‘Family first’

Jackals is a 2016 American home invasion horror film directed by Kevin Greutert (Saw VI; Saw: The Final Chapter) from a screenplay by Jared Rivet. The Tommy Alastra Productions film stars Deborah Kara Unger, Ben Sullivan and Chelsea Ricketts.

Set in the 1980s, an estranged family hires a cult deprogrammer to take back their teenage son from a murderous cult, but find themselves under siege when the cultists surround their cabin, demanding the boy back…

Scream Factory is releasing Jackals to movie theaters, on VOD and on Digital on September 1, 2017.

Main cast:

Deborah Kara Unger (The Hollow; Silent Hill), Ben Sullivan (Hell on Wheels), Chelsea Ricketts (Scream Queens), Nick Roux, Johnathon Schaech and Stephen Dorff (Blade; Leatherface).

IMDb | Official site | Twitter | Facebook

Road of the Dead is a 2018 American comedy horror film co-produced and directed by Matt Birman (2nd unit director on Survival of the Dead; Diary of the Dead and Land of the Dead) from a screenplay co-written with co-producer George A. Romero.

On an exclusive island zombie prisoners race cars in a modern-day Coliseum for the entertainment of wealthy humans…

In an interview with Michael Gingold for Rue Morgue on July 7, 2017, George A. Romero explained the film’s premise:

“It’s set in a sanctuary city where this fat cat runs a haven for rich folks, and one of the things that he does is stage drag races to entertain them. There’s a scientist there doing genetic experiments, trying to make the zombies stop eating us, and he has discovered that with a little tampering, they can recall certain memory skills that enable them to drive in these races. So it’s a demolition derby with zombies at the wheels, and of course the shit hits the fan in other ways. It’s really a romp; it’s great fun, with stunts galore.”

He added, “This one is really almost a comedy, though it’s got scares and spooky moments and all that. It’s more about suspense than blood. While there is gore, it’s not overt; there are no big, operatic sequences where people get torn apart. There’s slapstick in it, but it’s mostly stunts; it’s quite different. One character dies, for example, in a tragic way, but was once in NASCAR and is able to come back and drive. It’s that kind of looney tunes.”

The film is currently still in development and seeking further funding.

IMDb | Thanks to Upcoming Horror Movies

Bleach is a 2017 American horror film directed by Michael Edmonds (shorts: Meat; The Ghost in the Doll) from a screenplay co-written with producer Lenka Fucikova who also stars. Mark Justice, Erin Jill and Tiffany Rose Thomas also star.

A deranged killer goes to extreme measures to attempt to stop the ghosts of the girls he murdered in a snuff film from haunting him while trying to keep the authorities off his back at the same time…

The film is currently in post-production.

Main cast:

Mark Justice, Erin Jill, Lenka Fucikova, Tiffany Rose Thomas, Joe Palubinsky, Tara Reid, Eric Roberts, Lorenzo Lamas, Mindy Robinson, Robert LaSardo (Lake of Shadows; Sky Sharks; The Human Centipede III), Noel Gugliemi, Heather Ashley Chase, Vene L. Arcoraci, Chelsea Mee, Ezra Buzzington, Tito Ortiz, Ben Stobber, Jay Hieron, Stephen Manley, Nailya Shakirova, Moorea Wolf, Shaun Gerardo, Tom Bonello, Rusty Meyers.

IMDb

‘Fear is only the beginning’

Lasso is a 2017 American horror film directed by Evan Cecil from a screenplay by Roberto Marinas. Sean Patrick Flanery, Lindsey Morgan and Andrew Jacobs star.

Simon and Kit, two young leaders of an Active Senior tour group, out on an adventure to a small-town rodeo festival located deep in the woods. It’s a great experience for the group… until they try to leave.

Simon and Kit must save themselves, and whatever seniors they can, from becoming victims of a deadly rodeo ritual. Together the group must fight to survive the night from relentless bloodthirsty cowboys on the hunt for human livestock…

At the time of posting, the film is currently in post-production.

