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Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Sleepless Beauty (2020)

Mila (Polina Davydova) has found herself well and truly in some dire fuckin’ straits; she’s been abducted and placed inside a cell, she’s tortured physically and mentally on the regular, and most importantly, denied sleep. When she is allowed a rest period she gets a happy helmet slapped on her noggin which gives her a virtual reality dose of pure nightmare fuel… and all of the above is live streamed to a gaggle of internet trolls that lap it up with a spoon! All of this has to do with the group who abducted our heroine’s plans for some of that good ol’ assassination biz, but what part will Mila play in this, and can she be rescued before she completely succumbs to madness?!! Director Pavel Khvaleev (working from a screenplay courtesy of Aleksandra Khvaleeva) manages to make Sleepless Beauty a cut above most torture porn fright flicks. For one thing; this is more psychological torture than physical, so those

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 9, 2020
Horror Fuel

DVD Review: Ebola Rex (2020)

After a brief intro from horror hostess Malovia: The Queen of Screams, we jump right into a dinosaur getting knocked over by an explosion, followed by an in-depth conversation on snack foods. I think it’s safe to say we are off to the races here boils n’ ghouls… So yeah; a T-rex is ripping a city a new asshole, and the military are surprisingly helpless against it… I mean I get it; how much experience could they possibly have with such things… anyway, that T-rex? The mother fucker is riddled with full blown ebola, so if you thought this thing was a menace before, you better look the fuck out now bud! This is straight up silly ridiculousness and I really fucking enjoyed it. The entire thing seems unscripted and filmed after whoever on screen just smoked up (in some cases this is literally shown… Mike Ferguson I salute you sir) and went to town… you know that’s a good

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 7, 2020
Horror Fuel

DVD Review: The Beast Beneath (2020)

An earthquake in a small desert town unleashes an ancient beast that then goes on to terrorize said town like a mother fucker. That’s the premise of the latest from prolific writer/director Dustin Ferguson, The Beast Beneath; a throwback to the creature features you’d find all over network TV in the wake of Jaws. Now make no mistakes, this is a lower budgeted feature, so straight up you get padding with long credit sequences and some shots that go on for a bit more than they should. Also some of the acting is spotty… but it’s nice to see turns from legendary scream queen Brinke Stevens and Kung-fu flick mainstay Mel Novak on display. If you are a fan of my column that those types of technical issues don’t mean jack and or shit to your’s cruelly, and I know it doesn’t to a number of you cats n’ creeps as well… what matters to me is: is the story

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 7, 2020
Horror Fuel

Comic Book Review: Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman 

Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman; if that title doesn’t grab ya by the short n’ curlies I have no idea what will! Merrick’s creative team, consisting of writer Tom Ward and illustrator Luke Parker have taken some cherry picked elements from the life of the real Joseph Merrick, a severely deformed man with tumor like growths covering his body who became something of a celebrity in the Victorian Age (and who’s life was the basis of David Lynch’s 1980 masterpiece, The Elephant Man) and swirled them around, amplified them, and mixed them with all manner of occult-laden goings-on and Masonic cult deviltry. This is a heady concoction indeed cats n’ creeps and when you take those concepts and slap some gorgeously rendered, chiaroscuro-infused arcane art on top of them, reminiscent of the works of Hellboy creator Mike Mignola in his prime no less, and you have one hell of a treat for the eerie eyeballs let me tell ya! I can’t

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 7, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Asylum: Twisted Horror and Fantasy Tales (2020)

Fucked up mother fucker Brandon delivers a nihilistic comedy performance/stage play/ ventriloquist act that serves as the framework for nine terror tales in the new arcane anthology Asylum: Twisted Horror and Fantasy Tales… and what a creepy collection those yarns comprise my boils n’ ghouls! First up we get the story of a phoney exorcism broadcast across the web much to the delight of the viewing audience who believe what they are seeing is real. Of course it actually does become all too real as a demonic presence is indeed present. Filled with excellent cinematography, some solid tension, and a fun premise this tale is a great way to kick of this putrid picture… plus there are some great twists here as well! Next comes a fantastic stalk n’ slay piece with one of the coolest looking killers I’ve seen in a damn sight, followed by a downright sweet tale of a blood n’ guts zombie buffet turning to undead

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 6, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Playhouse (2020)

