‘Evil doesn’t die easily’

The Redwood Massacre is a 2014 British horror film written and directed by David Ryan Keith (Attack of the Herbals; House of Shadows). It stars Mark Wood (Lord of Darkness), Lisa Livingstone (In the Spider’s Web), Lisa Cameron, Rebecca Wilkie and Alec Westwood.

In the US, Uncork’d Entertainment release The Redwood Massacre on VOD and DVD on July 7, 2015. In the UK, the film is released on DVD on July 27, 2015.

Buy The Redwood Massacre on DVD from Amazon.co.uk

Plot teaser:

For five adventurous friends, visiting the legendary murder site of the Redwood farm has all the hallmarks of being an exciting and thrilling camping weekend away. A popular site for revellers and party goers, each year on the exact date of the famous local family massacre, people from around the country head out to the site to have fun and scare each other.

Events take a bloody turn for the worse when the innocent campers discover the Redwood myth is in fact a horrible bloody reality, which turns the unsuspecting victims into prey for a mysterious axe wielding maniac that has remained dormant for twenty years…

Trailer:

IMDb | New and Upcoming Horror Releases

‘Hot blooded couples fall prey to a cold blooded maniac’

Iced is a 1988 American slasher horror film directed by Jeff Kwitney (Beyond the Door III aka Amok Train) from a screenplay by Joseph Alan Johnson (The Slumber Party Massacre; Berserker; The Ghosts of Sodom).

Cast:

Debra De Liso, Doug Stevenson, Ron Kologie, Elizabeth Gorcey, John C. Cooke, Joseph Alan Johnson, Dan Smith, Michael Picardi, Lisa Loring, Sharon Bingham.

Plot teaser:

Years ago, their close friend was killed when he fell from a cliff while skiing in a drunken rage over  a woman. Now, years later, they have all been invited to Snow Peak, a remote ski resort, by a real estate advert. As they arrive, they begin to suspect something is not right… but by the time they realise, its far too late! Someone is stalking them, seeking revenge for a loss none of them understand…

Review:

“Iced is probably worse than the modernised snowboard film, in nearly every way. You think that the final twenty five minutes will redeem the crap before. No, it doesn’t, because more quick cuts and cheesy dramatics fill the feature even further. This is just a slasher movie that secretly wants to be a Soap Opera, and has an ending that clears nothing up. While I sort of enjoyed it, a recommendation would just be cruel.” Josh G., Oh, the Horror!

“Iced is not a very good movie. Technically, it’s a bit of a mess with horrible editing, slow pacing and overtly misguided dialog (with only marginal acting at times), but if you’re a USA Up All Night kind of person (and who isn’t?), then this movie is a must. Plus, there’s plenty of boobs (courtesy of Lisa Loring who played Wednesday in the original Addams Family) and some decent blood to keep the proceedings going. There’s also a surprising amount of male nudity.” Amanda by Night, Retro Slashers

“Iced is a 1988 horror movie about skiing. You’ll see a lot of it. It’s also a movie about ass. You’ll see a lot of that, too. It’s a strange dichotomy that, I think you’ll agree, doesn’t work at all for a horror movie.

Hell, the title doesn’t even work. “Iced” is more of a title for a movie about ice skating, or ice hockey, or de-icing planes, but not skiing. It doesn’t make any sense. Not making any sense, by the way, is the third of the film’s major themes.” Dr. Boogie, I-mockery.com

Choice dialogue:

Alex: “Pardon me for saying this but you all look prepared for a funeral… or worse!”

IMDb

‘Shopping will never be the same again’

Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge is a 1989 horror film directed by Richard Friedman (Scared Stiff; Doom Asylum; Dark Wolf) from a screenplay by Scott J. Schneid, Tony Michelman and Robert King.

Cast:

Derek Rydall (Night Visitor; Popcorn), Jonathan Goldsmith (Helter Skelter; Blood Voyage), Rob Estes (6 passi nel giallo), Pauly Shore, Kari Whitman, Gregory Scott Cummins (Halloween Night; Watchers III), Tom Fridley (Jason Lives: Friday the 13th: Part VI) Ken Foree (Dawn of the Dead; The Devil’s Rejects; The Lords of Salem) and Morgan Fairchild (The Initiation of Sarah; The Seduction; The New Addams Family).

Plot teaser:

A young man apparently dies in a suspicious house fire after saving his girlfriend, Melody. A year later, at the new Midwood mall built over the site of the burned-out house, thefts and murders begin to occur as a mysterious figure secretly prowls around the shopping center and takes a keen interest in watching over and protecting Melody…

Reviews:

“Makers of bad movies should hold their breath in awe after watching this one. Scarcely a scene isn’t gross or ridiculous, scarcely a performance isn’t forced or shallow, scarcely a line of dialogue isn’t a burbling, awkward cliche. There’s a perfection of awfulness here that almost commands respect; it can’t have been easy to keep going on this picture after a look or two at the rushes.” Michael Wilmington, Los Angeles Times

“For a cheap direct-to-video slasher, Eric’s Revenge is audacious as hell and riotously entertaining as a result—with so much lunacy swirling about, it’s damn near impossible for dull moments to occur, especially since this overt stuff is merely accentuating the typical slasher silliness.” Brett Gallman, Oh, the Horror!

