CategoryReviews
Honest horror reviews of films, series, games and books — no hype, no spoilers, just whether it is worth your time and your nerves.
3,430 stories
GamingIndieParanormalProductReviews
As a writer, you spend a lot of time in isolation, or attempt it, to write with the silent prayers to whatever divine being that’s out there listening, that you’ll be left the f-ck alone. Well, in Carlos Azuaga’s and Jandusoft’s Yellowcreek Stories-The Cabin Watcher, that’s not gonna happen! Yellowcreek Stories: The Cabin Watcher follows a writer named Terry, who is staying at a remote cabin in the forest to work on his latest novel. Unfortunately, his calming night is interrupted by an escapee with a bloodlust that knows no end. Now, onto the game itself. The controls for Yellowcreek Stories: The Cabin Watcher are minimal, which I’ll go into more towards the end. The game’s art is interesting, but I fear it may be AI assets; I can’t confirm as the game’s ending credits were sparse, leading to this concern. The game’s soundtrack fits the story as it screams 80s synth. Normally I don’t like games that lack voice-overs,
Continue reading →
MoviesNewsReviewsTrailers
The year 2026 has been flooded with shark cinema. However, the vast majority of these aquatic thrillers are dead in the water long before the end credits roll. Leading the school as arguably the absolute worst entry of the year is Chum, a movie so aggressively tedious that it makes sitting through a bad wedding feel like a luxury getaway. Warning: Spoilers ahead The Plot The nightmare begins with a picture-perfect destination wedding on the sun-drenched coast of Malta. The champagne flows, vows are exchanged, and the newlyweds attempt to put on a brave face for their guests. The festivities take a quick dive into absurdity. An oversized killer shark crashes the party, stranding the group at sea. When open-water survival against an apex predator seems like the main threat, enter Roy (Jim Klock). Roy is a local fisherman. The Captain is unhinged in every sense of the word. Roy isn’t there to rescue anyone. Driven mad by grief, he
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Official Fantasia synopsis from program notes written by Vincenzo Nappi After learning of an evil rock ’n’ roll music promoter’s plan to use heavy metal as a means of enforcing society’s cyclical self-destructive nature and to keep individuals from true self-realization, a metallic-skinned and incredibly well-dressed alien beams down to earth to try to save humanity. However, as his presence attracts the attention of private investigators and corrupt police forces, the stranger must fight to keep society from reaching its hedonistic end. Review Devotees of genre-film musicals that combine horror and science fiction elements with rock and roll are bound to get a kick out of Canadian International Pictures’ terrific new 4K restoration of director Tibor Takács’ 1978 Canadian feature Metal Messiah. Written by Stephen Zoller and based on his play, the film is a gritty journey from the mind of noirish detective Philip Chandler (Richard Ward Allen) to the streets and rock clubs of late seventies Toronto, to places
Continue reading →
NewsProductReviews
Let’s be honest: the quest for a signature scent is often a soul-crushing march through a department store haze. Most fragrances are mass-produced to appeal to everyone, which usually results in you smelling exactly like the stranger standing next to you in the elevator. If you’re looking to break the cycle of the mundane, it’s time to seek out the unconventional. Enter Heretic Parfum. Heretic is currently making waves by rejecting the industry’s “pretty” standards in favor of something far more provocative. By leaning into gothic themes and utilizing unexpected botanical combinations, they’ve created an olfactory experience that feels less like a cosmetic and more like an incantation. The Gateway to the Occult: Discovery Sets. We all know the struggle: you don’t want to drop a small fortune on a full-size bottle only to realize it doesn’t vibe with your chemistry. Heretic solves this with their meticulously curated discovery sets. These aren’t just samples; they are invitations to experiment. The
Continue reading →
MoviesNewsReviewsTrailers
