CategoryIndie
Independent horror: micro-budget features, short films and first-time filmmakers doing more with less — and often doing it better.
2,257 stories
IndieMoviesReviewsThriller
“Mommy” (Patty McCormick, unofficially reprising her role from 1956’s The Bad Seed) is a dotting mother to young Jessica Ann (Rachel Lemieux)… and nothing, and I mean nothing will stand in the way of her daughter being a success. To wit: when Jessica fails to win the ‘Student of the Year’ award she straight up murders the girl’s teacher (Star Trek‘s Majel Barrett) and makes it look like an accident. This attracts the attention of hard-ass Lt. March (The Exorcist‘s Father Karras himself, Jason Miller)… but that does little, okay… absolutely zero, to stop this psycho from murdering even more folks that give Jessie static. Speaking of our favorite tyke, she gets wind of mommy’s wicked ways (I mean it’s hard not to when your mother blasts holes in someone right in front of you)… but the lethal lady’s silver tongue manages to initiate “Operation: Save Ass” with the quickness. Will Jessica Ann come to her senses and help justice
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignIndieMovies
Lonnie Knutsengripper: Man, Myth and Movies This U.K. comedy focuses on Lonnie Knutsengripper, the fictitious, hard-drinking American producer and director of more than 300 “classic” horror films. He reminisces about two films that he made in England: Interred (1982) and its sequel, the Sh–house Strangler (1990). In the first film, a maniac flushes hapless victims down the toilet in his bar. The victims are “going down the pipe . . . alive!” according to one police officer. In the follow-up movie, the same killer escapes from an insane asylum and targets homosexual victims. As readers might guess, the comedy here is broad and occasionally lewd, but director Richard Rowbotham (who plays Knutsengripper) and screenplay writer David Fenn (who plays the killer) fearlessly keep the gags coming at a frantic clip in this microbudget tribute to microbudget shot-on-video horror features of yesteryear. Off Fleek Teenager Emma (Shona O’Sullivan) is having a “no phones at mealtime” dinner on her birthday with her
Continue reading →
GamingIndieNewsParanormalProductTrailers
Funcom’s first-person Lovecraftian horror set on Mars, Moons of Madness will be coming to consoles after its successful launch on PC back in October. The game’s developer, Rock Pocket Games delayed the console launch so that they will optimize the game for PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Moons of Madness takes players to a research facility on Mars as one of the technicians who is unaware of the reason the research station is on the red planet but soon discovers that there is something wrong as they began to see things that make them question their sanity as some unknown force has been unleashed on all those on the planet. Moons of Madness will be coming out March 24, 2020, for PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesNewsTrailers
The bond of two friends is put to the test in the first trailer for writer-director Stacy Brown Jr.‘s debut feature The Pit. Famed survivalist Les Stroud (Discovery Channel’s “Survivorman”) steps into the familiar character of Danny Coile, opposite Brown as Arron James. In the film, while hiking in an isolated forest, survivalist Danny Coile and his old Army buddy Arron James become hopelessly trapped when they fall into a deep cenote with no way out. Over the next 50 days, they transform from mild-mannered old friends into vicious, bloodthirsty animals willing to do whatever it takes to survive. The Pit is set to release some time this year.
