Horror Fuel
☰ Browse the Crypt
Category

Reviews

3,430 stories

Movie Review: Darkman (1990) – Scream Factory 4k/Blu-ray

Attorney Julie Hastings (Frances McDormand, Fargo) has the dirt on the bribes big time developer Louis Strack Jr.(Colin Friels, Dark City) has been using to get the job done hassle-free, and this upsets his ass greatly… so much so, he enlists the help of gangster/psychopath Robert G. Durant (Robert G. Durant, Dr. Giggles) to destroy those documents with extreme prejudice! This is shitty news for Hastings’ boyfriend Dr. Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson, Taken, Next of Kin), a scientist that has invented synthetic skin for burn victims that can be 3-D printed to any specifications… but the material only lasts 99 minutes before dissolving, as he’s around when Durant comes a-callin’ which results in him both getting severely burned, but impervious to pain thanks to the treatment for said burns (even though the world believes him dead). Naturally, he needs to exact revenge on those that wronged him… and he does just that, because not only has the attempted murder left

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Mar 26, 2024

Spoiler-Free Film Reviews: “Sleep” and “Strange Kindness” (Boston Underground Film Festival 2024)

Sleep (South Korea, 2023) A sleepwalking man becomes a danger to his family in writer/director Jason Yu’s eerie feature Sleep. HyunSu (Lee SunKyun) and SooJin (Jung YuMi) are a married couple expecting their first child. HyunSu begins having bouts of somnambulism that become increasingly disturbing, and when SooJin suspects supernatural influence, tension between the spouses increases. Lee and Jung give solid performances as the troubled couple, and Yu ratchets up the tension well, leading to a highly satisfying third act. The “love conquers all” element is a bit on the nose, but overall the film is a gripping one that fans of occult horror should find well worth a watch. Strange Kindness (U.S., 2024) Writer/director Joseph Mault’s Cape Cod-set thriller Strange Kindness is a meditative feature with political commentary on violence in the United States woven in with family trauma drama. Rose (Leanne McLaughlin) is a young woman helping her reclusive aunt Chris (Deirdre Madigan) with home treatments for Chris’s

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Mar 26, 2024

Spoiler-Free Short Film Reviews: “Apotemnofilia,” “Lullaby,” “The Bleacher,” “Make Me a Pizza” (SXSW)

Apotemnofilia The titular condition is the desire of amputation for a healthy limb, and writer/director Jano Pita’s Spanish horror short Apotemnofilia finds actress Clara (Lucía Azcoitía) dealing with that as her highly anticipated post-pregnancy comeback play is about to begin. The film addresses Clara’s mental breakdown through graphic displays of body horror elements made with impressive, disturbing practical effects work. Azcoitía gives a fittingly unsettling performance, with Pita delivering a shocking work infused with some dark humor. Lullaby U.K. slow-burn chiller Lullaby from writer/director Chi Thai examines the fragile mental state of a female refugee (Jane Le). She suffered a devastating loss that she finds herself reliving, with those around her providing no comfort or support. Thai uses ever-increasing dread in favor of jump scares and gore, crafting a mesmerizing short that packs a highly disturbing reveal. The Bleacher If you have ever wondered what happened to socks you lost after doing laundry, the animated short The Bleacher from cowriters/codirectors

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Mar 22, 2024

Game Review: ‘Alone in the Dark’

In 1992, the world of interactive entertainment changed forever when Infogrames Entertainment released the first survival horror game, Alone in the Dark, which then influenced many future game developers who made many of the hit survival horror games we love now. Yesterday, THQ Nordic and Pieces Interactive released the faithful love letter remake of the original. Thank you to THQ, Pieces (especially Game Tomb) for the reviewing opportunity! Alone in the Dark takes players to the Derceto Manor, a sanitorium, in the middle of the Louisiana Bayou, where Private Detective Edward Carnby (David Harbour) is helping Emily Hartwood (Jodie Comer) find her uncle Jeremy Hartwood, who says he’s being pursued by a “Dark Man”. Soon after arriving at the Manor, Edward and Emily encounter otherworldly happenings. Now, onto the game itself! When it comes to controls, They’re as basic as you would expect if you’re familiar with 3rd-person games, which makes it easier to get right into the story. When

Continue reading →
Daniel S. Liuzzi
Mar 21, 2024

Game Review: ‘Dragon’s Dogma 2’

Regarding CAPCOM, I’ve only really played the Resident Evil games and have not ventured far from that, but I thought I tried something new and did not regret it! I do like a good fantasy action RPG but few titles deliver the goods, especially if you’re waiting for the next Elder Scrolls to come out (personally, I think we’re in for a LONG wait for the 6th installment). CAPCOM came through with Dragon’s Dogma 2 the sequel to their 2012 hit. I want to thank CAPCOM for allowing me an early look at this game! Dragon’s Dogma 2 takes players to a high-fantasy world where you take on the role of The Arisin, a person who has had their heart taken by a dragon and whose fate is now linked to that dragon. Now you and your Pawns must venture the world to uncover The Arisin’s memories as well as squash a conspiracy. Now onto the game itself! Control-wise, you’ll