Main cast:

Sean Patrick Flanery, Lindsey Morgan, Andrew Jacobs, Karen Grassle, Thomas Cokenias, Benedita Pereira, Travis Andre Ross, Morgan Benoit, Tim Lajcik, Frank Trigg, Nick Fenske, Tony Toste, Judy Cerda, Makenzie Massagli, Heather Mignon.

IMDb | Thanks: Jeff Gilbert @ Drinkin’ & Drive-In

House of Waxwork is a 2017 American horror comic book from Waxwork Comics, an offshoot of Waxwork Records.

Waxwork Comics will offer comics and graphic novels bundled with companion soundtracks on coloured vinyl. The original music featured on the accompanying vinyl serves as a soundtrack to the stories within each book.

Press release:

Waxwork Comics is excited to release their debut comic book series, House of Waxwork. Featuring all new content from contemporary writers, illustrators, and composers, House of Waxwork is a rousing horror-anthology series packed with macabre tales of ghouls, ghosts, witchcraft, the occult, the living dead, revenge, and so much more. Readers will meet original and inventive characters such as The Die-Rector and The Decomposer, and will be fully immersed in the terrifying, original soundtrack music featured on the companion 7” coloured vinyl that comes with each issue.

In the debut release of House of Waxwork issue #1, readers will be discover what happens to an unsuspecting vacationing family when a cursed board game thrusts them into an actual fight for survival in ‘Occult Slumber Party’, penned by Gabe Soria (Batman ’66) and with music by Douglas Pipes (Krampus, Trick ‘r Treat).

Also featured in issue #1, ‘Lighthouse Keeper’ will blur the lines between reality, the supernatural, and vengeance, culminating with a horrific twist. Written by Kevin Bergeron and with music by Creeper.

‘Captives stripped of their rights and sucked of their blood’

Dracula in a Women’s Prison is a 2017 American comedy horror film directed by Jeff Leroy (Alien Reign; Rat Scratch Fever; Werewolf in a Women’s Prison) from a screenplay by Vincent Bilancio (Dark Realm). Victoria De Mare, Robert Rhine and Rachel Riley star.

Ten years after the horrific events of Werewolf in a Women’s Prison, the Penitentiary of Sex and Violence has a new Warden. Young American Liz (Victoria De Mare) travels to the third world hellhole of Campuna to gather the remains of her sister, who mysteriously died in the jail. However, anyone who dies returns to life – as the undead blood slave of warden Drago, also known as Dracula…

The film is available via Vimeo on Demand where you can also watch the adults only red band trailer.

Main cast:

Victoria De Mare (Alien Reign; Killjoy’s Psycho Circus; Feast of Fear; et al), Robert Rhine (Party Bus to Hell; Alien Reign; The Chair), Rachel Riley, Elissa Dowling (Party Bus to Hell; Land Shark; Don’t Kill It; et al), Red Dodge, Nina Elle, Rebecca Lynn Hershfeld, Rebecca Hirschfeld, Ryan Izay, Penny Kuykendall, Sudesh Managodage, John Michaelson, Kristin Mothersbaugh, Layla Price, Puma Swede.

IMDb | Facebook | Thanks to The Reprobate for making us aware of this film

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

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:

“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.” Gareth Jones, 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.” Felix Vasquez, 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.” Sarah Law, Gore Press

“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.” Sean Smithson, 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).” Brett Gallman, Oh, the Horror!

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

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘The Retro-Monster Comedy That’s Really NOT For Kids!’

Transylvania Television is an American TV series that has aired on various online platforms since 2007. It was created by Michael J. Heagle and Gordon Smuder. It stars the voices of Gordon Smuder, Michael J. Heagle and Charles Hubbell.

The show is a puppet-based sitcom for grown ups starring a nosferatu-like vampire named Count LeShoc, a party Yeti named Furry J. Ackermonster, Irving Batfink the majordomo of Castle LeShoc, Miss Mansfeild the disembodied skull, Esmerelda the gypsy woman, and Dwayne Frankenstein.

