CategoryReviews
Honest horror reviews of films, series, games and books — no hype, no spoilers, just whether it is worth your time and your nerves.
3,432 stories
IndieMoviesReviews
Things are mega-shitty for two teenage brothers (Brady and Carter O’Donnell) in rural Pennsylvania. How so you may (or may not) ask? Well, their beloved mother has flown the coop, and Daddy Dearest is an abusive dick second to none. It’s that last point that inspires our heroes to beat feet out of the cabin the family calls home, and begin a trek into the wicked woods that surround their abode. As they trek through the verdant forests in search of their mother they begin to realize there is something sinister among the trees and streams… namely a pagan cult that may be worse than the home-based horrors they faced previous! Writer/directors Kevin Ignatius and Nick Psinakis do a lot right with The Long Dark Trail. For starters, the story is a deft blend of Stand By Me-style dark childhood journey mixed with folk horror cult goodness that works incredibly well from a narrative stand point. This story is helped
Continue reading →
AdaptationIndieMoviesReviews
Bubba Ho-Tep is a straight up classic in our beloved horror biz, and I simply refuse to believe that any of you fine fiends haven’t seen this flick; but before I get down to brass tacks and tell you if this latest release of the film is worth your hard earned dough, I’ll do the standard sub-standard sinister synopsis for ya… Elvis (Campbell) is alive and (un)well and residing in a nursing home (his “death” involved him changing places with an impersonator with a bad heart decades ago). While dealing with a life rapidly in decline and a defective pecker; ol’ E. also has to cope with soul eating, ancient Egyptian mummy that is stalking the halls of the facility he calls home. In order to end the menace, he teams up with a man that claims he is JFK (Davis), and together they embark on an epic, if arthritic, battle with evil incarnate in cowboy boots. Funny, surreal, and
Continue reading →
MoviesReviews
Supernatural hospital horror meets psychological thriller in writer/director Michael Winnick’s (Malicious; Shadow Puppets) new feature Disquiet. The result is an interesting but uneven effort that ultimately warrants a watch. Winnick kicks things off with a nice amount of suspense and mystery as a man named Sam (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) wakes up disoriented in a hospital room and is attacked by an elderly patient who shares the room. Surviving the attack and trying to find help, Sam finds the hospital mostly deserted. Meanwhile, a young woman named Monica (Elyse Levesque) is about to undergo breast enhancement surgery when the faces of the hospital staff turn monstrous. The two meet and try to navigate a way out of the hospital, meeting physician Lily (Rachelle Goulding) and wheelchair-bound Virgil (Garry Chalk), among others, along the way as seemingly dark forces block potential exits. Winnick infuses Disquiet with a good deal of intrigue as characters meet and try to determine who they can trust,
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MoviesReviews
The lines of good and evil are blurred in U.K./U.S coproduction Consecration, the latest from director Christopher Smith (Triangle, Severance). It’s a religious-horror film that unfortunately doesn’t offer much new, but has enough redeeming qualities to recommend it, especially to aficionados of the subgenre. Agnostic eye doctor Grace (Jena Malone) travels to a convent in Scotland when she learns that her brother, a priest, died on the grounds there in a suspected murder/suicide event that also claimed the life of another priest. Convinced that her brother’s death was not at his own hand, she stays to investigate and uncovers dark secrets about both the convent and her own life. Malone, who was great in last year’s queer horror Swallowed, gives something of a distant performance here, which is probably partly down to working with what she has been given by cowriters Smith and Laurie Cook. She has good chemistry with Janet Suzman as the convent’s Mother Superior-with-a-secret, and their scenes
Continue reading →
ConventionsEventsGamingHalloweenMusicNewsProductReviews
The Buried is an apparel shop that caters to those who attend festivals and live music events with clothing that can be described as wearable art. But if you’re a bit more of a homebody like me OR someone who attends different kinds of events, would these products still be worth a look? The short answer is yes, but keep reading on to learn how you can save 10% off from The Buried’s store! I want to give a big thank you to the awesome folks over at The Buried for sending over The Future Shawl that made this review possible, as well as for the discount code for you the reader! One of the featured products in The Buried’s store is the Future Shawls. These unisex one-size-fits-all shawls add a bit of fun to your experience at music festivals and shows, The Buried now offers new fleece versions of some of their shawls to help you get cozy, the