Continue reading →
Daniel S. Liuzzi
Mar 20, 2024

Spoiler-Free Film Review: “The Animal Kingdom” 

Director Thomas Cailley’s The Animal Kingdom (Le régne animal; France and Belgium, 2023) tackles the well-tread science fiction concept of “Can mutants and humans get along?” previously explored in X-Men comics and movies, and films such as 2018’s Freaks. Although not a lot of new ground is covered storywise, Cailley’s feature is such a well-acted and beautifully realized work that it stands out of the pack. Francois’ (Romain Duris) wife Lana (Florence Deretz) has taken on animalistic tendencies, both in action and physically. She is one of many people who have suddenly become stricken and hospitalized with this disease. With many people turning against those afflicted, the government has opened a new facility for patients like Lana. When the bus that takes her and other mutating patients to the facility crashes and the patients escape to the nearby forest, tensions rise further. Francois has moved near the facility with his teenage son Émile (Paul Kircher), who is hiding his own

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Mar 18, 2024

Movie Review: Bloodmoon (1990) – Severin Blu-ray

The girls at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic School are up to their teased-out tresses in trouble. If they aren’t constantly in danger of being caught by staff as they get hot n’ horny with the boys from nearby Winchester School (and occasionally a local or two… who just so happen to be the eternal subject of those rich Winchester lads bullying), there’s a killer on the loose on Lover’s Lane offing the student bodies of both academies with his barbwire killing implement! As the bodies (and suspects) go up exponentially the gals n’ guys must keep their wits about them if they are to survive this deadly ordeal with their Aquanetted coifs in-tact… and the rest of their bodies as well! Director Alec Mills certainly wanted to emulate the slasher genre that was sweeping America in the eerie ‘80s, and along with screenwriter Robert Brennan he does just that… but given the fact this film was produced in Australia we get

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Mar 15, 2024

Game Review: ‘Outcast – A New Beginning’

Appeal Studios and THQ Nordic have teamed up to create a unique sci-fi open-world experience in Outcast – A New Beginning where players take on the role of Cutter Slade, a former Navy SEAL who finds himself leading an Alien rebellion against his fellow humans who are exploiting the planet Adelphea’s resources. Thank You to Appeal and THQ for the opportunity to check this game out! When it comes to the controls for Outcast – A New Beginning, you have to take your time as some of the buttons used for combat (melee mainly) are not where you would normally map them. Just give yourself some time to learn the buttons and it will become second nature. When it comes to the game’s art, it’s spellbinding! Brightly colorful and a dreamlike world filled with different plants and animals that fit the landscape, it’s pleasant on the eyes. I enjoyed how the faces of the characters are animated when they speak,

Continue reading →
Daniel S. Liuzzi
Mar 14, 2024

Spoiler Free Review: The “Shogun” Series Is a Must See

“Shōgun” has now premiered, and I have to say I’m thrilled. Unfortunately, the series is being overlooked, which is sad because it’s absolutely brilliant. So, let’s talk about it. The Story Based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name, the series is set in the 1600s in Japan. The show follows a sailor, Blackthorne, who was taken prisoner and brought to Lord Yoshii Toranaga. Toranaga’s enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. He seeks the knowledge that Blackthorne holds that may turn the tides of war. The series sees the collision of two ambitious men from different worlds, both looking for a way to survive. Cosmo Jarvis leads as Jack Blackthrone, a sailor and pirate who finds himself at the mercy of Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada). The two men are very different. The Lord is an honorable man who relies on tradition and reason. Blackthorne is just trying to survive as he navigates the strange

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Mar 14, 2024

Spoiler-Free Film Review: “Hunting Daze” (SXSW)

Writer/director Annick Blank’s French-language Canadian thriller Hunting Daze blends harshly realistic scenarios with dizzying drug-trip sequences. The result is a fascinating, often disturbing look at toxic masculinity. Sex worker Nina (Nahéma Ricci), after performing for a bachelor party in very rural Quebec, finds herself abandoning the rest of her group in anger and frustration. She asks Kevin (Frédéric Millaire-Zouvi), one of the party members, if she can stay there until a ride can be arranged for her. The group votes that to do so, she must pass some rites and become part of their self-professed wolf pack. Rather than turning into the rape revenge thriller that some might expect, Nina finds herself in no such danger from the group, which parties hard before and after hunting. Another stranger — African man Doudos (Noubi Ndiaye) — shows up, adding another element of “The Other” to the group dynamics, as well as the suspense. When a dangerous accident occurs, paranoia and tension

