Horror Fuel
☰ Browse the Crypt
Category

Reviews

3,430 stories

An Unboxing and Review of The Folio Society’s Book Japanese Ghost Stories

Earlier this week, a mysterious box arrived right on my doorstep. When I saw the package was from The Folio Society, my excitement grew instantly. A week ago, I reported on the launch of the stunning volume Japanese Ghost Stories, and I hoped it was a copy. It was. The book’s online promotional images looked absolutely mesmerizing. Therefore, I decided to film a complete unboxing video for readers to enjoy. Classical Folklore Tales Come Alive This new edition compiles twenty haunting tales translated by nineteenth-century writer Lafcadio Hearn. The deluxe release also features breathtaking original artwork by award-winning artist Yuko Shimizu. Novelist Yoko Ogawa also contributed a thoughtful new introduction. As a result, the collection captures ancient Japan’s haunted atmosphere through classic supernatural folklore. Readers will encounter vengeful phantoms along with flesh-devouring priests. Iconic monsters like flying heads and faceless stalkers also lurk within these pages. Notable stories include The Story of Aoyagi, Oshidori, The Dream of Akinosuké, and Rokuro-Kubi.

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Oct 21, 2026

Spoiler-Free Review: Krakatit

Official synopsis Czech director Otakar Vávra’s astonishing fever dream of a movie that mixes 1940s film noir, paranoid thriller, and speculative atomic-bomb sci-fi in the story of a chemist named Prokop who hallucinates fragments of how he’s invented a proto-nuclear weapon.  OVID Exclusive Directed by Otakar Vávra Deaf Crocodile, Drama, 1948, 110 mins Czechoslovakia Review Krakatit is a seminal science fiction/film noir hybrid that finds a scientist named Prokop (Karel Höger) on a wild odyssey involving the titular dangerous explosive that he invented. He encounters a former classmate, a mysterious veiled lady, an arms dealer, a princess interested in marrying him, and others, many of whom are intent on getting the secret formula for krakatit from the desperate man. There is also a nameless man in a hospital in dire straits, but no spoilers here. Director Otakar Vávra crafts a genre film carrying a message about the need for world peace, with paranoia and double-dealings galore. The mystery unwraps slowly

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 21, 2026

Spoiler-Free Reviews: When She Sings and Moryow (Dark Nights Film Fest)

When She Sings (U.K., 2026) Official synopsis In a dreary, British seaside town, a talented artist is haunted by a sinister mermaid, and terrorized by a coven of strange locals.  Review When She Sings is a classic example of fine folk horror cinema. Director Paul Holbrook invests his short film with a sense of dread throughout as artist Fay Corr (Laura Bayston, who cowrote the screenplay with Holbrook) is harassed by local townsfolk speaking in mysterious short bursts as she grieves over the death of her sister. Cinematographer James Oldham wonderfully captures the beauty of the coastal setting and the bleakness of Fay’s world, with Composers Hannah Cartwright and Ross Tones aiding greatly with the short’s mood.     Moryow (U.K., 2026) Official synopsis A recovering addict, desperate to escape her past, finds herself on a cursed fishing boat headed into a Lovecraftian nightmare where the depths of the ocean feed on her darkest sins.  Review Writer/director Ted Wilkes weaves

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 20, 2026

Game Review: ‘Psalm 5:9-13’

Well, this was a short one, so the review is…well…short. This is Psalm 5:9-13, possibly the creepiest game I’ve reviewed in months! There’s really no backstory to Psalm 5:9-13; you literally wake up in the dark and explore different rooms to get answers. The controls are extremely limited, as this is a walking sim. You use one button to zoom in the camera and another to interact when prompted; other than that, that’s it for controls. The sound design of the game is well done; the ambiance is creepy and makes you paranoid as you play, as some sounds seem to be designed to distract you in order to build up to a scare.         The graphics are great but hidden behind a VHS filter, unfortunately. I know people like that look, but sometimes it can be a tad much; in this case, it both works for and against the game. Gameplay-wise, the game is quite simple.

