especially with the scalping that goes on. Tom Savini’s special effects are always great to see, and he does a good job with this one. I appreciated the practical effects, which you don’t always get with modern horror movies today. “Maniac” lives up to its name, it features a sick villain, and a story that is very much in the horror category. It’s an exploitation film for sure, and something that will rattle you if you’re not a fan of this type of horror film. That being said, I recommend “Maniac” for anyone that is looking for a cult film.

Add "Maniac" to your DVD collection by clicking here!

Splatter University Review

We return to the 1980s and this time around we are going to take a look at a Troma Entertainment release. The budget on this was very low, and it shows, but hey, that doesn’t necessarily mean the movie is bad, right? “Splatter University” is a low budget slasher film, and it has a lot to offer, even with a limited budget, and it is a surprise I didn’t see it sooner than I did.

The plot revolves around an escaped insane asylum patient that goes on a killing spree. Through the movie, however, you don’t see where he lands and when the body count starts to rise, things get hectic and fingers start getting pointed. There’s a sense of “Giallo” in this one, as you only see the knife that kills, and nothing else. It’s interesting to see  how that works, but it’s an effective way to slash. After the body count starts to rise, there’s a reveal of the killer and you start to root for the final girl, even though this breaks tradition.

The pacing of the movie is a little slow at times. I found myself wondering when the next victim was going to take a fall. However, whenever I started to think that, something would happen and things would definitely ramp up. The music is good, the shots are ok, and the kills are creatively done in first person view. There’s a sense of suspense throughout and there’s even a misdirection with who the killer could be, making this an above average slasher if you ask me.

“Splatter University” is not going to win any awards, and of course it didn’t. It’s a movie that diehard horror fans are going to love, and casual viewers will watch once and move on. I for one think it’s not half bad, and would rate it a 3 out of 5, with some good overall action, and interesting premise. It’s straight to the point, gives you a good deal of shock, and well, I won’t ruin it, just watch the movie and see if it’s up your alley, I know it was up mine for sure.

Orphan: First Kill Review

I reviewed “Orphan” a while ago, and I did not see the sequel right away. I saw that it came out, but I didn’t know when I would be watching it, until now. I finally sat down to check it out, and while the original had a twist to get me, this time around we knew that there was something wrong with the main character. That may have been the main reason why the first got me, while this one seemed to tread water at times.

The plot of “Orphan: First Kill” focuses on a young child that is really an adult. We know this from the first film, and while she is locked up in a mental institution, she learns how to escape and gets moving forward with a new plot. She poses as a lost girl and gets united with a couple in the United States. She poses as Esther, and the parents in the United States assume it was their lost child. This of course proves disastrous as the story unfolds and they find out that Esther is more than meets the eye, and is really a grown woman.

The movie starts swiftly, and doesn’t really hold up at first. You get thrown into the situation that would lend itself to the rest of the film with ease, and there’s some disturbing moments. The body count begins fast, and that’s one thing to appreciate with this movie, it pulls no punches to start. However, it pumps the brakes and slows down some, causing some sort of break in communication. I found myself a little bored in the middle, with the slow moving process of Esther getting to know her family and the family having doubts that it’s really her to begin with. As the movie progresses, however, the tension starts to really pull you in, and the third act really brings about some strong horror elements.

Overall “Orphan: First Kill” lacks the secret weapon of the first movie. The first movie held that secret and was well paced, delivering interesting moments, and sub plot to allow you to really get hooked. This one, knowing the premise already, really hurts it, and causes you to second guess the need for the movie to begin with. That aside, it is a strong horror movie with thriller elements, and really pushes some buttons towards the end. While it is a good enough movie, I don’t think it is as good as the first release, and it really does seem too slow at times. I didn’t hate the movie, don’t get me wrong, I just felt that it was missing something, or really just didn’t do the original justice, at least not like I expected. 

The Fly II Review

The original Fly movies are interesting, and were science fiction classics. Then a release in 1986 came out, and it blew away the critics and those that watched it. Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis really did a great job in that movie, and it truly was an interesting science film. It was grotesque as much as it was dramatic and it really did a great job in positioning the question of man playing god. Now, if you loved that film, you’re going to be sour when you really look at what “The Fly II” has to offer, and that’s the best I can say about the movie at first.