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Mar 14, 2024

More from Reviews

Movie Review: Darkman (1990) – Scream Factory 4k/Blu-ray

Attorney Julie Hastings (Frances McDormand, Fargo) has the dirt on the bribes big time developer Louis Strack Jr.(Colin Friels, Dark City) has been using to get the job done hassle-free, and this upsets his ass greatly… so much so, he enlists the help of gangster/psychopath Robert G. Durant (Robert G. Durant, Dr. Giggles) to destroy those documents with extreme prejudice! This is shitty news for Hastings’ boyfriend Dr. Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson, Taken, Next of Kin), a scientist that has invented synthetic skin for burn victims that can be 3-D printed to any specifications… but the material only lasts 99 minutes before dissolving, as he’s around when Durant comes a-callin’ which results in him both getting severely burned, but impervious to pain thanks to the treatment for said burns (even though the world believes him dead). Naturally, he needs to exact revenge on those that wronged him… and he does just that, because not only has the attempted murder left

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Mar 26, 2024

Spoiler-Free Film Reviews: “Sleep” and “Strange Kindness” (Boston Underground Film Festival 2024)

Sleep (South Korea, 2023) A sleepwalking man becomes a danger to his family in writer/director Jason Yu’s eerie feature Sleep. HyunSu (Lee SunKyun) and SooJin (Jung YuMi) are a married couple expecting their first child. HyunSu begins having bouts of somnambulism that become increasingly disturbing, and when SooJin suspects supernatural influence, tension between the spouses increases. Lee and Jung give solid performances as the troubled couple, and Yu ratchets up the tension well, leading to a highly satisfying third act. The “love conquers all” element is a bit on the nose, but overall the film is a gripping one that fans of occult horror should find well worth a watch. Strange Kindness (U.S., 2024) Writer/director Joseph Mault’s Cape Cod-set thriller Strange Kindness is a meditative feature with political commentary on violence in the United States woven in with family trauma drama. Rose (Leanne McLaughlin) is a young woman helping her reclusive aunt Chris (Deirdre Madigan) with home treatments for Chris’s

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Mar 26, 2024

Spoiler-Free Short Film Reviews: “Apotemnofilia,” “Lullaby,” “The Bleacher,” “Make Me a Pizza” (SXSW)

Apotemnofilia The titular condition is the desire of amputation for a healthy limb, and writer/director Jano Pita’s Spanish horror short Apotemnofilia finds actress Clara (Lucía Azcoitía) dealing with that as her highly anticipated post-pregnancy comeback play is about to begin. The film addresses Clara’s mental breakdown through graphic displays of body horror elements made with impressive, disturbing practical effects work. Azcoitía gives a fittingly unsettling performance, with Pita delivering a shocking work infused with some dark humor. Lullaby U.K. slow-burn chiller Lullaby from writer/director Chi Thai examines the fragile mental state of a female refugee (Jane Le). She suffered a devastating loss that she finds herself reliving, with those around her providing no comfort or support. Thai uses ever-increasing dread in favor of jump scares and gore, crafting a mesmerizing short that packs a highly disturbing reveal. The Bleacher If you have ever wondered what happened to socks you lost after doing laundry, the animated short The Bleacher from cowriters/codirectors

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Mar 22, 2024

Game Review: ‘Alone in the Dark’

In 1992, the world of interactive entertainment changed forever when Infogrames Entertainment released the first survival horror game, Alone in the Dark, which then influenced many future game developers who made many of the hit survival horror games we love now. Yesterday, THQ Nordic and Pieces Interactive released the faithful love letter remake of the original. Thank you to THQ, Pieces (especially Game Tomb) for the reviewing opportunity! Alone in the Dark takes players to the Derceto Manor, a sanitorium, in the middle of the Louisiana Bayou, where Private Detective Edward Carnby (David Harbour) is helping Emily Hartwood (Jodie Comer) find her uncle Jeremy Hartwood, who says he’s being pursued by a “Dark Man”. Soon after arriving at the Manor, Edward and Emily encounter otherworldly happenings. Now, onto the game itself! When it comes to controls, They’re as basic as you would expect if you’re familiar with 3rd-person games, which makes it easier to get right into the story. When

Continue reading →
Daniel S. Liuzzi
Mar 21, 2024

Game Review: ‘Dragon’s Dogma 2’

Regarding CAPCOM, I’ve only really played the Resident Evil games and have not ventured far from that, but I thought I tried something new and did not regret it! I do like a good fantasy action RPG but few titles deliver the goods, especially if you’re waiting for the next Elder Scrolls to come out (personally, I think we’re in for a LONG wait for the 6th installment). CAPCOM came through with Dragon’s Dogma 2 the sequel to their 2012 hit. I want to thank CAPCOM for allowing me an early look at this game! Dragon’s Dogma 2 takes players to a high-fantasy world where you take on the role of The Arisin, a person who has had their heart taken by a dragon and whose fate is now linked to that dragon. Now you and your Pawns must venture the world to uncover The Arisin’s memories as well as squash a conspiracy. Now onto the game itself! Control-wise, you’ll