Buy: Amazon.com

“A pretty silly idea executed with only mediocre results, this movie still manages to maintain an enjoyable vibe thanks to the fine cast, many of whom went on to work in far more fabulous projects.” Amanda By Night, Retro Slashers

” … the entire story is in the title. Someone named Eric is taking revenge against people as a phantom of a mall. This also means there is no suspense. We know Eric is behind this, but we still have to see Estes and Cute Girl go through the motions of a silly investigation.” Charles Tatum, eFilmCritic.com

“You should know the 80s slasher drill by now. No scares, suspense, story, acting or characters – just novelty death scenes and a psychotic villain. When a film fails to deliver on the latter two AND the rest, then it’s really bottom of the barrel stuff.” Andrew Smith, Popcorn Pictures

“There’s also the ridiculous ending, with bombs blowing up and bad drama and Ken Foree not getting the screen time that he deserves (he’s relegated to inept security guard status, watching cameras of the women’s dressing room and only getting a minor role at the end of the film – a bad use of a horror icon). It’s kind of a fun mess to watch, but it’s like walking into a store where all of the clothes are tossed around haphazardly – there are things you might like, but it’s too much of a bother to pick through the litter.” Ryne Barber, HorrorNews.net

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

Cast:

Derek Rydall as Eric Matthews, The Phantom of the Mall
Jonathan Goldsmith as Harv Posner, Mall Owner
Rob Estes as Peter Baldwin, Reporter
Pauly Shore as Buzz, Yogurt Clerk
Kimber Sissons as Susie, Fashion Clerk
Gregory Scott Cummins as Christopher Volker, Security Guard
Tom Fridley as Justin, Posner’s Son
Kari Whitman as Melody Austin
Ken Foree as Acardi
Morgan Fairchild as Mayor Karen Wilton
Terrence Evans as Security Guard
Dante D’Andre as Piano man

Choice dialogue:

Melody: “It’s almost like a bad dream, you know.”

Filming locations:

The film was shot in southern California at Sherman Oaks Galleria, Promenade Mall (now Westfield Promenade) and Valencia Studios. Alhambra, California was also a location shoot.

Wikipedia | IMDb | Mall horror: Chopping Mall | Dawn of the Dead

Some Kind of Hate is a 2015 American self-described “feminist slasher” horror film directed by Adam Egypt Mortimer from a screenplay co-written with Brian DeLeeuw.

Cast:

Ronen Rubenstein, Sierra McCormick, Grace Phipps (Fright Night), Spencer Breslin, Lexi Atkins (Zombeavers), Noah Segan, Michael Polish. It was produced by Caliber Media Company and Revek Entertainment.

Release:

The film will be released on 18 September 2015 by Image Entertainment on digital download.

Official plot synopsis:

Relentless bullying has turned Lincoln’s life into a nightmare. But he soon learns the true meaning of terror when he is sent to a remote school for troubled teens and the harassment starts all over again. Only this time, someone is watching – a teenage girl named Moira who was driven to suicide by vicious bullying years ago. When Lincoln accidentally summons Moira from the grave, he unleashes a vengeful and unstoppable force on a mission of blood-soaked revenge….

Filming locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

IMDb

‘Run from this man!’

Maniac is a 1980 American slasher horror film co-produced and directed by William Lustig (Maniac Cop and sequels; Uncle Sam) from a screenplay by actor Joe Spinell (who also stars as the titular character), and C. A. Rosenberg.

The gory special effects were the work of Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead; Day of the Dead; From Dusk Till Dawn), who also has a cameo role in which he gets his head blown off with a shotgun. Composer Jay Chattaway (Silver Bullet; The Ambulance) provided the brooding synthesizer score.

Principal photography began on October 21, 1979 and wrapped on January 18, 1980. With a minuscule $350,000 budget, many scenes in the 16mm film were shot guerrilla style. Originally considered purely an exploitation film, Maniac has since attained cult status and was remade in 2012 with Elijah Wood in the lead role.

Latest release:

On 26 October 2010, Blue Underground issued Maniac as a 30th Anniversary Blu-ray disc.

Disc 1 Extras:

• Audio Commentary #1 with Co-Producer/Director William Lustig and Co-Producer Andrew W. Garroni
• Audio Commentary #2 with Co-Producer/Director William Lustig, Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini, Editor Lorenzo Marinelli, and Joe Spinell’s Assistant Luke Walter
• Anna and the Killer – Interview with Star Caroline Munro
• The Death Dealer – Interview with Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini
• Dark Notes – Interview with Composer Jay Chattaway
• Maniac Men – Interview with Songwriters Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky
• Theatrical Trailers
• TV Spots
• Radio Spots
• Mr. Robbie: Maniac 2 Promo Reel

Disc 2 Extras:

• The Joe Spinell Story
• Maniac Publicity
• Maniac Controversy

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Plot teaser:

New York: A young couple are lying on a beach, unaware that they are being watched by an unseen person. Within minutes, both lovers have been slain by an assailant.

Frank Zito (Joe Spinell) then sits up in his bed in sweat, screaming after having a nightmare. He lives in a small apartment that is full of bizarre paintings, artwork and a framed picture of a woman decorated with candles and trinkets. Zito also owns a collection mannequins, one of which is wearing the beach girl’s clothes and bloody scalp. He puts on a heavy winter coat and gloves and leaves the apartment…

Reviews:

” … the movie has more in common with the grungy Times Square aesthetic of Abel Ferrara (who made his own splatterfest a year earlier, The Driller Killer) than with the multitudes of slasher flicks that followed it. The pacing might be deadly at times — it feels a lot longer than its 88 minutes — but the filmmaking has a rough kind of integrity.” Rob Gonsalves, e-FilmCritic.com

“Despite some good direction and a sincere, even daring performance by character actor Joe Spinell (Rocky) … Maniac (1980) is alternately repellent and boring…” Stuart Galbraith IV, DVD Talk

” … a movie that shows how an aging, pot-bellied maniac slices up young women of no great intelligence. The setting is New York City, the time is frequently night, and the narrative shape seems to have been borrowed from an early pornographic film.” Vincent Canby, The New York Times, 31 January 1981

“A couple of hallucination scenes are quite imaginatively filmed, but Spinell’s performance is unsubtle and the movie as a whole a fairly dubious undertaking.” Phil Hardy (editor), The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror

“It’s not immoral but quite the opposite to create a film in which violence has consequences. In which a killer is depicted as a sad, frightening human being rather than a faceless automaton in a mask. In which one is encouraged to shudder, not laugh at the plight of a victim … After watching Maniac, you’ll want to take a deep breath, maybe even a shower, but you won’t have wasted ninety minutes on something that has no meaning, no pulse, no heart.” John Kenneth Muir, Horror Films of the 1980s, McFarland

Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Cast:

• Joe Spinell as Frank Zito
• Caroline Munro as Anna D’Antoni
• Abigail Clayton as Rita (credited as Gail Lawrence)
• Kelly Piper as Nurse
• Rita Montone as Hooker
• Tom Savini as Disco boy
• Hyla Marrow as Disco girl
• James Brewster as Beach boy
• Linda Lee Walter as Beach girl
• Tracie Evans as Street hooker
• Sharon Mitchell as Nurse #2
• Carol Henry as Deadbeat
• Nelia Bacmeister as Carmen Zito
• Louis Jawitz as Art director
• Denise Spagnuolo as Denise
• Billy Spagnuolo as Billy
• Frank Pesce as TV reporter
• William Lustig as Hotel manager

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘The party begins when the lights go out!’

