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Honest horror reviews of films, series, games and books — no hype, no spoilers, just whether it is worth your time and your nerves.

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Game Review: 'Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil'

Game Review: ‘Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil’

This may be the first published game review of 2024 from us but this is actually the second with the official first review on its way on February 6th, so keep an eye out for that one! Let’s get to some exorcising with QU Byte Interactive and Mr. Skull Game Studio’s Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil. Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil is about Father August Heylel, a Vatican-recognized Exorcist who is penning a letter describing his most haunting exorcist case that began in 1984 where he failed to save the family but was able to banish the evil within the house. Over the years he’s been watching over the house and the families that moved in who all have lived in peace till in 2020, the evil returned. The controls for the game are limited and easy to remember. One of the things I wish you had in this game are meters letting you know how much health

Continue reading →
Jan 23, 2024
Spoiler-Free Short-Film Reviews: “The Looming” and “Dream Creep” (Sundance Film Festival)

Spoiler-Free Short-Film Reviews: “The Looming” and “Dream Creep” (Sundance Film Festival)

THE LOOMING So often in horror films the elderly are portrayed as scary or creepy subjects, something to fear, run from, or even kill. Occasionally, they are treated with more reverence and respect than usual in fright-fare cinema, such as in director Natalie Erika James’s Relic (2020). Writer/director Masha Ko’s new short The Looming is another such film that examines the plight of the aged and lonely, delivering heartbreak along with horror. Seventy-year-old Chester (Joseph Lopez in an absolutely amazing performance) begins to hear terrifying noises in his home, where he lives alone, and his fears are dismissed both at his job and by his adult daughter, who refuses to come to his home to discuss the matter. Something is indeed, as the title says, looming around Chester, though. Ko has crafted a superb-looking, emotionally charged work that draws attention to the importance of the fears of the elderly, and to how they deserve our attention. I give The Looming

Continue reading →
Jan 23, 2024
Spoiler-Free Short-Film Reviews: “Legend of El Cucuy,” “PU EKAW TNOD,” “Blockbuster,” and “Welcome to the Enclave” (Slamdance Film Festival)

Spoiler-Free Short-Film Reviews: “Legend of El Cucuy,” “PU EKAW TNOD,” “Blockbuster,” and “Welcome to the Enclave” (Slamdance Film Festival)

Legend of El Cucuy Folklore horror meets problems of modern parenting in writer/director Cynthia Garcia Williams’ short film Legend of El Cucuy. Laura (Diana Sanchez) and Carlos (Effie Cacarnakis) are attempting to raise their young daughter Isabel (Obriella Genesis Witron) with as much freedom from rules at home and school as possible, but when the girl starts really acting up, Carlos attempts to straighten her out some by telling her the tale of El Cucuy, a ghostlike monster that kidnaps disobedient children, with origins in folk tales from Spain and Portugal. The short boasts great cinematography and a fine score, impressive performances, engaging direction, and impressive CGI and practical effects makeup work. It is certainly worthy of being expanded into a feature-length film. PU EKAW TNOD In writer/director Rebecca Culverhouse’s U.K. horror short PU EKAW TNOD, a young couple (Dorothea Jones and Harold Addo) watch a horror film together when they discover that they are suddenly in a dreamworld —

Continue reading →
Jan 23, 2024
Movie Review: Silver Bullet (1985) - Scream Factory 4K/Blu-ray Combo

Movie Review: Silver Bullet (1985) – Scream Factory 4K/Blu-ray Combo

What do you get when you combine Corey Haim, Gary Busey, werewolves and The King of Horror himself? Horror fans will immediately guess 1985’s fright flick Silver Bullet. And non-horror fans… well I have no idea what they would think… and what the hell are they doing on this website anyway? Anyway, Scream Factory have unleashed a 4k/Blu-ray combo release of Silver Bullet, and yours cruelly is going to slap his putrid peepers upon it! In the quaint small town of Tarker’s Mills nothing exciting seems to happen… until the murders begin that is! Enter: Marty Coslaw (Corey Haim, The Lost Boys), a wheelchair (a motorized number which just so happens to be named Silver Bullet) bound lad who lives with his family… including his beloved (by Marty only) freeloading drunk of an uncle, Red (Gary Busey) smack dab in the middle of The ‘Mills. Being an ‘80s movie (based on an ‘80s book… novella, whatever… it’s Stephen King’s 1983-released

