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Pool Party Massacre – USA, 2017 – reviews

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‘Worst pool party ever!’

Pool Party Massacre is a 2017 American comedy slasher horror feature film written, co-produced and directed by Drew Marvick, making his feature debut. The Floating Eye Films production stars Kristin Noel McKusick, Margaux Neme and Destiny Faith Nelson.

The film’s synth score was provided by Mike Conway. Marc Schoenbach designed the movie’s artwork.

In August 2019, Marvick began an Indiegogo online campaign to raise funding for Pool Party Massacre 2.

Plot:

Blair Winthorpe, a high-maintenance young socialite, is having a pool party while her parents are out of town. However, what should have been a relaxing summer day spent tanning for the girls quickly becomes a blood-soaked nightmare when an unknown guest crashes the party.

The psycho killer finds a garage full of dangerous toys and gets to work stalking and dismembering the guests, one by one…

Reviews [click links to read more]:

The kills are mostly on-screen and the crimson gushes steadily, all while the film plays out on the smallest of budgets. Sure, there’s the odd continuity and technical related issue, as well as a sizeable chunk of dialogue that I didn’t care for. Certain jokes come off as plain awkward and not funny, but this is still a freaking stellar effort by Drew, his cast and crew.” Adam the Movie God

“The motive for this epic bloodbath isn’t revealed until the end, and even though you may think you have it figured out, they throw in a little twist! Overall, Pool Party Massacre is everything you want in a slasher film and more. It has plenty of the 3 B’s (beer, boobs, and blood) to keep you entertained throughout the film.” Horror Geek Life

“It is really good, fun characters and great kills and it is just a good time. The title sequence at the beginning is 8-bit like an old NES video game which kind of spoils some things in the movie, but who the f*ck cares. Pool Party Massacre delivers and is 100% Indie Horror Gold!” Ray Marek III, The Horror Syndicate

 …it embraces the very nature of being an ode to slasher films and runs the material to the max. It’s the charm and simplistic sincerity that carries it through its brisk eighty-minute running time. I can beat up on the lousy acting, the bloated dialogue, the lack of any sense of friendship among the characters and yet still kind of be okay with recommending the title.” Horror Talk

“From the opening 8-bit credits ringing those ’80s nostalgic bells set to some kick-ass metal tunes to the synthesizer score, and the twist at the end I didn’t even see coming, Pool Party Massacre pleasantly surprised me by surpassing all expectations for the movie. It’s an all-around fun time horror flick, perfect for a Friday night movie party with friends…” Patti Pauli, iHorror

” …one of the most entertaining no-budget films ever made. The clear direction that Marvick has given each of the girls is to ramp the bitchiness up to eleven on the dial. The results are thoroughly hilarious – the Vinegar Stroke scene had me rolling in laughter in my seat.” Richard Scheib, Moria

“It pretty much follows the standard tropes of the slasher subgenre, except the third act is slightly different. It would be labeled as more horror-comedy than a straight horror movie, as it is built more for laughs than scares. The dialogue and situations are chock full of sexual content, pop culture references, and rich girl attitude that the viewers will either love or hate.” The Movie Sleuth

“Storywise, Pool Party Massacre is a fairly standard campy slasher film, but don’t take that to mean that it’s predictable. There are some nice twists and turns along the way, some of which I was able to figure out and some that caught me off guard. The motive for the killings is completely stupid and borders on nonsensical, which actually works pretty well with the tone of the movie.” Pop Horror

” …the film is also no exercise in mere imitation and does not rely on cynically referencing the films it harks back to (although the opening shot does include a nice little nod to Wes Craven’s often overlooked Shocker). Singularly dedicated to delivering a slasher flick in the form of its base elements, Pool Party Massacre is admirable in its commitment to its own simplicity…” Kevan Farrow, Scream magazine

“This style of slasher subscribes to the logic, agreed upon many years ago, that the main focus should be horrible people dying horrible deaths. And, in this way, Pool Party Massacre more than delivers–the characters are so hideously self-absorbed they don’t even notice anyone is dead. Meanwhile, the payoff to the whole thing is original, clever and super-funny.” Joey Keog, Wicked Horror

“In the tradition of the best entries in this sub-genre, the kills are imaginative and high in number. Furthermore, the depictions, as well as the opening credits sequence, capture the tone of the piece brilliantly. The result is as much a consistently engaging midnight movie as it is a display of Marvick’s talent behind the lens.” Andrew Buckner, A Word of Dreams

Release:

Terror Films released Pool Party Massacre in the USA on digital platforms on August 17, 2018.

On Friday the 13th, 2018, writer-director Drew Marvick reported on social media that the artwork had caused the DVD to banned in British Asda supermarket stores, apparently due to complaints from customers. It later emerged that this was apparently due to small bloody images on the reverse of the sleeve rather than the front artwork. The movie is currently available via Amazon Prime.

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Silent Night – USA, 2012 – overview and reviews

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‘He knows who’s been naughty’

Silent Night is a 2012 American slasher horror feature film directed by Steven C. Miller (Automaton Transfusion, Under the Bed, Scream of the Banshee) from a screenplay written by Jayson Rothwell. It is a very loose remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984). The movie stars Malcolm McDowell, Jaime King, Donal Logue, Ellen Wong and Rick Skene.

Plot:

Christmas Eve, Cryer, Wisconsin: The normally quiet town is bustling with activity as the residents are getting ready for the big day. The events take place around the town’s annual Santa Parade, which has brought a record number of Santas to town.

Deputy Sheriff Aubrey Bradimore (Jamie King) is reluctantly stuck working the night shift, dealing with all of the drunken Santas, road closures, and stressed out locals — but things are about to take a deadly turn. A vicious serial killer, dressed as Santa Claus, has made his own “naughty list” and anyone on it is in big trouble.

As the body count rises, Aubrey races to discover the killer’s true identity – but in a town full of Santas, shady characters and dark secrets, finding the real murderer will take more than a Christmas miracle…

Reviews [may contain spoilers]:

” …the revelation of the killer is a supreme letdown. It doesn’t ruin the movie, but it always feels a bit like a tainted experience when a murder mystery can’t stick the landing. That said, up until that point Silent Night has delivered a crazy little present for those of you who enjoy your Yuletide with side of darkly humorous murder and mayhem.” Arrow in the Head

” …Malcolm McDowell is a wonderful addition as the sheriff and Ellen Wong is good in her supporting role as the pretty and sarcastic police station receptionist Brenda. In all, this is a movie that in many ways improves on its predecessor, though that film does hold more of a special place in my black heart. Silent Night is a fun, bloody, and wild entry in the Christmas horror film subgenre.” Horrorfreak News

“Slasher films of late seem to have forgotten that they ought to be gory, outrageous and fun. Miller’s entry is the perfect example of these three elements and for that it deserves to be seen. There was criticism that it didn’t bring anything new to the table, but with so many failed attempts at updating the template, I for one was just relieved to see things done the right way.” A Slash Above…

“Logue is largely wasted as a Santa with a bad attitude, but King manages to keep a straight face as the put-upon heroine and Ellen Wong (from Scott Pilgrim) is a nice diversion in her rather marginalised role, and McDowell simply chews his way through every scene, relishing the assholery of his character. Fun, but fleeting and slight…” Vegan Voorhees

” …despite having a solid cast and magnificent horror kills, Silent Night does lack a little pizzazz that might have deemed Miller’s film an instant overnight cult classic […] These aren’t make or break moments, but inconsistencies throughout the film bring unintended humor even when the script doesn’t call for it.” We Got This Covered

Main cast:

  • Malcolm McDowell … Sheriff Cooper – Rob Zombie’s Halloween
  • Jaime King … Deputy Sheriff Aubrey Bradimore – Sin City, My Bloody Valentine 3D; The Tripper
  • Donal Logue … Santa Jim – Shark Night 3D, Blade
  • Rick Skene … Ronald Jones Jr. / Ronald Jones Sr.
  • Ellen Wong … Brenda
  • Andrew Cecon … Deputy Giles
  • Courtney-Jane White … Tiffany
  • Erik J. Berg … Dennis (as Erik Berg)
  • Tom Anniko … Mayor Revie
  • Mike O’Brien … Stein Karsson
  • Curtis Moore … Reverend Madeley
  • Adriana O’Neil … Mom
  • John B. Lowe … Dad
  • Ali Tataryn … Alana Roach
  • Brendan Fehr … Deputy Jordan – Final Destination
  • Cruise Brown … Ronald Jones Jr. as a boy
  • Clayton T. Stewart … Fake Santa #1
  • Aaron Hughes … Frank
  • Kelly Wolfman … Goldie Wallace
  • Cortney Palm … Maria – Zombeavers
  • John G. Carbone … Joe
  • Brian Richardson … Mr McKenzie
  • Lisa Marie … Mrs Morwood – Sleepy Hollow
  • Jessica Cameron … Nurse
  • James Juce … Bartender
  • Doreen Brownstone … Old Lady in Church
  • Lane Styles … Mindy Lu (as Lane Thiessen Styles)
  • Laura Cartlidge … Bratty Girl
  • Raychell Ruff … Regular Jane

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Slash Dance – USA, 1989 – overview and reviews

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‘Save the last dance… for Hell!’