Continue reading →
Daniel S. Liuzzi
Oct 19, 2026

Spoiler Free Reviews: Matapanki, The Thing Inside Her, and Paper Cuts (Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2026)

Matapanki (Chile, 2026) Official synopsis A punk kid gets superpowers from alcohol and tries to reshape society, but a violent error sparks global tensions with him at the center.  Review “Punk’s not dead!” goes the battle cry, and writer/director Diego Fuentes follows that spirit with his action comedy/fantasy feature Matapanki. Punk rock fan Ricardo (Ramón Gálvez) accidentally discovers a bottle of the titular fictitious drink and finds that ingesting the beverage gives him superpowers. With nods to Spider-Man, the film takes him on an origin-story journey where he is reluctant to use his powers despite his friends’ encouragement. Naturally, nefarious forces are at work, which Fuentes uses to skewer local and international political figures and movements. He also uses colorful animation and drawing effects to complement Cinematographer Vicente Correa’s impressive black-and-white work. Fueled with punk soul, a driving soundtrack, and all-in performances, Matapanki is a unique slice of genre-cinema fare.     The Thing Inside Her (Canada, 2026) Official synopsis After removing

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 19, 2026

Movie Review – Fire and Ice (1983) – Blue Underground 4K

Animator Ralph Bakshi has never been afraid to dip his toes… or any other body part… into the realms of fantasy (see 1977’s Wizards and 1978’s Tolkein adaptation, Lord of the Rings if your ass doubts me) but his magnum opus of the genre is 1983’s Fire and Ice. Young warrior Larn (William Ostrander, Christine) is caught in a war between the noble King Jarol (Leo Gordon, Alienator) of the volcano kingdom of Firekeep, and Wolf Queen Juliana (Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker, the Angel franchise) and her ice wizard son Nekron (animator Sean Hannon) after his village is destroyed by Nekron’s glaciers (which he appears to summon via orgasm apparently). Soon Larn sets out to rescue Jarol’s daughter Teegra (Maggie Roswell, The Simpsons) who is kidnapped by Nekron’s Neanderthal troops, the Subhumans in order to provide the wizard an heir… at least that’s what Juliana desires, but Nekron apparently runs “cold” when it comes to mating with voluptuous prisoners. As

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Oct 17, 2026

Spoiler Free Review: “Crystal Lake” Should Be Required Viewing

When I first heard about a prequel series for Friday the 13th, I felt genuinely apprehensive. Crafting a TV show to build the foundation for such an iconic horror franchise is notoriously difficult to get right. However, Peacock and A24 have delivered an absolute triumph with “Crystal Lake.” As someone whose very first horror movie was Friday the 13th at nine years old, this franchise holds a special place in my heart. Ultimately, I am thrilled to report that this series is one of the absolute best things I have seen on television in a long time. A Powerhouse Lead and Deeply Human Characters The eight-episode series is led by Linda Cardellini as the infamous Pamela Voorhees, alongside young Callum Vinson as her son, Jason. Cardellini delivers an absolute powerhouse performance throughout the show. Specifically, she captures the heartbreak and raw daily struggle of a grieving mother with incredible nuance. While Pamela is undeniably unhinged, her rage feels completely tragic

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Oct 15, 2026

Spoiler-Free Review: Don’t Move

Official synopsis A church group’s annual retreat turns deadly when they wander into the wrong part of the Ozark wilderness, and something starts picking them off one by one. Suspicion falls on Ricky (Russell “Russ” Vitale), the troublemaker of the group. But the real threat is far worse. Deep in the forest, wrapped in a labyrinth of webs, the group is pursued by a terrifying prehistoric arachnid that hunts by vibration. When every step could be their last, they only have one choice: DON’T MOVE. It’s up to Megan (Lyndsy Fonseca) to hold what’s left of the group together and get them out alive. Review For the first several minutes of Don’t Move, I was wondering if I had started the wrong movie, as there is a lot of happy family fun at a carnival. Well, things took a turn, for sure.  Megan (Lyndsy Fonseca) waits outside while her husband and young son go on a haunted house ride, where

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 15, 2026

Spoiler Free Reviews: Insecta and Bonded (Screamfest 2026)