Continue reading →
Jan 20, 2024
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Movie Review: México Bárbaro II (2017) - Unearthed Films Blu-ray

Movie Review: México Bárbaro II (2017) – Unearthed Films Blu-ray

Being the forgetful fiend that I am, yours cruelly oft forgets that our pals South of the Border can deliver the gory goods among the best of them… and Unearthed Film’s new Blu-ray release of arcane anthology México Bárbaro II (the follow up to 2014’s México Bárbaro) reminded me with a nice, big, bloody open-handed slap right across my putrid puss! Let’s put our eerie eyeballs on the sinister segments that comprise this fright flick one by one and see just what makes this picture tick! La Leyenda De Juan Soldado: Coming from writer/director Abraham Sánchez; our first yarn concerns a soldier by the name of Juan (Uri Meza), who is accused of rape and left to die in the desert by his commanding officer. The thing is, our hero is innocent… so naturally the denizens of hell give him a chance to settle the score with those that wronged him! Entertaining, fast-paced, and full of a pseudo-EC Comics vibe

Continue reading →
Jan 20, 2024
Netflix Series Review: "Gyeongseong Creature" Is A Gripping "Must-See"

Netflix Series Review: “Gyeongseong Creature” Is A Gripping “Must-See”

The K-horror series “Gyeongseong Creature” has arrived on Netflix, offering a thrilling blend of historical drama, monstrous horror, and poignant romance. Set in 1945 Seoul, then known as Gyeongseong, the series plunges us into darkness and desperation, where a terrifying creature emerges from the shadows. While the premise is captivating, the series does come with a caveat: the CGI depiction of the monster falls short. Its hulking, mutated form lacks the polish and menace seen in other contemporary K-horror productions. However, if you can look past this visual misstep, you’ll find a show brimming with strengths. Director Jeong Dong-yun excels in character development, weaving rich backstories for both heroes and villains. Each individual feels profoundly human and compelling, from the stoic Jang Tae-sang ( Park Seo-Joon) to the fiercely determined Yoon Chae-ok (Han So-hee). Their struggles resonate, making their fight for survival against the monstrous threat, both human and not, all the more gripping. And while much of the series

Continue reading →
Jan 17, 2024
Spoiler-Free TV Series Review: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023), Episodes 5–10

Spoiler-Free TV Series Review: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023), Episodes 5–10

With Apple TV+’s series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, based on Legendary’s MonsterVerse, having ended its first season run of 10 episodes (click here for my reviews of episodes 1-4), I’m generally satisfied with the series and looking forward to what a second series might offer. Following are my spoiler-free thoughts on series one overall. The story, which takes place after the battle between Godzilla and the Titans as seen in Gareth Edwards’ 2014 Godzilla, focuses on different timelines, mainly the reunion of half-siblings Cate Randa (Anna Sawai), whose up-close witnessing of Godzilla’s 2014 emergence in San Francisco has left her with PTSD — and Kentaro (Ren Watabe) as they attempt to uncover the mystery of their usually absent father Hiroshi Randa (Takehiro Hira), which leads them to meeting up and eventually adventuring with former U.S. Army Colonel Lee Shaw (Kurt Russell), who had plenty of experience as a younger man (played by his son Wyatt Russell) with Monarch and tracking

Continue reading →
Jan 17, 2024
Movie Review: Blood Feast (2016) - Synapse 4K

Movie Review: Blood Feast (2016) – Synapse 4K

Back in the far-flung past of 1963, Godfather of Gore Herschell Gordon Lewis unleashed Blood Feast; a blood-soaked tale of an Egyptian caterer who serves up feasts of human flesh, upon unsuspecting drive-in goers, and the world of horror films got that much more extreme. As is the case in the horror biz, it was high time for the picture to get the ol’ remake treatment ‘round 2016 courtesy of writer/director Marcel Walz (along with co-writer Philip Lilienschwarz)… and it’s this version that got the deluxe 4K treatment recently thanks to the fine fiends over at Synapse Films. Moving the action from Florida to Paris, our tale follows Fuad Ramses (Robert Rusler, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge) who have transplanted his wife Louise (Caroline Williams, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2) and daughter Penny (Sophie Monk, The Hills Run Red) to France where he has established a restaurant that serves homesick American tourists authentic diner food. Sounds solid