Slash Dance – aka Slashdance – is a 1989 American horror thriller feature film written and directed by James Shyman (Hollywood’s New Blood). The movie stars Cindy Ferda, James Carroll Jordan and J. Buzz Von Ornsteiner.

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Plot:

In Hollywood, a female cop goes undercover as a dancer at an old theatre to catch a serial killer who has been murdering women auditioning for a musical…

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Reviews [click links to read more]:

“There are a lot of red herrings tossed around, along with a lot of big hair, acid-washed denim, horrible acting and downright retarded storytelling. This movie also tries to inject a lot of really unfunny, inappropriate humor throughout, which gives it a schizophrenic feel as it switches back and forth from wacky high jinks to musical montages to serious violence, all without batting an eyelash.” CHUD.com

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Slashdance is an utterly avoidable effort that fails to deliver as a slasher, as a comedy or even as a dance movie. There’s really nothing to recommend here and its best avoided.” A Slash Above…

Slash Dance dancers 1989

Slash Dance is very bad, and I don’t really think it’s even much of a curiosity for slasher fans unless you really want to see shoot guns on a firing range, deliver dropkicks, and show off her high-heel throwing prowess. No matter how cool that sounds, it really isn’t. Trash it!” Oh, the Horror!

Slash Dance geek 1989

“The intentional humor is so not funny that it totally travels full-circle and becomes funny again, which is very rare … Look, if you want a decent slasher set in the world of theatre, try Stage Fright or Curtains. But if you just want some fabulously bad direct-to-VHS ’80s-cheesy-style fun, I highly recommend Slash Dance, some friends, and a six-pack.” Final Girl

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“Lots of dancing. Few thrills.” John Stanley, Creature Features

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Main cast:

  • Cindy Ferda
  • James Carroll Jordan
  • J. Buzz Von Ornsteiner
  • Jay Richardson – The Unliving; The Wasp Woman; Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers; et al
  • William Kerr
  • John Bluto
  • Dee Booher [as Queen Kong]
  • Kelle Favara

Choice dialogue:

“Ok, but if I end up looking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame from sleeping on your couch, it’s your fault.”

“It’d like to tap dance, on his head.”

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Death Drop Gorgeous – USA, 2020 – reviews

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‘The boys they come, the boys they go’

Death Drop Gorgeous is a 2020 American slasher horror feature film about a killer slaughtering young gay men via a dating app.

Written and directed by Michael J. Ahern, Christopher Dalpe and Brandon Perras, the movie stars Wayne Gonsalves, Matthew Pidge, Brandon Perras-Sanchez and Michael McAdam.

Plot:

After a failed relationship and business endeavour, Dwayne (Wayne Gonsalves) retreats back to his hometown of Providence, Rhode Island. He reluctantly reaches out to his former boss, sleazy club owner Tony Two-Fingers (Brandon Perras-Sanchez), for any bartending shift available.

Dwayne secures a meagre Tuesday night shift but finds the venue isn’t the same he remembers. A new gaggle of drag queens now reign supreme, and their leader, the young and beautiful Janet Fitness (Matthew Pidge) has dethroned the club’s relic, Gloria Hole (Michael McAdam/Payton St. James).

As the dejected Dwayne and the ageing Gloria try to survive the hostile nightlife, a masked maniac, luring victims through a dating app, begins slaughtering young gay men from the club, draining them of blood. Worried this will negatively affect business, Tony pays two corrupt detectives (Michael J. Ahern, Sean Murphy) to cover up the carnage and unmask the killer.

However, the investigation unravels as more bodies turn up disfigured and drained. With no leads, the detectives set their sights on Tony’s employees, and everyone is suspect or a possible next victim…

Press blurb:

Death Drop Gorgeous is a grassroots, community-built film that showcases the queer talent of the creative capital of America, Providence, Rhode Island. The project was an ambitious endeavour created by three friends who wanted to make an LGBTQ film that they had never seen before.

It was filmed on weekends and weeknights for over two years, and it is a passion project in every sense of the word. It’s a love letter to their city. It’s about protecting queer spaces and elders. And it’s about the very real monsters within the community.”

Linnea Quigley has a cameo role

Reviews [click links to read more]:

” …the final act is when we are hit with the bulk of the horror. There are some unexpected plot twists, an iconic scream queen makes a brief cameo without distracting us, and the killer’s performance is an absolute hoot, rising to the occasion for this gay slasher comedy’s campy tone.” Boys, Bears & Scares

Death Drop Gorgeous is a wonderfully vampy, zany and sickening clash between three walks of life. Predators, prey and primadonna drag divas. Between the horror and drama, you’ll find tidbits of comedy, real-world themes, and supernatural elements. Plus, whoever cast this movie gets my applause for hiring the actors who filled the hot cop roles with breathtaking fashion.” Horror Society

Technical details:

103 minutes

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When a Killer Calls – USA, 2006 – reviews and movie free to watch online

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‘The stranger on the phone… is in your house!’

When a Killer Calls is a 2006 American horror-thriller feature film about a babysitter that begins receiving threatening phone calls from a man.

Directed by Peter Mervis (Snakes on a Train; Dead Men Walking) from a screenplay written by Steve Bevilacqua (War of the Worlds 2: The Next WaveSupercroc; Hillside Cannibals), The Asylum production stars Rebekah Kochan, Robert Buckley, Mark Irvingsen and Sarah Hall.

The movie is a mockbuster take on When a Stranger Calls (2006), itself a remake of the 1979 chiller of the same name.

Reviews [click links to read more]:

“Do not, under any circumstances, rent this abomination of film making. I’m giving it my highest condemnation: it makes Manos: The Hands of Fate seem tolerable. I’ll have to go through my previous 200 plus posts, but I believe that’s a first for The DTVC.” Direct to Video Connoisseur

“it’s better than the movie it was created to cash in on, so that’s gotta be worth something. It’s pointless to say “If they had just done this or that then it would be a good movie” because it’s pretty obvious that any merit an Asylum film has is purely by either accident and if they were really interested in making good movies they probably could have made one by now.” Horror Movie a Day

“The only daring instance that occurs here is that there are two on-screen murders of young children, a taboo usually not crossed even in the pits of exploitation horror, but that doesn’t make it a good film. As it is, it’s backed into a corner by the number of cliches it depends on. Let’s see a babysitter film where it’s a guy looking after the kids for a change.” Vegan Voorhees

” …the finale feels like it’s trying much too hard for that ‘disturbing and unsettling’ feel […] Plus the entire explanation for the killer is pretty ridiculous with us not getting enough back story for it to make any sort of impact. When A Killer Calls isn’t great, but it is watchable…” The Video Graveyard

Cast and characters:

  • Rebekah Kochan … Trisha
  • Robert Buckley … Matt
  • Mark Irvingsen … The Madman
  • Sarah Hall … Chrissy
  • Christian Hutcherson … Ryan Hewitt
  • Derek Osedach … Frank
  • Carissa Bodner … Molly
  • John Rasile … Gianluca
  • Chriss Anglin … Mr Walker
  • Tara Clark … Mrs Walker
  • Louis Graham … Charlie
  • Isabella Bodnar … Mrs Hewitt
  • Cheyenne Watts … Girl Victim
  • Peter Mervis … Police Officer
  • Leigh Scott … Police Officer

Filming locations:

  • Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino National Forest, California

Technical details:

  • 91 minutes
  • Audio: Dolby Digital
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35: 1

The post When a Killer Calls – USA, 2006 – reviews and movie free to watch online appeared first on MOVIES & MANIA.

Alone in the Dark – USA, 1982 – overview and reviews

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‘They’re out… for blood! Don’t let them find you’

Alone in the Dark is a 1982 American slasher horror feature film directed by Jack Sholder (editor of The Burning and future director of A Nightmare on Elm Street 2, The Hidden, Wishmaster 2 and Arachnid) from a screenplay co-written with Robert Shaye. It was one the first movies to be produced by Shaye’s New Line Cinema and is notable for the presence of three veteran lead actors: Jack Palance, Donald Pleasence and Martin Landau and for a nightmare sequence with special effects by Tom Savini.

Plot:

Doctor Dan Potter is the replacement for Doctor Harry Merton, a psychiatrist at Doctor Leo Bain’s psychiatric haven. Doctor Bain operates the haven through very lenient methods, referring to the patients as “voyagers” and keeping the most dangerous “voyagers” contained with electrically-activated security mechanisms instead of bars.

alone in the dark donald pleasence

The aforementioned third floor patients (paranoid former POW Frank Hawkes, pyromaniac preacher Byron Sutcliff, obese child molester Ronald Elster, and homicidal maniac John “Bleeder” Skaggs) initially treat Doctor Potter with mixed hostility. At their first meeting, Hawkes nearly explodes at Doctor Potter as he leaves, but calms down before giving a reason for his outburst.