Slumber Party Massacre II is a 1987 American rock n’ roll slasher horror film. It was co-produced, written and directed by Deborah Brock (her only horror movie). It is a loose sequel to The Slumber Party Massacre and was succeeded by Slumber Party Massacre III. Roger Corman executive produced.

Plot teaser:

Courtney, the younger sister of the “new girl across the street” in the first film is all grown up now. But suffers from nightmares from the events from the first film. She and the other members of her female rock group go to a condo for the weekend to play music and have fun with their boyfriends.

Courtney’s dreams are of her sister, who is in a mental institution, warning her about the killer, and the dreams begin to spill into real life, threatening Courtney and her friends…

Reviews:

” … one that takes forever to start killing people. The movie is only 75 minutes long but it’s not until around the 50 minute mark or so that we have our first real kill. Until then, all (brief) action comes courtesy of our heroine Courtney (the young sister from the first film, albeit played by a different actress here) “seeing things”, which I guess are premonitions of what is eventually to come.” Horror Movie a Day

“The absurdity of the film’s premise is to be applauded, with its mixture of a typical sorority slasher with a pinch of A Nightmare on Elm Street, however this doesn’t disguise the films flaws. As with a lot of horror comedies, it is neither particularly scary nor particularly funny although I do admit to giggling a bit at the frozen chicken attack.” Erik Threlfall, Hysteria Lives

Buy: Amazon.com

“Slumber Party Massacre 2 is no doubt an odd and brainless movie but still a pretty funny and entertaining popcorn flick and I enjoyed it in all it’s cheesy glory. So if you like your slashers with a bit of cheese and some Rock ‘N’ Roll to boot, then this is for you as long as you’re willing to shut off your brain for an hour and a half of fun. But beware, it’s definitely not for everyone.” Michael Sarago, Retro Slashers

“The driller killer’s attempts at Kruegeresque one-liners fall pretty flat, although the cast are fairly funny as they around desperately trying to look scared. It’s not enough to make the film worth it, however. Avoid this at all costs. It’s not even ‘so-bad-it’s-good’ bad. It’s just really, really bad.” Jim Harper, Legacy of Blood

“It also may not be immediately obvious that I love this goofy ass film. And the lion’s share of that love rests at the feet of Atanas Ilitch, who is having such a blast as the greaser version of The Driller Killer that it might be illegal. He chews the scenery and cuts a rug, usually in the same shot. He’s never honestly menacing, but he’s so damn much fun you don’t care.” The Terrible Claw

“I’m not so sure that all of this really works, much of the humor is lame and the whole thing is pretty frustrating to sit through, but it’s still more interesting to watch than most other slasher flicks. Interestingly, this is by far the goriest film in this series, but it also has the least amount of nudity (which is relegated to just one scene).” Bloody Pit of Horror

Cast:

Crystal Bernard as Courtney Bates
Kimberly McArthur as Amy
Juliette Cummins as Sheila Barrington
Patrick Lowe as Matt Arbicost
Heidi Kozak as Sally Burns
Joel Hoffman as T.J.
Scott Westmoreland as Jeff
Jennifer Rhodes as Mrs. Bates
Cindy Eilbacher as Valerie Bates
Michael Delano as Officer Krueger
Hamilton Mitchell as Officer Voorhees
Atanas Ilitch as The Driller Killer

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Welcome to Crystal Lake’

Friday the 13th is a 2009 American slasher film directed by Marcus Nispel from a screenplay by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift (Freddy vs. Jason) for Platinum Dunes (Michael Bay, Brad Fuller). Nispel had previously directed the 2003 remake of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and a 2004 version of Frankenstein.

Distributed by Warner Bros. in the US and Paramount worldwide, the film is a reboot of the Friday the 13th film series which began in 1980, and is the twelfth instalment in the franchise. With a reported budget of $19 million, the film took $91.4 million worldwide at the box office.

Main Cast: 

Jared Padalecki (House of Wax; Cry Wolf; Supernatural), Danielle Panabaker (The Crazies; The Ward; Fight of the Living Dead), Amanda Righetti (Return to House on Haunted Hill), Travis Van Winkle (Left in Darkness; Asylum (2012); Bloodwork), Aaron Yoo (Disturbia; A Nightmare on Elm Street; Demonic), Derek Mears (as Jason Vorhees), Jonathan Sadowski, Julianna Guill (Killing Poe), Ben Feldman (As Above, So Below), Arlem Escarpeta (Final Destination 5; Midnight Son; Grimm).

Buy Friday the 13th: The Complete Collection from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Plot teaser:

In the woods near Crystal Lake, a group of campers are massacred by a killer wearing a sack over his head…

Searching for his missing sister, Clay Miller (Jared Padalecki) heads up to the eerie woods of legendary Crystal Lake, where he stumbles on the creaky remains of rotting old cabins behind moss-covered trees. And that’s not the only thing lying in wait under the brush.

