CategoryIndie
Independent horror: micro-budget features, short films and first-time filmmakers doing more with less — and often doing it better.
2,258 stories
IndieMoviesParanormalReviews
Trick r’ Treat begins with a woman (Julie Landriault) finding a stack of missing children flyers on the windshield of her car. Later that night she receives a visit from some ghostly trick r’ treaters (Johnny Elston, Ricky Elston, and Daniel Elston) who may not be what they seem! Running a compact minute and thirty seconds (two minutes with credits), Trick r’ Treat is an effective lil’ supernatural shocker. Writer/Director Andrew J.D. Robinson presents the piece with an economy of storytelling, and with some fun cinematic touches. The first act is presented in stark black and white giving it a Night of the Living Dead vibe, while the second have is presented in warm colors…it’s well done and gives the two disparate acts a unique flavor. Also well done are the visuals for the trick r’ treaters themselves…simple sheets and a bit of make-up adds up to a palpable sense of menace from these terror tykes! Bottom line, Trick r’
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesNews
Award-winning filmmaker Aaron K. Carter (Dead Kansas) teams up with legendary cult star Mel Novak (Bruce Lee’s Game of Death, Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance) for the horror anthology and black comedy An Hour To Kill, which will premiere exclusively this month on Amazon video. Described as Pulp Fiction meets Creepshow, this film is about two assassins, Gio (Aaron Guerrero) and Frankie (Frankie Pozos), who have an hour to kill (so to speak) before their next hit for their tough as nails mob boss Mr. Kinski (Novak). To help pass the time, they entertain themselves by sharing horror stories with one another. So before they make the hit, these gangsters shoot the shit! With bizarre titles such as “Valkyrie’s Bunker” “Assacre” and “Hog Hunters,” which hit-man’s story will be deemed most disturbing when all is said and done? An Hour To Kill also stars Amanda Rau (Living Among Us), Joe McQueen (Confessions of a Superhero), Veronica Ricci (Treasure Chest of
Continue reading →
GamingIndieNewsProduct
It’s no big secret; I love “Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice”, the dark fantasy video game by Ninja Theory struck a chord with many players as it deals with the sensitive subject of mental health, uniquely through the eyes of a young woman back in early human history during the time of Celts and Vikings. In order to make the symptoms of Senua’s psychosis authentic, Ninja Theory consulted with Mental Health experts as well as individuals who actually are going through treatment for the illness. Because of this delicate attention to detail, “Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice” to date has won 19 awards! Proceeds of the sale of the game went towards charities involving mental health but now Ninja Theory has taken it a step further, by creating a scholarship that will fund training for mental health tutors at the CPFT Recovery College East who played a big role in helping with research for the game, the scholarship is appropriately named “Senua’s Scholarship”. Check
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesNewsTrailers
Dark Star Pictures has acquired North American rights to Orson Oblowitz’s crime thriller The Queen of Hollywood Blvd. The film, starring veteran actress Rosemary Hochschild (“Supergirl”, ‘’Desperately Seeking Susan’’), is a dark L.A set noir exploring the one-day odyssey of a woman’s reckoning. Hochschild plays a strip club owner who finds herself over her head when a twenty-five-year-old debt to the mob comes back to haunt her, premiered at the Boston Underground Film Festival earlier this year. It has been likened to Tarantino’s crime classics Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown. Director Orson Oblowitz’s feature debut is a wild ride through the underbelly of Los Angeles, blending genres in a shocking fashion and firmly establishing himself as a new promising talent,” said Dark Star Pictures President Michael Repsch. “Playing like a lovechild of John Waters and Quentin Tarantino, The Queen of Hollywood Blvd. will resonate with audiences for years to come.” “We are really excited to have found a home at
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesParanormalReviews
Pastor James (horror legend Bill Moseley) is the sole hold out on a plan to gentrify the city and therefore bring some wealth to the neighborhood where his ancient church stands. Of course those shifty folks behind the plan won’t take no for an answer and soon the spirits that dwell within the church begin to carry out their preternatural plan to show their dissatisfaction of giving up their holy dwelling. So what’s good with The Church? Well for starters it has some fine performances from some horror legends such as the aforementioned Moseley, Lisa Wilcox, and Clint Howard turn in solid acting with what they are given. Also, the basic concept of the “anything but holy” goings-on inside of an ancient church is solid fright flick grist for the monstrous mill…in other words, that shit worked before, it works well, and it works here as well. Unfortunately, that’s where my good will towards this picture ends… On the negative
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesNewsTrailers
During the Busan International Film Festival, the haunting trailer for Rob Heydon‘s supernatural thriller Isabelle was revealed and we have it here for you to see. “Isabelle is about an all-American couple whose dream of starting a family is shattered after they move into the perfect New England neighborhood. Once settled, they soon after descend into the depths of terror as they struggle to survive a genuine threat from a dark presence that appears to want to end their very lives.” The film stars Amanda Crew (Final Destination 3; “Silicon Valley”) and Adam Brody (Jennifer’s Body). Zoë Belkin, Shelia McCarthy, Booth Savage, Michael Miranda, Dayo Ade, and David Tompa co-star. Rob Heydon directed and produced the film written by Donald Martin (Milton’s Secret). Sid Ganis and Joni Sighvatsson serve as executive producers for Isabelle, opening in theaters in 2019.