At night, however, Hawkes states to the others that “the new doctor killed Harry Merton, and now he wants to kill us”. The others believe him (aside from Skaggs, who hides his face throughout the film, this time burying his head in his pillow), and agree to help him kill Doctor Potter. They plan to do this on the outside…

alone in the dark martin landau postman

Reviews [click links to read more]:

“There’s a moderate amount of gore […] What it does have, are some strikingly lunatic performances, some choice suspense and scares and a strong script. For a lot of people, that is more than enough. This 80’s horror entry is an unappreciated hidden gem and highly recommended.” Cool Ass Cinema

“Sometimes predicable, the convenient plot situations set up one dangerous scenario after the other, and a good amount of shocks are on hand, with significant doses of gore (even Tom Savini contributes a nasty looking zombie during a brief hallucination sequence). Though the story can be uneven, Sholder’s direction is evenly paced, and the rest of the acting is very good…” DVD Drive-In

” … well worth a look if you’re out to check out something a little different. It isn’t a very gory film, but it does feature some nice, visceral death scenes and mutilations. Furthermore, there are quite a few jump scares that will startle you from time to time.” Oh, the Horror!

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“The lack of serious gore in Alone In The Dark is due to a “falling out” between Sholder and the special fx guy. One death is never really resolved due to this, but Sholder was able to bring in some guy named Savini for one of the better jump scares.” Retro Slashers

“The tone threatens towards the reactionary, with liberal views no match for the criminally insane, and anti-nuclear demonstrations leading to personal endangerment, but it’s really the old Straw Dogs or Hills Have Eyes message about supposedly civilised people easily descending into savagery that’s at work here. The twist is none too well concealed, either.”  The Spinning Image

“While there are those who undoubtedly have kinder thoughts on this one, the occasional touches of humor seemed awkward & ineffective, and undermine any tension director Sholder might have created. Of course, anything with screen veterans Palance and Landau as psychotic inmates on the loose isn’t without its own… strange and offbeat rewards.” The Terror Trap

Alone in the Dark may come disguised as a slasher movie but actually, it’s a pitch-black comedy, with a lot of the humor coming from the contrast between Dan’s rationality, Bain’s nonstop optimism, and the fact that everyone else in the film is literally batshit insane.  The final siege is a masterpiece of suspense and Palance, van Lidth, and especially Martin Landau are memorably frightening in their menacing roles.” Through the Shattered Lens

“It would seem as if Sholder was trying to avoid the standard conventions of other slasher films by concentrating more on the killers’ joint psyche while imitating moments from other movies and steering away from long, tedious stalking sequences. On the whole Alone In the Dark succeeds in creating a good diversion from the usual garb…” Vegan Voorhees

alone in the dark phallic knife in bed

“… an above average entry in the already crowded maniacs-on-the-loose sub-genre, thanks to its tight, crisp look, imaginative use of sound, excellent playing by its veteran cast, and a nice line in humour.” The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror 

“What could’ve been a misfire actually rises above its occasional silliness and the odd chaotic scene to be a competently made effort that has enough decent twists and a name cast to carry it. There’s a good (if out of place) opening, a Friday the 13th in-joke, a nice throat-ripping with a garden tool and a cool scene involving a baseball bat and cleaver.” The Video Graveyard

 


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alone in the dark palance pleasence landau

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Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Cast and characters:

  • Jack Palance … Frank Hawkes
  • Donald Pleasence … Doctor Leo Bain
  • Martin Landau … Byron ‘Preacher’ Sutcliff
  • Dwight Schultz … Doctor Dan Potter
  • Erland van Lidth … Ronald ‘Fatty’ Elster
  • Deborah Hedwall … Nell Potter
  • Lee Taylor-Allan … Toni Potter
  • Phillip Clark … Tom Smith / Skaggs
  • Elizabeth Ward … Lyla Potter
  • Brent Jennings … Ray Curtis
  • Gordon Watkins … Detective Burnett
  • Carol Levy … Bunky
  • Keith Reddin … Billy
  • Annie Korzen … Marissa Hall
  • Lin Shaye … Receptionist at Haven
  • Dorothy Dorian James … Mom
  • John Weissman … Bicycle Messenger
  • Jana Schneider … Spaced-out Girl at Club
  • Robert Pastner … Customer in Diner
  • Larry Pine … Doctor Harry Merton
  • Frederick Coffin … Jim Gable
  • Mallory Millett … Anchorwoman (as Mallory Jones)
  • Laura Esterman … Woman Voyager
  • Michael Earl Reid … Cursing Voyager (as Earl Michael Reid)
  • Paula Raflo … Voyager
  • Steve Dash … Doctor Barkin (as Steven Daskawisz)
  • Michael Medeiros … Club Manager (as Michael Medieros)
  • E.D. Phillips … Jailer
  • Norman Beim … Cop at Haven
  • Ken Burns … Cop at House
  • Ralph Corrado Jr. … Looter
  • The Sic F*cks … Themselves

Filming locations:

Englewood, Hillsdale, Newark and Ridgewood, New Jersey

Technical details:

92 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.85: 1
Audio: Dolby

Image credits: Wrong Side of the Art!

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Silent Night, Bloody Night – USA, 1972 – reviews and full film online to watch

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‘The mansion. The madness. The maniac. No escape.’

Silent Night, Bloody Night is a 1972 American horror feature film directed by Theodore Gershuny (Sugar Cookies) from a screenplay co-written with Jeffrey Konvitz (The Sentinel) and Ira Teller. Future Troma head honcho, Lloyd Kaufman was an associate producer.

The movie was filmed with the working title Zora, before being titled Night of the Dark Full Moon and released very sporadically in 1972. It was re-released in 1974 as Silent Night, Bloody Night (the title by which it is best known) and again during the 1981 horror boom as Deathouse (Death House on most advertising). 

Buy DVD: Amazon.com

The film stars Patrick O’Neal and Mary Woronov in leading roles, with John Carradine in a supporting performance. Many of the cast and crew members were former Andy Warhol collaborators: Mary Woronov, Ondine, Candy Darling, Kristen Steen, Tally Brown, Lewis Love, filmmaker Jack Smith and artist Susan Rothenberg.

Plot:

People trying to sell an isolated mansion with a dark history in Massachusetts are being stalked and killed by an escaped maniac. But who is this deranged murderer and why do the local townspeople act so strange?

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Reviews [click links to read more]:

“As far as 70’s drive-in cheapies go, Silent Night, Bloody Night has a lot of unexpected suspense, directorial skill, and style. Obviously, it’s not without its issues, there’s some stiff performances and the long-winded, freeze-framed expository parts aren’t exactly filmic but nitpicking a film like SNBN seems feeble when the foundation is so strong.” Another Night In

“Despite including acting heavyweights such as John Carradine in Silent Night, Bloody Night what we are given is ultimately a cast of forgettable characters remiss of emotional depth or conviction. Notwithstanding a genuinely artistic final act, after its weapon-wielding kills and yarn of plot there is little left to enjoy, although some might find that this is enough to keep them watching for 85 minutes, as it did indeed me on this occasion.” Attack from Planet B

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“The fitfully interesting film contains some nicely atmospheric moments and some fairly shocking gore.” The Horror Film

“A gory and gripping exploiter that looks a lot better but it’s obviously low-budget, thanks to atmospheric direction and very effective cinematography.” Alan Frank, The Horror Film Handbook

“Silent Night, Bloody Night is a painfully slow affair, plotted for maximum irritation, with a deferred mystery structure that will have you screaming with impatience after the first hour. Gershuny shows some visual style, as seen in isolated arty shots here and there, but he directs in ponderous mood, patching over events he can’t properly elaborate with snippets of tiresome voiceover (and the post-synch recording is poor for an American film…” Stephen Thrower, Nightmare USA: The Untold Story of the Exploitation Independents

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

This movie has it all–it’s ambitious, gothic, disturbing, atmospheric, scary, twisty, a whole lot of fun to watch–oh, and well acted, written, and directed…If Night of the Living Dead set the standard for zombie flicks to come, Silent Night, Bloody Night set the standard for approximately every slasher flick that followed. Nearly every scene (and plot device and technique) is ripped off by later films, even by classics of the genre…’ Hysteria Lives

Silent-Night-Bloody-Night

“Surreal and sometimes confusing film…” Brian Albright, Regional Horror Films, 1958 – 1990

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

Choice dialogue:

John Carter: “You know, one of the great pleasures in life is the pleasure of anticipating pleasure. Isn’t it?”