For months, horror fans have been tracking Eli Roth’s latest dairy-themed nightmare, Ice Cream Man. The burning question: Is this a sweet summer treat, or is it as painful as brain freeze? Having just survived it, I’m happy to report that it’s exactly what you expect—for better and for worse. Here’s my mostly spoiler-free review. Set in a picture-perfect, sun-drenched summer resort town, the film taps into the ultimate childhood betrayal: What happens when the neighborhood ice cream man starts serving up soft-serve laced with pure, homicidal madness? Feral Kids and Paper Hats Forget about cavities. The local youth eat this tainted dairy and immediately descend into a state of feral, violent insanity. Playing our twisted dessert vendor is Ari Millen (Orphan Black), who gives off some genuinely spectacular “stranger danger” vibes and anchors the movie with a deeply creepy performance. Millen is backed by a solid ensemble, including Dylan Hawco, and a trio of actors Roth brought over from
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesReviews
Official Synopsis It’s the summer of 1998 in New York City; Sayo (Jeff Wahlberg, EUPHORIA), a soulful nightlife photographer and small-time drug dealer, is invited to a party upstate by his long-time friend and unrequited love, a movie star on the rise: Vince Marlowe (Brodie Townsend, HEARTBREAK HIGH). Together with their rowdy friend Ross (Michael Vlamis, POOLS), they drive to a remote, bucolic manor in hopes of some summer debauchery. But when they arrive, they discover that the promise of a party is actually three mysterious women – Billie (Lily Cowles, ANTEBELLUM), Wren (Nuha Jes Izman, YELLOWJACKETS) and Cata (Ching Valdes-Aran, THE EQUALIZER) – whose disturbing agenda draws the boys into a dark web of seduction and terror. Review Director Corrin Evans crafts an intriguing fear-fare feature rooted in 1990s club and art culture with Corpus. Evans and cowriter Lily Cowles — who also stars as a renowned photographer — set the discomfiting tone of the film from the opening
Continue reading →
BooksMoviesNewsProductReviews
The moment I laid eyes on DIFF Eyewear’s Alice in Wonderland Collection, I fell completely head over heels for the aviator-style Cheshire Cat frames. They capture the playful, mischievous spirit of the Disney character so effortlessly that I knew I had to have them! Unboxing them was an experience in itself. The shipping box was taped securely. I practically tore the side off in my excitement to get inside! Tucked safely within was a sleek blue triangular travel case; the glasses inside were meticulously wrapped from end to end in protective sleeves to prevent a single scratch. They also come with a pale blue cleaning cloth. A Delightful Design The design details are absolutely magical. The purple frames feature subtle, dark detail echoing the Cheshire Cat’s signature stripes. Nestled inside are gorgeous ombre lenses that strike the ultimate sweet spot—not too dark, not too light. Just a perfectly balanced wash of color that turns heads without feeling overwhelming. . .
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Official Fantasia synopsis from program notes written by Rupert Bottenberg: There’s a rumour going round about a cursed tree standing in the middle of a supposedly haunted cemetery, deep in the forest. For Shota and his university friends, it’s a chance to tempt fate and give themselves a proper scare by visiting this legendary spot in the dead of night. Once there, their courage immediately falters at the gloomy sight of the place. There is also the abnormally deafening sound of cicadas, which adds to the eerie aspect of the site. Things quickly spiral out of control for the four of them, as one of them, Ann, starts babbling strange words and behaving completely irrationally. Review Famed J-horror filmmaker Takashi Shimizu (The Grudge franchise, Ox-Head Village, Sana) helms The Mouths (Japan, 2026), an intriguing approach to the genre that feels somewhat uneven in its pacing and approach but that also delivers some solid chills. The ensemble cast members are all
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Official Fantasia synopsis from program notes written by Rupert Bottenberg: The Divine Heir of the sacred land of Ashina has been kidnapped for malevolent purposes. His sworn protector, the stoic shinobi Sekiro, must rescue the child—the fate of all Ashina depends on it. Adapting SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE, the award-winning video game released by FromSoftware in 2019, the highly anticipated anime adventure SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT sees the war-torn Japan of the Sengoku period further fractured by conspiracy, betrayal, and bloody boss battles to beggar belief. Review Genre film aficionados, the Japanese anime combining supernatural elements and shinobi swordplay that you have been hoping for has arrived in the form of director Kenichi Kutsuna’s Sekiro: No Defeat (Japan, 2026). Having never played the video game that is the original source for this anime, I can only view this feature as a stand-alone film. The animation is gorgeous, the storytelling is both classic and timeless, and the Japanese voice actors deliver brilliantly.