Although the last of the 51 episodes were created in 2012, there is apparently an intention to film new material in 2017.

900 year-old vampire Le Shoc is running a beat-down TV station in the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania. He’s in dire need to pull it out of the toilet, so with the help of his Beatnik minion Batfink, they enlist college graduate Furry J. Ackermonster to be the station’s new manager. Assisted by the smartly stupid Dwayne Frankenstein, the three unleash the Frankenstein device that allows it to resurrect canceled shows and turns them into a twisted parody. The show takes aim at multiple B-movie monsters and clichés.

Reviews:

“Remarkably, and consistently, amusing, I can’t really go through the plot as there is pretty much not one.” Taliesin Meets the Vampires

Filming locations:

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

IMDb | Official website |  Facebook

‘The end of the world begins with him. it’

12/12/12 aka Evil Born is a 2012 American horror film written and directed by Jared Cohn (Devil’s Domain; Death Pool; Little Dead Rotting Hood). Sara Malakul Lane,
Jesus Guevara and Erin O’Brien star.

A baby, Sebastian, is born after a protracted and painful childbirth for his mother. After Sebastian viciously murders the doctors who delivered him, his mother (Sara Malakul Lane) realises that there is something seriously wrong with the child…

Reviews:

“12/12/12 is ridiculously bad. Almost so bad it’s good. The film actually has some silly camp value. The “killer demon baby” is the worst looking thing I may have ever seen. It literally kills people by having them hold it against their necks. Laughable […] If you are in the mood to punish yourself, or really drunk and need a laugh, then you should fire up 12/12/12.” Mister Joshua, DreadWorld

“The film works on a very base level in that it creates a legitimate sense of unease and creepiness, but otherwise fails to muster up anything of value. Maybe that’s enough, maybe it isn’t, but audiences looking for the truly odd might want to give this one a watch. All others are advised to stay away unless demonic babies sound like a good idea.” Martin Liebman, Blu-ray.com

” …strange editing cuts and odd plot lines, tissue paper thin structure eventually dooms the entire production, rather than a straightforward

narrative, it slowly dissolves into random killings. While the special effects work, basic in design and thankful not overwhelming CGI, the characters all go through the motions, never truly believable, no strong connections to Revelations or the parent’s religion.” Baron Craze, The Horror Syndicate

“It is rated ‘R’ for excessive, continuous, unrelenting coarse language, copious amounts of gore, nudity, rape and incest (you’ll have to see that to believe it), which will make it a very difficult fit for any commercial television programming, unless you enjoy three-quarters of the dialogue blanked out. It will be difficult to find an audience for this film.” Mike Thomas, Matchflick

Cast and characters:

• Sara Malakul Lane as Veronica Alvarez (Sharktopus)
• Jesus Guevara as Mahari
• Erin O’Brien as Nurse At Station
• Steve Hanks as Detective Barnes
• Carl Donelson as Carlos
• Laura Ramos as Gabriella
• Samantha Stewart as Officer Vokel
• Rachel Alig as Katherine
• Jared Cohn as Jared (Halloween Night, Legion of the Dead, Way of the Vampire, Alien Abduction)
• Katy-Ann Thompson as Nurse Madysson
• Gregory Niebel as Doctor Ulf
• Shakira Ja’nai Paye as Kayla
• Shauna Chin as Barbara
• Jourdan Lee as Jason Tremmel
• Jon Kondelik as Trevor (Amityville Haunting, Haunting of Whaley House, Nazis at the Center of the Earth)
• Samuel Fisher as Officer Kemp (Nazis at the Center of the Earth)
• Sam Ingraffia as Father Anders

Filming locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Loyalty and trust is everything’

Sicilian Vampire is a 2015 Canadian crime horror film written, directed by and starring Frank D’Angelo. It also stars James Caan, Daryl Hannah, Paul Sorvino, and Robert Loggia.