Cast and characters:

  • Patrick O’Neal as John Carter
  • James Patterson as Jeffrey Butler
  • Mary Woronov as Diane Adams
  • Astrid Heeren as Ingrid
  • John Carradine as Charlie Towman
  • Walter Abel as Mayor Adams
  • Fran Stevens as Tess Howard
  • Walter Klavun as Sheriff Bill Mason
  • Philip Bruns as Wilfred Butler (1929) (as Phillip Bruns)
  • Staats Cotsworth as Wilfred Butler (voice)
  • Jay Garner as Doctor Robinson
  • Donelda Dunne as Marianne Butler (age 15)
  • Michael Pendry as Doctor
  • Lisa Blake Richards as Maggie Daly
  • Grant Code as Wilfred Butler (age 80)
  • Debbie Parness as Marianne Butler (age 8)
  • Charlotte Fairchild as Guest
  • Barbara Sand as Guest
  • Candy Darling as Guest
  • Ondine as Inmate
  • Tally Brown as Inmate
  • Lewis Love as Inmate
  • Harvey Cohen as Inmate
  • Hetty MacLise as Inmate
  • George Trakas as Inmate
  • Susan Rothenberg as Inmate
  • Cleo Young as Inmate
  • Kristeen Steen as Inmate
  • Jack Smith as Inmate
  • Leroy Lessane as Inmate
  • Bob Darchi as Inmate

deathhouse

Filming locations:

Shooting began on 30 November 1970, Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York

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Blu-ray and DVD releases: April 2020

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Here is our selection of the Blu-ray and DVD discs being released in the USA in April 2020. For movies that we have covered on our site, there are links for further information. Otherwise, click on the Amazon link(s).

April 7th, 2020:

Camp Cold Brook (Shout Factory Blu-ray) Amazon.com

Camp Cold Brook (Shout Factory DVD) – Amazon.com

Knives and Skin (Shout Factory Blu-ray) – Amazon.com


Supernatural (1933) (Kino Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Terror Train (Scorpion Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

April 14th, 2020:

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (Shout Factory Blu-ray) – Amazon.com


Death Kappa (Media Blasters Tenth Anniversary Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Eye See You (MVD Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

The Golem: How He Came Into the World (Blu-ray Kino Classics) – Amazon.com

The Golem: How He Came Into the World (DVD Kino Classics) – Amazon.com

Gutterballs (Unearthed Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Gutterballs (Unearthed DVD) – Amazon.com

Gutterballs (Limited Collector’s Edition) (Unearthed Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Hi-8 (Wild Eye Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Raiga, God of the Monsters (SRS Cinema DVD) – Amazon.com

Red Letter Day (Dread Central Epic Pictures Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

The Wind (Arrow Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

April 21st, 2020:

Al Adamson: The Masterpiece Collection (Severin Blu-ray Box Set) includes Blood & Flesh: The Reel Life & Ghastly Death of Al Adamson, The Female Bunch, Psycho a Go-Go, The Fiend with the Electric Brain, Blood of Ghastly Horror, Half Way to Hell, Five Bloody Graves, Blood of Dracula’s Castle, Horror of the Blood Monsters, The Fakers, Hell’s Bloody Devils, Dracula vs. Frankenstein, Brain of Blood, Satan’s Sadists, Angel’s Wild Women, The Naughty Stewardesses, Blazing Stewardesses, Girls For Rent, Jessi’s Girls, Nurses for Sale, Black Heat, The Dynamite Brothers, Mean Mother, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Black Samurai, Death Dimension, Sunset Cove, Cinderella 2000, Nurse Sherri, Carnival Magic, and Lost – Amazon.com

Blood & Flesh: The Reel Life & Ghastly Death of Al Adamson (Severin Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Blood & Flesh: The Reel Life & Ghastly Death of Al Adamson (Severin DVD) – Amazon.com

The Curse of the Werewolf (Shout Factory Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Fatal Attraction (4K Remaster) (Paramount Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Ultraman X: The Complete Series & Movie (Mill Creek Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Ultraman X: The Movie (Mill Creek Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Why Don’t You Just Die? (Arrow Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

April 28th, 2020:

The Back Lot Murders (Dark Force) – Amazon.com

Cop Killers + Project: Kill (Dark Force Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Deadline (1980) (Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray + DVD) – Amazon.com

Dolly Dearest (Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray + DVD)

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (Arrow Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Forgotten Gialli: Vol. One (Vinegar Syndrome) includes The Killer is One of Thirteen, Trauma, and The Police are Blundering in the Dark

God’s Bloody Acre + So Sad About Gloria (Dark Force Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Guns Akimbo (Lionsgate Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Kill or Be Killed (Dark Force Blu-ray) – Amazon.com


The Lost Continent (Shout Factory Blu-ray) – Amazon.com

Malabimba: Uncensored (Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray + DVD) – Amazon.com

Olivia aka Double Jeopardy (Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray + DVD) – Amazon.com

P.O. Tinto Brass (Cult Epics) – Amazon.com

Pale Blood (Vinegar Syndrome)

Shatter (Shout Factory) – Amazon.com

Thanks to Cinema Arcana

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Murder by Decree – Canada | UK, 1978 – overview and reviews

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‘1888: Jack the Ripper stalks the streets of London…’

Murder by Decree is a 1978 Canadian-British horror feature film about Sherlock Holmes investigating the true-life Jack the Ripper murders.

Co-produced and directed by Bob Clark (Black Christmas; Deathdream; Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things) from a screenplay written by John Hopkins (The Holcroft Covenant; Thunderball) based on characters created by Arthur Conan Doyle and the books The Ripper File by Elwyn Jones and John Lloyd and Jack the Ripper – The Final Solution by Stephen Knight.

The movie stars Christopher Plummer (Knives Out; Vampire in Venice; The Pyx; et al), James Mason (Salem’s Lot 1979; Frankenstein: The True Story), David Hemmings, (The Survivor; Thirst; Deep Red), Susan Clarke, Anthony Quayle, John Gielgud, Frank Finlay (Lifeforce; Twisted Nerve; The Deadly Bees), Donald Sutherland and Geneviève Bujold.

Sherlock Holmes has previously encountered Jack the Ripper in A Study in Terror (1965). A similar Royal Family conspiracy theme was explored in From Hell (2001).

New Blu-ray release:

Murder by Decree will be released by on Blu-ray in the USA by Kino Lorber Studio Classics on June 23rd 2020. The disc features a 2019 high-definition master by StudioCanal. Buy via Amazon.com

  • Audio commentary by film historians Howard S. Berger and Steve Mitchell (new)
  • Audio commentary by director Bob Clark
  • Theatrical trailer

Reviews [click links to read more]:

” …the film’s cinematography is overtly stylised in other respects. This isn’t just a foggy London, it’s a soft-focus, smeary one. But Clark makes a lot of other, better choices, particularly with the cast. Christopher Plummer and James Mason are Clark’s Holmes and Watson, and they manage to create a fairly fresh, but very compelling manner for each.” Bleeding Cool

“As a horror film, Murder by Decree is fairly tame and talky, as might be expected. But the tension rarely lifts. Atmosphere is sustained with extending sequences along the dark, twisty, foggy cobblestone streets of 1888 London […] As a mystery, and as a serious treatment of the Whitechapel murders, the film is excellent.” David Elroy Goldweber, Claws & Saucers

Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

” …the film has a vivid period touch, with plenty of clever staging and off-kilter angles, and even some dark humor (such as the scene in which Holmes helps Watson capture the last pea on his plate). But the real selling point of this movie is the villain: Jack the Ripper. An excellent cast helps round things out.” Combustible Celluloid

“Although it is well-trodden ground – even back in 1978 – and the plot is a tricky-to-follow tangled web in the intelligent screenplay by John Hopkins, this is an outstanding version of the tale, packed with Victorian East End London atmosphere, suspense and realism.” Derek Winnert

” …takes a popular what-if scenario, Jack the Ripper vs. Sherlock Holmes […] combines that scenario with period production design (the grimy backstreets of London’s East End) and atmospheric cinematography, adds credible, charismatic performances by Christopher Plummer as Sherlock Holmes and James Mason as Dr Watson, into an intelligent, suspenseful, if flawed, film examination of the abuses and corruption inherent in unchecked, autocratic power.” e-Film Critic

Murder by Decree will no doubt continue to divide viewers, particularly those with special interests in either Holmes, the Ripper or both. But despite its flaws, it remains a powerful thriller, its conspiracy as convincingly sketched as is possible given how outlandishly silly it is (don’t think about it too much or it simply crumbles away to nothing) and the fantastic cast are worth the price of admission alone.” EOFFTV

Murder By Decree is not exactly helped by the casting of Christopher Plummer who makes a colourless Sherlock Holmes. That said, James Mason fares far better and gives a superbly droll performance as Dr Watson. Director Bob Clark plays up the atmosphere well, creating a densely fog-laden London of narrow streets with some claustrophobic chill.” Moria

“While the film is never particularly frightening, Clark displays a workmanlike ability to create an atmosphere of palpable dread. Even seedy cod-Victorian London during the day, with its ever-shifting light patterns and labyrinthine streets, is given a sense of shuddery menace. The widescreen transfer highlights the judicious use of Steadicam and the seamless combination of sets, locations and miniatures give the film a vintage, handmade feel.” Pop Matters

“With a running time of 124 minutes and not much plot to fill it, the pacing on Murder by Decree occasionally drags as certain scenes are allowed to run far longer than they should, but it’s a small price to pay to watch a cast of acting greats performing marvelously under the stewardship of a director who always seemed to be more at home making gripping thrillers like this…” Rock! Shock! Pop!