Continue reading →
GamingProductReviews
Gunnar Optiks are back, and this time teaming up with Tomb Raider to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the game that features many gamers’ first crush, the ass-kicking archeologist, Laura Croft. For those not familiar with our friends at Gunnar, they specialize in making glasses that have anti-blue light tech. Screens give off blue light that’s invisible to the eyes but can cause strain and fatigue for them. Gunnar’s glasses help block this light to allow those who look at screens all day to work in comfort. Gunnar’s glasses are used by pro e-sport players, gamers, the military, and even animators at DreamWorks. The Tomb Raider Croft Glasses are crafted for explorers, either gaming comfortably at home or leaving home to find adventure outside, as the lenses come in four tints: Amber, Amber Max, Sun, and Amber Sun Shift. The frames feature a refined round silhouette, warm bronze accents, and premium stainless-steel construction, which will remind you of some
Continue reading →
More from Reviews
GamingIndieParanormalProductReviews
As a writer, you spend a lot of time in isolation, or attempt it, to write with the silent prayers to whatever divine being that’s out there listening, that you’ll be left the f-ck alone. Well, in Carlos Azuaga’s and Jandusoft’s Yellowcreek Stories-The Cabin Watcher, that’s not gonna happen! Yellowcreek Stories: The Cabin Watcher follows a writer named Terry, who is staying at a remote cabin in the forest to work on his latest novel. Unfortunately, his calming night is interrupted by an escapee with a bloodlust that knows no end. Now, onto the game itself. The controls for Yellowcreek Stories: The Cabin Watcher are minimal, which I’ll go into more towards the end. The game’s art is interesting, but I fear it may be AI assets; I can’t confirm as the game’s ending credits were sparse, leading to this concern. The game’s soundtrack fits the story as it screams 80s synth. Normally I don’t like games that lack voice-overs,
Continue reading →
MoviesNewsReviewsTrailers
The year 2026 has been flooded with shark cinema. However, the vast majority of these aquatic thrillers are dead in the water long before the end credits roll. Leading the school as arguably the absolute worst entry of the year is Chum, a movie so aggressively tedious that it makes sitting through a bad wedding feel like a luxury getaway. Warning: Spoilers ahead The Plot The nightmare begins with a picture-perfect destination wedding on the sun-drenched coast of Malta. The champagne flows, vows are exchanged, and the newlyweds attempt to put on a brave face for their guests. The festivities take a quick dive into absurdity. An oversized killer shark crashes the party, stranding the group at sea. When open-water survival against an apex predator seems like the main threat, enter Roy (Jim Klock). Roy is a local fisherman. The Captain is unhinged in every sense of the word. Roy isn’t there to rescue anyone. Driven mad by grief, he
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Official Fantasia synopsis from program notes written by Vincenzo Nappi After learning of an evil rock ’n’ roll music promoter’s plan to use heavy metal as a means of enforcing society’s cyclical self-destructive nature and to keep individuals from true self-realization, a metallic-skinned and incredibly well-dressed alien beams down to earth to try to save humanity. However, as his presence attracts the attention of private investigators and corrupt police forces, the stranger must fight to keep society from reaching its hedonistic end. Review Devotees of genre-film musicals that combine horror and science fiction elements with rock and roll are bound to get a kick out of Canadian International Pictures’ terrific new 4K restoration of director Tibor Takács’ 1978 Canadian feature Metal Messiah. Written by Stephen Zoller and based on his play, the film is a gritty journey from the mind of noirish detective Philip Chandler (Richard Ward Allen) to the streets and rock clubs of late seventies Toronto, to places
Continue reading →
NewsProductReviews
Let’s be honest: the quest for a signature scent is often a soul-crushing march through a department store haze. Most fragrances are mass-produced to appeal to everyone, which usually results in you smelling exactly like the stranger standing next to you in the elevator. If you’re looking to break the cycle of the mundane, it’s time to seek out the unconventional. Enter Heretic Parfum. Heretic is currently making waves by rejecting the industry’s “pretty” standards in favor of something far more provocative. By leaning into gothic themes and utilizing unexpected botanical combinations, they’ve created an olfactory experience that feels less like a cosmetic and more like an incantation. The Gateway to the Occult: Discovery Sets. We all know the struggle: you don’t want to drop a small fortune on a full-size bottle only to realize it doesn’t vibe with your chemistry. Heretic solves this with their meticulously curated discovery sets. These aren’t just samples; they are invitations to experiment. The
Continue reading →
MoviesNewsReviewsTrailers
For months, horror fans have been tracking Eli Roth’s latest dairy-themed nightmare, Ice Cream Man. The burning question: Is this a sweet summer treat, or is it as painful as brain freeze? Having just survived it, I’m happy to report that it’s exactly what you expect—for better and for worse. Here’s my mostly spoiler-free review. Set in a picture-perfect, sun-drenched summer resort town, the film taps into the ultimate childhood betrayal: What happens when the neighborhood ice cream man starts serving up soft-serve laced with pure, homicidal madness? Feral Kids and Paper Hats Forget about cavities. The local youth eat this tainted dairy and immediately descend into a state of feral, violent insanity. Playing our twisted dessert vendor is Ari Millen (Orphan Black), who gives off some genuinely spectacular “stranger danger” vibes and anchors the movie with a deeply creepy performance. Millen is backed by a solid ensemble, including Dylan Hawco, and a trio of actors Roth brought over from