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Sorcery Blending elements of dark folklore and revenge horror, Chilean-set Sorcery (Brujeria; Mexico/Germany/Chile, 2023) finds 13-year-old indigenous girl Rosa Rain (Valentina Véliz Caileo) seeking justice after her father is savagely killed when the head of the German colonist family for which she has been working has his dogs attack him. Bonding with elderly Mateo Parancán (Daniel Antivilo), who is accused of being the leader of a group of local sorcerers, Rosa seeks to learn the mystical secrets of the members. When the two young sons of the German family go missing — having possibly been either killed or turned into dogs — Rosa, Mateo, and the group members find themselves accused of murder. Director Christopher Murray, who cowrote the screenplay with Pablo Paredes, bases the film on actual historical events from the late 19th century. He addresses political and cultural elements in this atmospheric chiller, which is a slow burner that offers plenty of mystery and symbolism — such as
Continue reading →
MoviesNewsReviews
Gerard Johnstone’s latest film, M3GAN, has already made a name for itself with horror fans. After hearing all the buzz, I had to see it for myself. In the movie, which has earned itself the title of “Certified Fresh,” “Gemma, a brilliant roboticist at a toy company, uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a life-like doll programmed to be a kid’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. After unexpectedly gaining custody of her orphaned niece, Gemma enlists the help of the M3GAN prototype — a decision that has unimaginable consequences.” Of course, it doesn’t take long in the movie for M3GAN to begin killing, but let’s be honest; we all saw that coming. In all honesty, while the film is very entertaining, sadly, it is also very predictable. Young actress Violet McGraw performs far beyond her years. She is an excellent combination with Get Out actress Allison Williams, who plays a robotics genius Gemma who completely lacks the motherly
Continue reading →
GamingProductReviewsSci-Fi
When EA announced they were making a remake of Dead Space, I‘ll admit, I was not 100% on board with the idea, but EA was awesome enough to take me on a nostalgic horror trip back into deep space. So with all the hype being built around it, how does the remake fair? Let’s take a look at Dead Space. For those not familiar with the story already, Dead Space follows an engineer named Isaac Clarke, who, along with others, is sent to the USG Ishimura, a large mining ship, after it sent out a distress signal. Soon afterward Clark and the crew discover that the ship is overrun with strange alien creatures. Not onto the game itself! For returning Dead Space fans you should know that the controls are the same so muscle memory will take over as soon as you start! But for new fans, the controls are relatively simple to learn and there’s a tutorial option that
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
birth/rebirth A provocative take on the Frankenstein mythos, director Laura Moss’s birth/rebirth finds pathologist Rose (Marin Ireland) — who doesn’t have the time or desire to deal with your petty life problems — forming an uneasy alliance with midwife Celie (Judy Reyes) when the latter discovers that Rose is using Celie’s recently suddenly deceased daughter Lila (A.J. Lister) in an experiment designed to bring the dead back to life. Plenty of horror films have questioned how far parents will go to bring back a child who has passed away, but the questionable ethics displayed by the two main characters here go beyond the usual supernatural bargains and such, making them more monstrous than any reanimated corpse. Moss, who cowrote the screenplay with Brendan J. O’Brien, shows assured direction, and Ireland and Reyes have terrific chemistry together. Aficionados of Frankenstein mythology should put this one high on their need-to-see lists, as should fans of medical horror. Run Rabbit Run One bizarre
Continue reading →
HuluMoviesReviewsStreaming TVTrailers
Director Mark Mylod has a tasty horror-filled treat for audiences, The Menu, which features an all-star cast including Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Fiennes, Hong Chau, Nicholas Hoult, and Judith Light. The film is set in the world of high-end culinary culture; a group of foodies visits an exclusive destination restaurant on a remote island where the acclaimed chef has prepared a lavish tasting menu, along with some shocking surprises. I went into watching this film not knowing precisely what to expect. I assumed it would be a pretentios film with a little horror thrown in. Well, you know what hey say about assuming. I will be the first to admit when I’m wrong and that’s the case with this film. What I got was an elegant film that combines psychological terror, brutality, and elevated horror that left me craving a good cheeseburger. Anya Taylor-Joy gives a fantastic performance, as does Ralph Fiennes, and the interactions between the two make for a