“The film wields a dedication to evoking an intensely physical sense of decaying environments that was a particularly strong trait of late ‘70s cinema, turning that evocation into a kind of cosmic paradigm with Whitechapel becoming a battleground where class war is enacted in the apparel of psychotic monstrosity. The feeling of voyeuristic malignancy and reactionary madness infesting like mould blight that Clark articulated so well in Black Christmas resurges…” This Island Rod

“Although it’s a neat idea, I wonder how good a match the classic detective and the real-life serial killer are, for they are at odds with each other. The reason the Ripper endures in both history and fiction is that he was never caught and therefore comes with a lot of baggage about nineteenth-century social hypocrisy, the failings of the authorities and plain and simple chills.” The Spinning Image

“Stellar performances from all involved here, especially from Plummer who lends Holmes just the right degree of pragmatism, painted with a thoughtful sensitivity we haven’t necessarily seen in the character before. Director Bob Clark does a magnificent job of recreating Victorian-era London, complemented by a classy score from composer Paul Zaza.” The Terror Trap

“There is action aplenty, especially as the film nears its conclusion. The highlight, a dockside battle wherein Holmes wields a lethal weight tied to his scarf, is exhilarating. Christopher Plummer and James Mason are excellent as Holmes and Watson, as is the first-rate supporting cast. Though the script is a bit dense and the film slightly overlong, it’s exciting and engrossing on all levels.” TV Guide

“While the overlong story may get you to squirm in your seat a little at times, there are some other compensations not previously mentioned that do distract you from being too annoyed at the movie’s length […] Period detail looks fine, from the costumes and props to the real-life London locations chosen to shoot on.” The Unknown Movies

Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.com

Cast and characters:

  • Christopher Plummer … Sherlock Holmes
  • James Mason … Doctor John H. Watson
  • David Hemmings … Inspector Foxborough
  • Susan Clark … Mary Kelly
  • Anthony Quayle … Sir Charles Warren
  • John Gielgud … Prime Minister Lord Salisbury
  • Frank Finlay … Inspector Lestrade
  • Donald Sutherland … Robert Lees
  • Geneviève Bujold … Annie Crook
  • Chris Wiggins … Doctor Hardy
  • Tedde Moore … Mrs Lees (as Teddi Moore)
  • Peter Jonfield … William Slade
  • Roy Lansford … Sir Thomas Spivey
  • Catherine Kessler … Carrie
  • Ron Pember … Makins
  • June Brown … Anne Chapman
  • Ken Jones … Dock Guard
  • Terry Duggan … Danny
  • Hilary Sesta … Catherine Eddowes
  • Anthony May … Lanier
  • Betty Woolfe … Mrs Dobson
  • Iris Fry … Elizabeth Stride
  • Geoffrey Russell … Home Secretary Henry Matthews
  • Peggy Ann Clifford … Lees’ Housekeeper
  • Ann Mitchell … Jane
  • Katherine Stark … Molly
  • Elaine Ives-Cameron … Ellen (as Elaine Ives Cameron)
  • Stella Courtney … Betty
  • Judy Wilson … Emily
  • Roy Pattison … Carroll
  • Victor Langley … Prince of Wales
  • Pamela Abbott … Princess Alexandra
  • Robin Marchal … Duke of Clarence
  • Richard Pescud … Doctor (as Richard Pescuid)
  • Pat Brackenbury … Nurse
  • Dan Long … Constable Long
  • Michael Cashman … Constable Watkins
  • Tony Clarkin … Police Sergeant (uncredited)
  • Peter Dean … Police Constable (uncredited)
  • Norman Gay … Distinguished gentleman (uncredited)
  • Jim McManus … Policeman (uncredited)

Technical credits:

  • 124 minutes
  • MetrocolorAspect ratio: 1.85: 1
  • Audio: Mono

Related:

“From Hell…” Jack the Ripper on Screen – article

Some image credits: This Island Rod

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For Jennifer – USA, 2018 – overview and reviews

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For Jennifer is a 2018 American horror feature film about the titular character’s search for answers to the whole Jennifer franchise conundrum.

Written and directed by Jody Barton (actor in Blood Craft; Ugly Sweater Party; 13/13/13; et al), the movie stars Dominique Swain, Tiffani Fest, Felissa Rose, Rich Finley, Hunter Johnson, Meghan Deanna Smith and Charles Chudabala.

Review:

To Jennifer (2013) kicked off this franchise from James Cullen Bressack (Blood Craft; Bethany; Blood Lake) who shot the entire film via an iPhone 5 – the first of its kind. Influenced by found footage terror flicks, To Jennifer documents the story of Joey, a scorned boyfriend who sets out to find and confront his cheating girlfriend, Jennifer, which leads to some intensely frightening results.

The sequel, 2Jennifer (2016), introduced the viewers to Spencer (Hunter Johnson, who also wrote and directed this), an aspiring young filmmaker who claimed to have Bressack’s blessing for this new movie about a sainted Jennifer as seen through his eyes. Unfortunately, Spencer being a highly unhinged psychopath took the film down a very dark path leaving a bloody trail of carnage behind.

From Jennifer (by Frank Merle) took a completely different turn by way of the new Jennifer (Danielle Taddei) – an overly ambitious actress who is willing to do anything for internet fame and domination. By enlisting a “bodyguard” and holding crazy casting calls, From Jennifer proved to be ample and enigmatic fun.

Jody Barton, who has appeared in a few of the previous Jennifer films, puts the final puzzle together in a collaborative strategy to connect all the dots from To Jennifer to current day with For Jennifer.

As the gang celebrates Jennifer’s (Tiffani Fest) birthday, a gift left behind is actually a copy of 2Jennifer, introducing the horror blogger to Spencer and his madness while creating that second instalment. Believing it to be completely real, she takes it onto herself to not only make a horror film but go hunt for answers as to who is stalking her with these horrific reinventions of the former Jennifer films.

Collectively, old cast members and storylines return to the threshold in a stirring twist of events, which puts the new Jennifer into a brutal scenario of right vs. wrong and what is the true meaning of sheer horror?

The chaotic ending will not only delight but freak you out in a Walking Dead/Negan premise of “anyone is expendable” – all the while, as laughter ensues. It’s another lively jaunt into the world of Jennifers and dread. Never write off a Jennifer!

Meredith Brown, MOVIES & MANIA

Other reviews:

“If you’re intrigued by metacinema, films that break the fourth wall, and faux-urban legends driven by a “video diary” format colliding with the SOV and found footage genres, you’ll enjoy Jody’s Barton’s debut film that “solves” the Jennifer mystery. For his first time effort—using phones and handicams—it’s a commendable work…” B & S About Movies

For Jennifer takes the franchise full-circle with the support of creator James Cullen Bressack and the filmmakers of the previous films. Jody Barton does a great job bringing everything full circle with a shocking finale that makes this worthy of the franchise.” World Film Geek

Cast and characters:

  • Dominique Swain … Randi
  • Felissa Rose … Jennifer Smith
  • Madeleine Wade … Jamie
  • Lanett Tachel … Stefanie
  • Meghan Deanna Smith … Stephanie Hart
  • Frankie Cullen … Chilli
  • Martin Harris … Martin
  • Rachel Hardisty … Darlene
  • Jennifer Nangle … Jenn
  • Gregory Blair … Greg
  • Tiffani Fest … Jennifer
  • Monika Ekiert … Helena
  • Brittney Grabill … Bridget
  • Danielle Taddei … Jennifer Peterson
  • Don Barris … Don
  • David Biedrzycki … Gus
  • Jody Barton … Doug
  • Charles Chudabala … Charlie
  • Hunter Johnson … Spencer
  • Maryjane Green … Maryjane
  • Noel Jason Scott … Noel
  • Christian Ackerman … Partygoer
  • Lily Thaisz … Tiffany
  • Alexander T. Hwang … Alex
  • Reyna Meree Velarde … Reyna
  • Chuck Pappas … Chuck
  • Audriena Comeaux … Audriena
  • David Wesley Marlowe … Ray
  • Alex Napiwocki … Partygoer
  • Rich Finley … Joey
  • Jeffrey Lee DuPree … Partygoer
  • Jonathan Makabi … Partygoer
  • Hootan Atefyekta … Partygoer
  • Kathleen W. Hwang … Partygoer
  • Eric Hollerbach … Eric
  • Robert Van Guelpen … Scott
  • Paul Stephen Edwards … Paul
  • Adolfo Valdivic … Partygoer
  • James Van Fleet … Partygoer
  • Brian Simpson … Red
  • Nick Kekeris … Gene
  • Rod Vizcaina … Partygoer
  • Jillian Gallagher … Prison operator
  • Gilda DuPree … Partygoer

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When a Killer Calls – USA, 2006 – reviews and free to watch online

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‘The stranger on the phone… is in your house!’

When a Killer Calls is a 2006 American horror-thriller feature film about a babysitter that begins receiving threatening phone calls from a man.

Directed by Peter Mervis (Snakes on a Train; Dead Men Walking) from a screenplay written by Steve Bevilacqua (War of the Worlds 2: The Next WaveSupercroc; Hillside Cannibals), The Asylum production stars Rebekah Kochan, Robert Buckley, Mark Irvingsen and Sarah Hall.

The movie is a mockbuster take on When a Stranger Calls (2006), itself a remake of the 1979 chiller of the same name.