Against the advice of police and cautions from the locals, Clay continues his search for his missing sister, Whitney (Amanda Righetti), with the help of Jenna (Danielle Panabaker), a young woman he meets among a group of college kids up for an all-thrills weekend. But they are all about to find much more than they bargained for. Little do they know, they’ve entered the domain of one of the most terrifying figures in American film history — the infamous killer who haunts Crystal Lake, armed with a razor-sharp machete…

Reviews:

” … this “reboot” solidifies once and for all just who Jason is: a motivated killer with speed, strength, vision and a revenge streak that runs blackheart-deep. By firming up the details of his origin, establishing some supernatural elements (Hint: Jason is always really, really hard to kill.), and lending purpose to his body-mangling rampages, the film establishes firm ground for the character’s mythos and makes him much scarier as a result.” Chris Carle, IGN

“The original “Friday” films were, in their own way, a celebration of teenage lust and rambunctiousness. In Nispel’s update, the kids are mostly distasteful cretins with a disturbingly clinical, post-porn attitude to sex that micromanages the pleasure right out of it. Even a topless wakeboarding sequence is more an emulation of fun than an actual sun-kissed reverie.” Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times

“It delivers everything you demand of a slasher; blood, mayhem, and beautiful women disrobing.  Producers Andrew Form and Brad Fuller have done the franchise justice, along with fanboy writers Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, who manage to piece together all the elements that make an effective slasher.  Let me just say – Jason Voorhees is back and scarier than ever.” Robert Fure, Film School Rejects

Buy Crystal Lake Memories on Blu-ray + DVD combo from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

“True, the characters often act in unbelievable and downright suicidal ways. ”Where’s he going?” ponders Jared Padelecki upon first espying a corpse-carrying Mr. Voorhees. (Really, that’s the question? Not: ”How the blue blazes do we get out of here?”). However, this film is (be)head and shoulders above the recently reanimated likes of Prom Night and My Bloody Valentine.” Clark Collis, Entertainment Weekly

“Scenes of binge drinking and topless wakeboarding provide respites from the requisite series of gory murders. Besides deploying the genre’s usual devices (e.g., cellphones with no reception, faulty flashlights, swift punishment for the horny), the movie also makes good on the old stage adage that if a wood chipper is introduced in the first act, it will be used in the third.” Jason Anderson, Toronto Star

“Put the remake hatred and nostalgia factor aside and the movie is really no different than the Friday instalments we all love, certainly no worse.” John Squires, iHorror.com

“The white people get abundant nooky. The black guy is reduced to seeking, shall we say, solo erotic inspiration in what looks like a Sears catalog. The Asian dude, we can safely assume, will take his virginity to the grave … Director Marcus Nispel makes no attempt to have the movie be about anything other than earsplitting noises and skullsplitting machetes.” Kyle Smith, New York Post

“There’s no real getting to know the characters here – they’re all pretty much cardboard cut outs set up like bowling pins just so they can get killed. There was one scene that just really didn’t fit and was obviously inserted into the film just to show you how Jason ends up with a hockey mask (he starts out with a burlap bag on his head). Also, after the adrenaline-pumping opening 20 minutes, the rest of the film just wasn’t able to quite measure up and it suffered for it.” Ric Holtreman, Screen Rant

“This is not the lumbering psychopath we’ve all come to know and love these past three decades. As played by veteran stuntman Derek Mears and conceived by the filmmakers, this Jason may still be a bloodthirsty backwoods mutant but he’s got speed, agility, and most importantly brains. … Plus under this creative team Jason no longer just shows up and kills his prey without much warning. He enjoys the hunt as much as the kill. Jason toys with his victims, even using one of them as bait for their friends in one scene.” Geeks of Doom

Buy Crystal Lake Memories book from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Wikipedia | IMDb

Related: Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th | Freddy vs. Jason | Friday the 13th (1980) | Friday the 13th (2009) | Friday the 13th (2016) | Friday the 13th (coffee table) | Friday the 13th (video game) | Friday the 13th: Halloween Night | Friday the 13th: No Man’s Land | Friday the 13th Part 2 | Friday the 13th Part III | Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood | Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan | Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter | Friday the 13th: A New Beginning | Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday | Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI

WH

‘Evil gets an upgrade’

Jason X is a 2001 Canadian-American science fiction slasher film directed by Jim Isaac from a screenplay by actor/writer Todd Farmer (My Bloody Valentine, 2009). It is the tenth instalment in the Friday the 13th film series and stars Kane Hodder as Jason Voorhees. Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg (Shivers; The Dead Zone; The Fly) has a cameo role.

The film took $16,951,798 worldwide at the box office against a budget of $11 million.

Plot teaser:

In 2008, (five years after Freddy vs. Jason) Jason Voorhees (Kane Hodder) is captured by the United States government and held at the Crystal Lake Research Facility.

In 2010, a government scientist decides to place Jason in frozen stasis after several failed attempts to kill him. While Private Samuel Johnson (Jeff Geddis) places a blanket on Jason, Dr. Wimmer (David Cronenberg), Sergeant Marcus (Markus Parilo), and a few soldiers hope to further research Jason’s rapid cellular regeneration and try to take Jason. They pull off the blanket covering his body, but find Johnson dead, instead. Having broken free of his restraints, Jason kills the soldiers and Wimmer. Rowan (Lexa Doig) lures Jason into an “ice” pod and activates it. Jason then ruptures the pod with his machete and stabs Rowan in the abdomen, spilling ice fluid into the sealed room and freezing them both.

Over 445 years later, in 2455, Earth has become too polluted to support life and humans have moved to a new planet, Earth Two. Three students, Tsunaron (Chuck Campbell), Janessa (Melyssa Ade), and Azrael (Dov Tiefenbach), are on a field trip led by Professor Braithwaite Lowe (Jonathan Potts), who is accompanied by an Android robot, KM-14 (Lisa Ryder). They enter the Crystal Lake facility and find the still-frozen Jason and Rowan, whom they bring to their spaceship…

Reviews:

“Jason X is well-paced, provides plenty of kills, has enough camp to make it enjoyable, and provides an interesting transformation for our antagonist in its final third. It’s nowhere near scary, and it’s because of that fact that the Alien comparison can only be taken so far, but it’s a slasher movie set in space and it takes a character who has been the villain for eight previous movies in a place and time he hasn’t previously had to deal with. That’s a go-for-broke approach and I have to commend the filmmakers for it.”  Marter, The Escapist

” … there’s a legitimately fine comic sequence in which the surviving crew members, in an attempt to distract Jason, put him in a virtual-reality sim of Camp Crystal Lake. For a brief moment, new-school splatterpunk steps aside for old-school slash, and the sequence, prankish as it is (the sim comes complete with a couple of giggling, topless girls in sleeping bags), points up what’s fundamentally wrong with Jason X: It just isn’t the same when Jason stalks the sterile halls of a spaceship.” Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