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesParanormalReviews
Drop the Mike host…Mike (Matthew Solomon)…I mean what did you expect the dude’s name to be, Aloysius? Anyway, Mike is an annoying vlogger (which is as redundant as saying “wet rain”) who in a desperate grab for the almighty sponsorship dollar decides to spend the night in a hotel with a haunted past, along with his crew. As they settle in, they begin to learn of the sinister secrets that lie within the dread dwelling (including a complete rip-off of the true life case of Elisa Lam). Soon things go completely off the rails as our heroes are subjected to an ever growing preternatural presence that may prove their undoing! On the one hand, Followed has a strong, if well tread, premise…the haunted hotel is a horror trope for a reason; it works! This film does a good job of building the mythology of the place, which adds to the overall sense of world building…which is absolutely essential as this
Continue reading →
DocumentariesIndieMoviesParanormalReviews
Documentarian of the Cryptids Seth Breedlove is back, and this time he turns his eerie eyeballs an a wicked werewolf legend in The Bray Road Beast! Elkhorn, Wisconsin is a bucolic lil’ town, sleepy, possessed of a small populace…and a red eyed werewolf that can run 55 mph and lives on Bray Road (home to the Bray family, who do not seem like werewolves to me, but I’m no expert at lycanthrope in human form identification)…you know, the usual. Of course as the film digs deeper we learn that this area sits in an area surrounded by strange happenings, outre cults, and that whole Slenderman stabbing incident of a few years back. Of course everyone has a theory as to just what the titular beast is, and all the usual explanations make their appearance; Native american curse, occult summoned hell beast, the aforementioned werewolf theory…regardless of what it is, there are plenty of spooky-ass stories about whatever it is; and
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesParanormalReviews
Five teen stereotypes; Claire, the nerd (Holly Taylor), the rich bitch Brooke (Alice Zeokolski), the timid M.J. (Tara Robinson), sporty Greta (Adrienne Rose-White ) and Jules, the goth (Britt Flatmo) meet each other in detention where they learn of Jules’ abilities in witchcraft (as is often the case). Before long they convene in the woods just outside of their small New England town (which of course has a history of witchcraft) and before you can say The Craft, they form a coven. At first they revel in their new-found powers, but soon all that spell-castin’ begins taking it’s toll, as the girls begin to suffer physically from their magic…the law of equivalent exchange and all that. Soon the coven is wracked with strife, and a mystery from decades past may claim their lives! I was surprised by The Witch Files. First of all, the cast is really strong, and not full of the typical annoying teens you would expect to
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesReviews
Meagan (Jesse McGinn) and Jonathan (Robert Hartburn) escape the rat race and move on to greener pastures…literally, as they move into a house situated next to an orchard in the middle of East Ass-Hair. Nowheresville (it’s a real place, believe me…I’m a movie critic, and I know things). Anyway, things go smoothly enough on their first night in the new pad…minus a missing house cat, but you can bet demons to doughnuts that shit heads south with the major quickness…and it does as later that night someone watches their sex sesh from the wooded area surrounding the home. The next day strange notes appear, the disembodied laughter of a child and the squealing of pigs is heard, and a gloved hand touches Meagan as she sleeps…you know, typical new homeowner shit. Now on the third night, things go completely off-the-rails…so much so that the future of our heroes is seriously in doubt! 3rd Night is a slow burn thriller with
Continue reading →
More from Indie
IndieMoviesParanormalReviews
Trick r’ Treat begins with a woman (Julie Landriault) finding a stack of missing children flyers on the windshield of her car. Later that night she receives a visit from some ghostly trick r’ treaters (Johnny Elston, Ricky Elston, and Daniel Elston) who may not be what they seem! Running a compact minute and thirty seconds (two minutes with credits), Trick r’ Treat is an effective lil’ supernatural shocker. Writer/Director Andrew J.D. Robinson presents the piece with an economy of storytelling, and with some fun cinematic touches. The first act is presented in stark black and white giving it a Night of the Living Dead vibe, while the second have is presented in warm colors…it’s well done and gives the two disparate acts a unique flavor. Also well done are the visuals for the trick r’ treaters themselves…simple sheets and a bit of make-up adds up to a palpable sense of menace from these terror tykes! Bottom line, Trick r’
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesNews
