Author

DanXIII

1,300 stories

Comic Book Review: Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman

Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman; if that title doesn’t grab ya by the short n’ curlies I have no idea what will! Merrick’s creative team, consisting of writer Tom Ward and illustrator Luke Parker have taken some cherry picked elements from the life of the real Joseph Merrick, a severely deformed man with tumor like growths covering his body who became something of a celebrity in the Victorian Age (and who’s life was the basis of David Lynch’s 1980 masterpiece, The Elephant Man) and swirled them around, amplified them, and mixed them with all manner of occult-laden goings-on and Masonic cult deviltry. This is a heady concoction indeed cats n’ creeps and when you take those concepts and slap some gorgeously rendered, chiaroscuro-infused arcane art on top of them, reminiscent of the works of Hellboy creator Mike Mignola in his prime no less, and you have one hell of a treat for the eerie eyeballs let me tell ya! I can’t

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DanXIII

Nov 7, 2020

MoviesReviews

Movie Review: Asylum: Twisted Horror and Fantasy Tales (2020)

Fucked up mother fucker Brandon delivers a nihilistic comedy performance/stage play/ ventriloquist act that serves as the framework for nine terror tales in the new arcane anthology Asylum: Twisted Horror and Fantasy Tales… and what a creepy collection those yarns comprise my boils n’ ghouls! First up we get the story of a phoney exorcism broadcast across the web much to the delight of the viewing audience who believe what they are seeing is real. Of course it actually does become all too real as a demonic presence is indeed present. Filled with excellent cinematography, some solid tension, and a fun premise this tale is a great way to kick of this putrid picture… plus there are some great twists here as well! Next comes a fantastic stalk n’ slay piece with one of the coolest looking killers I’ve seen in a damn sight, followed by a downright sweet tale of a blood n’ guts zombie buffet turning to undead

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DanXIII

Nov 6, 2020

IndieMoviesReviews

Movie Review: Playhouse (2020)

A horror writin’ dude named Jack (William Holstead) ignores all common sense and moves into ye olde secluded Scottish castle with his daughter Bee (Grace Courtney) in tow. The reason for the new digs? Why he wants to stage some insanely scopey immersive play within that arcane abode as one does. Of course that creepy castle is home to a supernatural presence that wants nothing more than to fuck up our heroes’ lives six ways to Sunday Not a bad set-up for a ghost-centric yarn, eh cats n’ creeps? Written and directed by Fionn and Toby Watts, Playhouse has a lot going for it in terms of mythology and world building, but it does have some stumbling blocks along it’s joltin’ journey. While the castle setting is tops, and the acting pretty damn solid, there are a bit too many side stories and characters that take the focus away from Jack and Bee’s terror tale… and dammit, the other characters’

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DanXIII

Nov 6, 2020

IndieMoviesReviews

Movie Review: They Reach (2020)

At the ass-end of the swingin’ Sixties; parapsychologists Dr. Mark Quinnley (Damian Vines) and his son Alex (Taylor Bartle) botch a job involving a demon-touched lad, but the entire fracas is recorded on a tape recorder. Flash the fuck forward to 1979 as we meet John (Ash Calder) and Grace (Elizabeth Rhoades); a married couple who have lost their son… hey, at least they got another kiddo boppin’ about; namely their teen daughter Jessica (Mary Madaline Roe). Speaking of J-dawg; she happens to find that recorder mentioned up yonder in a second-hand store and goes right ahead and accidentally spills blood all over it. Rookie move noob… Of course demonic hijinks ensue, and it’s up to Jessica and her friends to put an end to this horrifying hootenanny right quick! Make no mistake; They Reach is young adult thrills and chills through and through, so you can bet your arcane asses that there is a real Stranger Things/Monster Squad vibe

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DanXIII

Nov 6, 2020

MoviesReviewsThriller

Movie Review: Darkness in Tenement 45 (2020)

In an alternate-reality version of the 1950’s, The Soviet army has invaded New York and released some undefined biological threat, and a small group of citizens laying low in their small tenement building until it all blows over. Except it doesn’t; rather troubled teen Joanna has come down with a case of “The Darkness”, and what lies within is as dangerous as the threat outside of the building’s walls. Treading the same ground as the films of horror maestro/social commentator George A. romero we get a rather diverse cast, holed up in a close quarters while the world falls to absolute shit around them… and while we definitely get a strong dose of the ol’ horror biz, this flick has a few other things on it’s mind as we delve into isolation, mental health, misogyny and more which takes things in a more realistic and dark direction. This is not a satire, rather a condemnation of various social mores. Thankfully

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DanXIII

Nov 2, 2020

ForeignMoviesReviewsThriller

Blu-ray Review: Shock Treatment (1973)