The plot is simple enough, we are treated to several months after the original movie, and we see the birth of a new fly, but this time around a baby is born through the sack that comes out of the woman, that’s supposed to be Geena Davis, but isn’t. There is a growing sequence and stops where we learn more about the child, and the child is doing well and rapidly aging working through various tests and different things to see if he’s normal, which of course we all know he isn’t.

Now, the story isn’t too bad, it’s slow and definitely lacks the depths of the original, but you have to accept that as a sequel. The filmmakers assume that you’ve already seen the original, so they aren’t going to do much to keep that balance, I think. There’s a great deal of gore in this one, and they try to make it a bit more grotesque than David Cronenber’s version, which is quite good overall. The effects and gore really make this one a worthwhile sequel if you ask me, but aside from that, the movie derails with some outlandish story telling. You’re going to either love or hate “The Fly II” as it really doesn’t do much to continue the saga, as much as it tries to position itself as something different, but can’t seem to really get going. I did appreciate the effects though, and I’d watch it again just for that, because it has some cool moments, but overall, it’s a slow moving horror movie that tries to be better than the original, but can’t hold a candle. It’s just not the same. I’d go with the original more than this one, but as a collector, I have to recommend this one as well. 

Bloody Birthday Review

Ah yes, the 1980s slasher genre. There are so many slasher movies that came out in the 1980s that it is hard to keep track of them all, but we do what we can here at Scary Film Review to get to them even if it takes us years to do so. We are upwards of 916 posts, mind you, so that’s something to celebrate. With that in mind we took a look at the horror movie from 1981, “Bloody Birthday”.

The movie starts off easy enough, three children are born on the same night, during a solar eclipse. These children grow up to become sinister as they begin to slowly terrorize their small town, murdering adults. The movie throws you into the scenario fast, with the first kill within ten or so minutes of the movie’s starting point. Although, at first glance you don’t know who is doing the sinister deeds, it becomes apparent that the three kids are not so innocent. Mix that up with some nudity, and a small body count, alongside adults that are in disbelief and you have yourself some of the standard tropes of a slasher film.

As far as the movie’s plot is concerned it’s thin. It’s not too heavy, but it doesn’t need to be, and it flows well. The movie is paced well, and you get through the motions fast, and with a certain level of dread, and emotion. Even though the deaths are done, there isn’t a complete gore factor. In fact, they nuanced the death sequences so that it’s not as punishing to the senses as some other flicks in the genre. That being said, it almost doesn’t feel like a grindhouse or a traditional horror feature. The camera cuts away at times, and you get sharp edits that leave you knowing what happened but not necessarily seeing it go down. Even the final death isn’t caught on camera, as you see the cause and effect, but not the literal transition, making this an interesting little horror movie to take a note of overall.

“Bloody Birthday” is not going to win any new fans to the genre of horror. It is not slick, it is not produced well, and it hasn’t aged very well either. While I found the pacing to be good, and the notion of killer kids fascinating, the movie lacks a sense of balance and story. There is just something missing, and perhaps it’s the heart of a protagonist that you want to cheer for, if nothing else. It’s a solid movie, don’t get me wrong, it just seems to be something for the horror fan, and no one else. Even some casual horror watchers will turn it off, as it is not rewarding, and ultimately leaves you with nothing more than a sense of dread over solar eclipses, children, and their sinister ways. It’s a nice twist on the slasher genre, but it’s lacking, and therefore I probably won’t be watching it too many times over. But you may think differently, especially with blu ray releases of the movie. 

Annihilation Review

I admit, I don’t always see movies when they come out. It takes a bit of time for me to catch up with a lot of modern stuff. That’s not to say that I don’t come around to them, but it just takes a little longer than the average blog. Then again, this is not your average blog, so there’s that going for it. Today we are looking at the 2018 movie “Annihilation”, and it’s a doozy in some ways, and a dud in others.