Award-winning filmmaker Aaron K. Carter (Dead Kansas) teams up with legendary cult star Mel Novak (Bruce Lee’s Game of Death, Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance) for the horror anthology and black comedy An Hour To Kill, which will premiere exclusively this month on Amazon video. Described as Pulp Fiction meets Creepshow, this film is about two assassins, Gio (Aaron Guerrero) and Frankie (Frankie Pozos), who have an hour to kill (so to speak) before their next hit for their tough as nails mob boss Mr. Kinski (Novak). To help pass the time, they entertain themselves by sharing horror stories with one another. So before they make the hit, these gangsters shoot the shit! With bizarre titles such as “Valkyrie’s Bunker” “Assacre” and “Hog Hunters,” which hit-man’s story will be deemed most disturbing when all is said and done? An Hour To Kill also stars Amanda Rau (Living Among Us), Joe McQueen (Confessions of a Superhero), Veronica Ricci (Treasure Chest of
Continue reading →
GamingIndieNewsProduct
It’s no big secret; I love “Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice”, the dark fantasy video game by Ninja Theory struck a chord with many players as it deals with the sensitive subject of mental health, uniquely through the eyes of a young woman back in early human history during the time of Celts and Vikings. In order to make the symptoms of Senua’s psychosis authentic, Ninja Theory consulted with Mental Health experts as well as individuals who actually are going through treatment for the illness. Because of this delicate attention to detail, “Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice” to date has won 19 awards! Proceeds of the sale of the game went towards charities involving mental health but now Ninja Theory has taken it a step further, by creating a scholarship that will fund training for mental health tutors at the CPFT Recovery College East who played a big role in helping with research for the game, the scholarship is appropriately named “Senua’s Scholarship”. Check
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesNewsTrailers
Dark Star Pictures has acquired North American rights to Orson Oblowitz’s crime thriller The Queen of Hollywood Blvd. The film, starring veteran actress Rosemary Hochschild (“Supergirl”, ‘’Desperately Seeking Susan’’), is a dark L.A set noir exploring the one-day odyssey of a woman’s reckoning. Hochschild plays a strip club owner who finds herself over her head when a twenty-five-year-old debt to the mob comes back to haunt her, premiered at the Boston Underground Film Festival earlier this year. It has been likened to Tarantino’s crime classics Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown. Director Orson Oblowitz’s feature debut is a wild ride through the underbelly of Los Angeles, blending genres in a shocking fashion and firmly establishing himself as a new promising talent,” said Dark Star Pictures President Michael Repsch. “Playing like a lovechild of John Waters and Quentin Tarantino, The Queen of Hollywood Blvd. will resonate with audiences for years to come.” “We are really excited to have found a home at
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesParanormalReviews
Pastor James (horror legend Bill Moseley) is the sole hold out on a plan to gentrify the city and therefore bring some wealth to the neighborhood where his ancient church stands. Of course those shifty folks behind the plan won’t take no for an answer and soon the spirits that dwell within the church begin to carry out their preternatural plan to show their dissatisfaction of giving up their holy dwelling. So what’s good with The Church? Well for starters it has some fine performances from some horror legends such as the aforementioned Moseley, Lisa Wilcox, and Clint Howard turn in solid acting with what they are given. Also, the basic concept of the “anything but holy” goings-on inside of an ancient church is solid fright flick grist for the monstrous mill…in other words, that shit worked before, it works well, and it works here as well. Unfortunately, that’s where my good will towards this picture ends… On the negative
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesNewsTrailers
During the Busan International Film Festival, the haunting trailer for Rob Heydon‘s supernatural thriller Isabelle was revealed and we have it here for you to see. “Isabelle is about an all-American couple whose dream of starting a family is shattered after they move into the perfect New England neighborhood. Once settled, they soon after descend into the depths of terror as they struggle to survive a genuine threat from a dark presence that appears to want to end their very lives.” The film stars Amanda Crew (Final Destination 3; “Silicon Valley”) and Adam Brody (Jennifer’s Body). Zoë Belkin, Shelia McCarthy, Booth Savage, Michael Miranda, Dayo Ade, and David Tompa co-star. Rob Heydon directed and produced the film written by Donald Martin (Milton’s Secret). Sid Ganis and Joni Sighvatsson serve as executive producers for Isabelle, opening in theaters in 2019.