Insecta (Uruguay, 2026) Official synopsis A horror writer returns to an isolated estate to say goodbye to her dying father, only to suspect that the monstrous insect she imagined as a child may have been real all along.   Review With Insecta, director Martín Florio crafts a highly entertaining chiller that combines creature feature and gothic horror elements, with engaging family drama for good measure. Renowned horror writer Mercedes (Mayra Hermosillo) returns to her childhood home to visit her estranged elderly father Jaime (Luis Felipe Tovar), who is close to death. He has been taken care of as of late by Mercedes’ stepsister Belen (Rocío De La Mañana), who alternates between seeming pleased and unwelcoming about Mercedes’ presence. Mercedes has nightmares about a traumatic incident from her childhood about her brother’s death and about an oversized insect that haunted him, along with sexual fantasies about Belen. Much intrigue ensues, and Florio, working from a screenplay that he cowrote with Leonel D’Agostino

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 15, 2026

Spoiler-Free Reviews: Split Rock and Found Alive (Sitges Film Festival 2026)

Split Rock (Canada, 2026) Official synopsis While conducting survey work in the remote badlands, geologists and lovers Lauren (Clark Backo) and Ben (Drew Ray Tanner) uncover a mysterious block of magnetic stone embedded in the earth. As their team investigates, their equipment begins to fail and a violent unseen force emerges. Lauren becomes obsessed with the ancient block, convinced that an eternal consciousness is using her mind to reach the surface. When Ben attempts to stop it, the outcome leaves the duo and their team forever altered.  Review Bearing the enigmatic qualities of classic Nigel Kneale fare (The Stone Tape, Quatermass and the Pit), Picnic at Hanging Rock, and a dash of The Monolith Monsters, Split Rock is a slow-burn chiller that boasts an ever-increasing atmosphere of dread. Geology students Lauren (Clark Backo) and Ben (Drew Ray Tanner) uncover an out-of-place stone fragment that begins to affect their survey team and its equipment and vehicles. Lauren is especially impacted by

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 15, 2026

More from Reviews

An Unboxing and Review of The Folio Society’s Book Japanese Ghost Stories

Earlier this week, a mysterious box arrived right on my doorstep. When I saw the package was from The Folio Society, my excitement grew instantly. A week ago, I reported on the launch of the stunning volume Japanese Ghost Stories, and I hoped it was a copy. It was. The book’s online promotional images looked absolutely mesmerizing. Therefore, I decided to film a complete unboxing video for readers to enjoy. Classical Folklore Tales Come Alive This new edition compiles twenty haunting tales translated by nineteenth-century writer Lafcadio Hearn. The deluxe release also features breathtaking original artwork by award-winning artist Yuko Shimizu. Novelist Yoko Ogawa also contributed a thoughtful new introduction. As a result, the collection captures ancient Japan’s haunted atmosphere through classic supernatural folklore. Readers will encounter vengeful phantoms along with flesh-devouring priests. Iconic monsters like flying heads and faceless stalkers also lurk within these pages. Notable stories include The Story of Aoyagi, Oshidori, The Dream of Akinosuké, and Rokuro-Kubi.

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Oct 21, 2026

Spoiler-Free Review: Krakatit

Official synopsis Czech director Otakar Vávra’s astonishing fever dream of a movie that mixes 1940s film noir, paranoid thriller, and speculative atomic-bomb sci-fi in the story of a chemist named Prokop who hallucinates fragments of how he’s invented a proto-nuclear weapon.  OVID Exclusive Directed by Otakar Vávra Deaf Crocodile, Drama, 1948, 110 mins Czechoslovakia Review Krakatit is a seminal science fiction/film noir hybrid that finds a scientist named Prokop (Karel Höger) on a wild odyssey involving the titular dangerous explosive that he invented. He encounters a former classmate, a mysterious veiled lady, an arms dealer, a princess interested in marrying him, and others, many of whom are intent on getting the secret formula for krakatit from the desperate man. There is also a nameless man in a hospital in dire straits, but no spoilers here. Director Otakar Vávra crafts a genre film carrying a message about the need for world peace, with paranoia and double-dealings galore. The mystery unwraps slowly