If you go by the numbers, you’ll find that the movie flopped, and it didn’t seem to find an audience when it came out. In fact, it made roughly less than the budgeted amount, and when people saw it, they weren’t exactly thrilled with what the movie was like. I didn’t know what to expect when I came into this movie, but it seemed interesting enough.

The plot features a biologist and a team of scientists and former military personnel that go into special mission to a lighthouse that has been covered in some sort of mist. This is called the Shimmer, and the team must go in, get some samples and come out, something that no one has done before. With the sole exception of Lena’s husband Kane, who is our main protagonist.

In the Shimmer things start to unravel and our group starts to turn on one another and gets picked off one by one with nature fighting back. The team slowly dissolves and you are face to face with some mythical creatures, mutations, and much more as the movie progresses. The team also begins to lose their minds, which is an interesting trope that is common in these types of movies.

Overall, “Annihilation” is an interesting movie but I must warn you, it is a slow burn. The slow burn is broken up with some scenes of chaos and violence, but there is a lot of walking around and waiting. If you are patient, though, you’re going to get hit with some good effects, nice character acting and good overall story. I found the story to be captivating, and interesting through several chapters. The final act is a little flat, but getting there really is a ride that is worth taking. The movie features a good cast including Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Oscar Isaac and more. Overall, this is a good science fiction movie that fell under the radar of most, and is really worth taking time out to see it. It’s not for everyone, but for those that can appreciate a moody science fiction film, this is definitely going to be a good one to check out. 

Men Review

Going into the movie “Men”, I knew nothing about it. I avoided all spoilers, and reviews of the movie, and just didn’t really focus on it too much. Then a friend told me it was scary and good, and so it was time to check out the movie that I had missed, or really just didn’t see myself watching. “Men” is not your typical slasher, or horror movie at all. In fact, it goes beyond that at times, and really sets you up hardcore for something you didn’t expect, but it’s not a Twilight Zone twist. In fact, I won’t go further into that line of thinking to avoid spoiling it for anyone, even though it appears that I’ve spoiled it for some already.

A young woman decides to grieve the death of her husband by going to a small village and staying in a large mansion. She is decompressing, and just wants to explore a little solitude amidst nature etc. This seems fair enough, but then we are treated to PTSD flashbacks of what happened, and through the story’s unraveling we get more of the backstory of what happened to the husband, and the sinister elements that could be behind it. The story is slow to unravel, and that will turn some people off. In fact, I was almost going to call it quits, as the movie took a serious time to develop any character.

After sticking with “Men” for some time, the movie picked up, and started to derail what you thought it would be. There’s a lot of metaphor to it, and things really get lost in translation when the third and fourth act usher in the climax of the movie. There are moments that are meant to illustrate pain and agony, rebirth, and more, and it’s done in an artistic way. So much so, that you forget that you’re watching a horror movie. The movie doesn’t flinch, or slide back, it continues to press buttons through the end, and leaves you with a relieved feeling, as our protagonist has gone through hell to get a semblance of peace.

“Men” is a slow burning horror movie. There are elements of science fiction, and at one point I thought it was similar to the intensity of “The Brood”, which is a classic. If you stick with the character build up, and don’t give up on the movie, you are treated to quite the stunner, and one worth checking out. It’s a tightly wound thrilling horror movie, but again, it is slow. I recommend it, that’s for sure, but I don’t think everyone will enjoy this one, as it really pushes you.

Nope Review

I was at Universal Studios the past week, and was able to tour a set of Nope for a short time. I had no idea what to expect from the movie, nor the set, and it was interesting to see overall. I was fortunate enough to see Nope in Imax, and it definitely was a spectacle. I would recommend seeing movies in Imax overall, the picture and sound is second to none and really immerses you in the movie overall.

Nope, I thought was going to be a horror movie. While there are horror elements, it is not necessarily that, it leans heavily into science fiction and while there are some moments of horror, it really is a science fiction movie with a twist like you would expect from the Twilight Zone or the Outer Limits. Either way, there’s something afoot in the movie, and you’ll get a little lost at first glance.