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesParanormalReviews
Drop the Mike host…Mike (Matthew Solomon)…I mean what did you expect the dude’s name to be, Aloysius? Anyway, Mike is an annoying vlogger (which is as redundant as saying “wet rain”) who in a desperate grab for the almighty sponsorship dollar decides to spend the night in a hotel with a haunted past, along with his crew. As they settle in, they begin to learn of the sinister secrets that lie within the dread dwelling (including a complete rip-off of the true life case of Elisa Lam). Soon things go completely off the rails as our heroes are subjected to an ever growing preternatural presence that may prove their undoing! On the one hand, Followed has a strong, if well tread, premise…the haunted hotel is a horror trope for a reason; it works! This film does a good job of building the mythology of the place, which adds to the overall sense of world building…which is absolutely essential as this
Continue reading →
DocumentariesIndieMoviesParanormalReviews
Documentarian of the Cryptids Seth Breedlove is back, and this time he turns his eerie eyeballs an a wicked werewolf legend in The Bray Road Beast! Elkhorn, Wisconsin is a bucolic lil’ town, sleepy, possessed of a small populace…and a red eyed werewolf that can run 55 mph and lives on Bray Road (home to the Bray family, who do not seem like werewolves to me, but I’m no expert at lycanthrope in human form identification)…you know, the usual. Of course as the film digs deeper we learn that this area sits in an area surrounded by strange happenings, outre cults, and that whole Slenderman stabbing incident of a few years back. Of course everyone has a theory as to just what the titular beast is, and all the usual explanations make their appearance; Native american curse, occult summoned hell beast, the aforementioned werewolf theory…regardless of what it is, there are plenty of spooky-ass stories about whatever it is; and
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesParanormalReviews
Five teen stereotypes; Claire, the nerd (Holly Taylor), the rich bitch Brooke (Alice Zeokolski), the timid M.J. (Tara Robinson), sporty Greta (Adrienne Rose-White ) and Jules, the goth (Britt Flatmo) meet each other in detention where they learn of Jules’ abilities in witchcraft (as is often the case). Before long they convene in the woods just outside of their small New England town (which of course has a history of witchcraft) and before you can say The Craft, they form a coven. At first they revel in their new-found powers, but soon all that spell-castin’ begins taking it’s toll, as the girls begin to suffer physically from their magic…the law of equivalent exchange and all that. Soon the coven is wracked with strife, and a mystery from decades past may claim their lives! I was surprised by The Witch Files. First of all, the cast is really strong, and not full of the typical annoying teens you would expect to
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesReviews
Meagan (Jesse McGinn) and Jonathan (Robert Hartburn) escape the rat race and move on to greener pastures…literally, as they move into a house situated next to an orchard in the middle of East Ass-Hair. Nowheresville (it’s a real place, believe me…I’m a movie critic, and I know things). Anyway, things go smoothly enough on their first night in the new pad…minus a missing house cat, but you can bet demons to doughnuts that shit heads south with the major quickness…and it does as later that night someone watches their sex sesh from the wooded area surrounding the home. The next day strange notes appear, the disembodied laughter of a child and the squealing of pigs is heard, and a gloved hand touches Meagan as she sleeps…you know, typical new homeowner shit. Now on the third night, things go completely off-the-rails…so much so that the future of our heroes is seriously in doubt! 3rd Night is a slow burn thriller with
Continue reading →