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesNews
A woman’s panicked decision to cover up an accidental killing spirals out of control in Blood on Her Name, the feature debut from Atlanta-based filmmaker Matthew Pope, who’s previous work has garnered him both national and film festivals accolades. Pope co-wrote the film alongside producer Don Thompson, and the two co-founded Rising Creek together. In Blood on Her Name, “the dead body lies at her feet, its blood still draining onto the floor. It was an accident, borne of self-defense, but its discovery could have devastating consequences for local garage owner Leigh Tiller and her son. In a panic, Leigh decides to conceal the crime, cleaning the bloody scene and scrambling to dispose of the body. But can she actually disappear a man from the earth—from his family—leaving them forever wondering? As Leigh is torn between her primal instincts and tortured conscience she struggles to keep her sins hidden from her estranged father–a cop with a long history of moral
Continue reading →
EventsFilm FestivalsForeignIndieMovies
The fifth edition of Final Girls Berlin Film Festival takes place February 6–9, 2020 at City Kino Wedding as the fest continues to raise the bar by showcasing horror movies written, directed, and/or produced by women and nonbinary filmmakers. Festival codirector Eli Lewy calls this year’s festival edition the “most expansive and international yet, presenting a wide array of films by visionary filmmakers that represent the diversity and originality that can be found in the current horror landscape.” The exciting program features eight curated short blocks and nine feature films, a horror-inspired self-defense workshop, an exhibition, a festival party with multimedia drag performances, and specialist talks on horror martyrs, made-for-TV horror, “female monsters,” and “bad mothers” in Mexican horror cinema. “Horror is a very elastic term,” said fellow co-director Sara Neidorf, “and we’re excited to discover films that make us question and expand our conceptions of what horror can be, both in ways that are distant from and uncannily near
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesNewsTrailers
This January, the sky opens for an almighty battle between good and evil. This valentine’s day, writer-director Scott Jeffrey presents Cupid, the horrifying true story of Venus and Mars’s offspring. Everyone knows the legend of Cupid. But do they know his dark side? After being horrendously embarrassed by the mean girls at school, Faye, a practicing witch, summons the evil Cupid to take revenge on all those who wronged her. On Valentine’s Day, Cupid does in fact rise and will stop at nothing until the walls are covered in blood. The students must figure out a way to stop Cupid and undo the spell before their hearts get broken…very literally. Georgina Jane, Bao Tieu, Michael Owusu, Abi Casson Thompson and Sarah T. Cohen star in the film produced by Jeffrey and Rebecca Matthews (Pet Graveyard). Cupid draws back his bow on February 11th on Digital and DVD from Uncork’d Entertainment.
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesNewsTrailers
This February, they will hide in plain sight… From director Manuel H. Da Silva (The Wakefield Project) comes the atmospheric and chilling supernatural horror film Covenant. In the film, after receiving word of his estranged mother’s untimely passing, a reluctant former army lieutenant must travel to a secluded town in the Pacific Northwest to unlock the mystery surrounding her suspicious death. Nick Smyth, Peter Valdron, Margaryta Soldatova, Dylan Lloyd, Paige Farlardeau, Anna Carr, and Kameryn Carr star. Covenant is available February 4th on Digital and Disc from High Octane Pictures.
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignIndieMovies
Horror-on-Sea Film Festival, which runs January 10th–19th at Park Inn by Raddison Palace, Southend-on-Sea, U.K., features an incredible program of horror and horror comedy features and shorts from around the world. Following are reviews of three of the short films that will screen at the festival. Bitten When a woman’s (Francine Torres) dog returns home with a bite after a mysterious struggle with an offscreen foe, she lovingly treats the injury before heading out on a first date. While she is away, Iggy the dog transforms into a man (Michael Curran) and the adventures he gets up to in this supernatural comedy are nothing compared to the hijinx that ensue when his owner returns home, to put it mildly. Curran gives a fearless, fully unclothed performance that hilariously captures canine traits and tendencies. Torres deals out a good deal of laughs, too, and the pair provide fine comical chemistry in Bitten, a superbly crafted, great-looking short from director Sarah K