Reviews [click links to read more]:

“Do not, under any circumstances, rent this abomination of film making. I’m giving it my highest condemnation: it makes Manos: The Hands of Fate seem tolerable. I’ll have to go through my previous 200 plus posts, but I believe that’s a first for The DTVC.” Direct to Video Connoisseur

“it’s better than the movie it was created to cash in on, so that’s gotta be worth something. It’s pointless to say “If they had just done this or that then it would be a good movie” because it’s pretty obvious that any merit an Asylum film has is purely by either accident and if they were really interested in making good movies they probably could have made one by now.” Horror Movie a Day

“The only daring instance that occurs here is that there are two on-screen murders of young children, a taboo usually not crossed even in the pits of exploitation horror, but that doesn’t make it a good film. As it is, it’s backed into a corner by the number of cliches it depends on. Let’s see a babysitter film where it’s a guy looking after the kids for a change.” Vegan Voorhees

” …the finale feels like it’s trying much too hard for that ‘disturbing and unsettling’ feel […] Plus the entire explanation for the killer is pretty ridiculous with us not getting enough back story for it to make any sort of impact. When A Killer Calls isn’t great, but it is watchable…” The Video Graveyard

Cast and characters:

  • Rebekah Kochan … Trisha
  • Robert Buckley … Matt
  • Mark Irvingsen … The Madman
  • Sarah Hall … Chrissy
  • Christian Hutcherson … Ryan Hewitt
  • Derek Osedach … Frank
  • Carissa Bodner … Molly
  • John Rasile … Gianluca
  • Chriss Anglin … Mr Walker
  • Tara Clark … Mrs Walker
  • Louis Graham … Charlie
  • Isabella Bodnar … Mrs Hewitt
  • Cheyenne Watts … Girl Victim
  • Peter Mervis … Police Officer
  • Leigh Scott … Police Officer

when-a-killer-calls-under-the-blade-movie-film-horror-2006

Filming locations:

  • Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino National Forest, California

Technical details:

  • 91 minutes
  • Audio: Dolby Digital
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35: 1

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The Hills Run Red – USA, 2009 – reviews and Blu-ray news

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Scream Factory is releasing The Hills Run Red on Blu-ray for the first time on June 16, 2020. The special features will be announced in May.

Meanwhile, here is our previous coverage of this underrated slasher.

The Hills Run Red is a 2009 American slasher horror film directed by Dave Parker (It WatchesThe Dead Hate the Living) from a screenplay written by David J. Schow (Abbatoir; Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III; Critters 3 and 4). Sophie Monk, Tad Hilgenbrink and William Sadler star.

Plot:

Tyler is obsessed with the horror film ‘The Hills Run Red’, considered the scariest movie ever made, with the deranged serial killer Babyface in the lead role. However, the film’s director, Wilson Wyler Concannon, disappeared years ago and there is no known copy of the movie. Tyler’s obsession with the film leads him to neglect his girlfriend Serena.

When Tyler discovers that Concannon’s daughter Alexa works in a nightclub as a stripper, he decides to meet her and ask about the lost film.

He visits Alexa and asks her about the project. As she gives him a nude lap dance, the audience sees Serena cheating on Tyler with their best friend Lalo. Alexa informs Tyler that the movie might be in her father’s home in the woods…

Reviews [click links to read more]:

“Along with being a solid horror entry in its own right, The Hills Run Red pays tribute to the films that inspired it, making it doubly rewarding to fans, who’ll surely smile at the odd reference to yesteryear, all as they’re being terrified anew by the slaughter playing out before their eyes.” 2,500 Movies Challenge

Watch Bloodbath & Beyond review on YouTube

“What starts off as a potential “young people stalked in the woods” flick mutates into something much more original, twisted, sick and plain entertaining around the halfway mark. Once Concannon shows up, very much alive and well, this rollercoaster takes a whole new direction and very soon you’re forced to abandon what you think is going to happen and just sit back for the ride.” Dread Central

“This maniacal, gory, and smart slasher is exactly what we need more of in the sub-genre. While it does try its hand at being a “Scream” wannabe in some instances, that doesn’t affect what is a maddening, sick and entertaining slasher film with a great new slasher, some interesting horror villains, and a wicked premise that provides us with chills, thrills, and gory, gory kills.” Cinema Crazed

The Hills Run Red has a solid and interesting, if not entirely original, premise and a terrifying antagonist in ‘Babyface’ but it suffers from a script that’s not nearly as clever and knowing as it thinks it is and some poor plot development. While not a completely wasted opportunity, given the promise it had it ends up feeling a little too much like the prosaic slasher flick that we’ve seen a million times before.” Gore Press

“The killer, lumbering about the woods in a pretty nifty mask made of a broken dolls face does look pretty intimidating, eerier than your average boogeyman, but he too falls prey to genre clichés towards the end of the picture, where you’ll not be in the least bit surprised even by the ‘twist’ that the filmmakers thrust upon us as the end credits role.” Rock! Shock! Pop!

“While The Hills Run Red isn’t blazingly original, that’s not the point with this film. It’s a flick for film geeks by film geeks, horror film geeks in particular. A lot of times, when a film is too self-referential or pandering to “that 70’s/80’s vibe”, I’m usually coughing into my sleeve by the end of the first reel. But in the case of The Hills Run Red, all the tropes work.” Screen Anarchy

“Really, the biggest knock against The Hills Run Red is that it doesn’t offer anything new; then again, slashers have always been caught up in the conundrum of being criticized when they simply rehash and then bashed when they try something new. This effort plays it safe, and it succeeds in delivering what audiences should expect from it (nudity and gore).” Oh, the Horror!

“It becomes another Texas Chainsaw wannabe with an overabundance of psychos, sleaze, unimpressive motives and a downbeat twist ending. And so it ends up in three-star land, a respectable showing for any B-movie of the stomp-and-kill ilk, perhaps a bit of a disappointment for genre aficionados who were hoping for the mooted next great horror icon…” Vegan Voorhees

“It delivers enough bloody mayhem and twists to keep your interest doing a good enough job to distract you from the fact Schow’s script tries to be a little bit too smart for its own good when attempting to deliver its “taking your art one step too far” message in the finale.” The Video Graveyard

Cast and characters:

  • Sophie Monk as Alexa – Blood Feast [2016]; Life Blood
  • Tad Hilgenbrink as Tyler – Amusement; Lost Boys: The Tribe; Grave Situations
  • William Sadler as Concannon
  • Janet Montgomery as Serina
  • Alex Wyndham as Lalo
  • Ewan Bailey as Sonny
  • Joy McBrinn as Belle
  • Raicho Vasilev as Babyface
  • Mike Straub as Gabe
  • Hristo Mitzkov as Jimbo
  • Ekaterina Temelkova as Sherri
  • Danko Jordanov as Actor Babyface
  • Itai Diakov as Teen Babyface

Filming locations:

Bulgaria

The post The Hills Run Red – USA, 2009 – reviews and Blu-ray news appeared first on MOVIES & MANIA.

Left for Dead aka Devil’s Night – Canada, 2007 – overview and reviews

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‘Death is just the beginning.’

Left for Dead aka Devil’s Night is a 2007 Canadian slasher horror feature film about fraternity students being stalked by a maniac in a Halloween mask.

Written and directed by Christopher Harrison, the Mindscape Films-Nictophobia Films production stars Steve Byers, Danielle Harris (Camp Cold Brook; Inoperable; Camp Dread; Halloween 5; et al), Shawn Roberts (Diary of the Dead; Land of the Dead) and Adam Dirani.

Plot:

The students of a Canadian town throw wild parties full of drugs, love games, and lost inhibitions every year at Halloween.

Unfortunately, one Halloween, an uninvited guest comes for a visit. He wears a Halloween mask while he decimates the pleasure-seekers with a machete.

Tommy, a party-goer, witnesses the murder of his friend Freddy but neither the police nor friends believe him and the corpse has vanished. Tommy harbours a terrible suspicion as the very bloody spectacle continues…

Reviews [click links to read more]:

“It´s a pretty decent contribution to the slasher genre, certainly not one of the better but also not one of the worst. Danielle Harris is, as always, good but she doesn´t have much screentime, there is a good amount of nudity but the plot needs work, it could have been scarier and more gore would have been nice.” Independent Flicks

” …there’s a fair few murders and despite a disappointing lack of gore or suspense, it’s worth watching for the most part. A missed opportunity to be sure, but it’s at least worth a look.” A Slash Above…

“Nobody here really makes much of an impression and I felt that Harris really was only here for name recognition as she drifts in and out of the film notching minimal screen time. Left for Dead is the kind of slasher movie I find myself annoyed at. It’s content to sit there playing copycat while tossing out some mild genre references and offering absolutely nothing of interest.” The Video Graveyard

Cast and characters:

  • Steve Byers … Tommy
  • Danielle Harris … Nancy
  • Shawn Roberts … Clark
  • Adam Dirani … The Mask / Micah
  • Robbie Amell … Blair
  • Daniel Clark … Brady
  • Katrina Devine … Lori
  • John Bregar … Freddy
  • Rebecca Davis … Tanya
  • Boyd Banks … Michael Lymburner
  • Steve Vincic … Detective Brackett
  • JaNae Armogan … Shari (as Janae Armogan)
  • Naomi Hewer … Kara
  • Ryan Louagie … Jay

Filming locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

The post Left for Dead aka Devil’s Night – Canada, 2007 – overview and reviews appeared first on MOVIES and MANIA.