Santino “Sonny” Trafficante, a reputed mobster, is bitten by a bat and turned into a vampire while at his hunting lodge. With his new abilities, Trafficante feels the need to right the wrongs in his life, while simultaneously trying to protect his loved ones…

With an $11.3 million production budget, Sicilian Vampire is D’Angelo’s highest-budgeted film to date. His three previous directorial efforts had budgets of “at least” $3.7 million, with actors being “paid in cash”. The majority of Sicilian Vampire’s budget went into securing high profile actors; in particular, James Caan and Paul Sorvino. Other aspects of the budget went into paying for 6K resolution cameras.

Reviews:

“Both the vampire angle and the mob war plot disappear for long stretches, and the film’s ultimate message – “Family is the most important thing in a man’s life” – feels arbitrary. D’Angelo seems to have unwisely attempted what Quentin Tarantino calls a “hang-out movie,” because Sicilian Vampire is packed with endless, shapeless scenes of mobsters sitting around tables, cracking jokes.” Will Sloan, The Globe and Mail

“The volatile confrontations that stem from the film’s centre stage machismo feel unprovoked with loose tempers running wild for no good reason, but it’s always a pleasure to see these actors flip on their own levels of intimidation.  Even if the material lacks momentum, it’s easy to get wrapped up in this reunion. D’Angelo has cast himself as leading mobster Santo Trafficante, which I think is half-inspired.” Addison Wylie, Wylie Writes

“Ostensible plot aside, much of the film consists of Sonny and his friends sitting around busting each other’s balls, telling terrible jokes, or threatening each other in Italian. Because D’Angelo prefers to throw out the screenplay and riff on-screen, the rhythm of these scenes is mumbly and inchoate, and Caan falls right into the anti-groove.” Vadim Rizov, Vanity Fair

James Caan and Frank D’Angelo

Cast and characters:

• Frank D’Angelo as Santino “Sonny” Trafficante Jr.
• James Caan as Professor Bernard Isaacs (Misery)
• Daryl Hannah as Carmelina Trafficante
• Paul Sorvino as Jimmy Scambino
• Robert Loggia as Santino Trafficante Sr.
• Armand Assante as Vince
• Robert Davi as Big Sal
• Michael Paré as Sammy
• Eric Roberts as Detective Louis Marshall
• Daniel Baldwin as Vito
• Tony Nardi as Little Anthony
• Art Hindle as Detective Domenic Supray

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘War ends at midnight, all you have to do is stay alive’

Boots on the Ground is a 2017 British found footage action horror film written, co-produced and directed by Louis Melville (co-producer of The Last Horror Movie, 2003). The Last Bullet Films production stars Ryan McParland, Tom Ainsley and Ian Virgo.

Five British soldiers trying to stay alive on the last night of the Afghan War, facing not just the Taliban, but also supernatural forces more terrifying than anything they’ve encountered before…

Cast and characters:

Ryan McParland as Swiftee
Tom Ainsley as Pawlo
Ian Virgo as Ollie
Valmike Rampersad as Mo
Sally Day as Conway
Victoria Hannent as Woman in Burka

Running time:

86 minutes

IMDb

‘Here it is… a shark worse than its bite!!’

Gums is a British comic character: a shark with false teeth.

In 1976, Jaws was all the rage with kids, and British comic Monster Fun – published by IPC – was quick to cash in on the trend.

At the beginning of February 1976, the 35th issue of the comic – which specialised in humour strips with a mild horror flavour – debuted a new strip on the front cover, usurping the previous main strip Kid Kong.

Gums was the story of a Great White shark off the coast of Australia that is terrorising locals – until, that it, his false teeth get stuck in a surfboard and are seized by surfer dude Bluey. Over the run of the strip, Gums and Bluey would battle for ownership of the teeth, with Gums retrieving his ‘choppers’ one week and Bluey snatching them back the next. The comedy came from the wacky schemes both used to secure the teeth.