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 21, 2026

Spoiler-Free Reviews: When She Sings and Moryow (Dark Nights Film Fest)

When She Sings (U.K., 2026) Official synopsis In a dreary, British seaside town, a talented artist is haunted by a sinister mermaid, and terrorized by a coven of strange locals.  Review When She Sings is a classic example of fine folk horror cinema. Director Paul Holbrook invests his short film with a sense of dread throughout as artist Fay Corr (Laura Bayston, who cowrote the screenplay with Holbrook) is harassed by local townsfolk speaking in mysterious short bursts as she grieves over the death of her sister. Cinematographer James Oldham wonderfully captures the beauty of the coastal setting and the bleakness of Fay’s world, with Composers Hannah Cartwright and Ross Tones aiding greatly with the short’s mood.     Moryow (U.K., 2026) Official synopsis A recovering addict, desperate to escape her past, finds herself on a cursed fishing boat headed into a Lovecraftian nightmare where the depths of the ocean feed on her darkest sins.  Review Writer/director Ted Wilkes weaves

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 20, 2026

Game Review: ‘Psalm 5:9-13’

Well, this was a short one, so the review is…well…short. This is Psalm 5:9-13, possibly the creepiest game I’ve reviewed in months! There’s really no backstory to Psalm 5:9-13; you literally wake up in the dark and explore different rooms to get answers. The controls are extremely limited, as this is a walking sim. You use one button to zoom in the camera and another to interact when prompted; other than that, that’s it for controls. The sound design of the game is well done; the ambiance is creepy and makes you paranoid as you play, as some sounds seem to be designed to distract you in order to build up to a scare.         The graphics are great but hidden behind a VHS filter, unfortunately. I know people like that look, but sometimes it can be a tad much; in this case, it both works for and against the game. Gameplay-wise, the game is quite simple.

Continue reading →
Daniel S. Liuzzi
Oct 19, 2026

Spoiler Free Reviews: Matapanki, The Thing Inside Her, and Paper Cuts (Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2026)

Matapanki (Chile, 2026) Official synopsis A punk kid gets superpowers from alcohol and tries to reshape society, but a violent error sparks global tensions with him at the center.  Review “Punk’s not dead!” goes the battle cry, and writer/director Diego Fuentes follows that spirit with his action comedy/fantasy feature Matapanki. Punk rock fan Ricardo (Ramón Gálvez) accidentally discovers a bottle of the titular fictitious drink and finds that ingesting the beverage gives him superpowers. With nods to Spider-Man, the film takes him on an origin-story journey where he is reluctant to use his powers despite his friends’ encouragement. Naturally, nefarious forces are at work, which Fuentes uses to skewer local and international political figures and movements. He also uses colorful animation and drawing effects to complement Cinematographer Vicente Correa’s impressive black-and-white work. Fueled with punk soul, a driving soundtrack, and all-in performances, Matapanki is a unique slice of genre-cinema fare.     The Thing Inside Her (Canada, 2026) Official synopsis After removing

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 19, 2026

Movie Review – Fire and Ice (1983) – Blue Underground 4K

Animator Ralph Bakshi has never been afraid to dip his toes… or any other body part… into the realms of fantasy (see 1977’s Wizards and 1978’s Tolkein adaptation, Lord of the Rings if your ass doubts me) but his magnum opus of the genre is 1983’s Fire and Ice. Young warrior Larn (William Ostrander, Christine) is caught in a war between the noble King Jarol (Leo Gordon, Alienator) of the volcano kingdom of Firekeep, and Wolf Queen Juliana (Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker, the Angel franchise) and her ice wizard son Nekron (animator Sean Hannon) after his village is destroyed by Nekron’s glaciers (which he appears to summon via orgasm apparently). Soon Larn sets out to rescue Jarol’s daughter Teegra (Maggie Roswell, The Simpsons) who is kidnapped by Nekron’s Neanderthal troops, the Subhumans in order to provide the wizard an heir… at least that’s what Juliana desires, but Nekron apparently runs “cold” when it comes to mating with voluptuous prisoners. As