Continue reading →
More from Reviews
IndieMoviesReviews
Things are mega-shitty for two teenage brothers (Brady and Carter O’Donnell) in rural Pennsylvania. How so you may (or may not) ask? Well, their beloved mother has flown the coop, and Daddy Dearest is an abusive dick second to none. It’s that last point that inspires our heroes to beat feet out of the cabin the family calls home, and begin a trek into the wicked woods that surround their abode. As they trek through the verdant forests in search of their mother they begin to realize there is something sinister among the trees and streams… namely a pagan cult that may be worse than the home-based horrors they faced previous! Writer/directors Kevin Ignatius and Nick Psinakis do a lot right with The Long Dark Trail. For starters, the story is a deft blend of Stand By Me-style dark childhood journey mixed with folk horror cult goodness that works incredibly well from a narrative stand point. This story is helped
Continue reading →
AdaptationIndieMoviesReviews
Bubba Ho-Tep is a straight up classic in our beloved horror biz, and I simply refuse to believe that any of you fine fiends haven’t seen this flick; but before I get down to brass tacks and tell you if this latest release of the film is worth your hard earned dough, I’ll do the standard sub-standard sinister synopsis for ya… Elvis (Campbell) is alive and (un)well and residing in a nursing home (his “death” involved him changing places with an impersonator with a bad heart decades ago). While dealing with a life rapidly in decline and a defective pecker; ol’ E. also has to cope with soul eating, ancient Egyptian mummy that is stalking the halls of the facility he calls home. In order to end the menace, he teams up with a man that claims he is JFK (Davis), and together they embark on an epic, if arthritic, battle with evil incarnate in cowboy boots. Funny, surreal, and
Continue reading →
MoviesReviews
Supernatural hospital horror meets psychological thriller in writer/director Michael Winnick’s (Malicious; Shadow Puppets) new feature Disquiet. The result is an interesting but uneven effort that ultimately warrants a watch. Winnick kicks things off with a nice amount of suspense and mystery as a man named Sam (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) wakes up disoriented in a hospital room and is attacked by an elderly patient who shares the room. Surviving the attack and trying to find help, Sam finds the hospital mostly deserted. Meanwhile, a young woman named Monica (Elyse Levesque) is about to undergo breast enhancement surgery when the faces of the hospital staff turn monstrous. The two meet and try to navigate a way out of the hospital, meeting physician Lily (Rachelle Goulding) and wheelchair-bound Virgil (Garry Chalk), among others, along the way as seemingly dark forces block potential exits. Winnick infuses Disquiet with a good deal of intrigue as characters meet and try to determine who they can trust,
Continue reading →
MoviesReviews
The lines of good and evil are blurred in U.K./U.S coproduction Consecration, the latest from director Christopher Smith (Triangle, Severance). It’s a religious-horror film that unfortunately doesn’t offer much new, but has enough redeeming qualities to recommend it, especially to aficionados of the subgenre. Agnostic eye doctor Grace (Jena Malone) travels to a convent in Scotland when she learns that her brother, a priest, died on the grounds there in a suspected murder/suicide event that also claimed the life of another priest. Convinced that her brother’s death was not at his own hand, she stays to investigate and uncovers dark secrets about both the convent and her own life. Malone, who was great in last year’s queer horror Swallowed, gives something of a distant performance here, which is probably partly down to working with what she has been given by cowriters Smith and Laurie Cook. She has good chemistry with Janet Suzman as the convent’s Mother Superior-with-a-secret, and their scenes
Continue reading →
ConventionsEventsGamingHalloweenMusicNewsProductReviews
The Buried is an apparel shop that caters to those who attend festivals and live music events with clothing that can be described as wearable art. But if you’re a bit more of a homebody like me OR someone who attends different kinds of events, would these products still be worth a look? The short answer is yes, but keep reading on to learn how you can save 10% off from The Buried’s store! I want to give a big thank you to the awesome folks over at The Buried for sending over The Future Shawl that made this review possible, as well as for the discount code for you the reader! One of the featured products in The Buried’s store is the Future Shawls. These unisex one-size-fits-all shawls add a bit of fun to your experience at music festivals and shows, The Buried now offers new fleece versions of some of their shawls to help you get cozy, the