Given that it was a one-joke strip, Gums was surprisingly entertaining and non-repetitive, and it’s toothless shark developed a real character that readers loved.

Initially illustrated by Bob Nixon (and later, Alf Saporito) and written by Roy Davies, Gums proved immediately popular, remaining the cover strip for the rest of the comic’s run. It ultimately outlived both Jaws mania and Monster Fun itself, transferring to Buster comic when MF was cancelled with issue 73, and the strip eventually ran until May 1984.

David Flint – this post first appeared on The Reprobate

Image credits: Comic Vine

Fantasma is a 2017 American supernatural horror film directed by Brett Mullen (Beneath the Old Dark House; Bombshell Bloodbath) from a screenplay co-written with producer Matt Cloude (The Curse of Krampus; Night of the Living Dead: Genesis; 2 Die For; et al). Caroline Williams, Kendra Carelli and Debbie Rochon star.

When a beautiful ballerina dancer, Adriana Mena (Kendra Carelli), lands the lead role in the upcoming performance of ‘The Nutcracker’, she’s forced to face her demons as jealousy and tension begin to provoke the supernatural…

Main cast:

Caroline Williams, Kendra Carelli, Debbie Rochon, Katie Carpenter, Brett Wagner, David Schifter, Susanne Marie Danger, Jae Hitch, Patrick G. Keenan, Tom Gore, Rob Springer, Jess Barbour, Tina Reynolds, Tatiana Russell, Shane Terry.

Filming locations:

Richmond, Virginia, USA
Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

Trivia:

The film’s working title was The Malevolent.

IMDb

‘Barricade the doors. Board up the windows.’

Night of the Living Dead: Genesis is a 2017 American zombie horror film directed by Matt Cloude (The Curse of Krampus; Fantasma; 2 Die For; et al) from a screenplay co-written with William G. Smith (Shadowhunters). The Rough Cut Films production stars Addy Miller, Judith O’Dea and Sarah Snyder.

Judith O’Dea

The film pays homage to the timeless classic while expanding upon its storyline to explore more of the night when the dead began to rise by chronicling the events through the eyes of lead heroine Barbra (Judith O’Dea). The project has been developed over a number of years.

Main cast:

Addy Miller (The Devil’s Tree; Sugar Skull Girls; Plan 9) Judith O’Dea (Ed Gein: D.D.S.; Abandoned Dead; Night of the Living Dead, 1968), Tom Gore, Sarah Snyder, George Stover, (Nightbeast; The Galaxy Invader; Call Girl of Cthulhu), Christy Johnson, Jeremy Ambler (Highway Walker in The Walking Dead), Alex Elliott, Melissa Eastwood (The Disappointments Room), Mike Christopher (Hare Krishna Zombie in Dawn of the Dead), David Crawford (Dawn of the Dead), John Migliore, Cyrus Samson, Jenny Hall, Jaysen P. Buterin, Jim Krut (Helicopter Zombie in Dawn of the Dead).

IMDb | Facebook | Thanks: Addicted to Horror Movies

‘This day will be our last’

11/11/11 is a 2011 horror film directed by Keith Allan (actor in Z Nation; Zombie Night; Rise of the Zombies) from a screenplay co-written with Kiff Scholl (voice actor in Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!). It stars Jon Briddell, Erin Coker and Hayden Byerly.

The Asylum production is a “mockbuster” take on Darren Lynn Bousman’s 11-11-11 and is also influenced by The Omen (1976).

Having moved into a new home, Jack and Melissa Vales become increasingly frightened as their young son, Nathan, expresses violent and bizarre behaviour.