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Oct 17, 2026

Spoiler Free Review: “Crystal Lake” Should Be Required Viewing

When I first heard about a prequel series for Friday the 13th, I felt genuinely apprehensive. Crafting a TV show to build the foundation for such an iconic horror franchise is notoriously difficult to get right. However, Peacock and A24 have delivered an absolute triumph with “Crystal Lake.” As someone whose very first horror movie was Friday the 13th at nine years old, this franchise holds a special place in my heart. Ultimately, I am thrilled to report that this series is one of the absolute best things I have seen on television in a long time. A Powerhouse Lead and Deeply Human Characters The eight-episode series is led by Linda Cardellini as the infamous Pamela Voorhees, alongside young Callum Vinson as her son, Jason. Cardellini delivers an absolute powerhouse performance throughout the show. Specifically, she captures the heartbreak and raw daily struggle of a grieving mother with incredible nuance. While Pamela is undeniably unhinged, her rage feels completely tragic

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Oct 15, 2026

Spoiler-Free Review: Don’t Move

Official synopsis A church group’s annual retreat turns deadly when they wander into the wrong part of the Ozark wilderness, and something starts picking them off one by one. Suspicion falls on Ricky (Russell “Russ” Vitale), the troublemaker of the group. But the real threat is far worse. Deep in the forest, wrapped in a labyrinth of webs, the group is pursued by a terrifying prehistoric arachnid that hunts by vibration. When every step could be their last, they only have one choice: DON’T MOVE. It’s up to Megan (Lyndsy Fonseca) to hold what’s left of the group together and get them out alive. Review For the first several minutes of Don’t Move, I was wondering if I had started the wrong movie, as there is a lot of happy family fun at a carnival. Well, things took a turn, for sure.  Megan (Lyndsy Fonseca) waits outside while her husband and young son go on a haunted house ride, where

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 15, 2026

Spoiler Free Reviews: Insecta and Bonded (Screamfest 2026)

Insecta (Uruguay, 2026) Official synopsis A horror writer returns to an isolated estate to say goodbye to her dying father, only to suspect that the monstrous insect she imagined as a child may have been real all along.   Review With Insecta, director Martín Florio crafts a highly entertaining chiller that combines creature feature and gothic horror elements, with engaging family drama for good measure. Renowned horror writer Mercedes (Mayra Hermosillo) returns to her childhood home to visit her estranged elderly father Jaime (Luis Felipe Tovar), who is close to death. He has been taken care of as of late by Mercedes’ stepsister Belen (Rocío De La Mañana), who alternates between seeming pleased and unwelcoming about Mercedes’ presence. Mercedes has nightmares about a traumatic incident from her childhood about her brother’s death and about an oversized insect that haunted him, along with sexual fantasies about Belen. Much intrigue ensues, and Florio, working from a screenplay that he cowrote with Leonel D’Agostino

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 15, 2026

Spoiler-Free Reviews: Split Rock and Found Alive (Sitges Film Festival 2026)

Split Rock (Canada, 2026) Official synopsis While conducting survey work in the remote badlands, geologists and lovers Lauren (Clark Backo) and Ben (Drew Ray Tanner) uncover a mysterious block of magnetic stone embedded in the earth. As their team investigates, their equipment begins to fail and a violent unseen force emerges. Lauren becomes obsessed with the ancient block, convinced that an eternal consciousness is using her mind to reach the surface. When Ben attempts to stop it, the outcome leaves the duo and their team forever altered.  Review Bearing the enigmatic qualities of classic Nigel Kneale fare (The Stone Tape, Quatermass and the Pit), Picnic at Hanging Rock, and a dash of The Monolith Monsters, Split Rock is a slow-burn chiller that boasts an ever-increasing atmosphere of dread. Geology students Lauren (Clark Backo) and Ben (Drew Ray Tanner) uncover an out-of-place stone fragment that begins to affect their survey team and its equipment and vehicles. Lauren is especially impacted by

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 15, 2026
Next →