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesReviews
Official Synopsis It’s the summer of 1998 in New York City; Sayo (Jeff Wahlberg, EUPHORIA), a soulful nightlife photographer and small-time drug dealer, is invited to a party upstate by his long-time friend and unrequited love, a movie star on the rise: Vince Marlowe (Brodie Townsend, HEARTBREAK HIGH). Together with their rowdy friend Ross (Michael Vlamis, POOLS), they drive to a remote, bucolic manor in hopes of some summer debauchery. But when they arrive, they discover that the promise of a party is actually three mysterious women – Billie (Lily Cowles, ANTEBELLUM), Wren (Nuha Jes Izman, YELLOWJACKETS) and Cata (Ching Valdes-Aran, THE EQUALIZER) – whose disturbing agenda draws the boys into a dark web of seduction and terror. Review Director Corrin Evans crafts an intriguing fear-fare feature rooted in 1990s club and art culture with Corpus. Evans and cowriter Lily Cowles — who also stars as a renowned photographer — set the discomfiting tone of the film from the opening
Continue reading →
BooksMoviesNewsProductReviews
The moment I laid eyes on DIFF Eyewear’s Alice in Wonderland Collection, I fell completely head over heels for the aviator-style Cheshire Cat frames. They capture the playful, mischievous spirit of the Disney character so effortlessly that I knew I had to have them! Unboxing them was an experience in itself. The shipping box was taped securely. I practically tore the side off in my excitement to get inside! Tucked safely within was a sleek blue triangular travel case; the glasses inside were meticulously wrapped from end to end in protective sleeves to prevent a single scratch. They also come with a pale blue cleaning cloth. A Delightful Design The design details are absolutely magical. The purple frames feature subtle, dark detail echoing the Cheshire Cat’s signature stripes. Nestled inside are gorgeous ombre lenses that strike the ultimate sweet spot—not too dark, not too light. Just a perfectly balanced wash of color that turns heads without feeling overwhelming. . .
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Official Fantasia synopsis from program notes written by Rupert Bottenberg: There’s a rumour going round about a cursed tree standing in the middle of a supposedly haunted cemetery, deep in the forest. For Shota and his university friends, it’s a chance to tempt fate and give themselves a proper scare by visiting this legendary spot in the dead of night. Once there, their courage immediately falters at the gloomy sight of the place. There is also the abnormally deafening sound of cicadas, which adds to the eerie aspect of the site. Things quickly spiral out of control for the four of them, as one of them, Ann, starts babbling strange words and behaving completely irrationally. Review Famed J-horror filmmaker Takashi Shimizu (The Grudge franchise, Ox-Head Village, Sana) helms The Mouths (Japan, 2026), an intriguing approach to the genre that feels somewhat uneven in its pacing and approach but that also delivers some solid chills. The ensemble cast members are all
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Official Fantasia synopsis from program notes written by Rupert Bottenberg: The Divine Heir of the sacred land of Ashina has been kidnapped for malevolent purposes. His sworn protector, the stoic shinobi Sekiro, must rescue the child—the fate of all Ashina depends on it. Adapting SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE, the award-winning video game released by FromSoftware in 2019, the highly anticipated anime adventure SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT sees the war-torn Japan of the Sengoku period further fractured by conspiracy, betrayal, and bloody boss battles to beggar belief. Review Genre film aficionados, the Japanese anime combining supernatural elements and shinobi swordplay that you have been hoping for has arrived in the form of director Kenichi Kutsuna’s Sekiro: No Defeat (Japan, 2026). Having never played the video game that is the original source for this anime, I can only view this feature as a stand-alone film. The animation is gorgeous, the storytelling is both classic and timeless, and the Japanese voice actors deliver brilliantly.
Continue reading →
GamingProductReviews
Gunnar Optiks are back, and this time teaming up with Tomb Raider to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the game that features many gamers’ first crush, the ass-kicking archeologist, Laura Croft. For those not familiar with our friends at Gunnar, they specialize in making glasses that have anti-blue light tech. Screens give off blue light that’s invisible to the eyes but can cause strain and fatigue for them. Gunnar’s glasses help block this light to allow those who look at screens all day to work in comfort. Gunnar’s glasses are used by pro e-sport players, gamers, the military, and even animators at DreamWorks. The Tomb Raider Croft Glasses are crafted for explorers, either gaming comfortably at home or leaving home to find adventure outside, as the lenses come in four tints: Amber, Amber Max, Sun, and Amber Sun Shift. The frames feature a refined round silhouette, warm bronze accents, and premium stainless-steel construction, which will remind you of some
Continue reading →