Continue reading →
IndieInterviewsMoviesNewsTrailers
I had the pleasure of sitting down with writer-director Carl Strathie to discuss his new film Dark Encounter, a sci-fi thriller about a family’s struggle with loss and the truth of a dark mystery discovered with the help of otherworldly beings. The following is our conversation. Horror Fuel: “If you will, tell us about your most recent film Dark Encounter?” Carl Strathie: “The story is about a little girl who has gone missing. We follow the family a year after on the day of her memorial and they are grieving and they’re coping with the fact that no one knows what happened. It’s about a family struggling. There’s a big twist at the ending. Did you see it coming?” Horror Fuel: “No, I did not, which is a miracle, I always see what’s coming in movies. I like not knowing what happens right up until the end.” Carl Strathie: “Good, that’s good.” Horror Fuel: “I’m glad that you explore the
Continue reading →
More from Indie
IndieMoviesReviewsThriller
“Mommy” (Patty McCormick, unofficially reprising her role from 1956’s The Bad Seed) is a dotting mother to young Jessica Ann (Rachel Lemieux)… and nothing, and I mean nothing will stand in the way of her daughter being a success. To wit: when Jessica fails to win the ‘Student of the Year’ award she straight up murders the girl’s teacher (Star Trek‘s Majel Barrett) and makes it look like an accident. This attracts the attention of hard-ass Lt. March (The Exorcist‘s Father Karras himself, Jason Miller)… but that does little, okay… absolutely zero, to stop this psycho from murdering even more folks that give Jessie static. Speaking of our favorite tyke, she gets wind of mommy’s wicked ways (I mean it’s hard not to when your mother blasts holes in someone right in front of you)… but the lethal lady’s silver tongue manages to initiate “Operation: Save Ass” with the quickness. Will Jessica Ann come to her senses and help justice
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignIndieMovies
Lonnie Knutsengripper: Man, Myth and Movies This U.K. comedy focuses on Lonnie Knutsengripper, the fictitious, hard-drinking American producer and director of more than 300 “classic” horror films. He reminisces about two films that he made in England: Interred (1982) and its sequel, the Sh–house Strangler (1990). In the first film, a maniac flushes hapless victims down the toilet in his bar. The victims are “going down the pipe . . . alive!” according to one police officer. In the follow-up movie, the same killer escapes from an insane asylum and targets homosexual victims. As readers might guess, the comedy here is broad and occasionally lewd, but director Richard Rowbotham (who plays Knutsengripper) and screenplay writer David Fenn (who plays the killer) fearlessly keep the gags coming at a frantic clip in this microbudget tribute to microbudget shot-on-video horror features of yesteryear. Off Fleek Teenager Emma (Shona O’Sullivan) is having a “no phones at mealtime” dinner on her birthday with her
Continue reading →
GamingIndieNewsParanormalProductTrailers
Funcom’s first-person Lovecraftian horror set on Mars, Moons of Madness will be coming to consoles after its successful launch on PC back in October. The game’s developer, Rock Pocket Games delayed the console launch so that they will optimize the game for PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Moons of Madness takes players to a research facility on Mars as one of the technicians who is unaware of the reason the research station is on the red planet but soon discovers that there is something wrong as they began to see things that make them question their sanity as some unknown force has been unleashed on all those on the planet. Moons of Madness will be coming out March 24, 2020, for PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesNewsTrailers
The bond of two friends is put to the test in the first trailer for writer-director Stacy Brown Jr.‘s debut feature The Pit. Famed survivalist Les Stroud (Discovery Channel’s “Survivorman”) steps into the familiar character of Danny Coile, opposite Brown as Arron James. In the film, while hiking in an isolated forest, survivalist Danny Coile and his old Army buddy Arron James become hopelessly trapped when they fall into a deep cenote with no way out. Over the next 50 days, they transform from mild-mannered old friends into vicious, bloodthirsty animals willing to do whatever it takes to survive. The Pit is set to release some time this year.