Slash Dance – USA, 1989 – overview and reviews

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SLASHDANCE-FRONT-copy2

‘Save the last dance… for Hell!’

Slash Dance – aka Slashdance – is a 1989 American horror thriller feature film written and directed by James Shyman (Hollywood’s New Blood). The movie stars Cindy Ferda, James Carroll Jordan and J. Buzz Von Ornsteiner.

Slash-Dance-1989

Plot:

In Hollywood, a female cop goes undercover as a dancer at an old theatre to catch a serial killer who has been murdering women auditioning for a musical…

Slash-Dance-victim

Reviews [click links to read more]:

“There are a lot of red herrings tossed around, along with a lot of big hair, acid-washed denim, horrible acting and downright retarded storytelling. This movie also tries to inject a lot of really unfunny, inappropriate humor throughout, which gives it a schizophrenic feel as it switches back and forth from wacky high jinks to musical montages to serious violence, all without batting an eyelash.” CHUD.com

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Slashdance is an utterly avoidable effort that fails to deliver as a slasher, as a comedy or even as a dance movie. There’s really nothing to recommend here and its best avoided.” A Slash Above…

Slash Dance dancers 1989

Slash Dance is very bad, and I don’t really think it’s even much of a curiosity for slasher fans unless you really want to see shoot guns on a firing range, deliver dropkicks, and show off her high-heel throwing prowess. No matter how cool that sounds, it really isn’t. Trash it!” Oh, the Horror!

Slash Dance geek 1989

“The intentional humor is so not funny that it totally travels full-circle and becomes funny again, which is very rare … Look, if you want a decent slasher set in the world of theatre, try Stage Fright or Curtains. But if you just want some fabulously bad direct-to-VHS ’80s-cheesy-style fun, I highly recommend Slash Dance, some friends, and a six-pack.” Final Girl

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“Lots of dancing. Few thrills.” John Stanley, Creature Features

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Main cast:

  • Cindy Ferda
  • James Carroll Jordan
  • J. Buzz Von Ornsteiner
  • Jay Richardson – The Unliving; The Wasp Woman; Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers; et al
  • William Kerr
  • John Bluto
  • Dee Booher [as Queen Kong]
  • Kelle Favara

Choice dialogue:

“Ok, but if I end up looking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame from sleeping on your couch, it’s your fault.”

“It’d like to tap dance, on his head.”

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The Boogey Man – USA, 1980 – reviews

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 ‘It begins with a horrifying killing and then starts to get bloody!’

The Boogey Man – or The Boogeyman on promotional material – and The Bogey Man in the UK – is a 1980 American supernatural slasher feature film written, produced and directed by Ulli Lommel. It stars his wife Suzanna Love, Nicholas Love, Ron James and horror veteran John Carradine.

The excellent synth score is by Tim Krog.

Screen Shot 2014-06-29 at 15.13.32

In 1982, it was followed by Revenge of the Boogeyman aka Boogeyman II which re-used lots of footage from the first film. Lommel later revisited the sequel and released a ‘redux’ director’s version that included even more footage from the 1980 original, plus newly shot scenes of himself talking directly to the camera.

In 1994, he also came up with the confused and confusing Return of the Boogeyman which also includes extensive footage from the original.

Lommel shot a remake/reboot, Boogeyman: Reincarnation for a 2016 release…

The Boogeyman 1980 video nasty (3)

Plot:

A young girl witnesses her brother murder their mother’s lover through a reflection in a mirror.

Twenty years later the mirror is shattered, freeing his evil spirit, which seeks revenge for his death...

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Lommel began his career as an actor in German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s films but in recent years he has become notorious for a long line of direct-to-video movies based on the lives of serial killers, most of which have been critically panned.

The film was given a limited release theatrically in the United States by The Jerry Gross Organization (Fulci’s Zombie; I Spit on Your Grave; Blood Beach) beginning in November 1980. It was subsequently released on VHS by Wizard Video.

The Bogey Man was placed on the British video nasties list in 1984, probably due to its sleazy opening and inventively gory kill scenes, but was later re-released on the Vipco label in 1992 in a cut form. In 2000, it was finally released uncut. On 16th March 2015, British label 88 Films released the film uncut on Blu-ray.

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Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.co.uk

Reviews [click links to read more]:

“Subtlety holds no truck in The Boogey Man; Tim Krog’s synthy score veers between Exorcist-lite cues and Halloween stabs depending which one is being paid “homage” […] That our killer is never seen after his death is an intriguing take; all we hear is heavy breathing and a heartbeat to insinuate the spirit is close by, his fanciful flights invisible to the eye until it’s too late.” Daily Dead

“Certainly worthy of another look, The Boogey Man is one of those films that may fade into darkness for years at a time, but is never really forgotten. Recommended.” Retro Slashers

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“A few unexpected jump scares are moderately amusing, and the triple homicide that really gets the ball rolling is gory, nasty, and inspired. Don’t go into this one expecting any serious scares as there aren’t any to be found, but it’s a fun time killer and an entertaining, if rather dumbed down, product of its time.” Ian Jane, DVD Talk

“Though its story may be derivative and the special effects somewhat cheap, The Boogey Man rises way above the usual level of Halloween (1978) clones. Thanks to ex-Fassbinder collaborator Lommel’s direction from its darkly lurid opening in which a little bot despatches his mother’s lover (as powerful an evocation of the primal scene and its consequences as one could wish, later used in Nightmare (1981), Lommel conjures a claustrophobic, fetid atmosphere well suited to this tale of unresolved sexual and familial conflicts.” The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror  

“Storyline veers from a haunted mirror, pieces of which cause grisly murders àla The Omen. Then it segues into a poor man’s Exorcist as all hell breaks loose with a Catholic priest, flying knives, glowing windows, etc. Finally, disjointed elements refuse to jell and the film babbles to an incoherent closing.” John Stanley, Creature Features

“Whilst the plot suffers from several inconsistencies, on the whole the film succeeds in creating an atmosphere of tensiom and dread. The murders themselves are far more creative than the usual slasher fare, something that ensured that The Boogey Man would not be released uncut in the UK for over twenty years. The death scenes are well directed and eye catching. Lommel’s career never quite achieved these heights again and the two sequels were eminently forgettable, but the original remains one of Halloween‘s most worthwhile descents.” Jim Harper, Legacy of Blood

boogey dvd

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Trivia:

The 2005 horror film Boogeyman has no connection.

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Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

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shock horror

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

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Related:

Slasher films

Video nasties


House of Blood – USA, 2013 – preview with trailer

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‘You want a show? They’ll give you a show… And you will be the star!’

House of Blood is a 2013 American slasher horror feature film about a maniac that tortures and murders young women.

Written, produced and directed by John Rusnack, the movie stars Peter Hooten, Mike Kradlak, Jade Marie Lorraine, Owen Harn, Lauren Nash and Julie Anne Prescott.

Plot:

The sweltering laid back summers nights of Miami Beach usually full of dancers and nightlife turns bloody as a crazed masked killer kidnaps a young stripper. Detective MacAvoy (Brian Kahrs)and his partner are thrust into the killers dark twisted world in an attempt to stop him from killing again. They take the risk of becoming the killer’s next victims…

Release:

House of Blood is now available on video on demand.

Reviews [click links to read more]:

There are no reviews of House of Blood available yet so please bookmark this page and revisit for a range of independent aggregated reviews.

Cast and characters:

  • Peter Hooten … Frank Martin
  • Brian Kahrs … Detective MacAvoy
  • Mike Kradlak … Detective Castle
  • Jade Marie Lorraine … Jade
  • Owen Harn … Detective Mike Castro
  • Lauren Nash … Ginger
  • Tiffany Gans … Tiff
  • Armand Antonio Vidal … Shaman
  • Ken Anthony II … Detective Monroe
  • Margrette Auril … Vins Girl
  • Wes Boland … SWAT Team Leader Murdock
  • Christopher D. Boone … Police Station Detective
  • Sandra Boone … Police Station Detective
  • Annette Breazeale … Head Nurse Nancy
  • Robert Brown … Police Station Cop

Filming locations:

  • Sarasota, Florida

Technical details:

  • 88 minutes
  • Audio: Dolby Digital
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9 HD

Psychotic! A Brooklyn Slasher Film – USA, 2016 – reviews and HD film free to watch online

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‘Every party has a party killer.’

Psychotic! A Brooklyn Slasher Film is a 2016 American horror feature film written and directed by Maxwell Frey and Derek Gibbons. The movie stars Kristen Martin, Clint Keepin and Maxwell Frey.