Continue reading →
Daniel S. Liuzzi
Mar 20, 2024

Spoiler-Free Film Review: “The Animal Kingdom” 

Director Thomas Cailley’s The Animal Kingdom (Le régne animal; France and Belgium, 2023) tackles the well-tread science fiction concept of “Can mutants and humans get along?” previously explored in X-Men comics and movies, and films such as 2018’s Freaks. Although not a lot of new ground is covered storywise, Cailley’s feature is such a well-acted and beautifully realized work that it stands out of the pack. Francois’ (Romain Duris) wife Lana (Florence Deretz) has taken on animalistic tendencies, both in action and physically. She is one of many people who have suddenly become stricken and hospitalized with this disease. With many people turning against those afflicted, the government has opened a new facility for patients like Lana. When the bus that takes her and other mutating patients to the facility crashes and the patients escape to the nearby forest, tensions rise further. Francois has moved near the facility with his teenage son Émile (Paul Kircher), who is hiding his own

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Mar 18, 2024

Movie Review: Bloodmoon (1990) – Severin Blu-ray

The girls at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic School are up to their teased-out tresses in trouble. If they aren’t constantly in danger of being caught by staff as they get hot n’ horny with the boys from nearby Winchester School (and occasionally a local or two… who just so happen to be the eternal subject of those rich Winchester lads bullying), there’s a killer on the loose on Lover’s Lane offing the student bodies of both academies with his barbwire killing implement! As the bodies (and suspects) go up exponentially the gals n’ guys must keep their wits about them if they are to survive this deadly ordeal with their Aquanetted coifs in-tact… and the rest of their bodies as well! Director Alec Mills certainly wanted to emulate the slasher genre that was sweeping America in the eerie ‘80s, and along with screenwriter Robert Brennan he does just that… but given the fact this film was produced in Australia we get

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Mar 15, 2024

Game Review: ‘Outcast – A New Beginning’

Appeal Studios and THQ Nordic have teamed up to create a unique sci-fi open-world experience in Outcast – A New Beginning where players take on the role of Cutter Slade, a former Navy SEAL who finds himself leading an Alien rebellion against his fellow humans who are exploiting the planet Adelphea’s resources. Thank You to Appeal and THQ for the opportunity to check this game out! When it comes to the controls for Outcast – A New Beginning, you have to take your time as some of the buttons used for combat (melee mainly) are not where you would normally map them. Just give yourself some time to learn the buttons and it will become second nature. When it comes to the game’s art, it’s spellbinding! Brightly colorful and a dreamlike world filled with different plants and animals that fit the landscape, it’s pleasant on the eyes. I enjoyed how the faces of the characters are animated when they speak,

Continue reading →
Daniel S. Liuzzi
Mar 14, 2024

Spoiler Free Review: The “Shogun” Series Is a Must See

“Shōgun” has now premiered, and I have to say I’m thrilled. Unfortunately, the series is being overlooked, which is sad because it’s absolutely brilliant. So, let’s talk about it. The Story Based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name, the series is set in the 1600s in Japan. The show follows a sailor, Blackthorne, who was taken prisoner and brought to Lord Yoshii Toranaga. Toranaga’s enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. He seeks the knowledge that Blackthorne holds that may turn the tides of war. The series sees the collision of two ambitious men from different worlds, both looking for a way to survive. Cosmo Jarvis leads as Jack Blackthrone, a sailor and pirate who finds himself at the mercy of Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada). The two men are very different. The Lord is an honorable man who relies on tradition and reason. Blackthorne is just trying to survive as he navigates the strange

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Mar 14, 2024

Spoiler-Free Film Review: “Hunting Daze” (SXSW)

Writer/director Annick Blank’s French-language Canadian thriller Hunting Daze blends harshly realistic scenarios with dizzying drug-trip sequences. The result is a fascinating, often disturbing look at toxic masculinity. Sex worker Nina (Nahéma Ricci), after performing for a bachelor party in very rural Quebec, finds herself abandoning the rest of her group in anger and frustration. She asks Kevin (Frédéric Millaire-Zouvi), one of the party members, if she can stay there until a ride can be arranged for her. The group votes that to do so, she must pass some rites and become part of their self-professed wolf pack. Rather than turning into the rape revenge thriller that some might expect, Nina finds herself in no such danger from the group, which parties hard before and after hunting. Another stranger — African man Doudos (Noubi Ndiaye) — shows up, adding another element of “The Other” to the group dynamics, as well as the suspense. When a dangerous accident occurs, paranoia and tension

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Mar 14, 2024
Next →