A horror writin’ dude named Jack (William Holstead) ignores all common sense and moves into ye olde secluded Scottish castle with his daughter Bee (Grace Courtney) in tow. The reason for the new digs? Why he wants to stage some insanely scopey immersive play within that arcane abode as one does. Of course that creepy castle is home to a supernatural presence that wants nothing more than to fuck up our heroes’ lives six ways to Sunday Not a bad set-up for a ghost-centric yarn, eh cats n’ creeps? Written and directed by Fionn and Toby Watts, Playhouse has a lot going for it in terms of mythology and world building, but it does have some stumbling blocks along it’s joltin’ journey. While the castle setting is tops, and the acting pretty damn solid, there are a bit too many side stories and characters that take the focus away from Jack and Bee’s terror tale… and dammit, the other characters’

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 6, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: They Reach (2020)

At the ass-end of the swingin’ Sixties; parapsychologists Dr. Mark Quinnley (Damian Vines) and his son Alex (Taylor Bartle) botch a job involving a demon-touched lad, but the entire fracas is recorded on a tape recorder. Flash the fuck forward to 1979 as we meet John (Ash Calder) and Grace (Elizabeth Rhoades); a married couple who have lost their son… hey, at least they got another kiddo boppin’ about; namely their teen daughter Jessica (Mary Madaline Roe). Speaking of J-dawg; she happens to find that recorder mentioned up yonder in a second-hand store and goes right ahead and accidentally spills blood all over it. Rookie move noob… Of course demonic hijinks ensue, and it’s up to Jessica and her friends to put an end to this horrifying hootenanny right quick! Make no mistake; They Reach is young adult thrills and chills through and through, so you can bet your arcane asses that there is a real Stranger Things/Monster Squad vibe

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 6, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: ‘Kindred’

According to many sources, one of the most vulnerable times in a woman’s life is while she’s pregnant. The movie Kindred reinforces that theory in a dark and disturbing way that will leave any mother bothered. In the movie, Ben (Edward Holcroft) and his girlfriend Charlotte (Tamara Lawrance) break the news to his mother (Fiona Shaw) that they are movie to Australia, but this overbearing, demanding woman isn’t having it. When her son is killed right after finding out he’s going to be a father, she decides that she will do anything to keep her grandchild close, and I mean anything. When Charlotte wakes up after fainting at the hospital she discovers she’s now a prisoner in the manor where nine generations of Ben’s family have called home. Both Lawrance and Shaw play their parts well, I think for what they were given. But their characters lack impact and I don’t think that’s all their fault. It comes across like

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Nov 5, 2020
Horror Fuel

Blu-Ray Review: Antebellum Is Both Horrific And Moving

WARNING SOME SPOILERS! The writing and producing duo Gerard Bush + Christopher Renz make their feature directorial debut with Antebellum. In the beginning, we are introduced to Veronica, a strong-willed, well-spoken, educated author, and speaker who talks about racism and patriarchy. Played by Janelle Monáe, Veronica is kidnapped and wakes up on a Southern slave plantation in what seems to the past with a new name, Eden, given to her by her captors. She seems broken and reserved to her fate, but she hasn’t completely given up yet. When a death occurs she finds renewed strength. Eric Lange (TV’s “Narcos,” “Lost”), Jena Malone (Contact, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), Jack Huston (Kill Your Darlings, American Hustle), Kiersey Clemons (Sweetheart, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising), and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious, TV’s “Empire”), also star. This is not your everyday horror movie. There are no supernatural monsters jumping out to scare you, it’s much worse, the film reveals that the real monsters are all

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Nov 3, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Darkness in Tenement 45 (2020)

In an alternate-reality version of the 1950’s, The Soviet army has invaded New York and released some undefined biological threat, and a small group of citizens laying low in their small tenement building until it all blows over. Except it doesn’t; rather troubled teen Joanna has come down with a case of “The Darkness”, and what lies within is as dangerous as the threat outside of the building’s walls. Treading the same ground as the films of horror maestro/social commentator George A. romero we get a rather diverse cast, holed up in a close quarters while the world falls to absolute shit around them… and while we definitely get a strong dose of the ol’ horror biz, this flick has a few other things on it’s mind as we delve into isolation, mental health, misogyny and more which takes things in a more realistic and dark direction. This is not a satire, rather a condemnation of various social mores. Thankfully