There’s a juxtaposition in the film that I won’t spoil, but there’s the main plot point and a juxtaposition of another story, and the two work hand in hand to explore a central theme of spectacle. The notion of capitalism and spectacle versus nature is something that is explored in a nuanced manner. The story follows a show horse rental company and disturbances on their ranch. There are several elements that are out of control, including a grid of power that keeps going down, without warning. Over time, it appears that ta UFO is causing the issue, and from there, the story starts to unravel to reveal more complexities over time.

Nope doesn’t have a lot of gore, it is a slow moving movie, and it is science fiction. I cannot stress that enough. I had to explain that to my sister, as she isn’t a big fan of slow burns, and this movie ended up not being on her top movie list to watch this year. She’s a horror fan. After seeing NOPE, I can truly say that Jordan Peele is one of the finer directors in the horror and now science fiction game. He takes on the notion of horror and implements it deeper into story line that features aliens, but not in the traditional sense. There’s a visual design flow that is great in this film, and though there is a limited amount of actors, there’s a lot going on, it is just presented in a slow moving manner. Imagine this like a slow boat ride attraction at an amusement park, with a stellar ending. The third and fourth act is where things really take off for NOPE and you really start to get startled, as the tension builds greatly throughout. The set pieces are great, the visual design is good, and the story juxtapositions itself with ease, making this an interesting movie, and one that you’ll think about long after you’ve seen it. I would see it again, and recommend it to anyone that likes Jordan Peele’s work. This one is a good one.

The Black Phone Review

There are a lot of modern horror movies coming through the woodwork, but none of them have garnered as much attention as some of the ones coming from Blumhouse Productions, and once again they put out a film that is getting a lot of attention. This time around it’s an adaptation of the story from Joe Hill, son of Stephen King. Adapted and made into a full length could very well mean trouble as there have been some misses in the past when adapting stories, ala “Thinner” for example. But here we are, the movie “The Black Phone” has come out and it garnered quite a bit of attention and movie goers went to see it, including myself and my girl Lynette.

The plot of the film revolves around a mysterious psychopath that is abducting and killing children. When he targets a kid named Finney, and puts him in a basement, a broken phone starts to ring, and a supernatural element comes through when the dead begin to talk. Meanwhile, there’s a secondary character having dreams about The Grabber (the psycho), and we get that thrown into the mix for good measure.

“The Black Phone” was slowly paced, and difficult to stay awake in if you’re not ready for it. I was beginning to get bored during the movie, but I stuck with it and throughout the movie there are moments that speak volumes to the ending, which is satisfying. I won’t reveal it, but it takes you on a slow moving trip, and then punishes your senses with some stellar moments. The acting is good, the movie tightens up a lot, slowing the pace just when you think things are going to speed up, and then brings forth quite the impact in the end.

While I didn’t like the pacing of “The Black Phone” I appreciated the villain, the pay off, and the overall cinematography. It is a well made film, and something that is going to haunt some for sure. If you can get past the slow moving process, you’re in for a treat, as this movie does well as a whole, not in pieces. I thought it was good, and well worth price of admission, albeit lacking in gore. That’s just a nitpick of course, otherwise this is a tight thriller of a horror picture that is sure to delight horror fans of all backgrounds.

Head Count Review

I love a good creature feature, and when presented with an option to watch I jump at the chance. That’s what I was told about “Head Count”. It was supposed to be a creature feature, and when I sat down to watch it, I was treated with something else, and while it may be creative, it definitely was not what I was expecting. In fact, it could very well be one of the worst executions of a film in a long time.

The premise is simple enough at first glance. A group of teens go to the desert for a party, and they begin to drink and have fun. In their fun, something sinister appears, and they can’t figure it out. It turns out that it’s a shapeshifting creature that emulates each one of them, and causes them to attempt suicide. This occurs after a chant is accidentally spoke of, similar to “Candyman”, if you recall that film.

There are no deep connections in this movie. The characters talk a lot, and not in a good way, it just falls flat. The creature is awful CGI and the story is convoluted at best. There are moments of dread, but it falls short of impact because there is something missing here, and I am not sure how to put my finger on it.