Unfortunately, the couple soon learn is that on their son’s upcoming birthday of November 11, the Apocalypse will occur and Nathan is the gateway…

Reviews:

“The atmosphere that director Keith Allen created was pretty good, and there were ample opportunities for something to jump out and grab you, startle you up a bit, but it didn’t happen in this horror movie, and if it did it was pulled off so ineffectively that I didn’t notice it when it did happen.” Christopher Armstead, Film Critics United

“The Asylum’s 11/11/11 is an abhorrent mess, a poor excuse to cash in on the 11 11 11 craze. It’s a cheap quickie that wears its origins on its sleeves. Not all is lost in this uninspired, lazily written dud as the director is able to bring everything together in a comprehensible fashion. It generally looks good and is an improvement over typical releases from this film company.” Doc Rotten, HorrorNews.net

“The screenplay by director Keith Allan and Kiff Scholl may be bland, but there’s enough WTF moments here to make this an interesting watch (especially with a few friends and a few beers). The neighbors hot-boxed meetings in the van just outside the Vales house are perhaps the best unmeant hilarious moments in the film.” Trevor Anderson, Movie Mavericks

Cast and characters:

• Jon Briddell as Jack Vales (The Haunting of Whaley House; Hot Wax Zombies on Wheels)
• Erin Coker as Melissa Vales (13/13/13; Shark Week)
• Hayden Byerly as Nathan “Nat” Vales
• Tracy J. Pulliam as Janice Karpinsky
• Madonna Magee as Annie
• David Bertolami as Chris Demms
• Rebecca Sigl as Sarah Blight
• Kiff Scholl as Brian Miles
• Aurelia Scheppers as Denise
• Kari Nissena as Sofie
• Scott McKinley as Dr. James Bolger
• Lauren Dobbins Webb as Rhonda
• Nicholas S. Williams as Mick
• Melissa Wintringham as Marie
• Raymond Gaston as Kahlid Othman
• Catherine Lidstone as Miranda Bolger

Wikipedia | IMDb

Ouija Board – original titles: Bunshinsaba aka 분신사바 – is a 2004 South Korean supernatural horror film written and directed by Ahn Byeong-ki (Bunshinsaba [2012] and sequels; Apt.; Phone; Nightmare). Kim Gyu-ri, Lee Yoo-ri and Lee Se-eun star. In 2006, Tokyo Shock released the film on DVD in North America as Witch Board.

Lee Yoo-jin is a transfer student from Seoul, and along with two of her friends, she is constantly bullied by a group of classmates.

One night, Yoo-jin and her friends decide to place a curse on their enemies by creating a Ouija board on which they write the names of the female bullies.

Using the Bunshinsaba curse, her friend warns the others not to open their eyes until the spell is finished. The calling takes effect, and Yoo-jin, somewhat curious, opens her eyes. To her shock and horror, she sees an image of a pale-like dead girl with long hair beside her.

The next morning when Yoo-jin enters the classroom, she discovers the corpse of one of the bullies on top of the desk, with a burned face.

Meanwhile, the school hires a volunteer teacher, Lee Eun-ju, as the new art instructor. She starts to call the roll in her class and stumbles on seat number 29 as she mentions the name of a deceased girl, Kim In-sook. The students are terrified when they hear the name, and rush out of the classroom when they see her talking to thin air…

Reviews:

“Bunshinsaba is another disappointment for those looking for clever original entries in the Asian horror genre, but one that is relatively entertaining on an ‘assaulting the senses’ level. Fans of Phone will also get a kick out of the final reveal which is a welcome nod to the audience from the director.” Dave Foster, The Digital Fix 

” …the Asian horror film ceased to be “new” when it refused to innovate, and simply repeated the tropes of its genre ad nauseam. The result is a movie like Bunshinsaba, which has the budget to make something good, but instead seems unconcern, or unwilling, to even make an attempt. As such, you won’t find an Asian film more generic, derivative, and uninspired as Bunshinsaba”. Beyond Hollywood

“It’s a spooky and entertaining film with an engaging mystery. It has some flaws in its storytelling, which can be confusing, but the horror makes up for its shortcomings. By no means is it perfect, but it is definitely an entertaining treat for fans of ghost stories. And if you’re a fan of ghost stories, you should be watching Bunshinsaba.” Korean Movie Reviews