“Wittily scripted, smartly directed and well-played by an unfamiliar cast, this is a real treat for all those who have suffered through the story so far.” Kim Newman, Empire

“This sucks on so many levels. — dialogue from Jason X. Rare for a movie to so frankly describe itself. Jason X sucks on the levels of storytelling, character development, suspense, special effects, originality, punctuation, neatness and aptness of thought. Only its title works.” RogerEbert.com

“It’s crazy that it took until the tenth film in the series for someone to say “you know something, we should have a proper laugh with this”, but finally someone did and it’s all the better for it. As a serious horror film it’s a failure in every respect. It isn’t scary, it doesn’t build much tension and it just takes the piss at every opportunity. But it’s because of this third point that Jason X entertains – it knows it’s shit and it’s proud.” Chris Scullion, That Was a Bit Mental

“Jason X is one of those films that gets laughed at before it’s even mentioned. A good group of society just doesn’t like the flick. Truth be told I was kind of put off by it at first too. Uber-Jason? Come on now. But upon further viewings I’ve realized I actually have a blast with the flick! Maybe you should give it a go.” Jared Pacheco, Arrow in the Head

Choice dialogue:

Professor Lowe: “Guys, it’s okay! He just wanted his machete back!”

Cast:

Lexa Doig as Rowan LaFontaine
Lisa Ryder as Kay-Em 14
Chuck Campbell as Tsunaron
Jonathan Potts as Professor Brandon Lowe
Peter Mensah as Sergeant Brodski
Melyssa Ade as Janessa
Kane Hodder as Jason Voorhees
Melody Johnson as Kinsa
Phillip Williams as Crutch
Derwin Jordan as Waylander
Dov Tiefenbach as Azrael
Amanda Brugel as Geko
Kristi Angus as Adrienne Thomas
Yani Gellman as Stoney
Todd Farmer as Dallas
David Cronenberg as Dr. Wimmer
Robert A. Silverman as Dieter Perez
Marcus Parilo as Sgt. Marcus

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘If you have a craving for terror come to the class reunion’

The Redeemer – aka The Redeemer… Son of Satan and Class Reunion Massacre – is an American horror film directed by Constantine S. Gochis from a screenplay by William Vernick. The film’s brooding synthesizer score was provided by Philip Gallo and Clem Vicari. It was filmed over four weeks in 1976 and released in 1978.

Cast:

Damien Knight, Jeanetta Arnette, Nick Carter, Nikki Barthen, Michael Hollingsworth, Gyr Patterson, T.G. Finkbinder, Christopher Flint, Richard Timmins, Jessica Bein, Eric Kjoenes, Rosa Arift.

Plot teaser:

Six people are trapped within the confines of their old high school during their tenth high school reunion with a psychotic, masked preacher who kills them off for their sinful lives they have made for themselves…

Buy The Redeemer on DVD from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Reviews:

“From a production standpoint the direction and acting all hold a lot better than other low budget horror films. And the overall quality of this production is even more impressive considering that this was the only film that most of the cast, the screenwriter and the director ever worked. Ultimately if you can look past its shortcomings, Redeemer: Son of Satan is a fun ride that fans of the slasher film genre should thoroughly enjoy.” 10K Bullets

“Ultimately, despite the fact that it’s basically a stalk and slash, The Redeemer has enough going for it in terms of creativity and unpredictability that horror fans should find a lot to like about the movie. It’s not a perfect film and there are moments that work better than others, but overall there’s plenty of entertainment value here and even a couple of creepy thrills.” DVD Talk

“The Redeemer: Son of Satan is a truly great, forgotten horror movie. Yes, it’s got it’s cheesy problems just like any other film of its era, but it also builds a sense of foreboding doom more palpable than a lot of movies I have encountered. From the minute the hapless victims set foot into the school, you feel they are in great danger and a number of moments in the film come off as genuinely suspenseful.” Oh, the Horror!

“There is a genuine haunting atmosphere, the killings are bizarre and original, and the whole thing is laced with Argento-esque touches. But the obsessive morality (and the fact that the characters are all pretty nice) fails to make The Redeemer anything more than a cult curiosity.” Jim Harper, Legacy of Blood: A Comprehensive Guide to Slasher Movies

Buy Legacy of Blood from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

“Possessed of disturbingly puritanical sensibility, this inept, unpleasant film is sticky going indeed.” James J. Mulay (editor), The Horror Film

Filming locations:

Staunton, Virginia, USA

Buy Regional Horror Films, 1958 – 1990 from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Wikipedia | IMDb

WH

‘They were dying to get away for the weekend’

Gore, Quebec is a 2014 Canadian found footage slasher horror film directed by Jean Benoit Lauzon from a screenplay by lead actor Rick Mele.

Plot:

A voiceover announces that the following footage was recovered from the camera of Dave Reynolds, who, in 2011, had left Ontario to spend a weekend in his parents’ cottage in Gore, Quebec with his brother Sean, and their friends.

When Sean and Dave reach the cottage, they find a note informing them that the alarm was tripped a week ago, but that there were no signs of vandalism or theft. A few hours into the group’s partying, Katie stumbles into the cottage bleeding, followed by a man who attacks the others, and turns Dave’s camera off…

Reviews:

“The movie is as impoverished as they come, with a plot recycling just about every kids-in-the-woods horror trope known to man. And yet, that cheap charm is tempered by top notch craft and real, indie energy.” Chris Alexander, Fangoria

“For $7000, this is pure indie filmmaking at its best. There’s some great moments of horror, a couple of incredibly dark jokes, and an unsettling villain. It’s not perfect, but is still one of the better indie horror films out there, and should be seen not only for the success of the film, but the success of the filmmaker for bringing it all together.” William Brownridge, Toronto Film Scene

Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Cast and Characters:

• Myrthin Stagg as Amanda
• Blake Mawson as Mike
• Andy Malone as David Edward Reynolds
• Kate Elyse Forrest as Katie Farrell
• Luke Madigan as The Killer
• Jean Benoit Lauzon as Brandon
• Kurt Ogilvie as Sean Reynolds
• Peri Greig as Stacey
• Rick Mele as Colin
• Rachel Atherstone as Erin
• Rufus Crawford as Nick Gleason

Trailer:

Wikipedia | IMDb | Facebook | Twitter | Canadian horror

‘The dream you can’t escape alive!’