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesNews
A woman’s panicked decision to cover up an accidental killing spirals out of control in Blood on Her Name, the feature debut from Atlanta-based filmmaker Matthew Pope, who’s previous work has garnered him both national and film festivals accolades. Pope co-wrote the film alongside producer Don Thompson, and the two co-founded Rising Creek together. In Blood on Her Name, “the dead body lies at her feet, its blood still draining onto the floor. It was an accident, borne of self-defense, but its discovery could have devastating consequences for local garage owner Leigh Tiller and her son. In a panic, Leigh decides to conceal the crime, cleaning the bloody scene and scrambling to dispose of the body. But can she actually disappear a man from the earth—from his family—leaving them forever wondering? As Leigh is torn between her primal instincts and tortured conscience she struggles to keep her sins hidden from her estranged father–a cop with a long history of moral
Continue reading →
EventsFilm FestivalsForeignIndieMovies
The fifth edition of Final Girls Berlin Film Festival takes place February 6–9, 2020 at City Kino Wedding as the fest continues to raise the bar by showcasing horror movies written, directed, and/or produced by women and nonbinary filmmakers. Festival codirector Eli Lewy calls this year’s festival edition the “most expansive and international yet, presenting a wide array of films by visionary filmmakers that represent the diversity and originality that can be found in the current horror landscape.” The exciting program features eight curated short blocks and nine feature films, a horror-inspired self-defense workshop, an exhibition, a festival party with multimedia drag performances, and specialist talks on horror martyrs, made-for-TV horror, “female monsters,” and “bad mothers” in Mexican horror cinema. “Horror is a very elastic term,” said fellow co-director Sara Neidorf, “and we’re excited to discover films that make us question and expand our conceptions of what horror can be, both in ways that are distant from and uncannily near
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesNewsTrailers
This January, the sky opens for an almighty battle between good and evil. This valentine’s day, writer-director Scott Jeffrey presents Cupid, the horrifying true story of Venus and Mars’s offspring. Everyone knows the legend of Cupid. But do they know his dark side? After being horrendously embarrassed by the mean girls at school, Faye, a practicing witch, summons the evil Cupid to take revenge on all those who wronged her. On Valentine’s Day, Cupid does in fact rise and will stop at nothing until the walls are covered in blood. The students must figure out a way to stop Cupid and undo the spell before their hearts get broken…very literally. Georgina Jane, Bao Tieu, Michael Owusu, Abi Casson Thompson and Sarah T. Cohen star in the film produced by Jeffrey and Rebecca Matthews (Pet Graveyard). Cupid draws back his bow on February 11th on Digital and DVD from Uncork’d Entertainment.
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesNewsTrailers
This February, they will hide in plain sight… From director Manuel H. Da Silva (The Wakefield Project) comes the atmospheric and chilling supernatural horror film Covenant. In the film, after receiving word of his estranged mother’s untimely passing, a reluctant former army lieutenant must travel to a secluded town in the Pacific Northwest to unlock the mystery surrounding her suspicious death. Nick Smyth, Peter Valdron, Margaryta Soldatova, Dylan Lloyd, Paige Farlardeau, Anna Carr, and Kameryn Carr star. Covenant is available February 4th on Digital and Disc from High Octane Pictures.
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignIndieMovies
Horror-on-Sea Film Festival, which runs January 10th–19th at Park Inn by Raddison Palace, Southend-on-Sea, U.K., features an incredible program of horror and horror comedy features and shorts from around the world. Following are reviews of three of the short films that will screen at the festival. Bitten When a woman’s (Francine Torres) dog returns home with a bite after a mysterious struggle with an offscreen foe, she lovingly treats the injury before heading out on a first date. While she is away, Iggy the dog transforms into a man (Michael Curran) and the adventures he gets up to in this supernatural comedy are nothing compared to the hijinx that ensue when his owner returns home, to put it mildly. Curran gives a fearless, fully unclothed performance that hilariously captures canine traits and tendencies. Torres deals out a good deal of laughs, too, and the pair provide fine comical chemistry in Bitten, a superbly crafted, great-looking short from director Sarah K
Continue reading →
IndieInterviewsMoviesNewsTrailers
I had the pleasure of sitting down with writer-director Carl Strathie to discuss his new film Dark Encounter, a sci-fi thriller about a family’s struggle with loss and the truth of a dark mystery discovered with the help of otherworldly beings. The following is our conversation. Horror Fuel: “If you will, tell us about your most recent film Dark Encounter?” Carl Strathie: “The story is about a little girl who has gone missing. We follow the family a year after on the day of her memorial and they are grieving and they’re coping with the fact that no one knows what happened. It’s about a family struggling. There’s a big twist at the ending. Did you see it coming?” Horror Fuel: “No, I did not, which is a miracle, I always see what’s coming in movies. I like not knowing what happens right up until the end.” Carl Strathie: “Good, that’s good.” Horror Fuel: “I’m glad that you explore the
Continue reading →