Plot:

A group of hard-partying Brooklyn hipsters are stalked and savagely murdered by a masked maniac known as the Bushwick Party Killer…

Reviews [click links to read more]:

“The killings had an interesting retro 80’s slasher vibe about them, which I greatly appreciated. I especially liked the use of the double door buzz in which works to comedic effect in one scene and horrific effect in another. Gibbons and Frey handle all the dynamics of constantly searching but never really doing hipster aesthetic perfect.” Death by Podcast

“Visually striking with its bold primary colours and clever framing, the movie cynically punctures the egocentric, pretentious, often pathetic hipsters of its Bushwick, Brooklyn backdrop – though in the process gives us no one to sympathise with. There are low-key jokes at the expense of slasher movie tropes…” Horrorscreams Videovault

“Overall, Psychotic! is a resoundingly successful feature length debut for Maxwell Frey and Derek Gibbons. It has a superb visual style, fine performances from its cast, a cool looking killer, and a high kill count backed up by bloody practical effects.” The Movie Sleuth

“The throwback feel of the 80s along with the over the top gore sequences were on point, giving this film a personality all its own. Psychotic! is one of those films that was driven by passion, and shows dedication through its creative death scenes, clever comedic scenarios, and genre-induced entertainment.” Nightmarish Conjurings

” …all these characters are caught between the old and the new, forging their identities in online hits and followers even as they play vintage synths and take selfies with polaroids. The film too, though focused on a thoroughly modern subculture, lovingly deploys the colour palette of a classic giallo and the sonic stylings of an Eighties slasher. ” Projected Figures

” …the amped-up acting is oversaturated in self-aware irony, and the few laughs wrung from the characters’ train wreck of a band aren’t worth the time spent listening to it. It turns out that skewering the pretentiousness of hipsters is more fun when there are actual skewers involved.” The Village Voice

“There is nobody remotely likable in this film, they’re all obvious, self-indulgent jerks. Think of every bad hipster stereotype and you have the inhabitants of this film. Granted these films have a tradition of having annoying characters you want to see meet a nasty end but there’s usually somebody to identify with.” Voices from the Balcony

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Camp Blood 8: Revelations – USA, 2019 – preview with trailer and behind-the-scenes

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Camp Blood 8: Revelations is a 2019 American slasher horror feature film about the continued killing spree of a deranged clown.

Written, edited and directed by Dennis Devine (Things franchise; The Haunting of La Llorona; Vampire Club 3D; Alice in Murderland; Don’t Look in the Cellar; et al), the Sterling Entertainment production stars Domiziano Arcangeli, Rhei Liu, Phoebe Dollar (Sunset Society; Werewolf in a Women’s Prison; Butchered), Rowan Denis and Sally Mullins (Things 4; Sawblade; Demon Kiss).

The movie was produced by David S. Sterling, Domiziano Arcangeli, Gustave Whinnery and David Strege. The special effects were created by Zachary Smith.

Plot:

Four female beach volleyball players and their coach Dolly become stranded in a gully in the woods when their car breaks down.

Naturally, despite warnings from a crazy old man, they head for the safety of the nearest cabin but encounter Fred, a weird sexually-repressed survivalist, instead. While his psychotic exhibitionist mother plays enforced kinky bondage games with captive Renee, the other young women are stalked one-by-one by the son of the original killer clown.

Will the deranged clown kill them all or will they find a way to defeat him? What revelations will be revealed along the way?

Release:

Camp Blood 8: Revelations is available free to view via Amazon Prime

Reviews [click links to read more]:

There are no reviews of Camp Blood 8: Revelations available currently; please bookmark MOVIES and MANIA and return again soon for a range of independent, aggregated reviews.

Cast and characters:

  • Domiziano Arcangeli … Derek
  • Rhei Liu … Ashley
  • Phoebe Dollar … Dolly
  • Rowan Denis … Melinda
  • Sally Mullins … Sheila
  • Kyle Ian Fisher … The Clown
  • Laura Dromerick … Renee
  • Emilyrose Morris … Brandy
  • Shawn C. Phillips … Fred
  • Joseph Haggerty … Ragged Man
  • Veronica Ricci … Betty
  • Danny Filaccio … Danny
  • David S. Sterling … Dave

Technical details:

81 minutes

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6:45 (2020) preview with teaser trailer

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‘A dream vacation with time to kill’

6:45 is a 2020 American slasher horror feature film about a vacationing young couple that find themselves trapped in a cycle of terror.

Produced and directed by Craig Singer (Perkins ’14; Dark Ride) from a screenplay written by Robert Dean Klein, the movie stars Michael Reed (Brides of Satan; Subferatu; The Haunting of Alice D; The Disco Exorcist), Augie Duke (Exit 0; Clown Fear; Blood Craft; Necropolis: Legion), Armen Garo (The Manor; The Departed), Thomas G. Waites (The Thing; The Warriors), Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, hip-hop DJ The 45 King and Remy Ma.

 

Plot:

Bobby (Michael Reed) is hoping a weekend getaway will save his rocky relationship with his girlfriend Jules (Augie Duke). The couple arrives in the quiet island resort of Bog Grove. To their bewilderment, the sleepy beach town is curiously deserted and they quickly learn about the deadly history that’s about to repeat itself.

Bobby’s struggles with Jules are cast aside in order to overcome a dementing cycle of terror they find themselves trapped in. No matter what he does to try to avoid it, he and his girlfriend wake up at 6:45 each morning to the same nightmarish chain of events that lead to them being viciously murdered…

Release:

6:45 wrapped production on Valentine’s Day and a premiere in the Fall is planned.

Reviews [click links to read more]:

There are no reviews of 6:45 available currently; please bookmark this website and return again for a range of independent, aggregated reviews.

The post 6:45 (2020) preview with teaser trailer appeared first on MOVIES and MANIA.

The Wake (2017) reviews

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‘Some mistakes haunt you’

The Wake is a 2017 American horror feature film about a group of friends who attend the wake of a child they accidentally killed with their car. Thereafter, they find themselves trapped and stalked by a masked assailant.

Produced and directed by Faouzi Brahimi and Bryan Brewer (The Raking) from a screenplay written by the latter, based on a story co-written with Allie Rivera, the Lesson 1 Entertainment production stars Bryan Brewer, Allie Rivera, Darla Delgado and Michael Aaron Milligan.

[May contain spoilers] Reviews:

“What The Wake is, is an idea that, while familiar, could have been twisted into a compelling character study with compassionate players involved. Instead, we get a movie that operates from a script that was written by someone astoundingly insensitive and completely devoid of tact or understanding tense scenarios.” Addicted to Horror

“Nothing about this movie really impresses. The writing, the directing, the acting, it’s all really below average. There are really aren’t any other redeeming qualities, such as a some good gore or scares, which often can still make these type of movies worthwhile.” Boba_Fett1138

The Wake could have had true potential but if only it would have stuck to one storyline. The film suffers from bad lighting, camera angles and let us not forget the weak score.” Decay Mag

“The biggest problem with The Wake is director Bryan Brewer’s abysmal directing. The choices he makes in this movie are downright baffling. He seems inept at nearly every aspect of the filmmaking process. He can’t block shots. Most of the film is improperly lit.” Dread Central

“The third act is more successful than the first two, with the tables repeatedly being flipped between the killer and our child-killing protagonist. Here we get to see some engaging conflicts and audience loyalties are stretched. There is also a growing sense of dread as the characters figure out that they may be well out of their depth. Unfortunately, it all builds to a predictable climactic section…” Horror Cult Films

” …The Wake is an “okay” slasher that won’t set your world on fire, nor will you regret the time you spend with it…the film is competently made, I just wish the pacing and story were tighter and more inspired respectively.” Horror Fuel

“Improbable is perhaps the best way to sum up the entire movie, actually, from the reason Tyler isn’t in jail to the dubious finale. If you don’t mind working harder than usual to suspend your disbelief, it’s an entertaining hour and a half…” The Movie Critic Next Door

“This is an entertaining slasher in parts with a decent beginning and end, but I found the whole middle section to just drag on too long with not much occurring at all to keep me absorbed. I did enjoy the occasional curveball that was thrown to keep things fun…” The Rotting Zombie

” …it makes refreshingly little effort to stick to the way too tried-and-true formula, instead keeps one guessing throughout, and relies on atmosphere and suspense and well-placed sudden shocks rather than in-your-face violence. Plus, the weird premise, of course, works totally in the film’s favour, and so does the film’s rather unexpected finale that includes a deliciously odd plot twist.” Search My Trash

“It would be easy to dismiss The Wake straight away, as its budget limits much of what the filmmakers are trying to do, but actually, there is almost enough of a wacky twist at the end to stick with it, even if there isn’t much conviction by the performances, aside from Delgado who is great fun.” That Moment In

Cast and characters:

• Bryan Brewer … Tyler
• Allie Rivera … Casey
• Darla Delgado … Mrs. Stevens
• Michael Aaron Milligan … Ben
• Kristen Dalton … Ginger
• Amanda Musso … Ashley
• Faouzi Brahimi … Killer #1
• Harper Lay … Caroline
• Jakob Ulrich … Zach Stevens
• Brad Hartmaier … Masked Killer
• Jon Grady … Masked Killer
• Olivier Rivest … Masked Killer

Technical details:

• 86 minutes

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