Continue reading →
Jan 16, 2024
Product Review: Grinds Coffee Pouches

Product Review: Grinds Coffee Pouches

Love Coffee? That’s a dumb question. Of course you love it, or at least enjoy it from time to time. Sometimes, you need a boost of energy from caffeine to help you stay up for a movie, meet a deadline, or mow down zombie hoards with friends during a gaming session. Or ultimately, you’re trying to drop a nasty habit. Grinds Coffee Pouches can help. I want to first thank Grinds for sending over some cans for me to try! Inside each can of Grinds are small pouches full of coffee grounds, yes you read that right, coffee grounds. You take a pouch and stick it between your lips/cheeks and gums, and just let the flavor flow. No need to spit, unless you want to but then you would be wasting coffee! The flavor I’m enjoying at this very moment is Irish Cream that’s part of the Build Your Own Pack section on the site where you can customize your

Continue reading →
Jan 15, 2024
"Confessions of the Unkown": Chilling Podcast Explores the Paranormal

“Confessions of the Unkown”: Chilling Podcast Explores the Paranormal

Are you craving a chilling blend of reality and the paranormal? Step into the mesmerizing world of “Confessions of the Unknown,” the groundbreaking podcast that captures the true essence of ghostly encounters. Available biweekly on creepybonfire.com and all major platforms and now brought visually to life on YouTube; the series offers a unique foray into the unknown. The podcast’s host’s smooth and eerily calm voice sets a deceptively calm stage as you gather around the virtual fire. Only for it to be shattered by the bone-chilling accounts of personal encounters. Each episode delves into intimate narratives, blurring the line between our world and the unknown. It leaves listeners questioning their reality and pondering if ghosts really exist. This immersive audio experience pulls you into each unnerving tale. It leaves a shiver down your spine as the shadows dance around you. “The sound is phenomenal,” raves a dedicated fan. “It’s like being right there in the story – every creak and

Continue reading →
Jan 15, 2024

More from Reviews

Game Review: 'Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil'

Game Review: ‘Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil’

This may be the first published game review of 2024 from us but this is actually the second with the official first review on its way on February 6th, so keep an eye out for that one! Let’s get to some exorcising with QU Byte Interactive and Mr. Skull Game Studio’s Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil. Devil Inside Us: Roots of Evil is about Father August Heylel, a Vatican-recognized Exorcist who is penning a letter describing his most haunting exorcist case that began in 1984 where he failed to save the family but was able to banish the evil within the house. Over the years he’s been watching over the house and the families that moved in who all have lived in peace till in 2020, the evil returned. The controls for the game are limited and easy to remember. One of the things I wish you had in this game are meters letting you know how much health

Continue reading →
Jan 23, 2024
Spoiler-Free Short-Film Reviews: “The Looming” and “Dream Creep” (Sundance Film Festival)

Spoiler-Free Short-Film Reviews: “The Looming” and “Dream Creep” (Sundance Film Festival)

THE LOOMING So often in horror films the elderly are portrayed as scary or creepy subjects, something to fear, run from, or even kill. Occasionally, they are treated with more reverence and respect than usual in fright-fare cinema, such as in director Natalie Erika James’s Relic (2020). Writer/director Masha Ko’s new short The Looming is another such film that examines the plight of the aged and lonely, delivering heartbreak along with horror. Seventy-year-old Chester (Joseph Lopez in an absolutely amazing performance) begins to hear terrifying noises in his home, where he lives alone, and his fears are dismissed both at his job and by his adult daughter, who refuses to come to his home to discuss the matter. Something is indeed, as the title says, looming around Chester, though. Ko has crafted a superb-looking, emotionally charged work that draws attention to the importance of the fears of the elderly, and to how they deserve our attention. I give The Looming

Continue reading →
Jan 23, 2024
Spoiler-Free Short-Film Reviews: “Legend of El Cucuy,” “PU EKAW TNOD,” “Blockbuster,” and “Welcome to the Enclave” (Slamdance Film Festival)