Nightmare is a 1981 American slasher horror film written and directed by Italian filmmaker Romano Scavolini (Spirits of Death). It has also been released as Nightmare in a Damaged Brain; Nightmares in a Damaged Brain and Blood Splash. 

The film gained instant notoriety among horror fans when it was banned in the UK as a ‘video nasty‘ and its distributor David Hamilton Grant was sentenced to six months in prison for refusing to edit violent footage from his World of Video 2000 VHS release.

Nightmare also garnered controversy for claiming in its press material that Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead; Friday the 13th; The Prowler) had provided the film’s special effects, which he vehemently denied.

In fact, as the above production  image shows, it seems he supervised the work of Ed French (Necropolis; Breeders; Blood Rage) during the infamous beheading scene.

The production supervisor was Simon Nuchtern, who filmed the fake murder footage at the climax of Snuff and director of Silent Madness (1983).

On 23rd November 2015, 88 Films are releasing the film uncut on Blu-ray with the following confirmed extras:

• Terror in Times Square – A Guide to Nightmare’s Grindhouse Kingdom
• Audio Commentary with The Hysteria Continues
• Audio Commentary by Bill Paul
• Interview with Tom Ward, CEO of 21st Century Films
• Trailer
• TV Spots

Buy: Amazon.co.uk

Cast:

Baird Stafford, Sharon Smith, C.J. Cooke, Mik Cribben (Beware: Children at Play)

Plot:

Having escaped from a mental institution, George Tatum (Baird Stafford) journeys back down to his home in Florida. Along the way, he has recurring nightmares of a violent incident from his childhood, which forces him to kill again. George’s frustration amidst the sleazy streets of New York are also shown to be a cause of his mental state.

George’s ex-wife, Susan Temper (Sharon Smith), young son C.J. (C.J. Cooke), and the family babysitter begin to receive “hang-up” calls, which none of them realize is George making sure his family is home.

The closer George gets to his destination, the more gruesome his murders become and the memories of his first childhood-murder intensify…

Reviews:

“Nightmare is a schizophrenic puzzle of a movie. It’s director, Scavolini, shows he is able to use editing to heighten the sense of tension and horror one minute. The next, it seems he was wearing a blindfold whilst he was snipping away! He also lifts many elements from Halloween … But, like Ulli Lommel’s Bogeyman (1980), Scavolini fashions something different.” Hysteria Lives!

“Instead of emphasizing pretty teenagers and slick production numbers, Scavolini instead emphasized the sordid “reality” of the film’s rather trashy cast of characters.  There’s not a likable character to be found anywhere within this film nor is there a single scene that doesn’t feel as if it’s been drenched in sleaze.  An ominous atmosphere of impending, relentless doom hangs over every second of the film.” Lisa Marie Bowman, HorrorCritic.com

“The movie does require repeated viewings to actually understand what is going on, as it’s a bit incoherent on the screen. However, it is very compelling, with some nudity (including a lady using a sex toy while on the phone), lots of gore (including the infamous beheading) and a twist ending of sorts.” David Steigman, DVD Drive-In

“God, this movie is so, so filthy. The gore scenes are mostly unconvincing and the sex couldn’t be more unsavory (including a pivotal kinky flashback no viewer has ever forgotten), but that hardly matters when the end product still feels so grimy and unhealthy from the opening frames … but at least there’s a hefty vein of unintentional comedy running through it as well thanks to Italian-born director Romano Scavolini’s odd view of American culture.” Nathaniel Thompson, Mondo Digital

Choice dialogue:

“Sorry!? You lose a dangerous psychotic patient from a secret experimental drug programme and all you can say is sorry!?”

Buy from Amazon.com

Trailer:

Wikipedia | IMDb

Chill: The Killing Games is a 2013 American slasher horror film co-produced and co-directed by Noelle Bye, Meredith Holland from a screenplay co-written with Roger Conners (who also stars). Principal shooting began in 2011 – with the tentative title Chill – and the film premiered on 5 April 2013.

The film is available on VOD and released on DVD on October 13 by Bayview Entertainment.

Cast:

Roger Conners, Kelly Rogers, Brad Arner, DJ Remark, Jason Orr, Angelia DeLuca, David Gilmore, Mike Kafury, Erinn Bakun, Ash Katt, Janine Bowles Sarnowski, Theresa Pedone, and Rick Montgomery Jr.

Plot:

November 17, 1988, is a day of mourning for some… and for others, a lucrative opportunity. On that date, eight university students were found murdered in the old arts building at the college. An anonymous source told police the twenty-somethings were in the midst of a local role-playing game, called Chill.

The name of the game is to stay alive. But for the players that November evening, few would be getting up for another round. But when a scheming student decides to profit from the tragedy and revive the whodunit game as a web series, the new players soon discover, for some, this game is still all too real…

Reviews:

“Whilst the feature itself is not without its problems (poor illumination, half-hearted dialogue, noticeably average acting, a couple of WTF revelations and it could have done with some eye candy), it gives me great pleasure to see that we have moved well away from the era of Camp Blood and Carnage Road.” Luis Joaquín González, A Slash Above…

” … it’s relatively well written, and the production value is pretty good. For starters, I was impressed by the camera work. The shot choices were smart, and they didn’t go crazy with a lot of poor hand-held scenes. Most of the framing in regards to the actors faces was good, and no shots lingered for a long period of time. It’s also pretty well-lit…” Adam the Movie God

“The film has run time of almost two hours, and that seemed really long for this sort of film. The first half of the film seems like it goes on forever, but everything presented is necessary to the story. I couldn’t come up with any scenes they could have shaved down or cut entirely without ruining the flow or sacrificing exposition.: HorrorNews.net

Shooting locations:

Garfield Heights Center for the Performing Arts, Ohio, USA
Akron, Ohio, USA
Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Trailer:

IMDb | Facebook

WH

‘If you go into the woods today you might not get out alive!’