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Sorcery Blending elements of dark folklore and revenge horror, Chilean-set Sorcery (Brujeria; Mexico/Germany/Chile, 2023) finds 13-year-old indigenous girl Rosa Rain (Valentina Véliz Caileo) seeking justice after her father is savagely killed when the head of the German colonist family for which she has been working has his dogs attack him. Bonding with elderly Mateo Parancán (Daniel Antivilo), who is accused of being the leader of a group of local sorcerers, Rosa seeks to learn the mystical secrets of the members. When the two young sons of the German family go missing — having possibly been either killed or turned into dogs — Rosa, Mateo, and the group members find themselves accused of murder. Director Christopher Murray, who cowrote the screenplay with Pablo Paredes, bases the film on actual historical events from the late 19th century. He addresses political and cultural elements in this atmospheric chiller, which is a slow burner that offers plenty of mystery and symbolism — such as
Continue reading →
MoviesNewsReviews
Gerard Johnstone’s latest film, M3GAN, has already made a name for itself with horror fans. After hearing all the buzz, I had to see it for myself. In the movie, which has earned itself the title of “Certified Fresh,” “Gemma, a brilliant roboticist at a toy company, uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a life-like doll programmed to be a kid’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. After unexpectedly gaining custody of her orphaned niece, Gemma enlists the help of the M3GAN prototype — a decision that has unimaginable consequences.” Of course, it doesn’t take long in the movie for M3GAN to begin killing, but let’s be honest; we all saw that coming. In all honesty, while the film is very entertaining, sadly, it is also very predictable. Young actress Violet McGraw performs far beyond her years. She is an excellent combination with Get Out actress Allison Williams, who plays a robotics genius Gemma who completely lacks the motherly
Continue reading →
GamingProductReviewsSci-Fi
When EA announced they were making a remake of Dead Space, I‘ll admit, I was not 100% on board with the idea, but EA was awesome enough to take me on a nostalgic horror trip back into deep space. So with all the hype being built around it, how does the remake fair? Let’s take a look at Dead Space. For those not familiar with the story already, Dead Space follows an engineer named Isaac Clarke, who, along with others, is sent to the USG Ishimura, a large mining ship, after it sent out a distress signal. Soon afterward Clark and the crew discover that the ship is overrun with strange alien creatures. Not onto the game itself! For returning Dead Space fans you should know that the controls are the same so muscle memory will take over as soon as you start! But for new fans, the controls are relatively simple to learn and there’s a tutorial option that
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
birth/rebirth A provocative take on the Frankenstein mythos, director Laura Moss’s birth/rebirth finds pathologist Rose (Marin Ireland) — who doesn’t have the time or desire to deal with your petty life problems — forming an uneasy alliance with midwife Celie (Judy Reyes) when the latter discovers that Rose is using Celie’s recently suddenly deceased daughter Lila (A.J. Lister) in an experiment designed to bring the dead back to life. Plenty of horror films have questioned how far parents will go to bring back a child who has passed away, but the questionable ethics displayed by the two main characters here go beyond the usual supernatural bargains and such, making them more monstrous than any reanimated corpse. Moss, who cowrote the screenplay with Brendan J. O’Brien, shows assured direction, and Ireland and Reyes have terrific chemistry together. Aficionados of Frankenstein mythology should put this one high on their need-to-see lists, as should fans of medical horror. Run Rabbit Run One bizarre
Continue reading →
HuluMoviesReviewsStreaming TVTrailers
Director Mark Mylod has a tasty horror-filled treat for audiences, The Menu, which features an all-star cast including Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Fiennes, Hong Chau, Nicholas Hoult, and Judith Light. The film is set in the world of high-end culinary culture; a group of foodies visits an exclusive destination restaurant on a remote island where the acclaimed chef has prepared a lavish tasting menu, along with some shocking surprises. I went into watching this film not knowing precisely what to expect. I assumed it would be a pretentios film with a little horror thrown in. Well, you know what hey say about assuming. I will be the first to admit when I’m wrong and that’s the case with this film. What I got was an elegant film that combines psychological terror, brutality, and elevated horror that left me craving a good cheeseburger. Anya Taylor-Joy gives a fantastic performance, as does Ralph Fiennes, and the interactions between the two make for a
Continue reading →