Overall, “Head Count” tries to be different. It has some gusto at times, but overall it’s a movie that you can skip. I haven’t seen a movie this bad in a while, and honestly, I don’t know if I’d recommend this to anyone unless you really like bad convoluted horror. It’s got horror elements, it just falls flat.

Eaten Alive Review

The year was 1976 when the movie “Eaten Alive” came out, and it was directed by Tobe Hooper. The movie is a mix of genres, but it is definitely a horror movie. It is a fast moving genre flick that mixes a creature feature with a slasher. It plays with several emotional elements that was easy to get away with at the time, but is definitely hard to watch in modern times. That’s why you have to really consider the time frame, 1976, and try not to apply modern cliché to it.

The plot of the film surrounds a hotel proprietor that is insane, and feeds people to a killer crocodile that lives near the hotel. We are not introduced to him right away, instead we focus on a side character that is played by Robert Englund. He is at a brothel and tries to go too far, that forces what looks to be a main heroine to get banished from brothel. She ends up going to the hotel, and the rest of the movie lies within that location. She goes in, and the proprietor tries to grope, leading to a fight, and away we go, to the crocodile! The crocodile is hidden in the shadows a bit, and you have to remember we are in the 1970s, so there is no CGI or anything that is going to cause this to be too much or anything. Instead, it’s a rubber creature, and it’s laughable at times, but there’s nuance to the cinematography so you don’t dwell too much on it. You also have to contend with the main slasher, Judd, who comes through with a scythe to cause issues. He’s lurking, the crocodile is eating dogs, and people, and you are thrown into the mix as new people come to the hotel.

This is a crude slasher flick, but it has a creature feature element to it. It also has some gratuitous nudity, harsh sexual elements, and redeeming qualities here and there. You’ll be surprised by how far some of the acting goes, and how believable the fights can seem at times. Tobe Hooper’s direction really does well in these sequences, and you really get a good sense of horror and dread throughout. As the movie progresses, we get some taboo moments, including a near killing of a child.

“Eaten Alive” gives you a sense of dread, a bit of creature feature glory with the crocodile, but also hinges on slasher with Judd and the scythe. You are going to find this to be a worthy addition to your collection as it pushes all the buttons of a good horror movie. It’s a slasher at heart, but the crocodile makes it a bit more redeeming, especially in the final act. It’s a good romp, solid acting, and classic Hooper direction. It’s a good one to watch at random, especially for a young Robert Englund.

Pick up Eaten Alive on BLU RAY Here. 

Scream (2022) Review

We are five movies into the franchise, and I did not think we would be able to get this far, but here we are another movie titled, “Scream”. This isn’t called Scream 5, but it is the fifth one to come out. Wes Craven is gone, but there are subtle moments when you know that the filmmakers are careful with the way they are handling the source material. That being said, is Scream any good? Well, it’s really up to a few ideas that you’ll have to ask yourself when watching.

Is nostalgia bad for movie making? There are some movies that are purely pushed into the nostalgia train, and turn out a bit bland. This time around we get the same concepts from all the Scream movies, with new characters, and links to the past that aren’t too bad. We see the original concept recycled again, but this time it’s done with a new sense of urgency. The nostalgia elements of it aren’t front and center throughout, but there are nods to the past within the framework, including the main character being the daughter of the original killer.

The plot is known, and the killers are not, that’s the basic plot of “Scream” and it once again comes at you fast. The pacing is quick, and there’s not a lot of slow down throughout, giving you what feels like a shorter movie than it actually is, which is a compliment to the filmmakers that put this thing together. By the time you get towards the end, you start to really get the tension that the first movie gave, and you’ll find that it’s a nice way to move along with the larger framework, especially when older characters mesh well with new ones, and fight alongside.

January horror releases usually don’t bode well, but this time around “Scream” does well in showcasing a mix of old school slasher horror, and new school depth. There’s a lot to dissect within the movie if you want to, or you could sit back and enjoy the fifth installment in what is one hell of a franchise. “Scream” is good, it’s fun, and it’s got enough gore to remind you that the story is in fact a horror gem.