The Forest aka Terror in the Forest is a 1981 (released 1982) American supernatural-slasher horror film directed, written, edited and produced by Donald M. Jones [as Don Jones] (Abducted; The Love Butcher; Molly and the Ghost). Jones has cameo roles as a forest ranger and Officer Ed Geza.

Main cast:

Gary Kent, Tomi Barrett, John Batis, Ann Wilkinson, Jeanette Kelly, Corky Pigeon, Becki Burke, Tony Gee.

Plot:

Two American hikers, Steve (Dean Russell) and Charlie (John Batis), venture into the local forest along with their girlfriends, Sharon (Tomi Barrett) and Teddi (Ann Wilkinson). However, John (Gary Kent), a cannibalistic woodsman, is lurking in the forest…

Reviews:

“The Forest is definitely lower tier trash, even by the often times very low standards of the slasher and it really doesn’t have a whole lot going for it aside from a few moments of unintentional humor.” Ian Jane, DVD Talk

“Jones’ entry is not a good movie by any stretch of the imagination and offers zilch in terms of suspense, scares or tension … Nothing can be taken away from an admittedly very unique story, a soundtrack that is totally loco and a knife clenching cannibal in a baseball cap.” A Slash Above…

“…an incoherent mess of a flick. There is almost no redeeming value to the film, as the acting is terrible, the music is generic, and the direction is mediocre.” Brett Gallman, Oh, the Horror!

” … an underrated slasher tale that’s enlivened by a sudden leap into the supernatural; just the ticket for fans who think they have seen all the “slice-and’dice” format has to offer.” Stephen Thrower, Nightmare USA

Buy Nightmare USA from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Cast and characters:

Dean Russell as Steve
Gary Kent as John
Tomi Barrett as Sharon
John Batis as Charlie
Ann Wilkinson as Teddi
Jeanette Kelly as Mother
Corky Pigeon as John Jr.
Becki Burke as Jennifer
Tony Gee as Plumber
Stafford Morgan as Man
Marilyn Anderson as Woman
Jean Clark as Mechanic
Donald M. Jones as Forest Ranger

Filming locations:

Sequoia National Park, California

Offline reading:

Nightmare USA by Stephen Thrower has a whole chapter, ‘Let’s Play Nasty’, dedicated to Don Jones’ exploitation filmmaking career.

Trailer:

Prism Home Video trailer:

Wikipedia | IMDb | Image thanks: HorrorNews.net | Rare Cult Cinema

‘What happens after the horror movie?’

Last Girl Standing is a 2015 American slasher horror film written and directed by Benjamin R. Moody and produced by Rachel Moody.

The film received its world premiere at FrightFest in the UK and was subsequently picked up for UK distribution by Icon (The Babadook; It Follows).

Main cast:

Akasha Villalobos, Danielle Evon Ploeger, Brian Villalobos, JD Carrera, Ryan Hamilton, Kelsey Pribilski, Laura Ray and Chris J. Knight

Plot:

Five years ago, a masked killer brutally murdered a group of friends. Since then, Camryn, the lone survivor, has struggled to reclaim her shattered life. Wracked with guilt and paranoia, can Camryn ever have a normal life again or is she destined to be alone?

Reviews:

“Moody obviously did his homework before stepping into the director’s seat, riddling the film with numerous subtle nods to some of the best slashers of yesteryear. Though the movie focused more on the dramatic elements of the story, there were some serviceable horrific scenes peppered throughout.” Luis H.C., Bloody Disgusting

“It’s partly brilliant, but there’s also a lot of duff ideas that are lazily added into the movie just to give it a conclusion. There are several other directions the movie could have gone, and each one of them is better than what they did. A real shame, as there was a lot of promise in Last Girl Standing that just didn’t deliver.” Luke Owen, Flickering Myth

“Overall, Last Girl Standing is a credible first time feature with promise and an interesting angle from which to view the horror genre. It’s just missing that je ne sais quoi to catapult it to something more.” Sacha Hall, The Hollywood News

Trailer:

IMDb | Official site

‘The lucky ones die first.’

Bastard is a 2015 American slasher horror film directed by Powell Robinson and Patrick Robert Young from a screenplay written by the latter.

The film debuted at the After Dark ‘8 Films to Die For’ horror festival on October 16, 2015.

Main cast:

Rebekah Kennedy, Ellis Greer, Dan Creed, Will Tranfo, Tonya Kay, Burt Culver, Ryan Shoos.

Plot:

Five strangers – newlywed serial killers, a suicidal cop, and two runaways – become suspect and victim when a masked murderer makes its presence known in an isolated mountain town…

Reviews:

“In a genre that has seen it all, done it all, and have done it death all the time, it is refreshing to see a film that takes so many chances to create something while odd, at least unique and very entertaining.” James D., Wicked Channel

“Patrick Robert Young and Powell Robinson deliver on every level with their debut thriller that goes for the horror fans mind as well as their heart. Bastard is worth all the attention it has been getting.” Sinful Celluloid

Spine-ripping fun

“There is some good in Bastard, though, and it shows up in the final 20 minutes where the real horror starts to settle in. It goes from being largely by-the-numbers to unexpectedly dark and gruesome, which was a welcome surprise after the middle portion of the movie.” Ryan C., Rhino’s Horror

“Bastard is good fun slasher that knows where it is going and knows how to get there. Powell & Young certainly have talent and I can’t wait to see where they go next (once you see the film you might know where!).” Ryan Morrissey-Smith, Haddonfield Horror

Buy or rent: Amazon Instant

Trailer [HD]:

IMDb | Official site | Facebook

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Minutes to Midnight is a 2015 slasher horror film directed by Christopher Douglas-Olen Ray (Reptisaurus; Megaconda; Mega Shark vs. Kolossus; 2 and 3 Headed Shark Attack) from a screenplay by Victoria Dadi (This House is Not a Home) and Christopher M. Don.

The film was produced by DeInstitutionalized, LLc and is presented by ForeverMaur Films and Possum on the Half Shell Productions.