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 2, 2020

More from #review

Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Sleepless Beauty (2020)

Mila (Polina Davydova) has found herself well and truly in some dire fuckin’ straits; she’s been abducted and placed inside a cell, she’s tortured physically and mentally on the regular, and most importantly, denied sleep. When she is allowed a rest period she gets a happy helmet slapped on her noggin which gives her a virtual reality dose of pure nightmare fuel… and all of the above is live streamed to a gaggle of internet trolls that lap it up with a spoon! All of this has to do with the group who abducted our heroine’s plans for some of that good ol’ assassination biz, but what part will Mila play in this, and can she be rescued before she completely succumbs to madness?!! Director Pavel Khvaleev (working from a screenplay courtesy of Aleksandra Khvaleeva) manages to make Sleepless Beauty a cut above most torture porn fright flicks. For one thing; this is more psychological torture than physical, so those

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 9, 2020
Horror Fuel

DVD Review: Ebola Rex (2020)

After a brief intro from horror hostess Malovia: The Queen of Screams, we jump right into a dinosaur getting knocked over by an explosion, followed by an in-depth conversation on snack foods. I think it’s safe to say we are off to the races here boils n’ ghouls… So yeah; a T-rex is ripping a city a new asshole, and the military are surprisingly helpless against it… I mean I get it; how much experience could they possibly have with such things… anyway, that T-rex? The mother fucker is riddled with full blown ebola, so if you thought this thing was a menace before, you better look the fuck out now bud! This is straight up silly ridiculousness and I really fucking enjoyed it. The entire thing seems unscripted and filmed after whoever on screen just smoked up (in some cases this is literally shown… Mike Ferguson I salute you sir) and went to town… you know that’s a good

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 7, 2020
Horror Fuel

DVD Review: The Beast Beneath (2020)

An earthquake in a small desert town unleashes an ancient beast that then goes on to terrorize said town like a mother fucker. That’s the premise of the latest from prolific writer/director Dustin Ferguson, The Beast Beneath; a throwback to the creature features you’d find all over network TV in the wake of Jaws. Now make no mistakes, this is a lower budgeted feature, so straight up you get padding with long credit sequences and some shots that go on for a bit more than they should. Also some of the acting is spotty… but it’s nice to see turns from legendary scream queen Brinke Stevens and Kung-fu flick mainstay Mel Novak on display. If you are a fan of my column that those types of technical issues don’t mean jack and or shit to your’s cruelly, and I know it doesn’t to a number of you cats n’ creeps as well… what matters to me is: is the story

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 7, 2020
Horror Fuel

Comic Book Review: Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman 

Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman; if that title doesn’t grab ya by the short n’ curlies I have no idea what will! Merrick’s creative team, consisting of writer Tom Ward and illustrator Luke Parker have taken some cherry picked elements from the life of the real Joseph Merrick, a severely deformed man with tumor like growths covering his body who became something of a celebrity in the Victorian Age (and who’s life was the basis of David Lynch’s 1980 masterpiece, The Elephant Man) and swirled them around, amplified them, and mixed them with all manner of occult-laden goings-on and Masonic cult deviltry. This is a heady concoction indeed cats n’ creeps and when you take those concepts and slap some gorgeously rendered, chiaroscuro-infused arcane art on top of them, reminiscent of the works of Hellboy creator Mike Mignola in his prime no less, and you have one hell of a treat for the eerie eyeballs let me tell ya! I can’t

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 7, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Asylum: Twisted Horror and Fantasy Tales (2020)

Fucked up mother fucker Brandon delivers a nihilistic comedy performance/stage play/ ventriloquist act that serves as the framework for nine terror tales in the new arcane anthology Asylum: Twisted Horror and Fantasy Tales… and what a creepy collection those yarns comprise my boils n’ ghouls! First up we get the story of a phoney exorcism broadcast across the web much to the delight of the viewing audience who believe what they are seeing is real. Of course it actually does become all too real as a demonic presence is indeed present. Filled with excellent cinematography, some solid tension, and a fun premise this tale is a great way to kick of this putrid picture… plus there are some great twists here as well! Next comes a fantastic stalk n’ slay piece with one of the coolest looking killers I’ve seen in a damn sight, followed by a downright sweet tale of a blood n’ guts zombie buffet turning to undead

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 6, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Playhouse (2020)