“Witch Board: Bunshinsaba is so derivative that it feels like the work of a hack, shamelessly ripping off other movies. Of course, Byeong-ki Ahn has never been noted for his originality, and his previous screenplays feel as if he cherry-picked favorite elements from other horror films. At least in Phone, he managed to synthesize these fragments into a coherent murder-mystery-drama in which the horror scenes acted as visceral punctuation marks.” Steve Biodrowski , Cinefantastique

“Honestly, I was surprised. Yes, this film borrowed from/was inspired by a number of films. Some of it could be purely inference from me, while other parts are hard to ignore. With that out of the way, I actually kind of liked it. Now bear in mind that I’m not a huge fan of K-Horror. So, if you happen to be one, you may like it even more!” Mondo Bizarro

Cast and characters:

• Kim Gyu-ri as Lee Eun-ju (Nightmare; Whispering Corridors)
• Lee Yoo-ri as Kim In-sook (TV series: The Haunted School 4)
• Lee Se-eun as Lee Yoo-jin (Bloody Beach)
• Choi Seong-min as Han Jae-hoon/Mr. Han
• Choi Jung-yoon as Ho-kyung

International release titles:

Germany: Possessed – Besessen
France: Incantations
Philippines (English title): Ouija Board: Bunshinsaba
Russia: Заклятие смерти
USA (DVD title): Witch Board

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘We survived!’

Kuso is a 2017 American body horror black comedy film directed by Flying Lotus [Steven Ellison] from a screenplay co-written with David Firth and Zack Fox.

The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2017. It was reported that many people left during the screening, with Flying Lotus later stating that “only like 20 people out of like 400” walked out. Kuso will be released on streaming platform Shudder on July 21, alongside a limited theatrical release

” …there’s a feeling that this film is a kind of psychic scream, similar to those that feature in the Japanese animation Ellison is clearly fond of […] Kuso is in part a gross-out comedy but it is also full of truly artistic and psychedelic visuals that hint at meaning beyond the degeneracy.” Luke Shaw, Eye for Film

“That Ellison has a unique, genre-defying musical sensibility is amply demonstrated by the film’s soundtrack (for which Aphex Twin and Akira Yamaoka also created original tracks), by far its best element. Neither is there much cause to quibble in terms of the acting, design, or technical contributors, in that they did as instructed with what professional aplomb could be mustered — good efforts expended to an unfortunate end.” Dennis Harvey, Variety

“As a cringe-inducing work of art that piles on the shock value over and over again, Kuso does its job. While John Waters may have gone soft in his old age, Ellison has elevated the gross-out bar, veering into — and going far beyond — the obscene. For someone who sees a few hundred films a year, Kuso is a stand-out.” John Fink, The Film Stage

“Kuso is a hallucinatory, scatological, grotesque, and occasionally hysterical work of utter mania, the kind of wild cinema that cuts through the noise of all safer, more marketable filmmaking. It will more than likely repel as many viewers as it attracts, if not far more of them, but those willing to let Ellison walk them through his 93-minute nightmare will find something challenging, revolting, and eminently watchable. It’s a horrorshow from which it’s impossible to look away.” Dominick Suzanne-Mayer, Consequence of Sound

“I don’t believe so many talented artists, musicians, set designers, and comedians would make this film if they didn’t want it to say something. But the copious gore, the cruel extended rape joke, the abortion sight-gags, and any number of other vomit-inducing pseudo-goofs are so distracting and disorienting that making sense of the film would require a repeat viewing.” Chris Plante, The Verge

“Kuso is already earning a reputation as the grossest movie ever made. It’s definitely a worthy contender, giving Freddy Got Fingered and any of The Human Centipede movies a run for their money. Unlike those films, Kuso can’t even be described as a gross out comedy or torture p*rn. It belongs in a genre that can’t be classified and shouldn’t be classified. Every image is vile, every character is ugly, every moment that goes by is an assault on all five senses.” Nick Spake, flickreel