Spoiler-Free Short-Film Reviews: “Legend of El Cucuy,” “PU EKAW TNOD,” “Blockbuster,” and “Welcome to the Enclave” (Slamdance Film Festival)

Legend of El Cucuy Folklore horror meets problems of modern parenting in writer/director Cynthia Garcia Williams’ short film Legend of El Cucuy. Laura (Diana Sanchez) and Carlos (Effie Cacarnakis) are attempting to raise their young daughter Isabel (Obriella Genesis Witron) with as much freedom from rules at home and school as possible, but when the girl starts really acting up, Carlos attempts to straighten her out some by telling her the tale of El Cucuy, a ghostlike monster that kidnaps disobedient children, with origins in folk tales from Spain and Portugal. The short boasts great cinematography and a fine score, impressive performances, engaging direction, and impressive CGI and practical effects makeup work. It is certainly worthy of being expanded into a feature-length film. PU EKAW TNOD In writer/director Rebecca Culverhouse’s U.K. horror short PU EKAW TNOD, a young couple (Dorothea Jones and Harold Addo) watch a horror film together when they discover that they are suddenly in a dreamworld —

Continue reading →
Jan 23, 2024
Movie Review: Silver Bullet (1985) - Scream Factory 4K/Blu-ray Combo

Movie Review: Silver Bullet (1985) – Scream Factory 4K/Blu-ray Combo

What do you get when you combine Corey Haim, Gary Busey, werewolves and The King of Horror himself? Horror fans will immediately guess 1985’s fright flick Silver Bullet. And non-horror fans… well I have no idea what they would think… and what the hell are they doing on this website anyway? Anyway, Scream Factory have unleashed a 4k/Blu-ray combo release of Silver Bullet, and yours cruelly is going to slap his putrid peepers upon it! In the quaint small town of Tarker’s Mills nothing exciting seems to happen… until the murders begin that is! Enter: Marty Coslaw (Corey Haim, The Lost Boys), a wheelchair (a motorized number which just so happens to be named Silver Bullet) bound lad who lives with his family… including his beloved (by Marty only) freeloading drunk of an uncle, Red (Gary Busey) smack dab in the middle of The ‘Mills. Being an ‘80s movie (based on an ‘80s book… novella, whatever… it’s Stephen King’s 1983-released

Continue reading →
Jan 20, 2024
Movie Review: México Bárbaro II (2017) - Unearthed Films Blu-ray

Movie Review: México Bárbaro II (2017) – Unearthed Films Blu-ray

Being the forgetful fiend that I am, yours cruelly oft forgets that our pals South of the Border can deliver the gory goods among the best of them… and Unearthed Film’s new Blu-ray release of arcane anthology México Bárbaro II (the follow up to 2014’s México Bárbaro) reminded me with a nice, big, bloody open-handed slap right across my putrid puss! Let’s put our eerie eyeballs on the sinister segments that comprise this fright flick one by one and see just what makes this picture tick! La Leyenda De Juan Soldado: Coming from writer/director Abraham Sánchez; our first yarn concerns a soldier by the name of Juan (Uri Meza), who is accused of rape and left to die in the desert by his commanding officer. The thing is, our hero is innocent… so naturally the denizens of hell give him a chance to settle the score with those that wronged him! Entertaining, fast-paced, and full of a pseudo-EC Comics vibe

Continue reading →
Jan 20, 2024
Netflix Series Review: "Gyeongseong Creature" Is A Gripping "Must-See"

Netflix Series Review: “Gyeongseong Creature” Is A Gripping “Must-See”

The K-horror series “Gyeongseong Creature” has arrived on Netflix, offering a thrilling blend of historical drama, monstrous horror, and poignant romance. Set in 1945 Seoul, then known as Gyeongseong, the series plunges us into darkness and desperation, where a terrifying creature emerges from the shadows. While the premise is captivating, the series does come with a caveat: the CGI depiction of the monster falls short. Its hulking, mutated form lacks the polish and menace seen in other contemporary K-horror productions. However, if you can look past this visual misstep, you’ll find a show brimming with strengths. Director Jeong Dong-yun excels in character development, weaving rich backstories for both heroes and villains. Each individual feels profoundly human and compelling, from the stoic Jang Tae-sang ( Park Seo-Joon) to the fiercely determined Yoon Chae-ok (Han So-hee). Their struggles resonate, making their fight for survival against the monstrous threat, both human and not, all the more gripping. And while much of the series