A horror writin’ dude named Jack (William Holstead) ignores all common sense and moves into ye olde secluded Scottish castle with his daughter Bee (Grace Courtney) in tow. The reason for the new digs? Why he wants to stage some insanely scopey immersive play within that arcane abode as one does. Of course that creepy castle is home to a supernatural presence that wants nothing more than to fuck up our heroes’ lives six ways to Sunday Not a bad set-up for a ghost-centric yarn, eh cats n’ creeps? Written and directed by Fionn and Toby Watts, Playhouse has a lot going for it in terms of mythology and world building, but it does have some stumbling blocks along it’s joltin’ journey. While the castle setting is tops, and the acting pretty damn solid, there are a bit too many side stories and characters that take the focus away from Jack and Bee’s terror tale… and dammit, the other characters’

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 6, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: They Reach (2020)

At the ass-end of the swingin’ Sixties; parapsychologists Dr. Mark Quinnley (Damian Vines) and his son Alex (Taylor Bartle) botch a job involving a demon-touched lad, but the entire fracas is recorded on a tape recorder. Flash the fuck forward to 1979 as we meet John (Ash Calder) and Grace (Elizabeth Rhoades); a married couple who have lost their son… hey, at least they got another kiddo boppin’ about; namely their teen daughter Jessica (Mary Madaline Roe). Speaking of J-dawg; she happens to find that recorder mentioned up yonder in a second-hand store and goes right ahead and accidentally spills blood all over it. Rookie move noob… Of course demonic hijinks ensue, and it’s up to Jessica and her friends to put an end to this horrifying hootenanny right quick! Make no mistake; They Reach is young adult thrills and chills through and through, so you can bet your arcane asses that there is a real Stranger Things/Monster Squad vibe

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 6, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: ‘Kindred’

According to many sources, one of the most vulnerable times in a woman’s life is while she’s pregnant. The movie Kindred reinforces that theory in a dark and disturbing way that will leave any mother bothered. In the movie, Ben (Edward Holcroft) and his girlfriend Charlotte (Tamara Lawrance) break the news to his mother (Fiona Shaw) that they are movie to Australia, but this overbearing, demanding woman isn’t having it. When her son is killed right after finding out he’s going to be a father, she decides that she will do anything to keep her grandchild close, and I mean anything. When Charlotte wakes up after fainting at the hospital she discovers she’s now a prisoner in the manor where nine generations of Ben’s family have called home. Both Lawrance and Shaw play their parts well, I think for what they were given. But their characters lack impact and I don’t think that’s all their fault. It comes across like

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Nov 5, 2020
Horror Fuel

Blu-Ray Review: Antebellum Is Both Horrific And Moving

WARNING SOME SPOILERS! The writing and producing duo Gerard Bush + Christopher Renz make their feature directorial debut with Antebellum. In the beginning, we are introduced to Veronica, a strong-willed, well-spoken, educated author, and speaker who talks about racism and patriarchy. Played by Janelle Monáe, Veronica is kidnapped and wakes up on a Southern slave plantation in what seems to the past with a new name, Eden, given to her by her captors. She seems broken and reserved to her fate, but she hasn’t completely given up yet. When a death occurs she finds renewed strength. Eric Lange (TV’s “Narcos,” “Lost”), Jena Malone (Contact, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), Jack Huston (Kill Your Darlings, American Hustle), Kiersey Clemons (Sweetheart, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising), and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious, TV’s “Empire”), also star. This is not your everyday horror movie. There are no supernatural monsters jumping out to scare you, it’s much worse, the film reveals that the real monsters are all

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Nov 3, 2020
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Darkness in Tenement 45 (2020)

In an alternate-reality version of the 1950’s, The Soviet army has invaded New York and released some undefined biological threat, and a small group of citizens laying low in their small tenement building until it all blows over. Except it doesn’t; rather troubled teen Joanna has come down with a case of “The Darkness”, and what lies within is as dangerous as the threat outside of the building’s walls. Treading the same ground as the films of horror maestro/social commentator George A. romero we get a rather diverse cast, holed up in a close quarters while the world falls to absolute shit around them… and while we definitely get a strong dose of the ol’ horror biz, this flick has a few other things on it’s mind as we delve into isolation, mental health, misogyny and more which takes things in a more realistic and dark direction. This is not a satire, rather a condemnation of various social mores. Thankfully

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 2, 2020
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