Cast:

William Baldwin (Flatliners), Bill Moseley (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2; The Devil’s Rejects; American Exorcist), Richard Grieco (Evil Breed: The Legend of Samhain; Raiders of the Damned), Viva Bianca (Scorned), Christopher Judge (Knock ‘Em Dead; Reaper; Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!), John Hennigan (The Most Dangerous Game) and Dominique Swain (Dead Mary; Nazis at the Center of the Earth; Sharkansas Women’s Prison Massacre).

Plot:

A group of seven friends have no idea of the dangers that lurk near their small ski lodge. They hope to have an exciting and enjoyable time on New Year’s Eve. However, a local legend is emerging from the underbrush. Someone knows about this killer’s past and these seven friends must discover more about this hunter, before they face his brutal blade…

Trailer:

IMDb | Source: Horror-Movies.ca

Friday the 13th: The Game is a 2016 computer slasher horror game that has already raised startup funding via a successful Kickstarter campaign.

At the time of writing, and with six hours to go, the online project has received $93,526 more than its $700,000 goal. You can guarantee yourself a copy of the game by pledging at least $25.

The multiplayer PC, Xbox One, and PS4 game is slated to arrive in October 2016. It is being developed by Gun Media and Illfonic with the full support of franchise creator Sean Cunningham.

It’s a third-person, asymmetrical multiplayer game. One player controls Jason Voorhees, while seven others take control of camp counsellors who are attempting to survive the night.

Plot:

Jason Voorhees is unleashed and stalking the grounds of Camp Crystal Lake…

Related: Friday the 13th – video game

‘Deck the halls… with lots of bodies!’

Dismembering Christmas is a 2015 American horror film directed by Austin Bosley (Tahorror) from a screenplay by Steve Goltz (Hole in the Wall) and Kevin Sommerfield (Don’t Go to the Reunion). The film is a Slasher Studios production.

Plot:

At a vacation winter lake house, seven high school seniors are attacked by a madman out for revenge…

Cast:

Baker Chase Powell, Leah Wiseman, Danielle Doetsch, Nina Kova, Marla Van Lanen, Austin Bosley, Johnathon Krautkramer, Shannon McInnis, Jennifer Lenius, Scott Seagren.

Filming locations:

Rhinelander, Wisconsin, USA

Trailer:

IMDb | Official site | Facebook | Twitter

Related: Ho! Ho! Horror! Festive Fright Films – article by David Flint

‘Your fate has been chosen’

Needle – aka Black Magic – is a 2010 independent Australian supernatural horror film directed by John V. Soto (Crush; The Reckoning) from a screenplay co-written with Anthony Egan.

Main cast:

Michael Dorman, Jessica Marais, Travis Fimmel, Tahyna Tozzi, Trilby Glover and Ben Mendelsohn. John Jarratt (star of the Wolf Creek films and TV series) has a role as coroner.

Plot:

Ben Rutherford (Michael Dorman), a college student, inherits an 18th-century box, called Le Vaudou Mort from his father.

Ben shows the box to his friends but the very same night it is stolen. Soon after that, his closest friends start dying in mysterious ways. Le Vaudou Mort is actually a voodoomachine designed as a tool for revenge. When the target’s photograph is put into the box, a wax doll is created, giving the user power to kill or physically harm the represented person. A killer has started to use the device against Ben’s friends.

Ben and his brother Marcus (Travis Fimmel), who has not been forgiven by Ben since their father died in a car accident after a harsh discussion with him, figure out the power of the device and search for the killer…

Reviews:

“So it’s not perfect, and even a longer cut probably wouldn’t be able to help the fact that it sticks to the whodunit slasher formula a bit too rigidly, but it’s enjoyable and solidly made…” Horror Movie a Day

“Needle is a reasonably slick looking low budget horror that manages to hold the interest and tease the brain a little as you bounce from suspect to suspect. Its far from Sherlock Holmes, or even Scream, but its a fun diversion with a strong soundtrack, some nice kills and a cool concept.” Kyle Scott, The Horror Hotel

“Think maybe more in terms of a film that didn’t bring enough to the table to make the After Dark round of releases, and you’ll probably be closer to where this lies on the priority list to view. Needles may have been used, but they sure looked dull to me.” HorrorNews.net

“It’s not a perfect film but it’s a fun little slasher flick that I can see gaining a large audience on video. Hopefully it makes enough to warrant a sequel with a bigger budget as the further possibilities of a voodoo slasher fill my sick little mind with glee.” Maniac E., Slashing Through

Cast and characters:

• Michael Dorman as Ben Rutherford
• Travis Fimmel as Marcus Rutherford
• Tahyna Tozzi as Mary
• Jessica Marais as Kandi
• Trilby Glover as Isabel
• Chanel Marriott as Lucy
• Khan Chittenden as Jed
• Luke Carroll as Nelson
• Nathaniel Buzolic as Ryan
• Jane Badler as Professor Banyon
• John Jarratt as Paul the Coroner
• James Hagan as Samuel Rutherford
• Ben Mendelsohn as Detective Meares
• Malcolm Kennard as Detective Reddick
• Murray Bartlett as Tony Martin
• Quinton George as Mr Joshua
• Caroline McKenzie as Eliza Shaw
• Sam Longley as Basketball Coach
• Igor Sas as Dr. Halmanay

Trailer:

Wikipedia | IMDb | Official site

‘A weekend to dismember’

Axeman II: Overkill is a 2016 American horror film written and directed by Joston Theney, with additional writing contributions by executive producer Christopher Otiko. The film is a sequel to Axeman (2013).

Cast:

Farrah Abraham, Rachel Reilly, Angelica Bridges, Arielle Brachfeld, Monique Parent, Michael Foster, Kailena Mai, Arielle Hader, Whitney Nielsen, Edward Gusts, Alisha Seaton, Craig Partamian, Jacqui Holland, Maria Olsen.

Plot:

When a band of crazed evangelicals, bank robbers and vigilantes descend upon Cutter’s Creek, there’s only one local legend that can separate them. And dismember them…

Behind-the-Scenes clip:

IMDb | Facebook | Twitter