Cast and characters:

• Iesha Coston
• Zack Fox as Manuel
• Bethany Schmitt as The Buttress
• Shane Carpenter as Charlie
• Oumi Zumi
• Mali Matsuda as Angel
• Tim Heidecker as Phil
• Hannibal Buress
• Donnell Rawlings
• Anders Holm as Teacher
• Regan Farquhar as News Pirate
• David Firth as Royal
• George Clinton as Doctor Clinton

Wikipedia | IMDb

The Head is a 2017 American fantasy horror film directed by Jordan Downey (ThanksKilling and ThanksKilling 3; short: Craw Lake) from a screenplay co-written with Kevin Stewart. The Detention Films production stars Christopher Rygh.

In the Middle Ages, a barbarian monster hunter is haunted by a decapitated head when one of his slayings returns to life…

The Head is currently in post-production in Los Angeles, California.

Filming locations:

Portugal

IMDb | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

‘Her soul lives on’

Conjuring the Witch’s Doll is a 2017 British supernatural horror film written and directed by Lawrence Fowler. The Up A Notch Productions film stars Helen Crevel, Neil Hobbs and Philip Ridout.

Adeline Gray’s attempt to escape Blitz bombing leads her to a derelict, creepy manor in the woods.

When Adeline’s young daughter goes missing, a series of inexplicable events lead her to believe a haunted doll holds a vengeful soul; the soul of a murdered witch…

Main cast:

Helen Crevel, Neil Hobbs, Philip Ridout, Claire Carreno, Layla Watts.

Filming locations:

Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK

Trivia:

The production title was The Witch’s Doll.

IMDb | Facebook

‘Sent from Hell … to feed on flesh’

Shapeshifter is a 2005 American supernatural horror film directed by Gregory Lemkin from a screenplay co-written with A. Everett Howe. The Asylum production stars Jennifer Lee Wiggins, Ocean Marciano, Chris Facey.

Inmates and guards alike become trapped in a maximum security prison when they fall prey to a demonic beast that feeds on human flesh. As the creature’s power multiplies with every kill, their only chance for survival is to uncover the ancient mystery that holds the power of the shapeshifter…

Reviews:

“Shapeshifter’s biggest flaw arrives hard and fast, and it’s not the off-cue opening rap music, the pointless sex scene between a man and his hooker, or the yellow color palette that hurts the eyes. It’s actually the Shapeshifter itself, a mysterious character that loses all ambiguity when the movie reveals him in full view within the first three minutes of the movie.”

” …director Gregory Lemkin (who also co-wrote) decides to shoot most of the attack sequences using the typical hyperactive camera and blurring most low-budget movies use to try and hide the fact their creature is just a “man in a suit” – which I find unnecessary as the film’s main audience are people used to this sort of thing.” Chris Hartley, The Video Graveyard

“Instead of character development, Shapeshifter jumps right to the gooey stuff right to the gore. I like gore don’t get me wrong here, but if you are going to go straight to the gore… you might as well do away with your plot while you’re at it. Such films to do so were films like Nikos the Impaler and boy did that reek.” Rick L. Blalock, Terror Hook

The monster looked pretty good and the movie had some decent gore effects, opening up with Leigh Scott getting ripped to shreds which I’m sure delighted many who saw Transmorphers and also the Green Mile Brother who went mano a monstero with the creature which was a pretty one sided affair…” Christopher Armstead, Film Critics United

Main cast:

Jennifer Lee Wiggins (American Exorcism; Bled; I Am Omega), Ocean Marciano, Chris Facey (Good Satan), Vaz Andreas, Marat Glazer, Thomas Downey, Joel Hebner, A.J. Hammond, Steven Glinn, Byron Washington, Charles Schneider, Louis Mendoza, Bobby James, Brian J. Garland, Elliot Ruiz.

Filming locations:

Lincoln Heights Jail, 401 N. Avenue 19, Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California, USA

Red band trailer:

IMDb