Hélène Masson (Annie Girardot) is a rich-ass middle-aged woman who feels like she’s aging like a plop of dog shit on a hot August sidewalk at the ripe, jolly ol’ age of 38! This gives her a case of the frowns, so she heads off to the Devilers Clinic (nothing ominous in that name… why not just call it Satan’s Hospital), a posh New Age style clinic located on the beautiful French coast (vividly captured by cinematography courtesy of Jacques Robin) recommended to her by her pal Gérôme Savignat (Robert Hirsch). Before long, our heroine is doin’ the ol sexual fucking with the clinic’s namesake, Dr. Devilers himself (Alain Delon)… but a spate of disappearing servants, and the questionable suicide of Gérôme has her second guessing the dashing doc, even if his treatments are making her feel like fried gold! Copious amounts of nudity ensue. Directed by Alain Jessua, Shock Treatment is a slow-burn peak behind the curtain of the

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DanXIII

Oct 31, 2020

From the Crypt

Dracula Party Release Their New Track, Subspecies!

Dark synth maestros Dracula Party (who’s album and video we have previously covered here and here respectively) have just released the perfect treat for our beloved Halloween season, and new track based on the best Full Moon feature of all time (okay, it’s the best to me, your mileage may vary); Subspecies! As those devilish Drac lads toil in their lab on their next album The Video Wasteland click one of those lascivious links below and get ready for your ear openings to be well and truly delighted by these sinister sounds! Bandcamp: https://draculaparty.bandcamp.com/track/subspecies Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/subspecies-single/1537425610 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/76gUSFYzVm0bjdqR2Q5rk0?si=hclb7EFAQNKVGtBzrYm8fQ And here’s the sinister skinny on the band themselves if you’d like to delve firther into their arcane audio! “Horror themed Industrial band featuring Byron C. Miller (formerly of Ghosts in the Graveyard and God Module) and Chris Longo (Idoless and formerly The Uncommitted). Dracula Party combines elements of Classic Industrial, EBM, Synthwave, and Horror aesthetics to create something retro yet

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DanXIII

Oct 28, 2020

IndieMoviesParanormalReviews

DVD Review: Hosts (2020)

Ahh, the ho-ho-holidays, a time of gift givin’, merry makin’, and eating tons of fucking food. Speaking of which, that is precisely what’s on the agenda for Jack (Neal Ward) and Lucy (Samantha Loxley); a sickeningly in-love young couple who are set to have a nice meal with their neighbors Michael (Frank Jakeman), Cassie (Jennifer K. Preston), and their offspring; Eric (Lee Hunter), Lauren (Nadia Lamin) and Ben (Buddy Skelton). There is a slight hiccup in the night’s plans however as our young heroes find themselves possessed by an unknown entity just before they head out for their dinner date… and let me tell you; these shiny-eyed psychopaths really, and I mean really know how to ruin a dinner party in spectacular fashion! Fucking hell; Hosts grabbed me by the beastly balls and dragged me through a world of suspense, shock, and supernatural shenanigans… and I loved every monstrous minute of it! Co-writers/co-directors Adam Leader and Richard Oakes have created

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DanXIII

Oct 28, 2020

MoviesParanormalReviews

Movie Review: Toys of Terror (2020)

David (Dayo Ade) and Hannah (Kyana Teresa) trick their family into participating in flipping a dilapidated Victorian mansion located deep within the wicked woods of Washington under the guise of that hoary ol’ chestnut; Christmas fuckin’ fun. This goes over like a fart in church with their eldest child Alicia (Verity Marks), but her younger siblings find a cache of creepy ol’ toys in an old playroom; so they are happier than pigs in the proverbial shit. Of course those eponymous terror toys are up to all manner of supernatural shenanigans; and before you can steal a kiss under the merry mistletoe, our heroes are up to their asses in diabolical danger that threatens to make them residents in that arcane abode for this Christmas and all of those yet to come! Directed by Nicholas Verso (working from a screenplay by Dana Gould), Toys of Terror is a tasty serving of holiday horror done oh so fuckin’ right as revoltin’

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DanXIII

Oct 27, 2020

IndieMovies

Subsoil Films is Looking to Bring Seasons to Life!

The fine fiends at Subsoil Films are looking to bring a new arcane anthology before our eerie eyes and you lot can lend a helping… claw? Talon? Whatever… but seriously just look down below at the terror talent assembled for this preternatural picture… get’s the crotch of your sinister slacks all tight, right cats n’ creeps? If you want to help make this horror biz a reality head right here and toss some coins to your Witcher or some shit like that! hhhh

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DanXIII

Oct 21, 2020

DanXIII

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