Continue reading →
Jan 17, 2024
Spoiler-Free TV Series Review: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023), Episodes 5–10

Spoiler-Free TV Series Review: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023), Episodes 5–10

With Apple TV+’s series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, based on Legendary’s MonsterVerse, having ended its first season run of 10 episodes (click here for my reviews of episodes 1-4), I’m generally satisfied with the series and looking forward to what a second series might offer. Following are my spoiler-free thoughts on series one overall. The story, which takes place after the battle between Godzilla and the Titans as seen in Gareth Edwards’ 2014 Godzilla, focuses on different timelines, mainly the reunion of half-siblings Cate Randa (Anna Sawai), whose up-close witnessing of Godzilla’s 2014 emergence in San Francisco has left her with PTSD — and Kentaro (Ren Watabe) as they attempt to uncover the mystery of their usually absent father Hiroshi Randa (Takehiro Hira), which leads them to meeting up and eventually adventuring with former U.S. Army Colonel Lee Shaw (Kurt Russell), who had plenty of experience as a younger man (played by his son Wyatt Russell) with Monarch and tracking

Continue reading →
Jan 17, 2024
Movie Review: Blood Feast (2016) - Synapse 4K

Movie Review: Blood Feast (2016) – Synapse 4K

Back in the far-flung past of 1963, Godfather of Gore Herschell Gordon Lewis unleashed Blood Feast; a blood-soaked tale of an Egyptian caterer who serves up feasts of human flesh, upon unsuspecting drive-in goers, and the world of horror films got that much more extreme. As is the case in the horror biz, it was high time for the picture to get the ol’ remake treatment ‘round 2016 courtesy of writer/director Marcel Walz (along with co-writer Philip Lilienschwarz)… and it’s this version that got the deluxe 4K treatment recently thanks to the fine fiends over at Synapse Films. Moving the action from Florida to Paris, our tale follows Fuad Ramses (Robert Rusler, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge) who have transplanted his wife Louise (Caroline Williams, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2) and daughter Penny (Sophie Monk, The Hills Run Red) to France where he has established a restaurant that serves homesick American tourists authentic diner food. Sounds solid

Continue reading →
Jan 16, 2024
Product Review: Grinds Coffee Pouches

Product Review: Grinds Coffee Pouches

Love Coffee? That’s a dumb question. Of course you love it, or at least enjoy it from time to time. Sometimes, you need a boost of energy from caffeine to help you stay up for a movie, meet a deadline, or mow down zombie hoards with friends during a gaming session. Or ultimately, you’re trying to drop a nasty habit. Grinds Coffee Pouches can help. I want to first thank Grinds for sending over some cans for me to try! Inside each can of Grinds are small pouches full of coffee grounds, yes you read that right, coffee grounds. You take a pouch and stick it between your lips/cheeks and gums, and just let the flavor flow. No need to spit, unless you want to but then you would be wasting coffee! The flavor I’m enjoying at this very moment is Irish Cream that’s part of the Build Your Own Pack section on the site where you can customize your

Continue reading →
Jan 15, 2024
"Confessions of the Unkown": Chilling Podcast Explores the Paranormal

“Confessions of the Unkown”: Chilling Podcast Explores the Paranormal

Are you craving a chilling blend of reality and the paranormal? Step into the mesmerizing world of “Confessions of the Unknown,” the groundbreaking podcast that captures the true essence of ghostly encounters. Available biweekly on creepybonfire.com and all major platforms and now brought visually to life on YouTube; the series offers a unique foray into the unknown. The podcast’s host’s smooth and eerily calm voice sets a deceptively calm stage as you gather around the virtual fire. Only for it to be shattered by the bone-chilling accounts of personal encounters. Each episode delves into intimate narratives, blurring the line between our world and the unknown. It leaves listeners questioning their reality and pondering if ghosts really exist. This immersive audio experience pulls you into each unnerving tale. It leaves a shiver down your spine as the shadows dance around you. “The sound is phenomenal,” raves a dedicated fan. “It’s like being right there in the story – every creak and

Continue reading →
Jan 15, 2024